Net Cash Flow Task 2 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Net Cash Flow Task 2 - Coursework Example However, the Net Present Value is very low. There are two reasons why Person K should not invest in a project with such a low NPV. The first is that other projects are likely to be available in the market that can give a higher NPV. Investing in this project has an opportunity cost equal to the return obtainable from those projects. Secondly, such a low NPV would leave little room for risks, and would be extremely sensitive. For example, if the expected sales fall by 10%, the project might show a negative NPV. Hence it is not advisable to invest in this project. Answer: The IRR for the project is 13.31%, which is higher than the cost of capital by 1.31%. For reasons similar to those advanced in the case of recommendation based on NPV above, the recommendation is that Person K should not invest in this project a) Rationale for recommendation: The IRR for the project is 13.31%, which is just marginally higher than the cost of capital. If Person K had an unlimited amount of money to invest, this project would qualify for investment. However, in a situation where there is a limited amount of capital to be invested, the returns should be maximized, and investing in low yielding projects would deprive Person K of the opportunity to invest in alterative high yielding projects. Secondly, the sensitivity of the project to variations in the assumptions would be very high, and small changes in the assumption would upset the entire calculation. Answer: Internal Rate of Return is the rate at which the Net Present Value becomes equal to 0. Accounting Rate of Return is the average net income from the project divided by the investment. Conceptually the two figures are very different. Internal rate of Return considers the actual cash flows, including the initial investment, whereas Accounting Rate of Return considers the Profit for each period after charging depreciation on the assets procured with the initial investment. Secondly, Internal Rate of

Change in Pressure and Different Depths in a Static Fluid Lab Essay Example for Free

Change in Pressure and Different Depths in a Static Fluid Lab Essay Purpose: The purpose of this lab is to devise a correlation between that of the data we have collected from our experiment and compare it to that of theory. In this experiment 3 different tests were done in order to test this theory. The first test was to tie a balloon on the end of a manometer and measure the pressure at different depths in a large beaker filled with water. The next test was the same thing, but without the balloon on the end of the manometer. For the final test a pressure gauge was used to measure the pressure at different depths in the water. The data collected from each experiment was the depth of the object and its deflection. To find out the theoretical pressure for the experiment this equation will be used: ∆P=ÃŽ ³H2Oà ·Depth The theoretical results will then be compared to the measured results, determining the correlation between both sets of data in order to prove whether or not this experiment is capable of proving the theory. Procedure: 1) Fill the cylinder with water and adjust the manometer to read zero. 2) For first test tie a balloon to the end of the tube that gives the manometer reading, and fill it with air. 3)Immerse the balloon in the water and measure the deflection at each specific depth (Try to get as close as you can to: 11, 9, 7, 5, 3, and 0 inches). 4)When finished with the first test remove the balloon and proceed to second test. 5) For the second test immerse the (balloon free) manometer tube in water, also measuring each specific depth and deflection. 6) For the third test instead of measuring with the manometer use a pressure gauge to measure your deflection (make sure you set the gauge to zero before testing). Calculations: Test #1 Example Depth: 3.5 inches Deflection: 1.7 inches P. Theory: ÃŽ ³H2OÃâ€"3.512=18.2lbft2 P. Measured: 1.712Ãâ€"ÃŽ ³ManometerÃâ€"ÃŽ ³H2O=16.9lbft2 Test #2 Example Depth: 5 inches Deflection: 2.1 inches P. Theory: ÃŽ ³H2OÃâ€"512=26lbft2 P. Measured: 2.112Ãâ€"ÃŽ ³ManometerÃâ€"ÃŽ ³H2O=20.8lbft2 Test #3 Example Depth: 3 inches Deflection: 1.8 ozin2 P. Theory: ÃŽ ³H2OÃâ€"312=15.6lbft2 P. Measured: 1.812Ãâ€"ÃŽ ³Pressure GaugeÃâ€"ÃŽ ³H2O=17.9lbft2 ÃŽ ³H2O=62.4 lbft3 ÃŽ ³Manometer ÃŽ ³Pressure Gauge=1.91 lbft3 Analysis and Conclusion: Overall I think results of this experiment turned out fairly well. From looking at the graph I noticed that as we moved on to the second and third tests there seemed to be less and less error. In general I think that human error had a huge impact on this lab. If we could have done a few trials for each test I think that the outcome of our measured results would be a lot closer to those of the theoretical results. What we were attempting to do with this lab was take the theoretical results of our experiment and get them as close as we could to the measured results with little percent error in order to determine if this test was reliable. By comparing some of the results I can safely say that this test is valid. Some of the data comparisons are far off, but others are within 2 percent error and I know for a fact that better results can be acquired.

Multiple Personality Disorders Essay -- essays research papers

â€Å"Multiple Personality Disorders†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sometimes people undergo traumatic experiences in their lives that are either physical or mental and maybe even a combination of both. If the experience was so intense, and so horrible, that the mind didn’t want to remember it, or possibly didn’t know how to deal or cope with it, then that one experience has the power to split a person’s mind into â€Å"another personality†. If this happens, the other personality or personalities come out when a person who has MPD (Multiple Personality Disorder) is put in a situation that he/she doesn’t know how to handle or feels that the other personality can handle it better. People suffering from MPD also have the risk of developing some symptoms of MPD that include fugue and amnesia. Fugue is the loss of identity in which the person suffering from fugue would not know who they are, who their family and friends are, where they worked, etc. Amnesia is a temporary loss of memory. If a person ex periences amnesia they are not going to remember a specific event or experience in their life. People with amnesia know who they are but do not know of a traumatic event that happened in their life. If someone has MPD then fugue and/or amnesia are most likely present as well. I will be writing brief descriptions of a few people who suffer from multiple personality disorder. Gretchen, John, Barb, and Beth plus are all people diagnosed with MPD.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Gretchen is a thirty-four year old woman and has been diagnosed with multiple personality disorder. Gretchen has three personalities, one is her, another is called â€Å"Myself†, and the third personality is â€Å"Enigma†. â€Å"Myself† concentrates better, and she comes out when Gretchen is having a bad day. She deals with Gretchens problems better then Gretchen can. â€Å"Myself† makes attempts to kill Gretchen. She cuts herself repeatedly and doesn’t know why. â€Å"Myself† also relives the abuse that was done to Gretchen as a child. â€Å"Enigma† is the evil personality. She doesn’t come out very much but when she does, she physically abuses herself, and tries to commit suicide to kill all the personalities. â€Å"Enigma† reminds me of the Exorcist because her voice is different, and the things she talks about is sadistic and evil. Gretchen has no conscious awareness of what is going on when the ot her personalities are out. She k... ...ear old girl and was the first multiple to appear to the therapist. â€Å"Janet† comes out to drive. â€Å"Carol† comes out to grocery shop. â€Å"Mary† is the financial keeper. â€Å"Skeptic† claims that Beth is a liar and is acting everything. â€Å"Yardwoman† takes care of the yard. Beth once caused her family to be $6,000 in debt because all her personalities had a combined seventeen credit cards and ran them up. Beth was abused and raped from age ten until the age fourteen.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Multiple Personality Disorder is a serious and real condition that is basically present in people who have gone through some kind of abuse or traumatic experience. So far MPD is not known as hereditary. There is no true explanation for multiple personality disorder but its accepted as a condition. Multiple personalities have not only been proved as dangerous and hazardous to surroundings, but its also the mystery of every psychologist and therapist. Many people devote their lives to unlock the secret of MPD and they try and unlock the â€Å"locked† memories in MPD patients minds. Multiple personality disorder has and continues to boggle the minds of psychologist everywhere and is still unexplainable.

Informative Speech Essay

Attention Getter: Mothers day is coming up, and there is a few options for you to use as gifts. 1. You can spend fifty dollar on flowers just to watch them die in a week. 2. You can buy her chocolates even though most of us are constantly trying to cut back. 4. You can do nothing and look like a jerk. 5. Or can simply spend a dollar at a thrift store, and create a desk ornament using only an old book. Topic Sentence: Recently I’ve made a few of these and have gotten a really great response from family and friends. I suppose I’d call it book-origami, but I’m not sure if there’s a proper title for this sort of thing. My purpose tonight is to teach you how to make one of these. Credibility / goodwill: After I made my first book, I got several compliments on it. Afterward, I came to the conclusion it might make a great mantelpiece, or even a desk ornament. Itsinthestars.com/us shows a survey taken in 2012 that states â€Å"The average person ends up purchasing 16 gifts or more a year.† Gift buying can add up quickly so I have found that it is nice to have a backup plan in case you’re broke at the time. Surely some of us in this very room have come to this dilemma so I am hoping to provide an idea for such an occasion. Thesis: Tonight I will teach you how to make one of these decorations by first teaching you what type of books are best to use, secondly I will tell you how to prepare the process of getting started, and lastly I will be teaching you a few of the folding techniques. Body: (Chronological = steps in a process) I. The First step in making one of these book decorations is to find the right kind of book to work with A. Through trial and error, I have found that it is best to use a hardcover book. 1. The way I have been making these has been without the use of any glues or starches, and the hardcover frame seems to help the book hold its shape naturally. B. When choosing your book you will also need to consider the number of pages that it has. 2. This was actually my first book, and it has about two hundred fifty pages in it. My second book actually has over 550 pages in it. The choice you make depends on your taste, but personally I think the thicker book has a much fuller and professional look. C. You should also consider the size of the cover of your book. 1. I believe that a someone smaller book makes for the best decoration because it doesn’t take up much room. Transition: Now that you have chosen a book to work with, you are ready to divide your book in sections. A. In my first book I didn’t take a whole lot of time, and just approximately divided the book into 3 sections. 1. You might not be able to tell at first glance but one side actually has around 15 pages more using the first folding style. B. If you want to go for a truly symmetrical look, I would suggest counting out each page individually. It will take more time this way, but you will probably be happier with the end result. 1. After you have decided how much you want in each section, I would recommend marking each sections beginning and end with a bookmark. Transition : Now that you have sectioned off your book, you’re ready to start folding. (please excuse my lack of technical terms, but this is really just something I’ve been experimenting with and was not actually taught anything about origami. A. I like to start off each book with several simple corner folds. 1. After each page, you should alternate between folding the top corner down, and folding the bottom corner down. 2. The reason I start the book this way because it is a really easy technique, and it also seems to help the book expand quite a bit. B. Another fold I use quite a bit I would call an airplane fold. I call it this because it is how I remember starting off paper airplanes, again this isn’t a technical lesson. 1. This technique is done simple by folding the top and bottom edges into the middle of the page. 2. I tend to use this technique for the middle section because again, it is very easy to do, and it helps the book to stand up. C. What I have used for the outer-middle section here is actually just a variation of the airplane fold. 1. After folding both edges in, you then take the middle point of the page and fold it to either the upper or lower portion, again alternating with each following page t o get this accordion look. Conclusion: Thesis: Tonight I have taught you how to make one of these decorations by first teaching you what type of books are best to use, secondly telling you how to prepare the process of getting started, and lastly I taught you a few of the folding techniques. Closure: Now you’re ready to make one of these for yourself. I’ve only been doing this for a few months, and I have found that most of the fun comes from trying new techniques. I’ve only shared with you a couple of the techniques that I’ve used. I would highly encourage you to try some of your own ideas, get creative . You could try ripping or cutting the edges of certain pages to give them a rough look, or you could add paperclips to portions of the book to give it a specific hold. Maya Angelou once said in the book Conversations with Maya Angelou printed in 1989 â€Å"You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have† I’ve always agreed with that. I have found this to be a fun, creative and cheap idea for a gift. Mothers day is Sunday the 12th of May this year, so you should get started.

Narrative on a Special Place Essay

My love for Africa Hello everyone my name is Tulsi Amin and I attend South University at the West Palm Beach Campus in Florida. I have been to many different places in my life and in fact I have stayed in three different continents as of now. I was born in India moved to Kenya when I was two and final destination is America since the age of 10. Africa is where I consider my childhood where I learned to play with butterflies saw talking parrots and was visited by wild monkeys frequently in my courtyard. With my experiences with people in the Western world and their depiction of Africa being like the â€Å"Jungle Book† I wish I can take them all there to see the reality of this beautiful continent. I lived in Nairobi, Kenya the capital city of that country. There are no lions, tigers or giraffes on the street as I have heard many people ask me. We do have high rise buildings, malls, public transportation and homes built out of brick. Although I lived there from the age of two to eight I remember many things that are very special to me today. I remember having an aunt that lived in a town called Thompson Falls that was on the Equator and the weather was always perfect there. I used to go there many summers and go down waterfalls and see huge hippos basting in the river. I met the local tribes that are called Masais and learned to make tribal necklaces out of gemstones. Africa is a country that is full of culture and having been lived there has made me appreciate many things in life that are scarce resources that we take for granted elsewhere. When I moved to America in 1993 and started school in New Jersey I was so excited when I saw a few black students in my class. I went up to them and started speaking in Swahili and they looked at me and replied â€Å"I am sorry we are not Indian† So I told them no this is your language. All the students looked at me and said our language is English. That’s when I learned that African Americans do not speak Swahili the native language of Kenya. As I learned more about history and slavery and saw how many African Americans lost their roots to their homeland it was a rude awakening for me. I am glad that this is a rich part of my life and will always be a special place for me. Although many people got a colorful depiction of Africa and the safaris through Disney’s Lion King the real safari is even more exciting to see. I do remember traveling to other smaller towns that were on the outskirts on our way we would zebras grazing in this vast open green land. Many times we have seen giraffes, antelopes and elephants just enjoying their natural habitat. These memories and sightings are something that I will never forget. I love that country and am delighted that it is part of my life. I will love sharing these memories with my children and hoping to take them one day to see Kenya, Africa. Over the years I thought how I may make people appreciate other countries and their culture. America is known as the â€Å"melting pot† where many different cultures come to make a living yet are we so ignorant to learn about all these cultures. As a child when I attended school I was taught about all major religions and how to respect others and their beliefs. As they say education and manners are taught young and school is where this appreciation for other cultures should be taught. Modern day education needs to implement the positive aspects of the other countries such as teaching students about their culture, economy, what these countries are famous for. I learned about slavery which is a big part of part history but now it is time to teach and appreciate where the slaves came from. They left their roots so far behind that many of them do not know where they came from in Africa. We live in a modern day world where everyone around us comes from different backgrounds, values and beliefs. We all have special meaning for the places where we come from and I think we deserve for others to respect these places. There are problems everywhere but despite them when they place is special to any one of us we tend to overlook the problems. We need to have an open mind and room to explore and learn about other countries and cultures.

The Hottest Reading List for Summer 2015

The Hottest Reading List for Summer 2015 Family reunions, road trips, and barbecues. Whatever your favorite part of summer vacation, it’s exhilarating just to have so much time and freedom on your hands. And, as the days get longer and the nights get warmer, there is nothing more relaxing than finding that perfect summer book to inspire and excite you. Here are some of the most exciting books of this season. Whether you’re a horror aficionado or a historical romantic, you’re sure to fall in love with at least one of these incredible summer reads. Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee Genre: Literary Fiction The incredibly talented and reclusive Harper Lee’s buzz-worthy sequel has had every English teacher giddy for the summer to arrive. In this sequel to the 1960 To Kill a Mockingbird, Lee picks up the story 20 years after the famous racial trial of Tom Robinson. The book focuses on the political upheaval during the 60s and 70s and Scout’s relationship with her father, Atticus Finch. Maximum Ride Forever by James Patterson Genre: YA SciFi/Fantasy The world’s number one bestseller releases the last installation of the Maximum Ride series. The heroine, Maximum â€Å"Max† Ride is a teen who has escaped a classified lab facility known as â€Å"The School.† She and her friends have been developed as human-avian hybrids and use their newly-found wings to save the world. An engrossing series that may leave you wanting to finish all nine books in one sitting. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion Genre: Romantic Comedy When left-brained geneticist Don Tillman is told that he would make a good husband, he logically concludes that there is a statistical probability he should get married. Thus, the Wife Project is born. Despite his best efforts to find the perfect, logical mate, he ends up with Rosie Jarman. Flighty, fun, and out-of-control, Rosie is trying to find her biological father with Tillman’s help – and they both fall in love in the process. Full of heart and humor. Finders Keepers by Stephen King Genre: Suspense/Horror King has recently been stepping back into the world of sequel after his long departure following the finale of the Gunslinger mega-series. Now, he brings readers back into the strange, obsessive world of Det. Ret. Bill Hodges who took down the Mercedes Killer in Mr. Mercedes. This time he and his band of misfit detectives are tasked with solving the case of a murdered writer after his killer is released 35 years later. Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari Genre: Humor Rising King of Comedy Ansari uses his unique voice and unparalleled wit to highlight how romance is changing in the digitally-charged 21st Century. With the help of New York University sociologist Eric Klinenberg, he conducted a worldwide research project that is both hilarious and poignant. Not only is this a funny book for those who are looking for love, it is a sociological phenom, with insights from today’s top social scientists. Paper Towns by John Green Genre: YA Fiction As young children Margo and Quentin discover the dead body of man who commits suicide in a local park. Flash forward a decade later and both teens are dealing with issues, although they have drifted apart as friends. That is, until one night when Margo comes to Quentin’s bedroom and asks him to help her complete a revenge plan against people who have slighted her over her high school career. A compelling and provocative read that will keep you turning pages. Woman with a Secret by Sophie Hannah Genre: Thriller/Suspense From the bestselling author of The Monogram Murders, this novel follows the strange tale of Nicki Clements. As a terrible murder is discovered on her street, Nicki’s strange behavior tips the cops off that something is wrong. Although she is not a murderer, she has a dark history that reveals over the course of the novel, making the reader question what is means to be innocent. A gripping and compelling read. Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh Genre: Thriller/Suspense Eileen Dunlop is working in a boys’ prison outside of Boston in the 1960s. This story, full of dark, stunning prose, tells the story of how Dunlop becomes involved in a strange crime. She herself is no angel, though. Haunted by her own issues with shoplifting, perverse sexual fantasy, and stalking a prison guard, she befriends the sunny Rebecca St. John. This friendship ultimately leads to a crime that surpasses even her own dark imagination. The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson Genre: Humor On Allan Karlsson’s 100-year birthday, he climbs out of the window and heads for an unknown adventure. On this last great escape, the reader learns all about Karlsson’s past – helping American presidents, thwarting Russian spies, and acting as the integral motivator for some of history’s most watershed moments. The unique and hilarious voice of the protagonist will keep you engrossed and the history will feed your brain. Do you have one more book to complete our list? Your suggestions are always welcome!

Presidents Who Never Won a Presidential Election

Presidents Who Never Won a Presidential Election There are only five presidents in American history who never won a presidential election. The most recent was Republican Gerald Ford, the 38th president of the United States. Ford served from 1974 to 1977 and then left office in electoral defeat. Where some others assumed the presidency under tumultuous or tragic circumstances and then went on to win a second term, Ford is among a handful who failed to convince voters to return him to power after he ascended to the White House because his predecessor resigned. The other presidents who never won presidential elections were John Tyler,  Millard Fillmore,  Andrew Johnson, and  Chester A. Arthur. Ford is also among fewer than a dozen one-term presidents  who ran for second terms but were denied by voters. So How Did Ford Become President? Ford was serving as vice president in 1974 amid scandal in President Richard M. Nixons administration. He ascended to the presidency when Nixon resigned before he was to face prosecution over the 1972 break-in at the Democratic Partys headquarters in what became known as the  Watergate scandal. Nixon was facing certain impeachment at the time.   As Ford said in taking the Oath of Office:  I assume the Presidency under extraordinary circumstances. This is an hour of history that troubles our minds and hurts our hearts. Did Ford Run for Re-Election? Yes. He won the Republican presidential nomination in 1976 but lost in the general election to Democrat Jimmy Carter, who went on to serve one term. Fords political fortunes sank amid a depressed economy, inflation, and energy shortages at home.   Ford and Carter had engaged in what is believed to be among the most important political debates in political history. The debate, many historians believe,  proved disastrous to Fords bid for a second term in the White House. Ford famously claimed, erroneously, the following: There is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe and there never will be under a Ford administration. Fords statement was met with incredulity from moderator Max Frankel of  The New York Times  and served to tarnish his campaign. What About the Others Who Didnt Win Election? John Tyler became president when President William Henry Harrison died in office in 1841. Tyler could not muster enough support to sustain a legitimate presidential campaign.  Millard Fillmore became president when Zachary Taylor died in 1850. Fillmore sought his partys nomination for a second term but was denied.Andrew Johnson became president when Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865. Johnson did not run for office after being impeached by Congress.  Chester A. Arthur became president after James Garfield was assassinated in 1881. Arthur did not run for re-election.

NASA on Watch for Killer Asteroids

NASA on Watch for Killer Asteroids While NASA astronomers said the chances of the 1.2-mile-wide (2 km) asteroid called 2002 NT7 actually hitting the Earth on Feb. 1, 2019, are slim, they are still watching it and other orbiting doomsday rocks very closely. Detecting and Tracking Dangerous Asteroids While given less than a one in 250,000 chance of actually hitting the Earth, scientists at NASAs Near Earth Object (NEO) program have no intention of turning their backs on any of the Potentially Hazardous Asteroids discovered so far. Using the Sentry System developed by NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NEO observers continually scan the most current asteroid catalog to identify those objects with the greatest potential to hit the Earth over the next 100 years. These most threatening asteroids are cataloged in the Current Impact Risks database. To each near-Earth approaching object, NEO assigns a risk of impact factor based on the Torino Impact Hazard Scale. According to the ten-point Torino scale, a rating of zero indicates the event has no likely consequences. A Torino Scale rating of 1 indicates an event that merits careful monitoring. Even higher ratings indicate that progressively more concern is warranted. To further study near-Earth orbiting objects, their potential threats, and ways in which they may be prevented from impacting the Earth, NASA is currently undertaking this fascinating group of Spacecraft Missions to Asteroids. For professional and amateur asteroid trackers, JPLs Solar System Dynamics Group provides this handy set of software tools. Protecting Earth from Asteroid Strikes Calling them the only major natural hazard that we can effectively protect ourselves against, NASA has suggested two possible methods of protecting the Earth from an asteroid or comet determined to be on a collision course. Destroying the object before it hits the EarthDeflecting the object from its orbit before it hits the Earth To destroy the Earth-approaching object, astronauts would land a spacecraft on the surface of the object and use drills to bury nuclear bombs deep below its surface. Once the astronauts were a safe distance away, the bomb would be detonated, blowing the object to pieces. Drawbacks to this approach include the difficulty and danger of the mission itself and the fact that many of the resulting asteroid fragments might still hit the Earth, resulting in massive damage and loss of life. In the deflection approach, powerful nuclear bombs would be exploded up to half a mile away from the object. The radiation created by the blast would cause a thin layer of the  object on the side nearest the explosion to vaporize and fly into space. The force of this material blasting into space would nudge or recoil the object in the opposite direction just enough to alter its orbit, causing it to miss the Earth. The nuclear weapons needed for the deflection method could be launched into position well in advance of the objects projected Earth impact. Best Defense is Adequate Warning While these and other methods of protection have been considered, no definite plans have been fully developed. Scientists of the Asteroid and Comet Impact division of NASAs Ames Research Center warn that at least ten years will be needed to send a spacecraft to intercept an incoming object and deflect or destroy it. To that end, scientists say, NEOs mission of detecting threatening objects is critical to survival. In the absence of active defense, warning of the time and place of an impact would at least allow us to store food and supplies and to evacuate regions near ground zero where damage would be the greatest, says NASA. What is the Government Doing About This? In 1993 and again in 1998, Congressional hearings were held to study the impact hazard. As a result, both NASA and the Air Force are now supporting programs to discover Earth-threatening objects. Congress currently budgets only about $3 million per year for programs like the Near Earth Object (NEO) project. While other governments have expressed concern about the impact hazard, none have yet funded any extensive surveys or related defense research. That Was Close! According to NASA, a soccer field-sized asteroid came within a mere 75,000 miles of Earth in June  2002. Missing us by less than one-third of the distance to the moon, the asteroids approach was the closest ever recorded by an object of its size.

The influence of Offensive Air Support in modern warfare Essay

The influence of Offensive Air Support in modern warfare - Essay Example This study represents a study of the influence of offensive air support in modern warfare, representing a look into the various modes and operational facets that comprise this field of operations on the battlefield. The history of offensive bombing missions has changed as tactics and weaponry as well as aircraft and missions have progressed1. An example of the preceding is the abandonment of daylight bombing missions during World War II as a result of the heavy losses faced by Allied aircraft due to effective air defences by Germany2. The historical examples to add impact to the focus of this study are almost inexhaustible. But, the importance of the subject matter in terms of its implications as a part of events that impact us all, cannot be denied. The study represents a look into the influence of offensive air support in modern warfare, the methodologies utilised in conducting the research are the foundational facets that contribute to the integrity of the study. The preceding areas represent a means to look into the influence of offensive air support in modern warfare, as to its present state, how it morphed into this situation, and the future of offensive warfare. The objective of the research is to uncover the answers and suppositions to the Aims of this study via the utilisation of secondary research methodologies. The study utilised a combination of qualitative and quantitative research in combination with secondary sources. The combination of methodologies that utilised quantitative research to a lesser degree, thus aided in understanding key components of the question in terms of market occurrences, and historical facets. Secondary research represented the means via which this examination was conducted, as a result of books, journals, magazine articles as well as the Internet were invaluable in obtaining a broad cross section of sources from which a balanced approach could be

Ethics In Disability Sports Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Ethics In Disability Sports - Essay Example Disability sport can be defined as recreational, competitive, and Paralympics sport for individuals with disabilities or a body of knowledge that guides philosophy and practices. The relationship among disability, sport, and knowledge is multifaceted. Such concepts are created by social groups and reflect the affordances and constraints of specific times and cultures.Disabilities have been conceptualized as limitations in physical, mental, or sensory functional ability and activity that prevent or compromise equitable participation in able-bodied sport. Disability sport has been associated mainly with disability sport organizations (DSOs) or the International Paralympics Committee (IPC). However, people with disabilities can now choose to participate in a wide variety of sport contexts (Sherrill & Williams 1996). Thus, the meaning of disability sport has been widened to include any combination of sport and disability. DePauw defined disability sport as a term that gives equal weight to concepts of disability and sport (1986).4. Theories and Conceptualizations of Sport DisabilitySome of the studies and researchers have defined theories of sports disability that might fit into a disability sport conceptual framework.5. Sport Performance TheorySport performance theory includes all of the inconstant, excluding classification, that facilitate explaining or foreseeing phenomenon such as attaining an individual best, winning and losing, managing injury, burnout, stress, anxiety.

Product Description Target Market Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Product Description Target Market - Assignment Example This discussion declares that  coffee is a renowned drink globally, and most of the consumers range from young teenagers to the old generation. People are addicted to coffee for not only its taste, but also the fact that caffeine is known to escalate the energy levels. It contains a stimulant making it the most popular consumed psychoactive drink in the world. Study shows that coffee burns out fat lowers risk of diseases and that it drastically improves physical performance.  From this paper it is clear that Starbucks has very high chances of opening broader markets globally based on its current activities that motivate its consumers. Notably, being the dominant coffee house globally, Starbucks has been at the verge of has tried to balance its profits with the socially conscious. This has been shown in the manner that they have handled community services. With globalization, one would think that Starbucks has lost touch with individuals in the society. However, they ensure that b efore entering any neighborhood, they have to contribute in their society to earn the trust. This includes helping in community organizations mostly through volunteer jobs. This company participates in fundraisers and other community services meaning that it is contributing by giving back to the society as a way of getting to its consumers.  Other than providing jobs to the society, it has also engaged the youth in community services, which is a great motivation to the society, and a great way to reach the consumers.

Canadian Cycling Association in 2012 Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Canadian Cycling Association in 2012 - Article Example CCA recommends the following equipment for its cycling teams competing at Olympic level: Bike: The Elementary criteria used, is the basic ABC’s for a good bike (CCA ABC Quick Check, 2006). â€Å"A† means Air in tyres, which entails checking everything in tyres, whether they are inflated or not, the wheel alignment, looseness in axle bearings, condition of tread. â€Å"B† means Brakes, which entails adequate distance between levers and handlebars, the condition of brake pads whether they are worn out or not, brakes tightening fully on the rim, the condition of cables. â€Å"C† means chains or cranks, which entails lubrication on chain, checking whether pedals spin freely, looseness in the bottom bracket, tightness of levers, levers flushing against the forks, tightness of nuts on the axles, loose parts, etc. There are several Canada-based Sports manufacturers catering to bike requirements. Racer Sportif has 6 ranges of sports bikes, priced between $5000-$6000 CAN (Racersportif, 2006). Cyclissmo is another recognized product line, featuring famous brands such as Colnago, Devinci, Look, Shimano, Ridley and SRAM (Cyclissmo, 2006). Parts and accessories: The important parts and accessories, as per Racesportif product manual consist of Road Forks, Tyres (Starting $20 CAN), Computers (Starting $60 CAN). Clothing and Footwear: Several products are available for both. For clothing, air block vests are in demand (Start from $200 CAN). ... measures deliberated in the process of selection, ensure that the most deserving talent is screened for further considerations (CCA, 2003). Equipment: CCA recommends following equipment for its cycling teams competing at Olympic level (Racesportif, 2006): Bike: The elementary criteria used, is the basic ABC's for a good bike (CCA ABC Quick Check, 2006). "A" means Air in tyres, which entails checking everything in tyres, whether they are inflated or not, the wheel alignment, looseness in axle bearings, condition of tread. "B" means Brakes, which entails adequate distance between levers and handlebars, condition of brake pads whether they are worn out or not, brakes tightening fully on the rim, condition of cables. "C" means chains or cranks, which entails lubrication on chain, checking whether pedals spin freely, looseness in the bottom bracket, tightness of levers, levers flushing against the forks, tightness of nuts on the axles, loose parts, etc. There are several Canada-based Sports manufacturers catering to bike requirements. Racersportif has 6 ranges of sports bikes, priced between $5000-$6000 CAN (Racersportif, 2006). Cyclissmo is another recognised product line, featuring famous brands such as Colnago, Devinci, Look, Shimano, Ridley and SRAM (Cyclissmo, 2006). Parts and accessories: The important parts and accessories, as per Racesportif product manual consists of Road Forks (Starting $300 CAN), Tyres (Starting $20 CAN), Computers (Starting $60 CAN), Rims (Starting $60 CAN), Pedals (Starting $165 CAN), Other components such as

I need an essay about comparison and contrast under this topic (an

I need an about comparison and contrast under this topic (an online class compared to a traditional class ) - Essay Example Whether a person achieves a good learning experience or not is determined by the factors that affect the employment or administration of teaching, since educational instruments are normally tangible and accessible to students with whom a specific knowledge or training is communicated. At this stage, the widespread technology logically plays the key role in educating people, for the modern age has proven to have used and modified technology in almost everything that drives our living. It is, however, essential to determine which between an online class and a traditional class delivers the intended results of a quality learning. While classes held online offer learners the convenience to access a wide variety of virtual materials from a range of readable to audio-visual files, how can such setting guarantee focus and diligence with the desired output among the users? On the contrary, though traditional classes facilitate the advantage of enabling students to experience the real environment of proper education in the presence of a teacher and classmates with whom to interact, how would this ensure constant availability of up-to-date academic resources? Comparing these modes of learning is like running through a number of advantages and disadvantages that must be rea lized in considering either preference. Through an online community, a learning individual finds oneself in control of one’s pace in coping with studies under the flexibility of accomplishing tasks at the comfort of personal time and place. There is barely a need to rush on reading and responding to assignments based on the required modules or set of online curricular activities. In this manner, students gain knowledge with confidence, aware that the freedom of studying within a comfort zone allows more room for fluid thoughts and thus, better ways by which to express views or insights. This is truly a convenient

Health Promotion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

Health Promotion - Essay Example This, therefore, meansthathealthpromotion has positiveeffects on practicesandpolicies that supporttheorganization’s profitability andindividual’s employability (Zenzano et al. 2011). Healtheducationbuildstheskills, knowledgeandpositiveattitudes of students about health. Healtheducationteaches about social, mental, emotionalandphysicalhealth. In addition to that, itmotivatesstudents to maintainandimprove their health, reduceriskbehaviorsandpreventdiseases. Healtheducationstudents are helped to learnskillsthatthey will apply in makinghealthychoices in their entirelife (Davidson 2010). Effectivehealtheducationresults in positivechanges in thestudent’s behavior which in thelongrunlower their risk around tobacco, alcoholandotherdrugs, prevention of injuries, sexualityandfamilylife, physicalactivity, mental, nutritionandemotionalhealthandprevention of diseases.Learning in othersubjects is promoted through healtheducation. One studyindicatedthat math andreadingscores of thirdand fourth gradestudentswerehighforthosewhounderwent a comprehensivehealtheducationandlowerforthosewhodid not. Anumber of studieshaveshownthattheperformance of healthierstudents is high. Their attendance is high, performbetter on testsandhavebettergrades. Thismeansthathealthystudentslearnbetter (Zenzano et al. 2011). Nurses have an importantrole ofimprovingthe adherence of thepatient to themedicine. Theydothis by checkingtheknowledge of thepatients, their understandingandproviding them with personalized supportandinformation. In addition to thateachnurse is supposed to ensurethat their patient’s adherence to medicinesis improved. A follow-up to find out if there are mattersaffectingthemedicinetakingbehavior of thepatient should also be carried out by thenurse. Nurses are supposed to checkthetreatmentmanagement of thepatientandtakethenecessaryactionifthepatientfails to

I need an essay about comparison and contrast under this topic (an

I need an about comparison and contrast under this topic (an online class compared to a traditional class ) - Essay Example Whether a person achieves a good learning experience or not is determined by the factors that affect the employment or administration of teaching, since educational instruments are normally tangible and accessible to students with whom a specific knowledge or training is communicated. At this stage, the widespread technology logically plays the key role in educating people, for the modern age has proven to have used and modified technology in almost everything that drives our living. It is, however, essential to determine which between an online class and a traditional class delivers the intended results of a quality learning. While classes held online offer learners the convenience to access a wide variety of virtual materials from a range of readable to audio-visual files, how can such setting guarantee focus and diligence with the desired output among the users? On the contrary, though traditional classes facilitate the advantage of enabling students to experience the real environment of proper education in the presence of a teacher and classmates with whom to interact, how would this ensure constant availability of up-to-date academic resources? Comparing these modes of learning is like running through a number of advantages and disadvantages that must be rea lized in considering either preference. Through an online community, a learning individual finds oneself in control of one’s pace in coping with studies under the flexibility of accomplishing tasks at the comfort of personal time and place. There is barely a need to rush on reading and responding to assignments based on the required modules or set of online curricular activities. In this manner, students gain knowledge with confidence, aware that the freedom of studying within a comfort zone allows more room for fluid thoughts and thus, better ways by which to express views or insights. This is truly a convenient

Raped and Pregnant Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Raped and Pregnant - Essay Example The story that was shared by my friend made me realized that being raped is something you feel as self-degrading, since the person who was raped feels like her right for being respected was taken away. One of my friends told me a story about a girl she knew who was once having a normal life, but then she became a victim. She was raped. This girl just graduated from law school. She had a perfect job, as well as a perfect family, who supports her all the way. She is also a Christian who regularly attends mass. She is a person who has a good foundation with what she believes in. Since she was raised by her parents with Christian faith and practices, she planned to wait until she gets married to do things that only married couples do. This girl has been very successful and even has high hopes for her future which includes having a family of her own. While she was doing a great job on her career, she decided to be a volunteer for a pro-life program at her place. She listens to different s tories with relation to Women’s Policy. She often hears stories from women who got abused and raped. However, she insisted and made a stand on her own that abortion as an answer from any violence should not be considered as an option. With her stand, she met new friends and few enemies. While having a vacation for a few months on her cousin’s place. ... One thing she noticed though, every time she drinks the mixture, she often loses her focus and just got tired all the time. However, she trusted the guy so she never questioned him. According to my friend, the girl eventually became close with the guy, and that is the time that her beliefs were tested. There were times when she allowed the guy to stay at her apartment. This was when she realized that there is something wrong every time she fell asleep. She woke up the next morning having a bad feeling. The doctor did confirm to her that she was drugged for months by her boyfriend. On the other hand, the doctor also explained that she was pregnant. Now, she realized that she was raped. The doctor informed her that she does not need to keep the baby and promoted abortion as an option. When the girl knew that she was pregnant, she went directly to her family and informed what happened. Some of her friends and colleagues who attend mass regularly with her advised that she needs to have a n abortion because she does not want the child in the first place. When she seeks for an advise from her parents, her parents just assured her that no matter what her decisions may be, they will be there to support her. Hence, giving her the confusion and total freedom to make the decision of aborting the baby or having the baby. Abortion was an easy answer for many people since she was raped. After hearing advices, she could not believe what other people were saying because those people are the ones who consider themselves as pro-life. While the girl is suffering and got physically sick because of body changes due to being pregnant, she decided to continue the pregnancy. She could not imagine herself killing her own child. She accepted the fact that she will be a

Causes Of Corruption Essay Example for Free

Causes Of Corruption Essay The paper stresses the need to keep the issue of corruption squarely in view in the development agenda. It discusses the causes and consequences of corruption, especially in the context of a least developed country with considerable regulation and central direction. Lack of transparency, accountability and consistency, as well as institutional weaknesses such as in the legislative and judicial systems, provide fertile ground for growth of rent seeking activities in such a country. In addition to the rise of an underground economy and the high social costs associated with corruption, its adverse consequences on income distribution, consumption patterns, investment, the government budget and on economic reforms are highlighted in the paper. The paper also touches upon the supply side of bribery and its international dimensions and presents some thoughts on how to address the corruption issue and to try and bring it under control. There is a growing worldwide concern over corruption at the present time. Several factors are responsible for this. First, a consensus has now been reached that corruption is universal. It exists in all countries, both developed and developing, in the public and private sectors, as well as in non-profit and charitable organizations. Second, allegations and charges of corruption now play a more central role in politics than at any other time. Governments have fallen, careers of world renowned public figures ruined, and reputations of well-respected organizations and business firms badly tarnished on account of it. The international mass media feeds on it and scandals and improper conduct, especially of those in high places, are looked upon as extremely newsworthy, and to be investigated with zeal and vigour. The rising trend in the use of corruption as a tool to discredit political opponents, the media’s preoccupation with it as a highly marketable commodity, and the general pu blic’s fascination with seeing prominent personalities in embarrassing situations have brought scandalous and corrupt behaviour, a common human frailty, into the limelight of international attention. Third – and the main issue taken up in this paper – is that corruption can be a major obstacle in the process of economic development and in modernizing a country. Many now feel that it should receive priority attention in a country’s development agenda. This greater recognition that corruption can have a serious adverse impact on development has been a cause for concern among developing countries. In a recent survey of 150 high level officials from 60 third world countries, the respondents ranked public sector corruption as the most severe obstacle confronting their development process (Gray and Kaufmann 1998). Countries in the Asia and Pacific region are also very worried about this problem and they are in substantial agreement that corruption is a major constraint that is hindering their economic, political and social development, and hence view it as a problem requiring urgent attention at the highest level. Increasing public interest and concern over corruption have resulted in a large amount of scholarly research on the subject. Admittedly, there are still wide gaps in the current state of information and knowledge on the matter and much more remains to be done. Nevertheless, theoretical and empirical research that has been conducted thus far has yielded fresh insights into the problem. We now have a clearer understanding of the underlying causes of corruption, its consequences, and ideas and approaches on possible measures to combat it. At the same time, a better perspective has been obtained on the reasons why corruption persists in so many countries, and why it is difficult to deal with, although people throughout the world view it with disfavour. This paper presents some ideas and issues that have emerged from the current discussion and ongoing debate on the corruption question in the region and around the world. It considers the causes, consequences and international dimensions of corruption, which seem to have generated a lot of public attention in many countries. Thoughts and suggestions on possible remedial measures have also been included as it would not be a fruitful exercise to only discuss issues and problems, without coming forward with some solutions as well. The aim of the paper is to create greater awareness of the subject and to highlight the desirability to keep it in view in thinking about development issues, especially in the context of a least developed country. I. DEFINITION AND CONCEPTS Definition In this paper, corruption is defined as the use of public office for private gain, or in other words, use of official position, rank or status by an office bearer for his own personal benefit. Following from this definition, examples of corrupt behaviour would include: (a) bribery, (b) extortion, (c) fraud, (d) embezzlement, (e) nepotism, (f) cronyism, (g) appropriation of public assets and property for private use, and (h) influence peddling. In this list of corrupt behaviour, activities such as fraud and embezzlement can be undertaken by an official alone and without involvement of a second party. While others such as bribery, extortion and influence peddling involve two parties – the giver and taker in a corrupt deal. The two party type of corruption can arise under a variety of circumstances. Often mentioned are concerned with the following: (i) Government contracts: bribes can influence who gets the contract, the terms of the contract, as well as terms of subcontracts when the project is implemented. Government benefits: bribes can influence the allocation of monetary benefits such as credit subsidies and favoured prices and exchange rates where price controls and multiple exchange rates exist. Bribes can also be important in obtaining licenses and permits to engage in lucrative economic activities such as importing certain goods in high demand and in short supply. Moreover, bribes can be employed to acquire in-kind benefits such as access to privileged schools, subsidized medical care, subsidized housing and real estate, and attractive ownership stakes in enterprises that are being privatized. Government revenue: bribes can be used to reduce the amount of taxes, fees, dues, custom duties, and electricity and other public utility charges collected from business firms and private individuals. Time savings and regulatory avoidance: bribes can speed up the granting of permission, licenses and permits to carry out activities that are perfectly legal. This is the so-called â€Å"grease money† to turn the wheels of bureaucracy more smoothly, speedily and hopefully in the right direction. It is also not difficult to think of a really awful situation where rules and regulations, and the way they are applied, are so complex and burdensome that the only way left to get things done is to pay money to avoid them. Influencing outcomes of legal and regulatory processes: bribes can be used to provide incentives to regulatory authorities to refrain from taking action, and to look the other way, when private parties engage in activities that are in violation of existing laws, rules and regulations such as those relating to controlling pollution, preventing health hazards, or promoting public safety as in the case of building codes and traffic regulations. Similarly, bribes can be given to favour one party over another in court cases or in other legal and regulatory proceedings. Economic rent The concept of economic rent (or monopoly profit) occupies a central place in the literature on the subject of corruption. Economic rent arises when a person has something unique or special in his possession. This something special can be a luxury condominium in a posh neighbourhood, a plot of land in the central business district of the city, a natural resource like an oil well, or even some pleasing personal traits such as beauty and charm. A person who owns such a special asset can charge a more than normal price for its use and earn economic rent or monopoly profit. To illustrate, suppose there is a young lady who has breathtakingly good looks, a charming personality, and exceptional acting, singing and dancing skills. Due to these special personal assets, she becomes a superstar and a heartthrob of teenagers all over the country and thus commands a princely sum for her appearances. But what exactly is her economic rent? To determine this, it is necessary to know the next best thing she can do to earn a living if she is not a superstar. Suppose she has a law degree so the next best occupation she can take up is to become a lawyer. Then the difference between her income as a superstar and the earnings she can obtain from her next best occupation (as a lawyer), is her economic rent for having an unusually pretty face, charm, and superb singing, dancing and acting talents – a winning combination which no other young lady in the country can match. A similar line of reasoning can be applied to a minor bureaucrat working in the business license issuing office of a government ministry. Suppose this bureaucrat has the responsibility of typing, stamping the official seal, getting the appropriate signatures and delivering the authorization letter that grants permission to business enterprises to engage in a certain line of economic activity. Business executives are anxious to have the letter typed expeditiously and correctly, and have it properly stamped, signed, sealed and delivered and are willing to pay a price for this special service. Hence the bureaucrat who has a monopoly of typing, stamping and processing the letter can use his official position to acquire economic rent from his clients. A useful approach to find out the amount of his economic rent is to think of what he can earn if he is fired from the licensing office.

Concepts of Politics and Economics

Concepts of Politics and Economics Ramon Hernandez The Dictator’s Dilemma The dictator’s dilemma is when an authoritarian ruler’s oppression is so great that the public greatly fears him/her, which then leads to uncertainty as to how much support the ruler actually has. This leads the ruler to spend more resources than is needed to try to expose who potential rivals maybe or to try to buy out the potential opposition. They then begin to spend more and more money trying to keep everyone loyal and often end up spending too many resources on one particular group such as the military. This creates more problems as the groups that aren’t being represented or are not being funded begin to feel more oppressed and less represented. Thus begins a new cycle of people that the ruler must now try to win over. The dictator’s dilemma causes the dictator to become paranoid and forces said ruler to make drastic changes to his/her agenda. For example authoritarian rulers who wish to improve their home regions usually do make improvements at the beginning of their regime but as soon as they begin to fear a potential overthrow they start to spend resources on other regions to keep the popular support. The dictators’ dilemma leaves the ruler in constant states of paranoia because they are never truly sure how much support or opposition they face. Social vs Liberal Market Economies A social market economy is an economic system that combines a highly productive market economy with an extensive and generous welfare state, as well as unusually active involvement of both business and labor in economic policy. It combines private enterprise with regulation and state intervention so that it may create fair competition as well as maintain a balance between high rates of economic growth and low levels of unemployment. It is designed to promote good working conditions, social welfare, public services and lower inflation. It has many of the foundations of a free market economy such as private property, free foreign trade, and free formation of prices. There are provisions to confine the free market such as antitrust codes that help reduce the occurring problems within a free market. A liberal market economy is a system that provides the ability for companies to interact with other companies, their employees, customers, and suppliers in whatever mechanisms they prefer, within the broad regulations implemented by a government. They incorporate a free prices system however they limit the potential for monopolies to form as well as the rates they can charge during certain states of the economy. This allows for competition in the market place to grow. Liberal market economies include government intervention in order to create a basis for domestic and international commerce between businesses in the form of legislation that requires business transactions to take place within specific boundaries. Market Externalities Market Externalities occur when the cost or benefit of the production process is not fully included in the price of the final market transaction, which reduces efficiency. An example of a market externality is the production of a bottle of water. When producing bottles of water, pollution is also produced. However the cost of cleaning up the pollution is not a factor in price of the bottle, nor is a factor in the supply and demand chain. Environmental damage is the most common form of market externalities. When factories pollute the air when they make their products, the costs of the long term damage the local residents as well as the environment receive are not paid by the factory owners. The cost of the bottle is not taken out of the cost for pollution damage. The factory would pollute more if they had to pay for the damages however. Welfare Policy Types Universal Entitlements are benefits that governments provide to citizens more or less equally, usually funded through taxation. An example would be public education in the US. All communities in the US must provide public education to all school age residents without any exemptions including those who are not born in the US. Public education tends to reduce the likeliness that a person will end up in poverty, which is why public education is a universal benefit. In many European countries families are provided child or family allowances to help them raise their children. The allowance is adjusted for household income or on the number of children. Some the criticism to these entitlements is that some people who do not need them still receive the entitlements. Social Insurance provides benefits to categories of people who have contributed to public insurance fund. Examples in the US are social security, disability benefits and unemployment. Workers and employers contribute to the fund and only those who contribute to the fund may benefit from them when they need them for instance when a worker retires. Means-tested public assistance are programs that provide benefits to individuals who fall below a specific income level. Food stamps, subsidized public housing and temporary assistance to needy families are the most common examples in the US. The level of assistance from these programs usually depends on the income level but other factors may contribute such as work requirements. These are unlike universal entitlements where everyone is entitled to their benefits and social insurance where those who contribute get to partake in the benefits; means tested assistance only targets those whose income levels are low. Tax expenditures are targeted tax breaks for specific groups of people or activities designed to achieve social policy goals. Tax breaks on certain people or expenditures subsidizes activities that the government believes to be beneficial. Tax breaks on people or on expenditures has the same effect as amount of social spending on that group of people or project. Cap and Trade System Cap and Trade systems are systems where the government allows a specific amount of acceptable pollution in an industry. Once the amount of pollution is reached the government begins to give out vouchers to companies. Companies are allowed to pollute depending on the amount of vouchers they possess. The companies are allowed to trade and sell their vouchers to other companies. The vouchers were designed in order to regulate and reduce pollution in industries. There are two parts designed to reduce pollution. The first part puts a cap on pollution by companies, the reason being is that companies will not go overboard and pollute as much as they want without having to pay for their future environmental complications. The second part was designed to persuade companies to develop cleaner forms of energy. Switching to cleaner forms of energy would get rid of the need for vouchers and other benefits would then be created. However there are criticisms to the cap and trade system that companies make. One criticism is that it creates monopolies on the vouchers thus creating a monopoly on pollution levels. Big companies will begin to acquire all the vouchers leaving smaller companies unable to pollute and making them have to sell out to the larger companies. Bigger companies have more resources and can use them to their advantage. This allows them to merge all pollution levels and have control over particular industries. Another criticism is that vouchers will allow the government to have control over private industries. The government would have specific powers over companies and would allow them have their needs meet before the company. The government would also have control over who gets the vouchers and how many they can recieve. The Science of Comparative Politics Many people believe that there isn’t a science behind comparative politics, while others believe that there are legitimate reasons as to why and how comparative politics has its own scientific characteristics. There are many examples as to how comparative politics has a science behind it. I will provide a few examples that make comparative politics a science, such as the research methods and how they are used to compare and contrast various state politics. Comparative Politics is defined as the study of the domestic politics, political institutions, and conflicts of countries. Scholars have been studying politics among various regimes for centuries. Aristotle and Machiavelli were some of the first pioneers to study comparative politics so that they could gather information on the success and weaknesses of various governments throughout history as well as their own era’s. As the years went by different methods were developed in order to better understand government institutions, and as people started to move around and create new governments around the world there was a focus shift from European countries to these new developing countries. There was another shift in studying comparative politics, this time the focus was not to describe the type of governments that emerged but how they came about and the likelihood of that government entity to survive. As the governments developed and began to create different institutions, scholars were given more things to study and focus on. This brings about why there are people who do not believe comparative politics to be scientific. As is the case with other scientific forms of study, there are biases to research methods of comparative politics. Those that study comparative politics have their own beliefs and opinions and it comes out when researching a specific topic. The people who are studying and making observations are the ones who draw up the conclusions and facts. Their findings could be completely different from people who have different ideas, beliefs, and research methods and this could result in struggles over what actually happened or what is really going on. This has similarities to other forms of scientific research. Scientists with different beliefs and research methods can come up with one idea and another scientist can come up with something opposite of what that person came up with. Scientist can choose to leave things out that they don’t agree with, the same thing can and does happen in comparative politics. Scientists in all fields can determine what is said and they can use it to manipulate readers that are not informed on that specific topic; much like in politics where the public believes what politicians say even when they are not educated on that subject. But quite possibly the biggest criticism as to why comparative politics is not a science is the material they have to work with. Politics is all historical in a sense, meaning that politics wasn’t created in a lab rather it something that came about through hundreds of years of ruling and experience. Scientists have many forms of acquiring sources and information where as political scientists get their knowledge from historical events and past regimes. Gathering the information is harder for political scientists as well. They may not be granted access to some of the information they need or the truth could have been kept a secret from the rest of the world. By this I mean that past political regimes have kept some of their information a secret. An example of this was Russia after WWII; they did not fully disclose the death rate they faced after the war. Incidents like this make it harder on political scientists when they are trying to put the facts together. Another problem th at political scientists have to deal with when arguing for their legitimacy is that they are limited with trials and errors. Scientists can have infinite trials to test their hypothesis; they simply have to create the experiment, test it, and draw conclusions. Political scientists can only go by either past examples or current examples. Scientist can manipulate their experiments, political scientists can’t. Scientists can have multiple tests where as political scientists have to go by assumptions. Although it may seem as if political science is not an actual science there is a key part of it that makes it a science and that is that they follow the scientific method of research. Political scientists take the same steps that other scientists take when testing there research. They create a hypothesis as to why a certain political movement occurred in history, and how it affected that country and history. Afterwards they test their hypothesis, the same as any other experiment. The forms and methods they use to test their hypothesis are unlike other forms of science but they are still genuine forms of testing. They then come up with a conclusion of their hypothesis. Their conclusions are difficult to accept depending on your political views and own personal beliefs, but they are accurate in their own right. Political scientists follow the scientific method and prove that their field of science is in fact possible and legitimate. Political science faces many of the same criticisms that other forms of science face. There are people that are biased against their beliefs. They have to perform experiments in order to test their hypothesis. They do extensive research on their topics and come up with the best possible answers they can. Political science is a science, even if there aren’t laboratories and people in white coats doing the research Advanced Democratic States The greatest policy challenges that advanced democratic states face today have to deal with political institutions, societal institutions, and economic institutions. Advanced countries are having trouble getting former communist states or poorer states to become part of their union. They are also having trouble figuring out how to create social welfare. They are having problems with devolution. Advanced political institutions are struggling to keep the people happy. In Europe the major problems they are facing are within the European Union. They are having difficulty with several things such as who to grant membership into the union, the currency system, patriotism, as well as fears within the society. Former communist states are having difficulty getting membership into the European Union due to their former governmental policies as well as their economic status. Their transition from communism to democracy has been a difficult one as they are switching from one form of government to a completely different one. Former communist states usually tend to be poorer than the older members of the union which brings up problems when deciding how to fund these governments. Some countries need more help than others and they don’t produce as much wealth as the older members which create problems within the EU as to how much help and funds they should receive. Former members of the Soviet Union are not the only ones that are having trouble acquiring membership into the EU; countries with a Muslim background have also had problems gaining membership. Turkey has had difficulty because of their predominantly Muslim culture. Allowing predominantly Muslim cultures into the EU causes religious problems as well as societal fears. Predominately Christian states within the EU fear that allowing Muslim states into the EU would result in religious turmoil as well as trigger a rise in terrorist threats. Christians fear that Muslims would outnumber them in members, and the society thinks that this would cause terrorist groups to upsurge. Membership is not the only problem the EU faces, currency is always a problem no matter what. The Euro has been an idea that most EU members prefer but that others do not want. The euro was suggested in order to create a type of currency that would help bring EU members closer as well as create a reserve currency that would have international backing. But some countries such as the United Kingdom and Swede n have refused to join the monetary system because they see it as a loss of sovereignty; which brings up another problem and that is patriotism. Some members of the EU feel as if they are losing their identity, they feel as if they are all merging into one and are losing their cultural identity. Other advanced nations, such as the US face many of the same problems as the EU. The US, EU, and advanced countries all over the world are having to deal with social policies that are designed to help out its people. The US faces difficulties with its welfare programs as to who gets them and how much they are entitled to. Many advanced countries see the importance of helping out the lower class so that they may decrease the levels of poverty but also get more people contributing to society in big ways. However some feel that the social policies are not working and that many people are not giving back to society. The poor are not the only ones that get to benefit from these programs. Social security was a program designed to help out the elderly population of the US. It’s a program that has helped many, but due to the ever increasing population of the elderly as well as the life expectancy rate continuing to increase, programs such as social security will be affected in major w ays. The US is not the only country that is facing this problem; other advanced countries such as Japan have to deal with lower rates of birth and higher elderly populations. If this continues to happen many advanced populations will start to see a decrease in population. Immigration would seem to be the solution to this problem, but many countries fear and dislike immigration as they feel like immigration would cause cultures to lose their identity to assimilation. Immigration is something that all advanced societies face and it is something that causes problem within the state. Fear of overpopulation, assimilation, and racial prejudices prevent immigration from growing. Globalization would fix some of the problems that advanced democracies face, however it will not fix all of them. Globalization could fix both racial fears and patriotism. Globalization is a process of international integration arising from the exchange of world views, meaning that countries around the world are communicating, trading, and exchanging personal views. This would obviously ease some of the fears of assimilation that many people think are bad. This could also put a dent in racial prejudices that are faced around the world. Globalization could possibly encourage immigration allow for vast integration of cultures and views. Globalization could possibly help the EU with establishing the euro within all of its members. Globalization calls for many countries to come together which could possibly lead to a rise in the need for a single unit of currency. Globalization will not fix all of the problems such as the complications that are involved with welfare programs. It won†™t stop life expectancy from growing, it won’t stop poverty, it won’t end violence, but it could bring countries closer together and could lead to the solutions to some of the problems that advanced democracies face.

Essay --

Desertification is an increasing global issue that has caused many concerns throughout the world. Desertification affects mostly Africa; however it has (and still is) taking its toll on the Arabian Peninsula, southern Asia, Australia, southern South America, and the southwest region of the North American continent (â€Å"Desertification†, 2013). According to â€Å"Desertification: A Forgotten Threat†, every year, some 23,000 square miles of arable and range land are uncontrollably lost to desert, leaving an exceeding amount of consequences for the entire globe to face. As alarming as this fact is, it is important to understand the negative effects that desertification exerts on these affected areas, exactly what this problem is, what it is doing, why it’s happening, why it is important, and what global communities, as well as world leaders can do to prevent it from spiraling out of control in the future. This paper will focus on the physical and economical hards hips due to desertification, the causes of it, the necessary measures that should be taken to prevent it, as well as the importance of spreading global awareness regarding this topic. According to a statement made by UNEP (United Nations Environment Program) on December 10, 1993, â€Å"Desertification is ‘one of the most serious global environmental problems’† (â€Å"Desertification: Not About, 1994). When discussing the topic of desertification, two common questions are, â€Å"What is desertification exactly, and how is it possible for the desert to advance?† Desertification is a term that describes â€Å"the loss of productive land to desert† (â€Å"Desertification†, 2013). It’s a common, innocent public misconception that the desert is advancing; however, this in fact is not the case. When an area u... ...ined areas. Strongly supported by the UN Development Program’s Office to Combat Desertification and Drought, the CCD is the first treaty to demand full participation by local populations. This way, countries can learn from each other, passing on scientific and technical knowledge† (â€Å"Desertification: A Forgotten Threat†, 1999). As one can see, desertification is a serious matter at hand. Creating laws and setting limits to farmers can slow the desertification process slowed down. Actions need to be taken now in order to save the precious land. If nothing is done, the future of important nations will be dark as they are forced to face a myriad of economical and biological hardships. Additionally, there could very well be wars over land and water, causing the affected country to sink deeper and deeper into a viscous pit due to the malicious cycle of desertification.

How Culture Affects Managers

How culture affects manager in international organizations. In the last few years globalization has been expanded all around the world in different areas and technology. International organizations have the same effect, organizations that want to have an adventure must require managers or leaderships with general awareness of cultural variables that may affect the business and make this a success or a flop. Since culture has become one of the main obstacles to standardize decisions and processes in multinational enterprises, a barrier that is sometimes impossible to overcome †¦(XII) After the end of World War II growth of globalization has become widespread, thanks to advances in communication, transportation, technology and trading system. The world is moving into a new millennium and we cannot ignore the importance of international business, and the administration thereof. However adaptation to culture is the most difficult challenge doing international business, this requires an understanding of the different culture, perceptions, stereotypes and values. Only the managers with a wide cultural sensitivity will success. No single nation can be complacent about itself and does not need the assistance and support of other countries, even the riches nations need which lack resources and through global negotiations and agreements supplement their needs and wants. The development of international trade makes countries prosper by leveraging its assets produce better, and then exchanged with other countries, which in turn they produce best. When companies are interested in international trade or looking to diversify markets, they need to negotiate with foreign firms, then countries will be better off. To achieve this they have to resolve conflict or mishaps that may rise when negotiating, because many times one party is not willing to give, so firms need to plan strategies to work to reach an agreement, It is important to know the essential aspects of international negotiation, however culture influences directly in international negotiations, as not all countries negotiate the same way. Aspects such as values, habits, customs, religion, morality, etc. are essential to know, before a firm can have good communication and the n negotiating for a mutually beneficial. Horak, S. (2010). Does The Individual's Culture Play A Role In The Value Perception Of Members Of Small Multinational Teams?. Business ; Economics Journal, 1-7. The author of this article said

Home Depot Analysis

Home Depot – 2010 Financial Report For fiscal year ended January  30, 2011 (â€Å"fiscal 2010†), Home Depot reported Net Earnings of $3. 3  billion and Diluted Earnings per Share of $2. 01 compared to Net Earnings of $2. 7  billion and Diluted Earnings per Share of $1. 57 for fiscal year ended January  31, 2010 (â€Å"fiscal 2009†). The results for fiscal 2010 included a $51 million pretax charge related to the extension of our guarantee of a senior secured loan of HD Supply, Inc. (the â€Å"HD Supply Guarantee Extension†). The results for fiscal 2009 reflected the impact of several strategic actions initiated in fiscal 2008. These strategic actions resulted in store rationalization charges related to the closing of 15 underperforming U. S. stores and the removal of approximately 50 stores from their new store pipeline, business rationalization charges related to the exit of our EXPO, THD Design Center, Yard birds and HD Bath businesses (the â€Å"Exited Businesses†) and charges related to the restructuring of support functions (collectively, the â€Å"Rationalization Charges†). These actions resulted in pretax Rationalization Charges of $146 million for fiscal 2009. The results for fiscal 2009 also included a pretax charge of $163 million to write-down our investment in HD Supply, Inc. Additionally, fiscal 2009 included earnings of $41 million from discontinued operations, net of tax, for the settlement of working capital matters arising from the sale of HD Supply. Home Depot reported Earnings from Continuing Operations of $3. 3  billion and Diluted Earnings per Share from Continuing Operations of $2. 01 for fiscal 2010 compared to Earnings from Continuing Operations of $2. 6  billion and Diluted Earnings per Share from Continuing Operations of $1. 5 for fiscal 2009. Excluding the HD Supply Guarantee Extension charge from their fiscal 2010 results, and the Rationalization Charges and the write-down of their investment in HD Supply from their fiscal 2009 results, Earnings from Continuing Operations were $3. 4 billion and Diluted Earnings per Share from Continuing Operations were $2. 03 for fiscal 2010 compared to Earnings from Continuing Oper ations of $2. 8 billion and Diluted Earnings per Share from Continuing Operations of $1. 66 for fiscal 2009. Net Sales increased 2. 8% to $68. 0  billion for fiscal 2010 from $66.   billion for fiscal 2009. Home Depot’s comparable store sales increased 2. 9% in fiscal 2010, driven by a 2. 4% increase in their comparable store customer transactions and a 0. 5% increase in their comparable store average ticket to $51. 93. Comparable store sales for their U. S. stores increased 2. 5% in fiscal 2010. In fiscal 2010, Home Depot focused on the following four key initiatives: Customer Service: Home Depot’s focus on customer service is anchored on the principles of taking care of their associates, putting customers first and simplifying the business. The roll out of their Customers FIRST training to all store associates and support staff in fiscal 2009 has brought simplification and focus across the business, and they repeated and refreshed the Customers FIRST training during fiscal 2010. The Customers FIRST program is part of their ongoing commitment to improve customer service levels in their stores, and they continued to see the benefit of this training in improved customer service ratings for fiscal 2010 compared to fiscal 2009. Also in fiscal 2010, Home Depot completed the deployment of their FIRST Phone, a new hand held device that provides multiple functions such as inventory management, product location and mobile checkout. The core purpose of this new device is to reduce tasking time for their store associates to allow them more time to focus on customer service. Home Depot ended fiscal 2010 with more than half of their store payroll allocated to customer facing activities rather than tasking activities. They have a customer facing store payroll target of 60%, and they believe they will achieve that by 2013. Product Authority: Our focus on product authority is facilitated by our merchandising transformation and portfolio strategy, including innovation, assortment and value. In fiscal 2010, we made significant progress on our merchandising tools in the U. S. that helped us manage markdown and clearance activity and better control inventory. Our inventory turnover ratio was 4. 13 times at the end of fiscal 2010 compared to 4. 06 times at the end of fiscal 2009. Additionally, we continued to form strategic alliances and relationships with selected suppliers to bring a number of proprietary and xclusive brands across a wide range of departments. Productivity and Efficiency: Home Depot’s approach to driving productivity and efficiency starts with disciplined capital allocation focused on building best-in-class competitive advantages in information technology and supply chain, as well as building shareholder value through higher returns on invested capital and total value returned to sh areholders in the form of dividends and share repurchases. At the end of fiscal 2010, they completed the roll out of their Rapid Deployment Centers (â€Å"RDCs†) and now have 19 RDCs that serve 100% of their U. S. stores. Also during fiscal 2010, they repurchased 80. 9  million shares for $2. 6 billion, and on February  22, 2011 Home depot announced a six percent increase in their quarterly cash dividend to 25 cents per share. Interconnected Retail: Home Depot’s focus on interconnected retail is based on the view that providing a seamless shopping experience across multiple channels will be a critical enabler for future success. Their multiple channel focus is allowing them to greatly expand their assortment of merchandise, and they are making the investment to build these capabilities, including the roll out of â€Å"buy on-line, pick-up in store† next year. Home depot is committed to having a best-in-class website, and during fiscal 2010 their site was named as a Most Improved Website for customer satisfaction by Foresee, a leading customer satisfaction analytics firm. Home Depot opened eight new stores in fiscal 2010, including one relocation, and closed three stores, bringing our total store count at the end of fiscal 2010 to 2,248. As of the end of fiscal 2010, a total of 272 of these stores, or 12. 1%, were located in Canada, Mexico and China compared to 268 stores, or 11. 9%, at the end of fiscal 2009. Home Depot generated approximately $4.   billion of cash flow from operations in fiscal 2010. They used this cash flow along with cash on hand to fund $2. 6 billion of share repurchases, pay $1. 6  billion of dividends and fund $1. 1 billion in capital expenditures. At the end of fiscal 2010, Home Depot’s long-term debt-to-equity ratio was 46. 1% compared to 44. 7% at the end of fiscal 2009. Their return on invested capita l for continuing operations (computed on net operating profit after tax for the trailing twelve months and the average of beginning and ending long-term debt and equity) was 12. 8% for fiscal 2010 compared to 10. % for fiscal 2009. This increase reflects the impact of the Rationalization Charges which they included in their operating profit for fiscal 2009. Excluding the Rationalization Charges, their return on invested capital for continuing operations was 12. 7% for fiscal 2010 compared to 11. 1% for fiscal 2009. Week 2 Activity Ratios of Home Depot vs. Lowe’s One key to profitability is how well a company manages and utilizes its assets. Some ratios are design to evaluate a company’s effectectiveness in managing assets. Of particular interest is the activity, or turnover ratios, of certain assets. The greater the number of times an asset turns over, the higher the ratio the fewer assets are required to maintain a given level of activity (revenue). Given that a company incurs costs to finance its assets with debt (paying interest) or equity (paying dividends), high turnovers are usually attractive. |Receivable Turnover | |Year |2009 |2010 |2011 | |Home Depot |68. |63. 9 |53. 9 | |Lowe’s |0. 0 |0. 0 |0. 0 | Receivable Turnover ratio is calculated by dividing a period’s net credit sales by the average net accounts receivables. The receivables turnover ratio provides an indication of a company’s efficiency in collecting receivables. The ratio shows the number of times during a period that the averages accounts receivable balance is collected. The higher the ratio, the shorter the average time between credit sales and cash collection. As we can see above, Lowe’s has zero receivables, which can be translated to no credit sales. |Inventory Turnover | |Year |2009 |2010 |2011 | |Home Depot |4. 21 |4.. 19 |4. 34 | |Lowe’s |4. 0 |3. 72 |3. 63 | Inventory Turnover is an important measure for a merchandising company. The ratio shows the number of times the average inventory balance is sold during reporting period. It indicates how quickly inventory is sold. The more frequently a business is able to sell, or turn over, its inventory, the lower its investment in inventory must be for a given level of sales. The ratio is computed by dividing the period’s costs of goods sold by the average inventory balance. The denominator, average inventory, is determined by adding beginning and ending inventory and dividing by two. A relatively high ratio, as in the case of Home Depot compare to Lowe’s, usually is desirable. A high ratio indicates comparative strength, perhaps caused by a company’s superior sales force or maybe a successful advertising campaign. However, it might also be caused by a relatively low inventory level, which could mean either very efficient inventory measurement or stock outs or lost sales in the future. Comparing the two industries, we can conclude than Home Depot turns over their inventory a bit faster than Lowe’s. Asset Turnover | |Year |2009 |2010 |2011 | |Home Depot |1. 73 |1. 62 |1. 73 | |Lowe’s |1. 48 |1. 43 |1. 41 | Asset Turnover is a broad measure of asset efficiency. The ratio is computed by dividing a company’s net sales or revenue by the average total assets available for use during a period. The denominator, average assets, is determined by adding beginning and ending total assets and dividing by two. The asset turnover ratio provides an indication of how efficiency a company utilizes all of its assets to generate revenue. Also, it shows how many sales dollars are generated for every dollar invested in the company’s assets. Lowe’s had relatively lower asset turnover than Home Depot because their recent investment in PP&E has not yet reached their potentials. Home Depot is a financially sound company and performs well when compared to its competitors. Based on current business conditions and the potential growth opportunity facing Home Depot, we feel that the bottom line will continue to grow at a healthy rate above the competition in the near future. We believe that the relatively low levels of debt, slightly wider margins, and lower costs make Home Depot an attractive investment for the long run. Shares of Home Depot are currently trading at $33. 92 to what we believe is gaining momentum in the market. This increase is possibly derived from the market’s belief that better than predicted growth will be seen from expansion into foreign markets, specifically China. Week 4 Home Depot – Accounting Policies The retail industry, in general, presents a very competitive market with high price competition and low product differentiation. Although almost any retailer, from supermarkets to superstores, can offer home improvement items at a competitive price, the home improvement industry currently provides a great opportunity for differentiation in regards to the types of services home improvement retailers offer. To successfully maximize sales and increase revenues in the home improvement industry, retailers such as Home Depot must successfully combine product variety, quality and price and specialized services. As discussed earlier, Home Depot has adopted a business strategy based on these key factors. Consequently, as we look at Home Depot’s overall financial results, it is necessary to focus on key accounting policies adopted by the company to measure critical factors and risks. In the â€Å"Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition† of The Home Depot, Inc 2011 Annual Report (www. omedepot. com), management identified three major areas as areas of critical accounting policy and discussed the adoption of four different accounting pronouncements. In addition to the four recently adopted accounting pronouncements identified in the management’s discussion, The Home Depot identified four other major accounting policy change s in it’s â€Å"Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements†. Specifically, The Home Depot adopted four different accounting pronouncements in regards to service revenue recognition, vendor allowances, goodwill amortization and stock based compensation. The three critical accounting policies, as identified by The Home Depot management refer to the treatment of merchandise inventories, self insurance and revenue recognition. Merchandise Inventory policy is specifically addressed by The Home Depot management in â€Å"Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition† and is assessed in two different ways. Approximately 93% of total inventory is valued at the lower of cost or market utilizing FIFO under the retail inventory method with the other 7% valued under the cost method. The Notes section of the Financial Statements accounts for the two different methods. According to the Notes, the 7% of inventory valued under the cost method was due to inventory policy of certain subsidiaries and distribution centers. In addition, The Home Depot, Inc. takes a physical inventory count on a regular basis at each store to verify that inventory amounts in the merchandise inventory section of the Consolidated Financial Statements are accurate. Lastly, in regards to merchandise inventory, the company does account for possible inventory shrinkage or swell based on historical results and industry trends. Self Insurance accounting policy for Home Depot addresses it’s treatment of â€Å"losses related to general liability, product liability, workers’ compensation and medical claims†. The total liability is estimated on the total cost incurred as of the specific balance sheet date and is not discounted. The estimate is based on â€Å"historical data and actuarial estimates†. The company also explains in it’s Management Discussion that they ensure estimates of liability are as accurate as possible by having both management and third-party actuaries review the estimates on a quarterly basis. Revenue Recognition is the third critical accounting policy identified by The Home Depot management. Revenue recognition at the Home Depot follows the industry norm of recognizing revenue when the customer takes possession of the merchandise or, if a customer makes payment prior to take ownership of the merchandise, Home Depot records the sale as Deferred Revenue on the balance sheet until the sale is finalized when the customer takes possession of the paid merchandise. Additionally, because The Home Depot also provides a variety of services through their installation and home maintenance programs, they also recognize service revenue at the time when the service is completed and also record any customer pre-paid service revenue as Deferred Revenue on the balance sheet. Week 5 Internet The internet has completely changed the way companies communicate and market to their prospects. Home improvement businesses in the U. S report that the ways they have traditionally generated leads (i. . yellows pages, direct mail, print media, tv and radio) aren’t working like they use to. In fact, 85% of all products and service inquiries now start online and 97% of U. S internet users gather shopping information online and of those more than half characterize their behavior as ‘Shop Online, Purchase Offline. ’ The convenience of online shopping and the ability to make price comparisons on the internet has completely changed retail trends in the p ast decades. Even though most people tend to shop for building materials by visiting physical locations, still Home Depot cannot ignore e-commerce because people increasing buy items of nearly any kind online. Home depot being the largest home improvement retailer is expanding in the online channel aggressively and targeting it as a major growth opportunity. Home depot made it’s biggest e-commerce investment over the last two years since it started internet sales in 2001. According to research, 45% 0f the 9. million consumers who visited Home Depot’s website on average in any given week said their next step was a trip to a Home Depot store, which translates to about 225 customers a day per location. However, e-commerce for the home improvement industry is an underleveraged opportunity. A lot of people think of home Depot as a place you go on a Saturday, or when you do window treatment or carpeting. As such, they can do a better job online for things like branded power tools and repl enishable items and also offer delivering services for those items. Home Depot’s operating cost will decrease if customers interacted through the use of the internet due to the folllowing: †¢ Online customers are used to doing their own shopping without any salesperson assistance; therefore the cost of the salesperson would be eliminated as such. †¢ The range of products that can be offered through the website can be far greater than what one could find at Home Depot’s location, thereby giving customers a clear reason to prefer the internet. These are all advantages that Home Depot can benefit from as a result of the internet. As with the advantages, there are also disadvantages (issues) that Home Depot needs to put into consideration and work diligently to address them. The foremost of these issues are lack of site maintenance and lack of integration between the e-commerce site and the corporate back-office systems. As such, Home Depot must work through these issues in detail in order to arrive at the true cost-benefit for an e-commerce.