Saturday, December 28, 2019

The Issue Of Hydraulic Fracturing - 1444 Words

Hydraulic Fracturing One of the hottest new issues that has arisen to the forefront of the battle between environmentalists and the energy industry, where the health of future generations is set against our energy needs and economic growth, is the issue of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking as it is colloquially called. America’s new-found energy independence has been made possible using technology that was only a pipe dream a mere decade ago, slashing the disparity between net imports versus exports of crude oil and petroleum products, with exports skyrocketing more than 400% since 2006 and the advent of hydraulic fracturing (1). The great difficulty, like any politically-charged point, is dealing with the confrontations between those†¦show more content†¦However, just because a new natural gas power plant opens, it does not mean that an older coal-fired power plant will close its doors and shut down. Also, the increasing reliance on yet another non-renewable resou rce will likely delay the transition to more sustainable and environmentally-friendly sources of power such as wind and solar that produce little to no airborne particulates. Hydraulic fracturing may also pose a risk to human health through contamination of drinking water supplies, with several instances of contamination having been reported in the news over the past few years and verified by the EPA in its five-year study published in 2015. Despite this, the overall finding of the report is that â€Å"hydraulic fracturing activities have not led to widespread, systemic impacts to drinking water sources.†(2) While there have been instances of water contamination, when compared to the overall number of hydraulic fracturing wells, fracking poses an exceedingly low risk to drinking water supplies as demonstrated in a study of drinking water contamination in the Marcellus Shale drilling region where there were only a handful of incidents among the 3,500 wells.(3) As technology improves and the surface operations and piping made sounder,

Friday, December 20, 2019

The For Corporate Social Responsibility For A Company...

1.8 - As area sales manager for a company manufacturing and marketing outboard engines, you have been assigned the responsibility of conducting a research study to estimate the sales potential of your products in the domestic (U.S. or Canadian) market. Discuss key issues and concerns arising from the fact that you, the manager, are also the researcher. Our text suggests that often the most difficult issue arising from the fact that you, the manager, are also the researcher is that defining the objective can be somewhat difficult at first- as was the case in the â€Å"Bringing Research to Life† vignette (Cooper Schindler, 2014).In order to devise an effective research plan, one must understand the scope of the research, define the sampling, define the constraints and limitations of the study and select the appropriate data collection methods. Managers conducting market research must hold themselves to the highest of ethical standards, balancing social responsibility and corporate responsibility. The call for Corporate Social Responsibility or CSR is growing at a fast rate, and for good reason. Research has shown marked direct and indirect effect to firm financial performance, from both a broad and narrow view perspective, as well as a contingency perspective. The rationale is further categorized according to the risk cost reduction, competitive advantage, legitimacy and reputation, and synergistic value creation (Carroll Shabana, 2010). Finally, maintaining completeShow MoreRelatedHonda Motor Co., Ltd3431 Words   |  14 PagesProducts, services and target markets 3 Organizational Goals 4 Strategic goals 4 Tactical goals 4 Operational goals 4 Organization culture 4 Intrinsic aspect 4 Extrinsic aspect 5 Business Ethics and Social Responsibility 5 Integrated Social Contrct 5 Socio-economic view 5 Problem-solving and Decision-making 6 Problem identify 6 Performance deficiency problem 6 Decision-making program 6 Figure 1: Market Quality enhancement system in HondaRead MoreMarketing Strategy of India Yamaha Motor Pvt Ltd.13989 Words   |  56 PagesTHE PROJECT : The objective of this project is to identify and analyze the marketing strategies of automobile industry in two wheeler segment. Through this study I am able to find out the present status of the automobile industry (2-wheeler) in India. In this project I also review other research done for the 2-wheeler bikes. Through this project I study the distribution and marketing strategy adopt by YAMAHA Company. This project help me know about the most influencing media to create awarenessRead MoreMarketing Strategy of India Yamaha Motor Pvt Ltd.13976 Words   |  56 PagesTO THE PROJECT : The objective of this project is to identify and analyze the marketing strategies of automobile industry in two wheeler segment. Through this study I am able to find out the present status of the automobile industry (2-wheeler) in India. In this project I also review other research done for the 2-wheeler bikes. Through this project I study the distribution and marketing strategy adopt by YAMAHA Company. This project help me know about the most influencing media to create awarenessRead MoreProject Managment Case Studies214937 Words   |  860 Pagesstudies. I. Title. Printed in the United States of America Contents Preface xi 1 PROJECT MANAGEMENT METHODOLOGIES 1 Lakes Automotive 3 Fems Healthcare, Inc. Clark Faucet Company 2 5 7 11 IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT Kombs Engineering 13 Williams Machine Tool Company 15 Wynn Computer Equipment (WCE) 17 The Reluctant Workers 20 Hyten Corporation 22 Macon, Inc. 35 Continental Computer Corporation 37 Goshe Corporation 43 Acorn Industries 49 MIS Project ManagementRead MoreCrossing the Chasm76808 Words   |  308 PagesHarperCollins Publishers. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 To Marie Contents PREFACE TO THE REVISED EDITION FOREWORD ACKNOWLEDGMENTS PART I Discovering the Chasm INTRODUCTION If Bill Gates Can Be a Billionaire 1 High-Tech Marketing Illusion 2 High-Tech Marketing Enlightenment PART II Crossing the Chasm 3 The D-Day Analogy v vi Contents 4 Target the Point of Attack 5 Assemble the Invasion Force 6 Define the Battle 7 Launch the Invasion CONCLUSION Read MoreSolutions: Income Statement and Pearson Education121412 Words   |  486 PagesValuation and Financial Modeling: A Case Study Financial Options Option Valuation Real Options Raising Equity Capital Debt Financing Leasing Working Capital Management Short-Term Financial Planning Mergers and Acquisitions Corporate Governance Risk Management International Corporate Finance 1 4 16 26 50 69 89 106 123 134 148 166 175 184 193 202 216 225 244 253 263 274 300 306 310 317 324 331 337 340 352  ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall Chapter 1 The Corporation 1-1Read MoreProject Mgmt296381 Words   |  1186 PagesTopics Chapter 1 Modern Project Management Chapter 8 Scheduling resources and cost 1.2 Project defined 1.3 Project management defined 1.4 Projects and programs (.2) 2.1 The project life cycle (.2.3) App. G.1 The project manager App. G.7 Political and social environments F.1 Integration of project management processes [3.1] 6.5.2 Setting a schedule baseline [8.1.4] 6.5.3.1 Setting a resource schedule 6.5.2.4 Resource leveling 7.2 Setting a cost and time baseline schedule (1.3.5) [8.1.3] 6.5.2.3 Critical

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

The Techniques Used in American Beauty free essay sample

Throughout American Beauty, Mendes? use of set design and camera angles have been carefully structured to emphathise the ? lm? s theme of imprisonment. In the opening scene the audience? s introduction to the lead character is Lester Burnham taking a shower. Mendes (1999) states this is the ? rst jail cell the audience sees Lester in, a range of various jail cell type settings appear throughout the ? lm including Lester presented excessively behind glass, between frames and at work, where he is con? ned to a small cubicle in a very large of? ce (Appalachian, 2009). The effect of Lester imprisoned suggests he is isolated and removed from the world around him. The camera angles used exaggerate this and highlight Lester? s de? ation of power against the signi? cant people in his life. This technique is shown to de? ne the relationship between Lester and his boss, Brad. During a private conversation about budget cuts at work, Brad? s superiority is enforced as he shot from a low angle, whereas Lester is shot from a high angle, this creates the effect that Lester is far away from Brad, which demonstrates to the audience the vast power Brad has over him. Mendes (1999) describes Lester as â€Å"distant and isolated† in this scene. This technique is also replicated throughout the movie to emphathise Lester? s detached relationship from his wife, Carolyn and daughter, Jane. The scene where Lester is seen to delay his wife by spilling his briefcase on the pavement before entering the car, Carolyn, similarly to Brad is shot from a low angle again which enforces Lester? s lack of power and her superiority. Interestingly, as the ? lm progresses and Lester? relationships evolve, the camera angles also evolve in reverse and the audience begins to see Lester shot in a low angle and characters like Carolyn are shot in a high angle, indicating that Carolyn is now vulnerable. These altered camera angles give Lester a triumphant image. Another technique Mendes uses is colour. The use of colour is often an important technique utilised by ? lm directors to communicate themes and ideas to an audience. In American Beauty, Mendes powerfully uses colour to communicate that the characters are attempting to escape from their imprisonment. Initially the characters are seen in environments that are very dull and nondescript, as Mendes (1999) states when referring to Lester? s work setting. As Lester? s quest for escapement gains momentum, the vivid colour of red is gradually introduced more into this ? lm through subtle furnishings in the Burnham house and particularly integrated with Lester? s sexual fantasies. The use of the vibrant, red rose petal is ? rst introduced when Lester and Carolyn attend Jane? s cheer performance, where Lester loses himself as he enters his ? rst â€Å"tunnel of fantasy† (Mendes, 1999). Deschler (1999) states the rose is symbolic of American beauty, and the colour red symbolises passion and love. The signi? cance of the rose petal and the colour red is repeatedly seen throughout the ? lm in house furnishings such as a bouquet of roses on the coffee table and vividly in Lester? s fantasies about Jane? s friend, Angela, the increasing level of red in the ? lm is in conjunction with Lester? s progressing sexual drive and transformation. The ? ourishing presence of the colour red, acknowledges Lester? s ? erce lust and desire to be free. This is effectively conveyed during the scene where Lester visualises Angela in a vibrant sea of roses, touching herself seductively on his bedroom ceiling, also when Lester buys the car â€Å"he has always wanted† (Ball, 1999), which is a 1970 Firebird and strategically, red. Music is a powerful medium in ? lm and Mendes uses the soundtrack in American Beauty to articulate the character? s evolving personalities and relationships, and to set the tone of each scene, particularly noticeable during Lester? s transformation. Composer, Thomas Newman? score is described as â€Å"lonely and melancholy† (Mendes, 1999), which is an appropriate expression for Lester? s existence at the beginning of this ? lm. This is similarly demonstrated and supports to de? ne the initial relationship between Lester and Carolyn, as shown by the dull music that Carolyn chooses to play at the dinner table. When Lester? s journey to freedom gains speed, evidently his sense of self worth has increased as there is an optimistic lift in the genre of music that is played as the backdrop to Lester? s life. This melancholy music played at the beginning of the ? m, begins to disappear and is replaced by fast paced, rock music. Simultaneously as Lester? s lifestyle transforms into marijuana smoking and employment at a fast food restaurant, so does too his interest in listening to seventies rock music (Deschler, 1999). At the height of Lester? s transformation, an important scene where the soundtrack effectively communicates a liberating change in personality is when he is recklessly driving his 1970 Firebird, whilst singing along to Guess Who? s rock hit â€Å"American Woman,† he con? dently sings the lyrics â€Å"American woman, stay away from me† (Ball, 2009). This rebellious choice of song supports Lester? s new found freedom from his corporate life and could even suggest that Lester is newly unaffected by his wife? s judgements and bounds by recreating his lost youth. In many of the fantasy sequences involving Angela, the music composed is seductive and trancelike, which mirror? s the effect Angela has on Lester (Huffstutler, 2009), the technique of soundtrack is effectively used here to set a strong tone for the audience. In American Beauty, director, Sam Mendes uses the Burnham family to demonstrate the breakdown of a suburban family and possibly to encourage his audience to ? ook closer? and past what often appears, to be a seamless, picture perfect life. American Beauty effectively employs the techniques of set design, camera angles, colour and soundtrack to convey the meaning of this ? lm, which is to escape from imprisonment.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Fundamentals and Principles of Corporate Finance

Question: Discuss about the Fundamentals and Principles of Corporate Finance. Answer: Introduction: The objective is to match the balance sheet with the various companies that are offered based on the constituent elements and also on the basis of the given ratios. The balance sheet belongs to the retail grocery chain. Certain indictors are the presence of high revenue per asset generation but low profitability. Also, the account payables are moderately high as suppliers would need to be paid. Besides, there is moderate distribution of assets in the form of receivables, inventory along with plant and equipment which is essentially on expected lines in this business (Damodaran). The balance sheet belongs to a bookstore chain. This is apparent from the presence of high level of inventory along with investment in plant and equipment. The low receivable collection period is also expected considering the business. The high payables are also on expected lines as books on credit are displayed in the stores and payment for the same is made later (Northington). This balance sheet belongs to the online direct factory to customer personal computer vendor. This is because again the inventory levels are quite small while the inventory turnover is very high which is indicative of the online business. This makes sense as the company directly ships from the factory and hence maintains very low inventory levels. Also, the high accounts receivables period witnessed clearly reflects the sales to business customers (Brealey, Myers and Allen). This balance sheet belongs to a pharmaceutical manufacturer. This is because more than 50% of the assets are attributed to other assets which may be on account of intangible assets such as patents. The receivable collection period is also high which is indicative of the focus being non-retail. Also, the profit percentage of the business is very high (second highest amongst the 14 companies given) which also indicates towards a drug manufacturer (Parrino and Kidwell). This balance sheet belongs to the parcel delivery service. The zero inventory level is indicative of the service nature of the business. Further, there are significant development in the supply chain and logistics which is reflected in the plant and equipment. A lot of investment is required and the high collection period is reflective that the business tends to serve the businesses directly which forms a bulk of the business (Northington). This balance sheet belongs to the computer software developer. As expected, the plant and machinery are low since the business is essential service oriented and also inventory is very low. Besides, other assets and cash are significant assets which may be attributed to the high profitability of the business and presence of trademarks respectively. The profit margins are the highest which go well with the software development business (Damodaran). This balance sheet belongs to the social networking service. The zero inventory level is indicative that it is a service business. Also, a high degree of the assets are in the form of cash which is quite expected. There are very few current liabilities for such a business which accounts for very high current ratio. Further, the net profit/net worth is the lowest for the lot which clearly indicates that even though the business does not generate much profits but it is valued at very high levels primarily because of the expected growth potential (Brealey, Myers and Allen). This balance sheet belongs to the restaurant chain. This is apparent from the high inventory turnover ratio which is expected in perishable food business. Besides, the receivables collection period would also be low which the case here is. Also, high inventory for serving customers is required besides having significant amount of plant and equipment(Parrino and Kidwell). This balance sheet belongs to the drug retail chain. This is apparent from high amount of inventory in the form of medicines coupled with a low receivable collection period due to the nature of business. Also, due to physical presence, significant investment in plant and equipment would be required. Besides, there is presence of moderate account payables in the form of supplies coupled with a mix of both long term and short term financing depending on the business usage(Damodaran). This balance sheet belongs to the Departmental Store Chain with their own credit card. The expected balance sheet items would show a distribution similar to that of a retail grocery chain except that the receivables period would be comparatively higher on account the credit card and also the inventory turnover would be comparatively lower(Brealey, Myers and Allen). This balance sheet belongs to the online retailer. The high inventory may suggest that the retailer may be relying on private labels or might offtake large amount from supplies and then sell this through online mode. Besides, there is sizable investment in the enabling infrastructure so as to be able to reach the consumers reflected in plant and machinery. The low receivable indicate that the company processes order either on cash payment or advance payment. Further, it gets credit period from the suppliers(Northington). The balance sheet belongs to the electric gas utility company. The significance of revenues from gas is the presence of inventory which would have been absent for a pure electric utility company. Besides, there is high investment in plant and equipment and the majority debt is long term due to large gestation period of these projects. Besides, the receivable period is quite high at 57 months which is expected as first the bills are generated and then within a month or so, these are cleared(Parrino and Kidwell). The balance sheet belongs to the airline. The zero inventory level reflects the service nature of business. Besides, a high amount of plant and equipment is expected on account of significant investment in airplanes and related infrastructure. Also, the receivables collection days would be low only as ticket prices are collected mostly before-hand. Besides, the profitability of the industry is low which is reflected from the low profit margins(Damodaran). The balance sheet belongs to the commercial bank. The zero inventory level reflects the service nature of business. This is apparent from the receivables forming about 83% of thee total assets as loans are extended to various entities. Further, the high collection period of 8047 days is always indicative of the long term loans and lending business of the concerned entity(Brealey, Myers and Allen). References Brealey, R, S Myers and F Allen. Principles of Corporate Finance. London: McGraw Hil Publications, 2008. Damodaran, Aswath. Corporate Finance. London : Wiley Sons, 2008. Northington, S. Finance. New York: Ferguson, 2011. Parrino, R and D Kidwell. Fundamentals of Corporate Finance. London: Wley Sons, 2011.