INTRODUCTION Essays (2838 words) - Vocal Music, Musical Theatre

INTRODUCTION As I sit here at my computer, I am at a standstill trying to decide where to start. How do you condense a person into ten short pages, and still enable the reader to ?get to know' them. I have decided that the task is nearly impossible, even in the telling of a life that was tragically so short. Evita, as the people affectionately knew her, entered into this world with nothing and left with everything. From a poor peasant girl growing up in the pampas, to a popular media personality, to the First Lady of Argentina. In her short period on this earth she definitely made her mark. To this day, she is still a controversial figure in her native Argentina. She was beloved by the working classes and shunned by the aristocracy. When Eva Per?n died in 1952 of cancer, a group of anti-Per?nist tried to erase all physical evidence relating to Evita. Her personal notes, diaries, and photos were burned in public demonstrations. Her monuments were torn down and destroyed. Eva's body disappeared for sixteen years, in hopes that without the physical body, Eva would be soon forgotten. A group sprang up soon after and flourished in Argentina, the ?Saint Evita' cult. Posters of Evita were on every street corner, in all the villages, and in the people's hearts. The president, who took office after Juan Per?n was overthrown, was kidnapped and murdered by Saint Evita followers who wanted him to reveal where her body had been hidden. Finally, in 1976, Eva Duarte-Per?n was interred in the Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires, Argentine. For the first time since her death, she had come home again. Who is this woman, who even in death can incite such devotion? Just as mysteries surrounded Eva in death, so did they shadow her life. The Evita of the Argentine people is straightforward, and there are very few secrets. It is Eva's life before Per?n that is obscured and shadowy. It is this part of Eva's life that I find the most intriguing. This is the time of Eva's life that helped define who she was. These are the events that made her ?Evita'. LOS TOLDOS There are many small villages breaking up the plains of the Argentine pampa. If you went to sleep in one village and woke up in another, it is doubtful you would notice right away. An Argentine writer, Ezequiel Mart?nez Estrada, made this observation: "It is not so much that the houses are small, as the fact that they are dwarfed by the immensity of their surroundings. The smallness is an optical illusion; it is the pampa that makes them seem so. These villages are like meteorites...fallen to earth in the countryside. One can enter one of them and believe one is entering the village one has just left.... There is no real distinction between the village and the countryside; the village just depends on the latter and that is all. It is there but it could be to the right or to the left, indeed, it could even not be there at all..." The unsurfaced streets of Los Toldos were hot and dusty in the dry season and impossible to navigate during the rains. Surrounding the plaza of Los Toldos was the church and two stores. The village stopped about four blocks, in all directions, from the plaza. The houses tended to all look alike and were made from brick. They were boxes all laid out in a perfect grid pattern. Outside the village boundaries, cattle grazed on the fertile grasses of the pampa. Juana Ibarguren had lived in this village all of her life, her mother had been born here too. On 7 May 1919, her youngest daughter, Eva made her appearance in Los Toldos. Juana met Juan Duarte when she was fifteen years old, and fell madly in love. It did not matter to Juana that Duarte had a wife and children in another town. Together Duarte and Juana had five children, Eva being the youngest. To this day, no records of Eva's birth or baptism can be located. It is believed they were destroyed prior to her marriage to Juan Per?n to cover up the fact that Eva was illegitimate. When Eva was less than a

Free Essays on Urban Dynamics

Segregation In Urban Areas Since urbanization began in European cities, there has always been segregation, either by class, socio-economic status, political affiliation, etc. In modern American cities stratification is most heavily linked to class or race. There are many reasons that segregation in cities take place, and we will explore the more prevalent ideas of social stratification. When urban centers in America were beginning to take shape, people moved in droves to these industrial metropolises to find work and success. We studied earlier the effects of this mass immigration to cities and saw the horrid living conditions that people endured to find work. The overcrowding of cities made ghettos obvious and wealth was not directly associated with the masses of people moving in. Through the years, urban areas grew with new suburban towns encircling the city. Wealthier people inhabited these suburban areas with the ability to move in and out of cities at their own will. Cities became a melting pot of cultures in a small area. People of the same ethnic background often moved into neighborhoods in which their own culture was dominant as to fit in and feel more at home. These areas are obvious in places such as Chinatown, or â€Å"Little Italy†. Southie, in Boston is dominated by the working class Irish people that came to the American cities as many others did: looking for work, and the American Dream. These social groupings are one way that cities become segregated. This segregation is not the discriminatory term that we usually attribute to the phrase, but the separation of social groups. â€Å"The city in the 1920’s was often a battleground as various groups within the population struggled for social and cultural authority.† New laws in urban centers gave way to a new cultural group as well: criminals. Organized crime in the 1920’s was widespread; â€Å"In New York, Chicago, Detroit, and other cities, big-... Free Essays on Urban Dynamics Free Essays on Urban Dynamics Segregation In Urban Areas Since urbanization began in European cities, there has always been segregation, either by class, socio-economic status, political affiliation, etc. In modern American cities stratification is most heavily linked to class or race. There are many reasons that segregation in cities take place, and we will explore the more prevalent ideas of social stratification. When urban centers in America were beginning to take shape, people moved in droves to these industrial metropolises to find work and success. We studied earlier the effects of this mass immigration to cities and saw the horrid living conditions that people endured to find work. The overcrowding of cities made ghettos obvious and wealth was not directly associated with the masses of people moving in. Through the years, urban areas grew with new suburban towns encircling the city. Wealthier people inhabited these suburban areas with the ability to move in and out of cities at their own will. Cities became a melting pot of cultures in a small area. People of the same ethnic background often moved into neighborhoods in which their own culture was dominant as to fit in and feel more at home. These areas are obvious in places such as Chinatown, or â€Å"Little Italy†. Southie, in Boston is dominated by the working class Irish people that came to the American cities as many others did: looking for work, and the American Dream. These social groupings are one way that cities become segregated. This segregation is not the discriminatory term that we usually attribute to the phrase, but the separation of social groups. â€Å"The city in the 1920’s was often a battleground as various groups within the population struggled for social and cultural authority.† New laws in urban centers gave way to a new cultural group as well: criminals. Organized crime in the 1920’s was widespread; â€Å"In New York, Chicago, Detroit, and other cities, big-...

Are people born Gay Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Are people born Gay - Essay Example My thesis statement is that, people are born gay and cannot change their sexual orientation. This essay will focus on this debate and the views of different writers for, or against this view. Approximately 2-5% of men are gay, and the statistics for women is half that of men. (Rahman & Wilson, 2003). The disparity here is explained by the fact that women are influenced by their culture as well as situations, unlike men. Nathaniel Lehrman (2005) stated that even after years of study, there is no evidence of a gay gene. The votes to normalize homosexuality seem to suggest that it is an inborn trait, but to him, this vote is political and not scientific. It is in the late 1970s that the term orientation began to be used in place of the word preference. This change he states has led many people to think that homosexuality is innate. The author sites examples of people who were previously engaged in gay relationships but had since stopped and are in stable relationships with the people of the opposite sex. Another explanation that he gives for his stand is that there is no clear description of what being gay is. Having attractions to the people of the same gender as you does not mean that you are gay. He uses this disparity to justify his belief that no one is born a homosexual. Nathaniel argues that the tests that claim that there is DNA proof to show that there are gay genes falls short of significance. The fact that there is no clear evidence pointing to the possibility of gay genes makes it hard to prove the same. According to research, some children who face maltreatment while younger become gay when they become adults. (Roberts & Koenen, 2013). Factors such as having a drunkard parent, parental mental illness and presence of a step-parent affect a child’s sexual orientation once they grow into adulthood. This study goes to show that there are other factors that may lead to one becoming gay, but the

Focusing the Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Focusing the Study - Essay Example Two distinct studies all base their research on the subject although with different approaches and purposes. A qualitative study by Mohr, Webb and Harris titled ‘Do Consumers Expect Companies to be Socially Responsible? The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Buying’ attempts to focus on the problem of whether corporate social responsibility actually impact profitability within organizations, (Mohr and Webb, 2005). The key questions asked within the study include; whether from consumer’s perspective corporations have to be socially responsible to society; the nature of this responsibility; how much knowledge consumers think they have on the level of the social responsibility of the firms; if the consumers really care of the firm’s social responsibilities and what motive consumers actually attribute to corporations that participate actively in society’s affairs. The paper uses a number of methods including in-depth interviews and has the purp ose of coming up with a clear understanding on what the public expects on these corporations with regards to social responsibility, (Mohr and Webb, 2005). The second study titled ‘Corporate Social and Financial Performance: A Meta-analysis’ by Orlitzky, Schmidt and Rynes uses a quantitative approach in assessing the relationship between the corporate social performance and the resulting financial performance. The quantitative study conducts a meta-analysis of 52 studies with a total sample size of 33,878 observations, (Orlitzky, Schmidt and Rynes, 2003). The study’s specific objectives were to provide a statistical integration of accumulated research between CSP and CFP, examine key determinants of both CSP and CFP and integrate empirical research in the context of diverse studies. The Hypothesis stated that ‘Corporate Social Performance and Financial performance are generally related across a wide variety of

Human Resource Management Overview Research Paper

Human Resource Management Overview - Research Paper Example Therefore, every organization should manage human resource department appropriately to enhance success. Q. 1 In early days, human resource management was meant for the custody of records. Record keeping is one role of the personnel department in many organizations including health care industry. Many people do not find or are not aware of the roles performed by human resource management in organizations. Today, human resource management is becoming a vital organ with increasing roles and duties. The roles human resource management department plays in medical care field include; Legal, ethical and safety issues in health care It is the role of human resource management to ensure that all employees understand ethical issues and legal principles in health care industry. The main type of relationship in health care is that of healthcare giver and patient (Pynes & Lombardi, 2001). The relationship between healthcare providers and patient should be attended to since health care industry is faced by many dilemmas in this area. Laws and policies have been implemented to protect service providers and patients. Therefore, human resource management should carry out training to address the ethical and unethical issues to be practiced in the field of medical care. It is the role of human resource to ensure that healthcare providers are working in a healthy environment. ... This ensures that only staffs with the required skills, expertise and qualifications are selected to fill vacant positions. After a candidate is selected, the human resource department should make efforts to retain the staff. The backbone of every health care is nursing and it is faced with shortages (Hernandez & O'Connor, 2009). Additionally, rural areas are experiencing shortages of physicians and therefore, care should be taken in selection, recruitment and retention of health care providers especially nurses and practitioners. Motivation of heath care employees Human resource has a role to motivate staffs who are in direct contact with patients and those who are involved with patients indirectly. This is to ensure that high quality services are provided to patient. Staffs involved in direct contact with clients are nurses and physicians while laboratory technologists, technicians and clinical technicians have indirect contact (Pynes & Lombardi, 2001). Nurses and physicians depend on the results given by laboratory technicians to give prescriptions to patients. Therefore, all staffs play an important role in provision of quality services to the client and fair treatment is essential for all. Empowered employees who receive good compensation for work done and working in good environment perform well. Additionally, rewarding employees with promotions, incentives and appreciation are factors that lead to employees’ motivation to quality work. Another role of HR is provision of benefits to medical staffs. These include mandatory benefits by law like medical leave, unemployment insurance and worker’s compensation (Pynes & Lombardi, 2001). Other non-mandatory

SWOT Analysis of Performance Analysis of Primark

SWOT Analysis of Performance Analysis of Primark PowerPoint Presentation and Written Assessment Executive Summary This report provides information to potential investors using ratio analysis to examine profitability, liquidity, efficiency, the gearing of Primark Ltd for 2015. The report will pay much attention to earning power, liquidity, credit management, debt management, inventory management, and capital structure of Primark by comparing it with three other competitors: Next Plc, TJX UK and House of Fraser. The report highlight on major strength, weakness, opportunities and threats of Primark within the Fashion retail business to aid potential to make a better-informed decision to invest in Primark. The report analyses the financial situation of Primark with its competitors and provides a recommendation for improvement. Primark recorded a significant increase of 7.57% of Return on Capital Employed (ROCE). 2015 saw an increase of 3.76% in turnover. Business and Financial Situation Primark is a subsidiary of the Association of British Food (ABF) Group. The company was incorporated in 1969 in Ireland trading with the name Pennys. Primark is headquartered in Dublin. Primark has grown over the years to carve a niche for itself to be a major high street clothing retailer with an appearance of over 238 branches in UK, Ireland and Europe. Primark offers inventive, trendy clothes at value-for-money prices. Like several fashion retail companies, Primark does not manufacture its products itself. The firm works with suppliers to produce to its requirement. The firm relies on low cost, economies of scale and efficient distribution strategies to sustain its competitive market position. Turnover of Primark between the financial years 2015 and 2014 increased from 2,786,250,000 to 2,890,892,000 which indicates an increase of 3.76% of the 2014 turnover. Primark recorded an 80.47% Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) for 2015 which is 7.57% increase of 2014 ROCE. Profitability of Primark for the year under review did not see much improvement. Primark gained a feeble 0.74% and 0.40% for gross profit margin and operating profit margin respectively. The net profit margin, on the other hand, saw a partly 0.35% in net margin. Overall, profitability grew under 1% for the year under review. There could be many factors causing this partly less than 1% increase in profitability. Competition, increase in operating expenses, the general economy, etc. The Liquidity ratios analyse Primarks ability to meet its short-term obligations as and when they fall due. In general, the ratio assesses how easy it is for Primark to convert its assets into cash. The acceptable range of current ratio is between 0.5 and 2.0. Current ratio and quick ratio saw a partly increase of 0.09 and 0.02 respectively which indicates Primark is operating outside the acceptable range of current ratio. In reality, the current and acid test ratios do not indicate Primark is risky for investors, but Primark operates in an industry where cash is the standard Primarks activity ratios show how it has been effective in utilising its assets to generate income, how long it takes to collect cash from its sales and also make payment for its purchases. Primarks inventory turnover times saw a drop of 1 stock turnover times in 2015 which translated into an increase in the number of inventory turnover period by 8days. This means Primark now require 8 more days to sell off its inventory. Primark has a favourable creditors collection period which allows them ample time to sell off inventory then make payment to suppliers. A 0.10 drop in accounts payable turnover translates into 12 days reduction in creditors collection periods in 2015 which is still favourable to Primark. This indicates Primark mostly buy its inventory on credit. Receivables turnover has reduced from 127 times in 2014 to 50.41 times in 2015. This reduction in receivables turnover translates into an increase of 4 days from 2.87 days in 2014 to 7.24 days in 2015. The increases of 0.05 in asset turnover in 2015 translated into an increase of 3.76% in sales in 2015. Primark is not a highly geared company, this show that the operation of the company is financed through equity. There is a slight decline on the dependence on outside sources of funding from 8.80% to 8%. This is good news for Primark. This indicates that for every  £1 of capital employed 8% is debt and the rest of capital employed financed through equity. The debt to equity ratio of Primark is very high debt-to-equity ratio. There is a slight reduction in the debt-to-equity ratio from 4.62:1 in 2014 to 3.83:1 in 2015. The debt-to-equity ratio indicates that the proportion of Primarks assets financed by creditors are 4.62 and 3.83 times more in 2015 and 2014 respectively than the proportion of assets financed through Primarks equity. The ratio also indicates that, for every  £4.62 total liabilities in 2015 and every  £3.83 of total liabilities in 2014, equity can pay  £1 of it. The acceptable debt-to-equity ratio for most companies is 1.5 2. Primarks high debt-to-equity ratio is as a result of purchasing most of its inventory on credit. The high debt-to-equity ratio does not necessarily mean Primark is risky for investors. Primark is able to generate enough cash because it sells for cash and has also got a favourable creditors collection period of 203 days. Evaluation of Primark with Peers Profitability Primark and Next Plc managed less than 1% increase in gross margin for the year 2015. Next saw a little over one 1% increase in gross margin whilst House of Fraser recorded a decrease of 0.25% in gross margin for 2015. The gross margin of the four firms shows stability in gross margin. Operating margin saw an increase between 0.4% and 1.33% for Primark, Next Plc and TJX UK with only House of Fraser achieving -1.36% in operating margin. House of Fraser with its 58.72% gross margin could manage only 2.64% as operating margin. This is very bad. The picture shows House of Fraser is practising the premium pricing strategy where businesses set cost higher than their competitors as result records low sales. The operating profit margin of Next Plc is almost twice as much of Primarks operating margin. Primark also recorded operating margin little below twice the operating margin of TJX UK whilst TJX UK recorded operating margin little over twice that of House of Fraser. Primark on profitabili ty is doing well looking at the intense competition within the clothing retail industry. Liquidity Liquidity for Primark, Next Plc and TJX UK saw a slight increase in House of Fraser recording a decrease in current ratio. The slight increase in currency ratio means Primark earned 10p, Next Plc earned 6p, and TJX UK earned 28p more of current assets to pay short-term obligations. House of Fraser on the other hand lost 5p of current assets to pay short-term liabilities. The quick ratio is an indication that Primark, TJX UK and House of Fraser have inventory as the larger portion of current assets. Lenders and creditors are very much interested in this ratio as it helps them determine whether Primark, Next Plc, TJX UK and House of Fraser would be able to meet its future obligations. Primark has the least current and quick ratios of 0.37 and 0.05 respectively to  £1 of current liabilities. Efficiency The efficiency with which Primark, Next Plc and House of Fraser use to turn its inventory into sale has reduced. Primark, Next Plc and House of Fraser all had a reduction in their stock turnover times for 2015 with only TJX UK having a slight increase in their stock turnover times which reduced their stock turnover periods by 1.02 days. The decrease in stock turnover for Primark, Next Plc and House of Fraser is insignificant at stock turnover ratio but that is not the same at the stock turnover periods level. The decrease in stock turnover led to an increase of 8 days in stock turnover periods for Primark and Next Plc with House of Fraser having 3.8 days increase in stock turnover periods. All other things being equal, a higher stock turnover and lower stock turnover periods are better. The receivables turnover and receivables turnover periods indicates House of Fraser performed a little better than Primark, Next Plc and TJX UK. The ratios indicate Primark and Next Plc have relaxed credit policies for which debtor are taking advantage of it or they are having problems collecting from customers. All else equal, higher receivables turnover with lower receivables turnover period is better. The 203 days accounts payable days of Primark shows Primark takes more than 6 months to pay creditors, House of Fraser takes more than 2 years to pay its creditors with its 733.67 accounts payable days. The account payable days of Primark and House of Fraser is an indication that they are paying creditors slowly which is good for Primark and House of Fraser on the other hand, its an indication of worsening financial conditions. Creditors would be comfortable with 28.97 days and 36.37 days account payable days of Next Plc and TJX UK respectively. Analysis of the current business environment affecting UK clothing Retail Industry The environments that affect the UK clothing industry can be categorised into Macro and microenvironment. The macro environments consist of factors that affect all organisations across industries. These factors would be analysed using the Porters Five Forces Analysis. According to Grant 2005, the varying degrees of the factors within the business environment (industry) would determine the pressure, competition level and the profit it will make. The five sources analysed by Michael Porter are competition from new entrants, Competition from established rivals, competition from substitutes, bargaining power of buyers and bargaining power of suppliers. Markets that are profitable keep on attracting new entrants and the clothing retail market is no exception. With a minimum capital requirement of the clothing retail market, its easy for new companies to enter and as a result of the eventual profits across the industry decrease. The only way that Primark and other big firms can secure their market is to take advantage of their economies of scale. Establish more outlets to enable them to sell at a cheaper price to induce sales. By this, new entrants would not be able to compete. Customers have got over thousand and one substitutes to choose from within the clothing retail market. There are many well-established competitors and well-branded substitutes within the clothing retail market for customers to make a choice but the ultimate goal of the customer is to pay less for better quality. Primark should offer the best quality at an affordable price that customers would be able to pay. The clothing industry is fragmented with the intense rivalry between retail companies. Next Plc, JTX UK and House of Fraser are all rivals to Primark but Primark has got some loyal customers who are satisfied with Primarks brand. Primark should protect its brand as customers are interested in the brand they associated themselves with. Any negative reputation will affect Primarks image which competitors would take advantage of. The saturation of the clothing retail market has led to a highly competitive environment where customers have many brands to choose from. Buyers power is high as they have lots of alternatives to choose from. For Primark to defuse this power, it must offer lower prices, varieties of unique designs, high quality, quality customer service and solid brand image that customers would not be able to reject. With the aim of attracting every potential buyer, suppliers of Primark would have lower supplier power the firm tries to satisfy the needs of its customers with variety. Primark source its products from cheap economies and suppliers have to supply based on agreed standards and designs. SWOT Analysis of Primark The SWOT Analysis provides strategic analysis of Primarks business operations which would provide a competitive advantage over its competitors. This analysis shows the strength, weakness, opportunities and threats of Primark within the clothing retail market. Strengths The business model of Primark is based on high sales volumes and lower retail margins with minimal advertising which enable it to offer low prices to customers. Primark takes advantage of bulk buying which help it to enjoy economies of scale to enables it to keep cost down. Primark has an extensive range of products including childrenswear, menswear, lingerie, accessories and footwear. Primark has got strong presence across UK and Europe with over 280 stores and also known in Ireland as Penneys. Primark employs about 50000 people around the world Weakness Primark has outsourced its manufacturing line and this may lead to inconsistencies in quality. The slow economic growth of UK and EU has held the group profit back. The online retail channel is the fasters retail market in the UK and Primark has no presence for the online market. Opportunities Clothing is an essential product for everyone especially the youth population and that there is a constant demand for clothing. Primark should extend its presence to the USA, Africa, Middle East, China and India. One of the fastest growing segments of Primark is sportswear. Threats Primark has got no presence in emerging markets like Africa and its sales are dependent on the health of the UK and EU economy so any shock to the economy would be a disaster. There is an intense competition between online retailers and physical retailers and Primark is no exception. Businesses like Primark with operations in Europe are griped with fear as the government approach to Brexit saga would affect their operations in EU market. Share Valuation of Primark Primarks shares could be currently valued at  £6.98 per share. Looking at the performance of Primark with its peers the stock price of Primark could be sold at a premium. I would recommend a  £10 price per share for Primarks stock in the IPO. Conclusion Primark rub shoulders with the big brands within the industry in terms of sales and have the potential for IPO. The corporate governance of Primark must be strengthening so that directors and officers would not take advantage of weak corporate government structure. With the worsening performance of the British pounds against the Euro and the US dollar, a critical assessment of the UK governments Brexit policies and the impact that Brexit would have on the UK economy and its relationship with the rest of Europe must be done. For now, I would recommend suspension of Primarks IPO, to enable it to conduct a critical analysis of the Brexit Policies of the UK government and the impact it would have on businesses. Forecast With the financial year 2014 to 2015, Primarks turnover increased by 3.76% we still presume that Primark would be able to achieve 3.5% increase in sales revenue. The weakening value of the British pounds as a result of Brexit will hit Primark because it sources its product in the US dollar. This would increase the cost of sales, operating cost and interest payable of Primark. The 3.5% expected increase in sales revenue and 3% increase in the cost of sale would result in an increase of 5.52% in gross profit. In all, it is estimated that Primark would be able to achieve about 2.53% increase in Profit after Tax for the year 2016. Factors That May Impact Primarks Share Valuation Investors must carefully evaluate the information they obtain about an organisation to help develop current and future expectation value. The value of Primark would be determined by both internal factors, which are under the control of the management of Primark. Key factor that would influence the value of Primark are; Profitability The ability of Primark to generate a profit would attract investors to invest their resources into the company. Investors want to see appreciable returns on their investments and Primark has the prospect and ability to generate profit to multiply shareholders wealth. Growth For all other things being equal, companies with a strong demonstration of growth trends attracts potential investors and commands higher multiples. As Primark expand its presence in Europe, US, India and other emerging markets, it will create an opportunity for higher sales and profitability for which investors would be attracted to. Risk Investor wants to protect their investment by avoiding high-risk companies for less risk once. Investors would use any of the following to evaluate Primark as a high risk or less Risk Company. Market analysis the clothing retail market is open and there are no barriers to entry, Primark should put enough strategies in place so that the activities of new entrants would not affect it. Management Primark needs people with vast knowledge and experience on its management to implement its policies and strategies and set effective succession plan. Internal control investors would want to see the review and audit Primarks financial statements. Financial situation investor would want to see Primark with the strong balance sheet to prove its financial position, capital structure this will help them determine if Primark would be able to meet its financial obligations. Corporate Governance Recommendation Its a legal requirement of all companies seeking to get listed on the LSE to have a suitable corporate governance system impaled. Corporate governance is special machinery for regulating risk in organisations activities by preventing corporate disasters, scandals, and consequential losses and damages to investors, society and staff. To this end, Primark must have a suitable corporate governance policy in placed. We would recommend Primark to adopt the corporate governance structure below. Annual General Meeting That is the highest decision-making body where directors would render accounts of their stewardship to shareholders and shareholders would have the opportunity to evaluate the report of directors to give them the opportunity to continue their stewardship or vote them out. Board of Directors Primark should have a board where each member has the appropriate set of experience, independence, skills and knowledge to manage Primark. Audit Committee there must be audit committee who will report to the board. Members of the audit committee should comprise of only members of Primarks board whose responsibility would be to identify matters that needs action is taken or improvements and make recommendations with the processes to be taken. The audit committee has the duty to review internal controls, the integrity of financial statements and internal audit. Management Board Primark should have a strong and well-experienced management board that would be responsible for the implementation of policy direction and strategies set by the board and the day-to-day running of the business. Internal Audit there should be an internal audit unit that would provide an independent assurance that Primarks risk management, internal control system and governance are operating effectively. External Auditor as part of the requirements to list on the London stock Exchange, Primark needs to appoint an independent external auditor who will provide an independent opinion whether management has fairly presented the information provided in Primarks financial statements. Annual Report management of Primark should provide an annual report and get it approved by shareholders at the annual general meeting. Benefits of Corporate Governance Good corporate governance ensures corporate success and economic growth. Strong corporate governance maintains investors confidence, as a result of which, company can raise capital efficiently and effectively. It lowers the cost of capital. There is a positive impact on the share price. It provides proper inducement to the owners as well as managers to achive objectives that are in interests of the shareholders and the organisation. Good corporate governance also minimises wasteges, corruption, risk and mismanagement. It hepls in brand formation and development. It ensures organisation is managed in a manner that fits the best interest of all. Reference Atrill, P., McLaney, E. (2010a). Accounting and finance for non-specialists (7th ed.). Harlow, England: Financial Times/Prentice Hall. Atrill, P., McLaney, E. (2010b). Accounting and finance for non-specialists (7th ed.). Harlow, England: Financial Times/Prentice Hall. Berk, J., DeMarzo, P., Harford, J., jo.., jarrad harford, jarrad harford jonathan berk peter demarzo (2008). Fundamentals of corporate finance international financial reporting standards edition (Softcover Internatinal). Boston: Pearson Education (US). Board, F. A. S., St, F. A., ., ards, Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) (2004). Statements of financial accounting concepts: Accounting standards as of June 1, 2004. New York: Financial Accounting Standards Board. Coltman, Coltman, E. (2012). Refreshingly simple finance for small business: A straight-talking guide to finance and accounting. United Kingdom: Brightword Publishing. Crowther, D., Crowther, P. D. (2012). A social critique of corporate reporting: Semiotics and web-based integrated reporting (2nd ed.). Aldershot, England: Ashgate Publishing. Emmanuel, C. R., Otley, D., Merchant, K. (1995). Readings in accounting for management control (the Chapman hall series in accounting and finance) (2nd ed.). London: International Thomson Business Press. European edition. (2017, January 5). Retrieved January 6, 2017, from bloomberg.com, https://www.bloomberg.com/europe Fund prices and data. (2016). Retrieved January 6, 2017, from Morningstar, http://www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/ Horner, D., Gillespie, A. (2000a). Accounting and finance: An analytical and evaluative approach to business studies (A level B.. London: Hodder Stoughton Educational. Horner, D., Gillespie, A. (2000b). Accounting and finance: An analytical and evaluative approach to business studies (A level B.. London: Hodder Stoughton Educational. Hrsg (2013a). Integrated reporting: Concepts and cases that redefine corporate accountability. Dordrecht: Springer International Publishing AG. Hrsg (2013b). Integrated reporting: Concepts and cases that redefine corporate accountability. Dordrecht: Springer International Publishing AG. Kim, S. H. (1998). Global corporate finance: Text and cases (4th ed.). Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishers. Lee, T. A. (2006). Corporate governance and financial reporting. Chichester, United Kingdom: Wiley, John Sons. Limited, K. N. (2016, June 10). Primark stores limited. Retrieved January 6, 2017, from www.keynote.co.uk, https://www.keynote.co.uk/company-report/financials/profit-loss/00453448 (Limited, 2016) Media, B. L. (2017). ACCA P2 corporate reporting (international UK): Study text. United Kingdom: BPP Learning Media. Appendixes

Cherokees :: essays research papers

Thesis: The fierce struggle of European nations to dominate the New World caused the Texas Cherokees to be “caught between two fires.'; The two fires Everett refers to is not only in respect to white settlers pushing westward and resistance from other tribes to the east, but between removal and extermination. The Texas Cherokees courageously strived to remain determined in a situation which they were able to alter somewhat but were not able to take control. Everetts depiction of the Texas Cherokees experiences fully supported the thesis presented. The thesis was clearly stated in the preface and the use of specific examples helped to strongly support it as portrayed below. The arguments were followed with supporting statements as portrayed below as well. Everett presents us with a fair, two sided account of the confrontations between the Texas Cherokees and the European settlers. One component of the thesis Everett relates to the Cherokees caught between white settlers pushing westward and resistance from other tribes to the east. Everett gives several examples of Europeans pushing the Cherokees westward. In 1817, the Western Cherokees signed a treaty giving up land rights in the east to Europeans in exchange for permanent reserve in northern Arkansas. (Everett 14) She also demonstrates the resistance received from western tribes. “Warfare with Comanches would replace warfare with Osages.'; (Everett 25) Both statements are examples of how the Texas Cherokees were literally “caught between two fires'; and was very effective. Another aspect of the thesis relates the Texas Cherokees caught between removal and extermination. Everett strongly supports this aspect of the thesis when she gives the example of the new president of the Republic of Texas sending a letter to Duwali’s village. It states that “the red man and the white man cannot dwell together'; and goes on to say, “their final removal is contemplated.'; (Everett 103) This statement alone describes the European feelings toward the red man. It proves how Europeans refuse to negotiate with “savages'; and will use force if they do not cooperate. The third topic of the thesis Everett attempts to prove deals with the determination of the Texas Cherokees to attempt to control the situations they were faced with. It is stated that five hundred warriors took part in the final battle Chief Duwali would fight in. (Everett 108) This proves the determination in the Cherokees hearts. Instead of giving up and moving east they decided to take a stand with overwhelming odds against them.

Greatest Good for the Greatest Number

Michael Sandel lectures on justice throughout two episodes. Episode 1 Part one â€Å"The Moral Side of the Murder† has three cases that demonstrate how to recognize moral selflessness and cope with consequences. These cases also show us how they move us to act and the opportunities that exist from those actions. The moral rightness of these cases can maximize consequentiality moral reasoning and can also locate morality in certain duties and rights which is categorical reasoning. In the first case driving the trolley and killing one worker rather than five is not considered an act of murder according to students from Sandels discussions.The majority expressed consequentialist moral reasoning. As an onlooker on a bridge looking at the trolley, some students would not push a fat man over the bridge to save the five workers, they said that the act would be committing murder; therefore the consequences are complex and categorical. When asked about a surgeon removing five organs fr om one healthy individual to save the lives of five other individuals, the majority of the students did not agree to be morally correct. In this example the greatest number was compromised because of moral reasoning.Episode 1 Part two, â€Å"The Case for Cannibalism† is a real life story that asks the question if the four survivors of the Mignonette ship were morally justified. Brooks, Dudley, Stevens and Parker had been on a life boat for 19 days. Parker’s decision to drink the salt water put him in a vulnerable position that ended his life by cannibalism to save the rest. By day twenty-four, Brooks, Dudley and Stevens were rescued and arrested. The majority of the students agreed to try them while the minority asked the question to what degree of necessity would exonerate them.It was discussed if the three survivors would benefit the community or be a danger to society for being cannibalistic. The key point by Sandel and the students was that adding consent would mak e a difference in the trial. Kantian ethics was preferred instead of Bentham’s utilitarianism theory. Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill have different proposals on utilitarianism. â€Å"Jeremy Bentham identified good consequences with pleasure, which is measured in terms of intensity, duration, certainty, propinquity, fecundity, purity, and extent.John Stuart Mill argued that pleasures differ in quality as well as quantity and that the highest good involves the highest quality as well as quantity of pleasure. † There is no agreement on which theories count as consequentiality under this definition therefore skepticism will always exist. Episode 2 Part One â€Å"Putting a Price Tag on Life† was focused on Bentham’s theory of act-utilitarian. Cost benefit analysis was a huge focus on this topic. This analysis involves placing a dollar value to stand for utility.The first case took place in Czech Republic encouraging the citizens to smoke. The company Phil ip Morris conducted a cost benefit analysis and had the highest gain which included early death from smoking to benefit the government or other people. Decision to smoke was a qualitative risk factor since there was known probabilities. This objection to utilitarianism fails to respect individual and minority rights and is not possible to total a dollar value on human life. Another study that examined placing a dollar value on human life, was done by psychologist Edward Thorndike.He conducted a survey in the 1930’s for the purpose of placing a dollar amount with various scenarios. The choices of living in a farm in Kansas, pulling off a front tooth, cutting off a toe and eating a worm all had a value. The majority favored as the highest pleasure to live in a farm in Kansas. Episode 2 Part Two â€Å"How to Measure Pleasure† discusses the levels of pleasure. The examples of choosing the highest pleasure between Shakespeare, Simpsons or Fear Factor were based on culture a nd education. Students reasoned that Shakespeare voted the highest because this is presented throughout the school years.But if given a choice between Shakespeare, seasons of the Simpsons as the only pleasure for life, majority ruled I favor of Shakespeare for intellect purposes. The Simpsons for entertaining purposes were voted second and Fear Factor last. To test the highest pleasure, people would have to experience all to pick the very best. John Stuart Mill said that utility is the only standard of morality therefore you must experience both pleasures. The similarities between Episode 1 and 2, was that categorical moral reasoning was preferred.Circumstances dictated those whom decided that the greatest good was for the greatest number. In contrast, more utilitarian and consequential moral reasoning emphasis was found in Episode 1 than in episode 2. The moral of the story that philosopher Bentham suggested was that â€Å"Here in life and in death is a man who adhered to the prin cipals of his philosophy. † References http://www. questia. com/read/1E1-utilitar/utilitarianism http://onbiostatistics. blogspot. com/2010/02/cost-benefit-analysis-put-dollar-value. html

1984 Essays (686 words) - Nineteen Eighty-Four, Newspeak

1984 Essays (686 words) - Nineteen Eighty-Four, Newspeak 1984 Nineteen Eighty Four Fictional World In English this semester we have studied three different texts. All three texts were based on original, fictional worlds. The fictional world which stood out above the rest and really amazed me would have to be Nineteen Eighty-Four. Nineteen Eighty-Four was the most realistic out of the three. While reading the novel you really get into the fictional world and think like the main character Winston Smith. Three aspects of the text which made this world so interesting to study were The Inner Party, Big Brother, and the Thought Police. Each of these interesting aspects in Nineteen Eighty Four play a great part in the novel itself and the way the fictional world works. The Inner Party played a huge role in creating the fascinating world in Nineteen Eighty Four. The Inner Party was in charge of Airstrip1 and wanted to be superior over everyone. They wanted the party to be the peoples first loyalty over anything else. They didnt allow marriage or even sex for this was an act of loyalty between two people and not to the party. An example of this is when Winston and Julia were caught having a sexual relationship and were taken away by the Thought Police. They were then made to betray eachother, love the Party, and to believe what ever the party said was true. The Party had control over everything even peoples minds. This was proved when O Brien held up four fingers and said to Winston how many fingers am I holding up? Winston replied Five. Big Brother also played a big role in creating the world which Nineteen Eighty-Four was based in. Big Brother is a figure, which the Party has created to frighten people and give them more power. The Party can do anything they like and when someone questions them they can just say there under orders from Big Brother. Big Brother is everywhere in every house (except proles), every street, wall, and he is always shouting out BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU the text which backs this up is when Winston describes that On each landing, opposite the lift shaft the poster with enormous face gazed from the wall. It was one of those pictures, which are so conceived that the eyes follow you about when you move. Big Brother is so important to the world in the novel because the figure stops thought crime, gives the people someone to look up to and someone to love, lets the Party tell the people anything they want and the people will believe it, such as propaganda. An example is when the party say Oce ania is at war with Eurasia, Oceania has always been at war with Eurasia. The people automatically believe this. Newspeak is the official language of Oceania. It is supposed to take over common English in the year 2050. Newspeak is another important aspect in the creation of Oceania because it prevents Thought Crime. The purpose of Newspeak is to cancel out words such as rebel so that people wont know the word and therefore if they feel like rebelling against the party they wont know how to express their feelings. The compiler of the Newspeak dictionary Syme says Dont you see that the whole aim of newspeak is to narrow the range of thoughts which in the end we shall make thought crime literally impossible. Newspeak will also cut out words that have no use such as excellent or superb which are all different meanings of the word good, or double plus good instead of having all different words meaning the same thing. Syme said to Winston were cutting the language down to the bone. He then said, the purpose of the Newspeak Dictionary is to reduce the vocabulary so that even the concept of rebellion fades away The Inner Party, Big Brother, and Newspeak are all-important aspects of the fictional world in Nineteen Eighty-Four each one of these aspects play an important part in the development of the fascinating world which the author George Orwell has created.

International Business Transactions of United States and Saudi Arabia

International Business Transactions of United States and Saudi Arabia International business is a type of trade that involves commercial transactions between two or more countries operating beyond their national boundaries. In other terms, these are business transactions involving several nations, which are carried out at the international level.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on International Business Transactions of United States and Saudi Arabia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More As it would be observed, international business transactions are of great importance to participating countries in a number of ways. For example, they help in strengthening a country’s international relations with other countries in the world. More importantly, they give countries a direct opportunity to market their products in the global markets, thus playing a key role in shaping their economic development. This paper is about international business transactions and it revolves around two countries th at have been successful in this type of trade. The two featured countries are United States and Saudi Arabia. In fact, United States is one of the most developed countries in the world, in terms of trade and economy (Rugman and Collinson 35). At 9.8 million km2 in land area, the US is arguably one of the largest countries globally. Currently, the country’s population stands at around 317 million people. United States is a major player in the global markets, and this is evident from its large business links with other countries across the world. As a result of these commercial establishments, America enjoys one of the most successful economic relationships in the world.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More USA is a major player in export transactions, and some of its major exports are transportation equipment, petroleum oils, pharmaceutical products, organic chemi cals, and telecommunications equipment. In terms of the imports, USA is the leading importer of commodities and products in the world. Some of their major imports would include refined petroleum oils, crude petroleum oils, automobiles, medicaments, and automatic data processing machines. Most of the country’s exports go to Canada, while most of its imports come from China. Just like other advanced nations, USA enjoys a wide range of industries and manufacturing companies (Rosenberg, Nathan and Rosenberg 68). The largest industries in the country include the automotive industry, the retail industry, healthcare industry, pharmaceutical industry, and oil and gas industry. These industries and others that are not listed here serve as the backbone of the country’s economy. As a notable participant in the international business arena, United States is a trade partner to many other countries around the world. However, some of its biggest traders in terms of exports and import s are Mexico, Japan, China, Canada, and Germany, among others (Helpman, Melitz and Rubinstein 445).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on International Business Transactions of United States and Saudi Arabia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The U.S. is currently the largest single economy in the world, with a Gross Domestic Product of $16.6 trillions according to the latest listings. The other country that is featured here is Saudi Arabia, popularly known as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. With an estimated area of 2.1 million km2, the popular Arab State is said to be the largest country in terms of land area in the whole of Western Asia. Currently, the country has an estimated population of about 29 million people comprising of the original citizens, illegal immigrants, and registered foreign expatriates. Just like America, Saudi Arabia is a major player in international business, especially in transactions involving petrol eum and oil-based products, which are said to have a heavy command on the country’s economy (Achoui 41). Even though Saudi Arabia is incomparable with the U.S. when it comes to international business transactions, they are well recognized at the global markets for being a major importer and exporter of a wide range of products. Currently, the Arabic state is ranked at position 19 among the biggest exporters, and position 20 among the biggest importers in the world. Some of the major exports of the country are petroleum and petroleum products, petrochemicals, electrical appliances, construction materials, plastic products, and metal-related goods (Jasimuddin 61).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More On the other hand, Saudi Arabia imports products such as motor vehicles, machinery equipment, foodstuffs, and coal products, among other things. Just like the U.S., Saudi Arabia is also home to numerous industries, with some of the big ones including petroleum refining industries, oil industries, petrochemical industries, pharmaceutical industries, plastic industries, pharmaceutical industries, and cement industries among others. As a recognized importer and exporter of vast products, Saudi Arabia has a large network of business partners from allover the world (Niblock and Malik 77). Some of the major trading partners of the Arab State of Saudi Arabia include the UK, Japan, China, Thailand, Canada, and the United States. The country also has numerous trade relations with other surrounding Arabic nations such as Yemen, Iran, Syria, and Iran, just to mention a few. Saudi Arabia enjoys a strong economic situation, considering its current GDP that stands at $160 billions. As it would be observed, the commercial sector in the country has grown rapidly over the past few decades. This, however, has made the Arabic state the most powerful economy in the Arabic world. Based on these observations, there is no doubt that Saudi Arabia has a great potential in international business transactions. Achoui, Mustapha. â€Å"Human resource development in Gulf countries: an analysis of the trends and challenges facing Saudi Arabia.† Human Resource Development  International 12.1 (2009): 35-46. Print. Helpman, Elhanan, Melitz Marc and Rubinstein Yona. â€Å"Estimating trade flows: Trading partners and trading volumes.† The Quarterly Journal of Economics 123.2 (2008): 441-487. Print. Jasimuddin, Sajjad. â€Å"Analyzing the competitive advantages of Saudi Arabia with Porter’s model.† Journal of Business Industrial Marketing 16.1 (2001): 59-68. Print. Niblock, Tim and Malik Monica. The political economy of Saudi Arabia. UK: Routledge, 2007. Print. Ros enberg, Nathan. How the West grew rich: The economic transformation of the  industrial world. New York: Basic books, 2008. Print. Rugman, Allan, and Collinson Simon. International business. New Jersey: Pearson Education, 2009. Print.

Lewis Jeans Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Lewis Jeans - Case Study Example This calls for developing innovative designs and utilising information technology in your company to study the market. Rupert has asked me to address his findings which show several problem areas within your organisation that need to be evaluated. The first area covers the style of the product itself, and Rupert is concerned that the jeans produced by the company do not appeal to younger customers. This report will offer possible solutions to this problem by suggesting ways to establish positive brand recognition. A study of the market for jeans indicates the need to offer a unique style or marketing method that will bring younger buyers to Lewis Jeans. The next area of concern is the quality of the product. Because retailers are returning 15% of sales, it is important to test the quality of the jeans manufactured to see where the weaknesses are. By improving durability, the brand will eventually be known for its wearability in addition to style. One of the most serious problems to be addressed is the high turnover of the workforce. It would appear they might not have the incentive to commit themsel ves to the company. Because you communicate only with the managers at your different factories, you may be unaware of how your workers see the company. More interaction is needed with staff from your office to each factory to encourage employees to propose innovative ideas on how to improve sales. Finally, the cost of manufacturing your line of jeans is 25 per cent more than other clothing lines in the industry, and it is important to study the various stages of manufacture to see where savings can occur without impacting quality. The report will present suggestions on how to evaluate the company and show different methods of improving all aspects of your business by applying the SWOT Analysis and developing a balanced scorecard. As the CEO, you have the opportunity in such a small company to meet personally with all of your staff and make sure your managers are reflecting your beliefs on how the company should be run. Organization Structure and Culture In studying the structure of the company according to its diagram, it is immediately obvious that there are too many managerial positions at too many levels, and sales and marketing have no real connection to the rest of the company in any of its locations, including the main office. Restructuring after setting up a strategic plan for the future is recommended. The first step would be to apply a SWOT analysis, determining strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT). Strengths: Although a small company faces competition from major companies such as Levi, the benefit of a small company is the opportunity for leadership to interact with all areas of the business. Another strength is that the product has been successful in the past and by establishing a different marketing method and improving quality, the company can be successful again. Weaknesses: One of the most serious weaknesses for Lewis Jeans is the dependency of leadership on the telephone in a technological society. Another weakness is the high turnover of staff and lack of connection with the leadership. Opportunities: By restructuring the company and establishing new communication equipment, the company would

Role of the Governor General of Canada Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Role of the Governor General of Canada - Essay Example Other arrangements have the queen/king as ceremonial leaders alongside the heads of states and heads of governments. The governor general is appointed by her majesty the queen of England (UK) and the queen has the discretion to choose a man or woman for that job. Initially the appointments by any monarch wherever in the world have been reserved for men except for a few cases where women have had a chance to be appointed by the monarch to head governments. Out of the five governor generals that have been appointed to lead government of Canada since the 1980s, three of them have been women. This demonstrates the issue of women leadership in top places and the general affirmative action in the entire Canada. This paper seeks to highlight and analyze the roles and duties of the governor general of Canada in a bid to establish the roles and duties of a governor general and hence evaluate whether or not the powers accorded to this office can be abused. The analysis and highlight of the roles and duties of the governor general of Canada has been dealt with by a number of authors who have written books or articles to this effect. At least three of these literary works shall be reviewed to show the coverage that has been made concerning an analysis of the roles of thee governor general of Canada. ... It cited Australia as the working example through which it analyses the constitutional relationship between the Queen and the governor general. The book just as well tries to highlight and examine the degree to which the judiciary represented by the courts is able to review the actions of government as provided by the constitution. Besides the governmental action, the prerogative powers in the federal government are also highlighted with the possible judicial review of these powers. As the book closes, it does so by paying specific attention to the roles and powers of a governor general which are provided for by the constitution. The relevance of book is the fact that it considers a government structure similar to that in Canada and the roles of the Australian governor general only varies slightly from that of the Canadian one. Australia is only used as an example but the book pays specific emphasis to the prerogative powers given to the federal government top leaders such as the Pri me Minister, the Governor General and how these powers are not easily reviewable not even by the legislature or even judicially. From the constitutional power conferred on the governor general, it is easier to analyze his/her roles (Winterton, 1983). Adrienne Clarkson's Heart Matters: a Memoir is a classical relevant piece of literature as far the topic of this paper is concerned. It should be remembered that Adrienne Clarkson herself was a governor general of Canada (1999-2005) and during her leadership, the governor general's office spent millions and millions of dollars on issues that were not even related tot eh official roles of Clarkson as a governor general. The book, as a memoir dwells most on Clarkson's role as a governor general. Basically the book tries to help the