Sainsbury supermarket UK Essays

Sainsbury supermarket UK Essays Sainsbury supermarket UK Essay Sainsbury supermarket UK Essay 1. Introduction The business that I have decided to report on is J Sainsburys. As we all know this is a very well known and well-established organisation and this is why I decided to make a report which focus great deal on the UK Sainsbury Grocery. Sainsburys store that has over 1 million branches across UK. I am going to identify the different objectives of my chosen business and I am going to write this by focusing on the following points and explaining 2. Market position and estimated market share. Market position is simply, positioning is how your target market defines you in relation to your competitors, according to (Wikipedia, 2006) Market share refers to a Sainsburys share of the total sales of all theirs products within the category in which the brand competes. Market share is determined by dividing a brands sales volume by the total category sales volume defined by Worthington, Britton and Rees (2005). According to market research group TNS Worldpanel, the UKs big four. Tesco, Asda, Sainsburys and Morrisons now hold almost three-quarters (74.4%) of the grocery market. Sainsburys Supermarkets is the number three UK supermarket with a market 15.9% share of UK supermarket sales in the 12 weeks, trailing just behind Tesco and Asda. (See: Figure1) shows the market share of Sainsbury and its competitors (TNS 2006) 2.1 Number and Types of competitors Competition is the act of striving against another force for the purpose of achieving dominance or attaining a reward or goal, or out of a biological imperative such as survival. The grocery industry sector in the UK is controlled and directed by supermarket giants most of which are household names. Between the high-end niche market players like Waitrose and Marks Spencer and the cheap bulk discounters like Iceland, but the top competitors players operating in the largest market segment for Sainsbury remain are Tesco,, Asda, and Morrisons. Striving to capture consumer attention and in the effort to retain it, the strategies of the supermarkets swing between loyalty schemes and price wars. Alongside continuous attempt to retain a hold over the home market, many of the organizations view overseas opportunities as another lucrative way to inflate profits and expand the brand name. On the other side of the coin, invasions from foreign companies like Wal-Mart/Asda and the slightly over-efficient supply mechanism of the Sainsbury has grown greatly and has increased its market, also the increase in customers has given Sainsbury a large amount of profit. A supermarket that offers a wide choice of leading brands at significantly low prices, cheaper than its competitors in the in the United Kingdom, and globally, with quality reduced prices, and full customer satisfaction guarantied. Sainsbury is a very large British company, that is well known is the United Kingdom, and overseas, has a different way of approach to there customers, they makes there own products which leads to very low prices, cheaper then the market leading supermarkets such as MS, Asda and Sainsburys. However, this means that even people that are on lower incomes or from low class back-grounds, can afford to go shopping at Tesco were they can spend the same amount that they would in the other. 3. Market position There has not being any recent changes in the market position for Sainsbury. Despite Sainsburys sales growth of 6.6%, see Figure 2. Sainsbury remains in third position, as Sainsbury went through a terrible time recently mainly with stock and many customers simply not getting what they want in the store (empty shelves). This was mainly down to outdated software and delivery system which I now believe has been improved. I think they are now showing signs of recovery but will take a long time to catch Tesco. (Jorn Madslien 2006) Another reason might be that the image of Sainsburys is very much still as a posh shop i.e. very expensive. Although I have to say if you want something that Tescos does not stock Sainsbury would probably have it. 3.1 Market development (recent changes) Market development would consist of the activities undertaken by a firm to develop a market presence, in order to sell goods and services. It would not include the cost of selling those goods and services. Therefore the market development is one of the main pillars of Sainsbury strategy. (Sainsbury, 2006) One of the market development for Sainsbury was the recent changes in Business functions for Sainsburys. The business functions of Sainsburys are as follows: marketimg and sales. The company has a separate Marketing and Sales department and market research is used in the forms of market research staff using survey questionnaire in streets and in store, customer focus mornings where feed back can be gained, and questionnaires regarding current promotions e.g. Reward Card. The company hopes to appeal to adults and younger people. The company advertises mainly through T.V and radio and through adverts in magazines and newspapers. The major influences on the price of the product are costs by the producer, competitors prices, regional pricing and select prices. The main costs of distribution are transport and other related fixed costs depot vehicles and labour, fuel, consumables. The company is establishing closer links with suppliers by sharing vehicles. This helps the company to meet its objectives because it allows them to know what the customers want so they can provide a good. (Investment and Business News, 2006) Sainsbury have emerged dominant in the UK grocery market and are showing signs that they may leverage their retail expertise into other market sectors. Retailers have learnt, particularly in the UK, that their own brand identity has become more important than the products they sell and greater wealth can now be created by the communication of an overall retail brand identity. This will become even more important in the future. (BBC news 2006) Since 2000, Jamie Oliver has been the public face of the Sainsburys supermarket chain in the UK, appearing on television and radio advertisements and in-store promotional material. The deal earns him an estimated à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½1.2 million every year. The Jamie Oliver effect was continuing to have a big impact as the super chefs Try Something New (Sainsbury 2005) Recipe tips were encouraging people to buy a wider range of foods from the store. A major Christmas marketing push with Oliver will launch shortly (BBC news 2003). In 2006, Oliver fronted Sainsburys new advertising slogan urging customers to try something different by suggesting recipe ideas. In October the company claimed sales of some featured products had more than doubled. Sainsburys competitors also noticed a substantial increase in these products (Julia Finch, 2005)

Brosimum alicastrum, The Ancient Maya Breadnut Tree

Brosimum alicastrum, The Ancient Maya Breadnut Tree The breadnut tree (Brosimum alicastrum) is an important species of tree that grows in the wet and dry tropical forests of Mexico and Central America, as well as in the Caribbean Islands. Also known as the ramà ³n tree, asli or Cha Kook in the Mayan language, the breadnut tree usually grows in regions that are between 300 and 2,000 meters (1,000-6,500 feet) above sea level. The fruits have a small, elongated shape, similar to apricots, although they are not particularly sweet. The seeds are edible nuts which can be ground and used in porridge or for flour. The Breadnut Tree and the Maya The breadnut tree is one of the dominant species of plants in the tropical Maya forest. Not only its density very high around ancient ruined cities, particularly in the Guatemalan Petà ©n, but it can reach a height of around 40 m (130 ft), producing abundant yields and with several harvests possible in one year. For this reason, it is often still planted by modern Maya near their homes. The widespread presence of this tree near ancient Maya cities has been explained variously as: The trees could be the result of a human-manicured or even deliberately-managed tree farming (agro-forestry). If so, it is likely that the Maya first simply avoiding cutting the trees down, and then eventually replanted breadnut trees near their habitations so that now they propagate more easilyIt is also possible that the breadnut tree simply grows well in the limestone soils and rubble fill near ancient Maya cities, and the residents took advantage of thatThe presence could also be the result of small animals such as bats, squirrels, and birds which eat the fruits and seeds and facilitate their dispersion in the forest The Breadnut Tree and Maya Archaeology The role of the breadnut tree and its importance in ancient Maya diet has been at the center of many debates. In the 1970s and 80s, archaeologist Dennis E. Puleston (son of the famous environmentalist Dennis Puleston), whose unfortunate and untimely death prevented him from further developing his research on breadnut and other Mayan subsistence studies, was the first to hypothesize the importance of this plant as a  staple crop for the ancient Maya. During his research at the site of Tikal  in Guatemala, Puleston recorded a particularly high concentration of this tree around the house mounds compared to other species of trees. This element, along with the fact that the breadfruit seeds are particularly nutritious and high in proteins, suggested to Puleston that the ancient inhabitants of Tikal, and by extension of other Maya cities in the forest, relied on this plant as much as or perhaps even more than on maize. But Was Puleston Right? Furthermore, in later studies Puleston demonstrated that its fruit can be stored for many months, for example in subterranean chambers called chultuns, in a climate where fruit usually rots rapidly.  However, more recent research has significantly decreased the role and importance of breadnut in the ancient Maya diet, defining it instead as an emergency food source in case of famine, and linking its unusual abundance near ancient Maya ruins to environmental factors more than human intervention. Sources This glossary entry is a part of the About.com guide to Mesoamerica , and the Dictionary of Archaeology and the guide to Plant Domestication. Harrison PD, and Messenger PE. 1980. Obituary: Dennis Edward Puleston, 1940-1978. American Antiquity 45(2):272-276. Lambert JDH, and Arnason JT. 1982. Ramon and Maya Ruins: An Ecological, not an Economic, Relation. Science 216(4543):298-299. Miksicek CH, Elsesser KJ, Wuebber IA, Bruhns KO, and Hammond N. 1981. Rethinking Ramon: A Comment on Reina and Hills Lowland Maya Subsistence. American Antiquity 46(4):916-919. Peters CM. 1983. Observations on Maya Subsistence and the Ecology of a Tropical Tree. American Antiquity 48(3):610-615. Schlesinger V. 2001, Animals and Plants of the Ancient Maya. A Guide. Austin: University of Texas Press Turner BL, and Miksicek CH. 1984. Economic Plant Species Associated with Prehistoric Agriculture in the Maya Lowlands. Economic Botany 38(2):179-193 Updated by K. Kris Hirst

Brosimum alicastrum, The Ancient Maya Breadnut Tree

Brosimum alicastrum, The Ancient Maya Breadnut Tree The breadnut tree (Brosimum alicastrum) is an important species of tree that grows in the wet and dry tropical forests of Mexico and Central America, as well as in the Caribbean Islands. Also known as the ramà ³n tree, asli or Cha Kook in the Mayan language, the breadnut tree usually grows in regions that are between 300 and 2,000 meters (1,000-6,500 feet) above sea level. The fruits have a small, elongated shape, similar to apricots, although they are not particularly sweet. The seeds are edible nuts which can be ground and used in porridge or for flour. The Breadnut Tree and the Maya The breadnut tree is one of the dominant species of plants in the tropical Maya forest. Not only its density very high around ancient ruined cities, particularly in the Guatemalan Petà ©n, but it can reach a height of around 40 m (130 ft), producing abundant yields and with several harvests possible in one year. For this reason, it is often still planted by modern Maya near their homes. The widespread presence of this tree near ancient Maya cities has been explained variously as: The trees could be the result of a human-manicured or even deliberately-managed tree farming (agro-forestry). If so, it is likely that the Maya first simply avoiding cutting the trees down, and then eventually replanted breadnut trees near their habitations so that now they propagate more easilyIt is also possible that the breadnut tree simply grows well in the limestone soils and rubble fill near ancient Maya cities, and the residents took advantage of thatThe presence could also be the result of small animals such as bats, squirrels, and birds which eat the fruits and seeds and facilitate their dispersion in the forest The Breadnut Tree and Maya Archaeology The role of the breadnut tree and its importance in ancient Maya diet has been at the center of many debates. In the 1970s and 80s, archaeologist Dennis E. Puleston (son of the famous environmentalist Dennis Puleston), whose unfortunate and untimely death prevented him from further developing his research on breadnut and other Mayan subsistence studies, was the first to hypothesize the importance of this plant as a  staple crop for the ancient Maya. During his research at the site of Tikal  in Guatemala, Puleston recorded a particularly high concentration of this tree around the house mounds compared to other species of trees. This element, along with the fact that the breadfruit seeds are particularly nutritious and high in proteins, suggested to Puleston that the ancient inhabitants of Tikal, and by extension of other Maya cities in the forest, relied on this plant as much as or perhaps even more than on maize. But Was Puleston Right? Furthermore, in later studies Puleston demonstrated that its fruit can be stored for many months, for example in subterranean chambers called chultuns, in a climate where fruit usually rots rapidly.  However, more recent research has significantly decreased the role and importance of breadnut in the ancient Maya diet, defining it instead as an emergency food source in case of famine, and linking its unusual abundance near ancient Maya ruins to environmental factors more than human intervention. Sources This glossary entry is a part of the About.com guide to Mesoamerica , and the Dictionary of Archaeology and the guide to Plant Domestication. Harrison PD, and Messenger PE. 1980. Obituary: Dennis Edward Puleston, 1940-1978. American Antiquity 45(2):272-276. Lambert JDH, and Arnason JT. 1982. Ramon and Maya Ruins: An Ecological, not an Economic, Relation. Science 216(4543):298-299. Miksicek CH, Elsesser KJ, Wuebber IA, Bruhns KO, and Hammond N. 1981. Rethinking Ramon: A Comment on Reina and Hills Lowland Maya Subsistence. American Antiquity 46(4):916-919. Peters CM. 1983. Observations on Maya Subsistence and the Ecology of a Tropical Tree. American Antiquity 48(3):610-615. Schlesinger V. 2001, Animals and Plants of the Ancient Maya. A Guide. Austin: University of Texas Press Turner BL, and Miksicek CH. 1984. Economic Plant Species Associated with Prehistoric Agriculture in the Maya Lowlands. Economic Botany 38(2):179-193 Updated by K. Kris Hirst

Research Paper Questionaire Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Research Paper Questionaire - Essay Example For example, Jacob, the man chosen by God to be the patriarch of the twelve tribes of Israel, is also a weak, flawed human being who stole his brother Esau’s birthright and his blessing from Isaac. David was a great king who was a recipient of God’s blessings, yet he lusted after Bathsheba, the wife of one of his noble soldiers, sending the man to his death to possess Bathsheba. Chagall’s paintings are essentially reflections on such human themes inherent in the Old Testament, the moments of human triumph and sorrow as reflected in this book. His paintings are significant in their focus upon human interaction with God, and man’s constant struggle to attain to the greatness that God tries to provide him. The significance of this study is its presentation of an age old conflict between man’s weakness and his quest to attain God. 3. This theme of the constant struggle of man to overcome his own weaknesses and strive to attain the greatness that God can provide, is a recurrent theme in man’s life even in the present day. God constantly reaches out to man and his chosen agents of greatness are not without flaws themselves. 4. One of Chagall’s Bible etchings is titled â€Å"David and Absalom†, is drawn from the Book of Samuel (2 Samuel 14:33). This etching represents David receiving his son Absalom back from his exile in Gerar for the murder of his half brother Amnon. This etching demonstrates David’s deep love for his son: â€Å"and the king kissed Absalom† - yet this son later tries to turn Israel against his father. David’s weakness and sin in killing Uriah and taking his wife Bathsheba as his own produces ramifications in David’s life, which reflect how the greatness that God tries to instill in David is hindered by the man’s weakness in lusting after Bathsheba. Yet, despite this son, God blesses David and Bathsheba’s son Solomon and makes him the wisest king of all. 5. This complex ongoing

Indian folk dance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Indian folk dance - Essay Example Folk dances are the essential elements of almost every important event of Indian social life and celebration. Despite their extreme simplicity, all folk dances tend to convey certain messages to the community they belong to with regard to their history or survival. As mentioned in the introduction, one of the important features of all Indian folk dances is their simplicity. Dancers normally wear colorful costumes having creative designs and symbols. They also wear extensive jewels which obviously enhance the performance and overall appeal. Though not classical in nature, Indian folk dances are evidently creative works that comprise certain artistic steps and postures. These steps are usually accompanied by rhythmic composition of some primitive musical instruments. Unlike classical dances, folk dances are cherished by common people to express their joy on different occasions. To be more specific, folk dances maintain a social perspective rather than the mere manifestation of individual emotions. Bhangra: Bhangra is a lively folk dance originated from Punjab and is highly associated with harvest celebrations of the state. Therefore, normally it is performed on April 13, the day of Baishaki. The dance is accompanied by Punjabi Boliyaan lyrics and drum beats. The drummer plays a vital role in enhancing the tempo of dancers’ movements. The costume of Bhangra dancers reflects the typical Punjabi outfit. In addition to the traditional turban on head, they wear colorful waistcoat and ‘ghunghroos’ on ankles; and Bhangra, fondly called ‘Shaan of Punjab’ was introduced to Vancouver during the 1st international Sports and Cultural Festival (Dances of India). Although Bhangra songs have been a major influence on the Indian film industry Bollywood for decades, obviously Bhangra has got mixed with western classical music. As Huq (121) points out, a bhangra/hip hop crossover has been visible in the UK produced rap for the recent years. According to the writer, the bhangra beats and Punjabi lyrics have been a major influence on western world of music since 1980s. In other words, Bhangra has been highly influenced by the various dance periods mainly because of its vulnerability to amalgamate with other cultures and art forms. For instance, as Roy (22) argues, contemporary bhangra fails to reflect its primitive folk origin or other classificatory boundaries. Obviously bhangra has become a popular art despite its Indian origin as a primitive folk dance. Padayani: this is one of the important traditional folk dances said to have promoted by some temples of Southern Kerala in India. The most fascinating feature of this art is the ‘Kolam†™, the huge mask which is the imitation of some divine and semi divine characters including Bhairavi, Kali, Kalan, Yakshi etc. The masks or chest-covers the performers wear are extremely huge so that no one can identify the persons. Although researchers are deeply at odds, the origin of Padayani traces back to several centuries. As reported in The Hindu, some are of the opinion that Padayani originated

Employment Law and HRM Strategy Essay Example for Free

Employment Law and HRM Strategy Essay Employment laws play a critical role in human resources management strategies and in an organization operation. Employee laws are design to protect the employees by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) â€Å" federal enforcement agency enacted to ensure that employers follow and abide by rules set forth in the Civil Rights Acts of 1964†(Web Finance, 2012). However, the act insisted of â€Å"people should be given the same opportunities and equal changes to obtain employment regardless of their color, race, gender, national origin, or religion† (Stewart Brown, 2012, pg. 0). After researching the employment laws of Georgia by visiting ga. gov and after inserting â€Å"employment laws,† the research will give a descriptively analysis of a description of a scenario that will correspond with the employment law provide. Next the analysis will describes a recommended plan to manage the HRM situation within the confines of the law. Third, the approach will be justified by the scenario to HR management. Fourth, the analysis will describe a competitive advantage may be gain by ensuring HRM practices meet the necessary employment laws. Final, a speculation will be made with an assumption of the situation was not handled in accordance with the appropriate employment laws. ? Description of the scenario that corresponds with employment law: The scenario that was beneficial compliance with the Georgia Employment Law is â€Å"disciplinary action training for supervisors of diverse employers. † The current state that analysis was research of the state of Georgia and the informative information that was providing from www. ga. gov.  Georgia’s employment laws and the HRM strategies are in compliance with the state’s regulations. However, Georgia is considering as an at-will provision. Meaning which the employers have the right to â€Å"freely discipline or discharge employees provided that the adverse employment action is not motivated by any discriminatory intent or administered in a discriminatory manner†(Morris Manning Martin, 2012). When an employer is actively training for supervisors o f diverse employers the same Equal Employment Opportunity (EEOC) guidelines are applied throughout the training. Employers have to determine when terminating or have to discipline an employee to comply within the state’s laws by not violating the federally protection classes that is consist of age, race, national origin, religion, sex, or other status. If these actions are violating the individual(s) have the right to suit the organization. However, just last month the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEOC) requested that all employers review their anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policies. Reason being, the† Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued some serious concerns to the employers in an afforded to reiterate its commitment to justice from vulnerable individuals† (Flahardy, 2012). The reason for the request for the Title VI and the ADA applicants was concerns from a previous case that was review in the courts. The 6th Circuit rules that counseling recommendation violated the ADA† (Byrne, 2012). The action suit was proceed after an employee by the named of Emily Kroll’s suited White Lake Ambulance, for counseling constitutes a â€Å"medical examination,† under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Emily Kroll was employed with the emergency medical technician at the White Lake Ambulance Authority (WLAA), in which Whitehall, Mich. , in 2003 (Byrne, 2012). However, her supervisors initially considered her to be good employee until, a personal affair occurred when her marriage with a coworker failed. Krolly’s supervisor concerns grown after; Krolly and a colleague proceed into an argument and Krolly fail to administer oxygen to a patient. Krolly’s supervisors asked her would she attended counseling sessions whereas, Krolly’s supervisors claimed that they did not specific an exact theory. Emily Krolly refused the counseling and proceeds to resign from her position. Thereafter, Krolly proceeded to file suite with White Lake Ambulance (WLAA), claiming that â€Å"her supervisors† request that she obtained counseling violated under the act â€Å"Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (Byrne, 2012). Description of a recommendation plan that concerns HRM situation: Human Resources Management (HRM) is a critical part of an operational organization. Human Resources Management (HRM) is an organizational fundamental that deals with issues related to people such as: hiring, termination, performance organization development, training, benefits, and ompensations. However, when proceeding to make recommendations; although process has to be plan out that will incorporate certain situations and thoughts for future objectives and goals that need to be obtained within the confining of the law. However, in the case analysis, the first recommendation should have been Krolly’s supervisor should have directed her to the Human Resource Division when Krolly’s supervisor became aware of Krolly’s workplace behavior begin be problematic following an affair of a coworker. After this incident, another recommendation would be extra training courses such as: extra training courses related to the current incident, employers, and employees relationship, patients awareness. Included within the extra training courses, the Human Resources Division have to comply with the State or Federal laws and compliance with Title VII, of 1964 civil right Act. Also included in the training, the Human Resources Division should review employee’s handbook with the entire staff. Justification of the HR management’s scenario: The approach of justifying the Human Resource Division’s scenario, request for the entire staff to proceed to an important meeting. Within the meeting, the Human Resource Manager will take the approach of outlining the key elements of the importance for the meeting. The HR manager will review the current laws of Title VII, of 1964 and how it coheres with the organization’s policies and procedures. The HR manager will address to the managers and employees that the organizations have to stay within comply of the rules and regulations of the organization. The HR manager will have to address related important information that would pertain from the previous incident. The HR manager also has to address to each individual, if questions or concerns developed throughout the training; the manager will suggest to the employees, to address any concerns or questions that may develop throughout the training. Final, the HR manager will be addressed to the staff, at the end of the training session; an agreement document will have to be sign, stated that all individual understood the reason for the extra training course. Description of a competitive advantage of ensuring HRM practices: A competitive advantage of ensuring HRM practices that meet the necessary employment laws would depend on how efficiently the HRM division within the organization? The competitive advantage of ensuring HRM practices is whoever, is in charge of the HRM division is well train in order; for the right qualified person(s) to relate accurate information to the employees. An experience HRM manager(s) will have an inspiring attitude to encourage other people. Speculation will be made with the assumption of the situation according to the law: The speculation according to the scenario and complying with the law; if the writer were Emily Krolly’s supervisor or manager whereas, she would have made the decision to have a sit down with Emily and discussion the reasons she did not attended to the patients care? In comply with the law; the writer would acknowledge the guidelines of the laws and the expectations of the organization in taking care of patient’s well-being. The other incident that occur, the writer would direct Emily to the HR managers and let he or she handle the situation. In conclusion, the analysis address the scenario of Emily Kroll’s suite was complying with the Georgia’s law and with Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) requirements. The analysis describes recommendations that manage the HRM situation. Final, the analysis identifies a competitive advantage aspect of ensuring HRM practices meet the necessary employment laws.

cell theory :: essays research papers

Cell Theory   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Cell Theory states that all organisms are composed of similar units of organization, called cells. The concept was formally articulated in 1839 by Schleiden and Schwann and has remained as the foundation of modern biology.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Formulation of the cell theory In 1838 Theodor Schwann and Matthias Schleiden were talking about their studies on cells. It has been suggested that when Schwann heard Schleiden describe plant cells with nuclei, he was stuck by the similarity of these plant cells to cells he had observed in animal tissues. The two published his book on animal and plant cells the next year. Schwann summarized his observations into three conclusions about cells. 1. The cell is the unit of structure, physiology, and organization in living things. 2. The cell retains a dual existence as a distinct entity and building block in the construction of organisms. 3. Cells form by free-cell formation, similar to the formation of crystals.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  We know today that the first two tenets are right, but the third is wrong. The cell theory include: 1. All known living things are made up of cells. 2. The cell is structural and functional unit of all living things. 3. All cells come from pre-existing cells by division. 4. Cells contains hereditary information whish is passed from cell to cell during cell division. 5. All cells are basically the same in chemical composition. 6. All energy flow of life occurs within cells.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  With any theory, its tenets are based upon previous observations and facts. The cell theory is no different being founded upon the observations of many. For the first 150 years, the cell theory was just a structural idea. This stuctural view whish is found in most text books describes the components of a cell and their fate in cell reproduction.

Agency Costs and Financial Decision-Making

Agency Costs and Financial Decision-Making The Concept An agency relationship is a contract under which one or more persons (the principal(s)) engage another person (the agent) to perform some service on their behalf which involves delegating some decision making authority to the agent. If both parties to the relationship are utility maximizers and they may have divergent goals and objectives, and there is good reason to believe that the agent will not always act in the best interests of the principal (Jensen, Michael C. , and William H.Meckling. â€Å"Theory of the Firm, Managerial Behavior, Agency Costs, and Ownership Structure. † Journal of Financial Economics 3 (October 1976), 305-360) The concept of agency cost recognizes there are fundamental differences in how shareholders, managers, and even bondholders interpret their respective relationships to an organization. While they may share some common goals and objectives, there is the potential for at least some objectives to emerge that are focused more on individual enrichment than on the well-being of the whole.For example, managers may be more focused on building a reputation for themselves, possibly creating their own power bases within the structure of the larger organizations. Shareholders may become more focused on earning dividends now and less on the future of the business. Bondholders may be concerned only with the project associated with the bond issue, and lose sight of how the overall stability of the company can have a negative impact on the return earned from that bond. ( http://www. referenceforbusiness. com/encyclopedia/A-Ar/Agency-Theory. tml#ixzz14WVaUW4g) Agency Costs is an economic concept which is defined as the cost incurred by an entity in relation to issues like varied goals and objectives of the management and shareholders and information asymmetry. Self-Interested Behavior Agency theory suggests that, in imperfect labor and capital markets, managers will seek to maximize th eir own utility at the expense of corporate shareholders. Agents have the ability to operate in their own self-interest rather than in the best interests of the firm because of asymmetric information (e. g. , managers know better than shareholders whether they are apable of meeting the shareholders' objectives) and uncertainty (e. g. , myriad factors contribute to final outcomes, and it may not be evident whether the agent directly caused a given outcome, positive or negative). Evidence of self-interested managerial behavior includes the consumption of some corporate resources in the form of perquisites and the avoidance of optimal risk positions, whereby risk-averse managers bypass profitable opportunities in which the firm's shareholders would prefer they invest. Outside investors recognize that the firm will make decisions contrary to their best interests.Accordingly, investors will discount the prices they are willing to pay for the firm's securities. (Bamberg, Giinter, and Klau s Spremann, eds. Agency Theory, Information, and Incentives. Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 1987). A potential agency conflict arises whenever the manager of a firm owns less than 100 percent of the firm's common stock. If a firm is a sole proprietorship managed by the owner, the owner-manager will undertake actions to maximize his or her own welfare. The owner-manager will probably measure utility by personal wealth, but may trade off other considerations, such as leisure and perquisites, against personal wealth.If the owner-manager forgoes a portion of his or her ownership by selling some of the firm's stock to outside investors, a potential conflict of interest, called an agency conflict, arises. For example, the owner-manager may prefer a more leisurely lifestyle and not work as vigorously to maximize shareholder wealth, because less of the wealth will now accrue to the owner-manager. In addition, the owner-manager may decide to consume more perquisites, because some of the cost of th e consumption of benefits will now be borne by the outside shareholders. Bamberg, Giinter, and Klaus Spremann, eds. Agency Theory, Information, and Incentives. Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 1987. ) In the majority of large publicly traded corporations, agency conflicts are potentially quite significant because the firm's managers generally own only a small percentage of the common stock. Therefore, shareholder wealth maximization could be subordinated to an assortment of other managerial goals. For instance, managers may have a fundamental objective of maximizing the size of the firm.By creating a large, rapidly growing firm, executives increase their own status, create more opportunities for lower- and middle-level managers and salaries, and enhance their job security because an unfriendly takeover is less likely. As a result, incumbent management may pursue diversification at the expense of the shareholders who can easily diversify their individual portfolios simply by buying shares in other companies. (http://www. referenceforbusiness. com/encyclopedia/A-Ar/Agency-Theory. html#ixzz14WVaUW4g) Managers can be encouraged to act in the stockholders' best interests through incentives, constraints, and punishments.These methods, however, are effective only if shareholders can observe all of the actions taken by managers. A moral hazard problem, whereby agents take unobserved actions in their own self-interests, originates because it is infeasible for shareholders to monitor all managerial actions. To reduce the moral hazard problem, stockholders must incur agency costs. Measuring Agency Costs The idea behind assessing agency cost is to attempt to identify what impact these differences in objectives and the flow of information between the agent or manager and the shareholders is having on the overall profitability of the organization.By correctly identifying and addressing issues of agency cost, it is possible to minimize the influence of those factors, at least enough to allow the organization to continue moving forward, rather than running the risk of failure. Determining the agency cost normally begins with looking closely at the potential costs or risks associated with including some type of agent or manager in the organizational structure. For example, one potential risk would be the possibility that the individual who is appointed as an officer in the company could seek to use company assets for his or her own personal gain, to the detriment of the company.At the same time, agency cost also looks at the expense involved in anticipating potential abuses of power and resources, and structuring the organization so that abuse is less likely to occur. This may include offering incentives to key employees that promote loyalty and lessen the chance of misappropriation of resources, or structuring the accounting process so that a series of checks and balances create a separation of control, effectively preventing any one individual from having too much power within the organization. http://www. wisegeek. com/what-is-an-agency-cost. htm) Agency costs are defined as those costs borne by shareholders to encourage managers to maximize shareholder wealth rather than behave in their own self-interests. The notion of agency costs is perhaps most associated with a seminal 1976 Journal of Finance paper by Michael Jensen and William Meckling, who suggested that corporate debt levels and management equity levels are both influenced by a wish to contain agency costs. There are three major types of agency costs: 1) Expenditures to monitor managerial activities, such as audit costs (2) Expenditures to structure the organization in a way that will limit undesirable managerial behavior, such as appointing outside members to the board of directors or restructuring the company's business units and management hierarchy (3) Opportunity costs which are incurred when shareholder-imposed restrictions, such as requirements for shareholder votes on s pecific issues, limit the ability of managers to take actions that advance shareholder wealth.In the absence of efforts by shareholders to alter managerial behavior, there will typically be some loss of shareholder wealth due to inappropriate managerial actions. On the other hand, agency costs would be excessive if shareholders attempted to ensure that every managerial action conformed with shareholder interests. Therefore, the optimal amount of agency costs to be borne by shareholders is determined in a cost-benefit context—agency costs should be increased as long as each incremental dollar spent results in at least a dollar increase in shareholder wealth. (http://www. referenceforbusiness. om/encyclopedia/A-Ar/Agency-Theory. html#ixzz14WVaUW4g) Financial decision making for dealing with agency costs There are two polar positions for dealing with shareholder-manager agency conflicts. At one extreme, the firm's managers are compensated entirely on the basis of stock price cha nges. In this case, agency costs will be low because managers have great incentives to maximize shareholder wealth. It would be extremely difficult, however, to hire talented managers under these contractual terms because the firm's earnings would be affected by economic events that are not under managerial control.At the other extreme, stockholders could monitor every managerial action, but this would be extremely costly and inefficient. The optimal solution lies between the extremes, where executive compensation is tied to performance, but some monitoring is also undertaken. In addition to monitoring, the following mechanisms encourage managers to act in shareholders' interests: (1) performance-based incentive plans (2) direct intervention by shareholders (3) the threat of firing (4) the threat of takeoverMost publicly traded firms now employ performance shares, which are shares of stock given to executives on the basis of performances as defined by financial measures such as earn ings per share, return on assets, return on equity, and stock price changes. If corporate performance is above the performance targets, the firm's managers earn more shares. If performance is below the target, however, they receive less than 100 percent of the shares. Incentive-based compensation plans, such as performance shares, are designed to satisfy two objectives.First, they offer executives incentives to take actions that will enhance shareholder wealth. Second, these plans help companies attract and retain managers who have the confidence to risk their financial future on their own abilities—which should lead to better performance. (http://www. referenceforbusiness. com/encyclopedia/A-Ar/Agency-Theory. html#ixzz14WVaUW4g) An increasing percentage of common stock in corporate America is owned by institutional investors such as insurance companies, pension funds, and mutual funds.The institutional money managers have the clout, if they choose, to exert considerable infl uence over a firm's operations. Institutional investors can influence a firm's managers in two primary ways. First, they can meet with a firm's management and offer suggestions regarding the firm's operations. Second, institutional shareholders can sponsor a proposal to be voted on at the annual stockholders' meeting, even if the proposal is opposed by management.Although such shareholder-sponsored proposals are nonbinding and involve issues outside day-to-day operations, the results of these votes clearly influence management opinion. (http://www. referenceforbusiness. com/encyclopedia/A-Ar/Agency-Theory. html#ixzz14WVaUW4g) In the past, the likelihood of a large company's management being ousted by its stockholders was so remote that it posed little threat. This was true because the ownership of most firms was so widely distributed, and

Lawyer Ed Masry on a referral Essay

Erin Brockovich is a true American hero who’s icon status and â€Å"stick-to-it-iveness† only fuels her determination to expose injustice and lend her voice to those who do not have one. Erin Brockovich is a single mother, unemployed, struggling to make ends meet in a world not particularly kind to single moms. After a car accident leads her to seek legal redress, she meets lawyer Ed Masry on a referral. When he loses her lawsuit, she shows up at his office, demanding a job, barely hiding her desperation. Intimidated, Ed gives her one. By pursuing her own curiosity she brings on a difficult and huge case about PG&E. PG&E’s desire to increase its profits was so big that they didn’t even care about their neighbors’ health or security. In a world where heroes are often in short supply, the story of Erin Brockovich is an inspirational reminder of the power of the human spirit. Her passion, tenacity and steadfast desire to fight for the rights of the underdog defied the odds. Her victory made even more sweet by the fact that while helping others, she in turn helped herself. This story is not just a triumph of the little guy over the big nasty corporation, it’s the journey of one woman down the path of self-discovery as well. If only the world had more â€Å"Erin Brockoviches† in it, perhaps there would be more honesty in it. Profile of an extraordinary woman â€Å"She brought a small town to its feet and a huge corporation to its knees.† After watching the movie I realized that Erin’s public self was pretty much the same as her private self: she treated Ed, her boss in the same manner as she treated George, her boyfriend. Erin didn’t take crap from anybody but at times she did let her aggressions take over. Most of the time these hostilities would lead her in contempt, but in the long run usually worked out for the best. It was a good way to get her point across at times but from my perspective she could have approached some of these situations a little differently, for example the night Erin met George she could have asked him nicely to be quiet instead of chewing him out angrily, even after he tried repeatedly to apologize to her. She is aggressive and she loses her temper easily. Another example of this is point where Ed takes on a partner for advice and help with costs on the PG&E cases and when Erin walks in and finds out, she immediately feels offended and flies off the handle when she could have used a â€Å"pillow method† so to speak, to look at the situation from Ed’s point of view and realize that taking on this partner was in the best interests of the case. Incensed by what she has found, Erin begins a crusade to make Pacific Gas & Electric accountable for the illness and death that they have caused. Driven by her own persistence and desire to seek justice for the townspeople, Erin goes door to door to sign up over 600 plaintiffs for a direct-action lawsuit against PG&E. However, not everyone shares Erin’s enthusiasm to see justice done – with PG&E being the largest employer in the area, Erin finds a number of townspeople leery of rocking the boat. Nonetheless, Erin’s persistence and the personal interest she takes in their lives makes them listen. She is one of them. A kindred spirit and her ability to connect with them on their level makes them comfortable, ultimately earning their trust. She thrives on being the voice for those who don’t know how to yell. Along with trust and honesty comes respect. When a person is trusted and shown to be honest, that person is respected for those reasons. Erin experiences respect of her for the first time with the community of Hinkley. Once she knows how it feels to be respected, she realizes how valuable that asset can be: â€Å"For the first time in my life, I’ve got people respecting me. When I walk into a room, people shut up to see if I have anything to say. I never had that before. Please, don’t ask me to give that up.† Erin was also respected for her compassion and selflessness. She genuinely cared about every single victim of P.G. & E.’s lie. She proved this fact when Theresa said Erin’s files needed some holes filled in and Erin recited from memory all the information Theresa wanted and more. Someone who doesn’t have compassion and caring for the townspeople of Hinkley would not have been able to do that. When Erin is hired there is some internal grumbling at the law firm, as a number of Erin’s co-workers resent her outspoken personality and questionable style of dress. She talks in a non-polite way, she always goes straight to her point and she is not afraid of saying what’s in her mind, she is brutally honest: â€Å"That’s all you got, lady. Two wrong feet and ugly shoes!† She also loves ironies: â€Å"I just went out there and performed sexual favors†. Erin is always able to get the evidences she needs by using the means she has, she is extremely confident.

Psychology Chapter 8 Essays

Psychology Chapter 8 Essays Psychology Chapter 8 Paper Psychology Chapter 8 Paper Essay Topic: Literature They infer mental processes from observable behaviors. How do cognitive psychologists study mental processes? (Answer on P.301) Those images required larger degrees of rotation. While participating in an image rotation study, you responded very slowly to some items that shared certain characteristics. What is the likely reason for these slow responses? (Answer on P.302) Visual imagery activates brain areas related to the sport. How do researchers explain the effectiveness of mental imagery as an adjunct to athletes preparation for competition? (Answer on P.303) Concepts. Don can tell Ray about his sports car because Ray understands common characteristics of sports cars and what makes them different from family cars. Thus Ray is using mental categories called: (Answer on P.303) More complicated and not as clearly defined. Compared to artificial concepts learned in the laboratory, natural concepts tend to be: (Answer on P.304) Prototypes. Most college students in the U.S. probably think of football or basketball when sports are mentioned, rather than soccer or luge. Thus, football and basketball would serve as ________ for sports. (Answer on P.304) Needed operations, final product, and starting point. What are the three characteristics of well-defined problems? (Answer on P.305) Algorithm. What term might a cognitive psychologist use to describe the formula for calculating the square yards of carpet needed to cover the bedroom floor? (Answer on P.305) Heuristics. What problem-solving strategies dont guarantee solutions but make efficient use of time? (Answer on P.306) Knowing how to collect and organize information. Compared to non-experts, psychologists have found that expert problem solvers are especially proficient at: (Answer on P.306) Setting Subgoals. You have a term paper due in a month. For the first week, you decide to find 10 references, read them in the second week, develop an outline in the third week, and write the paper during the fourth week. What problem-solving approach are you using? (Answer on P.306) Rigidity. What term do we use for the tendency to rely too heavily on past experience in solving problems? (Answer on P.306) Set Effect. You have worked at the same job for five years and always drive home using the same route. A new street is built that would shorten your trip but you continue to use the same route. What problem-solving block are you experiencing? (Answer on P.307) Confirmation Bias. John is trying to figure out what is wrong with his car. He thinks there is a problem with the fuel injection system so he hasnt checked if there might be another malfunction before he takes it to the dealer. Which error may John be committing? (Answer on P.310) They used the representativeness heuristic. Pat is a psychologist who works with defense attorneys in formulating questions during jury selection. Many prospective jurors think Pat is an attorney because he is male, dresses in a three-piece suit, writes on a legal pad, and has a good command of language. What decision-making process did the prospective jurors use? (Answer on P.310) Availability Heuristic. After hearing about a horrible airline crash that killed 250 people, Jim cancels his airplane reservations because he feels it is too risky to fly. Instead, he decides to drive across the country. What decision-making process was involved in Jims decision? (Answer on P.311) They will travel for a blender regularly selling for $55 but on sale for $50. A psychologist presents people with situations involving the purchase of a blender and a suit. He wants to know if they would be willing to drive 20 minutes in order to save some money. What decisions are people most likely to make in these situations? (Answer on P.312) They will make risk-averse decisions and select Procedure A. A surgeon is reviewing the chances of success for two surgical procedures and says that if Procedure A is used, the chances of survival are 35%. If Procedure B is used, the chances of failure are 65%. What will patients tend to do when faced with this type of information? (Answer on P.312) There is a low to moderate positive relation between the two. What is the relation between intelligence and creativity? (Answer pn P.312) Divergent. What type of thinking could be described as taking different directions in search of a variety of answers to a question? (Answer on P. 314) The effectiveness of different motivators varies with the individual and the degree to which it is task-focusing versus goal-focusing. The town council asked a sculptor to create a work in celebration of the towns 100th anniversary. Some members of the council want to offer a large monetary sum; others believe money will detract from the quality of the art. What advice might a psychologist offer members of the council? (Answer on P.315) Phonemes. You are learning Russian in preparation for a trip next summer. Although you are doing a good job recognizing the written signs, you are having trouble with the sounds of the Russian language. Which of the following aspects of language is giving you trouble? (Answer on P.319) Morphemes. What are the basic units of meaning in a language? (Answer on P.319) 2 Months. At what age do children engage in cooing? (Answer on P.319) Telegraphic Speech. A young child says Mommy go, signifying that her mother is going to the store. What does this example illustrate about language development? (Answer on P.319) Imitation and Reinforcement. How would B. F. Skinner account for the acquisition of language? (Answer on P.319) They use facial expressions and pantomimes of emotions. How do people who use American Sign Language place emphasis in their sentences? (Answer on P.322) Bart, who is deaf, was born to hearing parents who encouraged him to learn ASL. Which of the following describes the typical background and experience for a deaf person today? (Answer on P.322) Sarah, who is 12 years old. Which person would probably have the easiest time learning a second language? (Answer on P.321) Linguistic Relativity Hypothesis. What do we call the hypothesis that language influences what we think? (Answer on P.323) Doublespeak. What do we call language that is purposely designed to make the bad seem good, turn a negative into a positive, or avoid responsibility? (Answer on P.323) Euphemism. What term is used to describe an inoffensive word or phrase used in place of an unacceptable or offensive one? (Answer on P.324) The stories will not have many women. What effect will hearing a story in which all of the pronouns are he or him have on the stories children write immediately after hearing the story? (Answer on P.325) Objective measure of a sample of behavior collected using well-established procedures. Which of these is the best description of a psychological test? (Answer on P.327) The process of thinking. Compared to Americans, the descriptions of intelligence offered by the Japanese place greater emphasis on: (Answer on P.327) Facilitates harmonious group relations and participates in family life. You are reading written descriptions of definitions of intelligence from around the world. Which of the following might you think had come from people in African countries such as Kenya? (Answer on P.327) Francis Galton. I believe that differences in levels of intellectual ability are due to hereditary factors and that these differences can be measured. Who am I? (Answer on P.328) Intelligence. The ability to excel in a number of tasks, especially those related to success in schoolwork, is a common American definition of: (Answer on P.328) To select those children who could benefit from classes for slow learners. What was the original purpose of the first well-established test of intelligence? (Answer on P.328) The childs performance is similar to the average of eight-year-old children. What could we conclude if we know that a child obtained a mental age of eight on a standard test of intelligence? (Answer on P.329) 91. You test an 11-year-old child and find she has a mental age of 10. What is her IQ? (Answer on P.329) Performance and Verbal. What two categories of subtests make up the Wechsler intelligence tests? (Answer on P.330) Reliable. Psychological tests that yield relatively consistent results are said to be: (Answer on P.331) Valid. A psychological test that measures what we intend it to measure is said to be; (Answer on P.331) Content Validity. An academic test that reflects the material it intends to assess is said to have: (Answer on P.331) Predictive Validity. A test that estimates whether a person will succeed at a particular task is said to have: (Answer on P.331) Standardization. When you took your college entrance exam, students across the country took the same test at the same time with the same instructions. What characteristic of a good psychological test do these similarities reflect? (Answer on P.332) Norms. What are scores obtained by a relatively large sample of people on the same psychological test? (Answer on P.332) Normal Curve. Many human characteristics such as height are distributed so the majority of scores fall in the middle, with fewer extreme scores. What do we call this type of distribution? (Answer on P.333) Exceptional. What term designates children with learning disabilities, behavior and emotional disorders, sensory and physical handicaps, communication disorders, or intellectual differences? (Answer on P.333) She may be mentally retarded but further evaluation is needed. Ten-year-old Myra was evaluated by a psychologist at the State Hospital. She obtained an IQ of 62. What is the psychologist likely to conclude based on this testing? (Answer on P.333) Savant Syndrome. A psychologist tested Brian and found his overall IQ was 45. Yet Brian can add, subtract, multiply, and divide large numbers with lightning speed and consistent accuracy. What term is used for Brians exceptional ability? (Answer on P.334) Autism. Failure to respond to people in socially appropriate ways and serious deficits in language are characteristics of: (Answer on P.336) General intelligence and specific abilities. Charles Spearman believed that intelligence is composed of: (Answer on P.336) Analytical, Creative, and Practical. What three types of intelligence constitute Sternbergs triarchic theory of intelligence? (Answer on P.336) Standard tests do not assess the many facets of intelligence. Howard Gardner and Robert Sternberg agree to be interviewed together on the topic of intelligence. At the end of the interview, what would you conclude is their major point of agreement? (Answer on P.338) We can improve the intelligence of the nation if only the brightest people have children. Which of the following summarizes the eugenics movement? (Answer on P.338) 50 60% A group of psychologists reviews the literature on the heritability of intelligence. They conclude that most of the estimates are in what range? (Answer on P.339) Phenylketonuria. Damage from what genetic abnormality can be avoided by modification of diet beginning at birth? (Answer on P.340) The childrens IQ scores had increased. Howard Skeels placed slow and unresponsive children in a home for mentally retarded adolescents for several months. What did he find? (Answer on P.341) A slow but steady rise in performance. What has happened to IQ performance since the 1930s? (Answer on P.341) Confluence Model. What term did Robert Zajonc use to describe the idea that family structure can influence intelligence? (Answer on P.342) Parents with lower IQs tend to have more children than the national average. What finding from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth seems critical in explaining past reports of a relation involving birth order, family size, and intelligence? (Answer on P.342) Heredity; Environment. When we consider intelligence, it is important to remember that although ________ sets limits on a childs potential, it is the ________ that permits that potential to be actualized. (Answer on P.344) African-American students who are told a test measures intelligence as opposed to problem solving obtain lower scores. What evidence does Claude Steele present in support of the stereotype vulnerability hypothesis as it relates to intelligence testing? (Answer on P.344) They failed to distinguish between correlation and causation. What is one criticism of the conclusions offered by Richard Herrnstein and Charles Murray in The Bell Curve? (Answer on P.345)

What Are the US Military Colleges Should You Go

What Are the US Military Colleges Should You Go SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips For those students who aspire to get military training and earn a college degree, there are a number of colleges in the United States that are designed for you to pursue your military and educational goals simultaneously. There are three primary types of US military colleges: service academies, Senior Military Colleges, and Military Junior Colleges. In this article, I'll describe each type of military college and explain the differences between them. Furthermore, I'll help you determine which type of college may be best for you. What Are US Military Colleges? Military colleges offer a combination of military instruction and higher education. Attending a military college can giveyou the opportunity to get a college education and a military job after getting your degree; some military colleges even require you to serve in the military after graduation. As I mentioned above, military colleges can be separated into service academies, Senior Military Colleges, and Military Junior Colleges. The 5 US Service Academies The service academies are a great option for students who know they want to pursue a college education and serve in the military. There are five Service Academies, each dedicated to a different branch of the armed services: US Military Academy(West Point, NY) US Naval Academy(Annapolis, MD) US Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs, CO) US Coast Guard Academy(New London, CT) US Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point, NY) Graduates of the service academies receive a Bachelor of Science, are commissioned as officers in their branch, and are required to serve for a minimum of five years after graduation. Getting In to the Service Academies The service academies are very selective schools, and all of the academies, except the Coast Guard, require a congressional letter of recommendation to gain admission. Students also have to submittypical requirements ofa college application (application, transcript, test scores, recommendations, and college essay), applicants to the service academies have to pass a medical exam and take a fitness assessment. The Air Force Academy and Naval Academy require interviews as well. You’ll primarily be evaluated on your high school academic performance, test scores, and extracurricular achievement. The service academies are fond of students who have pursued leadership positions and shown a commitment to their communities. Also, they appreciate students who have excelled athletically and have obtained awards and leadership positions on their sports teams. Cost Financially, the service academies are undoubtedly an incredible deal. Tuition, books, board, medical, and dental care are fully paid for all four years. Additionally, you receive a monthly stipend to cover living expenses and pay for miscellaneous supplies. Service Academy Life In many respects, life for students at each of the military academies is very similar. The academies are known for being extremely strict, conservative, and requiring a great deal of discipline. Underclassmen, especially, have very little freedom. They're rarely allowed to leave campus, and there are harsh rules and punishments regarding drinking and drug use. Typically, service academy students have mandatory activities from around 6:00 AM-8:00 PM. Then, they start studying and doing homework. Furthermore, they only get a few weeks of summer vacation as opposed to the three months students get at regular colleges. Service academy students don’t get much freedom or free time, but they tend to get a great education, a unique bonding experience with their peers, and many future opportunities. In fact, Navy, Army, and Air Force placed in the top 15 of Payscale's best universities and colleges by salary potential. The academies also emphasize athletics. Students have to participate in varsity or intramural sports, and students are required to attend home football games. The major differences between the academies arerelated to their locations and the respective branches they’re preparing you to serve in. Also, Coast Guard and the Merchant Marine Academy are much smaller than the other three academies. Now, I’ll provide an overview of each of the academies to give you an idea of what makes each one unique and what you’ll have to do to get admitted. As part of each description,I summarized student reviews that come from Niche, a website that ranks and reviews schools. Army commencement (The U.S. Army/Flickr) US Military Academy Also known as Army or West Point, the US Military Academy was founded in 1802 and trains cadets to become Army officers. It’s located in West Point, NY, which is about 50 miles from New York City. Fast Facts Location: West Point, NY Undergraduate enrollment: 4,389 Acceptance rate: 9% Average GPA: 3.74 Average SAT: 1272 Average ACT: 29 US News ranking: #12 National Liberal Arts Colleges Student Perspectives Students acknowledge that life for cadets is extremely stressful and busy, but many are grateful for their student experiences and that they're getting superb training for military careers. Also, they're appreciative of the friendships they've made during their time at West Point. On the negative side, some lament their decision to go there because of the lack of freedom and draconian rules. US Naval Academy US Naval Academy students are trained to become officers in the Navy and Marine Corps. Naval Academy students are on active duty in the US Navy. The Academy is located in Annapolis, MD, where the Severn River flows into the ChesapeakeBay. It’s about an hour from Washington, DC. Fast Facts Location: Annapolis, MD Undergraduate enrollment: 4,526 Acceptance rate: 8% Average GPA: 3.86 Average SAT: 1360 Average ACT: 29 US News ranking: #21 National Liberal Arts Colleges Student Perspectives Many Naval Academy students enjoy the challenges that service academy life poses and the education they receive at Navy. They also tout the bonds they form with their peers, and they're grateful for the financial benefits and summer trainingthey have an opportunity to receive. However, some believe that the monotony and rigor of daily life can extinguish their passions and wear them down. It's a Naval Academy wedding. (Lawrence OP/Flickr) US Air Force Academy The Air Force Academy trains cadets to become officers in the Air Force. The Academy is located in Colorado Springs, CO. Fast Facts Location: Colorado Springs, CO Undergraduate enrollment: 4,237 Acceptance rate: 12% Average GPA: 3.83 Average SAT: 1314 Average ACT: 30 US News ranking: #26 National Liberal Arts Colleges Student Perspectives The students comment on the harsh rules and how it can be hard to adjust to the challenges if you're not from a military background. Many appreciate the bonds they've made and their teachers, but they seem to be looking forward more to the advantages they'll get as graduates of Air Force than enjoying their time there. US Coast Guard Academy The Coast Guard is the smallest of the service academies. Graduates become officers in the Coast Guard. It’s located in New London, CT, which is about two hours from Boston and New York City. Fast Facts Location: New London, CT Undergraduate enrollment: 988 Acceptance rate: 16% Average GPA: 3.92 Average SAT: 1882 Average ACT: 28 US News ranking: #2 Regional Colleges (North) Student Perspectives Students believe it's hard to fulfill all of their obligations and try to have a social life. However, they appreciate the education and future opportunities they're being given. Furthermore, they're complimentary of their teachers. Coast Guard fun (US Coast Guard Academy/Flickr) US Merchant Marine Academy The US Merchant Marine Academy graduates licensed Merchant Marine Officers. The Merchant Marine is a fleet of ships that carries imports and exports during peacetime, and it becomes a naval auxiliary during times of war. The Academy is located in Kings Point, NY, about 20 miles east of New York City. Fast Facts Location: Kings Point, NY Undergraduate enrollment: 923 Acceptance rate: 15% Average GPA: 3.6 Average SAT: 1268 Average ACT: 28 US News ranking: #3 Regional Colleges (North) Student Perspectives Again, students here acknowledge the rigors of service academy life. They accept that they have more responsibilities and are busier than regular college students. One unique component of the Merchant Marine Academy that students praised is Sea Year, which is a program during their sophomore and junior years when they train on vessels and get to travel the world. Senior Military Colleges Senior military colleges give students the option to pursue military training while they’re in college. There are six military colleges: Texas AM Norwich University Virginia Military Institute The Citadel Virginia Tech University of North Georgia Additionally, the Virginia Women’s Institute for Leadership at Mary Baldwin College has an affiliated program. At The Citadel and Virginia Military Institute, all students must become cadets, which means they’re part of the military training program. At the other colleges, students can be regular civilian students or join the Corps of Cadets. Those who become cadets have a similar schedule and experience as students at the service academies. They have to keep to a strict schedule, have similar rules, and must undergo physical and military training. Every cadet must enter the Corps of Cadets and the Reserve Officer Training Corps. At SMCs, cadets live in their own dorms and by a different set of rules, whichROTC students at traditional four-year colleges aren't subject to. Unlike the service academies, at Senior Military Colleges, there is no service requirement after graduation unless you receive an ROTC scholarship. Members of the Texas AM Corps of Cadets get to rock these boots. (bk1bennett/Flickr) Getting Into Senior Military Colleges Generally, when applying to SMCs, you have to submit an application, personal essay, transcript, and standardized test scores. You’ll be evaluated on your academic performance and extracurricular achievements. The selectivity of the SMCs varies, but generally, if you meet their average GPA and standardized test scores, you have a good chance of getting accepted. Virginia Tech has an average GPA of 3.66, an average ACT score of 27, and accepts 70% of applicants. The Citadel has an average GPA of 3.5, an average ACT score of 23, and accepts 80% of applicants. SMCs that give you the option whether or not to join the Corps of Cadets have different application procedures. At Texas AM, you have to be accepted to the university as a regular student before you join the Corps of Cadets. At Virginia Tech, you indicate on your application if you’re intending to join the Corps. However, if you end up deciding not to join after stating your intention to do so, your application will be reevaluated. Cost Also, a big difference between the service academies and senior military colleges is that you don’t receive the financial benefits of the academies or get a full-ride scholarship for attending an SMC. For the 2017-2018 school year, The University of North Georgia was roughly $20,000 annually for cadets. At Virginia Tech, the cost for in-state students was also about $23,000, but it was about $40,000 for out-of-state students. However, there are grants and ROTC scholarships available to cadets. Additionally, you can apply for need-based financial aid. Military Junior Colleges Military Junior Colleges are two-year colleges that allow cadets to become commissioned officers in the Army Reserves through the Early Commissioning Program after finishing the program. At the completion of the program, students will also receive an associate degree. The students must still go on to get a bachelor’s degree at a four-year college to serve as a regular officer in active duty. However, while students are getting their four-year degrees, they can serve as reserve officers to help advance their military careers. Some Military Junior Colleges offer other programs in addition to the Early Commissioning Program like the Service Academy Preparation Program, which offers students one year of preparation to transfer to a service academy. Other schools will offer two years of a cadet/ROTC program independent of an Early Commissioning Program. There are five Military Junior Colleges in the US: Wentworth Military Academy Valley Forge Military Academy and College Marion Military Institute New Mexico Military Institute Georgia Military College Getting Into Military Junior Colleges Military Junior Colleges require you to submit an application, your high school transcript, and some require SAT/ACT scores. Even those schools that don’t require standardized test scores may use them for placement purposes. If you want to enter an Early Commissioning Program, there are minimum GPA and SAT/ACT requirements that vary by school. If you have a 2.5 GPA and a 920 SAT score or a 19 ACT score, you’ll meet the minimum requirements for all of the programs. Additionally, for an ECP, you need to pass a medical exam, the Army Physical Fitness Test, and you must complete military training after high school. You can do Cadet Initial Entry Training in the summer after high school before enrolling in the ECP. Cost The costs of Military Junior Colleges vary. At Wentworth Military Academy, a private college, the full cost of attendance is over $32,000 annually. However, there are scholarships and grants available. For example, if you receive a Military Junior College Scholarship, you’ll have full tuition and fees paid, and you’ll receive money for books, your uniform, and a monthly stipend. Additionally, Wentworth will cover room and board costs. New Mexico Military Institute, a state-funded college, costs about $20,000 for in-state students. Again, there are numerous scholarship opportunities and you can apply for financial aid. Is a Military College Right for You? There are a number of factors to consider before you commit to attending a military college as opposed to going to a regular college. Most importantly, how motivated are you to get military training and serve in the military? If you're not fully enthusiastic about serving, you should think twice before deciding to attend a school that requires you to spend years serving in the military after you graduate. Also, can you handle the incredibly structured and disciplined environment of military colleges? Do you need more free time and a laid back environment, or are you excited by the thought of getting pushed physically and academically? Do you want to feel the unique camaraderie you'll experience with fellow cadets? Personally, I briefly considered attending West Point. I was recruited by Army for gymnastics, and when the coach called me and sold the academy to me, I was intrigued. The financial and potential professional benefits of going to Army sounded great. However, I hadn't ever considered joining the military previously and I was hesitant to commit to the five years after graduating. Also, I didn't think I would thrive in such a strict environment; I wanted more freedom to pursue my varied interests. How to Choose Which Type of College Is Right for You If you’re interested in military training and getting a college education, you have a number of choices. On top of the service academies, Senior Military Colleges, and Military Junior Colleges, you can join an ROTC at another college or join a cadet program at some maritime colleges. There are a number of factors to consider when deciding which type of school you want to attend: How committed are you to pursuing a career in the military? If you're completely sure that you want to serve in the military after college, then the service academies may be a good option for you. If you're interested in military training but haven't fully committed to a military career, then perhaps a Senior Military College would be better for you. Do you want to be around civilian students or immerse yourself in a military environment with other cadets? If you want the balance of feeling like a normal college student and get military training, then joining an ROTC program at a traditional college is probably your best option. If you want to be in an environment that is completely dedicated to preparing you to serve as a military officer and share that experience with your peers, then you may want to attend a service academy. If you mostly want the military training experience but still want some exposure to regular college students, then maybe you should consider one of the SMCs that has non-cadet students. If you want a cadet experience and a regular college experience, you can go to a Military Junior College and then transfer to a 4-year college. Are you a competitive applicant? It's very difficult to get into the service academies. If you don't have excellent grades and test scores, you may not be able to secure a nomination or get into one of the academies. If you're not close to the average GPA or test scores for the academies, you may want to consider one of the less selective SMCs. Another option is to go to a Military Junior College, where you can join an Early Commissioning Program, or you can do a Service Academy Preparation Program if you're determined to go to a service academy. How do finances affect your decision? Hopefully, finances won't play too much of a role in your decision, but money is almost always a factor. Without grants or scholarships, the service academies offer the best financial deal by far. However, with financial aid, you may be able to get a comparable situation at a Senior Military College or a Junior Military College. How to Select a College On top of the type of school you decide to attend, it's important to select the specific college that's the best fit for you. Learn how to choose a college. Also, make sure you do ample college research before you apply. Some factors to consider as you’re doing your research are the location, undergraduate enrollment, selectivity, academic programs, and on-campus culture of the schools. You can use college websites, finders, guidebooks, ranking lists, and search websites to help with your research. Additionally, you may want to consult with counselors, teachers, current students, and alumni to help you with your college decision. What's Next? As you're navigating your way through the college selection process, learn how much it matters where you go to college. Also, you need to figure out where in the US you should go to college. Finally, you should check out this article for helpful advice about which colleges you should apply to. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

2000 Concorde Accident Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

2000 Concorde Accident - Essay Example This theory proceeds from the perspective that business environments are socially determined. Therefore, the levels of success of business enterprises are directly proportional to the level of attachment that exists between the social order and the company’s actions and reactions. On this score, some of the issues that have been used to determine the course of action are mostly tied to the capacity to relate to issues of general interest. Multiple perspectives agree on the fact that legitimacy theory harmonizes the relationships and connections between the society and the business in ways that provide synergies that enable the sustainability of the business environment (Buys, 2010, pp. 55-61). Other theorists suggest that the proper adoption of this theory has the effect of easing the chain of supply as the streamlined social environment provides the necessary support for easing the processes of the firm. This study shall engage the theory of legitimacy in understanding the reactions that followed the 2000 Concorde Crash. Air France reacted in various ways to the tragedy but this paper will concern itself with the formal responses as obtained from press releases, official comment, news reports, and other kinds of responses that followed the disaster (Buyck, 2010, p. 67). The assumption is that the responses could be reduced into the company’s demonstration of an underlying commitment to the service of certain values, mores, ethics, and traditions that regulate its policy framework and on which its operational framework is based. Essentially, the reactions by Air France to the disaster could be interpreted as an outward manifestation of its framework as understood within the aspect of corporate management. The case in point for discussion concerns the disastrous crash of the French Concorde flight also known as Air France Flight 4590. This paper will limit itself to some specific responses of the management of Air France to the 2000 crash of the Concorde.