Reporting Money to Customs at the Canadian Border

When traveling to and from Canada, there are rules surrounding what youre allowed to bring into and out of the country. Canadians returning home must declare any goods they purchased or otherwise acquired while out of the country. This includes things like gifts, prizes, and awards, including items that will be shipped later. Anything purchased at a Canadian or foreign duty-free shop also must be declared.   A good rule of thumb when returning to Canada through customs: If youre not sure whether or not  something needs to be declared, its better to declare it and clear it with border personnel. It would be much worse to fail to declare something that officers discover later. Officials can seize any goods being illegally imported into Canada and, if  caught, youre likely to face penalties and fines. If you try to bring a firearm or other weapon into Canada without declaring it, you could face criminal charges. Bringing Money Into Canada There are no limits to the amount of money that travelers may bring into or take out of Canada. However, amounts of $10,000 or more must be reported to customs officials at the Canadian border.  Anyone who fails to report amounts of $10,000 or more could find their funds seized, and face a penalty between  $250 and $500. If you are carrying $10,000 or more in coins, domestic and foreign bank notes, securities such as travelers checks, stocks, and bonds, you must complete a Cross-Border Currency or Monetary Instruments Report - Individual Form E677. If the money is not your own, you should complete Form E667 Cross-Border Currency or Monetary Instruments Report - General. The form should be signed and handed to a customs officer for review. Completed forms are sent to the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Center of Canada (FINTRAC) for assessment and analysis. Non-Canadians Visiting Canada Anyone bringing goods into Canada must declare them to a border officer. This rule applies to cash and other items of monetary value. Its a good idea to have some idea of exchange rates because the minimum amount required to be declared is $10,000 in Canadian dollars. Personal Exemptions for Returning Canadians Canadian residents or temporary residents returning to Canada from a trip outside the country and former Canadian residents returning to live in Canada may qualify for personal exemptions. This allows them to bring a certain value of goods into Canada without having to pay the regular duties. Theyll still have to pay duties, taxes and any provincial/territory assessments on the value of goods above the personal exemption. Future Issues at the Border The Canada Border Services Agency keeps a record of violations. Travelers into and out of Canada who develop a record of infractions may have issues crossing the border in the future and may be subject to more detailed examinations. Tip: The best course of action for anyone entering Canada, whether youre a citizen or not, is to have your identification and travel documents readily available.   Be honest and be patient, and youll be on your way quickly.

A Poem Of Changgan By Li Po - 864 Words

The poem I read for this assignment is â€Å"A Poem of Changgan† by Li Po. I was surprised by that I can find a Chinese poem in the website. Li Po is one of the greatest poets in China and wrote hundreds of poems during his lifetime. This poem describes a merchant woman’s love story. Li was using a young woman live in Changgan as first person in the poem, and the poem is based on her narrative of her life. In the poem, young woman’s husband was traveled to another place for business purpose, and she has to stay home and waiting for him to come back home. It is very uncommon for a woman to travel with her husband for business in that era. The poem portrays her love, her loneliness, and her eagerness to see her husband through both physical and emotional expressions. The poem started with descriptions of her childhood with her husband. The first line, â€Å"My hair had hardly covered my forehead†, reveals that she was in her early age because her hair hasn’t fully grown. â€Å"Green plum† and â€Å"bamboo horse† can combine together to form a Chinese idiom, which means a boy and a girl have known each other since their childhood. They have a happy childhood and spend a great amount of time together. I can imagine their childhood when I read through first stanza. â€Å"Picking†, â€Å"playing†, â€Å"trotting†, and â€Å"throwing† illustrate their childhood through various actions and provide a detailed image for readers. The first stanza end with â€Å"Both of us young and happy hearted†, I think this line emphasize

Total Revenue Free Essays

The principle that a till will maximize its prompt (or minimize Its losses) by producing the output at which marginal revenue and marginal cost are equal, provided product price is equal to or greater than average variable cost. (McConnell, 2010) According tour text the MR.=MAC rule applies to all firms whether they are purely competitive, monopolistic, unapologetically competitive or logistically. We will write a custom essay sample on Total Revenue or any similar topic only for you Order Now (McConnell, 2010) Using Microsoft Excel. Graph the data in Columns 9 and 10. 4. The profit maximizing or (loss minimizing) output for this firm is 9. That is the last output quantity where the marginal revenue ($165) exceeds the marginal cost ($162). There is an economic profit after producing more than a quantity output of 3. This is the point where Total Revenue exceeds the Total Cost. 5, A firm in pure competition Is considered a â€Å"appreciate† because a firm that Is In pure competition cannot attest their product’s price changing the amount to the product that it sells. They can only maximize the product’s economic profit (or minimize its loss) by adjusting its output How to cite Total Revenue, Papers

Events after the Reporting Period Financial Reporting

Question: Describe about the Events after the Reporting Period for Financial Reporting. Answer: The provisions as regards computation and discloser of deprecation are contained in the AASB 1021. In respect of the change in the rates and method of depreciation, the provisions of paragraph 6.3 this standard require that effect of such change must be given in the current year financial statements and the depreciation for the future years must be computed considering such changes (AASB 1021, 1997). Further, the standard also provides that the prior period financial statements should not be given any effect in respect of the changes in the rate and method of deprecation (AASB 1021, 1997). Applying these provisions to the current case of Rainyday Ltd, the depreciation for the financial year 2015-16 would change as has been worked out below: S.No. Description Amount ($) A Cost of manufacturing equipment 500,000.00 B Life 10 C Residual value 0 D Depreciation per year (A-C/B) 50,000.00 E Depreciation for 2013-14 and 2014-15 (D*2) 100,000.00 F Written down value on 01.07.2015 (A-E) 400,000.00 G Revised life 6 H Revised depreciation from 2015-16 and onwards (F/G) 66,666.67 Thus, it can be observed from the above that the depreciation for the financial year has changed from $50,000 to $66,666.67 as a result of change in the effective useful life of the equipment. The change in the depreciation is non-adjusting item for the previous financial years; therefore, the directors of Rainyday Ltd are advised not to make any adjustments in the accounts for this change for the previous financial years 2013-14 and 2014-15. 1(b) As per the provisions of the AASB 108, the adjustment for the errors and omissions of the previous periods is given in the current financial statements by restating the assets, liabilities, and the equity. Further, tax effect of such adjustment is accounted for in accordance with the provisions of AASB 112, Income Taxes (AASB 108, 2013). In the case of Rainyday Ltd, the repair expense of $25,000, which remained unaccounted in the year 2015, need to be adjusted in the books in the year 2016. The adjusting journal entries for Rainyday Ltd are given below: Journal for Prior Period Adjustments: Rainyday Ltd 2015-16 Date Description Debit ($) Credit ($) 5-Jul-16 Repair expense 25000 Cash 25000 30-Jun-16 Retained earnings 25000 Deferred tax 7500 Repair expense 25000 1(c) As per the provisions AASB 9, the measure fall in the fair value of the equity instrument is recognized in the financial statements (AASB 9, 2010). Further, the provisions of the AASB 110 entail that the events taking place after the closer of the financial year but before the finalization of the financial statements, should be adjusted (AASB 110, 2011). Therefore, Rainyday Ltd should adjust the loss of $350,000 ($800,000-$450,000) in the profit and loss account for the financial year 2015-16 by passing the following journal entry: Journal: Rainyday Ltd 2015-16 Date Description Debit ($) Credit ($) 30-June-16 Profit and loss account 350000 Equity investment account 350000 1(d) In the current situation, the since the debtor of the company has gone bankrupt before the finalization of the financial statements, the event is adjusting nature as per the AASB 110 (AASB 110, 2011). Therefore, the RainydayLtd should write off the remaining amount $450,000 as well in the financial year 2015-16 itself by passing the following journal entry: Journal: Rainyday Ltd 2015-16 Date Description Debit ($) Credit ($) 30-June-16 Profit and loss account 450000 Bad debts 450000 2. Journal for share issue: Sunny Ltd Date Description Debit ($) Credit ($) 31-Jan-16 Cash Trust 1,890,000.00 Application 1,890,000.00 (For application money on ordinary shares received) 31-Jan-16 Cash 30,000.00 Share options 30,000.00 (Issue of 60000 share options at 50c each) 12-Feb-16 Application 1,890,000.00 Share capital 1,800,000.00 Share allotment 90,000.00 (For shares allotted and excess money received on application adjusted toward allotment) 12-Mar-16 Cash 1,890,000.00 Cash Trust 1,890,000.00 (Transfer on allotment of shares) 12-Mar-16 Allotment 600,000.00 Share capital 600,000.00 (Allotment money due on 600000 shares) 12-Mar-16 Cash 493,000.00 Allotment 493,000.00 [Allotment money received on 580000 shares=$580000-$90000)] 20-Mar-16 Share capital 80,000.00 Share forfeited (630000/600000*20000)=21000 shares*$3 63,000.00 Allotment 17,000.00 (20000 shares forfeited) 5-Apr-16 Cash 74,000.00 Share forfeited ($4-$3.70)*20000 6,000.00 Share capital 80,000.00 (20000 forfeited shares reissued @ $3.70 per share) 5-Apr-16 Share forfeited ($63000-$6000) 57,000.00 Share re-issue costs 3,600.00 Cash 53,400.00 (Balance in share forfeit after meeting reissue cost paid back) 30-Jun-16 Cash (50000*$4.2) 210,000.00 Share capital 210,000.00 (50000 shares issued against 50000 options allotted) 30-Jun-16 Share options 30,000.00 Share capital 25,000.00 Lapsed options reserve 5,000.00 (Write-off of options exercised, and lapsed) 3. Computation of current tax Amount ($) Amount ($) Accounting profit before tax 190,750.00 Add: Adjustments for taxation purpose Depreciation equipment (Accounting) 40,000.00 Depreciation - motor vehicles (Accounting) 15,000.00 Entertainment expenses (not tax deductible) 4,500.00 Provision for annual leave 11,000.00 Provision for warranties 6,900.00 Rent payable 6,000.00 83,400.00 Less: Adjustments for taxation purpose Prepaid insurance 3,000.00 Government grant (exempt from income tax) 30,000.00 Depreciation equipment (taxation) 60,000.00 Depreciation - motor vehicles (taxation) 12,000.00 Taxable profit 169,150.00 Tax Rate 30% Current Tax 50,745.00 Temporary Differences Tax base Carrying amount Taxable temporary differences (liability) Deductible temporary differences (asset) Prepaid insurance - 3,000.00 3,000.00 Equipment 340,000.00 360,000.00 20,000.00 Motor vehicles 48,000.00 45,000.00 3,000.00 Provision for annual leave - 11,000.00 11,000.00 Provision for warranties - 6,900.00 6,900.00 Rent payable - 6,000.00 6,000.00 Total 23,000.00 26,900.00 Deferred Tax Asset/ liability Amount ($) Deductible temporary differences (asset) 26,900.00 Less: Taxable temporary differences (liability) 23,000.00 3,900.00 Tax Rate 30% Deferred Tax Asset 1,170.00 Journal Entries S.No. Description Debit ($) Credit ($) 1 Deferred tax asset 1,170.00 Profit and Loss 1,170.00 2 Profit and Loss 50,745.00 Current tax 50,745.00 4 Journal Entries Date Description Debit ($) Credit ($) 1-Jul-13 Equipment 800,000.00 Cash 800,000.00 30-Jun-14 Depreciation expense 152,000.00 Accumulated depreciation-equipment 152,000.00 [($800000-$40000)/5] 30-Jun-14 Accumulated depreciation-equipment 152,000.00 Equipment 152,000.00 30-Jun-14 Profit and loss 152,000.00 Depreciation expense 152,000.00 1-Jul-14 Equipment 82,000.00 Revaluation reserve 82,000.00 $800,000-$152,000=$648,000 (WDV) ($730,000-$648,000= Revaluation reserve) 30-Jun-15 Depreciation expense 115,000.00 Accumulated depreciation-equipment 115,000.00 [$730000-$40000]/6 30-Jun-15 Accumulated depreciation-equipment 115,000.00 Equipment 115,000.00 30-Jun-15 Profit and loss 115,000.00 Depreciation expense 115,000.00 30-Jun-16 Profit and loss 201,333.33 Revaluation reserve ($82000/6) 13,666.67 Impairment loss [($730000-$115000)-$400000] 215,000.00 30-Jun-16 Impairment loss 215,000.00 Equipment 215,000.00 30-Jun-16 Depreciation expense 72,000.00 Accumulated depreciation-equipment 72,000.00 [($400000-$40000)/5] 30-Jun-16 Accumulated depreciation-equipment 72,000.00 Equipment 72,000.00 30-Jun-16 Profit and loss 72,000.00 Depreciation expense 72,000.00 30-Sep-16 Cash 390,000.00 Accumulated depreciation 339,000.00 Loss on disposal 71,000.00 Equipment 800,000.00 30-Sep-16 Revaluation reserve ($82000-$13666.70) 68,333.33 Profit and loss 2,666.67 Loss on disposal 71,000.00 5. As per the provisions of the AASB 136, the allocation of the impairment loss of a cash generating unit is made first to the goodwill and then to the other assets in the proportion of their carrying amounts. However, it should be kept in mind that the allocation of the impairment loss in such a manner does not result in excess of the amount that would have been calculated considering a particular asset singly (AASB 136, 2010). In accordance with the relevant provisions of AASB 136, the computation and allocation of the impairment loss of CGUs of Movies Ltd is presented below: Computation of impairment loss for cash generating units Cash Generating Units Cinema ($) DVD Sales ($) A. Fair value less cost to sell 780,000.00 318,000.00 B. Value in use 900,000.00 290,000.00 C. Recoverable value (higher of A and B) 900,000.00 318,000.00 D. Carrying amount of cash generating unit 1,019,000.00 326,000.00 E. Impairment loss (D-C) 119,000.00 8,000.00 Allocation of impairment loss: Cinema Carrying amount ($) Impairment loss allocated Max limit (individual impairment) Goodwill 45,000.00 5,301.98 Furniture and fittings 205,000.00 24,153.47 Electrical equipment 110,000.00 12,960.40 Land and buildings 625,000.00 73,638.61 75,000.00 Licence 25,000.00 2,945.54 1,000.00 1,010,000.00 119,000.00 Allocation of impairment loss: DVD Sales Carrying amount ($) Impairment loss allocated Max limit (individual impairment) Furniture and fittings 25,000.00 873.36 Electrical equipment 10,000.00 349.34 **Land and buildings 179,000.00 6,253.28 4,000.00 Goodwill 15,000.00 524.02 229,000.00 8,000.00 **Note: In case of land and building, the impairment loss considering land and building as single asset comes to $4,000, but the in CGU allocation it comes to $6,253.28. As per provisions of AASB 136, max amount that can be allocated would be $4000 only. Journal Entries Date Description Debit ($) Credit ($) 30-Jun-16 Profit and loss 127,000.00 Impairment loss-Cinema 119,000.00 Impairment loss-DVD Sales 8,000.00 30-Jun-16 Impairment loss-Cinema 119,000.00 Goodwill 5,301.98 Furniture and fittings 24,153.47 Electrical equipment 12,960.40 Land and buildings 73,638.61 Licence 2,945.54 30-Jun-16 Impairment loss-DVD Sales 5,746.72 Furniture and fittings 873.36 Electrical equipment 349.34 **Land and buildings 4,000.00 Goodwill 524.02 References AASB 110. (2011). Events after the Reporting Period. Retrieved September 13, 2016, from https://www.aasb.gov.au/admin/file/content105/c9/AASB110_07-04_COMPdec09_01-11.pdf AASB 136. (2010). Impairment of Assets. Retrieved September 13, 2016, from https://www.aasb.gov.au/admin/file/content105/c9/AASB136_07-04_COMPjun09_01-10.pdf AASB 1021. (1997). Deprecation. Retrieved September 13, 2016, from https://www.aasb.gov.au/admin/file/content102/c3/AASB1021_8-97.pdf AASB 108. (2013). Deprecation. Retrieved September 13, 2016, from https://www.aasb.gov.au/admin/file/content105/c9/AASB108_07-04_COMPdec09_01-11.pdf AASB 9. (2010). Financial Instruments. Retrieved September 13, 2016, from https://www.aasb.gov.au/admin/file/content105/c9/AASB9_12-10.pdf

The Impact of Marketing Innovation and Creativity on Service Firms

Abstract Marketing has experienced a dramatic shift from what it used to be in the past years when production was the center of concern to many firms. The service industry has experienced growth in the United Kingdom and currently there are several firms offering various services, from entertainment banking services, hospitality, transport, healthcare, to education, legal and communication services.Advertising We will write a custom proposal sample on The Impact of Marketing Innovation and Creativity on Service Firms specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There are a host of firms offering services in this country. Each line of service has numerous of players offering either the same product or very close substitute. This makes market competition very stiff. A firm that is not able to adapt to the market demands will find itself edged out of the market. This calls for the firms to develop marketing strategies that are responsive to mark et demands and which are able to withstand the pressures of the market. Innovation and creativity in marketing offers the best strategy for firms to get competitive advantage over the competitors. This paper focuses on creativity and innovation in the service firms, with a bias on banking and entertainment sectors. The researcher will apply the use of direct observation (i.e. by participating in some of the activities to get first hand information), interviews and questionnaires in the process of collecting data. From the literature review, it is evident that innovation is a tool that any serious firm cannot afford to assume if it is to succeed in the current competitive marketplace. Introduction Technology has completely changed the way business units approach the marketing issues. There has been an increasing concern of environment conservation that marketers have to observe when positioning their product in the market. The stakeholders’ demands that the firm must explain t he amount of carbon that is released into the environment before the product can be released into the market. The customers are also becoming more aware of their needs and alternative units where they can access the products.Advertising Looking for proposal on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The constantly fluctuating economy makes the market very unpredictable and the cost of production is always changing with sporadic oil prices. The marketer must go against all these odds, and deliver to the market, quality service that is affordable, and can comfortable produce profit to the business. This puts the marketing department at a very precarious position as it has to balance the profitability and the need to retain customers in the market through competitive market prices. Innovation and creativity offers the best way through which a firm can navigate the highly competitive market. Through creative marketing design that incorporates the market demands, a firm is able to attract a good number of customers in the market, hence increase its market share. Marketing innovation and creativity in the service firm is very important because unlike goods, a service may not be tested through seeing or touching. The marketer must therefore be in a position to make the customer appreciate the value that the service offers without having to see it physically. Research Aims With unpredictable market, increasing number of firms offering products in the same line, increased cost of production and delivery of products to the market and increasing environmental concerns, a marketer finds himself at a very difficult situation. S/he must be in a position to respond to the market forces appropriately. As a student of marketing, the main aim of this research is to create an understanding of marketing innovation and creativity among the stakeholders in the service industry, especially the banking and entertai nment sectors. The researcher aims to create an awareness of creativity and how firms can apply it when conducting business in the current competitive market. The researcher also intends to develop an informative dissertation that will not only be important to practicing marketers but also to the students and other scholars who will be interested in conducting further research in the same field latter on. This should be a rich source of information that will help transform the way in which marketing firms conduct their business within the United Kingdom and other European nations. The researcher aims at equipping the stakeholders with information that will transform their marketing approach into that which is technology sensitive.Advertising We will write a custom proposal sample on The Impact of Marketing Innovation and Creativity on Service Firms specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Research Objectives The researcher was interested in achieving the following objectives: To ascertain the positive impact of creativity and innovation on service firms; with bias on the banking and entertainment sectors. To ascertain the cost implications that is associated with innovation and creativity in marketing operations. To ascertain other non cost constraints that a firm may be forced to withstand when employing innovations and creativity in marketing. To ascertain the level to which firms in the United Kingdom have embraced the use of innovative ideas in running their marketing operations. To bring to focus, direct and indirect benefits that service firms in other locations outside Europe, especially in the United States and China, have incurred by successfully embracing creativity and innovation in marketing. With this, the researcher hopes to inculcate the culture of creativity and innovativeness in the service firms operating in United Kingdom. Scope of the Study The scope of this study is limited to service firms w ithin the United Kingdom, with limited reference to firms in the United States. The researcher limits the research to service firms, especially the Banking and Entertainment sectors. The study will ascertain the implications of innovation and creativity on these firms. The timeline for the study runs for three months, between the months of September and December. Justification of the Study The world has been turned into a global village by technology. A firm in the United States can easily finds its market in the United Kingdom. With a market that has no restriction as to the entry of firms, it remains open to competition from firms that operate in it. The biggest concern to these firms is not the current strong competitor, but the new ones whose marketing strategies are not yet known. The change in the market place has never been such unpredictable. It therefore calls for the service firms that operate in this market to know that it is not an island market that is closed to externa l competitors. They should appreciate that the market demands creativity and innovativeness from the players in order to stay afloat. This is what the research is based on. It fully crates an informative awareness among the players, in bid to making everyone appreciate the need for the same. Literature Review and Conceptual Framework Many scholars have done a lot of research about this topic and some of the works are published while others are yet to be published. The service industry has experienced a massive growth in the past one decade, with the English football rated as the most popular in the world.Advertising Looking for proposal on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More There has been an increasing need for more information in this field. The rise in fraudulent activities in the banks, the increasing need for entertainment in the country among other emerging trends have seen the need for innovation and creativity be on the rise. Definitions Kabana (2010, p.589) defines innovation as the inventions of new ideas in solving current problems in a better way. It is the use of technology to bring to life creative methods of approaching marketing in a way that will make the whole process much easier and more effective. Andrzej and Buchaman (2007, p.36) define creativity as the imaginative capability of an individual to come with new ideas and approaches every time he or she faces a similar problem or issue. Services are products that are satisfy the needs of an individual but they are intangible. Marketing creativity therefore refers to bringing in creative ideas in the process of marketing of services, with an aim of gaining competitive advantage over th e rival firms. The marketplace is very competitive and every business unit must make a concerted effort to understand the requirement of the demanding customers. This will enable them design their products to reflect these requirements. Need for innovation and Creativity by Service Firms The market currently is characterized by a customer who is very knowledgeable. Technology has made the world a global village where information flows freely. The social media, the mass media and other forms of communication has made the customer more knowledgeable about the market offerings. They know what they want and where to get them. The market is also flooded with many firms offering similar products. This makes the marketplace very competitive. As a marketer, there is need to not only understand the dynamic customers, but also the competitors in terms of their strengths and weaknesses. Charles Darwin once said that survival is always for the fittest, and that the moment one is not fit enough, then he/she will be eliminated from the existence (Garvin 1988, p.69). This is the principality that is there in the marketplace. Firms must be fit enough to face the daunting challenge that is in the market, failure of which, they will automatically be faced out of the market. Service Marketing in United Kingdom According to Harvard Business Review (2011, p. 13), United Kingdom is one the world’s developed nations with very strong economy. This nation is technologically advanced. This scholarly article asserts that the service sector in this country is well developed, with competitors that are technologically advanced. The service sector, particularly the entertainment sector requires the players to invent new ideas in order to be relevant. A customer who comes to watch a movie in London may not be amused if he comes to the Manchester city and is subjected to the same item without any modifications. It will be boring and at times the customer may be forced to look for other forms of entertainment other than movies. For this reason, this scholar observes that the movie makers must make an effort to create new scenes whenever they go to theatre. This calls for a high level of creativity on the side of the movie maker. S/he must be creative enough to come up with news ideas that have originality and ability to capture attention of those seeking entertainment. The banking sector is not safe from this demand for creativity either. Carson (2008, p.41) reports that Barclay Bank has continuously registered a massive loss from fraudsters who are able to manipulate the system and make away with the company finances. The bank must therefore develop its systems to be foolproof in order to be safe from the constant loss it has experienced from this group which has perfected the art of breaking into this system. It must be innovative enough to develop mechanisms of that are able to protect its data base from undesirable elements that may pose danger to the bank Imp act of Innovation and Creativity on Service Firms Del, Best and Coney (2005, p. 63) observes that there has been a massive growth of service firms in United Kingdom because of their ability to apply innovation and creativity in their marketing strategies. This has seen them grow in the market share to regions beyond Europe. Sports have also embraced creativity. English premier league is the most popular and widely watched football in the world. These scholars explain that football has embraced creativity in many aspects. Unlike before when the fields were maintained by watering them so that the natural grass could be kept at desirable heights to protect the players, currently all the fields in England are carpeted, eliminating the cumbersome practice of maintaining the grass. The carpet is much safe. The teams have also embraced creativity in their management. Football is completely commercialized in this country, unlike what it used to be in the recent past. With the invention of t he DSTV, the English matches are streamed in real time for the lovers of this game worldwide. Some of the popular teams in this country like Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Aston Villa among host of others have following beyond Europe. So successful are the teams that many of the fanatics have died supporting them in countries beyond. Through creativity it has emerged to be one of the most lucrative service industries in the country. Both the players and the team management must make a concerted effort to be more creative and innovative in order to maintain this following. They must ensure that they deliver to their customers, new products, even though this may appear rather absurd in a game like football where the style expected of players in the field has relatively remained the same. The banking sector has also embraced technological innovativeness. They have currently gotten into cheque truncating system that provides both the customers with security from t he fraudsters who have been a major threat to them. Their system has also been changed to flex in order to increase efficiency in operations. Research Design and Methodology Approach of the Research This research plans to incorporate all the stakeholders in the service industry irrespective of their position in the various firms. This population will then be sampled to have a manageable number that is within the scope of time and finance available for the researcher. Population The researcher intends to sample a population of about126 individuals from various service firms within four cities in the United Kingdom: London, Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham. The four cities will be our sample population which will be a representative of the entire nation. The sample will be drawn from professionals in various service firms, especially the banking and entertainment sectors. The sample population will be strictly limited to the locations named above because of the limited time availa ble for the research. Sampling Method The researcher intends to use stratified sampling method in a bid to counter bias that may come from one quarter of the service sector. Even though snowball sampling may work in this case as the aim of the research is to come up with a generalized idea that may be applicable to all the firms in the service sector, it is advisable to use stratified sampling. Other sampling methods may also be applicable in this research, and future researchers may be advised to try them, but the researcher prefers stratified sampling method for this research. Sources of Data Although there are several researchers who have done a lot of work in this field and published a lot of very resourceful, the researcher intends to use primary data as much as possible. The researcher intends to go to the fields and collect raw information from the respondents. This is specifically so because this sector is in a continuous change. This therefore means that information that wa s gathered one year earlier may not be the same information that will be available today. These changes are very important to take note of as it will help the researcher determine the rate at which this industry experiences changes. Secondary sources of information may only be used in case there is need to compare what the condition was in some past days in comparison to what it is today; to predict what it will be tomorrow. The secondary data will be from books, journals, newspapers and other online libraries rich in the information about this field. Data Collection Instruments The researcher intends to use three methods in the collection of the primary data. Although there are other methods of data collection (like electronic methods) that may be used to collect data, the financial scope and time available restricts the researcher to the three methods of data collection instruments. Direct Observation (Participation) The researcher will use survey as the first method of collecting data. In this regard, the researcher intends to participate in the activities of the service sector as a customer (especially in the banking and entertainment sector) to get a fast hand experience of how innovation and creativity is impacting the service sector. This is important because it will be useful when determining bias or falsified information from respondents when other methods of collecting data are employed. The information collected using this method will act as the hypothetical result and we would only be verifying it by the use of other methods. This method may be time consuming and very demanding on the side of the researcher as it requires a lot of keenness. However, it is one of the most reliable sources as it enables the researcher experience the actual impact of innovation and creativity in this industry. Questionnaires The researcher also intends to use questionnaires to gather information from some firms. This is so because; there is information that cannot be gathered by the researcher through observation. The researcher will therefore have to request the executives and individuals working within the service firms to volunteer such information be responding to the questionnaires that will be distributed to them. The questionnaires will be structured in a manner that will allow the respondents give more details in their work, other than just having a fixed Yes and No structured format. They will be mailed to the respondents and be collected after one month. Accompanying the questionnaire will be a cover latter that will be introducing the researcher to the respondent, and explaining the importance of the research to the researcher and to the industry as a whole. The questionnaires are appropriate where there is need to gather information from a wider geographical area, which is the case in this research. Interviews The last method will be face to face interviews that will be conducted by the researcher from among the selected respondents. This will help the researcher gather information that may otherwise be difficult to get through the other two methods. Information that may be sensitive may be collected through this method as the researcher will be available to convince the respondent that the information provided will be handled with care and that researcher will not reveal the identity of the respondent as is demanded by the research ethics. The interviews are also important because the researcher will be able to determine instances where the respondent is providing biased information just by reading the facial expressions. It is also easier to identify falsified information through this method. This method will only cover a smaller population because of financial and time constraints that are involved, especially if the respondents are located in various regions that are widely spread. Data Analysis There will be two sources of data available for analysis: the primary source, and the secondary source that will basically be employed when there is need for comparison of what the situation had been in the past in relation to what it is in the present. The researcher will employ both qualitative and quantitative analysis of the data. With the primary source of data as our main focus, the researcher intends to group the data into three groups depending on their method of collection. Data collected through questionnaires will be approached through quantitative means as they will be received in mass. This information will be very vital in testing our pre-determined hypothesis as we are able to determine the number of respondents whose response are supporting or disputing the hypothesis. Because of the large number of data from this method, we will need to determine how the information varies, what the middle ground is and how far the extreme ends are. This calls for Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) method of data analysis. This will ensure that the result is as near the true face of the market as is possible. Data gathered from direct observations will be given qualitative analysis. This is because the researcher directly participated in it and got a first hand experience on it. It is not subject to any form of bias; save from that which may come from the researcher himself (in which case the ethics restricts the researcher from such), and misinformation that comes from individuals who may be relied on to provide the information. This data will be analyzed to bring to focus how specific service firms have either benefitted or suffered due to innovations and creativity in this field. The researcher intends to apply the use of statistical tools in coming up with values that reflects on the market variability and the statistical units of the firms that have had both positive and negative impacts of marketing innovation and creativity Limitations and Delimitations There are some limitations that are expected during the process of gathering data, data analysis and data presentation s. The research touches on the service industry, an industry where some professions are considered unethical and immoral. When there be a need to gather information from individuals in this field on a face to face basis, chances are high that they may refuse to be responds for fear of intimidations or such related concerns. Some of the executives holding viable information are known to have undue procedural processes when one needs to have interview with them. This may be prohibitive in terms of time. Some respondents may provide information that does not reflect his/her actual feelings, or the facts on the ground. This may result in untrue data that is not reflective of the factual information on the ground. To counter some of these challenges, the researcher plans to conduct an interview that covers a larger sample populations in areas suspected to be in a position to provide unreliable information. This is done so in an attempt to neutralize the possible element of misinformation . The researcher will also explain to the respondent the importance of the study, and the need to provide information that reflects the truth. The researcher also intends to make prior appointment with executives with limited time available for such interviews. Ethical Concerns The researcher understands and appreciates the ethical concerns that a research requires, and wishes to positively apply them in this research. The researcher appreciates that it is not only illegal to reproduce other scholar’s work, but also immoral act that shows cowardice, lack of creativity and high standard of laziness. The researcher appreciates that such actions do not add any value to the field of study as the result of the study will not bring in anything new. For this reason, the researcher will refrain from any acts of plagiarism, and if there is need to refer to what other scholars have done, and then their work will appropriately be referred to according to the demands of the copywriter. T he researcher also intends to maintain a high sense of professionalism in their activities. It is not lost to the researcher that there are some issues that are very sensitive to the society and may raise emotions when referred to. The researcher will avoid subjects that may affect the respondents negatively, or issues that they may not want to talk about due to security reasons or other factors. If this can not be avoided, then the researcher intends to cloth the message in a manner that will not negatively impact on the respondent. Any communication received from the respondents in whatsoever form, will be treated with privacy it deserves, without revealing the identity of the respondents. All the respondents will be briefed on the importance of the research, and the implications that the research will have on them. They will be given a chance to ask questions that relate to this topic or any other question that relates to the research. The respondents will be allowed enough time to complete the questionnaires so tat they may not feel pressured when answering the questions raised in the questionnaires. Any information that may result in negative publicity will be avoided a much as possible. Timetable The research is expected to run for the period between the months of September to December 2011. The following is a time table scheduling the activities that will be done on various days within the stipulated time frame. Time Activity 16thto 30thSeptember Identification of the sample locations, identifying specific firms that will be visited, allocating the necessary time for each. 1stto 15thOctober Structuring the questionnaires that will be distributed in the sample locations indentified. The questionnaires will also aid the process of direct interviewing. 16thto 30 October Distribution of the questionnaires in the locations pre-determined. Conducting interviews from among the sample population 1stto 15thNovember Direct participation of the research er in the field, gathering directly, the data which is relevant to the research. 16thto 30thNovember Gathering the questionnaires from the locations that they were distributed. Arranging them in readiness for analysis. 1stto 15thDecember Analyzing the data using the tools described above. Presenting the analyzed data in tabular and pictorial forms. Format and Presentation After data analysis, the researcher intends to present the findings in tables, graphs, and other pictorial formats that will make the information easy to consume by those who will need it. The graphs will provide a presentable way of summarizing a large piece of information on just one page. The pictorials will help in visualizing the report in order to facilitate clarity in the data presented. The tables will be useful in giving comparison of the cities and how they are affected by the marketing innovations. Conclusion The business environment has become challenging and dynamic following many uncertainties in the environment. Many organizations operating in different environments are forced to use different strategies to maintain their competitiveness. However, marketing remains a vital option since it creates value for the firm. Marketing creativity could be attained through various strategies especially with the use of information technology. Creativity in marketing communication and distribution strategies could help an organization gain competitive advantage in low cost and high revenue performance. Due to this, creativity and innovation in marketing is a must for organizations seeking to dominate the market. Marketers must embrace technology in an effort to coming up with innovative ideas that will be thrilling to the customers. It is through this that the marketers will form attachment between them and the customers, ensuring that their respective firms stay afloat the competition. This paper focuses on creativity and innovation in the service firms, with a bias on banking and e ntertainment sectors. The researcher will apply the use of direct observation (i.e. by participating in some of the activities to get first hand information), interviews and questionnaires in the process of collecting data. From the literature review, it is evident that innovation is a tool that any serious firm cannot afford to assume if it is to succeed in the current competitive marketplace. List of References Andrzej, A Buchaman, A 2007, Organizational behavior, Prentice Hall international, London. Carson, A 2008, Organizational theory: A libertarian perspective, BookSurge, Washington. Del, I, Best, J Coney, K 2005, Consumer behavior, Tata McGraw Hill, New York. Garvin, D 1988, Managing quality, Free Press, New York. Harvad Business Review, 2011, Smart rules: Six ways to get people to solve problems without you, Harvard Business School. Web. Kabani, S 2009, The Zen of social media, an easier way to build credibility, generate buzz, and increase revenue, Benbella Books Inc., Da llas. This proposal on The Impact of Marketing Innovation and Creativity on Service Firms was written and submitted by user Uriah R. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Extremophiles essays

Extremophiles essays The term extremophiles is applied to groups of microorganisms that live and thrive in places where most living creatures could not survive. Extremophiles can be grouped into two categories; Bacteria, simple celled creatures whose cells lack a nucleus, and eukarya, whose cells are more complex. The habitats of extremophiles include a wide range of environments each containing its own unique creature specially adapted to that particular place. Each of those groups has a lot of commercial and scientific value that scientists are exploring eagerly. The first group of extremophiles is the Thermophiles. By definition these are microbes that thrive in very hot environments. To be considered an extremophile in this type environment, the microbe needs to be able to thrive and reproduce in temperatures in excesses of 45 degrees Celsius. There is a second class of thermophiles called hyperthermophiles, which enjoy temperatures above 80 degrees Celsius. There are a select few that can actually survive at temperatures above 100 degrees Celsius, the boiling point of water. As a comparison, no multicellular animals or plants have been found that can tolerate an environment above 50 degrees Celsius. The discovery of these interesting creatures is very recent, with the first discoveries dating back about thirty years ago and recent discoveries being more and more common with commercial potential driving the research. One of the main uses of these types of microbes is in the revolutionary PCR technology. PCR stands for polymerase chain reaction. This technology is the basis for forensic science, biological research, medical diagnosis and screening for genetic susceptibility for diseases like cancer, etc. In PCR, an enzyme called DNA polymerase copies repeatedly a snippet of DNA producing an enormous supply. The process requires both a hot and cold temperature at different points in the process. By using ...

SLP 3 - Time Warp Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

SLP 3 - Time Warp - Essay Example The pricing allocation thus tabulated as follows. The table above is a clear indication of Sally’s pricing and R&D product growth decision for the years 2012 to 2015; it shows the progress in its products X5, X6 and X7. Starting with product X5: setting the product price at $272, R&D total budget will be $22, 000,000, we can thus allocate 30% to the R&D, set the fixed cost at $4,400,000, target profit at $5,000,000, and variable cost per unit at $134. This will give a R&D costs at $6,600,000. From our profit expectation of $5,000,000 with the indicated price, we need to sell 115,942 units, which will give us sales revenue of $31,536,231.88, and ROS stands at 15.85%. Profit allocation $1,000,000 For the second year, which is 2013, our target profit will be $7,000,000. The fixed costs will be $5,000,000, while the variable cost per unit stands at $140. If prices are maintained at $272, then we have to sell 140,909 units to achieve that profit. For this year, the sales revenue wi ll be $38,327,327.73. While the ROS will stand at 18.26%, which is an indication of a positive change and growth from the first year by growth rate of 2.41 %, this shows a progress in the company’s development. ... This implies that the sales team needs to triple their efforts because this will mean an increase of almost 150% in sales: a rise from 140,909 units to 542,902 units. However, this is because the plans are combined for the two final years as the economy is expected to be stable during this period thus the need to stabilize the sales (Duffie & Singleton, 2003). An analysis of the second product that is X6 indicates that, plans are expected to be carried out in the same way as X5 because all these products are the one driving the growth of the company. However, Product X6 is of higher demand, and it is scarce in production. Therefore, its price will be more than the one of product X5. For this case, year one (2012), the selling price is set to be $410. Since the expected profit for this year was $5,000,000, the fixed cost was $4,400,000, and the cost unit/price will be $160. Using this information, from the CVP calculator, it implies that we need to sale 64,000 units of this product to achieve that expected profit. The sales revenue from this will stand at $26,240,000.00, while the ROS is 19.05%. With these results, the company does not need to discontinue any product because there are positive returns up to this point. For the year 2013, the firm expects a profit from this product to be $12,000,000, and its fixed cost stands at $35,000,000. Calculations from the CVP calculator indicate that the firm has to sell about 224,960 units of the product, and the sales revenue will be $92,233,600.00. While ROS for this year amounts to 13.01%, this shows a decline on the ROS from the previous 19.05% to 13.01%. Profits expectations for each product through the four years 2012 2013 2014 2015 X5 $5,000,000 $7,000,000 $10,000,000 $12,000,000 X6 $5,000,000 $10,000,000

An Analysis of the Current Developments in International Advertising Coursework

An Analysis of the Current Developments in International Advertising Regulation and its Impact on International Marketing Strategies and Consumers across International Markets - Coursework Example oned in this regard, international marketing concepts have gained much appraisal in the current decade owing to its wealth creation abilities, reducing barriers of resource management. Nevertheless, it is a complex network and frames a multidimensional framework that needs continuous assessment and change management. The international marketing strategies are important in terms of attaining the goals of the organisation by increasing turnover. The current developments within the international advertising regulations have been creating a prominent effect on the operations of the international marketing. With the development of new strategies there are high chances of having an impact on the customer across international markets. In international marketing operations are involved with different strategies such as movement of variety of products from one country to another country for attracting more customers and expand the business internationally. Therefore, through international marketing organisation can increase the profit as well as enhance the brand name of the organisation (Yucel & Dagdelen, n.d.). The development of strategies has incorporated different challenges that are involved with the different challenges imposed by the global world. Due to the globalisation the competition in the i nternational market has been increasing, which can be a major flaw for developing international business. International marketing incorporates diversity in products for the customers as well as enhances consumer specifications towards consumptions of the goods. To meet the recent development incorporated within the field of international advertising regulation, the international marketing manager should posse’s knowledge about the concepts of conducting the same in an efficient manner. The managers of the organisation should have the knowledge of the process to meet with the needs of international marketing and focuses on the advertising method for promoting products

Mao Zedong Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Mao Zedong - Essay Example Mao Zedong was one of several children growing up in a rural part of China. His father was a peasant farmer. As far as one can be successful as a peasant farmer, Mao’s father was a success. He consolidated parcels of land, building them up slowly until he owned twenty acres of ground, the largest land holding in the village. Farming in China was backbreaking work. There were no machines to help in the filed labor, so crops were cultivated by hand using rudimentary tools. Mao Zedong was sent to school by his father because he wanted his sons to be prominent among the village boys. After five years of education, Mao’s father wanted him to return to the farm. Mao obeyed, but he was restless. He became a voracious reader and a substandard peasant farmer. During this period of his life, Mao’s glorification of strong political leaders such as George Washington and Napoleon Bonaparte began to develop (Chang & Halliday, 1980). Mao Zedong eventually left his fatherâ€℠¢s farm and moved to the provincial capital of Changsha. He completed his education and eventually landed a position in Beijing. This is where Mao met the individuals that would introduce him to the teaching and philosophy of Karl Marx. Mao was above all else a Marxist. He believed strongly in the idea that eliminating the differences between classes in a society would lead to the best form of government. He strongly believed that the only way this could occur in China was to organize the masses of peasants that held little or no political power under the rule of the emperor. The exciting thing about Mao’s life was the last emperor of China was dying before his eyes. He could feel that it was time for something new for China, and Mao believed that the best development would be a broad-based peasant revolt that would usher in a Marxist state. He was determined to be the leader of that state. Mao was a forceful personality and he did not shy away from doing brave and audacious things. One of his early rivals in China for power was the leader of the nationalist Chinese, Chang Kai-shek. A civil war broke out between these two groups but was interrupted by the Japanese invasion of Manchuria, a part of northeastern China. This was a difficult time for China because there was no central government to stand up to the Japanese. Mao and Chang Kai-shek decided to join forces to withstand the Japanese. For a while, there was cooperation, but soon it was clear that the truce would not hold. Mao took his army and followers far into the north of china to escape the Nationalists. This was known as the Long March. Most of the army died, but Mao lived to lead the Communists over the nationalists, who fled to Taiwan when they were defeated on mainland China. Once Mao established himself ruler of China through his authority as President of the Chinese Communist Party, his penchant for strong leaders started to show. He conducted a series of political purges that eliminated his political rivals through mass executions and starvation. Mao undertook a program of transforming China in every way, not just through politics. He wanted to change the very nature of China. He outlawed traditional arts and crafts, discouraged Buddhist and Confucian teachings and branded anyone that got in his way as â€Å"counter-revolutionary.†

Examining the Market and Operations Strategy of Tesco

Examining the Market and Operations Strategy of Tesco Introduction Human resource management  or shortly said H.R.M. is a designed  and  articulate  way to  management  of people working in the company or organization. The other term used for this is personnel management which is used instead of human resource management. It cn be defines as:- A continues processes managing people in any organizations in a way to achieve its objectives and goals. Human Resource Management is basically a study as well as a department in any organization that stands on ideas and techniques set to improve employee motivation, efficiency and performance. The HRM models makes necessary emphasizes: search for new ways and methods of working key role of managers in making progressive change treating all the workers as individuals encouragement of staff to think management as their partners instead of bosses Human capital is the important quality and capability of businesses especially in service based business. Human resources are some time major proportion of costs for many businesses. Management of such important and valuable resources is necessary for the success of business. Human resource management  means recruiting employees, arranging their training to improve their skills, utilizing these skills, maintaining their performances and paying off their services as required. Employees are a value asset for an organization. The purpose of all this arrangement is to contribute in achievement of company or organization targets. Human Resource Management practitioners have modern view about workplace management comparing to the traditional thinking. As such, HRM techniques, when properly practiced, are expressive of the goals and operating practices of the enterprise overall. HRM is also seen by many to have a key role in risk reduction within organizations. HRM and Employees Performance HRM and organisational performance, evident in improved employee commitment, lower levels of absenteeism and turnover, higher levels of skills and therefore higher productivity, enhanced quality and efficiency  . This area of work is sometimes referred to as Strategic HRM or SHRM (. Within SHRM three strands of work can be observed: Best practice, Best Fit and the Resource Based View (RBV). The notion of best practice sometimes called high commitment HRM proposes that the adoption of certain best practices in HRM will result in better organisational performance. Perhaps the most popular work in this area is that of Pfeffer  Ã‚  who argued that there were seven best practices for achieving competitive advantage through people and building profits by putting people first. These practices included: providing employment security, selective hiring, extensive training, sharing information, self-managed teams, high pay based on company performance and the reduction of status differentials. However, there is a huge number of studies which provide evidence of best practices, usually implemented in coherent bundles, and therefore it is difficult to draw generalised conclusions about which is the best way (For a comparison of different sets of best practices see Becker and Gerhart, 1996   Best fit, or the contingency approach to HRM, argues that HRM improves performance where there is a close vertical fit between the HRM practices and the companys strategy. This link ensures close coherence between the HR people processes and policies and the external market or business strategy. There are a range of theories about the nature of this vertical integration. For example, a set of lifecycle models argue that HR policies and practices can be mapped onto the stage of an organisations development or lifecycle. Competitive advantage models take Porters (1985) ideas about strategic choice and map a range of HR practices onto the organisations choice of competitive strategy. Finally configurational modelsprovide a more sophisticated approach which advocates a close examination of the organisations strategy in order to determine the appropriate HR policies and practices. However, this approach assumes that the strategy of the organisation can be identified many organisations ex ist in a state of flux and development. The Resource Based View (RBV), argued by some to be at the foundation of modern HRM, focusses on the internal resources of the organisation and how they contribute to competitive advantage. The uniqueness of these resources is preferred to homogeneity and HRM has a central role in developing human resources that are valuable, rare, difficult to copy or substitute and that are effectively organised. Overall, the theory of HRM argues that the goal of human resource management is to help an organization to meet strategic goals by attracting, and maintaining employees and also to manage them effectively. The key word here perhaps is fit, i.e. a HRM approach seeks to ensure a fit between the management of an organisations employees, and the overall strategic direction of the company (Miller, 1989). The basic premise of the academic theory of HRM is that humans are not machines, therefore we need to have an interdisciplinary examination of people in the workplace. Fields such as  psychology,  industrial relations, industrial engineering,  sociology,  economics, and critical theories:  postmodernism,  post-structuralism  play a major role. Many colleges and universities offer bachelor and master degrees in Human Resources Management or in Human Resources and Industrial Relations. One widely used scheme to describe the role of HRM, developed by  Dave Ulrich, defines 4 fields for the HRM function: Strategic business partner Change Agent Employee champion Administration Expert Human Resource Department Responsibilities Companies can have different departments, ranging from sales to human resources.   Depending on the size of a company, the human resource department may have an entire staff. Employment opportunities found in the department include human resource coordinator, assistant and director. Human resource department responsibilities can involve understanding federal, state and local  laws. Training and Development The human resources department assists companies with training and development. Companies train employees for different reasons, ranging from employee motivation to new technology. The length of training can differ from hours to weeks. Types of training can range from workshops to classroom participation. Some topics discussed in training sessions include employee safety and customer service. Benefits Companies must use different incentives to attract and maintain employees. After compensation, benefits are a common incentive to keep employees. The  Society  for Human Resource Management states benefits can involve federal and state requirements, such as unemployment insurance. Some companies offer a range of benefits. Types of benefits include dental insurance, vision insurance and paid days off. Compensation The Human Resources Department verifies that employees receive proper compensation. One form of compensation involves the amount of pay an employee receives in exchange for work performed, known as base pay. Commissions offer another form of compensation. Some companies offer only a combination of base pay and commissions, such as for a sales  job. Staffing A company requires staff to provide products and services to its customers. One human resources staffing-related activity involves advertising. Advertising allows companies to match applicants with potential jobs. Forms of advertising can take place on employment boards, specialty newspapers or business websites. Other human resource activities involve contacting applicants for interviews and confirming each applicants background. Employee Exit Interview HR Tools indicates employee exit interviews can help organizations maintain retention rates. Another benefit from exit interviews is a company can obtain  positive  feedback about its compensation, benefits or training programs. The human resources department has the responsibility of scheduling and conducting exit interviews. The employee should feel comfortable discussing employment issues, so a private office is advisable for the interviews. Business Practice Human resources management involves several processes. Together they are supposed to achieve the above mentioned goal. These processes can be performed in an HR department, but some tasks can also be outsourced or performed by line-managers or other departments. When effectively integrated they provide significant economic benefit to the company. Workforce planning Recruitment  (sometimes separated into attraction and selection) Induction,  Orientation  and  Onboarding Skills management Training and development Personnel administration Compensation in  wage  or  salary Time management Travel management (sometimes assigned to accounting rather than HRM) Payroll  (sometimes assigned to accounting rather than HRM) Employee benefits  administration Personnel cost planning Performance appraisal Labor relations HRM strategy An HRM strategy pertains to the means as to how to implement the specific functions of HRM. An organizations HR function may possess recruitment and selection policies, disciplinary procedures, reward/recognition policies, an HR plan, or learning and development policies, however all of these functional areas of HRM need to be aligned and correlated, in order to correspond with the overall business strategy. An HRM strategy thus is an overall plan, concerning the implementation of specific HRM functional areas. An HRM strategy typically consists of the following factors:- Best fit and best practice meaning that there is correlation between the HRM strategy and the overall corporate strategy. As HRM as a field seeks to manage  human resources  in order to achieve properly organizational goals, an organizations HRM strategy seeks to accomplish such management by applying a firms personnel needs with the goals/objectives of the organisation. As an example, a firm selling cars could have a corporate strategy of increasing car sales by 10% over a five year period. Accordingly, the HRM strategy would seek to facilitate how exactly to manage personnel in order to achieve the 10% figure. Specific HRM functions, such as recruitment and selection, reward/recognition, an HR plan, or learning and development policies, would be tailored to achieve the corporate objectives. Close co-operation (at least in theory) between HR and the top/senior management, in the development of the corporate strategy. Theoretically, a senior HR representative should be present when an organizations corporate objectives are devised. This is so, since it is a firms personnel who actually construct a good, or provide a service. The personnels proper management is vital in the firm being successful, or even existing as a going concern. Thus, HR can be seen as one of the critical departments within the functional area of an organization. Continual monitoring of the strategy, via employee feedback, surveys, etc. The implementation of an HR strategy is not always required, and may depend on a number of factors, namely the size of the firm, the organizational culture within the firm or the industry that the firm operates in and also the people in the firm. An HRM strategy can be divided, in general, into two facets the people strategy and the HR functional strategy. The people strategy pertains to the point listed in the first paragraph, namely the careful correlation of HRM policies/actions to attain the goals laid down in the corporate strategy. The HR functional strategy relates to the policies employed within the HR functional area itself, regarding the management of persons internal to it, to ensure its own departmental goals are met. Career and Education Several universities offer programs of study pertaining to HRM and broader fields.  Cornell University  created the worlds first school for college-level study in HRM (ILR School).  University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign  also now has a school dedicated to the study of HRM, while several  business schools  also house a center or department dedicated. There are both generalist and specialist HRM jobs. There are careers involved with employment, recruitment and placement and these are usually conducted by interviewers, EEO (Equal Employment Opportunity) specialists or college recruiters. Training and development specialism is often conducted by trainers and orientation specialists. Compensation and benefits tasks are handled by compensation analysts, salary administrators, and benefits administrators. Professional organizations Professional organizations in HRM include the  Society for Human Resource Management, the Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI), the  Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), the International Public Management Association for HR (IPMA-HR), Management Association of Nepal (MAN) and the International Personnel Management Association of Canada (IPMA-Canada), Human Capital Institute. National Human Resource Development Network in India. Functions The Human Resources Management (HRM) function includes a variety of activities, and key among them is deciding what staffing needs to have and whether to use independent contractors or hire employees to fill these needs, recruiting and training the best employees, ensuring they are high performers, dealing with performance issues, and ensuring your personnel and management practices conform to various regulations. Activities also include managing your approach to employee benefits and compensation, employee records and personnel policies. Usually small businesses (for-profit or nonprofit) have to carry out these activities themselves because they cant yet afford part- or full-time help. However, they should always ensure that employees have-and are aware of-personnel policies which conform to current regulations. These policies are often in the form of employee manuals, which all employees have. Note that some people distinguish a difference between HRM (a major management activity) and HRD (Human Resource Development, a profession). Those people might include HRM in HRD, explaining that HRD includes the broader range of activities to develop personnel inside of organizations, including, e.g., career development, training, organization development, etc. There is a long-standing argument about where HR-related functions should be organized into large organizations, e.g., should HR be in the Organization Development department or the other way around? The HRM function and HRD profession have undergone major changes over the past 20-30 years. Many years ago, large organizations looked to the Personnel Department, mostly to manage the paperwork around hiring and paying people. More recently, organizations consider the HR Department as playing an important role in staffing, training and helping to manage people so that people and the organization are performing at maximum capability in a highly fulfilling manner. The Responsibilities of a Manager in Human Resources Planning The human resources department has many roles and functions. Historically, the department was responsible for recruitment and training within an organization. Human resources has evolved to include a wide variety of competencies that are necessary for an organizations growth and success. Managers are in constant communication with the human resources department. Effective human resources planning requires managers and company executives to identify the needs of the company and develop a strategic plan to meet those needs. Recruitment The acquisition of experienced and qualified employees is vital to the success of an organization. Managers are responsible for interviewing potential candidates and making recommendations to hire a particular individual. Managers also attend recruiting events and evaluate applicants to determine whether the candidates personality will fit within the corporate environment. Retention Employee retention is an integral part of a managers responsibilities. Managers are obligated to ensure that employee work environments are conducive to individual success. Managers are responsible for motivating employees and developing programs that encourage good employees to remain with the company. Managers communicate the feedback they receive from employees to human resources so they may expand retention initiatives. These initiatives are designed to keep existing employees happy and satisfied with their  jobs. Training Training within an organization is a work in progress. As new products are introduced or industry trends shift in a new direction, additional training and employee development will be necessary. Human resources departments watch markets closely to ensure their organizations remain up to speed on changes within their enterprise. Managers also must supervise employees to ensure that a lack of understanding of company products and services does not interfere with  job  duties. Further, managers are responsible for making recommendations that additional training be conducted if several employees fall behind on a particular objective. Employee Relations Employee relations involve many different aspects of human resources planning. Employee relations are events or situations that affect an employees well-being, such as managerial disputes or employee discrimination. Employee relations also involve employee salaries, benefits,  health  care and retirement. If an employee has a work-related issue, it is usually brought to the attention of his manager first. Managers are responsible for keeping employee relations matters confidential and referring complex issues to the appropriate department to remedy the situation. Job Duties for a Human Resource Specialist Human resource specialists provide a specific type of work in the human resources department of a  business. Even though a person may specialize in any of several areas, the responsibilities of different specialists may overlap. Employee Recruitment and Placement Specialists in employee recruitment and placement manage the applicant screening process and hiring activities for open positions. They may seek out promising applicants through  job boards or  career  fairs and help match them to appropriate jobs. Compensation and Benefits Specialists in this area design and administer employee benefit programs such as health insurance, retirement plans and flexible spending accounts. They must be knowledgeable about the various benefit programs offered by their company as well as laws that may affect these benefits. Job Analysis Job analysts determine job titles, develop job descriptions and designate position classifications. In some companies, job analysis is done by compensation and benefit specialists. Training and Professional Development These specialists provide employee training such as new employee orientation and continuing education. They often develop and present materials for professional development workshops. Labor Relations Labor relations specialists assist with the resolution of employee disputes and grievances, as well as contract negotiation and workplace safety. They negotiate with labor unions and act as liaisons between employees and management. Effective Interviewing Giving an interview is as nerve racking as having one! As an interviewer you want to get as much information from the interviewee as possible, so to do this youre going to have to be nice to them! By making the environment calm and relaxing, both you and the interviewee will get the best from the interview. Before the interview, decide what information you require. It may help you to write yourself a list of questions or keywords, which will help the interview go smoothly. It is important that you listen to the candidate carefully, as well as getting all of the information you want, it will also help you to expand on the interviewees answers. Try to avoid asking questions together as this may confuse the candidate, as well as giving them the option to avoid certain questions. Glossary Of Terms Added Value  often refers to the analysis undertaken by management of the cost and contribution made by employees involved at each stage in the process of producing a product or providing a service. Appraisal Schemes   an individuals performance is reviewed by their manager. Their past performance is examined and future goals are set. Benchmarking  measures standards of performance against others doing similar work. Business Process Re-engineering (BPR)  refers to the methods by which a company or service undertakes a thorough review of all its operations. Business Units  often have their own Trading Accounts and operate with relative autonomy from the rest of the company or service. Continuous Improvement (Kaizen)  requires employees to constantly seek ways of improving the quality of the product or service. Delayering  is the removal of middle layers of management resulting in a flatter management organisation. Dismissal  is when you are removed from employment Empowerment/Enablement  are strategies aimed to give people more control and responsibility for their work Flexibility  describes changes in the size of the workforce, depending on short-term changes in market conditions Management-by-Objectivesmeans each management team identifying its key tasks and goals and using these as a yardstick against which performance is measured. Multi-Skilling  is the increase of the skills base of the workforce, usually bringing in new technology Multi-tasking  requires for staff to take on a wider range of tasks, usually involving on-the-job training Outsourcing  occurs when management invites external contractors to undertake work that was previously done by in-house staff. Performance Indicators  measure the improvements in throughputs, outputs and outcomes. Performance Related Pay (PRP)links an individuals performance with their pay. Different schemes have been set up to measure Team Building  brings together employers and employees, with the goal of increasing performance by strengthening relationships within the workplace Total Quality Management (TQM)usually involves the introduction of continuous monitoring. It refers to initiatives designed to improve the quality of products and services to meet customers requirements. http://www.bized.co.uk/educators/16-19/business/hrm/lesson/hrm1map.gif Title Human resource management: a problem-solving approach linked to ISLLC standards G Reference, Information and Interdisciplinary Subjects Series Authors Jerry R. Baker,  Madeleine S. Doran Edition 2, revised, illustrated Publisher RL Education, 2007 Length 217 pages Title HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Authors ROBERT L. MATHIS,  JOHN H. JACKSON Publisher Cengage Learning, 2007 Subjects Business Economics / Human Resources Personnel Management Title Human resource management: a strategic approach to employment B H contemporary business series Author Chris Hendry Edition illustrated, reprint Publisher Butterworth-Heinemann, 1995 ISBN 075060994X, 9780750609944 Length 485 pages Title A handbook of human resource management practice Author Michael Armstrong Edition 9, illustrated Publisher Kogan Page Publishers, 2003 ISBN 0749441054, 9780749441050 Length 979 pages Title Human Resource Management Authors Derek Torrington,  Stephen Taylor,  Laura Hall,  Carol Atkinson Edition 8 Publisher Pearson Education, Limited, 2010 ISBN 0273732323, 9780273732327 Length 848 pages Subjects Business Economics / Commerce Title Human Resource Management: Theory and Practice Authors John Bratton,  Jeffrey Gold Edition 2, illustrated Publisher Routledge, 2001 ISBN 0805838627, 9780805838626 Length 432 pages

Analysis of Chapters 1 through 8 of Great Expectations Essay -- Great

Analysis of Chapters 1 through 8 of Great Expectations Plot and Setting- The plot starts out with a little boy name Phillip Pirrip. It is a first person narrative about a boy back in the nineteenth century. The first eight chapters deal mostly with Pip’s childhood years. It also deals with who Pip is, and his family. In the beginning of the story Pip introduces himself, and introduces his dead parents. He is in the graveyard, and then a scary looking man comes up. The man threatens him. The plot of the story I think is good because it deals a lot with the struggles in a child. He has no one to turn to. The author really helped us relate to the story. Pip gets in trouble at Christmas time. He gets hit with â€Å"The Tickler† which was a sarcastic name for a paddle. In the middle of the story two officers with Muskets come to the house. They need a blacksmith. Outside they capture two convicts. One of those convicts is Pip’s convict. The other one is the one that Pip’s convict tried to kill. They are both caught. Later on in the story, and later in his life, Pip meets a young girl named Estella. He secretly has a crush on her. Estella does not care much for Pip. She thinks he is not very gentlemen like. She also thinks that he is coarse and common. Estella and Pip do talk though. She is like a mother to Pip, she kind of disciplines him. Pip is in love with her, but she would have nothing to do with him. She thinks that his is nothing spectacular. Characters- The first character introduced in the story is a boy name Pip, he is the boy I talked about above. The next two introduced, are his mother and father. They are both dead, and Pip is all alone in life accept for his sister. That is who is introduced next. His sister is married to a man named Joe. Pip lives with these people. The scary convict described above was the next character introduced into the story. Mr. Wopsle is the next character introduced into the story. He was the clerk at the church, and he also goes to the Three Jolly Bargemen with Joe. The whell-wright was Mr. Hubble, and his wife. Joe’s uncle’s name is Mr. Pumblechook, he and Pip are pretty good friends in the beginning sections. They share many experiences together. Miss Havisham and Estella are the next to be introduced. Estella is Miss Havisham’s supposable daughter. Miss Havisham find... ...t around it, and he had a drawbridge. He loved his house. Wemmick ended up being a very good guide for Pip, because he helped him make some pretty tough descisions. Barnard’s Inn- This place is just a dump. It is in a part of the city where the buildings are close together, and Pip does not really enjoy staying here. He always talks about a guy named Barnard, although there was no guy really named Barnard. This place is definitely a place where Pip will not want to go back to. The Temple- Pip enjoys this place a lot better than Barnard’s Inn. Him and Herbert live there, and they share the room. They each have there own room in there, and Provis stays there for a while. I pictured this place as a kind of apartment building that was not very modern. I can get a good picture in my head of what The Temple looked like. Joe’s Home- This is where Pip grew up at, so I am guessing this is where his greatest memories are. So much had happened in that house, since the time he was little and even up to when Joe and Biddy were married. That house to me always seemed so out in the middle of nowhere, but still warm and a great family environment. A typical country home.

Kant on Suicide Essay

4. Explain and critically assess Kant’s argument that one has a duty to preserve one’s own life. As rational beings Kant believes we have a categorical duty of self-preservation to not wilfully take our own lives. Kant talks in depth about duty and believes we should act out of respect for the moral law. The will is the only inherent good, as we are only motivated by duty and nothing else. We should act only out of demands of the law, not from inclination, desires or to achieve a particular goal. Duty dictates we should never act or will something if we do not want it to become a universal law. Kant was against any form of suicide. He strongly believed that: in taking a life you treat humanity merely as a means to an end. Kant wouldn’t be interested in the suffering or pain caused to even a person who was terminally ill and wanted to end their life, nor would he take into consideration the family/friends suffering. In this essay I will be arguing that if we follow the categorical imperative it is immoral to sacrifice a life because it involves treating humanity merely as a means to an end. I will examine John Hardwig’s counter argument that we should end our own lives if more pain and suffering is caused by prolonging it/living it even if we are no longer a rational being. We must understand that Kant is saying; if I make a maxium e. g. – ‘if I am in unbearable suffering, I should take my own life’ – it must meet the universal law and be applied to everyone. Kant believes we ought to preserve our own lives because it is our moral duty (it is necessary and universal). John Hardwig however, would argue we also have the right to end our lives. Kant would dismiss this because ultimately humans are the bearers of rational life (e. g. it is too sacred to sacrifice). Suicide fails Kant’s Categorical Imperative on the following grounds: It seeks to shorten a life that promises more troubles than please, this would be killing yourself out of self-love; when in fact the real aim would be to live a life worth living, with more pleasure than difficulties. Kant isn’t claiming that it’s impossible for everyone to commit suicide or for everyone to will it (and therefore it becoming a universal law). He believes ‘it would not exist as nature; hence the maxim cannot obtain as a law of nature’. (Immanuel Kant, The Groundwork of the methaphysics of morals, Mary Gregor and Jens Timmermann, Cambridge University 2012, p45 emphasis added). Here Kant seems to be suggesting that suicide isn’t a natural path of life; that it goes against our purpose and that it’s a contradiction to end your life when your goal would be to have an enjoyable life. The idea that the destruction of life is incompatible with improvement suggests that nature couldn’t/wouldn’t allow self-love to be used in a way that is contrary to its purpose. There is surely an obviously contradiction here; in ending one’s life to prevent suffering, one is using one’s life mere means to an end, which automatically fails the categorical imperative. Take the case of Maria Von Herbert- she is clearly appealing to Kant, if under any circumstances; suicide is morally acceptable? He isn’t as blatant with her as in his writings, but let us not forget, Kant doesn’t see woman as rational beings. I agree with Rae Langton that Kant totally bypasses the reason Herbert is writing to him. He doesn’t confront her on suicide but instead reduces her problem to a moral dilemma (regrets lying or telling the truth ), which as an intelligent woman whom has read all his writings; she could work out for herself. Could this have made Kant certain that she did lie and therefore fail the kingdom of ends? Perhaps Kant is being hypocritical; he doesn’t tell Maria the whole truth of suicide merely reducing her to ‘a thing’. He tells Maria she should be ‘ashamed’ for not telling the truth to her former friend but, doesn’t this apply for himself too? Is he just avoiding the truth (states this is just as bad a lying) by not confronting her about suicide? Most likely he wants her to be autonomous and get to the reason herself. Hardwig disagrees with Kant. Take a different situation; Is a terminally ill person-needing 24/7 care, who is entirely financially reliant- only using their family as a means to an end? You can see this as a ‘two way street’ situation. Kant doesn’t look to consequences of an action; it wouldn’t matter to his philosophy that the ill person’s family suffers because they are preserving their life. But is there a flaw? (1) I ought to do my duty as long as I am alive; and (2) It is my duty to go on living as long as possible. Kant strongly believes that you can’t affirm life by taking your own. There is only one exception. Kant claims those who die in battle are ‘victims of fate’ (not simply suicide because they chose to fight). He holds the view that it is better to die in battle than to die of a wound in hospital. Kant believes it’s noble to risk our lives for others- nobody uses us as mere means and we follow our own maxium. We are no longer forced into serving for our country or deceived into joining (if this did happen it would fail the CI because we wouldn’t be treated as rational beings and would be used as mere means and not as ends in ourselves). John Hardwig strongly believes that life should be treated no differently from death. We are free to live in the way we want, so why aren’t we free to die in the way we want (when and how)? He also switches the question but Kant would simply say we have a duty to live. Hardwig has also argued that medical advances eliminate the threats of many terminal illnesses. He then concludes, if our continued existence creates signi? cant hardship for our loved ones, we have a duty to die. By continuing a live of suffering the burden that this person imposes on others is often great. One may have the duty to die in order to relieve them of these burdens. This argument seems to be based on fairness. Kant would refute this; suffering is a tool of reasoning and it ensures the development of mankind. Kant strongly believes that we should preserve our own lives. The argument though strong is flawed. 1- All duties are absolute- Kant doesn’t advise us on how to resolve conflicting duty (for example: help others vs. never kill). 2- He discounts moral emotions like compassion, sympathy, desire and remorse as appropriate and ethical motives for action. 3- Kant completely ignores the consequences of an action and is purposefully blind to following circumstances. He states that human life is valuable because humans are the bearers of rational life. We have the great capacity to think, organize, plan etc. and Kant holds this as being valuable. Therefore we should not sacrifice this for anything (as previously discussed autonomous creatures should not be treated merely as a means or for the happiness of another). There are also great issues with Hardwigs counter argument; if we agree that we have the duty to die; who has the duty to die? When do they have they duty to die? Although this argument is strong is some areas (greater burden), it is greatly flawed. It would be extremely difficult to universalize a maxium for everyone to follow so they could decide if at that moment they had the duty to die. A problem would also occur if the family disagreed with the ill person’s decision, which could cause great problems within society (though Kant would not look to consequences but they are greatly important to Hardwigs argument). I believe –and agree with Kant- that if we follow the categorical imperative it is immoral to sacrifice anyone at all (including yourself) because it involves treating the humanity in that person as merely a means to an end. I also accept and agree with his point that it seems to go against our purpose and is an unnatural path for us to take a life. I find it interesting that Kant believes suffering is a tool of development and therefore essential to us. Though John Hardwigs argument is partly convincing, if we were all given the choice of when we should die, would we find the right time? This would be very hard to govern, as people would of course take advantage of this right. I’ve found it hard to find a counter argument to Kant’s stance -without suffering there wouldn’t be cures and perhaps less happiness. Therefore I have to agree with Kant that it only allows us to grow and develop. Thus we do have the duty to preserve our own lives even if it is riddled with suffering.

Philosophy Study Questions

PHI 101C HW6 10/18/2012 Qiansongzi Chen 1. How might the constructive nature of your perceptions play a role in what you experience while you’re walking at night through a graveyard said to be visited by spirits of the dead? Constructive perception is in part something that our minds manufacture. Thus what we perceive is determined, not only by what our eyes and ears and other senses detect, but also by what we know, what we expect, what we believe, and what our physiological state is.Just because something seems or feels real doesn’t mean that it is real. 2. What are some of the factors that could influence the accuracy of your memory of an event that happened three years ago? Our memories are also constructive and easily influenced by all sorts of factors: stress, expectation, belief, and the introduction of new information. Added to all this is the selectivity of memory. We selectively remember certain things and ignore others, setting up a recall bias. No wonder the recall of eyewitness is often unreliable. 3.Let’s say that an incredible coincidence occurs in your life, and your friend argues that the odds against the occurrences are so astronomical that the only explanation must be a paranormal one. What is wrong with this argument? Just because something seems not so realistic, doesn’t mean it can only be explained by paranormal reasons. It’s an example of the appeal to ignorance. Just because you can’t show that the supernatural or paranormal explanation is false doesn’t mean that it is true. Unfortunately, although this reasoning is logically fallacious, it is psychologically compelling. 4.How is it possible for the prophecies of Nostradamus to appear to be highly accurate and yet not be? Prophecies of Nostradamus can be highly accurate when they predict very general and broad things, when they predict a specific thing, it usually fails to be accurate. Also, people tent to only notice the things prophecie s predict and turn out to be true, and ignore the things turn out to be false. 5. What is the principle that explains how much trust we should put in personal experience as reliable evidence? It’s reasonable to accept personal experience as reliable evidence only if there’s no reason to doubt its reliability.Personal experience alone generally cannot establish the effectiveness of a treatment beyond a reasonable doubt. 6. What is confirmation bias? How does it affect our thinking? Not only do we have a tendency to ignore and misinterpret evidence that conflicts with our own views; we also have tendency to look for and recognize only evidence that confirms them. We tend to look for confirming rather than disconfirming evidence, even though the latter can often be far more revealing. 7. What is the availability error? How does it affect our thinking?The availability error occurs when people base their judgments on evidence that’s vivid or memorable instead of reli able or trustworthy. 8. How do confirmation bias and the availability error lead to superstitious beliefs? The availability error not only leads us to ignore the relevant evidence, it also leads us to ignore relevant hypotheses. For any set of data, it is, in principle, possible to construct any number of different hypotheses to account for the data. In practice, however, it is often difficult to come up with many different hypotheses.As a result, we often end up choosing among only those hypotheses that come to mind, that are available. In the case of unusual phenomena, the only explanations that come to mind are often supernatural or paranormal ones. Many people take the inability to come up with a natural or normal explanation for something as proof that it is supernatural or paranormal. â€Å"How else can you explain it? † they often ask. 9. What is the argument from unnecessary restrictions? How can it be used to undercut supernatural or paranormal claims?Unnecessary res triction also called unwarranted design, because the phenomena observed are more limited or restricted than one would expect if the hypothesis were true. To be acceptable, a hypothesis must fit the data: this means not only that the hypothesis must explain tha data, but also that the data explained must be consistent with what the hypothesis predicts. If the hypothesis makes predictions that are not borne out by the data, there is reason to doubt the hypothesis. 10. What is the representativeness heuristic? How does it affect our thinking?We sometimes led astray by the representative heuristic, the rule of thumb that like goes with like. And we are generally poor judges of probabilities and randomness, which leads us to erroneously believe that an event could not possibly be a mere coincidence. 11. Why can’t personal experience alone establish the effectiveness of a treatment? Case studies alone generally cannot establish the effectiveness of a treatment beyond a reasonable d oubt. The reality is that personal experience alone generally cannot establish the effectiveness of a treatment beyond a reasonable doubt, but controlled scientific studies. 2. What is the placebo effect? A peculiar fact about people is that sometimes even if they are given a treatment that’s inactive or bogus, they’ll respond with an improvement in the way they feel. This response , called the placebo effect, is not all in the mind, it can involve both psychological and physiological changes. What exactly is behind this effect isn’t clear, but many experts say it depends on suggestibility, operant conditioning (previous experience with healing act), expectation, and other factors.