How to Assess Information and Knowledge Needs and Be Able to Create Essay

How to Assess Information and Knowledge Needs and Be Able to Create Strategies to Increase Personal Networking - Essay Example The decision to accept the contract will lead to a decision to employ extra 100 workers in order to cope with new conditions of work. Donna (2008, P. 205) claim that the desire to diversify the business may lead to evaluation of resources to be used to pay the extra employees. Since, the business was operating before with 50 employees that show financial decision will be required to solve the problem. The business will make pricing decision of the services offered to customer in order to cater for the payment of the extra employees, and the extra hours that the workers will work will be required to be financed. It will not be easy to make some decision like that of pricing because it will bring conflict from customers who will be also affected in case the management opts to increase the price of services. To employee the additional workers, the management will be required to determine the availability of the potential candidate. The business should make sure to follow up the socializ ation of the new workers into the venture to ensure the decisions success. Lack of inadequate space to accommodate extra workers and the issue lease, the management should make a decision operate in shift for the time being as they wait to solve the issue of a lease and space. This move will be difficult to manage, but every business with an aim to maximize profit should be ready to accommodate risks involved with urgent decisions making. The management should evaluate the productivity of the contract to ascertain if it will meet the decision made to accommodate the venture in order to enhance the profitability. (P1.2) To ensure effectiveness of the new contract the framework within which these decisions making can be incorporated must be identified. The management should gather enough information on the viability of the contract depending on the current situation of the business. Past knowledge of the revenue trend of the services should be required in order to forecast the possibi lity revenue of the new venture. The profit trend will ascertain whether the customers should increase the price of services or reduce the wages of the employees in order to employee extra 100 workers to accommodate the operation. Before accepting the contract, the outsourced call centre should use digital media like facebook and the internet to search for the financial position of the Samsung. The management should be aware of the agreement and conditions of the lease term to avoid causing problems that would affect the operation. It should know if it is at position to renew the lease terms to continue operating on the same premises, or it has to relocate. According to the current situation of the business renewing the lease will not solve the problem of the inadequacy of the space but it will cause congestion. It should search for new premises to relocate so that the extra equipment can be accommodated that will enhance the productivity due to the maximization of the resources. (P 1.3) The decision taking requires the company to research both internal and external sources of information and understanding. According to John and Claudia (2005, P. 45), the availability of the internal data of the past performance makes possible for the business to extract accurate and complete knowledge. Evaluating these data will help the business to tell if it at position to employee extra employees given the unlimited space of

Pachelbels Canon Essay Example for Free

Pachelbels Canon Essay In what people consider as classical music, there are different eras of music, two in particular that deserve a closer look are the Baroque Period and the Classical Period. The two different styles, or eras, are very close in what the untrained ear. Listening to the two different eras at first it was difficult hear a distinct difference between the two eras of music. In the Baroque Era music like Bach’s Water Music, Handel’s Messiah and Pachelbel’s Canon are soft rhythmic pieces generally with smaller ensembles of instruments, the focus on strings in the music and was generally written between 1600 and the 1750’s (Differences 2011). In the Classical Era such as Haydn’s String Quartet, Mozart’s Symphony no. 40 and Beethoven’s Symphony no. 5 the music is a little more chaotic and not as in tune with the other pieces. Classical pieces also tended to be larger orchestras that focused more on the winds and brass, even though strings were still part of the group. The music is generally considered to from 1750’s to the 1820’s (Differences 2011). Two pieces of music that are good to compare from the eras is Pachelbel’s Canon and Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. Pachelbel’s Canon is a very peaceful, rhythmic and melodic piece of music that is soothing to ear and is escape music, it has the power to take the listener and transport, or escape them from where they are at. Canon has been used in advertisements as well as a wedding song, which is what is most known for this day is as a processional piece of music. Beethoven’s Fifth is another popular and well known piece, Beethoven uses the whole orchestra and the piece rises and lowers throughout the piece in its different movements. Pachelbel’s Canon is more of a peaceful piece; this piece is more violent and chaotic. Beethoven has described the opening notes, some describe as s-s-s-L, as â€Å"Fate knocking on your door† (Beethovens 5th). The piece is instense and from the beginning there is a sense of intensity and drama that carries throughout the piece. The two subject pieces are hard to relate to today’s music other then Pachelbel’s Canon is more of a love song, or perhaps a comparison to Enya in that in melodic and peaceful. Beethoven’s Fifth is more of your Hard Rock, or a Rap song that is intense and as a story to tell in the piece.

Truth Exposed in An Indians Looking-Glass for the White Man :: Synthesis Essays

Truth Exposed in An Indian's Looking-Glass for the White Man  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚   William Apes, in his essay "An Indian's Looking-Glass for the White Man," argues that to profess Christianity and still distinguish between races is a hypocrisy not supported by the Bible. In the first part of his essay Apes asks several questions such as why, if God loves white people so much, did he create fifteen colored people for every white one; and of all the races, who has committed the most heinous crimes? He goes on to emphasize that neither Jesus nor his disciples were white skinned. He also questions the white person's right to control Native Americans. Apes asks his predominately white, Christian audience to reexamine their own prejudices and concludes his essay pleading "pray you not stop till this tree of distinction shall be leveled to the earth, and the mantle of prejudice torn from every American heart--then peace shall pervade the Union." Apes accurately portrays the racism that Native Americans suffer. Racism exists in both the individual and within politics. During the late 1800's, when this article was written, it was illegal in Massachusetts for whites and Indians to intermarry. He labels this as a clear infringement on individuals to make their own decisions. He also raises the point that many white people do not even consider the Indian to be qualified for the rights of an individual. This dehumanization allows white people to steal the Indians' land and murder them with out a second thought. He calls on the whites, as Christians, to reassess these racist views. People cannot call themselves Christians and persecute others, based on skin color, in the name of Christianity. Apes says that words must be supplemented by actions, backing himself up with scripture such as I John 3:18, "Let us not love in word but in deed." Although Apes convincingly argues against the biases within the Christian community, he bases h is arguments on several assumptions, neglecting to address problems such as the language barrier and problems that arise when two different cultures try to occupy the same land. When Apes uses Christianity as his tool to dispel racism he makes several unbacked assumptions. To begin with, he forgets that whites and Indians rarely use the same language let alone have the same religious values, therefore no one tool can be used for both cultures. Besides just the obvious language barrier, whites and Indians use entirely different words and phrases to express concepts.

The Hunters: Moonsong Chapter Twenty-One

â€Å"What's taking so long?† Bonnie asked, bouncing on the bal s of her feet. â€Å"Stop being so hyper,† Meredith said absently, craning her neck to see over the crowd outside McAl ister. There was some kind of bottleneck by the entrance to the dorm that was slowing everyone down. She shivered in her thin top; it was starting to get cold at night. â€Å"Security's at the door,† Bonnie said as they got closer to the entrance. â€Å"Are they carding people to get in?† Her voice was shril with outrage. â€Å"They're just checking that you have a student ID,† someone in the crowd told her, â€Å"to make sure you're not a crazed kil er from off campus.† â€Å"Yeah,† his friend said. â€Å"Only on-campus kil ers al owed.† A couple of people laughed nervously. Bonnie fel silent, biting her lip, and Meredith shivered again, this time for reasons that had nothing to do with the cold. When they final y got to the front of the line, the security guards glanced quickly at their IDs and waved them through. Inside, it was crowded and music was pumping, but no one real y seemed to be in a partying mood. People stood in smal groups, talking in undertones and glancing around nervously. The presence of the security guards had reminded everyone of the danger lurking unseen on campus. Anyone could be responsible, even someone in the room at that very moment. As she thought about that, Meredith's view of the room shifted, the other students around her changing from innocent to sinister. That curly-headed frat boy in the corner – was he eyeing his pretty companion with something more than simple lust? The faces of strangers twisted viciously, and Meredith took a deep breath, calming herself until everyone looked normal again. Samantha was coming toward her, a red plastic cup in her hand. â€Å"Here,† she said, handing Meredith a soda. â€Å"Everyone's on edge tonight, it's creepy. We'd better stay alert and not drink,† she said, already on the same wavelength as Meredith. Bonnie squeezed Meredith's arm in fareWelland took off into the crowd to look for Zander. Meredith sipped her drink and warily eyed the strangers surrounding her. Despite the general malaise hanging over the party, some people were so wrapped up in each other that they were managing to have a good time anyway. She watched a couple kiss, as ful y focused on each other as if there was no one else in the world who mattered. They weren't worrying about the attacks and disappearances on campus, and Meredith found herself feeling a sharp pang of envy. She missed Alaric, missed him with a bone-deep longing that stayed with her, even when she wasn't consciously thinking about him. â€Å"The kil er could be right here at this party,† Samantha said unhappily. â€Å"Shouldn't we be able to sense something? How can we protect anyone if we don't know who we're up against?† â€Å"I know,† said Meredith. The crowd parted, and she saw a face she hadn't expected: Stefan, leaning against the far wal . His eyes lit up when he saw her, and he glanced past her with a hopeful half smile already forming on his lips. Poor guy. No matter what Meredith thought about Elena's decision to take a break – and, for the record, Meredith thought that Elena was doing the right thing; her entanglement with both Salvatore brothers meant that they had al been heading for trouble – she couldn't help pitying him. Stefan had the look of someone who was experiencing the same sharp pang of loneliness and desire as Meredith did when she thought of Alaric. It must be worse for him, because Elena was so close and because she chose to separate herself from him against his wishes. â€Å"Excuse me for a second,† she said to Samantha, and went to Stefan. He greeted her politely and asked about her classes and her hunter training, although she could tel that he was burning to talk about Elena. He had such good manners, always. â€Å"She's not here yet, but she's definitely coming,† she told him, interrupting one of his pleasantries. â€Å"She had something to do first.† His face bloomed into a smile of grateful relief, and then he frowned. â€Å"Elena's coming here alone?† he asked. â€Å"After al the attacks?† â€Å"No,† Meredith reassured him. She hadn't thought of this, and she didn't think she should tel him Elena was with Damon. â€Å"She's with other people,† she settled for saying and was glad that her answer seemed to satisfy him. Meredith sipped her drink and hoped grimly that Elena had the sense not to bring Damon to the party. Matt spotted Chloe from across the room. Tonight was the night, he decided. Enough playing around, enough exchanging glances and gentle, platonic hugs and hand squeezes. He wanted to know if she felt the same way he did, if she felt like maybe there was something between them worth exploring. She was talking to someone, a guy he recognized from Vitale, and her curly brown hair shone softly in the light from overhead. There was so much life in Chloe: the way she laughed, the way she listened to what the guy was saying, attentive and involved, her face focused. Matt wanted to kiss her, more than anything. So he started working his way across the room toward her, nodding at people he knew as he passed them. He didn't want to look too uncool and eager, not like he was making a beeline for her, but he didn't want to stop and lose her in the crowd, either. Matt. Matt jerked as if he'd been stung as the silent greeting hit him. Twisting around to see where it was coming from, he found Stefan standing right behind him and frowned irritably at him. He hated when Stefan got into his head like that. â€Å"You could have just said hi,† he told Stefan, as mildly as he could. â€Å"You know, out loud.† Stefan ducked his head apologetical y, his cheeks flushing. â€Å"I'm sorry,† he said. â€Å"That was rude of me, but I just wanted to get your attention. It's so loud in here.† He gestured around, and Matt wondered, as he sometimes had before, how the life of a modern teenager seemed to the vampire. Stefan had experienced more than Matt probably ever would, but the loud rock music and the press of bodies al around him seemed to make him uncomfortable, showing the cracks in his disguise as someone young. He tried hard, for Elena's sake, Matt knew. â€Å"I'm waiting for Elena,† Stefan said. â€Å"Have you seen her?† The lines of his face were anxious, and, just like that, Matt's picture of Stefan as someone too old, too out of place here, snapped. Stefan looked achingly young, lonely and worried. â€Å"Yeah,† Matt said. â€Å"I just saw her at the library. She said she was coming here later.† He bit his tongue to keep from adding that he'd seen her there with Damon, of al people. Matt wasn't quite sure what was going on between Elena and the brothers, but he figured Stefan didn't need to know that Elena and Damon were together. â€Å"I'm supposed to be staying away from her,† Stefan confided sadly. â€Å"She feels like she's coming between Damon and me, and she wants some time for us al to work things out before the two of us can be together again.† He glanced up at Matt, almost beseechingly. â€Å"But I thought since there are so many people here, it isn't like we'd be alone.† Matt took a swal ow of his beer, his mind working furiously. Now he knew he'd been right not to mention that Damon and Elena had been together. What game was Elena playing now? It was a shock, too, to realize how far out of the loop he'd gotten. When did al this happen? Since Christopher's death, he'd been avoiding his friends, spending so much time focused on the Vitale Society that he missed this big development in their lives. What else was he missing? Stefan was stil looking at him as if he was seeking some kind of approval, and Matt rubbed the back of his neck thoughtful y, then offered, â€Å"You should talk to her. Let her know how unhappy you are without her. Love is worth taking the chance.† As Stefan nodded, considering, Matt's eyes sought out Chloe in the crowd again. The guy she'd been talking to was gone, and she was alone for the moment, biting her lip as she looked around the room. Matt was about to excuse himself and head toward her when another voice spoke in his ear. â€Å"Hi, Matt, how's it going?† Ethan came up beside him, his golden brown eyes focused on Matt's. Matt felt himself straightening up and pul ing back his shoulders, trying to look loyal and honorable, a promising candidate, everything the Vitale wanted him to be. Matt saw this reaction to Ethan in the other pledges as Well: whatever Ethan wanted them to be or do, they wanted, too. Some people were just natural leaders, he guessed. They chatted for a minute, not about the Vitale Society, of course, not in front of Stefan, but simple friendly stuff about footbal and classes and the music that was playing, and then Ethan turned the warmth of his smile on Stefan. â€Å"Oh, uh, Ethan Crane, Stefan Salvatore,† Matt introduced them, adding, â€Å"Stefan and I went to high school together.† Stefan and Ethan started making conversation, and Matt looked for Chloe again. She wasn't in the last place he had seen her, and he started to panic, until he found her again in the crowd, moving to the music. â€Å"I can't help noticing just a slight accent, Stefan,† Ethan was saying. â€Å"Are you from Italy original y?† Stefan smiled shyly. â€Å"Most people don't hear it anymore,† he said. â€Å"My brother and I, we left Italy a long time ago.† â€Å"Oh, does your brother go here, too?† Ethan asked, and Matt decided the two of them seemed happy enough together and that it was okay for him to leave now. â€Å"I'l catch up with you guys later,† he said. Taking another swal ow of beer, Matt strode through the crowd, straight toward Chloe. Her eyes were shining, her dimples were showing, and he knew the time was right. Like he had told Stefan, love was worth taking the chance.

Fulcher of Chartes:Pope Urban’s Speech at Clermont Essay

8.4 Fulcher of Chartres, â€Å"Pope Urban II’s Speech at Clermont† As the crusades began, Christians gathered to hear the insightful speech given by Pope Urban II in which he was able take unruly knights and give them a common enemy to fight. The enemies were the Muslims and Turks who were attacking the Byzantine Empire and the Holy Land. Urban II’s speech gave insights to the knightly class who were engaging in warlike tendencies and encouraged them to help people in need. On November 27, 1095, Pope Urban II began his influential speech to the church officials and nobles who were in attendance. In the beginning of his speech, Urban II said that he was given permission by God to come and speak to them about what was going on. The situations that were going on in the Christian society included the knightly class fighting each other, raping young women, robbing the churches, and other unseemly activities. Pope Urban II told them that in order to become â€Å"frien ds† with God, they would have to do things that were pleasing to God. These included leaving all matters that revolved around the church to the leaders of the church, and if they [the knights] were to rob the leaders of the church they will be cursed. At this point of his speech Pope Urban II is building up to the main reason for this call to order. Urban II informed his audience that the people of the Byzantine Empire were in need of their help, and it was their duty to help them. He explained to his listeners that the Turks and the Arabs have conquered the Byzantine Empire and taken over the Christian lands. Pope Urban II told the people that Christ commands them to help the Byzantine Empire regardless of their social class. â€Å"On this account I, or rather the Lord beseech you as Christ’s heralds† (358). Pope Urban II went on to say that whoever was to die in battle or die in any other kind of way, they would receive forgiveness for their sins. This is saying that no matter what they have done in the past, they would be forgiven for it all. Urban II continued to convince the people at his speech to help the Byzantine Empire defeat the Turks and Arabs and win back the Christian territory. This would lead to what is now called the First  Crusade. Crusade began in the fall of 1096 in Constantinople where crusaders gathered. The crusaders included the knights and people of Byzantine Empire. The Crusaders began to march through territories controlled by the Turks and Arabs which included Edessa and Antioch. They continued to head to Jerusalem in June 1099. The crusaders the n proceeded on a â€Å"five-week siege of Jerusalem† which fell in July of 1099. Crusaders then took over cities along the Mediterranean coast and built â€Å"fortified castle all over the Holy Land to protect their new territories† (Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History). The crusaders defeated the Egyptian relief army in August 1099. Pope Urban II died on July 29, 1099 and was not able to see the victory of reclaiming Jerusalem. Fulcher of Chartres clearly exemplified that he was bias towards Pope Urban II’s speech. Although he was there to hear the speech, he did not record the speech until years later. This proves that he truly believed in what Pope Urban II was protesting. Not only did Urban II’s speech help to reclaim the Christian lands, it also encouraged the knightly class and others listeners to reconnect with God’s laws and commandments. The First Crusades were not the ending of the battles, there was a second and third crusade. The crusaders failed in the second crusade, and had a dismal failure in the third crusade. These battles show that the Christian warriors had wanted to have what was rightfully Christ’s, and would not stop at any cost until they had it. Works Cited Chartres, Fulcher Of, trans. â€Å"Pope Urban II’s Speech at Clermont† p. 357-359 Mason, Ohio: Cengage Learning, 2012. Print. Department of Medieval Art and The Cloisters. â€Å"The Crusades (1095–1291)†. In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/crus/hd_crus.htm (October 2001)

Free Essays on Home Burial

In the poem, â€Å"Home Burial† by Robert Frost, the use of dialogue creates a movie-like reading, engaging the reader in a new approach to experiencing poetry. Through the dialogue the reader is able to intensely feel the emotion between the two speakers. Rather than circuiting around the issue being addressed within this piece, the speakers state the obvious. The dialogue is an ingenious catalyst used by Frost to create a new style of poetry, which is a characteristic of Modernism. From start to finish, this piece is gripping, allowing the reader to become part of the poem. Frost throws the truth of the poem in the reader’s face rather than alluding to the meaning of the poem. The tone of this piece is melancholy. From the beginning the reader recognizes an intense disconnection between the husband and wife speakers. In the first stanza it states, â€Å"I will find out now-you must tell me, dear,† (line 12). Here the husband is probing at his wife’s emotions trying to get inside her head to help her with an obvious sadness the wife cannot overcome. In the first part of the statement the reader hears urgency in the husbands voice followed by a softer tone towards his wife. The hyphen used here helps the reader to separate the stern and endearing spots in the one sentence. It is here that the tension that images a roller coaster begins to form. It is apparent that the wife has developed resentment towards her husband. She thinks, â€Å"Blind creature,† (16). The reader has begun to enter the psyche of the wife. It is understood through this statement that the wife is withdrawn from her husband. She feels alone and depressed, forcing her husband away because he does not see her pain. Thus, further the tension boils as the husband tries to see his wife and what it is that makes her suffer. In the second stanza, the husband for the first time sees the cause of his wife’s anguish, which gives some relief to the tension of the poem.... Free Essays on Home Burial Free Essays on Home Burial In the poem, â€Å"Home Burial† by Robert Frost, the use of dialogue creates a movie-like reading, engaging the reader in a new approach to experiencing poetry. Through the dialogue the reader is able to intensely feel the emotion between the two speakers. Rather than circuiting around the issue being addressed within this piece, the speakers state the obvious. The dialogue is an ingenious catalyst used by Frost to create a new style of poetry, which is a characteristic of Modernism. From start to finish, this piece is gripping, allowing the reader to become part of the poem. Frost throws the truth of the poem in the reader’s face rather than alluding to the meaning of the poem. The tone of this piece is melancholy. From the beginning the reader recognizes an intense disconnection between the husband and wife speakers. In the first stanza it states, â€Å"I will find out now-you must tell me, dear,† (line 12). Here the husband is probing at his wife’s emotions trying to get inside her head to help her with an obvious sadness the wife cannot overcome. In the first part of the statement the reader hears urgency in the husbands voice followed by a softer tone towards his wife. The hyphen used here helps the reader to separate the stern and endearing spots in the one sentence. It is here that the tension that images a roller coaster begins to form. It is apparent that the wife has developed resentment towards her husband. She thinks, â€Å"Blind creature,† (16). The reader has begun to enter the psyche of the wife. It is understood through this statement that the wife is withdrawn from her husband. She feels alone and depressed, forcing her husband away because he does not see her pain. Thus, further the tension boils as the husband tries to see his wife and what it is that makes her suffer. In the second stanza, the husband for the first time sees the cause of his wife’s anguish, which gives some relief to the tension of the poem.... Free Essays on Home Burial Home Burial Robert Frost’s life, like many of his poems, was filled with ironies. Known as an England poet, Robert Frost was born in San Francisco and named after Robert E. Lee. When his poetry was not recognized in the United States, he moved to England and there published his first books of poetry, A Boy’s Will (1913) and North of Boston (1914). When he returned to the United States his fame as a poet was already established. A marriage is the hardest type of relationship to carry on. A marriage requires a lot from both parties involved not only one person. A marriage requires such qualities such as: love, trust, honesty, friendship, and communication. If any these qualities are lacking in a marriage it can lead to problems. In this day and age people can go to a marriage counselor, and work on what is lacking in a relationship. In the old days if something was missing from a relationship it could result in a bad marriage or even lead to divorce. The lack of communication is one of the main reasons that marriages end up failing. In Robert Frost’s poem, Home Burial, he writes about a couple experiencing problems in their marriage. These problems recently occurred when his wife Amy’s baby died. The man and Amy are arguing because Amy does not talk to him any more. When Amy has something on her mind she walks off and talks to someone else about it. All he wants is for them to be able to communicate like they used to. He really cares about Amy because in the poem he says that he will no speak on things that she is sensitive about, all he wants is for Amy to be able to talk to him. This poem ends with Amy walking out the door and her husband yelling that he will follow behind her and bring her back with force. This marriage would not have failed if only Amy was able to talk to her husband about how she felt. As you can see if Amy could have express her feelings about the death of her child, then they could have went throu...

Essay on Dorothy E SMith

Essay on Dorothy E SMith Essay on Dorothy E SMith My First Day at High School Lubert Montero My first high school day I had mixed feelings I was actually excited and also nervous. I was sad and also happy that I got out of elementary school. I remember hearing story about Brebeuf and how hard of a school it was and how many fights happen daily and how everybody gets ninered. But surprisingly none of that ever happened. I was really excited to get into classes with my close friends in elementary but I didn’t get one class with them so I had to make new friends right away. I remember it being so quiet in the first day. It was hard at first introducing myself to people but later on the day I made some new friends. When I got to the school we had a big assembly first thing in the morning I remember seeing some many different type of people. Different race and size. But when I walked in I remember my close friends in elementary school coming up to me and introducing me to new people they just met and I just remember seeing everyone just standing next to each other awkwardly talking. It was first period and I had French. It remember being so quiet and nervous because I thought I was not going to have friends. But I sat beside I guy named Adam and at first it was awkward but then I started a conversation and it broke the awkwardness and we became friends. While at first we had to do a quick task were we introduced ourselves in the class and told a little something about ourselves and I said I was a basketball player and a friendly person. Allot of people said the same thing like what sports they like and what kind of person they were. I got really excited hearing allot of

Relationship of the United States and Japan

Relationship of the United States and Japan The earliest contact between both countries was through merchants and explorers. Later in the mid-1800s several representatives from the U.S. traveled to Japan in order to negotiate trade agreements, including Commodore Matthew Perry in 1852 who negotiated the first trade treaty and the Convention of Kanagawa. Likewise, a Japanese delegation came to the U.S. in 1860 in hopes of strengthening diplomatic and trade relations between both countries. World War II World War II saw the countries pitted against each other after the Japanese bombed the American naval base at  Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in 1941. The war ended in 1945 after Japan suffered tremendous causalities from the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the firebombing of Tokyo. Korean War Both China and the US got involved in the Korean War in support of the North and the South respectively. This was the only time when soldiers from both countries actually fought as the U.S./U.N. forces battled Chinese soldiers upon Chinas official entrance in the war to counter American involvement. Surrender On August 14, 1945, Japan surrendered leading to an occupation by the victorious Allied forces. Upon gaining control of Japan, U.S. President Harry Truman appointed General Douglas MacArthur as Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers in Japan. The Allied forces worked on the reconstruction of Japan, as well as consolidating political legitimacy by publicly standing on the side of Emperor Hirohito. This allowed MacArthur to work within the political system. By the end of 1945, approximately 350,000 U.S. servicemen were in Japan working on a wide variety of projects. Post War Transformation Under Allied control, Japan undertook a remarkable transformation characterized by the new constitution of Japan which emphasized democratic principles, educational and economic reform, and demilitarization which was embedded in the new Japanese constitution. As the reforms took place MacArthur gradually shifted political control over to the Japanese culminating in the 1952 Treaty of San Francisco which officially ended the occupation. This framework was the beginning of a close relationship between both countries that lasts until this day. Close Cooperation The period after the San Francisco treaty has been characterized by close cooperation between both countries, with 47,000 US military servicemen remaining in Japan by invitation of the Japanese government. Economic cooperation has also been playing a large role in the relationship with the US providing Japan with significant amounts of aid in the post-war periods as Japan became an ally in the Cold War. The partnership has resulted in the reemergence of the Japanese economy which remains one of the strongest economies in the region.

The Gambia Visit Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Gambia Visit - Essay Example He pointed out that the 1970 constitution divided the government into independent legislative. The constitution finds a safe bode in 1996, including a strong presidential government and protection of human rights. Regarding future political prospects, he was very optimistic. We got more than expected during this visit. Monday 2nd May: A lecture delivered by Dr. Emmanuel focused on Gambian law enhancement. He touched upon the sensitive issue of transatlantic diplomacy injuring the interests at home. Quoting a renowned work in this area, â€Å"states have traditionally from time to time reviewed the operation and effectiveness of their foreign ministries and diplomatic services. More often than not such inquiries have been occasioned by wide economic moves in the public sector or institutional rivalry.† His speech included issues harboring international peace and their implication, and foreign forces which are major players in devising the state’s internal policies. Recalling a piece of verbose from Dr. Emmanuel, â€Å"there is more to it than meets the eye†, brings to the forefront many of the devils at work. Nevertheless, the British ambassador in Tehran, Sir Anthony Parsons, does not support this. â€Å"The Embassy†, he notes â€Å"was primarily organized as an agency for the promotion of British exports and for the general commercial, financial and economic interests of the Britain†.... â€Å"The last incumbent also from Africa challenged the might of the empire, but Kofi Annan is known for his reconciliatory approach, than confrontatist posture. Like any other African congregation this one also brought out different diplomats in their colourful traditional attires. The accompanying music made every foot tap† (Gupta, 2005: page 123); A ground had been set for a positive and peaceful image of the country. â€Å"After 1871, political and cultural leaders recognized the instrumental and local music in cultural diplomacy† (Jessica C.E. Gienow-Hecht, 2009: page 36). This shows the impact art and craft has had on the nation’s subconscious mind of the diplomatic visage. This experience gave me some paradigms that had for quite some time remained at the back of my mind. Wednesday 4th May: The African Centre for Democracy and Human Right Studies was officially opened in 2001. During the visit, we were exposed to the eventful history gone through by the c enter. For the African Charter on Human and people’s rights to be effective, it was to be elaborated and comprehended by all Africa. This vision brought forth the formation of this center which was established to promote and insure respect of freedom, and to oversee that these freedoms do not go astray. â€Å"In order to find practicable solutions to institutional and existential problems caused by accelerating globalization diplomacy needs inter-disciplinary guidance by social sciences† (Bolewski, 2007: page 6). Adding to the already elaborated verbose in context of the need for social sciences to grow and take control of the growing diplomacy in trans-Atlantic relations, â€Å"Given that the issues cannot be ducked altogether, international human rights bodies have been reduced to

Write four pages about month of Ramadan with references Essay

Write four pages about month of Ramadan with references - Essay Example ing to the American Dietetic Association, â€Å"exceptions to the fast are made for individuals who are sick or travelling; women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or menstruating; children younger than the age of puberty; and the elderly, if their physical condition warrants exception† (187). The dates during which the period of Ramadan takes place can vary from year to year, but it is always during the Islamic calendar, which is a lunar calendar. As the month of Ramadan approaches its end, the Night of Power, which is sometimes referred to as the Night of Destiny is celebrated. The night marks the â€Å"night when the first verses of the Koran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad in a remote cave on Mount Mira, near Mecca, Saudi Arabia† (McMahon 262). The end of the month is marked by a holy feast known as Eid al-Fitr. The religion of Islam was created by Prophet Muhammad. Muslims do not consider him the founder of the religion, since they believe that all he did was following the teachings of Allah. Muslims also believe that Muhammad was the last prophet that Allah spoke to. The scriptures written in the Quran were revealed to Prophet Muhammad by angel Gabriel. It took angel Gabriel years to reveal the scriptures to Prophet Muhammad, but it is believed that it is during the month of Ramadan that the transmitting of text began. Cragg points out that Ramadan â€Å"celebrates the beginning of the Quran revelation to Muhammad† (22). The word Ramadan means excess heat and the reason the month was named so, is because when the ancient people â€Å"changed the names of the months from the ancient language, they named them according to the seasons in which they fell, and this month agreed with the days of excessive heat† (Ali n.p.). The beginning, night of power and end of Ramadan are important dates during Ramadan. Ramadan begins when the new moon is sighted. According to Glassà ©, â€Å"a new moon cannot be seen with the naked eye until at least twenty hours after the

Property law Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Property law - Case Study Example In addition, with partners that want to join in her business and their various reasons, which probably may not be in line with the image she wants to project, the lack of partners makes it an attractive option. The business is also flexible and permits her to uphold a relationship with her target clients, as well as having no corporate tax (Knapp & Semmel, 2011). This makes it an attractive option. However, it is true that it is not an extremely attractive option because Betty will be fully liable for the business, which is risky because she will be welcoming the customers into her place of business. Betty will also have to deal with raising the funds on her own and deal with her limited managerial abilities (Knapp & Semmel, 2011). The reduced sources of capital that are available for her also make expansion difficult. Finally, the fact that she is obligated to use her own funds and that of her family, coupled with unlimited liability does make it an unattractive option. Corporation I find this to be short of the best option, despite the provision of liability protection. Considering that the integration time for a corporation requires more money and time as compared to a sole proprietorship. The business will also be regulated and supervised by entity rules from local, state, and federal jurisdictions. This would make it more difficult to use the name â€Å"The Gathering Place† since it is already in use in the state and another state. Incorporation of Betty’s business may also result in the business being liable to paying more taxes (Cross, 2009). In addition, the dividends that the corporation will pay to shareholders will not be deductible, and the income may be double taxed. I do not believe that franchising will be applicable in this case; the corporate feel it gives the business may not be suitable for a Christian family-based establishment. Partnership It is my belief that a partnership would be the best idea for Betty’s coffee shop . Indeed, it is true that this form of business will allow Betty to share the business risks and profits with those who are close to her. It is also true that Betty has several takers for the partnership already. The startup cost will be low; the business will possess more borrowing capacity compared to the sole proprietorship, and she can make high caliber Christian employees her partners, which will enable her to get more customers from other churches. In addition, splitting of income will allow her to save on taxes (Mongalo et al, 2010). There will also be limited regulation from outside. This is the best option for Betty and her business. Partners, Investors, Employees Betty’s Husband I agree that Betty taking her husband, as a partner would be a splendid idea for the business. As Christians, it is true that they are one as advised by the Bible, and are one in the eyes of God. John, Betty’s husband, would be an ideal partner in a coffee shop with a Christian settin g, especially in a society where it feels like the institution of marriage is under threat. A coffee shop with a married couple as partners would be a sure draw for the conservative Christian base. John and Betty can contribute to the business as separate entities, from personal sources and bank loans, although they will operate the business as one. Betty’s Sister It is true that Alice is coming into business with an inappropriate reason, and I do not believe that Betty should consider her at all. If John is not for the idea of Alice

Legal issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Legal issues - Essay Example Secondly, a punishment may be imposed to an employee in case they use abusive language at work sites. The person should be proved guilty to deserve the punishment before any punishment is imposed to the employee (Deipo & Guerin, 2011). There are different kinds of discipline imposed to the employee depending on the mistake done. Suspension is one of the kinds of discipline imposed to the employee. This is a temporary or an immediate removal of an employee from the work place with no pay as a consequence of the wrong done. The nature of misconduct should be included on the notice of suspension (Caisley, 2008). Secondly, a financial penalty may be used if gotten preferably. This type of penalty is appropriate in a situation involving isolated post where scheduling suspension and replacement of an employee may be difficult. The nature of misconduct should also be outlined in the notice without any correction (Davies, 2011). In conclusion, discipline is essential in any working environment. It shapes the working ethics of the organization leading to success. That is why various punishments are imposed to violators of the

Critical evaluation of the mechanisms by which the line-manager Essay

Critical evaluation of the mechanisms by which the line-manager encourages employee buy-in ( case study) - Essay Example h, a primary recommendation that could be given to Great Pharmaceuticals is that it seek to actively involve the employees in whatever changes it seeks to make. The underlying rational behind this is that those employees that are involved in creating a change will likely work more effectively to see such a change effectively engaged; as compared to those employees that are merely told to enact a given change (Paco & Nave, 2013). As has been noted throughout the course lectures, the degree of involvement that is exhibited by a firm has a direct correlation to the degree of loyalty that the stakeholders will likely exhibit in the future (De Oliveira et al., 2013). With loyalty maximized, it stands to reason that whatever change is prescribed will likely experience a much stronger chance of overall success as compared to an alternative strategy being utilized (Christ et al., 2012). Many firms contract other firms to provide high priced assessments of potential means by which efficiency could be maximized; however, the fact of the matter is that many of these prescriptions for change are oftentimes available free of charge at the base organizational level. As such, Great Pharmaceuticals should be aware of the fact that they have an invaluable resource of subject matter expertise at their disposal in the rank and file of their own employees. By engaging these assets and encouraging them to relate their own ideas, the firm could easily come up with new and insightful means by which leadership could craft a path ahead (Kupka et al., 2009). Once again, this works hand in glove with the recommendation for involvement. By leveraging these resources and encouraging the stakeholders to provide a level of intellectual engagement, the degree and extent to which these employees will be likely to support the future direction of the firm will be increased. Moreover, even if the course of action is not agreed upon by all, these stakeholders will come to appreciate the fact

Legal issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Legal issues - Essay Example Secondly, a punishment may be imposed to an employee in case they use abusive language at work sites. The person should be proved guilty to deserve the punishment before any punishment is imposed to the employee (Deipo & Guerin, 2011). There are different kinds of discipline imposed to the employee depending on the mistake done. Suspension is one of the kinds of discipline imposed to the employee. This is a temporary or an immediate removal of an employee from the work place with no pay as a consequence of the wrong done. The nature of misconduct should be included on the notice of suspension (Caisley, 2008). Secondly, a financial penalty may be used if gotten preferably. This type of penalty is appropriate in a situation involving isolated post where scheduling suspension and replacement of an employee may be difficult. The nature of misconduct should also be outlined in the notice without any correction (Davies, 2011). In conclusion, discipline is essential in any working environment. It shapes the working ethics of the organization leading to success. That is why various punishments are imposed to violators of the

Privacy hw Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Privacy hw - Research Paper Example Privacy is required for risk management scenario. In the context of the provided case though, the logical factors for privacy will have to be correlated with human values and ethical consideration (Clarke, 2009). The parents of the deceased Marine wanted to seek access to his email. The service provider of the email, Yahoo was reluctant to concur with the request. In the given context from the point of view of Yahoo, the scenario brings into consideration the issue of computer ethics and the privacy aspect. Yahoo, as a service provider had agreed to certain terms with the deceased Marine which they can’t just waive off. The privacy issue is a main reason behind this decision as if the information is released to the parents then it could bring in devastating consequences. In terms of social point of view, the need for email privacy is a very relevant and important issue. Information ethics as a part of computer ethics has to consider not only the human beings along with their actions, characters, and intentions but also the ethical theories like utilitarianism and deontological has to be considered. Information ethics and the privacy related aspects sometimes has to be supplemented with traditional ethical consideration and it can also override the information ethics aspects if need arise (Bynum, 2008). In terms of privacy rights in general circumstances, the personal information associated with an email like password is very important. The security breach aspects like hacking, and stealing of personal information is very crucial aspect for ensuring email privacy and security. There is also a terms called ‘right to privacy’, which provides an individual to have right to control their personal information. Personal privacy in case of email in general circumstances is an uncompromising issue for a service provider like Yahoo (Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, 2010). As per electronic privacy information center, privacy laws are

Love Poetries Essay Example for Free

Love Poetries Essay Personal Advertisement I am currently in the most enjoyable stage of my life where I wish to find the best person to share it with me. I am passionate with everything I do and I wish to share that passion with someone who knows how to live a passionate life too. I am the Man in the â€Å"Love Poem† I consider myself to be the narrator in John Frederick Nims’ Love Poem because it immensely reflects my current feelings for a particular person. Nims refers to his lover as his â€Å"clumsiest dear,† (Nims, 2003, p. 67) which quite bears a resemblance on the nature of my own special someone. His subject’s palms are compared to the â€Å"bulls in china, burs in linen, / And have no cunning with any soft thing† (Nims, 2003, p. 67). This metaphor that insinuates roughness and clumsiness also reflects some of the characteristics of my lover. Being a â€Å"Misfit in any space. And never on time. † (Nims, 2003, p. 67) surely creates an image of a person entirely different than other people. He or she does not always fit in any common group of people and is expected to break most rules. However, like the narrator’s last two lines in the fourth stanza, â€Å"In traffic of wit expertly manoeuvre / And keep us, all devotion, at your knees. † (Nims, 2003, p. 67), I still find myself adoring him for his remarkable wisdom. Simply put, despite all the imperfections of this particular person, I still love him or her without any doubt. Stage of Love in â€Å"The Lover Not Taken† In Blanche Farley’s parody of Robert Frost’s â€Å"The Road Not Taken†, the woman and the blonde guy are obviously in a â€Å"getting to know† stage as suggested by the last line on the first stanza where the blond is initially referred to as â€Å"the new guy† (Farley, 1937. n. p. ). However, it is also important to consider that the relationship in this poem does not only include the woman and the blonde but also Jack whom the woman has been with for a long time. This is validated on the 3rd and 4th line of the second stanza where the narrator introduces him as, â€Å"the other, jack, had a claim / On her already . . . / He understood her. His long, lithe frame† (Farley, 1937. n. p. ). Hence, it is clear that there are two stages of love in this poem in dependence to whose relationship in the love triangle we are speaking about. Two Figurative Languages that Compares the Love in â€Å"The Lover Not Taken† The first figurative language is a metaphor that speaks of the new guy’s physical description as â€Å"smooth as a yellow wood† (Farley, 1937. n. p. ). His physical beauty is compared to that of the yellow wood which can mean several things like the end of summer or the beginning of fall which can also be considered to be nice to look at. Perhaps, it can be a literal comparison of the man’s smoothness to a smooth yellow tree. The second comparison is on the first line of the second stanza. The narrator’s statement â€Å"She liked his hair,† (Farley, 1937. n. p. ) obviously compares the superficial relationship of the woman and the blonde. If one would deeply analyze, the attraction of the woman to the blonde is too superficial or simply physical. Liking his hair and smile obviously just symbolizes her extreme lust for the blonde guy that she is actually willing to risk her long-term relationship with a complete stranger who has a beautiful smile and hair. The Lover Not Taken is Most Likely Doomed to Misery As for my opinion, guilt leads a person to misery. In this poem’s case, it is most likely for the woman’s relationship with Jack to be miserable if guilt would consume the woman’s relationship with him. Honesty and loyalty to a partner are two of the most important elements that determine the stability of a relationship. However, since this poem consists of two relationships of a particular woman; the answer would still depend on whom she would end up with. If she ends her relationship with Jack and start a new one with the blonde, there is a possible occurrence of a â€Å"happily ever after story†. On the other hand, if she stays with Jack and continues her affair with the blonde guy, it is most likely to end up in misery. The Tone of â€Å"The Lover Not Taken† By analyzing the atmosphere being suggested on the first stanza of the poem, â€Å"And, mulling it over, long she stood, / Alone on the road, loath / To leave, wanting to hide in the undergrowth. † (Farley, 1937. n. p. ), the initial seriousness of the narrator’s tone is evident. There is too much concentration on the woman’s part as she mulls over her future decision whether to have an affair with another man or not. However, the tone changed abruptly on the last two lines where she suddenly stopped contemplating on which decision to make by taking the fast way home and phoning the blonde. Setting of â€Å"The Lover Not Taken† Obviously, this poem is inspired by Robert Frost’s famous poem â€Å"The Road Not Taken† which tackles the difficulty of deciding what path to choose in life. However, Farley similarly illustrates the difficulty of making decisions by pointing out a particular situation such as being torn between two lovers. Like Frost’s original piece, a person is facing a certain road pondering about a situation he or she needs to handle. By basing the setting and theme on Frost’s poem, Farley has further emphasized the central message of Frost’s poem. Since, it is inspired by Frost’s â€Å"Road Not Taken†, it is important to consider not only why it is set in that particular setting but more importantly why Farley chose Frost’s poem to communicate her own message. References Farley, B. (1937). The Lover Not Taken. Geocities. Retrieved December 3, 2008, from http://www. geocities. com/cailinliet/lover. html Nims, F. (2002). The Love Poem. Master the GED language arts, reading 2003. New Jersey: Petersons.

Examining the Strategic Plans for Growth PepsiCo

Examining the Strategic Plans for Growth PepsiCo PepsiCo, Incorporated is a Fortune 500, American multinational corporation headquartered in Purchase, New York, with interests in manufacturing and marketing a wide variety of carbonated and non-carbonated beverages, as well as salty, sweet and cereal-based snacks, and other foods. Besides the Pepsi brands, the company owns the brands Quaker Oats, Gatorade, Frito-Lay, SoBe, Naked, Tropicana, Copella, Mountain Dew, Mirinda and 7 Up (outside the USA). The various strategic plans for managing and developing the growth of PepsiCo are as follows:- INTENSIVE GROWTH (Identifying the opportunities to achieve further growth within the current business) Product -market expansion grid is useful framework for detecting new intensive growth opportunities Market penetration strategy(The company first considers whether it could gain more market share with its current products in the current markets): Headquartered in Purchase, New York, with Research and Development Headquarters in Valhalla, The Pepsi Cola Company began in 1898 by a NC Pharmacist and Industrialist Caleb Brad ham, but it only became known as PepsiCo when it merged with Frito Lay in 1965.Major products of both the companies were before they got merged were- Pepsi-Cola Company Pepsi-Cola was formulated in 1898, Diet Pepsi (1964) and Mountain Dew (introduced by Tip Corporation in 1948). Frito-Lay, Inc. Fritos brand corn chips (created by Elmer Doolin in 1932), Lays brand potato chips (created by Herman W. Lay in 1938), Cheetos brand cheese flavored snacks (1948), Ruffles brand potato chips (1958) and Rold Gold brand pretzels (acquired 1961). So, the Pepsi -cola and Frito-Lay both were amongst the renowned and best sellers till they got merged. Market development strategy (next it considers whether it can find or develop new markets for its current products)-Pepsi-Cola was considered a takeover target not only because it ran a distant second in the soft drink sector to industry giant Coca-Cola Company, but also because little of the companys stock was in the hands of management. Following the creation of PepsiCo, however, the new companys directors held a much larger proportion of shares, with Lay holding a 2.5 percent stake himself. A second force behind the merger was Frito-Lays desire to more aggressively pursue overseas markets. The companys sales had largely been restricted to the United States and Canada, but it could now take advantage of Pepsis strong international operations, through which Pepsi products were sold in 108 countries. Product development strategy A third force was the perceived synergy between salty snacks and soft drinks. As Kendall succinctly related to Forbes in 1968, Potato chips make you thirsty; Pepsi satisfies thirst. The plan was to jointly market PepsiCos snacks and soft drinks, thereby giving Pepsi a potential advantage in its ongoing battle with Coke. Unfortunately, these plans were eventually scuttled by the resolution of a Federal Trade Commission antitrust suit brought against Frito-Lay in 1963. The FTC ruled in late 1968 that PepsiCo could not create tie-ins between Frito-Lay and Pepsi-Cola products in most of its advertising. PepsiCo was also barred from acquiring any snack or soft drink maker for a period of ten years. integrative growth INTEGRATIVE GROWTH (Identifying opportunities to build or acquire business that are related to current business) Each company faces challenge of selection between different marketing strategies of growth. PepsiCo has a bunch of strategies called integrated growth strategies to: Expand Global Leadership Position of the Snacks Business. PepsiCo is global snacks leader of the world, with No. 1 savory category of the share position in the virtually each key region around the globe. They have advantaged position for entire value chain in over more than 40 developing and developed regions in which they operate as the capitalization on the local manufacturing and the optimized go-to-the-market capabilities in every region, thus also the ability to have introduced the relevant products locally by using the global capabilities. Ensure Sustainable, Profitable Growth in Global Beverages. When combined with actions they are taking to refresh their brands across the entire beverage category, they believe this game-changing transaction will enable them to accelerate their top-line growth and also improve their profitability. They continue to view the significant areas of the global beverage growth, specifically in the developing markets or in the evolving categories. They will thus invest in the attractive opportunities and concentrating in the geographies and the categories in which they the leader or the close second and where competitive game thus remains widely open. Unleash the Power of Power of One. Combination of the snacks and the beverages-with the global high-demand and the local brands thus makes the company an essential and needful partner for the small-format as well as the large-format retailers. Rapidly Expand Our Good-for-You Portfolio. By investing to thus accelerate growth of the platforms, and they are using the knowledge from the initiatives to improve their beverage offerings and the core snack and thus also developing high nutritious products for the undernourished people around the world. Continue to deliver the commitments and the Environmental Sustainability Goals. They actively work with their farmers to promote sustainable agriculture and thus developing the packaging alternatives in both the beverages and snacks to thus reduce impact on environment. Cherish the Associates and Developing Leadership to thus sustain the Growth. By implementing tailored training programs to provide managers and the senior executives with leadership and strategic capabilities that are required in the rapidly changing environment. diversification growth DIVERSIFICATION GROWTH (identifying opportunities to add attractive business unrelated to current business) the US based company thus conducted the restructuring exercise in the year 1997-98 by thus spinning-off the restaurants and the bottling businesses. Restructuring was thus aimed to achieve the improved and increased focus on companys snack food operations (Frito-Lay) and core beverage (Pepsi-Cola). By thus successfully adopting new focus strategy since the year 1997, the company has thus emerged as second largest packaged consumer goods company (terms of the revenues) in world. By thus acquiring the leading beverages companies like the Tropicana (July 1998), the South Beach Beverage (October 2000) and the Quaker Oats company (December 2000), company has thus significantly strengthened the competitive position in beverages segment.

The National Education Technology Plan :: Essays Papers

The National Education Technology Plan As years have passed, technology has improved in many areas. So many new technologies have developed to help benefit our nation. With these new technologies, we have found it easier to accomplish simple every day tasks. It’s believed that computers are the future, and that sooner or later, all jobs will require some sort of knowledge with computers. Many individuals are going back to college to receive more education on computers and on programs. This may be required for some businesses. But some people today seem to be quite computer illiterate. How would we change this problem? One idea is to develop a nation wide plan into our school system that involves interaction of students and teachers with the new technologies in the classrooms. The National Education Technology Plan has been the solution to schools across America. In 1996, the plan was developed with many hopes and expectations in mind for the future of education and technology (Air.org). This plan was originally referred to â€Å"Getting America's Students Ready for the 21st Century† (Techniques: Connecting Education & Careers). Its’ main purpose was to increase the student’s academic achievements. The idea was to have students not only improve themselves overall but by doing so, they would become familiar with technology. Students as well as teachers would have the opportunity to learn more about technology (ISTE NETS). In order for teachers to help the students along the way, the teachers would be given lessons to improve their skills (Ed.gov). After the teacher felt he/she became familiar with the use of technology, they would then be able to use it as an â€Å"instructional tool† in the classroom (National edtechplan.org). Students would also have the opportunity to be connected to the Internet in all their classrooms. Having students involved with the Internet and computers could only lead to future benefits for them (Education World). The plan has been revised three times now. To improve it, the U.S. Department of Education is looking to the general public to make possible changes or to make any suggestions they feel appropriate (Whelan, Debra).

Pop squad

SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 07 Novo. 2013. Hospitals are facing numerous amounts pressure to change. Better care has to outweigh more care and until that happens the nation will continue to face care costs issues. Medicare can be added with more choices and protection for beneficiaries. Also reform a tax treatment of health insurance to limit the tax treatment over expensive insurance products.Emanuel, Ezekiel J. â€Å"Health-Care Exchanges Will Need the Young Invincible. † Wall street Journal. 07 May 2013: A. 17. SIRS Issues Researcher. Be. 07 NOVO. 2013. With this health care exchange a lot of Americans will be able to log online and choose their own health care coverage. Also many insurance companies are scared and they are already raising premiums to protect them losses. There will be fewer people purchasing insurance. â€Å"Prescription for Change. † Economist. 29 June. 2013: 61 . SIRS Issues Researcher.Web. 07 Novo. 2013. People are not receiving the proper care that they really should be getting. Doctors are charged a fee every time they gain a patient. It is going to expand Medicaid, more people with Insurance will cause more patients seeking the treatments they need. Many employers have greatly recommended their workers to pay out of pocket to the cost of their health care. Razors, Peter R. â€Å"How Health Care Can Save or Sink America. † Foreign Affairs. July/Gag 2011: 42. SIRS Issues Researcher.Web. 15 Par. 2014. Rising health-care costs are at the core of the United States' long-term fiscal Imbalance. Social Security costs, by comparison, are projected to Increase from five percent of GAP to six percent over the same period. It Is no exaggeration to say that the United States' standing In the world depends on Its success In constraining this health-care cost explosion; unless It does, he country will eventually face a severe fiscal crisis or a crippling Inability to Invest In other areas. Foreign Affairs In this article, Peter R. Razors, former director of the Congressional Budget Office, argues that â€Å"there Is no credible path to reducing the long-term fiscal Imbalance In the United States other than directly addressing high- cost cases In health care. † pop squad By Ill-Bri-Johnson street journal. 07 May 2013: A. 17. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 07 NOVO. 2013. With patient. It is going to expand Medicaid, more people with insurance will cause more the core of the United States' long-term fiscal imbalance.Social Security costs, by comparison, are projected to increase from five percent of GAP to six percent over the same period. It is no exaggeration to say that the United States' standing in the world depends on its success in constraining this health-care cost explosion; unless it does, the country will eventually face a severe fiscal crisis or a crippling inability to invest in Congressional Budget Office, argues that â€Å"there is no credible path to reducing the long-term fiscal imbala nce in the United States other than directly addressing high- cost cases in health care. â€Å"

Development of the Renaissance Centralized Church Plan Essay

Analyze the development of the centralized church plan in Renaissance architecture (15th and 16th centuries). In your examples, include an analysis of meaning and symbolism. During the Renaissance period, new centralized church plans developed as a result of a more scientific approach to nature. The idea of precise proportions and measurement emerged through Vitruvius’ theory regarding human anatomy. Vitruvius described how human body, with extended arms and legs, fits perfectly into the most basic geometrical shapes: circle and square. This concept triggered the minds of artists during the Renaissance to take on a new approach for church plans (Honour and Fleming 444-445). However, it is not until the fifteenth century that the centralized plan was regarded as a divine expression when Alberti discussed scientific method of maintaining God’s image through mathematical approach in De Re Aedificatoria, a treatise containing the first full program of the ideal Renaissance church (Tavernor 30). From Alberti’s perspective, a centralized plan should reveal God’s symbol while keeping pure forms of absolute mathematics in the structure, therefore the Greek-Cross figure is favored (Heydenreich 36). His theory influenced many others to realize the importance of the Greek-Cross planning method, and this is reflected in works such as S. Sebastiano, Maria Della Carceri and St. Peter’s. Thus, the Greek-Cross centralized church plan was developed, that became the divine figure for Renaissance architecture. The development of Greek-Cross plan is derived from Alberti’s theoretical demands based on Vitruvius’ basic principles of accuracy and proportions. In the early sixteenth century, Vitruvius began answering questions regarding how a buildings proportion is constructed through human anatomy (Wittkower 22). Such question is further raised through Vitruvian figures drawn within a square and circle became a symbol of the mathematical relationship between man and god through geometry (Wittkower 25). Alberti, who suggested that to obtain architectural perfection, one must follow the basic laws of symmetry and proportions, expanded on these early ideas. In his treatise, he had defined the laws of symmetry and proportion through the physical characteristics of the human body (Tavernor 40). There, he combined a square and circle to generate the image of the geometrical shapes in relation to human anatomy, identical to Leonard Da Vinci’s drawing of a man with outstretched limbs located within a circle and square (figure 1). Alberti’s intention was to clarify the ideal architectural beauty for others during the time, through accuracy and precision (Tavernor 40). The Greek Cross central plan is developed through three transformations from the square, square plus one-half, square plus one third, and the square doubled (Murray 58). If these square ratios are applied to architectural plans, more complex figures can be produced; subsequently the centralized Greek Cross plan was developed and was a visible expression of the Divine Proportion. (Smith) Alberti’s obsession over geometrical perfection involved applying his theory within the interior structure as well. For example, the height of the wall up to the vaulting in round churches should be one-half, two thirds of three quarters of the diameter of the plan. These proportions of one to two, two to three, and three to four conform to Alberti’s law of harmony, written in his treatise (Murray 58 58). It was Alberti who expressed the theory of beauty in his writing, which became so influential for the High Renaissance. He defined beauty, â€Å"harmony and concord of all the parts, so that nothing could be added or subtracted except for the worse† (Smith). From Alberti’s explanation, the symbolism of the Greek Cross is regarded as a beautiful and natural figure, representing every aspect of God due to the precise measurements on all sides of the shape. Therefore, Alberti argued â€Å"Beauty will result from the beautiful form and from the correspondence of the whole to the parts, of the parts amongst themselves, and of these again to the whole; so that the structures may appear an entire and complete body† (WIttkower 31). He believed to thoroughly appreciate Renaissance architecture, one should understand architecture is not based on theories of function but rather view it as mathematical theory of proportion (Smith). Another significance from the Greek Cross central plan is signifying the development of Renaissance architecture. For Alberti and architects of the Renaissance, the emphasis on classicism is ideal, which challenges a different approach from the previous. Pursuing mathematical order and simplicity of pure whites have replaced the Roman gothic style churches (Heydenreich 27). Also, the prominence of classical features is more suited for Alberti’s theory of proportion so that all sizes and shapes are defined. A clear example of Renaissance classicism is S. Sebastiano, where Alberti used Greek-Cross plan that shows almost all of his own theoretical requirements as well as several classical elements in the architectural design (figure 4) (Murray 59). Alberti’s argument for incorporating classicism, a high flight of steps and pilasters at the temple front is best supported by architect Palladio’s correspondence with Alberti’s ideas: â€Å"buildings in which the supreme Being is invokved and adored should stand in the most noble part of the city, raised above the rest of the city†¦they ought to be built so that nothing more beautiful could be imagined and those who enter should be transported into a kind of ecstacy in admiring their grace and beauty. Buildings dedicated to the omnipotent God should be strong and everlasting†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Wittkower 31) This idea of rising above is coherent to Leonardo Da Vinci’s principle, which he adhered to in all his designs (Wittkower 26). S. Sebastiano exemplifies the meticulous image of Renaissance beauty, and developing architectural style beyond the Roman gothic style (Smith). Another example of a building resembling absolute proportion is St. Maria Della Carceri, designed by architect Giuliano Da Sangallo. After Alberti’s treatise on architecture was published in 1485, the centrally planned church became popular. Many architects during the Renaissance conformed to his law of harmony. Within the same year, the church of St. Maria Delle Carceri was the first Greek-Cross structure built. The entire interior and exterior description of Giuliano da Sangallo’s church complies with Alberti’s theoretical demands, demonstrating the impact Alberti made through his publication (Wittkower 31). The plan for St. Maria Delle Carceri is based on the two elementary figures of square and circle, where the depth of the arms is half their length and the four end walls of the cross are as long as they are high, therefore forming a perfect square (figure 2). The structure contains desirable symbolic feature by integrating a dome in the center. It appeals more to Christianity to represents closure towards heaven or God’s presence. The grand church is viewed as â€Å"†¦a majestic simplicity, the undisturbed impact of its geometry, the purity of its whiteness are designed to evoke in the congregation a consciousness of the presence of God – of a God who has ordered the universe according to immutable mathematical laws, who has created a uniform and beautifully proportioned world, the consonance and harmony of which is mirrored in His temple below.† (Wittkower 31) Donato Bramante was another architect who responded to historian’s theory concerning centralized plan. His designs are similar to Leonardo Da Vinci’s drawings on centralized plan, where he sketched numerous centrally planned forms and illustrates complex geometrical forms from the first simple shape (figure 5). Da Vinci’s intentions were interpreting Vitruvius’ explanation more accurately through visual art (figure 1) (Wittkower 25). The importance of these drawings reflects Da Vinci’s conscious theoretical speculations for which a new technique of representation is produced (Wittkower 25). Although Da Vinci did not build anything, through his illustrations, Bramente was profoundly influenced that affected the sixteenth century approach. It is likely that those drawings allowed Bramante to comprehended the versatile of geometrical shapes, influencing architecture (figure 4) (Honour and Fleming 444-445). There is even evidence to believe that Bramante’s early design for St. Peter’s was much influenced by Leonardo’s drawings of centrally planned structures. (Honour and Fleming 444-445) When Bramante was appointed to redesign the Saint Peter’s at the beginning of the sixteenth century, he envisioned the new it as a grander version of his previous architectural design: a central, Greek cross plan building. The design must continue the ancient Roman tradition of domed temples, therefore St. Peter’s is crowned by an enormous dome. Bramante, like others before him, combined the symbol of the Greek cross with the symbolic values of centralized geometry. (Wittkower 34). Bramante submitted his Greek cross design on a large scale, which reflects Alberti’s humanist-Christian idea in pure form. In Renaissance thinking, Bramante’s St. Peter’s central plan and dome also symbolized the perfection of God (Honour and Fleming 444-445). Certainly, so overwhelming was Bramante’s design that none of his successors could divert his influence (Honour and Fleming 444-445). The impact of the Greek cross was enormous for the development of Renaissance centralized plan. The geometrical figure is a result of Alberti’s in depth mathematical approach of viewing nature (Tavonor 42). Many Renaissance architects utilized the Greek Cross plan due to Alberti and other historians theory regarding obtaining architectural beauty. For them, comparing building structures to human anatomy proportion was essential in defining what is ideal. More importantly, the Greek cross symbolizes divinity. Vitruvius also discussed the relationship between the human body and geometry, which is crucial for the creation of the Greek cross (Wittkower 25). Such explanation expanded by Alberti influenced the formation in several significant churches, such as the Maria Della Carceri, St. Peter’s design and S. Sebastiano. Architects who designed these churches corresponded with Alberti’s argument, therefore demonstrating the wide acceptance of the Greek Cross. MLA Citations Heydenreich, L. Architecture in Italy, 1400-1500. rev. ed., New Haven, 1996. Honour and Fleming, The Visual Arts: a History, 4th ed, 1995, 444-445. http://www.phs.poteau.k12.ok.us/williame/APAH/readings/Bramante’s%20Tempietto,%20St%20Peters,%20Michelangelo.pdf Murray, P. The Architecture of the Italian Renaissance. London, 1963. Smith, Bernard. â€Å"University of Melbourne.† University of Melbourne. Print. http://shaps.unimelb.edu.au/public-resources/database-resources/bernardsmith/lectures/BSmith-HighRenaissance.pdf. Tavernor, R. On Alberti and the Art of Building. New Haven, 1998. Wittkower, R. Architectural Principles in the Age of Humanism. 3rd ed., London, 1962. Figures Figure 1: Da Vinci’s human anatomy drawing http://www.centopietrevenice.typepad.com/ca_centopietre_bed_and_br/2009/11/leonardothe-vitruvian-man-between-art-and-science-accademia-galleries.html Figure 2: S. Maria Della Carceri centralized plan by Giuliano Da Sanglio Figure 3: S. Sebastiano front view http://architecturetraveljournal.blogspot.ca/2008/02/san-sebastiano-mantua.html Figure 4: S. Sebastiano centralized plan http://www.studyblue.com/notes/note/n/14-italian-renaissance-ii-/deck/2633566 Figure 5: Leonardo Da Vinci’s drawing on centralized plan http://www.art.com/products/p12016104-sa-i1452778/leonardo-da-vinci-sketch-of-a-square-church-with-central-dome-and-minaret.htm Figure 6: Bramante’s St. Peter’s design http://mexichino-jr.blogspot.ca/2011/06/bramantes-st-peters-rome.html

Devloping Property Investment Strategy

Abstract This research proposal investigates the varying methods of choice when investing in direct or indirect property. Investment is the giving up of a capital sum now in exchange for the benefits to be received in the future, such as income flow and or capital gains. The results show a choice of investment opportunities that can be made by measuring risk and return and by balancing different types of asset classes. Using the different investment choices available a strategy plan can then be developed tailoring to the needs of the client. There are four main areas of research that should be considered by each individual when developing a property investment strategy; the investor’s objectives, how much the investor can afford to invest, the level of risk acceptable, and the rate of return desired. The motive however for all investors is the same, to increase wealth and secure their future. Contents Introduction3 Research questions3 Literature review4 Investment requirements/objectives4 Property as an Investment5 Property investment analysis9 Developing an Investment Strategy11 Research Design13 Significants13 Definitions13 Limitations14 References14 Introduction There are many different types of investments some of which include; stocks and shares, bonds and bills, property, trusts, syndicates, debentures, insurance policies and superannuation. The type and size of these property investments appeal to different investors from the small individual properties to the property trusts worth millions of dollars. Location can also play a role in subdividing the different categories even further such as an industrialist might limit their demand for factory space to a specific area, whereas the industrial property acquired by investment fund for its portfolio may not worry about the country or region of which it purchase its property from. Investment in property can be direct or indirect; can be acquired by way of auction, by tender, by private treaty or by take over bid (Enver 2002). Australian investors have forever been fascinated in real estate as it still remains the main class of investment for individuals and investment funds, however many people are still under the impression that an asset of land will offer secure and lasting returns. In fact the acquisition of land must require informed and justifiable decisions involving the comparison of alike assets including tenanted houses and units, syndicates, property trusts and funds. (Rowland 1997) The main area of study describes the planning required for investment in property. Investment returns and yields are explained with risk level outlined in the current market. Explanations in methods of investing in property and a plan of developing an investment strategy. Comparisons to the stock market transactions are quick and easy, compared with property transactions where time and money is needed to collect information on each property that is up for sale. Then an inspection and analysis of each property needs to take place to ensure all the facts and figures are interpreted and taken into account and the optimal choice is made. Research questions Success can never be assured when acquiring an asset, as there are many risks involved such as the unpredictability of the future market, opinion and outlooks. Given that property is only one of the opportunities for investment on the market and that different investments appeal to different investors, the comparison of asset with asset is essential, but the comparison of that asset against other forms of investment is also just as important. – To obtain the investment requirements and to explain property investment considerations through the measure of the amount of investment, return/yield, risk comparison – To compare property as an investment choice it is examined through risk, property classes and diversification. To analyse the property investments which are explained for the planning of investment strategy – To develop the needs and constraints of an investment strategy Literature review Investment requirements/objectives Investment objectives must reflect the needs of the investor indirectly suggest the appropriate type and duration of property investments and are crucial in the development of an investment stra tegy of any kind. Without them it would be impossible to make a rational decision on what type or class of property to invest, how to finance it, when the income is needed and an estimated holding period Rowland et al (1997) suggests that a person must determine their objectives by analysing their own personal circumstances, such as their income, spending habits and social needs, or by shared or individual goals. For private investors it involves income, age, family commitments and even personality will suggest how much they are willing to risk to obtain a higher return (Pyhrr et al: 1989, p665). Because buying and selling direct real property assets involves high transfer, entry and exit costs and long selling periods it is consequently seen as an illiquid investment. Whereas an investment in property funds or units or shares also known as indirect property allow quick an easy trades along with shorter holding periods and evidence of rapid and high gains in less than two years. However direct property investment is still seen as a long-term investment strategy with lower risk involved. The one common objective is to find the asset that offers protection against the decline in purchasing power caused by price inflation. Real Estate is commonly considered to be a good hedge against both expected and unexpected inflation in the long term. Properties for which the rent is closely linked to consumer prices are often required when the primary motive is to preserve capital. Residential rents, commercial rents and those retial rents based on shop turnover including those rents reviewed annually in line with the consumer price index are commonly thought to provide at least partial protection against the effects of inflation (Rowland, 1997). The assets that are currently owned by the investor will also play a role in the determinants of the investment objectives and process. A diversified portfolio is commonly desired by investors and often requires different expertise to assist in the acquisitions, which lowers risk that can be increased when investing in unfamiliar and foreign assets types and classes. Investment considerations The amount for investment Consideration and analysis of a selected group of possible investment opportunities cannot take place unless there is an estimate of how much the nvestor has or is available to invest. Investors must have access to equity, cash, borrowings or a combination of all to even begin considering investing. The funds available to an investor ultimately determine the purchase price. Return/yield The expected rate of return must match the investor’s objectives to determine the property class or type suitable. The measurement of return is calculated from known facts about t he sale of a property and is used as a unit of comparison when comparing direct and indirect property. A suitable cash flow for the investment and the perceived risk should be viewed in conjunction with the rate of return, with a higher risk property requiring a higher rate of return. Capitalisation rate is the most common unit of comparison between asset classes, and can indicate whether a property is overpriced or incorrectly valued in some way with market evidence. The cap rate can be calculated by dividing the net income by the price expressed as a decimal or initial yield on purchase. Investment risk Rowland et al suggests that the purpose of the investment and the current circumstances of the investor determined an attitude to the risk involved. An increase in the return would normally compensate for any risks that are taken, but the trade-off between risk and return is dependant upon how unwilling or hesitant each investor is to risk. Variables involved in the prediction of future property income and value, such as rental income, running costs, vacancies, capital expenditure, charges in capital value and interest rates national and international stability, are critical and must be estimated to determine the property return. There are some key considerations that an investor must look at when determining their investment risk level. – Each investors objectives influence the selection of properties. – Cap rates (initial yields) unless lease terms are known are limited use in comparing properties. – Property investment and financing is a question between debt and equity or a combination of both. – Testing the impact of the return of below expected rental growth and unexpected rental vacancies could assess the two major risks or property investment. Investors are prepared to take varying degrees of risk to enhance return, depending on their objectives and circumstances (Rowland 1997) Property as an Investment Real Estate or property is the main asset class for property investment and contains very desirable characteristics, which are also very attractive for the larger investors who are trying to balance their portfolios between risk and return: – A good hedge against infl ation – Good income and capital returns – Low risk investment Diversification benefits from low co-variability with shares and bonds. Investing in property is however considerably different to the other principle investment options of shares and bonds because property is a physical asset (Bird 1984), while shares and bonds are financial assets. The main differences between a physical and a financial asset relate to: Flexibility: Shares and bonds are readily and frequently traded in the market (i. e. stock exchange), whereas property is infrequently traded, has lengthy transaction times and has no central â€Å"market place†. Divisibility: Portions of shares or bonds can be traded. Obviously part of a building cannot generally be traded, although subdivision by strata titling can be an option. Liquidity: Shares and bonds can be viewed as short-term investments, where as property is seen as a medium-to-long term investment. The high costs associated with entry and exit to property significantly impact on liquidity. This makes dealing in shares or bonds for the small investors more attractive (Newell 2000) Listed property trusts are more related to the financial assets of shares and bonds rather than the physical asset of composite property (Joslin 2005). Property as an investment choice Real estate is often acquired over other investment assets for its low risk performance, however this ignores many characteristics that differentiate property from other investments such as shares and bonds (Rowland 1997). Property Direct Indirect Redeemable Unredeemable (Syndicates) Market Priced Appraisal Priced (Listed) (Unlisted) Direct property is the purest form of property investment (PIR 1998), but mostly known as where the owners name appears directly on the title papers. It ranges from the simplicity of a residential investment by a private individual, which is easily understood, to that of the sophisticated commercial property portfolio’s managed by institutions (Upton 1998). The level of economic activity is directly linked to property, where the roperty market improves so does the value of the property. As property values continue to rise the number of potential investors begins to fall because of the high costs of quality real estate. Even the institutional investors who use property to balance their risk within their asset portfolios are reducing direct property exposure to between only 10-15% of the value of the portfolio (PIR 1998). Indirect property investments are often defined as pooled investments and are covered by the Managed Invest ment Act 1998. This notion allows for the purchase of types and classes of properties that would not otherwise be available to the average investor. Listed trusts are usually unrestricted investment opportunities, particularly the large and more liquid trusts. The Australian Stock exchange is used by the investors to trade their units and the trusts managers use it to buy and sell properties into and out of the units. Bond price and the comparative risk for each individual property trust are what drives the prices of units on the stock exchange. This itself is governed by the property, the lease, the tenant, the manager, liquidity and tax allowances and the other factors not necessarily related to the property, which may cause unit prices to depart from the net asset value (PIR, 1998). The majority of unlisted trusts on offer are open ended. In 1991 the Government introduced changes governing unlisted trusts which has the effect of turning most into what is termed hybrid funds, wherein they offer a mix of direct property, property securities, and also cash reserves. This liquidity is necessary to pay out redemptions which are the units that can be redeemed against the trust after a year they are not traded on the stock exchange as are listed trusts. Trusts were able to overcome two of the main problems of direct property ownership Firstly costs; transaction costs are much lower and are bound up in the vehicle structure. All the unit-holders share these indirectly. Secondly; liquidity, investors are able to trade their unit holdings for cash, which is beneficial to both small and large investors. However this aspect is one that often has property assets trading more like the all-ordinary index rather than a property asset (PIR 1998) A property syndicate is an investment vehicle through which investors can have direct ownership of one or more properties legally (Upton 1998). The investment usually lasts between 5-12 years after which the investment properties are sold and the profit is returned to the investors. Syndicates have for a long time been a means by which smaller investors can enter the property market when they otherwise could not afford to do so (upton1998). Syndicates have not only provided this broader range of better quality property for the general or retail market but institutional investors such as superannuation funds have used syndicates as a means of obtaining better diversification for the funds available for direct property allocation (Upton 1998) Risk and property investment Rowland et al (1997) suggests that there are a number of important or special investment considerations, which are strategically important to investors developing an interest in property. The most significant factors are: Specific risk, each individual property is unique and will require a detailed appraisal of specific opportunity. -Costs of management and charges are upwards of 25% of gross income while specialised management is also required due to favourable tenant rights, compared to investment in other equities or bonds. These costs are high. -Market information is not as readily available, less reliable and is much more expensive than other index m arket information. -Financial considerations. A considerable degree of financial leverage is normally required, which comes under increasing pressure in economic and property cycles. This is why decisions made should be long term. -Quality premium property is often in short supply and any improvements made may become economically or functionally obsolete. Rowland states that in assessing long-term exposure to property that we must look at key factors such as; the tax position, the rival situation and risk profile, the liquidity required, the character of the liabilities Rowland (1997) writes. â€Å"The return from any property cannot be judged properly without also assessing the risk that the investment may not meet the objectives of ownership. Investors are most unlikely to take on additional risks unless there is sufficient increase in the expected return†. This point is the basis of all investment not only for property. The investor makes the choice between high risk and high return, or low risk and low return. These are again the principles of a balanced investment portfolio. Property classes and diversification Most investors would be well aware that an old saying â€Å"don’t put all your eggs in the one basket† which is a practical investment strategy. All of the sensible institutional investors balance their asset portfolios As stated earlier, McMahon (1998), property only plays a small part of between 10 to 15% of total asset portfolio composition, which normally consists of property, shares and bonds. However, property trusts and property syndicates will principally be composed entirely of property, but contain many sub classes or property types which in turn play an important part in the diversification strategy. It must be remembered, property can be direct and indirect, interstate, intrastate or international. Property investment analysis This chart shows the relationship between each asset class and the level of risk and return that can be expected. High Potential Return Low Expected Risk High Cash Fixed interest Property Growth Alternative investments Assets Shares Individual investors each have different and unique circumstances that need to be taken into considerations when making a decision between direct and indirect property investment. It is often argued, â€Å"property investment is the trade off between risk and return†. The investor can therefore have a very complicated or simple investment plan depending on their needs, however an investor seeking high returns should be prepared to take high risks, while a more prudent investor would settle for a more modest return. As there is no central market place for property trading except for listed property trusts in the stock exchange it means the majority of property investors and not equipped to undertake a through or sustained investment analysis. This means there is very limited means of information regarding the history of trading including returns for the unlisted trusts. The individual investor’s objectives or requirements will often determine the class of property for investment, which is frequently balanced by their experience or existing property portfolio impacting on the risk return strategies. Direct property Most direct property analysis is based on a direct comparison basis. Investors choosing income-producing properties balance the overall return/yield on the net annual income of the property and the annual capital growth of the asset. For example a property located in the country may give a greater annual return than one in the suburbs but its capital growth may be far less. As an investment strategy it may however amount to a positive investment, returning more than it costs to own. Direct comparison analysis requires a comparison of â€Å"like with like† therefore a property on a busy main road location is not comparable to a property with direct water frontage. Therefore the influences of Type, location and timing need to be considered with return or yield. Property information. Property information can be broken down in to three main categories, general overview, specific class/type and local information. General overview: when an investor is first looking to invest in property they want a general overview about the whole industry, what is hot and what’s not and where to find it. This information can be found on sites like; ABS, The Property Council of Australia, The Australian Property Institute, Access Economics, The Real Estate Institute etc. These sites will provide overall information on trends, the present state of the market and future predicted trends, which will assist the investor in choosing a location and class of property for investment. Specific class/type; large corporate real estate players like CB Richard Ellis, the real estate franchisers, PRD, researchers like Property Investment Research, Residex, RP data or investors AMP, Westfield, etc all are supported by extensive research departments and are able to provide very specific property performance information. The difficulty in using their services is that most are commercial businesses and seek payments for the services provided. Local Information; once the location and the class of property is chosen then there is no better research than getting to that location. When you have acquired/ researched, the latest most comprehensive information, then the analysis process is undertaken, as we have demonstrated earlier. Indirect property Indirect property because it trades as a financial asset provides a clear trial of transactional and corporate informational because of the rules associated to being listed on the stock exchange. The stock exchange also has some very strict â€Å"code of conduct† rules for companies or individuals as traders on the stock exchange, far more stringent than for regulated property traders/professionals. Each individual company or property trust listed on the stock exchange must meet reporting requirements, which allows advisers access to the most intimate â€Å"going concern† and stock market trading information. It is for this reason that the stock market investing is volatile, analysts have intimate corporate information, coupled with cyclical and world events puts daily pressure on stock values. Stocks are trading daily effectively valuing assets and performance on a daily basis. A company’s annual report’s can be analysed using mostly ratio analysis, undertaken as a matter of course before being recommended by investment house/advisors. Property trusts are also analysed and benchmarked prior to being recommended for investment. Because listed companies and property trusts operate in the economy, they are obviously affected by the overall state of the local and world economies. If both the local and world economies are doing well, then, other things being equal, you could expect listed companies and trusts to do well and stock prices increases. Developing an Investment Strategy The development of an investment strategy over a period of time allows the individual to assess what they can afford, their risk level and provides a clear outlook for the future. The main considerations would be how much you need to borrow and the level of gearing, the purchasing costs, ongoing costs and depreciation schedules and other tax issues. Hargitay and Yu (1991) et al suggests that the investment usually means the acquisition of assets by the investor with the view to satisfactory returns in the future. The capital committed to the acquisition of the assets and the expected returns are exposed to risk. Generally the greater the exposure to risk, the higher the return expected by the investor as a reward for bearing the risks involved. Most rational investors are risk-adverse. That is they prefer less risk to more risk and more return to less return. The formulation of an investment strategy or portfolio objective involves the listing and ranking of the principal needs the constraints for a particular investor. A list of the particular needs and constraints may include the following: Needs 1- Need for the security or capital invested. 2- Need for the security and stability of income. 3- Need for the readily marketable investment, i. e. liquidity 4- Need for tax exemptions or reliefs 5- Need for external professional management. Constraints 1- Limit on the size of immediate capital investment 2- Limit on the size of future investment. These future capital commitments are either regular or random. 3- Upper limit of risk bearing 4- Minimum acceptable rate of return – Term of investment 6- Statutory controls It is extremely important that the investor sees their particular position amongst the needs and constraints and is able to express their relative importance. Only then will the investor be able to articulate their portfolio objectives clearly. Hargitay and Yu (1991) et al also suggest that Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT) provides another more rational method to assemble a portfolio of risky securities. MPT provides the rational to select a combination of risk free assets that would meet the investors’ objectives. The first and fundamental problem facing the investor is to establish the investment goals and objectives. Only after the clear definition of the investment goals and objectives can the appropriate investment strategies and tactics be established. Conclusion The theme of this proposal is that a sound investment decision-making is based on a thorough return and risk analysis, which is the best strategy for maximising a person’s wealth. The institutional or corporate investor usually invests to make adequate provisions to cover future liabilities and hedge against the success or failure of their enterprise. Various institutional investors have distinctly different liabilities and tax status and therefore require different investment and portfolio structures to meet their respective commitments now and in the future. The first step in the establishment of investment objectives is the determination of the investors needs. The needs of an individual investor will be different from those of an institutional or corporate investor. However the primary motive for investment in all cases is profit. Usually individual investors’ provide for certain goals, retirement, educating their hildren, or simply hoping to increase their wealth through investment of individuals to money matters, and in particular to risks’, varies greatly. Some have the attitude that given their investment amount is only small that when investing in risky ventures the risk aspect is insignificant, so they accept the risks quite readily. Other investors would regard the loss of their small investment as a major disaster. Research Design The development of a property investment strategy data collected mainly from secondary sources. Define Purpose of the proposal Question Scholarly Journals Trade Journals Reference Books Sources Official Statistics Technical Reports Libraries and their search engines Research Literature Review articles Design Locate Col Evaluate Verify Construct and Incorporate data into the proposal The purpose of this proposal is to examine the way in which an individual decides what is the best investment option to undertake. Included is the discussion of issues on investment strategies; risk and return measures; limitations; investment decisions; investment objectives. A variety of industry sectors were analysed including direct and indirect property and what each of these involve. The graphs in this report were constructed using a vast array of publicly information obtained for the literature review and the secondary sources mentioned. Significants This proposal outlines the framework for determining a sound investment strategy and important steps and criteria a potential investor must undertake in order in maximise their financial wealth. Positive investment results are directly related to a well researched and thought about investment strategy. Definitions Asset allocation: â€Å"The proportion of your total capital you invest in the different asset classes. This will be largely determined by your risk profile† (ASX) Benchmark: â€Å"The yardstick that a fund manager compares the performance of their fund to, such as the All Ordinaries Index which may be used as a benchmark for Australian Shares† (ASX) Diversified Portfolio: â€Å"A portfolio that holds a variety of assets over more than one asset class or one market. This may include shares, property, or fixed interest† (ASX) Gearing: â€Å" Refers to the process of the increasing funds available for investment through borrowing. The ratio of debt finance to equity finance or as: The use of long-term debt in financing an entity. Gearing may be measured as EBIT/EBIIT – interest, Used to be known as Leverage† (ASX) Hedge: â€Å"A transaction, which reduces or offsets the risk of a current holding. † (ASX) Liquidity: â€Å" Being able to convert assets into cash easily, quickly and with little of no loss of capital. A liquid market is a market with enough participants to make buying and selling easy. ASX) Return on investment: â€Å"What you earn from your investments, including dividends, interest or other income and realised capital gains. Return is usually expressed as a percentage of the amount invested. † (ASX) Limitations This research proposal of developing a property investment is limited in that it does not take into consideration individual circumstances and further ana lysis of this should be done before investment begins. This proposal also does not take into the account other factors that affect the market, which can also then affect an investment. This proposal also ignores the adverse tax consequences associated in investment, which are critical in any investment strategy. References Australian Securities Exchange, 2008, (ASX) Bird, P. (1984), â€Å"Commodities as a hedge against inflation†, Applied Economics, Byrne P and Lee S, 2004, Different Risk Measures; Different portfolio compositions, Journal of property investment and finance. Enever, N. , Isaac, D. (2002), The Valuation of Property Investments, 6th ed. , Estates Gazette, London, Hargitay. S. E and Yu. S, 1991, Property Investment Decisions; a quantitative approach Joslin, A. (2005), â€Å"An investigation into the expression of uncertainty in property valuations†, Journal of Property Investment & Finance, Vol. 23 McMahon, Walter W. (1998) â€Å"Conceptual Framework for the Analysis of the Social Benefits of Lifelong Learning†, Education Economics, Newell G, Kottegoda P and Acheampong P, 2000, Using style analysis to assess direct property performance, Sixth Rim Real Estate Society, Sydney Newell G, Acheampong P, Kishore and Padan M 2000, Diversification issues in property securities funds, Sixth Pacific Rim Real Estate Society, Sydney Property Investment Research, PIR 1998, Melbourne Pyhrr. S. A and Cooper. R. J 1989, Real Estate Investment; Strategy, Analysis, Decisions, New York: Wiley Rowland. P. J 1997, Property Investments & their financing, 2nd edition, LBC (Thomson) Upton D, 1998 flirting with debt, Property Australia ———————– Define Question Secondary sources Collect, Review & analyse data Research report