Equal Rights

A Hunger Artist by Kafka Essay example - 505 Words

A Hunger Artist by Kafka A Man of Art and Spirituality In Kafkas A Hunger Artist, art is not used in its conventional context. Kafka illustrates the interdependency of the audience and the hunger artist, and especially his need for attention. It is through the audience that the hunger artist is fulfilled, but because he cannot communicate the sincerity of his performance he is always left dissatisfied. The definition of artist according to The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language is Any person who performs his work as if it were an art. This is a perfect example of the hunger artist as he approaches his work with passion and devotion. He takes pride in his work and is disappointed by the limitations put†¦show more content†¦The Hunger Artists primary interest was in the recognition from the crowd, an achievement never completely fulfilled because of the crowds inability to understand the passion he had in his work. The audiences fascination with the Hunger artists fasting is what the artist lived for. In the beginning of the story the hunger artists desire for attention is illustrated when the narrator said much more to his taste were the watchers who sat close up to the bars #8230; He was quite happy at the prospect of spending a sleepless night with such watchers.(299) Even the guards who were appointed to watch over him were enough to quench the artists thirst for attention. When the Hunger Artist was no longer a source of entertainment a circus hired him as a minor attraction. There the story says, When the public came thronging out in the intervals to see the animals, they could hardly avoid passing the hunger artists cage and stopping there for a moment; #8230; And that was the reason why the hunger artist, who had of course been looking forward to these visiting hours as the main achievement of his life, began instead to shrink from them.(303) At the end I believe it was the lack of attention that caused him to die for it was the way the world was cheating him of his reward(304) This meant the artist was never satisfied with the amount of attention he had received and he wanted more. And the artists audience over time had lost interest in his art, andShow MoreRelatedFranz Kafka as a Hunger Artist2806 Words   |  12 Pageswhich stands out is his story A Hunger Artist. In this story Kafka speaks through the hunger artist of the alienation and isolation he feels in his own body, as well as the emptiness he feels as a result of the disconnected relationship he and his father share. Ironically this emptiness manifests itself quite literally at the end of Kafka’s life, when he dies as a result of tuberculosis of the larynx, which causes him to literally starve to death, just as the hunger artist in the story. It was said aboutRead MoreEssay about Analysis of The Hunger Artist by Kafka1688 Words   |  7 PagesAnalysi s of The Hunger Artist by Kafka Hunger is a term that is often defined as the physical feeling for the need to eat. However, the Hunger Artist in Kafkas A Hunger Artist places a different, more complex meaning to this word, making the Hunger Artists name rather ironic. The hunger of the Hunger Artist is not for food. As described at the end of the essay, the Hunger Artist states that he was in fact never hungry, he just never found anything that he liked. So then, what does thisRead MoreFranz Kafka s A Hunger Artist And The Metamorphosis1155 Words   |  5 Pageswhole life and leaving this world as a nobody. The writings of Franz Kafka not only spoke of the absurdity of life, but also about who he was. They told about what type of human being he was, and how he was feeling. You can see this in both of his well known short stories, A Hunger Artist and The Metamorphosis. I believe that there is a personal link between author and character and that it can be found in most of his works. Franz Kafka was born on July 3, 1883, in Prague. The writer grew up in a middle-classRead MoreEssay on Artist Pain Exposed in Kafkas A Hunger Artist794 Words   |  4 PagesArtist Pain Exposed in Kafkas A Hunger Artist      Ã‚  Ã‚   In A Hunger Artist, Kafka comments on the life of the modern artist through the life of a hunger artist. Kafka comments that the modern artist is always dissatisfied with his or her art. The modern artist also is trapped in a harsh and capricious world, in which the artist struggles to maintain his or her audience by pushing the extreme, but are cheated because they do not receive his or her recognition. Finally, in A Hunger Artist KafkaRead MoreFranz Kafka an Artis Hungry for Pride867 Words   |  3 PagesIn Franz Kafka’s short story, â€Å"A Hunger Artist†, Kafka introduces an eccentric man known as the Hunger Artist. The Hunger Artist has committed his entire life to the art of fasting, allowing himself to be caged and displayed to the public as if he were a painting (Kafka 198). Despite all the emotional turmoil he endures, he takes a great amount of pride in fasting and believes that he can fast for extremely elongated periods (Kafka 200). Unfortunate ly, his pride not only causes internal conflictsRead MoreThe Metamorphosis, A Hunger Artist, And The Trial1371 Words   |  6 Pagesnot to talk to strangers or play with fire. Unfortunately, it is difficult to explain the feelings of pain than it is of joy. Franz Kafka explores these feelings. Franz Kafka journeys and displays the complicated genre of alienation and psychological tribulation of mankind in his stories, The Metamorphosis, A Hunger Artist, and The Trial. On July 3, 1883, Franz Kafka was born to a mother who was oblivious to his ambitions and to a father who held the family with vises. In the city of Prague, whereRead MoreThe Hunger, By Kafka And Gabriel956 Words   |  4 PagesIn the short stories written by Kafka and Gabriel readers witness to characters strongly familiar to suffering and accustomed to being misunderstood and being isolated, furthermore both authors displays the cruelty of mankind, â€Å"pleasure-seekers† who get a rush out of seeing characters suffer for their own enjoyment. In Kafka’s short story his character the hunger artist represents a man who’s misunderstood by society for his strong desire to fast, the artist believes he’s trying to find spiritualRead MoreNo Chance Against Society Essay703 Words   |  3 Pagesthese obstacles spring from the pressures of the popular society. Within the short story, A Hunger Artist, by Franz Kafka, the author proves and disproves a point best stated by Robin George Collinwood, that; Perfect freedom is reserved for the man who lives by his own work and in that work, does what he wants to do. The protagonist, within this short story, freely chooses his career path as a hunger artist, but as the story continues, the audience begins to see that it is not as much an admiredRead More‘The Metamorphosis’ and ‘A Hunger Artist’980 Words   |  4 PagesThere are many parallels and differences between Franz Kafka’s â€Å"The Metamorphosis† and A Hunger Artist. Kafka portrays these differences and similarities very effectively through his utilization of elements such as transformation, dehumanization, and dedication to work. Through his works, Kafka communicates with the reader in such a way that almost provokes and challenges one’s imagination and creativity. Kafka is known for his highly symbolic and oblique style of writing. It is no surprise thatRead MoreGregor Is A Type Of Creature1688 Words   |  7 PagesGregor’s new transformation and had no patience. After rejecting Gregor’s useless being his father demonstrates impatience through physical action, he â€Å"was throwing one apple after another,† (493) and eventually, â€Å"[one] penetrated into Gregor’s back. Kafka parallels this universal image of a human trying to get rid of a pest, with that of Gregor’s father trying to get rid of him, and it helps give the reader the perspective of the father as well as Gregor’s by simply describing his attempt to flee and

Impact of the Work Environment Employee Performance

Question: Discuss about the Impact of the Work Environment for Employee Performance. Answer: Research Questions: What are the impacts of positive work environment in employee performance? What is the work environment condition in the organization? What are the processes that can be included to improve employee performances? Research Objectives: To analyze the impacts of work environment in improved employee performance. To determine the condition of the work environment in the corporation. To find the processes that will help in improving performance of the employees in an organization. Variables: There are two variables in the research question. One is dependent variable and anther is independent variable. In this scenario, working environment is independent variable whether employee performance will be considered as dependent variable. Both these variables will be measured in the research to analyze the data in the following research. The research will describe about different methods of measurement of the dependent and independent variables. The research methodology used for conducting the data analysis will be both qualitative and quantitative methods of analysis (Pedhazur Schmelkin, 2013). Quantitative method of analysis consists of statistical methods of analysis. There are advantages and disadvantages of using quantitative research methodology as it includes empirical research investigation of the visible data through computational, mathematical and statistical techniques of measurement. The researchers with the help of calculations and statistics will analyze numerical data. Using this method of analysis, it is believed that the numerical expressions will help the researcher in gathering a unbiased result (Ary et al., 2013). References Ary, D., Jacobs, L. C., Sorensen, C. K., Walker, D. (2013).Introduction to research in education. Cengage Learning. Pedhazur, E. J., Schmelkin, L. P. (2013).Measurement, design, and analysis: An integrated approach. Psychology Press.

Globalization Affect Human Rights free essay sample

Therefore, whereas most believe that globalisation will help improve both the economy and living standards, the others are aware of its negative effects on human rights which have become a controversial issue targeted by the media. Although globalisation plays a significant role in economic growth, its effects can cause a variety of serious concerns about individual rights. It will be argued in this essay that not only because of its drawbacks including poor working conditions and low wages, but also because of child labour issues, the ethical issues related to globalization should be considered. This essay will first indicate benefits of globalization in reducing poverty, improving the quality of life and workplace standards. Secondly, the arguments against globalization due to serious effects on individual rights will be demonstrated. Finally, it will discuss some solutions and evaluate the feasibility of the implementation of these solutions. Definitions Globalization is defined in many different ways. However, all of them imply that globalization is a process which has been bringing the world closer through the exchange of technology, economy, polity and culture across national frontiers that lead to greater interdependence between countries with free transfer of goods, services, capital, labor and knowledge (Awuah Amal, 2011). In other words, globalization may be described as an elimination of barriers of time and distance to increase the connectivity among countries of the world (Healey, 2008). Child labour can be defined as any kind of harmful work that a young child has to do with low pay levels due to psychological, social, and materialistic pressure upon them including responsibility for their family’s survival and themselves (Ahmad, et al. , 2011). This concentrates mainly in the developing countries where there are numerous low-income families with parents who without educational qualifications or disability may not earn enough money to feed themselves and their children. As a result of this, these children have to go to work to sustain life. Ethics can be defined as a system of moral principles that affects people’s decisions as to what is good for individuals and society, and concerned with responsibility and human rights (Healey, 1995). A morally right action can produce a good outcome and contrasts with a wrong action which may lead to a serious consequence. Thereby, in order to evaluate the rightness and wrongness of actions, it is possibly based on moral theories. The benefits of globalization on economy and society It is claimed that globalization has positive influences on the economy and society. Firstly, it can lead to improvement in the standard of living and diminishing poverty rates, compared with globalization when international trade had not taken place, exchange trading between countries was limited due to tariff barriers leading to hampering the transfer of commodities across borders. Therefore, it was possible only to be consumed domestic goods instead of diverse imported goods. However, as a result of globalization, advancement of global economy and expansion foreign direct investment lead to local economic development with the diversification of commodities and the improvement in efficiency and productivity (Healey A, 2008). McNichol, (cited in Healey A, 2008) states that the economic gains of globalization led to the acceleration of the standard of living and the decline in poverty. According to the World Bank, from 1993 to 1998, poverty rate has reduced by 14 percent in developing countries, similar to about 107 million people. This may result from receiving foreign investment that plays an important role in local economy growth. For example, the proportion of population living in poverty in India decreased by half in the two decades, from the 1970s to 1990s, while the number of Chinese in poverty declined by approximately 210 million during twenty-one years, from 1978 to 1999 (Healey 2008). In other words, the standard of living is improving due to the benefits of international economic activities. Moreover, the quality of life of citizens in these countries is possibly improved with developing health care services and clean water, leading to increasing the average life expectancy. It is possible to anticipate that the number of citizens living for at least sixty years will account for about 85 percent of the world’s population (Healey, 2008). This is due to the effects of globalization on medicine that have led to an increase of international medical exchange. As a result, solutions for disease treatment and surgery had been increasing remarkably that may save many people from death. Thus, life expectancy is lengthened. In other words, globalization may provide better living conditions and double the average life expectancy of 100 years ago (Healey, 2008). Furthermore, increasing global income and reducing investment barriers that globalization brings attract foreign direct investment. As a result of this, many factories have been opened up in developing countries with the average wage levels higher compare with those in local companies. In addition, these have adequate conditions for local employees developing their individual capacity including modern equipment, well-paying, high security and equal competition (Healey, 2008). Nike is an example of foreign direct investment. With developing distribution networks for high-quality shoes worldwide, Nike has opened up many factories in developing countries, especially South-East Asia. This has provided job opportunities for local people, leading to a decrease of unemployment rates and an advancement of local economies (Richard Alvin, 2001). Dangers of globalization to human rights Despite the many benefits of globalization, its negative impacts should not be forgotten because of its serious threats on human rights. With the xpansion of trade, market, foreign investment, in order to attract investors and competing with other countries, governments not only offer the most accordant and cheapest labor, but also reduce taxes. In addition, governments primarily concentrate on developing infrastructure while standards of the environment, health and safety have been ignored. Moreover, in order to advance infrastructure, a budget deficit may occur when government exp enditure is greater than tax collections. Therefore, governments must borrow money to fund their deficit spending. As a result, local community has to be responsibility for most costs including production, advancing society and protecting environment. Chunakara (2000) claims that liberalization may lead to an increase in inequality and directly affect the poor in escaping from poverty. It is possible that they will forever live in poverty and inequality, unless governments have relevant policies due to the fact that they have to work in hazardous conditions with low income. In other words, poor may have to face violation of human rights including low-wages, poor working conditions and child labor. With the liberalization of global trade, developing countries have found foreign investment for development though cheap labor (Chunakara, 2000). Many factories have been opened up in rural areas or suburbs of cities and attracted a lot of local workers. However, these employees had been not paid even the minimum daily wage. For example, in the early 1990s, in Indonesia, some shoes factories of Nike only paid workers an extreme low-wage level, approximately US$1, only covered 70% of the necessary need that one person must pay (Richard et al. , 2003). This level was not adequate to worker’s life, thus, it led to a wave of criticism against Nike and its managers owing to the violation of human rights. In other words, to a certain extent, globalization may lead to inequality for workers because their rights are ignored. Another problem caused by globalization is poor working conditions. In order to maximize profit, factories neglect safety standards that have serious influences on worker health. Despite working in polluted environments, they lack of equipment needed for protection. For example, in 1997, the rate of toxic chemicals exceeded allowed levels from 6 to 177 times in sections of Nike’s factory in Vietnam. This chemical may cause serious effects to nervous system, skin and eyes (Richard et al. , 2003). If workers injured grievously, they could have consequences for many generations. This was a dangerous issue concerning with ethics, leading to an increase in criticism against Nike. This is a clear example of globalization having substantially contributed to violence of human rights. Problems of globalization should be considered and found solutions for them, but, the most serious issue of child labor must be eliminated immediately. This is due to the fact that children are the future of the world, their development have impacts on many generations. Therefore, this issue has created a wave of controversy throughout the world. Siddiqi and Patrinos (1995) point out that Asia and Africa have the highest rates of working children, accounting for approximately 90 percent of total child workers, led by India with 44 million child workers. It is clear that children mainly concentrate in rural regions where majority families are living in poverty. They have to work full time in hazardous conditions and low income instead of going to school. Therefore, it is necessary to find underlying causes of this issue. Firstly, developing countries only concentrate on advancing infrastructure in steady of school, leading to the low qualification of the education. Therefore, the parents believe that it is a waste of time for their children going to school while they may obtain experience in working and contribute to family income. Weiner (in Siddigi 1995) state that the proportion of illiterate Indians over 15 years old accounted for approximately 59 percent. This is a worth alarming rate (Siddiqi el al, 1995). Furthermore, in order to attract foreign investment, government may ignore a variety of illegal sectors. In other words, there is a lack of enforcement of policies among own nations. For example, in Costa Rica, the lowest limited age for working is lower than that for education, leading to a result that children can go to work before finished educational program (Siddiqi el al, 1995). Therefore, it is necessary to have a modification of policies for controlling child labor. In conclusion, children work for some reasons, but, its underline cause is effects of globalization on developing countries. Solutions for problems of globalization Human rights are inherent to human being. Therefore, protection from violence, exploitation and abuse is essential. Governments need to have relevant policies to both develop economy and ensure rights for citizens. At the same time, it is necessary to find methods which may control these policies following the principles in order to limit human rights violence. In addition, each problem must have independent solutions. For example, for low wage issue, governments should have the laws of minimum wages because it is unlikely to rely on low wages to advance economy. If wage levels were enhanced, workers would have an increase in the quality of life. In other words, they increase the capability to pay fees, taxes and loans while still ensure education and health care for their children. In 1999, in Indonesia, under pressure from public, government enhanced minimum wages to US$26. As a result, this led to a rise in wages for employees in some companies. For instance, about US$33 is average wages for labors working in Nike (Rechard et al, 2003). This is not only being the optimal solution for eliminating poverty, but also motivating labors at work. Another problem is poor working conditions which must be close control of standards to protect rights of workers. All of factories need to sign pledges of safety and health conditions. For example, Nike has obligated its suppliers signing a Code of Conduct. This means that they have to secure toxic chemical concentrations in acceptable standards and provide the protective equipment for labors. This is essential conditions and workers have rights to get it. Child labor is a serious issue which is difficult to solve by few solutions because there are many reasons which cause this problem. Therefore, in order to eliminate it, governments have to combine many different ways. Firstly, there have the reasonable laws of the minimum age for working and that for school to keep children in school (Gary, 1997). Moreover, governments need to invest in quality education to encourage parents take their children into education. Gary (1997) states that the method, which annual pay for poor parents if they remain their children in school until 14 years old is being under the debate in some nations in Latin America. This may lead to a decrease of child labor, but, it is only temporary solution. For some children having ill parents, they are compulsory to work to survive, so, having special policies for this situation is under the necessity of doing of government. Factories should have training course for child worker to increase skills and knowledge. These are useful for their own job both in present and in future (Rechard, 2003). Conclusion Taken together, this invites the conclusion that globalization has both its winners and losers. With the expansion of trade, market, foreign investment, developing countries may see the gaps among themselves widen.

Relationship Between the Brand Equity and the Sales of Bottled Water Industry free essay sample

This research basically pertains to find out the relationship between the brand equity and the sales of the product. The questionnaire was constructed and the pilot study using 15 respondents from ICBS was carried out to ensure that there were no confusions or ambiguities in the questionnaire. All ambiguities or confusions found were removed before administering the final questionnaire. The questionnaires were divided into two parts. On first of June the questionnaires were administered among half of the sample. The other half of the questionnaires among the remaining samples on 1st July 2007. As our research was basically descriptive in nature, we then quantified the values we were given in the questionnaire results and used them to graph the responses of the elements of the research. The results were then analyzed. Introduction The broad area of the research is related to the currently existing situation in the bottled water industry. As the bottle water industry is flourishing in Pakistan and new competitors are entering the market but still Pure Life has managed to maintain the considerable amount of market share due to its brand equity. We will write a custom essay sample on Relationship Between the Brand Equity and the Sales of Bottled Water Industry or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The concept of brand is integral to the success of any given product. Brand equity necessarily affects the performance of a product. The concept of brand equity can have a marked effect on the longevity of a products performance. Brand equity is defined as the bundle of intrinsic features/attributes delivered by a branded product or service. It is measured as the price differential someone is willing to pay for a particular branded product or service over an identical product or service that is unbranded. Alternatively, this definition can be re-crafted to state that brand equity is the difference in utility between two products or services that are perceived to deliver an identical set of tangible benefits at the same price. Consumers see a particular brand name as a contract. A brands name may reduce consumers sense of uncertainty, allowing them to purchase, uncertainty reduction, or trust, thus improving their sense of value. Background Nestle have taken a strong interest in Pakistan at a time when the country’s food, drink and retail industries in general are all actually struggling to attract large-scale multinational investments of this nature. Although these companies all have more profitable product categories, which are their primary concerns in more developed markets, in Pakistan a key element of their business strategy at the present time is a strong presence in the increasingly competitive bottled water industry. Should economic growth continue, the introduction of their added-value, more premium products, will simply prove a bonus at a later date? Such investment cannot help but drive bottled water sales in Pakistan, while inflows from multinationals also provide much needed jobs and contribute to essential infrastructural developments in the country. However, there is a huge flipside to these advantages the creation of a population, which can barely afford to spend beyond necessity, reliant on a product that is still considered a luxury item in some of the worlds most developed economies. Pakistan’s response to this dilemma affects not just its population, but its likelihood of establishing itself as a destination for much sought after food, drink and retail industry investment in the future. Literature Review Brand equity is the value built-up in a brand. It is measured based on how much a customer is aware of the brand. The value of a companys brand equity can be calculated by comparing the expected future revenue from the branded product with the expected future revenue from an equivalent non-branded product. This calculation is at best an approximation. This value can comprise both tangible, functional attributes (e. g. TWICE the cleaning power or HALF the fat) and intangible, emotional attributes (e. g. the brand for people with style and good taste). It can be positive or negative. Positive brand equity is created by effective promotion and consistently meeting or exceeding customer thoughts. Negative brand equity is usually the result of bad management. In the early 2000s, the Ford Motor Company made a strategic decision to brand all new or redesigned cars with names starting with F. This aligned with the previous tradition of naming all sport utility vehicles since the Ford Explorer with the letter E. The Toronto Star quoted an analyst who warned that changing the name of the well known Windstar to the Freestar would cause confusion and discard brand equity built up, while a marketing manager believed that a name change would highlight the new redesign. The aging Taurus, which became one of the most significant cars in American auto history, would be abandoned in favor of three entirely new names, all starting with F, the Five Hundred, Freestar and Fusion. By 2007, the Freestar was discontinued without a replacement, and Ford announced record losses. In a surprise announcement, the discarded Taurus nameplate would be re-used on an improved Five Hundred which had disappointing sales and whose nameplate was recognized by less than half of most people, but an overwhelming majority was familiar with the Taurus. Brand Equity and Market Share Very often only the market share of a brand is looked at as a means of determining how successful the brand is. Although market share is of importance in assessing the performance of a brand, its relationship with brand equity is of great significance, as this relationship can be an indication of the potential success of a brand, or alternatively can direct strategy on how to attain such success. The following diagram illustrates the relationship between brand equity and market share: Brand equity and market share are not always proportionate. As can be seen from the diagram, the ideal place for a brand to be situated is in the top-right quadrant. This shows that the brand is successful in that it has a strong brand equity and high market share. However, this may not always be the case. It is possible that a brand may have high brand equity, but may not have an accordingly high market share (top-left quadrant). In order to improve the market share of a brand in cases such as this, regard must then be had to in-store issues such as display, shelf space, distribution etc. Thus, understanding brand equity plays an important role in that it gives an indication of how a brands performance can be improved. Where there is low brand equity and a strong market share (such as the bottom right-hand quadrant), the situation is extremely tenuous. Although the picture may look good owing to the strong market share, the reality is that, with weak brand equity, the product is vulnerable to competitor or other in-market activity. Therefore, measuring only the strong market share does not give the complete picture brand equity must also be considered, and by improving this, the full potential of the brand can be secured. What is Brand Equity? In layman terms brand equity is the value that a consumer attaches to a certain brand. Although brand equity can be measured tangibly by way of certain indicators, a large component of the concept is intangible, i. e. what perceptions and associations people have of a certain brand, and the familiarity of those brands in the mind of the consumer. The diagram below illustrates how brand equity is made up: From the diagram, it is evident that the sources that drive brand equity (brand awareness, consideration and the factors associated with it) will lead to certain outcomes. And the more powerful the sources are, the more significant these outcomes will be. Thus, a strong brand loyalty and ability to command a price premium will lead to resilience against any negative short-term market factors. And this is why brand equity is essential in assessing the performance of a brand: it has the potential to secure the success of the brand against many variable in-market factors. Further, the importance of brand equity is that, by understanding how brand equity drives market share, it is then possible to make use of this knowledge in order to grow the market share of a brand. Understanding the link between brand equity and market share will thus assist marketers in which strategies are required to grow market share. The Benefits of Brand Equity: What are the benefits of strong brand equity? Well, strong brand equity leads to, inter alia, strong market share, customer loyalty, more favorable response to price increases, less vulnerability to competitor activity, brand extension opportunities, and communication messages which reach the consumer. In attaining these benefits, strong brand equity will ensure that a product is of an enduring nature. Ultimately, strong brand equity will improve profitability. To build a winning brand, therefore, is to understand the relationship between brand equity and market share, and to leverage both to their full potential. In so doing, a brand will be successful and sustainable in the long term. It must be kept in mind that increasing market share does not increase brand equity, whereas increasing brand equity invariably leads to increased market share. Another benefit of brand equity is that it’s an asset which can be sold or leased. The importance of brand equity to customer loyalty: Keller (1998) argues that brand equity is unique from customer loyalty, and can be defined as: †¦ the differential effect that brand knowledge has on consumer response to the marketing of that brand. He argues that a brand possesses positive customer-based brand equity when customers react more favorably to a (brand identified) product and the way that it is marketed as compared to when it is not. Brands can also possess negative customer-based brand equity, expressed when consumers react less favorably to the marketing activities associated with a brand, as compared to an unnamed or fictitious named version of the product. Keller (1998) further states that one of the characteristics of brands possessing strong brand equity is stronger brand loyalty. This position appears consistent wit that of Aaker (1991) who argued that brand loyalty could be considered both a dimension and an outcome of brand equity. Problem Statement The problem statement of the research is to find out that â€Å"Are pure life sales greater than competitors due to brand equity of Nestle? † Nestle pure life was launched in Pakistan in 1998. The brand now holds a solid position as number 1 in Pakistan by having more than 50 per cent of the countrys small bottled-water market of 33 million liters (35 million quarts) a year. Pure Life is everywhere at roadside stalls, gas stations and rest stops. Its hawked at street corners in traffic-clogged Lahore. Middle-class shoppers buy it by the case in supermarkets. On the remote mountain road leading from Islamabad to the hill town of Murree, Pure Life billboards urge drivers to drive only Nestle Pure Life. At small stores along the way, a flurry of banners proclaim: Pure Safety, Pure Trust. The ideal water. From Nestle with love. As the purchase of the bottled water involves low involvement of consumers therefore factors such as price, packaging and taste are not as important as compared to the brand image of the product. Therefore, the research is conducted to find out whether the equity of a brand affects the sales of the product or not Limitations, Delimitations and Assumptions The concept of brand equity is important to every brand therefore it can be applied to every product in the Pakistani market. For the purpose of simplicity, researchers chose water bottled industry of Pakistan. In this industry Nestle Pure Life was chosen due to the fact that as purchase of bottled water involves low involvement of consumer so the only thing that matters for the consumer is the brand name. Furthermore another reason for choosing Nestle Pure life was that the researchers assumed that the sales of Nestle Pure life were greater than competitors due to brand equity of Nestle. There was another limitation that the researchers would only focus on a particular age group of people i. . people between 20-25 yrs of age. Theoretical Framework In the research the independent variable is brand equity, the dependent variable is sales, whereas there are three intervening variables identified which affect the relationship of independent variable and the dependent variable which are, production capacity, distribution and availability. There is a positive relationship between the independent variable and the dependent variable because it’s assumed that the brand equity causes an increase in the sales of a product which is Nestle Pure Life. Coke and Pepsi entered the bottled water industry as their production capacity was 18000 crates but after production of sodas their production plant was idle so they decide to jump in the bottled water. industry. They had the advantage that the industry is developing and consumers are becoming conscious of the importance of pure drinkable water. And their setup was already developed. Their distribution is extensive and they can capture all the consumers who buy their sodas. There is a positive relationship between sales and the intervening variables that are production capacity, distribution and availability. Nestle has an advantage over the other bottled water competitors due to the fact that they are the market leaders and their production and distribution is much more then the other competitors and their production plant and capacity is only used for the bottled water only. Their availability is much more extensive because nestle food products are distributed all over the country and hence they utilize their already developed distribution setup. Hypothesis The hypothesis that the researchers intended to test was the following: â€Å"Pure life sales are greater than competitors due to brand equity of Nestle† Nature of study The type of research is basic or pure because the study aimed to find out the affect of brand equity on sales of Nestle Pure Life and literature review was done to find out the relationship between brand equity and sales and primary study was also conducted by distributing questionnaires to MBA students of various universities. The relationship between the brand equity and sales is also generalizable. No matter what the product is there is always the positive relationship between them. Purpose of Study The purpose of the study is descriptive. The study will help in better understanding of the relationship of brand equity of a product and its sales. It will also help the organizations to make decisions related to brand awareness, brand loyalty and brand preference that will affect the brand equity of a product. It will also help other researchers to work on the similar concept. Throughout the study the researcher interference was minimal as there was no control of researcher on the independent variable which was brand equity. The type of investigation was correlation as the study aimed at finding the relationship between the independent variable and dependent variable. It was a field study done in non contrived settings. Methodology Data Collection The initial data for research was obtained through secondary sources of information, which included internet articles, journals and books. It would not be enough to substantiate the hypothesis; therefore, the data collection technique of questionnaire survey shall be used. Population Our target population consists of business schools students in the age group of 20-25 years using Nestle Pure Life. Sample â€Å"Proportionate stratified random sampling technique† was used for the sample. UniversitiesNumber of Elements Proportionate sampling NCBA250250 * 32% = 80 LSE350350 * 37% = 130 GCU200200 * 25% = 50 Sample Size Out of the total of 800 students the size of the population, the sample was 80 students of National College of Business Administration, 130 Students of Lahore Scholl of Economics and 50 students of Government College University Lahore. The sample sizes were determined using table given by Uma Sekeran, using 90% confidence interval and standard error of 9. 5. Instruments Questionnaires were used as a tool to gather the primary data for the research. The questionnaire consisted of 7 questions and was administered among NCBA, LSE and GCU students. The questionnaire used in this study was a non-standardized instrument constructed solely for the purpose of this study. Copy of the questionnaire is attached in Appendix I in the report. Scale Dichotomous scale was used for five questions. YesNo Category scale was also used. Multiple items were given to elicit a single response from the respondent. From ranking scale forced choice scale was used which enabled the respondents to rank the brands of water bottles according to their preferences. Pilot Study A pilot study using 15 respondents from ICBS was done to ensure that there were no confusions or ambiguities in the questionnaire. All ambiguities or confusions found were removed before administering the final questionnaire. Reliability The reliability of the instruments was ensured through split- half reliability method. The instrument of the study which was questionnaires was divided into two halves. On first of June the questionnaires were administered among 40 NCBA students, 75 LSE students and 25 GCU students. The other half of the questionnaires among the same number of students on 1st July 2007. The reliability test will reflect the correlation between the two halves of the questionnaires. Validity The validity of our instrument was checked by the content and construct validity test. Results Question 1 Do you buy bottled water? Our population included only those elements who are users or buyers of the bottled water. So as the sample is the replica of the population then it can be said that the sample contained all the users or buyers of the bottled water. Question 2 Rank the following brands of water bottles according to your preference. As this question asked to rank the brands in order of preference it helped us to find out what brand people prefer. The results showed that 45% or 117 consumers prefer Nestle Pure life. Aside from that the other preference were 20% or 52 prefer Aqua Fina , 15% or 39 prefer kinley, 13% or 34 prefer Sufi and the least was aqua safe which is 7% or 18. It showed that the highest demand or preference is of Nestle Pure life. The name Nestle Pure Life was used because it is known as Nestle or Nestle Pure Life among people. Question 3 What are the reasons of your preference? This question asks about why the brand is preferred? And what is the reason for there preference? The results showed that 37% or 96 for international brand, 21% or 55 marked companied credibility, 18% or 47 went for quality seal, 11% or 29 marked packaging, 9% or 23 for price and 4% or 10 for certification. By these results we concluded that most people don’t know about quality seal and certification and some brand don’t have them so it wasn’t marked. One aspect was that those who marked nestle as their preferred brand marked international brand and company’s credibility as their reason for preference. Price and packaging was not such a major factor in their reason for the preference. It was only marked by consumers who use aqua safe and Sufi. Question 4 Do you recall any advertisement of your preferred brand? The results showed that 83% or 216 answered yes and 17% or 44 answered no. It showed that one reason of preference was the advertisement showed. Research shows that it has a major impact on people as it repetitive. It leaves the impression and the companies or brands qualities and messages in peoples mind. They do remember and recall it when buying a product. Question 5 How long have you been using your preferred brand? The results showed that most of the people have been using the brand for more than a year 45% or 117. 37% or 96 were using it for a year, 12% or 31 for 6 months and 6% or 16 for a month. The results also showed that most of the people have been using Nestle and Aqua Fina and Sufi and Aqua safe had a few consumers as they have not been using it for so long. Question 6 In your opinion are you brand loyal to your preferred brand? The results showed that 87% or 226 were brand loyal and 13% or 34 were not. The result showed that students are not brand loyal. But it has been observed that when people ask for drinking water they ask for nestle water. We also observed this at super stores that while passing by the water bottle shelves they pick Nestle. This behavior is same as schools and colleges. Question 7 What if your preferred brand is involved in an unethical business or fraud, will you still buy it? The results for this were that 64% or 166 answered as Yes and 36% or 94 answered as No. It showed that if a companied credibility is in doubt people back of from it. It does show a sense of rightness in people and also that for a brand to be successful it’s important that the company should be credible. As brand equity is the goodwill of the company and it’s important for a company to succeed and be reputable. Is also important because now, with media awareness people are becoming more conscious to these factors, so, the companies have to be conscious of these factors. Question 8 Would you prefer a brand which is popular in your social circle? The results of this question were that 55% or 143 answered as Yes and 45% or 117 answered as No. t helped to show that is the preference dependent on the social behaviors. But the result showed that it has a 10 % difference so it is slightly significance. For some people it who look for acceptance from their circle but it’s not that important as it low involvement purchase and it related to thirst which know no boundaries. But for some its status symbol to use bottled water as some peop le don’t care as long as its water. Discussion If the hypothesis is selected it would mean that the brand equity and brand image is important for the customers. They do take it into consideration while buying as its imprinted in their minds. Advertisement helps the customers to see the attributes of the company and the product . It keeps the brand equity in the minds of the customers. If the hypothesis is not substantiated by the questioner’s results, it would mean that some other factors are involved in the greater sales of the brand besides it brand name and the research would have to be conducted again with a new hypothesis. . Conclusions The conclusion of the study is that the Pure Life sales are greater than competitors due to brand equity of Nestle. The company should concentrate on things like brand preference and brand loyalty. They can do this by a lot of advertising and other promotional campaigns like public relations. Brand preference, brand loyalty and trust leads to establishment of brand equity which can be said as goodwill. Implications Brand equity is the customer’s subjective and intangible assessment of the brand, above and beyond its purely perceived value. In a market where many products are rather similar (i. e. commoditization), the brand can have a large effect on whether customers want to buy the product and what price theyre willing to pay. Brands therefore add more and more value to the basic product or service. Example: although a blind test panel taught researchers that most people prefer Pepsi above Coca-Cola, yet Coca-Cola is much stronger on the market. Our research findings shall help marketers understand the relation between brand equity ad sales. We have used Nestle Pure Life as a model for the study to illuminate the same relationship. As mentioned earlier, if there is a relationship between the variables, the marketers need to take it into account while designing their marketing strategies and policies.

Essay on Bully Bullying and Website

Essay on Bully Bullying and Website Essay on Bully: Bullying and Website When I Googled the word bully I immediately found this website called The BULLY Project. This website was influenced by the award-winning film BULLY. It's a social action campaign, created to stimulate a national movement to essentially stop bullying. The whole goal is to change a culture of bullying to a culture of empathy and action. The creators of this social campaign know that there is power in numbers. They would like to reach at least 10 million kids. The website offers resources to educators to help prepare them to lead a discussion that ultimately focuses on empathy and taking action. They have created a kit for educators that includes material that is fashioned to initiate dialogue that is meaningful and honest. On the website you will also find out about the opportunities to receive badges, you can receive your first badge by simply signing up and taking a pledge. To help grow the movement they encourage participants to like their Facebook page and repost tweets. There is also a section where an individual can submit their own personal story and even a video. Overall I found this website to be extremely useful and filled with many resources for educators, parents, and students. They even have resources for special needs children dealing with bullying. Another great website that I came across was StopBullying.gov. This website I found had more resources that help cyber-bullying victims. There is a section that helps parents and kids prevent cyber-bullying. This part of the website is geared towards helping parents know what to look for when cyber-bullying occurs. Parents can make a lot of progress by simply installing parental control software and monitoring the sites that are visited. The website also stresses that there should be a discussion about online issues regularly. They what parents to encourage their children to report anything that is remotely associated with cyber-bullying and individuals being bullied. Another part of this website I especially liked was how much information they had on reporting cyber-bullying. This section is incredibly helpful and gives easy to follow directions. They include steps that should be taken

Financial Concerns Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Financial Concerns Report - Essay Example The ethnicity grant groups include the African American, Asian, Cuban, and Arab groups (http://www.usscholarshipguide.org). Further, the above United States scholarship guide website shows that the organization offers scholarship grants to non-ethnic groups. The successful scholarship applicants include the individuals who are afflicted with physical ailments. Under successful scholarship grantees include individuals who are deaf, mute, and mute college scholarship applicants. The Federal and state governments offer scholarship grants to encourage individuals to pursue their dreams. The grants include the Pell grant. U.S. Senator Claiborne Pell offers the grant to help the United States Department of Education’s thrust to increase college enrollments. The successful grants are those who pass the established financial need benchmark. The United States Congress established the financial need benchmark. The Pell Grant falls under the Higher Education Act of 1965. During 2012 alon e, the maximum Pell Grant was about $ 5,400. The government offers Federal supplemental educational opportunity grants. The grant is offered to both United States citizens and eligible non-residents. The highest scholarship figure given to the student is estimated to below the $5,000 per year figure. Third, the above United States scholarship guide website reference shows that government offers grants that take into consideration the college applicants’ academic competitiveness. The grant is offered to Pell grantee college applicants having a minimum average grade of 3.0 and a first year average grade of 4.0. The scholarship amount is $750 per year. Likewise, the above United States scholarship guide website reference indicates that government offers grants that are based on the college applicants’ merits. The merit –based grants include the Robert Byrd scholarship program. The National Science Scholars Program is another merit grant. Another merit-based grant i s the leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership grant. Financial aid debt that individuals incur while seeking postsecondary education According to the College Board agency, different student groups generated different financial aid debt while seeking postsecondary education. Starting in 1981, the college loan amounts started to increase in relation to the grants given to college students. During 2001, the loan grant amount is estimated at $ 44 billion while the Grant amount is estimated at only $ 12 billion. During 2005, the loan grant amount is estimated at $ 64 billion while the Grant amount is estimated at only $ 20 billion. During 2007, the loan grant amount is estimated at $ 74 billion while the Grant amount is estimated at only $ 33 billion (Smart, 2011). Retention related to financial concerns There are several issues pertaining to the retention of college scholarships. First, retention is based on the college students’ prior academic grades. Students who do not r etain their passing grades within the required school period are removed from the college scholarship grants. Second, students who devote all their time and energy to achieving the benchmark grades, ensure their retention in the college scholarship programs. Further, the students who establish and implement effective study habits will get higher scholastic grades, achieving the college students’ desire to graduate with the help of the college financial assistance program, when compared to students who do not have effective study

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Course-work assignment 2, Lent term, 2015 - Essay Example This question may be explicit or remain hidden. Luc Besson is known due to his action movies and blockbusters, there are hidden layers that involve social questions, depth of feelings and life choices to be resolved. He has his unique individual style to depict the way the events of life create the presuppositions for formation of people’s features of character, shaped by the challenges and experiences they face. This paper appoints as its goal an attempt to interpret the phrase â€Å"I am guided by a single preoccupation: that modern society creates a familial crisis, and an emotional lack for young people† by Luc Besson through the films he created, particularly â€Å"Nikita†, â€Å"Leon† and â€Å"Fifth Element (as a supportive source). Reviewing films of Luc Besson, it is important to view shortly his biographical background as it evident that the way childhood and maturation passed determines the formation of personality and the products he or she creates. The child of two scuba educators in Paris, Luc was born on March 18, 1959, and spent a large portion of his childhood taking after his parents on the club Med circuit in the middle of Greece and Yugoslavia. Luc was an avid diver like his parents. At ten years old, â€Å"he swam with a wild dolphin while his parents were diving† ("Luc Besson full biography," 2010). The experience influenced him so that he chose to commit his life to watching and comprehension the ocean creatures by turning into a sea life researcher. Bessons fantasies of turning into a sea life researcher were dashed at 17 years old after a mishap that rendered him not able to dive. Taking after his recovery, he went to Paris to complete school. While adapting to city life, Besson found T V and the filming ("Luc Besson full biography," 2010). They soon substituted his enthusiasm for the ocean, and he chose to seek after a filmmaking profession; in the wake of dropping out of school, he started

Interspecific and Intraspecific Plant Competitions Lab Report

Interspecific and Intraspecific Plant Competitions - Lab Report Example In cases involving high levels of nutrient availability, the competition always shifts to scramble for light for photosynthesis. This is depicted in the nature in which radish and wheat responded to different conditions of light, nutrients and temperature. Light is always a unidirectional resource. The density of radish was higher than that of wheat under different conditions that they were subjected towards. This resulted from the influence of light and temperature in the growth rates of such plants relevant to the interspecific competition. The results show that radish is a better competitor compared to wheat. This is may also be manifested in other plant interactions. For instance, different habitats have different types of plants with different capabilities and rates of growth, reproduction and competition. Interspecific competition has a negative influence on the sizes of populations of the competitors. This is depicted in the results from the experiment above. The shoot mass in Radish had a higher rate of the growth compared to those of wheat. This means that radish is a better competitor compared to wheat. Therefore, in the long term period, the effects of the interspecific competition between radish and wheat may see wheat being eliminated by radish. When the competition is very severe, the population sizes of the competing species are considerably reduced. This is due to the impacts that the competition presents on the quantity of the resources fought for or against.

Sources Of Finance For Marks And Spencers

Sources Of Finance For Marks And Spencers Marks Spencer is one of the leading retailers in UK with average 21 million customers visiting per week in stores. They provide with quality clothing, home products and food which is supplied by approximately 2000 suppliers all over the world. The company has 75,839 employees as evaluated in 2008 and has about 700 stores in UK. The 49% of the sales is occupied by clothing and home products while 51% is occupied by food products. Outside UK the company operates in approximately 40 other countries which include India, China and Indonesia etc. The companies 90% business comes from sales in UK while rest comes from overseas sales. Marks Spencer values Quality, Value, Service, Innovation and Trust. The company generated an overall revenue of  £9062.1 million as on 28th March, 2009. The overall profit was  £768.9 million of which  £652.8 million was generated from operations in UK and  £116.1 million from operations overseas. The case study takes into consideration the analysis of financial reports of Marks and Spencer and relates the academic principles of Corporate Finance with the analysis of the report. 2. SOURCES OF FINANCE 2.1 SHORT MEDIUM TERM FINANCE Trade Credit Trade Credit is finance obtained from suppliers of goods and services over the period between delivery of goods and the subsequent settlement of the account by the recipient. (Pike Neale, 2006) It is sometimes also called spontaneous finance as the company can enjoy the goods or benefit from the service provided without having to pay up. Common way of expressing the credit term is- 2/10 : net 30 This implies that the supplier will provide 2% discount if the money is payed back in 10 days otherwise the company has to pay full payment in 30 days. The length of the trade credit depends on certain factors like industry custom and practice, relative bargaining power and type of products. Factoring- Sometimes the suppliers need payment earlier than expected. Institutions called factors help by offering to purchase a firms debtors for cash. Factoring involves raising immediate cash based on the security of the companys debtors, thus accelerating payments from customers. Bank Credit Bank lending to companies is predominantly short term, although now it is also a valuable source of medium term finance. Overdrafts Overdrafts specify the amount that a company may withdraw either in forms of cash or cheques. Interest is charged on a daily basis depending on how much the company is overdrawn each day. Bank generally takes security which can be fixed charge (where overdraft is secured against specific asset) or floating charge (which offers security over all of the companys assets) Short Term Loans Short term loans are generally provided for more than 1 year. The bank can charge variable or fixed rate of interest. Usually fixed rate of interest is quite high. Variable rate of interest can be also in various forms: Bullet Loans Balloon Loans Revolvers It allows the borrowers to borrow, repay and re-borrow over the life of loan facility. Securitisation This is the practice whereby instead of lending money to customers, banks raise finance for them by arranging and selling to customers their securities like commercial papers often allowing lower interest rates. Bill Finance Bill allows the company to pay out a specific amount after a specific period of time. Bills of Exchange Trader purchasing goods from suppliers draws up a bill stating a promise to pay at some future date and its up to the supplier to keep the bill or sell it in the market at a discount if he needs the money earlier. Acceptance Credit It is a tie up between the company and the bank. The bank issues a bill for the company and company can use it at a later date. The bank can sell the bill in the market at a discounted price. If it does then the company collects the money from the company which bought the bill from the bank. Hire Purchase It may be simply defined as hiring with the option to purchase. On payments of final installment ownership of the asset passes to the customer. The inland revenues will generally permit the customer to claim and retain capital allowances provided that the option to purchase fee is less than the market value at the end of the contract term. Leasing A leasing transaction is a commercial arrangement whereby an equipment owner conveys the right to use the equipment in return for payment by equipment user of a specified rental over a pre-agreed period of time. (Pike Neale, 2006) 2.2 LONG TERM FINANCE Equity Shares are described as permanent capital because the funds supplied for their acquisitions are non-returnable in most circumstances other than in the event of a liquidation. Shares are issued at nominal value and are sold at the market price. Shareholders have a share in ownership of company and also have voting rights. Dividends are payed as a percentage return on their nominal value. A company can receive equity finance from various sources like Business Angels: Private equity investor with spare funds to invest who wishes to gamble on the future prospects of young companies. Venture Capital: Sale of equity to a specialist institution that may also provide management assistance. For e.g. 3i. Obtaining a Quotation (IPO) Preference Shares Preference shares are entitled to a fixed percentage dividend, which is paid before any profits are distributed to ordinary shareholders. Participating preference shares may be entitled to some extra dividend, over and above their fixed dividend entitlement. Convertible preference shares can be converted to ordinary shares. Cumulative preference shares have unpaid dividends that are carried forward and must be paid before dividends are paid to ordinary shareholders. Preference share holders do not qualify for tax relief. Debt Debentures Debentures are basically loan secured on company assets with floating or fixed interest rate. It is a multiple loan to the company in the sense that it is contributed by several people opposed to just one individual. Debenture holders are creditors but not members of the company. Loan Stock is a kind of debenture that is issued at face value. It is not secured on assets but effectively secured on firms earning power, thus more risky and lower ranking of payment. Debentures issued at large discounts and redeemable at par or above are known as Deep Discount Bonds. They are generally issued at low rate of interest but have cost of redemption. Mortgages It is a form of secured loan placing the title deeds of property with a lender as security for a cash loan. The interest is payable on the amount borrowed. Warrants They are rights given to investors allowing them to buy new shares in a company at a future date, at affixed given price. They are generally issued alongside unsecured debt as a bribe to potential investors. 2.3 SOURCES OF FINANCE IN MARKS SPENCER 2.3.1 Current Non-Current Liabilities Current liabilities are the one MS needs to pay within 1 year time whereas non-current liabilities are the one MS can pay any time after 1 year. As per the annual report for MS, Current Liability MS has short term loans in the form of Bank Loans and overdrafts worth  £147.9 millions. Syndicated Bank Facility worth  £781.2 million which relates to a  £1.2 bn committed bank revolving credit facility set to mature on 26 March, 2013. Finance Lease liability worth  £13.7 million. The average lease term for the equipment is 6 years and 125 years for property. Interest rates are fixed. Non-Current Liability Bank Loans worth  £11.2 million. Finance lease liabilities worth  £88.2 million. Medium-term notes worth  £ 2018.5 million. 2.3.2 Net Assets Equity Ordinary Share Capital Shares  £m Allotted, called up and fully paid ordinary shares of 25p each At start of year 1,586,478,423 396.6 Shares issued on exercise of share options 2,217,763 0.5 Share purchased in buy-back (10,901,267) (2.7) At end of year 1,577,794,919 394.4 2,217,763 ordinary shares having nominal value were allotted during the year under two schemes namely Save As You Earn (SAYE) Share Option scheme and Executive Share Option Scheme. In SAYE, the board may offer options to purchase ordinary shares in the company once in each financial year to those employees who enter into an HM Revenue Customs approved (SAYE) savings contract. In terms of Executive Share Option Scheme, the Board may offer options to purchase ordinary shares in the company to executive directors and senior managers at the market price on a date to be determined prior to the date of the offer. 10.9 million shares having a nominal value of  £2.7m were bought back and subsequently cancelled during the year in accordance with the authority granted by the share holders at the Annual General Meeting in July 2007. Share Premium Account A reserve setup to account for the issue of new shares at a price above their par value. (Pike Neale, 2006) In MS, Share Premium Account had  £ 236.2 m as on 28th March, 2009 out of which  £ 231.4 m were carried forward from previous year and  £ 4.8 m was from share issued on exercise of employee share options. Capital Redemption Reserve It is a reserve established when the firm buys its own shares in a scenario that result in loss of share capital. In MS it was worth  £ 2202.6 m. As discussed earlier  £ 2.7 m worth were purchased in buy back, thus added to the capital redemption reserve. Hedging Reserve Hedging is an attempt to minimize the risk of loss stemming from exposure to adverse foreign exchange rate movements. MS as on 28th March,2009 had  £ 62.6 m in Hedging Reserve. 2.3.3 Net Debt Cash Cash Equivalents It includes short term deposits with banks and other financial institutions, with an initial maturity of three months or less and credit card payment received within 48 hours. It was worth  £ 422.9 m for MS. Financial Assets MS has current and non-current assets worth  £ 53.1 m that includes unlisted investments and Listed UK Securities. Bank Loans Overdraft MS has current and non-current loans overdrafts that include  £ 4.0 m loan from the Hedge End Park Limited joint venture. Syndicated Bank Facility It relates to a  £ 1.2 bn committed bank revolving credit facility set to mature on 26 March 2013 and is worth  £ 781.2 m. Medium Term Notes These are notes that actually retire in 5 to 10 years. A corporate note continuously offered by a company to investors through a dealer. Investors can choose from differing maturities, ranging from nine months to 30 years. (Forbes Digital) In MS these notes are issued under MS plcs  £ 3bn European Medium Term Note Program and all pay interest annually. The medium term notes are worth  £1848.1 m. Finance Leases It is groups policy to lease certain of its properties and equipments under finance leases and is worth  £ 101.9 m. 3. COST OF CAPITAL 3.1 Weighted Average Cost of Capital 3.2 Weighted Average Cost of Capital for MS As seen earlier MS has capital in the form of debt and equity. To evaluate the Weighted Average Cost of Capital, we need to evaluate Cost of Debt ( Kd) Cost of Equity ( Ke) Weight or proportion of debt equity Cost of Debt (Kd) To evaluate Kd, we need to find I = Interest paid for the debt MV(Market Value) = Total current Market Value of the Debt T = Corporate Tax if any As Kd = [I(1-T)] / MV X 100 Looking at the Annual Report we can see in Cash flows from financing activities that : I =  £ 197.1 m which is approximately 7.9% In Taxation Charges T = 28% In net Debt MV =  £ 2490.8 m Thus we can calculate Kd by putting in the values as: Kd = [ 197.1 m(1-.28)]/ 2490.8m X 100 = (141.912/2490.8) X 100 = 4.7 Cost of Equity To evaluate Ke, we need to evaluate D = Dividend on ordinary share capital MV = Market value of equity As Ke = (D/MV) X 100 Looking at the report we can find Net dividend = 22.5 p per share The total no. of shares at the end of the year = 1,577,794,919 The total Dividend D = .225 X 1,577,794,919 =  £ 355 m approx Market Value MV= .25 X 1,557,794,919 =  £ 394.4 m Therefore Ke = (D/MV) X 100 = (355/394.4) X 100 = 90 Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) Weighted Average Cost of Capital can be calculated by formula WACC = Ke[ E/(E+D) ] + Kd [ D/(E+D) ] Where E = Market Value of Companys Equity D = Market Value of Companys Debt Therefore WACC = 90[394.4/(394.4 + 2490.8)] + 4.7[2490.8/(394.4 + 2490.8)] = (90 X 0.135) + (4.7 X .86) = 12.15 + 4.902 = 17.052 % 3.3 Gearing Indicators for MS To be done Capital Gearing Capital Gearing = 4. INVESTMENT APPRAISAL TECHNIQUES An investment project is a series of cash inflows and outflows, typically starting with cash outflows (the initial investment outlay) followed by cash inflows and/or cash inflows in later periods. (Gotze, Northcott, Schuster, 2008) The financial manager needs to employ appraisal techniques in order to decide which projects to accept and which to reject because these decisions largely shapes the future of the business and its ability to manage its future operations. The project accepted must meet the financial criteria of the company, generally its a return greater than the cost of capital needed to finance it. 4.1 Return on Investment (Accounting Rate of Return) This approach expresses the profit before tax arising from an investment as a percentage of the total outlay on the investment. When using the return on investment approach the project which gives the highest ARR is the one that should be accepted. Difficulties arise with the method when the duration of the investment extends for more than one year, as it then becomes necessary to determine some representative profit and investment value for the duration of the project. Other problem is that profits are the results of receipts and outgoings and they do not represent cash transactions and the cash flow arising is not taken into account during the term of the investment. 4.2 Return on Investment (ARR) related to MS As per the annual reports of MS from year 2006 to 2009, MS has invested on property. The investment, depreciation Net Profit are described in the annual report related to property. The tax budgeted profits are assumed accordingly. Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 Investment  £ 38.5 m  £ 24.1 m  £ 24.3 m  £ 24.3 m Budgeted Profits  £ 4 m  £ 4 m  £ 32 m  £ 8 m Less Depreciation ( £ .1 m) ( £ .2 m) ( £.3 m) ( £ .5 m) Tax ( £ 9.6 m) ( £ 1.9 m) ( £ 4.7m) ( £ 1.1m) Net Profit ( £ 4.7 m)  £ 1.9 m  £ 27 m  £ 6.4 m The average profit for the four years would be: Average Profit = [ (4.7) + 1.9 + 27 + 6.4] / 4 = 29.6 / 4 =  £ 7.4 m We can compare this with the original investment made in four years: Average investment = [ 38.5 + 24.1 + 24.3 + 24.3] /4 =  £ 28.55 m By comparing, Avg Profit/ Investment= (7.4/28.55) X 100 = 24.91 % Thus the company can decide on whether the investment is good or not. 4.3 Payback This method refers to how quickly the incremental benefits that accrues to a company from an investment project payback the initial capital invested. When faced with a straight accept or reject decision it can provide a rule where projects are accepted if they payback the initial investment outlay within a certain predetermined time. In addition, the payback method can provide a rule when a comparison is required of the relative desirability of several mutually exclusive investments (Lumby, 1988). This method simply measures the time period taken until the profits generated from the investment equal the initial cost of investment. The advantage of Payback is that it focuses on risks in considering the period during which the investment remains outstanding. The drawback is that the method takes no account of cash inflows after payback, neither is there any attempt to consider reinvestment possibilities for incoming funds during the period prior to payback. 4.4 Payback related to M S With relation to MS, we again take the project of investment in property, plant equipment. We take the 2 investments made in 2008 and 2009 and compare them with assumptions made for returns in the following years. 2009 2008 Investment Outflow Year 0 ( £ 540. 8 m) ( £ 958.4 m) Cash Inflows Year 1  £ 58.3 m  £ 91.6 m Year 2  £ 142.6 m  £ 400.4 m Year 3  £ 222.4 m  £ 300.2 m Year 4  £ 100.4 m  £ 286.7 m Year 5  £ 143.7 m  £ 123.2 m Total cash Inflow  £ 667.1 m  £ 1202.1 m Now comparing the two projects of 2008 2009 we can see that payback for 2009 is 5 years and payback for project in 2008 is 4 years. Thus project that MS invested is 2008 is better in terms of investment. 4.5 Net Present Value Net Present Value is the net monetary gain (or loss) from a project, computed by discounting all present and future cash inflows and outflows related to the project. (Gotze, Northcott, Schuster, 2008) Using the NPV method, all future cash flows related to investment project are discounted back to time 0. In order to establish the cash flows arising from a project into their present values, it is necessary to establish the cash inflows and outflows arising from it, and what cost of capital should be used to evaluate such projects. In order to determine the NPV of a project, we need to list all the cashflows related to the project. The net cash flows are then discounted at the cost of capital using the formulae: Discount factor = 1/ (1+i) n where n represents the number of periods and i represents the cost of capital per period The general rule is that if NPV is positive, the project is accepted else it is rejected. 4.6 Net Present Value related to MS We assume the example that taken in the pay back technique for the year 2009 and we assume the cost of capital to be 10 %. Year Net Cash Flows Formula Disc. Factor NPV  £  £ 2009 ( £ 540.8 m) 1  £ 540.8 m 2010  £ 58.3 m 1/(1+.1)1 .909  £ 52.99 m 2011  £ 142.6 m 1/(1+.1)2 .826  £ 117.78 m 2012  £ 222.4 m 1/(1+.1)3 .751  £ 167.02 m 2013  £ 100.4 m 1/(1+.1)4 .683  £ 68.57 m 2014  £ 143.7 m 1/(1+.1)5 .621  £ 89.094 m  £ 126.3 m ( £ 44.35 m) As we can see above the NPV for the project is negative thus this project should be rejected. 4.7 Internal Rate of Return (IRR) Internal Rate of Return of a Project is that cost of capital which makes the net present value of a project equal to zero. If the cost of capital required to reduce the future cash flows to zero is greater than the companys cost of capital, then the project will be accepted because it gives a positive return for the business. 4.8 Internal Rate of Return related to MS In internal rate of return we need to assume cost of capital so that NPV nears 0. Thus we assume the cost of capital as 9% first. Year Net Cash Flows Formula Disc. Factor NPV  £  £ 2009 ( £ 540.8 m) 1  £ 540.8 m 2010  £ 58.3 m 1/(1+.09)1 .917  £ 53.46 m 2011  £ 142.6 m 1/(1+.09)2 .842  £ 120.06 m 2012  £ 222.4 m 1/(1+.09)3 .772  £ 171.69 m 2013  £ 100.4 m 1/(1+.09)4 .708  £ 71.08 m 2014  £ 143.7 m 1/(1+.09)5 .650  £ 93.40 m  £ 126.3 m ( £ 31.10 m) Now we try with cost of capital as 7 % Year Net Cash Flows Formula Disc. Factor NPV  £  £ 2009 ( £ 540.8 m) 1  £ 540.8 m 2010  £ 58.3 m 1/(1+.07)1 .935  £ 54.51 m 2011  £ 142.6 m 1/(1+.07)2 .873  £ 124.48 m 2012  £ 222.4 m 1/(1+.07)3 .816  £ 181.48 m 2013  £ 100.4 m 1/(1+.07)4 .763  £ 76.6 m 2014  £ 143.7 m 1/(1+.07)5 .713  £ 102.45 m  £ 126.3 m ( £ 1.7 m) As we can see that with cost of capital as 9% the NPV is  £ 31.10 m and with cost of capital 7% the NPV is  £ 1.7 m, thus it shows that NPV will be zero between 6 and 7 % cost of capital. As the companys cost of capital is 10 % and the cost of capital to make the NPV zero is between 6 7 %, thus this project cant be accepted as its less than the companys cost of capital.

Fear and Redemption in Cry the Beloved Country :: Cry the Beloved Country Essays

Fear and Redemption in Cry the Beloved Country Fear grips all black societies and is widespread not only for black people but also white people. An unborn child will inherit this fear and will be deprived of loving and relishing his country because the greater he loves his country the greater will be his pain. Paton shows us this throughout this book but at the same time he also offers deliverance from this pain. This, I believe is the greater purpose of this book. When Stephen goes to Johannesburg he has a childlike fear for "the great city" Johannesburg. Khumalo's fears of his family are exactly the same as every other black person in South Africa. In the train he is afraid of living in a world not made for him. He opens his bible and starts reading it, this is one of Khumalo's great sources of alleviation. Gertrude is frightened that her life will now be exposed to her brother who is a priest. She is redeemed from this fear when she prays with Stephen. Stephen experiences great pain and fear during his search for Absalom, Msimangu comforts him, he gains comfort when plays with Gertrude's son, when he thinks of Ndotsheni, his wife and of rebuilding his home it consoles him. We also learn of white people's fear of native crime in the city. Absalom's girlfriend is afraid that he has deserted her. She gains comfort from Stephen. In his own pain and suffering he has the ability to comfort her, this is one of Stephen's admirable qualities. When Stephen realises that the police are searching for Absalom, he starts trembling and turns cold with fear. Msimangu and his bible comfort him. Msimangu takes him to Ezenzeleni where he is spiritually uplifted. When Absalom is asked why did he shoot Arthur he says that he was afraid. Msimangu, Mrs Lithebe, Mr Carmicheal and Father Vincent ease Stephens fear of Absalom's case and expenses in Johannesburg. This is very comforting for Stephen, we remember Mrs Lithebe's words "for what else are we born" and there are some white men who do care. We also learn of James Jarvis's (he was a British white) suffering and fear, he is comforted by an Afrikaner policeman who went out of his way to help him, he is also comforted when he reads Arthur's manuscripts.

Research Article Critique

Research Article Critique Tonya L. Smith, RN Liberty University NUR 225 Research Article Critique The title of the research article I chose to critique is from the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. â€Å"Hypertension, orthostatic-hypotension, and the risk of falls in a community-dwelling elderly population: The maintenance of balance, independent living, intellect, and zest in the elderly Boston study†; this title fits well with the content presented in the research article. The independent variables are clearly defined as well as the dependent variables for the research being conducted.The content of the abstract is a very good overview of the content and it is consistent with the content. The abstract summarizes the objective, design, setting, participants, measurements, and results. Problem/Purpose The problem being investigated is the risk of falls in the elderly population related to the effects of controlled and uncontrolled hypertension and orthostatic hypoten sion. The authors do identify the significance of the problem as falls for being the leading cause of disability for the elder generations.Adequate background information is not provided to support the problem because the subject at hand â€Å"has not been investigated previously† (Gangavati, et al. , 2011, p. 383). Explanation of the purpose of this study being conducted is provided by the authors. Literature Review The previous research articles and their outcomes are briefly described with different amounts of time from 1-3 minutes after individual is standing before a decrease in blood pressure of 10-20mmHg would occur and be related to a fall.The purpose â€Å"was to assess the association between hypertension, OH using multiple definitions, and their combination and the risk of recurrent falls in a community-dwelling elderly population† (Gangavati, et al. , 2011, p. 384). The list of twenty eight references is used is this article. There are eight references date d up to ten years old, four references dated five years old or less, and sixteen references that are more than ten years old with one of them being twenty-three years old. The authors do very briefly summarize their review of the literature as to what is known and not known to the study.They do explain a need for further study from previous research with a lack of knowledge in definitions of orthostatic hypertension presented. Framework/Theoretical Perspective The study is based upon a specific situation theory regarding the relationship between falls and changes in blood pressure of the elderly population older than seventy. The authors connect their theory to the study by demonstrating a connection between a change in systolic orthostatic hypotension and standing for one minute.This change in systolic orthostatic hypotension would prove to be increasing falls for the elder population with uncontrolled hypertension. Research Question(s) OR Hypotheses The hypothesis was that the ris k of falls would be highest in people with uncontrolled hypertension and in those with orthostatic hypotension. The questions at hand of the research were to assess the association between hypertension, orthostatic hypotension using different definitions, and to assess their combination and the risk of falls in a community-dwelling elderly population. VariablesThe independent variables were the total number of individuals that were seventy years old or older living within a 5-mile radius of the study. These individuals would present with no hypertension, controlled hypertension, uncontrolled hypertension, and systolic orthostatic hypotension. The dependent variables are the blood pressure measurements, number of falls reported, and the amount of time standing from one to three minutes. The blood pressure measurements were taken at two different times at two minutes apart after five minutes of rest and an average of the two would be used in the analysis.The measurements of blood pres sure were obtained using a manual blood pressure cuff that was accurate for size. The number of falls was reported over a year of time and at the end of each month on a monthly falls calendar and only counted if they had experienced two falls. Demographics of Sample A few examples of the demographics used in the sample was 22% non-white, 64% female,70% receiving antihypertensive medications, 38% history of falls and 25% with a history of stroke. Research Design The research design used was prospective population-based study.Prospective designs are a type of longitudinal design that can be experimental or non-experimental and they are â€Å"studies that begin in the present and end in the future† (Schmidt & Brown, 2012, p. 158). This study was a non-experimental prospective study completed on a population of the elderly followed over a course of a year. This design was appropriate to obtain the necessary data. Subjects were not necessarily assigned to the group but they were c hosen depending on if they lived within five miles of the study, seventy years old or older, and the ability to meet certain criteria.There was no indication of a pilot study having been conducted. Sample/Setting The sampling criteria that had to be met were the individual had to be living in the five mile radius of the study and they had to remain in the area for three years. This research study used simple random sampling for the sampling method; with equal chances of being selected, less risk of bias, and ample representation of the population. People were chosen based on â€Å"ability to understand and communicate in English, ability to walk 20 feet without personal assistance, sufficient vision, and able to live in the area for at least 3 years† (Gangavati, et al. 2011, p. 384). Individuals were assessed with a baseline assessment that included medical history, fall history, cognition, medication, and in-clinic evaluations of balance, and muscle strength. Informed consen t was obtained from all participants by written informed consent. The setting of the study was the community; this setting fit well with the study’s objectives. Measurement, Methods & Instruments Kaplan-Meier curves and Multivariate Cox proportional hazard modeling were used to assess the risk of falls in participants with orthostatic ypotension. Fisher exact test was used for categorical variables. Wilcoxon rank sum was used for continuous variables. A manual sphygmomanometer was used to obtain blood pressure readings. The type of measurement used was physiological measure at the ordinal level of measurement. The authors did discuss the reliability of measurements being obtained with individuals who had been trained in appropriate blood pressure techniques and for potential sources of error. Data Collection The data was collected for the number of falls by mail.The one month calendar was mailed back at the end of each month charting number of falls. Measurements for blood pr essure were taken at 1 minute after standing and 3 minutes after standing, 2 blood pressures were taken while laying supine, and then again after resting 5 minutes. Data was collected by longitudinal design. The data was collected at home by the participant or the caregiver. Data Analysis The data analysis procedures were clearly described using description of follow-up time of truncation.The analysis listed characteristics of the groups and how they were compared. The data analysis procedures were appropriate for the type of data being collected because it was a systematic review of the data that was collected for the research study. Statistical Analyses The analysis included an alpha level of 0. 05 to determine statistical importance. This alpha level indicated that the researchers felt 95% confident in that the risk of falls in the population being tested would be related to uncontrolled hypertension and orthostatic hypotension. LimitationsThe limitations that were identified by this research study was a bias for number of falls through the use of a falls calendar and standing blood pressure was not measured beyond 3 minutes. The findings were also limited because of the population was a majority of Caucasians, and limited to community-dwelling adults. There was also limitation on knowledge of any medication changes during this time. Other limitations I can think of is we do not know if individuals were accurately checking the blood pressure each day or was it just in the preset of the study. Implication of FindingsThe implications for nursing were not clearly described in this study. Some implications for nursing that were not described are to become more aware of orthostatic hypotension upon standing of the elderly and to oversee compliance of hypertensive medications. Further study was suggested in order to confirm findings in a clinical trial setting. Generalization of Findings The authors did generalize the findings in this research study. They did not apply their findings beyond this study. It is not indicated in the study that they applied any findings to the population in general.Format I did not see any spelling, punctuation, or grammatical errors. The sentence structure was good. This research was difficult to interpret at first but after reading it a couple of times and breaking down the information being provided it was more logical. Overall Evaluation The steps of the research process were logically linked together. The hypothesis of this study did make sense based on review of the literature. The method used in this research prospective population-based study and the qualitative data collected did fit well with the intent of the study.The impression this research gave was that individuals over the age of seventy are going undiagnosed with orthostatic hypotension and those with uncontrolled hypertension are at a high risk for falls. Recognition of fall risk is an important subject for me; I can relate to the findings beca use I work with the geriatric population in a long term care facility. Awareness needs to be raised not only to geriatric nurses but all caregivers about the importance in acknowledging the high risk of falls related to hypertension or hypotension. References Gangavati, A. , Hajjar, I. , Quach, L. Jones, R. , Kiely, D. , Gagnon, P. , & Lipsitz, L. (2011). Hypertension, orthostatic hypotension, and the risk of falls in a community-dwelling elderly population: the maintenance of balance, independent living, intellect, and zest in the elderly of Boston study. Journal Of The American Geriatrics Society, 59 (3), 383-389. doi:http://dx. doi. org. ezproxy. liberty. edu:2048/10. 1111/j. 1532-5415. 2011. 03317. x Schmidt, N. , & Brown, J. (2012). Evidence-Based Practice for Nurses: Appraisal and application of research (2 ed. ). Valparaiso, IN: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Building a Complete School Retention Form

Building a Complete School Retention Form Student retention is always highly debated. There are clear-cut pros and cons that teachers and parents must take into consideration when making such an important decision. Teachers and parents should work together to come up with a consensus as to whether or not retention is the right decision for a particular student. Retention will not work for every student.   You must have strong parental support and an individualized academic plan that promotes an alternative to how that student is taught as compared to previous years. Each retention decision should be made on an individual basis. No two students are alike, thus retention must be examined taking into account the strengths and weaknesses of each individual student.   Teachers and parents must examine a wide array of factors before deciding whether or not retention is the right decision.   Once a retention decision has been made, it is important to explore how the students individual needs are going to be met at a deeper level than before. If the decision is made to retain, it is important that you adhere to all guidelines laid out in the districts retention policy. If you have a retention policy, it is equally important that you have a retention form that gives a brief description of the reasons the teacher believes the student should be retained. The form should also provide a place for to sign and then either agree or disagree with the teachers placement decision. The retention form should summarize placement concerns. However, teachers are strongly encouraged to add additional documentation to support their decision including work samples, test scores, teacher notes, etc. Sample Retention Form The primary goal of Any Where Public Schools is to educate and prepare our students for a brighter tomorrow. We know that each child develops physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially at an individual rate. Additionally, not all children will complete twelve grades levels of work according to the same pace and at the same time. Grade level placement will be based on the child’s maturity (emotional, social, mental and physical), chronological age, school attendance, effort, and marks achieved. Standardized testing results can be used as one means of the judging process. The grade marks earned, direct observations made by the teacher, and academic progress made by the student throughout the year shall reflect the probable assignment for the coming year. Students Name _____________________________ Date of Birth _____/_____/_____ Age _____ _____________________ (Student Name) is recommended to be placed in __________ (Grade) for the _________________ school year. Conference Date ___________________________________ Reason(s) for Recommendation of Placement by Teacher: _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Outline of Strategic Plan for Addressing Deficiencies During Retention Year: _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____ See attachment for additional information _____ I accept the placement of my child. _____ I do not accept the school’s placement of my child. I understand that I may appeal this decision by complying with the school district’s appeal process. Parent Signature____________________________ Date ______________ Teacher Signature __________________________ Date ______________

Concrete Homes - Best Bet on a Windy Day

Concrete Homes - Best Bet on a Windy Day When hurricanes and typhoons howl, the greatest danger to people and property is flying debris. Carried at such intense velocity, a 2 x 4 piece of lumber will become a missile that can slice through walls. When an EF2 tornado moved through central Georgia in 2008, a board from an awning was ripped off, took flight across the street, and impaled itself deep into an adjacent solid concrete wall. FEMA tells us this is a common wind-related event and recommends the building of safe rooms. Researchers at the National Wind Institute of Texas Tech University in  Lubbock have determined that concrete walls are strong enough to withstand flying debris from hurricanes and tornadoes. According to their findings, homes made of concrete are much more storm-resistant than houses constructed of wood or even wood studs with steel plates. The ramifications of these research studies are changing the way we build. The Research Study The Debris Impact Facility at Texas Tech is well-known for its pneumatic cannon, a device capable of launching various materials of different sizes at different speeds. The cannon is in a laboratory, a controlled environment, To duplicate hurricane-like conditions in the laboratory, researchers shot wall sections with 15-pound 2 x 4 lumber missiles at up to 100 mph, simulating debris carried in a 250 mph wind. These conditions cover all but the most severe tornadoes. Hurricane wind speeds are less than the speeds modeled here. Missile tests designed to demonstrate damage from hurricanes use a 9-pound missile traveling about 34 mph. Researchers tested 4 x 4-foot sections of concrete block, several types of insulating concrete forms, steel studs, and wood studs to rate performance in high winds. The sections were finished as they would be in a completed home: drywall, fiberglass insulation, plywood sheathing, and exterior finishes of vinyl siding, clay brick, or stucco. All of the concrete wall systems survived the tests with no structural damage. Lightweight steel and wood stud walls, however, offered little or no resistance to the missile. The 2 x 4 ripped through them. Intertek, a commercial product and performance testing company, has also done research with their own canon at Architectural Testing Inc. They point out that the safety of a concrete home can be deceptive if the house is built with unreinforced concrete block, which offers some protections but not total. Recommendations Reinforced concrete homes have proven their wind-resistance in the field during tornadoes, hurricanes, and typhoons. In Urbana, Illinois, a home constructed with insulating concrete forms (ICFs) withstood a 1996 tornado with minimal damage. In the Liberty City area of Miami, several concrete form homes survived Hurricane Andrew in 1992. In both cases, neighboring homes were destroyed. In the fall of 2012, Hurricane Sandy blew apart the older wood construction homes on the New Jersey coast, leaving alone the newer townhouses built with insulating concrete forms. Monolithic domes, which are made of concrete and rebar in one piece, have proven especially strong. The sturdy concrete construction combined with the dome shape make these innovative homes nearly impervious to tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes. Many people cannot get over the look of these homes, however, although some brave (and wealthy) homeowners are experimenting with more modern designs. One such futuristic design has a hydraulic lift to actually move the structure below the ground before a tornado strikes. Researchers at Texas Tech University recommend that houses in tornado-prone areas build in-residence shelters of either concrete or  heavy gauge sheet-metal. Unlike hurricanes, tornadoes come with little warning, and reinforced interior rooms can offer more safety than an exterior storm shelter. Other advice researchers offer is to design your home with a hip roof instead of a gable roof, and everyone should use  hurricane straps to keep the roof on and the timbers straight. Concrete and Climate Change - More Research To make concrete, you need cement, and its well-known that the manufacturing of cement releases great amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere during the heating process. The building trade is one of the largest contributors to climate change, and cement makers and the people who purchase their product are some of the largest contributors to what we know to be greenhouse gas pollution. Research on new production methods will no doubt be met with resistance from a very conservative industry, but at some point consumers and governments will make new processes affordable and necessary. One company trying to find solutions is Calera Corporation of California. They have focused on recycling CO2 emissions into the production of a calcium carbonate cement. Their process uses the chemistry found in nature - what formed the White Cliffs of Dover and the shells of marine organisms? Researcher David Stone accidentally discovered an iron carbonate-based concrete when he was a graduate student at the University of Arizona. IronKast Technologies, LLC is in the process of commercializing Ferock and Ferrocrete, made from steel dust and recycled glass. Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) known as Ductal ® has been used successfully by Frank Gehry in the Louis Vuitton Foundation Museum in Paris and by architects Herzog de Meuron in the Pà ©rez Art Museum Miami (PAMM). The strong, thin concrete is expensive, but its a good idea to watch what the Pritzker Laureate architects are using, as they are often the first experimenters. Universities and government entities continue to be the incubators for new materials, researching and engineering composites with different properties and better solutions. And its not just concrete  - the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory has invented a glass substitute, a transparent, tough-as-armor ceramic called spinel (MgAl2O4). Researchers at MITs Concrete Sustainability Hub are also concentrating their attention on cement and its microtexture  - as well as the cost-effectiveness of these new and expensive products. Why You Might Want to Hire an Architect Building a home to withstand natures fury is not a simple task. The process is neither a construction nor design problem alone. Custom builders can specialize in insulated concrete rorms (ICF), and even give their end-products safe-sounding names like Tornado Guard, but architects can design beautiful buildings with evidence-based material specifications for builders to use. Two questions to ask if you are not working with an architect are 1. Does the construction company have architects on staff? and 2. Has the company financially sponsored any of the research testing? The professional field of architecture is more than sketches and floor plans. Texas Tech University even offers a Ph.D. in Wind Science and Engineering. Sources Inline photo link of Georgia tornado by Mike Moore/FEMA PhotoStorm Shelter Research and Storm Shelter FAQs, National Wind Institute, Texas Tech University [accessed November 20, 2017]A summary report on Debris Impact Testing at Texas Tech University, Prepared by Wind Science and Engineering Research Center, June 2003, PDF at https://www.depts.ttu.edu/nwi/research/DebrisImpact/Reports/DIF_reports.pdf [accessed November 20, 2017]Guidance for Wind Resistant Residential Design, Construction Mitigation, Larry J. Tanner, P.E., NWI Research Assistant Professor, Debris Impact Facility, National Wind Institute, Texas Tech University, PDF at depts.ttu.edu/nwi/research/DebrisImpact/Reports/GuidanceforWindResistantResidentialDesign.pdf [accessed November 20, 2017]Hurricane-Proof Construction Methods Can Prevent the Destruction of Communities,  Zach Mortice, Redshift by AutoDesk, November 9, 2017, https://www.autodesk.com/redshift/hurricane-proof-construction-methods-can-save-buildings-communi ties/ [accessed November 20, 2017]