Case Study: Evolution Psychology Essay

1) Application questions†¦ 1. One way evolutionary psychology can answer Dylan’s promiscuity is that it has become a learned behavior that he has never had to correct/change. The study states that he has been promiscuous since high school and he sees no reason to change his ways. 2. To explain Dylan’s typical womanly interests being of mostly the same physical attributes, has to do with is innate drive for successful reproduction. His attractions to an athletic blonde of medium height, is what Dylan believes the best fit to produce healthy children. Even though Dylan shows no concern after the fact of having children, evolutionary psychology suggests that it is Dylan’s cognitive drive to find these types of women. 3. Such as Dylan’s evolutionary drive for an attractive partner to reproduce with, the women he agrees with dating have some of the same drives for success with their partners to reproduce with. They may know of his wealth and great looks which may be some deciding factors for their choice of a mate. It isn’t until later that the women find out the not so attractive attributes of a man in Dylan’s position. 4. Dylan most likely takes his dates out for a tennis match, to test their physicality and athleticism. He may not want to base his decision on a mate just off of looks; he wants to know if they are strong enough to bring him strong offspring. We look at human evolution to justify this type of occurrence, even if it is a cognitive (subconscious approach) to determining a mate. 5. As we see in nature, many male species do not care for the offspring after birth. That job is left to the mothers and this can explain Dylan’s feelings towards his own children. He feels he found a mate for a reason, to have strong children that they can look after. He does not feel it is his part to raise the children, once he has found a suitable mate, his job is  done. 6. Dylan does not use birth control, because he feels it is the female’s duty to keep herself from becoming pregnant if she does not want to be pregnant. Same goes for std’s , in the relationship , if the woman has chosen Dylan he believes she has made the choice to trust him. Dylan would use protection if he did not trust that the woman he chose to be was clean or not suitable for reproduction. He made a choice and so did the woman, he believes she has thought about all issues that may arise and that is why she is not worried about protection (in Dylan’s eyes).

Positioning Strategy of Grameen Phone

Positioning Strategy By creating product, service, channel, people & image differentiation Grameenphone reach the consumer touch point more effectively & efficiently in comparing with their competitors in the highly competitive telecommunication sector. 1. Product Differentiation: Network (best, quality): Grameenphone has the largest network with the widest coverage around the country, bringing 98 percent of the population under the coverage of its network. The entire Grameenphone network is also EDGE/GPRS enabled, allowing GP subscribers to access the Internet from anywhere within its coverage area.The 10,000 Base Stations are located in about 5,700 sites around the country. The company has so far invested more than BDT 10,700 crore (USD 1. 6 billion) to build the network infrastructure since its inception in 1997. It has invested over BDT 3,100 crore (USD 450 million) during the first three quarters of the current year while BDT 2,100 crore (USD 310 million) was invested in 2006 al one. Grameenphone is implementing an aggressive roll-out program by installing new network elements with an emphasis on maintaining quality service.A number of steps are being taken to identify the problems spots in the network in order to constantly improve quality. Special efforts are being taken to constantly monitor and ensure network quality in the urban areas. In Dhaka and other major cities in- building coverage solutions and microcells have been deployed to provide improved coverage in important high-rise buildings and busy street junctions. 2. Service Differentiation: Business Solutions is a complete, quality business communications service from Grameenphone – designed especially for the business community in Bangladesh.Their Business Solutions teams are here to help provide their customers with customized telecommunications solutions through consultation with their customers. Messaging Services GrameenPhone have various messaging services allow the customers ways to communicate smarter, faster, more efficiently and more cost- effectively on the go. SMS (Short Message Service): Fast and affordable messaging through SMS. Send a SMS to any mobile phone in Bangladesh and to more than 115 countries with their international SMS service. Voice SMS: Save time and personalize message through a voice SMS.This service provides the flexibility to record it up to 120 seconds of audio – MMS (multimedia messaging): The MMS service provides to take pictures customize it with animation, music, video clips and send it across the globe within seconds. Cell e-mail: Send emails without a computer. With cell e-mail, Customers have the facilities to e-mail any GP number through an SMS and email any PC across the globe. SMS Banking: Enjoy hassle-free account updates from renowned banks like Standard Chartered Bank, BRAC Bank, Bank Asia, etc. Customer ServicesGP strive to take care of their customers all telecommunications needs. Key Account Managers and Custom er Service Managers are assigned to provide prioritized service to Business Solutions subscriber’s right from the beginning of the relationship. Priority Service GP believe in the importance of human touch in the business world. As they step into third year of providing innovative communication solutions, Business Solutions aims to provide enhanced priority services. Prioritized Hotline 121 Enjoy prioritized customer service by simply dialing 121.Dedicated customers care managers are available round-the-clock, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week only to serve. Business Solutions postpaid subscribers can call 121 absolutely free of cost. Value Added Services Take customer business to new heights. Business Solutions pioneers in introducing state of the art Value Added Service to help. Missed Call Alert Missed Call Alert and get SMS notification of the attempted call when phone was off. To subscribe the service, type on and send to 6222. Stock Information The latest updates of the Dhaka and Chittagong Stock Exchange are now in consumer palm.To avail this service, go to GP WORLD (wap. gpworld. com), then Business City, and download the Bull application. 4. Channel Differentiation GP gain competitive advantage through the way they design their channels coverage expertise & performance. 3. People Differentiation: Almost half the total number of employees of GrameenPhone Ltd. today (Tuesday), participated in the company's biggest customer care program to date. â€Å"This customer service campaign follows up on the â€Å"Stay Close† promise from GrameenPhone.As a caring company, GrameenPhone values its subscribers, stands by them and takes care of them when they need help,† explained GrameenPhone CEO Anders Jensen. Management Team led by, over 2000 employees, representing most of the functional divisions and all the regional offices of GrameenPhone, spent the day interacting with the customers in 124 popular local area markets and important public pl aces across the country. The purpose was to interact with the customers, help them in solving their mobile phone related queries, and demonstrate Grameenphone's commitment as a helpful and customer-oriented company. . Image Differentiation GrameenPhone logo differentiates from the other companies. For that reason customer easily identify them in the market, which is another effective competitive advantages for GrameenPhone. Positioning Statement: Company and Brand Positioning should be summed up in a positioning statement. GrameenPhone positioning statement is â€Å"Stay Close† which explain that customer can easily express their emotion with their close relatives & friends through using GrameenPhone.

Critically discuss how one method in Media and Cultural Studies Essay

Critically discuss how one method in Media and Cultural Studies presented in term 2 of the module has been applied to an aspect of everyday life - Essay Example In terms of media-oriented cultural studies, and with the onslaught of various media brought about by post-globalization, ethnography have developed several methods that have departed itself from the traditional concept of qualitative research to a more reflexive approach that is more dependent in terms of interpretations, analysis, and assumptions of the researcher (Barker, p. 32-33). This paper is aimed at studying the application of various ethnographic methods through up-to-date, relevant examples of its usage and provides an analysis of each of the methods’ strengths and weaknesses. A classic ethnographic method that has undergone a postmodern approach is participant observation. Traditionally, participant observation involves empirical field work through participation in the day-to-day activities of the object of study with informal interviews towards better understanding of the meaning and reasoning behind the activities being performed. The time frame of study varies but has steadily declined over the years due to the cost and complexity of the method (as cited in Pickering, p. 107-108). With the proliferation of mass media such as television and internet, participant observations have become part of a pop cultural phenomenon not only dedicated in educating people about various cultures of isolated ethnic groups but creating a spectacle out of it. Take for instance National Geographic Channel’s Meet the Natives UK (2007) and Discovery Channel’s Adventures of Mark and Olly: Living with the Kombai (2007). Both television programs are aimed at documenting culture through the eyes of the observers—through their own interpretation of the culture. In Meet the Natives UK (2007), five tribesmen from Tanna in the South Pacific made the journey to Britain to observe and participate on various aspects of the English’ culture. With it, the tribesmen would constantly analyze and compare Britain’s culture [and technology] from their own thus

Computer Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Computer Ethics - Essay Example Community standards are not necessarily very present on the Internet, unless one counts Internet social networking sites as formal ways which try to organize information in a way that is easily digestible by readers. Right now, as things stand, users have direct control over their options. Community standards criterion might be very difficult to be preserved on the Internet-namely because there weren’t any standards to begin with. According to Curry, Riley, & Battistoni, â€Å"With the Internet, the user can control very precisely the sites and information to be accessed. However,concerns about adult access to adult information and communications have arisen if regulators chose to protect adolescents from obscenity on the Internet†.While some sites can be blocked by parents and educators, obscenities on the Internet can’t necessarily be regulated completely. However, that does not mean that Internet regulation is not on the horizon. According to Tavani, â€Å"De spite some of the controversies and challenges that arise in schemes for regulating cyberspace, it is noted that we should not presume against Internet regulation. In fact, there is a 'strong moral case can be made for regulating the content of the Internet†. Morally speaking, many people would like it if the content of the Internet could be regulated in terms of language use on chat rooms and social networking sites. In fact, that is the next wave of technology that might come in handy some day, is the use of administrators, or Admin, to basically monitor the content placed online.

Functioning part of society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Functioning part of society - Essay Example They have also not been to promote encouraging environment for improved post prison behavior to become acceptable part of mainstream society. It is estimated that ‘two-thirds of prisoners were rearrested for a new offense within three years of leaving prison. In Colorado, 63.7 percent of inmates released from the Department of Corrections in Fiscal Year 2002 were rearrested within 3 years’ (Colorado Commission, 2008, p11). The punishments are broadly conceptualized as a means to make the criminal realize his or her acts of misdemeanor and provide him with a chance to reform so they are not caught into the vicious cycle of criminal activities. But as the data show, the authorities and punishment has failed to prevent the recurrence of acts of crimes or effectively reform the criminals. Another very serious paradigm of contemporary prison environment is that of perpetuated violence and hidden dynamics of segregated crimes within the walls of prison. Michel Santos (2004) in his biographical book, ‘About Prison’ has asserted that American prisons’ cultural paradigms greatly foster an environment of racism and violence.

My Friend Hassan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

My Friend Hassan - Essay Example The experience made me appreciate and respect him even more and since then whenever I am faced with the moral dilemma, I ask myself what Hassan do, and I have found him to be a very useful inspiration and role model in my life. Hassan and I make an unusual pair since we are so different, I have been described as loud vibrant outspoken and I tend to believe I have my fair share of rough edges, to some, I appear unrefined and even possibly rude. For that reason, when I first met Hassan I would never have imagined that we could ever get close to unlike me, he is quiet, polite and very refined in his manners and actions. In addition, he is something of a perfectionist with an artist's eye for details and an architect's sense of proportion and balance. Nevertheless, despite the radical personality differences, we have remained close since he does not overtly try to influence or judge me and that, ironically, is what makes him most influential to me. Any refinement or solemnity in my chara cter can be directly attributed to him since he sets an example anyone would love to emulate and I often find myself trying to be like him in more ways than one. At the end of the day, Hassan is an all-around wonderful person, doctor, boyfriend, and friend with the sensitivity of a hallowed saint and the indomitable spirit of the unicorn. I consider myself tremendously lucky to have such a dependable and kind friend whom I know I can fall back on in times of trouble and he will be there for me irrespective of the circumstances.

Preventing Noise Induced Hearing Loss in Children Essay

Preventing Noise Induced Hearing Loss in Children - Essay Example The loss is fairly gradual, so it may not be noticed immediately. The amount of hearing lost depends on the intensity of the sound, the duration of the sound, and how often the person experiences the sound. Hearing loss can be long term, or short term, depending on the above three instances. Once hearing loss has happened, however, there is no way to cure what has happened. In "Noise Induced Hearing Loss in Children: what Educators Need to Know", by Anne Kathryn Haller and Judy K. Montgomery, they describe the effect that noise induced hearing loss has had on American society. Nearly one third of Americans with hearing loss can link their decreased hearing ability to noise (Haller 29). Over time, it has moved to the number two cause of hearing loss, after age-related hearing loss. According to Haller, "nearly thirty million people are estimated to be exposed to injurious levels of noise each day" (30). What is worse is that many of these people are children. For children, loss of hearing carries a greater penalty then loss of hearing for adults has. Children are still learning how to use language, and a loss of hearing can negatively impact their ability to communicate, understand and learn language (Holler 2004). In the article, to prevent these problems in schools, Holler suggests having regular assessments of noise in schools, keeping noise in cafet erias and gymnasiums as low as possible, encouraging students to use personal hearing protectors, and regular screening of students for hearing loss, so that it can be caught and treated early (Holler 2004). In "The Effectiveness of an Interactive Hearing Conservation Program for Children," by Gail D. Chermak, Lori Curtis and J. Anthony Seikel, the researchers looked at recent increases in hearing loss in children and possible causes and solutions. They determined that of children with hearing loss, the majority of them are boys ages ten and older who have diminished their hearing in leisure activity (Chermok 1). Their study primarily looked at the effectiveness of hearing education for children in elementary school, and its long term effect on the children's responses to situations involving excessive noise. They presented to children two one hour sessions in which they were asked first what they knew about hearing and hearing loss in a questionnaire, and then were taught how to recognize situations of excessive noise, and how to protect their own hearing in those situations. Results suggested that this education significantly increased the children's knowledge of hearing and hearing l oss, and also increased the children's likelihood to use preventive and protective measures when around excessive noise. In the third article, "Hearing Conservation Education Programs for Children: A Review," by Robert L. Folmar, Susan E. Griest, and William Hal Martin, current efforts to protect children's hearing are reviewed, in order to provide a comprehensive source for educators. They found twelve programs whose primary goal was to educate about hearing loss, and an additional seventeen whose specifically looked at children and

The first day at a new school or college Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The first day at a new school or college - Essay Example Looking back at my life, from since I was a child, I always thought of myself as an easy-to-approach and friendly person. This made me confident about being in new environments, as I imagined people could easily befriend me. Even when I watched movies that showed how people are bullied when they join a new school, I was sure it would never happen to me. In my view, I am easy-going, cool and fun to be around, as evidenced by the fact that I have many friends with whom I play football with over the weekend or after school, if time allows. However, this all changed when my father informed my siblings and I that we would be moving to a different town since he had been offered a better job there. This meant changing schools and worse, leaving the friends that I had grown close to and shared memorable things with. My siblings- two younger sisters- were excited and sad about leaving their friends too, they were scared about joining a new school too, as they felt it would be hard to find peo ple that they could get along with easily. On the other hand, I felt that this would not be a challenge and that I would keep in touch with my old friends via phone and facebook. The fateful day of our moving came and goodbyes were said. Being on a Saturday, I made sure that I had bid farewell to my friends from school the day before and exchanged contacts, including postal address, to ensure we remain in touch. I was particularly keen on keeping in touch with my swimming instructor; he had been such an inspiration and a mentor as I hone and perfect my swimming skills. I discovered my passion for the sport through him and found someone to guide me through my studies, so he was a person I was sure I would miss. Getting to the new town and settling into a new neighborhood worked out fine; this was a larger town, much nearer to the city. I found it exciting and eagerly awaited that day which I would start at the new school and make friends. Sunday was dedicated to unpacking and being a cquainted with the new environs. I realized that there were no kids of my age but consoled myself that I would make some at school the following day and we would visit each other. My sisters were lucky enough to find their age mates in the neighborhood. I was further consoled by the fact that there was a youth hostel nearby, thus I could comfortably continue swimming. I mapped out my route to school and prepared my bag and clothes in anticipation of the first day. I had no problem getting up, as I was energized and slightly nervous; hurriedly, I showered, had my breakfast and left for the new school which was a ten-minute walk. I got to school early enough and checked in at the admissions office to get a copy of the timetable, combination for my locker and a brief orientation. Walking into my first class marked the end of all my hopes of making friends easily and simply fitting into the new environment. The class teacher felt the need to make me stand up at the front and talk a litt le about myself. As I did this, I heard other students giggle and some sneered; it was generally an uncomfortable and disheartening moment. Being an optimist, I told myself this would pass before lunchtime; however, this was not to be, as I painfully discovered through the rest of the day. My next class was Chemistry and everyone had a lab partner except for me. The teacher then paired me up with a student that seemed ‘out casted’ by the rest for some reason. I joined her and quickly introduced myself only to get a cold shoulder from her. Through the class, I realized that she was much smarter than everyone else and this made her arrogant, thus no one liked her. I suffered through trying to keep up and challenged myself to make her a friendly person. My day got worse at lunch time when I walked into the cafeteria and realized that everyone sat in a group which each had certain tables ‘reserved’ for them. I got my food and mustered the courage to sit at a ta ble that had two occupants

Applying to the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies Personal Statement

Applying to the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies - Personal Statement Example The most memorable of these voluntary activities were participating in the Youth for Youth Foundation, being a delegate in for the European Youth Parliament, and taking part in the Junior Achievement Young Enterprise. As a result of my voluntary activities, I have been awarded a number of certificates among which are those related to the economy and social responsibility. I have also been an active participant in school Olympiads the most noteworthy of which were in English, Sociology, and Psychology. Moreover, since I was a child, I have always had a competitive spirit and this inspired me to participate in a number of sporting competitions, and most recently, I was a part of my high school handball team for four years. At the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, I intend to register for a diverse number of extracurricular activities in order to ensure my personal development. Among these is taking part in competitions, taking on voluntary activities, as well as participating in e xchange programmes so that I can broaden my horizons concerning other institutions of learning. It is my belief that at the Academy, I will be able to not only become a part of an institution with a long history of academic excellence but also have an opportunity to interact with a diverse number of people from different backgrounds. These interactions will enable me to become more effective in my professional life while at the same time helping me to develop into a more responsible global citizen.

Financial statement Essay Example for Free

Financial statement Essay Accounting mainly involves analyzing, interpretation and reporting of business transaction records. Accounting provides information for decision making to the management. The purpose of accounting is to maintain proper control of finances of an organization. In other words, accounting is an information system whose purpose is to provide essential information about business financial activities. It is primarily involves design of record keeping system, summarized reports based on the recorded data and eventually interpretation of the reports. (Duane and Charles 1991; Martin Fernando 2002). Four basic financial statements are: Balance sheet: This records assets and liabilities as well as owner’s equity of a business entity. Assets include current assets such as cash, debtors, securities, and prepayments. Long term assets include land, machineries, plants, and furniture. On the T account liabilities are recorded on the right hand side. They include current liabilities and long term liabilities and owners equity. The first step towards preparing financial statement is recording the transactions in the journals. Then the accountant will prepare ledger accounts for every item e. g. machinery, wages, furniture, cash accounts and so on. It is from these ledgers data to prepare the basic financial statement is derived from. The relationships Net income/loss reported in income statement forms part of owner’s equity items. If net loss results, it is deducted, if net income results then it is added (in the owner’s equity statement). Owner’s equity as at end of trading period from the owner’s equity statement is recorded in the balance sheet as owner’s capital. Net cash reported in the cash flow statement is the cash reported in the balance sheet (Carl etal 2008) Users of financial Statement Financial statements are very useful to managers, investors, creditors, and employees. Managers need to know performance of the business in terms of profit, costs, liquidity, and solvency status so as they appropriately plan and make decisions for future. These statements also help them in budgeting and forecasting the performance. Investors are concerned about maximization of their wealth. These statements show the dividends and other incomes rewarded. They can use the statements to judge potential earnings from the firm. Creditors offer credit facilities to a business. They use these statements to evaluate a business liquidity and solvency status so as they may be able to know ability of a business to meet its short term and long term liabilities. Employees are also concerned to know the performance of their employer. Good performance means continuation of their employment while poor performance is a threat to their employment. (Bhabatosh 2005) Objectives of financial reporting Financial reporting is to provide information for decision making. It is also help in forecasting, budgeting, control. Financial reporting determines financial position of a business entity. It also shows income earned. Financial reporting is meant to be used by both internal and external users. Accounting principles, assumptions and constraints Accounting principles includes: cost principle; which state that assets and liabilities should be reported at acquisition cost rather than market cost, Revenue principle; state that revenue should be recorded when goods pass into the possession of the buyer (when realizable or earned. Revenue should not be anticipated), matching principle; state that expenses should be matched with revenues accruing from a certain transaction, Disclosure principle; state that, any information that may affect decision making should be disclosed. (Jerry etal 2004). Assumptions includes: Going concern; a business entity is assumed to be continuing with operations indefinitely, Business entity; this state that business and the owners are separate entities, Time period; operations of a business entity can be divided into time periods, Monetary unit assumption; a stable currency as unit of account is assumed. (Jerry etal 2004). Constraints includes: Objectivity principle; financial statement should be objective based on evidence, Materiality principle; any item that is likely to influence decision of the financial accounts user should be included, Consistency principle; accounting principles should be used be consistently. (Jerry etal 2004). Accounting equation; The accounting equation is: assets =liabilities + owners’ liabilities. Business transaction leading to increase in assets will affect assets side. However this has to be funded by either owners or creditors. Meaning that, the equation will always be balanced. Conclusion Accounting reporting purpose is to provide information for decision making. Accounting standards by both international and national accounting bodies should be adhered to in financial reporting. Basic financial statements are balance sheet, cash flow statement, owners’ equity statement, and income statement. These statements are very useful to both internal and external users as far as decision making is concerned. Reference Duane, R. , Charles, S. (1991). The Essentials of Accounting 1. Research Education Association. Martin, S. , Fernando, A. (2002). Financial Statement Analysis: A Practitioner’s Guide. John Wiley and Sons. Bhabatosh, B. (2005). Financial Policy And Management Accounting 7th Ed. PHI learning Pvt. Ltd. Carl, S. , James, M. , Jonathan, E. (2008) Accounting. Cengage Learning. Jerry J. , Donald, E. , Paul, D. , Barbara, T (2004). Accounting Principles, Part 1. John Willey Sons

Global Forces And The Western European Brewing Industry

Global Forces And The Western European Brewing Industry The PESTEL framework categorizes environmental influences into six main types: political, economic, social technological environmental and legal. Where by the politics highlight the role of government; economic refers to macroeconomic factor such as exchange rates, and differential economic growth rates around the world; social influences include changing culture and demographics; technological influences refer to innovations as the internet; environmental stands for issues such as pollution and waste; and finally legal embraces legislative constraints or changes such as health and safety legislation or restrictions on company mergers and acquisition. The Western European brewing industry is highly penetrated; too many companies due to which the competition is very steep which is causing consolidation through acquisition, alliances and closures within the industry. The PESTEL framework can be used to help identify the key forces that are driving the change in the market. Political Factors could be the active campaign of European government against drunken driving, binge drinking, and consequently the long term health and fitness problems. These campaigns have the potential to push for law changes surrounding what alcohol can be purchased in restaurants, pubs, bars and retail outlets in terms of both quantity and alcohol volume % There is an overall decline of consumption of beer in Europe as many traditional key markets have been made increasingly aware of the social problems associated with alcohol consumption. Restrictions on packaging such as the usage of cans in Denmark. Economic Economic recession in 2009 has also lead to an effect on beer sales mainly in the United Kingdom where an estimate of 50 pubs closed per week due to recession. Beer consumption per capita varies widely between countries, for example being four times higher in Germany than in Italy. Some traditionally low consumption European markets have been showing good growth, for example with reference to table 1 comparing year 1980 to 2000 the consumption of beer has increased from 3534000 hectoliters to 6453000 hectoliters which is approximately 82.60%. Social Lifestyle in emerging market has changed due to the increase in the availability of disposable income, leading to an increase in beer consumption. The new trends like wines, non alcoholic beers, extra cold lagers and fruit flavored beers will adversely affect the consumption of beers. Education and health; there is an increasing awareness of the effect of alcohol on health and fitness. Particularly in the United Kingdom there is increasing hostility to so called binge drinking excessive alcohol consumption in pubs and clubs. Technological Rate of technological change; as seen in the Anheuser Busch InBev (Belgium) company that efficiency gains will come from more central coordination of purchasing, including media and IT from the optimization of its inherited network of breweries and from the sharing of best practices across sites internationally. Innovation of new products; the case witnesses that the introduction of higher priced premium products such as non alcoholic beers, extra cold lagers or fruit flavored beers has led to increase in sales. Environmental Pollution; people are getting more and more aware of the environment and it is necessary that the companies do everything to prevent environmental pollution. It is important that the environmental load through the brewing process is as low as possible. Waste and recycling; reusability and recycling is important, the brewing industry for example treats their effluents so that they can use it again for irrigation. Through this they save energy and minimize sludge disposal. Legal International law; when comparing Europe with the United States we have witnessed that in America it is forbidden to drink in public places in contrast to Europe where you can drink alcohol wherever you want. This could lead to new laws that forbid drinking in the public place. Acquisition, licensing and strategic alliance have all occurred as the leading brewers battle to control the market. The global pressures for the consolidation due to over capacity within the industry, the need to contain costs and benefits of leveraging strong brands. For example in 2004, Belgian brewery Interbrew merged with Am Bev, the Brazilian brewer group to create the largest brewer in the world. A five forces analysis The five forces analysis was originally developed by Michael Porter in 1990, as a way of assessing the attractiveness of different industries or sectors in terms of competitive forces. The five forces constitute an industrys structure, although initially developed with businesses in mind the industry structure analysis with the five forces framework is of value to most of the organizations. As well as assessing the attractiveness of the brewing industry the five forces can help set an agenda for action on the various areas that they identify. The five forces are: Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Competitive rivalry POTENTIAL ENTRANTS COMPETITIVE RIVALRY Threat of entry Threat of substitutes Bargaining power Bargaining power SUPPLIERS BUYERS SUBSTITUTES FIG 1 THE FIVE FORCES FRAMEWORK Threat of substitutes The threat of substitute is high because there is an availability of wine, fruit flavored beer and also extra cold lagers. From table 1 and 2 in the case study we can witness the negative effect of the substitute on beer; taking an example of Denmark table 1 shows a decline in the beer consumption and in table 2 shows increase in the importation of exotic beers from overseas. Threat of new entrants Threat of entry depends on the extent and height of barriers to entry; barriers of entry are factors that need to be overcome by new entrants if they are to compete successfully. According to the case I think the threat of new entrants is very low because the industry is very much penetrated and mergers taking place, also there are global pressures for consolidation which sustain their competitive position in the industry. There are very few big brewery companies which makes them dominate the market, so for a new entrant would be hard to have that financial effort. Bargaining power of buyers Customers of course are essential for the survival of any business, but sometimes customers can have such high bargaining power that their suppliers are hard pressed to make any profits at all. The bargaining power is high due to the government campaign strongly against drunken driving, and binge drinking which has led to an increase in off trade (retail) than on trade (beer consumed on premises as in pubs or restaurant). The off trade is increasingly dominated by large supermarket chains such as Tesco and Carrefour which gives them the bargaining power. Bargaining power of suppliers Suppliers are those who supply the organization with what it needs to produce the product or service. The main purchasing costs are packaging, raw material such as barley and energy. The European packaging industry is highly concentrated, dominated by international companies. The case shows that the bargaining power of supplier in packaging is high because there only three can makers and shifting cost from one can maker to the other could be high either in terms of money or even technology. Competitive rivalry Competitive rivalry is organizations with similar products and services aimed at the same customer group. The competitive rivalry in the brewing industry is very high because almost all companies have the same product/ product differentiation is low, high rate of acquisitions, alliances and strategic alliance and also consolidation due to over capacity within the industry. Conclusion With regard to the PESTEL analysis and the Porters five forces analysis I conclude that in order to sustain the competitive position and market share in the brewing industry, one should acquire, license or strategic alliance with an existing company could be small, medium or already a large company. Question 2 For the three breweries outlined above [or breweries of your own choice] explain: How these trends will impact differently on these different companies; and The relative strengths and weaknesses of each company Anheuser-Busch InBev [Belgium] A-B InBev is the largest brewer in the world; it achieved this position when InBev acquired the leading American brewer Anheuser Busch for 52bn. The company now has nearly 300 brands and approximate 50% share of the US market and owns 50% of Mexicos leading brewers. The company is frank about the strategy to transform itself from the biggest brewing company to the best. STRENGTH WEAKNESS Largest brewer in the world Inherited network of breweries Strong financial power The merger of Belgian Interbrew and Brazilian Am Bev in 2004 The companys strategy to transform itself from the biggest to the best by: Building strong global brands Increase efficiency through more central coordination of purchasing including median and IT. Greene King [United Kingdom] Greene King is now the largest domestic British brewer, which was established in 1799. It has expanded through a series of acquisition including Ruddles [1995], Morland [1999] and Hardys and Hansons [2006]. STRENGTH WEAKNESS Brew high quality beer from an efficient single site. Medium size brewing company Focused brand portfolio which is minimizing the complexity and cost of a multi brand strategy. Less financial power 2000 pubs across the UK with a particular dominant position in its home region of East Anglia. Expansion through acquisition, which led to critics calling the company greedy king. Tsingtao [China] Tsingtao brewery was found in 1903 by German settlers in China, after state ownership under communism Tsingtao was privatized in the early 1990s and listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange in 1993. Tsingtao has 13% market share of its home country, the company has described its ambition thus; to promote the continuous growth of the sales volume and income to step forward the target of becoming an international great company. STRENGTH WEAKNESS It is the Chinese brand leader in United States Small brewing company Its now sold in more than 62 countries. Less financial power Almost 50% of exports Home market share is very low {13%} A bottle of Tsingtao appeared in the 1982 science fiction film blade Ronner.

It’s Time to Put an End to Corporal Punishment in Schools Essay

It’s Time to Put an End to Corporal Punishment in Schools Seven countries-Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Austria, Italy and Cyprus- have laws making it illegal for parents to use physical punishment on their children. Corporal punishment in schools has been banned in all the countries in Europe, South and Central America, China and Japan. The United States has outlawed corporal punishment from our prisons as cruel and inhumane treatment, as well as wife-beating, once thought to be the right of a husband. Why don’t we afford the same protection to our children? Our culture sanctions the use of corporal or physical punishment as a way for parents to discipline their children. Just a few weeks ago Marvin Munyon, president of the Family Resource Forum based in Madison, Wisconsin, was at the Eau Claire Gospel Center to talk about and demonstrate the proper way to spank children. Mr. Munyon would have us believe that discipline other than spanking is ineffective (Emerson 1B, 3B). From my experience as a child and a parent I have found the opposite to be true. If we take a look at what discipline is and the reasons parents use physical punishment, we can then start to understand that there are more effective ways to discipline children. Webster’s New World Dictionary defines corporal punishment, as â€Å"bodily punishment.† The word punish is defined by the same source as â€Å"to cause to undergo pain, loss, etc., as for a crime.† There is no mention anywhere in this definition about teaching or training which is one of the definitions of discipline: â€Å"training that develops self-control, efficiency, etc.† What does physical punishment teach children? For one thing it teaches them that it’s ok... ...Associated Press. â€Å"To Spank or not to Spank? Debate continues after Georgia incident. A Matter of Discipline.† Baltimore Sun, The (Baltimore, MD), July 10, 1994: 1J. Available: NewsBank NewsFile Collection (1991-current) (Online). Emerson, Julian. â€Å"Spanking As Discipline Promoted.† Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, September 23, 2000: 1B, 3B. EPOCH-USA. â€Å"Spanking: Facts & Fiction.† Homepage. 15 Oct. 2000 http:/www.stophitting.com/EPOCH/epoch_spanking.htm NCACPS: â€Å"Facts About Corporal Punishment.† Homepage: 15 Oct. 2000 http:/www.stophitting.com/NCACPS/NCACPS_facts_about_corporal_punishment.htm Schulte, Brigid. â€Å"AMA research suggests spanking kids hinders discipline more than it helps.† Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service, August 14, 1997. Available: NewsBank NewsFile Collection (1991-current) (Online).

Chicago Hope Essay :: essays research papers

Chicago Hope Essay Chicago Hope is a TV Drama. The show uses camera shots and angles', lighting, dialogue and characters to portray the attitudes and values of the director. These are also used to push across themes. The values and attitudes that are strongly pushed across in this episode are Relationships, Law and order, gender and race and Men's health. A major relationship that is focused upon in this episode is the one between Dianne and Margaret, who is supposedly Dianne's lost mother. The fact that Margaret gave Dianne up for adoption at birth means that this reunion will be a very delicate one. The close up of Dianne in the car before she gets out the car to met her mother shows her feelings and makes it known that this is an important moment for both mother and daughter. The extreme close up when Dianne says 'I'm the daughter'; shows us the full impact of the statement and it makes us feel for Dianne and what she is going through at that moment. When Dianne is in the bathroom and she opens the cabinet it frames her face, when she closes it and there are two figures in it. We are filled with shock, and the suspense of what will happen to her next keeps us involved and interested in the show – the music that is playing in this scene also adds to the dramatic tension. The next part of this story line sees Margaret talking about how she knows abit about medicine because she had a hysterectomy. By mixing up the dates we start to feel that something isn't quite right. While Margaret is talking about the hysterectomy and how there we complications we are being lead toward the attitude that doctors aren't always right nor are they Gods. In the shower scene there are sound effects of creaking taps, water-running and so on, this gives us the impression of a creepy old house. The close up of Dianne with the silhouette in the background gives us the feeling that something bad is about to happen and that she is going to be the poor unsuspecting victim. This scene is exactly the same as the shower scene in Alfred Hitchcocks' 'Psycho';. When Dianne has found out that Margaret is really Alfreda Perkins, Billy wants to leave but before they can Margaret comes out with a knife. This immediately makes us think that she is going to turn out like the psycho lady we think she is.

Russian Revolution and Orwell Essay -- Animal Farm George Orwell Novel

Russian Revolution and Orwell Animal Farm and the Russian Revolution have many similarities and ideas. The characters, settings, and the plots are the same. In addition Animal Farm is a satire and allegory of the Russian Revolution, George Orwell meant for it to be that way. My essay will cover the comparison between Animal Farm and the Russian Revolution. Also it will explain why this novel is a satire and allegory to the Revolution. First of all the characters of the farm have a special role in Russian Revolution. The farm itself represents Russia, with its poor conditions and non-responsible leaders. Napoleon, the evil pig who plays Joseph Stalin in real life. Snowball, the leader who gives aid and information to Napoleon and plays the character Lenin on the Russian revolution...

Financial Analysis- for Royal Dutch Shell

Royal Dutch Shell, Plc. (NYSE: RDS. A) Table of Contents Executive Summary3 Introduction4 Financial Ratio Analysis5 Liquidity6 Asset Management7 Debt Management8 Profitability10 Market Value12 Cash Flow and Growth Analysis14 Capital Structure Estimation16 Weighted Average Cost of Capital17 Cost of Debt17 Cost of Equity – CAPM18 Cost of Equity – DCF19 Cost of Equity – BYPRP19 WACC20 Project Cash Flow Estimation21 Capital Budgeting Analysis23 Sensitivity Analysis24 Scenario Analysis27 Conclusion28 References29 Appendix30Executive Summary This report analyzes Royal Dutch Shell Plc. (RDS. A on NYSE) financial status, history, market space, and growth opportunities. Royal Dutch Shell Plc. (Shell) is one of the world’s largest corporations with annual revenue of $470 billion for fiscal year 2011. When analyzing a company it is vital to ensure all aspects of the firm’s financial standing are stable, this is essential to guarantee its ability to take upon n ew major projects, such as the one being proposed at this time and evaluated in this report.This report intends to evaluate the possibility of Shell undertaking a project that requires a total initial investment of $580 million in fixed assets as wells as operation expenses of $38 million, for a total of $618 million is startup costs. This report illustrates Shell’s financial standing through, ratio analysis, cash flow analysis, and detailed capital budgeting analysis to help calculate Shell’s capacity to accept the proposed project. The life of the project will be eight years and expected to have a growth rate of 8. 5%.The Net Present Value of the project is approximately $284 million and is expected to pay for itself in approximately 4. 74 years according to discounted payback calculations (detailed in report). Introduction Royal Dutch Shell plc operates as an oil, gas and energy company that explores for and extracts hydrocarbons worldwide. Royal Dutch Shell also co nverts natural gas to liquids to provide cleaner-burning fuels; markets and trades natural gas; extracts bitumen from mined oil sands and convert it to synthetic crude oil; and generates electricity from wind energy.In addition, it converts crude oil into a range of refined products, including gasoline, diesel, heating oil, aviation fuel, marine fuel, lubricants, bitumen, sulphur, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG); and produces and sells petrochemicals for industrial use. The company holds interests in approximately 30 refineries; 1,500 storage tanks and 150 distribution facilities; and fuels retail network of approximately 43,000 service stations under the Shell brand name. Royal Dutch Shell plc also markets its products under the Shell V-Power and Shell FuelSaver brand names.In addition, the company offers lubricants for use in passenger cars, trucks, and coaches, as well as for industrial machinery in manufacturing, mining, power generation, agriculture, and construction industri es. Royal Dutch Shell plc sells fuels, specialty products, and services to commercial customers; offers fuel for approximately 7,000 aircraft every day at 800 airports in 30 countries; offers liquefied petroleum gas and related services to retail, commercial, and industrial customers for cooking, heating, lighting, and transport applications; provides transport, industrial, and heating fuels; and supplies approximately 11,000 tones of itumen products. Royal Dutch Shell plc is headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and employs roughly 23,000 people worldwide. (Royal Dutch Shell, 2012). Financial Ratio Analysis The following table illustrates Royal Dutch Shell’s financial ratios analysis and will assist in the understanding of the current and (estimated) future status of the organization. The ratios will allow for a general interpretation of the firm’s strength and ability to take on outside projects. The table exemplifies the liquidity, asset management, debt managemen t, profitability, and market value standpoint of the firm.Examining Royal Dutch Shell’s financial ratios presents a positive outlook for the company, in comparison to the industry average Shell is performing exceptionally well. Royal Dutch Shell, Plc. (NYSE: RDS. A) Financial Ratios| Liquidity Ratios| 12/31/2011| 12/31/2010| 12/31/2009| 12/31/2008| 12/31/2007| Average| Industry| Comments| Quick Ratio| 0. 85| 0. 8| 0. 79| 0. 9| 0. 84| 0. 84| 1. 1| Healthy| Current Ratio| 1. 17| 1. 12| 1. 14| 1. 1| 1. 15| 1. 136| 1. 5| Healthy| | | | | | | | | | Asset Management| 12/31/2011| 12/31/2010| 12/31/2009| 12/31/2008| 12/31/2007| Average| Industry| Comments| Inventory Turnover| 13. | 10. 84| 9. 77| 15. 56| 10. 84| 12. 12| 14. 9| OK| Fixed Assets Turnover| 3. 29| 2. 76| 2. 34| 4. 28| 3. 51| 3. 24| 1. 3| Healthy| Total Asset Turnover| 1. 45| 1. 23| 0. 99| 1. 66| 1. 41| 1. 35| 0. 6| Healthy| | | | | | | | | | Debt Management| 12/31/2011| 12/31/2010| 12/31/2009| 12/31/2008| 12/31/2007| Ave rage| Industry| Comments| Debt Ratio| 17. 90%| 22. 80%| 20. 20%| 15. 30%| 12. 60%| 17. 76%| 51. 98%| Healthy| Net Fixed Debt Ratio| 15. 10%| 18. 70%| 18. 30%| 9. 70%| 8. 90%| 14. 14%| 27. 38%| Healthy| Debt to Equity Ratio| 21. 70%| 29. 61%| 25. 36%| 18. 06%| 14. 37%| 21. 82%| 42. 69%| Healthy| | | | | | | | | |Profitability Ratios| 12/31/2011| 12/31/2010| 12/31/2009| 12/31/2008| 12/31/2007| Average| Industry| Comments| Net Profit Margin on Sales| 6. 32%| 5. 47%| 6. 88%| 3. 32%| 10. 19%| 6. 44%| 6. 50%| Healthy| Basic Earning Power | 16. 12%| 10. 96%| 7. 19%| 18. 00%| 18. 77%| 14. 21%| 6. 80%| Healthy| ROA % (Net)| 9. 26%| 6. 55%| 4. 36%| 9. 50%| 12. 41%| 8. 42%| 10. 15%| Healthy| ROE % (Net)| 19. 47%| 14. 15%| 9. 49%| 20. 86%| 27. 28%| 18. 25%| 14. 24%| Healthy| | | | | | | | | | Market Value Ratios| 12/31/2011| 12/31/2010| 12/31/2009| 12/31/2008| 12/31/2007| Average| Industry| Comments| Price per Earning Ratio| 7. 4%| 10. 14%| 14. 24%| 6. 06%| 8. 32%| 9. 28%| 7. 86| Healthy| Divid end Yield| 4. 60%| 5. 03%| 5. 52%| 5. 89%| 3. 34%| 4. 88%| 4. 76%| Average| Book Value per Share| $ 54. 98 | $ 47. 85 | $ 45. 05 | $ 42. 02 | $ 38. 61 | $ 45. 70| $ 46. 43| Average| Earnings per Share| $ 4. 98 | $ 3. 28 | $ 2. 04 | $ 4. 27 | $ 5. 00 | $ 3. 91| $ 3. 26| Average| Table 1 – Financial Ratio Overview Liquidity Ratios Liquidity Ratios| 12/31/2011| 12/31/2010| 12/31/2009| 12/31/2008| 12/31/2007| Average| Industry| Comments| Quick Ratio| 0. 85| 0. 8| 0. 79| 0. 9| 0. 84| 0. 84| 1. | Healthy| Current Ratio| 1. 17| 1. 12| 1. 14| 1. 1| 1. 15| 1. 136| 1. 5| Healthy| Figure 1 –RDS. A Liquidity Ratio Trend The current ratio measures a company's ability to pay short-term debts and other current liabilities by comparing current assets to current liabilities. The ratio illustrates a company's ability to remain solvent. Shell’s five year current ratio average is 1. 13, . 37 below the industry average, and their quick ratio is . 84, . 26 below the industry average. Shells liquidity ratios are both below the industry average and illustrate their healthy status and continued strength for liquidity.Asset Management Ratios Asset Management| 12/31/2011| 12/31/2010| 12/31/2009| 12/31/2008| 12/31/2007| Average| Industry| Comments| Inventory Turnover| 13. 6| 10. 84| 9. 77| 15. 56| 10. 84| 12. 12| 14. 9| OK| Fixed Assets Turnover| 3. 29| 2. 76| 2. 34| 4. 28| 3. 51| 3. 24| 1. 3| Healthy| Total Asset Turnover| 1. 45| 1. 23| 0. 99| 1. 66| 1. 41| 1. 35| 0. 6| Healthy| | | | | | | | | | Figure 2 –RDS. A Asset Management Ratio Trend Asset Management ratios give an indicator of efficiency (ability to move inventory and generate sales) within a company, particularly ones with tangible goods as compared to its competitors.You can see from figure 2 that in comparison to the industry average Shell is healthy and efficient in their assets and inventory turnover. Figure 2 reflects a spike in Shells inventory turnover in 2008; however this can also be attrib uted to the economic downturn in 2008. Even with the spike Shells average is still on par with the industry and exemplifies a healthy asset management turnover. Debt Management Ratios Debt Management| 12/31/2011| 12/31/2010| 12/31/2009| 12/31/2008| 12/31/2007| Average| Industry| Comments| Debt Ratio| 17. 90%| 22. 80%| 20. 20%| 15. 0%| 12. 60%| 17. 76%| 51. 98%| Healthy| Net Fixed Debt Ratio| 15. 10%| 18. 70%| 18. 30%| 9. 70%| 8. 90%| 14. 14%| 27. 38%| Healthy| Debt to Equity Ratio| 21. 70%| 29. 61%| 25. 36%| 18. 06%| 14. 37%| 21. 82%| 42. 69%| Healthy| Times Interest Earned| 41. 54| 36. 49| 39. 78| 33. 38| N/A| 37. 79| 25. 61| Healthy| | | | | | | | | | Figure 3 –RDS. A Debt Management Ratio Trend Royal Dutch Shell’s Debt Management ratios indicate that it has been less aggressive with using debt to finance growth than the majority of its competitors in the Oil & Gas industry.Across the board Shell has a lower debt ratio than their competitors; the resultant effect on earnings would be less volatile than related companies. The debt ratio is a solvency ratio that examines how much of a company's assets are made of liabilities. A debt ratio of 20 percent means that 20 percent of the company is liabilities. A high debt ratio can be negative; this indicates the shareholder equity is low and potential solvency issues. A low debt to equity ratio indicates lower risk, because debt holders have less claims on the company's assets. Overall Royal Dutch Shell is in an excellent Debt Management position.Figure 4 –RDS. A Debt Management Ratio (TIE) Trend Times interest earned or Interest Coverage Ratio is a key metric to determine the credit worthiness of a business. Essentially, the number represents how many times in the last 12 months' EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) would have covered the past 12 months' interest expenses. Royal Dutch Shell’s times interest earned ratio has a four year average of 37. 79, which is 12. 18 points supe rior than the industry average which rests at 25. 61. This presents Shell in a healthy credit worthiness business. Profitability RatiosProfitability Ratios| 12/31/2011| 12/31/2010| 12/31/2009| 12/31/2008| 12/31/2007| Average| Industry| Comments| Net Profit Margin on Sales| 6. 32%| 5. 47%| 6. 88%| 3. 32%| 10. 19%| 6. 44%| 6. 50%| Healthy| Basic Earning Power Ratio| 16. 12%| 10. 96%| 7. 19%| 18. 00%| 18. 77%| 14. 21%| 6. 80%| Healthy| ROA % (Net)| 9. 26%| 6. 55%| 4. 36%| 9. 50%| 12. 41%| 8. 42%| 10. 15%| Healthy| ROE % (Net)| 19. 47%| 14. 15%| 9. 49%| 20. 86%| 27. 28%| 18. 25%| 14. 24%| Healthy| | | | | | | | | | Figure 5 –RDS. A Profitability Ratio Trend When it comes to profitability, Royal Dutch Shell is on average with its competitors.Net Profit Margin is the net earnings of a company / sales. This profitability ratio compares the percent of net earnings from a company's sales. Royal Dutch Shell’s Net Profit is on par with other companies in the Oil ; Gas industry, w hich means it has an equal ability spend assets on business operations when compared to its competitors. Basic earning power shows the raw earning power of a firm’s assets before taxes and other leverages. This will help the firm understand their return on its assets. Return on Assets or ROA, shows the rate of return (after tax) being earned on all of the firm's assets regardless of financing structure.It is a measure of how efficiently the company is using all stakeholders' assets to earn returns. Royal Dutch Shell has a five year average of 8. 42%, which is 1. 73% lower than the industry average, however still in the healthy zone. Return on equity or ROE is used to measures the rate of return on the money invested by common stock owners and retained by the company from previous profitable years and shows how well a company uses investment funds to generate growth. Royal Dutch Shell’s Return on Equity indicates that it is able to reinvest its earnings more efficiently than the majority of its competitors in the Oil ; Gas industry.Typically, companies that have higher return on equity values are more attractive to investors and can provide for better growth and profitability. Market Value Ratios Market Value Ratios| 12/31/2011| 12/31/2010| 12/31/2009| 12/31/2008| 12/31/2007| Average| Industry| Comments| Price per Earning Ratio| 7. 64%| 10. 14%| 14. 24%| 6. 06%| 8. 32%| 9. 28%| 7. 86%| Healthy| Dividend Yield| 4. 60%| 5. 03%| 5. 52%| 5. 89%| 3. 34%| 4. 88%| 4. 76%| Average| Payout Ratio| 5. 46%| 4. 76%| 8. 41%| 3. 62%| 2. 87%| 5. 02%| 2. 67%| Healthy| Book Value per Share| $ 54. 98 | $ 47. 85 | $ 45. 5 | $ 42. 02 | $ 38. 61 | $ 45. 70| $ 46. 43| Average| Earnings per Share| $ 4. 98 | $ 3. 28 | $ 2. 04 | $ 4. 27 | $ 5. 00 | $ 3. 91| $ 3. 26| Average| Figure 6 –RDS. A Market Value Ratio Trend Earnings per share (EPS) is the amount of income that â€Å"belongs† to each share of common stock. An important tool for investors, EPS is often used in determining the value of a stock. As noted above, Royal Dutch Shell is on average with other firms in its industry. Book value per share has slowly been on a rise over the past 5 years, from $38. 61 in 2007 up to 54. 8 in 2011. Book value is a company's net asset value; a relatively high book value per share in relation to stock price often occurs when a stock is undervalued and might be an attractive buy. Figure 7 –RDS. A Market Value Ratio Trend The price per earnings ratio (PE) is the measure of the share price relative to the annual net income earned by the firm per share. PE ratio shows current investor demand for a company share. A high PE ratio generally indicates increased demand because investors anticipate earnings growth in the future. Royal Dutch Shell has a five year average of 9. 8% PE as compared to the industry average of 7. 86%; Shell is higher by 1. 42%. The dividend yield is the sum of a company's annual dividends per share, divided by the current price per share. When investing in companies an investor should look for a stable and high dividend yield; this can insure an investor a secure a relatively stable cash flow. Royal Dutch Shell's dividend yield is on par with other companies. As indicated by the payout ratio, Royal Dutch Shell’s earnings support the dividend payouts more than others in the same industry group. Cash Flow and Growth AnalysisRoyal Dutch Shell Cash Flow $ Million| 2011| 2010| 2009| 2008| 2007| Cash and Cash Equivalents at January 1| $ 13,444 | $ 9,719 | $ 15,188 | $ 9,656 | $ 9,002 | Net  Cash  from  Operating  Activities| $ 59,393 | $ 42,712 | $ 30,731 | $ 69,787 | $ 53,324 | Net Cash used in Investing Activities| $ (20,443)| $ (21,972)| $ (26,234)| $ (28,915)| $ (14,570)| Net Cash used in Financing Activities| $ (18,131)| $ (1,467)| $ (829)| $ (9,394)| $ (19,393)| Net (Decrease)/increase, Cash & Cash Equivalents| $ (2,152)| $ 3,725 | $ (5,469)| $ 5,532 | $ 654 | Cash & Cash Equivalents a t  December  31| $ 11,292 | $ 13,444 | $ 9,719 | $ 15,188 | $ 9,656 | Figure 8 –RDS. A Cash Flow Trend Information used and interpreted from the Royal Dutch Shell Investors Handbook illustrates that Royal Dutch Shell decreased the amount spent on operations from 2008 to 2009; this can most likely be due to the economic downturn. Conversely, from 2009 to 2011 there has been a steady increase in cash flows for operations.When evaluating charts in figure 9 and 10 you can see that along with a decrease in cash flows from 2008 – 2009 so did Shell have a decrease in revenues, net income and Earnings per share. From 2009 – 2011 all areas show a steady and healthy growth. Growth Analysis| | | | | | Report Date| 12/31/2011| 12/31/2010| 12/31/2009| 12/31/2008| 12/31/2007| Revenue| $ 470,171 | $ 368,056 | $ 278,188 | $ 458,361 | $ 355,782 | Net income for period| $ 31,185 | $ 20,474 | $ 12,718 | $ 26,476 | $ 31,926 | Net earnings per share-diluted| $ 4. 97 | $ 3. 28 | $ 2. 04 | $ 4. 26 | $ 4. 9 | Total assets| $ 345,257 | $ 322,560 | $ 292,181 | $ 282,401 | $ 269,470 | Total stockholders' equity| $ 171,003 | $ 149,780 | $ 138,135 | $ 128,866 | $ 125,968 | Net Cash ; Equivalents Flow| $ 11,300 | $ 13,400 | $ 9,700 | $ 15,200 | $ 9,560 | Figure 9 –RDS. A Growth Analysis Trend Figure 10 –RDS. A Growth Analysis Trend Capital Structure Estimation When performing the Capital Structure Estimation, the assessor can exam how the combination of equity capital and debt capital that a firm uses to finance its assets can have a positive or negative affect on the firm. The capital structure is how a firm finances its overall operations and growth by using different sources of funds. Royal Dutch Shell’s use of debt and ommon stock (Royal Dutch Shell does not issue preferred stock) impacts the open market and, as a result, the firm’s cost of capital is impacted in both constructive and/or destructive ways. RDS. A Market Value Method / Weights| Debt| $ 174,250,000,000. 00 | 27. 71%| Equity| $ 454,619,800,000. 00 | 72. 29%| | | | RDS. A Book Value Method / Weights| Debt| $ 174,250,000,000. 00 | 50. 47%| Equity| $ 171,000,000,000. 00 | 49. 53%| Figure 11 –RDS. A Capital Structure Estimation By examining the Balance Sheet and the numbers in figure 11 you can see that Royal Dutch Shell, based on market value, has a capital structure of 27. 1% debt and 72. 29% equity in the form of common stock totaling a market capitalization of $454 billion. When utilizing the book value, the weighing scale becomes 50. 47% debt and 49. 53% equity with a value of $171 billion. Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) Knowing a firm’s weighted average cost of capital is crucial when considering any new projects. A firm's WACC is the overall required return on the firm as a whole and, as such, it is often used internally by company directors to determine the economic feasibility of expansionary opportunities and mergers. G enerally speaking, a company’s assets are financed by either debt or equity.WACC is the average of the costs of these sources of financing, each of which is weighted by its respective use in the given situation. The weighted average can show how much interest the company has to pay for every dollar it finances. This section of the report will determine Royal Dutch Shell’s weighted average cost of capital. In determining the firm’s factor cost of common equity, the average of three methods will be utilized; Capital Asset Pricing Modem (CAPM), Discounted Cash Flow (DCF), and bond-yield-plus-risk-premium (BYPRP). Calculating the cost of debt (after tax) is figured by using the corporate tax rate and the cost of debt (Kd) which will be based on Royal Dutch Shell’s bond rating. Cost of DebtRoyal Dutch Shell’s after-tax cost of debt is calculated at 2. 30%. The calculation was determined using Shells corporate AA 10 year bond rating market value. RDS. A Cost of Debt| RDS. A 10 year Bond Rating| AA|   | Cost of Debt| 2. 43%|   | Risk Free Rate| 1. 62%|   | After Tax Cost of Debt| 2. 30%| Kd(1-T)| Corporate Tax Rate| 41. 85%|   | Figure 12 –RDS. A Cost of Debt Cost of Equity – CAPM Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) is a model that describes the relationship between risk and expected return and that is used in the pricing of risky securities. The general idea behind CAPM is that investors need to be compensated; this is calculated by the CAPM.The time value of money is represented by the risk-free (rf) rate in the formula and compensates the investors for placing money in investments over a period of time. The other half of the formula represents risk; this is calculated by taking a risk measure (beta) that compares the returns of the asset to the market over a period of time and to the market premium (Rm-rf) or Market risk premium (MRP). Figure 13 illustrates the outcome of the calculations and that Royal Dutch Shell’s CAPM is 10. 01%. RDS. A Cost of Equity CAPM| Formulated by: Rs = Rf + ba * MRP| |   |   | Risk Free Rate (Rf)| 1. 62%| Yahoo Finance U. S. Treasury Bond Rate| Market Risk Premium or (Rm-rf)| 6. 50%| Current Rate November, 2012| Beta (ba)| 1. 29%| E-Trade Financial| CAPM of RDS. A| 10. 01%|   | Cost of Debt (Kd)| 2. 43%|   |After Tax Cost of Debt| 2. 30%|   | Figure 13 –RDS. A Cost of Equity Cost of Equity – DCF The Discounted Cash Flow or DCF method uses future  free  cash flow projections and discounts them to arrive at a present value, which is used to evaluate the potential for investment. Figure 14 illustrates a breakdown of how the discounted cash flow is calculated. The growth rate (g) is the average of three outside estimations. After the calculation is computed, the cost of equity is equal to 11. 83%. RDS. A Cost of Equity DCF| Formulated: Rs = (D1/Po)+g so D1= Do(1+g) so (((Do(1+g)/Po)+g)|   | Rs = (((3. 42(1+6. 42%)/67. 02)+6. 42%)| | Average| E-Trade| Yahoo| Y-Charts| Growth Rate (g)| 6. 42%| 6. 80%| 6. 12%| 6. 35%| Dividend (Do)| 3. 42| Y-Charts| Stock Price (Po)| 67. 02| Current Rate November 2012| Rs = 11. 83%| Figure 14 –RDS. A Cost of Equity Cost of Equity – BYPRP Bond yield plus risk premium method is used to calculate cost of common equity for a firm. Figure 15 shows the calculation, the after tax cost of debt plus bond risk premium rate; which calculates to a cost of equity equal to 8. 80%. RDS. A Cost of Equity BYPRP| | Rs = BY + MRP| | RDS. A After Tax Cost of Debt (BY)| 2. 30%| Shell Investors Handbook| Bond Market Risk Premium (MRP)| 6. 50%| Current Rate November, 2012|   | Rs= 8. 80%|Figure 15 –RDS. A Cost of Equity Weighted Average Cost of Capital – WACC The WACC equation  is the cost of each capital component  multiplied by its proportional weight. To calculate the WACC we first take the average of the CAPM, DCF and BYPRP methods which is calculated in fig ure 16. RDS. A Average Cost of Equity| | CAPM| DCF| BYPRP| Average| Royal Dutch Shell | 10. 01%| 11. 83%| 8. 80%| 10. 21%| Figure 16 –RDS. A Average Cost of Equity Royal Dutch Shell has no preferred stock, thus weight of preferred stock (Wp) is equal to 0%. Figure 17 breaks down the full calculation of the Weighted Average Cost of Capital calculation and the defined values.Using the Weight of Equity and Weight of Debt calculated from the Capital Structure Estimation in figure 11 we can conclude that Royal Dutch Shell’s WACC is equal to 8. 28%. Royal Dutch Shell Plc WACC | WACC formulated: WACC = Ws*Rs + Wd*Rd*(1-Tax Rate) + Wp*Rp. | Ws| 72. 29%| | Weight of Equity (Common Stock)| Wd| 27. 71%| | Weight of Debt| Wp| 0. 00%| | Weight of Preferred Stock| Rd| 2. 30%| | After Tax Cost of Debt| Tax rate| 41. 85%| | Corporate Tax Rate| Rs| 10. 21%| | Cost of Equity (Average)| Rp| 6. 50%| | Market Risk Premium| WACC| 8. 28%| | Weighted Average Cost of Capital| Figure 18  œRDS. A WACC Project Cash Flow Estimation Royal Dutch Shell has been approached with a proposition for a new project. The project will have a life span of eight years.The proposed project requires initial investment of $580 million to construct building and purchase equipment, and $38 million for shipping & installation fee for a total of $618 million is start-up costs. The fixed assets fall in the 7-year MACRS class and has a salvage value of fixed assets at $17 million. It is expected that the new product will sale 2,280,000 units in the first year and has an expected annual growth rate of 8. 5%. The sales price is $275 per unit and the variable cost is $205 per unit in the first year, but they should be adjusted accordingly based on the estimated annualized inflation rate of 2. 3%. The required net operating working capital (NOWC) is 11. 5% of sales.A detailed analysis and calculations for the cash flow estimation and depreciation details must be performed to ensure that Royal Du tch Shell can undertake such a project. Initial Inputs and Parameters for the Proposed Project Start-Up Cost| | $618,000,000 | | | | | | Net Operating WC/Sales| | 11. 5%| | Market value of equipment at Year 8| $17,000,000 | First year sales (in units)| | 2,280,000 | | Tax rate| | | 41. 85%| Sales price per unit| | $275. 00| | WACC| | | 8. 28%| Variable cost per unit| | $205. 00| | Inflation| | | 2. 3%| Non-variable costs| | $0| | Growth in Sales | | | 8. 5%| Figure 19 –RDS. A Project Parameters Depreciation and Amortization Schedule Year| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Total| | | | | | | | | | | | Rate| | 14. 0%| 25. 0%| 17. 0%| 13. 0%| 9. 0%| 9. 0%| 9. 0%| 4. %| 100%| Cost| | $86,520,000 | $154,500,000 | $105,060,000 | $80,340,000 | $55,620,000 | $55,620,000 | $55,620,000 | $24,720,000 | $618,000,000| Total| |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | $0 |   | Figure 20 –RDS. A Depreciation Schedule Figure 20 illustrates the depreciation schedule of eight years, outlined in the project parameters. Project Net Cash Flow Figure 21 –RDS. A Project Estimated Net Cash Flow Capital Budgeting Analysis Capital Budgeting Analysis is a process in which a business determines whether projects or investing in a long-term venture are worth pursuing. Ideally, businesses should pursue all projects and opportunities that enhance shareholder value.However, the amount of capital available at any given time for new projects is limited, capital budgeting analysis will help to determine if a project is feasible or not. Capital budgeting analysis can include net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR), modified internal rate of return, profitability index (PI), payback period and discounted payback. In calculating if this project is possible or not we have determined the following budgeting analysis results in figure 22. RDS. A Budgeting Appraisal Results| Net Present Value (NPV)| $ 284,606,920. 00 | Internal Rate of Return (IRR)| 17. 0%| Modifi ed Internal Rate of Return (MIRR)| 13. 1%| Profitability Index (PI)| 1. 41 | Payback (Years)| 4. 74 | Figure 22 –RDS. A Project Analysis Results RDS. A Payback Calculation | 0| 1| 2| 3| 4| 5| 6| 7| 8|Net Cash Flow| (690,105,000)| 121,087,715 | 158,870,226 | 148,538,663 | 149,691,454 | 152,108,518 | 166,274,191 | 181,997,451 | 362,518,222 | Cumulative CF | (690,105,000)| (569,017,285)| (410,147,060)| (261,608,396)| (111,916,943)| 40,191,576 | 206,465,767 | 388,463,218 | 750,981,440 | Pay Back|   | 1. 00 | 1. 00 | 1. 00 | 1. 00 | 0. 74 | 0. 00 | 0. 00 | 0. 00 | After review of the budgeting analysis results we can conclude that the project should be undertaken. The Profitability Index (PI) is 1. 41, if the PI is greater than 1 than the project should be taken, additionally the net present value is positive, another good sign for accepting the project. The projects Internal Rate of Return (IRR) is 17. 0%, higher than Royal Dutch Shell’s WACC which is 8. 8%, this is an o ptimistic calculation for accepting the project. Finally, payback addresses the projects liquidity, shorter the payback the higher the liquidly and with a current estimation of 4. 74 years, the project is highly recommended. Sensitivity Analysis The Sensitivity Analysis is a modus operandi used to determine how  different values of an independent  variable will impact a particular dependent variable under a given set of assumptions. Within  specific  boundaries, the sensitivity analysis is very useful  when attempting to determine the impact  the actual  outcome of a particular variable will have  if it  differs from what was previously assumed.By creating a  given set of scenarios as, illustrated in figure 23, the analyst can determine how changes in one variable(s) will impact the  target variable. In this particular case the sensitivity analysis will determine how the net present value (NPV) of the proposed project will be affected by the modification of sev eral variables; these variables and the results can be examined in the following figures. The modified variables are sales price, variable costs, units sold, non-variable costs, weighted average cost of capital, corporate tax rate and start-up costs. For the purpose of this analysis the calculations were performed with a 10% and 20% deviation from the base in both a negative and positive trend. RDS. A Project Sensitivity Analysis Calculations Deviation| 1st YEAR UNIT SALES| | % Deviation| WACC| from| Units Sold| NPV| | from|   | NPV| Base Case| | $284,606,920| | Base Case| WACC| $284,606,920 | -20%| 1,824,000| 144,446,239 | | -20%| 6. 6%| 358,280,443 | -10%| 2,052,000| 214,526,580 | | -10%| 7. 5%| 320,454,423 | 0%| 2,280,000| 284,606,920 | | 0%| 8. 3%| 284,606,920 | 10%| 2,508,000| 354,687,261 | | 10%| 9. 1%| 250,612,056 | 20%| 2,736,000| 424,767,602 | | 20%| 9. 9%| 218,353,128 | % Deviation| VARIABLE COST| | % Deviation| SALES PRICE| from| Variable| NPV| | from| Sales| NPV| Base Case| Costs| $284,606,920| | Base Case| Price| $284,606,920| -20%| $164. 00| 723,298,488 | | -20%| $220. 0| (294,245,328)| -10%| 184. 50| 503,952,704 | | -10%| 247. 50| (4,819,204)| 0%| 205. 00| 284,606,920 | | 0%| 275. 00| 284,606,920 | 10%| 225. 50| 65,261,137 | | 10%| 302. 50| 574,033,045 | 20%| 246. 00| (154,084,647)| | 20%| 330. 00| 863,459,169 | % Deviation| NONVARIABLE COST| | % Deviation| TAX RATE| from| Fixed| NPV| | from|   | NPV| Base Case| Costs| $284,606,920| | Base Case| TAX RATE| $284,606,920 | -20%| $0| 284,606,920 | | -20%| 33. 5%| 353,919,217 | -10%| 0| 284,606,920 | | -10%| 37. 7%| 319,304,434 | 0%| 0| 284,606,920 | | 0%| 41. 8%| 284,689,652 | 10%| 0| 284,606,920 | | 10%| 46. 0%| 250,074,869 | 20%| 0| 284,606,920 | | 20%| 50. %| 215,460,087 | % Deviation| START-UP COSTS| from|   | NPV| Base Case| Start-Up Costs  | $284,606,920 | -20%| $ 494,400,000. 00 | 368,892,485 | -10%| $ 556,200,000. 00 | 326,749,703 | 0%| $ 618,000,000. 00 | 284,606,920 | 10%| $ 679,80 0,000. 00 | 242,464,138 | 20%| $ 741,600,000. 00 | 200,321,356 | Figure 23 –RDS. A Project Sensitivity Analysis Calculations Royal Dutch Shell Project Sensitivity Analysis Chart Figure 24 –RDS. A Proposed Project Sensitivity Analysis Chart Deviation| NPV at Different Deviations from Base| from| Sales| Variable|   | Non-variable|   |   |   | Base Case|Price| Cost/Unit| Units Sold| Cost| WACC| Tax Rate| Start-Up Costs| -20%| ($294,245,328)| $723,298,488 | $144,446,239 | $284,606,920 | $358,280,443 | 353,919,217 | 368,892,485 | -10%| (4,819,204)| 503,952,704 | 214,526,580 | 284,606,920 | 320,454,423 | 319,304,434 | 326,749,703 | 0%| 284,606,920 | 284,606,920 | 284,606,920 | 284,606,920 | 284,606,920 | 284,689,652 | 284,606,920 | 10%| 574,033,045 | 65,261,137 | 354,687,261 | 284,606,920 | 250,612,056 | 250,074,869 | 242,464,138 | 20%| 863,459,169 | (154,084,647)| 424,767,602 | 284,606,920 | 218,353,128 | 215,460,087 | 200,321,356 |   | | | | | | |   | Range| $1 ,157,704,497 | $877,383,134 | $280,321,363 | $0 | $139,927,315 | $138,459,130 | $168,571,129 | Figure 25 –RDS. A Proposed Project NPV and Range at Different Deviations from Base Scenario Analysis A scenario analysis is the process of estimating the expected value of a portfolio or project after a given period of time under specific changes in variables of the portfolio's securities or changes in key factors. Commonly, scenario analysis focuses on estimating what a portfolio's value would decrease to  if an unfavorable event would occur.For the proposed project the scenario analysis was conducted assuming a 25% probability for best-case conditions; each of the variables calculated in figure 25 would be 20% better than its base-case value. Conversely, there is a 25% probability of worst-case conditions, with the variables 20% worse than the base; a 50% probability was used for base-case conditions. All figures have been calculated below in figure 26. Scenario| Probability| Sa les Price| Unit Sales| Var Costs| NPV| Squared Deviation times Probability|   | | | | | |   | Best Case| 25%| $330. 00 | 2,736,000 | $164. 00| $1,726,918,338 | 422505172390830000 | Base Case| 50%| $275. 00 | 2,280,000 | $205. 00| $284,606,920 | 10125137435137500 | Worst Case | 25%| $220. 00| 1,824,000| $246. 00| ($588,490,656)| 257759816231319000 |   | | | | | |   | Expected NPV = Sum, Prob. times NPV| | | $426,910,381 |   |   | Standard Deviation | | $830,897,181 |   | | Coefficient of Variation = Std Dev / Expected NPV|   | 1. 95 |   | Figure 26 –RDS. A Proposed Project Scenario Analysis Conclusion In conclusion, after performing a complete analysis on the feasibility of the proposed project, it is determined that it would be beneficial for Royal Dutch Shell, plc to implement the project. The IRR and MIRR are greater than the WACC of 8. 28%, at 17. 0% and 13. 1% respectively. It is currently estimated that the project will pay for itself in approximately 4 . 74 years according to the discounted payback calculations.The Net present value of the project is positive and the profitability index for the project is 1. 41 (greater than 1) it is a positive sign for the project selection. Royal Dutch Shell is currently moving in a positive direction with a healthy financial base. Financial analyses have bestowed Shell with an AA bond rating, which underlines the financial strength of the organization. Based on all the information listed above, it is with my professional opinion after the evaluation within this report that Royal Dutch Shell takes on the project; with the current and estimated futures of Shell it can only add value to the corporation. References E*Trade. 2011, December 31). Royal Dutch Shell Plc RDS. A. Retrieved November 28, 2012, from E*Trade Financials: https://www. etrade. wallst. com/v1/stocks/snapshot/snapshot. asp? YYY220_/UfRI8EalsBAnXarKLCzPko3kjoyjLMbzW9xSdWWCGroVsRTAdKeDJzNAwM5xeMSzfFm9X4tAHc+eI+8pZ9rdHSsGMEaof+37qAzR A17/MKnpCPFTrRrGXhYPAZVsWXkzq5OKgjy67owAqAG5C1fyJ6IzD55l8M8TBKZkWpNM0lH4j7Jb2aXQsoxNw Morningstar, Inc. (2012). Morningstar research. Retrieved November 2012, from http://financials. morningstar. com/ratios/r. html? t=RDSA®ion=GBR& ;amp;culture=en-US Network, Y. -A. (2012). Yahoo! Finance. Retrieved November 28, 2012, from Bond Center: http://finance. yahoo. om/bonds Royal Dutch Shell. (2012). Building an Energy Future: Investors' Handbook. London: Royal Dutch Shell Plc Financials. YCharts Pro Stock Report. (2012). Royal Dutch Shell plc (RDSA). New York: Y Charts. Appendix Royal Dutch Shell Income Statement Billions $ Royal Dutch Shell Balance Sheet Billions $ Royal Dutch Shell Statement of Cash Flow Billions $ ——————————————– [ 1 ]. (YCharts Pro Stock Report, 2012) ] [ 2 ]. [ (YCharts Pro Stock Report, 2012) ] [ 3 ]. [ (YCharts Pro Stock Report, 2012) ] [ 4 ]. [ (YChart s Pro Stock Report, 2012) ] [ 5 ]. [ (YCharts Pro Stock Report, 2012) ] [ 6 ]. [ (YCharts Pro Stock Report, 2012) ] [ 7 ]. [ (YCharts Pro Stock Report, 2012) ] [ 8 ]. [ (Royal Dutch Shell, 2012) ] [ 9 ]. [ (YCharts Pro Stock Report, 2012) ] [ 10 ]. [ (Royal Dutch Shell, 2012) ] [ 11 ]. [ (Royal Dutch Shell, 2012) ] [ 12 ]. [ (Royal Dutch Shell, 2012) ] [ 13 ]. [ (Royal Dutch Shell, 2012) ] [ 14 ]. [ (Royal Dutch Shell, 2012) ] [ 15 ]. [ (Network, 2012) ] [ 16 ]. [ (E*Trade, 2011) ] [ 17 ]. [ (E*Trade, 2011) ]

Empire of the Sun

Love and Compassion The final scene of Empire of the Sun demonstrates the gathering between the separated children and their parents. Everyone seems very happy to finally reunite with their loved ones and realize how much they have missed them. Jamie, the boy in the movie, seems to have forgotten what his mother looks like because they have been separated for so long. This final scene demonstrates the importance of our loved ones, and how we should always cherish them because you may be separated from them without notice. Jamie illustrates that even though he was separated from his mother for so long, their love for each other remains.This scene demonstrates the compassion and care we have for our families, and how meeting someone after so long creates a special feeling. It reminds us how strong love can still remain after a long period of time, even so long that you forget how they look. This scene also demonstrates the special feeling when we reunite with your loved ones. At the be ginning of the final scene, there were children playing inside a building when a nurse comes along and says â€Å"gather in children, come along† to organize the children. The parents then walk into the building and line up across from them, looking around for their loved ones.One mother cannot contain her love and rushes out from the line calling out, â€Å"Julie. † This demonstrates the mother couldn’t wait any longer to see her daughter and this shows she has great care, compassion and love for her. They reunite, and begin hugging illustrating their affection, and how they feel. The mother of Jamie walks toward her son and he stares at her. Jamie seems as though he doesn’t remember her appearance, and begins to feel her lip, takes of her hat to feel her hair, and feels her clothing. He then remembers his mother and hugs her. This shows that even after this long period of time, the love for each other remains.While they are caressing, Jamie closes his e yes suggesting he feels safe and comfortable in his mother’s arms, perhaps after a scary situation. In conclusion, in the final scene of the Empire of the Sun, there is recognition of the compassion between the loved ones in the film. This scene reminds me of love and compassion as watched this because it reminds me of the important people in my life, and the special feeling the children received once reuniting with their loved ones. Overall, this scene symbolizes love, compassion, care, and the importance of family, due to my response to this scene.

Mexican American Approaches to Health Essay

Mexican American, or Latino, traditional views on health and healing practices are influenced by several other cultures that they have historically had some kind of contact with, such as the Spanish colonizers, indigenous Indian populations, and Western medical practitioners. This varied background accounts for their holistic healing methods and their belief that good health stems from internal balance, a clear conscience, and a strong spiritual relationship with God. The underlying theme in traditional Mexican American health is that there needs to be a balance between the body and Earth’s elements. Equilibrium of each element–fire, water, air, and land–leads to an overall healthy state. (Molina, 1994) Traditionalists tie this balance concept in with the idea that all health states are associated with either hot or cold, and one may be used to heal the other. A state of health is characterized by a warm, wet body, and any exposure to extreme conditions on either side of this scale leads to illness. It is important to point out that the generalizations assumed in this paper are based on very traditional Mexican American individuals and do not span the entire population within the US. In regards to healthcare, traditional Mexican Americans hold the belief that their healing methods are either superior to or the same as those practiced by Western providers, so they tend to rely primarily on home remedies and cultural healers before seeking out other forms of medicine. Furthermore, their healing approach is firmly rooted in their specific values. It is important to be aware of Latino cultural values in order to understand their views on healthcare, as the latter is based on the other. In general, there are three basic values that crucially exists within most Mexican American relationships—personalismo, respeto, and dignidad. (Molina, 1994) Personalismo is the trust and rapport that is established with others. Latin Americans respond better to warm, friendly interactions, and prefer personal relationships to professional ones. Therefore, the best ways to earn trust is for a provider to show interest in the patient’s personal life, exercise empathy, and avoid formal interactions. It is also important for a provider to show respeto (respect) by dressing according to their profession and addressing the patient with the formal greeting â€Å"usted†. This makes the patient feel as through they are taken seriously and cared for at the same time. A Latino patient tends to want a provider to embrace and exemplify their role as a professional; they simply prefer more intimate interactions. And although they appreciate empathy, they expect a blatant regard for their digidad (dignity); as with many individuals, Latinos place an emphasis on being treated as equals and human beings. Furthermore, Mexican Americans value family and thrive off their interdependent relationships with them. (Molina, 1994) In fact, most traditional Latinos rely more on their relatives for health advice than healthcare providers; as a result, it is common for a family member to accompany a patient to their visit with a provider. Mexican Americans’ cultural definition of health is outlined by the three major states that they believe are the causes for all illness and disease. Additionally, poor health is culturally associated with imbalances within the body’s natural states that lead to problems. According to traditional beliefs, poor health can be attributed to one or more of the following: (1) Psychological State, (2) Environment and Natural Causes, or (3) Supernatural beings. (Molina, 1994) The psychological state includes any mental state that may be disrupting one’s peace of mind, including worry, anger, envy, or stress, all of which can lead to the dangerous state of susto (â€Å"fright†), or soul loss. Natural causes fall under environmental elements, such as dust, pollution, or germs–all of the things that Western medicine believes to be the only causes of illness. Finally, supernatural beings include malevolent spirits, witchcraft, or â€Å"mal de ojo†, the bad eye, any of which can cause disease or illness. Because Mexican American views on health differ from those of mainstream US medicine, there are several â€Å"folk illnesses† that exist within the culture that have no diagnosis within Western medicine, and are, therefore, remedied by traditional methods. Many of these illnesses fall under the idea of their imbalance theory. For example, an imbalance or conflict within social relationships opens one’s spirit up to â€Å"mal de ojo†; symptoms include fever, headache, and sleeplessness. The traditional treatment for this is rubbing the entire body with egg yolk. Empacho is an illness characterized by stomach pains, and results from feeling psychological stress while eating. Ataque de nervios literally translates to â€Å"attack of the nerves† and is caused by extreme emotional stress brought on by a traumatic event. Those suffering from this illness often engage in fits of swearing and convulsions. The treatments are praying over the affected individual and rubbing alcohol over their face. Caida is an infant disease that occurs when the fontanelle is dislodged from the child’s skull, and can result in death. (Molina, 1994) In Western medicine, providers may equate this with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), which even in the most skilled American facilities has no biological explanation. Since many of the illnesses recognized in the Mexican American culture are undiagnosed and not understood in Western medicine, a majority of this group employs home remedies or purchases medicines in a botanica, or a store that sells folk medicine and herbal treatments. (â€Å"Profiles of Health†, 1994) Although some recent studies have shown that many Latinos view cost as the number one barrier to healthcare in America, most traditionalists prefer to seek out the assistance of their cultural healers through a healing practice known as Curanderismo. (â€Å"Profiles of Health†, 1994) This practice is one of the most prominent healing practices in the Mexican American culture. It approaches health from a holistic point of view and encompasses physical, social, psychological, and spiritual healing. (Johnston, 2006) A Curandero is a revered, spiritual being that treats those suffering from biologically inexplicable illnesses and can have gifts in several areas, including massage, midwife, counselor, spinal adjustment (similar to a Chiropractor), or espiritualista–someone who channels help from spirits. (Molina, 1994) They specialize in a number of areas of medicine, such as naturopaths, herbalists, palm readers, or psychotherapists. Some research suggests that Curanderos arose out of a need for health care from poverty stricken communities that could not afford it. Traditionally, many sought out the help of Curanderos; however, according to recent studies, very few Mexican Americans utilize the services of a Curandero, and those who do use it as supplemental treatment to Western medicine. The main differences between Mexican American cultural healing methods and Western medicine are the varied definitions of similar illnesses, as well as the explanations for the causes of diseases. However, since most illnesses that are recognized in Latino culture also exist within the framework of American healthcare, then treatment can be applied uniformly. Therefore, the emphasis needs to be placed on cultural competence, which would incorporate a system for understanding other point of views of health. It is imperative for providers to develop both trust with and respect for their patients in order to treat them and to increase adherence to medical plans. Western medical providers must learn to listen to and understand the traditions of the Mexican American patient population so that they will be better equipped to serve them. Once this is accomplished within the American healthcare system, society will see health disparities begin to diminish.

Drafting and Use of Questionnaire as a Research Tool in Legal Research Essay

Introduction The word research is derived from the Middle French â€Å"recherche†, which means â€Å"to go about seeking†, the term itself being derived from the Old French term â€Å"recerchier† a compound word from â€Å"re-† + â€Å"cerchier†, or â€Å"sercher†, meaning ‘search’. The earliest recorded use of the term was in 1577 Research and experimental development is formal work undertaken systematically to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of humanity, culture and society, and the use of this stock of knowledge to devise new applications (OECD (2002) Frascati Manual: proposed standard practice for surveys on research and experimental development, 6th edition. It is used to establish or confirm facts, reaffirm the results of previous work, solve new or existing problems, support theorems, or develop new theories. A research project may also be an expansion on past work in the field. To test the validity of instruments, procedures, or experiments, research may replicate elements of prior projects, or the project as a whole. The primary purposes of basic research (as opposed to applied research) are documentation, discovery, interpretation, or the research and development of methods and systems for the advancement of human knowledge. Approaches to research depend on epistemologies, which vary considerably both within and between humanities and sciences. In lay man language research means search or find those things which are already in existence. Research work is not something which can be completed in one stroke or in one step. It consists of a number of closely related activities which very often overlap, and therefore, it becomes difficult to ascertain where one step ended and the other began. However, it is important to keep in mind that various steps are not mutually exclusive, nor they are totally separate and distinct. What step should be followed at what time depends on the research . However, the following guide-lines in this regard are significant: 1. Formulation of researcher problem- At the very outset the researcher must choose the area in which he wants to carry on research. In the field of law the researcher has a very wide scope. After selecting the area we are required to select specific topic or subject for the study. Thus formulation of a general topic into a specific researcher problem constitutes the first step in this regard. It can be said that formulation the researcher problem involves two steps: a) Understanding the problem thoroughly: and b) Re-shaping that understanding into meaningful terms to arrive at a concrete result. Thus formulation of research problem is very significant for a researcher and if it is done successfully, a good deal of battle is won. 2. Extensive literature survey- Once a problem is formulated a brief summary of it should be prepared. For this the researcher must undertake an extensive survey of the available literature on the subject: preferably connected with the problem. For this purpose the abstracting and indexing journals, published and unpublished bibliographies should first of all be examined. Academic journals, conference proceedings government reports, reference books and text books, depending on the nature of the problem must be seen. 3. Formulation of hypothesis- When the literature relating to the problem is extensively surveyed researcher should state in clear terms the hypothesis. A hypothesis is the tentative assumption made in order to draw out and test its logical consequences. In its most elementary stage the hypothesis may be any guess, imagination ideas which becomes the basis for action or investigation. It helps in the analysis of the material pertaining to the subject. It helps in delimiting the area of research and keeps the researcher on the right track. 4. Collection of material- A research cannot be said to be duly carried out unless the relevant materials have been examined. But the relevant cannot be examined unless and until they have been collected and compiled. The collection of the relevant materials is most difficult and comprehensive work and requires lot of energy and attention as well as patience. 5. Analysis of material- Once the requisite materials are collected, the researcher undertakes to analyse them. This is also a very important step in the direction of fulfilment of research work. In case of doctrinal research the researcher can proceed smoothly if he is well aware about the principles of interpretation and construction. He is required to examine the fact of each case, the principle applied to that fact, the line of argument taken, relief sought and provided and if necessary the history or legislation, etc. There may be situations in relation to which no statutory provision existed it was decided on the basis of the principle of justice, equity and good conscience. If the bulk of the examined material indicates to a particular direction, the principle so applied should be accepted as general principles and principles not applied should be deemed to have been overlooked. 6. Testing of hypothesis- After analysis of materials or data as the case may be the researcher becomes confident enough to test his hypothesis which he had already formulated. He can examine if the material or data after analysis support his hypothesis or they are contrary to it. The hypothesis testing ultimately results in either accepting the hypothesis or in rejecting it or in making amendment in it. 7. Generalisation and interpretation- The research work whether doctrinal or non-doctrinal will proceed towards generalisation and interpretation if the hypothesis has been tested positive. If it results in negative the question of generalisation and interpretation does not arise. The purpose of generalisation and interpretation is to built up a theory to be applicable in future to adjudicate upon similar and identical problems. This process of generalisation and interpretation, while helping in formulation of a general theory, also raises many important question which may lead to further research and till those question are answered they may be regarded as exceptions to the general theory or principle thus build up. 8. Preparation of report- The penultimate task in a researcher work is to write the report of the exercise done so far. It should be prepared with great care and caution because it is this report that gives credit to the researcher. Objective of research are following: i. To familiarize with a phenomenon or to acquire new insights into an existing fact, that is, Exploratory Research. ii. To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which it is associated with something else, that is, Diagnostic Research. iii. To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular object, situation or group, that is, Descriptive Research. iv. To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between two objects, that is, Hypothesis Testing Research. v. To separate fact from speculation and wish, that is, Distinguishing Research. Definition- Research has been defined in a number of different ways. A broad definition of research is given by Martyn Shuttleworth – â€Å"In the broadest sense of the word, the definition of research includes any gathering of data, information and facts for the advancement of knowledge.† Another definition of research is given by Creswell who states – â€Å"Research is a process of steps used to collect and analyse information to increase our understanding of a topic or issue†. It consists of three steps: Pose a question, collect data to answer the question, and present an answer to the question. The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines research in more detail as â€Å"a studious inquiry or examination; especially : investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery and interpretation of facts, revision of accepted theories or laws in the light of new facts, or practical application of such new or revised theories or laws†. The Encyclopaedia Britannica (1911 edition) defines research to mean- â€Å"the act of searching into a matter closely and carefully, inquiry directed to the discovery of truth and in particular the trained scientific investigation of the principles and facts of any subject, based on original and first hand study of authorities or experiment. Investigation of every kind which has been based on original sources of knowledge may be styled research and it may be said that without ‘research’ no authoritative work have been written, no scientific inventions or discoveries made, no theories of any value propounded†. This definition is probably most exhaustive and meaningful. Meaning and Objective of Legal Research- ‘Legal research’ means research in that branch of knowledge which deals with the principles of law and legal institution. There are three main sources of law, that is, legislation, precedent, and custom. Juristic writings are another important though secondary source of law and their important is dependent on the fact whether it is given due recognition by the courts or the legislature or jurists in solving problems or not. The contents of these sources of law change with the changing requirement of the society and if these changes are not taken into account in interpreting the law, the existing law is bound to be doomed. The aim of law is, therefore, to regulate the human behaviour in the present day society and hence, legal research must be directed to the study of the relationship between the world of the law and the world that the law purports to govern. Generally, law is enacted to regulate the human conduct for the welfare of humankind. It is considered that law should be enacted to protect the interest of a person, society, and the county as a whole. The goal of legal research cannot be distinguished from the goal of law. As law is directly related with the social science, its research is also automatically related with the research of social science. This is the age of democracy and good governance. Democracy and good governance depend upon the rule of law. In democratic society, law is changed for welfare of the people and society along with the pace of time. Alternatively, law shall not be constraint for the development rather it be facilitator. That is why law needs charges. Similarly, legal research is essential to have changes in law for socialization and betterment of the people and society. Now-a-days, legal research is not limited only on the analysing of criminal behaviour, activities of public, court, public prosecutors, legal practitioners etc. but it also includes the protection of environment of all creatures in the world and the development as well. As a result, legal research plays crucial role for the welfare of the humankind and is more important than others to bring positive changes in our society and at the end in the whole humankind. The following are the objectives of legal research- i. To discover new facts; i. To test and verify old facts; ii. To analysis the facts in new theoretical framework; iii. To examine the consequences of new facts or new principles of law; or judicial decisions; iv. To develop new legal researcher tools or apply tools of other disciplines in the area of law; v. To propound a new legal concept; vi. To analyse law and legal institutions from point of view of history; vii. To examine the nature and scope of new law or legal institutions; viii. To ascertain the merits and demerits of old law or institution and to give suggestion for a new or institution in place of old one; ix. To ascertain the relationship between legislature and judiciary and to give suggestion as to haw one can assist the discharge of one’s duties and responsibilities; and x. To develop the principles of interpretation for critical examination of statutes. These objectives of legal research as of any other research may be obtained by any of the following processes: i. Evolutive; or ii. Explicative; or iii. Identificatory; or iv. Projective; or v. Collative; or vi. Impact analysis; or vii. Interactive; or viii. Interpretative. Evolutive process : Evolutive research is one which seeks to identify the roots of a social evil and tries to prohibit it by law, eg. Eradication of dowry , prohibition of Sati, prohibition of child marriage, legalising widow marriage, etc. historical facts play most important role in this kind of research. Explicative process- Explicative process is one which tries to ascertain the nature, scope of law in order to fxplain the nature, scope of law in order to explain what law is, e.g. law relating to industrial pollution and legal relating to administrative action and its legal control, matrimonial relief etc. Identificatory process- An identificatory process is one whose objective is to ascertain the people for whose benefit a legal is enacted e.g. research carried on to find out the beneficiaries of land reform, beneficiaries of reservation among Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and Backwards, the group of industrial establishments kept out of the area of operation of a piece of legislation, e.g. activities outside the area of the Factories Act, 1948, industrial establishments not covered by the Provident Fund Act, etc. employees entitled to the benefit of provident fund and insurance fund, etc. Projective Process- A projective process is one which aims at examining the degree of social acceptance to a policy the State is planning to implement. This kind of research attempts to find out at the very beginning, the mood of the people or masses, or electorate or industrial workers, whether they will accept the proposed scheme or not, or they will accept it with certain modification. Truly speaking, it is a survey beforehand rather than a research work to find out the feasibility of the proposed scheme. Collative process- A collative process is one which tries to find out the effect of existing law, in relation to other existing law, i.e. its objective is to compare the two set of rules to find out which one is more workable and by which the desired effect may be achieved. Impact analysis process- This kind of research is carried on to find out the impact of an established or newly formed legal principle, rule or institution. In the area of planning this kind of study assumes much significance. On the basis of the outcome of the research necessary changes may be made wherever necessary it helps us to change our outlook towards the objective sought to be achieved, thus it is a preliminary steps to law reform. Interactive process- Law does not operate in vacuum. It operates in society. There are a number of other factors, which interact with it. These factors are of various types such as formal or non-formal, permanent or transitory. A legal researcher cannot be insensitive to such factors of society which annihilate the entire fabric of law. Since law is a part of the society, therefore, the law should be such as that it can work in the society. A researcher must take care of- a) The relative autonomy of law in relation to other component of society; b) The relationship between various component within the legal system; and c) The inter-dependence of one or more components of law within the legal system. Interpretative Research process- This kind of research aims at interpreting the various words and phrases used in defining the law. The researcher makes effort to give a particular word, a specific meaning by using his own logic and authoritative opinion of other people. This kind of researcher is confined mostly to the study of statutes, text and judicial pronouncement and is done by analysing the words. It helps acquire clarity, consistency, uniformity in the meaning of legal writing. These objectives of researcher, thus, help us in determining for what purpose the research is directed, and how, the research may be carried on. In the process, the researcher explains the relevant juridical concept, analysis statutory provisions, picks out significant juridical date, formulated principles deducible from judicial decisions and arranges the whole material in some logical order.If the researcher has sufficient aptitude for research, he may identify the problems likely to arise and deduct principles with sufficient prec ision to provide solution to those problems. Tools of Legal Research- In pursuing research for disclosing facts or proving a hypothesis true or false, various kinds of methods can be applied for the successful research. The following research methods collectively or individually can be applied for the successful research as the main methods. A. Observation: Information can be received by observing, visiting and viewing the place, society, events or the things pertinent to the study or research. Observation can be taken as primary and reliable source of information. If a researcher is careful, he/she can get the points that may play the significant role in his research or study. Observation is a method that is common in the research of legal and social science. Observation should be guided by a specific research purpose, the information receive from the observation should be recorded and subjected to checks on the trail of reliability. B. Questionnaire: In questionnaire method, a researcher develops a form containing such questions pertinent to his study. Generally, the researcher prepares yes/ No questions or short answer questions. In questionnaire method, researcher distributes such forms to the people to whom he/she deems appropriate. The people, to whom the questionnaires have been distributed, should answer that what they have known by filling out the form and return it to researcher. C. Sampling: When the subject of research is vague, comprehensive and when each indicator cannot be taken by virtue of financial constraint, time and complexity, etc. then the researcher can randomly collect data/sample depending on the reason. This is called as sampling method. For instance, in a demographic research, part of population represent various groups can be taken into consideration That is why, it is said that sample is a method that saves time and money. D. Interviews: A researcher can receive information sought by him/her asking people concerned through interview. It is a direct method of receiving information. Interview can be generally held asking questions in face-to-face contact to the person or persons and sometimes through telephone conversation. This method is common in the research of legal and social science. In this method, the researcher has to use less skill and knowledge to receive information he/she had sought. Interview is known as an art of receiving pertinent information. In the opinion of P.V. Young, interview can be taken as a systematic method by which a person enters more or less imaginatively into the life of a stranger. E. Case study: Case study is taken as one of the important and reliable methods for legal research. Case study can be defined as a method of research where facts and grounds of each legal issue are dealt with by taking individual case. Case study is a method of exploring and analysing of life of a social unit such as a person, a family, an institution, a cultural group or even entire community. It is a way of organizing social data so as to preserve the utility character of the social object being studied.11 Keeping in view to the matters above, we can state here that the case study is a method of legal research to explore and analyse the fact and data of a social unit and to organize social data for prescription of useful character and society.