Case study Organizational Behavior Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Organizational Behavior - Case Study Example It will analyze various aspects of the scenario, including the conflict, differences in personality characteristics of the two main role players, communication status, perception and projection, and the attribution theory. Susan and Julie both work at the same university. It is Julie’s responsibility to complete reports for some of the other workers in the company, including Susan. There was a report that Susan wanted completed by a certain time that Julie did not complete. This caused an eruption of strife. Susan complained that Julie needed close supervision to stay on task and that she was not performing as well as the others who had similar position in the company. Julie found Susan to be overbearing and difficult to communicate with. Both of them decided to take their complaints to Dr. Griffiths, the department chair Julie is the laid-back, middle-classed office worker who likes to keep banker’s hours. In addition to her career she has a family that she is devoted to as well as many other activities that she engages in to assist the community. Clearly from her level of community activism, Julie is a person that believes in compassion and helping others. It is this belief that is going to play a major role in her conflict at work. Also adding fuel to the conflict is the fact that Julie does not like to take her work home. She enjoys her job and the level of pay that she receives, but does not want to let the job be the major focus of her life. Susan, on the other hand, is a type A personality. She works long and hard at her career, leaving little time for anything else. Due to the high workload that Susan takes on regularly, she is often hard to contact. Her time is usually always devoted to something work related. The focus of Susan’s life is climbing up the corporate ladder. Her belief system has helped her to obtain the level of success that she has accomplished thus far and she believes that others

Peasants Relationship With The Pharaoh History Essay

Peasants Relationship With The Pharaoh History Essay The great story of ancient Egypt has existed from thousands of years; it took place around 7000 B.C- 30 B.C. At first Egypt was divided into two kingdoms, and had different ruler. These two kingdoms developed along the Nile River. The first one was in Upper Egypt, which known as the White Crown; while the second one was in Lower Egypt, which known as Red Crown. Then, in about 3200 B.C the Pharaoh of the north captured the south and united these two into one. The name of pharaoh was King Narmer or Menes. As we already knew, Ancient Egypt was one of the superlative civilizations in the past period because of its geographical condition, social system, and educational system. Egypt is located in the Northeast corner of Africa. It is the great position; also there is the longest river in the world, the Nile River, flows through the country into the Mediterranean Sea. In the history of ancient Egypt, Egyptians people divided their owned country into two areas. The first one was called Deshret (Red land) because that area is full of deserts and surrounded Kemet (Black Land), moreover these deserts prevented ancient Egypt from invading armies and separated ancient Egypt from neighboring countries. The second one was called Kemet (Black Land) because the Nile floods were so flexible. Since the Nile River flooded every year between June and September, Nile reached rich soil from central Africa and left it on the banks of its valley, and its areas of low flat land in Mediterranean. All of these stuffs produced such an excellent alluvium that gave a priority to the ancient Egypt on their agriculture and their life as well. The Nile River was the giver of life bec ause Nile not only provided water, food, and transportation to stabilize the Egypts lives, but also provided fertile land, which facilitated them to grow their crop and raise their animals as well. The people in Egypt society were structured in a hierarchical system like a pyramid that pharaoh stood at the top, then the ruling class and the middle class, and the bottom one was peasants and slaves. The majority of Egyptians were peasants. This term paper is going to describe more about peasants lives in ancient Egypt. What did they do? How did they survive in the ancient time? What was their relationship with the Pharaohs? And what were their religions and beliefs? Peasants Daily Lives in Ancient Egypt Working Condition Like the rest of the ancient world , the Egyptian people lived an agricultural life . Such a life seemed so far removed from the common stories heard about Egypt the glory of its treasures and pyramids Egypt s glorious past connotes an image of ancient Egyptians living more advanced , luxurious lives , as if all they do was to gather treasures and eat in abundance well , in some sense they are true , but only for their rulers , noble families , and priests . The rest of the Egyptian population of long ago , especially before the 1800 s , were poor peasants who have to rely on the predictability of the Nile flooding to plant and harvest crops . The peasants (fellahin ) however , were very much connected to the glories of Egypt for it was their constant , persevering unacknowledged , often despised , and always ill-rewarded toil as tiller of the land that made possible all the achievements of Egypt ensuring for it a leading position among the nations of preclassical antiquity Needless to say , it was the sweat of the fellahin that produced the great pyramids , jewelry and treasures to Egypt , that provided the luxurious living of their Pharaoh and ruling families and that made possible all of Egypt s military conquest , commercial expansion and influence and prestige abroad Peasants also played an important role to build Pyramids for Pharaoh. While the flooding season was coming, the Nile River flooded the ground and made the filed more fertilized. This was the time for the peasants help to build the Pyramids. On the other hand, peasants had no right to own the land even they were the one who plant the crop to supply for everyones need. They had to pay tax to the government and this made more complicated for them to release from the poverty. Livelihoods In ancient Egypt, peasants were considered as the lowest level in social classes. Peasants lived in mud brick houses with a bad condition. The house of an Egyptian peasant was well designed to stay cool. The main point of the house was the kitchen, which contained an oven to bake bread and a mill to grind flour. The stoves did not have chimneys and instead the smoke vented directly through an opening in the roof. The inside of the house was simply decorated but did not lack of comfort; the floors were usually covered with reed mats; the walls were painted and sometimes were also covered with colored linen. The furniture was made of wood and most houses had wooden stools, tables and raised beds. The ancient Egyptians gave great importance to hygiene and appearance. They bathed frequently in the Nile and used soap pastes based on animal fat and chalk. Sometime because of famine, they were forced to eat papyrus while the upper class live with a better condition, with enough food to eat and a comfortable lifestyle. Marriage was consensual and usually between one man and one woman, although polygamy was not forbidden. Males usually married at the age of 18 to 20 while females married between the ages of 15 and 18. Egyptians usually married cousins or other family members. Pharaohs were known to marry their sisters, but this was not common practice among the peasant class. Marriage to non-relatives was discouraged. The sage Scribe Ani, wrote during the New Kingdom: Beware of a woman who would is unknown in your city. Do not look at her as is she were better than the others, do not know her physically: she is like a very deep water which we do not know the currents. The ideal of Egyptian family life was for a man and a woman to settle down together and make a home and have children. Most Egyptians wished to have at least one boy. Leisure Activities In spite of their activities on agriculture and building temples for the pharaoh, peasants also had their leisure activities. Most of the activities were outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, and playing river games. Peasants hunted water birds, desert animal, etc. They caught some animals such as gazelle, oxen, hares and ostriches (Leisure Time in Ancient Egypt, 2001). The weapons that they used for hunting were bows and arrows, lassos, and throwing sticks. Moreover, peasants enjoyed fishing during their free time. Due to their location nearby the Nile River, the canals and the lakes, peasants liked to go there after they finished their works. They went fishing in the Nile River, where it was rich of fish, chatted with their people, and collected fish for their family. Besides, the river games were also their leisure activity. For instance, boat racing, there were boats that started in the same direction and there were two or three men for each boat with poles. After they had won, they knocked all the men off a boat, and then they would turn it over. This was one of the most interesting games played in ancient Egypt. Furthermore, the Egyptians also enjoyed music. There were many religious celebrations and secular festivals that provided entertainment and relief from work throughout the year. Music and dance were a part of daily life, with the flute and the harp being commonly used. Later the trumpet and the oboe were also introduced to Egypt, and the Egyptians also adopted the cymbals, tambourines and drum, as well as the Asian lute. Peasants Relationship with the Pharaoh The relationship of the Fellahin to the Pharaoh / government was more of a dictatorship a religious, physical and intellectual enslavement that was carried on for almost three historic centuries. Like other early civilizations, Egypt had its own specific class system. At the top of the class stood Pharaoh and his royal family, then directly next to him were the priests and priestess, and then below them were the nobles who fought Pharaoh s war. A small percentage of merchants, artisans and scribes made up the next rank. Then occupying the bottom of the ladder is the majority of the population It was very hard for them sometimes. We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt. We were slaves to Pharaoh. Of course, the relationship is a personal relationship tough. Religions and Beliefs The beliefs of gods and life after death were the center aspect of life in ancient Egypt. Egyptians were polytheistic They worshiped a lot of gods, except during the reign of Akenaton. The ancient Egyptians had many different gods and goddesses; totally there were around 2000 gods and goddesses. Gods and Goddesses Besides worshiping pharaohs as their god, peasants also worshiped other gods and goddesses. They believed those gods had a lot of impacts on their birth, daily life, and death. Each god or goddess had his/her own role to provide peace and harmony or harmfulness to every single life of Egyptians. Some of the gods and goddesses in ancient Egypt are Anubis, Amun, Thoth, Hathor, Bes, Isis, Khnum, Horus, Ptah, Osiris, Sebek and Ra. However, the three most important Amun-Re was regarded as one of the most well-known and important gods in ancient Egypt. He was known as the symbol of the sun, king of the gods, life creator, and the bringer of light. Amun-Re came form the combination of two gods Amun, god of air or hidden, and Re, god of the sun. Osiris was worshipped as the god of living and vegetation among the peasants. The majority of peasants in ancient Egypt were farmers that depended on growing crops near the Nile River in ancient Egypt, moreover; He was regarded as the one that controlled the annual flooding of the Nile River that fertilized the land, where peasants grew crops. However, Osiris was also known as the god of afterlife and the dead. Rituals and Ceremonies Egyptians concerned about life after death. When a person died, they always practiced burial ritual in order for the person to be happy and harmonious afterlife. One of the most important ceremonies was the opening the mouth ceremony that was leaded by a priest. At the entrance of the grave, the mummy was lifted to on upright position. The priest utters the words of ritual, touch the mummy; and moreover, he puts water and incense in the coffin. Meanwhile, a daze (a tool used for smoothing rough-cut wood) was lifted to the lip of mummys face. The daze was raised in this twice. This ceremony is very essential because it makes the mummy could breathe and speak in the next life. In addition, the priest could utter the words to reanimate the mummys legs, arm and the other part of the body. One ritual that can preserve the dead body is Mummification. In this process, the internal organs of the dead body were removed. Then they fill the body hollow with fragrant spices and perfume. After 70 days, the body was wrapped in bandages. Furthermore, they decorate the body with gold and jewels that cover around the head and shoulder of the mummy. Besides these rituals, other rituals were performed to help prepare for the kings final journey. The kings mummy was kept inside the Pyramid with enormous amount of food, drink, furniture, clothes and jewelry, which were to be used in the afterlife. After the kings funeral, the king becomes god. Conclusion

The Gift I Cherish :: Personal Narratives Turkey Essays

The Gift I Cherish Right before Haldun went back to Turkey, he gave me a good luck charm that he brought here from home. The good luck charm was a hand made gift Haldun had received from his parents before coming here. I thought that this was the greatest thing ever, especially coming from one of my best friends. To make any sense of this, I would have to go back about nine months ago. It was the first day of school when I had my study hall in the cafeteria, I noticed a student which resembled an adult in his late 20’s. I knew he couldn’t be over 21 so I knew he couldn’t be in his late 20’s. he had hair over his ears, and a scruffy beard. I didn’t know him but I knew the people he was sitting with, so I proceeded to walk over to the table and say hi to the kids that I knew. The next day I also noticed him in my Government class. I had already sat down so I didn’t get to sit next to this anonymous person. So the next day in government, I made it a point to sit next to him and I did. I proceeded to introduce myself and we got to talk for a little and it was obvious he was foreign, but from where remained mysterious. He also told me his name was Haldun. After a few classes we got a chance to know a little bit about each other and I found out he was from Turkey. I also saw him in the weight room and we started talking a lot more. It was fun talking to him so I could always make fun of his English because it was so poor. The one day after we both finished lifting I saw him waiting at the school exit, so I asked if he drove and he said that he drives in Turkey but he isn’t allowed to drive here in America. Then he said he thought he missed the activity bus and he would have to wait for the next one to arrive. So I then told him that I drive and I could take him home.

Issues of Conflict in Juno and the Paycock

The theme of conflict is a brooding and dominant characteristic of the playwright Sean O'Casey's acclaimed masterpiece Juno and the Paycock, first performed at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, in 1924. The events' portrayed in the drama unfold against the backdrop of the sectarian violence of the Irish Civil War, waged from1922-1923, in an Ireland not yet healed from many recent years' of armed political struggle with the British authorities' who for centuries' had controlled the governance of the island.This modern armed struggle began with the Easter Rising of 1916, carrying through to the events' of The Irish War of Independence, fought from 1919-1921, which resulted in the signing of the Anglo Irish Treaty of 1921, the root of the current aggression in the play being engaged in by former comrades' on the streets' and in the homes' of towns' and cities' across the nation. Pivotal to the action of the play are the Boyle family, terribly poor, working class tenants' living in the tenement s' of Dublin, the slums' of the period, in conditions' comparable with the worst known anywhere in Europe.The narrative explores their efforts' to carry on with their normal daily lives' in the tumultuous, often explosive conditions' they are encompassed by. To accurately discuss every aspect of conflict that exists' within the pages of, arguably, O'Casey's finest work would be a monumental undertaking and unfortunately would require significantly more time than this discussion could allow. The purpose of this essay instead, will be to examine the conflict existing in the relationship, and acted out within the pages of the play, between two of the central characters', â€Å"Captain† Jack Boyle, the self deluded patriarch of the household, and his long suffering wife, the titular Juno.The aim of this work is to dissect the dynamics' of their relationship, examining the roles' they have adopted that lead, despite a temporary lull in hostilities during act two, to the irrevocabl e breakdown of the marriage, helping Juno to the final courageous decision to place the welfare of her daughter and unborn grandchild before that of her layabout, thankless, disaster of a husband, a truly radical and virtually unheard of decision for a woman to take in the male dominated, patriarchal  society of that time.From the outset of the play we are confronted with the animosity that exists between Jack and Juno. In the opening scenes of act one, we are introduced to Juno who has just returned from an early morning shopping trip with breakfast items for the not yet returned Jack, who has apparently stayed out all night with his ne'er do well, parasitic drinking buddy Joxer Daly. The tone of her exchange with Mary, her daughter, in reference to Jack's absence is unmistakeable.Mary has just informed her mother of her father's failure to return to which she replies, â€Å"Oh, he'll come in when he likes; struttin' about the town like a paycock with Joxer, I suppose.† Th is is a woman unimpressed with her missing husband to say the least, the reader is left with the impression that not only will Jack feel her wrath when their paths' cross, Joxer will receive a lashing also should he surface alongside his nefarious companion! Act one progress’s to the point where the trio meet. The exchange is filled with vehemence from the wrathful Juno, determined to exact her revenge on the lackadaisical duo presented before her.Joxer and the â€Å"Captain† have entered the tenement believing Juno long gone to work, but secretly secluded behind hangings separating her bed from the living quarters she has listened to both men insult and berate her in her believed absence. She emerges from her seclusion and unceremoniously chases the vagrant Joxer from her home despite the protestations of a perplexed Jack, who in cohorts with his partner in crime, has tried to convince his wife the two loafers' have the potential of work that afternoon. Juno retorts t o Jack, â€Å"Look here Mr. Jacky Boyle, them yarns won't go down with Juno. I know you an' Joxer Daly of an oul' date, an' if you think you're able to come it over me with them fairy tales, you're in the wrong shop.†The exchange continues with Jack unable to get a word in his own defence and Juno revelling in her dressing down of the â€Å"Captain†. His sparse responses', when allowed, are pleading and full of self pity, â€Å"it ud be betther for a man to be dead, betther for a man to be dead.† is as useful a response as we receive from Jack as Juno's tirade against him continues.The reader is left in no doubt throughout the exchange that this morally indolent little man is no match for his wife. We are also left in no doubt as to the roles occupied by the couple within the relationship at this point. Jack is a fantasist, he  refuses to accept his responsibility to help provide for his family, he refuses any and all offers of work, claiming chronic pain when genuine opportunities arise, â€Å"I'm afther gettin' a terrible twinge in me right leg† he is heard to cry when presented with the possibility of work by Jerry Devine.Yet he is found to be in the rudest of health when no work is to be found, â€Å"it's miraculous that whenever he scents a job in front of him, his legs begin to fail him!† is the explanation presented to us, tongue firmly in cheek, by Juno. He prefers to spend the family's last few pounds loafing from bar to bar with the lecherous Joxer in tow, rather than contribute to help relieve the crushing poverty trap into which his family have found themselves ensnared. His is an existence full of exaggerated exploits, â€Å"Everybody callin' you the â€Å"Captain†, an' you only wanst on the wather in an oul' collier from here to Liverpool†.He believes thoroughly in the legend he has created around himself and believes completely in his right as the patriarch of the family not to have his decision s questioned regardless of how morally deficient to their situation they may be. In the character of Jack we find comparisons, as suggested by Pressley, N, (2011), in his review of the play for The Washington Post, to Shakespeare's Jack Falstaff â€Å"for his inflated presentation and chronic lack of means†.In contrast to this vulgar fantasist we are given the ultimate realist in the downtrodden and hassled form of Juno, named by O'Casey for the Roman goddess of â€Å"Protection, Motherhood & Marriage†, Waldherr, K, (2007). Through Jack's refusal to embrace his responsibility to provide for his family and be a dutiful husband Juno has been forced over time to assume the role of wife, mother and sole provider for the family.She is all to aware of the severity of their situation, walking the tight rope alone of providing for her invalided son, out of work daughter and obnoxious husband as well as herself in an environment where not only must she contend with the harsh an d unrelenting poverty stricken conditions, inescapable for most at the best of times, she must also contend with the bitter knowledge of the potential for any of her loved ones to lose their lives at any given time if caught up in the guerrilla warfare being waged around them on the streets' of their home. Juno faces all this with a reality and strength of character befitting her name that shines through despite the best attempts of her  Falstaffian husband to break her spirit and reduce her life to the petty existence of his own.One would argue, to be judged successfully or not by the reader that these traits already existing in the relationship of Mr. and Mrs. Boyle, explored throughout the piece, doomed them to the fate to which they inevitably succumbed. The events of the play may have been the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back but the foundations of this relationship had long since been rendered asunder by years of neglect, abuse and selfishness from Jack towards h is wife and family.This finally culminated in our heroines realisation that no matter how much she tried, no matter how much effort she made her feckless husband was never going to be capable of any sort of decency towards her or the family and the radical road she was forced to choose with Mary, helping to raise and provide for her daughter's unborn child was not only the right thing to do for themselves but it was the only chance the child would have at a decent beginning for the future. The humanity, courage and strength of Juno are fully realised in this exchange with Mary;Mary. â€Å"my poor little child that'll have no father!Mrs Boyle. â€Å"It'll have what's far betther – it'll have two mothers.†This exchange is an act of selflessness that Jack could never comprehend of making, representing the final nail in the coffin of the Boyle's marriage and the final separation of the characters involvement with each other on a relationship or any other level imaginable. This is the decisive moment where Juno transcends both her husband and the restrictions of her environment ending her conflict and enabling her to move on to the next stage of her life as a single, yet more complete person.

Philosophical Worldview Essay

A philosophical worldview is a complex phenomenon influenced by a number of factors including scientific knowledge and philosophical doctrines, religion and everyday experience of a person. Along with the worldview comes a social system, an accompanying ideological structure. In some instances, the person may not be aware of the extent to which she or he is stepping into a new world—or a new way of grasping the world and understanding oneself influenced by new ideas and ideologies. Nevertheless, the subtlety of the process does not diminish its impact, which is to achieve change toward a specific end. The desired goal is the transformation of the adherent into a committed believer, which means becoming a loyal group member or follower in those instances in which a group is attached to a belief system. Science, logic and religion play a crucial role in the philosophical worldview determining the main priorities and concepts accepted or rejected by an individual. It is possible to say that science stipulates the frames through which we perceive the world. Following David Hume: The identity, which we ascribe to the mind of man, is only a fictitious one, and of a like kind with that which we ascribe to vegetables and animal bodies. It cannot, therefore, have a different origin, but must proceed from a like operation of the imagination upon like objects† (Hume, n. d. ). Science helps humanity to understand natural phenomena and biological changes, evolutionary processes and shifts. Descartes explains that: â€Å"Arithmetic, Geometry, and the other sciences of the same class †¦ contain somewhat that is certain and indubitable† (Descartes, 2005). Science influence the worldview representing a particular way of knowledge and perception of the world and human beings based on historical information, hypotheses and experiments. Science is not a self-contained or self-sustaining activity. The most important it is conducted only in a community that has reached a certain level of intellectual development, which involves and implies social organization, culture, art, and religion, as well as philosophy. Religion can be interpreted as a worldview itself determining the main values and concepts which help a person to interpret the world. The person who begins to think about religion may find himself identifying his particular beliefs with the essence of all religion. His own religious beliefs are vivid and vital to him, especially if his religious training has been consistent and regular, and if his religion is emotionally allied with valued experiences at home, at school, and with friends. Again, if his specific beliefs have become connected with satisfying moments of high inspiration and if he has found these beliefs helpful in time of need, his religion will have so permeated the nooks and crannies of his life that any other â€Å"religion† is a relatively dead thing, something foreign and alien, and, indeed, not really religion. There is only one religion for him. As he tries to evaluate his religion, it will be difficult for him to examine his beliefs impartially and to give adequate weight to those factors in the experience of others which have little meaning to him in terms of his own emotional background. For instance, Descartes gives the following example of the role and influence of religion in the worldview: it is true that when I think only of God (when I look upon myself as coming from God, Fr. ), and turn wholly to him, I discover [in myself] no cause of error or falsity† (Descartes, 2005). In this case, the worldview of a person is determined by his religious beliefs and perception of the world influenced by interpretation of God and his authority. Religion helps to develop a perspective toward life which determines ideas, rituals, and emotions. What happens to religious belief depends on innumerable factors in the life-experience of the believer. What the individual calls his religion is interwoven with experiences which are religiously significant for him (Warburton, 2006). Logic exhibits an ideal of knowledge, namely, a one-possibility consistency derived from established premises. This ideal is demonstrated unusually well in the realm of mathematics and geometry where all conclusions are logically bound to accepted definitions or axioms. This pattern of thought is what many people have in mind when they refer to reason or to its conclusion, rational truth. For Descartes, a logical conclusion in this sense would have a must-be-so character; almost-surely-so would have no more validity than to say that two and two â€Å"almost surely† equal five. One can understand why this conception of logical reason (and of truth) has been held up as the ultimate ideal. When a proof is logically valid, there are no other possible conclusions, and our uncertainty vanishes. Logic influenced the worldview helping to explain, select, organize and interpret information combining it into a meaningful and coherent picture of the world. Reality is a function of the interpretation we assign to our own perceptions and logic. Using three frames, logic, science and religion, people interpret the world and events take place around them; logic, science and religion become lenses through which we determine and perceive the world and its processes. Science, religion and logic allows a person to perceive ideas of others and create a unique worldview and understanding of reality. Our worldview is derived from the science base we bring to the system and the development of that base as we operate within the system. In many ways, religion and logic is both the instrument with which we succeed by making sense out of the world and the limitation on our ability to see greater or different issues that might be critical to our interpretation of the world. All of the readings (Descartes, Hume, Sartre) can challenge and expend the philosophical worldview. All of them present a unique interpretation and explanation of events and philosophical concepts which force a reader to rethink and test his worldviews. For instance, Descartes and Hume can help to perceive certain things that other people do not necessarily notice. They are more likely to see particular characteristics as important. Hume explains: â€Å"’Tis evident, that the identity, which we attribute to the human mind, however perfect we may imagine it to be, is not able to run the several different perceptions into one, and make them lose their characters of distinction and difference, which are essential to them† (Hume, n. . ). Thus, no matter how acute our own perceptual abilities might be, the reality we carry with us is essentially less than the actual event. Sartre’s ideas challenge a worldview forcing a reader to rethink his religious beliefs and ideals applying an existentialist point of view. Most of us have the same kind of experience as we try to grasp the scientist’s account of the world. If we are to understand at all, we have to be satisfied with a harder â€Å"thinkable† conception-that is, one which is consistent with the facts. With the help of the microscope and the telescope, the scientist can check much of his mathematics and â€Å"thinking† about the â€Å"population† of the universe, its nature, and its extension in space and time. But ultimately he has the right to ask our intellect to accept his conception of the physical universe, provided no facts are left out, even if that conception outruns imagination. These readings can help to rethink and reinterpret some ideals and beliefs but they cannot change a philosophical view and perception of reality. These readings represent different historical epochs and are influenced by reality and traditions of these periods. In many cases, philosophical doctrines and concepts differ from modern world and construction of modern reality. The further development of a person’s worldview can be drawn from existentialism. Existentialism addresses itself to what are today called the â€Å"existential† problems of man — the meaning of life, of death, of suffering, to name but these. The relationship of human existence to beings which do not enjoy human existence is transcendent in a double-edged manner. On the one hand human existence is thrown down into the world and is attuned to and utterly subject to the beings in it; in this way the world transcends human existence. On the other hand, human existence is really the â€Å"formative† agent of the world; it transcends the world; the domination which it exercises over things in being is so complete that it actually draws them out of their fundamental hiddenness and endows them with being, that is, with meaning and truth. Existentialism is also clearly indebted to life-philosophy and is in certain ways an expansion of the latter especially in its actualism, its analysis of time, and its criticism of rationalism and natural science (Warburton, 2006). The difficulty does not stem from inadequacy in expression or weakness in logical structure, for work always proceeds in very systematic fashion. The difficulty arises rather from the unusual and strange terminology which he has devised in the hope of providing a language for conveying his thoughts. Therefore the analysis of being as human existence is declared to be the starting point of the investigation. It is the peculiar quality of human existence that it is a being which, in being, is interested in this very being. The understanding of being is in itself an element in the being of human existence, and for this reason human existence is said to be â€Å"ontological. To determine the essence of human existence requires much more than a matter-of-fact answer to the question â€Å"What? † For the â€Å"essence† of human existence, is found in its existence, from which alone it can be understood. Following Sartre [man] â€Å"is nothing. Only afterward will he be something, and he himself will have made what he will be. Thus, there is no human nature, since there is no god to conceive it. Not only is man what he conceives himself to be, but he is also what he wills himself to be† (Sartre 2000, p. 36). In contrast other philosophers decide that they must either accept the biblical account of creation or reject altogether the conception of creation by God. They do not realize that two kinds of assertions are involved and that it is at least possible to maintain that God is creator without holding that he created by specific edict in the order suggested. It may be that the acceptance of evolution should modify only the conception of the way in which God creates the world (Warburton, 2006). The main value to study different philosophies is to expand and challenge ones philosophical ideals, comparing and contrasting different perspectives and philosophical notions. It seems to me important that people should be familiar with the work of different branches of philosophy. It is not, necessarily, that some philosophers are more acute or profound than their scholastic predecessors. It is rather that the individual is unlikely really to get to grips with the thought of the classic scholastics unless he has been brought by the study of philosophy to a genuine appreciation of the problems in these fields. Fields of inquiry has to do not with one set of events which occur in the world but with the nature of all events and of the universe as a whole. The second issue involves the question as to whether the actual steps in the development of man were those indicated. Different philosophies help to expend the knowledge and rethink philosophical ideals and truths. Understanding different perspectives is a crucial element of universal understanding because it is impossible to arrive at a position of knowledge from a single perspective. Understanding different perspectives is a good thing because it allows a person to build his own worldview based on contrasting elements and concepts, values and views. It does not mean that a person should accept these perspectives but he should understand the different and value of each of them. The essential structure of understanding secures an existential grasp of the range of the capacity for being, and it is that aspect of human existence in which worldview is its potentiality. To snatch ourselves back again out of the grip of man is to make a choice, to commit ourselves spontaneously to the possibility of being arising from the most intimate self. The worldview is determined by science and religion and the discoveries of the philosophers made during a particular period of time. Accepting these restraints, the person secures to himself the protection given by the community of others who accept the same canons of philosophy, religion logic and scientific knowledge.

DEFINITION OF A STAKEHOLDER Essays - Ethics, Applied Ethics

DEFINITION OF A STAKEHOLDER Essays - Ethics, Applied Ethics DEFINITION OF A STAKEHOLDER Sparked by the labor movement, the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has only been in existence since the 1950's. Society began to expect companies to accept additional social responsibilities outside of the fundamental business functi ons, including being profitable. Starting in the 1960's and 1970's, the civil rights movement and environmental protection agencies influenced the way consumers looked at businesses. Consumers believed that those with great power also had great responsibility to positively influence people, the environment, and society. Businesses were called on to help solve global problems, aimed at making the world a cleaner, safer, and more productive place. This view was based on the concept that businesses should extend beyond their required economic and legal responsibilities to accept ethical, moral, and discretionary responsibilities in order to improve society. This view became the foundation for what we know in today's business world as Corporate Social Responsibility. In order to completely understand the context of Corporate Social Responsibility, you must first understand the role of stakeholders for an organization. The next section will describe the role of stakeholders. There are several definitions. The most common ones are: Those groups without whose support the or ganization would cease to exist. Any group or individual who can affect or is affected by the achievement o f the organization's objectives. T he individuals or groups that have an interest in the organization and are affected by its actions . Stakeholders can: a ffect a business , b e affected by a business , b e both affected by a business and affect a business . We can see from these definitions that a lot of people can be a stakeholder to an organisation . The most common groups who we consider to be stakeholders include: Managers Employees Customers Investors Shareholders Suppliers Board of directors Owners Government agencies Unions Political groups The media and others Then there are some more generic groups who are often included: Government Society at large The local community Within the broad spectrum of stakeholders, stakeholders can be broken into two different groups: primary stakeholders and secondary stakeholders. Primary stakeholders have a vested interest in how the organization performs and the actions it engages in to conduct business. Examples of these types of stakeholders are customers, employees, suppliers, board of directors, owners, and shareholders . Primary stakeholders directly affect the success and failure of the company. Secondary stakeholders can influence, both positively and negatively, the actions of the organization. They indirectly affect the organization by taking actions to make it difficult for the organization to succeed or by supporting the organization's efforts. Examples of secondary stakeholders are government agencies, regulation agencies, trade unions, labor unions, political groups, social groups, and the media . One of the primary functions of a business is to serve the needs of its stakeholders, also known as stakeholder responsibility. However, more and more businesses are taking this responsibility one step further by seeking out ways to address global issues to ultimately make the world a better place. These actions are referred to as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Many people consider that only people can be stakeholders to an organisation . Some people extend this and say that the environment can be affected by organisational activity. These effects of the organisation's activities can take many forms, such as: the utilisation of natural resources as a part of its production processes the effects of competition between itself and other organisations in the same market the enrichment of a local community through the creation of employment opportunities transformation of the landscape due to raw material extraction or waste product storage the distribution of wealth created within the firm to the owners of that firm (via dividends) and the workers of that firm (through wages) and the effect of this upon the welfare of individuals pollution caused by increased volumes of traffic and in creased journey times because of those increased volumes of traffic Thus many people also consider that there is and additional stakeholder to an organisation , namely: t he environment . As we will see in the next chapter the actions of an organisation have a big effect upon future possibilities. It

The Courter essays

The Courter essays Immigration is a subject which is still seen all over the world. Although it is an interesting, it has lots of difficulties. People who immigrate from one country to another become face to face to lots of problems. These can be named as language, culture and conformity problems. There are some examples in the story, The Courter, which are very similar to these. In this story, there is a family which lives in India and after some time, they move to England because of some situations. Later on, they start to live some kinds of problems between the languages and the cultures. Although they speak the same language, English, in India, they meet with some difficulties about British English. For example, one day, one of the family members is beaten by a chemist because of a wrong usage of a word. The chemist is a woman who has big breasts and he wants nipple from her, but the word, nipple, has a different meaning,too which means the end of breast and the woman slaps him. This is an example from the story which shows the language problem they live. There is a main character, Certainly Mary, who lives lots of conflicts in her life. One of the conflicts she lives is, the cultural difference in her life because of the immigration and she becomes homesick. She also has lots of problems with her emotions. She has a desire to the person, Mixed up, and she loves him. The other thing is, she loves the narrator very much like a mother as being his baby-sitter. In both ways, she lives some disappointments and at the end, she returns to her own country. As a conclusion, immigration is a useful thing which provides you to learn different cultures and people, but it also may cause some problems while meeting with them. The thing is trying to come to terms with the differences. ...

Side jobs. Bringing in cash

Side jobs. Bringing in cash High-paying side jobs You may witness people who have an insatiable desire to accomplish more every day. They are goal-oriented and ambitious, and they need an additional occupation to develop professionally and become a person they always wanted to be. Perhaps, what we said above may be attributed to you as well. In this case, this is what we have to offer in terms of job proposals. One day, you may find yourself in a tight position of a student or an office employee, who is on a limited budget or an adult, trying to pay the bills. Whenever you feel extra money will make you happier, we suggest applying for a side-job that is going to bring extra cash and professional satisfaction. Some of the most attractive options are listed below: Fitness instructor. In case you want to obtain a side hobby and earn money at the same time, becoming a fitness instructor will certainly blend in your daily routine. There are individual instructors, who are paid to train with a particular person, and there are those who are doing group classes. If you prefer to be surrounded by people, the last option will suit you well. Normally, you will be required to get a certificate for this type of job, and six months of prior trainings are compulsory to see if you fit in a specific company of instructors, depending on your ability to communicate and establish connections with people. Commonly, group classes are fun and need you to stay determined and organized, as you may have people of different ages coming to get their fair share of personal training. Your main task would be to monitor the work out process and check on the client’s progress the whole time. Archivist. Unlike the first job, this one is for people, who can spend hours, gathering information. For those, who love catalogues and works of art, being employed as an archivist is the best chance to show themselves in the professional sphere. Sometimes, your local museum would require specialists to check on the backlogs and organize papers in alphabetical order. Apparently, you will need a degree in archive management or any other discipline, closely related to the said sphere. Marketing manager. Marketing managers create plans for companies and reach out to inform clients of these plans. They can also attend the sponsorship events to see if the product has established itself among the audience, and have the responsibility of analyzing current situations in business. You will need a certain amount of qualification for this job, and you should know it will be a temporary occupation in case you don’t have experience or happen to be currently enrolled in the university. Writer. You can work as a writer with a part-time schedule, if you feel creativity is something you can’t live without. This type of profession is perfect for those, who want to study and gain experience at the same time. Besides, they pay you well if you manage to meet the deadline and provide clients with authentic, 100% original content. Working as a writer pays off in case you want to devote your life to that sphere, too, as it develops your verbal talents as well as written communication practice, which is important if you are employed by an educational institution or an essay service company. City-guide blogger. Companies and corporations love bloggers, who write articles on their local city attractions. You can be focused on anything that draws your attention and sounds entertaining, like recreation, cultural events and architecture. The key to this side-job is being able to provide sufficient information on the sightseeing tours in your area and making sure your readers enjoy the views as they collect ideas from your blog. Some real estate companies are also interested in this kind of advertising, as they work with sales and management department and need promotion for business. The vacancy is ideal for the lovers of travel and tourism – you just have to be unique and find a personal shtick that will later become your trademark. Business consultant. Business consulting represents a broad sphere of professional knowledge, but generally, you will have to talk to the business owners and provide them with valuable advice on how to improve their performance. Business consultants can make a lot of money by facilitating several companies in finding their perfect strategy and are often present at meetings, whenever administrative help is required. You have to be a good organizer with a rhetorical talent and an excellent conversationalist to maintain a level that is required for a specific business field. You also need to possess a degree in business administration and be able to handle conflict situations at work. Stress management is important for the side jobs such as this, as you never know who you are going to cooperate with.H

Personal statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 45

Personal Statement Example I believe that good managers must have entrepreneurial qualities. Managers are always ahead of time and see things in the perspective of the business. In this regard, their decisions affect the performance of a company directly. The success or failure of a company is also attributed to the management. In this regard, I believe managers have the principal responsibility for ensuring survival optimal performance of a business. I am the vice president of an international club. Essentially, the responsibilities of the position demand sound management skills. The position has helped me prepare for my future role in the business world. I have observed that I must change my attitude towards people and business in order to survive in the competitive management jobs. Also, the position has enabled me learn how to deal with people of different origins and cultures. It has helped me appreciate that people are different and can be productive only if they are recognized and appreciated by the management. In the urge to enhance my skills in management, I undertook a part-time job in management. The job has enabled me see business processes in the perspective of a manager. I have come to understand that managers should carry out extensive research on the business situation and also have a hands on approach to solving any issues in the business. In my position, I have seen how managers engage other employees and stakeholders when making serious business decisions. The job has improved my management skills and revamped my urge to study management to a higher level. My hobbies also contribute towards my better understanding of people. I interact with people and share their stories. I believe communication is key in understanding people. Moreover, talking to people enhances my social life and also learning. Mostly, meeting and talking to people enhances my knowledge and learning of new things. When people share their situations, I evaluate them and emulate the strategies

Proposition 39 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Proposition 39 - Essay Example The organizations against this proposition are the California Manufacturers & Technology Association and Friends for Saving California Jobs. As a supporter of Proposition Number 39, the â€Å"Tax Treatment for Multistate Businesses. Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency Funding. Initiative Statute,† this proposition is good for the State of California because it will result to significant tax revenues that will fund a sustainable approach to development, a development that will provide additional employment and extra funds for education. Numerous firms, organizations, business people, and individuals are in support of Proposition 39 because they know that its contribution to the increase in tax revenues is fair and will benefit the state in general. At present, California requires additional funds to finance its increasing public costs. Lawrence reports that California’s tax revenues primarily go to the â€Å"Big Three,† specifically education, human rights, and cor rections (235). With a high number of school-age population, California needs more funds, without necessarily burdening ordinary taxpayers. This proposition taxes the rich, where the money will benefit the entire state, including the taxed large businesses. State law presently allows the majority of multistate businesses to choose one of two methods to determine the amount of their income associated with California and taxable by the state: â€Å"1) Three-Factor Method and 2) Single-Sales Method† (â€Å"Analysis by the Legislative Analyst† 68-69). Multistate businesses are normally allowed to select the method that is most beneficial to them for tax purposes. Proposition 39 decrees that multistate businesses would no longer choose the method for determining their state taxable income that is most beneficial for them (â€Å"Analysis† 69). Instead, many multistate businesses would have to establish their California taxable income using the single sales factor meth od. Businesses that operate only in California would not be affected (â€Å"Analysis† 69). According to â€Å"Analysis by the Legislative Analyst,† this policy measure would raise $1 billion of additional tax revenues from 2013 (70). Around fifty percent of the revenues would then fund clean and energy efficiency programs: â€Å"For a five-year period (2013–14 through 2017–18), about half of the additional revenues—$500 million to $550 million annually—would be transferred to the Clean Energy Job Creation Fund to support energy efficiency and alternative energy projects† (â€Å"Analysis† 71). With significant funds for clean and green energy, the state will experience a cleaner atmosphere and more efficient public facilities. Aside from funding clean and green projects, the tax revenues will go to education budget increases. As the analyst of the proposition said: â€Å"For 2018–19 and beyond, the guarantee likely would be higher by at least $500 million†¦The exact portion of the revenue raised that would go to schools in any particular year would depend upon various factors† (â€Å"Analysis† 71). Lawrence reminds Californians that the state needs to build more schools and hire more teachers, while improving the curriculum (235). It cannot do so without an injection of additional funds that will not hurt common taxpayers. Proposition 39 will tax the rich companies, but these taxes will not go to waste because they will fund the long-term educational needs of Californians. While education is important,

The business environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

The business environment - Essay Example Charities under this category One of the most frequently used route for running a non-for-profit business is to establish it as a company limited by guarantee as these companies will not have either shareholders or shares but is has members. Under this, members consent in the eve of liquidation or winding up, to guarantee a certain sum of money that may be needed to cater the demands of any creditors. Such amount of guarantee will be illustrated in the Memorandum of Association of such companies. Further, companies whether they are limited by guarantee or by shares have to adhere the requirements under the Companies Act of 2006 in UK. Charities under this category have to register their Memorandum and Articles with the Charity Commission at the time of incorporation (Bloomsbury 2013: 60). Nominet UK is an UK based company limited by guarantee, and it is carrying on UK domain registry business in UK. Its members cannot have the right participate in its profit, and anybody can become the member of Nominet UK and majority of its members are Internet service providers in UK (Lambert 2012:44). A private company limited by shares can be incorporated under the laws of Scotland, Wales and England.† Limited by shares â€Å"connotes that the capital of the company is contributed by the shareholders of the company, and creditors can have access to the shareholders’ share capital amount in the event of winding up only up to the amount invested by them in the share capital of the company. It connotes that shareholder’s personal assets cannot be attached by the creditors in the event of insolvency or winding up of the company. A limited company may be either private or public as the private limited company disclosure norms are less flexible than the public company. Due to this reason, a private company is not allowed to issue shares to the general public and hence, it is not entitled to be listed or traded on a

Virginia Slims Advertising Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Virginia Slims Advertising - Essay Example This is the marketing thrust of Virginia Slims to induce women to smoke by inducing anxiety among its target market then later provide Virginia Slims cigarette as the panacea to relieve the women of its distress through the use of beautiful images in their advertisements. As a product, without the gloss and twist of advertising, Virginia Slims was really nothing but just a cancer-inducing tobacco which causes bad breath, cardiovascular disease and lung cancer. But with the fuzzing or altering of the target market’s perception, the product suddenly became desirable where its smokers became an epitome of class, sophistication, confidence and seem to be happier. Virginia Slims does this by distorting reality through the use of beautiful images in their promotional campaigns whereby they associate that such beauty, class and sophistication can be achieved by smoking their product of which we know to be untrue. It is an unhealthy advertising because it creates discontent to make or induce the market to become receptive to its harmful product. The pervasiveness of this kind of advertisement that uses beautiful images of men and women to sell harmful products lowers the self-esteem of the target market. It is because the audience of these idealized beauties inadvertently compare themselves to these images that are unrealistic where the models themselves will have a hard time achieving without the aid of computer enhancement. It also makes the audience frivolous because these idealized images inadvertently make an individual tie up his or her self-worth to the physical appearance which is not a healthy gauge of one’s sense of self. It is also unhealthy because it makes the audience strive for an idealized concept of beauty that has no other value than its aesthetic worth. It benefits none except those who purvey that idealized beauty because they profit from it. It also breeds discontent and unhealthy personal disposition because it induces its audience, men and women, to strive for something that is not only unrealis tic but also of no use to better one’s life, society nor does it contribute to a common good except to enhance the profit the client of the advertiser. This idealized concept of beauty that advertisers capitalized on can even be used to manipulate one’s psychological make-up to serve a particular end that does no good to an individual.

Investment Appraisal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Investment Appraisal - Essay Example However, there are various risks that emanate from the uncertainty encompassing the projected variables. As a result, it is important to identify and understand the nature of uncertainty in the key project variables and have the tools and methodology to identify its risk implications on the projects return to be able to evaluate the project risks. Uncertainty in a project is evident especially in estimating future values of project variable as being certain; by calculating a â€Å"best estimate† based on the available data and use it as an input in the evaluation model: however, a range of other probable outcomes for each project variable is not included in the analysis. The outcome of the project is, therefore, also presented as a certainty with no possible variance or margin of error associated with it. Risk analysis is methodology whereby the uncertainty encompassing the main variables projected in a forecasting model is analyzed in order to estimate the impact of risk on a projected results. It is a technique based on the Monte Carlo simulation by which a mathematical model is subjected to a number of simulation runs, whereby successive scenarios are built up using various input values for the project's key uncertain variables that are selected from multi-value probability distributions. After simulation, the results are collected and analyzed statistically to arrive at a probability distribution of the potential outcomes of the project and to estimate various measures of project risk.

Defense Budget and Sequestration Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Defense Budget and Sequestration - Assignment Example An extra $88.5 billion is required for ongoing military operations, chiefly in Afghanistan( Klein, 2013). The FY 2013 budget requirement is the first budget proposal subsequent to the enactment of the Budget Control Act (BCA) OF 2011. The BCA establishes the budget limits for the unrestricted component of the federal and integrates an enforcement tool, understood as a sequestration, devised to cut spending by design. The BCA as well was responsible for creating the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, generally referred to as the Super Committee; furthermore, the BCA charged it with establishing an extra $1.2 trillion in deficit minimization over the foreseeable decade. Since the Super Committee failed to arrive any consensus on extra deficit minimization, the constitution requires that the budget limits be reduced to accomplish the $1.2 in the debit diminution through spending cuts. Just of a half of these reductions pertain to the budget explanation for national defense and the other remaining part pertains to non-defense accounts(Klein, 2013). Most estimation suggests that the United States is on the brink of shaky monetary path under the present federal tax and prerogative regimes. The lack of essential reforms many pundits say that the nation’s increasing debt poses a great long-standing threat to the United States national security, and that Pentagon’s budget will finally be sidelined by compulsory social spending plans. Over the past few years, Washington h as debated numerous debit reduction proposals, but a primary legislative bargain has proved obscure. Last month in March 1, sequestration went into effect. For Monetary Year 2013, the reductions total $85 billion, half of which is spent on defense. Where most political pundits surmise that some defense cuts should be part of an exhaustive debit reduction agreement, they show anxiety that the sweeping monetary austerity that began in March

Investment Appraisal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Investment Appraisal - Essay Example However, there are various risks that emanate from the uncertainty encompassing the projected variables. As a result, it is important to identify and understand the nature of uncertainty in the key project variables and have the tools and methodology to identify its risk implications on the projects return to be able to evaluate the project risks. Uncertainty in a project is evident especially in estimating future values of project variable as being certain; by calculating a â€Å"best estimate† based on the available data and use it as an input in the evaluation model: however, a range of other probable outcomes for each project variable is not included in the analysis. The outcome of the project is, therefore, also presented as a certainty with no possible variance or margin of error associated with it. Risk analysis is methodology whereby the uncertainty encompassing the main variables projected in a forecasting model is analyzed in order to estimate the impact of risk on a projected results. It is a technique based on the Monte Carlo simulation by which a mathematical model is subjected to a number of simulation runs, whereby successive scenarios are built up using various input values for the project's key uncertain variables that are selected from multi-value probability distributions. After simulation, the results are collected and analyzed statistically to arrive at a probability distribution of the potential outcomes of the project and to estimate various measures of project risk.

The Presumption of Liberty Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

The Presumption of Liberty - Assignment Example This statute ensures that parties to the contract fulfill their promises to each other as stipulated in the agreement with defaulting. Therefore, statutes of fraud do not in itself make the contract valid but serve as an evidence of the agreement between the parties hence can make the contract enforceable (Miller, Harvey & Parry 1998, p.487). It also serves to prevent one of the parties from claiming beyond what the agreement offer to them. Should one of the parties to the agreement default in the performance of his or her duties, the statues of frauds will apply to ensure that that person has discharged his or her obligation (James 2003, p.20). This is contrary to a verbal agreement whereby, due to lack of evidence one party may fail to perform the duties of the agreement and yet there are no means to prove that the party has indeed breached the agreement (Barnett 2005, p.146). Whereas most contracts can be enforced without the requirement of a statute of fraud, there are specific a greements, which must be included in a statute in order to be enforceable. This report shall explore various contracts which fall within statutes of frauds and cases that have been dealt with in the court involving the statute. In addition, the report shall focus on the impact of the statues of frauds and what would happen if parties failed to write down the terms of their contracts in cases which â€Å"fall within the statute.† The law requires that when individuals are making a contract they should put down all the terms of their agreement in writing in order to that no party who takes advantage of the other by failing to perform either some part of the contract or the by totally doing nothing in fulfilment of their contractual obligations (Barnett 2005, p.165).  

The boundaries between phenomenon and context

The boundaries between phenomenon and context The basic aim and objective of this chapter is to describe in perspective the research methodology that would be used to check the correlation between multinational oil corporations participation in economic activities in Nigeria through the means of international trade policy and its effect on economic growth and the influence such corporations exert on international foreign trade policies of the host country Nigeria. In order to achieve these set objectives, the research was carried out through rigorous collection and analysis of data using qualitative case study methodology with a bit of quantitative data since the researcher wont be generating own data but careful analysis of already generated data. 3.2 Justification for the approach used Alternatively, the selection of tools may be at the discretion of the researcher to know the most valid approach to be used, Yates (2004 p14) goes on to argue that positivist thinking has influenced quantitative or numerical research. Ticehurst and Veal (2000 p18) argued that there is a considerable debate among scholars,about the relative merit and value of qualitative vs. quantitative business research and that the debate is often aligned with differing philosophical positions. They went as far as illustrating with a diagram on approaches and methodology. Approaches and methodology Experimental Qualitative Positivist Lab simulation Applied Observational Descriptive Historical Evaluative Ethnographic Feminist Social action Critical interpretation Quantitative Experienced qualitative researchers like Altheide Johnson (1994), Creswell, (2009) Eisner (1998), Gall, Gall Borg (2007), Glaser (1992), Howe Eisenhardt (1990) have offered a variety of standards that may be used to evaluate a qualitative research study and they suggested a general criteria; Purposefulness Explicitness of assumption biases- identifies bias that may affect data collection or interpretation Rigor Open mindedness Completeness Coherence Persuasiveness- logical arguments Consensus Usefulness 3.2.1 Case study method Robert K. Yin (1984) defines the case study research method as an empirical inquiry that investigates a contemporary phenomenon within its real-life context; when the boundaries between phenomenon and context are not clearly evident; and in which multiple sources of evidence are used. Though critics of the case study method claim that the study of a small number of isolated cases can not establish a reliable or general acceptability of the research, but over time well known researchers like Robert E Stake, Helen Simons and of course Robert Yin have proven the success of the case study technique . Some critics feels that the intense exposure to study of the case biases the outcome of the research while others dismissed case study research as a useful exploratory tool. Researchers continue to use the case study research method with success in carefully planned and crafted studies of real-life situations, issues, and problems and I wouldnt be different. Morris and wood 1991 in their att empt defined the case study strategy as a considerable ability by a researcher to generate answers to questions like why? When? What? and How? (Saunders, 2009). Stake, Simons, and Yin have written about case study research issues and suggested techniques for organizing and conducting the research appropriately and successfully. They proposed six steps that should be used when using the case study method: Determine and define the research questions Select the cases and determine data gathering and analysis techniques Prepare to collect the data Collect data in the field Evaluate and analyze the data and finally Prepare the report 3.2.2 Method Used The method to be used in this research is mainly qualitative research with a bit touch of the quantitative aspect due to the simple fact that I have no intention of generating numerical data but analyses sourced data. And also qualitative research is more interpretive since I would be considering words rather than numbers and as the focal aim of this research is best served by a well conducted qualitative inductive interpretive research reasoning (Silverman 2008). Qualitative research believe that the researcher ability to interpret and make sense of what he or she sees is critical for understanding any social phenomenon. In this sense, the researcher is an as much the same way as an oscilloscope, sociogram or rating scale is an instrument (Leady and Ormrod 2010). Furthermore, some qualitative researchers believe that there isnt necessarily is a single, ultimate truth to be discovered, instead there may be multiple perspectives held by different individuals, with each of these perspectives having equal validity or truth (Creswell 2009: and Guba and Lincoln 1998) one goal of a quality study might be to reveal the nature of these multiple perspectives. All enquires of some starts are in a qualitative form (Lauer and Asher 1998) when little information exists on a topic when variables are unknown when relevant theory base is inadequate or missing, a qualitative study can help define what is important that is what needs to be studied. According to Peshkins (1993), Qualitative research studies typically serve one or more of the following purposes Description They can reveal the nature of certain situations, settings processes, relationships, systems or people. Interpretation They enable a researcher to a) gain new insights about a particular phenomenon, b) develop new concepts or theoretical perspective about the phenomenon or, c) discover the phenomenon that exists within the phenomenon. Verification They allow a researcher to test the validity of certain assumptions, claims, theories or generalization within real world context. Evaluation They provide a means through which a researcher can judge the effectiveness of particular policies, practice or innovations. Qualitative research methods are the least prescriptive (Eisner 1998). 3.3 Research design and methodology The research is design and methodology is the focal point for the researcher, it conducted so as to ensure accuracy in organization and consistency. Research design ordinary should be systemic and comprehensive to safe guard the gathering of the data, recording of the data and data analysis to protect against obvious data disorganization. There are five basic components of a good research as posited by Yin (1984). These are . The research questions . The research propositions .The unit of analysis . The logic linking of the data to proposition and . The criteria for interpreting the findings Miles Huberman (1984) laid more emphasis on the need to focus and bound the data within a conceptual framework. They suggested beginning the research with general research questions would help to make the research straight forward and less vague without limiting the vision of the research (Miles Huberman 1984) there by agreeing with the process suggested by Yin. The appropriateness of a qualitative, case study method in this particular project has already been explained in dept. The relationship between philosophy, theory and research methods is an important one; Easterby-smith et al (2002) said it allows one to. Take a more informed decision about the research approach. Decide which methods are appropriate for the piece of research and To think about constraints which may impinge on the research? 3.3.1 Interviews The Interviews to be conducted in this research is via telephone and four different individuals of different background would be used to get probable balanced opinions on the subject matter. Interview questions are being streamlined along the ideas of experts on qualitative research like Creswell (2009), Eisner (1998) Shank (2002) and Silverman (1993) along the following premise, Identify some questions in advance, avoid leading questions, questions such as what is going on now? What is it like to work here and what is a typical day like? Can stimulate informative conversation without suggesting that one kind of response is somehow more desirable than another (shank, 2002). Consider how participants cultural background might influence this response (Howard Shuman 1967). As Shuman discovered cultural background can influence interview responses in ways you havent necessarily anticipated. If you are interviewing people from Asian cultures you should be aware that they are less likely to brag about their individual accomplishment than Westerners are (Heine, 2007) culture plays a significant role in how participants interpret questions. Make sure your interviewee represents a group. Find extremist and mentor them in your notes. Find a suitable location Get written permission Establish and maintain rapport, during the interview you must show compassion and interest in other ways e.g. body language , smiling , maintaining eye contact leaning forward and such neutral encouragements go on Focus on the actual rather then on the abstract or hypothetical Dont put words in peoples mouth. People may reveal inconsistent lies in there recollection, attitudes and logic; their perceptions will not necessary all fit together in a neat little package ( kvale, 1996) Record responses verbatim 10) Keep your reactions to yourself 11) Remember that you are not necessarily getting the facts Interviews can yield a great deal of the useful information. The researcher can ask questions related to any of the following Fact e.g. biographical information Peoples belief and perspective about the facts Feelings Motives Present and past behaviours Standards for behaviour (what people think should be done in certain situations) 6. Conscious reasons for actions or feelings (e.g. why people think that engaging in a particular behaviour is desirable and undesirable) (Silverman, 1993) 3.4 Selection of Participating Persons 3.4.1 Selection of Persons The suitability of the persons approached for the research was established through the criteria adopted by the researcher. The criteria adopted emerged from the aims of the research as outlined in Chapter 1. 3.5 Data management 3.5.1 Gathering data The means of data collection for this research is by both primary and secondary research data collection for both the qualitative and quantitative analysis . Primary Research This is basically telephone interviews of four persons to shed light on the issue being researched. Secondary Research- This is going to be data sourced from Academic Journals, Periodicals, Textbooks, Studies and Reports of institutions, Newsletters, and other relevant published academic materials both electronic and print. Saunders et al (2000), in their write ups posited that research designed is the logic that links data to be collected to the initial question of the research. They used what they called the research process onion for proper illustration thus: C04NF001 Source: Saunders, Lewis, Thornhill (2003). The layers represent . Research philosophy .Research approach .Research methodology .Time horizons .Data collection techniques and methods . Research Philosophy is the choice between two primary alternatives, a positivist and a phenomenological philosophy. (Easterby-Smith et al., 1991; Saunders et al., 2000) highlighted the basic elements of these choices by outlining the key features of these paradigms Key features of positivist and phenomenological paradigms Positivist paradigm Phenomenological Paradigm Basic Beliefs The world is external and objective The world is socially constructed and subjective Observer is independent Observer is part of what observed Science is Value- free Science is driven by human interests Researcher Should Focus on the facts Focus on meanings Look for causality and fundamental laws Try to understand what is happening Reduce phenomenon to simplest elements Look at the totality of each situation Formulate hypothesis and then test them Develop ideas through induction from data Preferred methods include Operational concepts that can be measured Using multiple methods to establish different views of phenomena Taking large samples Small samples investigated in depth or over time Source: Easterby- Smith, Thorp R and Lowe A (1991) The research philosophy for this dissertation would be phenomenological paradigm since it is related to theories and filled with valid and reliable data. Research Approach is the application of either the deductive or inductive approach, and research can be based on empirical or non empirical approaches since there are four types of research namely, Exploratory, descriptive, analytical or predictive, and are based on empirical evidence (Hussey and Hussey 1997). Research Strategy and methodology: The third layer of the onion according to Saunders encompasses the use of any of the following research strategies; Experimental strategy Survey strategy Case study Strategy Action research Strategy Grounded theory strategy Ethnography Strategy and Archival research Strategy For the data collection method of this proposal which will be leading to dissertation, both qualitative and quantitative data will be collected though a secondary source. Data will be collected for books, reports, internet and any written facts concerning the information i will be relevant to my research. 3.5.3 Analyzing and interpreting data Huberman and Miles (1994) define data analysis as three linked sub processes i.e. data reduction in terms of data selection and condensation which are reduced in anticipation or conceptualized framework which are chosen and as instruments, cases and questions are refined,, Data are summarized, coded and broken down into themes, clusters and categories., Data display which is the second sub process described the way in which reduced data are displayed in diagrammatic, pictorial or visual forms in order to show what those data imply, it should be viewed as organized ,compressed assembly of information that permits conclusion drawing and action taking and another sub process is Data conclusion drawing and verification which is where the displayed data are interpreted and meaning is drawn. This part is the most significant of the study, and need to be handled delicately, since it deals with the research methodology where the sources of data collection, method of data analysis, model spec ification research hypothesis and sample period would be examined and determined. For instance, the growth rate of the Gross domestic product (GDP) would be measured to ascertain the changes during the course of this research According to Schram (2003) experience do not speak for themselves nor features within a research setting, directly or spontaneously announced themselves as worthy of your attention. As a qualitative field worker you cannot view your task simply as a matter of gathering or generating facts about what happened. Rather you engage with an active process of interpretation noting things as significant, noting but ignoring other as not significant or missing other potentially significant things all together if you are not careful. Creswell (1998) described a data analysis as a spiral of activities geared towards a final result that is as equally applicable to a wide variety of qualitative studies. After the collation of data, it is organized into different bases, which is then perused, later classified into categories that then synthesized into hypothesis or propositions and finally the end report is arrived at, a diagrammatic illustration is given below. THE FINAL REPORT Synthesis *Offering Hypothesis or propositions *Constructing, Tables, Diagrams. Classification *Grouping data into Themes categories *Finding meanings to the Data Perusal *Getting over all sense of the data *Jotting down preliminary interpretation Organization *Filing *Creating a corporate database *Breaking large units into smaller bits THE RAW DATA 3.7 Research quality Silverman (1993) posited that, only an handful of researchers would not accept that the cultural world has different properties from the natural world. It is generally acceptable that a research work would be regarded as scientific if the methods of study used are acceptable to the subject matter involved in the study. Research in the social sciences is considered to be scientific if the methods used are appropriate and the methods used in the collection and data analysis are rigorous, critical and objective. Kvale (1995) suggests that emphasis on the validity (truth) of findings may if consistently repeated could actually create suspicion in the observer with the preoccupation of maintaining the truth, beware when they swear they are telling the truth (Kvale 1995:34). Silverman (1993) in reinforcing the argument notes, the two central concepts to be considered in any discussion of rigour in research are reliability and validity. Reliability and validity are central to all measurements; they are concerned with how indicators are developed. Perfect reliability and validity are almost impossible to achieve, but they do need to be worked towards. It is important in business and social research to maximize the reliability and validity of indicators and measures used. 3.7.1 Research Reliability Reliability is about the researchs indicators dependability and consistency. If the indicator being used is reliable it will give the same result each time repeatedly. It is about the replication of results. Hamersley (1992) refers to reliability as the degree of consistency with which instances are assigned to the same category by different observers or by the same observer on different occasions. Reliability ensures that any information given does not vary as a result of the characteristics of the indicator, measurement device or instrument used. Nueman (2002) identified three kinds of reliability, namely; Stability reliability, Representative reliability and Equivalence reliability, he also gave four principles that he suggests should be followed in order to increase reliability, . Clearly conceptualized constructs; . Using precise levels of measurement; . Using multiple indicators; and . Using pilot tests 3.7.2 Validity An important way that the researcher has tried to ensure validity in the findings in this project was to generate rather than to test theories. There are three types of validity; construct, internal and external. According to Yin (1994) definition, Construct validity establishes correct operational measures for the concepts being studied, Internal validity establishes a casual relationship linkages as against uncoordinated relationships and finally External validity establishes the domain to which the research findings are generalized. Case study research tends to the more subjective, so it is important to enhance the subject of construct validity. Yin (1993) suggests the following measures: multiple sources of evidence, chain of evidence and review of procedures by informants. 3.8 Researchers role and position 3.8.1 Ethical issues There are three ethical elements that was identified by Neuman (1997) as being of immense importance and absolutely relevant to all researchers especially this particular research, these are; Privacy, Anonymity and Confidentiality these are the three factors that corresponds to the second, third and fourth of Walkers five areas for consideration. All three of these factors are important to this research. Walker (1980) has five areas for which a researchers must concentrate on for ethical consideration, these five areas are; Researcher involvement in the issues or situations or event under study. Confidentiality of data. Issues related to access and control over any data collected Preserving anonymity of persons granted the interviews or gave the necessary information. Problems arising from interpretation of the data. 3.8.2 Researcher integrity The researcher who adopts the qualitative, the interpretive path are questioned by their more positivist colleagues as to their ability to remain objective and unbiased. When conducting the type of research that involves watching, interviewing and recording, there arise a number of opportunities for the personal influence of the researcher to affect the findings of the research. Researcher integrity becomes a real issue. Walker (1984) argues that an important reason for the increased reliance on quantitative methods, replication and statistics in social research is about a lack of trust, We set stringent statistical criteria not because logically they are crucial for establishing a theory but because our intellectual community is socially distrustful of the honesty of investigators. Walker (1984) All research, whether it is quantitative or qualitative, places some degree of trust in the researcher. The reader of qualitative research usually places more trust in the integrity and interpretation of the researcher than they would in the quantitative researcher. It is incumbent on the qualitative researcher to ensure that their research accurately reflects the evidence and that they have all possible checks on the evidence. In order to strengthen any claims made from the evidence collected, the researcher considers what others might say, they look for confirming evidence and they check, as far as possible, for internal consistency. 3.9Research Report A reliance for studying the case A detailed descriptive of the facts related to the case A description of the data you collected A description of the patterns you formatted A connection to the larger scheme of things 4.0 Chapter Summary

Comparing Invisible Man and Brave New World Essay -- comparison compar

Comparing Invisible Man and Brave New World      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Both Ellison’s The Invisible Man and Aldous Huxley's Brave New World are political in nature, and at this level, seem completely dissimilar. The Invisible Man attempts to illuminate the social entrapment of Black Americans, while Brave New World cautions against an over-reliance on technology and the amorality it can potentially inspire. At a deeper level, however, both books are also about the status of the individual in society, and it is here that there is a remarkable similarity between the two novels.    In both The Invisible Man and Brave New World, we see men fighting against societies that devalue their individuality and thereby lessen their sense of identity and self worth. "I've always tried to create characters who were pretty forthright in stating what they felt society should be" said Ellison in a 1963 interview (Graham and Singh, 85). This statement captures the underlying theme of both novels : that an ideal society is one that is founded upon the ability of individuals to assert themselves freely and without prejudice. Close examination of both works show that while they are wildly different in many ways, at this one level, they are very much the same.    In order to see this similarity in theme more clearly, we must first peel back the layer of political meaning, which isn't easy. As previously stated, these are both political novels on the surface, and sixty years of critical commentary that has focused specifically on this level has done little to make an alternative reading any easier: conventional wisdom tells us that Invisible Man is a treatise on the state of Black America, and Brave New World is a cautionary tale of the misuse of techn... ...aid Ellison in an interview shortly before his death, "is that they are individuals with individual vision" (Graham and Singh, 391). It is upon the strengths of these individuals that our entire society is built. And unlike John, the embattled savage of Brave New World, whose desperation I recognized even as a child peering into a coloring book, the individuals in Invisible Man still have the power to make themselves heard and continue the grand cycle of applying their "individual vision" to the tapestry of society.    Sources Cited Ellison, Ralph. Invisible Man. New York, New York: Vintage Books, 1995. Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World and Brave New World Revisited. New York, New York: Harper Collins Publishers. Amritjit Singh and Maryemma Graham. Conversations with Ralph Ellison. Jackson, Mississippi: University Press of Mississippi.      

Kofi Annans effects on Canada trip :: essays research papers fc

Introduction Mr. Kofi Annan is, I feel, one of the most important people in mankind today. He is the Secretary-General of The United Nations. Last March, he came to deliver a speech on Canada’s position in the world. He thanked and congratulated us on what we have done in the world. He also admits that more needs to be done by rich nations like us. This I feel will spark some controversy because I feel Canada has done enough for the world and the UN should be satisfied with their efforts. I feel Mr. Kofi Annan’s speech will inspire and motivate the rest of The United Nations (it’s countries) and even us to keep committing or even add even more to what each and every one of us do. The proposal by Mr. Kofi Annan may bring many different advantages in helping our mixed up world. First, I feel it may get countries like the USA to get up off their stubborn behinds to start helping other nations instead of calling war on every one of them. The USA may feel that they are slowing or stopping terrorist activities worldwide, but they are only increasing the number of terrorist activities since they declared war on terrorism. They decide to concentrate places where there isn’t very much terrorist activity or even any hostility. Places like Afghanistan or Iraq may have had militants but they were not an immediate threat to anyone. They should have occupied places where help is needed most like in the Middle East where clashes between Palestinians and Israel h ave been numerous and brutal to this day. Maybe by listening to the speech the USA will see that there are other ways of helping the world besides bombing anyone they don’t like.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This speech may let Canada know that they’re role in the world is greatly appreciated which may lead to a greater participation with The United Nations and other poorer nations. We have been an outstanding part of the development of many developing nations such as Afghanistan, Iraq and some African nations. When we realize that we had not been just making our selves look good politically, we were making a huge difference. I can just see in the future Canada getting world support in the event of a crisis just as we have aided many others. I can just see the Chinese, the Russians the Germans, the French and the English running to our aid in the event of a disaster of any kind.

Apple’s Financial Analysis Part 2

APPLE’S FINANCIAL ANALYSIS FOR THE YEAR ENDED September 27, 2008 Income Statement: a) Apple Inc uses multi-step income statement format. It organizes its operating section by using functional expense classification. b)There are no unusual items presented in Apple’s income statement. Also the company did not discontinue any of its operations, neither had any changes in accounting principles. The net income for 2008, 2007, and 200 is $4,834, $3,496, and $1,989 respectively. The net income has increased continually in past three years. Net income increased 38. 3% in 2008. Apple’s net income growth for 2007 was 75. 7%. The income statement doesn’t need restating. I also believe that Apple is not managing their earnings. The company’s revenue and earnings per share are undervalued and Apple's financials appear radically weaker than they actually are. It is because in April, 2007 they made a bad decision when announced that Apple will be using what is commonly referred to as the â€Å"subscription method of accounting† for sales of the iPhone where the sales revenue from the iPhone is deferred and recognized over a 24-month period instead of at the point of sale. When disregarding the deferred revenue mechanism of subscription accounting, Apple actually earned $7. 48 in EPS on $38. 041 billion in revenue. That compares to the $5. 36 in EPS on $32. 479 billion in revenue that Apple reported on a GAAP-basis. During 2008, the Company adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (â€Å"FASB†) Financial Interpretation No. (â€Å"FIN†) 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109. FIN 48 changes the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes by creating a new framework for how companies should recognize, measure, present, and disclose uncertain tax positions in their financial statements. 09/27/08Restated 09/27/09 Net Sales32,47932,479 Cost Of Goods21,33421,334 Gross Profit11,14511,145 Selling & Adminstrative & Depr. & Amort Expenses4,8704,870 Income After Depreciation & Amortization6,2756,275 Non-Operating Income620620 Pretax Income6,8956,895 Income Taxes2,0612,061 Investment Gains/Losses00 Other Income/Charges00 Income From Cont. Operations4,8344,834 Extras & Discontinued Operations00 Net Income4,8344,834 2) Apple Inc recognizes revenue from sales when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the sales price is fixed or determinable, and collection is probable. Revenue from service and support contracts is deferred and recognized ratably over the service coverage periods. Revenue is deferred for the fair value of the specified upgrade rights when offered. i. A/R turnover=Net Sales/Average A/R(net) A/R turnover2007=24,066/1637=14. 70 times A/R turnover2008=32,479/2422=13. 41 times ii. Allowance % A/R=Allowance/ Gross A/R Allowance % A/R2007=47/24,066=0. 0195 Allowance % A/R2008=47/32,479=0. 001445 iii. Average collection period= 365/ A/R turnover (or 365*A/R/Net Sales) Average collection period2007=365/14. 70=24. 82 (every 25 days) Average collection period2008=365/13. 41=27. 22 (every 22 days) The total sales revenues increased consistently for the past years. Net sales increased 43. 86% in 2008 compared with 2007 ($24,006 and $ 32,479 respectively), A/R have increased too by 47. 95% in 2007 compared to 20056 ($1637and $2,422 respectively). The company does not have looser credit policy, since it does not have credit accounts whatsoever. Apple has an ncreasing accounts receivable turnover which is a positive sign – showing the company is successfully executing its credit policies and quickly turning its accounts receivables into cash. The ratios calculated above cannot be taken into account because they do not represent the actual A/R for the company for entire year. 3)Inventory Costing: a)The company uses FIFO in costing its inventory. I believe that the company uses this method, because even though tax expense are higher, since the Cost of Goods Sold decrease by using the lower cost items, the net effect on the net income still result it net increase. The earnings per share also increase, as well as inventory in the balance sheet. If the cost of the inventories exceeds their market value, provisions are made currently for the difference between the cost and the market value. The Company’s inventories consist primarily of finished goods for all periods presented. If they use LIFO the net income would have been higher, it can benefit from tax savings and improve its cash flow. On other hand average cost achieves a net income somewhere in the middle. b)Looking at the vertical analysis of the Income Statement cost of goods sold has decreased to 0. 34% (from 66. 3 % in 2007to 65. 69% in 2008), and net sales increased by $8475. At the same time, looking at the horizontal analysis, while in 2008 COGS increased by nearly 39. 97% compared to 2007, sales increased only by 43. 86%, and in 2007 while GOGS increased by 15. 56%, sales increased by 24. 29%. This, in my opinion indicates inventory stock (50 items), and fast moving inventor y (7days). i. Inventory Turnover=(COGS)/(Ave. Inventory) Inventory Turnover2007= 15,852/(270+346)/2=51. 047? 51 items Inventory Turnover2008= 21,334/(509+346)/2=49. 904? 50 items ii. Gross Profit Percentage=Gross Profit/Net Sales Gross Profit Percentage2007=8,154/24,006=0. 3397? 33. 97% Gross Profit Percentage2008=11,145/32,479=. 3431? 34. 31% iii. Average Days in Inventory=365/Inventory Turnover Average Days in Inventory2007=365/51=7. 16 days Average Days in Inventory2008=365/50=7. 3 days c) Apple is doing extremely well in terms of inventory turnover, which is one of the lowest in the industry only 7days . While a sizable inventory can be important to coping with sudden surges in demand, excessive inventory is wasteful and can exacerbate financial problems if a new product is introduced before old inventory is cleared. Inventory is increased from 346 million in 2007 to 509 million in 2008. Because the sales are increased too, therefore it is an indication of heavy business activities, rather than the problem with sale of existing products. Gross profit margin is flat for year 2007 and 2008 at 34%. 4)Property, plant and equipment: a)Apple Inc uses the straight-line method of depreciation based upon the asset’s estimated useful life. b)Asset Turnover=Net Sales/Ave total assets Asset Turnover2007=24,006/[(25,347+17,205)/2)]=1. 1283 Asset Turnover2008=32,479/[(39,572+25,347)/2]=1. 0006 c)PPE has increased in the last year by $632 million. The company has purchased PPE in 2007 in the amount of $735 million and $1,091 million in 2008. In 2008 Apple declared a loss on disposition of property, plant, and equipment for $22 million, which has increased by $10 million since 2007(12million) 5) Liabilities a)Apple’s liabilities are composed by short-term debt, Accounts Payable, Accrued Expenses, Long-term debt, non-current liabilities. The major current and non-current liabilities accounts for the years of 2007 and 2008 are shown in the table below: September 27, 2008 September 29, 2007_ Current liabilities: Accounts payable $5,520 $4,970 Accrued expenses 8,572 4,310 Total current liabilities 14,092 9,280 Non-current liabilities 4,450 1,535 Total liabilities 18,542 10,815 b)Ratios: i. Debt Ratio=Total Liabilities/Total Assets Debt Ratio2008=18,542/39,572=0. 468564 or 46. 86% ii. Debt to Equity=Total Liabilities/Stockholders Equity Debt to Equity2008=18,542/21,030=. 8817 iii. Times interest earned=Income before income taxes and interest expense/Interest Expense Times interest earned2008=6,275/ 0 c)Ratios for Microsoft’s for year ended 06/30/2008 i. Debt Ratio2008=36,507/72,793=0. 015 or 50. 15% ii. Debt to Equity2008=36,507/ 36,286=1. 0061 iii Times interest earned2006=22,492/0 These ratios are derived from Dillard’s financial statements that can be found on http://www. sec. gov/Archives/edgar/data/789019/000119312508162768/d10k. htm. Looking at Apple’s and Microsoft’s debt ratios, I can say that Microsoft’s debt ratio is 3. 29% higher, or it has 3. 29% more debt compared to its total assets. I think that 50. 15% indicates that Apple’s can be categorized a company of moderate risk level. Comparing Apple’s debt to equity ratio of . 8817% to Microsoft’s ratio of 1. 61%, I can tell that Apple’s are doing well, since it uses $. 88 derived from liability in addition to every $1 of equity in its business, taking advantage of the lower cost of debt for financing projects to relatively more expensive equity financing. Microsoft’s ration is only 0. 1793% lower, which indicates a normal debt ratio for Apple Inc. Comparing Apple’s ratio results to Microsoft’s, gives me the confidence to say that Apple’s liabilities fall into the industry’s average. 6)Stock price a)Yahoo Finance chart PRICE DateOpenHighLowCloseAvg VolAdj Close* Sep-08172. 40173. 50120. 68128. 439,370,800128. 24 Aug-08159. 90180. 45152. 91169. 5323,273,800169. 53 Jul-08164. 23180. 91146. 53158. 9533,096,200158. 95 J un-08188. 60189. 95164. 15167. 4434,281,100167. 44 May-08174. 96192. 24172. 00188. 7532,650,300188. 75 Apr-08146. 30180. 00143. 61173. 9538,841,700173. 95 Mar-08124. 44145. 74118. 00143. 5042,313,100143. 50 Feb-08136. 24136. 59115. 44125. 0246,645,400125. 02 Jan-08199. 27200. 26126. 14135. 3662,108,100135. 36 Dec-07181. 86202. 96176. 99198. 0831,771,400198. 08 Nov-07188. 60192. 68150. 63182. 2246,553,700182. 22 Oct-07154. 63190. 12152. 93189. 9537,438,400189. 95 Sep-07153. 44154. 60152. 75153. 4743,935,800153. 47 b)In my opinion there is a strong positive correlation between the two charts. There are several noticeable changes of Apple’s stock price over the last year. In October,2007 Apple’s stocks increases to $189. 95 from $153. 47in Sept. The increase was due people’ interest to get their hands on Mac OS X Leopard, the newest version of Apple's operating system. After that since markets in general, and tech stocks in particular, were hit hard by poor earnings reports posted by Intel, Apple’s stock price dropped in first weeks of November. In the begging of January 2007 the stock dropped to $126. 14 after Jobs announced iphone sales to date of 4 million, and AT&T said that only 3. 9 million were activated, which means 100,000 iphones still in their Christmas wrapping or more likely unlocked. The company’s stock decline in the first quarter was due to an antitrust suit which has been filed against Apple accusing the company of illegally maintaining a monopoly in the digital music market by failing to support Microsoft’s Windows Media Audio format. In May Stock reached $188. 55 because Apple reported its second quarter earnings, and its revenues of $7. 05 billion and a net profit of $1. 05 billion for the quarter. In second quarter Apple had slightly decreases and increases in stock value. On July 22, 2008 Apple reported its third quarter earnings results. The company earned $7. 46 billion during the quarter, a 37% increase from the same quarter 2007. Last month of the third quarter the company had a down t urn to $ 120. 68 per stock. 7) Final Review I believe that the company has strong results in the industry that it operates. Compared to its direct competition, Apple Inc is doing well. I also believe that Apple Inc is trying to grow, and became a leader in consumer electronics market. Based on my analysis, I agree with the company’s strategy of increasing investment in Research and Development. Specifically, I suggest the sometime down the line after provider contracts are over and equipment and technology costs have gone down Apple should enter the wireless cellular provider arena. This would allow Apple to recoup all profits instead of sharing/splitting profits with the providers. Customer’s buy the hardware/phone at cost rather than the current model of wireless provider subsidized phones at the expense of expensive plans. They should offer a quality engineered, eco-friendly, workplace computer that is economically practical for corporations and large organizations. However due to Apple’s unique designing nitch and brand loyalty we feel they have the ability to capture a portion of the bottom market that has always wished to own an Apple without diluting its luxury products image. Apple Inc would do a lot better if it was not in the declining economic environment as of now. Increasing questions about Jobs' health and lack of transparency into a succession plan are decreasing the company’s stability. Contrary of Wall Street's expectations Apple reports earnings of $1. 61 billion ($1. 78 per share), which was up 2 cents a share from the year earlier period. Revenue also increased from $9. 6 billion to $10. 17 billion. With stock price of $102 â€Å"Apple Inc. shares have catapulted back atop the century mark today after brokerage firm FTN Equity upgraded the stock from â€Å"neutral† to â€Å"buy. â€Å"We now believe investors are more prepared for the Chief Executive taking a smaller role and we have not seen the multiple compression we expected,† wrote analyst Bill Fearnley, Jr. † I believe that by looking at the past performance of Apple, one can derive a future prognosis of Apple’s performance, bound to the industry development. I believe that an investor may want to buy Apple’s shares, since it looks like i t is a strong company, and take advantage of the current low stock prices. I also would recommend to an investor not to invest all of his money in Apple, because of the uncertainty of the market.