Wednesday, August 26, 2020

The Fight Against Cyber Crime Free Essays

Running head: THE FIGHT AGAINST CYBER CRIME The Fight Against Cyber Crime: What Can We Do? Conceptual Cyber wrongdoing is on the ascent and each association must perceive the peril and find a way to help alleviate the danger. While numerous establishments stress more over programmers than digital crooks, it is digital wrongdoing that can cause the most harm. A programmer is all the more effectively identified while a digital criminal may as of now be in your system undetected. We will compose a custom article test on The Fight Against Cyber Crime or on the other hand any comparative subject just for you Request Now While a programmer may attempt to break a system for the rush or to disturb, a digital criminal will penetrate a system for money related addition. This paper is proposed to bring up a portion of the dangers of digital wrongdoing and what a money related organization can never really moderate the danger of assault. Catchphrases: digital wrongdoing, digital assault, Information Technology Information Sharing and Analysis Center, IT-ISAC, Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center, FS-ISAC The Fight Against Cyber Crime: What Can We Do? While numerous foundations stress more over programmers than digital hoodlums, it is digital crooks that should make us increasingly watchful. A programmer is all the more handily identified while a digital criminal may as of now be in your system undetected. While a programmer may attempt to break a system for the rush worth or to irritate their casualty, a digital criminal will penetrate a system for financial increase. This may incorporate â€Å"data procurement and capacity, subtle access to frameworks, personality assortment and burglary, confusion of interchanges, keystroke ID, character confirmation, and botnets, among others† (Deloitte, 2010). As indicated by an overview directed in August 2011 by Ponemon Institute, for the 50 taking an interest organizations (see diagram 1), the normal time it takes an association to determine a digital assault is 18 days with a normal expense of $23,000 every day. An insider assault can average 45 days to contain. This does exclude the estimation of any information lost, changed, or taken all the while. This review likewise indicated the normal annualized cost of digital wrongdoing to money related foundations was $14,700,000 for 2011, up from $12,370,000 the earlier year (see Chart 2). Graph 3 sums up the sorts of assault strategies experienced by the organizations that partook in the study (Ponemon, 2011). As indicated by security firm Imperva, â€Å"The normal enormous business sees 27 assaults for every moment hitting its Website. Aggressors can utilize robotization advancements to produce up to seven assaults for each second, or 25,000 assaults for each hour† (Rashid, 2011). To fabricate an adequate IT security pose, accept that an unapproved client can access the system, and afterward structure the system to best ensure the most important information. The important information can then â€Å"be labeled and checked with the goal that the association knows where it is, the place it is going, where it has gone, and on whose authority† (Deloitte, 2010). The association additionally needs to comprehend that they have to not just screen what is coming into their system yet in addition what is leaving their system. This will help â€Å"detect exercises empowered by procedures and advancements that copy, endeavor, or piggyback on the entrance of approved users† (Deloitte, 2010). Utilizing standard firewalls and against infection programs alone won't achieve this. The association must adopt a progressively proactive strategy to ensure its money related information. Since we know what we have to do, how would we achieve this? Some extremely essential advances incorporate representative screening, worker preparing to help moderate against social building, handicapping account access of fired representatives, guaranteeing programming updates and fixes are appropriately actualized, and guaranteeing firewalls are appropriately designed. Further developed advances incorporate, yet are not constrained to, setting up a peaceful area to help hinder the system from outside access, introducing a honeynet framework to resemble a genuine piece of the system to lure and trap interruption endeavors for additional examination, introducing hard drive encryption and remote information wipe ability on all PCs and other cell phones, and requiring keen card and pin number validation (or some other type of multifaceted verification) to get to touchy information. The Ponemon review uncovered organizations using security data and occasion the executives (SIEM) arrangements, for example, these normal 24 percent less cost in managing digital wrongdoing assaults (see diagram 5). This decrease in cost is on the grounds that organizations that utilization SIEM arrangements are better ready to recognize and contain, and subsequently recoup, from such assaults (see graph 6). Another significant advance for a money related establishment to take is to turn into an individual from the FS-ISAC (Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center). The FS-ISAC was established in 1999 and drove the route for the IT-ISAC (Information Technology Information Sharing and Analysis Center) which was established in 2001. The motivation behind these gatherings is for associations to have the chance to share the security assaults and vulnerabilities they have encountered with different associations in their field of industry. Given the advancement, intricacy, and development of digital wrongdoing innovations and strategies, no sizable association can plan and execute the fundamental reaction alone. CIOs, CSOs, CROs, and digital security rofessionals should share data, procedures, and innovations in their fight against digital wrongdoing. (Deloitte, 2010) The significance of FS-ISAC was demonstrated in 2000 when part organizations where spared from a significant refusal of-administration assault that numerous different organizations experienced (Hurley, 2001). As appeared in graph 4, a forswearing of-administration assault can be exorbita nt. A later case of FS-ISAC at work is the August 23, 2011 report of the Help Net Security (International) Ramnit worm which utilizes Zeus Trojan strategies for banking extortion. As the FS-ISAC brings up, â€Å"When assaults happen, early admonition and master exhortation can mean the contrast between business congruity and far reaching business catastrophe† (FS-ISAC, 2011). Knowing and getting the opportunity to battle against these assaults can spare a foundation millions. Taking everything into account, monetary foundations must remain watchful to current and new digital dangers. Table 1 through 3 gives a breakdown of digital dangers and controls that can help diminish the effect if these dangers become reality. It is significant for an association to try out its particular ISAC and to partake in the exercises gained from past assaults. While it would be practically difficult to find out about and forestall each sort of assault, remaining careful will help lessen the probability and the effect. References Deloitte Development LLC. (2010). Digital Crime: A Clear and Present Danger. Recovered December 23, 2011, from the World Wide Web: http://eclearning. excelsior. edu/webct/RelativeResourceManager/Template/pdf/M7_Deloitte_CyberCrime. pdf FS-ISAC. (2011). Current Banking and Finance Report, Retrieved 24 December, 2011, from the World Wide Web: http://www. fsisac. com/Hurley, E. (2001, January 29). IT-ISAC: A Matter of Trust. Recovered 24 December, 2011, from the World Wide Web: http://searchsecurity. techtarget. com/news/517824/IT-ISAC-A matter-of-trust Ponemon Institute LLC. (2011, August). Second Annual Cost of Cyber Crime Study. Recovered December 24, 2011, from the World Wide Web: http://www. arcsight. com/security/whitepapers/2011_Cost_of_Cyber_Crime_Study_August. pdf Rashid, F. (2011, July 25). Digital Criminals Use Botnets, Automation to Launch Multiple Blended Attacks. Recovered December 24, 2011, from the World Wide Web: http://www. week. com/c/a/Security/CyberCriminals-Use-Botnets-Automation-to-Launch-Multiple-Blended-Attacks-656032/Chart 1. Test of Participating Companies by Industry (Ponemon, 2011) Average annualized cost by industry division ($1M) *Industry was not spoken to in the FY2010 benchmark test. Outline 2. Normal annualized cost by industry area (Ponemon, 2011) Types of Attack Methods Experienced Chart 3. Kinds of Attack Methods Experienced (Ponemon, 2011 ) Normal annualized digital wrongdoing cost weighted by assault recurrence *The FY 2010 benchmark test didn't contain a DoS assault. Graph 4. Normal annualized digital wrongdoing cost (Ponemon, 2011) Comparison of SIEM and non-SIEM sub-test of normal expense of digital wrongdoing Chart 5. Correlation cost of SIEM and non-SIEM organizations (Ponemon, 2011) Chart 6 Percentage cost for recuperation, identification control (Ponemon, 2011) categoryFinancial Impact Regulatory ComplianceIndustry Reputation 4CriticalIncrease in costs more noteworthy than $1MFines in abundance of $1MSignificant, supported negative media presentation. Critical loss of business because of flaw on open picture. 3MajorIncrease in costs $100K to $1MFines somewhere in the range of $100K and $1MNegative media introduction. Loss of business because of imperfection on open picture. 2ModerateIncrease in costs under $100KFines under $100KSome negative media introduction. Slight loss of business because of flaw on open picture. 1MinorNo critical cost increment expectedNo fines expectedNo media presentation or loss of business anticipated. Table 1. Effect 4Imminent 3Highly Likely 2Possible 1Unlikely Table 2. Likelihood PxI (before controls/after controls) Money related Impact Regulatory Compliance Industry Reputation Controls Denial of service1x3=3/1ãâ€"2=21ãâ€"3=3/1ãâ€"1=11ãâ€"4=4/1ãâ€"2=2Implement switch channels, introduce patches to make preparations for SYC flooding, incapacitate unused administrations Web-based attack2x3=6/2ãâ€"2=42ãâ€"3=6/2ãâ€"2=42ãâ€"4=8/2ãâ€"2=4Restrict site access to just what client needs, impair account sign in after 3 bombed sign in endeavors, require multifaceted validation to get to touchy information Malicious code2x4=8/2ãâ€"2=42ãâ€"4=8/2ãâ€"2=42ãâ€"4=8/2ãâ€"2=4Software updates and fixes, hostile to infection and against spam programming pdates, firewall arrangement, worker tra

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Recycled Toothbrushes Make Sense Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Reused Toothbrushes Make Sense - Essay Example Furthermore, a few people as a rule don't want to utilize toothbrushes made out of reused stuff, maybe on account of the reasons of cleanliness and the feeling of abhorrence related with toothbrushes made out of reused plastic. Recycline could improve the change rate to its toothbrushes by telling its clients that they are made of food grade reused plastic starting from the yogurt bundling of a dependable food organization like Stonyfield Farm. Other than Stonyfield is a previously settled brand. Recycline’s relationship with it will add to its image esteem. 2. Hudson is now securing the crude material from Stonyfield Farm. It could put the ads at the stores selling Stonyfield items with infectious trademarks like â€Å"Waste nothing, practice environmental awareness, and let your yogurt holder be your toothbrush.† If Stonyfield Farm permits Hudson to do as such, he could undoubtedly change over a major portion of Stonyfield’s clients to its items, without making huge speculations. Stonyfield Farm likewise stands to pick up from this move, as it will fortify its green certifications. Maybe Stonyfield may consent to share the promoting expenses or convey the Recycline logo on its item bundling. In the present occasions, another way of life has risen that focuses on dependable utilization. Recycline can connect with and take an interest in the exercises of associations and foundations that take a shot at natural insurance and appreciate a decent after and brand mindfulness. By partner with such associations, Hudson can mean to change over a decent piece of their supporters to its items. In addition, being seen as related with green associations will furnish Hudson with adequate free exposure and reinforce the open view of its items. 3. Reusing isn't simply about utilizing reused crude materials to reduce expenses, yet a rising lifestyle. This

Friday, August 14, 2020

Deprotonated

Deprotonated Im taking 5.12 (Organic Chemistry) this semester, which is interesting, to say the least. Orgo is notorious for being slightly less fun than having your feet cut off, but I really enjoy it thus far. We have our first exam next week, though, so well see how I feel about it then. (I will say that I like the subject matter more than that of 5.112 Principles of Chemical Science, which I took last semester.) But my professor, Dr. Berkowski, is fantastic. The other day in lecture she put up the lyrics to Deprotonated, the chemical rendition of Avril Lavignes Complicated. SING IT, we yelled from our respective purple seats (the seats in 10-250 are, indeed, purple). Im a HORRIBLE singer! she protested. Luckily, Im not shy. (Removed content. Sorry!) Its been approximately about two weeks like it sometimes always is: time for Q and A! Anonymous has one quick question: I know this isnt really related to this topic, sorry, but I have one quick question..How do you get to be a blogger on this website? I know you have to be associated with MIT, but do they just pick random people on campus, do you need connections, or what? Way back when MITBlogs was a wee little thing, there was Matt, Ben, and Mitra. More bloggers were added because they worked in the admissions office, or out of personal interest; some were actively picked out because they had interesting stories to tell or had blogging experience. Last year the admissions officers actually created an application and a committee to determine the 10 bloggers, which youll have to get to go through next year as well if you want to be an admissions blogger! (My answer to the aardvark question is posted here.) Im not exactly sure how you get to become a guest blogger, but Im guessing it probably involves some large sum of money and telling Matt McGann how that blue shirt he always wears brings out his eyes. Sh1fty says: do MIT students get free windows licences? students at FER here in zagreb get free m$ software :) We do! (Vista too!) Mac users can get Bootcamp as well, so that we can use Windows should we ever need to. Monica requests: i was wondering if your parents were really strict on studying, because most korean parents can be In retrospect, I feel like relative to other Koreans I know, my parents werent that strict on studying, and my sister and I seem to have turned out okay. But Im not here to tell you how to raise your kids, parents, Korean or not. Im here to tell your kids to find what they like and go with that, becuase its not always the worst thing if you actually enjoy what youre doing. Otherwise, you lose a hydrogen ion, and you become, Cl-, and H3O+, your pH is low, cause in H2O, you deprotonate, H+ you donate, you see EVERYBODY!

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Themes Of Alienation In Frankenstein - 1294 Words

Through Frankenstein by Mary Shelley as well as Skim by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki, themes of alienation are projected throughout both texts. Frankenstein in comparison to Skim is one that must look over the different mediums used to portray ideas , furthermore, it is important to focus on the themes of exclusion and alienation present within both texts. In this essay, I will discuss themes of alienation throughout the two texts Skim, as well as Frankenstein with the consideration of: Petsche Jackson’s An Already Alienated Animality: Frankenstein as a Gothic† as well as Hughes Janette and Alyson E. King’s Dual Pathways to Expression and Understanding: Canadian Coming-Of-Age Graphic Novels.. By engaging with these texts and peer†¦show more content†¦Through Skim, Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki demonstrate feelings of alienation from what is expected of a teenage experience and highlights coming-of-age elements that allow readers to engage with th e text visually. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, a gothic story that follows the character Victor Frankenstein as well as his monster. Victor creates his monster from the limbs of deceased animals and uses his knowledge to give life to his creation. However, upon the monsters awakening, Victor is horrified of what he has brought into existence. From the beginning of the monsters life, he is rejected by his creator, none the less of the entire population around him. The monster is not given a name, or any identifying characteristics that would allow him to have any sense of humanity. The monster is persistently outcasted from every human he encounters, and followed by the viscous behaviour people bestow on him, as they are terrified of his appearance. As a result, the monster becomes lonesome, vengeful, and spiteful towards his creator, proceeding to murder Victors youngest brother, William. When the monster encounters Victor again, he demands that Victor creates a companion, however Victor is una ble to complete the task and discards of the second creation. The monster curses victor, swearing that he will take the life of his first wife on the night of their marriage. At the end of the novel, the monster lived but a miserable life at the hands ofShow MoreRelatedMary Shelleys Frankenstein. The themes of giving birth and creating life, isolation and alienation and family and kinship.2078 Words   |  9 Pagesthe famous book Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. The story has been a huge influence on the genre of gothic novels, on female writers and on movie makers. Its themes have fascinated the literature scene and inspired other authors. This is why I would like to introduce the main themes leading through the story. I will focus on the themes of giving birth and creating life, isolation and alienation and family and kinship. I will give a short overview on how these themes still fascinateRead MoreFrankenstein, By Mary Shelley1664 Words   |  7 PagesThe novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is one revolving around Victor Frankenstein, a young and brilliant scientist with an almost obsessive fascination with the secret of life. Finally, while working alone in his laboratory one night, he creates what he wanted--a living being out of the organs of a dead man. The monstrous creation at first is gentle and loving, but is soon forced to hide away from society due to humankind’s fear of its appearance. The monster is enraged, and seeks to take revengeRead More Frankenstein Essay701 Words   |  3 Pagesnovel Frankenstein, Mary Shelley explores a wide range of themes concerning human nature through the thoughts and actions of two main characters and a host of others. Two themes are at the heart of the story, the most important being creation, but emphasis is also placed on alienation from society. These two themes are relevant even in today’s society as technology brings us ever closer to Frankenstein’s fictional achievement. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;First, let’s examine the alienation fromRead MoreSimilarities between Frankenstein and A Work of Artifice1107 Words   |  5 PagesFrankenstein and the poem â€Å"A Work of Artifice† portray almost the same message. These pieces by Mary Shelley and Marge Piercy include both similar themes and ideas. The stories both involve a theme of misconception, similar characters in which is easily depicted, and the theme of alienation and loneliness presents itself in both pieces. The tree in â€Å"A Work of Artifice† and the monster in Frankenstein are outcasts on society itself, the main characters of each are actually very similar and so is theRead MoreMary Shelleys Novel Frankenstein and Ridley Scotts Movie Blade Runner: A Comparative Analysis1193 Words   |  5 PagesBoth Mary Shelleys 1818 novel Frankenstein and the Ridley Scotts 1982 movie Blade Runner depict a bleak future about the fallen dreams of science. Blade Runner is based on a nove l called Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick. Although Frankenstein was written a century and a half before Dicks book, the two stories share a similar dystopic vision of humanitys future. They also use similarly structured storytelling to explain the impetus towards self-mastery and mastery over theRead MoreEssay on Alienation and Isolation in Mary Shelleys Frankenstein1110 Words   |  5 PagesAlienation and Isolation Alienation and isolation have been apparent in society since the beginning of man. When an individual stumbles outside the realm of social normality they are viewed as degradation to society or a threat to normal society.(â€Å"Truthmove† 2012) In the gothic tale of Frankenstein, Mary Shelley frequently displays the many different forms of alienation. Victor Frankenstein and his creation were two of the characters in this book that went through alienation and isolationRead MoreCharacters Of Characters Ordinary People And The Play Oedipus At Colonus 1691 Words   |  7 PagesAlienation is when someone is being isolated from a group or an activity to which one should be involved. Throughout The novels Ordinary People by Judith Guest, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, and the play Oedipus at Colonus by Sophocles, alienation is shown. In Ordinary People, Conrad suffers from depression. His brother Buck died in a Boat accident which Conrad feels responsible for. Ever sense th at Conrad and his family have never been the same. Conrad falls apart and struggles with everything fromRead MoreMary Shelley and Flannery OConnor: Gothic Isolationists1724 Words   |  7 Pagesits success during this time period, gothic fiction ceased to be a dominant genre by the Victorian Era. However, in many ways it had now begun to enter into its most ingenious phase. This paper will analyze the influence of Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein on Flannery O’Connor’s work, specifically her novel Wise Blood. Flannery O’Connor emerged as a crucial and contemporary innovator of southern gothic literature. Southern gothic literature is defined as a subgenre of gothic fiction, which originatedRead MoreAnalysis Of Edward Scissorhands, By Tim Burton1660 Words   |  7 Pages(1982), directed by Tim Burton. Edward Scissorhands, is Tim Burton’s take on the Frankenstein story. We can clearly see the influences that have appealed to Tim Burton in the classic Frankenstein (1931) was not the character’s monstrousness appeal but the sense of sad sorrow that audiences sympathized to in Boris Karloff’s performance. Whereas in Tim Burton’s vision, we see a â€Å"Special† character as the Frankenstein Monster, in the similar way that we call people with disabilities Special. And thenRead MoreAlienation Is A Feeling Of Lack Of Acceptance1542 Words   |  7 Pagesthree. The continual usability of alienation as a focalize theme is overdue to the fact that is typic al to all individuals. Alienation is a feeling of lack of acceptance. It is an urging strength that takes the human conscience to extremes. It leads to drastic changes in one’s life. States of alienation come to exist as the result of many situations. The novel Frankenstein explores a sense of dislocation people feel in modern society which includes alienation (aloneness, separateness, rejection)

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Questions On Problems Faced By Adolescents - 1049 Words

Topic: Problems faced by adolescents Introduction:- Adolescence is the stage of physical and psychological development that is classified between the stage of onset of puberty and the stage of acquiring of adulthood, and is broadly considered to be the time of the teens (13-19). It is a very important process for the development of a human, but the drastic changes can have a negative impact on both mind and body of the individual without proper awareness and knowledge. Objectives:- The objectives of this write up focus on two main points:- Physical/Developmental: The physical changes brought about by puberty during adolescence and its effects; Psychosocial: Unawareness related to sexual issues, unhealthy psychological effects due to excessive competition, substance abuse, depression and anxiety caused due to societal pressure relating to intellectual performance, early marriages unhealthy relations with siblings. Discussion:- The three broad objectives have been discussed in detail:- Physical/Developmental:- During adolescence, teens experience rapid physical development at a speed unparalleled since infancy. The physical development during adolescence includes drastic increase in physical characteristics like height and weight, the development of secondary sexual characteristics (like the onset of menstruation in girls and the growth of facial hair in boys), and a continued brain development. It also includes a drastic growth in the cognitive sense of theShow MoreRelatedLife Skills And Adolescence Of Rural Background1563 Words   |  7 Pagesin the contemporary society. Societies change over time and are not same at any point of time. Today, more and more societal pressures, greater complexity, uncertainty and diversity, rapid changes in the environment and continued deprivation put adolescents at the crossroads of their lives facing an uncertain future in facing the responsibilities of adulthood and to enter the world of work. Rural children in India largely attend government schools , which often lack basic facilities such as librariesRead MoreThe Effects Of Alcohol On The Adolescent Brain1585 Words   |  7 PagesBy conducting interviews with psychiatrists, PhD students and adolescent alcohol researchers, I obtained current information, where there were scarce secondary sources which explored the effects of alcohol on the adolescent brain. This process was highly beneficial because it increased the reliability of my research and substantiated emerging Key Finding 1 – that adolescent neuroplasticity increases their susceptibility to alcohol related mental illness. For example, Fiona Griffith stated that â€Å"theRead MoreReflective Reflection Essay Examples963 Words   |  4 PagesAt my internship, there are often when critical thinking becomes necessary throughout the week during group with the LGBTQ adolescents. Working weekly, with these young people using critical thinking is especially essential because of the wide variety of problems or issues that can arise with a person who identifies as gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgender or questioning is experiencing or has had in the past. Therefore, social work practice within my internship demonstrates the use of criticallyRead MoreWhat is Suicide and Why Does It Occur?1142 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.† Phil Donahue said these words, hoping to send a message; a message that suicide is a temporary and irreparable solution to an otherwise less than unmanageable problem. Suicide continues to be a phenomenon that no one fully understands. The rise of suicide can be directly interpreted by its precursors and their validity in newer generations such as adolescents in a time and society such as this. Suicide has moved from the realm of total tabooRead MoreAn Analysis Of Hanging Fire By Audre Lorde1456 Words   |  6 Pagesyou overcome adolescence? In the poem â€Å"Hanging Fire† by Audre Lorde tells a story about a te enager trying to cope with the difficulties and what ifs about her adolescent life. Lorde shows the speaker struggling with her appearance and the struggles of having no one to turn to and feeling alone during this stage of her life. With the problems the speaker has to face, she shows how a teenager would deal them. By having no patience when it comes to growing up, she wants the results fast and does notRead MoreThe Link Between Social Interactions Among Peers And School And Academic Outcomes For Over 40 Years Essay1619 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Problem Formulation Researchers have been discussing the link between social interactions among peers in school and academic outcomes for over 40 years (Coleman, 1961). Children are categorized by the people they associate with. Understanding the way social interactions affect academic achievement is important. Major issue in the literature on peer pressure quality special mention are: cultural patterns penalizing academic achievement and changes in the effect of peers over time. AcademicsRead MoreAnimal Cruelty And Its Effects On Children Essay1109 Words   |  5 Pagesidea that animal cruelty has the tendency to advance with the concerns of the levels of violence that harms others (Hensley Tallichet, 2007). Animal cruelty is one of many influences, children that continue to have behavior problems can lead to several different problems later down the road. Characteristic of animal abuse can be one of many forms of antisocial behavior that introduced in childhood as a signal of involvement that may lead to unlawful behavior Arluke et al., (1999). Oftentimes childrenRead MoreTeen Pregnancy: A Problem for Society1195 Words   |  5 PagesThe problem with teenage pregnancy is it requires intervention from society. This debate is from the perspective of teens, and absent from the medical, ethical, and political views on teen pregnancy. According to Jewell, Tacchi, Donovan, (2000), teen pregnancy is not a problem for teens themselves but more of a problem f or society. The large numbers of unintended pregnancies are among unmarried teens. A number of teens do not want to become pregnant, although some are not opposed and other hasRead MoreAdolescent And Their Concept Of Self1584 Words   |  7 Pagesadulthood. It is during this time, between 12 and 18 years of age, when dynamic changes occur. Adolescents not only experience profound physical change during this period – they also undergo a revolution in the way they think. This essay focuses on the adolescent and their concept of self, with a discussion of the predictable and unpredictable events that they are known to face. Although each adolescent will mature according to their own unique timetable. The following sections will more thoroughlyRead MoreTeenage Literature Essay1465 Words   |  6 Pagesabout the first school love, adventures and problematic relationships with parents. Most of the novels for teenagers today raise the adult problems of very young people. However, if such changes can be considered a completely positive trend in the literary world, the question of darkness, cruelty and psychologic severity that have become a constant theme in adolescent novels, this causes a lot of fear and debate. What was previously considered something shocking and unacceptable for teenager fiction today

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Counter-Terrorism Project Free Essays

Terrorists, one of the prominent words that have been recently involved to a lot of social disturbance that often associated to killings of civilians. Such organization is usually recognized as a group of people that is known to create scare to the public and threatened the government by utilizing violence. This is in pursuance of their goal that is either political or religious. We will write a custom essay sample on Counter-Terrorism Project or any similar topic only for you Order Now Reading articles in the net, I thought that terrorism was already an evident social dilemma in both ancient and contemporary civilization (Jewett, n. d. ). Dating back to the ancient days, acts of terrors are already in existence (Jewett, n. d. ). Barbary and piracy are the most common terrorists that had threatened the lives of early civilization (Jewett, n. d. ). From a personal point of view, I consider terrorists as the most notorious criminals and law offenders in present time. With the various incidents of terror attacks whereas hundreds and thousands of lives had been claimed from series by series bombings, such terror activities had create negative impact in the society that caused panic and disseminates anxiety amongst the people. Citing these major events that have something to do with terrorism always make me wonder how these people could do such violent activities despite of thorough campaign against terrorism. Hence, the only thing that runs through my mind when the topic is terrorism is to think and formulate of counter-terrorism actions, which is inspired by thought of protecting the humankind and society against such detrimental activities. Upon reading just the introduction part of the terror training manual, the depiction of Al Qaeda’s commitment to their terror desire is clearly visible. It showcases that organization’s oath for what they believe in. Structured and composed in the most stimulating manner, the Islamic notion of the entire Al Qaeda Terror Group is highlighted well in aid to inculcate the attitude of a true blood terrorist for their new recruits. In addition to this, the organization’s disappointment and doubtfulness against the governance of the westerners. Moreover, the introduction of Al Qaeda’s terror training manual clearly stated their words of advice to their opposition (Western Government), saying that such unfaithful regimes must know the dialog of bullets, the ideals of assassination and the diplomacy of the cannon and machine-gun. In here, I can clearly say that the Al Qaeda is sending their message seriously towards the opposition and warns that such consequences must be honored than to just disregard. Hence, I could say that the first part of the training manual is the depiction of Al Qaeda’s righteousness, which they claim the thought and justify the notion that they are bound in goodness to do such terroristic activities. Browsing more of the manual’s pages I have discovered that Islam is not just performing rituals, however, it is a complete system with Religion and government, Koran and sword, worship and Jihad, ethics and dealing with people. Thus, this characterizes the organization’s mission in merely holistic manner, without being pessimistic or distinction between the political and spiritual. One of the major components of the manual that really attract my attention is the instructions that has something to do with falsification of significant document and comprehensive manual to handle individual mission. Certainly, Al Qaeda’s terror training manual provides detailed guidelines for their aspiring members on how to forge documents, handling proper finances, and setting up urban and rural bases. This is their profound training practice for the new members in able to avoid any compromise and detection in the secrecy of their terroristic mission. Hence, I see this as an aid to upset their target nations’ sense of security, by hiding their real identity to pursue their terroristic goal. In line with this, it would be helpful if security authorities are cautious to every individual’s true identity to determine who are the terrorist and not. By effecting counter terrorism action that could interrupt and detect this strategy of Al Qaeda, it is safe enough to say that such detrimental plan by the organization would be prevented and well managed. In the end, the composition Al Qaeda’s terror training manual utterly suggests that the government authorities mostly the western civilization to be care with the consequences might happen such as act of terrorism. Moreover, the training manuals clearly depicts the extent of capabilities of such organization. In addition to this, the manual is a written proof of the things that the Al Qaeda terrorists group could do in the society to harm the people. Personally speaking, I could say the manual was completed accordingly to achieve specific terroristic goal of the organization as every words and instructions are structured in the most stimulating manner to fire up the Islamic passion for their new members. Thus, such training manual must be reviewed thoroughly to intercept any acts of terrorism. Nonetheless, the training manual of Al Qaeda terrorists group would serve as the perfect reference in the formulation of governments counter-terrorism strategy. Furthermore, my read with the training manual of Al Qaeda have took me into some recommendations for counter – terrorism strategy. A counter – terrorism strategy must focus on detection and surveillance in order to prevent any occurrence of terrorism acts that could lead to harm the people. Hence, the starting point of such strategy is to design a more efficient ways to determine and point out trumped-up passports and other significant documents that members of Al Qaeda utilizes for their international travel. Summary of the Statement The above writings are my personal reactions in the Al Qaeda’s Training Manual. Those are the incorporations of all the assumptions and knowledge that I acquired upon my readings to the terror training manual. In a sense, most of the reaction statement that I have written above is the depiction of my own findings after I have read the Al Qaeda’s training manual. Starting in the introduction of the training manual, above words stated that Al Qaeda terrorists group is committed and in full service to spread their acts of terrorism in aid to their Muslim oath to Allah. Thus, the introduction appeals to the young Muslims to join them hand in hand to pursue their goal to spread the notions of Islam. In addition to this, the philosophy of the entire Al Qaeda terrorists group is also highlighted in the part of of my response statement to the training manual of the organization. Moreover, the above content tackles the capabilities of the organization to create social disturbance that aims to spread anxiety and harm people by utilizing violence. Also, this paper tells how the Muslim act and reciprocate to their opposition (West Government), and put into account the messages of the organization towards other side. In addition to this, the disappointment of the organization to the western government is as well discussed as it is one of the primary reasons as to why the Al Qaeda terrorist group are against the westerners. Nonetheless, the reactions above are representation of my own thought with regards to designing a counter – terrorism strategy to prevent any occurrence of such detrimental activities. Hence, it is determined the capabilities and significant strategies of the organization to disseminate anxiety in the society and harm the people that are against them. f References Jewett T. (n. d. ). Terrorism in Early America. Retrieved July 25, 2008, from http://www. earlyamerica. com/review/2002_winter_spring/terrorism. htmL Terrorist Training Manual. (n. d. ). Retrieved July 25, 2008, from www. fas. org/irp/world/para/aqmanual. pdf How to cite Counter-Terrorism Project, Papers

Sunday, May 3, 2020

Harvey Norman Intangible Assets Essay Example For Students

Harvey Norman Intangible Assets Essay TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract2 Introduction2 Business description and main activities3 Harvey Norman Resources5 Tangible Resources5 Profit from continuing and discontinued operations6 Profit from property6 Sales at franchises7 Sales at company-owned stores8 Intangible Resources8 Computer software and licence property8 Goodwill9 Harvey Norman Invisible Balance Sheet10 Internal Capital11 External Capital13 Individual Competence14 Recommendations15 Conclusion17 Appendix19 Appendix 119 References20 Abstract Harvey Norman is one of the biggest consumer electronic retailer in Australia (D Richard, 2010), well-known for its recognisable brand name and local community involvement, Harvey Norman had achieved steady growth since its establishment on 1982 with 195 stores nationwide and 69 stores outside Australia. The success of Harvey Norman can’t solely be attributed to its services performance as a retailer nor solely to its physical assets and property, this report will examine the structure and resources of Harvey Norman both physical and intangible with a focus on the latter, of importance are intangible resources that give competitive advantage from its individual competence, internal, and external capital, an invisible balance heet will also be derived to put these intangible resources in perspective. Following that a recommendation for Harvey Norman management will be presented on sustaining its competitive advantage and growth through the management of intangible. Introduction It has been far-known that a company’s financial annual report has limitation as it does not have a detailed explanation on the true value of company’s intangible assets and resources. Sveiby suggests that as external shareholders, investors are willing to know on the true worth of the company; not just based on its financial calculation, but more towards its know-how capital, employees’ intelligence and experiences, internal company’s structure, external relationships and more importantly, the company’s revenue-generating resources. Nevertheless, it is only ‘what’s on the surface’ that gets measured in the annual reports such as office furniture instead of the employees’ knowledge. This report was developed to provide insights on the management of tangible and intangible resources of Harvey Norman Holdings Limited, with the latter being the more important highlight on this report. It will also provide details on the invisible balance sheet owned by the company by outlining some key invisible organisational resources. In the end, this report will offer recommendations to be implemented by the company to better manage its key intangible resources. By analysing and looking into these intangible resources, shareholders are in the hope to look for signals beyond the financial annual report and are to be given true indicators on the company and its staff’s production capability, stability, know-how capital and profit potential, on which their decision to sell or keep their shares are based on. Business description and main activities Harvey Norman Holdings Limited is a franchisor and an Australian public company, which has expanded internationally, including New Zealand, Ireland, Singapore, Malaysia and Slovenia (Annual Reports 2009). According to 2009 Insider Retailing article, the company is now ranked third on the Australia’s top 10 retailers and is the leading non-food retail chain in Australia. Within its franchising system, the company offers extensive products range, cutting edge technology, and market leadership in most product categories. Harvey Norman Holdings Limited grants franchises to independent business operators under three leading brand names, i. e. Harvey Norman, Domayne and Joyce Mayne. As at December 2009, there are 635 Harvey Norman, Domayne and Joyce Mayne franchisees in Australia (Company Profile 2009) As stated in the company profile, the principal activities of the company are embedded in its integrated retail, franchise and property system. The company’s retailing system include sale of furniture, bedding, computers, communications and consumer electrical products online as well as in-store. Within its franchising system, the company provides retailing strategy and marketing techniques in turn for receiving the franchisees fees that are based on sales. Harvey Norman is said to be ‘part retailer, part property-trust’ as the company property holdings account for nearly 50 percent of its total assets (Money manager, 2008). These assets also produce main source of income for the company including regular rental income from the franchisees, and also acting as an investment income where it can successfully develop properties from vacant land to retail complexes. The major benefits of this integrated model enable Harvey Norman to lower the cost of debt financing by securitizing a portion of income-producing property portfolio. This would free up capital and helps to boost returns. In terms of the history development of Harvey Norman, appendix 1 illustrates the important evolvements. It has been one of the dominant leaders of Australian retail industry since 1970s. Based on the business performance of last few decades, Harvey Norman has shown a rapid growth compare to its competitors. Harvey Norman Resources Tangible Resources According to the company’s profile, Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd is one of leading retail chains in Australia, which has franchisors, company-owned stores and properties across the world (Australia, New Zealand, Slovenia, Ireland, Singapore, Malaysia). The franchisees retail products are Electrical, Computers Communications, Small Appliance, Furniture, Bedding Manchester, Home Improvements, Lighting and Carpet Flooring. The company generates its profit both from continuing and discontinued operations, and its main continuing operation comes from the franchises sales in Australia, New Zealand, Slovenia, Ireland, Singapore and Malaysia. The profit also comes from the revaluation increments of properties owned by company in Australia and overseas. Profit from continuing and discontinued operations According to the 2009 Annual Report, the Harvey Norman’s net profit for year comprised of profit from continuing operation and discontinued operation. In 2007, the net profit for year was $407. 5 million, and $324. 10 million of it comes from continuing operation, the other $83. 15 million was from discontinued operation. However, the net profit for financial year 2009 significantly dropped to $214. 35 million compared with $358. 45 million in year 2008. One reason of this decline is the absence of profit from discontinued operation. In 2007, company got discontinued profit $83. 15 million after tax on sale of its controlling interest in Robel Sport Limited, however, there was no profit gain from discontinued operations in 2008 and 2009. The other reasons of decline in profit in 2009 are property revaluation increments and retail operation from New Zealand decreased, expansion in Northern Ireland, and start-up investment cost and trading losses in OFIS in Australia. Profit from property The property owned by company also contributes to profit. It includes investment property in Australia; owned land building in New Zealand, Singapore, Slovenia; plant and equipment; and joint venture properties. In 2007, the net revaluation increment before tax minority interests recognized in income statement was $65. 68 million. In 2008, this number was $102. 8 million and $9. 68 million in 2009. The net profit of 2009 declined 40. 2% compared with previous year (Annual Report, 2009) Sales at franchises The franchisee sales revenue increased steadily from 2007 to 2009, from $4. 50 billion to 5. 06 billion (the sales made by franchisees in Australia do not form the consolidated financial results). The franchising operations segment result before tax also increased because of higher franchise fees and lower franchise tactical support based on Annual Report 2009. The sales revenue made by franchisees at overseas increased in 2007 when translated into Australian dollars. The sales revenue from Ireland increased 131. 85% because of new store opened and effective promotion activities. However, there were $9. 52 million and $49. 33 million operation losses in 2008 and 2009 due to economic recession in Europe and other factors, such as difficult UK retail market, worse trading conditions in Ireland and increasing inflation. Moreover, there is no improvement in near future at Ireland franchisees according to management analysis. The economic recession in New Zealand and the devaluation of NZ dollars also resulted in the decrease of franchising operations segment result in New Zealand from $52. 0 million in 2008 to $44. 42 million in 2009. The Asia sales also got negative impact from closure of the export and distribution business in Singapore and Malaysia. However, there was increase in Slovenia retail segment result from $0. 58 million in 2007 to $3. 12 million in 2009 because of increasing brand recognition and appreciation of Euro related to Australian dollars. Sales at company-owned stores The company-owned stores include ‘Harvey Norman’, ‘Norman Ross’ branded company-owned stores in New Zealand, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Singapore, Malaysia, Slovenia and OFIS brand name in Australia. The number of these stores increased from 53 in 2007 to 69 in 2009, and the sales revenue of owned stores also increased from $1,329. 43 million to $1,440. 65 million. However, in New Zealand, one new store branded Norman Ross (discount retailer of electrical computer goods) was opened in December 2007 but closed in June 2008 only after six months operation. And other five OFIS brand stores in Australia were closed in February 2009 after eight months operation. Intangible Resources Pablo Picasso Essay SummaryAlthough there is certain benefits from Harvey Norman unique business model which stem from local franchise-owner management, there is strong disadvantage on competing over a wider national region where it lacks the focus of a single business direction and efficiency of overhead cost allocation. It is thus recommended for Harvey Norman to retain its intangible on local expertise and local management, while at the same time also courting them along with regional leads to participate on collaborative projects and initiatives. The objective of these projects would be to strengthen individual local store manager ties to the whole of Harvey Norman business and encourages them to participate and be involved to act as a business unit. Over time the benefit from closer relationship and interaction between franchisee would allow Harvey Norman as a whole to implement store-wide policies and projects, a more efficient allocation of infrastructure costs, and also act as a cohesive unit like its main competitors while still maintaining its competency on local expertise and local community ties. With this strategy it’s very likely for central management to face initial resistance to change from franchisee, at least during the earlier period of implementation. Despite Harvey Norman’s stellar performance within the Australian market, the same could not be said for its overseas operation where the results are more varied, a case in point is its operation in Ireland where its stores still struggle to produce profit and induce growth. Outside of the familiar Australian market, one of the biggest mitigating factors against Harvey Norman is its lack of brand awareness and customers’ goodwill on international market, it’s brand name ‘Harvey Norman’ does not carry the same weight internationally as it does within Australia. Another mitigating factor is the lack of expertise and local knowledge of management expertise, unlike its local operation Harvey Norman could no longer claim its image as the friendly local retailer with local expertise. With the goal of overseas operation growth in mind, it’s recommended for Harvey Norman to transfer as appropriate some elements from its Integrated Retail, Property and Franchise system and local management expert franchisee strategy as it’s done in Australia to its international operation. With consideration to budget allowance, an aggressive marketing campaign involving local community on overseas operation can be conducted to promote Harvey Norman brand as a global brand with local expertise and involvement. In the long term this campaign will improve overseas customers’ perception of Harvey Norman as a friendly reliable store that contributes to their community. Another good course of action for Harvey Norman strategy on overseas growth is to increase its solicitation to potential franchisee, given the right circumstances Harvey Norman’s integrated franchise system which allow for difference on local management will allow for significant growth at international market while still maintaining the same laissez-faire style of store management as in Australian market. Harvey Norman as a global brand will grow as the number of franchisee increases. Conclusion Harvey Norman has enjoyed continued growth and profitability within Australian market since its establishment on 1982. Attribution to these successes goes beyond the services it provided as consumers discretionary retailers, even more significant is Harvey Norman immeasurable intangible resources on the form of its unique franchise and property structure and off-hand branch management. Under its integrated retail, franchise, and property system Harvey Norman is able to continuously grow while sustaining a healthy cash-flow from its franchisee, those franchisee themselves are given a degree of flexibility on store management and encouraged to involve their local business and communities, which in turn enhance Harvey Norman branding as a reliable and friendly local business. Amid these successes the ecent global financial crisis had lowered consumer discretionary spending confidence which tied directly to the slowing growth and profit within Australian market, and a more adverse effect internationally where Harvey Norman brand carries a weaker effect on a global market. It is thus recommended for Harvey Norman to retain its growth rate both domestic and internationally by leveraging its core strength and competency within its intangible resources, that is its franchise and property system and local management. What can be best improved is to encourage its franchisee management to be closer relationally to headquarter and participate more on store-wide projects possibly by including a major incentive for the local franchisee. A more integrated structure and participation like traditional retail structure will bring the benefit of increased economy of scales and efficiency ideally while also increasing the profit-sharing for individual stores, closer co-operation would also allow Harvey Norman group as a whole to tackle large scale infrastructure project that will bring big dividends over the long term. Appendix Appendix 1 982| Gerry Harvey and Ian Norman sell their stake in the Norman Ross retail chain and set up a new store under the Harvey Norman name. | 1987| Harvey Norman goes public on the Australian Stock Exchange. | 1991| Harvey Norman launches a computer superstore. | 1997| The company opens its first store in New Zealand. | 1998| The Joyce Mayne furniture and appliance chain and Ar chie Martin Vox stores are acquired. | 1999| A joint-venture to enter the Singapore market is founded. | 2001| The company acquires the Electric City chain and rebrands all Singapore stores as Harvey Norman; majority control of Rebel Sport retail chain is gained. 2002| The companys first store in Slovenia opens. | 2003| Harvey Norman opens its first store in Malaysia and first two stores in Ireland. | Source: Harvey Norman Company Profile,2010 References Atkinson, B, 2009, Australia Top 20 Retailers Ranking, Insider retailing, accessed 20 April 2010, ;http://www. insideretailing. com. au/Latest/tabid/53/ID/5551/Australias-top-20-retailer-rankings. aspx; Canavan, G, 2008, Harvey Norman Holding Stocks (HVN), Sydney Morning Herald, accessed 21 April 2010, ;http://www. moneymanager. com. au/articles/2008/06/09/1212863542134. tml; John D. HarveyNorman. com. au Australian Superstore review, Aus Business Review. Accessed 21 April 2010, http://www. ausbusiness. net/review/harveynorman-com-a u-harvey-norman-catalogue/ Richard, D. 2008, â€Å"Why Gerry Harvey is wrong and JB-Hi Fi right† , Smart Office, Accessed 21 April 2010, http://www. smartoffice. com. au/Business/Retail/B6X2M6S2? page=2 Richard D, 2010, Harvey Norman Slammed but don’t Knock Management, Smart House, accessed 30 April 2010, ;http://www. smarthouse. com. au/TVs_And_Large_Display/Industry/U9A3V3C9; Sveiby, K Eric, 1989, The invisible Balance Sheet, accessed 15 April 2010, ;www. sveiby. com/books/DenOsynligaEng. pdf; Sveiby, K Eric, 1997, The â€Å"Invisible† Balance Sheet, accessed 25 April 2010 ;www. sveiby. com/articles/InvisibleBalance. html; Unknown, Harvey Norman Annual Reports 2009, Accessed 20 April 2010, ;http://www. harveynormanholdings. com. au/annualreports. htm; Unknown, Harvey Norman Company Profile 2010, Accessed 21 April 2010, ;http://www. harveynormanholdings. com. au/pdf_files/Company_Profile_2010. pdf; Unknown, Harvey Norman implements automated purchase ordering process, 2010, Transport and Logistics News, Accessed 28 April 2010, ;http://www. tandlnews. com. au/2010/04/16/article/Harvey-Norman-implements-automated-purchase-ordering-process/ETIWEAZKFW; Unknown, Harvey Norman implements automated purchase ordering process, 2010, Transport and Logistics News, Accessed 28 April 2010, ;http://www. tandlnews. com. au/2010/04/16/article/Harvey-Norman-implements-automated-purchase-ordering-process/ETIWEAZKFW; Unknown, Why the Harvey Norman Franchise Operation is Flawed. 009, Every Franchise News, Accessed 27 April 2010 ;http://www. everyfranchise. com/articles/why-the-harvey-norman-franchise-operation-is-flawed-600. htm ; Unknown, JB or Harvey Norman, Whirlpool Forum, accessed 21 April 2010, ;http://forums. whirlpool. net. au/forum-replies-archive. cfm/1413261. html; Wang, F. 2009, Sink or Swim: A critical study of the success of the JB Hi-Fi business model, Ozbankers. com, accessed 22 Ap ril 2010, ;http://ozbankers. com/index2. php? option=com_content;do_pdf=1;id=29; - . Richard D, 2010, Harvey Norman Slammed but don’t Knock Management, Smart House, accessed 30 April 2010, . Sveiby, K Eric, 1989, The invisible Balance Sheet, accessed 15 April 2010, . Harvey Norman Annual Reports 2009, Page 6Accessed 20 April 2010, . Atkinson, B, 2009, Australia Top 20 Retailers Ranking, Insider retailing, accessed 20 April 2010, . Harvey Norman Company Profile 2010, Accessed 21 April 2010, . Canavan, G, 2008, Harvey Norman Holding Stocks (HVN), Sydney Morning Herald, accessed 21 April 2010, 7 ]. Harvey Norman Profile ‘About Us’, accessed on 18 April 2010, . Harvey Norman Annual Reports 2009, Page 3, Accessed 20 April 2010, . Harvey Norman Annual Reports 2009, Page 4, Accessed 20 April 2010, . Harvey Norman Annual Reports 2009, Page 4, Accessed 20 April 2010, . Harvey Norman Annual Reports 2009, Page 55, Accessed 20 April 2010, . Harvey Norman Annual Reports 2009, Page 79, Accessed 20 April 2010, . Harvey Norman Annual Reports 2008, Accessed 20 April 2010, . Harvey Norman Annual Reports 2009, Page 55, Accessed 20 April 2010, . Sveiby, K Eric, 1989, The invisible Balance Sheet, accessed 15 April 2010, . Harvey Norman Annual Reports 2009, Page 36, Accessed 25 April 2010, . Sveiby, K Eric, 1997, The â€Å"Invisible† Balance Sheet, accessed 25 April 2010 . Harvey Norman implements automated purchase ordering process, 2010, Transport and Logistics News, Accessed 28 April 2010, . Why the Harvey Norman Franchise Operation is Flawed. 2009, Every Franchise News, Accessed 27 April 2010 . Richard, D. 2008, â€Å"Why Gerry Harvey is wrong and JB-Hi Fi right† , Smart Office, Accessed 21 April 2010, http://www. smartoffice. com. au/Business/Retail/B6X2M6S2? page=2 . John D. HarveyNorman. com. au Australian Superstore review, Aus Business Review. Accessed 21 April 2010, http://www. ausbusiness. net/review/harveynorman-com-au-harvey-norman-catalogue/ . Wang, F. 2009, Sink or Swim: A critical study of the success of the JB Hi-Fi business model, Ozbankers. com, accessed 22 April 2010, . JB or Harvey Norman, Whirlpool Forum, accessed 21 April 2010,

Friday, March 27, 2020

We have looked at many different types of courtship and we have seen the different parts that convention plays in each one Essay Example For Students

We have looked at many different types of courtship and we have seen the different parts that convention plays in each one Essay We have looked at many different types of courtship and we have seen the different parts that convention plays in each one. We started off with Trianspotting and looked at the part that convention played when the lead character, Renton is trying to charm Diane. We see that Renton goes against all conventions and complements her on something other than her looks. He says: I was very impressed by the capable and stylish manner in which you dealt with that situation. In this instance Renton is somewhat unconventional in his courtship. His first remarks to Diane are unusually wordy and they fail to mention the one thing that he is struck by, namely, her appearance. His courtship at this stage is insincere. Diane brushes him off, as she is used to men chatting her up. Nevertheless, once Renton gets into the taxi with her, Diane takes the initiative and kisses Renton. In this courtship the messages are ambiguous. First she brushes him off, and then she kisses him. They have sex, and afterwards Renton says, Christ I havent felt that good since Archie Gemmil scored against Holland in 1978. This remark suggests that football and sex with a pretty girl are equally important in his life. I think that this is quite a convincing portrayal of courtship nowadays. We will write a custom essay on We have looked at many different types of courtship and we have seen the different parts that convention plays in each one specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The next morning Renton is shocked to see Diane wearing her school uniform. He realises that he had sex with an underage girl, and that means that he has committed a criminal act. Diane immediately takes the upper hand as Renton is so frightened off by the prospect of police action, theyd cut my balls off and flush them down the fucking toilet. Diane exploits her dominant position by blackmailing him into seeing her again. This courtship has one striking unconventional feature. Within a short space of time each person reverses his or her role: Diane wasnt keen to start the relationship but she wants to see him again; Renton tried to chat her up in the first place and now he is trying to escape. We also looked at a few extracts from Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice. We first looked at the scene when Mr Bingley and his good friend Mr Darcy come to look at a vacant house near the Bennet house. When the extract starts we see Mrs. Bennet rush into the room where Mr. Bennet is sitting and announces that someone has moved into the vacant house across them. She says that it is a fine thing for our girls! this shows that Mrs. Bennet is not concerned much about the personality about the man but about how big his fortune is. When we meet Mr Bingley we can see that he is a nice man and he has a friend called Mr Darcy who has an even bigger fortune than Mr Bingley so he is now the front-runner for Mr and Mrs Bennets daughters. In this extract the convention of courtship could not be more different to what occurs in Trainspotting. In Pride and Prejudice the young ladies rely on their parents to make all of the introductions. Furthermore, the parents consider which men are considered eligible bachelors and which are not. In those days financial security was considered to be one of the most important factors. In Trainspotting the man and woman introduce themselves and have sex without even knowing each other. In Pride and Prejudice there is no mention whatsoever of sex, which presumably can only take place after marriage. Nevertheless, some conventions never change since Mr Darcy dismisses Elizabeth the moment he sets eyes upon her. Clearly, even in Jane Austens time women were judged in the first instance by their appearance. The relationship between Mr Darcy and Elizabeth at the first stage of their courtship is very restrained. He judges her and he is ascendant Trainspotting he judges her but then the girl quickly gains authority over Renton. Mr Collins proposal follows a textbook convention; as if he is following a manual. First he obtains Mrs Bennets permission to propose to Elizabeth. Then he sets out his reasons for marriage as if he were arranging a business transaction. In order to impress Elizabeth he refers to Lady Catherine de Bourgh a lot which shows his connections to the upper classes. .uc617e7decc4d40ebdc81c4f7c3c26ae7 , .uc617e7decc4d40ebdc81c4f7c3c26ae7 .postImageUrl , .uc617e7decc4d40ebdc81c4f7c3c26ae7 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uc617e7decc4d40ebdc81c4f7c3c26ae7 , .uc617e7decc4d40ebdc81c4f7c3c26ae7:hover , .uc617e7decc4d40ebdc81c4f7c3c26ae7:visited , .uc617e7decc4d40ebdc81c4f7c3c26ae7:active { border:0!important; } .uc617e7decc4d40ebdc81c4f7c3c26ae7 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uc617e7decc4d40ebdc81c4f7c3c26ae7 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uc617e7decc4d40ebdc81c4f7c3c26ae7:active , .uc617e7decc4d40ebdc81c4f7c3c26ae7:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uc617e7decc4d40ebdc81c4f7c3c26ae7 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uc617e7decc4d40ebdc81c4f7c3c26ae7 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uc617e7decc4d40ebdc81c4f7c3c26ae7 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uc617e7decc4d40ebdc81c4f7c3c26ae7 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uc617e7decc4d40ebdc81c4f7c3c26ae7:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uc617e7decc4d40ebdc81c4f7c3c26ae7 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uc617e7decc4d40ebdc81c4f7c3c26ae7 .uc617e7decc4d40ebdc81c4f7c3c26ae7-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uc617e7decc4d40ebdc81c4f7c3c26ae7:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Frankenstein typical of the gothic genre EssayMr Collins proposal is most unconventional because he never says anything about Elizabeth. Furthermore it seems most unromantic to court a woman by asking her to consider her position when her father and mother die. It is difficult to imagine anything so different to how things develop in Trainspotting. When Elizabeth rejects Mr Collins, he returns to the beginning of his textbook and tries again to propose to Elizabeth but this time with a little more feeling but still as if he were following his manual. Mr Darcys proposal contains no talk of business and has more feeling. In a general sense Mr Darcy uses a more unconventional approach. Mr Darcys courtship is more complex, since on one hand he expresses himself with more feeling than Mr Collins, but on the other hand he addresses Elizabeth as if she were inferior. Furthermore, his courtship is unconventional due to their different social classes Could you expect me to rejoice in the inferiority of your connections? Mr Darcy is actually hypocritical in proposing to Elizabeth, since he had tried his utmost to prevent Mr Bingley from marrying Elizabeths sister on the grounds that Jane was socially inferior to Mr Bingley. It appears that there is one rule for Mr Bingley and another rule for Mr Darcy. I have no wish of denying, I did everything in my power to separate my friend from your sister, or that I rejoice in my success. In Pride and Prejudice it is evident from Mrs Bennets concern over her daughters that a woman who was still unmarried at the age of twenty-four was considered in danger of becoming a spinster. However, in Trainspotting it is clear from the age and status of Rentons friends that twenty-four years of age is still considered young and young and reasonable for an unmarried woman. In this sonnet by Drayton a different type of courtship is desired. Drayton follows the convention of expressing love in the form of a sonnet his purpose is to seduce a woman. He uses language most romantically Me thinks this time becommeth lovers best; He even uses the word ordaind to suggest that religion would not oppose them spending the night together. He talks about romantic subjects and how the night separates them and not about how the woman may not actually want to be with him at night. He has stuck to the convention of putting charming words and phrases in his sonnet such as returns unto his love to ensure that the woman will be seduced by the end of the sonnet. Drayton addresses the lady as Deere and the poem is written as if he is talking directly to his lover, this is just the kind of romantic intimacy that Shakespeare has inverted the usual sensual descriptions of a mistress so that her breasts are dun. Shakespeares rhyming scheme and use of iambic pentameter is the same as Draytons, yet it achieves the opposite effect. The very first line of Shakespeares sonnet is obviously a parody. My mistress eyes are nothing like the sun; It would be more conventional to write that, my mistress eyes are like the Sun. The word nothing in this context is entirely unromantic and unconventional for a sonnet. We then looked at Shakespeares sonnet that is conventional in form but quite unconventional in content, he talks about how the womans hair is as thick as wires and her breath reeks. He has written a parody of a normal sonnet and has turned the content around to demean of women. He has also stuck to the strict form for sonnets, as he wants it to be recognised as such. We also looked at Tony Kytes à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" The Arch Deceiver this has a big shift in prospective as there is a narrator that is telling the story in first person. Which is different to all of the other pieces of prose that we looked at, in Trainspotting there was a narrator but it was not in first person and the extracts of Pride and Prejudice that we looked at were all in third person. This story is all in first person of the narrator and in third person of Tony. .u69387559288645cb98b36b98a05a613c , .u69387559288645cb98b36b98a05a613c .postImageUrl , .u69387559288645cb98b36b98a05a613c .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u69387559288645cb98b36b98a05a613c , .u69387559288645cb98b36b98a05a613c:hover , .u69387559288645cb98b36b98a05a613c:visited , .u69387559288645cb98b36b98a05a613c:active { border:0!important; } .u69387559288645cb98b36b98a05a613c .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u69387559288645cb98b36b98a05a613c { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u69387559288645cb98b36b98a05a613c:active , .u69387559288645cb98b36b98a05a613c:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u69387559288645cb98b36b98a05a613c .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u69387559288645cb98b36b98a05a613c .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u69387559288645cb98b36b98a05a613c .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u69387559288645cb98b36b98a05a613c .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u69387559288645cb98b36b98a05a613c:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u69387559288645cb98b36b98a05a613c .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u69387559288645cb98b36b98a05a613c .u69387559288645cb98b36b98a05a613c-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u69387559288645cb98b36b98a05a613c:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Ibsen's "A Doll's House", Act Two Scene 6 EssayThe story is very contradictory, Tony is a serious person but he is very interested in women and they do not take him very seriously we can know this when the narrator says he loved them in shoals. When Tony is finally fixed down he if fixed with Milly, who sound very gullible and naÃÆ' ¯ve, she has been taken in by Tonys promise of marriage. Just as in Pride and Prejudice, all of the women mentioned all look good, it seems that all of the women have been primarily judged by their looks, handsome girl is used to describe Tonys ex girlfriend Unity. When the story journey starts unity is the first girl that we meet and we see that she is quite a nice looking girl and the narrator mentions that Tony used to go out with her and was close to marrying her. When she goes into the carriage she instantly starts questioning Tony about his choice. We can see that Tony is quite affected by Unitys looks, he let his eyes light on her this shows that he may be reconsidering his marriage proposal to Milly. When he sees Milly walking down the road he suddenly asks Unity to get into the back of the carriage and in return he tells her that he may reconsider his proposal to Milly. We then see that one of Tonys first girlfriends is walking down the road and she asks for a lift. The only way that he was able to get Milly in the back of the carriage in the empty sack was to use their marriage and his proposal as a bargaining tool Now, Milly would you do me a favour à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" my coming wife as I may say? The reason that they accept this is that they will have a husband and for this they will do anything. When he tells Hannah that he may marry her and break things off with Milly. Milly hears this and starts to make noises as if it were to warn Tony that she is there and he should not say anything like that. n the next part Tony starts to wonder why he ever thought of asking Milly or Unity to marry him as Hannah is so attractive. Even now the appearance counts for most of the decision in which woman Tony wants to marry. Tony is very conventional as he knows exactly what the woman wants to hear and he uses this fully to his advantage. This story captures properly the excitement of youth romance and how it is based on looks and not on personality. When we get the first description of Milly it says that she is described as light and small which are not the best descriptions for an attractive woman. Tony is able to juggle with the three women in his wagon quite well as he lasts quite a long time without them even noticing each other with this the reader is always left guessing what will happen next in the minute of the story. We can see that the courtship that has taken place is quite unconventional as the girl that Tony finally marries has accepted him after all of the other girls have declined him and she has no spirit and says yes to him. That was the last piece that we looked at and I can see that convention plays a very big part in courtship as it can be used well to your advantage Tony and it can be used very badly Mr Collins.

Friday, March 6, 2020

New Year Eve in Different Countries Essays

New Year Eve in Different Countries Essays New Year Eve in Different Countries Essay New Year Eve in Different Countries Essay Julia Deegan Ngan Do Eva Fraga November 15, 2012 Compare and Contrast New Year Eve in Different Countries Wouldnt it be fun to travel around the world and celebrate the New Year all year long? All over the world, people celebrate the New Year; This is one of the oldest of all holidays. Most New Year celebrations focus on family and friends, food and traditions, but not all of the celebrations take place on the same day or in the same way! Because people in different parts of the world use different alendars, accordingly, Mexico and Ukraine celebrate the New Year on the first day of January, whereas Vietnam keeps a lunar calendar. In Mexico and Ukraine official date of New Year celebrations is from December thirty-first to January first. Vietnamese New Year takes place from the first day of the first month of the Lunar calendar, and its around late January or early February, until at least the third day. New Year Eve is a time for families and friends to be tog ether. And while it has its traditions, this holiday is not so family-oriented in Mexico. A lot of people in Mexico are going to the beach and looking for a good time. On the other hand, for Ukrainian and Vietnamese people, it is a time for family reunions, they waiting for relatives to return home and gather around the table. Whether you celebrate with family or friends, New Years Eve dinner is usually a feast. The glasses are filled with champagne in every home, and that makes Mexico, Ukraine, and Vietnam look alike, however, the traditional New Years Eve food in Mexico, Ukraine, and Vietnam is different. In Mexico oast turkey or stuffed pork loin with pasta in a creamy sauce and a salad are favorites, whereas, fried sausages, cabbage rolls, jellied meats, vareniki, holubtsi and borsch are favorites in Ukraine. In Vietnam a special rice pudding with mung beans and pork, sweet beef, chicken, fish, and especially watermelon are eaten at New Year. Traditional Christmas Tree with toys and fireworks is a symbol of the New Year in Mexico and Ukraine, exception Vietnam. The last day of the year a plant such as the bamboo tree is planted in the ourtyard of Vietnamese homes. They decorate the tree with bells, flowers, and red streamers. The decorations are not for decorative purposes, but are to guard the family against evil spirits. In conclusion, the people in different parts of the world use different calendars. Some people celebrate the New Year with their friends, and other with their relatives. Mexico, Ukraine and Vietnam have different traditional meals, but every country enjoys this time of the year with their unusual for other countries food.

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Read 3 Stories and Indentify the Dominant Style of Leadership Essay

Read 3 Stories and Indentify the Dominant Style of Leadership - Essay Example On the second article, â€Å"Taking on Additional Responsibilities†, Jim Madison exemplifies the leader member exchange style or LMX. The theory of this said practice involves the dyadic relationship of leaders with specific key individuals in his group, and provides them more responsibilities and favors than the rest. This inner circle of followers or in-group, as represented by Shirley, Patti, Ted and Jana, are inclined to prove themselves to their leader by working harder and show commitment and loyalty to the organization, hence preparing them to be suitable candidates to take the role of the leader in the future. On the other hand, the out-group are the followers that prefer to work without expecting any indebtedness from the leader in return and regard the later with outmost formality. Lastly, Dr. Cook the article â€Å"Students Dig It† illustrates a transformational style of leadership. A transformational leader demonstrates the ability to inspire and motivate people in completing a task through leading by example. This type of leader listens to what his followers are thinking and ensure their well-being in every aspect. In return, the followers’ morale increases while their talents developed and eventually accomplishes their tasks with minimal supervision. (Martindale,

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

Personal history Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Personal history - Essay Example It was my first Monday at work after a happy long vacation. I was walking through the aisle of my Walgreens, when I suddenly heard from the Vitamin’s aisle a sweet voice of a little Cuban girl. ‘Mami, mami, manana es tu cumpleanos (mom, mom, tomorrow is your birthday)!’ said the little girl with a huge smile and happiness in her face. In that moment, a rush of emotion invaded my mind, and I could not stop the tears of my eyes falling to the floor. As I was looking at the mother’s girl with an immense smile, I saw a cheerful girl during the spring of 2000 in Cuba, when I was only 10 year old, and I saw the radiant smile of the woman who gave me life. In that age, I had a straight black hair, brown eyes and rep lips. Although I was a skinny and stylish girl like a Barbies’ model, I did not like to brush my hair and dress up my bed in the mornings, and every day I was waiting for make a new mischief with my friends at school. In that time of my life, my favorite place was a little space that I created for myself with rocks and small pieces of wood at the back yard of my home. I was the leader there! My school friends and I went to there to do homework, study for the tests, make some food and of course, play games endlessly. I had a very unique family. I lived with my father my brother and my Queen: my mother. She was my teacher, my best friend and my witness. Always, every single plan that I did, I had told her before. I almost forget! I cannot fail to mention my little and adorable Blanquito, my funny and crazy puppy! These are some of my most precious treasures of memories, but the storm that would come and the darkness that would surround me, along with the anguish and pain that destroyed my heart would forever leave me wanting to see her face again. Mum had been seriously ill in the days leading up to her painful demise. In the latter days, as her condition grew worse, my

Monday, January 27, 2020

Non organic growth strategy

Non organic growth strategy Abstract : As microfinance industry has been growing rapidly, in many places the market of this sector becomes relatively mature and lies in competitive situation. Some of microfinance institutions start thinking, exploring and doing non organic growth strategies. This paper presents the idea of non organic growth strategies in microfinance whether through strategic alliances or mergers and acquisitions which can be a choice for achieving rapid growth and expansion. One of the key success factors in doing such strategies in microfinance could be the comprehensive assessment to the similarities and differences of organizations characteristics, such as their structure and culture. BACKGROUND In the recent years undoubtedly that microfinance has become a diverse and growing industry. This sector has been attracting many eyes for several reasons. One of the reasons can be said that on one side microfinance business is not only based on financial motive, but also on other side used as means for social development, as many called double bottom line principal. Many microfinance institutions (MFIs) have been placing and operating the business in the area where there has been potential market of microenterprises and low-income households. Consultative Group to Assist The Poor (2010) , broadly defined microfinance institution (MFI) is as an organization that deals with the provision of financial services mainly for the benefit of the poor. These organizations vary in their legal structure, mission, and methodology. Generally there are four categories of microfinance providers, namely informal, member-owned organizations, NGOs and Formal financial institutions ,such as Regulated MFI and Commercial Bank (Helms, 2006). All categories of those microfinance institutions are struggling to grow and survive in the arena. As the market is facing the maturity and fierce competition, many microfinance institutions keep trying to expand their portfolio by providing financial services to a larger number of clients while at the same time fulfilling an MFIs social mission. Some of them explore to alternative means for reaching rapid growth by formulating and doing better strategies. They have been trying to adapt non organic growth strategies whether through doing strategic alliances or mergers and acquisitions. Generally speaking in the world of business, we have been witnessing with a lot of examples of many firms achieving growth by creating alliances/collaboration with other parties and mergers and acquisitions. Both strategies are common done by many firms in the world since these can help the firms to covering each own weaknesses and combining each own different resources as well as facing challenges much more powerful. But in microfinance those two kind of strategies are still newly developed. In authors opinion, the issue of non organic growth strategy chosen by MFI whether they want to decide to do strategic alliance/collaboration or merger and acquisition is interesting due to the fact of unique characteristics of the players in microfinance arena as mentioned above. For example, we find that Microfinance Formal Financial Institution (MFIF) comparing to Microfinance NGO is more financially oriented rather than socially. In MFIF, the organization goals are always associated with the financial indicators and sales indicators. Whereas in microfinance NGOs are closely related to the non financial changes, particularly in the social changes of community, such as household income changes, effects of loan to women empowerment, health etc. These differences are very important to be understood considering that the differences inherent to those two institutions will affect to the successful or the failure of doing non organic growth strategic. Therefore,this paper presents the idea for MFIs, mainly for MFIF and Microfinance NGO types, in choosing such non organic growth strategies, whether they want to create a strategic alliance or merger and acquisition. The structure of this paper will be presented as follows : Section 1 provides the background regarding to authors opinion to raise the issue of non organic growth strategy in microfinance. The section 2 elaborates the conceptual background about the definition of strategic alliance and the merger and acquisition, and points out motives and diffrences behinds these strategies as well as the explanation of success keys. Then institutional features of players in microfinance arena is presented in the section 3. In the section 4, we try to give the idea to answer the question which strategy chosen by MFIs based on the different characteristics of those non organic growth strategies and distinctive features of microfinance institutions as explained in section 2 and 3, and thi s section leads to the conclusion as section 5. At the end references are appeared in the section 6. The limitation of this paper is not addressing the issue of alliances or mergers and acquisitions between MFIs which formed in informal and member-owned organizations or cooperatives. This paper only focuses on the basic idea of doing alliances or mergers and acquisition for MFIFs and NGOs form and doesnt explain quantitatively in details. Conceptual Background The words of organic growth and non-organic (external) growth are common known in the corporate growth discussion. Organic growth is usually defined as a companys growth rate excluding any scale increases from takeovers, acquisitions, or mergers. Growth of this type is also referred to as a companys core growth. Organic growth is generated, for example, by selling more product (services as well) to current customers, selling product to new customers, or selling product at a higher price ( Dalton and Dalton, 2006) .Whereas non organic growth obviously can be defined as a strategy to obtain companys growth through alliances, mergers and acquisition and takeovers. Many firms decide to do alliances /collaboration or merger acquisition to survive and to grow rather than to run business relying on the individual efforts. These non growth strategies are done by many firms to form powerful energy in managing difference resources owned by each party. As Zhiang et al (2009) notes that resources are heterogeneously distributed across firms, therefore some important internal resources can be obtained from external sources via inter organizational relationships such as alliances, or by engaging in mergers and acquisitions. Compared to internal development or organic growth, strategic alliances as well as mergers and acquisitions strategy is a much faster way to build organic capabilities. Strategic Alliances A strategic alliance is defined as an arrangement between two or more independent companies that decide to carry out a project or operate in a specific business area by coordinating the necessary skills and resources jointly rather than operating on their own or merging their operations (Dussauge et al,1999) . It can be a contractual arrangement to collaborate on one or all levels without any intended change in organization legal structure (McCarter, 2002). Strategic alliance occurs for a certain period of time whether short or long time. According to Koza and Lewin (1998), there are two main motivations for the decision of doing alliances, namely exploitative and exploratory. Exploitative means that in the agreed alliance, each party seeks to leverage their own resources and capabilities in order to enhance revenue or reduce cost, whereas exploratory each collaborating party willing to create new opportunities, markets, product and technologies. From the conceptual point of view, Sudarsanam (2003) lists some factors potentially conducive to successful alliances: Each party should bring complimentary skills, capabilities and market to the alliance Market overlap between partners should be minimal to avoid conflict of interest Alliance should be based on balance of business strength and ownership interest among partners The alliance must have a degree of autonomy with strong leadership and continual commitment and support The alliance must build up trust and confidence between the partners and not depend only contractual right and obligations Divergence of management styles and corporate culture must be handled with sensitivity, and a new common style and culture distinct. Merger and Acquisition Merger and acquisition is defined as the combination of two companies or firms to achieve certain strategic and business objectives forming a great significance transaction not only to the companies but also to many constituencies, such as share holder, workers, managers, competitors, communities as well as the economy as whole (Sudarsanam, 2003). Schoenberg (2003) notes that firms often use mergers and acquisitions in order to achieve such diverse strategic goals , for example, increasing market power, expanding to new product markets or geographical territories, or gaining access to valuable resources. From this point, even though it seems we can see that strategic alliance and mergers and acquistions have the similar purpose but we noticed that mergers and acquisitions may create some different change concerning the business, organization, ownership and legal status in the result company. Furthermore, Damodaran (2002) describes the term of merger,consolidation, tender offer, acquisition and buy out as all parts of merger and acquisition parlances, and a firm can be combined by another firm by 5 ways : Mergers , when a target firm become part of acquiring firm and stockholder approval needed from both firms. Consolidation, when target firm and acquiring firm become new firm and stockholder approval needed from both firms. Tender offer, when firm continues to exist, as long as there are dissident stockholders holding out. Successful tender offers ultimately become mergers and no shareholder approval is needed. Acquisition of asset , when target firm remains as shell company, but its assets are transferred to the acquiring firm and ultimately target firm is liquidated. Buy Out, when target firm continues to exist but as a private business usually accomplished with tender offer. There are several and diverse motives for mergers and acquisitions, Johnson et al (2005) grouped under three headings. They are environment, strategic capability and expectations: Environment. The need to keep up with a changing environment can dominate thinking about acquisitions. Some major aspects which influenced the changing environment are the need of business speed, competitive situation and deregulation. Strategic capability. Achieving cost efficiency, developing innovation and learning organization are some reasons behind mergers and acquisitions in many industries. Expectation. In some ways, stakeholders have highly expectation and interest to give insight for the growth of company. In this case, mergers and acquisition may be perceived by many stakeholders as a quick way to deliver companys growth. Mark and Mirvis (1993), from their research have summarized that one of the key success for establishing the desired combination between two companies is the assessment of two sides companys structures and cultures. They suggest that in mergers and acquisitions efforts, each party should be proactive in the pre combination phase; planning and preparation are integral to success when companies join forces At least there are different aspects to be taken into account carefully in steering a combination toward the successful path: purpose, partner, parameter and people. But it doesnt end up to the planning and preparation. The most important thing to be taken into account for achieving successful mergers and acquisitions is post-merger combination. All these efforts may help to overcome the most commonly cited reasons for failures: conflicting corporate cultures, over estimation of synergies, inadequate due diligence, slow/poor post-merger combination and poor leadership or management ( McCarter, 2002) The Differences From the explanation about two kinds of non organic growth strategy above, we can note the main difference between strategic alliances and mergers and acquisitions. It can be said that creating strategic alliances is not as difficult as mergers and acquisitions. It is because of making the mergers and acquisition work successfully is complicated process which involves not only putting two organizations together but also involves integrating people of two organizations with different cultures, attitudes and mindsets (Mallikarjunappa and Nayak, 2007). Meanwhile, in the strategic alliances, each company is still independent and it seems to need less effort in term of cost and time. Therefore, Reuer (1999) differentiates alliances and merger and acquisitions in four dimensions which strategic alliances may be preferred: Infeasibility: acquisition may not be feasible for regulatory, political or legal reasons. Information asymmetry : the partners have access to different information sets making it difficult to value their relative contributions Indigestibility: post mergers and acquisition integration of the acquirer and the acquired firms poses problems so severe as to prevent value creation from the acquisition. When indigestibility is substantial, alliances can be attractive because they allow companies to link their resources selectively. Even when acquired assets can be divested this alliance advantage remains. Strategic flexibility: it is more important than commitment of the partners. Now, how we relate this conceptual background of those strategy into the idea of impelementing these to the microfinance industry. However, we should better know the two kind of institutional features of microfinance as explained below. Institutional Features : MFIFs and MFI NGOs As mentioned in the previous page, there are some players in the microfinance arena and they obviously have different characteristics. However, there are basically two main different characteristics in the discussion about players in microfinance industry, namely for profit or financially oriented, and non profit or socially oriented The financially oriented institution, mainly private enterprises/ companies, could be Microfinance Formal financial institutions (MFIF) such as bank and regulated MFI or non bank financial institution. Mean while the socially oriented institutions, most of them are NGOs. What makes different between two types of MFIs? It may be better to look at a table presented by Estallo et al (2006) indicating the differences between private enterprise and NGO types: All these factors make different structure and culture of those two organizations. In the case of MFIs, another important distinctive feature between private MFIFs and MFI NGOs is concerning with the ownership. As Lauer (2008) stated that ownership structure is one of the critical issues to consider in the specific context of each type transformation of such institution. MFIs ownership structure encompasses the ensemble of mechanism by which stakeholders define and pursue the institution vision and mission and ensure its sustainability. Alliances or Merger and Acquisitions ? As whole, from the conceptual background section, we have seen that strategic alliances and mergers and acquisitions might have some similarities and some principally differences. In other section, we have also already known the main difference characteristics of the microfinance players. Then now it raises a question how does an MFI choose a choice between two? MFIF NGO Alliances There have been some evidences that alliances can help the collaborative firms or institution to expand its business. Strategic alliances are able to scale up access to financial services in rural areas in term of the outreach to new clients and markets as well as the introduction of new products (Gallardo et al, 2006). Rondinelli and London (2003) noted that Alliances, in fact, may be the only option for companies interested in accessing the knowledge held by (NGOs), since internal development of such expertise may be too costly, inefficient and time-consuming for most companies and merger with or acquisition of an (NGO) is highly unlikely. While Kramer and Kania (2006) also stated with a similar view that nonprofits often have much deeper comprehension to solve the social problems, which enables them to help companies determining comprehensive strategies and set more ambitious and goals. Strategic alliances are also important in the public sector as a means of addressing particula r social outcomes (Johnson et al, 2005). This also could happen in the alliance MFIF-NGO. Dahan et al (2009) gives examples of MFIF NGO strategic alliances. HSBC Amanah (HSBCs global Islamic banking division) has partnered with, an international development and relief organization, the Islamic Relief, to provide financial services to Muslims in accordance with Islamic Shariah law. Another example is In Dominica. MasterCard builds on an affinity card relationship with Banco Popular Dominicano and Asociacion para el Desarrollo de Microempresas, Inc. (ADEMI), a micro and small-scale lender .This partnership is aimed at providing unbankable entrepreneurs using MasterCard-ADEMI- BancoPopular Dominicano credit cards to withdraw cash and to pay utility and other bills in order to support the micro entrepreneurs in Dominica to run their business. However, this does not close the possibility of the combination between MFIF and NGO in mergers form. For example, McCarter (2002), gives two mergers between MFIF with NGO. In Nicaragua, the Interfin, a licensed Nicaraguan financier, in January 2000 merged with NGO Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) Chispa microcredit program, forming Financiera Confia. Another example in Guatemala, there was a merger between Bancasol, a local commercial bank, with ACCION Internationals affiliate NGO to form Genesis. Meanwhile in 2007, Sonata, a start up MFI in Northern India purchased of Jeevika Livelihood Support Organization to expand its microfinance operation (Tiwari and Chasnow, 2009). Mergers and Acquisitions between MFIF and MFIF or between NGO and NGO As stated on the previous page, making the mergers and acquisition work is complicated process rather than strategic alliances, but this doesnt mean that this strategy is far away from success. Mergers and acquisitions can be used by MFIs to create new capability to survive and achieve significance growth. Mergers and acquisitions are not only about the combination between two organizations which merely based on financial aspect but also the structure and culture of two organizations combined. It takes much more energy, cost and time. It may be the similarity of structure and culture of organization used as a good starting point to think about mergers and acquisitions in the arena of non growth strategy of MFIs. So doing MFIF-MFIF merger or NGO-NGO mergers is more appropriate combination than creating strategic alliances. However, it doesnt mean that MFIF-MFIF strategic alliances cannot be implemented to reduce the competition tension. There are some examples mergers and acquisition in the microfinance industry around the world as summarized and showed in the annex of this paper. Conclusion As the microfinance sector matures, non organic growth strategies mainly strategic alliances and mergers and acquisitions can be a choice for achieving rapid growth and expansion in microfinance. Of course, this effort actually is not easy to be implemented. But it is also not to say that making work such strategies is impossible to be realized. By analyzing the differences between two non organic growth strategies above as well as the different characteristics between MFIF and NGO, on the one hand we may conclude that strategic alliance will likely to be considered for both rather than mergers and acquisitions. However, this does not close the possibility of the combination between MFIF and NGO in mergers and acquisitions form. A strategic alliance between MFIF and NGOs is less effort in term of cost and time but still can result in the growth of the organization. On the other hand, mergers and acquisition can also be created for combining MFIF with MFIF or NGO with NGO. Some evidences showed that the similarity of the structure and culture of those organizations can be used as the good starting point to do mergers and acquisition. It is very important to be considered because mergers and acquisitions are not only about the marriage between two organizations which merely based on financial aspect but also the structure and culture of two organizations combined. One of the key success factors for the future microfinance non growth strategy should be based on the assessment of characteristics of the similarities and differences of organization (i.e structure and culture) before choosing strategic alliances or mergers and acquisitions strategy. For those microfinance organizations who intend to do a non growth organic strategy but both of them have highly different structure and culture, it may be a strategic alliance is more suitable to be created. But in the case, there are some similarities in term of organizations characteristics, merger and acquisition could be an option. REFERENCES Dussauge, O, Garrette B and Mitchell W (1999) Learning from Competing Partners: Outcomes and Duration of Scale and Link Alliances in Europe, North America and Asia, Strategic Management Journal, vol. 21, pp. 99-126. Damodaran, A. (2002), Investment Valuation , Tools and techniques for determining the value of any asset (2nd ed) , John Wiley and Son, New York. 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