Wednesday, December 25, 2019

The Global Warming Er Global Climate Change - 1976 Words

04/18/2016 The Global Warming Era Our global climate change has not always been a top concern for scientists, politicians or even our very own view on the rapid rates of global warming data. The drastic change and harm that has occurred to the nature around us has become a huge concern that must be dealt with appropriately and done so in a timely manner, with rapid glacier melting that has caused rising sea levels or the .15-degree temperature increase per decade since the 1900`s we can noticeable see the change our earth has endured due to humans. Even the smallest change of a degree in temperature not just in the U.S but globally has effected many aspects of Earth itself. Just a couple of years ago in the year 2014 our planet reached†¦show more content†¦The world climate is changing day by day. Many causes of Global Warming are primarily caused by humans with rapid growth of unplanned industries or the day to day traffic that emits harmful fumes into the air. The effects of Global Warming are very dangero us for our existence on Earth it could drastically reduce the amount of agriculture we produce, Each and every aspect of our Earth are important in maintaining an ecological balance, if one thing is to change in our environment there are many negative impacts that would occur so it is important to maintain our ecological balance by decreasing the effects of Global Warming and being able to live, grow, and thrive on Earth. One could explain Global warming by defining it as the warming of the Earth’s surface which results while the atmosphere of the Earth traps heat so the more rapidly humans create polluting industries and emitting fossil fuels we are responsible for. The earth is getting warmer. The changes are small, so far, but scientist are expecting this climate change to grow larger and speedup. Within the next fifty to one hundred years, the earth may heat more than it has in the last million years which is very concerning to human existence. As oceans warm and glaciers melt, land and cities along coasts may be flooded. Heat and drought factors like we have seen in recent years in California’s rapid rate of drought fires will occur in many areas around the world. One major cause of global warming is the

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

The Financial Crisis Of 2008 And How It All Started As...

This paper is about the financial crisis in 2008 and how it all started as well as the ways that banking has operated and is operating today. I have watched all of Chairman Bernanke’s college lecture videos and he has gone into many different aspects of banking including how the Federal Reserve began, what lead to the recent financial crisis, and what we are doing as a nation to see what we can do to help eliminate from happening again. First, I will be summarizing Chairman Bernanke’s four lectures he did in 2012 at George Washington University. Chairman Bernanke’s first lecture was more focused on the history of central banking and how the Federal Reserve of the United States of America began. What Bernanke talked about is how central banking is essential to all modern nations that revolve around their own personal currency. An example he gave is of course our Federal Reserve in America and the EU Federal Bank that revolves around the euro. He also delved into t he policy tools that the Federal Reserve is responsible for. Some of these tools are monetary policy. This policy is important for maintaining macroeconomic stability by adjusting interest rates to help influence spending, production, employment, and inflation. Another one of the tools that the central banks are responsible for is the provision of liquidity which deals in the financial crises and the handing out of short term loans to help ease financial panics. This tool is also the â€Å"lender of last resort† whichShow MoreRelatedThe Financial Crisis Of 2008 Essay1740 Words   |  7 Pages The financial crisis of 2008 was one of the worst recessions in American history since the Great Depression. During the financial crisis of 2008, big banks lost their money, the stock market crashed, people lost their houses, and the value of loans plummeted. The financial crisis of 2008 was a crisis in value for the financial market, which bled into the economy of the country. The way that the system of banking was set up made the economy of the country extremely vulnerable to any risks taken inRead More2008 Financial Crisis: Icelands Then Now Essay examples1558 Words   |  7 PagesCauses of the Crisis On September 15, 2008, the American bank Lehman Brothers, with holdings over 600 billion USD, filed bankruptcy. This was by far the biggest bankruptcy in U.S history and it marked the beginning and the largest financial crisis ever. How can one of the biggest banks in the world fail? How can a bankruptcy in US make someone on the other side of the world unemployed? The answer is Collateralized Debt Obligations (CDOs) and it all started by new innovations in the financial sector combinedRead MoreInside Job 2010 Directed By Charles Ferguson1104 Words   |  5 Pagesinternationally. When learning of how other countries conduct International Business, a company can expand their market to appeal to citizens of these places. However, being as close knit as we are to other countries, not everyone holds the same values. Every business’ goals is to make profit and if one company acts in an unethical matter, that will create a downfall domino effect. This statement holds truth for the result of the financial/banking crisis that occurred in 2008 because of many errors thatRead MoreSpain Sub Prime Crisis7850 Words   |  32 PagesMaster Thesis Banking system reforms after the subprime crises Study case: Spain Author: | Supervisor: | | | Department of †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ January 2014 Abstract How did the Subprime Crisis, a small problem of U.S. ï ¬ nancial markets, aï ¬â‚¬ect the entire global banking system? The aim of this paper is to analyze the effect of the subprime crisis on the banking sector in Europe, with a close attention on the case of Spain. Spain is currently facing the worst crisis ever experiencedRead MoreThe Effects of the Bursting of the US Housing Bubble on the European Union1340 Words   |  6 Pagesbubble during the period of 2006-2007 had triggered the 2008 financial crisis which also spread to the European Union zone. Many major European banks, many of which had significant holdings in the American market, started to crumble, followed by bailout requests, initiating a subsequent crisis that led to the Eurozone crisis. The combination of government debt crisis, a banking crisis, and further worsen by a growth and competitiveness crisis had thrown what could probably the biggest challenge facedRead MoreRegulation Of The Us Banking Industry1578 Words   |  7 PagesRegulation of the US banking industry; Changes in the industry since the recent recession -Banks can include commercial banks, savings and loans, and credit unions. Everyday banks are used to make payments, deposits, withdraw, or talk to bankers about options. Regulations are highly important in the banking industry, protecting customers and economically. Banks gain funds by retained earnings, equity securities, savings, loans, and charging interest rates. There are number of banking regulations, theRead MoreBanking Industry2676 Words   |  11 PagesIntroduction The banking industry has always been susceptible to economic fluctuations. The subprime mortgages crisis, that started to be felt in 2007 and is still going on, is not an exception. Although it had consequences all over the world, the main effects were seen in American financial markets, followed by the European ones. The top ten banks of the world also suffered the consequences; these can be seen in the changes occurred among these leading institutions in terms of market capitalizationRead MoreThe Great Recession Of The United States1735 Words   |  7 PagesThe financial crisis was unforeseen by millions and few predicted that the market would enter a recession. Due to the impact that the recession had, several studies have been conducted in order to determine what caused the recession and if it could have been prevented. Government intervention played a key role in the crisis by providing the bailout money that saved those â€Å"Too Big to Fail† institutions. Due to the am ount of money invested in the bailout and the damage that the financial crisis hadRead MoreThe Crisis Of The United States1305 Words   |  6 PagesAs a result of the crisis, there were many different impacts on both the U.S. and global economy and one of them being buyouts and acquisitions within the U.S. financial institutions. Just to name a few of the acquisitions and failures that occurred due to the crisis, Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch and Bear Stearns were among the largest investment banks. â€Å"Lehman Brothers declared bankruptcy, Bear Stearns was bought by JP Morgan Chase and Merrill Lynch was bought by Bank of America.† (Chang, 14)Read MoreKey Purpose Behind The Dobb- Frank Act1339 Words   |  6 Pagescommunities. A huge difference between the larger banks in a metropolitan area and a community bank is the way they make decisions on the customer that come in to obtain a loan. Community banks use a means of relationship banking, which is when the representative of the bank attempt to meet the needs of the customer by attempting to find a means to meet these needs. Finding the best means through financial services with the customer and working with them builds a relationship that might even be for a long

Sunday, December 8, 2019

“Growing Pains” free essay sample

Life lessons are a nice way to verbalize a growing experience. My life lesson was hard one to learn although it may seem obvious. Never take anything for granted. The day my friend and mentor Mr. P. died I learned that lesson over and over again. Never take a friend for granted. Never take a well thought out career path for granted. Never take a good day for granted. I remember every little detail, the day my chorus teacher died. I was watching a re-run of The Sopranos with my dad, when I got a call from one of my chorus friends. I really can’t say why I didn’t answer the phone but looking back on it now I don’t think I was mentally prepared to hear the news. As soon as the show was over, I remember telling my mom I was hungry. So I decided to go up to Sonic and grab a burger, maybe flirt with some girls or hang out with some of my friends. We will write a custom essay sample on â€Å"Growing Pains† or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page When I got in my car and drove off my phone began to ring. After three calls from my friend I finally decided to answer. I answered the phone to the sound of a voice that didn’t match the upbeat tone I had predicted. My thoughts 180ed and at that moment I knew something was wrong. That night was the night my beloved teacher died. After the phone call I didn’t believe anything I just heard. Just a week ago I was talking to the man about next year. I remember going into his office. â€Å"Austin please sit down.† Mr. P. said. As I sat down he started to cry. Being a little uncomfortable with the situation I didn’t say a word. â€Å"You know after looking at the song your dad wrote.† (Two weeks before my dad wrote a song and wanted his opinion, because we all respected it so much.) â€Å"It really touched me.† Being Mr. P.’s student I had heard of his childhood memories but at this point he explained them to me first hand. After we got do ne talking us both looked at each other and I gave him a big hug and said, â€Å"I love you, Mr. P., † â€Å"I love you too† he said. After years of admiring and learning from him, this was the first time I told him I loved him. I meant it. I know this may sound a bit weird but I am proud to say that I experienced Mr. Pittman cry. I know he is a passionate person but he is also strong willed and didn’t like to show his weak side. Some people may say that they’ve seen all of his many colors but they haven’t. I am certain I have. As I was driving back home a car beep at me to get back in my own lane and I jumped back into reality I never in a million years expected him to die. I guess in my mind he would last forever. That night I wasn’t even thinking about Mr. P., all I was thinking about was a stupid burger and girls. Mr. P.’s death taught me to never take the people I love for granted. Relationships with the people I love have always been important to me but I realize how suddenly life can end. Now that Mr. P. is gone, my actions have defiantly grown as a person, I am so thankful to have people in my life like my Mom and Dad, my little brother and friends even my new teacher Mrs. M. Although she is not Mr. P. I am thankful to have her in my life. A new chapter has begun in my life and even though he isn’t here to guide me, Mrs. M. and I will pick up right where we left off. Since Mrs. M. has been at my school I have auditioned for All County Choir, All State Choir and anything she has thrown out my way, I have helped her with weekend projects like rearranging the choral room and I have even helped her quite kids down when need be. I have a new respect for Mrs. M., and from Mr. P. I have learned to hold on tight to the people you love be the best you can be and to not take them for granted. When I was younger I would awake in the middle of the night with what my mom called â€Å"Growing Pains.† My knees would hurt like hell but it was part of growing up. The loss of my friend and mentor was more painful than any pain I have experienced. I now see that it’s a part of reality that is necessary for growth.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Marketing Plan Example Essay Example

Marketing Plan Example Essay AAA Wine/Spirits Marketing Plan – AAA Wine/Spirits Expansion Table of Contents Executive Summary4 Company Description5 Vision, Mission, Beliefs and Values 6 Core Competencies7 Situation Analysis9 Competitors11 Target Market12 Action Plan13 The Marketing Mix14 Product Strategy15 Distribution Strategy15 Promotion Strategy16 Pricing Strategy18 Customer and Supplier Relationship Management18 Budget and Monitoring19 Summary and Conclusion21 List of References23 Table of Figures / Charts Action Plan14 Invoice Sales $14 First Year Budget 19 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AAA Wine/Spirits vision is to be the leading distributor of beverage alcohol and create superior value for all tiers of the industry. We have achieved this vision by embracing a mission of providing superior business solutions that drive growth and value for customers and suppliers alike through our national scale, state-level share, local market intelligence and brand-building expertise. In backing this mission and vision with deeds, AAA has invested heavily in its people, its operations, and its technological capabilities, all of which add value to the three-tier distribution system—a legal system under which wine, spirits and beer pass from the manufacturer/supplier (first tier) to the distributor (second tier) and on to either the retailer or restaurateur (third tier). AAA is committed to customer service as well as performing at the highest levels of professionalism and marketing creativity. We will write a custom essay sample on Marketing Plan Example specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Marketing Plan Example specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Marketing Plan Example specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Having successfully established its wine and spirits distribution business in 10 States, AAA is now looking to initiate operations in California. Beginning in March 2011, AAA will offer statewide distribution of wine and spirits merchandise based on an exclusive distribution contract with suppliers such as XXX Spirits, YYY Wines and ZZZ USA. Distribution operations will be initiated from a state-of-the-art warehouse in San Diego, California with a sales office in neighboring San Francisco. AAA will leverage its reputation for successfully building brands and romoting premium wine and spirits brands to secure a major share of the California wine and spirits distribution market. From a marketing perspective, AAA will use its tried and tested strategy of promoting On-Premise sales to drive sales for Off-Premise customers. AAA will hire and train its sales staff in California to be the best-in-industry with a â€Å"Most feet on the Street† guarantee, promising maximized brand expo sure. Integrated Marketing Communications will be used to first create awareness of the products and build interest in the benefits provided by AAA Wine/Spirits. A mix of traditional and customized marketing techniques like E-selling, direct one-on-one marketing, marketing programs and promotions will be used to communicate AAA product and value offering. Competitive high/low pricing with appropriate discounting will be employed to penetrate and dominate the California wine and spirits market. Customer Loyalty Rewards programs and other incentives will be offered to build and strengthen its relationships with its customers in California. A successful launch of AAA’s distribution business in California is projected to bring in invoice sales of approximately $118 Million for the year 2011 and is expected to break even in the third quarter of 2012. AAA expects to achieve a yearly goal of 20% increase in invoice sales. Monthly and quarterly sales growth targets will be tracked and adjustments will be made to the marketing and promotion strategies as needed. The ultimate goal for AAA Wine/Spirits is to establish itself as the No. choice for wine and spirits suppliers and to be the one-stop-shop for wine and spirits customers in the State of California. COMPANY DESCRIPTION Since its founding in 1997, AAA Wine/Spirits Inc. has grown to be a nationally recognized wine and spirits distributor known for its historic commitment to delivering the highest standards of customer service and creative marketing programs and partnerships. The company is also known for its best-in-industry professional and well-trained sales, op erational and support staff. AAA is also justly respected for its deeply held belief in he importance of giving back to the communities it operates in and for being a socially responsible corporate citizen and for making generous contributions to national, state and local charitable organizations. Today, AAA operates in 15 states, including its original Florida market, where its corporate headquarters is located in Orlando. Pursuing a determined strategy to expand through internal growth as well as through the acquisition of established wholesalers, AAA expanded its Florida operations into a number of states and is now looking to grow in California. VISION, MISSION, BELIEFS and Values Corporate Vision: To be the leading distributor of beverage alcohol while creating superior value for all tiers of the industry. Mission: Providing superior business solutions that drive growth and value for customers and suppliers alike through our national scale, state-level share, local market intelligence and brand-building expertise. Beliefs and Values: Our people are our most fundamental resource. We recognize that employee contributions through teamwork and empowerment are critical to the success of the company. Our goal is to provide a positive environment for our employees that encourages creativity, recognizes innovation and rewards results. Quality: Superior quality and continuous improvement in all aspects of our business results from a dedication to employee development with a commitment towards ever increasing customer satisfaction. Statement of Environmental Impact: AAA Wine/Spirits strives to provide excellent sales and service while minimizing our environmental impact. Our efforts are aimed at saving energy as well as promoting sustainable environmental practices. We have implemented these responsible practices into our daily operations, as we continue to set goals that challenge us to increase efficiencies and reduce waste. Lighter-weight delivery trucks for small deliveries are being used in California and Florida. Trucks fueled by biodiesel are being piloted in Florida, with research being done on the possibility of using hybrid and automatic transmission trucks. The speed on fleet vehicles has been governed to 60 miles per hour, and new idling and tire rotation policies put in place. Routing software has been upgraded at all divisions in an effort to increase routing efficiency, in turn reducing fuel consumption and emissions. High-efficiency lighting (e. g. motion-sensor systems) have been installed at our distribution centers. Core Competencies From its earliest days in Orlando, Florida, AAA Wine/Spirits has set out to be the most innovative and progressive distributor in each of its marketplaces. AAA prides itself as a company that not only responds to the needs and desires of its customers and suppliers, but also anticipates them. Recognizing the consolidation and growth of its supplier and customer trading partners in recent years, AAA has anticipated their needs by establishing a strategic, tightly knit organization that is capable of developing, executing, and creating value-added marketing, national accounts, promotions and category management services in every marketing sales and trade channel in each and every market in which AAA is present. Today, AAA represents approximately 1,200+ wine, spirits, beer, and beverage suppliers from around the world, and markets, promotes, merchandises, and distributes over 3,000 individual brands. Indeed, during a typical working week, AAA’s sales, delivery, and support staff collectively calls on or services over 200,000 different chain and independent retail and restaurant customers across the country. Today, AAA offers its suppliers the â€Å"Most feet on the Street† guarantee promising maximized brand exposure and distribution. Beginning in Florida, AAA worked hard to achieve efficient, statewide distribution capability, which it gained in 1990. Also in 1990, when much of Californias wine and spirits wholesale business was still handled by dozens of small, regional players, AAA Wine/Spirits operations was the first to gain statewide distribution capability. From then on, the companys strategy has been to offer statewide distribution from its local state of the art warehouses in each of its markets thus adding an invaluable dimension of service to both its suppliers and to its retail and restaurant customers alike. AAA was the first distributor to provide statewide merchandising and promotional support behind leading wine and spirits brands, a distribution trend that became the industry standard over time. AAA Wine/Spirits has a tradition of pursuing innovation and new technology for the benefit of brand owners and customers. AAA’s underlying criterion behind the application of new technology and back-office best practices is adding value to supplier and customer relationships, making AAA the distributor partner of choice. AAA’s back office operations provides all of its divisions with the deep content expertise, cutting-edge tools and process efficiencies that they need to win the competition in aisles, back bars and wine lists of our customers. To that end, AAA has developed and implemented software to manage the various functions of effective and efficient distribution. a. EasyOrder – A proprietary highly customizable sales tool which enables the sales force to lookup product information, and place orders wirelessly from mobile devices. b. EDE – Electronic Data Exchange allows for direct electronic data transfer to suppliers and service vendors. c. SAP – The best Enterprise Resource Planning tool to effectively manage Financials, Sales and Distribution, Inventory and Billing. d. RouteManager – A proprietary tool developed in partnership with UPS to plan the delivery routes for the trucks. e. Web Mobile – A proprietary web based GPS phone tool developed to plan the efficient loading of products onto the truck. Besides this, Web Mobile also allows for driver and delivery tracking thus improving productivity and providing better customer service. Situation Analysis As one of the country’s largest wine and spirits distributor, AAA is nationally recognized by its supplier partners as well as by its customers for its state-of-the-art distribution capabilities and its leading-edge information technology. Today, AAA operates in 15 states and is looking to expand its markets to California where it plans on setting up statewide distribution capability, providing merchandising and promotional support for its 2,000 + wine and spirits brands and 1,000+ suppliers. Political and Legal: AAA has had a longstanding commitment to the alcoholic beverage laws and regulations at both the state and federal levels. The regulatory framework for the production, distribution and retail sales of wine, spirits and beer is a three-tier distribution system where wine, distilled spirits or beer product move in a legally sanctioned series of transactions from the producer (first tier) to a designated distributor at the state level (second tier) and then on to a legally licensed retail, restaurant or bar (third tier). This three-tier distribution system is governed by the 21st Amendment of the United States Constitution which ended Prohibition and returned to the states all power over the sale and distribution of beer, wine and spirits. Its passage allowed federal as well as state authorities to tax wine, spirits and beer, which generate billions of tax dollars annually for local, state and federal authorities. At the state level, two legal approaches exist a competitive model and a so-called control model. Today, 32 states permit the private sector to distribute and sell alcoholic beverages, including such states as California, New York and Florida, among others. Elsewhere, 18 states have decided to adopt a so-called control model, under which the state is involved in one or more tiers of the traditional three-tier distribution system noted earlier. Control state markets like Pennsylvania and New Hampshire not only manage the distribution tier (and related tax revenue collections), but also the retail tier as well, while other control states like Michigan, North Carolina and Vermont all take slightly different approaches. Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA), a trade organization and lobby group based in Washington, D. C. [1] that works to oppose initiatives to alter the three-tier model, contends that wholesalers perform state functions and are in the business of encouraging social responsibility concerning alcohol as well as alcohol wholesale. [2] The Specialty Wine Retailers Association (SWRA), a group representing the wine retail industry, is in direct opposition to WSWA and advocate the free movement of wine across state lines. 3][4] Economic: The annual per capita consumption of alcohol in the US is about 30 gallons of beer, 2 gallons of wine and 1 gallon of hard liquor. Alcohol purchases account for about 6 percent of an average AAA household’s food budget [6]. Demand is driven by consumer preferences in alcohol consumption and demographic trends. The profitability of individual companies depends on effective sales operations and maintaining low operating costs. Large companies have advantages in exclusive distribution rights in large markets. Small operations can compete effectively by distributing rare and expensive products. The industry is capital intensive with average annual revenue per employee in the range of $500,000 to $700,000 for wholesalers. Suppliers: The beer, wine and spirits industry buys from a variety of domestic suppliers, about 6,000 commercial wineries, 350 breweries, 1,500 microbreweries and 80 liquor distillers [6]. A few large producers dominate such as Anheuser-Busch, MillerCoors, Eamp;J Gallo, Constellation Brands and The Wine Group. Major importers include Heineken USA, Diageo, SABMiller and InBev. Beer and wine distributors generally have contracts with producers giving them exclusive distribution rights to products within certain markets. Constellation Brands is consolidating its U. S. distributor networks as fast as it can, while treating the distributors it keeps to enhanced profit levels. As of September 2009, Constellation had achieved its goal of one distributor per state in 19 markets, with plans to transition another 11 states within 2010. Diageo continues to consolidate to a single distributor in each US state, with plans to complete its consolidation as soon as possible. So far, Diageo has consolidated its distribution in 39 states and Washington, D. C. , representing more than 80 percent of the company’s U. S. wine and spirits volume. Technology: Recent technological advances in the Wine amp; Spirits Distribution Industry include wireless devices to track retail sales, integrated computer systems to order and track and distribute hundreds of products to thousands of retailers, radio frequency identification tags that follow cases or kegs as they travel through the supply chain. Competitors Existing Firms: The US beer, wine and spirits distribution industry includes about 4,000 companies with combined annual revenue of about $100 billion. Major companies include The Charmer Sunbelt Group, Glazer’s Wholesale Drug, National Wine amp; Spirits, and Southern Wine amp; Spirits of America. The beer wholesale industry is fragmented with the top 50 companies accounting for a third of industry revenue. The wine and spirits wholesale industry is concentrated with the top 50 companies accounting for more than 70 percent of industry revenue. New Entrants: The wine and spirits distribution business is a very lucrative and there is always a constant threat of new entrants. For example, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. agreed to buy alcoholic-beverage distributor Kahn Ventures Inc. to add sales in Georgia and North Carolina and help the company prepare for further acquisitions in the industry [5]. Target Market Having successfully penetrated the wine and spirits markets in 10 states, AAA is now looking to California as it next market. The Wine amp; Spirits market in California is a $ 1. 5 Billion industry and the 5th largest consumer of alcohol beverages in the United States [6]. The Charmer Sunbelt Group and Glazer’s Wholesale Drugs have been in California for 5 years but have not been able to dominate some of the smaller wine and spirit distributors. AAA will look to establish its business in the state of California by offering statewide distribution of wine and spirits merchandise based on its exclu sive distribution contract with suppliers such as Diageo Spirits, Constellation Wines and Pernod Ricard USA. The typical market for Wine and Spirits retailers is clearly divided into two istinct profitability segments based on the alcohol consumption venue. On-Premise customers like Bars, Restaurants, Hotels, and Nightclubs serve alcoholic beverages on-site as part of their offerings. Off-Premise customers like liquor stores, grocery stores, chain stores, specialty stores sell wine, spirits and beers to individual customers for consumption at a location of their choosing. AAA will use its tried and tested strategy of promoting On-Premise sales to drive sales for Off-Premise customers since once customers become aware of the brand they will most likely purchase it from a store. Some of the target Off-Premise customers for AAA in the State of California would include, Brookshire Brothers, Bamp;B Foods, Carnival Food Stores, HEB Foods, Randall’s Food Market, Sack n’ Save, Super S Foods, United Super Markets, Walgreens, BJ’s, Costco, Sam’s Club and Wal-Mart. On-Premise customers would include TGI Fridays, Applebee’s, Chili’s and local bars, pubs, casinos and nightclubs. A third segment, the US armed forces (Army, Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force) exists. Merchandise will be sold at cost to this third segment. ACTION PLAN AAA Wine/Spiritswill launch its distributing operations in California using an exclusive distribution contract with suppliers such as Diageo Spirits, Constellation Wines and Pernod Ricard USA starting March 1st 2011 the details of which are listed below. A state of the art Warehouse will be setup in Austin, California. The current plans call for a 620,000 square foot facility with six miles of conveyors, storage space for 2 million cases of wine and spirits with capabilities of loading 12 trucks simultaneously to ship 5,400 cases per hour. The California sales office will be located in neighboring San Antonio. 100 temperature controlled delivery trucks and other required equipment will be acquired. A key plank of AAA’s corporate strategy has been to ‘Pursue Operational Excellence’ by sharing best practices and leveraging AAA’s size in the marketplace. The back office functions of Accounts Payable, Payroll, Employee Benefits, Supplier Billing, Accounts Receivable, Master Data Management, Systems and Information Technology will be managed from AAAs back office division in Orlando leaving the California operations to concentrate on selling. AAA’s distribution business in California is expected to bring in invoice sales of approximately $118 Million for the year 2011. Action Plan| | | | Action| Date| Duration| Cost| Secure and Finish Warehouse and Office Space| October 4th 2010| 4 months| $15,000,000| Back office operations ready| November 1st 2010| 2 months| $50,000| Secure Delivery Trucks and other equipment| December 20th 2010| 3 weeks| $8,000,000| Staffing| January 3rd 2011| 1 month| $20,000| Purchase Orders to Supplier| January 31st 2011| 1 week| $0| Initial Marketing Promotions| January 31st 2011| 3 months| $1,000,000| Receive Orders from Customers| February 7th 2011| N/A| $0| Receive Goods in Warehouse| February 21st 2011| 1 week| $10,000| Shipping Goods to Customers| March 1st 2011| N/A| $300,000| The Marketing Mix Starting in Florida, AAA Wine/Spiritshas been able to successfully build brands and gain a positive reputation for its ability to promote and merchandise premium wine and spirits brands. These same brand building marketing techniques will be employed to patiently and persistently build the sales of premium brands (old and newly won) in California to distinguish AAA from its competition and secure a major share of the California wine and spirits distribution market. Product Strategy: The wine and spirits brands that AAA will enter into and promote in California will be mostly stand-alone well-established brands that will be marketed separately based on promotional budget provided by the suppliers. Examples of products brands would include for, 1. MMM Spirits Johnnie Walker, Matador, Baileys, Smirnoff, Crown Royal, Gordon’s, Jose Cuervo, Guinness, Jamp;B, Captain Morgan and Tanqueray. 2. NNN Wines Vendange, Cisco, Ruffino, Mondavi, Taylor, Clos Du Bois, Woodbridge and Wild Irish. 3. The Company USA Absolut, Fris, Seagrams, Malibu, Kahlua, Beefeater, Jacobs Creek and Presidente. Distribution Strategy: AAA is known for its best-in-industry professional and well-trained sales staff with a â€Å"Most feet on the Street† guarantee, promising maximized brand exposure and distribution. In California, AAA will use its proven strategy of promoting On-Premise sales to drive sales for Off-Premise customers since once customers become aware of the brand they will most likely purchase it from a store. AAA will align its entire sales force in California into designated groups of specially trained teams. Each group will be carefully trained to handle a specific sales channels, and customer categories such as chain supermarkets, national hotel chains, independent restaurants and chain liquor stores. AAA will use the following marketing channels to reach its targeted customers. 1. E-channel: AAA’s online store website http://AAAwineonline. com has products and applicable promotional information for customers who would like to research and purchase wine and spirits online. 2. Personal Selling: One-on-one personal selling will be done via, a. Sales Persons: Every customer chain account will be represented by a sales team for the entire state. Sales persons will be trained to be polite and professional and offer the best deal to the customer. . Call in to Customer Service: Customers will be able to call in orders to a customer service center. Product will be shipped out daily based on the orders received daily to ensure the customer’s shelves are always adequately stocked. Promotion Strategy: AAA will use Integrated Marketing Communications to first create awareness of the products and build interest in the benefits provided by AAA Wine and Spirits. AAA will employ the following traditional and customized marketing techniques to communicate its value offering. a. Direct Marketing: AAA’s biggest asset, its employees will be educated in the company’s product offerings and serve as AAA’s biggest marketing resource. Customer Service representatives and Sales persons will be trained to be polite, courteous and knowledgeable about AAAs product, always offering the best deals available. b. Marketing Programs: AAA’s product promotions will be innovative customer-based programs that focus on theme, customer category and brand. Promotions will include the following: 1. Party Guides: Customers like Raleigh’ss offer party packages for its customers. AAA provides promotional material (Party Guides) to Raley for including AAA’s products in its party packages. 2. Wine Lists and other retail display materials: Bars, Restaurants, Casinos, Night Clubs present wine lists to their customers. AAA will carry the cost of these Wine Lists and other retail display materials. 3. Monthly Cocktail Themes: AAA will invest in hiring and training Mixologists to develop new drinks and mixes based on local tastes. AAA will supply these new cocktail recipes and promotional material to local pubs and bars in amplify customer interest. 4. Holiday Themes: Holiday specific packages with appropriate packaging, colors and selection of wines and spirits will be sold to Off-Premise customers (Grocery, Liquor stores etc. ) and holiday specific promotional materials will be provided to On-Premise customers to capitalize on increased sales during specific holidays. 5. Multi Brand 6 Pack Carriers: Assortments of beers, wines and spirits will be made available for customers 6. Customer Specific Promotions: The fastest growing race in the United Sates is the Hispanics. The 2009 US Census Bureau estimates 37% of California’ population comprises of Hispanics. AAA will look to capitalize on this growing market with special promotions on products frequently purchased by Hispanics and sponsoring events for Hispanics. 7. Value Added Packaging: AAA will invest in researching value added packaging for its products like flavor infusion packaging and landfill waste reduction packaging. 8. In-store Kiosks and Displays: AAA will design, build, provide and place In-store Kiosks and Display Cases to showcase premium merchandise in the best-selling sections of Grocery and Liquor stores. 9. Mix and Match Combos: Customers will be offered customizable free goods deals. For example, buy 100 cases of Absolut vodka and get 10 cases free of any Absolut vodka flavors. 10. Sponsorship for high profile events: AAA will sponsor high profile large gathering events for example, the Florida’s South Beach Food and Wine Festival, California’s Annual AAA Wine amp; Food Festival and UNLVino to promote our products to a larger audience. 11. â€Å"Wet† tasting programs: AAA will organize wine tasting parties and wine education seminars to build interest and reach out to new customers. Promote and build displays for more premium merchandise—rather than low-end erchandise—in the best-selling sections of the store. Promotions will be run after careful analysis of customer purchase trends and preferences. Pricing Strategy: AAA will use a high / low pricing strategy which will allow for periodic heavy promotional pricing. Initial pricing will be set at market penetrating low prices operating at a low 18 percent Gross Profit Margin (reg ular 21 percent GP). Discounts will be made available in terms of, 1. Cash Discounts for early payment of invoices. 2. Quantity Discounts based on different quantities of products purchased. . Seasonal Discounts will be offered for holidays such as Easter, Christmas, New Year, etc. All promotions and discounts will be supported by Promotional Allowances and Depletion Allowances offered by the Supplier. Customer and Supplier Relationship Management AAA Wine/Spiritshas invested a lot of time and money in becoming a customer focused organization. Today, AAA can proudly boast of having the understanding and the ability to address the needs and expectations of each customer by providing unsurpassed value in both the products and the services offered. Professional relationships, cooperation, and building long term relationships will be the common goals to build successful relationships with our suppliers and customers alike. By conducting business in a manner beneficial to everyone, with highly trained and specialized resources, AAA will deliver superior value added services. AAA Customer Service representatives and Sales persons will be trained to be polite and courteous, always offering the best deals available. Individual Account Managers are assigned for each supplier account to constantly strengthen and build on our relationship and address any issue in a timely manner. AAA offers its suppliers the â€Å"Most feet on the Street† guarantee promising maximized brand exposure and distribution while being the lowest cost distributor in the Wine and Spirits distribution industry. AAA will also institute a Customer Loyalty Rewards program to further strengthen the business relationships with it long standing, large account customers providing them with premium pricing and deals. Budget and Monitoring First Year Budget| | Revenue| $118,000,000 | Cost of Goods Sold| ($92,040,000)| Initial Expenses| ($44,380,000)| Operational Expenses| ($10,000,000)| Marketing Expenses| ($3,000,000)| Rent| ($700,000)| Salaries| ($6,000,000)| Supplies| ($300,000)| Insurance| ($300,000)| Interest | ($145,000)| Net Income| ($38,865,000)| Based on forecasted sales volume and projected invoice sales for the first year of operations, AAA’s initial budget for the first year of operations (fiscal year 2011) is estimated as shown above. AAA will invest $3 Million on its marketing initiative and coupled with the promotional and depletion allowances offered by suppliers, AAA will have an estimated $13 Million for Marketing and Promotional activities. AAA will constantly monitor the progress of its business venture into California and the effectiveness of its business and marketing strategies by tracking its performance against metrics developed for each of the following business objectives. Objective 1: Become the distributor of choice for wine and spirit suppliers. AAA Wine/Spiritsvision is to be the leading distributor of beverage alcohol and create superior value for all tiers of the industry. In California, AAA will achieve this vision by embracing a mission of providing superior business partnership solutions that will drive growth and value for customers and suppliers alike through our national scale, local market intelligence and brand-building expertise. AAA will look to increase its supplier and brand distribution relationship in California by introducing new supplier like Jim Beam Brands, Moet Hennessy, Patron Spirits, Sutter Home Winery, Heaven Hill, Skyy Spirits etc. nd their brands till it achieves distribution to the scale of 700 suppliers and 3000+ brands. Objective 2: Profitability growth per year (GP $ and GP%) AAA Wine/Spiritswill enter California with a high / low pricing strategy which will allow for periodic heavy promotional pricing. Initial pricing will be set at market penetrating low prices operating at a low 18 percent Gross Profit Margin which AAA will look to gradually increase t to 21 percent. AAA will target breaking even in California by the end of the third quarter of fiscal year 2012. The Pricing strategy will be reassessed regularly based on customer and supplier satisfaction ratings, and customer purchase growth numbers to determine opportunities for price increases to meet AAAs profitability goals. AAA will track sales to ensure monthly and quarterly sales growth targets are being met based on which adjustments will be made to the marketing and promotion strategies as needed. Objective 3: One stop shop for wine and spirit customers AAA Wine/Spiritswill use it tried and tested marketing technique of focusing its promotions on On-Premise customers to drive the sales for Off-Premise customers. With its goals of increasing its supplier base to 1,200 supplier and 3,000+ brand offerings, AAA aims to become a one-stop-shop for customers throughout the state of California. AAA w

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Problem solving skills Training and the Workplace

Problem solving skills Training and the Workplace Introduction Effective problem solving training offered at the workplace help employees to develop problem-solving techniques. When employees develop these skills, they will operate more actively and effectively. Techniques allow employees to identify and analyze problems in the working fraternity.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Problem solving skills Training and the Workplace specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It allows them to evaluate the impact and severity of unconventional solutions to the underlying problem with the stakeholders, clients, and allies. The employees, upon training, will know how to utilize the available possessions to perform tasks properly. They will also learn to achieve organizational goals by solving problems as a team and not as individuals. Training programs include preparing employees for organization problems, and vast business orientation. Objective finding Objective finding is the segment of identifying goals, challenges, and wishes upon which a supervisor or manger wants to work upon. Specialized proficiency training programs are created and proposed to help employees adopt problem solving ideas and methods. The employees should be coached and presented with materials that will help them learn how to identify a predicament. In an organization, the supervisor divides the employees into groups and allocates pertinent tasks for them to tackle. The employees will try to solve the situations such as ineffective communication between management and stakeholders, client issues, and vendor-manager relations. Profound training skills will help employees to identify some possible causes of the ongoing state of affairs. The training program will help employees to set aside and segregate the facts. When they find the cause of the problem, they will be able to know the reasons and therefore, will come up with a strategy on how to avoid future occurrences. Fact-fin ding Fact- finding is where relevant data is gathered. The situation and background should be established. This segment also incorporates feelings, data, questions, and figures. After putting down all the appropriate information about a setback, the employees or in this case participants will have the facts required to state solutions required to curb the situation. Training seminars help employees to learn more about their experienced members. The training programs motivate employees and help them learn innovative and creative techniques required to solve internal setbacks. The employees put down the setback resolution methods, and the merits and demerits linked with the techniques. Problem finding The actual problem to be focused on should be clarified and established. Problem solving techniques supervisor instructs the employees to evaluate alternatives appropriately. When the employees learn to propagate decisions profoundly, they will handle tasks in an effective way. They shou ld analyze and review case studies, consult and dialogue with business experts, and participate in healthy business oriented workshops and competitions in order to evaluate the alternatives effectively.Advertising Looking for critical writing on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Idea finding and solution implementation Possible for solving the problem should be established. The solution should be carefully selected to know how to strengthen them. Employees ought to know how to determine the impact before implementing a solution. The employees should recall previous problem solution strategies for them to be able to handle the present situations successfully. At the training seminars, employees are taught how to perfect their capabilities to remember facts by partitioning data into groups. For them to be able to do this, they should adopt and use appropriate methods to make reminiscence and visualizing the su rrounding to recollect and categorize information. The employees also establish the importance of evaluating the triumphant alternatives. This will help in handling situations in the future by applying the same problem solving technique. Acceptance fining and what I learnt From the training program, I learnt that employees would know how to solve problems in the workplace as a team. The training program helps them to enhance their communication between each other and the management. I also learn that the recognition and support ceremony help employees to know their strengths and importance to the organization. Conclusion Every organization should ensure that their employees acquire the relevant problem solving technique. This will help maximize production and improve customer-management relations thus achieving goals of the organization.

Friday, November 22, 2019

How to Write a Descriptive Paragraph

How to Write a Descriptive Paragraph A descriptive paragraph is a focused and detail-rich account of a specific topic. Paragraphs in this style often have a concrete focus- the sound of a waterfall, the stench of a skunks spray- but can also convey something abstract, such as an emotion or a memory. Some descriptive paragraphs do both. These paragraphs help readers  feel  and  sense  the details that the writer wants  to convey. To write a descriptive paragraph, you must study your topic closely, make a list of the details you observe, and organize  those details  into a logical  structure. Finding a Topic The first step in writing a strong descriptive paragraph is identifying your topic. If you received a specific assignment or already have a topic in mind, you can skip this step. If not, its time to start brainstorming. Personal belongings and familiar locations are useful  topics. Subjects that you care about and know well often make for rich, multilayered descriptions.  Another good choice is an object that at first glance doesnt seem to warrant much description, like a spatula or a pack of gum. These seemingly innocuous objects  take on entirely unexpected dimensions and meanings when captured in  a well-crafted descriptive paragraph. Before you finalize your choice, consider the goal of your descriptive paragraph. If youre writing description for descriptions sake, youre free to choose any topic you can think of, but many descriptive paragraphs are part of a larger project, such as a personal narrative or an application essay. Make  sure the topic of your descriptive paragraph aligns with the broader goal of the project. Examining and Exploring Your Topic After youve selected a topic, the real fun begins: studying the details. Spend time closely examining the subject of your paragraph. Study it from every possible angle, beginning with the five senses: What does the object look, sound, smell, taste, and feel like? What are your own memories of or associations with the object?   If your topic is larger than a single object- for example, a location or a memory- you should examine all of the sensations and experiences associated with the topic. Lets say your topic is your childhood fear of the dentist. The list of details might include your white-knuckled grip on the car door as your mother tried to drag you into the office, the gleaming white smile  of the dental assistant who never remembered your name, and the industrial buzz of the electric toothbrush.   Dont worry about writing full sentences or arranging the details into a logical paragraph structure during the prewriting phase. For now, simply write down every detail that comes to mind. Organizing Your Information After youve compiled a lengthy list of descriptive details, you can begin assembling those details into a paragraph.  First, consider  again the goal of your descriptive paragraph. The details you choose to  include in the paragraph, as  well  as  the details you choose to  exclude, signal to the reader how you feel about the  topic. What message, if any, do you want the description to convey?  Which details best convey that message? Reflect on these questions as you begin constructing the paragraph. Every descriptive paragraph will take a somewhat different form, but the following model is a straightforward way to get started:  Ã‚   A topic sentence  that identifies the topic and briefly explains its significanceSupporting sentences that describe the topic in specific, vivid ways,  using the details youve  listed during brainstormingA concluding sentence that circles back  to the topics  significance Arrange the details in an order that makes sense for your topic. (You could easily describe a room from back to front, but that same structure would be a confusing way to describe a tree.) If you get stuck, read model descriptive paragraphs for inspiration, and  dont be afraid to experiment with different arrangements. In your final draft,  the details should follow  a logical pattern, with each sentence connecting to the sentences that come before and after it. Showing, Not Telling Remember to  show,  rather than  tell, even in your topic and concluding sentences. A topic sentence that reads, I am describing my pen  because I love to write is  obvious telling (the fact that youre describing your pen should be self-evident from the paragraph itself)  and unconvincing (the reader cannot  feel  or  sense  the strength of your love of writing). Avoid tell statements by keeping your list of details handy at all times. Heres an example of a topic sentence that  shows  the subjects significance through the use of detail:  My ballpoint pen is my secret writing partner: the baby-soft tip glides effortlessly across the page, somehow seeming to pull my thoughts down from my brain and out through my fingertips. Edit and  Proofread Your Paragraph The writing process isnt over until your paragraph has been edited and proofread. Invite  a friend or teacher to read your paragraph and provide feedback. Assess whether the paragraph clearly conveys the message you intended to express. Read your paragraph aloud to check for awkward phrasing or cumbersome sentences. Finally, consult a proofreading checklist to confirm that your paragraph is free of minor errors.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Humn Recourse Mngement in Indi Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Humn Recourse Mngement in Indi - Essay Example It occupies Ð ° strÐ °tegic locÐ °tion in South Ð siÐ ° for internÐ °tionÐ °l trÐ °de. With Ð °n Ð °reÐ ° of 3.3 million squÐ °re km, IndiÐ ° is the second lÐ °rgest country in Ð siÐ ° Ð °nd the seventh lÐ °rgest in the world. Ð  former British colony, IndiÐ ° hÐ °s emerged Ð °s the lÐ °rgest democrÐ °cy in the world since independence in 1947. IndiÐ ° is the birthplÐ °ce of three of the world’s mÐ °in religions: Hinduism (Ð °bout 7000 yeÐ °rs BC), Buddhism (487 BC) Ð °nd Sikhism (1699 Ð D). IndiÐ °n society comprises six mÐ °in religious groups: Hindus (83.2 percent), Muslims (11 percent), Sikhs (2 percent), ChristiÐ °ns (2 percent), JÐ °ins Ð °nd Buddhists (less thÐ °n 1 percent). There Ð °re over three thousÐ °nd cÐ °stes. IndiÐ ° hÐ °s 179 lÐ °nguÐ °ges Ð °nd 544 diÐ °lects. The Constitution recognizes sixteen lÐ °nguÐ °ges, Hindi Ð °nd English being the two officiÐ °l lÐ °nguÐ °ges. IndiÐ ° hÐ °s one of the lÐ °rgest English-speÐ °king populÐ °tions in the Ð siÐ °-PÐ °cific region. The literÐ °cy rÐ °te for those over 15 yeÐ °rs of Ð °ge is 51 percent, but literÐ °cy is unevenly distributed (BudhwÐ °r, 2000Ð °). These fÐ °cts show the diverse nÐ °ture of the IndiÐ °n workforce. Though rich in culture Ð °nd nÐ °turÐ °l resources, IndiÐ ° currently fÐ °ces Ð ° number of problems: politicÐ °l Ð °nd religious instÐ °bility; ever-increÐ °sing levels of populÐ °tion; unemployment Ð °nd poverty; corruption in government offices; cÐ °stism; Ð ° low per cÐ °pitÐ ° income; instÐ °bility of output in Ð °griculture Ð °nd relÐ °ted sectors; slow privÐ °tisÐ °tion of the bloÐ °ted public sector; lÐ °ck of Ð °dequÐ °te intellectuÐ °l property protection; excessive bureÐ °ucrÐ °cy; Ð °nd Ð °n increÐ °sing gÐ °p between rich Ð °nd poor. The level of corruption in politics is rÐ °pidly rising.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

PHYLOSOPHY FINAL ESSAY Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

PHYLOSOPHY FINAL - Essay Example to as â€Å"zombies† will eventually crumble and fall, in addition to that never at one time shall an artificial creation equal or even outdo human thinking and cognitive ability. In addition, the essay will evaluate the two arguments and give a personal supported opinion that is against computationalism, the reason being the impossibility of scientists to create systems similar to humans’, thus the weakness of Dennett’s argument. Dennett (1994) argues that someday, robots will be made that will be able to function just like humans do. To him, human beings are â€Å"†¦a sort of robot ourselves†¦with extraordinarily complex self-controlling, self-sustaining physical mechanisms, designed by natural selection†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He admits that it is a wild ambition to imagine that a human replication can succeed in triumphing over nature by creating an artificial human, but it is not unachievable. The main point of his argument is based on his perspective that a consciousness machine is in no way different from a perpetual one in that both can be programmed to execute specific functions by use of physical processes. The only constriction that [his] project would encounter are the expensive costs of assembling billions of minute mechanisms to direct the robots’ actions. First of all, a robot is a material thing, whereas it is common sense that consciousness requires materialism to exist, a theory of dualism. What this means is that what a man can create will only utilize materials such as metals, plastic, wires, chips and so on, but these are never going to make anything with the ability to think on its own. The reason for that is because there is more to the human being than just the material part; the mind which is not physical, and that is what controls intelligence. Dennett counters this perspective as follows; he defines the notion of immaterial stuff as â€Å"mere superstition since all body processes are today defined and explained and understood through today’s

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Explain Kants Theory of Ethics Essay Example for Free

Explain Kants Theory of Ethics Essay Kant was born in 1724-1804, he was a German thinker from East Prussia (now Russia), and he spent his whole life in his hometown. Kant wanted to create a logical, stand-alone theory that wasn’t just based on assumptions, he believed in an objective right or wrong that is decided on reason and that we shouldn’t do the right thing just because it’s right and not to fulfil our desires. Can we lead a life following his ideals are there not some situations where a perfect moral decision cannot be made, are all our choices fuelled by personal gain and desire? He has a deontological and absolute approach to ethics, to Kant what makes an action good is when you do your ‘duty’ and that one’s duty is to always flow the moral law. We should not act out of love or compassion. The motive is what makes an action good –nothing else! The consequences to Kant are meaningless it’s the act itself that needs to be right an example of his thinking would be its immoral to kill 1 man in order to save 10. For Kant the fact that we ‘ought’ to do something implies that it is possible to do it. Thus moral statements are prescriptive: they prescribe an action. Ought implies can, ‘if I ought to do X’, it means ‘I can do X’. Kant also believed that moral statements are a priori (knowable prior to experience) and synthetic, that they can be verified by our empirical evidence so are either true or false. Kant put forward the idea of two imperatives the hypothetical imperative, these are not moral commands and they don’t apply to everyone. In Kant’s eyes you only need to obey them if you want to achieve a certain goal. An example of this would be that Kant observed that the word ‘ought’ is often used none morally, for example ‘if you want to become a better artist or guitarist, you ought to practice’. On the other hand Kant also proposed the Categorical Imperative, these are moral commands that can be universalised and do not depend on anything else. Whereas the hypothetical imperative requires you to go from ‘a’ to ‘b’ then categorical imperative only requires you to just do ‘a’. â€Å"Duties for duties sake† this related to the categorical imperative. Kant then goes on to the 3 maxims, first off to test a moral maxim as it’s a universal law either everyone should follow it or everyone should reject it. The first maxim is ‘Your action should be able to be universalised’ before you act in a certain way, would you like everyone in the same situation to act in the same way. If not, then you are involved in a contradiction it goes against reason, â€Å" so at that principle of action might safely be made of law for the whole world† if you were to take lying through the first maxim its clear it would fail as that would mean everyone would be lying to one another and trust is completely destroyed. The second maxim is ‘Don’t treat people as a means to an end’ Kant strongly believed that you can never use human beings as a means to an end, to exploit or enslave them. Humans to Kant are all the highest point of creation and so demand a unique treatment. This guarantees that all individuals are afforded the moral principles; therefore no humans can be used for the sake of others, he also explained that we have a duty to develop our own perfection, developing our moral, intellectual and physical capabilities. We also have a duty to seek the happiness of others as long as that is within the law and allows the freedom of others. â€Å"Always recognise that human individually are ends and do not use them as a means to your end† therefore you can’t lie for example to further your own needs at the cost of using someone. Kant’s final and third maxim ‘ work towards a kingdom of ends’ this is an overall culmination of the first two, everyone should act as if every person was a ‘end’ and that moral choices be based on any empirical consideration about human nature, human flourishing or human destiny. However it needs to be clear that despite this autonomy this does not mean that everyone can just decide their own morality but rather that each individual has the ability to understand the principles of pure practical reason and follow them. It is impartial and must apply to everyone. If one maxim is disproved then the law becomes immoral and can’t be universalised. Kant also talked about good will and duty, to Kant the ‘greatest good or summon bonum’ is what Kant terms as good will. Someone of good will is not good because of what they achieve (the consequence) but because he/she acts out of duty. Good will to Kant is the only thing that is truly pure, as we can get our reasoning wrong or it can be manipulated, but to have the good will to perform your duty cannot be manipulated or got wrong. Kant contrasted ‘doing your duty’ with ‘giving into your emotions’ or doing what you feel like. The main two meanings of duty come into conflict as the first thought meaning of duty is to obey your superior, this is what the Nazi soldiers claimed innocence about when they were trialled for war crimes they were just following orders but is that moral? To obey the moral law do the right thing and think a situation through is Kants meaning of duty â€Å"Good will shines forth like a precious jewel† –Kant. Kants theory of ethics seems to grant freedom to do anything that can be universalised. This sets the limits but does not give guidance; therefore in order for it to make sense Kant proposed the three postulates, the existence of god, freedom and immorality. We know that morality can exist because we can observe it. However we must be free to perform it as otherwise the act wouldn’t be truly moral. Morality and freedom must come from somewhere to Kant this is God. Kant argues that there must be a God and an afterlife as there has to be some sort of reward. As we cannot be perfect in this life. This is known as reaching the summon bonum that I mentioned earlier, as this cannot be achieved in this life, there must be an afterlife where this can be achieved. For Kant, morality leads to God. Part B: Assess the view that it is always right to keep one’s promises. In Kants view immorality occurs when the categorical imperative is not followed: when a person attempts to set a different standard for themselves then for the rest of humanity. In the Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals, once Kant has derived his categorical imperative he applies it to a number of examples. The second example and probably the most analysed is that of an unfaithful promise. Kant applies his imperative to a person who is short of money who intends to ask for a loan, promising to repay it, but with no intention of doing so. When Kant applies the categorical imperative to this situation he discovers that it leads to a contradiction, for if breaking promises were to become universal then no person would ever agree to a promise and promises would disappear. Kant connects rationality with morality, and sees contradictory behaviour as immoral. Some critics have argued that Kant never asserts the connection between rationality and morality, but most dismiss this and point out that Kant clearly explains how morality must be based upon reason and not upon desires. Another weakness is that what if your friend told you a secret that he was planning to murder someone, it would be your obligation to keep it but is that morally right? Could that surpass the 3 maxims, in the second maxim there can be no use of one individual for the sake of another, are you forsaking the person that is planned to be murdered just to keep a promise. However on the other hand there are strengths to Kants way of thinking as it means everyone single human has intrinsic value, actions are based on reason and logic and there are 3 straightforward maxims that need to be followed so it cuts out many grey areas as if it simply doesn’t follow the maxims it can’t be universalised. Other theories, utilitarianism for example would say it would be wrong to keep a promise of a secret of planned bomb attack that would kill hundreds as you would be saving hundreds of lives by informing the police. Utilitarian’s believe that the outcome outweighs the action. In my opinion I agree with Kant theory as I believe there needs to be trust between people, as relationships with people would mean nothing also it’s a matter of honour if you gave your word to someone I will promise you this etc. then it has to be in the best of your ability to fulfil it if it’s a good cause and not unjust. However in extreme cases such as say the promise of keeping a secret of a planned terrorist attack I would have to side with the utilitarian approach.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Lord Of The Flies, An Analysis :: essays research papers

People are privileged to live in an advanced stage of development known as civilization. In a civilization, one’s life is bound by rules that are meant to tame its savage natures. A humans possesses better qualities because the laws that we must follow instill order and stability within society. This observation, made by William Golding, dictates itself as one of the most important themes of Lord of the Flies. The novel demonstrates the great need for civilization ion in life because without it, people revert back to animalistic natures. When the children become stranded on the island, the rules of society no longer apply to them. Without the supervision of their parents or of the law, the primitive nature of the boys surfaces, and their lives begin to fall apart. The downfall starts with their refusal to gather things for survival. The initial reaction of the boys is to swim, run, jump, and play. They do not wish to build shelters, gather food, or keep a signal fire going. Consequently, the boys live without luxury that could have been obtained had they maintained a society on the island. Instead, these young boys take advantage of their freedom and life as they knew it deteriorates. The boys spark the onset of tragedy when the pig hunt evolves as more than just an activity. Jack and his band of hunters love the thrill of the chase. They spend much of their day searching the pig runs enjoying the brutality they cause on other living beings. This amusement is taken too far when Jack introduces face paint into the game. The face paint takes away the identities of the boys and transforms them into nameless savages. They hide behind the paint â€Å"liberated from shame and self-consciousness† (Golding 64). Jack’s mask overpowers the rest of the boys and they go off to hunt despite some discontent. Eventually, the painted warriors ready a fortress at one end of the island. This tribe brings nothing but death and destruction to the island. Moreover, the newly formed group of warriors even develop a dance that they perform over the carcass of the dead pig. They become so involved in this dance that that warriors kill one of their own kind. By chance, Simon runs from the forest towards the group that is already shouting â€Å"‘Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood!’† (152).

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

American Imperialism – 1

APUSH Mrs. Cox 3/7/2013 (B) In the late 1800s, the United States embarked on a new wave of expansionism during which it acquired overseas territories. Explain the reasons for this new wave of expansionism. American Imperialism has been a part of United States history since the American Revolution. Imperialism is practice by powerful nations or people seeking to expand and maintain control or influence over weaker nations. The United States switch to imperialist behavior in 1898 has caused great historical attention.After all, the United States had generally claimed to stand in opposition to the practice of taking colonies, instead being an advocate of freedom, democracy, and self-government for all. However, the United States saw a need for expanding more. The United States embarked on a new wave of expansionism in the late 1800's because of its desire for new markets, America’s aggressive mood, and new military strength. In the late 1800's, agricultural and industrial product ion was booming in the United States. In fact the production was so high that Americans could no longer buy all of the products created.Because of this, big businesses supported expansionism so they had new markets to trade with and make more profit. The businesses also feared running out of natural resources. Many believed that overseas markets would provide a safety valve to relieve the pressures of labor violence and agrarian unrest. During this time, there was a large volume of American business men visiting Hawaii. These men saw Hawaii not only as a place to vacation, but a place of investment. The ports in Hawaii would allow the American business men to trade with other nations such as Asia and China.America saw the need to expand their belief in â€Å"White Anglo-Saxon superiority†. During the late 1800's, America was very aggressive. This can be attributed to people interpreting Darwinism to mean that the earth belonged to the strong and fit, like the United States. I t also can be attributed to the belief that if America was to survive in the competition of modern nation-states, it would have to become an imperial power. Africa being divided up by the Europeans worried Americans about losing its status as a world power. There are multiple examples of this new aggressive mood.For example, the lynching of 11 Italians in 1891 brought the two countries to the brink of war. Another example is when two sailors were killed in Chile. When Chile rejected American protests, hostilities seemed inevitable. The willingness of Americans to risk war over such distant and minor disputes demonstrated the aggressive new national war. After the Civil War, America's navy was not that powerful compared to European Countries. The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, written by Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan in 1890, showed how important a strong navy is and spurred development in the United States.The development of the new steel navy in the late 1800s opened up possibi lities overseas such as controlling the Hawaiian Islands and the Samoas. Hawaii was considered as the â€Å"crossroads of the Pacific†. Ports like Pearl Harbor was seen fit to be used as a coaling station to help supply the US Navy in future operations in the Pacific. In fact, Hawaii could have easily worked as a coaling station without formal annexation, since American businessmen essentially controlled the island anyway. Nonetheless, keeping with the spirit of the times, the US annexed Hawaii on July 7, 1898 granting Hawaiians with full US citizenship.This new military strength played a big role in expansionism. With the new military strength, America was able to obtain more territories like Cuba and the Philippines. America embarked on a new wave of expansionism in the late 1800's because of its economic benefits, America's aggressive mood, and its new military strength. Although the United States had generally claimed to stand in opposition to the practice of taking colon ies, instead being an advocate of freedom, democracy, and self-government for all. The United States saw a need for expanding more, this was the need to become a strong world power!

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Reasons teenagers should not be allowed to work Essay

Today, many high school students are entering the work force. Students are becoming more and more eager to start working and become independent. Although a beneficial balance of school and extracurricular activities as well as employment can be productive, it is very difficult to maintain. If a student is intending on going to college, he or she should only hold very minimal and flexible employment. A part-time job interferes with school in many situations. Even if the job is held after school and on weekends, many beneficial extracurricular activities operate at times that do not conflict with education. Most employers are hardly willing to a busy student’s schedule. When students do successfully plan out-of-school events in accordance with a work schedule, hours of school followed by hours of work and hours of homework may be overwhelming for high school students. All of this considered, a student will sacrifice homework and actually be encouraged not to participate in school clubs and sports if working part-time. An employed high school student will suffer the loss of time spent with friends and family. Do you really think a working teenager will keep up with household commitments, such as chores? PARENTING.COM reports that all parents that participated in their survey with employed children say that their working teens often neglect chores and end up with slipping grades. That same website also reports that 94% of those same parents have missed out on family events such as birthdays and day trips. Not only will a part-time job harm a student’s educational stability, it will harm a close family. Besides damaging a student’s family life, a job may harm his or her social life. A student may not be able to spend as much time with their friends as usual if employed. This according to child psychologists can be very harmful to a teenager. First, teenagers receive many daily reassurances from friends, and without this unobvious benefit of friendship, a teenager may begin to feel low self-esteem and feel feelings of guilt for neglecting friends. Emotional turmoil for feeling of abandoning peers and neglecting family is hardly positive for a teenage student. Many students do successfully balance school and work. Only a few students though manage to maintain this balance before parts of their life begin to fail because of employment. One must consider all the above possible conflicts before jumping into the workforce. This of course, is no easy task. With parental support and a good employer willing to be flexible, it is somewhat accomplishable. Take caution before entering the world of employment.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

A Brief Overview of British Literary Periods

A Brief Overview of British Literary Periods Although historians have delineated the eras of British literature in different ways over time, common divisions are outlined below.   Old English (Anglo-Saxon) Period (450–1066) The term Anglo-Saxon comes from two Germanic tribes, the Angles and the Saxons. This period of literature dates back to their invasion (along with the Jutes) of Celtic England circa 450. The era ends in 1066, when Norman France, under William, conquered England. Much of the first half of this period, prior to the seventh century, at least, had oral literature. A lot of the prose during this time was a translation of something else or legal, medical, or religious in nature; however, some works, such as Beowulf,  and those by period poets Caedmon and Cynewulf, are important. Middle English Period (1066–1500) The Middle English period sees a huge transition in the language, culture, and lifestyle of England and results in what we can recognize today as a form of â€Å"modern† (recognizable) English. The era extends to around 1500. As with the Old English period, much of the Middle English writings were religious in nature; however, from about 1350 onward, secular literature began to rise. This period is home to the likes of Chaucer, Thomas Malory, and Robert Henryson. Notable works include Piers Plowman and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.   The Renaissance (1500–1660) Recently, critics and literary historians have begun to call this the â€Å"Early Modern† period, but here we retain the historically familiar term â€Å"Renaissance.† This period is often subdivided into four parts, including the Elizabethan Age (1558–1603), the Jacobean Age (1603–1625), the Caroline Age (1625–1649), and the Commonwealth Period (1649–1660).   The Elizabethan Age was the golden age of English drama. Some of its noteworthy figures include Christopher Marlowe, Francis Bacon, Edmund Spenser, Sir Walter Raleigh, and, of course, William Shakespeare.  The Jacobean Age is named for the reign of James I. It includes the works of John Donne, Shakespeare, Michael Drayton, John Webster, Elizabeth Cary, Ben Jonson, and Lady Mary Wroth. The King James translation of the Bible also appeared during the Jacobean Age.  The Caroline Age covers the reign of Charles I (â€Å"Carolus†). John Milton, Robert Burton, and George Herbert are some of the notable figures. Finally, the Commonwealth Age was so named for the period between the end of the English Civil War and the restoration of the Stuart monarchy. This is the time when Oliver Cromwell, a Puritan, led Parliament, who ruled the nation. At this time, public theaters were closed (for nearly two decades) to prevent public assembly and to combat moral and religious transgressions. John Milton and Thomas Hobbes’ political writings appeared and, while drama suffered, prose writers such as Thomas Fuller, Abraham Cowley, and Andrew Marvell published prolifically. The Neoclassical Period (1600–1785) The Neoclassical period is also subdivided into ages, including The Restoration (1660–1700), The Augustan Age (1700–1745), and The Age of Sensibility (1745–1785). The Restoration period sees some response to the puritanical age, especially in the theater. Restoration comedies (comedies of manner) developed during this time under the talent of playwrights such as William Congreve and John Dryden. Satire, too, became quite popular, as evidenced by the success of Samuel Butler. Other notable writers of the age include Aphra Behn, John Bunyan, and John Locke. The Augustan Age was the time of Alexander Pope and Jonathan Swift, who imitated those first Augustans and even drew parallels between themselves and the first set. Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, a poet, was prolific at this time and noted for challenging stereotypically female roles. Daniel Defoe was also popular.   The Age of Sensibility  (sometimes referred to as the Age of Johnson) was the time of Edmund Burke, Edward Gibbon, Hester Lynch Thrale, James Boswell, and, of course, Samuel Johnson. Ideas such as neoclassicism, a critical and literary mode, and the Enlightenment, a particular worldview shared by many intellectuals, were championed during this age. Novelists to explore include Henry Fielding, Samuel Richardson, Tobias Smollett, and Laurence Sterne, as well as the poets William Cowper and Thomas Percy. The Romantic Period (1785–1832) The beginning date for the Romantic period is often debated. Some claim it is 1785, immediately following the Age of Sensibility. Others say it began in 1789 with the start of the French Revolution, and still, others believe that 1798, the publication year for William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s book Lyrical Ballads, is its true beginning. The time period ends with the passage of the Reform Bill (which signaled the Victorian Era) and with the death of Sir Walter Scott. American literature has its own Romantic period, but typically when one speaks of Romanticism, one is referring to this great and diverse age of British literature, perhaps the most popular and well-known of all literary ages. This era includes the works of such juggernauts as Wordsworth, Coleridge, William Blake, Lord Byron, John Keats, Charles Lamb, Mary Wollstonecraft, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Thomas De Quincey, Jane Austen, and Mary Shelley. There is also a minor period, also quite popular (between 1786–1800), called the Gothic era.   Writers of note for this period include Matthew Lewis, Anne Radcliffe, and William Beckford. The Victorian Period (1832–1901) This period is named for the reign of Queen Victoria, who ascended to the throne in 1837,  and it lasts until her death in 1901.  It was a time of great social, religious, intellectual, and economic issues, heralded by the passage of the Reform Bill, which expanded voting rights. The period has often been divided into â€Å"Early† (1832–1848), â€Å"Mid† (1848–1870) and â€Å"Late† (1870–1901) periods or into two phases, that of the Pre-Raphaelites (1848–1860) and that of Aestheticism and Decadence (1880–1901). This period is in strong contention with the Romantic period for being the most popular, influential, and prolific period in all of English (and world) literature. Poets of this time include Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Christina Rossetti, Alfred Lord Tennyson, and Matthew Arnold, among others. Thomas Carlyle, John Ruskin, and Walter Pater were advancing the essay form at this time.  Finally, prose fiction truly found its place under the auspices of Charles Dickens, Charlotte and Emily Bronte, Elizabeth Gaskell, George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans), Anthony Trollope, Thomas Hardy, William Makepeace Thackeray, and Samuel Butler.    The Edwardian Period (1901–1914) This period is named for King Edward VII and covers the period between Victoria’s death and the outbreak of World War I. Although a short period (and a short reign for Edward VII), the era includes incredible classic novelists such as Joseph Conrad, Ford Madox Ford, Rudyard Kipling, H.G. Wells, and Henry James (who was born in America but who spent most of his writing career in England), notable poets such as Alfred Noyes and William Butler Yeats, as well as dramatists such as James Barrie, George Bernard Shaw, and John Galsworthy. The Georgian Period (1910–1936) The Georgian period usually refers to the reign of George V (1910–1936) but sometimes also includes the reigns of the four successive Georges from 1714–1830. Here, we refer to the former description as it applies chronologically and covers, for example, the Georgian poets, such as Ralph Hodgson, John Masefield, W.H. Davies, and Rupert Brooke. Georgian poetry today is typically considered to be the works of minor poets anthologized by Edward Marsh. The themes and subject matter tended to be rural or pastoral in nature, treated delicately and traditionally rather than with passion (like was found in the previous periods) or with experimentation (as would be seen in the upcoming modern period).   The Modern Period (1914–?) The modern period traditionally applies to works written after the start of World War I. Common features include bold experimentation with subject matter, style, and form, encompassing narrative, verse, and drama. W.B. Yeats’ words, â€Å"Things fall apart; the center cannot hold† are often referred to when describing the core tenet or â€Å"feeling† of modernist concerns. Some of the most notable writers of this period, among many, include the novelists James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, Aldous Huxley, D.H. Lawrence, Joseph Conrad, Dorothy Richardson, Graham Greene, E.M. Forster, and Doris Lessing; the poets W.B. Yeats, T.S. Eliot, W.H. Auden, Seamus Heaney, Wilfred Owens, Dylan Thomas, and Robert Graves; and the dramatists Tom Stoppard, George Bernard Shaw, Samuel Beckett, Frank McGuinness, Harold Pinter, and Caryl Churchill. New Criticism also appeared at this time, led by the likes of Woolf, Eliot, William Empson, and others, which reinvigorated literary criticism in general. It is difficult to say whether modernism has ended, though we know that postmodernism has developed after and from it; for now, the genre remains ongoing. The Postmodern Period (1945–?) The postmodern period begins about the time that World War II ended. Many believe it is a direct response to modernism. Some say the period ended about 1990, but it is likely too soon to declare this period closed.  Poststructuralist literary theory and criticism developed during this time. Some notable writers of the period include Samuel Beckett, Joseph Heller, Anthony Burgess, John Fowles, Penelope M. Lively, and Iain Banks. Many postmodern authors wrote during the modern period as well.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Best Quotes About Friendship From the Greatest Thinkers

Best Quotes About Friendship From the Greatest Thinkers What is friendship? How many types of friendship can we recognize, and in what degree shall we seek each of them? Many of the greatest philosophers in both ancient and modern times have addressed those questions and neighboring ones. Ancient Philosophers on Friendship   Friendship played a central role in ancient ethics and political philosophy. The following are quotes on the topic from some of the most notable thinkers from ancient Greece and Italy. Aristotle aka AristotelÄ“s NÄ «komakhou kai Phaistidos StageiritÄ“s (384–322 B.C.): In books eight and nine of the Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle divided friendship into three types: Friends for pleasure: Social bonds that are established to enjoy one’s spare time, such as friends for sports or hobbies, friends for dining, or for parties.Friends for benefit: All bonds for which cultivation is primarily motivated by work-related reasons or by civic duties, such as being friends with your colleagues and neighbors.True friends: True friendship and true friends are what Aristotle explains are mirrors to each other and a single soul dwelling in two bodies. In poverty and other misfortunes of life, true friends are a sure refuge. The young they keep out of mischief; to the old, they are a comfort and aid in their weakness, and those in the prime of life, they incite to noble deeds. St. Augustine aka Saint Augustine of Hippo (354–430 A.D.): I want my friend to miss me as long as I miss him.   Cicero aka Marcus Tullius Cicero (106–43 B.C.): A friend is, as it were, a second self. Epicurus (341–270 B.C.):  Ã¢â‚¬Å"It is not so much our friends help that helps us as it is, as the confidence of their help.† Euripides (c.484–c.406 B.C.):  Friends show their love in times of trouble, not in happiness. and Life has no blessing like a prudent friend.   Lucretius aka Titus Lucretius  Carus (c.94–c.55 B.C.):  We are each of us angels with only one wing, and we can only fly by embracing one another. Plautus aka Titus Maccius Plautus (c.254–c.184 B.C.):  Nothing but heaven itself is better than a friend who is really a friend. Plutarch aka Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus (c.45–c.120 A.D.):  I dont need a friend who changes when I change and who nods when I nod; my shadow does that much better.   Pythagoras aka Pythagoras of Samos (c.570–c.490 B.C.): Friends are as companions on a journey, who ought to aid each other to persevere in the road to a happier life. Seneca aka Seneca the Younger or Lucius Annaeus Seneca (c.4 B.C.–65 A.D.:  Friendship always benefits; love sometimes injures. Zeno aka Zeno of Elea (c.490–c.430 BC):  A friend is another self. Modern and Contemporary Philosophy on Friendship   In modern and contemporary philosophy, friendship loses the central role it had played once upon a time. Largely, we may speculate this to be related to the emergence of new forms of social aggregations.  Nonetheless, it is easy to find some good quotes. Francis Bacon (1561–1626): Without friends the world is but a wilderness. There is no man that imparteth his joys to his friend, but he joyeth the more; and no man that imparteth his griefs to his friend, but he grieveth the less. William James (1842–1910):  Human beings are born into this little span of life of which the best thing is its friendship and intimacies, and soon their places will know them no more, and yet they leave their friendships and intimacies with no cultivation, to grow as they will by the roadside, expecting them to keep by force of inertia.   Jean de La Fontaine (1621–1695):  Friendship is the shadow of the evening, which strengthens with the setting sun of life. Clive Staples Lewis (1898–1963):  Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival. George Santayana (1863–1952):  Friendship is almost always the union of a part of one mind with the part of another; people are friends in spots. Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862):  The language of friendship is not words, but meanings.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Entrepreneurship joint venture Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Entrepreneurship joint venture - Assignment Example Contents Abstract 1 Contents 2 Introduction 3 Importance of venture and Working capital 4 Forms of business finance 4 Advantages and disadvantages of Venture Capital as source of finance 5 Salient issues around venture capitalists 6 Conclusion and recommendations 7 References 7 Introduction Venture capital is a form of financing that is widely used by small, medium, and large enterprises in economy. Venture capital is also referred to as equity financing owing to the fact that it addresses the financing needs of a firm in exchange of stake in the firm in question. This form of equity financing is often pursued by firms, which do not have the capacity to seek financing from other traditional financing modes like those sourced through the banks and public markets. It is worth noting that there are other forms of financing options, which the business can decide to explore to cater for its growth strategy and other operations (Mclaney & Atrill, 2006). Such options include loans from bank s, debentures, owner’s capital, and grant finance. Importance of venture and Working capital Venture and working capital are critical for any form of business that is starting up. The business under focus in this case is a beverage company known as Thasta (Mclaney & Atrill, 2006). The company by its nature needs both venture and working capital to realize increased business performance. ... sound working capital, it is important that the business possess an aggressive credit policy besides ensuring that there is operational efficiency at the facility (Mclaney & Atrill, 2006). On the other hand, it is important to take note that venture capital is equally important for the startup of the business because it does not affect the liquidity of a business. A business that is just starting operations rarely has revenue hence may not be able to afford loans or debenture leaving venture capital option as the best option for the company since it does not involve any financial obligations. It is worth noting that with regard to venture capital the various operations and projects of the company are financed in exchange for the shares of the company. Forms of business finance Apart from the venture capital, there exist other forms of capital, which include loans, debentures, owner’s capital, and grants. Loans are funds, which are advanced to the business by financial institut ions such as Banks. According to Mclaney and Atrill (2006), it is worth noting that loans attract interest over and above the principal amount. The business must therefore ensure that it regularly repays the principal amount and accruing interest. A debenture is yet another form of business financing option, which is available to the business. According to Mclaney and Atrill (2006), debentures are loan stocks, which are given subject to a trust deed. The debentures can be either redeemable or irredeemable. The firms can also raise capital for the expansion projects of the firm through equity shares. The only downside to equity shares is that it reduces the shareholding capacity of the company. Mclaney and Atrill (2006) say that grant is another form of financing option, which the firm can

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness - Essay Example But there are various degrees of madness that lead to this total madness, as this essay will show. The first example of madness is in fact within history, more than 1800 years ago, as the Romans invaded Britain. Marlow reflects on those distant times when England "was one of the dark places on earth." Dark and savage Britain was a dangerous but fascinating terrain that they sought to take from the British but at the same time often went mad in the process. Part of the reason for this madness, and through allusion it is what was happening in Africa at the time the novel was written, is that conquest of a land means "taking it away from those who had a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves . . . is not a pretty thing." (Conrad, ) The reaction of Europeans to Africa seems to revolve around different types and degrees of madness. Thus there is the futile action of the gunboat as it fires constant, random shots into the jungle. It is not aiming at anyone in particular, or indeed, at any thing in particular. The people in control of it are essentially mad because they feel that they are actually achieving something through the very action. Doing something, however pointless, is always better than doing nothing within this type of madness. This ship and its occupants however remain reasonably remote from the reality of Africa, they are after all firing into it rather than going into it. A different kind of madness occurs for those who actually take on African through going into it. Kurtz remains at one extreme of madness - total, partly because he has lived in the very interior, at "the very bottom of there" (Conrad, ). Marlow, who is only a little mad as he makes his way into the heart of Africa, recognizes that Kurtz is totally mad, and recognizes why he has ended up in that state. One moment where Marlow sees the strange fascination of being seduced by madness in Africa is when he hears a native screaming, "the faintest trace of a response to the terrible frankness of that noise" (Conrad, ). Part of Kurtz's madness stems from the fact that he regards himself as "extraordinary" (Conrad, ) and thus is not subject to the rules that the others must adhere to. The Russian excuses him by saying "you can't judge Mr. Kurtz as you would an ordinary man" (Conrad, ). Kurtz wanted to educate and civilize the natives of Africa, which within the terms of reference of the book, is essentially a type of madness because it is such a futile attempt. He is breaking the rules through trying to do something good for the natives, but continues to do so as the darkness wins and he essentially becomes savage. His madness is savage, and his savagery is mad: they are linked together within a kind of mutually parasitic relationship that takes Kurtz further and further into insanity. Essentially the whole book deals with a voyage into the "heart of darkness" which is essentially madness. Marlow realizes that he is discovering the "wild and passionate uproar" at the heart of all human beings. Heart of Darkness suggests that it is savagery of Africa that most perfectly encapsulates this "uproar" and that the European should avoid too much contact with it if he is to avoid madness. In conclusion, nearly all the characters in Heart of Darkness are mad in one way or another. Kurtz is mad, the natives are