Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Swot Analysis Of Gemini Electronics Financial Analysis

Running Header: Gemini Electronics Financial Analysis Gemini Electronics MBA 632: Measurement I Northwood University DeVos Graduate School Presented By: Gerald Andrews Dione Banks Etta Goss Barry Hornburg LaRyta Wiggins May 3, 2015 Dr. Adam Guerrero INTRO: Gemini shows continual growth and holds the U.S. market share at 35% proving itself to be a strong contender in this industry. T During that time their 2005-2008 net wage expanded significantly which could imply that there was sales growth and improved or reduced cost in operating efficiency. With a continuing increase in net income, there are potential opportunities for stock price and market cap increases. This will thusly make Gemini an ideal organization for potential speculators. In 2009 net income diminished although that could have occurred because of the recession happening in that time span. Customers possibly didn t have the assets to binge spend on TV s and hardware. There was likewise the risk of the Sony 3D TV and feature telephone abilities. There was also the threat of the Sony 3D television and video phone capabilities. In some cases it could be assumed that consumers were more attracted to what was new and trending at that time. PROBLEM STATEMENT: Gemini is generating revenue but slow to receive payment. Companies in the industry are not paying their accounts payable within 30 days and are not taking advantage of the early payment discount either; it is very expensive not to takeShow MoreRelatedUnited Parcel Service4219 Words   |  17 PagesIntroduction to UPS 3. History of UPS 4. SWOT Analysis and Porter’s five forces 5. UPS distribution network 6. Competitors of UPS 7. UPS trade direct portfolio of services 8. Importance of supply chain management 9. The way UPS interacts with its supply chain partners to improve the outcomes for customers. 10. Limitations 11. Features of the company’s operations which clearly reflect common practice in supply chain management. 12. UPS Sustainability Concept Analysis 13. Technologies and information systemsRead MoreChallenges and Current Trends of Crm in Pc Industry: a Case Study at Dell Asia Pacific5686 Words   |  23 Pagesget to the Internet. In the next decade a cellula r-based packet communications network and broadband will further grow the Internet. Over the next 10 years the PC industry will prosper and thrive with two additional driving forces —consumer electronics devices built with computing platforms (information appliances) and mobile devices such as PDA and mobile phones. The PC industry is very competitive and has a good record of adapting to emerging technologies and market trends. This is likely toRead MoreEssay Space-X Business Strategy8282 Words   |  34 PagesBy: Asana Kusnadi Mid Semester Examination Table of Content 1. Background 2. Vision Statement 3. SWOT Analysis of SpaceX 4. Porter’s Five Forces Model 5. SpaceX TOWS Matrix 6. SpaceX Business Model 7. SpaceX Business Level Strategy 8. Conclusions I. Background SpaceX or Space Exploration Technologies Corporation is a space transport services company headquartered in Hawthorne, California. It was founded in 2002 by former PayPal entrepreneur and TeslaRead MoreEffective Performance Management With The Balanced Scorecard Technical Report19419 Words   |  78 Pagesof any material in this publication can be accepted by the authors or the publishers. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means method or device, electronic (whether now or hereafter known or developed), mechanical, photocopying, recorded or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers. Translation requests should be submitted to CIMA. Effective Performance Management 1 Contents

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Financial Analysis and Forecast of Sweet Dreams Inc

Dreams M.I.A. Consulting | Financial Analysis and Forecasting of Sweet Dreams Inc. Sweet Dream Incorporated (SDI) is a manufacturing company focused on mattress and box spring production for large retailers and hotel chains. With two facilities at their disposal, SDI manufactures over 20 different styles of bedding for their consumers. SDI’s founder and president, Douglas May, has contacted our consulting firm with regards to current financial problems between himself and SDI’s bank, First International Bank. Due to the spike in bank failures in the early 1990’s First National has become extremely sensitive to problem loans (loans which show ratio performances below the industry standard). Unfortunately, SDI has had poor liquidity†¦show more content†¦Inv Turn (cost) Inv Turn (sale) FA Turnover TA Turnover DSO Profitability Profit Margin Gross PM Return on TA ROE Other Altman Z 2) After finding the results of Question one, it is evident that SDI has more weaknesses than strengths as of 1995. If you look at the common size statements, Table 3, it shows that inventory increased as a percentage of sales, which indicates that a smaller percentage is being sold. All current liabilities increased as a percentage of total liabilities, which indicates that SDI is facing more debt. Figure one also clearly shows many of the weaknesses of SDI. Both liquidity ratios are below the industry average. Although the debt ratio appears to be above the industry average, it is actually a weakness because it indicates that SDI has more debt than equity. The only asset management ratio that is above industry average is the fixed asset turnover ratio, the rest are either equal to, or beneath their industry average. However, it’s not all bad; Figure one also shows that SDI has managed to hold a payout ratio on dividends that is 5 percent above the industry average. 3) Based on our analysis of historical data, I do not believe that the bank should lend the requested money to SDI. We believe SDI is unfit for the loan because they are below the industry average in a majority ofShow MoreRelatedHow the Wrigley Company Became One of the Most Recognized Companies in the World1592 Words   |  7 Pagesthe SP 500. It is also considered one of the great American success stories about a man, a dream, with the ambition and perseverance to see a dream turn into reality. William born entrepreneur with a keen sense for identifying opportunities and maximizing where others only saw risk. Some of Wrigley’s competitors at the time were the Hershey Company, Cadbury Schweppes, and Tootsie Roll Industries Inc. William Wrigley Jr. directed all of his energies toward producing his own line of chewing gumsRead MoreHarley Davidson7001 Words   |  29 PagesHARLEY-DAVIDSON INC. INTRODUCTION Harley Davidson is one of the largest manufacturers in the United States. It has become a major leader in the Industry for creating the heavyweight motorcycle that has been designed for â€Å"cruising on the highway.† (http://en.wikipedia.org). In this paper we will discuss how the heavyweight motorcycle market has become an important asset to the industry. We will include the major strategies that have been established and the breakdown of the manufacturing processRead MoreRocky Mountain Audit8394 Words   |  34 PagesEnvironment†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.10 3.9. Task Environment Forces†¦....†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..10 3.10. External Factors Analysis†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...11 3.11. Internal Factors Analysis†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦13 3.12. Mission and Objective Review................................................................................13 3. SWOT/TOWS Analysis†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦13 4. Strategic Alternatives............†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦14 5. Evaluation and Control...Read MoreHamleys Positioning7707 Words   |  31 Pagesworld of teddy bears, singing dolls, miniature pianos that play nursery rhymes, battery operated cars and stuffed dogs and rabbits that walk, talk and shake hands. In one word: Toys. Toy merchants of yester years gave shape to the creative fancies and dreams of young ones and grow-ups alike. Once upon a time, toys were given away as wedding presents to the child bride. Today, toys not only provide a diversion but also a colorful canvas for depicting Indian life in its plethora of cultural beauties. Read MoreCost Accounting134556 Words   |  539 Pagesfor COST ACCOUNTING Creating Value for Management Fifth Edition MICHAEL MAHER University of California, Davis Table of Contents Chapter 1 Cost Accounting: How Managers User Cost Accounting Information Chapter 15 Using Differential Analysis for Production Decisions Chapter 2 Cost Concepts and Behaviour Chapter 16 Managing Quality and Time Chapter 3 Cost System Design: An Overview Chapter 17 Planning and Budgeting Chapter 4 Job Costing Chapter 18 Flexible BudgetingRead MorePizza Hut Marketing Brief5494 Words   |  22 Pagesoperates in more than 100 countries and territories throughout the world. How they do their best Family ties. Another important step in our growth came in 1977 when Pizza Hut was acquired by one of the true giants of international business: PepsiCo, Inc. As part of the PepsiCo corporate family, Pizza Hut shared its leadership position with such fine products as Pepsi-Cola ® brand soft drinks and Frito-Lay ® brand snack foods. In October 1997, PepsiCo spun off the restaurant businesses (Pizza Hut, KFCRead MoreEssay on Analytical Summaries4643 Words   |  19 Pagesthey did discover an unusual genetic variation that seems to accompany the mysterious gene when it is passed along. Hence, it might serve as a â€Å"marker† for the Huntington disease gene. Preparing for Problems. Dr. Gusella and Integrated Genetics, Inc., a small biotechnology company he works with, are sifting through genes of Huntington’s-disease families looking for a second genetic marker, which would make the test more than 99% accurate. They then must confirm the mutant gene as the only causeRead MoreCase Studies67624 Words   |  271 PagesCase Studies C-1 INTRODUCTION Preparing an effective case analysis C-3 CASE 1 CASE 2 CASE 3 CASE 4 CASE 5 CASE 6 CASE 7 ABB in China, 1998 C-16 Ansett Airlines and Air New Zealand: A flight to oblivion? C-31 BP–Mobil and the restructuring of the oil refining industry C-44 Compaq in crisis C-67 Gillette and the men’s wet-shaving market C-76 Incat Tasmania’s race for international success: Blue Riband strategies C-95 Kiwi Travel International Airlines Ltd C-105 CASE 8 Beefing up the beeflessRead MoreStock Investment19083 Words   |  77 Pagesfull of hopes and dreams. I was transforming to become more financially responsible and aware. No one needed to educate me on why invest, as I suddenly realised that to achieve these dreams, I needed to shed a bit of my happy-go-lucky attitude and set longer term financial goals. And to achieve these financial goals, I needed to invest! 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Sunday, December 8, 2019

My First Real Teacher free essay sample

I was fifteen when I encountered my first real teacher. I didnt know it at the time, in fact, I thought I hated her. The first assignment for English was too easy. She asked our class to write a piece about an influential, person, place or memory. I chose to write about my lake house, a topic I had already written about and received a lot of praise for. Simply put, it was the place that my parents met and fell in love. Our memories there are eternally frozen in happiness. This teacher knew about my original piece and she was not happy to see me beating my lake house to death, theres only so much imagery one can use. Our entire school year together went this way, pushing and pulling, always dissatisfied with one another. In June, when the school came to a end, I knew that she had written some of her favored students letters, thank ing them for participating in her class, wishing them luck and giving them praise. We will write a custom essay sample on My First Real Teacher or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I did not receive a letter. I ended my sophomore year on good terms with my other instructors, but never found common ground with Mrs. Geurin. Throughout the first semester of junior year, we would pass in the hall, barely looking up from our feet, never uttering a word to each other, distracted by more important things. It was not until February that we spoke at the most unusual of places, my fathers wake. At first, I was angry that she had the audacity to show up. Did she even care? She didnt even know him! I stood, surrounded by good company, watching her kneel by my fathers casket, completely baffled. She wandered around the room, looking at pictures and flowers, as if visiting wakes were her pastime. It was not until she approached me that I realized she was crying even harder than I was. She took her time reaching me, in slow motion strides, probably feeling as uncomfortable as me. When she reached me, she looked me right in the eye and pulled me into a suffocating embrace,. â€Å"Kali† she said, â€Å"I am so, so sorry. My own father passed away just three weeks ago, and I, I just, I completely feel your pain.† I was dumbfounded. I had realized that she had lost her father, but I didnt see the connection between us just yet. She had rejected me in my most vulnerable form, my wri ting. That was not something that I was willing to so easily forgive. A couple of weeks later, she slipped into my study hall as I was doing a mindless homework assignment, reality had not yet set in entirely. She walked toward me, hand outstretched with an envelope. She gave me a knowing nod, placed it onto my desk. I tore it open and read the first of many letters from a woman I have come to know as Diane. She told me that her father, also had cancer, also passed away in just six months and had been her best friend too. It was not just this letter, but this act of  ­kindness that taught me my greatest life lesson. People sometimes lose touch with what it means to be human. Egos and ideas may conflict with one another, but once the emotional barrier we so carefully craft is broken, we become more than just facade, pretense, impressions; we become human. I wouldnt have said that Diane Geurin was a compassionate human being if you had asked me two years ago, but I wouldnt have been able to  ­consider myself one either. Losing has taught us both how to appreciate life.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Last Days of Socrates free essay sample

Analyzes Platos depiction of Greek philosophers trial, self-defense, integrity, spirituality, ideas on individual-state relationship. Several of the dialogues of Plato recount the trial, sentence, and execution of Socrates, with his friends gathered around. An image of the man emerges from these dialogues showing him to be a person of fierce integrity, a man who would rather die than consider himself dishonored, and a man who charges his friends to allow him to live life as he sees fit. Even as Socrates challenges aspects of the society of Athens, he demonstrates the importance of certain values in that society both in his own person and even in the charges brought against him, however incorrect those charges may be. Plato presents an explicit statement of the relationship between the individual and societyeven an unjust societyin the form of the Apology, the statement of Socrates to the court that finally sentences him to death. We will write a custom essay sample on Last Days of Socrates or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The speech represents the

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

The 19th Ammendment essays

The 19th Ammendment essays Suffrage Wins in Senate; Constitutional Amendment is Passed, fifty-six to twenty-five. Women May Vote in nineteen-twenty- The New York Times June fifth, nineteen-nineteen. Spanning from eighteen-forty to nineteen-nineteen, the fight for the voice of women everywhere to be heard took determination, courage, and endurance to be noticed in what was then considered a mans world. The nineteenth amendment states the right of the citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex in section one. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation in section two. (Jefferson.) With this, women now were victorious in their efforts to be involved Back in the late eighteen hundreds and early nineteen hundreds, the line from the Declaration of Independence, all men are created equal had little to no value in society. Men were taught on higher educational levels and trained to be equipped for the work force and business success. Women, on the other hand, were taught not about advanced math or science, but how to run a household and other womanly things. However, during a world-wide antislavery convention in London in the eighteen-forties, a flame for womens rights was ignited. Elizabeth Cady Stanton of Johnstown, New York was of a religious family background and social status. Her husband, Henry Stanton, was an abolitionist organizer and active in the campaign for antislavery. She grew up one of seven children to Daniel and Margaret Cady and overcame several gender obstacles such as attending Johnstown Academy where she was at the top of her all male classes. While attending the convention in London, she met Lucretia Mott, a well known womens rights reformist, who was chosen as the American delegate to the convention. It ...

Friday, November 22, 2019

Fewer numbers without language - Emphasis

Fewer numbers without language Fewer numbers without language Those who see themselves more as number people than word people might be surprised to learn that their understanding of numbers is actually dependent on language. New research has found that, without language, it is impossible to properly comprehend larger quantities. The findings come from a study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, of a deaf community in Nicaragua. With no knowledge of Spanish or formal sign language, these people have created their own signing system; but it doesnt include vocabulary for numbers. This is despite the fact that they live and work in a numerate society. During the experiments, members of the group often lost track of specific numbers above three. In one test, participants were asked to respond to taps on the hand by tapping the same amount back, but they tended to be out by one or two. Theyre not wildly off, says Elizabet Spaepen, the lead researcher. They can approximate quantities, but they dont have a way of getting to the exact number. Although humans have been shown to have an innate numerical understanding, we are only naturally adept at understanding small numbers and estimating large ones. We need words in order to bridge that gap. What language does is give you a means of linking up our small, exact number abilities with our large approximate number abilities, says Daniel Casasanto, a researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics in the Netherlands. And we wouldnt be where we are today without this vital link. It has been the tool that gave rise to the society we live in, Casasanto says. The skyscrapers we work in and the computers that were talking on right now all of these things are possible because of exact large number and humans ability to manipulate them. Something to consider next time youre managing your portfolio, balancing your chequebook, or sharing out MMs in the office.

Fewer numbers without language - Emphasis

Fewer numbers without language Fewer numbers without language Those who see themselves more as number people than word people might be surprised to learn that their understanding of numbers is actually dependent on language. New research has found that, without language, it is impossible to properly comprehend larger quantities. The findings come from a study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, of a deaf community in Nicaragua. With no knowledge of Spanish or formal sign language, these people have created their own signing system; but it doesnt include vocabulary for numbers. This is despite the fact that they live and work in a numerate society. During the experiments, members of the group often lost track of specific numbers above three. In one test, participants were asked to respond to taps on the hand by tapping the same amount back, but they tended to be out by one or two. Theyre not wildly off, says Elizabet Spaepen, the lead researcher. They can approximate quantities, but they dont have a way of getting to the exact number. Although humans have been shown to have an innate numerical understanding, we are only naturally adept at understanding small numbers and estimating large ones. We need words in order to bridge that gap. What language does is give you a means of linking up our small, exact number abilities with our large approximate number abilities, says Daniel Casasanto, a researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics in the Netherlands. And we wouldnt be where we are today without this vital link. It has been the tool that gave rise to the society we live in, Casasanto says. The skyscrapers we work in and the computers that were talking on right now all of these things are possible because of exact large number and humans ability to manipulate them. Something to consider next time youre managing your portfolio, balancing your chequebook, or sharing out MMs in the office.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Journal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 21

Journal - Essay Example Kennedy has several points he wants to drive home in his inaugural speech. First, he seeks to pass a message of accomplishment to his fans and a new era to Americans and beyond. His speech starts with diction to show his presidential accomplishment and to pass a message to Americans that he believes in the freedom gained through his election. Secondly, his speech seeks to get support from Americans to back his presidency. He achieves this through awakening Americans pre-existing sense of pride by reminding them of their heroic independent day. Kennedy seems to have a deeper understanding of his audience most of which happened to be Americans. He knows that independent day means so much to Americans and so his reference to it and to forbearers creates some support for Kennedy through association. His reference to history also helps him achieve the aspect of credibility needed by his audience. In addition, Kennedy portrays an understanding of the audience by constructing a message desi gned for the media. His message is rhetoric and full of imagery, which makes it appealing to the public in America and beyond and memorable. Kennedy is a man of good character. After being sworn in and acknowledging the purpose of the celebrations, Kennedy goes ahead to declare the solemnity of this act. Kennedy states, â€Å"For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forbears prescribed nearly a century and three-quarters ago† (Kennedy web). Kennedy acknowledges the supreme power above him, which is God. In addition, he does not take the entire glory of the success but recognises that his forebears had prescribed it. In addition, Kennedy uses a polite tone it trying to get support for his presidency. For instance, Kennedy says, â€Å"Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts,

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Inter-Recial Prejudice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Inter-Recial Prejudice - Essay Example Important aspects of this definition are the words ‘damage/ injury’, ‘judgment/ action’ and ‘disregard’. Both damage and disregard may be considered as a result of the judgment passed by the person practicing prejudice upon the person who is at the receiving end. Research in prejudice (Baron and Bryne, 208-209) shows that such judgments are passed on the basis of stereotypes held and on the basis of the discrimination resulting from the stereotypes. Stereotypes are cognitive shortcuts that people use in order to categorize individuals on the basis of a few characteristics; without paying attention to any other characteristics that may distinguish the particular individual from the group. The stereotypes in themselves are not negative; but may be associated with other negative thoughts about the categories, which are then applied to the particular individual without even ascertaining if the individual deserves to be categorized in this manner. Mo ghaddam (in Schneider, Gruman and Coutts, 345) defines prejudice as ‘an attitude based solely on group membership’. This definition underlines the fact that an individual’s membership to a particular group is an important aspect of the way people view them; and could bias the attitudes of others if they hold stereotypes about the said group. Most types of group memberships are invisible to the outsider – for example, training, education, occupation, and religion. Unless the individual divulges these facts, others are unable to classify him / her on the basis of these affiliations that the individual has. But membership to groups like gender and race are not invisible; and come across as part of the individual’s physical characteristics. Thus, it becomes easy for others to classify an individual on the basis of these factors. When people from different racial background interact, often the first information they share with each other before they even initiate contact is the information supplied by their physical appearance. If an individual holds a negative stereotype against a particular race; he / she is likely to feel prejudiced against individuals from that racial background. This prejudice would be experienced even before there is any communication; and it is likely that due to the pre-existing prejudice, this individual short-changes the other simply due to their racial background (Sears, Peplau, Freedman and Taylor, 417). Baron and Bryne (207) describe another important aspect of why people experience prejudice – social categorization. They describe how people tend to categorize others on the basis of the extent to which they feel similar to those individuals. Persons who are perceived as similar become part of the ‘in-group’, and those who seem different become part of the out group. People also typically feel more favorable towards members of an in-group then towards members of an out-group. This is because people like to feel good about themselves and their group memberships; and thus tend to highlight not just the positive aspects of their individual selves, but those of others they feel similar to. For the same reason, they play down the negative aspects of their own and similar others’ behaviors. On the other hand, people tend to exaggerate the weaknesses of dissimilar others, and play down the positive aspects of their behavior. This leads to the Fundamental attribution error – a fallacy where people attribute positive causes to personal behavior (and as a consequence the behavior of similar others) and negative causes to behaviors of dissimilar others. Although the reason why humans prefer to categorize people into in-groups and out-groups is not properly understood; it is a tendency that is found in all people

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Performance Management and Executive Compensation Essay Example for Free

Performance Management and Executive Compensation Essay Introduction In the history of modern economies, from the late 1800s to today businesses have faced ethical challenges regarding compensation for executives and its relation to job performance. In response to major economic crises during the 20th century, the United States enacted broad-based legislation measures as attempts to prevent what were seen as ethical challenges and agency conflicts surrounding both performance management and executive compensation. To understand the current issues facing businesses and regulators, it is important to look at three of most significant legislative acts Congress has passed. The Securities Exchange Acts of 1933 and 1934, as well as the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002 represent legislative interventions regarding corporate financial accounting toward the goal of curtailing the ethical challenges and the conflict of agency problems that can arise from performance management and executive compensation. Yet even after these laws were enacted, ethical conflicts can and still do arise when it comes to the compensation for employers and executives. Securities Act of 1933 The Securities Act of 1933 was born in response to the stock market crash of 1929. Just as it was then, companies who issue securities to raise money for funding new investments or to expand operations have an inherent incentive to present their company and its plans in the rosiest light possible to investors (Sarkar, 2013). The Securities Act of 1933 serves the dual purpose of ensuring that issuers of securities to the public disclose material information to investors as well as ensuring that any securities transactions are not based on fraudulent information or practices (Sarkar, 2013). The Securities Act of 1933 affects public disclosures through a mandatory registration process for sellers and brokers and applies to the sale or trade of any regulated security type (Sarkar, 2013). Securities Act of 1934 (a.k.a. the Exchange Act) The Exchange Act primarily regulates transactions of securities that take place after its initial offering by a company (Sarkar, 2013). These transactions often take place between parties other than the issuer, such as through trades that retail investors execute via brokerage firms (Sarkar, 2013). The biggest effect of The Exchange Act was the creation of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), a federal agency responsible for regulating the securities markets (Sarkar, 2013). Since 1934, the SEC has taken on the role of mitigating fraud, abuse, and other ethical issues in the financial reporting of publicly traded entities. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 The Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) Act of 2002 was the most significant legislation passed since the 1930s and came in the aftermath of the corporate scandals at companies such as Enron, WorldCom, and Arthur Andersen (Amadeo, 2013). Sarbanes-Oxley created the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), a new organization whose purpose is to help oversee the accounting industry (Amadeo, 2013). To prevent the sort of conflicts of interest that had led to the Enron fraud, SOX established new prohibitions for auditors when engaging in consultation work for their auditing clients. It also banned company loans to executives and gave increased job protections to whistleblowers (Amadeo, 2013). Performance Management and Executive Compensation Even after the passing of the Securities and Exchanges Acts of 1933 and 1934 and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, there are reasons to be concerned about ethical violations in financial accounting. Two areas where there still exist possibilities for unethical activity which could harm the supply of reliable information to investors are the performance management within a company and the compensation packages of executives. Current Ethical Challenges When evaluating situations to support ethical decision-making, one must first identify the ethical problems as they arise (Eldenburg, 2005). Performance measurements are most often measured in terms of time or financial figures – â€Å"how long† or â€Å"how much.† When selecting a new CEO, the board of directors is required to offer a financial package that is both lucrative enough to attract the most qualified individual and yet also appears fair to other ranking executives of the company. Such financial packages need to be approved by the major shareholders when the salary will impact the company’s financial reports. During an economic recession, firms may significantly downsize their workforce as well as benefits and labor rates employees receive, yet often find themselves contractually obligated to hand-out large bonuses and increasing salaries for their executives. This is potentially a major ethical issue for a company and its executives, with the fibers of the company being reduced while executives are earning more and more – even though the firm is struggling. â€Å"CEOs at the countrys 200 largest companies earned an average of 20 percent more last year than in 2009, according to recent corporate filings. By comparison, average pay for workers in the private sector rose just 2.1 percent last year—nearly the smallest increase in decades† (Harkinson, 2011). It is also not unheard of for CEOs to be forced to step down while still receiving their lucrative compensation packages only to also be given a generous â€Å"golden parachute† as they leave. Excesses like this can have detrimental effects on employee morale as the majority of the company often consists of those earning the least. Boards of directors should take into consideration the financial standing of the firm before they offer an over-the-top compensation package to a CEO. As an illustration of the contrary, Steve Jobs volunteered to work at Apple for a salary of only $1 per year: â€Å"A regulatory filing shows Apple CEO Steve Jobs’ compensation package remained the usual $1 in fiscal 2010†¦ as is customary, Jobs got no bonus or perk† (Steve Jobs, n.d.). In terms of ethical challenges and executive compensation, Jobs proved by his example that it is possible to put the company first – even if that meant earning a salary of $1. CEOs do not often have to settle for such low salaries to show leadership and camaraderie; however, accepting less exorbitant amounts can help avoid accusations of greed and impropriety altogether. Current Agency Issues â€Å"Principals hire agents to make decisions for them and to act in their behalf† (Eldenburg, Wolcott, 2005, pp. 591). Often, agents may go on to hire agents of their own, delegating authority and establishing sub-units known as responsibility centers which can decentralize decision-making and accountability. A particularly special case of the principal-agent relationship involves the executives of companies who are effectively agents of the shareholders selected to run the company. â€Å"Four common types of responsibility centers are cost centers, revenue centers, profit centers, and investment centers.† (Eldenburg Wolcott, 2005, pp. 595) Those agents who possess decision-making authority over a responsibility center use demographic financial data provided by the accountants for budgets and reviews of sales, profits/losses, value appraisals, and costs. Accountant and audit provided information is used to evaluate and measure performance, monitor the effectiveness of managers, reward performance, and influence decisions. (Eldenburg Wolcot, 2005) The audit information accountants prepare and present is vital to the principal/agent relationship and performance measurement, but also has its costs. The primary challenge presented by the principal/agent relationship concerns the high level of pressure to perform that an agent can experience in the form of the agent’s compensation. Money, as well as other forms of compensation such as bonuses and stock options, increased authority, and ownership expectations are direct motivators of challenges to the ethical foundation of agent performance. When principals evaluate the performance of agents, their decisions are likely to be based on the same accounting information their agents also used. This common use provides a potential incentive for an agent to alter, falsify, or otherwise misrepresent certain data that principals receive. As decision-making authority is granted from a principle to an agent, the agent’s performance is evaluated to some degree from each authority level. Evaluating the effectiveness of the decisions made in each agency level or responsibility center is the core of measuring, monitoring, and motivating performance. Poor performance leads to a loss of decision-making authority, responsibilities, compensation, and other benefits within the entire principal-agent structure. Conversely, outstanding performance has the opposite effect and benefits everyone up the principal-agent ladder. Conclusion The Securities Exchange Acts of 1933 and 1934 are essential because of their transparency as spelled out in their objectives, and for providing prospective investors detailed information about investment decisions. Their main purpose was to protect shareholders from misrepresentation and scam in the selling of security. The Acts mandated that securities sold to the public within the United States of America must be listed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Later, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) was established to make sure that CFOs and CEOs authenticate and approve the financial reporting of their companies. Despite these monumental pieces of regulation, which resulted in the creation of two separate oversight agencies, there are still situations susceptible to ethical challenges and agency issues; particularly concerning performance management and executive compensation. References Amadeo, K; 2013. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Retrieved from http://useconomy.about.com/od/themarkets/p/sarbanes-oxley.htm Eldenburg, L. Wolcott, S. (2005). Cost management: Measuring, monitoring, and motivating performance, (1st ed). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley Sons. Harkinson, J. (2011). Americas 10 Most Overpaid CEOs. Retrieved from http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2011/04/10-most-ridiculously-overpaid-ceos McConnell, C., Brue, S. (2005). Economics: principles, problems and policies (16th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. Sarkar, D; 2013. Securities Act. Retrieved from http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/securities_act_of_1933 Steve Jobs again earned $1 for work. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.timesleader.com/stories/Steve-Jobs-again-earned-1-for-work-at-A,115771

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Communication Traits of Happy Couples Essay -- Relationships

There are couples who are happy and there are those who are not. The success rate of marriages in America has fallen; fifty percent of all marriages will not make it to the end. Fifty percent of all marriages today, who enter into a â€Å"lifelong† commitment, will end in divorce. In search of a solution and an explanation researchers have turned to look at couples who are happy and those who are not, through all stages of a relationship. They have found that many of the traits that begin in a dating relationship will carry over into a marriage. Researchers have turned to the ways in which these happy couples communicate and the ways that not so happy couples communicate in order to find a common thread between couples who stay committed to one another while being satisfied in the relationship. There are communicative traits practiced by these couples who are happy. Those traits include but are not limited to successful conflict resolution, communicative responses to situati ons which threaten your relationship, the use of rituals to build relational quality and intimacy, the role of affection in relational satisfaction. There is a correlation between successful conflict resolution and relational satisfaction in a relationship. It is important to note that not only is it important for conflicts to be resolved in a relationship but the way in which those conflicts are handled has a direct effect on the satisfaction and the success of the relationship or the marriage. It often times is not the subject matter of the fight which affects the relationship the most, it is the way in which the conflict is handled, â€Å"How couples argue and disagree about issues appears to be more consequential to the success of a marriage than what they ar... ...d and Dating Relationships,† 256. Kennedy-Lightsey, Booth-Butterfield, â€Å"Responses to Jealousy Situations That Evoke Uncertainty in Married and Dating Relationships,† 256. Kennedy-Lightsey, Booth-Butterfield, â€Å"Responses to Jealousy Situations That Evoke Uncertainty in Married and Dating Relationships,† 256. Kennedy-Lightsey, Booth-Butterfield, â€Å"Responses to Jealousy Situations That Evoke Uncertainty in Married and Dating Relationships,† 258. Angela Hoppe-Nagao, Stella Ting-Toomey, â€Å"Relational Dialectics and Management Strategies in Marital Couples,† Southern Communication Journal 67 (2002): 151. Hoppe-Nagao, Ting-Toomey, â€Å"Relational Dialectics and Management Strategies in Marital Couples,† 151. Kory Floyd, â€Å"Human Affection Exchange: V. Attributes of the Highly Affectionate,† Communication Quarterly 50 (2002): 135.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Paschal Mystery

Gabrielle Murabito Brother Jim, S. A. C. New Testament 9 April 2013 Paschal Mystery Essay God had a wonderful plan for everything He created for all things that exist. The Paschal Mystery is Christ work of redemption through His Passion, death, Resurrection, Ascension, and Pentecost. The term Paschal mystery comes from the Pasch, which is the Passover event of the Exodus. God sent the ancient Hebrews from slavery and death in Egypt, so Jesus could save us from original sin and eternal death. God the Father sent His Son to rescue all humanity.His Son did this by dying for the whole world. He willingly offered himself for the salvation through His suffering, death, Resurrection, Ascension, and Pentecost. Christians call it the Paschal Mystery because we celebrate this in the sacrament of Eucharist. Eucharist represents Christ’s body and that was given to His followers on the Last Supper. It is all meant to show God’s love and Jesus’ suffering. Jesus redeemed himsel f through His passion, death, Resurrection, Ascension, and Pentecost.Jesus’ passion is He, Himself, suffering through and eventually dying on the cross. In Mark 14:58, the footnote 14:38 states that â€Å"Everyone is faced with this struggle, the full force of which Jesus is accepted on our behalf and, through his bitter passion and death, achieved the victory†. Jesus accepted His passion when He accepted His cross and out of His own free will, died for us. Jesus’ death only lasted 3 hours. When others got crucified, it lasted days.Jesus was mocked until His death, beaten many times, had to carry His own cross, and when He was put on the cross, He eventually died from suffocation because He had too much fluid in His lungs from hanging. His death was very painful but He did it for all of us. In Mark 15:39, it says, â€Å"When the centurion who stood facing Him saw how He breathed his last he said, Truly this man was the Son of God! †. His death proved to e veryone that He, Jesus was the Son of God. On the third day, Jesus resurrected.Many did not believe, they were afraid. His resurrection changed Him physical. He was no longer the same. Jesus could walk through walls but could still be able to eat and touch people. His resurrection also proved that He was the Son of God. â€Å"So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. † Mark 16:19, explains the Ascension of Jesus. He ascended into heaven in His resurrected body. This proves that all humanity is taken into heaven.Jesus mission on earth has been accomplished and will return again someday. On the fifteenth day following Easter when the Holy Spirit is made present, given, and communicated as divine Person of the Trinity. Pentecost is an event when the Apostles and Disciples were in the upper room and the Holy Spirit came upon. â€Å"The Holy Spirit gave them abilities. † This event marked the beginni ng of the manifestation of the gifts and fruits of the Spirit. Now, Jesus’ mission will be completed through others. Jesus, the redeemer, saved the whole world from sin.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Career Success at What Cost? Essay

This essay is about how a woman adjusts and sacrifices her life to be able to meet needs of the work life balance vs. the personal life balance. It is achieved by looking closely at the two main characters and how they constantly have to choose between personal and work life and to be able to maintain a balance or rather not. It is a good choice of movie to look into the theme of work life vs personal life, as this is a common existing problem in today’s work culture and it enlightens the choices and options one has to choose from. This essay looks at two different women who work in a same field yet are worlds apart and end up having to choose either or . The essay then concludes about that choices needed or demanded to be made and sacrifices are made by every individual in the end whether they want to or not. We all hope to have a boss who guides and inspires us to fulfil our professional goals as we contribute to our organization’s success. However, recognizing how rare that kind of mentor is, many of us are satisified to work for someone who is unsuccessful, but pleasant to work with, someone who would guide us and be approachable without biting our heads off. Such a person is, at least, more tolerable than a boss who makes every workday a living hell. The Devil Wears Prada brings to life that very terrifying scenario. Andrea Sachs (Anne Hathaway), a college graduate who won writing prizes as a student but is unable to secure a job in journalism, had to settle for a job that is related creatively to her choice of expertise. Andrea (Andy) is assigned as the assistant to Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), who is the editor in chief of Runway magazine based in the busy lives of Manhattan. The tasks Miranda assigns her – range from finding and fetching only vaguely described pants to scoring the latest unpublished Harry Potter manuscript within a very limited time frame. All these have nothing in relation to Andy’s passion of journalism. This is the first evidence of sacrifice that is made by Andy. She chose to work in a place not familiar or relevant to her but she has to work in order to earn to be able to support herself. One problem Andy faces is her inability to fit in with Runway’s corporate culture. Whereas her co-workers dress in perfectly put-together top-designer clothes, Andy wears a comfortable off-the-rack sweater and sensible shoes. She sees no reason to change herself for a job she is using only as a steppingstone for a job at a† real† magazine such as The New Yorker. (Frankel,pg42) This is the next choice Andy makes. She chooses to remain her own self and be in her comfort zone rather than trying to fit into an image which is not favoured by her. She ignores the taunts of her co-worker Emily (Emily Blunt), who puts down Andy’s uninspired outfits. Andy, who sees fashion as useless and irrelevant, has no intention of becoming a part of the fashion industry. For her, this job is just a means to an end. Here she chooses her personal life style over the professional expected level. For Andy it is more convenient and easier to portray her as she identifies with her own choices of clothes rather than branded items that many choose otherwise. Andy eventually comes to recognize that Runway sells an image, and that her loyalty to this image is part of her job description. Through her hard work and efficiency on being able to meet deadlines before time, she becomes a walking advertisement for Runway. As she concedes her previous image to one of style, grace, and elegance framed by the clothing of the designers she once found so disgraceful, she crosses a boundary. Her friends and boyfriend question her transformation. But Andy, striving to fit into her new role and please her boss, is too busy for introspection. (Bolen, Everywoman,pg 262). This again is another example of choice and sacrifice evident in the movie. At first Andy was not willing to change her image but eventually she gives up her stand to be able to fit in with her company’s image. A pure example of sacrifice of own personal choices over the need to impress her co-workers and her demanding boss. Andy’s transformation increases her willingness to respond to Miranda’s unreasonable requests, which becomes irritating as they seem to come at any time of the day. From 6 a. m. until 2 a. m. , Andy can be found answering the phone, dropping whatever she is doing to attend to Miranda’s demands. (Bolen, Everywoman, pg 265). When Andy skips out on friends and family, telling them – and herself – that she is working hard only in order to attain her ultimate goal of a position as a true journalist, her friends worry that she has been seduced by her current job responsibilities, which she has come to take seriously. In time, putting work first costs Andy her closest friendships, including her relationship with her boyfriend. As Andy’s job at Runway collides her nonworking life, she complains to Nigel, who has become her mentor and confidant, â€Å"My personal life is hanging by a thread. † He explains, â€Å"That’s what happens when you start doing well at work. Tell me when your whole life goes up in smoke. That means it’s time for a promotion. †(The Devil Wears Prada, 2006). The main theme of the movie of work life vs. personal life is utmost the most central at this point in time. Andy sacrifices her personal life; she risks her relationships in order to suit needs of her work life. She is constantly being put on spot to choose either way. Her work life has driven her much to the place where she time and again sacrifices her personal life and chooses her work life. She ends up on a unbalanced sea saw where her work life is proving to be on the heavier scale compared to her personal choices and the relationships that existed way before she had a compelled full on work life. It is interesting to compare Andy’s sacrifices with Miranda’s efforts to separate her own personal and work lives. When Andy is required to deliver mock-ups of the magazine to Miranda’s home after ten o’clock each weeknight, she is banned from interacting with Miranda’s children or even going beyond the first floor. Although Miranda does not have the time to be a caring mother, she thinks often of her children, whose daily schedules she coordinates and whose special occasions she celebrates. Miranda chooses to maintain a balance with her work and personal life but ends up losing a bit of both. Although she is able to make time to be there for important functions for her children, she is not able to shower them upon with lots of time and love from day to day as her work life demands and makes up most of her life’s space. Although it may seem like Miranda is able to juggle both, it is evident in the movie that she cannot always have what she wants and ends up losing one or the other. For example, when the weather turns horrific, she is unable to attend her children’s recital. On the other hand, to be able to meet with Miranda needs and get her across the state, Andy ends up sacrificing her time with her father to be able to find a suitable flight for Miranada. In this scenario both are on the losing end. Miranda ends up not being able to reach the function as she could not put her work to hold and Andy ahs to sacrifice her personal life (time with her father/family) to be able to please her boss. The question that raises here is â€Å"Can people at the upper level of a corporation afford to have meaningful personal lives? Not necessarily† (Betts, 2003). According to The Devil Wears Prada, by the time someone makes it to a top spot, it may be too late. Certainly Miranda is not immune to work’s erosion of her personal life. Already twice-divorced, she learns that her third husband d wants out. Apparently, one cannot hold a highly well paid, demanding, and prestigious job and also maintain a fulfilling personal life at the same time. Miranda’s life is based around this. Her sacrifice is her personal life. She chooses her career and her work over her personal time with the family. Due to this she has experienced fall outs from her ex partners and also has a very disconnected relationship with her twin daughters. As mentioned before, although she is able to make it to important family functions at times, she is not fully present as Miranda a mother or wife. She is there as Miranda Priestly, the chief in editor of the Runway magazine. Her image is more important to her and she ends up sacrificing her personal life over and over again. The supporting characters repeatedly tell Andy that she has a choice – that she can decide to leave her job. She has to decide whether to surrender her personal life for the advantages that working for Miranda Priestly confers. She makes her choice. Work over personal life. As Emily observes she says to Andy, â€Å"You sold your soul to the devil when you put on your first pair of Jimmy Choos. †(The Devil wears Prada, 2006). Whether or not the job is worth Andy’s personal and social life, this becomes the driving point of the film. As work consumes almost all of her time, she cancels dinner dates, loses sleep, and misses her boyfriend’s birthday party. Her single and resounding excuse is that she has work and that she has no choice in the matter, to which everyone responds with that she does have a choice — and that choice is to quit. Andy refuses, claiming that she is not the kind of person that quits. Yet again Andy chooses work over personal life, another sacrifice of her personal life. When Andy accepts Miranda’s invitation to accompany her to Paris for fashion week, she knows full well that she is taking Emily’s place. In Paris, Andy sees Miranda backstab a dear friend in order to keep her job. Andy tells Miranda that she could never backstab a friend. Miranda reminds her that she has already betrayed Emily. MIRANDA: You chose to get ahead. If you want this life, those choices are necessary. ANDY: But what if this isn’t what I want? What if I don’t want to live the way you live? MIRANDA: Oh, don’t be ridiculous, Andrea! Everybody wants this. Everybody wants to be us. (The Devil wears Prada, 2006) The job is Andy’s choice, and she has chosen to live life this way. Andy then has a revelation about what she seems important in her life. In a negative gesture, she flings her company-issued cell phone into a nearby fountain. Here she sacrifices her fame and image and chooses herself. The image with which she identifies with and the way she used to live before entering these prestigious and demanding work lives. After leaving Runway, Andy applies for a job at a newspaper. With a positive, although brief, reference from Miranda, she gets the job. The film ends happily enough, as we are left to infer that Miranda, despite her cold behaviour and exploitation of Andy, she is satisfied with the choice Andy has made for her. Through her journey of ridiculous errands, stressful assignments, and overworked life, Andy has developed a deeper understanding of the role work plays in her life. She may live for the job, but that does not mean that it is all she lives for. (The Devil wears Prada, 2006) Conclusion This scenario is quite common in today’s work life ethics. Success, image and good earning jobs are becoming so demanding in today’s work life cycle that most people end up choosing their wok life over the personal aspects. The movie depicts a lot of uprising newbie’s in the workplace especially woman who have the need to be able to create a self image and respect in the society and to be independent, compared to the past where women were limited to nursing and nurturing duties in the boundaries of their homes. The need for strive is increasing rapidly at the cost of having to sacrifice time and again. In the movie, on many occasions the characters were compelled to making a choice between work and personal life. It was more like sacrificing one to meet the needs of the other. The characters, Andy and Miranda consistently chose work over every other aspect present and part of their life. Andy ruins her personal relationships with her loved ones and Miranda is seen having difficulties in playing for the caring and loving motherly role. In the end they both make sacrifices. Both are not entirely happy neither are they fully sad. The fact remains that we can’t have the best of both worlds without having to make adjustments and sacrifices now and then. It is also evident that people always end up making a choice and have to lose one or the other. Andy chose to restore her normal way of life over the high class flashy life that she got used to. She ended up giving her demanding work life which offered her being in the limelight often. Yet she was happy to be back in a place where she was more comfortable with and with which she could easily identify herself with. Miranda ends up choosing her work life again over the personal life and is shown to still have the power and success and keep her personal life shaky and unstable as they way it started off with. In life everyone has to make choices and sacrifices, at some point in time. The question remains, which way do we go because naturally you have to give up something in order to get the other.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Least vs. Lest

Least vs. Lest Least vs. Lest Least vs. Lest By Maeve Maddox Least, pronounced [LEEST], is the superlative of the adjective little: little, littler, least. It can also function as noun and adverb: She passed the exam without the least preparation. (adjective) Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me. (noun) The person who can least spare it is often the most willing to give others a piece of his mind. (adverb) Lest, pronounced [LEST], is a conjunction that introduces a clause that expresses something that should be guarded against. Although still used by modern writers and speakers, it has a distinctly literary flavor: Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. Matthew 7:6 Beware lest you lose the substance by grasping at the shadow. (Moral to Aesop’s tale of â€Å"The Dog and the Shadow.†) The formulaic phrase lest we forget is especially popular at the time of year when a nation honors its military forces and commemorates the slain. Used this way, it means â€Å"So we don’t forget,† or â€Å"Let us not forget.† For example, this past Memorial Day the phrase appeared on hundreds of websites above photo collections, memoirs, and poems dedicated to the memory of enlisted men and women who gave the supreme sacrifice. â€Å"Lest we forget† is also used as a cautionary expression, warning of disappointment or danger to ensue if something is forgotten: Lest we forget the pastBuying broken or unfinished games. Lest We Forget. â€Å"Remembering Abbott’s Past† Lest we forget, child abuse has many forms. Unfortunately, a great many English speakers are confused about the difference between least and lestat least when it comes to the phrase â€Å"Lest we forget.† A Web search brings up hundreds, perhaps thousands of sites headed by the phrase â€Å"Least We Forget.† Here are a few examples that go beyond the three words: Least we forget in the Twenty First Century Least we forget the Holocaust. Least we forget Vietnam, Ethiopia, you insert any war you like. Least we forget what China actually is I even found a song title spelled â€Å"Least We Forget.† In conclusion, lest you forget, lest rhymes with west. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Addressing A Letter to Two PeopleDisappointed + Preposition10 Functions of the Comma

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

110 Best Marketing Tools To Consider When Building Your Toolstack

110  Best Marketing Tools To Consider When Building Your Toolstack Marketers are only as good as the tools they choose to work with. You may disagree, but consider the following: Your social media automation glitches and buries your audience with irrelevant messages. Your analytics provide inconsistentunreliable†¦ therefore, inactionable numbers. The customer support team at such-and-such company is delayed in resolving your issue, pushing the entire project back a few days. Your email marketing software goes down unexpectedly messing with your time frame and frequency. Any of the above can turn a good week sour in a matter of seconds. Which is why marketers should seek tools they 1) love to use and 2) find reliable. The problem is there are SO many tools out there. How do you choose? We’ve compiled a list of the top marketing tools, broken up by category. In addition, the team here at highlighted their favorites to help steer you in the right direction. Now you can find a reliable fit for your toolstack, cut out time-sucking tasks, and start getting more done, faster. 👊 The 110  Best Marketing Tools To Consider When Building Your Toolstack via @Marketing Tool Categories: Table of Contents: Email Marketing Tools Social Media Management Tools Influencer Marketing Tools Paid Advertising Tools Social Media Automation Tools Social Media Monitoring Tools Conversion Rate Optimization Tools Landing Page Builders CRM Tools Marketing Analytics Tools Content Marketing Tools Video Marketing Tools Marketing Design Tools Marketing Research Tools Marketing Automation Tools Marketing Workflow Tools Copywriting Tools SEO Tools Marketing Communication Tools Additional Notable Marketing Tools Check Out ’s Entire Marketing Toolstack Curious to know which #marketing tools @uses? Find out here: Email Marketing Tools Defined: Messages sent directly via email to prospects and/or customers to build + nurture a relationship between the recipient and the product/service. The beautiful part about email is that your recipients have already subscribed to be there... so why not take advantage of a receptive audience? However, it is more important that ever to focus on providing consistent value to your subscribers’ inbox in order to continue building your relationship. Which email marketing tools are best? Other Email Marketing Tools ActiveCampaign: Email marketing automation/CRM  known for top-notch customer support AWeber:  Drag + Drop email marketing service designed for marketers short on time Constant Contact: Email campaign software with easy-to-use editable templates ConvertKit: Email marketing for online creators with automated email sequences Drip:  Intelligent email marketing automation with a visual workflow builder Emma:  Automation, segmentation, A/B testing + more Email Subject Line Tester: For creating click-worthy email subject lines GetResponse:  This one does it all: email marketing, automation, landing pages + webinars iContact: Email marketing automation tool rated #1 by Capterra Reviews Madness 2018 MailChimp:  Fun-to-use email marketing platform ideal for brands of any sizeSocial Media Management Tools Defined: A tool used to engage with your audience + measure performance across all social networks. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram†¦.these are the social networks where your audience spends their days. This is where they keep up on news, engage with friends and family, shop, or find out about career opportunities. Unfortunately, these are also the places they seek out to complain about an experience, product, or person. Using a social media management tool simplifies the process and helps preserve your Social Media Manager’s sanity. Instead of separate tabs for every, single network†¦ you have a single place to log-in, plan, schedule, post, + measure ALL of your social media activities. Which social media management tools are best? Other Social Media Management Tools AgoraPulse:  Affordable social media management tool for all team levels Buffer:  A single dashboard for all of your team’s social media accounts eClincher:  A complete solution for publishing, engagement, monitoring, suggested content, influencers + analytics reporting Falcon.io:  Paid + organic posts within a single content calendar Followerwonk:  Twitter analytics by Moz Hootsuite:  Content curation, analytics, monitoring AND scheduling Social Message Optimizer: Optimize your posts according to industry best practices Sprinklr:An entire cloud of social and customer experience solutions Sprout Social:  Data-led social media planning and publishing tool Zoho Social: A single dashboard to manage social channels, schedule posts, monitor keywords + collaborate amongst teamsInfluencer Marketing Tools Defined: A tool designed to help you find potential influencers within key topic categories to expand + connect with new audiences. Influencers can be a powerful weapon to incorporate into your marketing strategy. These individuals have become trusted and admired amongst subsets of people (potentially future customers). The common problem with influencer marketing is knowing where to start. This is where influencer marketing tools can help you get the ball rolling. Which influencer marketing tools are best? Other Influencer Marketing Tools BuzzSumo:  Find key topics and influencers for performance Mention:  Identify + engage potential influencers Julius:  Influencer insights and hand-curated data Sparktoro:  In the early stages of building a tool that will help P.R. teams discover the audiences they hope to reach.Paid Advertising Tools Defined: The tools marketers use to plan, execute, and measure their paid advertising efforts in order to gain traffic they may not have acquired organically. It’s becoming increasingly more difficult to reach your audience and earn traffic organically. In addition, changes to social media channels are making it harder to reach potential customers through social media marketing. Because of this, many brands have turned to paid advertising to make up for lost volume. Similarly to social, this can lead to countless open tabs and hopping back and forth between networks. Paid advertising tools help advertisers simplify this process with all-in-one campaign management for ppc, display, and retargeting across multiple networks. Which paid advertising tools are best? Other Paid Advertising Tools Adroll:  Display ads, social ads +   triggered emails in one tool Perfect Audience:  Retargeting solution Spyfu: For spying on your competitors’ keywords Wordstream:  Simplified online advertising Social Media Automation Tools Defined: A tool that’s set to automatically post to your social network(s) on your behalf. Social media is a 24-hours/day, 7-days/week world that doesn’t stop or slow down. Because your Social Media Manager is human, it simply isn’t realistic for them to be present every, single second. Intro: social media automation. These magical tools automate your social media and fill in gaps in your schedule so your brand can be consistently active in the networks that matter to your audience. Which social media automation tools are best? Other Social Media Automation Tools AgoraPulse:  Engage, publish, monitor + report Buffer:  Schedule posts and analyze performance Crowdfire:  Discover + schedule social media in one place Hootsuite:  Schedule, manage + report on social MeetEdgar:  Streamline your social posting Sprout Social:  Plan, create, manage, and deliver to socialSocial Media Monitoring Tools Defined: Tools that consistently crawl sites to track pre-determined mentions across the internet. This enables social media marketers to engage with mentions in a timely manner. You have three options when it comes to social media monitoring: Continuously check in across every social network, multiple times a day. Allow mentions to go unnoticed and leave your audience neglected. Use a social media monitoring tool to mine it all for you + simplify the engagement process. The choice here is a no-brainer. Fave: "From a PR and social perspective, Brandwatch  is pretty awesome. In my experience, it has the most powerful boolean logic queries, mixed with a comprehensive and customizable dashboard that provides great context. I use it to monitor what is being said about and by whom, as well as keeping on eye on what's being said about competitors. We can also track the performance of feature launches, campaigns, and product areas. If you're not experienced with writing a boolean query, it can take some time to get your data pulling correctly, but it's worth the troubleshooting." Which social media monitoring tools are best? Other Social Media Monitoring Tools Brand24:  Influence + sentiment analysis as well as social monitoring. Meltwater: Social media monitoring + sentiment analysis Mention: Social media monitoring + competitor analysisConversion Rate Optimization Tools Defined: A Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) tool offers web page testing and insights in order to increase conversion rates. In order to achieve growth, digital marketers can either increase traffic volume to their site, or increase on-page conversion rates. Better yet†¦ both. Tools like these help marketers by providing actionable insights and a/b testing. An added bonus: it will be easy to show your boss the ROI this tool provides. 😠 Which conversion rate optimization tools are best? Other CRO Tools GTMetrix: Site speed insights + actionable recommendations Hotjar:  Site visit heatmaps Ion Interactive:  Code-free interactive content for your landing pages Optimizely:  Digital experimentation and optimizationLanding Page Builders Defined: A tool designed to simplify your landing page creation process in order to convert visitors into leads. For marketers that don’t have the technical expertise to code their own page, landing page builders can be a great alternative. Many have templates and drag and drop design features to help you create quality pages quickly. This can be game-changing for collecting new leads or bottom of the funnel sales. Landing Page Tools Instapage:  Landing page platform for maximizing conversions Landingi: Landing page builder for non-developers Leadpages:  Landing page builder + lead generation Unbounce:  Custom landing page builderCRM Tools Defined: Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools are designed to manage customer information and aid in sales enablement. Depending on the product or service, your customer journey can be fairly lengthy and complex. CRM tools are crucial in order to keep leads organized at every stage of their journey. The ideal software helps to align your marketing and sales goals while collecting customer data and providing actionable insights. Which CRM platforms are best? Other CRM Tools: Agile:  Sales enablement, marketing automation and customer service Hubspot CRM: Free CRM to organize and nurture leads Nimble: Contact management for sales + marketing SugarCRM:  Simple to use, easy CRM tool Zoho CRM:  An all-in-one customer engagement suiteMarketing Analytics Tools Defined: Tools to manage + measure your marketing activity in order to determine success of each campaign. What is the ROI of your marketing efforts? When your boss asks, having the data to backup your hard work can prove invaluable. With marketing analytics tools, everything you do can be measured and reported on so you can show off your brag-worthy results. 😉 Which marketing analytics tools are best? Other Marketing Analytics Tools: :  Marketing software with team performance insights  + social media analytics Datorama:  Intelligent marketing data reports Funnel.io:  Automated data collection + reporting Google Analytics:  All your website data in one place TapClicks:  Marketing report dashboard TrackMaven:  Marketing analytics + insightsContent Marketing Management Tools Defined: Tools designed to manage your entire content planning, creation, + distribution process. Providing value through content marketing is one of the best ways to turn your audience into fans (and ideally customers). However, providing quality content, consistently  would be near impossible without a content marketing management tool to 1) keep you on track and 2) ensure consistent publishing. Which content marketing tools are best? Other Content Marketing Management Tools: Airtable:  Spreadsheet-esque collaboration + more Contently:  Enterprise content management software Content DJ:  Content curation + editorial calendar : Drag + drop marketing and editorial content calendar DivvyHQ:  Content strategy + workflow GatherContent:  Content platform for team collaboration Kapost:  B2B content operation platform Mintent:  Content management + workflow tool Monday:  Team task management + content planning Newscred:  Content marketing platform built for enterprises Percolate:  Built for enterprises, software for content planning, strategy + operationsVideo Marketing Tools Defined: Tools that simplify video creation and/or hosting in order to visually promote your brand. Video has become an important piece of content marketing in the last few years. It has the ability capture your audience’s interest early, then show + tell your brand’s value within minutes. With the emergence of video marketing, a variety of tools have emerged to assist marketers with editing, adding effects or cta’s, animation, and hosting. Which video marketing tools are best? Other Video Marketing Tools Animoto:  Easily stylized marketing video platform for businesses. Brightcove: Integrated video marketing solution for marketers Slidely:  Easily editable video and photo collections Vidyard:  Online video platform for businesses Vimeo:  Hosting/sharing/streaming/watching Vyond:  Dynamic media software for marketers Wideo:  Animated video + presentations creator Youtube:  THE video platform + second largest search engineDesign Tools Defined: Software used to simplify the design process and add visual branding to your marketing strategy. Design is what brings the rest of your marketing to life. It has the power to grab attention, tie in themes, and communicate beyond simply text. Great design tools are an extension of a great designer. Your needs will vary (like everything else) depending on budget, team resources, and time. Some tools are built for advanced designers, while others are geared towards the artistically adverse. Which graphic design tools are best? Other Design Tools Infogram:  For engaging infographics and reports Piktochart:  Easy to use design tool Venngage:  Beautifully designed templates + infographic creation toolMarketing Research Tools Defined: Tools used to aid in the process of collecting information in order to accurately define opportunities and develop a marketing strategy. Sure, you can walk around a new city and discover some neat places†¦ BUT if you do your research and build a plan, you’re more likely to get the most out of your experience. Similarly, you might occasionally strike gold without preparation. However, marketers tends to produce the best results when paired with adequate research + planning. When you have a thorough understanding of your target demographic, you can strategically create a marketing roadmap geared towards success. Which marketing research and survey tools are best? Other Marketing Research Tools Google Trends:  Insight to current search trends SurveyMonkey:  Professional survey softwareMarketing Automation Tools Defined: a tool with the goal of automating repetitive tasks in order to streamline and simplify a marketing team’s workflow. Sure, we all have the same 24 hours in a day, but what if we could take better advantage of our already limited time? Marketing automation tools can help ease some of the time-suck activities that take up too much of your valuable time. The best tools allow you to set it and forget it so you can focus on the rest of your ever-growing task list. Which marketing automation tools are best? Other Marketing Automation Tools GetResponse: Email marketing automation + more Hubspot:  Automated, integrated workflows Marketo:  multi-solution marketing automation Oracle: Cloud marketing solutions. Pardot:  Automation by Salesforce SharpSpring: Campaign automation and trackingMarketing Workflow Tools Defined: Tools that offer planning features necessary to move a marketing project from idea to execution. Every marketer has a process in place for bringing an idea to fruition. However, if your process involves sticky notes, calendar reminders, check-in meetings, and spreadsheets†¦ there are likely tools out there that could simplify this process for you. Marketing workflow tools feature built-in task management, collaboration features, and progress updates to help keep the entire team on track. Which marketing workflow tools are best? Other Marketing Workflow Tools Asana: Team task + project workflow software Basecamp: A central source of truth for team workflows Trello: Prioritization + status updates at a glance Wrike: Cloud-based collaboration and project management softwareCopywriting Tools Defined: Tools used to assist copywriters in crafting compelling language for various forms of marketing. Copywriting isn’t as simple as slapping a sentence down and calling it good. The best Copywriters approach their work thoughtfully and with intent- often going through multiple drafts before landing on the perfect message. Although Copywriters seem to have magic ink, even they need a little help sometimes to ensure they are crafting the best message possible. Which copywriting tools are best? Other Copywriting Tools Airstory: The Copywriter’s writing software Grammarly: Free writing assistant Hemingway: Writing app full of recommendations Thesaurus: A tool that lists synonyms/related termsSEO Tools Defined: Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Tools assist marketers with insights and opportunities for improvements that will increase their performance within search engine result pages. In the battle for page one rankings, marketers need to do everything they can to improve their page performance. SEO tools help simplify this process by giving you the information you need to make incremental improvements that can lead to big results. Which search engine optimization tools are best? Other SEO Tools LSIGraph:  Your latent semantic indexing best friend Majestic: Marketing search engine and backlink checker Moz: Keyword research, SEO, link building and more Screaming Frog: For crawling websites SEMrush: SEO  and PPC analysis toolMarketing Communication Tools Defined: The in-office (often chat-based) tool used for communication + collaboration. Nobody likes unwanted desk drop-bys. They put a wrench in your day and throw off your focus. Communication tools allow collaboration between team members without being intrusive. Chats are great for quick questions, reminders, office announcements, or an occasional gif. In addition, chatting is a great alternative to sending out yet another  email.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Explain why it is necessary for marketers to deploy different product Essay

Explain why it is necessary for marketers to deploy different product growth strategies in relation to market development opportunities. Provide examples to support your answers - Essay Example at are limited in a particular state; other criteria for the differentiation of marketing plans used in various industrial sector can be also set – taking into consideration the consumer preferences, the characteristics of the target market and the resources available. The need for the alignment of marketing strategies with specific demands and rules is extensively highlighted in the literature. In this context, it is noted that ‘globalization of business has created the need for international public relations practitioners to identify, study and understand the world views, mindsets, and habits of their global publics in order to effectively communicate’ (Ihator, 2000, 38). In any case, culture is considered to be a significant criterion for the development of marketing strategies – a view which is in accordance with the study of Tan (2002); Taylor (2002) also emphasizes on the importance of culture for marketing plans in all industrial sectors. Other crite ria, like the condition of the advertised product (Zhang et al., 1996, 40), have been considered as the potential basis for the development of marketing policies. Current paper focuses on the examination of the importance of market development opportunities for the product growth strategies deployed by marketers in various industrial sectors. It is proved through this study that marketers tend to be influenced by the market development opportunities when having to design a product growth strategy; however, the above dependency is not standardized – it is a relationship which is strongly depended on the willingness of marketers to use the market development opportunities as the basis for a product’s marketing policy; examples are provided that justify further – referring to the existing literature – the above assumptions. Through the decades, different criteria are set for the promotions of products and services in the market. The specific issue is highlighted in the study of Yelpaala (1994) where

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Media Culture and Society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Media Culture and Society - Essay Example Matthew Arnold once fought to ensure that the cultural life of a nation should be available to all, not merely the rich in their fancy salons, and the BBC has in part been part of that mission. But the issue of balance is a tricky one as Scannell discusses in his article on the BBC. How far should the BBC go in appealing to the public? How much should the public pay? These are difficult issues that will be explored in the court of this paper. In the course of his article on the subject Paddy Scannell discusses the BBC's monopoly on public broadcasting, its history, and its responsibility to the public. The basic premise behind state control of broadcasters is that these organizations are simply too important to be left to their own devices (Scannell, p4). The government needs to control them because politically and culturally they have a real power over peoples lives. They project into peoples' homes any number of stories, news items, and current events. They can also project into homes negative ideas that may lead to negative consequences. Such was the thinking in the early days of the BBC. Broadcasting should be controlled by those who know best. And yet a number of people resent the extreme control that the government possesses over broadcasting, and this led to an eventual liberalization. Rather than having the BBC be funded out of general revenue, it would be done so by subscription. The TV license fiasco is behind much of this problem. Unmarked vans drive up and down the streets of Britain seeking to detect unlicensed televisions (TV Vans). To American eyes, this is something out of North Korea. To Britons, it is part of the history of the BBC. For many years, commercial television was seen as an unalloyed bad. When new channels were being auctioned off, they were given to the BBC, because â€Å"[i]n short, commercial television was regarded as failing to live up to its responsibilities as a public service. It was not fit, in its present form, to extend its activities, and the plum that the committee had on offer—a third television channel—was unhesitatingly awarded to the BBC† (Scannell, p9). Nevert heless, as Scannell argues, if a public broadcaster can create the right kind of show it can help to establish an enlightened democracy (Scannell, p5). This is part of the duty and challenge of public television. It can help to shape the minds of citizens and instill the best kind of virtues. Indeed, this is why many people support public television. But when they see shows such as Eastenders and the Weakest Link on their public television channels they wonder why they have to pay for them. This is part of the challenge of public television: not all tastes are alike. Eastenders in particular has come in for a great deal of criticism over the years. This soap opera which takes place in a fictional neighbourhood in London has been on the air for decades and has long been one of the most popular shows on the BBC. Eastenders is a show that presents working class life in Britain. There are some who argue that this is within the mandate of a public broadcaster and that those who oppose su ch shows are being elitist. The mandate of a public broadcaster is to appeal to all segments of the population. Not every show can be like Masterpiece Theatre or a high-level

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Employment Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Employment Law - Essay Example The employers need to immediately respond to the complaints regarding the discrimination in a legal manner. These complaints need to be managed and handled in an effective formalized process. The line supervisors should not try to resolve these issues. The supervisors need to inform and notify the human resource professional and top management for an appropriate organizational response. First and foremost, the employer needs to evaluate the allegation of employment discrimination. The employer should involve the top management and HR professionals in this evaluation process (Mello, 2011). First of all, they need to receive and handle the complaint or allegation by asking the complaining employee about the reason behind the allegation. The management team should encourage the complaining employee to provide details in writing about the allegation. Then the management should be asked for his or her opinion to overcome the issue. The employer should strictly review this matter with the help of top management and HR professionals. Based on the complaint and allegation, the employer should try to evaluate all the insights. Then the employer should undertake an investigation process. It is the responsibility of an employer to maintain effective workplace environment within an organization. Moreover, maintaining several legislations and legal aspects will help the organization to perform its business practices without any harassment. This evaluation will help the employer to understand specific workplace behavior. However, the employers need to involve right person in this investigation process. At the end of the day, the employer should try to provide effective justice to the complaining employees based on the proper evaluation and investigation. It is responsibility of the employer to take corrective action based on the investigation to maintain legal workforce balance and ethical standard. Question 3 Employees generally apprise three different families of workplace events. They generally examine the justice of outcomes, justice of formal allocation process and justice of interpersonal transactions. Justice of outcome is known as distributive justice. Justice of formal allocation process is known as procedural justice. On the other hand, interpersonal transaction is known as interactional justice. These three justices generally tend to be co-related. These three aspects can be meaningfully treated as three key components of total fairness. This part of the essay will explain about three components. Distributive Justice The first component of justice is known as the distributive justice as it has to deal with the outcomes or allocations. This distributive justice is generally concerned with the reality that all the employees are not treated in similar

Sunday, October 27, 2019

The Objectives Of Cisco Networking

The Objectives Of Cisco Networking Welcome to the Cisco Networking Academy program! This is the first of four courses designed to provide classroom and laboratory experience in current and emerging networking technology, and to help prepare for certification as a Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA). This curriculum presents a comprehensive overview of networking; from fundamentals to advanced applications and services. It is based on the top-down approach to networking that is popular in many colleges and universities. The course emphasizes concepts and skills required to design networks, while providing opportunities for practical application and hands-on experience by teaching students how to install, operate, and maintain networks. II. ADVISORY PREREQUISITE CIS 120, CIS 190, A+ Certification, or one year industry experience. III. COURSE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES This course introduces the architecture, structure, functions, components, and models of the Internet and other computer networks. It uses the OSI and TCP layered models to examine the nature and roles of protocols and services at the application, network, data link, and physical layers. The principles and structure of IP addressing and fundamentals of Ethernet concepts, media, and operations are introduced to provide a foundation for the curriculum. Labs use a model Internet to allow students to analyze real data without affecting production networks. Packet Tracer (PT) activities help students analyze protocol and network operation and build small networks in a simulated environment. At the end of the course, students build simple LAN topologies by applying basic principles of cabling; performing basic configurations of network devices, including routers and switches; and implementing IP addressing schemes. By the end of the course, students will achieve the following objectives: Given a LAN/WAN configuration scenario, students will be able to: Describe the basic concepts of how data networks and the Internet support business communications and everyday activities. (a, b) Describe the basic networking processes used to communicate across Local Area Networks, Wide Area Networks and the Internet. (a,b) Operate basic networking devices and services used to support communications across an Internetwork. (c,d) Describe the layers of communications in data networks using the 7-Layer OSI and the 4-LayerTCP/IP models. (a,b) Describe the role of protocols in data networks. (a,b) Describe the importance of addressing and naming schemes at the following OSI Data Link, Network and Application layers. (a,b) Describe the protocols and services provided by the Application layer in the OSI and TCP/IP models. (a,b,d) Describe the functions and features of the Transport layer protocols and services. (a, b) Describe the functions and features of the Network layer protocols and services. (a,b) Describe the fundamental concepts of routing that occur when a packet is forwarded from its source to its destination across multiple networks. (a,b) Design, calculate, and apply subnet masks and IP addresses to meet network design requirements. (c,d) Describe the operation of the OSI Data link layer protocols by explaining how data link frames communicate between networking devices. (a,b) Describe how the OSI Physical layer protocols and services transfer data bits across data networks. (a,b) Describe fundamental Ethernet concepts such as media, services, and operation. (a,b) Apply basic cabling techniques to connect various types of networking devices to meet prescribed network design topologies. (c,d) Build a simple Ethernet network using routers, switches, and network hosts. (c,d) Establish local and remote terminal connections to Cisco Networking devices using Terminal Emulation programs. (c,d) Use Cisco CLI commands to configure and verify basic router and switch operation. (c,d) Analyze the operations and features of common Application layer protocols such as HTTP, DNS, DHCP, SMTP, Telnet, and FTP.(a,b,d) Use common network utilities to verify local area network operation and analyze data traffic. (c,d) Method of Evaluation (Measuring Student Learning Outcomes with Representative Assignments) Chapter exams that measure each students ability to define and appropriately use networking technology concepts and terminology to describe networking processes, protocols, functions and features. Comprehensive final exam that measures each students ability to synthesize and apply course concepts to a variety of networking scenarios. Comprehensive skills exam that measures each students ability to practically apply network, design, configuration and hardware connectivity techniques to LAN environments. Lab exercises that require students to apply course concepts and skills in order to implement LAN solutions, compute IPv4 network addressing to network problems defined by the instructor, and connect and configure LAN devices. IV. TEXT, MATERIALS AND ONLINE WEBSITE Cisco Network Academy Website: http://cisco.netacad.net Instructors Website: http://www.cuyamaca.net/cis/cisco Blackboard: http://bb.gcccd.edu/webapps/login/ Network Fundamentals course: Network Fundamentals, CCNA Exploration Companion Guide ISBN-10: 1-58713-208-7, ISBN-13: 9781587132087, Publication Date: October 2007 Network Fundamentals, CCNA Exploration Labs and Study Guide ISBN-10: 1-58713-203-6, ISBN-13: 9781587132032, Publication Date: October 2007 Recommended Texts (not required) Not required as you are encouraged to print all of the assigned labs directly from the assignments listed in Blackboard. Materials Removable media (thumb drive, floppy) A sectioned three-ring binder with paper for note taking V. COURSE SPECIFICS Attendance This Self-paced open entry-open exit program requires students to complete a minimum of 48 classroom hours in the presence of an Instructor to meet academic standards. Self-paced education places additional responsibility on the student for success. Irregular attendance and lack of participation are key factors in determining poor student performance. The greater the amount of time and effort applied by the student, the greater the opportunity for success, rapid advancement of knowledge, and advancement through the program. Students will be expected to manage their attendance with the goal of completing at least one Cisco Semester during a Cuyamaca College Semester. Higher goals of completion are very possible and will be supported. If you have questions about recommended progress rates, please ask the instructor for guidance. Dropping the Class It is your responsibility to withdraw from class. All students who are enrolled at the end of the course must be given a letter grade. Students who stop attending and do not officially withdraw will be receiving an F. See the IMPORTANT DATES section below for drop deadlines. A W cannot be awarded after the Last day to drop CIS 201 deadline. Assignments Assignments for the class are divided into the following groups: Reading Assignments (Cisco Netacad or textbook) The material for this course is available on the Web. The reading assignments should be completed before the beginning of class. Most students will spend and average of ten hours per week reading the material. Some chapters may take more than one reading to understand. Students are responsible for all terms and concepts in the chapters covered. On-Line Module Exams (Cisco Netacad) All exams are administered online, and enabled only after the topic has been completed. There are ten (10) online module exams and a comprehensive final exam. Module exams can be taken at any location (home, work, school) but may not be repeated. The comprehensive final must be taken at school during normal class hours. Subnetting Practice tests (Blackboard: Assignments: Chapter Folders) Subnetting is one of the most important skills to acquire in the first semester of Cisco. Subnetting is also a skill that requires a lot of practice to master. There will be short subnetting practice test in Blackboard for each chapter. Students may take each practice test up to 2 times with the highest score used for final grading. Students are responsible for seeking additional help from an Instructor or Tutor if their test result is not satisfactory Labs and Packet Tracer Activities (Blackboard: Assignments: Chapter Folders) The hands-on labs are an important part of the Academy. Students may work together in small groups. Content for the skills-based final will be directly drawn from lab assignments, worksheets, and other course material so understanding lab assignments is an important part of passing the course. You are encouraged to complete as many additional labs as you wish as well as working all of the interactive labs found in the curriculum. Labs and Packet Tracer Activities submitted after the corresponding module exam has been attempted will not be graded. Additionally, Labs and Packet Tracer activities submitted more than two weeks after the corresponding Chapter lecture has been presented will not be graded. Contact the instructor of record to arrange any adjustments regarding Lab and Packet Tracer deadlines prior to deadline date. Skills-Based Final, On-Line Student Survey, On-Line Final Exam (Cisco Netacad) A skills-based final and an on-line final exam will be administered the end of the course. The online final exam will be comprehensive and all students must pass the online final and the skills-based final to pass the course (both Skills Based final, and Online final require 60% or above for passing), to be eligible for CCNA2. All labs, on-line chapter tests, and the skills-based final must be completed before you may take the online comprehensive final exam. The online comprehensive final may be repeated once for scores below 60% on the first attempt, however, the average score between the two attempts will be used in final grade calculations for grades submitted to Cuyamaca. Due to the number of students and the resources required for the skills based final, students will be required to schedule a time to take their skills based final. A sign-up matrix will be posted 1 week prior to the skills based finals. Cisco requires that the CCNA 1 on-line survey is completed before receiving a grade in the course. Incomplete grades are not allowed. Grades will be assigned as follows: Domain % Points Grade INSTRUCTIONAL FACILITIES Online Chapter Exams 10 93.4 100 A Classroom Subnetting Worksheets Tests 15 90.0 93.3 A- Laboratory Labs and Packet Tracer Activity 25 86.7 89.9 B+ Personal computer for each student Final Exam (comprehensive Skills Based) 25 83.4 86.6 B Appropriate course software Practice Final 5 80.0 83.3 B- Final Exam (Comprehensive Online) 20 76.7 79.9 C+ 70.0 76.6 C 60.0 60.9 D F IMPORTANT DATES Please refer to the appropriate official Cuyamaca College document to insure compliance with any College deadline. Spring 2010 Semester January 25, 2010 to June 1, 2020 February 5 Last Day to Receive a Refund for Semester-Length Classes February 12 15 Holiday (Presidents Day Weekend Friday, Lincoln Day Monday, Washington Day) March 29 April 2 Spring Recess April 23 Last Day to Drop Semester-Length Classes MAY 13 10:00 pm All Labs, Packet Tracer activities, and Subnetting practice tests due MAY 20 10:00 pm All Skills Based Finals must be completed MAY 25, 26, 27 Comprehensive Online Final Examination Days Must be completed by 10:00 pm May 27 Spring 2010 CIS 201 Schedule Week CCNA 1 8 week Schedule Chapter Reading 16 Week Schedule Chapter Reading Labs Packet tracers due (Thursdays 10pm) Additional topics 1 8 Week schedule 16 Week schedule Binary and Introduction 2 1 2 1 Binary Conversion Addition 3 3 4 2 Binary Combinations 4 5 6 3 1 2 1 Network Addressing 5 7 8 4 3 4 2 Subnetting 6 9 10 5 5 6 3 Subnetting 7 11 6 7 8 4 Subnetting 8 7 9 10 5 Subnetting 9 8 11 6 VLSM 10 9 7 VLSM 11 10 8 VLSM 12 11 9 VLSM 13 10 VLSM 14 All Assignments Due 11 15 Skills Based Finals 16 Online Finals