Managing growth at SportStuff.com

Brief description of the company and its environment SportStuff.com began its operations in 1996. The mission of the company is to supply parents with sports equipment for their children at a lower cost than its competitors. The parents realized that they were discarding expensive clothes because as their children grew, the clothes became too small for them.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Managing growth at SportStuff.com specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Sanjay Gupta, the founder of SportStuff.com and his team decided to buy these clothes for re-sale. They also started buying surplus products from retailers and manufacturers, and selling them via the internet. They used the SportsStuff.com web site to market and sell these items, which increased their sales, profits, and revenues. Within a year, the sales rose by more than 80%, which increased their profits and revenues (â€Å"Supply chain optimization: managin g growth at SportStuff.com† 3). In 2000, the management decided to evaluate the performance of the company over the previous years. The rapid increase in demand for the company’s products instrumented the decision made by the management. The management of which Sanjay was a part of saw the need to re-design the supply chain network in order to comply with the increasing demand for the company’s products (â€Å"Supply chain optimization: managing growth at SportStuff.com† 3). This is because the increase in demand also translated to an increase in costs, which would eventually surpass the revenues collected. SportStuff.com therefore required a large storage capacity. This would help it curb the challenges associated with the expected growth in demand for its items. The company needed an optimal model solution to cut down ware-housing and transportation costs and maximize on profits. In order to manage SportStuff.com efficiently, the company had two options. The company could either lease some ware-houses countrywide, or was to expand its ware-house space by leasing more space at the ware-house in St. Louis. The company had to weigh different variables in order to come up with sound managerial decision. These included the regional demands for sports clothes, fixed and variable ware-housing costs, inventory costs, transportation costs, and customer charges in every 4 units among others.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Summarize the problems and your recommendations One of the significant problems facing the company is that the demand for sports clothes is high for the current supply chain network. SportStuff.com does not have enough ware-house space for items demanded by customers across the country. It is recommended that this company should distribute its network across different cities within the country. This will assist the company avail its products to the customers at the right time, place, quantity, and quality (Geunes and Pardalos 209). Customers will be able to access the products, and hence get satisfied. The SportStuff.com Company will be able to cut on transportation and ware-house costs, maximize on profits, and satisfy the needs of customers profitably. The company will also benefit because it will increase its market growth and market share. This will lead to increased sales, profits, and revenues; and hence gain a competitive advantage over its competitors. The other problem is that the company’s current methods are not efficient in relation to costs. It is recommended that the management of SportStuff.com should adopt and use the non-linear method. This is because the model is the most efficient strategy considering that it provides low costs for the company compared to the other methods. If the SportStuff.com Company adopts this method, it will be able to cut down on the costs and maximize on the profits. It will also have no problems in offering the items to customers at affordable prices, and hence the company will continue to gain a competitive edge. Works Cited Geunes, Joseph, and P M. Pardalos. Supply Chain Optimization. New York: Springer, 2005. Print. Supply chain optimization: managing growth at SportStuff.com. n.d. PDF file. Web.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Managing growth at SportStuff.com specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This essay on Managing growth at SportStuff.com was written and submitted by user Paige Key to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Tom Hanks Bio. A- essays

Tom Hanks Bio. A- essays Tom Hanks turned the heads of thousands in 1980 with his debut in the highly acclaimed sitcom Bosom Buddies. After Starring in the 1988 movie Big, he won three awards, including a Golden Globe Award for best actor in 1989. His next major hit wouldnt come for another six years, when he played the title role in the movie Forrest Gump. Since 1998, Hanks has starred in Five movies, Saving Private Ryan, Youve Got Mail, Toy Story Two, The Green Mile, and Castaway, of which have ranked highly in the box office. Hanks has won award after award, racking up a total of 15 major awards, four of which have been Golden Globes and two Oscars. Thomas Hanks was born July 9, 1956 in Concord, California. Hanks was the third of four children born to Amos Hanks, a chef, and Janet Hanks, a registered nurse. His relationship with his older siblings, Larry and Sandra, is really tight, but he is not as close to his younger brother, Jim. Tom had a very confusing life growing up. His parents divorced when he was five years old, and he, Larry, and Sandra went to live with their father, but Jim stayed to live with their mother. Both parents remarried more than once, Janet three time and Amos twice. Hanks moved around a lot as a child, attending at least five different grammar schools. One day Amos rounded up his three children and relocated in Reno, Nevada, where he married a women who had eight children. They later divorced. When Tom was 10, Amos married an Asian woman, Frances Wong. In school Hanks caught the eye of some people. While attending Skyline High School near Oakland, California, I was a geek, a spaz, I was horribly, painfully, terribly shy. At the same time, I was the guy whod yell out funny captions during filmstrips. But I didnt get into any trouble, I was always a real good and responsible kid, he told Rolling Stone magazine. Hanks began acting his junior year of senior hig...

Unit 2 ip Presentation Essentials Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Unit 2 ip Presentation Essentials - Assignment Example Scientists believe that there should be some ways to produce more food to support all the people and considered artificial methods to produce food. A unique method known as genetically modified food is developed by the scientists that raised the amount of food produced by the farmers but many people are against the modifications in the food sector. However, modification in the food items is also brought by the environmental change and shortage or abundance of water resources. In the similar way, the utilization of toxic pesticides and inorganic fertilizers also become a reason in the modification of food products. The linkage between the global warming and the modification of bonds the human health. As the world’s food demand is increasing and the utilization of artificial methods is rising, the number of people that die with the lack of food is increasing (Kelly, 2012). The major cause is that the food producer is runs a business and in order to attain certain economic benefits in a short period of time, it become the necessity for the food produces to utilize the artificial methods to produce food. There is need to bring sustainability to the food industry. There is a need to plant vegetables, fruits and crops at homes, even a little effort can make a difference. The utilization of natural methods to produce food like the utilization of natural fertilizers like vegetable residue, dried leaves and wastes from humans and animals could be utilized as the natural fertilizer (Environment. nationalgeographic.com, 2012). Natural processes not only help the soil to retain its strength in retaining good minerals and fertilizers for the plant but also help the soil to retain water for longer periods. In this way, natural processes help to bring sustainability in the food sector. The major reason impacted the food is the increase in the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide that influenced the

An Assessment of the Impact of Government debt and Deficits on the Essay

An Assessment of the Impact of Government debt and Deficits on the Economic Growth of GERMANY - Essay Example Govt Debt% ? 1998 849.393 1,996 2.14 -2.99 1999 876.963 1,997 1.74 3.25 2000 841.974 1,997 3.30 -3.99 2001 890.106 1,999 1.64 5.72 2002 955.4 2,002 0.03 7.34 2003 1,042.85 2,003 -0.39 19.10 2004 1,115.94 2,003 0.70 7.01 2005 1,189.51 2,004 0.84 6.59 2006 1,227.10 2,002 3.89 3.16 2007 1,227.05 2,004 3.39 0.00 2008 1,242.06 2,007 0.80 41.85 2009 1,352.31 2,014 -5.07 8.88 2010 1,402.61 2,006 4.02 3.72 2011 1,434.37 2,008 3.10 2.26 2012 1,553.78 2,011 0.94 8.32 Source: IMF Economic outlook 2012 Â   Â   In the 1990s, when Germany took strong political measures such us reunification, the government had to face several economic constraints as government had to incur huge expenditure on the infrastructural development of the country. Most of the government expenditure was tilted towards the eastern side of Germany, which led to the problem of unemployment. Government adopted tight monetary policy in the 1990s, but it was not able to put a control on inflation as the labor costs and taxes w ere very high. The economic problems faced by the country were eventually reflected through the growth number of the country as the growth rate stayed around 2% on average for the decade (Barassi, Caporale, Hall, 2000, pp. 45-55). The labor cost in the last 1990s was very low amid low demand of goods and services, which further worsened the situation for the country. Government took various initiatives to spur domestic demand, but it failed as consumers were not willing to spend excessively as economic problems ruled the country and unemployment was at its peak. As a result, Germany witnessed sluggish growth till 2006, when it showed signs of recovery (Doornik, & Hendry, D.F. (2001). Government debt and fiscal deficit also had a profound impact on the growth rate of Germany especially before 2005. Government had to rely on heavy borrowing to finance its public expenditures or fiscal deficit. The borrowed money was mostly used to cover administrative and infrastructural expenses. Hen ce, apart from low demand, lower expenditure on other sectors had a severe impact. After, 2005 government borrowing continued at a steady pace, but the impact of government borrowing on growth was not as pronounced as it was before 2005 (Krugman & Wells, 2009). Real GDP surged to 3.89% in 2006 due to a series of reform steps taken by the government. Although, government debt increased by 3.16% in 2006, but focus on job creation and price competitiveness helped economy recover from the problems. Germany took special initiatives that drastically supported the labor increasing their productivity and motivation. It set a wage rate for all employees irrespective of company’s profitability and supply/demand condition (Brunner, 1986, pp. 709-731). Debt and Deficit When government expenditures are greater than its revenues, the excess expenditure is termed as deficit. The expenditure includes development expenditure, administrative expenditure, employee salaries and wages etc. On the other hand, sources of government revenue include taxes, interests, sale of property/financial instruments etc. In order to finance the deficit if any, government usually borrows money from scheduled banks or from external sources to finance the de

A Narrative and Analysis of Two Stories Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

A Narrative and Analysis of Two Stories - Essay Example A Narrative and Analysis of Two Stories Even though both of these stories deal with different subject matter, the fact the matter is that difficulty in seeking to surmount it, form the backbone of both stories. According to this the following analysis will seek to relate these determinants to the reader as a means of comparison as well as greater understanding for the underlying core an ideal that they represent in the means by which humanity integrates with difficulties, reality, and an understanding of goals as well as the impossible. Hyeonseo Lee’s story engages the reader with the cold, harsh realities that exist within North Korea and explains the level of realization that exists within a heroine is a function of time. Where is a maybe difficult for the average individual to understand and appreciate the difficulties of life within an oppressive communist regime, Lee was able to come to such an understanding as a result of the suffering detailed in the letter which was discussed. However, rather than choosing just to run and enjoying her own freedom once she was outside of North Korea, Lee spent a significant amount of her own time as well as all of the money that she it saved in order to rescue the remainder of her surviving family from the clutches of the regime. The tale represents not only extreme sacrifice but extreme loyalty and understanding that can only exist within an individual who is actualized and understands the reality of the given situation. One aspect of this particular story that was no t found in the next story which will be related is the excess repower that an additional and unrequited individual can provide. Whereas Lee had been able to a compass great deal with her own money and her own efforts, she was eventually stymied within Laos prior to being able to fully realize independence and freedom for herself and her family members. However, just as the moment seemed as if all was lost, an unknown and unrequested entity entered and was able to change the situation entirely. Whereas almost the entire story up until this point had been focused upon Lee at her own individual efforts, the introduction of a secondary character willing and able to sacrifice of their own time and money was something that showed a great deal of the human condition. As such it is this very human condition of understanding difficulties in seeking to ameliorate them that provides the true object lesson in parallels that can be found within Lee’s escape and subsequent citizenship that form the backbone of her biographic story. Conversely, Diana Nyad’s stories emphasize a much more internal and personalized approach. Rather than having impacts upon the lives and freedom of other people, as did Lee’s story, Nyad’s struggle was basically one that was internal. This cannot be discounted to mean less than Lee’s. Rather, it is merely different in that Nyad sought to conquer her own weakness as opposed to seeking the comfort of others. On a broader level, Nyad and Lee show the ways in which the human brain and consciousness integrate with extreme difficulty. Whereas it would been much easier for both Nyad and Lee to merely walk away from the dreams that they shared, the much more difficult and nobler aspect was seeking to face them head on and accomplishing the impossible. As Nyad notes, what she was attempting to do, was ultimately never attempted

Socio Cultural Environment Line With Its Sustainability Drive Marketing Essay

Socio Cultural Environment Line With Its Sustainability Drive Marketing Essay Abstract This is a case study on Unilever business strategy. It would seek to analyze the strategic position of the group with the help of SWOT, PEST and BCG Matrix models. The paper would critically assess the competitive situation of the company in relation to other major product based companies in the market and companys financial performance and key issues. In the end it would submit few recommendations. The case study is my first effort towards analyzing the business strategy of Unilever and its success in the market. Since Unilever is so famous and its products so widely used all over the world, it is of great interest for me to carry out a case study on its business strategy. The paper would greatly help me and the readers to understand some key issues concerning Unilever in todays business world. Introduction 2.1. About Unilever Unilever is a multi-national corporation, formed of Anglo-Dutch parentage that owns many of the worlds consumer product brands in foods, beverages, cleaning agents and personal care products. Unilever employs nearly 180,000 people and had worldwide revenue of almost à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬40 billion in 2005. Unilever is a dual-listed company consisting of Unilever NV in Rotterdam, Netherlands and Unilever PLC in London, England. This arrangement is similar to that of Reed Elsevier and that of Royal Dutch Shell prior to their unified structure. Both Unilever companies have the same directors and effectively operate as a single business. The current non-executive Chairman of Unilever N.V. and PLC is Michael Treschow while P Mr Paul Polman is the Group Chief Executive. The company is widely listed on the worlds stock exchanges (About Unilever: 2008). 2.2. History Unilever was founded in 1930 through merger by the British, Lever Brother; and the Dutch, Margarine Unie; now Unilever PLC in London, U.K and Unilever N.V in Rotterdam, Netherlands respectively. In 1872 before the merger, Jurgens and Van den Bergh, the Dutch, built factory in Netherlands for the production of Margarine made from milk and fact. In 1927, they formed Margarine Unie (margarine Union) together with two European Businesses, Centre and Schicht. Lever Co on the other hand was founded in 1884 by British William Hesketh Lever and his brother, James, and was producing soap Sunlight soap for people in England especially for women. William Lever wrote: to make cleanliness commonplace; to lessen work for women; to foster health and contribute to personal attractiveness, that life may be more enjoyable and rewarding for the people who use our products. In 1890, Lever Co become limited company known as Lever Brothers (Uhomhoabhi, Fredrick Albert: 2008) Unilever, Unilever N.V and Unilever PLC comprise Unilever group. Both companies have the same directors. Its annual turnover in 2005 was à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬39.672 billion and employs206, 000 employees around the world.1 Unilever brands consist of Food, Beverage, and Home and Personal Care. Some of these products are Knorr, Breyers and Magnum, Lipton, Omo (detergent) etc. Knorr has the biggest sales of à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬2.3 billon in 2005.In May 2007 it became the first tea company to commit to sourcing all its tea in a sustainable manner, asking the Rainforest Alliance, an international environmental NGO, to start certifying its tea estates in East Africa. It declared its aim to have all Lipton Yellow Label and PG Tips tea bags sold in Western Europe certified by 2010, followed by all Lipton tea bags globally by 2015. Covalence, an ethical reputation ranking agency, placed Unilever at the top of its ranking based on positive versus negative news coverage for 2007. In 2008 Unilever was honor ed at the 59th Annual Technology Engineering Emmy Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Advanced Media Technology for Creation and Distribution of Interactive Commercial Advertising Delivered through Digital Set Top Boxes for its program Axe. Strategic position of the company The strategic position of the company shall be analyzed through following techniques: 3.1. S.W.O.T Analysis The overall evaluation of a companys strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats is called SWOT analysis. In general, a business unit has to monitor key macro environment forces (demographic-economic, technological, political-legal, and social-cultural) and significant microenvironment actors (customers, competitors, distributors, suppliers) that affect its ability to earn profits. The business unit should set up a marketing intelligence system to track tends and important developments. For each trend or development, management needs to identify the associated opportunities and threats. Strengths Recognized as a global company. Strong brand portfolio. Strong relationship with retailers Economies of scale. Corporate social behavior Variety of products Weaknesses Dual leadership Limited costumer connection Inefficient management of brands Inability to maximize acquisitions Lack of control in the market Reduced spending on RD Opportunities Changing consumer preferences Increasing need for healthy products Low income consumers Rapid increase in population Threats Decrease in revenue Strong competition(PG) Tougher business climate Exchange rates Economic crisis Increase in production and labor cost 3.2. BCG Matrix Stars(High market growth share) Lux Sunsilk Walls ice cream Fair lovely Rafhan Energile AXE Vasline PG tips Dogs(Low market growth share) Wheel detergent Supreme tea Lifebuoy shampoo Cash cows(Low growth High share) Surf excel Ponds Lipton Close up Blue band Dove soap Rexona Knorr Question marks(High growth low share) Clear shampoo Rin Comfort Ben Jerrys Persil 3.3. PESTEL Analysis 3.3.1. Political/Legal environment Unilever, as a matter of policy, set a standard as to the way of tackling political issues. Unilever has its tactical way of handling political issues. First, in the 1960s, many countries began to nationalize foreign firms which also affected Unilever. This was a call for local equity participation in foreign firms. Thus, so many companies were subject to local control on prices, imports, employment of expatriates and so on. As a result of the adverse effect of nationalization policy, in the 1970, many US companies e.g. IBM and coca cola left India. There was fear by foreign companies uncertain issues such as knowledge leakage, loss of trademark etc. this was also hazardous for Unilever as its control over operation in the market was reduced. For example UAC, a subsidiary of Unilever, whose operation was in many African countries (Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, etc.), was focused on as its profit margin and rate of easy remittance of profit to its Anglo-Dutch parent was enorm ous. Nationalizing UA Chambered Unilevers control over the market where UAC operates. However, Unilever uses its experience and goodwill to make contacts in many countries to bargain with government so as to modify their regulations. In central and south America, Unilever only engaged in lobbying rather than active politicking. In other words, Unilever never get involved in sponsoring political parties. Today, Unilever has gained political ground using its tactical strategy and experience. Unilever is a member of many organizations all over the world. The aim is to create favorable business environment, and also facilitate corporate reputation management. 3.3.2. Economic environment Unilever market environment is becoming highly competitive especially in the Western Europe. Procter Gamble (PG) is one of the major competitors in the European market. More so, there are so many discounters in the European market resulting from EU free trade policy. This has had adverse effect on Unilevers profit potentials. Retailers are pressurizing FMCG producers to reduce prices of their products. Consumers on the other hand would not want to buy expensive product or brands due to current economic tide. Competition in EU has grown so strong that Unilever is facing difficulties in places like France, Netherlands. In the developing countries and the emerging economies (Asia and Africa), where there are political instability, Unilever has adopted its company strategy to ensure that its profitability drive is sustained. Some Products are packaged in small size for low or regular income earner, for affordability. In some developing countries, Nigeria to be precise, there was uncertainty about duties to be paid by companies due to inflation and fluctuation of currency. The effect on Unilever was a decrease in profit in 2005 compared to 2004, though there was increase in turnover. 3.3.3. Socio-cultural environment Unilever has continued to maintain momentum in its socio-cultural environment in line with its sustainability drive. The company is working relentlessly to bring improve hygiene and better nutrition to people in Asia, Africa and Latin America, especially the poor and obesity. Over 30% of Africa population lives on less than $1 per day. By this, Unilever strengthens it goodwill. However, the low literacy of consumers affects marketing vehicles such as advertisement in print media. This therefore requires employment of more resources, for instance to enhance face-to-face communication. Besides, Unilever employs about 100 nationalities. It ensures that diversity works for everybody both employees and consumer alike. In order to achieve and ensure that diversity works amongst employees, Unilever employed the strategy of so as to manage and leverage diversity. Unilever is focused on building an exclusive culture and embracing difference, which resulted in high demand of its products in th e developing and emerging markets. 3.3.4. Technological environment Right in the 1930s, Unilever continue to diversify. Business continue to boom in the1950s with new technology being invented to boast production and enhance quality products for consumer, competitors improving their products using new inventions. Unilever did not give up its effort in RD. Since 2000, Unilever has been spending on IT to improve its business especially in the area of e-business so as to improve brands communication and market through internet, making transaction simple along chain. Today, Unilever is trying to minimize cost through IT efficiencies at global level. In addition, Unilever Technology Venture works in collaboration with Unilever RD group to help Unilever meet consumers needs. Area of concern is genomics, advanced bioscience, advanced materials science and nanotechnology. In 2003, Unilever installed and commissioned pallet live storage system from Bitto Storage System Ltd. This was meant to store its frozen products. The facilities include: pallet live storage systems, carton live storage systems, pallet racking, boltless shelving, plastic bins and containers, wide span and heavy load shelving, cantilever racking, and multi-tier shelving systems. 3.3.5. Environment In recognition of local legislation and to keep its corporate responsibilities, Unilever designed management system. Unilever has respect for consumer health and safety. This policy is to ensure all Unilever operators establish a formal environmental management system. Training programs are being arranged in various regions/business groups to ensure compliance with the company Standard for Occupational Health and Safety Environmental Care (SHE). This framework is based on the ISO 14001 management standard. Unilever had also worked in conjunction with government of countries of its operation as regards waste management. For instance in Ghana, 2004, over 21 tones of wastes were supplied to small and medium size recycling businesses in Accra, Ghana, by Unilever to reduce the amount of plastic waste sent to landfill. Financial performance Underlying sales growth of 7.4% was partly offset by movements in exchange rates (4.8%) and the net impact of disposals and acquisitions (1.4%). Including these effects, turnover was à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬40,523 million for the full year, increasing by 0.8%. Operating profit increased by à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1,922 million to à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬7,167 million, including a higher level of profits on business disposals. These generated a pre-tax profit of à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬2,190 million in 2008, compared with à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬297 million in 2007. Net profit was 28% higher than last year, boosted by the profits on disposals. Earnings per share were à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1.79, including a net gain of à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬0.36 from RDIs. This compared with à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1.35 last year, which included a net loss of à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬0.07 from RDIs.Net cash flow from operations at à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬3.9 billion was in line with last year. Total cash returns to shareholders in the year wereà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬3.6 billion, made up of à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬2.1 billion of dividends and à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1.5 billion of share buy-backs. 4.1. Consolidated income statement (Highlights for the year ended 31 December) à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ Million 2008 2007 Turnover 40 523 40 187 Operating profit 7 167 5 245 Profit before taxation 7 129 5 184 Taxation (1 844) (1 128) Net profit from continuing operations 5 285 4 056 Net profit 5 285 4 136 Combined earnings per share from total operations à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1.79 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1.35 4.2. Consolidated balance sheet (As at 31 December) à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ Million 2008 2007 Non-current assets 24 967 27 374 Current assets 11 175 9 928 Current liabilities (13 800) (13 559) Total assets less current liabilities 22 342 23 743 Non-current liabilities 11 970 10 924 Shareholders equity 9 948 12 387 Minority interests 424 432 Total capital employed 22 342 23 743 4.3. Consolidated cash flow statement (For the year ended 31 December) à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ Million 2008 2007 Net cash flow from operating activities 3 871 3 876 Net cash flow from/ (used in) investing activities 1 415 (623) Net cash flow from/ (used in) financing activities (3 130) (3 009) Net increase/ (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 2 156 244 Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January 901 710 Effect of foreign exchange rate changes (697) (53) Cash and cash equivalents at 31 December 2 360 901 4.4. Financial Objectives Unilevers ambition is to top Third Total Shareholder Return, over a 3 year rolling period out of peer group of 20 other companies. Its outlook for year 2010 is: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Un-geared free cash flow in the period 2005-2010 to be à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬25-30bn. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Improvement in Return on Invested Capital. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Underlying sales growth of 3-5% p.a. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Operating margin of over 15% by 2010 after normal restructuring. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Improved capital and tax efficiency. Market share and competition 5.1. Top Unilever Competitors Company Location Proctor Gamble Cincinnati,OH Kraft Foods Northfield, IL Nestle Vevey, Switzerland 5.2. Competitor Comparison Unilever P G Kraft Nestle Top Segment C/G Foods Consumer Care Food Food Top Brand Dove Tide Mac Cheese KitKat CEO A.Burgmans A.G.Lefley R.Deromedi P.Letmathe Stock per share $66.03 $53.76 $30.70 $66.90 Growth 15.55% 9.25% 8.2% 11.23% Revenues $42.942m $28.2BL $31,010m $69.BL Revenue Growth -11.93% 19% 4.3% -1.93% International 100+ 42 150+ 86 Business Segments 3 5 5 6 Employees 234000 110000 10600 253000 (Source: Hoovers business Intelligence guide) 5.3. Category position in the market Strategic Issues Following are some of the key strategic issues which Unilever faces today: 6.1. Leadership Unilever maintains two business entities i.e. Unilever PLC and Unilever N.V. Due to dual chairperson approach; it faces following problems in their business strategy: List stock separately Shared board of directors Typical management; wear two, three hats Conflict in Board and Business responsibilities Company remains fragmented Reduced effectiveness Slow decision making process( Bureaucracy) Unilever believer (believe in Unilever) Unilever should create a sense of belief amongst its consumers. It should try and focus on program that focuses on brand initiative to the consumers. Use advertising that connects with consumer needs: Consumers demand high quality products that are both convenient and delicious Consumers look for new ways to use the product Large population of single parent house hold More females are working full-time jobs Increase consumer focus on health and nutrition Strategy Justification 7.1. Recommendation 1 Make an initiative to create an overall umbrella brand across all Unilevers brands that will eventually consolidate various businesses under one name. Unilever Plc Unilever NV One Unilever Provides a greater clarity of leadership, responsibility, and accountability Allows Unilever to focus on the needs of their customers and consumers thus reigniting growth and increasing sales potential Provides the ability to leverage scale of operations Create a strategic platform for brand management Recommendation 2 It should implement Unilever Believer product and brand extensions. The related example in this case is of Lipton tea. It should try and create an extension to this famous brand by focusing on energy drinks. Justifications are: Energy drinks jumped 56% in sales last year Market has exceed $100 million in the recent years Main Competitor: Red Bull Positioning Statement: A Healthier Alternative to Energy Drinks Unilever should cash in this opportunity by: Target Market: Young adults 18-32 Uses: stay up all night and/or start a night out Main Ingredients: Caffeine, Vitamin B, Guarana Advertisements: Highlight healthier ingredients of the product while showcasing its ability to give energy and revitalize body

The Scientific Method Essays -- Observation Hypothesis Experiment Conc

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The scientific method is a process that outlines a number of principles for answering questions. Many people in day-to-day situations use the scientific method. For example, if I were to try to start my car and it doesn’t work, my first reaction would be to think of reason my car is not starting. This is just a brief example of scientific method. The principles in Scientific method should be used in an orderly manner to answer your questions. Scientific method lets people research true things as well as false. There is no guessing when using Scientific method it is completely natural. From my military career I can say from experience that Integrity is one of our Five Army Values. I like to think the Scientific method is having entire integrity, due to the fact that it is this method of discovery, and justification for that discovery, which must be accomplished entirely with integrity (www.scientificmethod.co.uk).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Scientific method consists of five steps: observation, hypothesis, experiment, conclusion and scientific theory. You must identify your problem when doing observation. Second you must gather as much information about the problem as possible. Third you want to form a hypothesis. A hypothesis is an unproved explanation for a natural event. Based on observation a hypothesis is a scientist best explanation. One reason why hypothesis is so important is because it is the comparison for experimental data. Next you have experiments, which is basically testing ...

Concepts Of Equaltiy Diversity And Rights Essay

Equality: Equality has been established to ensure that everyone has the right to equal opportunities, equal rights in work environment or in general and therefore classed as important focused and organizations take it really seriously as they have to ensure that every individual employee are entitled to same choices, opportunities and are treated equally. There are various types of equality such as the racial equality act, gender equality act, women’s equality act, Marriage equality and many more however the Equality Act 2010 (the Act) replaced previous anti-discrimination laws with a single Act. The equality of act in health and social care setting came into force on 1 October 2010. Whenever an individual need health care or medical treatment or when an elderly or an individual with mental problems who are being cared for in nursing homes, care in day Centre and such, they have the right not to be discriminated against because of their race, gender, gender identity, disabilit y, religion or belief or sexual orientation. Diversity: is to understand that every individual is unique and recognize individual’s difference, therefore respected and valued in community or in the workforce. We live in an increasingly diverse society and need to be able to respond appropriately and sensitively to this diversity. In the healthcare setting, workers will reflect this diversity around gender, race and ethnicity, disability, religion, sexuality, class and age. Rights Every individual is entitled to basic human rights and in turn they have to able to and if not learn to respect other’s human rights. Right to life nobody even the government can try to end an individual’s life. This also means that an individual has the right to be protected if their life is at risk. The human rights act also prohibits the death penalty in UK. The courts have held that the right of life however don’t include right to take your own life. The right to life is absolute however it does not always apply in certa in situation. A person’s right to life is not breached if they die when a public authority (such as the police) uses necessary force to: †¢stop them carrying out unlawful violence †¢make a lawful arrest †¢stop them escaping lawful detainment Of course, even in these circumstances, death would be avoided wherever possible, and the force used must be absolutely necessary and strictly  balanced. According to law, Everyone’s right to life shall be protected by law. No one shall be disadvantaged of his/ her lives intentionally save in the execution of a sentence of a court following his/her conviction of a crime for which the penalty is provided by law. In health and social care setting career or anyone has to be able to respect other’s human rights. Right to liberty every individual has the right to their personal freedom. The government cannot take away an individual’s freedom by detaining them without any good reason even if it’s just for short period of time. Importantly, the Human Rights Act provides that if an individual is arrested, they have the right to: †¢Why an individual have been arrested and what charges they face, would be told in a language they would understand. †¢Be taken to court punctually. †¢Have a trial within a reasonable time. †¢If an individual is confident enough than Go to court to challenge their detention if they think it is unlawful. In health and social care setting worker/career, every patient is entitled to right of their personal freedom therefore they have the right to equal required health care services needed as everyone else within the care setting. Discrimination is unlawful within Britain. Law protects you from discrimination at situation like these †¢At work. †¢As a consumer †¢When using public services. However there are two types of discrimination overt discrimination and covert discrimination. Overt discrimination is when a colleague of an individual is paid more because of their gender even though they both are doing the same job with the same qualification, there should be no differences at all. Unfortunately sometimes it does still takes place and that individual have to be aware and make sure that it is sorted out. Covert discrimination is opposite to overt, this is more complicated to demonstrate as it is hidden. For example it is when an individual is applying for a job with the same qualifications and experience as other applicants, someone between those two might not get picked because of their skin color or their sexuality or their ethnicity. It still does take place but the only thing is hard to  demonstrate as it is hidden. An individual has to be aware of covert discrimination against people using health and social care services. Stereotyping is dangerous and common with the children, which they tend to pick up from the adults. The most common types of stereotypes are that All overweight people are too lazy to get anything done All homeless people do not want to work. The Williams and Best gender study from 1992 found that within 30 different countries, males were typically characterized as adventurous, powerful, domineering and independent. Females, on the other hand, were characterized as sentimental, submissive and superstitious, however slowly the society has been making transition away from the stereotyping. Prejudice is when someone makes and judgment about someone without really knowing the facts. Sub culture is a culture is a culture with its own distinctive norms and values for example chav, Emo, Goth etc. people might judge them and stereotype them without knowing, some people see Goth as dark inside, dark thoughts and heavy makeup, but who are they to know assume that, because in fact they are only seeing them visually, if they actually approach them and talk they might not be what they think they are at all. In the health and social care profession an individual may still have these thoughts not just health and social care settings but everywhere however they have to be careful of how they see and treats others which will make an impact in their work. If individual lets prejudices interfere them with their work in health and social care the person will not be treated fairly.

Voting Rights Background for Students

Voting Rights Background for Students In any presidential election year, the months before the election afford middle and high school teachers a great opportunity to engage students in the new  The College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards  (C3s)These new frameworks  center on guiding students in activities so that they can see how citizens apply civic virtues and democratic principles and have the opportunity to see actual civic engagement in the democratic process. Principles such as equality, freedom, liberty, respect for individual rights, and deliberation [that] apply to both official institutions and informal interactions among citizens. What Do Students Already Know About Voting in the United States? Before launching an election unit, poll students to see what they already know about the voting process. This can be done as a KWL,  or a chart that outlines what students already Know, Want to know, and what they Learned  after the unit is completed. Using this outline,  students can prepare to research a topic and use it to track information gathered along the way: â€Å"What do you already ‘know’ about this topic?†Ã‚   â€Å"What things do you ‘want’ to learn about the topic, so you can focus your research?† and   â€Å"What did you ‘learn’ from doing your research?† An Overview of K-W-L This KWL begins as a brainstorming activity. This can be done individually or in groups of three to five students. Generally, 5 to 10 minutes individually or 10 to 15 minutes for group work is appropriate. In asking for responses, set aside enough time to hear all responses. Some questions could be (answers below): How old must you be to vote?  What requirements are there for voting other than age?  When did citizens get the right to voteWhat are your state’s voting requirements?  Why do you think people vote?  Why do you think people choose not to vote? Teachers should not correct the responses if they are wrong; include any conflicting or multiple responses.  Review the list of responses and note any discrepancies which will let the teacher know where more information is needed. Tell the class that they will be referring back to their responses later in this and in upcoming lessons. History of Voting Timeline: Pre-Constitution Inform students that the highest law of the land, the Constitution, mentioned nothing about voting qualifications at the time of its adoption. This omission left voting qualifications up to each individual state and resulted in widely varying voting qualifications. In studying the election, students should learn the definition of the word  suffrage: Suffrage (n) the  right  to  vote,  especially  in  a  political  election. A timeline  of the history of voting rights is also helpful to share with students in explaining how the right to vote has been connected to citizenship and civil rights in America. For example: 1776: Only people who own land can vote when the Declaration of Independence signed.1787: No federal voting standard states decide who can vote when the U.S. Constitution is adopted. Voting Rights Timeline: Constitutional Amendments In preparation for any presidential election, students can review the following highlights that show how voting rights have been extended to different groups of citizens through six (6) suffrage amendments to the Constitution: 1868: 14th Amendment:  Citizenship is defined and granted to former slaves, but voters are explicitly defined as male.1870: 15th Amendment:  The right to vote cannot be denied by the federal or state governments based on race.1920: 19th Amendment:  Women have the right to vote in both state and federal elections.  1961: 23rd Amendment:  Citizens of Washington, D.C. have the right to vote for U.S. president.  1964: 24th Amendment:  The right to vote in federal elections will not be denied for failure to pay any tax.1971: 26th Amendment:  18-year-olds are allowed to vote. Timeline for Laws on Voting Rights 1857: In the landmark case Dred Scott v. Sandford, the US Supreme Court rules that â€Å"a black man has no rights a white man is bound to respect.† African Americans are further deprived of the right to citizenship and, by extension, the right to vote.1882: Congress passes the Chinese Exclusion Act, which establishes restrictions and quotas on Chinese immigration while legally excluding Chinese persons from citizenship and voting.  1924: The Indian Citizenship Act declares all non-citizen Native Americans born in the USA to be citizens with the right to vote.1965: The Voting Rights Act is signed into law, prohibiting any election practice that denies the right to vote to citizens on the basis of race and forces jurisdictions with histories of voter discrimination to  submit any changes to its election laws to the government for federal approval prior to taking effect.1993: The National Voter Registration Act requires states to permit mail-in registration, and make registr ation services available at DMVs, unemployment offices, and other state agencies. Questions About Researching Voting Rights Once students are familiar with the timeline of the Constitutional Amendments and the laws that provided the right to vote to different citizens, students can research the following questions: What were ways states denied certain people the right to vote?Why was each of the different laws on voting rights created?Why were specific Constitutional Amendments on voting necessary?Why do you think it took so many years for women to attain the right to vote?Which historical events contributed to each of the Constitutional Amendments?Are there any other qualifications necessary to vote?Are there citizens today that are denied the right to vote? Terms Associated With Voting Rights Students should become familiar with some of the terms associated with the history of voting rights and the language of the Constitutional Amendments: poll tax:  A poll or head tax is one imposed equally on all adults at the time of voting and is not affected by property ownership or income.literacy test: Literacy tests were used to keep people of color and, sometimes, poor whites from voting, and they were administered at the discretion of the officials in charge of voter registration.grandfather clause:  (or grandfather policy) A provision in which an old rule continues to apply to some existing situations while a new rule will apply to all future cases.  residency: Voting residence is within the state of legal residence or domicile. It is the true, fixed address that is considered a permanent home and a physical presence.  Jim Crow Laws:  The segregation and disenfranchisement laws known as Jim Crow represented a formal, codified system of racial apartheid that dominated the American South for three-quarters of a century beginning in the 1890s.  Equal Rights Amendment: (ERA) a proposed amendment to  the  United   States  Constitution  designed to guarantee  equal rights for women.   In 1978, a joint resolution of Congress extended the ratification deadline to June 30, 1982, but no further states ratified the amendment. Several organizations continue to work for the adoption of the ERA. New Questions for Students Teachers should have students return to their KWL charts and make any necessary corrections. Teachers can then have students use their research on laws and specific Constitutional Amendments to answer the following new questions: How does your new knowledge of suffrage amendments change or support your earlier answers?After nearly 150 years of voting rights being added to the Constitution, can you think of any other group that has not been considered?What questions do you still have about voting? Review Founding Documents The new C3 Frameworks encourage teachers to look for civic principles in texts such as the founding documents of the United States. In reading these important documents, teachers can help students understand different interpretations of these documents and their meanings: What claims are made?What evidence is used?  What language (words, phrases, images,  Ã‚  symbols) is used to persuade  the documents audienceHow does the documents language indicate  a particular point of view?   The following links will take students to founding documents associated with voting and citizenship. Declaration of Independence: July 4, 1776.  Ã‚  The Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia in the Pennsylvania State House (now Independence Hall), approved this document  severing the colonies ties to the British Crown. United States Constitution: The Constitution of the United States of America is the supreme law of the United States. It is the source of all government powers, and also provides important limitations on the government that protect the fundamental rights of United States citizens.  Delaware was the first state to ratify, December 7, 1787; the Confederation Congress established March 9, 1789, as the date to begin operating under the Constitution.   14th Amendment:  Passed by Congress June 13, 1866, and ratified July 9, 1868,   extended liberties and rights granted by the Bill of Rights to former slaves. 15th Amendment:  Passed by Congress February 26, 1869, and ratified February 3, 1870,   granted African American men the right to vote. 19th Amendment:  Passed by Congress June 4, 1919, and ratified on August 18, 1920,   granted women the right to vote. Voting Rights Act:  This act was signed into law on August 6, 1965, by President Lyndon Johnson. It outlawed the discriminatory voting practices adopted in many southern states after the Civil War, including literacy tests as a prerequisite to voting. 23th Amendment:  Passed by Congress June 16, 1960. Ratified March 29, 1961;  giving residents of the District of Columbia (DC) the right to have their votes counted in presidential elections. 24th Amendment:  ratified on January 23, 1964, was passed to address the poll tax, a state fee on voting. Student Answers to Questions Above How old must you be to vote?   In the United States,  twenty-one states permit 17-year-olds to vote in  primary elections  and caucuses if they will be 18 by election day.   What  requirements  are there for voting other than age?   You are a U.S. citizen.You meet your state’s residency requirements. When did citizens get the right to vote? The  United States Constitution  did not originally define who was eligible to vote; Amendments have extended rights to various groups. Student answers will vary on the following questions: What are your state’s voting requirements?  Why do you think people vote?  Why do you think people choose not to vote?

The Complete List of NCAA Division 1 Colleges (Most Recent)

The Complete List of NCAA Division 1 Colleges (Most Recent) SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The NCAA, the major governing body for intercollegiate sports, separates its member institutions by divisions. Division I colleges are generally the biggest. They have the largest athletic department budgets and their sports teams generate the most revenue. All of the schools that participate in bowl games and March Madness are Division I schools. However, there are some regional colleges and smaller private schools you may not be familiar with that are also classified as Division I.In this article, I’ll give you a basic understanding of Division I and a complete list of current Division I schools by state. Why Are There NCAA Divisions? NCAA Divisions exist to create parity and level the playing field. With divisions, schools should be competing against other schools of a similar size and with similar resources. However, in the climate of today's NCAA sports, there can be huge disparities between schools in the same division, especially in Division I. For example, from 2006-2011, the athletics revenue for the University of Alabama was $124,498,616. During that same period, the athletics revenue for Alabama State University was $10,614,081. Both are Division I schools. What Makes Division I Unique? Compared to NCAA Division II and III schools, NCAA Division I schools have the biggest student bodies, the largest athletic budgets, and the most athletic scholarships. All of the major sports conferences, including the Big 10, Big 12, Pac 12, and ACC, are composed of Division I colleges. While Ivy League colleges are Division I, they don't offer athletic scholarships. Division I Fun Facts Stanford University has the most Division I NCAA championships with 117. On average, only 6% of the student bodies at Division I schools participate in NCAA sports. Stanford has won the Learfield Sports Directors' Cup awarded to the most successful Division I athletics program every year since 1994-1995. The University of Oregon won the very first NCAA men's basketball championship in 1939. Louisiana Tech won the very first NCAA women's basketball championship in 1982. The 1982 Louisiana Tech women's basketball team How Should You Use This List? If there's a college you're considering, you can determine if it's a Division I institution. If you're interested in a particular sport, check to see which colleges are Division I in that sport. Some schools are Division I in one or two sports and Division II or III in the rest. For example, Colorado College is Division I in men's ice hockey and women's soccer, but the rest of their varsity sports are Division III. If you're interested in football, you should also check to see if a particular school is FBS, FCS, or if it even has a football program. Division I Colleges By State Alabama University of Alabama Alabama AM University Alabama State University University of Alabama at Birmingham Auburn University Jacksonville State University Samford University University of South Alabama Troy University Arizona University of Arizona Arizona State University Northern Arizona University Grand Canyon University Arkansas Arkansas State University University of Arkansas, Fayetteville University of Arkansas at Little Rock University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff University of Central Arkansas California California Polytechnic State University California State University, Bakersfield California State University, Fresno California State University, Fullerton California State University, Northridge California State University, Sacramento University of California, Berkeley University of California, Davis University of California, Irvine University of California, Los Angeles University of California, Riverside University of California, Santa Barbara Long Beach State University Loyola Marymount University University of the Pacific Pepperdine University Saint Mary's College of California University of San Diego San Diego State University University of San Francisco San Jose State University Santa Clara University University of Southern California Stanford University Colorado University of Colorado, Boulder Colorado State University University of Denver University of Northern Colorado U.S. Air Force Academy Connecticut Central Connecticut State University University of Connecticut Fairfield University Quinnipiac University Sacred Heart University Yale University Delaware University of Delaware Delaware State University District of Columbia American University George Washington University Georgetown University Howard University Florida Bethune-Cookman University University of Central Florida University of Florida Florida AM University Florida Atlantic University Florida Gulf Coast University Florida International University Florida State University Jacksonville University University of Miami (Florida) University of North Florida University of South Florida Stetson University Georgia University of Georgia Georgia Institute of Technology Georgia Southern University Georgia State University Kennesaw State University Mercer University Savannah State University Hawaii University of Hawaii, Manoa Idaho Boise State University University of Idaho Idaho State University Illinois Bradley University Chicago State University DePaul University Eastern Illinois University Illinois State University University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign University of Illinois at Chicago Loyola University Chicago Northern Illinois University Northwestern University Southern Illinois University at Carbondale Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Western Illinois University Indiana Ball State University Butler University University of Evansville Indiana State University Indiana University, Bloomington Indiana University-Purdue University, Fort Wayne Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis University of Notre Dame Purdue University Valparaiso University Iowa Drake University University of Iowa Iowa State University University of Northern Iowa Kansas University of Kansas Kansas State University Wichita State University Kentucky Eastern Kentucky University University of Kentucky University of Louisville Morehead State University Murray State University Northern Kentucky University Western Kentucky University Louisiana University of Louisiana at Lafayette University of Louisiana at Monroe Louisiana State University Louisiana Tech University Grambling State University McNeese State University University of New Orleans Nicholls State University Northwestern State University Southeastern Louisiana University Southern University, Baton Rouge Tulane University Maine University of Maine Maryland Coppin State University Loyola University Maryland University of Maryland Eastern Shore University of Maryland, Baltimore County University of Maryland, College Park Morgan State University Mount St. Mary’s University Towson University U.S. Naval Academy Massachusetts Boston College Boston University Harvard University College of the Holy Cross University of Massachusetts, Amherst University of Massachusetts, Lowell Northeastern University Michigan Central Michigan University University of Detroit Mercy Eastern Michigan University University of Michigan Michigan State University Oakland University Western Michigan University Minnesota University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Mississippi Alcorn State University Jackson State University University of Mississippi Mississippi State University Mississippi Valley State University The University of Southern Mississippi Missouri Missouri State University University of Missouri, Columbia University of Missouri-Kansas City Southeast Missouri State University Saint Louis University Montana University of Montana Montana State University-Bozeman Nebraska Creighton University University of Nebraska Omaha University of Nebraska, Lincoln Nevada University of Nevada, Las Vegas University of Nevada, Reno New Hampshire Dartmouth College University of New Hampshire New Jersey Fairleigh Dickinson University, Metropolitan Campus Monmouth University New Jersey Institute of Technology Princeton University Rider University Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick Seton Hall University Saint Peter’s University New Mexico University of New Mexico New Mexico State University New York University at Albany Binghamton University University at Buffalo, the State University of New York Canisius College Colgate University Columbia University-Barnard College Cornell University Fordham University Hofstra University Iona College Long Island University-Brooklyn Campus Manhattan College Marist College Niagara University Siena College St. Bonaventure University St. Francis College Brooklyn St. John’s University (New York) Stony Brook University Syracuse University U.S. Military Academy Wagner College North Carolina Appalachian State University Campbell University Davidson College Duke University East Carolina University Elon University Gardner-Webb University High Point University University of North Carolina-Asheville North Carolina AT State University North Carolina Central University North Carolina State University University of North Carolina Wilmington University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill The University of North Carolina at Charlotte The University of North Carolina at Greensboro Wake Forest University Western Carolina University North Dakota University of North Dakota North Dakota State University Ohio University of Akron Bowling Green State University University of Cincinnati Cleveland State University University of Dayton Kent State University Miami University (Ohio) The Ohio State University Ohio University University of Toledo Wright State University Xavier University Youngstown State University Oklahoma University of Oklahoma Oklahoma State University Oral Roberts University The University of Tulsa Oregon University of Oregon Oregon State University University of Portland Portland State University Pennsylvania Bucknell University Drexel University Duquesne University La Salle University Lafayette College Lehigh University University of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania State University University of Pittsburgh Robert Morris University Saint Francis University (Pennsylvania) Saint Joseph’s University Temple University Villanova University Rhode Island Brown University Bryant University Providence College University of Rhode Island South Carolina College of Charleston (South Carolina) Charleston Southern University The Citadel Clemson University Coastal Carolina University Furman University Presbyterian College University of South Carolina, Columbia South Carolina State University University of South Carolina Upstate Winthrop University Wofford College South Dakota University of South Dakota South Dakota State University Tennessee Austin Peay State University Belmont University East Tennessee State University Lipscomb University University of Memphis Middle Tennessee State University Tennessee State University Tennessee Technological University University of Tennessee at Chattanooga University of Tennessee, Knoxville University of Tennessee at Martin Vanderbilt University Texas Abilene Christian University Baylor University University of Houston Houston Baptist University University of the Incarnate Word Lamar University University of North Texas Prairie View AM University Rice University Sam Houston State University Southern Methodist University Stephen F. Austin State University Texas AM University, College Station Texas AM University-Corpus Christi Texas Christian University The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Texas Southern University Texas State University Texas Tech University University of Texas at Arlington University of Texas at Austin University of Texas at El Paso University of Texas at San Antonio Utah Brigham Young University Southern Utah University University of Utah Utah State University Utah Valley University Weber State University Vermont University of Vermont Virginia George Mason University Hampton University James Madison University Liberty University Longwood University Norfolk State University Old Dominion University Radford University University of Richmond University of Virginia Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Military Institute Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University College of William and Mary Washington Eastern Washington University Gonzaga University Seattle University University of Washington Washington State University West Virginia Marshall University West Virginia University Wisconsin Marquette University University of Wisconsin-Green Bay University of Wisconsin, Madison University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Wyoming University of Wyoming What's Next? Learn more about the differences between NCAA divisions. Also, you can get the complete lists of Division II and III schools by state . Want to improve your SAT score by 160points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Millwood Affair Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Millwood Affair - Essay Example Clause f of the policy does state that "any employee not following the foregoing procedures will be subject to disciplinary action ranging from suspension to termination." Besides, he has endangered public safety. Furthermore, some hardliners felt that an exception to policy would create a dangerous precedent and send employees the wrong message. On the other hand, other committee members were of the opinion that given the extensive praise that Millwood had received in the media, disciplinary action would damage the credit union's reputation within the community. The decision that the union needs to make is if any action is to be taken against Matt. And if action is to be taken, what is the appropriate action The final solution will be one that is within the bounds of the law, will not set a dangerous precedent for other employees, and preserve the union's reputation within the community. The first solution-take no action against Matt-will preserve the union's reputation within the community. However, it would set a dangerous precedent and send the wrong message to employees that the union condones violation of company policies. The last solution-terminate or dismiss Matt-is in accordance with company policy. But the union's reputation is at stake. Though at stake, it is not against the law to terminate Matt. Matt might have violated his duty of diligence, that requires an employee to act "with reasonable care and skill" in the course of performing work for the employer (Bogardus, 2004). But whether he has acted "with reasonable care and skill" or not is up the court to decide, since he is a Golden Hawk linebacker. However, he has definitely violated the duty of obedience, which requires employees to act within the authority granted by the employer and to follow the employer's reasonable and legal policies, procedures, and rules (Bogardus, 2004). A more middle-of-the -road solution is to take disciplinary action against Matt by issuing him with a letter of warning. RECOMMENDATION The second, middle-of-the-road solution of issuing Matt with a letter of warning is recommended. After all, Matt has followed the company's policy from clause a through to clause d, which are the main clauses that govern the safety of the employees and customers. Termination or dismissal would be too heavy a punishment. However, employees should be sent the correct message. Moreover, Matt did endanger public safety. The shots fired by the robber narrowly missed a young mother and her daughter. Hence, mild disciplinary action has to be taken. IMPLEMENTATION The Director of Human Resources will issue Matt a warning letter after the approval of this report by the Executive Committee. REFERENCES Bogardus, A.M. (2004). PHR/SPHR: Professional in human resources certification study guide. San Francisco:

Madagascar Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Madagascar - Research Paper Example The major language spoken in Madagascar is Malagasy. However, other languages including French and English are also used, but not as much as Malagasy (Tyson, 2013). This country has various cultures as well as ethnic groups. The capital city of Madagascar is called Antananarivo. The latest GDP(PPP) as well as GDP(nominal) for Madagascar stand at $33.642 billion and $ 11.188 billion respectively relevant to the latest estimates in the year 2014. The culture of Madagascar is greatly influenced by the different ethnicities that are found there. Some of these ethnicities comprise of the Indonesians, Arabs, Africans as well as the French (Campbell, 2005). However, it is important to note that Madagascar has always been having long lasting cultures as well as traditions. The different forms of cultures and traditions of the country of Madagascar can be seen through three main perspectives. These include the cuisine, language, the culture relevant to daily life and customs, as well as the culture relevant to religion (Tyson, 2013). Relevant to the religious culture, it is widely known that the people of Madagascar always worship as well as venerate the spirits of the dead. This is one of the traditional religious practices in Madagascar, popularly known as Fomban-razana (ancestor-worship) (Bradt, 2011). However, these traditional religious beliefs are not practiced by all the people of Madagascar. It is always believed that praye rs offered to Andriamanitra (the Supreme God) must always pass through the ancestors. This is always a culture in most religions in Madagascar, practiced regularly during ceremonies, events as well as performance of rituals. Other than religion, the cultures of Madagascar can also be viewed in terms of their cuisine. These cuisines always reflect a collection of interests from various ethnic groups. In Madagascar, it is always a culture that all traditional meals are consumed on the floor