What role do nurses play in the provison of safe quality patient Essay

What role do nurses play in the provison of safe quality patient centered care - Essay Example Secondly, nurses have to work well within professional nursing and medical practitioner groups by facilitating open communication, maintaining shared respect, and contributing to decision-making processes. Nurses can perform this role by examining their individual and joint strong suits, weaknesses, and values as members of a group (Cronenwett et al., 2007). To do this, nurses need to be skilled in showing awareness of their own strong points, weaknesses, and constantly planning for development in employing themselves in active group growth. Third, nurses incorporate the best, most recent proof with medical expertise and patient/family predilections and standards for delivering prime healthcare. This role is made possible by the nurses’ knowledge of health study mythologies and procedures. This knowledge comes about through nurses’ skills in applying health study methods and procedures together with researchers to produce new information and practice (Cronenwett et al., 2007). Lastly, nurses use information to observe the results of care protocols and apply development techniques to design while trying changes that enhance the eminence and safety of healthcare frameworks constantly (Hughes, 2008). Nurses perform this role by bearing the knowledge of defining approaches for developing results of care in their respective work surroundings. Cronenwett, L., Sherwood, G., Barnsteiner, J., Johnson, J., Mitchell, P., Sullivan, D. T., Warren, J. (2007). Quality and safety education for nurses. Journal Of The American Academy Of Nursing, 55(3), 122–31. Hughes R. G. (2008). Nurses at the â€Å"Sharp End† of Patient Care. In: Hughes RG, editor. Patient Safety and Quality: An Evidence-Based Handbook for Nurses. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); Chapter 2. Retrieved from

Freuds Model of the Human Mind Essay Example for Free

Freuds Model of the Human Mind Essay Nowadays, it is no doubt that human beings are suffering from depression and pressure in daily lives. However, most of the people are not aware of it. Psychologists have been focusing on how these repressed, and subconscious emotions play an active role throughout life since the early twentieth century. The ‘Father of Psychology’, Sigmund Freud, theorized a system of categorizing individual’s mental life into three parts: the id, the ego, and the superego. The id is the primitive part of a personality that respond directly to the human instinct; the ego is the decision-making component, and it develops to satisfy between the lust of the id and the external world; the superego is the preconscious part of the personality that deals with moral judgment. Many authors have incorporated this theory into their works by means of the characters. The novel Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, tells a story about the end of the innocence and the beginning of the savagery that a group of British children left stranded on a beautiful island after a plane crash, and they were immersed in freedom until the human nature took over. Golding utilizes Jack, Ralph, and Piggy who are the primary characters to interpret Freud’s concepts of this three types of human personality, respectively. First of all, Jack is the best concerned with the personality suggested by id. He represents the dark side of human nature, and he displays the id mentality through his violent actions. He had tried to maintain civilized before he started hunting. However, it does not remain constant. It fades soon while he is driven by his desires. The dictator becomes dominant in his personality. Following his desires, every time the first thing that comes to his mind is always to kill or hurt others. While Jack and his boys are managing to kill a wild boar, they begin dancing and saying, â€Å"[k]ill the pig. Cut her throat. Bash her in† (Golding 79). This chart indicates the unit desires among them and it also becomes a symbol of their savagery. It is obviously not a primary need but only meant for fun and pleasure. They are now driven by the innate desire for destruction. Furthermore, according to the ‘pleasure principle’, it seeks to avoid pain and unpleasantness in order to satisfy one’s biological and psychological needs. It is not bad enough to have desires but to act upon it. Jack does so to a mother sow, â€Å"Jack [is] on top of the sow, stabbing downward with his knifethe spear move[s] forward inch by inch and the terrified squealing [becomes] a high-pitched scream. Then Jack [finds] the throat and the hot blood spout[s] over his hands† (Golding 149). The imagery and action indicate that Jack does things without thought of any consequences, only for his own impulsive desires. Like the id aims to take over the thought in one’s mind without determining the needs of others rather than reality and morality. Secondly, Golding portrays Ralph as an embodiment of ego that makes sure to satisfy all the needs and wants of the id in a way that seems proper in today’s world, which means that ego not only interacts with conscious but also the unconscious mind. Ralph is the chief and one of the most influential boys in this little society. He constantly acts as a democratic leader that balancing between the id and superego. For instance, realizing Jack’s desire of being the chief, Ralph gives him control of the hunting team, â€Å"Ralph look[s] at him, eager to offer something. ‘The choir belongs to you, of course.’The suffusion drained away from Jack’s face† (Golding 19). He cares about others’ feelings and does something realistic that is allowed by the society. At the same time, he fulfills Jack’s desire to be a leader to a certain extent. This reasonable action, which is controlled by the ego, also satisfies the urges of id in a socially accepted way. Moreover, Ralph has a strong sense of responsibility. While he is complaining to Piggy that the other boys do not care about the importance of the fire going, he makes a confession, â€Å" ‘[s]upposing I got to like the othersnot caring. What ’up become of us’ † (Golding 153). He is more conscious of the society rather than himself. Ralph is a neutral leader as he identifies the savagery of it and the morality of superego in order to come up with a realistic situation for the public. Like the ego represents the rational aspect of the mind, and maintains peace and stability. To end with, Piggy personifies the concept of superego to carry out the instinctual moral good most of the times. Golding represents Piggy as being more logically and intellectually mature than the others. Acting as the voice of reason, the superego inside his personality moralizes him as a sympathetic and sensible boy and guides him to choose what is morally right. While Jack leads the boys to make noise and rush, â€Å"Ralph [is] left, holding the conch, with no one but Piggy† (Golding 37). As the mob is full of noise and movement, Piggy does not follow Jack in overexcitement, rather he keeps calm and stays with the chief. His superego dominates him to maintain civilization. He displays consistent attention to societal rulings and feels like structure is the most important thing to the boys. Whatsmore, Piggy is willing to contribute to the society. He is â€Å"so full of pride in his contribution to the good of society, that he helped to fetch wood† (Golding 142). The moral goodness and devoted nature of Piggy come from his instinct human nature. Like the superego meets the ethical standards by which the ego operates. In conclusion,

Aviation Industry Essays -- Informative, Aviation

General Aviation Brief History: The civil aviation world consists of two categories according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA): scheduled airline service and general aviation (FAA, n.d.). The Aviation industry as we know it today was born from General Aviation (GA), and both their histories are inextricably linked. People’s ambition to fly stretches back to ancient times, of tales and legends passed down from Greek civilizations, and a passionate drive to master the sky. It is in this same spirit that GA currently resides. The enthusiasm people have for aviation is arguably, unrivalled. There’s a strong sense of camaraderie within the GA industry, a sense of bravado that lends itself to any such death defying occupation. The current GA industry is comprised of two parts: Private operators, described as those who fly without compensation and Charter operators, describes as those who operator for compensation (FAA, n.d.). As of today, general aviation makes up more than 1 percent of the U.S . Gross Domestic Product and supports almost 1.3 million high-skilled jobs in professional services and manufacturing and hence is an important component of the aviation industry and the economy as a whole (AOPA, n.d.). The aforementioned divisions of GA can be further defined, per the FAA’s Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR), as Part 91 and Part 135 operators: ïÆ'â€" Part 91: These regulations are in place for aircraft owners that operate for non-commercial purposes. These are typically private individual or corporations that fly without compensation. ïÆ'â€" Part 135: These consist of aircraft that fly for commercial, ‘for-hire’ purposes. These are typically ‘charter’ flights which are compensated. Comparable to Part 121(Commercial Airlines... ... a ‘grass-roots’ approach by which each individual is given a portion of the responsibility for security. This method commonly practiced in airports, where regular concerned citizens report suspicious activity and items to security personnel. This method has proven successful in the realization of lowered accident rates in the GA community as stated by Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety Nicolas Sabatini "This record is due to a dedicated commitment to safety by everyone in general aviation." (Sweet 2006) It is important to keep a level headed perspective when dealing with issues of security, especially in the aviation field. At times, the knee-jerk reactionary rules imposed by the TSA may, very well, ensure the security of the issue, but a careful balance must be struck between this dogged need for security and essential opportunity for nurtured growth.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle Essay -- essays research paper

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle Madeleine L’Engle uses a creative mixture of three different story-book motifs for building the story line in her book A Wrinkle in Time. From beginning to end Meg, Charles Wallace, and Calvin go through adventure after adventure bursting with animated fairy-tale characteristics, a model preteen coming-of-age theme, and a subtle Christian suggestion. The three are intertwined naturally, and work well within the science-fiction twist of this very believable fantasy tale. The main character Meg Murry is the perfect innocent child turned heroine. As in the typical coming-of-age theme, the beginning of the story presents 13 year old Meg as young, and terribly dependent on others. Constantly wallowing in self-pity, Meg enters the first chapter emotionally immature with a dismal self-centered â€Å"why-must-everything-happen-to-me† attitude [P.7]. Although her five year old younger brother Charles Wallace is â€Å"rumored to be not quite bright† [P.9], he is actually extremely advanced for his age and Meg’s main caretaker. â€Å"How did Charles Wallace always know about her? How could he always†¦probe (and understand) with frightening accuracy† [P.8]? The two are remarkably close, and whenever life becomes too much for Meg, Charles Wallace reaches out to comfort her. All three—Meg, Charles Wallace, and their new found friend, 14 year old Calvin O’keefe—fit the average misunderstood characteristics found in many fairy-tale and preteen stories. While both Calvin and Charles Wallace are misunderstood by most, Charles Wallace at least has the support of a loving home, with dysfunctional preoccupied parents, Calvin, on the contrary, has no one to understand and appreciate him. â€Å"The funny part of it† he says, â€Å"(is that) I love them all and they don’t give a hoot about me†¦I care, (but) nobody else does† [P.40]. All three children, each with his own special individual qualities, strive to get along in their everyday world. The boys don’t seem to care much what others think, only Meg, with her many temperamental imperfections, flounders from day to day. Mixed in with this is a hint of an orphaned-child theme. Although none of the children are actual orphans, the thought is implied first through Mr. Murry’s absents, and Meg’s constant wish of â€Å"if only father (were here)† [P.4]; and then with Calvin’s horribly neglectful family—he is, in essen... ...er to her caretaker, while she challenges It in an attempt to save her brother. In the grand finale, love concurs the incredibly evil force. Love—the one thing Meg possesses that It doesn’t†¦Ã¢â‚¬ I love you Charles Wallace† she cries, â€Å"My baby brother who always takes care of me. Come back to me†¦come away from It, come back, come home. I love you† [P.208] The message is written all through the text. God is stronger than Satan. God is love, and love is stronger than It. Once again â€Å"winning is everything† and the story finds a way of â€Å"making everything work out†[class lecture]. Charles Wallace is free, the Murry children have their father back, and Mrs. Murry has her husband back. Calvin has new friends and family with the Murrys. Meg, who has undergone her right of passage, finds friendship and self-confidence, is sure to return to daily life with a different more assertive and positive attitude. After the dark spiritual fight against It, Meg returns with a spiritual healing, and the absence of anger and resentment. Like The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe the group returns at the exact moment they had departed on the quest, ready to take up where they left off—one big happy family.

The Arms Trade Treaty

The Arms Trade Treaty Derek Matthews International Relations Abstract The Arms Trade Treaty is the result of an international consensus that there is a need for global arms regulation. This belief began to develop after the Cold War in response to consequences facing the international community from countries whom purchased arms unimpeded and used them towards aggressive and oppressive ends.The Arms Trade treaty has been applauded as an initial framework to begin practical implementation of effective arms regulations through the context of international consensus in a way that will reduce egregious human rights violations and increase weapons accountability as well as regional stability. There are criticisms as to the future effectiveness of the treaty because the scope of the treaty covers arms sales, not other forms of arms transfer and because major arms exporters have abstained from participating in the treaty.These realities are staunch hurdles towards the future effectiveness o f governing policies that may evolve from the treaty. Because the treaty has not reached the stage of ratification, an actual analysis of the impacts of this treaty have yet to be seen. Background The origins of the international arms regulation and thus, the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) can be traced back to the start of the Cold War. NATO had an interest in slowing the transfer of advanced military technologies to the Soviet Union.They created the Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls (COCOM) to block arms, industrial technologies, and â€Å"atomic† technologies from being exported to the Soviet Union from countries in the Warsaw Pact. This was not a nonproliferation regime and its limited scope proved ill-equipped to handle the emerging problems of the Post-Cold War era. This was evident during the 1991 Persian Gulf War where the Iraqi military was able to build the world’s fourth-largest military with $40 billion in foreign weapons purchases. Lewis, 20 05) After the war, western countries began working on international agreements aimed to stop destabilizing accumulations like the arms transfer component in the Middle East. (Collina, 2012) The idea for these international agreements was proposed by the United Kingdom which wanted a global regime aimed at â€Å"avoiding arms transfers that could destabilize a region, put human rights at risk, or provide inappropriately advanced technology. (Lewis, 2005) The language set forth in this goal would lead to a chain of international agreements and guidelines aimed at reducing illicit arms trade and defining the parameters of what illicit arms trade entailed; the United Nations (UN) Registry for Conventional Arms in 1991, the US begins work on the US Code of Conduct Bill in 1993, the Warsenaar Agreement in 1996, UN Guidelines for International Arms Transfers in 1996,Oscar Arias and a group of Nobel Laureates produce first draft of the International Code of Conduct on Arms Transfers in 199 7, European Code of Conduct in 1998, US passes International Code of Conduct in 1999, UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects in 2001, Organization of American States (OAS) Model Regulations for the Control of the International Movement of Firearms, their Parts and Components and Ammunition in 2003, Great Lakes and Horn of Africa region adopt the Nairobi Protocol for the Prevention, Control and Reduction of Small Arms and Light Weapons in 2004, UN begins work on a global arms trade treaty in 2006, the General Assembly of the UN votes overwhelmingly for approval of the global Arms Trade Treaty on April 2, 2013. Shah, 2008)(Charbanneau, 2013) For the two decades following the end of the Cold War, the world has been moving in the direction towards a global consensus on how we should provide accountability and responsibility to the selling of weapons culminating with an almost unanimous agreement laid o ut in the Arms Trade Treaty of 2013 which was passed through the General Assembly of the United Nations with a vote of 155 for, 3 against, and 22 abstained. (Charbanneau, 2013) Reason for the ATT The trade of goods internationally has long been subject to regulation. The import and export of cars and clothes has more restrictions on trade than Ak-47s and rocket launchers. So when the discussion surrounding arms trade regulation began, it was initially just a way for western nations to stem the unfettered growth of aggressive militaries which caused regional instability such as Iraq in the Persian Gulf War.However, once these discussions entered the international arena, it was easy to see the practicality in implementing arms regulation and to contextualize the benefit that regulation would have on preventing numerous other instances of international instability. (UN Conference, 2013) From the Contras in Nicaragua, to the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, to the Lord’s Resistance Army in Uganda, it is easy to see the potential social and human impact of effective restrictions on the sale of weapons. The reason behind arms trade regulations is to stop weapons from falling into the hands of criminals, gangs, warlords, and terrorists who would use them to oppress human rights and destabilize the region.There are economic impacts as well. The unrestricted sale of weapons results in damages through crime, gang violence, and piracy that vastly exceed the initial profits from selling them. UN peacekeeping missions alone cost the world over $7 billion a year and the global burden of armed violence stands at $400 billion. (UN Conference, 2013) ATT Policy Goals To address the lack of international oversight on arms trade, the UN formulated language designed to codify the growing international consensus of what responsible arms trade should look like. Through various concessions to accommodate differing opinions, they formulated a treaty with two rationales in mind.The firs t was to stop sales to state end-users that would use them to undermine global peace and security, violate international human rights laws, impair socio-economic development, or are at risk to re-export those weapons which then might come into the hands of organized criminals or terrorists. The second rationale is to close loopholes in trade regulations and strengthen the effectiveness of legal frameworks to hinder the illicit arms market which provides weapons to end-users whom would normally be barred from acquiring them through legal means. (Kimball, 2011) The idea behind this rationale is to end the prevalence of weapons smugglers like Viktor Bout, whose actions inspired the film â€Å"Lord of War†.These smugglers effectively exploit loopholes in national and international laws to provide illegal arms around the world. (Austin, 2012) The Arms Trade Treaty would also seek to strengthen transparency and reporting on arms trade transfers and the production of munitions which will provide more accountability for State’s actions. (Kimball, 2013) The treaty was created with the original UN Charter Chapter 7 Article 51 in mind which reads, â€Å"Nothing shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defense if an armed attack occurs†. The treaty was shaped to allow arms purchases justified through the realm of self-defense and to fight back against regimes that violate human rights.The vague nature of the language still leaves significant room for state differences on what acts will be deemed self-defense or political struggle. The language is also weak on providing a legal framework to deal with non-state actors and terrorism. The policies laid out by the Arms Trade Treaty are primarily aimed towards better control over the export sale of arms; however there is little language to account for the import of arms or for arms transfers which are labeled gifts, or trades. Impacts and Opinions There are 193 Member States of the U N General Assembly. The vast majority of them agree with the ATT, although most have varying reservations to the limitations of the treaty.The treaty is considered a floor of regulation from which to work with and not a ceiling. 155 States voted in favor of the treaty, the most impactful vote came from the US. The development of this treaty was coming to a close in 2008 after the US Senate voted their intention to deny ratification of a ATT treaty. The withdrawal of support from the top arms exporter in the world would have vastly diminished the prospects for any meaningful implementation without the support of the US. The US has come out in support of this treaty since 2009, and the renewed support by the US fundamentally changes the effectiveness that implementation of the treaty will have.The US did influenced language in the treaty to ensure that the regulations will not impede on State’s domestic gun rights and will not lower the bar of States that already practice a hig h level of arms control. Despite this accommodation made specifically for the US, the National Rifle Association (NRA), a powerful interest group within America, is against the ATT and threatens to stop ratification in the Senate on the grounds increased regulation will affect domestic gun ownership. (MacFarquhar, 2013) The UN Association (UNA) which lobbies on behalf of the UN in America, stands in strong support of the ATT and is working to combat poorly informed opinions on the nature and language contained within the ATT. (UNAUSA, 2013) Proponents on both sides of the Syrian conflict voted against or abstained from the ATT.Syria and Iran voted against the proposal while China and Russia abstained because of â€Å"the lack of an explicit prohibition on the supply of weapons to non-state actors that would, for example, restrain the ability of Syria's armed opposition from building up its stockpile. † (Lynch, 2013) Many of the Persian gulf powers which support the Syrian opp osition, such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Yemen abstained from the vote as well. The vague language in the ATT allows for political pressuring to frame either the Syrian opposition as terrorist groups or the Syrian regime as human rights oppressors and potentially justify a moratorium on arms exports to those organizations. This is one of the main criticisms of the ATT.India also abstained from voting for the treaty, stating that the language was â€Å"the draft treaty was â€Å"tilted† in favor of the world's leading arms exporters. † Other abstentions came from the Latin American sect of countries that generally vote against all US led initiatives in the UN. These countries include Bolivia, Ecuador and Nicaragua. However, the treaty was met with tremendous support in the rest of Latin America and Africa, countries that have seen a tremendous amount of instability at the hands of organizations who receive their arms through illicit arms trafficking such as the drug ca rtels and the Muslim resistance movements. These countries mainly asserted that in the long run, the treaty would curb the arms sales that have fueled many conflicts. MacFarquhar, 2013) The cumulative sum of opposition and abstention for various reasons creates a reality where some of the top arms exporters have chosen not to adhere to the new treaty. This creates concerns on the ultimate effectiveness of the treaty, because a large part of the export nations the treaty was designed to add transparency and regulation to are not participants. America and the Western nations make up a tremendous percentage of global arms sales the percentage fluctuates annually, but America generally represents around half of all arms sales and the UK, France, and other European countries account for between 10 and 15 percent of global sales. Shanker, 2012) So the impact of this treaty will be felt through close to three quarters of global sales, and the hope is that as international norms strengthen, the outlier nations will feel the pressure to conform to these new international standards as well. Success of the treaty Impact analysis over the next decade will truly define the success of this treaty. In fact, ratification will not even begin until June 3, 2013. Every state will define the standards to which they want the treaty to measure up to and view success through that lens. Pertinent questions might arise over the next decade, about how the ATT shifted geopolitical power, how it will enforce arms transfers for conflicts where the consensus is split such as Syria, and whether it will have the teeth to prevent the widening of the black market which generally occurs when more stringent legal precedents are set.At the bare minimum, this treaty must succeed at stopping the supply of weapons to regions of conflict where there is an overwhelming international consensus about the extent of human rights violations being carried out under a particular regime. There will always be political conflict, but through the ATT the ultimate success will be when it succeeds in ensuring that conflict does not manifest into disproportionate violence and perhaps alter the path of least resistance to a point where it is more expedient to resolve conflict through nonviolent means. References Austin,  K. L. (2012, August 20). What Mauritius Can Teach Us About the Global Arms Trade – NYTimes. com. Retrieved  April  11, 2013, from http://atwar. blogs. nytimes. com/2012/08/20/what-mauritius-can-teach-us-about-the-global-arms-trade/? ref=viktorbout Charbonneau,  L. (2013, April 2). U. N. verwhelmingly approves global arms trade treaty| Reuters. Retrieved  April  11, 2013, from http://www. reuters. com/article/2013/04/02/us-arms-treaty-un-idUSBRE9310MN20130402 Collina,  T. (2012, October). The Wassenaar Arrangement at a Glance | Arms Control Association. Retrieved  April  11, 2013, from http://www. armscontrol. org/factsheets/wassenaar Kimball,  D. G. (2013, March 27). ‘Final' Arms Trade Treaty A Good Step Forward | Arms Control Association. Retrieved  April  11, 2013, from http://www. armscontrol. org/pressroom/Final-Arms-Trade-Treaty-A-Good-Step-Forward Kimball,  D. G. (2011, October). The Arms Trade Treaty At a Glance | Arms Control Association. Retrieved  April  11, 2013, from

Aardvark Fast Facts

Aardvark Fast Facts Aardvarks (Orycteropus afer) are known by several common names including antbears and anteaters; they are native to sub-Saharan Africa. The name aardvark is Afrikaans  (a daughter language of Dutch) for earth pig. Despite these common names, aardvarks are not closely related to bears, pigs, or anteaters. Instead, they occupy their own distinct order: Tubulidentata. Fast Facts: Aardvark Scientific Name: Orycteropus aferCommon Names: Aardvark, antbear, anteater, Cape anteaters, earth pigBasic Animal Group: MammalSize: Up to 6.5 feet long, 2 feet at shoulder heightWeight: 110–175 poundsLifespan: 10 yearsDiet:  CarnivoreHabitat: Sub-saharan AfricaPopulation: Not quantifiedConservation Status: Least Concern Description Aardvarks are medium-sized mammals (weighing 110–175 pounds and up to 6.5 feet long) with a bulky body, arched back, medium-length legs, long ears (resembling those of a donkey), a long snout, and a thick tail. They have a sparse coat of coarse grayish brown fur covering their body. Aardvarks have four toes on their front feet and five toes on their rear feet. Each toe has a flat, sturdy nail that they use for digging burrows and tearing into insect nests in search of food. Aardvarks have very thick skin which provides them protection from insect bites and even the bites of predators. Their teeth lack enamel and, as a result, wear down and must regrow continuously- the teeth are tubular and hexagonal in cross-section. Aardvarks have small eyes and their retina only contains rods (this means they are color-blind). Like many nocturnal animals, aardvarks have a keen sense of smell and very good hearing. Their front claws are especially robust, enabling them to dig burrows and break open termite nests with ease. Their long, serpentine tongue (10–12 inches) is sticky and can gather up ants and termites with great efficiency. The classification of the aardvark was controversial at one time. Aardvarks were formerly classified in the same group as  armadillos, sloths, and anteaters. Today, genetic studies have shown that the aardvark is classified in the order called the Tubulidentata (tube-toothed), and the family Orycteropodidae: They are the only animal in either order or family. Shongololo90/Getty Images   Habitat and Range Aardvarks inhabit a variety of habitats including savannas, shrublands, grasslands, and woodlands. Although they once lived in Europe and Asia, today their range extends throughout most of sub-Saharan Africa, every ecosystem except marshes, deserts, and very rock terrains. Bridgena_Barnard/Getty Images   Diet and Behavior Aardvarks forage at night, covering extensive distances (as much as 6 miles per night) in search of food. To find food, they swing their noses from side to side over the ground, trying to detect their prey by scent. They feed almost exclusively on termites and ants and can consume up to 50,000 insects in a single night. They occasionally supplement their diet by feeding on other insects, plant material or the occasional small mammal. Solitary, nocturnal mammals, aardvarks spend the daylight hours safely tucked away inside their borrows and emerge to feed during the late afternoon or early evening. Aardvarks are extraordinarily fast diggers and can excavate a hole 2 feet deep in less than 30 seconds. The main predators of aardvarks include lions, leopards, and pythons. Aardvarks dig three types of burrows in their ranges: relatively shallow foraging burrows, larger temporary shelters to hide from predators and more complex burrows for permanent residence. They share their permanent residences with other creatures but not other aardvarks. Investigation of the residential burrows has shown that compared to the surrounding soil, soil inside the burrow is cooler (between 4 and 18 degrees F cooler depending on the time of day), and moister. The differences remained the same no matter how old the burrow was, leading researchers to name the aardvark an ecological engineer. Reproduction and Offspring Aardvarks reproduce sexually and form pairs only for a short time during the breeding season. Females give birth to one or rarely two cubs after a gestation period of 7–8 months. In northern Africa, Aardvarks give birth from October to November; in the south, from May and July. The young are born with their eyes open. The mother nurses the young until they are 3 months old when they start eating insects. They become independent of their mothers at six months and venture off to find their own territory. Aardvarks become sexually mature at two to three years of age and have lifespans in the wild of about 18 years. Evolutionary History Aardvarks are considered to be living fossils due to their ancient, highly conserved genetic make-up. Scientists believe that todays aardvarks represent one of the most ancient lineages among the placental mammals (Eutheria). Aardvarks are considered to be a primitive form of hoofed mammal, not because of any obvious similarities but instead due to subtle characteristics of their brain, teeth, and musculature. The closest living relatives to the aardvarks include  elephants, hyraxes,  dugongs, manatees, elephant shrews, golden moles, and tenrecs. Together, these mammals form a group known as the Afrotheria. Conservation Status Aardvarks once existed in Europe and Asia but are now only found in sub-Saharan Africa. Their populations are unknown but they are classified as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and not listed as threatened at all by the ECOS Environmental Conservation Online System. Major identified threats to the aardvark are habitat loss through agriculture, and human and trapping for bush meat. The skin, claws, and teeth are used to make bracelets, charms and curious and some medicinal purposes.  Ã‚   Sources Buss, Peter E., and Leith C. R. Meyer. Chapter 52: Tubulidentata (Aardvark). Fowlers Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine, Volume 8. Eds. Miller, R. Eric and Murray E. Fowler. St. Louis: W.B. Saunders, 2015. 514–16. Print.Gozdziewska-Harlajczuk, Karolina, Joanna Kleckowska-Nawrot, and Karolina Barszcz. Macroscopic and Microscopic Study of the Tongue of the Aardvark (Orycteropus Afer, Orycteropodidae). Tissue and Cell 54 (2018): 127–38. Print.Haussmann, Natalie S., et al. Ecosystem Engineering through Aardvark (Orycteropus Afer) Burrowing: Mechanisms and Effects. Ecological Engineering 118 (2018): 66–72. Print.Ratzloff, Elizabeth. Orycteropus afer (aardvark). Animal Diversity Web, 2011.  Taylor, W. A., P. A. Lindsey, and J. D. Skinner. The Feeding Ecology of the Aardvark Orycteropus Afer. Journal of Arid Environments 50.1 (2002): 135–52. Print.Taylor, A. and T. Lehmann. Orycteropus afer. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: e.T41504A21286437, 2015.

Leader of a Country Essay Example

Leader of a Country Essay Example Leader of a Country Essay Leader of a Country Essay To lead a big group of people it takes determination, leadership, understanding, patience and imagination. I have been captain of the senior soccer team for four years now and I have learnt a lot. It is very hard to lead a big group and to fulfill all of the necessities, however it only takes patience and a sensitive, yet strong personality to succeed as a leader. When it comes to leading a country, many things have to be taken into consideration. You have to be fair, you have to be a role model and you have to actually keep your promises. If I was the leader of my country, I would find a way to make it easy to be very democratic, I would set an example for all people, from small kids to adults and I for sure would only make promises which I knew I could keep. The Dominican Republic is a small island with many of the common problems which all countries face today. Some are a little more drastic, however the country has its beauties too. Picturing myself as the leader of my country, I would be very democratic. Every person has the right to speak and vote for its own desires. With such a large crowd it will be a challenge but everyone has to be heard, from complaints to positive comments. Setting an example is essential. I care about what others say and as a leader, I can’t lead if I don’t have the respect of the people and I can’t correct them if I’m making mistakes too. Many leaders have had their scandals like John F. Kennedy and others and because of this they loose respect. To set a good example I would remain distant of the people to avoid scandals and to show how noble a leader can be I would make charity donations for the improvement in lifestyle of those in need. All leaders from all over the world make their promises to get elected and do not keep those promises. As leader of my country I know how much these promises mean to the people, therefore I would only make the promises I knew I could keep. Promises like the improvement of homes and provide shelter to those in need, the church would be provided with a fund, I would build schools for the improvement in education and I would build strong connections with other economically successful countries. As leader of my country, having said all the previous, I would be the kind of leader my country and many other countries need. I try to make decisions that benefit as many people as possible. I know I can’t please everyone, but it’s important for the people to get everyone’s input. I would be good at facilitating compromise and consensus. Finally, I would have the final say, but I’d still care if people thought I had made an unfair decision. I would be a democratic leader.

Effects of Cultural Lag

Effects of Cultural Lag Cultural lag - also called culture lag - describes what happens in a social system when the ideals that regulate life do not keep pace with other changes which are often  - but not always  - technological. Advances in technology and in other areas effectively render old ideals and social norms obsolete, leading to ethical conflicts and crises.   The Cultural Lag Concept   The cultural lag concept was first theorized and the term was coined by William F. Ogburn, an American sociologist, in his book Social Change  With Respect to Culture and Original Nature, published in 1922. Ogden felt that materiality - and by extension, the technology that promotes  it  - advances at a rapid pace, whereas societal norms tend to resist change and advance much more slowly. Innovation surpasses adaptation and this creates conflict.   Some Examples of Cultural Lag   Medical technology has advanced at such a pace as to put it in conflict with several moral and ethical beliefs. Here are a few examples:   Life Support:  Medical technology is now being used to keep people’s bodies functioning long after they would otherwise have been declared dead. This raises cultural and ethical questions about when life ends and who has the right to end artificial life support or to prolong existence. The development of new cultural beliefs, values, and norms lags behind the dilemmas posed by the technological change.  Stem cell research and therapies:  Stem cells have been proven to defeat a host of diseases, yet they must come from unborn fetuses. Some types of abortion remain illegal on several state and federal levels, creating a conflict between medical advancement, the law, and ethical and religious beliefs.  Cancer vaccines:  A vaccine against cervical cancer became available in the 21st century, but some oppose it because it is given to preteens. This is seen in some quarters as encouraging youngsters to engage in sexual activity. Again, medical advancement has outpaced cult ural and moral considerations.   Other Cultural Lags in the 20th Century   History  - and particularly recent history  - is rife with other, less traumatic examples of cultural lag that nonetheless support Ogburns position. Technology and society are fast-paced, and human nature and inclination are slow to catch up. Despite their many advantages over the handwritten word, typewriters werent routinely used in offices until 50 years after their invention. A similar situation exists with the computers and word processors that are commonplace in businesses today. They were at first met with objections from labor  unions that they would undermine the workforce, ultimately replacing people and ultimately costing jobs.   Is There a Cure?   Human nature being what it is, its unlikely that any solution exists for cultural lag. The human intellect will always strive to find ways to do things faster and more easily. It has always attempted to fix problems thought to be insurmountable. But people are wary by nature, wanting proof that something is good and worthwhile before accepting and embracing it. Cultural lag has been around since man first invented the wheel, and woman worried that traveling so fast would surely cause grievous injury.

Improving organisational performance Assignment

Improving organisational performance - Assignment Example Human resource practices that strategic human resources management scholars consider performance enhancing are referred to as high performance work practices (HPWPs).These are essentially work practices that can be introduced in the organization deliberately in order to improve organizational performance. A widely accepted definition of the term is that they are a set of complimentary work practices that cover three broad areas which are sometimes referred to as bundles of practices. They include: High employee involvement practice such as self-directed teams, quality circles and sharing/access to company information; human resource practices for example a sophisticated recruitment process, performance appraisal. Work redesign and mentoring; reward and commitment practices that include various financial rewards, family friendly policies, job rotation and flexi hours. Combs, Liu, Hall, & Ketchen (2006: 502) argue that these practices increase employee’s knowledge, skills and ab ilities (KSAs), empower employees to leverage their KSAs for organizational benefit, and increase their motivation to do so. The result of this is greater job satisfaction, lower employee turnover, higher productivity and better decision making all of which help to improve organizational performance (Wilson, 2005, p. 38). Aspect capital is a leading financial services company is the United Kingdom that applies a systematic and quantitative approach to investment management with the purpose of diversifying alpha for the company’s client portfolios. The company manages over USD 6.7 billion which it has exclusively invested in the aspect diversified program through a series of fund and client specific managed account vehicles (AC, 2012). Established 15 years ago the company has already established itself as a leading financial services company through the extensive support from a team that has extensive experience in the development and implementation of systematic

Remedies Regarding The Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Remedies Regarding The Project - Essay Example NMCI estimates the project at a fixed cost. They offer the contract at a fixed cost per performance (seats). They have an extremely strict performance rating system. This performance assessing system does not take into consideration the time wasted while switching between the various applications. NMCI gives a fixed cost estimate and intends to stick by it. This later proves problematic since there are other costs that arise while implementing the project. For instance, the number of computer applications is originally estimated as 3000 but these changes to 70000 (Calbreath).The project is allocated fewer resources than it is due. This makes delivering the targeted result within the desired time hard for EDS. The original budget estimates are not reviewed so as to update them, this lead to a situation where the contractor has no enough funds to sustain its subcontractors who react by withdrawing from the project, this adversely slows it down. After a period of slowed performance, the navy agrees to allocate more funds to the project to cater for the extra costs (Calbreath).NMCI underestimates the time frame of the project originally giving it five years. It sets rigid deadlines most of which are not met. This arises due to failure to consider any complications that arise while implementing the project in time. It, however, realizes that the intended targets cannot be achieved within the set period and extends the contract to ten years.The Navy has an expected level of satisfaction for all its users.

HOW CAN WE EXPLAIN WHY WOMEN UNDERTAKE MOST PAID AND UNPAID CARING Essay

HOW CAN WE EXPLAIN WHY WOMEN UNDERTAKE MOST PAID AND UNPAID CARING WORK - Essay Example Women are always contemplated to be the ones doing maximum household chores & taking care of the family’s emotional & physical needs, since it is considered a women’s responsibility. The western society claims to follow the equal rights theory, conversely the practiced inequality is the proof of male dominance throughout society speaks against it. Feminism & patriarchy have always been in existence throughout the ages, pondered & acknowledged as a natural dissent. Women being assessed as auxiliary were proven by the feminist groups in the 1960’s.The ongoing campaigns by feminist groups were able to secure some legal & political rights for women in U.K. in the early 90s. However the recent times witnessed the move from suffering women to their social & economic status in the society claiming that modern women are still under suffering patriarchy. It is clear that the gender division in labour has reformed over the last forty or so years. Albeit the move to modernism; the patriarchy theory has travelled along. The division of labour with men, being the bread-winner of the family & dominating the work area as well as home & women regarded best for domestic work, it being a feminine activity. Even when males & females share a work sphere, the wage levels are mostly kept biased not just in under developed countries but in western districts as well. Women, being mothers have always been characterised as soft hearted & caring naturally. Therefore, the male dominance in society is widely accepted & supported by many with ease. Its is not a hidden fact that women nowadays are coming forward & proving to be great competition with men in every industry or field, hence this theory about women being unable to bear workload is proven wrong. Women are more active in the care related fields as compared to men; the statistics of a survey in 32 local authority areas in Scotland prove this right. As many as 74% women, 72%

Integrated marketing communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Integrated marketing communication - Essay Example The major strength of the company is its brand name. In the recent past the brand was declared as ‘the world’s favorite airline’. The company provides wide range of services to its customers such as food services, entertainment options including movies, TV games and music. The flight service being a global airline, offers year round low fare flights along with full services on a worldwide network (Kotipalli, â€Å"Strategic Management Report on British Airways†). British Airways affected employees’ strike that affected the successful operation of the company. The dispute involved the British Airways Management and the Unite Trade Union over various issues such as working conditions and pay. The effect of the crisis had been tremendous leading to long wait by the passengers at the airports. The airline had to retrain other airline employees in order to work as flight attendants and lease fleets from other airlines. During the strikes the analysts expected that those would cost the company about millions of pounds and it was further estimated that this would certainly hurt the airline brand as customers booked flights with the competitors. According to few economists, this strike would have a negative impact upon the world’s economy (Werdigier, â€Å"British Airways Strike Effect Disputed†). Being the marketing communication consultant the crisis management problem needs to be solved with the aim to repair the organizational reputation, sales performance and customs. Therefore, the appropriate strategy would be to use COSTAC framework in order to increase the efficiency and revamp the original position of the company. Before making an integrated marketing plan, it is essential to understand the context of the current situation. The context analysis helps to shape up certain things and explains the reason for such happenings. Here, five contexts namely internal, external, business, stakeholders and customers would be studied in detail in order to

Academic Honesty Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Academic Honesty - Assignment Example Other academic misconduct includes tampering with the already filed educational reports or data (Ariely 33). God discriminates dishonesty. Moses discourages people from having different weights in the same bag namely a considerable weight and a small one. In the book of Proverbs, the Lord abominates a false balance and is proud of right weight (New International Version, Deut, 25:13). The Bible discourages people from lying. Proverbs 21:6 states that when one acquires treasures by a lying tongue, is like a fleeting vapor. This is a pursuit of death. Being successful through dishonesty is also condemned. Anyone building a house not in righteousness using his neighbors without paying them, shall be punished (New International Version, Jeremiah 22:13). God expects us to be honest. The Bibles talks of people deserving honesty from the heart. One is to utter truthfully and sincerely. This is the wisdom that everyone is supposed to ask from God (New International Version, Psalms 51:6). The Bible teaches us that being dishonest by telling lies about someone is so harmful. Biblically, it compares to hitting someone with an ax, or wounding the person with a sword or even shooting him/her with a sharp arrow. In business dealing, God does not approve of dishonesty. The Load is unpleased with dishonest scales and differing weights (New International Version, Prov 20:23) The Bible encourages honesty at all times. I Thessalonians 2:3 tells us that the preachers were preaching not by telling lies or falls motives but were very sincere and straight forward. II Corinthians 8:21 also talks about the fact that they were taking pain in doing right in both the eyes of God and man (New International Version, II Cor 8:21). God involves honesty in two of the commandments. These are on the commandment that prohibits us from stealing and the one that tells us not to give testimonies, which are not true against our neighbors (New International Version, Exodus

Integrated marketing communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Integrated marketing communication - Essay Example The major strength of the company is its brand name. In the recent past the brand was declared as ‘the world’s favorite airline’. The company provides wide range of services to its customers such as food services, entertainment options including movies, TV games and music. The flight service being a global airline, offers year round low fare flights along with full services on a worldwide network (Kotipalli, â€Å"Strategic Management Report on British Airways†). British Airways affected employees’ strike that affected the successful operation of the company. The dispute involved the British Airways Management and the Unite Trade Union over various issues such as working conditions and pay. The effect of the crisis had been tremendous leading to long wait by the passengers at the airports. The airline had to retrain other airline employees in order to work as flight attendants and lease fleets from other airlines. During the strikes the analysts expected that those would cost the company about millions of pounds and it was further estimated that this would certainly hurt the airline brand as customers booked flights with the competitors. According to few economists, this strike would have a negative impact upon the world’s economy (Werdigier, â€Å"British Airways Strike Effect Disputed†). Being the marketing communication consultant the crisis management problem needs to be solved with the aim to repair the organizational reputation, sales performance and customs. Therefore, the appropriate strategy would be to use COSTAC framework in order to increase the efficiency and revamp the original position of the company. Before making an integrated marketing plan, it is essential to understand the context of the current situation. The context analysis helps to shape up certain things and explains the reason for such happenings. Here, five contexts namely internal, external, business, stakeholders and customers would be studied in detail in order to

McDonalds Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Research Paper

McDonalds Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability - Research Paper Example The company provides food for the public and tries to fulfill this service in an ethical way that takes socially and environmentally friendly approaches. The firm’s core values are to provide nutritional wellbeing, environmental responsibility, create a sustainable food supply chain, provide employment and contribute positively to the community. The main aim from each of these values is to provide quality services at each stage of production. The company provides fresh food, using ethical means and productive partnerships (â€Å"Social Responsibility†). The company has also provided employment for individuals in 117 countries in the world. This reduces the unemployment rate and improves people’s living conditions in the community. The company’s menu caters for approximately 1,900 customers in different restaurants across the country (â€Å"Social Responsibility†). McDonalds is one of the most successful businesses in the world. It is the most popular foodservice provider in the world and has one of the highest returns on the stock market (Singh). The company has a good reputation and tries to maintain this by listening to the customer’s needs and catering for them in every way possible. The company is committed to the community and the customers and puts their needs first. Each year the company aims to enhance its sustainability efforts. The stakeholders in the company implement the best possible strategies, with the aim of finding new opportunities and setting new targets to advance and improve the company. The company has implemented numerous sustainability programs and policies. The company has tried to work together with partners at different stages of food production to improve the conditions of the employees. In 2007 Mc Donald’s set a goal and implemented measures to improve the working conditions of employees in the Florida Tomato industry. The company only

The stages in some types of storms (hurricane) Essay Example for Free

The stages in some types of storms (hurricane) Essay A hurricane is a wheather system that is usually described as a funnel of warm wet air, when warm moist air rises and encounter with the cooler air, it causes the warm water vapor to condense and form rain drops and dark clouds. Most hurricanes that occur in the Atlantic develops off the west coast of Africa. Hurricanes begins as thunderstorms which moves out over the warm tropical ocean water. There are three stages in forming a hurricane, tropical depression stage, the tropical storm stage and finally the hurricane. The first stage is called the tropical depression. In this stage an organized yet sustained thunderstorm with swirling clouds, rain, and wind speed of less than 38 miles per hour (mph). Sustained winds are normally classified as winds that persist for at least one minute in duration. Then with wind speed of 39-73 mph it becomes a tropical storm and a name is given to it. Tropical storms may evlove into a hurricane. This is also where the eye and eye walls of the storm are being created. Tropical storms can cause server damages to property and human as well. Death may occur depending on the storms position. With winds up to 200 mph and up to 600 miles across, finally a hurricane has formed. Believe it or not, hurricanes does an important job, it moves the heat from warm climate to cooler temperature zone. It may also take from hours to days to form a hurricane.

The Pigeonhole Principle Forms

The Pigeonhole Principle Forms PIGEONHOLE PRINCIPLE. Student redefine this as common sense behind this basic idea of this mathematical principle; if there are n objects to be positioned in m receptacles (with m < n), at least two of the items must go into the same box. Whereas the idea is commonsensical, in the hands of a capable mathematician it can be made to do extraordinary things. There is one of the most famous applications of Pigeonhole Principle which theres at least two people in New York City with the same number of hairs on their head. The principle itself is attributed to Dirichlet in 1834, although he in fact used the term Schubfachprinzip. The same maxim is often named in honour of Dirichlet who used it in solving Pells equation. The pigeon seems to be a fresh addition, as Jeff Millers web site on the first use of some math words gives, Pigeon-hole principle occurs in English in Paul Erdà ¶s and R. Rado, A partition calculus in set theory, Bull. Am. Math. Soc. 62 (Sept. 1956). In a recent debate on a history group Julio Cabillon added that there are a variety of names in different countries for the idea. His list incorporated, Le principe des tiroirs de Dirichlet, French for the principle of the drawers of Dirichlet Principio da casa dos pombos in Portuguese for the house of pigeons principle Das gavetas de Dirichlet for the drawers of Dirichlet. Dirichlets principle The Box principle Zasada szufladkowa Dirichleta which mean the principle of the drawers of Dirichlet in Polish Schubfach Prinzip which mean drawer principle in German INTRODUCTION Lets make this thing easier by visualize some common daily awkward moment which related to Pigeonhole Principle. Sometimes, I wake up and get ready for classes early in the morning. But then, the room still dark and my room-mate still in sleep. Let see, I have socks of three different colours in my drawer and to be found in messy order. So, how can I pick a matching pair of same coloured socks in most convenient way without disturbing my partners (which mean turning on the light)? A simple math will overcome this problem. I just have to get only 4 socks from the drawer! Of course its the Pigeonhole Principle applied in the real life. So, what is Pigeonhole Principle then? Let put an example to demonstrate this principle. For instance, there are 3 pigeonholes around. There are 4 pigeon and each of them holds one mail. The pigeons are delivering the mails and have to place all of its mails into available pigeonholes. With only 3 pigeonholes around, there clear to be 1 pigeonhole with at least 2 mails! Thus, the general rule states when there are k pigeonholes and there are k+1 mail, then they will be 1 pigeonhole with at least 2 mails. A more complex version of the principle will be the following: If mn + 1 pigeons are positioned in n pigeonholes, then there will be at least one pigeonhole with m + 1 or more pigeons in it. However, this Pigeonhole Principle tells us nothing about how to locate the pigeonhole that contains two or more pigeons. It only asserts the existence of a pigeonhole containing two or more pigeons. The Pigeonhole Principle sounds trifling but its uses are deceiving astonishing! Thus, in our project, we intend to learn and discover more about the Pigeonhole Principle and illustrate its numerous interesting applications in our daily life. RESULTS OF RESEARCH AND REAL WORLD EXAMPLES CASE 1 : LOSSLESS DATA COMPRESSION Lossless data compression algorithms cannot guarantee compression for all input data sets. Frankly says, for any (lossless) data compression algorithm, there will be an input data set that didnt get reduced in size when processed by the algorithm. This is effortlessly proven with elementary arithmetic using a counting argument, as follows: Assume each particular file is represented as a string of bits (in count of arbitrary length) We inference that there is a compression algorithm that transforms everything of the file into a different file which the size is reduced than the original file, and that in any case one file will be compressed into something that is shorter than itself. Let M be the least number such that there is a file F with length M bits that compresses to something shorter. Let N be the length (in bits) of the compressed version of F. F = File with length M M = Least number that compressed into something shorter N = length (in bits) in compressed version of F Since N < M, each file of length N keeps its size throughout the compression. There are 2N such files. Together with F, this makes 2N + 1 files which all compress into one of the 2N files of length N. 2N < 2N + 1 But 2N is smaller than 2N + 1, consequently from the pigeonhole principle there must be some file of length N which is at the same time, the output of the compression function on two different inputs. That file cannot be decompressed dependably (which of the two originals suppose to be yield?), which contradicts the assumption that the algorithm was lossless. Hence, we can finalize that our original hypothesis (that the compression function makes no file longer) is necessarily fallacious. For any lossless compression algorithm that turns some files shorter, must automatically make some files longer, but it is not necessary that those files become very much longer. Most practical compression algorithms provide an escape facility that can turn off the normal coding for files that would become longer by being encoded. Then the only increase in size is a few bits to let know the decoder that the normal coding has been turned off for the whole input. In example, for every 65,535 bytes of input, DEFLATE compressed files never need expansion by more than 5 bytes. In reality, for any lossless compression that reduces the size of some file, the expected length of a compressed file (averaged over all possible files of length N) must necessarily be greater than N if we consider files of length N, if all files were equally apparent. So if we dont have any idea about the properties of the data we are considering for a compressing, we probably not compress the file at all. A lossless compression algorithm is only come in handy when we are prefer to compress a particular types of files than others; after that the algorithm could be intended to compress those types of data in a much better way. Whenever opting for an algorithm always means implicitly to select a subset of all files that will become usefully shorter. This is the theoretical reason why we suppose to consider different kind of compression algorithms for different kinds of files: there are almost impossible for an algorithm that perfect for all kinds of data. Algorithms are generally quite exclusively tuned to a particular type of file such like this example; lossless audio compression programs do not work well on text files, and vice versa. Above all, files of random data cannot be consistently compressed by any likely lossless data compression algorithm: undeniably, this result is used to define the concept of randomness in algorithmic complexity theory. CASE 2 : DARTBOARD Another kind of problem requiring the pigeonhole principle to solve is those which involve the dartboard. In such questions, the general shape and size of Dartboard which are known, a given number of darts are thrown onto it. Then we determine the distance between two convinced darts is. The hardest part is to define and identify its pigeons and pigeonholes. EXAMPLE 1 On a circular dartboard of radius 10 units, seven darts are thrown. Can we prove that there will always be two darts which are at most 10 units apart? To demonstrate that the final proclamation will always true, we first have to divide the circle into six equivalent sectors as shown; Therefore, we allowing each of the sectors to be a pigeonhole and each dart to be a pigeon, we have seven pigeons to be passed into six pigeonholes. By pigeonhole principle, there will be at least one sector containing a minimum number of two darts. The statement is proven to be true in any case since the greatest distance involving two points lying in a sector would be 10 units. In actual fact, it is also possible to prove the scenario with only six darts. In such a case, the circle this time is redefined into five divided sectors and all else follows. But then, put attention that this is not always true to any further extent if we use five darts or less. EXAMPLE 2 On a dartboard which is formed as a regular hexagon of side length 1 unit, nineteen darts are then thrown. How would we prove that there will be two darts within units each other? All over again, we have to identify our pigeonholes by dividing the hexagon into six equilateral triangles as illustrated below. While the 19 darts as pigeons and with the six triangles as the pigeonholes, we uncover that there must be in any case one triangle with a minimum of 4 darts in it. Now, considering another scenario, we will have to endeavour an equilateral triangle of side 1 unit within 4 points inside. If locate all the points as far apart from each other as possible, we will come to conclusion of conveying each of the first three points to be at the vertices of the triangle. The fourth or the last point will then be exactly at the centre of the triangle. Since we realize that the distance from the centre of the triangle to each vertex is of the altitude for this triangle, that is, units, we can find that it is unquestionable potential to find two darts which are units apart within the equilateral triangle. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, although the Pigeonhole Principle seems to be simple, but, this topic is very useful in helping someone to devise and smooth the progress of calculation and proving steps for various important mathematical problems. This principle is very useful in our life although it seem so simple. This Principle also can be applied in our daily life, whether we realizes it or not. It is fun when the problem can be solved in a way that we know, by using this principle. RECOMMENDATIONS We would like to provide you some recommendation on making the Pigeonhole Principle far more interesting like: Using variety of leaning materials and variety of examples to help student to get more understand the Pigeonhole Principle. Create a well imagination of what are the real things about the Pigeonhole Principle. Search more information from the internet about the Pigeonhole Principle. Make a lot of exercise that is related about the Principle. Make a group discussion and discussed about the topic.

Isengard Biography :: essays research papers

ISENGARD Biography Isengard was formed during October 2002 by the two guitarists Ramy Sidky and Wael Sameh †¦Their aim was to create and develop artful and innovative melodic music . After a short period of time , the bassist Abdalla , who had been jamming with the guitarist Ramy Sidky for a long time , joined the band . Then an intensive seek for a drummer and a vocalist took place by the band members until the drummer Ahmed Abdelsalam joined the band . Knowing that power metal vocalists are rare species! The vocalist Yehia Khamees joined the band after a long search for one †¦ The band was completed then , and started working on some covers for Iron Maiden , Iced Earth and Manowar (these great bands are our heroes and teachers!) . No originals were done at this period . After nearly a month , the drummer Abdelsalam left the band as he was totally uninterested in this music . The band then had to look for another drummer quickly , as we were in a stage of growth †¦During this time , Foad Ahmed was appointed as an organizer for the band . This period was a period of inactivity for the band , as the band stopped jamming and rehearsing for a long time , especially when the bassist Abdalla left the band . That period was so bad for the band and the rest of the band members (Ramy Sidky , Wael Sameh , Yehia Khamees and Foad Ahmed) started looking for a bassist and a drummer . Many bassists and drummers were tried during this period and none of them was fixed in the band line-up †¦At that time , no new covers were done and the band was in a state of inactivity and just concentrated on getting a bassist and a drummer . Continuous search took place , until the drummer Moataz Rashad , who had also been jamming with the guitarist Ramy Sidky for a long time , was added to the band . After a very short period of time , the bassist Tarek , who played in Nemesis , joined the band †¦ This created a sort of ambition and enthusiasm for the band members , which lead to intensive

Computers In Modern Life Essay

Cause / Effect Essay Many phenomena, events, situations and trends can be better understood by describing their causes and effects. The cause and effect essay explains what happens and why it happens. Cause / Effect Essay Specific Vocabulary Obesity is a cause of / a reason for premature death. Media coverage affects / influences voting patterns. Media coverage leads to / gives rise to / brings about changes in voting patterns. Voting patterns are affected / are influenced by media coverage. Stress causes / produces / results in low exam scores. Low exam scores are caused by / are produced by / result from stress. Low exam scores are a consequence of / are a result of / are due to / the effect of stress. When / If there is constant economic instability, currency crashes occur. As a result of / As a consequence of constant economic instability, currency crashes occur. There is constant economic instability. As a result, / As a consequence, / Consequently, / Thus, / Therefore, / Hence, / For this reason, currency crashes occur. Because / Since / As some areas face extreme weather conditions, there is damage to property. Owing to / On account of / Because of / Due to the fact that some areas face extreme weather conditions, there is damage to property. Owing to / On account of / Because of / Due to extreme weather conditions, there is damage to property. Owing to / On account of / Because of / Due to extreme weather conditions, damage to property occurs. Cause / Effect Essay Structure While writing a cause / effect essay, the order of the main points given in the thesis statement is followed in body paragraphs. The following example is an outline for a cause essay about the reasons for cities becoming overcrowded. Thesis statement: There are two main reasons why these and other cities are becoming so crowded; one economic, the other socio-cultural. 1st body: economic reasons 1. cities are engines of development. 2nd body: socio-cultural reasons 1. education 2. urbanization The following example is an outline for an effect essay about the effects of the computer on life. Thesis statement: The two main areas in which computers have brought about a profound change in our lives are in the economic field and in the field of communications. 1st body: economic effects 1. computers in business 2. computers and national economies 2nd body: effects on communication 1. e-mail 2. globalization The sample shows essay organization Why are Cities Becoming Overcrowded? General Statements The fact that the world’s cities are getting more and more crowded is well-known. Cities such as Tokyo, Sao Paolo, Bombay and Shanghai are now considered ‘mega-cities’, because of their enormous size and huge populations. There are two main reasons why these and other cities are becoming so crowded; one economic, the other socio-cultural. First, the primary cause of cities becoming so crowded is economic. As a country develops, its cities become the engines of development, thus jobs are available in these areas. Frankfurt, Istanbul, Bombay and Sao Paolo are all the economic centres of their countries. For example, Tokyo was the motor for Japan’s rapid economic development in the 1960’s and 70’s; as a result, its population increased rapidly. People moved to Tokyo because they could find employment and establish economic security for themselves and their families there. Second, another factor in the huge increase in urban populations is the socio-cultural factor. Thousands of people migrate to the cities not only for jobs but also for educational and personal reasons. The  better universities are always located in big cities and this attracts thousands of students every year, and these students stay on and work in the city after they graduate. Moreover, young people will move to the city as the villages and rural areas are more custom and tradition oriented. Therefore, young people believe this is an obstacle to their personal freedom. Thesis Statement Topic Sentence Topic Sentence Concluding Sentence In conclusion, economic and cultural factors are the major causes of huge urban population. People will always move to the areas which provide opportunity and to the places which can give them the freedom they desire. Final Thought The sample shows essay connectors Why are Cities Becoming Overcrowded? The fact that the world’s cities are getting more and more crowded is well-known. Cities such as Tokyo, Sao Paolo, Bombay and Shanghai are now considered ‘mega-cities’, because of their enormous size and huge populations. There are two main reasons why these and other cities are becoming so crowded; one economic, the other socio-cultural. First, the primary cause of cities becoming so crowded is economic. As a country develops, its cities become the engines of development, thus jobs are available in these areas. Frankfurt, Istanbul, Bombay and Sao Paolo are all the economic centres of their countries. For example, Tokyo was the motor for Japan’s rapid economic development in the 1960’s and 70’s; as a result, its population increased rapidly. People moved to Tokyo because they could  find employment and establish economic security for themselves and their families there. Second, another factor in the huge increase in urban populations is the socio-cultural factor. Thousands of people migrate to the cities not only for jobs but also for educational and personal reasons. The better universities are always located in big cities and this attracts thousands of students every year, and these students stay on and work in the city after they graduate. Moreover, young people will move to the city as the villages and rural areas are more custom and tradition oriented. Therefore, young people believe this is an obstacle to their personal freedom. In conclusion, economic and cultural factors are the major causes of huge urban population. People will always move to the areas which provide opportunity and to the places which can give them the freedom they desire. The sample shows essay specific vocabulary Why are Cities Becoming Overcrowded? The fact that the world’s cities are getting more and more crowded is well-known. Cities such as Tokyo, Sao Paolo, Bombay and Shanghai are now considered ‘mega-cities’, because of their enormous size and huge populations. There are two main reasons why these and other cities are becoming so crowded; one economic, the other socio-cultural. First, the primary cause of cities becoming so crowded is economic. As a country develops, its cities become the engines of development, thus jobs are available in these areas. Frankfurt, Istanbul, Bombay and Sao Paolo are all the economic centres of their countries. For example, Tokyo was the motor for Japan’s rapid economic development in the 1960’s and 70’s; as a result, its population increased rapidly. People moved to Tokyo because they could find employment and establish economic security for themselves and their families there. Second, another factor in the huge increase in urban populations is the soc io-cultural factor. Thousands of people migrate to the cities not only for jobs but also for educational and personal reasons. The better universities are always located in big cities and this attracts thousands of students every year, and these students stay on and work in the city after they graduate. Moreover, young people will move to the city as the villages and rural areas are more custom and tradition oriented.  Therefore, young people believe this is an obstacle to their personal freedom. In conclusion, economic and cultural factors are the major causes of huge urban population. People will always move to the areas which provide opportunity and to the places which can give them the freedom they desire. The sample shows essay organization What effects has the computer had on our lives? The twenty-first century is already turning out to be the century of the computer. The computer revolution that started after the Second World War is now developing exponentially and computers are beginning to influence and take over nearly every aspect of our lives. Computers are clearly changing and affecting society in many ways. The two main areas in which computers have brought about a profound change in our lives are in the economic field and in the field of communications. The computer has led to immense changes in economic and business life. First, businesses now have to be computerised or they risk failure. Every big corporation bases its operations on computing, regardless of which sector they are in. For example, Coca-Cola, the BBC and Levi’s market and sell different products and services, yet they all share one basic property – without computers their operations would collapse. Second, computing is an economic dynamo. Japan, China, India and many other countries have large IT sectors which drive their economies upwards. Furthermore, the developed world is moving from an industrial-based economy to a computer and IT-based one. It is not just in business that computers have affected us so profoundly; communication has been revolutionised totally. Firstly, whereas before, people wrote letters, which would often take weeks to reach their destinations, or speak on the phone, which was terribly expensive, now they e-mail. For instance, instead of waiting weeks for a letter now, we can read it instantly, seconds after it’s been written. Secondly, many people use computers to communicate with people all around the world using chat rooms and chat programs, this was impossible before the computer became widespread. As a result, now people who live thousands of kilometres away from each other can communicate as much as they want and whenever they want using e-mail and/or chat rooms. Concluding Sentenc e Topic Sentence General Statements Thesis Statement Topic Sentence In conclusion, computers have had a profound effect on our lives in many ways and it is in business and communication that they have had the greatest influence. In the future, if the computer continues evolving at such speed, our business practices and methods of communication will undergo even more radical changes. Final Thought The sample shows essay connectors What effects has the computer had on our lives? The twenty-first century is already turning out to be the century of the computer. The computer revolution that started after the Second World War is now developing exponentially and computers are beginning to influence and take over nearly every aspect of our lives. Computers are clearly changing and affecting society in many ways. The two main areas in which computers have brought about a profound change in our lives are in the economic field and in the field of communications. The computer has led to immense changes in economic and business life. First, businesses now have to be computerised or they risk failure. Every big corporation bases its operations on computing, regardless of which sector they are in. For example, Coca-Cola, the BBC and Levi’s market and sell different products and services, yet they all share one basic property – without computers their operations would collapse. Second, computing is an economic dynamo. Japan, China, India and many other countries have large IT sectors which drive their economies upwards. Furthermore, the developed world is moving from an industrial-based economy to a computer and IT-based one. It is not just in business that computers have affected us so profoundly; communication has been  revolutionised totally. Firstly, whereas before, people wrote letters, which would often take weeks to reach their destinations, or speak on the phone, which was terribly expensive, now they e-mail. For instance, instead of waiting weeks for a letter now, we can read it instantly, seconds after it’s been written. Secondly, many people use computers to communicate with people all around the world using chat rooms and chat programs, this was impossible before the computer became widespread. As a result, now people who live thousands of kilometres away from each other can communicate as much as they want and whenever they want using e-mail and/or chat rooms. In conclusion, computers have had a profound effect on our lives in many ways and it is in business and communication that they have had the greatest influence. In the future, if the computer continues evolving at such speed, our business practices and methods of communication will undergo even more radical changes. The sample shows essay specific vocabulary What effects has the computer had on our lives? The twenty-first century is already turning out to be the century of the computer. The computer revolution that started after the Second World War is now developing exponentially and computers are beginning to influence and take over nearly every aspect of our lives. Computers are clearly changing and affecting society in many ways. The two main areas in which computers have brought about a profound change in our lives are in the economic field and in the field of communications. The computer has led to immense changes in economic and business life. First, businesses now have to be computerised or they risk failure. Every big corporation bases its operations on computing, regardless of which sector they are in. For example, Coca-Cola, the BBC and Levi’s market and sell different products and services, yet they all share one basic property – without computers their operations would collapse. Second, computing is an economic dynamo. Japan, China, India and many other countries have large IT sectors which drive their economies upwards. Furthermore, the developed world is moving from an industrial-based economy to a computer and IT-based one. It is not just in business that computers have affected us so profoundly; communication has been  revolutionised totally. Firstly, whereas before, people wrote letters, which would often take weeks to reach their destinations, or speak on the phone, which was terribly expensive, now they e-mail. For instance, instead of waiting weeks for a letter now, we can read it instantly, seconds after it’s been written. Secondly, many people use computers to communicate with people all around the world using chat rooms and chat programs, this was impossible before the computer became widespread. As a result, now people who live thousands of kilometres away from each other can communicate as much as they want and whenever they want using e-mail and/or chat rooms. In conclusion, computers have had a profound effect on our lives in many ways and it is in business and communication that they have had the greatest influence. In the future, if the computer continues evolving at such speed, our business practices and methods of communication will undergo even more radical changes.

Research on Atlas Honda

OXFORD BROOKES UNIVERSITY An analysis of the financial situation of ATLAS HONDA Ltd. Introduction The topic chosen by me for the research and analysis project is AN ANALYSIS OF THE FINANCIAL SITUATION OF YOUR CHOICE OF ORGANISATION. The reason for choosing this topic is that I am very comfortable with financial techniques and methods that are used to carry out financial analysis. Financial courses covered in ACCA part 1 and 2 were of key interest to me.The organization selected for the financial analysis is ATLAS HONDA LIMITED being the market leader in the motorcycle industry in Pakistan. The company attracted me to be selected for the project because the company is the leading company in the motorcycle industry with few unestablished competitors. The company is a public limited company with an annual turnover of Rs6,977. 4 millions, which makes it a leading company of public sector in our country.As the project is related with financial analysis of the company it is easier for me t o apply the financial tools learned in ACCA. It is easier for me to examine the financial position of Atlas Honda Ltd, as the management of the company is willing to provide me with sufficient financial data that will aid in carrying out a financial analysis. As this is public limited company information related to the company is also available through different magazines, government agencies, credit rating agencies (pacra), industry experts and websites.Atlas Honda Ltd is a company of Atlas group of companies. The foundation of the Atlas Group was laid in 1962 with the establishment of Shirazi Investments (Pvt) Limited with a capital of half a million rupees and three men doing business in trading shares and real estate. (www. atlasgrouppk. com) Atlas Honda Ltd was incorporated as a public limited company on October 16, 1962 and its shares are listed on Karachi and Lahore Stock Exchanges in Pakistan. Atlas Honda Limited is a joint venture between the Atlas Group and Honda Motor Co. , Japan.The merger of Panjdarya Limited and Atlas Autos Ltd created the company in 1991. The Atlas Group established both these motorcycle-manufacturing concerns. (www. atlasgrouppk. com) Atlas management is striving to modernize company operations by adapting applicable aspects of research and theory and more specially, Honda’s unique philosophy of hard/soft technologies to the realities of Pakistani conditions. Company management structure, systems and processes are changed according to the demands of the customer, growth and new technology. www. atlasgrouppk. com) Atlas Honda Ltd is a dynamic, profitable and growth oriented company through market leadership, maximizing export and excellence in quality and service. The company ensures attractive returns to equity holders, reward employees according to their ability and performance. Atlas Honda Ltd fosters a network of researchers and engineers ensuing unique contribution to the development of the industry. The company ensu res customer satisfaction and protection of the environment by producing emission friendly green products.The company aims to remain a good corporate citizen fulfilling its social responsibilities in all respects. Atlas Honda Ltd also received the best corporate report excellence awards in the engineering sector by the joint committee of ICAP/ICMAP. (Annual Report 2003) The company quality is gaining greater acceptance globally year after year the company takes it as a national cause to make â€Å"MADE IN PAKISTAN† accepted and Atlas Honda Ltd respected all the over world. An increase of 52% in exports on year-to-year basis is an indication of the growing popularity of the company products globally.Atlas Honda Ltd as being a market leader in motorcycle industry recognized the fact that excellence in business is dependent on the quality of human resource. As a result the company has continued to invest in development of its manpower over the years. The company has a well sprea d out service network of antenna shops, service dealers and four strokes mechanics with a combined strength of well over five thousand service points all over the country which has successfully covered the needs of company costumers.The network of 5S (Sales, Service, Spare parts, Credit and Second Hand Exchange) dealers all over country has given Atlas Honda Ltd a competitive edge over other players of the automotive industry. Due to the greater customer care and after sales service the customers of Atlas Honda Ltd are more obliged and satisfied then with any of the other competitors. As every market leader company Atlas Honda Ltd duly complies with the standards of safety health and environment (SHE). Sizeable capital expenditure was made by the company to install various equipments at assembling plants to minimize the risk of haphazard.The vision of Atlas Honda Ltd is to remain a leading group through effective use of its resources, technology and good business practices; attract and retain high quality people by developing them to their fullest potential; always keep the customer in their highest esteem and to give attractive returns to the share holders through a sustained growth of profit. (www. atlasgrouppk. com) The auto industry has been a major beneficiary of the macro economic stability of the country. The unprecedented reduction in the cost of the funds has helped promote greater consumer financing for automotive products.Atlas Honda Ltd has taken some tough decisions in enhancing the total customer base as well as dealing with the menace of the unauthorized sector. The motorcycle market has under gone a severe change in the last year. Ninety percent of the market is dominated by established brands from the organized sector. The players in the organized sector consist of the traditional Japanese manufacturers as well as a couple of Chinese assemblers and all are members of officially recognized Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA). A nnual report 2003) The aim of the report is to apply the tools learned in ACCA and to carry out practical work in a real time company. Through this report I will have exposure to Pakistan industry that will help me in the development of skills acquired during my ACCA studies. The report also aims to critically view the financial statements in order visualize that adequate returns are available to shareholder, company is a going concern, company is generating sufficient profits, assets of the company are well managed and guarded by the management in the best interest of the share holders.I will also review that the best practices of management stewardship is carried out to ensure that the company is maintaining the best practices of corporate governance. The objective of the report is to carry out financial analysis of Atlas Honda Ltd for the year 2003. The financial analysis has been carried out by using financial techniques such as ratio analysis, trend analysis and vertical analys is on the data available in the annual report of the year 2003 of the company. INFORMATION GATHERING Information gathering is the process through which processed and meaningful data is available to carry out the required task.Extensive amount of information is available through Internet, media, newspapers and other business magazines. These all sources of information these days make the process of information gathering simple. There are two main source of information gathering through which information is gathered, first is my personal visits and meetings with the different personnel’s in the company and secondly the financial statements available in the stock exchange on which the company is listed and also the data available through print media publicly.The information gathered depends on the reliability of the source from which it is gathered. These both sources are reliable to gather authentic information. Information was also obtained from credit rating agencies such as (pacra) and industry experts. Some government agencies also hold information relating to companies such as Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP). The financial statements and print media information used for the report are for the period ended 2003,the broachers of Atlas Honda Ltd, financial and business news papers such as THE NEWS BUSINEES PAGE, DAWN BUSINESS PAGE.As Atlas Honda is a leading company in the motorcycle industry information relating to the company is also available through different business magazines such as the Gulf Economist. They are good source of reliable information, that too with a critical viewpoint about the company. Information relating to Atlas Honda is also available through Internet by access to sight www. atlasgrouppk. com that makes it easier to be familiar with the company and have access to the financial and other authentic information that helps in the effective completion of this research and analysis project.Published documents of Atlas Honda Ltd provides a reliable method of data collection through which sufficient financial data can be collected easily so that financial analysis can be conducted in a effective way. Interview is very effective means of gathering information, providing precise and accurate data. Interviews with the officials of Atlas Honda also provided quality information that helped me to have a sufficient knowledge about Atlas Honda, about its financial position, where it stands in the market, its new competitors in the motor cycle ndustry, its adequate returns to share holders, about its expansion of the business and its unique 5S(service) network that give Atlas Honda Ltd edge over its competitors. ANALYSIS The analysis stage of the report carries critical view of the financial statements to ensure that adequate returns are available to share holders, assets are properly utilized by the management and are depreciated as par the accounting policies of the company, the company is financia lly sound and that investors have confidence in the company. There are few un established competitors of Atlas Honda with little penetration in the market.The ratios are computed on the basis of audited financial data for the year 2003. PROFITABILITY The profitability of any company is the key concern to the shareholders and to its employees and is also the symbol of market leadership for any company in the market. I have analyzed the profitability trend over the period of 8 years. The key ratios during the 8 years that demonstrate profitability are Profitability 2003 Gross Profit Ratio (%) Profit Before Tax (%) Profit After Tax (%) 14. 7 9. 3 6. 1 2002 13. 3 7. 1 4. 9 TABLE: 1 2001 9. 7 4. 3 2. 5 2000 10. 4 3. 0 1. 1999 11. 6 5. 3 3. 6 1998 12. 4 5. 6 3. 7 1997 1996 11. 3 5. 4 3. 6 10. 9 5. 7 3. 3 There is a constant increase in the gross profit during the first 3 years 1996 to 1998 but the year 1999 had a slump causing a decline for the next 3 years up till 2001. After that huge r ecovery has been made by the company with G. P Ratio from 9. 7 in 2001 to 14. 7 in 2003. Corresponding increase in cost and the relationship between profits and cost reveal that the profit before tax was almost half (5. 7) to 10. 9 in the year 1996 and this relationship is maintained in 2003.On the other hand the operating profit have not shown a considerable growth in comparison to the tax rates as shown by the relationship between G. P ratio and profit after tax. In the year 1999 it was 1/3rd to the G. P ratio but has increased to come up with ? of the G. P ratio. This indicates that the company is trying to improve its profit by maintaining its cost but the increase in taxes has jeopardized the efforts and consequent increase in profit after tax has not been obtained. Returns to Shareholders The returns are of key interest to shareholders as they invest in the company that gives more returns than the other.Atlas Honda distributed 5% of its total wealth to its shareholders in the year 2003. The company proposed a cash dividend of Rs. 7 per share. The return on capital employed, Earning per share (E. P. S), Price earning ratio, their trend can be seen below in the table. Returns to share holders 2003 ROE – Before Tax (%) 60. 5 2002 49. 8 TABLE: 2 2001 31. 5 2000 17. 4 1999 32. 7 1998 39. 6 1997 48. 0 1996 61. 0 ROE – After Tax (%) 39. 7 34. 1 18. 3 10. 3 22. 3 26. 1 31. 8 35. 0 Return on Capital Employed (%) 34. 2 29. 8 14. 7 7. 6 17. 3 18. 7 23. 4 28. Market Price 80. 00 40. 05 25. 00 19. 25 19. 25 30. 00 31. 00 27. 00 E. P. S – After Tax – Rs 20. 91 13. 24 8. 07 4. 12 8. 45 8. 60 9. 41 8. 41 Price Earning Ratio 3. 83 3. 03 3. 10 4. 67 2. 28 3. 49 3. 29 3. 21 Industry Average . P. E Ratio 3. 21 3. 14 3. 52 3. 50 2. 14 3. 31 3. 27 3. 25 The Return on equity before tax ratio showed a downward trend and declined from 61% to 17. 4% in 2000,there by recovering to a satisfactory figure of 60. 5% in 2003. The ROE after tax declined from acceptable figure of 35% in 1996 to a dangerous level of 10. % in 2000 and reaching a satisfactory figure of 39. 7% in the year 2003. Earning per share is widely used to measure the performance of the company over a number of years. E. P. S of Atlas Honda started to decline after 1997 and declined to a poor figure of 4. 12,there by up streaming to the figure of 20. 91,compariably stronger than last year due to improved profits. Price Earning ratio shows partial ups and downs through years not having significant variation except 1999 where it shows a downward trend, showing a healthy upward trend in 2000.This indicates that the investors have a strong confidence in the company abilities to maintain the earnings. Overall the P/E ratio of the company is above the industry average as indicated in table 2. The market price of the shares has grown rapidly and has become twice as compared to the last year, which indicates people’s confidence. Cash Flow situation The cash flow statem ent with the same importance as profit and loss account and balance sheet is used to emphasize the difference between profit and cash. Cash flows, including net present value calculations, have always been a popular management tool.The situation of the company cash flow showed that net cash generation from operations increased to Rs. 724. 20 million as compared to Rs. 519. 34 million last years. Increased net income and customers’ advances created a positive impact on the net cash provided by operations. Net cash used in investing activities decreased to Rs. 67. 53 million compared to Rs. 150. 04 million last year. Net cash used in financing activities was Rs. 42. 33 million as compared to Rs. 121. 74 million last year. During the year Rs. 150 million long-term loans were acquired and Rs. 71. 11 million loans were repaid.Cash and bank balance increased by 1. 5 times to Rs. 1, 021. 23 million this year Rs. 406. 88 million for the operating year 2002. Investment income increase d to Rs. 38. 3 million from Rs. 32. 6 million of last year. Debt equity ratio was 10:90. The equity of the company stood at over Rs. 1 billion including reserves of Rs. 872. 2 million, with cash surplus of Rs. 1. 02 billion, reflecting a sound financial position of the company. Asset turnover Assets are held by companies to utilize them in their business activities and generate profits in order the company to prosper.Assets are held and maintained by Atlas Honda in the course of their business activities and the company to meet their growing requirements also acquires new capital assets. Asset turnover ratios are computed for a period of eight years. Asset turnover (Times) Sales to Total Assets Sales to Fixed Assets 2003 2. 63 12. 39 2002 3. 02 10. 32 2001 3. 16 10. 44 2000 2. 28 6. 93 1999 2. 80 9. 34 1998 2. 23 9. 02 1997 2. 89 13. 02 1996 2. 97 11. 42 Inventory Turnover 10. 34 9. 57 7. 46 6. 87 7. 39 6. 06 5. 41 5. 38Major portion of the total assets are current assets, which not an admirable situation and the company is bearing increase in the opportunity cost of assets not invested by the company. In the other scenario the company have superfluous current assets to meet its current liabilities, which is appreciable. In the sale to fixed asset turnover there is a major acquisition in the year 2000 then in other years where there is normal acquisition during the course of business. This is indicted by the reduction of only 0. 99% in the sale of year 2000 from previous year where as there is a reduction of 2. 1 times in the sale to fixed asset turnover ratio. This acquisition by the company in the year 2000 was made to cope with predict future growth. In other years the fixed asset turnover ratio is increasing due to increasing sales and there is usual acquisition of fixed assets. In the case of the inventory turnover ratio there is a constant increase in the figures over the years. The company in warehouses does not hold idle stocks thus reducing the stock holding cost. Demand based production is carried out by the company and there are no over purchases by the company.Solvency/Liquidity Solvency is the term used to determine that are the assets of the company surplus enough to pay its liabilities. This is a key measure of the financial reliability of a company and the key ratios that computes solvency are of key interest to investors. 2003 Current ratio (Times) 1. 47 2002 1. 38 2001 1. 48 2000 1. 46 1999 1. 64 1998 1. 31 1997 1. 21 1996 1. 10 Interest Cover Ratio (Times) 17. 17 11. 18 3. 65 2. 04 3. 18 2. 58 3. 95 3. 81 The intent of the current ratios is to determine that how many current assets are there to repay current liabilities on demand.The company holds surplus current assets. This is also discussed above in the Total Asset turnover that a major portion of the total assets is current assets showing a healthy prospect in terms of the company to meet its current liabilities. The company is showing an acceptable current ratio o ver the period indicating the company’s capability to meet its liabilities. The interest cover ratio for the year 2002 and 2003 shows that the company is having added profits that allows the company to borrow more loans but the company is not utilizing this facility. This is also the reason the company is low geared.This also indicates financial soundness of the company in the market. If the company takes advantage of this facility it would be beneficial for the company and would facilitate the company in reducing its taxes, as interest expense is a tax allowable expense. The company has been obtaining loans in the rest of the period as indicated by the interest cover ratios of rest of the periods. Investments Investments are held by companies to have adequate returns from their sales. Investments held by Atlas Honda in associates are proposed for sale and are stated at fair value.The investments held by the company are in listed and also some unlisted companies. Investments are counted as company’s principal financial assets. Listed Atlas Battery Limited – Associated undertaking NIL (2002: 165,550 Ordinary shares of Rs. 10 Each includes bonus shares 25,550) 2003 (Rupees in 000’s) 9,548 2002 Unlisted Arabian Sea Country Club (private) Limited 200,000 ordinary shares of Rs. 10 each Break-up value on the basis of audited Accounts for the year ended June 30, 2002 Rs. 6. 25 per share 2003 2002 (Rupees in 000’s) 2,000 2,000 Automotive Testing and Training Center (private) Limited 187,500 ordinary shares of Rs. 0 each Break-up value on the basis of audited Accounts for the year ended June 30,2001 Rs. 5. 75 per share 1,875 1,875 The credit risk represents the accounting loss that would be recognized at the reporting date if counter parties failed to perform as contracted. Out of the total financial assets, following amount of financial assets are subject to credit risk: 1,118,907. The company believes that it is not exposed to major concentration of credit risk. To manage exposure to credit risk, the company applies credit limits to its customers. STAEMENT OF VALUE ADDITION 2003 WEALTH GENERATEDTotal Revenue Material & Services (excluding duties) 8,066,365 (5,219,313) __________ 2,847,052 __________ 6,382,219 (4,177,572) _________ 2,204,647 _________ 2002 100% 100% WEALTH DISTRIBUTED To Government Sales Tax, Income Tax, Import Duty & Workers’ Welfare Fund To Employees Salaries, benefits and related cost To Providers of Capital Dividend to shareholders Markup on borrowed funds Retained with the business Depreciation Retained profit 89,645 284,345 _________ 2,847,052 _________ 3% 10% ______ 100% ______ 83,433 4% 143,058 20,487 5% 1% 122,621 19,913 5% 1% 346,762 12% 322414 15% 1,962,755 69% 1,508,389 68% 47,877 7% _________ ____ 2,204,647 100% _________ ____ As can be seen from the table above and the chart that a greater portion of wealth generated is distributed to the government. The company paid sales tax, income tax and custom duties amounting to Rs. 1. 96 billion during the year, which represents 69% of the total wealth generated. The company’s contribution to the national economy by way of value addition this year amounts to Rs. 2. 85 billion, which is 29. 13% higher as compared to last year showing company’s responsibility towards overall economy.This is also the reason that the company is unable to increase its profit after tax even though the company is maintaining its cost. This huge amount of tax payments has jeopardized the efforts made by the company. A good proportion of wealth generated is distributed to employees as salaries and benefits showing that the company is facilitating its employees and maintaining a healthy environment of working by offering benefits to them. WORKING CAPITAL The company has maintained a good working capital that shows the stewardship of the management in the use of financial resources in the operations.Company maintains a 5:1 to the current assets that is a working capital of Rs. 6, 671. 50 million, Showing good liquidity performance. Capital Structure The company shows a very low financial gearing (0. 165b: 1b) but the timing of the repayment cash flows is a cause of concern, as 50million out of a total of 166million has to be repaid during the next 12 months. As the net increase in cash and cash equivalent is 614million it would not be a major cause of concern but shows the company’s vulnerability and dependence on maintaining very high liquid assets.This indicates that the company is in a desperate need to maintain its profits and to increase them. The period where the company is unable to make any profit the company will be in a critical situation beyond its accepting power. Presentation of Findings The SWOT analysis is used as a technique to identify the strengths and weaknesses in the company and the opportunities and threats outside faced by the company. A SWOT analysis of Atlas Honda Limit ed would be a significant appraisal of the company’s position in the automotive industry.Strengths: Market leader †¢ Advance cash receipts from dealer’s hence additional cash available for investment. †¢ Customer satisfaction. †¢ Trained technical staff. †¢ Atlas Group patronage. †¢ Sound financial standing in the market. Weakness: †¢ †¢ No customer support in rural areas. Burden of taxes by the Government. Opportunities: †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Opportunities for new technologies. Development of latest IT infrastructure. Effective media promotion. No threat of established competitor. Threats: †¢ †¢ †¢ Threat of new entrants.Unestablished Competitors imitating the models of motorcycles at low price. Demands for low priced motorcycles. The strengths of the company are the key to triumph and the company should seize advantage from its opportunities and should devise such that its opportunities should be part of its strengths. Atlas Honda has been able to prolifically make its way through the heavy burden of taxes this year but it’s my anticipation that the burden of taxes will increase further, to counter this the company should plan a head.Atlas Honda is having a sound financial standing in the market and had attained customer satisfaction by quality products and after sales customer service. Customers are drawn in due to quality and services provided by the company, which the company should sustain and enhance, by making available price controlled motorcycles. Company has developed latest IT infrastructure to make good use of IT in manufacturing using computer techniques such as CAD (computer aided design) and CAM (computer aided manufacturing) thus enhancing costs.The edifying aspect of the report has been the findings that Atlas Honda is a financially sound company with market penetration and strong customer base. Conclusion The essence of the research and analysis report was to ca rry out a comprehensive financial analysis of Atlas Honda Ltd. The core objective of the report was to scrutinize that ample returns are available to share holders, the company is generating sufficient profits, and the financial situation of the company is sound and investors have confidence in the company and its financial position.In my surveillance over all the company has maintained a good level of profit even after an amplified amount of tax over the period of time. This has caused an increase in Earning per share of the company and eventually the market value of the company, which is avowed at 700% premium (Market value Rs. 80 per nominal value of Rs. 10 per share). The investors have confidence, which is reflected in the Price Earning Ratio of the company, which the company has maintained over the period of 8 years.The overall enhancement in the level of operations and market demand indicates that the company is moving on the right track even after facing rigid rivalry from i ts competitors. Atlas Honda has maintained a very low level of gearing and so far is unable to acquire market loans, which indicates low level of financial risk the company is exposed to. On the other hand this can hamper the potential available in the market by scarcity of the funds in the company when investment climate is good and market demands is high.In the Automotive industry Atlas Honda is still a market leader as far as the wealth distribution to the government is concerned. In the statement of value addition it is indicated that 69% of the company’s wealth had been distributed to the government as sales tax, income tax, import duty and workers welfare fund. Subsequent to the distribution the company has maintained sufficient levels of profit to distribute to the shareholders in the form of dividends. The company has continued to improve the net generation of cash and cash equivalents during the year causing the company to increase its cash resources.Positive inflow of cash from operations is a signal of company’s ability to improve the liquidity position of the company on a continuous basis. This is the main reason the liquidity situation of the company is very good. The analysis shows that the company is making headway well in terms of profitability, liquidity but as far as the capital structure of the company is concerned it is still at very low level of gearing thus hampering the opportunities available in the market and without exploiting the internal strengths available in the company.A high level of profits, good liquidity and sufficient working capital indicates that the financial situation of the company has improved over the period of time and is still improving. On the basis of the research and analysis work carried out I foresee that Atlas Honda will be more profitable over the period of time and will be able to exploit the opportunities available in the market. In my viewpoint Atlas Honda will remain to be the market leader for the coming years too. The company will also prove arduous to compete by new entrants in the industry.