Friday, November 29, 2019

Marketing Planning Strategy Nestle Essay Example

Marketing Planning Strategy Nestle Essay BHO3435: MARKETING PLANNING STRATEGY INTRODUCTION TO STRATEGIC MARKETING PLAN: ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS Prepared by: Sarah Aljenfawi Bashayer S. Kout Fatimah Rawan Membership of Reporting Body: – Environmental Analysis – Market Customer Analysis – Competitive Analysis – Internal Analysis 1. Membership of Reporting Body: In response to the assessment our group has mutually agreed to investigate the strategic operations of the Boost Juice. The team is composed of four members. Each member has been allocated a specific scope to investigate further as listed below: †¢ Environmental Analysis: Market Customer Analysis: †¢ Competitive Analysis: †¢ Internal Analysis: 2. Aim of Report: 3. Background and Context: I. Brief Description of Industry: Nestle is a multinational company based in Switzerland. Nestle operates in food industry. In 1905, Nestle was formed as a result of a merger between a Swiss and English company which was established in 1866. Initially, Nestle started to offer condensed milk formula and milk related products to customers (Nestle, 2013). Later on, it expanded its offerings to other food related items. Gradually, Nestle grew and made significant success stories. In the First World War and also in Second World War, Nestle expanded its products to other countries. The company produces snack and health related products. The head quarter of Nestle is in Vevey. In terms of revenues, Nestle is the largest food company of the world. The objectives of Nestle are to become leader in Health and Wellness and nutrition. In addition to this, the company also aims to be trusted by other stakeholders regarding its business and financial performance. Nestle offers wide range of products and services. The portfolio of company covers all categories of food and beverages industry. The aim of Nestle is to provide healthy eating and drinking experience to customers so that they can enjoy every stage of their life. In 2010, Nestle offered a Nestle Cocoa Plan which aimed at provision of 38 plantlets to farmers to help them to rejuvenate productivity of their farms. In 2011, Nestle became the first company which made a partnership with Fair Labor Association (Nestle, 2013). We will write a custom essay sample on Marketing Planning Strategy Nestle specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Marketing Planning Strategy Nestle specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Marketing Planning Strategy Nestle specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Through this partnership, Nestle helped to investigate child labor practices in the cocoa farms which supply raw materials in its factories. II. Brief Description of Company: The industry analysis of food and beverages suggests that there will be significant growth in future. The global food and beverages industry composes different sectors which include food production, distribution, marketing, retailing and catering. Since 2009, global food and beverages industry has surpassed the total value of $5. trillion. In the economic growth of every country, this industry is one of the significant contributors. It is expected that by 2014, global food and beverages industry will grow at the rate of 3. 5% and will achieve value of $7 trillion (Business Vibes, 2013). In 2008, food product sector had value of $3. 2 trillion. This industry included agriculture sector products. It is expected that by the end of 2013, the value of this sector will reach to $4 trillion (Business Vibes, 2013). The beverages sector of global food and beverages industry consisted products such as soft drinks, spirits, ciders, beers and wines. This industry accounted for $1. 4 trillion in 2008. It is expected that by the end of 2013, this industry will reach at $1. 6 trillion. This generates a growth rate of 2. 6% in beverages sector (Business Vibes, 2013). The growth trends in global food and beverages industry suggest that there is great opportunity of further investment in this industry. This growth rate is also reflected in the consuming power of customers. New companies can achieve substantial share from market in this growth phase period of global food and beverages industry. On the other hand, existing firms in global food and beverages industry can also expand their businesses. III. Key trends affecting the industry According to Nestle’s annual report for the year 2010, it has shown that several trends have occurred and caused a major impact on the food industry in general and Nestle in particular. Whereas, the recession that has happened in the year 2009 has caused a major decline in the economic growth for almost all of the businesses and especially in Nestle, which also has led to an increase in the unemployment rate. Therefore, the company’s economic environment has continued to be ambiguous in the year 2010, and that would basically has led to an inflation period regarding the business’s raw materials, as well as currency instability in the mentioned year. (Consolidated Financial Statements, 2010) Although the world’s economic crisis presence in the year 2009, however, Nestle has experienced its strongest growth by the final quarter of that year, and that mainly gave Nestle a great opportunity to enter the industry with their maximum power. Furthermore, with the company being motivated and be able to perform with its best has remained consistent throughout the year, even in the end of the year 2010 when almost all of the businesses were suffering and trying to recover from the world economic crisis. Thus, Nestle has entered the year 2011 with great energy and was able to put themselves together and perform with their best, As Nestle has stated: â€Å"this will help us to manage the challenges? that we face and to take full advantage of our opportunities to drive? better performance and enhance shareholder value. † (Consolidated Financial Statements, 2010). IV. Key industry success factors â€Å"Key success factors have a share in enabling a company to differentiate itself from its competitors and to offer a ‘unique selling proposition’ to customers or consumers†. Batra, Myers and Aaker 1996; Ketelhohn 1998). 4. Statement of problem to be investigated References Nestle, 2013. History. Available at: http://www. nestle. com/aboutus/history Assessed on 17th March, 2013 Business Vibes, 2013. Available at: http://www. businessvibes. com/blog/facts-and-figures-global-food-and-beverage-industry Assessed on 17th March, 2013 Batra, R, J G Myers and D A Aaker (19 96), Advertising Management. 5th ed. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall

Monday, November 25, 2019

Emerging Theme in Human Resource Management The WritePass Journal

Emerging Theme in Human Resource Management Part One Emerging Theme in Human Resource Management ). The company literally looks after every need that a technology geek would not want to be bothered with, to help them focus on innovation, and creativity. Such flexibility and measures for ensuring a great work/life balance keep the employees highly motivated and foster innovation and creativity. Implication of these Themes for HR Managers Modern day organizations ought to make strong efforts in maintaining a participative and democratic leadership as the very first thing needed to enforce a modern organizational culture which is   not based on traditional hierarchy, but upon a diverse workforce wherein every individual provides a valuable input to lead the organization (Senge 1996). The leadership should recognize and admit that every employ has potential to find solution to the challenges faced by the company. This should lead to a organizational culture which is based on openness and trust, where employees are supported and rewarded for learning and innovating, and one that promotes experimentation, risk taking, and values the well-being of all employees† (Gephart 1996, p 39). Such a culture would position organizations to capitalize upon forthcoming ideas which can deliver unquantifiable benefits for the development and success of the telecommunication firms. Adhering to this line of thinking, HR managers s hould provide ample facilities and amenities for socialization, such as gyms, pool and indoor games, well kept cafeteria and canteens among other recreational facilities where employees can share ideas, experiences, and embark in informal learning. Such an environment is very effective in fostering group work and team learning as well (Senge 1990). Conclusion As Hout (1999) mentions that management as we have known it is too cumbersome for todays fast, unpredictable pace. A new kind of company wins now. The best management models dont adapt to the new economy; they emerge from it. Its no longer the survival of the fittest; its the arrival of the fittest. Hout’s contention clearly identifies the new order in the business world, which is characterized as fast paced, complex and unpredictable. It dictates a paradigm shift in the modern organizational culture. He further states that: â€Å"No intelligence from on high can match the quality of solutions to market problems that arise from players who are constantly communicating with one another on the ground level. The invisible hand of the marketplace should displace the visible hand of the manager. The markets can determine where one team or initiative or company ends and another begins. Managers interfere at their peril.† This signifies the importance of a participative organi zational culture, which encapsulates themes such as fairness, openness, and respect  ; all of which combine the collective wisdom of executives and all those working in an organization, in yielding bright ideas and solutions that can be translated into company’s success. Organization within the telecommunication industry should recognize that the journey towards creating such an organizational culture through flexibility is a long and gradual one and thus temporary setbacks and difficulties are to be expected. Enforcing a participatory managerial style and engaging employees in the organizational learning process are massive feats that cannot be achieved overnight. However, given the current overall outlook of the business environment and the rapidity of the technological advancements, and recognizing the changing cultural pattern of the society in general, developing such an organization is the most crucial strategy for the success of telecommunication firms. A flexible working environment can create an organizational culture that would promote innovation and creativity. It is the best way to avert any foreseen and unforeseen challenges faced by organizations.    References Battelle, J (2005) Google CEO Eric Schmidt gives us his golden rules for managing innovation. CNN/Money. Available   fromhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2005/12/01/8364616/index.htm (cited on 15th December, 2012) Bender, D.R. (1998), â€Å"Knowledge management makes information work†, Washington Business Journal, Vol. 17 No. 6, pp. 35-6. Botha, D.F. (2000), â€Å"A conceptual framework for the management of knowledge in a knowledge-based enterprise†, South African Journal of Business Management, Vol. 31 No. 4, pp. 141-8. Change Board (1 January 2010) ‘HR landscape in 2010 HR challenges’, Available from: Changeboard.com. changeboard.com/content/3020/hr-landscape-in-2010hr-challenges/# (cited on 15th December, 2012) CIPD (28 January 2010) ‘Press Office’, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, Available from: CIPD.co.uk. cipd.co.uk/pressoffice/_articles/HRD2010280110.htm?IsSrchRes=1 (cited on 15th December, 2012) Crossan, M. M., Lane, H. W. and White, R. E. (1999) An organizational learning framework: from intuition to institution, Academy of Management Review, 24, 522. De Geus, A. (1997), â€Å"The living company†, Harvard Business Review, Vol. 75 No. 2, pp. 51-9. Drucker, P.F. (1964), Managing for Results: Economic Tasks and Risk-taking Decisions, Harper and Row, New York, NY. Drucker, P.F. (1998), â€Å"Managements new paradigms†, Forbes, Vol. 162 No. 7, pp. 152-69. Gephart, A., Victoria J., Marsick, E., Van B., and Michelle S., (1996).  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Learning organizations come alive†Ã‚  Training Development  vol. 50, no. 12: 35-45. Handy, C. (1995) The Age of Unreason, London, Arrow Business Books. Harrison, R. (2009) Learning and development. 5th ed. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Kaplan, Robert S., and David P. Norton. (Sept./Oct. 1996).  Strategic planning and the balanced scorecard.  Strategy Leadership  vol. 24, no. 5: 18-24. Kontoghiorghes, C., Awbrey, S.M. and Feurig, P.L. (2005), â€Å"Examining the relationship between learning organization characteristics and change adaptation, innovation and organizational performance†, Human Resource Development Quarterly, Vol. 16 No. 2, pp. 185-211. Manyika, J (2008) â€Å"Google’s View on the Future of Business: An Interview with CEO Eric Schmidt†. The McKinsey Quarterly. Available from mckinseyquarterly.com/Googles_view_on_the_future_of_business_An_interview_with_CEO_Eric_Schmi t_2229 (cited on 15th December, 2012) McGill, M.E., Slocum, J.W. and Lei, D. (1992), â€Å"Management practices in learning organisations†, Management Dynamics, Vol. 21 No. 1, pp. 4-17. Miller, W.C. (1998), â€Å"Fostering intellectual capital†, HR Focus, Vol. 75 No. 1, pp. 509-17. Munk, N. (1998), â€Å"The new organization man†, Fortune, Vol. 137 No. 5, pp. 62-74. Newstrom, J and  Keith  D. Organizational Behavior : Human Behavior at Work. New York : McGraw-Hill,  1993. Nomikos, G.E. (1989), â€Å"Managing knowledge workers for productivity†, National Productivity Review, Vol. 8 No. 2, pp. 165-74. Rheem, Helen. (Mar./Apr. 1995).  Ã¢â‚¬Å"The learning organization.†Ã‚  Harvard Business Review  vol. 73, no. 2: 10. Roy, M.C., Falardeau, J. and Pelletier, C. (2001), â€Å"Support systems for knowledge workers: the need for new development approaches†, Journal of Knowledge Management Practice, August, p. 2, available at: www.tlainc.com/articl24.htm. Shea, T. (1998), â€Å"Are you good at attracting knowledge workers?†, Orlando Business Journal, Vol. 15 No. 29, p. 30. Senge, P. (1990).  The Fifth Discipline: the Art and Practice of the Learning Organization. New   York: Doubleday. Senge, P. (1996). â€Å"Leading Learning Organizations†.  Training Development  vol. 50, no.   12: 36-4. Sloman, M. (2007) ‘The changing world of the trainer: emerging good practice’, Oxford Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Finacal Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Finacal Analysis - Essay Example and the sixth biggest metro area in the Southeastern part of the United States. In addition, when these figures totaled up, the Greater Orlando municipal is the 3rd largest metro expanse in the state of Florida. Orlando is ranked fifth among the population sizes in the state, and it is the state’s largest inland municipal area. The geography or layout of the city is mostly wetlands, comprising of many swamps and lakes such as Lake Apopka (Loschiavo, 2012). The landscape is generally flat and low lying making it fairly wet. The city seats on 101 sq miles (261.6 km?) land terrain. The city has the biggest population of Puerto Ricans within its states, Florida. Orlando houses the fastest growing Puerto Rican community in the United States. From 1980 to 2010, Hispanic populace share rose by nearly 20% from 4.1 to 25.4%. Orlando also has the largest growing Caribbean populace in the U.S. In 2000, the area’s population became more open with 22.0% below the age of 18, 10.7% fr om 18 years to 24 years, and 55.9% from 25 years to 64 years and 11.3% who were 65 years of age and above (U.S. Department of Commerce, 2013). In the past, the unemployment rate in Greater Orlando region was deprived, which resulted in population growth that brought about urban sprawl in the neighboring area and, in together with the U.S. housing bubble, a huge increase in house prices. Orlando's joblessness rate in June 2010 was 11.1%, a 0.3% drop from April the same year. However, the unemployment rate was roughly 10% in the same time of year back in 2009 (Diana, 2012). As of June 2012, Orlando’s jobless rate was 8.6%. Home prices in the Greater Orlando region increased to 40.1% in one fiscal year, from a medium of $182,300 in June 2004 to $249,900 in June 2005, and finally peaked at $264,436 in June 2007. After that, with the financial crisis, prices plunged, with the medium dropping below $200,000 in November 2008, at one time falling at a yearly rate of 42.02%. The mediu m dropped below $100,000, in 2010, but later stabilised to $110,000, in 2011. As of April 2012, the median housing price was $116,000. High or secondary school graduates or higher in the city of Orlando fall at 86.7% People with a Bachelor's degree or higher, on the other hand, in the city of Orlando fall at 31.9%. This numbers act as a proof of how the city highly regards education. As of October 2011, Orlando area had an enrollment of almost 175,000 students in public schools, which made the city the 12th largest with regards to public school enrollment in the United States (Loschiavo, 2012). According to rankings by various studies dealing with criminal activities among major towns, which use the most up-to-date, as well as wholly vetted data with total national coverage that is attainable, Orlando is ranked 67th among the list of top 100 most unsafe municipal centers in the United States. Orlando is identified around the globe for its major entertainment attractions, particularl y Walt Disney World, the film studios and Epcot. Representing a 4.7% growth from the earlier year, almost 45 million conventioneers and tourists visited Orlando in 2010, pumping almost $24.9 billion into the city’s economy. Major employers in the region include the aviation industry, the military service and the public schools. Orlando is governed and administered through the mayor-council system. The mayor is chosen from a citywide vote. The six members of the

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Anthropogenic Disturbance on Benthic Communitiy Essay

Anthropogenic Disturbance on Benthic Communitiy - Essay Example Although in the early days it was believed that there could be no life at the bottom of the sea, a steady production of energy deep down at the ocean floor has led to a thriving benthic community which may however be affected by environmental and anthropogenic changes. Investigation of benthic communities is done by deep sea diving and actually obtaining samples of such organisms from the ocean floor. Traps, dredging and investigation of seafloor sediments could be useful in establishing the biological nature of such communities. The benthic organisms are essential for the environment as they clean up the water and are responsible for re-mineralization of organic matter. Since benthic sea creatures are a diverse group with many functions, they also tend to form a major link in the biological chain. This project deals with the study of human disturbance on the benthic community and the changes in the structural and functional manifestations of these organisms when anthropogenic interventions are obvious in any ocean floor inhabited by these organisms. Dudgeon (2006) studied benthic invertebrates and their drift in eight streams within Northern Indonesia where rainforest streams and oceans are disturbed by anthropogenic activities. The benthic community studied were that found in Papua New Guinea and South East Asia and in general not predatory. The results indicated that the benthic communities were strongly affected by channelisation and conversion of forests to agriculture. Some benthic species were found to show drifting activities at night showing some sort of community reactions to changes in the external environment. Arasaki et al (2004) suggests that anthropogenic disturbance is one of the major problems in marine communities and any such disturbance could be quantified by using multivariate techniques for analysing the distribution of such communities. The results of the study showed that ecological trends are determined by faunal abundance and all central continental regions with widespread distribution of benthic communities seem to be affected by human activities. There are many studies that show the effects of fishing or dredging on the benthic commu

Monday, November 18, 2019

JFK'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

JFK'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS - Essay Example He was the youngest man who happened to be the President of America (This is Day in History - John F. Kennedy inaugurated) JFKS Inaugural address was mainly based on the peace, world change, freedom, rights of the people and relations with the neighbor states, including the world as a whole. The major goal of his campaign defined his eventual presidency during the time of diplomatic challenges, emerging social challenges and economic prosperity. Immediately after receiving the Oath, President Kennedy addressed the speech, which he had been preparing from the time of his nomination. His speech just not contained his personal thoughts but also the suggestions he took from the fellow economists. The main idea of the speech was to represent the United States as such a force which effectively counts in maintaining the peaceful relationships, on international level. Kennedy highlighted the new inventions and discoveries of nuclear power worldwide, along with arms. He didn’t favor the dangerous discoveries are not important and in interest of the world peace by addressing that, â€Å"to those nations w ho would make themselves our adversary, we offer not a pledge but a request: that both sides begin a new that quest for peace† (Kennedy Inaugural Address, 1961). The actual focus of the speech was on the relationship between duty and power. The statement by Kennedy, â€Å"Man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life† (Kennedy Inaugural Address, 1961), proves his point that he was addressing in the favor of the whole world not only Americans. His above statement clarifies his motto that he wanted to spread peace into the whole by dismantling the goals of those states, whose priorities were to bring out Cold Wars. Kennedy referred to those people who were residing in small villages globally, struggling to live their lives, by saying that

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Cost Estimation for Meeting Perths Water Needs

Cost Estimation for Meeting Perths Water Needs (a) Introduction 2.1 This career episode is based on my engineering activity at the University of Western Australia. It is about an assignment I carried out during the second semester of my masters degree in the unit Process synthesis and design, worth 25 % of the overall grade. The assignment was released on 11 August 2015 and was due on the 18 September 2015.Thus the entire task was completed in just five weeks time. (b) Background 2.2. The project on Cost Estimation for Meeting Perths Water Needs was carried out as an assignment for the unit Process Synthesis and Design. I was part of a group of six people. The project required the calculation of CAPEX and OPEX for two different scenarios and comparison of both to determine the suitable one for real life implementation. This assignment involved several design stages along with the study of flow in a pipeline in order to select the appropriate piping and the length required to meet the water requirement over a 50 year lifetime. The project was completed successfully under the guidance of Prof. Mike Johns, School of Mechanical and Chemical Engineering at the University of Western Australia. 2.3 Decreasing annual rainfall and subsequent decrease in water supply had become the talk of media and local government in Perth. This has caused an interest in techniques to supply fresh water to Perth. The project aimed at evaluating two different scenarios to meet with Perths increasing water demands. The first scenario considered in the project was a two stage RO Desalination plant that would intake seawater and produce fresh water at 1000 à °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ¢â€š ¬Ãƒ °Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ ¿/à °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ¢â‚¬ËœÃƒ °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ… ½Ãƒ °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ‚ ¦. The second scenario was the design construction of a 2435 km Kimberly pipeline from Argyle dam to Perth capable of meeting the same fresh water requirement per day. 2.4 Some of the core duties I was involved in are as follows: I performed literature reviews and referred several materials to understand various prospects of the project. I divided the task among my team members and ensured that they accomplished their assigned tasks effectively. I estimated the CAPEX and OPEX for two different scenarios. I contributed to the discussion with the members of my team on the merits and demerits of each case of the project. I attended meetings with my supervisor and team members to discuss the progress of the project and to exchange our contributions. I also compared and validated certain theoretical results with that of my calculated ones using appropriate approaches to suit the requirements of the project. I welcomed the challenge in completing a cost breakdown analysis by selecting the appropriate material based on its mechanical properties, pressure head, volumetric flow rate, velocity and followed by certain significant assumptions throughout the project. I prepared charts and tabulations of selection and cost analysis for different equipment and materials. I also prepared a report on the comparison of CAPEX and OPEX of two different scenarios and contributed more towards the design of reverse osmosis desalination plant and its functions. (c) Personal Engineering Activity The assignment required the comparison of CAPEX (Capital Expenditure) and OPEX (Operational Expenditure) for two scenarios. The first scenario given was the reverse osmosis desalination plant. This process consists of several stages. I analyzed the process to determine the amount of feed required to produce 1000 à °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ¢â€š ¬Ãƒ °Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ ¿/à °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ¢â‚¬ËœÃƒ °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ… ½Ãƒ °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ‚ ¦ of fresh water. I discovered that from the 45% recovery of the RO membrane system, a 2222.2 à °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ¢â€š ¬Ãƒ °Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ ¿/à °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ¢â‚¬ËœÃƒ °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ… ½Ãƒ °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ‚ ¦ of salt water feed will provide the required 1000 à °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ¢â€š ¬Ãƒ °Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ ¿/à °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ¢â‚¬ËœÃƒ °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ… ½Ãƒ °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ‚ ¦ of fresh water to Perth. Figure 1: Reverse Osmosis design selection block diagram 2.6 In order to determine the OPEX, all the steps involved in the process had to be accounted. In order to do so, I broke down the process into independent steps. The first step was the pre-treatment of feed water to avoid fouling in the membrane system. Managing membrane fouling with pre-treatment methods reduces the replacement rate of membranes and lowers the ongoing OPEX costs. The next step involved in the process was coagulation. I chose Ferric Salts as a coagulant because of its tendency to disinfect microorganisms, partially degrade and oxidize the organic and inorganic impurities, and remove suspended particulate materials in a single dosing and mixing unit process. The next step in the process was the passage of feed water through Dual-filters. After extensive research, I decided that the Anthracite bed on silica sand was best suited to remove suspended solids and colloids formed in the ferric salt treatment. Lastly the feed was passed through micron cartridge filters to re move fine particles and bacterial matter before it was processed through a high pressure pump to the membranes. 2.7 The final and the most important step of the process was the selection of membrane. Referring to a number of papers, I found out that the best suited membrane for the specific purpose was the Toray TM820-440 membranes. These membrane elements had a high salt rejection percentage, large flux, low cost and are efficient on energy use to minimize OPEX costs. Before distribution, the permeate needs to be treated to maintain pH and remove corrosion potential. Lime contactors can increase hardness, alkalinity and pH while preventing calcium to leech from pipes into the distribution system. 2.8 I prepared the CAPEX by scaling up the capacity of an existing desalination plant to match the desired capacity. I considered The Perth Seawater Desalination Plant in Kwinana which has a capacity of 45à °Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ ºÃƒ °Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ ¿/à °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ‚ ¦Ãƒ °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ¢â‚¬â„¢Ãƒ °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ… ½Ãƒ °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ… ¸ and incurred a capital cost of $387 million AUD. I also took Southern Seawater Desalination Plant into consideration in Binningup which had a capital cost of $1400 million AUD and produces 100 GL/year. Of the two, I selected the Binningup desalination plant as it was built much more recently compared to that of kwinana. From calculations, I found that the proposed plant is 3.65 times larger than the Binningup plant and as such, the CAPEX could be approximated to $5110 million AUD. 2.9 Operating Costs can be classified as fixed or variable. Figure 2: Operating expenditure classification used in the project The table below summarizes the OPEX estimation for the Desalination plant. Table 1: Summary of RO Desalination OPEX Cost Components 2.10 The second scenario to be considered was the Argyle Dam Pipeline. The solution costs were based on quotes from two Australian companies:   Steel Mains and Flowserve. I selected these two companies based on a background study that I carried out. From the research, I learnt that these companies have been involved in numerous Australian water transport projects and abide by Australian standards. The final solution that I selected was based on Steel Mains cement mortar lined pipe model DN2200 and custom made pumps designed by Flowserve with an operating head value of 250 metres with inlet and outlet valves equal to the diameter needed. The 250 metres operating head was chosen as the pipes are designed to work at 2.7MPa. After discussion with the team members, two solutions were proposed: a real pipeline with outer diameter of 2159mm, 3 pipelines with 3 pumps per pipeline, and the other one having theoretical pipelines with outer diameter 2520mm, 2 pipelines with 3 pumps. The CAPEX estimation for the proposals is as follows: Table 2: Summary of Pipeline CAPEX Cost Components The OPEX estimation has been limited to the power requirements of the pumping stations and the personnel required to run the pipeline. Table 3: Summary of Pipeline OPEX Cost Components I compared the CAPEX and OPEX along with the advantages and disadvantages of both the scenarios to determine which of the two would be more suitable for real life application. For the Kimberley pipeline, the CAPEX cost ($36.6 billion AUD) heavily exceeds the desalination plant. This large CAPEX cost comes from the cost of purchasing DN2200 pipes which have an estimated lifetime of 100 years. The major factor contributing to the OPEX value from the pipeline is maintenance (77.7%). On the proposed desalination plant solution, the CAPEX cost is relatively low compared to the pipeline ($6.275 billion AUD). The majority of this cost comes from the installation of high pressure pumping station, and a seawater desalination system with energy recovery devices which are a long term investment to save on high energy costs of up to 50-60% associated with desalination. The majority of OPEX estimates come from the cost of power to run the plant (81%). Considering all the facts, I decided that the desalination plant should be selected over the Kimberley project. This is because the desalination plant is more economically feasible over a large time span. Even though the pipeline has been designed to facilitate this increase in demand, CAPEX estimates are too expensive to justify this project. I also carried out several calculations to determine the velocity of water running through the selected pipelines and was found to be 1.08 m/s. Table 4: Information summary of real (calculated values) and theoretical pipeline options Parameters such as Reynolds number, relative roughness, pressure drop, volumetric flow rate and pipeline elevation were also determined when selecting the appropriate pipeline for this project. Estimating the appropriate number of pumping stations at remote areas along the length of the pipeline was one of the tedious task in the project as it involved a lot calculations and literature reviews. A different approach to this project was the consideration of solar technology over wave supply to be the best present day strategy at remote areas as the supply of power to pumping stations was not be a viable option by the latter. Unfortunately, these winds are not a reliable option in the interior parts of Western Australia and so would not be a feasible selection for power supply to a potential pipeline. Overall, I was able to achieve all the objectives of the project successfully within the specified time and prepared a final report incorporating all the necessary design calculations, ide as and suggestions which could have improved the overall outcome of the project. A peer review was also submitted at the end of the project as a reflection on how each team member contributed individually for the project. (d) Summary 2.15 This project provided me with a valuable experience and great insight into an industrial project. I gained profound knowledge on process economics and also helped boost my confidence. During the course of the project, I understood the importance of team work and team management. I utilized my engineering knowledge for the successful completion of the project and as a whole, this project served as a stepping stone into the industrial world.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

The Happy Trail Essays -- Descriptive Essay Examples, Observation

The Happy Trail    Sometimes people have a certain place to go to think about things. There are people that associate certain places with negative thoughts or feelings. I believe that people should have places to go that make them happy. Even though, there always seem to be places that make us cry and give us a feeling of great depression. Places in nature are very important to people and their ability to relax, to look at the beautiful scenery, and to have peaceful memories of the happier moments of their lives. I try to always associate nature with positive feelings and thoughts, and if it works for me I think everyone should try it. The truth is, I picture nature representing beauty, happiness, and memories.    Nature is a very beautiful thing in this world. Even at times when it seems as if nothing is beautiful. Whenever I go to the Mines of Spain Nature Preserve, in Dubuque, I think of my friend Karl. Walking on the trails reminds me of all the bugs that used to bother us as we journeyed to our special cliff. He used to jump up and down, waving his hands in the air as if his actions were going to make the bugs disappear. Of course the bugs were still there, and I had my laughs for the day! We would walk together on the trail slowly, and watch all the wilderness around us. There are so many trees and bushes, and during the fall there are the greatest colors of leaves imaginable. Occasionally we would see and hear an animal or two climbing the trees of crossing our path ahead. There are a few streams along this path. The water runs slowly and smoothly, even when in runs over the stones that are in the stream. Karl used to jump in and get both of us wet. It didn't matter how mad I got, becau se after I would l... ...ming weekend, and at times have thought of way to resolve a fight with a loved one. The scenery and quietness of the cliff would relax just about anyone. Maybe you, my reader, should find a place like this to go to, if you don't have one already.    When I climb the trail leading to my favorite place in nature, I am not only concentrating, but also I think o things such as what I will be doing the next day or week. In some cases I even think of what lies in my future. When I am angry with someone, I go there to try to become a rational thinker, and to try to see the other person's point of view. Once I am up on the cliff, I sit down and let the sun hit me. I take deep breathes and separate my thoughts from my feelings in my mind. It is still very quiet, and now I can hear my breathing in slow, soft rhythms and think about life, death, and happiness.    The Happy Trail Essays -- Descriptive Essay Examples, Observation The Happy Trail    Sometimes people have a certain place to go to think about things. There are people that associate certain places with negative thoughts or feelings. I believe that people should have places to go that make them happy. Even though, there always seem to be places that make us cry and give us a feeling of great depression. Places in nature are very important to people and their ability to relax, to look at the beautiful scenery, and to have peaceful memories of the happier moments of their lives. I try to always associate nature with positive feelings and thoughts, and if it works for me I think everyone should try it. The truth is, I picture nature representing beauty, happiness, and memories.    Nature is a very beautiful thing in this world. Even at times when it seems as if nothing is beautiful. Whenever I go to the Mines of Spain Nature Preserve, in Dubuque, I think of my friend Karl. Walking on the trails reminds me of all the bugs that used to bother us as we journeyed to our special cliff. He used to jump up and down, waving his hands in the air as if his actions were going to make the bugs disappear. Of course the bugs were still there, and I had my laughs for the day! We would walk together on the trail slowly, and watch all the wilderness around us. There are so many trees and bushes, and during the fall there are the greatest colors of leaves imaginable. Occasionally we would see and hear an animal or two climbing the trees of crossing our path ahead. There are a few streams along this path. The water runs slowly and smoothly, even when in runs over the stones that are in the stream. Karl used to jump in and get both of us wet. It didn't matter how mad I got, becau se after I would l... ...ming weekend, and at times have thought of way to resolve a fight with a loved one. The scenery and quietness of the cliff would relax just about anyone. Maybe you, my reader, should find a place like this to go to, if you don't have one already.    When I climb the trail leading to my favorite place in nature, I am not only concentrating, but also I think o things such as what I will be doing the next day or week. In some cases I even think of what lies in my future. When I am angry with someone, I go there to try to become a rational thinker, and to try to see the other person's point of view. Once I am up on the cliff, I sit down and let the sun hit me. I take deep breathes and separate my thoughts from my feelings in my mind. It is still very quiet, and now I can hear my breathing in slow, soft rhythms and think about life, death, and happiness.   

Monday, November 11, 2019

Emperor of China

Emperor K’ang-hsi was one of the greatest Chinese emperors of all time. Ruling from 1662 to 1722 he was also one of the longest ruling emperors in Chinese history and for that matter the world. K’ang-hsi brought China to long-term stability and relative wealth after years of war and chaos. Jonathan Spence writes from the eyes of K’ang-hsi getting his information from K’ang-hsi’s own writings. Though a little biased towards himself this book still provides important insight into his mind. Emperor of China is divided into six parts; In Motion, Ruling, Thinking, Growing Old, Sons, and Valedictory. In the first episode, In Motion, Spence tells the audience about K’ang-hsi’s travels and how much of an avid hunter he is. In a letter to Ku Wen-hsing, K’ang-hsi wrote, â€Å"he had traveled over 2,000 li†¦ in each of the four cardinal directions† and later states, â€Å"River, lakes, mountains, deserts- I’ve been through them all. † K’ang-hsi travelled the countryside to hunt and to win over the Chinese citizens. He hunted for pleasure stating, â€Å"Hunting’s basically for exercise,† and to train his military in shooting, camp life, and formation riding. The second episode, Ruling, goes more into detail on how the government was set up. K’ang-hsi had is set up so he had complete control over the economical and educational structure but did not have to deal with the small tidies problems of every county. Emperor K’ang-hsi thought a lot about his purpose in life. He goes into more detail in his third episode Thinking. The Emperor was a Neo-Confucianism but refereed to it mostly as Confucian Classic. He claims he wanted to find things out for himself and not pretend to have the knowledge. He would ask his elders questions and ask about their experiences so he would learn from their mistakes and gain from their accomplishments. Realizing in the fourth episode he was growing old and was going to die. He was very adamant about not wanting to die but he knew it was inevitable. He did try to prolong his life as much as possible with his awareness for his diet and medicine. K’ang-hsi tried to stay open with the public about his health, explaining that this is the â€Å"ultimate form of honesty. † Emperor K’ang-hsi tried to live forever through his children. He had 56 children all together but only one with his first wife, who later took over the thrown. The Emperor was very protective of his sons and made sure they got everything they wanted. He would often kill someone that threatened the chance of a power overthrow. He once killed three cooks and several servant boys for suspicion of homosexual activity with his son Yin-jeng. At the end of K’ang-hsi’s life, he became very senile and distant from reality and the Chinese people. Even though Spence goes into great detail about Emperor K’ang-hsi’s life than any history book could have. He does this by emphasizing his writings and not other sources. The downfall to this is he does not go into great detail about many of the facts or important historical events. By this time China had foreign intervention and influence; Spence did not address any of the foreign policies K’ang-hsi made during his reign. Spence only wrote one paragraph about the confrontations with Russia, but the real even actually lasted over several decades. And the only thing that was mentioned was how nice the Emperor was to the Russian prisoners. Emperor of China; Self Portrait of K’ang-hsi should not be read as a textbook or as a completely true historical resource. This is because it is told by one person and by his point of view with no one else able to tell the other side of the story. Granted this is what Spence wanted to do with his book but for the point most of his sources were of K’ang-hsi’s writings; we cannot believe everything that is written. If someone would read this book they would think K’ang-hsi was the greatest leader/person in the world. We do not get the dirty side of his life, the side that describes all the thousands of people that he killed for no reason. When they were addressed in the book K’ang-hsi put a positive twist on it so it would be justified in his mind. Every storyteller is going to tell their version of the story so it sounds better than it really was. On the other hand Spence takes us into K’ang-hsi’s head and we realize what K’ang-hsi was thinking behind some of his actions. For example, his easoning for restructuring the tax system in 1711 because the population was increasing but the farm land was not increasing so his thought was every â€Å"census year the tax quotas should be redivided among the entire surviving population, so that all would pay the same, and each year the tax burden could get lighter. † But he went with another plan we know what he was thinking and what his other options were. Knowing what is going on in someone’s mind is what everyone wants to know and especially for someone as important as the Emperor of China. Through K’ang-hsi’s writings you can feel the whole heartedness from him. He was a good person and Spence really expressed that while writing this book. Most emperors would not help out war criminals let alone treat them with medicine. Also he helped out average citizens of China that were in need of help. An example of this is when a citizen became very sick and was not able to bow in front of K’ang-hsi so he let him â€Å"incline the body forward instead of performing the full prostration,† and that same citizen was not able to sit down so K’ang-hsi offered him to sit on â€Å"a couch of cushions. † At that time most heads of government would behead that citizen because he was physically handicapped. K’ang-hsi knew he could not help his condition, he was born with a handicap so if did not want to discriminate against him for something he could not prevent. Spence did a very good job at writing a book from K’ang-hsi’s perspective and was able to log his thoughts fairly well. In the six episodes of the book he was able to go through K’ang-hsi’s young life, when he ruled over China, he thoughts and beliefs and what he thought about his sons. We could really feel how he felt about certain issues and who is loved and cared for, it was like we were seeing certain scenes through he eyes rather than a third party. The only thing that would have made it better is if Spence went in more detail about political affairs and foreign policies. Though if he had gone in depth over everything the book would have been 2000 pages or more. So as a reader you have to start this book with some background information; it is only from K’ang-hsi’s perspective, Spence leaves some important governmental issues out, and finally you do not want to read a boring book describing every little detail about someone’s life that lived three hundred years ago that is why Spence left those issues out.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Biography of Isoroku Yamamoto, World War II Admiral

Biography of Isoroku Yamamoto, World War II Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto (April 4, 1884–April 18, 1943) was the commander of the Japanese Combined Fleet during World War II. It was Yamamoto who planned and executed the attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Initially against war, Yamamoto nevertheless planned and participated in many of the most important battles of the war. He was finally killed in action in the South Pacific in 1943. Fast Facts: Isoroku Yamamoto Known For: Isoroku Yamamoto was the commander of the Japanese Combined Fleet during World War II.Also Known As: Isoroku TakanaBorn: April 4, 1884 in Nagaoka,  Niigata,  Empire of JapanParents: Sadayoshi Teikichi, and his second wife MinekoDied: April 18, 1943  in Buin,  Bougainville,  Solomon Islands,  Territory of New GuineaEducation:  Imperial Japanese Naval AcademyAwards and Honors:  Ã‚  Grand Cordon of the  Order of the Chrysanthemum  (posthumous appointment, Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun with Paulownia Flowers  (April 1942),  Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun  (April 1940); the subject of many books and moviesSpouse: Reiko MihashiChildren: Yoshimasa and Tadao (sons) and Sumiko and Masako  (daughters)Notable Quote: Should hostilities once break out between  Japan  and the  United States, it is not enough that we take  Guam  and the  Philippines, nor even  Hawaii  and San Francisco. We would have to march into   Washington  and sign the treaty in the  White House. I wonder if our politicians (who speak so lightly of a Japanese-American war) have confidence as to the outcome and are prepared to make the necessary sacrifices. Early Life Isoroku Takano was born April 4, 1884, in Nagaoka, Japan, and was the sixth son of samurai Sadayoshi Takano. His name, an older Japanese term for 56, referenced his fathers age the time of his birth. In 1916, following the death of his parents, the 32-year-old Takano was adopted into the Yamamoto family and assumed its name. It was a common custom in Japan for families without sons to adopt one so that their name would continue.  At age 16, Yamamoto entered the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy at Etajima. Graduating in 1904 and ranked seventh in his class, he was assigned to the cruiser Nisshin. Early Military Career While on board, Yamamoto fought in the decisive Battle of Tsushima (May 27-28, 1905).  During the engagement, Nisshin served in the Japanese battle line and sustained several hits from Russian warships. In the course of the fighting, Yamamoto was wounded and lost two fingers on his left hand. This injury led to him earning the nickname 80 sen, as a manicure cost 10 sen per finger at the time. Recognized for his leadership skill, Yamamoto was sent to the Naval Staff College in 1913. Graduating two years later, he received a promotion to lieutenant commander. In 1918, Yamamoto married Reiko Mihashi with whom he would have four children. A year later, he departed for the United States and spent two years studying the oil industry at Harvard University. Returning to Japan in 1923, he was promoted to captain and advocated for a strong fleet that would allow Japan to pursue a course of gunboat diplomacy if necessary. This approach was countered by the Army, which viewed the Navy as a force for transporting invasion troops. The following year, he changed his specialty from gunnery to naval aviation after taking flying lessons at Kasumigaura. Fascinated by air power, he soon became the schools director and began to produce elite pilots for the Navy. In 1926, Yamamoto returned to the United States for a two-year tour as the Japanese naval attachà © in Washington. Early 1930s After returning home in 1928, Yamamoto briefly commanded the light cruiser Isuzu before becoming captain of the aircraft carrier Akagi.  Promoted to rear admiral in 1930, he served as a special assistant to the Japanese delegation at the second London Naval Conference and was a key factor in raising the number of ships the Japanese were permitted to build under the London Naval Treaty. In the years after the conference, Yamamoto continued to advocate for naval aviation and led the First Carrier Division in 1933 and 1934. Due to his performance in 1930, he was sent to the third London Naval Conference in 1934. In late 1936, Yamamoto was made the vice minister of the Navy. From this position, he argued strenuously for naval aviation and fought against the construction of new battleships. Road to War Throughout his career, Yamamoto had opposed many of Japans military adventures, such as the invasion of Manchuria in 1931 and the subsequent land war with China. In addition, he was vocal in his opposition to any war with the United States and delivered the official apology for the sinking of USS Panay in 1937. These stances, along with his advocating against the Tripartite Pact with German and Italy, made the admiral very unpopular with the pro-war factions in Japan, many of which put bounties on his head. During this period, the Army detailed military police to conduct surveillance on Yamamoto under the guise of providing protection from potential assassins. On August 30, 1939, Navy Minister Admiral Yonai Mitsumasa promoted Yamamoto to commander-in-chief of the Combined Fleet commenting, It was the only way to save his life- send him off to sea. Following the signing of the Tripartite Pact with Germany and Italy, Yamamoto warned Premier Fumimaro Konoe that if he were forced to fight the United States, he expected to have success for no more than six months to a year. After that time, nothing was guaranteed. With war almost unavoidable, Yamamoto began planning for the fight. Going against traditional Japanese naval strategy, he advocated a quick first strike to cripple the Americans followed by an offensive-minded decisive battle. Such an approach, he argued, would increase Japans chances of victory and might make the Americans willing to negotiate peace. Promoted to admiral on November 15, 1940, Yamamoto anticipated losing his command with the ascension of General Hideki Tojo to prime minister in October 1941. Though old adversaries, Yamamoto retained his position due to his popularity in the fleet and connections to the imperial family. Pearl Harbor As diplomatic relations continued to break down, Yamamoto began planning his strike to destroy the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, while also outlining plans for drives into the resource-rich Dutch East Indies and Malaya. Domestically, he continued to push for naval aviation and opposed the construction of the Yamato-class super-battleships, as he felt they were a waste of resources.  With the Japanese government set on war, six of Yamamotos carriers sailed for Hawaii on November 26, 1941. Approaching from the north they attacked on December 7, sinking four battleships and damaging an additional four- beginning World War II. While the attack was a political disaster for the Japanese due to the United States desire for revenge, it provided Yamamoto with six months (as he anticipated) to consolidate and expand their territory in the Pacific without American interference. Midway Following the triumph at Pearl Harbor, Yamamotos ships and planes proceeded to mop up Allied forces across the Pacific. Surprised by the speed of the Japanese victories, the Imperial General Staff (IGS) began to ponder competing plans for future operations. While Yamamoto argued in favor of seeking a decisive battle with the American fleet, the IGS preferred to move toward Burma. Following the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo in April 1942, Yamamoto was able to convince the Naval General Staff to let him move against Midway Island, 1,300 miles northwest of Hawaii. Knowing that Midway was key to the defense of Hawaii, Yamamoto hoped to draw the American fleet out so that it could be destroyed. Moving east with a large force, including four carriers, while also sending a diversionary force to the Aleutians, Yamamoto was unaware that the Americans had broken his codes and were informed about the attack. After bombing the island, his carriers were struck by U.S. Navy aircraft flying from three carriers. The Americans, led by Rear Admirals Frank J. Fletcher and Raymond Spruance, managed to sink all four Japanese carriers (Akagi, Soryu, Kaga, and Hiryu) in exchange for the USS Yorktown (CV-5). The defeat at Midway blunted Japanese offensive operations and shifted the initiative to the Americans. After Midway Despite the heavy losses at Midway, Yamamoto sought to press forward with operations to take Samoa and Fiji. As a stepping stone for this move, Japanese forces landed on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands and commenced building an airfield. This was countered by American landings on the island in August 1942. Forced to fight for the island, Yamamoto was pulled into a battle of attrition that his fleet could not afford. Having lost face due to the defeat at Midway, Yamamoto was forced to assume the defensive posture preferred by the Naval General Staff. Death Throughout the fall of 1942, he fought a pair of carrier battles (Eastern Solomons Santa Cruz) as well as numerous surface engagements in support of the troops on Guadalcanal. Following the fall of Guadalcanal in February 1943, Yamamoto decided to make an inspection tour through the South Pacific to boost morale. Using radio intercepts, American forces were able to isolate the route of the admirals plane. On the morning of April 18, 1943, American P-38 Lightning planes from the 339th Fighter Squadron ambushed Yamamotos plane and its escorts near Bougainville. In the fight that ensued, Yamamotos plane was hit and went down, killing all on board. The kill is generally credited to 1st LieutenantRex T. Barber.  Yamamoto was succeeded as commander of the Combined Fleet by Admiral Mineichi Koga.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Steroids the Silent Killer essays

Steroids the Silent Killer essays It is no secret that anabolic steroids have been used by athletes for decades, or that athletes will do anything to gain an edge in competition. Many athletes feel that they are pushed too far to reach the next level, that they must turn to an outside influence for help. Some think that anabolic steroids will give them an advantage. Unfortunately, these people are correct. Steroids make the user stronger and faster in less time than training naturally. However, anabolic steroids should be banned by all professional sports because they have terrible physiological and psychological side effects, they give an unfair advantage to those who use them, and steroid users set a bad example for todays junior athletes. The word anabolic means the ability to promote body growth and repair body tissue. Steroid refers to a number of compounds of a certain chemical nature. Anabolic steroids are defined as any of a group of synthetic derivatives of testosterone that promotes muscle and bone growth. Steroids occur naturally in the human body in many forms. Steroids that are synthetically created for illegal purposes contain some form of the male hormone testosterone. Testosterone stimulates the development of secondary sexual characteristics after puberty. When testosterone is released in the body, it is carried in the bloodstream. Since it is carried in the blood, it travels to every organ in the body. Cells absorb the testosterone where it is processed by the nucleus. The nucleus produces new proteins which create new tissue or muscle. This is why steroid users become larger and stronger in less time. The high levels of testosterone in the body make it possible for cells to create more mu scles in less time. The idea that sex hormones might improve physical or athletic performance was first developed in 1939. Studies were conducted as early as 1944 to confirm this theory. At the same time it was...

Monday, November 4, 2019

The Corporate Giant WorldCom Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Corporate Giant WorldCom - Essay Example As the E/R ratio imbalance kept increasing, the managers sought to cook the books so as to prevent investors and government from getting the consistent results. 1. Case Summary WorldCom, the Nation’s second largest long-distance Telecommunications Company filed for bankruptcy protection on July 21st, 2002 revealing that it had overstated earnings in 2001 and the first quarter of 2002 by more than $3.8 billion. Further on August 8th of the same year the company again admitted that it had maneuvered its reserve accounts also affecting another 3.8billion. Substantial accounting fraud was charged against the firm by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. The actual cause of the corporate failure lies with the enormous oversupply that could be attributed to excessively optimistic projections of Internet growth. Evidently, the company’s projections on expense-revenue ratio flawed as â€Å"the industry conditions began to deteriorate in 2000 due to heightened competition, overcapacity, and the reduced demand for telecommunications services at the onset of the economic recession† (Kaplan & Kiron, 2007). Subsequently, the stock market value of the firms in the telecommunication industry plunged and people at the WorldCom’s helm of affairs intervened in the accounting practices to conceal the actual trouble from the public. In short, what they did was that they transferred a considerable part of current expense to a capital account as the capitalized cost would normally be considered an investment. 2. What were the pressures that led executives and managers to â€Å"cook the books?† Evidently, the company struggled to maintain its E/R ratio since the first quarter of 2000 ‘while facing revenue and pricing pressures and its high committed line costs’ (Kaplan & Kiron, 2007). WorldCom had to spend beyond its capacity due to unnecessary acquisitions of other firms. In order to overweigh the short term loss, managers were as ked to spend exceedingly so as to raise immediate revenue. There was incessant pressure from the top. For instance, CFO Sullivan directly insisted Myers and Yates carry out his plans. And on the bottom line, individuals like Betty were forced to partake in accrual releases and capitalization of line costs. These were the situations in brief that made executives and managers to â€Å"cook the books. 3. Why were the actions taken by WorldCom managers not detected earlier? What processes or systems should be in place to prevent or detect quickly the types of actions that occurred in WorldCom? The company officials could qualify a considerable amount of costs as an investment in 2001 and the first quarter of 2002, and this could have allowed the company to spread the costs to subsequent years if Cooper had not come across the issue. Obviously, the incident indicates the prevailing pitfall in the US corporate governance. Evidently, audit firms have to make strategic amendments to their processes and procedures to detect frauds and errors in the account books of the client on time. WorldCom was indirectly supported by the Andersen accounting firm, who ignored the fact that the organization’s practices were apparently unethical. Only government can safeguard the interests of its citizens against unscrupulous business practices. Likewise, various service institutions particularly that of banking and accounting must keep themselves reliable and sustainable to prevent this kind of fraud in future.  

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Incorporate Comorbidity Problem Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Incorporate Comorbidity Problem - Essay Example Neurons, which are brain cells, are responsive to distinctive types of neurotransmitters having receptors built purposely for them (Porth & Matfin, 2009). Those neurons that tend to be sensitive to certain neurotransmitters cluster together, thereby forming circuits in the brain, responsible for processing certain types of information. Neurotransmitters are discharged from a neuron at the time it signals another brain cell; these neurotransmitters are discharged to the small space amid the two neurons known as the synapse (Porth & Matfin, 2009). Inside the synapse, the neurotransmitters tend to attach to the receptors at the ending of another neuron, thereby affecting the action of the new neuron. Consequently, the new neuron absorbs as much of the neurotransmitter as it possibly can and then discharges the excess back to the synapse. After that, the first neuron goes ahead to reabsorb the excess; this process through a process is referred to as reuptake (Porth & Matfin, 2009). In th e brain, there are various neurotransmitters, two of which are involved in schizophrenia symptoms, that is dopamine and glutamate (Craft, Gordon, & Tiziani, 2011). Dopamine happens to be primarily responsible for movement and thoughts, while, at the same time being related with novelty seeking, or concern in new experiences, as well as reward. Apparently, illegal drugs such as cannabis, cocaine and methamphetamine act by affecting the function of dopamine in the brain; therefore, dopamine is related with feelings of not only pleasure but also well-being (Craft et al., 2011). Dopamine paths within the brain tend to be extremely specialized, thereby being capable of influencing different types of behavior or thinking. Thus, people with high intensities of dopamine in parts of the brain might also suffer from psychotic symptoms or even paranoid thinking that are symptoms of schizophrenia (Craft et al., 2011). Glutamate happens to be other neurotransmitter, which might play a significan t role in schizophrenia. Glutamate plays a key part in learning, formation as well as encoding of memory (Craft et al., 2011). There are hallucinogenic drugs such as PCP used in blocking glutamate receptors; however, amphetamines, PCP are capable of causing paranoia, which apes schizophrenic symptoms. In instances where people suffer from schizophrenia and use PCP, it worsens their symptoms (Craft et al., 2011). Research shows that an interaction between dopamine and glutamate happens to be the center of schizophrenia; nonetheless, dopamine receptors are capable of reducing glutamate action; in case there are unusually many dopamine receptors, the effects of glutamate will be blocked. Question Two Reports by the American Psychological Association (2001)