Congo By Crichton Essay Example For Students

Congo By Crichton Essay Congo by Michel Crichton was an unprecedented book just as a film about agroup of researchers bringing an excursion into the core of Africa looking for theblack precious stones, in the lost city of Zinj! While being seen back in the U.S. over satellite camera, the entire group kicks the bucket inside only seconds by someunknown being. The researchers back home conveyed a subsequent group (Karen as theleader) to discover the others and to get where they had begun! There was onlyone issue with this arrangement, in any case. Be that as it may, there where no flights going tothis part of Africa in the following month. They at that point ran over a gathering ofscientists that where taking a communication via gestures talking gorilla named Amy. Theywhere heading off to a similar spot since they felt this is the place Amy wasborn, and she continues having bad dreams about this spot. They group looking forthe precious stones requested that they go in light of the fact that the gorilla group required more cash, whichKaren could give. When the other group had gotten into the plane and on thereway to Africa, they began being assaulted by another nation since they wherecrossing over yonder outskirt with out there authorization. They where compelled to jumpout of the plane with Amy, to land securely on the ground. The two groups then setout for the lost city of Zinj. On there venture there Karen had continuedstaying in contact with her manager over the satellite, until one day when Amy andPeter (Amys proprietor) where playing and Amy knock it and made it break. Her supervisor at that point most likely idea that she was executed as well. When they came to Zinj,they found that it sat on the highest point of an extraordinary fountain of liquid magma, however they had alsodiscovered what had slaughtered the others! They were by all accounts a freak type of agorilla, with silver hair and changed face with mind boggling knowledge. Theydiscovered them with in a sanctuary where they would rest during the day. The firstnight there they heard stirring around their camp, coming consistently nearer tothem. They turned on a spot light right towards them, to find around 50 ofthese dim backs gazing them directly at them. They lit to fire at them makingthem escape away! The following day they found the found the mines that the diamondswhere in. They had not been cleared out by any stretch of the imagination! The entirety of the precious stones where leftand deserted, never troubled. While Karen was crying over the precious stones Amy andPeter where checkin g out the city while Amy was marking Amy terrified, BadPlace, dislike. Subside understood that Amy was continually having bad dreams of herwatching her own mom be murdered by these gorillas! She would consistently makefinger works of art back home of something with a yellow eye. Diminish asked her whatit was, and she caused him to follow her. They went to a sanctuary where inside therewas an immense sculpture of one of the dark gorillas! He understood that this cultureused to revere these gorillas and train them to monitor the mines while theycouldnt. That clarifies why they are so smart, and why they slaughter allthat come into their region. Additionally why they execute by crushing ones head openwith two stone oars, slaughtering them immediately. That night they set up campat an alternate area and encompassed the camp with wire that is connected toautomatic automatic rifles that fire towards where the line is being pulled. Theyall where outfitted with electric lamps and guns, and some had night vision goggles,and heat looking for perspectives to see them coming. They thought they where all ready!That night they heard a similar stirring in the brush yet when they turned on thegoggles and the perspectives they don't saw anything! Nothing was coming up in there see atall. One of the auto automatic weapons began going off at the rear of the camp, andall of an unexpected they all came past that certain point and where assaulting from all sides. .uf37b1e750a13f1e0a938ee125e449ade , .uf37b1e750a13f1e0a938ee125e449ade .postImageUrl , .uf37b1e750a13f1e0a938ee125e449ade .focused content territory { min-stature: 80px; position: relative; } .uf37b1e750a13f1e0a938ee125e449ade , .uf37b1e750a13f1e0a938ee125e449ade:hover , .uf37b1e750a13f1e0a938ee125e449ade:visited , .uf37b1e750a13f1e0a938ee125e449ade:active { border:0!important; } .uf37b1e750a13f1e0a938ee125e449ade .clearfix:after { content: ; show: table; clear: both; } .uf37b1e750a13f1e0a938ee125e449ade { show: square; progress: foundation shading 250ms; webkit-change: foundation shading 250ms; width: 100%; haziness: 1; change: murkiness 250ms; webkit-change: obscurity 250ms; foundation shading: #95A5A6; } .uf37b1e750a13f1e0a938ee125e449ade:active , .uf37b1e750a13f1e0a938ee125e449ade:hover { mistiness: 1; change: darkness 250ms; webkit-change: murkiness 250ms; foundation shading: #2C3E50; } .uf37b1e750a13f1e0a938ee125e449ade .focused content zone { width: 100%; position: relative; } .uf37b1e750a13f1e0a938ee125e449ade .ctaText { fringe base: 0 strong #fff; shading: #2980B9; text dimension: 16px; textual style weight: intense; edge: 0; cushioning: 0; text-enrichment: underline; } .uf37b1e750a13f1e0a938ee125e449ade .postTitle { shading: #FFFFFF; text dimension: 16px; textual style weight: 600; edge: 0; cushioning: 0; width: 100%; } .uf37b1e750a13f1e0a938ee125e449ade .ctaButton { foundation shading: #7F8C8D!important; shading: #2980B9; outskirt: none; fringe span: 3px; box-shadow: none; text dimension: 14px; text style weight: striking; line-tallness: 26px; moz-fringe sweep: 3px; text-adjust: focus; text-embellishment: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-tallness: 80px; foundation: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/modules/intelly-related-posts/resources/pictures/basic arrow.png)no-rehash; position: supreme; right: 0; top: 0; } .uf37b1e750a13f1e0a938ee125e449ade:hover .ctaButton { foundation shading: #34495E!important; } .uf37b1e750a13f1e0a938ee125e44 9ade .focused content { show: table; stature: 80px; cushioning left: 18px; top: 0; } .uf37b1e750a13f1e0a938ee125e449ade-content { show: table-cell; edge: 0; cushioning: 0; cushioning right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-adjust: center; width: 100%; } .uf37b1e750a13f1e0a938ee125e449ade:after { content: ; show: square; clear: both; } READ: To what degree are organizations mindful of their socia EssayAll serious trouble becoming unavoidable, some swinging down from trees, some lifting the lineand going under. The ruin Only kept going a couple of moments until the gorillas startedto retreat. When they where all gone the turned on the entirety of their spot lights,which uncovered the entirety of the dead gorilla bodies lying dead on the ground. Butthere was more that dead gorillas, there where dead HUMANS as well! Three ofKarens men passed on every one of the three of their skulls squashed open permitting their bloodybrains to spill out directly into the soil. The following day the y understood thatAmy had pursued away the assault, yet couldn't stop to search for her. They allrealized that they needed to leave that day and stay away forever. Theystarted pressing their things while subside shouted to Amy anticipating her arrivalback. When prepared they set out to the mines once and for all to gather thediamonds, however on their appearance the earth gazed to shake more than it usuallydid. They at that point realized that in the event that they didnt gather a few precious stones fast they woulddie! They gathered a couple of precious stones and Both of the endings are to muchdifferent so I will list them two in the following area of Compare andContrast. Look into Characters Amy, in the book, had an ability to talkin gesture based communication so any one who realized how to peruse it could convey throughher. However, rather than simply gesture based communication, in the film, she prostitute gloves thatsenced each development of her hands and transmitted it back to a little computeron her back which verbally said the words for all to hear in a female PC voice!This permitting her to converse with anybody that she wanted to. Karen in the story wasonly looking for the precious stones for her organization, to make another type of vitality. In any case, in the film she had increasingly significant things at the forefront of her thoughts. Her significant other was onthe first outing out there, which was executed. So she went looking for him andthen would get the jewels in the event that she could! In the film there was another manthat assisted in the assets to get down there. He was a pilgrim that claimedto have voyage all around the globe that couldn't imagine anything better than to go to this part ofAfrica. He truly ended up being a phony in scan for the jewels to becomerich. Furthermore, in the book well he wasnt even in the book! In the story,Karens supervisor was just keen on finding the precious stones to for his organization tobecome rich while making another type of vitality, while not in any event, thinking about hissons passing. Be that as it may, in the book he despite everything thought about the precious stones yet he didnteven have a child, in any event not in the business, and positively not dead in Afric a!Compare and Contrast Plot In the story, when they showed up at wilderness, they wherefine until night where they assaulted by freak gorillas. They just assaulted atnight in light of the fact that they all rested during the day while it was light out. In the storythey additionally found that they execute by crushing head between rock paddles, killingpeople in a flash. For this situation the entirety of the gorillas passed on when the volcanoerupted! Diminish and Karen escaped in a sight-seeing balloon, that the discovered inanother plane that her supervisor had sent (which was killed) WITH Amy. In theMovie, when they showed up at the wilderness they where immediately looked by thegorillas. For This situation the gorillas assaulted during the day and night any chancethey could. Amy and Peter never truly witness them all bite the dust be that as it may. Karen didhowever Killed a few gorillas by a laser that worked off of the jewels, inorder to get away from the sanctuary when the gor illas encompassed them. At the each endKaren and Peter escaped in tourist balloon WITH OUT Amy. For she had chosen tostay behind and live with her types of gorilla. On the off chance that I needed to pick whichversion of Congo was better I would need to state that the book is greatly improved. Itgoes into more detail of everything and includes increasingly sensational circumstances thatallow your brain to go free and make any psychological picture that you need. While inthe film you are limited to what the present and show to you

Contemporary opportunities and problems that confront IBM Company Essay

Contemporary chances and issues that go up against IBM Company - Essay Example According to the investigation the organization which has been chosen is the mammoth organization which offers types of assistance, for example, foundation facilitating just as counseling administrations in a wide scope of territories including the developing innovations, for example, nanotechnology. As a business association, IBM was established in 1911 through a merger of three organizations and has from that point forward developed to turn into a market head in the registering business. For instance, IBM was as of late positioned to be the biggest U.S firm regarding its market capitalization and number of representatives. The organization has anyway experienced various authoritative changes since its initiation and a portion of these progressions have brought about new difficulties while others have been influenced so as to stay up with the adjustments in the business. The development of IBM as a business association has been confronted with the two chances and issues in the ongoi ng past and even today. The organization needs character the execution checks in this effective processor significantly decrease the store size by four or multiple times which has made the end of l3 reserve an issue just as diminished the issue of decrease of guidance execution width to one. In spite of various difficulties, for example, expanded rivalry from its market rivals, IBM has kept on pulling together its business procedures into taking favorable circumstances of the various open doors for development that have been seen in the processing business. Some the ongoing key territories of vital ventures for the organization incorporate key acquisitions, keeping up authority in innovation just as creating customer and industry explicit answers for its developing client base.

New Student Photo Series 2012 Post #1 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

New Student Photo Series 2012 Post #1 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog Today the blog kicks of the fourth annual new student summer photo series.   We welcome incoming students to submit photos and details about how to do so and what to include can be found in this entry.   It does take us a bit of time to post photos so if you do not see your submission, rest assured we will work them into the rotation.   Many thanks! This first set of photos was submitted by Ed Brockhoff, an incoming MPA student. __________________________ This photo is from my younger days, growing up on our family farm in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia A photo taken with other interns and staff of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, based in Arusha, Tanzania. Sunset partway through a six-day climb of Mt Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. A photo taken during NAIDOC Week community celebrations in Kununurra, Western Australia; promoting and celebrating Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.

The Invention Of The Airplane - 1013 Words

Airplanes are sometimes considered one of the most overlooked inventions. This is often because people overlook the power of airplanes. It is amazing to think how two brothers created something used by thousands of people a day. Airplanes are usually the quickest method of transportation for people traveling long distances. They can also be used to travel across large bodies of water, whereas, ships would take a much longer time. The invention of the airplane was not easy. Airplanes were also not safe, originally. Over time, though, airplane travel has become one of the most safest methods for travel. One of the most greatest twentieth-century inventions was none other than the airplane. After its invention, the growth of people using airplanes and the quality of airplanes grew rapidly. This was due to the innovations during the two world wars. Airplanes not only help travelers, but they also have created an industry. Some examples of airplane industries include aircraft constructio n companies, engine makers, general equipment makers, and many others (The Invention of the Airplane and the Rise of the Airplane Industry for Military and Civilian Purposes). Men have dreamed of flying for centuries before the first airplane was even created. Leonardo da Vinci has drawn pictures of airplane-like vehicles even during the late 1400s. During the late 1700s, the first hot air balloon soared over Paris. This was the first example of some sort of vehicle that flew. During theShow MoreRelatedThe Invention Of The Airplane1401 Words   |  6 PagesAmerica has had multiple inventions in its short lifespan, but one stands out above the rest. The invention of the airplane in 1903 by Wilbur and Orville Wright was only the beginning of something that would change the world forever. The airplane is still used today to travel around the world at a much faster pace than a boat. 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It is up to the pilot to understand how to make them equal in order to keep the airplane in flightRead MoreThe Invention Of Airplanes : The United States Of America And Great Britain1748 Words   |  7 PagesFor many people, it is hard to think of the cu rrent world without airplanes. This simple fact is what makes them so important to talk about in society. They might be overlooked sometimes, but they have added a lot to history and should not be taken for granted for what they achieve. To focus on a few countries, the United States of America and Great Britain, the invention of airplanes had some of its largest impact on them. Whether that be in terms of travel or warfare, these countries benefitedRead MoreBenefits Of Airplanes And Society Essay1396 Words   |  6 PagesThe Benefits of Airplanes to Society As technology has developed throughout the years, many forms of transportation have been invented and thoroughly advanced. The airplane is one of the inventions in transportation. The invention of the airplane is credited to Wilbur and Orville Wright, brothers from Dayton, Ohio. The Wright brothers were the first to successfully fly a sustained, controlled, powered, and manned airplane, which took place on December 17, 1903 (Crouch Jakab, 2003, p.131). ThroughoutRead MoreWhy Are Patents Important For Technology?1745 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction: What is a Patent? (Natashua Hester) A patent is a limit of property rights that are related to an idea or an invention, which is granted by the United States Patent Trademark Office (Ji, 2011). Patents laws were created in 1787 by Constitution Article I 8 Class 3, which regulates commerce within a foreign nations, states and the trade of Indian tribes (Calvert, 2016). The U.S. Constitution Article I Class 8 stated that progress innovated by Science and Arts are secured by limitedRead MoreThe Airplane Has Changed The Course Of The Western World Forever888 Words   |  4 PagesJoshua Poirrier Mrs. Elliott English III 9 May 2017 The Airplane Effect Orville Wright once said, â€Å"The airplane stays up because it doesn’t have the time to fall.† The ingenuity of the Wright brothers’ airplane design has changed the course of the Western world forever. The invention of the aircraft positively affected American society by providing a quicker way of traveling, having an influence on warfare, and implementing a better economy in the United States. When the aeroplane was assembledRead MoreThe History and Development of Aircraft763 Words   |  4 PagesOne very influential inventions in the early 20th century is the aircraft. Ever since the design set by the Wright brothers, it has changed in both shape and size. Throughout history people have always found a reason to travel, and now this new type of invention is allowing people to travel farther and move faster. Everyone, no matter your color, race, or gender, is allowed to travel by this new form of transportation. The evolution of the plane played a major impact on the ability to travel, sinceRead MoreTransportation in the 1800s1136 Words   |  5 Pagesfrom the beginning of time, till now. I mean technology itself has transformed the word. New inventions are created each day, improving machines, and almost everything. Throughout history people have created things that have made life easier. Transportation has always been very important. It has been a huge part of history . Of course like every other resource it had its pros and cons. Automobiles, airplanes, boats, and trains during the 1800s were all being invented. Before life was harsh

Sources of Conflict BetweenPalestine and Israel - 2374 Words

The conflict between Palestine and Israel stems from disagreements about the land, differences in the opinions of historical change of boundaries, differences in religion and also disagreements among international actors that have influenced how the conflict has played out since the boundaries of Israel were drawn up after World War II. This paper will focus on the armed conflict between Palestine, specifically the Hamas-backed Gaza strip and the state of Israel that has led to the loss of many lives on both sides, while at the same time, created tensions between state actors that make the idea of this conflict being eventually resolved almost impossible unless there is some major change in the internal and external environment. The armed conflict that the paper describes is between Hamas which is viewed as a Islamist terrorist group by Israel, the United States and several other countries with their ultimate goal being winning back the land that they claim to be theirs and also turning Palestine into an Islamic fundamentalist state. On the other hand, the state of Israel defines itself as a Jewish and Democratic State, with 75% of their population being Jewish which would make it a Jewish majority state. Israel also governs itself on the Basic Laws of Israel, which include the Israeli nationality law that in effect grants the right to all Jewish people the right to return to Israel and automatically be able to receive Israeli citizenship and establishes Jerusalem as the

Yeah Free Essays

Remember, these are brief outlines of my lectures and you are responsible for taking class notes, as questions will come from my discussion comments that give meaning to those points. During lectures I will discuss some background information you do not need for the exam, which means the other issues I discuss are fair game for the exam. This Is a major Incentive to come to class, pay attention, and take good class notes. We will write a custom essay sample on Yeah or any similar topic only for you Order Now If you do not take notes, how can you remember my comments 3-4 weeks later for an exam? See â€Å"General announcement # 2† general announcements (click it) for instructions About 20 or more questions will come from text reading review assignments – for this exam these Logic Kernel chapter Word reviews: 1 (Logic), 2 (constitution), and 11 (voting, elections campaigns – answer only questions 1-19. ) – these review questions re your only text reading responsibility for exam 1. When I provide chapter reading review questions like this, know these are actual questions from which I will randomly select some for the reading portion of the exam. I will not ask anything else from the chapter other than the reading review questions provided. This eliminates mystery surprise regarding exam contents. Especially for you freshmen, this is harder than it looks, and will take a number of hours to look up the answers in the text. Study them carefully and you will have no problem with the reading questions oration of the exam. Since I have given you the actual reading questions, I will not give you the answers before the exam, so do the best you can; this is a learning exercise. When you buddy up to study with others, do not trust the answers of others. Validate it with your own eyes or suffer the consequences if your buddy is wrong. If you find a bad question, email me your class time with the chapter question problem with your page reference, and I’ll check it out, but will not give the answer. I will be careful not to choose any that are inaccurate or confusing. There is o excuse for you to miss one of these questions if you study. If it was me, I would look up the correct answer and when confident, I would delete all the wrong answers so I am Just reinforcing the question and the correct answer when I study. My last tip is to manage-study both class lectures and reading reviews daily so not overwhelmed by cramming right before an exam – which does not work, as some will discover. (c) Website essay portions. 7-10 questions will come from my website essay reading assignment. To find this information, go to General Announcement # general announcements (click it) and follow those instructions carefully about the hyperlink there titled â€Å"why studying the U. S. Constitution, as well as national and state and local politics, is so important to each citizen. † You are only responsible on exam #1 for the specific items mentioned in its instructions. Another key word bullet outline assignment – then study your outline. (d) General Announcement # 5 general announcements (click it) provides specific study ideas for my exams. How to cite Yeah, Papers Yeah Free Essays Spring 2013 SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITYCourse Syllabus Course:ACCT 508- Federal Tax Accounting I Prerequisite:ACCT 301 with grade of C or better, or ACCT 303 with grade of C- or better. Professor:Tim Hurley, M. B. We will write a custom essay sample on Yeah or any similar topic only for you Order Now A. , J. D. , LL. M. Office:SCI 355 Office Hours:M 3:00-4:00, W 5:00-7:00, TH 6:00-7:00; by appointment Office Phone: E-mail:thurley@sfsu. edu Required Text:Hoffman Smith, Individual Income Taxes, South-Western Federal Taxation 2013 Spring 2013 SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITYCourse Syllabus Course:ACCT 508- Federal Tax Accounting I Prerequisite:ACCT 301 with grade of C or better, or ACCT 303 with grade of C- or better. Professor:Tim Hurley, M. B. A. , J. D. , LL. M. Office:SCI 355 Office Hours:M 3:00-4:00, W 5:00-7:00, TH 6:00-7:00; by appointment Office Phone: E-mail:thurley@sfsu. edu Required Text:Hoffman Smith, Individual Income Taxes, South-Western Federal Taxation 2013 Spring 2013 SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITYCourse Syllabus Course Description Federal Taxes I is a study of the Internal Revenue Code as it affects individuals and sole proprietorships. Basic competence in tax returns, terminology, and tax calculation are emphasized. Extensive coverage is given to tax accounting methods, rates, exemptions, credits, dependents, gross income inclusions and exclusions, capital gains and losses, deductions associated with a trade or business (including depreciation), and personal deductions such as charitable contributions, interest, taxes, and medical expenses. Married filing jointly, married filing separately, head of a household, surviving spouse, and single filing status are defined and explained. Course Goals: To provide the student with an in-depth look at U. S. federal income tax law with primary emphasis on income taxation for individuals * To expose the student to the authoritative sources of U. S. federal income tax law interpretation * To begin the development of necessary research skills * To make the student aware of the importance of tax planning in business and investment decisions Grading Components Component Possible Po ints Exam I 100 (approximately 21%) Exam II 100 (approximately 21%) Comprehensive Final Exam 140 (approximately 29%) Tax Return Assignments 65 (approximately14%) Aplia Homework 40 (approximately 9%) Participation 30 (approximately 6%) Total Possible Points = 475 Aplia You must sign up for Aplia. 1. Connect to http://login. cengagebrain. com/ 2. If you already have an account, sign in. From your Dashboard, enter your course key (DB3V-FC2F-GAY3) in the box provided, and click the Register button. If you don’t have an account, click the Create a New Account button, and enter your course key when prompted: DB3V-FC2F-GAY3. Continue to follow the on-screen instructions. Aplia is a course page designed by the publisher of the book but controlled by me where I will place the syllabus, homework assignments, practice questions, practice exams, etc. It gives instant feedback on the questions and is a great way to study for an exam. * Homework assignments are due on Aplia by Sunday at 11 :00 PM. * Homework assignments will begin with Chapter 3 (in week 3). * Aplia homework is worth 40 points. You will receive 40 points only if you complete all assignments when due and answer 50% of the questions correctly on each assignment. * Partial credit is awarded at the professor’s discretion. Email Requirement The University has assigned you an email address. You are on a class email list that I will use to send important information to you. Thus, you must know your university email address and check your email regularly. Academic Integrity Plagiarism is a form of cheating or fraud. It occurs when a student misrepresents the work of another as his or her own. Plagiarism may consist of using the ideas, sentences, paragraphs, or the whole text of another without appropriate acknowledgement, but it also includes allowing another person to write or substantially alter work that a student then submits as his or her own. Any assignment found to be plagiarized will be given a failing grade. All instances of plagiarism in the Department of Accounting will be reported to the Department Chair, and may be reported to the University Judicial Affairs Officer for further action. Special Learning or Physical Accommodations Policy If you have a disability and need assistance in any way, please let me know as soon as possible. This course adheres to San Francisco State University’s policy on the accommodation of disabled students. Classroom Policies To maintain an appropriate learning environment in the classroom, students must conduct themselves in a professional manner so as not to disturb other students or the instructor. Please be respectful to other students and to me by arriving to class on time, not sleeping, and not talking during class unless it is to contribute to a class discussion. If it is absolutely necessary to leave during class, then sit near the door. * No laptops. * Please turn off all phones before coming to class. * Texting during class is strictly prohibited. Please take the same seat for each class; it helps me to learn your names. * If class is canceled for any reason, the assignments for that day will be due in the next class. Make-up exams Exams will only be given during scheduled class periods. Make-up exams will not be given. If you have a scheduling conflict, then you need to drop the course. Withdrawal from Class If you should decide to drop or withdraw from this course or withdraw from the University, you must comply with the official procedures (confer with the Office of the Registrar) or receive a grade of â€Å"F† for this course. Students who stop attending class without officially withdrawing from the course receive a grade based upon the total points they have accumulated. Ordinarily, the result will be an â€Å"F† grade. Attendance / Participation / Homework Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class meeting. If you do not attend class, it is likely that you will not pass this course. Taxation is not something that you can learn on your own and then take the exam. Like most Accounting courses, this is a problem-based course. At the end of each chapter, you will find problems. In addition, I will post additional problems that we will work in class. It is essential that you work and rework these problems and that you are able to do them on your own before the exam without looking at the answers. It is expected that readings and problems will be completed prior to class. Students should be expected to be called on in class, and students should therefore be prepared to discuss the assigned materials and problems from each class. Participation – Generally, I will ask for volunteers to help in class discussions and to assist me in working out homework problems. You earn the participation points for volunteering. If I do not get a volunteer, I will call on students at random. If I call on you and you are unprepared or ill prepared, you will lose participation points. Texting During Class – If you text during class, you will lose all participation points for that class. If this continues, on the third such occurrence, I will drop your grade one letter grade. Just because I do not call you out during class for texting does not mean that I did not see you. A few comments on grades and grading: * Failure to complete all course requirements will result in receiving a course grade of F. Extra credit is not part of the course grading plan. * Where there are close calls on grades, I will look to see if there is an improving trend and consider other positive factors in your overall performance such as class participation and conduct. * Students are encouraged to discuss concerns about their performance or course grades with the instructor at a ny time. * No grades will be provided or discussed over the telephone. Class Schedule This represents planned topics and problems; however, it will be modified as necessary to ensure that course material is covered adequately or to respond to special circumstances. The listing of assignments presented here is incomplete. Additions or deletions will be made as the semester progresses. Note that you must track the progress we have made and make sure you are prepared for class. Chapter Number| Topic| 1| An Introduction to Taxation and Understanding the Federal Tax LawAssignment: skim the chapter | 2| Working with the Tax Law (Read pages 2-1 to 2-19) Assignment: 11, 17| 3| Computing the TaxAssignment: 3,4,18,19,20,28,29,32,33,34,39(a);(b),42,44,47| | MIDTERM I (tentative) – 100 POINTS| | Gross Income: Concepts and InclusionsAssignment: 23 (answer only how much of the $9,000 annuity payment will be included in Betty’s income in 2000), 35, 52, 53, 56(a)| 14| Property Transactions: Determination of Gain or Loss, Basis Considerations, and Nontaxable Exchanges (Read 14-1 to 14-20)Assignment: 30, 36, 44, 51, 53(a)+(b),; Chapter 3 – 51| 5| Gross Income: ExclusionsAssignment: 8, 28, 29, 34, 48, 56(b)| 6| Deductions and Losses: In Gener alAssignment: 27, 34, 41, 48, 61| | MIDTERM II (tentative)– 100 POINTS| | Deductions and Losses: Certain Business Expenses and LossesAssignment: 33, 37, 56| 8| Depreciation, Cost Recovery, Amortization, and DepletionAssignment: 31, 33, 34, 36, 37, 40, 49| 9| Deductions: Employee and Self-Employed-Related ExpensesAssignment: 33, 36, 42, 46, 48| 12| Tax Credits and PaymentsAssignment: | COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAM – 140 POINTSMay 23 10:45 – 1:15| How to cite Yeah, Papers

THE PERSIANS Essay Example For Students

THE PERSIANS Essay A monologue from the play by Aeschylus NOTE: This monologue is reprinted from The Dramas of Aeschylus. Trans. Anna Swanwick. London: George Bell and Sons, 1907. ATOSSA: Ever have nightly visions manifoldBeset me, since, intent on ravagingIonias soil, my son led forth his power.But never saw I dream so manifestAs that of yesternight;Ill tell it thee;Methought two women came before my sight,Richly apparelled, this in Persian robesWas habited, and that in Dorian garb;In height above their sex pre-eminent,Faultless in beauty, sisters of one race.As Fatherland the one by lot had gainedHellas, the other the Barbaric land.Between these twain, for so methought I saw,Some feud arose, which learning, straight my sonStrove to appease and soothe; he to his carYoked them, and placed the collar on their necks.Proudly the one exulted in this gear,And kept her mouth submissive to the reins;Restive the other was; she with her handsThe chariot-harness rends, then, without bit,Whirls it along, snapping the yoke asunder.Prone falls my son, and close at hand his sire,Darius, pitying stands, whom when he sees,The robes about his person Xerxes rends.Such was, I sa y, my vision of the night.When I arose and with my hands had touchedFountain clear-flowing, I the altar nearedWith sacrificial hand, wishing to payTo the averting gods, to whom belongSuch rites, oblations; forthwith I beholdAn eagle fleeing straight to Phoebus hearth.Speechless I stood through terror, friends; anon,A kite I see borne forward on swift wing,Tearing with talons fierce the eagles head;Meanwhile the eagle nothing did but cower,His body tamely yielding to the foe.Dreadful these portents are to me who sawAnd you who hear: for well ye know, my son,If victor, were a man with glory crowned,Yet worsted, to the state gives no account,And saved, he none the less this realm will sway. We will write a custom essay on THE PERSIANS specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now

The eNotes Blog Vicious and Delicious The Best of Literatures FoulestCharacters

Vicious and Delicious The Best of Literatures FoulestCharacters To be sure, some of the best characters in literature are the so-called good guys, but lets face it: these goody-goodies are rarely the most interesting characters  in the story. Most of us, most of the time, want to see good triumph over evil in the end, but were really interested in what the villains are up to. Think about it: if not for Ursula in The Little Mermaid, Ariel would never have  even had the chance to get some land-legs; she wouldve  stayed a lady-fish and Eric wouldve  married a  human and had pretty babies. In honor of these dynamic characters and their  questionable motives, enjoy the following list  of some of our favorite fictional criminals/murderers/psychopaths from literary history. The White Witch from  The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe  by C.S. Lewis Photo Via Washington Monthly Imagine a world where its always winter. And not just any winter- the coldest, snowiest, windiest, most miserable winter youve ever seen. Now imagine that this winter is  never-ending and that three years and a few months from now youll wake up and it will  still be the same winter. Now what could possibly make that worse? An evil witch stealing Christmas.  Thats right, the White Witch  did what the Grinch couldnt. Add to that the fact that she had a tendency to turn her enemies into stone and that her lifelong ambition was to murder four unsuspecting children and youve got one bad witch. Iago from  Othello  by William Shakespeare Photo Via Pinterest Iago is one of Shakespeares most famous villains, and for good reason. Unlike Shakespeares other villains, who tend to be more discreet, Iago just goes for it. For no reason  other than a distinct dislike for Othello, Iago manipulates the man into believing that his wife is cheating on him with his Lieutenant. As if that isnt  enough, Iago somehow convinces Othello that he would be justified in killing his (completely innocent) wife. To be fair, Othello really shouldnt have taken  the word of this guy he barely knew, no matter how stand-up a fellow everyone seemed to think he was. But regardless of Othellos gullible little head, its pretty likely he wouldnt have committed the murder of his beloved without Iagos influence. Lord Voldemort from the  Harry Potter  Series  by J.K. Rowling Phot Via The Telegraph Like the previously mentioned White Witch, Voldemort (or He Who Must Not Be Named/The Dark Lord/You Know Who) is a villain geared toward  children and young adults. But we dont buy that. Voldemorts plans were pretty nasty for a kids book. In addition to  being the most evil wizard of all time (which is really saying something, since  there were a lot of other evil wizards before him and they did some pretty awful things), Voldemort creates an army of weaker but still  evil witches and wizards, magical folk, and creatures that likely wouldve just  minded their own business for the rest  of their lives and turned into ghosties when the time came in not for Voldemort. In fact, he was so obsessed with gaining followers, Voldemort used  dark curses to gather  more followers to do his bidding. As if committing countless murders wasnt enough, Voldemorts end goal really seemed geared towards the permanent misery of the people living under his charge. Not to mention that J.K. Rowlings description of him as a  monster with pale skin, red eyes,  slit-like pupils, and basically no nose. Thats  pretty nasty if you ask me. Nils Bjurman from  The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo  by Stieg Larsson Photo via Fanpop Just what we wanted: a more modern-day, relatable bad guy. That isnt to say that we can all relate to this man, but we can all read about his character and be reminded of the  horrendous stories weve heard on the news, whereas youre not going to turn on FOX and hear about the witch who stole Christmas. Nils is the man who eventually becomes Lisbeths guardian after her previous guardian falls seriously ill. Unfortunately for poor Lisbeth, Nils is a sexually depraved sadist who refuses her access to her own money without the act of various sexual favors. To end on a positive note, Lisbeth does get a sweet taste of revenge: she manages to secretly film one of her brutal rapes to use as collateral against her abuser and is able to tattoo Im a sadistic rapist pig onto his stomach. So at least theres some karmic retribution. Cruella de Vil from  101 Dalmations  by Dodie Smith Photo via Buzzfeed First and foremost, theres the characters name (de Vil = deVil = devil). They say not to judge a book by its cover, but in this case, its probably okay: Cruella is tall, has two-tone hair, and  skins puppies to make her fur coats. Its possible that  this is a commentary about the nature of the fur industry, as in, why is it okay to skin some animals and not others? To some, its never okay, but  everyone,  regardless of whether or not  they like mink coats,  will adamantly agree that no one should make a garment out of puppy fur. As if that isnt bad enough, Cruella also  drowns kittens and abuses  her pet Persian kitty. Maybe de Vil doesnt stack up against some of the other villains on this list, what with all their murders and whatnot, but theres really something about animal abusersit just makes you seem like the most despicable kind of person. But maybe thats just the animal lovers opinion. Ernst Stavro Blofeld  from  Thunderball  by Ian Fleming Photo via The Nerdist Mr. Blofeld is perhaps one of the most famous villains on this list. Even those of you who havent  heard the name will be familiar with the  trope of  the  bad guy with the bald head and a fluffy cat.  It all started with this guy. He  became the inspiration for the bad guy stereotype as we know it today, even inspiring the character of Dr. Evil. Blofeld was the first evil genius/criminal mastermind to hit modern, mainstream media. As the head of SPECTRE, Blofeld was responsible for countless robberies, assaults, and manipulations of both individuals and political groups. Like many successful villains, Blofeld has been portrayed time and time again in adaptations since his inception in 1961. His first big screen appearance coming just two years later in 1963. Most recently, in 2015, this classic evil mastermind was  embodied by the magnificent Christoph Waltz in the latest Bond film,  Spectre. Professor James Moriarty from  Sherlock Holmes  by Arthur Conan Doyle Photo via Wired   Every  fan of the  Sherlock Holmes franchise is familiar with Moriarty. Originally, Moriarty was not the most prevalent of Doyles villains. In fact, this genius was only portrayed in one or two books throughout the original seriess creation. Over time, though, his character has evolved, as many things do, with the interest of the audience. Much like the aforementioned Blofeld has been inserted into adaptation after adaptation of Bond works, Moriarty finds a way to sneak into a wide multitude of Sherlockian lore. Its easy to see why Moriarty quickly became a fan favorite: hes brilliant, cunning, psychopathic, and the direct antithesis of Mr. Sherlock Holmes (a fine example of a dynamic and fascinating good guy). Moriarty as he was introduced by Doyle in The Adventure of the Final Problem was said to be a crime lord, in other words, he was owed allegiance  by just about all of the criminals in England and was paid by them accordingly. Ever since his creation, adapters have found ways to incorporate Moriarty into their Sherlock-based works. Perhaps most famously was the 2009 film,  A Game of Shadows, with Moriarty attempting to spur on a World War in attempt to turn a profit. Hannibal Lector  from  Red Dragon  by Thomas Harris Photo by Time   Hannibal the Cannibal, a title as succinct as it is  gross. Hannibal Lector is arguably one of the most famous and grotesquely wicked characters of the later 20th century. Not only was Lector a closeted murderer/cannibal, but he also worked for the FBI as a clinical psychologist, going so far as to assist Agent Graham in following a trail of murders that he, Hannibal, was guilty of. Now thats bold. Unfortunately for Lector, he was discovered as the murderer and locked away in a mental institution for a grueling, but deserved sentence. Everything changed when Agent Graham finds himself in need of Lectors insight into the criminal mind of a yet-to-be-captured murderer.  Not one to forgive and forget, Lector located the murderer and led him to the house of Agent Graham with the instruction of to kill  whoevers inside. Thats pretty twisted. Already infamous from his appearances in the novels  Red Dragon, Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal,  and  Hannibal Rising,  Lector was catapulted into the mainstream eye by the Oscar-winning portrayal of  Anthony Hopkins. Something about Hopkinss deadpan eyes and chilling delivery brings Lector to life in a way that the world could have done without. Still, were glad he did it, because this is  a stunning film. Professor Dolores Umbridge from the  Harry Potter Series by  J.K. Rowling Photo via Mashable And last but most certainly not least we have the worst person ever. Yes, worse than the manipulative, murderous cannibal, worse that the woman who skins puppies, and yes, still worse than the man who planned to start a world war with the intent of turning a profit. Indeed, anyone who is familiar with Umbridge  knows that on a scale from one to nasty, shes nasty +1. Why is she so bad? Shes prim, shes proper, she wears pink, and she loves cats. All that is potentially forgivable, but what really makes her a villain is  that shes the accidental servant of Voldemort, upholding the laws of Fudge (the Minister of Magic) which deny  the re-emergence of the Dark Lord and make it easier for him to gain control. Not to mention that she terrorizes students with her meaningless but painfully enforced rules, refuses her students the opportunity to learn, and is just generally the kind of person that everyone knows and despises. Let us not forget the time Harry attempted to stand up for himself and ended up having to write lines with his own blood. Seems a little extreme a punishment for talking out of turn, doesnt it? We think so too. And remember when she attempted to have Dumbledore arrested? Dumbledore.  Just as  no one puts baby in the corner, no one better put Dumbledore in Azkaban. Curious about these characters and their authors? Check out  Ã‚  to find detailed biographies of your favorite authors alongside full summaries and study guides of their most popular literary works!

How to Conjugate the French Verb Craindre (to Fear)

How to Conjugate the French Verb Craindre (to Fear) Craindre  (to fear)  is an  irregular -re verb  thats conjugated like all other  French verbs ending in -aindre,  -eindre, and  -oindre.  This is evident in the conjugation table below that shows the simple conjugations of craindre; compound conjugations that consist of the conjugated auxiliary verb avoir and the past participle craint are not included in the table. Craindre: Conjugated Like all verbs ending in -aindre Irregular -re verbs fall into a few patterns that make memorizing their conjugations a little easier: verbs conjugated like prendre, verbs conjugated like battre, verbs including mettre and all its derivatives, those including rompre and its derivatives, and a fifth group including all verbs that end in -aindre like craindre, -eindre like peindre, and -oindre like joindre. A final group of very irregular verbs, such as dire, à ©crire, faire, have such unusual and unwieldy conjugations that they follow no pattern and need to be memorized in order to use them. The fifth group of verbs ending in -aindre like craindre drops the d in the stem in both singular and plural forms and adds a g in front of the n in plural forms. Other verbs like craindre include:   contraindre   to force, to compel  plaindre  Ã‚  to pity, to feel sorry for Usage and Expressions   Craindre is a transitive verb thats used in numerous idiomatic expressions. It can be translated as to fear, to be frightened of, or to be afraid of. The causative se faire craindre means to intimidate. craindre Dieu  Ã‚  to go in fear of / to fear Godcraindre le pire  (familiar)   to fear the worstNe crains rien.  Ã‚   Have no fear. /  Never fear. / Dont be afraid.Il ny a rien craindre.   Theres no cause for alarm. / Theres nothing to fear.Sa grosse voix le faisait craindre de tous ses à ©là ¨ves.  Ã‚  His booming voice made all his  pupils  afraid of him.Elle sait  se faire craindre de ses subordonnà ©s.   She knows how to intimidate her subordinates.Je ne crains pas les piqà »res.  Ã‚  Im not afraid  of injections.Il y a tout craindre dune intervention militaire.   One can expect the worst from a military intervention.Craignant de la rà ©veiller, il a retirà © ses chaussures. He took off his shoes for fear of waking her up.Je crains de lavoir blessà ©e.   Im afraid Ive hurt her.Je crains fort quil (ne) soit dà ©j trop tard.   Im really afraid its already too late.Je crains que oui / non. Im afraid so / not.Ça craint le froid. Its s ensitive to cold.Ça craint. (very informal) Its a real pain. craindre pour quelquun / quelque chose to fear for somebody or something Simple Conjugations of the Irregular French -re Verb Craindre Present Future Imperfect Present participle je crains craindrai craignais craignant tu crains craindras craignais il craint craindra craignait nous craignons craindrons craignions vous craignez craindrez craigniez ils craignent craindront craignaient Pass compos Auxiliary verb avoir Past participle craint Subjunctive Conditional Pass simple Imperfect subjunctive je craigne craindrais craignis craignisse tu craignes craindrais craignis craignisses il craigne craindrait craignit craignt nous craignions craindrions craignmes craignissions vous craigniez craindriez craigntes craignissiez ils craignent craindraient craignirent craignissent Imperative (tu) crains (nous) craignons (vous) craignez

Social work research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Social work research - Essay Example Early diagnosis and interference in toddlers with learning disorders makes a considerable development in self-confidence and communal capability, which facilitates them in opening doors of chances in school and in the field of work.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Perin (1990) has shown in his work that the students with learning disabilities have above average or high intellectual capability. If they are provided with suitable support and instructions, then they can succeed in college academic programs. The community care has been provided to the students with learning disabilities in New York. The faculties of City University of New York (CUNY) and State University of New York (SUNY) have emphasized on the need of the students with learning disabilities (Perin, 1990, p. 2). Adams, Dominelli and Payne (1998) have debated that the communal worker’s main concern is ensuring that the public can handle or deal sufficiently with their lives. Under this approach, the community workers do not approve a theraupetic-helping role. Their involvements are much more practical –generally passing on information about sources and potentials (Adams, Dominelli and Payne, 1998, p. 4). The stress on effects in the present competency –based strategies to social work is reliable to an ethical point of view that ignores procedures. The practitioners essentially want to avoid this position that follows the anti-oppressive strategies (Adams, Dominelli and Payne, 1998, p. 8). Humphries (2000) portrayed that in a social model, disabilities arise from society’s breakdown to meet the obligations of the disabled individuals. It has been debated that conventional positivist and empirical research examples are repressive and alienating to loads of research subjects. It often deprives people and not leads to any development to their material situations (Humphries, 2000, p. 110). Lowes and Hulatt

Critically evaluate the main ideas and theories in 'The Communist Essay

Critically evaluate the main ideas and theories in 'The Communist Manifesto' by Marx and Engels - Essay Example he communist manifesto and it implications to our modern times, let us look into the theories of capitalism and communism that served as the foundations of the manifesto. Capitalism is one of the most widely discussed theories in the Communist manifesto. Here, Marx discussed at length the effects of capitalism in relation to labor. Marx considers capitalism as a specific mode of production whereby productivity is dictated by the people who controlled the mode of production (Burnham, Peter (2003). Marx sees the "bourgeois society" as advanced form of social organization whereby the people who controls the wealth also controls production (Marx and Engels, 1948). To distinguish the value of commodities, Marx presented the idea that value of use of commodities is different from their exchange value in the market. He believed that capital is created to when one purchases commodities to create another commodity that can command a higher value in the market. According to Marx, labor becomes like any other commodity under a capitalist society in the sense that labor earns less value for its service compared to the value that the capitalist derived from labor. A good example of this scenario is a person who offers his or her service to a big manufacturing company in exchange for minimum wage. Marx argued that the difference in the value of the service rendered by the employee and the value derived by the employee from the service rendered by the employee is surplus value which the capitalist earned on the expense of labor. (Marx, 1909). Under this principle, since labor has less influence and power over production, labor is continuously exploited. All throughout the discussions in the communist manifesto, Marx struggled to present how the labor sector is exploited by reason of its status in society which gives it less bargaining powers compared to the "bourgeois". For anti-capitalists, the Communist manifesto represents the history of the struggle of the proletariat and

Job Design And Analysis Of Asda Commerce Essay

Job Design And Analysis Of Asda Commerce Essay Job consists of a set of tasks that are performed by the employee to fulfil the aims and objectives of the company. The content of job is affected by the purpose of the company, the structure of the company, the processes and activities carried out in the company, the technology of the company, environment in which the company operates. Therefore the job design has two aims: first, to satisfy the requirement of the ASDA company for productivity, efficiency and quality of product and service, and second is to satisfy the needs of the individuals for interest, challenge and accomplishment providing for job engagement and commitment to carrying out the job well. ASDA uses the following approach of job design to support strategic objectives. Job Rotation: Employees can expose to different types of specialized jobs over time from Job Rotation. To provide more techniques and knowledge in different field ASDA uses the approach of job rotation. Job Enlargement: To increase the numbers of activities in a job and to overcome the boredom of overspecialized work ASDA use this method of job design. 2. Job Analysis Process of analysis of a work or pursue that profession in the various parts of the structure of the Organization, work activities and the informational content is a job analysis. The purpose of job analysis is to break the job down in to its essential elements and to be flexible about all other aspects of the job. The analysis of job should be done by ASDA to write job descriptions, job specification, to prepare for the organisational structure, to conduct studies of movement and time, to write the knowledge, skills and performance of the employee, etc. ASDA provide various range of management and business areas jobs like Finance, George, Home shopping, Human Resource, IT, Logistics, Marketing, Optical, Pharmacy, Retail, Store development, Store management, Supply, Trading etc. Training Training depends on the activities and the information required executing the ASDA jobs. The titles of work are the titles of the corresponding training at ASDA. Job Description is a narrative statement defining work, i.e., what the employer expects the employee from the point of view of on-the-job performance. As reported by victory (1996), the description of work [or position description] is a list of responsibilities and functions à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ require specific position (p. 1). ASDA is doing the job description for the following purposes: Job Descriptions Job Description is a narrative statement defining work, i.e., what the employer expects the employee from the point of view of on-the-job performance. As stated by Winning (1996), the description of work (or position description) is a list of responsibilities and functions require specific position (p.1). ASDA is doing the job description for the following purposes: To provide information needed in determining the selection criteria. To inform applicants about the nature of the job. To ensure that newly appointed staffs understand the primary purpose and principal functions of the job and its place in the structure of the company. Job Description Job Title Department Responsible To Purpose of Job/ Overall Objectives Specific Duties and Responsibilities Physical/ Economic Condition The format of Job Description is given below Figure No: 1 Job Roles with in the Customer service function in ASDA The team leader delegate tasks to the lower subordinates in ASDA. The Assistant Manager passes information on to the colleges about what need to be done and give information about dealing with a customer enquiry. Competency Modelling Competencies represent the language of performance. They can articulate both in expected outcomes from an individuals efforts and manner in which these activities are carried out. Also Competency is an underlying characteristic of a person that results in effective or superior performance -Mansfield (1999). Competency modelling is very important to the development and to transfer the good will of the company. The following types of competency are very essential for the good will of the company, Behavioural Competencies: It represent the type of behaviour required to deliver results under such heading likes team working, communication leadership and decision making. Technical competencies: Technical competency defines what people have to know and be able to carry out their roles effectively. They are related to either generic roles (group of similar jobs) or individual roles. NVQ/ SNVQ Competences: It is the fundamental part of the process of developing standards which can be observed and assessed with view to certification. Human Resource Strategy To achieve the overall objectives of the ASDA Company Human Resource strategy plays a vital role. Human Resource strategy should aim to capture the people element of what the company hoping to achieve in long term, ensuring that -Right people in right place -Right mix of skills -Employees show the right attributes and behaviours -Employees are developed in the right way. Management of ASDA Company identifies some plans and strategies before achieving the goals and objectives such as work force planning, succession training, workforce skills plans, employment equity plans, motivation and fair treatment plans, the coordination of approaches to pay and grading across the organization to create alignment and potential unequal pay claims, and Employment issues which impact on staff recruitment retention, motivation etc. Manpower planning framework Manpower planning owed its primacy by focusing the business planning and strategy. A Plan represents one of the results of a process that emphasizes on solution of a related problem. In other words plans represent the specified and consistent expression of the company that produced as a result of a rational examination of various issues that affect a companys future. If business strategy and plans find the expression in measurable economic, marketing and production goals, with an implicit or explicit requirement for people, the human resources plan represents a response from a personal and human resource management, so that the necessary supply of imminent to enable the objectives to be met. Hence the Manpower Plan could be expressed in a way that fits the overall business strategy and plan. The rationalized approach to manpower planning is shown in the following figure; Companys strategy and targets Companys practices and methods Man power review and analysis Internal Forecast External Demand Supply Adjust to balance Recruit Retain Reduce Fig No.2 The rationalized approach to manpower planning The Process of Human Resource Planning Business strategic plans: Defining future activity levels and initiative demanding new skills. Resourcing Strategy: Planning to gain competitive advantage by developing intellectual capital-employing more capable people than rivals, ensuring that they develop organization specific knowledge and skills, and taking steps to become an employer of choice. Scenario Planning: Assessing in broad terms where the organization is going in its environment and the implication for Human Resource requirements. Demand /Supply forecasting: Estimating the future demand for people and assessing the number of people likely to be available from within and outside the company. Labour turnover analysis: Analysing actual labour turnover figures and trends as an input to supply forecasts. PRINCIPLES RELATING TO THE DEMAND AND SUPPLY OF LABOUR Supply and demand in the labour market is just like supply and demand for a different service. Is consistent with the law of supply and demand (such as price increases, the quantity required and the quantity rises), the demand has a negative slope and the curve of the supply has a positive slope. As soon as the supply of labour, such as the provision of other services, indicates the number of work or want to offer workers at different prices. The supply curve for each employee will be different if each employee different opportunity costs and preferences. Demand task indicates the amount of work done by an enterprise to different values. The demand curve for each undertaking will differ if each company is faced with different types of work alternates (for e.g. different percentages of potential capital substitution), preferences, demand for the products they produce and alternative employment of resources. Rates of pay only the value of the work and, therefore, like any other market values specified. The intersection of curves of supply and demand in the labour market shows the balance outstanding, or purchase rate for certain types of work. (In a free economy, unlimited government regulation, fees for the same kind of work is the right for purchases). Most people are looking for a job in the job market is affected by factors related to the size and composition of the population. Mainly people and changing population, the age structure of the population, ethnic origin and sex etc. affect overall demand in the labour market. On the other hand, is the sum of the total demand in the labour market shall consist of the sum of the total employment and job vacancies. Within any areas and at any one time ASDA stores have the jobs that are going into decline because the required skills for those jobs are becoming redundant. In this situation, new and skilled manpower will be emerging and demand for those capabilities should be rises faster than the supply. Recruitment and Selection process in ASDA Recruitment and selection are two distinct human resource management activities. Recruitment includes activity soliciting applications from potential employees and selection techniques are used to choose right candidate for right job. Recruitment and selection procedures in ASDA are given below, Step I online application The first step of the selection process in ASDA store is online application. Candidates should complete a number of questions and they should submit their online application form. It may take about one hour to complete, but candidates can save their answers after completing each section to save time. After this, candidate(s) will get an e-mail from ASDA to know the procedure for next step. Step II ASDA Reality In this stage successful candidate(s) of application step will be invited by ASDA to come along their assessment centre which is called Reality. Reality is the best opportunity for candidate(s) to experience what its really like to work at ASDA and gives insight to the candidate(s) about the role he/she applied for. Candidate(s) will participate in and be observed on different activities in a group and individually. Step III interview The interview is the final step of the selection procedure in ASDA. Successful or selected candidate(s) in interview process will join in ASDA after few days. Salary and Benefits ASDA provide negotiable salary to its all the staffs. Also rewards and benefits of having a job with ASDA include: Bonus, colleague Discount, Share plans, Share save plan, Colleague share ownership plan, Pension, Voluntary benefits, Private medical cover, Recognition, STAR Points etc. Managerial Role in Recruitment and Selection Recruitment and selection activities of personnel specialists in ASDA can be described in terms of five general roles. Which are given below; The audit role: Personnel specialists have responsibility for ensuring that all of management carry out those parts of their roles concerned with the effective use of human resource. Checking to established job description supplied by managers reflect the true nature of the tasks. The executive Role: Personal Management is part of every managers job, but some personnel activities are carried out by specialists rather than by line managers or supervisors. The facilitator role: Ensuring that line managers and other involved in recruitment and selection have the necessary knowledge and skills to play their part in this activity effectively. The consultancy role: This advice to managers on selection decisions. The service role: Managers need information on which to base decision about the deployment of their staff. Providing managers with response rate data on recruitment advertising to enable joint decisions to be made on the most effective way to attract a pool of applicants is the example of the service role. Role of legal and organisational requirements in creating a HR plan Human resource plans are derived from the resourcing strategy and take into account data from a combination of scenario planning, demand and supply forecasting and labour turnover analysis. While creating human resource planning legal and companies requirements play a vital role. Also, while organization have considerable freedom of choice in the type of people they want to recruit, legislation plays a significant role in the recruitment and selection process, particularly in attempts to prevent discrimination on the field of sex, race, disability and age. The sex Discrimination Act 1975 makes it unlawful to discriminate against a personal directly or indirectly in the field of employment on the ground of their sex or marital status. The race Relation Act 1976 makes it unlawful to discriminate against a person in the field of employment on the ground of their race, colour and nationality, including ethnic or national origin. While legislation and codes of conduct would suggest a certain approach in the UK, differences in job/ occupation being recruited, labour markets and skills availability might cause this approach to be modified. However, factors within the ASDA Company also affect the way recruitment and selection is handled. Employee personal and managerial effectiveness through a process of personal reflection Employees are the main part of the successful business. For demand, supply, process, customers service and overall business of the company every employee has the valuable hands. Some important aspects of personal reflections of employee are as follows: Impact on others: This embraces some essential aspects like speech, dress, manner and reactions, behaviours with the customers etc. Acquired knowledge or competency of the work: Employee must use their knowledge and experience what they gain and what is necessary for the respective work to solve the problems arising in the ASDA while working. Motivation: this is concern with the goal-directed aspect of human personality. In the other hand employee have the most important role for the development of the company. If they are not satisfied or not motivated towards the company then the progress of the company becomes quite difficult. Adjustment: This aspect concerns the emotional status of the employee stability, maturity, ability to cope with stress etc. Disciplinary Rules Disciplinary rules help to ensure a consistent and fair approach for the treatment of employee. The content of the rules includes General conduct Health and safety Security Time keeping and attendance The main stages of Disciplinary procedure Step I: If disciplinary action is necessary write to the worker notifying him/her of the allegations and the basis of the allegations against him/ her, invite him/her to a meeting to discuss the matter. Step II: If indicated by the investigations hold a meeting to discuss the allegations and at the end notify the worker of the disciplinary decision. Step III: If the worker wishes to appeal, hold an appeal meeting and inform the outcome of the appeal to the worker. Grievance procedures Grievance procedures provide a formal mechanism for the presentation and resolution of employee dissatisfaction. At first in the informal time the employee should raise the matter with manager if it is more appropriate and then Step I: If the matter remains unsolved, worker can raise the matter by formal writing to the relevant manager. A meeting will be conducted with the companion, worker and the respective manager. Step II: If the worker wants to appeal against the decision, a meeting will be conducted between worker, companion and senior manager. The decision should be in written for the legal purpose. Step III: Again if the worker likes to appeal that decision, a meeting should be conducted between worker, functional director and the union regional officer (if applicable) and the decision should be finalized in written document. Conclusion ASDA conduct the job analysis to write job description, job specification, to prepare organizational chart of the company, to write knowledge, skills and performance of the employee, as well as to the feedback back of the company. To achieve goals and objectives of the company ASDA always focus on right candidate in right job, right mix of skills, right attributes and behaviours of the candidates while selecting the employee for the required job. For the good will of the company ASDA give priority on competency of the employee like behavioural competencies, technical competencies, NVQ/ SNVQ competencies etc. For the purpose of improving and securing the ASDA companies human resources, to meet present and future needs; three principal stages can be distinguished such as evaluation of existing resources, forecast of future requirements, and finally action plan. While creating HR plan ASDA Company concentrated on legal role of the government and organizational requirements. Recommendation From the above study and conclusion, I would like to suggest some recommendations for the improvement and to increase the business of ASDA Company. Fair selection process need to be appointed on the basis of skills and competencies as per the ASDA HR requirement. Job analysis and job design should be conducted in regular basis for the effectiveness as well as to achieve overall objectives of the company. More training and orientation of the work should be provided to the new or prospective employee mainly in the customers service and technical sectors. Best performance appraisal techniques need to be applied for career advancement of the employees.

Cisco’s Strategy in Recessionary Times Essay

Executive Summary This report is an examination into the strategic management practices used by Cisco Systems, Inc., over the dot com bubble from 1997 to 2000 and an overview of Cisco as a company, and its acquisitions over the past 20 years. The report was created by Alex Quigley, Eoin McCrann and Daniel Ozac, as part of a continuous assessment deliverable as part of BSHCE3, Hons Degree in  computing at the National College of Ireland. It is supported by a PowerPoint presentation of the same name, in the attached appendix. Introduction The report will first review the literature used during the research of the topic and outline the types of information resources used during the reports generation and an overview of these findings. There is an attached overview of Cisco as a company (Appendix A) which outlines how it was founded, and its current market position, and a brief history. Next, we will take a high level overview of their strategy and then identify the key strategic tools used by the company and how they differed at the time from their competitors in this regard. Next we will look in detail at Cisco’s acquisitions over the past 20 years since the company formed, and how this particular strategy was affected by the crash. After this we will look at Cisco’s financials and how their strategy has enabled such large growth. The importance of their strategic choices in developing this financial growth, and finally some of the possible risks associated with the key strategic tools used by the company during this period. Finally, a conclusion and summary of our findings and an appendix for the resource references used during the research, and an appendix of financial information. Literature Review  From the outset the base for all our research started with the case study (Indu, 2010). This gave us a very good overview of the company and how it has, over the past 20 years, faced great triumph in the face of adversity, and bounced back, particularly after difficult times throughout the company’s history In particular during recessionary times such as the dot com crash and the recent global economic downturn. The course notes from BSHCE3 Strategic Management were used to identify the key strategic management tools. Wikipedia was also liberally used to identify and further expand on some of these tools, their founders and also  as a high level overview of Cisco as a company. Other online resources that proved very informative during research were CNN and in particular the money section of the website which maintains detailed information on a large number of companies, and the NASDAQ website which also maintains (as expected) detailed stock and financial information. It’s also worth mentioning that Cisco’s own website is very informative, with detailed financial and organizational structure. Strategic Overview From the case study delivered during class (Indu, 2010) it is clear that Cisco’s goal was to increase market share and maintain a sustained growth. Added to this continued improvement to customer and supplier relations. The company’s current mission statement states that; ‘Cisco’s mission is to shape the future of the Internet by creating unprecedented value and opportunity for our customers, employees, investors, and ecosystem partners.’ (Cisco.com) With a strong customer focus at the core of their business, another strategy employed by Cisco is to position themselves close to not only the customer but suppliers too. This closeness and strength of supplier relations allows Cisco to respond quickly to changing customer and in fact market demands and trends. One of the strategic applications to enable growth and innovation was the use of acquisitions. From 1993 to present day Cisco has acquired over 150 companies in a wide range of Information Technology and Networking sectors. This is facilitating gaining and maintaining competitive advantage. However, proving the strength of the management and effective adaptation, Cisco has been able to change their strategy when required and in 2000, after the dot com bubble burst, its highly successful strategy of procurement was abandoned and under the leadership of John Chambers, the  company was able to successfully tighten its purse string, downsize the business and successfully ride out the storm. This leads to another strategy employed by Cisco, and one that has not been helped employee relations, the choice to downsize during periods of economic or market downturn. This retrenchment again shows Cisco’s effective adaptation, but has led to issues with morale among employees. Ciscos core business is networks, communication and information technology. So it is no surprise that in parallel to providing companies with the tools and information systems seen as ‘strategically important’, they themselves view these systems as paramount to the company’s success. Examples of this are the ‘bug alert’ system implemented in 93 and even earlier, the FTP site a database to allow customers and developers improve existing components and systems. One defining factor in all Cisco’s strategic choices has been to stick to the knitting. As Peter Drucker stated; ‘Think through the overall mission of a business, and ask the question: What is our business?’ In Cisco’s case, their business through numerous acquisitions and strategic changes has essentially remained the same. Chambers believed that there are 4 key elements that a company needs in order to survive a recession; 1. Being realistic about the CAUSE of your challenges – don’t just blame a recession, focus internally as well, is there something you’re doing as well? 2. Try to determine the length and intensity of the downturn – then respond appropriately 3. Prepare for the upturn – Survive and thrive, gain market share 4. Expand customer relationships – customers can give insight into when the recession may end And this isn’t always the best strategy, as it does not allow for innovation internally within the organisation. The lack of intrapreneurship has led to poor company ratings in terms of ‘great place to work’ scores. In order for Cisco to get new products or enter into a new market, they generally have to purchase a new company rather than use organic growth or in-house smarts. Their competitors on the other hand employ strategies of organic growth and are less inclined to purchase companies in order to gain entry into different markets. However there have been some key acquisitions that allowed direct competition to Cisco, which will be discussed in more detail in the next section. Cisco through every recession have maintained large assets and cash. They saw it as vital in order to survive. This allowed them to make bold decisions when most companies are cutting back, and also respond immediately when the market begins to pick up again. Something competitors have had difficulty with. Acquisition Timeline As stated previously, Cisco’s core business has been a factor in the type of businesses acquired over the company’s history. From 1993 to 2000, there was a sustained level of acquisition, increasing year on year. During this time Cisco has acquired over 150 companies, most of which were US based. Figure [ 1 ]| However, it’s clear from ‘Figure 1’ above that after the crash in 2000, Cisco drastically decreased acquisitions with only one acquisition in 2001. In the two years previous to this Cisco had acquired an amazing total of 40 companies. And once again in 2008 the company slowed acquisitions to match the downturn in demand for their products. Although not as drastically as 2001. They used these times to focus on new emerging markets, and develop new technologies. Figure [ 2 ]| Most of these businesses were related to the area of Computer Networking, Lan Switching, Gateways and Routers. This is in keeping with Cisco’s strategy of ‘stick to the knitting’. Second to these is the VOIP technology sector. By 2004, Cisco had returned to its acquisition strategy and sustains this level for a number of years. What is interesting is if you map the NASDAQ composite index, which is heavily populated with IT related companies; it almost perfectly matches the acquisition timeline for Cisco, as can be seen  in ‘Figure 3’ below. Figure [ 3 ]| Cisco didn’t just acquire the companies and integrate the management of them into their own structure. For the most part these companies were allowed to continue as individual entities, and keep their existing structure and organisational managers. Competitors Acquisitions Hewlett Packard One of Cisco’s competitors is HP, the computer hardware and software giant. In 2008, HP acquired Colubris Networks. Colubris Networks provide organizations with advanced wireless networking solutions that unify and integrate with existing network infrastructures, as well as security and management systems. This was an attempt by HP to try and take market share of Cisco’s strong hold on network infrastructure, and in this case the wireless LAN market. In 2009, HP purchased 3COM, the digital electronics manufacturer best known for its computer network infrastructure products, for $2.7 billion. This was a huge strategic move from HP to strengthen their position in the market which Cisco has been controlling. HP realized there were large gaps in its product line, mainly network switching, which would take too long to fill organically and needed a quick-fix. HP wanted to take on Cisco in this sector, and 3Com wanted to expand outside of China. This acquisition meant the Introduction of low-cost switches, which was a competitive advantage that Cisco was unable to match. Juniper Networks Another of Cisco’s direct competitors, Juniper networks, a networking equipment manufacturer based in Sunnyvale, California. In contrast, Juniper had no acquisitions between 2006 and 2009, and instead focused all their efforts on internal innovation and organic growth. However in 2010 they acquired Ankeena Networks for $100 million. This was a  move to directly compete against CSICO’s video conferencing market position. Ankeena Networks deliver new media infrastructure technology, and their technology is designed to help service providers deliver a better video experience on both fixed and mobile devices. Also in 2010, Juniper purchased Blackwave Networks in order to support Ankeena networks. Blackwave networks key business is to provide video storage and delivery. Both of these purchases were seen as Juniper bulking-up its video delivery capabilities in order to take on Cisco in this area. Polycom As with Juniper acquisitions in 2010, Polycom’s core business is in the area of video conferencing and in particular Telepresence and supporting infrastructure equipment. Between 2008 and 2010 they did not acquire any companies. In 2011 they acquired HP Visual Collaboration, a network and video management company for $89m. This move was in response to Cisco’s hostile $3.3bln takeover of Tandberg. The purchase was to strengthen Polycom’s position and ensure that they are strong enough to compete with Cisco. Strategic Tools A number of tools exist to assist organisations in developing strategies and insight on what industries and areas their business should focus on. Some of these are outlined below. SWOT Analysis A planning method used to determine the internal factors: strengths, and weaknesses, as well as the external factors: opportunities and threats, facing a project or organisation. The SWOT analysis helps project managers or organisations with the decision-making process. It is especially useful when considering entry into a new market, or when releasing a new product. It can be used to develop a strategy to help distinguish your organisation from your competitors. Porter’s 5 Forces A technique used to determine the intensity of competition within your market. The five forces are: threat of new entrants, threat of substitute products, and bargaining power of suppliers, bargaining power of buyers and the intensity of competitive rivalry. It is used to show the relative attractiveness of a particular market, and as such helps with the decision-making process for project managers and organisations. PEST Market Analysis Tool A tool used to help understand market growth or decline. PEST is an acronym for Political/Legal, Economic, Socio-Cultural, and Technological. Like SWOT and Porter’s 5 Forces, PEST is used to analyse or review a strategy or position at a given time and then help with the decision-making process. Other Other tools include Management by Objectives (MBO), TOWS Matrix, Internal Analysis, Value Chain and BCG Portfolio Model, but for this report we will focus on the three tools above, and how they relate to Ciscos management strategy. Strategic Tools on Cisco SWOT Analysis The SWOT analysis outlines internal strengths and weaknesses and external opportunities and threats. Strengths  In terms of internal strengths, Cisco is in a very good market position for its main core products (networking equipment) and is seen as the market leader in this area. Cisco has number of alliances with major players in the market, including Microsoft and IBM. Cisco also maintains a very strong balance sheet every year, ensuring a large supply of cash is available. Weaknesses Conversely, its main weakness is the high cost of its products, when compared to its competitors (e.g. HP and their low-cost range of network switches). This is not a major problem for Cisco however, as their focus is on reliability and customer satisfaction, not beating prices with competitors. Other weaknesses include the lack of a presence in the consumer market and the lack of innovation. Cisco’s growth and new product line comes from acquisitions rather than internal innovation and organic development. Opportunities Opportunities in the market include cloud computing, smart-grid technology, the home consumer market and the area of video conferencing thanks to its acquisition of Tandberg. Threats  The main external threat to Cisco is the unstable global economy. Chambers was initially very optimistic about the economic recovery; however he has recently toned-down his statements and has admitted that recovery may take longer than initially expected. Other threats include cheaper alternatives and their direct competitors: Hewlett-Packard, Juniper and IBM. Figure [ 4 ]| Porter’s 5 Forces Porter’s 5 Forces model helps to determine the level of a number of factors. Once established, this helps to determine the relative attractiveness of a particular market or sector. Threat of New Entrants: MEDIUM Large enterprises will generally only enter the market by acquiring specialist companies, and small companies will not really be able to compete due to the infrastructure and resources required. Any small, successful start-up will generally be acquisitioned by a larger one. Because of these factors the threat of new entrants into Cisco’s core market (design and manufacture of networking equipment) is medium. Bargaining Power of Suppliers: LOW Cisco generally uses short-term contracts with its suppliers. This allows them to easily adjust their output depending on supply and demand. Cisco also uses a multitude of different suppliers across the globe. Their main focus is on reliability and customer satisfaction rather than competing on price. For these reasons the suppliers have a low level of bargaining power. Bargaining Power of Buyers: HIGH In terms of networking equipment and video conferencing facilities, there are a wide range of suppliers for customers to choose from. These include Hewlett-Packard, Juniper, and Polycom. There are also cheaper alternatives in the market. This gives the customers much more bargaining power. Threat of Substitute Products: LOW Organisations rely on networking equipment such as hubs, switches and routers. They are vital to networks and will not be replaced by substitute products. Therefore the threat to Cisco is low. Intensity of Competitive Rivalry: HIGH The sector is very competitive with HP and Juniper seen as Cisco’s main rivals. Cisco’s entry into the videoconferencing and Telepresence market has increased this rivalry. Cisco is still seen as the market leader. PEST Market Analysis This market analysis used to help understand market growth or decline and help to influence the decision-making process. Political & Legal  Political and legal considerations for Cisco include regulations regarding customer and employee data privacy and security. Given the market they operate in, their products need to adhere to many different standards and certifications. These include ISO, IEEE, IETF, ITU and Wi-Fi Alliance. As Cisco is an international organisation operating in many different countries across the globe, they must be aware of differing national laws and regulations. A major strategy of theirs is the acquisition of other organisations. They must therefore be aware of the laws and regulations governing this process in different countries and continents, e.g. the acquisition of TV software developer NDS had to be approved by the European Commission. Economic The current economic outlook is poor, with low growth and uncertainty about when it will end. There are high unemployment rates across the globe, low inflation rates and increased labour costs. Current rates of interest are also important. These are all factors that Cisco will consider with any new  venture. Socio-Cultural Demographics, language, culture, customs and religion are not really a huge concern for Cisco. One socio-cultural issue that may relate to them is the current trend of technical people leaning more towards open-source software and hardware products. This may have a negative impact on some areas that Cisco operates in, as Cisco IOS is closed-source. However Cisco does work with over 40 open source software projects. Another area that Cisco will consider is the green and renewable energy sectors. Cisco’s recycling and emissions and energy consumption reduction programs have worked well and even resulted in them becoming certified. Cisco is also one of the driving forces behind making purchases from women, veteran and minority-owned companies. Technological Cisco spends nearly $5.3 billion on research and development per year, ensuring that they stay at the cutting-edge of technology. In terms of innovation Cisco generally â€Å"stick to the knitting†, i.e. they stick to their core competencies and acquisition other organisations when moving into new areas. Areas of technological growth include video and teleconferencing, telepresence, unified communication, big-data, cloud computing and smart grid (overlaying a digital network onto the existing electrical network). Figure [ 5 ]| Financial Overview Looking at Cisco’s finances provides and insight into invest psychology. Going back to 1993 (Figure 6) we can see that Cisco had strong earnings growth. Cisco really suffered during the recession in 2001 as they were unable to predict economic downturn and net sales fell by almost 30 per cent. Chambers was forced to write off inventory of $2.2 billion, and 8,500 people were made redundant. Figure [ 6 ]| Reorganisation The reorganisation of its operations after the crisis in 2001 was followed by  strong growth. By looking at the Cisco’s last year’s financial statements (Figure 7) we observe that their bottom line, in other words, Net Income was pretty stable and year over year, has known a continued growth from 2003 onwards, except the last couple of years, starting with 2008 when the net income declined to 2009 and got back pretty much as the same level in 2010 and once again declined from 2010 to 2011 but then increased from 2011 to 2012 exceeding this time the 2010 level. Figure 7| Technology Bubble The orange line on the graph represents earnings per share growth and as we can see since 1993, the average operating earnings growth rate has averaged 24.5% a year. The black line represents the monthly closing stock prices. As we can see at the beginning the earnings in price track each other very closely and then between 1997 and 2000 we observe that Cisco stocks became overpriced which matched the other trends in the technology market during the dotcom bubble. It climaxed on March 10, 2000, with the NASDAQ peaking at 5132.52 in intraday trading before closing at 5048.62. (Jesse Colombo, 2012). We can clearly see how during this period Cisco became disconnected from growth and earnings. The price collapsed as a consequence. However, since 2002 – 2003 Cisco stocks has traded more in line with its operating earnings growth (Appendix A, Earnings Growth). Price Earnings Ratio Although Cisco is trying to ensure a dominant position in all of its markets (and reflected in last quarterly results) their earnings were above expectations. This doesn’t give a clear picture of the potential for continued growth for investors. Price Earnings Ratio demonstrates investor psychology in the (Figure 7). It illustrates value in relation to the company’s earnings and is strictly related their yearly financial statements translated into net income. The higher the price earnings ratio the more the market is willing to pay for the company’s earnings. Conversely, a low P/E may indicate a â€Å"vote of no confidence† by the market or it could mean this is a sleeper that the market has overlooked. Known as value stocks, many investors made their fortunes spotting these â€Å"diamonds in the rough† before the rest of the market discovered their true worth. (Ken Little. 2012). Looking closer at earnings growth rate for the time frame 2003 – 2012, we observe that Cisco is averaging at almost 20 per cent stock growth a year (Figure 8) and since 2003 there was a time when the P/E ratio was much higher. Figure 8| By looking below at the P/E graph (Figure 9) we can see that by Fiscal Year End 2003 was nearly 40, by Fiscal Year End 2004 it dropped to 28 and then by Fiscal Year 2005 again to 21. We can see a continuous drop, in 2012 was just over 10 and currently the P/E ratio is around 12.0 based on the closing price of March 28th 2013. Figure 9| Finances over the Last Decade Looking at Cisco’s financial statements for 2003 – 2013 and the historical stock price trends, we can see that Cisco had an accelerated earnings growth. The graph below (Figure 10) outlines this cyclical nature. Figure 10| They had a growth rate of 89 per cent in 2003, 43 per cent in 2004 but by 2009 there was a 19 per cent decrease. This was during the global economic downturn and reflected in their financial statement. Despite that, it’s clear that the company was very profitable. Their earnings increased 24 per cent and are forecasted to reach 20 per cent by the end of the fiscal year 2013. Financial Observations Below are observations on Cisco’s last Financial Results for Q2 2013 released  February 13, 2013. Cisco reported so far a very strong FY 2013 earnings, maintaining their leadership positions in key areas of IT infrastructure such as Switches and Routers, while the firm’s financial strength in terms of cash flow allow them to catch up and surpass other companies in areas such as Wireless, where it wasn’t initially a market leader. Figure 11| The data above, (Figure 11) illustrates Q2 net sales of $12.098 billion, with an increase of 5% year over year. GAAP net income and GAAP earnings per share, for the second quarter of fiscal 2013, included total tax benefits of approximately $926 million or $0.17 per share (Julie Bort, 2013). Product revenue grew 3% while services revenue grew an impressive 10%. Cash flow from operations was well over $3 billion and the company continues its prodigious free cash flow production, which according to Frank Calderoni the CFO, Cisco: â€Å"Cash is King. It enables us to make bold moves.† Gross margins have been very stable around 62% lately for Cisco, exhibiting the strength of the brand versus its competition. According to the analysts, Cisco’s Services business is a key differentiator between it and its competition, and because the margins are higher on Services than Products, the company’s total gross margin should continue to improve slightly (Tim Travis, 2013). According to John Chambers, Cisco chairman and chief executive officer: â€Å"Cisco delivered earnings per share this quarter and record revenue for the 8th quarter in a row in a challenging economic environment. We continue to drive the innovation, quality and leadership our customers expect, and we remain focused on consistent returns to our shareholders†. Strategic Risks Innovation Momentum According to Forbes magazine Cisco lost its â€Å"innovation momentum† and that’s because they relied more on external acquisitions for new product  development: the reliance on external rather than internal sources of innovation, e.g., the purchase of start-ups with promising products. The problem with this strategy, however, is that it is costly, destructive, and unsustainable. It is costly because the would-be acquirers end up buying start-ups that fail to produce any marketable products. It is destructive because it eventually distances would-be acquirers from their end customers. It is unsustainable because it often ends up fuelling bidding wars, as the owners of these smaller companies demand higher and higher premium to compensate them for the risks they assume. (Panos Mourdoukoutas, 2012) Acquisition Strategy Over the period 1993-2013, Cisco acquired one hundred and fifty six companies. Some of the latest acquisitions are Meraki (2012) operating in the Wired and Wireless Cloud networking market, SolveDirect (2013) operating in the Cloud Services market, Intucell (2013) operating in the Mobile Software market†¦etc. By relaying your company strategy only on acquisition you forget to cultivate innovation and creativity across your own organisation and we believe that Cisco strategy in the long run might bounce back as a failure and affect their core competencies. Core Competencies By definition the core competencies differentiate an organization from its competition. The Core Competencies create a company’s competitive advantage in the marketplace and typically, a core competency refers to a company’s set of skills or experience in some activity, rather than physical or financial assets. If we look at the case study (Indu, 2010) and where Cisco stands today within the IT market, we realise indeed that their resources in terms of reputation, brand, financial assets and products are still strong, but in terms of capabilities and talent which help to sustain innovation as a key differentiator between market leaders and their rivals, they have chosen the wrong path. New Markets There is no doubt that Chambers is a successful CEO. This can be seen in Cisco’s last year’s financial statements but since Cloud computing technology has gone mainstream and greater use of mobile telephony networks. Cisco has been unable to innovate, launch and grow new markets for services or applications. According to Forbes Magazine, Chambers has reorganized the company 3 times – but it has been much like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic: â€Å"Lots of confusion, but no improvement in results† (Adam Hartung, 2012). Strategic Vision Another risk to be noted is the â€Å"Where to go vision† – distraction and lack of a long-term vision adopted by Cisco is a major risk for the company. In one of his statements, Chambers said: â€Å"I don’t make my decision on the next quarter or on the next year. I make my decision three or five years out so I do not adjust my strategy based on what’s the spending is going to be next quarter or three quarters.† With instability shown in the financial markets for the last couple of years and the prolonged economic recession along with low consumer confidence there is a disjoint with Chambers strategic statements. Consumer Market Penetration Cisco’s growth has been based on a strategy of acquisitions. The main reason behind this was the penetration or expansion of new market opportunities. Cisco have made several ambitious moves into the markets for enterprise tablets, video conferencing and consumer products. Some of these decisions have been ineffective in competing in these markets. In some cases, due to excessive prices and faster development and deployment cycles of competitors. In today’s competitive tech environment those who are slow in bringing innovation and new products to the market will fail to succeed. An example of reinventing the wheel could be Cisco’s Flip camcorder which they acquired in 2009 from Pure Digital. The product failed and the $590 million investment was lost. Customers’ needs are constantly changing and want their technology suppliers to offer those sophisticated services and equipment. Like other tech giants, Cisco is struggling to adapt to changing market conditions and demand in terms of technology and products. Building Revenue Erik Suppiger, an analyst with JMP Securities in San FranCisco, said Cisco â€Å"did a good job managing costs, and keeping their margins up, but there’s a lot of concern about what they can do to build revenue. Building a cloud and wireless business eats into your traditional product lines. If you have a wireless laptop, you don’t need a desktop computer connected to your office network† (Quentin Hardy, 2013). It seems that Chambers, who has led Cisco for 18 years, is well aware of this problem, in one of the latest interviews he said: â€Å"We’d gotten too fat. And when you get fat, you’re slow in decision-making. It had been so easy to say we’re the best in our industry, we don’t need to change, but that’s exactly how you disappear† (Charlie Rose, 2012). Although Cisco reported Q2 earnings more than Wall Street expected, Chambers warned of â€Å"a challenging economic environment.† Distinction Considering Cisco’s latest acquisitions (Intucell, Jan 2013; Solve Direct, March 2013) in mobile software and cloud services, there are signs of progress. However, it is unclear whether Cisco will succeed before Chambers retires in two to four years. His greatest achievement may be building software and services that are distinct from its existing core competencies and product line. Conclusion After in depth analysis of Cisco’s strategic management practices it is clear the company is not without its faults. People in the business community do not agree with some of the strategic decisions made by chambers and this has in some cases lead to a lack of confidence in the company’s progress. It’s also worth mentioning the workforce have ranked the company low in terms of ‘great place to work’ scores. 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In other words stay with the core business. Cisco, since 1984 have done just that. Their popularity grew and they implemented an FTP site to allow customers and developers to access a DB of bug information. By 1990 the company had gone public and had sales in the region of $70m with a net income of almost $14m. They had massive amounts of support centre calls, and supplied routers to the biggest players in the telecom world at the time. By 1992, ‘Fortune’s second fastest growing company in the US, had achieved sales of almost $340m, and had branched out to Europe and beyond. In 1993 they again showed strong customer focus by creating bug tracking systems, to support large corporation who used their products. In 1993 the company completed their first large scale acquisition of Crescendo communications for $95m and the following year New Port solutions for $93m. These were the first in a long list of acquisitions for Cisco and by the mid 90’s the company had a strong brand signature, excellent customer focus and a global footprint. By 1999, the company had revenues of over $12bn. This surge continued and in 2000 market capitalization grossed over $450bn. The company acquired over 40 companies over these 2 years, and demand was so high the production of equipment could not meet the customer demands. Customers began to look elsewhere, and at the same time the cracks in the IT market began to show. Cisco began stock piling, which was not in keeping with their practices, and in the ensuing recession, the company were forced to downsize, with 8500 job losses, and reported loses of almost $2.7bn, a complete reversal of the growth and fortunes up to that time. Figure 12 Figure 12 With John Chambers at the helm, the company drastically slowed down acquisitions, reduced the number of suppliers and resellers and began to steadily grow the company once again, and by 2009 emerged as a pioneer in data management with 75% of the world’s data being managed in some form by the company. One of the few companies to successfully withstand economic slowdown, Cisco, at present sits at number 64 of the fortune 500 list, with total equity of $51bn and 73k+ employees worldwide. Appendix B Earnings Growth Earnings Growth Acquisitions