Deviance and Social Control Experiments Essay

An interesting assignment was assigned to us this week, one that I was excited and a little nervous to get started on. Our society is quite dependent on what is â€Å"normal. † Normal is following a routine, one that was set only by you and no others. Normal is to dress in what is considered socially acceptable, not garb that would throw you into a social outcast setting. But what happens when you defy these norms and start to step out of the box? At home my husband and I have established a routine that works well for us. Simple chores, such as, loading and unloading the dishwasher and laundry are split equally between us. Another routine that took shape shortly after we were married was where we sat in relation to the television. I sat on the long couch on the middle cushion; he sat on the love seat with the recliner. I have no idea where this tradition came from but I was excited to shake it up. I started sitting in the recliner. No words were spoken about it beforehand; it was just claimed as mine. This behavior merited a few odd looks and that was that. I suppose to think this behavior was odd is to know my husband. The most laid back person I have ever met, he shies away from confrontation on any level. I brought up the subject a few days into the experiment and he simply shrugged his shoulders and said that it was just a place to sit. We have since fallen back into our routine but now we both have an unspoken knowledge that it is indeed, just a place to sit. When it comes to fashion sense, mine falls under classy yet comfortable. I was excited to see that fashion could play a role in this assignment and actually chose to utilize the entire week. Being a stay at home wife means that there is hardly a dire need for me to leave the house. Errands can be accomplished in one day. However, I do enjoy the library and frequent it often, but instead of visiting in casually comfortable clothing I wore a party dress. Not just a party dress but one with ridiculous shoes, rain boots. I felt so silly at first but boldly embraced my fashion choice as the day wore on. Many patrons of the library stole glances but didn’t say much. I was feeling sad for myself, I was finding that standing out is much harder that I imagined but also admiration for those who do it daily and have no tribulations. As I was leaving a little girl came and grabbed my poufy skirt and told me she liked my dress and I found it to be an instant mood booster, one that made this little experiment well worth the challenge. My mother and I have a wonderful relationship, one that took years and years of teenage angst and stubbornness to overcome. These days, however, we are thick as thieves. I call her daily just to chat and she is a shoulder to cry on during hard times. She is, in no way, soft spoken but in her aging years has gotten to be much calmer. We rarely fight or argue anymore and when we do we simply get off the phone. One day I called her and talked to her in a loud voice. As I did I was having flashbacks to my teenage years where, it seemed, all I did was talk to her like this. She was instantly upset with me and asked why I was mad and yelling. I wasn’t yelling just talking loudly and since it happens so rarely anymore she mistook it for yelling. We have maybe a minute long talk and she hung up. I was severely upset and hated doing this experiment. I had no idea it would upset her so much and that, in turn, would upset me. I called her back immediately and informed her of the assignment. She thought it was hysterical. She laughed so hard but I feel it was more out of relive than anything else. Overall, this assignment was enjoyable. I learned how to step out of routine and that sometimes that is ok. It is not going to shake up life as much as would be expected. I learned that fashion is in the eye of the beholder. It is not something that should hold as much pressure as magazine emphasis and that sometimes a little girl knows all the right words to turn your day upside down. I learned how sensitive my mother can be and also, how sensitive that makes me. I learned not to take myself to seriously because nobody else does.

A Comparative Study between Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel

Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel were both Baroque composers who used the Italian and French styles that were the basic language of the Baroque. The study of Bach and Handel is interesting because of their marked similarities and subtle differences. Bach and Handel were of Saxon ancestry. They came from neighboring towns, Bach from Eisenach, Handel from Halle, and were born but one month apart in the same year, Handel in February, Bach in March, 1685 (Young, 1962). They were both masters of concerto in all its forms:sonata;suite;fugue;opera;cantata;both sacred and secular;oratorio;mass;passion.Both Bach and Handel learnt their art by making copies of all the works of acknowledged masters. Bach and Handel were studious copyists throughout their lives. Besides Johann Christoph, Bach took as models the Italians, Frescobaldi, Corelli, Vivaldi, Lotti, Caldara, Legrenzi, Marcello and many others. His special interests led to keyboard music, to violin music and to choral mus ic. Handel, under Zachau, made an anthology of excerpts from Froberger, Kerll,Strungck, Johann Krieger. During his later career he was influenced by Alessandro Stradella, Giacomo Carissimi, Georg Muffatt, Karl Heinrich Graun, Giovanni Clari and others.Though they sound like brilliant stars rising at the same time, they charted their different paths in music according to their individual natures. There was no musical tradition in Handel's family, his father was a prosperous surgeon who intended George Frideric for the Law; on the other hand members of the Bach dynasty had been for generations conspicuous in musical affairs in Thuringiaevering. Bach remained within the boundaries of his Saxon fatherland throughout his life and was a good citizen and was the father of twenty children.Handel, on the other hand was the man of the world, honored all over Europe. He was bold and outgoing in nature. The one tragic similarity in their lives is that they both went blind at the end of their li ves (Young, 1962). While Bach's grave was forgotten, Handel, who died nine years later, in 1759, was laid to rest in the English pantheon, Westminster Abbey. In those days, music was solely written for the sole purpose of immediate performance, its preservation beyond that moment being a secondary consideration. â€Å"Occasional† or commissioned work used to be the rule.Bach wrote his cantatas for the services of St. Thomas' Church in Leipzig, and Handel wrote his operas for special performances and strictly to suit the voices of the personnel that happened to be available. Bach’s work was mostly unrecognized and neglected for many generations till the 19th century. He was recognized as a great musician by the world only 75 years after his death. The later 18th century knew Bach mainly as an instrumental composer who wrote especially for the organ and the piano (Bekker, 1927). People tended to interpret Bach’s from diverse viewpoints.Bach used to be considered a contrapuntist pure and simple, a learned musician who treated music as a sort of mathematics (Bekker, 1927). From this viewpoint, Bach seemed to be principally a servant of the church, a sort of Protestant Palestrina who also wrote secular music. Later it became apparent that he could not after all be counted simply as a composer of Church music, so he was looked upon as a romantic poet. The romanticists, declared that Bach was the archromanticist, and should be interpreted with the utmost feeling and expression.Some felt that Bach's music was inherently emotional (Bekker, 1927). Whatever the angle of perception, Bach came to be regarded as the great builder of musical form. Contrastingly, Handel, the cosmopolitan composer and impresario, was internationally famous in his own lifetime. He was primarily a writer of oratorios (Young, 1962). His instrumental compositions were not considered serious enough for study. The Italian operas which he composed in were considered worthless in the eyes of the critics of that period (Bekker, 1927).Today however, things have changed and Handel's operas are in the repertoire of nearly every great opera-house (Bekker, 1927). Bach used a personal synthesis of the Flemish and Italian styles with German counterpoint, Handel showed a strong early inclination toward the extroverted and dramatic world of Italian opera (Krantz, 2007). In short, it can be said that Bach looked inward and Handel outward. Bach composed cantatas and organ music and, by his genius and talent for seeing holistic symbolism in words and music, he extended the character of his models (Young, 1962).Handel, more fluent, more rhetorical, and a free agent with his way to make in the world seized the formalized patterns of entertainment music in secular cantata, in oratorio, in opera, and in instrumental music (Young, 1962). Both Bach and Handel had different personalities. Bach was an introvert whereas Handel was an extrovert. Handel assimilated the various nati onal styles and specialized in each of them separately. Bach assimilated the various influences with his own personal style and arrived at a fusion of national styles in which the single elements are inseparable (Dorak, 2002).The main works of Handel are his operas, written from an universal perspective for an international public. The main works of Bach are his cantatas, written for the local churches, and his passions, the monuments of his liturgical severity. Handel, being a widely traveled musician has visited many international centers of music. Bach, on the other hand confined himself within the limits of central Germany. Bach’s great works include the Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor, most of the great preludes and fugues, and the 45 chorale-preludes gathered in Das Orgelbuchlein [the little organ book].His instrumental compositions are the Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue; the English Suites; the French Suites; the Two-Part and Three-Part Inventions; and Book I of the cele brated Well-Tempered Clavier. He also wrote several unaccompanied violin sonatas and cello suites, and the Brandenburg Concertos, recognized as the best concerti grossi ever composed. The St. John Passion was performed (1723) at Leipzig and his Magnificat was presented shortly after he assumed that post.Many more of his superb religious compositions followed: the St. Matthew Passion (1729), the Christmas Oratorio, the sonorous Mass in B Minor, and the six motets. The principal keyboard works of this period were Book II of The Well-Tempered Clavier and the four books of clavier pieces in the Clavierubung and the Goldberg Variations. His last notable compositions were the Musical Offering composed (1747) for Frederick the Great and The Art of the Fugue (1749). In all his positions as choir director, Bach composed sacred cantatas—a total of some 300, of which nearly 200 are extant.There are also over 30 secular cantatas, composed at Leipzig, among them Phoebus and Pan (1731). Th e bulk of his work is religious. In his instrumental and choral works he perfected the art of polyphony, displaying an unmatched combination of inventiveness and control in his great, striding fugues (The Columbia Encyclopedia, 2004a). Handel's 46 operas include much of his finest music; among them are Julius Caesar (1724), Atalanta (1736), Berenice (1737), and Serse (1738), which contains the tenor aria now known as Largo. Handel's opera, ‘Messiah’ was presented in Dublin in 1742.An essentially contemplative work, it stands apart from the rest of his 32 oratorios, which are dramatically conceived, and its immense popularity has resulted in the erroneous conception of Handel as primarily a church composer. Other outstanding oratorios are Acis and Galatea (1720), Esther (1732), Israel in Egypt (1736–37), Saul (1739), and Judas Maccabeus (1747). He also composed about 100 Italian solo cantatas; numerous orchestral works, and the anthem â€Å"Zadok, the Priest† (1727) for the coronation of George II, which has been used for all subsequent coronations (The Columbia Encyclopedia, 2004b).There is one particular text that was set to music by both Bach and Handel. This is Eilt ihr angefocht'nen Seelen in the Passion Oratorio (by Handel) and in the St. John Passion (by Bach). They used the same key and the same pictorial representation of ‘haste', and the choral interjections at dramatic points are also common. Bukofzer, however, has opined that Handel's music is inferior because it lacks the highly individual stamp that distinguished Bach from all other composers (Dorak, 2002). When one considers their particular musical styles, Johann Sebastian Bach's music is not pompous, not theatrical; it is not court music, not gala music.His music was essentially introspective music; he did not think of the audience for whom he composed; his music is the product of his inner reflections. It is an outward expression of his tender feelings. Even in the most grandiose and eloquent moments of his â€Å"Passions† he still remains intimate. Bach’s music thus addressed itself mainly to the connoisseur. Handel wrote for the world, for the court, for the stage. His music is naturally brilliant; he has the gift for clear sonorities and powerful rhythms, which make a physical impression on the crowd, exalt and carry it away.His breadth and simplicity of design make his work illuminating, he is popular. But Bach's art is one that aims to say many things in an instant – in a single word (Landormy & Martens, 1927). This richness sometimes made it difficult for people to understand and appreciate. Handel focuses most on the harmonic clarity of his ensemble; he makes choice of what he wishes to say, he is sober, concise; He prefers to use the simple air of accompanied monody rather than polyphonic complexities (Landormy and Martens, 1927).Dynamic patterns in music were principally of two types: the melodic, which made use mainly of the voice and is known as thorough-bass, and the contrapuntal, which made use mainly of instruments and is mistakenly called polyphony (Bekker, 1927). On the superficial level, one may find that Bach is a composer of instrumental music in contrapuntal style and Handel on the other, a composer of vocal music in thoroughbass style. Some might classify the work of Bach, the pious man as subjective and Handel, the worldly man as an objective type. But these distinctions are not firmly based.Both were religious men who were also practical in their approach. They were both introspective as well as objective and both wrote vocal as well as instrumental music, and both made use of thorough-bass as well as of contrapuntal forms. They figured bass and counterpoint, and although they performed individually, they were also teachers in singing. They even chose to specialize in the same musical instrument: the organ. Bach lead his congregation in the singing of cantatas on Sundays o r the Passions on high holidays at St. Thomas's church at Leipzig much in the same way as Handel conducted his operas and his oratorios (Bekker, 1927).Bach’s music can be termed as intensive melodies whereas Handel’s music can be termed extensive melodies. Bach uses very dense contrapuntal texture with complex and chromatic harmonies. On the other hand Handel uses a simple template for his expressions and hence his work is meant for instant sensuous appreciation. The extensive quality of Handel's melodies allows his music to be amplified whereas this is not possible in the case of Bach's music. Amplification would destroy the transparency of the contrapuntal process. The vocal component of Bach’s music is very difficult to perform.There are disjunct movements and awkward intervals. There is no overlapping between the instrumental and vocal lines. In fact, the free-voiced choral polyphony of Handel and the strictly linear, instrumentally conceived polyphony of Ba ch form the two poles of late Baroque music (Bekker, 1927). Handel considers the flow of ideas more important than elaboration whereas to Bach, elaboration is more important. The fast changing textures in his choral writing clearly indicate that for Handel, counterpoint is only a means to a dramatic end (Krantz, 2007). On the contrary, Bach takes it as an end in itself which must be consistent.By nature of its conception, Handel’s counterpoint reaches its apex through the vocal medium. Handel’s work depends so much on the vocal component so much so even his keyboard fugues seem to call for text and become most excellent in vocal form. This accounts for the success of Handel in vocal music (Krantz, 2007). Bach is more adept at the instrumental form. Bach prefers to submit his choral polyphony to an instrumental standard. To quote Tevfik Dorak: â€Å"In the flexibility of his choral idiom, Handel surpasses Bach in the same measure as Bach surpasses Handel in contrapunta l consistency† (Dorak, 2002).One of the major differences between them lay in their individual conception of tone. A person who conceives tone vocally will also feel instrumental music as vocal, and the person who conceives tone instrumentally will also feel vocal music as instrumental. Some comparative features among the two great masters are as follows (Dorak, 2002):Bach conceived tone instrumentally and Handel vocally.Bach focused a lot on spiritual music and created profoundly religious cantatas, passions and masses. Handel treated even religious theme based oratorios such as the â€Å"Messiah† with a theatrical effect. This was more popular to the middle class audience.The vocal component of his music was used essentially as a melodic instrument with the most intricate demands of counterpoint expected of it. Handel's writing for the voice is completely idiomatic and the freer contrapuntal textures are more vocally conceived and are contrasted with powerful choral w riting.Handel demonstrates the Italian conservatism in his music and uses very simplified form. Bach is conservative in his adherence to the complex polyphonic texture, but progressive in his choice of modern forms, such as the concerto form of Vivaldi. Similarly, the organ style of Handel is clearly influenced by the idiom of the harpsichord as the opposite is true for Bach.Bach is related to the immediate future in his attitude because of modern day focus on instrumental music, while Handel is related to the past. On the other hand the melodic, homophonic figured bass chosen by Handel is more relevant to modern music than Bach's contrapuntal style. Thus both these composers are in some ways relevant to the past and in some other ways relevant to the future. The two great masters of the Baroque period were not beyond criticism.Bach was criticized because he was too intellectual and, paradoxically, because an excess of reason conflicted with the aesthetic precepts of the Age of Reas on. Handel was criticized for exceeding the conventional in the extras which he introduced into his orchestration to underline his dramatic appreciation of scene and situation. Whatever be the criticisms, it remains undeniable that these two masters of Baroque were outstanding in their natural talent. Though they belonged to the same place and same period and produced musical works of similar genre, they differed in their styles of expression.This difference actually was a major asset to these great masters who remained true to their inner beliefs. The honesty of expression combined with their outstanding talents has helped define baroque music.BibliographyDorak, Tevfik (2002). Handel and JS Bach. http://www. dorak. info/music/jsbgfh. htmlBukofzer MF. Music in the Baroque Era. WW Norton & Company Inc. NY, 1974, pp. 345-9.Krantz, Allen (2007). George Frideric Handel. http://www. classicalarchives. com/bios/handel_bio. html Landormy, Paul and Martens, H. Frederick (1927).A History of Music. Charles Scribner's Sons. New York. 1927. The Columbia Encyclopedia (2004a).Bach, Johann Sebastian. Sixth Edition. Columbia University Press. New York. 2004 The Columbia Encyclopedia (2004b).Handel, George Frideric. Sixth Edition. Columbia University Press. New York. 2004. Young, M. Percy. (1962).The Choral Tradition: An historical and analytical survey from the sixteenth century to the present day. W. W. Norton Publishing. New York 1962. Bekker, Paul (1927).The Story of Music: An Historical Sketch of the Changes in Musical Form. Translated by Alice Kortschak and Herter Norton. W. W. Norton and Company Inc. New York. 1927.

Capcakes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Capcakes - Essay Example In order to open the cafà ©, the first and foremost challenge in front of me is to identify the cost of making the plan of "Yammay Cupcake† cafà ©. I intend to start the business with US $24,000. I think about renting a small shop in the pearl land that I can acquire for US $800 per month. It is a new luxury mall, in a luxury area in Qatar surrounded by many offices and a park. I can guarantee that my customers will be employees, who will visit my cafà © in their break time. Also, the families, especially kids in the park will make potential customers. I plan the location of "Yammay Cupcake" in such a way so that it will make the nearest cupcake cafà © for the offices and the park. Also, I think I shall sell coffee, juices and lollipop cakes for the children. The fundamental ingredients for most of the desserts will be flour, sugar, oil, cream, natural cooking colors and chocolate. All of them can easily be purchased from a famous market in the locality. I intend to import ingredients for the cakes’ decoration from USA, for I know a good decoration shop in USA, that sells good decoration material for the cupcakes for little cost. That shop is IKEA. Its stores are available in many countries, though those in USA are accoutered with the most beautiful decoration material. I can tell this because I had visited the IKEA stores in Dubai and the decoration there was not like what I had seen in the stores in USA. I talked to the manager in the Dubai store. He told me that he would help me import decoration material from the USA stores for a fee of $150. I shall take all the equipment from a specialized shop that sold excellent equipment for cooking and coffee. The shops owner is my uncle. He will give me a good deal, and it will cost around US $2500 after discount. The culture of Qatar is polychronic. Duty is more important time. So I chose â€Å"Yammay Cupcake" cafà © as my first business. I have many reasons for doing so.

Social Security Programs Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Social Security Programs - Research Paper Example This was meant actually to ensure the retirees had some money at their disposal so as to ensure cash flow which would in turn stimulate the economy. In addition he also wanted this program to be an income supplement. This was also supposed to ensure that most people especially the old and disabled were to be entitled to a social security insurance program especially those who were of the aged (Dilnot, 1989). Over the past year there has been much to say about the social security fund though most talks don’t seem to be very appealing. The truth of the matter is the Us government is really having it rough now as far as the social security fund is concerned since the dependants today compared to the time when this project was initiated has rose by millions. In the coming 2-3decades this fund will be practically impossible to run and offer the citizens of US that social security it was intended for (Sacks, 2000). One major blow to the social security fund is the fact that the group of beneficiaries have been increased over time from just the elderly and disable to the spouse or minor children of a retired workers and another benefit was also included for the family of a worker who has dead prematurely. Now if you put together these facts together with the fact that Americans are living longer then this is a big blow to the success of this fund in the coming years (Sacks, 2000). According to the additional views by the Senator Robert J. Dole, the long term deficit that will be in the non-medical social security program translated to 1.8% of the taxable payroll. when one On closely looking at the projections of the actuaries, in the next 75years the benefits of this program shall be very challenging to payroll tax income translating to about $25 billion per year in deficit. This deficit is seen practically a big problem to the success of the social security fund and if not addressed this program has a very terrible

The European Theater of World War II Research Paper

The European Theater of World War II - Research Paper Example The war started in September 1939 when Hitler’s Germany initiated an attack on Poland while Britain and France called for a war against Germany. Most of the battles fought in the war were fought over the control of different territories in the continent2. It is said that the seed of the Second World War was hidden in the First World War itself. Germany’s humiliation in the Versailles Treaty had injured the German national pride. Hitler used this sentiment cleverly; and rose in the power. Germany went through a lot of economic difficulties3. Germany experienced a severe economic depression during the early 1920s. Hitler blamed it on the terms imposed on Germany at end of the First World War. Hitler stirred up the injured German pride and rose to power in Germany. His Nazi party won the parliamentary election in July 1912 and in January 1933 he became the chancellor of Germany4. German Invasion of Poland: On 1st September 1939 Hitler’s army marched into Poland. On September 3, Britain and France initiated war against Germany to safeguard Poland. This is known as the official beginning of the war. However Hitler’s aggression started the year before, when he annexed Austria with Germany with support from Mussolini’s Italy. Then Hitler threatened Czechoslovakia and wanted Sudetenland. In the Munich Pact the Czechs gave away Sudetenland on French and British request. However, few months after Hitler took reminder of Czechoslovakia violating the Munich pact. During this period Poland continued to get threats from Germany. Britain vowed to help Poland if Germany threatens its independence. Poland already had a mutual treaty with France5 (Feldman, 2000, pp. 38-43). So, when Germany attacked Poland, Britain and France went on to wage a war against Germany. Poland had a strong military force but they were no match to the German panzer division and the motorized division; in addition the Germans had a large fleet of modern aircrafts where , the Poles had a medium size fleet of obsolete aircrafts. Germany used tanks and air power simultaneously. Its bombers continued to bomb Warsaw for days. This is famously known as the blitzkrieg. Within a few days Germany took almost whole of the country. The remaining small part of the Poland was controlled by the Soviet Union; as the soviet force invaded that part of Poland in the name of defending Poland and itself6. However after the takeover of Poland nothing much happened. Although Britain and France declared war on Germany they took a defensive stand. This was called by the U. S. newspapers the Phony War7. The Soviet Finnish War: In the year 1939 Finland was the victim of an invasion led by Soviet Union. But they did not get much success; the Finnish army, though heavily outnumbered, fiercely resisted the red army. This rose world opinion against the Soviet Union. This also gave England and France an opportunity to enter Finland and help it. Britain and France had also other aims; they wanted an opening to enter Germany. The asked for help from Norway and Sweden too. But both the countries refused permission to build a camp on their soil8. Attack on Denmark and Norway: The month of April, 1940 witnessed the attack on Norway and Denmark by Hitler. Denmark surrendered at once. But, Norway decided to fight9. With the help from the British and the French, Norway put up a resistance for sometime. At last they surrendered

Relational Database Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Relational Database - Essay Example The data stored in such databases includes the past data and archives too along with the current one. Object oriented databases have now become very popular as they provide a greater degree of flexibility in data storage and also provide a resource efficient storage mechanism. The data storage in the object oriented databases is in the form of objects instead of storing as rows and columns. The integration and connectivity of individual systems provide support to connect stand alone machines. In the current environment, the databases are all linked at the backend. This provides for client-server database architecture which gives a whole new dimension to existing database structure. The databases today are based on client-server architecture and provide support for multimedia content. They are huge in size as storage costs are not of much concern today. Data warehouses act as archives and analytical tool for the historical data. Relational database was a revolution in the field of databases. The idea of having a tabular structure composed of rows and columns was a ground breaking proposition to make storage and retrieval easier than ever before. Peter Rob in his book describes the relational database in terms of storage and representation. The relational database model allows the designer to focus on the logical representation of the data and its relationships than the physical storage details. The tables are all logical, having the similar physical storage mechanisms at the backend. Each table is referred to as relation, and hence called relational database, having a unique attribute(s) which make up the primary key. Each table is linked to one or more tables through the primary key and foreign key architecture. The relational databases use the concept of indexing for making the search faster and easier. The indexes are not the keys, but are attributes used for faster

Business ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Business ethics - Essay Example Each year, the company rates 20% of its employees below their requirements and ultimately, they were asked to leave the company (Jennings, 2009, p. 288). This rating system brought more harm to company than benefits. First, Enron’s rigorous performance evaluation standards and competitive environment resulted in a deceptive culture. Since employees began to have job insecurity, they emphasized only on how to make their performance look better. They ignored the ethical norms and began to focus on achieving their financial goals. Few employees started to cheat on their work. The only way to halt them was to cheat more. Very soon, every other person in the company was cheating and it became a prevalent conception since they were left with no choice and were also surrounded by those co-workers who were doing the same. This caused a deceptive culture of the company. Employees were evaluated on their ability to cheat. Second, such competitive environment led to covering of the mista kes and cheating, because employees seldom communicate with each other and were very un-cooperative. Employees were not encouraged to ask questions because asking question was considered as humiliating. In addition to that, they were also less willing to share information and resources because they were competing with each other. Therefore, in Enron, no one was asking anyone any questions and no one wanted to answer any questions. In this way, the employees of Enron began to ignore mistakes and errors and just focused on making their work look good. Such ethical problems had ripple effect and contributed to Enron’s ethical scandal. At Enron, both employees and executives behaved in an unethical and illegal manner since they were encountered with conflicts of interest. They all were self-interested and greedy. Major Causes of Enron’s Collapse After the fall down of the company, people started making its synonyms as corporate fraud and corruption. At one hand, the compan y contributed to charity with huge amount of money but systematically, on other hand, in 1990s, it swindled its financial statements along with an audit firm, named as Arthur Anderson. Enron’s method was systematic and creative. Its accounting practices and financial statements were not clear. For instance, the company made its practices of noting costs of those projects that have been cancelled as assets. Nevertheless, on other hand, there was no explanation as official letter, which states that the project has been cancelled. Such practices had ‘snowball effect’. Moreover, it has also created special reasons for raising profitability and avoiding taxes. It gave liberty to the management to hide losses and move currency. The CFO, Andrew Fastow was the mastermind behind the arrangement of all these practices. Such arrangements enabled him, his family and friends make millions of dollars at the cost of their stakeholders. Some of the actions of this reputable and responsible company were just like gambling. In the year 2000, the share price of Enron was at its peak i.e. at $90. Enron’s Executives already knew what was happening inside the company therefore; they started to sell their shares. On 5 March 2001, Article of Bethany McLean â€Å"Is Enron Overpriced?† further reduced the stock price of the company. She played a vital role in revealing the huge debt of Enron. Slowly and gradually, the stock price

Apex Corporation Case Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Apex Corporation Case - Coursework Example Conversely, the owners may just be satisfied with a business size that suits their managerial capabilities. Whatever the size of the business, it is the financial health that matters the most to all stakeholders (Meigs & Meigs, 10). In the given assignment, I have to assume that I am an attorney and that a client has approached me to consider whether a managerial position at Apex Corporation would be good to take up. He is already impressed with the salary and benefits they are offering but has no knowledge of accounting or finance. So I am going to have to advise him after looking at Apex’s financial statements for 2001, as the assignment criteria limits our evaluation to this year only. However we might make comparisons between the years 2000 and 2001 Analysis of Financial Statements The financial statements of a corporate enterprise, namely the income statement and the balance sheet are two of the most important summaries of the business activities that have occurred over t he last financial year. We are told that the Apex Corporation is a local manufacturing firm. The third statement that has also found to be of use to stakeholders is the Statement of Cash Flow, which shows how the firm used the cash generated in financing, investment and production activities. Negative or troubling cash flow situations are often the first sign of distress in a business, occurring long before telltale signs emerge on its income statement and balance sheet. The most common ratios that can be calculated for a corporate business entity using ratio analysis are the Current Ratio, the Debt-Equity Ratio, the Receivables Turnover, the Gross Profit percentage, the Net Profit percentage and the Inventory Turnover. This will give an analyst a good picture of the financial strength and viability of the business. Another approach would be a year to year comparison of results, using the common size income statement and balance sheets for 2000 and 2001. Calculation of Financial Rat ios Proceeding with our calculations, we first have the Current Ratio, which is calculated as: Total Current Assets / Total Current Liabilities. For Apex Corporation, this is: For Year 2000: $3,415,807/ $1,546,107= 2.21: 1. For Year 2001: $4,257,700/ $1,616,700= 3:1. So we find that Current Ratio has improved from 2.21:1 in 2000 to 3:1 in 2001. This indicates that there are now more current assets to cover current liabilities. The working capital which is defined as Total Current Assets – Total Current Liabilities, has improved from $1,869,700 in 2000 to $2,614,000 in 2001. This speaks well of the company’s short term liquidity and solvency. However, we would have to compare it to Industry Averages for the manufacturing sector to be more accurate in our perceptions (Meigs & Meigs, 943). Moving on to the Debt-Equity Ratios, the ratio of Total Debt to Total Assets can be calculated by Total Liabilities / Total Assets. For Year 2000 it is $2,296,107/ $5,615,807 or 0.41: 1 and for Year 2001 it works out to $2,466,700/$5,697,700 or 0.43:1. This means that debt was 41 cents to the dollar for each $1 of assets owned by Apex Corporation in 2000, and this increased slightly to 43 cents to the dollar in 2001. In other words we can say that each $1 of assets of Apex Corporation was financed 41percent by debt in 2000 and 59 percent by equity; this changed to 43 percent debt and 57 percent equity in 2001. Coming now to the Gross Profit Margin, this is given by: Gross Profit/ Sales x 100. For

The Composition II cource Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Composition II cource - Essay Example As one reflected on the activities that transpired during the course, the following details provided appropriate responses to the relevant questions regarding writing skills mastered, possible applications of these skills, the use of research as a foundation for academic essays, and finally, the changes in perception of oneself as a writer and researcher before and after the course. In this regard, the aim of this essay is to proffer pertinent information after reflecting on the writing and research skills gained and developed during the course. What writing skills have you mastered during this course? I have figured out how to write a proper APA formatted paper among other skills developed during the course. Prior to Composition II, there has always been a vague understanding and recognition of intricate details of different writing styles. By providing the comprehensive information needed by students to observe guidelines and rules in writing essays using the APA format, I mastered the tools needed for proper citation, referencing, formatting the title page, including the needed header, page numbers, abstract, and other important details. Further, by being assigned different essays to write, one has developed skills in observing correct grammar, punctuation, choice of words and language, making a draft and reviewing and editing one’s work. ... I plan to use the lessons learned from writing a proper research paper in my future classes. One is aware that different courses require writing academic essays and research papers that require the skills developed during the course. Application of these skills would be put to further test in other courses and in one’s future career. Prior to applying for defined positions deemed appropriate for one’s profession, through the skills developed, one would therefore be able to create an effective resume and cover letter which would be used in future applications for employment. When accepted, writing skills would also be used in the preparation of inter-office correspondences and reports that form part of one’s responsibilities. Communication would therefore be enhanced and expertise in written works would prove to be a plus factor for promotions and professional development. Skills in research would also be used in one’s future career in terms of seeking upda ted information that needs to improve expertise in one’s field of endeavor. By regularly researching on new academic journals that contain new information influencing one’s career, one exemplifies assuming a proactive stance and thereby prepares oneself to meet unanticipated and unforeseen events. Competence in both writing and research would definitely assist in thinking and communicating outside the box and in being prepared for events that are not normally part of everyday life. How has using research as a foundation for your academic essays strengthened your writing abilities? I found that my writing is better, more structured now than before. The techniques for researching needed topics enabled me to seek more in-depth

Marketing Management exam Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Marketing Management exam - Essay Example Eight demand states in marketing of bifocal lenses are detailed below: Negative Demand: A product is said to face negative demand when a significant segment of the market dislikes it and even pays to avoid it (Kotler and Keller, 2006, p. 10). The fundamental task of marketing managers in this situation is to find out the reasons for this negative demand state to the product and take effective measures to counteract them (Sandhusen, 2000, p. 59). People in some countries have a negative demand for vaccination, but, it is very unlikely in the demand for bifocal lenses. No Demand (Nonexistent demand): When the target-market customers are unaware or are uninterested in a product, it is called no demand state (Kotler and Keller, 2006, p. 10). The main task of marketing managers in this state will be to connect potential product benefits to the needs and wants of the target-customers. This is also very unlikely in the case of demand for bifocal lenses, because, people are well aware of it. Latent Demand: It is when many prospective consumers share a strong need but that cannot be satisfied by the existing product (Kotler and Keller, 2006, p. 10). For example, demand for hair restoratives and painless diets (Sandhusen, 2000, p. 59). The marketing manager is, in this state, expected to measure the potential demand and develop products accordingly. Currently, sufficient quantities of bifocal lenses are available in the market to satisfy prospective demands for it. Latent demand is often described as a vague want (Baker, 1998, p. 80). Declining Demand: It is a state in which customers begin to buy a product less frequently or not at all (Kotler and Keller, 2006, p. 10). Even though demand for bifocal lenses is not declining, some factors can likely cause it in the future. In this case, the marketing management is responsible to analyze reasons and project better strategies to counteract the trend. Irregular Demand: This occurs when seasonal, monthly,

Basic Academic Writing Essay Example for Free

Basic Academic Writing Essay Making a Venn diagram or a chart can help you quickly and efficiently compare and contrast two or more things or ideas. To make a Venn diagram, simply draw some overlapping circles, one circle for each item you’re considering. In the central area where they overlap, list the traits the two items have in common. Example: 1. Write each topic name above one of the circles. List attributes or qualities of that topic in the circle, placing any shared qualities in the overlapping section. Be specific and use details. 2. Review the lists and identify three categories or aspects that describe these details. 3. Then choose one option (point by point or block method) to structure your essay. Comparison-contrast Thesis The thesis of your comparison/contrast paper is very important: it can help  you create a focused argument and give your reader a road map so she/he doesn’t get lost in the sea of points you are about to make. As in any paper, you will want to replace vague reports of your general topic (for example, â€Å"This paper will compare and contrast two pizza places,† or â€Å"Pepper’s and Amante are similar in some ways and different in others,† or â€Å"Pepper’s and Amante are similar in many ways, but they have one major difference†) with something more detailed and specific. For example, you might say, â€Å"Pepper’s and Amante have similar prices and ingredients, but their atmospheres and willingness to deliver set them apart.† Be careful, though—although this thesis is fairly specific and does propose a simple argument (that atmosphere and delivery make the two pizza places different), your instructor will often be looki ng for a bit more analysis. In this case, the obvious question is â€Å"So what? Why should anyone care that Pepper’s and Amante are different in this way?† One might also wonder why the writer chose those two particular pizza places to compare—why not Papa John’s, Dominos, or Pizza Hut? Again, thinking about the context the class provides may help you answer such questions and make a stronger argument. Here’s a revision of the thesis mentioned earlier: Pepper’s and Amante both offer a greater variety of ingredients than other Chapel Hill/Carrboro pizza places (and than any of the national chains), but the funky, lively atmosphere at Pepper’s makes it a better place to give visiting friends and family a taste of local culture. How do I know if my thesis is strong? If there’s time, run it by your instructor or make an appointment at the Writing Center to get some feedback. Even if you do not have time to get advice elsewhere, you can do some thesis evaluation of your own. When reviewing your first draft and its working thesis, ask yourself the following: Do I answer the question? Re-reading the question prompt after constructing a working thesis can help you fix an argument that misses the focus of the question. Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? If your thesis simply states facts that no one would, or even could, disagree with, it’s possible that you are simply providing a summary, rather than  making an argument. Is my thesis statement specific enough? Thesis statements that are too vague often do not have a strong argument. If your thesis contains words like â€Å"good† or â€Å"successful,† see if you could be more specific: why is something â€Å"good†; what specifically makes something â€Å"successful†? Does my thesis pass the â€Å"So what?† test? If a reader’s first response is, â€Å"So what?† then you need to clarify, to forge a relationship, or to connect to a larger issue. Does my essay support my thesis specifically and without wandering? If your thesis and the body of your essay do not seem to go together, one of them has to change. It’s o.k. to change your working thesis to reflect things you have figured out in the course of writing your paper. Remember, always reassess and revise your writing as necessary. Does my thesis pass the â€Å"how and why?† test? If a reader’s first response is â€Å"how?† or â€Å"why?† your thesis may be too open-ended and lack guidance for the reader. See what you can add to give the reader a better take on your position right from the beginning. Example of Comparison-Contrast Essay The Similarities and Differences between Public and Private Universities Malaysia has progressed in many areas since its independence. One significant area that all our past and present leaders have emphasized is education. The drastic growth in the number of universities over the past 20 years signifies this, together with the increasing demand for post-secondary education. Therefore, when public universities faced major challenges in operating within the limitations of the financial aid given by the government, the government not only encouraged private institutions to play a more active role in the higher education industry, but also supported these institutions in their efforts to increase their student intake. In 2006, there were 17 public universities and 21 private universities. Within a year, these numbers ballooned to 20 and 30 respectively. Today, students who wish to pursue higher education are spoilt for choices as there are plenty of courses offered in both public and private universities. However,  deciding on which higher education instit ution to go to, after completing secondary school, is a crucial undertaking. Students need to compare and contrast the strengths and weaknesses of both types of institutions based on the courses available, the course fees charged and the competitiveness of these universities. Firstly, the types of courses that public and private universities offer vary significantly. Public institutions offer a whole range of courses that cover various aspects of science, business, social sciences and humanities in an ala-carte form. For example, the engineering programmes incorporate all aspects of engineering which include specialised areas such as marine, gas and aeronautical. Likewise, the business programmes in these institutions include various degrees in business administration like Islamic banking and insurance. In contrast, private universities only focus on programmes that have higher market value such as health sciences, religious studies, history and literature are not offered by these universities. This is especially so since they are profit-driven institutions. In fact, private institutions only specialise in certain fields, such as health sciences. University Kuala Lumpur Royal College of Medicine Perak, for example, specialises in medicine, pharmacy, nursi ng and radiotherapy, while Masterskill University College specialises in nursing, physiotherapy and environmental health, among others. With such vast choices available, students should choose which university to go to and what programme to enrol in wisely. Another difference between public and private universities lies in the course fees. Even though the roles and responsibilities of both types of institutions are similar, the way they are structured is different. Public universities charge rather modest fees as compared to private universities. The primary reason for this is that public universities are largely funded by the government, as opposed to private universities that are usually privately funded by shareholders. For a public university the high cost involved in managing one is borne by the government. In contrast, private universities manage their institutions through the shareholders’ funds and the revenue they earned. Private universities charge a high fee for their  courses as a means of increasing the revenue. The amount charged is normally very much higher compared to that charged by public universities, where the course fees are subsidised by the government. For instance, the fee to study medicine in University Malaya is about RM100 000 whereas in International Medical University (IMU), the fee is about RM350 000. However, since the income per capita of Malaysians has increased; many parents can afford to pay such expensive fees. Moreover, education has become a priority in Malaysia. The government is willing to support these private institutions by making student loans such as those offered by Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTN) available for students. This helps to lessen not only parents’ burden, but also the shareholders’. Despite these differences, public and private universities are similar in being competitive in nature. They compete to be the best educational institution in their respective fields of study. Both types of institutions strive to stay abreast to sustain their position in the education industry. The benchmark has been raised very high so that every university has to be sensitive to their customers’ needs. Most universities have made wi-fi connections available around their campus and have upgraded facilities such as computer laboratories, hostels, cafeterias and transportation. Apart from that, these universities also recruit the best faculty staff to make the teaching and learning process an exciting journey. In addition, these universities advertise their annual graduation ceremonies and highlight their top academic achievers to maintain their name and ranking among the top universities. All these criteria have become the yardstick for universities to measure their reputation as world-class education institutions. There is paradigm shift today in the way parents and children regard education. Parents nowadays are sending their children to higher education institutions so that they could obtain a minimum university qualification. Students take up university courses not only to obtain wisdom and knowledge, but also to acquire the expertise and qualifications needed to compete in today’s knowledge-based economy. Thus, it is up to the students to compare the similarities and differences between a public university and a private  university before deciding which institution to pursue their tertiary education in.

The Salah requires praying Essay Example for Free

The Salah requires praying Essay One of the greatest hindrances to attaining peaceful relations in the Middle East comes from the fact that the Islamic religion is often misunderstood. In their book entitled, Islam: A Thousand Years of Faith and Power, authors Jonathan Bloom and Sheila Blair, discuss the origins of Islam by discussing various aspects of the religion and the cultural practices. Literally, Islam means peace or the surrender of one’s self to God. Islam was born 1,400 years ago, when the message of the Qur’an was relayed to the prophet Muhammad by Allah through the angel Gabriel. The fundamental decree of Islam is monotheism, that there is only one Creator, that he alone should be worshipped by mankind and that Muhammad is God’s final prophet. Aside from monotheism, there are also other five aspects of Islam: first, that the Qur’an is considered by Muslims as the undistorted message of God and is the central text of Islamic religion; second, that angels are the messengers of god, devoid of free will and dedicated only to the worship of God and the duties entrusted to them; third, belief in all of God’s prophets, from Adam to Jesus; fourth, that there will be a â€Å"Day of Judgment† or â€Å"Day of Resurrection† (yawm al-Qiyamah) where every human will account for all the deeds and sins he has committed during his lifetime at a time that is only known to God; lastly, the belief in the Divine Decree (al-qadaa wal-qadr ), that everything occurs according to the will of God. Islam also decrees five main duties that a Muslim must perform. Integral to the understanding of Islam are the Five Pillars. These five duties are otherwise also known as the Five Pillars of Islam: Shahadah, Salah, Zakat, Sawm and Hajj. The Shahadah is the primary tenet of Islam which is found in the shahadatan or â€Å"twin testimonies† wherein a Muslim declares that there is only one God worthy of devotion and that Muhammad is the messenger of God. The Salah requires praying five times a day at different times while facing towards the Kaaba in Mecca. The Zakat is the alms-giving of capable Muslims to the poor and needy. The Sawm is the requirement of fasting during the month of Ramadan wherein a Muslim desists from eating, drinking and having sexual intercourse from dusk until dawn. The Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca a Muslim is required to make at least once in his or her lifetime. Aside from discussing these practices, they also discuss the cultural background of some of the most holy sites of the Islamic Religion. Considered as perhaps one of the holiest cities in the whole world, Makkah or Mecca, is located in the historic Hejaz region of Saudi Arabia. With a population of nearly two million (1,700,000 to be exact), this region is deeply revered by Muslims because it contains the Grand Mosque of Mecca. From an etymological perspective, the word mecca means a location that is considered as the center of interest or a goal which religious adherents aspire for. This is synonymous with the religious devotion that is associated with the area. One of the major events that occur in this area is the annual pilgrimage to Makkah which happens during the season of the Hajj. This is very important for every Muslim since it is covered under the Five Pillars of Islam. Given this relevance, every able bodied Muslim who has the means to must visit Mecca at least once in their lifetime. This is a very strict rule. During this time, nobody else is allowed to enter the holy city especially people belonging to other faiths. Historically, the Mecca has always been considered as one of the most important cities in the Arabian Peninsula. Since the 6th century, it has always been the wealthiest of all the settlements in the area. Due to the abundant water supply that it got from the Zamzam Well, Mecca soon grew in prosperity and became the site of the Kaaba, the holiest site in all of Islam. Given this ideal location, it comes as no surprise then that this soon became one of the holiest areas in the world. The sacred mosque or the Al-Masjid al-Haram is the largest mosque in the entire world. Its location in the city of Mecca is only appropriate given the fact that it surrounds what is the holiest place in the entire Islam, the Kaaba. Also known as Haram or Haram Sharif, the mosque is capable of accommodating over four million (4,000,000) people during the great pilgrimage or the Hajj. It covers a floor area of approximately three hundred and fifty-six thousand eight hundred (356,800) square meters. References: Bloom, Jonathan and Blair, Sheila (2002). Islam: A Thousand Years of Faith and Power. New Haven, 2002

A SWOT and PESTEL Analysis of EasyJet

A SWOT and PESTEL Analysis of EasyJet 1. Introduction and History A successful example of a European no frills airline is easyJet. Stelios Haji-Ioannou (Greek) founded the company in 1995. It is based on the low-cost, no-frills model of the US carrier Southwest. The concept of easyJet is based on the belief that demands for short-haul air transport is price elastic. That means, if prices for flights are being reduced, more people will fly. Traditionally airline concepts are based on the assumption that airline traffic grows in line with the economy and that cutting prices will only lead to a decrease in revenues. With the introduction of the no-nonsense concept to the European market, after its deregulation in 1992, easyJet has proven this theory wrong and goes from strength to strength by actually increasing the size of the market and more recently by taking away passengers from the majors (see www.easyjet.com for passenger figures, financial data and employee statistics). Today, it offers 125 routes from 39 European Airports (see www.easyjet.com for route launch dates), with Luton, Liverpool, Geneva, Amsterdam as base airports  [1]  and is operating 72 aircrafts (November 2003). November 1995: easyJet starts flights from Luton to Glasgow and Edinburgh with to leased Boeing 737-300 with a capacity of 148 seats at a price of  £29 one way. Seats are being sold over telephone reservation system only. In 1996 easyJet takes delivery of its first wholly owned aircraft and goes international with first services to Amsterdam from Luton. One year later easyJet launches its website, easyjet.com which will from 1998 onwards form an integral part of the business concept (and which provides for some 90% of the bookings today  [2]  ). In August 2002 easyJet expands its fleet and routes by acquiring British Airways low-cost subsidiary Go. In October 2002 the airline signs a deal to purchase 120 Airbus, which will facilitate the airlines ongoing growth strategy. Up until now, one of the cornerstones of the easyJets low-cost model has been to operate a single aircraft type fleet which so far has been the Boeing 737 series because uniformity means efficiencies in train ing, maintenance and operating costs. However, easyJets new deal with Airbus is being viewed by the company as stunning as the additional costs, which incur through the new type of aircraft are far outweighed by the financial benefits of this deal. easyJet argues that both Boeing and Airbus aircraft have broadly similar characteristics but that a wider aisle on A319 will make it quicker to embark and disembark, that it has an extra seat on board (150 vs. 149) and that overall the A319 will lower costs by about  10% compared to the current mix of aircraft, which will contribute to lower ticket fares. (See appendix 1 for Stelios Haji-Iannous other easyGroup enterprises). 2. The Mission Statement of easyJet To provide our customers with safe, good value, point-to-point air services. To effect and to offer a consistent and reliable product and fares appealing to leisure and business markets on a range of European routes. To achieve this will develop our people and establish lasting relationship (see www.easyjet.com) The basis of an organisations mission statement should answer the question What business is the company in? easyJet is doing this by stating that it provides point-to-point air services to its customers. That clearly underlines that easyJet is not in the people or food business, neither in the service business as such, but in the mass-transportation business, and as such its model is based on cost efficiency of the mass-transportation business. Moreover, it reflects several decisions about what kind of air service easyJet wants to provide. Evidently, its focus is on European routes, targeting business and leisure travellers alike. Furthermore, it aims to offer safe, good value transportation. easyJets mission statement also gives information on the How to get there? by putting emphasis on its people and suppliers. What is missing from the statement is the importance of the customers point of view, which could be expressed by saying, for instance, we want to be recognised asà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. Also, as the mission statement is the bedrock for the marketing plan it should be more quantifiable, as to how much market share easyJet aims to gain in the future, for example. 3. Competitive Analysis In order to analyse the airline industry in detail, it is useful to apply Porters five competitive forces. The threat of substitutes Minimal threat from other modes of transport like train and car on domestic routes. Usually the time and cost advantage of the low-cost carriers far outweigh the increased comfort and flexibility of trains or cars (e.g. on the route Luton/London to Glasgow a train takes around 6 hours and costs around  £80 while a easyJet plane takes just one hour and costs around  £29). On international routes distances are usually too great for car or train to be an alternative to air travel, expect maybe from London to Paris, which can be reached by Euro Star. The threat of new entrants High capital requirements negate threat to some extent. easyJet was started with a loan of  £5 million, with 2 leased aircraft, but required a  £50million investment raised by debt and equity in year two to speed expansion and buy 4 new planes. The UK low-cost market is quite mature in comparison to the rest of Europe and easyJet, as the biggest operator has quite a comfortable position. However, expansion into new European markets might prove more difficult as established; cash strong holiday firms like TUI are setting up their own low-cost operations (see information about Hapag Lloyd Express, www.hlx.com) Lack of take-off and landing slots makes it difficult for new carriers to find suitable airports. Loss leader is required in order to join the low cost market. The power of suppliers The price of aviation fuel is directly related to the cost of oil, as an individual company easyJet does not have the power to alter this. Airplane manufacturers are concentrated in the industry, with Boeing and Airbus providing the majority of commercial planes and with easyJet operating one type of aircraft until recently. easyJets deal with airbus however shows that favourable agreements can still be reached. The dependence on spare parts from one manufacturer could pose a risk. The more easyJet expands the more power it will posses over its suppliers The power of buyers Buyer power within the airline industry and especially the low-cost market is relatively strong, as customers will often shop around for the better price, particularly with the dependence that the low cost airline has on Internet sales. Price discrepancies can be easily found and exploited by the consumer, meaning that the operator must keep a regular check on prices. Need for customer loyalty because of low switching costs Customers have the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on their side which provides: 1. protection against the consequence of travel organiser failure for people who buy package holidays, charter flights and discounted scheduled air tickets; and 2. licenses airlines and ensures compliance with requirements of European and UK legislation relating to financial resources, liability and insurance of airlines.  [3]   Rivalry among existing firms Ryan air, BMIbaby, MyTravelLite and Buzz are major competitors of easyJet in the UK. Virgin Express, Hapag Lloyd Express, Germanwings and Air Berlin already are or might become competitors in the light of future expansion plans. Ryanair is the only one of these so far to have succeeded and shown a continuous yearly profit (see appendix 2 for financial data). A growing number of tour operators (like Thomas Cook and TUI) are selling air only scheduled seats to reduced prices  [4]  . British Airways and other traditional carriers out of the UK are competitors as well but on a lower scale as they target different market segments (see appendix 3 for more detail). 4. Marketing Mix Price Low price is a key element of the brand. Uses differential pricing; off-peak travelling and booking in advance makes a ticket less expensive. Discounts for tickets booked online. Product no-frills, point-to-point air services also car hire on its website (use of the Internet for bundling products) and links to other easyGroup websites (see appendix 1 for other easyGroup enterprises). Place/distribution Internet booking system (over 90% of bookings). Telephone reservation system. Promotion Highlights its number one position among Europes low-cost airlines (advertising strap line: Size matters!, slogan: the webs favourite airline) Advocates internal marketing, creative work done in-house. No Bullshit approach (Stelios), humorous, attention-catching campaigns (e.g. the giving away of free tickets on Gos inaugural flight and Stelios protesting in a orange boiler suit against an increase of airport fees at Luton in a branch of Barclays bank which owns the airport). 5. SWOT Analysis 5.1. Internal Analysis Strengths Image, differentiation on price and brand. Is financially successful. Is being seen as an innovative and flexible organisation. Has a strong e-business. Is part of the consortium that has been awarded to run UKs air traffic control system (NATS). Weaknesses Has no customer retention policy Has little or no scope outside of Europe. Lack of service, flexibility and business focus (such as frequent flyer programmes e.g.) make the low-cost model unappealing for most business travellers. The two drivers of growth, the focus on price and the focus on convenience (frequent flights, few connections, more nearby airports e.g.) are reaching their natural limits. Differentiation from there remains to be difficult. easyJets own success makes it difficult to recruit and train staff quickly enough. 5.2 External Analysis Opportunities Experts predict great potential for future growth in the next years (see appendix 4). The current recession is favourable as people and businesses are more cost-conscious. More full-service airlines may withdraw from the regional market to focus on more profitable long-haul routes leaving the market to the low-cost operators. The short-breaks market, an important market for easyJet grows more rapidly than the UK travel market as a whole  [5]  . Reduced aircraft prices Threats Difficulties to expand as viable new routes from London are scarce. Competition is likely to intensify, given the saturated market and the shortage of other options  [6]  . Increased competition is likely to lead to greater difficulties in demanding incentives from communities, like the very low fees easyJet received at Luton  [7]  . Companies cut on business travel in times of economic downturn and because of new time-consuming security measures travel substitutes like videoconferencing are introduced  [8]  . 6. Situational Analysis easyJet seems to be positioned very well with experts predicting excellent growth opportunities for the low cost-sector. Given the saturated market and the shortage of other options in the UK, competition is likely to intensify inevitably followed by consolidation, an early sign of which is easyJets purchase of GO. The UK market offers little growth opportunity, therefore concentration will be on the continental market, a step forward in this direction is setting up a major new base at Berlin, with flights from 11 European cities  [9]  , and possibly as well on Eastern Europe. Focus remains on pricing Strategy and expansion of its route network. Promotion needs to persuade people that it is safe to fly and establish easyJet as Europes largest low-cost carrier (as easyJet is already doing in its advertisement: Size matters!) 7. PEST Analysis Marketing Plan PEST analysis for easyJet for the next 5 years The following factors are likely to have an influence on the airline industry and should therefore be taken into account when formulating a Marketing Plan for easyJet. Politico-legal factors Threat of war in the Middle East The Air Miles scheme is not considered as a taxable perk by the government in the way that company cars are taxed which may change to allow easyJet to compete on more equal grounds with the likes of BA. A EU east-enlargement may provide access to viable, new markets. Economic factors Likelihood of increasing fuel costs, congestion and other environmental restrictions, as well as the prospect of higher security and insurance costs to reflect the risk of terrorism. As the recession is likely to last for some more time, business travellers will keep an eye on their travel expenses. Globalisation should continue to boost traffic in the long-term. The introduction of the single currency in Europe is likely to bring more business to easyJet as Europe becomes more integrated. Socio-cultural factors To win over the French and German publics might cause problems as there appears still to be a general reluctance to use credit cards over the phone and Internet  [10]  . The public are general quite friendly to the prospect of cheap flights. However they may feel begrudged where they see promotions found in newspapers where flight are for  £10 only to find that the actual cost is much higher for the particular time or day they wish to fly on. Technological factors A key issue will be the extent to which technological advancements such as the use of the Internet on distribution and cost synergies from industry consolidation can offset upward pressures on prices and costs. easyJet has to keep track of technological developments in the field of e-commerce and aircraft manufacture in order to gain a competitive advantage. 8. Conclusion 8.1 Strategic issues facing the airline industry The face of aviation is gradually evolving. The long-standing problems of the industry in the form of large numbers of network carriers and substantial over-capacity in many markets were exacerbated by the events of September 11th (see appendix 5 for a post-Sept. 11th overview). This is likely to pave the way for some acceleration in the process of airline restructuring and consolidation. Experts believe that there is not room for the current multitude of carriers in Europe, and that these will eventually be whittled down to three or four major airlines, with the others absorbed or restructured to focus more on regional traffic. This also represents an opportunity for no-frills carriers to increase their market share. Along with this, some restructuring of the industrys complex and outdated regulatory system will be required. In the longer term, trend growth may itself slow gradually as the big air travel markets mature. In addition, falling yields, which have boosted air travel growth in the past, cannot be relied upon to persist, at least at the rate they have for the past decade or so. If cost trends are less favourable for example because of increasing fuel costs, congestion and other environmental restrictions, as well as the prospect of higher security and insurance costs to reflect the risks of terrorism the scope for lower yields would be less, and this might reduce future growth trends. A key issue will be the extent to which favourable cost trends such as the impact of the Internet on distribution costs and cost synergies from industry consolidation can offset these upward pressures on prices and costs. The full-service airlines, saddled with big networks and strongly unionised workforces, cannot easily embrace the management strategies of the no-frills airlines. Moreover, their scope for de fensive mergers is limited by competition policy. The ability of international airlines to expand is limited by ownership restrictions (In the US foreigners cannot own more than 25% of a national airline, in the EU the restriction is 49%  [11]  ). The no-frills market within Europe is immature relative to that of the US. The sector accounts for only around 5% of all intra European capacity, though the share is much higher in the UK domestic market and on services between the UK and Europe, closer to 20%. Further strong growth is expected over the next 2-3 years as new operations start up, and new destinations are added to the existing carriers networks. However as the UK market becomes saturated, these carriers are likely to focus their development at continental European hubs. The experience of the US market suggests that deregulation will be followed by industry consolidation. So far there has been limited progress in this direction but many are viewing the current crisis as the catalyst necessary to completely restructure the European airline industry . In the US the industry has consolidated into seven major carriers, which carry over 80% of passenger traffic of US airlines. Europe is far more fragmented with the equivalent figure for the seven European majors at only 47%  [12]  . 8.2 easyJets Future easyJet has to consider whether it should respond to new entrants by ceding niche-segments or by competing aggressively on price, routes and service in an attempt to drive the entrant out of the market. To make the strategic decision market research on the size of different combinations of pricing and service is needed. easyJet also needs to know how much it costs the competitor to serve, and how much capacity the competitor has for, every route in question. Finally, the new entrants competitive objectives are of relevance to anticipate how it would respond to any strategic moves easyJet might make. By obtaining these information residual uncertainty would be limited, and the incumbent airline would be able to build a confident business case around its strategy  [13]  . It is advisable that easyJet targets mainly leisure travellers as business often demand frequent flights to a wide range of destinations, seek quality service and frequent flyer programmes, and are willing to pay a premium for these benefits. Also, trying to appeal to widely different customer needs runs counter to the overall trend in service industries, in which distinctive approaches, tailored to different customers, have generally come to dominate  [14]  . No real opportunity offers the long-haul business as it is very different, both technically and in customer needs, to short-haul travel. easyJet should continue to focus on price and attempt to connect the dots in its network, which cost less than opening new cities. Thereby, it needs to make sure that a growth in its network and fleet does not lead to higher operating costs. It should also consider putting more emphasis on direct marketing by e.g. introducing a customer retention scheme. To differentiate its brand further on promotional lines, easyJet could introduce a CRM (cause related marketing) scheme, developing a reputation for being a caring airline, e.g. by selling shares in forest help programmes over its website, collect ing foreign currency on flights for charity etc., thereby giving its passengers a sense of psychological comfort and well-being  [15]  when they choose to fly with easyJet. Overall, easyJet has to develop a realistic and accurate assessment of the market-niche to be served. A relentless commitment to quality service and cost control is as important as the discipline to establish a growth plan (see www.easyJet.com for easyJet product life cycle and marketing strategy). (Word count 3,144) Appendices Appendix 1 Under the easy brand Stelios Haji-Iannou has furthermore established and Internet car rental service (easyRentacar), a chain of Internet cafes (easyEverything), a financial services site (easyMoney), a portal site for bargains on the net (easyValue) and a free e-mail service (easy.com). In all his ventures he is using yield management to extract the ideal margin from each customer  [16]  and keep costs down. Furthermore, yield management can help to better use price in the marketing mix to best reach the most customers  [17]  . However, there are no cross-shareholdings between easyJet and these other easyGroup companies. easyJey operates independently from the other companies although some cross-marketing agreements do exist. Also, results of the non-airline businesses have been mixed as they have lost  £75m in three years  [18]  . Appendix 2 Profit for Ryanair April September 2002 Year-on-year increase 151m à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ ( £96m) 71% Source: Tran, M. (2002)  [19]   See http://www.ryanair.com/download/morganjune.pdf for actual data. Appendix 3 Compare Airline Traffic Data (Europe) Air Transport World http://www.atwonline.com/Pdf/worldairlinereport_2002.pdf Appendix 4 The airline market is currently being re-shaped by the expansion of existing low-cost airlines. It has been estimated that they will expand their European market share from 5% to 25% by 2010, establishing themselves on a long-term basis. (Source: International Travel News (2003), available on http://www.internettravelnews.com/article/20223 Friday, 28th November 2003) Low-cost airlines are gearing up to take large chunks out of their rivals. In a decade, low-cost airlines may be the dominant form of air travel in Europe. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. In Europe, no-frills travel accounts for only 5% of European air travel, but it is likely to grow to claim a 12-15% share in the next decade. (Source: BBC News (2002), available on http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/2038192.stm; Friday, 28th November 2003)

Essay --

In the past, only the physical aspects of cancer were recognized. An individual’s body was only treated and the person within that body went unnoticed. Cancer, which was commonly known as the â€Å"C word†, was considered a death sentence. The patient was often not told the diagnosis as family and physicians felt that the patient was unable to handle this diagnosis. In early years there was a stigma to having cancer and people did not talk about it. In the late 70s, psychiatrist Limmie Holland was the first health care professional that began speaking about the human side of cancer. She began the initial permanent psychiatric service in a cancer research hospital in 1977 and this produced the field psycho-oncology. However people were often confused as to what psychiatrists were doing with cancer patients and they frequently questioned it. Even today, there is confusion about the need for psycho-oncology services in the medical community and occasionally even resistance from patients(Inman, 2010). When one is diagnosed with cancer, it is ego shattering. The secure, predictable place where one felt in control is no more - their world as they once knew it no longer exists. The changes they go through can be extremely challenging. Cancer influences every aspect of life: one’s body, mind, spirit; family; friends; job; relationship with God and future. The diagnosis often leaves them feeling physically, mentally, emotionally and cognitively out of control. Physically, treatment can produce exhaustion, pain, and irritability. Emotionally, feelings may become intense at times. Cognitive changes involve patients having difficulty with memory and concentration. The emotions one goes through may continue after treatment finishes. There are no... ...onjunction with the parent’s over-protectiveness. Social Effects Children with cancer may experience some social effects due to the illness. School-going children with cancer have limited time available for normal activities as they are preoccupied with hospitalizations, treatments, laboratory tests and radiology scans. They are also limited in terms of the types of activities they can engage in as they become easily fatigued, have limited mobility and have a higher risk of injury than other children. Some of the social effects of cancer and its treatment include feelings of being overwhelmed, anxiety, depression, fear, frustration, and a poor self concept (Spinelli, 2004). Psychological Effects Children with cancer may also experience psychological side effects such as social isolation, peer rejection, tendency to withdrawal and embarrassment (Spinelli, 2004).

Essay --

First Aid is the initial care for an illness or injury. First Aid is usually performed in emergency situations by a non-professional person. First Aid can be performed on animals although it is generally meant for the care of humans. Going back to the beginning of the practice of First Aid, it was first practiced by the religious knights in the Eleventh Century. Care was provided to the Pilgrims and Knights as well as training on how to care for common battle wounds. Aid came to a halt during the High Middle Ages and organizations were not seen again until 1859. A few years later, a few nations met in Geneva and formed what we know to be the Red Cross. The main purpose of the Red Cross was to give Aid to the sick and wounded soldiers during battle. In 1878, the formation of St. John Ambulance was put into effect. The ambulance was generally for aid to people in emergencies. Large railway centers, mining districts and police forces were the first to pair with ambulances. A lso in 1878 the concept of teaching First Aid to civilians was announced. Surgeon-Major Peter Shepherd and Dr. Coleman performed the first First Aid class with a curriculum that they had formed. First Aid training began to grow in the UK with high risk activities. There are three major aims of First Aid. The first major aim is obviously to preserve a person’s life. Throughout medical care institutions, the main aim is to save lives and minimize the threat of death. The second major aim of First Aid is to prevent further harm to patients. The aim is to keep the injury from worsening. An example of this would be applying pressure to a wound to stop bleeding from becoming dangerous. The third and final major aim of First Aid is to promote reco... ...ause it can cause harm to the infant’s lungs. If an infant requires shock, one pad goes on the front and one pad goes on the back. You should keep performing CPR until EMS arrives. If you begin CPR you cannot quit until they arrive, you have already committed to that victim. In some situations with and AED you need to take precautions to make them work properly. If a person is very sweaty or wet, you need to wipe them off because the AED will not work properly. If a person has a hairy chest, you should apply pads and rip the hair off and then apply new pads. Some people have chest piercings now so if you notice these you should remove them or leave them in if you cannot remove them or you do not have enough time. Piercings in the chest can cause a person’s chest to be burned severely since the AED is delivering an electric shock and the jewelry is metal.

Philippine Retirement Authority :: essays research papers

An Information Technology Audit on the Philippine Retirement Authority Special Retiree Service Syste 1.0 INTRODUCTION The previous paper illustrated the present state of the Philippine Retirement Authority, its processes, and finally concluded with an assessment of its the SWOT elements. This report follows up by asking: Given its vision of developing the Philippines into a retirement haven, will investing in information technology bring the PRA closer to its vision? We believe that there is enough impetus to pursue investments in information technology for reasons that many tourist entries are enjoyed by the country, while the number of retirees is expected to dramatically increase as worldwide populations, particularly baby boomers, age. Given the PRA’s current membership level of 3,600+ members, there exists a potential for at least 15,000 members by the end of 2010. In the face of peace and order, austerity measures, and foreign competition, the benefits seem to far outweigh the risks. It is with this conclusion that a 2-pronged approach is recommended in order to move the PRA closer to its vision. These are: (1) Enhancing marketing capability which will lead to higher sales, and (2) Building operational capacity through the creation of efficient processes, and introducing new and radical means of doing things. 2.0 A GLIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE: THE PRA IN 2034 †¦ 3.0 WITHIN REACH: THE PRA IN 2007 †¦ 4.0 NEW BUSINESS PROCESS PROJECTED With the new capabilities that can be developed, the business process of PRA can be enhanced to shift from a procedure-based perspective into a more qualitative marketing and servicing oriented thrust. A projected business process may be designed as follows: 4.1 Build/Maintain Strong Market Presence From the current â€Å"hunting† approach that involves looking, approaching and convincing clients to know about PRA and the SRRV Program, a more dynamic thrust can be established. The activities that will be covered by this step will include the expansion of accreditation of resorts, hotels, travel agencies, service/medical/care-giving facilities as well as networking with local and international marketers. The interactive website can serve as the web portal of the retirees for their special and various needs. The site may be able to generate interest among foreigners and former Filipinos. From a low-profile government agency, it is important for PRA to make itself felt and to push itself into the attention of the retirees market. The prospecting and invitation steps in the current business process will also be included in this step. All marketing communications in every media channel will also fall in this process.

Comparrison of the Color Purple Book and Movie

lHaley Sullivan Think of the person who means most to you in life. Now imagine what life would be like if you never saw or heard from them again. This is what happens to Celie, the main character in the novel The Color Purple written by Alice Walker and the movie The Color purple directed by Steven Spielberg. The novel The color purple was published in 1982. The story is told through letters written by Celie to God. The only sentences outside the letters are the first two â€Å"You better not never tell nobody. It’d kill your mammy. † The story follows Celie throughout her life starting from when she was 14.Celie is a poor black girl from the south who is verbally physically and sexually abused by all the men in her life, mainly her father and husband. The only person she has ever left truly loved her is her sister Nettie. The two are inseparable until Nettie is forced away and never allowed to see or speak to Celie again. Celie writes letters to God because now that Ne ttie’s gone she has no one else to talk to. She writes about Mr. ___ her husband, his family who becomes somewhat hers, and Shug Avery. Shug is Mr. ___’s lover who comes to stay with Mr. ___ and Celie because she was very sick. Shug takes a strong liking to Celie and vice versa.Shug helps Celie see that she is a beautiful woman and that she isn’t worthless like people in her past had made her believe. Thanks to Shug’s guidance love and support Celie breaks free of the hold Mr. ___ once had on her and finally stands up for herself. The movie The Color Purple was directed by Steve Spielberg and was released in 1985. The movie stays true to the novel in only a few ways. The movie is not told through letters because that would have been too complicated to stage. In the novel you get to learn more about Nettie’s life along with Celie’s, while in the movie you only see Celie’s side of the story.The movie uses many different aspects of film to emphasize its beauty and emotional feeling of the novel. For example Steven focuses a lot on color in the shooting of the film. The scenery, no matter where being shot, has an undertone of browns and greens. Then in significant scenes there are pops of purple or pinks to show that you’re supposed to be noticing something or to emphasize what the characters are talking about. Steven Spielberg also uses high and low angles to show who has power during certain scenes. So whenever Mr. ___ and Celie are having a conversation Mr. __ is always shot from a low angle to show that he has power over Celie, and Celie is shot from a high angle to show that she has less power than Mr. ___. Spielberg also used numerous voice-overs in the film to narrate thoughts during moments that silence was incorporated. So from all the information and observations I’ve gathered I’ve decided my thesis is that, the novel The color purple written by Alice walker is better than the movie di rected by Steven Spielberg. I believe this statement to be true because when it comes to the details and complexities of the characters in the story the movie sells the book short.The movie shows the characters relations with each other to be very one sided while in the novel characters develop much deeper relationships with each other. I also liked the book better because it really allowed you to see inside Celie’s head. You felt the pain with her as you read her heartfelt letters to God about her hardships and, everyone in a while, moments of supreme joy. I did appreciate the acting in the movie though. Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey were discovered because of the film.

Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management: Family Enterprise Essay

IntroductionEntrepreneurship in or so of the sm tot tout ensembley line of workes often tilts to convey family endeavours. This chief(prenominal)ly occurs when children of the return join hands and start working(a) either full-time or part time for the melodic line. galore(postnominal) of the family possess problem atomic number 18 referred to as entrepreneurship save because of the tear downt that owners melt down to depict professionalism in their work. Others argon concerned with nepotism of which whitethorn affect perception of customers. Family endeavors keep versatile advantages compargond to non-family owned trading. Moreover, they likewise scarper to hand a number of limits. This test provides circumstantial information about the extraordinary nature, characteristics and point of accumulations of family enterprises. The essay will as well comp argon and talk of several(a) differences betwixt family enterprises and non-family owned enterpri ses. unparalleled Nature of Family EnterprisesOne of the unique natures of family enterprises is possession control. harmonize to Poza & Daugherty (2014, p.7), family descentes be formed by two or more shares of a family. This attractive of tune may similarly be owned by a partnership of families. Family processs participate fully in affectning of the enterprise. On this sideslip, participation government agency that family members work as the circumspection team, where they offer continuity of the military control. Ownership control in addition gist that family members pitch the rights and responsibilities of voter turnout sh argons. Members in like manner shit the right to govern the line of work fit in to their wishes so far as they espouse with the set laws and standards. In close to baptisterys, owners dream of do sealed that the enterprise re master(prenominal)s under the control of family members. This just meat that continuity of the craft mov es from whiz genesis to the an new(prenominal)wisewise(prenominal) (Poza & Daugherty, 2014, p.10).The other unique nature of family business is workment. Family enterprises exist with a primary goal of benefiting family members. Employment is found on birthright and the willingness of a family member to join the enterprise. until now though this miscellanea of enterprises may practice non-family members to run the business specially in slip by direction, hiding of various issues is paramount within the family members. In most issues, all the family individuals working in the enterprise atomic number 18 paid every bit or nearly fitting amounts of repairment (Berry, 2002). In cases where hire is paid equal to all employees, issues much(prenominal) as function and overall merit ar non addressed. However, on that point argon some family enterprises that pay their employees depending on responsibility and performance. Most of these businesses do non pay employ ees depending on the pecking rate they tick in the family.Family enterprises are excessively unique in the smell that members are unendingly loyal to the principles set by those who developed the business. Even by and by a generation takes responsibility of the business from a nonher, they al manners accommodate the expected loyalty. Moreover, in time when the burst of the business is non alive and does non participate actively running of the business, in that location incessantly anticipates a sense of esteem for him/her. This kind of loyalty tends to realize a sense of togetherness and make a starchy birth amidst family members. Walsh (2004) states that thither are some business secrets that takes in keeping the family together. In regularize to pull ahead in running a family business, the members essential(prenominal) be in a adjust of managing their consanguinitys in an effective manner. This means that either disagreements should be solved before tra nsaction with issues that relate to the business itself.Characteristics of Family blood lineesOne of the characteristics is that family businesses are based on family determine. This means that in drift for the business to function accordingly, the set must be emphasized. Example of these value includes fairness, mutual trust and respect among legion(predicate) another(prenominal) a(prenominal) others. More importantly, the businesses must up- get conflict focusing and commitment in order to put up a buttony approaching. Commitment in this case offers members an luck to enhance a hygienic working spirit without indefensible assertiveness.The other characteristic of family enterprises is inbred angle of dip in order to make sure that the business continues to benefit family members. As historied in the supra information, family business is designed in much(prenominal) a route that sensation generation takes control in terms of focal point after the other. Ballell (2009, p. 65) defines a family enterprise as a business that is owned by one family or a combination of legion(predicate) families whereby the main butt is to ensure in that respect is generation succession. so, generation succession of which is a natural inclination tends to create the basis and instauration of a family business.Family enterprises are based on tenacious-term mutual relationships. In order for a family enterprise to operate, in that location must be someonealized relationships and rules are unceasingly informal. These kinds of businesses do not evaluate members achievement and in most cases, they assist in motivating those who seem to be force behind. Weak individuals in the business are loved and supported unconditionally. This always happens because the aim of a family business is to support other members of the same family so that they advise keep an eye on in their lives.Limitations of Family EnterprisesFamily enterprises tend to be restrict in t heir trading operations. One of these limitations is poor stewardship. This means that family businesses are normally run by individuals who hold the view that the firms are their in-person fiefs. This perception makes them believe they befool the judgment to act or redden put up from acting ( miller & Le Breton-Miller, 2006). Without any non-family person involved in counter-checking how operations run, these individuals bed lead to risky decisions or eventide stagnant strategic situations. Where such cases occur, the businesses end-up incur heavy loses of which is a study limitation to future progression.The other major limitation is poor de facto divisors of which means that some members of the family who enact genuine activities for the business may be incompetent. The Owner-chief operating officer Control perception leads some family members to call up that they heap do everything they want so- dour as the business in their personal property. In largish business es, such chief operating officer cannot be controlled by the directors and therefore, they end-up making decisions and enacting according to their free will of which may end-up be the enterprises such(prenominal). Miller & Le Breton-Miller (2006) indicates that such CEOs tend to abuse their indicants by extracting money and other resources from the business and in some cases, other family members down got little control of the CEO actions.The other limitation of a family enterprise is agency lapses. Miller & Le Breton-Miller (2006) states that family owned businesses tend to cognize difficulties especially in situations whereby a CEO cause voting control. In such cases, the CEO may also end up behaving recklessly by influencing weird decisions or even exploiting minority members. Even in situations whereby the self-control is broad, family businesses experiences the challenges of disagreement between members. Not all situations where family members agree and in some cases, i t be pay backs to the highest degree impossible for the CEO to balance power and act in a recommend open manner. That means family businesses that are run by agents can end-up incurring costly consequences in situations whereby the agent is beyond the effective control of the business.Similarities between Family Enterprises and Non-Family EnterprisesOne of the similarities between family enterprises and non-family enterprises is that their operations contribute to improvements of the economy. This means that even though they tend to make assorted profits because of various factors, both forms of business play a significant determination in economical development of a region. The other main similarity is that strong working relationship is a must in order to have productive results. In a family enterprise, there is a more strong relationship because members are of the same investment firm (Smith, 2006). The issue of a strong working relationship is also emphasized in order for the business to progress effectively. asunder from the above similarities, both of two forms of enterprises can be managed by individuals who do not have direct relationship with the business. This simply means that there are family enterprises that are managed by individuals who do not have any connection with the family. The same case applies with non-family enterprises where CEOs are recruited according to their experience and baron to enact the required responsibilities. The other major similarity is that both of the two businesses are guided by certain values and norms. There must be certain values that guide employees for a business to work accordingly.Differences between Family Enterprises and Non-Family EnterprisesOne of the differences between the two forms of enterprises is the fact there are fewer organizers in family businesses of which in most cases contribute risk aversion. The fact that family businesses are controlled by members of the family means that most of them are limited to skills. This leads to the business suffer much in terms of creativity and yield of which are key elements of growth.In family businesses, employees who distribute to perform are not retrenched but they are motivated and supported so that they can improve their performance. Such a move tends to take a long period especially in situations whereby the employee is not willing to make the necessary improvements. However, in non-family businesses, the situation is totally different whereby there are various individuals with different skills infallible by the enterprise. The employees in non-family enterprises must comply with the set rules and regulation. Failure to do that, the management of the enterprise may take unshakable disciplinary actions, which include retrenchment. The fact that there are many a(prenominal) employees with various different skills means that the level of creativity and plan is always high (Berman Brown & Coverley, 1999).The other difference is that family enterprises tend to pay higher(prenominal) salaries compared to non-family enterprises. This is because they care much about propitiation of their employees. Moreover, family businesses always care about the future of their employees because they are members of the same family. On this perspective, Miller & Le Breton-Miller, (2006) indicates that family businesses always pay their employees passing as a means of promoting them. However, this case is always different with non-family enterprises. Payment of salary is very competitive in this kind of businesses and employees are paid depending on their responsibilities.Family enterprises are more inwardly controlled compared to non-family enterprises. This means that even though there are those family businesses that employ CEOs from outside, most them are controlled by family members. The founder of the business is normally the one who acts as CEO. In cases whereby this kind of CEO does not have enough of the require d skills and experience, the business may end-up incurring huge losses. In non-family businesses, the blossom management have the mandatory to control the business but their actions are looked upon carefully by other stakeholders and kindle parties. Therefore, if wrong decisions are made, the top management is always questionable and subjected to provide answers for its actions. However, it is the turnaround in family businesses whereby the top management may not be questioned because of the gravel members hold in the family.The other difference is that family businesses do not seem to require a large network of socio-economics. Most of these businesses are independent and they also seem to have less intense interdependency with the surroundings-culture situation. They also seem to have less interdependence with the macro-economic situation. However, non-family enterprises tend to have a large socio-economic network and they are always connected with the outside world. This plays a significant role in promoting development and innovation in the businesses. The other difference is that there are plans for succession in family enterprises while there no such plans with non-family enterprises (Ballell 2009).ConclusionWith respect to the above information, it is clear that family enterprises and those that are non-family tend to share some similarities while at the same time share some differences. There seems to be more differences in the operations of the two forms of enterprises. Family businesses are broadly speaking concerned with the well- beingness of the family members and hence there are no stiff rules and regulations. However, non-family businesses is all about making profits and competing with the many competitors ready(prenominal). This means a high performance of employees is always a must in non-family enterprises while it is not the same case with family enterprises.Case StudyWal-Mart Family BusinessThere are many prosperous family busine sses that have go to the global business environment of which makes many business personnel essay to emulate their steps. This case study focuses on Wal-Mart, which is regarded as the most prosperous family business of all times. Wal-Mart is an American fraternity and was founded in 1962 by Sam Walton (Ferrell, Fraedrich & Ferrell, 2011). The first store was fall ined in Rogers, Ark. According to Beck (2009), the confederacy started as just a sell store but has managed to open many chains of departmental stores. The confederation also runs warehouse stores. After several old age of successful business operations, the telephoner moved to the global business environment and has since managed to open many stores worldwide.According to Fortune world(a) 500 list, Wal-Mart holds the second couch in the ranking of the worlds largest corporation. The party is also regarded as successful imputable to the fact that it is the worlds biggest hush-hush social club in terms of provi ding troth opportunities. Wal-Mart is still a family business whereby after the death of its founders back in 1992, his married woman and children took over the role of managing and heading the attach to. Even though some of the Waltons children do not engage directly in the running and operating the family business, they still prevail important shareholders.Why the Waltons have been successfulAs noted in the above information, family business mainly targets the concept of natural inclination of succession in order to ensure that the business always progresses.According to Ferrell, Fraedrich & Ferrell, (2011), even after the death of Walton, his family has always ensured that they are in control of the business where they own about 50% self-will of the entire stock. Wal-Mart also poses as one of the many family businesses that have influenced the concept of employing non-family members to run the business on their behalf especially the top management levels. Only about sestet W alton family members sit at the board of governors of the company. all in all other officials are non-family members. This has been an added advantage to the company because it has influenced the best and skillful minds to run the company.Beck (2009, p. 21) states that many family businesses have not been able to result in their operations due to the fact that some family members take-up leading positions even when they are not prepared. Others take the leadership positions even when they do not have the necessary skills to run the company. Some of the available statistics according to Beck (2009, p. 21) indicates that 64% of the family owned businesses do not require family members to have experience of the recommended qualifications in order to secure betrothal in the business. However, this has not been the case with Waltons because they have been employing members who are not of their family to run and hold high positions within the company. There are even those members of t he Walton family who have distanced themselves from direct operations of the company in order to overtake professionals their space to conduct their entitled obligations.Challenges that Wal-Mart has been toneThe success story of Wal-Mart has not been a walk in the part to come to reality. The company has been experience some challenges of which many family businesses tend to experience. Fortunately the company has been able to deal and solve the challenges amicably.One of the challenges has been mismanage of some officials in the top management of the company. For example, Ferrell et al., (2011) indicates that the in 2005, Thomas Coughlin resigned as the Vice-Chairman of the company simply because of issues that relate to unethical behaviors. He was one of the most influential individuals in the company and had a close relationship with the founder Sam Walton. He worn out(p) most of his time with the founder especially when opening the Sams clubs and therefore deemed to be one of the potential CEO. His strong relationship with the founder secured him an important position in the family and company itself.However, Coughlin misused this opportunity and started embezzling the companys funds. He was strained to resign from the company after being accused of misusing more than half a million American dollars and using authoritative gift cards. It was also discovered ulterior that Coughlin was used to make an authorized payments of which benefited him personally. Having had a strong relationship with Walton himself and now his children, Coughlin original all his allowance even after resigning and he also continued to dress as a board member for the company.Such a challenge tends to face family businesses due to the fact that members are not easily retrenched even after making gross mistakes. Critics argue that if it were a non-family business, Coughlin would have been sacked and probably charged in a court of law for misusing the companys funds. However, t he fact that he had a strong bond with members of the family, he managed to extend his position as board member and participate actively in operations of the company.Future of Wal-MartDespite the fact that the company has been facing minor leadership challenges, it has a bright future. Wal-Mart represents most of the successful family businesses that have managed to maintain a top position in the highly competitive marketplace environment.The fact that the company has managed to successfully employ skillful individuals especially in the top managerial positions is a clear indicator of its future progression. However, family members ought to distance friendship from business activities in order to avoid mistakes such as those done by Coughlin from occurring again. The company also ought to deal with some of the challenges it faces such as employee complains so that it can maintain a positive image in public eyes. Other than that, Wal-Mart has a bright future and will always remain at the top of its competitors. If managed well and with the serious that business deserves, family enterprises can be successful in its operations the same way that Wal-Mart has been.ReferencesBallell. T. R. 2009. Introduction to Spanish Private impartiality Facing the Social and Economic Challenges. UT Austin Studies in Foreign and transnational La. London Routledge.Beck, D. (2009). HR can helper ensure the success of family businessesFrom mom-and-pop stores to Wal-Mart. Employment transaction Today (Wiley), 35(4), 31-38.Berman Brown, R., & Coverley, R. 1999. Succession Planning in Family Businesses A Study from East Anglia, U.K. journal Of Small Business Management, 37(1), 93-97.Berry, C. 2002. Blending family and business to make an appetizing combination. Business ledger Serving Fresno & The Central San Joaquin Valley, (322951), 10.Ferrell, O. C., Fraedrich, J., & Ferrell, L. (2011). Business moral philosophy Ethical decision making and cases. Mason, OH South-Western Cengage Learning.Kenyon-Rouvinez, D., Ward, J. L., & Palgrave impute (Online service). 2005. Family business Key issues. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire Palgrave Macmillan.Miller, D, & Le Breton-Miller, I 2006, Family Governance and Firm Performance Agency, Stewardship, and Capabilities, Family Business Review, 19, 1, pp. 73-87,Orton-Jones, C. 2013. FAMILY MATTERS. Financial Management (14719185), 42(5), 38-40.Poza, E. J., & Daugherty, M. S. 2012. Family business. Mason, Ohio South-Western Cengage Learning.Smith, M. 2006. An Empirical comparability Of The Managerial Development Of Family And Non-Family Smes From Australias Manufacturing Sector. journal Of Enterprising Culture, 14(2), 125-141.Walsh, T 2004, Family businesses force you to gestate with your heart as well as your head, Business Journal (Central raw York), 18, 17, p. 19,