Buy Now, Pay Later Is the Success of the Credit Card Essay...

The Credit Card? The credit card has been around since the 18th century in Europe, but only to be introduced to the United Stated in 1920’s by individual firms such as hotels and department stores. The simple idea behind the introduction of credit cards is to allow people who could not afford to buy expensive items but have the ability to repay them in installment till the full cost of the items is reimbursed (Marples, 2008). The reason credit card is a success is because customer love the concept of ‘buy now, pay later’. It is very convenience because they do not have to carry a large sums of cash and there are firms offering 0% interest if they settle before a specific period. According to Central Bank of Malaysia (2014), there are 22†¦show more content†¦However those who are inconsistent in payment will be charged at maximum interest rate of 18%. Late repayment penalty is RM5 or 1.00% whichever higher on total outstanding up to a maximum of RM75. Maybank also gain when customer purchases goods or services using credit cards. When customer spend RM10 for a service or goods using credit card, card reader will recognized the customer and contact the issuer of the cards; assume Maybank. Upon confirmation, Maybank will sent RM9.80 to the merchant’s bank account. A fee of 2% is charged from the transaction and splits between Maybank and the credit card company; Visa or Mastercard. As profitable as it can be, issuing credit cards to customers also have some downsides. In the earlier stage, Maybank already have to bear costs of issuing credit cards. A group of workers is needed to constantly monitor and maintain the bank credit card portfolio. Another expenses will be the making of the card, mailing statements to customers and also setting up a system to record customer’s informations from frauds. The system is especially important to protect customer. A stolen credit cards will be risky for customers as some party might use it to conduct illegal activities besides stealing their private information (Smith, 1998). The expenses does not stop here. After the issuance, Maybank need to constantly offer rewards and special promotions in order to compete with their competitors. They launched promotions from time to time toShow MoreRelatedWho Is The Best Financial Expert?988 Words   |  4 Pageslot of stress and money problems later in life. Because of Dave Ramsey, a successful financial expert, they were able to get they money situation figured out in less than ten years. Their salary was better than most but people do not have to be rich when it boils down to finances and the cost of living as demonstrated by them. Credit cards take most of the blame when it comes to debt; they are the most common type of â€Å"loan†. Almost every American has a credit card and can easily receive one. TheyRead MoreCredit Cards : An Everyday Financial Tool For Us1375 Words   |  6 PagesABSTRACT Credit Cards have become an everyday financial tool for us here in the US and around the owrld. This simple plastic card comes with it a host of benefits, rewards, and dangers. The credit card authorizes the holder to charge goods and services that they will later be billed for. The credit card came into being in the 1920’s when hotels and gas companies made them available to customers for use in their establishments. Next, in 1950 the Diners’ Club, Inc. card was introduced which allowedRead MorePersonal Finance And Social Finance1196 Words   |  5 Pagesthey are doing many things wrong. Sadly, some people do not recognize this reality which is the first step toward personal finance success. Where I am today and where I want to be in the future? These are questions people need to ask themselves frequently because when it comes to personal finance if we fail to plan, we are planning to fail. Some others do not success financially because they have moral issues about rich people, capitalism, or money in general. By way of example, they said: Rich peopleRead MorePersonal Finance And Social Finance1268 Words   |  6 Pagesmissing some fundamental information. Sadly, some people do not recognize this reality which is the first step toward personal finance success. Where I am today and where I want to be in the future? These are questions people need to ask themselves frequently because when it comes to personal finance if we fail to plan, we are planning to fail. Some others do not success financially since they have moral issues about rich people, capitalism, or money in general. By way of example, they said: Rich peopleRead MorePersonal Finance Of The United States1201 Words   |  5 Pagesthey are doing many things wrong. Sadly, some people do not recognize this realty which is the first step toward personal finance success. Where I am today and where I want to be in the future? These are questions people need to ask themselves frequently because when it comes to personal finance if we fail to plan, we are planning to fail. Some others do not success financially because they have moral issues about rich people, capitalism, or money in general. By way of example, they said: Rich peopleRead MoreApple Pay : Will It Catch On?2058 Words   |  9 PagesApple Pay: Will It Catch On? At their latest big event, Apple Inc. showed off a number of brand new products. While the iPhone 6 and the Apple Watch certainly made headlines, one of the major announcements that may have flown under the radar was for a brand new mobile payment system that would combine the new phone and innovative touch security feature with an NFC chip (â€Å"tap to pay†). This new product is called Apple Pay. This payment system will allow the users of the newest Apple devices to notRead MoreThe American Dream And The Roaring Twenties1336 Words   |  6 Pagesopportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative (â€Å"What is the American Dream†). The American Dream can be achieved by any American who has the desire to work for what they want to achieve. The American Dream is an embedded idea of the United States. The American Dream , by definition ,is the set of ideals (Democracy, Rights, Liberty, Opportunity, and Equality) in which free dom includes the opportunity for prosperity and success, and an upward social mobilityRead MoreThe Use and Abuse of Credit Cards3360 Words   |  13 Pagesthe use of cashless payment. Cards are certainly important for consumers and retailers because using checks or holding cash often more time consuming compare to retail oriented electronic payment technology.Therefore Lo and Harvey(2011), implies that availability of cards permits compulsive shoppers to satisfy desires for buying, to ignore budget constraints and hence, to overspend over different shoppers. According to Ryan (2009), customers likely to use credit card payment because it often getRead More Mandatory Drug Testing For Welfare Recipients Essay1341 Words   |  6 PagesThe process of drug testing individuals who are applying or receiving welfare benefits has recently become the focus of a widely spread controversy. Florida, the first state to pass the law, now requires all individuals applying for public assistance to undergo drug testing. The state of Kentucky, among others, have considered following this trend. State lawmakers hope to prevent the squandering of taxpayer dollars on drugs by proposing similar guidelines. Alabama’s states representative Kerry RichRead MoreAmericas Obsession with Youth1236 Words   |  5 Pagesmakes them feel mature. Teenagers are buying fake identification cards in order to get into bars and clubs where adults socialize. The desire for youth to adults and adults to be youthful is an example of â€Å"the grass is always greener on th e other side†. American society is never satisfied. We always want what we do not have. Youth is something that no one can put a price on. Juwan Howard is professional basketball player who is now thirty-eight years old. Since going pro he has made an estimated

Support Children’s Programs - 1274 Words

America’s national debt is estimated at over fourteen trillion dollars (TreasuryDirect.com). The problem with the country’s deficit is not news unheard of. Overcoming the problem has shown its difficulties. Not much seems to alleviate the problem. â€Å"As of this year the House of Representatives proposed an estimated thirty two billion dollars in cuts to programs for children† (Sanderson). Although the country is severely in debt and cuts definitely need to be made, it is not right that the children of America have to pay for the consequences. Why make children pay for something they did not contribute to? The government needs to continue supporting and funding programs that help children, such as A Keiki’s Dream, because these programs†¦show more content†¦All these qualities are in these programs. Because those qualities are all positive aspects that are promoted, it should be rewarded with aid from the government, through funding and support. Second, the environment a child is exposed to is critical. If exposed to a positive environment, where their environment is loving, supportive and concerned, they would most likely approach a program that they will help in times of need, therefore getting the needed help for the child. The programs assist those that want to be helped and need to be helped. For that reason, they need the funds to do the proper services needed to provide help. Third, after an interview with a child that has been serviced through A Keiki’s Dream, she said she was very thankful for a safe and comfortable environment that allowed her to dream and had felt appreciative of her dream come true. A safe environment is provided by the programs that are beneficial for children. On the other hand, some charities and programs are happily shutting down. Because of the struggle and stress of economic problems, funding had been greatly cut to these charities and programs, resulting in them throwing in the t owel. Some are happily shutting downShow MoreRelatedPersonal Experience And Quality Measurement Report801 Words   |  4 Pagesthe CHIP program for children. This experience has taught me that we have to follow the law and the policies that are put in place by the government. However, as individuals we also have the power to influence the government to create new laws, such like the organization mothers against drunk driving. In 1997 when Congress created a bill to provide health coverage for children it was a tremendous relief for many families. The program is called the CHIP. STATE CHILDREN’S HEALTH PROGRAM. In 1997Read MoreEssay about The Phases of Healthcare Policy Making1146 Words   |  5 PagesEisenhower had a personal sympathy for health care programs and submitted the idea to Congress. However with a single vote, President Eisenhower’s administration bill was prohibited by the Senator. Later, President John F. Kennedy also had a clear health plan known as Medicare. President Kennedy introduced the Medicare plan on television to the public in 1962. Regrettably, the Medicare plan was rejected by the Senate. In 1965, the Medicaid program was passed. Although Medicaid was created in 1965Read MoreAbstract. Using A Variety Of Peer-Reviewed Sources, This1763 Words   |  8 Pagespaper will focus on the problems in the United States healthcare system and its relation to children’s access to healthcare. Despite efforts, there are several aspects in the current healthcare system that cause children to not have access to healthcare. In other cases the children may be eligible for health insurance but do not have insurance. This paper will analyze the disparities surrounding children’s healthcare, the socioeconomic aspects of it, and other factors that cause a lack of access toRead MoreThe Children s Health Insurance Program982 Words   |  4 Pagesnation s 3.5 million children who still lack health insurance, nearly one in five live in Texas. The Problem Our Children Deserve Better†¦ A look at where we are and how we got here: 1997 The Children s Health Insurance Program (CHIP, formerly the State Children s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)): was created by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, enacted Title XXI of the Social Security Act. It has allocated about $20 billion over 10 years to help states insure low-income children who are ineligible forRead MoreThe Affordable Care Act Of 20102316 Words   |  10 PagesAbstract Signed into law in 1997, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provides health coverage to approximately eight million children. This law encompasses families whose incomes are too high to qualify for Medicaid, but cannot afford the expense of private health insurance. CHIP is like Medicaid, it’s managed by the states, but different because it’s jointly funded by the federal government and by the states. The Affordable Care Act of 2010 retains the CHIP eligibility standards and extendedRead MoreChildren s Home Is A Private Non Profit Organization1578 Words   |  7 PagesOn November 19th, I visited the Children’s home of Cincinnati for my introduction to Social Work Class. Before this experience, I was uncertain of what the Children’s home was and unaware of the services they provided. I was very impressed with all the services and programs they offer. The Children’s home is a private non-profit organization that strives to make a dif ference in each child’s life every day. They provided services to at-risk children with behavior, social or learning challenges. TheyRead MoreThe Children s Miracle Network1673 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"Since 1983, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has raised more than $5 billion—most of it $1 at a time—for 170 children’s hospitals across the United States and Canada, which, in turn, use the money where it’s needed the most. These donations have gone to support research and training, purchase equipment, and pay for uncompensated care, all to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible, the Children’s Miracle Network mission statement is we increase funds and awareness for localRead MoreEnhancing Children’s Potential Research Paper Draft Developmentally appropriate daycare centers are1100 Words   |  5 PagesEnhancing Children’s Potential Research Paper Draft Developmentally appropriate daycare centers are focused on the most important element: the children. Therefore these developmentally appropriate daycares exceed the needs of the children because they are being met physically, socially, emotionally, and cognitively. Some may argue that the risks of daycare can cause damage to children’s development. Developmentally appropriate daycare centers use intentional teaching strategies, support for the familiesRead MoreProvide High-Quality Inclusive, Early Childhood Education and Care638 Words   |  3 PagesAccording to SDN Children’s Services (1905) SDN, a not-for profit organisation is committed in providing quality and inclusive services for children and families in need of early childhood education and care services such as long day care centres and pre-schools within the regions of New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory. In addition to these mainstream services, SDN caters specific programs and early interventio n support designed for children with high care needs that require additionalRead MorePrograms and Activities Involved in a Long Day Care Essay736 Words   |  3 Pagesaged 0-5 years and give education to children so they can learn through play as well as formal programs or activities. Even there aim is to acknowledge and respect all staff skills and interests. Even they try to have partnerships with families and communities side by side they create home-like environment. The support that organization provides†¨They support the Parents so they can leave their children’s in day care when they on work. They also provide workshops for the parents or other family carers

The Adventures of Hucklberry Finn Satire Free Essays

The author, Mark Twain, uses satire against religion, government, peoples ignorance, and society in general. Throughout the novel, we meet people whose live were ruined by alcoholism. Huck’s father is a drunken, abusive father and Twain satirizes the consumption of alcohol and the effects it has on people. We will write a custom essay sample on The Adventures of Hucklberry Finn Satire or any similar topic only for you Order Now Huck quotes, â€Å"Pap he hadn’t been seen for more than a year, and that was comfortable for me; I didn’t want to see him no more.He used to always whale me when he was sober and could get his hands on me†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (13) Twain is satirizing drunken adults and what it does to their kids and the people surrounding them. Huck’s father also had opinions of his own. â€Å"Oh yes this is a wonderful govment, wonderful. Why looky here, there was a free nigger there from Ohio. .. † (35) Mark Twain quotes Pap to satirize both the government and racism. Pap represents the close-minded, southern whites and how they felt about free blacks.He mocks how the government has outlawed slavery in the northern states and how the southern states couldn’t do anything about it. Slavery was another issue that Twain touched on. He enters the bitter realm of social satire and their beliefs on the issue of free slaves, almost to the point where it was unethical. A moment captured in chapter 16 describes when Huck realized how serious the consequence of the situation was. â€Å"Well what’s the use of learning to do right when it’s troublesome to do right and it ain’t no trouble to do wrong, and the wages is just the same? (116) He feels guilty for helping Jim to freedom, but realizes that if he turned Jim in, he would feel just the same. He mocks the society for believing that it was so evil to help slaves to freedom. After the event with the King and the Duke with the Wilks, Huck is glad to see Jim â€Å"Of course when they got to snoring we had a long gabble, and I told Jim everything† (188). Twain shows that Jim should have a better life than to be separated from his wife and children he loves, and to be forced to work for people who humiliate him.Through his use of satire, Twain illustrates the major themes of the novel. People at that time treated servants terribly. Huck himself was racist when Miss Watson asks if anybody got hurt and Huck replies â€Å"No ma’am just a nigger† (34). Finally, the use of racist terminology throughout the book showed how Jim and slaves were treated. The people that they come in contact see nothing more than a servant of Jim. When Tom has a theory as to the meaning of the word ransomed without any doubts, all of the boys agree with this meaning of the word. But per’aps if we keep them till they’re ransomed, it means that we keep them till they’re dead†. (12) In this segment of the novel, Twain uses satire to demonstrate that even though something may be truly wrong, if civilization or society adopts it to be true, then it is believed. Religion is one of the key victims of Twain’s satire throughout the novel. This satire is no more apparent then when Huck’s guardian, the Widow Douglas, preaches to him about Moses.Huck didn’t think very much of her lecture â€Å"Here she was a-bothering about Moses, which was no kin to her, and no use to anybody, being gone, you see†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (3) Twain uses Huck to exhibit his objection to the faith that civilized society places towards religion. During Huck and Jim’s journey, they encounter two men who refer to themselves as the Duke and the King. These characters make their living by swindling people out of their money. When they are eventually caught, they pay for their sins by being tarred and feathered.Huck expresses his thoughts on the subject by saying; it was a dreadful thing to see. â€Å"Human beings can be awful cruel to one another†. (294) through this event, Twain shows that crooks and criminals aren’t the only ones that can be cruel. The crowd that considers themselves to be civilized and opposing cruel acts when actually they commit such acts themselves. The chapters on the Royal Nonesuch are the climax of satire in this story. First Twain presents Hamlet’s soliloquy, which even in its first lines, â€Å"To be, or not to be; that is the bare bodkin/ that makes calamity of so long life†¦ (pg. 132), clearly shows his readership that though the con-men and townspeople know enough to have heard of Shakespeare and even recognize some lines, , for in reality they are ignorant of high society. Twain uses satire to express ignorance in society when Tom Sawyer says â€Å"Because it ain’t in the books so that’s why† (9). This shows that people believe everything they read in books when books are most of the time opinionated. Twain fills Huckleberry Finn with satire examples throughout the story. How to cite The Adventures of Hucklberry Finn Satire, Papers

Gilgameshs Quest for Immortality free essay sample

In the epic poem Gilgamesh, the main theme is Gilgamesh’s quest to defeat the demon that is in the back of every human’s mind at all times: death. His quest to defeat mankind’s penultimate battle proves futile in the end, yet could Gilgamesh be considered to be immortal in a different sense? Immortality can exist on two planes: both a physical and metaphorical world. Gilgamesh did fail is his quest to live tangibly forever, and therefore seeks everlasting life in an allegorical sense. If he could create something, an idea or an action that will be remembered forever, such as killing Humbaba, he too can live forever via this accomplishment. So, in a sense, Gilgamesh did actually succeed in his quest for eternal life. We will write a custom essay sample on Gilgameshs Quest for Immortality or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Gilgamesh has everything he could possibly ask for: riches, fame, power, yet he still wants more. He wants to live forever. Since he is used to being instantaneously gratified of everything he wants, he expects the same to occur in his quest for eternal life. After the death of Enkidu, his desire to live forever grows even stronger. Having a sheltered, privileged life, the death of Gilgamesh’s closed friend, essentially his other half, was most likely his first experience with death, and it terrified him. In Book IX, he asks, â€Å"Must I die too? Must I be as lifeless as Enkidu? How can I bear this sorrow that gnaws at my belly, this fear of death that drives me onward? † This does indeed drive him onward and leads him straight to the gods. Gilgamesh is not pleased with what the gods have to tell him, though. After his long journey and the retelling of his story, Shiduri tells him â€Å"You will never find the eternal life that you seek. When the gods created makind, they also created death, and they held back eternal life for themselves alone. Humans are born, the live, then they die, this is the order the gods have decreed. † Yet, instead of accepting his fate (which is the common fate of all mankind), he becomes enraged, demanding knowledge of how to find Utnapishtim. Gilgamesh is told the key to eternal life—an herb. However, once he picks this herb, a snake eats it and Gilgamesh has exhausted all his chances at immortality. The story abruptly ends there. We do not know to what extent Gilgamesh accepts his fate, if he does at all. But if one creates something that will live forever, won’t he too live forever? Shakespeare has been dead in a physical sense for almost 400 years, yet his work is as, if not more, prevalent today than it was then. So couldn’t one argue that Shakespeare is still alive in the context of his sonnets and plays? He is dead, yet he created something that will live forever. One can also live eternally by carrying out an action or initiative that affects people for many years to come. Again, for an example, Martin Luther King Jr. is dead, however, he lives on through all the progress he made for civil rights. Obviously, Gilgamesh will not live on as an immortal forever. However, he manifests himself in an action that will live on forever—killing Humbaba. So, he lives eternally through the execution of this action. The fact that he could live on forever in the minds of men is alluded to several times in the text. When Gilgamesh and Enkidu leave on their quest to slay Humbaba, Gilgamesh says, â€Å"I will cut down the tree, I will kill Humbaba, the whole world will know how mightly I am. I will make a lasting name for myself, I will stamp my fame on men’s minds forever. † His name lives on throughout the centuries, so he does along with it. These allusions are made only early in the text, by both Gilgamesh and Enkidu. In addition to the previous quote, Gilgamesh says in Book V, â€Å"If we help each other and fight side by side, we will make a lasting name for ourselves, we will stamp our fame on men’s minds forever. † The early discussion of living forever through actions rather than in the flesh could show that Gilgamesh or Enkidu might have some awareness of their fate. If either one of them could exist physically forever, what would be the point of killing Humbaba? They’d have all eternity to put their stamp on the human race, so why bother trying to leave their mark through an action that is dangerous and capable of inducing anger in the gods? Gilgamesh was written over 4600 years ago. It’s arguably the oldest written text, older even than the bible. 4600 years is a long time, essentially an eternity relative to the average human’s timeline. And we are still reading Gilgamesh today. So, he has succeeded in his quest for immortality. We all know his name, what he did. He is alive in both our minds and the pages of this book.

American Identity- Rip Van Winkle essays

American Identity- Rip Van Winkle essays Rip Van Winkle, by Washington Irving, is symbolic of the European sentiment towards the new society in America and establishes an identity before and after the American Revolution. Rip Van Winkle's character depicts the society of America as seen by England, whereas the England portrayed by his wife, Dame Van Winkle. The townspeople represent American society at large and how it changed with the realization of becoming an independent country. Rip Van Winkle was a "a kind neighbor, and an obedient hen-pecked husband". All the good wives of the village liked him because he was willing help at any time. "In a word Rip was ready to attend to anybody's business but his own; but as to doing family duty, and keeping his farm in order, he found it impossible." Seeing that Rip Van Winkle's family was deteriorating while the people of the town were profiting from his rebellion against the authority and possible needs of his family shows that the Crown was losing respect while America was gaining the loyalty of its own people. Rip's idleness could be perceived as the British perception that America was unwilling to focus on their duties as servants of the Crown. In representing the Crown, Dame Van Winkle would nag him to death over his duties so much that he would seek refuge from these tirades by going to town to sit in front of the tavern and remain idle with his friends. Even this did not prove to be an efficient escape because soon enough his wife would track him down to nag him and his colleagues further. This is a direct parallel to the political situation with the continued government control of Mother England. England was very domineering in their everyday lives and not willing to allow America its freedom. Americans were trying to avoid the tyranny of the Crown, just as Rip would do everything possible to escape his overbearing wife. The townspeople, in representing the American society, show how American ...

Firewood Oven to the Microwave Oven

Firewood Oven to the Microwave Oven Free Online Research Papers The firewood oven has features that can’t be spoken in technical words, once there’s an entire original contest of its existence. The idea of fire refers to the ancient idea of a meeting, protection, feeding or heat. The firewod oven helps us to symbolize the houses’ interior with an image of a family meeting, preparing food and keeping thmeselves warm. Besides, ot ´s a very economic device.That ´s how the tecnologic evolution of a household instrument, which is quite necessary nowadays, starts. GAS OVEN That’s the second step in this device evolution. It was created by Zachaus Winsler in 1802. Could you imagine our modern life without it? In the old times, preparing meals demanded much more dedication, it used to take more time and so on. Everything had to be made in the firewood oven. Besides, people had to create, there weren’t recipe mags or TV shows, or internet. The gas is oven is very practical, yet very risky. Domestic gas is poisonous, it can kill anyone. If you smell gas when you get home, don’t turn on the lights. The enrgy of the lamp can start an explosion, and it could smite the whole neighborhood. THE ELECTRIC OVEN Although not may people know it, or use it, the electric oven is part of the evolution of food preparation. It’s a french invention, created in 1892 by Moisson. In Brazil, it ´s not very common, despite of being an economic option. In other countries, though, it is as utilized as the TV set. It’s a portable and weightless device, and less dangerous than the gas oven. Beware of water, though. We all know that waer and lctruicity causes eletruction. THE MICROWAVE That’s the latest invention for our food prepare! Microwaves were discovered by Percy Spencer, who worked in an eletrons creations company. Once he was working and observed that the chocolate bar he had in his pocket had melted. Percy was no strange to new ideas and inventions, and it was not hard for him to understand the action of the microwaves in that candy. The first thing to be intentionally prepared in microwaves was popcorn, and then an egg, that exploded in a tester’s face. In 1946, the company Percy worked at, Raytheon, patented the microwave cooking proccess and in 1947 they built the first commercial microwave oven, the Radarange. It was one meter-eighty high and weighted three hundred kilos. It was water-freshened and produced three thousand watts, about three times more radiation than the modern ones. Research Papers on Firewood Oven to the Microwave OvenMind TravelGenetic EngineeringThe Spring and AutumnMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductLifes What IfsAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XCanaanite Influence on the Early Israelite ReligionPETSTEL analysis of IndiaNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This Nice

Finance 4.5 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Finance 4.5 - Essay Example The bond prices are different from part (a) and (b) in the question because interest rate is lowered. Bond prices are inversely proportional to interest rates therefore; as interest rate lowers, bond prices hike. This would eventually lead to lower yield. Therefore; in the above given scenario, the interest rates were lowered which caused the bond prices to rise. No, the bonds should not be called. The bonds should only be called if interest rates drop below coupon rate. This will give you the opportunity to call in your previous debt at a lower rate and then reissue debt at a lower interest rate if needed. The second scale will increase profits at a greater pace than scale one after q=3125 units. As the fixed cost is limited, and variable cost per unit is less therefore; the overall cost would be less than scale one. This means that even if the break even sales are  in the original cost function, the company would not face negative cash flow if it surpasses 142856 levels of sale because majority of the cost is of depreciation which is a non cash expense. Even though the company shows negative profits but that would not mean negative cash flow unless the level of sale is above 142561

Impacts of technology to US children Research Paper

Impacts of technology to US children - Research Paper Example Computer games that came as a result of technology have helped improve children’s skills of abstract thinking, reflective thinking as well as evaluating information. Also, it has helped increase communication between the young ones and the health practitioners. The use of technology enables an individual to perceive images at a higher speed. Besides, an individual can watch videos that makes one feel the actual reality of the picture. Basing on various studies, kids who have been using technology for some time are viewed to have an increase in visual reasoning skills. The technology helps children to understand the operations of various apps that are employed in operating the technology. With these skills, the child will be able to coordinate various activities at the same time. Furthermore, it has given the children the ability to identify facial emotions expressions by the use of computers. As a result, technology has helped improve the literacy rate among the children. Tech nology can only be of good help to children if they are guided on what and what not to operate with their smartphones as well as the computers. Therefore, enabling young ones to poses cell phones fulfills this functionality for connectivity. The development of technology has made children ease the concerns that come along with childhood connectivity. Therefore, technology is considered an important factor in the current US generation because it is helping parents keep track of their children.

To what extend does Joint Commission International (JCI) Accreditation Essay - 1

To what extend does Joint Commission International (JCI) Accreditation standards improves healthcare facilities(2) - Essay Example Scientific enquiry or research involves a series of steps that begins with defining the problems through proper investigations using a scientific approach and devise methods to reach a suitable solution. Experts have divided this process of scientific research under eight sub-divisions. The first characteristic is purpose, which implies that every researcher should have a specific purpose for undertaking the research. This is the initial step that would enable the researcher to find suitable answers and methods to solve the problem. The next important requirement is rigor by which researchers need to be attentive and scrupulous during the research process in order to avoid any errors or bias that may affect the end results. The next requirement is testability by which a hypothesis should be subjected to proper testing processes after collection of the required data. Following the testing process the researcher should also ensure that the results obtained are replicable every time the research is conducted under similar conditions as this will ensure that the hypothesis is reproducible. The next requirement for any research is precision and confidence. Precision ensures that the results obtained from the research are relevant to the hypothesis made and the confidence levels reveal the extent to which the results are correct. In addition to the above factors, every researcher should be objective in their research by which any subjective or emotional bias should be eliminated and the study interpretation should be based on the data alone. Another important requirement is generalization of the study by which the study could be applied to any setting. Finally the study should also be simple to perform and understand rather than complex.(Sekaran, 2003). The following chapter begins with the definition of the research problem and then describes the purpose of this study, following which the study objectives are detailed and in turn the study setting is described. The research methodology that includes the sampling methods is explained and the types of data to be used, data collection and analysis are then explored. The contribution of the study is described finally. The method employed in the study is telephonic interview and use of an executive staff questionnaire with the IMC staff members. The IMC has entered into an agreement with the JCI, which has made it the first hospital in Gulf to be involved with the acclaimed organization right from the inception of a project. 3.2 Research problem Following the implementation of the JCI standards within the TQM department, several manufacturing industries have shown marked improvement in quality in different sectors across the country. Given this increase in quality improvement, the service industry, especially the healthcare industry has shown interest in implementing this concept within its purview. The Saudi health sector, both public and private, faces a variety of general challenges such as reso urce allocation and other challenges related to its nature such as the quality of services provided, cost containment and medical errors. Considering the

Definition Of A Long Term Condition Nursing Essay

Definition Of A Long Term Condition Nursing Essay The number of people living in the UK with a long term condition is increasing rapidly. As healthcare provision improves and the availability of healthcare increases, the number of people living longer increases. The proportion of the population aged over 80 years will increase to one in twelve over the next 25 years, and one in four will be over the age of 65 years. (Health Delivery Directorate Improvement and Support Team, 2009) As people get older their health may begin to change and are more likely to suffer from illnesses and chronic conditions. At present, care for people with long term conditions, particularly older people, is reactive and interventions generally only take place after an event or exacerbation of a long term illness. A system change by NHS Scotland aims to deliver an integrated, coordinated and preventative health and social care system, especially for people with long term conditions (NHS Scotland, 2007). Definition of a Long Term Condition A long term condition (also called chronic condition) can be defined as health problems that require ongoing care and management over a period of years or decades (WHO, 2012). Long term conditions can sometimes be referred to as chronic diseases. They are conditions that last for a year or longer and can greatly impact on a persons life which may result in the person requiring continued support and care. Long term conditions can affect children as well as adults and is not only the elderly who can be affected. It is also not just confined to physical illness but it can also include a range of mental health illnesses. Amongst the most common long term conditions are diabetes, epilepsy, heart disease, chronic pain, arthritis, some mental health problems, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (NHS, 2012). Socio-Political Context of Delivery of Care In the past, care for people with long term conditions was generally reactive and unplanned (DHSSPS, 2011). People with long term conditions are twice as likely to be admitted to hospital, and tend to have longer hospital stays. They also account for over 60% of hospital bed days used. Most people who need long term residential care have complex needs from multiple long term conditions (The Scottish Government, 2012). Scotlands approach to the management of long term conditions is based upon the Chronic Care Model developed by Ed Wagner and his colleagues at the MacColl Institute for Healthcare Innovation. This model suggests that if conditions are created to support a partnership that is productive between people who are knowledgeable and are capable of implementing changes and with those who have the long term conditions, then this can be positive steps towards improving the way care is delivered (The Scottish Government, 2009). In the past, care for people with long term conditions was generally reactive and unplanned (DHSSPS, 2011). In 2007, The Scottish Government developed an action plan to better manage care for people with long term conditions. Adopting Wagners Chronic Care model, The Scottish Governments plan was reflected in Better Health, Better Care. The 6 domains of the Chronic Care Model have been mapped to 6 key components of the model for long term conditions care in Scotland:- Multi-professional care teams and their partnership with people with long term conditions Self management of LTCs strategy Gaun Yersel primary care, hospitals, and social work integrating care Integrating evidence-based medicine and clinical guidelines into care and support delivery processes Sharing of Data through supportive information systems Assuring appropriate delivery of care through the national performance framework, HEAT targets and the Community Care Outcomes Framework How the care is delivered In order to deliver a proactive and coordinated care management approach for people with complex and changing needs, health and social care professionals require a range of competencies and skills. Health professionals that work together to deliver this anticipatory care are community nurses, community psychiatric nurses, social workers and care managers (HDDIST, 2009). Anticipatory and Advance care planning (ACP) both adopt a thinking ahead philosophy of care. This allows practitioners and their teams to work with patients and their family members to set and achieve common goals to make sure the right course of treatment has been chosen and is carried out at the right time for the best interests of the patient and their family members or support network (The Scottish Government, 2010). Advance care planning is the term most commonly referred to in end of life care, although it does incorporate the writing of wills or Living Wills now known as advance directives or advance decisions which can be done by the well person early on in life to plan for what may happen at the end of life. Anticipatory care planning is more commonly applied to support those living with a long term condition to plan for an expected change in health or social status. It also incorporates health improvement and staying well. Completion of a common document called an anticipat ory care plan is suggested for both long term conditions and in palliative care (The Scottish Government, 2010). Anticipatory care, as an approach, was pioneered in the 1960s by Van den Dool in The Netherlands and Julian Tudor Hart in Wales. Both approaches involved identifying patients who were at high risk of specific diseases or conditions. This was achieved by reviewing patient medical records when the opportunity arose during routine consultation or when the patient made contact with their medical practice (ODonnell et al, 2012). As an individuals condition appears to be more complex it may be useful to discuss legal and practical issues, as well as individual care and support preferences. As the needs and dependency of an individual increase, it may become appropriate to discuss end of life preferences (Scottish Government, 2009). The Anticipatory Care Plan may then include information about the persons: concerns and personal goals the persons own understanding of their illness and how it will progress a persons own wishes for end of life care, including preference of where care is carried out, as well as their views about the level of interventions, treatments and whether CPR is wanted (Scottish Government, 2009). Government Programmes The Scottish Government (2010) has outlined its commitment to developing a health service that tackles inequalities in health, addressing both health and social determinants, and to delivering a health service that moves away from a reactive, episodic model of care, where the patient is a passive recipient, to a system that anticipates health needs before they arise and that delivers continuous, integrated, preventive care with the patient as partner. Such a model of care has been termed anticipatory care (ODonnell et al, 2012). Recently, the Scottish Government has established Keep Well, a national programme of anticipatory care targeting deprived populations at risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD), which brings together a number of the active ingredients important to anticipatory care (ODonnell et al, 2012). NHS Health Scotland provides the national programme management role for Keep Well. Established before the implementation of this government programme, The National Coronary Heart Disease Demonstration Project, Have a Heart Paisley, was a Scottish Government-funded national health demonstration project (2001-2008) hosted by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. It was a partnership between the local community, primary and secondary care and the local authority (NHS Health Scotland, 2012). The initial project was established to reduce heart disease and promote healthier, longer lives for the people of Paisley. It was one of four projects outlined in the Governments White paper Towards a Healthier Sco tland. Have a Heart Paisley moved into its second phase in 2005 2008 which narrowed its focus and allowed an opportunity to build upon phase one. An anticipatory care report published in 2007 by Sridharan et al, outlined challenges for interventions such as Keep Well that are based on the vision described in Delivering for Health such as Identifying individuals within the different levels of disadvantage. Instead of a broad approach to identify a deprived area, a more focused approach may be required to help identify poor people in those deprived areas. The problem is that individuals with the greatest need (e.g. multiple disadvantaged populations with co morbid conditions) may be overlooked and the standard sampling frame such as a Central Data Repository (CDR) may not harness or identify populations with multiple disadvantages (Sridharan et al, 2007). The Long Term Conditions Collaborative (LTCC), aims to support patients to develop person centred care that is effective, safe, timely and reliable, makes best use of the skills of the multi-professional team, and is supported by good communication and sharing of information across teams and care settings (The Scottish Government, 2010). Models of Care The Kaiser Permanente pyramid is a chronic care model which was developed by the Kaiser Permanente Health Institute in the United States. This chronic care model is not a fixed model and people can move up and down the levels as their condition, ability to cope and their general sense of well-being changes (The Scottish Government, 2009). Kaiser Permanente focuses on integrating organisations and disciplines. People with long term conditions are organised and managed according to need, with intensive management targeted at those at highest risk (NHS, 2006). Supporting Literature Research carried out by Baker et al (2012) aimed to identify a population who were at risk of admission to hospital and to provide an anticipatory care plan (ACP) for them. Baker et al (2012) aimed to determine whether, using primary and secondary care data to identify this population and then applying an ACP, can help to reduce hospital admission rates. The results of Baker et al (2012) study showed that whilst not significant, having an ACP and a co-ordinated team based approach can reduce admission rates and reduce hospital bed days. Baker et al (2012) found that a reduction in admission rates is mediated by an increase in transfers out from secondary hospitals to the community hospital and home. Several factors enabled this to happen: improved community support from families and carers who had a better understanding of the course of a disease, care workers who were able to prevent admissions and provide rapid support on discharge, as well as a coordinated approach and good liaiso n between the case manager, local nursing, and the practice (Baker et al, 2012). Cleland, Moffat Small (2012) carried out research to explore stakeholder views of the utility and design of a community-based anticipatory care service (CBACS) for COPD. The key benefits of this service were seen to be reducing hospitalisation, educating patients in self-management in order to improve self-care and reduce acute admissions, and coordination of health and social care (Cleland et al, 2012). ZuWallack Nici, (2010), wrote an article describing the problems associated with the current care delivery approach for people with COPD. ZuWallack Nici (2010) proposed a Chronic Care model for the primary care of people with long term illnesses such as COPD. This model had many similarities to the care approach set out in Better Health, Better Care, with 6 similar components. ZuWallack Nici (2010) found that the integrated care approach is ideally suited to the management of chronic diseases, such as COPD. They claimed that Integrated care is patient centred but not limited to the traditional boundaries of the disease and is not overwhelmed by the complexities of the multi-morbid patient. ZuWallack Nici (2010) claims that there is great emphasis on self management strategies and the co-ordination of care, all of which increase the lines of communication amongst the agencies involved in the care being delivered. Role of the Case Manager The evolving role of case manager in delivering anticipatory care to patients with long term conditions is key to ensuring that care and services for the individual are co-ordinated and do not become fragmented, confusing and overwhelming. It is an opportunity to make best use of the advanced level of knowledge, skills and competencies that District Nurses have developed (HDDIST, 2009). Good communication, co-ordination and information sharing within and between multi-disciplinary teams are essential to ensure that where a person moves between different care settings, for example between primary care and specialist services provided in secondary care, these transitions are seamless and co-ordinated (DHSSPSNI, 2012). IN 2009, Information Services Division (ISD) developed The SPARRA tool. It identifies people who have entered a cycle of repeat admissions to hospital in the previous 3 years and predicts their risk of future hospitalisation. The information on the SPARRA lists supports the patients local team to provide the proactive, planned and co-ordinated care required for people with complex or frequently changing needs. Instead of reactive or crisis care, people and their carers will receive an improved service through a more robust assessment and care planning approach. Delivering continuous, supportive care with a single point of co-ordination improves the experience for the person and their carer; supports care at home and may prevent avoidable hospital admissions (ISD, 2009). SPARRA is only one way of identifying people at high risk of admissions. People who may benefit from care management can be identified by sharing local intelligence at Practice and locality team meetings and by using other community risk prediction tools (ISD, 2009). End of Life Care Palliative care has been described as the active total care of patients whose disease is not responsive to curative treatment. Problems can be encountered with the availability of medicines during the out-of-hours period. To maintain effective symptom control it is important that sufficient quantities of appropriate palliative care drugs, including CDs, are available to anticipate deterioration in the patients condition (NHS Scotland, 2012). Just in case boxes support anticipatory prescribing and access to palliative care medication for patients at the end of life. Adequate quantities of the appropriate medicines (including Controlled Drugs) are prescribed for the patient and stored in an identifiable container the just in case box in the patients home or care home. This is intended to prevent unnecessary delays in symptom management especially out of hours and at weekends (NHS Scotland, 2012). The GP will assess the individual needs of the patient and will issue a prescription for the appropriate medication If symptoms develop the nurse can administer the appropriate drugs without having the delay of contacting the GP to prescribe them (NHS Scotland, 2012). Making appropriate plans to meet a persons changing needs and aid timely transitions to end of life care are critical components of the quality improvement process in health and social care (NHS, 2011). Care planning harnesses the care of people with and without capacity to make their own decisions. The assessment undertaken is person centred and it aims to establish the persons needs, preferences and personal goals relating to their own care and the decisions made to meet these goals with the available resources (NHS, 2011). It can be oriented towards meeting immediate needs, as well as predicting future needs and making appropriate arrangements or contingency plans to address these (NHS, 2011). Where a person lacks capacity to decide, care planning must focus on determining their best interests. This can be achieved through discussions with the persons family or close friends or carers and any decisions made must act to protect the persons best interests (NHS, 2011). Advance care planning (ACP) is a process of discussions with an individual and their care provider to determine the persons wishes should their illness deteriorate in the future. ACPs can lead to an advance statement, an Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment (ADRT), a Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) decision or other types of decision, such as appointing a Lasting Power of Attorney (NHS, 2011). In conclusion, planning should be tailored to individuals a one size fits all approach will not work (NHS, 2011). Individuals have the right to live well with their conditions that are managed holistically and within the boundaries of their own personal needs and desires. Everyone involved with the care planning for an individual should be available for opportunities for follow-on conversations and support. Discussing potential risks and benefits associated with different treatment options will help people make choices and have confidence in agreed treatment and care plans (NHS, 2011). Wordcount: 2743 .

Creating A Writing Technology :: Teaching Writing Education Essays

Creating A Writing Technology â€Å"Enhanced separation of the known from the knower is probably the most fundamental value of writing, from its beginnings to the present. Between knower and known writing interposes a visible and tangible object, the text (Ong, 327).† LOT 509 PLEASE PUT DRYWALL INSIDE THE GARAGE Above is what I wrote using my creative writing technology. I am a general contractor and have my own construction/home improvement company. The company is called Rock Water Construction. With my full school schedule I haven’t had the time to take on huge jobs. However I am able to take on Drywall jobs that don’t require a full days work to complete. I recently ordered drywall to be delivered on Thursday to finish a basement that I had been working on. Due to the upcoming weather predictions that called for rain, I decided to have the drywall put into the garage until I was able to move it to the basement, in order to protect it from the rain and also theft. I requested this from the drywall company and knew that it needed to be put into the garage, however if the driver didn’t happen to read the instructions on the invoice, the driver would have left the drywall by the curb. I was able to separate the known, (the drywall needed to be placed in the garage), from the knower, (my mind) through the tangible object (the sign) that contained my text. The house that I am working at is in a new subdivision so lot numbers are a lot easier to locate for the delivery drivers. â€Å"There were other graphite deposits around the world, but their ore was not particularly pure. Impure ore crumbled or produced a scratchy line†¦with his supply of English graphite permanently embargoed, the French pencil-maker Nicholas-Jaques Contà © learned to produce a workable writing medium by grinding the local graphite, mixing it with clay and water, and forcing the mixture into wooden casings (Baron, 44).† Normally I would use a permanent marker or spray paint on a piece of wood to make my sign, however since I had to create a writing technology I chose to use charcoal and a piece of scrap drywall to create my â€Å"text†.

Business Analysis and Valuation Report

BUSINESS ANALYSIS AND VALUATION REPORT Scheduled Class: Monday 2:00pm to 5:00pm 1. Introduction Harvey Norman is now a public company that is listed on the stock exchange, whose principal activities primarily consist of an integrated franchising, retail and property entity. It is one of Australia’s most successful retail groups, operating more than 150 franchised department stores, which focus on selling computers, home entertainment equipment and home appliances. It offers Australian consumers an extensive product range, cutting edge technology and market leadership in most product categories. In this report, an in depth industry and company analysis will be provided in order to gain an understanding of the qualitative aspects of Harvey Norman’s operation. 2. Industry Analysis 2. 1 Main Products Harvey Norman belongs to the retailing industry. The main products offered by Harvey Norman consist of: electrical, computer, furniture, entertainment and bedding goods. However, being distinctive from its competitors, Harvey Norman is a franchise and the main brand owned by Harvey Norman Holdings Limited. 2. 2 Future Prospects In the next year, the competition in Australian retailing industry is likely to remain strong. Benefited from the Government’s stimulus package during the GFC, Australians’ ability to consume has recovered. Therefore, this boost in consumption has caused a pressure of inflation. In order to mitigate the negative effect of inflation, there has been frequent increase of interest rate by the Reserve Bank. Therefore, with interest rate rising, consumption in retailing goods is likely to reduce in the short term. In the next five years, the Australian Dollar is going to remain strong. As a result, imported retailing goods are likely to be cheaper for Australian consumers. Retailers in Australia are likely to continue their expansion to the overseas market. It is because retailers demand further improvements to the operational performance. In the long run, retailers are likely to increase their share in key growth markets combined with the brand strength of their own company, in order to ensure future growth. These speculations are based on principles of economics, as well as assessments of the changes in Australian’s consumption ability. 2. 3 Market Competition Review Harvey Norman competes in the five main retailing industries including: electrical, computer, furniture, entertainment and bedding goods. Each industry has its own main player. The main players in the electrical and computer goods industry include: Clive Peeters, Dick Smiths and Bing Lee. 1) Clive Peeters’s retail coverage is the most similar to Harvey Norman in Australia. Their main products include: Audio Visual, Kitchen appliances and white goods. Clive Peeters’ stores carry more than 140 brands and over 20,000 individual models. This company can be seen as a major competitor to Harvey Norman because of their similarity in size. 2) Bing Lee specializes in consumer electronics, computer and telecommunication goods. Unlike Harvey Norman, Bing Lee is a privately-held electrical retail business in New South Wales with 41 stores and a turnover of about $490 million. Although it is the largest privately-held business in this industry, Bing Lee remains as a relatively small size retailer comparing to Harvey Norman. 3) Dick Smith (formerly Dick Smith Electronics) is an international electronics retailer. It is a major competitor to Harvey Norman. Among all retailing industries where Harvey Norman competes in, the company remains dominant in the key product areas of audio, computers and visual products such as notebooks and flat panel televisions. The company holds the number one position in the markets of white goods and technology products. 3Company Analysis 3. 1 Company Choice As one of Australia’s largest and most successful retailers, Harvey Norman has business interests in various areas including electrical, computer, furniture, entertainment and bedding goods. With more than 160 stores located in Australia, New Zealand, Slovenia, Ireland, Malaysia and Singapore, Harvey Norman is a conglomerate/franchise, which provides millions of consumers with products ranging from notebook computers to sofas to beddings. To run a successful business operation of Harvey Norman’s magnitude requires not only operational excellence, but also strategic insight and vision on macro economic conditions, market trends forecasts and also a distinctive understanding and implementation of the company’s business strength. The company’s strong business operations across multiple product areas/industries make Harvey Norman an interest case study to analyze – both from an operations point of view as well as strategic. Furthermore, given the challenging market conditions in 2008 and 2009, it would be interesting to analyze how Harvey Norman responded to the economic downturn. The company observed â€Å"a significant improvement in net profit from underlying business operations during the last 6 months of FY2009†, according to Harvey Norman’s 2009 Annual Report. It would be insightful to see what strategies and tactics were used by Harvey Norman to achieve this result, especially in the integrated, franchise and property system sectors since these were reported by the company to be â€Å"resilient in achieving strong results and growing market share in all key product categories. † 3. 2 Company History DateSignificant Event(s) 961Gerry Harvey & Ian Norman established the Norman Ross chain of stores 1979Norman Ross became one of the largest appliance retail chains; controlled 42 stores with sales exceeding AUD240 million 1982Norman Ross was sold and a single Harvey Norman store was started in Auburn, Sydney. 1987Harvey Norman Holdings Limited was listed on the Australian stock market Early 1990sHarvey Norman adopted the superstore forma t and entered the computer and furniture markets 1998Joyce Mayne acquisition 2000The chain grew to 100 stores 3. 3 Competitive Advantage Harvey Norman’s competitive advantage can be classified into â€Å"hardware† and â€Å"software† perspectives with the â€Å"hardware† component incorporating corporate strategy and business structure while the â€Å"software† component incorporating leadership skills and management style: †¢Corporate Strategy: Harvey Norman embraces and successfully maximizes benefits bought forth by the economies of scale (both on the purchasing as well as market side); achieves seamless integration of its retail, franchise and property systems; has excellent brand awareness, which translates into brand loyalty from customers. Business structure: Harvey Norman has successfully setup, adopted and utilized the franchising operation which enables it to generate revenue from multiple sources; it has a diversified product base which can help mitigate risks and capture a wider customer base. †¢Leadership skills: Harvey Norman has the ability to identify and ac quire property associated with HN’s development of retail stores in growth areas, which is a crucial element of the integrated retail and property strategy. Management style: Leadership is able to respond to market change and demand effectively – both in terms of products and operations. For example, Harvey Norman has expanded its product offerings and operations into various countries in response to increased demand (from both local and foreign markets). 3. 4 SWOT Analysis Strengths †¢Franchising Operation †¢Improved technology and supply chain management systems. (Global Merchandise Management System) †¢Economies of scale both in purchasing and marketing. Effective integrated retail, franchise and property system and low gearing supports to capitalize competitors’ failure. Weaknesses †¢Issue of low profit margin putting continuous pressure †¢Closure of its export and distribution businesses in Singapore and Malaysia has negatively impa cted on the profitability in Asia market. †¢Own only little market shares in the gaming industry. Opportunities †¢The strong performance of the franchising operating segment †¢Expand franchising operations in potential geographical areas and extending product offerings using stable financial capability. Growing market shares in many overseas market such as Malaysia, New Zealand, Slovenia and Ireland †¢OFIS brand is expanding in Australian market as a discount retailer of stationery Threats †¢High inflation, capital market liquidity crisis and decreased demand because of Global financial crisis are affecting the business both locally and internationally. †¢Fall in price on electrical items due to rise of Australian dollar are directly lowering profit margin and increasing expenses. 3. 5 Future Prospects for Harvey Norman Next Year There has been 10 new franchised complexes opened in Australia and a total of 8 leased stores were closed in 2009. A number of stores were also opened in offshore markets including the new OFIS brand, which implies that Harvey Norman is continuously growing its operations and expanding geographically. Net profit from underlying business operations was down by 15. 2% as a result of many write down of assets, revaluation of assets and expenses taken place in the first half year of 2009. However, franchise sales revenue increased by 4%. With the continuous expansion and write down done in the financial year ended in June 20009, it is obvious that sales revenue and net profit will improve in the next year. Next Five Years The company’s strong financial position and low gearing allow it to invest to expand its operations and adds value to its brands and businesses across its value chain in the next five years. As shown in the financial highlight 2009, the net profit after tax had declined from 358. 45 million to 214. 35 million as a result of the increased amount of expenses and trading loss of some segments. However, the gross profit has increased, concluding that business is improving and growing. Moreover, the consolidated equity has increased by $1. 12 billion, which dropped the debt/equity from 26. 61% to 26. 56%. It means the company is trying to strengthen their equity position for the next five years as well as the long run. In the Long Run In the long run, Harvey Norman has many opportunities to continuously grow in the future. It has an effective integrated retail, franchise and property system that allows the company to make substantial profit from its owned operations, franchised operations and leased property. Harvey Norman and many of its brands have become the market leaders in its industry and it will continuously extend its product offering across all the brands to maintain its market position. It is confident that Harvey Norman will continuously perform well in the long run. 3. 6 Recent performance Table 1-3 represents the recent 3 years’ performance of HVN: During last three years, there is a slightly incensement in its revenues, the revenue (exclude interest) raised from 2008 to 2009 by 2. 4% as well as from 2007 to 2008 grew by 6. 6%. Table1 HVN Revenues, Expenses and Cash Flows FY2009 ($m) Revenues (Exclude Int) Expenses (Exclude D&A)EBITDAExpenses (D&A)EBITNet Cash Flows $2436. 0$1963. 28$472. 7$91. 04$381. 7$82. 71 Table1 HVN Revenues, Expenses and Cash Flows FY2008 ($m) Revenues (Exclude Int)Expenses (Exclude D&A)EBITDAExpenses (D&A)EBITNet Cash Flows $2378. 4$1873. 24$505. 2$84. 39$420. 8$-127. 18 Table1 HVN Revenues, Expenses and Cash Flows FY2007 ($m) Revenues (Exclude Int)Expenses (Exclude D&A)EBITDAExpenses (D&A)EBITNet Cash Flows $2229. 8$1819. 82$410. 0$74. 88$335. 1$50. 58 Sales revenue for the Harvey Norman consolidated group consists of sales made by New Zealand, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Slovenia and the controlling interest held in Pertama Holdings Limited in Singapore. Consolidated sales revenue also includes Harvey Norman’s controlling interest in several retail partnerships and the company-run OFIS stores in Australia Consolidated sales revenue for the year ended 30 June 2009 was $1. 44billion compared to $1. 43billion for the year ended 30 June 2008, an increase of 0. 83%, despite the sales revenue decreased in some regions like public of Ireland and New Zealand. The reduction in sales in these regions was due to extremely challenging retail’s trading conditions and lack of consumer confidence. However, for the purpose of financial report, all the foreign currency is translated in to Australia dollar. Since the depreciation in Australia dollar in the last year, sales revenue decreased in some local markets might show an increase in the financial report in Australia dollar. EBIT reported a loss of $39. 1m in 2009 compared with 2008 due to an increase in depreciation and amortization and operating expenses, comparing with 2007, there is an increase of $95. m in 2008. 3. 7 Accounting Analysis Manager’s Incentive of Earning Manipulation There are empirical evidence linking the character of executive compensation with earnings manipulation and fraud. With regard to earnings manipulation, Keith J. (2006) finds that firms with relatively high amount of equity incentives to CEOs, in the forms of unrestricted stock and immediately exerci sable options, are more likely to engage in earnings management by reporting small earnings increase, and also by reporting long strings of increasing earnings. In this case, Harvey Norman’s executive remuneration packages involve a balance between fixed and performance cash incentives (PCI) which includes short term such as base salary and long-term payments such as superannuation. Equity based remuneration can also potentially induce manages to manage earnings, by understating earnings prior to option grants to lower the firm’s current share price and exercising option later on. Evidence of Earning Manipulation When managers have accounting flexibility, they can use it either to communicate their firm’s economic situation or to hide true performance. Possible distortion Detail & Explanation Accelerated recognition of revenuesManagers typically have best information on the revenue recognition to decide whether or when the cash collection is reasonably likely. And they may have incentives to accelerate the recognition of revenues. They can adopt new accounting or use managers’ discretion to alter revenue recognition of, for instance, franchise fees or rent. Underestimated reservesFrom Note 5, provision for doubtful debt has decreased from 4. 7 m to 4. 3 m; from Note 5(a) the aging analysis of trade debtors, number has increased from 952 k to 1,038 k. Due to the global financial global crisis and its influence to the debtors and consumers, it is not convincingly reasonable to reduce provision for doubtful debt, which intends to overstate receivables. Understated depreciation on long-term assetFirms are required to recognize impairment in values of the long assets when they arise. However, estimates of asset valuation and impairment are highly subjective. As a result, managers intend to delay or reduce write-down, or even not show impairments. This issue is especially crucial or asset-intensive firms in volatile markets. A review of Note 12, the economic situation in Ireland has continued to deteriorate and severe recession has impacted all Irish retailers resulting in large trading losses in Ireland during the year, while an impairment loss in plant and equipment assets is slightly lower than expected. Capitalized R&D outlays The economic benefits from research and development are highly uncertain. In this case, the company capita lize IT projects, which cannot clearly show us a certain future benefits. Adjustment Recommendation Although there are reasonably large chances for the managers to manage and manipulate earnings, these managements are not materially enough to make adjustment. PCI may become incentives for managers to manipulate earnings but also can be seen as incentives for managers to work on their best for the company as the higher earning achieved the higher incentives they can be awarded. Therefore, no adjustments have been made on all the accounting numbers, which will be used for analysis afterwards. References Harvey Norman (2010), ‘About Us’, Website, http://www. arveynorman. com. au/page/1255509869113/about-us Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (2010), ‘Company Profile’, Website, http://www. harveynormanholdings. com. au/companyprofile. htm Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (2010), ‘Harvey Norman Holdings Limited Annual Report 2009†, Website, http://www. harveynormanholdings. com. au/pdf_files/2009_annual_report_final_for_release_141009. pdf Harvey Norman Holdings L td (2010), ‘Harvey Norman Holdings Limited Annual Report 2008†, Website, http://www. harveynormanholdings. com. au/pdf_files/2008_Annual_Report_FINAL_30Sept. df Keith J. Crocker, Joel Slemrod, ‘the economics of earnings manipulation and managerial compensation’, October 2006, NBER Working Paper No. 12645, JEL No. A12 Richard, D. 2009, ‘Harvey Norman Conducts Major CE Review Up to 10 Stores to Go’, viewed 10 April 2010,http://www. smartoffice. com. au/Business/Retail/N9C6R5F6 Palepu, K. G. and P. M. Healy, Business Analysis and Valuation Using Financial Statements: Text and Cases, 4th ed. , South-Western College Publishing, 2007. Appendix Appendix A Standardized Financial Statement Appendix B SWOT Analysis Strengths: As mentioned above, its franchising operation is one of the company critical success factors and as well is their strength. In addition, Harvey Norman has a commitment to improve technology and supply chain management systems in response to the market growth, which becomes its business strength. In Australia the company benefits from enormous economies of scale in both purchasing and marketing. Also, the company is one of the biggest media spenders in the country, contributing to a high level of brand recongition throughout Australia. Another strength is their strong financial position, which is indicated in the financial highlight in the annual report 2008, as a result of their effective integrated retail, franchise and property system, it has built a strong financial position and low gearing that has placed Harvey Norman in an excellent position to capitalise on any competitor failure in the market place and to take advantage of emerging opportunities. Weakness: According to a review by David Richards (2009), David Ackery, the general manager of Electrical at Harvey Norman comments that they are facing the issue of its margin with its vendors and retailers. Although the gross profit margin in 2008 is stable and slightly increased in comparison to 2007 from 25. 9% up to 26. 7% (calculated from the income statement 2008), the vendors and retailers are continuously placing pressures on its margin. Furthermore, the closure of its export and distribution businesses in Singapore and Malaysia has negatively impacted on the profitability in Asia market. Another weakness is the gaming market that had not performed as well as JB Hi Fi with Ackery (2009) admitting that it was a booming area of the market, where Harvey Norman had not taken much market shares in this area. Opportunities: Harvey Norman is being the market leader in the industry and has improved and maintained its market share position in Australia, which makes it difficult for new entrants to enter into the market. Harvey Norman has the opportunities to continuously expand its operations into international markets as it has been proven in its successful operations in overseas such as New Zealand. As a result of its strong financial position, Harvey Norman has the capability and ability to invest in expanding its operations in other geographical areas that are potentially profitable as well as extending its product offerings. Threats: Global economic recession is a major threat to any industries and companies including Harvey Norman. Also, capital market liquidity crisis, contracting monetary policy, high inflation and petrol prices are negatively impacting on consumer sentiment, which decrease the demand and thus, profitability. Prices on electrical items had been falling due to a rising Australian dollar and the rapid obsolescence of many technology products, which lower its profit margin and increases expenses. Appendix C Project and Team Work Source/Information Origin and Significance Source and information used for this project would come from Harvey Norman’s corporate website (which includes corporate profile, investor relations sections, past annual reports). Also media coverage of the company, its competitors, and market landscape/environment will also be used as reference to allow for ample understanding and analysis of Harvey Norman and its business operations. The Difficulties of Analysis on the Industry and Company Harvey Norman has business operations in multiple segments including electrical, computer, furniture, entertainment and bedding goods, with more than 160 stores located in Australia and abroad. Because Harvey Norman is a conglomerate/franchise, which provides products ranging from notebook computers to sofas to beddings, so it is slightly hard to label its business, which consequently leads difficulty finding fair industry benchmark. It is hard but interesting to analyse this case. Some other problem may be that the major information are from internal statement, and external source are either somewhat trivial or lack of detail. The Contribution of Each Group Member The work of this group project is equally allocated to each group member based on his or her strength and weakness and each group member contributes a hundred percent to their work. They are able to meet the deadline even though; everyone has their own personal commitment. Issues with Team Work and Solution

Marketing Exam 1 Study Guide Essay

Marketing Exam 1 Study Guide Essay Marketing Exam 1 Study Guide Essay Marketing Exam 1 Review Chapter 1 Marketing – the activities, set of institutions and processes for creating, communicating, delivering and engaging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners and society at large. Exchange – people giving up something in order to receive something they would rather have. Product orientation – a philosophy that focuses on the internal capabilities of the firm rather than the desires and needs of the marketplace. Sales orientation – the ideas that people will buy more goods and services if aggressive sales techniques are used and that high sales result in high profits. Marketing concept – the idea that the social and economic justification for an organization’s existence is the satisfaction of customers wants and needs while meeting organizational objectives. Marketing orientation – a philosophy that assumes that a sale does not depend on an aggressive sales force but rather on a customer’s decision to purchase a product; it is synonymous with the marketing concept. Societal marketing orientation – the idea that an organization exists not only to satisfy customer wants and needs and to meet organizational objectives but also to preserve or enhance individuals’ and society’s long term best interests. Customer value – the relationship between benefits and the sacrifice necessary to obtain those benefits. Customer satisfaction – customers’ evaluation of a good or service in terms of whether it has met their needs and expectations. Relationship marketing – a strategy that focuses on keeping and improving relationships with current customers. Empowerment – delegation of authority to solve customers’ problems quickly – usually by the first person the customer notifies regarding a problem. Teamwork- collaborative efforts of people to accomplish common objectives What is marketing? -Determining the needs of a targeted group of consumers -Creating an immediate exchange of value and a long term relationship Four P’s -Product, Price, Promotion and Place Chapter 3 Ethics – the moral principles or values that generally govern the conduct of an individual or a group. Morals – the rules people develop as a result of cultural values and norms. Code of ethics – a guideline to help marketing managers and other employees make better decisions. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act – a law that prohibits U.S. corporations from making illegal payments to public officials of foreign governments to obtain business rights or to enhance their business dealings in those countries. Corporate social responsibilities – a business’s concern for society’s welfare. Pyramid of corporate social responsibility – a model that suggests corporate social responsibility is composed of economic, legal, ethical, and philanthropic responsibilities and that the firm’s economic performance supports the entire structure. Sustainability – the idea that socially responsible companies will outperform their peers by focusing on the world’s social problems and viewing them as opportunities to build profits and help the world at the same time. Green marketing – the development and marketing of products designed to minimize the negative effects on the physical environment or to improve the environment. Cause related marketing – the cooperative marketing efforts between a for-profit firm and a nonprofit organization. Influential factors on ethical decision-making -Extent of problems, probability of harm, top management actions, time until consequences, potential consequences, number affected and social consensus -Four sets of norms – societal, general business, company and personal - Must satisfy all four to be ethical AMA Code of Ethics – do no harm, foster trust in the marketing system and practicing ethical values that will improve consumer confidence in the integrity of the marketing exchange system. Chapter 4 Target market – a group of people or organizations for which an organization

6 Disappeared LinkedIn® Partner Applications and What to Do About Them †Part II Amazon Reading List

6 Disappeared LinkedIn ® Partner Applications and What to Do About Them – Part II Amazon Reading List Are you an avid reader? It used to be that you could share your passion easily on LinkedIn with the Amazon Reading List application. With the disappearance of LinkedIn partner applications came the elimination of this option. Amazon Reading List was a valuable way to let people know what type of professional development you were engaged in, as well as to round yourself out as a human being (read any good novels lately?) Many people are wondering how to include a reading list on LinkedIn now that the old method has vanished. I was fortunate to have one of my fellow LinkedIn authors, Patrick Gallagher, (LinkedIn Secrets Revealed) do some research on this topic. He wrote to Amazon and received the following email: Thank you for using Reading List by Amazon and for your patience as we’ve worked to make your book information available after LinkedIn deprecated their application program. Your Reading List information has been preserved and is available for import on Shelfari.com. Shelfari is an Amazon-owned site that helps you keep track of the books you’ve read and are reading, discover new books and interact with other readers. Go to https://www.shelfari.com/addbooks. You can sign in to Shelfari using your Amazon account (or your existing Shelfari account). If you’re already a member, click â€Å"Import Books† from the Your Shelf drop-down on the home page. Click the â€Å"Import Books† from the Your Shelf drop down or go directly to: https://www.shelfari.com/addbooks and you will be guided through importing your books and reviews to your Shelfari bookshelf. I followed these instructions and the process was pretty straightforward. I went to the link provided, www.shelfari.com/addbooks, and created an account. I then entered the same link again and was brought to this screen: When I clicked on IMPORT next to Import Your LinkedIn Reading List, all I had to do was provide my LinkedIn password and my reading list showed up in Shelfari! I then clicked on the Account Settings tab and customized my Shelfari link: Now that I have a link, I can add it to my LinkedIn Profile using the new platform. Here’s how to add a link in the new LinkedIn: In the Summary section, click on the blue box with a + sign in the corner. You will be brought to a box where you can paste a link: After you paste the link, you can provide a title and description: Unfortunately, there’s a small glitch. When I clicked on the link, the following screen appeared: I had to click on Read Original to get to the actual Shelfari list, which looks like this: In Shelfari, you can add books you have read or that you are reading, rate them and review them. I won’t give a tutorial on the website since I think you can figure it out by poking around! If this all seems too complicated, you can do as Patrick Gallagher did and add the Projects section to your profile. You can then create a â€Å"project† called â€Å"Amazon Kindle Book Reading List† or something similar, and list your books there. Here’s Patrick’s list: Another option would be to create a document with your list of books and upload it to Box.net. You can then add a link to the Box.net file on your LinkedIn profile. I will cover more about Box.net in my next entry of this series. Stay tuned, and happy reading! Want to read How to Write a KILLER LinkedIn Profile on Kindle? Curious about Patricks book? Check it out here: Category:Archived ArticlesBy Brenda BernsteinJanuary 28, 2013 2 Comments Laveda says: June 24, 2014 at 7:27 am The nerd in me was thoroughly excited to read this article because the Amazon Reading List was one of my favorite LinkedIn apps and I was a little dishearten to see it wasnt there anymore. Thank you for finding other options to provide a reading list. Ill definitely add one later this week. In all honesty, I enjoyed viewing my LinkedIn network readings on my news feed. That I will always miss. Laveda Log in to Reply The Essay Expert says: June 24, 2014 at 8:16 am Thanks for your comment Laveda. With LinkedIns new Publishing platform, you should once again have easy access to educational content from your network! Log in to Reply

Starbucks marketing report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Starbucks marketing report - Essay Example Effective communication with employees, customers and vendors is increasing the brand reputation of Starbucks in global market (Pride & Ferrell, 2011). The organization follows environmental rules and regulations of several countries in order to avoid legal challenges. Legal Employment rules and regulations differ from country to country. Restriction on maximum working hours and minimum wage rate need to be considered by the organization in several countries to continue its business operations (Allen, 2012). Lastly, strabucks need to follow health and safety standards to maintain effective work environment. Starbucks SWOT Analysis SWOT analysis of Starbucks will help to determine Starbuck’s internal strengths, weaknesses and external opportunities and threats. Strengths Stable earnings and revenue of Starbucks is major strength of the organization. The organization is ahead of its several potential competitors in terms of financial profitability and strengths. It is the most l eading and recognizable brand within global coffeehouse industry. Effective leadership strategy and innovative vision of Strabucks are one of the important assets of organization. Loyal customer base across the globe is the major competitive advantage. Effective location of retail stores based on market demand is the most successful business strategy of Starbucks. Effective brand extension strategy and high quality of products have increased customer preference. Weaknesses Aggressive business expansion strategy can lead to cannibalization. It can dilute the Starbucks experience. People are trying to consume healthy products. It has found out that several products of Starbucks contain high level of fat and...Moreover, the organization can implement Porter’s generic strategy to become the leading player based on several parameters, such as cost, focus and differentiation strategy. Positioning is another important strategy that can help marketing team of an organization to posit ion their products and services according to the market demand and customer preferences. Justification of Strategy Adoption Starbucks need to focus on marketing mix strategy and Porter’s generic strategy to improve their business performance and reduce competitive threats. It is true that the organization implemented niche marketing strategy (Mangold, 2010). Recent economic slowdown forced global customers to purchase less and save more. Therefore, it is important for the organization to revise the pricing of products through effective marketing mix strategy. On the other hand, implementation of Porter’s cost leadership generic strategy will help the organization to control operation cost. They need to introduce new products for the people of middle class income level. Moreover, they need to implement competitive pricing strategy for the products. This strategy will help the organization to introduce competitive priced products.

Organizational Communication Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Organizational Communication - Research Paper Example Effective communication in this case requires message, a sender, a recipient, codes to help in encoding the message, and a means of transmitting the message. If passed on well information contained in communication will encourage and promote good relations between people and entities. This therefore emphasizes the need for effective communication if the businesses are to prosper as well as have a good flow of information within the out of their confines. One of the characteristics of effective communication is the absence of conflict in response or reaction as has been captured perfectly by Katherine Miller (2008). When we talk of organizational communication, we essentially refer to the way in which companies, associations or groupings communicate with their employees, clientele as well as how departments interrelate with each other. It is also encompasses the relationship between a business and its environment, a process that enables the organization to relate with its surrounding in order to serve them with finesse (Carsten, & De Dreu, 2007). Literature Review: Effective communication in a very important tool in an organization, especially because of the way it helps in promoting good flow of information and hence relationship and performance of the business departments as they create a synergy for achieving the best results in terms of production. Organizational communication can either be internal or external. Internal communication is solely communication within the confines of the company while external is communication with other businesses or any other external entity. Effective communication leads to many positive effects and leads to good productivity. There are several ways that management can use communication to pass information. They include emails, meetings, face-to-face discussions, letters, video conferencing, conferences and telephone calls (Fredric, & Jablin 2007). Noteworthy, is the fact that some methods of message transfer are more effect ive and detailed than others and therefore appropriate to always evaluate the organization and weigh the most effective and cost efficient mode of communication for your business, and through which the company can achieve maximum profits. When the most appropriate mode of communication is used then message contained in it not only leads to its effective transfer but it also enhances a good relationship between various entities in the an organization and especially the top management and the workers. It also creates an enabling environment for the building of trust within the company workers (Miller, 2008). Communication as a process is a very dynamic and vibrant process when compared to other business processes. As a process communication changes with individuals and this is dependent on factors such as education, eloquence, target audience and the message being transmitted itself. It is therefore right to say that the sender of the message determines how the message will be underst ood and interpreted. If communication is efficient, it will get rid of events of conflicting messages or conflicting responses (Fredric, & Jablin, 2007). Successful communication at different levels of management is important in an organization in that it helps in building of relationships amongst these people. Communication between management and employee is also a very important aspect

Evaluating a Website for Credibility Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Evaluating a Website for Credibility - Coursework Example As such, engaging with the United States federal programs designed to diminish its occurrence and provide adequate funding to treat its symptoms is of essential interest to this particular author. The authority of the webpage in question is of course established due to the fact that it is government sponsored. This level of authority allows the website to be represented alongside other websites involving AIDS information and represented in a highly positive light. Furthermore, the information that is represented is useful; however, it is somewhat limited with respect to its application. What is meant by this has to do with the fact that the website, and its entire focus, is of course placed with regards to ameliorating aids within a domestic context – not a global one. Furthermore, the objectivity that website is able to generate is one that is severely limited due to the fact that the domestic focus necessarily places a different spin on the way in which eight information is represented and the prescribed suggestions/involvement that the federal government takes in seeking to ameliorate this particular hardship on domestic help. In terms of ease of navigation, this is one aspect in which the particular website in question excels. Due to the fact that the web designers focus upon simplicity rather than a graphical user interface that was engaging, the ease of navigation is second to none (Meekly, 2009). Similarly, as with all government websites, a relatively robust privacy and security policy seeks to ensure that user information they might be sharing with the website will remain confidential and not shared with third parties. Furthermore, the website is beneficial in terms of three distinct aspects that could facilitate and increase the level of understanding within the nurse or allow them to integrate with the needs of the patient in a more full and complete manner.

Dr. Salamone Essay Example for Free

Dr. Salamone Essay â€Å"These values then get re-incorporated back into the language. † Philosopher Ian Heath states this significance, â€Å"Meaning can transform the individual, while values can transform relationships (Heath). What this means for organizational leadership is that it is crucial to develop meaningful relationships to create values that can guide their members in a mutually beneficial environment. The last sentence written in the above paragraph is absolutely true. This is because it is very essential for the employees working in an organization to develop relationships with the other members working in the organization either their subordinates or their boss. Without this, it would be very difficult for an organization to operate efficiently and effectively. It is vital that the relationships that develop in an organization must also be meaningful because if the relationships are developed just like that they would be absolutely useless. People should know the meaning and the importance of developing relationships and then how important each relationship is to them. The importances each person allocates to different relationships that are developed in an organization are different just like we have different importance for people in our family. Therefore, it is essential to develop healthy relationships in an organization. This means that although there is a lot of competition in the organization amongst the employees but it should not be such that the employees plan out bad things against each other to gain popularity or importance in the eyes of the boss. This is not only bad for the reputation of the employee but it also bad for the organization. In order to build healthy relationships, the organization must take certain steps. Some of the examples are mentioned below that are meant to provide an insight into how organizational design impacts its workforce and image and this would be explained by differentiating between the functional and team structure. If I were to choose between working for an organization that has a functional structure and another that has a team structure, I would you choose to work for an organization that has a functional structure. Functional structure basically groups the employees together on the basis of the functions of specific jobs that are present within the organization while in the team structure the functions and the responsibilities of the employees are organized into specialized teams. (Bechthold Schodek, 2007). I would choose the functional structure because of its various advantages. Functional structure reduces the duplication of personnel and equipment and I would be more comfortable with this structure as it gives more opportunity to talk in the same language with my peers. Moreover, it acknowledges specialization thus making training easier. There is centralized decision making in this structure and it also provides a unified direction from the top management thus achieving excellence in communication and coordination within the departments. Functional structure also increases the quality of technical problem solving and this can be proved by the fact that it gives the workers fast access to the people who are well-versed in technical expertise. (Kaizenlog, n. d. ). Organizational design is basically the process for integrating the people, information and technology in an organization and is used to match the form of the organization with its objectives and I think that the organizational design will be an important factor for me in making a choice about the type of company for which I would like to work because it would tell me what kind of culture is being followed in an organization and so I would be able to decide for myself if I would be comfortable working there or not and his information about a company can be found on the websites or one can ask the employees currently working in that organization who would give a better idea. Adidas, IKEA and Barwill are some renowned organizations that follow the functional structure while the example of an organization that follows team structure is RadioShack Corporation. (Internet Retailer, 2006). Reference Bechthold,M. Schodek,D. L. (2007). Structures. 6th Edn. Prentice Hall, Hardcover. Internet Retailer. (2006). RadioShack Corporation Announces New Management Team Structure that Simplifies Reporting, Narrows Accountability, Improves Decision Making. January 22nd, 2009. Retrieved from: http://www. internetretailer. com/internet/marketing- conference/35591-radioshack-corporation-announces-new-management-team-structure-that-simplifies-reporting. html Kaizenlog. (n. d. ). Advantages of the Functional Structure. January 22nd, 2009. Retrieved from: http://www. kaizenlog. com/2006/11/02/advantages-of-the-functional-structure/