Walmart The Worlds Biggest Retailer - 1713 Words

In July 2015, Amazon.com surpassed Wal-Mart Stores Inc. as the world s biggest retailer. The company, incorporated on May 28, 1996, is an e-commerce company. The company began as an online bookstore but now offers a large range of products and services through its websites. Amazon’s products include merchandise and content that the company purchases for resale from vendors and those offered by third-party sellers. The company through its Websites offers products under various categories, including instant videos, digital music, Appstore for Android, Amazon Cloud Drive, Kindle E-readers and books, FIRE tablets, FIRE TV, FIRE phone, books and audible, movies, music and games, and a wide variety of consumer goods. The company offers its own products as well as third-party products across various categories, through its retail websites and through its mobile websites and applications. It also manufactures and sells electronic devices, including Kindle e-readers, Fire tablets, Fire TVs, Echo and Fire phones. The company offers programs that enable sellers to sell their products and fulfill orders through the company’s websites and the sellers’ own websites. It serves developers and enterprises of various sizes through Amazon Web Services (AWS), which offers a set of global compute, storage, database, analytics, applications and deployment services. Kindle Direct Publishing is an online platform that lets independent authors and publishers choose a 70% royalty option and makeShow MoreRelatedCase Study : The Walmartization Of America1416 Words   |  6 PagesThe Walmartization of America Introduction Walmart is the world’s largest retailer with more than 4,300 stores in the United States and over 8,000 worldwide, with global scales topping $400 billion in 2009. It plays a vital role in the U.S economy. Walmart success includes: low–wage labor, Limited health benefits, and leveraging of government subsidies. The company s controlling family, the Walton’s, is the richest family in America, with nearly $150 billion in wealth. That is more than the totalRead MoreImpact Of Marketing On International Marketing1194 Words   |  5 Pagesmarketing is the all the marketing activities those are conducted across national boundaries (Cateora, 2008). The selected organization is Walmart, the world’s largest retail chain. Prominent focus will be placed on Walmart UK and the firm has entered into the UK Market by acquisition (walmart, 2015). It is operating in the UK in the brand name ASDA. Walmart has revolutionized the worldwide concept of retailing and made the ne o American concept of discount retail chain very much popular all overRead MoreSwot Analysis : Walmart And Amazon1149 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction Walmart and Amazon have become global, household names in the US and for good reason: both of these companies have revolutionized the way in which we shop. Amazon offers a convenient experience, and an ever-expanding selection of products whereas Walmart has a wide network of store locations and famously low prices. As investments, these companies highlight the dichotomous nature of the retail industry – brick-and-mortar vs e-commerce; high growth vs steady growth; US vs International;Read MoreWalmart1018 Words   |  5 PagesExecutive Summary Walmart is the world’s biggest private employer with more than 2.2 million employees working in more than 8500 stores in 15 countries under 55 different names. It is world’s third largest public corporation and one of the world’s most valuable companies. Walmart has a tremendous product line which includes general merchandise, apparel, toys, domestics, grocery, fabrics notions, stationery books, cellular phones service plan contracts, shoes, housewares, hardware, electronicsRead MoreWalmart Is A Mass Merchandiser1516 Words   |  7 Pagesexplains why Walmart is a mass merchandiser. Walmart U.S. The Walmart U.S. segment is a mass merchandiser of consumer products, operating under the Walmart or Wal-Mart brands, as well as walmart.com are the world’s largest retailers. It has over 11,100 stores in 27 countries. With a market cap of over $275 billion, it ranks among the top ten companies. The company generated net sales of over $483 billion worldwide in the last 12 months. The company’s segments include Walmart U.S., Walmart InternationalRead MoreWalmart Stores, Inc.844 Words   |  4 PagesFor this assignment, Walmart stores Inc. will be looked at owing to the company’s ‘out of stock issues’ and the need for the entity to further integrate its digital services with the physical stores of the company to enhance profitability. The author selected Walmart for this research project because the two challenges mentioned can be rectified through technological applications that require time and the necessary level of investment to achieve success. Accordingly, for this paper, the writer endeavoursRead MoreEssay on The Pros and Cons of Wal-Mart1656 Words   |  7 PagesNewport, Arkansas. Owning a retail store at the age of twenty-seven taught Walton a manifold of lessons in life as well as on how exactly one manages a retail store. He began handle the Benjamin Franklin his own way, a way he would soon use on hi s own retailer. One of Walton’s most important, influential and successful ideas he used at the Benjamin Franklin store were his deals. He credits the success of Wal-Mart to the fact that the profit for a product would be greater if the product was sold as aRead MoreWalmart‚Äà ´s Sustainability Strategy1028 Words   |  5 PagesSustainability Strategy Why Walmart announces sustainability strategy? There is no need to introduce its background anymore; I think everyone knows the super supermarket leader’s name which is called Walmart. Here is the point that in this case why the CEO of Walmart Scott announced to do the business sustainability strategy in 2005. The sustainability will be the most focused in the 21century when the environment get worse every day. This strategy seems that Walmart will increase its cost and makeRead MoreWalmart Research Paper951 Words   |  4 Pagesworth it? America shops at Walmart to save dollars in their pockets. Paying lower prices at first seems like a good idea but there is always a back side that most consumers fail to understand. Walmart has many pro’s and con’s. For every con there can be a contradicting pro. Overall the Walmart company donates to many charities, employs disabled workers, lowers medications and so on. All these are great acts of philantrophy but I believe that in the long run Walmart is bad for America right nowRead MoreWalmarts Annual Reporting817 Words   |  3 PagesWal-Mart is a truly global corporation that runs chains of large discount department and warehouse stores across the globe. Wal-Mart is designated by Forbes as the worlds 18th largest corporation; Wal-Mart is also the worlds biggest private employer in the world, boasting over 2 million employees, making it the worlds largest private retailer (Faber, 2012). Wal-Mart emphasizes that its vision is simply saving people money so they can live better, and Wal-Mart leaders have made it their mission to embed

The Declaration Of Independence By Martin Luther King Jr....

HWE 2 What is our role as a citizen? The Declaration of Independence explains a citizen’s role as, â€Å"Individual rights refer to the liberties of each individual to pursue life and goals without interference from other individuals or the government.† But what happens when the rights given to us are not protected as stated in the Declaration of Independence? The result is dissatisfaction in our communities which leads to people taking a stand. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham jail talks about this problem and why he has the right to protest. According to the Declaration of Independence, Americans have the right to over throw the government if the government fails to protect their rights as citizen. Therefore, Martin Luther King’s jailing for the protests in Birmingham violates the Declaration of Independence and demonstrates why as citizens it is our obligation to stand up for our rights even in the face of the government. The Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson in 1776.The document describes why the Thirteen Colonies of North America declared independence from Great Britain. The document talks about how the Colonist felt as if Great Britain form of government had become tyrannical. Jefferson states his thesis several times in the document. His thesis is that the colonists have the right to be independent and they are asserting their rights to ask for freedom. In King’s letter from Birmingham jail, he describes why protesting isShow MoreRelatedThe Declaration Of Independence, By Martin Luther King, Jr. Declared Essay953 Words   |  4 Pagesthe equality of man, and as stated in the Declaration of Independence, â€Å"All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these, are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.† Deplorable, though, is the fact that people of color have systematically had their liberty violated unceasingly throughout our history. Fifty-two years ago, in his famous â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech, Martin Luther King, Jr. declared, â€Å"We can never be satisfied as longRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence, By Thomas Jefferson, And Martin Luther King Jr.1138 Words   |  5 Pagesfree. The â€Å"Declaration of Independence,† written by Thomas Jefferson, and Martin Luther King Jr.’s â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech both address the problem of not being free. Even though Thomas and Luther were alive 150 years apart and had very different lives, they both faced the same issue of human equality that drove them to write some of the most influential works in American history. Alth ough they bear some superficial similarities, the difference between the Declaration of Independence and â€Å"I HaveRead MoreTwo Speeches by Martin Luther King Jr. 671 Words   |  3 Pages Martin Luther King Jr. has had many sensational speeches. The successes presented in the two excerpts can be used as examples for success towards other speeches. In speeches ethos is used to reach out to the audience like Martin Luther King Jr. does. Professor Brown defines ethos as voice of credibility. Martin Luther King Jr. during his two excerpts uses pathos. Professor Brown defines pathos as passion, and narrative. In most speeches Martin Luther King Jr. uses logic, logos to addressesRead MoreMartin Luther King s I Have A Dream Speech891 Words   |  4 PagesKindergarten, teachers have been teaching students about Martin Luther King Junior’s â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech. Ever since children have been born, they have celebrated Independence Day by either going t o a parade, or shooting fireworks. Although, at these young ages, children don’t quite know the real importance of each of them. Martin Luther King Jr. wanted every human being, regardless of their race to be treated fairly or just. Independence Day was the day on July 4, 1776 where fifty-six courageousRead Moreï » ¿An Analysis of Letter from a Birmingham Jail1204 Words   |  5 PagesLetter from Birmingham Jail was written by Martin Luther King Jr. As he states in the title, in a Birmingham, Alabama jail. Martin Luther King Jr. was jailed because he participated on a nonviolent protest of segregation in public places such as lunch counters and public restrooms. During his jail time, Martin Luther King Jr. read a criticism about a protest made by a group of white ministers, accusing King of being an outsider, of using extreme measures that incite hatred and violence, that hisRead MoreEquality And The American Dream1068 Words   |  5 PagesJefferson wrote the most importan t document in the history of our nation. The Declaration of Independence was the official document that claimed that their new name the United States of America and they would succeed from unfair British control. The Declaration of Independence was famous for demanding that everyone should have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Fast forward 187 years, Martin Luther King gave his monumental â€Å"I Have A Dream† speech in 1963 about his displeasure inRead MoreMartin Luther King Jr s Letter Of Birmingham Jail903 Words   |  4 Pagesa unique element to the mixture of liberty across the United States. Martin Luther King Jr’s a â€Å"letter of Birmingham Jail,† and Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence both advocate the claim for freedom. Both of these historical figures make this apparent by arguing for the protest against tradition, a change across unjust laws, although they differ between the kinds of change to be enforced. Martin Luther King Junior’s a letter from a Birmingham Jail was him expressing his motivationRead MoreI Have A Dream Speech Written And Spoken By Martin Luther King Jr.1208 Words   |  5 Pagesspoken by Martin Luther King Jr. so what made this speech have the impact that it did? When the speech was spoken on August 28,1963 it was a start of a change. The March on Washington for jobs and freedom was an initial step in the Civil Rights Movement. On the momentous steps of the lincoln memorial, in the shadow of the person that signed the Emancipation Proclamation words that Martin Luther King Jr said himself, in front of thousands of people present on that unforgettable day (King). The writerRead MoreMartin Luther King Jr1194 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿ Simmons 1 Gabrielle Simmons Mrs. Fitzgerald Social Studies 8A 4/27/10 Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. is a well known and an inspiring man to all cultures of the world. King was and still is one of the most influential heroes. King s views and believes helped African Americans through the 50 s and 60 s to the rights and liberties that was their right. King faced many obstacles on his journey, things like jail and even assassination attempts. Despite these obstacles,Read MoreRhetorical Analysis of Martin Luther Kings I Have A Dream Speech810 Words   |  4 Pages Martin Luther King’s speech was made after the March on Washington on August 28, 1963. He delivered the â€Å"I Have a dream† speech on the Lincoln Memorial steps. He verbalized this speech to millions of people blacks and whites. This is one of the greatest speeches because it has many elements like repetition, assonance and consonance, pathos, logos, and ethos. Repetition in M.L.K.’s Speech Martin Luther King uses a lot of repetition in his speech. They are scattered throughout but very

Courting Chekov Essay Example For Students

Courting Chekov Essay If a person wants to spend their evening viewing an exciting and thought-provoking play, they better veer themselves away from the play Courting Chekov. In contrast to a stimulating evening at the theatre, the play Courting Chekov leaves viewers puzzled about the theme and questioning the overall effect of the written play. Despite being somewhat of a disappointment, the elements of both lighting and set design were successful in capturing the attention of the audience and therefore allowing the production of the play to be successful. The first element that made the production of the play Courting Chekov successful was the plays set design. As a viewer walked into the Loft theatre, they were immediately transported into the countryside. The large entanglements of tree branches hanging from all four corners of the theatre made a viewer feel as if they were walking into the woods. These clusters of tree branches were positioned toward the center of the theatre, thus allowing the stage to delineate a clearing. This positioning served to be beneficial in that it focused the audiences attention toward the actors and the action occurring on stage. In addition to the tree branches, the pillars that enclose the stage on all four sides were also useful in creating the image of the countryside. These pillars were painted in a way so that they represented tree trunks and for the most part drew the audiences attention away from their obstructed sightlines. By painting these pillars in such a fashion, a viewer felt as if they were spying on events occurring on stage and that the tree trunks served as barriers of secrecy between themselves and the actors. The second element that contributed to the success of the production was the plays lighting. The blackness of the Loft theatre made lighting a very influential element in determining whether of not scenes were successful. In the case of Courting Chekov, the lighting succeeded in that it helped portray the setting and time period. The lighting used in the play seemed to differ from that of white light and instead embodied more of an orange tint such as that given off by fire or lamp light. This orange tint lighting was effective in that it made viewers realize the time period of 1890 and the absence of electricity. In contrast to the orange tint, white light was used to differentiate the scenes that took place on the stage and those that entailed the reading of letters. This differentiation was successful in that it created an aspect of isolation while letters were being read and focused the audiences attention on what was being read and not what was occurring around the actor. In conclusion, the production of the play Courting Chekov was successful because of the careful considerations put into both the elements of set design and lighting. However, the success of the written play depends on the play being reworked and rethought in order to make the entire night at the theatre a beneficial and thought-provoking event.

The relationship between Aurora and her grandmother Paulina del Valle in Portrait of Sepia by Isabel Allende Essay Example For Students

The relationship between Aurora and her grandmother Paulina del Valle in Portrait of Sepia by Isabel Allende Essay In the novel, Portrait in Sepia, Allende aims to describe the complicated relationships between people in the society. The main focus however is on the main character, Aurora and her aristocratic grandmother, Paulina. This relationship changes a lot, from being extremely distant and un-natural to a very close and warm grandmother and grandchild bond. When they first meet, Auroras relationship with Paulina does not start off very well as there arent any close, intact feelings between them which grandparents are supposed to have with their grandchildren. The appearance of Paulina affects their relationship already when Aurora first steps into her mansion on the hill. The Paulina she first sees appears to be noble and majestic. Soon I was standing before a chair with gold medallions where Paulina del Valle was sitting, a queen on her throne. The term queen suggests the unreachable distance between the grandparent and grandchild. Also, Paulina is described as an outstanding figure, individual from the rest of the world. Beside her, the rest of the world disappeared. She had a beautiful voice, a great natural elegance, and white, even teeth, the effect of a perfect set of porcelain dentures This description suggests that a great deal of respect is formed the first time Aurora meets her grandmother. We will write a custom essay on The relationship between Aurora and her grandmother Paulina del Valle in Portrait of Sepia by Isabel Allende specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Lastly, Aurora must have been curious and probably terrified since she hasnt seen anybody similar to Paulina before. I had never seen a creature of such dimensions, perfectly matched to the size and sumptuousness of her mansion. It is undeniable that Aurora is horrified and fascinated when she first meets Paulina. This is because in contrast to her humble flat in Chinatown which is surrounded by prostitute dens and gambling stalls, her mansion up in the hills seems like a castle in fantasy. In conclusion, we can say that their relationship does not begin very well as little Aurora seems to be frightened at first by the dimensions of the mansion and her grandmother. As time changes, Aurora softens her attitude towards Paulina and starts to rely on her. At midnight I was wakened by the nigh-mare of the children in black pajamas, and without thinking twice I flew to the legendary bed of Paulina del Valle, the way Id climbed every morning into my grandfathers bed to be pampered. This proves that Aurora started to get close with Paulina and that trust is building up in their relationship. However, Paulina rejected her request, I didnt know that normal children never crossed the thresholds of their elders rooms, much less climbed their beds. Nevertheless, Aurora is a small girl and it would be difficult for her to change her ways. we{Aurora and her dog} must have been so pitiful that Paulina del Valle motioned for us to come. Therefore, it was obvious that it would be up to Paulina whether or not their relationship would get any further. From that point onwards, Aurora moved bit by bit towards Paulina, her grandmother. A strong bond soon develops between Paulina and Aurora and this because Aurora was the closest family relative of Paulina and so they basically depends on each other as time passed. As mentioned earlier, Auroras demand of protection and close physical contact begins to grow but soon Paulinas hopes and requirements also comes into shape. I would devote same numbers of hours to scholarly pursuits traditional in boys schools, because according to her it wasnt mental ability I was lacking, just discipline. This is enough to prove how the two were destined to cling onto each other for the rest of their lives. However, it soon became clear that as time passed, Aurora grew up and Paulina grew old. she was suddenly diminished, aged, and fragile, and I kept patting her shoulder, understanding very little of what was going on. At this point, it is evident that Aurora had switched roles with Paulina and had taken up the responsibility of taking care of her grandmother. Soon Paulina was getting so old that she was diagnosed to be dying shortly. .ud5404497d92339c7242b08e29dea9e74 , .ud5404497d92339c7242b08e29dea9e74 .postImageUrl , .ud5404497d92339c7242b08e29dea9e74 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ud5404497d92339c7242b08e29dea9e74 , .ud5404497d92339c7242b08e29dea9e74:hover , .ud5404497d92339c7242b08e29dea9e74:visited , .ud5404497d92339c7242b08e29dea9e74:active { border:0!important; } .ud5404497d92339c7242b08e29dea9e74 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ud5404497d92339c7242b08e29dea9e74 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ud5404497d92339c7242b08e29dea9e74:active , .ud5404497d92339c7242b08e29dea9e74:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ud5404497d92339c7242b08e29dea9e74 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ud5404497d92339c7242b08e29dea9e74 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ud5404497d92339c7242b08e29dea9e74 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ud5404497d92339c7242b08e29dea9e74 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ud5404497d92339c7242b08e29dea9e74:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ud5404497d92339c7242b08e29dea9e74 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ud5404497d92339c7242b08e29dea9e74 .ud5404497d92339c7242b08e29dea9e74-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ud5404497d92339c7242b08e29dea9e74:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Choice of the African character EssayBe prepared Aurora, the end could come within a few months, he {the doctor} told me. I couldnt help crying. Paulina del Valle represented the only roots I had: without her I would be cast adrift The word cast adrift suggests that Auroras life depends on Paulina and her death would cause her soul to leave her body. Therefore, she wont be able to carry on with her normal life once Paulina is dead. Also, this shows that Aurora has now grown into a mature character and that Paulina has shrivelled into an old woman who needs intensive care. Allende carefully weaves the lives of Aurora and Paulina together. However, although they experience different things in their lives, reference is made to both characters as they are equally important and occupy an equal share in the story. The story emphasises the changes in the different ways they (Paulina and Aurora) look at each other, from being a stranger to the incredible understanding they develop towards the end of the story.

Free Essays on CIF Contract

Introduction C.I.F. stands for "Cost Insurance and Freight" In fact; this contract imposes a variety of duties to the seller. In general this contract is known as a contract for sale and shipment of goods to the agreed destination. As far as the payment is regarded, it must be made against the production of the appropriate documents according to the contract. So, in case of CIF contract the seller undertakes more obligation than the buyer. All these obligations and duties of the both parties will be examined below. The Duties of the Seller  · To ship the goods according to the contract;  · To arrange for carriage of the goods;  · To arrange insurance;  · To make out invoice to the buyer;  · To tender these documents to the buyer; However, the seller must ship the goods, which means that the seller is obliged to ship the goods to the appropriate place and on the exact date. At this point the seller has the full responsibility to determine exactly the time and the place, when and where he has placed the goods on the port. Also, he is obliged to nominate the vessel. Further, the seller has to arrange for carriage of the goods, which means that the buyer does not possess the right to sue the carrier for the breach of the contract (he is not a party of the contract). If the property in the goods has not passed to the buyer then his right to sue for any damages to the goods is not completed. So, this means that in CIF contracts the buyer does not has the right to sue the carriage for the damages. As far as the documents are regarded, the seller must tender to the buyer an invoice, a clean shipped bill of lading and an insurance policy. These documents are very important because the buyer will pay the price in exchange for the documents, and it is crucial that they are accurate. If the documents are not accurate it will cause delays and other legal problems. Even more important for CIF is that the bill of lading is the ... Free Essays on CIF Contract Free Essays on CIF Contract Introduction C.I.F. stands for "Cost Insurance and Freight" In fact; this contract imposes a variety of duties to the seller. In general this contract is known as a contract for sale and shipment of goods to the agreed destination. As far as the payment is regarded, it must be made against the production of the appropriate documents according to the contract. So, in case of CIF contract the seller undertakes more obligation than the buyer. All these obligations and duties of the both parties will be examined below. The Duties of the Seller  · To ship the goods according to the contract;  · To arrange for carriage of the goods;  · To arrange insurance;  · To make out invoice to the buyer;  · To tender these documents to the buyer; However, the seller must ship the goods, which means that the seller is obliged to ship the goods to the appropriate place and on the exact date. At this point the seller has the full responsibility to determine exactly the time and the place, when and where he has placed the goods on the port. Also, he is obliged to nominate the vessel. Further, the seller has to arrange for carriage of the goods, which means that the buyer does not possess the right to sue the carrier for the breach of the contract (he is not a party of the contract). If the property in the goods has not passed to the buyer then his right to sue for any damages to the goods is not completed. So, this means that in CIF contracts the buyer does not has the right to sue the carriage for the damages. As far as the documents are regarded, the seller must tender to the buyer an invoice, a clean shipped bill of lading and an insurance policy. These documents are very important because the buyer will pay the price in exchange for the documents, and it is crucial that they are accurate. If the documents are not accurate it will cause delays and other legal problems. Even more important for CIF is that the bill of lading is the ...

President George Washington - Fast Facts

President George Washington - Fast Facts George Washington was the only president to be unanimously elected to the presidency. He had been a hero during the American Revolution and was made the president of the Constitutional Convention. He set many precedents during his time in office that still stand to this day. He provided a blueprint of how the president should act and what role he should take. Here is a quick list of fast facts for George Washington. You can also learn more about this great man with: George Washington biographyTop 10 Things to Know About George Washington Fast Facts: George Washington Birth: February 22, 1732Death: December 14, 1799Known for: Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, Founding Father, First President of the U.S.Number of Terms Elected: 2 TermsTerm of Office: April 30, 1789-March 3, 1797Spouse: Martha Dandridge CustisNickname: Father of Our CountryFamous Quote: I walk on untrodden ground. There is scarcely any part of my conduct which may not hereafter be drawn into precedent. Additional George Washington Quotes. Did George Washington chop down a cherry tree and tell his father the truth? Answer:Â  As far as we know, no cherry trees fell victim to Washingtons rapacious ax. In fact, Washingtons biographer, Mason Weems, wrote a book called The Life of Washington shortly after his death where he created this myth as a way to show Washingtons honesty. Major Events While in Office: Elected to first term with a unanimous electoral vote (1789)First United States census (1790)District of Columbia established (1791)Bill of Rights ratified (1791)Proclamation of Neutrality (1793)Whiskey Rebellion (1794)Jays Treaty (1795)Pinckneys Treaty (1796)Farewell Address (1796) States Entering Union While in Office: Vermont (1791)Kentucky (1792)Tennessee (1796) Related George Washington Resources: These additional resources on George Washington can provide you with further information about the president and his times. George Washington Biography: Take a more in depth look at the first president of the United States through this biography. Youll learn about his childhood, family, early and military career, and events of his administration. Revolutionary War: The debate over the Revolutionary War as a true revolution will not be resolved. However, without this struggle America might still be part of the British Empire. Find out about the people, places and events that shaped the revolution. Chart of Presidents and Vice Presidents: This informative chart gives quick reference information on the Presidents, Vice-Presidents, their terms of office and their political parties. More on the Presidents of the United States: This informative chart gives quick reference information on the Presidents, Vice-Presidents, their terms of office and their political parties.

Homeopathy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Homeopathy - Essay Example According to the Wurges, (2005) Arsenicum Album is one of the most commonly used homeopathic remedies with a high success rate. With its ability to treat indigestion, allergies, food poisoning and fevers, it was the most appropriate solution in my case. According to the British Homeopathic Association, a website created to help patient access information on homeopathy; it documents a series of several success stories of patients who used Arsenicum album and were cured, with a long list under those that were suffering from alimentary system disorders (Gibson). Although Arsenicum Album has been found to be poisonous in some cases, appropriate use with guidance from a homeopath, has shown greater success in its use. Various scientists such as Andrea Gescher have been skeptical on the effectiveness of Arsenicum Album (Bhattacharya, 2003), but other studies such as the one carried out by Clausen, van Wijk, and Albrecht, (2011), showed that the pophylactic and therapeutic applications of t he rememdy have a high success rate. The rememdy is grouped under the fifteen important rememdies in homeopathy and its application is widely used cure both psychological and physical problems. It is therefore, a recommended remedy when it comes to homeopathy. Bhattacharya, S. (2003, October 22). Homeopathy reduces arsenic poisoning in mice. Retrieved from New Scientist:

Risk of Expropriation Involved in Pakistan Essay

Risk of Expropriation Involved in Pakistan - Essay Example Its relationships with the India are not good whereas the current situation in Afghanistan and future political risks involved in Iran can also increase the overall risk involved in the country. The political risk is on the higher side because it neighbors the violent Afghanistan. Apart from that it has also a history of Nationalization process under which private businesses were nationalized during 1970s. Apart from that a fragile political system in the country poses a greater risk to the foreign firms considering investing into the country. Pakistan has traditionally been an agriculture based country with most of the GDP coming from this sector. On industrial front, the country has a sound textile manufacturing base however after the emergence of WTO country is facing difficulties in keeping its traditional superiority in terms of textile exports as the neighboring countries of Bangladesh, China as well as India are offering much cheaper prices as compared to Pakistan in International Markets. "Pakistan's advantages include relatively low wages - amounting to as little as half the level of salaries in India - as well as reasonable real estate costs, plentiful government incentives and a readily available supply of worker"(Thibodeau,2007). "The textile sector exports have been stagnant for the past five years. Exports have oscillated between US $4.5 - 5.5 billion. US $5 billion has been a psychological barrier for the textile industry of Pakistan."(SMEDA, 2005). Investment into Textile sector of the country therefore is a very lucrative option however there are risks involved in it also. Where does the Risk Come From There are various sources of Risks in this country. The Law and Order situation is one very critical risk which companies looking to work in the country may have to face however the risk of expropriation comes from the Government itself. The mounting pressures on the economy as well as having a history of nationalization, the government of Pakistan seems to be the biggest source of risk for companies willing to work and invest into the country. There are different reasons for that. The general attitude of the public in country is not so in favor of the external players working in the market therefore social pressures on the government may force them to take actions such as expropriation that may not serve the interests of the companies willing to work in the country.(ADB,2001) Further to that Textile market in Pakistan is really going through a bad patch as neighboring countries have almost captured the market which was once the traditional markets for Pakistan. This lost space may further create pressures on the government to protect the local industry and do not allow foreign investors to consolidate themselves. Further, Pakistan is a key ally of US in its war on terrorism and the situation in Afghanistan and its tribal areas may provide US a credible opportunity to enter into Pakistan also. Further many believe that changing priorities of the US government could further deteriorate the risk profile of the country.(Rogers,2006) Thus the sources of the risks are multiple in nature as not only emerge

The Trial Film Analysis Essay Example for Free

The Trial Film Analysis Essay Brief Biographical Data of Orson Welles George Orson Welles or popularly known as simply Orson Welles, was a great American director, actor, writer, film, television, stage and radio producer. He also won in the prestigious Academy Awards. Welles became famous through his radio broadcast’s The War of the Worlds. It called a large number of avid listeners to panic. His works such as Macbeth and the contemporary figurative adaptation of Julius Caesar became legends. In 1941, Welles directed, co-wrote, starred and produced the critically acclaimed Citizen Kane. The film, according to polls of many film critics, was the greatest film ever made in film history. However, despite the unquestionable talents and several awards won, the rest of his career was usually hindered by incompetent studio interference, lack of funding and other unfortunate happenings. However, despite these difficulties, his film Othello won the Grand Prix du Festival International du Film at the Cannes Film Festival in 1952. In addition, his Touch of Evil awarded top prize at the Brussels World fair. Anyhow, Welles considered his film Chimes at Midnight and The Trial to be his best works ever. The Trial The Trial is a film that is even more visually extravagant than Orson Welles’ previous films. He used several themes, symbols and filmic devices that had become his trademarks. Depth of field photography, low-angle shooting, elaborate frame composition, visibility of constructed ceilings in the frame, attention to sound editing, expressionistic lighting, gigantic statues, houses in ruins are just some on the themes and filming techniques that Welles employed. The movie opened with animated pin-screen illustration of the parable of the law of Alexander and Claire Parker. Welles dubbed the voice who also played as K.’s advocate. He also dubbed all the authority figures’ voices. The parable is about a man who seeks admission to the Law but rather denied by the guard and thus waited until he can enter. With the film opening with the parable, it positioned the audience in an opportunity position from which to judge the character’s actions since they are certainly refracted through and thus rendered meaningful illustrations of the parable. Kafka’s tale absurdity is somehow interceded by the visual explanation given in advance. The film also raised but did not explore too much the most radical implication of its premise, in which sin, guilt and responsibility are not forced on any man. Demonstrated by the opening parable, the admittance to the law is not closed rather it is man who prevents himself from entering because of the notion of sin, guilt and responsibility that conceived of closing the door. Use of Principles of Design The film opened with a parable and in this opening, Welles executed the used of the designs, such as the unity, repetition and balance very well. The simple illustration of the doors created unity that somehow gave a sense of harmony and unity that pulls the whole picture or story together. The principle of direction and emphasis was also used effectively because we can immediately see the focus of a certain scene that Welles wanted us to see first. I can say that what twined the different episodes is Welles’ vision of the different settings as interconnected through a series of secret dark passages, entrances, staircases and exits that disintegrate the distinction between the private and public spaces. Welles explained in his 1965 interview that his â€Å"original design was to have the number of realistic elements gradually diminish and the number of realistic elements gradually disappear until what remains open is the spaces and as though everything has dissolved.† If compared to the 1993 adaptation of The Trial directed by David Hugh Jones and starred by Kyle MacLachlan, in my opinion, was beautiful and a subtle exploration of Kafka’s masterpiece nuances but still, an ordinary adaptation of the old one. Nevertheless, when it comes to the principles of design, of course, Jones’ adaptation will top the score. Colors, of course add spice and life to the design. The principles of design applied were definitely new and more appealing than the old version of Welles. However, Welles’ The Trial, has its own character and seemed to stand the time and have an eternal presence in each scene. I can also say that it is indeed easier to do an independent film when art and designs are at stakes and better results when you are the one with full control. Despite the lack of funds because of the low commercial value, a film will be outstanding when it comes to the employment of designs, arts, and every element useful for a successful film. Welles’ baroques set design and intelligent use of the principles of design also enhanced the impression that the different settings served as a â€Å"symbolic, nightmarish manifestations of K.’s inner turmoil† and dissipate the absurdity of Kafkaesque, in which straddled the line between the illogical and logical, the unreal and real. I can say that the film, then, is more of an allegory than a novel. Therefore, I can say that Welles was indeed successful in using the principles of design, however limited his budgets and resources were. References: Charles Higham, The Films of Orson Welles, University of California Press, Berkeley, 1970. Albert Camus, â€Å"Hope and the Absurd in the Work of Franz Kafka†, The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays, trans. Justin O’Brien, Vintage Books, New York, 1955. Principles of Designs Tips. Life Tips, 2008. http://graphicdesign.lifetips.com/cat/55144/ principles-of-design/index.html. Retrieved, September 9, 2008.

My Friend Hamilton -Who I shot Essay -- essays research papers fc

A Historiographical Discussion of the Duel Between Aaron Burr and The duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton holds a significant relevance in American history and should be examined within the context of early American culture and politics. The recent historiography of the incident provides us with a complex, evolving web of conflicting interpretations. Since the day of this tragic duel, contemporaries and historians have puzzled over why these two prominent American statesmen confronted each other on the Plains of Weehawken. What circumstances or events could have motivated two of the most brilliant political minds in America to endanger their lives and reputations by taking aim at each other on that dismal day? The recent historiography of the event can be divided into two schools which I shall denote as the â€Å"contextual† school and the â€Å"psycho-historical† school. These differing â€Å"schools† demonstrate the complexity of history and the extent to which a variety of factors, including bias and changing frames of reference can influence interpretive study and conclusions. It is the object of this discussion, therefore, to examine the heretofore mentioned interpretations, and to critically analyze the differing ideas concerning the Burr-Hamilton duel. The most succinct version of the event, as told by Joseph J. Ellis reads On the morning of July 11, 1804, Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton were rowed across the Hudson River in separate boats to a secluded spot near Weehawken, New Jersey. There, in accord with the customs of the code duello, they exchanged pistol shots at ten paces. Hamilton was struck on his right side and died the following day. Though unhurt, Burr found that his reputation suffered an equally fatal wound. In this, the most famous duel in American history, both participants were casualties.1 Almost every American is familiar with this most famous—and deadly—of American duels. Hamilton was celebrated and hailed as a martyr, and Burr was labeled a murderer and went on to undertake many strange adventures in the American west, eventually tried for treason for his purported conspiratorial intentions. Before engaging further in this discussion, one must first differentiate between what I have denoted as â€Å"contextual† history and â€Å"psycho-historical† history. I contend that â€Å"contextual† ... ...no. 1 (1995): 1-23. Schachner, Nathan. Aaron Burr: A Biography. New York, NY: A.S. & Barnes Company, 1961. Shalhope, Robert E. Review of Affairs of Honor: National Politics in the New Republic, by Joanne B. Freeman. The Journal of American History 89, no. 2 (2002): 620-621. Schneidman, J. Lee and Conalee Levin-Schneidman. â€Å"Suicide or Murder? The Burr-Hamilton Duel.† Journal of Psychohistory 8, no. 2 (1980): 159-181. Stevens, William Oliver. Pistols at Ten Paces: The Story of the Code of Honor in America. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1940. Ward, Allen Mason. A History of the Roman People. 4th Ed. Upper Saddle River, NY: Prentice Hall, 2003. Weiten, Wayne. Psychology: Themes and Variations. 5th Ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2001. Wood, Gordon S. The Radicalism of the American Revolution. New York, NY: Vintage Books, 1991. Wyatt-Brown, Bertram. Southern Honor: Ethics and Behavior in the Old South. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1982. ----------. Honor and Violence in the Old South. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1986. Zinn, Howard. A People’s History of the United States: 1492-Present. New York, NY: HarperCollins, 1980. My Friend Hamilton -Who I shot Essay -- essays research papers fc A Historiographical Discussion of the Duel Between Aaron Burr and The duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton holds a significant relevance in American history and should be examined within the context of early American culture and politics. The recent historiography of the incident provides us with a complex, evolving web of conflicting interpretations. Since the day of this tragic duel, contemporaries and historians have puzzled over why these two prominent American statesmen confronted each other on the Plains of Weehawken. What circumstances or events could have motivated two of the most brilliant political minds in America to endanger their lives and reputations by taking aim at each other on that dismal day? The recent historiography of the event can be divided into two schools which I shall denote as the â€Å"contextual† school and the â€Å"psycho-historical† school. These differing â€Å"schools† demonstrate the complexity of history and the extent to which a variety of factors, including bias and changing frames of reference can influence interpretive study and conclusions. It is the object of this discussion, therefore, to examine the heretofore mentioned interpretations, and to critically analyze the differing ideas concerning the Burr-Hamilton duel. The most succinct version of the event, as told by Joseph J. Ellis reads On the morning of July 11, 1804, Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton were rowed across the Hudson River in separate boats to a secluded spot near Weehawken, New Jersey. There, in accord with the customs of the code duello, they exchanged pistol shots at ten paces. Hamilton was struck on his right side and died the following day. Though unhurt, Burr found that his reputation suffered an equally fatal wound. In this, the most famous duel in American history, both participants were casualties.1 Almost every American is familiar with this most famous—and deadly—of American duels. Hamilton was celebrated and hailed as a martyr, and Burr was labeled a murderer and went on to undertake many strange adventures in the American west, eventually tried for treason for his purported conspiratorial intentions. Before engaging further in this discussion, one must first differentiate between what I have denoted as â€Å"contextual† history and â€Å"psycho-historical† history. I contend that â€Å"contextual† ... ...no. 1 (1995): 1-23. Schachner, Nathan. Aaron Burr: A Biography. New York, NY: A.S. & Barnes Company, 1961. Shalhope, Robert E. Review of Affairs of Honor: National Politics in the New Republic, by Joanne B. Freeman. The Journal of American History 89, no. 2 (2002): 620-621. Schneidman, J. Lee and Conalee Levin-Schneidman. â€Å"Suicide or Murder? The Burr-Hamilton Duel.† Journal of Psychohistory 8, no. 2 (1980): 159-181. Stevens, William Oliver. Pistols at Ten Paces: The Story of the Code of Honor in America. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1940. Ward, Allen Mason. A History of the Roman People. 4th Ed. Upper Saddle River, NY: Prentice Hall, 2003. Weiten, Wayne. Psychology: Themes and Variations. 5th Ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2001. Wood, Gordon S. The Radicalism of the American Revolution. New York, NY: Vintage Books, 1991. Wyatt-Brown, Bertram. Southern Honor: Ethics and Behavior in the Old South. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1982. ----------. Honor and Violence in the Old South. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1986. Zinn, Howard. A People’s History of the United States: 1492-Present. New York, NY: HarperCollins, 1980.

Reasons Why Investment Trusts Trade at a Discount

Abstract The fact that investment trusts and close-end funds in general trade at a discount has elicited debates among financial scholars and practitioners, often referred to as the closed-end puzzle. Based on this, this paper explores and explains some of the reasons that investment trusts trade at a discount. It also provides an in-depth explanation of characteristics of close-ended funds and conditions that lead to the classification of the share price as either a discount or a premium. Investment trusts trading at a discount are those trading at prices that are below their net asset value. Those trading at a price higher than the net asset value are considered as being sold at a premium. Some of the main reasons that are explored in this paper include miscalculation of the net asset values of the investment trust, taxes on realized capital gains, agency costs, managerial abilities and investor sentiment. Even with the explanations that are provided in this paper, the closed-end fund prize puzzle continues to be debated upon and researched. Introduction The fact that investment trusts often trade at a discount is an aspect that has drawn interests from academics and practitioners in the field of finance. To have a better understanding of these reasons, it is ideal to provide an exhaustive definition of investment trusts. Investment trusts, which are typical to the United Kingdom, are defined by Barnhart and Rosenstein (2010) as types of investment firms that are formed with the primary aim of holding securities for other companies and the obtainment of capital from the public issue of shares trading on the stock market. They are also referred to as closed-end funds because they only offer a fixed quantity of shares that new investors can purchase from already existing shareholders (Hartzell et al., 2006). The prices of shares of investment trusts are determined by the forces of supply and demand in the share market. As a consequence, there are incidents where the price of a share may either be higher or lower than its net asset valu e. Whenever a share trades at a price that is higher than its net asset value, it is considered to be trading at a premium. On the contrary, if a share trades at a value that is lower that its net asset value, it is considered to be trading at a discount (Berk & Stanton, 2007). In this regard, this report intends to discuss reasons why they trade at a discount. Reasons for discounting Investment Trusts One main characteristic of investment trusts and closed-end funds in general is the fact that they are permanent capital ventures and thus, the shares’ supply is fixed (Chan et al., 2008). Numerous attempts that have been made by researchers and practitioners to explain the investment trust discounts, and have resulted in conflicting results, commonly referred to as the closed-end fund puzzle. Even though these funds are known to trade at discounts, it is important to note that newly opened investment trusts and closed-end funds in general, usually begin trading at a premium of approximately 10% of their net asset value. After their initial premium trading, they shift towards trading at a discount that is at average rate of 10% within the first 120 days. After which, discounts remain substantial. In case closed-end funds are closed or terminated, there is an increase in their share prices, which in turn eliminates the existent discounts (Cherkes et al., 2009). Explanations for investment trust discounts that have been made by researchers include the risk of liquidity, the past and future performance of shares on the market and the miscalculation of the fund’s net asset value. Investor sentiment is also another reason for discount trading in investment trusts (Yanran & Liyan, 2007). This section intends to provide a more in-depth discussion of these reasons. Misestimating the Net Asset Value (NAV) This reason has been pointed out by Halkos and Krintas (2006), who argue that such miscalculations of the NAV can result from a possible accumulation of capital gains illiquid assets that had not been realized. The reason why funds with high capital appreciations that have been unrealized ought to trade at a discounted share price is that potential holders of such funds will assume a potential tax liability. In a research that was carried out by Kousenidis et al. (2011) on the effect of liquidity on closed-end funds, he established that there is a possibility of illiquid assets to be traded at a discount to provide higher expected returns. In support of inaccuracy of NAV measurement as a reason for discounts in closed-end fund trading, Yanran and Liyan(2007)suggested that when closed-end funds own large amounts illiquid assets or restricted stock that are not fairly trading in the market, their NAVs can fail to provide an accurate reflection of their true value. As a consequence of t his, the shares might either trade at a lower or higher value than the NAV. Investment trust discounts are also affected by restricted stock holdings. However, given that such holdings are often quite small or at a zero value, they do not hold as valid reasons for investment trusts trading at a discount. For investment trusts, there is usually no assurance that there will always be an available market. Therefore, this lack of an assured redemption of shares makes their valuation to be discounted. In addition to this, investment trusts that hold relatively liquid securities are valued lower than their net asset values (NAVs) at the marketplace (Cherkes et al., 2009). Putting appropriate measures in place to avoid miscalculation of the trust net asset value is vital to solve this issue. Agency Costs and Managerial Ability Discounts in closed-end funds could be a reflection of poor performance in the management of the fund or an overcharge of management fees (Bradley et al., 2010). Agency costs may also vary according to the agency issues or conflicts that may occur due to different interests between agents and principals. Managerial abilities have also been listed by researchers as being among the main factors that determine whether investment trusts can trade at a premium or a discount. The theory that investment trusts can trade at a discount if the managers charge a fee was originally proposed by Boudreaux in 1973 (Berk & Stanton, 2007). He suggested that if fund managers charge investors a fee but fail to add value to their investments, then the value of the fund is likely to be less than its NAV. In a case where managers add value to the investment trust, the reason why it might trade at a discount is when investors are made to believe that the funds’ managers are not good at investing the ir funds. If investors believe that their money is being managed by people who are good at selecting viable investments, then the fund will trade at a premium. In a research carried out on the ownership of closed-end funds Cherkes et al.(2009) established that investment trusts with larger percentage of insider ownership are likely to trade at higher discounts. This is because investors of funds that are selling at higher discounts stand a chance of receiving windfall gains in case the funds undergo immediate liquidation at their net asset value. He also established that higher expense ratios lead to higher discounts of funds because management fees are considered as being deadweight losses. Thus, discounts are used to represent the capitalization of the management fees value. Management of trusts also affects their future performances in the market, which also determine whether investment trusts are to be traded at a discount or premium. Halkos and Krintas (2006) argue that in case s where investment trusts are managed in a highly professional manner and with a positive track record, investors may have the will to pay a premium for a share of the funds. This is also due to the fact that such trusts are often expected to maintain their superior performances in future. On the other hand, funds that are expected to underperform in the market are expected to be traded at higher discounts, mainly because of the scepticism that potential investors may have for the fund (Berk & Stanton, 2007). Estimation of future performance of investment trusts can be done by comparing trends in the NAV, which are estimated on a frequent basis. It can also be done by evaluating the managerial capabilities of the fund. It can be thus argued that investment trusts whose management has a good reputation tend to perform well in the market and therefore, trade at a premium. On the contrary, poorly managed trusts fail to thrive in the market and therefore, are likely to trade at a discou nt. Taxes Another reason why investment trusts trade at a discount is taxes. According to Jin(2006), full taxes on the realized capital gains of a fund are paid for by the current shareholders, even though the highest percentage of their gains was accumulated before the investors bought the shares. Based on this, it can be argued that funds whose accumulated gains are large ought to trade at a price lower than their NAVs also suggests that investment trusts that have a high appreciation of unrealized capital sell at discounts because holders of such funds assume potential tax liabilities that depend on the holding periods of the investors. Berk and Stanton (2007) posit that discounts in closed-end funds are partially caused by the fact that investors usually lose valuable opportunities to trade tax because of holding shares in closed-end funds. Some of the tax trading approaches include individual portfolio movement. On comparing British and U.S. closed-end funds, Cherkes et al.(2009) establis hed that British funds do not have the freedom of distributing capital gains as the US funds do. In addition, shareholders have no liability in case the invested capital gains tax, except if they decide to put the holdings that they have in the fund up for sale. Yet U.S. and British closed-end funds behave in a quite similar manner. Thus, it can be concluded that discounts in investment trusts and closed-end funds cannot be explained based on country-specific tax factors. Investor Sentiment Many researchers have focused on the aspect of investor sentiment as a reason for discounts in investment trust trading. This hypothesis was proposed Lee, Shleifer and Thaler in 1991 (Yanran & Liyan, 2007). According to them, premiums and discounts in closed-end funds are determined by the attitudes of opinions that investors have about them. To explain this hypothesis, two kinds of investors are identified. These are the noise investors and rational investors. Whereas the expectations of rational investors on their asset returns are rational, noise investors’ expectations are influenced by sentiment. They have the tendency of either overestimating or underestimating the expected returns on investment. Therefore, when investment trust shares are traded, noisy and rational investors make their investments based on their respective judgments. Due to the risk associated with assets and the fact that every investor is risk averse, closed-end funds ought to trade at equilibrium pri ces that reflect opinions of the noisy and rational investors, which are often discounts. A proposal was made by Halkos and Krintas (2006) that noisy investors tend to concentrate more on the closed-end fund ownership than on the ownership of the underlying assets of the funds. Pessimism by noise traders on the future of fund drives down its price to a value lower than its NAV. This causes rational investors to avoid the buying the fund’s shares because of the risks associated with trading the funds at a discount. Chan et al. (2008) also argue that the sentiment of noise traders is stochastic and, therefore, cannot be accurately predicted by rational traders. Particularly, it is impossible for rational investors to make a perfect forecast whether noise investors will either be pessimistic or optimistic at the time that they intend to sell their assets. Due to the fact that rational traders are careful about the prices with which they will resale their assets, the unpredictabl e nature of noise traders’ sentiment increases the level of risk on the assets they intend to trade (Kousenidis et al., 2011). The biggest risk associated with noise investors is that they will be pessimistic at the time when rational investors intend to sell their assets, causing a drop in prices. Since there is always a risk of an adverse sentiment shift, the possibility of trading shares at a discount is always existent (Yanran & Liyan, 2007). Conclusion This paper has provided an in-depth explanation of some of the reasons why investment trusts usually trade at a discount. Apart from this, other aspects of investment trusts have been explained. One of the main characteristics of investment trusts that has guided the establishment of reasons discussed in this paper is that it is a closed-end fund. This means that supply of shares is fixed, regardless of the market dynamics. Therefore, fluctuations of these funds that result into premiums or discounts are mainly caused by demand factors. The main reasons why investment trusts trade at discounts include the attitudes that investors have on the fund, commonly referred to as investor sentiment, agency costs and managerial abilities, taxes and miscalculation of the net asset value of the fund. However, the factor that is contented upon by most researchers in this field of finance is investor sentiment, which is a behavioural approach of understanding this concept. Some of the other reason s that have been cited in several other researchers include the institutional ownership and performance of the trust in the market. In future research, a more specific research could be carried out by focusing on a specific investment trust in the UK. References Barnhart, S.W. & Rosenstein, S., 2010. Exchange?Traded Fund Introductions and Closed?End Fund Discounts and Volume. Financial Review, 45(4), pp.973-94. Berk, J.B. & Stanton, R., 2007. Managerial Ability, Compensation, and the Closed?End Fund Discount. The Journal of Finance, 62(2), pp.529-56. Bradley, M., Brav, A., Goldstein, I. & Jiang, W., 2010. Activist arbitrage: A study of open-ending attempts of closed-end funds. Journal of Financial Economics, 95(1), pp.1-19. Chan, J.S., Jain, R. & Xia, Y., 2008. Market segmentation, liquidity spillover, and closed-end country fund discounts. Journal of Financial Markets, 11(4), pp.377-99. Cherkes, M., Sagi, J. & Stanton, R., 2009. A liquidity-based theory of closed-end funds. Review of Financial Studies, 22(1), pp.257-97. Halkos, G.E. & Krintas, T.N., 2006. Behavioural and fundamental explanations of discounts on closed end funds: an empirical analysis. Applied Financial Economics, 16(5), pp.395-404. Hartzell, J.C., Sun, L. & Titman, S., 2006 . The effect of corporate governance on investment: evidence from real estate investment trusts. Real Estate Economics, 34(3), pp.343-76. Jin, L., 2006. Capital gains tax overhang and price pressure. The Journal of Finance, 61(3), pp.1399-431. Kousenidis, D.V., Maditinos, D.I. & Sevic, Z., 2011. Premium/Discount Of Closed-End Funds As A Measure Of Investor Sentiment: Evidence From Greece. Journal of Applied Business Research, 27(4), pp.29-52. Yanran, W. & Liyan, H., 2007. Imperfect Rationality, Sentiment and Closed end fund Puzzle. Economic Research Journal, 3, pp.117-29.

Charlemagne The Undisputed Ruler of Western Europe

Charlemagne, also known as Charles the Great, became the undisputed ruler of Western Europe. As Western Europe was deteriorating Charlemagne was crowned the privilege of being joint king of the Franks in 768 A.D. People of Western Europe, excluding the church followers, had all but forgotten the great gifts of education and arts that they had possessed at one time. Charlemagne solidly defeated barbarians and kings in identical fashion during his reign. Using the re-establishment of education and order, Charlemagne was able to save many political rights and restore culture in Western Europe. Charlemagne was born in 742 A.D., to a very famous and well-known family. Charlemagne’s grandfather was Charles Martel, the man who was responsible for the defeat of the Saracens. Charlemagne was also the eldest son of Bertrade (also known as Bertha Greatfoot) and Pepin the Short, the first to become king of the Franks. With the almost full extinction of schools in the 8th century, many historians say that Charlemagne received very little education, but did learn the art of reading from Bertrade. The one thing that kept Charlemagne motivated throughout his entire life was his deep devotion to the church. Charlemagne was a tall young man with light blond hair, and was described by his secretary as stately and dignified. Charlemagne had great wit, but was stern at times. He had simple and moderate tastes; he enjoyed hunting, riding and swimming. Charlemagne had a large wardrobe with many Frankish dresses, linen shirts and breeches, silk-fringed tunics, hoses wrapped with bands, and for the winter he had coats made of otter or marten skins. Charlemagne asked his people to improve their lifestyles, but he divorced two of his four fives without any given cause. In 768 A.D., Charlemagne at the age of 26, along with his brother Carloman inherited the kingdom of Franks. However, in 771 A.D. Carloman died, making Charlemagne the sole ruler of the kingdom. At this time the northern part of Europe was out of order and unruly. In the south, the Roman Catholic Church was asserting itself alongside the Lombard kingdom in Italy. While in Charlemagne’s own kingdom, the people were becoming and acting as barbarians and neglecting education and faith. But Charlemagne was determined to make his kingdom as strong as possible. In 772 A.D., Charlemagne put forth a 30-year campaign to conquer and Christianize the extremely mighty Saxons in the north. He charged over the Avars, a large tribe on the Danube. He forced the Bavarians to surrender to him. When possible Charlemagne attempted to settle his conflicts peacefully. However, he was forced to use brute in some situations. For instance, Charlemagne offered to pay Desiderius for the return of lands to the pope, but after Desiderius refused, Charlemagne seized the kingdom of Desiderius and restored the Papal States. The most important aspect of Charlemagne’s conquests was his uncanny ability to organize. Charlemagne sent out more than 50 military missions during his time in power and he led the missions as commander more than half of the time. He was able to lead his troops through vast lands in unprecedented times, but his every move was planned ahead of time. Before every crusade, he informed all those involved the number of men needed, the weapons required, and he even went as far as to tell what should be in the supply wagons. These tactics were later studied and used by another great man, Napoleon. One of the smallest campaigns undertaken by Charlemagne became on of the most well known. In 778 A.D., Charlemagne led his troops into Spain and laid an attack on Saragossa. The movement failed and upon their recoil they were attacked from the rear and Count Roland one of the leaders of the group was killed in that battle. Roland went on to become a hero in medieval songs. By 800 A.D. Charlemagne was the sole ruler of Western Europe. His immense kingdom included what are now France, Switzerland, Belgium, and the Netherlands. It also covered half of present-day Italy and Germany, part of Austria, and the Spanish March. This Spanish March stretched to the Ebro River. Through his establishment of a single government over the entire Western Europe, Charlemagne re-established much of the old Roman Empire, which paved the way for the progress of present-day Europe. It was on Christmas Day in 800 A.D. that while praying in St. Peter’s in Rome, Pope Leo III approached Charlemagne with a golden crown and placed it on the head of the king. Charlemagne was a very noble man and he had great compassion for the peasant people and had a belief that that government was in place to benefit those that it governed. When Charlemagne came into power many of the people working under him were very careless and sometimes unfair. To change the ways of these people Charlemagne expanded their work, wrote down everything they did and forced them to work in groups of people. This helped those lacking in their work effort to restore some law and order. Two times a year Charlemagne would summon the leading man in the kingdom to talk about the happenings going around. Charlemagne always had the final word in everything including church matters. Charlemagne was determined in establishing improvement in lives of his people. By setting up money values he encouraged trade, he attempted to build a Rhine-Danube canal, and gave advice on different farming techniques. Charlemagne preached the most on education and Christianity to his people. He was responsible for the restoration of Palace School at Aachen, his capital. He also set up other schools for noble boys as well as peasants. Charlemagne was very devoted to education and he never stopped studying himself. He brought in scholars of many languages to his courts. He learned to read in Latin, some Greek, however, he was not too keen of mastering writing. During his dinners, he preferred to have men reading books to him rather than having jesters performing. For his churches, Charlemagne sent his monks to Rome to learn to sing. For his art collections, Charlemagne brought some valuable pieces from Italy. In the cathedral at Aachen there is a large monument, which stands in loyalty to Charlemagne for his religious devotion. Charlemagne built and was buried in the cathedral in Aachen. At the time of Charlemagne’s death in 814 A.D. only one of his three sons, Louis, was alive. Louis had a weak ruling after his father, which brought on many civil wars and rebellions. Charlemagne brought back order to Western Europe; he led his people to many victories and was responsible for the rise of Western Europe

BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill BP’s handling of the Situation BP’s immediate response to the disaster was a rather frantic attempt to coordinate emergency response to curb the oil spill (Macalister 2). This happened in the eve of April 20th (The Guardian 8). Many measures were applied to contain the oil leak but quite a number were unsuccessful in the initial stages.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More For example, the company tried to pump thousands of barrels of oil into the well to stop the leak but nothing much came out of it (The Guardian 8). The mitigation efforts were poorly coordinated and rather clumsy, with many of the company’s shareholders expressing fear that the company was going to significantly incur a lot of financial damages in the cleanup exercise (The Guardian 8). This caused BP’s shares to plunge by more than 2% (The Guardian 5). Howev er, the shares of the company hit an all-time low after it was estimated that the cleanup costs and litigation expenses were costing the company in excess of $2.35 billion (The Guardian 8). Nonetheless, after subsequent consultations with the company engineers, the oil leak was contained and sealed to this date. On 3rd June, the company embarked on efforts to carry out major advertising campaigns to boost the company’s image among the American public (The Guardian 5). This was undertaken through television commercials that were aired throughout the country. Soon afterwards, the company embarked on rewarding its shareholders with dividends; a move which was politically criticized because the crisis obviously implied increased financial burden for the company in cleanup costs (The Guardian). Considering there were a number of fatalities in the disaster, the company decided to pay $20 billion as compensation to the families (The Guardian 5). This translated to 13.5 billion Euros (The Guardian 5). The above responses implied a number of advantages and disadvantages to the company. Though containing the leak was the first response procedure the company undertook, its lack of coordination showed the company’s weakness in dealing with disasters. However, since it undertook efforts to curb the disaster (as a prompt strategic response) the company was perceived to take responsibility for its own misdeeds.Advertising Looking for assessment on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This was a swift strategy the company undertook. Another commendable response that the company undertook was to compensate the families of those who lost their members in the disaster. This was a positive strategy in portraying the company as having a human touch to its undertakings. In other words, the company was easily perceived as caring for its employees, as opposed to solely being driven by t he aim of making profits. The television commercials and advertisements developed by the company to improve its image was also a good strategy in minimizing the negative publicity the company got as a result of the disaster. However, the effectiveness of such a strategy depended on the content of the advertisements. Bad content or inappropriate advertising would have easily sealed the fate of the company in bad publicity, but if it were carefully crafted, it would have served its purpose. In this case, the adverts were carefully crafted and they served to mitigate the effects of the bad publicity (though not much effectiveness could be evidenced as will be seen in subsequent sections of this study). Relevance of Tench and Yeomans’ Statements in BP’s Situation Tench and Yeomans assertions that it was prudent for the organization to be prepared, knowledgeable, calm, controlled and easy in disseminating information applies best to the BP disaster because the responsive st rategy that the company undertook lacked specific elements identified above. One of the most important missing elements in BP’s disaster responsive strategy was the ability to be prepared. This failure was easily noticed from the company’s uncoordinated efforts to contain the oil spill. Though Tench and Yeomans note that no disaster response offers a hundred percent guarantee of working, it would have been beneficial for the company if it had an effective disaster preparedness strategy for such kind of disaster. Preparedness could easily have eased the level of stress on the company executives because they were held up in endless meetings to deliberate on how to go about the disaster (a step that could have been easily defined with the preparedness plan) (The Guardian 15). The Guardian further affirms that â€Å"some of the executives were complaining that they wanted their lives back† (16). This kind of assertion however angered the American public (The Guardia n 16).Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More With regards to knowledge management in crisis management, there were reports that BP was aware that its drilling well was leaking, days before the oil spill got out of hand (The Guardian 15). This was an invaluable piece of information for the company, if it acted on it in good time. Because the company disregarded such information, the disaster was extensively disastrous. The company exposed some sense of complacency in the way it responded to the crisis, and from the analysis of Taylor (9), such an attempt at disregarding important information is unacceptable and potentially dangerous (just like it was). Calm, as asserted by Tench and Yeomans is an important ingredient in crisis management when evidenced from the BP disaster. The lack of calmness in dealing with the gulf oil spill could be seen from BP†™s efforts to try and come up with a quick fix to the problem. This is the reason why there were a number of frantic efforts to salvage the situation and none of them worked for a couple of weeks (The Guardian 5). A sense of calm in crisis management would have been beneficial for the company because it would have allowed for adequate time to gather data relating to the situation, asses the situation, consult widely and ultimately form a team to deal with the disaster (Bolander 4). A failure to observe calm caused the company executives to freak out and consequently cause the disaster to spin out of control (The Guardian 5). Communication is also another important crisis management tool advanced by Tench and Yeomans because it helps in the spreading of rumors and perpetration of falsehoods regarding a given crisis. However, before proper communication is carried out, a proper communication structure needs to be in place. Preferably, the communication structure needs to be horizont al and not vertical. Those to be communicated with include the internal and external shareholders of the organization. BP failed to have a good communication plan in overseeing its crisis management efforts and that it why the company suffered increased financial damages. This kind of consequence is predicted by Schmidt who notes that: â€Å"Companies that underestimate the importance of effective employee communication during times of crisis often suffer significant economic damage as the result of, among other reasons, a lack of trust, low morale, and the subsequent loss of their most valuable asset, well-trained and dedicated employees† (7).Advertising Looking for assessment on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Lastly, Tench and Yeomans note that control is an important tool in crisis management. Control is often exercised by establishing crisis control centers (Conflict Research Consortium 1). Exercising control in crisis management is important in ensuring information is properly interpreted and up-to-date information regarding the given crisis is availed (Conflict Research Consortium 1). Also, control enables companies to negotiate crisis reduction steps incase current strategies fail to materialize (Conflict Research Consortium 1). BP did not fair badly with regards to this provision of crisis management, but such an observation cannot be specifically attributed to the company alone because the American government, through the Environmental protection agency (EPA) helped the company establish a control of the crisis (Gibbs 12). This can be evidenced through its establishment of the website: www.epa.gov/bpspill which provided the public with information regarding the responses the gover nment and the company were jointly undertaking (Gibbs 12). Comprehensively, from a personal point of view, BP should put in place an elaborate disaster preparedness plan that encompasses the above elements, just like Tench and Yeomans proposes. This kind of disaster management plan would be beneficial in ensuring most functional areas in crisis management are well catered for. Opportunities in Crisis Management The assertion by Jeflkins that organizations can potentially benefit from opportunities brought about by disasters is true because crisis management potentially poses a lot of opportunities in the event of a disaster. However, it should be understood that before any opportunities are capitalized in the event of a disaster, proper crisis management should have been first undertaken and all the people who need to be helped, are helped. This is a pre-condition to taking advantage of crisis opportunities, otherwise, if the above is not observed, the attempt to capitalize on an op portunity from a crisis may prove futile or cause more harm that it can. However, in coming up with opportunities in the event of a crisis, it should be acknowledged that in the process of rebuilding (after a crisis) people can capitalize on their experiences (after a crisis) to build something better to withstand future crises. For instance, since the BP oil spill was brought about by structural and human error, during the rebuilding of the damaged well, the engineers can build the well valves in a stronger way to prevent any future spillage. Also, policies can be formulated to correct future human errors of similar kind, say, through increasing human monitoring stages (and the likes) so that future calamities of the same magnitude can be avoided. Crises can also provide an opportunity for leadership change, in the sense that, leaders can develop better skills at handling their roles. In particular, â€Å"crisis leadership† can be an easily developed skill among a crop of le aders in an organization. This is probably an opportunity that BP failed to realize because its current crop of executives was up for resignation after the disaster (considering they were perceived as part of the problem since they failed to curb the disaster). In reference to this development, the US president, Barrack Obama, pointed out that he would have fired the company executive if he was working for him (The Guardian 32). Such sentiments were probably said because it is human nature to find someone to blame. However, such a strategy would not be recommended when analyzing the opportunities crisis and disasters bring to the organization. This is true because the company executives who were up for resignation were better placed to handle future company calamities (incase they happened) because they had adequate knowledge on how to handle such disasters. This experience is acquired first hand; meaning that it is possibly invaluable. How to Improve Company Corporate Image BP†™s corporate image should be improved through effective marketing strategies that can restore the company’s position in the corporate map. The marketing tools to be used change by the day but the company should consider using a wide variety of channels. This includes, website marketing tools, print media, television and radio. These tools should all be engaged simultaneously because the public should be bombarded by positive media advertisement regarding the company since it has been 9 months and the company may still continue to suffer from poor reputation and customer skeptism if it does not do something drastic. Firstly, since the company is currently experiencing a lot of customer skeptism, low customer confidence and confusion regarding the company’s ability to handle crises in a good manner; it is up to the company to project a good corporate image with these concerns in mind. Specifically, the company should project an image of dependability, reliability and r emorse so that they can win back customer confidence. More importantly, the company should project an image to portray the fact that it is doing everything in its capability to reverse back the damages it caused to the environment because environmental degradation is one concern which much condemnation was directed at the company. This involves doing something out of the ordinary, say, sponsor an environmental cause that projects a perception that the company really cares about the environment. Doing the bare minimum (which is cleaning up the oil spill) is not enough to restore public confidence, since many people would think it is only doing so with the aim of restoring â€Å"status quo†. Moreover, the company should be creative enough to devise ways through which it can communicate reasons why the company should be trusted again. A failure to do so will lead to less patronization of the company’s outlets because of a lack of customer commitment and therefore most of its traditional sales will go to its competitors. These factors should be communicated through print, internet, television and radio because the company needs to reach as many people as possible. This involves the use of an integrated marketing strategy because the more channels the public hears the message, the more effective the message is likely to be, and the more the number of people the company will reach. An integrated marketing strategy is also identified by many researchers a sure way of boosting the credibility of the company and trust between the company and the public (Optimal Marketing Communications 5). For example, Optimal Marketing Communications affirms that â€Å"Keep in mind that the more your target audience sees and hears the name of your organization or business, the easier it will be for you and your associates to sell your products, services, or point of view† (5). Secondly, since the company had already issued a number of press releases regarding the state of the disaster; the company should organize with the local media, and even international media, to carry out media interviews so that the company can explain the improvements it has made so far, and how it seeks to handle such kind of disasters in future (Optimal Marketing Communications 6). In the same regard, the company will also be in a good position to reiterate its environmental commitment, especially in light of the fact that the oil industry has been singled out to be one of the most visible catalysts to environmental degradation. This kind of public relations strategy should be pushed through television and radio. Thirdly, the company should push its â€Å"positive image† agenda through editorials and guest columns (written by either the company itself or its associates). In this kind of marketing strategy, the company should embark on resonating the company’s commitment in environmental preservation, but most importantly, the company should consider re iterating its past record of good environmental practices and how it has been mindful of its employees’ welfare. This will be in light of the number of employees the company lost in the disaster and how it responded to the same. A good record of disaster preparedness, environmental practices and employee welfare would instill a perception that the oil spill Disaster was a secluded case and probably an accident. Lastly, considering the company experienced a bad reputation not only among the public but also the company stakeholders; it is advisable that the company undertake a public relations exercise to restore the trust its stakeholders had with the company (and more especially with its management). This ought to be done through workshops and seminars where the company will communicate its position regarding the measures it has taken after the disaster and how it seeks to improve its image in light of the same. This strategy is important because company stakeholders support the management and operations of the company; so if the company cannot be guaranteed of internal support, it would be fighting a losing battle. Bolander, Jarie. Crisis Management for Creatives. 6 December. 2010. 15 February. 2011. thedailymba.com/2010/12/06/crisis-management-for-creatives/ Conflict Research Consortium. Crisis Management. 1998. 15 February. 2011. colorado.edu/conflict/peace/treatment/crisis_m.htm Gibbs, Robert. The Response to the Oil Spill. 5 May. 2010. 15 February. 2011. whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/05/01/response-oil-spill-5110 Macalister, Terry. Gulf oil spill: An industry at war with itself. 8 September. 2010. 15 February. 2011. http://gu.com/p/2jh94/tw/ Optimal Marketing Communications. Public Relations and Press Releases:  Powerful Cost-effective Marketing Tools. 2002. 15 February. 2011. http://marketingsurvivalkit.com/pr.htm Schmidt, Oliver. Effective Employee Communication in Times of Crisis. 2010. 15 February. 2011. disaster-resource.com/articles/04p_124.sh tml Taylor, Michael. Importance of Disaster Remember the Preparedness and Mitigation. 20 September. 2006. 15 February. 2011. associatedcontent.com/article/60392/remember_the_importance_of disaster.html The Guardian. BP Oil Spill Timeline. 22 July. 2010. 15 February. 2011. guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jun/29/bp-oil-spill-timeline- deepwater-horizon

Exercises in Identifying Adverb Clauses

Exercises in Identifying Adverb Clauses An adverb clause (also known as an adverbial clause) is a dependent clause used as an adverb within a sentence. These types of clauses can modify the whole sentence, as well as verbs, adverbs, and adjectives, and may show aspects such as time, reason, concession, or condition. These clauses may often start with words such as while, if, because, when, although, unless, since, so that, whereas, even if, in case, as long as, and other words. In contrast, an adjectival clause will modify a noun and start with a relative pronoun (that, who, whose, whom, or which) or a subordinate conjunction (when  and  where). Before doing these exercises, you may find it helpful to review the study sheet Building Sentences With Adverb Clauses. Practice Identifying Adverb Clauses Each of these  proverbial sayings contains an adverb clause. Identify the adverb clause in each sentence, and then compare your answers with those below. While the cats away, the mice will play.A lie travels around the world while truth is putting her boots on.If you dont know where you are going, any road will get you there.Memory is deceptive because it is colored by todays events.Never look down on anybody unless youre helping him up.You have to kiss a lot of toads before you find a handsome prince.Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.Life is what happens when you are making other plans.As soon as you forbid something, you make it extraordinarily appealing.Everything is funny, as long as its happening to somebody else.Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Cowards die many times before their death. Dont cross the bridge till you come to it. Dont put the cart before the horse. Answer Key In the following sentences, the adverb clauses are in  bold print. Examine what word or phrase theyre modifying and what aspect they show (time, reason, concession, or condition). For example, in sentence 1, the clause refers to the time that the mice will play. While the cats away, the mice will play.A lie travels around the world  while truth is putting her boots on.If you dont know where you are going, any road will get you there.Memory is deceptive  because it is colored by todays events.Never look down on anybody  unless youre helping him up.You have to kiss a lot of toads  before you find a handsome prince.Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.Life is what happens  when you are making other plans.As soon as you forbid something, you make it extraordinarily appealing.Everything is funny,  as long as its happening to somebody else.Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Cowards die many times before their death. Dont cross the bridge till you come to it. Dont put the cart before the horse.

The challenges facing the deployment and use of IT for the development Literature review

The challenges facing the deployment and use of IT for the development of public sector in Saudi Arabia - Literature review Example Majority of the people have expressed disbelief in the Saudi Arabia’s capability to transform the government towards accountability and transparency; the e-government could offer a solution in the country that is faced with deep rooted bureaucracy (Al-Jboori, Gharaibeh and Sahraoui 2006, p6). There are a number of challenges that the government of Saudi Arabia face in the deployment and implementation of IT in the public sector and they include; (a) government transformation and reform, (b) e-Citizen participation, (c) citizen access, security and privacy, (d) management of the e-government program, (e) evaluation, transparency, accountability, (f) soft and cultural barriers, and (g) the interoperability of the e-government platforms (Al-Jboori, Gharaibeh and Sahraoui 2006, p11). The rationale for the project is to identify the major obstacles or challenges that face the government of Saudi Arabia in the deployment and use of IT in the development of the public sector. Saudi A rabia is among the developing nations and the risks that are associated with the deployment of IT differ from those in the developed nations; these risks are associated with organizational and cultural factors (International Resources Management Association 2002, p36). Aim To analyze the level of IT development in Saudi Arabia To establish the level to which IT is applied in the public sector in Saudi Arabia To identify the main challenges in the deployment and the use of IT in the development of the public sector. To come up with tangible methods that can be used to alleviate these challenges. Tasks Research data is usually categorized as secondary and primary data. Primary data is developed by the researcher through the use of the data gathering techniques and secondary data is usually generated by others and it includes case materials, manual database, computer database, government departments, public organizations, and data-sets. There are a number of approaches that are used to collect data. The nature of the variables and the research questions determine the choice of the strategy for the collection of data (DeMatteo, Festinger and Marczyk 2010, n.p.). Preliminary preparations and obtaining Permissions Preliminary analysis of the public sector will be done; the preliminary analysis will be in the form of a pilot study. The analysis will entail finding suitable places (the places presumed to offer the required information) and in this case is the public sector. The number of respondents for this research is 50 people and they will be chosen randomly from the different sections of the public sector. These people have to be directly involved with issues concerning IT. Since the public sector is diverse, there are some institutions that restrict the collection of research data. A written consent or permission will have to be obtained from these institutions in the public sector. Data Collection For this research, both the primary and secondary will provide u seful information regarding the public sector in Saudi Arabia. The primary data will be collected from the researcher and the secondary data will be collected from the publications made by the government departments and in particular the department that is responsible for IT. Another important primary and

Consumer Behaviour and research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Consumer Behaviour and research - Essay Example e promoting people of businesses need to identify on how various clients evaluate services or products although the procedure is not simple to fathom. Here the customers might have the following elements of evaluation measures in mind prices, brand and quality (Malhotra 2012). Generally, the customer is supposed to purchase that service or product which up to maximum level satisfies his or her evaluation criteria; nevertheless, yet at this phase same element might change customers decisions (Solomon 2009). Customers purchasing decision procedure does not culminate with the procurement of the service or product, it engrosses itself within post-purchase procedure. This establishes whether the purchaser is pleased with service or product purchased or not. If pleased then super word of mouth will transpire and if the buyer is not pleased, he or she will not put in a good word concerning product or service. Consumers dissatisfaction, satisfaction or delightedness rests upon a buyer’s expectations as well as the service or product quality apparent performance (Malhotra 2012). Corporate buying decision procedure comprises of the ensuing steps: problem recognition, general need description, product specification, supplier search, proposal solicitation, supplier selection, order routine specification and performance review. Problem recognition will ensue when a corporation recognizes a need or problem, which can be met by purchasing a service or product (Ghauri 2010). For instance, Thornton Company can realize that one of its products is not selling maybe because of its taste. To improve the product, Thornton will have to buy new supplies or services to rectify the problem. When an organization wishes to improve its products or services, the traits of the products and services required are clearly stated (Keegan 2010). At Thornton, for instance, to improve the taste of a product, Thornton will give a description of ingredients needed to improve that product. After