Aqualisa Quartz Case Analysis free essay sample

Summary: Aqulisa’s newest and highly innovative product, the Quartz Shower, comes in two forms: Standard and Pumped. Despite the initial anticipation and buzz surrounding the product at its outset, early sales figures in the first four months were much lower than expected at an average of only 15 units/day. Management is interested in generating sales momentum, and is willing to rethink their marketing strategy but not their pricing. The three options they are facing are to target consumers, do-it-yourselfers, or developers directly. While each of these options have pros and cons, we are recommending that the Quartz product be marketed directly to premium consumers, as well as directly to the consultants they will be advised by while shopping various high-end showrooms. While Aqualisa is a relatively small company, it has invested a great deal of time (three years of development) and money (â‚ ¬5.8M) toward the creation of this product thus far, and the additional â‚ ¬3 â‚ ¬4 million for a large-scale consumer campaign is a nominal and necessary fee to drive the volume of growth that is necessary in order to â€Å"break out of the pack. We will write a custom essay sample on Aqualisa Quartz Case Analysis or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page † Company: Aqualisa is a U. K. shower manufacturer with a reputation for producing high-quality, premium products alongside excellent service. Market share is currently at 17% (second largest) in Mixer Showers and at 11% (third largest) overall1. However despite their reputation, consumers are beginning to perceive the brand as â€Å"overpriced,† actual service is slipping, and 10% of products still malfunction. The company has focused its efforts on innovation, sourcing a top-notch RD team, a new state-of-the-art testing facility, nine patents, and an engineering team that has grown from six to twenty. Customer: Only about 60% of homes in the U. K. have showers,2 and market research has shown that consumers are most concerned with style, good pressure, stable temperature, ease of use, and reliability when choosing a shower. However, consumers are broadly uninformed and possess little brand awareness, as the majority rely on individual plumbers to recommend a brand for them. Plumbers, on the other hand, are most concerned with ease of installment and functioning reliability. Competition: As Aqualisa (or one of its subsidiaries, ShowerMax and Gainsborough) offers products in every category (Electric Mixer, and Integral Power) as well as every price point (Value, Standard, and Premium) they face a wide variety of competition. Other  companies are beginning to catch up to Aqualisa’s technology innovations, and the Managing Director believes that at most Aqualisa has at most a two-year lead on competitors with the Quartz technology. Triton is the largest competitor with overall dominant market share at 30%,3 but in the high-end premium brands Hansgrohe (a German brand) is also a notable competitor that sells in showrooms. Segmenting: Due to the high price of the Quartz technology, customers should be segmented by purchasing behavior in relation to price-point. In this regard, there are three segments: value, standard, and premium. Value customers care most about convenience and price while avoiding products that require excavation costs, standard customers esteem performance and service as the most important (but typically rely on an independent plumber to choose for them), and premium customers typically shop in showrooms since they regard style as the most significant factor. There are two segments outside of these consumers: do-it-yourselfers and developers. While neither are similar to the typical consumer discussed above, both still offer sales potential. Do-it-yourselfers are typically landlords and apartment dwellers that value low cost and ease of installment. Because of this, they there is a strong preference for electric showers in this segment. Developers want reliable, nice-looking products, but are extremely price-sensitive since their ultimate goal is profits from the sale of the unit. Targeting: Because the Quartz technology is priced â‚ ¬346 â‚ ¬576 higher than the average retail price of Aqualisa’s other products,4 targeting a segment that is less price-sensitive is vital. As Quartz is a premium product, targeting the value and standard segments will result in heavy price-resistance and ultimately lower sales volume. Furthermore, standard customers typically rely on individual plumbers to select a brand for them, and Aqualisa has faced resistance among plumbers in adoption of their new technology because plumbers are skeptical of new technology and hesitant to work with products they are unfamiliar with. Premium customers, however, value style above all else and rely on showrooms as consultancies for stylish premium products which aligns with the value proposition of the Quartz technology. There is also a smaller volume of competition in this space, since the variety of brands within a showroom is limited (while the variety of brands available to an independent plumber or contractor are indefinite). Therefore, the marketing strategy for the Quartz brand should target premium consumers, as well as the showroom consultants they will be interacting with, directly. Positioning: For style and luxury-seeking consumers, the Aqualisa Quartz is the shower brand that will give your home a â€Å"wow† factor and your body a sense of renewal. With its sleek look, ultramodern technology, and reliably revitalizing water pressure and temperature, your bathroom will be transformed into a spa oasis. Product, Price, Promotion, Place: The Quartz product is innovative, speedy (with only a half-day average installation time), efficient, reliable, and impressive. While it is more expensive than the other product offerings in Aqualisa’s line, it is also based on advanced technology that high-end consumers will be willing to pay a premium for. Maintaining the current pricing per management’s request at â‚ ¬850 for the Quartz Standard and â‚ ¬1,080 for the Quartz Pumped, we will utilize our current 20 person sales force to redirect all new customer acquisitions toward high-end showrooms. With great success at the Bathroom Expo in London and a multitude of high-end products in the RD pipeline (Body Jet and â€Å"Slave† Remote), this is a distribution channel we will need to exploit. To cultivate these new relationships the sales team will need to shift from 10% of its time spent in new customer acquisitions to 20% (since Aqualisa is currently only in 25% of the 2,000 showrooms nationwide). Furthermore, these showrooms offer installation services to their customers through relationships with subcontractors and plumbers; if we can get the consultants in the showrooms to sell our high-end products to luxury-seeking consumers, the plumbers will be forced to install the product (and have historically responded very positively to it once familiarized). This will organically expand our network outside of showrooms when these plumbers complete jobs for other clients as well. Trade shops and DIY sheds are not optimal distribution channels for the product; plumbers that are resistant to change are the primary customer at trade shops, while the Gainsborough brand is already operating successfully in the DIY (and extremely price-sensitive) space. The promotional expenses associated with marketing directly to consumers is projected at â‚ ¬3 â‚ ¬4 million over the next two years, but with all of the time and money we have spent on RD, state-of-the-art test facilities, patents, and additional manpower this is a necessary bet for the company to make.

The Life and Death of a Pharao essays

The Life and Death of a Pharao essays The Life and death of a Pharaoh TUTANKHEM King Tutankhamen was one of many Pharaohs of Egypt who ruled roughly between 3100 B.C. and 341 B.C. To many he was one of the most famous, however, not the greatest of all pharaohs. Who exactly was this king, whom many referred to as The Boy King. In this report I will briefly take a look at who his parents were, the period in which he reigned, and his death. Looking at the life of King Tut, we find and see that very little or virtually nothing was recorded concerning his life. Most of what has been learned was derived from many of the artifacts found in his tomb. In fact, practically nothing was known of Tutankhamen, when Howard Carter, the archaeologist, encourage by his findings in the Valley of the Kings, undertook, with Lord Carnarvons moral and material support, to find his grave (Desroches-Noblecourt 16). Mr. Carter discovered this fascinating tomb in November 1922. It took him approximately seven years of hard dedicated and deligent digging and searching before this great discovery was made. However, his diligence gave us a little more information about the possible parents of the king. There is much uncertainty ad speculation as to the actual parents of King Tut. His father is pretty much narrowed down between King Amenophis III and Amenophis IV who preceded him as Pharaoh. Among the kings burial treasury therere some references to his possible parents (particularly pointing to his father as Amenophis III). However there isnt enough to evidence to secure its absolute certainty. According to Desroches-Noblecourt, Only in one inscription upon a lion consecrated in the temple of Soleb and later taken further south to Gebel Barkal in the Sudan does Tutankhamen call Amenophis III his father. Many authors refuse to take this literally and regard it simply as a general reference to a royal ancestor. Indeed, am...

Case study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 28

Case Study Example The Repo 108 transactions pledged 108% collateralization. At the end of the second quarter reporting period in 2008, Lehman had over $50 billion in Repo 105 transactions and about $6 billion in cash and cash equivalents. The theoretical accounting justification that this treatment as a â€Å"sale† and a contract for repurchase is that the 5% extra of assets transferred is so much greater than interest for the short period that repurchase is obviously different from a pure loan. (Per the legal letter from theLinklaters law firm in London in 2001.) The crux of the E & Y argument is that SFAS 140 (adopted in 2000) in paragraph 98 states that such Repos â€Å"shall† be treated as a sale. Several amendments and changes to SFAS 140 were made prior to 2007 and 2008 when the Repos became a big problem for Lehman and SFAS 160 more recently. The SEC apparently does not have sufficient confidence to charge former Lehman executives with fraud, but is further investigating E & Y. The status of SFAS 140 indicates all conditions set by the letter of the law. SFAS also violates the principles of accounting set by FASB. Many potential investors offer false promises hence altering the accounting information. Rules set in accounting often offer misleading information as it is in the case of SFAS 140. The practice aids accountants remove the temporary liabilities from company balance sheets on temporary purchasing agreements. This is because the transaction is handled as a sale instead of a liability. The controversy of SFAS 140 did not arise in 2008. The standard was under controversy for amendment reasons. The amendment was to re-examine parts of the provisions set for SFAS 140 that may offer misleading information. The issue experienced with Lehman brought about the issue of fore front. SFAS 140 is used by accountants to move assets transfer in the form of sale under certain conditions. SFAS 1140 however has many controversies since its roll out. Investigations

3 supreme court briefs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

3 supreme court briefs - Essay Example in this case is whether it is right to consider a person sold as a slave a citizen of the mentioned state and therefore, entitled to enjoy rights and privileges alongside immunities granted under the constitution of the United States. The key issue in this case is; â€Å"Can a slave duly be considered as a citizen and entitled to all benefits granted to United States citizens under the constitution? The overall decision in this case was that black slaves were not recognized as legitimate citizens of the United States, but were merely considered as property. Therefore, in answer to the key issue the court’s decision was simply â€Å"no†, Dred Scott was not considered as a citizen. In this case, there were seven votes for Sandford and only 2 voted against the ruling. Justice Taney argued on the fact that there is no right to citizenship to those who descended from an American slave according to Article III (Delaney). There are national norms specifically instituted for the purposes of creating legal frameworks safeguarding issues on citizenship. Therefore, Missouri Compromise was held unconstitutional by the court, for reasons of ending slavery question. The constitution never provided for slaves under the word ‘citizens’, this is since by the time of framing and adoption of the constitution slaves were considered an inferior class. In this case the Lochner was sued for breaching the Bakeshop Act under New York state labor law. The defendant (Lochner) gave an employee permission to work in his bakery for more than sixty hours per week. The legal provision in this case is based on Bakeshop Act of 1897; no employee in the bakery sector was permitted to work more than ten hours in a day or sixty hours in a week. Lochner appealed his case under the Due Process Clause of the 14th, on the grounds that the law breached his freedom in the process of contracting employees (Delaney). The key issue is determination of key legislations that seeks to impose restrictions

Western Culture Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Western Culture - Research Paper Example Culture is inherent in a society, and that culture affects and influences the way that particular society conducts its business( Henry 1999 ). Due to the advent of globalization, companies have sought overseas operations to expand their market as well as gain from trade agreements. More so, the availability of cheap labor has attracted multinationals to invest in Southeast Asia ( Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia), especially in China. However, issues in organizational behavior always resurface as western methods of management are fitted into Asian culture. In order to prevent this misunderstanding, it would be best to identify critical issues in business culture. An important model in understanding business culture was developed by Geert Hofstede. He firmly believed that a misunderstanding of business culture can have tragic consequences for companies (which was the case of Wal-Mart ) resulting to great financial loss . Hofstede’s statement is clear â€Å"Culture is more often a source of conflict than of synergy. Cultural differences are a nuisance at best and often a disaster†. The case which I would present is about the reflections of a consultant of one of Ohio’s oldest manufacturer of metal parts. The American business owner established a small business in China along with a Chinese business partner. The case is not really about total failure of a western business in China, rather, a few adjustments have to be made to be able to survive within the Chinese business culture. One problem that was specifically observed by westerners is the Chinese optimist attitude of â€Å" NO Problem† which seems refreshing to a westerner. However, the westerner only realizes later that there is indeed a presence of seemingly insurmountable problems which should be resolved later on. To be more specific : One of the first American business owners whom the Cunningham’s met in Changzhou warned them to expect that at the

Home Alarm System: An analysis

Home Alarm System: An analysis Home burglaries and property trespassing is a common event; more than forty per one thousand households get robbed yearly. With the introduction of home alarm systems the rates of burglaries have dropped significantly for the past thirty years. Therefore, throughout the semester, we have been working on building a functional home alarm system using PIC microcontroller, a keypad, an LCD display and a magnetic sensor. Household burglary is defined as an illicit entry or attempted entry of a residence which usually involves theft. The illegal entry may be by force, such as breaking a window or slashing a screen, or may be without force by entering through an unlocked door or an open window. As long as the person entering has no legal right to be present in the structure a burglary has occurred. Furthermore, burglary is not only the entry of the house by itself; illegal entry of a garage or any other structure on the premises also represents household burglary. [12] Figure1.Home Burglary Statistics (2008-2011).Washington Post [Photograph].Retrieved from http://homesecurity.net/home-burglary-statistic/ The most common targets are residential houses. Those of them without security systems installed are about three times as likely to be broken into as homes with security systems installed. Moreover, the first place that the robber will search is usually the master bedroom because most people keep their valuables there. The preferred items to be stolen are cash, jewelry, electronic equipment, silver, guns and other items easy to put on the market. [8] Statistics showed that every 14.6 seconds, a burglary takes place in the United States and most of them occur between 10 am and 3 pm. Burglars spend an average of 8 to 12 minutes in your household. The residence owner can take the following safety measures such as: burglars search for homes that appear to be vacant; robbers want to waste no more than sixty seconds breaking into a home. [8] Points of Entry of Burglars: Figure2 .Burglary Facts and Statistics (2008). [Photograph]. Retrieved from http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/burglary-facts-and-statistics-338161.html One survey in Pennsylvania showed that: 81 percent of residential intrusions occur through the first floor. 34 percent of burglars entered through the front door; 23 percent through a first-floor window; 22 percent through the back door; 9 percent through the garage; 4 percent entered through a basement; 4 percent through an unlocked entrance; 2 percent through a storage area; 2 percent entered anywhere on the second floor. [2] Definition of a Home Alarm System: A home alarm system is used as a defensive device to monitor all unwelcome events such as intrusion, glass breaking and mainly to avoid theft. It is also used to alert a user of a possible danger. It focuses on all of the accessible entry points of the house, so that the alarm will sound as soon as the intruder enters. Advantages: The most important advantage of the home alarm system is the security it offers from theft of costly things such as the jewelry, the television set, your pc, cell phones, and etcà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ causing massive financial problems. In addition, a home alarm system is necessary not just for the material possessions in your home but also increases protection on the family. Furthermore, a burglar may want to break the door of your house while barging in. You also might have to cope with broken windows, smashed furniture and other general damage. Making up for this damage will be expensive not just time wise but also requires great deal of effort since burglars these days are interested in expensive items. They search for important identifications such as your bank statements, passports, and credit cards, essentially whatever they get their hands on. The misuse of these documents will disturb your economic balance. [13] Therefore, it is recommended to install a home alarm system at your pl ace. Disadvantages: One of the main disadvantages and is mainly caused by a malfunction is the generation of a false alarm where it can be triggered accidentally and thus cause unnecessary inconvenience. Moreover, having children might cause a lock of the system by improper insertion of the password. Also, if you failed to insert the password in time, the alarm may be triggered. Some burglars are highly experienced and have the knowledge to disable the alarm, the phone lines, and the electricity leaving you helpless in a critical situation. How Does a Home Alarm System Operate? Sensors are the most vital part of the system; they act like the eyes and ears of a home alarm system by monitoring break in points and interior areas. The typical sensors, which are usually two magnets, are generally installed on doors and windows such that one magnet is connected to the door or window and the other is connected to the door or window frame. When the door or window is opened, one magnet is removed from the surrounding area of the other and the sensor registers that the door has been opened. More advanced home alarm systems may also contain vibration sensors to detect when glass has been broken by measuring the vibrations caused by the breakage. Also, many systems use motion sensors that compute the proximity of a rooms walls by producing infrared beams and measuring the time required for them to bounce back; if a beam comes back sooner than expected, it likely bounced off of a person and the sensor registers motion. [4] When the alarm system is installed, each sensor is registered with the control panel either through wires or wirelessly. The control panel also interfaces with keypads and other input devices used by the home owner to control the system. The control center keeps track of the status of the sensors and reports activity through LCD displays and other output devices. Moreover, when activity takes places, such as the opening of a window, the sensors report the activity to the control center and the center registers that a disturbance has occurred. In managed alarm systems, the control panel also checks the sensors to verify that they are still operational; if a sensor fails to reply, the center alerts the home owner of an out of order sensor. If the home owner activates the alarm system and the control center registers activity in the home, a signal is sent by the control to a buzzer, flashing lights or any other audiovisual alarm element. Types of Alarm Systems: Home burglar alarms normally include the following: Window and door sensors Motion detectors Main control panel Centrally located keypad Exterior security signs Hard-wired or wireless construction These systems are often centrally monitored by a security provider that alerts authorities of break-ins. Some of the more common systems that are included in many homes: Smoke alarm systems include smoke detectors, possibly strobe lights and hearing impaired features for seniors and hearing impaired home owners. Fire alarms include a series of smoke detectors, heat detectors and possibly an in-home sprinkler. One ignored aspect of your home security is your homes built in systems, such as heating and cooling and plumbing. Critical System Alarms include: Cooling and heating alarms have detection and monitoring devices that transmit information about your heating and cooling system often directly to a monitoring company. Flood and water alarm systems monitor your plumbing system where even small leaks can go unnoticed and result in thousands of dollars in repairs. [5] Types of Alarm Sensors: Alarm Sensors are essential elements of your home security system. A wide variety of security alarm sensors and detectors are available for use. It is obvious what most sensors do, so we will only describe the main ones used in a basic system. Contact Sensors: Most burglaries involve doors, either on entry or while leaving the house. So protecting all doors is a must. (Example: magnetic circuit breakers).Door contacts may be hardwired or wireless; hardwired contacts are usually buried in the doorframe, which is less obvious than wireless and are preferable. Window Contacts: Can be hardwired or wireless. Motion Sensors: Its the most essential and common form of protection. Passive infrared sensors: Detect motion by sensing a sudden change in heat. Dual-Tech motion detectors use two different technologies in the same unit: passive infrared and microwave. These devices are designed to avoid false alarms since both technologies must detect motion before setting off the alarm. Photoelectric Sensors: These sensors project a beam of light across a hall or doorway to detect motion and are triggered when a person passing through interrupts the beam. Glass Break Detectors: Usually mounted near windows to detect the specific high frequency sound of glass being shattered. They are usually installed on a wall opposite or adjacent to the protected glass and are effective within about 15 to 25. Smoke and Heat Detectors: Detect smoke and heat. [1] Chapter II: Our Home Alarm System Our Home Alarm System: Our projects main concern was to build a Home Alarm System using a PIC microcontroller. We started off our project by coding the Keypad, then LCD and the final touch was the sensor. We also added two types of buzzers: one to sound the alarm and the other as a key tone buzzer. The final result turned out to be the following: Figure3. Our Home Alarm System Materials Used: Cost: PIC16F877A 7$ 4X4 Keypad 2$ JHD 162A LCD 6$ 6V Alarm Buzzer 0.5$ Key tone Buzzer 0.5$ 4 MEGA Crystal Oscillator 5$ 3 Flashing LEDs 0.1$ 9 Resistors (10Kà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¦, 470 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¦, 1Kà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¦) 0.1$ 18 Pico Capacitors 1$ Magnetic Sensor 2$ Input Voltage Wires 0.1$ Breadboard 3$ Total Cost: 27.3$ Process of Building: First of all the PIC: PIC is a family of Harvard architecture microcontrollers. The name PIC refers to Peripheral Interface Controller. They are popular with both professional developers and hobbyists alike due to their low cost, wide availability and large user base. The PIC has an overall of 40 pins. These pins include input/output ports such as PORTA, PORTB, PORTC, PORTD, PORTE and two Vdd ports for input voltage. The PIC architecture is characterized by its multiple attributes: Separate code and data spaces (Harvard architecture). A small number of fixed length instructions. Most instructions are single cycle execution, with one delay cycle on branches and skips. All RAM locations function as registers as both source and destination of math and other functions. A hardware stack for storing return addresses. Data space mapped CPU, port, and peripheral registers. The program counter is also mapped into the data space and writable. There is no distinction between memory space and register space because the RAM serves the job of both memory and registers, and it is usually just referred to as the register file. The keypad: This device is used to enter the password selected by the user and to arm or disarm the alarm by selecting the various profiles installed in the system. As you can see from our projects picture we used a 4 x 4 keypad, as instructed by Dr. Ayoubi we started off our project by working on the keypad and testing it on Proteus and on the PIC itself. The design of a 4 x 4 keypad can be approached by either adopting the serial or the parallel concept. The serial concept is tedious in terms of software effort, complex in circuitry and slow in response. However, it requires few interface lines. Meanwhile, the parallel concept on the other hand is less complex in circuitry, less software intensive and faster in response. Its concept also requires more interface lines, that is, 8 plus an interrupt line for a 4 by 4 keypad. [10] Our design for a functional keypad was the usage of an alternation of ports between inputs and outputs which is done by using the TRIS function. We started off by setting the first four ports of PORTB as the inputs and the latter four ports as the outputs. This is done by moving the binary literal 11110000 to the working registers and having the latter four ports pulled down by 10kà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¦ resistors. The first four ports are connected to the columns meanwhile the last four are connected to the rows. Moreover, as a justification for this reasoning is the fact that it is required to scan the columns for the pressed key and then scan the rows and the results will be decoded in a decoder telling us which button of the keypad was pressed. The main functionality of the keypad as mentioned earlier is to set the code. The alarm can be armed and disarmed with a standard four digit user code in our case. The master code is a step above a regular user code. It is used to unlock the system, as well as programming or erasing a regular user code. Theoretically it can also be used to bypass some sensors. The default password set during the design, which is also the installation code, is 1234. Most alarm companies use the same installer code for all of their installations, and the vast majority will never give their installer code to a customer, for obvious reasons. LCD (Liquid Crystal Display): An LCD is a thin, flat electronic visual display that uses the light modulating properties of liquid crystals (LCs). They are used in a wide range of applications, including computer monitors, television, instrument panels, etc. They are common in consumer devices such as clocks, watches, calculators, and telephones. Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) offer several advantages over traditional cathode ray tube displays that make them ideal for several applications. Of course, LCDs are flat, and they use only a fraction of the power required by CRTs. They are easier to read and more pleasant to work with for long periods of time than most ordinary video monitors. It also has few disadvantages, such as limited view angle, brightness, and contrast, not to mention high manufacturing cost. As research continues, these limitations are slowly becoming less significant. [6] [11] [14] In our design, we used a 1k resistor to set the contrast at the LCD display. Sensor Used: The sensor used is the typical magnetic switch circuit breaker as shown in the figure below: Figure4. How Burglar Alarms Work. Retrieved from http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/household-safety/security/burglar-alarm1.html A magnetic sensor is used to detect any changes as well as disturbances in a certain magnetic fields. In addition, when the magnets are separated it means we have an open circuit and when it is closed it acts like a short circuit. When the door is closed, the magnet pulls the metal switch close so the circuit is complete. Then, the current powers the relays electromagnet, so the buzzer circuit stays open. When you move the magnet by opening the door, the spring snaps the switch back into the open position. This cuts off the current and closes the relay, sounding the alarm. [7] Functionality of our system As soon as we connect the 5V power source the alarm greets us with a welcome message displayed on the LCD then asks us to provide the password. Once entered correctly the green LED flashes accepting the code. If the password entered was incorrect the red LED flashes and the system gives you two further chances to enter the correct password. If both remaining attempts failed the system will lock. The only way to unlock the system is by clicking the star key (*) for more than five seconds. This feature should be kept a secret between the user and the company otherwise anyone who knows it can unlock the system and keep trying to hack into it. The keypad should be installed next to the entry door because it is programmed with a time lag, to permit you to exit when leaving, and enter on arriving home, without activating the alarm. We have set a profile that gives you 20 seconds before leaving the house and the alarm starting. By clicking the (A) button on the keypad the counter starts giving you the amount of time to leave the house. If the magnets of the magnetic switch get separated, by the opening of a door or a window (depending on where it is installed), the internal invisible counter gives the user 15 seconds or 3 trials to set the password correctly or the alarm will go off. The alarm will remain firing until the password is set correctly. Furthermore, the option of changing the password is also available. In order to do so insert an incorrect password and the red LED flashes. While it is blinking click on the star button and wait until the yellow LED blinks and the LCD displays INSERT ADMIN PASS. In our system the administrator password is 5678. After inserting the correct administrator password the system will ask you to insert the new password then once again for confirmation. The administrator password however cannot be changed unless we change it in the code and download it again on the chip. Chapter III: Algorithm Design Block Diagrams: Figure5. Block Diagram showing how the system functions Figure6. Block Diagram showing how the keypad functions Proteus: Figure7. Our Design on Proteus Chapter IV: Conclusion References Conclusion: As we have seen in the graph Burglary rates figure7, the alarm system is becoming a must in modern day life in order to protect our valuables and the ones we care about. As we can see from the graph below, the rate of burglary is declining in 1981 that is when technology started evolving greatly and as we can see with time crime kept on decreasing. Figure7.Key Facts at a Glance (2011).Retrieved from http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/glance/burg.cfm Figure8.Certified Security Systems (2010). Retrieved from http://certifiedsecuritysystems.com/crime-statistics.aspx In flow chart figure8, alarms are moderately effective (57%), 40% very effective, and 3% not effective as owners say. Alarm owners are very satisfied with price and value of security systems such that 74% excellent and good, 22% just okay, and 4% Poor and Terrible. In conclusion, comparing our cost to the prices on the market we can see that systems cost from 30$ to 200$ depending on the number of sensors, the ground it covers and its specifications. Therefore, we recommend each house owner to buy an alarm system because it is not very expensive and might save you the trouble and the inconvenience and the financial losses caused by a robbery. REFERENCE LIST [1] Alarm SensorsAre Essential and Primary Elements of Your Home Security System (n.d.). Retrieved January 19, 2011 from http://www.home-security-action.co.uk/alarm-sensors.html [2] Burglary Facts and Statistics (2008).Retrieved January 19, 2011, from http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/burglary-facts-and-statistics-338161.html [3] Certified Security Systems (2010). Retrieved January 20, 2011 from http://certifiedsecuritysystems.com/crime-statistics.aspx [4]Evans, K. (n.d.). How Does a Home Alarm System Operate? Retrieved January 18, 2011 from http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4568395_home-alarm-system-operate.html [5] From Burglar Alarms to Fire Alarms (2008-2011). Retrieved January 19, 2011 from http://homesecurity.net/security-alarms/ [6] Gowan, M. (2000). How it Works: LCD Monitors. Retrieved January 20, 2011 from http://www.pcworld.com/article/15112/how_it_works_lcd_monitors.html [7] Harris, T. (n.d.). How Burglar Alarms Work. Retrieved January 20, 2011 from http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/household-safety/security/burglar-alarm1.html [8] Home Burglary Statistics (2008-2011).Washington Post. Retrieved January, 19, 2011, http://homesecurity.net/home-burglary-statistic/ [9] How Hard Wired Home Alarm Systems Its Add On Components Work! (n.d.). Retrieved January 20, 2011 from http://www.top-home-security-info.com/home-alarm-systems.html [10] Interrupt Driven 44 Keypad (n.d.). Retrieved January 19, 2011 from http://priorartdatabase.com/IPCOM/000005778 [11] Introduction to Liquid Crystal Displays (n.d.). Retrieved January 19, 2011 from http://plc.cwru.edu/tutorial/enhanced/files/lcd/intro.htm [12] Key Facts at a Glance (2011).Retrieved January 19, 2011, from http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/glance/burg.cfm [13] Krejcik, R. (2010). Advantages of a Home Alarm System. Retrieved January20, 2011 from http://www.realestateproarticles.com/Art/30563/271/Advantages-of-a-home- alarm-system.html [14] LCD (2011). Retrieved January 20, 2011 from http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/L/LCD.html

Function of Montage in the Film, The Night of the Hunter :: Movie Film Essays

Function of Montage in the Film, The Night of the Hunter In The Night of the Hunter various montages are utilized throughout the plot to capture the literal and figurative messages of the movie. The director uses montages to basically allow the audience to grasp the ideas that are being put forth. For instance, when the widow and Icy are talking about marriage plans with Harry Powell, clips of a train interrupt the seemingly continuous conversation. The two women discuss the joyous plans for the marriage and ironically this conversation gets interrupted by a runaway train. The train seems to be heading for disaster at high speed. This correlates to the marriage plans, which are also quick to be orchestrated and will eventually lead to disaster. This montage is specifically placed to foreshadow the upcoming events that lead to the widow’s death. The montage fuses together two unrelated shots in order to achieve a specific idea of foreshadowing the future. I believe that the longest montage of the film is animal clips throughout the duration of the children’s getaway. As the two are in their boat, floating down the river, the seemingly continuous segment of footage gets interrupted with clips of small creatures. The small creatures range from turtles to birds to rabbits, alluding to the small creatures running away from Harry Powell. Now, these images get juxtaposed with the images of predators such as owls and fox that are associated with Harry Powell. This directly reflects the idea that Harry Powell is the â€Å"Hunter†, while the children are the small prey. This montage is used to show the danger that the children face as well as helping to characterize both parties as the helpless prey vs the night hunter.

The Hundred Flowers Campaign

The Hundred Flowers Campaign began in 1957 when Mao Zedong declared in a speech, â€Å"Let a hundred schools of thought contend,† effectively encouraging criticism from members of the Chinese Communist Party. After members began pointing out where the party had made mistakes, however, Mao suddenly reversed this new policy and began the Anti-Rightist Movement, condemning the critics whose opinions he had just previously invited. Was the Hundred Flowers Campaign a trick designed by Mao to trap his opponents? Mao reversed his policies, which people may use as proof that the campaign was a trick. Mao first announced his call for criticism to the members of the party on 27 February 1957. After they overcame their initial fears of being labelled ‘anti-party,’ members acquiesced to Mao’s request on a tremendous scale, sending millions of letters complaining of corruption, inefficiency, and lack of realism within the party. But then, suddenly, on 19 July 1957, only five months after its conception, Mao halted the campaign and began the Anti-Rightist Movement, a stark contrast to the Hundred Flowers Campaign. It was now a time of harsh suppression; those who had criticized the party were now reprimanded. This sudden and completely turnaround change in policy seems to suggest that the Hundred Flowers Campaign had been a deliberate manoeuvre to lure Mao’s enemies into the open, where they could be easily identified and removed during the Anti-Rightist Movement. Indeed, Mao seemed to have successfully trapped his opponents with this cunning trick. The harshness of the Anti-Rightist Movement also suggests that the campaign was a trick. Those who responded to Mao’s call for criticism most vehemently were now forced to withdraw their statements. Furthermore, thousands of party members were sent to ‘re-education camps,’ where some spent the next five or more years doing hard labour. Even Zhou Enlai, one of Mao’s most loyal supporters, was forced to make a specious and humiliating self-criticism in front of a large party gathering. Mao’s retaliation was severe, precise, and on an enormously large scale. He was obviously poised to attack, and this hints that the Hundred Flowers Campaign was merely a wily method of enticing Mao’s prey. There is, on the other hand, much evidence to support that the campaign was a genuine attempt at reform. In his ‘Contradictions’ speech, given to leading party workers in early 1957, Mao complained of the oppressive way some party officials were applying policies and hinted that it was time to begin permitting intellectuals to voice their opinions. Furthermore, in 1956, he had been tolerant of Hu Feng, a writer who challenged the idea that all artistic merit should be judged based on Marxist-Leninist values, even as other CCP leaders viciously censured him. These two examples show that Mao, although previously disdainful of intellectuals, may have begun to see their importance, and thus may have been honestly inviting their criticism when the Hundred Flowers Campaign began. In addition, the launching of the Hundred Flowers Campaign may have been triggered by events in other communist states rather than a desire to trick party opponents. In 1956, Soviet Union leader Nikita Khrushchev launched an attack on the previous leader Joseph Stalin, dead now for three years, and his ‘cult of personality,’ Mao probably saw how his own popularity—adulating portraits of him were being hung everywhere—could also be interpreted as a cult of personality. Mao obviously wanted to dispel this notion, and may have attempted to do so with the Hundred Flowers Campaign. The campaign showed that he valued other people’s opinions, and that he was not just a heroic public image that deserved unquestioning flattery and praise. Seen from this light, it seems that Mao was not just aiming to trick his opponents. This theory also explains why the transition from the Hundred Flowers Campaign to the Anti-Rightist Movement was so sudden. If Mao indeed feared being compared to Stalin, his fear was relieved in late 1956 when Khrushchev crushed the Hungarian rising, an attempt to break away from the Soviet Union. This event showed that Khrushchev, although critical of Stalin, did not have any intention of relaxing the Communist Party’s authoritarian control over the USSR and its people. Mao realized that he would not have to compete with Khrushchev in developing ‘Communism with a human face,’ and perhaps this caused him to change his mind about the necessity of the Hundred Flowers Campaign. A quick shift into the Anti-Rightist Movement then resulted. After examining the evidence, it becomes clear that Mao did not design the Hundred Flowers Campaign as a trick to trap his opponents. Rather, he launched the campaign because of his increasing appreciation of the opinions of intellectuals, and more importantly, because of his fear of becoming a victim of de-Stalinisation. Although the sudden reversal of policy into the Anti-Rightist Movement may seem suspicious, it looses significance when juxtaposed against the defeat of the Hungarian rising: Mao simply changed his mind.

Role Of A Company Chairman Within A Public Limited Company And The Content of The Chairman’s Report of Reckitt Benckiser Plc. The WritePass Journal

Role Of A Company Chairman Within A Public Limited Company And The Content of The Chairman’s Report of Reckitt Benckiser Plc. Introduction  Ã‚   Role Of A Company Chairman Within A Public Limited Company And The Content of The Chairman’s Report of Reckitt Benckiser Plc. ). It is the responsibility of the chairman to set the agenda of the board and ensure that there is enough time for discussing all the items in the agenda with specific emphasis placed on strategic issues that affect the company.   The chairman should facilitate the effective contribution of NEDs in particular and ensure that constructive relations exist between executive directors and NEDs. This ensures that a culture of openness is prevalent in the board. In addition, the chairman should ensure that directors receive accurate, timely and clear information. In addition, the chairman should promote effective communication with shareholders. . The chairmans statement of Reckitt Benkiser Plc contains some important information. It contains information regarding the performance of the company during the year ended 2011. It provides details of the difficult environment in which the company operated and the strategies that the company implemented. For example, the Chairman begins by stating that the company performed well in a turbulent business environment. The chairman also notes that a new CEO was appointed during the year. This was a significant event for the company because the CEO is very important in implementing the companys strategy. The chairman further notes that the company witnessed an improvement in its cash flows during the year which enabled it to pay down part of its debt. The strong cash position also enabled the company to increase its dividend by 9% from the year 2010 figure to 125 pence per share. The chairmans statement also focused on the companys strategy. The chairman notes that considering the changing business environment, the company has redefined its vision and purpose to align itself with the opportunities and challenges of the environment in which it operates. The chairman believes that the new vision and purpose are fundamentally sound and will result in the creation and growth in shareholder value. The chairman concludes by making a statement on corporate governance. Accordingly the chairman notes that the Board conducted its regular reviews of the performance and results of the business including reviews with management on strategy, brands, geographic area and functional performance as well as detailed reviews of human resources, corporate responsibility and reputation, controls and business risks (Reckitt Benkiser Plc, 2011). Critical Evaluation of the IFRS Foundation’s convergence Agenda The IFRS foundation is working through its subsidiary body, The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) to develop a global set of accounting standards that can be used across different. The foundation is making efforts to promote the convergence of national standards with International Financial Reporting Standards. For example, the IASB has been working on a Joint Conceptual Framework project with the US Financial Accounting Standards Board to ensure the convergence of US GAAP standards with IFRSs. In addition, the IASB has made significant progress in achieving convergence of national accounting standards of different countries with IFRS. For example, in 2002, the European Union (EU) issued Regulation EC No. 1606/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council requiring all EU listed firms to adopt International Financial Reporting Standards on or before 1st January 2005 (European Union, 2002; Jermakowicz and Gornik-Tomaszewski, 2006; Epstein and Jermacowicz, 2007). Thi s meant that more than 7000 firms were required to prepare financial statements that complied with IFRS standards during the year ending 31st December 2005. Moroever, in 2007, the United States (U.S) Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) which regulates the trading of securities in the U.S decided to waive the requirement that foreign firms listed in the U.S should reconcile their financial statements with U.S Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) (SEC 2007; Street and Linthicum, 2007). Moreover, the SEC has considered proposals to allow U.S firms to prepare financial statements that are in compliance with IFRS (GAAP) (SEC 2007; Street and Linthicum, 2007). IFRS is increasingly gaining recognition as a global set of accounting standards. Zalm (2008) observes that the number of countries that had replaced their national GAAP with IFRS was approximately 100 in 2008. The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the Financial Accounting Standards Board have been working on a joint project to harmonise IFRS with U.S GAAP. The objective is to enhance the comparability of financial statements prepared under both standards and to improve the understandability, relevance and reliability of financial reports prepared using either U.S GAAP or IFRS. In order to evaluate the convergence project, this paper benefits and costs of convergence. Benefits of Convergences Improvement in FDI flows One of the benefits of convergence is that it will result in an increase in cross-border capital flows such as foreign direct investment (FDI) (Chen et al., 2010). Convergence will result in a reduction in the degree of information asymmetry between home country and foreign users of the information reported in financial statements (Chen et al., 2010). Users of financial statements will be able to compare financial statements prepared across different countries and thus make better investment decisions. It has also been argued that widespread adoption of IFRS will reduce or eliminate differences in accounting standards across the globe. This will result in a reduction in information processing costs and to an increase in cross-border economic transactions (Chen et al., 2010). According to the European Commissioner, McCreavy for example, adopting IFRS standards as a global set of accounting standards will result in more efficient allocation of resources and greater cross-board investment which will enhance economic growth in the EU (McCreavy, 2005). Enhancement of the quality of Financial Reports A potential benefit of the adoption of IFRS standards is that it will result in high quality and more corporate reporting practices. This will in turn improve market liquidity, lower costs of capital and enhance resource allocation. Greater market liquidity is consistent with a more efficient capital market. Improving market liquidity will result to a decline in transaction costs and increase the number of people participating in the market. An increase in the number of market participants will result in more efficient markets because more people will ensure that securities are always trading at their equilibrium prices (Bodie et al., 2007). Costs of Convergence Despite the potential benefits cited for convergence some investor groups believe that it is still very early to determine whether IFRS can effectively serve as a global set of accounting standards (SEC, 2010). The main argument offered is that IFRS is yet to be sufficiently developed or applied in practice to the extent that one can judge its ability to serve as a global set of accounting standards. According to the SEC (2010) IFRS lacks guidance in certain significant areas. In areas where there is guidance, such guidance tends to require much latitude before it can be comparable with US GAAP. There are jurisdictional variants in the application of IFRS which pose significant challenges to the adoption of IFRS. In order for IFRS to be applied globally, countries will need to converge in many other areas such as auditing, taxation, legal systems, etc. According to commentators, existing US GAAP standards are already universally accepted as high quality financial reporting standards. In addition, not all firms in the US require capital from global capital markets or market securities internationally. Therefore, the convergence agenda is likely going to result in increased costs for US companies. Investors and large firms in the US also felt that there were significant challenges and risks associated with having an international institution as the ultimate body that would issue accounting standards for issuers of securities in the US. Significant concerns were raised over whether this was likely going to be a wise policy taking into account the long standing role of the SEC as the oversight body over the financial reporting process in the US. Another concern raised is that incorporating IFRS standards into the financial reporting system in the US will have a negative impact on the compliance with corporate governance requirements in the US. For example, the Sarbanes Oxley Act prescribes a number of corporate governance rules that US companies with comply with such as ensuring that the audit committee has at least one independent non-executive director with financial expertise. Investor groups in the US feel that the IFRS agenda may affect the ability of US companies to comply with these rules and as such the convergence agenda of the IFRS foundation is likely not going to be feasible in so many countries. In addition, Hail et al. (2009) argue that accounting standards play a limited role in improving the quality of financial reports. There are other institutional factors that contribute to the enhancement of financial reporting quality. For example, the reporting incentives of firms and the enforcement of standards have been cited as important factors that determine the quality of financial reports. Hail et al. (2009) further contend that comparability of financial reports cannot be guaranteed by the adoption of a single set of accounting standards across different countries. Comparability can only be fully achieved if the reporting incentives of firms are similar. Therefore, the argument that comparability of financial statements will improve as a result of the adoption of IFRS remains questionable. Furthermore, it is not correct to view accounting standards in isolation from other important factors of a country’s institutional framework. There must be a match between the institutional framework and accounting standards. This means that if a country adopts accounting standards that do not properly match with the elements of its institutional framework can result in undesirable consequences for the economy as a whole irrespective of whether the new accounting standard unambiguously improves the element itself. SECTION B Environmental Reporting By Reckitt Benkiser Plc. According to the Sustainability report of the Reckitt Benckiser Plc, the companys strategy incorporates a commitment to run the business in a manner that is responsible, environmentally sound and sustainable. With respect to the environment, the company is committed to ensuring that the workplace environment is safe and healthy. It is also committed to ensuring that the employment environment attracts, developed and retains the right talent of people to manage the business. The company has a life cycle carbon management program and a sustainable operational excellence program. With respect to the life cycle carbon management program, the company is committed to reducing its carbon dioxide emission. The life cycle management approach is used to reduce CO2 emission right across the product life cycle. This approach is used because the largest emissions occur when consumers use products. For example, Air Wick launched a ground-breaking air fresher product which replaced the traditional propellant gases with compressed air. The natural propellant delivers a cleaner fragrance experience in a safer way than butane or nitrogen. The propellant is non-flammable and non-hazardous. Using compressed air in place of butane saves 5,000 tonnes of butane per year which in turn saves 20,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions (Reckitt Benckiser Plc, 2011b). It should be noted that there is no specific legislation that governs environmental reporting in the UK. The only legislation that governs the reporting of CO2 emissions in the UK is the Climate Change Act of 2008 and the Energy Act of 2010. The Climate Change Act aims at reducing CO2 emissions. The Climate Change Act and the Energy Act led to the implementation of the Carbon Reduction Commitment, which represents a mandatory climate change and energy saving scheme. The scheme aims at enhancing energy efficiency and CO2 emissions. The sustainability report of Reckitt Benckiser Plc is to some extent in compliance with the Climate Change Act and the Energy Act 2010 (Gray et al., 2010). Despite the absence of legislation on environmental reporting in the UK, a significant number of attempts have been made to encourage businesses to provide sustainability and environmental reports on a voluntary basis. Businesses are often encouraged through codes of practice and environmental reporting guidelines. Reckitt Benkiser Plc might have been influenced by these encouragements to disclose information relating to its environmental and social performance. Despite the absence of legislation, it has been argued that voluntary disclosure of environmental and social performance helps in enhancing firm value. For example, McGuire et al. (1988); Davis (1960); and Roberts (1992) provide evidence suggesting that there is a positive link between corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure levels and firm performance. The evidence also suggests disclosure of environmental performance is positively related to firm value. This explains why Reckitt Benkiser Plc has made an effort to d isclose information about its environmental performance. Advanatges a Company may gain by adopting and disclosing voluntary environmental Accounting Practices Adopting voluntary environmental accounting can help a company improve its reputation (ICAEW and EA, 2010). Voluntary environmental accounting can be viewed by users of financial statements as a positive signal that the company is using efficient and low cost manufacturing techniques which results in efficient use of resources. As such the company’s share price can increase if it discloses positive information. In addition, customers and can view the company as having concern over its environment. customers are not interested in buying from companies that do not have regard for their external environment. Consequently voluntary disclosure of environmental information can result in an improvement in the company’s sales and financial performance (Gray et al., 2010). How Future Environmental Accounting will continue to support accrual accounting and going concern. Accrual accounting is essential because not all transactions are settled in cash. It enables organisations to record transactions that have not been settled in cash as credit transactions. The going concern assumption assumes that the business will continue to exist for the foreseeable future. Environmental accounting will support accrual accounting in that it will enable businesses to continue recording all transactions irrespective of whether they are settled in cash or not. With respect to going concern, environmental accounting will enable users of financial statements to assess the impact of the company on its environment and determine whether the company will be able to continue as a going concern. Section C. Classification of the Convertible Bond The convertible bond in question is a compound financial instrument because it has both debt and equity characteristics. According to IAS 32, Financial Instruments, Presentation, the instrument’s component parts should be accounted for separately. The accounting should be done according to their substance based on the definitions of liability and equity. The entity is required to make the division between equity and debt at issuance and is not allowed to make any amendments in response to changes in market conditions such as a change in the market interest rate, share prices, or other event (Deloitte, 2012). Therefore, the instrument will be classified as a compound instrument including debt and equity components. The debt component is the contractual obligation of the company to pay cash and the equity component is the option of the holder to convert the bond into common shares of the issuer (Epstein and Jermakowicz, 2007; Deiloitte, 2012). Calculation of the Equity Component The present value of the bond is calculated as follows: Year Discount Factor (9%) Interest/Principal Present Value 1 0.9174 0.08 0.073392 2 0.8417 0.08 0.067336 3 0.7722 0.08 0.061776 4 0.7084 0.08 0.056672 5 0.6499 4.08 2.651592 Debt Element 2.910768 Equity Element 1.089232 The bond pays a coupon of   $.08million (2% x $4million) per annum. At the end of the year, the bond is expected to repay the coupon plus principal of $4.08million. The cash flows need to be discounted at the market interest rate of 9% on similar non-convertible bonds. The present values are based on the discount factors for the 9% interest rate. It can be observed that the present value of the bond is $2.91million. This represents the debt component of the financial instrument. The equity component is calculated by subtracting the debt component from the amount raised from the issue of the security. Therefore, the equity instrument is equal to $4million less $2.91million. This gives $1.19million. Closing Figure in the Statement of Financial Position The closing figure in the statement of Financial Position is based on the following amortisation Schedule: Year Cash Paid Interest Expense Discount Amortised Liability ($millions) 0 2.91 1 0.08 0.36 0.28 3.19 2 0.08 0.29 0.21 3.40 3 0.08 0.31 0.23 3.62 4 0.08 0.33 0.25 3.87 5 0.08 0.35 0.27 4.14 References Gray, R., Collins, D., Bebbington, J. (2007) Environmental and Social Accounting Reporting, Centre for Social and Environmental Accounting Research. ICAEW and EA (2010) TURNING QUESTIONS INTO ANSWERS ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORTING, available online at: environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/Business/TECPLN8045_env_report_aw.pdf [accessed: 25th April 2013]. Deloitte (2012) IAS 32 Financial Instruments: Presentation [online] IAS Plus: Available at: iasplus.com/en/standards/standard31 [accessed: 26th April 2013]. McGuire, J. B., Sundgren, A., Schneeweis, T. (1988), â€Å"Corporate Social Responsibility and Firm Financial Performance†, The Academy of Management Journal, Vol. 31, No. 4, pp. 854-872; Academy of Management, Available online at: jstor.org/stable/256342 Davis, K. (1960, Spring). Can business afford to ignore social responsibilities? California Management Review, 2, 70-76. Roberts, R. W. (1992), â€Å"Determinants of corporate social responsibility disclosure: An application of stakeholder theory†, This article is not included in your organizations subscription. However, you may be able to access this article under your organizations agreement with Elsevier. Accounting, Organizations and Society, Vol. 17, No. 6, pp. 595-612 Bodie, Z. Kane, A., Marcus, A. J. (2007). Investments. 6th Edition. McGraw-Hill Duangploy, O., Gray, D. (2007)   ‘‘Big Bang’’ Accounting Reforms In Japan: Financial Analyst Earnings Forecast Accuracy Declines As The Japanese Government Mandates Japanese Corporations To Adopt International Accounting Standards Advances In International Accounting, vol. 20, pp. 179–200 Epstein, J. B., Jermakowicz, E. K. (2007), â€Å"Interpretation and Application of International Financial Reporting Standards†, Wiley. European Union, 2002. Regulation (EC) No 1606/2002 of the European parliament and of the council of 19 July 2002 on the application of international accounting standards. Official Journal of the European Communities September 11, 2002, L. 243/1 L. 243/4. Zalm G. (2008), Prepared statement of Gerrit Zalm, Chairman of the International Accounting Standards Committee Foundation, before the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, available online at: iasb.org/NR/rdonlyres/A318265C-10E4-4051-A7D1-DCC9E4D763C5/0/Prepared_statement_Gerrit_Zalm.pdf [accessed: 9th April, 2012].

Environmentalists say Down with the WTO essays

Environmentalists say Down with the WTO essays Environmentalists say "Down with the WTO" "Trade is the ally of working people, not their enemy," WTO Director-General Mike Moore told trade union representatives. "As living standards improve, so too does education, health, the environment and labor standards." That is false; the main goal of the WTO, since established in 1995 is to promote international trade. They don't care about the trade off of a safe environment. Their main concern is flourishing economies despite environmental conditions worsening. "Such actions worry environmentalists who argue the WTO favors the growth of trade over public safety." People not profits need to be WTO's top priority. We are striving to get across the importance of environmental safety over free trade. Us environmentalists want them to listen and take action to insure the safety of people and the environment. Environmentalist met in Seattle to peacefully convey our safety concerns. We want the WTO to understand that we are not against the international organization, we only want to be assured that the environment will not be compromised for free trade. Daniel Seligman of the Sierra Club said it's not trade and the globalized economy that upsets environmentalists, but "the way that World Trade Organization rules work to promote trade." Their main concern should be to enforce and control safety of people and the environment in the following areas: clean water, clean air, flourishing forests, naturally grown (organic) vegetable, healthy animals without injections, and no sweat shops. The WTO needs to allow countries to ban countries export because of unsafe environment practices. "The WTO aim s to eliminate what they are calling non-tariff trade barriers," Seligman told CNN. "And a lot of those trade barriers are actually hard-won environmental and food safety protections." According to ABC news online, "Countries have already proposed another 150 items they want negotiated, includi...

Sustainable Management Features Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Sustainable Management Features - Essay Example This change is evident from the increased use of social reporting and adhering to corporate codes of conduct. Oil companies in the world have embraced international CSR initiatives. Companies such as the SHELL and BP have become major players in the renewable energy industry in order to combat the fact the oil companies are the ones who are mainly held responsible for global warming. In addition to this the oil companies of the world have also taken initiatives that are aimed towards the development of community. It was estimated that back in 2001 the oil companies in the world had contributed $500 million towards community development initiatives (Frynas, 2005). Total Oil Company was formed after the First World War when the French Prime Minister rejected the idea of forming a partnership with Shell in favor of creating an entirely French oil company. Now with revenues of â‚ ¬189.5 Billion it is the 5th largest international oil company of the world as per 31st December 2013. The company produces about 2,299 kilo barrels of oil equivalent per day and with a network of 15,551 service stations serves about 3 million customers worldwide per day. If one analyses the stakeholders who are associated with the company then Total acknowledges the fact that due to the reason that the company operates in more than 130 countries across the globe the company has to face and live up to different expectations of different groups of stakeholders who are associated with the company. The company states that there is number of stakeholders of the company depending on the location in which the company operates and their expectations from the company also differ depending on the location. The company states that the key to its long term integration will depend on how well it can identify and address the expectations of these diverse groups of stakeholders. The company has both upstream and downstream operations that range from exploration of oil to its fractional

Motivational Strategies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Motivational Strategies - Essay Example Employing various mixes of motivational strategies depends on the kind of employees to be supervised and the situation the managers find themselves in. Managers should have it as a priority to learn when to they should praise, trust and delegate and above all they should know and understand the benefits and disadvantages of the reward system and motivation theories. At Gift of life clinic back street is a private hospital owned by a renowned doctor who adds up as the overall manager, and their work philosophy includes improving productivity together with better management skills. This is a common organizational strategic for development world while among medics. To develop motivated employees, must management to; Paying a worker has both short term and long term goal of motivating the employees at any organization. The primary aim of a rewarding system is to bring positive reinforcement, and there should be various factors to be considered in designing a real worthwhile system. A real rewarding system comes with accountability and based on employee’s performance and includes having appraisal for individual employees. There is also the importance of the management not only to focus on the financial form of reward but also behavioral approach to rewarding individual employees. Workers incentives are also important as they offer motivation to employee since they give employees extra to endeavor for than just regular paycheck and it is in different categories which includes bonuses, cash paid time off and travel perks. Another motivational strategy that the clinic can employ is the need for management to develop a free and honest communication channel within the workplace. It is of importance that the doctor in charge who is also the manager communicates individual employee’s expectation freely so that each worker has a clear idea of what task lies ahead. When management does this it goes