Friday, January 24, 2020

Web Pages :: Internet Technology Computers Essays

Web Pages The phrase "point and click" is all too familiar to the basic computer user these days. With their computers, people now have the power to do see and do a plethora of things with this phrase. Thanks to the invasion of cyberspace, even more possibilities exist to the everyday computer user. The Internet is an almost infinite resource for providing great reference information, entertainment, and other everyday needs. Obviously, people have their preferences of which pages they find the best or most useful. It is also quite clear that different pages have different purposes and therefore are displayed quite differently. For the expert computer user, time seems to play a factor in a good web page in terms of a simple yet informative page. Others prefer stunning visual or even audio effects to receive information. Web pages come in all styles and forms and exist for different purposes. Their appeal is completely personal to the viewer. First off, I would like to talk about informational pages. These pages exist for the sole purpose of enabling people to find out about a certain subject. For example, I had to write a research paper on atheism. As I put the word "atheism" through the Lycos search engine, many great pages came up. A very popular thing that web sites have are FAQ's. FAQ's stands for frequently asked questions. Of course, these questions come with answers that are either very blunt and simple, or complex and detailed. I find that most FAQ's give me more than enough information to satisfy my needs. Informational pages tend to not have fancy backgrounds and options such as Quicktime movies, JPEGs, or sound applications. These are a waste of memory and for the most part are not helpful to people who need fast and quotable information. However, people who have the time and interest to utilize these options can benefit from them. For certain subjects like music, sounds are obviously a good thing to have on a page. Links to other related pages are great if you need more than one source to research a certain subject. However, I do not like pages that have thousands and thousands of links. It is overwhelming to find that many links. The web maker should provide around ten good links. After all, the pages that are linked also have many links to them as well.

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Nike Inc. Business Executive Essay

Nike, Inc. is the world’s leading designer, marketer and distributor of all different types of athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide range of sports as well as fitness activities. As far as the locations of where Nike, Inc. sells and distributes, the company licenses its products in approximately over 200 countries around the globe, focusing its products under seven different key categories including running, basketball, football, soccer, men’s and women’s training, Nike sportswear, and secondary Affiliate Brands (Converse, Inc., Hurley International LLC, Jordan Brand, and Nike Golf). Currently, Nike, Inc. is operating segments in over six different global locations including North America, Western Europe,  Central Europe, Eastern Europe, China, and other emerging markets. As far as Nike consumer products go, Nike operates as a company that specifically specializes in fast pace industries concerning various different types of athletic footwear, clothing, and equipment. Right now, this industry is right on point in its competitiveness, exposing Nike to the risk of falling behind to its competitors or by not meeting the demanding innovation standards that are demanded by customers. In order for Nike to stay on top of customer demand, the company must continue to revolutionize and predict consumer preferences. Other companies that are in this industry such as Adidas and Reebok rely on a strong reputation and creative brand images in order to obtain worldwide recognition. If, in the rare occurrence, Nike, Inc. was to attract any negative publicity through the press, it would substantially affect the company’s revenue as well as growth rates. As far as Nike’s strategy goes, it is shooting to achieve a long-term revenue growth by creating various different types of innovative, â€Å"must have† products that will build a deep personal connection with its consumers. As far as Nike’s brands go, the company strives to deliver comp elling consumer experiences through not only retail stores, but online avenues as well. Being the global leader in athletic sportswear, Nike is no longer considered a stranger to the increasingly distinctive and unstable environment of the global economy that has been experienced through recent years. All of Nike’s products have now been subject to the risks that have been associated with overseas outsourcing as well as manufacturing and financing. In lieu of the decline of global capital and credit market conditions that have been threatening to Nike’s business, Nike stands strong in remaining focused on its business strategy, and the company continues to expand long-term growth for its stakeholders. One may wonder exactly how Nike plans to do this in a variety of difficult conditions. The answer is innovation. Innovation and constant improvement at Nike is all about how the company leverages its new ideas and expands them into new parts of the world by driving through barriers and in short, thinking outside of the box. Disregarding the ongoing challenges the harsh economy throws Nike’s way, somehow the company is still able to continue delivering a record revenue in the fiscal year of 2012, continuing to outperform its past five fiscal years. Nike’s r evenues had grown from 16% to $24.1 billion and net income has increased by 4% to  $2.2 billion in fiscal 2012. Looking back at Nike’s past four fiscal years, the company has continued to deliver a positive return on net income despite being subject to the economy’s unstable tax and currency rates. As mentioned previously, in fiscal year 2012, Nike’s revenues increased among all operating segments, specifically North America, contributed to over 7%, while other emerging markets as well as China contributed only 4%. Provided with the information, it is now visible how the brand Nike, Inc. continues to be the powerhouse of revenues by generating $13.4 billion alone. Throughout the years, Nike continually invests into innovative strategies the company believes will continually raise annual growth. As a result of the company’s optimism, in 2012 Nike signed an agreement to sell two of its affiliate brands: Umbro and Cole Haan. Despite Nike parting ways with these two developed brands, that action now enabled the company to focus on the highest possible opportunities to d rive a maintainable, profitable growth margin for its shareholders. With the provided information above, it is clear to see exactly what a powerhouse Nike, Inc. is when it comes to athletic sportswear. Although this statement is correct, the interworkings of the company are much more complicated than they seem and more importantly, Nike still has plenty of room for work and improvement. From an operations analysis standpoint, this paper will include specifically how Nike is an effective company. Specifically the main topics will include: products and services, operations and management, alignment of operations, business strategy, and finally just a brief summary of everything and recommendations that are hypothesized to make Nike a better company. History (Robert Leoniy) The two men that started this athletic powerhouse were Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight. Bill Bowerman was a nationally recognized track and field coach at the University of Oregon and Phil Knight was a talented middle-distance runner who ran for Bill Bowerman’s team in the Fall of 1955 at the University of Oregon. Between 1950-1959 is where everything all started. In 1964, the first deal for Nike had been made. At that time Nike had not been called Nike. It had gone by the name of Blue Ribbon Sports. The first deal was on a mutual handshake, $500, and mutual trust between both partners and the first order of 300 shoes was placed in January 1964. Between 1970-1979, the birth of the Nike Brand had emerged. Around 1971, the company decided to expand being just a footwear distributor to designing and selling an original line of shoes. Carolyn Davidson, a graphic design student at Portland State University, selected and made the brand mark known today as â€Å"the swoosh† in January of 1972. The logo was then unveiled at the U.S. Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Oregon. They then needed an athlete to promote Nike. They chose Mr. Steve Prefontaine, a young man who was a track athlete from the small coastal town of Coos Bay, Oregon. He also challenged Knight and Bowermann to become more and more creative. He died tragically in 1975 at the age of 24, but is still considered by Phillip Knight as â€Å"the soul of Nike.† Since the ‘80s, Nike has continued to grow and become an innovative company in the athletic industry. Phillip H. Knight is still the Chairman of the Board of Directors while Mr. Mark Parker is the current President & Chief Executive Officer of Nike, Inc. They have grown immensely from just footwear and will continue to do so through innovation. Mission/ Business Strategy (Brian Frederick) Nike’s Mission, as stated on its website is, â€Å"To bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete* in the world† (Nike.com). The asterisk that goes next to athlete in the mission and on the bottom of the mission statement signifies, â€Å"If you have a body, you are an athlete† (Nike.com). Bill Bowerman, co-owner of Nike, is the one who formed this quote. This is a smart marketing and business strategy for Nike Inc. because some people might not feel that they are athletes if they have not played sports or anything of that nature. It can be a boost of confidence for those people that do not consider themselves to be athletic. It also can be sense of motivation and that start that they need to become active. If a well-known athletic brand like Nike Inc. tells consumers that everyone is an athlete, then people will get motivated and want to live a healthier more athletic lifestyle. Also, when people live a healthier and more athletic lifestyle, it helps Nike, Inc. become more and more successful. Nike is all about athletic apparel. They range from athletic clothing to athletic shoes to athletic accessories, etc. They have a Nike Sector for almost every sport. They have Nike Football, Nike Basketball, Nike Soccer, Nike Golf, Nike  Running, Nike BASEBALL, Nike Sportswear, Nike Women’s, and many more. Nike indeed caters to every different kind of athlete. That is part of the reason why Nike does so well. They are an extremely diversified company in terms of the athletic market. They cover all ranges making them attractive to all kinds of people. Although the company has many different avenues, Nike Inc. is most famous for their shoes. When you think of Nike, you think of the swoosh symbol and their shoes. The two most popular types of shoes are their running shoes and their basketball shoes. They definitely have created the most revenue and have been the most successful sector within Nike Inc. over the years. These shoes, especially the basketball shoes, have a lot of celebrity endorsements. Professional basketball players, like Lebron James, have their own shoe lines. People wait in line for hours to get these special edition shoes. While considering basketball players with their own shoe lines, it is relevant to mention how Nike differentiates itself by retaining some wholly owned affiliates. Converse, Inc., Hurley International, LLC. and Nike Golf are all affiliated with Nike, Inc. As of the first quarter for 2014, Converse is recorded separately while Nike Golf and Hurley International are included in the overall financi al statements for Nike. Continuing from the statements above, Nike owns Jordan Brand. Jordan Brand was created by Michael Jordan, who is said to be the best basketball player that has ever lived and played the game. Signing Michael Jordan to his own brand of Nike basketball shoes did wonders for Nike. The celebrity endorsement has lead to great exposure for the company. Because of Michael Jordan having his own Nike brand, the basketball shoes sector of Nike grew a tremendous amount. While Nike has the swoosh symbol that is very well know, Air Jordan has the jump man symbol that has become very popular. It is almost as recognizable as the swoosh symbol. With Jordan Brand, Michael Jordan has been able to gain many basketball superstars and give them their own shoe lines. This has been something that has been very popular for Nike in the past and this prospect seems it will continue to become more and more successful. Jordan Brand already has superstars like Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, and Lebron James with full-fledged lines of basketball shoes and the l ist will only grow. Nike’s main goal has been its ability to develop  and mature. They have always been innovative in the athletic department. They are always developing new kinds of athletic materials whether it is a new kind of shoe, a better shirt, or a new accessory. All of their products are developed and made with the idea of optimizing each and every athlete’s performance. The company tries to help an average athlete feel that he or she can make it to the next level if he or she chooses Nike products. Nike ties in its business strategy of optimizing athletic performance with its marketing tactics by doing this. Not everyone is a super-athlete, but if Nike can help a consumer feel that he will be the best athlete possible and perform his best while using Nike products. Also, on its website Nike has an article titled Our Sustainable Strategy with the subtitle The game has changed, forever. It states, â€Å"Our vision is to build a sustainable business and create value for Nike and our stakeholders by decouping profitable growth from constrained resour ces† (Nike.com). They have taken this strategy and will apply it with much research. Because they have â€Å"sustainable strategy,† that does not mean that Nike will not continue to be innovative. They will continue â€Å"sustainable innovation† where the company will improve its products that it has, but will also continue to make newer and better products. SWOT Analysis (Brian Frederick) An article on valueline.com, shows a SWOT report of Nike, Inc. The article is titled NIKE:A Short SWOT Analysis and was written by Justin Hellman on March 10, 2014. The first strength talked about in the chart was talked about earlier when talking about Nike’s business strategy. That strength is product innovation. The article states, â€Å"Nike has a long tradition of staying ahead of the technology curve, which has helped it attract loyal followers and influential endorsements from professional athletes, from Michael Jordan to Tiger Woods† (Hellman Paragraph 3). Like stated before, Nike continues to improve their products to help athletes all over the world perform to their best abilities while have major superstars endorse their products. The second strength is strong cash flow. Nike often has a good amount of cash on hand which can help itself a lot when it wants to buy back stock and increase its stock price. Justin also stated, â€Å"The company generates a lot  of free cash flow, a good portion of which it uses to enhance shareholder value,† and later states, â€Å"There’s ample cash, in the meantime, for NI KE to maintain a large R&D budget† (Hellman Paragraph 4). Nike has a lot of cash to increase the stock’s value but it also uses that money to help continue its innovation procedures. Nike’s only real big weakness is it’s high advertising costs. Justin states, â€Å"Part of the company’s marketing strategy involves locking up major sports stars in lengthy endorsement deals† (Hellman Paragraph 4). All of the major celebrities that NIKE endorses do take a hefty amount of their revenues to pay. Their advertising expenses are high because of the major celebrities but Nike shows that the feel spending the extra money on those celebrities helps them out in the overall scheme of things. Justin Hellman states two major opportunities for Nike also. He states that there are â€Å"favorable industry trends†, â€Å"direct to consumer†, and â€Å"emerging market growth†. Two major things play into the favorable industry trends opportunity. Consumers now have a desire for, â€Å"minimalist footwearà ¢â‚¬  where they want the lightest shoe possible which also links to the increased popularity of running (Hellman Paragraph 5). There is also an increase in the want for fashion in the athletic apparel industry and Nike already has a very well developed logo to go with its name. The next opportunity is â€Å"direct to consumer† (Hellman Paragraph 6). Ecommerce is a major factor in this opportunity and is expected to multiply by almost four times going from $540 million to $2 billion. Also, â€Å"At present there are over 750 retail units worldwide, including over 300 in the United States† (Hellman Paragraph 6). While there are already 750 retail units worldwide, Nike is planning on expanding that number in the future. The other opportunity is â€Å"emerging market growth† (Hellman Paragraph 7). China is definitely a key opportunity that Nike would like to enter. Hellman states, â€Å"But China, with its huge population and emerging middle class, still represents and excellent long-range opportunity for the company† (Hellman Paragraph 7). Nike might not emerge in China just yet but, if it can, that would be a great boost to Nike profits. Also, Justin talks about how Brazil presents a great opportunity with its large population and passion for sports. Finally, there were two major threats stated and those were â€Å"heightened competition† and â€Å"product cost inflation† (Hellman Paragraphs 8 & 9). In recent years, companies have increased the quality of their products and such. There have  also been more companies that have been created and have given good competition to NIKE. The most notable company has been Under Armour that went public in 2005. The price of materials has also increased since the beginning of NIKE and seems that it will continue to increase. â€Å"Rising raw material costs are apt to be a long-term headwind, with the developing world continuing to use up more commodities. Labor inflation will likely be an issue too† (Hellman Paragraph 9). As the prices and costs to make the products of Nike, Inc., increases so will the price of the products Nike provides. Overall, Nike still seems to be a company that will be successful in the future. Most of the strengths and opportunities seem to outweigh the weaknesses and threats. The threats that Nike, Inc. has might damper the profits of the company a little but not anything too significant. Also, with the pr oblems of inflation and increased competition, Nike is not alone in the fact that all companies have to deal with all of those factors also. Nike, Inc. will still be a competitive force and can still be a leader in the athletic industry. Company Operations (Catherine Aloise) Because Nike is such a large and complex company, the operations that go with the day-to-day and long-term operations are extensive and multifaceted. The operations management strategy decisions that are generalized for every company can be applied to Nike just as well as any other company, but as stated above, each decision and step to the strategy contains many parts that correlate to the vastness of the worldwide company. Competitively known for the array of sports equipment, the design of Nike products and services is crucial. Nike is known as a modern brand that appeals to the younger generation. A waltz through a busy night of exercise at Montclair State’s very own recreation center will show any passer-by how truly popular and trendy Nike’s products really are. Good looks are not Nike’s only concerns, fortunately. Through considered design, Nike is reducing waste throughout the design and manufacture of products by using environmentally ideal materials and removing toxins. Nike encourages its designers to make smart, sustainable choices at the start of the creative process. Nike wants designers to choose to achieve design breakthroughs and reduce unwanted impacts through ways that are safe for the environment and  safe for consumers. This concept goes hand-in-hand with managing the quality of goods and services (â€Å"Designing Products† 1). Furthermore, Nike is responsible for maintaining products that are of good value and quality to consumers. The company cannot afford to lose business on malfunctioning shoes because of manufacturing problems and product defects. In the event of a customer purchasing a product defect, he or she is directed to the website where he or she is able to return the product and then choose from a list of options including the approval of a full refund, Nike credit, or a complimentary product of equal value. Nike cannot mess around with customer approval like this which is why quality is valued with utmost regard within the company. If Nike was to lose its consumer base, Nike’s top competitors like Asics, Reebok, and Adidas would sweep the market. Next, location and layout strategies are key in Nike’s business strategy. These two business strategies have a lot to do with marketing. When speaking about layout, every shelf and hanger must be placed according to what appeases the customer’s eye when he or she walks into a Nike store. The placement of the register and the spacing of the displays in the store must also be selected strategically. If a customer walks into a store and feels cramped and crowded by the tightness of space to move around the store, he or she will not linger for too long when grazing through the store. NIKE employees must also consider the seating and dressing rooms for customers to try on clothing within the store. A businessman stopping by the Nike store in a nearby mall will not be seen hopping up and down on trying to maneuver the latest Nike free run onto his aching foot after a long day of work. He will not be seen as a fool in the presence of other customers and Nike employees. This is why chairs must be placed near shoe displays and fitting rooms. Similarly, as businessmen may pass a Nike store in the mall neighboring the office park, corporate Nike employees must think about the location of each store. It is not wise to place a Nike store in a lower-class town that has a low average disposable income. People that reside in towns of this nature  will not be able to afford high-end Nike products and the store would flounder and eventually be closed down. It is wise, however, to build a store located in an urban city such as New York City where there are many middle and upper class consumers bustling around on a daily basis. The same concept is applied on a national level. Nike is wise to sell lots of products and have many locations in the United States and England because countries like these are known to spend money on products Nike sells. Meanwhile, Nike would do well to reconsider the thought of expanding to third-world countries in Africa because inhabitants of these countries can barely afford water, let alone high-end exercise equipment. With all of the countries that are actually able to afford Nike’s products, this leaves the company with more jobs to take care of, one being to keep track of the inventory. In early 2000, Nike had some major inventory management problems. The company lost around $100 million in sales due to these issues. Fortunately, following this failure, Nike developed an improved inventory management solution to solve their problems rapidly. In 2001, Nike implemented a modernized version of their inventory management software. Based on historical sales data of different products, and based on some market growth estimates, Nike would first prepare a demand forecast for different families of products. This demand forecast is then used to determine optimal inventory levels, reorder points, material lead times etc. And the entire manufacturing plan for months is determined using these numbers produced by the inventory management software (â€Å"Nike’s Inventory Management Solutionâ₠¬ ). Computer systems that predict how to manage inventory must be maintained in a certain way so that problems and malfunctions do not arise. There are also computer systems used in human resources and scheduling. Error-prone human beings no longer make schedules. Fortunately, there are many options for companies large and small to use when seeking software to create schedules. It is simple and mistakes are few to none. Like everything else, maintenance is required. Alignment of Operations with the Strategy (Catherine Aloise) As stated above, Nike has many ongoing operations within the company but  only one outlook and aim when selling products. Nike is selling a lifestyle. With advertisements on television, consumers get an image of an athletic, motivated regime that will help each individual associated with Nike become a better person. This is a very important strategy because what Nike has a strategy to sell an intangible item: a lifestyle that makes people want to â€Å"just do it†. This is the design of goods and services. Once this image of Nike is sold to consumers, the physical products will sell themselves. In order for consumers to be on board and spend money on Nike products, the consumers must then fall in love with all the different avenues offered by Nike. This part of the operation can be seen in the layout strategy. If someone from the nearby country club is in a Nike store looking for golf clothing, he might come across a nice pair of biking shorts that would be great for the upcoming spring weather. Once the Nike biking section is in full view, the opportunities of purchases are endless. Summer is just around the corner so why not invest in a nice flattering pair of Nike swimming trunks as well? The five pounds gained from Easter dinner will just melt right off after all that biking and the trunks will fit like a glove. Once this innocent young man has left the store with his wallet considerably lighter, a small smile lingers on his face as he mutters the phrase â€Å"just do it† subconsciously under his breath as he walks to the car. This strategy is more common than one may think. The layout strategy can be seen in the short story above simply by the way a Nike store is set up and what catches a customer’s eye. The inventory management and design of goods and services go hand in hand with the expansion of athletic and sporting clothing offered by Nike and the innovation of currently existing products. Designers for Nike are always looking for new, innovative ideas to put on the market like the Nike+ fitness application available for smart phones. This application was once just a gleam in the eye of a Nike Designer before it went viral in the iTunes store. The application map individual runs, tracks progress, and get the motivation needed to keep going. The Nike+ Running app tracks distance, pace, time and calories burned with GPS, and gives audio feedback during a run. Users can automatically upload to nikeplus.com to see past runs, including routes, elevation and NikeFuel  (â€Å"Join Me on Nike+†). Summary/Recommendations (Collaborative) Nike, Inc. is definitely one of the most successful athletic companies in its market and industry today. The company continues to be the industry leader and does not seem to be slowing down. If there were to be any recommendations, it would have to be to keep doing what they are doing and not to lose sight of innovation. If Nike continues to be inventive and groundbreaking and continues to introduce new products on a consistent basis, they should be able to maintain success in the market. Nike, Inc. seems to have all the right tools to do well in today’s economy. Works Cited â€Å".† . N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. . â€Å"Designing Products.† NIKE, Inc. -. N.p., n.d. Web. . . Hellman, Justin. â€Å"Research Hub.† NIKE: A Short SWOT Analysis. N.p., 2014. Web. 21 Apr. 2014. â€Å"Nike’s Inventory Management Solution.† Ordoro Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. . . â€Å"Nike. Just Do It.† Nike.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. . â€Å"Strategic Analysis of Nike, Inc.† Strategic Analysis of Nike, Inc. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. .

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Cool Hand Luke By Stuart Rosenberg - 1625 Words

Those inclined to think about religious matters embrace distinctly different images of God such as in the film Cool Hand Luke Directed by: Stuart Rosenberg, a central component to making the film what it is, is the subtle use of religious imagery. The way Luke Jackson is presented as a character, embodies this very likeness to Jesus through his actions, speech and posture. The way Luke starts a bond with the other prisoners is through a boxing match and a poker game. During the boxing match, Luke gets beaten up by his soon to be right hand Dragline. While playing poker, he wins the game by bluffing a hand worth nothing and comments that sometimes nothing can be a real cool hand and also during the poker game is when he attained his nick name Cool Hand Luke. During his sentence in jail, Luke s family came to visit him so that he could say good bye to his mother because she was not breathing to well on the account that she smoked a lot and developed this horrible cough in which she an d her family realized that she might not last until Luke got out of jail. After his mother visits, Luke becomes more optimistic about his situation and because of this, the other prisoners begin to idolize him. This is where we start receiving subtle images of Jesus and the 12 disciples because of the way that they all began to follow him and be his support group. Such as the disciples were to Jesus. One day while working on the road to Luke s leadership is truly shown, he leads the groupShow MoreRelatedEssay on Cool Hand Luke Movie Critique: Courage And Self-Respect759 Words   |  4 PagesCool Hand Luke directed by the reputable Stuart Rosenberg and nominated for four Oscars is a tragic tale of an ordinary individual rising up the courage to oppose the establishment, thus becoming a hero. Cool Hand Luke weaves a rich tapestry of the prison life on both sides of the establishment and the injustices of the system. In short Cool Hand Luke is a movie that focuses on the struggles of a single courageous man and his quest for freedom. After being incarcerated for a petty crime and sentRead MoreCool Hand Luke Movie Critique: Courage and Self-Respect768 Words   |  4 PagesCool Hand Luke directed by the reputable Stuart Rosenberg and nominated for four Oscars is a tragic tale of an ordinary individual rising up the courage to oppose the establishment, thus becoming a hero. Cool Hand Luke weaves a rich tapestry of the prison life on both sides of the establishment and the injustices of the system. In short Cool Hand Luke is a movie that focuses on the struggles of a single courageous man and his quest for freedom. After being incarcerated for a petty crime and sentRead MoreTheological Symbolism in Cool Hand Luke Essay1342 Words   |  6 Pages1967 prison film Cool Hand Luke, directed by Stuart Rosenberg, there are many examples of theological symbolism and religious themes. Most of the symbolism alludes to Jesus Christ, which is often utilized in film to add depth to the protagonist in the story. Such Christ figure symbolism can also be seen in films such as the 1999 hit The Matrix and the original Star Wars film (1977). Along with these visual suggestions, there are also thematic elements that underlie Cool Hand Luke which involve BiblicalRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 Pagesto quickly make sense of the results of their score. Instructor’s manual—An Instructor’s Manual guides instructors in interpreting self-assessments and helps facilitate better classroom discussion. Acknowledgments Getting this book into your hands was a team effort. It took faculty reviewers and a talented group of designers and production specialists, editorial personnel, and marketing and sales staff. More than one hundred instructors reviewed parts or all of Organizational Behavior, Fifteenth

Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Website Analysis of National Right to Life Committee (NRLC)

Website Analysis of National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) Key Terms: Claims, Typifying Example, Pro-Life, Rhetoric, Social Movement, Abortion, Assisted Suicide, Life, Organization. Introduction National Right to Life Committee(NRLC) is the second oldest and largest pro-life organization in the United States. This social movement organization deals with several life-related issues like abortion, assisted suicide or euthanasia, cloning, Medicare issues and so on. However, my focus topics are â€Å"Abortion† and â€Å"Assisted Suicide/ Euthanasia† because these are the two most common issues life-related issues. Abortion The rate of abortion in the United States has been increasing rapidly since 1973, with an estimated total of over 55 million abortions. Research also shows that more Americans now commit abortion for less important reasons than rape of incest since the legalization-approximately 93% of the women who carry out abortion explain that they do it for â€Å"social reasons†. However, National Right to Life Committee(NRLC) provides some normative claims as to why should not be legalized as the rhetoric of their argument. The members of this organization explain the similarities between abortion and murder; the diary of an unborn child and the pains that they face during abortion. They also present some scientific theories that relate to pregnancy and life. According to science, as soon as fertilization takes place in a woman’s body, a new life begins; the heart begins to beat

Monday, December 23, 2019

Advanced Corporate Finance Essay examples - 927 Words

Advanced Corporate Finance I SS 2012 Problem Set 1 Valuing Cash Flows Problem Set 1 Valuing Cash Flows Exercise 1 (Ex. 11.2 - 11.6 GT): Assume that Marriott’s restaurant division has the following joint distribution with the market return: Market Scenario Bad Good Great .25 .50 .25 Probability Market Return (%) -15 5 25 YR 1. Cash Flow Forecast $40 million $50 million $60 million Assume also that the CAPM holds. 11.2 Compute the expected year 1 restaurant cash ï ¬â€šow for Marriott. 11.3 Find the covariance of the cash ï ¬â€šow with the market return and its cash ï ¬â€šow beta. 11.4 Assuming that historical data suggests that the market risk premium is 8.4 percent per year and the market standard deviation is 40 percent per year, ï ¬ nd the†¦show more content†¦Hint: Use equation (13.7) to obtain ÃŽ ²U A from ÃŽ ²E . 13.2 Compute ÃŽ ²U A , the beta of the unlevered assets of the Hughes acquisition, by taking the average of the betas of the unlevered assets of Lockheed and Northrop. 13.3 Compute the ÃŽ ²E for the Hughes acquisition at the target debt level. 13.4 Compute the WACC for the Hughes acquisition. 13.5 Compute the value of Hughes with the WACC from exercise 13.4. 13.6 Compute the value of Hughes if the WACC of GM at its existing leverage ratio is used instead of the WACC computed from the comparison ï ¬ rms (see Ex. 13.4). 2 Advanced Corporate Finance I SS 2012 Problem Set 1 Valuing Cash Flows Exercise 3 (Ex. 13.14 GT): SL, Inc., is currently an all equity-ï ¬ rm with a beta of equity of 1. The risk-free rate is 5 percent and the market risk premium is 8 percent. Assume the CAPM is true and that there are no taxes. 1. What is the company’s weighted average cost of capital? 2. If management levers the company at a debt to equity ratio of 5 to 1, using perpetual riskless debt, what will the WACC become? 3. How would your WACC answer change if the government raises the tax rate from zero to 30 percent? 3 Advanced Corporate Finance I SS 2012 Problem Set 1 Valuing CashShow MoreRelatedAdvanced Corporate Finance4303 Words   |  18 PagesUniversity of Puget Sound School of Business and Leadership BUS 434 Advanced Corporate Finance Professor Alva Wright Butcher Tues-Thurs 11:00-12:20 McIntyre 107 Spring Semester 2012 Office: McIntyre 111 I Phone: 253-879-3349 FAX: 253-879-3156 Office Hours: T-Th: 1:00-1:50 Wed: 9:30-10:30 And by appointment Note that I am always willing to schedule additional office hours by appointment. I check email frequently, so that is also a goodRead MoreCase 2 for Advanced Corporate Finance1474 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿ â€Å"Case: Tianjin Plastics† Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Course Advanced Corporate Finance Students Fatin Azear Jos Kusters Maaike van der Steen Case: Tianjin Plastics This assignment considers the case of Tianjin Plastics. Pat Johnson, project finance analyst for Maple Energy (U.S.-based international power plant developer), has to make a recommendation regarding the financial viability of the Tianjin Plastics power plant project in China. The recommendation would require a final evaluationRead MoreJet Blue Ipo Advanced Corporate Finance1654 Words   |  7 Pagesnominal terms, is imperative in understanding consumer demand over the longevity of the company’s existence. Alongside this, is analyzing a company with respect to its industry peers; which involves taking a profound look at revenue, EBITDA and corporate expenses (Kelly, 2009). 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Sunday, December 15, 2019

Myth on Change Management Free Essays

Bill, lost his job recently. It seems his company was downsized, his well developed skills were no longer required. It’s tempting to claim his company was at fault. We will write a custom essay sample on Myth on Change Management or any similar topic only for you Order Now But the fault was his and his alone. Let me explain why. Things are changing incredibly fast. Yesterday’s idea, is an emerging technology today, mainstream news tomorrow and history by next week. And†¦ everyone contributes to the speed of change. There’s a myth about management, since we’re responsible for so much change, we must be good at coping with it. I’ve observed the exact opposite. Managers have great difficulty accepting change. They tend to get complacent in their ‘secure’ status quo. They believe the skills they’ve acquired, will serve them well into the future, in spite of all Take a close look at business magazines. Each issue offers something new, something different. Each advertisement promises to increase productivity, to increase efficiency, to inflict change upon our unsuspecting organization. Used properly, magazines are a guidepost to the future. Ignore them and they’ll get you downsized. Bill acquired his management skills in the trenches. He worked his way up through the ranks. He acquired a set of skills, and over the years, deepened them. He began to believe his tool kit of management techniques was complete. They’d served him well in the past, and would suffice in the future. Bill’s error was not in his judgment of whether or not a particular skill was long lasting. Bill’s error had little if anything to do with ‘management skills.’ His error lay in his world view. He believed his world would stay the same. Somehow he’s protected from change. Somehow he alone is immune. Shielded in immunity, he gives no thought to a ‘different’ tomorrow. He leans on his illusion of status quo, even while destroying the status quo of others. He’s not alone in this. He’s joined by politicians, unions, successful companies, staff, by anyone and everyone who’s comfortable with past achievements. How do you prepare for the future? Step one is trivial†¦ Acknowledge uncertainty. That alone, will keep you from being complacent. That alone, will have you thinking about alternatives. That alone, will remind you that you’re not alone. Everybody is faced with the same uncertainty. Welcome to the future! Next – you’re not your business card. No matter what your title, no matter what your function, you’re more than a ‘box’ on an org chart. You’re a collection of skills with the ability to learn new ones. These steps do little to change the future. Accepting uncertainty and solid self assessment is a good strategy, but without a plan of action, they’ll add up to nothing. Assume you’re fired tomorrow, what would you do? Sounds drastic, but it happens every day to thousands of people from ‘every walk of life.’ So why not to you? What better time to contemplate it, than today, when you still have a job, and time to plan? Bill lost his job because he couldn’t see beyond his status quo. Don’t make that same mistake, contemplate this issue of Words of Mouth devoted to Change. Ask the question†¦ â€Å"What’s my place in the uncertainty I’m helping create?† Then leap into your future. What is the only thing constant in our lives? CHANGE impacts everything we do and is never-ending. Whether technological, psychological, physical or emotional in nature, we must learn how to deal with change effectively if In programs I have conducted for clients, their most frequent requests are in two areas: 1.What do I do with negative people? 2.How can I get people motivated? It could be argued these two areas have always been important. I have noticed the need for assistance with these areas is in direct proportion to the changes the organization is experiencing. We all go along our â€Å"merry-little-way† until one day and †¦ boom †¦ change appears. The change is sometimes our own doing but more often beyond our immediate control. When this occurs, the response is sometimes demonstrated in negativity or in an unwillingness to move. This constant newness is outside many people’s comfort zones and they are confused as to how they should respond. My clients know change is inevitable and yet have staff who are reluctant to embrace the constantly changing environment. It may be management themselves who are reluctant to adopt the changes necessary for organizational success. Management and staff must deal with technological, psychological and personal changes, all of which impact on performance. People handle change in different ways. It is estimated as high as 78% of people are followers †¦ they do not want to be first at anything. They would rather wait until something happens and then copy what they see. Approximately 5% are leaders. The remaining 17% have no idea where everybody else went! I work with the 5 percenters who want to learn approaches which will produce the best results through encouraging the 78% to follow and drag along the 17% who aren’t quite sure what is happening. I will never suggest all change will be enjoyable. I believe we have to learn to adapt to it. The good news about change is it happens so quickly that if you don’t like the change, just wait and it will change again soon. The bad news is if you do like the change you had better enjoy it now because it will not be here very long. What can we do? I have found one of the biggest roadblocks to personal adaptation to change is the belief we can just relax in what I call the coast mode. Do you know anyone in the coast modeÉjust coasting, coasting? The problem is there is only one way you can coast and that is downhill. The last person to realize you are coasting is usually yourself. Each of us knows at least one person in our personal lives who is going downhill and has not realized it yet. Your staff sees you every day and will very quickly recognize which way you are going. In a terrific book I recently read entitled Flight Of The Buffalo by James A. Belasco and Ralph C. Stayer, the realization of managers that â€Å"I Am The Problem† is the first step in overcoming the â€Å"What do I do with negative people or How do I motivate people?† problems. Demonstrating calculated risk-taking and encouraging staff to do likewise creates a different mind-set towards change. People who are not encouraged to take risks will not. All of us have failed at least once in our lives. What do we remember longest†¦good experiences or bad? The bad ones discourage us about additional attempts. Overcoming our negative programming about failure is a key step towards meeting the challenge of change. Working with, or worse still, living with someone who does not want to change can be a very frustrating experience. How to cite Myth on Change Management, Essay examples

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Becoming a Crime Scene Technician free essay sample

However, before I decided that this is what I wanted to do, I needed to know information regarding being a forensic science technician. I need to know exactly what a forensic science technician does on and off the clock and the requirements such as school and special training. After plenty of research I am aware of the pros and cons of becoming a forensic science technician and it is an occupation I am extremely Interested In. I plan to take the appropriate classes o pursue this as my career. A forensic science technician plays a very important role at crime scenes and purgatories.Forensic science technicians that work at crime scenes, better known as crime scene Investigators are responsible for assisting In investigating crime scenes by collecting and analyzing physical evidence. They walk though the scene and determine what evidence should be gathered. They also take photographs of the evidence and different parts of the crime scene. We will write a custom essay sample on Becoming a Crime Scene Technician or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page They make sketches of the crime scene, take notes of their findings, collect all physical evidence and preserve and catalog evidence before it is transferred to the laboratory.Forensic science technicians that work In the lab also play a crucial role regarding crime scenes. They typically classify and identify evidence, explore links between suspects using the results of the physical and chemical analyses. Also, they work with experts regarding the case to study and examine their findings. Then they reconstruct crime scenes bases on their findings. Being a crime scene technician requires a lot of patients and availability because they have to work a regular day shift and must be available at all hours of the day.They could be called to investigate a crime scene so they must be available to travel to many different locations depending on where the crime scene is located. Crime scene technicians must also be aware of disturbing and unpleasant sights at certain crime scenes. This requires a lot of Important qualities. Critical thinking and problem solving skills are extremely important. Technicians must use their best Judgment to match physical evidence to suspects. Also, this would help assist law enforcement officials with solving crimes. Writing and speaking skills are very important as well. Technician may need to prepare written reports to provide in court as well as demonstrating their findings to the police and other law enforcement employees. Last but not least, technicians must control composure when working on crime scenes. Certain crime scenes may be extremely violent and gruesome and technicians must maintain professionalism when working on the scene. The first thing to do In order to become a crime scene technician is flesh all of the essential requirements.First of all, in order to investigate crime scenes and work in the laboratory, a bachelors degree in most departments are required and an extensive trained by more experienced technicians and they teach them the methods and procedures for collecting and documenting evidence. They are also trained in many other things as well. This includes firearm-analysis training which typically lasts up to 1-3 years and DNA-analysis training that last 6-7 months. Then technicians must pass a proficiency exam before they are allowed to perform independent case work or eave the ability to testify in court.Many crime scene technicians have met the requirements for the police academy as well. However, some larger law enforcement agencies are obligated to have a bachelors degree in natural or forensic science. Technicians who work in the laboratory typically have a bachelors degree in natural forensic science as well. Students who want to become a forensic science technician are required to take extensive coarse work in biology, chemistry and mathematics. Knowing all of the requirements and what forensic science technicians must encounter on a daily basis definitely motivates me to work extremely hard. There are a lot of pros and cons regarding being a technician and I am determined to endure all of the challenges in becoming one. I am fascinated with forensics and working on crime scenes which is why I think becoming a crime scene technician is a good fit for me. My goal is to return to Western Illinois University in the fall and continue my education. Western is an excellent law enforcement school and it would provide education resources to help me follow my dream of becoming a crime scene technician.