Gone With The Wind Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Gone With The Wind - Essay Example In this story, the main character, Scarlett O’Hara, must come to grips with the loss of her childhood wealth and comfort as a true Southern Belle of the Old South as the Civil War rips apart the Georgia countryside of her home and renders her penniless in the devastation of the Antebellum South. This is an important distinction that is made much of in both the book and the subsequent film. At the beginning of the novel, the grandness of the plantation does not seem to equal later impressions of it. Scarlett herself doesn’t seem to really being placing the mansion and grounds into their sweeping concepts until somewhat later in the book, when the city of Atlanta is under siege. It is here that she begins considering â€Å"the sprawling white house with fluttering white curtains at the windows, the thick clover on the lawn with the bees busy in it, the little black boy on the front steps shooing the ducks and turkeys from the flowerbeds, the serene red fields and the miles and miles of cotton turning white in the sun!† (339). As the war rages on and Scarlett is forced to exist in the relative squalor and deprivation of the Reconstruction, these images become even more distanced from the real. For example, Rhett Butler decides to leave Scarlett to her misery as he goes to â€Å"hunt in old towns and old countries where some of the old time must still linge r† (1009) while Scarlett continues to place her memories of the old plantation in terms of the romantically idealized: â€Å"the banks of cape jessamine bushes, vivid green against the white walls, the fluttering white curtains† (1011). The ending impression of Tara before the war thus takes on the image that is eventually put forward at the opening of the film by the same name. For the film, it was important to portray the sprawling wealth of a southern plantation to explain both Scarlett’s headstrong, princess-like attitude as well as her expectations regarding other people’s behavior. The mansion

Pathogenic and non pathogenic microorganism Research Paper

Pathogenic and non pathogenic microorganism - Research Paper Example Nonpathogenic organisms are organisms that do not cause disease to hosts with normal defense capacity. However, most non-pathogenic bacteria tend to be opportunistic in that they can cause diseases if the host defense mechanisms or defense in insufficient or compromised. The Session Long Project will discuss Escherichia coli (E. coli) as the non-pathogenic bacteria and Mycobacterium tuberculosis as the pathogenic microorganism. I choose E. coli because it is one of the most common bacteria found in humans. On the other hand, I choose Mycobacterium tuberculosis since it is a pathogenic bacteria that causes tuberculosis, which is a common opportunistic disease in immune-depressed disease. However, the causative agent is considered pathogenic. Moreover, tuberculosis causes several case of death especially in third world countries. E. coli is a common type of bacteria that is found in the human gut but is generally non-pathogenic. The bacterium is found as normal intestinal or bowel flora and has numerous strains. Moreover, Escherichia coli in the human intestines act as a source of Vitamin B complex and Vitamin K. The bacterial inhabits different regions of the body such as the lower and upper respiratory tract and the intestines where it is harmless. However, E. coli become harmful if it enters the blood system (Grover-Lakomia & Fong, 1998). Moreover, in immune-compromised individuals, E. coli is capable of producing toxics, which are harmful to humans. The bacterium is also harmful if taken from foods or contaminated water. Although cases of E. coli poisoning are rare, successful control of the pathogen poisoning would still be considered a significant accomplishment in the field of microbiology and public health (Funnell, Koutoukidis, & Lawrence, 2008; Grover-Lakomia & Fong, 1998) Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a non-motile, rod shaped bacterium, which causes tuberculosis.

The Effect Of Dividend Policy Finance Essay

The Effect Of Dividend Policy Finance Essay The issue of how much a company should pay its stockholders as dividend is been of concern to managers. The optimal dividend policy of a firm depends on investors desire for capital gains as opposed to income, willingness to forgo dividends for future returns, and perception of risk associated with postponement of returns. Management is often in a dilemma; whether to pay dividends or to retain them for future investments with implications on share value. The study sought to determine the effects of dividend policy on the market share value in the banking industry in Kenya, using National Bank Kenya (NBK) as case for the study. The study applied an explanatory research design covering a proportionate sample of 100 shareholders drawn from a target population of 47,000 shareholders of National Bank of Kenya. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data. The hypotheses were tested by use of Pearsons Moment Corr elation. With a response rate of 68%, the study established that NBK had a dividend policy as confirmed by 91% of the respondents. The study established a strong and positive correlation (0.850) between dividend payout and market share value, with a P-value of 0.000. There was a positive correlation (0.299) between dividend growth rate and market value of shares with a p-value is 0.013; hence establishing a significant relationship between variables. There was a positive correlation (0.502) between regularity of dividend declaration and market share value with a P-value was 0.000. Dividend policy had a significant effect on the market share value. The study recommends that management in banks and specifically National Bank Kenya must adjust the dividend policy in tandem with interests and requirements of shareholders to improve the market share value. Key Terms: Dividend policy, dividend payout, dividend declaration, share value Background to the Study Dividend policy has been a puzzle in corporate finance for several decades. Among numerous research subjects about dividend policy, the most popular one is the relationship between the dividend level and the share price of a firm. According to the dividend discount model (Gordon, 1959); it is feasible to derive that dividend payment augmentation should be accompanied by the value increase in a firm. Miller and Modigliani (1961) however, point out that the value of a firm is not influenced by current and future dividend decisions, which is well recognized as the dividend irrelevance theory. According to Kapoor (2009) dividend policy connotes to the payout policy, which managers pursue in deciding the size and pattern of cash distribution to shareholders over time. Therefore, managements primary goal is shareholders wealth maximization, which translates into maximizing the value of the company as measured by the price of its common stock. This goal can be achieved by giving the shareholders a fair payment on their investments. Gordon (1963) found that dividend policy of the company did affect the market prices of its shares. Share value is represented by the market price of the companys common stock, which, in turn, is the function of the companys investment, financing and dividend decisions. Dividend decisions are recognized as centrally important because of increasingly significant role of the finances in the firms overall growth strategy. Bishop et al., (2000) contends that managers must not only consider the question of how much of the companys earnings are needed for investment, but also take into consideration the possible effect of their decisions on share prices. According to Kapoor (2009), share prices of a firm tend to be reduced whenever there is a reduction in dividend payments. An announcement of dividend increase generates abnormal positive security returns and an announcement of dividend decrease generates abnormal negative security returns. A drop in share prices occurs because dividends have a signaling effect. The Research Problem Dividend policy is an integral part of financial management decision of a firm. There is adequate empirical evidence pointing to a strong relationship between dividend policy and stock market prices. However, managers are in a dilemma as to whether to pay large, small or zero percentage of their earnings as dividends or to retain them for future investments. This situation is occasioned by the different shareholder interests which management has to satisfy. For instance, some shareholders prefer to be paid dividends every year for investing in other profitable businesses while other shareholders would like to invest in the future and thus, prefer that the dividends be retained by the company for re-investment. However, most investors prefer companies with high pay outs because they are less risky than potential future capital gains. Since the bank management is dealing with competing interests of various shareholders, the kind of dividend policy they adopt may have either positive or negative effects on the share prices of the company. According to Miller and Modigliani (1961), the effect of a firms dividend policy on the current price of its shares is a matter of considerable importance, not only to management who must set the policy, but also to investors planning portfolios and to economists seeking to understand and appraise the functioning of the capital market. It is this basis that the study sought to establish the effects of dividend policy on market share value in the banking industry in Kenya, using National Bank of Kenya as a case for the study. Purpose of the Study The purpose of the study the study was to determine the effects of dividend policy on the market share value in the banking industry in Kenya, using case study of National Bank of Kenya. The constructs of dividend policy that were correlated with market share value were dividend growth rate, dividend payout, and regularity of dividend declaration. Research Methodology The study adopted an explanatory research design. The design allowed description of the variable characteristics and systematic explanation of the relationships amongst them as supported by Mugenda and Mugenda (2003) and Kothari (2004). The study covered a sample of 100 respondents from a population of 47,000 general public shareholders. The sample was selected through proportionate stratified sampling method; where the population was divided into five strata; shareholders with 1 to 100,000 shares, shareholders with shares between 100,001 and 200,000 shares, shareholders with 20001 to 30000 shares, shareholders with 300,001 to 400,000 shares and shareholders with over 400,000 shares. A structured, self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents. Descriptive statistics including frequencies, percentages and mean were used to describe variable characteristics while inferential statistics (correlation and regression) were used to determine and explain varia ble relationships. The research hypotheses were tested using Pearsons Moment Correlation was used to test the research hypotheses. The study also tested the working of the postulated model using ANOVA while regression analysis was applied to test the test model in explaining the variable relationships. Results and Analysis The study achieved a response rate of 68%. Among the respondents, 32% were female while 68% were male; implying that majority of the National Bank of Kenya (NBK) shareholders is male. Dividend Policy The respondents were given a set of statements regarding NBKs dividend policy and asked to indicate extent to which they agreed with each one of them. According to the results (Table 1), 91% of the respondents were aware that National Bank of Kenya had a dividend policy. However, 59% indicated that the Dividend Policy was not well communicated to and understood by the shareholders. Table 1: Status of Dividend Policy Statement/ item Strongly Disagree Disagree Agree Strongly Agree Mean Frq % Frq % Frq % Frq % National Bank of Kenya has a Dividend Policy 5 7.4 1 1.5 29 42.6 33 48.5 3.32 NBK dividends policy is well understood by its shareholders 19 27.9 21 30.9 14 20.6 14 20.6 2.34 Dividend policy has been and continues to be important factor driving NBK share value 1 1.5 12 17.6 19 27.9 36 52.9 3.32 Formal dividend policy gives shareholders the assurance of predictable dividend payments 0 0 22 32.4 32 47.1 14 20.6 2.88 The study revealed that the dividend policy has been and continues to be an important factor driving NBK share value as supported by 80% of the respondents. Respondents were of the view that a formal dividend policy gives shareholders the assurance of predictable dividend payments (68%). The importance of the dividend policy to shareholders was clearly underscored as demonstrated by above average mean scores on all the constructs on which it was measured except the understanding of the policy by shareholders. Dividend Payments on Share Value Objective one sought to assess the effects of dividend payout on the market share value of National Bank of Kenya. An assessment of the effects of dividend payments on share value involved a set of statement which the respondents were required to indicate the extent to which they agreed with them. As shown in Table 2, 90% of the respondents pointed out that they considered payment of dividends a major element in the value of shares, meaning that an increase in a dividend payout causes an increase in share price as supported by 88% of the respondents. However, 79% felt that dividend payment did not remove excess cash flows that could be invested in unprofitable projects. Majority of the respondents (98%) strongly submitted that dividend paying firms are more closely scrutinized by financial analysts to assess managements role in building share value. Further they felt that dividend payments should satisfy shareholders dividend preference rather than depend on the firms investing or financing decisions. The study also revealed that dividend payments are better signals of confidential information than other media forms (98%); thus raising share value. The respondents were also of the view that payment of dividends is a demonstration that that the firm is strong enough and can pass up profitable investments (98%). Moreover, most of the respondents (78%) agreed that they valued their shares at NBK because of the regular dividend payments they received. Out of eight items used to measure the effect of dividend payment on share value, five of them received above average mean scores ranging between 2.97 to 3.76; a demonstration that that indeed dividend pay ment is a major determinant of share value. Table 2: Effects of Dividend Payments on Market Share Value Statement/ item Strongly Disagree Disagree Agree Strongly Agree Mean Fre % Fre % Fre % Fre % I consider payment of dividends a major element in the value of shares I hold at National Bank of Kenya 2 2.9 5 7.4 29 42.6 32 47.1 3.34 An increase in a dividend payout causes an increase in share price 0 0 8 11.8 28 41.2 32 47.1 2.18 Dividend payment removes excess cash flows that could be invested in unprofitable projects 0 0 54 79.4 14 20.6 0 0 2.21 Dividend paying firms are more closely scrutinized by financial analysts to assess managements role in building share value 0 0 1 1.5 41 60.3 26 38.2 2.97 Dividend payments should satisfy shareholders dividend preference rather than depend on the firms investing or financing decisions 0 0 1 1.5 41 60.3 26 38.2 3.37 Dividend payments are better signals of confidential information than other media forms; thus raising share value 0 0 1 1.5 14 20.6 53 77.9 3.76 In my view, payment of dividends is a demonstration that that the firm is strong enough and can pass up profitable investments. 0 0 1 1.5 14 20.6 53 77.9 3.76 I value my shares at NBK because of the regular dividend payments I receive. 5 7.4 10 14.7 20 29.4 33 48.5 2.21 The study tested a hypothesis which stated that Dividend payout does not significantly affect the market value of National Bank of Kenya shares. The hypothesis was tested using Pearsons Moment Correlation Coefficient. The test was conducted to establish the relationship between dividend payout and market value of shares. The study (Table 3) revealed a positive correlation (0.850) between dividend payout and market value of NBK shares with a P-value of 0.000, less than the alpha of 0.01; hence establishing a strong and significant relationship between variables. Table 3: Correlation Analysis on Dividend Payout and Market Share Value Dividend payout Market value of NBK shares Dividend pay out Pearson Correlation 1 0.850(**) Sig. (2-tailed) . .000 N 68 68 Market value of NBK shares Pearson Correlation 0.850(**) 1 Sig. (2-tailed) .000 . N 68 68 ** Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed). Dividend Growth Rate and Share Value Objective two sought to determine the effects of dividend growth rate on market value of National Bank of Kenya shares. This was a measured on a number of statements in which respondents were asked to indicate the extent to which they agreed with them. As shown in Table 4, all the respondents disagreed with the statement that dividend payments at National Bank of Kenya have been experiencing steady growth over the years. However, they (98%) pointed that maintenance of steady and growing dividend payments increases a firms share value. Further, 98% of the respondents were of the view that adjusting dividend payments towards a target payout ratio will increase a firms share value. The study also established that 78% of the respondents valued the shares they held with National Bank of Kenya because of steady growth in dividend payments; contradicting Levinsohn (2003) who observes that paying dividends will influence how a company finances its growth but will not have a lasting effect on its value in the marketplace. Though majority of the respondents disagreed with the contention that the dividend payments have been experiencing steady growth over the years, all the others attributes used to measure the effect of dividend growth rate on market share value all the other attributes were favourably rated with mean scores of over 3.3 out of 5; demonstrating that dividend growth is a major determinant in market share value. Table 4: Effects of Dividend Growth Rate on Market Share Value Statement/ item Strongly Disagree Disagree Agree Strongly Agree Mean Fre % Fre % Fre % Fre % NBK dividend payments have been experiencing steady growth over the years 14 20.6 54 79.4 0 0 0 0 1.79 Maintenance of steady and growing dividend payments increases a firms share value 0 0 1 1.5 14 20.6 53 77.9 3.76 Adjusting dividend payments towards a target payout ratio will increase a firms share value 0 0 1 1.5 40 58.8 27 39.7 3.38 I value the shares I hold with National Bank of Kenya because of steady growth in dividend payments 3 4.4 12 17.6 20 29.4 33 48.5 3.32 The study tested a hypothesis which stated that Dividend growth rate does not significantly affect the market value of National Bank of Kenya shares, using Pearsons Moment Correlation. As shown in Table 5, there is a positive correlation (0.299) between dividend growth rate and market value of NBK shares with a P-value of 0.013 less than the alpha of 0.05; hence establishing a high significant relationship between the study variables. This shows that dividend growth rate has a significant effect on market value of NBK shares. Table 5: Correlation Analysis on Dividend Growth Rate and Market Share Value Dividend growth rate Market value of NBK shares Dividend growth rate Pearson Correlation 1 .299(*) Sig. (2-tailed) . .013 N 68 68 Market value of NBK shares Pearson Correlation .299(*) 1 Sig. (2-tailed) .013 . N 68 68 * Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level (2-tailed). Regularity of Dividend Declaration and Market Share Value Objective three sought to establish the effects of regularity of dividend declaration on the market share value through a set of statements. According to the study findings (Table 6), 77% of the respondents considered regularity of dividend declaration as major element in the value of shares they owned whereas 88% felt that regular dividend declaration caused an increase in share price. Further, 90% of the respondents submitted that regular dividend declaring firms have more shareholders and their share value is high. Table 6: Effects of Regularity of Dividend Declaration on Market Share Value Statement/ item Strongly Disagree Disagree Agree Strongly Agree Mean Fre % Fre % Fre % Fre % I consider regularity of dividend declaration a major element in the value of shares I hold at National Bank of Kenya 1 1.5 14 20.6 29 42.6 24 35.3 3.12 Regularity of dividend declaration causes an increase in share price 2 2.9 6 8.8 28 41.2 32 47.1 3.32 Regular dividend declaring firms have more shareholders and their share value is high. 0 0 7 10.3 7 10.3 54 79.4 3.69 I value my shares at NBK because of the regular dividend payments I receive 26 38.2 28 41.2 0 0 14 20.6 2.03 The results further revealed that majority of the respondents (79%) disagreed with the contention that they valued their shares because of the regularity of dividend declaration with a mean score of 2.03 out of a maximum of 5. In general, three out of the four attributes measuring the effect of regularity of dividend payments on share value received high mean scores of over 3 out of 5; implying that regularity of dividend payments is positively related to share price. It follows thereof that when dividends are not regular, the share value drops and vice versa. The study tested a hypothesis which stated that regularity of dividend declaration does not significantly affect the market value of National Bank of Kenya shares using Pearsons Moment Correlation. As shown in Table 7, the study established a positive correlation of 0.502 with P-value of 0.000, less than the alpha of 0.01; hence demonstrating a high and significant relationship between the two variables. Therefore, regularity of dividend declaration has a significant effect on market value of shares. The results agrees with Pettit (1972) observations that announcements of dividend increases are followed by significant price increases and that announcements of dividend decreases are followed by significant price drops. Table 7: Correlation Analysis on Regularity of Dividend Declaration and Market Share Value Regularity of dividend declaration Market value of NBK shares Regularity of dividend declaration Pearson Correlation 1 0.502(**) Sig. (2-tailed) . 0.000 N 68 68 Market value of NBK shares Pearson Correlation 0.502(**) 1 Sig. (2-tailed) 0.000 . N 68 68 ** Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed). When asked to rate the level of market share value (Figure 1), 3% rated the value as very low, 57% rated it low, with 36% rating the value as high and 4% as very high. This shows that majority (60%) of the shareholders considered the market value of the shares as low. Figure 1: Level of market share value Model Testing The model had hypothesized that regularity of dividend declaration, dividend growth rate and dividend payouts were responsible for variation in the market share value. To test this model multiple regression was run with market share value as the dependent variable and regularity of dividend declaration, dividend growth rate and dividend payouts as the independent variables. According to the study results in Table 8, the three independent variables account for 68% (R Square, 0.679) of the variations in market share value. Table 8: Regression Model Summary Model R R Square Adjusted R Square Std. Error of the Estimate 1 .824(a) .679 .664 .530 Predictors: (Constant), regularity of dividend declaration, dividend growth rate and dividend payouts. The study conducted ANOVA to test determine whether the model works. As shown in Table 9, the F value was 45.110 at significance level of 0.00. Since the significance level (0.00) was far much less than the alpha level 0.05, it implies that the three independent variables (dividend payout, dividend growth rate and regularity of dividend declaration) contributed significantly to variations in the dependent variable (market share value). Table 9: ANOVA Results Model Sum of Squares df Mean Square F Sig. 1 Regression 38.060 3 12.687 45.110 .000(a) Residual 17.999 64 .281 Total 56.059 67 a. Predictors: (Constant): regularity of dividend declaration, dividend growth rate and dividend payouts; b. Dependent Variable: market value of NBK shares Regression analysis was conducted to determine the effects of dividend payout, dividend growth rate and regularity of dividend declaration on market share value. The study established that an increase in regularity of dividend payout, dividend growth rate and regularity of dividend declaration by one unit would increase market value of NBK shares by 0.615, 0.393 and 0.217 respectively. This implies that all the three independent variables significantly affect market share value, though dividend payout is more significant than the other two variables. Table 10: Regression Coefficient Model Un standardized Coefficients Standardized Coefficients t Sig. B Std. Error Beta (Constant) .463 .239 1.939 .057 Dividend payout .615 .075 .758 8.161 .000 Dividend growth rate .393 .130 .218 3.015 .004 Regularity of dividend declaration .217 .057 .223 3.793 .000 a. Dependent Variable: market value of NBK shares Conclusions It is palpable that National Bank of Kenya had a dividend policy, which has been and continues to be important factor driving NBK share value. However, it was not well understood by the most of the shareholders. The NBK shareholders considered payment of dividends is as major element in the value of shares as it demonstrated that that the firm is strong enough and can pass up profitable investments. It is also evident that that an increase in a dividend payout causes an increase in share price. It is also clear from the results that dividend payments have been experiencing declining over the last five years. Although, maintenance of steady and growing dividend payments has been confirmed to increase the firms share value, adjusting dividend payments towards a target payout ratio will also increase a firms share value. Consequently, steady growth in dividend payments makes the shareholders value their shares more. Regularity of dividend declaration was also viewed as a major element w ith regards to the value of shares as shareholders believed that regular dividend declaration caused an increase in share price. Based on the results, dividend payout, dividend growth rate and regularity of dividend declaration significantly influenced the market value of National Bank of Kenya shares. Recommendations Based on the findings, the study made the following recommendation; Dividend policy has proven to be of paramount importance with regards to the market share value and thus NBKs management should avail the policy to its shareholders. This grants them an opportunity to contribute to the improvement of the policy. NBK must adjust its dividend policy to improve the market value of its shares. For an optimal dividend policy to be achieved and maintained, the bank management should maintain regular dividend payment, and also pay a special dividend or initiate a share repurchase programme. Any changes in policy should be shared with the shareholders.

Comparing Roosevelts New Deal and Laura Ingalls Wilder Little House on the Prairie :: Compare Contrast Comparison

Comparing Roosevelt's New Deal and Laura Ingalls Wilder Little House on the Prairie Books Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote many books during her time. She is best known for her Little House on the Prairie books, which were written in the 1930's during the great depression. I will contrast Roosevelt's New Deal with Laura Ingalls Wilder Little House on the Prairie books. The comparison between these two is the fact of how the Little House on the Prairie books did not depend on the government and Roosevelt's New Deal plan and how Laura and her family lived life with little to no help from the government. To start off I am going to give you a brief background on what caused the great depression and how the New Deal came about. The great depression came about for many different reasons. Some of these reasons are due to the stock market crash of 1929. Most people think that this is what started the great depression but actually it was only part of it. The upper and lower classes played a big role on wages for what was paid between the two different classes. Because of this wage difference it had an impact on the banking system. Also America became know as a credit nation vs. a debtor nation. Which meant that the United States was owed more money by other countries and the United States owed. Another problem that the United States was having is that the whole dollar vs. gold. During the 1930's the United States was still on a gold value system where paper money had no value. With all of these factors and the stock market crash of 1929 was just the final straw that broke the camels back as the saying goes. With the depression going and 1 out of every 4 people not having a job, the country was in serious troub le. Franklin D. Roosevelt came up with the New Deal. The New Deal was also known as Works Progress Administration (WPA). The program put 8,500,000 of Americans back to work. The work consisted of everything from building public parks and a writers program to paying farmers not to plant crops. This is the part of the New Deal that I will be addressing. The Agricultural Adjustment Act also known as AAA. The AAA act came about to stabilize prices and overproduction on farm products such as cotton, wheat, corn, rice, tobacco, hogs and milk.

Determination of nickel Essay

INTRODUCTION EDTA (Hâ‚„Y) is widely used to determine metals in complexometric (a volumetric analysis where the formation of a coloured complex is used to indicate the end point of a titration) titrations as it forms stable complexes with most metal ions. EDTA is a tetracorboxylic acid and in alkaline conditions, it exists as Y⠁ ´Ã¢  » ions, which form 1:1 complexes with metal ions like nickel(II) ions: Y⠁ ´Ã¢  » + Ni ²Ã¢  º NiY ²Ã¢  » A metal ion indicator (an organic dye which changes colour when it binds with metal ions) shows the end of an EDTA complexometric titration. However, for a metal ion indicator to be suitable in n EDTA titration, it must not bind as strongly with metal ions as EDTA does. Murexide is therefore suitable. AIM The aim of this experiment is to determine the percentage of nickel in a nickel(II) salt using EDTA. Approximately 2.6g of hydrated nickel(II) sulphate was transferred to a weighing bottle and the contents weighed and about 25cmá ¶Å¸ of deionised water was added to a 100cmá ¶Å¸ beaker and the nickel transferred to the water. The bottle was weighed without any remaining salt and then the mixture was stirred until the solid was dissolved before the resulting solution was transferred to a 100cmá ¶Å¸ standard flask. The beaker was then rinsed several times with deionised water and the rinsings were added to the standard flask. The solution was filled up to the graduation mark with deionised water and the flask was stoppered and inverted several times to mix the contents. The burette was rinsed with 0.01moll⠁ »Ã‚ ¹ EDTA and filled with the same solution. The 20cmá ¶Å¸ pipette was rinsed with a little of the nickel salt solution and then 20cmá ¶Å¸ of it was pipetted into a conical flask. The solution was diluted to about 100cmá ¶Å¸ with deionised water and murexide indicator (approximately 0.05g) was added to the diluted nickel salt solution along with appromimately 10cmá ¶Å¸ of ammonium chloride solution. The mixture was titrated with the EDTA solution and after and after the addition of about 15cmá ¶Å¸ the solution was made alkaline by adding  approximately 10cmá ¶Å¸ of 0.88 aqueous ammonia (concentrated ammonia solution). The titration was then continued to the end point, shown by the first appearance of a blue-violet colour. Titrations were repeated until two concordant results were obtained. RESULTS Mass of 1 Mole of NiSO4.6H2O: 262.8g Mass of 1 Mole of Ni: 58.7g Theoretical Percentage by Mass: Volumes of EDTA used in titration: 1st : 20.2cm3 2nd: 20.9cm3 3rd: 20.4cm3 Average: 20.5cm3 Moles of EDTA used = 0.1 x 0.0205 = 0.00205 Moles EDTA reacts with Nickel in a 1:1 ratio, so the number of moles of Nickel in 20cm3 of the salt solution = 0.00205Moles Number of Moles in 100cm3 = 0.00205 x 5 = 0.01025 Moles Number of Moles of Ni2+ in 2.6g of Nickel salt = 0.01025 Weight of Ni2+ in salt = 0.01025 x 58.7 = 0.601675g CONCLUSION % Mass of Nickel in salt = 0.601675 à · 2.60 = 23.14%

House on Mango Street Essay

Childhood: In some works of literature, childhood and adolescence are portrayed as times graced by innocence and a sense of wonder; in other works, they are depicted as times of tribulation and terror. Focusing on a single novel or play, explain how its representation of childhood or adolescence shapes the meaning of the work as a whole. Throughout the novel, The House on Mango Street a girl named Esperanza goes through many different changes as she tries discovering her true self. She evolves from insecure and not knowing anything about herself into confident and knowing where she wants her life to take her.That children must go through the experience of growing out of an innocent child into finding themselves as a person and finally developing self-confidence is highlighted in the book. At first, Esperanza starts out young, insecure, and immature. Her immaturity shows apparent when she talks about her mom holding her and says, â€Å"sweet to put your nose into when she is holding you and you feel safe† (6-7). This shows Esperanza’s insecurity because her mom remains a big source of comfort to her. She feels nice and safe all the time because her mom will act as a protection for her.In addition, Esperanza’s immaturity shows when she claims, â€Å"They are stupid people who are lost and got here by mistake† (28). This emphasizes how defensive and protective Esperanza reacts towards her neighborhood by calling them stupid when that’s just how they act. She does not try to understand their point of view. Though Esperanza maintains these characteristics, the reader will soon see her slight yet palpable maturity. As Esperanza develops as a person, she goes through another phase where she remains young and immature; however, she starts to show obvious signs of maturity and growing up.When Esperanza stands up for her sister she states, â€Å"That’s right, I add before Lucy of Rachel can make fun of her† she proves her maturity, because she thinks of others like her sister, Nenny (50). She does the right thing instead of caring about what her friends think about her. She takes on more and more responsibilities as she grows up. As she progresses, she shows hints of growing up physically and mentally, but not completely. When a group of her and her friends try heels, she says, â€Å"yes, it’s true. We have legs. Skinny and spotted with satin scars where scabs were picked, but legs, all our own, good to look at, and long† (40).They all realize that they finally have entered the first stage of growing up when they notice their slightly more womanly, adult figures. The long legs show their slight maturity, but their scars and scabs show that they still remain young. Even though the changes might only be slight they remain changes which continue to come as she grows older and finds her place in the world. Towards the end of the novel, Esperanza finally grows up and becomes self-confident. When Esperanza runs away from the â€Å"Monkey Garden†, she’s forced to grow up. â€Å"I looked at my feet in their white socks and ugly round shoes. They seemed far away.They didn’t seem to be my feet anymore. And the garden that had been such a good place to play didn’t seem mine either† (98). The play place that was once so innocent now, a junkyard reciprocates Esperanza’s innocence that slowly turns into reality. She is growing up. Additionally, she gains enough confidence and maturity to make her own life decisions, shown when she makes the important decision of where she wants her life to take her. She states, â€Å"I have decided not to grow up tame like the others who lay their necks on the threshold waiting for the ball and chain† showing Esperanza’s maturity to make her own life choices by herself (88).She finally becomes confident and independent enough to know where she wants her life to take her. Esperanza finally completes her evolution from young and immature to adult-like and confident. House on Mango Street allows children to see that they will have to grow up one way or another. People might try to experience being an adult then decide to take a step back to ignore it but, there remains no way to avoid it. Life won’t always be easy, but in the end people will discover who they are and what purpose they have in life.

Thatcherism and New Labour - similarities essays

Thatcherism and New Labour - similarities essays The similarities between Thatcherism and New Labour are more important than the differences". Discuss. Thatcherism was built upon: Classical Liberalism, which emphasises the importance of individual freedom, and Conservatism, which promotes the notions of national sovereignty, the family and traditional morals and the minimising of state intervention. Thatcher developed her policies over time with her first government focussing on union reform and monetary control, the second focussing on privatisation and the third focussing on the restructuring of the welfare state. After becoming leader of the party in 1994, Blair made a decisive break away from Old Labours traditional political stance, rebranding the party as New Labour. In policy terms New Labour often refer to themselves as The Third Way between Old Labour, whose statist socialism they believe to be too radical, and Thatcherism, which they consider to have been overly concerned by the principle of laissez-faire and individualism. By accepting many of his predecessors ideas on: free trade, the requirement of a flexible labour market, the need to promote the spirit of entrepreneurial capitalism, the necessity for greater individual self-help and personal initiative in welfare, it can be argued that Blair has significantly shifted the party to becoming more Thatcherite. There were four crucial aspects of Margaret Thatchers economic reform: the privatisation of industry, the controlling of inflation, the curbing of union power, and the reduction of public spending in order to allow cuts in direct taxation. The most striking move away from the past by New Labour is the repeal of Clause IV of its constitution, which had become a keystone in the philosophy of the left. Commitment to public ownership was replaced by the view that the enterprise of the market and the rigour of competition are joine...

Free Essays on Odysseus And Achilles

Odysseus and Achilles In Homer’s epic poems â€Å"The Iliad† and â€Å"The Odyssey†, Achilles and Odysseus are two characters that greatly encompass the human nature idealized by ancient Greeks. By studying the warrior’s thoughts, actions, and ethics, the Ancient Greeks expected to learn how to handle the various obstacles on the course of life. Throughout their quests, Achilles and Odysseus embody the physical, spiritual, and intellectual strengths and weaknesses that the Ancient Greeks observed, and used to go about their daily lives with triumph. Both Achilles and Odysseus illustrate a vast amount of physical strength which the Greeks look upon as being necessary for the claim of respect, self-worth, and victory in the face of battle. Being half-God, the son of immortal Thetis, Achilles’ physical power is inherent. As â€Å"Zeus’s favorite fighter,† the young warrior is well known for his mightiness (166). The ability to lift his father’s spear that â€Å"No other Achaean fighter could heft [†¦and that] only Achilles had the skill to wield† exemplifies his strength above all men (171). Even King Agamemnon envies the respect that the Gods pay him for being a â€Å"great soldier.† To Achilles’ face he claims, â€Å"I hate you most of all the warlords loved by the gods. Always dear to your heart, strife [†¦] battles, [and] the bloody grind of war† (108). In battle, the great warlord conquers many men and claims to Odysseus, â€Å"Twelve cities of men I’ ve stormed and sacked from shipboard, eleven I claim by land† (139). Achilles’ speed is also admired, for it gains him victory in battle. â€Å"The great runner,† being as swift â€Å"as the wild mountain hawk, the quickest thing on wings,† manages to frighten Hector, the foremost warrior of the Trojans, and sends him â€Å"fleeing along the walls of Troy† (180). Achilles’ use of his physical ability displays to the Greeks how being mighty earns respect, and having ... Free Essays on Odysseus And Achilles Free Essays on Odysseus And Achilles Odysseus and Achilles In Homer’s epic poems â€Å"The Iliad† and â€Å"The Odyssey†, Achilles and Odysseus are two characters that greatly encompass the human nature idealized by ancient Greeks. By studying the warrior’s thoughts, actions, and ethics, the Ancient Greeks expected to learn how to handle the various obstacles on the course of life. Throughout their quests, Achilles and Odysseus embody the physical, spiritual, and intellectual strengths and weaknesses that the Ancient Greeks observed, and used to go about their daily lives with triumph. Both Achilles and Odysseus illustrate a vast amount of physical strength which the Greeks look upon as being necessary for the claim of respect, self-worth, and victory in the face of battle. Being half-God, the son of immortal Thetis, Achilles’ physical power is inherent. As â€Å"Zeus’s favorite fighter,† the young warrior is well known for his mightiness (166). The ability to lift his father’s spear that â€Å"No other Achaean fighter could heft [†¦and that] only Achilles had the skill to wield† exemplifies his strength above all men (171). Even King Agamemnon envies the respect that the Gods pay him for being a â€Å"great soldier.† To Achilles’ face he claims, â€Å"I hate you most of all the warlords loved by the gods. Always dear to your heart, strife [†¦] battles, [and] the bloody grind of war† (108). In battle, the great warlord conquers many men and claims to Odysseus, â€Å"Twelve cities of men I’ ve stormed and sacked from shipboard, eleven I claim by land† (139). Achilles’ speed is also admired, for it gains him victory in battle. â€Å"The great runner,† being as swift â€Å"as the wild mountain hawk, the quickest thing on wings,† manages to frighten Hector, the foremost warrior of the Trojans, and sends him â€Å"fleeing along the walls of Troy† (180). Achilles’ use of his physical ability displays to the Greeks how being mighty earns respect, and having ...

Lesothosaurus - Facts and Figures

Lesothosaurus - Facts and Figures Name: Lesothosaurus (Greek for Lesotho lizard); pronounced leh-SO-tho-SORE-us Habitat: Plains and woodlands of Africa Historical Period: Early Jurassic (200-190 million years ago) Size and Weight: About six feet long and 10-20 pounds Diet: Plants Distinguishing Characteristics: Small size; large eyes; bipedal posture; inability to chew About Lesothosaurus Lesothosaurus dates from a murky time in geologic historythe early Jurassic periodwhen the first dinosaurs had just split into the two main dinosaur groups, saurischian (lizard-hipped) and ornithischian (bird-hipped) dinosaurs. Some paleontologists insist that the small, bipedal, plant-eating Lesothosaurus was a very early ornithopod dinosaur (which would place it firmly in the ornithischian camp), while others maintain that it predated this important split; yet a third camp proposes that Lesothaurus was a basal thyreophoran, the family of armored dinosaurs that includes stegosaurs and ankylosaurs. One thing we do know about Lesothosaurus is that it was a confirmed vegetarian; this dinosaurs narrow snout had a beak-like appearance on the end, equipped with about a dozen sharp teeth in front and many more leaf-like, grinding teeth in the back. Like all early dinosaurs, Lesothosaurus was unable to chew its food, and its long hind legs indicate that it was very fast, especially when being pursued by larger predators. However it winds up being classified, Lesothosaurus isnt the only ancestral dinosaur of the early Jurassic period that has continued to puzzle paleontologists. Lesothosaurus may or may not have been the same creature as Fabrosaurus (the remains of which were discovered much earlier, thus giving the name Fabrosaurus precedence if the two genera wind up being merged, or synonymized), and it may also have been ancestral to the equally obscure Xiaosaurus, yet another tiny, basal ornithopod native to Asia.

The Oil Product Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Oil Product - Research Paper Example This research paper focuses on a topic of oil and it's impact on history and modern economy. The benefits of oil as a valuable product cannot be ignored. The potentials of oil to transform the economies of countries that are oil-exporters are made clear in the case of Middle East. Since the discovery of oil, the economies of the region’s countries have been highly transformed, as a result of the high volume of funds retrieved through the oil export. A key fact revealed through the literature reviewed in this research paper is the following one: oil production could not support the economic growth of all Middle East countries since not all of these countries have oil reserves. It has been also made clear that the contribution of oil in the development of economies of countries of Middle East that are oil-exporters has not been equal; in each case, the ability of local political powers to manage the production and the export processes has affected the level of benefits of oil fo r the country involved. This essay analyzes the level at which oil production in Middle East countries can support the growth of local economies is differentiated, being influenced by various political and economic interests. In this context, the researcher suggests that the value of oil as a product cannot be standardized even in countries that have been involved in the oil production process for many decades, such as the countries of the Middle East region that were used as example in this research paper.

Ritual, Rite, Practice, Culture of Geishas in Japan Research Paper

Ritual, Rite, Practice, Culture of Geishas in Japan - Research Paper Example Diversity witnessed in societies implies that communication at the global level is complicated and various social background attributes require studies including rituals, heritage, and culture. To illustrate the importance of these attributes, the following discourse highlights the Geisha women tradition to understand certain characteristics of Japanese cross-cultural communication. Geishas are female artists and entertainers observing a conservative form of ancient Japanese civilization and culture in various aspects from attire to music. Tracing back to several centuries back in history, Geisha art was designed to entertain powerful political elites of the Japanese civilization such as emperors. According to (Cass 12), influential regional conservative politics such as the one in China’s Ming Dynasty with a traditional and conservative outlook dictated the nature of the practice of the art that was designed for such political class. Propagation of the entertainment tradition for the nobility became a prestigious art form, which in line with the conservative clients took shape of the conservative Japanese traditions that were witnessed elsewhere. Apart from specific regalia designed for the performance, the female artists undergo theatrical makeup on the face and hair that add flair and flavor to the performance. The performance of Japanese music and da nce after spells of specialized training present the Geisha as among the few undoubted custodians of Japanese cultural heritage (Brown and Iwasaki 3). The performance of the entertainment does not only present the practice as a highly organized tradition but also as an important entertainment activity with far reaching sociocultural and political implications in Japan and across the globe. In terms of the communication attributes that the cross-cultural draws from the Geishas, modernity and tradition issues emerge as strong forces of the society that need special attention. Geisha

HR external consultant recommendation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

HR external consultant recommendation - Essay Example The HR Director has reservations about the transferability of the HR systems from an American context to the EU legislation, cultural and HR aspects. There are also concerns regarding the induction process for the expatriate workers. This paper aims at discussing the problems that Fantasia Corp will be anticipating in the process of implementing an HR system developed in the US in France. This paper will also give suggestions on how Fantasia Corp can overcome these challenges. In the last few decades, there has been a significant increase in the rate in which business organizations opt for global operations. Going for global markets present companies with more opportunities. Similarly, Fantasia Corp has also opted to expand their operations to Europe, with France being their targeted country. Recent researches reveal that organizations operating in different geographical environments usually have to operate under different HR practices and policies (Festing 2012, p. 43). This is due to the difference in social, political, cultural, and economic factors. Just like many other managerial practices, HRM is always affected by cultural beliefs. This is a factor that multinational corporations must take into consideration when intending to transfer some of their HR practices and policies to another country. Some of the practices that are socially allowed in America might not be admissible in France. This is a clear indication that some of the practices that have been successfully used by Fantasia Corp in the US might not be applicable in France. Therefore transferring the HR system used by Fantasia Corp in the US to France might have some performance consequences of their operations in France. HR researches have it that multinational corporations such as Fantasia Corp have to adapt to a certain degree to the cultural beliefs and practices of a host country. It should not be forgotten that in their operations

Current Trends and Future of Public Relations Essay

Current Trends and Future of Public Relations - Essay Example Their wishes are conveyed and their sentiments are made known to the celebrities in a very easy way. The celebrities have a safe route towards reaching their fans without actually getting nabbed by them. It also increases the chances of these fans to connect with their die-hard celebrities because usually the latter find ways, under which they could keep away from the fans due to invasion of privacy, however this problem gets solved in an amicable way when there is a virtual connection between the two. Moving ahead further, it is important to ascertain what the exact basis of this connection between the fans and the celebrities is, and how they connect with one another through the social media platforms which have come about with the passage of time. What needs to be understood here is a need to bring all of these fans to a common platform, which only the social media regimes can do in essence. The social media includes some of the most sought after names on the world of Internet, wh ich might comprise of Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, MSN and so on and so forth. What is required here is an understanding of each of these social media sites and software before delving deep further into the study of celebrities and their connection with the fans. The fans have all the right over their celebrities to know more about them and hence gain the knowledge and information regarding them in the long run. Social media tools make this data available to all and sundry, and create the vital link amongst all concerned (Franklin, 1999). The trend of social media has kicked off well. It has turned heads more often than any other aspect within the world of Internet in the recent years. It has made one realize how important the social media tangents really are, and what kind of affect this new form of social linkage has had. Since social media forms do not have any physical basis, it is quintessential that these can be used from just about anywhere. It is also important to understand that social media is the basis of achieving success when the celebrities want to reach out to their fans and apprise them about the recent developments and changes which are happening within their fore. What is interesting is the fact that these celebrities can remain in touch through the different social media forms and be ahead with regards to their competitors (Shaviro, 2003). The trend of social media is all the more interesting because it raises quite a few eyebrows every now and then. With the recent upsurge in the communication platforms between the celebrities and their fans through Twitter and Facebook, this phenomenon has been beefed up nonetheless, and there is reason enough to believe such a premise in the first place. One should believe that the social media forms have more or less brought together the chain of interacting one another with how they view the celebrities and what they would like the celebrities to commit or do in the long run. The reason why the trend has centered on the excessive usage of these websites is because these remain online for 24 hours a day and almost anyone can hook on to them, as and when needed. This is such a blessing that the social media forms can have over individuals as they look to bridge the gap between themselves and their celebrities who are much revered and desired. On the flip side, these celebrities can heave a sigh of relief because they get to know what their fans think about them and how they will interact with them once they

Marketing Environment of Child Rights and You UK Case Study

Marketing Environment of Child Rights and You UK - Case Study Example CRY along with its operations based in the Indian sub-continent has also successfully expanded along international regions like the United States of America and the United Kingdom thereby inviting a stronger foothold for fighting for children’s rights (Child Rights and You, n.d.). Micro and Macro Environments of CRY UK Micro Environment The Micro-Environment of CRY based in the United Kingdom would be analyzed on the basis of the internal policies and the organizational design or operational framework. CRY based in the United Kingdom operates based on a Board of Trustees who is followed by the team of Executive Committee. Finally, the main operational arm of the organization comprises of volunteers that immediately follows the Executive Committee. ... CRY UK also renders equal emphasis to the parameters of transparency and accountability in its different operations. The organization also focuses on empowering individuals working at different levels for fighting for the rights of poor children. Macro Environment In the macro environment of CRY UK the organization works through the development of partnerships with key external stakeholders for the organizational expansion and accomplishment of different important projects. On the social front, the organization maintains an effective relationship with large scales of donors, people who desire to volunteer for the concern’s activities and different project administrators. Politically the non-government organization is a registered charity firm under the United Kingdom Registrations Act and henceforth the donations made to the concern are subjected to tax deductions. The organization is socially responsible in that it helps the poor and malnourished children to effectively survi ve, develop both in their physical and intellectual fronts and thereby participate in social development. Moreover, in the macro environment, the concern also takes the active cooperation of different stakeholders like print and visual media to create a large amount of social and individual awareness. The support of different corporate and social and individual associations is gained so as to sustain the spontaneity of the fund raising operations (Child Rights and You, n.d.). SWOT Analysis of CRY Strength Child Rights and You as a non-government organization operates on fundamental vision and mission ideology that focuses on helping the children gain their own rights in regards to better nutrition, education, and social upbringing.  

Nanotechnology Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Nanotechnology - Term Paper Example On the other hand, Eric Drexler, the founder of Foresight Nanotech Institute introduced to the world the term â€Å"nanotechnology in 1986, and used it to describe the bottom up approach. In contrary to Taniguchi, Drexler looked at nanotechnology from the perspective of a physicist. He referred to nanotechnology as a large scale mechanosynthesis that is founded on the positional control of molecules that are chemically reactive. The founders of nanotechnology anticipate that, in the future, the term will probably include building mechanisms and machines with nano-scale dimensions, also referred to as the Molecular Nanotechnology (MNT) (Cutcliffe 81). According to McGinn (2010), nanotechnology has emerged due to the advent of modern technological trends used for creating more comfort for the mankind. This technology will totally refurbish the way in which electronic and digital devices operate (McGinn 116). The concept of nanotechnology is based on further reduction of the size of tr ansistors and that of electronic circuitry that would enable working at the molecular level. Its implementation would not be limited to the field of technology and science, rather medicine, construction and other sciences would equally benefit from it (Ghattas 271). Nanotechnology is being made into it to introduce and transfer it from laboratory to markets due to its productivity; this has caught attention worldwide research as well as investment. Nanotechnology has gathered a lot of attention across the world, and rapid investments are being made into it. Some of the likely benefits include; the reduction in size, the speed of processing, capability to access further small elements and running the electronic circuits, processors, machines at a more brisk pace (Cutcliffe 90). The problem to be addressed in the proposed study is since 2000, the U.S. Government has spent more than $15.6 billion in advancing the nanotechnology industry; however, research is not progressing at an effec tive and efficient rate because a roadmap for nanotechnology research to move technology from the laboratory into the marketplace has not been established (Waldron 6292). From FY2001 through FY2012, the federal government invested in nanoscale science, engineering, and technology through the U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI). Because of this focus and these investments, the U.S. has emerged as a global leader in nanotechnology. Further, nanotechnology is multiplying its applicability exponentially (Roberts, 2011). However, competition for global leadership in nanotechnology is escalating as nations and organizations worldwide increase investments in nanotechnology implementation (Waldron 6293). Maintaining U.S. leadership poses a technical, economic, and policy challenge for effective technology transfer to the private sector. Continued lack of attention to this concern will make it difficult for the U.S. to maintain its leadership role in the commercialization of nanote chnology. While the future of nanotechnology is promising and shows remarkable profitability for private industry, it is still a new practical science, and consequently it can be a high-risk and unpredictable commercial endeavor (Waldron, 6294). After 12 years and over $15 billion in research funds, the applications of nanotechnology appears to advance rapidly in research, yet slowly to being put in commercial practice in the United States (Holley 9). The idea of nanotechnology has

Marketing Environment of Child Rights and You UK Case Study

Marketing Environment of Child Rights and You UK - Case Study Example CRY along with its operations based in the Indian sub-continent has also successfully expanded along international regions like the United States of America and the United Kingdom thereby inviting a stronger foothold for fighting for children’s rights (Child Rights and You, n.d.). Micro and Macro Environments of CRY UK Micro Environment The Micro-Environment of CRY based in the United Kingdom would be analyzed on the basis of the internal policies and the organizational design or operational framework. CRY based in the United Kingdom operates based on a Board of Trustees who is followed by the team of Executive Committee. Finally, the main operational arm of the organization comprises of volunteers that immediately follows the Executive Committee. ... CRY UK also renders equal emphasis to the parameters of transparency and accountability in its different operations. The organization also focuses on empowering individuals working at different levels for fighting for the rights of poor children. Macro Environment In the macro environment of CRY UK the organization works through the development of partnerships with key external stakeholders for the organizational expansion and accomplishment of different important projects. On the social front, the organization maintains an effective relationship with large scales of donors, people who desire to volunteer for the concern’s activities and different project administrators. Politically the non-government organization is a registered charity firm under the United Kingdom Registrations Act and henceforth the donations made to the concern are subjected to tax deductions. The organization is socially responsible in that it helps the poor and malnourished children to effectively survi ve, develop both in their physical and intellectual fronts and thereby participate in social development. Moreover, in the macro environment, the concern also takes the active cooperation of different stakeholders like print and visual media to create a large amount of social and individual awareness. The support of different corporate and social and individual associations is gained so as to sustain the spontaneity of the fund raising operations (Child Rights and You, n.d.). SWOT Analysis of CRY Strength Child Rights and You as a non-government organization operates on fundamental vision and mission ideology that focuses on helping the children gain their own rights in regards to better nutrition, education, and social upbringing.  

Bringing Home Adam Essay Example for Free

Bringing Home Adam Essay Adam Walsh in his book â€Å"Bringing Adam Home† conveys different important information concerning people and the society they dwell. This book is based on Mathew Joe’s experience in his investigation for the murder and abduction. The book suddenly reveals the cases of abduction and murder that the world at large gets to be no longer innocent wit. Bring Adam Home is a definitive story about a six year old Adam Walsh who was kidnapped, raped, and murdered in 1981. It explains how Adam stopped by the local store to get some new lamps. He was captivated by a video game at the entrance of the store and begged his mother, Reve, to allow him try it out while she shopped. However, his mother never found him when she returned a few minutes later. His body was later found mutilated in a drainage canal. The book details the botched investigations conducted by the police that prevented discovery of the killer for nearly twenty seven years. The book is one of the finest true-crime stories that can be related to Thomas Thompson’s Blood and Money of 1976. Les Standiford is the author of the story that exposes notoriety of the case. He has authored other nonfiction books and novels such as The Man Who Invented Christmas that was released in 2008. Bring Adam Home tells the story of the young boy’s abduction with the help of detective Joe Matthews, who eventually solved the case. The detective was working for John Walsh’s TV show, America’s Most Wanted, while investigating the case. The book gives a meticulous recount of the events leading up to the kidnapping of Adam from a Sears store at the Hollywood Mall in Hollywood, Florida. It illustrates the unsuccessful search for the missing boy leading to the subsequent location of his severed head bobbing in a canal miles away. The shock of Adam’s abduction and murder, as well as failure by the police to find the killer, was the most consequential in American history. Efforts of the parents of the young boy, John and Reve Walsh, revolutionized the justice system on crimes involving missing and murdered children. It influenced the way local, state and federal authorities investigate such cases. During the time of Adam’s abduction and murder, there were no Amber Alerts and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children was nonexistent. In addition, the federal government did not have the pedophile registry or a database for crimes against children. It was a time when children received little attention as they played outside all day. Before his abduction, Adam was playing video game in a departmental store. The report of Adam’s abduction and eventual death led to investigations conducted by detectives from Hollywood Police Department. Detective Matthews joined the investigation team from Miami Beach Police department. Two years after the death of the boy, an illiterate arsonist, Ottis Toole, admitted to kidnapping and killing Adam. The police got this revelation during questioning about several unresolved murders. Toole was later convicted as a serial killer, but Adam’s case was not included among the crimes he had committed. There was a time Toole recanted his confession. However, he admitted to committing the crime several times later. In his confession, Toole explained that he took Adam to raise him as his own child. He only killed him when he found out that Adam could identify him. There are several reasons that resulted in failure by the police to issue charges against Ottis Toole. More prominently, the police failed in their work in correctly documenting the findings. This led to their eventual failure in the gathering of the physical evidence. Therefore, a warrant of arrest was never issued against Ottis Toole leading to dismissal of his confession. Several other facts clearly demonstrated that Toole was the culprit. Firstly, he was the only person who gave twenty five independent confessions connecting him to the crime. Secondly, Toole had detailed information concerning the crime scene that would only be known by the killer. Thirdly, scores of eyewitnesses identified Toole as the killer. The book outlines the tireless work done by the bereaved parents in search for justice on behalf of other missing children. The main attraction of the book is the investigation of the Hollywood Police Department that exposes the bulging of the investigators that had previously worked on the case. Standiford and Matthews carefully builds the case against the police. They provide details that contain numerous leads that were disregarded during the initial investigation. These included some obvious questions that were never asked, a number of crucial witnesses that were ignored, and details concerning incomplete or falsified reports. In addition, the fresh investigation of the investigators exposed evidence that was never examined and a number of vital evidence that got lost. The book exposes the most damning revelation concerning ignorance of the Hollywood police on repeated confessions by a serial killer. The killer had detailed information concerning the crime that was never made public. However, he was never tried for the crime despite confessing to the boy’s murder. The author does not bend facts to show his artistic skills. He details factual information and is not self-consciously literary. The spilling of the narrative follows a matter-of-fact style. This is an excellent choice for a narrative laced with so much mistrust, heartbreak, perversion, and gore. The authors also exposed names of several people that were never mentioned in the initial investigation. The authors recount how detective Matthews was, on numerous occasions, stonewalled by other detectives and superiors from the Hollywood police department. This occurred when he was on loan from Miami Beach Police department as a detective to assist in investigating the case. He was further frustrated when he accepted to assist the desperate parents in investigating the case afresh. It seems the Hollywood detectives and their superiors had ulterior motives of frustrating the cause of justice for the case. Moreover, the disappearance of the boy had attracted national attention with the media being at the fore front. Joe Matthews was a topnotch homicide detective who was entrusted the responsibility of unraveling who had killed the boy. However, his concerns on disorganization witnessed at the station handling the case went ignored. There was a time he was excused from the case after suffering a nasty road accident. The case was further groped by new revelations on shotgun accusations and lack of any tangible leads. This was until Ottis Toole, a convicted serial killer admitted to the murder. The investigations dragged for two decades before Matthews got access to all information on the case files. On scrutinizing the information, the detective found out what he had long suspected. The case files showed that there had been sufficient evidence to prosecute the killer of the young boy. Unfortunately, the said killer, Ottis Toole, had died in prison in 1996. He died of liver failure at the age of forty nine. He had confessed earlier to the killings and other grisly crimes. It was hurting for a country that has arguably the best justice system to allow the grieving parents of a murdered child to lead investigations that would culminate to the deserved justice. One may wonder why the case took that long without finding justice. There are several reasons that may have jeopardized the quality of investigations into convicting the actual culprit. During the time period when the crime occurred, DNA forensic technology was still rudimental. This could have been the reason why Toole was not charged for the murder despite loads of evidence linking him to the crime scene. The Hollywood Police Department was highly respected at the time of the crime. Failure by the department to effectively solve Adam’s case may have been caused by assigning wrong detectives to work on the case. The lead investigator failed to perform his duty as the investigation was marred with claims of laxity and lack of proper supervision. The assigned leader of the investigation team was very territorial. This is evidenced by his refusal to consider inputs made by other detectives, especially Joe Matthews. The case would have been closed twenty five years earlier had he put into consideration all the findings. Though nothing could have been done to prevent the abduction, the lead investigator should have solved the Adam Walsh case at the time it occurred. Adam’s father, John, later became a steadfast advocate for missing and exploited children. He was the host of America’s Most Wanted. Through his program, he championed for the transformation of law enforcement on matters pertaining to handling similar cases. The activism of the Adam’s father influenced Congress to pass the Missing Children Act in 1982. Two years later, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children was launched. John reunited with Joe Matthews, the decorated Miami Beach homicide detective, after twenty five years of Adam’s death. It was in February, 2006, when the parents requested the detective to re-investigate the case involving their son. The investigator, armed with an arsenal of forensic tools and heartfelt intent, reopened the case and went through all the case files that contained all information pertaining to the initial investigation. After two years and nine months, Joe Matthews emerged with a 10,000 page report that exposed evidence that was never recorded or looked at by the original investigators. The findings had enough evidence to indict Ottis Toole with the abduction and murder. Bring Adam Home is an account of a crime that captured public attention. It is a story of dedication, tragedy, love, and faith. The author reveals the pain and persistence of a family determined to find justice. It reveals how police failed in their work and allowed a criminal remain without being indicted. The story shows how a determined police officer was capable of accomplishing what an entire legal system failed to achieve. It is a testimony of love shown by distraught parents who took up the cause of finding justice over twenty five years after the death of their son. Their struggle and that of detective Matthews has helped the nation develop programs dealing with the exploitation of missing children. Moreover, Adams abduction and death has had an impact on how mothers watch over their children. The themes in the book is much convincing in that, it has a lot of elements of brutality in the form of thriller. But it gets concern most on the unsympathetic characters as the lead officer could term. Also, it was portrayed as bumbling brute which was much discouraging. However, the book is made more attractive when Matthews’s works of detectives get started almost in the middle of the book. This also makes the author to recount in great details. For instance Toole confesses for the various ways of killings he made in his life and the tough readings of parents. The book is much unique in to the fact that, it confronts the readers through various horrifying natures of the world relating to the crime situations that comes to pass. However, with the clear and thorough understanding of the book, it reveals why the investigations took long in solving the crime and also where the investigation horribly went off target. Readers also come to admire the determinations of Walshes and Mathews for not giving up at an early stage until when the book comes to an end. The book is not so much perfect to some extend. This is evident when the police officer reports of the author’s quotes and even some of the information found in it, seem nauseam. After clearing the book, well, the tone is better placed. However since that period; 1981, there have been many rumors and doubts about the murder of Adam Walsh. The book leaves the reader in full world of doubt about the perpetration of the investigated crime. The book also puts the reader in a bad mood in that it disturbs the mind set of a person. The book is much graphic in its illustrations on what befallen the poor Adam. It imposes too much information on the person who was suspected to be behind the murder which is much uncalled for. For instance, if the story was about how the US handles cases of child abduction, it would stick on the issue other than giving more details of different murder, rape and other horrified acts which happened long time ago.

Southwest Airlines: Culture and Structure

Southwest Airlines: Culture and Structure This report gives a brief summary of the strategic control systems within south-west airlines. The report reveals that the company has been able to uphold their culture and structure through the use of mission, vision and objectives. It is these that have helped it in their strategic planes, competitive advantage, corporate strategic and operational strategies. The same goals have also guided how the company is able to uphold and motivate their employees in order to realize productivity and give quality service to their customers. Strategic management entails the management of resources through the use of tools like mission, vision, goals, values, roles, objectives, based on a timeline and responsibilities. Strategy in an organization is achieved through organization structure, culture, people and control systems Buller Schuler. (2006). Therefore, in looking at the strategic management design of Southwest airlines, this paper shall detail its organization structure, culture, people and control systems. The airline has managed to keep its head above waters despite the crisis like terrorism, recession and high fuel prices that have locked the airline industry. This has been associated to several advantages and strengths the company has been able to enjoy over the years as compared to their competitors Southwest airlines (2010). This airlines culture revolves around the welfare of their employees base on their principle employees are first and customers are second. This reflects the managements belief in the delivery of excellent service to the employees and the provision of job security. It is this culture that led them to cut back on flights rather than lay off employees during the recession and global economic crisis. This is the management principle that has been upheld by the company for many years, so that the company and the employees are able to prosper in bad times. The airline has been trying to uphold the principle of low operational cost, low borrowing, and a high cash flows Southwest airlines (2010). The company is able to value the employees such that they offer them compensation and benefits from profits and surpluses. This is seen as a means to encourage employees to perform and increase their production. The corporate culture of employee motivation, compensation and assurance of job security is the guiding principle that ha enabled the employees of southwest airlines to have high job performance. At the same time, these employees are encouraged to value their work and the airline as a whole. This aspect has been associated to the contribution of stability and security in the work in the company. therefore, the implementation of a no lay off policy in this company has been the main reason the airline has been able to maintain high rates of employee retention. Buller Schuler (2006) postulate that another corporate culture that guides the company, is their ability to encourage union members and negotiator to conduct employees surveys, before they commence any contract negotiation. This aspect has helped the company to focus on the issues that concern the company and the employees. It is this concern that is associated with the promotion and encouragement of employees and the creation of an employee friendly environment. The airline has been able to effectively use team work and tam building actitivities to motivate and guide the performance of their teams and workplace. The creation of teams and the provision of skills in team resolution, team work and team harmony is another corporate culture that guides the workplace of southwest airlines (Southwest airlines, 2010). This is seen as the airlines most important function used in the management of their teams. The management of such teams involves conflict resolution awareness where they have an overview of the resolutions. The teams are also stimulated scenarios, coaching, training, learning and human resources development programs which they use in the workplace. When discussing strategic management, it is vital that strategy formulation is also incorporated (Buller Schuler, 2006). This is because through strategy formulation one is ale to realize how effective an organization is able to effectively meet their missions, visions, goals and objects as well as manage their resources. Strategic formulation entails three processes, these are diagnosis; is the formulation of a situational analysis of the internal condition of the organization. Looking at the corporate structure of southwest airlines, we find that they are able to make use of their situational analysis where management is involved in the identification of the organizations objectives, the current projects, any current strategies, plus the strengths and weaknesses of the organization. The airline has been able to identify projects, plan and lay down strategies that will help their teams to achieve the project goals. The management of the airline has the sole responsibility of guiding and training staff and employees on strategy formulation. This is also seen as very vital in the creation of a competitive advantage within their industry. The company has been able to critically identify their organizational environment and identify their opportunities in the market that give them an advantage over their competition. Strategy formulation should also help guide the company towards the creation and achievement of their mission, vision, goals and objectives. The mission of Southwest airlines focuses on their employees and customers (Southwest airlines, 2010). The airline has gained and kept their customers by giving exceptional customer service which has provided for by the employees who are seen as the cornerstone of the company. This mission therefore, sets southwest airlines apart from other airlines since they are able to treat their customers like they are all in first class. These first class services can only be seen as being provided for to first class customers in other airlines. Therefore by having mission statement that directs their strategies and goals towards the provision of first class service to its customers makes southwest airlines have a unique relationship with the customers. This is the same mission that also guides the employees, and the workplace performance. Looking at the case of Southwest airlines their mission has enabled them to develop their corporate level strategies. This is due to their strategic portion which is at all levels of Southwests business, and which starts with its workforce, this implies that they carefully select and train their employees to show and depict the image of the company. in addition, those who apply to work in Southwest are put through a selection process, which is strenuous since the company is aimed on getting people who have the right attitudes to the company. Additionally, the company invests heavily in treating its employees well. For example, southwest airlines are able to practice profit sharing with the employees. This is very vital since they encourage employees to personally have a vested interest in the company. This has created a room for salary negotiations. They also give their employees good medical and dental benefits that are important in this age of rising healthcare costs. Moreover, the y have good salaries, profit sharing, health care programs which are tools southwest airlines uses to retain the valuable employees. A view at their missions and objectives reveals that have influenced their operational strategies and competitive strategies. This is seen where they assign their staff roles through informal job descriptions which are concerned with customer service. Their mission, vision and objectives have also affected their corporate governance that is both the mechanistic model and organic model. This is because, at the flight crew level and corporate level, the mechanistic model is used, whilst at the lower structural levels, where there is no use for safety and time, the organic model is used. The airline also fore went the functional structure which was common with its competitors, they decided to have a positive equalitarian culture that created the positive equity based culture seen today. It is this cultural approach that contributed significantly to Southwest airline having the lowest employee turnover, and the highest level of consumer satisfaction. In conclusion we have seen that the airline has been able to effectively make use of their corporate mission, vision, objectives and goals to direct their management, culture, structure and the resources.

George Orwell :: essays papers

George Orwell George Orwell^s vision of the world in the year 1984 is horrific and chilling. Written in 1949, this piece of literature is an everlasting classic that reminds us that history is a vital part of human existence, although we often forget it. The past, present, and future are as changeable as human opinions and beliefs. In this book, Orwell highlighted on some of the fears that many people have for the world that we are creating. The control of the Party that he speaks of is like that of the Nazis of World War II. The only difference between the Nazis and Orwell^s imagined Party, is the emotion. The Nazis fell from power because of the emotions of its leader, Adolph Hitler. The Party held up because their leader, Big Brother, was merely an image and had no emotion at all. Within my reading, I encountered many interesting points, both scenes and lines, that I remember vividly. All of these points reflect the type of power that we humans have to control our existence as we know it. From the points that I concentrated on came my own thoughts and fears about what future the human race was able to create. The point that I remember most vividly is the motto of the Party. The motto is: ^Those who control the past, control the future; Those who control the future, control the present; Those who control the present, control the past.^ This slogan played a main part in the plot. George Orwell incorporated this theme into the story to show the kind of power that the Party actually had. The Party did control the present, so they were able to do with it what they wished. The members of the Party rewrote history at every current change, whether the changes be as simple as a human dying or a change of enemy in the ongoing war. The Party had every piece of literature rewritten and every photo reproduced to fit their fictional stories of war success and economic advance. By having this power, to control the past, they controlled the future. With the power to control the future of the human race, the Party manipulated the human body and its functions. It also controlled the hum! an mind through physical experiments and the enforcement of complete orthodoxy to fit their needs. This absolute power is everlasting and definite. This idea of total power made the line memorable.

Ghost Stories :: English Literature

Ghost Stories Ghost stories revolve around lots of Spooky tales that work on displacing the reader's fear. Some of the main techniques which make them successful involve: Fear, Drama, Danger and Suspense. However, the main idea is that they create tension too. Such stories which use tension to dramatic affect are "The Red Room" by H.G. Wells and "Farthing House" by Susan Hill; both are written in first person narrative to allow the reader to get scared along with the main character. Both stories also build tension through their Style, Setting, Structure and Language. "The Red Room" is about a ghost hunter who is a legendary ghost, "Farthing House" is about a woman who stays with her aunt at a residential house and feels and sees a woman's supernatural presence in her room - both tales have a dramatic twist at the end! Tension is created through "The Red Room's" setting in many ways - Firstly: "I can assure you, said that it will take a very tangible ghost to frighten me". This dramatic opening to the story sets the ghost hunter as a Brave, Strong character. The word 'tangible' suggests it will take more than a scary image to frighten him, yet tension is caused because the reader now expects that something will be frightening him - soon. H.G. Wells builds on this subtle tension and the supposed 'invincible man' by setting his story to contradict and unease the man's assurances, not only is he in a strange house with a legendary red room (building immediate suspicion by the fact that the room is renowned, "You will show me to this haunted room of yours,") but Wells surrounds him with grotesque characters too. The three custodians set the story by introducing the reader to the Red Room and through their crusty appearance. "If is your own choosing, said the man with the withered arm and glanced at me askance" only four lines into the story and the main character, along with the reader already senses that all is not well, mainly because the man is deformed - "withered" and because he is acting oddly i.e.; "looking askance". This action suggests the custodian knows something we don't, he appears too shifty. Wells continues to build tension through introducing the second man who also adds to the scene: "shambling step", "more bent, more wrinkled, more aged", "his lower lip half averted, hung pale and pink from his decaying yellow teeth", "began to cough". The verb 'shambling' suggests the man may have a limp and the repetition of the word 'more' portrays a disgusting image of the ageing wreck, barely human. The man's manky description backs this up and encourages the

Nike: Building a Global Brand

| Nike: Building a Global Brand| MKTG 4082W| | 1. Nike’s brand image, a set of emotions, feelings, and experiences with the brand, developed over time through advertising campaigns and consumer experiences with Nike. The core attributes of Nike’s brand image include high performance, innovation, and aggressiveness. Nike positioned itself as a company that makes products for athletes, by athletes. They tailor their products for serious/winning athletes and also stress their point-of-difference to be performance, as opposed to Reebok, whose point of difference is style.Nike is perceived as a high performance brand and they always make performance a top priority, which is a key building block for their brand image and brand equity. They designed more durable, lightweight shoes that were tailored for runners and allowed them maximize their athletic ability. Nike, from the beginning, was open to input from runners and listened to their needs and wants, sharing their true pas sion for running. By doing this, they were able to design a shoe that performs well and meets the demands of serious athletes.In addition to performance, Nike is an innovative brand and that can be seen by the introduction of innovative products to the market like the Waffle Trainer, Air Max, and Air Jordan shoes. When looking at the Consumer Brand Equity Pyramid (Exhibit A), Nike’s source of brand equity comes mostly from salience and performance. Nike used brand associations in order to establish a positive brand image and build their brand equity by endorsing popular, successful athletes like Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods. These associations convey the American spirit of competition and winning and work very well in the United States.Nike capitalized on how much Americans idolize their favorite athletes and it once again projected their image of high performance and their dedication to serious athletes. Their advertisement campaigns also helped build their brand equity by increasing awareness, as can be seen with the Air Max, Air Jordan, and Just Do It ads that conveyed powerful brand statements and reflected Nike’s attitudes, while remaining â€Å"provoking and unique. † Nike successfully applied their new marketing formula of blending performance and attitude through strategic product development, endorsements, and advertising, which built their equity.Their perceived quality and brand credibility is based off of high performance and innovation and their brand loyalty is strong as well, stemming from their early relationships with runners to get feedback and input. In addition, they used a â€Å"finger on the pulse† strategy to hit the streets and really find out what was on the minds of consumers, in terms of brand perceptions. Another source of brand equity for Nike is their Swoosh logo and as of 2000, 97% of Americans recognize it. 2. I am not surprised that the irreverence characteristic of Nike advertising in the U. S. id not sit well with many European consumers. The culture in Europe differs from the one in America and European consumers vary in significant ways from Americans. Nike introduced many changes in their marketing mix to tap into the European and Asian markets. They established a grassroots allegiance of local sports teams, mainly with soccer, tennis, and rugby. In addition, they evolved their marketing strategy to a two-tiered approach. Individual markets featured ads with local stars, while all of Europe saw ads that featured popular sports like soccer, tennis, and track.Nike also focused its attention on the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, raising their overall global advertising and promotion budget to $240 million. With the rising popularity of basketball in Europe and Asia, Nike also planned to lead its marketing charge with its strong stable of basketball superstars. In addition, Nike implemented a global advertisement campaign during the 1994 World Cup, recognizing that soccer was the best way to enter new markets. In Asia, Nike abandoned its brash advertising attitude and celebrated local athletes as heroes in their ads.Overall, Nike had a kinder, gentler marketing approach with ads that projected a more international image (use of Tiger Woods and Ronaldo in ads). Nike’s new focus was to be seen as culturally, geographically, and personally relevant to local consumers abroad. I am not surprised that the advertising did not sit well with many Europeans because of the vast difference in the cultural aspects. Europeans saw Nike’s marketing actions as intimidating and too aggressive. Also, the brand did not have the history or heritage in the market and was starting more from scratch.In addition, fashion trends inevitably changed which caused Nike to be behind the curve. 3. To become a global corporation, Nike had to adopt a globalized strategy to build their global brand equity. They did this by broadening their portfolio of athlete endorsements and f ocusing their ad campaigns on different sports that were more popular in those areas. They kept the essence of the brand, the same core values, and stayed consistent with their marketing communications, but tailored to different regions by using local athletes.This was possible because they had 90% control of the marketing advertisement strategies in Europe and were able to stay consistent. As I mentioned before, Nike also sponsored global events like the Olympics and the World Cup, which increased their credibility and awareness on a global scale. Nike also reduced their overwhelming use of the Swoosh logo and their overall aggressiveness in their advertisements. In Asia, Nike was able to improve its brand equity by establishing the Corporate Responsibility Division and celebrating local athletes as heroes in ads. Exhibit A

Aloha Products

Aloha Products is a United States-based coffee-processor company that has been providing non-specialty and low-priced coffee for over a hundred years. It purchases the raw materials or what buyers and sellers refer to as â€Å"green coffee† from brokers and trade firms then processes the coffee and sells the final product to customers. Large companies such as Nestle and P&G directly import the unprocessed or green coffee beans from coffee plantations in tropical countries such as Brazil and Colombia while companies with smaller levels of business such as such as Aloha buy the green coffee beans from brokers or trade firms.Aloha Products is managed by the owners and its headquarters is located in Ohio, United States. It has three plants located in Midwestern United States, each plant being responsible for its own profit and loss. Each plants performance is measured by each plant managers gross margin generated per plant. The raw materials or green coffee beans are handled by th e company’s purchasing unit that is located in New York City. Each plant receives a production schedule that is determined from the center and receives raw materials as well as pay in accordance with the production requirements of each plant.Aloha’s Top management is regulated by the members of the founding family. Company uses centralized control system where all main decisions regarding purchases, production, sales, marketing and promotion are made on corporate level while plant managers are only responsible for their profit and loss. Also there is centralized preparation of overall financial statement at home offices. This organization has led plant managers to a lack of adequate control over the activities of the managed plant; however, they are still assessed on the performance.This method has been done until in the 1990s, when the plant managers started to speak out on their dissatisfaction on the computation of their bonuses since they do not have authority to d etermine the prices of raw materials, production schedules and output prices from the manufacturer. External factors such as the steady decline in Americans consumption of coffee from 1965 to 1990 affected the sales and profits of coffee processors as well.Because of this, the company president hired a consulting firm to evaluate the current control systems in the three major departments: Plant Operations, Sales and Marketing and the Purchasing groups. 2. Case Question No-1: Evaluate the current control systems for the manufacturing, marketing, and purchasing departments of Aloha Products Answer is: From the case we can see that Aloha products have a centralized control system. What this means is that the main office or headquarters handled the purchasing, marketing and sales activities of each of the three plants.Based on the current control system evaluating three major departments of Aloha Products are described as follows†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Evaluation of Manufacturing Departments: Th ere are three production plants within AP’s manufacturing department; each plant is responsible for their own profits and losses. Unfortunately, the managers have no control over the any of the major activities in their respective production facilities. the vice president of manufacturing oversees all of the roasting, grinding, and packaging processes. Production schedules are provided to each plant manager for the current and following month.The plant managers also have no control over the green beans purchase, production schedule, production mix, or the costs of their inputs, as the purchasing department assigns the costs based on the specific contract for that shipment. If the inputs exceed the plant’s requirements, they are sold at the spot rate in the market, and could very well result in a loss. Evaluation of Purchasing Departments: The purchasing department is responsible for obtaining the required quantities and types of green coffee to be roasted in the produc tion plants.The level of sophistication and expertise needed makes this department a necessity; proper staffing is vital based on the complexity of the green coffee market. This department relies on relationships with growers and brokers; for smaller firms, an important feature of this department is their ability to foresee demand and required inventory and subsequently enter into forward contracts with brokers, anywhere from three to twelvemonths in advance. The costs of each shipment are based on the specific contracts for those green coffee beans, which can vary based on the various price drivers previously mentioned.This can create a diversified and volatile cost of inventory. Required inventory demand is based on communication between marketing (sales) and the purchasing department, any discrepancies at the current date is met by purchases through the spot market, which incurs significantly higher costs. The costs associated with running this purchasing department are charged t o the headquarters of AP. Currently, there is no communication between the purchasing and manufacturing department. Furthermore, purchasing department does not need to report to head office or meet any performance measurement standard.Ultimately, the power resides with upper management of the purchasing unit. Evaluation of Marketing (SALES) Departments: Under the current structure, this department is centralized. The president of AP and vice president of sales are in charge of advertising and promotion of the final products. The marketing department also determines the budgeted sales, which are then passed onto the purchasing department. Case Question No-2: Considering the company’s competitive strategy, what changes, if any, would you make to the control systems of the three departments?Answer is: The changes to the current control systems involve establishing accountability and effective communication among the three departments and providing key measures to evaluate the ma nagers’ performance objectively. Recommendations for the current management control system of Aloha Products are as follows†¦. Recommendation for Manufacturing Departments: The manufacturing department is currently a profit center. However, the plants do not have control over the costs of the green coffee.Thus, the main concern of this department as a whole should be efficiency; how well they can control the costs to roast green coffee. As such, were commend that the manufacturing department’s plants be accountable for the costs incurred to roast and package the green coffee. The performance measure for the manufacturing department at AP should be evaluated based solely on the roasting, grinding, and packaging of AP’s coffees. Conceptually, it’s unfair to evaluate manufacturing as a profit center, when in reality it has little to no control over product costs or sales.Since control over purchasing and selling will not be transferred to the manufactur ing department in this proposal, it is logical to assess based on controllable factors such as cost/pound only. This is in contrast to a measure such as using manufacturing costs as a percentage of net sales. Instead of being assessed for the performance of the purchasing and marketing departments, plant managers will now have an incentive to ensure their costs do not vary from the standard. It would still be possible to evaluate roasting plants based on gross margin as well.However, to ensure that plant managers are not penalized for fluctuations in the cost of green coffee contracts, a standard cost for green coffee would have to be established and used in the computation of gross margin. Recommendation for Purchasing Department: The purchasing department’s costs are being charged to central office. Due to this, the purchasing department is not being held accountable for the contracts it is entering into. The purchasing department’s main concern should be actual cont ract costs.Thus, we recommend that the purchasing department be accountable for the difference between the actual costs per signed contracts and the standard cost of green coffee raw materials. The actual costs should be measured in a similar manner to the current practice. Contract costs related to buying and selling in the spot market should not be included in the computed price per bag. A reasonable standard cost for green coffee contracts will have to be established based on discussions between management and executives in the purchasing department.The standard cost could potentially be based on the average of the spot price over the past 6 months. We recommend that this standard cost be updated every quarter, in order to provide accurate standard costs of green coffee raw materials. Recommendation for Marketing Departments: The marketing department focuses its efforts on advertising and promotion, however, it is not held responsible for the costs it incurs or how accurate their sales forecasts/budgets are. There is a large cost associated with differences between the forecasted requirements and actual requirements.The difference results in purchases or sales at the spot price for green coffee, which tends to cost more than forward contract prices. It is not reasonable for the marketing department to perfectly forecast sales and therefore there should be leniency in developing a method of accountability for this department. We must keep in mind that our goal is not only to hold each group accountable, but also to make sure managers feel they are being evaluated fairly and motivated to improve performance. In keeping with this, actual sales volume should be compared to forecasted sales volume.This will not only help to keep the marketing department accountable for their activities, but will also allow for forecast methodology to be reviewed and continuously improved. Overall, we believe that we also need to establish goal congruence between the three depart ments. This can be achieved through emphasizing communication between departments; this would encourage the forecasts of purchases/sales to be more accurate. In order to increase goal congruence and communication we recommend that the departments also beevaluated based on an overall measure for the firm. This measure would be economic value added (EVA), as when it is applied, managers will not just be focused on their own department profitability, but also that of the company as a whole. The EVA approach promotes the same profit objectives across the different departments. Thus, by keeping the same structural organization and only changing the way each department is evaluated, the incentive plan for each department more accurately reflects what each department can control.