Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Loan Request for StartUp Company Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Loan Request for StartUp Company - Essay Example I've had the opportunity to work with Mr. Buser on another project in the recent past. He has a no-nonsense type of leadership style and relies heavily on his staff. He makes the decisions and then turns over the responsibility to his people. I've never met Ms. McSwain, though I managed to find an interview she did recently in a local business magazine. She comes across as a very progressive risk taker that is not afraid to try new approaches. However, she is very meticulous about the numbers. I hope to convey the point that Online Education is a fast growing field that offers the investor some unique opportunities. I want to make the case that it is a profitable business and that we have a solid, well thought out, business plan. More importantly, I want to impress Mr. Buser with the fact that we have covered all the angles on the product, its quality, and our ability to deliver it. I see the presentation as having the twin motives of selling the product to Mr. Buser, and convincing Ms. McSwain that our business plan is flawless. I plan to make a brief introduction and give them time to meet John Lennox from our IT department. He will be accompanying me to address any technical issues that may arise.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Critical Analysis of Ageing Biomarkers

Critical Analysis of Ageing Biomarkers Introduction Biomarkers have been used since 1980, in aging and age related diseases. The use of biomarkers helps increase the understanding of a disease and help in diagnosis. Biomarkers can investigate a disease from early manifestations to final stages and can characterise biological age. Aging results in the deterioration of functional capacity and exposes people to diseases over time. The biomarkers should be measurable in the blood, tissues or cells and should be easily obtained from blood or urine samples. Biomarkers of exposure and biomarkers of disease are the two key types of biomarkers used in clinical settings. The effect and rate of aging is reliant upon individuals (Strimbu and Tavel, 2010). A reliable biomarker should be a predicator of life span not chronological age, should work on animals and humans and be frequently tested. There are three key types of biomarker; determine chronological age, predict life expectancy and disease predisposition. Biomarkers can enable the development of drugs to reverse or slow down the progression of a disease. Example of biomarkers of aging are cellular senescence, hormonal deregulation and oxidative stress (Sergievsky, 2004) and (Strimbu and Tavel, 2010) Biomarkers Elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels have been associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk. C reactive protein (CRP) biomarker is an acute phase reactant produced in the liver, following tissue injury, inflammation and infection is released into the bloodstream. An indication of cardiovascular disease risk could be the elevations in CRP levels in the blood, people with a higher or lower cardiovascular disease risk can be identified by measuring CRP levels in the blood. Elevated CRP levels cause inflammation and oxidative stress regardless of metabolic syndrome (Horiuchi and Mogi, 2011) and (Abraham et al, 2007). The data was analysed from 12 European countries and included patients over 50 years that had at least one cardiovascular risk factor with no history of cardiovascular disease. Diabetics were also analysed. Glycated haemoglobin levels were positively correlated with CRP levels and there was a negative correlation with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Women that had increased cardiovascular disease risk factor and more metabolic syndrome markers had elevated CRP levels. 30% of diabetic patients that were not receiving statin therapy had CRP levels ≠¥3mg/L and 50% CRP levels were ≠¥2mg/L, subjects with intermediate levels of cardiovascular disease risk. Mean CRP levels were ≠¥4.2mg/L in the overall population, levels were similar to subjects with diabetes. Subjects were over 50 years however no association was found between elevated CRP levels and age. Almost 50% subjects regardless of cardiovascular disease risk factor had CRP levels of ≠¥2mg/L. Increasing CRP levels were associated with metabolic syndrome markers. There was an association between raised CRP levels and greater cardiovascular risk (Halcox et al, 2014). This study looked at age related increase in compartments of visceral fat and the association with harmful changes in blood lipid profile and insulin sensitivity in non-obese women. Visceral fat has been suggested to be a predictor of variations plasma lipid levels, lipoprotein and plasma glucose-insulin concentrations. Abdominal adiposity increase helps identify age related decline in insulin sensitivity and plasma lipid levels. 178 women were categorized into four age groups, visceral and subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue areas, body composition, blood lipid profile, glucose disposal and aerobic fitness were directly analysed. With age, there was an increase in abdominal adipose tissue. An age related proliferation was detected in total cholesterol (p The study investigated age related fluctuations in cutaneous sensation, areas of the palm and dorsal surface of the hand and nerves in the hand were observed. In eight sites of the glabrous skin and two on hairy skin on both hands cutaneous perceptual threshold was tested. 70 subjects aged between 20-88 years were used. Three tests were used von Frey thresholds, two point stimulations and Texture discrimination. The threshold for cutaneous sensation increased significantly with age (P Two point stimulation, showed increased threshold with age (P=0.046), lowest thresholds were observed in 20s (5mm) and in 60s had highest (7mm). Each area had increased loss of sensitivity with age. No significant increase was observed for threshold for texture discrimination, there was a stable surge until the 80s. From the 20s (0.27mm) up to 70s (0.44mm) an increase was observed however in the 80s (31mm) there was a decrease.No difference was seen between various sites of the hand, non-dominant/dominant and sexes. After the age of 60 males and 70 for females, there was an accelerated decline in cutaneous sensation (Bowden and McNutty, 2013). The obvious sign of aging is the decrease in muscle mass, function and increase fatigability in old age, it is suggested that there is a decline in myosin heavy chain synthesis with sacropenia. The synthesis rate decline highlights functional consequences of a weakened remodelling process. Muscle mass is regulated by muscle protein synthesis and breakdown, a lower synthesis rate compared to breakdown may result in diminished muscle mass. The loss of lean mass and decreased performance highlights metabolic changes that occur with sacorpenia. Myosin heavy chain is involved in the hydrolysis ATP to ADP, it is vital for muscle contractile functions. Myosin heavy chain synthesis rate was measured instantaneously with rates of mixed muscle and sarcoplasmic proteins. In young to middle aged people a decline in synthesis rate of mixed muscle protein (p Age related bone loss in men and women is the result of decline in hormones such as oestrogen and estradiol. It is understood that tissue growth and metabolism is regulated by insulin like growth factor (IGF) and binding proteins. The growth endorsing regulatory system IGF is growth hormone dependant and independent, it is a complex system. Six IGF binding proteins included in the IGF system as well as IGF-I and IGF-II. Osteoblastic diversity and bone development is improved by IGF-I and IGF-II which are abundant growth factors in bone tissue. These factors upsurge the production of type1 collagen fibres and apposition rates of bone matrix, degradation of bone collagen is reduced. The effects of IGF-I and IGF-II maybe potentiated or repressed by IGFBPs although they are anabolic. Metabolic activity and clearance of IGF-I and IGF-II is regulated by IGFBPs, IGF independent action that can inhibit or stimulate cellular function by four IGFBPs. Osteoblasts are able to synthesize all six IGFBPs. The role of serum levels of IGF-I and IGF-II, and IGFBP-1, 2 and 3 on bone mineral density was examined on various skeletal sites, in an age stratified random sample of 344 males and females. IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels declined with increasing age in males and females, IGFBP-2 levels increased with age. Associations between IGFBP-2 and lateral spine BMD were not observed however with age adjustment IGFBPs with BMD were significant for males and females. The most significant independent predictor of bone mineral density was IGFBP-2 amongst all the ones studies in males and females (Amin et al, 2004) Alterations in brain tissue and grey matter can help in diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer disease, multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia etc. Aging has a profound effect on the brain. Grey and white matter contrast functionally and anatomically as well as having different patterns in brain development. MRI imaging is an effective way of investigating brain morphometric in vivo enabling the production of accurate and reliable information. Investigations have looked at age specific effects on various brain regions findings from the analysis have revealed brain tissue loss with age may vary between the various brain regions and hemispheres. 55 healthy volunteers aged between 20 and 86 were separated into two groups (20-49 and 50-86). Current or existing neuropsychiatric illness and substance abuse was excluded by a neurologist in an interview. Evaluations were done using MRI imaging and 50 separate brain volume images were under review. Results revealed reduction in grey matter with increasing age in males and females, deterioration begins at 20 years of age. Increasing age results in significant loss grey matter (4.9%). Increase in white matter is observed however accelerated decline in instigated around age of 40. A significant difference was observed between the two age groups (p=0.38), older people had significantly lower grey and white matter in the intracranial space as compared to younger ones (p Discussion Elevations of the biomarkers were helpful indicators in the development of disease and understanding age related changes in the body. Elevated CRP levels were observed in majority of patients regardless of cardiovascular risk. However, CRP is a non-specific inflammatory marker and elevations could be due to other biological processes. Amplified CRP levels is not the foremost casual factor for cardiovascular disease the levels (Halcox et al, 2014). Abdominal fat accumulation were seen to be an independent factor of age related change in plasma lipid levels and insulin sensitivity. Results revealed that abdominal visceral fat increased with age. The findings were consistent because age had an effect on insulin sensitivity (DeNino et al, 2001). Cutaneous sensation deteriorates with age, differences are also observed between sexes and hands. The extent of deterioration may have been undervalued this could have affected the results. There was difficulty in the assessment of skin hydration and the role of skin mechanics was inadequate. The associations between fine motor control and cutaneous sensation could be an area to study (Bowden and McNutty, 2013). There was an age related decline in myosin heavy chain synthesis but average synthesis rates were measured. Muscle mass decline was associated with incapacity for the skeletal muscle to remodel. Insulin resistance could have a role in declined myosin heavy chain synthesis due to its chronic effect. Differences between males and females were established. Data was normalized to whole body protein turnover to fat free mass because normalizations to body composition were fraught. Future research should investigate whether age related decline in synthesis rate could be retreated by use of replacement hormones (Balagopal et al, 1997). Age related bone loss was evident in males and females; the predictor for bone density was IGFBP-2. The results were not generalizable to the cognitively impaired. Correlations were observed between serum levels of IGF-1 and tissue levels within bone but there was limited understanding of the action at a local level. Future research should be directed towards investigating the complex role of the IGF system influence on bone metabolism (Amin et al, 2004). The exclusion of subjects with neurological conditions made comparisons difficult between young and old. An estimation of brain tissue loss can be done in healthy living subjects. The findings from the study were consistent with longitudinal studies (Robert et al, 2002). References Anti aging team . (2014). Biomarkers of aging . Available: http://www.anti-aging-guide.com/62biomakers.php. Last accessed 28th Feb 2015. Gertrude H. Sergievsky. (2004). Biomarkers: Potential Uses and Limitations. Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain,. 1 (2), 182-188. Jacob Abraham, Catherine Y. Campbell, Aamir Cheema, Ty J. Gluckman, Roger S. Blumenthal, Peter Danyi,. (2007). C-Reactive Protein in Cardiovascular Risk Assessment:. The Journal of Cardiometabolic Syndrome. 2 (2), 119-123. Jocelyn L. Bowden Penelope A. McNulty. (2012). Age-related changes in cutaneous sensation in the healthy. American Aging Association. 35 (2), 1077-1089. Julian PJ Halcox1,2*, Carine Roy3, Florence Tubach3,4, Josà © R Banegas5,6, Jean Dallongeville7, Guy De Backer8,. (2014). C-reactive protein levels in patients at. BMC Cardiovascular Disorders. 14 (25), 1-9. Kyle Strimbu and Jorge A. Tavel. (2010). What are Biomarkers?. Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. 6 (5), 463-466. Masatsugu Horiuchi, Masaki Mogi. (2011). C reactive protein Beyond Biomarker of Inflammation in. Hypertension. 57 (1), 672-673. P. BALAGOPAL,1 OLAV E. ROOYACKERS,1 DEBORAH B. ADEY,1. (1997). Effects of aging on in vivo synthesis of skeletal muscle. American Physiological Society. 1 (1), e790-e799 Shreyasee Amin,1 B Lawrence Riggs,2 Elizabeth J Atkinson,3 Ann L Oberg,3 L Joseph Melton III,2,4 and Sundeep Khosla2. (2004). A Potentially Deleterious Role of IGFBP-2 on Bone Density in Aging Men. JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH. 19 (1), 1075-1081 Walter F Denino, Andre Tchernof, Isabelle J. Dionne, Michael J. Toth, Philip A. Ades, Cynthia K. Sites, Eric T. Poehlman, . (2001). Contribution of Abdominal Adiposity to. Diabetes Care. 24 (5), 925-932. Yulin Ge, Robert I. Grossman, James S. Babb, Marcie L. Rabin,. (2002). Age-Related Total Gray Matter and White. American Society of Neuroradiology. 23 (1), 1327–1333.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Grace Kelly :: essays research papers

Even before Grace Kelly married a prince, she had the aura of a princess. Frank Sinatra once commented, "Grace was a princess from the moment she was born." She had remarkable elegance and sophistication that made her different from other Hollywood actresses. Some say she had an undertone of fire beneath her charm. Alfred Hitchcock, who directed her in three films, called her "a snow covered volcano". Grace was born into a family of fame and success. Her father was a wealthy bricklayer, her brother was a champion sculler, and her uncle, George Kelly was a famous playwright. They set a hard example to follow and Grace sometimes felt pressured by her family’s reputation for prosperity. She lived up to and even surpassed the fame of her family members. Grace served many roles in her life as an actress, princess and mother. 	When Grace Kelly first walked on stage as Virgin Mary at age six, people knew she was magic. She had a passion for the stage that her father could not understand. He had a poor opinion of the acting profession, but then his daughter had always been a mystery to him. Being so energetic and outgoing himself, he found it hard to understand a daughter who enjoyed sitting still, reading or writing. Grace begged him to enroll her in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York and he reluctantly agreed. Her mother also disapproved of sending her to New York. She worried about the dangers lurking in wait for an innocent girl in New York City, but Sending Grace to the Academy proved to be a valuable decision. Grace loved the Academy and worked hard there, modeling in her spare time. She faced many rejections before she landed her first film role, Fourteen Hours in 1951. She also starred in many other films such as High Noon, High Society and Rear Window. Perhaps her best role of all was in The Country Girl, where she played the shabby wife of an alcoholic. Before, she had mostly played roles that were similar to her own personality. In The Country Girl, she broke free from this restraint to play a depressed, bedraggled woman. Many people, including her costar Bing Crosby, opposed to her playing this role. They saw her as being too genteel. Her extraordinary performance stunned the world, and she won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1954.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Personailty Disorders in the Workplace

People with personality disorders characteristic tend to have chronic inflexible styles of perceiving themselves, and interacting with others varies. (Ward, 2004) Personality disorders are typically some of the most challenging mental disorders to treat, because they are part of an individual and their self-perception. Treatment according to Ward, (2004), most often focuses on increasing coping skills, and interpersonal relationship skills. This paper will discuss a few of these disorders, such as Antisocial Personality, Borderline Personality disorders, and Insomnia.I will attempt to describe the various disorders and how they affect employer/employees in the workplace. We will look at the symptom logy observed by co-workers and/or supervisors for those with the different disorders. I will provide similarities and difference in how supervisors or co-workers would intervene with people with these disorders. The end result will be to provide appropriate organizational intervention str ategies for those living with these disorders. Antisocial Personality Disorders (APD) According to (Babiak, and Hare. 2006).Personality disorder behavior, is like a disease, is antiquity, and nothing about it changes. Antisocial personality disorder (APD) is one of the disorders describe in the Psychopath in the Workplace: A Cautionary Tale, written by Paul Babiak and Robert D. Hare. The authors describe how a common misconception is that antisocial disorder refers to people who have poor social skills. On the contrary, the opposite is often the case, instead, APD is characterized by a lack of conscience people with this disorder are prone to criminal behavior, believing that their victims are weak and deserving of being taken advantage of. Babiak, and Hare, 2006) Antisocial tend to lie and steal according to the authors. Often, they are careless with money and take action without thinking about consequences. They can sometimes become aggressive and are much more concerned with thei r own needs then the needs of others. â€Å"They may appear to be superior. † Candidates for business leadership position and many of them rise to the positions of power and influence in business community. † (p. 2) The authors express how a socially facile psychopath may expertly deceive the average person. Snakes in suits† is the term the authors used to describe an antisocial person. (p. 2)They give descriptive lucid, richly detailed guide for corporate business professionals who are interested in understanding how important and often unrecognized behavior syndrome is acted out in the workplace. They believe this knowledge and information they give in their book Snakes in Suits: When Psychopaths Go To Work is essential if â€Å"socially responsible and ethical individuals are to protect themselves and their organization against ruthless, fraudulent, manipulative behavior. (P. 2. ) It’s imperative that leaders and employees become aware and knowledgeable of this behavior if they are to protect themselves and their resources from exploitation. (Babiak, and Hare, 2006) These individual may appear impressive, because of their motivated ambitiousness, social charm, and self-confidence, yet closer observation of their behavior and inspection of their motives reveals that they posses qualities of ruthless exploitations deceitfulness, pathological lying, and a wiliness to use antisocial and even criminal behavior to achieve their goals. Babiak, and Hare, 2006) According to Babiak, &Hare (2006) the symptoms that antisocial personality disorder display, and should be observed by leaders, and employees are as followed:  ·Disregard for the feelings of others  ·Impulsive and irresponsible decision-making  ·Lack of remorse for harm done to others  ·Lying, stealing, other criminal behavior  ·Disregard for the safety of self and others Borderline Personality Disorders Borderline personality disorders are described by Babiak, & Hare,(200 6), characterized by mood instability and poor self-image.This disorder, according to the authors was named because it was originally thought to be at â€Å"borderline† of psychosis. The disorder is relatively common, affecting 2% of adults. Women are more likely to suffer borderline than men. Nearly 20% of psychiatric hospitalizations are due to this disorder. (Babiak, and Hare 2006) People with this disorder are prone to having mood swings and or bouts of anger. Often taking anger out on themselves, causing pain and injury to their own body. They are suicidal, and think in black and white terms, which often form intense, conflict-ridden relationships.They are quick to anger when their expectations are not met. The symptoms that employers/employees may observe are: Self-injury or attempted suicide Strong feelings of anger, anxiety or depression that last for several hours Impulsive behavior Drugs or alcohol abuse Feelings of low self-worth Unstable relationships with friends , family, and boyfriends/ girlfriends and co-workers Treatment could involve therapy in which the patient learns to talk through his/her feelings rather than unleashing them in destructive and self-defeating ways.Medication may be helpful, and treatment of any alcohol or substance abuse issued should be required. Insomnia We have looked at Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD), and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). However, now I would like to prevent Insomnia, a disorder that is profound and many people suffer everyday because of it. According to authors of Handbook of Mental Health, Insomnia in the workplace is characterized by many different behaviors. People who suffer from insomnia call into work more because they are sick more.Insomnia can have a negative affects on the workplace, reducing the ability of affected employees to maintain adequate productivity and safety on the job, impairing their overall quality of life. (Thomas, and Hensen, 2002 p. 351) People who suffer f rom insomnia are slower to complete assignments and short attention spans. Some people even put themselves and co-workers into dangerous situation if they are driving or working heavy machinery. Treatments for insomnia is commonly bought at most grocery stores. Sleep aid like â€Å"SleepyTime† can be purchased easy to help sleep.However, using medication can cause addiction, and cover up what’s really the problem. Psychological treatment can aid in getting to the â€Å"root† of the problem. (Thomas, & Henson, 2002 p. 358). Durand, & Barlow, (2010), created a list of psychological treatments for insomnia, which are; cognitive, guided imagery relaxation, graduated extension, paradoxical intention, and progressive relaxation. (Durand and Barlow, 2010, p 332) Leaders and employees who need to recognize the symptoms and behavior that an Insomniac may display: Lateness Absent Sleeping on the jobPre occupied Unmotivated Bosses and co-workers who are aware of each other â€Å"normal’ work habits can observe and offer intervention, and resources that can help people with this disorder strive for effective treatment. (Thomas, & Henson , 2002, p. 363). Supervisory Intervention When considering intervention, Employee Assistance Programs (EAP’s) maybe one of the more comprehensive means of addressing psychopath in the workplace. (Thomas, & Hensen, 2004). Organizational leadership can play a tremendous role in the implementation of treatment modalities in the workplace.The members of the Leadership should make as many attempts as needed and possible to maintain and environment with minimal stressors. Leaders and organizations that have the holistic well-being of everyone involved, should implement healthy, well being programs, that are designed to improve productivity for everyone involved. Supervisors must observe, and realize the impact of unhealthy behavior to the organization, like cost, law suits, accidents, violence, and decrease of production and increase in expenses due to sickness / work compensation.Supervisors need to focus and observe behavior respectful approach the situation, without alienating or making the person feel as if gossip or singling out is not the goal. Leaders need to be empathic, and genuinely concern with ones well-being; excellent communication skills and being well informed could enhance the probability of the person with the disorder agree to intervention. EAP programs are designed to address a multitude of issues that plague the workplace. The programs and find alternative resolution, to help elevate stresses that prevent productivity.Furthermore, employees have an obligation to themselves, as well as their employers. Telling someone that a problem exists could save time, money, and mental illnesses. Observing a fellow employee who is having difficulties should be reported to supervisors, and not gossip about amongst fellow employees Subsequently, we all must become responsible for t he healthy well-being of ourselves and find balance in our personal lives, in order to live stress free and well- rounded.References 1) Durand V. M, & Barlow D. H. , (2010) Essential of Abnormal Psychology , Belmont, CA, Wadsworth, Census Learning 2) Hare, R. D, & Newman, C. S. (2006) , Handbook of Pschopathy , New York Gulford Press 3) Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery, (2005-2009), Proctor Hospital 4) Thomas, J. , & Hensen, M. (2002), Handbook of Mental Health in the Workplace. Thousand Oak, CA: Sage Publication. 5) Ward, K. R. (2004), American Family Physicians, Leawood.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Leadership Activity

II. Reality Check Author: Tom Siebold is a writer and consultant in Minneapolis. He is also co-owner of Collegegrazing. com–a site to help college bound teens to learn more about what they need and want in a college. Objective (s): To pinpoint actual leadership behavior and to set behavior goals How the author has used this exercise:   I have had success using this exercise as a pre- workshop self-inquiry activity. I have also used it as a homework assignment. Its strength lies in the fact that it paints a picture of actual behavior and then helps the leader see how he or she can redistribute behavior. Activity Description: * Have the participants think about what they actually do on a daily basis. Then ask them to draw generalizations about how they spend their leadership time. Each participant completes the Leadership Behavior Chart below (In blue font). * You can follow up with full group or small group discussion. The central question is this: Is your leadership behavior out of sync with the way that you feel an effective leader should be spending his or her energy? Think about your daily interaction with the people who you lead. Generally speaking, determine the actual behaviors that define that interaction. Using the list of behaviors below, determine the amount of time (in percentages) that you generally spend on each behavior. Then in the second column, determine what you feel would be ideal distribution of time (in percentages). Behavior | Percentage of time spent on each behavior | Ideally the percentage of time you would devote to each behavior | Informing |    |    | Directing |    |    | Clarifying or Justifying |    |    | Persuading |    |    | Collaborating |    |    | Brainstorming or Envisioning |    |    | Reflecting (Quiet Time for Thinking) |    |    | Observing |    |    | Disciplining |    |    | Resolving interpersonal conflicts |    |    | Praising and/or encouraging |    |    | Follow Up Questions 1. Is there a gap between how you should spend your energy and how you actually spend it? 2. Are there some behaviors that are taking up too much of your leadership time? Why? 3. Are there some strategies that you can employ that would move you closer to your ideal distribution of behavior? Options:   A. Some groups may want to calculate behavior totals to see how their peers are spending their energy. B. From the third column it is easy to move into a discussion about â€Å"ideal† leader distribution of energy. C. You may also use this same format with both meeting and team interaction. Added thoughts or considerations: Since this activity helps participants see what they are actually doing, it helps them translate leadership theory into real behavior. Once participants review their charts it is easier for them to design strategies to align their leadership behavior. –Return to Top– III. Your Leadership Calendar Author: Tom Siebold is a writer and consultant in Minneapolis. He is also co-owner of Collegegrazing. com–a site to help college bound teens to learn more about what they need and want in a college. Objective (s): To extend leadership learning beyond the workshop. How the author has used this exercise:   This exercise is a good follow up or homework activity. Activity Description: Ask the participants to mark twelve different days on their calendar spread out over four or six months. At the end of each marked day, participants should write down some leadership behavior (either positive or negative) that they exercised during that day. Each behavior should be followed by a reaction statement that answers two questions: â€Å"How did I feel about my action or behavior? †Ã‚   and   â€Å"How does this action or behavior jive with what I know about leadership best practices? Options:   On each marked day, the participant can send his or her personal leadership comments to a selected partner from the original workshop. This is a good method for accountability and feedback. Added thoughts or considerations: I almost always use the strategy in the Options section above. When people leave the workshop, they get caught up in daily mainten ance and frequently don't get around to doing the follow up exercises. By having them contact a selected partner from the workshop, it puts a little pressure on them to follow through. –Return to Top– IV. Leadership Dance Card Author: Tom Siebold is a writer and consultant in Minneapolis. He is also co-owner of Collegegrazing. com–a site to help college bound teens to learn more about what they need and want in a college. Objective (s): To encourage participants to talk to one another about specific leadership best practices How the author has used this exercise:   Very simply, I use this activity to get participants to share best practices. This format will work with almost any professional topic. Activity Description: Each leader has his or her own style of leadership. Some styles will work for you while others won’t. In this activity participants mix with the full group and sign up the names of three other participants on their â€Å"interview dance card. †Ã‚   Then during a set period of time (this may be done over an extended break or even a lunch period) participants seek out their â€Å"dance partners† to conduct a short leadership interview. They ask each other a set of questions provided by the facilitator and record the responses. Below are some leadership interview questions that I have used in this activity: 1. How do you motivate your reports? 2. How do you keep your reports meaningfully informed? 3. How do you maintain your team's focus on specific goals? 4. How do you set, clarify, and hold your reports accountable to   your expectations? 5. How do you recognize successful work? Note: you may want to restrict each interview to one or two questions depending on the amount of time you want to devote to this activity. When the full group reconvenes, the facilitator asks participants to share leadership tips and strategies that they picked up in their interviews. The facilitator may want to make a master list of these to pass out later. Options:   Have the group brainstorm for interview questions to be used in the interviews. Added thoughts or considerations: This activity serves many purposes: it gets the participants moving around, it connects people, and it is an efficient strategy to share best practices. –Return to Top– V. Center Stage Author: Tom Siebold is a writer and consultant in Minneapolis. He is also co-owner of Collegegrazing. com–a site to help college bound teens to learn more about what they need and want in a college. Objective (s): To visualize different leadership styles How the author has used this exercise:   If the group is comfortable with one another, a role playing activity can have some impact. I have used this activity to set up my   information about leadership styles. However, this same format can be used with a variety of different topics. Activity Description: Ask for four volunteers. One volunteer plays the role of a   team member who recently has missed meetings or arrived late. The other three volunteers each play the role of a different kind of leader. To save time I usually give the leader volunteers a personality trait from which they can create their persona: the by-the-book leader, the self-absorbed leader, the paternalistic leader, the softy, the blamer, the lecturer, the know-it-all, etc. Allow the volunteers to have some time to think about their role. Gather the full group in a circle and place two chairs in the middle. In turn, have each leader confront the team member. Explain the situation to the group before the role playing begins: Loren, the late team member, has not only been missing meetings or arriving late, he has also appeared to be very tired and disjointed. Some team members have suggested that Loren’s wife is ill, but others say the situation is rooted with Loren himself. As a leader, what is a good way to handle Loren? After all three scenarios have been played out, ask the full group to comment on the different leadership approaches—What worked? What could the leaders have done differently? How would the â€Å"ideal† leader handle this situation? This activity is a good spring board to exploring different leadership styles. Options:   You may want to have the full group identify three different role playing situations. Added thoughts or considerations: I try to check with some of the participants before the workshop begins to see if the group would be comfortable or willing to engage in a role playing activity. -Return to Top– VI. Leaders you Admire Author: Tom Siebold is a writer and consultant in Minneapolis. He is also co-owner of Collegegrazing. com–a site to help college bound teens to learn more about what they need and want in a college. Objective (s): To seek leadership characteristics through personal experience How the author has used this exercise:   I ha ve found stories to be a powerful way for participants to connect to the workshop subject matter. Generally people like to tell and hear stories. Activity Description: Divide the group into small groups. Ask participants to share a story about the best or most influential leader that they have encountered. After each story, identify leadership characteristics by asking the question: â€Å"What was it that made this person such an effective leader? †   Then as a group, identify the traits that all the leaders seemed to share. All groups then write the shared traits on a white board. You can use this traits list as a springboard to explore more about what makes a good leader. Options:   You can ask the groups to share stories about the worst leaders they have encountered. You will get some dandy stories. Added thoughts or considerations: I like to insert an activity like this into a workshop when participants are starting to run a little low on energy. A good story swap frequently revives energy. Be sure not to drag this activity out too long. Encourage the participants to include details in their leadership examples. –Return to Top– VII. Leadership Swap Author: Tom Siebold is a writer and consultant in Minneapolis. He is also co-owner of Collegegrazing. com–a site to help college bound teens to learn more about what they need and want in a college. Objective (s): To exchange leadership ideas and build participant rapport How the author has used this exercise:   Sometimes it is helpful to allow the participants to have some time just to swap leadership examples. In short they have some time to portray their own leadership style by giving examples. Activity Description: This activity is a structured leadership example exchange. Divide the group into groups of three. From the list of â€Å"situations† below, instruct the groups to take turns giving examples of something they have done or witnessed. Leadership Situations * A creative twist on a situation or issue. * A clever improvisation–â€Å"dancing on your feet† * A pleasant surprise * An Aha moment * Something that generated a great deal of excitement * A conflict resolved * A breakthrough insight or solution * A really tough situation * A blindside experience * A moving (emotional) situation Options:   You may want the groups to identify their own Leadership Situations Added thoughts or considerations: Remember that this is a set up activity, so don't let it go on too long.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Trade War Between China and US Analysis Essay

Trade War Between China and US Analysis Essay Trade War Between China and US History Analysis Essay Example Trade War Between China and US History Analysis Essay Example The trade relationship between the USA and China are going through a difficult period. Over the last decades, the United States was a trade leader in the world market. Despite this, China is steadily gaining momentum and in just a few decades has become one of the major trade rivals of the United States of America. In the conditions of the globalization, US-Sino trade operations have reached the huge turnovers, and their commercial ties expanded significantly. Whats at stake in US-China trade war The trading volumes between 1979 and 2010 have increased from $2 billion to $457 billion. China is the third largest market for exports and the largest importer to the United States. Since the growth rate of Chinese imports in the US was much higher than the growth of US exports to China, the US trade deficit with China rose from $10 billion in 1990 to $273 billion in 2010 (Morrison, 2011). There are numerous issues concerning the US-Sino trade relations that disturb many politicians and American citizens. However, Chinese citizens and politicians are also wary of the US actions. Nevertheless, the US-China trade relations are officially recognized as a mutually beneficial partnership. In fact, the trade cooperation flows smoothly into a trade war, which is conducted under the elegant cover of tolerance, cooperation, and community. Therefore, this paper attempts: to address the causes of a trade war between the US and China; to analyze the main points of conflict between the studied countries; to assess the one who acts dishonestly and whose actions are forced. A methodology of the analysis and synthesis will be applied for given research. The paper will disclose a theme of the trade war between China and the USA in the context of several issues, find the reasons and the consequences of the actions on each issue and sum up the results of the analysis into the conclusion. The sources with the variety of points of view will be used in the study, and the analysis of some of them will be conducted. On the basis of the analyzed sources, a unanimous opinion on the US-China trade relations will be formulated and comments given on this issue. The Reasons and Premises of Occurrence of the Conflict There has always been, is and will be the winners and the losers, the leaders and the outsiders in the politico-economic game. As in any other game, leaders will always try to maintain their position, and their nearest rivals to oust the favorites to add the championship. Today, the economic situation in the world is that the United States is a leader, and China is a rapidly developing rival, who is rapidly approaching the leader and causes many inconveniences. The peculiarity of the Chinese economy is that it remains at the stage of the rapid growth. Based on the enormous resources that China has, this growth has reached the global proportions. The nature of the development process is that it is practically impossible to maintain the status quo for a long time. A subject develops or is degraded. There is no third. Therefore, China has to expand its activities not to have their development reversed. It is a natural process, and it should be understood. In turn, the United States is at the stage of the maturity. It means that the development is slowed down, and the task of the US is to hold the accumulated power. These two states can be compared to the tiger and the elephant. China looks like a tiger – fast, strong and agile. The US reminds an elephant – large, powerful, and dangerous, but hulking. Under these conditions, the conflict between the US and China is inevitable. For China, the United States is a hindrance to develop ment. For the US, China is a dangerous competitor, threatening the present state of affairs. Sensing a potential threat, the United States began to act in the post-war period. Until 1972, the US was trying to contain and isolate China. It made the following steps to reach the goal: the United States established a trade embargo against mainland China; the United States supported the development of the Japanese army (a strategic adversary of China); the USA intervened in the Korean War; the USA supported the regime of Chiang Kai-shek in Taiwan; American government supported Tibetan guerrillas, who tried to get out of the Chinese control (Nathan Scobell, 2012). In general, a conflict arose due to the objective reasons, and the ways out of this situation depend only on the decisions of the leaderships of both countries. Bilateral economic relations have always been a source of beneficial collaboration for both sides, but with time, the relationship between China and the United States are becoming increasingly lopsided. China uses its advantages and monetary policies to increase exports. It opens access to its domestic market in exchange for the foreign technology. In addition, Chinese companies are participating in the mass theft of the intellectual property (Friedberg, 2012). Economic relations between Washington and Beijing are quite complex. Fast-growing Chinese population and a rapidly growing economy have made China a great market for the US exports. In the recent years, China has been the fastest-growing export market for the United States. In turn, the US imports cheap Chinese goods that bring benefits to end consumers by increasing their purchasing power. Both US import and export are growing, but the US trade deficit with China is increasing rapidly. American firms also use the Chinese market for the manufacture and final assembly of its products. It helps to reduce costs and offer competitive prices in the world market. At the same time, many American manufacturers complain of â€Å"unfair† competition on the part of Beijing, which is the understatement of the price of Chinese products. They argue that China contributes to the displacement of production capacity of American companies in Asia. As a result, thousands of Americans are losing their jobs (Morrison, 2011). Many politicians also express their fears that China buying the US securities for nearly one trillion dollars can serve an instrument for affecting the United States by Beijing. In the process of economic and political development in China, the country has not fully switched to a free market economy. Too many sectors of the economy in China are still controlled and regulated by the government. It causes the negative comments of many politicians and economists , as well as the supporters of a free-market economy. In addition, this fact more and more increases the friction between Beijing and Washington on many issues (Morrison, 2011). Among them are the following: the issue of fixing and understating of the Chinese currency, the requirements allow the Yuan to rise to the real market level; the issue of partial compliance with Beijings WTO obligations; the issue of piracy is rampant in China as well as the lack of security of intellectual property; the issue of Chinas industrial policy and policy of public procurement, in which the Chinese government protects Chinese firms by the discrimination of foreign companies Perhaps one of the most vulnerable areas of the US economy to the impact of the Chinese offensive is the labor market. Ordinary Americans primarily benefit from cheap Chinese imports, but at the same time, they are the first to suffer from it indirectly. The relocation of the US companies on the Chinese market, on the one hand, allows reducing the price of products that Americans are more advantageous to buy, but, on the other hand, Americans are losing their jobs. Local American labor markets are forced to confront the Chinese imports. The most sensitive areas of industry to the impact of cheap Chinese products are manufacturing of footwear, textiles and furniture (David, Dorn, Hanson, 2013). Allegations of unfair Chinese trade deal with many important sectors of American industry, including high-tech and eco-technologies. In 2011, the Solar World and six other US manufacturers of solar batteries and modules sued Chinese companies producing similar equipment. The plaintiff argued that the defendant had received unfair subsidies from the Chinese government, which allowed them to understate the price for the products of the transformation of solar energy greatly and sell it to the American market at the â€Å"unfair† value. The plaintiff argued that it could seriously harm the American solar manufacturing industry, which is already going through hard times. As a result, the US Commerce Department and International Trade Committees approved the import duties on Chinese solar processing production from 31% to 250%. This trial has brought discord into the US solar manufacturing industry. Hardware manufacturers consider duties necessary to protect American industry. Howe ver, installers disagree with it. They argue that such measures would hinder the installation sector. Others do not believe that the measures taken will effect on the Chinese producers since they still have options for delivery of their products, using a loophole in the law. They could collect the modules from foreign units of solar cells and deliver them to the United States duty-free (Darby, 2014). Today, China produces about forty percent of furniture sold in the United States. In addition, certain types of metal are sold by China at low prices. It made the United States establish anti-dumping duties with the aim to protect domestic producers. Speaking of the textile industry, there are about 30 thousand exporters of textile products in China. The textile industry was the first in China where the Internet was used for sale transactions. After the US producers complained that Chinese products are destroying the American market, the US Department of Commerce has established safe limits on imports of Chinese textile products. At the same time, there is also an issue of extensive piracy of intellectual property in China. This problem entails the loss by American companies from 2.5 to 4 billion dollars annually. Although the law on the protection of intellectual property exists in China, its implementation is not properly controlled. As a result, Chinese companies massively use tra demarks, patents, copyrights and technology, the rights to which they did not purchase. In China, the penalty for such crimes is too soft to be effective (Hughes, 2005). One of the examples of Chinas global trade policy is the purchase of IBM by the biggest Chinese computer maker Lenovo Group. This trading operation had a great psychological effect on Americans, as IBM has been the icon of the American business for a half a century. Although, Lenovo Group with the purchase of IBM has not acquired significant new technologies, this operation has caused a suspicion in the American politicians. They concern that China is trying to gain control of the key assets and technologies and that the 1.76 billion IBM-Lenovo deal is one of the many Chinese acquisitions committed to obtaining this control (Hughes, 2005). While China attacks, the US has to take the defensive measures Among other complaints, the United States filed a lawsuit at the WTO on the following issues: subsidizing of Chinese companies involved in wind energy; the introduction of the laws by Beijing that protect domestic manufacturers; imposing the restrictions on the electronic payment services. Some US politicians argue that, given the high unemployment and low pace of development of the US economy, Chinas economic policy should not be left without countermeasures. Strict measures are needed to force China to moderate its pace and abandon policies that harm the US economy. If China continues its policy of a rapid increase in exports, it can cause more tension in the US-Chinese conflict and lead to harmful consequences for both sides (Morrison, 2011). Henry Kissinger (2012) argues that the struggle between the US and China for domination is inevitable, if not already started. At the same time, the US-China cooperation appears outdated and even naive. Even though the results of the negotiations of the Doha Round of the WTO admit that the relations between Washington and Beijing continue to deteriorate. The number of complaints from both sides increases rapidly. Trying to protect their domestic producers, the US introduces measures of protectionism. Namely, in 2009, China filed a complaint with the WTO in response to the US plans to impose duties on imports of Chinese tires in America (Loridas, 2011). The US invited China to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership but under the conditions of change of the internal structure of the Chinese economy. Probably, the United States is trying if not to isolate but at least contain the rapid growth of the rival. Under the conditions of joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the US requires to mak e Chinas economy not export-oriented but focused on consumption (Kissinger, 2012). Analyzing the above-mentioned sources, their basic idea can be summarized in the following statement. China is a country with a booming economy, which is actively expanding its business scope, conquering the world markets and often using dishonest methods to attain its goal. The USA is a leader in the world trade and, at the same time, it positions itself the worlds police officer who tries to tame China and force it to play by the rules. The strength of these sources is a clear description of the aggressive actions of Beijing, as well as the countermeasures of the USA. A weakness is a superficial, factual analysis of the US-China relations. These sources did not sufficiently deeply penetrate into the reasons of origin and development of the conflict. In addition, there is a certain degree of bias in these sources as China seems to be the culprit and the United States are presented as a victim. Analysis of the Issue The Americans believe that China is stealing their jobs, understating the Yuan and selling their products at unfairly low prices. These aspects certainly have a negative impact on the employment of Americans, but misunderstandings on both sides cause a trade war between China and the United States. However, China is not stealing American jobs. Foreign companies, most of which are American, produce almost 60% of China’s exports to the United States. These companies have relocated their production capacity in response to the competitive pressure to reduce the production costs and, thereby, to offer the best price on the market and higher dividends to its shareholders. Thus, it becomes obvious of who is accusing China of unfair competition, increase exports, and reduced prices. They are the US importers, American consumers who buy Chinese products at low prices, and shareholders of the US companies stationed in China who get their share of the import operations. A long trade war between the US and China will significantly harm all of these categories of the population (Hughes, 2005). Some critics of Chinas trade policies argue that China has huge foreign reserves as a result of direct investment and trade surplus. They believe it is a proof that China understates the Yuan. Therefore, foreign companies that invest in Chinas economy make it solely because of cheap labor and cheap currency. Moreover, when binding Yuan to the dollar, the Chinese currency undervaluation provides an unfair export advantage. This unfair advantage, according to critics, is the main cause of the US trade deficit with China. However, foreign business is in China for a very long time. This country has the worlds largest national market and allows the development of any multinational companies (Hughes, 2005). The reason for such a situation in China is not so much in the manipulating the exchange rate, as in the tight control of the prices and capital. With a free economy, exchange rate pegs to the dollar, and substantial accumulation of foreign currency would lead to a sharp increase in the money supply and inflation. Because the Chinese government regulates the prices of key industries in China, it does not happen. The increase in foreign investment and money supply stimulates the growth of production more and more, leading to overheating of the economy. However, thanks to the control, this process does not trigger inflation. Maintaining a stable Yuan exchange rate is an important task for Chinas economy. Therefore, Chinas currency does not increase as expected, not because of the artificially low rate by the Chinese government but thanks to the strict control of prices and capital in the key sectors of the economy (Hughes 2005). Many blame China in the US trade deficit, arguing that the Asian dragon lowers its currency, as well as product prices, causing an excessive demand for Chinese goods in the United States. However, Leightner J.E. (2010) believes that the United States is also guilty (if not more guilty than China) in this. He believes that the problem of the US trade deficit is excessive consumption of Americans. In contrast, one can observe the excessive savings in Chinese. In this case, one satisfies another. Speaking about the ways of the conflict Cai, Yan, Lian, Xin, (2013) consider that the protectionism of the US should be canceled. The authors state that the US and China should increase the trade cooperation. In that case, the cost of the conflict would be too high. However, this opinion seems to be biased and naive. After all, the current conditions of the US-China trade relations are the cause of the conflict. There are several ways to overcome the US-China conflict. Some support the policy of interaction, cooperation, and dialogue. Others prefer mixed methods, namely the use of dialogue when it can be effective in combination with invasive procedures of the WTO. There are also supporters of punitive measures against China as the only effective method to force China to play by the rules (Morrison, 2011) The United States and China are big world players competing for leadership. The motives of both countries will inevitably lead to a conflict. The USA is still the leader and has a great impact on the world market including China. However, China also has the leverage over the US. Countries that finance the US trade deficit take the US currency and hold it. Thus, the size of the Chinese foreign exchange reserves of $1 trillion corresponds to Chinese goods and services of one trillion dollars in the US market. These $1 trillion dollars is a potential lever of the influence of China on the US economy. If China suddenly decides to sell all of its foreign assets, it will cause a depreciation of the dollar by 44 percent in Asia and Europe. In addition, China may harm the United States in another way. It can cause significant inflation in some sectors of the US economy by using its dollar reserves to buy US goods and services. This advantage of China is due to the fact of the excessive consu mption of Americans. Enjoying consumption today, American citizens risk the well-being of future generations who may have to pay for the excessive consumption of its predecessors (Leightner, 2010). To avoid disastrous consequences of the US-China trade war, it is necessary that at least one player would step back if the reaching of the compromise would be failed.

Monday, October 21, 2019

Austrailian Civilization essays

Austrailian Civilization essays A countrys foreign policy is only partly the result of decisions made by its government: it is mainly imposed by circumstances. Australia, during the last fifty years, has been a country unsure of its place in the world. She has been bouncing from ally to ally, begging for a place under their umbrella of protection, ignoring and denying her place in the Asian region, and struggling to find a foreign policy that is in the best interest of her welfare and security. Australia truly finds herself, pardon the pun, stuck on a rock in a hard place. The Asian region in the past half-century has been an atmosphere of turmoil and unrest. Communism threatened Australias way of life and the fragile nation that had been preserved so carefully. These threats were very real and right at Australias doorstep. The Australian continent is nearly indefensible, and Australia realized this fact. Ideas such as yellow peril and forward defense dominated the headlines during these turbulent times. Australias small army and enormous size made it a good target for attack. Not to mention the fact that Australia still: ...carried the burden of blame for its past and present racial policies toward Asia. A foreign policy, that could ensure Australias safety, was needed in a hurry. In the following pages I will attempt to show how the Australian foreign policy has evolved due to four different circumstances. First, I will examine the way Australia reluctantly turned away from the United Kingdom and towards the United States for security and protection as a result of turmoil in Asia. Secondly, I will attempt to show how the Communist scare from China and elsewhere, along with the Korean War changed the face of Australian foreign policy forever. Third, I want to show how the Vietnam War was a time of realization and change for Australian foreign policy....

Sunday, October 20, 2019

The Names and Dates of the Tragedies of Euripides

The Names and Dates of the Tragedies of Euripides Euripides (c. 484-407/406) was an ancient writer of Greek tragedy in Athens and a part of the third of the famous trio with Sophocles and Aeschylus. As a Greek tragic dramatist,  he wrote about women and mythological themes as well as both together, such as Medea and Helen of Troy. Euripides was born in Attica and lived in Athens most of his life despite spending most of his time in Salamis. He enhanced the importance of intrigue in tragedy and passed away in Macedonia at the court of King Archelaus. Discover the innovation of Euripides, his background and review the list of tragedies and their dates. Innovations, Comedy,  and Tragedy As an innovator, some aspects of Euripides tragedy seem more at home in comedy than in tragedy. During his lifetime, Euripides innovations were often met with hostility, especially in the way his traditional legends portrayed the moral standards of the gods. Virtuous men appeared as more moral than the gods. Although Euripides portrayed women sensitively, he nonetheless had a reputation as a woman-hater; His characters range from victim  to empowered through stories of revenge, retaliation, and even murder. Five of the more popular tragedies he wrote includes  Medea, The Bacchae, Hippolytus, Alcestis, and The Trojan Women. These texts explore Greek mythology and look into the dark side of humanity, such as stories including suffering and revenge. List of Tragedies Over 90 plays were written by Euripides, but unfortunately only 19 have survived.  Here is a list of the tragedies of Euripides (ca. 485-406 B.C.) with approximate dates:   The Cyclops (438 B.C.)  An ancient Greek satyr play and the fourth part of Euripides tetralogy.Alcestis (438 B.C.)  His oldest surviving work about the devoted wife of Admetus, Alcestis, who sacrificed her life and replaced his in order to bring her husband back from the dead.Medea (431 B.C.)  This story is based on the myth of Jason and Medea first created in 431 BC. Opening in conflict, Medea is an enchantress who becomes abandoned by her husband Jason as he leaves her for someone else for political gain.  To take revenge, she kills the  children they had together.The Heracleidae (ca. 428 B.C.)  Meaning Children of Heracles, this tragedy based in Athens follows Heracles children. Eurystheus seeks to kill the children to keep them from performing revenge on him and they try to stay protected.Hippolytus (428 B.C.)  This Greek play is a tragedy based on the son of Theseus, Hippolytus, and can be interpreted to be about vengeance, love, jealousy, death and more.Andromache (ca. 427 B.C.)  This tragedy out of Athens shows the life of Andromache as a slave after the Trojan War. The drama focuses on the conflict between Andromache and Hermione, her masters new wife. Additional Tragedies: Hecuba (425 B.C.)The Suppliants (421 B.C.)Heracles (ca. 422 B.C.)Ion (ca. 417 B.C.)The Trojan Women (415 B.C.)Electra (413 B.C.)Iphigenia in Tauris (ca. 413 B.C.)Helena (412 B.C.)The Phoenician Women (ca. 410 B.C.)Orestes (408 B.C.)The Bacchae (405 B.C.)Iphigenia in Aulis (405 B.C.)

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Building Capabilities at the Westward Hilton Case Study

Building Capabilities at the Westward Hilton - Case Study Example th the subordinate staff and the managers could work together to better their business performance regardless of their job positions and ranks (Enz, 2010). This results in a better value of customers and positive financial performance in Westward Hilton. Both part time and full time employees were entitled to bonuses according to feedback from customers. This therefore, ensured that employees would do their best to satisfy their customers who in turn will remain loyal to their services. Westward Hilton also enjoys a brand awareness that is very strong and recall on its brand throughout its target market. The company has many brands like Double Tree, Hilton, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts and many other brands that enable it to become popular and have a strong brand loyalty among its customers. In addition to this is the flow of communication within the hotel. According to Enz (2010) eedbacks from quests, employees, head of departments and any other people involved were brought forward to a meeting and discussed to find ways of improving the services offered at the hotel. These advantages have proven to be sustainable to the company. Considering the human resource strategy, its competitive advantage lies on the relationship of employees and management. This is something that will definitely last for a very long time as a culture established among the employees internally. In that case, it will be very difficult for other companies to imitate the strategy. t has enabled the company achieve great financial performance and attract and retain their customers. 2. Any decision that will be made by Peter Green and other stakeholders regarding the sale of Westward Hilton will definitely have consequences. The sell will definitely affect the employees in the hotel. With the unique culture of Westward Hilton, the employees are used to a family business environment with team work. In that case, selling the hotel may make its employees feel that they have been abandoned

Friday, October 18, 2019

Greek and Roman Architecture and Chartres Cathedral Essay

Greek and Roman Architecture and Chartres Cathedral - Essay Example The inspiration was mainly derived from â€Å"Mycenaean megaron.† Their religious temples were different from those of Egyptians and Hindus, however; their temples had â€Å"Cella† which is their porch or the centre room with the statue of god in the centre as the main chief of the temple. This Cella or the centre room was usually surrounded by single or double rows of columns. Their Columns hold a central position in the design of the temple. The idea and design of post and lintel design of the columns was an inspiration derived from Egyptians which Greeks changed with their own decoration and format. They typically used Ionic, Doric and Corinthian design for column building. On the other hand, Romans followed Greek architectural design in buildings. Romans were the first ones to use concrete as an important building material. Their architectural design developed a relationship between the form and the function. They were the first ones to introduce roman arch in their temple designs. Their three famous structures include The Aqueducts, The Coliseum and The Pantheon. Chartres Cathedral in France is the best example of Gothic architecture. Chartres Cathedral best expresses the gothic art in the modern world today through its intact sculptures and stained glass windows. The Cathedral was completed in three different stages and each stage adds a different gothic touch to the building. The Cathedral is a magnificent piece of artwork, sculptures and towers. The towers are inspired by the Roman designs and style (Titus Burckhardt). The Cathedral has almost 150 stained glass windows which represent different stories and events from the bibles. Greeks and Romans have left their heavy influence on the history of architecture. They added meaning, expression and intelligence to the design of the buildings and temples which were followed by other nations,

Comparing genres Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Comparing genres - Essay Example Knives, guns, chainsaws, physical violence is extreme in nature and is frequently used in horror movies. On the other hand, action movies are packed more with body blows and gun fire. Violence is relatively less intense in action movies. Karate and Ju-Jitsu are often used by the protagonist to paralyze the enemy. Movies like ‘Lethal Weapon’ and ‘Bad Company’ suffice this notion as the protagonists in both movies use guns and their own bodily actions to neutralize the opponent. One thing is evident that the protagonist (the good guy) in action movies is never brutal; he never kills an innocent person and generally avoids bloodshed. Sex scenes are quite similar in both horror and action genres. In action movies, the protagonists are usually found making out with attractive females, movies like the ‘A-Team’ and ‘Lethal Weapon Series’ are good examples. In horror movies, usually a couple is shown engaged in sexual activity and the monster or the evil creature enters the room and starts killing people. Most probably the idea is to stir the emotional extremities of the audience by first engaging them in a relax mode by showing seductive erotic scenes and then shocking them by showing blood and gore. ‘Friday the 13th’ and ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ are known for such cinematic strategies. Racism is present in both genres but horror movies show a more disgusting way of spewing this issue. Movies, like ‘Scream’, ‘Cloverfield’ and ‘Friday the 13th’ show very degrading aspects of racism by nearly humiliating black community. Action movies in comparison are packed more with sophistication therefore the racism is also portrayed very intelligently. ‘Lethal Weapon Series’ shows a clumsy cop following the orders of a smart white police officer. Moreover in the movie ‘Training Day’, the black police officer is portrayed as the criminal who

Ontological argument - Rene Descartes Research Paper

Ontological argument - Rene Descartes - Research Paper Example The researcher is determined to critically analyze Descartes’ Ontological Argument in the light of the doctrines articulated by Avicenna, St. Anselm and Nietzsche by the authors including Roger Ariew, John Hawthorne, John M. DePoe and Oppenheimer & Zalta. Since it is a basic research in nature and scope, the researcher will seek support from the material discussing the philosophy of the Medieval and Classical Eras, where the paper will examine the existence of Ontological Argument in ancient times and influence of the Descartes’ doctrine on the future philosophers. One of the most astonishing points raised by Descartes, which invited anger and displeasure of his contemporary religious circles, is his determination to reject believing in such God, existence of Whom could not be proved through intellect, evidence and observation. The notion not only brought opposition of the religious dogmatism of his time, but also the philosophy kept on enjoying the status of a highly c ontroversial treatise for the future centuries to come. Consequently, Descartes was aptly declared as rebel, pervert and rejecter of true Christian faith. However, he stuck to the validity of his argument, and laid stress upon the significance of empiricism for having faith in various spiritual, natural, physical and social phenomena. The present study will look into the influence of Descartes’ notion on the future scientific developments too, which vehemently emphasize upon the presence of sound proofs in order to examine the validity of a hypothesis. Descartes, in his works, argues that religious sets of faith should not be taken as mere imitation of the ideas which have blindly been adopted by a large number of one’ community members without applying one’s intellect. Rather, human brain contains the powers to prove the legality of God’s existence. He refutes the very idea of accepting some presumptions and propositions without analyzing their validity through intellectual capabilities and sound examinations. It is therefore, he lays stress upon the significance of

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Proofread Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Proofread - Essay Example During physical assessment, I noted several bruises on the chin and abdomen. The patient informed me that the bruises were from a previous fall. I proceeded to monitor her heart for atrial fibrillation. During my assessment, I noted that the patient’s pulse was elevated and her blood pressure was high. I administered 40mg of Lasix by IV pulse via peripheral line and left the patient to rest. A few hours later, I went back to take the vital signs. Her blood pressure has decreased from 141/62 to 113/70. The patient was on fall precaution due to side effects of medication, which was hypotension. The Lasix was pushed slowly because it could cause hearing problems if it was pushed too fast. Thoracencetis was done and 1 liter of fluid was drained. I did not observe any ABD distention or swelling of the lower extremities. The patient was taking Lasix and void 1400CC of clear and yellow urine that was the expected outcome. I was confused during the auscultation of the lungs because I expected to hear crackles upon auscultation. However, I did not hear crackles, so I was puzzled by where all the fluid was coming from. I did not see any edema in any of extremities. The patient appeared healthy to me. After several discussions with my clinical instructor, I learned that the continuous weight loss could be an indication of cancer. The patient had PMH of hyperthyroidisms since even after consuming large amounts of nutrients, she still lost weight. At first, I thought the patient was losing weight because of thyroid. Later, I got convinced that it could have been an indication of cancer because she did not have any problems with weight loss during previous diagnoses. This patient’s symptoms were similar to my cousin’s. They were both losing weight very rapidly and coughing with no mucus. Later, my cousin was diagnosed with

Harriet Jacobs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Harriet Jacobs - Essay Example Norcom. Dr. Norcom (given the pseudonym Dr. Flint in her Jacobs’ novel) would play an influential role in the life of Jacobs, sexually abusing her for most of her early life as a slave girl and threatening her should she refuse him. All of these factors led to Harriet Jacobs leading a difficult early life, which she recorded in her memoir Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. Life for Harriet Jacobs as a slave girl in the south was not easy. Although her parents were considered to be relatively high status for slaves, her mother’s early death meant that she was alone and under the full control of slave masters for the entirety of her early life. Dr. Norcom (Flint) began to sexually harass Jacobs just a few years after she was entrusted to his care. Jacobs was still very young at this point, and this sexual harassment would be one of the major influences on her life and her later writing. Cleverly, Harriet consented to the sexual advances of another white man (Mr. Sands ), which she thought would prevent Dr. Flint from sexually harassing her. Although Jacobs has said that she did not love this man and did not find it to be a Christian relationship, it was still preferably to being abused at the hands of Flint. Dr.

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Proofread Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Proofread - Essay Example During physical assessment, I noted several bruises on the chin and abdomen. The patient informed me that the bruises were from a previous fall. I proceeded to monitor her heart for atrial fibrillation. During my assessment, I noted that the patient’s pulse was elevated and her blood pressure was high. I administered 40mg of Lasix by IV pulse via peripheral line and left the patient to rest. A few hours later, I went back to take the vital signs. Her blood pressure has decreased from 141/62 to 113/70. The patient was on fall precaution due to side effects of medication, which was hypotension. The Lasix was pushed slowly because it could cause hearing problems if it was pushed too fast. Thoracencetis was done and 1 liter of fluid was drained. I did not observe any ABD distention or swelling of the lower extremities. The patient was taking Lasix and void 1400CC of clear and yellow urine that was the expected outcome. I was confused during the auscultation of the lungs because I expected to hear crackles upon auscultation. However, I did not hear crackles, so I was puzzled by where all the fluid was coming from. I did not see any edema in any of extremities. The patient appeared healthy to me. After several discussions with my clinical instructor, I learned that the continuous weight loss could be an indication of cancer. The patient had PMH of hyperthyroidisms since even after consuming large amounts of nutrients, she still lost weight. At first, I thought the patient was losing weight because of thyroid. Later, I got convinced that it could have been an indication of cancer because she did not have any problems with weight loss during previous diagnoses. This patient’s symptoms were similar to my cousin’s. They were both losing weight very rapidly and coughing with no mucus. Later, my cousin was diagnosed with

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Homeostasis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Homeostasis - Essay Example The failure of the organs to excrete waste products is very detrimental to the health of a person and could possibly lead to death. Diseases are likewise outcomes of this failure. There are natural bodily processes like Osmoregulation which creates balance thus preventing the occurrence of diseases relating to the excretory organs. There are also man-made treatments to combat the negative effects of the malfunction of the excretory systems like Dialysis for severe kidney diseases. We shall concentrate on the two excretory organs: the kidneys as a component of the urinary system and the skin as a regulator of temperature. In the course of the discussion of the structures and functions of the urinary system and the skin, the effects of the failure of these systems will be tackled. The terms Osmoregulation and Dialysis will likewise be elaborated and explained. The urinary system has four major components: the kidneys, the ureters, the urinary bladder and the urethra. The main organs of the urinary system are the kidneys. The kidneys with its functional components called nephrons, form the urine. The process begins during blood circulation. Blood contains Urea, which is produced when protein-rich foods are broken down. Blood through the bloodstream travels through the kidneys and deposits the urea there along with water and other waste matters. This results to the formation of urine. The ureters are small tubes where urine passes through going to the bladder. Urine is then stored in the urinary bladder. The bladder sends information if there is a need for urination when the bladder is filled up. The contractions of the muscles in the bladder release the urine into a tube called urethra. The urethra is the last passageway which allows the body to release urine or to undergo the process of urination. The primary function of the urinary system is to get rid of waste products in the body resulting from cellular metabolism. This function preserves the normal composition and volume of body fluids. Aside from maintaining the appropriate amount of water in the body, the urinary system also has other functions. It sustains the normal pH of the blood and helps in managing the proper production of red blood cells by secreting the erythropoietin hormone. By producing the renin enzyme, the urinary system likewise helps in the maintenance of normal blood pressure. What will happen if the major components of the urinary system fail It will lead to major health problems. Diseases or disorders resulting from the urinary system failure include Kidney Stones which vary in size and may cause little or great pain, and Renal Failure of the kidneys which is a result of the kidneys not being able to properly and completely remove waste products from the blood. In this case, the kidneys are also not able to regulate the chemicals and water in the body. Other disorders are the Urinary Tract Infections which are caused by urinary tract bacteria, Urinary Incontinence, or the inability to control the bladder in releasing urine, and Urinary Retention, or problems in emptying the bladder (Your Urinary System and How It

Monday, October 14, 2019

Cross-border MA Deals in Vietnam

Cross-border MA Deals in Vietnam The period from 1995 to 2006 There were few MA from TNCs from 1995 to 2006. In this period the legal system in Vietnam had almost no specific provisions for MA, however, until 2006 there were 29 cross-border deals with a total value of 196 million dollars. Those activities was performed on a small scale. A remarkable transaction in this period is when Colgate-Palmolive purchased Son Hai LLC, which owned Da Lan – a famous toothpaste brand name in Vietnam at that time, at three million US dollars (Nguyen 2012). At that moment Da Lan maintained about 30 percent of Vietnam toothpaste market share. However, in 2005 MA market in Vietnam was marked by the introduction of the Enterprise Law including provisions on mergers and acquisitions. In addition, the equitization of State enterprises has been adopted by the Government. Subsequently, other documents such as the 2005 Law on Investment and the 2006 Securities Law also encouraged MA from TNCs. The year 2007 2007 was a year of tremendous growth of MA from TNCs in Vietnam. This is the year after Vietnam joined WTO, and the country had to fulfil its international commitments and improved the investment environment by reforming the legal system and foreign investment policies. Consequently, that event attracted foreign investors to Vietnam MA market. The evidence is that the number and value of MA deals by TNCs in 2007 increased 700 and 1400 percent respectively compared with the previous year. These number marked a turning point in Vietnam MA market. The year 2008 There were some events, which affected cross-border MA market, occurred in 2008. Government decree 139, which became effective on 1 January 2008, remains in force. The decree in principle removed limits on foreign ownership ratios in Vietnamese companies except in relation to public listed companies where the 49 percent cap remained in place (along with a 40 percent cap in public non-listed companies). In addition, sector specific limitations, most importantly in telecoms, financial services and other services remained in place. In addition, one of the most significant regulatory developments in 2008 arising from WTO membership obligations was the granting of licenses to wholly foreign owned banks. The first recipients of such licenses were HSBC, Standard Chartered and ANZ Bank. The number of MA from TNCs in 2008 was 30, increased about 200 percent compared with the number in 2007. The value of all cross-border MA deals was US$ 859 million, increased about 200 percent with the number in the previous year. Notable cross-border MA deals in 2008 included: In July, Jardine Cycle Carriage Limited (JCC) announced that it had acquired a 12 percent interest in Truong Hai Auto Corporation (THACO), a leading Vietnamese automotive company, for a cost of approximately $41 million. In August, JCC acquired a further 8 percent stake for US$ 39 million. THACO was established in Vietnam in 1997 and incorporated as a joint stock company in 2007. THACO’s principal activities include the manufacture, assembly, distribution, retail, repair and maintenance of commercial and passenger vehicles in Vietnam under the Kia, Foton, King Long, Hyundai and THACO brands. The company operates through a network of showrooms and dealers throughout the country. Under the agreement, the Singapore-based company will help THACO promote its automobile sales in Vietnam and other markets in the region. In August, France’s Socià ©tà © Gà ©nà ©rale, which has had representative offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City since 1989 and is amongst the market leaders in Project and Export Finance in Vietnam, announced the acquisition of 15 percent of Southeast Asia Bank (SeABank). It is understood that Socià ©tà © Gà ©nà ©rale may rise its holding to 20 percent in the future, the maximum allowable under the current regulations. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Headquartered in Hanoi, SeABank has a network of 55 branches and transaction offices covering Vietnam’s principal economic centers. Socià ©tà © Gà ©nà ©rale committed to provide technical assistance to SeABank particularly in the fields of risk management, technology, and international payment services and to strengthen its retail banking product offerings. In August, HSBC became the first foreign bank in Vietnam authorized to hold a 20 percent interest in a domestic bank by increasing its stake in the Vietnam Technological and Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Techcombank) from 14.4 percent to 20 percent. Also in August, in a deal valued at approximately US$ 9.1 million, Daikin Industries Ltd. Of Japan bought Viet Kim Co., a Ho Chi Minh City-based air conditioner distributor. In October, the Asian operating arm of Bunge Limited announced its acquisition of a 50 percent stake in the owner/operator of Phu My Port. The investment provides Bunge with greater opportunities to serve its customers in the growing market for agricultural commodities in Vietnam. The port is located on the Thi Vai River, approximately 70 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City and is near a large number of commercial feed mills. Phu My Port is the only commercial dry bulk port in Vietnam capable of receiving large, Panamax-class ships. According to Bunge, market forecasts call for aggregate volumes of soybean meal, corn and wheat imports to increase by approximately 10 percent per year over the next five years. United Overseas Bank (UOB), incorporated in Singapore, announced an increase in its shareholding in The Southern Commercial Joint Stock Bank of Vietnam (Southern Bank) from 10 percent to 15 percent in October 2008. The deal value was US$ 15.6 million. UOB purchased its initial 10 percent stake in January 2007 and pledged to provide technical assistance to Southern Bank as part of the agreement. Also in October, Nippon Steel Corp signed a memorandum of understanding to acquire a 10 percent to 20 percent stake in POSCO-Vietnam Co. Ltd., a cold-rolled mill manufacturer and a wholly owned unit of POSCO Co. Ltd., of Korea. A plant owned by POSCO-Vietnam Co. Ltd, which is under construction in the south of the country, has an investment value of approximately US$ 530 million and is expected to start production in September 2009. In December, TBWA Worldwide announced the acquisition of a â€Å"significant shareholding† in Biz Solutions, one of the leading integrated marketing communications agencies in Vietnam. TBWA is committed to bring its global integrated marketing brand â€Å"Tequila† to Vietnam by rebranding Biz Solutions as Biz Tequila. TBWA indicated that the acquisition is part of a long-term investment program in Vietnam in anticipation of significant future growth in the country. In another notable deal in December 2008, Watson Wyatt Worldwide Inc., a global consulting firm, announced that it had acquired SMART Human Resource Vietnam Company Limited (SMART HR), an HR consulting firm. By establishing its operations in Vietnam through this acquisition, Watson Wyatt is aiming to provide its global and regional clients with consulting advice in what it considers one of Asia’s most dynamic emerging markets. The year 2009 Although the number of MA from TNCs continuously increased about 17 percent, their value decreased sharply over 70 percent compared with 2008. The most notable cross-border deals announced during the year were: In October, HSBC Insurance (Asia Pacific) Holdings Limited (HSBC) signed an agreement to increase its shareholding in Bao Viet Holdings, Vietnams leading insurance and financial services group, to 18 percent from the current level of 10 percent for a consideration of VND1.88 trillion (approximately US$105.3 million). A total of 53,682,474 new shares will be issued to HSBC through a private placement to increase HSBCs stake. As part of the original agreement, HSBC continues to hold certain pre-emptive rights allowing it to acquire shares currently owned by the Ministry of Finance with a maximum permitted HSBC shareholding of 25 percent in the five years from signing of the agreement and at prevailing foreign ownership limits thereafter. In October, Taipei Fubon Commercial Bank Co Ltd, a Taiwan based provider of commercial banking services and a subsidiary of Fubon Financial Holding Company Ltd, a listed Taiwan based financial services company, acquired the Vietnamese branches of Chinfon Commercial Bank Co Ltd, a Taiwan based commercial bank and a subsidiary of Central Deposit Insurance Corporation, a Taiwan based deposit insurance company, for a consideration of US$ 78.1 million. In November, a leading Japanese food and beverage company, House Foods Corporation (House Foods), signed an agreement to make an investment of approximately US$20 million in Masan Group Corporation by acquiring 9 million new ordinary shares at a price of approximately VND40,000 per share, representing a stake of around 1.85 percent of the Group’s enlarged share capital. The transaction valued Masan Group Corporation at over US$1 billion. Companies that Masan Group owns and in which it invests include Masan Food Corporation, one of Vietnam’s largest food and beverage companies, and Techcombank, a leading Joint Stock Commercial Bank in which HSBC is a strategic partner. Masan Food Corporation, established in 2003, holds a market share of approximately 50 percent in some of Vietnam’s most popular food product subsectors, including fish sauce and soy sauce. House Foods, founded in 1913 and listed on both the Tokyo and Osaka Stock Exchanges since 1971, is one of the l argest food and beverage players in Japan with a dominant position in the curry category. In July, POSCO, a listed South Korea based steel manufacturer agreed to acquire a 90 percent stake in Asia Stainless Corporation (â€Å"ASC†), a Vietnam based manufacturer of stainless steel, for an estimated consideration of US$50 million. With a current annual capacity of 30,000 tons, ASC (located near Ho Chi Minh City) has plans to expand its production capacity to 85,000 tons per annum by 2010. In December, Sapporo Holdings Limited, a listed Japanese company with interests in alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, restaurants and real estate, agreed to acquire Kronenbourg Vietnam Limited, a Vietnam based producer of beer, from Vietnam National Tobacco Corporation (Vinataba), a Vietnam based company engaged in manufacturing and production of tobacco and cigarettes, and Carlsberg Breweries A/S for a consideration of US$ 25.4million. Under the terms of the agreement, Sapporo acquired a 50 percent stake from Carlsberg Breweries A/S and a further 15 percent stake from Vinataba. The remaining 35 percent stake will continue to be held by Vinataba. Upon completion of the transaction, Kronenbourg Vietnam Limited will be renamed Sapporo Vietnam Limited. The year 2010 In this year both the number and value of MA from TNCs decreased and fall to the bottom during the period from 2007 to 2011. While the number diminished about 8,5 percent the value diminished significantly 60 percent. The most notable cross-border deals announced during the year were: State-owned Oman Investment Fund acquired a 12.6% stake, or 20.208 million ordinary shares, in Hanoibased Petrovietnam Insurance JSC, a unit of state-owned Vietnam National Oil Gas Group (PetroVietnam), for VND40,000 (US$2.12) per share, or a total value of VND808.3 billion (US$42.84 million). Gamuda Land Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned unit of Gamuda Bhd of Malaysia, agreed to acquire a 60% interest in Sai Gon Thuong Tin Tan Thang Investment Real Estate JSC, a Ho Chi Minh City based real estate development firm majority owned by Sai Gon Thuong Tin Real Estate JSC (Sacomreal), from Sacomreal for VND 23,889 (US$1.29) per share, or a total value of VND 1.533 trillion (US$82.8 million) in cash. Fullerton Financial Holdings Pte Ltd of Singapore acquired a 15% stake, in Mekong Development Joint Stock Commercial Bank, a Long Xuyen-based bank for an undisclosed amount. Orix Corporation of Japan acquired a 25% stake, or 11.408 million ordinary shares in Indochina Capital Vietnam Holdings Ltd, a real estate fund manager and provider of financial services, in a privately negotiated transaction. Commonwealth Bank of Australia, acquired a 15% stake in Vietnam International Commercial Joint Stock Bank (VIB). Whilst information on pricing of this transaction was not made public, this is likely to be one largest deal in terms of deal size since VIB is one of the largest private banks in Vietnam. TNK-BP Holding of Russia, a 50:50 joint venture between BP PLC (BP) and Alfa Group Consortium, agreed to acquire a 35% stake in an offshore natural gas block belonging to BP Plc. Concurrently, TNK-BP agreed to acquire a 32.7% stake in the Nam Con Son Pipeline and Terminal and 33.3% stake in Phi My 3 BOT Power Co Ltd. These transactions were part of a larger overall transaction estimated to have a combined value of US$1.8 billion. The year 2011 The cross-border MA market showed a sign of recovery in 2011 while both the number and value of cross-border MA deals reached higher levels than the year 2008. The number and value increased 35 percent and 1100 percent respectively compared with the previous year. Notable cross-border MA deals in 2011 included: C.P Pokphand, China’s leading animal feed producer bought 70.8 % stake in C.P Vietnam Livestock Co, 100% owned by Thai Charoen Pokphand Group and one of the leading livestock and seafood companies in Vietnam, for $609 million to control Vietnam market. C.P Vietnam, established in 1993, holds a 20% of animal feed market share, 77% of industrial pig farming market and 30% of chicken raising in Vietnam. Holding 70.8% stake in C.P Vietnam is a good opportunity for C.P. Pokphand Co to create an animal feed supply channel from Vietnam and make impact on the prices. VimpelCom spent $196 million to raise its stake in Gtel- Mobile to 49%, to increase its controlling power and actively manage Beeline after 1 year of poor performance. Gtel- Mobile is the developer of Beeline system worth $670 million of which 40% is owned by Vimpelcom and 60% by Gtel. After 1 year of operation, Gtel- Mobile had only 200,000 subscribers compared with the target of 1 million. Vimpelcom decided to pay $196 million to raise its stake in GTel Mobile by 9% to 49% and became Beeline controlling party. Unicharm Corp. acquired a 95% stake of Diana Joint Stock Co for $128 million. Diana currently holds 30% disposable diaper and 40% toilet paper in Vietnam. Unicharm, a Japanese producer of similar goods, targeted to invest in technology and expand production to become the biggest company in Vietnam in disposable diaper and toilet paper. The current market leader in the industry is 100% American owned Kimberly-Clark Co. Unicharm has 25% market share in the Asian but had not appeared in Vietnam before the deal. Diana is a family-run company and the divestment worth $128 million after 15 years from establishment was a remarkable investment. CJ CGV spent $73.6 million acquiring 80% Megastar Media Company (Megastar), Vietnams leading cinema owner and film distributor with 300% annual revenue growth. The Seoul-based CJ-CGV Ltd, an operator of 75 multiplex movie theatres with 610 screens in Korea, a multiplex in Koreantown Los Angeles and five others in China, bought 80% stake of Megastar through acquiring 92% stake in Virgin Islands-registered Envoy Media Partners. Buying Megastar was a part of CJ-CGV’s strategy to expand operation in Vietnam and India. The group planned to spend $23 million in expanding Megastar screen system in Vietnam. This was considered a good deal for CJ-CGV to enter Vietnam’s entertainment market with high growth rate in recent years. Fortis Healthcare International spent $64 million to buy 65% stake in Vietnams Hoan My Medical Corp with nearly 1000 beds. This was the Fortis Healthcare International’s sixth investment in Asia in the past eight months and an important step in consolidating its comprehensive healthcare service in Asia- Pacific. Besides getting support in technology, technique and management skills from Fortis Healthcare International, Hoan My can take advantage of its size and prestige to sustainably develop through improving service quality. Marico, a leading consumer and service firm in India, bought 85% stake of International Consumer Products (ICP) for $62 million. Marico is one of the top consumer goods firms in India with annual revenue of $600 million, focusing on beauty and wellness products. ICP, founded in 2001, has flagship brands such as X-men and Lovite and generated $25 million revenue in 2010 with average CAGR growth of 23% in the past three years. Jollibee Foods bought 49% stake in Viet Thai International (VTI) which owns Highlands Coffee chain. The agreement included VTI’s transferring 60% of its business in Hong Kong (the owner of Hard Rock Cafà ©) to Jollibee Foods and getting a $35 million loan from Jollibee Foods with an interest rate of 5% p.a., due in 2016. After the deal, the joint venture was expected to own 139 stores including 118 ones in Vietnam and 21 in other 5 countries

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Portrayal of Masculinity in Art Essay -- Essays Papers

Portrayal of Masculinity in Art According to several versions of the Webster dictionaries, the word â€Å"masculinity† refers to the characteristics of being masculine, manly, male stereotypes, having or occurring in a stressed final syllable , having the final chord occurring on a strong beat , of or forming the formal, active, or generative principle of the cosmos. The word â€Å"masculinity† overall reflects the stereotype of men being a strong force, in music chords or in general. Looking into Brett Eberhardt’s drawing, â€Å"Introduction†, the thought of sexuality barely crossed my mind. After talking to Mr. Eberhardt about his choice to draw a self-portrait, he stated that he wanted to depict a human, male or female. It just so happens that he draws himself best. Eberhardt’s drawing is nostalgic in the depiction of curiosity. The suggestion of curiosity plays with many topics that range from childish curiosity to sexual curiosity. So I wondered how his piece might be considered a masculine drawing and how masculinity has been portrayed...

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Mobilize Leaders to Accelerate Results :: essays research papers

Mobilize Leaders to Accelerate Results http://www.iveybusinessjournal.com/view_article.asp?intArticle_ID=538   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In this article coauthors, Brian Brittain, John Swain and Janice Simpson outline three tactics that have succeeded in unleashing productive energy and accelerating business results for organizations that have used them in a conscious and disciplined manner. Moreover, the ideas discussed in the writing are heavily related to the concepts confered by Chapter 12 in the textbook referring to strategic leadership. Specifically, Figure 12.4 shows a diagram of an exercise for gaining effective leadership. The author's ideology for their 3 common practices of strategic tactics known as; Beyond the cascade, Live the Story, and Implement a Sustaining Leadership Strategy are easily reflected by the materials are similar to the 3 directions of the exercise.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the fast-changing global workplace, there is no longer one organizational structure that can be used universally to increase organizational performance. Change is the only constant in today's global, knowledge-based economy. Leaders need skills necessary to think and act strategically in translating mission into objectives, developing plans and programs to accomplish objectives, and to implement plans and programs. Each organization, department, and division must define the best systems and structures for its specific vision, mission, strategies, and competencies. The leader must get input and support from the experts who are busy doing the work of the organization and create alignment with customers and stakeholders. The International manager/executive as well as public sector executives and manager should create a road map to build organizational systems that are dynamic, flexible, and outcome focused that are successful in creating high performance. Some pra ctical results I found to be important include:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1) Link organizational competencies to outcomes and results defined in your   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  strategic plan.