The Study On The Tri Fold Model - 1192 Words

As one takes on the task of working with those who have an addiction problem we come to the realization that it is multi-dimensional and affects them in various aspects of their lives. The individual can be affected in a physical, emotional and spiritual ways. This aspect is called the Tri-Fold Model or some call it the Biopsychosocial approach. By using this approach, the professional will take into account all different aspects of the addiction and how it is affecting the client. A complete recovery must encompass every facet of life, because each and every aspect of life is deeply affected by addiction (Journey Malibu website, 2016, para. 1). The two individuals that I have chosen to talk about is that of Amy and Joe. Amy is a 53-year-old woman who is Caucasian, has children, a stable job and is financially secure. Alcohol has taken over her family, work, personal life and social life. The drinking has been a part of her day whether it is with her co-workers or drinking by herself within the home. Amy does not have a support system and she no longer any and close female friends that she can confide in. The alcohol consumption is being used to cover up all of her dysfunctions within her life. Joe is the other individual that I have chosen to talk about. He is a 62-year-old male who is a homosexual and has a problem with alcohol addiction. The alcohol has consumed his life since he was 16 years old. Jeff has a stable job as a professor of biology and lives a comfortableShow MoreRelatedNeph Case Study1070 Words   |  5 Pagescofactor binding motif as well as â€Å"YxxMxxxK† catalytic motif.17 FabV homologues have conserved Y-X8-K catalytic motif. Superposition of the active site of FabI and FabV indicated that they have similar active site architecture.16 However, previous studies revealed that triclosan binds FabV with lower affinity.17,21 Based on the scaffold of triclosan, a number of potent inhibitors have been developed, and as part of an effort, the complex structures of FabV with its inhibitors have been also determinedRead MoreThe Response Of Intervention ( Rti ) Process Is A Multi Layered Tier Educational Model1069 Words   |  5 Pages Introduction The response to intervention (RtI) process is a multi-layered tier educational model in which students receive high-quality instruction according to their specific academic and behavioral needs through teacher-directed instruction (Cakiroglu, 2015). In many schools, how students with learning disabilities are identified for RtI is quickly becoming a debatable topic of interest. The typical process used to determine RtI eligibility is extensive; teachers must exercise fidelityRead MoreThe Prevalence And Incidence Of Type 2 Diabetes Essay1664 Words   |  7 Pagescomplication were ranging between $1,700 and $2,100. The cost increased when the BMI and complications increased. Cardiovascular complications such as angina and MI were each associated with 60 –90% increases in cost. Dialysis increases the cost by 11-fold (Brandle et al., 2003). The incidence of diabetes is alarming. About 1.4 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes every year (American Diabetes Association, 2010). Add to this, approximately two out of every five Americans will develop type 2Read MoreMice In Mice1321 Words   |  6 Pagespreference testing, and were sacrificed approximately one week later upon confirmation of estrus and tissue was taken for mast cell visualization. In the third group, serum was collected from 8-week-old mice that underwent no additional testing for this study. Neonatal maternal separation Pregnant dams (Charles River, Wilmington, MA) were delivered to the animal facility during the last week of gestation. On postnatal days 1-21, NMS litters were removed and placed en masse into clean glass beakers, containingRead MoreBiopsychosocial Model Essay1381 Words   |  6 Pages The biopsychosocial model is a combination of biology (body) and social, psychological (mind, and community (social). The biopsychosocial model provided a holistic approach to medicine. The biopsychosocial approach systematically considers biological, psychological and social factors and their complex interactions understanding healthcare, illness and health care delivery. (https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/medialibraries/urmcmedia/education/md/documents/biopsychosocial-model-approach.pdf) BiologicalRead MoreCommon Genomic Variation Alone Cannot Account for Complex Traits2166 Words   |  9 Pagesfirst genome-wide association study (GWAS) in 2005, it has become increasingly evident that common genomic variation alone cannot account for complex traits (3). While GWAS’ have helped understand certain traits and diseases, most studies have linked sequence-variation to only 1.1-1.5 fold increase in risk (3-5). Pursuit of the missing heritability has taken the form of both utilization of next-generation sequencing to uncover rare variation and more recently, studies of epigenetic regulation (4Read MoreBangladeshs Trade Barriers in Global Perspective - a Comparative Analysis11770 Words   |  48 PagesDr Raihan got especial treat as it is current and relates to Bangladesh. Then Bangladesh’s progress of trade with SAFTA countries and other major trading partners were discussed. Later a trade barrier index was constructed, replicating Dr Raihan’s model an d using most recent dataset, considering only the import to Bangladesh from SAFTA countries and other major trading partners. It is found that Bangladesh is gradually opening up her market. However, it would be of great interest to Bangladesh toRead MoreAtopic Dermatitis ( Ad )3291 Words   |  14 PagesAtopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic pruritic, inflammatory skin disease caused by various factors. The prevalence of AD has increased 2-3 fold during the past three decades in all over the world (1). A hallmark of AD is dry itchy skin, due at least in part to defects in skin genes that are important for maintaining the barrier function of the skin (2). The pathogenesis of AD is a complex mechanism. Environmental house dust mite allergen such as Dermatophagoides farinae (DfE) causes AD in human (3)Read MoreQuetiapine Research Papers5266 Words   |  22 Pageseffect of quetiapine on GABAergic neuron is associated with the prevention of anxiety-like behaviors in aging mice after long-term treatment Authors Abstract Previous studies have demonstrated that quetiapine (QTP) may have neuroprotective properties; however, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we identified a novel mechanism by which QTP increased the synthesis of ATP in astrocytes and protected GABAergic neurons from aging-induced death. In 12-month-old miceRead MoreThe Doctrine Of The Trinity9485 Words   |  38 Pagesfaithful descriptions of both the economic and immanent dynamics of Trinitarian life. Work will be done to compare and contrast the â€Å"psychological model† of the Trinity with the â€Å"social model† to discover the strengths and weaknesses of each. Exploration of the theology of Jan Van Ruusbroec and Jonathan Edwards will highlight an alternative â€Å"hybrid model.† Global perspectives on the Trinity will illumine Western predispositions and encourage widened cultural perspectives that might further animate

Four General Types of Measurement - 867 Words

There are four general types of measurement scales: sorting, ranking, rating, and categorizing (Cooper amp; Schindler, 2006). The data collected by the survey team at Insuratel used a rating scale. The surveys where used to measure employee job satisfaction across departments. The Likert Scale was used to collect the data for all the questions in the survey. The questions asked in the survey studied the attitudes of the employees and their satisfaction. The surveys provided valuable feedback and determined that most of the employees are satisfied with their jobs at Insuratel. The study also suggests that employees don’t have a strong opinion about support from upper level management. Nominal and ordinal measurement scales are used to†¦show more content†¦References Cooper, D. R. amp; Schindler, P. S. (2006). Business research methods (9th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Lind, D., Marchal, W., amp; Wathen, S. (2008). Statistical techniques in business and economics (13th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Maliakal, L. (2010). Absenteeism in the workplace, Retrieved on July 25, 2010 from http://www.Buzzle.com Reeves, T.C.(2000). Alternative assessment approaches for online learning environments in higher education, Journal ofShow MoreRelatedMeasurement Scales Paper892 Words   |  4 PagesMeasurement Scales Paper Measurement in Analysis can take on many forms, but in this case, these come in the form of questionnaires. A questionnaire when not done correctly may not be able to obtain the information in which the corporation may be seeking. There are in general four categories that these fall into. Categorically, these include Nominal, Ordinal, Interval and Ratio Numbers. The essential goal of this author is to explain to the utmost of authority of how these fit into questionnairesRead MoreBalanced Scorecard Process and Overview626 Words   |  3 Pagesthat helps organizations translate strategy into performance. In general the BSA (Balanced Scorecard Approach) allows for a clear strategic and tactical directions for the organization, retains financial measurements in a summation along with their links to performance, and highlights an important and robust measurement system that links and integrates customers, stakeholders, processes, resources, and performance into single measurement strate gy. Analysis- Traditionally, the BS approach is a set ofRead MoreFour Types of Measurement Scales704 Words   |  3 PagesIntroduction There are four measurement scales, or types of data, nominal, ordinal interval and ratio. These four measurements are simple ways to categorize different types of variables. This paper will discuss the usage of each scale. Nominal Nominal scales are the most commonly used in marketing research. Nominal scales are used for labeling variables, without any quantitative value. In fact, Nominal scales could be called â€Å"labels†. Nominal are categories with numbers assigned to themRead MoreWorking With Complex Business Environment1420 Words   |  6 PagesTo cope with complex business environment, all companies need measurement and management tool to evaluate and control operations. Bernard Marr (2013) a leading business and data expert believe that if management tools are properly used they can be powerful enablers of changes and actions in companies. Currently, the world’s six most widely used management tools are as follows:Strategic Planning, Customer Relationship Management, Employee Engagement Surveys, Benchmarking, Outsourcing and BalancedRead MoreStatistics in Business663 Words   |  3 Pagestests. Types and Levels of Statistics Even though statistics is general term, there are still two different types of statistics, which includes descriptive statistics that consist of methods for organizing, displaying, and describing data through the use of tables, graphs, and summary measures (Gunning, n.d.). The second type of statistics is inferential statistics, which is a process of describing the population based on the sample results (Gunning, n.d.). Aside from the two main types of statisticsRead MoreThe Scales Of Measurement, Ordinal Scale, Interval And Ratio1287 Words   |  6 PagesIn this write up, the different scales of measurement, nominal scale, ordinal scale, interval and ratio are discussed, including examples of test types that would usually employ them. Also, measures of central tendency, and measures of variability and their effect on test suitability are addressed in the second half of this piece. The Four Scales of Measurement Scales of measurement defines a framework wherein numbers are assigned to objects based on a set of rules (Thorndike Thorndike-ChristRead MorePsy 315 Essay1127 Words   |  5 Pages4, 0,1, 4, 3, 4, 2, 1 Mean =42/20 =2.1 Meidan = 2 Mode= 1 and 4 2. Based on the scale of measurement for each variable listed below, which measure of central tendency is most appropriate for describing the data? a. The time (in years) it takes a sample of students to graduate college (Mean) b. The blood type (e.g., Type A, B, AB, O) of a group of participants (Mode) c. The rankings of college undergraduate academic programs (Mean) ChapterRead MoreExecutive Summary for Accounting622 Words   |  3 Pagesvalue for a customer, e.g., everything associated with a product or product line. Value streams tend to include the work of many functional areas such as product design, production, marketing, sales, distribution, and cash collection. Metrics or measurements are created for each value stream. Some examples used by Watlow Electric include: safety (case incident rate), quality (defects per million), delivery (on-time to promise percentage), cost (sales per full-time equivalent), and inventory (days ofRead MoreQuestions On A Psychological Test949 Words   |  4 PagesMidterm Megan Adams Short Answers The 25 questions below are worth 3 points each. 1. During World War II the U. S. Office of Strategic Services ( OSS), a predecessor to today’s Central Intelligence Agency ( CIA), used a variety of procedures and measurement tools— psychological tests among them— in selecting military personnel for highly specialized positions involving espionage, intelligence gathering, and the like. Why aren’t these methods used today? 2. What is a psychological test? A psychologicalRead MoreThe, Or Involuntary Musical Imagery1473 Words   |  6 Pagesafter listening to it 6 times, or the estimated amount of times the song has been listened to. This was measured by the amount of earworm episodes and their length of time. Previous research has outlined potential parallels of INMI and other memory types, or perhaps an association on tempo recollection of an earworm and the sensorimotor system . Previous research A previous published experiment Tracking the Tempo of Involuntary Musical Imagery in Everyday Life has introduced new ways to research

Soccer Symbol Free Essays

Anas Salem Professor Michele Jelley 9/21/10 English Comp 101 Hidden Effects of Soccer Eduardo Galeano reflects upon one of, if not the most popular sport in â€Å"Soccer Is Everything. † He calls soccer â€Å"a powerful symbol, a great mystery. † The message that Galeano is trying to convey is that soccer is not just a sport anymore, it is much more than that. We will write a custom essay sample on Soccer Symbol or any similar topic only for you Order Now The reason is that soccer has affected individuals, groups, countries, cultures, and religion by unification because of its popularity and the diversity of its fans. First, Galeano says that soccer can affect individuals and groups.He explains how many who felt they have no place in the world found shelter through playing soccer, this happening at a time where suicide among the youth was at its highest rate in the world. Second, today it is obvious to see and notice how soccer affects countries. It does not matter how powerful or weak a country may be, Galeano says that when it comes to soccer, the rarest of events does happen, for example an Arab team to become the Israeli champion, or a country in war, Iraq, to make it to the semi finals.Thirdly, soccer has affected culture and religion. Galeano says soccer re-established bonds of solidarity broken by the culture of alienation dominant in today’s world. Also, while some saw women’s team as a source of pride for their country, it had an effect on people practicing the religion Islam, because Muslim men were against the idea of women playing soccer. Many did not allow or want it because the outfits the women wore revealed parts of the body that as a Muslim woman should be covered.And some Muslim men just accepted it to save their families from poverty. In conclusion, the message that Galeano is trying to convey when he calls soccer â€Å"a powerful, a great mystery,† is that soccer, which was just a sport, now has and continues to unify, shelter, surprise, and affect a majority of the population. Who would of thought a physical sport, can affect your life in ways you couldn’t imagine and become such a powerful symbol. How to cite Soccer Symbol, Papers

Marketing Communication

Questions: 1. Choose an organization. Write a proposal for the creation of tools and techniques that are suitable within a divergent media environment in relation to the chosen organization. 2. Create a proposal for a customer-centric app for an imaginary organization. Explain how the features of this app are customer-centric. Where possible, collaborate with an expert to verify the viability of the features. 3. An organization wants to develop marketing communications in order to promote the launch of a new product with the aim of making as many sales as possible, as well as having the opportunity to gather customer feedback on the new item. Describe your recommendation for a tool/technique that is fit for this purpose. 4. Choose an organization. This may be a well-known or one where you are a client. Make a proposal for a cross-sector marketing communications solutions for this organization. (15) 5. Describe a channel that is highly effective in empowering customers and responding rapidly to customer perspectives. 6. What is your organizations policy/procedure/protocol for maintaining contact with business networks and clients? Answers: 1. The fictional organization I chose is called Deepdipo Technologies. The Company sells electronics which includes smart phones, tablets and personal computers to customers. There are many manufacturers of these products. The products have also gained a wide acceptance by consumers. The customers however need to know the differences between them before purchasing. The divergent media environment would be the best solution for this purpose. The tools and techniques that I propose for the print media are magazines and newspapers. Television and radio would be best for the broadcast media. For electronic media, I would propose videodisks, videotapes, web-pages and CD-ROMs (Mohr and Nevin, 2010). Billboards would be the best media for the display media. These tools and techniques suits the divergent media for the sales of electronics. Once a new electronic has been manufactured billboards would be the best for the display media. Unlike the other types of media, billboards would provide the image of the device from all angles. This will help appeal to the eyes of the intended audience and potential customers. The radio and television provide the best broadcast media as the introduction of new products will reach a wide number of people. Unlike the display media, broadcast media gives the marketer the chance to explain more about the products (Tome and Snoj, 2014). Deepdipo Technologies will use this opportunity to explain to the potential customers why they should purchase their new product and avoid the other products within the market. Web-pages would be important in reaching for generation x and the millennials who are well-known to spend their time in the internet. The websites would provide them with all the information including the images, specs and more explanation about the new devices. My imaginary organization is a taxicab organization. The main task of the organization is to provide transportation to customers using their cabs. Most taxicab organizations have wide areas where they park their cabs and wait for customers to make calls to be picked from certain locations. Other customers wait for any cab that may pass by to request for transport. For those who request cabs by calling the taxicab firms, the organizations send drivers who are in the parking lot to serve those customers. A lot of time is wasted in such a processes since the customers have to wait for the cab without the knowledge of its exact location. In order to make this easier for the customers, I would propose an app that shows the cabs that are on the move. The proposed app would help indicate the cab that is nearby. The customer, the firm management and the drivers will have access to the proposed app. This app will should operate on a majority of phones and on the personal computers in order to increase convenience. From the view of the cabs on the map, the customer can request the driver nearby to pick them. Once the request is made, the driver is immediately notified. If in case the driver is engaged, he can inform the customer to look for another cab. In order to make improvements on the app, when the driver is transporting a customer, he/she clicks on a button that removes him/her temporarily from the map. Once the customer is dropped in their appropriate locations, the driver can then click on a button to place them back on the map. The features of this app are customer-centric because the customer is the one that mainly engages the app. In addition, the app allows the customer not to waste a lot of time waiting for a cab that they are not sure of its location. Also, instead of the customer dealing with individuals at the organization, he/she is able to directly contact the drivers. The ability of the app to only indicate drivers who are not engaged makes it easier for the customer to pick the right driver instantly. 2. A new product does not have any established customers. In this case, everyone is a potential customer for the product. Non-personal communication would be the best marketing communication that that would reach a wide audience. This type of marketing communication does not require the marketing individuals to be in contact with the potential customers, meaning that not many marketers would be required to be on the field. Non-personal marketing communication includes media, events, sales promotions and publicity (Mohr and Nevin, 2010). The organization should use media in order to make most sales. The media should include: magazines and newspapers for print media; television, radio and telephone for broadcast media; wireless, webpages, videotapes, audiotapes for electronic media; and signs, posters and billboards for display media also. Using media, the organization will have the chance to describe and showcase the new product. Images of the new product will be well displayed on the media. The size, color and shape of the product on the media will help create a visual in the minds of the potential customers. Media also provides the opportunity for the marketers to include explanation about the product and appealing messages that would catch the attention of the customers. These messages may be in form of texts or audios. The display and messages in the media will appeal to the customers to purchase the new product. Conferences, sales promotions and events creates the opportunity for the organization and the customers to meet and interact. Media will enable the organization make as many sales as possible whereas conferences, sales promotions and events will provide the opportunity for the organization to collect feedback. 3. Our organization constantly requires different items that require to be supplied. For any items required, our organization contacts the supplies firm in order to get the items with the best market prices. This makes our organization a client to the supplies firm. Basically, our organization is part of the market for the supplies firm. The cross-sector marketing communications solutions that I would propose for the supplies firm would be one that is best for them to communicate with the market. For the supplies firm, I would propose direct marketing. According to Lund and Marinova (2014), direct marketing communication can be in a variety of formats including direct e-marketing, telemarketing, postal mail and point-of-sale (POS) interactions. With direct marketing, the marketer has to directly interact with the client. Interaction can be by voice or face-to-face. Since the supplies firm makes it possible for the client to get anything they require at a fair price, their clients are unlimited because every organization is a potential client. Direct marketing suits this type of organization because products or supplies required can be sourced from different firms and it is the responsibility of the supplies firm to convince the clients why particular sources are better than the others. E-marketing, telemarketing, postal mail and point-of-sale (POS) interactions avails the organization to its client and both can come to an agreement. This proposal has the benefits that the supplies firm meets its clients and the potential clients so as to answer any questions that the clients may have. For instance, a client may want to know what options exist for the items that they require and the differences between the items. Direct marketing would also enhance the partnership between the supplies firm and its clients. Contrary to direct marketing, in the other forms of marketing communication solutions, either party can request for attention from the other and face a disappointment due to failure of a reply. 4. Nonpersonal and personal communication channels have many sub-channels within them. Personal communication channel is described as the communication between persons, but the massage emanates from a specific person. Personal communication can be face-to-face, over telephone, person to audience or through couriers, post, mobile messages or emails. Personal communication does not always empower customers and respond to their perspectives because the persons may not always be available. Nonpersonal communication channel is highly effective in empowering customers and responding rapidly to their perspectives. According to Michman and Harris (2007), nonpersonal channel includes events, atmospheres and media. Media includes broadcast media, print media, display media and electronic media. Events are the occurrences that are designed to communicate to the target audiences and includes conferences, ceremonies and sponsorship events where target audiences are met. The atmosphere is what the companies create within the environments of their offices. Nonpersonal communication highly empowers customers because firms ensure that the message they include in the channels appeal to their needs. The organization of events ensures that customers perspectives are rapidly responded to. According to Michman and Harris (2007), nonpersonal communication channel, especially experiences and events have seen organizations grow since the rapidly respond to customers perspectives. Companies build images of their brands by creating and sponsoring events. Mohr and Nevin, (2010) point out some of the companies that have largely progressed by sponsored events: Visa actively sponsors Olympics; Perrier is a sponsor of most events including sports; Harley-Davidson is a sponsor of the motorcycles rallies that take place annually; and IBM and ATT sponsors art exhibitions and symphony performances. Such sponsored events are part of the non-personal communication channels that rapidly respond to the perspective of customers. Apart from creating events, all the other forms of media capture the attention of the customer instantly. 5. Our organization makes every effort to maintain contact with clients and business networks. The firm has created the culture of making every staff and new employees believe that clients and business networks are the most important things for the success of its businesses. Due to this culture, the policy in our organization is that every client should be treated individually and well. In order to maintain contact, the organization requires every staff to: keep clients informed by making regular communications to update them; be the clients useful resource by providing any information that seems useful to them; be open and honest to clients by avoiding manipulations and cons; meet the agreed deadlines at all times; and to have a partnership vision. Good partnership between the clients and the organizations staff ensures that business networks are maintained. The organization believes that communication is the most essential thing in the life of every individual and not least in business relations and our work. The manager insists that there is a large variety of ways in which one can be in contact with clients. When budgeting, the organization ensures that it allocates a good amount to everything to do with communication. Some of the ways the staff are supposed to keep in touch with the clients includes use of mails, phone calls, social media and even paper mails. It is the duty of the staff to note the most comfortable means of communicating with specific clients. It is also essential that members of the organization make themselves available as possible such that enquiries are promptly responded to. During communication, we are urged to always be open and honest so as to maintain the clients. Communication also helps to create business networks. It is the duty of every employee to create a good relationship with the client through hone st communication at all times. References Lund, D. J., Marinova, D. (2014). Managing Revenue Across Retail Channels: The Interplay of Service Performance and Direct Marketing. Journal of Marketing, 78(5), 99-118. doi:10.1509/jm.13.0220 Michman, R. D., Harris, L. (2007). The Development of Marketing Channel Communication Models. Journal of Business Communication, 15(1), 29-39 Mohr, J., Nevin, J. R. (2010). Communication Strategies in Marketing Channels: A theoretical perspective. Journal of Marketing, 54(4), 36-51 Tome, D., Snoj, B. (2014). Marketing Communication on Social Networks - Solution in the Times of Crisis. Marketing (0354-3471), 45(2), 131-138.

Harlem Globetrotter free essay sample

The Globetrotters were the creation of Abe Saperstein of Chicago, who took over coaching duties for a team of African-American players originally known as the Savoy Big Five (after the famous Chicago ballroom where they played their early games). At a time when only whites were allowed to play on professional basketball teams, Saperstein decided to promote his new team’s racial makeup by naming them after Harlem, the famous African-American neighborhood of New York City. The son of a tailor, Saperstein sewed their red, white and blue uniforms (emblazoned with the words New York) himself. The lineup in that first game, for which the Globetrotters were paid $75, was Walter Toots Wright, Byron Fat Long, Willis Kid Oliver, Andy Washington and Al Runt Pullins. The Globetrotters won 101 out of 117 games that first season and introduced many Midwestern audiences to a game they had not seen played before. As owner, coach, manager, publicist and sometimes even substitute player, Saperstein worked overtime to book games for his team. We will write a custom essay sample on Harlem Globetrotter or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page By 1936, they had played more than 1,000 games and appeared in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, Montana, Washington and North and South Dakota. (The Globetrotters didn’t actually play a game in Harlem until the late 1960s. ) Their first national championship appearance came in 1939, when the Globetrotters lost to the New York Renaissance. That same year, the team began to add the silly antics they later became known for, including ball handling tricks and on-court comedic routines. The crowds loved it, and Saperstein told his team to keep up the clowning around, but only when they had achieved a solid lead. In 1948, the Globetrotters earned a new measure of respect by beating the Minneapolis Lakers of the newly established National Basketball Association (NBA). Two years later, the NBA lifted its whites only ban and began to draft black players, forcing Saperstein to compete for his talent. By this time, the Globetrotters were actively touring on the international circuit, playing to audiences in post-war Berlin, Eastern Europe and Russia, among other places; they even performed once for Pope Pius XII in Rome. Some of the Globetrotters who went on to become NBA stars include Wilt Chamberlain, Connie Hawkins and Nat Clifton. After Saperstein’s death in 1966, the team was sold to a group of Chicago businessmen for $3. 7 million; they later sold it to Metro Media for $11 million. Reaching the height of their fame in the 1970s, the Globetrotters began to lose fans during the next decade, after the departure of such longtime stars as Meadowlark Lemmon. In 1985, Olympic gold medalist Lynette Woodard became the first female Globetrotter. Over the years, the Harlem Globetrotters have played in more than 115 countries in front of 120 million fans. They have been the subject of two feature films and numerous television shows, including two animated series in the 1970s. In honor of their entertainment value, the team was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and made the subject of a permanent exhibit at the Smithsonian Institute. Their pioneering history and considerable athletic skill over the years was honored in 2002, when they were inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Postmodern Culture essays

Postmodern Culture essays One cannot begin to discuss postmodern culture without first looking at what is known as the Modern movement. Modernism was a shift in thought with regards to the arts. This movement, which includes music, literature, the visual arts, and drama, rejected the old Victorian standards of art. How each form was made was at the basis of the Modern movement. This included how poetry was written, how paintings were created. Modernism tended to emphasize a random collage of ideas and materials, instead of narrow, clear-cut points of view. Perhaps one of the most recognizable figures of the Modern movement is Pablo Picasso. In late 1906, Picasso started to paint in a truly revolutionary manner. Picasso began to express his art in strongly geometrical terms. These painting are the beginnings of Cubism. In the initial stage, known as Analytical Cubism, objects were deconstructed into their components. In some cases, this was a means to depict different viewpoints simultaneously; in other works, it was used more as a method of visually laying out the FACTS of the object, rather than providing a limited mimetic representation. The aim of Analytical Cubism was to produce a conceptual image of an object, as opposed to a perceptual one. At its height, Analytical Cubism reached levels of expression that threatened to pass beyond the comprehension of the viewer. (Artchive.com 2001). Another pioneer of the Modern movement was William Faulkner. In his writings, Faulkner moved boldly away from rigidly constructed third-person narratives and wrote stories, which were narrated with multiple points of view. Faulkner, a Nobel Prize winner, is considered by many critics as one of the greatest American writers of the twentieth century. Faulkner is best known for his meandering, typically southern mode of narration, with a modernist sense of rupture, scrambled chronology. ...

Innovative E-Businesses Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Innovative E-Businesses - Essay Example The businesses services can be reached out of borders. The world has transformed into a global village and everyone has equal chances of accessibility to the services and products provided online. There are many e-businesses that have gained a sound reputation on the basis of their innovative strategies and internet related businesses processes. The businesses working online are many in number such as Google.com, Amazon.com, Wikipedia.org, Macromedia.com, Sourceforge.net, Postcast.com, Morgagebundles.com, Esure.com, Ebay.com and many more. This paper investigates four e-businesses in terms of their innovative strategies, business procedures and future strategies. The e-businesses included in this paper are Wikipedia.org, Sourceforge.net, Esure.com and Podcast.com. Wikipedia.org is an innovative e-business that is very successful online as we can see the website so often while searching any content online. Wikipedia is a free encyclopaedia that accommodates the internet users with all kind of information that is available online. The business has a wide range of content availability and is accessed by millions of people on monthly basis (Wikipedia 2009). The business allows the participation of the users in the improvement and betterment of the published content. The users are allowed to edit the content if they find anything wrong or erroneous. According to Wikipedia, Wikipedia is an offshoot of Nupedia, which allowed only the qualified writers to contribute their work online with the company but the content contribution was quite sluggish (Wikipedia 2009). However, with the foundation of Wikipedia, the content contribution improved to an extensive extent. Now, thousands of people contribute their knowledge with Wikipedia and the readers of Wikipedia on daily basis. The content that is published gains perfection and reliability with the passage of time as people discuss over it, edit it continuously and make it more reliable with their continuous efforts (Wikipedia 2009). User participation is a bold step taken by the organization and is one of the innovative strategies adopted by the organization. For writing articles voluntarily, the users are not restricted to have certain age limits or qualifications. Anyone can contribute in this writing encyclopaedia. Any information or content that is substandard or erroneous by any means is removed. The website is accessed all over the world due to which, it can be used by multicultural and multilingual people. By keeping this fact into mind, the organization has adopted an innovative strategy of provision of content in many languages due to which, it is liked to a great extent by people of different origins, cultures and speaking different languages. All the content available on Wikipedia can be seen in more than two sixty languages that is not a negligible total (Wikipedia 2009). Wikipedia is accessed daily for accessing and sharing knowledge. The content that is published on Wikipedia is interlinked or cross referenced (Wikipedia 2009). While reading the content displayed on Wikipedia, the users can find many links in between that take them to more descriptions regarding the content items. Wikipedia is a rich resource of information and content that accommodates its users to be writers, editors, readers and knowledge sharers. Wikipedia is

Employment and Law of Tort Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Employment and Law of Tort - Essay Example In our scenarios, it is seen that the first case deals with the aspect of tort law dealing with emotional distress caused by the employer. It must be noted that in order to establish the occurrence of intentional emotional distress, the plaintiff or the person inflicting the tort should show any of the four patterns as indicated by Biotech.law.lsu.edu (1983) Moving onwards to the second scenario, a trick played by the chef resulted in physical injury to the cashier thus breaking his wrist. This is a clear example of assault and battery. Stender and Steele (2009) mention in their study that according to the Restatement (Second) of Torts  § 18 (1965), â€Å"one is subject to liability for battery if: (a) he acts intending to cause a harmful or offensive contact with the person of the other or a third person, or an imminent apprehension of such a contact; and (b) a harmful contact with the person of the other directly or indirectly results†. Bestattorneysonline.com (2012) describes the tort of assault as the fear of the plaintiff whereby he is of the idea that the defender might cause him physical harm. In other words, the injury has not been inflicted but rather a threat has been made or action showing the intention of causing hurt has been done. On the other hand, battery is labeled as the harmful act itself, i.e. the injury has been inflicted with direct and intentional force to cause harm or damage to another person. Bestattorneysonline.com (2012)  Legal Articles - What is the Difference Between Assault and Battery? [online] Available at: http://www.bestattorneysonline.com/articles/makhsudul-islam/what-is-the-difference-between-assault-and-battery/368/ [Accessed: 17 Dec

Modern Indian Religions Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Modern Indian Religions - Research Paper Example Ambedkar, emphasizes the role of God in religion and its influence in bringing social changes and hence laying the foundation for an egalitarian society. B.R. Ambedkar, pioneered and demanded for a revolutionary change in the caste system by fighting for equal rights for India's lower classes - known as the untouchables. Post independence he drafted the Indian Constitution and defended the ethnic and religious minorities by advocating their rights and reserving a secure place for them in the society through quotas, ensuring them government jobs and thus laying a foundation of social equality. He inspired the Dalit Buddhism movement in India with a view to eradicate the biased treatment meted out to the social outcasts on the basis of their religion. It led to mass conversions among the lower classes who converted to Buddhism. He spearheaded the first Dalit movement in the Indian state of Maharashtra and launched efforts and programs to eradicate illiteracy among the Dalits, by settin g up newspapers and establishing political parties to support the cause. He also contributed in campaigning for acquiring religious rights for the Dalits and played a key role in lifting the ban which prohibited the Dalits from entering Hindu places of worship. This paper on modern Indian religions discusses the impact and influence of Dalit Buddhism in bridging the gap between the higher castes and the lower castes / the untouchables i.e. the Dalits.... Although Dalit Buddhism was a new religion introduced by Ambedkar the fundamental principles were borrowed and based on Buddha's preaching. According to Ambedkar the Dalits were not Hindus, and hence he embraced Buddhism which is silent on the existence of god. Dalit Buddhism is based on this lack of denial or acknowledgement of the concept of god, since it is perceived as an attempt to rationalize the concept of god. Thus, Buddhism is often described as a theist religion rather than an atheist one. The Tibetans view the Dalai Lama as a reincarnation of Buddha - the god, and in the same vein, the Dalits in India view Ambedkar - their savior as reincarnation of god (Karunyakara, 2002). Dalit Buddhism was founded as a means of liberating the oppressed and socially outcast people in India from the clutches of Hinduism. Buddhism as a religion offers the freedom to the modern Indian society to embrace equality and respond to the challenges posed by a highly hegemonic Hindu - Brahmin socie ty. In a society where casteism is rampant and there is an apparent bias / prejudice against the Dalits, Buddhism offers an opportunity to the Dalits to reconstruct their own cultural world, which reinstates the values, beliefs, and ideals relevant to the Dalits in a Hindu dominated society (Ambedkar, 1980). Impact of religion in building an egalitarian society: Religion plays a key role in social and political aspects in India. Hindu Brahmins assume positions of greater significance in the socio-cultural spheres of life while teh Dalits are treated as outcasts and suffer great injustice across various sectors in the society. Dr. Ambedkar, through the introduction of Dalit Buddhism

Effects Of Eating Too Much Fast Food

Effects Of Eating Too Much Fast Food Would you like some fries with that, sir? This is what you hear at any McDonalds restaurant you can come by. You order a burger, and they offer you their crispy, yummy, juicy, famous French fries. Your brain is telling you to take it, but your heart is telling you to stop because it can hardly breathe anymore. People, with their busy schedules, go to fast food restaurants everyday without thinking if it is a good idea to eat there or not. It is cheaper and faster than other restaurants but the food is not good for their health. Despite its convenience, fast food can be very dangerous to us in the long run, which is why we should be aware of the risks and effects that it can give us so we can live a healthy lifestyle. One problem with fast food restaurants is that it is very addictive. Once we eat there, we want more of it because it is so cheap, yummy and filling. Living near by a fast food restaurant doesnt help either because we will want to eat there more. It will be the first place well think about when we get hungry. It will be a good hangout place also with the wireless internet routers added to the place. Another problem is their growing number of restaurants and their advertisements. We find them everywhere; on the road, on taxis and buses, on billboards, on buildings and other places. Also, we dont have to go to their restaurants to get their food because they now have their delivery hotlines. It increases the number of people eating fast food because most people like it better when their food comes to them instead of the harder, traditional way of sitting and eating at a restaurant. Lastly, fast food restaurants provide us food with food content that gives us very little nutritious content. They use very cheap ingredients which make fast food contain high amounts of sodium, cholesterol, fat and calories which can cause certain diseases like obesity, high blood pressure, and other heart diseases. Fast Food Addiction Bringing young children to fast food restaurants for breakfast is a bad decision to make because the child can get addicted to the flavour and taste of the food. Once the child gets addicted to it, he or she will not stop asking for more. The idea that fast food is better than other food will be implanted into their heads and they will get addicted even until adulthood. It is better to make children practice eating more nutritious food such as vegetables and fruits. Fast Food Restaurants and Advertisements We dont have time to prepare a meal with the busy schedules were given now, we think its better to eat at a fast food restaurant instead and we forget about eating healthy. Fast food is getting more in demand as we know it, resulting to the growth of the fast food industry. As they get bigger, more people will come to eat at their restaurants. Now with their delivery hotline, people can just make an effort to call their numbers and the food will be delivered to their doorstep after half an hour. With a quick drive-thru, you get your food in less than 15 minutes or less! They make everything easier and faster for us because they know that thats what we want. We also see so many advertisements around us, whether we are at home or on the road. The advertisements are on the radio, on billboards, on the internet, in newspapers, and in magazines. Its as if theyre calling out to us and putting the idea in our heads to eat their food at their nearest restaurant as soon as possible. They give us easy to remember numbers so that we can call them anytime and anywhere without having to look at the directory book. Most fast food restaurants are now open 24/7 so we can stop by or call them anytime we want. Because its so easy, we get so used to eating at fast food restaurants that we dont need to look at their menus to know what we want. This just shows us that eating there is more of a routine for us now. At about three in the afternoon, we get hungry and the first thing that pops up in our heads is Im craving for McDonalds Chicken McNuggets right now, with fries and an Apple pie! What most people dont realize is that eating too much of it is very dangerous for us because we are not aware of the content. Food Content Fast food can make us very full even at a cheap price. The reason for this is because fast food restaurants use cheap ingredients for their food which contain high amounts of sodium, cholesterol, calories and fat (Childrens Hospital Boston). There are a lot of uses for sodium. It can be used to preserve food, enhance its flavour, and to prevent the growth of pathogens. But sodium can cause very dangerous effects if one consumes too much of it. It can give us an increase in blood pressure and a high risk of heart diseases. According to the American Heart Association, it is best if one limits their sodium intake to less than 1,500 mg of sodium per day(American Heart Association, Inc.). The food on the McDonalds menu with the highest sodium content is the McDonalds Spanish Omelet Bagel with a sodium content of 1570 mg (Fast Food.com). Thats more than the sodium intake one must consume per day in a single bagel. Fats, with the right amount, are good because it keeps us warm and cushions our organs inside our body. Some fatty acids are essential to our body because they are used up for energy and become part of our body chemicals, such as hormones. Fats are classified into two types: saturated fats and unsaturated fats. Unsaturated fats are found only in plant products while saturated fats are found in animal products. Another name for saturated fat is cholesterol. Cholesterol helps the body to absorb what we need, although too much cholesterol is also bad for our body. It can cause heart diseases and osteoporosis because it can thin the bones (Berkoff 124). Calories are released in the digestion and absorption of food. Some food and drinks contain calories. We should not worry about if there are calories in food or not, but how much calories food has. The recommended calorie intake per day for us is 2000 calories. Fast food is packed with very high amounts of calories that one breakfast meal can have up to 1000 calories. Thats half the calories you can take up in a day. Obesity Fast food can cause us a lot of bad diseases like obesity and high blood pressure. Being obese does not only lower our self-esteem, it can also increase risks of hypertension, heart disease, stroke, arthritis, diabetes and some types of cancer. Statistics show that more than 190 million in the American population are obese and the diseases that are related with obesity costs 147 billion dollars every year (Doane). Clearly, something has to be done about this, and not only in America. We should be very aware of the food we eat and the things we do. One way is to not make eating fast food a routine for us by thinking of the possible consequences it can give us. A good idea to prevent obesity is to maintain a healthy lifestyle and exercise daily to use up the energy that we consume. One child struggling with obesity stated that she started gaining weight when her family started buying cheaper foods (Doane). She observed that she became obese when they started to budget their food and to get cheaper food instead, namely, food from fast food restaurants.

The Christian Perspective on Stem Cell Research Essay -- Argumentative

The Christian Perspective on Stem Cell Research      Ã‚   Many Americans do not see how the existing state laws forbidding human cloning can survive, and others like them be enacted, since the federal government has given its blessing to the cloning and destruction of human embryos for research purposes. An entire area of law where states have been able to express respect for human life may be wiped away.    We know that many have made expansive claims for the benefits of human embryo research. However, all such claims are conjectural. Embryonic stem cell research has not helped a single human patient or demonstrated any therapeutic benefit. At the same time, adult stem cells have helped hundreds of thousands of patients and new clinical uses expand almost weekly. Even President Clinton's National Bioethics Advisory Commission, recognizing the human embryo as "a developing form of human life," concluded that the use of embryos from fertility clinics for such research cannot be justified if morally noncontroversial alternatives exist. There is now ample evidence that they do exist, are far more promising than once thought, and are worthy of increased public attention and government support.    Most Christians have grave concerns on this critically important issue of embryonic stem cell research. In our view, conducting research that relies on deliberate destruction of human embryos for their stem cells is illegal, immoral and unnecessary.    It is illegal because it violates an appropriations rider (the Dickey amendment) passed every year since 1995 by Congress. That provision forbids funding "research in which" human embryos (whether initially created for research purposes or not) are harmed or destroyed ou... ...eficiency (SCID)-X1 Disease," 288 Science 669-72 (28 April 2000).    16. K. Foss, "Paraplegic regains movement after cell procedure," The Globe and Mail (Toronto), June 15, 2001 at A1.    17. E. Ryan et al., "Glycemic Outcome Post Islet Transplantation," Abstract #33-LB, Annual Meeting of the American Diabetes Association, June 24, 2001. See: http://38.204.37.95/am01/AnnualMeeting/Abstracts/NumberResults.asp?idAbs=33-LB.    18. M. McCullough, "Islet transplants offer hope that diabetes can be cured," Philadelphia Inquirer, June 22, 2001 at A1.    19. D. Woodbury et al., "Adult Rat and Human Bone Marrow Stromal Cells Differentiate Into Neurons," 61 J. of Neuroscience Research 364-70 (2000) at 364 (emphasis added).    20. D. Prockop, "Stem Cell Research Has Only Just Begun" (Letter), 293 Science 211-2 (13 July 2001)(citations omitted).

Money Doesn’t Bring Happiness

As u have heard many times money does not bring happiness. Happiness has to be gained. Good morning ladies, gentlemen and my fellow students I am standing before u declaring a speech on the topic does money make u happy. no doubt you've met people who appear to be trapped in an unsatisfying cycle of materialism and unhappiness. they confuse money for what is really supposed to be measured and there by maximize the wrong thing. Among other things three leave out of the equation all kinds of success in our lives, in our families lives and in our friendships life that money does not measure.Even their work choices reflect the sad mistake of forgoing what they love doing for what brings happiness. Do we really care about one-upmanship than material comforts? hardly. What the data tells us is that richer people are happier than poorer people. The reason is because richer think that they are more successful in life but it's success not money that we really crave Money can buy so many thing s except for happiness. Happiness is gained when u have fun in ur life with family and friends.That in my opinion I can do without money. Happiness is a feeling the things that make me happy are swimming playing having fun all money can do is make a person live a life in a hard way without fun. nowadays rich people spend most of their time counting money and u know time lost is never gained. In conclusion people lets live life love life and not let money get in the way of our happiness. I stand here and inform u that my opinion is that money does not make u happy . Thank u                                                     THE END

Dimensional Analysis in Physics Problems

Dimensional Analysis in Physics Problems Dimensional analysis is a method of using the known units in a problem to help deduce the process of arriving at a solution. These tips will help you apply dimensional analysis to a problem. How Dimensional Analysis Can Help In science, units such as meter, second, and degree Celsius represent quantified physical properties of space, time, and/or matter. The International System of Measurement (SI) units that we use in science consist of seven base units, from which all other units are derived. This means that a good knowledge of the units youre using for a problem can help you figure out how to approach a science problem, especially early on when the equations are simple and the biggest hurdle is memorization. If you look at the units provided within the problem, you can figure out some ways that those units relate to each other and, in turn, this might give you a hint as to what you need to do to solve the problem. This process is known as dimensional analysis. A Basic Example Consider a basic problem that a student might get right after starting physics. Youre given a distance and a time and you have to find the average velocity, but youre completely blanking on the equation you need to do it. Dont panic. If you know your units, you can figure out what the problem should generally look like. Velocity is measured in SI units of m/s. This means that there is a length divided by a time. You have a length and you have a time, so youre good to go. A Not That was an incredibly simple example of a concept that students are introduced to very early in science, well before they actually begin a course in physics. Consider a bit later, however, when youve been introduced to all kinds of complex issues, such as Newtons Laws of Motion and Gravitation. Youre still relatively new to physics, and the equations are still giving you some trouble. You get a problem where you have to calculate the gravitational potential energy of an object. You can remember the equations for force, but the equation for potential energy is slipping away. You know its kind of like force, but slightly different. What are you going to do? Again, a knowledge of units can help. You remember that the equation for gravitational force on an object in Earths gravity and the following terms and units: Fg G * m * mE / r2 Fg is the force of gravity - newtons (N) or kg * m / s2G is the gravitational constant and your teacher kindly provided you with the value of G, which is measured in N * m2 / kg2m mE are mass of the object and Earth, respectively - kgr is the distance between the center of gravity of the objects - m  We want to know U, the potential energy, and we know that energy is measured in Joules (J) or newtons * meter  We also remember that the potential energy equation looks a lot like the force equation, using the same variables in a slightly different way In this case, we actually know a lot more than we need to figure it out. We want the energy, U, which is in J or N * m. The entire force equation is in units of newtons, so to get it in terms of N * m you will need to multiply the entire equation a length measurement. Well, only one length measurement is involved - r - so thats easy. And multiplying the equation by r would just negate an r from the denominator, so the formula we end up with would be: Fg G * m * mE / r We know the units we get will be in terms of N*m, or Joules. And, fortunately, we did study, so it jogs our memory and we bang ourselves on the head and say, Duh, because we should have remembered that. But we didnt. It happens. Fortunately, because we had a good grasp on the units we were able to figure out the relationship between them to get to the formula that we needed. A Tool, Not a Solution As part of your pre-test studying, you should include a bit of time to make sure youre familiar with the units relevant to the section youre working on, especially those that were introduced in that section. It is one other tool to help provide physical intuition about how the concepts youre studying are related. This added level of intuition can be helpful, but it shouldnt be a replacement for studying the rest of the material. Obviously, learning the difference between gravitational force and gravitational energy equations is far better than having to re-derive it haphazardly in the middle of a test. The gravity example was chosen because the force and potential energy equations are so closely related, but that isnt always the case and just multiplying numbers to get the right units, without understanding the underlying equations and relationships, will lead to more errors than solutions.

Free Essays on Last Of The Mohicans

From implausible, daring escapes to unrealistic accounts of the savagery of the Native Americans, James Cooper’s The Last of the Mohicans emphasizes the â€Å"fiction† in historical fiction. The novel is comically littered with contradictory tones and gross inaccuracies in terms of frontier life, but in spite of the aforementioned, Cooper manages to convey his over-used American roughrider, Hawkeye, as a genuine model for nineteenth-century gunslinger heroes. Also appreciable is the author’s brief commentaries on racism, with a unique facility for embedding a sort of linguistic philosophy that are unique to Cooper. The book begins innocently enough, with an introduction that tells us that the setting is the third year of the French and Indian War. The author’s use of historical facts allows the reader to more vividly imagine what is being described, and allows Cooper to draw on the reader’s knowledge of the French and Indian War. Already, the specter of racism has â€Å"reared its ugly head†, as one of the characters of the book exhibits a stereotypical reaction to a Native American, one of both fascination and repulsion. This fear of Native Americans is what fueled, in part, the Jackson-era anti-Native American policies circa 1830. As the beginning of the book progresses, however, we see that Cooper may not be in favor of busting stereotypes; in fact, he may be responsible for quite a few of them. As the focus switches to Coopers beloved character, Hawkeye, the â€Å"cowboys and Indians† sentiment that so clearly defined the mid-nineteenth century manifests itself with great propensity. From gun-toting woodsmen to arrow-slinging Indians, Cooper’s use of broad stereotypes indicates he may have had a hand in creating an anti-Native American culture. His references to the numerous acts of savagery on the parts of the Native Americans are disturbing, and for the most part untrue. The frequent scalpings, the drinking of blood, and... Free Essays on Last Of The Mohicans Free Essays on Last Of The Mohicans From implausible, daring escapes to unrealistic accounts of the savagery of the Native Americans, James Cooper’s The Last of the Mohicans emphasizes the â€Å"fiction† in historical fiction. The novel is comically littered with contradictory tones and gross inaccuracies in terms of frontier life, but in spite of the aforementioned, Cooper manages to convey his over-used American roughrider, Hawkeye, as a genuine model for nineteenth-century gunslinger heroes. Also appreciable is the author’s brief commentaries on racism, with a unique facility for embedding a sort of linguistic philosophy that are unique to Cooper. The book begins innocently enough, with an introduction that tells us that the setting is the third year of the French and Indian War. The author’s use of historical facts allows the reader to more vividly imagine what is being described, and allows Cooper to draw on the reader’s knowledge of the French and Indian War. Already, the specter of racism has â€Å"reared its ugly head†, as one of the characters of the book exhibits a stereotypical reaction to a Native American, one of both fascination and repulsion. This fear of Native Americans is what fueled, in part, the Jackson-era anti-Native American policies circa 1830. As the beginning of the book progresses, however, we see that Cooper may not be in favor of busting stereotypes; in fact, he may be responsible for quite a few of them. As the focus switches to Coopers beloved character, Hawkeye, the â€Å"cowboys and Indians† sentiment that so clearly defined the mid-nineteenth century manifests itself with great propensity. From gun-toting woodsmen to arrow-slinging Indians, Cooper’s use of broad stereotypes indicates he may have had a hand in creating an anti-Native American culture. His references to the numerous acts of savagery on the parts of the Native Americans are disturbing, and for the most part untrue. The frequent scalpings, the drinking of blood, and...

Critical Assessment of Global Crisis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Critical Assessment of Global Crisis - Essay Example It has been argued that the major basis of the financial crisis was the loose of monetary policy in the early 2000s also known as the â€Å"Greenspan put.† Fed and central bank lowered short-run interest rates to rescue financial markets. There are several key dates indicating the phases of the global financial crisis. Originating from the US, initial signs of financial crisis originated from escalating defaults in the subprime market. The subprime market refers to the marketplace for borrowers who have excessive debt experience, high default rates and the borrowers with recorded bankruptcies and who have a history of missed payments. On the summer of May 2007, Moody’s a credit agency reported that it had planned to reduce creditworthiness assessment of 62 tranches of mortgaged-based securities (MBS), that is, the debt obligations representing a claim on income obtained from mortgage loans. Between June and July of the same year, more tranches were downgraded. In August 2007, French Bank BNP halted three of its funds on a temporary basis because it was unable to assess the value of subprime mortgage securitizations. In short, financial institutions across the world begin to the reassessing the value of the mortgage recognized against their lending. This led to loss of trust and the confidence in these mortgages to tremble. Most institution cast doubts on securitized assets evaluation has they begin to hoard huge amounts of cash assets so as to cover any arising losses originating from their portfolios. The securitization market went under stress leading to a sharp increase in interest rates.

Comparison between the uk and usa on the Legislation system on Essay

Comparison between the uk and usa on the Legislation system on occupational safety and health - Essay Example The 1974 act on the safety and health of the worker at the place of work in the United Kingdom and the 1970 act targeting the safety and health of workers in the United States are some of the example of the legislations that have been passed with workers health and safety in mind. The health and safety executive in the United Kingdom is responsible for enforcing laws that targets occupational health and safety within the member countries. In the United States, the occupational safety and health administration (OSHA) which was created in the 1970 is responsible for ensuring the safety of the workers at their place of work. OSHA is responsible for guiding both the employee and the employer on occupational health issues and ensuring the laws that support occupational health and safety are applied at the place of work. These are done through education and training .The impact of globalization in the two regions has been considered as a force of change in the occupational health and safety scope. World trade liberalization, significant improvement in the transport and communication sector, rapid progress in technology, shifts in employment patterns, changes in practices at the place of work, changes in employment patterns targeting women and men and the structures , enterprise lifecycles and advancement in technology has generated new patterns and types of exposures, risk and hazards (Burke &Ronald, 2011). Population movements and changes in demography have affected the health and safety of people at their place of work. the high rate of unemployment due to increase in number of people migrating to the united kingdom has resulted to opening up of more industries with owners not informed of the legislation pertaining to occupational health. Lack of information on occupational health legislation among the employers both in the United Kingdom and the United States has resulted to exposing workers to work environments that are unsafe and which can

MGM600-0803B-02 Applied Managerial Decision-Making - Phase 3 Essay - 1

MGM600-0803B-02 Applied Managerial Decision-Making - Phase 3 Individual Project - Essay Example Thus the chi-square test hypothesis may be described as follows: The test statistics is calculated by the formula T = (n-1) (s/ ÏÆ'0)2. The main element of this formula is the ratio s/ ÏÆ'0 which compares the ratio of the sample standard deviation to the target standard deviation and n is the sample size and s is the sample standard deviation. The more this ratio deviates from 1, the probability of rejecting the null hypothesis increases. Here X2 (., n-1) is the critical value of the chi-square distribution where n-1 represents the degree of freedom. X2a is considered as the upper critical value and X2 1-a is considered as the lower critical value in the chi-square distribution. The chi-square test is performed to obtain answer questions like, whether the standard deviation is less than the predetermine value of standard deviation, whether the standard deviation is greater than the predetermine value and whether the standard deviation is equal to the predetermined value (Engineering Statistics Handbook. 1.3.5.8. Chi-Square Test for the Standard Deviation). The F-test is conducted to check whether the standard deviation of two set of population or sample is equal. Like chi-square test this can either be a two-tailed test or a one-tailed test. The two-tailed version tests against the alternative that the standard deviations is not equal and the one-tailed version tests in one direction, that is the standard deviation from the first population is either greater than or less than the second population’s standard deviation . The option of the test is confirmed by the problem. This is applied in a case while testing a new process and when a firm wish to know if the new method is less variable than the old one. F hypothesis test is represented as follows: Chi-square distribution can be found out using a statistical

Report on Housing Prices Statistics in Oregon from a Sample of 108 Houses Essay Example for Free

Report on Housing Prices Statistics in Oregon from a Sample of 108 Houses Essay From the eleven variables identified, area of living space in the house (sq_ft), age of the house in years (age) and selling price of the house in thousand dollars (price) were identified to be in the ratio scale for the level of measurement while number of bedrooms (beds), number of bathrooms (baths) and number of spaces for cars in the garage (garage) were identified to be in the ordinal. Lastly, the variables architectural style (style), school district were the house is located (school), method of heating the house (heat), presence of fireplace (fire) and presence of basement (basement) were identified to be in the nominal scale. These levels of measurement were the basis on what type of tests were done for the different analyses (See Appendices for table 1). On all the tests and comparisons with p-values, a 95% level of confidence is used. Descriptive Statistics on the Variables With the results gathered, most of the houses use the gas forced air method of heating. Out of the 108 houses, 96. 3% use this method while only 3. 7 use the electric baseboard heating. Also, most houses are of ranch architecture. Of the 108 houses, 40. 7% are of this architectural style, 36. 1% are of the tri-level style while 23. 1% are of the two-story type. Moreover, 84. 3% of the houses have basements. Similarly, 88. 9 of them have fireplaces. Lastly, the largest part sampled houses are located in the Apple Valley School District. From the 108 houses, 60. 2 are located in this school district while the rest are in Eastville (See Appendices for tables 2, 3, 4, 5 6). For the ordinal variables, the median number of bedrooms in the house is four which means that fifty percent of the houses have less than four bedrooms while the rest have more than four bedrooms. Similarly, fifty percent of the houses have less than three bathrooms while the other fifty percent have more than three bathrooms. In the number of spaces for cars in the garage, fifty percent of the houses can accommodate no more than two cars while the other fifty percent can. From the sample, most of the houses have three bedrooms, three bathrooms and can accommodate two cars. Since these three variables are rank variables, the means for each cannot be computed (See Appendices for tables 8, 9, 10 11). For the ratio variables, it was found out that the mean selling price of the house in Oregon is 97. 99226 thousand dollars. With a relatively small standard error of 2. 543183, the statistic for the selling price is considered accurate. Fifty percent of the houses are priced below 92. 46950 thousand dollars while the other 50% have selling prices greater than 92. 46950 thousand dollars. Having a variance of 698. 520, the data from the sample are considered to be extremely dispersed. On the average, the selling price of a house in Oregon deviates by 26. 429529 thousand dollars from the mean selling price of the house generated from the sample. The mean area of living space in the house in square feet is 1745. 72. However, the standard error of the mean, which is 42. 836, is sufficiently large. The data values for this variable are the most dispersed among the three ratio variables having a variance of 198173. 39. Fifty percent of the samples houses have areas which are below 1758. 00 square feet while the other fifty have areas greater than 1758. 00 square feet. On the average, the area of living space in the house deviates by 445. 167 square feet from the mean. For the last ratio variable, the mean age of the house in years is 11. 23. Having a standard error of 0. 448 which is very small, this statistic is considered accurate. Fifty percent of the sampled houses are below 11 years of age while the rest are more than 11 years of age. The distribution of the variable is not that dispersed. With a variance of 21. 675, the age variable is the least dispersed among the three ratio variables. On the average, the ages of the houses deviates from the mean by 4. 656 years only (See Appendices for table 13). Summing up the descriptive measures obtained on the eleven variables, a typical home in Oregon has an area of 1745. 72 square feet, approximately 11 years of age, has four bedrooms, three bathrooms and can accommodate two car spaces in the garage. Furthermore, it is of ranch architecture and uses the gas forced air method of heating. It has a basement and a fireplace. It is located in the Apple Valley School District and its selling price is 97. 99226 thousand dollars. Correlation From the scatterplots, the selling price is identified to have a positive linear relationship with area of living and a negative, close to nonlinear relationship with age of the house (See Appendices for figures 12 13). Since the data do not follow the normal distribution Spearman’s rho was used to determine the correlation between the dependent variable, price, and the other ratio scale variables (See Appendices for table 24). With a correlation coefficient of 0. 828, there is a positive very strong linear relationship between the selling price and area of living space in the house. Moreover, even if there is a negative weak linear relationship between selling price and age of the house in years, both the correlations of selling price with area and age are significant with p-value equal to 0. 000 (See Appendices for tables 14 15). Also, though there is a negative weak linear relationship between the ratio variables age and area for the -0. 292 Pearson correlation coefficient, the 0. 000 p-value says that the correlation is significant. Pearson correlation was used for the two ratio variables because both are normally distributed (See Appendices for table 22). For the ordinal variables, all of them have a significant correlation with selling price with p-values 0. 007, 0. 000 and 0. 000 for number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms and number of car spaces in garage, respectively. The number of bedrooms in the house has a positive weak linear relationship with selling price having a correlation coefficient of 0. 259. Moreover, the number of bathrooms in the house has a positive strong linear relationship with selling price having a correlation coefficient of 0. 675. Also, the number of spaces for cars in the garage has a positive moderate linear relationship with selling price having a correlation coefficient of 0. 475 (See Appendices for table 16). Among the ordinal variables, the number of bedrooms and number of bathrooms, and the number of car spaces and number of bathrooms has a significant correlation, with p-values equal to 0. 000 and 0. 003 respectively, and has a positive weak linear relationship, with correlation coefficients of 0. 358 and 0. 283 respectively (See Appendices for table 23). Among the nominal variables, only the architectural style has a positive moderate association with selling price having an Eta coefficient of 0. 485 (See Appendices for table 18). The rest has either weak or very weak associations with selling price (See Appendices for tables 17, 19, 20 21). For the two categories of method of heating, it was found out that the use of gas forced air in the house, presence of basement and presence of fireplace increases the selling price of the house. The school district location also affects the selling price. Houses located in Apple Valley School District tend to have higher prices than that of Eastville School District. Moreover, there are no significant differences on the selling prices of houses with tri-level and two-story architectural style. However, houses that are of ranch architectural style tend to have higher selling prices than that of the tri-level and two-story architectural styles (See Appendices for tables 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41 43). Predictors of Selling Price Using the regression model, the selling price of a house, when all other factors are held constant, decreases by 16. 113. The interpretation for the intercept is significant since the confidence interval of the estimate includes zero. Holding other factors constant, the selling price is estimated to increase by 0. 042 thousand dollars for every square feet increase in the area of living space of the house. Also, there is an estimated increase of 3. 269 thousand dollars on the selling price for every unit increase in the number of bedrooms holding other factors constant. The selling price is estimated to increase by 13. 876 thousand dollars for every unit increase in the number of spaces for cars in the garage holding other factors constant. Similarly, an increase of 6. 953 and 4. 269 thousand dollars on selling price is estimated if there is a basement and a fireplace, respectively, in the house. The selling price is also estimated to increase by 4. 874 thousand dollars if the house is located in Apple Valley School District with other factors held constant. Furthermore, the selling price is estimated to increase by 11. 053 thousand dollars if the house is of ranch architectural style holding other factors constant. If the house is of a two-story type, there is an estimated increase of 1. 714 thousand dollars. If the architectural style is tri-level, then the value to be multiplied with the beta estimates for two-story and ranch will be equal to zero since the coded value for tri-level in the dummy variables is zero (See Appendices for table 44). With a Durbin-Watson statistic of 1. 746, then the residuals are independent. Having an adjusted R square of 0. 820, the variation in the selling price of the house can be explained by the eleven variables. A mean square error of 126. 070 implies that the sum of the squared deviations of the selling prices to the true value is relatively small. With a computed F statistic of 45. 169 and a corresponding p-value of 0. 000, then the regression adequately represent the data and can be useful for prediction (See Appendices for tables 45 46). To test, given the following data on a certain house: two-story house with 1600 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, a one car garage, gas heat, a basement, no fireplace, is 9 years old, and is in the preferred school district, then the predicted selling price of the house is 60. 804 thousand dollars. Summary The larger the area sizes of the living space of the house, the more expensive the selling price. Also, more number of bedrooms and spaces for car in the garage would also increase the selling price. In terms of architectural style, the ranch type would increase the selling price of a house most than the other two styles. Finally, the house with a basement, a fireplace and which is located in the Apple Valley School District increases also the selling price.

Analysis Starbucks Operational Financial Organisational Marketing Capabilities Marketing Essay

Analysis Starbucks Operational Financial Organisational Marketing Capabilities Marketing Essay The organisation chosen for the task is Starbucks Corp. and the report would compare it with two similar companies, one being Costa Coffee and the other being Caffà © Nero. The report would highlight the frameworks underpinning the competitive position of Starbucks and also would identify and asses the economic and the competitive position of the firm. A financial model using appropriate ratio analysis would also be presented in a spreadsheet format identifying the industry trends and their impact on the performance of Starbucks vis-à  -vis Costa Coffee and Caffà © Nero. Both quantitative and qualitative data would be made available so as to provide an insight into Starbucks sustainable performance and prospects. Analysis of Starbucks operational, financial, organisational and marketing capabilities would be made available through application of PESTEL analysis and Porters 5 forces model. The report would also discuss the issues, the problems, the opportunities and the options available to Starbucks for future business growth, followed by conclusions to draw together all the variables identified. Recommendations would be provided for the company highlighting the direction it needs to take to ensure business profitability with comments on the suitability, acceptability and the feasibility of the options made available. INTRODUCTION The Starbucks Company was founded in Seattle in 1971 by Jerry Baldwin, Gordon Bowker and Zev Seigel with a vision to educate American consumers about the fine coffee drinking experience. In 1987 Howard Schultz took over the Starbucks Group, he wanted to create the Italian espresso bar experience in the States by creating a personal relationship between the customers and their coffee. In 1995, the company really took off with the opening of its 676th store, and the expansion strategy to Hawaii, Singapore and Japan being very successful. By 2000, 3,300 stores were already in operation and Starbucks had ventured into markets ranging from England to Australia. As standing, Starbucks is number one in the industry, with more than 12,000 shops in more than 35 countries. Just within a couple of years they grew from a small coffee business house to a multi-million dollar player in the speciality coffee industry by buying only the best coffee available and providing the people with an unmatched store experience. The Starbucks mission statement is To inspire and nurture the human spirit one person, one cup and one neighbourhood at a time. Freshly brewed coffee is the main product offered by Starbucks along with other drinks which include cold and hot teas, cakes and pastries. The Starbucks coffee comes in a many varieties each possessing a different taste, aroma and flavour. INDUSTRY TRENDS AND MARKET ANALYSIS The market right now for gourmet coffee business is hot. All the multi-national fast food chains and street-corner shops want in on the boom. Many big companies are focusing on the supply of specialty branded coffees and the scenario is heating up. Specialty coffee is one of the fastest growing food services markets globally. Growth in the coffee industry is continuously peaking, with many new overseas companies entering the market using policies like special discounts and perks despite the questionable quality of the coffee being used to increase the market share. A notable trend seen is that often a significant increase in sales occurs every time a cafà © starts to use branded consumables. The consensus is that these coffee drinks would be a long-term trend, with focus on elevating the customers taste for a product that they are already familiar with and then leading them to coffee houses to get it. Many companies are also tinkering with expanding the food menus as well including an in-store display of fresh baked goods, sandwiches and various confectionary items. The newest trend is the drive-thru coffee stores. Starbucks has many such stores, all of which are seeing continual growth and long lines. Another trend includes customer requests for organic coffees, which has encouraged retailers to move towards the beans growing environment. The array of products offered has never been as wide, as retailers are adding more flavours to whole beans and creating variations to the basics of espresso and steamed milk. The clever retailers have added iced tea concoctions and coffee shakes to their menus to outdo competitors. Most specialty retailers now also retail whole beans and many such stores have added coffee grinders, espresso machines and other brewing supplies for add on sales. STARBUCKS ANALYSIS This part of the report would analyse the working of the business by application of PESTEL analysis, Porter 5 forces and the BCG Matrix. PESTEL Analysis POLITICAL Taxation policy High taxes levied on farmers in the bean producing countries, would consequently increase the rate at which Starbuck would buy the coffee beans and any such fluctuations in the taxation policy would certainly be passed on to the consumer, who now would have to purchase the end item at a higher price. International trade regulations and tariffs Trade issues would affect Starbucks directly when exporting and importing goods. When the government of the trading country imposes a tariff it would not only result in an efficiency loss for Starbucks but such large income transfers can also become inconsistent with equity. This extra charge would have to be borne by the consumers. Government stability A change in government policies has a direct impact on the taxation and legislation framework. Also the countries in political turmoil or civil war should be approached with great caution when considering new ventures. Employment law A reduction in licensing and permit costs in the bean producing countries would lower production costs for farmers. This saving would in turn be passed on to Starbucks when purchasing beans and finally to the consumers. ECONOMIC Interest rates High interest rates would mean putting off the investment and expansion plans of Starbucks, which would result in fewer earnings for the firm. Low interest rates should have the opposite effect. Economic Growth Consumer incomes would fall in periods of negative growth leaving less disposable income impacting the sales for Starbucks. Inflation rates Business costs will rise in times of inflation which would ultimately have to be borne by the consumer. Competitors pricing Competitive pricing from competitors would impact Starbucks pricing that would drive down the profit margin as they try to maintain their market share. Exchange rates If the currency value falls in a bean supplying country, Starbucks would get more for the same price, when importing the goods. This saving would be passed to the end consumer. SOCIAL Population demographics Identification of the target population at which Starbuck needs to aim their products is a significant factor in the business operations. The marketing campaign undertaken would focus accordingly. Coffee is more of a luxury product, so the people with the most amount of disposable income should be targeted. Working Population A large number of workers in big cities now go out for lunch and meals. Starbucks can cash this to their advantage and promote the shop as a place where people can meet and eat, boosting the sales. Location A good location which is easily accessible is vital to ensure that the customers visit the shop. TECHNOLOGICAL IT development Starbucks launched its first-generation e-commerce website in 1998. As a result, scalability and performance have improved, and the company now has the tools it needs to profile and target customers, analyse site data, and deliver new features to the market in the shortest time possible. New materials and processes Developments in the technology of coffee making machines and the computers that Starbucks use to run their cash registers will enable their staff to work more quickly and efficiently. This will result in customers being served quicker and create the potential to serve more customers in a day.. Rate of technological change The pace at which technology is advancing is astounding. Starbucks would need to invest heavily just to stand still in the ever expanding and developing market, and even more so to try to stay ahead of competitors. ENVIRONMENTAL Pollution problems Starbucks customers create a lot of waste by disposing off the cup and the contents incorrectly. The material for the cup should be carefully considered to make it as biologically degradable as possible. Planning permissions Planning permission may not be granted to Starbucks if the construction would harm the environment. The land may be protected. Work disposal There are strict laws in most countries pertaining to waste disposal and non-adherence to these could lead to Starbucks being sanctioned, which would affects them financially and also tarnish the reputation of the brand name. Environmental pressure groups Starbucks should be aware of the physical and influential power of groups such as Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth. Any violation of animal or environmental rights by a company is usually followed by a swift and attention-drawing protest from one of the groups. Brand image and customer bases are often irreconcilably tarnished due to the actions of these groups. LEGAL Trade and product restrictions Starbucks need to be aware of the trade laws in the countries where they have established businesses. They need to ensure they are not in violation of any such laws. Certain countries impose a tariff that has to be paid when goods are imported/exported so this must be taken into account as well. Employment laws Each country has different employment laws, like a limit on the number of hours an employee can work per week, varying levels of minimum wage etc. Starbucks should be aware of such factors when considering business expansion. Health and Safety regulations By not maintaining high standards they would be liable for damages if found in violation as it is a legal requirement for them to enable that their staff and customers are safe when they are in their stores. Land use Starbucks have to abide by the laws of the building authorities when constructing shops or altering purchased sites and if found in violation of land rules, it can be panalised by the local authorities. PORTER 5 FORCES ANALYSIS 1. COMPETITIVE RIVALRY Starbucks is the leading retailer, roaster and brand of specialty coffee in the world. Major competitors include Costa coffee, Caffà © Nero, Seattles Best Coffee and secondary coffee providers such as McDonalds, Burger King and Dunkin Donuts. The competition is nowhere near to Starbucks volume of operations and sales. Consumption of coffee is not dependent on the price of the product but also on the differentiation between each product and several value adding variables such as the quality of customer services, brand, brand recognition and image of the company. Hence, Starbucks is not majorly sensitive to movements of other firms in this segment. 2. THREAT OF NEW ENTRANTS Starbuck is the world leader in its industry and has controlled access to distribution channels. Starbucks have exhibited this control over distribution channels by setting guidelines for their suppliers to follow. Starbucks is also constantly innovating and showing strong product differentiation to hamper the possibility of new entrants. However, the entry barrier for the industry is relatively low and any big firm where capital is not a problem could be a potential entrant. Some of the more current and on-going threats of new entrants include fast food chains such as McDonalds, Burger King and Dunkin Donuts which can become a major problem in the near future. 3. BARGAINING POWER OF BUYERS A big threat to Starbucks is the absence of switching costs in the speciality coffee industry, customers face no switching costs in switching from Starbucks to Costa Coffee or Caffà © Nero for a cup of coffee. Another threat to Starbucks is that their customers have the ability to brew their own coffee. Starbucks has tried to counter this threat by offering Preferred Office Coffee Providers as well as directions on how to make the perfect cup of Starbucks coffee at home, called the Four Fundamentals of Coffee. The perfect cup of Starbucks Coffee includes, of course, Starbucks ingredients! Also with new entrants and competitors such as McDonalds who claim to offer premium roast coffee of reasonable quality for lower price, it is clear that Starbucks customers have some bargaining power in the industry. 4. BARGAINING POWER OF SUPPLIERS Coffee is the worlds second largest traded commodity. South and Central America produce the majority of coffee traded in the world. Starbucks depends upon both outside brokers and direct contact with exporters for the supply of premium coffee beans. The quality of coffee beans sought by Starbucks is very high, proving to be a potential threat to the company. Only suppliers who can meet Starbucks coffee standards will be able to supply the giant company. The supplying industry only has few firms which can deliver the quality giving them considerable bargaining powers. However, Starbucks counters this due to its massive size and being the primary buyer and also because of the importance of Starbucks business to any individual supplier as it would account for a large percentage of the total suppliers sales, thus reducing the bargaining power of suppliers. THE THREAT OF SUBSTITUTION Substitute products are the products that can pose as a trade-off for the product being offered by a company. In the specialty coffee industry, substitute products can be soft drinks, tea, energy drinks, fruit juices and other caffeinated drinks. Here innovation would play a huge role. To counter this Starbucks have given their menus a complete revamp and have differentiated so many of their products which are now part of the main product line. The menu includes various teas, hot and cold coffee, baked goods and various confectionary items. The only true direct substitute for specialty coffee would be the basic coffee, which is of lower quality than specialty and as such does not present any threat. STARBUCKS FINANCIAL ANALYSIS This part of the report would highlight the financial position of Starbucks using the annual reports and comprehensive ratio analysis for the financial years 2008, 2009 and 2010 which are enclosed in the appendix. 2008 In fiscal 2008, Starbucks experienced declining store sales in its stores, primarily due to lower customer traffic. The weaker traffic was caused due to number of on-going factors in the global economy such as the higher costs of gas and food, rising levels of unemployment and personal debt along with reduced access to consumer credit. In fiscal year 2008, store sales declined a margin of 8%. Consolidated operating income was $503.9 million in fiscal 2008, and operating margin for the year was 4.9% compared with 11.2% in the prior year. Approximately 260 basis points of the decrease in operating margin was a result of restructuring charges, primarily related to the significant US store closures. EPS for fiscal 2008 was $0.43, compared to EPS of $0.87 per share earned in the prior year. Restructuring charges and costs associated with the execution of the transformation agenda impacted EPS by approximately $0.28 per share in fiscal 2008. 2009 Fiscal 2009 was a challenging year for Starbucks. The difficult economic environment had strained consumer discretionary spending in the US and internationally, which negatively impacted company revenues, store sales, operating income and operating margins. Starbucks responded by creating a business model that was less reliant on high revenue growth to drive profitability. The primary initiatives of the strategy included rationalizing the global company operated store portfolio and reducing the cost structure, while renewing the focus on service excellence. Starbucks closed down approximately 1000 stores. Initiatives targeting reductions in the cost structure in fiscal 2009 proceeded as planned, with full year costs of $580 million removed from the cost structure. The company maintained a solid financial foundation, with no short term debt outstanding at the end of fiscal 2009 and with cash and liquid investments totalling more than $650 million. The solid financial position and continued strong cash flow generation provided Starbucks with the financial flexibility to implement its restructuring efforts. 2010 In fiscal 2010, revenues increased to a record $10.7 billion. Operating income increased by $857 million from  ¬Ã‚ scal 2009 to $1.4 billion. The full-year operating margin of 13.3 % represented the highest full-year consolidated operating margin in Starbucks history. Fiscal 2010 ended with the highest full-year comparable store sales growth that Starbucks have seen in the recent past, while the earnings per share also grew more than double from  ¬Ã‚ scal 2009. BENCHMARKING WITH COSTA COFFEE AND CAFFÉ NERO Starbucks is a US chain whereas both Costa Coffee and Caffà © Nero were established in the UK. Costa Coffee was setup in London in 1971 by Bruno and Sergio Costa and acquired by Whitbread PLC in 1995. Caffà © Nero was established by Gerry Ford in 1997 in the UK. The comparison would be carried out using the financial information of the three firms which is available in the appendix. The comparison would majorly be based on the UK market. There are 1,175 Costa Coffee shops in Britain as compared to 731 of Starbucks and 440 of Caffà © Nero. A comprehensive business analysis of Starbucks has already been supplied in the above report; this part would focus on the business analysis of Caffà © Nero and Costa Coffee individually followed by a coherent conclusion of the findings. Costa Coffee According to the financial data available operating profit grew by 59.5% to  £36.2  million; 312 net new stores were acquired or opened and like for like sales increased by 5.5. Costa operates in 25 countries and is now the number two international coffee shop operator with 1,600 stores: 1,069in the UK; and 531 overseas. Sales performance improved strongly across the year, confirming the brands resilience, even in a recessionary environment. Caffà © Nero The groups 60% equity is held by the Ford family, the rest 30% by a private equity firm Paladin and 10% with the management. Caffà ¨ Nero has recently completed a successful  £140m refinancing in a bid to fund the businesss future growth ambitions. The business, which has 500 outlets in the UK and internationally and has registered 54 consecutive quarters of positive like-for-like growth, is forecast to generate  £31m in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) for the 12 months to May 2011. Revenue for the same period is forecast to reach  £171m, an increase of 11% on the previous year. The new financial structure would provide the Group with a financial platform to support its growth ambitions and expansion plans both in the UK and internationally. Nero has a lot of ups including strong brand positioning, intensive marketing campaigns and a clear differentiation point. However, there are some weaknesses, one of them being lack of experience in going international, thus some problems could arise while penetrating foreign markets. Though both the companies Costa and Nero are well established in the UK market, Starbucks is the industry leader in the world and is a major competition to them in the UK. Financial turnover of the Starbucks Group is so massive that it provides them with all the capital requirements to innovate and differentiate their product from the 2 competitors; it already has established a sizeable market share in the UK, but still needs to take over Costa Coffee which it should be able to do in the near future, looking at the financial figures provided and the international global strategy adopted by the group which seems very promising. ISSUES FACING STARBUCKS The major challenge that Starbucks is dealing with is the current financial crisis in the world economy forcing them to call closures of many stores around the world. Another challenge that Starbucks is dealing with is competitors. There are numerous coffee shops all over the world and being able to stand out to generate customers is important. Their main competitors are Dunkin Donuts, McDonalds, and Nestle in the US and brands like Costa Coffee and Caffà ¨ Nero in the UK, the two major markets for Starbucks. It is important that for Starbucks to know their competitors and what they are currently doing. Also Starbuck coffees are priced higher than other market competitors because of Starbucks only purchasing the highest quality coffee beans for their product, thus increasing the price of the drink. As Starbucks have many competitors, this can be a potential advantage to for such competitors. Also Starbucks inadequate marketing strategy on advertising is a hindrance in the business growth opportunities. They prefer to build the brand by promoting the drinks cup-by-cup with customers. The advertisement ends until they drink the coffee, reducing the chances to attract valuable customers. Starbucks also does not emphasize on distributing their products to supermarket because of being concerned with the quality of the coffee; if the coffees were packaged into plastic bags. Also the rigorous expansion strategy followed by Starbucks can take a toll on the firms brand image. As corporations grow there can be a tendency to focus too heavily on increasing output and locations, and less focus on quality and brand image. Starbucks needs to stay with its values and ideals that have made it successful. Also Starbucks policy of not franchising can be a cause of concern for the firm. Advantages of Starbucks franchising would be to open hundreds of new stores with less risk to the company, and make profits in doing so. In addition Starbucks would have less research and development costs because the franchisee would have greater knowledge of the local market in terms of demographics, psychographics, geographic, and local/state/country regulations. RECCOMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION Starbucks has to effectively pursue a Focus-Based Strategy in conjunction with differentiation and cost leadership based strategy. Being a lower cost store will increase the difference between Starbucks and provide it with a competitive edge. At present, Starbucks competitors are attempting to specialize in the coffee business, therefore Starbucks must pursue focus strategy to increase its strength. Starbucks must reduce their product price by producing a new product of coffee using cheaper beans or can come out with special discounts and promotions to reduce cost, thus increasing sales enabling Starbucks to enter new low cost markets and increase profitability. Also needs to focus on building alliances in new markets/countries to reduce management focus and benefit from the local and experience curves. Should focus on advertising the brand through internet services for users to access, do road shows, hand out brochures etc. so that consumers become more aware of the brands strong international presence and brand name. Market penetration and market development will help increase the sales. Access unexplored distribution channels like making available packaged Starbucks coffee for consumers by displaying it nationwide in various convenience and shopping stores and not only Starbucks stores. Starbucks must adopt twin policies of Product Development and Product-Market Diversification to counter the stiff competition in international markets. It is important to understand this in the product development phase as they would need to focus solely on making their existing products better. The company can demonstrate product and market diversification through research and development coupled with creativity and innovation. Product differentiation has proven an excellent defence against threats such as bargaining power of buyers. Developing new products will offset such potential risks. A strategy should be formulated to tackle the competition by entering into agreements, long-term contracts, with the food service companies that they are competing against. This way their coffee would be sold at these outlets and they would gain access to new markets and increase sales while decreasing competition. Starbucks should continue to be a first mover into markets with new products and ideas. Being a first mover of new products into new international markets will be an excellent way for Starbucks to build customer loyalty and uphold its image as an innovative company. Starbucks should continue to locate their operations in high traffic areas, high visibility areas. The company should continue to take excellent care in picking locations. It is extremely important that Starbucks international stores reflect uniqueness in their location and layout. Having locations in a variety of locations will ensure large market exposure.