Recommendation of Coca Cola based on performing various valuation models - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 16 Words: 4938 Downloads: 5 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Business Essay Type Analytical essay Did you like this example? The recommendation of Coca-Cola Company is based on performing various valuation models, which include HR practices, economic profit analysis, relative valuation and a fundamental price to earnings valuation model that revealed the Coca-Cola Company to be overvalued. Even though they find the stock to be overvalued and they feel that KO has some promising outlooks as well as possible challenges in the near future and they want to recommend it as a hold instead of a sell. The Coca-Cola Company is the #1 company within the non-alcoholic beverages industry. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Recommendation of Coca Cola based on performing various valuation models" essay for you Create order They have a 20- year standing of being the leader and investors know that the Coca-Cola Company has an extraordinary reputation for maximizing shareholder value. Opportunities that exist for the company in the future is expanding market share in the non-carbonated beverages segment, a restructuring of their business model, and better consistency of earnings results. A challenge that the Coca-Cola Company is facing is the struggle with their global competitors in the fact that their HR practices are greater and less than coke. If coke wants to more reputation in the world they must produce more incentives for employees from which they more done work hard and produce good quality. Their new management team needs to work on implementing cohesive goals between the two to reach the Coca-Cola Companys long-term growth potential. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION Mission and vision 5 History 7 4 Brands/product line 14 5 Total quality management 16 6 Environment of coca cola 16 7 Health and Nutrition 18 8 Management of coca cola in Gujranwala 19 9 Departmentalization 27 10 Human Resource Management 29 11 Job analysis and designs 30 12 Planning and forecast 30 13 Recruitment and selection 31 14 Training process 32 15 Performance and appraisal 33 16 Compensation and benefits 34 17 Employees relationship 35 18 Safety policy 36 19 Recommendation and Suggestion 37 INTRODUCTION Founded in 1886, the coca-cola company is the worlds leading manufacturer, marketer, and distributor of nonalcoholic beverage concentrates and syrups. The companys corporate headquarters are in Atlanta, with local operations in over 200 countries around the world. Although Coca-Cola was first created in the United States, it quickly became popular wherever it went. Our first international bottling plants opened in 1906 in Canada, Cuba and Panama, soon fol lowed by many more. Today, we produce more than 300 brands. More than 70 percent of our income comes from outside the U.S., but the real reason we are a truly global company is that our products meet the varied taste preferences of consumers everywhere. MISSION STATEMENT To benefit and refresh everyone it touches and to create values for our share owner on a long term basis by building a business that enhances the coco-cola company trade marks According to Gujranwala plant: To have a strong, dominant profitable business in Pakistan. VISION All of us in the Coca-Cola family wake up each morning knowing that every single one of the worlds 5.6 billion people will get thirsty that day and that we are the ones with the best opportunity to refresh them. Our task is simple: make Coca-Cola and our other products available, affordable, and acceptable to them, quenching their thirst and providing them a perfect moment of relaxation. If we do this if we make it impossibl e for these 5.6 billion people to escape Coca-Cola then we assure our future success for many years to come. Doing anything else is not an option. According to Gujranwala Plant: To create value for our share holders We are committed to: ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Building preference market leadership for our brands ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Achieve quality excellence and serve our customers with quality products. ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Maximizing profits ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Developing People ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Optimum utilization of assets Shared Values: ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ WE VALUE RESPECT OUR PEOPLE ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ WE COMMUNICATE OPENLY ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ WE HAVE INTEGRITY ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ WE ARE COMMITTED TO WINNING Beliefs: There is much in our world to celebrate, refresh, strengthen and protect. The Coca-Cola Company is a vibrant network of people, in nearly 200 countries, putting citizenship into action. Through our actions as local citizens, we strive every day to refresh the marketplace, enrich the workplace, protect the environment and strengthen our communities. We are a local employer, with responsibility to enable our people to tap into their full potential; working at their innovative best and representing the diversity of the world we serve. We are an investor in local economies and a driver of marketplace innovation, with a responsibility to act as a good steward of our natural environment. A local citizen, understanding our responsibility to contribute to an improved quality of life in our communities BRANDS / PRODUCT LINE In 2002, Coca-Cola added pop to a category that many believed had lost its fizz in Nor th America. In May, after just six months in development, Vanilla Coke became the first extension of the Coca- Cola brand since 1985 and immediately generated profitable volume. Vanilla Coke helped boost sales of Coca-Cola branded beverages while inviting new consumers to rediscover the cola category through a completely original flavor experience. In product formulation, the Vanilla Coke team struck a balance that lets the taste of Coca-Cola come through-intriguingly new, yet undeniably Coca-Cola. Already one of our top 10 brands in the United States, Vanilla Coke is performing well in its initial international markets-including Australia and New Zealand, with more countries planning launches for 2003. In response to consumer demand, diet Vanilla Coke was introduced to the U.S. marketplace in October, just three-and-a-half months after it was given the green light. In 2002, we also celebrated the 20th anniversary of diet Coke and the expansion of diet Coke with lemon, which made st rong debuts in several international markets after its U.S. launch in 2001. In March 1923, Coca-Cola was sold in a 6-bottle carton for the first time in New Orleans, Louisiana. Today, products of The Coca-Cola Company are consumed at the rate of more than one billion drinks per day. Major Brands: There are 323 brands of coca-cola. Out of which there are 7 brands of coke in Pakistan. Two brands Lemon and Strawberry are recently introduced products of Coca-cola in Pakistan. TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT (TQM) Passion for Quality: Our reputation is built on trust. Through good citizenship we will nurture our relationships and continue to build that trust. That is the essence of our promise The Coca-Cola Company exists to benefit and refresh everyone it touches. Wherever Coca-Cola does business, we strive to be trusted partners and good citizens. We are committed to managing our business around the world with a consistent set of val ues that represent the highest standards of integrity and excellence. We share these values with our bottlers, making our system stronger. These core values are essential to our long-term business success and will be reflected in all of our relationships and actions in the marketplace, the workplace, the environment and the community. Marketplace: We will adhere to the highest ethical standards, knowing that the quality of our products, the integrity of our brands and the dedication of our people build trust and strengthen relationships. We will serve the people who enjoy our brands through innovation, superb customer service, and respect for the unique customs and cultures in the communities where we do business. Workplace: We will treat each other with dignity, fairness and respect. We will foster an inclusive environment that encourages all employees to develop and perform to their fullest potential, consistent with a commitment to human rights in our workplace. The Coca-Cola workplace will be a place where everyones ideas and contributions are valued, and where responsibility and accountability are encouraged and rewarded. Environment: We will conduct our business in ways that protect and preserve the environment. We will integrate principles of environmental stewardship and sustainable development into our business decisions and processes. COMMUNITY: We will contribute our time, expertise and resources to help develop sustainable communities in partnership with local leaders. We will seek to improve the quality of life through locally relevant initiatives wherever we do business. Responsible corporate citizenship is at the heart of The Coca-Cola Promise. We believe that what is best for our employees, for the community and for the environment is also best for our business ENVIRONMENT OF COCA-COLA In the first decade of the new century, we face the challenge of a new environment, which is driven by a fundamental shi ft in international economic dynamics, the growing influence of technology and the fact that people increasingly expect more of large corporations. That challenge demands innovation. While we will always be disciplined by our purpose and our ideals, we must intensify our focus on innovation and create new ways to deliver the promise of Coca-Cola. In fact, in an era that is increasingly international and interconnected, we must pioneer a movement from a homogenous global approach to a highly tailored approach reflecting the unique character of our markets. This new approach will require: 1) Being innovative in our marketing, our brands and our consumer relationships 2) Collaborating more productively with our business partners 3) Changing some of the structures of our enterprise 4) Increasing our commitment to community and the environment Thus, we will reinvigorate our enterprise and bring to full life the unique spirit of Coca-Cola and our people. Such real ren aissance of the Coca-Cola spirit will enable us to fulfill our purpose of delivering refreshment and benefit to everyone touched by our business. The Coca-Cola Company and our bottlers have been at the forefront in helping solve environmental, litter and solid waste issues for more than 20 years. We realize that we touch the lives of billions of people around the world and that our responsibility to them includes conducting our business in ways that help preserve the environment. Soft-drink packaging is the most recycled consumer package in the United States. Our system supports dozens of litter prevention organizations, including the Center for Marine Conservation and Keep America Beautiful. The Coca-Cola Company is a founding member of Keep America Beautiful. Whats more, weve been recycling at our headquarters for years, to the tune of thousands of pounds of waste annually. Weve donated more than $100,000 in proceeds from these recycling efforts to charities. Shaping new Products experiences with packaging and technology: As we created new products and fresh brand experiences in 2002, one fact became increasingly clear to us: Consumers are eager to see The Coca-Cola Company bring excitement to the marketplace. One simple innovation last year-the Fridge PackÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¾Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ -has changed the dimensions of 12-pack sales for us and for our bottling partners. This sleek, refrigerator-friendly pack is increasing consumer awareness and preference, accelerating consumption and case volume in markets where it has been introduced. From our packaging suppliers who assisted us and our bottlers in developing the Fridge Pack, to the retailers whose shelves were reconfigured to accept the new design, partnership made this innovation possible- and profitable. The future of our business in North America also evolved in 2002 with the continuing rollout of iFountain, the most advanced soft-drink dispensing system in the industry. iFountain gives our c ustomers a technologically advanced fountain system that enhances available brand options, improves operating efficiency and automatically calibrates each drink served to assure consumers of a quality drink every time HR coca cola HEALTH AND NUTRITION GIFT Business School 18 Today, people are more concerned than ever about health and nutrition. They understand the importance of good nutrition and proper hydration and they also know that delicious foods and beverages are an enjoyable part of life. People have trusted and enjoyed soft drinks for more than 115 years, and they can continue to be confident about their favorite beverages. In this section, we answer many of the questions you may have about our family of beverages., We also take a look at how The Coca-Cola Company promotes a healthy active lifestyle through programs around the world that promote fun and physical activity. There is growing confusion about what constitutes a healthy diet. With so much co nflicting information available about health and nutrition, it can be very difficult to determine what is accurate and what is not. The truth is that soft drinks and other beverages have a place in a healthy lifestyle. A healthy diet incorporates the basic principles of variety, balance and moderation without sacrificing enjoyment. Your Health Our Beverages: There is growing confusion about what constitutes a healthy diet. With so much conflicting information available about health and nutrition, it can be very difficult to determine what is accurate and what is not. The truth is that soft drinks and other beverages have a place in a healthy lifestyle. A healthy diet incorporates the basic principles of variety, balance and moderation without sacrificing enjoyment. Climate Change: The Coca-Cola Company takes the issue of global climate change very seriously. We have adopted a comprehensive policy aimed at reducing the environmental impact of our cooling equipm ent over time. By the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, we will no longer purchase new cold-drink equipment using hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), wherever cost-efficient alternatives are commercially available. Additionally, we will reduce the energy use of our individual equipment by 40-50 percent over the next ten years. As we developed our cooling equipment policy, we referred to the basic tenets of the Kyoto Protocol. While we support the scientific analysis and general objectives of the agreement, we believe that ratification of international treaties and protocols should be left to national political processes. By focusing on our own efforts to reduce greenhouse emissions, we hope to provide an example of how businesses can operate in an environmentally sustainable manner. MANAGEMENT OF COCA-COLA Following are the information about the management of Gujranwala plant. The factory is control by the BOM (Business operational manager) and under him eight Departments is wo rking. Every Department is lad by a department Manager. The Departments of account is lead by the manager account and under him assist manager works. Who control the other employees of the department under him? Department of production and engineering is lead by the Prod. Eng. Manager. Under him work Mechanical Engineers Mechanical Supervisor and Assistant Production. Quality control department lead by the manager quality control. Under him working the chief chemist whos responsibility is to give the quality product to the customer. Sale marketing department is playing the important part in the growing market share in the country. That department led by the Sale marketing manager that department is further divided in the sale and marketing section. The marketing department is lead by the marketing manager and the sale section by sale manager. Sale men work under the sale manager Fleet department control thetransport vehicle of the company the head of the department is Fleet manag er and under him work the assistant fleet manager who manages the control over the transportation of the company. The distribution of the coca-cola around the Gujranwala region is the responsibility of distribution department, which is lead by the distribution Manager. Assistant distribution manager work under Him to full fill their duties. Human recourse and international affair department take control over the external environment of the company and help the in the growth of the company. That Department is lead by the Manager H.R.I.R. other executive work under his supervision. The R D Department plays the most important role in the development and the growth of the company. This Department is lead by the Manager RD. and Assistant Manger work under him. The total number of employees in the coca-cola Gujranwala Company is 236. To be specific the working environment in the company represents the companys culture in large. The culture is the shared values among the dif ferent people so the environment of the company is widely shared by its employees that conclude to form the companys culture. In the coming lines the working environment of the Gujranwala Coca-cola factory is described. Company culture:- The factors, which must be highlighted in this regard, are as follows: ÃÆ' ®Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ special training is given to employees, New employees also are placed with old ones to learn work and the values prevalent in the company, ÃÆ' ®Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ Two cups tea are free for every employee daily this represents the hospitable nature of the company, This factor keeps the employees motivated as they are taken well care this fact is clear by the physical actions took by the company, ÃÆ' ®Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ The company working environment is really a good blend of Asian and western values. Motivations for employees: Wages:- Coca-cola is providing smart wages to its employees, which are competitive and really satisfy its employees. As along with the wages they are provided with a lot of facilities and amenities. In brief structure of wages can be described like this blue collar workers are offered wages along with commission, sales man are offered wages plus commission pursuing certain criteria, White collar workers who are the officers and the executives draw a handsome amount of salary which is really competitive. Staffing and training: The Coca-Cola Company has always believed that education is a powerful force in improving the quality of life and creating opportunity for people and their families around the world. The Coca-Cola Company is committed to helping people make their dreams come true. All over the world, we are involved in innovative programs that give hard-working, knowledge-hungry students books, supplies, places to study and scholarships. From youth in Brazil to first generation scholars, educational programs in local communities are our priority. Annual Leaves:- Coca-cola international has different leaves structures in different regions and countries of the world where they have their company. Their leaves structure regarding Pakistan especially in Gujranwala Division Company is as follows: Designation Allowed leaves Supervisor 26 leaves per annum Above then Supervisor 26 leaves per annum Below supervisor 24 leaves per annum The above table shows simply how the leaves structure allows for the leaves and how well the employees are awarded with facility of getting their own personal time to manage their own problems. These leaves are authorized for the employees and these include the with pay leaves. This facility is really great which keeps the employees motivated and thrilled abo ut their work. Time Management For Work:- Time management is the key to grow in this fast and furious century of growth and development, so therefore Coca-cola is doing at their best for this pivotal factor of managing time. To cover this segment of management they have divided the work in to shifts. For this purpose phenomenon of division of labor is contributing for its functioning. In Gujranwala Coca-Cola company has divided the shifts for the work in the following manner: They are managing the working time in two shifts. They can include some extra shift if there is demand but normally there are two shifts, which are explained in the following. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (all departments other then technical departments), ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ 4 p.m. to 12 p.m. (Technical department). These are the shifts in which the work in the factory is mostly conducted. Medical Facilities:- Medical facilities are of prime importance in any organization as the health of employees is in the benefit of the company as well as its the social responsibility of the company to provide nice and healthy work environment to its employees, These facilities are such facilities which can include first aid treatments, emergency handling problems, sickness, and other diseases which are fatal for a person. The Coca-Cola Company is providing Medical facilities to all its employees. These treatments are provided to employees as per their designations. The medical facilities are also provided to supervisors as well as the officers in the company. Employees our Asset: The heart and soul of our enterprise have always been our people. Over the past century, Coca-Cola people have led our successes by living and working with a consistent set of values. While the world and our business will continue to change rapidly, respecting these values will continue to be essential to our long-term success. As we have expanded over the decades, our company has benefited from the various cultural insights and perspectives of the societies in which we do business. Much of our future success will depend on our ability to develop a worldwide team that is rich in its diversity of thinking, perspectives, backgrounds and culture. We are determined to have a diverse culture, from top to bottom that benefit from the perspectives of each individual. Employee Forums: We believe that a sense of community enhances our ability to attract, retain, and develop diverse talent and ideas as a source of competitive business advantage. In the U.S., through employee forums, employees can connect with colleagues who share similar interests and backgrounds. In those forums and elsewhere, employees support each others per sonal and professional growth and enhance their individual and collective ability to contribute to the company. Forums that are currently active include: ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Administrative Professionals ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ African-American ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Asian/Pacific-American ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Gay Lesbian ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Latin ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Women Mentoring Programs: The Coca-Cola Company is creating a system of mentoring programs that include, one-on-one mentoring, group mentoring and mentoring self-study tools. Currently, Coca-Cola North America and The Minute Maid Company have one-on-one mentoring programs designed to foster professional growth and development. These HR coca cola GIFT Business School 26 Every year, the world produces billions of tons of waste. Recycling and reusing waste materials is absolutely crucial if we are to maintain the health and beauty of the earth. The Coca-Cola ® Company is working constantly toward coming up with smart, creative ways to reuse waste. Heres a glance at what were doing. To introduce innovative and environmentally friendly packaging, we Opened a breakthrough facility in Sydney, Australia for the worlds first PET bottles to be produced from recycled PET bottles. Today, one in four PET containers sold by our company in North America contains re cycled content. Our Commitment To Diversity: Our commitment to diversity also extends into the community. Valuing our people helps us better meet the needs of our customers and partners. Through our people and our local bottling partners, we build relationships through local marketing, local civic programs and local business opportunities. Realizing the full potential of diversity has a direct impact on our company: ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ It improves our understanding of local markets; ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ It makes us a better employer and business partner; ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ It helps us compete more effectively; ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ It makes us better neighbors in our communities; and ultimately, ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ It builds value for our shareowners. Our company is energized with a new entrepreneurial operating culture, fueled by the twin engines of innovation and diversity. DEPARTMENTALIZATION: Following are the departments in Coca-cola company regarding to Gujranwala plant:- ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢Human Resource and international relation department. ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢Research and Development department. ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢Account department. ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢Engineering department. ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢Production department. ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢Quality Control department. ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢Marketing department. ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢Sale department. ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢Fleet department. ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢Distribution department. Human Resource Management within Coca Cola Human Resource Management is an essential part for any organization. Moreover, development of this department is the first step, the ground on which the future of the company depends. It is essential for every single business unit and especially for such international company as Coca Cola. It is people, not technology who create the company. Human Resource Management at Coca Cola Company has many advantages. It is the global company and it is impossible to create certain policies or procedures applicable in all divisions of the company, cultural and political differences need to be taken into account. Therefore, the focus of this paper will be on four tasks and duties of Human Resource Management (performance management, compensation, career development, succession planning) based on the United States procedures. Basically the HRM practices are necessary for every organization. But unfortunately in Pakistan not so much used HRM practices. In multinational companies like coca cola have their own separate department of HRM. According senior executive of HR Waqar Mahmood our HR department consist of 29 people in Gujranwala plant. Every organization has its own policies and strategies by which they control the functions of their departments. Similarly, we also have own policies and strategies by which we control all the functions of our departments. coca cola HR department is also conducting all the practices of HRM like Job analysis and design of work ,r e c r u i t m e n t and selection, training and development, performance appraisals, compensation, employee relationships, staff welfare and medical policies and some other things like that. These all practices are conducted by own policies and strategies. HR department not make decisions related of its own department, they also conduct in companys decision. Job analysis and designing Job analysis is the procedure for determining the duties and skill requirements o f a job and the kind of person who should be hire for it. Job analysis consists of two products one is job description and second job specification. Job description: a list of job duties, responsibilities, reporting relationship, working conditions, and supervisory responsibilities- one product of a job. Job specification: a list of a jobs human requirements that is requisites education, skills, personality, and so on-other product of a job analysis. Coca cola company HR department check its own job description and job analysis in which they get the information about employees work activities, human behavior, performance standard, job context and human requirements and also other information related to this conduct. HR department of coca cola used this information for Recruiting, selection, compensation, performance appraisal, training, and employees relationship. Planning and Forecasting The process of deciding what positions th e firm will have to fill, and how to fill them. Coca cola HR department involves in company strategic planning and they also make sufficient planning for hiring new employees in the future. We forecast for the expected employees needs in the organization. We forecast of employees on the change technology and increasing in productivity. After planning we send this report to the head office for approval. If we get approval from the head office then we start recruitment process. Our recruitment process Our recruitment process is well established first of all we give ads in news papers, company website, institutions etc.Once we receive an application form, from candidates with required documents and C V. Internal recruitment External recruitment External Selection process The selection process will vary depending on the position youre applying for, as one process cant fit all the different roles we have here at CCE. However, in most cases a combination of any of the following tools will be used: Interview Group exercises Presentations Psychometric tests Role plays/Situational Exercises Interview The interview is designed to reveal more about you and your experiences. Well ask for examples of how you behaved in different situations, maybe at school, university, a club, at home or in previous jobs. This is not designed to catch you out and our interviewers will never try and trick you into an answer. Be honest, be yourself and it should be an enjoyable experience. Also, dont forget that this is your chance to find out more about us and ask questions. Remember, interviews are a two-way process so use it to understand the nature of the role and to make sure it really is what youre looking for. Group exercises Were very much a team at CCE so these will show us how effectively you work with people. Theyre a good opportunity for us to see how you communica te, influence and involve other people in the workplace. Presentations Presentations give you the chance to show your ability to communicate to a group of people on a specific topic. You may be given a topic in advance or on the day, but dont worry youll have plenty of time to prepare. Psychometric tests Psychometric tests are timed exercises that examine your abilities and potential. On occasions, we may also use a personality assessment tool that is designed to find out more specific things about you. If youre asked to complete a psychometric test, well send you information and advice in advance on how to prepare. Role Plays/Situational Exercises Designed to assess how you react in certain situations, these help to highlight particular skills and how well youre suited for a position. You may be given facts and figures to review, or a report to complete; we may also have an assessor acting as a customer or employee to simulate a situation that could occur in the workplace. Dont worry, youll be given a brief and ample time to prepare. Training process of employees Training process is essential part of every employee with out training; employee can not come to now the procedure of work, rules and regulations of firm, some times when new technology is introduced it is also responsibility of a firm to train its employees. After recruiting the fresh employee we train them for three months and also pay them salaries after three months they become part of a firm We also give training to already exist employee it depend upon condition for example if new technology is introduced first of all we give full training to them about new technology then we allow them to start their job . Performance appraisal Coca cola performance appraisal is annually Hr manger waqar mahmood said that we appraise the employee due to their performance about goals of the organization .we set the goals started the year and tell the employees about the goal if the employees achieve this goal we appraise the employees. Steps in appraising performance The performance appraisal process process contains three steps; Define the job Appraise the performance Provide feedback Define the job; Means making sure that you and your subordinate agree on his or her duties and job standard. Appraise performance; Means comparing your subsssss ordinates actual performance to the standards that have been set. Provide feedback; Means discuss the subordinate performance and progress, and make plans for any development required. External recruitment External

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Essay - 1631 Words

How does Mary Shelley present the character of the monster so as to gain sympathy for him? When Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus, in 1818 at the tender age of 18, it was often wondered how such a young girl could imagine such a horrific story. In fact, one could find that the idea of ‘playing God’ and manipulating the ideas behind life and death were very much real at the time, and even today. Many scientists were investigating the process of bringing a dead being back to life, or galvanism, and there were some, like Humphrey Davy, who believed that scientists had no limit as to what they could do, believing that they could become masters, even creators. Shelley’s character, Frankenstein, shares these†¦show more content†¦However the novel also concentrates on the moral and political issues of society at the time, a matter that could be very easily compared with in our own time. A theme that frequently occurs in the novel is the issue of appearance and reality, and the way that society tends to judge people’s exterior rather than interior being. The creature is at first innocent, and suffers his life in loneliness and isolation, eventually becoming the monster that Frankenstein already sees him as. However the creature was not always as monstrous on the inside. It is only when he experiences constant rejection from society and even more importantly his ‘friends’, the de Laceys’, that the creature falls into the character of being a â€Å"monster†. Mary had known about Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s theory that children were born with innocence and purity, and also John Locke, who put forward the idea, tabula rasa, where children learnt from those around them and through their own sensations that they experience. Even Mary’s father, Godwin, believed that a recluse could not ever be moral, and that only when things like possession, marriage, and selfishness were abolished could there ever be happiness in our society. When the idea came to her in a dream, it was with the knowledge of all of this, and her very own traumatic personal experiences that she had already encountered in life, that Mary Shelley was able to mould her story into a tale about Frankenstein andShow MoreRelatedFrankenstein, By Mary Shelley1650 Words   |  7 Pagesbook of Frankenstein does one just think of a mythical science fiction book that really has no meaning? Frankenstein can have numerous meanings depending on how a person perceives it. Frankens tein can be analyzed into many themes; some say religion, feminism, or scientific symbolization, it all depends on ones own perception. When one analyzes further into Mary Shelly’s life and then interprets the novel it is obvious that is a sociological theme. One can simply assume that Mary Shelley creates FrankensteinRead MoreFrankenstein by Mary Shelley1093 Words   |  4 Pagesfaster than man can contend with. That argument is the premises, moral, and plot base for Mary Shelleys tale Frankenstein. On the other hand, J. Michael Bishops, essay Enemies of Promise   on the other hand promotes and boast sciences achievements. However, Mary Shelley presents her point of view subtly yet very dramatically, which is much more effective than that of J. Michael Bishop. The dramatic story Shelley creates becomes a part of the reader, therefore holding the readers attention. ShelleysRead MoreMary Shelley Frankenstein859 Words   |  4 Pages Mary Shelley The Creature in Mary Shelley’s â€Å"Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus† needs a companionship as every ordinary human. Every man needs a woman, who will able to share moments of happiness and sadness, a woman who will be able to share thoughts and of course a woman who will be able to love a man. In this case the Creature needs a bride. But the problem is that the Creature from the â€Å"Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus† is not a human. SoRead MoreFrankenstein, by Mary Shelley1138 Words   |  5 PagesIs Frankenstein a man, whose ambition led to a disaster; or a monster, which created a life with disregard for the human race? Frankenstein, in my opinion, was the monster not the life that he had created. Frankenstein never admitted to his family what he had done, never admitted responsibility for his actions. He might as well have killed Elizabeth, William, Justine, and Clerval with his own hand. The so called â€Å"Monster† only wanted companionship; he did not want to murder those people. TheRead MoreFrankenstein, By Mary Shelley1325 Words   |  6 PagesI have been informed that you are pushing to remove the book Frankenstein by Mary Shelley from the school curriculum. I’ve decided to write to you and explain why I believe that you are misinformed, and in fact, why this is a huge importance to the students of today. Frankenstein is a classic which recounts the life and horrors of Victor Frankenstein, as told through a series of letters and narrations. His obsession with the natural world and science brings him to a state of mind which ultimatelyRead MoreFrankenstein, By Mary Shelley1580 Words   |  7 PagesFrankenstein by Mary Shelley is a sci-fi novel written during the Romantic Movement in Britain’s early nineteenth century. The movement was stimulated by the French Revolution, Industrial Revolution and in reaction against the emphasis on reason in eighteenth-century Enlightenment philosophy (The Romantic Movement, 2014 ). Mary Shelley’s husband, Percy Shelley was also a romantic poet during the movement. Shelley’s novel is evidently influenced by her relationship with her husband, which is illustratedRead MoreFrankenstein by Mary Shelley739 Words   |  3 Pagesinterconnections of humanity, nature, and divinity (â€Å"Romanticism 1†). English Romanticism being trendy in Europe, people would vent their outlooks onto their personal fiction works such as Mary Shelley. Shelley uses vivid creativity and romantic elements to create one of her admired novels, Frankenstein. In Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, most of the characters prove their compassion for mankind, prove their rejection of technology and science, and prove their involvement in a romantic quest. These several characteristicsRead MoreFrankenstein, By Mary Shelley1040 Words   |  5 Pages In 1818, a book titled Frankenstein was published anonymously, mysteriously dedicated to William Godwin, a prominent journal ist and political philosopher of his time. The immediate reviews of the novel were mixed, most edging towards critical, although no one knew who the book was written by. However, while Frankenstein failed to gain popularity immediately, no one had any idea the lasting impact this novel would have on the world. Despite the lukewarm reception at its debut, it soon proved to beRead MoreFrankenstein, by Mary Shelley1078 Words   |  5 PagesMary Shelley’s Frankenstein has undoubtedly withstood the test of time. Frankenstein’s direct association with fundamental Gothic literature is extremely renowned. However, the novel’s originality is derived from the foundational thematic values found within the relationship (or lack there of) between Victor Frankenstein and the monster he had created, in combination with a fascinatingly captivating plot. Understandably, Frankenstein can often be associated with a multitude of concepts; however,Read MoreFrankenstein, By Mary She lley1532 Words   |  7 PagesLike any author, especially one who created a new genre, there will be criticism, and Shelley is no exception. Shelley received criticism surrounding Frankenstein not only because she was a female writer, but because of her writing style. Originally, Frankenstein was published anonymously and was thought that her husband, Percy Shelley, wrote it (â€Å"Mary Shelley Biography† 2016). Shelley may have published Frankenstein anonymously because â€Å"’women understood that they got a â€Å"better hearing† if it was thought

Keeping the Drinking Age at 21 Free Essays

Listening to the news on television, hearing other students talk about it, is it really true, or are they going to lower the drinking age to 18? This is not just a rumor but nowhere have they actually lowered the age. The debate has been talked about for the last few years. The nation has always tried different things to solve the irresponsible drinking problems. We will write a custom essay sample on Keeping the Drinking Age at 21 or any similar topic only for you Order Now In order to try and prevent this problem America has tried a national prohibition in the 1920’s and state prohibitions in the 1850’s. Many believe that rising the drinking age has saved lives of many young adults. There has been evidence that the drinking age of 21 has decreased the amount of tragic car accidents related to alcohol between young adults. Since 1987 the decrease of drinking and driving problems have gone down. If they did lower the drinking age to 18 or 19 the more health related problems the young adults would deal with once they get older. On the other hand the current law of the minimum drinking age at 21 leads to problems behind the scenes. The amount of students at colleges under the age 21 are more likely to be binge drinkers, which means they have more than five drinks in a row. This can be very dangerous to the body. Many also argue that if a person is old enough to fight for the country they should be old enough to have a beer. Also if a people are expected to be able responsible and live on their own at eighteen they should be able to be responsible enough to drink on their own. There are many pros and cons to lowering the drinking age, but the most important reason not to lower the drinking age is to protect the lives of young adults. A survey found that out of 1,881 surveyed college students 88 percent of males and 86 percent of females said they were drinkers (Gonzalez 2). Many adults have noticed the problem of underage drinking and want to fix the problem. If the states were to lower the drinking age we would be putting many lives at risk. Many studies have shown that the minimum drinking age of 21 has saved many lives when it turns to drinking and driving. In the article College-age Drinking Problems states â€Å"the age limit at 21 has saved 16,500 lives in traffic crashes alone since 1975† (Hingson 1). Traffic crashes are one of the leading causes of deaths in America for people under the age 25. 10,431 people between ages 15 and 24 died in 1996 from fatal traffic crashes and 45% of them were related to alcohol (1). By leaving the drinking age to 21 it will continue to save many lives from traffic crashes. The amount of alcohol related accidents doubles if a person has a . 02 percent increase in blood alcohol level. For people under 21 drinking and driving increases the risk of being involved in a fetal traffic crash with each alcoholic dri nk they have. As Hingson says â€Å" For young drivers, drinking is like throwing gasoline on a fire† (1). It is illegal for anyone under 21 to drive with blood alcohol level more than . 0 percent. With this law alcohol related traffic deaths has dropped 57 percent from 5380 in 1982 to 2315 in 1996 with people ages 15 to 20 (2). Lowering the legal limit for the amount allowed of blood alcohol content (BAC) for drivers will continue to save lives. The lowering of BAC has shown a 5 to 8 percent decrease in alcohol related traffic crashes (Wagenaar 6). Drivers under 21 who are intoxicated are more likely to get involved in traffic crashes, because they have less experience on the road. Communities have noticed the problem with underage drinking and driving and started The Saving Lives Project, which was designed to reduce alcohol impaired driving and related problems (Holder 2). This project uses media and education to get the word out about the risk of drinking. The communities that are apart of this project have shown a 40 percent reduction in alcohol related fatal crashes (Holder 2). The project has been shown that older teens ages sixteen to nineteen are now less likely to drink and drive after learning about the risks in alcohol related classes. Colleges that have set a week to focus on education and prevention of alcohol have shown a five-fold increase (Gonzalez 4). Not only does alcohol affect a person once they drink a beverage but it also affects them in their future. If people start drinking at a younger age the more problems they will encounter in their future. Over the life of many people it has been proven that most people drink the most in their late teens and early twenties (Chen 1). Drinking in young adults is turning to be a serious concern with public health. By exceeding the daily drinking limit is about four or more drinks in a single day, and college teens shown that hey binge drink. Binge drinking is when a person consumes more than five drinks in one setting (Hingson 1). People who binge drinks are more likely to do things they regret, fall back in schoolwork and become hurt or injured. Alcohol can cause risky behaviors and immediate and long-term problems with health. Becoming stricter on under age drinkin g laws can prevent this. If the cops gave more MIP’s out to parties with underage drinking teens would be less likely to drink. Even though many would agree to keep the drinking age at 21, many would also have many reasons why to lower the drinking age to 18. One main argument is if a person is old enough to fight for the country, vote or live on their own they should be old enough to drink (Johnson 1). If a man and women is old enough to go to war and put their life at risk they should be able to drink on their own. People would argue if they are old enough to vote for the person who runs the country, then what’s the difference in choosing the responsibility of drinking. Colleges have also debated the fact of lowering the drinking age. College president McCardell say’s â€Å"it does not reduce drinking. It simply puts young adults at greater risks. (2) Many agree with McCardell and say that the drinking age of 21 does not prevent college students from drinking. It just causes them to drink under ground. If young adults do drink under ground they are more likely to binge drink and put their life at risk. â€Å"85 percent of 20 year old Americans reported that they have used alcohol, and two out of five said they have binge drank† (2). Johnson believes that if they lowering the drinking age young adults would learn to drink responsibly and stop binge drinking. Even though they are great arguments, raising the drink to 21 has proof with statistics that it has saved lives of many each year. It is more important to save the lives of people than it is to let them drink. Educating young adults about the risks of drinking can also prevent binge drinking. If the community worked together to have alcohol awareness days more people would be aware of the problem of underage drinking. The more people know about the problem the more people will work together to stop the problem. It can also stop underage drinking by creating more laws towards the people who sell to minors. If more people got in trouble for selling to minors the less people would sell to minors. The communities who have taken the step up in stopping underage drinking problems have noticed a huge change in the amount of deaths related to alcohol. By keeping the age at 21, it will continually save lives of accidents related to alcohol. If there was not a problem with the drinking age at 21 they would have never raised the age to 21, the law was set in place for a reason and it has been shown that it is a good law. As a parent many are worried about their children and want to make sure they will not ruin their life with alcohol related problems. How to cite Keeping the Drinking Age at 21, Papers

Materiality In Financial Statements Essay Example For Students

Materiality In Financial Statements Essay It is the responsibility of an independent auditor to plan and perform an audit of financial statements that will provide reasonable assurance of detecting errors and irregularities that are material in nature. According to the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the essence of the concept of materiality is: â€Å"The omission or misstatement of an item in a financial report is material if, in the light of surrounding circumstances, the magnitude of the item is such that it is probable that the judgment of a reasonable person relying upon the report would have been changed or influenced by the inclusion or correction of the item.† Materiality is a term that is hard to quantify, and must be determined for each individual situation. Public accounting firms have established informal quantitative and qualitative measures in an attempt to establish materiality thresholds. These measures have been affected and enhanced by statements of the Securities and Exchange Commission and ot her regulatory agencies and professional organizations. In setting the preliminary judgment about materiality, auditors establish the maximum amount by which they believe the statements could be misstated and still not affect the decisions of reasonable users. An amount is considered material when it is one dollar more than the amount required for a user of financial statements to change their decision. Two broad types of materiality have been recognized: quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative materiality is economic in nature and exclusively depends on the effect of a fact on the company’s financial performance. Typically, public accounting firms have established quantitative materiality thresholds, and have used specific mathematical procedures in this process. Once the effect of a fact exceeds a certain percentage or amount of the item serving as the base measurement (ie. net income, stock price, or total assets), the fact is disclosed as a material statement. Qualitative materiality is not as straightforward or easy to meas ure. In an attempt to clarify qualitative materiality, FASB asserted that â€Å"materiality judgments can properly be made only by those who have all the facts.† Thus, qualitative materiality takes into account the relevance and reliability of a fact to determine its effects on the financial statements, encompassing the information available in its entirety. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is an agency of the federal government whose purpose is to help to provide investors with reliable information for use in making financial and investment decisions. The SEC has determined that the creation of accounting principles and auditing standards should be left to the accounting professionals, namely the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the Auditing Standards Board (ASB). However, the position of the SEC is greatly taken into account when changes are proposed. Recently, the SEC disclosed its position on the practice of using quantitative benchmarks in dete rmining materiality. On August 12, 1999, the SEC released Staff Accounting Bulletin 99. This bulletin expressed the view of the SEC that â€Å"exclusive reliance on certain quantitative thresholds to assess materiality is inappropriate.† SAB 99 eliminated the common â€Å"rule of thumb† practice followed by most public accounting firms that allowed transactions affecting financial statements by an amount less than five percent to be disregarded and deemed immaterial. The quantifying of materiality in a percentage term should be just the beginning of a materiality analysis. The emphasis of the SEC’s bulletin was to encourage auditors to view facts in the context of the surrounding circumstances. All relevant factors, both quantitative and qualitative, must be accounted for and â€Å"magnitude by itself, without regard to the nature of the item and the circumstances in which the judgment has to be made, will not generally be a sufficient basis for a materiality j udgment.† To assist auditors in determining relevant considerations in determining materiality, SAB 99 provided a partial list of situations where misstatements that are quantitatively small may be deemed material. These situations include misstatements which: ? Arise from an item capable of precise measurement or from an estimate and, if so, the degree of imprecision inherent in the estimate? Mask a change in earnings or other trends? Hide a failure to meet analysts’ consensus expectations for the enterprise? Change a loss into income or vice versa? Concern a segment or other portion of the registrant’s business that has been identified as playing a significant role in the registrant’s operation or profitability? Affect the registrant’s compliance with regulatory requirements, loan covenants or other contractual requirements? Have the effect of increasing management’s compensation? Involve the concealment of an unlawful transaction SAB 99 is an attempt by the SEC to provide guidance to auditors when dealing with areas that have the possibility of becoming material. This guidance will help to provide investors with more complete information, which is necessary to make sound financial decisions. .u68e558daa5a9b148704f58285a3a829d , .u68e558daa5a9b148704f58285a3a829d .postImageUrl , .u68e558daa5a9b148704f58285a3a829d .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u68e558daa5a9b148704f58285a3a829d , .u68e558daa5a9b148704f58285a3a829d:hover , .u68e558daa5a9b148704f58285a3a829d:visited , .u68e558daa5a9b148704f58285a3a829d:active { border:0!important; } .u68e558daa5a9b148704f58285a3a829d .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u68e558daa5a9b148704f58285a3a829d { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u68e558daa5a9b148704f58285a3a829d:active , .u68e558daa5a9b148704f58285a3a829d:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u68e558daa5a9b148704f58285a3a829d .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u68e558daa5a9b148704f58285a3a829d .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u68e558daa5a9b148704f58285a3a829d .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u68e558daa5a9b148704f58285a3a829d .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u68e558daa5a9b148704f58285a3a829d:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u68e558daa5a9b148704f58285a3a829d .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u68e558daa5a9b148704f58285a3a829d .u68e558daa5a9b148704f58285a3a829d-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u68e558daa5a9b148704f58285a3a829d:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Of Praise EssayThe concept of materiality in financial reporting is a sensitive and difficult topic to define. The quantitative measures of materiality, which were almost exclusively followed for so long by public accounting firms, are not sufficient when making the decision regarding financial disclosures. The issuance of SAB 99 will help auditors to more closely consider qualitative measures, which are notably more difficult to pinpoint, yet can carry a great impact on materiality and financial decisions. Business Essays

Business In Spain Essays - Southwestern Europe, Geography Of Spain

Business In Spain Spain is the second largest country in the EU. The territory of Spain covers most of the Iberian Peninsula; which it shares with Portugal and also includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean, and the North African cities of Ceuta and Melilla. In the north it is bordered by the Cantabrian Sea, France and Andorra; in the east and south-east by the Mediterranean; in the south by the Straits of Gibraltar; in the south-east by the Atlantic; in the west by Portugal and in the north-east by the Atlantic. Climate The temperate in Spain is clear, hot summers in the interior, more moderate and cloudy along the coast, cloudy, cold winters in the interior, partly cloudy and cool along the coast. Terrain The terrain of Spain described as large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills; Pyrenees in the north. Natural hazards Periodic droughts Time Zones Spain is one hour ahead of London time, with the exception of the Canary Island, which is in the same time zone as London. Language Castilian Spanish 74%, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque 2% Spanish is the official language, which is used along with other official regional languages, such as Catalan, Basque, Galician and Valencian in their respective autonomous communities. English is the main foreign language studied at school. Population 39,167,744 (July 1999 est.) Age structure 0-14 years: 15% (male 3,012,907; female 2,835,455) 15-64 years: 68% (male 13,411,046; female 13,406,216) 65 years and over: 17% (male 2,702,654; female 3,799,468) (1999 est.) Currency 1 peseta (Pta) = 100 centimos Economic System Spain is very dynamic country and has achieved high economic growth rates surpassing the average of other industrialized countries. Sixty million tourists visit the country each year. International organizations recognize and endorse the improvement in the Spanish economy, as the country shows a projected GDP growth of 3.7 percent for 1998. The operations in the Spanish financial system can be classified as follows: The Bank of Spain, :Banco de Espana," is the central issuing bank. It implements the monetary and exchange policy set forth by the Government and provides payment services with respect to the national debt. Around 50 foreign banks have offices in Spain. Stock market There are four stock exchanges in Spin; the largest is Madrid and the others are located in Barcelona, Valencia and Bilbao. The Spanish stock exchanges are characterized over the long run by strong steady growth in share price. Money Market The money market is based fundamentally on the issuance of short-term securities by the Bank of Spain, which are taken up by banks, finance companies and money market operators that place a portion of them with individuals and corporations with cash surpluses for short-term investment. In a broader sense, the money market also covers inter-bank deposits. Interest rates on such deposits are as a benchmark for other transactions and trading in short-term corparate securities (although these are dealt with through stock exchanges). The money market has become increasingly important as a result of the liberalization and greater flexibility of the Spanish financial system. This is evident from the fact that interest rates are ordinarily higher than the inflation rate and from the substantial volume of trading in money market securities. The Government debt market is important in Spain and used by both resident and foreign investors. Favorable tax arrangements for investments by non-residents in these securities make this market attractive. Transportation Railways: total 15,079 km Highways: total 346,858 km Paved: 343,389 km Unpaved: 3,469 km Waterways: 1,045 km Ports and harbors: Aviles, Barceluna, Bilbao, Cadiz, Cartagena, Castellon de la Plana, Ceuta, Huelua, La Coruna, Las Palmas (Canary Islands), Malaga, Melilla, Pasajes, Gijon, Santa Cruz de Tenerif (Canry Islands), Santander, Tarragona, Valencia, Vigo Airports 99 (1998 est.) Political System Spain's government type is parliamentary monarchy. Spain has three different levels of government, municipal governments, autonomous communities, and the central government. Spaniards can boast of having one of the best lifestyles in Europe or for that matter, in the world. It is the sunniest country in Europe and its climate is ranked among the healthiest in the world according to the World Health Organization. Spain's excellent quality of life has been widely recognized by the media, and in particular a recent study by The Economist ranked Spain as third in the world in terms of social, political, cultural, and economic factors. Over four thousand kilometers of beaches, abundant sport and social opportunities are combined with a diverse cultural heritage painted by the Celts, Romans, and Arabs. Spain is a very dynamic country

Devices in Death of A Salesman Essay Example

Devices in Death of A Salesman Essay Example Devices in Death of A Salesman Paper Devices in Death of A Salesman Paper Essay Topic: Death Of a Salesman In Arthur Millers work of drama, Death of a Salesman, conflicts within an ordinary nuclear family arise and manifest into more serious issues as the play progresses. However, Miller also manages to highlight a much larger issue within the plot- the pursuit of the American Dream in relation to issues regarding values vs. American capitalism. Blogger and literary analyst, Brett Correman explains Death ofa Salesman explores the world of post-war America and the effect that Americas new found prosperity had on men. During the 1950s, men began to feel pressured to not ust provide for their family but to also give them the luxuries that society was coming to believe every household was entitled to. Every family deserved a house with a picket fence, a new car in the garage, and all the newest appliances to make life easier. Advertisers pitched the idea that the American Dream was in reach of every man. Yet the reality then, as it is now, is that strenuously reaching to keep up with the Joneses can stretch a family perilously thin. Unfortunately, Willy Loman bought into the idea and he let it destroy him and his family. Theres nothing wrong with wanting to provide nice things for your family; Willy Just went about it all wrong. Miller charges America with selling a false myth constructed around a capitalist materialism nurtured by the postwar economy, a materialism that obscured the personal truth and moral vision of the original American Dream described by the countrys founders (Sparknotes. om) In the play, the protagonist Willy Loman is a salesman in his sixties who has been a loyal employee at the Wagner Company over the past thirty-four years. Though his Job reflects his monotonous life, he is a clear- cut example of the phrase, Get rich or die trying. One may agree with me in saying that Willys character seems lazy in achieving the American Dream though he shows great passion in wanting to achieve it. Willy believes in achieving the Dream by popularity like his neighbor Charleys son Bernard who is actual ly popular because of his strides in academia. Willy also tries to live the Dream through the life of his own son, Biff, who actually has a different approach to living his American Dream which nclude freeing himself from his fathers idealistic expectations and becoming his own man. Within the play, various literary elements were explored but the end of the play (pages 81- 107) showed three distinct elements that helped to make the plot clearer for the modern day individual to understand. The first element was the thematic concerns of the final act which included Dreams vs. Reality and The Effects of Capitalism. The first theme of Dreams vs. Reality seems to be overplayed in this work of drama but it is portrayed by the impression that Mr. Loman is losing his mind for example, he has a long intimate conversation with his dead brother Ben as he plans to end his life in the denouement. Stage directions help to enhance this scene as the character of Bens ghost appears in the garden where Willy is, He breaks off as Ben appears at the right and moves slowly down to him. However, one may be able to state that here the voice of Ben acts as Willys conscience in that as Willy justifies the need to end his life for Biff to reap the savings of the life insurance while Ben objects by remarking Its called a cowardly thing William. As the play draws closer to the end the character of Ben argues with Willy insisting that he is making a terrible decision. Willy never fully comes to terms with reality as he lives in his dreams which range from his self-delusion that he has achieved great things at work or his past that he revisits during his frequent flashbacks. His dreams are so far stretched from reality that critic, Brett Correman states that it is ultimately Willy Lomans denial of reality that leads to his downfall. The theme of the Effects of Capitalism is also one that has been embodied by the entire plot of the play but more so in the last act as it shows what the actual pressures of the Western World has degraded a man into becoming- depressed, uneasy and helpless. In a statement to Ben, Willy is able to capture the real effect of capitalism to the reader, Oh Ben, how do we get back to all the great times? Used to be so full of light.. always some kind of good news coming up. This describes the past, in Willys younger days before he made this Dream a life goal. This theme identifies with even the modern day reader as the majority of the working class still strives for materialistic gains to achieve ultimate happiness even if in that process, more discomfort occurs. The second literary element in this play is symbolism. This literary device is recurrent throughout the play especially toward the end as again the ongoing conflict between Willy and Biff is expressed through Biff having to withstand his fathers negative comments toward his life choices. One example of this is the insult mfoure no good, youre no good for anything. Though it is in context with the argument about Olivers pen, the audience is aware that Willy is blatantly referring to his discontentment with his son not allowing him to live out his dream through him (BifO. This symbolizes modern day life when parents push their children to get the best out of formal education so as to achieve the goals they themselves were unable to in their youth. However, if the childs dreams differ from that of the parents, serious conflicts arise leading to a breakdown in the household. Another aspect of symbolism in this play is the name f protagonist, Willy Loman. The name Loman is of Irish origin and means small bare one. This in itself says a lot about Willys life and his financial state. His name in the literal form too, gives the reader the idea that he belongs to the lower social class. Bens ghost is another symbolic element that helps readers to understand not only Willys deteriorating mental state but to mirror his characters dream of becoming rich like his brother to his reality of being a salesman. The last element of symbolism in the play is Willys funeral. The fact that only his family attended the funeral shows ow worthless he lived his life. The small group of people even paying their respects is probably only present because he was their husband and father. Furthermore, it symbolizes how the modern world lives- working everyday trying to achieve materialistic gains, wanting to be popular and forgetting things that really matter such as family life. In the end you end up with neither. The third literary element is dramatic irony. The first instance of this is at the end of play where Willys funeral is described as a cruel and pathetic end to the salesmans life. Only his family and Charley attend, while none of his other customers, friends, or colleagues bothers to pay their respects. Even Linda in the requiem addresses the irony of his small funeral by asking But where are all the people he knew? This alone clarifies that Willys self-acclaimed popularity was conjured in his own mind, in a way to cope with his mediocre lifestyle. The last ironic element occurs when Linda claims that she has made the final payment on the home that Willy has worked so hard to pay for but he ends his life Just as a sense of financial security is made possib le for them after his hirty-five years of working, therefore, depriving himself of the results of his years of dedicated toil and service to the Wagner Company. Citations: Death ofa Salesman. Sparknotes. com. 1 November 2013 Correman, Brett. Lessons in Unmanliness: Willy Loman. Theartofmanliness. com. 1 November 2013 Ross, Jeremy. Weinbloom, Elizabeth ed. Death of a Salesman Study Guide : Summary and Analysis of Requiem. GradeSaver, 06 June 2009 Web. 6 November 2013 Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller Study Guide: Conflict. PinkMonkey, 5 July 2007 web. 7th 2013

Industrial Design History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Industrial Design History - Essay Example The chair was made of walnut and leather. In addition, it was stamped and got gilt decoration. The chair was given to Philadelphia Museum of Art as a gift from the Preservation society stationed in Newport County. The chair was part of dining room furniture that was commissioned by George Peabody Wetmore for his home in New Port Rhode Island. The Armchair was designed in 1898 by Gustav Serrurier-Bovy. Gustav Serrurier-Bovy was a Belgian born in 1858. He died in 1910, but created a lot of works during his short life. In 1898, he managed to make an Armchair that was a depiction of the art Nouveau style that existed at that time. Art Nouveau style thrived between 1895 and 1920. The chair also owes much more to the Vernacular style that existed in England around the late nineteenth century. Art Nouveau style had a number of elements. Art Nouveau was characterized by a lot of graceful, sinuous lines. These lines were flowing and rarely angular. Furthermore, the art Nouveau style was also characterized by a lot of violent curves. The rhythmic patterns of the curvey lines were characteristic of the given art style. The curvey lines connected the images in the art to beautiful items, like hardware and furniture. In addition, some elements, like organic subject matter, were included in the style. One would find plenty of vines, flowers, grass, seaweed, insects, leaves, and images of jewelry, architecture, windows and architecture. One can identify Art Nouveau style art and architecture by looking for some elements.

Impact of sexual abuse on children Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Impact of sexual abuse on children - Essay Example It also establishes the effect of gender of the abused on the perpetration of sexual abuse (151). This study is important in psychology because it contributed to the expansion of the knowledge in the field and strengthened the theories on previous researches on the psychological effects sexual abuse has upon children and adolescents. The children have low regard on themselves or hostile and aggressive. Their behaviors manifest on both extremes. They are also afflicted with â€Å"negative developmental outcomes† such as depression, low self-esteem, anger, promiscuity, etc. (152). Sexual abuse affects the mental outlook of the abused towards themselves, other people, the institutions and society in general, especially for those who experienced it regularly or for a longer duration (152-153). Interview is a qualitative approach used in social sciences, but it is the primary research method utilized in gathering data for this study. However, the data gathered from the subjects wer e analyzed using quantitative parameters. Thus, it can be said that the research design used both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. The quantitative approach is used to quantify the information gathered from the subjects (e.g. frequency of commission). Through interview, the trained interviewers asked the subjects the frequency of experiencing certain acts such as the number of times an adult has touched or kissed him or her sexually (162).

Drug profiling assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Drug profiling assignment - Essay Example Forensic scientists employ several tests and techniques to provide evidence needed for the case. Analysis of samples is necessary to identify, quantify and drug profiling. The materials previously collected, 100 grams of white powder, the trace samples from the clothing of the suspects, the cling film and the mirror will all be subjected to analysis. Prior to the presumptive tests, physical description and sampling will be done. The physical characteristics such as texture, powder particle size, color, odor, taste and weight will be physically defined before a sample for analysis will be secured. It will be weighed and thoroughly homogenised, before a sample was taken. Presumptive analysis will provide the identification of the white powder collected from the table. Trace samples from the suspects’ clothing can directly be analyzed using confirmatory tests. Colour test will bring initial data for the powder’s identity. Specific color changes give the positive result for the powder’s identity. An intense blue-violet color when the powder is made to react with 1% cobalt acetate, and 5% isopropylamine in methanol of Dillie-Koppanyi test will identify it as a barbiturate. Marquis test using dilute solution of methanal in sulphuric acid can give two types of results; if the colour changed to purple, the powder is heroin-based, if the test however yields an orange-brown colour, the powder is an amphetamine. Treating it with a Duquenois-Levine test reagent and a purple colour resulted, the powder is positive as marijuana. In Scott test, in which a solution of cobalt chloride is added in a 50:50 mixture of water and glycerol, a blue c olour positively identifies cocaine. This positive result can be confirmed by adding concentrated hydrochloric acid, liquid goes pink and then adding chloroform the blue reappears in the chloroform layer. Blue-purple in reaction with

Effects of Ethical Conflicts in Business

Effects of Ethical Conflicts in Business Ethical Relativism or Imperialism: The Effects of Ethical Conflicts on Top Manager Behavior under Host Country Context and International Joint Venture Performance. Defined by Shenkar Zeira (1987); Ren et.al (2009), international joint ventures (IJVs) are jointly owned organizational entities by two or more legally distinct organizations, in which the headquarters of at least one is located outside the country of operation of the entity. Alliance literature suggests that the ability to bridge cultural differences is often found important to the success of IJVs and the lack of such ability is a major contributor to failure (Yan Luo, 2016). Among various dimensions of cultural differences, cross-cultural ethical conflicts have a great influence when two firms from different countries manage an IJV together, because what is considered an unacceptable practice in a Western context because core principles would be violated, may be acceptable in another because those core principles would not be violated e.g. monetary gift giving (Irwin, 2012). So, how do top managers representing partners in an IJV reconcile these ethical conflicts under certain b oundary conditions, and how does this type of reconciliation influence strategic decision-making and eventually affect IJV performance? Prior research has shown that the cultural differences between alliance partners play a pivotal role in affecting alliance performance (Boyd Webb, 2008). Culture differences between joint venture partners have usually been considered a major factor that might influence venture failure or unsatisfactory performance (Cartwright Cooper, 1993). Among various forms of alliance, IJVs are particularly susceptible to damage by cultural differences because top managers representing different cultures must work in concert to achieve mutual goals in IJVs, and the strength and success of an IJV rest on the interactions of its people (Yan Luo, 2016). Previous research has focused on cultural differences in strategic alliance from national and organizational levels (Sirmon Lane, 2004). E.g. Homburg Pflesser (2000) argue that there are various dimensions to any alliance partners organizational culture including shared values, norms and artifacts. Besides looking at analyses of national and organization levels, a few research has explored how individual level factors affect IJV performance. For example, Leung et al., (2013) argue that top management trust influences IJV performance. Yet the impact of ethical conflicts at individual level under certain boundary conditions on IJV performance remains largely undeveloped.   Do top managers representing partners in IJVs show different patterns of behavior in different countries? How do ethical conflicts affect the decision-making behavior of top managers and in turn influence IJV performance? Considering the important managerial implications, the author addresses these questions by drawing on ethical relativism theory. According to conventional ethical relativism, what is right for you as an individual depends upon what your culture thinks is right for you (Beebe, 2003). Therefore, the author contends that among top managers who hold higher standards of ethics, ethical relat ivism will be triggered under lax host country regulations, which means the managers will compromise to fit in host business context which might facilitate IJV performance. Reversely, ethical imperialism will be triggered in response to more stringent host country regulations, which means the managers will maintain high standards of ethics to avoid breach of regulations which might damage IJV performance. In this article, I strive to explore the dynamic relationship of individual level reaction of decision-making, which is elicited by ethical conflicts under host country regulations and the impact on IJV performance. By providing theoretical and practical insights, I propose that the association between cross-cultural ethical conflicts and top manager ethical relativism/imperialism is moderated by host country regulations, and the reaction of top manager decision-making will in turn influence IJV performance. I test my hypotheses by conducting a survey on top managers and their direct staff working for IJVs, formed by Sino-US firms which operate either in China or in the U.S. The contribution of this research is twofold. First, the present research contributes to the knowledge of culture differences and alliance literature at the individual level by revealing that ethical conflicts affect top manager behavior in IJVs under certain boundary conditions. Second, the present research contributes to the managerial practices considering that ethical conflicts elicit the altering of strategic decision-making of IJV top managers towards ethical relativism or ethical imperialism contingent upon how lax or stringent host country regulations are. The managerial implications of the results will help top management team members better understand the impact of ethical conflicts and the possible options when forming and managing IJVs under certain business contexts. References       Boyd, D. E. and K. L. Webb (2008). Interorganizational ethical conflict within alliances: A conceptual framework and research propositions. Journal of Business-to-Business Marketing 15(1): 1-24. Cartwright, S. and C. L. Cooper (1993). The role of culture compatibility in successful organizational marriage. The Academy of Management Executive 7(2): 57-70. Homburg, C. and C. Pflesser (2000). A multiple-layer model of market-oriented organizational culture: Measurement issues and performance outcomes. Journal of marketing research 37(4): 449-462. Irwin, J. (2012). Doing business in China: An overview of ethical aspects. UK: Institute of Business Ethics. James R. Beebe. Ethical Relativism. University at Buffalo, Copyright 2003. Pothukuchi, V., et al. (2002). National and organizational culture differences and international joint venture performance. Journal of International Business Studies 33(2): 243-265. Ren, H., et al. (2009). Performance of international joint ventures: what factors really make a difference and how? Journal of Management 35(3): 805-832. Shenkar, O. and Y. Zeira (1987). International joint ventures: Implications for organisation development. Personnel Review 16(1): 30-37. Sirmon, D. G. and P. J. Lane (2004). A model of cultural differences and international alliance performance. Journal of International Business Studies 35(4): 306-319. Yan, A. and Y. Luo (2016). International joint ventures: Theory and practice, Routledge. Wai On, L., et al. (2013). Top management team trust, behavioral integration and the performance of international joint ventures. Journal of Asia Business Studies 7(2): 99-122.

Teenage Alcohol Abuse Essay -- essays research papers

Is there ever going to be an end of teenagers drinking before they are allowed to according to law? In today’s society teenagers walk around as if they know exactly what is good for them, as if they are invincible. Take a look at the number of crashes caused every year by teenage under-aged drinkers and how alcohol effects their future and see how bold of a word invincibility is. Issues that need to be considered when it comes to alcohol are the medical conditions it gives people, how alcohol effects each teenagers future, and who the people are that are inspiring teenagers to drink. People have the right to drink but because of law teenagers are not legally allowed to. There is a reason for everything and this is to keep everyone safe. Alcohol has a major effect on people medically, especially teenagers. Between the years 1988-1996, there was between 130-150 deaths each year caused medically by the use of alcohol. Believe it or not but alcohol is the most commonly consumed drug in New Zealand. It causes cancer, high blood pressure, haemorrhagic strokes, cardiac conditions...

Case Study: Developing the Leaders of Tomorrow

Produce a four pages report on NSW public sector commission discussing their approach to management and leadership development while highlighting the added value, this kind of approach brings to the success of organizations in general. In the next ten years, NSW expects a large number of retired managers by up to 75% from Department of Finance and Services. In 2008, NSW started preparing succession management to have a pool of managers and leaders for future changes. According to Berger & Berger succession management define as â€Å"the daily process of cultivating future talent through coaching, mentoring, feedback, counseling and development†. NSW develop succession management planning for the sake of developing the present manager in the organization through daily process, coaching, personality assessment and 360 – degree feedback and other tools to assess the leaders. NSW focused on succession management in order to have capable leaders and managers to be ready to deploy those managers would retire in the next ten years. Succession management ensure an organization has the right management available today as well will take over the role of managers and leaders in the future. It ensures the continuity of leadership, and to keep the blood continuing in the organization such as having new and developed mangers and leaders ready to replace those will retire. Therefore, NSW concerns about succession management in order to develop a pool of managers with specific capabilities and competencies ready to take over for a managers or executives within the organization. The succession management helps organizations measures the strength of their pool of talent and recognize where there gaps in the talent. The NSW established Leader Development Program that focused on the skills and attributes managers need to lead effectively in the public sector of the future. The program is developed and builds on the NSW Executive Capabilities such as: Communication and interpersonal effectiveness, facilitating workforce effectiveness, achieving results, organizational context and environment astuteness, managing customer and stakeholder relationships, leadership, strategic thinking and planning, and change management (from EDP PowerPoint document). The program provided to the development requirements of five different groups of leaders as follows: Aspiring managers, new managers, business managers, senior managers, and executives. To develop aspiring managers, a five –day program was implemented. The program involved personality –style feedback, which designed to improve self-awareness and overcome inner barriers to psychological growth and development leadership competencies. For instance, the inner feeling is limit inspiration, creativity and risk taking (Yukl,2013). Therefore, before become a successful manager, it is important to re-join with one’s feelings, and challenge the hidden fears (Yukl, 2013). Also the program covered the role of manager, and skills requirements of management function. A personality- style assessment and 360-degree feedback tools program used for new and business managers. This helps the participants to increase their self –awareness. 360-degree feedback also called as multisource feedback is assumed that most leaders lack accurate knowledge about their skills and behavior, and the feedback can be used to improve it (Yukl, 2013). The Managers obtain information about their skills or behavior from standardized surveys filled out by other people such as bosses, subordinates, and sometimes outsiders (Yukl, 2013). In NSW the program provide the manager with 360 – degree feedback from three key parties – people, business and leadership the modules take place over 10 months. Moreover, Coaching and mentoring sessions used to help the participants to interpret their experiences and learn new skills from their manager. The benefit the participants will gain through learning from their managers’ experience is the amount of challenge in projects, the variety of tasks, and the feedback. For senior managers and executives, the aim was to build a constructive behavioral leadership. The participants received their personality and leadership behaviors from 360-degree questioners. The assessment focused to measure participants’ predominant orientation (people vs. task-orientation), and measures what behaviours are mostly adopted at work and in interaction with other employees (aggressive, passive or constructive behaviors). The 360- degree feedback contains two profiles: self – image and how others evaluate or see you (Human Consulting, 2012). In NSW, a seven module were delivered over 12 months. After that, an independent external consultant clarified the results of each participant individually, to ensure the acceptance of the results in order to encourage change. Nowadays in its fifth year, NSW have 500 leaders and managers accomplished the program. Managers ready for planning and budgeting, staffing and organizing jobs and reporting relationships to efficiently implement plans, and monitoring and problem solving, beside other managerial skills. On the other hand, there leaders who are ready for setting a direction and constructing a vision and strategies to provide attention for planning, highlighting communication, reliability, and empowerment and inspiring people and structure informal networks of relationships ( Bloisi, Cook, & Hunsker 2003). The assessment of Executive Development Program (EDP) illustrates that the Finance and Services group of managers were the top performers among the 500 leaders and managers. The program focused on thirteen capabilities using eight tools to asses strengthens strategic leadership capability, develop the knowledge and skills required to deliver essential improvement, and motivate talented participants. Each participant commenced online and face-to-face assessment and got a confidential feedback to assist development and career planning. The assessment results ranked the leadership executive capabilities into strengthens and weaknesses categories. The four strongest capabilities are customer focus, complex dependencies, capacity to lead and manage people and organizational resilience. These capabilities added value to the organizations approach. For example, having leaders who focused on customers and understand what clients and customers need and want, and what they think about the organization products and how to improve the services and products to satisfy the customers. This kind of leader develops a competitive strategy for the organization. At the same time, the results show that the executive management needs to be developed in the strategic financial management. The main factors required development are: First, various choice of financial systems and budget management processes among and within the nine service group. The solution is merging and combining the financial system such as payment system, accounting and reporting in the state of funds received and spent and budget implementation process among and within the nine service group. The second weakness is the deficiency of clarity or consistency in the role of Chief Finance Officers and their finance team. To bridge this gap, the Finance Executive have to set a clear nd shared objective for Finance Department and drive an individual objective in order to work together to achieve departmental objectives. Third element need development plan is that the financial department does not play a vital role in the organizational decisions. In fact, the Financial Department consider as one of the major aspects for the organization. Therefore, it has to be taken into consideration when to make any kind of discussion related to the company. For example, if the company wants to maximize their profits the company has to grow business and to do that they need an income. Accordingly, the company either takes loan or goes public by issuing shared and bonds in order to make decision regarding this they have to review the financial reports. The fourth and last gab in capabilities is the level of variances of delegation and accountability given to the line managers. In order to fill this gab, the management need to establish a clear delegation of Document of Authority–DOA which state all the financial procedures and identify the authority level for each of financial manager. Than shared among the manager to clarify the level of authority each manager has. For example, for budgeting the project the financial manage has the authority to sign specific amount of budget (10,000$), in case the budget exceed the above mentioned amount then it has to go to the next level of authority and so on. In conclusion, develop succession management to prepare leaders and managers within the organization helps to invest in short – and long – term development of the employees. Moreover, organization’s workforce exposed as much of the working environment as possible so that they gain a good understanding of what the company requires to remain successful. They are familiar with organization culture and value, knew how to deal with employees and what the customers need and want. At the same time, the organization benefit from leaders development that it has committed employees who understand organization’s strategy and management and ensure the continuity of leadership as well having backup plan of leaders and managers developed and trained to replace those managers will retire in the future.

Sycamore - Not Just a Planetree

Sycamore - Not Just a Planetree The sycamore tree (​Platanus occidentalis) is readily identifiable with broad, maplelike leaves and a trunk and limb complexion of mixed green, tan and cream. Some suggest it looks like camouflage. It is a member of one of the planets oldest clan of trees (Platanaceae) and paleobotanists have dated the family to be over 100 million years old. Living sycamore trees can reach ages of five hundred to six hundred years. The American sycamore or western planetree is North Americas largest native broadleaf tree and is often planted in yards and parks. Its hybridized cousin, the London planetree, adapts very well to urban living. The improved sycamore is New York Citys tallest street tree and is the most common tree in Brooklyn, New York. Champion The record American sycamore, according to The Urban Tree Book and the Big Tree Register, is 129 feet tall. This Jeromesville, Ohio tree has a limb spread that spans 105 feet and the trunk measures 49 feet in circumference. Threats Unfortunately, sycamore is susceptible to anthracnose fungus which makes leaves turn brown and contorts stem growth. Witches brooms or leafless sprout clusters form and grow along the limbs. Most urban plantings are of the hybrid London planetree because of its resistance to anthracnose. Habitat and Lifestyle The deciduous sycamore is fast growing and sun-loving, growing seventy feet in seventeen years on a good site. Very often it divides into two or more trunks near the ground and its massive branches form a wide-spreading, irregular crown. Mature trees usually develop hollow portions and areas of decay making them vulnerable to wind and ice. The outer bark peels away to create a mottled patchwork of tans, whites, grays, greens and sometimes yellows. The inner bark is usually smooth. The leaves are very large with 3 to 5 leaf lobes and are often 7 to 8 inches long and wide. Stalked unisexual flowers of both sexes appear on the same tree when leaves emerge. Fruits dangle from long stems and are aggregates of feathery seed nutlets (achenes). The tree is a very aggressive stump sprouter. Lore The tree was probably named by early colonists who noted a resemblance to the English sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus). The sycamore tree of the Bible is actually the sycamore fig (Ficus sycomorus).The tree is not very good for construction but is highly prized as butcher blocks.A hybrid developed from the American sycamore, called the London planetree, has become the urban tree of choice in North America and Europe.Sycamore seeds accompanied the lunar orbit of Apollo 14 in 1971 and were planted across from Philadelphias Independence Hall.

Christianity

In regards to the issues of Christianity, Human Nature, and Morality philosophers Fredrich Nietzsche and Thomas Hobbes express radical views that are completely in opposition to one another. Hobbes philosophy is dominated by loyalty to the crown, riddled with references to the Christian scriptures, and centered on a belief that life is nasty, brutish, and short. (Leviathan) Nietzsches philosophy is dominated by the pessimistic views of Arthur Schopenhauer and his belief that the human race is nothing more than a herd. Nietzsche believes that God is inert and thus the enemy of life. (Anti-Nature) Both Hobbes and Nietzsche look at the world in a completely different light. Hobbes was a Christian who defended the bible, while Nietzsche refers to Christianity as being a great curse, one of stupidity in fact. There is nothing we envy less than the moralistic cow and the fat happiness of the good conscience...peace of soul, the Christian desideratum. (Anti-Nature) On the topic of human nature Hobbes thought life to be the war of every man, against every man. (Leviathan) Nietzsche, on the other hand, took a nihilistic approach and declared that human nature is simply a euphemism for inertia, cultural conditioning, and what we are before we make something of ourselves. Hobbes views on morality were strictly biblical, straight out of Exodus. Nietzsche, however, held morality as an impediment to the development of a new and better civilization; after all how could a religion that believes in turning the other cheek proclaim any intelligence? If thy eye offend thee, pluck it out. (Anti-Nature) Nietzsche believed that modern Christian civilization is demented. It is a sickness that must be overcome. Hobbes, however, declared that God, when he speaks to any subject, he ought to be obeyed. (Leviathan) Throughout his life, Nietzsche held the belief...