The emergency management plan Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The emergency management plan - Case Study Example In addition, it should contact health care systems in other areas to inform them of possible relocation to their site. The GIS should be able to help identify the locations that are both near and safe for relocation (US Fire Administration, 2011). During a widespread disaster, deployment of multiple ICPs allows the situation to be handled by knowledgeable and adept respondents. For example, criminal situations are handled by the police, injuries are attended to by medical personnel, and fire or threat to property are responded by the fire department (Leander ISD, 2011). Each facility should have their own emergency management plan acting as an independent ICP. The EOC, in turn, should have a detailed description of each facility uploaded to its GIS (US Fire Administration, 2011). This facilitates the EOC decide on which particular facilities need quick assistance based on what the facility possesses and what the emergency calls for. For example, after receiving information from the D irector’s office, the hospital must implement developed plans to ready the facility once storm comes. Through its commander, the hospital director, a certain group of personnel is to stay indoors unless otherwise directed. This facility has determined to be self-sustainment for a minimum of 96-hours without community assistance. While the hospital staff and other affected facility stay indoors, the EOC should get a list of supplies available to the possibly relocated individuals from the Nuitrition and Food Service of the staff that can be deployed before disaster strikes. Beforehand, this should be stored close to an area usually hit by disasters, as determined through GIS, for easy access and transfer (US Fire Administration, 2011). If an evacuation order is received from the Director’s office, the EOC will initiate relocation of patients and personnel. ICPs, in turn, should provide daily situation reports during and after disaster. Once the disaster is over, the EOC , through the ICPs, should initiate recovery by returning to functional facilities and building new infrastructures. For example, the police is in charge of maintaining community safety and protection of limited supplies. Aside from radio communications, the EOC will also establish an ICP to maintain a website for staff, patients, and family members to receive information before, during, and after the storm through the Internet. The use of the Internet has been a common alternative form of communication during disaster (University of Texas, 2012). However, since telephone, radio and Internet may be out of service during such situations efficient transfer of information through verbal communication and wtitten memo is necessary (GOI-UNDP, 2011). Training for the efficient means to communicate through these means is needed. Bomb Threat Plan Preparation from such threat shall also include training of personnel to record exact wording of a threat, a caller’s indecisive or contrad ictory answers to questions asked, and the caller’s voice description, which will aid the Director in

Effects of Parental Divorce on Childrens Growth

Effects  of  Parental  Divorce  on  Childrens  Growth Divorce has become an important social issue which can not be ignored and avoided. In mid-19th century, only 5% of the marriages were broken in the United States, and now almost 50% of first marriages were ended in divorce, there were 100 million children who experienced parental divorce in the United States, in England and Wales, more than 140,007 children were facing parental separation every year. The children of this kind have become an important part of the vulnerable group in modern society, which also attracts the attention of many scholars. A large number of social evidence shows that the psychological trauma which the breakdown of a family brings children is obvious and will exist for a long term. Relevant scholars sociological research also showed that divorce had a negative impact on the cognitive development, personality development, mental health, relationships, social behavior development and other aspects of Childrens. To explore the influence of parental divorce on ch ildrens growth trajectory, this essay reviewed relevant literatures and conducted a critical analysis towards the literatures. Chapter II Discussion Through reviewing relevant academic literatures on divorce, research on the influence of divorce on childrens development included the following contents. 2.1 Cognitive levels and academic performance Research (Amans et al, 2001) showed that there was a very significant difference in areas of cognition, reasoning and academic achievement between children in divorced families and complete families, the impact of divorce on childrens learning performance was the most, the impact on cognition was less than the impact on academic achievement, the impact on the non-text logical reasoning was minimal. There was no significant difference in the cognitive aspects between the children of different genders in divorced families, and the girls academic performance was significantly better than the boys. Levels of cognitive development and academic performance of seven, eight or nine year old childrens from divorced families were significantly lower than the childrens from complete families. Amato (2001) made use of Meta analysis in his study. Meta analysis refers to using a number of statistical methods to analyze the collected research data. Its advantage is to increase the reliability of co nclusions through increasing sample sizes, so as to address the inconsistency of findings. The conclusion of Amans research (Amans et al, 2001) was also based on Meta analysis, he used appropriate statistical to conduct systematic, objective and comprehensive quantitative analysis towards lots of relevant research results in 1990s and found that the scores of learning of childrens in divorced families were significantly lower than the childrens from complete families, he pointed out that this gap was increased slightly when compared with the situation in 1980. 2.2 Emotional development and personality development Amatos (2001) study showed that children from single parent families were less able to control themselves and their assessment for themselves was too high. There were a higher proportion of children who were abnormal in their mood, emotion and personality, their specific performance included preferring crying, depression, irritability, anger, fear, etc., their bad character included low self-esteem, unsociability, poor self-control ability, frailty, lying, cheating, apathy, anxiety, etc., but majority of them had a strong independence. Children whose parents were separated had significantly polarized introversive or exoscopic characters, and most of them had singly introversive or exoscopic personalities, and majority children who were from complete families had the intermediate personalities. The research method which Amato (2001) adopted was Meta analysis, by comparing conclusions of a large number of research he found that, in fact, there was difference between children who grew u p in complete families and children who grew up in single parent families, but the difference was not as big as what usually imagined. His (Amato, 2001)research showed that parental divorce was only one factor in the process of a childs growth, there were other factors that could influence a childs growth, but his research did not specify what these other factors were. 2.3 Mental health Relevant research (Aaron et al, 1999) has indicated that there was significant difference in the general levels of mental health between children from divorced families and children from complete families, children with single parent had more psychological problems, including tendency of a serious loneliness, unwilling contacting with people, tendency of self-accusation and giving low evaluations for individual abilities and qualities, strong feelings of inferiority, obvious anxiety, lacks of confidence in interpersonal relationships, lacks of security, tendency of serious impulsions, etc., many children often felt depressed, irritable and had extreme behavior, their physical symptoms which caused by psychological problems were more obvious. Relevant research (Aaron et al, 1999) also explained this phenomenon, because the childrens parents divorced, they lacked parental encouragement, in the face of setbacks, they couldnt get strong incentives, resulting in a lack of confidence. And because of parental divorce, it caused the reduction of parents concerning about the children, lack of communication with their children and failing to detect changes in the children life and thought would lead to the childrens failing to deal with the problems in a timely manner, thereby resulting in depression, irritability and other emotions. 2.4 Interpersonal relationship The research on the interpersonal relationship of childrens from divorced families was mainly carried out in the areas of peer relationship, parent-child relationship and control ability. Study has shown that judging from the perspectives of peer relationship, subjective and objective control abilities, children with single parent was not as good as the childrens from complete families. In terms of parent-child relationship, children with single parent were not satisfied with their parents and families, their relationship with their parents wasnt as good as the childrens from complete families. Even when they grew up, they still showed their distrust towards their parents, as Jacquet and Surra (2001) found in their study that even taking full consideration of the quality of parent-child relationship, the adult children still had a strong sense of distrust. Moreover, parents divorce also had a profound effect on the childrens establishing a close relationship with their lovers when th ey grew up. Jacquet and Surra (2001) took young couples of 19- 35 years old as research objects and investigated the determinacy of the relationship between them and their cognition and understanding towards the problems between them, they found that women from divorced families had a sense of lack of trust and satisfaction, showing ambivalent feelings and conflicts. Although there was no difference between the men from divorced families and the men from complete families (Emery, 1999), but because of the marital status of their own parents, the former thought that the relationship between couples was temporary. Thus, parental separation not only affects childrens close relationship with their parents, but also has a negative impact on the childrens creating their own intimate relationships when they grow up, the impact of parental separation on childrens understanding of interpersonal relationship is negative and permanent, making the children show great adaptability in dealing wit h interpersonal relationship. 2.5 Behavior problems Study (Jeynes, 2001) showed that the problem behavior of childrens from divorced families was more than childrens from complete families, the behavior included lying, cheating, bragging and boast, poor school performance and fearing of school, etc. There was a very close relationship between childrens Internet addiction and their divorced families. Jeynes (2001) investigated the childrens alcohol problems after their parents divorced and found that compared with the children whose parents have divorced for more than 4 years, the children whose parents divorced newly had the same frequency of drinking, the number of the children who indulged in drinking was increased, and they were more likely to be affected by alcohol, the frequency and quantity of the two groups of the children who addicted drinking were more than the children from complete families (Jeynes, 2001), the children who didnt have complete families were more likely to drink and affected by alcohol. The greatest significa nce of Jeynes research (2001) did not lie in confirming that children of divorced families were more likely to drink than children of complete families, but proving that both children whose parents divorced four years ago and the children whose parents divorced newly had the same frequency of drinking, thereby refuting some people opinion of thinking that divorce only had an impact on children at the time when their parents divorced, it further confirmed that the influence of parental divorce on children would be lasted for a long time. Chapter III Conclusion Through literature review, this essay summarized the impact of divorce on childrens development and tried to find out the problems existing in relevant study and explore the directions of future research.  ·The above-mentioned research on children of single parent families particularly concerned about adolescents, especially callan, there was less study on young children. Therefore, it should seek for evaluation means which is suitable for the characteristics of infants and preschool children, paying more attention to their psychological development and adaptation.  ·The previous research on children who were from divorced families generally compared the behavior problems between children from divorced families and complete families, or by statistical methods to control other household variables to examine the direct impact of parental separation on childrens behavior problems. The study has provided a wealth of useful information, but often overlooked the impact of other family variables in the divorce process on children. Thus future research should not only concern about the impact of divorce itself on children, but also pay attention to the role of other variables relate to divorce, such as the quality of parent-child relationship, the marriage conflicts before divorce and during parental separation, the living conditions of children after their parents divorce, etc. It should pay a special attention to the changes of the internal mechanism which affects the childrens adaptability.  ·Research on Children from divorced families was mostly transverse study, few was longitudinal study. Childrens development is a process, only depending on the existing transverse study is difficult to explore the impact of parents separation on childrens development of different stages and its change process. Therefore, the relationship between parents divorce and childrens development needs to be analyzed with a clear and tracked investigation which is the problem needs to be resolved in future study.

The Russian Tsars Control of the Kazakh Steppe Essay -- Russian Empir

To what extent and in what ways did Russian Tsars control the Kazakh steppe between 1820 and 1890? During political Kazakh khans of three Hordes gave oaths and signed papers of their inclusion to Russian Empire. Although the documents were signed, both sides did not obey them . Empire had not got any actual political power in the beginning of 19th century in Kazakh steppe, and numerous anti-Russian rebellions support this claim. The document of â€Å"Ustav o Sibirskih Kirgizah, 1822† made it possible to gain control of the steppe by creating a system with new approach of ‘divide and rule’. New policy included creating ‘elite’ with developed morals and literacy relying on the nobel families, so called Chinggisids, and land new administration policy. Rebellions, presence of national identity, resistance to settlement of nomads caused difficulties in establishing control in the steppe. However, even though there was some kind of oppositon from nomads, the policy was very successful. Russian empire was in control of the Kazakh steppe after mid-ninetee nth century when steppe officially was divided into separate entities. The Plan of Reorganization (1809) of Tsarist Russia did not take into account differences of central and peripheral parts. Imperial legislative law applied with restrictions and exceptions depending on regions, but general principle was decentralization of the Tsarist Russia by dividing it into several parts and concentration of the administrative units by integrating central and regional agencies. Speranskii’s â€Å"Ustav o Sibirskih Kirgizah, 1822† reform assigned administrative units and positions to create a new bureaucracy . When the position of khan was removed the unity of the nomadic tribes was destabilized. Thus... .... 1 (Jan. - Mar., 2003), pp. 5-33 Levi, S. (1999). India, Russia and the Eighteenth-Century Transformation of the Central Asian Caravan Trade. Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient, Vol. 42, No. 4 (1999), pp. 519-548 Malikov, Y. (2005). The Kenesary Kasymov Rebellion (1837–1847): A National-Liberation Movement or â€Å"a Protest of Restoration†? Nationalities Papers, Vol. 33, No. 4 Manz, B. F. (1987). Central Asian Uprisings in the Nineteenth Century: Ferghana under the Russians. The Russian Review, vol. 46, 1987, pp. 267-281 Martin, V. (2010). Kazakh Chinggisids, land and political power in the nineteenth century: a case study of Syrymbet. Central Asian Survey, 29:1, 79-102 Sbornik dokumentov. (1996). Natsional’no-osvoboditel’naia bor’ba Kazakhskogo naroda pod predvoditel’stvom Kenesary Kasymova (Sbornk dokumentov). Almaty, 1996, p. 39, 121-122

Experimental Estimating Deflection of a Simple Beam Bridge Model Using Grating Eddy Current Sensors

Abstract: A novel three-point method using a grating eddy current absolute position sensor (GECS) for bridge deflection estimation is proposed in this paper. Real spatial positions of the measuring points along the span axis are directly used as relative reference points of each other rather than using any other auxiliary static reference points for measuring devices in a conventional method. Every three adjacent measuring points are defined as a measuring unit and a straight connecting bar with a GECS fixed on the center section of it links the two endpoints. In each measuring unit, the displacement of the mid-measuring point relative to the connecting bar measured by the GECS is defined as the relative deflection. Absolute deflections of each measuring point can be calculated from the relative deflections of all the measuring units directly without any correcting approaches. Principles of the three-point method and displacement measurement of the GECS are introduced in detail. Both static and dynamic experiments have been carried out on a simple beam bridge model, which demonstrate that the three-point deflection estimation method using the GECS is effective and offers a reliable way for bridge deflection estimation, especially for long-term monitoring. Keywords: three-point method; deflection estimation; relative deflection; absolute deflection; grating eddy current sensor (GECS) OPEN ACCESS Sensors 2012, 12 9988 1. Introduction. After a bridge is put into use, gradual deterioration is inevitable because of loading, temperature changes or other environmental factors. In order to guarantee the safety and durability of those bridges which are expensive and closely related with people’s livelihood, long-term and continuous structural health monitoring is an essential part of the maintenance management. Among the various structural performance evaluations, vertical deflection is an important parameter that can directly and effectively indicate a bridge ’s behavior. In terms of instrumentation for deflection estimation, there are contact and non-contact deflection estimation methods. Traditional displacement sensors such as mechanical dial gauges or linear variable differential transducers (LVDTs) are used in contact measurement, through which static or real-time displacement values can be obtained directly or fed into a computer for processing and displaying via a data cable. This method, however, requires access under the bridge and installation of a temporary supporting system to mount sensors, which is time consuming and not very efficienct. In addition, it might even be unavailable when bridges are over rivers, highways or have high clearance. Another contact sensor is the fiber optic Bragg-grating (FBG) sensor through which the deflection is calculated from the measured strain data and displacement-strain relationship [1,2]. In this way, however, the calculated displacement from strain data is sensitive to noise, and the sensors are expensive and must be embedded into the structure, which to a certain degree is difficult for bridges in service. To cope with those inconveniences in contact measuring methods, various non-contact approaches have been proposed. Based on the detection of the Doppler shift of the laser light, a laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV) equipped with displacement and velocity signal decoders can measure both bridge deflection and vibration simultaneously [3]. In this way, a static reference point (usually underneath the bridge) is needed for device mounting, and the device should be attended, which limits it’s usability for long-term monitoring. Among image methods, dynamic deflection with high resolution of the bridge can be obtained through using digital image processing techniques [4], while deflection distribution from the images of the bridge girder surface recorded by a digital camera before and after deformation can be evaluated by digital image correlation techniques [5], and digital close-range terrestrial photogrammetry (DCRTP) can measure the spatial coordination in three-dimensions [6,7]. Like the LDV, devices such as video cameras used in image methods cannot be left unattended and they are easily affected by weather conditions. Use of a Global Positioning System (GPS) can provide spatial locations of the measuring points on the bridge in real-time by comparing with a continuing operational reference station (CROS). It offers a long-term monitoring approach without being affected by climatic factors [8,9], but due to its relatively low accuracy, it is only applied to those bridges with significant deformations. All the non-contact methods mentioned above, although they differ in instrumentation, have one thing in common, a static reference point or CROS that is kept a certain distance away from the bridge is selected for installation of the measuring device, otherwise measurements cannot be carried out. Another method is using inclinometers which can be installed on the bridge directly along a line paralleling the bridge span axis [10,11], and both static and dynamic deflection time history curves can be calculated through curve-fitting technology based on the accurate angle records of the inclinometers. An outstanding feature of the inclinometer is that static reference Sensors 2012, 12 9989 points mentioned above are no longer needed. This approach reduces the dependence on environmental conditions and it is suitable for long-term monitoring. To avoid those deficiencies in conventional estimating deflection methods mentioned above, a novel three-point deflection estimation method is presented in this paper. Measuring points along lines paralleling the bridge span axis are chosen equidistantly. Among these measuring points, every three adjacent measuring points are defined as a measuring unit in which a straight connecting bar linking the two endpoints is taken as a relative reference line. Relative deflection of the mid-measuring point relative to the intermediate point of the connecting bar on which a displacement sensor is fixed can be measured, and thus the absolute deflection of each measuring point can be calculated from the relative deflections of all the measuring units. Compared with the contact and non-contact methods mentioned above, only real spatial positions of the measuring points are taken as relative references without any other static reference points. Moreover, the selected displacement sensor is the grating eddy current absolute position sensor (GECS) which is different from traditional eddy current sensors based on vertical characteristics [12,13]. Since the structure of grating reflective conductors is adopted, the measurement range is extended but without compromising the accuracy. In addition, as an inductive sensor, the GECS is waterproof and dustproof in principle, thus it can work under bad weather conditions, which makes it ideal for long-term monitoring. In this paper, both the principles of the three-point method and displacement measurement of the GECS are presented. Then, this three-point method for deflection estimation is verified in a simply supported girder bridge model in the laboratory. Comprehensive static and dynamic experiment results on the laboratory tests demonstrate this method is effective and offers an alternative way for bridge deflection estimation.

An Analysis Of The Financial Annual Report Of Victrex Plc Accounting Essay

1.0 IntroductionThis paper comprises of two subdivisions. The first subdivision involves an analysis of the fiscal one-year study of Victrex Plc in 2010, and appraisal of the public presentation of the concern in 2010 in comparing to the old twelvemonth 2009. The analysis will be carried out by reexamining the fiscal information provided in the company ‘s one-year study allocated for this paper. The type of information included in said one-year study are the Chairman ‘s statement, the Chief Executive Officer ‘s reappraisal, Financial Director ‘s study, the Director ‘s study & A ; the fiscal statements such as income statement, balance sheet and hard currency flow statement. An overview of the concern public presentation over the last five old ages will besides be discussed. The relevant ratios will be computed in order to analyze the public presentation of the concern and suggestion decisions and tax write-offs where appropriate. Other relevant informati on such as corporate administration and accounting policies will be considered and discussed. The 2nd subdivision of this paper will analyze the relevancy of working capital direction in a concern and discoursing how the author playing the function of financial officer impacted on working capital.Furthermore, techniques such as fringy costing and budgeting and their benefits in the decision-making procedure will be compared to the existent universe state of affairs.1.1 COMPANY OVERVIEWVictrex Plc is a taking planetary maker of high public presentation thermoplastics polymers which began utilizing the VICTREXA ®PEEK in Western Europe and United States to turn to the demands in the automotive and transit sector. As concern became planetary, Victrex expanded into high turning markets such as Japan, China, India, Russia, and Brazil. The company has over 30years experience in the production of polyketone. Within this clip of operation, Victrex Plc has a production, engineering, client service and distribution squad that spans over 30 states worldwide. Victrex Plc portions are li sted in the London Stock Exchange. Victrex Plc comprises of two divisions viz. the Victrex Polymer Solution and the Invibio Biomaterial Solutions. Victrex Polymer Solution focuses on the conveyance, industrial and the electronic markets. This division specialises in the development and industry of high public presentation polyaryletherketones such as VICTREXA ®PEEKa„? polymer, VICOTEA ® coatings and APTIVa„? movies. On the other manus, Invibio Biomaterial Solutions focuses on supplying specialist solutions for medical device makers. This division provides entree to extremely specialized biocompatible PEEK- based stuffs and services for medical device makers. Their trade names are PEEK-OPTIMA, MOTIS, PEEK-CLASSIX and ENDOLIGN. VICTREXA ®PEEK Polymer is behind most of today ‘s invention in markets runing from automotive, energy, electronics, aerospace, semi music directors, medical, nutrient processing and fabrics.1.2 FIVE Year FINANCIAL SUMMARY REVIEWThe one-year study 2010 of Victrex Plc has some information over the last five old ages of the public presentation of the Organisation. Information in the one-year study high spots consequences on gross, net income before revenue enhancement, balance sheets, hard currency flow ratios and sale volume. However, this study shows that the gross of the company for the past five old ages increased by 6.9 % between 2006 ( ? 122.5m ) and 2007 ( ? 131.0m ) . This growing was due to an addition in gross revenues of their industrial market which went up 16 % above the old twelvemonth due to increase in demand for oil and gas and chemical processing clients. The conveyance market besides increased by 6 % as a consequence of increased commercial aerospace gross revenues. Regionally, United States was up 9 % due to growing in the automotive, commercial aerospace and oil and gas sections, but was partly offset by a decrease in semiconducting material gross revenues. Asia Pacific gross revenues were up 13 % as a growing in addition gross revenues of conveyance and electronics ( Victrex, 2010 ) . In the old ages 2007 and 2008, the company experienced an addition of 7.7 % from ?131.0m in 2007 to ?141.1m in 2008. This growing was as a consequence of addition in gross revenues in Japan and the United States. Besides addition in the commercial aerospace gross revenues in United States and Europe led to the growing in gross ( Victrex, 2010 ) . In Year 2008 and Year 2009, Based on the impact of clients destocking, there was a lessening of ( 26.4 ) % in gross from ?141.1m in 2008 to ?103.8 in 2009. This decrease was as a consequence of decrease of gross revenues volume based on the economic downswing. Transport gross revenues decreased by 41 % in 2009 due to important diminution in automotive gross revenues across all parts. Industrial sale volume besides decreased by 35 % in 2009 as a consequence of reduced oil and gas demand, this besides became resilient based on the economic downswing ( Victrex, 2010 ) . Finally, the study shows that the greatest addition in gross within the five twelvemonth period was between 2009 and 2010 as gross addition was 82.6 % from ?103.8 in 2009 to ?189.5 in 2010. This was as a consequence of addition in gross revenues volume from 1547 metric tons to 2535 metric tons. The benefit of improved implicit in exchange rates as the sterling weakened against their currencies during the twelvemonth besides had a positive impact. Increased gross revenues in electronics were up by 96 % over 2009 which reflected strong gross revenues into the client electronics and semi music director fabrication sector. High demand of merchandises resulted in an addition of gross revenues in the geographical and industrial market which allowed for high stock list degrees and fabrication rates. The addition in gross revenues was as a consequence of restocking tendencies. Other markets such as transport gross revenues volume increased by 59 % over 2009, Industrial gross revenues increas ed by 53 % over 2009. Aerospace showed strong growing due to a combination of higher production degrees and new aircrafts orders driven by positive tendencies and prognosis for both concern and touristry travel, and new application development for the merchandises to assist run into demands ( Victrex, 2010 ) . From the one-year study given for the operating net income ( Net income before involvement and revenue enhancement ) , it can be seen that in twelvemonth 2006 it was ?46.1m and increased in twelvemonth 2007 to ?52.0m, amounting to an addition of ?5.9m. Besides in old ages 2007 and twelvemonth 2008, there was an addition of ?3.0m with operating net income in 2007 as ?52.0m and in 2008 as ?55.0m. However, there was a lessening of ( ?29.9m ) in twelvemonth 2008 and 2009, with operating net income of in 2008 as ?55.0m and in 2009 as ?25.1m. In twelvemonth 2010, the company made the greatest addition of ?49.8m in operating net income between twelvemonth 2009 as ?25.1m and twelvemonth 2010 as ?74.9m ( Victrex, 2010 ) . These figures are illustrated in the diagram belowFigure 1: Victrex Plc ‘s Five Year Gross and Net income before Interest and TaxFrom the chart, it can be deduced that the company had an addition in gross and net income before involvement and revenue enhancement from Y ear 2006- 2008, a decrease in Year 2009 and a important addition in Year 2010.2.0 VICTREX ANNUAL REPORT ANALYSISIn measuring the fiscal state of affairs of Victrex Plc, it is required to look at its Amalgamate Income Statement, Consolidated Balance sheet and Cash Flow Statement. The Ratio Analysis is deduced utilizing four wide countries such as Profitability Ratios, Efficiency Ratios, Liquidity Ratios and Investment Ratios ( White et al. , 2003 ) . For the intent of this paper, the figures used are from the 2010 Annual Report and are calculated in ?million ( m ) .2.1 INTERPRETATION OF ACCOUNTSRatios are indexs to an penetration on countries that need to be examined in more inside informations by comparing the old twelvemonth ( 2009 ) to the undermentioned twelvemonth ( 2010 ) of Victrex Plc ( Perry, 2011 ) . Hence, the ratios are interconnected and used to pull decisions from the analysis by measuring a company ‘s public presentation. To this terminal, Victrex Plc will be ana lysed utilizing the four wide countries of ratio analysis.2.1.1 GrossThe company ‘s income statement shows that gross was up by 82 % to ?189.5m in 2010 from ?103.8m in 2009. This addition was as a consequence of addition in gross revenues volume by 64 % due to a strong recoil in demand across all markets in Europe, Middle East and Africa ( ‘EMEA ‘ ) , America, Asia Pacific and United Kingdom. Besides there was depreciation in sterling as this resulted in the addition of gross of other markets, which enabled the company benefit from the exchange rate derived function. The one-year study shows that the changeless exchange rate of the gross was up 47 % compared to 2009 ( Victrex, 2010 ) .2.1.2 PROFITABILITY RATIOProfitability ratios are used to find how productively the concern is runing. Thus Net income is a step of a concern success ; therefore these ratios are watched by both internal users and external users such as direction and stockholders ( Jones, 2006 ) . Pro fitability ratios comprises of Return on Capital Employed, Return on Total Assets, Return on Shareholders Fund, Gross net income Ratio, Operating Profit Ratio and Mark-up Ratio ( Perry, 2011 ) .2.1.2.1 RETURN ON CAPITAL EMPLOYEDThis ratio considers how efficaciously a company uses its capital employed ( Jones, 2006 ) .According to Perry ( 2011 ) , Return on Capital Employed is defined as: ROCE= Net income before Interest & amp ; Tax ( Operating Profit ) x 100 Entire Assets- Current Liabilities ( Capital Employed ) In 2010, it was 74.9m Ten 100 = 74.9m A-100 = 31.67 % 279.0m – 42.5m 236.5m In 2009, it was 25.1m Ten 100 = 25.1m A- 100 = 12.89 % 221.0m – 26.3m 194.7m From the computation above, it shows that there was an addition of 18.78 % in 2010 compared to 2009. This was due to the operating net income, entire assets and current liabilities. In footings of the operating net income, the addition was up 198 % to ?74.9m in 2010 from ?25.1m in 2009 and this was as a consequence of an addition in gross net income which was impacted by the addition in gross and cost of gross revenues. The gross net income increased 87 % with the gross border at 63.6 % of the gross in 2010.The gross border was 62.1 % in 2009 and was up 63.6 % in 2010. The 1.5 % difference was due to positive impact of currency partly offset by an addition in ‘cost per metric ton ‘ as gross revenues were mostly out of stock list produced in 2009. There was a lessening in production volumes in 2009 as a consequence in increased fixed production costs per metric ton. Gross saless, selling and administrative disbursals increased by 16 % to ?45.7m in 2010 from ?39.4m in 2009 as a consequence of elements of staff wage being linked to the fiscal public presentation. There were besides investings in resources to drive new application development across both divisions. The one-year study besides shows the changeless exchange rate was up 53 % compared to 2009. The Entire Assets besides increased by 26.2 % to ?279m in 2010 from ?221m in 2009, this was as a consequence of an addition in hard currency with ?77.2m in 2010 from ?18.6m in 2009 which reflects the strong recoil in gross revenues generated from operations which was shown on the hard currency flow statement. The current liabilities were up due to an addition in trade and other payables that were affected by accumulations of ?18.7m in 2010 from ?8.8m in 2009 which implies the company still has hard currency to pay to their creditors ( Victrex, 2010 ) .2.1.2.2 RETURN ON TOTAL ASSETSThis ratio shows how good a concern is profitable in relation to its invested assets and what it has taken to fund it ( Dys on, 2007 ) . Harmonizing to Perry ( 2011 ) , Return on Total Assets can be defined as: ROTA = Net income before Interest and Tax A- 100 Entire Assetss In 2010, it was 74.9m A- 100 = 26.85 % 279m In 2009, it was 25.1m A- 100 = 11.36 % 221m The computation above shows that there is an addition of 15.49 % in 2009 to 2010. But this addition was due to an increased operating net income every bit good as an addition in entire assets. As discussed in ROCE, the operating net income increased due to increase in gross net income of 87 % within 2009 and 2010, cost of gross revenues of 75.3 % in 2009 and 2010 and gross of 82 % in 2009 and 2010. Besides in footings of the entire assets, there was an addition in hard currency and hard currency equivalents of 315 % between 2009 and 2010, addition in trade and other receivables which implies addition in money owed to the company by debitors of 21.6 % between 2009 and 2010 and an addition in deferred Tax assets of 36.6 % between 2009 and 2010 ( Victrex, 2010 ) .2.1.2.3 RETURN ON SHAREHOLDERS FundssThis ratio measures how good the direction turned the return on capital employed to a return on the financess invested by the stockholders ( Millichamp, 1997 ) . Harmonizing to Perry ( 2011 ) , Return on Shareholders Fundss can be defined as: ROSF = Profit after Tax ( Net incomes ) A- 100 Stockholders Fundss In 2010, it was 54m A- 100 = 25.60 % 211m In 2009, it was 17.8m A- 100 = 10.60 % 168m From the computation above, there was a 15 % addition between 2009 and 2010 in the return of stockholder ‘s financess. This addition is due to an addition of gross which was as a major accelerator in hiking gross revenues and besides depreciation in the sterling which increased the gross from other markets. Besides there was an addition in the stockholders financess of ?43m between 2009 and 2010, due to the fact that the managers recommended the payment of a concluding dividend of 18.6p per ordinary portion and a particular dividend of 50.0p per ordinary portion, as a consequence of this, there was an addition in the portion premium. Based on the ROSF, it is likely the stockholders will appreciate the consequences, as this shows an addition from the old twelvemonth and the company is doing net income in 2010 ( Victrex, 2010 ) .2.1.2.4 GROSS PROFIT MARGINThis ratio calculates the net income earned through trading, it is utile in a concern where stock is purchased, marked up and so resold ( Jones, 2006 ) . Harmonizing to Perry ( 2011 ) , Gross Profit Margin can be defined as: Gross Profit Margin = Gross Profit A- 100 Gross saless In 2010, it was 120.6m A- 100 = 63.64 % 189.5m In 2009, it was 64.5m A-100 = 62.14 % 103.8m As can be seen above, the Gross net income border difference between 2009 and 2010 is 1.50 % . This addition was based on increased Cost of gross revenues every bit good as in addition in gross. The gross net income increased 87 % with the gross border at 63.6 % of the gross in 2010. The gross border grew to 63.6 % in 2010 from 62.1 % in 2009.The 1.5 % difference was due to positive impact of currency partly offset by an addition in ‘cost per metric ton ‘ as gross revenues were mostly out of stock list produced in 2009. There was a lessening in production volumes in 2009 as a consequence of increased fixed production costs per metric ton. Besides, there was an addition in gross revenues which led to the addition in gross to 82 % to ?189.5m in 2010 from ?103.8m in 2009. Besides depreciation in sterling besides helped the company ‘s growing as the gross of the other markets increased ( Victrex, 2010 ) .2.1.2.5 OPERATING Net income MarginThis is an of import fiscal ind ex ; it is calculated after disbursal in the net income and loss history. It is largely used for internal comparing due to the fact that differing accounting policies applied by different concerns make external comparing complicated ( Perry, 2011 ) . Operating Net income Margin can be defined as: Operating Net income Margin = Net income before Interest and Tax A- 100 ( Perry, 2011 ) Gross saless In 2010, it was 74.9m A- 100 = 39.53 % 189.5m In 2009, it was 25.1m A- 100 = 24.18 % 103.8m The operating net income border difference between 2009 and 2010 is 15.35 % as this was as a consequence of the addition in the operating net income which was up 198 % to ?74.9m in 2010 from ?25.1m in 2009. This was as a consequence of addition in the gross revenues, selling and administrative disbursals and gross net income, every bit good as increased gross revenues. Gross saless, selling and administrative disbursals increased by 16 % to ?45.7m in 2010 from ?39.4m in 2009 as a consequence of elements of staff wage being linked to the fiscal public presentation. There were besides investings in resources to drive new application development across both divisions. The one-year study besides shows the changeless exchange rate was up 53 % compared to 2009. As discussed above, the addition in gross to 82 % to ?189.5m in 2010 from ?103.8m in 2009 was as a consequence of addition in gross revenues. Besides depreciation in sterling besides helped the company ‘s growing as the gross of the other markets increased ( Victrex, 2010 ) .2.1.2.6 MARK UP RATIOThe Mark up Ratio is another manner of mensurating the profitableness of a concern. It besides measures the sum of net income added to the cost of gross revenues, in add-on it can be the cost of goods sold peers to the gross revenues gross ( Perry, 2011 ) . Mark up Ratio can be defined by Dyson ( 2007 ) as: Mark up Ratio = Gross Profit A- 100 Cost of Gross saless In 2010, it was 120.6m A- 100 = 175.04 % ( 68.9 ) m In 2009, it was 64.5m A- 100 = 164.12 % ( 39.3 ) m The Mark up ratio difference between 2009 and 2010 is 10.92 % . This implies that the gross net income increased 87 % with the gross border at 63.6 % of the gross in 2010. The gross border grew to 63.6 % in 2010 from 62.1 % in 2009. The 1.5 % difference was due to positive impact of currency partly offset by an addition in cost per metric tons as gross revenues were mostly out of stock list produced in 2009. There was a lessening in production volumes in 2009 as a consequence of increased fixed production costs per metric ton. Besides, there was an addition in gross revenues which led to an 82 % addition in gross to ?189.5m in 2010 from ?103.8m in 2009. Besides depreciation in Sterling besides helped the company ‘s growing as the gross from other markets increased. Although, Cost of Goods increased by 75.3 % between 2009 and 2010 and this was as a consequence of addition in demand of Victrex Peek Polymers across all markets, the company still made an addition in gross ( Victrex , 2010 ) .2.1.3 EFFICIENCY RATIOThis ratio is besides known as the activity ratio. The efficiency ratio is used to mensurate how efficaciously a concern endeavor is runing. It is concerned about the chiefly usage of assets ( Jones, 2006 ) . This ratio is used to find how a concern uses its assets to keep its activities and gross revenues ( White et al. , 2003 ) . Four of the efficiency ratios will be used to analyze Victrex Plc.2.1.3.1 SALES PER ?1 CAPITAL EMPLOYED ( NET ASSET TURNOVER )This ratio is besides known as Asset Turnover Ratio. It indicates how efficaciously the stockholders financess are bring forthing money ( Perry, 2011 ) . Harmonizing to Perry ( 2011 ) , It can be defined as: Gross saless per ?1 Capital Employed = Gross saless = Gross saless Capital Employed Total Assets – Current Liabilitiess In 2010, it is 189.5m = 189.5m = 0.80 times 278.9m -42.5m 236.5m In 2009, it is 103.8m = 103.8m = 0.53 times 221.0m – 26.3m 194.7m The consequences above show that the stockholders financess generated more money in 2010 than in the old twelvemonth. There was an addition in gross due to an addition in gross revenues and a depreciation of Sterling besides helped the company ‘s growing as the gross from other markets increased. Capital employed increased by ?41.8m between 2009 and 2010. This was as a consequence of addition in hard currency and hard currency equivalents, trade and other receivables, deferred revenue enhancement rates & A ; trade and other payables. Giving a proper account, the entire assets besides increased by 26.2 % to ?279m in 2010 from ?221m in 2009, this was as a consequence of an addition in hard currency with ?77.2m in 2010 from ?18.6m in 2009 which reflects the strong recoil in gross revenues generated from operations which was shown on the hard currency flow statement. The current liabilities were up due to an addition in trade and other payables that were affected by accumulations o f ?18.7m in 2010 and ?8.8m in 2009 which implies the company still has hard currency to pay to their creditors ( Victrex, 2010 ) .2.1.3.2 NON- CURRENT ( FIXED ) ASSET TURNOVERThis ratio provides an analysis of how expeditiously the fixed assets are at bring forthing gross revenues. It is effectual as an internal index when comparing one period with another ( Perry, 2011 ) .According to Perry ( 2011 ) , it can be defined as: Non- Current ( Fixed ) Asset Turnover = Gross saless Non-Current ( Fixed ) Assetss In 2010, it was 189.5m = 1.31 145.1m In 2009, it was 103.8m = 0.71 146.8m Looking at the consequences above, Victrex Plc used its fixed assets more efficaciously in 2010 compared to 2009 therefore the concern is less at hazard in 2010 than in 2009. This can be explained stating â€Å" for every GBP ( ? ) tied up in non-current assets, the sum generated from gross revenues was higher † . This can be farther explained due to the addition in gross which was due to a encouragement in gross revenues and depreciation of the Sterling as before discussed in the old subdivision. There was a lessening in fixed assets and this can be explained looking at the lessening in belongings, works and equipment which was ?125.3m in 2010 from ?129.5m in 2009, this lessening was as a consequence of depreciation over the utile economic life of the assets. Besides Intangible assets besides decreased in 2010 to ?10.1m from ?10.3m in 2009 due to the good will of the acquisition of Victrex Polymer Solution being tested for damage, therefore cut downing the good will of the ac quisition. Besides the impact of the know-how of the acquisition associated with the natural stuff BDF was to the full amortised by 2010 ensuing to no consequence on the intangible assets ( Victrex, 2010 ) .2.1.3.3 INVENTORY TURNOVER RATIOThis ratio is besides known as stock turnover ratio. This ratio efficaciously measures the velocity with which stock moves through the concern. This varies from concern to concern and merchandise to merchandise ( Jones, 2006 ) . Harmonizing to Perry ( 2011 ) , it can be defined as: Inventory Turnover Ratio = Cost of Goods Sold Inventory In 2010, it was 68.9m = 2.00 times 34.5m In 2009, it was 39.3m = 1.06 times 37.2m The computation above shows that the stock list turnover increased 2.00 times in 2010, this implies that for every sale of two, there was one stock list held while in 2009, for every sale of one, there was one stock list held. Thus Victrex Plc was more effectual in 2010 at buying and merchandising of goods, farther explicating that there was more sale compared to the degree of stock list held and the company was able to turn over its stock list better compared to the old twelvemonth ( 2009 ) .This consequence is affected by the addition in cost of goods sold which was ?68.9m in 2010 from ?39.3m in 2009 as there was a higher demand of merchandises in 2010 and the betterment over the period reflects the favorable effectual exchange rates together with a lower implicit in cost of gross revenues per metric ton in the 2nd half ensuing from lower fixed costs per metric ton as production volume increased. Inventory decreased to ?34.5m in 2010 from ?37.2m in 2009, although natural stuffs inc reased due to the company carrying natural stuffs to enable them keep supplies during any short term break but finished goods decreased in 2010 compared to 2009 because there was a short term rush in the demand for goods ( Victrex, 2010 ) .2.1.3.4 RECEIVABLES COLLECTION PERIODThis ratio seeks to mensurate how long clients take to pay their debts. Therefore, the quicker the concern collects and Bankss the money, the better it is for the company. This ratio can be used monthly, hebdomadal or day-to-day footing ( Jones, 2006 ) . Harmonizing to Perry ( 2011 ) , it can be defined as: Receivables Collection Period = Receivables A- 365 Gross saless In 2010, it was 19.1m A- 365 = 36.79 yearss 189.5m In 2009, it was 15.7m A- 365 = 55.21 yearss 103.8m Looking at the computations above, this implies that the concern was more efficient at retrieving its debts from clients as the consequences were lower in 2010 with 36.79days compared to 55.21days in 2009. This was as a consequence of addition in gross revenues of goods produced in 2010 compared to 2009. This besides indicates that in 2010 there was better hard currency flow as it took a shorter clip to have money owed by clients compared to 2009 ( Victrex, 2010 ) .2.1.4 LIQUIDITY RATIOThese ratios are derived from the balance sheets and seek to prove how easy a company can pay its debts. These ratios are of import to loan creditors such as bankers who have loaned to the concern ( Jones, 2006 ) . There are two types of ratios viz. the ‘current ratio ‘ and the ‘acid trial ratio ‘ ( Perry, 2011 ) . These ratios will be used to analyze Victrex Plc ‘s liquidness.2.1.4.1 CURRENT RATIOThis ratio tests whether the short term assets cover the short term liabilit ies. If this is non the instance, so there will be deficient liquid financess instantly to pay to the creditors ( Jones, 2006 ) . Harmonizing to Perry ( 2011 ) , Current ratio can be defined as: Current Ratio = Inventory + Receivables + Cash and Cash Equivalents Payabless + Short Term Borrowings In 2010, it was 34.52m + 0.74m + 19.11m + 2.24m +77.27m = 133.88m = 3.15: 1 ( 25.15 ) m + ( 15.11 ) m + ( 2.27 ) m ( 42.53 ) m In 2009, it was 37.17m + 1.02 m+15.66 m+ 1.70m +18.56m = 74.11m = 2.82: 1 ( 6.30 ) m + ( 5.42 ) m + ( 14.58 ) m ( 26.3 ) m From the computation above, current ratio increased from 2.82 in 2009 to 3.15 in 2010. Therefore in 2010, for every ?1 in current liabilities, there is ?3.15 in current assets compared to 2009 during which for every ?1 in current liabilities, there is ?2.82 in current liabilities. This implies that the concern has adequate hard currency to cover its liabilities. If the current assets exceed the current liabilities, this could bespeak sufficient hard currency in the concern ( Dyson, 2007 ) . However, the major impact on the addition in current ratio was as a consequence of addition in hard currency of ?58.7m between 2009 and 2010, which reflects the strong recoil in gross revenues and the Group has a committed bank installation of ?40m, all of which was undrawn at the twelvemonth terminal and this expires in September 2012. Besides looking at the hard currency flow statement, the company generated hard currency from operations. There was an addition in receivables of ?3.4m between 200 9 and 2010. The current liabilities were up due to an addition in trade and other payables that were affected by accumulations of ?18.7m in 2010 from ?8.8m in 2009 which implies the company still has hard currency to pay to their creditors and besides an addition in current income revenue enhancement liabilities of ?9.7m between 2009 and 2010 ( Victrex, 2010 ) .2.1.4.2 ACID TEST RATIOThis is besides known as the Quick Ratio. It is a step of utmost short -term liquidness, therefore the acerb trial ratio excludes stock lists, which is the least liquid of the current assets to get at an immediate trial of the company ‘s liquidness ( Jones, 2006 ) . The importance of this ratio is that it has a clearer image of the state of affairs as a house may non be able to dispose of its stock lists instantly ( Dyson, 2007 ) .According to Perry ( 2011 ) , Acid Test Ratio can be defined as: Acid Test Ratio = Receivables + Cash and Cash Equivalents Payabless + Short Term Borrowings In 2010, it was 0.74m + 19.11m + 2.24m +77.27m = 99.36m = 2.34: 1 ( 25.15 ) m + ( 15.11 ) m + ( 2.27 ) m ( 42.53 ) m In 2009, it was 1.02m +15.66m + 1.70m +18.56m = 36.94m = 1.40: 1 ( 6.30 ) m + ( 5.42 ) m + ( 14.58 ) m ( 26.30 ) m Looking at the computation above, there is an addition in Acid trial ratio of 2.34 in 2010 from 1.40 in 2009, even after the stock lists were removed. This means that the concern has adequate hard currency to cover its liabilities. This implies that the stock lists did non hold an impact in the ratio as the major part to this alteration were the addition in hard currency every bit good as the addition in trade and other receivables, addition in payables and current income revenue enhancement liabilities, as these were explained above in the current ratio ( Victrex, 2010 ) . Therefore an acerb trial ratio above one ( 1 ) implies the company can still change over hard currency at easiness.2.1.5 FINANCIAL GEARING RATIOSThese ratios measure the ability of the concern to run into its longer-term duties and they indicate the sum of hazard to which stockholders are exposed through the sum of debt nowadays in the concern capital construction ( Jones, 2006 ) . Gearing ratio and Interest Cover will be used to analyze Victrex Plc.2.1.5.1 GEARING RATIOThis ratio measures the relationship between equity and debt capital of a company. The geartrain of a concern demonstrates how reliant the concern is on borrowed money, instead than portion capital. ( Perry, 2011 ) . Harmonizing to Perry ( 2011 ) , pitching ratio can be defined as: Gearing Ratio = Net Borrowings ( Debts ) A- 100 Stockholders Fundss ( Equity ) Harmonizing to Annual Report, the geartrain ratio could non be calculated as there were no net adoptions in 2009 and 2010. Based on the fact that the Group had a committed bank installation of ?40m, all of which was undrawn at the twelvemonth terminal and this expires in September 2012 ( Victrex, 2010 ) .2.1.5.2 Interest ScreenThis ratio is of peculiar involvement to those who have loaned money to the company ( Jones, 2006 ) . Harmonizing to Perry ( 2011 ) , it can be defined by demoing the relationship during the trading period between runing net incomes and the involvement charges ensuing from the degree of debt during the period. The expression is: Interest Cover = Operating Profit = Operating Net income Net Interest/ Finance charges Finance Cost – Finance Income In 2010, it was 74.9m = 74.9m = 1.63 ( 93 ) m -139m ( 46 ) m In 2009, it was 25.1m = 25.1m = 0.81 ( 60 ) m – 91m ( 31 ) m Deducing from the computation above, the involvement screen has increased in 2010 to 1.63 from 0.81 in 2009. This addition implies that the company is bring forthing adequate gross to pay its debts. This addition in 2010 is due to the fact that the operating net income increased which is as a consequence of addition in gross as there was more demand of the merchandises taking to an addition in gross revenues compared to the old twelvemonth ( 2009 ) . Therefore in 2009, the concern could hold been in a fiscal hazard as at that place might non hold been sufficient hard currency to sit out sudden downswing as a consequence of the lessening in gross. The finance income increased in 2010 to ?139m from ?91m in 2009. The Finance Cost increased by ?33m between 2009 and 2010. This ratio is of import to stockholders ( Victrex, 2010 ) .3.0 DecisionRatio Analysis is a really of import manner of measuring the overall public presentation of an Organisation. Many administrations use this technique to compare the company ‘s public presentation over clip or compare it with the fiscal public presentation of other companies. However, holding analysed Victrex ‘s Plc ‘s, it can be said that Victrex Plc is a traveling concern as it has sufficient hard currency and resources to command its operational being. Looking at the five twelvemonth fiscal sum-up, it can be said that that twelvemonth 2010 has proven to be the best fiscal twelvemonth over the period. These analysis show that the company had an addition in hard currency and hard currency equivalents, addition in gross revenues volume, high gross border and besides an addition in the operating net income. Therefore, in footings of its profitableness, the company had an addition in the gross border demoing an betterment which was based on addition in gross with the the major accelerator to this being the favorable exchange rates and increase in gross revenues. The operating border besides increased as a consequence of the addition of gross revenues, selling and disposal disbursals which emanated from elements of staff wage being linked to the fiscal public presentation. There was besides an addition in the return of capital employed, return on entire assets and besides return on stockholders financess. This addition in 2010 indicates that the company has done better overall compared to the old old ages in footings of a step in the concern success doing the company attractive as an investing. Looking at the efficiency ratio, the stock list turnover increased as a consequence of high demand of merchandises across different markets. The non-current assets ratio increased although Property, works and equipment decreased as a consequence of depreciation of the assets, Besides the receivables aggregation period reduced bespeaking that the company is better at recovering its debts from its debitors, and eventually Net plus turnover besides increased as a consequence of addition in hard currency and hard currency equivalent as its impact reflected on the capital employed. Therefore, this addition in 2010 indicates that the company is better at utilizing its assets efficaciously in bring forthing gross revenues compared to the old old ages. Sing the liquidness of the company, a decision can be drawn based on the current plus ratio and the acerb trial ratio which indicate an addition due to hard currency and hard currency equivalents and besides the addition in the trade and other receivables, therefore bespeaking that the company will be able to pay off any debt if a state of affairs occurs in twelvemonth 2010. In footings of the fiscal geartrain ratios, this helps to bespeak how stable the company is, looking at Victrex Plc, there was no pitching ratio calculated as the house had no net adoptions but there was an addition in involvement screen this was as a consequence of the addition in operating net income and besides based on the addition in portion premium, therefore this addition in 2010 will let stockholders to appreciate the growing of the concern compared to the old twelvemonth. Conclusively, Victrex Plc appears to be a well positioned company for continued growing in its section of the market in twelvemonth 2010 compared to the old twelvemonth. The direction of Victrex Plc have a good apprehension of the markets they operate in by proactively expecting the expected demands of their clients and go oning to take advantage of chances within the market topographic point and spread out its skylines as a market leader in the production of high public presentation thermoplastics polymers.WORD COUNT: 5579Section 24.0 THE ROLE OF WORKING CAPITAL MANAGEMENT IN MANAGING A BUSINESSWorking Capital can be defined as the current assets less current liabilities. The major constituents of the current assets are stock lists, trade and other receivables and hard currency and hard currency equivalents while current liabilities constituents are trade and other payables, bank overdraft and short term adoptions ( Mclaney & A ; Atrill, 2008 ) . Working Capital Management can be defined as the direction and control of the current assets and current liabilities which are the chief components of the on the job capital ( Mathur, 2002 ) . The importance of working capital direction is an indispensable portion of a concern short-run planning procedure. Management should do determinations on how much of each constituent should be held ( Mclaney & A ; Atrill, 2008 ) .According to Vijayakumar ( 2001 ) , the significance of working capital direction comprises of two grounds viz. 1 ) A significant part of a entire investing is invested in the current assets and 2 ) degree of the current assets and current liabilities will alter as a consequence in fluctuation in gross revenues. Working capital direction is of import to the fiscal wellness of the concern from all industries. The on the job capital demands of a peculiar concern are likely to alter over clip as a consequence of alterations in the concern environment, giving room for determinations to be made invariably ( Mclaney & A ; Atrill, 2008 ) . Therefore Working Capital has acquired a great significance and sound place for two duplicate objects of profitableness and liquidness. The importance of working capital direction and its satisfactory proviso can take non merely to material nest eggs in the economical usage of capital but besides assist in fostering the ultimate purpose of the concern by maximizing the fiscal returns on the minimal sum of capital that needs to be employed ( Vijayakumar, 2001 ) . If on the job capital is mismanaged, it can take to loss of net incomes in the short-term but will consequences to a ruin of the house in the long-term. Thus the adequateness of working capital together with efficient managing determines the endurance or death of the house. In the existent universe scenario, a house can be and last without doing net income but it can non last without working capital financess, therefore this could take to bankruptcy and closing over a period of clip. Therefore in footings of the working capital direction, one should see the short-run liquidness place of the house. The investing determination in the current assets trades with a few jobs with working capital direction as profitableness and liquidness are dependent on the current assets direction. Therefore an appropriate degree of current assets and current liabilities in the concern determines the degree of working capital that affects the house ‘s liquidness ( Vijayakumar, 2001 ) . The victorious game was a simulation during the fiscal analysis and control faculty, the author ‘s function in this game was a financial officer. The financial officer ‘s duty in the game was to rede the squad on hard currency planning, to manage, control and record hard currency motions and fix the hard currency flow statement. After readying of the hard currency flow statement, the financial officer reconciled the hard currency records to the existent hard currency place throughout the twelvemonth. The financial officer worked closely with the fiscal director to jointly command all hard currency motions whether receivables or payables. The financial officer besides advised the squad to win gross revenues from the place market as receivable period was one one-fourth and the sale to the foreign markets was two quarters. Selling to the place market helped increase the hard currency flow state of affairs as hard currency was gotten faster for goods sold. The beginnings of financess were through loans, discounting and bing stockholder ‘s equity. The squad merely indulged in the discounting option one time as seen in twelvemonth one in the income statement as it was seen as less profitable. However, high sums of loans were borrowed in twelvemonth two to back up the technology and quality in order to be able to win commands as this can be shown in the balance sheet for twelvemonth one and two. Overall, looking at the direction of the on the job capital of the game, one can infer that as a consequence of hapless squad determination doing which led to high stock list degree based on purchase of natural stuffs which were non planned decently, the purchase of new equipments increased the work in advancement, we did non profit in gross revenues as we had insufficient contract to run into capacity and besides big unfilled contracts led to increase in the degree of stock list. Receivables were besides delayed due to the type of contract we bided for and besides dependant on the foreign market which took a long clip to have hard currency. Therefore in the existent universe state of affairs, the financial officer should give considerable clip in effectual control and the supervising of working capital constituents as this generates growing and net income of the concern.WORD COUNT: 7785.0 MARGINAL CostingFringy costing can be defined as a technique which divides costs in two classs viz. fixed cost and variable cost when bring forthing an excess unit of a merchandise. A fixed cost can be defined in the short tally as it does non change in entire when end product fluctuates, for illustration ; rent for a mill, while variable costs are those that entire cost varies pro rata with the volume of end product, for illustration, Direct Material and Direct Labour ( Mott, 2008 ) . Harmonizing to Perry ( 2011 ) , a circumstance whereby a merchandise is already being produced and an extra merchandise is demanded by a client, the cost of bring forthing the extra merchandise is referred to as Marginal Costing. In the winning border game, the fringy costing enabled the squad to do determinations based on what type of merchandises to be manufactured and what is required in the production. In Year 3 of the game, the squad explored chances in order to increase profitableness by puting in merchandise support to guarantee all merchandises are sold. It besides helped in optimizing part by measuring the difference between the best and worst scenarios of the terrier and the tiger ‘s sale values, variable cost and unit part. Therefore, the benefit of the fringy costing in the game helped the squad purpose at winning orders closer to the best terminal of the part where it was profitable. In the existent universe state of affairs, Marginal Costing is used by direction to assist do determinations to the best cost of action in the short term ( Millichamp, 1997 ) . Decisions made by direction by the aid of fringy costing can be classified harmonizing to Mott ( 2008 ) as: Make or Buy Decisions One -off pricing Decisions The effects of a alteration in Product Mix The Volume requires to interrupt even or do a specified net income A pick between Alternative Cost StructuresWORD COUNT: 3126.0 BUDGETINGBudgeting can be defined as an of import tool for pull offing and commanding a concern ( Mclaney & A ; Atrill, 2008 ) . Harmonizing to Perry ( 2010 ) , a budget aim identifies where the concern demands to be at the terminal of a fiscal twelvemonth. A budget should be prepared as a resource program to enable that both fiscal and market aims are achieved. Therefore Harmonizing to Drury ( 2004 ) and Millichamp ( 1997 ) , the intent of budgeting are classified into several features ; some of these features would be used by the author to discourse the budgeting technique used in the winning border game. These Features are as follows: Planning: Budgets are used for future planning of activities in a company. It is used to benchmark to guarantee companies run into their ends. In the winning border, the squad made programs based on what merchandise should be produced, what market to put in and programs based on fiscal issues such as loans to enable be aftering on hard currency influx and escape. Profitableness: Budgets can be used for measuring future profitableness of direction programs. This is used in comparing the budget program to the existent consequences as this was done in the winning border in twelvemonth two in ciphering the production budget and gross revenues budget which was compared to the existent program. Coordination: The benefit of a budget is to enable assorted sections to collaborate and compromise when there is limited resources. In the winning game, the squad cooperated in respects to the production capacity as to what contract to travel for, what market to put in and what stock to buy and this helps observe any coordination jobs and better efficiency. Communication: Budgeting enabled different sections in the winning border game exchange information and thoughts as the financial officer recorded hard currency motions, fiscal director handled the fiscal policies, the buying director was in charge of stock list, the commercial director was cognizant of what market to put in and the production director was cognizant of what equipment to purchase. Resource Allocation: Budget aid in easing resource allotment in a company. In the winning border, resources were distributed across the assorted sections as hard currency escape was as a consequence of technology and quality, merchandise support and equipments. In the existent universe, Budgeting can be used to advance frontward thought and it is a short term agencies of working towards a concern aims.WORD COUNT: 394

The Unsavory History of Nutmeg Spice

The Unsavory History of Nutmeg Spice Today, we sprinkle ground nutmeg on our espresso drinks, add it to eggnog, or mix it into pumpkin pie filling. Most people probably dont particularly wonder about its origins, no doubt - it comes from the spice aisle in the supermarket, right? And fewer still stop to consider the tragic and bloody history behind this spice. Over the centuries, however, tens of thousands of people have died in the pursuit of nutmeg. What Is Nutmeg? Nutmeg comes from the seed of the Myristica frangans tree, a tall evergreen species native to the Banda Islands, which are part of Indonesias Moluccas or Spice Islands. The inner kernel of the nutmeg seed can be ground into nutmeg, while the aril (the outer lacy covering) yields another spice, mace. Nutmeg has long been valued not only as a flavoring for food  but also for its medicinal properties. In fact, when taken in large enough doses nutmeg is a hallucinogen, thanks to a psychoactive chemical called myristicin, which is related to mescaline and amphetamine. People have known about the interesting effects of nutmeg for centuries; the 12th-century abbess Hildegard of Bingen wrote about it, for one. Nutmeg on the Indian Ocean Trade Nutmeg was well-known in the countries bordering the Indian Ocean, where it featured in Indian cooking and traditional Asian medicines. Like other spices, nutmeg had the advantage of being light-weight compared with pottery, jewels, or even silk cloth, so trading ships and camel caravans could easily carry a fortune in nutmeg. For the inhabitants of the Banda Islands, where the nutmeg trees grew, the Indian Ocean trade routes ensured a steady business and allowed them a comfortable living. It was the Arab and Indian traders, however, who got very wealthy from selling the spice all around the rim of the Indian Ocean. Nutmeg in Europe's Middle Ages As mentioned above, by the Middle Ages, wealthy people in Europe knew about nutmeg  and coveted it for its medicinal properties. Nutmeg was considered a hot food according to the theory of humors, taken from ancient Greek medicine, which still guided European physicians at the time. It could balance cold foods like fish and vegetables. Europeans believed that nutmeg had the power to ward off viruses like the common cold; they even thought that it could prevent the bubonic plague. As a result, the spice was worth more than its weight in gold. As much as they treasured nutmeg, however, people in Europe had no clear idea of where it came from. It entered Europe through the port of Venice, carried there by Arab traders who portaged it from the Indian Ocean across the Arabian Peninsula and into the Mediterranean world... but the ultimate source remained a mystery. Portugal Seizes the Spice Islands In 1511, a Portuguese force under Afonso de Albuquerque seized the Molucca Islands. By early the next year, the Portuguese had extracted the knowledge from the locals that the Banda Islands were the source of nutmeg and mace, and three Portuguese ships sought out these fabled Spice Islands. The Portuguese did not have the manpower to physically control the islands, but they were able to break the Arab monopoly on the spice trade. The Portuguese ships filled their holds with nutmeg, mace, and cloves, all purchased for a reasonable price from the local growers. Over the next century, Portugal tried to build a fort on the main Bandanaira Island  but was driven off by the Bandanese. Finally, the Portuguese simply bought their spices from middlemen in Malacca. Dutch Control of Nutmeg Trade The Dutch soon followed the Portuguese to Indonesia, but they proved unwilling to simply join the queue of spice shippers. Traders from the Netherlands provoked the Bandanese by demanding spices in return for useless and unwanted goods, like thick woolen clothing and damask cloth, which was completely unsuitable for tropical climes. Traditionally, Arab, Indian, and Portuguese traders had offered much more practical items: silver, medicines, Chinese porcelain, copper, and steel. Relations between the Dutch and Bandanese started out sour  and quickly went down-hill. In 1609, the Dutch coerced some Bandanese rulers into signing the Eternal Treaty, granting the Dutch East Indies Company a monopoly on spice trade in the Bandas. The Dutch then strengthened their Bandanaira fortress, Fort Nassau. This was the last straw for the Bandanese, who ambushed and killed the Dutch admiral for the East Indies and about forty of his officers. The Dutch also faced a threat from another European power - the British. In 1615, the Dutch invaded Englands only foothold in the Spice Islands, the tiny, nutmeg-producing islands of Run and Ai, about 10 kilometers from the Bandas. The British forces had to retreat from Ai to the even smaller island of Run. Britain counter-attacked the same day, though, killing 200 Dutch soldiers. A year later, the Dutch attacked again  and besieged the British on Ai. When the British defenders ran out of ammunition, the Dutch overran their position and slaughtered them all. The Bandas Massacre In 1621, the Dutch East India Company decided to solidify its hold on the Banda Islands proper. A Dutch force of unknown size landed on Bandaneira, fanned out, and reported numerous violations of the coercive Eternal Treaty signed in 1609. Using these alleged violations as a pretext, the Dutch had forty of the local leaders beheaded. They then went on to perpetrate genocide against the Bandanese. Most historians believe that the population of the Bandas was around 15,000 before 1621. The Dutch brutally massacred all but about 1,000 of them; the survivors were forced to work as slaves in the nutmeg groves. Dutch plantation-owners took control of the spice orchards  and grew wealthy selling their products in Europe at 300 times the production cost. Needing more labor, the Dutch also enslaved and brought in people from Java and other Indonesian islands. Britain and Manhattan At the time of the Second Anglo-Dutch War (1665-67), however, the Dutch monopoly on nutmeg production was not quite complete. The British still had control of little Run Island, on the fringe of the Bandas. In 1667, the Dutch and British came to an agreement, called the Treaty of Breda. Under its terms, the Netherlands relinquished the far-off and generally useless island of Manhattan, also known as New Amsterdam, in return for the British handing over Run. Nutmeg, Nutmeg Everywhere The Dutch settled down to enjoying their nutmeg monopoly for about a century and a half. However, during the Napoleonic Wars (1803-15), Holland became a part of Napoleons empire  and was thus an enemy of England. This gave the British an excellent excuse to invade the Dutch East Indies once again  and try to pry open the Dutch stranglehold on the spice trade. On August 9, 1810, a British armada attacked the Dutch fort on Bandaneira. After just a few hours of fierce fighting, the Dutch surrendered Fort Nassau, and then the rest of the Bandas. The First Treaty of Paris, which ended this phase of the Napoleonic Wars, restored the Spice Islands to Dutch control in 1814. It could not restore the nutmeg monopoly, however - that particular cat was out of the bag. During their occupation of the East Indies, the British took nutmeg seedlings from the Bandas and planted them in various other tropical places under British colonial control. Nutmeg plantations sprang up in Singapore, Ceylon (now called Sri Lanka), Bencoolen (southwest Sumatra), and Penang (now in Malaysia). From there, they spread to Zanzibar, East Africa and the Caribbean islands of Grenada. With the nutmeg monopoly broken, the price of this once-precious commodity began to plummet. Soon middle-class Asians and Europeans could afford to sprinkle the spice on their holiday baked goods and add it to their curries. The bloody era of the Spice Wars came to an end, and nutmeg took its place as an ordinary occupant of the spice-rack in typical homes... an occupant, though, with an unusually dark and bloody history.

Grand Bargain - Details and Explanation

Grand Bargain - Details and Explanation The term grand bargain is used to describe a potential agreement between President Barack Obama and congressional leaders in late 2012 on how to curb spending and reduce the national debt while avoiding steep automatic spending cuts known as sequestration or the fiscal cliff set to take place the following year to some of the most important programs in the United States. The idea of a grand bargain had been around since 2011 but the real potential emerged following the 2012 presidential election, in which voters returned many of the same leaders to Washington, including Obama and some of his fiercest critics in Congress. The looming fiscal crisis combined with a polarized House and Senate provided high drama in the final weeks of 2012 as lawmakers worked to avoid the sequestration cuts. Details of the Grand Bargain The term grand bargain was used because it would be a bipartisan agreement between the Democratic president and Republican leaders in the House of Representatives, who had been gridlocked on policy proposals during his first term in the White House. Among the programs that could be targeted for substantial cuts in a grand bargain are the so-called entitlement programs: Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. Democrats who resisted such cuts would agree to them if Republicans, in return, sign off on higher taxes on certain high-income wage-earners much like the Buffett Rule would have imposed. History of the Grand Bargain The grand bargain on debt reduction first emerged during Obamas first term in the White House. But negotiations over the details of such a plan unraveled in the summer of 2011 and never began in earnest until after the 2012 presidential election. The disagreements in the first round of negotiations reportedly were the insistence by Obama and the Democrats on a certain level of new tax revenue. Republicans, particularly more conservative members of Congress, were said to have vigorously opposed raising taxes beyond a certain amount, reportedly some $800 million worth of new revenue. But following Obamas re-election, House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio appeared to signal a willingness to accept higher taxes in return for cuts to entitlement programs. In order to garner Republican support for new revenues, the President must be willing to reduce spending and shore up the entitlement programs that are the primary drivers of our debt, Boehner told reporters following the election. We’re closer than anyone thinks to the critical mass needed legislatively to get tax reform done. Opposition to the Grand Bargain Many Democrats and liberals expressed skepticism over Boehners offer, and restated their opposition to cuts in Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. They argued that Obamas decisive victory allowed him a certain mandate on maintaining the nations social programs and safety nets. They also claimed the cuts in combination with the expiration of both the Bush-era tax cuts and payroll-tax cuts in 2013 could send the country back into a recession. The liberal economic Paul Krugman, writing in The New York Times, argued that Obama should not easily accept the Republican offer of a new grand bargain: President Obama has to make a decision, almost immediately, about how to deal with continuing Republican obstruction. How far should he go in accommodating the G.O.P.’s demands? My answer is, not far at all. Mr. Obama should hang tough, declaring himself willing, if necessary, to hold his ground even at the cost of letting his opponents inflict damage on a still-shaky economy. And this is definitely no time to negotiate a grand bargain on the budget that snatches defeat from the jaws of victory.

A Timeline of Events in Electromagnetism

A Timeline of Events in Electromagnetism Human fascination with electromagnetism, the interaction of electric currents and magnetic fields, dates back to the dawn of time with the human observation of lightning and other unexplainable occurrences, such as electric fish and eels. Humans knew there was a phenomenon, but it remained shrouded in mysticism until the 1600s when scientists began digging deeper into theory. This timeline of events about the discovery and research leading to our modern understanding of electromagnetism demonstrates how scientists, inventors, and theorists worked together to advance the science collectively. 600 BCE: Sparking Amber in Ancient Greece The earliest writings about electromagnetism were in 600 BCE, when the ancient Greek philosopher, mathematician and scientist Thales of Miletus described his experiments rubbing animal fur on various substances such as amber. Thales discovered that amber rubbed with fur attracts bits of dust and hairs that create static electricity, and if he rubbed the amber for long enough, he could even get an electric spark to jump. 221–206 BCE: Chinese Lodestone Compass The magnetic compass is an ancient Chinese invention, likely first made in China during the Qin dynasty, from 221 to 206 BCE. The compass used a lodestone, a magnetic oxide, to indicate true north. The underlying concept may not have been understood, but the ability of the compass to point true north was clear. 1600: Gilbert and the Lodestone Toward the late 16th century, the founder of electrical science English scientist William Gilbert published De Magnete in Latin translated as On the Magnet or On the Lodestone. Gilbert was a contemporary of Galileo, who was impressed by Gilberts work. Gilbert undertook a number of careful electrical experiments, in the course of which he discovered that many substances were capable of manifesting electrical properties. Gilbert also discovered that a heated body lost its electricity and that moisture prevented the electrification of all bodies. He also noticed that electrified substances attracted all other substances indiscriminately, whereas a magnet only attracted iron. 1752: Franklins Kite Experiments American founding father Benjamin Franklin is famous for the extremely dangerous experiment he ran, of having his son fly a kite through a storm-threatened sky. A key attached to the kite string sparked and charged a Leyden jar, thus establishing the link between lightning and electricity. Following these experiments, he invented the lightning rod. Franklin discovered there are two kinds of charges, positive and negative: objects with like charges repel one another, and those with unlike charges attract one another. Franklin also documented the conservation of charge, the theory that an isolated system has a constant total charge. 1785: Coulombs Law In 1785, French physicist Charles-Augustin de Coulomb developed Coulombs law, the definition of the electrostatic force of attraction and repulsion. He found that the force exerted between two small electrified bodies is directly proportional to the product of the magnitude of charges and varies inversely to the square of the distance between those charges. Coulombs discovery of the law of inverse squares virtually annexed a large part of the domain of electricity. He also produced important work on the study of friction. 1789: Galvanic Electricity In 1780, Italian professor Luigi Galvani (1737–1790) discovered that electricity from two different metals causes frog legs to twitch. He observed that a frogs muscle, suspended on an iron balustrade by a copper hook passing through its dorsal column, underwent lively convulsions without any extraneous cause. To account for this phenomenon, Galvani assumed that electricity of opposite kinds existed in the nerves and muscles of the frog. Galvani published the results of his discoveries in 1789, together with his hypothesis, which engrossed the attention of the physicists of that time. 1790: Voltaic Electricity Italian physicist, chemist and inventor Alessandro Volta (1745–1827) read of Galvanis research and in his own work discovered that chemicals acting on two dissimilar metals generate electricity without the benefit of a frog. He invented the first electric battery, the voltaic pile battery in 1799. With the pile battery, Volta proved that electricity could be generated chemically and debunked the prevalent theory that electricity was generated solely by living beings. Voltas invention sparked a great deal of scientific excitement, leading others to conduct similar experiments which eventually led to the development of the field of electrochemistry. 1820: Magnetic Fields In 1820, Danish physicist and chemist Hans Christian Oersted (1777–1851) discovered what would become known as Oersteds Law: that an electric current affects a compass needle and creates magnetic fields. He was the first scientist to find the connection between electricity and magnetism. 1821: Amperes Electrodynamics French physicist Andre Marie Ampere (1775–1836) found that wires carrying current produce forces on each other, announcing his theory of electrodynamics in 1821. Amperes theory of electrodynamics states that two parallel portions of a circuit attract one another if the currents in them are flowing in the same direction, and repel one another if the currents flow in the opposite direction. Two portions of circuits crossing one another obliquely attract one another if both the currents flow either towards or from the point of crossing and repel one another if one flows to and the other from that point. When an element of a circuit exerts a force on another element of a circuit, that force always tends to urge the second one in a direction at right angles to its own direction. 1831: Faraday and Electromagnetic Induction English scientist Michael Faraday (1791–1867) at the Royal Society in London developed the idea of an electric field and studied the effect of currents on magnets. His research found that the magnetic field created around a conductor carried a direct current, thereby establishing the basis for the concept of the electromagnetic field in physics. Faraday also established that magnetism could affect rays of light and that there was an underlying relationship between the two phenomena. He similarly discovered the principles of electromagnetic induction and diamagnetism and the laws of electrolysis. 1873: Maxwell and the Basis of Electromagnetic Theory James Clerk Maxwell (1831–1879), a Scottish physicist and mathematician, recognized that electromagnetisms processes could be established using mathematics. Maxwell published Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism in 1873 in which he summarizes and synthesizes the discoveries of Coloumb, Oersted, Ampere, Faraday into four mathematical equations. Maxwells equations are used today as the basis of electromagnetic theory. Maxwell predicts the connections of magnetism and electricity leading directly to the prediction of electromagnetic waves. 1885: Hertz and Electric Waves German physicist Heinrich Hertz proved Maxwells electromagnetic wave theory was correct, and in the process, generated and detected electromagnetic waves. Hertz published his work in a book, Electric Waves: Being Researches on the Propagation of Electric Action With Finite Velocity Through Space. The discovery of electromagnetic waves led to the development to the radio. The unit of frequency of the waves measured in cycles per second was named the hertz in his honor. 1895: Marconi and the Radio In 1895, Italian inventor and electrical engineer Guglielmo Marconi put the discovery of electromagnetic waves to practical use by sending messages over long distances using radio signals, also known as the wireless. He was known for his pioneering work on long-distance radio transmission and his development of Marconis law and a radio telegraph system. He is often credited as the inventor of the radio, and he shared the 1909 Nobel Prize in Physics with Karl Ferdinand Braun in recognition of their contributions to the development of wireless telegraphy. Sources Andrà © Marie Ampà ¨re. St. Andrews University. 1998. Web. June 10, 2018.Benjamin Franklin and the Kite Experiment. The Franklin Institute. Web. June 10, 2018.Coulombs Law. The Physics Classroom. Web. June 10, 2018. De Magnete. The William Gilbert Website. Web. June 10, 2018.July 1820: Oersted and electromagnetism. This Month in Physics History, APS News. 2008. Web. June 10, 2018.OGrady, Patricia. Thales of Miletus (c. 620 B.C.E.- c. 546 B.C.E.). Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Web. June 10, 2018Silverman, Susan. Compass, China, 200 BCE. Smith College. Web. June 10, 2018.

Regal Movie Theaters (marketing research) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Regal Movie Theaters (marketing research) - Essay Example There are people who finish late, go home for dinner and catch a late night movie. Hence post 6pm the theatres are crowded as compared to any other time of the day. There can be many strategies based on price strategy (giving discounts), privacy (giving priority seats with no body near you) or even family attraction deals (a form of discounting like 3 for 2 or 4 for 2). Privacy: Give couple seats which are not surrounded by people. And don’t allocate seats near them to anyone allowing letting them have a sense of privacy. Through this may lead to issues of nuisance that might happen with dodgy couples which remains to be tackled. Family deals: there are grand parents who might want to take their grand children out for a movie. Couples sometimes take leave from work for half a day work and can spend the rest of the half in a movie theatre taking benefit of this scheme. Tickets of Regal movie theatres are fairly priced as compared to its competitors. It’s slightly cheaper in few and slightly dearer in few. Regal movies do not believe in giving differential pricing between weekends and weekdays which they can try to create a market pull for weekdays. Regal is trying to give almost everything right form discounts, family schemes, cheap pop corns and candies to card points at a reasonable price. This is hitting their bottom line hard and there seems to be a scope of either increasing the prices or modifying the scheme to get more benefit out of it. It does not need any numbers or expert comments when it comes to gauge the success IMAX and 3D movies have had in recent time. Attendance and ticket sales are two major factors with which the industry measures its success or failures. In 2010 the attendance was down by 5.25% which might be considered as a devastating drop but thanks to the revenue from 3D films that gave the industry $10.5 Billion dollar ticket sales. The extra prices for 3D movies charged by

International Relations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 10

International Relations - Essay Example Section 3(a) of the IMF fund‘s agreement requires â€Å"the funding to adopt policies towards using resources (Goldstein et al. 480) as well as the special policies for special balance of payments problems. These policies will assist members to solve their balance of payments problems in a manner consistent with the provisions of this agreement ad that will establish adequate safeguards for the temporary use of the general resources of the fund† (IMF 2002). Additionally, the initiative will stipulate the IMF and encourage the borrowing countries to affect their policy changes in a way that may help the country to repay its debt without having to affect negatively the IMF. The countries must therefore make a legal agreement that binds them to compliance with the Fund â€Å"conditionalities†. However, the least developed countries have been given improved conditions in that the IMF has undertaken a review of its conditionality to poor countries in order to streamlin e them to Poverty Reduction Growth facility (PRGF). As a result, public sector, employment, trade policy, public enterprise reforms, privatization, social security, pricing and systematic reforms have been included in the agreement. As a result, least developed countries have been given more â€Å"conditionalities† as compared to the developed countries. As a third world leader, accepting most of the conditionality given to the third world countries is an â€Å"economic Suicide†. They may subject the economy to a series of problems encompassed with huge debts and inability to owner the fund’s agreement. Section 3(a) for instance is an infringement of the economy of a country. It translates to a form of neo-colonialism in which the recipient country has to reform and implement its national economic policies in accordance to what an external body demands. It inhibits the sovereignty of a state to act within its limits

International Business Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

International Business - Research Paper Example The first branch was opened at Miami. Burger King adopted a tradition of quick service which attracted many Burger King made a business strategy with clear goals and objectives that saw it expand rapidly and made more profits than initially following the reduction in the overall sales and profits of the business. They wanted to have a new look, and virtually changed how everything was being run. The plan included strategic analysis of the business environment, identification of the business threats and the opportunities available in the market, extensive advertisements, quality control checkup and good customer relations including introduction of arrange of new food products in the market with even better tastes (Penrose, 1995). Burger King has a number of fast food products that in cooperated different prices. This made more sales to be realized as the customers could find what they were willing to pay for. In addition to this, Burger King prepares its hamburgers with a different me thod from other competitors by introducing the method of flame broiling a part from the usual frying method. This availability of different ways of food preparation captures customers of both methods (Kor, 2003). This popularized Burger King among the lovers of hamburgers leading to a popular theme of you can get it the way you want it. Today, Burger King is one of the leading food restaurants in the whole world. It boasts of around 12,000 outlets in fifty states in the United States of America. A number of these restaurants are located in the USA and is reported to account for nearly two thirds of the restaurants. Its presence is also felt in over 74 countries in the world, bringing to a total of approximately 400,000 employees all over the world. In addition to this, Burger King has a strategy to expand its total operating branches all over the world by between 3-4 percent every year. More profit from the Burger King businesses’ are realized from Canada and US, indicating w here sales are done as compared to the other outlets. For instance, the total value of units sold in the year 2009 from Canada and US was USD 2.54 billion. This trend of Burger King concentrating most of the restaurant branches in the US should change in order to avoid unpredicted threats. For example, if the US laws on taxation change so that business entities are over tax or the purchasing power parity of the US may become low leading to low customer demand which may see prices of food products falling below the equilibrium. Currently there are property rights in the USA but the future is uncertain for any country in the world. Change in politics may also play another factor that may lead to losses when a business concentrates its branches in one country. In addition a strong competitor may emerge in the US backed by powerful sources that can see Burger King run out of their money in the US. Therefore it can be recommended for Burger Kings to look beyond the US market by opening m ore branches in other countries like China, India, Japan other fast coming economies that has seen their economy grow faster than for the US. Burger King continues being successful perhaps in relation to their long time existence in the market characterized by a number of experiences gained in the last fifty years being brought over board. Burger King is a well known brand by millions of consumers to be an entity that always provide exceptional services to its customers besides quality

A Visit of Charity Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

A Visit of Charity - Research Paper Example In her 92 years, she wrote a couple of short stories, novels, essays, photographs, and one children's article. Welty makes use of her gift in literacy to convey concern to human huddles such as old age, illness, ignorance and poverty (Rags 1). These can be viewed in her short narrative, A Visit of Charity. In the narrative, Welty incites thoughts concerning selfishness, negligence, dehumanization, and callousness with the use of an ironic tone. The name itself is rather an irony (Rags 1). Charity refers to showing humanity, kindness, and social ethics toward individuals in need. However, neither the central character Marian nor society observes these principles. This article will analyze the short story, A Visit of Charity by Eudora Welty to explain its ironies. A Visit of Charity is an account about a 14 year-old girl, Marian, who goes to visit two elderly women in a nursing residence (Rags 1). The aim of her trip is to gain three points for her marks in Campfire Girl. By taking a p otted plant to the nursing residence, she can get an extra one mark, or a double point is added up if she takes a bible and reads it to the elderly women. Marian takes the bible with her a potted plant (McCartney 1). In the nursing residence, she is surprised by the inferior locality and two complaining old women. Throughout her short stay, she is strange, and her mind cannot work appropriately. She drops the abilities to see, think, hear clearly and speak. She has a strong desire to flee from this bizarre place, and from the strange elderly ladies. At the end, she leaves a weeping elderly lady and a prayerful old lady untouched. She digs up an apple she has buried under a tree and hurries to take the bus to go to her home (WriteWork 1). The narrative happens on an extremely freezing winter day at a nursing residence (WriteWork 1). The structure is portrayed as beaten block and it revealed the winter sun like a block of ice. It is redecorated by spiky dark hedge plants. These scenar ios imply the lack of warmth and affection from a society towards isolated elderly citizens in the nursing residence. Marian is the central character of the story (McCartney 1). She is portrayed as a self-centered individual. She is disturbed about the development of her Campfire Girl points more than everything. Her stopover is evidently hypocritical when she informs the nurse at the reception desk that she is a Campfire Girl and that she wants to pay a visit to a couple of elderly women. When the nurse poses whether Marian is familiar with any women there, she reply, no, however, she says that most of the women there will recognize her (McCartney 1). The potted plant is more proof that illustrates Marian’s self-interest. Rather than taking fruits or other more sincere and sensible gift, Marian opts to take a potted plant that can get her one extra mark. Nevertheless, compared to the earlier campfire girl who took a bible in her trip, Marian is thought to have a modest self- awareness. This is because she does not prefer to take a bible that can get more extra marks for her. Welty mockingly proposes that individuals who use bibles as an apparatus for self-gaining are certainly those who are too worried with their own benefits (Welty 4). Their proceedings fly in the face of consecration. Marian, nevertheless, dehumanizes the two elderly ladies automatically. She relates the voice of an elderly lady to a sheep’