Hong Kong Disneyland

In the recent past, international businesses have experienced massive growth. This has given precedents of international business expansion that have had substantial influence on further expansion. In this essay, we analyze the venture in international business by the Walt Disney Company (Disney) and the effects that initial involvement in international business have had on subsequent strategic decisions.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Hong Kong Disneyland specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More One of the greatest problems facing international businesses is the remodeling of their policies to suit different cultures. Walt Disney Company has not been an exception. Consider the Disneyland Resort Paris for example; the resort was under so much cultural pressure that it had to go against most of its policies for it to thrive in Paris. To have a glimpse of how Paris culture affected the resort, consider the following facts: The resort altered its policy and served beers and wines in response to french drinking habits, the French government had to be sure that French language would dominate the park before allowing the establishment of the park, the dressing code of workers within the park was ruled out to be against French culture. All these problems were caused by French vigilance to avoid cultural domination by Americans. The problems stated above had a lot of impact on the performance of the resort. Disneyland Resort Paris and its problems showed that cultural strictness and diversity can draw the thin line between the success and failure of an international company (Phatak, Bhagat, and Kashlak 3). Tokyo Disney Resort, on the other hand, experienced substantial success attributed to the fact that Japanese are normally anxious to learn western culture. Therefore, implementation of resort policies was relatively easy and the Japanese were supportive of Disney culture. It can, thus, be argued th at the Disney Culture did not clash with the culture of the Japanese. Thus, the setting up of the Tokyo Disney Resort was very instrumental in helping these two cultures learn from each other and share their strengths (Phatak, Bhagat, and Kashlak 5). Expansion of businesses to venture in international markets faces a lot of political pressure and influence in host countries. This is evidenced by the lengthy negotiations that were characteristic of the agreements between Disney and the host governments. Consider the Tokyo Disney Resort for example; its development costs were paid by Oriental Land Co. This led to Disney’s failure to acquire ownership rights. Disney, therefore, only received royalties for the design and license of the idea (Phatak, Bhagat, and Kashlak 9). In Paris, negotiations with the government ended after two and half years. Disney wanted ownership rights and therefore, it was made a partner in the project. The government helped in the establishment of the r esort by providing cash and loans at low rates of interest. After the establishment of the resort, the French government still wanted to impose controls over the resort by incorporating a lot of French culture in it.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This is the main reason why the Disneyland Resort Paris performed poorly. It can, therefore, be argued that international businesses face a lot of problems stemming from political risk. This can potentially lead to company failure as seen in the Disneyland Resort Paris which was overwhelmed with political and cultural pressure (Phatak, Bhagat, and Kashlak 27). After learning from its success in Tokyo and relative failure in Paris, and with a myriad of strategic advantages in Hong Kong, Disney expected to succeed in Hong Kong China. The company claimed that there was a demand for Disney products in China. China had many strate gic advantages to attract Disney. First, Chinese economy was flourishing and thus setting up the park in China was very strategic. Hong Kong became specifically strategic for the establishment of the Disney Park. due to its good infrastructure and international finance convenience. This was because China was characterized with substandard infrastructure and inconvertibility of its renminbi currency. Another strategic advantage of setting up the third international Disney Park in Hong Kong was the presence of tourist attractions. These included Ocean Park, Victoria Peak, open-air markets, Repulse bay etc (Phatak, Bhagat, and Kashlak 12). The main source of competitive advantage for the Hong Kong Disneyland was the unique characteristic of Disney to integrate tourist attraction with professional business ideas. The fact that Hong Kong has numerous tourist attraction sites was also a substantial competitive advantage. As a matter of fact, Hong Kong is termed as a world-class tourist de stination and thus Hong Kong was perfect for the third Disney Resort (Phatak, Bhagat, and Kashlak 17). After establishment, Hong Kong Disneyland experienced its fair share of problems. It brought about prospects of potential growth for Disney from the onset and thus critics were not happy with it. Incidences of inefficiency in the park received a lot of media coverage since its establishment. This has led to confusion as to whether the park was successful or not. International companies have experienced a lot of growth in the recent past. This has led to a lot of economic and cultural development of the host countries of these companies. On the other hand, the companies have been able to find large markets for their products and enjoy economic diversity of different countries.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Hong Kong Disneyland specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The international expansion has also enabled t he companies to enjoy more strategic options from the diversity of the business climates of different countries. International companies like Disney should thus solve their problems and continue expanding their businesses internationally. Works Cited Phatak, Arvin, Bhagat, Rabi, Kashlak, Roger. International Management:Â  Managing A Diverse and Dynamic Global Environment. New York. McGraw-Hill, 2006. Print. This assessment on Hong Kong Disneyland was written and submitted by user Arnim Zola to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. 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Bioethics essays

Bioethics essays As our technology continues to advance, new breakthroughs in medicine are discovered. With these new developments serious ethical and moral questions arise. Advancements in genetic engineering, reproductive technologies, cloning, organ transplanting, and human experimentation are all causes of concern. The Human Genome Project, an incredible scientific undertaking determined to produce a map of the human DNA code, will tell us how each gene or group of genes function (Lemonick and Thompson 44). With this map, scientists and doctors will be able to figure out how genes can malfunction and cause deadly diseases. Of course, they will also know what each gene controls, and how to manipulate and control our genes to get the specified, desired results. This is exactly the type of tool researchers need to perfect the science of eugenics. "Eugenics"- a powerful word from the Greek stem meaning "good in birth" (Gray 84). In the past, it was thought that we could improve the quality of the human race by making it impossible for those with undesirable traits to reproduce. Charles Davenport once said that he hoped "human matings could be placed on the same high plane as that of horse breeding" (qtd. in Gray 84). Many states in the United States have put into place laws that required people in custody with hereditary defects to be sterilized (Gray 85). The false science of eugenics and purification of the human race swayed these states. One such example of this is the 1927 Supreme Court case of Buck vs. Bell. The result of this case was the sterilization of Carrie Buck, the seventeen year old daughter of a "feeble-minded" mother; the mother a seven month old daughter, already determined to be of "subnormal intelligence"; legally declared a "moral imbecile" herself. But the concept of purging our race was not present in the United States alone. Hitler's concept of eugenics consisted of sterilizing the blind, schizophrenics,...

Security and Justice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Security and Justice - Essay Example here it untenably treats the prevention of the intentional violations of human rights via other agents over the promotion of human rights and protecting human rights in the instance of suffering initiated by natural causes or the influence of human institutions. So to say that the â€Å"Responsibility to Protect† is a demonstration of global humanity is somewhat illusory. The Responsibility to protect - known as R2P - talks about the duty of states toward their populations as well as all populations that might be at risk of genocide and other mass atrocity crimes. R2P lays down three pillars of responsibility: Pillar One - The responsibility to prevent by addressing root causes of internal conflict. The ICISS deemed this to be a key obligation. Every state has the Responsibility to protect its populations from mass atrocity crimes specifically: crimes against humanity, genocide, war crimes and ethnic cleansing. Pillar Two - The responsibility to react by responding to situations of compelling human need with appropriate measures that could lead to first sanctions, then prosecutions and then finally resort to military intervention. The widespread international community has the obligation to urge and assist individual states in meeting that responsibility by severe means as well. Pillar Three - The responsibility to rebuild, in case a state is noticeably failing to protect its inhabitants. Then the international community should be efficiently prepared to take suitable mutual action by delivering full assistance with reconstruction, recovery and resolution, all in a well-timed and definitive fashion as per the UN Charter. These tenets devised in a report of the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty during 2001 and were approved by the United Nations General Assembly in the 2005 World Summit Outcome Document paragraphs 138, 139 and 140. In January 2009, the UN Secretary-General published a report on application and adherence to the

Why Shanghai Free trade zone is a threat to Hong Kong Essay

Why Shanghai Free trade zone is a threat to Hong Kong - Essay Example In addition, it had one of the largest stock markets in the world. However, the Sino-Japanese War destroyed Shanghai. It was further shut down from 1949-1978 during the communist rule from any financial activities. In 1950, the Shanghai Stock Market was effectively shut down; thus, closing down Forex trading and speculation. Cai (2010) adds that there was the reallocation of financial institutions from Shanghai to Beijing. According to Chen (2007), the communist government gave a directive that the Soviet mode of heavy industry be adopted for Shanghai’s development. The impractical economic and political policies adversely affected the city’s infrastructure and economy. Consequently, many financiers and entrepreneurs left Shanghai for Hong Kong or overseas. While the economy of Shanghai was drastically declining, Hong Kong was developing fast and securing a place in the global economy. Nonetheless, economic reforms in China began in 1978, but Shanghai’s economic reforms started in 1990. Its economy has gradually been growing annually at the rate of 12%, and there has been reestablishment of financial activities in the city. Globally, Shanghai possesses a strong competitive manufacturing base. However, the economy is changing from export-oriented manufacturing to high-end services, such as, technology, finance and business. The gains it has made from this shift are evident in the GDP, that is, service sector gives a GDP of 60.7% whereas 39.3% of the GDP comes from manufacturing. It also has established capital markets, which are: the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE), the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) and the Shanghai Gold Exchange (SGE). In 2012, Shanghai’s bonded zones had a trade volume of more than $100 billion. By comparison, New Jersey and New York ports recorded a combined trade volume of $210.5 billion last year. It is projected that Shanghai, being a free trade zone, is likely to surpass the combined trade volume of New Jersey and New York in the next few years. According to the World Shipping Council, the tonnage, that is, the twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of container weight, reported from Shanghai’s ports was higher than that of Hong Kong and Singapore. Shanghai’s ports had 31.7 million tons in 2011, which went up in 2012 to 32.58 million tons. Singapore had 31.64 million TEUs, whereas Hong Kong had 23.10 million TEUs (Knight & Ding, 2012). Shanghai has a geographical advantage over Hong Kong, which has favored its development into the biggest and prosperous port city. It is flanked with the ocean and rivers, which provides the natural foundation for its development. It is well linked to other locations of the country, which makes it one of the main towns in southeast China. Shanghai is positioned halfway next to China’s eastern coastline, and on the eastern tip of Yangtze River Delta. In the north, it borders Yangtze River’ estuary; to the south, it borders Hangzhou Bay and to the west, it borders Zhejiang and Jiangsu Provinces. It also borders the Huangpu River to the west. This means that the port has the capability of handling many cargo ships, as compared to Hong Kong, which is evident in the high tonnage it reported compared to Hong Kong (Cai, 2010). One of the key policy changes that will enhance the success of the Shanghai free trade zone is the free convertibility of the yuan (Gamble, 2013). The yuan has been a tightly controlled currency, which had been restricted in the global market unlike the other power currencies. The free convertibility of the yuan will encourage more investors in the Chinese economy. For example, organizations registered in the zone will have

Political Implications of Sophocles Book - Antigone Research Paper

Political Implications of Sophocles Book - Antigone - Research Paper Example Lack of satisfaction on the form of leadership attracts criticism while what they deem to be the best form of leadership that leaders ought to adopt is exalted by different authors. Thoughts of authors could either have positive or negative influences on the people who read their work. In analysing the dangers of different authors, this paper will look at two thinkers and authors of ancient history. An analysis of Sophocles’ ideas in Antigone and Plato’s The Trial and Death of Socrates will be used as the reference to the analysis. In his book Antigone, Sophocles explores on the punishment which disobedient people in Thebes, the kingdom of Greek. It also showed the various methods used in ruling the kingdom. The author, in his choice of using a woman as the main character, showed the theme of the plight of women in the times, though in a negative way. He chose to support the plight of women, as the episodes of the book progress. On his part, however, Plato in his book, the trial and death of Socrates, he explores the influence of political leaders and their influence on the subjects. The book portrays Socrates in a devilish way as he manipulates the people around him with his philosophical influence. Plato himself was an astute follower of Socrates and had done so out of choice. Socrates believes that Plato’s closeness to him made him vulnerable to manipulation. Rarely would he speak on his first-person voice, as he often made reference to a different force behind his words, that of Socrates? His reasoning and ideas, though very dynamic and radical as an influence from his mentor, does not make him much dangerous as his counterpart Sophocles. Sophocles develops personal ideas and thoughts and sends his sentiments through his book. Through his book, he portrays himself as a dis-respecter of humanity.

Research and Technology for Learning and Memory

Research and Technology for Learning and Memory Stacey Obispo Enhanced Learning Technological advances in bioelectronics and applied neural control technologies have enabled scientist to create machine assisted minds (McGee Maguire, 2007). The technological advances have been sought to improve the quality of people’s mental capacities by enhancing one’s ability to learn just like pharmaceutical enhancements have done in the past (McGee Maguire, 2007). However, when enhancing ones’ mental abilities as both technological and pharmaceutical advances have done, many ethical questions arise. This paper will address the available and future plans for learning enhancements and ethical implications for learning enhancements such as; pharmaceutical enhancements that are acceptable and controversial, uses of brain/ computer interfaces, equal availability of brain enhancements to all diverse groups, who controls how brains are enhanced, and who receives enhancement. These topics will be further explored by this author’s ethical viewpoint. When one talks of brain enhancement certain images from futuristic movies displaying cyborgs may come to mind. However brain enhancements specifically for learning are nothing new. Doctors for many years have been prescribing pharmaceuticals to enhance one’s ability to teach (McGee Maguire, 2007). These drugs promise to improve general psychological and cognitive functioning by enhancing ones’ mood, memory, attention, alertness and other cognitive capacities (Fuchs, 2006). Increasing one’s ability for attention and alertness has been accomplished over the last two decades through psychostimulants such as methylphenidate and dextromphetamine (Fuchs, 2006). The legal drugs have been used to treat (ADHD) and enhance attention and other functions in healthy people (Fuchs, 2006). Another drug that has been reportedly used on mood and personality in healthy people is the use of selective serotonin inhibitors (SSRIs) (Fuchs, 2006). Healthy individuals who take (SSRIs) in absence of mental illness have frequently reported that negative feelings such as anxiety, sadness, disappointment, guilt or shame are weakened and self-esteem and confidence rise(Fuchs, 2006). In addition (SSRIs) may be attributed towards giving individuals a sense of well-being and offer positive influence on the quality of individual’s social interactions (Fuchs, 2006). Pharmaceutical development in increasing ones’ ability to recover memories and block memories is currently in the works for future development (Fuchs, 2006). The pharmaceutical uses for recovering memories will be specifically targeted towards those who are cognitively impaired by the aging process and for those who develop dementia (Fuchs, 2006). The pharmaceutical development in blocking memories will be developed specifically towards blocking painful memories in those who suffer from PTSD (Fuchs, 2006). Ethical considerations in dealing with the use of pharmaceutical enhanced cognitive abilities stem from improper diagnosis and misuse. The implications for methylphenidate and dextromphetamine drug misuses come from improper diagnosis. For instance, how can one surmise that a problem with a child’s academic performance is due to the child’s inability to pay attention or be alert when in fact the problem may be with the child’s environment? Furthermore excessive use of methylphenidate in school boys has raised concerns in the United States (Fuchs, 2006). Misuse of methylphenidate and dextromphetamine has accounted for 16 percent of college students using the drugs as study aids (Fuchs, 2006). As a result the use of these drugs has been very controversial. Ethical concerns in brain enhancement through pharmaceuticals include safety (Fuchs, 2006). For example, methylphenidate can increase the short term capacity of one’s working memory at the expense of information adequately harnessed in meaningful, higher order knowledge (Fuchs, 2006). Furthermore unanticipated consequences and side effects from this drug are long term (Fuchs, 2006). What happens is that memory enhancement may impair memory retrieval in some individuals because the natural balance between remembering and forgetting could be interrupted by an overload of memories in the brain (Fuchs, 2006). Competition between individuals is another ethical concern for pharmaceutical brain enhancement. For instance once pharmaceuticals are more widely spread then individuals may try using this method for a competitive edge towards better grades at school or for keeping a job (Fuchs, 2006). In addition those who may be of lower socioeconomic levels may not be able to afford the â€Å"competitive edge† and are placed at an even greater disadvantage (Fuchs, 2006). Another ethical consideration for pharmaceutical brain enhancement is that it changes the human condition by manipulating our subjective experiences, cognitive abilities, and personality traits (Fuchs, 2006). Mind enhancement according Fuchs (2006) threatens to devalue human life and its imperfections, it fosters an illusion that one must be constantly happily and it villainies natural forgetfulness and negative moods. The use of pharmaceuticals for brain enhancement interferes with one’s own personal development and one’s ability to cope with their fears, failures and seatbacks. Perhaps prescribing brain enhancing drugs just place the responsibility of solving ones problem on a drug rather than finding a sense of responsibility to oneself to come up with solutions to ones’ life problems. Brain/Computer interfaces (BCI’s) have multiple uses. Pacemaker like brain implants help individuals with Parkinson’s disease and those with tremors (McGee Maguire, 2007). Treating depression has been shown effective in clinical trials with Vagus nerve stimulators constructed by Cyberonics (McGee Maguire, 2007). Experimentally in cases of spinal cord severage, systems for functional neuromuscular stimulation are being used (McGee Maguire, 2007). Patients with â€Å"locked in† syndrome have received brain to computer interfaces enabling one to communicate via computer by thinking about moving the cursor (McGee Maguire, 2007). Artificial vision systems enables the blind, using a cortical implant to navigate independently, to read letters, and through electronic interface it allows one to watch television, access a computer, and use the internet (McGee Maguire, 2007). The device Braingate has been used on a severely paralyzed patients, through a brain chip, to enable individuals to access e-mail, play computer games, control a television, and turn lights on and off by thought alone(McGee Maguire, 2007). Researchers have been able to restore hearing in deaf patients by inserting a penetrating device inside the brain stem (McGee Maguire, 2007). A clinical trial towards restoring speech is being used to restore speech from an implantable BCI (Alpert, 2008). The future of BCI’s crosses from assisting the physically ill and handicapped to assisting government in their Department of Defense strategies. Neural prostheses will be used in future developments to enable users to move mechanical devices with thoughts and monitor not only the patients goals of what they want to reach for but also their motivation and mood(McGee Maguire,2007)( Alpert, 2008). The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has allotted $24 million to support research into the proposals for brain machine systems in six different laboratories (McGee Maguire, 2007). These projects have the objective to control robots and airplanes through thought alone (McGee Maguire, 2007). British Telecom’s Artificial Life Team is working creating a chip called Soul Catcher 2025 (presumably ready, 2025) which goes behind the eye and records the individuals thoughts, sensations, and experiences throughout their life (McGee Maguire, 2007). In order to record al l experiences multiple chips would need to be used (McGee Maguire, 2007). The technology would allow users to transfer or transplant memories and experiences from one user to the next (McGee Maguire, 2007). Currently not all BCI’s are available to all groups of people. Brain interfaces such as the Braingate costs 50,000 for the procedure and equipment used and follow up costs vary (Brown University, 2005).In the future, after FDA approval, and commercial marketing it is possible that private insurance and Medicaid may pay for BCI’s like the Braingate (Brown University, 2005). Individuals who want the Braingate procedure pay out of pocket (Brown University, 2005). Not being able to offer enhanced learning procedures such as BCI’s to all individuals’ raises the issue of fairness. Is it fair to only help the have’s and not the have not’s when both can benefit from a brain computer interface procedure due to their disease or handicap? If brain interfaces are not made available to individuals who meet the requirements for its uses (physical impairment, disease, etc.) then it could mean a loss of quality of life in individuals who come from low socio economic levels. BCI’s should be regulated for its potential uses for enhancement purposes in â€Å"healthy† individuals. BCI’s used for the purpose of intelligence enhancing for people who have no disability, or BCI’s used for controlling weapons or heavy machinery such as automobiles and airplanes like DARPA has proposed should be regulated. Perhaps international laws could be made to regulate the uses of BCI’s so that this technology enhances only those who have a disability or disease and not individuals who just want to be enhanced for a job, acquiring a job, or performing better at school. When enhancements are made because a person thinks they need it rather than truly needing because of disease, illness, or physical impairment then inequality between those who have and have not will get larger. Regulating who can control BCI’s is an important consideration. Currently in the United States before a medical device can be marketed it must meet the requirements of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (McGee Maguire, 2007). Although these devices are regulated to some degree the question as to whether the investigation of the FDA is adequate (McGee Maguire, 2007). For instance , required post market safety reviews on devices are rarely done and the focuses of FDA review is establishing the indications for use, methods of safe placement ,individual risks, to surgery and anesthesia, and compilation of adverse events related to device removals ( McGee Maguire,2007). Clinical trials are then implemented to assess the efficacy of the device and its safety (McGee Maguire, 2007). Regulations for BCI operators should also be mandated. For instance the capabilities of BCI’s in the future could mean that individual’s will not have control over their actions and that an operator can control the individual (McGee Maguire, 2007). Individual’s that control the operation of BCI’s installed in patients have an enormous power in their hands. BCI’s installed into patients could make these individual vulnerable to a doctor or governments control (McGee Maguire, 2007). For this reason BCI’s should be regulated internationally. Learning enhancements through BCI’s are quickly developing. BCI’s can enhance the learning processes and experience of individuals who are disabled and increase their quality of life. Conversely this same technology can be used to enhance healthy people and give one a competitive advantage. Enhancing healthy people can lead to making them robot like, or allow one to control robots, weapons, and heavy machinery through thought alone (McGee Maguire, 2007). Perhaps one of the most important concerns of using BCI’S in healthy people is what will happen to humanity and the human condition? What will happen to ones concept of self? Would individuals with BCI’s be responsible for their actions or empathetic towards others? Offering BCI’s to enhance healthy people seems to be a very slippery slope and should be avoided. Technologies such as BCI’s should be embraced to help individual with disabilities and illnesses have a better quality of life. How ever this technology should not be allowed to enhance healthy people. Consequences to the human condition could be affected negatively as well as society and environment. Proposing international regulation of such devices seems to be appropriate form of action to prevent such detriments in the future. References Alpert, S. (2008). Brain-Computer interface devices: Risks and Canadian regulations. Accountability in Research, 15, 86. Fuchs, T. (2006). Ethical issues in neuroscience (McGee Maguire, 2007, p. 291) (McGee Maguire, p. 291) . Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 19, 607. McGee, E. M., Maguire, G. Q. (2007). Becoming borg to become immortal: Regulating brain implant technologies. Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics, 16, 302. Brown University, (2005). Brain-chip interfaces. biomed.brown.edu/Courses/BI108/BI108_2005_Groups/03/impact.htm#demo

The Many Faces of Pride :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

The Many Faces of Pride   Ã‚   Pride is idolatry, boastfulness, and the failure to recognize deficiencies (Peters 87).   With time, people have become more accepting of pride in their societies.   This progression of acceptance has led to alterations in the definition.   It is the slight tweakings of the definition that have allowed us to perceive pride as a deadly sin and simultaneously an essential for success.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The beginning of all sin occurred when Eve listened to the evil snake, in the garden of Eden, who told her that she could acquire God's knowledge (Peters 87).   God forbid Eve to eat the apple of knowledge, but she did regardless.   Eve committed the first sin of humankind in an act of pride because pride has been defined as "an attempt at human self-divination" (Peters 87).   Since she was only the second person to walk the earth, Eve had few examples of how to act.   It seems to be that it was her sheer curiosity and amazement with Eden that caused her to eat the apple, not an attempt to become like God.   Despite her intentions, according to the ancient definition of pride Eve sinned the first sin of self-divination.   Another example of ancient, religious pride can be seen through an ancient Jewish sect, the Pharisees.  Ã‚   These men claimed to be the most religious of the land.   Although they did not seek to be at the same leve l as God, they sought answers and results for their village among themselves when they should have been talking to God.   Often times, the Pharisees bent the rules of the Ten Commandments for themselves but forced the villagers to strictly obey them. To make matters worse, these men wanted to be rewarded for their good deeds of "helping their community."   The Pharisees refused to admit their faults and were condemned "proud" by Jesus (Yancey & Stafford 1125).   God gives us a final example that pride is a deadly sin. Lucifer was created to be one of God's right hand cherubs, "the seal of perfection"   (Ezekiel 28:12-15).   However, one day Lucifer decided that he wanted more knowledge and power than God.   When God found out, Lucifer was kicked out of heaven and fell to the earth, bringing one third of the stars (fallen angels) with him (Isaiah 12:12-14 & Revelations 12:4).

Bringing Adam Home Essay

Bringing Adam Home review examines the story of the decades-long investigation into the abduction and murder of 6-year-old Adam Walsh. The police investigation took 27 years to prove guilt of the serial killer, Ottis Toole, who made multiple confessions to the murder. The book is written by the experienced detective writer Les Standiford with the help of the retired detective Joe Matthews, who finally found evidence of Toole’s committing the murder 27 years afterwards. The case of Adam Walsh has influenced the American society in the way that legislatures were made protecting children, and practices were adopted helping find missing and potentially abducted children. Key words: abduction, evidence, investigation, kidnapping, murder. Bringing Adam Home Book Review Standiford, L., & Matthews, J. (2011).Bringing Adam home: The abduction that changed America. New York, NY: Harper Collins. ISBN:9780061983900. Bringing Adam Home is the story of the decades-long investigation into the abduction and murder of 6-year-old Adam Walsh who missed from a local Sears in Hollywood, Florida, on July 27, 1981. The police investigation took 27 years to prove guilt of the serial killer, Ottis Toole, who made multiple confessions to the murder – yet the Hollywood, FL, police department did not believe him and failed to use any of evidences that had been found. The abduction of Adam Walshblew people’s minds and undermined their sense of protection. The American society has never been the same ever since – parents did not let their kids play alone outside, nor did their ever say ‘Be home by dark’; a child could be left nowhere unsupervised. It was Adam’s family bad luck that at that time, there were no Amber Alerts and no national data base for crimes against children. Adam’s parents, John and  Revà © Walsh, bent backwards to change the situation. They became renowned crime fighters, propelled the passage of the 1982 Missing Children Act, and John Walsh became a host of the television program America’s Most Wanted (Standiford2011). Adam Walsh’s kidnapping was not only the most important casein American history of missing children that changed the corresponding legislature but also the most famous one. Many people still remember themselves being kids and watching it on the news (Martin, 2011). However, the details of the case are not as well-known as they should be; given the coverage in the media.The more emotional side of the story, through the eyes of the Walsh family, is rendered in Tears of Ragewritten by John Walsh (Scott, 2011). The puzzle of the botched investigation that ran over almost three decades was solved by the retired Miami detective Joe Matthews and written down by the acclaimed writer Les Standiford, the au thor of 9 fiction novels and 6 non-fiction books (Standiford, 2001). The authors open their cards in the very beginning of the book and introduce the killer, Ottis Toole, right in the second chapter. Toole was a low IQ drifter who set fires and assaulted people to relieve his psychological pressure. From chapter 2 to 4, the authorsgive a detailed recount of the work of Hollywood detective Hoffman who could not organize his work so not to lose important clues and evidence and who was not very keen on the idea that Toole was the killer. According toMatthews, Hoffman is portrayed as a moody and self-contained investigator who â€Å"looked like a guy who disapproved of most things on general principle† (Standiford, 2001). Apart from disregarded leads and lost evidences, Hoffman also treated Adam’s parents carelessly not bothering to inform them that their friend Jimmy Campbell, who was prime suspect, had been cleared. For many years John and Revà ©Walsh received no information from the police as for the investigation of their son’s murder. Matthews felt that it was extremely insensitive on the part of Hoffman. Together with undeveloped enough forensic methods, the case of Adam Walsh advanced by imperceptible pace. As Reve Walsh put it: â€Å"It was a sad thing for this country that the fight had to be led by two broken-down parents of a murdered child†(Standiford, 2001). The authors underscore that it could not be said that the Hollywood department was incompetent. Rather that the case was too difficult, and Detective Hoffman turned out to be too snobbish not only to ask for help but also to accept help from Joe Matthews when he  offered it not once. Hoffman was â€Å"too unstructured and ill-equipped† for such mind-bogging case (Standiford, 2001).Det. Serg. Matthews was a lie detector expert and an experiences homicide detective and, being hired by the Hollywood, Fl, Polic e Department, he was very interested by the case and was ready to use his knowledge to solve the case. Among other things, the difference in approaches of two detectives was that Hoffman was obsessed with finding physical evidences linking Toole to the Adam’s murder; while Matthews believed that circumstantial evidence could make do in some cases. That meticulous recount of all glaring mistakes of the Hollywood, Fl, police department and the detailed description of their daily working life had its aim in showing that detectives’ work is far from the glamorized TV series. Doing on a daily basis such boring chores as searching for a person who moved and did not leave the new address, or surveilling a suspect for many days, exhaust detectives, and the not very dedicated ones â€Å"let things slide† (Standiford, 2011).Standiford and Matthews seem to mention every lead that was not followed, and every report that was incomplete or even falsified. Matthews blames the manner of interrogation when the suspect was let speak without asking necessary questions, and he found the witness who was consistently ignored by Hoffman. The most shocking omission, the reader may consider, was the neglect of the repeated confessions by Toole with a graphic description of the whole process of abduction, murdering, sodomizing, and decapitating of Adam Walsh and the subsequent dismembering and setting ablaze his body. Toole even gave a sensational interview to Jacksonville Times Union where he repeated his confession to the murder of Adam Walsh (Standiford, 2011). Chapters 5 to 6 focus on Matthews’s account of how he proceeded with the investigation. It became possible only after Hoffman was transferred to the Patrol Division in 1994 (Standiford, 2011). Matthews spent two years and nine months reviewing the case and adding new materials. In the end,Matthews had multiple eyewitness identification of Toole taking Adam from Sears, twenty-five independent confessions to the crime made by Ottis Toole, and most important of all – missed by previous investigators – luminal images of machete and luminal outline of a child’s face on the carpet of Toole’s Cadillac. It finally proved Ottis Toole to be the man who committed the crime. The first part of the book does not make an easy reading. When Toole gives his numerous confessions to various  detectives all the same details of the murder, rape, and dismembering are repeated ad nauseam, without adding anything new. Because of it, for those readers who like genuine crime stories, the book may seem quite slow. Standiford and Matthews were extremely repetitive in details of the crime itself, its prolonged investigation, the history behind the suspects, and descriptions of Toole’s perversions. However, the authors rather had in mind to show how the process of investigation can be dragged for years due to the inability of the police to find hard evidence for the already confessed crime. Standiford, who is an experienced detective writer with a number of narrative non-fiction stories under his belt, narrates dryly and matter-of-factly, which contributes to the authentic feel of the blood-chil ling story. Despite waving their incompetence, Matthews provides a scrupulous evidence of the Hollywood, Fla., police department’s negligence, thus making it difficult to believe that behind such an undisciplined behavior may be anything other than a conspiracy to cover up its incompetence. The authors’aim seems to lay in proving two points. Firstly, the case could have been solved within two years, when Ottis Toole was arrested for arson and confessed repeatedly to the murder of Adam Walsh saying that he was â€Å"very, very sorry that he did it† (Standiford, 2011). Secondly, the police department of Hollywood, FL, had a chance to solve the case quickly, had they let do it to Det. Serg. Matthews. Bringing Adam Home is a gruesome story of justice finally served two decades too late. By that time, though, Ottis Toole had died in prison. And our society has changed. Now kids are warned about strangers. No one leaves their kids in the toy area and goes shopping anymore. Lawenforcement has transformed its practices to better protect children. Public places have adopted Code Adam, a powerful search tool for lost and potentially kidnapped children (Code Adam, n.d.). Code Adam is a predecessor to Amber Alert, a network of notifications to the public through urgent bulletins on television and radio. References Code Adam.(n.d.). The National center for missing &exploited children. Retrieved from http://www.missingkids.com/CodeAdam Martin, C. (2011, February 09). Book Review – Bringing Adam home by Les Standiford[Web log post].Retrieved fromhttp://www.chaoticcompendiums.com/2011/02/book-review-bringing-adam-home-by-les.html Scott, M. (2011, February 26). ‘Bringing Adam home’ offers strong proof in the 1981 murder of Adam Walsh. Cleveland.com. Retrieved fromhttp://www.cleveland.com/books/index.ssf/2011/02/bringing_adam_home_offers_stro.html Standiford, L. (2001). Biography[Web log post].Retrieved from http://www.les-standiford.com/Pages/Biography.html Standiford, L., & Matthews, J. (2011).Bringing Adam home: The abduction that changed America. New York, NY: Harper Collins. E-book

BMW Group Essay

Bayersiche Motoren Werke Group (BMW Group) is a German company whose operations are â€Å"focused on the premium segments of the international automobile markets (BMW Group)†. BMW Group was founded in 1916 and established its main plant and headquarters in Munich, Germany just after World War I in 1922. Those facilities exist as BMW’s headquarters and flagship plant to this day (BMW Group). BMW Group coordinates its activities in more than 150 countries on 6 continents and operates 29 manufacturing facilities in 13 of those countries (BMW Group). Those manufacturing facilities are concentrated in Western Europe with 9 in Germany, 2 in Austria, and 3 in the UK. Its other manufacturing facilities and joint-owned plants are scattered abroad with 3 in North America, 2 in South America, 2 in Africa, and 7 in Asia (BMW Group). With BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce, the BMW Group owns three premium brands in the global automobile industry. In addition to its strong position in the m otorcycles market with the BMW brand, the BMW Group also offers a successful range of financial services which make up a relatively small portion of BMW Group’s total revenue (BMW Group). BMW Group reports its segmented revenues according to geographical sales. The graph below breaks BMW Group’s overall annual revenues into 4 geographic categories with 3 subcategories: Figure 1 – Overall Revenue Growth by Geographic Operating Segment Expressed in Euros. Source: BMW Group’s 2012 Annual Report As shown in Figure 1, the European and Asian markets in particular have shown impressive sales growth since 2009 with CAGRs of 7% and 44%, respectively. BMW Group’s revenues from China alone have increased from â‚ ¬2.76 billion to â‚ ¬14.44 billion in 4 years (CAGR:51%). Huge sales growth in the Asian market has proven very lucrative for BMW Group who forecasts further growth, especially in developing markets. Figure 2 – Business Segments as % of Total Revenues Figure 2 shows BMW Group’s segmented revenue as it relates to total annual revenue. This chart emphasizes, again, the growth of BMW Group’s Asian  segment, the relatively flat percentage of sales in the Americas, and the slight decrease in total revenue coming from Europe. With the majority of BMW Group’s manufacturing facilities in Europe, we might see more facilities being built in Asian countries like China as BMW Group shifts its focus to lucrative emerging markets in the future. Figure 3 – Revenues by Segment for Reporting Purposes For reporting purposes, BMW Group breaks their statements into categories: Automotive and Other (Motorcycles, Financial Services, Other Entities, and Eliminations). Figure 3 offers an example of the detailed breakdown with subcategories included. See Appendix A for further details. Source: BMW Group Annual Statement As a percentage of total revenue, Figure 3 indicates that automotive sales made up 91.4% of BMW Group’s revenue in 2012 and 91.9% in 2011. This slight downward trend can be attributed to the growth of BMW Group’s financial services sector which is relatively new having begun in 1993 (BMW Financial Services). Figure 4 – Growth of Balance Sheet Components Source: BMW Group Annual Statement Figure 4 offers an insightful glance at BMW Group’s Asset/Liability balance. One important note is the debt/equity ratio shown on the right side of the graph. BMW Group states its equity ratio at 23.1% in 2012 and 22% in 2011 (BMW Group). This means BMW Group chooses to finance its operations mostly with debt. To aid that decision, BMW Group has an S&P short-term credit rating of A-1 and a long-term credit rating of A+ allowing BMW Group to borrow at lower rates (BMW Group). This will be discussed further in our risk management policy overview. Another important note is the ratio of current assets/non-current assets which sits around 33%. BMW Group’s current assets consist mostly of receivables from sales financing and inventories while their larger non-current assets consist mostly of long-term receivables from sales financing and leased products. As a measure of liquidity, BMW’s current ratio for 2012 is 1.04 which signifies that BMW Group maintains an efficien t operating cycle and is capable of handling its financial obligations, even though â‚ ¬32 billion are tied up in  non-current receivables. BMW Group’s Foreign Exchange (FX) Risk Management Policy In order to achieve growth, profitability, and sustainable levels of business in the future, BMW Group understands that it must expose itself to a degree of calculated risk. In its most recent quarterly statement to its stockholders, BMW Group recognized that, â€Å"Managing risks is a fundamental prerequisite for being able to deal successfully with the constant flow of changes in the relevant political, legal, technical and economic landscapes† (BMW Group). BMW Group’s discussion in its annual report around the many risks it faces is extensive. The report includes risk topics around sales and marketing, pension obligations, information technology, raw materials, and many other detailed business components. For this discussion, we will focus on financial risks and those relating to their international risk management. The first category of financial risk is exchange risk. For BMW Group, the sale of vehicles outside the Eurozone gives rise to exchange risk because changes in exchange rates, especially between the US dollar, Chinese renminbi, British pound, Russian rouble, and the Japanese yen, subject BMW Group to transaction exposure. BMW Group claims to manage currency risks at two different levels: strategic (medium and long-term) and operating (short and medium-term) (BMW Group). For medium and long-term risks, foreign exchange risks are managed by â€Å"natural hedging†, or by increasing the volume of purchases denominated in foreign currencies or increasing the volume of local production (BMW Group). An example of strategic risk mitigation in this context might be the opening of a new plant in South Carolina, USA in 2012 to help reduce foreign exchange risk in a major sales market. For short and medium-term risks, hedging transactions are entered into with financial partners of excelle nt credit standing to mitigate operating risk. In its most recent annual statement, BMW Group clarifies that they only use derivative financial instruments for hedging purposes â€Å"in order to reduce currency, interest rate, fair value, and market price risks from operating activities and related financing requirements† (BMW Group). BMW Group operates under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) which  requires all derivative financial instruments (interest, currency swaps, forward currencies, forward commodities contracts, etc.) to be measured at fair value, regardless of the intention for which they are held. At year end, 2012, BMW Group held derivative instruments (mostly interest rate swaps) with terms of up to 25 months to hedge interest rates arising on financial instruments with variable interest payments over the forecasted two years. BMW Group also held derivative instruments (mostly commodity swaps) with terms of up to 60 months to hedge raw material price risks attached to future transactions over the next five years. Lastly, BMW Group held derivative instruments (mostly option and forward contract options) with terms of up to 72 months to hedge currency risks attached to future transactions. As stated in a previous segment, BMW Group’s debt ratio is carefully manipulated to achieve what BMW Group feels is its optimal capital structure. BMW Group’s debt ratio has averaged about 78% for the past five years with no indication of a future change in their annual statement. An important aspect of risk management as it relates to their capital structure is the careful sel ection of financial instruments with the objective to achieve matching maturities for their debt requirements and other financial obligations (BMW Group). BMW Group seems to do a good job of timing their payments and managing the risks associated with those payments to make sure they can shoulder the burden of their nearly â‚ ¬70 billion in total financial liabilities (Q3 2013 Report). Another category for discussion is the risk around BMW Group’s procurement of raw materials. Since the availability and price of certain groups of raw materials are subject to change, BMW Group pays close attention to commodities markets to stay aware of changing landscapes (BMW Group). According to their annual statement, BMW Group utilizes financial derivatives to hedge against price risks for essential metals like platinum, palladium, aluminum, copper, and lead. BMW Group also recognizes the risk they face because of the indirect impact changes in the price of crude oil have on their production costs. Oil prices affect customers’ behavior around purchasing BMW Group’s products because consumers will often search out a substitute instead of absorb  higher fuel costs. BMW Group feels that a proper response to this risk is simply to develop and sell efficient and economical engines to reinforce their value proposition (BMW Group). BMW Group is concerned about the creditworthiness of its lenders, borrowers, and derivative instruments partners. Every borrower’s creditworthiness is tested for all credit financing and lease contracts entered into by the BMW Group (Annual Report). Retailers’ creditworthiness is assessed using validated scoring systems integrated into the purchasing process (BMW Group). BMW Group’s overall credit risk related to derivative financial instruments is minimized by the fact that BMW Group will only consider contracts with parties of first-class credit standing. Because of BMW Group’s close attention to detail and aggressive management of its international risk, the general credit risk on derivative financial instruments utilized by BMW Group is considered to be insignificant (BMW Group). Figure 5 – Breakdown of Other Comprehensive Income Source: BMW Group Annual Statement Figure 5 presents a detailed breakdown of Other Comprehensive Income including the gains/losses on financial instruments used for hedging purposes and the exchange differences on translating foreign operations for 2011 and 2012. Since BMW Group claims it only utilizes derivative financial instruments as a risk management tactic, this segment should operate as a cost center. On average, the gains/losses on financial instruments should help protect BMW Group from wild volatility from its many sources of diversifiable risk. Exchange differences are also lumped into OCI and shows the effect of exchange rate differences in the currencies belonging to the many countries BMW Group serves. Conclusion BMW Group has expanded in a fairly short period of time into operations (through direct investment or licensed dealerships) in more than 150 countries. To date, BMW Group has done an exceptional job expanding and investing in foreign markets. In many cases, the use of joint ventures with local companies has helped BMW Group enter new markets. This is usually a less risky undertaking because if the venture fails, they shoulder a smaller risk than their local counterparts. If the venture is successful, then the company transitions smoothly into the new market with greater confidence and consistency. This method has proven to be very effective for BMW Group, especially in the rapid growing Asian markets where they can test new markets and mitigate risk by transferring most of the risk to their venture partners. BMW group has built strong foreign segments, especially in the United States and China. This has been evidenced in the US by strong brand awareness and brand association coupled with significant overall revenue performance with the US contributing 18% of BMW Group’s revenues. BMW Group’s strong performance in China is evidenced by a 51% CAGR over the past 5 years which boost ed BMW’s overall revenue from â‚ ¬53 billion in 2007 to â‚ ¬77 billion in 2012 (CAGR: 15%). With their large success in international expansion, they have had mixed success with their hedging strategies. Their gains/losses on financial derivative hedging instruments in 2012 were a large improvement over 2011 with a â‚ ¬770 million increase in 2012 compared to a â‚ ¬733 million decrease for 2011. Conversely, BMW Group took a loss in exchange differences from foreign operations of â‚ ¬123 million in 2012 and a â‚ ¬168 million gain and 2011 (Figure 5). Without further detailing the historical patterns of those line items, it seems BMW Group is getting progressively better at managing their transaction exposure and other foreign operations risks. A brief look at BMW Group’s annual statement proves that they have done an excellent job identifying potential risks and setting controls and policies to protect themselves. If they can continue to grow their segments in the Americas and Asia, they will continue to establish themselves as a global manufacturer of quality vehicles as is their stated mission. One organizational risk that BMW recognizes and must continue to avoid is using derivative financial instruments for speculative trade instead of loss prevention. If BMW Group can maintain their brand in Europe, continue to grow in their American and Asian segments, and continue to use hedging and derivative tools conservatively as a risk mitigation tool, they will see continued success and healthy growth with solid future earning s and a steadily growing stock price. Figures expressed in Euros. Figures expressed in thousands. WORKS CITED â€Å"Annual Report 2012.† BMW Group : Investor Relations / Financial Reports / Annual Report. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2014. . â€Å"BMW Group : Company : History : Milestones.† BMW Group : Company : History : Milestones. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2014. . â€Å"BMW GROUP IN THE UK..† BMW Market: About Us. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2014. . â€Å"BMW Profile & Executives.†Bloomberg.com. Bloomberg, n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2014. . â€Å"Financial Services.† Overview. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2014. . â€Å"Q3 Report (September 30, 2013).† BMW Group : Investor Relations : Quarterly Report. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2014. .

Motivating Corporations to do Good

Motivating Corporations to do Good Introduction The article â€Å"Motivating Corporations to do Good† highlights the ethical issues associated with business organizations. The author begins his article by identifying the behaviors, actions, and strategies undertaken by different companies within the past one century.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on â€Å"Motivating Corporations to do Good† specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A company that engages in ethical business practices will attract more stakeholders. Such a company will also support the changing demands of its customers. This discussion examines the importance of ethical business practices. Ethical conduct in business organizations According to Porter (2014, p. 4), â€Å"businesses and corporations should be ready to address the economic, social, political, and environmental challenges affecting their stakeholders†. According to the article, business corporations should undertake the best practices in order to emerge successful. The article also explains how ethical corporations will always attract more customers. This approach will eventually make such companies successful. The author explains why â€Å"Henry Ford (the owner of Ford Motors) decided to increase its wages to $5 a day† (Gagnon, 2007, p. 12). This effort supported the needs of its employees. The approach empowered more workers in order to support the company’s goals.  More companies such as Coca Cola decided to examine the needs of their customers, communities, and employees. This development established better labor relations in order to produce the best outcomes. In 2004, new concepts emerged in order to support the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Many companies started to support the rights of their workers and consumers. Many firms created new policies in order to deal with corruption. This practice has continued to support the changing needs of m any stakeholders. The above article explains why business organizations should promote the best ethical practices. This strategy will ensure every company supports the needs of its stakeholders. This development will eventually increase the profitability of many companies.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The author offers concrete examples to explain how the ethical practices of various companies have supported their goals. Ford Company â€Å"became a profitable company after increasing its wage costs† (Porter, 2014, p. 3). The approach satisfied the needs of many laborers thus improving the level of productivity. Positive ethical practices make it easier for companies to support their consumers, marketers, and laborers. Some of these ethical practices include â€Å"the production of quality goods, provision of the best working environments, effective remunerations, and appropriate consumer information† (Porter, 2014, p. 7). Such practices can make every company transparent and successful. Most of the ethical practices identified in the above article can support the goals of many companies. Many companies such as Ford, Costco, Novo Nordisk, and Unilever have always embraced positive business practices. Such companies have also addressed the environmental and social issues affecting their communities. This practice has made most of these companies successful (Porter, 2014). Their employees and consumers have also achieved the best goals in life. Many companies are usually motivated by the power of capitalism. Many corporations â€Å"have been motivated by self-interest† (Velasquez, 2011, p. 34). This fact explains why such firms have promoted unethical business practices. The ethical practices identified in the article can therefore support the needs of many societies. For instance, many companies such as Unilever and Ford Motors introduced new strategies in order to support their communities. These initiatives have also supported many communities. Companies and entrepreneurs should therefore implement new policies in order to support their business goals. Such policies will ensure every company addresses the changing needs of its stakeholders. Several challenges such as â€Å"climate change and global warming are forcing many companies to engage in environmentally-friendly practices† (Velasquez, 2011, p. 84).Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on â€Å"Motivating Corporations to do Good† specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More NICET code of ethics Many business ethicists encourage entrepreneurs to examine the best practices that will support their goals. The â€Å"government should identify the best ethical principles in order to support the practices of different corporations† (Gagnon, 2007, p. 29). NICET offers s everal codes of practice to monitor the performance of different organizations. Managers and stakeholders should â€Å"be transparent and honest† (Gagnon, 2007, p. 31). These principles discourage business firms from engaging in any form of corruption. Companies should also safeguard the information of their stakeholders and consumers. Corporations should also be ready to safeguard the needs of their clients. This approach will make them ethical and profitable. Business organizations should also undertake the most appropriate assignments. They should also complete such assignments in a competent and ethical manner (Gagnon, 2007).  The above article examines how different companies have embraced these ethical principles. The author has identified the best practices that can make more organizations profitable. Ethical actions can improve the participation of employees and laborers. The practice also empowers companies to support the changing demands of their customers. Eduard o Porter’s article offers powerful discussions and arguments that can make many companies profitable (Velasquez, 2011). Organizational leaders should examine the effectiveness of different ethical practices in order to realize their potentials. Ethical practices can therefore support the goals of many organizations. Concluding remarks Many individuals will support a company that engages in friendly or ethical business practices. Many companies such as Wal-Mart have engaged in unfriendly business practices. Such practices have affected the performance of many employees in the company. Corporations should therefore be ready to address every social concern affecting their surrounding communities.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Positive business practices â€Å"encourage more consumers to purchase their services and products from their favorite companies† (Gagnon, 2007, p. 42). According to Velasquez (2011), this approach will encourage more companies to become socially responsible in order to realize their potentials. Reference List Gagnon, R. (2007). Design of Special Hazard and Fire Alarm Systems. Independence, KY: Cengage Learning. Porter, E. (2014, July 15). Motivations Corporations to do Good. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/16/business/the-do-good-corporation.html Velasquez, M. (2011). Business Ethics: Concepts and Cases. New York, NY: Pearson.

Nissan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Nissan - Essay Example It seemed like no one would be able to revive the company. In 1999 Renault has bought a 37% share of Nissan and announced the merger between two companies. Investing $5,4 billion in Japanese manufacturer falling quickly into the abyss was taken as more than just unwise by skeptics. Nevertheless, executives of Renault were optimistic about the deal. Carlos Ghosn was sent to head the restructuring of Nissan by Renault in June 1999. "Ghosn slashed costs and laid off employees, but also instituted a sweeping reorganization of the entire company, announced an ambitious slate of new vehicles and promised that if Nissan was not profitable in 2000, he and his entire managerial staff would quit"2. Eventually Ghosn has kept his promise and became a CEO of Nissan in 2000. Nissan had lost Japanese market share for 27 years in a row, and was operating at 50% capacity, with far too many suppliers, constant goal changes, poor accounting data regarding product line profitability (later found only 4 of 43 models were making a profit), and goals generally lacked quantitative specificity on amount (eg. "Build a quality product"), timing, or priority.3 The company was dying under the traditional Japanese management. ... innovative and motivating technique; statistical quality control as the key to productive effectiveness; a long planning horizon; and consensus decision making, as a form of participative management4. The Japanese style of management is all about quality. Due to the fact that a lot of American and European companies have successfully implemented Japanese strategies it should be noted that quality is really important when it comes to competitive advantage. Nevertheless, the mistake of Nissan was behind the belief that quality is the only important factor. This mistake was uncovered by Carlos Ghosn. Traditional Japanese management is based on the collective mentality. Individualism is valued less in Japanese companies than in European. Nissan needed drastic changes and cost reduction above all, however the Japanese mentality interdicted the implementation of extreme methods used by Ghosn. Additionally, overlapping net of distributors, which is also a typical feature of the Japanese management strategies, has played a mean joke to Nissan, forcing its distributors to compete with each other. Resuming the subsection, it can be concluded that traditional style of management was ineffective in Nissan. It was like dozens of feuding board members were not able to make an agreement. Changes made by Ghosn The impact made by Carlos Ghosn on the performance of Nissan was great. This Brazilian manager of Lebanese origin used a simple philosophy: "Be transparent and explain yourself in clear, lucid terms. Do as you say you are going to do. Listen first; then think".5 It may seem really simple, however it helped Ghosn to perform greatly in South and North American divisions of Michelin, and then in Renault and Nissan. According to Magee, he "may be the only person to have four

DQ 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

DQ 2 - Essay Example There are three main financial statements that are usually affected when a company makes any transaction. Purchase of an asset does not qualify as an expense, since it is a financing activity, which means that the income statement is not affected or changed. The balance sheet is used to record the final balances in the asset, liability and equity accounts of a firm, which means that this transaction will affect the balance sheet. When the company takes the loan, the cash account (current asset) increases by $150,000, and the loan account (Liability) also increases by $150,000. When the company purchases the asset, the cash account (current asset) reduces by $150,000, and the equipment account (Long-term asset) increases by $150,000. The other financial statement that is affected is the cash flow statement, since the transaction of purchasing the asset is a cash flow for an investing activity. In this case, the cash flow for investing activities will be increased by