Barriers to Entry and Competitive Force Analysis Essays

Barriers to Entry and Competitive Force Analysis Essays Barriers to Entry and Competitive Force Analysis Paper Barriers to Entry and Competitive Force Analysis Paper I. INTRODUCTION Company Vision To have a Lamoiyan product in every home. Company Mission Improve the quality of life by bringing essential products within the reach of the common people. Corporate Values Pursuit of Excellence Doing things better than before and better than competitors. Respect for the Individual Values individuality by treating each other with fairness. Social Responsibility Making our presence a blessing to society. Teamwork Reaching collectively goals that we cannot reach separately. Integrity Doing things right Company Background In late 1970’s Cecilio Kwok Pedro’s Aluminum Container Incorporated became the major supplier of alluminum collapsible toothpaste tubes to Colgate-Palmolive, Procter and Gamble, and Philippine Refining Company (Unilever). However, in 1985, these companies started using plastic laminated tubes. Dr. Pedro closed his company but was able to realize that his equipments can still be put to good use. Two years later (1988), Dr. Pedro opened the doors to Lamoiyan. That time, the toothpaste industry was dominated by multinational companies namely Colgate-Palmolive and Unilever. Lamoiyan’s strategy was to target the weak point of these companies which is price. The company did not choose to compete head-on with Colgate-Palmolive and Unilever, hence it did a niche strategy. Dr. Pedro was able to develop multi-flavoured toothpaste for children. The company also introduced Hapee Gold for consumers in their 40s and 50s. Red and Green Sparkling Gel was developed to target the teenagers. With perseverance and effective advertising, and by selling his product at a price 30% lower than the leading brands, Dr. Pedro succeeded in making Hapee the No. toothpaste brand in the country. The company engaged itself in community outreach sponsoring schools and sports teams as a way of giving back to the community. Dr. Pedro also employed many hearing-impaired graduates of the school founded by the Deaf Evangelistic Allience Foundation Inc. (DEAF). He know that these community efforts made it harder for the multinationals to attack his company aggressively. With the en try of Zest-O Corporation’s BEAM toothpaste which is priced cheaper that Hapee, Lamoiyan decided to introduce Kutitap as the new, lowest priced toothpaste available. While Kutitap had achieved only 1. 1% market share by 2002, the new product was growing rapidly and as a consequence, BEAM’s market share had fallen to 6. 6% in 2002. The company also diversified its product line to include Dazz Dishwashing Paste, Dazz Dishwashing Liquid, Dazz All-Purpose Kitchen Cleaner, Tenderly fabric softener, and Fresher feminine wash. In November of 2004, Lamoiyan has earmarked P100 million to expand its business and establish presence in neighboring countries such as Vietnam, China, and Indonesia. II. Analysis of Macroenvironment Political The political system contained an executive, legislative, and judicial branch and functioned as a democratic state under President Macapagal-Arroyo. Ms. Macapagal Arroyo took office in January 2011 after Former President Joseph Estrada was impeached on charges of nepotism and corruption. The transition from Estrada, who was considered â€Å"president of the poor,† to Macapagal-Arroyo, who desired to strengthen competition and liberalize trade, unleashed considerable political uncertainty and a recession threat in late 2000 but, by 2002, the instability had mostly subsided. Economic The 1997 Asian financial crisis, the political instability, and the 2001 global economic downswing all adversely affected the Philippine economy, however growth in recent years suggested a modest recovery. The 2002 real GDP reached US$77. 1 billion, reflecting an 8% increase from 2001, and export revenues in 2000 totaled US$35 billion, more than four times the amount in 1990. In 2002, however, the Philippines fell 13 places to 61st out of 80 countries in the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report, an index based on countries’ expected five year capita GDP growth As the country modernized throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the agricultural sector shrank, the services sector grew, and the manufacturing sector remained fairly constant. In 2002, GDP was distributed as follows: 45% services, 35% industrial, and 20% agricultural. Inequitable distribution of wealth plagued the Philippines, as the average income of the richest 10% was fourteen times that of the poorest 10%. Forty percent of the population lived in poverty. Socio-cultural Although the national language is tagalong, with over 80 distinct dialects, English was widely spoken and was the medium of communication in business and higher education. At 94%, the Philippines boasted one of the highest literacy rates in the world, and the highest in South-east Asia, including Hong Kong and Taiwan. Technological In 2002, 66% of toothpaste sold in the Philippines was packed in plastic tubes while 10% was in aluminium tubes, with sizes ranging from 25 ml to 150 ml. The remaining 24% of toothpaste sales consisted of 10 ml sachets. Labor Over 90% of the business in the Philippines employed fewer than ten people each, and in 2002 approximately 11% of the labor force was unemployed Demographic The Philippines, located off the south-eastern coast of mainland Asia, consisted of 7,100 islands covering a total land area of 115,830 square miles. The Philippine population exceeded 80 million in 2002, and was expected to grow at 2% annually through 2007. The islands were divided into three geographic areas: The southern island of Mindanao, the central islands of the Visayas, and the northern and largest island of Luzon, which contained the country’s capital, Manila. Almost half of the population lived in urban areas, and over 10 million resided in Metro Manila, which covered only 245 sq. mi. III. Analysis of the Task Environment The task environment is usually the environment that companies focus on. It helps the company to specifically identify environmental factors that are important in the company’s success. It typically includes the competitors, customers, suppliers, and strategic partners. Michael E. Porter of Harvard Business School has developed a framework for industry analysis and business strategy which he called the Porter’s Five Forces Analysis. Porter’s five forces include three forces from the ‘horizontal competition’: Threat of substitute products, threat of established rivals, and the threat of new entrants; and two forces from the ‘vertical competition’: the bargaining power of suppliers and bargaining power of customers. To help the company become more profitable, this section shall provide an industry analysis using Porter’s Five Forces Analysis. BARGAINING POWER OF SUPPLIER IS LOW The Bargaining power of the supplier is also described as the market of inputs. A company needs raw materials for them to offer products or services. Such raw materials include labor, components, and other supplies. These requirements lead to buyer-supplier relationship between the industry and the firm that provides the raw materials used to create the product or to deliver the service. Suppliers, if powerful, can exert an influence on the industry, such as selling raw materials at a high price to capture some of the industry’s profits. The following table is an analysis of the factors that determine the power of supplier. DETERMINANTS OF COMPETITIVE FORCEANALYSIS OF DETERMINANTIMPACT TO COMPETITIVE FORCE Dominated by a few companiesLowDecrease Not obliged to contend with other substitute products for sale in the industryLowDecrease Industry is not an important customer of the supplier groupLowDecrease Suppliers’ product is an important input to buyer’s businessHighIncrease Supplier group’s product are differentiated or it has built up switching costLowDecrease Buyers pose a credible threat of forward integrationHighIncrease BARGAINING POWER OF CUSTOMERS IS HIGH The power of buyers is the impact that customers have on a producing industry. In general, when buyer power is strong, the relationship to the producing industry is near to what an economist terms a monopsony a market in which there are many suppliers and one buyer. Under such market conditions, the buyer sets the price. In reality few pure monopsonies exist, but frequently there is some asymmetry between a producing industry and buyers. The following is an analysis of the factors affecting buyer’s power. DETERMINANTS OF COMPETITIVE FORCEANALYSIS OF DETERMINANTIMPACT TO COMPETITIVE FORCE Purchases large volumes relative to seller salesHighIncrease Products purchased from the industry represent a significant fraction of the buyer’s cost or purchaseHighIncrease Products purchased from the industry are standard or undifferentiatedHighIncrease Faces few switching costLowIncrease Earns low profitsHighIncrease Buyers pose a credible threat of backward integrationLowDecrease THREAT OF NEW ENTRANTS IS LOW It is not only incumbent rivals that pose a threat to firms in an industry; the possibility that new firms may enter the industry also affects competition. In theory, any firm should be able to enter and exit a market, and if free entry and exit exists, then profits always should be nominal. In reality, however, industries possess characteristics that protect the high profit levels of firms in the market and inhibit additional rivals from entering the market. These are barriers to entry. Barriers to entry are more than the normal equilibrium adjustments that markets typically make. For example, when industry profits increase, we would expect additional firms to enter the market to take advantage of the high profit levels, over time driving down profits for all firms in the industry. When profits decrease, we would expect some firms to exit the market thus restoring market equilibrium. Falling prices, or the expectation that future prices will fall, deters rivals from entering a market. Firms also may be reluctant to enter markets that are extremely uncertain, especially if entering involves expensive start-up costs. These are normal accommodations to market conditions. But if firms individually (collective action would be illegal collusion) keep prices artificially low as a strategy to prevent potential entrants from entering the market, such entry-deterring pricing establishes a barrier. Barriers to entry are unique industry characteristics that define the industry. Barriers reduce the rate of entry of new firms, thus maintaining a level of profits for those already in the industry. From a strategic perspective, barriers can be created or exploited to enhance a firms competitive advantage. DETERMINANTS OF COMPETITIVE FORCEANALYSIS OF DETERMINANTIMPACT TO COMPETITIVE FORCE Economies of ScaleHighDecrease Product DifferentiationLowIncrease Capital RequirementsHighDecrease Switching CostLowIncrease Access to Distribution ChannelsHighDecrease Cost of Disadvantages Independent of ScaleHighDecrease Government PolicyHighDecrease THREAT OF SUBSTITUTE PRODUCT IS LOW In Porters model, substitute products refer to products in other industries. To the economist, a threat of substitutes exists when a products demand is affected by the price change of a substitute product. A products price elasticity is affected by substitute products as more substitutes become available, the demand becomes more elastic since customers have more alternatives. A close substitute product constrains the ability of firms in an industry to raise prices. DETERMINANTS OF COMPETITIVE FORCEANALYSIS OF DETERMINANTIMPACT TO COMPETITIVE FORCE Available and priced attractivelyHighIncrease Buyers view the substitute as comparable or betterLowDecrease Cost that the buyer incursHighDecrease COMPETITIVE RIVALRY BETWEEN INDUSTRY IS HIGH With the real estate industry booming here in the Philippines, more and more companies develop strategic plans on how to capture more clients. DETERMINANTS OF COMPETITIVE FORCEANALYSIS OF DETERMINANTIMPACT TO COMPETITIVE FORCE Numerous of Equally Balanced CompetitorsHighIncrease Industry GrowthHighIncrease Fixed or Storage CostLowIncrease Lack of DifferentiationHighIncrease Capacity Augmented in Large IncrementsLowDecrease Diverse CompetitorsHighIncrease Strategic StakesHighIncrease Exit BarriersHighDecrease IV. PROBLEM How can Lamoiyan Corporation increase its market share without the multinationals attacking the company aggressively? V. ALTERNATIVE COURSES OF ACTION Strategy A: Tap a different market Explanation: Conduct business-to-business structure by tapping the hotel industry and the airlines. The company will be the exclusive distributor of toothpaste and other hygienic products of different hotels and airline companies PROSCONS The strategic move will not provoke aggressive attacks by the multinational companiesThe company needs to provide personalized packages for each of the hotel or airline company It will provide a higher income for the company incurring minimal fixed cost due to existing machineries for production Strategy B: Product Improvement Explanation: Improve the existing product in terms of its effect on mouth and breath, which is the top two concern of most users. It is also the factor that receives most complaints among users. The price, however, will not change. PROSCONS In can address the needs and wants of the target market, thus the possibility of increased sales May lower profit margins since production cost per unit will increase while the price remains the same It serves as a competitive advantage of the product offering the same benefits as that of the multinationals’ products but in a lower price Strategy C: Put up a factory and warehouse in the Vis-Min Area Explanation: Deficit in product availability is one factor that contributes to the growth slowdown of the company. Hapee toothpaste has low to very love store presence in grocery stores, sari-sari stores, market stalls, and drugstores in the Vis-Min area especially in Mindanao. Having a provincial warehouse and factory in Vis-Min Area will most likely to increase the availability rate of the product in that area. PROSCONS Product will be highly available in the areaThe company needs a large sum of money in capital investment Lower distribution cost due to near warehouses with respect to distribution outletsThere is higher risk because of patronage and loyalty non-assurance VI. RECOMMENDATION: Employ the combination of strategy A and B. When you know that your competitor is a big company, you do not compete head-on. They will just kill you! You cannot employ big plans as they do for this will trigger them to attack you aggressively. It is best to employ strategies which they can’t notice or if noticed, they wouldn’t mind at all. This way, you can capture their market little by little without them noticing it that much. What is good about strategy A is that multinational companies do not focus much in business-to-business transactions. They find the consumer market as a more profitable market. Hence, going into business-to-business transaction will not trigger the multinationals to be aggressive on you. On the other hand, product improvement will capture the market’s attention as they primarily purchase products of value. If they see that your product offers the same benefits their current product offers and you sell it in a lower price, they are most likely to switch brands. But due to customer loyalty, not the totality of the market will shift into your brand. Probably, only a few will due, but the point here is that you were able to capture a portion, may it be small, of their market. Strategy C is not recommended due to a very high capital investment in building up a factory in the Vis-Min Area, moreover, there is no assurance that the sales will compensate the investment easily due to certain factors such as customer loyalty. Thus, employing the combination of strategies A and B is seen as the best move for the company in order for it to increase its market share without triggering an aggressive attack from the multinationals.

UK Inflation essays

UK Inflation essays Macroeconomics History, causes and costs of Inflation in the UK economy Before starting to explain inflation it is necessary first to define it. Inflation can be described as a positive rate of growth in the general price level of goods and services. It is measured as a percentage increase over time in a price index such as the GDP deflator or the Retail Price Index. The RPI is a basket of over six hundred different goods and services, weighted according to the percentage of how much household income they take up. There are two measurements of this: the headline rate (includes all the items in the basket) and the underlying rate (RPIX) which excludes mortgage interest payments. It is the RPIX which is used more often in this country, as a feature of the UK when compared to the rest of Europe is a very high proportion of owner/occupier homeowners. This means that many people have mortgages, and as such, changes in interest rates (to control inflation) can artificially raise the headl ine rate. Causes of Inflation There are two main causes of inflation, 1) Demand Pull Inflation This is where the total demand for goods and services in the economy exceeds the total supply. This happens after excessive growth in aggregate demand, and creates an inflationary gap. Excess demand in the economy drives up prices, and high prices mean that Suppliers want to produce more units of their product in order to make more money. To supply more, they must increase their production capacity, and the easiest way to do this in the short run is to increase the amount of labour they employ. This means that they are paying more wages, so people will have more disposable income, and hence there is more demand in the economy. Demand pull inflation is often monetary in origin: when the money supply grows faster than the ability of the economy to supply goods and services. This concept is explained by the Quantity Theory of Money. The quantity theory of money hold...

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

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Comparative Negligence and COA Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Comparative Negligence and COA - Assignment Example The Management of European health SPA must be fully informed that they have a duty of care which provides that adequate action must be taken to avoid harm to its members or other people within their property. Policy aspects must be balanced in establishing the extent of their duty of care to patients and other stakeholders. Core components of sustaining an action in negligence include: the prediction of injury to the petitioner in which case it should be clearly identifiable the defendant’s action or inaction projected a sufficient level of certainty that the petitioner would suffer harm. Secondly, there should be a proximate cause between the the defendant’s actions or inaction and the injury or damage suffered by the plaintiff. In this case Rhoda has a right to claim damages given the fact that she is a member of the European Health SPA and the organization is to be morally blamed for not foreseeing and preventing the harm on her. The European Health SPA has a great burden and consequences for their actions of imposing duty and liability to the members as in Valdez v. J. D. Deffenbaugh Co., 51 Cal. App. 3d 494, 124 Cal. Rptr. 467 (1975). In this scenario the test of careless negligence is objective as opposed to being subjective. Rhoda who is the plaintiff must be fully aware that liability on the part of the defendant is incurred in tort when the party at the time of the act of negligence must have considerably foreseen the act that could lead into injury of another. According to Rhoda’s testimony it occurs that the floor had been slippery on all the 25 occasions she used the facilities, but the defendant had failed to exercise duty of care by warning its members or other users of the impending danger of a slippery floor. As a result of this negligence, Rhoda suffered physical injury, which entitles her to

Alcoholism Problem Essay Example for Free

Alcoholism Problem Essay Alcoholism is a chronic problem that includes difficulty in controlling drinking, having to drink consistently to get physical independence, being preoccupied with alcohol, and continually using alcohol regardless of problems it causes (Brick, 2004). Alcohol should not be legal in U.S. because it is impacts negatively on health, family, community and on a person’s education. Alcohol drinking is like taking a drug. It is a form of drug addiction and drug abuse. Alcoholism is a worldwide problem that affects many people. Drinking alcohol has negative short and long term effects. Alcoholism has been associated with adverse effects on health, family, community, and education (Marshall, 2000). However, the effects on a person depends on particular factors such as how often and how much alcohol is taken, a person’s age, gender, when a person begun drinking and how long they have been drinking, their health, and family history (Begleiter Kissin, 1996). It is in this regard that alcohol should not be legal in the United States. Alcohol is addictive, and people become addicts end up spending a lot of money on alcohol. It means that when they spend all the money they have on alcohol, they forget their families, and are not able to support the community in anyway. Some resort to stealing to sustain their drinking habit. Alcohol addicts sometimes engage in robbery acts to get the money for drinks. Community becomes at risk of destruction with excessive alcohol consumption allowed. When many people engage in excessive consumption of alcohol, education becomes at risk. People drop out of school, and illiteracy level increase in the community. In addition, the progress and development of any community depends on the health of its people. Therefore, when alcohol puts the health of its members at risk, community suffers in the long run. Alcohol affects both female and male differently. Men who consume alcohol, daily have an increased risk of health risks. Such men can experience cancer and heart disease in the long-term and  low energy to sexual difficulties in the short-term (Brick, 2004). Men are more likely to suffer from liver cirrhosis, and have higher chances of being diagnosed with high blood pressure. Nearly 26.6% of deaths among men of be tween 16 and 24 years old can be attributed to alcohol consumption. Men tend to be more dependent of alcohol (Marshall, 2000). Drinking too much alcohol damages a person’s body organs such as liver, brain, stomach, heart, and intestines. Brain is adversely affected because the brain cells die leading to loss of memory, learning difficulties, brain disorders, confusion, and problems with attention (Blane Leonard, 1999). Liver is highly affected because of the great possibility of developing cancer in the liver, throat and mouth. The stomach may also acquire ulcers. Long-term drinking has also been linked to stroke and heart failure. The nervous system can also experience damage leading to behavioral and physical problems (Dasgupta, 2011). These problems affect health, family, community, and education in the long-term because of expenses associated with alcohol consumption, and possible treatment measures. Alcohol poses many effects on the body such as fertility. It reduces levels of testosterone. As a result, it could decline sperm quantity and quality, and lead to loss of libido. Alcohol is toxic to the testicles, and affects hormones. It could hamper production of sperms, hinder them from developing properly, and s low their movement towards the egg. Alcohol can also limit the liver from metabolizing vitamin A properly. It also depresses the nervous system, and could result in difficulty in getting and keeping erection (Peters, 2008). Many young adults do not realize that alcohol has a fattening effect. Alcohol can reduce the amount of fat that the body burns for energy. The human body makes several attempts to eliminate alcohol very fast as it cannot remain in the body for storage. The process takes priority over nutrient absorption and burning of fat. In the long-term, there could be a serious damage in the appearance. Other effects include loss of hair in the body, breast enlargement, and withering of testicles (Dasgupta, 2011). Alcohol has also been associated with worsening of skin disorders such as rosacae. Rosacae skin disorder is responsible for expansion of blood vessels in the face making it redder. Heavy drinking can cause the appearance of pus spots and red bumps. It has also been linked to inflammation, pain and swelling in the joints. The effect is common among men of between 30 and 60 years old  (Hannigan, Spear, Spear Goodlett, 1999). As mentioned earlier, heavy drinking increases the chances of heart disease, liver damage, bone disease, cancer, anxiety and depression, and type II diabetes. Heavy consumption of alcohol also caused inflammation on the pancreas and irritates stomach. These effects indirectly affect family, community and education (Peters, 2008). Women are not safe from alcohol either. The body of women takes much time to process alcohol compared to men. Women feel more effects of alcohol than men even when they drink the same amount. The fertility of women is at risk with heavy consumption of alcohol. Women are high risk of acquiring breast cancer, and adverse impacts of the menopause. Women are advised in several studies to avoid alcohol when trying to have a baby. Alcohol disrupts menstrual cycle in women, and limits their chances of conceiving. These are bad effects on the body, and not good for family and community in general. Therefore, alcohol should not be legal in the United States (Hannigan, Spear, Spear Goodlett, 1999). While drinking less alcohol may make one look good, heavy consumption causes bad skin, tired eyes, and weight gain for both fe male and male. It also interferes with people’s sleep. Heavy consumers of alcohol often wake up and feel like they have not had enough rest. Alcohol dehydrates the body and skin. It deprives the skin of certain vital nutrients and vitamins. Hence, it is not good for health. Alcohol is also responsible for much divorce among couples due to fights in the family, and lack of finances for family upkeep (Dasgupta, 2011). Alcohol is depressant. It means that alcohol calms people down, and slows down some body organs. With only 0.05% level of blood-alcohol, a person begins getting dulled judgment, and his or her inhibitions get released. They then become clumsy and start having slurred speech with only a 0.10% blood-alcohol level. At 0.30% level of blood-alcohol, one nearly becomes unconscious. Any addition after that becomes extremely dangerous since at 0.45%, one can get into a coma. Brain shuts down from 0.70% and stop controlling the heart, breathing, and one may end up dead. Other short-term effects include blurred vision, blackouts and insomnia. These can lead to injuries, accidents, and even death. Drinking alcohol also causes hangover in the next morning, which is associated with nausea, headaches, heartburn, fatigue, thirst, and dizziness. There are many side effects of alcohol (Peters, 2008).Conclusion In conclusion, consumption of alcohol should be reconsidered in U.S because  of its adverse effects on health, family, community, and education. Alcohol should only be taken when necessary. The side effects are adverse and continue to destroy people across the world. Therefore, alcohol should not be legal in the United States because it is impacts negatively on health, family, community and on a person’s education. References Begleiter, H., Kissin, B. (1996). The pharmacology of alcohol and alcohol dependence. New York: Oxford University Press. Blane, H. T., Leonard, K. E. (1999). Psychological theories of drinking and alcoholism. New York [u.a.: Guilford Press. Brick, J. (2004). Handbook of the medical consequences of alcohol and drug abuse. New York: Haworth Press. Dasgupta, A. (2011). The science of drinking: How alcohol affects your body and mind. Lanham, Md: Rowman Littlefield. Hannigan, J. H., Spear, L. P., Spear, N. E., Goodlett, C. R. (1999). Alcohol and Alcoholism: Effects on Brain and Development. Hoboken: Taylor Francis. Marshall, R. (2000). Alcoholism: Genetic culpability or social irresponsibility: the challenge of innovative methods to determine final outcomes. Lanham, MD: University Press of America. Peters, A. R. (2008). Combined effects of alcohol and nicotine on subjective responses and cognitive functioning, Dissertation Abstracts International, 69-4

The Essence of Teamwork Essay -- Sociology Sociological Team Work Essa

The Essence of Teamwork â€Å"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their hard work. For if one of them should fall, the other one can raise his partner up. But how will it be with just the one who falls when there is not another to raise him up?† – Ecclesiastes 4:9, 10 As the scriptural text quoted above implies, teamwork can accomplish what the individual cannot do on his or her own. Teamwork is defined as â€Å"a small number of people with complementary skills who are committed to a common purpose, performance goals, and approach for which they are mutually accountable.† (Katzenbach and Smith, 1993) In today’s society, with so much emphasis on pride and personal achievement, the concept of teamwork seems to be old-fashioned or basic. Clashes of personality, different perspectives and cultures prescribe one to develop a natural inclination toward individual work and an unhealthy reluctance towards team work. Nevertheless, teamwork, if managed properly, can be a source in which complexity is simplified, a problem meets a solution and great things are accomplished. So with the focus on teamwork, what are the present challenges to teamwork? What are some good approaches towards building a successful team? Finally, what are the personal and collective benefits of teamwork? The Challenges to Teamwork When asked the question, â€Å"What are some challenges to teamwork?† most people would respond with common answers such as: conflicts of personalities, stress, job dissatisfaction, unethical behavior, miscommunication or lack of communication. However, with advancements in technology and a never before experienced contact between the western and eastern hemispheres of the world, there are new challenges that are being encountered now and will continue to be dealt with in the future. The challenges that must be met by today’s project teams are: Virtual Project Teaming, Cross-functional teams, Globalization, Diversity and Time to Market Pressure. Most of the common contributing factors to teamwork failure such as personality conflict, miscommunication or stress are the consequences experienced if the previously mentioned challenges are not met. The greater proportion of the work of virtual project teams is carried out online. These sorts of teams exploit reliable and consistent communications in order to work together and overcome some of t... ...dividual ideas. An individual’s communication, critical thinking, evaluation, conflict resolution and academic skills are improved through positive teamwork activities. As a result of good teamwork, social connections are formed between team members that may extend beyond the workplace or classroom and thus improve team morale and camaraderie. An individual’s communication, critical thinking, evaluation, conflict resolution and academic skills are improved. Bibliography: Cohen, E, (1986). Designing Groupwork: Strategies for the Heterogeneous Classroom. New York: Teachers College Press. Katzenbach, J.R and Smith, D.K. (1993). The Wisdom of Teams: Creating the High performance Organization. Boston: Harvard Business School. Kliem, R and Anderson, H (2003). The Organizational Engineering Approach to Project Management: The Revolution in Building and Managing Effective Teams. Boca Raton: St. Lucie Press. Lipnack, J and Stamps, J (1997). Virtual Teams: Reaching Across Space, Time, and Organizations with Technology. New York: John Wiley & Sons. New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (1984 Revision). New York: Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.

Case Study of Bg Group

A. METHODOLOGIES: 1. The Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) Approach: This method offers a wide range of advantages. For instance, the Capital Assets Pricing Model (CAPM) is employed in the calculation of the Cost of Equity. Thus, the discounted rate of 7. 58 percent used in figure 1. 12 Appendix is likely to be precise. The total value of the firm is $4. 73 billion. Nonetheless, in view of the probabilities of forecasting errors in the estimation of cash flows, the degree of precision does not guarantee an accurate result.Another drawback of the approach would be the failure to allow for the impacts of real options available to management on future cash flows. Hence, this method is considered as an alternative for crosschecking. The assumptions are the dividends grow constantly in perpetuity at 3 percent and the debt ratio is also constant at 28. 1 percent. For further analysis, please refer to item 2a and 3c in the Appraisal. 2. The EBIT Multiples Approach: Under this methodol ogy, the debt-equity ratio was not required. Thus, the value of the firm is approximately $4. 3 billion after liquidity discount was taken into account. This yields an insignificantly different result compared to the result under the WACC method. However, since the average EBIT multiples strongly depend on the comparable companies in the industry, reliable information is less likely to be available in practice. Therefore, another approach is employed. 3. Adjusted Present Value (APV) Approach: The APV method is more complicated than two methods mentioned earlier inasmuch as it takes account of unlevered value of the firm and the interest tax shield.Recent complexity of the method notwithstanding, APV provides management with an explicit valuation of interest tax shield and an assumption of constant debt-equity ratio is unnecessary. According to figure 1. 10, the total value of the firm before synergies is $5. 02 billion. Nonetheless, this method ignores the costs of financial distres s, which might lead to an overvaluation of the firm with a significantly high debt ratio. 4. Conclusion: Under different methods employed above, the range of difference appears to be immaterial.Thus, the value of the firm before synergies is expected to be approximately $4. 89 billion on average. For the purpose of consistency, APV method is selected for further analysis of the value of the firm both before and after synergies. B. FINANCIAL ANALYSIS: 1. Free Cash Flows (FCFs) Valuation: The present value of the cash flows is calculated based on the WACC rate and it is estimated at $1. 28 billion. The rate is used by reason of the assumption of different components, for instance cost of equity and cost of debt. For further information of the assumption, please refer to the Appraisal. . Terminal Values and Long-term Growth: The terminal value before synergies is $3. 45 billion whereas this amount after synergies is $8. 36 billion. In details, the synergies revenues and the backhaul sy nergies savings are the major contributors to the significant difference. Additionally, the terminal value represents the market value of free cash flows from AirThread Connections at all future dates. This, thereby, lends the analyst the plausibility to believe that the discounted rate is equal to the WACC rate of 7. 58 percent.Lastly, to be conservative, that is, in the worst scenario, the figure of growth rate obtained in the Appraisal is around 3. 0 percent. 3. Non-operating Investment in Equity Affiliates: This amount of $1. 72 billion is equal to Equity in Earnings of Affiliates times the historic P/E multiple for the industry at 19. 1. These investments are valued under the market multiple approach because a thorough due diligence is not possible to be conducted. 4. Value of Operating Assets: This value is equivalent to the present value of the target company on a going concern basis.It is estimated at $5. 02 billion before the synergies and at $10. 38 billion after the syner gies. However, since the value of non-operating assets is not taken into account, the total value of the target company is not fully reflected. 5. Enterprise Value: The Enterprise value is equal to the sum of the value of operating assets and the value of nonoperating assets. i. Before Synergies: In this case, the synergies related business revenues and the backhaul synergies savings are not considered. The FCFs ppear to be more immaterial accordingly. It, therefore, leads to a lower Intermediate Term Value of $1. 57 billion and a lower Enterprise Value of $6. 74 billion. ii. After Synergies: With the effect of synergies, the FCFs and, thus, the Enterprise Value of $12. 1 billion appear to be more material. Importantly, the significant difference is contributed by the cost-saving efficiency in backhaul costs and the network utilization. Thus, more advantages would occur. Firstly, administrative expenses such as auditing fees are reduced.Secondly, the market share will, in essence, i ncrease and monopoly gains due to large regional client bases from the target company could be expected. The company will be able to set a higher price and to increase a sheer volume of sales. Also, the company will gain more reputation and the cost of capital will be lower accordingly. Lastly, due to its new size, the company will have more bargain power and the relationships with banking entities will be better. Consequently, the cost of borrowing tends to decrease. Case Study of Bg Group A. METHODOLOGIES: 1. The Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) Approach: This method offers a wide range of advantages. For instance, the Capital Assets Pricing Model (CAPM) is employed in the calculation of the Cost of Equity. Thus, the discounted rate of 7. 58 percent used in figure 1. 12 Appendix is likely to be precise. The total value of the firm is $4. 73 billion. Nonetheless, in view of the probabilities of forecasting errors in the estimation of cash flows, the degree of precision does not guarantee an accurate result.Another drawback of the approach would be the failure to allow for the impacts of real options available to management on future cash flows. Hence, this method is considered as an alternative for crosschecking. The assumptions are the dividends grow constantly in perpetuity at 3 percent and the debt ratio is also constant at 28. 1 percent. For further analysis, please refer to item 2a and 3c in the Appraisal. 2. The EBIT Multiples Approach: Under this methodol ogy, the debt-equity ratio was not required. Thus, the value of the firm is approximately $4. 3 billion after liquidity discount was taken into account. This yields an insignificantly different result compared to the result under the WACC method. However, since the average EBIT multiples strongly depend on the comparable companies in the industry, reliable information is less likely to be available in practice. Therefore, another approach is employed. 3. Adjusted Present Value (APV) Approach: The APV method is more complicated than two methods mentioned earlier inasmuch as it takes account of unlevered value of the firm and the interest tax shield.Recent complexity of the method notwithstanding, APV provides management with an explicit valuation of interest tax shield and an assumption of constant debt-equity ratio is unnecessary. According to figure 1. 10, the total value of the firm before synergies is $5. 02 billion. Nonetheless, this method ignores the costs of financial distres s, which might lead to an overvaluation of the firm with a significantly high debt ratio. 4. Conclusion: Under different methods employed above, the range of difference appears to be immaterial.Thus, the value of the firm before synergies is expected to be approximately $4. 89 billion on average. For the purpose of consistency, APV method is selected for further analysis of the value of the firm both before and after synergies. B. FINANCIAL ANALYSIS: 1. Free Cash Flows (FCFs) Valuation: The present value of the cash flows is calculated based on the WACC rate and it is estimated at $1. 28 billion. The rate is used by reason of the assumption of different components, for instance cost of equity and cost of debt. For further information of the assumption, please refer to the Appraisal. . Terminal Values and Long-term Growth: The terminal value before synergies is $3. 45 billion whereas this amount after synergies is $8. 36 billion. In details, the synergies revenues and the backhaul sy nergies savings are the major contributors to the significant difference. Additionally, the terminal value represents the market value of free cash flows from AirThread Connections at all future dates. This, thereby, lends the analyst the plausibility to believe that the discounted rate is equal to the WACC rate of 7. 58 percent.Lastly, to be conservative, that is, in the worst scenario, the figure of growth rate obtained in the Appraisal is around 3. 0 percent. 3. Non-operating Investment in Equity Affiliates: This amount of $1. 72 billion is equal to Equity in Earnings of Affiliates times the historic P/E multiple for the industry at 19. 1. These investments are valued under the market multiple approach because a thorough due diligence is not possible to be conducted. 4. Value of Operating Assets: This value is equivalent to the present value of the target company on a going concern basis.It is estimated at $5. 02 billion before the synergies and at $10. 38 billion after the syner gies. However, since the value of non-operating assets is not taken into account, the total value of the target company is not fully reflected. 5. Enterprise Value: The Enterprise value is equal to the sum of the value of operating assets and the value of nonoperating assets. i. Before Synergies: In this case, the synergies related business revenues and the backhaul synergies savings are not considered. The FCFs ppear to be more immaterial accordingly. It, therefore, leads to a lower Intermediate Term Value of $1. 57 billion and a lower Enterprise Value of $6. 74 billion. ii. After Synergies: With the effect of synergies, the FCFs and, thus, the Enterprise Value of $12. 1 billion appear to be more material. Importantly, the significant difference is contributed by the cost-saving efficiency in backhaul costs and the network utilization. Thus, more advantages would occur. Firstly, administrative expenses such as auditing fees are reduced.Secondly, the market share will, in essence, i ncrease and monopoly gains due to large regional client bases from the target company could be expected. The company will be able to set a higher price and to increase a sheer volume of sales. Also, the company will gain more reputation and the cost of capital will be lower accordingly. Lastly, due to its new size, the company will have more bargain power and the relationships with banking entities will be better. Consequently, the cost of borrowing tends to decrease.

Inclusive Practice Essay

Inclusive Practice is a term which means the practical things that we do, when we are working with people who use our services, which demonstrate our professional values, standards, and principles in action. In particular Inclusive Practice is about participation, collaboration, and including people: where individuals are fully involved in choices and decisions that affect their lives and in the matters that are important to them. People who use mental health services say that being listened to, having their individual needs taken account of, and staff attitudes and values is a very important part of keeping well (Dunglas Research Project, 2005). The experience of participation is often as important as the end result. Participation itself may be an outcome. Inclusive Practice can benefit staff through sharing knowledge and learning new and effective ways of working with people. People who use services bring new ideas, and we are able to respond from a more informed position. Inclusive Practice is good practice, and is also about a human rights and anti-discriminatory approach to mental health. Inclusive practice underpins anti-discriminatory practice and is the practical way in which we put our equality policies/agenda into action. * The learners. All learners are citizens and have rights and entitlements. They should be treated fairly regardless of race, religion or abilities. This applies no matter: – what they think or say – what type of family they come from – what language(s) they speak – what their parents do – whether they are girls or boys whether they have a disability or whether they are rich or poor. All learners have an equal right to be listened to and valued in the setting. * Equality and diversity My understanding of diversity is broad – it encompasses gender, race, age, disability, linguistic differences, learning abilities, sexual orientation, socio-economic status and cultural background and so much more. Inclusive practice is understood to be attitudes, approaches and strategies taken to ensure that students are not excluded or isolated from the learning environment because of any of these characteristics. As a tutor, my role is to ensure that all students feel welcome, accepted, safe, listened to, valued and confident that they can participate in all activities. I need to be sensitive to the needs of all students. I am the protagonist in setting the culture of my tutorial and thus able to set parameters for creating a learning culture which recognises and honours student diversity. I have very diverse groups of students in my lessons. My approach to this as a tutor is influenced by my own experiences and assumptions and, in some instances, those of other students. It is useful to reflect on this, as perhaps I may carry some negative or fixed ideas into the classroom. I need to be aware (beware) of my own generalisations and stereotypes and those perpetuated by others. I consider these suggestions for inclusive teaching: – When I ask a question, I make eye contact with all students – When listening to a response, I listen attentively – I treat each student as an individual – I call on all students by name where possible – I make an effort to learn names – I intervene when students show disrespect for another student – I use small groups to foster collaborative learning I encourage students to share their varied perspectives and experiences & create a supportive environment in which this can occur – I encourage students to know and listen to each other. – I avoid stories, jokes and comments that denigrate others * Lesson planning The group of learners I teach is a group of individual s who have own needs and abilities as far as learning is concerned. While planning a lesson I take into consideration learners’ needs and their ability to perform during the lesson. To maximize learning opportunity for individuals I differentiate the lesson so that each of learners is not left behind and has a chance to learn something from a lesson. Considering learners’ previous educational experience and various teaching and learning strategies I create a lesson plan to facilitate a learning opportunity. * Teacher as a motivator As mentioned above, being prepared for a lesson through carefully designing lesson plan, a teacher motivates learners to participate in the lesson. Teacher’s attitude is also crucial. Being enthusiastic and positive to what he/she is teaching places learners in a position to class a teacher as an expert of the subject he/she is teaching. Constructive feedback and being a good listener ensures learners that they were listened to. To become a successful teacher, a candidate needs to take interests in learners, needs to find a connection with them by being approachable and accessible at any time they need him. Getting learners involved in the lesson and encouraging them to help each other reinforces their learning and helps to check if they know what they are doing. A teacher is responsible for providing a challenging but supportive learning environment so learners can see how much they know and what skills they need to develop. Using a range of teaching strategies and audio visual aids provides variation to a lesson and helps to deliver it to learners in a meaningful way. References: Dunglas Research Project, 2005 Reece I & Walker S (2003) Teaching, Training and Learning Roffey-Barentsen J & Malthouse R (2009) Reflective Practice in the Lifelong Learning Sector. Learning Matters.

American education reform

American education reform The vision for all children, regardless of their societal setting, should be to receive meaningful education that prepares them for responsibilities, opportunities and challenges that lie ahead, in order to have a significant impact in not only their societies, but also the international economy.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on American education reform specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is for this reason that the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and their affiliates continue to push for Common Core State Standards (CCSS), though their efforts lack the support of policy makers, who are fixated on the use of standardized tests for the purpose of accountability. Following the enactment of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) in 2001, more attention was given to fulfilling the needs of students by employing CCSS and assessments to evaluate student and school performance. However, this system left educators as the only par ty responsible for the performance of students and schools, while policy makers set out to increase the number of standardized tests administered to students as a way to benchmark their performance levels and set prerequisites for graduation or promotion. Educators acknowledge the importance of measuring student learning through the appropriate use of standardized testing and logical accountability measures, though they continue to assert that there should be proper balance between teaching and testing. As such, reforming the American education system requires a lot of work to be done, beyond the administration of regular assessments, through professional development, aligned curriculum, and access to resources for educators to advance their knowledge and collaboration efforts. One of the requirements of the NCLB is the administration of standardized testing in all 50 states on an annual basis for all students above the third grade. These tests are motivated by the notion that stude nts will feel increased pressure to perform well, owing to the eventual reward or punishment, which will then increase their learning and achievement. The use of tests is vital for monitoring student learning, but the current accountability system under the NCLB Act has brought about serious implications including: reduced attention to critical elements of the curriculum that are not mandated to accountability testing, compromise of student learning time to test preparation and testing, and the shift of educators attention to attaining a minimum score as opposed to gaining knowledge. Popham (11) claims that the use of a test-based accountability system is rational since it provides educators with a means to assess the comprehension level of their students, though the absolute reliance on this strategy obstructs proper teaching and learning.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Lu nenburg (2) argues that high-stakes testing does not increase student learning. Instead, it interferes with student motivation and narrows the curriculum as teachers provide instruction based on the appropriate response to test questions. This is done at the expense of vital skills traditionally provided in schools, including problem solving, critical thinking and group work. In the last decade, the time spent on test preparation and testing has increased drastically, in similar proportion to the lost instructional time and additional testing expenses. Proponents of more testing argue that the improved rate of student achievement, owing to additional tests, outweigh the extra costs of testing or money paid to testing companies, and fail to realize that the increase in number of ‘bubble students’, or those whose scores are concentrated at the minimum score, compromises the development of every student’s full potential (Nelson 8). There are different kinds of asses sments administered in schools including those mandated by the state and those developed at the district level, though the recent focus on data reporting and analysis has made all assessments high-stakes assessments with implications for students, schools and teachers. State tests mandated by NCLB are aimed at determining whether the students are satisfying state standards on an annual basis, and are administered in the spring to sum up the school year. The test scores are then compared to those of previous years in order to determine the effectiveness of a school. However, Lunenburg (3) argues that the use of a single summative test score to assess student achievement is flawed as it does not reflect on the progress of the students. A study performed by Nelson on two mid-sized urban school districts revealed that students in grade 3 to 10 spend between 20 and 50 hours every year taking high-stake tests, and an additional 60-110 hours preparing for those tests. In addition, an estim ated cost of $6.15 for every lost instructional hour translated to an annual testing cost of about $700 per students. However, this study did not take into consideration a variety of other time and testing costs including: cost of test prep materials, the teacher’s non-classroom time spent preparing the test, time and cost of special education testing, cost of preparing hardware and technology for testing, and time spent on data reporting and analysis.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on American education reform specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Other costs not incorporated in the study are those pertaining to time spent by students on quizzes or teacher-made tests, and the time spent on assessing homework and grading tests (Nelson). Nonetheless, Nelson (27) observed that the scrutiny of current testing policy, in regard to budgetary costs, would spark policymakers to consider alternative uses of teacher and stud ent time, like allocating more time to non-test subjects in the curriculum. According to the study performed by Nelson, the abolishment of testing would free up between 20 and 40 minutes in every school day for most grades, and in some cases, add an entire class period for students in grades 6-11. Furthermore, it would be possible to relocate about $100 of the amount used on every student for testing to buy instructional programs or provide technology. According to Nelson (28), reducing the time and costs of testing by even half of the current levels would still produce considerable benefits to the learning school day, and create funds for the preparation of tests that are better suited to enhance knowledge acquisition, and even increase the access of teachers, students and parents to valuable resources and information. In the recent past, different states have started to acknowledge the pleas of educators to focus less on excess-testing and more on imparting meaningful knowledge. T he Texas legislature, for instance, decided to slice the amount of high school end-of-course mandated exams for graduation from fifteen to five. On a similar note, the New York Orchard Park Central School District proposed that the 2013 state assessments be used in evaluating the progress of the state in introducing the CCLS, as opposed to assessing the performance of students or the effectiveness of educators (Popham). According to Popham, the level of poverty in the communities where various schools are situated does not serve as an indicator for the quality of education or instruction that occurs in the classroom, but has the largest impact on the variation of test scores from one institution to the other. Besides the amount of wealth in the community where a school is located, the resources available in that school also affect its performance and test scores; hence the distinction in the scores of Beverly Hills’ schools and those in Birmingham. Using test scores to evalua te teachers is erroneous since the scores of the students are only partly dependent on the kind of education that they receive. These scores are also a reflection of the interference of the community on the student’s education, long before the child interacted with the teacher in the classroom (Popham).Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The results obtained from high-stakes tests inform the state of the resources available in a school, and the socioeconomic status of the community, but not about the quality of education provided within those schools. If standardized tests continue to be administered, the outcomes of those tests should be provided to parents, teachers, school districts, and other relevant parties for accountability purposes instead of using them for research and intricate systems for evaluating schools and teachers (Lunenburg). In addition, the purpose of testing should be to enhance instructions offered to students and assist in improving schools, rather than to sanction, punish and shut down schools. It is not rational to issue tests to students for the sole purpose of determining the impact that their educators have on imparting knowledge. A measure of achievement should be one of the components used when assessing the school. Nelson (31) suggests that state and school districts should evaluate t he cost implications of the entire testing and assessment systems employed in typical school districts, including the cost and time for test preparation and lost instructional time. Nelson also proposes the incorporation of support measures to enhance the evaluation literacy of teachers that is required for improving and employing classroom assessments, as well as the appropriate utilization and interpretation of formal tests. It would then be the responsibility of the state to hold teachers accountable for employing the best assessment practices. It is important that all parties concerned with testing students to determine their progress or check teacher and school effectiveness to streamline their processes. To achieve this, school districts should include educators in the evaluation of testing systems to establish their usefulness in improving teaching, and in so doing, abolish any assessments that are not meaningful. In the effort to promote student knowledge acquisition, it may also be advisable to either reduce or abolish interim testing since they have no useful impact in promoting the teaching process. Nelson claims that these tests are exceedingly complicated, confusing, and do not reflect the state standards, but instead lead to an increase in â€Å"bubble students† and mediocrity. While in this process, it may also be advisable to do away with redundant, obsolete state tests and establish Common Core assessments designed by PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) or SBAC (Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium) as the only state-mandated assessments. In conclusion, teachers should embark on processes that allow them to drastically reduce the time spent on assessment preparation and benchmark testing. This can be achieved by shifting their focus from administering old tests to gaining new skills and knowledge that is vital for executing the Common Core standards in a setting that does not motivate learning throu gh the promise of reward and punishment. Another way to save on time and costs is to embed assessments in instructional materials. This can be achieved through challenging tasks and projects that require students to engage at their own pace, and use brief tests to check their comprehension in the course of the training schedule. Lunenburg, Fred C. America’s Obsession with Student Testing: Costs in Money and Lost Instructional Time. International Journal f Scholarly Academic Intellectual Diversity 15.1 (2013): 1-4. Print. Nelson, Howard. Testing More, Teaching Less What America’s Obsession with Student Testing Costs in Money and Lost Instructional Time. Washington, D.C: American Federation of Teachers, 2013. Print. Popham, James. Classroom evidence of successful teaching, mastering assessment. Boston, MA: Allyn Bacon, 2011. Print.

How To Get Inspiration For Your Research Projects

How To Get Inspiration For Your Research Projects How to connect for the inspiration in your writing job Writing is a creative process which requires both factual calculations of time and effort as well as a consideration of an emotional side, such as inspiration. It is easy to make a rough estimation of the time and effort required to produce your next publication. However, the lack of inspiration to write about the required subject might be an issue and can result in the writer’s block. How to connect for the inspiration? Places for inspiration Nowadays, there are many places available for getting an inspiration which writers may end up lacking in the creative process. In the academic world, the inspiration for the research can come from attending conferences or seminars, reading up to date academic publications, listening to good quality radio podcasts, checking newspapers and websites, engaging in social media and connecting with people who are equally interested in the subject that you study. Connecting with other researchers It might be very helpful to connect with those who study the same subject. Your colleagues have their own insights and they can share the valuable information with you. You can join relevant networks or you can even start your own blog or forum to publicize your research and get into a productive discussion with those who have the same interests. Seeking advice from those whose research you respect is also one of the ways to get your piece of work written effectively. Promoting your research via digital media It is important to be â€Å"online present†. If you would like to promote your research, it can be very helpful to be socially active in terms of online activity. You need to engage in the social media in order to spread the important ideas of your work to as many people as possible. Nowadays, it is unwise to underestimate the power of social media, so use it to the fullest. Digital means for working on the academic pieces of writing The number of digital aids for the effective writing is very much in abundance nowadays. Do you need to save an interesting information that you have encountered on the web? You can use one of the digital bookmarking sites such as Delicious, Pinterest, Scoop.it or Pinterest. If you need an online reference manager, Zotero, Endnote or Mendeley can be very helpful. The citations that you come across can be saved very easily with those research management tools. Physically activity as a source of inspiration Being physically fit can make a lot of difference in the creative process. Besides getting a portion of positive emotions, going for a run or exercising in the gym can give you some time to think about the subject of your research. Many successful writers say that they come up with new and unique ideas when they are in motion. Writing an academic paper is a challenging task and every academic writer has his own methods and routines which facilitate producing great pieces of work. Perhaps, experimenting is the key element in the process of creating a masterpiece. Finding your own approach to the creative writing process can help you achieve your goal of being a successful writer.

Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 46

Assignment - Essay Example This is called differentiation. Marketing lets business leadership find a valuable or innovative feature of a product or service and then promote to customers why this product should be purchased over similar competitor products. Marketing is also about cost controls using different metrics to measure whether a promotional campaign is meeting with success. For example, it might be discovered through market research that making a product costs the organization far too much with the operations budget. This would have an impact on the price to customers so that the company does not lose money in production. Marketing activity lets a business see all of its expenses and make changes to build a more productive manufacturing system. Controls in business strategy are very important to be successful and discover if the business can be more effective. The question as to whether or not marketers should continue to market cigarettes is an ethical issue. If there is consumer demand for the product and it is considered a legal substance, there really is no reason why marketers cannot continue to promote the product. Consumer safety is a big issue in marketing and general business, but in the case of cigarettes, it is consumers that are responsible to make decisions that are good for their health status. Governments and many different special interest groups have provided society with scientific knowledge about the dangers of cigarettes. There are likely few people in the world today, both young and old, that are unaware that cigarettes cause cancer and other serious illnesses and health problems. If consumers continue to buy the product, it is not likely because of tobacco company promotions, but because they enjoy consuming the product. Ethics differ from culture to culture so there is no one universal set of beliefs and values that should be forced on cigarette marketers. Then the answer is yes,

Review of a Christian-themed film Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Review of a Christian-themed film - Essay Example Amenabar managed to represent the very essence of that terrible era, which we consider the golden age of patristic. His scenes and characters are relevant and at the same time they are clearly correlated with the era, and their historically obvious naivety for us is blown with romantic languishing. The action takes place In Alexandria, Egypt, in the end of IV-V century, when paganism was retreating under the pressure of young and uncompromising Christianity. IV century is the century of triumph of Christianity in the Roman Empire. During this century Christians have moved from defense to attack, and from the oppressed religious minority they became a powerful government agency which was imposing its will to the rulers of destroying empire. In 391 in Alexandria religious clashes began, during which was destroyed the Library of Alexandria - one of the richest libraries in the world at that time. A former slave of Hypatia Davus who was secretly in love with her, becomes a Christian too and joined the rioters. Over time, the Christian church is becoming more powerful, and soon Bishop Cyril of Alexandria demanded Orestes and others to renounced Hypatia and forbid her to teach and do science. Hypatia was not able to deal with it and accept Christianity, so she was declared to be a witch, a prostitute and soon was killed. Hypatia is the embodiment of the ideas of modernity, science, secularism and feminism. We can say that she is the progress of the fifth century. But, as is in case with any genius, or with the person, going one step ahead of his time, her history is full of obstacles and difficulties. And the problem here is not only that the filmmakers made Hypatia an incarnation of the virtues, but also (what is more important) because they were trying to oppose the viewer to the heroine, in every respect alien or "otherness" towards us. We have to see her as a woman of her own time. Hypatia, the