Thursday, October 31, 2019

The last king of Scotland Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The last king of Scotland - Essay Example Nicholas Garrigan (James McAvoy), a young Scottish doctor, happens to be in the closest circle of Amin’s followers. In the beginning of the film, Nicholas is inspired by passionate speeches Amin gives at every occasion. People believe Amin hoping that he will lead Uganda to success. Nicholas also sees a prospective leader who can change the country and make it prosperous. Amin produces the same impression on his foreign partners. It is revealed that he comes to power with the help of British ambassadors. Amin promises people that he will take care of them. Ironically, he is aimed at taking care of his life. Uganda’s budget is spent on posh cars, palaces and parties Amin organizes for his friends. He likes people who flatter him. He likes British because he served in the British Army. He has the best cars, modernized hospitals, fashionable clothing while people die from starvation. Amin is an eccentric leader; his personality has something comic and frightening in it. His closest followers have to laugh when he is laughing. His reactions are unpredictable. He likes different medals and titles to such an extent that he claims that he is the last king of Scotland. His tyranny is represented not in politics only but in his relationships with his wives. One of the children of his third wife Kay (Kerry Washington) is epileptic. However, Amin does not allow keeping him in the hospital. He insists that his wife has to lead isolated way of life in order to fact this shameful fact from other people. General Amin is afraid of being killed. He suspects all people that they can poison his food or stand him up. He believes nobody. People who can express their opinion are not appreciated in Amin’s palace. It is the reason why Nicholas is excluded from Amin’s friends circle. His opinions become too humiliating for Amin, who wants to be the best. Nicholas becomes one of the prisoners of Amin’s regime. He is not allowed to leave the

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Criminology 11 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Criminology 11 - Research Paper Example Certainly to a victim of crime the sentencing phase is the most critical part of the justice system. The Canadian system incorporates the input of the victim whenever practical to do so. In this way the sentencing process focuses on addressing the damage inflicted by the offender’s actions and its impact on the victim and to society, instead of focusing exclusively on the punishment aspect. If the person accused of a crime either pleads or is found guilty, the court has many options. Prior to sentencing the judge generally requests a pre-sentencing report which provides information regarding the accused party’s realistic prospects for rehabilitation. It also assesses the potential threat to the community they present. While preparing the report, the parole officer usually contacts the victim to establish the nature and significance of the physical, psychological, financial and material harms they suffered. (â€Å"Victims,† 2011). The Canadian government reformed the Criminal Code in September 1996. Included in these comprehensive reforms is sentencing guidelines that promote reparations for the various injuries inflicted on victims and the community. In addition, the sentencing guidelines are meant to teach the offender a sense of responsibility and appreciation of the hurt caused to the victim(s) and to society. Both of these objectives demonstrate the restorative nature of the sentencing phase in the Canadian system of justice. However, this rethinking of sentencing procedures does not replace but adds to the traditional objectives of sentencing such as deterrence, denunciation and rehabilitation. The addition of restorative sentencing in 1996 was referred to as a â€Å"watershed marking the most significant reform to the law of sentencing in Canada’s history† by the Supreme Court of Canada when considering the Gladue decision. (â€Å"Making,† 2012). The high court

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Climate Change And The Kyoto Protocol Politics Essay

Climate Change And The Kyoto Protocol Politics Essay The Kyoto Protocol under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international agreement that serves to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions by 5.2% by 2012. The Protocol was adopted on December the 11th, 1997 in Kyoto, Japan and then kicked off on 16 February, 2005. This lengthy timespan was as such due to the terms agreed upon in Kyoto, stating that at least 55 parties had to ratify the agreement and the total combined emissions of the ratifying parties had to equal at least 55% of the global production of greenhouse gases. The official rules as to the implementation of the Protocol are called the Marrakesh Accords as they were agreed on at the 7th Conference of the Parties (COP7) in Marrakesh, 2001. All parties that sign and ratify the protocol are committed to reduce emissions of Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Nitrous oxide, Hydrofluorocarbons, Perfluorocarbons and Sulphur hexafluoride. Should the participant countries fail to reduce their emissions to target levels, they are required to engage in emissions trading (the buying of credits from other participating countries that are able to exceed their targets in order to offset the emissions so that the collective target of reduction by 5.2% can still be reached). Under the Protocol, countries have to monitor and keep exact records of trades carried out. They also are responsible for monitoring the progress towards their emission targets and a compliance system is put in place to ensure that parties meet their commitments as well as helping them do so should they have problems. The Protocol is designed to assist countries to adapt to the Negative effects of climate change and it facilitates development and distribution of means that could help counter act the impacts of climate change. The Kyoto Protocol is a crucial movement towards a global fight against the reduction of Greenhouse gases. As of September 2011, 191 countries have signed and ratified the protocol with the United States being the only nation to have signed but not ratified the protocol. The Bali Action Plan The Bali Road Map, formulated in 2007 at the Bali Climate Change conference, consists of a number of decisions that that according to the UNFCCC, represent the various tracks that are essential to reaching a secure climate future. The Bali Road Plan incorporates the Bali Action Plan which charted the course for a new negotiating process designed to tackle climate change. All nations at the conference in Bali acknowledged that there is conclusive evidence of global warming and that it is crucial that humans make every possible effort to reduce the risks of the possible severe impacts that climate change could have. The outcome that was reached recognized that there was a need for deep cuts in global emissions and that the emissions of developed countries must fall by 10-40% by the year 2020. The Cancun Agreements Settled on December 11 at Cancun, Mexico, the Cancun agreements represent vital steps to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and building a sustainable future. The objectives of the agreements included: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions over time so that the global average temperature rise is kept below 2 degrees. To encourage participation of all countries in reducing the emissions with proportionality to each countries responsibilities and capabilities. Ensure international transparency of the actions taken by countries. Making sure that global progress towards the long term goal is reviewed on a regular basis. Mobilizing the development and transfer of clean technology to boost efforts to counter climate change. Provide funds in the short and long term to enable developing countries to take greater and more effective action against climate change. Assist vulnerable people in the world to adapt to the unavoidable impacts of climate change. Protect the worlds forests which are vital to reducing levels of Carbon dioxide and increasing the levels of oxygen. Establish effective institutions and systems which will ensure that these objectives are implemented successfully. (Note: all objectives adapted from http://cancun.unfccc.int/what-governments-will-do-in-2011/ ) The agreements were aimed to move the international action on climate change and global warming forward by primarily bringing countries greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets under the UNFCCC process. COP17/CMP7 COP17 refers to the 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Framework Convention on Climate Change, while CMP7 refers to the 7th session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the parties to the Kyoto Protocol. The COP meets annually to assess and discuss progress in dealing with climate change. They make decisions and adopt resolutions which are all filed in the reports published by the Conference of the Parties. The 17th conference of the parties (COP17) was held in Durban in December 2011. Its purpose and aim was to build on the agreements that were reached during COP16 in Cancun and to establish a new climate change regime. Being a developing country, South Africa would like to see a balance between climate and development initiatives as well as global action that ensures that temperature increases are kept below 2degrees Celsius. Another aim was to have countries design institutions to provide developing countries with adequate and efficient climate support. South Africa also planned on showcasing the way in which climate change affects a developing country as well as the responses it has implemented. At the conference in Durban all goals were eventually reached and decided on with the nations agreeing on: Adopting a universal agreement on climate change A framework for the reporting of emission reductions for developed and developing countries. An urgent support package for developing nations that are suffering the most under the effects of climate change. The package is to include an agreement to form a green climate fund. Canadas withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol On 13 December 2011, Canada withdrew from the Kyoto Protocol stating that it did not represent the way forward for them. It seems that Canada has never stood fully behind the Kyoto Protocol as rather than cutting their emissions by 6%, they were headed for a rise of 16-30%. They stated that should they have decided to remain in the protocol, it would have cost them $13.6 billion in fines or penalties seeing as they failed to reach their target. The Canadian government stated that this would result in a severe blow to their economy and could result in either a mass loss of jobs or approximately an additional $1600 per family in tax so as to accumulate the money to be used for emissions trading with nations that exceeded their targets in order to offset the amount so that Canada could in theory have reached their target. Instead the government ducked out early to avoid any cost and slammed the protocol by stating that it fails to include the worlds two largest greenhouse gas emitters being China and the United States. They said that the protocol only serves to harm hurt Canadas competitiveness and overall it proves ineffective at reducing global emissions. The decision was met with disappointed emotions all over, with environment critic Megan Leslie saying that pulling out only saves Canada from having to report on its failures, she went on to say, What this is really about is the fact that our government is abdicating its international obligations. Its like were the kid in school who knows theyre gonna fail the class, so we have to drop it before that actually happens. Elizabeth May, a life long environmentalist and green party leader went on to say that it is unnecessary and that an agreement could most likely have been easily reached. She is quoted as saying, This is not just big, this is disastrous for Canada, and Im embarrassed to be represented by this government. According to Environment Minister Peter Kent, Canada will now look forward to a more global deal that will incorporate all nations in the fight against climate change and reducing carbon emissions. Canadas withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol means that it is now really only the Europeans that are staying with the Protocol. Canada has now taken a similar stance to the Americans by aiming only to reduce carbon emissions without restricting their growth as a country. As Greenblog states, their withdrawal doesnt change much for the fight against reducing carbon emissions as Canada was never really a part of it seeing as their emissions have increased by 20% rather than decreasing. The blog states that future UN negotiations will certainly become even more polarized and the mistrust created will surely delay, or in worse case even sabotage, efforts to secure a global climate deal for 2020 and beyond. But one thing that is painfully clear now is that a legally binding climate deal does not guarantee countries wont ignore or walk away from their commitments. Their statement is easy to agree with because Canada has now made use of their legal right to walk away. They are now the first country to leave the Protocol and there is no reason why they cant now be joined by more countries. As the Blog states, this opens up a whole new side to the case involving possible instability and distrust between nations which will need to be overcome should the fight against climate change be successful. Countries not in favour of the Kyoto Protocol USA- the USA is not in favour due to the fact that the Protocol does not take into account emissions from developing countries which according to the USA will soon match their own emissions. Australia has not ratified the protocol saying that- it will not ratify the Protocol until the USA does and until developing countries are included. Canada has left the Protocol. Source 1 gives a clear indication of the Participants and the nations not in favour of the Protocol as of 2012. Source 1 Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Kyoto Protocol participation map 2010.png Kyoto Protocol participation map as of February, 2012 Green indicates countries that have ratified the treaty (Annex I II countries in dark green) Brown = No intention to ratify[1] Red = Countries which have withdrawn from the Protocol.[2] Grey = no position taken or position unknown South Africas position on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol The South African Government have taken a stance on climate change that incorporates the fact that the poor will be most severely affected by it even though they have contributed the least to its causes. Due to Africas high level of poverty, they are thus most vulnerable to the effects of Climate Change. The government believes that Climate change is a global problem, which requires global solutions, which can only be attained through the cooperative efforts of all nations and not by a single country working on its own. The government set objectives which are outlined in the National Climate Change Response White Paper. These objectives can be briefly understood as being: To help and support all South Africans affected by Climate Change and to respond to the impacts of it in doing so. To work together with all nations in the international effort to lessen and end the effects of climate change. South Africa agrees with global scientific opinions which have stated that it is vital that the average global temperatures dont rise any more than 2 degrees so as to avoid possible social and environmental consequences. As a signatory of the Kyoto Protocol, South Africa contributes its fair share in the fight to lower the global amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted. However they are classified as a developing country and hence they are not subjected to the more demanding commitments placed on developed countries. South Africa has taken an interesting approach toward the greenhouse gas reduction efforts by stating that they believe these efforts should work in tandem with an approach that empowers the poor thus ensuring human dignity while lowering greenhouse gas emissions. This furthers their initial beliefs of he fact that the poor population on the African continent have contributed the least yet suffer the most. The media has not made much of Africas position on the Kyoto Protocol. What we can however gather from previous sources is that nearly all African countries have signed and ratified the treaty. All countries in Africa are also classified as developing, and hence they are subject to less demanding targets for their emission reductions. What we have also learnt is that Africa, because of its poverty, is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change and hence it is in the continents best interest that all countries support the global problem of climate change so as to lessen the effects it has on Africa as a continent. Africa should be of a similar belief as South Africa, which is that the poor have contributed least to climate change yet they suffer the most. With this belief, the continent will go a long way to the fight against both poverty and climate change. Somerset College and Climate Change In my opinion there are two main areas of Somerset College that may lead to high carbon emissions. The first area is very direct as it relates to the transport the school uses as well as the vehicles that bring students to and from school everyday. Somerset College sees hundreds if not thousands of cars pass through its gates daily and these cars are responsible for releasing carbon monoxide gases into the air. Not only does it harm our environment but it contributes to a high amount of carbon emissions that affect climate change. The second area involves Somerset Colleges Administration and printing system that is responsible for printing many hundreds of pages of paper for school and admin purposes on a daily basis. This indirectly affects climate change as paper is made from trees that produce oxygen and remove carbon dioxide from the air. In this way, carbon emissions wont decrease and hence it makes the school indirectly responsible for letting out carbon emissions. Somerset College have however started moving towards a greener future by printing less and less paper and making everything electronic. They also dont make use of air conditioners and instead use fans. Electricity to certain parts of the school is provided by solar panels and the school has implemented bus services to lessen the amount of vehicles on the property. They have also installed new hot water geysers around the school that reduce energy consumption by nearly fifty percent when compared with the old ones. The school also has an eco-club which ensures that the school is always striving to do what is best for the environment.

Friday, October 25, 2019

The Style of Beowulf Essay -- Epic Beowulf essays

The Style of Beowulf  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   Ursula Schaefer in â€Å"Rhetoric and Style† gives an overview of the history of criticism of style:    Examination of the poem’s rhetoric and style started out with investigating common Germanic features. On the other end of the scale, attention was given to a possible Latin influence on the poem’s style. Recently, there have been reconsiderations of authochthonous traditions linked mainly with the analysis of larger narrative patterns (105).    Beowulf ‘s stylistic features will be examined in this essay, along with the perspectives of various literary critics.    T. A. Shippey in â€Å"The World of the Poem† expresses himself on the subject of a point of style in the Old English poem Beowulf: â€Å"The poet reserves the right to say what people are thinking; he does not, however, regard this as ultimately important† (39). It is true that the reader is forced to draw conclusions, from the words and actions of the characters, about the thoughts of the characters. This is one of the many preferences of the author which contribute to the style or â€Å"how† writers say what they say (Abrams 303).    Joan Blomfield in â€Å"The Style and Structure of Beowulf† takes note of two important features of the poem’s style – the irony and the tendency to antithesis:    This tendency to antithesis, frequently verging on paradox, and the constant play of irony are but stylistic manifestations of those movements of the poet’s thought which shape the very stuff of the poem (Blomfield 58).    Antithesis abounds: The poem has a reference to the burning of Heorot included in the description of its first glories, and the prediction of family strife with Ingeld while yet all is well in ... ...oks, 1977.    Donaldson, E. Talbot. â€Å"Old English Prosody and Caedmon’s Hymn.† Beowulf: The Donaldson Translation, edited by Joseph F. Tuso. New York, W.W.Norton and Co.: 1975.    Magoun, Frances P. â€Å"Oral-Formulaic Character of Anglo-Saxon Narrative Poetry.†Ã‚   In TheBeowulf Poet, edited by Donald K. Fry. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1968.    Schaefer, Ursula.   â€Å"Rhetoric and Style.† In A Beowulf Handbook, edited by Robert Bjork and John D. Niles. Lincoln, Nebraska: Uiversity of Nebraska Press, 1997.    Shippey, T.A.. â€Å"The World of the Poem.† In Beowulf – Modern Critical Interpretations, edited by Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1987.    Tharaud, Barry. â€Å"Anglo-Saxon Language and Traditions in Beowulf.† In Readings on Beowulf, edited by Stephen P. Thompson. San Diego: Greenhaven Press,1998.      

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Music in renaissance society Essay

The Renaissance was all about rediscovery. The term itself â€Å"renaissance† actually means rebirth. The period represented a time that was rich in personal expression and innovation. As society transcended with the times, so did many aspects of daily life, including music and arts. In fact many of the popular hymns of today came from the Renaissance period. One such masterpiece is â€Å"Ave Maria†, composed by Josquin Desprez (Fuller). â€Å"Ave Maria† reflected many social traits of the time it was composed. It also reflected the type of music that was developed during the Renaissance. It is no wonder why Josquin Desprez is recognized as the most successful composer of his time. Through the music he created, he was able to showcase the real essence of his time. During the Renaissance period a number of different types of music emerged. Aside from the popular Mass music played in churches, the period introduced Motets, and also saw the beginnings of secular music. Since the Renaissance was all about personal expression, it was natural that many different forms of music were created. At the same time because it was about this time that printing was first invented, the spread of music became much easier. Copies of different compositions were easily produced allowing for more people to hear them in different parts and stages. One of the most popular music innovations of the Renaissance period is the Motet. It is a type of music that uses pervasive imitation that simply means the blending of different vocal ranges into one harmonious combination. The Motet highlights vocals more than instruments, a distinct trait of Renaissance music. The Renaissance was essentially a time when composers began putting focus on the emotions that were derived from the lyrics of the songs. Vocals were emphasized more than the instruments. People began relating more to music because of the meaning and message different compositions relayed. The Motet can also be considered a musical revolution at that time because most of the Motets presented new complexities unknown to music prior to the Renaissance. They also attract a personal connection between the composer, the performers, and the listener. â€Å"Ave Maria† by Josquin Desprez is one of the most popular Motets that were composed during the Renaissance period. This Desprez masterpiece remains one of the most played hymns in churches today. This Motet is comprised of four distinct voices, a very rare choral work even today. In fact â€Å"Ave Maria† is considered one of the most outstanding Motets of all time because of this characteristic. Interesting enough this musical trait essentially depicts the culture of that time. It showed how people were starting to truly celebrate their individuality without completely losing their connection with the rest of society. While the Renaissance period ushered in many new ideas, people during that time remained traditional when it came to things concerning religion. â€Å"Ave Maria† is essentially a prayer set to music. In fact many of the popular music that rose during this period were church music. This spoke of how people gave high regard to religious practices and the church. Josquin Desprez wrote the quintessential Renaissance music in â€Å"Ave Maria†. From its deliberate and serene sound to its harmonious weaving of voices, and a theme that celebrated the times, it is one of the most important pieces of music of the period. It reflected the culture change that was going on with its groundbreaking style of music. It was also very loyal to the things people held in high regard during those times. And while it was a product of musical mastery, â€Å"Ave Maria† became one of the most influential music of the Renaissance period because of its enduring message and meaning that connected well with the people. Work Cited Fuller, Richard. Renaissance Music (1450-1600). 2010 January 14. Retrieved June 7, 2010 from http://www. rpfuller. com/gcse/music/renaissance. html

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Competitive Strategy Southwest Airlines Essay

The domestic US airline industry has been intensely competitive since it was deregulated in 1978. In a regulated environment, most of the cost increases were passed along to consumers under a fixed rate-of-return based pricing scheme. This allowed labor unions to acquire a lot of power and workers at the major incumbent carriers were overpaid. After deregulation, the incumbent carriers felt the most pain, and the floodgates had opened for newer more nimble carriers with lower cost structures to compete head-on with the established airlines. There were several bankruptcies followed by a wave of consolidation with the fittest carriers surviving and the rest being acquired or going out of business. Analysis of the airline industry To determine the profitability of the airline industry, we will do an industry analysis using Porter’s five-forces framework. This industry analysis will help us in understanding the size of the Potential Industry Earnings (PIE), and how much of this th e different participants can extract. Rivalry among competitors There is intense rivalry among different airlines. In the pre-deregulation days, airlines competed mostly on things like service, meals and in-flight movies etc., since prices were mandated by the Civil Aeronautics Board. In the post-de-regulation era, this rivalry has taken on the form of severe price competition, with airlines ruthlessly undercutting each other with fare promotions. There are a number of airlines making the airline industry fairly crowded. Even though the 3-firm concentration in 1992 was 50%, and the 8-firm concentration was 92%, the fact that the airlines competed on price made the industry much more competitive than the numbers might suggest. The service the airlines sell (air transport) is pretty homogenous, and there is not much product (in this case, service) differentiation. The major differences between the services offered by different airlines include the total time spent on an airplane and the number of connections. While time-sensitive business travelers may prefer shorter, direct flights, most leisure t ravelers don’t see this as a big differentiator when the price is factored in. Buyers (both business as well as leisure travelers) have low switching costs and there is very little relationship-specific investment that travelers make. Although the airlines made an effort to create customer loyalty by offering frequent flyer programs, most of the competitive advantage this provided was quickly eroded by almost all airlines offering such programs. Moreover, leisure travelers are motivated to shop around for the best price. The airline industry is also characterized by very high fixed costs. The majority of the operational costs (labor, landing fees, cost of aircraft etc.) are fixed regardless of how full the planes are, and the marginal cost of adding an extra passenger is almost negligible (just the cost of food plus an insignificant amount of extra fuel). Thus, on the margin, every extra seat sold contributes directly to the bottom line. This motivates airlines to undercut each other till price approaches marginal cost. Intense competition also lead to excess s eat capacity in several markets. This, combined with periods of declining demand because of macro-economic factors, and the high fixed costs and low marginal costs make the airline industry very price competitive. Things like access to Computer Reservation Systems and innovative pricing coupled with yield management were competitive advantages for a little while before they become a staple of being in business as an airline. Entry Entry into the domestic airline industry is relatively easy since there are no significant barriers to entry. Inputs such as aircraft maintenance, food service, ground services, reservations etc., could be outsourced. Airplanes could be leased, thereby defraying large initial capital investments, and rights to use gates could be leased at market rates. The minimum efficient scale was not very high since airlines could choose to compete in a few markets, and costs were more or less proportional to the number of flights offered and the number of markets the airline wanted to operate in. The main consideration for profitable entry seemed to be the ability of airlines to fill their airplanes above the breakeven point. In an industry fraught with price competition, brand identity and reputation did not have significant value either. In the airline industry, exit costs are not very high either. Planes could be easily redeployed to other markets, or sold off, and gates and landing rights could be sub-leased to other carriers. Substitutes There are a number of substitutes to air travel, especially over short distances. These include taking other modes of transportation such as driving, taking the train etc., or not traveling at all. The use of technology (like WebEx, NetMeeting, video-conferencing etc.) that facilitates remote virtual collaboration is becoming a good substitute for business air travel as well. Supplier Power The primary inputs to the airline industry include airplanes, labor and fuel. There are only two major manufacturers (three at the time of the case – Boeing, Airbus and McDonnell Douglas) for large commercial aircraft. This, along with the relationship specific investment t hat the airlines make in the form of trained mechanics, existing stock of aircraft etc., is likely to give the aircraft manufacturers some supplier power. A mitigating factor for this supplier power is the lumpy nature of aircraft sales, where there are a few high-value orders placed by airlines with deliveries spanning several years. Labor such as pilots, cabin crew, ground personnel, gate agents etc. are typically unionized and have some bargaining power. However, many airlines especially in the post-deregulation era have used the threat of Chapter 11 bankruptcy to re-negotiate unfavorable labor contracts. Aviation fuel is a commodity and its prices are determined largely by market forces and geo-political factors. Buyer Power The power that airline customers have varies based on the options available to them and the origin-destination city pair. As the General Accounting Office report in 1989 found, fares were 27% higher in monopoly or duopoly hubs than at competitive airports. Sophisticated yield management techniques and competitive pricing have allowed airlines to extract significant consumer surplus in smaller remote markets whe re travelers don’t have much choice and for direct long-haul flights that are preferred by business travelers. Even though there are pockets where some airlines have pricing power, the overall airline industry in characterized by significant buyer power stemming from the intense price competition among airlines. Industry profitability Exhibit 1 provides a summary of this industry analysis. As highlighted by the preceding analysis, the domestic US airline industry is not very profitable. Even though the Potential Industry Earnings seem high (given the volume of air travel and the higher willingness to pay and inelasticity of demand of business travelers), airlines are not able to capture much of these potential earnings. Several factors including intense price competition, excess capacity, high fixed and low marginal costs, along with low barriers to entry and exit, moderate supplier power and significant buyer power contribute to low industry profitability. Southwest’s success for twenty years In spite of a rather gloomy industry outlook, Southwest Airlines has managed to be successful for over twenty years. Southwest has outperformed its competitors by pursuing an operational model that is very different from the traditional larger carriers. Southwest was able to create a differentiated product in an industry dominated by undifferentiated offerings. Southwest took a simple, no-frills approach to flying with no meals and no assigned seating. It flew out of secondary airports where landing fees and costs of operation were much lower. These secondary airports also typically had less traffic so passengers could get to and from the airport with greater ease. Southwest broke the hub-and-spoke model and instead opted to fly frequent flights point to point. By avoiding the hub and spoke model, Southwest did not have to make the massive infrastructure investments that a lot of its competitors had to make. Not having to wait for feeder flights at hub airports, along with the 15-minute turn-around time of aircraft allowed Southwest to better utilize its fleet by keeping its planes in the air for a longer time (11 hours per day as opposed to the industry average of 8.5 hours per day). Southwest also owned only one model of aircraft – the Boeing 737, and was therefore able to achieve economies of scale in stocking components, and training mechanics. All of these measures gave Southwest the lowest cost per Available Seat Mile of 7.1 cents. As a consequence, Southwest had a much lower break-even point than it’s competitors and was able to make money even at lower load factors. With this unique operational model, Southwest not only kept costs down, but also provided customers just what they were looking for – cheap, efficient, timely transportation with high-quality service from a cheerful, motivated staff and without having to wait for connecting flights at hub airports. Southwest offered the lowest prices to price sensitive airline passengers for whom cost was a significant decision criterion. Southwest’s culture Herb Kelleher leveraged one of Southwest’s key resources- its employees to create a set of organizational capabilities, which in turn gave Southwest a competitive advantage. Kelleher institutionalized a culture of having fun while working, and inspired a deep sense of loyalty to the company fr om his workforce. Southwest’s workforce is 90% unionized, but owns 11% of the company. This led to compatibility in incentives between Southwest and its employees. Southwest’s employees did a variety of jobs in contrast to the other major carriers where employees had designated jobs and were reluctant to do anything beyond their strictly defined duties. Having a motivated workforce helped Southwest turn an aircraft around in a record time of 15 minutes. The beauty of Southwest’s operational model was in how each of their steps reinforced the other. A simple, no-frills approach with short haul flights and standardized equipment leading to lower costs, which in turn lead to lower fares in an industry which was extremely price competitive. A well-compensated, highly motivated workforce whose incentives were aligned with those of the company also ensured that things were operating at peak efficiency. A huge part of Southwest’s success in the 20 years since its inception can be attributed to this simple, but remarkably effective model. Threats to Southwest’s continuing success Threats to Southwest’s continuing succ ess include the threat of entry from other low-fare airlines and spin-offs from major airlines that seek to imitate Southwest’s model. With the airline industry bleeding with red ink, the government might step in and start reregulating the industry. In general, regulation and price-setting by the government interferes with free market forces, and breeds inefficiency by creating misaligned incentives and dead-weight losses. Any such re-regulation and government mandated prices would severely hurt Southwest. Other threats to Southwest include the loss of its existing competitive advantages. In particular, any event that triggers the loss of employee morale might lower the operational efficiency at Southwest and erode its cost advantage. Southwest’s go-forward strategy Southwest has designed its strategy around its most important resources and capabilities. It should thus limit its scope to those activities where it has a clear competitive advantage. Southwest should try to grow by replicating its success to new markets and achieving greater economies of scale and organizational learning. Southwest should not try to change its model and try to compete with other traditional airlines by flying long-haul flights and setting up hubs. Doing so would dilute Southwest’s focus and prevent it from leveraging the competitive advantages that have served it well for over two decades. In order to continue to succeed and grow, Southwest has to be able to sustain and build upon its existing competitive advantages. Southwest must focus on making its resources and capabilities (that give it a huge competitive advantage) durable, difficult to identify / understand, and hard to transfer and replicate. Durability: Southwest must focus on making its capabilities more durable than its resources. The airline industry is notorious for its back-to-back boom and bust cycles, and long-lasting advantages such as brand recognition and reputation just do not exist in this industry. Thus, Southwest must constantly focus on making its existing first mover and other advantages durable by keeping its employees motivated and keeping its focus on offering simple, no-frills air travel. Transparency: This refers to the speed with which other firms can imitate Southwest’s strategy. While running an airline is not rocket-science, Southwest does seem to have cracked the code in terms of figuring out the right mix of operational procedures and employee motivation to run a successful profitable airline. To enhance its competitive position, Southwest must focus on capturing and codifying its learning so that its formula for success is harder to identify and understand. Transferability and Replicability: Southwest must focus on making its capabilities less transferable and replicable. Thus, even if a competitor were to acquire the same resources (airplanes, employees etc.) that Southwest has, its capabilities must be hard to transfer and replicate. Southwest has created a unique organizational routine, and has acquired the ability to motivate its people to operate with consistently outstanding cost efficiencies and high levels of service. To build on this, Southwest must continue to focus on its core competencies, reinforce its core values and must continue to align the incentives of its employees with those of the company. In an industry with cut-throat competition and limited profit-making potential, Southwest has successfully pursued a resource based approach to creating sustainable competitive advantages. To continue to succeed and grow, Southwest must focus on identifying and filling resource gaps and continue to offer a differentiated product by exploiting its past organizational learning and its unique characteristics.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Free Essays on The Kats Meow

This well crafted story intertwines ones personal struggles with identity and the battle one undergoes while suffering through a significant personal loss. Margaret Atwood’s, â€Å"Hairball† is based around the main character Kat and her personal struggles with three major conflicts: The conflict within the society in which she lives, the conflict with her romantic interests (specifically Ger), and finally the physical conflict she faces with her own body. The story begins when Kat goes in to the doctor to have an ovarian tumor removed. When the tumor is removed it is was as†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"Big as a coconut† (21) and contained red hair, â€Å"There were little bones in it too, or fragments of bones; bird bones, the bones of a sparrow crushed by a car. There was a scattering of nails, toe or finger. There were five perfectly formed teeth.† Kat names the tumor â€Å"hairball† and places it on her mantelpiece for all to see. The â€Å"hairball† seems to reflect her vulnerable nature and her need for children but the personal struggles Kat endures in a society embedded in superficiality have intern caused an emotional imbalance in her personal life. Throughout the years, Kat, an "avant garde" fashion photographer, has altered her image, even her name, to suit the circumstances and the era. Over time Kat has fashioned a seemingly strong and impenetrable exterior, but as Kat’s life begins to disintegrate we dis cover that the strong exterior is just a facade devised to protect a weak and fragile interior. From the beginning of Kat’s life, she was at odds with her environment. When she was a child she was a child, she was Katherine, a doll like representation of what her mother wanted her to be, â€Å"†¦romantic Katherine, dressed by her misty eyed, fussy mother that looked like ruffled pillows†¦Ã¢â‚¬ As a teenager she was Kathy a representation of what others wanted her to be â€Å" a bouncy round faced girl with the gleaming freshly washed hair and en... Free Essays on The Kat's Meow Free Essays on The Kat's Meow This well crafted story intertwines ones personal struggles with identity and the battle one undergoes while suffering through a significant personal loss. Margaret Atwood’s, â€Å"Hairball† is based around the main character Kat and her personal struggles with three major conflicts: The conflict within the society in which she lives, the conflict with her romantic interests (specifically Ger), and finally the physical conflict she faces with her own body. The story begins when Kat goes in to the doctor to have an ovarian tumor removed. When the tumor is removed it is was as†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"Big as a coconut† (21) and contained red hair, â€Å"There were little bones in it too, or fragments of bones; bird bones, the bones of a sparrow crushed by a car. There was a scattering of nails, toe or finger. There were five perfectly formed teeth.† Kat names the tumor â€Å"hairball† and places it on her mantelpiece for all to see. The â€Å"hairball† seems to reflect her vulnerable nature and her need for children but the personal struggles Kat endures in a society embedded in superficiality have intern caused an emotional imbalance in her personal life. Throughout the years, Kat, an "avant garde" fashion photographer, has altered her image, even her name, to suit the circumstances and the era. Over time Kat has fashioned a seemingly strong and impenetrable exterior, but as Kat’s life begins to disintegrate we dis cover that the strong exterior is just a facade devised to protect a weak and fragile interior. From the beginning of Kat’s life, she was at odds with her environment. When she was a child she was a child, she was Katherine, a doll like representation of what her mother wanted her to be, â€Å"†¦romantic Katherine, dressed by her misty eyed, fussy mother that looked like ruffled pillows†¦Ã¢â‚¬ As a teenager she was Kathy a representation of what others wanted her to be â€Å" a bouncy round faced girl with the gleaming freshly washed hair and en...

Monday, October 21, 2019

Mississippi Burning, directed by Alan Parker Essay Example

Mississippi Burning, directed by Alan Parker Essay Example Mississippi Burning, directed by Alan Parker Paper Mississippi Burning, directed by Alan Parker Paper Essay Topic: Film Mississippi Burning is a thought provoking film, which explores racism and segregation between black and white people, in a small southern town, in the United States of America. The film is set it the late 1960s, during the Civil Rights Act, where the southern community of America were unwilling to change their lifestyle and include black citizens into the society. This lead to economical and social oppression, whereby poverty in the south increased and a rise in violence and crime, meant that it was a dangerous place to live, especially for black citizens. The film contains many symbols and underlying meanings which the average audience would not understand. The opening sequence of any film, clearly establishes the mood and setting of the film. It needs to be interesting and powerful in order to captivate the attention of the audience. In Mississippi Burning, the opening scene establishes the mood as being one of anger and hatred. There is an establishing shot of a dull and dilapidated washroom, with two sinks, one of better quality than the other. Symbolically, the vertical drain pipe acts like a division between the two sinks and the two races. A white man enters the shot and uses the sophisticated wash basin, whilst a young black boy washes his hands in the unclean sink. This immediately informs the audience about what the film is going to be about. Also some of the audience, who did not experience segregation, get an insight into what life was like during this period of time. Alan Parker uses lighting to great significance. The opening shot is dull and unlit, and significantly the light through the window, shines on the sink, which is used by the white citizens. This has an unconscious impact on the audience, and they realise that the white citizens are being favoured in this town. However what the director is also trying to portray, is the fact that the economic recession has had an impact on the whole society. The black people are only slightly poorer than the white people, because the two societies are using the same dilapidated washroom. This tells us that the whole community is not as socially or economically advanced as the northern areas of America. The background music is also symbolic. The soundtrack suggests that the film is of a serious nature, because it creates an atmosphere of grief by the using a lament Blues song, originated by black African-Americans, who were enslaved by white people and used this type of music to express their feelings. This further cements the racism link. The images of the next establishing shot, a burning church combines excellently with the music to make the scene very depressing and dull. The church has a moral message. It suggests that these people are against Christian values and suggests that this is a place of hell. The burning cross is an oblique reference to the Ku Klux Klan, a group of white people who terrified black and Jewish people. As the church finally collapses the camera zooms in making the experience more intense. Alan Parker then uses several camera techniques, which allows the audience to take in the symbolic information. The camera pans up and the flames die down, and there is a black background with white text saying Directed by Alan Parker. I think that the director combined these images of the washroom and burning church; to make the audience tense before the action unfolds. An important aspect of the opening sequence is the fact that there has been no dialogue so far, which sustains tensions and the silence during the opening scenes creates a menacing atmosphere. The whole screen then becomes black and the next establishing shot is a car in the black night, with two-thirds of the screen still black, representing the menacing night. The background music has stopped and we can hear the real sounds of the cars. We then get a close-up shot of the unknown faces in the car; we cant distinguish who they are at the moment, although it seems ironic in a sense that there are two white people and one black person in the same car. In the next shot the camera angle expands to show that the road is in the middle of nowhere and that there is nobody to stop an attack from happening. The camera then switches into the car where the lighting is very dark but the characters seem quite relaxed. It seems too calm, and I think the director is leading the audience into a false sense of security, because the mood of this scene doesnt seem to fit with the outline of the film. Then a drum beat starts, which symbolises the Death March, and adds to the narrative tension. It prepares the audience for the death of someone, possibly the foreigners in the car. The camera then changes to a long shot and the audience spots another anonymous car, following the first car. This second car, an iconic truck of the southern white American citizens, has its lights turned off because they want to remain ominous. The audience feel unsympathetic and sinister towards the mysterious people in the truck, because the viewers are unaware of who they are and what they look like. The director then increases narrative tension, by increasing the sound volume, as the truck approaches the saloon car. This also increases the narrative pace of the film and the audience know that they are about to witness something dramatic. Then all of a sudden, the tension is cut and a police siren starts to wail, and a side shot of the two cars shows that the truck behind is a police car. As the two men get out of the police car, the unsure audience are eager to find out if these men are really policemen, but the director uses lighting very cleverly to hide the identity of the two men, which adds mystery and suspense to the atmosphere of the scene. The viewers know that everything in the shade is underhand. The short scenes and good use of cutting allows there to be an increase in narrative tension and pace of the film. The scene seems somewhat interrogational, where the policeman shines a light on the faces of the people in the car. As soon as the man who got out of the car talks, his personality becomes apparent. His appearance makes him seem psychotic and menacing and he uses impolite and informal speech. He has a southern accent and comments on the smell of the person in the car, calling him a nigger loving Jew boy. The audience immediately dislike this vulgar, racist and aggressive character. In complete contrast, the northern citizen is polite and the director wants to portray him as a young, idealistic, civilised man. He refers to the police officer as Sir, after he realises that he is an aggressive man. The audience feel sympathetic towards the driver as he is polite, but also because he has feminine features. The black man in the back knows whats happening, and tells his friend not to look at the face of the southern man, but its too late and he shoots the driver. The audience hears three shots and assume that all three men in the car are dead. Although there are no images the sounds of the racist killers laughing about the atrocities that they had just committed, brings a sad and hateful mood to the opening sequence. Again, there is a pause of a couple of seconds, with just a black background, allowing the audience to reflect on the events that have just happened. There were some very strong images on show in the previous scenes which are vital for the rest of the movie. It prepares the audience for the rest of the film, and it gives them knowledge of the historical, social and economical context of the film.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Create A Winning Registered Nurse Resume!

Create A Winning Registered Nurse Resume! When you’re looking for a new position as a Registered Nurse, you want to create a resume that perfectly summarizes all you have to offer.  Of course, if you listed everything you’ve done as an RN it could fill a book–not just 1-2 pages. Let’s look at where you can start when creating a resume for RN jobs. OrganizationKeeping your resume tightly organized will make it easier hiring managers to read and follow. Create headers for important categories: Certifications, Professional Experience, Education, and Additional Skills (selling points that don’t fit into any of the other categories).Your Professional ExperienceBy far, the largest and most important section will be your Professional Experience. Nursing duties vary from job to job. That’s why, when describing your responsibilities at current and former workplaces, you’ll want to give as much specific detail as possible. Don’t just write in generalities (â€Å"Worked with ma ternity patients.†)–instead, list the exact procedures you mastered within the maternity ward. Get down to the nitty gritty. In which systems are you proficient? How many patients did you handle per shift? In which subspecialties are you well-versed? Paint a picture for prospective employers of exactly what you did at every job you list.What Makes You A Perfect Fit?Of course, space is limited. Can’t decide which specifics you should highlight? Your first reference should be the job description of the position you hope to get! What precise skills are they looking for, and what in your past history matches up with this? Put these overlaps front and center, and most importantly, be sure to change up your resume for every different job application. One resume does not fit all!Before a prospective employer sees you face-to-face, your resume has to represent all you have to offer. Think about what in your professional past makes you a perfect fit, and then get it down on paper!How to Write a Resume for a Registered Nurse JobRead More at www.careeraddict.com

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Customer satisfaction and loyalty Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Customer satisfaction and loyalty - Assignment Example Once they enter the doors, it is the job of the front line employees (those who meet and greet the customers first) to keep them coming back by providing excellent customer service. Abildtrup states that businesses cannot depend on their employees to understand how to deal with customers on their own; instead, they must have the training they need to get the job done. Employees must understand that they are one of the reasons why people do come back to a business. If someone goes to a business for the first time, they are looking for something in particular that only that business can provide for them at that time. If customer service is genuine and happens quickly, people will remember this experience; they will also remember a bad experience.  Buchholz (2010) identifies four levels of interest that employees have who work in any business. These four levels are:1.  The survival level where the employee comes to work to do their job. They cannot be depended on to take on addition al work because they are only there to get a paycheck.2.  The acceptance level employee is open to new jobs and they believe in the philosophy and the goals of the organization. They are productive employees but they do not like to do more work, and if something else comes along, they probably will leave.3.  The merit level employee loves the company and adds to the company's mission. They love their job and they are the people who actually make sure that things are done. They are loyal employees.

Friday, October 18, 2019

The Cultural Clash of a Wedding between a Catholic Priest and a Female Essay

The Cultural Clash of a Wedding between a Catholic Priest and a Female Buddhist - Essay Example Culture plays an important role in every society especially when it comes to religion and gender roles. This aspect has had a major impact on how various people from cultural backgrounds and different gender go about their duties within the society. Ingram states that some cultures and religious doctrines are to a certain degree non-conforming therefore, a major cultural clash can occur in the event of the interaction of the two religious setups that may profess extreme doctrines (6). This is especially so when it involves the incorporation of gender as each religious doctrine associate men and women with specific gender roles. The main aim of this essay is to discuss two distinct cultures and identify the cultural clash that may arise when a wedding between a female Buddhist and Catholic father take place. Religious and cultural doctrines under the Roman Catholic Church Believed to be the earliest Christian Church, the Catholic Church like any other Christian Church, believes in cre ation and life after death. The church practices a number of doctrines that place women at a certain level within the society. Worshipping I the dioceses and parishes, the Catholic hopefuls, men and women included, partake of the mass and to a certain degree, confine their religious teachings within the Bible. The worshippers believe in trinity and the resurrection of Jesus Christ and they confirm this by baptism and partaking of the Holy Sacrament. Most worshippers believe in religious symbols of Jesus and Mary as a way of connecting to God. When it comes to gender and sexuality issues, the Catholic Church is especially restrictive to women holding positions of power like the papacy and fatherhood. In addition, men who have devoted their lives to Christ ought not to marry (Ingram 22). Religious and cultural doctrines in Buddhism Unlike their Christian counterparts, the Buddhists believe in the Three Jewels, often referred to as the Three Refugees. The Buddha, the Four Noble Truths, and the Four Reminders, talk about human life and the essence of his existence although some of the details contained therein may significantly differ with Christian beliefs (Ingram 24). When it comes to gender roles, there is perception that women ought to be equal to men although there are certain discrepancies. The monks and nuns ordain the nuns while only the monks ordain themselves. According to the Buddhist philosophy, enlightenment of a person can elevate their social status irrespective of their gender, a perception that has infiltrated several Buddhist cultures through western modernization (Ingram 36). The clash between the Roman Catholic and the Buddhist culture Although there are some elements of resemblance between the Buddhist and Catholic belief systems, significant inconsistencies surface across the across the cultural divide of the two cultures. According to Ingram, certain similarities do exist especially pertaining to the exclusive importance accorded to life wit hout due regard to the specific gender. These include the right to life, refraining from sexual misconduct, practice of high morals, and the belief in a supernatural being, which has spiritual reign over all that inhabit the earth (26). However, there are notable differences between the two cultures that may lead to a scenario of a cultural clash, in case circumstances force the two cultures to interact (Ingram 32). The major one being that generally, Buddhists are polytheists while the Christian Catholics are monotheists. While Christians follow one Almighty God, most Buddhists have specific gods for certain incidences of life, for example the god of life, the god of marriage, and the god of the skies. Christians do believe in the good old story of creation of mankind and life after death while to the Buddhists, it is a bit twisted in that they do not regard the story of creation while at the same time ignoring what happens after life on earth as

Awareness of business systems methodologies appropriate to the Essay

Awareness of business systems methodologies appropriate to the analysis of complex international logistics and supply chain systems - Essay Example The first stage as given by Dong, Xu and Song (2013) in analysing a problem situation is to clearly identify the problem or opportunity. In the context of ElMesmary, Song and Dinwoodie (2014), the problem identified can be said to be issues with the strategic/tactical and operational planning problems involved in the container terminal logistics processes in Alexandria. ElMesmary, Song and Dinwoodie (2014) observed that strategic/tactical planning problems arise at the first stage of the planning process for container terminals as planners seek to tackle terminal design problems as part of the overall technical feasibility and performance. Operational planning problems have also been noted to come about when logistics processes are being taken in the container terminals (ElMesmary, Song and Dinwoodie, 2014). The second stage of using HSA in analysing problem situation has been said to involve the description of the situation in its current state via the use of diagrams and open discussion. Based on Azevedo, Ferreira, Dias and Palma. (2009), the following diagram can be used to describe the identified problem with strategic/tactical and operational planning. Based on the diagram given above, the main source of the problem can be said to come from the Alexandria container terminal, which is transmitted in the form of multimodal interfaces and IT systems. As the problem manifests, it becomes further amplified with bottlenecks in the container terminal logistics process which act as noise source. The diagram also shows that the problem identified is received by the strategic/tactical and operational planners and further dropped with the container terminal managers as destination (Kim, 2005). The third stage with the use of the HSA has been said to involve the process of describing the situation as it would ideally be. In this regard, it can be said that the strategic/tactical and operational planning was expected to

Thursday, October 17, 2019

TD 1 MGT - 491 Strategic Importance of Human Resource Management Essay

TD 1 MGT - 491 Strategic Importance of Human Resource Management - Essay Example employees are made an elemental part in the operations, which is done to cultivate a working environment that promotes productivity, which is the ultimate goal. In comparison to the findings, the elemental role of strategic approach in organizations as per the module is coming up with the most practical designs that help the companies to meet their employees’ needs and at the same time promote the achievement of their business goals. Ideally, most organizations operate by following outlined strategies and to achieve them strategic human resource concepts must be integrated and balanced effectively in order to avoid conflicts and achieve the projected results. In addition, it requires advanced thinking and planning as well as the development of human capital, which is the case in many organizations (Deb, 2006). As a case example, human capital development has been made a key component to employees’ motivation and retention in SpartanNash in Michigan. Apart from being facilitators in human resource functions, the employees are strategic contributors to the company’s great success. This has been achieved by increasing and developing the value of human capital in the employees and preventing downsizing, which in turn has enabled the company to accrue distinct competitive advantages over other companies (Belasco & Horowitz,

The Complexities of Gendered, Sexualized and Racialised Violence and Essay

The Complexities of Gendered, Sexualized and Racialised Violence and the response of criminal law and criminal justice - Essay Example Similarly, the general establishment is that women contribute to a minor share of all crimes that are less professional in character and, less grave ensuing in their lesser representation in the criminal justice system. The position, therefore, is that gender can be of a larger statistical importance in the differentiation involving criminals and non-criminals as compared to any other trait. Gender and sexuality in criminality and criminal law justice The aspect of gender is an extremely serious issue in children upbringing, with distinction found in the way boys and girls socialize and stereotypical idea concerning gender suitable behaviors for females and males. This is position is revealed in socialization and is to blame for the criminal activities of females and males, relatively than biologically associated sex dissimilarity. While female socialization considered highlighting compliance, the deviant activities of males put up with and even overlooked and exempted. Objectives an d behaviors expectant for males considered to have a lot in agreement with criminal actions, with individual distinctiveness encouraged in the course of socialization into the masculine gender position, like aggression, considered exciting and tough, considerations necessary for participation in crime . Crime is considered as representatively masculine and maleness as providing the reason for crime. The position is that feminine violent behavior frequently judged further severely than masculine aggression since it reveals a superior deviation from the feminine social norms. Violent women, particularly, have to be consequently mentally not well, or imitating men since, it deviates from the feminine norms. The argument puts forward the belief that feminine offenders socialized wrongly into the masculine gender roles4. A number of explanations for this position have been obtained from the principal that feminine criminal activity has increased in tandem with the better liberation of women and an obvious masculinization of female behavior in general. Amplified offending considered foreseeable as hurdles that confined male privileges fell apart and socially defined sexually categorized roles became progressively more alike. Women’s amplified participation in criminal activities considered then as a purpose of them more often taking on conventionally male personality. Socializa tion, Biological and masculine clarifications of feminine offending cling to their center that criminal activities is a male action and that by meaning consequently, feminine offenders ought to be more masculine. Even though, the position may appear more naive, the concept has confirmed pleasantly clear-cut particularly for the media, the notion has shown to be a compelling justification for even current evident increases in feminine criminal involvement. It is imperative to note that the inspiration for offending is possibly diverse for offenders doing different types of offences. An example is that property offenders further probably motivated by financial achievement, brutal offenders likely driven by expressive desires. In consideration to masculinity, an individual might hypothesize that aggression and violence in essence involve a superior level of masculinity, undoubtedly portraying a greater deviation from all right

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Safety issues Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Safety issues - Research Paper Example The safety issues need to be given the proper attention that shall pave the way for a better understanding of the society and the people at large so that they can interact on a one to one level and bring success for the society as a whole. The changing world scenario in the last decade or so has seen that terrorism has come out in the open. This has meant that the world order has come down badly. The uproar has been negative more than anything else and which has meant that the security and safety issues have come up for all the wrong reasons. This suggests the negativity of the society as a whole and its people in meticulous who are now more concerned than ever because they know that in order to spend a good life, they need to ensure that their near and dear ones are following the safety dictum – not to be present at the wrong place at the wrong time. What is even more distressing to know is the fact that the safety issues are being given more emphasis now than ever before. The people have started to enact ways and means through which their safety is going to be guaranteed. They are very serious about such nuances and want to ensure that their seriousness regarding this aspect is understood by the people around them and the ones who are in positions of authority. If this is done, it makes the entire society feel comfortable with one another, and gives the people the much needed mileage that they require in entirety. The safety issues are being understood properly by the people at large. This is because everyone wants to live in peace and harmony, and thus ensure that there is a great amount of security for the people who reside in varied parts of the world. But then again, the locals of a particular area do not want their lives to get disturbed through the agents that bring about unsafe avenues (Bladek, 2011). These safety issues are also being dictates by the government because it wants the people to live easily and without much fuss. If the

The Complexities of Gendered, Sexualized and Racialised Violence and Essay

The Complexities of Gendered, Sexualized and Racialised Violence and the response of criminal law and criminal justice - Essay Example Similarly, the general establishment is that women contribute to a minor share of all crimes that are less professional in character and, less grave ensuing in their lesser representation in the criminal justice system. The position, therefore, is that gender can be of a larger statistical importance in the differentiation involving criminals and non-criminals as compared to any other trait. Gender and sexuality in criminality and criminal law justice The aspect of gender is an extremely serious issue in children upbringing, with distinction found in the way boys and girls socialize and stereotypical idea concerning gender suitable behaviors for females and males. This is position is revealed in socialization and is to blame for the criminal activities of females and males, relatively than biologically associated sex dissimilarity. While female socialization considered highlighting compliance, the deviant activities of males put up with and even overlooked and exempted. Objectives an d behaviors expectant for males considered to have a lot in agreement with criminal actions, with individual distinctiveness encouraged in the course of socialization into the masculine gender position, like aggression, considered exciting and tough, considerations necessary for participation in crime . Crime is considered as representatively masculine and maleness as providing the reason for crime. The position is that feminine violent behavior frequently judged further severely than masculine aggression since it reveals a superior deviation from the feminine social norms. Violent women, particularly, have to be consequently mentally not well, or imitating men since, it deviates from the feminine norms. The argument puts forward the belief that feminine offenders socialized wrongly into the masculine gender roles4. A number of explanations for this position have been obtained from the principal that feminine criminal activity has increased in tandem with the better liberation of women and an obvious masculinization of female behavior in general. Amplified offending considered foreseeable as hurdles that confined male privileges fell apart and socially defined sexually categorized roles became progressively more alike. Women’s amplified participation in criminal activities considered then as a purpose of them more often taking on conventionally male personality. Socializa tion, Biological and masculine clarifications of feminine offending cling to their center that criminal activities is a male action and that by meaning consequently, feminine offenders ought to be more masculine. Even though, the position may appear more naive, the concept has confirmed pleasantly clear-cut particularly for the media, the notion has shown to be a compelling justification for even current evident increases in feminine criminal involvement. It is imperative to note that the inspiration for offending is possibly diverse for offenders doing different types of offences. An example is that property offenders further probably motivated by financial achievement, brutal offenders likely driven by expressive desires. In consideration to masculinity, an individual might hypothesize that aggression and violence in essence involve a superior level of masculinity, undoubtedly portraying a greater deviation from all right

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Sources of Finance Essay Example for Free

Sources of Finance Essay In this assignment, I am going to look at different ways to finance a new start-up business and also for existing businesses who want to expand in the future. After reading this, you will learn the costs of different sources of finance and also their advantages and disadvantages. A source of finance is divided into two sections which are short term and long term. Short term is often referred to money that is borrowed for up to 12 months. Many businesses would use this to fund day to day activities such as utility bills or staff wages etc. Long term is generally over one year and used for things such as buying property or expanding a business. In this assignment it is going to look at how existing businesses and new businesses will use these types of borrowing as a source of finance. Long term finance Owner’s capital refers to the amount of money the owner puts into the business themselves. This is regarded as long term finance as the money will stay with the business as long as it exists. This could be savings, money received in result of a redundancy payment or money left to them in a will. The advantage of this source is that it doesn’t have any interest because it’s the owner’s money so you don’t need to pay anyone back unlike bank loans. In comparison to loans, this is generally more convenient because you don’t need to worry about paying back the bank and the interest rates. This source is more flexible than others because there is no restriction on the money so the owner can spend it on whatever they like. However, the disadvantage of this would be if the business fails then you are likely to lose your investment. It also comes with an opportunity cost. This is defined as what you could have done with the money; for example, you were going to use it to buy a house but you contribute it to starting up a business, this is the opportunity cost. If businesses do not contribute the owner’s capital then it is unlikely they will receive any loans from banks or other investors. This is because if you were an investor and you saw a business that isn’t willing to take the risk and contribute their own money, you wouldn’t invest your own money in them. Depending on how much the owner’s capital is going to be, this can be mixed with bank loans to go towards a business start-up. For example, I am going to open a Chinese take-away and invest  £10,000 into the business but my priority is to buy  utensils and refurbish the building. I could use my investment into refurbishing and since I contribute my own money I could get a loan from the bank to buy my utensils. This source of finance is suitable for new businesses to get them up and running however it can also be used for existing businesses who want to expand. Venture capital is the money that is provided to businesses by investors. These investors are named venture capitalists who could either be a group of wealthy individuals or a company who make their money by investing on businesses. They are often seeking for new or growing businesses who they believe have potential and hope to develop them. There are some advantages for this source; it is a good option to new businesses especially for the ones who don’t have much operating history so it’s harder for them to secure a bank loan. The money the venture capitalists contribute is usually more than what banks are willing to lend. Businesses are also interested in but the contacts these wealthy people have which could help their business expand in many different ways. For example, in Dragons Den, Peter Jones offers  £50 000 to a business for 50% of the company which is 25% more than what the business was prepared to give away however with Peter being a wealthy and respectable entrepreneur they gave him what he wanted. They believe Peter has the contacts which could help their business expand rapidly. If a business could secure a venture capital, it is more beneficial than a bank loan because there are no interest rates however the disadvantage is you risk losing some independency to the investors. They calculate how much money they are willing to invest and the percentage by considering the risk and reward. Usually, a new business is considered high risk because they have limited operating history but if they are believed to have potential then the investors will ask for a high percentage of the business for it to achieve a high profitable reward. It is likely the venture capitalists will make decisions for the company. If businesses are willing to sacrifice part of their business then this source is recommended because it could broaden the company. Bank loans are regarded as long term finance because the money can be borrowed up to 25 years or longer in some circumstances. All loans have an  interest rate attached to them. The interest rate is often calculated by how much the business borrows. The more you borrow the more interest you are going to pay. For example, if I borrow  £9000 from Barclays bank, I will be charged 4.3% APR whereas if I borrow  £30000 I will be charged at 6.9% APR. It could affect your loan if the interest rates go up so more businesses take out a loan on a fixed rate of interest where they won’t be charge any extra costs if the interest rates increase. If a variable rate loan is taking out, the interest rates can change which makes it harder to manage finance. Bank loans could be used by new and existing businesses; a new business can use it to buy equipment and an existing business could use it to expand the company for example, buying new premises. An existing business will tend to be able to borrow more than a new business. This is because they have been operating for longer and banks generally find them more reputable. If these companies wish to borrow an excessive sum of money then extra security is needed to ensure the money is paid back. Often banks will ask the business to use their property as a security for the loan. It means if the business fails then the bank could recover the money from selling their property. This is usually referred as a second mortgage. Most businesses use this source to their advantage because it is convenient and the money could be borrowed for a lengthy period. For some businesses, it could be looked at as a better option than securing a venture capital because you aren’t losing a share of the business for money but you also have decision on where the money could be spend; you have more independency with the money. The disadvantage is the interest rate could be quite high whereas if an owner’s capital was available, a repayment is not necessary. Also, if your business fails and you have taken out a second mortgage you could lose your property. Generally, bank loans work out quite expensive in the long run however it is a good way to raise finance for your business. A mortgage is a loan used for purchasing a property and could be paid back in the space of 25 years or sometimes more. The property then becomes the borrower’s collateral which needs to be paid off as they agreed with the lenders. If there is a failure of payment then the lenders can repossess the property and sell it at an auction to recover the money. This source is common for both new and existing businesses that need a mortgage for their  work premises. The advantage of mortgages is the fact they are usually more manageable and affordable than renting because the repayments are spread out over a lengthy period. This also depends on the type of the property and other factors such as location and price. Here is an example, in 2008, house prices dropped in Northern Ireland; therefore buying a house was cheaper. In addition, getting a mortgage was easier and cheaper than renting. Also, once you have paid off your mortgage, you own the property and it could be worth far more than what you paid for it. Often, interest rates on mortgages are lower than a loan because the property is used as collateral. Mortgages fall into two main categories; fixed rate and various rates. Fixed rate is where the interest stays the same over a number of years and various rate means the interest can change. This source also comes with many disadvantages; it is not as flexible as renting because if you want to move out of the property, it is not as easy as cancelling a contract with your landlord, you will have to sell the property which can be difficult. Maintenance is one of the problems for instance, if the roof leaks you will have to fix it yourself whereas a rented property it can be repaired for you. The main disadvantage is that you have to keep up with your repayments or you can end up losing your property. For example, during the credit crunch there was many people made redundant and therefore they struggled to make repayments so their house was repossessed. Although the interest rate is lower on mortgages, it does carry high risk as you are repaying over a long period of time. For a new business it would be advisable to start off with a bank loan to establish a steady flow of finance into a business before considering a mortgage. Retained profits are defined as capital which is kept in the business. The owner(s) can decide what they want to do with the companies’ profits. This could be for personal use, paid out to shareholders as a dividend or withdrawn as wages for sole trader’s also known as owner’s drawings. If the owner decides not to touch this money it is referred to as ploughing back the profits or organic growth. This is regarded as important long term finance but only relates to existing businesses. There are many advantages of retained profits; the money which is left in the business rather than paid out as a dividend is the opportunity cost for shareholders. The money  is reinvested and helps the company expand and could be used for buying new equipment or machinery. It is an advantageous source of finance because it doesn’t have any interest rates attached. It also has a lot of flexibility because the company has control of what is left in the business and what is paid out to dividends. This source of finance has some disadvantages. It could lead to the company getting criticized for restricting the value of dividends and holding on too much money for the business. If retained profits don’t result in higher profit then it could cause arguments amongst shareholders and you risk losing them. The shareholders may think the money would be better in their own hands rather than the business. In order to use this source accordingly, you must maintain good relationships with the shareholders and show that the business has potential to succeed. This is highly recommended for existing businesses because as long as the company exist while making profits, money will be reinvested each day and it could help with the growth of the business. Selling assets is a common source of long term finance for an existing business. An asset is categorized as any item owned by a business or individual which could range from land to machinery. Business may sell some assets because they have no further need for them. By selling assets the company can raise money to fund other projects. For example; selling a JCB digger because there is limited work on in the construction site and it is taking up too much valuable space. These assets can turn into cash which could help the business with advertising or paying off debts. Often businesses sell a successful division of their business to another firm because they believe there is a declining market for their product or service. While it is still going good they will sell this in order to use the money to expand in a new and growing market. The advantage of selling an asset is you get your money back straight away. Generally, this is a cheaper source of financing your business unlike bank loans where you have to worry about the high interest rates. For many, selling an asset is a good way to reduce or eliminate debt. Although, this seems like a convenient method, the cost of selling assets must be considered. In some cases, you won’t receive full market value for the goods but this depends on how quick you want to sell them. The assets could grow in value faster than what you can yield  with the cash and also it could come with tax consequences. This means if you buy an asset and later sell it on for profit, you could be landed with what is called ‘Capital Gains Tax’. You could end up with less money than you expected. This financing source mostly applies to existing businesses because they would have built more assets than new businesses starting up and would most likely have more debt on their hands. For new businesses, getting a bank loan or owner’s capital would be more suitable. Overall; this is a recommended source of finance for existing businesses as it carries little risk in the procedure. This benefits a lot of businesses because they are usually selling something they no longer require, in order to use the money on something which can help their company grow or eliminate debt. For example, you are investing on a delivering service for your company and plan to get a loan for a van. Your warehouse has several forklifts so you would plan to sell one in order to buy a van. To conclude, you aren’t losing money because you are using the money from the asset to start a new service; to expand your business. Share capital is the capital of a company divided into equal amounts known as shares. There are two companies’ which share capital relate to which are private limited companies, (LTD’s) or public limited companies (PLC’s). In a private limited company, these shares are often sold to family firms but could be sold to family and friends. However, if they want to issue shares, they must go through an agreement with all the shareholders. On the other hand, a public limited company can sell shares on a stock exchange to members of the public. This means anyone could buy shares which results in them having a wider source of capital. A new business is usually classed as a private limited company and may have as little as two shareholders. However, if they expand over time and cannot issue any more shares they might consider about becoming a public limited company. This process is known as ‘floating the business’ which has to go through a number of administr ative and legal procedures. A public limited company can raise more because they can sell their shares on the stock exchange. If they want to expand their business but need  £100 million then they can sell  £100 million shares at the stock exchange for  £1 each. This needs to come with a prospectus which is very important because it gives the investors a better  understanding of the company before they commit to buying shares. You will tend to find information such as; how the business is managed, what does the business specialist in, etc. Businesses often use the services of a merchant bank such as Morgan Stanley or Merrill Lynch who specialize in share floatation. This means if all shares are not sold, they will buy them so the business can still raise the money they need. This is a type of insurance policy and you can imagine the cost it has attached to it. Share capital is attractive and very helpful in raising long term finance for both new and existing businesses. The main advantages are; you will have commitment from your shareholders because like the owner they also want to see the business succeed. In terms where a plc becomes successful then they will most likely sell more shares to the public. However, if there comes a time when they want to raise more money, they can issue cheaper shares to existing shareholders through a rights issue’. If the company is doing well, and needs money for expansion, this is a quick and cheap way of raising finance. In comparison to loans, this source is cheaper; all you have to do is pay the shareholders their dividends each year instead of repaying high interest on bank loans. This financing source is similar to venture capital; if you have the right business angels and venture capitalist, they can bring useful contacts, valuable skills and experience to your company. This could help with business strategy planning, new products ideas or expansion plans. Although, there are some disadvantages too. Depending on the investor, you may lose some independency of the decision making in your business. For a potential investor to want a share of your business they will want to see reports and forecasts of the company; you may have to provide information for the investor(s) to monitor. This can be time consuming and may take management focus away from core business activities. Overall, share capital is a secure way to raise finance for your company. The money which is invested will stay within the company as long as the company exists and if it is a growing company then it could get a good reputation selling shares through the stock exchange. Short term finance A Bank overdraft is when someone makes an agreement with the bank to spend  more than what they have in their account but the money will need to be paid back. This type of borrowing is common for both new and existing businesses that experience cash flow problems. The money a business receives from sales and the amount they spend is called cash flow. There are two types of overdrafts; authorized and unauthorized. An authorized overdraft is where you are allowed to borrow up to a limit agreed with the bank. An unauthorized overdraft is where you are exceeding your authorized overdraft limit or going below zero in your account without agreeing on an overdraft facility; this should be avoided at all costs. This source of finance does carry an interest rate but only for the amount overdrawn and the length of time overdrawn. For example, if an overdraft facility allows you to borrow up to  £5000; you need  £3000 on the 1st July to pay rent until you get a payment of  £4000 from a customer on the 4th July, you will only be charged interest rates on the  £3000 for 4 days you borrowed. Some banks will charge a fee for customers to use this facility. A bank overdraft is suitable for companies that need the money for a short period of time whether it’s for paying staff wages or utility bills. Although, they must ensure they have money coming in to cover the cost of the overdraft as it can carry high interest rates; usually higher than bank loans. It can help avoid cheques bouncing and returned direct debit. This is where there are insufficient funds in the account to make a payment. If this happens, the business will have to pay bank charges and it can also damage relationships with suppliers as they will see the business as untrustworthy and they may not want to supply them with any more stock. The main advantage of a bank overdraft is the fact that is there when you need it and doesn’t cost anything (except for a small fee). You only need to borrow what you need. It can also help maintain the cash flow within the company and allows the business to make essential payments while chasing their own payments. There are many disadvantages too, as mentioned before overdrafts can carry higher interest rates than bank loans which make them expensive for long term financing. In some cases, you may have to secure your business assets to get an overdraft and failing to make repayments can risk you losing your assets. The main disadvantage and probably most important one is, if you find yourself going over the overdraft limit it would be classed as an unauthorized overdraft where you will be charged high interest rates and bank charges. If the  business keeps using over their limit, it could damage their reputation with banks although they can get the limit raised but this is not advisable. If this is done repeatedly the banks will assume the business has financial issues and they can refuse further use of the overdraft service. This source of finance is useful if lending short term but a business should never rely on it. Trade credit is the time given to a business from the supplier to pay for their stock. It is used in business to business (B2B) transactions. Trade credit is usually 30 days although this can be different depending on the organization. If you agreed 30 days credit with your supplier, you can sell the stock and have the money in your bank account before you pay the supplier. This means you are getting an interest free loan for 30 days. Usually small suppliers prefer to sell their products only to one big company instead of many small companies; this makes payments more manageable. An example is Cravendale farm only sells their milk to Asda so they will get one invoice from them at the end of the credit period. This is better than having multiple invoices from different supermarkets which can make cash flow more difficult. However, big companies like Asda often use this to their advantage and pay the supplier back late. They usually get away with this because Cravendale farm know Asda are their only customers so they cannot afford to lose them. Trade credit is a very important source of finance and has many advantages. It does not carry any interest rates therefore it is better than using bank overdraft. It can save you from spending money in your account to buy stock and with that money you can use it elsewhere in the business. For new businesses it may be hard to get trade credit because they have limited operating history but if they shop around they might find a supplier that will offer them a small credit limit to begin with. If they can make payments on time and prove to the suppliers they are reliable then it is possible the credit limit will increase. However the downfall of this source is, if you do not pay the supplier back on time you will get a bad reputation in the industry. If you constantly make late payments then the suppliers can withdraw this facility and ask for cash payments. It will also be hard for you to get new suppliers because they may be aware of your reputation of late payments; this should be  avoided at all costs. Trade credit is a good source of finance being interest free and it can help you build good credit history. This will be useful for getting bank loans or using the overdraft facility. Business credit cards are useful for short term borrowing. It is similar to using trade credit. If you pay for goods with a credit card, you will receive a statement once a month with the amounts spent in the last month. You will be given a time to pay for what you spent. If the amount is paid off in full you won’t have to pay any interest charges. Although, you do have the alternative of paying a minimum amount in which case you will have to pay interest on the remaining amount owed. This source of finance is recommended for new businesses as it gives them time to receive money from sales before they have to pay their expenses. It is also a good option for existing businesses but new businesses will tend to use it more to their advantage because it helps to maintain their cash flow and makes it easier for them to get started. An example of this source is if I have just opened a Chinese take away then I can use my business credit card to buy stock. Once I have sold all my stock and I can pay the amount in full then I will get an interest free loan. Business credit cards have some advantages. It helps track purchases because you will get a statement each month which shows what the business has spent money on. You can get interest free credit if you pay the balance by the due date. With a business credit card being so convenient it does have its disadvantages. The card can be fixed with high interest rates and if you make late payments or failure to make a payments it can resolve in the interest rate to rise. This can have a significant impact on the companies’ credit history and rating. This source is very useful although you should avoid making late payments because if you constantly have debt on the credit card, it can cost the business more money by paying interest rates. You will have to clear all debt before you can take advantage of the interest free credit again. You should always make payments on time to take advantage of this source. Failure to make payments can cause the business to get bad credit which means it will be harder to use other borrowing facilities in the future such as bank loans and it can harm the businesses’ reputation. A business should take full advantage of trade credit and credit cards for short term financing. They are both very similar and suitable for new and existing businesses. However, I recommend using trade credit over credit cards because repayments are more flexible to a supplier than to a bank. I mean if you pay your credit card bills late you will be charged with interest but some suppliers are flexible with their payment and they can possibly excuse a late payment. Although, you should always try to make payments on time to avoid damaging company reputation and having bad credit history. Retained profits are considered to be a cheaper source of finance than bank loans and mortgages. It is the best option available to help an existing company expand because it doesn’t carry any interest rates which means more capital for the business. If the business fails after taking out a bank loan and they can’t repay the loan, they can destroy their credit rating, making it difficult or impossible to get loans in the future. If retained profits are used and the business fails then it is just the companies’ investment that will be lost. For a new business, venture capital is considered to be the best source of long term finance. It is not only the investor’s money that is important but their skills and experience is crucial and could be the difference between a successful business and an unsuccessful one. If you are planning to start up your own business you need an owner’s capital in order to secure a bank loan. Once the business starts operating it will be able to secure higher loans and take advantage of the retained profits. The retained profits can help the company expand without carrying any interest rates meaning more capital for the business. Trade credit comes in when the business is set up and you want to start selling products. You should shop around and find a good supplier that will offer you this source and if it’s used appropriately you will find it very convenient. These sources should help you succeed in your business. Investopedia. (2014) Opportunity Cost. Available at: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/o/opportunitycost.asp Barclays. (2014) Your Loan Options. Available at: http://www.barclays.co.uk/Loans/P1242557963420 Money Supermarket. (2014) Advantages and disadvantages of mortgages. Available at: http://www.moneysupermarket.com/mortgages/advantages-and-disadvantages/ Gov.uk. (2014) Business finance explained. Loans. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/business-finance-explained/loans Tutor2u. (2012) Source of Finance – Retained Profits. Available at: http://tutor2u.net/business/finance/retained_profit.html eHow. (2014) Advantages and disadvantages of sale of assets. Available at: http://www.ehow.co.uk/info_8615419_advantages-disadvantages-sale-assets.html Tutor2u. (2012) What is share capital? Available at: http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/qa-what-is-share-capital NI Business Info. (2014) Advantages and disadvantages of equity finance. Available at: https://www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/advantages-and-disadvantages-equity-finance Wikipedia. (2014) Trade Credit. Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_credit Biz Help 24. (2014) Overdraft finance Advantages and disadvantages . Available at: http://www.bizhelp24.com/money/business-finance/overdraft-finance-advantages-and-disadvantages.html Gov.uk (2014) Business finance explained. Overdrafts. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/business-finance-explained/overdrafts Money Supermarket. (2014) Advantages and disadvantages of credit cards. Available at: http://www.moneysupermarket.com/credit-cards/advantages-and-disadvantages/ Go Compare. (2014) Beginners guide to credit cards. Available at: http://www.gocompare.com/credit-cards/credit-cards-explained/