Annotated Bibliography Essay Example for Free

Commented on Bibliography Essay In light of the columnist examination of online learning condition and diverse learning styles; it appears that electronic learning condition is an astounding mechanism for upgrading learning, because of its capacity to conform to singular understudy learning styles and inclinations. The article explores the effect of understudies learning style and their presentation. Online degrees have expanded since 2006. More students are turning out to be all the more mechanically astute, and it is those students that are innovatively incompetent, who depends on instructional plan from study hall settings and cooperation with educators and companions. The examination prompts the evaluation and learning style on understudy accomplishment in a Web based learning condition. On the off chance that it was simply a question of instructional learning it would be a solid match for all, be that as it may, all doesn't have innovation capacities. In the event that all students had these capacities, online learning styles would increment. Online instructional structure modules are not indisputable to certain learning styles. Thought ought to be given to the students attributes whether the student can get a handle on the material by means of the online guidance. Students ought to consider their learning style, persuasive level, capacity to cooperate with the educator and their companions. Be that as it may, without these capacities, students’ learning styles will be affected on the grounds that they do not have the capacities to learn by means of online guidance modules. Lai, I K. W. Lam, F.K.S. (2010). View of different execution rules by partners in the development division in Hong Kong. Exploration is directed to analyze various purposes of perspectives on the significance of execution results in a development venture in Hong Kong. ANOVA was utilized to investigate the information comparative with how the exhibitions were estimated. Exhibitions were estimated utilizing a presentation measures beginning with the most significant first, which is time. Opportune culmination of an undertaking would forestall loss of income and penalities to the contractual worker. Lai and Lam noticed that development ventures require brief arranging, a nd areâ divided between the advisor and the contractual worker. In any case, each gathering has a huge impact in the projects’ achievement. The contrast between the customer and the contractual worker; the customer for the most part push for ideal finishing and would offer a motivating force reward for opportune fulfillment, be that as it may, the temporary worker would lean toward a sensible span of time, along these lines to maintain a strategic distance from penalities to the temporary worker. The customer, specialist, and the contractual worker, all parterner together to make the venture a triumph by bringing work fulfillment, quality, security, condition, age of creative thoughts, execution measures, and adequacy to the undertaking. Maintaining a strategic distance from any disasters that will defer or shield the venture from running easily. Williams, A BTM7101-8 Activity 6, pg 2 The aftereffects of the exploration found that time was the most significant factor of the undertaking and ought to be contemplated from the get-go in the arranging procedure, and certain recompenses ought to be figured into the spending pl an, for example, time imperatives, deferrals, and accidents that could occur during the development of the venture. References Wang, K.H., Wang, J.H., Wang, W.L. Huang, S.C. (2006) Learning styles and developmental evaluation methodology: upgrading understudy accomplishment in Web-based learning Wang T., Wang K., Wang W., Huang S. Chen S. (2004) Web-based Assessment and Test Analyses (WATA) framework: advancement and assessment. Diary of Computer Assisted Learning 20, 59â€71 Passage N. Chen S. (2000) Individual contrasts, hypermedia route and learning: an observational examination. Diary of Educational Multimedia and Hypermedia 9, 281â€312. Seckel, S. (2007 Characteristics and Responsibilities of Successful e-Learners LAI, I. K. W. (2010). View of Various execution models by stateholders in the development division in Hong kong. Assaf, S.A. also, Al-Hejji, S. (2006) Causes of deferral in enormous development ventures. Worldwide Journal of Project Management, 24(4), 349-57. Naoum, S. (2003) An outline into the idea of parternering . Global Journal of Project Management 21(1), 71-6. PAH (2008) Project Administration Handbook for Civil Engineeering Works, 2008 Edition.

The Employees Protection Legislation to Ensure that Discrimination is Case Study

The Employees Protection Legislation to Ensure that Discrimination is Eliminated inside the Workplace - Case Study Example Such sort of a circumstance is made conceivable by the way that the approaches embraced for the counteraction of separation in many cases show incredible inconsistency between down to earth work and the hypothetical practice. When gone up against by such a circumstance, most workers pick to make on strides that may assist them with exploring around the issue yet the consequences of such circumstances might be deciphered as unfair. Regardless, an extraordinary number of bosses try to utilize the most reasonable possibility for the places that lay empty and for execution, businesses endeavor to offer the best condition for their representatives. Nature incorporates the physical just as the social situations in which the workers can perform to their most extreme best. With these contemplations to make, the business needs to make a cautious choice of the most appropriate people for their empty positions. The strategies that deny against segregation of individuals in the work environment apply to all focuses in the business including the promotion for an empty position, the genuine meeting of people, when the representative is recruited, during the activity of terminating, in the midst of dispensing benefits, during retirement and in the act of lay off among other points.â â Contextual analysis 1; rising issues The main case destinations a capability qualified person who had a gay sexual direction. The man had finished all the fundamental assessments and the meeting and the talking board for the neighborhood authority conceded that he was among the eight profoundly qualified people for the situation of a disciple circuit tester. Despite the fact that the board chose not to deny him the open door as a result of his sexual direction, they calculated that his workplace probably won't demonstrate favorable for execution. It was with this thought the board excused him for the activity. The privileges of business that respects the sexual direction of the workers or the representatives to be are installed in the Commission on correspondence and human rights. The commission targets lessening any type of victimization transsexual individuals at all degrees of work. Transsexual individuals incorporate gay and lesbian people inside the working environment. Truth be told, the guidelines are not just authorized by the commission at the national level yet in addition at the degree of the neighborhood specialists. This at that point recommends that the neighborhood expert wherein the man, for this situation, could be considered responsible at the nearby level for showing segregation towards the man. To have the effect significantly more noteworthy, the strategies overseeing sexual orientation correspondence additionally spread the transsexual people found inside the work environment or the individuals who are at the enrollment level. This, along these lines, recommends the h eap of naturally perceived zones that could be utilized against the neighborhood expert for this situation study.â

A Career As A Film Editor Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

A Career As A Film Editor - Essay Example The expertise of a supervisor is incredibly significant in the after creation process since film altering decides the quality and conveyance of the subsequent item. A film supervisor assumes an essentially crucial job in the general film creation process, in the film business. This can be both as a TV programs proofreader, or a film manager. Film altering for the most part includes the general collection of the recording to be seen on the screen. It can likewise be contrasted with fine art, for example, the molding of definite display figures structure the different crude materials as gave by the executives (Dickens, 2008). The procedure of movie altering necessitates that a proofreader ought to be in close connection with the chief in the film creation. This is on the grounds that the supervisor needs to comprehend the storyline of the movie similarly as the executive in light of the fact that the work is a blend of thoughts from the two gatherings in recounting to the narrative of the film. The supervisor for the most part guarantees of the event of progression which is the consistent unfurling of the story structure part to part. The activity of the supervisor authoritatively begins once the shooting of the film or film wraps up. This is on the grounds that the shooting of a film includes irregular scene shooting for the most part because of the comfort and other persuasive elements. In accordance with this, shots get disarranged and doesn't stream with the genuine story expected for the film, for example, having a scene of the start toward the end or potentially the other way around. It is, subsequently, dependent upon the supervisor to orchestrate them and connection them to stream persistently (Knight, 2007). This requires long working periods and tolerance in working under exacting cutoff times and weight. The supervisor plans the symbolism and synchronization of the different audio effects which may incorporate the soundtracks, voice covers as well as a udio cues. In the finish to the last introduction of the film’s creation, the supervisor additionally joins included special visualizations. William Hal Ashby is a movies supervisor situated in Hollywood movies Productions Company. He started his movies vocation during the 1960s in Utah, California. He got his enormous break by winning the foundation grants for films altering in his supervisor job, in the film, â€Å"in the warmth of the night† (Hal, 2006: p.9). Investigating his life from when he chose to wander into the vocation to what he has become in the film business will be an extensive commitment into the examination. Research Rationale The film business has experienced progressive changes with the coming of innovation (Dmytryk, 2004). Thus, there has been the improvement of a superior film creation and furthermore the arrangement of movies as a mind boggling universe of creation. What's more, more individuals have gotten inspired by film altering for the most part as a result of the acknowledgment that film editors get. The title of a film supervisor in the general creation and film making industry is attractive for a great many people. Thusly, intrigued people need to comprehend the job of a film proofreader well due to the difficulties, just as the chances. They ought to have the option to lead their proficiently and expertly. As a standard for the most part saw in numerous businesses, the promotion of a job underway as a rule prompts the dissolving of the estimation of the job and the finished result. Thusly, so as to guarantee that the trustworthiness and effectiveness of creation of movies by film editors isn't in danger, it is imperative to comprehend, complete and maintain the uprightness of the editor’s job in this quick advancing mechanical world (Murch, 2001). This is likewise related to the expanded take-up of studies for the job of movies editors by most understudies, just as expanded quantities of film

Marriot Corporation the Cost of Capital - Free Essay Example

Marriot Corporation : the Cost of Capital. In front of Dan Chores is the issue of recommending three hurdle rates for each of Marriott Corporations three divisions, which have significant effect on the firms financial and operating strategies as well as its incentive compensation. Marriott Corporation had three major lines of business: lodging, contract services and restaurants. Also Marriott had its growth objective, to remain a premier growth company. The four components of Marriotts financial strategy are consistent with its growth objective. Managing hotel assets multiplied the total worth of hotels than otherwise owned by it, thus increased EPS. Optimizing the use of debt in the capital structure, based on a coverage target instead of a target debt-to-equity ratio, also increased EPS by reducing the amount of equity at the maximum level. Repurchasing undervalued shares functioned similarly via replacing part of its shares by cheaper debt financing. Only investing in projects that would increase shareholder value required that projects meet the hurdle rates and be audited through their lives. Marriott used WACC to measure the opportunity cost, i. . the hurdle rate, for the corporation as a whole and for each division. In both circumstances, three inputs, debt capacity, debt cost and equity cost are needed. At the firm level, we get the debt capacity of 60% from Table A. The cost of debt is weighted average cost of its overall loan interest rate. Short-term debt for its restaurant and contract services divisions and long-term for its lodging division. Lodging accounted for 51% of its profits, therefore it can be estimated that lodging division used about 51% of its whole capital. Same with contract services of 33% and with restaurant division of 16%. Thus, the overall cost of debt =51%*74%/57. 66 %*( 8. 72%+1. 10%)+33%*40%/57. 66 %*( 6. 90%+1. 40%)+16%*42%/57. 66 %*( 6. 90%+1. 60%) =9. 34%. The cost of equity is the expected return of the equity. We co mpute that by using CAPM model. Expected return = Risk free rate + ? *(market return – risk free rate). The risk premium should be calculated by using holding-period returns, as 9. 90%-3. 48%= 6. 42%. Then we can compute the cost of equity is 3. 48%+0. 97*(6. 42%) =9. 71%. According to Exhibit1, 1987, we calculate the tax rate by dividing income tax over EBIT. $175. /$398. 9=44%. Then we can calculate the firm’s WACC = (1-44%)*(9. 34%)*60%+9. 71%*40%=7. 02%. Therefore, projects with expected return below 7. 02% should be rejected if we only recommend a single and solitary hurdle rate. If doing so, we would ignore the difference between business line and probably accept projects with too higher risk relative to its comparable or reject projects with appropriate risk in its business. For each division, the calculation of hurdle rates needs specific debt capacities, cost of debt and cost of equity consistent with the amount of debt. We get debt percentage, 74%, 40% and 42% in capital in Table A. The cost of debt for each division is the government interest rate plus rate premium: lodging: 8. 72%+1. 1%=9. 82%(long-term), contract Services: 6. 9%+1. 4% =8. 3%(short-term) and restaurant: 6. 9%+ 1. 8%=8. 7% (short-term). To estimate the cost of equity, we need to compute the beta of equity for each division using comparable companies. As the betas of debt were not provided, we made 2 assumptions: a. same business lines have the same beta of debt; b. Expected return of debt = Rf + ? *[E(Rm) – Rf*(1-T)] (Rf: risk free rate, E(Rm): expected return of equity market, T: tax rate). Here Rf is the interest rate of T-bill in 1987, E(Rm) is the geomantic average of S;P 500 return from 1926 to 1987, T is as same as the tax rate used by Marriott. ?b of lodging: -0. 077, ? b of restaurants and contract services: -0. 0246. We chose La Quinta Motor Inns (pure lodging business) to compute ? 0 of Marriott’s lodging division. We chose the average of Col lins Foods International, Luby’s Cafeterias, McDonald’s and Wendy’s International’s ? 0 as ? of Marriott’s restaurant division (these four corporations all operated pure restaurant business). The formula to compute the beta of equity is: ? s=? 0+1-TBS[? 0-? b]. After computed the beta of equity for lodging (l): 0. 126 and restaurants(r) divisions: 0. 747, we can use the whole corporation beta of equity, that is . 97, and the weight for three divisions to get the beta of equity for contract services (CS). ?s(CS)=[? s(Marriott)-? l s(l)-? r s(r)]/? cs. The weights for lodging, contract services and restaurants are the same as computing the cost of debt. The result is ? s (CS)=1. 924. To use CAPM to calculate the cost of equity for each division, the market premium should be decided. For lodging, the geometric average of the spread between S;P500 and T-bill rates is used because the compounding effect should be considered when the time interval is large. For restaurant ; contract services, because only 1-yr returns of equity and debt are considered, arithmetic average of the spread between S;P500 and T-bill rates is used to avoid underestimated bias. Below are the WACC for the three divisions. The costs of debt are from previous discussion. | lodging| Restaurant| Contract| | Market Premium for equity| 6. 42%| 8. 47%| 8. 47%| | Cost of equity| 8. 354%| 14. 44%| 20. 92%| | Cost of Debt| 9. 82%| 8. 70%| 8. 30%| | Cost of capital| 6. 241%| 10. 423%| 14. 410%| | The costs of capital are lower than 24% in all of divisions, indicated the growth of Marriott can fulfill all the required return from both creditors and stockholders. Though there could be the bias we added in when calculated the beta of debt and equity.

The Analytical And Intuitive Thinking - 927 Words

Introduction There are several different types of thinking. There is analytical, intuitive, creative, logic and rhetoric, all which are different tools in our own minds thinking tool box. They are not opposites, but used in different situations or a combination is used together to reach the best solution to a problem or situation. In this blog the focus will be on the analytical and intuitive thinking, but the others will also be of use. Analytical and initiative thinking are not best used separately but are a dynamic duo when it comes to thinking. I have selected a data set that pertains to math scores in the New York City School Districts, in particular grades third through eighth and how the genders match up against one another. Analytical thinking is focused on data and facts to help us reason through information, thus we will be looking at the trends at each level over the course of six years, 2006-2011, but intuition and logic will help us connect the missing pieces as to what the data is s tating and why that is the case. Math Performance and Gender Below you will see a snapshot of the data and a link to the interactive report to see the percentage of students from grades third to eighth that fall in each of the levels of proficiency in their particular math level. All Levels of NYC Math Scores for Grades 3-8 by Gender (2006-2011) After some research to figure out what each of these levels represented, are as follows: Level 1 below standard, Level 2 meets basicShow MoreRelatedAn Analysis On Intuition : Cognitive Bias Or A Fast Problem Solving Cognition1249 Words   |  5 Pagesof the brain, which present it as an automatic, reliable problem-solving system. Intuition and Biases In his book, Thinking Fast and Slow, Dr, Daniel Kahneman presents research within the 2 systems in the brain -system 1, a quick, effortless mental process that allows for automatic thought, and system 2, an analytical, effortful mental activity, that allows for more complex thinking, like mathematical problem-solving (Kahneman, pg. 20-21)- that are involved in all cognitive processes. System 1 isRead MoreManagers Developing Analytical Skills1022 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction Analytical is the use of analysis to solve problems. Analysis is the breaking down of problems into smaller problems that can be solved separately. It usually uses a process that directs it towards achieving a certain goal. Analytical skill is therefore defined as the ability of visualizing, articulating and solving issues that are either complicated or not and making sensual decision that is based on the information available. When gathering and analyzing information, analytical skills areRead MoreAn Analytical And Personal Review Of Jung Typology Test1405 Words   |  6 PagesThis is an analytical and personal review of Jung Typology Test. I defined and analyzed the four letter typology and two letter temperament resulted from test with a personal reflection on the results. I compared the personal reflection and how it applied to and affected organizational behavior and worldview. â€Æ' Step 1 Test Results I was tasked with an assignment to complete a personality test and discuss the results. The test was a Jung Typology Test conducted by Humanmetics website. The Jung TypologyRead MoreCreativity Is Important For Our Future1227 Words   |  5 Pagesto the science and math courses taught at colleges (Calhoun). Nevertheless, creativity is seen as a vital resource for the young adults of America because this type of intuitive thinking is seen as a necessity for future innovation. Therefore, in order to stay a global power, people are realizing that creativity, the art of thinking outside the box, should be taught in college education. However, after the conclusion that creativity is important, views take different routes. A major source of differingRead MoreThe Effect Of Hammonds Cognitive Continuum Theory On The Health Care System1068 Words   |  5 Pagesthat different types of tasks require different thought processes. By matching the right thought process to the right task we would improve decision making (Standing, 2008). For example the more complex a task is the more likely a person is to use intuitive reasoning. Rational thought is more likely to be used for task that are more familiar or have observable outcomes (Thompson et. al., 2015). In his theroy Hammond suggested that quasi-rationality is the most common form of understanding (StandingRead MoreDecision Making820 Words   |  4 Pagesapproach decision making is toward rational and intuitive thinking. In rational thinking a person consider the problem in a rational, step-by-step and analytical way. Rational thinking person will resolve a complex and complicated problem into smaller part and then resolve them in a rational, logical and integrated method. Another way of decision making style which is intuitive thinking is more flexible, spontaneous and creative. Intuitive thinking person will respond to a problem quickly and goneRead MoreJohn L Holland Developed A Test921 Words   |  4 Pagesthink this will be a good fit based on this test. I can see evidence of my conventionality being fiscally conservative. Some careers that may be a good match are a teacher, program director, or social worker. These careers are exactly what I was thinking, but they would be a more practical application for someone with a high artistic trait. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Designed in the 1940s by American author Isabel Briggs Myers and her mother Katharine Cook Briggs, this objective test attemptsRead MoreLeft Brain vs Right Brain950 Words   |  4 PagesRoger W Sperry. The correct term for the halves would be hemispheres. Mr. Sperry had discovered that the human brain has two different ways of thinking. The right hemisphere being more visual and the left hemisphere being more verbal. The left hemisphere is known as the digital brain. The left side controls reading and writing, calculation and logical thinking. The right side is known as the analog brain this side controls three-dimensional sense, creativity and artistic senses. Mr. Sperry was awardedRead More Design Thinking Essay examples1197 Words   |  5 PagesDesign thinking is a process for practical, creative resolution of problems or issues that looks for an improved future result. It is the essential ability to combine empathy, creativity and rationality to meet user needs and drive busine ss success. Unlike analytical thinking, design thinking is a creative process based around the building up of ideas. There are no judgments early on the design thinking (Simon, 1969, p. 55). Design thinking includes imagination and reason, a combination of convergentRead MoreDecision Making : The Top Job Of A Responsible Manager1253 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"gut-feel† or â€Å"gut-feeling†. Personal touch and emotions are involved, it comes up with analytical thinking that correlate with each other. Some decisions that involve emotions are usually exposed to a bit of intuition, will often have a primary aspect in personal relationships. But, if the intuition applied, is not achieving the possible result expected, disappointments comes, emotions can change. A result intuitive decision making has to develop into definite and rational kind of decision. Manager

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger - 1515 Words

In the novel, The Catcher in the Rye, written by J.D. Salinger, Holden Caulfield is a very complex and interesting person to take into consideration and psychoanalyze. His various traits make him a different person from the rest of the phonies in the world. Holden says, â€Å"All you do is make a lot of dough and play golf and play bridge and buy cars and drink Martinis and look like a hot-shot. How would you know you werent being a phony? The trouble is, you wouldnt.† What Holden doesn’t realize is that he is a phony as well. This is ironic because he says you don’t know if you are a phony, but he is. Salinger’s life is reflected in the book, there are many similarities to his life and Holden’s. Holden is a perfect example of Freud’s†¦show more content†¦Honest to God, we could have a terrific time† (Salinger 137). This is his dream for himself and Sally. He wants to run away with Sally but she is more reasonable person. Sh e tells him they can’t just do that. He gets mad and they start arguing. Him imagining the vision is a way to escape the real world. â€Å"However, according to Freud, when the desired object†¦ isn’t available, the ID [unconscious urges and desires], is able to achieve some partial gratification by forming a mental image of the desired object† (Nevid 470). According to Freud, by imagining himself and Sally he feels a little better and has a brief good moment. This comes crumbling down when Sally doesn’t agree. They automatically start arguing with each other. Another instance of him imagining things is his hunting hat. â€Å"I sort of closed one eye, like I was taking aim at it. ‘This is a people shooting hat,’ I said. ‘I shoot people in this hat† (Salinger 22). He imagines shooting people. He gets mad when Ackley says it is a dear shooting hat. He says he doesn’t like phonies, so most likely the people he shoots are the people he doesn’t like. The hat can represent his inner child since children usually play pretend guns. Like Freud said this is what Holden does to get some gratification by using his imagination. Holden also says that he wants to be the catcher in the rye. This would be his true dream to help children. His fantasy worlds are a way to balance his emotions as he goes from the realShow MoreRelatedThe Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger637 Words   |  3 PagesThe Catcher in the Rye, by J.D Salinger, consists of many minor characters. There are more than about sixty characters in the novel in which only three of them are major characters (Holden, Allie, and Phoebe) and the rest minor. Many of these characters are just mentioned with no lasting impact on either the novel itself or Holden. Salinger uses minor characters in the Catcher in the Rye to tell the readers about Holden and his views about the world. The first minor character seen in the CatcherRead MoreThe Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger654 Words   |  3 Pagesfirst questions that came to my mind when I received the first assignment notice that we would be reading The Catcher in the Rye for English class. The title is most likely the single most important word choice that the author must make. J.D. Salinger uses the title in the book to allude to more than just when Holden sees the young child singing. J.D. Salingers title, The Catcher in the Rye, alludes to the conflict Holden faces of sexuality when growing up. The first reference made to the titleRead MoreThe Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger944 Words   |  4 PagesMany people have different aspects and impressions on a teenager’s life. Some say society is the problem for their misbehaviours while others say it is the child who is responsible. Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger tells a story of a teenage boy named Holden Caulfield who gets kicked out from school to school. He never pushed himself in academics or anything and ended up failing, at most, everything. He re-tells what happened to him in New York after he got kicked out of Pencey Prep and secretlyRead MoreThe Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger1005 Words   |  5 PagesHolden Caulfield, the protagonist of J.D. Salinger’s classic coming of age tale The Catcher in the Rye, entices readers through his hyper-critical scrutinization of the post-war consumer world. The novel itself is acclaimed to be quite autobiographical; the similarities between Salinger and H olden are numerous. Holden is an avid critic of materialistic American ideals, and he aims to preserve innocence in others, and to save himself from falling into the land of adulthood. After failing out ofRead MoreThe Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger862 Words   |  3 PagesThe Catcher in the Rye a novel written by J.D. Salinger, the book starts off with Holden Caulfield, main protagonist, talks about his experience alone the weekend before he went home after getting kicked out of Pencey Prep.Holden seems to be embracing the growing up mentality yet he is frighten of adulthood he is trying to keep his innocence. Holden’s attitude toward life in general is perplexed. He pretends to be an adult by drinking heavily, yet he complains like a child. Holdens thoughts arentRead MoreThe Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger798 Words   |  3 PagesCatcher in the Rye Essay Anyone who has lost a beloved relative to cancer or other illnesses can understand how difficult it is to return to a normal living routine and move on with their lives without the relative. In J.D. Salinger’s novel, Holden Caulfield has to deal with the loss of his younger brother to leukemia. A few years after his younger brother, Allie, passed away, Holden finds himself being kicked out of yet another boarding school, this one being Pencey Prep in Pennsylvania. HoldenRead MoreThe Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger1104 Words   |  4 Pages J.D. Salinger has written multiple novels, but his most famous is The Catcher in the Rye. Not only is this novel famous for its literary merit, it is also known as his most banned novel in certain schools. Even though this novel has been banned, J.D. Salinger’s themes and moralistic purposes serve literary worth. In The Catcher in the Rye, the reader is first introduced to Holden Caulfield, as first person narrator. He is a radically independent adolescent who tosses off judgments at ease unselfconsciouslyRead MoreThe Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger983 Words   |  4 PagesCatcher in the Rye Essay Throughout Catcher in the Rye there are a lot of small parts of the story where it would be linked to the book and to the text all together. J.D. Salinger created a lot of important passages that would be associated with what type of message that he was trying to convey to the audience. Salinger would develop certain characters like Phoebe through her description and actions to have a influence on Holden, thus causing him to change as a character and reveal sides of himRead MoreThe Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger507 Words   |  2 PagesJ.D Salinger is a very known american writer whose literature became very popular. His books revolved around many ideas such as his view on children. Children in many of his books have an innocence that Salinger grasps onto and makes adults corrupt. Also, he shows how children are teachers to adults but can still be foolish. Purity in children are expressed throughout many stories by Salinger. In Catcher In the Rye, Holden repeatedly expressed â€Å"Did you ask her if she still keeps all her kings inRead MoreThe Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger667 Words   |  3 PagesIn a J.D Salinger novel, The Catcher in the rye interprets the adolescent world full of patience and misery. Holden Caulfield, hardly being the complete opposite of a typical protagonist. Instead, being the archetype of an anti-hero facing adolescent over anxiety. He is a teenager forced to grow up in a time of turmoil with severe emotional handicaps placed upon him by family, friends and life in general. Caulfield sets himself on such a journey and is portrayed as an individual on a quest for validation

Brief Describe the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill caused by BP Company

Question: Describe the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill caused by BP Company and how actions were taken against this company by the US Government ? Answer: Abstract This study covers a number of theories that are basically applicable in accounting. Some of the theories discussed include; Positive Political Theory, Public Interest Theory and the Legitimate Theory. These theories are discovered in the context of a case study of BP Company. BP Company is a global Company that falls among the worlds integrated gas and oil companies. A case study is the reputations (financial) of the response of BP to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill is also known as the BP Oil Spill or Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill happens to be the largest marine oil spill in the history of the United States. BP Company happened to be the initiators of a project known as Macondo Prospect oil field, where an oil spill occurred accidentally. Transocean Ltd, contracted BP Company to drill an exploratory well, in the process an explosion causing the oil spill occurred. The US Government tagged BP Company Responsible for the oil spillage. BP accepted the responsibility to ensure cleanup costs while blaming the disaster on Halliburton and Transocean Companies. However, all the charges in relation to the spillage were treated as non-operating items and thus, deduced from BPs taxable Company. This raised a number of issues regarding the p ositive, public and legitimate theories. The study compares the incident and how it was handled to the standards and requirements of the new accounting standards. The study weighs between the negativity and positivity of the action that was taken against this company. A summary is then made on the new accounting standards with a prcised conclusion. Introduction The main focus of the study is the aspect of The theories help in creating a good rapport between the two parties either the government and its citizens or the society and the organizations. Some of these theories are; 1. Positive Political Theory This theory is famously known as the explanatory political theory. This theory entails political study using the formal methods which include; the game theory, statistical analysis, and social choice theory. Positive Political Theory can also be summed up as formal aggregation preference theory for joint choices. It was established by William H. Riker. The social choice theoretic strategies are used for description and analysis of the performance of rules or institutions. The analyzed rules or institutions undergo further analysis under the game theory. Here, the parties involved in an interaction are termed as rational agents who are actually in a game and these parties are guided by self-interest. The outcome can, therefore, be predicted as the equilibrium of the game, easily by basing on the critiques and assumptions. 2. Public Interest Theory The Public Interest Theory is an economic theory that is famously known as the public choice. The Public Interest Theory was established by Arthur Cecil Pigou. This actually, involves using economic tools to handle the previous problems of political science. This theory holds that the regulators will always tend to find markets that are efficient economically. Public Interest Theory holds that regulation is available to respond to the demand for public rectification or imbalanced or inefficient market practices. The body that does this (regulatory body) is concerned to make a fair representation of societys interest. The Public Interest Theory assumes that markets tend to be fragile and it is assumed to operate with less efficiency. The government is assumed to be a neutral party by this theory. 3. Legitimate Theory Legitimacy is a generalized concept that actions of an organization are appropriate within some norms or rules that have been set. Legitimacy theory actually helps in expounding on the behavior of institutions in developing and implementing objectives that enable their survival in their environment (Walker 1993). The society will always tend to view the organization in accordance with what they expect from such organizations. The organizations activities, therefore, should respect the social and moral values of the society. These theories actually help in guiding the existence of businesses and organizations within societies as they give the codes of conduct each party should possess. For instance, in the case study BP Company need to be in good rapport with the society in order to continue offering their services effectively. The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill It is considered as the largest marine oil spill to happen in the United States. The oil spill occurred in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, 2010. This led to a lot of debate among different stakeholders. The exact location of the spillage was at Deepwater Horizon that was owned by Transocean and British Petroleum (BP) had been contracted to drill an exploratory well (Liu, MacFadyen Weisberg 2013). At the time of the explosion, the two companies had had agreed to close the well with the intention of carry out productions later, and Halliburton had been contracted to make cemented casings in the well. Based on the public interest theory, the US decided to hold BP responsible for the spillage. Even though BP accepted to take up the responsibilities and had to issue cleanup costs, it recently stated that the other two companies that were involved in the production that is, Transocean and Halliburton were also to be accountable for the oil spill. In this case, BP acted based on the legiti mate theory to protect its reputation. Financial Implications With BP agreeing to take up the responsibility of the oil spill, it had to incur some costs which had a great impact on its finances. Some of the financial implications include; BP had to pay a pre-tax of US$40.9 billion that was related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the pre-tax included the cleanup costs of US$17.7 billion. All the charges were considered as non-operating items and thus were calculated based on the taxable income. BP also agreed to open a US$ escrow account that was to be established in a period of 3.5 years through the sale of assets in the United States. The escrow account was a way of responding to the claims raised by various stakeholders. In addition, BP gave out US$500 to be used to spearhead a 10-year project on the impact of the oil spill. Despite the above financial implications, there were no fines or penalties that imposed on BP. The case study demonstrates the lack of necessary regulations to control the oil and gas activities and as such the politicians failed in regulating the operations of BP hence, failing to protect the interests of the public. The existing Clean Water Act formulated by the politician outlines that in such a case, an organization is supposed to be fined up to US$4,300 per barrel of the oil spilled (Rubin 2012). However, in the quest of protecting its reputation, BP argued that it was difficult to estimate the amount of spillage. Challenge of assessing ecological and socio-economic damages The damages resulting from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill are difficult to quantify in terms of space and time. Additionally, it is difficult for the government to determine in measurable terms the ecological losses that resulted from the oil spill as due to a lot of disagreements from different stakeholders. However, some agencies have resorted tpo using the resource replacement costs approach to estimate the damages. And since, the measurement of ecosystem services is yet to reach maturity, the scale of the penalties that an organization such as BP can receive are determined politically rather than through scientific or technical calculation. And as a result of such a loophole, BP is yet to release the details of the damages caused by the oil spill to the ecosystem. In addition, the methods that were used to calculate the pre-tax of US$40.9 are not disclosed. With BP failing to disclose such vital information, it becomes hard to determine the impact of the oil spill on the ecosyst em. Regulation for Oil and Gas Activities Deepwater Horizon oil spill led to a variety of ecological damages and hence the need to formulate strict regulations that govern the oil and gas activities. The regulations need to focus more specifically on environmental, health and safety protection controls. Additionally, there is the need to emphasize on the environmental accounting and reporting mechanisms so as to regulate the corporate environmental performance. With such strict regulations, the use of disclosure mechanism by BP to protect its reputation after the Deepwater Horizon could not be tolerated instead heavy penalties and fines could have been applied. In general, the arguments raised in the publication concerns the lack of strict regulations that governs oil exploration. Thus, the government should formulate the necessary policies that are aimed at protecting the public. Also, BP took advantage of the institutional loophole to protect its reputation and in so doing it was able to evade penalties involved. Based on these arguments I tend to agree that there is the need for formulation of policies to govern the oil and gas activities so that in the event that incidents such as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill occurring, the organization (s) involved will have to shoulder the total environmental, health, and safety damages caused. Conclusion In conclusion, there are a lot of theories that outlines how various organizations operate in an environment (Walker 1993). An example is a positive theory which describes the outlined policies for testing the institutional performance. Applying this theory to the case study, it is clear that there are loopholes in the Clean Water Act as there are no methods of measuring the damages caused to the ecosystem by the oil spill hence, no fines or penalties applicable. Another theory is the legitimate theory that BP has used to cover its legitimacy with regard to the oil spill. This includes outlining the pre-tax charged from its income tax but has not revealed how it was calculated. Lastly, it is the public interest theory that outlines the importance of the government in protecting the public through the formulation of policies. From the case study, there is a need to formulate strict policies governing oil and gas activities so that the corporate environmental performance is regulated. New Accounting Standards Accounting standards are used to in governing the preparation of financial reports. They can also be referred to as the legal requirement or procedure that sets out the accounting required for a given transaction (Scott 2014). In general, they are referred to as the acceptable principles of accounting (GAAP). The principles provide guidelines on how the various transactions and events should be measured and be presented in a financial statement. Some of these new standards issued in 2016 include; 1. Update 2016-12 This is based on revenue from contracts with customers. It is geared towards narrowing scope improvements the practical expedients. 2. Update 2016-11 This basically includes the following features; revenue recognition, derivatives, and hedging. It provides guidelines on the rescission SEC due to the updates are done on2014-09 and 2014-16 standards. It is pursuant to the announcement of staffs that was done at EITF Meeting on SEC update. 3. Update 2016-09 This mainly focuses on Compensation. In general, the standard emphasizes on stock compensation. It aims at improving the employee share-based payments. 4. Update 2016-08 This update is done on revenue that is obtained from having contracts with customers. It involves the comparison of the principal and agent considerations in making these amendments. Comparison, in this case, is between the gross revenue and the net revenue. 5. Update 2016-07 The topic of this accounting standard is on investment. This standard is based on the equity methods and joint ventures. Generally, it aims at improving and simplifying equity method transition. 6. Update 2016-06 This standard is also based on derivatives and hedging. It describes the various options of the debt instruments. References Liu, Y., MacFadyen, A., Ji, Z.G. and Weisberg, R.H. eds., 2013. Monitoring and Modeling the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: A Record Breaking Enterprise (Vol. 195). John Wiley Sons. Rubin, C.B. ed., 2012. Emergency Management: The American Experience 1900-2010. CRC Press. Scott, W.R., 2014. Financial accounting theory. Pearson Education Canada. Walker, R.B., 1993. Inside/outside: international relations as political theory (p. 2). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Wenger, E. and Lave, J., 1991. Situated Learning: Legitimate Peripheral Participation (Learning in Doing: Social, Cognitive and Computational Perspectives) by. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.

The Idea that organizational culture can be managed is preposterous Essay Example

The Idea that organizational culture can be managed is preposterous Essay The debate over the possibility of a successful management of organizational culture is not new (Ogbonna and Harris, 1998). The competing arguments generally differ on the grounds of the level of culture in question. As I will show in the following discussion, the critical point in the debate is the question of what exactly constitutes culture. It is this key, definitive element that divides researchers and thus, debaters on this subject. My examination of this subject will begin with a brief definition and description of organizational culture (hereafter OC); then, the components of organizational culture will be highlighted. After a brief discussion of the meaning of organizational culture management (hereafter OCM), the competing perspectives are presented and discussed, case studies and empirical work presented and compared, and finally the question of how preposterous the management of organizational culture is, is addressed. Numerous opinions on what culture is exist (Harris and Metallinos, 2002). Denison (1990:2) views OC as the underlying values, beliefs and principles that serve as a foundation for an organizations management system as well as the set of management practices and behaviours that both exemplify and reinforce those basic principles. Pettigrew (1979) views it as a combination of beliefs and ideologies, and for Deal and Kennedy (1982); it is the way we do things around here. We will write a custom essay sample on The Idea that organizational culture can be managed is preposterous specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Idea that organizational culture can be managed is preposterous specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Idea that organizational culture can be managed is preposterous specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer It is generally assumed by OC researchers that there are three levels of organizational culture analysis: observable culture (or what Schein, 2004 describes as artefacts), shared values and beliefs, and common assumptions. (Schermerhorn, et al 1994; Schein, 2004; Ogbonna, 1993). This classification is important as we shall see later; our classification determines our interpretation of the results of culture change efforts. OCM researchers do not share a consensus about the signification of culture management. The more common interpretation of culture management is to equate if with culture change. Seihl (1985:139) views culture management as managements attempt at articulating a possible culture, coming to agree that it is desirable and then attaining it through the sharing of desired values. Perhaps most illuminating is Ogbonnas caveat that managing culture is not synonymous with changing it, and may include creating it, changing it, maintaining it and abandoning it. (Ogbonna 1993:8) The competing views in the debate have been variously classified. Martin (1985) identifies the purists and the pragmatics; Legge (1995) recognizes protagonists and detractors; and Ogbonna and Harris (2002) adopted the classification of optimists, pessimists and realists. In this essay, I will be adopting the latter labels as I consider them more apt to capture all the sides of the argument. The main theses of the three perspectives are that the optimists believe that OC can be managed; the pessimists insist that OC cannot be consciously managed and the realists opine that OC may be manipulated in certain circumstances (Ogbonna and Harris, 2002). The optimists adopt a functionalist view of culture, and this was popularized by management writers in the 80s and 90s as a means of directly improving organizational performance. (Deal and Kennedy, 1982; Peters and Waterman, 1982).The optimists view OC as a variable and, by extension, believe that it is within the whims of mangers to direct and control in line with their organizational goals (Bate, 1994; Brown, 1995; Ray, 1994).The rationale for this stream of research is the assumption that the conscious manipulation of culture in a predetermined desired direction is linked to business performance. The pessimists are mainly academics whose main aim appears to be a description of theoretical soundness of the possibility of OCM rather than the utilitarian rationale of the optimists. These researchers view culture management techniques as a vehicle of control than as a means of performance improvement. (Alvesson and Wilmot, 1992). Wilmot, for instance, argues that culture control methods have served as potent means of managements control and domination of workers. They concede that the cultures of organizations do indeed change, but they insist that the direction and sustainability of change is not subject to the whims of management. The argument here is that culture is embedded at an unconscious level, thus untouchable by management intervention techniques. On purported claims of successful cultural management by the optimists, these authors argue that such ventures merely manipulate the tangible manifestation of observable culture, leaving the deeper unconscious assumptions of t rue culture unchanged (Anthony, 1990; Legge, 1994) The realists view culture as metaphor, rather than as a variable. These authors argue that culture cannot be directly managed because it is what an organization is as against what it has. (Smircich, 1983:347). Martin (1985) contends that culture cannot be changed but that it may be manipulated under certain circumstances, such as during leadership change, periods of crises or during the formation of an organization. Meek (1988) argues that within certain limits, it is possible for management to influence certain aspects of an organizations culture. Thus, the realists seek a balance between extreme optimism and excessive pessimism. They are neither for nor against OCM. Rather, they insist that the application of the concept should be more fully explored so as to develop a better understanding of the dynamics of culture change (Ogbonna and Harris, 2002). The above analysis reveals the plurality of positions on OCM. Ogbonna and Harris (1998) attempt to explain the difference in results by noting that the results depend on the level of culture considered. In essence, the lens adopted by the researcher determines his/her position about culture management. Thus, where culture is defined broadly to include artefacts, culture manipulation is often presented as feasible. Conversely, where it is viewed narrowly, as assumptions (as in Schein, 2004), culture management is seen as impossible. A notable criticism of the optimistic view of OCM is that it advocates the inculcation of organizational values to lower level employees who lack sufficient power and status to participate in the process of determining organizational values and to develop appropriate and legitimate means of resistance. Thus, there is a question about the ethics of such control programmes, notably, exploitation and emasculation (Ogbonna and Harris, 1998).This criticism is both tenable and well founded. Silvester et al (1999) note that there is no point just being critical of the notion of controlled cultural intervention without providing alternatives to the process, thus legitimizing the realist position. Empirical work in this area noted significant findings. Rosenthal et al (1997) noted a case of successful culture change in a retailing organization. Ogbonna and Harris (1998) reported a degree of success in culture change management at a food retailing organization they studied (Westco). Their findings suggest that although there was significant alteration in the behaviour and values of Westco staff, this might be explained by the imperative of compliance with management change agenda rather than because of a genuine willingness to change. In any case, they note that the basic assumptions (which Schein, 2004 refers to as culture) of Westco staff remained intact.

Eminent Death Essays - Music Industry, The Paz Show, Free Essays

Eminent Death Essays - Music Industry, The Paz Show, Free Essays Eminent Death The Eminent Death During this past summer I experienced real pain and sadness as a result of a loved ones illness and ultimate death which was something I had never had to deal with before. My grandfather, Pappy, had been sick with cancer on and off for ten to fifteen years. He was a very animated, witty man - always sitting in his chair, watching TV, and smoking his cigars, unless he was out playing golf or helping Granny do something around the house. But he would be sure to take the time to show my cousins and my sister and I some new games or toys he had gotten for his computer, or just tell us hysterical stories and jokes whenever we were at their house. I remember being in elementary school and going to see him in the hospital while he was there for chemotherapy. It was weird seeing my Pappy in a hospital bed so helpless, but I was young so I did not think about it. Thankfully he pulled through and was soon back to his old self again. There were other times when he was in and out of the hospital for a while, but my Pappy would always recover. The first to crack a joke at holiday meals or make the grandchildren laugh by putting his bolo tie in his nose during pictures; he loved the attention from his family. As I got into high school, I began to realize that my Pappy was not doing as well and going as strong as I had pictured. One could easily see the gray streaks coming in to his hair, turning it from a dark brown to a sort of salt and pepper look, and finally to a light gray. He began to resort to the use of a cane when walking around. My parents never really informed what was happening, just that he was not doing well or in the hospital or had worsened in his condition. At the end of my senior year and the beginning of the summer, things began to get really bad. I saw my dad and my uncle becoming the parent to my grandfather, and him becoming the child. It is one of those things that you hear about happening, but it does not click in your head until you actually experience it. My grandmother would call my dad to hurry over at least once a week because he had fallen and she was not able to help or he had another sort of accident that she was not capable of handling herself. I remember coming home from school one day and my father told me that Pappy was in the hospital and that I needed to go visit him because he was going to die soon. I did not know what to think about that except that I had to get over there fast. I went with my mother and it tore me apart inside to see my grandfather in that state. He had been sick the whole night before throwing up blood and my grandmother had rushed him to the hospital as soon as possible. Lying there, in the hospital bed, with all these cords and tests running through him - this was my grandfather. After a day or so the hospital released him and life went on, but he kept getting worse and worse. Summer began and I had a time-consuming job at the pool as a swim team coach, a swim instructor, and a lifeguard. I tried to go over to visit my grandparents as much as possible because I knew that Pappy would not make it much longer. One day as I returned home from work my mother told me that Pappy had a new tumor. He was going to have to get a MRI to find out whether it was benign or malignant. When my grandmother had taken him to the hospital, the doctors would not allow her to be in the room with him during the MRI. This caused Pappy to have a panic attack and not be able to complete the tests. All the doctors knew was that there was a tumor on his

Contrast and Comparison of Three Famous Paintings Essay

Contrast and Comparison of Three Famous Paintings - Essay Example The essay "Contrast and Comparison of Three Famous Paintings" explores such famous paintings as Collision of Moorish Horsemen" of Eugene Delacroix, "The Stone Breakers" of Gustave Courbet and "Haystacks, (sunset)" of Oscar-Claude Monet. The painting "Collision of Moorish Horsemen" has embraced the brighter use colors that portray a romantic design of the art. There is the use of the expressive brushstroke that is used to present the bright colors. As a result, the color has been used to emphasize on the Moorish Horsemen. The painting's visual texture has been used to create a feeling of the battlefield as shown in the art. The background has become successful due to the rapid brushstrokes. The contrast and balance of the piece of art have been made possible by the presence of bright colors in the horses at the front and darker for the one at the background of the battlefield. The painting "The Stone Breakers" has also used bright colors that represent different aspects of the subject s involved in the art. The frontline has brighter colors than the background; hence, presenting different directions and values in the painting. Moreover, unity has been emphasized through the use of active, aggressive subjects. Visual texture has also been embraced where a rough consistency exists in the front (through the stones that the miners are working on) rather than at the background where there is a mountainous background. The painting "Haystacks" has a variety of colors mostly tertiary that present the main theme.

Boeing versus Airbus Subsidy Dispute Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Boeing versus Airbus Subsidy Dispute - Essay Example The new competitors were not able to survive in a market which was virtually the sole provider of the jets. To help develop a strong competitive foundation, the European governments starting providing substantial subsidies to Airbus for the development cost. The subsidies played important role in forcing the Lockheed out of the jetliner industry whereas Douglas merged with Boeing (Pelletier, 2010). Airbus eventually took the major share of the market and is providing more jetliners as compared to Boeing which raised the concern among the US. This led them to form an agreement at the WTO to reduce the subsidies to provide healthy competitive economic environment. The agreement at WTO clearly stated that both Boeing and Airbus can enjoy the direct governmental subsidies at 33% of the jetliner’s developmental costs. It also included the limitation on the subsidies provided by indirect programs or civilian or military institutions as well. In addition to these, many other limitati ons were imposed on the subsidies. However the market share for Airbus kept on increasing at a steady rate which again raised the concern for Boeing (Gunstone, 2010). ... The EU threatened to sue Japan for providing this help because without this help, the Boeing aircraft will be more expensive and less competitive. Both these companies in order to have the greater market share used the subsidies but didn’t really share the actual figure which leaves the global competitors and market very dubious over the certainty of their accusations. This case leaves the global market very vulnerable to violation of agreements and can create the dissatisfaction among the other jetliners in the competence and central position of WTA as well (Pelletier, 2010). Ethically, Boeing engaged in the aggressive pricing strategy with the help of unlimited subsidies affected the European jetliner Airbus by cutting their sales short, price and market suppression of Airbus in various markets of its hold. Secondly, Boeing terminated the WTO agreement on its own and filed the case against Airbus which was pretty much against the essence of the business. The agreement comes to an end by the mutual consent of both parties. In addition to this, both the companies have created duopoly which has left the market pervasive to other competitors which is strictly against the global business’s essence and practices. In addition to this, at this time when the successful industrialized countries should work towards trade liberalization, their subsidies wrangling will have the trickledown effect on the suppliers. The emerging economies look towards the industrialized economies for markets access (Newhouse, 2008). Culturally, the general inclination of US towards Japan in the greatest interest of their economies has created the clear biasness towards the

Essay on Australian Culture Essay Example for Free

Essay on Australian Culture Essay The composers of In Sydney’s Suburbs, An Endless Summer and Love Letter: McIver’s Baths have helped me to further understand Australian culture by using a variety of language devices and techniques to uncover the Australian culture. Chris West, the author of In Sydney’s Suburbs, An Endless Summer reveals that Australians respect the harsh landscape and presents beach culture as a prominent aspect n the lives of Australia. Helen Pitt, the author of Love Letter: McIver’s Baths, uncovers Aboriginal beliefs in Australian principles and shows that multiculturalism is freely accepted in Australian society. West conveys the Australian landscape to be harsh and rugged, yet respected and valued by Australians. West personifies the land and describes how it â€Å"points like a crooked finger†. The use of the verb â€Å"points† gives the land an intimidating quality. West continues to describe the land as â€Å"a patch of God’s country. † The juxtaposition of the two phrases suggests that the Australian is feared but respected and cared for by Australians. This comparison has broadened my understanding of the Australian culture. This idea is similar to Pitt’s description of the beach â€Å"which is as curvy as the female form. † The simile creates a unique attractiveness, which is intriguing but is appreciated in Australian culture. Both West and Pitt expose an underlying appreciation of natural beauty in Australia, confirming my understanding of Australian culture. Pitt has employed the use of figurative devices that helped extend my understanding of Australian culture. â€Å"You nursed me†¦your swell embraced me in a way she no longer could. † The use of apostrophe gives the baths motherly qualities. The verbs â€Å"nursed† and â€Å"embraced† mimic the actions of a mother caring for her child. The quote also alludes to the old Aboriginal beliefs that the land is mother. This reveals that Aboriginal culture and beliefs are still present in today’s society and highly respected in Australian culture. In West’s article, there are also allusions to Aboriginal culture. He describes children playing on the beach â€Å"under the watchful eyes of black-clad elders†. Both composers display an aspect of Aboriginal culture and its importance in Australian society, thus deepening my understanding of Australian culture. In West’s article, beach culture is displayed as a prominent aspect in the lives of Australians. He describes businessmen and how they â€Å"peel off their swimsuits in the beachfront parking lots, towel down and don sober business attire then drive straight to work. † The use of the verb â€Å"peel† suggests that the beach and beach culture is part of them, that it’s in their skin and soul. Pitt reinforces the idea that being at one with sea and its surrounding environment is what is truly valued in Australian society. â€Å"I took refuge in your barnacled depths, reacquainting myself†¦with what it meant to be Australian. † Both composers explore the notion that having connection with the beach is genuinely valued in Australian culture, thus challenging my understanding of Australian culture. In Pitt’s article, multiculturalism is celebrated by showing the freedoms that we as Australians, no matter what cultural heritage we have, are able to enjoy. â€Å"Muslim women frolicking in burkinis†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The use of the verb â€Å"frolicking† suggests that the women feel comfortable enjoying the Australian environment without fear of prejudice from other cultures. The revelation of the carefree attitude towards cultural diversity in Australian culture has expanded my understanding of Australian culture. West also presents the acceptance of a diverse range of culture in his article. â€Å"Families of newly arrived Mediterranean immigrants fetch extravagant picnics†¦from the trunks of Japanese-built sedans† Both composers clarify that people of other cultures and religions are accepted and welcomed in Australian society. The confirmation has contributed to my understanding of Australian culture. By manipulating a range of language devices, both composers have challenged and reinforced my understanding of Australian culture, beliefs and values. West and Pitt both confirm that the harsh yet spectacular landscape of Australia is respected and cherished in Australian culture. They both uncover Aboriginal beliefs that are still present in today’s society. Multiculturalism and beach culture are both thoroughly exposed by West and Pitt. In Sydney’s Suburbs, An Endless Summer and Love Letter: McIver’s Baths have definitely helped me to further understand Australian culture.

Causing Child Support Problems Essay -- Social Work

When the economy is bad, providing for a family can be extremely difficult for a single-parent household. It becomes more difficult when a non-custodial parent stops making court-ordered child support payments that the family depends on. One would think that a government funded program that claims to provide the same variety of services to both welfare and non-welfare recipients would be beneficial in retaining the support from the non-residential parent. However, this is not true in all child support cases. Single-family households, who do not receive their child support, are living in poverty because child support specialists are overwhelmed with welfare cases that they make a priority. In the case of the child support specialist, it is all about the return of investment for the government. Because of the increased percentage of welfare cases, it is the understaffed child support specialist’s position to focus primarily on collecting money for the federal government, which i n many cases leaves non-welfare recipients without help. Single-family households are suffering in a world of poverty because of overwhelmed child support specialists who focus primarily on their welfare cases due to the growing child support policies, high volume of divorce rates, poor economic conditions and teen pregnancies. With the policies changing frequently, it can be difficult for child support specialists to stay informed of the laws and the procedures that are required by them to perform their job duties. Also with so many responsibilities, it is difficult for specialists to complete their duties in the limited time given per case. With so many changes in the federal and state policies, I wonder if the child support specialists are staying informe... ...rt Effective Programs to Reduce the Number of Child Support Enforcement Cases.† Policies Studies Journal 35.3 (2007): 546-547. Social Sciences Full Text. Web. 25 Feb. 2012. Cornanor, William. Law and Econimics of Child Support Payments . N.p.: Elgar Publishing, 2004. ABC-CLIO eBook Collection. Web. 9 Dec. 2011. â€Å"Divorce Rate.† Divorce Rate. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Apr. 2012. Laakso, Janice H. â€Å"Child Support Policy: Some Critical Issues and the Implications for Social Work.† Social Work 45.4 (2000): 367-370. ProQuest Research Library Prep. Web. 25 Feb. 2012. Lamb, Michael. Role of the Father in Child Development. 4th ed. N.p.: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2004. ABC-CLIO eBook Collection. Web. 2 Dec. 2011. United States. Child Support Enforcement. Handbook on Child Support Enforcement. Washing D.C: n.p., 2008. U.S. Department of Human and Health Services. Web. 5 Apr. 2012.

The Chinese State Environmental Protection Agency

Case Study Report Introduction This case study report will explore the company Phase Separation Solutions (PS2) and identify the key problems and alternatives. An analysis and application of models will then be conducted. Specifically, the five models chosen consist of a PESTEL analysis, Porters Five Forces, a SWOT analysis, the VRIN model and the organisational configuration model. An evaluation of alternatives involving advantages and disadvantages for the alternatives are then investigated. Finally, a conclusion and recommendations are presented for PS2.Identification of Key Problems and Alternatives Within the case study there are a set of key problems and alternatives presented. The first problem deals with whether PS2 should enter the Chinese market. To investigate this further, economic problems, regulatory problems, and the problem of potential limited markets in Canada and North America may compel PS2 to internationalise. Declining economic markets and volatile industry prop ensity in Canada and North America display limited sustainable future revenues and weakening PCB-contaminated soil allocation.Regulatory issues prohibit PS2 from transporting soils from the US to Canada in addition to PCBs only providing PS2 with short term momentum as PCB treatment is a declining market in Canada. Currently, in the Canadian market there is a potential limit in regards to the amount of PCB-contaminated soil and unfavourable cost advantages which may require PS2 to look abroad in order to increase their business activities. These factors raise issues of constraints in PS2s existing markets (Canada and North America) which will cause assessment whether PS2 should internationalise into China.The second problem deals with which of the two opportunities should PS2 pursue. PS2 needs to weigh up the two options. Option one is a joint venture (JV) with Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences (NIES) in the remediation POP-contaminated soil while option two is a JV with Z houshan Nahai Solid Waste Central Disposal (Nahai) in oil recovery from oil sludge. Either none, option one, option two, or both need to assessed and then selected. Would it be feasible to pursue both? Assessments of internal capabilities would need to be undertaken, focusing on financials and costs to determine the possibility of pursuing both options.In order to undertake both options, PS2 has to assess the cost and benefits. The third problem deals with whether PS2 possess the required resources and capabilities to pursue an equity-based entry. An internal assessment of resources and capabilities will need to be undertaken to determine current capacity and any future resources and capabilities needed to expand. Additionally, determining the affect cooperative opportunities with NIES and Nahai in China would do to impact the metrics of PS2 and the flow-on impact on corporate resources and the organisational structure.The fourth problem deals with what ownership levels PS2 should a ssume for each option. Investigating both options and determining the percentage of ownership levels for both options (i. e. equal joint control, majority control or minority control) needs to be undertaken. Therefore contract negotiations with potential JV partners must suit PS2. Based on ownership levels, the fifth problem would be how PS2 would staff its Chinese operation(s) if they decide to pursue the opportunities in China.Organisational structures, systems, and staffing need to be considered when determining the JV and the collaboration of staff. The sixth problem could be that the Chinese market is still in an emerging stage which brings about issues of lagged development of industry in terms of research capabilities and techniques of treatment facilities even though the potential size of this market appears a decent size for small firms such as PS2. The seventh problem deals with competitors (i. e. BEV) who have been seeking opportunities for geographical diversification wh ich could saturate the market and put pressure on PS2.Competitor analysis and determination of future potential industry outcomes are needed to determine a long-term plan for PS2 to internationalise into China. Lastly, the modes of international involvement have previously been on a non-equity basis, in the form of equipment exporting, licensing and service contracts. The eighth problem is that PS2 has no experience in international expansion of an equity-based manner which could present unforeseen issues PS2 has not previously faced. Therefore determination of company capabilities to set-up operation systems to effectively implement an equity-based entry will require copious assessments.Analysis and Application of Models 1)PESTEL Model (macro analysis) PS2 is no stranger to international markets and is presented with the opportunity to enter the unfamiliar yet seemingly attractive Chinese market. An analysis of the Chinese market is necessary to determine the expansion viability. P ESTLE is a model which can provide comprehensive information about the macro-environment of the Chinese market and can help answer the problems of whether or not PS2 should enter the Chinese market and which option(s) to choose.Political Factors: The Chinese government has realised and reached a consensus on the importance of prioritising environmental protection beyond a â€Å"basic policy† of country agenda from 2009. The Chinese State Environmental Protection Agency spent $162. 5 billion on environmental protection in 2009 and the Chinese government strongly committed to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, which meant the government needed to pay more attention and spend more money on environmental protection (Peng & Beamish, 2012, p. 9).Furthermore, in 2010, the Chinese government claimed that $3 billion would be invested to oil investigation and oil remediation from 2011 to 2016 (Peng & Beamish, 2012, p. 10). Economic Factors: In the past 30 years, economic development of China was rapid where the real GDP per capita rose from $220 in 1980 to $2,883 in 2010 and the annual growth rate was around 9% per annum (Peng & Beamish, 2012, p. 8). The huge economic development will provide many opportunities for companies to enter. The Chinese economic environmental is still at the early stage however it has great potential to grow.Social Factors: Environmental pollution has become a serious social issue facing the Chinese government due to its negative consequences on society’s health. Around 410,000 people die every year in China because of environmental pollution (Peng & Beamish, 2012, p. 9). Meanwhile, the number of protests related to environmental pollution increased with an annual rate of 29% in recent years (Peng & Beamish, 2012, p. 9). Technological Factors: China’s technological capabilities are not as developed as other nations and causing lags in potential growth.TDU technology is widely used in China’s POP market. Compared with TDU, PS2’s TPS technology has higher mobility. In China, the oil sludge industry is in its infancy so advanced technologies are needed to propel development. Environmental Factors: China is critically affected by environmental pollution with smog causing negative effects on worker attendance and productivity. Environmental pollution has placed a burden on the country’s medical system causing pressure on the government to solve the problem.Dumping of untreated oil sludge into pits or the fact that they were incinerated is also bad for the environment. Legal Factors: The government is on its way to addressing environmental pollution. On one hand, it takes measures to reduce pollution. On the other hand, regulations have been created in order to treat pollution properly such as the regulation to forbid the traditional way to deal with the oil sludge, which can be positive for PS2 to compete in the market. Overall, the PESTEL model analyses the ma cro-environment of China. Generally the environmental industry of China is attractive.On one hand, China has seen huge economic growth so that the country has the ability to spend money on environmental protection. On the other hand, the economic development was made at the cost of the environment and people in China have been negatively affected by the environmental pollution, which means it is necessary to take measures to protect the environment. Moreover, the technology of the environmental industry in China is not developed. To sum up, the macro-environment of China is positive for companies to enter with advanced echnologies. Both the POP industry and oil sludge industry are at the early stage with great potential, so the external factors are positive for PS2 to pursue both options and enter into the Chinese market. 2)Porters Five Forces Model (micro analysis) The treatment of POP and Industrial Sludge micro-industry analysis within China addresses the aspects which directly i nfluence PS2 and its competitive behaviour and responses. Porter’s Five Forces interact and determine an industry’s attractiveness and profit potential.One problem PS2 can review to gain a clear picture of whether they should enter the Chinese market in order to determine its viability and what forces offer potential attractiveness or barriers. Another problem PS2 can review is the competitive nature of the Chinese industry with potential opportunities or obstructions as well as varying competitor market saturation levels. Industry analysis will enable an overall assessment of the desirability to enter, difficulty to enter, and potential of the industry.Threat of New Entrants: Low threat of new entrants as there are high barriers to entry which would be difficult to overcome however regulatory changes are transforming industry operations. Both options would mean PS2 would have high start-up costs in conjunction with the JV as they would have high capital requirements f or allocation of site locations and treatment facilities as well as high fixed costs with the latest technology and transportation. The industry capabilities are specialised and require knowledge built through years of immersion in the industry.Legal barriers make entry more difficult to comply with environmental and legal policies which can restrict operations. Threat of Substitutes: Low threat of substitutes as there are no direct substitutes to the raw materials used in operations, such as POP contaminated soil and oil sludge. As both soil and oil are natural resources, the likelihood of substitutes are low however government pressures for preservation of environmental reserves means there are various substitute processes towards conversation of soil and oil which would be dependent on technology and cost advantages.The ability to switch between substitute processes is moderate however contracts with companies would limit the ability to switch as site locations grant permission t o treatment of the resource. Bargaining Power of Buyers: Low bargaining power of buyers as they have limited capacity to acquire or produce natural resources, such as clean soil and oil on their own. There are a multitude of buyers who would purchase large volumes of either soil or oil however they would lack the ability to influence the products as the technological processes are highly specialised and restricted to government policies.Buyers do however have the ability to switch between similar operational organisations if switching costs and contract negotiations enable such business transactions. Bargaining Power of Suppliers: Moderate-to-high bargaining power of suppliers as they are reliant on natural reserves that determine the allocation of such resources (soil and oil) to organisations. Governments and private organisations would need to give permission for site allocation as well as importation of resources to potential buyers which can be a rigorous and costly task.The sp eciality of the resource and finite nature makes the bargaining power strong within the Chinese market. There are also other suppliers, such as the companies that supply PS2 with materials for their technology and devices. These suppliers have a high bargaining power as it is assumed that only specialised companies can provide PS2 with the materials and equipment that they need. The Threat of Competitive Rivalry: Low-moderate threat of competitive rivalry as there are a few competitors in the market with various location sites, technological processes and operational capacity.The industry growth is immensely high with regulations and environmental outlooks encouraging preservation of natural resources (soil and oil) encouraging organisations to compete. There would be limited differentiation between resources however production and technological processes would ensure some differentiation enabling PS2 to apply such processes to deliver a competitive advantage in the Chinese market. Overall the POP and Industrial Sludge industry is moderately attractive as a majority of forces pose limited threats. The process systems between buyers nd suppliers are complex however power distribution is fairly un-proportionate. The high barriers could be concerning however once entered into the market, the threat of substitutes and competitive rivalry is limited. Addressing the problems, PS2 has the ability to enter the market as it is attractive and can compete and differentiate with other competitors with the assistance of a JV. PS2 has TPS technology which has the ability to provide the Chinese industry with a highly unique and differentiated competitive alternative especially as the market has the capability for such treatment processes. ) SWOT Analysis The SWOT analysis takes an overall approach to the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats presented to PS2 in the case. Specifically, the SWOT analysis can review the problem of whether or not PS2 should enter the Chinese market, which of the two options they should select, the feasibility of pursuing both options, ownership levels, the problem of competitors wanting to enter the international arena, and the fact that the market was still at an emerging stage. Strengths: PS2 is no stranger to internationalisation into other markets with technology deployed in 14 countries in the past 15 years. -PS2 possesses internationally proven technology (TPS), the only one to be able to extract 90% of oil from industrial sludge (Peng & Beamish, 2012, p. 3). It is recognised as being world class for performance, reliability, mobility and its lack of harmful air emissions. -TPS technology can easily be deployed at fixed locations and has several advantages (stated in above point). -PS2 is well suited to the Nahai JV as they have global experience.Both owners have similar personalities and stories. A solid trust had already been developed and Nahai had solid assets with a wide range of permits already obtai ned. -The Government agency (NIES) has a degree of safety to it which reduces the risk of the project. They had extensive expertise and experience and had identified and inventoried 300+ sites in three provinces. This option also acted as a free advertising campaign for PS2. -Being an early entrant into the emerging market of remediation of POP-contaminated soil,PS2 would most likely enjoy first mover advantages. Weaknesses: -The oil recovery from oil sludge market was fragmented and the industry was still in its infancy. -The cost of both JV’s are expensive ($3 million each option). -For option one (POP-contaminated soils), the JV would need to design, engineer, manufacture and market TPS units in China for use in various regions of China. -There is no guarantee that option one will work as the JV would need to design, plan, launch and bid for, operate and participate in projects in China. Some competitors already have the rights to other regions of China which will make it harder for PS2 to gain permissions to other areas in China and cause competitive intensity in the industry. Opportunities: -The contaminated soil market has opened up significantly since regulations imposed by governments required more adequate processing of soil. -China was becoming more environmentally aware making protection a priority. Previously waste would be dumped, however now it can be treated with new regulations in some provinces. More sludge would be generated from increased oil imports which equates to more business for PS2. -Nahai was a leader in the area, possessed the only waste management processing permit in the area, and had an excellent infrastructure. -If option two goes ahead, it opens the doors up for other opportunities like consulting services and applying the technologies to other parts of China. Threats: -The main threat is the issue of the JV’s. Issues of control, management and staffing are present and could undermine PS2’s abilities. Conta minated soil sites were widely dispersed across the country. The soils would therefore need to be transported; however this is not easy due to their bulk. New laws and regulations were expected to ban the importation of waste containing POPs from province to province. Based on the SWOT analysis, it appears that the strengths and opportunities outweigh the weaknesses and threats. From the model, it looks certain that indeed PS2 should enter the Chinese market, and pursue both options as it is feasible to pursue both options.Entering the market would beat any competitor in entering the Chinese market and may even deter them, hence eliminating the problem of competition. The problem that the market was at an emerging state helped PS2 as it was in a growth stage and this seems likely to continue. Regarding ownership levels, there seems to be a good fit between the two groups who PS2 would enter the JV with, so this should not be much of a problem. 4) VRIN Model In order to determine whi ch option to pursue, or whether PS2 should choose to pursue both, the strategic capabilities and resources as a basis of competitive advantage must be explored.The internal capabilities will be examined, alongside the required resources and capabilities to pursue an equity-based entry. Furthermore, company capabilities to set-up operation systems to effectively implement an equity-based entry will be determined. Value: With the Chinese government understanding the current environmental concerns in their economy, a need for the protection of the environment was a priority for the government. Pollution was not only an issue, but posed a social issue to residents of the country.As a result, environmental protection became a â€Å"basic state policy† (Peng & Beamish, 2012, p. 9). Contaminated sites were randomly dispersed across China, and the mobility of PS2’s TPS technology provided them with a possible competitive advantage in this market. This ease of use across the va rious sites in China was not something offered by PS2’s competitors. Also, due to application of PS2’s technology regardless of the POPs to be treated, the opportunity in China could allow them to compete in a $725 million market (Peng & Beamish, 2012, p. 0). The technology PS2 possesses offers value to the company and an entry into China could extract extra value for PS2 based on favourable policy changes. Rarity: The history of the company, providing a management team with extensive knowledge of the industry, and the geographical experience possessed by these individuals provides PS2 with a supremely talented and knowledgeable workforce. With the president and CEO Paul Antle’s 25 years of experience behind him, his abilities to pursue projects have contributed to his many awards.He was recognised for his success as an entrepreneur, suggesting similar qualities to that of Nahai’s owner. This similarity, alongside an ability to direct and manage, provides PS2 with the advantage of identification with individuals and knowledgeable people to run such a project. Moreover, PS2 offered services on a â€Å"fee-for-service basis† creating a desirability surrounding their product and service Furthermore, their adoption of previous ways to raise capital, such as the Capital Pool Company program, and their insight into becoming a public company suggest that PS2 has been a strategic player in their ambition to create funds.All this confirms that the resources and capabilities that PS2 possesses are rare and hard to find in other companies within the industry. Inimitability: The TPS technology differed to that of its competitors. It produced safe soil with an 85% decrease in volume that could be returned to the environment. The TPS process not only enabled the recovery of oil and other hydrocarbons for reuse or resale, but also generated its own fuel source to fire the system. Compared with incineration and land filling, TPS technology p roduced no harmful air emissions and no land and water pollutants.And finally, compared with incineration, the TPS process produces significantly fewer greenhouse gas emissions. The environmental benefits presented by this technology dealt with the current environmental concerns facing the Chinese government (Peng & Beamish, 2012, p. 3). This makes the TPS technology hard to imitate by any other competitor as there is no other technology that can match its superiority. Non-substitutability: There are always risks of competitors entering the market, but not necessarily substituting PS2’s technology with the same. Rather, competitors may enter the market and look to potentially enhance PS2’s technology.The driving force behind PS2’s technology is the development of a technology that allows for the protection of the environment (p. 6). This technology may only be substituted by the use of incineration or landfills, and if substituted, to the detriment of the enviro nment (p. 6). These forms of substitution do not create the same outcome as that of PS2’s TPS technology. The VRIN model explores the resources and capabilities currently possessed by PS2. Option one allows PS2 to enter a somewhat new market in China, allowing NIES to act as an agent for PS2’s technology.Option one presents a lower level of risk for PS2, but in doing so, results in a lower level of return, contrary to option two. Option two allows a certain level of identification between the management team of Nahai, and PS2’s current management team. This, alongside Nahai’s tangible resources, may present an attractive venture for PS2. Either option presents PS2 as a new, and highly competitive, entrant in the Chinese market. Therefore, the VRIN model confirms that PS2 may have a sustainable competitive advantage and should therefore enter the Chinese market.Both options look suitable. PS2 currently has the required resources and capabilities to pursue an equity-based entry. 5) Organisational Configuration Model The organisational configuration model looks at six main elements in organisations and can be applied to PS2. Specifically, this model can review the problem of whether or not PS2 should enter the Chinese market, which of the two (if not both) options that they should select and whether PS2 possess the required resources and capabilities to pursue an equity-based entry.Leadership: Paul Antle is the CEO of PS2 and leads a team of employees who all possess skills and abilities around the TPS technology. Nahai’s owner had a similar personality to Antle and was also an entrepreneur. They both identified with each other from the beginning, so there is definitely a match in regards to the leaders and their ways of thinking. They had a solid trust based on this. The NIES had made the first call to PS2 about their technology (based on the State Environmental Protection Agency of China) so it is accepted that the leaders som ehow matched and got along well.Vision & Strategy: PS2s strategy wanted to involve international geographic diversification to propel it to not just a domestic player, but an international one. This would at the same time improve their growth potential. Since both these opportunities were international expansions, it suited the strategy of PS2 and there was a match. Their vision was to become an international player and expand in more areas on new terms (equity basis) and these options to enter into China allowed them to do just that. Formal structures: Antle as CEO leads his team of employees.Among these employees there are certain positions held such as marketing manager, operations manager and R&D manager. PS2 has a fairly rigid and hierarchical structure where certain people report to others above them. However, due to the small number of staff, there are quite frequently vertical hierarchical jumps and everyone interacts with each other. Technology: The Thermal Phase Separation (TPS) technology that PS2 possesses is an internationally proven technology which is the only one to be able to extract 90% of oil from industrial sludge (Peng & Beamish, 2012, p. 3).It is recognised as being world class for performance in regards to its reliability, mobility and its lack of harmful air emissions. It has been internationally proven and produces safe oil, enables the recovery of oil which can then be reused or resold. The technology produced no harmful air emissions, no land and water pollutants, and fewer green house gas emissions. This would be appreciated by the Chinese and their government in regards to recent policy changes and environmental protection developments. Processes: At PS2, there exist several processes that act in harmony to accomplish tasks and achieve goals effectively and efficiently.There are processes that deal with inputs and outputs such as information, people and materials. There are also processes formed around customer service and after sa les service for existing customers, new product development, order fulfilment as well as things like decision making and resource allocation. These could all be successfully employed in China. Informal structures: As mentioned above, although the hierarchical structure exists and is respected by all employees, informal structures are present. These informal structures don’t cause conflict as primarily it is the formal structure that employees follow.However, the CEO and management understand that sometimes it is easier to work with informal structures and that friendship groups work better with one another. For this reason, these structures exist and are granted by management to continue operating. This also leads to a higher motivated workforce. Based on the organisational configuration model that looks at six main elements of PS2, it appears that PS2 should enter the Chinese market as the leaders have good fit, the vision and strategy align with moving into global markets, and the technology is sufficient in regards to China’s new environmental standards.Both options look suitable to be pursued. From the model, it appears that PS2 possess the required resources and capabilities to pursue an equity-based entry and therefore should enter the market. Evaluation of Alternatives Option 1: Remediation of POP-Contaminated Soil Some advantages of option 1 include: -The total amount of high-density PCB waste was about 50,000 tons, a decent proportion of the low-density waste which was calculated to be 500,000 tons – this was three times the amount of the Canadian PCB market (Peng & Beamish, 2012, p. 9). If the government improved its measures to protect the environment, the number of POPs in China would rise (currently a $470 million and the potential to be a $725 million market) (Peng & Beamish, 2012, p. 10). -The TPS technology differed to that of its competitors – the TPS process was able to produce safe soil with an 85% decrease in vol ume which could be returned to the environment (Peng & Beamish, 2012, p. 3). The TPS process not only enabled the recovery of oil and other hydrocarbons for reuse or resale, but also generated its own fuel generated its own fuel source to fire the system. Compared with incineration, the TPS process would produce less greenhouse gas emissions. -Compared with the TDU unit (the current technology from a competitor), PS2’s TPS technological unit had higher mobility, which would be attractive to the Chinese market because there were numerous small contaminated sites in China. -PS2 would cooperate with NIES. NIES was a government agency so the risk of this project would be reduced significantly. NIES had extensive expertise and experience and had identified more than 300 sites in three provinces. This also acted as a free advertising campaign for PS2. Being an early entrant into the emerging market of remediation of POP-contaminated soil, PS2 would most likely enjoy the first move advantages. -PS2 was involved in conducting market research with the Chinese government over the past one-and-a-half years, which meant PS2 had already gained experience cooperating with the Chinese government. The experience would be helpful if PS2 entered the Chinese market. Some disadvantages of option 1 include: -The JV would need to design, engineer, manufacture and market the TPS units in China for use in various parts of China.There is no guarantee that this option will work as the JV would need to design, plan, launch and bid for, operate and participate in projects in China. -The JV would need an investment of about $3,000,000, which is a large investment for a company the size of PS2. Option 1 is attractive because the positive factors outweigh the negative factors for PS2. The Chinese market is huge and has great potential. Furthermore, PS2 has a competitive advantage to compete in the industry of remediation of POP-contaminated soils.However, there are some risks that PS 2 needs to take into account such as the big initial investment. Option 2: Oil Recovery from Oil Sludge Some advantages of option 2 include: -Chinese oil sludge industry is large with treatment of 6. 1 million tons with Zhoushan’s facilities located close to costal oil terminals such as Aoshan Oil Terminal which is China’s largest oil transhipment base (Peng & Beamish, 2012, p. 13). -New regulations in Chinese market is encouraging organisations not to dump but rather enforcing proper treatment to respond to environmental issues. Cooperation with Zhoushan Nahai Solid Waste Central Disposal Co. Ltd. (Nahai) in Zhejiang means PS2 would be in partnership with the largest and only permitted solid waste management system in the area of Zhoushan. -Nahai had become a â€Å"leader in the management of hazardous waste and oil sludge in the Zhoushan area† (Peng & Beamish, 2012, p. 13) therefore providing more tangible resources such as an oil storage facility, a waste oil recovery facility, bilge water treatment process and a solid waste destruction facility. The JV would expose PS2 to a greater window of opportunity through the capability of processing from 10,000 to up to 100,000 tonnes of oily sludge per year (Peng & Beamish, 2012, p. 13). -The ability to leverage off PS2’s international management teams experience through development opportunities of processing oil sludge recovery into other regions of China. -The internationally recognised TPS technology provided by PS2 addresses the environmental concerns of the Chinese government, and thus, partnering with Nahai will present this JV as the preferred vendor for oil sludge recovery systems. PS2 is well suited to Nahai as they have global experience, similar personalities, he is an experienced entrepreneur and they identify with each other. Some disadvantages of option 2 include: -The permit for waste management held by Nahai is only limited to the Zhoushan area. While this area may conta in a large potential of oil sludge remediation, gaining rights in other areas of China may pose an issue. -Some competitors already have the rights to other regions of China, thus gaining these permissions to other areas in China may be a drawback and saturate the industry. As Nahai is a privately owned company, and PS2 is a public company, the provisions between the two are not definite. This JV, as with any JV between a public and private company may present a lack of accountability and blur the distinctions with regards to risk, performance and funding. -The Chinese oil sludge industry is still in its infancy and is very fragmented due to various oil sludge generation locations making it difficult to expand operations into other regions. -The JV would need an investment of about $3,000,000, which a large investment for a company the size of PS2.When determining whether PS2 should enter into a JV with Nahai it is important to explore both the advantages and disadvantages that exis t. While there may be some disadvantages present, there are also advantages for PS2 to enter into a JVwith Nahai that will allow for the international growth and expansion of PS2. While it may not allow for the exploration of other suitable industries, such as research into rural environments, it does provide PS2 with substantial financial gain should they consider entering into this JV with Nahai.Recommendations and Conclusions Based on the above evaluation of alternatives, it appears that for both option one and option two, the advantages clearly outweigh the disadvantages. However, taking a closer look at both options, it appears option one has the same amount of advantages as option two but at the same time option one has far less disadvantages than option two. From this, it could be concluded that option one is perhaps better than option two in regards to which option PS2 should choose.Therefore option one is the better opportunity on face value however this is not to say that option two is not viable as the analysis illustrates both provide high potential future prosperous outcomes for PS2. It is therefore recommended that PS2 enter both option one and option two, but at different times and stages. It is recommended that PS2 pursue and enter option one, the remediation of POP-contaminated soil first and foremost. The only negatives for pursuing this option is firstly the cost, which is a price of doing business and will need to be undertaken no matter how or where PS2 expands internationally.The next negative is that there is no guarantee that the JV will work, as PS2 has to do extra work such as bidding, planning, launching, operating and participating. Therefore an element of risk does exist, but the advantages and potential return outweigh this risk. The advantages consist of large amounts of PCB waste present, the fact that the TPS technology was different to any other company including its use (such as a higher mobility) and the environmental protec tion is enforced. Nevertheless, this does not mean that PS2 should not pursue the second option of oil recovery from oil sludge.Some of the major disadvantages deal with limited permits and areas where PS2 can use its technology, the fact that other competitors have the right to other regions of China, and possibly the problem of conflictions between the JV agreements as PS2 and Nahai are private and public respectively. There are though, more advantages than disadvantages, and stronger ones as well. For example, PS2 would be exposed to a greater opportunity, Nahai has a strong reputation and possesses the only permits in the area in question, the large oil sludge industry and the fact that both PS2 and Nahai had similar founders with similar personalities.From the evaluation of alternatives, option one is preferred, but option two still appears viable. Therefore, it is recommended the corporate level strategy is to enter into option one and be monitored based on the above conclusio ns. Entering both options at the same time is unrealistic and would bear financial strain on PS2. It seems a more strategic move would be to pursue option one and monitor it in terms of its financial performance – return on equity and return on investment as well as its success. If it is successful and some of the expenses are recuperated, this could be used for potential enter into option two.Therefore, it is recommended that an entry into option two is followed by the entry of option one at a later stage (based on the assessment outcomes of option one). If however option one is a failure and there is no return on the $3 million, option two will not be pursued. Further, it is also recommended that PS2 embark on a new operational level strategy of hiring additional employees and expanding resources required to increase the probability of any entrance into China ending in a successful move for PS2.It is expected that any move into China will require a collaboration of resource s with the JV and further employees to cope with the increase in activities and make sure the entry runs smoothly. The increase and hiring of new staff should specifically involve potential employees who have some cross-cultural experience and perhaps even some business experience within China. Reference Peng, G. Z. , 2012, ‘Phase Separation Solutions (PS2): The China Question’, Richard Ivey School of Business, The University of Western Ontario, p. 1-18