Risk And Return From Investing In Foreign Securities Finance Essay - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 8 Words: 2264 Downloads: 2 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Finance Essay Type Cause and effect essay Did you like this example? The purpose of this essay is to examine the implications, risks, and returns associated with foreign security investments. Analyzing these factors associated with investing in foreign securities has become extremely important due to the increasing number of foreign security investments in recent years. This essay introduces analytical factors to determine the attractiveness for investing in foreign securities. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Risk And Return From Investing In Foreign Securities Finance Essay" essay for you Create order Analytical factors include implications of economic objectives and accounting standards, returns of increased profitability and portfolio diversification, and risks of exchange rate and currency fluctuations. The conclusive findings of this essay exacerbate the need for analysis of implications, risks, and returns when investing in foreign securities. Introduction Any security denominated or expressed in foreign currency is referred to as a foreign security. Foreign securities usually take the form of common or preferred stocks, bonds, debentures, and shares. For purposes of this paper, analysis of foreign security investments will take the form of common stocks. Analyzing the risks and returns associated with investing in foreign securities is becoming increasingly significant due to the growing international investment in the last several decades. Investing in foreign securities has just recently become increasingly efficient and instantaneous through technological advancements. The scope of this paper includes implications, risks, and returns associated with foreign security investments. A foreign security is similar to that of a U.S. security. Implications involved with foreign security investments include a thorough analysis of foreign governments economic objectives, and standards of accounting. There are two chief reasons why peopl e invest in foreign securities, which include returns of increased profitability, and portfolio diversification. However, integrating investments internationally requires analysis of two distinctly different factors of risk such as exchange rate and currency rate fluctuations. Foreign security investments, in recent years have become an integral piece of the global investments arena. Several ways to invest in international securities are available. Foreign and domestic markets exist for trading foreign securities. Foreign securities can be purchased through a broker in the United States market in the form of an American Depository Receipt (ADR), or in the same form as they appear in the foreign country. Some countries only trade their companys stock on a foreign stock market. In this case, your broker may process your order for you. One way in invest in foreign securities is to go through a brokerage firm. Implications of Foreign Security Investments Economic Objectives Government economic objectives are of great importance when deciding to invest internationally. Countries economic objectives illuminate possible political risks associated with exchange rate movements. Also, economic objectives are considerably important in the analysis of a countries inflation risk. Economic objectives provide a picture of the countries stability, growth, or recess of a currency. Therefore, a thorough analysis of countries economic objectives is becoming more important than ever before in terms of making a wise investment decision. Company information is readily available to the investors seeking to invest in foreign securities. As mentioned by Ruben Shohet (1974), says that industrial countries with high inflation can cause adverse effects on equity investments. Economic objectives are extremely influential in the determination of a countries inflation rate. The government can intervene to affect the inflation rate by changing the nations interest rate. Gener ally speaking, a national with high rates of expected and real inflation are less likely candidates for investments due to higher prices and lower interest rates. Chairman Ben S. Bernanke (2010), in his most recent speech, stated that helping households make more informed decision requires the understanding of central bank policies for lowering economic and financial uncertainty. A nations economic objectives set the standards for all aspects of investing in the home countries assets. Economic objectives are mainly determined by a nations government, and encompass standards of accounting, political climate, currency valuation, and exchange rate fluctuations. A thorough analysis of a nations economic objectives is vital in determining countries investment attractiveness. Accounting Standards . Analysis of different accounting standards is highly recommended when investing in foreign securities. Many foreign enterprises are expected to present their accounts consistent with the U.S. capital market; this is because in recent years there is an increasing attractiveness in U.S. capital markets. Ruben Shohet (1974) says countries standards of accounting as well as auditing are substantially different. Some countries have similar accounting standards as the United States. However, other countries have considerably different accounting standards. Inevitably, accounting standards differ from culture to culture. A considerable amount of countries have different accounting standards and are legally enforced differently according to the economic objectives of a government. The United States accounting standards are in ordinance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Another widely adopted accounting standard is that of the International Accounting Standards Board ( IASB). As mentioned earlier, some foreign securities can be purchased on the United States market with brokerage assistance. An advantage to purchasing foreign securities registered with the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is that all listings are required to submit audited and consolidated financial statements. This allows the investor to analyze the foreign securities financial statements to appropriately determine the investment potentiality. However, foreign firms that sell their securities on foreign markets require the investor to do additional research to determine whether or not to invest. The investor must be fully aware of the foreign accounting standards required by different nations in which they wish to invest. In recent years, many nations have adopted international accounting standards to gain access to the United States capital market. Returns Increased Profitability Profitability is limited when a corporation solely invests in domestic stocks. Investing solely in domestic securities such as that found in the United States, strictly limits profitability to the returns available from domestic securities. However, expanding security investments to foreign securities increases potential profits exponentially. Corporations have only recently realized the increased profitability potential by investing internationally. Recent evidence provided reasons to expand investment opportunities to encompass foreign stocks as well as domestic stocks. According to Ruben Shohet (1974) international investments bring forth a universe of investment opportunities. It is a fact that expanding investments into the global arena encompassing foreign securities increases profit potentiality exponentially. Increasing your investment scope to include foreign securities introduces greater possibilities of increased profitability. Increased profits from expanding investm ent opportunities in the foreign security arena can be linked and associated with portfolio diversification. Expanding investment opportunities into the investment arena include returns from domestic securities as well as foreign securities. Also, investing in domestic and foreign securities ultimately reduce inherent risks associated with securities markets. This is due to the fact that when one market is doing poorly the other market should be doing much better. Ultimately, increasing profitability potentials should be one of the best reasons to expand investments to encompass foreign stocks. Given that many market makers have emerged in the past forty years, it has become extremely easy to begin investing in foreign securities to increase profitability. Portfolio Diversification Diversifying your portfolio with both domestic and foreign stocks substantially reduces the overall investment risk. United States Securities and Exchange Commission (2007) stated that benefits of diversification include the compilation of foreign company and market investments that differ from the U.S. economy. United States investment returns sometimes move in a different direction than international market investment returns. Also, even if both domestic and international returns are adversely affecting overall portfolio returns they do so at a substantially different rate. Diversifying an investment portfolio can reduce portfolio risk while simultaneously increasing possible returns. However, according to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (2009), if you dont include enough risk in your portfolio, your investments may not earn a large enough return to meet your goal. Diversifying a portfolio using foreign stock markets can help balance overall losses when U. S. stock markets are performing poorly. The U.S. stock market remains the largest in the world; however, foreign stock markets now account for more than 50% of all global stock market capitalization. Taking advantage of growth rates abroad and diversifying portfolios globally is becoming increasingly important in reducing portfolio risk. Cathy Pareto (2010), states that Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT) establishes that global markets fluctuate in different intervals and by integrating low correlation assets in an investment portfolio appropriately, risk will be reduced despite the assets volatility. Generally speaking, market conditions that cause one asset category to have positive returns often cause another asset category to have the opposite effect. A foreign security investment strategy for portfolio diversification is to invest in a group of differently categorized securities, that when one investment category is negatively affected the other investment category is positively affected. By investing in more than one category of foreign securities the risk of losing money is greatly reduced. The ultimate goal of portfolio diversification with foreign securities is to balance risks with returns, and hope for a larger return than losses. Risks Exchange Rate Risk As investors begin to broaden their investment universe and take advantage of foreign stocks, one must also assume the risks associated with foreign exchange rate fluctuations. There are several ways that changes in exchange rates can affect investments in foreign securities. According to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (2007) explains how investment returns can increase or decrease when exchange rate fluctuations between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar change. Ultimately, exchange rates affect investment returns when you sell the foreign securities, and the need arises to convert the money you receive back into dollars. A thorough analysis of future exchange rate fluctuations, based on your personal techniques, must be conducted in order to foresee beneficial or adverse fluctuations. There are techniques commonly used to reduce the inherent risk of exchange rate fluctuations. Such techniques include hedging exchange rate risks by purchasing insurance. Insuran ce strategies available include financial derivatives such as options and/or futures. Examples of options are calls, puts, straddles, strangles, and spreads. All of these examples of options are used exclusively, or by combining specific options, to hedge portfolio risk due to exchange rate fluctuations. Futures, for example, are used to lock in the price of an exchange rate in the future. Futures are very useful if you predict the exchange rate has high volatility, or will have an adverse effect on your portfolio. Also, futures are prominently used as a hedging technique by exporters to insure minimum required profits, by locking in the sales price in the future. Speculation is inherent in purchasing financial derivatives as insurance, because you are in essence betting on the future exchange rate movement based on your prediction techniques. Currency Risk The risks associated with the depreciation or appreciation of currency is inherent when investing internationally. Cathy Pareto (2010) exacerbates the notion of how currency fluctuations can affect foreign investments, and how such fluctuations increase or decrease the risks of investing in foreign securities. Therefore, analyzing factors that influence currency risk is vital when investing in foreign securities. The analysis of currency risk factors encompasses a nations political climate, inflation rate, and interest rate expectations. A nations political environment is a major determinant of currency valuation in the short and long term. This is because in some cases governments intervene to set short and long term currency valuation. The political environment of a nation that an investor wishes to invest in foreign securities must be analyzed and researched thoroughly to determine the risks inherent with investing in that particular country. In the long term, inflation erode s a portfolios purchasing power, Richard Barrington (2010). A nations current or expectation of inflation rates can make or break foreign security investment decisions. Inflation rate expectations are good determinants of a nations purchasing power in the future. A nations economic objectives can determine inflation rate, which in turn set the bar for expected future imports and exports. Despite the perceived dangers of foreign investing, an investor may reduce the risk of loss from fluctuations in exchange rates by hedging with currency futures, Cathy Pareto (2010). In general, financial derivatives are an excellent way to hedge inherent risks associate with any financial asset. In the case of currency futures, reducing inherent risk is important especially if predictions of currency fluctuations are highly volatile or adverse. Conclusion Analyzing the risks and returns associated with investing in foreign securities is becoming increasingly significant decision making process in determining where to invest as well as what to invest in. It can be concluded that before you invest in foreign securities, you should learn as much about the company and its home country as you can. Obviously implications of foreign security investments stand with high importance and relevance when determining which securities to invest in. Expanding an investment portfolio to encompass foreign securities is an excellent way to increase potential profits. The returns associated with expanding investments to include foreign securities are exponential. As you can see there are several risks associated with foreign investments such as that of exchange rate and currency fluctuation risks. However, several techniques are available to reduce the inherent risks associated with foreign investments. As mentioned earlier, techniques for hedging r isk of foreign investments include purchasing insurance such as options or futures. These portfolio hedging techniques are commonly used to decrease risks associated with foreign investments. Also, returns of foreign security investments can be hedged and increased through the process of portfolio diversification. In conclusion, investing in foreign securities has risks and returns associated with expanding investment portfolio. Analysis of foreign security implications must be conducted to determine investment potential. Risks associated with investing in foreign securities are an important ingredient for analysis, and can be reduced with commonly used insurance strategies. Investing in foreign securities has exponential returns that in most cases outweigh the perceived risks.

Censorship And Its Effect On Society - 992 Words

Sometimes censorship might have a positive effect on society. For example, parents consider censorship to be important in order to protect minors and some group of audiences from indecent broadcast or obscenity. Contents like this are deemed to be harmful or offensive to public good and are usually highly regulated by the government. Most parents agree that it is imperative to censor obscene entertainment in order to safeguard children from accessing harmful materials and this is one of the positive effects of censorship. On the contrary some people might have a different view and argue that viewing decisions should be made at home without government interference. They might argue that parents can exercise their authority on their children without resorting to censorship. There are devices that make it possible to block access to specific programs and web sites, reviews about books, recordings, and films are available easily. This will help parents determine what they feel is appropr iate for their youngsters. Advocates of these idea believe that parents have the right to challenge any work if the teaching contained is against their belief. One of the major effects of censorship is having limited access to information and a decline in creativity or openness. The people in power can determine what can and cannot be published by blocking the spread of information. This system prevents the information from being created and in the long run, it might result in a generationShow MoreRelatedCensorship And Its Effect On Society1680 Words   |  7 PagesI. A. Censorship. This single word describes the world’s history of literary sabotage, the idea of rejecting a concept or other medium of propaganda simply because it exhibits a disagreeable or supposedly immorally tepid aspect, then forcibly substituting a more ‘ethical’ ideal. 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In the 20th Century, censorship was achieved through the examination of books, plays, films, television and radio programs, news reports, and other forms of communication for the purpose of altering or suppressing ideas found to be objectionable or offensive. There have been assorted justifications for censorship, with some censorsRead MoreFahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury1200 Words   |  5 Pagesby life in society, authors are able to create work that speaks to their observations and views on society and its functions. In the book Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury incorporated the corruption of the society in which he lived in into the dystopian society created in his book. Fahrenheit 451, a fictional book about a protagonist’s attempt to overcome a dystopian society’s corruption, was written by Ray Bradbury while living in 1950â⠂¬â„¢s America. The book focuses on themes of censorship, and illustrates

Effective Management Personal and Professional Skills free essay sample

Three Personal and Three Professional Skills for Effective Management Effective Management is very crucial in a business, this helps in tackling problems by remaining focused and overcome challenging situations which a company may encounter. This also helps in making the company more efficient. To be an effective manager, one needs to have certain skills, both personal and professional skills. Personal skills The following are personal skills which a good and effective manager should have: †¢ Communication skills †¢ Supportive skills †¢ Enthusiasm Communication skills: It is essential for a manager to have good communication skills, especially with his employees. This is how ideas are conveyed and shared. Listening skills are also part of communication skills, there is no point of starting a communication without getting no feedback, or ignoring the feedback one may have given. A manager is not only there to make rules for staff to abide with, but the aim of a manager is to set up missions, goals and objectives for the company. We will write a custom essay sample on Effective Management: Personal and Professional Skills or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The manager needs to listen to new ideas which employees and other managers may propose and suggest. There should be no barriers to communication with employees, since the more communication there is, the more ideas are being shared. Communication skills maybe through various mediums- through phones, emails, face-to-face, meetings and presentations, an effective manager is to know how to choose the best medium of communication, depending on the message he would like to pass on to. Manager should not only have good communication skills with his employees but also when is during a meeting with other organisations, as he/she will be representing the whole organisation. If he/she gives negative impact, then the organisation is giving a negative reputation. Supportive skills: A manager should support staff and not make them feel inferior. By supporting employees, one is to listen to what they have to say and encourage them in every aspect. When the employees are getting the support they need, they feel more involved and this leads to higher motivation among staff members. High motivation helps them to work at their best performance, where better results are achieved. Therefore for optimum results, this is very important for a business. Enthusiasm: A manager is to be enthusiastic. It is known that negativity is contagious; this means that if for example employees are being supervised under a negative manager, they tend to be pessimistic as well. Managers are to bring enthusiasm at workplace with a ‘can-do’ attitude, if there will be no enthusiasm, there will be lack of motivation. Enthusiastic managers are determined, and so they strive to achieve the company’s goals and overcome any obstacles and challenges without giving up. Professional skills: †¢ Leadership skills †¢ Goal setting skills †¢ Problem solving skills Leadership skills: To have a good and effective management, a manager is to be able to motivate staff toward a common goal. A manager / leader is to know and understand the needs and characteristics of him/herself and of each staff member. This will help to show respect to every individual and to deal directly with each person. This creates a good rapport with all employees, which also leads to a higher motivation. Goal setting skills: There is no point of managing a business without having any aims and goals. A manager should set up goals for the employees to follow. Such goals are to be realistic and challenging. A manager strives to make the company successful, this cannot happen if the goals set are not challenging, if no new ideas are shared and the business would not adapt to new technology changes, it will make it no better than another company. An effective manager should set goals which are innovative. For every goal set, an intensive research is to be done, to verify that it satisfies the customers and potential customers demand. Problem solving skills: Every business sometime or another find obstacles and difficulties. To be an effective manager, one is to be a good problem solver, by analysing and tries to identify the cause of the problem. A manager should know how to come out with new ideas and new options to overcome the problem. It is important for one to evaluate well each option and to consult with other employees and/or managers to ensure that the best decision is being taken.

The changing nature and activities of pressure groups †to what extent are they becoming more important Essay Example Essay Example

The changing nature and activities of pressure groups – to what extent are they becoming more important Essay Example Paper The changing nature and activities of pressure groups – to what extent are they becoming more important Essay Introduction Grant, who first defined the idea of insider and outsider groups has since pointed out that the distinction is not so clear now as before. He also points out that a newer method of pressure group activity is occurring with more effect, namely the presence of large-scale demonstrations and direct action, often organised on a national or global scale, using the internet. Such action has been seen recently in the worldwide demonstrations against the war in Iraq (2003), and in regular international action against certain environmental summits.In the UK, we have seen massive demonstrations both against the Iraq war, and against the banning of hunting with hounds. Often, this pressure group activity is characterised by having no clear leadership, and by therefore presenting itself as originating from the mass of the people. However, what did these recent mass marches actually achieve? If anything, these experiences suggested that traditional campaigns based around marches are nowhere near as effective as they used to be.There is no doubt though that pressure groups have a considerably significant place in British society in general and the political system in particular. Furthermore, it is clear that the importance of their role has been increasing and is likely to continue to do so. We can identify a number of reasons why this is so.RecruitmentThe goal of political parties is to build coalitions of support over broad-ranged policies to win elections. Naturally, people with strong feelings on controversial issues (that may offend groups of voters) do not get a great deal of encouragement from, or rise to prominence within, political parties. Pressure groups on the other hand are full of these motivated, ideological individuals. Rising living standards, greater access to information and a growing ‘social consciousness’ have combined to ensure that many more people have the time, inclination and energy to reject the compromises of the major political parti es in favour of more radical solutions (the Countryside Alliance, although relatively new, has in excess of 100,000 members). Similarly, more people feel able to spend a portion of their income and a degree of their time pursuing their interests via membership of pressure groups rather than political parties. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has over one million members and the RSPCA recruits up to 50,000 new members a year. Membership of the Labour Party on the other hand is steadily falling from almost three quarters of a million in the post-war decades to around 200,000 today.ParticipationWe have seen that the importance of parties has been declining. Party memberships have fallen dramatically (as have voting turnouts), and the ordinary members of parties now have relatively little influence over the policy-making process. But membership of pressure groups has been growing – so too have their activities. Social and political research indicates strongly that po litical participation and a general interest in politics is not declining as statistics might suggest. Rather the nature of interest and participation is changing. The large numbers of non-voters and apparently disillusioned non-participants (concentrated among the young) have shifted their political awareness away from party politics in favour of specific political issues. Clearly pressure groups provide a more appropriate vehicle for such interest than do parties.Access pointsPressure groups now have many more ‘access points’ to the decision-making institutions than has been true in the past. It used to be the case that pressure groups concentrated the vast majority of their efforts on government ministers, civil servants and their advisers, or on Parliament. But decision making in Britain today has become spread over a much wider range of institutions. This process has four facets: the importance of the European Union; devolution of power to national regions; the gro wth of policy-making bodies outside the traditional party system; and the increasing importance of the courts as a result of the passage of the Human Rights Act.The European UnionThe clearest example has been the growing jurisdiction of the European Union. Those decisions that are made in the Union have forced pressure groups to adopt two new methods. First, they have switched many of their activities to the European Commission, the Committee of the Regions, the Social and Economic Committee and various other Union institutions whose task it is to develop policy. At the same time, the European Parliament is becoming more influential. Therefore, lobby groups have sent increasing numbers of representatives to the Parliament and its committees. In 2005 there were more than 4200 accredited (that is, permitted to operate freely) lobbyists attached to the European Parliament.Of course, pressure groups continue to lobby national ministers, who make the final decisions, but there is ample o pportunity for groups to put pressure on permanent institutions that have consciously opened their doors to representatives of interest groups. It is often argued that the European Union is an undemocratic body and, in the traditional sense of ‘parliamentary democracy’, that is probably so. But it is also noteworthy that the European Union accepts that the representation of interests is vital if they are to recommend policy which will enjoy popular consent.Second, groups have understood that they must unite with their European counterparts if they are to exert effective pressure. So we have seen the development of an increasing number of ‘federated’ groups in Europe. All major trade unions, producer groups and environmental campaign organisations, for example, have developed their own European-wide institutions. The brief list of examples of European pressure and interest groups shown below gives a flavour of the range of issues being treated in this way: E uropean Automobile Manufacturers Association Friends of the Earth Europe Association of Electricity Producers European Fair Trade Association European Mine, Chemical and Energy Workers Federation European Small Business Alliance Association of Commercial Television in Europe European Association for the Defence of Human RightsDevolutionA considerable amount of power has been devolved to Scottish and Welsh government (and to Northern Ireland, when devolved government is operating there). The main policy areas which have been devolved are: health, education, transport, planning, industrial development, agriculture and local government services. Pressure groups that are involved in these policy areas have naturally been forced to move some of their operations to Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast. Of course, the main thrust of their activities remains in London or Brussels, but there has been a considerable shift in their operations.Extra-party institutionsAs we have seen, the early consid eration of policy has shifted away from party institutions. Instead, there is now a wide range of external think tanks, policy units, private advisers and working parties, which have the task of feeding policy options into the government machinery. Pressure groups have a vital interest in becoming involved in the early stages of policy consideration. The main way in which they can achieve this is by employing professional lobbyists, who can find their way through the maze of policy-making institutions which now flourish at the centre of British politics. Professional lobbyists undertake the critical task of identifying the key decision make:-securing contact with them and ensuring that the information that a pressure group wishes to disseminate finds the appropriate targets.The Human Rights ActThis Act was passed in 1998 and brought the European Convention on Human Rights into British law in 2000. Its effect was to reinforce and introduce a wide range of rights, many of which were d esigned to protect minority interests. Since many pressure and interest groups represent such minorities, the Act provided many new opportunities for them to assert their interests. By applying to the courts, a minority group may be able to seek a judgement that protects them from oppressive legislation. The human rights campaign group, Liberty, for example, has been especially active in this judicial field since the passage of the Act.Direct actionIt used to be the case that insider pressure groups were seen to have a distinct advantage in gaining the attention of policy and decision makers over outsider groups. This was because they had direct access, were generally felt to be more responsible in their demands and had developed long-term links with government and Parliament. This picture has been changing, however. Many groups now feel that they can exert more pressure on government by mobilising public opinion than by pursuing direct links with decision makers. Certainly there is a good deal of evidence to suggest that modem governments are responsive to mass political movements – nearly always outsiders – provided they can demonstrate widespread support. The Countryside Alliance has certainly found this, as have old-age pensioner groups, development aid campaigners and environmentalists. Direct action, when properly organised and well supported, is growing in importance.SummaryMany millions of British citizens consider themselves to be detached from the political process. There has been growing disillusionment with traditional party politics; fewer people than ever bother to vote in elections; and party membership has been falling steadily. But there is a different perspective that we can adopt. In terms of pressure group activity, especially since the emergence of new social movements, it could be claimed that political activity and participation have never been higher.Though a decreasing number of people identify closely with any political party or ideology, a growing number are willing to take positive action in pursuit of a cause about which they feel passionate. Furthermore, as representative institutions – especially parties and Parliament – have become increasingly marginalised and impotent, there has been a renewed interest in the influence of direct action. As long as we enjoy an independent civil society, and as long as politicians remain sensitive to public opinion, pressure groups will remain a key feature of British democracy. The changing nature and activities of pressure groups – to what extent are they becoming more important Essay Thank you for reading this Sample!

The Alchemist Review Essay Example

The Alchemist Review Paper Essay on The Alchemist I probably will be there first, who will try to peer-reviewed book, not oo author. Im sure there are people who have not yet had a chance to read The Alchemist, so my review will be primarily addressed to them. The Alchemist I belong to the category of easy reading books with deep meaning. Its plot is simple, but quite interesting. I had the impression as if I read one of the Arabian Nights in the style of A Thousand and One Nights. The main character of the book shepherd Santiago from Andalusia. But the shepherd he was not always, until he was 16, he studied at the seminary, his parents dreamed that he became a priest. However, since childhood Santiago longed to know the world, and therefore the courage and told his parents that he wanted to be a traveler, it becomes a flock of sheep and goes to meet new discoveries. One day he meets a wise old man, the king of Salem, who convinces Santiago to sell their sheep, and embark on a treasure hunt. From that moment on Santiago waiting for the real adventure, in which he acquires new knowledge, find new friends, your love, and most importantly, that lead him to the alchemist We will write a custom essay sample on The Alchemist Review specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Alchemist Review specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Alchemist Review specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The basic idea of ​​the book is to find oneself and the ability to follow its fate, without turning stick ordained the road of life, no matter how dangerous and difficult it may be. After all, only he knows the goodness of life and experience true happiness, who, in spite of the obstacles of life, not get away from this path. This book is not so much entertaining as instructive. Philosophical interpretations to the eternal themes is more than enough. With something youll agree that something disprove. However, convinced that everyone will find something in this book for yourself Personally, for myself, as a major, I noted the following sentence -. When youre something you wish very strongly, the whole universe helps you achieve this Happy reading!

King Tut Exhibit Essay examples

King Tut Exhibit Essay examples King Tut Exhibit Essay examples Exploring the Splendors of Ancient Egypt We are all familiar with the Pharaohs of Egypt, their great pyramids and lavish tombs, but the tomb that we hear most about is the tomb of Tutankhamen, who is commonly referred to as King Tut or the Boy King. In the exhibition Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs we are introduced to the great pharaohs, ancient Egyptian polytheism, ancient Egyptian gold work, the finding of Tutankhamen’s tomb, and the wonders that lay within the tomb of the Boy King. The exhibit focused on the 18th dynasty, which spanned from 1550 to 1292 BC, all of the pieces shown and pharaohs introduced are from this time period. The exhibit was split into 4 portions. The first portion was split into 3 sub sections, the first of which introduced us to the Pharaohs of the 18th dynasty by showing examples of each great Pharaoh’s portraiture, the second section showed us interesting pieces aimed to convey what life was like in ancient Egypt during the 18th dynasty, and the third section provided a transition between the first and second portions of the exhibit. The following portion gave us pieces of religious art, and gave brief explanations of the different aspects and popular myths for ancient Egyptian polytheism. The next portion focused on gold work, which while it had a clear theme, seemed to break the logical flow of the exhibit. The final portion, which had been split into other sub portions, featured the findings from the Tomb of Tutankhamen. The three sub-sections of the first portion were all contained within a single large well-lit room with high ceilings that seemed to mimic ancient Egyptian temple construction. The sections, which grew progressively narrower as you move through the space, were separated by pylons, which show that this section was intended to mimic the axial plan of an ancient Egyptian temple. There was also a large statue that, if you stood on the line of symmetry of the plan, faced you and was framed by the pylons, which mimics the placement of a cult statue within an ancient Egyptian temple. The colors of this portion mimic the colors of sandstone, which was used to construct the temples that the layout of the exhibit is mimicking, with the exception of the third sub-section where the pieces rested on red pedestals, which tied those pieces to the next portion of the exhibit. The next portion, which also had the pieces atop red pedestals, laid the general framework of ancient Egyptian polytheism. This portion was contained in a notably smaller room and was much more dimly lit than the first portion, with the only lights in the room being spotlights on the pieces. This is reminiscent of the smaller cult spaces towards the back of ancient Egyptian statues where small religious icons, like the ones displayed in this portion, were held. The size of the room coupled with the dim lighting give a similar intimate feeling that a cult space would have given in ancient Egypt. A small hallway leads from the religious portion into the gold working section of the exhibit. The room is smaller than the first but larger than the second, and is lit with an almost mystical blue light. The walls of this portion also appear to be blue, possibly to contrast with the yellow of the gold. The pieces were all encased in glass and had individual spotlights of white light. Between the gold work portion and the portion that showcase the findings of Tutankhamen’s tomb there was a transition that gave us a brief story of how Tutankhamen’s tomb was discovered. This section consisted of panels highlighting certain aspects of the discovery either thorough a firsthand account or original photograph. The last part of this transition was a tent that was set up to seem as if an Englishman from the dig had just been enjoying his morning tea before rushing out to feast his eyes on what new treasures the tomb of the Boy King had yielded. The tent functions as an arch, and the openings frame a mock stone

Assessing How Well Companies Manage Their Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Assessing How Well Companies Manage Their - Essay Example If a firm pays its bills with a 30-day delay, 2/3 of its purchases will be paid for in the current quarter. 5/6 of its bills will be paid for in the following quarter. If its payment delay is 60 days, 1/3 of its purchases will be paid for in the current quarter. 2/3 of its bills will be paid for in the following quarter. The vice president's proposal of accepting consumer credit cards yields a higher contribution of $1,152,000 as compared to the sales manager's proposal of looser credit policies that yields a contribution of only $590,000. Therefore, Moorer Corporation would be better off under the vice president's proposal. Credit sales should not be abolished. Though credit sales would result in uncollectible accounts receivable, abolishing credit sales altogether would result in lost sales that might be more than the uncollectible accounts receivable. This is because it is common practice nowadays, especially in the sale of luxury consumer goods. 1. John Burton should develop a JIT inventory system. A JIT inventory system reduces in-process inventory and its associated cost (Just in time, n.d.). JIT manufacturing means making a good or service only when the customer, internal or external, requires it (Atkinson et al., 1996). The process is driven by a series of signals, or Kanban, that tell production processes to make the next part.

Women religion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Women religion - Essay Example This paper will encompass this aspect with regard to the work done by some of the brave women who stood up for this right and provided an insight in to this matter. During the Puritan Age, there was a religious belief that the sacred text of Bible could only be understood by the holders of the local ministries. It was further believed that only they possessed the right to explain the religious text to others as they were the only ones who interpret the true meaning of the Holy Book. The ministers were all men and hence only they had this ultimate right which led them to manipulate religious thoughts according to their ways. They suppressed women by presenting their thoughts that females did not have the capability of understanding religion and that females were subordinate to them. Anne Hutchinson was a brave lady who stood up against these barriers in this period of ignorance and started preaching religion with her own viewpoint. Anne Hutchinson stood for the fact that a person had the capability of linking directly to God and they were not supposed to depend upon others for explaining religion to them. To support this she claimed, " that god had spoken to her directly and not through the intermediary of properly appointed (and male) minister"1. She was of the belief that religion had no barriers and a person was only accountable to God for his actions and not others. This resulted in an uproar since this was an unusual thing in that time. Females were suppressed and they were not supposed to express their perspectives of understanding religion. This led the state to take action against her and the Governor of Massachusetts imposed a ban on her ceremonies where she openly declared and taught her beliefs to other women and she was asked to undergo a court trial. The governor criticized her by saying "by the general assembly as a thing not tolerable nor comely in the sigh of God, nor fitting for your sex"2. Th is statement clearly indicates the male

Fostering Maximum Employment and Price Stability Assignment

Fostering Maximum Employment and Price Stability - Assignment Example To foster maximum employment and price stability, the committee reassured that its target of 0% to 0.25 % rate remains appropriate. In establishing long-term goals, the committee has established measures that shall be used for monitoring and evaluation techniques which will take into account a wide range of information regarding the current market structure. Nevertheless, if updates indicate faster progress toward the committee’s employment and inflation objectives than the committee is currently expecting, then increases in the target range for the federal funds rate are likely to happen sooner than expected. On the other hand, in cases, progress appears to be slower than anticipated, and then increase in the target range are certain to occur later than is currently anticipated. According to last two statements, the committee’s stance has not changed on maintaining its current policies regarding reinvesting principal payments from its major holdings of agency debt as well as agency mortgage-backed securities and of rolling over maturing Treasury securities at auctions. It is currently anticipated that even after employment and inflation are close to mandate-consistent levels, economic situation may for a while, warrant keeping the target federal funds rate below levels the committee views as normal in the longer run. The council decided to keep the key ECB rates unchanged, as regards nonstandard monetary policy measures, the aim is now in implementation. Following the council’s prior meeting, the council shall start purchasing euro-subjugated public sector securities in the secondary market. Additionally, the council shall continue purchasing asset-backed securities as well as covered bonds which had begun the previous year. The joint monthly purchase s of private and public sector securities will total to  £60 billion of which are intended to be carried out until the end of September 2016 and will always be adjusted until there is proper adjustment in inflation path which is consistent with the council’s aim of achieving inflation rates below, but close to 2% over the medium term.  Ã‚  

Implications of Growth and Development

Implications of Growth and Development An overview of the Myanmar economy SWOT analysis of the Myanmar Economy Myanmar’s HDI value is 0.498 Economic Drivers Agriculture The development of agriculture is a main pillar of Myanmar’s growth strategies. It is natural for the Myanmar government to prioritize agriculture as a source of economic growth, since it accounts for 36% of GDP and employs a majority of labor force, and generates nearly 30% of exports according to 2010 figures. Although the agricultural share and employment usually decline as an economy grows, it is not a sunset industry. Methods exist for increasing agriculture’s value added other than the growth of labor and land inputs. According to Myanmar’s report on agriculture, the key strategy is to enhance three productivity measures: labor, land and total productivity. Successive governments have attempted to reclaim new agricultural land and the military government (1988-2011) has successfully increased the news sown area for the last two decades. Cultivable waste other than fallows remains at about 8% of national territory. Thus, further reclamation of cultivable wasteland in Myanmar is possible. Agricultural labor productivity in Myanmar is USD 301/person, the lowest among South Asian countries. Focusing on rice production which is Myanmar’s most important crop, farmers have less elaborate irrigation facilities as compared to its rivals like Vietnam. The need of the hour is mechanization which is a way to improve labor productivity. It can also enhance total agricultural productivity by adopting a new method of acquiring quality seeds, farm management, and improvement in post-harvest system, processing, and marketing to provide high-quality agricultural products. Since agriculture is not rice dominated today, Myanmar could diversify crops according market demand. Its targets call for moving along the value chain of production from farming to higher value added activities such as R and D and after production activities like services, distribution and marketing. Although it does not seem like the agricultural sector will be absorbing more labor force in the long term. Mining Myanmar is rich in natural resources. 90% of the world’s rubies come from Myanmar. The country is also known for producing sapphires. While this is a sector which can be banked upon, inhuman working conditions in quarries and the government’s control on the trade by means of direct ownership of mines hinders major countries from importing gems from Myanmar. A complete ban has been encouraged by the Human Rights Watch as all the profits are directly hoarded by the ruling government. This lack of interest by the parties in power result in the continuation of the deplorable conditions of workers at the mines resulting in zero exports. While there is a chance here to earn a fair amount of profit for the economy, the rulers choose not to concern themselves with the development of the working conditions causing unwanted loss for the economy. Health The government spends 2% of its GDP on healthcare facilities. 2% is a significant amount as compared to the actual GDP that this economy earns. The health standards are stable but not accelerating in terms of quality and the ability to cater to a large population. Despite adequate funds, this economy is faced with a string of healthcare problems which can be explained by two factors. Insufficient no. of doctors owning to lack of education and the fast spreading epidemic of a variety of diseases. Low purchasing power explains the inaccessibility to basic nutrition and food by yet a large population thus increasing the load on the healthcare infrastructure. The incidence of major infectious diseases takes a toll on the health levels ultimately affecting the profession of the person. If the number of patients is large, poor and low medical facilities do not suffice. Myanmar suffers from epidemics such as :- Food or waterborne diseases: Bacterial and Protozoal diarrhoea, Hepatitis A, and Typhoid fever Vector borne diseases: Dengue fever, Malaria, and Japanese encephalitis Water contact disease: Leptospirosis Animal contact disease: Rabies Myanmar does not have highly specialized medical institutions or even sufficient no. of clinics to cater to the large no. of diseased. The Burmese Minstry of health recognizes HIV as a disease of concern. Education The above figures indicate a lot many factors to consider. There seems to be almost no gender disparity in terms of literacy. And in order to sustain oneself in a developing economy, the ability to read or write overpowers the level of education attained. As observed, the enrolment ratios decline from primary to secondary to post secondary. This suggests that there is no strong inclination of being academically sound. This can be owed to the fact that Myanmar is an agrarian economy which employs almost 60% of its population thus indicating that all drop outs are getting absorbed in the labour force. This is a good sign as then the unemployment rate remains an all time low. But in order to progress into a developed economy, the sectoral employment should tend towards the tertiary sector and not the primary sector like in the case of Myanmar. It is also upto the government to promote the importance of education. On the contrary, in Myanmar, owing to the military regime which was standing for a very long time treated education for civilians as relatively unimportant. It was only concerned with the development of military universities. The effects of this approach can be seen even today with the low enrollment rates. According to the Bertelsmann Stiftung Transformation Index report of 2012, since the government does not provide enough money to the schools, and the schools charge children many fees, many parents in rural areas cannot afford to send their children to school beyond the primary level. Although 85% of children attend primary school, over 40% do not go on to middle school (UNDP, 2010). The quality of higher-level education has also declined, especially since the government began encouraging university students to take distance-learning courses. Employment on the secondary and the tertiary sector is to a large extent dependent on school and high school education. The Secondary enrollment rate is 54.28% which is not very remarkable as this means fewer people will enter business and management and other vocations like medicine. The funds allocated for education spending are 0.8% of Myanmar’s GDP in 2013. It has decreased compared to 2009 when it was about 1% of GDP. Throughout all years however, the military budget continues to remain above 20% which is a clear indicator of the fact that the long standing regime has complete control and dominance over how the government in power decides to allocate its funds. Military medical and engineering universities have been established so that the military will have properly trained doctors and engineers. The military has hardly expressed any interest in investing in Research and Development. It almost never heeds to or approaches any technocrat for advice with regard to policy-making. Thus everything undertaken is military oriented and favourable to the army divisions on all accounts. In recent years however, the no. of private school allowed to open has increased and trends show that the elite class have enrolled their children in private schools due to the poor quality of public schools. Class structures and Gender Disparity In Myanmar, the gender gap in power has been reinforced and perpetuated by the long history of militarization. Top offices are reserved for the military. Active military service does not admit women. They are also thus effectively excluded from political participation. Ethnic minorities are also excluded to a very large extent. Women have also been ineligible for the employment opportunities, access to educational facilities, chance to enter the business world, participating in joint ventures created by the military status. Pre 1962, there was a small elite concentrated in government administration, party bureaucracy and the military on the one hand, while the peasants, small traders, business and hired laborers were on the other hand. In between the two now, is a very small group of middle-class people and skilled workers. Accordingly, the primary problem is Myanmar’s class structure which appears to be in a state of extensive flowing. The need of bridging the gap between the elites and the rest of the population and facilitate communication could be achieved by a more institutionalized differentiation of the sub-elite strata. The ‘non congruent’ status groups could be capable of serving as intermediaries between the elites and the more sophisticated, differentiated population. Living Standards 70% of Myanmar’s population yet lives in the rural areas. The rate of urbanization is barely 2.49%. According to reports, the trend of expenditure across is households is, 70% on food and the rest on healthcare and education. The rate of savings is low thus the rate of investments is also low. Despite Myanmar being a large producer of rice, it comes as a surprise that more than 5 million people are living under the food poverty line. (The Food and Agricultural Organization, 2009) Access to clean drinking water and a considerably moderate rate of sanitation facilities cannot suffice the development path of an economy. The area tapped by electricity does not cover even half the inhabited land. Since the factories and industrial places cannot operate without electricity, it is safe to assume that the number of household covered in this 47% is going to be far less. Banking, Foreign Borrowings, Exports According to the Heritage Foundation’s 2011 Economic Freedom index, Myanmar is one of the world’s 10 most repressive economies. In 2003, the rice market was officially liberalised but the government has maintained significant interventions and restrictions in terms of permissible cultivation areas, production, transportation, export policy, and choice of crops. Currency convertibility is difficult in Myanmar according to the IMF report. The official exchange rate has been fixed at approximately six kyat per U.S. dollar, while since 2009, the real market exchange rate has been around 1000 kyat. In the domestic market, since market leaders are in accordance with the military and a handful of cronies, there is no market contestability at the level of large enterprises. Although the environment for middle-sized businesses shows better market contestability, market entry barriers for companies are still huge. Myanmar has been a World Trade Organization (WTO) member since 1995, foreign trade has not been liberalized in reality, because of its extensively controlled economy. The country is the least open to trade among its Southeast Asian neighbours. Myanmar also has a large informal trade in arms, narcotics and forest products. The banking system are dominated by state owned banks and the government has complete control over the central bank. There is no proper capital market although the number of private banks is more than a dozen. Myanmar is unable to establish a stock market, and has no real market for bonds. Although banks in Myanmar operate under formal regulations, but with hardly any supervision and enforcement. The banking system is not transparent. The central bank has not enforced a consistent and effective inflation control policy, or an appropriate foreign exchange policy. Since the Central banks is completely controlled by the government, it has imposed arbitrary policies such as printing money to solve budget deficits, leading to fluctuating inflation rates. The government has also made arbitrary decisions such as to increase salaries sharply and remove subsidies. Myanmar lacks consistent and sound fiscal and debt policies to support macroeconomic stability. Instead, its arbitrary fiscal and debt policies are motivated primarily by political concerns. Private Property In Myanmar, there is no effective protection of property rights, including intellectual property rights. According to the 2008 constitution, the state ultimately owns all the land and natural resources, although it permits some exercise of private property rights. This means that citizens can own land, but that the state can confiscate the property if it so desires. In fact, most ordinary people do not have legal title to their land and other property. The state has confiscated many private plots for government projects, including the establishment of military camps and businesses, without providing compensation. To attract foreign investment, special economic zone laws include protection for foreign investors, but these are still conditional to the extent that they may not contradict existing laws. This gives leeway for the state to intervene. A wave of privatization of state assets and enterprises was performed suddenly in 2009 – 2010, and was not done in accordance with market principles. The process was neither transparent nor competitive, since the government sold the assets very quietly and quickly to a handful of enterprises with close military ties. Myanmar has no official social safety nets, and poverty is widespread. However, family members, friends and religious organizations have traditionally provided a social safety-net function, especially in terms of helping with food, clothing and accommodation, although widespread poverty and the paucity of job opportunities in the country has weakened this over time. As a result, tens of thousands of young and middle-aged Myanmar have travelled to bordering countries including Thailand, Malaysia, China and India to work as migrant labourers. Based on statistics from reports, many send remittances back to their family members, a factor increasingly becoming a primary source of financial support for those left inside the country. However, the amount of remittances seems to have gone down in 2009 in the wake of the global economic slowdown, during which some migrant workers lost their jobs and went back home. Political factors which lead to migrants leaving their state of origin for other countries are the risk of persecution, suppression of rights, human rights abuses, political and/or ethnic oppression, internal violence and/or armed conflict are considered political factors. Those deemed as political migrants are often considered refugees. Economic factors include the following: International labour migration movements triggered by economic factors such as poverty and Economic underdevelopment in countries of origin and the existence of considerable discrepancies  in standards of living and wages between these countries and receiving Many Burmese migrants quote economic hardship and an oppressive taxation system as  reasons for migration.

Cocaine :: essays research papers

Cocaine Cocaine is a powerfully addictive drug of abuse. Individuals who have tried cocaine have described the experience as a powerful high that gave them a feeling of supremacy. However, once someone starts taking cocaine, one cannot predict or control the extent to which he or she will continue to use the drug. The major ways of taking cocaine are sniffing or snorting, injecting, and smoking (including free-base and crack cocaine). Health risks exist regardless of whether cocaine is inhaled (snorted), injected, or smoked. However, it appears that compulsive cocaine use may develop even more rapidly if the substance is smoked rather than snorted. Smoking allows extremely high doses of cocaine to reach the brain very quickly and results in an intense and immediate high. The injecting drug user is also at risk for acquiring or transmitting HIV infection/AIDS if needles or other injection equipment are shared. Health Hazards †¢ Physical effects. Physical effects of cocaine use include constricted peripheral blood vessels, dilated pupils, and increased body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure. Some cocaine users report feelings of restlessness, irritability, and anxiety, both while using and between periods of use. An appreciable tolerance to the high may be developed, and many addicts report that they seek but fail to achieve as much pleasure as they did from their first exposure. †¢ Paranoia and aggression. High doses of cocaine and/or prolonged use can trigger paranoia. Smoking crack cocaine can produce particularly aggressive paranoid behavior in users. When addicted individuals stop using cocaine, they may become depressed. This depression causes users to continue to use the drug to alleviate their depression. †¢ Long-term effects. Prolonged cocaine snorting can result in ulceration of the mucous membrane of the nose and can damage the nasal septum enough to cause it to collapse.

Consumer Behaviour Essay

Problem recognition is defined as the perception of a difference between the ideal state of affairs and the actual situation (stream notes chapter 1 Schiffman et al. (2011). Needs recognition is the first stage of all consumer decision process. The problem recognition for buying a RADO watch is initially my want for being able to wear a watch. However I know I want a luxury watch of high value and class, this makes the purchase of a high involvement highly complex and an extensive problem solving decision as it is very expensive. I will be very motivated in the next step which is the search for information. Being of such a high priced purchase I want to find out as much information as I can, not just about the product but also the effect of wearing a RADO watch. Firstly I will do an internal search of information, this is a quick sweep over the mind on what I can recall about the product and is done as soon as a problem is recognised. With lower interest or motivated purchases this could be deemed enough and I would move onto the purchase. However, as this is a complex purchase I want to know more information, this is called an external information search. By including an external investigation I will better understand the risks involved with buying a RADO watch. Such as functional risk, will the product work as expected? Physical risk, is the watch safe? such as reactions to the materials it is made from. Financial risk, is it worth the price? will I gain enough satisfaction to warrant such an expensive item. Social risk, am I going to embarrass myself or not fit in? Physiological risk, what effect will wearing a RADO watch have on myself esteem, will I feel good? and lastly time risk, the amount of time and effort spent on the purchase decision, was it a waste? The amount of time spent on an external information search all depends on the value of the product to the consumer. In this case I would undergo a very detailed investigation where I invest a lot of time because of my student financial situation. When doing external research I am soon effected by marketers and exposure to outside stimulants. For example when doing my search I wanted to see where I could purchase a RADO watch from . When I visited the RADO website I was soon drawn in by the instant look of class and wealth which appeals to my personality and realize by purchasing a new RADO watch I would be fueling my ego and moving towards my ideal self image. I also satisfied my need for knowledge and information about the product, I learnt what they were made out of, what new technology they include and what celebrities and events endorse the products, which to me shows they are of a popular status and could create a positive image about myself. Therefore I will move on to the next stage of the decision model, evaluation of alternatives. By using the conjunctive decision rule I am able to set a degree of cut off standard. The Executive watch market is very competitive and includes other brands such as ROLEX, TISSO and MIDO. All of which offer a similar product but I believe a RADO watch provides a better experience. Its combined features such as having a reputation of being scratch free, sleek and an industry leader for design and new materials match its personal experience portraying a high social class, wealth, success and confidence. After all Andy Murray wears one. After being satisfied with my choice and research I then purchase the RADO watch from either the Christchurch or Auckland supplier. However Purchasing the product IS important it is not the final stage of the consumer decision model. After purchasing the product a consumer then evaluates the effect, while wearing my RADO watch I evaluate its effect, has it meet all my expectations. Consumers will try to reduce post purchase cognitive dissonance by seeking support that they made the right decision, either from peers, advertising or other customers. After purchasing my watch I felt it did meet all my expectations of class and image aswell as functionality however I was not happy from the price I paid. RADO watches are very expensive ranging from over $1000 for the cheapest. After investing so much money I feel that it is not worth the satisfaction or wellbeing I gained. Therefore I would take the final step in the model by divestment. I would claim back my money from the watch by reselling it. Divestment is the remarketing, reselling or disposal of the product or packaging after use. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ My purchase of a Manual tooth brush is allot more simple and would be considered a habitual decision with low involvement as I would always choose the cheapest brush. The first stage, needs recognition would occur when my current tooth brush became worn out and I need a replacement. When undergoing an information search I would solely rely on an internal method and would feel satisfied that I know enough information about the product choices. The reason I have a low involvement outlook is because I see the product as low risk as there is no strong design difference or any features between the choices that effect social, financial, psychological, or time risk. they all seem indifferent apart from a slight price difference. This comes from a recollection of past experiences where I get the same satisfaction from any brand, The next step in the model, pre purchase evaluation of alternatives would solely happen at the single shop I went to when I am actually picking my product from the shelf. As a tooth brush is of low involvement and value to me I have no motivation to visit any other outlets and want to get the purchase done as fast and easily as possible. The next step is to purchase the item, which I will do by picking the cheapest one from the shelf, pay then leave the store to consume the product. When I consume the product I don’t have many standards that need to be meet. Therefore this brush easy for fills my requirements and I am satisfied. Being of a low involvement purchase the post purchase evaluation will be limited and not as extensive of such as the RADO watch. I will continue to re purchase this brand but only if it remains the cheapest, I have no brand loyalty and will switch to alternative brands if there are opportunities such as a sale. The final stage in the process is divestment. After use, both the product and its packaging will be disposed of as rubbish because it holds no further value for resale, unlike the watch which is still valuable because of its high price. cant try it on rado †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã ¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ The standard consumer decision process model by Engel, Blackwell and Miniard is very useful for marketers as it is a road map of consumers’ minds which takes a journey through the different steps of consumption, starting with problem recognition then information search, evaluation of alternatives, purchase, consumption, post consumption evaluation and lastly divestment.

Idioms and Expressions With Make

Idioms and Expressions With Make The following idioms and expressions use make. Each idiom or expression has a definition and example sentences to help you understand these common idiomatic expressions with make. Once you have studied these expressions, test your knowledge with quiz testing idioms and expressions with make. There are many other words that often find their way into common idioms and expressions including have, run, work, and like. Make a Beeline for Someone or Something To go directly to someone or something as soon as you arrive. I got to the party and made a beeline for Susan.He made a beeline for the booth as soon as he arrived. Make a Clean Sweep To get rid of everything or everyone to start anew. Im afraid well have to make a clean sweep and start over.The police made a clean sweep of the area by arresting everyone.   Make a Comeback To become successful again after having been away from the scene or society for a long time The actress made a comeback in her latest movie.Youll have to make a comeback and take over the company. Make a Face Contort your face, make a strange expression often used with at someone. She tasted the soup and made a face. It must have been awful.Dont make a face at me! I know youre not happy. Make a Fool out of Someone To trick someone and make them look bad. She made a fool out of him and then left him for another man.I dont think youll ever make a fool out of me. Make a Fuss To pay a lot of attention to someone or something. She made a fuss the last time we visited, so lets take a gift.Im afraid I make a bit of a fuss over my plants in the garden. Make a Go of It To become successful, have success in business. It took us a few years to make a go of it, but everythings fine now.Bob made a go of it as an opera singer in Europe.   Make a Killing To earn a lot of money. Peter has been making a killing as a hedge fund manager.They made a killing in real estate and retired. Make a Living To earn money in a profession or trade. He makes a living selling insurance to the elderly.Can you make a good living by teaching? Make a Name for Oneself To become famous or well known. Jennifer made a name for herself as an actress on Broadway.One day youll get out into the world and make a name for yourself. Make a Point To make something understood to others. Im trying to make a point about your lack of effort.The presentation made the point that you need to start saving early in life. Make a Run for It To try to escape from a bad situation, or just from the rain or something equally unpleasant. Lets make a run for those trees over there. They should keep us dry.The bank robbers made a run for it, but the police caught them within two hours. Make a Scene To become very upset and vocal so that others notice you. The little girl made a scene every time her mother didnt immediately buy her what she wanted.Dont make a scene about this. Lets go home and talk about it. Make a Stink To complain loudly about something. She made a stink to human resources after she didnt get the promotion.Ill go down to the store and make a stink about this! Make an Example of Someone To do something negative to someone in order that others understand that they should not do the same. The boss decided to fire him to make an example of him to the other employees.Im afraid he made an example of her and she started to cry in front of everybody. Make an Exception To not do something that is usually the rule. Ill make an exception this one time. Next time, dont forget your homework.Can you make an exception and let me take the test next week? Make Arrangements   To do everything needed in order to be sure that something is done properly. Ill make arrangements for this to be shipped to Japan.We made arrangements for the meeting next week. Make Ends Meet To earn enough money to pay the bills. He works as an English teacher to make ends meet.You might not get rich, but youll certainly make ends meet. Make Fun Of   To joke at the expense of someone. He made fun of her makeup and she began to cry.Dont make fun of Peter! Hes a great guy! Make Good on Something To do something you have promised or feel you owe someone. Let me make good on it by taking you out to dinner.Jason made good on the bet after two weeks.   Make Light of Something To joke about something serious. I think you need to make light of the whole situation. What good does it do to worry so much?They made light of the mistake and continued with the job. Make Mischief To do something naughty, to get in trouble. The boys made mischief over the holidays and were grounded for three days.I know youre making mischief. I can see the twinkle in your eye. Make Sense   To try to understand something, to be understandable. Does that make any sense to you?Im trying to make sense of this situation. Make Short Work of Something To do something quickly. Lets make short work of the garden and have a beer.She made short work of the report and moved on to the presentation. Make Someone Tick To be responsible for how someone acts in life. His love of music makes him tick.What makes you tick? What really gets you excited? Make Something Up To invent something that isnt true, to tell a false story. He made up an excuse to get out of work that day.Have you ever made something up? Make the Grade To be good enough. Im afraid your work here doesnt make the grade.Do you think this painting will make the grade at the competition? Make Waves To cause others trouble, often by complaining a lot. Can also mean to become noticed, usually by some type of disruption, which can be good or bad. Many people say its important to not make waves at work. Thats how we get into a mess!Her father made waves until the school decided to give her another chance.

2061 A Space Odyssey Three Essays - Space Odyssey Series

2061 A Space Odyssey Three Essays - Space Odyssey Series 2061 A Space Odyssey Three Dr. Heywood Floyd was sitting in the space station Pasture when he saw Haleys comet and decided to actually land on the surface (by convincing Tsung Corporation that it would be good advertising). So off go Dr.Floyd, Dr.Chant, Clifford Greenberg and the Universes crew to Haleys comet. Dr.Rolf van der Berg was called to his office at 5:00 in the morning to find that on Europa There was a new mountain three times the size of Everest had appeared and that a thousand kilometers away from the mountain a monolith about five hundred kilometers wide and a thousand two hundred kilometers long. When Universe landed The passengers were allowed on to the surface but only if they had some body with them so that if something went wrong they could help each other out. Floyd found some caves and decided to investigate it but came back empty handed. After The universe dropped the passengers back off at the moon base the universe was assigned to go pick up a ship that had crash landed on Europa. Universe went to pick up the people when it was hijacked by Universes stewardess and was forced to land when Universe had landed The Hijacker killed her self by shooting herself in the head. after the ship had land the landing pads had sunk into the ground and the hijacker must have thought that they were stranded. After the event with the hijacker the crew decided to explore the mysterious mountain while picking up the survivors. When they got to the mountain they realized that it was in fact a diamond three times the size as Everett. Dr.Chant took some samples and picked up the survivors. When they were flying back they noticed some thing on the ground it was a small village but no body was there. The universe landed and looked around and found no one then Floyd saw David Bowman, David said The people here have fled to there waters and will be back once your poison has gone. and then he vanished. Floyd wondered about this for a moment and remembered that when an oxygen producing planet had been created it killed off all the other planets, and that was what there exhaust was or at least mostly. The universe left and headed home once again. Year: 3000 The Monolith that was discovered on the moon is sitting in a museum now just sitting there when suddenly something happened after 4 million years it reawakens!.

Case Study 3 - Input Diagnosis (skype) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Case Study 3 - Input Diagnosis (skype) - Essay Example Now in the context of the project, the report will highlight the business strategy of Skype. Apart from that the report will also shed light on the three generic strategies of Porter and its resemblance with the organizations strategy of Skype. Furthermore Nadler-Tushman Congruence Model will be also emphasized in accordance with the strategies of Skype. Finally the report will present the critical inputs of Skype and will then offer a conclusion based on the findings from the study. The next part will therefore put emphasis to the business strategy of Skype. Skype mainly follows the business model, which is the combination of network effects model and service provision and thereby collective referred to as â€Å"freemium† model. Skype offers both free as well as premium services to the customers. Some of the applications that are offered free include chatting, Skype-to-Skype calling, file transfer, multi-party calling, and video calling. On the other hand premium or paid serv ices comprise of Skype-In, Online numbers, Voicemail, subscriptions, Skype-Out and SMS. Since Skype offers a number of communication methods via internet, it has been able to target a large number of customers, who seek communication over the internet at low cost. In the recent past the company has also entered the mobile market by incorporating software that runs on a Smartphone. Skype also caters to the television segment along with the blue-ray devices. Hence from an overall viewpoint the basic business strategy of Skype is to have global coverage for the users of mobiles and computers. Apart from generating revenues from the premium services, the company earns revenue by providing partnership perspectives through licensing, and advertisement opportunities (Hagstedt, Hakansson & Thideman, 2011). Nevertheless, one of the important factors that played a major role in driving the business of Skype is the security it offers to the customers and a strong brand reputation supported by Microsoft. Porter’s Three Generic Competitive Strategies The three generic strategies of Porter include cost leadership strategy, differentiation strategy and focus strategy. The cost leadership strategy is about being the low-cost manufacturer. The differentiation strategy can be characterized by the offerings of a service or product that is unique and highly valued by the customers. Finally the focus strategy is about focusing and catering to a particular customer segment. Now comparing with the business strategy of Skype, it can be concluded that Skype makes use of differentiation strategy. The company offers a large number of unique communication modes that are distinctive and are highly value by the customers. Organizational Inputs The organizational inputs are those materials which the organization has to utilize for completion of their desired objectives. There are several different types of inputs, each of which signifies different resource for the organization. All t he organizational inputs are interlinked; especially the environment and resources have a very close relation. The environmental conditions affect the availability and price of acquiring the resources. The key organizational inputs are: a) Environment: It includes all the factors such as events, groups, individuals, institutions, and the whole

What do you think are the most important qualities for women to Essay

What do you think are the most important qualities for women to succeed in todays business environment Do you feel you hold these qualities - Essay Example Education has infused them with an understanding of liberty, which they use for their own good. Margaret Thatcher once said, â€Å"If you want something say ask a man, if you want something done ask a woman† (Evans, M. 2009). This can be seen as representative of the increasing importance that women had achieved in the twentieth century, Margaret Thatcher being a shining example of this. The ability to communicate to all sections of a firm would be one of the most important abilities that decide the success of a woman professional in the business environment of the twenty first century. Communicating with different people from different sections of the society is a challenge and would require women o come out of the roles that are traditionally assigned to them. These roles could pull them back from success as it may be construed to be a weakness. Communication requires one to be aware of the different situations that may arise in the functioning of a business firm as different situations would require different modes of communication. The ability that women are traditionally assigned, that of organization, is also something that is greatly required in business environments of today. It would enable the organization of events and meetings which may be crucial in the success of young women professionals. Being noticed in a business firm would require women to take up such roles and seek to be noticeable to their seniors at the workplace. An urge to succeed should be behind these actions of the employee. This would result in them wanting to succeed for the sake of their career rather than traditional institutions like the family. Being creative is another essential aspect of a person’s character that would enable him or her to succeed. This is a feature that is, again, traditionally attributed to women. Hence, women have lesser difficulties in accepting this role. This is also part of a person’s ability to be a leader. This ability would be the one that

Handling devices Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Handling devices - Essay Example I would like to reduce the diameter of the rollers so that more of them can be installed. This would allow even smaller materials to be transported through it. 2. Wheel barrow: A wheel barrow is also used to shift materials. The capacity to place material is smaller than that in the roller conveyor. It requires manual work, though the lifting person does not have to bear the load of material. He/she only has to push the wheel barrow. 3. Cranes: A crane is used to lift very heavy materials. It is specifically used for lifting the materials up. It is used to lift such heavy items as precast slabs on the top of walls. These works can not be done manually. If offers the advantage of lifting very heavy materials in very little time without causing any damage. References: Material Handling Equipment Taxonomy. (1999). Material Handling Equipment. Retrieved from http://www.ise.ncsu.edu/kay/mhetax/TransEq/Conv/index.htm#Wheel conveyor.

The Musical Culture of the Country of Burundi Essay Example for Free

The Musical Culture of the Country of Burundi Essay Every nation has its own culture and traditions which has been practiced by the people for many decades or centuries. Most of the cultural practices of a nation are usually passed down to the next generation. Although they are altered to fit the current generation, some parts of the culture remain intact and do not change; they are the same practices done in the past. The same is true with the cultural practices of Burundi. Amidst the various wars and conflict taking place in the country of Burundi, its culture is still upheld by those living in the rural areas. Their traditions are still largely celebrated and practiced by the people. Through the years, the world has seen Burundi as a place filled with violence and conflict. There are times when the news coming from Burundi only involves violence and improper actions of the rebels against the government and vice versa. In addition, mass killings are known to have affected many regions of the country, therefore lessening the chances for recreational activities, education, and other cultural practices to be upheld. Various refuge camps and displaced people have also been distressed by such conflicts. External Influences to the Burundian Culture Historical accounts of Burundi reveal that the country was colonized by various European nations. King Mwezi IV, the ruling leader during the 19th century, feared that his kingdom will be captured by one of the conflicting tribes in Burundi, the Tutsis. Due the King’s fear, he secured the support of Germany to protect his kingdom, instantly turning Burundi into a German colony. After a few years, the German colonizers passed the responsibility to a new European state: Belgium (Institute for Security Studies [ISS], 2005). Hence, these countries were able to influence and engrave their own norms, traditions, and beliefs on Burundians which were incorporated into the cultural practices of Burundi. Music as a Large Part of the Burundian Culture Burundians are people who enjoy arts and music. Music has been a huge part of their lives which could be observed in various types of traditional gatherings and the songs sung in these gatherings. One of these is family gatherings where â€Å"imvyino† songs are performed. Imviyino songs were known to have short refrain which has a strong beat. Such songs often incorporate spontaneous verses which are sung together with the strong beats of the music. On the other hand, â€Å"imdirimbo† song is a more downcast and serious type of music which is sung by a small group of individuals or a solo singer. â€Å"Kwishongora† is another type of song from the traditional music of Burundi that is sung only by men. It is a rhythmic song which is integrated with trills and shouts. For the females, there is also a certain type of song made for them, and it is called the â€Å"bilito† in which is a sentimental form of music (Stanford, 2007), One of the strongest characteristics of Burundi music is the â€Å"whispered singing. † This is expressed by the performer in a low or soft pitch, for it requires the musical accompaniment to be heard clearly (Stanford, 2007). Burundian Musical Instruments Most of the traditional songs of Burundi are played with specific instruments such as â€Å"inanga,† â€Å"idono,† â€Å"ikihusehama,† and â€Å"ikimbe. † The inanga is an instrument composed of six (6) to eight (8) strings which are stretched out in a wooden concave bowl. The idono is known to be the fiddle which is composed only of a single string. The ikihusehama is a musical instrument which is similar to a clarinet woodwind. Lastly, the ikimbe is the linguaphone version of the Burundians. However, the most important musical instrument used by the Burundians is the drums which is considered as a symbol of status and power (Stanford, 2007). Drums are known to be the most significant instruments in the country of Burundi. In the ancient times, drums were not only seen as a plain instrument but a sacred object which was only used for ceremonial events. The beat is one of the most essential elements of the Burundian drums. Certain drum beats are applied depending on the type of event being held, from funerals to enthronement. The beat of the drums is also the main signal that proclaims the start of the agricultural season as well as the propagation of the Soughum seeds which is an important agricultural amenity for the country (Heavenly Planet, 2008). The drums are not only significant to the events, but they are also deeply connected to nature. This strong relationship of drums and nature is evident in parts of the drum, as their names are related to fertility: â€Å"Icahi: the skin (the skin in which the mother rocks her baby); Amabere: the pegs (the breasts); Urugori: the thong stretching the skin (crown of motherhood); inda: the cylinder (the stomach); umukondo: the foot of the drum (the umbilical cord)† (Heavenly Planet, 2008, n. p. ) Royal Drummers of Burundi The Royal Drummers of Burundi is the most acknowledged performers in Burundi. The group is composed of twenty (20) individuals who perform in the most important Burundian ceremonies. Accordingly, due to the significance of the group, they also perform in various celebrations such as funerals, births, coronations, and christenings within the country. This prestigious drum group is known to also perform in various parts of the world. In addition, the Royal Drummers of Burundi is recognized as one of the most acclaimed percussion groups in the world (Smith, 2009). The group is known to be a multigenerational band; therefore, sons are taught by their fathers the art and the significance of performance and playing drums. Most of the time, different drummers switch places in order for them to have a short rest and create a constant flow of music that only stops during the end of the whole program. In addition to drumming, most of the band members are also dancers. The group performs the dances during the opening of the programs (Smith, 2009). Africatravelling. net (2000) commends the performances of the Royal Drummers of Burundi: â€Å"The Drummers of Burundi had the most captivating presence of all the acts at the festival Every moment, every wail from the players fit into the trance impact of the drummers† (n. p. ). The Royal Drummers of Burundi are known to have specific drums that they use to create a specific sound of the drums. One of the types of drums that they use is the â€Å"Ngoma† drums which are â€Å"hollowed out from the trunk of a particular tree called D’umuvugangoma (Corda Africana)† (Heavenly Planet, 2008, n. p. ). Reflection on the Music of Burundi As I have researched in various internet resources, I found out that the Burundi musical culture is not widely known to the world. There are only few resources available for those who are interested in their traditional music. Most books and articles are about the topics of human rights violations, genocides, and war in Burundi. Thus, this suggests the richness of the Burundian culture is often ignored. With the research that I have done, I realized that a single instrument could be a source of power and status. In addition, such instruments could also be a signifier of various events and elements of nature. Due to the conflicts and hostility in the state of Burundi, the international community does not pay significant attention to the rich cultural aspect of this country. However, with the ensemble of Royal Drummers of Burundi, one can say that the rich culture of this African nation lives despite all atrocities. References Africatravelling. net (2000). Bujumbura-Culture. Retrieved February 11, 2009 from http://www. africatravelling. net/burundi/bujumbura/bujumbura_culture. htm. Heavenly Planet. (2008). â€Å"Music That Inspires. † Retrieved February 11, 2009 from http://www. heavenlyplanet. com/featured/dob. html. Institute for Security Studies. (2005). Political System and History. Retrieved February 11 2009 from http://www. iss. co. za/af/profiles/burundi/politics. html. Smith, S. E. (2009). Who are the Royal Drummers of Burundi?. Wise Geek. Retrieved February 11, 2009 from http://www. wisegeek. com/who-are-the-royal-drummers-of-burundi. htm. Stanford, E. (2007). Culture of Burundi. Countries and Their Cultures. Retrieved February 11, 2009 from http://www. everyculture. com/Bo-Co/Burundi. html.