Existence Of God Essay -- essays research papers

The Existence of God   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ever since I can remember, I have believed in God. I had always thought that he existed in a way that we did not understand and or can not comprehend, and that is spiritually (Almighty). I have always thought that it would be impossible to prove/disprove God's existence (solely based on the spiritual aspect), because if he is the almighty then he can come and go as he sees fit (be seen and unseen as he sees fit, too). There has been a lot that has happened to me, not only in spiritual essences, but also in a physical essence that strengthened my beliefs that God exists. Call it social conditioning, that I have this belief, but my family and friends all have the same belief. Even after the class (First course in philosophy) has ended I am no more clear whether God exist (in a physical manner) or does not (at all). Since I have grown up in the belief that God exists (which has not brought on any harm), then I shall go with what I believe in and state that he does ex ist. Evidence that he does exist is not needed, for this is like a court case you are innocent until proven guilty. So with this in mind, he exist until you can prove his non-existence. Although there are many arguments to disprove his existence none are solid proof. Just like there are many arguments to prove his existence that lack physical proof, too. With this all in mind I will argue that the, so-called, evidence of his existence out ways that of his non-exist...

Motivation Case Essay

Motivation – is the process encouraging people to work. There are many different aspects of the theory of motivation, and they are: 1. Historically, the early views on motivation to work, such as the policy of â€Å"carrot and stick†. The adherents of this view think that man is by nature lazy, sly, selfish, wants to give less and get more, hence there is a need to constantly force him to work and systematically encouraged to achieve high results. 2. Content theories of motivation (as an incentive to work discusses the inner satisfaction of man, his needs). 3. Procedural theories of motivation (motivation occurs during labor process). Let us consider each of the theories. The content theories of motivation include: †¢ A. Maslow’s theory; †¢ K. Alderfer’s theory; †¢ D. McClelland theory; †¢ F. Hertzberg’s theory; A Maslow (1908-1970) provides the following hierarchy that makes a need for person to work. And Maslow (1908-1970) offers the following hierarchy inducing the person requirements to work: †¢ Physiological needs (hunger, thirst) †¢ Needs for safety, stability and confidence in the future †¢ Needs for love, participation, communication †¢ Needs for recognition and self-confirmation †¢ Needs for self-actualization A. Maslow assumed that needs for this hierarchy arise gradually. Satisfying primary requirements, the person gradually becomes more motivated. People not simply satisfy one need for another, but move up, changing the importance for these or those needs. Self-actualization — is the highest degree of motivating the person; his desire and strong-willed actions. Self actualization — means to become a person that individual wants to be, reach the maximum level of realization that potentially available. The problem is that: †¢ The person often doesn’t know about the abilities, mission or talent †¢ The person knows about the abilities, but doesn’t want to develop them into work. (The will is weak) †¢ The person knows about the abilities, but can’t develop them into work for a number of reasons (material, physical, etc.) According to A. Maslow, the highest level of motivation can reach only about 1% of all people. According to K. Alderfer’s theory of need the person can be combined in three separate groups: †¢ Needs for existence (safety, physiological) †¢ Needs for communication (in belongings to any group and participation in any business, aspiration to be the family member, to have friends, colleagues, etc.) †¢ The need for growth (need for recognition, self-assertion and self-improvement) These requirements are also hierarchical, but movement can go in both directions (unlike Maslow’s hierarchy) †¢ Up, if the previous need is satisfied. †¢ Down, if they don’t satisfied with higher level. In his theory of acquired needs D. McClelland proceeded from the fact that the needs are acquired under the influence of life events, experience, and training and includes: †¢ The need for achievement (the desire to self-set goals, more effectively than before, to reach them); †¢ The needs of complicity (the desire for friendly relations with others, communication, working with people); †¢ The need to dominate (the first group of individuals willing to rule for the sake of ruling, the second – to achieve goals). This system needs no strict hierarchy (as in previous theories) its elements have a mutual influence. Senior Manager, on one hand, should help to meet prevailing needs of employees and on the other hand – to promote development of those that are most needed for the labor process. For example, the need to achieve a goal of ruling with the development needs of complicity or achievements can achieve greater results. In theory, F.Herzberg points out the following two groups of factors: †¢ External or hygiene (or health factors) – wages, working conditions, status, mode, interpersonal relationships, the degree of control over the work; †¢ Motivating – growth opportunities, recognition, promotion, work. F. Herzberg concluded that the factors driving the growth of human dissatisfaction with their elimination does not necessarily lead to increased satisfaction, and vice versa. The transition from a lack of satisfaction is influenced by motivational factors and the transition from dissatisfaction with the absence dissatisfaction under the influence of external factors. Therefore, priority should be given to human dissatisfaction and then only with the help of motivating factors to ensure satisfaction. Manager’s attention only to external factors is ineffective. Procedural theories of motivation includes Vroom’s theory of expectancy, the theory of justice (equality) S. Adams, Porter-Lawler model, the theory of goal setting E. Locke’s, and concept of participatory governance. According to the theory expectations Vroom: Motivation = Expected results of the x x Expected remuneration for x The significance of the result of x (valence) †¢ Valence is positive, if the results are highly valued by the employee; †¢ Valence is negative, if the results are denied by the employee; †¢ Valence of zero, if the worker is indifferent to this result. Variables in the formula can be evaluated with points. The essence of the theory of justice (equality) Stacy Adams; People subjectively feel a fair reward for their work, their own and others compare the costs and rewards, so it is important to pay for the work to motivate employees and achieve smooth arise between negative feelings. S. Adams identified six possible human reactions to injustice. 1. Reducing self energy consumption (â€Å"I’m not going to do my best for this salary†). 2. Attempt to increase the salary for their work (requirements, blackmail, etc.). 3. Revaluation of its features (lower confidence). 4. Attempt to influence the organization or the head to change the payment or the load of other employees. 5. Selecting another object of comparison (â€Å"I do not want to be with them†). 6. Attempt to move to another department or another organization. Experienced manager should feel subordinator’s reactions and possibly smooth over the contradictions. Porter-Lawler model represents the synthesis of the theory of justice and the theory of expectations: [pic] In the model of Porter-Lawler work results are considered as a function of the external compensation (salary, the significance of payment assurance efforts and communication labor remuneration), internal reward (praise, promotion, etc.), awareness of their role in the labor process and abilities. If the size between employee’s external rewards and effort is clearly perceived by the individual communication, motivation system works completely; otherwise the employee is motivated in part with the results of the (second internal feedback) and receives only an internal reward for their labor. According to the theory of goal Edwin Locke’s motivation is determined by his goals and satisfaction with job performance. It is assumed that goal setting is a conscious process, which involves the future goals of man. The results of the individual will depend on: †¢ Complexity of task; †¢ Its features (clarity and certainty); †¢ Profitability (eligibility) it for the individual; †¢ A person’s readiness to make some effort to achieve goal (closer the goal, effort can be increased). Quality of work defined organizational factors and capable employees, which in turn affect the goals, and consequence of his motivation. Satisfaction or dissatisfaction with employee by interaction of two processes: †¢ Internal (individual assessment results in terms of correlating them with the goal); †¢ External (human evaluation by others). The disadvantages of this theory include: †¢ Poor uniformity (for uneducated people, such as clarity of purpose plays a big role, and the call for highly objective and its uncertainty leaves room for creativity); †¢ The situation is not clear when the target slave puts the head; †¢ The situation is not clear, when there is group work and the purpose of the group is placed in general; †¢ Promoting labor is not often aimed at a quick goal, and on the quality of the work task. In accordance with the concept of participatory management, employee motivation is determined by its interest in how its activities impact on the functioning of the organization, the desire to participate in the processes taking place in the organization. If an employee feels that he needs to the organization that he demanded it that between his initiative and reward, there is a direct relationship, the intensity of his work is significantly increased. Participative management is widespread in leading Japanese corporations: †¢ Staff makes decisions about the organization of work; †¢ Employees working independently take decisions; setting goals are carried out jointly with the head; †¢ Employees independently control the quality and quantity of output †¢ Employees involved in innovative activities (quality circles, task force committees, etc.) †¢ Employees independently form working groups.

Dispute Resolution By Forced Arbitration - 1636 Words

Dispute resolution is a term that refers to a number of procedures that can be used to settle a claim. Conflict resolution procedures are alternatives to receiving a court resolve the dispute in a trial. People often have to compensate a large fee just to start the arbitration procedure. If they are able to make an in-person audience, people sometimes have to travel thousands of miles on their own money to attend the arbitration. In the final stage, the loser often pays the company’s legal fees. Forced arbitration is chosen by companies because it benefits companies. People are frequently unaware that they’ve agreed to forced arbitration. Most Americans have accepted good or services or a job with forced arbitration as a condition. Forced arbitration severely limits consumer choices for breaking up a conflict. By forced arbitration if any problem comes up, you can’t amend that decision. The contract typically also names the arbitration company that must be used. Forced arbitration clauses generally bind the consumer and not the company. The way many forced arbitration clauses are written, the seller retains its rights to call for any complaint to court while the consumer can only initiate arbitration. Arbitration is a private system without a judge, jury or a right to an appeal. Arbitrators aren’t required to learn the law into account in arriving at their determinations. There is no appeal of decisions to ensure the arbitrator got it right. Employees cannot sue forShow MoreRelatedAlternative Dispute Resolution And The Different Types Of It898 Words   |  4 Pagesessay I will address what alternative dispute resolution is and the different types of it. ADR stands for Alternative dispute resolution is something that provides an alternative way of settling civil disputes than the traditional way using the courts. The main forms of Alternative dispute resolution are being arbitration, adjudication mediation and conciliation, however in the United Kingdom the most commonly used alternative dispute resolutions are arbitration and mediation but adjudication is becomingRead Moreï » ¿Describe the different methods of Alternative Dispute resolution available to deal with civil cases?1090 Words   |  5 Pagesof Alternative Dispute resolution available to deal with civil cases? Disputes Resolution has become a major aid in helping resolves disputes between different parties, primary between private companies, but also between individuals. The courts has aimed to make Dispute Resolution as fair as possible and has placed regulations on all of the keys methods of Dispute Resolution. In this question I will outline the key methods of dispute resolution which are, Mediation, Arbitration ConciliationRead MoreAdvantages And Disadvantages Of Conflict In Business Dispute726 Words   |  3 PagesBusiness disputes are disagreements between parties in the course of performance of their obligations. It occurs in production and trade. Having many ways to resolve legal conflicts, including litigation and Arbitration—Oldest Form of ADR. Each methods has private advantages and disadvantages to fit case in business dispute. Firstly, Negotiation is the easier way to resolve quickly dispute. It aims at create resolutions through one-on-one conversation between two sides without a thirdRead MoreIntroduction. In Accordance With Hr.Com, At Its Most Fundamental,717 Words   |  3 PagesIntroduction In accordance with HR.com, at its most fundamental, arbitration is a method of dispute solution; arbitrations are confidential, jurisdictive determination of a disagreement, conducted an impartial third individual. An arbitration hearing might necessitate the utilization of an individual arbitrator otherwise a tribunal. A tribunal entails of any quantity of arbitrators; though, some legal systems require on an odd numeral for understandable rationales of wanting to circumvent a stalemateRead MoreWorkplace Disputes And The Workplace Dispute1151 Words   |  5 Pagesand employers working concurrently. However in many cases this is hard to create, this is a factor leading to workplace disputes. Workplace disputes are conflict which occurs within the workplace. They can be a result of relationships or clashes in opinions on certain tasks. Indicators are used to measure the results of workplace disputes, these indicate the factors creating disputes. They include: corporate culture - how well a workforce treats one another, benchmarking key variables - whether staffRead MoreAlternative Dispute Resolution: Analyze the Method of Alternative Dispute Resolutions1445 Words   |  6 Pagesalternative dispute resolutions. An outline of the various forms is provided as well as a discussion of the methods used in two dispute cases relating to a borrower and an employee. In this paper I will also discuss alternative dispute resolution methods to be used in solving disputes in the current learning team environment. â€Å" To avoid or reduce these problems, businesses are increasingly turning to methods of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and other aids to resolving disputes† (ChessmanRead MoreArbitration is not an innovation2291 Words   |  10 PagesA settlement of disputes is not easy process as it seems. Since the time of Ancient Greece and Roman Empire, people had different methods of solution for conflicts. The certain part of them was cruel, barbaric, and inhumane. For instance, George Neilson (1858 – 1923), who is legal historian, explains the origin, meaning, and process of judicial duel in his book. It was a method, in which two parties in dispute had to fight in a single combat. Subsequently, the winner of this fight is declared toRead MoreTraditional and Nontraditional Forms of Litigation1001 Words   |  4 Pagesattention paid to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). First, to understand the newer, nontraditional forms of litigation it is imperative to set up a sound foundation for understanding the more traditional forms of litigation. Essentially, traditional litigation is the process of going to court to handle disputes of both business and civil matters. As such, litigation is the traditional process, whereby both parties use the court system and procedures to resolve their dispute (Lewis, 2012). Here, legalRead More A critical review of the major opposing views on arbitration industrial relations1291 Words   |  6 Pageson arbitration and industrial relations, with particular attention to how government regulation and intervention relate to the changes made to the system after 1996. The major focus of this brief paper will be to demonstrate that Howard’s industrial relations policies resemble those of the late 1800’s, where the Master and Servant Act’s regulated the relationships between employer and employee. These w ere replaced with the introduction of the Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration (1904-1921)Read MoreAlternative Dispute Resolution. RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT5597 Words   |  23 PagesALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION LUKE BUCHHOLTZ 2011018492 RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT Submitted to partially comply (in the module PPR 404) with the conditions for the degree B.Sc (Quantity Surveying) Honours Department of Quantity Surveying and Construction Management Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences UNIVERSITY OF THE FREE STATE BLOEMFONTEIN Mrs M-M Els 2013 TABLE OF CONTENTS ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION 1. Chapter 1 Introduction 3 2. Chapter 2 What

Genocide in Rwanda and Burundi Essay - 2206 Words

Genocide in Rwanda and Burundi Between April and July of 1994, more than 800,000 people, mostly Tutsi civilians, were slaughtered in a genocidal campaign organized by the Hutu hard-liners. By educating myself as well as others, I hope that we can prevent genocide organizers from eliminating the minority, Tutsi, and remove the tensions between these two groups. Pressure must be placed on the government to put the 120,000 suspected genocide criminals on trial . This topic is one of the most compelling human dramas of the century. Additionally, I am very interested in human rights violations that are occurring around the world and genocide seems to be the most extreme form of infringement. By studying the history of Rwanda and†¦show more content†¦They never organized a centralized political system, and their alliance is based on small units formed around clans. Furthermore, their head chiefs have made them very vulnerable. The Hutus race is Bantu, and therefore their ancestry is located somewhere in central or southern Africa. The third group the Tutsis, entered and conquered Rwanda through a combination of force and persuasion. The Tutsi represent a little more then 15 percent of the population and were militarily advanced compared to the Hutu. The Hutu come from Ethiopia, and became the most powerful tribe in Central Africa. The Tutsis acquired culture and beliefs from the Hutus. This aided in their assimilating and eventual success of tribal domination throughout Rwanda and Burundi . The Tutsi were clearly a minority in the region. However, to say that this minority dominated over the majority Hutu is too simple. The Tutsi were more numerous and dominant in some areas than others. The Tutsi adopted the Hutu language, customs and traditions. The Hutu and Tutsi still battle today as both groups fight for land, freedom, and power. Another significant actor involved with the genocide in Rwanda and Burundi is the east African neighboring nation of Tanzania. Tanzania has served as a place of safe refuge for the fleeting people of Rwanda ad Burundi. One example of Tanzanias Open Arm Policy was in 1993, when they accepted nearly 300,000 citizens of Burundi who fled for their livesShow MoreRelatedThe Tutsi And Tutsi People843 Words   |  4 PagesTutsi people of Burundi and Rwanda have been bondaged together by major events that have let to the Burundi and Rwanda Genocides. But there’s more to just the Genocides than what meets the eye. In order to understand what happened in the Rwanda genocide I must talk about Burundi and the Belgian rule. Hutu and Tutsi have lived in the same area for centuries and share the same language, religions, and even clan systems. Hutu and Tutsi have also intermarried for years before these genocides even occurredRead MoreEssay about The Role of the Media in Rwandas Violence1631 Words   |  7 Pagessituations and/or events that lead to a catastrophic outcome, such as the Rwanda genocide. The tension between both the Hutu and Tutsi already existed; it only needed something to reach its breaking point – a stressor. On April 6, 1994, the plane that occupied Juvenal Habyarimana, President of Rwanda, and Cyprien Ntaryamina, President of Burundi crashed due to unexplained circumstances. Over the next three months in Rwanda after the crash carrying both Presidents, mass killings began to occur. TheRead MoreModern Genocide in Africa Essay928 Words   |  4 Pageshave been two instanc es of genocide: the 1972 mass killings of Hutus by the Tutsi-dominated government, and the 1993 mass killings of the Tutsis by the Hutu populace. Both of these events in Burundi received different levels of attention by the international community and the western media due to a lack of foreign governmental interest, political distraction, and an unwillingness to acknowledge the severity of these atrocities in Burundi. Interestingly, events of genocide occurring at times withoutRead MoreLife Of The Innocent : Taken1425 Words   |  6 PagesInnocent: Taken As confirmed in Genocide in Rwanda the war that began April 6, 1994, mainly in Rwanda, Africa, lasted one hundred days and took close to one million lives of innocent people. Genocide is defined as the deliberate and systematic extermination of a national, racial, political, or cultural group. With Rwanda being the most densely populated nation in Africa, housing about ten million people, by the time the outside countries began assisting to stop the genocide hundreds of thousands wereRead MoreU.s. Foreign Policy : The Game Of Plausible Deniability1625 Words   |  7 PagesDeniability As I previously stated in the â€Å"U.S. Foreign Policy† section of my paper, the U.S. was spread across the globe in several conflicts. The U.S. had forces in Haiti, Somalia, the Balkans, and the middle East, so when the bloodshed began in Rwanda, the U.S. was not eager to extend it resources to another battle. John Shattuck, Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights stated, â€Å"Bosnia was in one of its real crisis modes. The Europeans didn’t want to authorize American air strikes for fearRead MoreEssay on Genocide in Rwanda1440 Words   |  6 PagesGenocide in Rwanda Raphael Lemkin coined the term genocide in 1944. According to Lemkin, genocide signifies the destruction of a nation or of an ethnic group and implies the existence of a coordinated plan, aimed at total extermination, to be put into effect against individuals chosen as victims purely, simply, and exclusively because they are members of the target group. This coordinated plan is committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial orRead MoreThe Genocide Of Rwandan Genocide837 Words   |  4 PagesEnglish 2:Period 2 20 November 2015 Rwandan Genocide INTRODUCTION After the atrocities suffered by the Jewish people at the hand of the Nazi regime, the United Nations formed the U.N. Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (UNCG), dedicated to the understanding and prevention of future genocides. The UNCG defines genocide as acts committed with intent to destroyRead MoreRegional State Failure With Weak Institutions1362 Words   |  6 Pagesregion. The countries that have been most affected by conflict in Africa’s great Lakes region are Burundi, DRC (Democratic republic of Congo), Rwanda and Uganda. The Tutsi’s and Hutu’s are two African ethnic groups that are not confined to one single nations border and are spread out through Rwanda, Burundi and Eastern DRC (Conflict trends issue 1). When an ethnic conflict breaks out in Rwanda, Burundi and Eastern DRC it easily has a transnational spill over effect because these states have weak governmentsRead MoreStrength Analysis And Evaluation Of Personal And Social Responsibility Essay1742 Words   |  7 Pagesman. Deo and his journey, surviving two genocides and how he got to America, and his journey afterward. A global theme that really connects to this book is, â€Å"the analysis and evaluation of personal and social responsibility†, but why? The idea of personal and social responsibility is that it’s what you are responsible for, it’s what you see as your duty personally and in a social environment. Deo feels very responsible for the troubles going on in Burundi, his home country when he moves to the USRead More Genocide in Rwanda Essay1123 Words   |  5 PagesGenocide War is not a necessary evil humans must endure. Although, war is not necessary, humans go to war to try to gain power, fortune, and to spread their particular group’s religions and beliefs. By definition civilization is an advanced state of intellectual, cultural, and material development in human society, marked by progress in the arts and sciences, the extensive use of record-keeping, including writing, and the appearance of complex political and social institutions. The chaos of war

How Much Does It Cost to Save Essay - 2398 Words

How Much Does It Cost to Save? The impact of software development offshore outsourcing has many economic and social impacts. Economically, India is thriving with GDP growth accelerating exponentially including having the potential to achieve double-digit growth.1 Meanwhile, in the United States, the numbers relating to developer jobs are quite the opposite. Most figures suggest that by 2015, roughly 3.3 million business-processing jobs will have moved abroad. As of July 2003, around 400,000 jobs already had.2 Socially, job loss has many strong emotional implications. Job loss due to cost cutting measures coupled with the dot-com layoffs in Silicon Valley conveys an outlook for finding a technical position quite bleak. In†¦show more content†¦In order to compete, US developers would have to take a reduction in salary. This conflicts with the cost of living in places like Silicon Valley. Cost cutting though ultimately has many benefits for companies and individuals as it opens up other opportunities and investments. Silicon Valley firms have used resources freed up through offshore production to develop new products, new industries, and new employment opportunities.4 A Silicon Valley engineer may not like the opportunities that come up because of outsourcing, but they are there. Gregory Mankiw, chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisors, feels that â€Å"there will be jobs in the future because this is a vibrant economy, a dynamic economy.†5 Mankiw’s support for outsourcing is without a doubt supported by financial analysts in India. A member of Delhi Stock wrote in the India Times that Mankiw â€Å"clearly had logic and facts on his side; a detailed study by Deloitte in August 2003 estimated that approximately 356 billion of work for the global financial-services industry alone will be relocated offshore within the next five years† leading to aShow MoreRelated math lesson Essay1734 Words   |  7 PagesAlexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday: Understanding Opportunity Costs Grade Level:2, 3, or 6th Duration: three 50-minute class periods Student Goal: To understand that there is an opportunity cost to every economic decision and that these costs come as a result of limited resources. Student Objectives Students will: †¢ Identify quot;opportunity costsquot; in the story and in their own lives. †¢ Create an opportunity costs bar graph as a whole class. †¢ Complete a table of personal spendingRead MoreReducing Costs With Fsm Automation1119 Words   |  5 PagesTitle: Reduce costs with FSM automation SEO: field service management software, FSM solution, service scheduling Every company wants to improve. Most companies want to reduce costs, improve customer service and increase efficiency – which is a challenging goal. Luckily, field service management software, combined with field service reps on mobile technology, is the killer app that not only improves customer service, but also increases efficiency to reduce your field service expenses. In the pastRead MoreHow to Save Money1014 Words   |  5 PagesTopic: Save money General purpose: To inform/demonstrate Specific purpose: To demonstrate my audience how to save money Central idea: Easy and cheap tips/ideas to learn how to save money on daily basis, and improve our financial life Strategic order: Chronological INTRODUTION I. For what do you want to save for? What is your goal? A. Saving money, improving your financial life, building wealth. It all starts when you set a goal and make a plan to reach that goal. B. Starting is alwaysRead MoreTotal Cost Minimization : The Cost Of Money1670 Words   |  7 PagesTotal Cost Minimization There are many problems in the world today, ranging from war and fighting, to disease and starvation. However, one of the biggest issues in today’s day in age is money. People either have too much money or not enough of it. Money is something that everybody needs to survive in order to support themselves as well as their families. In order to maintain a decent amount of money, people are always thinking of ways to save money and reduce the amount of money spent on a day toRead MoreCollege And University : The Reality Of Adulthood And How This Impacts On A Financial Scale? Essay1372 Words   |  6 Pagesschool graduation. One of the many issues students face is the reality of adulthood and how this impacts themselves on a financial scale. For instance, many students have not had to save their money nor do they have much of it (however, it depends on the family situation). With that said, they do not know how much one year of post-secondary education is going to cost them. The refore, some students do not save any money until the summer of or year before they leave for post-secondary. Students inRead MorePlanning For Retirement And Aging1511 Words   |  7 PagesFewer than half of Americans have calculated how much they need to save for retirement. After working for a lifetime, retirees want to know that their golden years will be just that - golden, and spending some of those years in a sub-par nursing home is sure to make the experience much more difficult to enjoy. Planning for retirement can be confusing and overwhelming at times. This is why it is vital to talk about what the potential needs are and what the costs of living out the rest of their lives mightRead MoreIts Better late Than Never897 Words   |  4 Pagesplan, keeping in mind the various cost estimates and timelines involved. Ryan figures that the two largest expenses down the road would be those related to the wedding and down payment on a house. He estimates that the wedding, which will take place in twelve months, should cost about $15,000 in today’s dollars. Furthermore, he plans to move into a $250,000 house (in today’s terms) after 5 years, and would need 20% for a down payment. Ryan is aware that his cost estimates are in current terms andRead MoreCostco Wholesale Corporation ( Cost )1567 Words   |  7 Pages672 warehouses all around the world. (Costco, n.d.) As shown from their own website, â€Å"Costco is a membership warehouse club, dedicated to bringing our members the best possible prices on quality brand-name merchandise.† (Costco Wholesale Corporation(COST), 2015) Costco is a big success in wholesale and retailer industry, and it has its unique value chain business model that make it outperform other competitors, such as Wal-Mart or Target. As go through all the research sources, Costco has focusedRead MoreHow A Wedding Can Be Stressful And Plain Scary786 Words   |  4 Pages So how much should a couple expect to shell out before saying â€Å"I do.†? How much does the average wedding cost? This is actually a more complicated question than it appears. CNBC reported that the average wedding costs $28,400 by one unnamed source and an average of $26,000.00 by other unnamed source. However, the national average is not the best indicator of how much a wedding costs because some states averages are higher than others. For example, in New York City, the average cost of aRead MoreJohn Wesley s Three Christian Prudence908 Words   |  4 PagesTake a moment to look into the sentence â€Å"the use of money† what does that truly mean to someone? Is it how we spend money? How we save money? How we help someone who needs money? What does it mean when asked what does the use of money mean? John Wesley mentions three Christian prudence on the use of money and defines exactly what it means by the use of money. As the social human beings that we all, are we tend to have our eyes on the latest trends and gadgets, and with them having the word â€Å"new†

Value Line Publishing 2002 free essay sample

Overview Value Line Publishing is an investment survey firm wherein Carrie Galeotafiore presents a five-year financial forecast that shows Home Depot in a positive light. It also prepares to do the same with an analysis of Lowes. Home depot and Lowe’s are merchandising companies which operate in the same market including initiatives aimed at bettering customer service, attracting professional customers and creating a more favorable merchandise mix. II. Problems/Opportunities 1. Acquisition or Consolidation 1. In 1999 Lowe’s had acquired the 38-store, warehouse-format chain Eagle hardware in a $1. 3 billion transaction. 2. Home Depot had acquired the plumbing wholesale distributor Apex Supply, the specialty-lighting company Georgia Lighting, the building-repair-and-replacement-products business N-E Thing Supply Company, and the specialty-plumbing-fixtures company Your â€Å"Other† Warehouse 3. Home Depot had announced the purchased of 3 flooring companies the â€Å"When completed would instantly make Home Depot the largest turnkey supplier of flooring to the residential construction market† 2. Professional Market 2. 1 Both Home Depot and Lowe’s had recently implemented initiatives o attract professional customers more efficiently, including stocking merchandise in larger quantities, training employees to deal with professional and carrying professional brands 2. We will write a custom essay sample on Value Line Publishing 2002 or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page 2 Home Depot had developed Home Depot Supply and the â€Å"pro Stores† to reach out the small-professional market. The company was also on the track to install professional-specific desk at 950 stores by the end of 2002. 3. International Expansion 3. Home Depot had already developed some international presence with its acquisition of the Canadian Home-improvement retailer Aikenhead in 1994m and it continued to expand its reach in the market with 11 new stores opening in 2001. More recently the company had targeted the 12. 5 billion home-improvement market in Mexico by acquiring the Mexican chain TotalHome and del Norte. By the end of 2001, 10% of Home Depot’s stores were located outside the United States. Lowe’s did not yet have an international presence. 4. Alternative Retail Format 4. Lowe’s specifically targeted the professional customer with a section of its Web site: â€Å"Accent Style† offered decorating and design tips on such subjects as kitchens and baths. 4,2 Home Depot was developing new retail formats for urban centers. These â€Å"urban† store provided Home Depot products and services in a compact format. 4. 3 Lowe’s published creative Ideas, Garden Club and Woodworker’s Club magazines to target custom2ers with certain hobbies. 5. Alternative Products 5. 1 Both Home Depot and Lowe’s were expanding into installation services. The â€Å"at-home† business for Home Depot was currently at $3 billion. 5. 2 Home Depot expected its at-home business to grow at an annual rate of 30% in the near term. 6. Head to Head competition 6. 1 Home Depot had traditionally focused on large metropolitan areas, while Lowe’s had concentrated on rural areas. To maintain its growth trajectory, Lowe’s had begun systematic expansion into metropolitan markets. 6. 2 The investment community was becoming increasingly concerned about the eventuality of increased price competition. III. Relevant Facts/ Data 1. Carrie Galeotafiore supports the changes proposed by the new Home Depot CEO and that would play a role in improving Home Depots financial health in the home center and building industry. 2. Galeotafiore supports her by mentioning a number of sources that would help the growth of the two companies. She mentions the recent consolidation throughout the building industry with both Lowes and Home Depot acquiring several smaller companies. 3. Lowes and Home Depot have done well by going beyond the traditional home center and offering alternatives such as sales online and one stop design shopping. Both Home Depot and Lowes have entered the same metropolitan markets and have created competition that some worry may cause price wars. Home Depot has expanded to international markets, but Lowes has not. 4. Home Depots CEO has planned to turn Home Depot around and make it competitive. In the process he will increase stock prices. His goal is to make store operations efficient and cut costs. Additionally, he will have systems to increase movement of stock so less kept sitting around. He will put focus on improving customer service, which has been weak, to hopefully increase sales. 5. An analysis of the financial ratios for Home Depot and Lowes shows information that both supports and disproves Galeotafiores forecasts. First is the Working Capital Ratio. After examination of both financial statements, it displays that both have a healthy amount of working capital and both with working capital growing yearly. Working capital for both have doubled in over five years and indicates growth in the industry. IV. Recommendation/ Rationale

Regulating the Financial System an Example of the Topic Government and Law Essays by

Regulating the Financial System Enron was created 1985 as a merger between Huston Natural Gas and InterWorth (BBC News, 2001). It was a company first credited with supposedly trading energy as a commodity like oil and memory chips. In August 14, 2001, Fortune magazine counted Enron as one of the top 10 stocks poised to grow for the next decade. According to BBC News, the company grew from naught to billions of dollars in just 15 years, a fact celebrated with numerous awards and approbation. At the end of 2000, Enrons stock was trading at about $78, but by late November of the following year, the accounting scandal was unfolding and the stock was bid down to a mere $4.01 (Ackman, 2001). Need essay sample on "Regulating the Financial System" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed Although many attribute the fall of Enron to have begun with investors pulling out money from company shares, the first suspicion was cast in the summer of 2000. According to Parry (2006), an employee of Southern California Edison wrote a memo to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission noting that certain energy industry players, including Enron, were manipulating the distribution grid to cut off supply and artificially run energy prices up. California was in turmoil as rolling blackouts plagued the deregulated state. Washington turned a deaf ear and refused to alleviate an ailing market that saw energy prices increase 800 percent. The Bush administration defended its position by stating that price caps do nothing to the present levels of supply and demand, and would simply dampen investor interest. A price cap was eventually implemented but Enron had already managed to accumulate hundreds of millions in excess profit. In that same summer, Enron unveiled a natural gas power plant in Dabhol, India. The power plant, however, presumably with a take or pay agreement with the Indian government, produced and sold electricity at a price many times over the norm. Enron demanded of the Indian government a $250 million payment for the electricity or to purchase Enrons share in the plant amounting to $2.3 billion (Parry, 2006). When the Indian government refused payment, the Bush administration stepped in, pressuring India to make the payment through a series of meetings, negations and, finally, an official warning. In August 15, 2001, Sherron Watkins, an Enron vice president, started reaching for the whistle, as she noted that Raptor, a subsidiary intended to hide losses, owed Enron about $700 million and had could not quite trace out the money (CNN, 2002). She warned other executives and attempted to clarify the accounting anomalies apparently racking the company, but could not secure a proper answer. By December of that year, Wallstreet was caught up bailing out; making the companys stock worth virtually nothing, and forcing Enron to file for bankruptcy. Coincident to the years leading to Enrons Chapter 11, executive compensation was increasing at an exponential rate (Schifferes, 2003). In 1998, the total compensation package for Enrons top 200 executives totaled only $193 million. In 1999 and 2000, the total compensation package made substantial increases to $401 million and $1.4 billion, respectively. According to Schifferes, a large chunk of the compensation package was in the form of stock options, wherein the beneficiary has the right to purchase the companys stock at a fixed price. This provided incentive for the company to boost stock prices. The companys executives methods included artificially jacking energy prices in California and pursuing over priced projects such as the Dabhol power plant, which respectively led to inflated revenue and asset figures. At the same time, subsidiaries such as Raptor were used to hide loss generating activities. The combined effects were inflated earnings reports, and fat payoffs to executive s through exercised stock options. The collapse of Enron brought about $60 billion in losses for the investing public (Thomas, 2002). The company also had more than 20,000 employees that lost their jobs, not to mention numerous pensioners, with substantially all of their working lives already spent, lost their only means of support. With the fall of Enron also came the fall of one of the largest accounting firms in the US Arthur Andersen. The accounting firm served as auditor and consultant for the multi-billion dollar company and is largely held responsible for concealing Enrons nefarious accounting practices. According to Cathy Thomas (2002), about a third of Andersens 2,300 clients quickly fled and turned to other firms for auditing services. The job loss was also apparent in the accounting firm as it sold portions of its business and reduced workforce numbers from 26,000 in the US to a mere 5,000.In the wake of Enrons fall, the US capital markets turned cautious and indecisive. Pellegrini (2002) dubbed it the Enr on Effect. His first case and point came on January 24, 2002 when Alan Greenspan had encouraging words that the worst is over, and strong performances from Nokia and Siebel put several market indexes much higher up during the morning session but cut any gain in half by the afternoon. He further reports that the first trading week of 2002, the Dow plunged some 20 percent as the Justice Department opened criminal investigations for the Enron Scandal. One could argue that the timid stance of the Bush administration in placing a price cap on Californias energy price, and the administrations aggressive stance with respect to the Dabhol project can be viewed as factors enabling Enron to pursue overstated earnings. However, the issue is muddled by viewing the administrations stance as advancing capitalism and advocating nationalistic interests. What is clear is that legislation is needed to bridge the gap between the investing publics information requirements and public companies that they entrust with hard earned money. The government quickly moved to pass the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 as a means of curbing unethical accounting practices. A special feature in this piece of legislation is the inclusion of Section 401. Under this section, corporations subject to the act are required to report off-balance sheet transactions that can materially affect the companys financial condition. These off-balance sheet transactions include guarantee contracts (e.g. take-or-pay), interests in assets transferred to subsidiaries, obligations brought about by derivative instruments such as forward agreements, and any material interest in unconsolidated subsidiaries and special purpose vehicles (SEC, 2003). Aside from additional reportorial requirements for subject companies, the act was also meant to have some teeth. Section 1102 places a stiff penalty for tampering with records or serving as an impediment to investigations. The Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 was further amended thru Section 1106 to have steeper criminal liabilities. Some believe that the Sarbanes-Oxley Act has done its share to curb corrupt accounting practices. There have been major restatements over the years and companies have been more transparent as a result of the Act. However, Siegel, a member of the Center for Financial Research and Analysis, believes that companies are now focusing on non-accounting metrics (Bloomberg, 2005). While earnings can be manipulated, analysts find that cash flows and other non-accounting metrics can be less subject to management control. The trouble is, some companies can throw these non-accounting metrics toward analysts to justify or mask poor results. The question therefore remains as to whether passing the Sarbanes-Oxley Act has been effective as a safeguard for investors as corporate behavior remains the same. References Ackman, D. (2001, November 27). Enron in free fall. Forbes. BBC News (2001, November 28). Rise and fall of an energy giant. BBC News. CNN Student News (2002, February 14). Enrons Watkins warned Lay. CNN. Parry, R. (2006, May 26). Bushs Enron lies. ConsortiumNews.com. Pellegrini, F (2002, January 24). The Enron effect. Time.