Tesco Personal Finance Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Tesco Personal Finance - Case Study Example This acquisition of Tesco over the 50% stake of RBS coming as a direct challenge for the high street financial institutions which currently are on the stormy side of the economic recession tide and presently are in-waiting for the bank charges decision by the High Court. The acquisition will help Tesco to make its expansion from financial services that revolved around an assortment of popular financial services and products to full-fledged retail banking offering more preference, innovation and value to customers and better returns to its shareholders. It is a part of Tesco's strategy through which Tesco will be able to further enhance its growth in the services market sector that includes telecoms and internet/home shopping as well. According to Tesco's estimation for the year 2008, by taking the full ownership of the TPF, Tesco would be able to increase its annual profits to 1 billion from 240 million (News Release, 2008). This acquisition clearly reflects that Tesco has identified considerable scope for further possible developments and advancements in the financial sector which is itself a very extensive and a dynamic sector. Hence by taking the full ownership, Tesco will be better equipped to be able to exploit the prospective offered by the TPF in the more basic version of banking. This second half of the paper examines the strengths and weaknesses of Tesco hence offering an analysation of the resources and capabilities that Tesco can muster up to compete effectively and develop TPF into a full service retail bank making a success of full- fledged consumer banking. Tesco's Expansion to Full Service Consumer Banking On the acquisition of RBS stake and TPF's expansion into full- fledged retail banking in the coming years, Sir Ted Leahy, the COE of Tesco plc reflected, "As consumers look to make every pound work harder it is a good time for Tesco to expand its presence" (BBC, 2008). The phrase "good time" refers to the current financial turmoil, which in recent times has revealed the shaky foundations of many a high profile financial institution, and ironically has presented an opportunity for TPF to move into full service banking. As a result of the financial depression many of the TPF's would be competitors will be at their weakest, hence competition that will be on offer will also be comparatively less. In order to make the expansion into the more core-sphere of banking, the management of Tesco will need to rally up their strengths comprising its assets and resources identify with the current financial trends the opportunities or threats presented by it and also realise their own weaknesses and accordingly create business objectives and strategies which will allow the optimum use of resources and strengths, maximum exploitation of opportunities, stablisation of threats and minimisation of weaknesses and other draw backs for the overall success Tesco's expansion endeavor. For the present short time frame, Tesco's strategic objective for the future development of TPF is to broaden the horizons of the existing financial services rendered by TPF, which includes services and products like savings accounts, credit card accounts and insurances and moreover increase its presence in the Tesco stores. However, on

CPM in Hong Kong Essay Example for Free

CPM in Hong Kong Essay 1. What do you consider to be your most important accomplishments? Please describe one personal accomplishment. The most important personal accomplishment so far is my significantly improved interpersonal skills. The accomplishment can be effectively described through a specific incident that occurred when I was working in the CA department of ABN AMRO. Volkswagen which was an important client for our bank was very much concerned about the many clauses in our standard documents because of its internal controls. It preferred to use its own documents and threatened to withdraw the deal if our bank did not accept it. This was a unique situation for us as it had never happened in ABN AMRO before. I undertook the task to resolve this issue through interactions with legal department, banking department and the CPM in Hong Kong. To begin with I reviewed the preconditions and transaction procedures stated in the documents of Volkswagen and communicated with legal department to ensure that the clauses were as per the laws of Taiwan. I carried out a few modifications after seeking the opinion of the client, the banking department and the CPM in Hong Kong. After several meetings and telephone conferences with all the concerned people we were finally able to reach a common consensus. Finally I was successful in getting all the nonstandard documents approved by Credit Risk Officers and signed by the client. We were able to achieve our goal under tremendous time pressure because I was able to monitor the schedules, politely remind colleagues for their prompt feedback and refined the documents till they were perfect meeting the requirements of both the client and the bank. The entire process has greatly improved my interpersonal skills. 2. Why are you applying to the Carlson Full-Time MBA Program? Why is The Carlson School a good match for your educational and professional development goals? (max 400) I am applying to the Carlson Full Time MBA Program as Carlson School is a high ranking business school in USA that provides world class education. The excellent curriculum is designed to ensure that students are provided rigorous training in the basics of business education. It then offers a wide choice of electives and the students have great choice to build on the strong foundation by selecting those electives that are most suited for the business environment in which they choose to work. Another important reason for choosing this program is the opportunity I will get to interact and learn from the best of faculty in the field of business education that are internationally acclaimed and are highly research oriented. The school has developed and nurtured excellent contacts with both local and international business organizations and their leaders all over the world. The experimental learning methodology adopted at the school enables an international student like me to work and learn under the guidance of experienced faculty and business leaders. The program provides an opportunity for developing entrepreneurial skills by relating theoretical concepts to real life situations under the guidance of practicing business leaders and academicians. The leadership development programs will enable me to develop leadership skills by observing and interacting with business leaders from all over the world. The school provides opportunities for extra curricular activities through numerous clubs and associations that provide good scope for social and professional networking. The school is located in Minnesota which has been ranked as the â€Å"Most livable state† for six years by the Morgan Quito Press. The city with its numerous theatres, world class museums and sports facilities provide an atmosphere of culture and entertainment. The excellent curriculum and the internationally acclaimed faculty will first enable me to strengthen my basic concepts in management. I will then be able to specialize in the area of international finance under the guidance of research oriented faculty and practicing managers from all over the world. The learning and entrepreneurial skills and leadership skills will definitely enable me to lead my teams at the initial stages of my career and after relevant experience they will go a long way in my performance as a CFO and the leader of a large multinational. The social and professional network developed at the institute will go a long way in performing better at every stage of my professional career. 3. Explain how you will contribute both as a student and subsequently as an alumna to the Katz Graduate School of Business community. What importance do you place on this contribution and what qualities do you possess that will make you effective in these roles. As a student of Katz Graduate School of business community I will be able to contribute in a number of ways. The first and foremost is that being an international student from Taiwan with its own unique culture I will be able to provide cultural diversity to my class. This will be a good learning for the other students as when they progress as business leaders of multi national corporations they will be required to perform in the increasingly multi cultural business environment. With my work experience in ABN AMRO I am familiar with the products, the transactions and the needs of customers in commercial banking. So also my exposure to the first hand experience of merger of ABN AMRO with Taitung Bank has enabled me to understand the important aspects of managing change and the challenges involved when there is a great difference in the cultures of the two organizations involved. I will share these experiences with my future classmates to enrich their learning experiences at the business school. As a student I will involve myself and support the research activities undertaken at the business school and also help my classmates in research if they need it. I will participate voluntarily in all the social and community events organized by the school like community services, church activities or any other good social causes both for my personal satisfaction and also to help improve the image of the school further. I will cooperate with all the other students of the school, work hard and contribute my best as member of a team and extend my support to ensure that all of us have a great learning experience. As an alumnus I strongly believe that I have to give back my best to my alma mater. As the school would have contributed greatly to my personal and professional growth I will always be grateful to it. I will extend my support in all the alumni activities. To begin with I will be an active member of the alumni online community and develop extensive network of other alumni. I will attend the recruitment fairs of the business school whenever they are held in the countries I am working and strongly recommend the school to prospective students. As I grow in my career I will offer my services to share my experience with the students and also guide them in enhancing their research, leadership and conceptual skills. I will ensure that the companies I work for will develop a close association with the school. I will also help in recruiting more and more students from the school as and when the opportunities arise. I place a great importance on all contributions I plan to make both as a student and an alumnus. I am very hardworking, trust worthy, open minded and friendly person. I also strongly believe that one can improve by helping others whenever there is an opportunity. I feel that life is too precious to waste in negative thoughts and one should contribute their best. So I am sure that I possess all the qualities and thoughts to be effective in the above two roles.

Broken Stereotypes in John Steinbecks The Grapes of Wrath :: Stereotypes Stereotyping

Broken Stereotypes in The Grapes of Wrath Masculinity and femininity are not restricted to two separate and distinct groups.   In reality, they are different within themselves, and similar to each other. It is a well-known stereotype that men are tough and strong with no emotions, while women are weak and need to be supported. The characters in John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath are examples of the typical masculine and feminine groups.   However, the book also contains models of those who do not fit the stereotypes.   In general, the book contains two types of portrayals of both men and women. Pa is an example of the more common must-support-the-family man.   On the contrary, Casy, another male character, is a soft-spoken, thoughtful man.   Though they are mother and daughter, Ma and Rose of Sharon are two examples of very different femininity.   Ma is a hardworking, family focused woman while Rose of Sharon is a young naà ¯ve character who needs to be taken care of.   In The Grapes of Wrath, Pa is the main male character and plays a leadership role of the family.   After Grampa's death, it is clearly stated that Pa is the family leader.   "Pa was the head of the family now" (151).   Steinbeck purposefully puts Grampa, then Pa in the position of head of the family because the eldest male is most commonly the leader.   This is a typical example of a patriarchy.   Pa carries this role until they reach California and begin looking for work.   Pa is ashamed that he cannot work to support his family and fulfill his position as leader. Pa demanded, 'Well what the hell am I gonna do?   We're outa money.   One of my boys got a short job, but that won't feed us.   I'm a-gonna go an' take twenty cents.   I got to' (374). It frustrates Pa that he is helpless when it comes to work.   Although he is more than willing to work hard for money, Pa is unable to find a job to feed his family.   Ma takes on two roles in the course of the book.   Pa begins despairing because of his lack of work, so Ma takes over his role as leader.   This shows the masculinity in Ma's character coming out.

Monogamy Versus Polygamy and Other Forms of Marriage

â€Å"I believe in monogamy if that is what a couple decides upon together, but it all depends on the personal history and culture of the two involved. † -K. D. Lang. The traditional family system–a lifelong alliance of a man and a woman–has in the past served as an institution for mobilizing the economic, moral, and emotional resources needed to raise children, (Bergmann, 1996). In many cases, marital satisfaction is influenced by the husband’s supportiveness, maternal employment and the age of the husband. However, â€Å"a 50 percent divorce rate in the USA makes a mockery of the beautiful brides’ pictures that appear in newspapers across this nation. It suggests that America's belief in a lifetime monogamous marriage has degenerated into the mere acceptance of serial matrimony† (Miller, 1989). Roget’s Thesaurus defines monogamy as â€Å"a kind of marriage. † In other words, there are other kinds, and perhaps one of these might suit us a little better (Preston, 2011). Monogamy is the only form a legal marriage in Western society. Monogamy can mean marriage to only one person for a lifetime or, as is more common today, marriage to one person at a time, aka â€Å"serial monogamy. † Monogamy is usually between opposite sex couples, though same-sex monogamy is becoming legal in some states and countries, (Libertine, 2008). â€Å"Society expects marriages to be both, but studies that have shown that ten percent of babies are fathered by men other than their legal fathers indicate that the two don’t always go hand in hand; that while social monogamy might be ubiquitous, biological monogamy is not†, (Libertine, 2008). Monogamy can mean marriage to only one person for a lifetime or, as is more common today, marriage to one person at a time, aka â€Å"serial monogamy,† (Libertine, 2008). Monogamy is usually between opposite sex couples, though same-sex monogamy is becoming legal in some states and countries (Libertine, 2008). Monogamous marriage defined as sexually exclusive, though we must distinguish between social monogamy and biological monogamy. The assumption is that this has been the one â€Å"right† way to be married since ancient times, until threatened by the sexual revolution starting in the 1960s. According to a report released by the Census Bureau in October 2006, legally married heterosexual monogamous marriages are no longer the majority of American households, though various forms of marriage-clone relationships continue to flourish. Many other more popular types of marriages do exist. Polygamy, also known, as polygyny is either man or a woman can have more than one spouse. Polyandry, although much less common this is when one woman has several husbands. It has occurred in Tibet, Mongolia, the Canadian Arctic, South America, Nepal, Bhutan, among other places. Polyandry is especially suited to populations that have more males than females, which is perhaps why it is less common than polygyny, because females outnumber males in most societies. In all marriages, there are obligations and duties that the couples agree upon once entering into marriage. Pinning down the No. 1 duty of a spouse can be a tough call, but there is evidence that honest communication is the most important role a married person can play (Herrington). A 2005 study examined the relationships among communication, sexual satisfaction, and marital satisfaction, demonstrated that communication and sexual satisfaction independently predict marital satisfaction, (Litzinger & Gordon, 2005). However, the findings go on to say, â€Å"if couples have difficulty communicating but are sexually satisfied, they will experience greater marital satisfaction than if they have a less satisfying sexual relationship. † Thus, sexual satisfaction may partially compensate for the negative effects of poor communication on marital satisfaction (Litzinger & Gordon, 2005). Herring also pointed out in her article the ever so important sharing of responsibilities. Studies revealed that when one partner feels family duties are shared equally, he is more likely to consider the marriage a happy one. This can prevent one spouse from feeling that he shoulders all of the burdens of life, which often leads to marital strife. Helping to absorb the stress of daily life helps couples feel their relationship is fair, and is an important obligation for married people (Herrington). Sharing responsibility is often connected to the sharing of financial responsibility. The role of economic forces in the development and operation of families, he suggests reasons why the development of nontraditional, non-nuclear families is congruent with economic laws, and why their development is to be expected, today and even predicted in the future (Westley, 1998). Well-known economist Gary Becker asserts â€Å"the primary motivating factor in human action is self-interest, an indisputable basis from which to begin†. Although most economists agree with this concept of human behavior as it relates to economics, Becker also understands how this same concept applies to marriages. People will marry when they think that they can achieve a greater degree of utility in that state than when single, and they divorce when they feel that they can achieve a greater degree of utility in that state than when married (Westley, 1998). The traditional family system has its advantages and disadvantages however, â€Å"whatever the character of society or state, polity or economy, religion or culture, parents cannot escape responsibility for the quality of their children as citizens† (Halsey, 1997).

Home Away From Home

Each small step it took to move into my new home meant bigger and brighter responsibilities. From the drive down to IPFW to when I laid my head down to sleep was a positive moment that changed my life. This transition was the beginning of a new chapter in my life that I was proud to accomplish. Getting to this stage in my life I have yet to step foot in what was in store for my future. The morning of August 19th only a yawn away, anxiety ran through my body like a strike of lightening. I was feeling so many emotions I was not sure how to express how excited I was to be moving into an entirely new environment. As I prepared for the big move I also felt a sense of sadness in the air, here I was my mother’s only girl leaving off for college. While reviewing my old room checking just to see if everything was set I found myself sitting on the corner of the sheet less bed reminiscing on the good and bad memorize I held behind the walls of this house. I found it ironic that even though this place was so hard to forget it was easy to let go. As the road trip begun I realized that this was it, and there was no turning back. Everyone was saying their goodbyes even though they realize that it was not forever. The van was packed to its maximum, and the ride was roughly two hours away. I had to cease the moment and go to sleep or at least attempt to get some rest. I sat and watched cars pass by and I felt the stretch of distance from home I was becoming, I wondered if any of the cars I saw were headed to the same place as I was. I can honestly say that this day did not go according to plan. There was an issue that occurred of whether or not I was staying in my assigned room or moving into another, so part of the day was a little stressful. At the same time I could not let it get to me and effect what I had to get accomplished for the remainder of the day. In the mist of all that commotion I realize that life is full of obstacles waiting to hit you as soon as you turn the page of a chapter in your life. It is up to you if you allow something to hinder your goals and success. Entering the home of IPFW I was waiting to feel welcomed, like I was home again, but deep down I knew that it was not time to feel at home when I did not have the keys to my room. All kinds of thoughts began to run through my head because in a matter of hours I would be on my own to take care of myself. During the next couple hours I started to feel independent because I had keys to my dorm. As I walked up to the door my mom had a video camera watching me put in my key for the first time. It tickled me a little to know that this moment was just as big to her as it was to me. We began to bring in my belongings, boxes already labeled to where they belonged. I was so thankful to have some of my family there to help me unpack and it gave us more time to spend with each other before they left on their journey back to South Bend. The more it became closer for me to be alone the more I thought about how I never had this much responsibility handed to me at one time. At this time I began to feel overwhelmed, but I did not panic and become all worked up about the situation. There was no room for mistakes, even though I truly knew that I was going to make a lot of them. Getting to know a place was another task that would add on my experience. Later on we took a small trip to do some more last minute shopping for food. As the times go by, I realize that in a matter of time there will be no more running to my parents for help; because there was only me. I knew that from here on out that I had to build myself confidence and take on my own responsibilities. At this moment I am still absorbing the fact that I am going to be on my own. As the seconds go by I am becoming more comfortable with the fact that I have me, myself, and I to depend on for the rest of my life starting when my family walk out the doors of my dorm room. When I was here alone finishing up the last touches of my room and new home, I waited for my roommate to arrive. I was very glad that I knew her previous to coming down to Fort Wayne. As soon as we both ended our goodbyes with our families we just took a second to soak in our new life. I realize that soon the weekend would come to an end and class would begin, all fun and games will have to be set aside. Before I could do that, for one small moment I had to just prance around and jump on my bed. I did not really have a valid reason to why, but I felt the urge to express myself in a goofy manner. Once again I found myself sitting on the corner of the bed thinking about the future this time, and what it took for me to get there. This moment that lasted throughout the course of the day was a step that I was ready to take, but yet not sure where it would take me. Starting from that day my life would never be the same. Each day was all about survival on my own. I knew in order from me to make it through college I had to become socially active with my peers and life around campus. I take this moment and look at the negative and turn it into a positive because without negativity I do not think that we would able to appreciate the values of positivity. From that period on I have to rely on myself to fix my next meal, wake myself and be prepared for my next class. There is no room for dwelling on the past and wishing for what i do not have because it is not going to help me when it is not present. This moment set me up for a new beginning of my life and career. Decisions waiting to be made of the unknown. From this point I was an independent adult and no longer living under rules that I had to ask permission. The way I see it is I am free! When the day was finally complete I rested my head on the pillow and prepare for the following day. This moment help me become the person that I am today, someone that is driven to improve my abilities to better my skills and accomplish way more then what my eyes can envision.

The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s 1892 short story â€Å"​The Yellow Wallpaper,† tells the tale of an unnamed woman slipping slowly deeper into a state of hysteria. A husband takes his wife away from society and isolates her in a rented house on a small island in order to cure her â€Å"nerves.† He leaves her alone, more often than not, except for her prescribed medication, while seeing to his own patients.​ The mental breakdown that she eventually experiences, likely triggered by postpartum depression, is supported by various outside factors which present themselves over time. It is probable that, had doctors been more knowledgeable of the illness at the time, the main character would have been successfully treated and sent on her way. However, due in large part to the influences of other characters, her depression develops into something much deeper and darker. A type of chasm forms in her mind, and we witness as the real world and a fantasy world merge. â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† is a superb description of the misunderstanding of postpartum depression before the 1900s but can also act in the context of today’s world. At the time this short story was written, Gilman was aware of the lack of understanding surrounding postpartum depression. She created a character that would shine a light on the issue, particularly for men and doctors who claimed to know more than they actually did. Gilman humorously hints at this idea in the opening of the story when she writes, â€Å"John is a physician and perhaps that is one reason I do not get well faster.† Some readers may interpret that statement as something a wife would say to poke fun at her know-it-all husband, but the fact remains that many doctors were doing more harm than good when it came to treating (postpartum) depression. Increasing the danger and difficulty is the fact that she, like many women in America at the time, was absolutely under the control of her husband: He said I was his darling and his comfort and all he had, and that I must take care of myself for his sake, and keep well. He says no one but me can help myself out of it, that I must use my will and self-control and not let any silly fancies run away with me. We see by this example alone that her state of mind is dependent upon the needs of her husband. She believes that it is entirely up to her to fix what is wrong with her, for the good of her husband’s sanity and health. There is no desire for her to get well on her own, for her own sake. Further on in the story, when our character begins to lose sanity, she makes the claim that her husband â€Å"pretended to be very loving and kind. As if I couldn’t see through him.† It is only as she loses her grip on reality that she realizes her husband has not been caring for her properly. Although depression has become more understood in the past half-century or so, Gilman’s â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† has not become obsolete. The story can speak to us, in the same way, today about other concepts related to health, psychology, or identity that many people do not fully understand. â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† is a story about a woman, about all women, who suffer from postpartum depression and become isolated or misunderstood. These women were made to feel as if there was something wrong with them, something shameful that had to be hidden away and fixed before they could return to society. Gilman suggests that no one has all the answers; we must trust ourselves and seek help in more than one place, and we should value the roles we can play, of friend or lover, while allowing professionals, like doctors and counselors, to do their jobs. Gilman’s â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† is a bold statement about humanity. She’s shouting for us to tear down the paper that separates us from each other, from ourselves, so that we may help without inflicting more pain: â€Å"I’ve got out at last, in spite of you and Jane. And I’ve pulled off most of the paper, so you can’t put me back.†

Overview of Thylacosmilus

Overview of Thylacosmilus Name: Thylacosmilus (Greek for pouched sabre); pronounced THIGH-lah-coe-SMILE-us Habitat: Woodlands of South America Historical Epoch: Miocene-Pliocene (10 million to 2 million years ago) Size and Weight: About six feet long and 500 pounds Diet: Meat Distinguishing Characteristics: Short legs; large, pointed canines About Thylacosmilus The saber-toothed mammal plan has been favored by evolution more than once: Killer fangs didnt develop only in the large placental mammals of the Miocene and Pliocene epochs, but in prehistoric marsupials as well. Exhibit A is the South American Thylacosmilus, the huge canines of which apparently kept growing throughout its life and were kept tucked in pouches of skin on its lower jaw. Like modern kangaroos, Thylacosmilus raised its young in pouches, and its parental skills may have been more developed than those of its saber-toothed relatives to the north. This genus went extinct when South America was colonized by the true mammalian saber-toothed cats, exemplified by Smilodon, starting about two million years ago. (A recent study has found that Thylacosmilus possessed an embarrassingly weak bite for its size, chomping down on its prey with the force of an average house cat!) By this point, you may be wondering: how is it that the marsupial Thylacosmilus lived in South America rather than Australia, where the vast majority of all modern marsupials reside? The fact is, marsupials evolved tens of millions of years ago in Asia (one of the earliest known genera being Sinodelphys), and spread to various continents, including South America, before making Australia their favored habitat. In fact, Australia had its own version of a large, catlike carnivore, the similar-sounding Thylacoleo, which was only distantly related to the line of pseudo-saber-toothed cats occupied by Thylacosmilus.

Saturated Solution Definition and Examples

Saturated Solution Definition and Examples A saturated solution is a chemical  solution containing the maximum concentration of a solute  dissolved in the solvent.  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹The additional solute will not dissolve in a saturated solution. The amount of solute that can be dissolved in a solvent to form a saturated solution depends on a variety of factors. The most important factors are: Temperature:  Solubility increases with temperature. For example, you can dissolve much more salt in hot water than in cold water.Pressure:  Increasing pressure can force more solute into solution. This is commonly used to dissolve gases into liquids.Chemical Composition:  The nature of the solute and solvent and the presence of other chemicals in a solution affects solubility. For example, you can dissolve much more sugar in water than salt in water. Ethanol and water are completely soluble in each other. Examples of Saturated Solutions Jose Carlos Barbosa / EyeEm / Getty Images You encounter saturated solutions in daily life, not just in a chemistry lab. Also, the solvent does not need to be water. Here are some common examples: A soda is a saturated solution of carbon dioxide in water. This is why, when the pressure is released, carbon dioxide gas forms bubbles.Adding chocolate powder to milk so that it stops dissolving forms a saturated solution.Salt can be added to melted butter or oil to the point where the salt grains stop dissolving, forming a saturated solution.If you add enough sugar to your coffee or tea, you can form a saturated solution. Youll know youve reached the saturation point when the sugar stops dissolving. Hot tea or coffee allows much more sugar to be dissolved than you can add to a cold beverage.Sugar can be added to vinegar to form a saturated solution. Things That Will Not Form Saturated Solutions If one substance will not dissolve into another, you cannot form a saturated solution. For example, when you mix salt and pepper, neither dissolves in the other. All you get is a mixture. Mixing oil and water together will not form a saturated solution because one liquid does not dissolve in the other. How To Make a Saturated Solution Theres more than one way to make a saturated solution. You can prepare it from scratch, saturate an unsaturated solution, or force a supersaturated solution to lose some solute. Add solute to a liquid until no more dissolves.Evaporate solvent from a solution until it becomes saturated. Once the solution starts to crystallize or precipitate, the solution is saturated.Add a seed crystal to a supersaturated solution so extra solute will grow onto the crystal, leaving a saturated solution. What Is a Supersaturated Solution? The definition of a supersaturated solution is one which contains more dissolved solute than could ordinarily dissolve into the solvent. A minor disturbance of the solution or introduction of a seed or tiny crystal of solute will force crystallization of excess solute. One way supersaturation can occur is by carefully cooling a saturated solution. If there is no nucleation point for crystal formation, the excess solute may remain in solution.

The prevalence of substance use on children Research Paper

The prevalence of substance use on children - Research Paper Example In a 2003 national survey, half of all seniors’ in high school reported they had tried taking illicit drugs at least once. It was further revealed that 41% of students in 10th grade and 23% of those in 8th grade had tried drugs that were illegal (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2007). Such findings are worrying because substance use is associated with several negative consequences, such as academic problems, physical aggression, developmental problems, delinquent and criminal behavior and health problems in the long term (Buu et. al, 2009). In addition to this, children who develop into chronic substance users are bound to experience social or psychological problems. The survey also showed that 41 to 65% of persons with constant lifetime substance abuse are prone to having at least one mental health disorder. Approximately 51% of those persons with one or more lifetime mental health disorders also had a constant lifetime history of substance use disorder (Doweiko, 2009). It was found that the 15 to 24 year old age bracket had the highest rates (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2007). Substance use is categorized as being different from substance abuse. The American Psychiatric Association defines substance abuse as a pattern of substance use that man ifests itself through significant and recurrent adverse consequences that are related to repetitive substance use. There are various factors that increase the risk for substance use among the youth. Some of the causes of substance use include delinquency, perceived substance use by peers, low family pride and family substance use problems. A study done in 2009 found that substance use by parents, socioeconomic status of the family, family mobility, instability in neighborhood residence and frequent change in neighborhood placed children at the risk for developing substance use disorders. Youth with mental health disorder also

Chapter 8 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Chapter 8 - Essay Example he government of France indicated that in order for any firm to challenge Boeing’s dominance and supremacy, government subsidies must be engaged so that any potential competition for Boeing could present below-market cost to the end consumers. This was engaged and Airbus began to be heavily subsidized by the French government. This trend has continued, to varying degrees, up until the present time. However, Boeing soon began to feel the impact of these government subsidies and could not continue to compete within industry that was not only turning a massive profit, but was also heavily subsidized. As such, Boeing lobbied and effectively garnered a high degree of promissory loans, research and development grants, and a litany of other subsidies from the United States government. What this has created is an unnatural form of competition between Airbus and Boeing through which the governments of these respective firms are ultimately in a proxy war of subsidized nation. Naturally, this is not only unhealthy for the firms, it is unhealthy for the consumer and the overall level of product that exist within the market. The case itself reference the fact that in all likelihood, Boeing and Airbus will continue to produce aircraft at a rather alarming rate; creating a glut of commuter aircraft within the market in the next several years. Naturally, this evidence points to the fact that government subsidies with regards to an otherwise competitive environment oftentimes make the situation worse for the end

The Main Goals of Japan Economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Main Goals of Japan Economy - Essay Example Catch up effect theory speculates that poorer and richer economies will grow faster than richer nations; this, therefore, means that they will converge at some point in terms of their per capita incomes. In the chart below there is no catch-up effect because developed countries like Japan has a per capita of 30866 as compared to Congos 374 (GAPMINDER, p. 2). Japan is currently ranked number 12, with a human development index of 0.901, compared to the world’s average of 0.682. Human development index shows a three-dimensional measure of human development which includes assessment of health, education, income, inequality, and poverty. With HDI of 0.901, Japan has a very high standard of living and is currently viewed by economists as one of the most expensive countries to live because of its market competitiveness. A lot of expatriates working in Japan live in big cities like Tokyo and Nagoya. The incomes of most of the residents are enough to provide them with the basic necessities. With the very high propensity to consume among the citizens a number of them still have the surplus for their leisure and personal satisfaction. This high standard of living has been on a rising scale from 0.778 to 0.901 between 1980 and 2011 showing a 16% increase (Human Development Indicators, p. 14). Japan is a very strong economy as shown by the above indicators. It has got a very high economic growth as compared to other nations with a free market and industrialized economy; it is ranked the second in the world in terms of wealth. Even though there was a reduced growth in Gross Domestic Product between 2007 and 2009, the economy picked up in 2010 with a GDP growth of 4% which is quite encouraging.  The recent reports confirmed that Japan posted a 1% expansion in the quarter of 2012 over the previous quarter.  Japans economy is also experiencing positive net exports of 1.1% of the Total GDP. Its economy is competitive and efficient on international trade as shown by the net exports, major contributors being the manufacturing and industry sector.

Applied thermodynamics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Applied thermodynamics - Essay Example The agency is doing a very good job in conserving the environment. It is agreeable that global warming is an impending danger to the world. However, it is not quite sensible to consider dictating to countries on how to manage the environment, especially if major economic resources are concerned. By this, countries that depend on coal as the main source of energy may require to take a lot of time so that they can establish infrastructures for alternative energy. The ambition by America and other supporters of the demands to slash carbon pollution from coal industries contravenes other international rules. According to the rule, economic activities of a large group of people should not be interrupted without a remedy, (James 2013). This means that America should help the affected these countries to establish alternatives sources of energy. Alternatively, it is important for all stakeholders to build political consensus so that the transition can be articulated without causing acrimony. All nations that are concerned should discuss and reach a conclusion that is friendly to

The Brutality of Japanese Imperialism to Korea Research Paper

The Brutality of Japanese Imperialism to Korea - Research Paper Example The use of Forced labor and draft from Korea 2. The subjugation of Women 3. Experimentation on the human body. The colonial period of Japanese relations with Korea is haunted with memories of the oppressed as well as narratives that describe the brutal enforcement of their policies. The Prime Minister Naoto Kan said the following, "Through the colonial rule that was against their will... the people of Korea were deprived of their nation and culture and their ethnic pride was deeply hurt," (Australian, 2010). The perpetuation of cultural genocide against the nation was an attempt to assimilate the Koreans into the Japanese way of life. This prompted Japan to promise the return of cultural relics that were confiscated during the imperial occupation. This can be described as an attempt by the Japanese to forge closer relationships with the individuals of the Korean peninsula (Australian, 2010). Mr Kan expressed his "feelings of deep remorse and heartfelt apology for the tremendous damag e and suffering brought by the colonial rule"(Australian, 2010). ... The recruitment techniques regularly involved specific coercion techniques where individuals were forced into labor against their will. By the year of 1942 the Japanese ruling class passed what is known as the National Mobilization Law which outlined the policy for forced conscription of Korean workers in factories and mines. This policy also included the involuntary relocation of Koreans which contributed to the cultural genocide that was committed against the peoples (Fukuoka, 1996). There were a total of 5.5 million Koreans who were forced into this programs where nearly 1 million of them were relocated to the main island of Japan. The workers were forced to work under conditions that were unsafe and dangerous. As a result of the conditions of the work facilities there were reports of about 60,000 workers who were killed under those conditions. The total estimated deaths between the period of 1939 and the end of the occupation was nearly 1 million. After the conflict was over, the end of the war resulted in the creation of internally displaced persons who were not allowed repatriation to either mainland Japan or the Korean peninsula. These individuals came from the area of Russia that was controlled by the Japanese empire but returned, called Sakhalin. This created what is known as Sakhalin Koreans whose existence is a testament to the brutal campaign of the Chinese. In 1985, the Japanese government offered transit rights and funding for the repatriation of the original group of Sakhalin Koreans, but roughly 1500 were returned of the time period of 2 decades. The rest refused the offer and chose to stay in Sakhalin(Lee, 1999). The National Mobilization Law

HIS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

HIS - Essay Example The author also captures some selected reactions by a section of the early American society on the decisions of the early executive office.] Wood, Gordon S. Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789-1815. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011. Print. [In this book, Wood analyzes some of the early themes in American history. He focuses on the birth of democracy in the aftermath of the ratification of the constitution. Wood analyzes competitive interests between the Federalists and Republicans. The inaugural of Thomas Jefferson and his speech is the critical component of this source as far as this paper is concerned.] In the immediate period after the Declaration of Independence, the United States faced many challenges in her political, social and economic spheres of life (Wood 34). This was particularly so given that it was a time when leaders were still searching for the best alternative solutions to issues pertinent to them. Some level of uncertainty and mistrust exis ted even in office of the President. There was constrained freedom of speech as well as the rights of foreign born amongst other things. Essentially, the people’s concerns were the interpretation of liberty. ... He highlighted his vision for the America they wanted. He cautioned that it would not be in the interest of the nation to have political intolerance, which he viewed as wicked and capable of deteriorating to the point of bloody persecutions. In this part, Jefferson was aware that sharp differences existed in the Democrat-Republican political interest. Therefore, he sought to remind them that as a nation that was just discovering itself, there was a need for unity in matters of national importance. He also pointed out to the need to make sure that that nobody would be victimized for expressing his/her political opinion on various matters. As Wood (45) observes, Jefferson also preempted a situation in which the United States would become diverse owing to values that will attract people to its peaceful shores. On this, he emphasized that the country has a responsibility to lead by example. He preempted a situation in which there would also be a majority and minority sides of opinions. C onfirming the values of democracy, Jefferson emphasized in the First Inauguration speech the fundamental of human rights. He said, â€Å"...the minority possesses equal rights, which equal law must protect† (Levy 74). This way, Jefferson’s speech laid foundation for the principles of equality before the law under the United States constitution. It also discouraged discrimination of any sort whatsoever. Jefferson seemed to have a vision of a perfect state where individual liberty would allow them to follow the dictated of their free will not just within the context of the law, but also reasonably. In a way, Jefferson puts in that although the majority may pass a regulation and make something lawful, if reason

The Brutality of Japanese Imperialism to Korea Research Paper

The Brutality of Japanese Imperialism to Korea - Research Paper Example The use of Forced labor and draft from Korea 2. The subjugation of Women 3. Experimentation on the human body. The colonial period of Japanese relations with Korea is haunted with memories of the oppressed as well as narratives that describe the brutal enforcement of their policies. The Prime Minister Naoto Kan said the following, "Through the colonial rule that was against their will... the people of Korea were deprived of their nation and culture and their ethnic pride was deeply hurt," (Australian, 2010). The perpetuation of cultural genocide against the nation was an attempt to assimilate the Koreans into the Japanese way of life. This prompted Japan to promise the return of cultural relics that were confiscated during the imperial occupation. This can be described as an attempt by the Japanese to forge closer relationships with the individuals of the Korean peninsula (Australian, 2010). Mr Kan expressed his "feelings of deep remorse and heartfelt apology for the tremendous damag e and suffering brought by the colonial rule"(Australian, 2010). ... The recruitment techniques regularly involved specific coercion techniques where individuals were forced into labor against their will. By the year of 1942 the Japanese ruling class passed what is known as the National Mobilization Law which outlined the policy for forced conscription of Korean workers in factories and mines. This policy also included the involuntary relocation of Koreans which contributed to the cultural genocide that was committed against the peoples (Fukuoka, 1996). There were a total of 5.5 million Koreans who were forced into this programs where nearly 1 million of them were relocated to the main island of Japan. The workers were forced to work under conditions that were unsafe and dangerous. As a result of the conditions of the work facilities there were reports of about 60,000 workers who were killed under those conditions. The total estimated deaths between the period of 1939 and the end of the occupation was nearly 1 million. After the conflict was over, the end of the war resulted in the creation of internally displaced persons who were not allowed repatriation to either mainland Japan or the Korean peninsula. These individuals came from the area of Russia that was controlled by the Japanese empire but returned, called Sakhalin. This created what is known as Sakhalin Koreans whose existence is a testament to the brutal campaign of the Chinese. In 1985, the Japanese government offered transit rights and funding for the repatriation of the original group of Sakhalin Koreans, but roughly 1500 were returned of the time period of 2 decades. The rest refused the offer and chose to stay in Sakhalin(Lee, 1999). The National Mobilization Law

What are the Marketing-Related Problems of Apple Essay

What are the Marketing-Related Problems of Apple - Essay Example Marketing is an important tool because it helps in boosting up the sales of the brand. It also helps to create the brand image in the minds of the consumers. In case of Apple marketing holds a very great importance because it has not only helped in creating the strong brand image of Apple but has contributed immensely to bridge the gap between the customers and the products offered by Apple. Apple has strong marketing practices but it is true that there are some problems associated as well. The first problem is related to the high innovation rate at Apple. Customers expect innovative products from Apple. But the problem that lies in is that the ads made by Apple usually do not provide the relevant information about the new innovations that have taken place. The ads project the product but do not project its essence and history or information. Customers know that the company is providing with fancy and expensive products and are lost in the charm of owning such products. Most of the c ustomers are least concerned about what the product is all about. But there are customers who want to know each and every detail of the product. So this poses a challenge for Apple to come up with a marketing strategy which could satisfy both type of the consumers. It causes a problem because Apple cannot afford to lose any one segment just because of the risky marketing. Another marketing-related problem faced by Apple is again regarding the new products. Customers expect that every marketing campaign will focus on a new product because rate of innovation at Apple is high. For Apple it is very difficult to keep up with the customers’ expectation and come up with innovative products and marketing campaigns at the same time. Failing to do so can tarnish the image of the brand. The third marketing related problem faced by Apple is its undefined target market. As mentioned before, Apple first innovates and then focuses on the target market for its products. In order to so it use s its marketing practices. An inefficient marketing campaign results in a failure and creates a huge problem for the company. Marketing is not a cheap game. It requires lot of resources. Its ads need to target the desired market segment. Marketing practices at Apple are not just related to ads and online advertising. It also includes opening up of retail stores in different parts of the world. Managing this practice is in itself a problem. Apple is critical of its marketing practice because it is afraid that what if the marketed product does not meet the customers’ expectations. This means that the marketing showed a totally different side of the product but in actual the product was different. Apple’s marketing practices creates hype for its products and at times it causes a problem for the company. An example that can be quoted here is of the iPhone. When it was launched, it was heavily promoted, resulting in long customer lines and a spot shortage. iPhone was initia lly very expensive but after the first 8 weeks of its launch, the company decreased the price of iPhone by $200. Loyal customers of Apple were caught short and this damaged the customer loyalty. In order to regain its customers Apple had to apologize publically (HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL 2007) The last and the most important marketing related problem faced by Apple is that of comparative advertising. Apple operates in a highly competitive industry. Since the very beginning Microsoft has been the largest competitor

Explain Irenaeus Theodicy Essay Example for Free

Explain Irenaeus Theodicy Essay The Irenaeus Theodicy, often called Soul Making, is a counterpart to Augustines Theodicy, yet it is also and opposing argument. While Augustine stated that evil came from humans and Adam in Genesis, Irenaeus proposes that evil is opposing the human races bid to become one with God. Irenaeustheodicy differs from Augustines, as it is more in the sense that God created evil, whereas Augustine described its existence to be more of a mistake. Yet some of Irenaeus points relate to Augustines, though are different forms as they are based on different opinions. Irenaeus battles the problem of the inconsistent triad by saying that God is omnipotent, omnibenevolent and omnificent and evil does exist, but that we, as a race, are not perfect. He believes that at the moment of creation we were not at all perfect, but drastically flawed. And to become one with God, as God intended, we must work toward that goal. The idea that we must work towards God places him in a higher realm. It is this epistemic distance that evil fills and we must fight through. John Hick, a perpetrator of this Theodicy states that: In order to be a person, exercising some measure of genuine freedom, the creature must be brought into existence, not in the immediate divine presence, but at a distance from God. Evil comes in as the obstacle coarse in the way of the ultimate prize. After all, with such a great goal, it shouldnt be easy. Though this doesnt really answer the question of where evil came from, or why God allows it. Irenaeus believes that we chose it when humanity fell in Creation. That justifies moral evil. But what of natural evil? Why did God want this journey to take place in such a hazardous environment, with earthquakes and pestilence, and in such frail form, which is susceptible to such dangers? Hicks response is that moral and spiritual development does not take place in a static environment but comes as the result of challenge and struggle and because we live in a world where pain and suffering is real our actions have real moral consequences for both ourselves and others. Any world where this was not the case would be one where the distinction between right and  wrong could not be made. In saying this, Hick is accused of belittling some of the worlds more excessive examples of evil. The holocaust for example. But in this modern day and age, where Nihilistic attitudes are taking over, people dieing is seen as less of an evil. After all, if you kill one, whats the difference in killing six million? He further argues that those who say that any kind of omnibenevolent wouldnt allow evil to exist full stop are depriving themselves of freedom that humanity entails. For God to get involved in every act of evil that occurs would deprave us of the free will that God gave. And it would reduce God, the ultimate creator of the universe, to a human plaything. If that happened he would no longer be God, as we would control him. As Irenaeus said, If anyone do shun the knowledge of both kinds of things he unaware divests himself of the character of a human being. As far as criticisms go, it is to optimistic. It is essentially an everything will work out in the end theory, that we will end up at Gods side after a long struggle and every thing will be happily ever after in heaven. But if we do that, there is really no reason for a God to make us happy, which negates Augustine and Irenaeus theories. Also, he is basing all of this on the bases that God exists. For that reason, atheists dont hold to this argument at all. Overall, atheists dont hold to this on the basis that they believe that God doesnt exist; therefore there is no ultimate cause. Theists like this theodicy as it allows them to keep their ideal of an omnipotent etc god, but does justify evil. Reasoned arguments cannot account for the amount of evil in the world Discuss A reasoned argument is one that has no empirical bases. Therefore it is a posteri. In the case of evil, the two theodicies of Augustine and Irenaeus  are reasoned. There is no physical base of proof for either. For Augustine, the bible cant be proved; the Christ event cant be proved to have improved our worth in terms of evil either. The same for Irenaeus, we cant prove that we are heading for paradise as no one has ever come back to tell us. But we cant deny the fact that there is a lot of injustice exists and, if we could measure it, evil is a large digit. But the amount of evil in the world has no quantity. How can we measure something that is essentially a human concept? Cheetahs have no idea that killing an innocent gazelle is classified as evil. After all, the gazelle did nothing to harm the cheetah. But the predator has cubs to feed and hasnt eaten for days. So putting those two facts together justifies the original statement. But just because we cant justify the quantity doesnt mean we cant do anything about it. To date, the better off countries have dropped about  £30 million in 3rd world debt. The Live Aid concert that happened all around the world has raised awareness of the plight of those less well off. While it is an undisputable fact that people are still suffering through both moral and natural evils, something is being done to lower the quantity of evils.

foolear Essay on Shakespeares King Lear - The Fool -- King Lear essa

King Lear and The Fool      Ã‚   In William Shakespeare's, King Lear, the Fool plays three major roles. One of these roles is of an "inner-conscience" of Lear. The Fool provides basic wisdom and reasoning for the King at much needed times. The Fool also works as amusement for Lear in times of sadness and is also one of the only people besides the Duke of Kent and Cordelia who are willing to stand up to the King.    The Fool works as the "inner conscience" of Lear throughout the play. The Fool shows Lear the side of reasoning and tries to persuade Lear that it was wrong to banish Cordelia. The Fool only first appears in Act 1, scene four, after Cordelia has moved away with the King of France. The Fool knows that Lear has done wrong by giving all his land away to his two evil daughters, Goneril and Regan, and tells him so in act one, scene four, when he says, "All thy other titles thou hast given away; that thou wast born with." The Fool also warns Lear about Goneril and Regan stating that Lear is now a lap dog to Goneril and Regan, "Truth's a dog must to kennel; he must be wh...

Chicken Without a Fork :: Poems Essays

Chicken Without a Fork Tithing There is a faint illumination within the eye of a blighted soul.... Telling a story of many, many goodbyes, yet the riddles of a latent kin lurch violently from within. Nothing, nothing can fill the whole. Alone, I do ponder and stare across this stony barren of life. No worry, I understand the fare. Gently the waters of the Styx part. A hand extends, no blade or knife. ....A glancing gaze examines the heart. Rage Clenching my fists my knuckles are numb beating my pillow the hate I become. No lovely horizons my heart is numb beating my desire the hate I become. Her eyes, so beautiful my mind is numb beating my inhibition the hate I become. Gripping your throats my morals are numb beating my brothers it's you I've become. Liberty Nurture the aimless for aim is not to burden. Save for the nameless who, after all are pardoned. So the wicked stare across an ocean drying huddled within our care and yes, we are the ones dying. So venture not into the great unknown. Save yourself, blanketed by faith. As if our colors ever shown. Black, black as the lovely wraith. Liberty in her beauty does arbitrate a loving populace that can only fornicate. A Moment Burning and turning my stomach resists, anxious and determined my will persists. Fists are clenched, knuckles are white. Damning them all I long for the fight. My reason is gone so is the air, shifting my weight they sense the despair. I close my eyes longing for control while the demons abound; they've taken my soul. Mortality I watched as they gave their respects. I didn't know him. A friend of a friend. Light filtered through stained glass windows. Soft sobs and cries echoed off hallowed walls. I knew nothing of this man. I stood next to the coffin. His face, painted and plastic, longed to return. Then tears began to well within my eyes. How could this be? I didn't know him. Then I understood. With a light brush from my sleeve I wiped the tears from my face and Chicken Without a Fork :: Poems Essays Chicken Without a Fork Tithing There is a faint illumination within the eye of a blighted soul.... Telling a story of many, many goodbyes, yet the riddles of a latent kin lurch violently from within. Nothing, nothing can fill the whole. Alone, I do ponder and stare across this stony barren of life. No worry, I understand the fare. Gently the waters of the Styx part. A hand extends, no blade or knife. ....A glancing gaze examines the heart. Rage Clenching my fists my knuckles are numb beating my pillow the hate I become. No lovely horizons my heart is numb beating my desire the hate I become. Her eyes, so beautiful my mind is numb beating my inhibition the hate I become. Gripping your throats my morals are numb beating my brothers it's you I've become. Liberty Nurture the aimless for aim is not to burden. Save for the nameless who, after all are pardoned. So the wicked stare across an ocean drying huddled within our care and yes, we are the ones dying. So venture not into the great unknown. Save yourself, blanketed by faith. As if our colors ever shown. Black, black as the lovely wraith. Liberty in her beauty does arbitrate a loving populace that can only fornicate. A Moment Burning and turning my stomach resists, anxious and determined my will persists. Fists are clenched, knuckles are white. Damning them all I long for the fight. My reason is gone so is the air, shifting my weight they sense the despair. I close my eyes longing for control while the demons abound; they've taken my soul. Mortality I watched as they gave their respects. I didn't know him. A friend of a friend. Light filtered through stained glass windows. Soft sobs and cries echoed off hallowed walls. I knew nothing of this man. I stood next to the coffin. His face, painted and plastic, longed to return. Then tears began to well within my eyes. How could this be? I didn't know him. Then I understood. With a light brush from my sleeve I wiped the tears from my face and

Business Ratio Essay

The profit margin is mostly used for internal comparison. Individual businesses’ operating and financing arrangements vary so much that different entities are bound to have different levels of expenditure, so that comparison of one with another can have little meaning. Digi has a highest net profit margin ratio among the 3 company which is 21.03%, while Axiata and YTL have 14.26% and 7.87%. YTL with a lowest profit margin indicates a low margin of safety: higher risk that a decline in sales will erase profits and result in a net loss. Profit margin is an indicator of a company’s pricing strategies and how well it controls costs. Differences in competitive strategy and product mix cause the profit margin to vary among different companies. Liquidity ratio (current ratio) The current ratio is an indication of a firm’s market liquidity and ability to meet creditor’s demands. Acceptable current ratios vary from industry to industry and are generally between 1.5 and 3 for healthy businesses. Axiata and YTL have a current ratio that is 1.1632 and 1.3149 is near to this range, it generally indicates moderate short-term financial strength. Digi has a current ratio that below 1, the current liabilities exceed current assets. Digi may have problems meeting its short-term obligations. Low values for the current ratios indicate that Digi may have difficulty meeting current obligations. But if inventory turns over much more rapidly than the accounts payable become due, then the current ratio will be less than one. This can allow Digi to operate with a low current ratio. Leverage ratio (Debt ratio) YTL debt ratio is 0.7403 which is higher than Axiata and Digi which is 0.4826 and 0.7098. The higher the ratio means the greater risk will be associated with the firm’s operation. In addition, high debt to assets ratio may indicate low borrowing capacity of a firm, which in turn will lower the firm’s financial flexibility. The debt ratio shows the proportion of a company’s assets which are financed through debt. The ratio of Axiata is less than 0.5, most of the company’s assets are financed through equity. Companies with high debt ratios are said to be â€Å"highly leveraged,† not highly liquid as stated above. Digi and YTL with a high debt ratio could be in danger if creditors start to demand repayment of debt. Activity Ratio (Total assets turn over) Asset turnover is a financial ratio that measures the efficiency of a company’s use of its assets in generating sales revenue or sales income to the company. Companies with low profit margins tend to have high asset turnover, while those with high profit margins have low asset turnover. Digi has a profit margins which is 1.193times is much higher than Axiata and YTL, 0.4182times and 0.3892times. These show that Digi has a high asset turnover while Axiata and YTL have low asset turnover. Companies in the retail industry tend to have a very high turnover ratio due mainly to cutthroat and competitive pricing. Market Ratio (Earnings per Share ratio) Earnings per share are the amount of earnings per each outstanding share of a company’s stock. In the United States, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) requires companies’ income statements to report EPS for each of the major categories of the income statement: continuing operations, discontinued operations, extraordinary items, and net income. Axita has the highest market ratio which is 28sen out of every ordinary share. Digi and YTL have lower market ratio, 16.1sen and 11.53sen. Compare with Digi and YTL, Axiata has the highest market value. Axiata earn 28sen out of every ordinary share. Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) Ratio Day sales outstanding are a calculation used by a company to estimate their average collection period. It is a financial ratio that illustrates how well a company’s accounts receivables are being managed. The day’s sales outstanding analysis provides general information about the number of days on average that customers take to pay invoices. YTL has higher DSO ratio, 72.72days can indicate a customer base with credit problems and is deficient in its collections activity. Digi and Axiata which have a lower ratio, 27.96days and 46.74days may indicate that firm’s credit policy is too rigorous, which may be hampering sales.

Case Memo: Howard Wolowitzz & Rajesh Koothrappalii Essay

THE PARTIES: 1.Howard Wolowitzz: eighty-seven years old, was an excellent engineer. He was a retired soldier who had served with the Canadian Army. He worked in Ontario later, and became a realtor and a developer of lands. 2.Rajesh Koothrappalii: fifty-five years old, was a chartered accountant. He has abundant experiences and background knowledge about the hotel businesses. ABSTRACT: Howard Wolowitzz and Rajesh Koothrappalii first met in 2000. From then on, Wolowitzz and Koothrappali decided to begin investing in the hotel businesses to make profits under the suggestion of Koothrappalii as Koothrappalii was very familiar with the hotel industry. Through several investments on the similar projects, Howard Wolowitzz fundamentally believed that he and Rajesh Koothrappalii had been into a â€Å"partnership† when conducting business activities. After Koothrappalii personally made some investments without Wolowitzz, Wolowitzz thought that he was â€Å"betrayed† by Koothrappalii and should be compensated by a portion of earnings from Koothrappalii since Koothrappalii violated the â€Å"fiduciary duties† towards his â€Å"partner† to make a â€Å"secret profit.† ANALYSIS: 2001-2003: Invested in North Etobicoke In 2001, Howard Wolowitzz and Rajesh Koothrappalii invested one hundred thousand Canadian dollars each in a company in north Etobicoke which is an electoral district in Ontario, and both became the shareholders of the company. After the subdivision of the company was sold in 2003, Howard Wolowitzz and Rajesh Koothrappalii received five hundred thousand Canadian dollars respectively. In this situation, Howard Wolowitzz and Rajesh Koothrappalii are not in a partnership, but both are the equal shareholders of the same company. First of all, they never conduct a written or oral agreement that ensures their partnership in doing any kinds of business. Moreover, according to the Partnership Act., the partnership means two or more people running a common business and having the aim of earning profit are in a relationship called partnership. The partners in the partnership have to share the same venture and profit in business which they are carrying on. Each partner is fully liable for the debt of the firm in their partnership, and general partners should get actively involved in the management of the business. However, in terms of the definition of the partnership entity, Howard Wolowitzz and Rajesh Koothrappalii did not carry on the same business and not be fully liable for the debt of the firm they invested. Instead, they are the shareholders with limited liabilities, and they do not have authorities to make any decisions in management while investing in business. Additionally, they do not share the profit earned in real. The profit they earned is based on their personal investment rather than the shared one. Therefore, at that time, Howard Wolowitzz and Rajesh Koothrappalii were two persons who individually invested in the same firm and obtained their own profit under the suggestion of Koothrappalii. 2004-2006: Invested in Mr. Sport Hotel In June 2004, Rajesh Koothrappalii advised again that he and Howard Wolowitzz invested in the same hotel near Niagara Fall, called the Mr. Sport Hotel. This time they invested and became the shareholders of the Mr. Sport Hotel. Differently, Rajesh Koothrappalii, who was based on his excellent experience and knowledge about the hotel industry, involved in the management and arrangement of the hotel. As a â€Å"manager,† Koothrappalii was remunerated by an amount of ten thousand Canadian dollars per month. Until the early 2006, the Mr. Sport Hotel was sold. Meanwhile, Howard Wolowitzz and Rajesh Koothrappalii received one million Canadian dollars respectively from their shares through the sales of the hotel. Although Rajesh Koothrappalii participated into the management of the hotel and also invested his capital to the hotel, he and Howard Wolowitzz were still not in a partnership under this condition. To make sure a partnership legally exists, the Nature of Partnership in the Partnership Act states a few rules have to be followed. One of them claims that all partners who contribute the same amount of capital to the firm should share the same responsibility of debts and profits earned. Also, they all ought to actively participate in the management, arrangement and decision making of the business they run. Nevertheless, even though Rajesh Koothrappalii involved in the management of the Mr. Sport Hotel, Howard Wolowitzz did not involve in. As demonstrated above, they still did not assume the same venture and share the same profit of the business together; even they did not run the same business. Obviously, their business actions violate the Nature of the Partnership which claims â€Å"Partnership is the relation that subsists between persons carrying on a business in common with a view to profit.† It is undoubted that there was no any partnership relationship between Wolowitzz and Koothrappalii. The business relationship between these two persons is just that they are the shareholders of the same hotel, and Rajesh Koothrappalii is the manager of the Mr. Sport Hotel as well. We suppose that the Mr. Sport Hotel was run by a corporation. Rajesh Koothrappalii would be a director and shareholder in this situation since he managed and invested in the Mr. Sport Hotel. Considering about the duty of good faith, a director holds this duty towards his shareholders for making his own best judgments to fulfill the best interests of the company. However, Rajesh Koothrappalii did not increase the loss and cost of the company when he was the director of the Mr. Sport Hotel. On the contrary, he generated the profits of shareholders, and we can assume that he executed the duty of good faith towards Howard Wolowitzz and other shareholders. A Few Years Later: Invested Separately In a few years later, Rajesh Koothrappalii sometimes suggested Howard Wolowitzz to invest on the same project with him; sometimes he followed the investment opportunities alone without noticing Howard Wolowitzz. Those actions made Wolowitzz feel that he was betrayed and excluded by Rajesh Koothrappalii who made a â€Å"secret benefit.† In fact, there is still no partnership here among Howard Wolowitzz and Rajesh Koothrappalii. Besides what was illustrated above that they repeated the same actions and fell into the same circumstances: no shared profits, no shared risks, no personal liability towards the full debts, no involvement in management of the business and no running of the same business. There were several core problems appeared. More fundamentally, no written or oral agreement was given to prove their business relationship, and neither Howard Wolowitzz nor Rajesh Koothrappalii was entitled to be an agent of their partnership if the business relationship exists. When a person becomes a partner of a partnership to carrying on a business, he is entitled to sign as an agent or a representative of the whole partnership and the other partners as well. A person, as a delegate of the partnership, has an apparent authority to sign a contract and conducts business activities to make a profit to the partnership. The contracts he signs and the business activities he involves in should be considered as an effective document. However, none of them has an apparent authority when they conduct business activities outside their â€Å"partnership.† In other words, none of them can be considered as a legal agent of the â€Å"partnership,† and they cannot make decisions on behalf of the â€Å"partnership† legally. Moreover, without notification, no other people outside their â€Å"partnership† would consider them into a partnership and treated them as legal partners in business. The public did not realize and acknowledge that Howard Wolowitzz and Rajesh Koothrappalii are legal partners in a partnership. The absence of the apparent authority is not the only problem. To be one partner in a partnership, everyone has a responsibility to fulfill the fiduciary duties with each other. As noted in Partnership Act, â€Å"[p]artners are bound to render true accounts and full information affecting the partnership to any partner or his legal representatives.† That is to say that the accurate information and accounts having influences on the partnership must be available to all partners. Standing on the Howard Wolowitzz’s point of view, Rajesh Koothrappalii â€Å"concealed† the information of investment opportunities of their partnership, and reserved the beneficial opportunities to himself. Furthermore, Howard Wolowitzz believed that â€Å"[e]very partner must account to the firm for any benefit derived by him without the consent of the other partners from any transaction concerning the partnership or form any use by him of the partnership property, name or business connection.† Indeed, Rajesh Koothrappalii did not notice Howard Wolowitzz about some investments although he invested by himself. It is not necessary for him to inform Howard Wolowitzz since no real partnership exists between them. 2011ï ¼Å¡ Purchased a Hotel Rajesh Koothrappalii spent two million Canadian dollars on an obsolete hotel located on Queen Street at the downtown area of Toronto and started to renovate it with his two sons. Then, he had an agreement with Triden Investment Inc. (abbreviated as TII) and allowed TII to set up residential condominiums on his place. Also, they agreed that they would divide their profits through selling the condominiums. Koothrappalii estimated that he would gain a profit of around six million Canadian dollars. The Partnership Act clarifies some elements of partnership, including having a real relationship between partners, carrying on a business in common and having a view to profit. At first, according to this time period of this case, it is certain that Rajesh Koothrappalii and Triden Investment Inc. had an agreement about the construction of the condominiums and his two sons Rajesh Koothrappalii entrusted TII to build the condominiums. However, they did not create any agreement about a partnership relationship between them in a written or oral manner. In addition, Koothrappalii and TII did not run a business in common. It is a fact that Koothrappalii had an ownership of property which was the hotel he purchased, but he did not manage and operate the construction. Not only did TII construct the hotel, but also managed the whole process of construction. Furthermore, Koothrappalii and TII had a share of profit. Although the share of profit is a key point of partnership, they cannot be regarded as a partnership if this point is only condition they have in common. With the perspective of TII, Rajesh Koothrappalii and Howard Wolowitzz do not have any partnership relationship in this construction project. Rajesh Koothrappalii individually signed an agreement with TII about the construction of condominiums without acting as a partner of the â€Å"partnership† with Howard Wolowitzz. TII, as an outsider from the â€Å"partnership† between Rajesh Koothrappalii and Howard Wolowitzz, did not acknowledge and discover the partnership’s existence between Rajesh Koothrappalii and Howard Wolowitzz. Thus, it shows that Wolowitzz does not have an apparent authority of a partnership and does not make the third party know he had a partnership with Rajesh Koothrappalii. In addition, Rajesh Koothrappalii purchased the hotel and had an agreement with TII by himself and Wolowitzz did not get involved in these procedures. Therefore, Koothrappalii and Wolowitzz do not carry on a business in common. More importantly, Koothrappalii and Wolowitzz do not share the profit of the construction. Sharing a profit between partners is an essential element in the partnership. CONCLUSIONï ¼Å¡ In terms of the above facts and analysis of this case, Rajesh Koothrappalii and Howard Wolowitzz do not have a partnership relationship. There is no adequate evidence to show that they acted as partners. The business behaviors and actions of Koothrappalii and Wolowitzz do not correspond to the definition of the partnership. Firstly, they never make a written or oral agreement of partnership between them in each business investment from the beginning to the end. Secondly, they do not carry on one business in common. Last but not least, they do not have a share of profits and costs. In this case, their actual business role are shareholders or investors, they do not form any typical forms of business. The main reason is that they undertake and invest their own business separately. Despite of considering about the partnership relationship, Koothrappalii and Wolowitzz do not have any partnership liabilities since they do not form a partnership. From a legal point of view, Wolowitzz is not entitled to have claims on the compensation about fiduciary duties like secret benefits from Koothrappalii. Conversely, Koothrappalii has no an obligation to compensate for Wolowitzz in fiduciary duties because they are not in a partnership. In conclusion, the partnership between Rajesh Koothrappalii and Howard Wolowitzz does not exist in this case. ADVICEï ¼Å¡ To Howard Wolowitzzï ¼Å¡ According to my analysis and conclusions of this case, I suggest Howard Wolowitzz not to sue Rajesh Koothrappalii. The above analysis reveals that his appeal is likely to be rejected and he may lose a lawsuit because there is no any evidence to show that Rajesh Koothrappalii and Howard Wolowitzz have a partnership relationship. Wolowitzz’s business actions cannot prove that he has the conditions of partnership. Thus, Koothrappalii does not have any liability of partnership to compensate for Howard Wolowitzz. Also, Wolowitzz misunderstand the concepts of partnership. He thinks that he is in a partnership but actually he is not in law. So Koothrappalii has no liability to him. However, there are some situations in this case I’d like to mention. Initially, Koothrappalii suggested Howard Wolowitzz to invest many businesses every time. If Koothrappalii mislead Howard Wolowitzz to invest a business with his advice, Wolowitzz may lose a lot of money and this investment is very beneficial to Koothrappalii to earn more profit. It is apparent that he provides Howard Wolowitzz with inaccurate information in order to achieve his business purpose. When this kind of situation happens, Wolowitzz can sue Koothrappalii and he has a personnal liability to Wolowitzz because his business behavior violates the law of business defraud. Nevertheless, If Koothrappalii suggests him to invest and offer true and reliable investment information to Howard Wolowitzz and Wolowitzz obtains the loss of profits in his own investment, this problem will be attributed to Wolowitzz instead of Koothrappalii. In this situation, Koothrappalii has no any liability to Wolowitzz, and he does not violate the law of business defraud as well. In addition, if the Mr. Sport Hotel is run by a corporation, Koothrappalii will be a director and shareholder of th e Mr. Sport Hotel from 2004 to 2006. At that time, Howard Wolowitzz is also a shareholder of that company but not a director of the company. If Wolowitzz can find evidence that Koothrappalii’s investment as a director does not give the best interests to the Mr. Sport Hotel, Howard Wolowitzz may sue him in fiduciary duties as a shareholder. In this situation, Rajesh Koothrappalii violates the duty of good faith. But I’d like to warn Howard Wolowitzz that there is a limitation period of a contract and tort appeal which is two years. From the time of this situation to now, the time range is around six years. Thus, it is less likely to appeal successfully for Wolowitzz. An another thing I’d like to suggest to Howard Wolowitzz is the concept of apparent partners. We know Howard Wolowitzz are not in a partnership so he cannot be related to the concept of apparent partners in this case. However, if he wants to establish a partnership with other people in the future, he has to pay attention to his apparent authority of a partnership. When he and his partners are going to corporate with the third party, he is bound to make the third party notice that he and his partners have a partnership relationship. This is one of the most significant points in the partnership. Furthermore, this case will cost Howard Wolowitzz a plenty of money, energy and time. If he loses the lawsuit, he will spend more costs on it since he has to bear a part of the winning party’s legal fees. Howard Wolowitzz should realize that he almost has little chance to win this lawsuit so I suggest that he had better not to sue Rajesh Koothrappalii. It will be not good for him. Time and energy are very important to him because the opportunity cost of time and energy are earnings. He can take advantage of the time he puts on this lawsuit to invest and develop more businesses for earning profits. Eventually, I’d like to recommend Howard Wolowitzz to study and learn the statutes and laws of business in Canada via different kinds of social media like TV news, magazines, newspaper or Internet. These are good and convenient ways for Howard Wolowitzz to understand the business law further. He can develop his law knowledge better. He also can know various cases about business law on news. It is a good source to pay attention to many laws that he does not really know. Also, Howard Wolowitzz can search for some laws on the Internet. This method will show him about laws fast and efficiently. There are some good business laws on the website, such as e-laws on Service Ontario website. Furthermore, going to library is a nice choice to read the statutes of business law if he is interested in more business law. To the lawyer, Ms.Littigator: From my analysis and judgments of this case, I advise that Ms.Littigator had better not help Howard Wolowitzz sue Rajesh Koothrappalii because the probability of losing a lawsuit for this case is very large. Firstly, it is hard for you to win a lawsuit for this case because Howard Wolowitzz and Rajesh Koothrappalii do not have a partnership legally. They just acted as shareholders to invest their business separately all the time. With the perspective of a lawyer, Ms.Littigator cannot have sufficient and strong evidence to prove that they have a real partnership relationship. Secondly, I found that a situation may bring a benefit to Howard Wolowitzz. If the Mr. Sport Hotel is run by a corporation and Howard Wolowitzz have evidence that Rajesh Koothrappalii did not make the best interests to the corporation called the Mr.Sport Hotel rather than himself as a director, it is possible that you may help Wolowitzz sue Koothrappalii in the fiduciary duty of corporation rather than the fiduci ary duty of partnership. However, the most important thing is that a limitation period of contract and tort appeal is two years. Thus, I still think that it is good for you to not help Wolowitzz sue Koothrappalii. What is more, you are more likely to lose your profit, energy and time. If you lose the lawsuit, you will not attain the remuneration from the losing party. You also lose your time and energy on it. Actually, you can use the time you put on this lawsuit to deal with a new lawsuit which you can win. Finally, if you really would like to help Howard Wolowitzz, I have another several suggestions. Howard Wolowitzz was a veteran in his early life. He may not know the newest version of the business law. As he became a land developer and always carry on a business by himself, Howard Wolowitzz may not have much chance to collaborate with others and form a partnership when doing business. This makes him unfamiliar with and misunderstands the meaning of a partnership, and was mistaken about the business relationships between Koothrappalii and him. To this point, since Koothrappalii and Wolowitzz have been in an acquaintanceship for a long time, they must know each other very well, and may know that Wolowitzz did not know the business law of partnership a lot. However, when Koothrappalii and Wolowitzz conducted investments, Koothrappalii did not indicate their relationships in business unequivocally to Wolowitzz and even did not mention that they are personal investors but not partners. There is a point hidden here that Koothrappalii may mislead Wolowitzz with the â€Å"partnership† relationship between them, and made Wolowitzz firmly believed that they are in a partnership. The key conditions including the age, a retired soldier, the familiarity with business laws and the mistake caused by a long-time friend Koothrappalii can lead Ms.Littigator and Howard Wolowitzz to a relatively advantageous position in the court. Unless Ms.Littigator emphasizes the characteristics of Wolowitzz that he is older, not knowing business laws so much and believed Koothrappalii but was misled by him, Ms.Littigator does not have any chance to win this lawsuit. IMPRESSION OF HOWARD WOLOWITZZ: Howard Wolowitzz was once an engineer and a war veteran. Thus, he did not have any business experiences in the past few years. That’s why he does not totally understand and know the business laws. In any court action, Howard Wolowitzz is a typical person who is hard to win the lawsuit. He does not have patience to analyze his situations in different ways. He does something on impulse and does not considerate about one thing carefully and comprehensively. This kind of incautious personality is more likely to lead him to make mistakes in other cases as similar as the case we analyzed before. Also, Howard Wolowitzz is an easily angry and not tolerant person. When he thought Rajesh Koothrappalii hide him to make a â€Å"secret benefit†, he was very angry about Rajesh Koothrappalii and want to sue him immediately. This fact also reveals that he made decisions fast and this kind of attitude causes him to make mistakes easily. What’s more, he did something with his emotions. For example, he loves Rajesh Koothrappalii as â€Å"a son†. Actually, Rajesh Koothrappalii is not his son and Howard Wolowitzz did not realize that he did not have authorities to interfere with Rajesh Koothrappalii’s own business. Therefore, a person has similar personalities and attitudes like Howard Wolowitzz is more likely to make mistakes in and misinterpret the law.

Assessments for Early Childhood Programs Essay

William J. Wilson once said, â€Å"The person who scored well on an SAT will not necessarily be the best doctor or the best lawyer or the best businessman. These tests do not measure character, leadership, creativity, or perseverance†. Why do we test students? What is the purpose of assessments? Do these tests and assessments benefit the students? These are questions educators have been asking for years. It is impossible for one to determine a child’s academic abilities based solely on a test. Yet there still needs to be some form of assessments performed in order to evaluate the academic level each student has reached. But how much assessing is too much? How heavily do educators rely on the results of these assessments? The main issues, when it comes to assessing early childhood students, are the consequences of the assessment results and how they affect the child. According to The National Academies of Sciences, there are two key principles that support the success of assessment. The first is that the purpose of an assessment should be a guide for assessment decisions. â€Å"The purpose for any assessment must be determined and clearly communicated to all stake- holders before the assessment is designed or implemented. Most important, assessment designed for programs should not be used to assess individual children. Because different purposes require different kinds of assessments, the purpose should drive assessment design and implementation decisions† (The National Academies of Sciences, 2008). The second principle is that any assessment performed should be completed in a â€Å"coherent system of health, educational, and family support services that promote optimal development for all children. Assessment should be an integral part of a coherent system of early childhood care and education that includes a range of services and resources† (The National Academies of Sciences, 2008). These two principles explain the main purpose of why assessing is important and how assessments should be conducted. After having an understanding of the purpose of assessments, why is it so important to begin evaluations at such a young age? What is the purpose of evaluating infants and toddlers? Author Sue Wortham explains evaluating toddlers and infants determine whether the child is developing normally or if they show any signs of delay and need assistance. All in all, the main purpose of assessment is to benefit the child (Wortham, p. 32). The NAEYC believes that during a child’s early years, evaluating and assessing their development should be the primary focus. They want to study how young children grown and learn. All the â€Å"results of assessment are used to inform the planning and implementation of experiences, to communicate with the child’s family, and to evaluate and improve teachers’ and program’s effectiveness† (Wortham, p.34). Teachers also use assessment results to in order to plan their curriculum accordingly. So exactly do assessments search for? Assessments look not only for what the child is already capable of doing independently but also what they can do with the help of a teacher or another student (Wortham, p. 35). So how are they assessed exactly? There are many different assessments given to children across the U. S. everyday. These may be administered orally or as written works, such as questionnaires, surveys, or tests. These may include: standardized tests, observations, checklists, rating scales, rubrics, interviews, or portfolios. Each of these serve a different purpose in order to give different pieces of information needed to evaluate the child in question. Standardized tests, though many disagree with them, are meant to measure individual characteristics. Observations, on the other hand, are one of the most effective ways to measure students’ characteristics. When children are young, it can be hard at times to determine if there are any developmental delays (Wortham, p. 39). Developmental checklists, or scopes, are mainly used at all levels of education. These checklists are lists of the learning objectives that have been established by the teacher in order to keep track of their learning and development. Items on a checklist are rated with a negative or positive response from the teacher. Rating scales, unlike checklists, provide measurement on a continuum and are used when a collection of criteria is needed to attain specific information. Another form of assessment teachers commonly use is Rubrics. Rubrics were created to â€Å"evaluate authentic and performance assessments† (Wortham, p. 41). Rubrics, like rating scales, have a range of criteria that must be met. However, unlike rating scales, rubrics can be used to not only determine the quality of performance required, but are also used to assign grades. Rubrics make it easy for students to understand what is expected and is makes it easier for teachers to grade assignments. The final types of assessments that are most frequently used are performance and portfolio assessments. These evaluations might be administered through interviews given directly by the teacher in order to understand the child’s thinking and understanding (Wortham, p. 41). Teachers may present these evaluations through directed assignments, activities, or games. The performance results are typically kept in a student or teacher portfolio. These portfolios contain samples of student’s work and are used as a sort of progress report card. Keeping detailed reports of student’s work in the portfolios help teachers keep track of their student’s progress and help determine which areas of learning are lacking attention (Wortham, p. 41). Overall, according to Wortham, these tests, whether administered to an individual child or a group of students, are meant to determine a student’s â€Å"abilities, achievements, aptitudes, interests, attitudes, values, and personality characteristics† (Wortham, p.39). Now having an understanding of the different types of assessments used to evaluate students and the purpose, let us turn to the negative and positive effects of these evaluations. It is crucial for educators to administer tests and evaluations carefully, because it they are poorly articulated, it can lead to decisions that are unfair or unclear, and they may do harm to programs, teachers, and, most importantly, children (Snow, C. E. & Van Hemel, S. B. , p. 341-342). Evaluations and assessments are not meant to punish a child, and therefore, should never be overseen lightly. It is important that the information gathered outweighs any negative effects. Editors of Early Childhood Assessment: Why, What, and How, Catherine E. Snow and Susan B. Van Hemel, explain that â€Å"although the same measure may be used for more than one purpose, prior consideration of all potential purposes is essential, as is careful analysis of the actual content of the assessment instrument. Direct examination of the assessment items is important because the title of a measure does not always reflect the content† (Snow, C. E. & Van Hemel, S. B. , p. 346). So what are some negative effects? Negative consequences of assessment findings may include program de-funding, closing a center, firing a teacher, mislabeling a child, or a reduction in program resources (The National Academies of Sciences, 2008). These effects, such as mislabeling a student, can follow students for the rest of their education career. Once a child is entered into a program, it can be difficult at time for teachers to look past that label. Children all develop at different his or her own pace. No one child will develop and learn the same way as another child. They all grow up and develop at different stages. Yet educational theorists have been able to observed and gather enough information to conclude that children, if divided in age groups, do tend to follow a certain development pattern. The problem is, it is hard to determine which children are the outliers in these results without carefully administering proper assessments. Assessments are not used to necessarily judge student or punish them. Their main purpose is to help students, teachers, and parents. So what are some positive effects of assessment and evaluations? Students that benefit from assessments and evaluations are those that are properly observed and tested. Teachers also benefit from the use of assessments because it helps them create an appropriate curriculum for their students. Evaluating children at a young age can have a positive effect if a delay or disability is in fact found, and because it was caught early, the student has a better chance of exceeding their potential in school. Catching developmental delays or disabilities at a young age is the same as finding cancer at an early stage in the sense that the earlier the cancer is found; the chances of survival are greater. Assessment results are used to plan for instruction, evaluate instructional programs, and report student progress. These are all positive results of assessments. Without the results of assessments and test, how can educators determine what to teach their students? Evaluations, if planned and administered properly, can be more beneficial than harmful. Unfortunately, not all teachers evaluate children fairly or appropriately. So it is important for parents to stay involved in their children’s education in the event that the results of an evaluation do not match the potential of their child. Parents should know the norms and abnormalities of their child’s behavior. Therefore, it is always beneficial to the child for parents and teachers to communicate. This way if a child is acting up in class, and the teacher notifies the parent, the parent may confirm any fears right away by simply saying, â€Å"that isn’t like him† or â€Å"he’s just nervous†. Avoiding drastic measures and not jumping to conclusions is the proper way to evaluate a child fairly. What are the predicted long-term benefits to Early Childhood Assessments? Are assessments and student evaluations accurate? Should teachers be required to assess and evaluate students as much as they already do? These are just a few of the questions that plagued educators for years. Too much assessing has placed so much pressure on students and teachers, inevitably taking away a child’s desire to learn for the sake of learning. The purpose of assessments and evaluations is a great concept, but placing too much pressure and emphasis on the test results is tainting the original purpose of learning. References Bers, T. H. & Mittler, M. L. (1994). New Directions for Community Colleges. Assessment & Testing Myths and Realities: A Critical Review of Student Assessment Options, 69-83. Brink, M. (2002). Involving Parents in Early Childhood Assessment: Perspectives from an Early Intervention Instructor. Early Childhood Education Journal, 29(4), 251-7. Retrieved from Education Full Text database Early, D. M. , McKenna, M. , & Slentz, K. L. (2008). A Guide to Assessment in Early Childhood; Infancy to Age Eight. Washington State: Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. The National Academies of Sciences (2008). Early Childhood Assessment: Why, What, And How. Retrieved October 19, 2011 from http://www. bocyf. org/head_start_brief. pdf. Early Learning Standards Task Force and Kindergarten Assessment Work Group. (2005). Early Childhood Assessment For Children From Birth To Age 8 (Grade 3). Harrisburg, PA: Pennsylvania’s Departments of Education and Public Welfare. Snow, C. E. & Van Hemel, S. B. (2008). Early Childhood Assessment: Why, What, And How. Washington, D. C. : The National Research Council Of The National Academies Wortham, S. (2012). Assessment in Early Childhood Education, (6th ed). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.