Small business management To build or buy

Introduction This article examines strategic planning process of purchasing an existing coffee business in Miami. We have based the business concept on News Cafà ©, which demonstrates affordability, growth, and comfort at the Ocean Drive of Miami Beach.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Small business management: To build or buy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More New Cafà © is a 24-hour business with a great menu that consists of both national and international coffee and desserts. It has a great oceanfront view. However, the place experiences service lackluster during high tourists’ seasons. Business Concept Strategy Starbucks introduced coffee business to the US and coffee has become a common feature of Americans as millions of them consume coffee daily. These people are willing to spend money on quality coffee. Specialty coffee has become a growing coffee business in Miami as News Cafà © shows ( Monaghan and Huffaker, 1995). Market conditions such as recession and slow economic growths have not affected coffee consumption in Miami or the US. In fact, specialty coffee sales have increased. In addition, no coffee house closed due to recession unlike in other industries. News Cafà © and other coffee outlets serve quality coffee in Miami. However, most of these coffee outlets look like ‘fast food restaurants’ because of their services. Now Miami coffee consumers have increased, and their preferences for coffee and other products have grown. As a result, many consumers need fresh coffee, varieties, and coffee with health benefits. This means that there is a niche in the coffee market of Miami. Coffee consumers want fresh, high-end, quality, and health coffee served in high volumes and in a warm and conducive atmosphere. A new coffee business in Miami can meet these needs and fill the niche in the market. The business should provide high quality coffee products in u pscale locations of Miami. The location must also provide a mixed clientele base in order to ensure that the business has high-levels of activities throughout the session. Develop or Purchase Based on the performance of News Cafà ©, it is necessary to purchase an existing coffee business than developing a new one. The existing coffee business in Miami has existing customers, a stream of revenues, existing employees, recognized business name, and working business policies and procedures (Joseph, Nekoranec and Steffens, 1992).Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Purchasing an existing coffee business in Miami shall enable the investor to avoid risks associated with start-ups. Business pundits claim that nearly 80 percent of start-ups do not last for more than two years. In addition, start-ups may also lack adequate cash flows, which may affect their working capital. New businesses have financing and setup challenges. An investor who opts for an existing business with history avoids challenges associated with a new business that lacks a record of accomplishment. Therefore, the process of developing a new coffee business in Miami should be through purchasing an existing business. Still, it also eliminates a daunting task of finding capital for a new business. Start-ups also undergo creation challenges. There are business procedures and policies, which the new business owner would not like in an existing. However, the new owner may make changes that fit his new business concept. The purchasing party can easily locate what areas or policies of the existing business need changes. The investor may also decide to overhaul all aspects of the business, but eventually gains from identifying factors that do not favor the business. Such existing business already has stability required to start operation. In addition, the interested party can rely on historical sales records in order to make sales projection. The new owner can realize immediate returns after the purchase. Any business for sale usually has a fair price. Furthermore, purchasing an existing business may not require all the capitals needed when buying a new business. The owner can make down payment and pay the rest of the debt in installment by using the generated cash flows from the business. A new start-up does not provide this advantage. Still, sellers also offer favorable financing terms for such existing businesses. This may be due to income tax reasons, enhance profitability of the business, and get a net for existing loans. A seller who may carry back any part of sales price indicates that he has confidence in the future performance of the business even under new management. Form of Ownership Aspiring entrepreneur has various forms of business ownership and can select the one that matches his business financial position. For this new coffee shop venture in Miami, we ha ve settled on limited liability company (LLC).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Small business management: To build or buy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More LLC has a hybrid structure that will provide the new owner with limited liability features of corporation, offer tax efficiency and eliminates cases of double taxation, and operational flexibility of a partnership business. However, this form of business ownership is complex and formal that a general partnership ownership. Business Plan Executive Summary This new coffee shop venture borrows the concept of News Cafà © in Miami, but shall be in upscale areas, provide high quality coffee, efficiency, and 24-hour services. The owner can introduce other partners or run it independently (McDonald, 2007). Financing shall be from the owner’s capital. The owner shall fund the rest with income generated from returns. After reviewing the operation of New s Cafà ©, the new coffee business shall rely on the News Cafà © model for expansion to other areas of Miami. Mission The new coffee business goal is to be the coffee shop of choice in Miami for upscale consumers, tourists, students and the local business community by offering high quality coffee and coffee products. The business intends to be profitable with more than 20 percent returns annually. The business also intends to support local environmental initiatives at the beach and supports coffee farmers too. Objectives Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Make the new business highly attractive place for coffee consumers in Miami Make sales of $750,000 in the first fiscal year, $1 million for the second year, and $ 1.3 million for the third fiscal year Achieve over 20 percent net profit after the third year Start expansion within six months after opening Support community, coffee farmers, and conservation efforts Key to Success High quality coffee products Upscale markets with mix customer base Targets on tourists, affluent population, students, working community, and pedestrians Well-trained staff Aggressive and continuous marketing Sales of coffee and related products for multiple revenue sources Provide online sales services in the Web Company Summary The business shall provide unique coffee to its consumers. Variety: the coffee shop shall have different varieties of coffee not found in Miami Location: the coffee shop shall occupy upscale environments with attractive views next to busy streets, shopping complex, tourists†™ destinations, and entertainment locations The coffee shop shall expand within six months after successful takeover Ownership The coffee shop shall be LLC Products The coffee shop shall offer high quality: Coffee varieties Tea Juice Gift items Chocolate Bottled water Soft drinks Snacks Pricing of these products shall favor both high-end and low-end consumers. Market Analysis Summary The new venture shall launch a new coffee business by purchasing an existing business in a receptive and a growing market. America coffee consumers are increasing. The business shall consider: Affluent and popular locations Areas with tourists activities throughout the year Student locations Low media costs Busy streets Popular beach areas Market Segmentation The customer base in Miami shall consist of various customer segments: High-end local residents Local community business people Tourists Students Pedestrians and travelers These segments of consumers are strong and provide mixed benefits . They can provide consistent business and cash flows throughout the fiscal year. The business will also benefit from high tourist seasons during summer breaks when students break for their long holidays. Still, the other segments of the market shall be available throughout the year. Figure 1: Target Market Segments for the New Coffee Shop Competitors Competition consists of international, regional, and local coffee shops. Starbucks News Cafà © Cafà © Demetrio Joffrey’s Coffee and Restaurant Versailles Mercedes Coffee Shop Romeo’s Cafà © Greenstreet Cafà © These competitors have grown ever since their inception. In addition, no single chain of coffee shop has failed in Miami in the last 20 years. Marketing Strategy The new coffee shop shall rely on word of mouth, local media, and social media as marketing strategies in order to reduce costs of media promotions. The aim of the marketing campaign is to establish profitability for fast and continued growth of the b usiness. The marketing strategy shall position the coffee shop as the only place that offers high quality coffee products in Miami Beach. Assumptions The market requires high quality coffee products There is a need for conducive environment Consumers want affordable luxuries Coffee market is stable Competitive Edge The business competitive edge in comparison to competitors includes: High quality products with great tastes Best locations in busy streets, areas with tourists’ presence throughout the year High-end locations Favorable prices to both high-end and low-end consumers Superior ambience 24-hour operation Varieties of products for various segments of the market Internet online sales The business should have more than 20 shops within the next five years. However, this will depend on the financial performance of the purchased business. The managers must track all daily activities in order to provide clear perspectives for expansion. Web Plan Summary The coffee shop w ill have an established Web site from the previous business owner. The established Web site of the business guarantees the new owner high traffic from existing customers. The Web site shall act as a tool of marketing and offer online sales services. Management Profile Owner Chief finance officer Marketing head Operation manager Financial Plan Achieve sales growth of 15 percent annually Adequate cash flows Profit margins of 20 to 25 percent Marketing budget shall be five percent of the annual budget The profits shall fund expansion strategies Figure 2: Monthly sales by products Figure 3: Yearly sales by products References Joseph, R., Nekoranec, A., and Steffens, C. (1992). How To Buy a Business. New York, NY: Kaplan Publishing. McDonald, M. (2007). Marketing plans: how to prepare them, how to use them. Oxford: Butterworth Heinemann. Monaghan, J., and Huffaker, J. (1995). ESPRESSO! Starting and Running Your Own Specialty Coffee Business . New York: Wiley. This research paper on Small business management: To build or buy was written and submitted by user Myles Park to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Tortuous, Torturous, and Tortious

Tortuous, Torturous, and Tortious Tortuous, Torturous, and Tortious Tortuous, Torturous, and Tortious By Maeve Maddox All three words, tortuous, torturous, and tortious derive from the Latin verb torquere, â€Å"to twist.† Pronunciation: tortuous [TOR-choo-us] torturous [TOR-chur-us] tortious [TOR-shus] The Latin adjective tortuosus means â€Å"full of twists or turns.† The Latin noun tortura means twisting, but it can also mean torment or torture; torturing a person often involves twisting body parts. The English adjective tortuous retains the sense of twisting or winding, whereas the adjective torturous conveys the sense of painful. A winding road is said to be tortuous. In medicine, a â€Å"tortuous bowel† is a bowel that has several bends and twists in it. A â€Å"tortuous aorta† has anatomical abnormalities that cause it to be distorted in the path it takes. The adjective torturous means â€Å"involving or causing pain.† Both words are used literally and figuratively: tortuous We decided to take the surface route instead, even if it meant a much longer drive along narrow and tortuous roads. The singer has followed a fairly  tortuous path to fame, with many ups and downs in his personal life, before achieving his current success. torturous Urge Massachusetts To End Torturous Shock Treatment of Disabled Individuals Why women love  high heels, no matter how  torturous  they are The plot is based on a silly premise, is childishly developed and is not worth reading, even if you could muddle through the torturous use of the English language. Not surprisingly, inattentive writers tend to mix up these two adjectives: I have a torturous bowel, what are my options for colon screening? The road twisted and turned its torturous way up and down mountains, through gorges, over streams to the little Italian villages. a campaign to highlight the tortuous treatment inflicted upon animals in cosmetic lab testing Hunger strikers in the SHU are calling for an end to hostilities between racial groups within prisons all the way down to county jails in order to call attention to inhuman and tortuous treatment of prisoners. The word, tortious, is the adjective that goes with the legal term tort. In the case of tort, the sense of twisted applies to behavior. In U.S. law, a tort may be defined as â€Å"a negligent or intentional injury against a person or property, with the exception of breach of contract.† Here’s an example of the use of tortious: [The Court ruled that] the managing member and president of an LLC could not be liable for tortious interference with contract for firing the Plaintiff. 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 Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:When to Capitalize Animal and Plant NamesHow to Play HQ Words: Cheats, Tips and TricksHow Long Should a Synopsis Be?

Word Clipping

Word Clipping Word Clipping Word Clipping By Maeve Maddox Shortened forms of words like rhinoceros (rhino), synchronization (sync), and limousine (limo), common in conversation and informal writing, are usually used in their entirety in formal contexts. These shortened words are called clippings. Sometimes a clipping drives out its longer original and becomes a standard word in its own right. Some standard English words that began as clippings are: taxi: a shortening of Taximeter, a device for measuring distance and figuring the fare. cab: a shortening of cabriolet, a light two-wheeled chaise drawn by one horse. Later the word was applied to a motorized vehicle. Note: The word taxi-cab combines two clippings. lunch: a shortening of luncheon, a word documented from 1580. Although lunch is documented as early as 1829, it was still considered to be vulgar a century later. Luncheon is still around, but it has acquired something of a precious connotation. bus: a shortening of omnibus. Classical Latin omnibus means â€Å"for all.† As a term for a public transportation vehicle, omnibus was borrowed from French. The wealthier classes had enjoyed the services of carriages for hire as early as the 17th century. The omnibus offered inexpensive public transportation to the masses. plane: a shortening of aeroplane/airplane. Words are clipped from front, back, or both ends. Back clipping Most clippings keep the front part of the word, dropping the remaining syllables: chimpanzee > chimp synchronize > sync examination > exam gasoline > gas memorandum > memo Some clippings change the spelling of the first syllable in order to keep the desired pronunciation. For example, the shortening of business is spelled biz because severed from business, the syllable bus is pronounced like the word for the vehicle. The shortened form mike for microphone has been in the language since 1911. Beginning in the 1960s, the use of the abbreviation â€Å"mic† on electronic devices began to be confused with the word mike. As an abbreviation under an audio port, â€Å"mic† is a useful space-saver. It fails as a spelling, however, because mic rhymes with Bic. Fore-clipping Some shortenings drop the beginning of the word: robot > bot parachute > chute cockroach > roach telephone > phone Middle Clipping In middle clipping the middle of the word is retained: refrigerator > fridge influenza > flu pajamas > jammies Only time will tell which of the current shortened words so popular in social media will stick to the language. Here are some linguistic terms related to word formation by clipping: apocope [uh-POK-uh-pee]: The cutting off or omission of the last letter or syllable/s of a word: pic from picture, vocab from vocabulary. apheresis [a-fuh-REE-sis]: omission of one or more sounds or letters from the beginning of a word: possum from opossum. syncope [SEENK-uh-pee]: contraction of a word by omission of one or more syllables or letters in the middle, like ma’m from madam, specs from spectacles, and fo’c’sle for forecastle. 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 Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Has vs. HadIn Search of a 4-Dot EllipsisCapitalizing Titles of People and Groups

I.T Doesn't Matter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

I.T Doesn't Matter - Essay Example With the advancement of IT, the door of global opportunities has been opened to the challenging companies for utilizing their competitive advantages to reach world wide. These technologies have become the commodity inputs although they are invisible. Firstly, IT is a standardized transport vehicle of information. Secondly, its prices are subject to sharp deflation as its cost decreases with increasing of their availability. Thirdly, it is highly replicable not only for software (reusable objects) but also in terms of business process. Fourthly, IT also becomes transparent to its users. Finally, it becomes ubiquitous. IT would proceed for many years to lift the productivity of entire industries. But from the strategic point of view, it is no longer matter to the competitive fortunes of the individual companies. IT provides its greatest benefits when it becomes a shared and standardized infrastructure of the companies. So IT would be the infrastructural technology instead of proprietary technology. Proprietary technologies are owned by a single company; in contrast, infrastructural technologies are broadly shared by the companies. According to the rev iew, it is said that infrastructural technologies have far more value than proprietary technologies. For the macro economy, the value produced by the proprietary technologies for the development of individual companies would be trivial in comparison with the value produced by the infrastructural technologies that would be ordinal and become part of the global business infrastructure. The writer also says that infrastructural technologies also begin to fade in to the background of the business because it becomes an ordinary phenomenon of global business. The goal of this writing is to promote a better understanding to the business & technology managers, as well as, investors and policy makers how

The history of art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The history of art - Essay Example However, these historical accounts on the Oliphants opens up the imagination and causes one to envision the lifestyle during the era it was being used. The intricate carvings on the Oliphants, as seen in the Oliphant at the Metropolitan Museum of Art show a meticulous spirit in the carver. Perhaps it was culture and tradition that dictated such workmanship at that era, but the intricacy of the design is impressive. Although there are Oliphants that are simply decorated as well, yet the design in still beautiful, as it is designed by hand. Aside from historical accounts of such, there is also the religious historical aspect that is associated with the Oliphants. As documented, it is stated that decorated Oliphants, usually with animals and scrolls are usually correlated with traditional Islam settings. The Oliphants is one of the unique creations of man that is functional - as it is used as a horn, and at the same time, an instrument of self-expression as it is designed intricately with meticulously done carvings, and even adorned with silver bands. As documented, the documentation of Oliphants is usually associated with traditional Islamic imagery. "Oliphant", being a word borrowed from old French, meaning "elephant", was first documented in the (English) translation of the Song of Roland in the 12th century.

Flyboys Essay Example for Free

Flyboys Essay World War I is long overdue for a proper trip across modern movie screens, but Flyboys isnt it. Director Tony Bills film captures all the clichà ©s of every war movie ever made and rolls them into an experience punctuated by inconsistent performances and even more inconsistent storytelling. Snoopys battles with the Red Baron felt more authentic than this. The problems start with James Franco, who plays lead flyboy in the story of American airman flying for the French during World War I. Its based on a true story, which has kind of become the de facto excuse for making bad movies. Hey dont blame us! Thats the way it is. Right. Im not buying it. Franco plays a Texan with a southern accent that drifts in and out as if propelled by the wind. Sometimes hes a flying cowpoke, sometimes hes James Franco. Mostly, hes just bad at doing anything other than looking James Dean good. Francos squadron of biplane flying companions makes a motley crew of dissimilar comrades. Theres the black guy who cant get a break in the U.S., the religious guy, the guy whos afraid to fight, the funny guy who cant shoot straight, and the snobby rich kid. Theyre bossed around by an oh-so-dark and dashing squadron commander and default French guy Jean Reno. Whatever happened to Gerard Depardieu? Flyboys exists in a lazy, laid back version of The Great War that simply could not have existed. The pilots lounge around in picturesque France, taking their time to learn to fly and shoot while somewhere over that stand of trees somewhere a war happens. Sometimes they go out and sometimes they die, but our heroes always come back home to a nice cozy, safe bed. The reality of the first terrible world war never really touches the characters in this film and because of that we never get any tangible sense of what exactly it is that theyre fighting for. Lets face it though, if youre anything like me youre here for the dogfights. Prop plane dogfighting hasnt been done right since The Rocketeer and even there that wasnt exactly the point. Biplanes may not move quickly, but the way they leave pilots hanging out there in the open air presents a unique opportunity to electrify audiences with a more up close and personal sort of flying. Flyboys planes look pretty, their CGI frames glistening in the sunlight as they dip, dive, and burn through the sky, but that thrill of being shot at in an open cockpit is nowhere to be found. Theres rarely any sense of speed as they move, and the pilots all react as if theyre being filmed in front of a bluescreen, which of course they are. Theres a lot of talk about how excited these daring dos are to be up in the air, but very little while theyre up there to actually indicate it. Bill uses a lot of really great, sharp looking wide shots, but he never lingers on each shot long enough to give us a real grasp of how it might feel to be in one. Worse, someone made the bizarre decision to tag all the planes machinegun fire with thick smoke trails. If Id never seen a bullet fired in a movie before it might seem cool, but since I have and thus know they dont leave a contrail like a missile, its distracting. Bullets dont spew smoke as they fly towards their targets. Choosing a special effect so outside reality in a film planted so firmly in reality is bizarre. The movie never captures the thrill of dogfighting, however the planes do look sharp on screen and for aviation buffs seeing those old prop engines up there might be enough. For the rest of us, seeing Flyboys means fighting through a plodding, repetitive musical score and a lot of bad acting to get to an unsatisfying ending. Based on a true story or not, this is one adventure that might have been better left on the runway.

Self Destructive Behavior and Role of the I function Essay -- Biology

Self Destructive Behavior and Role of the I function The I function describes all behavior associated with the notion of self. Is there really a specific I function and what is its role exactly? Because the I function is linked to the self, one would think that it would prevent harmful behaviors. However, there are cases where the I function does not intervene to terminate detrimental actions for example addiction and a mental disorder called Lesch-Nyhan syndrome. In both cases, a person is harming themselves and can not seem to stop. Does the I function play a role in self-destructive behavior? By researching addiction, more specifically alcoholism, and Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, it is clear that the I function can be overruled by other structures of the brain even when harm to the body is one of the final outcomes. Addiction is defined as a physical and psychological dependence on a substance or behavior (1). Initially the behavior simply satisfies the person but turns into addiction when strong urges accompany the behavior and the person feels that it is needed to avoid painful feelings. What is causing the urges? The brain can be divided into two parts, the primitive brain and the new brain or the neocortex (2). The primitive or beast brain is responsible for survival appetites which are associated with physical pleasure. However, in order to satisfy the urges, the beast brain must communicate to the neocortex and cause the necessary motions to get the drug or exhibit the behavior. According to Rational Recovery (2), the neocortex, or you can overcome the beast brain. Is this alluding to the I function? If this is true, why did the behavior become an addiction in the first place? Where was the I function during that first d... ... the desires of the limbic system, but when necessary the limbic system can ignore the inhibition. There are three structures previously mentioned, the neocortex, the limbic system and the I function. Certainly the first two exist and have specific locations. The I function is only a hypothetical at this point. It fits conveniently into hypotheses. It has not yet been proven wrong but at the same time more evidence is found indicating that the I function can not be included in the same category as structures like the limbic system or the neocortex. It does not have a definite location or a definite purpose. Does the I function exist or is it just wishful thinking that somewhere in the brain is the self or the soul which has some control over our actions whether or not the influence is beneficial. Internet Sources: http://www.context.org/ICLIB/IC06/Gilman1.htm Self Destructive Behavior and Role of the I function Essay -- Biology Self Destructive Behavior and Role of the I function The I function describes all behavior associated with the notion of self. Is there really a specific I function and what is its role exactly? Because the I function is linked to the self, one would think that it would prevent harmful behaviors. However, there are cases where the I function does not intervene to terminate detrimental actions for example addiction and a mental disorder called Lesch-Nyhan syndrome. In both cases, a person is harming themselves and can not seem to stop. Does the I function play a role in self-destructive behavior? By researching addiction, more specifically alcoholism, and Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, it is clear that the I function can be overruled by other structures of the brain even when harm to the body is one of the final outcomes. Addiction is defined as a physical and psychological dependence on a substance or behavior (1). Initially the behavior simply satisfies the person but turns into addiction when strong urges accompany the behavior and the person feels that it is needed to avoid painful feelings. What is causing the urges? The brain can be divided into two parts, the primitive brain and the new brain or the neocortex (2). The primitive or beast brain is responsible for survival appetites which are associated with physical pleasure. However, in order to satisfy the urges, the beast brain must communicate to the neocortex and cause the necessary motions to get the drug or exhibit the behavior. According to Rational Recovery (2), the neocortex, or you can overcome the beast brain. Is this alluding to the I function? If this is true, why did the behavior become an addiction in the first place? Where was the I function during that first d... ... the desires of the limbic system, but when necessary the limbic system can ignore the inhibition. There are three structures previously mentioned, the neocortex, the limbic system and the I function. Certainly the first two exist and have specific locations. The I function is only a hypothetical at this point. It fits conveniently into hypotheses. It has not yet been proven wrong but at the same time more evidence is found indicating that the I function can not be included in the same category as structures like the limbic system or the neocortex. It does not have a definite location or a definite purpose. Does the I function exist or is it just wishful thinking that somewhere in the brain is the self or the soul which has some control over our actions whether or not the influence is beneficial. Internet Sources: http://www.context.org/ICLIB/IC06/Gilman1.htm

Gender and Development: Issues and Implications

N. Santosh Ranganath Faculty Member Department of Commerce & Management Studies, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University, Srikakulam. The ‘women and development’ approach is introduced and focused on the relationship between capitalism and patriarchy which considered to be the women will be subordinated to men as long as capitalism is the dominant economic system. Critics of this perspective say it fails to address differences in the inequalities experienced by different communities of women, and does not recognize the fact that patriarchy exists in communist societies as well as in capitalist ones.Next, the ‘gender and development’ perspective is introduced as a holistic analytical tool that can be used to provide an overview of the realities of development. Associated with ‘women for a new era’, GAD sought to dismantle notions about what is considered masculine or feminine, as well as the power dynamics that result from these assumptions. The’ ef fectiveness’ approach is also introduced and related to the WID approach in its quest to shed light on the vital role women play in production.The recent ‘mainstreaming gender equality’ initiative is also presented, and its intention to put gender at the forefront of all social policy, including that of development, is explained. The relationship between poverty and gender is made explicit throughout and this connection is attributed to factors such as unequal access to education and property rights. One of the main issues in regard to the service sector is the variety of activities that are encompassed by that term.Thus the effect of liberalization on, for example, financial services, will be quite different for women who may be primarily affected as consumers than the liberalization of other industries within that sector which may affect women also as workers. Many of the concerns over the possible effect of trade liberalization on women have been informed by t he previous experience of public sector privatization and economic austerity experienced under the Structural Adjustment Programs implemented since the 1980’s.Yet, given that trade liberalization as we see it today is a fairly recent phenomenon, it is difficult to assert with precision what are the effects of liberalization on men and women. For the reasons explained above, women as a group may face more obstacles in taking advantage of the changing economic structure, especially in converting new opportunities into long-term improvements. But women do not form a homogenous group and thus the impact of liberalization will likely be differentiated.Many of the issues and questions that arise today and which have drawn opposition to trade liberalization are also linked to the fact that trade agreements and trade liberalization have become more encompassing and thus moved beyond the original agreements on goods. The expansion of liberalization to such areas as services raises new questions as more sectors of society become affected by these changes.Because of the structure of gender relations, it is possible those women will be affected differently than men by the opening of markets to foreign competition and that their capacity to adapt to new economic conditions will also be different. If this is the case, the capacity of women to take advantage of the new opportunities while minimizing the negative impact of liberalization is crucial to ensure that women, those who depend on them and society as a whole benefit from the current changes.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration Essay

On December 29, 1970 Congress passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act. The purpose of this act as quoted from the act itself is: â€Å"To assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women; by authorizing enforcement of the standards developed under the Act; by assisting and encouraging the States in their efforts to assure safe and healthful working conditions; by providing for research, information, education, and training in the field of occupational safety and health; and for other purposes.† This act requires employers to provide workplaces that are free from serious recognized hazards and to comply with occupational safety and health standards. The mission of OSHA is to save lives, prevent injuries, and protect the health of America’s workers. Since 1970 OSHA has grown to over 1,130 inspectors in states under federal OSHA jurisdiction. Personnel also includes investigators, engineers, physicians, educators, standards writers and other sup port personnel spread over more than 200 offices throughout the country (OSHA FAQ) . Since 1970 workplace fatalities have been reduced by half. Even with this decline fourteen Americans are killed on the job every single day of the year. In addition, tens of thousands die every year from workplace disease and over 4.6 million workers are seriously injured on the job (OSHA FAQ). The Department of Labor which conducts the OSHA inspections wants workers to feel safe on the job. Workers have rights that include the right to request an inspection, have a representative present at the inspection, have dangerous substances identified, be informed about exposure to hazards, and have employer violations posted at the worksite (OSH Act). In section 5 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 there is a set of duties that employers and employees are supposed to follow in order to be best assisted by OSHA. This General Duty Clause states: â€Å"(a) Each employer – (1) shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees; (2) shall comply with occupational safety and health standards promulgated under this Act. (b) Each employee shall comply with occupational safety and health standards and all rules, regulations, and orders issued pursuant to this Act which are applicable to his own actions and conduct.† In section 8 of the OSH Act regarding Inspections and Investigations it states: â€Å"(a) In order to carry out the purposes of this Act, the Secretary, upon appropriate credentials to the owner, operator or agent in charge is authorized- (1) to enter without delay and at reasonable times any factory, plant establishment, construction site or other area, workplace or environment where work is performed by an employee of an employer; and (2) to inspect and investigate during regular working hours and at other reasonable times, and within reasonable limits and in a reasonable manner, any such place of employment and all pertinent conditions, structures, machines, apparatus, devices, equipment, and materials therein, and to question privately any such employer, owner operator, agent or employee.† In Marshall v. Barlow’s Inc., 436 U.S. 307 (1978), this case involved the constitutionality of a provision in the Occupational Safety and Health Act that permitted inspectors to enter premises without a warrant to inspect for safety hazards and violation of OSHA regulations. The Court held that this provision violated the Fourth Amendment. In The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States, commentary is given on this case. One issue in the case was whether a warrant was required. The Court had previously held that no warrant was required to inspect either the premises of a liquor licensee or a licensed gun dealer’s storeroom. Distinguishing these earlier cases because each concerned a closely regulated industry, the Court in Barlow’s concluded that requiring warrants in the OSHA context would not â€Å"impose serious burdens on the inspection system or the courts† (p. 316). As for the grounds to obtain an inspection warrant, Barlow’s follows the rule in Camara v. Municipal Court (1967) that traditional probable cause is unnecessary if the authorities can show that the inspection conforms to â€Å"reasonable legislative or administrative standards† (p. 538). So, the Court in Barlow’s concluded that a warrant â€Å"showing that a specific business has been chosen for an OSHA search on the basis of a general administrative plan for the enforcement of the Act derived from neutral sources† (p. 321) would be sufficient, because it would ensure against arbitrary selection of employers. Marshall v. Barlow did little to change the frequency and effectiveness of OSHA inspections. First, OSHA regulations apply to millions of businesses and are enforced by only 1,130 inspectors. Obvious principles of good management would send these inspectors to businesses that justified to have an inspection based on accident history and the number of employee complaints. OSHA’s managers had already been using this type of plan prior to the Barlow inspection since Barlow’s Inc. was selected for an inspection based on its accident history. In the â€Å"AEI Journal on Government and Society†, we are given insight on how the Barlow decision protected business, yet still allowed OSHA inspectors to obtain Ex Parte warrants. Barlow left open the question whether â€Å"judicial orders for inspections routinely sought under the secretary’s existing regulations when employers refuse entry are the functional equivalent of warrants and thus satisfy the Fourth Amendment (6)†. When OSHA’s inspectors conduct criminal investigations with the assistance of a U.S. attorney, they may â€Å"obtain warrants by telephone pursuant to Rule 41(c) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure (7)†. The Barlow decision made the point of saying that if the purpose of an OSHA search is to obtain evidence of crime rather than civil infractions; probable cause that criminal conduct has occurred must be shown to justify a warrant. OSHA Instruction STP 2.18 reiterates that the Supreme Court held that the Fourth Amendment requires a warrant for a nonconsensual OSHA inspection. However, the Court recognized the importance of surprise in the conduct of inspections (as reflected in the Act’s general prohibition against advance notice of an inspection), â€Å"in preventing the speedy alteration or disguise of violations so that they escape the inspector’s notice†. The instruction goes on to say that: â€Å"The Court explicitly noted the Secretary of Labor’s authority to promulgate a regulation under which warrants could be sought ex parte; i.e., without the knowledge or participation of the employer. Such warrants might be sought after refusal of an employer to grant entry for an inspection or, in some cases, prior to any attempt to gain entry.† This procedure has helped maximize the effectiveness of criminal enforcement agencies since Barlow did not limit surprise inspections. The only important safeguard that the Barlow decision offered employers was the protection against inspections conducted in bad faith or for purposes of harassment. There are some instances when an inspection requires no warrant. An article titled â€Å"Warrantless OSHA Inspections† by Mark E. Farrell gives an example of how this situation can occur. Farrell summarizes the details in Lakeland Enterprises of Rhinelander, Inc. v. Chao, 402 F.3d 739 (7th Cir. 2005). A sewer and water contractor (Lakeland) in northern Wisconsin was performing excavation work at an industrial park when an OSHA inspector, driving by on the public street, decided to stop and perform an impromptu inspection. After walking past traffic cones that were blocking street traffic from the project site, the inspector observed a Lakeland employee excavating a trench with a backhoe while another employee worked at the bottom of the trench. â€Å"The trench was approximately eighteen feet deep and six feet wide at the bottom and did not contain a ladder or trench box†. When the contractor’s project superintendent began conversing with the OSHA inspector, the worker in the trench climbed up one of the walls to exit, which resulted in loose dirt falling back into the trench. â€Å"The employee performing the excavation work admitted that he knew that the other worker was not supposed to be working in the trench and that he failed to remove him† (Farrell). OSHA ended up issuing three citations and assessed a $49,000 civil penalty against the contractor, including a â€Å"willful violation for permitting an employee to work in an unprotected trench (in violation of 29 CFR  § 1926.652(a)†. During the hearing, the contractor moved to â€Å"suppress the evidence obtained from the inspection† on the basis that the OSHA inspector’s â€Å"warrantless search of the excavation site violated the Fourth Amendment†. The administrative law judge denied the motion, finding that the contractor had no right of privacy at the excavation site because the land was located on a public road. The administrative law judge also concluded that any Fourth Amendment claim was waived because the contractor failed to object to the inspection or ask for a warrant at the site (Farrell). It is important to understand that no advance notice of a worksite inspection needs to be given. Unannounced inspections are an important tool in OSHA’s mission to promote safe and healthful working conditions at all times. OSHA has come a long way since 1970 to help American become a safe place to work especially when compared to some parts of the world. With a good budget and better laws there are fewer injuries every year. OSHA truly is one of the administrative agencies that exist for the bettering of the quality of life for the workers of our country. Works Cited Farrell, Mark E. â€Å"Warrantless OSHA Inspections Newsletter Article.† Lorman Education Services – Continuing Education Seminars. Web. 1 Mar. 2011. . Hall, Kermit L. â€Å"Marshall v. Barlow’s Inc.† The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States. 2005. â€Å"OSH Act, OSHA Standards, Inspections, Citations and Penalties.† Occupational Safety and Health Administration – Home. OSHA Office of Training and Education, May 1996. Web. 2 Mar. 2011. . â€Å"OSHA and the Fourth Amendment.† AEI JOURNAL ON GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY (1978): 6-7. AEI JOURNAL ON GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY. Web. United States of America. Department of Labor. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. Print United States of America. Department of Labor. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Inspections and Investigations: Obtaining Warrants on an Ex Parte Basis and Prior to Attempting Entry. Bruce Hillenbrand Acting Director, Federal Compliance and State Programs, 26 Feb. 1981. Web. . United States of America. Department of Labor. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA Frequently Asked Questions. Web. 1 Mar. 2011. .

America and Terrorism essays

America and Terrorism essays As I look at the Desmond Egan poem entitled Hiroshima, I dont get past the name without knowing that this to is a questioning on the righteousness of an American Governmental decision. It starts Hiroshima your shadow burns into the granite of history. I look at that and think, yes Japan has paid for its actions in a way no-one could forget, this showing the power and seriousness of America. Egan goes on and talks about the devastation that has been caused. I carry in my mind a glass bullet lodged deep the memory of that epicenter where one hundred thousand souls fused at an instant. I read this and thought of my glass bullet lodged in my memory, and it is the same glass bullet that is lodged in many Americans head too. The sight of two 110 floor buildings on fire, 5000 people being fused together, in 14000 degree flames of jet fuel but this not at a time of war. When we droped the bomb in Hiroshima it was during a time of war with attempt to stop world domination and communist ways. The Islamic extremist is the new "communist" of this century. With the same sense of righteousness and absolute faith they kill anyone who stands in the way of their idea of progress. Like the communist, they view anything that helps their cause, including killing, to be virtuous. They believe that the world will repose in peace under the true faith, Islam, and that those that dont accept this "peace" live in the Da es Harb, or the perpetual world of war. Likewise, when the communists speak of peace they mean world socialism. Those who opposed this "peace" live in the world of struggle. Like the communists, radical Islam misreads this country, our spirit, and our love of liberty. While they may score a couple of victories, based on their own twisted definition of the term, they will also inevitably fail. The communists believe that America will crumble over time. They plot to bring this about ...

Beloved Character Analysis

Is Beloved the ghostly reincarnation of Sethe’s murdered baby, a flesh and blood version of the spirit Paul D. drives from the house? Or is Beloved unquestionably a ghost? The uniformly accepted notion that Beloved is a ghost is interesting, given that evidence throughout the book suggests that she is a reincarnated being. As the reader recalls, Sethe killed her first daughter with the idea that doing so would free her daughter from slavery. As a result of Sethe’s â€Å"motherly† actions, Beloved, enslaves the rest of the family including Sethe’s daughter, Denver. The family becomes disconnected from and outcasted by the black community, as everyone fears approaching the residency â€Å"haunted† by the supernatural. As the novel progresses, the presence of an unknown girl at 124 intrudes, yet again, on the lifestyle of Denver and Sethe. This character, who is identified as Beloved is ambiguously portrayed and therefore her analysis is the topic of debate and discussion. The character that is recognized at the 124 residency is in fact the reincarnation of Sethe’s first daughter, Beloved. The idea of the reincarnated in this novel is well established. Although, to the reader the possibility of this seems unlikely, in the book there are several examples that point to this being true. For example, the reader witnesses Sethe overlook obvious signs showing that this girl actually could be the personification of her murdered baby daughter. Additionally, Beloved is approximately the same age that Sethe’s first born would have been if still alive, and more evidence lies in the fact that she shares the same name as the one engraved on the baby’s tombstone. It happens that these trails of evidence all occur in order in the same scene. One evening Denver, Sethe, and Beloved are all gathered around a fire, and Sethe comes to a realization about the aforementioned evidence about Beloved. â€Å"The click had clicked; things were where they ought to be or poised and ready to glide in,† (Morrison 207). Beloved hums a tune, one that Sethe immediately recognizes. The scene seems surreal as Sethe is taken aback by the occurrence. â€Å"I made that song up. I made it up and sang it to my children. Nobody knows that song but me and my children,† (Morrison 207). Additionally, Beloved’s demeanor is that of a typical two year old. Her thoughts and actions mimic those of a young child rather than a young adult. For example, Beloved deeply loves her mother, Sethe, and is attached to her just as a young child would be. Not only does Beloved share a passionate love for her mother, but feelings are mutual toward, Denver, her sister. Beloved is jealous of the relationship Denver and Sethe share. Once again, these all point to the childish characteristics Beloved possesses in her reincarnated form. In referring to Sethe Beloved states â€Å"I am Beloved and she is mine† (Morrison 248). â€Å"It was Beloved who made demands. Anything she wanted she got, and when Sethe ran out of things to give her, Beloved invented desire† (Morrison 240). â€Å"When once or twice when Sethe tried to assert herself, be the unquestioned mother whose word was law and who knew what was best – Beloved slammed things, wiped the table clean of plates, threw salt on the floor, and broke a windowpane† (Morrison 242). Taking all of these factors into account, many would find it hard to dispute against Beloved’s reincarnated state. There are many supporting details that point to Beloved’s true identity. Beloved’s portrayal is in fragments and the reader must pay close attention to give away details about this young woman identity. Unraveling the great mystery of this young woman lies within the text, but yet many different opinions of Beloved still exist. Beloved Character Analysis Is Beloved the ghostly reincarnation of Sethe’s murdered baby, a flesh and blood version of the spirit Paul D. drives from the house? Or is Beloved unquestionably a ghost? The uniformly accepted notion that Beloved is a ghost is interesting, given that evidence throughout the book suggests that she is a reincarnated being. As the reader recalls, Sethe killed her first daughter with the idea that doing so would free her daughter from slavery. As a result of Sethe’s â€Å"motherly† actions, Beloved, enslaves the rest of the family including Sethe’s daughter, Denver. The family becomes disconnected from and outcasted by the black community, as everyone fears approaching the residency â€Å"haunted† by the supernatural. As the novel progresses, the presence of an unknown girl at 124 intrudes, yet again, on the lifestyle of Denver and Sethe. This character, who is identified as Beloved is ambiguously portrayed and therefore her analysis is the topic of debate and discussion. The character that is recognized at the 124 residency is in fact the reincarnation of Sethe’s first daughter, Beloved. The idea of the reincarnated in this novel is well established. Although, to the reader the possibility of this seems unlikely, in the book there are several examples that point to this being true. For example, the reader witnesses Sethe overlook obvious signs showing that this girl actually could be the personification of her murdered baby daughter. Additionally, Beloved is approximately the same age that Sethe’s first born would have been if still alive, and more evidence lies in the fact that she shares the same name as the one engraved on the baby’s tombstone. It happens that these trails of evidence all occur in order in the same scene. One evening Denver, Sethe, and Beloved are all gathered around a fire, and Sethe comes to a realization about the aforementioned evidence about Beloved. â€Å"The click had clicked; things were where they ought to be or poised and ready to glide in,† (Morrison 207). Beloved hums a tune, one that Sethe immediately recognizes. The scene seems surreal as Sethe is taken aback by the occurrence. â€Å"I made that song up. I made it up and sang it to my children. Nobody knows that song but me and my children,† (Morrison 207). Additionally, Beloved’s demeanor is that of a typical two year old. Her thoughts and actions mimic those of a young child rather than a young adult. For example, Beloved deeply loves her mother, Sethe, and is attached to her just as a young child would be. Not only does Beloved share a passionate love for her mother, but feelings are mutual toward, Denver, her sister. Beloved is jealous of the relationship Denver and Sethe share. Once again, these all point to the childish characteristics Beloved possesses in her reincarnated form. In referring to Sethe Beloved states â€Å"I am Beloved and she is mine† (Morrison 248). â€Å"It was Beloved who made demands. Anything she wanted she got, and when Sethe ran out of things to give her, Beloved invented desire† (Morrison 240). â€Å"When once or twice when Sethe tried to assert herself, be the unquestioned mother whose word was law and who knew what was best – Beloved slammed things, wiped the table clean of plates, threw salt on the floor, and broke a windowpane† (Morrison 242). Taking all of these factors into account, many would find it hard to dispute against Beloved’s reincarnated state. There are many supporting details that point to Beloved’s true identity. Beloved’s portrayal is in fragments and the reader must pay close attention to give away details about this young woman identity. Unraveling the great mystery of this young woman lies within the text, but yet many different opinions of Beloved still exist.

Managing Information in Toyota Motor Corporation Research Paper

Managing Information in Toyota Motor Corporation - Research Paper Example The objective here is to achieve optimum cost control so that it will reflect positively on the bottom - the line of the company’s profits and give maximum returns to the stakeholders of the company. Efforts at cost control, without compromising on quality, are an everyday effort within the company Cost control can be defined as â€Å"Application of (1) investigative procedures to detect variance of actual costs from budgeted costs, (2) diagnostic procedures to ascertain the cause(s) of variance, and (3) corrective procedures to effect realignment between actual and budgeted costs.† The type of information that is required to achieve cost control is wide-ranging and has to be acquired from a variety of sources. The types of cost that are incurred in a typical manufacturing concern include direct costs, indirect costs, hidden costs, future liability costs, intangible costs, external costs etc.a. Direct costs: Direct cost is costs that can be readily identified as those d irectly incurred in them the manufacturing process. It includes raw materials, wages depreciation etc.  b. Indirect costs: Costs, which cannot be attributed directly to production, are termed as indirect costs. These include salaries, rent, marketing expenses etc.  c.   An example would be where customers are not satisfied with the product which results in a fall in sales. â€Å"Some examples of hidden quality costs are customer dissatisfaction with a product or defects in a product that causes a loss of sales.