Humanism during renaissance

Renaissance is a term used to describe ‘rebirth' (in French), which began in Italy in late middle age and then spread to other parts of Europe. During the Renaissance people to question the Scholastic methods of that time and their questioning resulted as the birth of humanism. Humanism goes along with secularism in the sense that it makes humans beings, not God, the centre of attention. People began to do things because they enjoyed them rather than for God's glory. It was responsible for the change in the medieval education system, emphasizing on rational and racial thinking.Humanism emphasizes on the importance of knowledge, as well as on the potential of the individual and civil responsibility. This concept of humanism became the core of renaissance style. It was in this age that people began to reason and think rationally. Even the term used for the Renaissance philosophers, ‘humanists', shows how the focus of the people's attention had shifted from Heaven and God to this world and human beings. Individualism takes humanism a step further by saying that individual humans were capable of great accomplishments.Renaissance philosophers saw humans as intelligent creatures capable of reasoning (and questioning the authority) rather than being mindless pawns helplessly manipulated by God. Humanism profoundly affected the artist community and how artists themselves were perceived. The medieval mind viewed artists as humble servants whose talent and ability were meant to honor God. This is evident in the work of medieval artists adoring churches and cathedrals. Renaissance artists, in contrast, were trained intellectuals – well versed in the classical and mathematical principles.And the art that they created reflected this newfound perspective. In art, linear and aerial perspective developed and artists considered their canvases to be windows to the natural world. Their task became to portray the natural world as realistically as possible. Renai ssance art portrayed the human body as a thing of beauty in its own right and not like a medieval comic strip character whose only reason to exist was for the glory of God. People were often conceived as nudes covered in real fabric rather than the medieval concept of clothes with a head and ands showing.Painters eliminated extra features and details so that the viewer's attention would focus on the theme of the painting rather than be distracted by details. Paintings became balanced and started to express emotions. During the middle age, saints in paintings wore halos around their heads; saints would also look larger in size than the humans. As humanism became popular the size of the saints began to look more human, halos became fainter and then eventually disappeared. The media of art evolved as well. Early paintings were usually done with egg tempera, which dried fast and created a flat rough surface.Oil paint was introduced in the early 1 5th century, and became immensely popula r as it dried slowly and was translucent, allowing light to shine through the paintings. Humanism freed remarkable individuals and geniuses such as Leonardo ad Vinci to live up to their potential without being held back by the medieval society that discouraged innovation. Other ways in which individualism is seen during Renaissance is that the artists started signing their paintings, thus showing individualistic pride in their work.During the Renaissances, architects trained as humanists helped raise the status of their profession from skilled laborers to artists. Renaissance architecture shows clarity as it emphasizes on clean lines, geometrical shapes, symmetry, and was very systematical. When comparing the Gothic architecture and the renaissance architecture, the Renaissance architecture seems to be more practical in terms of height, and spacing. As in the classical world, Renaissances architecture is characterized by harmonious form, mathematical proportion, and a unit of measur ement based on human scale.Patrician man The drawing is based on the ideal human proportions with geometry described by the ancient Roman architect Vitreous. He describes the human as the principal source of proportion among the classical orders of architect. The image of the man exemplifies the blend of art and science during the Renaissances. An example of the proportions found in the Patrician man – The drawing the length of the outspread arm is equal to the height of a man, from the hairline to the bottom of the chin is one tenth of the height of the man, and from below the chin to the top of the head is one eight of the heights of the man form.Above the chest to the top of the head is one- sixth of the height of the man form and from above the chest to the hair line is one – seventh of the height of the man. The maximum width of the shoulder is a quarter of the height of the man. Temple fronts. His keen understanding and observation of classical architecture is al so seen in the Church of Santa' Andrea in Mantra. The columns in this building are not used decoratively but functional as lord bearing support. For Albert', architecture was not Just creating building but to give a meaning.

Movie Rental Industry

Movie Rental Industry Netflix and Blockbuster Case Analysis Lydia Floyd Strategic Management MGT422 February 28, 2013 Introduction Netflix competitive strategy In order for Netflix to understand were the business lies as it relates to the competition it is important to seek the correct strategy in order to be and stay competitive. The five competitive strategies are * Low- Cost * Broad Differentiation * Best-Cost * Focused niche based on low cost * Focused niche based on differentiation Since each strategy requires totally a different approached my recommendations will be based on focused niche based on differentiation.Netflix originally offered DVD’s on a fee per DVD basis and eventually branched off into the monthly subscription service business. The company at one point was forecasted to have over 11. 3 million subscribers by 2009 and 8 million VOD (Video on Demand) customers by 2013. (See Exhibit 1) This exhibit basically shows how the number of video streaming choices has increased over the past several years. So the company is moving in the right direction as far as broaden their differentiation strategy.The next exhibit shows how Netflix compares to the its main competition and how the company’s net profit margin exceeds a competitor like Blockbuster. The attached SWOT analysis for Netflix mentions some very important points that are associated with a focused differentiation strategy. The company is staying committed to how to service the niche better than the competition and speaks to the areas that appeal to specific customers such as offering services that allow subscribers to go back to pilot episodes of a television series.This analysis will allow the company to identify areas to concentrate on strategically and to make a final diagnosis to where the company stands overall. Strengths * Increasing competition per member viewing is on the * Customers’ opting out is the lowest it has ever been. * Clearest brand identity â€Å"Watc h TV shows & movies anytime, anywhere† * Netflix has surpassed the competitions in improving personalization of customer choices because of large membership base * Price $7. 99 per month * Exclusive Content: Of Netflix's top ten TV shows, six are only on Netflix, and not available with competitors. Netflix's DVD subscription service is extremely profitable, with contribution margins around 50%. * Services allow customers to go all the way back to the beginning of the first season for TV shows Weaknesses * DVD subscriptions are down 8. 47 million subscribers in Q3, 2012 compared to 13. 81 million subscribers 1 year ago. * Brand suffered when the company changed the pricing * It could take three years for a full brand recovery in order to see noticeable difference to profit margins * Streaming subscription contribution margins are much Opportunities International expansion (global) * Original productions offer a way for the company to connect with customer emotions. Company will be offering 4 TV series this year that will only be on Netflix * Lack of use of debit and credit cards – Latin America. * Internet TV. Threats * As Hastings pointed out, â€Å"With big markets comes competition† – There is a clear transition from linear TV to Internet TV and competitors want in on the profits. * Contracts with Disney, Sony, and Universal * Hulu, offers its customers TV shows immediately after they are aired for the first time. Hulu, Amazon, and HBO competitors making more investments in streaming options * United Kingdom is a very competitive â€Å"The sought after competitive advantage over other movie rental competitors was to deliver compelling customer value and customer satisfaction by eliminating the hassle involved in choosing rent and returning movies. Grow forward the company has 2 primary strategic objective 1 to continue to grow a large DVD subscription business and to expand rapidly to internet based delivery of content as that mar ket segment developed. (Case page c-102) The company’s revenue has continued to grow substantially over that last couple of years. The next exhibits show the financial position from the end of 2006 to end of 2008 going from 996,660 to 1,364,661 with the net income margin being at 6. 1% by 2008 which shows the company profitability as it relates to expenses and liabilities. The next two slides just give a visual for where Netflix compares to blockbuster as it relates to sales thru 2010Reference Page Thompson , A. University of Alabama 2008 Case 5 Competition in the Movie Rental Industry in 2008: Neflix and Blockbuster battle for market leadership http://beta. fool. com/danielsparks/2012/10/31/netflix-swot-analysis/15522/ http://www. slideshare. net/only1kiku/techindnetflix Gamble, John E. , Strickland, A. J. , & Thompson, Arthur A. , 2010 Crafting and Executing Strategy McGraw Hill/ Irwin New York New York http://finance. yahoo. com/q? s=NFLX&ql=1

Business Advice Essay Research Paper In advising

Business Advice Essay, Research Paper In reding Gus, Gloria, and the murderer ( jointly known as the ? claimants? ) as to the sustainability in jurisprudence of their several claims in relation to, Rajinder ( hereinafter referred to as? R? ) , Sarah ( hereinafter referred to as? S? ) , and the liquidated company Exotic Holidays Ltd. ( hereinafter referred to as? E Ltd. ? ) , the nucleus issue appears to be that of corporate individuality as opposed to personal individuality of the members of the corporate entity. Issues associating to the general effects and effects of incorporation are besides discussed, viz. , issues of separate legal personality, liability and related exclusions, which in bend necessitates consideration of the? corporate head covering? and under what fortunes the tribunals will be prepared to delegate liability etc beyond the corporate entity to the members. Before sing single claims, some idea is given to the general or cardinal issue of legal individuality, on the evidences that this is cardinal to all the state of affairss. The most of import instance in this respect is doubtless Salomon V Salomon [ 1897 ] AC 22 ( hereinafter referred to as? Salomon? ) , which besides provides an disposed get downing place.The basically of import principal that emerged from Salomon is that a company, one time incorporated, is a legal entity in its ain right. In other words, the company itself, in this case E Ltd. , is a clearly separate being from those that are its members ( R and S ) , and as such, has? single? rights and liabilities accordingly.This has two immediate consequences. First, the company, non its members, must seek a redress despite the fact that in world, it will be the members, non the company, that conclude a redress is needed to turn to some incorrect making to the company. Second, the alternate state of affairs in which the company itself must be sued straight, non the members personally, in the event that the company itself has committed some error. The overall consequence is that members? personal liabilities and the liabilities of the company are regarded as separate. For all purposes and intents, the tribunals have traditionally drawn a divide between them. This separation of members and company, or instead the differentiation between them, is frequently referred to as the? corporate head covering? .The Salomon principal has been by and large upheld by the tribunals, sometimes with terrible effects. In the Irish instance Macaura V Northern Insurance Company Limited [ 1925 ] AC 619, the tribunal upheld the statement of an insurance company that it was non apt to pay out if points were insured on a member? s ain name and non? his? company? s name despite the fact that the points being a portion and package of the company? s concern. The tribunal maintained a stiff divide between the member and the company.In more modern times, Slade LJ basically reiterated the go oning cogency of the Salomon principal in Adams v Cape Industries [ 1990 ] Ch 433, ? ? the tribunal is non free to ignore the principal of Salomon? simply because it considers that justness so requires? ? This principal was more late once more affirmed in Ord A ; Another V Belhaven Pubs Limited [ 1998 ] BCC 607.However, as resolute as the principal stands, there are exceeding instances where the tribunal will? raise the corporate head covering? either at common jurisprudence or by legislative act. This was considered in Atlas Marine V Avalon Maritime [ 1991 ] a All ER 769, ? ? . . . to pierce the corporate head covering is an look I would reserve for handling the rights or liabilities or activities of a company as the rights or liabilities or activities of its stockholders? ? There are assorted fortunes where the tribunal will raise the head covering. In the context of liability, such a class of action by the tribunals will intend that the members themselves will be held apt beyond the company. In other words, liability will non halt at the company, as per the Salomon principal, provided the tribunal is satisfied that certain conditions are met. ? It is these conditions that demand to be considered in each single instance with regard to the claimants, since from the given facts, it appears that R and S seek to trust on the Salomon principal in order to deviate any possible liability from themselves personally to E Ltd as a separate legal entity. ? # 8212 ; Gus.According to the given facts, Gus has issued a writ against R originating from alleged? ? behavior in breach of contract? ? that predates and overlaps the day of the month of incorporation of the company.The alleged breaches extend from April 1998 to October 1998, while R sold his concern to E-Ltd in June 1998 while the company itself was incorporated on the 30th June 1998. Therefore, it appears that Gus had been covering with E Ltd. and non R personally after the incorporation.Ordinarily, by application of the Salomon principal, the action against R would neglect on the evidences that Gus was covering with? E Ltd. and non with R.However, as mentioned above, there may be a manner in which the tribunals may be asked to life the head covering and seek action against R straight. This may go on if R is suspected of fraud, although non needfully of a condemnable nature. In this instance, just fraud would suffice. Put another manner, the duties adhering the member are extended to the bind the company.In Jones v Lipman [ 1962 ] 1 All ER 442, the sale of a piece of land was at the Centre of a contract. The marketer had later changed his head? and in order to avoid an order of specific public presentation of his contractual duties, he transferred his land into the name of a company. The tribunal refuses the defense mechanism that the land was now in the ownership of the company and granter an order of specific public presentation against the seller.Likewise, in Gilford Motor Company Limited V Horne [ 1933 ] Ch 935, the tribunal held that a company that constituted a mere? fake? and formed to avoid contractual duties would non be tolerated. In this instance, the tribunal once more lifted the head covering and issued an order against an person who was non even a member of the company in question.Similarly, Gus must demo that R was in consequence? concealment? behind E Ltd. If this can be achieved, it seems possible that the tribunal may allow a redress against R straight. However, if R can demo that the sale was a legitimate trade in the sense that the sale of R? s former concern to E Ltd. was non a? fake? and was formed simply to avoid a contractual duties etc, it seems improbable that the tribunals will follow the path taken in Jones v Lipman or Gilford v Horne in visible radiation of the determination in Adams v Cape Industries where the tribunals refused to raise the corporate head covering. Lord Keith commented in Wolfson v Strathclyde Regional Council [ 1979 ] that the Salomon principal should merely be excluded in instances of a fraudulent nature where facts were being concealed by a ruse.That said, if R seeks to trust on Adams v Cape Industries, there might be a job sing that this instance was distingu ished from a similar instance, Creasey V Breachwood Motors Limited [ 1992 ] BCC 638 partially on the footing of the timing of the transportation from entity to entity. The tribunal may good see the timing of the sale, i.e. half manner through the alleged breach of contract, as a relevant factor and may good see this as some kind of turning away tactic on R? s portion. It is deserving bearing in head that Creasey v Breachwood was later criticised in Ord V Belhaven. Hobhouse LJ stated, ? ? it seems to me ineluctable that the instance in Creasey v. Breachwood as it appears to the tribunal can non be sustained. It represents a incorrect acceptance of the rule of piercing the corporate head covering? Therefore, in my opinion the instance of Creasey v. Breachwood should no longer be treated as authoritative? ? ( Although the evidences for the unfavorable judgment might good non use to the present instance. ) In sum-up, the facts are non sufficiently clear to justify a clear decision, but it appears that the chief obstruction to Gus wining would be the ability to show that R sold his concern to E Ltd. in order to avoid contractual duties via assumed trust on the Salomon principal. Notably, Lord Keith commented in Wolfson v Strathclyde Regional Council [ 1979 ] JPL 169 that the Salomon principal should merely be excluded in instances of a deceitful nature where facts were being concealed by a artifice. Such as artifice must clearly be demonstrated. # 8212 ; Gloria ( hereinafter referred to as? G? ) .From the given facts, G is stated to hold been a? ? former client? ? of E Ltd. Again, with respect to the philosophy of the corporate head covering, G would prima facie merely have a claim against E Ltd. and non R straight or personally. Unless, the tribunals can once more be persuaded to raise the corporate veil.Members of a company have a general fiducial responsibility of attention which should regulate all their behavior within the model of the company in inquiry, and unless it can be shown that they have breached that responsibility by gross carelessness or Acts of the Apostless of bad religion, no personal liability claims can by and large be successful against them. In Williams v Natural Life Health Foods Ltd ( 1998 ) 2 ALL ER 577, the House of Lords held that the corporate head covering should merely be lifted in utmost instances and moreover, there must be some kind of personal deceits made by the member of the company, who accepts as much, and that the complainant would hold had to hold relied on these deceits. The House of Lords refused to raise the head covering in that instance on the evidences that there had been no contact between the parties and in any event, there was no grounds that the complainant had believed that the suspect had accepted any personal liability.In sum-up, it seems unlikely, based on the given facts, that G? s action straight against R will win. However, taking the determination in Williams v Natural Life into history and the stated standards upon which the House of Lords refused to raise the corporate head covering, if G can run into those standards, her claim might good be sustainable. # 8212 ; The Liquidator ( hereinafter referred to as? L? ) .Again, the principal from Salomon is the get downing point with respect to L? s claim against R and S.A farther parallel can be drawn with Salomon. The murderer in Salomon claimed that the company therein was nothingness as it was basically a? fake? on the evidences that the company was in world nil more that Salomon? s? agent? , due in portion to it being a ? one-person company? . However, the House of Lords held that it was irrelevant that the company was in consequence a? one adult male company? ? and that provided the company had been incorporated right, the fact that one individual held an overpowering bulk of portions in the company was non relevant either.More specifically, it was held in Kodak Limited V Clark [ 1905 ] 1 KB 505 that a 98 % shareholding in a company does non by itself create a member/agency relationship. Therefore any similar statements on the evidences that E Ltd. was fundamentally an? agent? of R? s due to his big shareholding will neglect due to the opinion in Salomon and Kodak v Clark.. By and large talking, L will be unable to trust on a common jurisprudence based attack in inquiring the tribunal? s to life the corporate head covering against R and S. However, there may be a possible path via legislative act. Section 213 of the Insolvency Act 1986 in consequence states that where a individual has continued to merchandise through a company cognizing full good, i.e. fraudulently, that the company will be unable to duly repay creditors, the individual may be held personally apt to an extent determined by the tribunals. Section 214 of the same Act, relevant to companies in insolvent settlement ( as is the instance with E Ltd. ) , extends beyond a clear? purpose to victimize creditors? , as per s213, to include? unlawful trading? whereby the individual knew or ought to hold known that creditors will be unable to be duly paid while go oning to merchandise through the company until the clip of the weaving up order being granted. ? In order for the s213 to apply, L must bring forth grounds of a deceitful purpose by R and S to victimize the creditor he represents. Alternatively, under s214, L must show? unlawful trading? which might be an easier proposition.When sing s213, s213 ( 4 ) directs the tribunals to take assorted things into history. Under s213 ( 4 ) the tribunals are directed to see whether the member/s had acted moderately under the fortunes, or more specifically, ? ? the facts which a manager of a company ought to cognize or determine, the decisions which he ought to make and the stairss which he ought to take are those which would be known or ascertained, or reached or taken, by a moderately persevering individual holding both? ( a ) the general cognition, accomplishment and experience that may moderately be expected of a individual transporting out the same maps as are carried out by that manager in relation to the company, and ( B ) the general cognition, accomplishment and experience that that manager has. Therefore in drumhead, in order for s213 to use, these criterions must be applied to the facts of the present instance, and if it is found that R and S had fallen below the needed criterions, an application via s214 might good be sustainable in that the tribunals may good raise the corporate head covering and extend liability to R and S in their personal capacities. Bibliography. ? Farrar? s Company Law? ? ? J.H. Farrar A ; B.M. Hannigan? Company Law? ( Statutes ) ? Butterworths? Company Law? ( Cavendish ) Internet Beginnings. ? Rethinking Company Law and Practice? ? The Hon Justice Michael Kirby ( www3.lawfoundation.net.au ) ? Company Law? ( www.bigwig.net ) ? Limited Liability? a necessary effect of incorporation? ? ? Aiden Small ( www.nuigalway.ie ) ? Company Law? Corporate Personality? ( www.ukcle.ac.uk ) ? Piercing the Corporate Veil? ( www.themis.wustl.edu ) ? The Doctrine of Separate Legal Personality? ( www.law.anu.edu.au ) ? Raising the Corporate Veil Revisited? ( www.acca.org.uk )

The affect of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act on Housing and Urban Development Essay

The affect of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act on Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Audits - Essay Example It also called for public company accounting reform and investor protection act 2002. When the accounting scandals of reputed companies are made public, the companies stand to lose the trust of the people. A quasi public agency named as public company accounting oversight board (PCAOB) was established to prevent companies from getting into fraudulent activities. It also helped to conduct proper investigations in this regard. According to this act the public companies must disclose their internal account practices to make public their effectiveness. The independence of the auditor is to be maintained and any listed public company should have an independent audit committee to look over the relations between the auditor and the company. This enabled smoother interactions between the auditors and the companies. As more number of people are involved in the auditing process, any serious disagreement stood the chance of becoming public. The loans taken by directors and executive officers are restricted to prevent the public money from being misused. Previously they used to take money in form of unsecured loans. Public money was at stake as if any loss was reported, recovery of these loans would be difficult. Misuse of public money by the directors could be checked in this way. The reporting of insider trading was made compulsory to protect the interests of share holders. Insider trading was reduced to a large extent by imposing fines along with a sentence of imprisonment for executives who involve in that practice. Along with protecting the investments, provisions were also made to protect the employee's interests. These enabled employees and whistle blowers to file complaints regarding the harassment and dismissals in order to get quicker responses. The auditor's attestation was made mandatory and this made companies to be more responsible and accountable in their account practices and disclosures. The auditor, who attests, will be made responsible for any fraudulent disclosures in the statements, even at future. This makes the financial disclosures accountable. The most important and critical section in the law which makes the disclosure of financial statements responsible is section 404. This section compels the management to establish internal controls in order to make them selves accountable for the details revealed in the financial statements. The companies have to certify that the internal controls were efficient and trouble free. Sarbanes-Oxley Acts relationship and affect on Not-for-profit entities: The provision of restriction of loans to the directors of non profit organisation

Should Sharia law have more or less power Research Paper

Should Sharia law have more or less power - Research Paper Example On the other hand, Muslims are of the opinion that Sharia law nurtures humanity, allows individuals attain their potential as well as helps individuals release themselves from the strains of life. This paper will assess of Sharia law should be given more or less power. As seen in the research conducted by Mahmoud (2013), Sharia law should have as minimal power as possible since a great percentage of religious laws do not provide a chance for humanistic values that gives all humans a chance to enjoy equality just like other individuals. Evidently, Sharia law is a good testament of discriminatory practices since it does not give all individuals to enjy equal rights. This explains why even international actors are opposed to the law especially bearing in mind that the law incorporates high levels of discrimination on different persons especially based on their gender. A good example is that of the Sharia law discriminating against the homosexuals (Mahmoud, 2013). With this in question, it is manifest that granting Sharia law more power means that the civil and the safety rights of a group of individuals in the society will be threatened to a great extent. Additionally, any person with contrary beliefs would be indicated to demean the government opera ting under the Sharia law since the law does not appreciate the divergent views of different people in the society. For the case of Britain, it is clear that the society is fighting for a secular Britain due to the constraints that the Sharia law has on its followers (Mahmoud, 2013). With the law having state power in many regions around the globe, it is evident that law will continually seize the achievements of the civil society if the law is given more power. The developments achieved over the years have high chances of being overrun by the Sharia law. A notable example is the rights of

Effective Co-Teaching Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Effective Co-Teaching - Essay Example Consequently, there should be effective procedures to implement a strategy that ensures that all educators have a common goal of ensuring success to all students. Â  An inclusive classroom not only eliminates the exclusion barriers, but also ensures success for all students regardless of students’ potential marginalization because of disabilities; hence reduce the disruptive behaviors associated with an inclusive educational system. However, there are bound misunderstanding between the special education staff and the classroom, which is as a result of poor coordination and cooperation, inefficient learning strategies among the educators, and negative attitude towards an inclusive classroom (Villa, Thousand, & Nevin, 2008). For example, the Sunnyslope Elementary school case study indicates a conflict between the classroom teachers and the special education staff whereby lack of collaboration has led to a blame game on student lack of success. Sunnyslope case requires careful s teps and procedures to ensure that the balanced classroom schedules are balanced, and the collaborative relationship of special educations and classroom teachers is improved, which helps in defining a common goal focused on students’ success. The steps towards a successful learning environment in sunnyslope elementary school should implement the following steps towards the conflict resolution between the special educators and the classroom teachers. ... l education staff members should ensure that they work together in making the optimal classroom accommodation for all including students with disabilities. The interactive and co-teaching method should be implemented whereby the alternate roles of teaching, which will ensure that the teaching staff focuses on a common goal in the learning process, focused success among all students in an inclusive classroom. On the other hand, the special education teachers will feel incorporated in the learning schedules and will not have to provide classroom teachers with the students individual Educational Programs (IEPs) whereby they will have a schedule to enforce them appropriately according to each student’s need (Pastorex, 2011). Moreover, the special educators with the help of classroom teachers should develop inclusive Student’s IEPs that include information to support successful participation students in the general learning process in a classroom. Through an effective collab orative teaching practice, the classroom teachers will have an appreciative aspect of the role of the special educators in ensuring that the inclusion policy is not solely under the classroom teacher, but both the educators. Step 3: Effective Time planning and communication Time schedules and effective communication are significant aspects in ensuring an inclusive teaching practice. The co-teachers at sunnyslope should embrace parity and ensure that the lesson planning is based on grade-level expectations, which encourage the discussion of interpersonal skills and strengths between the special education and classroom teaches. Consequently, an appropriate co-teaching pair is achieved through the outlined IEPs for the classroom to meet the support needs of students with disabilities (Pastorex, 2011).

Critically evaluate the statement that the objective of portfolio Essay - 1

Critically evaluate the statement that the objective of portfolio investment is to minimise risk with examples, and discuss the differences between systematic and unsystematic risk - Essay Example Unsystematic risk on the other hand is specific to a particular industry and can only b controlled through proper diversification or portfolio management strategy. The following pages describes the two types of risks and critically analyzes the statement that objective of portfolio diversification is to minimize risk. Systematic risks are the macro risk and affect all sectors and all industries in a market (Back, 2010). This risk cannot be minimized by an investor through portfolio diversification. From the company’s view point this risk cannot be controlled by the company. This type of risk is both unavoidable and impossible to predict (An, 2007). Such type of risk is impossible for the company to control. Another type of risk is the unsystematic risk. Systematic risks are the risks that arise due to the influence of external factors that are beyond the control of an organization (Chance and Brooks, 2015). Since these types of risks are beyond the control of an organization so these risks do not affect a particular organization but affects all types of organization that are present in the market. The organization cannot plan in advance for such type of risks. Such types of risks are macro in nature and have its impact across the market spectrum irrespective of the industry or sector types (Fouque and Langsam, 2013). The systematic risks can be of various types and can be further subdivided into Interest rate risks, Purchasing power risk and Market risk. Interest rate risk: Interest rate risk is mainly associated with debt instruments and refers to the variability of interest rates from time to time. Interest rate risks can be further subdivided into price risk and reinvestment rate risk (Gai, 2013). Price risk as the name suggests is the risk that is associated with the probable fall in the price of shares or any other commodity in the future. Reinvestment risk is the risk that is

Household Food Waste in the UK Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Household Food Waste in the UK - Essay Example It aimed at giving a statistical representation of samples across Wales and England to come up with a determination of cost and mass of food waste. From July 2007, 2,715 households that were in a questionnaire that asked for background data that is socio-demographical, home composting, waste collection habits, recycling experiences and some perceptions towards UK waste food. After four weeks, waste from the municipality from 2138 households was put together, sorted, weighed and put into 13 groups of food (check Appendix B) and the categories of food stage (see Figure 2) Annual food waste mass for all homes in the UK was calculated through average mass by the type of household. That is, households shared, of singles, related adults and that one that is related to children. The researchers allocated cost with mass in grams according to a set mean price for all identified food items. The analysis was focused on cost and mass of waste that is avoidable. 6.7 million tonnes, which are equivalent to 14.5 billion Pounds or (18.8 billion Euros2) of food are always disposed of in the UK every year. This stands as a 20% representation of all domestic waste that is generated in the UK. For the reason of WRAP’s report, it was divided into three major categories: Products that are discarded but still within their dates at the day of sorting analysis, add up to at least 8.3% of food waste that is avoidable under which drinks, condiments, and confectionaries have the greatest portions. The top three items on the list of food that is wasted in % of mass are: The main difference between avoidable and total food waste in the vegetable category is caused by inedible parts and peelings (see Figure 4). Despite, potatoes turn out to be the food items that mostly appear in the vegetable category, which is ranked second in food waste that is avoidable after bakery.

Survival and Positive Growth during an Economic Downturn Assignment

Survival and Positive Growth during an Economic Downturn - Assignment Example This study will evaluate and arrive at a consensus regarding each of the financial aspects to provide a plan that will help the organization survive during a depression or recession and lead to a positive growth. It is therefore aimed at providing inputs from the financial perspective of business during the economic downturn. The idea of providing inputs or making changes and venturing into new arenas in terms of cost efficiency and management are discussed as they are the need of the hour. The whole economic system functions on the money supply in the market, and this supply is facilitated by the various business enterprises that are the backbone of every economy. To begin with, let us get acquainted with the "Great Depression of the 1930's" and the current economic downturn. The Great Depression was the worldwide economic downturns that lead to widespread poverty and unemployment as businesses failed. Though the exact cause of the Great Depression is unknown, it began with the Stoc k market crash by the end of 1929. A normal change in the business cycle that becomes a short recession can lead to a depression. During the 'The great depression' the construction industry came to a stunning halt in many countries with prices of crops falling by almost 60%, leading to widespread unemployment, as these sectors have few alternative employment options. However, the economy started showing signs of recovery during early 1933 and the economy stabilized thereafter leaving potential room for the growth of the business. A report about recession where the Former US Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan commented "the current global recession will "surely be the longest and deepest" since the 1930s and more government rescue funds are needed to stabilize the U.S. financial system."To stabilize the American banking system and restore normal lending, additional TARP funds will be required," Greenspan said in a speech to the Economic Club of New York. The U.S. Treasury's Trou bled Asset Relief Program designed to help bail out banks has been partially successful". The current recession too had the stock markets crashing with the heavy downturn in the construction industry segment. Greenspan further comments "a housing recovery is a necessary condition for the end of the financial crisis, and said that "the prospect of stable home prices remains many months in the future." The effect of this economic downturn is the huge cut down on spending by corporate houses leading to widespread unemployment. According to the Forbes Digital Company "Working capital management" means a "managerial accounting strategy focusing on maintaining efficient levels of both components of working capital, current assets and current liabilities, in respect to each other. Working capital management ensures a company has sufficient cash flow in order to meet its short-term debt obligations and operating expenses." It is only in the implementation of an effective working capital man agement can companies see the return on investment and better earnings.

Perspectives on conflicts and disputes Essay Example for Free

Perspectives on conflicts and disputes Essay Legal positivists postulate that individuals are intrinsically greedy, which is the main root of conflicts among them. Thomas Hobbes posits that beings are doomed to dispute because of their primeval nature, which is deduced to selfishness that causes them to struggle to maintain their social status. In this milieu, Charles Darwin furthered this stance by conjecturing that species’ selfish ways are embedded to their genes because life is nothing but a struggle for survival. To curtail this selfishness, law is of necessity because only it provides rules and restrictions to protect the interest and upholds the rights of each individual. The advancement on the epistemological aspect of conflict starts at the ontogenetic condition of the specie and continues in its phylogenetic condition. Ontogenetic state means that the being develops from the conception of its genes up to the end of its life cycle. Conversely, phylogenetic event transpires in between of the beings conception and death, meaning the individual develops throughout the time it exists. Therefore, Homo sapiens understanding of conflict’s anatomy begins at phylogenetic level and its full comprehension happens when Homo sapiens reaches the end of ontogenetic level. The epistemic acquisition of conflicts thrives in human playground or to events and settings that necessitates human actions and interactions. Conflicts undergo a succession that perpetually exists within the life-world of beings such as their surroundings, environment, politics, business, science, etc. Having drawn this conclusion, we can infer that in existing innumerable of conflicts there is a myriad of ways of resolving it. Conflict is impossible to annihilate because of the following reasons: first, it thrives at the very heart of human volition, which is the source of human selfishness, and second, it has been part of human psyche to transfer it from one generation to the other, which resulted to a vicious cycle within the epistemic system of conflict. And throughout history, individuals have learned the art of conflict, and some even mastered the usage of conflict in their everyday lives. Handling conflict is very vital to human existence because it can totally change the landscape of one’s own existence. The coming of twentieth century proved that beings are becoming more and more aware of how to comprehend the nitty-gritty details of conflict, and what are the effective means of handling conflicts. There is no panacea that will medicate continuous existence of conflict, but humans strive to find a better solution to satisfy the needs of a prominent conflict because they are challenged by the difficulty it embodies. It must be noted that conflict is getting more complicated as time passes by, which means that better solution must be concocted to counter-attack more severe problem. The vastness of the universe implies a far more serious condition because the contingency of the world can necessitate an unknown conflict, which greatly needs a novel constructs or to put it simply, man has to go out of the box to resolve a new or unknown prevailing issue. This kind of conflict serves a greater challenge to human reason because it is something that our very reason has not yet encountered. The enigmatic characteristic of such new issues demands transcendence in our rationality. Using Karl Marx philosophical stance, we can infer that conflict has a crisis-response blueprint or a thesis-antithesis pattern. Multiplicity of conflicts has evolved into a more complex manner within the continuum of time, as well as the individual effort to manage and to elucidate it. In order for a human specie to understand the mechanism of conflict, he/she must know its intrinsic values, and in doing so, he/she can decipher appropriate solution for different conflicts. The epicentre of conflict lies on the innate nature of man and its solution lies on the rules that have been drawn to curb the natural operation of human volition. Development is the life-source of conflict, ironically speaking, the more we formulate means to make life easier the more we recognize new conflicts. In the primeval condition of humanity the only existing problem is the source of food, and then it further develops into the issue of territory, and finally when men resolved these issues another conflict sprouted when they realized the significance of property. The birth of science and technology intensified the man’s struggle to annihilate conflicts. Science and technology successfully medicated the prevailing conflicts of our society but it also paved for the birth of novel conflicts, and in some condition aggravated an existing issue. As of this modern day period, science and technology provides a myriad of solutions in human crises in the field of poverty, education and medicine. But it also exacerbates war between nations because technology brings forth weaponry of mass destruction. Man by Nature is Selfish According to Richard Dawkins introduction in his book The Selfish Gene, man’s attitude is greatly affected and designed by our genetic composition. Our genes made us. We animals exist for their preservation and are nothing more than their throwaway survival machines. The world of the selfish gene is one of savage competition, ruthless exploitation, and deceit. But what of the acts of apparent altruism found in nature the bees who commit suicide when they sting to protect the hive, or the birds who warn the flock of an approaching hawk? Do they contravene the fundamental law of gene selfishness? At the onset of Dawkins book, he clearly stipulated that all species either man or animals are machines fashioned by their genetic design. As mentioned earlier, Hobbes believes that men are naturally born selfish, and it is the same in Dawkins case. According to him, the selfishness of man is deeply embedded in our genes, and due to this we must learn the virtue of generosity and altruism because if we failed to do so, men will perpetually live on catastrophic state. Dawkins stance must not be misconstrued as an ethical justification of human behaviour or a moral treatise that must be followed since his insight is loud and clear; that men are selfish because of their genes, no more, no less. Having said this, it is a challenge for us to control it if not exterminate it because we are the only species who can desired to do it. In the furtherance of man’s selfish genes, Dawkins incorporated Darwin’s biological conjecture that man is doomed for the battle of its own survival. However, the former believes that survival is not controlled by man; rather man is machinated by genes to strive for its own survival. The genes are the building blocks of human existence, it is the one that created us, and these genes even dictates how we should reason out. Men are innately selfish for the sole reason of life preservation or prolongation. They are willing to do everything just to ensure that their interests are satisfied. Satisfaction of interest is tantamount to the validation of one existence. This is the embodiment of human existence, chaotic and full of struggle. The machination of individual is further elucidated by Dawkins through his explanation of gene mechanism. Dawkins adopted G. C. Williams’ definition of genes, which stated that gene any portion of chromosomal material that potentially last for enough generations to serve as a unit of natural selection . The deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of man thrives within our body. It must be noted that DNA is not contained in a particular body parts rather it is widely disseminated within our cells. Approximately speaking, a human body is made of a thousand million cells, and each of these cells contains an exact blueprint of all DNA in our body. The significance of the ontogenetic control of genes is its capability of self-continuation and self-propagation, meaning, genes can preserve itself under the condition of numerous struggles. The survival of genes lies on the efficiency and power of our corporeal body, which they inhabit for its own development. The existence of each human species is not everlasting, it is ephemeral. Dawkins uses an analogy wherein each card in a deck represents the genes. According to him, when a deck of card are being shuffled they undergo a process of survival. And this process of survival is exactly the mechanism of genes wherein every time they are shuffled a gene only assumes the position of another gene, instead of being destroyed, and after the shuffling process genes are still genes that continue to march on. Dawkins draws a conclusion from this analogy, which stated that genes are basically the replicators and we are their machinery for survival. And when we have fulfilled our function we are automatically became useless, but gene will perpetuate its existence because it is a denizen of geological time . In view of that, Dawkins also posits that gene is the basic unit of survival because it competes for its own preservation against their alleles for a slot in the chromosome. With this picture, we can infer that genes struggle for survival of future generation in the gene pool in the expense of its own alleles. Therefore, selfishness is indeed the fundamental foundation of selfishness. The genes are the master programmers, and they are programming for their lives. They are judged according to the success of their programs in copying with all the hazards that life throws at their survival machines, and the judge is the ruthless judge of the court of survival . This phrase only strengthened Dawkins claims that man is nothing but a machinery of genes for its own survival. As pointed earlier, man is different from other specie because a human being has a will power and reason, meaning man can go against the dictate of its gene i. e. a person can choose not to reproduce. In addition, reason has its own domain wherein it has the capability to manipulate habitual operation of gene machine, to envisage what lies beyond its own future, and most significantly, to act according to its own course of nature. Because of rationality, gene machinery is able to be in command of outlining what direction individuals must follow. Rationality can curtail the dictate of gene, meaning, a person can transcend his/her selfishness and reach the condition of being generous and altruistic. The emancipation of man from his selfish nature is only possible if and only if he succumb himself to an agreement. Being established that human beings to be innately selfish also indicate that they are self-regulating. But generosity and altruism can only be actualized if the self-regulating beings surrender their self-regulating prowess. Selfishness is the anti-thesis of the said virtues but because of rationality human beings will submit to an agreement to satisfy the insufficiency of self-regulation. The universal antidote for this insufficiency is the construction of law through its rules. In the vein of Hobbes social contract theory, man must give in to an agreement to restrain his natural tendencies, but he must only surrender to a contract if and only if others will surrender to it in equal footing. But in the provision of rules it is a prerequisite to understand the intricate schema of conflict. The Role of Rules In Using Conflict Theory, Otomar Bartos and Paul Wehr claim that in the wide range of epistemic knowledge regarding conflicts there are two guiding principles that must be comprehended: one, to concentrate on general theories, and second, to carry out these theories on a simplified fashion. The former necessitate an application of theories to innumerable types of conflicts. While the latter focuses on the specific arguments or application of the former. One good example of general theories is elucidation of poverty in the third world countries using the framework of dialectical materialism by Marx. If we convert this general theory into a simplified manner, one must look at the specific causes of poverty such as shortage of natural resources, lack of capital, misallocation of funds, graft and corruption, and the likes. If one is successful in outlining the appropriate general theories in an existing conflict, then he/she translates these theories in its simplified form. And if this will be the case, then concoction of rules will be easier. Rules must embody the principle of the entire society and it must cater to the needs of its citizenry. Rules can be perceived in two ways: Kantian or Utilitarian. Immanuel Kant posits that rules must be made in the context of universal imperative, meaning it must not be used as means of advancing one’s interest rather it must be created for its own sake and for the goodness and betterment of humanity. In lieu to this, Utilitarian advocates such as J. S. Mill argues that rules must be conceptualized in the essence of achieving the goodness of the majority and resulting to the production of best consequences. Kant postulates that a rule must be encompassing and must not reside on the band wagon of majority votes because it contradicts the reason of man, and because number of votes does not imply truth. For example, killing another being is morally unjustified is a universal rule because it affirms the importance of life, which is true to all beings. Conversely, J. S. Mill believes that rules are justified if and only if the â€Å"greatest happiness for the greatest number of people† is reached. But it must be noted that utilitarian theory also entails a qualitative measurement through the intensity and duration of happiness, meaning, it must have greater impact to the society and its intensity must last for the longest time if not forever. For example, death penalty can be either permissible or impermissible depending on the context of society, but the point is, morally justifiability of death penalty lies on majority votes since it can serve the interest of more people. There are voluminous conflicting issues regarding these theories because both of them are in extreme opposition. Kant rejects utilitarianism because it does not uphold a consensual quest for universal truth and it only served the interests of the majority of population in a given social context. On the other hand, utilitarian advocates refute the Kantian theories because of its impossibility or tedious system in knowing the universal truth. But in the modern day period, utilitarian theories are more adopted than Kantian theory because it is more feasible in creating rules for present conflicts and for future conflicts. In most cases, before a rule can be ratified it must undergo an election and must meet certain number of votes to quantify its validity i. e. three-fourths of the voting population or majority votes. But it must be noted that most rules fashioned in utilitarian perspective must follow a universal precept so that it will not contradict the constitution of a specific nation. For example, murder is universally not accepted, which one of the reason why death penalty is not easy to endorse because it contradicts a universal precept, though some countries provided an reasonable exemption on the matter, killing will still be universal precept that they must consider. Rules main goal is to promote the interest of every individual as possible as it can, and to restrict the selfish ways of human beings, in order to maintain an ordered society. Because of this guideline, law has delineated the scope of public and private sphere to guarantee the possibility of generosity and altruism. Public sphere is far more superior to the private sphere because the former promotes national interest and the welfare of the entire populace. Law provides countless rules to reinforce the supremacy of public sphere, which is the apparent implication on the significance of reason. Rules are the product of our reason to rebel against the dictate of our selfish genes. In the furtherance of rules, justice must be encapsulated in its formulation to ensure an effective implementation of it.

Knowledge Attitude Practices Repeat Cesarean Health And Social Care Essay

Knowledge Attitude Practices Repeat Cesarean Health And Social Care Essay Cesarean delivery is defined as the birth of a fetus through incisions in the abdominal wall and uterine wall . An increase of in the cesarean delivery has been observed worldwide. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) states that no region in the world is justified in having a cesarean rate greater than 10 to 15%. According to the WHO, cesarean delivery rate of more than 15% is indicative of inappropriate use of resources . According to Department of Health, the Philippines 2006 national cesarean rate is 24%. In Davao Medical Center (DMC), the rate as of 2008 is recorded at 19% as depicted in the OB-Gyne departments annual cesarean review statistics. In the US, most common indication of cesarean section is repeat cesarean which accounts for 35% of all cases as reported by the United States Public Health Service. The rates have been steadily increasing due to a higher number of sections for fetal distress as electronic fetal monitoring has been used extensively for presumed fetal compromise, the many breech presentations delivered abdominally as well as the increasing acceptability of cesarean delivery by maternal request. Before the 1970s, deliveries by cesarean section were considered as an indication for cesarean section in the subsequent pregnancies, reflecting a concern that uterine scar tissue might rupture during labor. However, in the 1980s, the dictumonce a cesarean, always a cesarean, espoused by Craigin (1916) was revised in many countries, and a trial of labor in women with history of cesarean section was proposed as an attempt to reduce cesarean section rates. However, an apparent increase in the incidence of uterine rupture and concern about maternal and fetal safety have challenged the choice of vaginal delivery in women having a scarred uterus. As a consequence, clinicians are increasingly being faced in deciding the mode of delivery in pregnant women whose first delivery was by cesarean section. This scenario has also been observed in the Philippine setting. DMC, as a specific case, recorded increasing cesarean deliveries accounting to a third of all deliveries for 2008, of which, 11.53% for repeat CS while 19.8% for primary CS. In contrast, Vaginal Birth after Cesarean Section is a measly 1.2% of the total deliveries for 2008. This is due to the fact that patients who underwent VBAC were admitted for imminent delivery. Majority of these patients were not prepared during their prenatal visits and were unaware of the complications and risks of VBAC. The confounding reason of such practice is primarily economics: the high cost of undergoing an elective CS delivery as compared with the cost of vaginal delivery. These patients would rather risk undergoing VBAC without the benefit of intrapartum monitoring specifically for those attempting to deliver at lying-in clinics or at home. Based on the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) study, the incidence of uterine rupture is low at .2-.7% (Landon,2006). But despite its low incidence, ACOG guidelines on VBACS specifically mentioned that VBAC be performed in an institution where an obstetric, anesthesia, pediatric, and operating-room staff is available. This scenario provided impetus for the conceptualization of this study which is aimed at determining the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of repeat C-section patients and their willingness to undergo vaginal birth after C-section at DMC. Review of Related Literature In 2004, the number of C-sections had reached an all-time high, accounting for 29% of all births or 1 million babies (National Center for Health Statistics). This is despite the convention that vaginal delivery is associated with less maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality as compared with repeat cesarean section (Chauhan, 2004). For example, observational studies data from around 90,000 deliveries, have shown an increased risk of neonatal respiratory morbidity among term infants delivered by caesarean section (3.5-3.7%) compared with vaginal birth (0.5-1.4%). The following maternal risks significantly increase with increasing number of repeated caesarean deliveries: placenta accreta, injury to bladder, bowel or ureter, ileus, the need for postoperative ventilation, intensive care unit admission, hysterectomy, blood transfusion requiring four or more units and the duration of operative time and hospital stay (Russen et. al. 2004). Moreover, authors speculated that a prolonged inter-pregnancy interval may allow time for the previous cesarean delivery scar to reach its maximal tensile strength before the scar undergoes the mechanical stress and strain with a subsequent intrauterine pregnancy (Shipp et. al., 2000). Menacker et al. (2006) noted that cesarean rates fell between 1991 and 1996, and then began to rise rapidly. In 2004, over 29% of all births were by cesarean section. The rise in both the total and repeat cesarean rate has been widespread for women of all ages, races, medical indications, and for all infant gestational ages. The study also noted steep decrease in VBAC rate from 1996 to 2004 (see Figure 1). From this trend, the authors opined that the influence of recent medical opinion discouraging VBAC has had a strong effect on practice patterns, and had led to greater uniformity as well as a large increase in repeat cesarean deliveries by 2003. Figure 1 (Source: Menacker et al. pp. 236) The dramatic increase in cesarean sections over the past two decades has been significantly driven by repeat C-sections. In response, clinical guidelines recommending vaginal birth after cesarean-section (VBACS) have been promulgated by international organizations from different countries such as the United States, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and Australia. It is construed that adherence to these guidelines would reduce the number of repeat C-sections, lower the overall C-section rate and improve both the quality and the cost of health care. While these guidelines have received professional endorsement, their implementation has been clouded by issues of patient acceptance and provider payment. Neff (2004) discussed the risks and benefits of VBAC. Successful VBAC generally is associated with shorter maternal hospitalizations, fewer infections, less blood loss and fewer transfusions, and fewer thromboembolic events than cesarean delivery. However, a failed trial of labor may be associated with major maternal complications, such as hysterectomy, uterine rupture, operative injury, increased maternal infection, need for transfusion, and neonatal morbidity. Multiple cesarean deliveries are associated with an increased risk of placenta previa and accreta. With VBAC (Landon, 2004), the incidence of maternal death is extremely low. The incidence of perinatal death is less than 1 percent, and is more likely to occur during a trial of labor than an elective repeat cesarean delivery. Uterine rupture during a trial of labor after a previous cesarean delivery is a life-threatening complication directly associated with attempted VBAC. The patients obstetric history influences the risk of uterine rupture. A previous vaginal birth significantly reduces the risk of uterine rupture. Also, the longer the length of time between deliveries, the lower the risk of rupture. Women who attempt VBAC who have interdelivery intervals of less than 24 months have a two- to three-fold increased risk of uterine rupture compared with women whose interdelivery interval is more than 24 months. A study conducted Hopkins and Potter (1998) on C-sections patients in Brazil concluded that while many women fear the pain associated with childbirth and the consequences of a vaginal birth for the baby, they do not clamor for C-section delivery. Obstetricians were observed to have overplayed these fears to their advantage thereby overly estimating safety of C-section delivery. In fact, it has become a routine practice and is considered as safe or safer than a vaginal delivery. The study further documented that majority of first-time mothers in public and private hospitals wanted to deliver vaginally and considered vaginal birth superior in terms of recuperation. A majority believed that vaginal delivery does not have effect to their or their partners sexual life. Though majority was found to have considered normal childbirth more painful than a cesarean, but most also believed a cesarean causes a lot pain after the delivery. Less than 33% agreed that a cesarean is safer for the baby and less than 20% of women agreed that a C-section is safer for the woman. Objectives of the Study The objectives of the study are twofold: To come up with a profile of the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) towards vaginal birth after C-section (VBACS) among repeat C-section patients Determine whether the KAPs of the respondents significantly influence their willingness to undergo VBACS Statement of the Problem This present study seeks answers to the following questions: What is the profile of the respondents in terms of their knowledge, attitudes and practices about VBACS? What is the frequency distribution of the respondents in terms of their willingness to undergo VBACS? Do the KAPs of the respondents significantly influence their acceptance to undergo VBAC in their next delivery? Does counseling about VBACS affect the respondents willingness to undergo vaginal birth after C-section? Conceptual framework It is hypothesized that the KAPs of the respondents toward VBAC significantly influence their willingness to deliver vaginally after having experienced C-section in their previous delivery. Significance of the Study The most common reason that a C-section is performed is that the woman has had a prior C-section delivery. DMC is not spared from the increasing trend of repeat C-section rate. Since vaginal delivery is undoubtedly associated with less maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality, not to mention, medical supplies and other hospital resources, there is a need to find ways in order to reduce repeat C-section rate in DMC. DMC, a tertiary and referral hospital in the Southern Mindanao Region, has no available data on KAPs of women towards VBACS. Thus, the range information that this investigation will generate could provide baseline information that can be used to design appropriate interventions aimed at reducing the overall C-section rate in the institution. One of which is by counseling and encouraging patients to undergo VBACS. One of the significant risks when considering VBACS is uterine rupture because it has been the belief and fear of many repeat cesarean patients that a previously scarred uterus is too weak to withstand trial of labor hence discouraging them from going into VBACS. The information that would be gathered from this study would be of help in counseling repeat C-section patients ante-nataly and post-nataly to enable them to plan their preferred spacing intervals for the subsequent pregnancies. This is because women with prior C-section birth is considered high risk and so to optimizing maternal well being and healthcare. Moreover, data about the knowledge, attitude and practices of patients who had prior CS birth on VBACS would be of help to assess the level of acceptance of these patients and hopefully allay their fears thereby coming up with the best informed choice. Lastly, the results of the investigation could spur future research in the subject VBACS. Dependent Variable The willingness of the respondents to undergo vaginal birth after cesarean section in their next delivery Independent Variables The profile of the respondents in terms of their knowledge, attitude and practices towards vaginal birth after cesarean section. MethodOLOGY Design A descriptive cross-sectional survey design would be employed to address the research questions. Setting Outpatient department of the OB clinic in Davao Medical Center Respondents and Sampling All patients who had a prior C-section birth seen at the high risk clinic of the DMC OB OPD will be included in the sampling frame from February to April 2010. The sample size will be determined using the model , where n is the sample size, N is the population size and e is the margin of error. Inclusion Criteria All patients who had a prior CS birth will be included in the study. Exclusion Criteria Patients who will not give their consent will be excluded from participating. Data Extraction The questionnaire will be pilot tested among ten patients with previous CS at the DMC OB OPD. A structured survey form will be used for gathering data about the respondents KAPs towards VBACS and their willingness to undergo vaginal delivery (see Attachment 1). The principal investigator (PI) will conduct a one-on-one administration of the survey form. Prior to gathering information pertinent to the questions in the survey, informed consent (see Attachment 2) will be secured by the PI. After data gathering, the principal investigator will counsel the respondents about VBACS, its indication and absolute contraindication, complications and the VBACS ACOG guidelines. A post-test question will be done on their willingness to undergo VBACS after being counseled. Ethical Consideration Approval from the hospital ethics committee will be sought before the study will be conducted. After thoroughly discussing the nature, methodology and objectives of the study to the respondent, a written consent will be asked from each participating patient. Data Analysis The KAPs of the respondents towards VBACS will be profiled using descriptive statistics such as the mean, standard deviation, frequency and percentage distribution. Their willingness to undergo vaginal delivery before and after counseling about VBACS will also be described using frequency and percentage distribution. Logistic regression analysis will be used to determine whether or not the KAPs of the respondents significantly influence their willingness to undergo VBACS. Time Frame The study will be conducted in February-April 2010. Budget Materials: 10,000.00 Miscellaneous: 8,000.00 Total: 18,000.00

Sams :: essays research papers fc

Ancient Egyptian Burial A profound belief in life after death is why burials in ancient Egypt are so elaborate. There was two different ways to artificially preserve bodies. When the Ancient Egyptians buried their dead they did not want the bodies to be washed away by the floods. They also didn’t want to use up valuable farmland for cemeteries. The dead were buried close to the villages in the higher elevated dry deserts that covered the Nile. One-way of preserving a body was the linen and plaster method. The body would be wrapped in many layers of preservative linen. This would give the body the look of mummies that are in today’s movies. The idea of wrapping the bodies in linen was to preserve as much as the body’s features as possible. The linen and plaster was used to hold the shape of the face. Another widely used method of preserving bodies has to do with Natron. Natron is a natural salt that is found in Egypt. The salts would dry out the body parts so rotting would go slow. Salts were used to â€Å"pickle† a dead body. The Egyptians experimented with many different ways of mummifying. Only kings and their royal wives were buried in pyramids. Funerals depended on how much money you had. There were many different burials for different people. The poor, craftsmen and artists, nobles and courtiers, royal family, and the kings had different methods in which they were buried.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The poor people didn’t have very elaborate funerals. They were just buried in the sand. Given the gifts of a pot, some food and some other small goods is what poor people used to survive in the world after life. Craftsmen and artists were buried with a little more care but the burials were still not fancy at all. Buried in the fetal position they were basically just thrown in the dirt and mud. The nobles and courtiers were sometimes given the gift of a tomb. The nobles and courtiers were buried in shafts that sometimes were nice.

Christianity Essay -- Jesus Messiah Story Christ Essays

Christianity   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Christianity is one of the major religions of mankind. It has been the dominant religion in Europe and America, Christianity has also spread throughout the world and has a greater number of adherents then any other religion.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Jewish teacher known as Jesus of Nazareth founded Christianity. Christianity drew on the expectations for a Messiah common in the region during these centuries. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, near Jerusalem, and grew up in the town of Nazareth. He was educated from the Pharisaic school of thought and was practicing as an observant Jew. He was not preaching to non-Jews so therefore only Jews could follow him. they started to think of him as their Messiah. As he traveled through towns in Judea he gathered small groups of followers. He chose twelve from these groups and they became known as the twelve apostles. They traveled around the world preaching. According to the gospels, he created great excitement among the people. In 30 CE Jesus traveled to Jerusalem. There he was hailed as the Messiah. Others denied that he was the messiah and regarded him as a revolutionary. The Romans feared that Jesus wanted to lead an uprising, and they considered him an enemy of the state. Jesus was tried before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor. He eventually agreed to have Jesus crucified. According to the gospels, Jesus rose from his grave, and went back to his followers for forty days and preaches.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Before 45 CE a man named Peter co...

FDI in Real Estate of India and China Essay -- Foreign Direct Investme

FDI in Real Estate of India and China FDI refers to the investment made by a foreign individual or company in productive capacity of another country for example, the purchase or construction of a factory. FDI also refers to the purchase of a controlling interest in existing operations and businesses (known as mergers and acquisitions). Multinational firms seeking to tap natural resources, access lucrative or emerging markets, and keep production costs down by accessing low-wage labour pools in developing countries are FDI investors. Foreign direct investment (FDI) is the movement of capital across national frontiers in a manner that grants the investor control over the acquired asset. Thus it is distinct from portfolio investment which may cross borders, but does not offer such control. Firms which source FDI are known as ‘multinational enterprises’ (MNEs). In this case control is defined as owning 10% or greater of the ordinary shares of an incorporated firm, having 10% or more of the voting power for an unincorporated firm or development of a greenfield branch plant that is a permanent establishment of the originating firm. Types of FDI: Greenfield investment: direct investment in new facilities or the expansion of existing facilities. Greenfield investments are the primary target of a host nation’s promotional efforts because they create new production capacity and jobs, transfer technology and know-how, and can lead to linkages to the global marketplace. Greenfield investments are the principal mode of investing in developing countries. Mergers and Acquisitions: occur when a transfer of existing assets from local firms to foreign firms takes place. Cross-border mergers occur when the assets and operation of firms from different countries are combined to establish a new legal entity. Cross-border acquisitions occur when the control of assets and operations is transferred from a local to a foreign company, with the local company becoming an affiliate of the foreign company. Mergers and acquisitions are the principal mode of investing in developed countries. The pros and cons of FDI as a source of development Attraction of FDI is becoming increasingly important for developing countries. However this is often based on the implicit assumption that greater inflows of FDI will bring certain benefits to the country’s economy. FDI, like ... ...rmats, some of which are: †¢ Builders and developers can construct the property and then hand it over to the retailers. †¢ There is also the possibility of exploring joint venture collaborations. In this format the builder shall be responsible for identifying and acquiring land, constructing the building and further be responsible for the maintenance and the upkeep of the premises. The retailer in this format shall then be responsible to bring in the brands in the building. This format provides the construction industry an extended scope of getting into retail in a joint venture format. This shall not be limited to the FDI scenario but can work well in the Indian retail industry scenario as well. This type of model lets the core business, which is construction, development and maintenance, get a value addition from another industry segment. Relaxing the existing 100 acres norm for the FDI inflow into real estate sector would help speed up construction works in the economy. It is difficult to get 100 acres in the urban areas, to enable foreign firms to build on plots starting from 25 acres against the current stipulation of 100 acres (applicable only in integrated townships). FDI in Real Estate of India and China Essay -- Foreign Direct Investme FDI in Real Estate of India and China FDI refers to the investment made by a foreign individual or company in productive capacity of another country for example, the purchase or construction of a factory. FDI also refers to the purchase of a controlling interest in existing operations and businesses (known as mergers and acquisitions). Multinational firms seeking to tap natural resources, access lucrative or emerging markets, and keep production costs down by accessing low-wage labour pools in developing countries are FDI investors. Foreign direct investment (FDI) is the movement of capital across national frontiers in a manner that grants the investor control over the acquired asset. Thus it is distinct from portfolio investment which may cross borders, but does not offer such control. Firms which source FDI are known as ‘multinational enterprises’ (MNEs). In this case control is defined as owning 10% or greater of the ordinary shares of an incorporated firm, having 10% or more of the voting power for an unincorporated firm or development of a greenfield branch plant that is a permanent establishment of the originating firm. Types of FDI: Greenfield investment: direct investment in new facilities or the expansion of existing facilities. Greenfield investments are the primary target of a host nation’s promotional efforts because they create new production capacity and jobs, transfer technology and know-how, and can lead to linkages to the global marketplace. Greenfield investments are the principal mode of investing in developing countries. Mergers and Acquisitions: occur when a transfer of existing assets from local firms to foreign firms takes place. Cross-border mergers occur when the assets and operation of firms from different countries are combined to establish a new legal entity. Cross-border acquisitions occur when the control of assets and operations is transferred from a local to a foreign company, with the local company becoming an affiliate of the foreign company. Mergers and acquisitions are the principal mode of investing in developed countries. The pros and cons of FDI as a source of development Attraction of FDI is becoming increasingly important for developing countries. However this is often based on the implicit assumption that greater inflows of FDI will bring certain benefits to the country’s economy. FDI, like ... ...rmats, some of which are: †¢ Builders and developers can construct the property and then hand it over to the retailers. †¢ There is also the possibility of exploring joint venture collaborations. In this format the builder shall be responsible for identifying and acquiring land, constructing the building and further be responsible for the maintenance and the upkeep of the premises. The retailer in this format shall then be responsible to bring in the brands in the building. This format provides the construction industry an extended scope of getting into retail in a joint venture format. This shall not be limited to the FDI scenario but can work well in the Indian retail industry scenario as well. This type of model lets the core business, which is construction, development and maintenance, get a value addition from another industry segment. Relaxing the existing 100 acres norm for the FDI inflow into real estate sector would help speed up construction works in the economy. It is difficult to get 100 acres in the urban areas, to enable foreign firms to build on plots starting from 25 acres against the current stipulation of 100 acres (applicable only in integrated townships).

Ch01 Organizations and Organization Theory

Chapter 1: Organizations and Organization Theory Current Challenges of Organizations †¢ Globalization o Markets, technologies, and organizations are becoming increasingly interconnected †¢ Ethics and social responsibility o The list of execs and major corporations involved in financial and ethical scandals continues to grow †¢ Speed of responsiveness o Globalization and advancing technology has accelerated the pace at which organizations in all industries must roll out new products and services to stay competitive †¢ The digital workplace In today’s workplace, many employees perform much of their work on computers and may work in virtual teams, connected electronically to colleagues around the world †¢ Diversity o By 2050, it is estimated that 85% of entrants into the workforce will be women and people of colour What Is an Organization? Organizations: social entities that are goal-directed, are designed as deliberately structured and coordinated activi ty system, and are linked to the external environment Types of Organizations †¢ Multinational corporations †¢ Small, family-owned shops †¢ For-profit versus non-profit organizationsOrganizations exist to do the following: 1. Bring together resources to achieve desired goals and outcomes 2. Produce goods and services efficiently 3. Facilitate innovation 4. Use modern manufacturing and information technologies 5. Adapt to influence a changing environment 6. Create value for owners, customers, and employees 7. Accommodate ongoing challenges of diversity, ethics, and the motivation and coordination of employees Perspectives on Organizations Closed System †¢ A system that is autonomous, enclosed, and not dependent on its environment †¢ Don’t truly exist today Early management concepts such as scientific management, leadership style, and industrial engineering were closed-system approaches Open System †¢ A system that must interact with the environment to survive †¢ It both consumes resources and exports resources to the environment, and must continually adapt to the environment An Open System and its Subsystems [pic] Organization Configuration †¢ Technical core o Includes people who do the basic work of the organization o The primary transformation of inputs to outputs occurs here o Includes production department, teachers and classes, medical activities in hospitals, etc. Technical Support o Helps the organization adapt to the environment o Technical support employees such as engineers and researchers scan the environment for problems, opportunities, and technological developments o Responsible for creating innovations in the technical core †¢ Administrative Support o Responsible for the smooth operation and upkeep of the organization, including its physical and human elements o Includes HR activities like recruiting and hiring, making compensation/benefit plans, employee training, etc. †¢ Management A disti nct subsystem responsible for directing and coordinating other parts of the organization o Top management provides direction, strategy, goals, and policies for the entire organization or major divisions o Middle management is responsible for implementation and coordination at the departmental level [pic] Dimensions of Organization Design Structural Dimensions 1. Formalization ? Pertains to the amount of written documentation in the organization, including procedures, job descriptions, regulations, and policy manuals, describing behaviour and activities ?A large state university would be high on formulization and a small, family-owned business would be low on formulization 2. Specialization ? The degree to which organizational tasks are subdivided into separate jobs 3. Hierarchy of authority ? Describes who reports to whom and the span of control for each manager ? The hierarchy is related to span of control (the number of employees reporting to a supervisor), and when the span is na rrow, the hierarchy is tall, and vice versa 4. Centralization ? Refers to the hierarchical level that has authority to make a decision ?When decision making is kept at the top level, the organization is centralized ? When decisions are delegated to lower organizational levels, it is decentralized 5. Professionalism ? The level of formal education and training of employees ? It’s considered high when employees require long periods of training ? Professionalism is measured as the average number of years of education of employees 6. Personnel ratios ? Refer to the development of people to various functions and departments ?Includes the administrative ratio, the clerical ratio, the professional staff ratio, and the ratio of indirect to direct labour employees ? A personnel ratio is measured by dividing the number of employees in a classification by the total number of organizational employees [pic] Contextual Dimensions 1. Size ? The organization’s magnitute as reflected i n the number of people in the organization ? Because organization’s are social systems, it’s typically measured by # of employees 2. Organizational technology ? Refers to the tools, techniques, and actions used to transform inputs into outputs ?It concerns how the organization actually produces the products and services and includes things such as flexible manufacturing, advanced info systems, and the Internet 3. Environment ? Includes all elements outside the boundary of the organization ? Key elements include the industry, government, customers, suppliers, and the financial community 4. Goals and Strategies ? Define the purpose and competitive techniques that set it apart from other organizations ? Goals are written down as an enduring statement of company intent ?A strategy is the plan of action that describes resource allocation and activities for dealing with the environment and for reaching the organization’s goals 5. Culture ? The underlying set of key va lues, beliefs, understandings, and norms shared by employees ? These values may pertain to ethical behaviour, commitment to employees, efficiency, or customer service Performance and Effectiveness Outcomes †¢ Managers adjust structural and contextual dimensions and organizational subsystems to most efficiently and effectively transform inputs into outputs nd provide value †¢ Efficiency refers to the amount of resources used to achieve the organization’s goals, and it is based on the quantity of inputs necessary to produce a given level of output †¢ Effectiveness is the degree to which an organization achieves its goals †¢ Stakeholder is any group within or outside an organization that has a stake in the organization’s performance †¢ Stakeholder approach assesses the satisfaction of stakeholders as an indicator of the organization’s performance (also called constituency approach) †¢ Major stakeholders and what they expect: Owners/sto ckholders: financial return o Employees: satisfaction, pay, supervision o Customers: high-quality goods/services, service, value o Creditors: creditworthiness, fiscal responsibility o Management: efficiency, effectiveness o Government: obedience to laws and regulations, fair competition o Union: worker pay, benefits Community: good corporate citizen, contribution to community affairs o Suppliers: satisfactory transactions, revenue from purchases The Evolution of Organization Theory and Design Historical Perspectives †¢ Efficiency is everything o Frederick Winslow Taylor developed scientific management, which claims decisions about organization and job design should be based on precise, scientific procedures †¢ How to get organized Administrative principles focuses on the total organization (looks at the organization as a whole) o For example, Henri Fayol proposed 14 principles of management, such as â€Å"each subordinate receives orders from only one superior† and â€Å"similar activities in an organization should be grouped together under one manager† o These gave organizations fundamental new ideas for estabilishing high productivity and increasing prosperity o Administrative principles contributed to the development of bureaucratic organizations, which emphasized designing and managing organizations on an impersonal, rational basis through such elements as clearly defined authority and responsibility, formal recordkeeping, and uniform application of stand rules †¢ People o Hawthorn Studies are a series of experiments on worker productivity that began in 1924 o It attributed employees’ increased output to managers’ better treatment of them during the study †¢ Environment Many problems occur when all organizations are treated similar, which is the case with scientific management o Structures and systems that work in the retail division will not be appropriate for the manufacturing division o Consistency means t hat one thing depends on other things, and for organizations to be effective, there must be a â€Å"goodness of fit† between their structure and the conditions in their external environment o Some organizations experience a certain environment, use a routine technology, and desire efficiency, and in this case, bureaucratic controls would be appropriate o But today, almost all organizations operate in a highly uncertain environment Contemporary Organizational Design Today’s organizations and managers are shifting from a mindset based on mechanical systems to one based on natural and biological systems †¢ Chaos theory suggests that relationships in complex, adaptive systems – including organizations – are made up of numerous interconnections that create unintended effects and render the environment unpredictable †¢ Many organizations are shifting from strict vertical hierarchies to flexible, decentralized structures that emphasize horizontal colla boration, widespread info sharing, and adaptability †¢ Learning organization is an organization in which everyone is engaged in identifying and solving problems, enabling the organization to continuously experiment, improve, and increase its capability Efficient Performance versus the Learning Organization †¢ From vertical to horizontal structure †¢ From routine tasks to empowered tasks †¢ From formal control systems to shared information †¢ From competitive to collaborative strategy †¢ From rigid to adaptive culture ———————– Transformation Process Environment Raw Materials People Information resources Financial resources Input Subsystems Boundary Spanning Production, Maintenance, Adaptation, Management Boundary Spanning Products and Services Output Top Management

Successful People

How to Become a Successful Person Knowing how to become a successful person is essential for every person. It gives him an easy way for a good living. The characteristics of a successful person is different for every person, it depends on how they view it. My view about a successful person is someone who has the right balance in happiness between family and career and is happy in who he/she is and what he/she does. The first thing to become a successful person is to have skills.A successful person eeds to become the specialist in their Job area, no matter how difficult the situation is. Next is to have self-confident, never look down in yourself, because when you do it, that's when you will fail. Passion is also an important need, because success can be obtained by many people, but maintaining the drive to reach the goals requires a passion to achieve it. Beside all of that, there is one thing that is hard to be earned. Why do so many of us fail to act? We know what we must do, yet w e lack the will to do t.In another word, we lack of the courage. Success cannot exist without courage, many people who cannot be success are those who have the highest training and ethics, but lack of the courage. So what we need to overcome failure is having the will to act. A successful person is not afraid to take risk and make difficult decisions, and the important thing is they are ready to accept the responsibility of it. The next step to be a successful person is focus, creative, and optimistic. Why do we need to be focus?Because it is our drive that pushes us forward and keeps our momentum, but without focus we will Just move for the sake of motion. Why do we need to be creative? Because when we stuck with the old ideas, we can make the new ones. And why do we need to be optimistic? Because, an optimist can see the opportunity in every difficulty, optimism is in the heart of a successful human being! After having and being all of that, the next step is what needs to be done. Find the goal of your life can be a good start.After that define the meaning of success as you ee it, you can't be success if you dont know what it means to you, so set clear goals and be realistic. Trust other people to do their Job so you can focus on your own Job. Being surrounded by successful people is also a way to create a culture of success, they can make you become enthusiastic and even connect you to other people that can change your life. Stay away from distractions is also an important thing to become successful. There are always distractions and it is your choice to stay away from them or not.The last is gather as much information as you can, make intellectual connections from it and use it to make your life better. So listen, study, learn, and understand everything that you think is important. The characteristics that you need to have, what you need to be, and thing that needs to be done are all important. Things that you need to have and you need to be are the basic that must be in you, and then use all of it to do the things that need to be done. Each part plays a role that is vital to turn someone into a successful person. Adrian Kohar Accounting 1

CVS business proposal Essay

Introduction In the United States, CVS is the largest pharmacy retail organization. This company operates over 6100 retail stores and specialty stores countrywide and has employed over 170,000 workers. There is a necessity of offering a wider range of prescription medication options and selections system-wide in a struggle for serving the consumer base of CVS Pharmacy more consistently and effectively. The purpose of this paper is to select a more realistic good or service for an existing industry. The paper will identify the market structure, along with elasticity of the product and will also include the way the pricing will relate to elasticity of the product. Furthermore, the paper will include the way the changes in the quantity supplied as a result of the pricing decisions will affect marginal cost and marginal revenue. Moreover, the paper will focus on the non-pricing strategies, and will explain the way the changes in the business operations could alter the mix of fixed and variable costs in line with the strategy. Market Structure The market structure of CVS Pharmacy is an oligopoly. It is a market structure in which a small number of organizations sell either differentiated or standardized products in which other organization’s entry is difficult. In this market structure, the control of the firm is limited over price of the product due to mutual interdependence (with the exception of when there is conspiracy surrounded by the organization) and in which there is a non-pricing rivalry (McConnell and Brue, 2004). The oligopoly turn out is the most common structure of big -business as the establishment of trust was limited in the United States. Evasion of pricing rivalry has turned out to be nearly automatic with four or five larger firms accountable for most of the output of every industry. If an organization were to drop the prices, it is expected that their competition will do the same and all will undergo a lower profit. Conversely, it is unsafe for any singular firm to increase their prices as the others will hold the prices with the intention of gaining a share of the market. â€Å"The safest strategy is to never lower prices and raise prices only when there is abundant evidence that the other firms will also raise prices. When business conditions permit, the price leader will raise their prices with the expectation that others will follow (McConnell and Brue, 2004). Price Elasticity â€Å"Price elasticity tells how much of an impact a change in price will have on the consumers’ willingness to buy that item. If the price rises, the law of demand states that the quantity demanded of that item will decrease† (Jennifer Tuck, Chron Small Business, 2013). Price elasticity of demand indicates the decrease in the quantity demanded. Elastic-demand indicates that the consumers of the goods or service are extremely sensitive to a change in prices. Generally, a product which has numerous substitutes or is not a necessity has demanded elasticity. Elastic demand indicates that the customers of the product are not extremely sensitive to price alterations. Upon analysis of elasticity of pharmaceutical products, it is certain that pharmaceutical products cannot be considered as a necessity. Medication is considered to be a basic item, essential for the prevention and treatment of ailments and disease and, consequently, they have a particular, non-substitutive tenacity and thus are not a necessity. It indicates, consequently, that they cannot be considered as elastic. (Tom Vander Beken, 2007). While it is factual for some branded goods with little rivalry, the demand for more crowded beneficial classifications where there are generic equivalents or rival satisfying substitutes can be highly elastic. It indicates that changes in price are met in relation to the quantity with larger changes demanded. For pharmaceutical makers, the primary goal is to realizing the degree of price elasticity. Pharmaceutical makers, for better understanding price elasticity, utilize a range of methods for assessing price elasticity, comprising quantitative research, qualitative research, and retrospective data analysis assessing the effects of a number of levels on prescription demand (Brent L. Rollins, Matthew Perri, 2013). Marginal Cost & Revenue A way to determine the quantity of profit maximization is to conclude where marginal revenue equals marginal costs. Rather than computing the profit for all levels of sales; total revenue and total variable costs are considered. Marginal revenues and marginal costs are considered in a similar way like marginal profit, thus defining the amount of change for all sales’ levels (Huter, 2012, p.2). Pricing & Non-Pricing Strategies CVS needs to think through numerous elements impacting its’ business. Pricing strategies, rivals and their current products, consumer demands and suppliers are examples of these elements. For pricing strategies, CVS should consider closeouts, discounts, product bundle pricing, penetration pricing, geographical pricing, and membership or trade pricing. For non-pricing strategies, options comprise: enhanced service quality, longer opening hours, advertising, and extended warranties (Kimmons, n.d.). By pricing similar products in a different way they must focus on regional demographics because geographic pricing enables the maximization of profit. For promoting unique or new products at provisional price drops, penetration pricing is the most effective. Finally, bundle pricing and closeouts can be engaged when several seasonal goods need to be sold off to avoid a loss (Kimmons, n.d.). Enhanced service quality, longer hours and advertising needs to be included in the non-pricing strategies. Advertising grabs the attention of the consumer to the brand and engages them, making them conscious of promotions and sales. Longer hours enables the organization the opportunity to service more clients—â€Å"the fisherman with the biggest net catches the most fish†. In the end, the automated verification and dispensing systems’ implementation will boost the quality of the service, particularly in the pharmacy to enable more pharmacists to be able to counsel the patient and provide better customer service. Barriers to Entry In the retail pharmacy industry, cost is the main barrier to entry. Economies of scale, as an incumbent, enable CVS to purchase larger quantities at lower rates due to a longer relationship with suppliers because they are purchasing in bulk. These advantages allow CVS to lower prices while maintaining profit. New entrants would not be capable of adequately competing with the old firms and do not enjoy these same benefits (Anonymous, 2012). Current Global Economic Conditions In the past six months, global economic conditions have developed. Policymakers of advanced economy effectively resolved two of the major short-term threats to global activities—the threat of a sharp monetary reduction in the United States and a euro area breakup. In response, according to the latest World Economic Outlook of IMF, financial markets have rallied, and financial constancy has developed. In 2013, the report predicts real global growth of Gross Domestic Product of 3.3% on a basis of yearly average, almost the similar as the 3.2% growth perceived in 2012, and the International Monetary Fund anticipates the growth to increase to 4% in 2014 (Thomas Helbling, 2013). The Pharmaceutical Industry of United States is one of the supporters of the US Economy. It has been perceived that the Pharmaceutical Industry of the United States is developing quickly and is demonstrating no indications of slowing down. The growth of the pharmaceutical industry in the U.S. is also recognized as playing a very important part in the pharmaceutical industries around the world. Some experts have said that in the development of the United States’ pharmaceutical industries, media has played a key role. Experts have seen the major influence in the way the media has provoked health awareness among the people. Current Business Cycle’s Stage of the U.S. Economy Currently, the economy of the United States is in a stage of mid-cycle expansion. As indications of economic development seem to be gaining momentum, equity markets have solidly performed this year. In recent times, a boom in domestic energy and an increase in the housing market have been seen; while employment carries on to develop and grow. Early this year, the fiscal cliff’s resolution stopped a self-inflicted damage to the economy, letting development force to endure. â€Å"The index of US Leading Indicators—made up of 10 economic components that historically have had strong predictive power on GDP growth—also appears to confirm that growth remains intact.† (Matthew Rubin, 2013). However, current indications are becoming a reason for concern. The overdue impacts of payroll tax modification and monetary reduction through repossession has seemed to surprise financiers. Current Credit Market Conditions For consumers and for business loans, interest rates are lower this year compared to any other year. Credit exchange of U.S. government like discount, FFR and Prime rate are much lower. For example, there is a Prime rate of 3.25% and 10% more consumer loans are being given by the financial institutions. Still, loans for business are restricted and not given as easily as in the previous years. (â€Å"Beige book,† 2013) All these signs demonstrate that the market is starting to move and customers are beginning to buy and are content with the existing economy. CVS Pharmaceutical can invest in the market on this uptick by marketing with intention of attracting more customers. Conclusion The market structure of the CVS Pharmacy is an oligopoly. It is a market structure in which a small number of organizations sell either differentiated or standardized products in which other organization’s entry is difficult. Price elasticity of demand indicates the decrease in the quantity demanded. Elastic-demand indicates that the customers of the service or good are extremely sensitive to change in prices. CVS needs to think through numerous elements impacting its’ business so they may run smoothly. If CVS modifies the way they do business, they can impact their bottom line in many ways. In the past six months, global economic conditions have developed. Policymakers of advanced economy effectively resolved two of the major short-term threats to global activities—the threat of a sharp monetary reduction in the United States and a euro area breakup. The Pharmaceutical Industry of United States is one of the supporters of the US Economy. It has been perceived that the Pharmaceutical Industry of United States is developing speedily and is demonstrating no indications of lowering down. Currently, the economy of United States is in a stage of mid-cycle expansion. As indications of economic development seem to be gaining momentum, equity markets have solidly performed this year. References Anonymous. (2012). What Are Barriers to Entry, Retrieved from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-barriers-to-entry.htm Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, Twelfth District–San Francisco. (2013). Beige book. Retrieved from website: http://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/beigebook/beigebook201304.htm?san_francisco Brent L. Rollins, Matthew Perri, 2013 Pharmaceutical marketing, Jones & Bartlett Publishers, 01-Feb-2013 Huter, S. (2012). How to Calculate the Profit-Maximizing Quantity, Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/how_6713701_calculate-profit_maximizing-quantity.html Kimmons, R. (n.d.). Pricing Vs. Non-pricing Strategies. Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/pricing-vs-nonpricing-strategies-14166.html Matthew Rubin, 2013, Director of Investment Strategy, Strategic spotlight, an update to economic business cycle, retrieved from: http://www.btinvest.com.sg/experts-views/strategic-spotlight-an-update-on-the-global-business-cycle/ McConnell, C. R., Brue, S. L., & Flynn, S. M. (2009). Economics: Principles, problems, and policies (18th ed.). Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill Irwin. McConnell, C. and Brue, S. (2004). Economics: principles, problems and policies, 16 ed. McGraw-Hill Companies Jennifer Tuck, Chron Small Business, 2013, Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/relationship-between-price-elasticity-total-revenue-24544.html Tom Vander Beken, The European Pharmaceutical Sector and Crime Vulnerabilities, Maklu, 01, Jan, 2007 View as multi-pages