Planning Functions of Management Essay

WorldCom was a large telecom company that rose during 1990s up to early 2000s when the company encountered some shortcomings which finally led to its collapse.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The collapse arouses questions on the planning role of its management. The Management function basically plans for the company’s future based on the expectations of stakeholders. They expect to make high profits.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This critical role may have been avoided by the management in favour of taking out excessive salaries and other benefits for themselves leading to company collapse.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Legal issues, ethics and corporate social responsibility have an impact on management planning. Management planning ought to take a legal perspective. For example when the organization collapses, it takes a legal dimension to determine the failure of management planning.   This can lead to long legal battles.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ethically, management planning operates within ethical frameworks. For example it was unethical for WorldCom to loan executive’s money to purchase shares of the company stock. These could have contributed to the company’s collapse. The failure of corporate social responsibility impacts on the functioning of management planning negatively because it shifts the focus away.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Various factors influence the company’s strategic, tactical operational and contingency planning.   They include legal, ethical and business responsibilities, government law, the desire for more profit, nature and size of the business, the workforce and size of customers, among others.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   For example if the target of the profit is high then the planning ought to be more involving. There is also a variation in planning in connection with the nature of market and the size of the esteemed customers. Also the higher the workforce the more intense is the planning. References Carol, A., (1993) Three Types of Management Planning Making Organizations Work. Management quarterly, 34 Ewing, D. (1969). The Human side of Planning Tool or Tyrant? London: Macmillan Foley, P., Howes, p. (1993) Strategic Human resource Management: An Australian case study. Human Resource Planning, 16.

Case Study in Curriculum Development

According to MEIJER In the year 1999 the benefits of electronic testing to the educators is to give Information on the accuracy in answer gathering, analysis of scoring results and the reduction of human error in test taking, as well as computation and analysis of the test results on the computer. The electronic online testing is worth the cost because it is easy to use like in business, training & educational assessment with tests and quizzes graded instantly. Electronic testing or testing for short, Just means that you will take the test using a computer r other electronic device Instead of pencil and paper. Testing has an ability to include novel types of questions which could potentially be graphical In nature or dynamic by using animations. In some cases test questions are drawn from question banks. If that is the case, everyone may receive a deferent version of the test. Depending on the option settings of the test, you may be able to see your score immediately upon completing the test. 2. How might Principal Harris deal with resistance from teachers who oppose the use of electronic testing and data analysis?Principal Harris wanted to have a good standards regarding in the processing of grade and he also want to have an organize grading system that will be use in the electronic testing and data analysis. It can be use by the teachers in school because it helps to develop their learning in computer and applying it in their teaching strategy. Principal Harris should first state the objectives to the teacher. He also need to know the ideas of other teachers and the stakeholder that has something to do with the curriculum and which strategy will fit the plan.The electronic learning (e- earning) literature has not addressed the measurement of learner satisfaction with asynchronous e-learning systems. Current models for measuring user satisfaction (US) and students' evaluation of teaching effectiveness (SET) are perceived as inapplicable as they are targeted pr imarily towards either organizational information systems or classroom education environment. My study developed a comprehensive model and instrument for measuring learner satisfaction with asynchronous e- learning systems.The procedures used in conceptualizing the survey, generating teems, collecting data, and validating the multiple-item scale are described. This study carefully examined evidence of reliability, content validity, criterion-related validity, convergent validity, discriminate validity, and homological validity by analyzing data from a sample of 116 adult respondents. The norms of the instrument were then developed, and the potential applications for practitioners and researchers explored. Finally, this paper discusses limitations of the work.As qualitative research methods become more refined, so there is an increasing need to teach data analysis methods. This paper offers a group method ? based on experiential learning principles ? for teaching the analysis of text ual data. Terms are defined, an outline for a preliminary theory input is offered and then the group method, itself, is described. Variants of the method are also described and various objections to the method are addressed. When using data analysis, the aim was to build a model to describe the phenomenon in a conceptual form.Both inductive and deductive analysis processes are represented as three main phases: preparation, organizing and reporting. The preparation phase is similar in both approaches. The concepts are derived from the data in inductive content analysis. Deductive content analysis is used when the structure of analysis is personalized on the basis of previous knowledge. Inductive data analysis is used in cases where there are no previous studies dealing with the aim was to test a previous theory in a different situation or to compare categories at different time periods.Data analysis is the most difficult and most crucial aspect of qualitative research. Coding is one of the significant steps taken during analysis to organize and make sense of textual data. Http://www. Indolence. Com/DOI/abs/ 10. 1080/0013188032000133548 The punctual should also rely on Hills Tabs approach because she used ideas to create four thinking strategies known as the Tab approach. This four strategies are concept development, interpretation of data, application of generalizations, and interpretations of feelings, attitudes and values.Using all four strategies, the goal is to facilitate student's thinking skills. Based on Tab's method, â€Å"to think† means â€Å"helping them [students] to formulate data into conceptual patterns, to verbalize relationships between discrete segments of data, to cake inferences from data, to make generalizations on the basis of data and to test these generalizations, and to become sensitive to such corollary relationships as cause and effect and similarities and differences. Http://en. Wisped. Org/wick/ Hills Tab 4. What future role will online testing have in evaluating a field of study?The future role with online testing in evaluating a field of study is on how they will equip, reach and access students well performances. It shows the ability of the users to create a good concept that will be use in the field of study. To consider online earning key to advancing their mission, and placing advanced education. In the world of globalization advance technologies is the way to reach the higher quality in education. The important role is to develop the skill in computer and the proper use of it. Electronic testing tools also make mastery learning activities possible.Mastery learning, which is very similar to drill and practice, is when you study and complete assessments until a set goal is reached. Unlike drill and practice, mastery learning activities are completed for a grade. For example, you (or your instructor) might set a AOL of 90 percent correct responses when learning foreign language vocabulary. You then study the vocabulary and take the test as many times as you need to until you reach your goal. Prior to the availability of electronic testing, it was not practical for instructors to create large question banks and administer multiple testing sessions. Http://study. Us. Deed assess student achievement? Identify the strategies and explain why you think they might be effective. Principal Harris should use the correct implementation of education technology. It will demonstrate the need for the correct implementation and use of education genealogy. Some factors for successful technology implementation are: (1) Effective professional development for teachers in the integration of technology into instruction is necessary to support student learning. 2) Teachers' direct application of technology must be aligned to local and/or state curriculum standards. (3) Technology must be incorporated into the daily learning schedule (I. E. , not as a supplement or after-school tutorial). (4) Progra ms and applications must provide individualized feedback to students and teachers and must have the ability to tailor lessons to individual student needs. 5) Student collaboration in the use of technology is more effective in influencing student achievement than strictly individual use. 6) Project-based learning and real-world simulations are more effective in changing student motivation and achievement than drill-and-practice applications. (7) Effective technology integration requires leadership, support, and modeling from teachers, administrators, and the community/parents. (Using Technology to Personalize Learning and Assess Students in Real-Time, Darrell M. West) The uses of technology in assessment of students can be separated into: technology s a tool of assessment; technology to assess learning. Technology as a tool of assessment is found fairly commonly in UK universities.By this, is meant the use of a technological facility to aid the process of assessment. Asking students, for example, to make a short video film to illustrate the flow of people through various routes in a National Park, and then viewing and grading it, would be using video as a tool of assessment. This could have been undertaken by setting students an essay question or asking them to make an oral presentation. Technology is used as a tool of assessment for a variety of reasons – it may prove ore efficient to watch 15 ten-minute videos than 15 ten-minute oral presentations.It may be that students learn a new range of skills and gain valuable experience from making the video, or that certain skills can be assessed more effectively. Whatever the reason, it is becoming increasingly common to use a range of technologies to supplement or replace traditional paper and pencil tests. Using technology to assess involves the use of technology to assign marks to an essay, practical or project. (Using Technology to Assess Student Learning 1 Joanna Bull)

What are the specific laws concerning Property Rights and Car Parking Essay

What are the specific laws concerning Property Rights and Car Parking in the UK - Essay Example All those who share common interests in the shared property should be aware there are three different types of 'free hold titles'. The first being a "fee simple free-hold title" simply stating what the complete interest in regards to the specific real estate can be. If said clients have a fee-simple free-hold title' then it entitles them to "unrestricted enjoyment of the property (subject to any relevant laws) including the right to dispose of property in any manner they see fit. This is also known as fee-simple absolution" http://www.consumerbuild.org. If residents possess a 'free-title life estate' then their rights will be limited in regards to the proposed property due to the understanding that they would not be the sole owner but considered a beneficiary instead. Finally, we come to the final type of 'free-hold title' which is "free-hold title stratum estate". It would seem that the developers of Rural Retreats and the investors deeds are similarly related in some respects to th is lease amend even though they have actual titles of ownership. What makes them similar is the fact that stratum estate, "records ownership of common property. The owners, (being the realtors and investors) s hare ownership of the common property. The owners become shareholders in the main property holding company that manages common areas such as; a garden, pool, garage, parking space, lifts and laundries." http://www.consumerbuild.org. For Rural Retreats and the purchaser's of the development, their common property shared would be, "Easy Access". They have the right to even sell or lease out their percentage in the parking area otherwise known as, "Easy Access". Although the homeowners and Rural Retreats have individually acquired these titles, they will not protect them from any problems arising out of "Easy Access", due to the fact that the register didn't implement any statute of ownership in the title for the parking area itself. There are ways around this though and they are legal and very easily taken care of. If Rural Retreats and the owners where to leave the present situation this way they would have no protection for themselves, in other words there is no proof of ownership in reality. Title insurance is available for any said property not disclosed in the title registry. Having the insurance will offer the protection needed to insure the owner's interests in the property from being encroached upon under differing and abnormal circumstances "The coverage is for as long as you own the land and it's a 'no fault' insurance so it is not necessary to prove intent or negligence by another party" http://www.consumer.org . Furthermore, after researching this problem more thoroughly for Rural Estates' and the various purchaser's involved, they all need to be completely clear to the fact that although they each share a free title to their share of said property; it is in a restricted way. The title restriction they all face is a "covenant" type one. This is due to the fact they all share sections of the same property and in regards to that there might be instances w here they cross over on one another's private sections of property. Also, the "covenant" seems to be a restrictive one in the fact that at the initial drawing up of the titles' it was implemented that "a prohibition against using the land for commercial purposes or further building" would not be tolerated. The property would remain exactly as it claims to be, 'a parking area for the residents of Rural Retreats' titled, "Easy Access". http://www.propertyworldme.com. Another detail that Rural Estate realtors and investors need to recognize

Strategic Management project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5500 words

Strategic Management project - Essay Example Fahad Al-kaabi, has various objectivities that he is seeking to achieve from the business. The group decided to do an interview with the owner to identify the various objectives he has for the business. The interview was useful in the analysis of the business’s strategic plan and in acquiring the data needed for completion of project. The Maganees cafeteria lacks some official statements such as mission, vision, values, and objectives because it is a new entity in the market. Subsequently, the group developed appropriate statements by matching what the owners said about the business, which guided the project team in building the statements. In addition, food industry in Qatar is characterized by high levels of competition whereby each competitor want to get the largest proportion of the market share; hence, significant for an entity to study the industry by evaluating each competitor in the market. Competitors in the industry include Tea Time cafeteria, Chapati, and Karak, which were selected and compared with Maganees cafeteria in in reference to various business aspects. Maganees cafeteria has strengths such as the innovation of products, providing high salaries for the employees and financial aids to motivate its workers leading to competency within the business. However, the firm is facing a number of challenges including the lack of advertisement, promotional campaign, inexistence of official website, and unable to deliver the products to the customers house. Based on the external environment, the cafeteria has opportunities like the low rent of outside areas and the preferences of customers for the traditional foods. In the other hand, it faces some threats such as the high level of competition in the market. In reference to market competitiveness and market position, Maganees cafeteria adopted focused differentiation method because it offers unique products, which are the traditional foods of Qatar for specific customers living in the northern

Business Memo Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Business Memo - Essay Example ittee believes that, thought we have already passes the deadlines for certain construction works due to unexpected circumstances, we should move forward with engineering and customization of the equipment to be installed in the new facility, as well as with the development of sales and marketing strategies for the new drug. This will enable us to work in full and introduce the new drug to the market immediately after the facility is launched. Secondly, since we consider the delay in environmental assessment to be the major, and critical, problem as for now, and taking into account the fact that ET had 3 months for solving it, but has presented no conclusive reports, we strongly recommend taking immediate measures for eliminating this problem. In particular, since ET shows not to perform its immediate responsibilities in the scope and within deadlines critical for our company, we recommend replacing the firm with another environmental consulting company. In such a way we can speed up the environmental assessment process in order to move on to the next stages of construction or clean up, if

HIPAA Security Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

HIPAA Security Policy - Essay Example I would also ensure that the physician is aware of all the measures of ensuring security and that these measures are well observed. The security measures will need to be observed by all the covered entities and these will include those providing treatment, payments, and other healthcare operations. I will also ensure that the business associates as well get to understand these measures and these will include individuals such as those having access to the information of patients and those who offer support during treatment and in other operations and will also include the subcontractors. I would then follow the relevant steps in implementing an efficient privacy rule (Online Tech, 2015). The security policies associated with HIPAA include technical policies and these include the integrity measures and controls that ensure that the electronic protected health information is in good working condition and is not altered nor destroyed. There are offsite backups and disaster recovery of IT that ensure that any failures or errors concerning electronic media are rectified to ensure that information concerning the health of patients is recovered while still intact. There is also the technical safeguard that ensures that the access to the electronic protected health data is controlled and only the authorized users have access. Record of activities on the hardware or the software is made possible by tracking logs or audit reports. Transmission or network is another safeguard practice that ensures that ensures there is protection against unauthorized access to electronic patient health information. There are also physical safeguards that ensure that limits the access to securi ty, and to ensure that all the entities that are covered have policies and use regarding electronic media and workstations (Hasib, 2013). One of the most important security policy requirements of HIPAA is the privacy rule. This rule requires that all the

Exploring a Communicative Event in Saudi Lingua Culture Essay

Exploring a Communicative Event in Saudi Lingua Culture - Essay Example In teaching aid, communication is necessary particularly when teaching people of different native languages. Event can appear in many forms. For example, real events demonstrated when a message passes through electronic media such as films or media houses. There is a set of theories analyzing communication events exist. The most essential method of communication is conversation. Human beings, therefore, communicate to share information and expand their social relationships (Seindlhofer, 2005, p.54). Most of the influential and active discussions take place through conversations. Simple talks both official and non-official and education related take place through chatting. If a CE involves two parties not knowing each other, that is strangers, there is no engagement (Seindlhofer, 2005, p.54). The success of any communication depends on understanding between the parties involved. Understanding of each other leads to an interaction between the involved parties. This essay focuses on Eng lish language as a communication tool. CE refers to â€Å"An exchange with obvious boundaries in a typically-occurring situation, where the participants have a clear role relationship† (Saville-Troike, 1989, p.107). For a language teacher to succeed, he needs be careful with the way he delivers information to his students. Successful teachers recommend thorough observations of local speakers because they engage in varying CE in order to understand each other (Saville-Troike, 1989, p.107). The teacher should have the ability to give CE models after first learning the native speakers’ language (Saville-Troike, 1989, p.107). For effective language teaching, the teacher needs to have the skill to know and speak other languages. Lingua franca as a language This refers to a communication tool used by a group of people from different native origins to communicate. Lingua Francas form the third mode of communication language from the original languages of the communicating sid es (Helena, 2011). Studies show that a lingua franca language may turn to be the common language if it widely spreads in an area. A good example of a lingua franca language is pidgin. Pidgin combines different vocabularies of native languages (Helena, 2011). The only distinction between lingua franca and pidgin is that members of the same native language do not speak pidgin but instead speak their native language. Pidgin does not have any original speakers. Modern Lingua Francas In the current society, global communication has succeeded due to development of lingua francas. There are a number of recognized communication languages in different regions. For example, the official languages recognized by United Nations (UN) include Arabic, Chinese, English, Spanish and French. (Fernandez-Cardenas & Silveyra-De La Garza, 2010). This shows how lingua franca languages have developed to international recognition. Several developments of pidgin are evident as regular contacts between differe nt people broaden. However, most of the pidgins lack verbs, articles and nouns, their use has spread since they encourage communication between parties. Components of Communication Event (CE) In order to further, explore communication events, Saville-Troike 1989, p. 107 explained the components of CE. Some of these components include the event type, the setting and purpose of the events. Other components are function setting of different happenings, appearance and key participants. Manner in this case refers to message form and content. Guidelines include

Effect Of Television On Family Relationships Essay

Effect Of Television On Family Relationships - Essay Example When the television was first introduced in the market, it was in the homes of the rich and were kept in bars, the latter being the place where it reached more people. Slowly there was a demographic shift in the TV viewing population. The middle-income and low-income people started to own or aspired to own a television set resulted in defining the nature of the programs shown. The program quality was not better than the high school drama’s previously, but after the shift in the demography of the audience, there was a surge of programs which showed the reality of life. Larger than life emotions and problems did not suit the living room viewing as they have to be based on the reception in the living room. The program content was scrutinized for suitability for family viewership, the production budgets and plats were spruced up to suit the growing demand for variety in TV entertainment. Television did not occupy a special place in the living rooms of the families in America all a t once. The production capacities were limited and the program content was still developing, national signals were still talked about in the early decades of television. But if we analyze what caused a huge acceptance among the public that it is an essential in the living room. The magazine opinion helped in the leap of TV sets into the living room of families across America. All through the early years of television growth, it was emphasized thoroughly that television helps to improve family relationships by various sources. It was believed to bring the members of the family together. In the commercials and in the pictures in magazines, a family watching TV happily as a loving and bonding time was projected. This phenomenon was further enhanced by the baby boom and the suburbanization of American families. When families leave behind their friends and extended family, TV was positioned as an important tool to strengthen the existing family ties. Also, it

Respecting the Planet With Sustainable Consumption and Production Essay

Respecting the Planet With Sustainable Consumption and Production - Essay Example This strategy has been formulated in acknowledgement of the government's responsibility of "respecting the limits of the planet's environment, resources and biodiversity" and launched through the publication of Securing the Future: Delivering UK Sustainable Development Strategy (2005). There are four definite strategic priorities that the government has decided upon, namely sustainable consumption and production, climate change, natural resource protection, and sustainable communities. The way the government deals with its priorities would be a decisive factor in determining whether we are, in fact, respecting the limits of the planet's environment, resources and biodiversity. The UK government is talking of a "one planet economy" when it comes to its strategies for sustainable consumption and production. Securing the Future relates the fact that the environmental effects of increasing global consumption and production patterns are adverse to the point of severity. Moreover, trade liberalization has got to be promoted and supported internationally, along with environmental protection and sustainable development to help the developing nations of our world. ... another need expressed through the new strategy is to raise people's awareness of social and environmental issues so that all citizens and consumers would hold themselves responsible for respecting the limits of the planet's environment, resources and biodiversity.In detail, the strategy for sustainable consumption and production involves seven concerns. First, it is crucial at this point in time that we engage in the augmentation of UK and international measures to improve the environmental performance of goods and services. This includes an enhancement of product design. Second, resource efficiency must be improved with renewed commitment. Waste must be reduced in addition to harmful emissions across business sectors. The Business Resource Efficiency and Waste (BREW) program is an aid and a means to achieve our goal. Third, the government would like to influence the consumption patterns of people across the world so as to respect the limits of the planet's environment, resources an d biodiversity. This strategy includes the issue of proposals for new advice - with latest facts - for consumers. Fourth, the UK government would like new commitments on sustainable procurement in the public sector. This is to make the United Kingdom a leader within the European Union by the year 2009. Fifth, the government plans to provide as much support as required for innovation to introduce new goods, materials, and services. Sixth, the UK government would like to strengthen its partnerships with key business sectors, that is, food, environmental industries, transport, tourism, retailers, and the construction industries. Lastly, the government aims to review its waste strategy with greater stress on moderating waste at source and making use of the waste as a

Othello Essay Example for Free

Othello Essay In the play Othello written by Shakespeare, the issue of racism is addressed. Othello, the protagonist of the play, is African American or black. â€Å"According to Lois Whitney, many of Othello’s specific attributes probably derive from Shakespeare’s reading of Leo Africanus, whose Geographical Historie of Africa which was translated and published in London in 1600†(Berry, 1990). Many critics have different views on this. â€Å"If Shakespeare depended upon Leo Africanus for such details, he must have been much more interested in racial psychology than critics such as Bradley or Heilman suggest†(Berry, 1990). One of the most prominent features of this Shakespeare play is the numerous references to Othellos skin color made by multiple characters however some critics tend to ignore or underplay the issue of Othello’s race. Many critics have different views and arguments on Othello’s skin color. â€Å"A. C. Bradley, fro example, asserts that in regards to the essentials of his character Othello’s race is unimportant, and that Shakespeare would have laughed if anyone had congratulated him on the accuracy of his racial psychology† (Skura 2008). Others differ and believe Othello’s race was important. â€Å"Laurence Lemer calls Othello the story of a barbarian who relapses and concludes that Shakespeare suffered from colour prejudice† (Berry, 1990). Throughout the play Othello is referred to as a Moor. Moor is a term meaning a descent from Africa. â€Å"Harold Clarke Goddard argues that Othello is neither a Negro nor a Moor but any many who is more beautiful within than he is without† (Skura, 2008). Some critics even put the audience of the play into consideration. The potential impact of his physical appearance upon audiences is suggested by Charles Lamb’s frank admission that although he could find Othello admirable in the reading he was only repelled by the figure of a coal-black Moor on stage, he concluded that the play should rather be read and not seen† (Berry, 1990). Many critics have tended to ignore or underplay the issue of Othello’s skin color, but these select critics have not. Along with critics making references to Othello’s race, many characters in the play do as well. The characters that are most racist refer to Othello by his real name less than the people who are least racist. â€Å"Othello’s blackness is not only a mark of his physical alienation but a symbol, to which every character in the play himself included must respond† (Berry, 1990). Othello does not refer to himself as African but rather as an exotic Venetian. Other characters do not see Othello as that. Many characters call Othello numerous names other than his real one. â€Å"For Iago Othello is an old black ram, the devil, and a barbary horse† (Berry, 1990). Many see Othello’s blackness as a symbol of ugliness, bestiality, treachery, and demonic. None of those words describe how Othello really is. Those words are the stereotypical definition of what a black man is. This stereotypical definition puts Othello is a predicament and makes his acceptance in the Venetian society difficult. â€Å"Once such critics conclude that Othello is not a stereotype, he tends to lose his individuality as a Moor and to become a representative of humanity† (Berry, 1990). The stereotypical image of a black man plays an important role in the play’s ending. Since this play is a tragedy and Othello is a tragic hero, his blackness does play a role in that. A tragic hero is the protagonist in a tragedy. This play is a tragedy considering Othello commits murder and ultimately takes his own life. â€Å"Othello’s Africanness is crucial to his tragedy not because of what he is, innately or culturally but because of how he is perceived by others and himself† (Skura, 2008). If it wasn’t for Othello being black, the play may have had a different outcome. Throughout the play, Othello sees himself either as an exotic Venetian, a convert in the fullest sense, capable of complete assimilation, or he sees himself as a barbarian, worthy of destruction† (Berry, 1990). In the play Othello was worthy of destruction. It was the racism and hatred that drove him to it. If the other characters weren’t so judgmental about his skin color, the play would have ended very differently. â€Å"His failure to break free of this constricting framework, to achieve a true sense of personal identity, is one of the play’s most powerful sources of tragic feeling† (Berry, 1990). With all the commotion over Othello’s race, it really didn’t give him a chance to be himself. By him being black, it makes him feel less accepted into his society. â€Å"Othello attempts to shape an image of himself that will win acceptance in Venice† (Berry, 1990). Critics also even see how Othello’s identity is altered by the constant racial tension against him in the play. â€Å"Stephen Greenblatt argues, Othello’s identity depends upon a constant performance of his story, a loss of his own origins, an embrace and perpetual reiteration of the norms of another culture† (Greenblatt, 1990). All of this racism in the play causes Othello some serious anxiety. Anxiety is a condition that can drive an individual to do things that are out of character for them. â€Å"He cannot probe the real cause of his anxiety because to do so would be utterly destructive, leaving him with only two options: to embrace his blackness and hurl its beauty and power in the face of his enemies, as does Aaron in Titus Andronicus, or to internalize their image of him and yield to self-loathing† (Berry, 1990). Othello doesn’t really do either in the play. He let others put thoughts into his head about his wife cheating on him with another man, which led to a murder scene where he killed his wife and in the end took his own life too. â€Å"His immediate reaction to the murder thus reflects his divided image of himself: he is either doomed like all great men or destroyed by his own blackness† (Skura, 2008). Based on the evidence in the play, Othello is definitely destroyed by his own blackness. His blackness is what drove him to commit the murder and kill himself. In conclusion, Othello’s skin color is central to the play. â€Å"It is important not merely because Shakespeare portrays Othello as a Moor or because racial tension and anxiety pervade the atmosphere of Venetian society, affecting Othello’s relationship with every character and increasing his susceptibility to Iago’s appeal; it is important because Othello himself in his aspirations towards assimilation and anxieties about his blackness, internalizes a false dichotomy that can only dehumanize him† (Berry, 1990). This play does give the stereotype of black people a negative name. Many critics argue what role his race played in the play. Some think it was really important while others argue it wasn’t important at all. One of the most prominent features of this Shakespeare play is the numerous references to Othellos skin color made by multiple characters however some critics tend to ignore or underplay the issue of Othello’s race.

A Comparative Financial Analysis Of The Mobile Phone Industry Marketing Essay

A Comparative Financial Analysis Of The Mobile Phone Industry Marketing Essay A comparative financial analysis of the mobile phone industry and three of the leading mobile phone manufacturers, so as to determine the investment prospects in this particular industry. Contents Title Page No. Executive Summary 3 Industry Profile 4 Effects of Recession on the Mobile Phone Industry 4 PEST Analysis of the Mobile Phone Industry 4 HTC Corporation 7 Introduction 7 SWOT Analysis Motorola Inc. 10 Introduction 10 SWOT Analysis 10 Nokia Corporation 12 Introduction 12 SWOT Analysis 12 Financial Performance Analysis 15 HTC Corporation 15 Review of Key Financial Analysis 15 Ratio Analysis 16 Stock Review 20 Motorola Inc. 21 Review of Key Financial Analysis 21 Ratio Analysis 22 Stock Review 25 Nokia Corporation 27 Review of Key Financial Analysis 27 Ratio Analysis 28 Stock Review 32 Review by Expert Market Analysts 33 HTC Corporation 33 Motorola Inc. 33 Nokia Corporation 33 Other types of Investments 34 Savings Account 34 Fixed Rate Bonds 34 Personal Assessment 35 Recommendations 37 References 38 Appendices 45 Appendix 1 Appendix 2 Appendix 3 Appendix 4 1. Executive Summary The mobile phone industry is perhaps one of the fastest growing industries in the world today. A mobile phone is generally accepted as a necessity for every human. It has developed so much in the recent years that its hard to recognize its early incarnation. The original mobile phone was the size of a brick and affordable by a select group of people. Today, mobile phones are available in all sizes to suit every individuals needs. But, like all other industries, this industry too has been affected by the financial crisis of 2008-2009. In our financial analysis, we will be looking at the mobile phone industry and three of the leading mobile phone manufacturers. We will analyse the financial aspects of Nokia Corporation (NYSE: NOK), Motorola Inc., (NYSE: MOT) and HTC Corporation (TAI: 2498) We will look at the different financial reports published in the companies Annual Report, and calculate the different financial ratios to understand the investment opportunities in these companies shares. 2. Industry Profile The Mobile Phone Industry The mobile phone industry has grown dramatically in recent years. According to a report published by TomiAhonen Consulting, in January 2009, there were approximately 4 billion mobile phone subscribers around the world. Out of these, around 3.1 billion were unique. Also, new handsets have been selling at the rate of 1.15 billion per year. This figure keeps increasing year over year and so does the economy around it. 2.1 Effects of Recession on the Mobile Phone Industry The recent financial crisis of 2008-2009 has had severe effects on most companies of the world. As such, the companies from this industry too have felt its effect. In Q3 2008, Nokia lowered its market share outlook due to the weakening global economy (Silicon.com 2008). Nokias global device market share was 30% in the Q3 2010, down from an estimated 34% in the Q2 2009 (Nokia Corporation 2010). Nokia announced in July 2010 that their profits had dropped by 40% (Inside Ireland 2010) Even, HTC and Motorola have experienced slow growth as well as lower sales compared to earlier years, especially Motorola which incurred huge financial losses (HTC Annual Report-Motorola Annual Report 2008-2009). 2.2 PEST Analysis of the Mobile Phone Industry Political / Legal Mobile phone companies are largely multinational. As such they have to comply with the different legislations and regulatory bodies of different countries which have their own set of particular standards. An example of a regulatory authority would be the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) operating in the US and Office of Communications (Ofcom) in the UK. The mobile phone usage is spread geographically. As such, the companies from the mobile phone industry have a high exposure to different political climates. This increases the companies risk exposures. However, huge costs are incurred in complying with the different legal and reporting procedures in different countries. Also, sometimes, companies face stiff resistance from the national governments of some countries. A recent example of such a stand-off would be the one between RIM Blackberry and the Government of India (Daily News Analysis, 2010) and the Government of United Arab Emirates (Yahoo News, 2010). Economic Being global brands, mobile phone companies have to comply with the different taxation laws and trade laws applicable in the different countries of the world. Also, they have to take into account the foreign exchange rates while importing/exporting and pricing the devices. This generally has an effect on the device prices and subsequently on the operating income of the companies. Social Mobile phones have become an essential part of everyones lives. 9 in 10 adults in the US use at least one mobile device. 31% of mobile phone users check personal emails on their phones and 21% check their work emails. Internet browsing has become an important aspect of the mobile ecosystem. Approximately 1 billion users browse basic internet on their mobile devices, while around 450 million users use real internet on their devices. (Tomi Ahonen 2009) Access to social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter is increasingly becoming an important feature of mobile phones. Health concerns have been raised by research institutes over the effects of radiation caused by mobile phones on the human body (NBC News 2008). Although the evidence is controversial, it has raised caution among the mobile phone users, and the companies are forced to develop new antenna systems for mobile phones to help reduce radiation. Technological The mobile phone industry is highly technology-driven. Mobile phone companies have to continually adapt themselves to the rapidly changing technology and introduce new products to keep up with the technological advancements and to meet the ever-changing demands from consumers. They need to keep investing substantially in the Research Development of new products and technologies. 2.3 HTC Corporation (TWSE: 2498)HTC Wordmark.png 2.3.1 Introduction: HTC Corporation (HTC) is a mobile manufacturer based in Taoyuan City, Taiwan. Its principal aspects are the research, development and manufacture of smart handheld devices including smartphones and PDAs (HTC 2010). The company is generally considered to be a pioneer in the smartphone and PDA segments of the mobile phone industry. The company initially was involved in developing smartphones based on the Windows Mobile platform, having made the worlds first PDA based on the platform (HTC 2010). However, since 2009, HTC is increasingly developing more devices based on Google Inc.s Android Operating System. But, as a means to strengthen its relation with Microsoft, HTC has recently launched a number of devices based on Windows Phone 7 (Mann, J. 2009). HTC is a member of the Open Handset Alliance, a group of handset manufacturers and mobile network operators dedicated to the advancement of the Android Operating System (Reardon, M. 2007). The HTC Dream was the first mobile smartphone in the world to use the Android OS. It was marketed by T-Mobile, in some markets, as the T-Mobile G1 (Wired 2008 HTC Press Release 2008). As of 2009, HTC obtained nearly 43.8%, 30.4% and 20.8% of its total revenue from North America, Europe and Asia, respectively (HTC Annual Report 2009). HTC Corporation was formerly known as Hi-Tech Computer Corporation. 2.3.2 SWOT Analysis: Strength HTC is a leading manufacturer of smartphones. It is a pioneer in many technologies. It had developed the worlds first PDA, and also the first smartphone using Windows Mobile. Now, it is a leading manufacturer of quality Android smartphones. As such, it has a good reputation as an innovative brand. Financial stability gives HTC the opportunity to invest heavily in Research Development of new technologies. Despite the financial crisis, HTC is doing significantly well in 2010 (HTC Report, Q3 2010). Also, good product quality has helped HTC establish itself as a reliable brand. HTC has been a pioneer in many of the technologies now common in modern mobiles phones. It has a plethora of patents designed and applied to modern communication devices (Google Patents, 2010). Also its product portfolio consists of a wide variety of smartphones based on a number of smart-platforms including the Android OS, Windows Mobile, Windows Phone 7 and HTCs own BREW OS. (HTC 2010) HTC has also developed a new cloud-based service called the HTC Sense to compliment its range of smartphones (HTCSense.com, 2010). Due to a number of quality products, HTC is steadily increasing its consumer base. Also, HTC is involved in exclusive tie-ups with respectable cellular companies such as T-Mobile (T-Mobile G1, G2), Orange (San Francisco) and Google (Nexus One). This helps better the image of the company in consumers eyes. Weaknesses HTC does not have a big brand image compared to its rivals Nokia, RIM Blackberry and Sony Ericsson. Also, its market share is significantly lower than that of its rivals. Also, HTC is involved in a number of law-suits with rival company Apple Inc. This is highly damaging to its reputation in the global corporate environment. (Reuters, 2010) HTC does not have an effective marketing strategy compared to its rivals, as a result of which its new product information fails to reach the consumers. Opportunities There is a huge demand for smartphones in recent times. HTC has the capability to satisfy these demands. HTC can continue to develop new touchscreen technologies and better smart features. Through effective marketing communication and public relations system, HTC can increase its brand value and target consumer base. Furthermore, HTC can enter new markets and establish its brand there. It can continue to develop and apply more of its innovative patents. Threats The threat of new technological developments and competition is high in the mobile phone industry. Also, one of the biggest threats to modern mobile phones is the huge mindshare commanded by Apples iPhone and its iOS Operating System. Every new mobile phone is consistently compared to Apples offering and its success or failure depends, to some extent, on how favourably it compares to the iPhone. This threat is present for HTC too, despite its large portfolio of Android devices. 2.4 Motorola Inc. (NYSE: MOT) NYSE MOT.gifMotorola Wordmark.png 2.4.1 Introduction: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola) is a multinational telecommunications company based in Illinois, USA. It manufactures mobile phones and also designs and sells network infrastructure to worlds leading cellular companies. In 1986, Motorola devised the Six Sigma quality system which has become a global standard for quality improvement. In 1991, Motorola demonstrated the worlds first working-prototype digital cellular system and phones using GSM standard in Hanover, Germany. The worlds first two-way paging system was introduced by Motorola in 1995. Motorolas mobile department, as of 2009, has been solely focused on Google Inc.s Android Operating System. Motorola is an advanced innovator of mobile phone technologies. Motorola has just announced that its business will split into two separate publicly traded entities on January 4, 2011. The two new entities will be known as Motorola Solutions Inc. and Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. and will continue to trade on NYSE with the new ticker symbols of MSI and MMI respectively (Reuters 2010). 2.4.2 SWOT Analysis: Strengths Motorola is a leading manufacturer of smartphones. It is a pioneer in many technologies. It had developed the worlds first GSM mobile phone. Now, it is one of the leading manufacturers of quality Android smartphones. As such, it has a good reputation as an innovative brand. Financial stability gives Motorola the opportunity to invest heavily in Research Development of new technologies. Being the worlds oldest mobile phone brand, it has considerable brand image. Also, Motorolas devices have a good build quality which establishes it as a reliable mobile phone manufacturer. Motorola has developed a new interface for its mobile phones called the MotoBlur which integrates the different aspects of ones social life. This has been quite popular with the consumers (Motorola Report, 2009). Weaknesses Motorola is consistently losing its market share to its rival companies. One of the reasons is the lack of an effective marketing communication strategy and also a weak PR system. Also, Motorola fails to introduce new products as frequently as its rival companies. Motorola is also slow in providing software upgrades for its current devices, which generally has a negative impact on consumers who want to keep their devices updated to the latest software version. Also, Motorola is involved in a number of law-suits with Apple Inc. and Microsoft Corporation over intellectual copyright infringement. This is highly damaging to its reputation in the global corporate environment. (Reuters, 2010) Opportunities There is a huge demand for smartphones in recent times. Motorola has the capability and technology to satisfy these demands. Motorola can also improve its market position by means of effective marketing strategies and a better PR system. Also, Motorola can improve its after-sales service for its devices. Threats Apples iPhone and it iOS Operating System are considered a huge threat to virtually every mobile phone brand. Despite its growing portfolio of Android devices, Motorola still has to overcome Apples threat. 2.5 Nokia Corporation (NYSE: NOK) Nokia wordmark.png 2.5.1 Introduction Nokia Corporation (NOKIA) is a Finnish multinational communications corporation based in Keilaniemi, Espoo, Finland. Nokia is engaged in the manufacturing of mobile devices and in converging Internet and communications industries. It has over 123,000 employees working in 120 countries. Its products are available in more than 150 countries. Nokia has global annual revenue of à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬41 billion and operating profit of à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1.2 billion as of 2009 (Nokia Corporation 2009). It is the worlds largest manufacturer of mobile phones which currently accounts for about 36.6% of the market share for mobile phone technology (IDC 2010). Nokia is a public limited liability company listed on the Helsinki, Frankfurt, and New York stock exchanges (Nokia Corporation 2010). Nokia plays a very large role in the economy of Finland. It is the largest company of Finland. The brand value of Nokia is valued at $29.5 billion. It is listed as the eight most valuable global brand in the Interbrand Best Global Brands list of 2010 (Interbrand 2010) and also on Bloomberg Businessweek Best Global Brands list of 2009. It is the first non-US company to be included in the list. (Bloomberg Businessweek 2010) 2.5.2 SWOT Analysis: Strengths Nokia is highly respected as a global mobile brand and it has a high brand value. It is the most preferred brand for mobile phones in Europe, as of 2009 (Eurobrand 2009) Nokia has a worldwide distribution network which makes it easier for Nokia to make its products available to wider target consumers. Nokia has a healthy financial background, which enables Nokia to invest consistently in Research Development. Also, the phones made by Nokia have a fairly user-friendly interface which enables it to be accepted by a wide variety of consumers. Nokia has a large product portfolio with something to offer to every type of consumer. It offers a wide variety of phones from the basic lower-end phones to the more expensive high-end smartphones. Weaknesses There are reports that indicate Nokia consistently losing its market share, as it fails to address the competition it faces from rival smartphone manufacturers like Apple Inc., RIM Blackberry and Google Inc. (Reuters 2010) Also, Nokia is involved in several controversial law-suits with rival company Apple Inc. This is highly damaging to its reputation in the global corporate environment. (Reuters, 2010) Nokia also lacks diversity in its managerial aspects. It has only two directors out of ten who are not Finnish. This reduces its capability to understand the different demands and trends across different parts of the world. (Nokia, 2010) Opportunities Nokia can increase its market presence by launching its products in new markets. It can also increase its market share in current markets by launching innovative products at competitive prices. MeeGo is Nokias upcoming operating system, which if marketed and implemented properly will turn around the fortunes of Nokia. As the mobile industry grows rapidly, Nokia can increase its market share by extensive advertisements and through effective marketing communication. Nokia can better its reputation and increase its brand loyalty by having a healthy Public Relations System. Threats The threat of competition is omnipresent in the mobile industry. The big threats to Nokias dominance are the smartphones developed by Apple Inc. and RIM Blackberry, which offer better products and services than Nokia. Also, the Android Mobile Operating System developed by Google Inc. is supported by a number of other big mobile companies and is consistently increasing its market share through a variety of smartphones from the cheap to the more expensive. The phenomenal growth of Android OS is a big threat to Nokias devices until it can provide an Operating System that can best Googles offering (Reuters 2010). Financial Performance Analysis 3.1 HTC Corporation 3.1.1 Review of Key Financial Data The statement of comprehensive income, balance sheet and statement of cash flows for HTC for the years 2006 to 2009 are represented in the tables 1, 2a, 2b, 3a and 3b respectively. 2007 We can see from the figures shown in the tables below that 2007 was an average year for HTC. The net sales have improved by 11.61% and the profit has increased by 12.76%. While the operating profit has increased 14.31%, the operating expenses have increased by a substantially more 49.97%. The main operating expenses incurred in 2007 were for selling and marketing purposes (62.30%). 2008 The net sales in 2008 increased by 22.27% and the net profit decreased marginally by 1.06%. Once again the operating expenses by 52.85% which resulted in a decrease of 0.92% in the operating profit. The main operating expenses for this year were for RD and selling and marketing purposes which increased by 59.80% and 46.31% respectively. On the whole this year was not so bad for HTC. 2009 In this year, HTC experienced the effects of recession. The net profit decreased by 26.65% while the net sales decreased by 5.3%. Although the operating expenses have increased by just 5.93%, the operating profit hugely decreased by 25.16%. The RD saw its expenses cut by 11.83% and the selling and marketing expenses again increased by 18.85%. Q3 2010 When compared to Q3 2009, the net sales has increased by 39.71% and the net profit also increased by 30.97%. The operating expenses continue to increase substantially by 38.37%. However, the operating profit has increased by 31.31%. The RD expenses increased by 16.22% and the selling and marketing expenses have shot up by 49%. On the whole, HTC recovered greatly during the first nine months of 2010. 3.1.2 Ratio Analysis According to the data collected from the income statements, the balance sheets and the cash flow statements, the ratio analysis has been divided in five parts, Profitability, Efficiency, Liquidity, Financial and Investment. However to judge a business, getting the information about the planned ratios is also important. Getting this kind of information is hard for people outside the business. In that case, this report may be biased. The ratios are listed in table 4. Profitability Ratios It can be seen from the chart below that the ROCE is decreasing steadily by about 15% each year. However, ROCE of 42.77% is favourable for the company. The operating profit margin and the gross profit margin are also decreasing, but as the chart depicts these figures are improving. Efficiency Ratios The average inventories period of HTC decreased from 27.8 days in 2007 to 22.4 days in 2009. This represents the decreased demand for mobile phones. The trade receivables to trade payables ratio has remained fairly constant throughout these three years. This means that the creditor and the debtor for HTC did not change much. The sales revenue to capital employed ratio has improved from 2.3 times in 2007 to 2.56 times in 2009. Liquidity Ratio For the business to have good liquidity, the current ratio and the acid test ratio should generally be greater than 2. The current ratio has decreased from 2.42 times in 2007 to 1.89 times in 2009. The acid test ratio has also decreased from 2.24 times in 2007 to 1.8 times in 2009. However, HTC still has a high liquidity as its ratios are quite near to 2. Financial Ratios The gearing ratio for HTC is 0% for all the three years. This means that HTC has no long-term liabilities. Also the interest cover ratio is much higher. According to these ratios, the profit for the year 2009 can cover 188,926 times the interest payable in 2009. Investment Ratios These ratios help investors to evaluate their investment options about HC Corporation. A dividend yield ratio of 6.65% means that investors can get a good cash return on their investment in HTC. But the earnings per share has decreased from NT$1.56 in 2007 to NT$0.90 in 2009. Also, the P/E ratios show that the confidence among buyers of HTC shares is low. 3.1.3 Stock Review According to The Financial Times, HTC Corp. (TWSE: 2498) has consistently outperformed the Taiwan SE Weighted Index over the last five years. On Jan 1, 2007 the common stock of HTC was priced at NT$ 645 and as of Dec 10, 2010 the price has soared to NT$ 897. This means an investment in the HTC stock gave a return of 39.07% during this period. Wright Investors Service has given HTC Corporation a quality rating of AAA1 (Appendix 1) U:ManXPMy DocumentsMy Pictureshtc stock.png Stock Performance over 5 years. Source: FT.com 2010 3.2 Motorola Inc. 3.2.1 Review of Key Financial Data The statement of comprehensive income, balance sheet and statement of cash flows for Motorola for the years 2006 to 2009 are represented in the tables 5, 6a, 6b and 7 respectively. 2007 We can see from the information represented in the tables below that the net sales have declined by 15% and a loss has been incurred by 101%. The operating expenses have increased by 21.65% and the operating profit decreased by 114%. The main operating expenses are incurred for selling, general and administrative purposes. The dividend for 2007 was $0.20 per share. In general, we can say that 2007 was not a financial good year for Motorola. 2008 In 2008, the net sales of Motorola decreased further by 18%. Also, the net loss increased by 8561%. The operating loss increased by 332% while operating expenses increased by only 2.67%. The dividend remained constant at $0.20 per share. Overall, we can say that Motorola incurred huge losses in 2008, partly due to the recession. 2009 Financial condition of Motorola improved over the course of 2009. Although there was still a net loss incurred, it was substantially less than 2008 which decreased by 99%. The net sales decreased even further by 27%. The operating loss decreased by 94% and the operating expenses decreased by 33%. The dividend for 2009 decreased to $0.05 per share. So, we can say that, although still in loss, Motorolas financial condition has recovered and this shows that Motorola has the ability to successfully implement solutions to its problems. Q3 2010 From the recent financial documents of Motorola, it is clear that it is slowly recovering its business. However, the financial condition of the company is still not very good. 3.2.2 Ratio Analysis Profitability Ratios As per the Ratio Table (Table 8) the ROCE and the operating profit margin for Motorola have remained negative for all the three years. This means the company has incurred losses throughout these years. But, the condition is generally improving since 2007. The gross profit margin is high for all the three years. This is not due to the product, but because of the low operating expenses. Efficiency Ratios The average inventories turnover period for Motorola is constantly increasing from 41 days in 2007 to 48 days in 2009. This means that there is a decreased demand for Motorola products over the years. It also means that recession has affected Motorola too. The sales revenue to capital employed is also quite low at 0.47 times in 2007 to 0.41 times in 2009. If trade receivables to trade payables ratio remains greater than 1, it means that the company has a good supply chain and has the ability to manage the trade receivables and trade payables. The TR/TP of Motorola is generally steady throughout these three years from 1.39 in 2007 to 1.24 in 2009. Liquidity Ratios The current ratio and acid test ratio of Motorola decreased from 1.78 times and 1.55 times respectively in 2007 to 1.63 times and 1.38 times respectively in 2008. However, in 2009, they increased to 1.92 times and 1.82 times respectively in 2009. This shows that the Motorola has good liquidity, although sometimes inventories can be seen as a risk to the company. Financial Ratios The percentage of long-term liabilities of Motorola is high, from 59.1% in 2007 to 63.5% in 2009. This is also a big risk for the company. The interest cover ratio is very low which means that Motorola does not make enough profit to pay its interests. Investment Ratios The dividend payout ratio shows a speculative situation of Motorola which is extremely low. Also the dividend yield ratio is low at 0.64% in 2009. The earnings per share is low. Motorola is not earning anything on its ordinary shares in issue. Even the P/E ratio is staggeringly low which means that the investors have no confidence in Motorolas business. 3.2.3 Stock Review According to The Financial Times, Motorola Inc. (NYSE:MOT) has outperformed the Dow Jones Industrial Average over the last week. However, the overall performance has been mixed. On Jan 3, 2007 the common stock of Motorola was priced at $20.57 and as of Dec 10, 2010 the price has dropped to $8.64. This means an investment in the Motorola stock would have resulted in a 57.99% loss during this period. Wright Investors Service has given Motorola Inc. a quality rating of ABNN. (Appendix 1) U:ManXPMy DocumentsMy Picturesmot stock.png Stock Performance over 5 years. Source: FT.com 2010 3.3 Nokia Corporation 3.3.1 Review of Key Financial Data The statement of comprehensive income, balance sheet and statement of cash flows for Nokia for the years 2006 to 2009 are represented in the tables 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a and 11b respectively. These are compiled from the annual financial reports of Nokia for the said years. 2007 From the figures shown in the tables below, we can see that 2007 was a particularly good year for Nokia. The net sales have increased by 24.2%; and the profit has also increased by 67.3%. Although the operating expenses have a 17.8% increase, Nokia has gained more operating profit which increased by 45.5%. The main operating expenses incurred are for Research and Development (RD). The increase of sales and marketing expenses (32%) refers to the new products of Nokia (ibid). As can be seen from the table 2, the profit for the year is the highest compared with other years. The dividend for 2007 was à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬0.53 per share (ibid). Overall, 2007 was a successful year for Nokia. 2008 Nokias sales have decreased in 2008. The net sales also decreased by 0.7% compared to 2007; and the operating expenses have a significant increase of 33.5%. The Annual Report highlights the recession may have had a negative effect on the companys performance. The decrease in demand from consumers led to the profits reduction (NOKIA, 2008). In addition, the transfer of Finnish pension liabilities is a main reason for the increase of expenses (ibid). Both in 2007 and 2008, Nokia has recruited more employees because of which the wage expenses have also increased. The dividend for the year was à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬0.40 per share (ibid). To sum up, this year was not so good for Nokia. 2009 In this year, Nokias performance declined even further. The income statement shows a significant decrease in the net profit, which is less by 93.3%. The sales and the gross profit reduced by 19.2% and 23.7% respectively. The effect of recession was still evident on Nokias financial performance. As a result, the investment on RD remained same as that in 2008. Due to the reduced demand, the marketing and sales expenses have also reduced from à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬4830 million to $3933 million (NOKIA, 2009). The dividend for 2009 remained same at à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬0.40 per share. Overall, it is clear that Nokia started reducing the expenses to face lower demand in the mobile phone market. Q3 2010 Tables 5, 6 and 7 show the income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement of Nokia in Q3 2010. It is clear that Nokia has slowly recovered its business in these 9 months. To be more specific, the net sales have a 4.7% increase compare to Q3 2009. Although the gross profit is lower than Q3 2009, the operating expenses have decreased substantially. In that case, the profit before tax has risen from -à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬426m to à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬403m, which is good for the company. 3.3.2 Ratio Analysis Profitability Ratios From the chart below it can be seen that the ROCE is steadily decreasing from 2007. To be more speci

A History of Video Game Development Essay -- the last of us, Neil Druc

Video games are an ever-growing franchise that is constantly undergoing change. Ever since the dawn of video games, new consoles, games, developers, and teams have come together, fallen apart, triumphed, and failed. What is it that has allowed some to thrive where others failed? Several different factors have changed and influenced the world of gaming, including the history that is continuously being written, the people who have built the games behind the scenes, and, of course, the actual video games themselves. Numerous video games have been more successful than others, but identifying what components set the successful apart from the unsuccessful is something definitely worth observing. To find an answer to this statement, one must first delve back into the roots of where video games began. In 1996, Ralph Baer, an employee of Sanders Associates, envisioned the idea of a television gaming apparatus. Ideally, the contraption could be hooked up to a television and would be complete with a chase game and a visual tennis game. By 1970, Ralph’s idea became a reality as the very first home video game system, which he dubbed, the Odyssey. Though the Odyssey, by modern day standards, might be considered boring, at the time it was made it was an enjoyable and satisfying system. Although, as with all originals, it could easily be improved upon, fixed, and made more entertaining altogether. From 1972 and on, several establishments, corporations, and teams formed in an attempt to improve upon the foundation that Ralph Baer had laid out before them. Although, most of these organizations ended up falling apart due to not being able to make enough money or due to losi ng out to another group. Some of the less fortunate institutio... ...is not needed, a person can successfully construct an exceptional video game. Works Cited Caoili, E. (2013). The Last of Us wins an armful of E3 Game Critics Awards. Gamasutra. Retrieved from www.gamasutra.com/view/news/173052/ Karmali, L. (2013). The Last of Us Sells 3.4 Million Copies in Three Weeks. IGN. Retrieved from www.ign.com/articles/2013/07/09/the-last-of-us-sells-34-million-copies-in-three-weeks Miller, M. (2005, April 1). A History of Home Video Game Consoles. Informit.com/articles. Retrieved November 11, 2013, from http://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=378141 Smith, E. (2013a). The Last of Us, Neil Druckmann and Less Being More. International Business Times. Retrieve from www.ibtimes.co.uk Smith, E. (2013b). The Last of Us Review [VIDEO]. International Business Times. Review of The Last of Us. Retrieved from www.ibtimes.co.uk

Ghost Story of Manresa Castle at Port Townsend, Washington :: Urban Legends Ghost Stories

Manresa Castle at Port Townsend, Washington The story I was told concerns the Manresa Castle at Port Townsend, in Washington State. The myth surrounding the castle is the usual belief that the castle is haunted. People go to the castle just to hear the cries and feel the tingles of staying there over night. People have also reported that when they have taken pictures while they stay there, they will be surrounded by glowing orbs in the background. The story pertaining to this castle I first heard in a coffee house on Capitol Hill, in Seattle, Washington. Capitol Hill is known for being the stomping grounds of a wide variety of people. There are bohemians, hippies, homeless people, drag queens, and lots of college students due to the fact that there are five colleges in the city of Seattle alone. It is also not so full of tourists, who spend more of their time at Pikes Place Market (also said to be haunted) and the Center. I spoke to the storyteller around two in the afternoon on Friday, March 23rd during my spring break. She works at a local hospital and is finishing up medical school. She is recently married, twenty-four years old, and she grew up in West Seattle. Her mom is Ukrainian and is the principal of an elementary school. She knows of the story after hearing it from fellow students at the University of Washington, where she went for her undergraduate studies. The story was told during a regular hangout, by a girl from a town near Port Townsend. The person I heard the story from doesn't really pay the myth and "ghost story" idea any attention because of its common presence in that area. Washington state is a region known as the "Haunted North West." Capitol Hill has so many "ghosts" that companies offer ghost tours year round. [During the telling of the story there were no meaningful gestures, just pauses when the storyteller couldn't remember certain details, or when she wanted to take more sips of her macchiato. The storyteller did not relate the story with intonation or pitch changes, nor did her rate change. It was more like the stating of facts she knew.] Hmm, one that is still going strong is about†¦ well I don't remember the name but it's this castle in Port Townsend, overlooking the bay.

NFO in law

June 2012 Question 4 Discuss the criminal liability of Jameela and of Leah arising out of the Incidents in the town. First ot all there is a battery with the initial contact that Jameela has on Ken. The AR of battery is â€Å"infliction of unlawful violence†. Battery is defined as being the slightest touch without permission as In the case of Cole v Turner, the knocking in to Ken is this touch without his permission. When she knocked into Ken this led to him to fall. This is an ABH as this battery led to further damage with Ken falling down.The AR of ABH Is â€Å"common assault occasioning In actual bodily harm†. Miller defines this as â€Å"any hurt or Injury calculated to interfere with the health or comfort of the V', in which the falling down would cause Ken to experience some discomfort with falling to the ground. However this fall resulted In Ken breaking his hip. This Is a GBH S20 as this break would have caused him to go to hospital. The AR of G3H S20 Is  "causing wound or G3H†. There isnt a wound and therefore there is only grievous bodily harm.The case of smith defines grievous as meaning really serious harm hich includes broken bones. The case of Bollom states that the seriousness of the harm scales with the age of the victim, as Ken in this scenario Is elderly man the seriousness of the fall was serious as his body Is weaker and therefore there Is more damage that is done, affecting the graveness of the injury. Therefore the AR of GBH S20 has been established. Then there Is the liability of the heart attack the Kens wife (Iris) suttered when he got knocked down.Again this is a G3H S20 and the AR is stated above. It is a GBH S20 as the harm that was caused was serious as it caused Iris many weeks to recover. Again the case of 30110m help as the age of Iris comes in to play when affecting the seriousness. There isn't any causation issues as the chain isn't broken as the thin skull rules that defects that werent known to he D, Haystead doesnt break the chain and therefore It doesn't matter that Iris may have had a bad heart there is still is a chain of causation.Even though Jameela didn't directly inflict the GBH S20 the case of Martin states that it can be caused indirectly in which watching her husband fall and get hurt indirectly caused her to have a heart attack. The AR of GBH S20 has been established for Iris The MR of GBH is â€Å"direct intention or subjective recklessness causing some harm†, defined by the case of Mowatt. Some harm can be Interpreted as anything as small as a battery. For the GdH s20 on Ken, subjective recklessness can be used as in the case of Cunningham. hich states that first there has to be and unjustified risk and that the D had taken this risk anyway. In this case Jameela was In a large crowd and started lashing out knowing that there would be a risk that she would hit someone and cause some of the harrn Jameela ould have perceived this risk as she was in a large cro wn knowing that this would make her panic because of the delusions that she has due to her paranoid schizophrenia.Transferred malice can be used as a way of proving the MR of G8H S20 on Iris as well. Transferred malice can only be used on person to person with similar crime, in which this scenario is and theretore it can be used. The case ot Mitchell can be used as it is similar as this case as the D as in busy place and the action that they took led to an old person breaking a hip. Transfer malice would be usband hurt on the floor and therefore the MR of the offence on Ken is transferred over to Iris as well.Therefore there is the MR of GBH S2 established for both Ken and Iris. When Leah intervened she would have first committed a battery as she would have had to grab hold of Jameela in some form. The AR of battery is stated above. The case of Thomas states that the slightest touch even of clothing is enough for a battery, in which Leah may have grabbed Jameela by the top as a way of trying to control her on which would be a battery. Then there is an ABH, again stated above, as

Malls Are Actually a Haven for Crime

Imagine getting out of your car to go shopping at the mall. You do not plan on staying long; you just have some more Christmas shopping that you need to do. You have your budget, your list of items to buy, and you are in a hurry to get it all done by the time the mall closes. You are proud of yourself for how organized you are. It seems that you have everything planned according to what you need, however, that is not the case.   As you walk into the first store on your list, you reach for your wallet and realize that it is gone. You dig in your pockets, but find no trace. While you were in the mall, someone had stolen your wallet. One thing that you did not plan on was to be a victim of a mall crime. Although malls seem fun and relatively safe, the rate of crime that occurs at malls is growing higher and higher. From credit card theft to sex crimes, the mall is no longer a place that you can stroll through without any worries. The mall is now a haven for crime. In this argument, we will review the amount of crimes that occur in malls, the people who are targeted, and how the crimes may be prevented. Because the rate for crimes in malls seems to be increasing with each year, many people are afraid to go out shopping anymore. Although internet shopping is growing more and more popular, the cost of shipping alone is enough to make you brave your busy mall for those single items that you need. Though the crime rate is high at malls, customers must not forgo their mall experience simply out of fear. On the contrary, they must become more aware of themselves while at the mall and must simply be careful. The amount of crimes that occur in malls is astounding. In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for example, there have been twenty-six assaults at the Monroeville mall within the last two years, eleven burglaries at the Station Square mall, nine robberies at the Monroeville mall, three-hundred-fifty-two thefts at the Monroeville mall, ten sex crimes at the Robinson mall, fifteen drug crimes at the Robinson mall and seven gun crimes at the Monroeville mall. These numbers are relatively low compared to statistics throughout the country (www.thepittsburghchannel.com). Mall security and store owners both know that the crime rate is higher when the mall has more visitors. Although large crowds often bring in large amounts of money, they also bring in a larger number of those who are up to no good. A large reason that the crime rate is so high in shopping malls is that, according to www.beverlypd.org, a website designed to prevent mall crime, sixty-five percent of malls are located in high crime areas. Twenty-five percent of malls are located in places that have almost three times more than the national crime risk. Though the statistics are unnerving, knowing who is targeted can help decrease risk of becoming a victim. When it comes to the question of who can be the victim of a mall crime, the answer would be anyone. There are, however, those who are more likely to be victimized. Consequently, according to the U.S. Department of Justice website about victim information (www.ojp.usdoj.gov), the highest rate of victimization is those who are between the ages of twelve and twenty-four. Although elderly theft seems like it would be the highest, possibly due to media influence, the amount of elderly who have been victims of theft has gone down considerably. Young people are seen as being less cautious as old people, thus they may be targeted more than anyone else. They are also less likely to report a crime than older people. Although the rate of mall crime is high with the specific age range, there are steps that anyone can practice the next time they visit the mall. Several tips for shoppers were provided by www.kevincoffee.com and www.signonsandiego.com: 1.Never put your purchases down inside of the mall. They can be snatched before you have time to react. 2.Try to put your purchases in one or two bags, so that you are not juggling them to the point that you are not paying attention to your purse or wallet. 3.Before leaving the mall, make sure that you have your keys out so that you do not have to fumble with them as you are walking to the car. 4. Avoid going to the mall at night. Daylight is your best option. However, if it is unavoidable, then before exiting the mall at night, park your car in a well lit area and when you are through shopping ask a security guard to escort you to your car. You do not know who could be lurking nearby. 5.Put your purchases in the trunk of your car. Nothing is more appealing to a thief than a pile of shopping bags that are visible in a car. While the mall has crime rates that perhaps few people know about, the key to being safe is to know the facts. Everyone deserves the basic right of shopping in the mall without having to worry about being the victim of a crime. It takes effort, however, to gain that right back.   If everyone would follow the basic steps above, a large percentage of the mall crime rate could be decreased. Although the percentages may seem like numbers, remember that every number is simply a representation of a person and that the next time, the person could be you. Read also: Snatch Theft Essay Works Cited Coffey, Kevin. â€Å"Avoiding Pickpockets.† Detective Kevin Coffey. 2006. 11 Dec. 2006 . David, Kristina. â€Å"To Make Your Spirits Bright, Avoid Theft.† Sign on Sandiego. 25 Nov. 2006. 11 Dec. 2006 â€Å"Office of Justice Programs.† Bureau of Justice Statistics. 2006. 11 Dec. 2006 â€Å"Local Mall Crime Rates Increase.† The Pittsburgh Channel. 17 Dec. 2006. 11 Dec. 2006 . â€Å"Shopping Mall Crime Prevention.† Beverly Pd. 2006. 11 Dec. 2006 .                           

Laziness through Technology Essay

Technology is the branch of knowledge that deals with the creation and use of technical means and their interrelation with life, society and the environment. Modern inventions have made people lazy because they make things easier. In a BBC News article, Dr. Richard Weiler and Dr. Emmanuel Stamakis argue that technology in the form of energy saving devices like remote controls, has led humanity to an inactive lifestyle which poses risks to people’s health. Dr. Stamakis said, â€Å"Sedentary living is the most prevalent disease, silent killer, and greatest health threat facing developed countries.† Technology inventions have also reduced humans’ physical activity, making them lazy. Technology governs the lives of people especially children (Wise, â€Å"Does technology†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ). see more:technology make us lazy Web search engines like Yahoo, Google, and Bing have changed the way youth learn and remember information according to a study by Department of Information Management. Having practically all the information they could ever need has caused students to subconsciously not store away as much data, scientists claim. Researchers have examined the role of the internet in changing the nature of human memory. For instance, students forget things they are confident they can find online, while likely to remember things they think are unavailable online. Due to the excessive usage of online chatting and shortcuts, the writing skills of today’s young generation have declined quite tremendously. These days, children are relying more and more on digital communication that they have totally forgot about improving their writing skills. They don’t know the spelling of different words, how to use grammar properly or how to do cursive writing. (Oliveira, â€Å"is technology†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ) . Today experts call them the M2 Generation—highly technological children whose lives seem to revolve around the media. With the constant exposure that children have to television, computers, mobile devices, and video games, it seems there are no limits to the amount of time children spend with technological devices. According to a survey cited by Brian Wallace, in just five years, media use has increased from six and a half to nearly seven and a half hours a day in children between the ages of eight and eighteen. Even more alarming, children have become masters at multitasking, often using two or more media devices at the same time. Counting each device separately, these kids have found a way to cram in a total of 10 hours and 45 minutes of media content into those seven and a half hours. These findings epitomize the very phase â€Å"media saturation.† Children now spend more time with technology than they do with their family, in school and sleeping. These have adverse effects on children’s performance in school(Wallace, â€Å"The effect of†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ). Furthermore, 16% of children that are between the ages of six-nineteen years old are overweight or obese, a number that has tripled since 1980 mostly due to electronic usage. Being overweight can bring with it great health concerns. Many of these children have a good chance of developing Type II Diabetes, asthma, sleep apnea, social discrimination, high cholesterol and/or blood pressure. Also, according to a Stanford University of Medicine study, elementary students consume 20% of their daily calorie intake while watching television, which usually includes unhealthy snacks, largely due to advertisements for junk food and boredom. Coincidently, kids are not burning off any of these calories while they are plopped in front of the television (Wallace, â€Å"The effect of†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ). Similarly, spending hours in front of screen, whether it is a television or computer, can quickly contribute to a serious decrease in the amount of physical activity a child gets during the day. A child needs at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day to maintain a healthy weight and level of fitness. The more technology time a child engages in, the less the child daily dose of physical activity will be. This can in turn contribute to negative effects such as weight gain. Also, televisions, laptops, tablets, cell phones, iPod and all of the other technological devices that children use, they are constantly inundated with an array of media images these often include negative behaviors such as underage drinking, drug use or risky sexual situations. With the use of technology the media portrays an idealized image of the teenager when it comes to weight and appearance (Loop, â€Å"Exposing the negative†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ). Furthermore, technology has a bad effect in the Environment, old electronics are dumped into landfills and these can lead to toxins such as lead, mercury and lithium into the environment. Electronics account for two percent to five percent of the trash that reaches America landfills every year. According to a Green Citizen, a California based company that works to reduce waste, an average computer screen contains up to eight pounds of lead, which in excessive amount can cause nerve disorders and joint pain in adults and high level of lead in children has been associated with brain damage and anemia (Stanic, â€Å"Bad effect of†¦). Also, modern technology is affecting people’s sleep. The artificial light from television and computer screen affects melatonin productions and throws off circadian rhythms, preventing deep, restorative sleep. A research by Sara Thomas shows that heavy cell phone use showed an increase in sleep disorders in men and an increase in depressive symptoms in both men and women, men who use computers intensively were more likely to develop sleeping problems., regular, late night computer use was associated with sleep disorders and stress in both men and women. The relationship between stress, sleep disorders and depressions has more to do with the overuse of technology in our society, especially among young people (Volpis, â€Å"Heavy techno†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ). Top of Form Today, computers do this job instead of workers, with the rise in technology, many jobs that require little skills have been replaced by computers and machines. This is a type of structural unemployment. An example of this is the supermarket checkout systems. Initially many cashiers were employed by supermarkets, with a majority of these people being aged under 24. With the introduction of the computer checkout systems, these cashiers are now in less demand and has created more unemployment, particularly amongst the youth. The developments of the internet and online shopping have significantly reduced the number of retail workers. In society today literally anything can be bought online. These types of unskilled jobs were again predominantly taken up by under 24 year olds who were using these jobs to fund their education (U.S. Department of Labor 2004). Moreover, the internet has stripped the world of privacy. Long gone are the days of having an unlisted telephone number and staying offline to keep your information safe from prying eyes. A few flicks on a keyboard can help average person to find anyone’s address and contact information. Those with more sinister intentions, the use of phishing, viruses and hacking helps to find any information they wish to obtain. Plus, people have no sense of privacy online. They do not think twice about twitting every move they make, freely giving out their location on Google Map and putting their entire life story on Facebook. The evidence is overwhelming technology has caused isolation, lack of social skills, bad writing skills, poor sleep habits and laziness. Works Cited Loop, Erica. â€Å"Exposing the negative effects of technology on kids.† Global post 15 March 2012. Web. 25 March 2014. Mart, Coollen. â€Å"Technology making us lazy.† Inside Technology 4 October 2010. Web. 25 March 2014. Olivera, Micheal. â€Å"Is technology hurting us by making life easier.† The Canadian Press 27 December 2012. Web. 25 March 2014. Stanic, Claudia. â€Å"Bad effects of modern technology in the environment.† eHOW. 17 November 2013. Web. 2 Wallace, Brian. â€Å"The effect of media and technology on young children.† Social Media Today Wise, Jon. â€Å"Does technology make us lazy.† SIOW. 17 September 2013. Web. 25 March 2014. Volpi, David. â€Å"Heavy technology use linked to fatigue, stress and depression in young adults.† Huffpost 8 February 2012. Web. 25 March 2014.

Lord Of The Flies Alternative Ending Essay

Ralph was the first to spot Simon. He saw him stumbling down the mountain like a pathetic new born calf. His eyes were wide but heavy and tired at the same time. The camp stopped at a sudden and they watched Simon get closer and closer. Simon opened his mouth and began to talk. The blue-white scar was constant, the noise unendurable. Simon was crying out something about a dead man on a hill. Ralph strained his ears to try and listen but could not hear anything over the endless chants from the hunters. Then in such a quick second, the game had taken a terrible turn. Ralph caught a glimpse of Jack’s eyes. They were fixated on Simon and were full of anger and fury. Then in that split second, Ralph realised that he should do something quickly for the sake of Simon. Somehow, he knew that they were going to do something terrible. The chanting was getting stronger and the storm was becoming harsher. Ralph broke through the circling hunters and grabbed Simon’s arm. He pulled him through the mass of chanting savages and made him run a little way down the beach until they came to an opening to the forest. â€Å"Go Simon, run through the forest as fast and as far as you can.† Ralph looked into Simons’ eyes. He had never seen such clear and beautiful eyes before in his whole life. Now, they sparkled like he had never seen anything sparkle before in his life. He closed his eyes and he felt Simon’s arm leave the lose grip of his hand. He heard the scurrying of Simon’s little feet pad into the forest and into the darkness. Ralph’s knees gave way and he slumped on to the ground. Realising that he was awake and not unconscious, he became aware to the chanting that had became close. Too close. â€Å"Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood!† The chanting was continuous and the words spun through his head. The savages blurred in front of his eyes. Then there was silence. A voice spoke. Ralph recognised it as Jack. â€Å"You let the beast escape. You are an ally of the beast and I don’t want any beasts on my island. How do we know that you are not the beast? Don’t worry, we will find the other beast, he can’t get far. Look my hunters! We have found another beast!† Ralph tried to scream but the circle burst and started dancing and chanting again. This time Ralph could feel the spears scratching at his skin. Ralph didn’t move. He had given up. All he was waiting for was the final plunge of the spear to finish him off. Kill the beast! Spill his blood! Do him in!† An old woman began to pour a slender middle-aged man another cup of tea. â€Å"Oh, no thank you,† replied the man. â€Å"Now Mrs Doon, tell me a little about the patient. I’ve visited all the boys who returned from the island but it sounds as though yours has taken the experience the worst.† â€Å"He’s such a poor little boy. He’s been so ill since he’s arrived home. You would of thought that at least his father would come home to spend some time with him. He won’t let anyone show him the slightest bit of affection. It breaks my heart to see him like this. Anyway, what do I know? Here, let me show you to his room.† Mrs Doon guided the guest through a long winding passage to the top of the house. He thought that is was never going to end. Suddenly they heard a small boy’s voice crying out from the darkness. â€Å"Sounds like he’s had another nightmare again. They happen nearly every night now. I don’t know what to do for him anymore. Looks like you came at a good time doctor. We better go quickly now.† Mrs Doon carried on up the stairs but this time with a little more speed. The doctor could see how drained and tired she was. He walked anxiously behind her. â€Å"He refused to return to his own room and so we converted the attic into a room. He never comes out of it. All he does is sit up there all day. I’ve offered to decorate it for him but he insists that he likes it the way it is. He also always has to say that he is the leader and we must do what he wants. Now, I know that I am just someone employed by his father, but really! Well, what can you expect after being deserted on an island for three months, eh? Here we are. Now, I have to warn you doctor, he does tend to act a bit strange.† The old woman opened the door to the dark and miserable bedroom. Mrs Doon went straight for the curtains and snatched them back. The little body on the bed flinched at the immense light. â€Å"Now, Now, what is it? Another bad dream? Come on now, sit up a little. You have a visitor.† The little boys eyes were full of madness. Sweat dripped from his forehead. On his bed lay hundred of crumpled drawings. All the drawings were done with so much accuracy, but without colour, they lacked life. â€Å"It was chanting again. Over and over and-â€Å" â€Å"Hush. Now then. This is Doctor Wahlburg. He just wants to talk to you. He’s not going to harm you. He wants to help you.† â€Å"Hello,† began the doctor in a calming voice. â€Å"How are you feeling today then?† There was silence and no apparent movement. The child’s eyes made the doctor nervous and restless. â€Å"So, what are these drawings? Did you do these? They are splendid.† â€Å"Yes,† whispered the boy. His mouth hardly moving. â€Å"I did these, but this is my favourite one.† The boy reached over the bed and picked up a shoebox off the floor. He opened it with so much care and presented a perfectly folded piece of paper. He opened it with his eyes so wide. He showed the picture of a huge shell to the doctor. Like all the other pictures in the room, so much care had been taken over it. However, this picture had the quality of colour added to it. â€Å"Ralph my dear, it is freezing in here! Let me light you a fire-â€Å" â€Å"No!† Screamed Ralph. He sprang out of his bed while making horrific snarling noises. He began to circle the old woman. The doctor grabbed Ralph’s arm as an attempt to out him to bed again, but Ralph squirmed free of the grip and stood his ground in front of the terrified Mrs Doon. â€Å"What did I say? I said that I would get waxy if you tried to light that fire, didn’t I? I want to be alone with the doctor so let us be!† The old woman shuffled nervously out of the room. â€Å"See what I mean?† she cried just as she left the room. Ralph jumped happily back into bed, satisfied with his victory over an adult. It was obvious that he had found someone he liked in the form of the doctor. Still clutching onto his drawing, he sat at the top of the bed, quite innocently, and not making a sound. The doctor stirred on his spot very cautiously and slowly made his way to a chair at the end of the bed. He began to say something, but stopped himself and sat there in his own thoughts for a few minutes. Then he began. He opened up his notebook and took out a pencil. â€Å"Now Ralph, I want you to start from the beginning and don’t leave anything out. I want you to let out what has been eating away at you. It’s your turn now.†

Pandora Marketing Strategy Essay

Pandora has often been heralded for it’s great success in word of mouth and viral marketing. By 2012 Pandora had accumulated 100 million+ active and registered users, most of which had been acquired organically. According to an interview with Matt Nichols, Pandora’s Director of Marketing, Pandora success comes from providing a personalized service that it’s ‘competitors’ simply don’t match up to. â€Å"You can create personalized radio stations that play only music you’ll love†¦ help you discover music you’ll enjoy and only play you songs that you want to hear (http://geekcast.fm/archives/semcast-5-search-engine-marketing-at-pandora-with-matt-nichols/). It is this model of personalized radio to for todays listeners who like their music how, when, and where they want it and all of that for free, that has allowed Pandora to remain the largest player in online radio. Search In 2005 Pandora began a highly successful paid search campaign that ran for a little over three years. Through search optimization and paid advertising through popular search engines such as Google and Yahoo! Pandora was able to draw in a larger listening base. Unfortunately the campaign was shut down after a few years because the cost of advertising had begun to lower the margin for revenue, whose unit of monetization is based on cents per listening hours. Email Success in Pandora’s email strategy has been found by limiting emails sent to users on the basis of information relevant to their personal account, such as adding artists to a particular station. According the Nichols â€Å"It’s really about delivering information that is relevant, rather then killing the user with over emailing.† (http://amatv.marketingpower.com/pandoras-word-of-mouth-marketing) Integration Pandora reaches listeners who use desktop computers, laptops and mobile devices (e.g. smartphones, tablets) through its website and mobile apps respectively. Additionally, the company has partnered with several car  manufacturers such as Ford, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, BMW, Hyundai, Toyota, Lexus, Honda, among others to integrate its online radio service with automotive sound systems. Such strategic alliances do not generate any sort of revenue for Pandora but increase its exposure and utilization. oPandora’s advertising sales force in 2012 was 75% larger than a year earlier with five teams that focus on different platforms. The purpose of such increase has been to grow ads revenue faster than listener hours in order to offset the high royalty costs that those hours imply.

Midterm Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Midterm Questions - Essay Example Anaximander, another Miletian philosopher and is said to be the first writer of philosophy, was said to be the first to draw a map and have speculated that the earth is not flat but spherical floating in air. The first scientific idea on the evolution of man is said to have be Anaximander’s first ideas out of his curiosity. 2. Part 1. For Anaximander the earth is cylindrical in shape; curved and round like a drum with flat surfaces and stays in equilibrium at the center of the cosmos. The heavenly bodies are according to him ‘breathing holes’ in the air. By this Anaximander is trying to explain the existence of the earth the sun and other elements in the sky. It is included in the history of philosophy because philosophy seeks to define what is real the same way Anaximander tries to relate the earth and the cosmos in a cyclical manner of things—why the sun, the moon and the stars are present in a cyclical pattern (Stamatellos,2006). Part 2. For Anaximander the earth never moves because in his cosmos the earth floats in the center and remains there by the forces surrounding it. Three of his astronomical speculations are: (1) that the celestial bodies make full circles and pass also beneath the earth, (2) that the earth floats free and unsupported in space, and (3) that the celestial bodies lie behind one another. Thus in his cosmos the earth is unmoved and everything else revolves around it (Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2012). 3. Anaximenes’ grand theory talks about the air as major predecessors of things. He pointed out that the moisture from the earth has formed other heavenly bodies. Although Anaximenes’ belief is that the planets, sun and stars including the earth are flat disks, his assumption that these are above an â€Å"all-encompassing air† is one that is closely associated to modern thought of his time (Lawson, 2004). Anaximenes has his own way of explaining the difference between the planet and t he stars; that the planets are moving in connection with air while the stars are fixed on its positions. These ways of thinking are one of the closest founding theories of his time. Anaximenes also imparted the significance of hot and cold on the formation of existing bodies. His works became a global inspiration on the discovery of atomic properties of matter. Anaximenes’ beliefs centered on air as the primary ingredient in the formation of the universe. In comparison, Thales believed that water is the main predecessor, while Anaximander held on to the theory of the constant and limitless source of life. 4. a. Draw and label all of the parts of the Square of Opposition. (Image source: International Encyclopedia of Philosophy) b. Suppose that the proposition â€Å"Some* are* joggers*† is false*. For each one of the corresponding propositions, state whether it may be immediately inferred to be true or false. Provide a succinct explanation of how you reached one of your immediately inferred conclusions. A. All are joggers- universal affirmative E. Not all are joggers- universal negation I. Some are joggers- particular affirmative O. some are not joggers- particular negation Proposition A is false because not all people are joggers some can be swimmers and other kinds of athletes. While proposition E states true that some people are joggers