NCAE result and course preference of 1st yr college students of USI SY 2013-2014

Over a lifetime, both every individual and the industry will change; it is expected that many people will change occupations during their lives. Careers can make or break a person and the people around them. Youth of today, however, fail to recognize this. Career planning and preparation are often done during the last years of high school life, more often than not, Career preparation is not happening.During senior year in high school, students are faced with the dilemma on what they want to do right after graduation: pursue college education, learn a trade by enrolling in technical-vocational program, or work immediately. Ideally, counselors should conduct career education activities beginning in elementary school. When students start thinking about their careers in elementary school they are more likely to have better knowledge of their personal interests as well as what career options are available to them (Kayson, 2007).Helping students make successful transitions from high school to their next step in life is one of the most basic, but important tasks a school counselor faces (Lapan, 2007). Skorikov & Vondracek, (2007) contends that career planning should be viewed as a long term, ongoing career oriented process and one time, occupational choice approaches should be avoided. Whatever career decision the high school seniors eventually make, it is important to determine the career decision making process they undergo.It is also important to know which factors they consider or disregard in their career decisions. At stake in making the right career decision is their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Thus, it is very important that they choose the career that best fits each of them. Villar (2009) stated that most parents aspired for their children to become professionals. Whatever their socio-economic status, they wanted their children to pursue a course that would attach a title to their name upon graduation.Current research and trends have emphasize d the importance of career education and comprehensive school counseling programs in schools. To date, few researchers have asked students directly what they know and need to know for post-high school planning. Most of students, especially from the public secondary schools do not have accurate information about occupational opportunities to help them make appropriate career choice ( Atienza et. al, 2010). NCAE result and course preference of 1st yr college students of USI SY 2013-2014 Over a lifetime, both every individual and the industry will change; it is expected that many people will change occupations during their lives. Careers can make or break a person and the people around them. Youth of today, however, fail to recognize this. Career planning and preparation are often done during the last years of high school life, more often than not, Career preparation is not happening.During senior year in high school, students are faced with the dilemma on what they want to do right after graduation: pursue college education, learn a trade by enrolling in technical-vocational program, or work immediately. Ideally, counselors should conduct career education activities beginning in elementary school. When students start thinking about their careers in elementary school they are more likely to have better knowledge of their personal interests as well as what career options are available to them (Kayson, 2007).Helping students make successful transitions from high school to their next step in life is one of the most basic, but important tasks a school counselor faces (Lapan, 2007). Skorikov & Vondracek, (2007) contends that career planning should be viewed as a long term, ongoing career oriented process and one time, occupational choice approaches should be avoided. Whatever career decision the high school seniors eventually make, it is important to determine the career decision making process they undergo.It is also important to know which factors they consider or disregard in their career decisions. At stake in making the right career decision is their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Thus, it is very important that they choose the career that best fits each of them. Villar (2009) stated that most parents aspired for their children to become professionals. Whatever their socio-economic status, they wanted their children to pursue a course that would attach a title to their name upon graduation.Current research and trends have emphasize d the importance of career education and comprehensive school counseling programs in schools. To date, few researchers have asked students directly what they know and need to know for post-high school planning. Most of students, especially from the public secondary schools do not have accurate information about occupational opportunities to help them make appropriate career choice ( Atienza et. al, 2010).

Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind

Zen mind, Beginner’s Mind is a book created by Shunryu Suzuki in attempt to introduce the practice of Zen Buddhism in American culture. The study of Buddhism is essential for Suzuki believed that it can be applied to everyday mechanisms of life. The significance of acquiring and owning the Zen mind can help people to determine and therefore practice the right way of living, the right manners, postures and the beliefs which would hone the total personality of an individual. Zen Philosophy teaches that there is just a thin line marking the difference between the Zen mind and the Beginner’s mind. Both have the capacities to reach its nirvana or transcendental state of mind though they contain differences with their corresponding characteristics. At first, the book Zen mind, Beginners mind may be hard to understand. However, as you go along and read between the lines, Suzuki uncovers the truth of reaching â€Å"enlightenment† through simple knowledge and acceptance of oneself. The different procedures of the Zen were concisely summarized in this single comprehensive book. This book would help people realize the several options in life which would make people think objectively and not become rigid. Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind Introduction Zen mind, Beginner’s Mind is a book created by Shunryu Suzuki in attempt to introduce the practice of Zen Buddhism in American culture. The study of Buddhism is essential for Suzuki believed that it can be applied to everyday mechanisms of life. The emphasis of the practice is to integrate the body and the mind through certain meaningful exercises which alleviate a person’s stress and even help a person overcome the vexation of negative energies. The focus of this paper is to impart the significance of learning the practice of a Zen mind by becoming the innocent beginner who is expected to be flexible to learn Zen. As the reader uncovers the secrets proper way of living and dealing with one’s mind and body, effective outcomes are expected to be attained. Mentors are also to guide their students to reach their desired state of being. Zen practice thus, is for the intention of imitating the exact exercises of the experts. They are to find their way towards becoming the Zen themselves and reach their own enlightenment without a point of comparison (Brussat, 2007). Body Zen Buddhism on Philosophy The significance of acquiring and owning the Zen mind can help people to determine and therefore practice the right way of living, the right manners, postures and the beliefs which would hone the total personality of an individual. Further, it is also beneficial for introspection and knowing oneself better. Upon knowledge of oneself, one could possibly avoid the harms of the unknown, and also it would enable the individual to be in control of one’s unconscious drives and distracting areas of one’s personality. Thus, one could alter or dispose the negative scenario like illness, negative thoughts, feelings and emotions, etc. Buddhism indeed, is a very substantial and significant course of practice which has to be learned by every individual. Moreover, it could be learned through self-study of the Zen practice so that readers could integrate the relationship of the mind and the matter, and the matter itself to the nature as one and dual entities. Zen presupposes that there is always two sides in every story as there were two sides in a coin (Suzuki, 2006). Zen Philosophy teaches that there is just a thin line marking the difference between the Zen mind and the Beginner’s mind. Both have the capacities to reach its nirvana or transcendental state of mind though they contain differences with their corresponding characteristics. In the text, it suggests that execution and application of the Zen Buddhism is what you call the â€Å"Beginner’s mind’. It is the state of mind where there are no preconceived notions, desires or hopes, opinions, and biases. Beginner’s mind tends to teach the significance of identifying situations in the â€Å"here and now†. It is characterized by humble acceptance of ignorance and complete innocence which is resolved by investigating on other potential possibilities with the use of querying and asking and later on defining who you are and where you are at present. Suzuki in his book, Zen mind, Beginner’s mind described this difference by implying that the beginner’s mind is more opt to think of many ifs and buts before carrying out a specific action, but for a Zen’s mind, there are only few factors to consider. Therefore, an individual for a Zen’s mind, need not get anxious and worried about several things at the same time, for the Zen’s mind has more expertise since it has tried on the various trials before being able to attain their goals in life (Zenkei & Hartman, 2001). Zen Buddhism on Psychology Psychologically speaking, with the use of one’s mind or one’s psyche, body would be in unison with the mind and so reach its transcendental feeling of freedom and thus, unite with the nature. The outcome could be interpreted always as both right and wrong depending on the consequences of the choice of action. In Zen Buddhism, proper posture, breathing exercises to gain control over one’s body and mind are taught to meditate and get in touch, to commune, and be in union with the â€Å"Buddha† which is residing in every individual. Moreover, this self-help book by Suzuki offers the instructions on how to accurately execute each proper way of meditation through body and breathing exercises. These plainly matters to teach individuals reach their â€Å"righteous state of mind†. Upon understanding cognition in terms of psychological analysis, if an individual thinks a certain way, one would certainly feel the same way and predicts the action that precedes the positive outlook. So, when one thinks positive, the individual invites more positive energy and therefore leads to desirable outcomes. The opposite thing happen when one is manipulated by negative thoughts and practices (Zenkei & Hartman, 2001). Generally, Suzuki emphasizes that the Zen Buddhism does not limit the human mind and human person into two choices or variations. Black and white does not exist yet black or white are possibilities that may or may not exist. Life and death for instance, is also both finite and infinite. The point is that no one holds the standards to determine what it is from what it is not so no people have to be anxious about what really is the fact. The most important thing is living in the present and cherishing the moment. Living in the here and now is being a human who maximizes and actualizes one’s full potential. Therefore, to be a fully functioning person, an individual should learn the practice of Zen to feel each part of your body and the body of nature, in order to believe and live the present as it plays a role in everybody’s being. Life is worth to be cherished and understood to reach transcendental nature and share the knowledge and experience gained to others (Suzuki, 2006). Steps on how to execute the Zen practice were enumerated and explained by Suzuki. The significance of the forms on the flow of energies from nature into the body and vice versa were primarily emphasized to explain the physical benefits of the exercise. To give a preview of how the posture should be, Suzuki teaches that the spine should be in upright position and not slouched, the ears and shoulders should be aligned and in a relaxed position and that the chin should be drawn inwards. Proper execution and frequent practice of the forms should make a person gain congruence over one’s body and mind and would hinder a person’s state of imbalance. In so doing, an individual could operate at best and think rational at all times instead of the useless idling, unwanted sleepiness, sluggishness, or laziness. Another example is Suzuki’s explanation of the proper way if sitting: people sitting should not slouch nor face the back or the sides. It is imperative to practice the right way of sitting because this holds the central focus of the Zen practice. Further, it is through the concentration of fulfilling the action that a person reaches the desired state of mind, and not by following any standards of expert executioners of the several exercises (Suzuki, 2006). In the aforementioned link of the Zen practice to cognitive psychology, it was implied that how a person thinks is how a person feels and predicts what a person will do. Stimulus produces a response and the conditioned stimulus in Zen practice is the attempt to internalize the feeling brought about by execution of the Zen exercises. On the other hand, the response after carrying out the exercises would lead a person to bring oneself into a specific state of mind in which the body also responded. Therefore, it is how a person performs the exercises that they define and express themselves or who they believe they are. Just like a dancer, every step in the dance conveys specific message, meanings and expression for the dancer’s part. In addition, unconscious gestures convey the counter meaning like lack of interest for those people who slouch in sitting while inside in a lecture session. This improper usage of the body produces an outcome of inattentiveness and divided attention. So, the thing that a person should do, is to become aware of such uncontrollable forces and be in control of them before they govern people (Suzuki, 2006). At first, the book Zen mind, Beginners mind may be hard to understand. However, as you go along and read between the lines, Suzuki uncovers the truth of reaching â€Å"enlightenment† through simple knowledge and acceptance of oneself. Furthermore, by going in the flow and carrying out the right procedures of the Zen exercise one would reach the transcendental nirvana. For beginners, it may be perplexing to understand the ironies of Suzuki’s language yet the simple thought of the context is simply not to interfere with the past nor the future but to dwell and cherish the present as it is the most practical and important aspect of a person’s life. By living the â€Å"here and now† an individual would not have to wander one’s thoughts and so the body would become one with the mind and integrate its mechanisms and functions. With knowledge and application of the Zen, life would be more pleasing and smooth flowing without the distractions and vexations to the soul, body, and mind. Zen mind, Beginner’s mind is indeed a fascinating masterpiece that shares the secret of a happy, good, and virtuous life. Having a copy of the book is recommended for it is very worthwhile (Suzuki, 2006). The different procedures of the Zen were concisely summarized in this single comprehensive book. This book would help people realize the several options in life which would make people think objectively and not become rigid. It opens the mind of its readers that there are always â€Å"two sides of the coin†. Thus, in life, people should avoid unnecessary worries and anxieties that vex the spirit and the flow of positive energy that reflects in the body and the gestures. According to the Zen, blocked energies usually cause sickness of the physique and imbalance in the body form. Upon acquiring the Zen’s mind by reading this book, one would be exhilarated with the astonishing outcome. However, put into account that outcome of desirable execution of exercises with standards performed by other people is not the goal of a Zen’s mind. The goal of a Zen’s mind is to free one’s mind and the body of extremes to settle for contentment and happiness by enjoying the present being; Moreover, remember that comparing oneself to others just cause vanity and bitterness (Russell, 2005). Conclusion Zen mind, Beginner’s Mind is a book created by Shunryu Suzuki in attempt to introduce the practice of Zen Buddhism in American culture. The study of Buddhism is essential for Suzuki believed that it can be applied to everyday mechanisms of life. The significance of acquiring and owning the Zen mind can help people to determine and therefore practice the right way of living, the right manners, postures and the beliefs which would hone the total personality of an individual. Zen Philosophy teaches that there is just a thin line marking the difference between the Zen mind and the Beginner’s mind. Both have the capacities to reach its nirvana or transcendental state of mind though they contain differences with their corresponding characteristics. At first, the book Zen mind, Beginners mind may be hard to understand. However, as you go along and read between the lines, Suzuki uncovers the truth of reaching â€Å"enlightenment† through simple knowledge and acceptance of oneself. The different procedures of the Zen were concisely summarized in this single comprehensive book. This book would help people realize the several options in life which would make people think objectively and not become rigid.

Monet’s Waterlilies Essay

For as long as I can remember, water lilies have always been a sign of peacefulness to me. This is one of the reasons I have always been drawn to Claude Monet’s Bridge over the Water-lily Pond (1905). The green hues in this piece bring me a feeling of happiness. The Bridge over the Water-lily Pond has a sense of calmness and tranquility. There exists such expression and emotions from the impasto in this piece as well. The foreground is filled with beautiful water lilies floating atop a peaceful pond. In the middle ground is the famous Japanese bridge with some green shrubbery. In the background there are tall droopy trees somewhat like willows. Monet uses color to create his tranquil mood throughout the painting. He uses cool colors such as green and purple. He also uses black, brown, white, yellow, and pink. There utilizes his limitless color range. Monet’s choice of colors is expressive and symbolic for the mood. For example, the green emphasizes peacefulness and the yellow adds the warm calm feeling. Texture is a significant element used in this piece. The piece shows the rough, thickness of the paint. Monet uses the effect of actual texture so, for example, if you were to go up and touch the painting you would be able to feel the impasto. Another important element used in this piece is value/light within the atmosphere. There are highlights present on the pond, using white and yellow, where the light is shining. Also, there are shadows, using black and brown, where the trees are blocking the light. It is apparent where the emphasis in this piece is centered. The bridge is the only one focal point in this painting. The lines from the trees and shrubbery lead your eye toward the center where the bridge is centered. These lines are imperative to create movement toward the focal point. Unity is the principle that holds this piece together. The color in this artwork has the cohesion needed to make everything similar. Also, the  texture helps to bring unity into the piece by giving everything another similarity along with the color. In addition, unity allows the piece to be aesthetically pleasing. Monet uses oil on canvas for the bridge over the Water-lily Pond. Due to the fact that Monet used oil paint, he had the ability to create a thickness of paint, layering it on the canvas. Monet used the technique of impasto, which also gives the painting that rough looking quality on the canvas. If Monet had chosen a different type of medium he would not have been able to create the layered look as he did in this piece. It is that rough, layered, impasto look which assists in the emotion and feeling of this painting. This piece would not be the same without the expressionism created from that particular medium. Monet’s piece is displayed in the West Pavilion Impressionist Gallery at The Getty Center in Los Angeles. It is in an extravagant, gold color frame covered in intricate designs and the walls are of a dark, earthy brown color. The color of the walls gives the gallery a warm sense. There is a skylight overhead, which has a cover that automatically changes with the lighting outside of the gallery. Also, there is overhead spotlighting at the top of the ceiling, around the skylight, which is pointed toward each piece. The painting on the left is ‘The Rue Mosnier’ with Flags by Edouard Manet. It is oil on canvas and it was done in 1878. The painting on the right is After the Bath by Edgar Degas. It is oil on canvas as well and was done approximately 1895. I believe these pieces detract from The Bridge over the Water-lily Pond due to the fact that many people tend to walk right by landscapes and atmospheric pieces. They go straight towards pieces with humans as the focal point because we as humans relate better to those pieces. However, I myself love Monet so I was drawn to his piece. Claude Monet’s Bridge over the Water-lily Pond (1905) gives you a place where you would want to be alone. It gives you the calmness that you perhaps might be looking for in your life. It is not just any ordinary landscape it is a sanctuary; it is a place of safety. This piece holds so much emotion just in its color and expressionism. No one should just casually walk past this  piece, but should look deep within the emotion and see the tranquility of the pond and how still the water lilies are resting. They should see peace as if they were looking at it through Monet’s eyes.

Compare the depictions of society and its effects on the individual in Essay

Compare the depictions of society and its effects on the individual in Emerson's Self-Reliance and Thoreau's Walden - Essay Example Society is not meant to be carbon copies of each other which is why we were created differently. He further sees society as deceiving themselves by not expressing themselves. He basically uses the same maxim as Aristotle â€Å"Know Thyself†. Moreover, he instructs the reader to explore the person that they truly are. He acknowledges that a person presents themselves as the person that they want society to see but that beneath that is an entirely different human being and that it is the inside person that should be exposed, not the carbon copies that we demonstrate to others simply to insure general acceptance. He also makes the reader wonder why it is that acceptance by others is so wanted by society. Why is the acceptance by society such a prized virtue? It is not, he answers because there is no quality in pleasing others for the sake of acceptance. minks and muskrats.† Clearly, Thoreau had the same sentiments as Emerson. He too felt that society had spent far too much time deceiving itself into copying one another. Additionally, he makes it clear that it is the retreat from society that allows an individual to figure out who they are and what their capabilities are. The key is to have the courage to find yourself. Further, he sees that society is its’ own down fall. By living his solitary existence, he notices that there really is not much that an individual needs and that through solitude living, one truly finds out what it is that they need and do not need in life. Finally, in comparing the two writers, it is clear that both maintain a certain loathing for society and what it has become. Additionally, they advise the reader as to what they will become if they simply decide to become a robot designed by the futile mores and fickle mandates that society endorses. It is up to the individual to decide what they need or do

Story Lesson Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Story Lesson - Essay Example This way, the teacher is able to understand the level at which each individual students understand the concepts learnt in class and can thus address these individual problems. The teacher uses several behavioral modification strategies that ensure that the objectives of the lesson are learnt. One is through giving direct instructions which each student is expected to follow. She also uses direct questioning where she mentions the name of a few students and asks them to give answers to her queries. The teacher also reinforces the students who give the correct answers with praises which motivates them to continue participating in the classroom discussion. I was impressed by the manner in which the teacher paced down the class getting close to all the student and not being localized at the front. This reminded me of my teaching where I tend to concentrate more on writing on the board other than connecting with the students. I have also noted that some students in the class are encouraged to type the work on the computer. Using the word processer is a good way of enhancing writing skills in student as it identifies some grammatical errors and this speeds up the level at which the learners polish up their

Use of Psychometric Tests in Selection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Use of Psychometric Tests in Selection - Essay Example Management therefore faces the risks of not hiring the proper person and it would just be a waste of resources to have hired people who will not be contributing to attainment of the goal of the organization. Being aid to employee selection and development decisions and processes, psychometric tests could not just be administered nor delegated to anybody as there are costs and risks that are involved in the decisions. In the same way that employees' submitted credentials must be verified for authenticity and reliability, psychometric tests are to be evaluated also in terms of validity and reliability of the test. It may be asked whether it is possible to the have most effective way to evaluate the reliability and validity of any assessment tests so to help the decision maker know exactly how to find the right productive people with certainty and predictability without any catastrophe in hiring any wrong people who simply look good. PsyAsia International (2007) cited a Hong Kong website of an employee testing system that with worldwide claim that testing the people one knows very well will allow one to know which assessment test can be valid and reliable to use. PsyAsia International heavily the claim as to show need for understanding the real essence of test of validity and reliability.3 responded that the obvious assumption is that we know ourselves well and so if the test report provides an accurate reflection of the self that we know, it "must" be valid." 4Using research as basis of criticism, PsyAsia International5 did expose how defective such assessments of test reports by individuals. It therefore cited a study where human resource professionals attending a conference were asked to complete a personality test.After the personality test, the same professionals were given a randomly generated narrative report but said participants were NOT told that it had been randomly generated and they were asked to evaluate its accuracy. What came out was that 90% of the respondents agreed that the report was either amazingly accurate or very accurate. Were the participants really good in evaluating the accuracy' Or, could it imply that what was randomly selected has the great probability that the result of the test has a statistically significant basis and therefore must be reliable'It would seem from the above result of research that it was indeed easy to have known that 90% of respondents agreed, but how accurate are the respondents' report' PsyAsia International reminded of suggestions made by various worldwide psychological societies and academics to assess at least 4 types of validity when evaluating tests.6 In the same context then, PsyAsia Internat

Why is Face to Face Selling Important in a Time when Technology is Essay

Why is Face to Face Selling Important in a Time when Technology is Seemingly Important - Essay Example When you are starting out small, you are probably going to have to do a lot of selling in order to jump-start your business. Your effectiveness as a salesperson will be an absolutely critical factor in the success of your business. Later, as your business grows and prospers, you may be able to delegate more and more of the selling process to your employees. The majority of the products and services being sold business to business, as well as many sold to consumers, require a personal sales talk. Now, one disadvantage of selling by telephone or any other high-tech means is the lack of face-to-face contact (Wiersema, 1996). When you are sitting with a prospect, it's much easier to read their body language. You can see the look on their face when their confused about something you said. You can see the delight when you hit a hot button for them. You can read the shifts in their body as they respond to your every word. Non-verbal communication is missing when you sell by phone or by e-mail. Selling over the phone or any other non face-to-face means puts you at a huge disadvantage because numerous studies have shown that 55% of what we communicate is non-verbal. This technique will give you back the advantage you might have lost. By asking questions that solicit a response from your prospect you will get an idea of what's going on inside the prospect's mind. Another disadvantage of selling through high-tech gadgets is that it is somewhat like to traditional selling. Traditional selling entails the use of sales "scripts" that are both awkward and unnatural. Dozens of memorized closes, questions rigged with "tie-down" lines tricks the prospect into saying "yes", etc. This traditional selling sequence is contrived, and goes against natural flow of the prospect. And even when customers buy as a result of these high-pressure tactics, it's not because they want the product but because they are cornered or intimidated into the sale. On the contrary, selling face-to-face can get you into the mind of your prospect. Mind reading, as used ethically in sales and marketing, is simply the process of observing and utilizing natural human tendencies to sidestep the natural defense barriers that are obstacles in the sales process. In this manner, your prospect is a voluntary and willing participant, and becomes happily involved in a buying decision that you have rendered painless and even enjoyable. The sales process becomes a matter of just providing only the specific information in the order and context that your unique prospects require to buy. Since you're going to your prospect's natural flow, and using a selling sequence to which your prospect is naturally inclined, you eliminate any resistance. Selling couldn't be any easier. Further, face-to-face sales are one of the most original forms of marketing (Stone, 1997). In the past, door-to-door sales accounted for a significant percentage of sales for many companies. Companies like the Fuller Brush Company, Avon, and others have had great success with face-to-face sales over the years, and continue to use door-to-door marketing today, expanding their sales around the world (Treacy, et

The public sector is the sole remaining sector in which trade unions Essay

The public sector is the sole remaining sector in which trade unions have influence in the employment relationship. Discuss th - Essay Example Industrial relations have varied throughout the ages and differ in terms of concepts and implementation. Based on statistics presented by the Federation of European Employers, membership in the trade unions in Western parts of Europe declined over the last 20 years. Out of 27 members in the European Union, very few nations have more than half of their labor force in the trade unions. In fact, even the most populated states have only a moderate number of their population having membership. Italy has 30%, Germany has 29% and France has 9% of their respective populations having union membership. The reasons will be discussed in the middle portion of this analytical paper (Federation of European Employers, 2010). Ferner and Hyman (1998) have argued that â€Å"Europe developed certain unique features in their industrial selections during the end of nineteenth and twentieth century, and majority of them have remained in force till the present time. One of the major responsibilities of the employer’s association and the trade unions by sector or trade is collective bargaining and are coordinated by the confederations. Bargaining at the company levels came much later and has been growing, but still remains under the guidance of the federations. A distinction has been presented between collective bargaining, which mostly deals with working hours and wages, and participation of the wage earners which includes the working conditions, welfare, and also adaptation of the broader collective agreement (Ferner & Hyman, 1998). â€Å"Rapid industrialization has been going on in the industrial relations in Europe. Even during the process of integration, industrial relations and national politics will remain important in areas of social regulations of employment and work in Europe. The reason is that the European integration has evolved as the process of liberalization of the economy over the decades and this has happened through the international methods of opening up of the national economies through negotiated expansions of markets which remain beyond the national borders. Industrial relations therefore have always been governed by regulations and rules although to varying extent. This is not just the outcome of contracts but also of the status rules imposing obligations and rights and on the contracting parties, such that they cannot modify them even by mutual agreements (Wolfgang, 1998). Marshall’s views on industrial relevance bear relevance in this context. According to Marshall’s theory the social rights remain awarded according to the citizenship status rather than on the principle of classes or needs. His claim was that the extension of the social rights is not entailed by destroying social classes or inequality. Mundlak says that even though Marshall’s views of the industrial citizenship are on the decline, there are other labour-market institutions which bridge the gap between citizenship and the labour rights. These are workplace democracies, assuming the workers’ consistency in the organisation; and corporate citizenships which are used to entrust

Financial system Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Financial system - Assignment Example rough taxation of the various economic activities and in turn providing essential services such as health care, public mortgages affordable, education, and defense. The governments are always not taxing directly, but their presence if often felt through the regulatory concept that they execute in areas such as licensing, wage bill, foreign ownership, and safety of products. The concept of macroeconomics often focuses on the details in the market for particular goods and services instead of the economic principles such as unemployment, economic growth, total output, and inflation. The macroeconomic policy divides the economy into monetary policy and fiscal policy. Fiscal policy refers to the set of decisions that the government makes in consideration of spending, taxation, and spending. There are various dimensions for the government’s fiscal policy specifically at the central level because revenue can be earned through various kinds of taxes and it can occur on infinite products in separate geographic regions aiming at different beneficiaries (Fender, 2012). Monetary policy refers to the collection of decisions that a government make through the central bank of state concerning the issue of the amount of money that circulates within the economy. In Canada, the monetary policy is done through the adjustment of very short- term interest rates in order to achieve a rate of monetary expansion. This depends on the maintenance of a minimum and stable rate of inflation. The monetary policy is operated by the bank of Canada. A major corporation of crown is under the supervision of the government. Therefore, there is a considerable independence from the central government but not a major issue in the legislative context. Since the financial capital can flow easily and smoothly within the state of Canada, the interest rates on the same assets are constant across all different geographic regions in Canada. This has eventually made an outcome of one financial policy or

Managing across culture, international business Essay

Managing across culture, international business - Essay Example Given such a role, I would get to learn the different employees, their cultural background and their culture, for example, learn about their holy days. This is essential as societal cultures influences how employees understand the terms of the employment relationship i.e. what they expect from the employer, and what they think they owe them. Secondly, with reliance on such information, I would design effective communication and reward systems that will address the expectation from these different groups. This should help to retain key employees and increase loyalty, commitment and performance. I would develop mechanisms strategies and programs focused on cross functional team projects and mentoring programs. Such encourages interaction, build trust, and promote shared identity amongst employees, which would help employees understand each other’s culture in an informal setup. This effort should help to arrest cultural intolerance and shock in the business set up among the employees from different cultures. To add, I would lead by the example, promoting cultural tolerance, emphasizing the importance of diversity, adopting policies and procedures that support diversity, anti-discrimination, anti-harassment, holding staff and any other person accountable for any intolerance and providing training an awareness in the work

Comparison Between Gold Rates and Sensex Essay Example for Free

Comparison Between Gold Rates and Sensex Essay Correlation : Correlation is a statistical technique that can show whether and how strongly pairs of variables are related. Correlation is computed into what is known as the correlation coefficient, which ranges between -1 and +1. Perfect positive correlation (a correlation co-efficient of +1) implies that as one security moves, either up or down, the other security will move in lockstep, in the same direction. Alternatively, perfect negative correlation means that if one security moves in either direction the security that is perfectly negatively correlated will move in the opposite direction. If the correlation is 0, the movements of the securities are said to have no correlation; they are completely random. Regression analysis: It involves identifying the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. Case Analysis The initial analysis compares two Asset index prices the SENSEX and the GOLD. The Sensex has the top 30 stocks. The Gold is an important Asset in terms on Investment as it also offers the benefit on diversifying the Portfolio risk. To apply the Correlation and regression concept, we consider an investor who plans to invest in Gold looking at the rise in the gold prices. He is still reluctant if he should choose Gold as an investment option or if he should consider investing in some other investment options based on Sensex. as on 15th September 2012. Hence, he plans to carry out a research on the same, for which he attends a seminar on â€Å"Investment Opportunities†. There was a debate amongst the Financial Analysts â€Å"Does Sensex rates affect Gold prices?† Analyst1 : Gold prices have been on an uptick since 2000, while the stock market declined from 2000 to 2003 and then again in 2008. Hence, Sensex fluctuation does not determine the Gold prices i.e. rise in Sensex might not always lead to rise in gold price. Analyst 2: Through the recovery phase that commenced in 2003, gold prices kept rising. Analyst 1: Gold prices normally appreciates in value. Analyst2: Fluctuations in Gold prices are determined by the fluctuations in Sensex i.e.: Decline In sensex. This created a confusion. Hence, to clarify the confusion he plans to study the price trends of the Gold rates and the Sensex for the dates ranging from June 1st’2012 – August 31st2012. After checking the correlation he found that the correlation between the closing prices on Gold and Sensex was 0.24 which was weak. Thus, he decided that Sensex rates was not the only factor to consider investment in Gold. Otherwise, Gold is a good option for investment as it provides diversification and hedging in investment. Conclusion: Correlation between Gold and Sensex is 0.24 which is positive and weak. Thus, based on this correlation change in Sensex has an effect on Gold rate but it is very small.

Related Local Literature Essay Example for Free

Related Local Literature Essay This study deals with the review and analysis of the literature and studies relevant to inventory management techniques that the researchers will be using in the optimization. It consists of information culled from studies and literature, both local and foreign, from which this study is subject to. This chapter will certainly help in giving the reader a better understanding of what is Economic Order Quantity model and Dynamic Programming to optimization of the inventory system. Definition: Inventory Inventory refers to any kind of resources having economic value and is maintained to fulfil the present and future needs of theconsumers. It is a physical stock of items that business or production enterprise keeps in hand for efficient running of affairs or its production. Inventory is the quantity of goods, raw materials or other resources that are idle at any given point of time. Inventory control is the means by which materials of the correct quantity and quality is made available as a when required with due regard to economy in storage and ordering costs and working capital. It is also defined as the systematic location, storage and recording of goods in such a way that desired degree of service can be made to the operating shops at a minimum ultimate cost† (S.C sharma (1999). P. 509, 512). Inventory model: Economic Order Quantityand Dynamic Programming For over a century, the literature encompassing hundreds of books and journals has included frequent writings of management scientists applying quantitative methods to help inventory managers make two critical decisions: how much inventory to order, and when to order it. Inventory management started as early as the beginning of the 20th century when F. W. Harris originally developed the lot size formula or the EOQ model in 1915. R. H. Wilson independently developed the same formula in 1918. Apparently, Wilson popularized the model so the EOQ model is also referred to as the Wilson EOQ model. The EOQ formula has been independently discovered many times in the last eighty years. It is simplistic and uses several unrealistic assumptions. In Cargal discussed the basic EOQ model; he said that they cannot determine what quantity of an item to order when ordering supplies. Despite the many more sophisticated formulas and algorithm available, some large corporations still use the EOQ formula. In general, large corporations that use the EOQ formula do not want the public or competitors to know they use something so unsophisticated. The variables, graph, and the formula was also discussed in this paper. The classic EOQ model has been directly used in practice but which, more importantly, represents the key foundation of decision rules dealing with more complicated circumstances.Different variations and applications of the EOQ model in production and inventory operations were expanded over the years such as dealing with the quantity discounts, shelf-life considerations, replenishment lead time and constraints on the replenishment. Further advancements in inventory management took place when dynamic programming was used, with R. Bellman as its founding father. However, earlier works in DP were produced by Arrow, Karlin and Scarf. Bellman, who popularized DP, used the stochastic models for the inventory management problems. But in 1958, Wagner and Within started with a deterministic model, referred to as the Wagner-Within method, with known demands in each period, and fluctuating costs from one period to the next. A few years later, results for the stochastic model were established by Iglehart and Wagner with Veinott, which involves a demand with a continuous distribution. Inventory models have been applied and adapted by organizations. Silver enumerated the extensive research and application done over the years. In retail inventory management, retail outlets are increasingly adopting equipment that permits capture of demand data and updating of inventory records at the point of sale. In integrated logistics, a very complex system, it utilizes operations inventory management where maintenance, transportation and/or production are involved. In interactions with marketing, inventory management is applied on how to routinely take account of the effects of promotional activities on the control of inventories, how to predict and account for the effects of the system on the demand pattern, and the allocation of the shelf space in outlets such as supermarkets. Stock on Inventory The American Institute of Accountants defined the term inventory as â€Å"the aggregate of those items of tangible property which (1) are held for sale in the ordinary course of business, (2) are in process of production for such sale or (3) are to be available for ‘sale’. In Nigeria, inventory is usually referred to as stock-in-trade or work-in-progress. Stock may consist of (i) Raw materials and supplies to be consumed in production (ii) work-in-progress, or partly manufactured goods, (ii) Finished stock or goods ready for sale. Stocks are valued in a fundamentally different way from fixed assets; the latter are usually valued at cost less accumulated depreciation. No method of stock valuation is suitable for all types of business in all circumstances. Stock is valued at cost less any part of cost, which needs to be written off when net realizable value or the replacement price is lower than cost. The Functions of Inventory Inventories perform a number of vital functions in the operations of a system, which in turn makes them critical to the production sector as well. Without inventories, organizations could not hope to achieve smooth production flow, obtain reasonable utilization of machines and reasonable handling cost or expects to give reasonable service to customers. The basic function of inventories whether they are raw materials, work-in-progress or finished goods are that of decoupling the operations involved in converting inputs into outputs. This allows the successive stages in the purchasing, manufacturing and distribution process to operate reliance on the schedule of output, of prior activities in the production process. Furthermore, the decoupling function allows both time and spatial separation between production and consumption of products in the operating system. Lastly, inventories can also be used for other purposes apart from the decoupling functions. For example, when inventories are displayed, they serve as promotional investment. Raw materials and finished inventories are frequently accumulated to wedge against price rises, inflation and strikes. Inventories also serve to smooth out irregularities in supply. In essence, inventories act to decouple organizational activities, thereby achieving lower costs of operations. Inventories act to reduce procurement costs, and inventories act to provide good customer service and smooth production flow by providing onetime delivery and avoiding costly stock shortages. Inventories ordered in large quantities can result in lower freight charges and price discounts. On the other hand, inventory requires tying up capital that would otherwise be invested elsewhere. Inventory also requires costly storage space; and such costs as insurance, spoilage obsolesce, pilferage and taxes must be incurred as a result of maintaining inventory. Hence, there is an appropriate opportunity cost associated with their value. It is therefore, the duty of the management to seek decision rules that will actually balance these controversies of costs for a given system. It is in response to this management quest for guidance in handling inventory decision situations that a number of techniques (models) have been developed to serve as aid to management in achieving optimal inventory solutions. Inventory Cost The objectives of materials management are to minimize inventory investments and to maximize customer service. It is a plan to see that, the goals can be inconsistent or even indirect conflicts the role of the materials management is thus to balance the objective in relation to the existing conditions and environmental limitations. The basic object of inventory management is to maximize customer service through maintaining appropriate amount of inventory with minimum possible cost. Inventory costs are costs associated with the operation of an inventory system. Thus the relevant costs included inventory are the following: The purchase cost (P)The purchase costs of an item are the unit purchase it is obtained from an external source or the unit production costs it is produced internally. For the purchase items it is the purchase costless modified for different quantity levels manufacturing items the unit cost include direct labour or company overhead. Ordering or set up cost (C)This is the cost of placing an order. This cost directly with the number of order or setups placed and not at all weigh the size of the order. The ordering cost included making analysing materials inspecting materials follows up orders and doing the processing necessary to complete the transaction. Carrying costs or holding costs (H)There are costs of items (inventories) in storage. These costs vary with the level of inventory and occasionally with the length of item an item is held. The greater the level of inventory overtime, the higher the caring cost caring casts can be included the costs of losing the use of funds field up in inventory like storages casts such as rent of building heating cooling righting security, record keeping, deprecation obsolescence, product deterioration etc. Stock out cost (shortage cost) This is the cost as a result of not having items in storage. This can bring loses of good will profit loss of incur back order cost and delay in the customer service. Establishing the correct quantity to order from vendors or the size of lots submitted to the firms productive facilities involves a search for the minimum total cost resulting from the combined effects of fewer individual costs holding costs, setup costs ordering costs and storage costs (Tersine, R.J, 1994. PP. 13-15) Inventory Costing Method There are three methods of inventory costing method. These are:First – in First – out (FIFO)This method is based on the assumption that costs should be computed out in the order in which incurred. Inventory is thus stated in terms of recent costs. Last – in First – out (LIFO)is a method based on the assumption that goods should be charged out the latest cost be the latest cost be the first that are charge out. Inventories are thus stated in terms of earliest cost.Weighted average method is a method based on the assumption that goods should be charged out at an average cost such average being influenced by the number of unites acquired at the price. Inventories are stated at the same weighted average cost.

Gender Inequalities in Health and Illness

Gender Inequalities in Health and Illness Gender Inequalities in Health and Illness This essay will look at the gender inequalities in health and illness statically. This essay will also look at how women live longer than men and what diseases and mental health symptoms affect both men and women in mortality and morbidity rates such as cancers and depression. Statistics will show how people are living longer and how this will continue as more people will become centenarians as the years go by. This essay will also show findings of stereotypes or stigmas attached to both genders and how this affects healthcare both physically and mentally along with how society thinks in regards to both genders and the impact this has. Finally it will look at masculinity and how and why this affects men going to the GPs about their healthcare and the effects of this. Today women tend to live longer than men on average in industrialised countries, although this is true women experience more ill health through their lifetimes compared to men. More women rather than men suffer from somatic complaints such as aches and pains, headaches and tiredness to mention a few (Backes, G et al, 2008). Women’s mortality rates are often because of breast, cervix and uterus cancers whereas ischemic heart disease and lung cancer has a higher mortality rate in men (Bury, M, 2005). Although some researchers believe there is more consistency in studies that involve depression, anxiety and minor psychological illness compared to the studies of higher illness rates in women (Bartley, 2004). At all ages males have a greater mortality rate than women in the United Kingdom due to injuries and suicide. Cardiovascular disease and cancers are also one of the main reasons male mortality rate is higher than that of women’s. Depressive disorder, mental health, anxi ety and disability all have higher morbidity rates for women than men (Acheson, 1998). Higher mortality rates in men can be explained by social factors such as employment whereby males tend to be in employment that is ‘risky’ such as exposure to toxic chemicals, environmental hazards and dangerous machinery. Driving under the influence of alcohol, dangerous sports and road traffic accidents are all major risk taking behaviours that men rather than women tend to participate in (Bury, M, 2005). Men used to have a higher smoking rate than women resulting in lung cancer but today it is seen that young girls under fifteen years of age are more likely to smoke than boys of the that same age group. The recommended daily intake of alcohol is usually acknowledged by women whereas men in all age groups tend to drink more than the recommended daily intake (Scambler, 2008). One third of babies born in 2013 will live to they are one hundred according to the office for national statistics. Of these 797,000 babies that were less than one in 2013 in the UK, 151,000 of these will be women and 123,000 will be men that live to one hundred in 2113 (Office for national Statistics, 2013).Whereas only 8% of men and 14% of women who were sixty-five in 2013 would go on to live until they are one hundred around 85,000 altogether. Looking further back in time there were only six hundred centenarians in 1961, ninety of these being men, this has increased every year since then for example in 2013 there were a total of 14,000 centenarians in the United Kingdom (Office for national Statistics, 2013). It is expected that 111,000 people will live to one hundred or more by 2037. Women are expected to become centenarians more so than men in all years as in 1961 there were five hundred this rose to 12,000 in 2013 and is expected to rise higher resulting in 77,000 women becomin g centenarians by 2037 and 293,000 by 2062. Men have had a rapid rise in centenarians from 1961 where there were only ninety centenarians this rose to 2,000 in 2013. It is estimated men living to one hundred or over will rise to 34,000 by 2037 and 163,000 by 2062 (Office for national Statistics, 2013). The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show that in ‘good’ health men in the least deprived areas could live to 70.5 years whereas men in the most deprived areas could live to 52.2 years. Women on the other hand can live in ‘good’ health in the least deprived areas for up to 71.3 years whereas women in the most deprived areas can live to 52.4 years. When measured by the range there were nine years difference between men in the most deprived areas compared to the men in the least deprived areas (Office for National Statistics, 2015). Women when measured by the range had a 6.9 year shorter life expectancy for women in the most deprived areas compared to the women in the least deprived areas. In ‘good’ health men in the least deprived areas lived 19.1 years longer and 19.5 years for women (Bury, M, 2005). There are a lot of assumptions around gender stereotypes that are socially constructed which to this day still exist in society. People or society expect a women to be a certain way or act a certain way such as staying at home looking after children and being a housewife rather than getting a job and that they are responsible for raising children (Cook, R and Cusack, S, 2010). Women are nurses rather than doctors, women do not need to have a career, and women should cook and do housework. Women do not or cannot have technical jobs such as being a mechanic these are some of the stereotypes associated with women (Cook, R and Cusack, S, 2010). People or society expect a man to enjoy working on cars, are doctors and not nurses, that men do ‘dirty’ jobs such as construction or mechanics. Men do not do housework and are not responsible for taking care of children, men are in charge husbands tell their wives what to do and are lazy or messy these are just some of the stereotype s associated with men (Health Guidance, No date). These stereotypes can affect both genders mentally and physically and can have an impact on mortality and morbidity rates such as a man doing a ‘dangerous’ job or a women having depression. Masculinity ideology plays a vital role in men’s health, men believe they should be powerful, strong, brave, intelligent, healthy, mature and in control (Sabo, D and Gordon, F, 1995). When these statements are untrue or thought to be untrue it can have a negative impact on men resulting in substance misuse and criminality, depression and suicide to mention a few as a lot of men especially young men feel powerless, weak, fearful and do not pay attention to their mental, physical or emotional health (Key issues in promoting health, No date). It is a fact that women are more open to talk about health problems than men which is why women that suffer from depression and anxiety are seen to have higher morbidity rates according to statistics. It is thought that biological and social factors contribute to depression and are seen differently in both men and women (Mental Health Foundation, No date). Men aged sixteen to forty-four are less likely to visit GPs than women due to worries of losing pay from their job if they take an appointment but also from masculinity problems such as thinking the environment in GP surgeries are too feminine and the general attitude men take towards healthcare and social expectation when they are ill (Harvey, S, et al, No date). It is also seen that because women are more open about their health, statistics show they visit the GPs more often than men and that they may go to the GPs for less severe symptoms of illness compared to men (Harvey, S, et al, No date). In conclusion this essay has looked at the statistics of inequalities in health and illness. Such as the fact that today women tend to live longer in industrialized countries than men and it seems that it is going to continue in that way, at the same time there has been a rapid rise in men living longer with mortality rates decreasing due to different employment available in this present day. Women morbidity rates are higher than men’s due to women seeking medical advice more often and being more open about their healthcare issues, whereas men avoid GPs either because of worry of losing pay from work or masculinity reasons such as the stigma that ‘men do not get sick’ (Bartley, 2004; Acheson, 1998; Scambler, 2008; Harvey, S, et al, No date). Although life expectancy rates are higher for both men and women it also seems that people living to one hundred or more is on the rise from six hundred centenarians in the 1960s to fourteen thousand centenarians in 2013 and it is estimated to rise higher each year onwards. Stereotypes have also had an impact on both genders due to society having the thought that men should have ‘dirty’ or ‘dangerous’ jobs and women should stay at home or have ‘clean’ jobs therefore it can result in physical problems or higher mortality rates for men and mental health problems such as anxiety or depression for women. Masculinity plays a vital role in men’s health due to the stigmas attached therefore mental health such as depression is seen different to professionals such as GPs in both men and women (Office for national Statistics, 2013; Office for National Statistics, 2015; Mental Health Foundation, No date; Harvey, S, et al, No date). Bibliography Books Acheson, D (1998). Independent Inquiry into Inequalities in Health Report. 1st edn. London: The Stationary Office. Backes, G et al (2008) Gender, Health and Ageing: European Perspectives on Life Course, Health Issues and Social Challenges. 13th edn. Springer Science and Business Media. Bartley, M (2004). Health Inequalities: An Introduction to Theories, Concepts, and methods. 1st edn. Cambridge: Polity Press. Bury, M (2005). Health and Illness. 1st edn. Cambridge: Polity Press. Cook, R and Cusack, S (2010). Gender Stereotyping: Transnational Legal Perspectives. 1st edn. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. Sabo, D and Gordon, F (1995). Men’s Health and Illness: Gender, Power, and the Body. 1st edn. London: SAGE Publications, Inc. Scambler, A (2008). Women and Health in Scambler G (ed) Sociology as Applied to Medicine. 1st edn. Elsevier Limited. Websites Harvey, S et al. (No date) Why are men reticent to visit their GP? What can be done to address this situation? [Online] Available at: http://www.socialsciences.exeter.ac.uk/media//Mens_Health_Forum_Project.docx Accessed: 22/03/15 Health Guidance (No date) List of Gender Stereotypes. [Online] Available at: http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/15910/1/List-ofGender-Stereotypes.html Accessed: 20/02/15 Key issues in promoting mental health (No date) Masculinity and mental health Dr Ken Harland. [Online] Available at: http://www.ycni.org/downloads/misc/masculinity_mental_health.pdf Accessed: 21/03/15 Mental Health Foundation (No date) Mental Health Statistics: Men Women. [Online] Available at: http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/help-information/mental-health-statistics/men-women/ Accessed: 20/03/15 Office for National Statistics (2015) Inequality in healthy life expectancy at birth by national deciles of area deprivation: England, 2011 to 2013. [Online] Available at: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/disability-and-health-measurement/inequality-in-healthy-life-expectancy-at-birth-by-national-deciles-of-area-deprivationengland/2011-13/index.html Accessed: 20/03/15 Office for National Statistics (2013) One Third of Babies born in 2013 are expected to live to 100. [Online] Available at: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/lifetables/historic-and-projected-data-from-the-period-and-cohort-life-tables/2012-based/sty-babies-living-to-100.html Accessed: 21/03/15

Compare and contrast Tennysons The Charge of the Light Brigade with Es

Compare and contrast Tennyson's The Charge of the Light Brigade with Kipling's The Last of the Light Brigade. Tennyson and Kipling both wrote the story of the Light Brigade who fought in the Crimean war, in the battle of Balaclava. This battle took place between the English and the Russians in Eastern Europe on the 25th October 1854. Lord Alfred Tennyson wrote his poem also in 1854, just after the battle had ended, and his aim was to build national pride in the hearts of the English people, and to " Honour the charge they made." Tennyson wanted to boost the moral of the English people because of the Light Brigades defeat. Tennyson wanted to change the feeling of defeat, to one of heroism, and to show that the Light Brigade were in fact brave to go up against the " Jaws of death" with only "six hundred men." Kipling on the other hand, who wrote his poem in 1891, 37 years after the battle had ended, saw how the Soldiers were living in poverty and wanted to make the public feel guilty for abandoning the soldiers when they needed support the most. Kipling wrote the poem as a response to Tennyson's poem, and refers to Tennyson as being the "Master singer." Kipling also tries to shed a reality on the battle, and how the English were loyal to the soldiers when they were need, but now that the battle is over the broken soldiers returning no longer fit the heroic image the public hold, and so their country no longer cares. In fact exposing the publics expressed support to be only shallow lip service. Tennyson wrote his poem with rigid, rhythmical, and evocative language, and tries to glamorise the Battle, and in doing so, makes the poem too fanciful. While Kipling on the other hand wrote his poem using... ...their lack of fidelity towards the soldiers. In conclusion I personally find Kipling's poem more effective. I find this because although Tennyson tries to make people feel a sense of national pride, the battle took place because of an error, and they the English people were massacred. They were brave because they knew they were committing suicide, but they went anyway. This makes them very brave, and quite foolish, but not heroes. On the other hand, Kipling is angry, and disgusted with the English people's fake loyalty because they only needed the soldier when they were fighting, now the battle is over they are just get in the way. Kipling sheds a reality on the lives of the soldiers now, but sets his poem out like a story, which is very clever. Kipling only wanted justice to be served, and for the English to see how they had treated their "Heroes." Compare and contrast Tennyson's The Charge of the Light Brigade with Es Compare and contrast Tennyson's The Charge of the Light Brigade with Kipling's The Last of the Light Brigade. Tennyson and Kipling both wrote the story of the Light Brigade who fought in the Crimean war, in the battle of Balaclava. This battle took place between the English and the Russians in Eastern Europe on the 25th October 1854. Lord Alfred Tennyson wrote his poem also in 1854, just after the battle had ended, and his aim was to build national pride in the hearts of the English people, and to " Honour the charge they made." Tennyson wanted to boost the moral of the English people because of the Light Brigades defeat. Tennyson wanted to change the feeling of defeat, to one of heroism, and to show that the Light Brigade were in fact brave to go up against the " Jaws of death" with only "six hundred men." Kipling on the other hand, who wrote his poem in 1891, 37 years after the battle had ended, saw how the Soldiers were living in poverty and wanted to make the public feel guilty for abandoning the soldiers when they needed support the most. Kipling wrote the poem as a response to Tennyson's poem, and refers to Tennyson as being the "Master singer." Kipling also tries to shed a reality on the battle, and how the English were loyal to the soldiers when they were need, but now that the battle is over the broken soldiers returning no longer fit the heroic image the public hold, and so their country no longer cares. In fact exposing the publics expressed support to be only shallow lip service. Tennyson wrote his poem with rigid, rhythmical, and evocative language, and tries to glamorise the Battle, and in doing so, makes the poem too fanciful. While Kipling on the other hand wrote his poem using... ...their lack of fidelity towards the soldiers. In conclusion I personally find Kipling's poem more effective. I find this because although Tennyson tries to make people feel a sense of national pride, the battle took place because of an error, and they the English people were massacred. They were brave because they knew they were committing suicide, but they went anyway. This makes them very brave, and quite foolish, but not heroes. On the other hand, Kipling is angry, and disgusted with the English people's fake loyalty because they only needed the soldier when they were fighting, now the battle is over they are just get in the way. Kipling sheds a reality on the lives of the soldiers now, but sets his poem out like a story, which is very clever. Kipling only wanted justice to be served, and for the English to see how they had treated their "Heroes."

Richard Cory, by Edwin Arlington Robinson Essay -- Richard Cory Analysi

Many poets write about death and appearances. In the poem Richard Cory by Edwin Arlington Robinson, the author tries to communicate several things. Robinsons poem is about a rich man that commits suicide, and the thoughts of the people in town that watch him in his everyday life. In Richard Cory, Robinson is communicating that outward appearances are not always what they seem, an that money does not always make a person happy   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Through the poem, Robinson never hints to any relationships that Richard Cory may have had. There is no mention of lovers, family, or even friends in the poem. I believe that Robinson was trying to communicate that companionship is essential to almost all people. Richard Cory was hiding his need for relationships if he had the need.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Robinson may also have been trying to communicate that although money can make a person happy, they may grow tired of it over time. When you become very used to one thing over time, it may begin to matter less and less. People that are not as well off as others should not measure happiness by just dollars and cents. There is a much larger picture of personal happiness that should be addressed and maintained so that personal health and welfare are sustained.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I think Robinson wants the reader to think that when Richard Cory died, he was probably a very lonely and sad man. A supporting fact of this would be the absence of relationship...

Magical Realism and Mans Search For Meaning Essay -- Literature Essay

Magical Realism and Man's Search For Meaning    Magical realism was first coined by Franz Roh when he was writing about paintings. Artaro Ulsar Pietri was the first to use the term when talking about literature. Magical realism is also related to other academic fields such as philosophy, psychology, mathmatics, physics, and theology. Im magical realism, "the writer confronts reality and tries to untangle it, to discover what is mysterious in things, in life, in human acts" (Leal 121). Viktor E. Frankl uses this concept in his book Man's Search For Meaning. The magical realist characteristics that relate to this story include defamiliarization and supplementation. Through Man's Search For Meaning, Frankl explores "a reality which is already in and of itself magical or fantastic" (Simpkins 149). It tries to magnify and enlarge the small amd simple things in life. Defamiliariazation is used through human life (Simpkins 150). Defamiliarization is when an object that is common and everyday is shown in a new way that one never saw or noticed before. Supplementation is when realit...

Merit vs Anniversary Pay Rates Essay

Performance reviews are an integral part of business. Employees crave feedback, whether it is positive or negative, as it provides motivation and a better understanding of the job requirements. Anniversary Date and Common Merit Date performance reviews each have advantages and disadvantages. It would behoove the human resource professional to choose the approach that best suits their organization’s needs and goals. Some of the factors that should be taken into consideration are; planning cycles, hiring practices, and organizational culture (Koss, 2009, p. 7) Anniversary reviews are commonly used when the organization has a lot of hourly, lower level employees (Koss, 2009, p. 2). This method provides a fair system. â€Å"Every employee receives a performance appraisal and sometimes a compensation adjustment on the one year anniversary of their start in a job, and at one-year intervals thereafter. All employees get reviewed and receive compensation adjustments at the same interval† (p. 2). This method is popular when the organization wishes to evaluate select employee performances against industry established standards, instead of vetting an employee against an alternate employee (p 2). [The Anniversary Date Method can] lighten the managers’ workloads and increases the likelihood that they’ll spend more time on their employee performance reviews, since they’re not caught trying to do them all at once. In addition, they spread out the appraisal-related workload over the year, avoiding processing peaks† (p. 2). Sometimes, Anniversary Date reviews are not the ideal choice. â€Å"An employee’s future is based solely on his/her manager’s subjective opinion of them† (p. 2). When appraisals are conducted annually, and on the anniversary date, usually about half of the staff is in line with prospective organizational objectives (p. ). Another con of this method is that the appraisal date generally does not match with any specific performance period (p. 2). This method can also result in inadequate reporting, and lesser understanding of why objectives were not met (p. 2). Because the manager is evaluating the performance of the individual, and not the comparative performance of their peers, it can create an unfair environment, and compensation allocations may be unequal (p. 3). Managers tend to try and accommodate the compensation budget, which is directly related to the cyclical ups and downs of the economy. If there is no money left in the budget, an employee with a year end review may receive a lower increase, not because they are less deserving, but because there is no more room left in the budget (p. 3). Common Merit Date Reviews is a procedure where organizations evaluate all of their employees at one specific time (p. 3). â€Å"One of the biggest advantage is that †¦they allow for corporate and individual goals to unite. HR actually spends less administration time on focal reviews because the process typically runs over a few months, rather than an entire year. This allows for†¦everyone in the organization to align their goals appropriately† (p. ). Because everything is done at one time, and each employee’s performance is being evaluated at the same time, managers can compare employees to each other, and provide consistent and fair appraisals, and allow for compensation to be [somewhat] unaffected by changing business cycles (p. 4). â€Å"Another advantage is that if any changes to evaluation criteria have to be made, new forms or processes can be distributed out to everyone at the same time† (p. 4). When the organization is focused on completing appraisals once a year, it can be much simpler to offer training on tools, processes, and skills necessary (p. ). While there are many advantages to the Common Merit Date Review, there are still a few disadvantages. Newer employees will not be permitted a full year of performance for evaluation. If there are a large number of employees, managers will need a significant amount of time to review the process and may have to neglect other tasks until the process is complete (p. 6) †¢Koss, S. (2009). Which is Best? Anniversary vs. Focal (Common Date) Performance Reviews. Koss Management. Retrieved February 26, 2011, from kosshrexpert. com/Article-WhichisBest. pdf

Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment Essay

The geriatric assessment is a multidimensional, multidisciplinary diagnostic instrument designed to collect data on the medical, psychosocial and functional capabilities and limitations of elderly patients. Various geriatric practitioners use the information generated to develop treatment and long-term follow-up plans, arrange for primary care and rehabilitative services, organize and facilitate the intricate process of case management, determine long-term care requirements and optimal placement, and make the best use of health care resources. The geriatric assessment differs from a standard medical evaluation in three general ways: (1) it focuses on elderly individuals with complex problems, (2) it emphasizes functional status and quality of life, and (3) it frequently takes advantage of an interdisciplinary team of providers. Whereas the standard medical evaluation works reasonably well in most other populations, it tends to miss some of the most prevalent problems faced by the elder patient. These challenges, often referred to as the â€Å"Five I’s of Geriatrics†, include intellectual impairment, immobility, instability, incontinence and iatrogenic disorders. The geriatric assessment effectively addresses these and many other areas of geriatric care that are crucial to the successful treatment and prevention of disease and disability in older people. Performing a comprehensive assessment is an ambitious undertaking. Below is a list of the areas geriatric providers may choose to assess: †¢ Current symptoms and illnesses and their functional impact. †¢ Current medications, their indications and effects. †¢ Relevant past illnesses. †¢ Recent and impending life changes. †¢ Objective measure of overall personal and social functionality. †¢ Current and future living environment and its appropriateness to function and prognosis. †¢ Family situation and availability. †¢ Current caregiver network including its deficiencies and potential. †¢ Objective measure of cognitive status. †¢ Objective assessment of mobility and balance. †¢ Rehabilitative status and prognosis if ill or disabled. †¢ Current emotional health and substance abuse. †¢ Nutritional status and needs. †¢ Disease risk factors, screening status, and health promotion activities. †¢ Services required and received. The primary care physician or community health worker usually initiates an assessment when he or she detects a potential problem. Like any effective medical evaluation, the geriatric assessment needs to be sufficiently flexible in scope and adaptable in content to serve a wide range of patients. A complete geriatric assessment, performed by multiple personnel over many encounters, is best suited for elders with multiple medical problems and significant functional limitations. Ideally, under these circumstances, an interdisciplinary team — representing medicine, psychiatry, social work, nutrition, physical and occupational therapy and others — performs a detailed assessment, analyzes the information, devises an intervention strategy, initiates treatment, and follows-up on the patient’s progress. Due to the intricate nature of comprehensive assessments, many teams designate a case-manager or caseworker to coordinate the entire effort. Most assessments take place in medical offices and inpatient units over multiple visits. If at all possible, however, at least one member of the team (rarely the physician) will attempt to visit the patient at home. Despite the problem of low or no reimbursement, the typically high-yield of information from even a single home visit makes it an extremely efficient use of resources. Most geriatric assessments, performed under the constraints of time and money, tend to be less comprehensive and more directed. Although such modifications are best suited to relatively high-functioning elders living in the community, many practitioners find some version of a directed geriatric assessment to be a more realistic tool in a busy practice. Patient-driven assessment instruments are also popular among geriatricians. Asking patients to complete questionnaires and perform specific tasks not  only saves time, but also it provides useful insight into their motivation and cognitive ability. To the extent that patients are unable to complete the assessment themselves, practitioners resort to traditional patient interview techniques that frequently involve input from a family member or other caregiver. During your upcoming site visits, you will perform a directed geriatric assessment (DGA), ideally with the same patient, over two sessions. In the interest of education, most of your DGA instruments are student-driven, rather than patient-driven, and require relatively little information from caregivers who may or may not be available at the time of your visit. We have divided the DGA in two parts, each with three subsections. In Part I, you will perform an expanded medical interview covering the clinical history, nutritional assessment and a social evaluation. In Part II, you will perform neuropsychiatric, physical and functional examinations. What follows is a reproduction of the History and Physical (H&P) format that you will use in your Physical Diagnosis II course next semester. Although all geriatric practitioners do not use a standard assessment format (comprehensive or otherwise), most agree on basic content. The comprehensive geriatric assessment (history & examination) following the Physical Diagnosis outline covers the most significant content areas of a prototypical geriatric assessment. As you can see, it moves well beyond the standard H&P, which is precisely the point. We have designed it to correlate as closely as possible with the history and physical you will be learning later this year. It is to your considerable advantage to review this information before meeting your patients face-to-face on the site visits. The DGA instrument you will use during your encounter immediately follows this section.

Coffee Cafe Business Plan Essay

Cafà © Vancouver is a new coffee shop at Granville and Robson Street in Vancouver Downtown. The hustle and bustle of downtown need a quiet, fast-paced life make people feel tired, we want our customers to relax while enjoying a coffee. Cafà © Vancouver’s team will make the best effort to create a unique place where customers can get together with each other in a comfortable and relaxing environment while enjoying the best-brewed coffee or espresso and breakfast style treats in town. We will be in the business of helping our customers to relieve their daily stresses by providing peace of mind through great ambience, convenient place, friendly customer service, and products of consistently high quality. We welcome guests of all ages; we can guarantee each guest to enjoy high-quality coffee. Vancouver Downtown has many companies, offices and shopping centers, with a strong customer base and revenue opportunities. Meanwhile, 365 days a year we will have no holiday leave, to make sure that we have opportunity to serve guests at any time. We also have a pragmatic management team. Head is the General Manager; he has a degree in Economics from the Russian Far Eastern University, and has more than six years of experience in business operations. He is the general manager, and a cafe investor. Team1 supervisor is Supervisor1 with four years of broad experience working at coffee shops and restaurant industry. Team2 supervisor is Supervisor2; he has 2 years of experience in the restaurant industry. We provide training for up to three months, including company culture, coffee brewing, food safety, and so on. All employees of our company will be well-trained and enthusiastic moderator. The financial position of the company is essential to develop the company’s financial data, including investment, net profit and so on. After the financial position and profitability assessment, in three years of operation, we expect to have profit of about 818,700 dollars (net profit after tax), with average annual net profit of 272,900 dollars will give adequate funding for our company. Compared with other coffee brands in the industry, we expect to grow faster. In the long-term, we will consider opening new cafes in different locations throughout Canada. The Company and Industry Business goals Coffee is more than a beverage; however, it is a memory, anticipation, and a lifetime of consoling moments of modest pleasure woven into our lives. Coffee’s success as a beverage undoubtedly owes both to the caffeine it harbors and to its sensory pleasure. Coffee lovers come to associate the energizing lift of the caffeine with the richness and aroma of the beverage that delivers it. Our Business goal is â€Å"to make our customers return to the simple concept of coffee, quietly enjoying every cup of coffee.† We are planning to open two stores in the Vancouver area within three years. The company Mission statement â€Å"We want our customers to return to the simple concept of coffee, quietly enjoying every cup of coffee.† Vision Statement â€Å"To grow the business and protect the rapid development of the enterprise.† The Industry Although Canada does not have the proper climate for growing coffee, Canadian-based firms do import raw materials for processing and resale into domestic and export markets. Coffee manufactured for retail and Food service markets has been an important part of food and beverage processing in the country for many years. Coffee is the most popular hot beverage in Canada with a total of 14 billion cups consumed annually. An estimated 64% of Canadians drink coffee each day, which is equal to 6.8 kilograms of green coffee or 12.7 pounds of roasted coffee per head, with 86% of adult coffee drinkers consuming the beverage in the morning or for breakfast. In-home continues to be the dominant place for consumption with just over half of Canadian consumers (51%) drinking coffee at home. Among adult coffee drinkers, the share of cups (80%) of traditional coffee made at home is eight times higher than the share of cups purchased from the market (11%).  57% of coffee purchased at coffee shops. The coffee is also the top beverage in the Canadian Foodservice category. Canada has a highly developed away-from-home coffee market and is second only to Italy in highest percentage of total cups of coffee consumed outside the home. Other consumer demands include information on the origin/source, and locally grown, fair-trade, organic, and green coffee products. The coffee industry has been quick to respond to this lucrative market, worth about $650 million a year in Canada. Products and Services The Cafà © Vancouver will proudly offer its customers the best tasting coffee and tea beverages with breakfast style treats in the area. Our highly trained staff with a passion and talent combined will provide the best customer service in competition. The friendly and polite staff will also provide a cozy environment for customers to make them feel home, and every staff member will be required to give million dollar smile to our customers. In future, we will be looking forward to train our employees in further customer and coffee-making services. The products we offer will taste better than anything in the competition. This will be achieved with the high quality ingredients and products, by strictly believing in providing quality. The menu will cover coffee, steeped specialty teas, espresso latte and beverages, classic hot beverages, cold beverages, espresso on ice, sweet baked goods, yogurt, and grilled sandwiches and wraps. The Cafà © will be offering free books; magazine, daily newspaper and WI-FI for eating in clients to make them feel entertained and relaxed. By keeping in mind the importance of internet, we will provide speed WI-FI for our customers. There will also be four televisions at display in the cafà ©, which will be playing channels on popular demand. During the normal working hours of our cafà © there will always be entertaining music playing for our customers. In future, we will be updating our product and services with the popular demand. With the business plan there is a menu given below which will provide further details about the products we will offer. MARKET ANALYSIS Coffee business in recent years has been a bright spot for those who want to start-up their own business. While there are a number of other businesses out there many categories facing poor sales, negative balance sheets but coffee cafes are continuing to show strong growth. It’s very clear that Canadians love coffee continues throughout the year. Target market The place for our Cafà © Vancouver business is located at the intersection of Robson Street and Granville Street, which is in the downtown and one of the best locations for our coffee-house for opening up our cafe. Downtown is the main part of Vancouver and remains busy all throughout the year. According to our research we found that there is year round tourist activity all across Vancouver plus there are lots of businesses nearby our place. Robson Street is famous for its shopping stores all over Canada. In target market, we will target people from young to senior citizens. At the intersection, there are excellent auto and pedestrian traffic by the place which will give some customers each day. There are busiest areas and Sky train stations near to our place so we can attract local people or travelers passing through Downtown. Market size and trends: According to the census 2009 The Robson Street is regarded as a 3rd BIA (business improvement area) in Vancouver. The retail and service business is really higher on Robson street because of its popularity and there are 29% eating and drinking places on the Robson street. The retail business is 69% on Robson and 24% in the rest of Great Vancouver. It is one of the biggest shopping destinations in Vancouver. As the target market for our product and service is mainly tourists, local residents, business people, and students. There are 79,140 residents and 145,000 daytime employee bases; population density is triple than Vancouver average. The growth for the market had increased from last year because of the innovation; lots of people emigrated there because of business opportunities. According to the census there are 39 commercial properties and 222 businesses on the Robson Street. By targeting all market segments, Cafà © Vancouver will not focus on one segment  of market like for ma ny other coffee shops. Cafà © Vancouver will avoid these barriers in business with a customer mix of all segments and in coming years we expect to increase our market share in coffee business. Competition Cafà © Vancouver will uniquely place itself in the most competitive area of Vancouver downtown. The place chosen for a cafe has competitors such as Blenz coffee, Starbucks, cafe crepe, Tim Horton’s, Waves coffee, 7 eleven and David’s tea. It will be challenging to compete with well-established business, but cafe will give most delicious products at very reasonable prices. Our prime competitors (see Appendix # 1): Blenz coffee (www.blenz.com): Blenz opened their first coffee shop in February 1992 on Robson and Bute Street. They are famous for handmade coffee. They have 61 stores in British Columbia. They also are doing business internationally like in Japan and Philippines. Their store cost range from $225,000 to $400,000. Tim Horton’s (www.timhortons.com): The Tim Horton’s chain was found in 1964 in Hamilton, Ontario. The chain’s focus on top quality, always fresh product, value, great service and community leadership have allowed it to grow into the largest quick service restaurant chain in Canada specializing in always fresh coffee, baked goods and home-style lunches. Wave’s coffee (www.wavescoffee.com): The Waves Coffee House franchise was founded in 2005 at Hastings and Richards Street in downtown Vancouver British Columbia. In 2008, Waves coffee was recognized by the Brand Coaches as the â€Å"Hottest Brand in Canada†. They have also been recognized as the â€Å"Best of Brands† by over 1,500 coffee retailers. Today there are 31 Waves across British Columbia and Alberta – with more to come. Starbucks (www.starbucks.ca): Starbucks is one of our prime competitors located near intersection of Robson and Granville. Starbucks is one of biggest coffee companies in North America with headquarters in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks has 20891 stores in 62 countries and 1324 of them are in Canada with generating revenue around $13+billion. Cafà © crepe (www.cafecrepe.com): Established in 1999; cafe crepe imports tradition of the classic European cafà © to North America, Cafà © Crà ªpe specializes in Parisian sweet & savory crà ªpes, French baguette sandwiches, and grilled Italian Panini. As an  international cafà ©, Cafà © Crà ªpe also offers world classics like a half pound certified Angus burgers, pommes frites (French fries), thin crust pizza, and a full traditional breakfast menu that includes Eggs Benedict and an exciting variety of omelets, among other specialties. In addition to serving exceptional Italian roasted Lavazza coffee, Cafà © Crà ªpe is fully licensed, offering a vast choice of alcoholic beverages and cocktails, along with select beers and wines. 7-eleven (www.7-eleven.com): Since 1927, 7 Eleven has grown and evolved into the world’s largest operator, franchisers and licensor of convenience stores. The company operates franchises and licenses more than 8,600 stores in the U.S. and Canada. Of the more than 7,800 stores the company operates and franchises in the United States, more than 6,200 are franchises. Estimated sales and market share: With the targeting mix that we are focusing on, we expect the average of 400 to 600 persons per day during the first year. We have estimated our customer expenditure about $3.5 due to premium pricing on some of the items. We presume that the total cost of sales would be about 14%. We expect the growing of our sales to 700+ customers per day for the second year of operations. And when the business will be stable and well-known we can reach the level of 800+ customers per day. The Marketing Plan Pricing There are various aims of pricing that we will focus on Survival Profit maximization Market share goals. Pricing Depends on various factors: Internal Factors- Marketing mix strategy Costs External Factors- Nature of the market Competition Competition Based Pricing- We will also be using this strategy at some stage when we get a stable number of customers in the market and then we can look at a prices level among our direct competitors, so we can adjust our prices according to that. Marketing Penetration strategy- We can charge slightly less what our direct competitors are charging for the same product. The Penetration strategy is usually used for quickly achieving a high volume of sales and to attract customers. Under this strategy product is widely promoted and price is kept comparatively low. As we will be new in the market, we will definitely go for a penetrating, this way we can have a bond with regular customers and can attract new customers. We created a detailed list of prices which we are going to start-up the cafà © with (see Appendix # 2). Advertising and Promotions Newspaper and Magazines- This will also be a good way of advertising of our product to market. We can promote our latest product in daily or weekly newspaper to give our customers as an offer for the first day of new product. We will be giving ads in local newspaper 45 days before the opening of our Cafà ©. The newspaper charges about $6 per column inch, so an ad that is two columns wide and two inches tall would be $24 for each day. Putting up Signs in Neighborhood- This is also a unique way to attract customers. The signature of our coffee shop will be placed in different locations, so people can see the ad of new coffee shops and they might come to try something new. For 100 boards it will cost around $900. Hand out values cheque- We will attract customers by giving value cheque worth $10 to first 100 customers. They will be eligible to redeem the money at any giving point of time. When we open the store, it will create a big attraction to customers. Hand out flyer discount offer - We will distribute flyers by dropping it to mail boxes, attaching any discount offer on their first coffee, sandwich or any snack. We will make our flyers on Closest to DL (95mm x 210mm) so it will be inexpensive to make 50 flyers will cost $9.74+ tax. So 1000 flyers will cost $194.80+tax. Social Media- We will also  promote our cafà © through social media like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. We will tweet the promotional offer on twitter, so customers can have an access to discount coupons online. Website- We will create our website and advertise all our products there, so people can know about our products. There will be some discount coupons on the website, the customer could print it and redeem at any point in the store. It will cost us for a basic website $2500 to $3000 and to manage the website and to develop it $75 to $100 per hour. So this will be less expensive than social media and own company website can give people better option to have a look at our menu and daily or weekly promotions. Development plan: Development status: Our business plan is on developing stage. We have a very good plan to start our business, having the past experience of some partners will help us managing the coffee-house. We are going to lease the place in Vancouver Downtown on the intersection of Robson and Granville. We are planning to start the construction work first, after that we will give priority to the interior work. Next, we will arrange and fit the machines and dishwashers according to our layout. Along with the customer service we are providing customers with free WI-FI hotspot, cable TV and comfortable chairs and couches. So our customers can enjoy their coffee while sitting and watching TV or surfing the Internet. Proprietary issues: This is the trademark for our cafà ©. It is going to distinguish our service from those who are doing the same business in the market place. The registration of trademark is not mandatory but we are going to register it before the opening, because it gives us obvious proof of ownership. Furthermore, we are going to test our products like coffee and other eatable items through the CISPR EMC testing laboratory under the Canadian standard association plus we will test our cafà © under UL testing laboratories for safety. After getting the approval, we will give some free samples to potential customers for promotion and feedback. Operations plan Location The coffee shop will be at Granville and Robson Street in Vancouver Downtown (see Appendix # 3). It would be an excellent place with constant shoppers during the week plus business people and people who work in Downtown during weekdays. The coffee shop will be conveniently in the heart of the most popular shopping area in Vancouver and close to the Vancouver City Centre Sky Train station, which would allow attracting more transit people. Due to the enormous market size, the growth at this area rate would be considerable. The Vancouver Cafà © will give highly comfortable seats for 24 customers with hours of operation from 6AM to 8PM. Facilities The total space available for the cafà © of 600 sq. feet will offer the space for a lounge seating area, fireplace, bookshelf, back room, handicap-accessible washroom, and kitchen (See Appendix # 4). The premises are available for lease at an asking rate of $30 per square foot, net. The total annual rent would be equal to $180,000, which equates to $15,000 per month, as the listing agent informed us that the lessor is willing to reduce the monthly payment from $18,000 to $15,000. We will be eligible for the discount in case of a lease contract for at least three years term. The lessee will be expected to give a personal guarantee together with a security deposit of $10,000. Equipment To start-up our business, a variety of equipment are required. As mentioned in the â€Å"Development† section, we will need to buy a list of equipment costing in total of $ 28,344 (see Appendix # 5). All the equipment will be brand new and prices listed include delivery and setting in place. All the items will be purchased from Stealth Coffee Systems Inc. As we already negotiated, we would be eligible for an additional discount of 5%, if the amount will be paid within 90 days after the purchase. So, the estimated amount with discount will be paid for the equipment equals to $26,927. The installation of the equipment will cost us additional $ 25,000. Lead time for the delivery of the equipment is three to four weeks. The equipment will be amortized by using the straight-line method with an estimated useful life of 15 years. Supply Chain Pacific Coffee Roasters has been chosen to be the primary supplier for the best specialty coffee. The company is conveniently located in Downtown, close to our coffee shop. Pacific Coffee Roasters is a broad line coffee distributor which will satisfy all our supply needs. The inventory will be checked twice a week to make sure that we have enough in back stock. The entire inventory will be placed by dates of receiving to follow the â€Å"first in first out† system. We are expecting to place orders and receive new inventory on a weekly basis. Human Resources To operate the coffee shop we will need to hire six cashiers to split them up in two teams (see Appendix # 6). The previous restaurant experience will be required, but exceptions can be made. All the hired employees will receive an extensive training. Later, for new employees we will use on-the-job training technique to increase their performance and decrease the time of the training. A starting wage for a cashier will be $10.25 per hour; also we will use a bonus system based on the employee’s performance. Management team Is the Manager of the Vancouver Cafà © and will be responsible for overall operation of the business. Head received a degree in Economics from the Russian Far Eastern University in 2006. In addition, he is currently pursuing a Business Management Diploma at Douglas College and he will graduate from the program in December 2014. Head has an extensive experience in strategic planning, as he had been working for a production company in Russia from 2006 to 2012 as a Planning Manager. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. is the Vancouver Cafà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s Supervisor of Team 1 and will be in charge of running day-to-day operations. During peak hours, he will be helping to his staff. Supervisor1 currently studies at Douglas College on Business Management program and will graduate  in December 2014. He has 4 years’ experience in the restaurant industry, as he worked at coffee shops in Vancouver. His experience varies from a cashier to a supervisor of the coffee shop. Through the work experience he recei ved a sufficient amount of expertise to run the cafà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s operations. He will be responsible for the hiring and training all the cafà © employees. At this position, Supervisor1 will report to the Cafe Manager. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. is the Vancouver Cafà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s Supervisor of Team 2 and will be in charge of running day-to-day operations. Supervisor2 currently studies at Douglas College on Business Administration program and will graduate in August 2014. He has 2 years’ experience in the restaurant industry. He will be supervising his staff and helping out during peak hours. He will be responsible for the purchase of supplies and management of the supply base. At this position, Supervisor2 will report to the Cafe Manager. SWOT Analysis Opening a coffee cafà © is not about knowing the difference between mocha, latte, and cappuccino but much more than this little part. Creating a SWOT analysis — identifying the good, bad and potential ugly, our customers, overcoming the competing coffee shops and strengthening our marketing plan — for our business is essential before moving forward. Strengths Easy to get financing. Easy to start up business. New talents from partners. Extensive beverage menu. Cost leadership. Value based customer service. Location. Weaknesses Lack of experience. Unknown company history and background. Divided authority. Number of competitors in the market. Too many products to start with. Opportunities Continuously expanding. Bring in different types of drinks from different parts of world. Expand into franchisee based business. Joint venture with different business organizations (e.g.: Gas stations, grocery stores, cinemas and many more that can allow our coffee shop in their business ). Involve keen investors into the business to expand. International markets. Online market. Threats High risk of failure. Conflicts might occur between partners in the future. Status as an independent coffee shop. Change in coffee trends. Recession. Rises in the price of raw materials. Shortage of specific coffee beans from suppliers as demanded by the market. Change in technology in operating coffee making equipment’s. Change in government policies. Implementation schedule An implementation schedule ensures the accomplishment of each stage of the business plan. The development plan was divided into four phases: the initial phase, commencement phase, semi completion, and final phase. The team was successful in creating a business plan after a month’s collective effort. The commencement phase will begin after the initial stage. During this phase the business will be registered and thus the company becomes eligible to take financial help from a financial organization. Semi completion stage will begin after two weeks. During this phase, the process of staff recruitment, menu preparation, marketing and advertising strategies will be carried out under the guidance of experts. This phase takes a month and a half. The final phase will begin immediately after the semi completion phase. This phase consists of deciding the interior theme, furniture, appliances and other facilities to be provided at the cafà ©. Financial plan Funding Requested In order to start our business, the capital cost would be covered under the fixtures and equipment, installation of the fixtures and equipment and decorating which are 26,927, 25,000, and 10,000, respectively, for a total of 61,927. Basically, we are doing our financing from debt and equity investment which The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) has agreed to finance a large portion of this expenditure. Our 90 % of the Capital cost is covered by CIBC by using the government-granted Canada Small Business Financing Act (CSBFA) program. Interest rate would be prime plus 4.25 per cent, which includes a 1.25 per cent administration fee paid to the federal government. We will do monthly payment up to seven years in order to pay all the debt. CIBC has agreed to a loan for $ 178,090 which covers renovation expenses, personal guarantee from the owner for 25 % of the loan amount. The owner is planning that the balance of the funding will come via a $ 19,787 remaining balance, allowing him a 100 % of the common shares in the corporation. Financial Projection Cafà © Vancouver is expected to make a profit of $ 168,200 in its first year of operations, which is a good indication for the company. The $657,000 is estimated for the first year sales figures falls way above the breakeven point by $186,787(where as B-even is $470,213). Not only this, as indicated  in the cash flow projection, the initial CIBC loan and $19,787 equity investment give the operation more than adequate cash flow. This gives an opportunity to our business to repay the loan faster. Risk Factors In order to start a new business venture, there are many risks that must be taking into consideration. Below are the some of the risks associated with cafà © business: 1. Fire Safety: Cafà © Vancouver will limit the impact of a fire by ensuring the business has compensation, insurance protection, including adequate business premises insurance as well as business interruption insurance. 2. Inadequate Capital: Despite of a solid business plan many Cafe fails because they lack adequate funding and planning. So to decrease these risk Cafe Vancouver is planning to have several months of funding to cover the costs of salaries, food and bills. 3. Food Safety Concerns: If any customer becomes injured on the premises or where an illness is attributed to product the $ 1,000,000 compressive general liability insurance coverage will insure the business has adequate liability. 4. Shortage of supply: This risk is considered as not important because there are wide variety of suppliers in downtown might be chosen in case of shortages with supply. Divestiture/Harvest Strategy In case of any quarrel, any partner wants to exit the business or if sales cannot be made then the assets of the business will be sold off individually. Firstly, company will try to sell this commercial coffee making equipment locally but if the quenched arranged cannot be made locally then the equipment will be sold over the internet. The money from selling this equipment will be used to pay off the debt obligation of the business and remaining money will be paid to the owner. However, this is not supposed to happen because the concept has significant upside latent, builds good market share. If everything goes according to the plan, it is expected to attract the attention of large national. The owner would sell the business only and only if a healthy profit is given by a buyer.