Liquidity Ratio Essay

In this case study, our main purpose is to analyze the company financial statements and investigate the effects of financial analysis announcements on the stock price from 2000 to 2004. Besides that, we concerned about the financial management or strategy in the company and how are they sustaining their company growth and expected earnings in the stock market. We also discuss about the company financial analysis and competition in the industry. 2. 0Case Study Summary Krispy Kreme Doughnut operation was started in 1937 when the founder of Kripsy Kreme, Vernon Rudolph began making doughnuts from a special recipe he bought from a French chef. Then, Krispy Kreme was so well-known and it expanded from a wholesale enterprise to an addition of Krispy Kreme’s retail operations and franchising. Rudolph focused on excellent quality of doughnuts and customer service. The result was always good when it was under the control of Rudolph. After Rudolph’s death, Krispy Kreme was acquired by Beatrice Foods and its priority was to earn profit. Beatrice encouraged additions to the menu and changed the original recipe and logo of Krispy Kreme to cut cost. Unfortunately, the business went down Beatrice decided to sell it. In 1982, the new owner of Krispy Kreme, Joseph McAleer bought Krispy Kreme by using leverage. Joseph maintained back the original logo and recipe of Krispy Kreme. One of the priorities of Joseph and Krispy Kreme focused on hot and fresh doughnut. In 1989, Kripsy Kreme was free from debt and began to expand. In 1996, doughnuts and added branded coffee were their main focus. In year 2000, Kripsy Kreme went public and the initial share price reached $40. 63. After going public, the corporation was planning aggressively to increase the number of stores and enter international markets. The revenues of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts were generated from n-premises sales, off-premises sales, manufacturing and distribution of product mix and machinery and franchise royalties and fees. In May 2004, Krispy Kreme announced three major adverse results for the first time as a public company. Firstly, the company suffered loss due to the trend of low-carbohydrate diet. Secondly, it planned to divest Montan a Mills and would be charged. Thirdly, the company planned to close three of its new Hot Doughnut and Coffee Shops. These announcements made the shares closed down by 30%. In year 2003, SEC announced that Kripsy Kreme was too aggressive in acquiring franchise. The practice of Krispy Kreme acquiring Michigan franchise was so wrong. The company recorded the interest income on past-due loan from Michigan as immediate profit and the purchase cost on Michigan as intangible asset and did not pay off. In the same time, the company was being charged due to the quitting of the Michigan’s top executive. The shares of Krispy Kreme fell for another 15% due to the announcement from SEC. SEC published another report stated that Krispy Kreme was facing the problem of growing too fast and the company was too rely on the profits made from manufacturing and distribution of franchise equipment. Strengths Krispy Kreme is a well-established and long running company. It has a strong and consistent consumer base in United State and abroad. Krispy Kreme is a nationally well known consumer brand because the company offers product that is second to none regarding on the taste, freshness and the finest ingredients. The company has consistent expansion and growth. Currently, the corporation has 395 stores with the presence in 40 states in United State and in 16 foreign countries. Krispy Kreme gains the most popularity in grocery, convenience stores and retail outlets due to easy accessibility to the product. The corporation offers more than 20 different types of doughnuts and other menu items including of coffee and bakery items. They are also selling those collectable memorabilia such as mugs, hats and toys. Besides that, Krispy Kreme introduced the neon sign of â€Å"Hot Doughnuts Now† because it offers variety of freshly made doughnuts with high quality everyday. Krispy Kreme is also the first corporation that cut a hole in its factory’s wall to sell its fresh doughnuts directly to the customers. Krispy Kreme is a vertically intergrated company with three business units which are company store operations, franchise operations and supply chain operation. They produce doughnuts in a cost effective manner because of the using of an accelerated approach. Thus, Krispy Kreme has a high capacity of production because each factory stores could produce 4000 dozen to 10000 dozen of doughnuts in a single day. In addition, Kripsy Kreme also differentiated itself with the others by offering customers an experience to see the production of doughnuts. 3. 1. 2Weaknesses Krispy Kreme has the following weaknesses which is the low inventory turnover ratio. If not attended to quickly the firms supply line will continue to cost more money and reduce future profits. Next, the financial condition of Krispy Kreme is better compared to its competitors but does have some areas that need improvement. Krispy Kreme’s young management is showing that they want to be alert and have employed an almost zero tolerance policy regarding debt. Poor management or financial practices hurt reputation and stock prices of this company. Limited amount of â€Å"healthy† menu selections, limited â€Å"non-breakfast† menu items 3. 1. 3Opportunities International expansion gives better returns to company. Krispy Kreme can grab the chance to expand its business and enter into new markets like Asia countries because Asians love sweet goods and they are open to trying foreign foods. The popularity of Western brands in these markets is quiet high.

Kerzner Office Equipment

Critique Briggs’ management of the first meeting. What, if anything, should she have done differently? The approach employed by Amber Briggs in the first meeting of the Kerzner Anniversary Task Force can be described as traditional. Firstly, Briggs, the head, prepared the agenda, which mainly consisted of the activities to be done within the one-hour meeting, followed by the members’ introduction of themselves wherein they stated the different departments they are connected with and lastly, the head reminded them to solicit information from their department colleagues on how the anniversary celebration should be done.In my analysis, there’s actually nothing wrong with the way Briggs handled the first meeting, but considering that the purpose is to prepare for an upcoming event that is special and grandiose, she could have handled it a little differently than the conventional way. I understand that this event would really call for commitment and teamwork so she co uld have awakened the interest and stirred the creative minds of the task force’ members by brainstorming on the appropriate theme for the event. This would serve as the guide of all the committee heads (task force members) in coming-up with the plan for their respective committee assignments. The meeting could have been more fruitful.Since the group members are coming from different departments, Briggs should have done better by explaining to the members the main purpose of the task force’s creation so that each one will know their vital role, the presentation of the budget they will be working on so that they will have an idea of how much the management is willing to spend in order to make the event successful and the presentation of the committees. The members, being the committee leaders, will now pick the committee they are willing to handle, which is supposedly prepared by Briggs prior to the first meeting’s schedule.Sample committees with specified tasks that will help realize the goal of the celebration could be: a) promotions to take charge of the intra-company advertisement (e.g. bulletin boards update, flyers, etc) and gimmicks prior to the actual celebration in order the set the pace for the much awaited activity; program to take charge of the entire flow of activities, program layout, invitation, and selection of the program hosts or emcees; games and awards to take care of the fun games to serve as fillers for the lull moments and the identification and preparation of awards to be given (e.g. per department to acknowledge their contribution for recovering and staying in the business despite the national recession).Food to select the caterer and menu; decoration to plan and supervise the decoration of the venue in accordance with the theme or concept of the event; physical arrangement/lights/sounds to take charge of the layout of the venue, the lights needed to make it livelier and the sound system, which would include the sel ection of the music to be played throughout the activity; and documentation committee to capture every moment for everyone to cherish including the preparation of an article on the event to be published in the company’s newsletter.Before ending the meeting, rather than merely reminding them to solicit information from their colleagues, each member should have been reminded to prepare a plan with the proposed individual committee members and estimated budget, which will be presented in the next meeting. All the task force’s members will then give their comments and suggestions to improve the prepared plan.It would have been better also if the actual date of the next meeting was decided upon. Briggs, as the head, could propose a schedule before adjourning the meeting so everyone can give their comments. Once schedule has been agreed, the members should ensure that if they could not attend due to operational concerns or unforeseen circumstances, a capable and committed re presentative, who has been briefed of his or her role, will be present to attend the meeting and give updates.What barriers is she likely to encounter in completing this project? What can she do to overcome these barriers? Note: Answers to q. # 3 is imbedded (italicized) in the answers to q. # 2The major barrier that is likely to be encountered in completing this project is the availability of the task force members. It would have been better, if after the discussion of the objectives, the members were asked on how interested and committed they were to be part of the team. As mentioned in the case, most of the members were assigned rather than volunteered so a very pertinent issue involved here would be commitment. It’s also possible that because the company is composed of 1,100 employees, not all of them know each other personally.This is very essential to encourage teamwork. Briggs, being in the HR department, should ensure that this group would have a chance to meet each o ther more frequently in other company engagements or activities. It would also be good if they could work in pairs in their assigned committees. Briggs could also allot 5 minutes every time the task force meets for group dynamic activities to promote teamwork. For a start, a getting-t- know-you activity would be nice.What should she do between now and the next meeting?After the meeting, she could send an email to all the members on the minutes (what has been discussed) including their specific committee assignments and the things expected of them in the next meeting. She could also send a separate email to the two absent members to update them on what has been discussed. She could ask them too if they are available and would commit to the future undertakings of the group. As stated above, a five-minute group dynamic activity could strengthen the group’s teamwork. This would also make the meeting more interesting. Briggs should also acknowledge the team’s progress to en courage more their participation.Park Manor Condominium: Analysis of social and psychological market factorsCase written by Prof. John M. Hess, University of ColoradoPark Manor, a condominium apartment community located twenty five minutes from downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is troubled by a significant decline in sales in recent months. The developers Herbert Klein, Hilton Howard and Lloyd Franklin, analyzed the different strategies employed by the condominium in attracting customers and debated whether they have reduced the market too severely by their age and no-children barriers. Howard believes that they have already exhausted the over-forty market and should therefore lower the minimum age limit.On the other hand, Franklin said that they have barely touched the market by focusing too much on the retired individuals instead of the working people and those whose children have left home and no longer desire for a large house. Klein also thinks that they have taken the wrong track by limiting their efforts on the local area. It would have been better if they have attracted retirees from a regional or national market. He specifically identified Chicago, which has approximately 200,000 eligible retirees with an additional 20,000 persons retiring each year (cited in Stanton, 1978).To provide the right solution to the problem, they conducted a market study, which revealed some public misconceptions and prejudices that probably aroused from shifts in promotional emphasis. A summary statement of the report reads: a) age – most respondents view Park manor as an old-people’s home; b) income – majority of the respondents identify Park Manor as an expensive, high income and high cost place to live; c) institutionalization – people fee that they will loose their freedom if they move to the place; d) not quite respectable   – many perceive as not being quite respectable   and e) apartment living – homeowners do not like to l ive in an apartment and apartment dwellers don’t wish to invest or tie up funds in their residence (cited in Stanton, 1978).As a result, the development company has learned that buying a home and moving are emotion-laden activities and that each type of the market has different reasons for changing residences, which is often at cross purposes, thus appeals to one may alienate the others. Park Manor also feels that they have to identify and select the most compatible market elements (cited in Stanton, 1978).CVS/Pharmacy: Market Expertise Is Key to SuccessCVS/Pharmacy, one of the largest retailers in the US, wanted to launch their new camcorders with the aid of market experts to ensure success. They believe in the power of PR and they have sought the help of the best agencies for their unique PR programs. For the photo division, they wanted an agency with solid media connections and with an understanding of the imaging market. Furthermore, they wanted an agency with the ability to generate results instantly, thus they hired Matter Communications (http://www.matternow.com/CaseStudies/case_cvs.htm).This agency is known for its unparalleled knowledge of the imaging market, with a philosophy to directly align PR programs to business goals. When the agency launched their new product, it was a success, which was even applauded by the national news outlets including Wall Street Journal and Time. With the successful outcome, they engaged Matter Communications to build an ongoing and sustainable PR machine with the goal of driving local consumers directly into local stores for its one-time-use digital camcorder.Matter, aiming to become CVS long-term partner, in turn developed a media program that focused on product placement, reviews and feature stories across the country. 200 articles, television segments and radio spots featured CVS’ camcorder in just five months. It was also included in regional holiday gift guides, â€Å"Best of 2005† round-ups a nd targeting syndicated writers paid off wherein one article yielded 34 articles. Results matter for Matters Communications. This was evidenced by their success in launching CVS’ new product. In December alone, Matter helped reached more than 107 million readers/viewers. (http://www.matternow.com/CaseStudies/case_cvs.htm).ReferencesMatter Communications. CVS/pharmacy: Market Expertise Is Key to Success. Retrieved December 28, 2007Stanton, William J. (5th Ed.). (1978). Fundamentals of Marketing. United States: McGraw-Hill Book Company

Compare and contrast the roles of the teacher and teaching assistan

1. 1-Compare and contrast the roles of the teacher and teaching assistant in assessment of learners achievements. Both the teachers and the teaching assistant main role is to monitor and assess pupils achievemnets in the class, but the main teacher has overall responsibility for recording and making the decisions that may be needed for example moving a child into a different group to match their ability levels. The teacher needs to be aware of the progression made by all the children in their class and be able to report back to parents and other members of staff.As a teaching assitant my main role is to support the class teacher whilst the ongoing assessment of pupils takes place. The teacher can measure the progress of each pupil by carrying out lessons and setting the children clear learning objectives. At the beginning of the lesson the learning support practitioner will need to be aware ob the learning objective and need to know what they are going to be supporting, once they kno w this then they will be able to show the children what they are going to do and how to achieve it.The day to day planning and lesson plans are the main responsibilities of the class teacher, but feedback and input from the teaching assistant can help the teacher structure the planned lessons. As well as the teacher having more responsibility in relation to their planning we both work together to ensure that all children achieve their targets and both carry out observations of the children in their class. By carrying out observations this gives factual feedback to the teacher to show exactly what stage each child is a, if they need extra support and how to get them to their targets.The teachers role in assesment for learning is to look at the observations and feedback given to work out the different learning groups and move children about if necessary, regular reviews of these groups will ensure that the groups are more specific to their ability and the children will gain confidence from working in groups of pupils with the same ability. Both teacher and assistant need to be giving praise and encouragement and also be giving feedabck to the children on how they are doing this will encourage motivation from the pupils. 1. 2- Summarise the difference between formative and summative assessment.Formative assessment is a formal way of working on a lesson or target that needs to be learned, it is an ongoing process over time used to check that the pupils have learned and understood the lesson through observations and seeing how they work and what strategies are best for the pupils. It is a way of monitoring pupils to check their understanding and to clear up any problems that are observed. Any problems will need to be altered to suit the individual needs. It is also used so that the pupils can identify their own strengths and weaknesses.Children should be involved in reviewing their own progress throughout the lesson and be encouraged to think about what they have l earned and how it might help future lessons. Summative assessment is a fact based way of assessing, it can be done by end of week tests to see how the pupils are performing and whether they understand what they have learned. It will show whether the pupil has achieved or not and if it shows they havent planning will be taken into account to alter the way the child is taught, therfore constant review will take place to help to understand future lessons.There are a number of ways formative assessment takes place in the classroom and a couple of examples Examples of formative assessment Observations- this will be done throughout the lesson to make sure the target for that lesson has been met. Feedback to the teacher- this will show if a child has understood the lesson or if extra support is needed. Feedback from the child- this will determine whther the child feels they have understood the lesson outcome. Examples of summative assessment End of week tests SATS End of unit testsAlthough formative and summative assessments are different ways of assessing learning they are both used for assessing and following the national curriculum. Formative assessment is a more formal type of assessing where the focus is on monitoring pupils response to the lesson and any progress made. Summative is where the focus is on determing what the pupil has learned for example in a test at the end of term.1. 3-Explain the characteristics of assessment for learning. When the teacher shares and explain the learning objective with the pupils they will be giving the pupils a clear understanding of what they are to learn, they can  check the childs understanding by asking questions, the support learning practitioner will also need to be aware of the learning objective. It aims to help pupils gain a clear understanding of the standards they are aiming for an example of this could be providing an example of previous work. By allowing pupikls to do self and peer assessment it allows them to a ssess the progress they have made and identify how they can improve their work. Peer assessing allows others in the group to act as critical friends.By providing feedback the pupils will see more clearly what they need to do next and how to improve on their work if needed, examples of feedback could be questions in a group or a through a whole class discussion. Promoting confidence that every child can improve will see the child gain satisfaction on their own progress and will give them a sense that they can continue to improve, a teacher or TA can do this by giving positive and constructive feedback, setting appropriate targets to their ability and then working out a learning objective which will challenge individuals.Involving both teacher and pupils reviewing and reflecting on assessment for learning it will allow the teacher to balance teacher assessment with peer and self assessment allowing the children to take responsibilty for their own learning and allows them to reflect on what they have learned. They will focus on learning objectives and sucess allowing them to make good progress. 1. 4-Explain the importance and benefits of assessment for learning- Assessment for learning is an essential part of education as it defines whether or not the learning objectives are being met.Assessment for learning is a significant way to raise a pupils academic achievement. In order for the pupil to progress through the school they must understand the purpose of their learning, where they are in relation to this purpose and how they can achieve their set goals and targets. Assessment will help a pupil reflect on their own development which in turn will help them recognise their own strengths, a benefit of this is if a pupilis given the opportunity to discuss their learning either with a teacher/TA or their peers they may develop a deeper understanding of their learning which can build confidence and motivate them as students.Assessments can identify individual educatio nal needs of all children as well as informing them about their performance and achievments this will then allow teachers to use different approaches personalised to each childs needs. Children who feel they are not part of the learning process are more likely to lose interest in the lesson. Assessment for learning is used so that the pupil is able to understand the objective/aimof the lesson, what they need to do to reach this and where they are in relation to this.1. 5-Explain how assessment for learning can contribute to planning for future learning carried out by- Teacher- It will contribute to future planning for the teacher as the teacher will be able to differentiate different groups by ability and then levels they are at. They will be able to recognise if any child needs any additional support, whether it just be extra one to one support or whether and outside agency is required for example occupational therapists.The teacher will decide through assessment for learning who t he TA is to work with and will make sure they have all the correct resources ready. Doing reports throughout the year will allow any information to be passed on to supply teachers and end of year reports will be passed to the new teacher of the next year to show what stage the pupils are at and they will carry on where the last teacher left off. Pupil-It will contribute to future planning for the pupil as they will know what their targets are and how to achieve them.Feedback to the teacher or TA on whether they understand the learning objective. They may even offer suggestions to simplify the explanations or may find and easier way of acvhieving. Self and peer assessment in which the children identify their own achievements and progress and think about what they need to do to improve this. They may learn better by using different learning techniques for example visual as oppesed to kinastetic.Just by asking the pupils questions will contribute for example â€Å"do you think your ha ndwriting is neat† they will know if thet need to work on improving and should put it into practise on their next attempt. TA-By working alongside the teacher and pupils the TA will be able to recognise any areas of learning that need revisiting, they will do this by asking the pupils questions on how they feel the lesson went, is there any learning styles that would have made them understand it better.They will feedback to the teacher to help prepare for future lessons and gather any resources that will be needed. A teaching assistant may also feedback to the teacher via feedback forms and the teacher may decide that a child in a certain group needs to move to another group. A TA will give extra assistance if a child needs it and give less able pupils the opportunity to revisit areas they are unsure of.

Small shop closures are progress Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Small shop closures are progress - Essay Example The elevating scale and market share accounts for the rising power. This is a vivid indication that hard sell will be a marketing strategy for the monopoly. However, the British regime has recommendable strategies and mechanisms to face this trend. Diverse concepts and theories are evident in the strategies and ideologies by Terry. These theories explain the development and ultimate implications of the Terry ideologies within the firm. Terry Leahy’s ideologies and perspectives were reflected in the report from the BBC. He was the C.E.O of Tesco, a position he is proud of. Since teenage, he served at this retailing outlet and developed gradually towards the top position (BBC, p1. 2013). His zeal, competence, and commitment elevated him towards the top position of the organization. Tesco is a top retailer within the British territory. Reporting to the BBC, Terry did not have a positive perspective towards the small shops in Britain. He viewed their closure as a key source of gro wth and progress to the large retailers. According to him, a majority of the society prefer to shop in the large retailers (BBC, p1. 2013). They would prefer supermarkets to the small shops. He defined some streets as backward due to the existence of the small investments. However, his deputy Michael Weedon had a different perspective. He viewed the small shops as advantageous rather than disadvantageous. According to Weedon, closure of large chains would enhance cheap availability of retail premises. The ideologies of this case have great affiliation to several concepts and theories. Business ethics and conflict theory are key attributes that affiliate to this case. Ethics involve a moral code of conduct in business. In this case, businesses ought to observe its impact to the internal and external environment (Peterson, p3. 2005). The Chief executive Officer can represent the interests and stands of the organization to the immediate society. Therefore, the organization ought to obs erve and maintain a positive impact to its environs. Humanity ought to be a key observation in the business policies and ideologies (Henn, p167. 2009). This has a direct appeal to the immediate society. It could therefore be a strategy to win more popularity and clientele from the immediate society. Terry Leahy represented the stand of the Tesco fraternity during his report in the BBC. His report had an implication of negativity within the small shops. It was a direct advocacy of small shops closure within Britain. This declaration has an affiliation with the concept of business ethics. Ethics require and advocate for equal rights in business (Crane, p28. 2007). In this case, business should not purely focus on profitability. It has an obligation to defend the rights of other individuals and external investments. Ethics also enhance an adjusted protection of its image. External parties should view the organization as a center of humanity and integrity. In his presentation, Terry Lea hy impaired the image of the organization significantly. His perspective did not consider the minority group of the Britain society. The entire Britain society engrossed 95% of the populace preferring the supermarkets (BBC, p1. 2013). This was the larger group in Terry’s presentation. According to him, this figure preferred to shop in top retailers. Terry still outlined a 5% of the population that highly preferred to shop

Causes and effects of Pollution in Lake Huron Research Paper

Causes and effects of Pollution in Lake Huron - Research Paper Example As observed by Hickey et al. (2006), there is a direct relationship between pollution rate and effects on aquatic life and on humans. Adverse effects, in brief, include destruction of the surrounding ecosystems, reduction of water quantity, and contamination of soils. This paper will explore Lake Huron only, specifically addressing causes and effects of Lake Huron pollution on people and economy. Moreover, the determination of causes and effects of water pollution in the lake may cause environmentalists to come up with new solutions and ideas for cleaning water areas and improving the health of the public. About Lake Huron The name of the lake was coined by early French explorers, meaning a group of people who inhabit regions around the water body (Shear, 2006). As one of the Great North American Lakes, Lake Huron is bounded by Michigan State on the west and Canadian province of Ontario on the east. The lake has several bays, with the greatest one being the Georgian Bay, and overtime it has undergone drastic aquatic changes. Initially, the lake was occupied by deepwater fish species, but nowadays it has been invaded by other fish species such as alewife, sea lamprey, and rainbow smelt. The change, according to Liu et al. (2006), is attributed to pollution of the lake. Causes of Pollution in Lake Huron Leading cause Causes of pollution in Lake Huron are classified into three categories. The leading cause of pollution in the lake is point-source pollution, followed by nonpoint-source pollution, and the third cause is air pollution (Hickey et al., 2006). Point-source pollution describes direct sources of pollution, such as piped pollutants or other vessels. As it is a fresh water lake, there is a belief that several chemicals dissolve in the water and are, therefore, neutralized. However, much attention is not given to products formed after dissolution processes. Many industries such as pulp and paper companies that surround the lake, as well as treatment plants, dump their waste products to neutralize their lethality. Through dumping, there is continual accumulation of mercury and other heavy metals in the lake. As another form of point-source pollution, large amounts of sewage and fecal matter are dumped in the lake. According to Liu et al. (2006), there is a strong correlation between sewage accumulation level and multiplication rate of harmful bacteria. Liu et al. (2006) identifies E. coli and enterococci as two harmful bacteria whose population is influenced by sewage accumulation in Lake Huron. Therefore, both organic and inorganic wastes and sewage deposits increase bacterial growth. Second leading cause Nonpoint-source pollution, according to Robertson & Lauenstein (1998), does not originate from specific locations. Runoffs from lawns with contaminants and polluted water from agricultural farms form major components of nonpoint-source pollution. Agricultural chemicals, such as pesticide and fertilizer runoffs, significantly contribut e to nonpoint-source pollution. Examples of agricultural chemicals are polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which results from the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Chloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane, also known as DDT, is another agricultural chemical that contributes to pollution of Lake Huron. Insecticides such as lindane and toxaphene also contribute significantly to the pollution of the lake (Robertson & Lauens

Award Thank you letter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Award Thank you letter - Essay Example The scholarship has therefore revived my hopes of undertaking my course, establishing a stable and prominent career with a ‘well-established’ company besides being an entrepreneur. Because of the scholarship, I will be able to concentrate my studies instead of worrying about finances. The scholarship has therefore been a milestone in career dreams. I therefore thank the committee and the entire institution for offering me a chance to pursue my career goals. I pledge my total commitment to my studies and the organization’s interest in me. I will abide by the stipulated terms of the scholarship to avoid conflict of interest. This opportunity has also challenged and convinced me to be an instrumental member of the society through social responsibility. I have therefore purposed to contribute to future scholarship programs, through funding or service delivery. I thank you again for your generosity and support in my pursuit of

Articel summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Articel summary - Essay Example However, the article discusses other apartment buildings were tap water was not safe for drinking; and even washing. In my opinion, one apartment building cannot speak for the entire country. In order to reach a conclusive finding, the government officials should have taken into consideration 10 buildings. There are many instances where tap water in Korea has been found to be unsafe for drinking. This shows that there is a problem with tap water in Korea. Also taking another angle in perspective, we can say that the problem does not lie with the management of water in Korea. The water board is effectively managing the water because if an old building in Korea receives safe water, then the entire country receives safe water because water is coming from the same reservoir. It is within the apartment building that the problem is occurring. This study is the beginning and can form the basis for more studies in the field. A positive beginning has been recorded. Only when more research is conducted, can solutions be derived. Thus, this article records a positive step in the right direction. We can expec t improvements in the future with respect to this

Health and Safety Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Health and Safety Management - Assignment Example It is important to emphasize to employees that they can talk freely about health and safety and that they have an assessable system in place that provides an open transparent conduit by which they can voice their concerns. It is important to provide a formal, scheduled meeting, or even an ad hoc open session to receive regular feedback.   Simple forms posted on bulletin board announcing discussions on health and safety issues are encouraged.   Each day, an average of 9,000 U.S. workers sustain disabling injuries on the job, 17 workers die from an injury sustained at work, and 137 workers die from work-related diseases. The economic burden of this continuing toll is high. Data from federal studies published in 1997 showed that in 1992, direct and indirect costs of occupational injuries and illnesses totaled $171 billion. These costs are compared to costs for other major health problems in the chart at the top of the next page. The function and purpose of regulations are to give details of requirements that must be observed in the workplace.   Regulations are the second tier of current legislation. While they are subordinate to the existing laws, they still represent legal requirements, and failure to comply will generally be an offence punishable by a fine. The Act (Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995, is about making workplaces and work practices safer for everyone.) (The State of Queensland (Department of Employment and Industrial Relations) 2006. broadly outlines the legal obligations employers and workers have to workplace health and safety. The Regulations set out goals for meeting these legal obligations and making workplaces safe.   Employers and workers can tailor safety measures to the needs of individual workplaces provided the outcomes specified in the Regulations are achieved.

Statement of qualification Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Statement of qualification - Essay Example These and other financial vicissitudes instilled a strong desire in me to learn and understand the intricate theories of finance and its workings. I carried these aspirations into my university studies where I chose to undertake a degree course Economics. At every level, I strived to acquire the utmost possible insights about economy. I felt that taking Economics at the university level would gratify my interests in financial matters and act as a stepping-stone to my dream career. The enriching experience I received in my undergraduate enthused me to dig deep on financial matters. The academically rigorous program and the milieu that was full of intellectually engaging course mates molded me a great deal. My performance in my undergraduate studies never slacked for a moment given that the environment and lectures gave ensured I stayed on track academically. Often, I would wonder about the situation of the world economy. I also wanted to know about the best stocks, interest rates, and bonds. These studies in economics furthered my interest in finance greatly. Studying economics has widened my interests in finance, and I aspire to know a lot on areas such as security analysis, valuation, and portfolio management. With time, I have also developed a keen interest in investments, and I am stimulated by the diverse valuation techniques involved in relative valuation and contingent claim. Taking numerous internship opportunities over summer periods and after graduation has done a lot in shaping my passion in finance. The internships gave me an opportunity to have pragmatic experience in finance matters. The opportunities also opened up and deepened my interest in portfolio asset allocation and theory. This, coupled with a Master in Finance from Santa Clara University, will give me further insight in valuation techniques and other finance matters in global markets. MÃ ¼ller and Achleitner (217) regard an in-depth knowledge in

Organisational Strategy and Decision Making Essay

Organisational Strategy and Decision Making - Essay Example This is the simplest definition of the term strategy. However in real life, the organization faces a lot of complexity to form & maintain a strategy. (Jeffs, 2008, pp. 13-14) A strategy addresses questions like- What’s the objective of the firm What are the resources of the firm Who are the competitors What strategy are they adopting What pros & cons did they face In which ways our product is separate from theirs Who are our target consumers How to reach them What’s the budget allocated for the promotion of the products The prices fixed are according to the market or not How to know the customer’s preference Through which channels we can promote our products Are we adapting an ethical approach Are we carrying out the Corporate Social Responsibility These questions are never ending. From the questions it’s clear that strategy can be formed to address any issue, be it the launch of a new product, be it a sales promotion effort or be it budget creation. Strat egies ultimately helps the organization in the decision making process. Introduction Strategy formulation depends on the management’s ability & organizations resources. These are the predictable issues which can be answered by forming brilliant strategies. But we should also keep a provision for the uncertainties of the environment. These uncertainties can destroy any good enterprise if the provision to face them is not properly & timely created. The objectives of a firm are the primary guideline for preparing the strategy. These objectives are clearly mentioned in the Vision & Mission Statement of the company. The Mission Statement is a written document where the ideas & thoughts of the company are communicated & the purpose of the firm is clearly defined to the internal & the external stakeholders. This statement helps the managers in the decision of resource allocation & investment. The Vision Statement is a kind of future planning document which states where the company w ants to reach in future. It deals with the questions like what are the company’s upcoming projects, what are their future plans, how are they going to achieve those plans etc. These statements are very useful in the strategy making decision of the firm. (Harrison & St. John, 2009, p 74) The anticipation of the future risks & benefits is termed as SWOT analysis in the language of management. It helps in getting knowledge about the past & thinking about probable solutions to an existing or potential problem. The method involves detailed study of the market, the company & competitors. The analysis includes two parts; the internal environment includes the strength & weaknesses of the company which is controllable by the company itself. The external environment consists of the threats & opportunities which are completely controlled by the outside sources like market & competitors. The product of our choice is British Airways. Company Background British Airways is the largest airli ne company based on sizes of the fleets and the second largest in passenger carriage. It is based near the main hub at London Heathrow Airport is the leading airline in the United Kingdom. Previously The British Airways Board was formed in the year 1971 and the task of the board was to control BOAC and BEA, the two nationalized airline corporations. In 1974, British Airways came into existence with the merger of two state-owned airlines, British

Mange People's Performance Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Mange People's Performance - Assignment Example Some of the people needed for consultation within the business environs include other office administrators, the Human Resources department, the finance department, as well as the immediate junior officers of the administrator operating under his or her administrative span of control. As for the case of stakeholders outside the business, it is imperative to consider the direct business partners and associates of the administrator, considering his or her role and position within the company. This consultation is necessary just in case the administrator assistant fails to meet the much-needed professionalism and work performance ethics as expected from the office he or she is serving. Basing on this line of information, the job is well understood and proper work allocation is derived in a cost-effective way that also ensures efficiency and effectiveness. In order to have an effective and efficient office administrator, it is imperative to take the person through a series of training in order to improve his or her skills. The following guidelines explore the different steps that the training process will take, and last. As for the case of an office administrator, the training process will take six consecutive weeks. The contents of training that these position covers includes the computer systems in place for use, the telephone systems and its applicability, the organization’s policies and procedures in relation to telephone use and the needs of the office of the administrator. In developing training process and the contents, two major items need considering. These include the task analysis aspects and the design and development process.

Acme Fireworks Prospectus Essay Example for Free

Acme Fireworks Prospectus Essay Acme Fireworks is a fireworks retailer that sells fireworks, puts on ground display fireworks, and large aerial displays fireworks. Acme Fireworks has been a sole proprietorship since it began two years ago. At this time the owner is receiving inquiries as to Acme Fireworks ability to create fireworks displays on a regular basis. CITATION Rog12 \l 1033 (Rogers, 2012). In anticipation of increased business, the owner of Acme Fireworks is in need of some information. This prospectus is going to inform the owner as to: Whether or not the business will be governed by common law or the Uniform Commercial Code. Analyze whether or not the owner has any actual contracts. Explain the potential personal liability to Acme Fireworks is someone is injured by a stray firework. Discuss different employment types while discussing the advantages and disadvantages of each type as it applies to Acme Fireworks. And finally, give suggestions as to why Acme Fireworks should no longer be a sole proprietorship. When it comes to contracts, it is important to understand that there are two different bodies of law that come into play, the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) and the common law of contracts. The difference between the UCC and the common law contract can make a huge difference in the outcome of a contract dispute. This could be the difference between being able to collect punitive damages, discharge or modify a contract, be able to sue under breach of contract, and whether or not there truly a legally recognizable contract after all CITATION Gun12 \l 1033 (Denton, 2012). It is important to understand the type of contract governed by each body of law. The UCC applies to the sale of goods and securities, and common law of contracts applies to contracts for services, real estate, insurance, intangible assets, and employment CITATION Gun12 \l 1033 (Denton, 2012). If the contract should happen to be for both  the sale of goods and for securities, the dominant element would be in control of the contract CITATION Gun12 \l 1033 (Denton, 2012). Should Acme Fireworks have contracts with the inquiring businesses, these contracts would be governed under UCC rule. The contracts would be for both goods and services with goods being the dominant factor of the contracts. There would be more fireworks than there would be personnel. Hence, this would be the reasoning for a UCC contract. In order for the owner to have valid contracts with inquiring businesses there are five elements that must be present in order for the contracts to be valid. First there must be an offer. An offer is an invitation for another to enter into a contract CITATION Rog 12 \l 1033 (Rogers, 2012).Then there is the need for acceptance. Acceptance is the acquiescence to enter into a contract CITATION Rog12 \l 1033 (Rogers, 2012). Then there is consideration. Consideration is anything of legal value that is asked for and received as the price for entering into a contract CITATION Rog12 \l 1033 (Rogers, 2012). Now there is legality. Legality is the extent to which the contract is legal and not against public policy CITATION Rog12 \l 1033 (Rogers, 2012). Finally, there is capacity. Capacity is the mental competency to enter into a contract CITATION Rog12 \l 1033 (Rogers, 2012). Considering Acme Firework’s new â€Å"contracts†; Was there an offer? No, there was not an offer. The businesses were making inquiries, asking questions trying to find out what Acme Fireworks could handle. Was the acceptance? No, there was no acceptance. There were no contracts offered, therefore nothing to accept. Was there consideration? No, there was no consideration. Pricing of the firework displays was talked about, but that w as just information given to answer question f the inquiry. Is there legality? Yes, when the contracts are made they will be legal as they will not be against public policy. Is there capacity? Yes, there is capacity. It is safe to assume that the owner of Acme Fireworks and the owners of the other businesses are of sound mind and body therefore able to enter into legally binding contracts. So, did the owner have enforceable contracts? No, he did not. While there was legality and capacity; there was no offer, acceptance, or consideration present. Fireworks displays are beautiful and exciting, but they are also very dangerous. The operator of a fireworks display has a duty to fireworks are done in a safe way that does not injure spectators CITATION All13 \l 1033  (Business, 2013). To successfully sue a promoter of a firework display, it must be shown that the promoter failed to keep spectators at a reasonable safe distance CITATION All13 \l 1033 (Business, 2013). In order to sue the operator of a firework display it must be shown that the spectator was injured by the discharge of a fireworks or firework that did not explode properly CITATION All13 \l 1033 (Business, 2013). Should an injury occur negligence by the operator is presumed, as the operator is in sole control of firing the fireworks. Essentially, Acme Fireworks is going to want any such liabilities to be the responsibility of the company and not result in personal liability. Being a sole proprietorship Acme Fireworks will be liable for all debts and claims against the business. A lawsuit of this type could be financially devastating. However, should Acme Fireworks take the time and effort to incorporate or to form a Limited Liability Company they would more than likely be protected to a significant degree from such personal injury CITATION All13 \l 1033 (Business, 2013) Should these contracts come into being, Acme Fireworks will need to hire more employees. But which type of employee should Acme Fireworks employ? The full-time employee works regular and on-going, between 35-45 hours a week, which includes non-wage entitlements and benefits like paid holiday leave, sick leave, and long service leave CITATION ASU14 \l 1033 (ASU, 2014). Part-time permanent work is regular and on-going, involves fewer hours than full-time and usually has set days or set hours. No benefits and entitlements are received by part-time employees. Casual work is on-going and involves irregular hours and hourly pay. Casual workers work on an as needed basis, which means that they work when they are needed CITATION ASU14 \l 1033 (ASU, 2014). There are no entitlements for casual workers since the entitlements are factored into 20% of the higher hourly rate that casual workers receive CITATION ASU14 \l 1033 (ASU, 2014). Casuals usually receive hourly rates of pay based on a minimum 15% loading of normal or applicable hourly rates of pay CITATION ASU14 \l 1033 (ASU, 2014). Fixed term or contract employees are hired for a fixed period of time for a specific project or to replace an employee on sick leave or paternal leave CITATION ASU14 \l 1033 (ASU, 2014). This type of employee would need an agreement in writing that sets out the length of the employment contract. Fixed term employees are entitled to the same annual personal and other leave as  full-time employees, but on a proportional basis for the period of their employment CITATION ASU14 \l 1033 (ASU, 2014) Piecework and commission only payment employees rather than being paid a wage or salary are paid by: Piecework – the paying f a specific amount for completing a specific task. Commission – the paying of a percentage for each sale made Retainer plus commission – the paying of a fixed amount plus commission. Should Acme Fi reworks decide to hire more employees, my suggestion would be to hire casual workers. Casual workers do not expect to work all the time they work when they are needed. They would not have to give them any entitlements just work. Should Acme Fireworks become so busy that they are working everyday then they might want to get some full time workers. But, as of right now go with the casual workers. Acme Fireworks has been a sole proprietorship since it began two years ago. As a sole proprietorship all liabilities for finances and operations are on the owner. The owner’s personal property is tied to the business, so the owner assumes a risk against his personal property should the business experience financial hardship. Profits and losses of the business are reported through the owner and are taxed at the individual rate. The sole proprietorship entity is the easiest entity to set up, but the owner will probably have to sell the business to retrieve his investment. Should Acme Fireworks become a partnership? A partnership has two or more owners that share equal control, unless the partnership agreement says otherwise or the entity is set up as a limited partnership CITATION Phi14 \l 1033 (Phillips, 2014). Like a sole partnership, profits and losses of the business flow through the partners and are taxed at the individual rate. Operating partners assume risks, both legally and financially. Creditors can attempt to collect debts from the partner’s personal assets CITATION Phi14 \l 1033 (Phillips, 2014). To recoup their investment the partner is required to sell his interest in the business. With the potential for devastatingly high personal injury claims, this entity would not be the one for Acme Fireworks. This entity jeopardizes the personal assets of the businesses owners. A corporation? A corporation can have an unlimited number of owners, known as shareholders. This business entity remains separate from the owners in legal and financial matters CITATION Phi14 \l 1033 (Phillips, 2014). The profits and losses of a corporation are taxed at corporate rates, not individual rates. Should the  corporation realize a profit it is paid out to the shareholders who then report it as income and pay taxes on it at an individual rate CITATION Phi14 \l 1033 (Phillips, 2014). Corporations are taxed twice, once at the time of profits and losses and then again when the shareholders realize the dividends. Or a limited liability company? This entity is a partnership and a corporation mixed together. Owners are protected from personal liability like a corporation, but enjoy the tax advantages similar to a partnership. The LLC would be the entity I would suggest for Acme Fireworks due to the ability to be free from personal liability and the ability to be taxed at the lower partnership rate. References: BIBLIOGRAPHY \l 1033 ASU. (2014). Employment Type Defin itions Eligibility Summary. Retrieved from ASU: http://www.asu.edu Business, A. (2013, July 13). Fireworks Displays. Retrieved from Avoiding Personal Liability: http://www.allbusiness.com Denton, G. . (2012). Thwe difference between a contract that falls undert the UCC and one that does not and why it is important to you. Retrieved from Gunderson Denton at Law: http://www.gundersondenton.com/business/difference-contract-falls-ucc-important Phillips, C. (2014). Three Types of Business Entity. Retrieved from Small Business: http://www.smallbusiness.chron.com Rogers, S. (2012). Essentials of Bussiness Law. San Diego: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

Boston Consulting Group Matrix (BCG) Explained

Boston Consulting Group Matrix (BCG) Explained The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) growth-share matrix is a very vital inclusion in marketing or strategic management. The Boston Matrix developed by Bruce Henderson in the early 70s of the Boston Consulting Group. Even thou considering the flaws in the model, the Boston Consulting Group model is one of the most famous portfolio management tool implemented in product life cycle theory. It can provide effective guidance towards resource distribution. The BCG matrix works on two variables: market share and market growth. This variables point at the status of the organisation. It can be also stated as, products which have a greater market share or fall in the fast growing category can yield higher profit margins. It basically serves four distinctive purposes: It can be used to categories products portfolio in four types namely Stars (high growth, high market share) , Cash Cows (low growth, high market share), Question Marks (high growth, low market share) Dogs (low growth, low market share); it can be used to prioritize products in the products portfolio; classifying products on the bases of cash usage and generation; helps generating strategies to tackle possible product lines. Hence, the BCG model proves to be a useful analytical tool to value a companys product ranges. The four cells classified in the BCG are: Stars This category holds the market leaders which also have greater market share. The products in this category generate large amount of income but also require heavy investment to sustain market share rapid growth. Cash Cows The products in this category basically have high market share in an already developed market. They generate high profits and generate good cash flow. Such products do not require much investment as they are already established products. Question Marks Question marks are products which fall in a high growth market with relatively low market share. Such products require considerable investment to hold and increase the market share. The return on investment is also low due to the lack of market share. Dogs Dogs thrive in a low growth market with a low share. They do not generate any effective profits for the company and show little signs of growth. Such products should be generally liquidated. Although BCG matrix is a well-known tool for portfolio analysis, it has numerous constraints too. Some of them are: The foremost and important problem is how to define the market and collection of data regarding a products market share. It is not necessary that a product with a high market share result in profitability at all times. The model only works on two aspects namely market share and market growth. Businesses with low market share can also be profitable. It only rates the products on the bases of one competitor i.e. the market leader. It overlooks small competitors with high rate of growth. It overlooks the effects of synergy between strategic business units. Internal and External Audits The marketing audit forms a very core part of the marketing planning process. Audits are undertaken at the beginning of the plan, as well as at fixed intervals during the execution of the plan. The marketing audit consists of both internal and external influences on marketing planning, also considering the review of the plan itself. Many tools and methods are available to undertake such audits, e.g. SWOT analysis which can be used for auditing internal as well as external environment. Altogether such marketing audits help evaluate the opportunities and threats, and help the marketing heads to assess and make necessary changes to the plan. Many a times when things start going downhill in a company in ways like falling sales, weakening margins, reducing market share, the need for an audit spurges up. Management often overlook the actual problem and work towards the wrong symptoms. Launching of new products, reducing costs, cutting costs are some of the tactics used. Such measures are highly ineffective, if core problems are not addressed. Such problems have to be effectively identified and auditing helps in defining such problems. Internal Audit Internal audit consist of controllable variables in a firm. Internal audit helps in evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of an organisation which provide certain advantages and can relate to the needs of the specific target market. Strengths can be classified as internal factors which can support an organisation accomplish its objectives or to reduce threats. Weaknesses are factors which may hamper the organisational growth and foil organisations from achieving their targets. Some of the areas of internal audit in order to analyse the internal factors of a company are:- Resources, sales, market share, profit margin, costs, marketing procedures, marketing organisation, marketing information, marketing mix variables as : Products, Price, Distribution, Promotion. External Audit External audit is related with the uncontrollable variables, outside the firm such as the market, the competitor, etc. The external audit is concerned with factors such as political-legal, economic, social-cultural and technological (also known as PEST or STEP), with these the ecological and competitive factors which may stand opportunities or pose threats. An opportunity can be termed as an external factor which the company can exploit to gain higher profits margins. A threat can be any external circumstances that could curtain organisational performance. Areas of analyses for external audit include information regarding customers, suppliers, partners, market share, technical standards; customer feedback through surveys, suggestions, complaints; government, academic or syndicated studies of the market, the industry, competition; industry groups; employees, suppliers, and other partners; media and online reports; special interest group (Woods, 2007)*. SWOT TOWS It is very an important part of planning to understand the environment an organisation operates. SWOT analysis summarises a companys strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. SWOT analysis is a tool for auditing a company and its environment. It is conducted at the initial stage of planning and helps point out the key issues. SWOT is an acronym used to define Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats which are strategic factors for a company, where the strengths and weaknesses form the internal factor, opportunities and threats are external factors to the firm. Where SWOT analysis is a tool used to identify business strategies for an organisation to adopt. It comprises of specifying and grouping together internal organisational strengths and weaknesses and environmental opportunities and threats. In real life scenario this is not so viable as although having all identified all the information in hand, the problem arises of what to do with the information. Whereas, the TOWS matrix is a mechanism which helps in explaining the strategy rather than just helping in its generation. The TOWS matrix (Weihrich, 1982)* presents a mechanism for facilitating linkages and presents a framework for identifying and formulating strategies. In order to conduct Strategic management, brief market research needs be carried out using accurate information systems to evaluate key issues in the company and environment. Factors such as: Market Research External and internal which may affect a company. Target customers. Driving forces behind sales trends. Company Research Information of company resources assets, I. P., etc. Information of company capabilities. Competition Research Competitive edge. Needs of products and services. The information thus collected needs to be scanned and evaluated into four elements: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, where in opportunities and threats are used to analyse the external factors and strengths and weaknesses are used to analyse the internal factors. It is very important to bear in mind that internal and external factors should clearly distinguished, as it may obscure both the management approach and decision making body. The SWOT TOWS process can carry on till the time the body feels it is productive, as long as the information is properly evaluated and refined by discussions and arguments. At the end, the points put forward should be agreed by the whole board on which points to reject and which to retain, so the final gird will contain only the key strategic marketing external opportunities and the key strategic internal strengths and weakness. As concluded by Tony Proctor (2000)* with his case study on over 50 organisations, that practising such tec hniques have helped the organisations in gaining greater insights in the process of strategy creation and have helped structure their thinking process and have helped them profoundly in coming up with better strategic ideas. Segmentation, Targeting and Positioning process The STP process is a very important process in a marketing strategy as it helps the organisation in creating personalised marketing mix packages which target specific group of the market segment with similar characteristics and needs. The STP process consists of three main activities: market segmentation, market targeting and market positioning. The level and category of segmentation process employed varies significantly depending factors like Dimension of the organisation Point at which it is carried in the marketing planning process Financial position of the organisation Current market position Segmenting targeting positioning (STP) consist of different steps as stated by Pelsmacker and Geuens (2007)* namely, definition of segmentation criteria, definition of segment profiles, assessment of the attractiveness of segments, selection of target groups, definition of the desired unique position in the mind of targeted consumers. The STP implementation begins with defining potential factors based on which segmentation of the market can be carried. The market segments created should further be divided in to generalized subgroups, in which the members of one group should respond identically to marketing stimuli and be different in their reaction to such stimuli from members of other segments. For example, the furniture market can be disturbed into different groups such as home and business market. Further division of these segments can be carried out such as, home market can include segments like student home furniture, classic furniture, design furniture etc.; likewise business segment can be divided into office furniture, hotel furniture etc. In the next stage, Points in each segment can be combined to form segmentation profiles. On the basis of identified segmentation profiles, their attractiveness can be assessed. The attractiveness of the segments depends on many factors like the size and forecasted progression of sales, buying power and competition amount targeted for the segment. Considering the analysis of segment attractiveness, a number of target groups will be selected which will be focused upon, keeping in mind the companys strengths. This process is called targeting. Further objectives, strategies and tactics created will circle around these particular groups. In the end, the organisation has to create a unique and appropriate position for its product in the mind of the target group. Positioning can be defined as how a product is perceived by the target group based on its important attributes. Positioning is one of the fundamental element of marketing strategy and of marketing communications.

Using The Mother As A Model In Meditation :: essays research papers

I feel that using the mother as a model in meditation fascinating because one can Personalize their own experience by visualizing his/her own mother and in effect, associate inner emotion & raw compassion for the one who created and protected them. I also thought that the realization of immense inapplicable rebirths, that everyone has been everyone’s mother in a sense, is a powerful tool towards introducing compassion for all beings. Just understanding the respectful nature of this compassion in general is a basic fundamental towards what the second Dally Lama, Gendun Gyatso calls ‘giving and taking’. It (‘giving and taking’) has many phases, and taking responsibility, and feeling empathy, towards all things is essential throughout. First one pictures his/her own mother personalized in his/her own frame of reference and associates the compassion of his/her mother towards other people close, like friends, family and pets by ‘giving and taking’. The second level of this concentration of the mind is feeling compassion for his/her enemy and even strangers he or she has never ever met. The next stage of this meditation is of course having compassion for all beings through compassion for the sake of helping other people to fulfill enlightenment.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I should mention that anyone who wishes to practice the meditation of ‘giving and taking’ must have the self control and discipline attained by more basic meditations, for example 'mindfulness of breath'. With out such discipline, his/her mind may easily be swayed by any various stimulation that ‘giving and taking’ may evoke.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I thought it was interesting the book said that realizing the love of my Mother is indirectly responsible for who I am today, and here I sit writing and studying the holy practice of Dharma. And here I am appreciating my good fortune. And of course stay away from the negative and strive towards the positive for all, eliminate the harmful and to produce and encourage happiness towards all.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I also want to add some positive criticism towards the excerpt ‘How to Meditate upon the Ultimate Bodhi-Mind’, on page 163 of ‘Entering the Stream’.

Films that were enjoyed and disliked :: essays research papers

Films that were enjoyed and disliked   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The DVD The Movies Begin by Kino video is a testament to the early beginnings of film history. The series outlines man’s earliest attempts to create visual representations of the world around them, with great success. There are many short films on the disc that range from real events to staged minute long â€Å"stories.† There are some films that are enjoyable on levels of artistic creativity, while others lack motivation and are tedious (despite their short length).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The film that sticks out most in terms of creativity is Georges Melies’ A Trip To The Moon (1902). This film chronicles the short but adventure filled flight of men to the moon. They make a large steel vessel, and travel to the moon where they encounter hostile alien beings. The film gave early audiences the fantasy of what was at the time impossible. This was primarily because of the use of special effects and a creative set design. This happened to be the result of Melies’ work as a magician. He also made use of editing to aid in his visual interpretation, making the audience believe that the aliens mysteriously evaporated after being hit with an umbrella. Melies also created a structure that was comprehensible. A simple venture into space; aliens and danger; escape to earth. This seemed to represent the three-act structure comparable to today’s films. All these elements created a landscape most audiences had never envisioned.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another short film that warrants mention for simple creativity yet has underlying political tones is Ferdinand Zecca’s The Golden Beetle (1907). This film uses special effects as its main draw, showing a man enticed, then killed by a beautiful woman (beetle). Color tints on the film gave it an unusual look, as the woman appears to have an aura of gold around her body. The film’s climax sees the demise of the man in a fiery death. This was most probably the result of the cultural attitudes toward women during this period. The film suggests that a woman could be mysterious and alluring, yet simultaneously destructive and overwhelming.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One film that was pioneering in its technical attributes was the Lumiere brothers’ film Leaving Jerusalem By Railway (1896). This was a short film where the camera was at the rear of a train as it pulled away. This was revolutionary for the period because it took the camera away from the common stationary position somewhat, creating a tracking shot.

Truman Capotes In Cold Blood Essay -- In Cold Blood Essays

1. Title: â€Å"In Cold Blood.† 2. Author plus biographical background information: Truman Capote, one of America’s most famous writers was born in New Orleans in 1924 and died in California in 1984. He wrote both fiction and non- fiction stories. (for example this book, â€Å" In cold blood†) short stories, novels, travel writing, profiles, reportage, memoirs, plays and films. 3. Number of pages: 336 4. Theme (s): - Murder - Feelings 5. The Clutter family. Herb Clutter: He’s the father of the murdered family. He’s forty-eight yr. old. Herb is a normal man, who makes a living with the farm he owns. His social contacts in the neighborhood and the people of Holcomb community are very good, people love to talk with him and Mr. Clutter is a member of the agricultural society. Mrs. Clutter: She’s the mother of the family, and loves miniature things. She has two kids, a girl named Nancy and a boy named Kenyon. The daughter is very much loved in town by boys who like to hang out with her, but she already has a boyfriend named Bobby Rupp. Nancy has another love, and that’s her old fat horse named Babe. The brother of Nancy is Kenyon, he’s a boy who likes to fish and hunt. Chase coyotes on his â€Å"Coyote wagon†, just a normal boy. Perry and Dick. Perry Smith is a very quiet person who had a lousy childhood, which affected his behavior in worse form. He seems to be a quite decent person to talk with, but he’s very easily influenced. In the end you feel a little sorry for him because Truman Capote describes him as a person who had a very difficult childhood. Perry was the person who killed the Clutters by shooting their brains out with a .12-gauge shotgun. He’s feel’s no sorry for the crime he has committed. But he also says he liked Mr. Clutter, and thought he was a very nice man. Then there is his companion named Richard (Dick) Hickock. He’s the one who comes with the idea of robbing the Clutter family and to kill any people in the house on the moment of the robbery. When they’re looking for the safe of Mr. Clutter, they find out that there isn’t any safe in the office of Mr. Clutter. They decide to tie the family up and kill them. Dick doesn’t dare to pull the trigger so Perry has to do the dirty work. Dick first was planning to rape Nancy Clutter, but Perry kept him from doing that. People who are sexually obsessed make him mad. In the story you’ll know ... ...about what they’ve done. But they are very pissed of the fact that there was so little money in the house ( they only got 40 $ ). They decide to go to Mexico to flee and hide for the police, who are starting an investigation on the Clutter murder case. The whole city of Holcomb is shocked by the killing of the loved family and everybody is scared. Perry and Dick stay in Mexico for a while but then they want to return to the states again, they decide to hitchhike back to the USA. Then Floyd Wells, a former cellmate of Dick. Dick told Wells that he was planning to kill the Clutters and leave no witnesses. Floyd Wells reads about the murder and tips the police of the possible murderers. Dick and Perry stole a car when they were back in the US, they also pass out false cheques and spent the money on a holiday in Miami. Then they travel to Las Vegas where the police catch them. They are questioned about the murder and they finally make a full confession. They spent the rest of their time in jail until they have to go to court to hear their punishment. The jury as the judge decides to give them the dead penalty by hanging. Eventually both of the men are hanged on April 14 1965. Truman Capote's In Cold Blood Essay -- In Cold Blood Essays 1. Title: â€Å"In Cold Blood.† 2. Author plus biographical background information: Truman Capote, one of America’s most famous writers was born in New Orleans in 1924 and died in California in 1984. He wrote both fiction and non- fiction stories. (for example this book, â€Å" In cold blood†) short stories, novels, travel writing, profiles, reportage, memoirs, plays and films. 3. Number of pages: 336 4. Theme (s): - Murder - Feelings 5. The Clutter family. Herb Clutter: He’s the father of the murdered family. He’s forty-eight yr. old. Herb is a normal man, who makes a living with the farm he owns. His social contacts in the neighborhood and the people of Holcomb community are very good, people love to talk with him and Mr. Clutter is a member of the agricultural society. Mrs. Clutter: She’s the mother of the family, and loves miniature things. She has two kids, a girl named Nancy and a boy named Kenyon. The daughter is very much loved in town by boys who like to hang out with her, but she already has a boyfriend named Bobby Rupp. Nancy has another love, and that’s her old fat horse named Babe. The brother of Nancy is Kenyon, he’s a boy who likes to fish and hunt. Chase coyotes on his â€Å"Coyote wagon†, just a normal boy. Perry and Dick. Perry Smith is a very quiet person who had a lousy childhood, which affected his behavior in worse form. He seems to be a quite decent person to talk with, but he’s very easily influenced. In the end you feel a little sorry for him because Truman Capote describes him as a person who had a very difficult childhood. Perry was the person who killed the Clutters by shooting their brains out with a .12-gauge shotgun. He’s feel’s no sorry for the crime he has committed. But he also says he liked Mr. Clutter, and thought he was a very nice man. Then there is his companion named Richard (Dick) Hickock. He’s the one who comes with the idea of robbing the Clutter family and to kill any people in the house on the moment of the robbery. When they’re looking for the safe of Mr. Clutter, they find out that there isn’t any safe in the office of Mr. Clutter. They decide to tie the family up and kill them. Dick doesn’t dare to pull the trigger so Perry has to do the dirty work. Dick first was planning to rape Nancy Clutter, but Perry kept him from doing that. People who are sexually obsessed make him mad. In the story you’ll know ... ...about what they’ve done. But they are very pissed of the fact that there was so little money in the house ( they only got 40 $ ). They decide to go to Mexico to flee and hide for the police, who are starting an investigation on the Clutter murder case. The whole city of Holcomb is shocked by the killing of the loved family and everybody is scared. Perry and Dick stay in Mexico for a while but then they want to return to the states again, they decide to hitchhike back to the USA. Then Floyd Wells, a former cellmate of Dick. Dick told Wells that he was planning to kill the Clutters and leave no witnesses. Floyd Wells reads about the murder and tips the police of the possible murderers. Dick and Perry stole a car when they were back in the US, they also pass out false cheques and spent the money on a holiday in Miami. Then they travel to Las Vegas where the police catch them. They are questioned about the murder and they finally make a full confession. They spent the rest of their time in jail until they have to go to court to hear their punishment. The jury as the judge decides to give them the dead penalty by hanging. Eventually both of the men are hanged on April 14 1965.

Analysis on Eastern European HRM Model

Many Western firms are rapidly investing in, or forming joint ventures with, firms in Eastern European countries. Despite the growth in Direct Foreign Investment (DFI) in Eastern Europe, Western managers know relatively little about the Human Resource Management (HRM) practices of these countries. In this paper HRM practices are discussed in Eastern European states, such as Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Russia. Although there are both historical and cultural differences between these countries, these countries will be dealt with together, as they all have numerous elements in common that enable managers or researchers to see them as a whole. The purpose of this paper is to analyze if an Eastern European HRM model can be constructed on the basis of an analysis of Eastern Europe on several areas. First, the environment is analyzed, in which several aspects are covered, such as political context and history. The emphasis lies on culture and (possible) implications for business, and HRM specifically. Secondly, specific Eastern European HR practices are dealt with in chapter three. Here too, several topics are analyzed. In the fourth chapter the implications of EU enlargement are considered in relation to Eastern Europe. As many of these countries are potential candidates for a membership of the EU, the necessary changes and implications are investigated. Based on all the forgoing, an attempt is made to establish an Eastern European HRM model in the fifth chapter. Finally, in chapter six, conclusions are given followed by directions for future research. The analysis of the environmental aspects of Eastern Europe include the following aspects: Looking at Eastern Europe's history, several main events can be identified that have an impact on today's business or cultural situation. First, the two World Wars had a major impact on the creation of the political and economic gap between Eastern and Western Europe, especially the Second World War. Eastern Europe came under the influence of the former Soviet Union, which implied that all countries were under direct political, military and economic control resulting in a very centralized economy. This type of economy had a profound impact on the HRM practices that were used in those countries, which is further explained in the next chapter. Secondly, under Gorbatsjov as the president of the former Soviet Union, contact with Western Europe was sought, resulting in the break-up of the Soviet Union and the start of a new era for Eastern Europe. Slowly, but gradually a shift was realized from a central towards a market economy, again with the necessary implications for (HR) management. The qualities that were required by managers of Eastern European enterprises were the ability to bargain, the possession of a network of suppliers and purchasers, and the ability to manipulate production and financial data. This style of management was driven by the response to the allocation of resources by a centralized bureaucracy in which rivalry between enterprises for resources led to unnecessary hoarding of materials. The history of Eastern Europe still impacts today's business operations. Many personnel directors and executives have their jobs because of Party connections rather than technical expertise. Creativity and original thinking was not encouraged or reinforced under the centralized government control. Top down communication was the norm. Common US practices such as MBO or 360-degree feedback, or Western European structures such as strong employee involvement or self-management work teams will not be easily transferred to the Eastern European work environment. Business practices that stem from political corruption or organized crime activities are still realities and may violate other countries' laws and ethical norms. Despite the great changes that have occurred in Eastern Europe, western managers must patiently accept these differences and strive to form successful business relationships given environmental and political constraints. As mentioned before, the dominant political system in Eastern Europe was communism. This implied that a lot of the large companies were state-owned and the government heavily influenced trade unions. The view projected to the outside world by communist governments, was that of in a worker's state, such as the Soviet Union and its Eastern European satellites, the interest of the workers were as one with the government, because the government was controlled by a dictatorship of the proletariat. The problem with such a unitarist system is that it allows for little realistic criticism that might afford changes and reforms to meet real challenges. In theory trade unions were a separate entity from the Communist Party, but in reality they were often controlled by Party members. This meant that under communism, unemployment was unknown due to manipulation with statistical data and hidden unemployment (a certain job is being done by more people than necessary, just in order to provide more people with a job). The transition from a central to a market economy was initiated together with the transition from a communist to a capitalist political regime, and was started in 1989 after the fall of ‘the iron curtain'. This transition had several consequences. First, due to the hidden unemployment and in an attempt to make organizations more efficient and to cut costs, unemployment rose. Still now a major problem faced by Eastern European countries is persistent structural unemployment. Secondly, after a couple of years a lot of state-owned companies were privatized. In these companies usually an employee culture of the planned economy remained. The educational system has been and still is rather good. An analysis of 256 Russian CEO's from all over the country, the overwhelming majority (91,4 %) of them had college or graduate degrees. In the Eastern European labor markets a clear emphasis is put on a technical background, more than a formal management education. This was also backed up by the analysis: about 60 % had engineering and other technical backgrounds, whereas only around 20 % had a formal management degree. However, due to this strong emphasis on a technical background, there is a significant shortage of local executive talent. Expatriates remain a key component of the management market – an estimated 25 percent of all managers in Eastern European firms are expatriates. On the other hand, this lack in education is rapidly changing. Also due to the efforts to prepare for EU enlargement, a shift in education is clearly noticeable. More and more professional management studies are initiated and further developed, sometime through the help of an exchange program (for instance CEMS). Therefore, we also see a shift in recruitment: more sophisticated methods of attracting managers – such as the use of university recruiting and executive search – are on the upswing for senior-level managers, gradually replacing newspaper advertising and word-of-mouth. Â   Regarding Eastern European managers, Hofstede hypothesized that they would be characterized by a high power distance (in other words, they would display high tolerance toward inequality in the society and business relationships), high uncertainty avoidance, medium individualism, and low masculinity. As a comparison point, the United States are characterized by a low power distance, high individualism, high masculinity and low uncertainty avoidance. These hypothesizes were further backed up by study performed by Bollinger, who found the exact same results. Analyzing these results, we see that the Eastern European culture differs from Western cultures, depending on what country. For instance Western European countries, such as Germany and the Netherlands have more similarities with this culture than United States culture or Japanese culture. In order to develop and manage adequate HR policies, the factor culture plays an important role in this process. This Eastern European culture is still influenced by the past of communism and central economy. The eastern European business environment is very complex and very different from the western business environment. Despite Eastern Europe's large consumer base and natural resources, western businesses have not been very eager to invest in these countries on a large scale, such as in China. As knowledge increases about Eastern Europe and its business opportunities, and as countries in this region join the EU, increasing western attention will focus on conducting business in this region. Yet, relatively little has been written to guide western managers in Eastern Europe. The system of Human Resource Management and industrial relations in Eastern Europe has been undergoing enormous change since 1989 and will continue to do so for some time to come. The fundamental problem is the transition from a unitarist system, very tightly controlled by communist governments that influenced every corner of the economy, to a more pluralist system operating in some type of free market. It is obvious to most observers that some form of pluralistic balance needs to be achieved to contain uncontrolled free market forces. At present most Eastern European countries are stuck in the transitional phase between these two states. For instance, work habits have changed dramatically – with 50-hour weeks and taking work home more and more the norm. At the same time, absenteeism is low, indicating a strong commitment to the job. In this chapter the following current Eastern European HR practices are analyzed: recruitment and compensation. Attempts by Eastern European firms to modernize their workforces by recruiting young graduates and contract staff have left older employees on the side. Underqualified graduates and disabled people are also suffering as a result of Eastern Europe's drive for free-market flexibility. Firms in former socialist nations need to embrace diversity if they are to avoid repeating Western bad employment practices. In comparison to the West, Eastern European HR practices are not mature. Eastern European countries focus more on personnel practices than the integration of HR practices with corporate strategy. At the same time, managerial practices are becoming more westernized – an ‘East Goes West' trend that is expected to continue. The sleepy, bureaucratic firm of pre-reform days is a thing of the past. On this area we see a dual path. In the lesser-developed Eastern European countries, such as Russia and Rumania, foreign investors usually enjoy special privilege to import whatever materials and products they may need in their operations, and thus are more able to obtain these luxury products than domestic firms. These imports may be used to recruit, retain, and motivate workers. Therefore, western managers accustomed to providing challenging work and learning opportunities to motivate high level employees instead emphasize material over intrinsic rewards due to the lower standard of living in these countries. On the other hand, in the Eastern European countries that have a relatively high standard of living, salary increases for local talent are high – even in the lowest categories (state-owned and manufacturing firms), they have grown by more than 25 percent in a two-year period, and in the new private firms they have nearly doubled. These increasing salaries are dictated by the difficulty in attracting good local managers. In this fluid market, many firms review salaries twice a year or more – and benefits for local managers are approaching the levels of expatriates. But, according to a new EIU report, cash alone is not the key to retention. Staff in crisis-prone countries remains fixated on salaries. But where market economies have been starting to develop, a fair salary will suffice, provided employers deliver on a package of other rewards, incentives and working conditions. Benefits packages vary from country to country, but certain perks have emerged as key motivators across the region: cars and life & health insurance. Increasing stress is being laid on enhanced job satisfaction.

A Newsletter About Solutions and Creating Exceptional Value Essay

High Impact Projects A Newsletter About Solutions and Creating Exceptional Value Software Company Narrows Focus from 1 Million Prospects to 40 – Closes 30 Sales in First Year! After 3 Years of Revenues Less than $2 Million, Sales Soar to $75 Million in 4 Years! Systems Produce Paybacks for Clients of more than 10-to-1 Stopped Trying to Sell to Information Technology Department – Found Line Executives With An Urgent Need to Buy CEO Found a Way to Reduce Risk and Capture Financial Upside A Repeatable Pattern Emerges Compiled by Tom Ingram, PMPi Before Jeff Miller took over as CEO, Documentum had suffered three years of flat revenues, never exceeding $2 million per year. After Miller took over, the next year’s sales increased to $8 million, followed by $25 million, $45 million, $75 million and an IPO in subsequent years. Granted, these were the boom years – but this success story carries some essential lessons which I have seen work in several other settings over the years. Below is a summary of these key lessons from several sources, including a Harvard Business School case study. None of this is easy. Documentum went through a period when it was burning $1 million per quarter, with only $4 million in cash reserve, and only two new customers. Success in the intangible, â€Å"black magic† world of software is difficult, and my hope is that you can take some useful lessons away from this summary. Following are some of the things that worked for them. Narrowed Their Focus from â€Å"everyone in the world that touches complex documents† to a â€Å"rifle shot.† Documentum chose to focus initially on the regulatory affairs departments of Fortune 500 pharmaceutical companies. This narrowed their universe of prospects from some 500,000 to only 40 companies worldwide. Urgent Need to Buy: Documentum was able to identify buyers in extreme pain due to the regulatory paperwork requirements for submitting new drugs for approval. They focused on finding prospects that were in a situation where (1) regulatory requirements created much pain, (2) prospects demanded a solution and (3) the solution could represent a significant competitive advantage. Documentum closed 30 out of 40 initial target prospects in the first year! Help for Struggling Software Companies tom@tomingraminc.com 972-394-5736 Newsletter #25 July 2004 Page 1 TOM INGRAM & ASSOCIATES, Inc. Huge Payback for Customer Every day that was saved in drug approval application time resulted in a $1 million incremental profit for Documentum’s clients. The system reduced drug approval application time from 1 year to approximately six months. Average profit per day of $1 million times 128 days saved = $128 million in incremental profits per drug application. A typical system might cost $4 Million – Resulting in a 32-fold Payback! Target Buyer: Documentum discovered that their target buyer was not the Information Technology (IT) department! IT departments are often happy with the status quo – while line executives are not. They also discovered that executives and department managers were really the ones that drove the priorities for IT. Documentum stopped trying to sell to IT department buyers and focused on line executives with a problem and a budget. I will add that I have seen this to be true in dozens, if not hundreds, of instances in my 24 years in the technology and software business. The boom times of the ‘90s were a slight exception to this rule. The IT department was buying a great deal, and companies got used to   selling to the IT department. When reality came crashing down upon us, and the techbubble burst in the early 2000’s, this aberration disappeared. I will note that this is an   extremely difficult shift for companies to make because their sales force, including sales executives, and even the CEO, often have experience only selling to the IT department – they have no skills, credibility or capacity to sell to line executives. Picking the Initial Target Niche: One of the key issues in picking the initial target niche is the size of payback to the customer. By focusing on the area which your customer has the greatest payback, they have the most to gain economically from purchasing from you quickly. Assuming you can consistently deliver this payback, it is much easier to get Niche 2, Niche 3 and Niche 4 going after you have a strong set of happy customers behind you. Subsequent Niches: After Documentum’s initial success in the regulatory affairs department, they spread to other niches in every department within pharmaceutical companies. (regulated chemicals, oil refineries, etc.) This included a big win in the document management area for oil and gas exploration and production companies, where Documentum helped them manage the property/lease/royalty paperwork. This approach is often called the bowling pin model, because you set up the initial niche as a â€Å"headpin†, knock it down and that makes it substantially easier to â€Å"knock down the following pins†. This approach also helps you keep a controlled risk (or cash burn rate) by requiring the software company to demonstrate that it can find and close customers with an urgent need to buy, one niche at a time. Changes to Software Product Offered: Note that Documentum had the discipline to stay focused on the needs of very tightly defined sets of customers. They started in the regulatory affairs departments of pharmaceutical companies, and slowly spread, niche-by-niche (bowling pin-by-bowling pin)   to other departments and other industries. It is critical to recognize that Documentum invested its precious cash in software product enhancements only for these customers. The Harvard Business Review Case highlights a particular situation where Documentum declined a $2 million order because it would have required them to make Help for Struggling Software Companies tom@tomingraminc.com 972-394-5736 Newsletter #25 July 2004

Mechanics at Its Finest: An Annotated Bibliography Essay

â€Å"According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job prospects for mechanics who complete postsecondary education training programs, such as those offered by trade schools and community colleges, should be good, while those with only a high school education will have a more difficult time†. Joseph, Chris â€Å"Benefits to an Auto Mechanic.† Demand Media. Ehow, 15 Aug. 2003. Web. The Bureau of Labor suggests that the benefits of becoming and automobile mechanic are much higher as you proceed to college. A credible and educated mechanic is going to get hired over an aspiring mechanic. College makes the chances of you getting a higher paying career more likely. Being educated in this type of field is critical to the work environment. If you are not educated the likely hood of a mistake is extreme which could cost you or the company that you are working for a large amount of money. College is recommended when going into mechanics but is not always a necessity depending on the shop or company hiring you. â€Å"Mechanics with five to nine years of experience earn between $13.98 and $20.40 per hour. Those with 20 or more years of experience can earn from $17.81 to $24.94 per hour as of 2010. Joseph, Chris â€Å"Benefits to an Auto Mechanic.† Demand Media. Ehow, 15 Aug. 2003. Web. Like any job opportunity the more experience that one has will aid your ability to find a higher paying job. Mechanics pay is off of an hourly wage and the shop fee. If you are a mechanic and you have experience then you can get jobs done quicker which in turn makes you a higher profit compared to an inexperienced mechanic who takes longer to complete tasks. The mechanics field is like a ladder. The faster you get the more money you make so the more equipment you can buy. By having your own shop and high end equipment you will become better known to the community and you will rece ive more clients. â€Å"One of the best things about being a mechanic is that you are doing something new every day†. Cahn, Jeff â€Å"Reasons to Become a Mechanic† List My Five. Auto Repair, 21 Oct. 2011. Web. If you are a person that craves to always be doing something new this is the job for you. Day to day you are always working on cars but you are not always working on the same cars or replacing the same parts on a car. This career choice comes along with a lot of problem solving. If something does not go as planned you have to figure out a way around it but still be able to fix the problem. â€Å"In order to succeed as a mechanic, you have to be constantly learning. This is not a field where you can just sit back and hope for the best. There is always something new to learn. Mechanics have always had to grow and adapt, from carburetors to fuel injection and now to hybrids. Now they have laser ignition systems in the works. If you stop learning, you stop earning†. Cahn, Jeff â€Å"Reasons to Become a Mechanic† List My Five. Auto Repair, 21 Oct. 2011. Web. Cars have evolved over time as mechanics have been forced to evolve. A repair might be presented to you that you have never accomplished before or that you are not familiar with but you still have to fix dilemma that is purposed to you. If you decided that you can’t do the work because you stopped learning or you don’t want to make the mistake you are losing money and some other shop is going to get the business. You have to keep an open mind and learn constantly as cars get more complex. In this field of interest you need to have a good memory on how to resolve predicaments. In turn if you do not remember how to resolve a particular problem, the time you spend trying to remember or trying to learn again is money that you are wasting, because shops basically operate off of a flat rate. This is the amount of money paid by the customer up front, for a certain amount of hours. The only way to make a profit is to finish within or before the set amount of time is up. â€Å"There is a great satisfaction in seeing a car come in on a tow truck and leaving the shop with the customer driving it home because you fixed it. As they say, â€Å"Enjoy what you do and you’ll never work a day in your life†. Cahn, Jeff â€Å"Reasons to Become a Mechanic† List My Five. Auto Repair, 21 Oct. 2011. Web. If you enjoy helping people and making their life easier than this is a good job for you. When you help someone that needs their car for daily activities it is a great feeling knowing that their life was put on hold and you are the one that made if resume. To be a mechanic you need to have good communication with people. If customers come is and aren’t able to pay the flat rate you have to be able to compromise and not lose business or the trust of you custome rs. If you earn the trust of the customers and show them that this is your passion and it’s not all about the money they will most likely come back to you instead of another shop. â€Å"While most shops don’t offer the normal benefits — medical/dental/vision/401K, etc. — you do get the benefit of being able to work on your vehicles at a discount. You pay the shop cost for parts and you are the labor. You can keep your family’s vehicles up and running cheap. Cahn, Jeff† â€Å"Reasons to Become a Mechanic† List My Five. Auto Repair, 21 Oct. 2011. Web. Most jobs come with the benefit of health and medical insurance. Mechanics does not have that option. Although a high risk job of getting injured it is not a complete deal breaker. Mechanics have the advantage to help friends and family out with maintaining their cars to save them money. With the money that you save on car repairs for your family you can buy separate insurance for about the same cost. Perhaps you own your own shop you will have the option of getting and supply medical coverage for you and your employees. Even though mechanics doesn’t have a fantastic insurance plan it is not a deal breaker for people with a passion for cars. Not to mention when you get credibility in the industry, nicer and more expensive cars will come in to be worked on. This job is definitely not the most beneficial but is not the least either. Mechanics make decent money according to how well they work and how fast they get the job done. If you feel like you have to do something different every day or you feel like you need to always be busy this is the career for you. This career is all about learning and fixing. Mechanics is a great deal of manual labor, lifting, replacing, and fixing everyday problems that are presented to you. There will always be a demand for Auto mechanics because of the growing car market. More and more cars are made every day which creates a demand for mechanics. Mechanics is my passion and my love and with all my knowledge I hope to help the community.