Risks and Benefits of Modern Technology

Risks and Benefits of Modern Technology The Internet and other emerging technologies have been a source of help to organisations in the modern time. It could be argued that having a form of modern technology is inevitable in the bid to remain competitive. Information Technology industry and media commentators claim that businesses stand to gain many benefits from use of the Internet. There is no doubt that the internet has transformed the way organizations operate at present, not only do these improve processes, financial benefits are also increased. While successful examples of companies using the net have been widely reported, few studies have seriously examined the issues involved. However, there is always a flip side of the coin in everything, as the internet and the other emerging technologies have their benefits to organizations. There are also the disadvantages. This paper will seek to analyze both sides in detail and put forward possible solutions backed up by research which will reduce the risk of digital business. George (1988) defined Emerging Technology as science based innovations that have the potential to create a new industry or transform an existing one. They include discontinuous technologies derived from radical innovations. Examples are bio therapeutics, high-temperature super conductors, MRI imaging, Touch screen kiosk and the Internet. The Touch Screen Kiosk is a new java-enabled technology. Touch-screen kiosks go beyond the capabilities of a traditional time clock in that they are true information appliances. They provide a bridge between the organization and the workforce, both capturing workforce information and extending organizational information back to the employee. A kiosk-based solution for time, attendance, and labour tracking also offers organizations a tool for empowering employees with self-service. With the touch of a finger, employees can view Internet-enabled applications that display their schedules, vacation balances, and corporate messages or allow time and labou r data entry. Workforce management can now be a two way street. (Rizzo, 2001) The Internet started in the 80s and since then it has had a drastic impact on culture, commerce and business and due to the speed, litheness, and effectiveness that it offers, it has become the means for accomplishing a growing amount of business between suppliers and large international companies. With this, the Internet has created new business to developing countries and has hastened the distribution of knowledge throughout the world of business. It thus creates unprecedented opportunities for developing countries because it can remove barriers thereby fostering full participation in the new global economy. Some organisations use the internet for almost every part of their organization such as buying and delivery of goods, stock control, manufacture arrangement, communications plans, sales programs, service departments and support programs. The change from traditional communication channels such as salespeople, telephone and snail mail to the internet and e-mail happened quickly i n some companies. However, this transition took place slowly in others. (McKenna and Bargh, 2000) Emerging Technologies have instigated a new transaction method that decrease costs, hastens the pace at which transactions are carried out, and supply acces to new markets, new customers, and new business relationships of all kinds. Even with all these benefits that the internet has brought to the business world, there are still a lot of risks involved such as fraudulent transactions, scams and more. This research would explain all these risks and benefits in detail. The Internet has enabled business to go far beyond previously set or imagined boundaries. Today, change is constant, its speed is accelerating, and its global impact is felt everywhere. While the Internet offers many potential benefits, there are a number of unresolved issues in conducting business on it. Despite recent advances, security remains the most fundamental concern and the main reason why companies hold back from full use of the net (van Kirk, 1994; Baron, 1995). Iver (2003) explains that online business is an infinite term about the different business procedures that plan to assimilate the merchants with the consumers and suppliers using the Internet. The whole procedure of putting up a website, helping the potential customer steer through the site, showing them the accessible products, offering cut rate and coupons and doing everything possible to persuade the potential customers and changing them into customers, comes under the process of e-business. He further went to discuss about Electonic commerce which is a compartment of e-business and is defined as online business that can be accounted for in financial terms. For instance, paying for goods and products with credit card by the consumers or shopping and paying online are examples of electronic-commerce. E-commerce could be explained as the last phase of e-business which involves the payments of the products sold by the organisation. The use of the internet has several disadvantages when conducting business transactions. According to Iver (2003), the main disadvantage of online business is the poor growth rate in certain segment on account of goods. For example, the food sector has not profited in terms of expansion of sales and resulting profits generation due to some certain reasons like food products being an unpreserved item. Customers hardly search for food products and items on the Internet because they rather go to the stores to purchase the required product when it is needed. It is also very easy to go into the online business as almost everyone has a laptop and is connected to the internet. This gives room for fraudulent activities since there isnt proper security in place to monitor the number of people that develop shopping websites. Trust is also a major issue in online business because any problems with your business website will be immediately be obvious to the world and the customers typically have little loyalty. Due to competition, once your website is unavailable, customers will simply move on to one of your competitors. In addition, technical failure can also have a significant impact on a companys key trading partners. Sid (2007) also discussed about the disadvantages of online business based on internet services and trust issues. Internet Technology According to Sid (2007), he discussed about the disadvantages of practising online business. The first point is that the website of the business must keep functioning at all times; this is the equivalent to a physical store staying open. If an Internet business goes offline due to technical issues, it can cost them profit; therefore, it’s essential to either have the technical skills or have someone in the company that possesses the technical skills to keep the company functional at all times. Trust Sid (2007) also explained about the behaviour of people shopping online. In many people’s minds, purchasing products over the Internet is still not as safe as purchasing products in stores. Since people cannot see the person on the other end of the computer, they might have issues purchasing products. This is also dependent upon the products and the sector. Lacking consumer’s trust can significantly impact sales and overall success. According to Lewis (2002), internal network protection will be a big issue for the organizations that wish to offer their services to Internet-using customers around the world. Hackers and other internet criminals can infiltrate company files and infect them with a virus, which is then sent to other computers to infect them. If the networks are not secured such people could also find important information about the company. Newly publicized weaknesses in the basic structure of the Internet indicate that the worldwide computer network may need a time-consuming redesign before it can be safely used as a commercial medium. Lewis (2002) further went to explain about how hackers can easily get access to different companies and can cover their traces without any major concerns. They like to trade data illegally and sell data to the hacker community. Calling-card numbers from long distance telephone service providers, cellular service activation codes, stolen credit-card numbers, security-p enetrating algorithms and pirated software codes are among the data most frequently traded on the Internet. Hackers might also bombard a company with thousands of mail messages using automatic remailer tools. The posting of messages can knock out communications at a critical time in a competitive situation and even firewalls cannot protect a company well against these attacks. Jerkins (1995) explained about Information security which is based on three foundations: Data integrity A company must be sure that its data have not been changed. Confidentiality of data Companies have to be able to keep to themselves what they do not want others to know, such as their customer database, credit card numbers, etc. Authenticity Companies need to be sure that messages they receive from the Net are from the people they claim to be. If any of these factors can be infiltrated by hackers, the company is no longer secure.Another risk is the increasing number of information brokers who use online communications to match buyers and sellers. Criminals always seem to always have an edge over law enforcement agencies.An online Internet organization also faces other challenging risks. Cafasso (1996) explains the case of staff members that always download adult material from the internet and go further to show them around in the work environment. This can create a hostile working environment and employees that view the adult material might feel sexually harassed within the company and could press charges. The company will have to ensure that employees cannot download such media files or other offensive materials from the Internet. It will have to develop strict guidelines to protect its own interests and the uncontrolled surfing habits of its employees.To do business on the Internet successfully, companies will have to en sure that the customer is indeed the person he or she claims to be. Verification and confirmation, written with an e-mail system, will work well enough for the time being. The advantages of using the internet or emerging technologies were explained by Iver in 2003. Worldwide Presence According to Iver, 2003, this is the major benefit of transacting dealings online. An organization using e-business can have a countrywide or a global presence. For example, IBM was one of the first firms to start practicing e-business to service customers and work in partnership with business associates all over the globe. Dell Inc. also had a prosperous business selling computers all over the US, through the telephone and the Internet till 2007. Amazon.com is also an accomplishment story that assists customers buy globally from third parties. Hence, global presence is guaranteed if organizations reorganize their business by using the Internet. Cost Effective Marketing and Promotions The use of the web to advertise products ensures global reach at a small price. Advertising techniques like pay per click advertising guarantees that the promoter only pays for the advertisements that are really watched. Affiliate marketing, where customers are directed to a business portal because of the efforts of the affiliate who in turn receive compensation for their efforts meeting with success, have emerged on account of e-business. Associated marketing has assisted both the business and the associates. Organizations making use of e-business have handled to use cost effective online advertising strategies to their advantage. Developing a Competitive Strategy Organizations need to have a competitive strategy over their rivals because without an effective strategy, it will be difficult to sustain the advantage and make proceeds. The strategy, that the organization can chase, can be a price strategy or a differentiation strategy. For instance, till the year 2007, Dell Inc. was selling PCs only through the Internet and the phone. It took up a differentiation strategy by selling its PCs through the internet and personalizing its laptops to meet up with the requirements of the customers and it really helped their profits. Thus, engaging business online resulted in Dell Inc. being able to acquire a large sector of the market by making use of the differentiation strategy. Better Customer Service Iver (2002) explained that doing business online has produced an improvement in customer service. Occasionally, when going through a website, the customer is always met by a pop-up chat window. Readily available customer service may assist in encouraging the customer to know more about the product or service. Furthermore, the products can be paid for online and can be shipped to the customers home. Internet services allow for asynchronous interaction and provide convenience for the client. The Web also makes access to people in remote areas feasible. This assistance, says Snow (2001), is able to bridge distances and help overcome a wide assortment of isolation economic, physical, emotional, geographical. Doing business on the Internet will become even more essential in the future. More organizations will have the right to use to the Internet and, with the price of communication reducing; more customers will come to the Internet as well. The Internet offers remarkable possibilities and could, in the long run, surpass conventional distribution channels. It is very simple to get connected to the Internet and people can browse and shop on the Internet 24 hours a day, if they want to. The Internet offers an exceptional way to get in touch with the customers on a one-to-one basis. Better emerging technologies will help organizations to represent themselves better and sell more products. So for people to keep enjoying the benefits on the Internet, it is important that the security issues must be addressed. Security on the Internet is a very vital issue, and some good solutions are beginning to form. Organizations that use the internet often need to protect themselves in three major areas: data integrity, confidentiality of data and authenticity. It becomes more and more key to avoid hackers from stealing or tampering with data stored in organisations systems. This can be done by installing firewalls or routers. When data travels on the Net, it is normally intended to be read only by sender and recipient, which can be ensured with encryption systems. Finally, an organization wants to be sure that the parties it is communicating with are really who they claim to be. Authenticity can be obtained with digital signatures. Doing business online involves some risks, like any other business transaction. But if attention is devoted to installing secure procedures, it is no more risky than other business practices. Since security is essential in online business because of all the risk involved, one of the major organizations that provide such security for banks and other large organizations that deal with online business is Panda Security. It is one of the major leading IT security providers and an antifraud service for doing business online to guard against identity theft through malware attacks targeting banks that operate online, platforms for payment and electronic-commerce. This procedure advises companies when there is a targeted attack and provides the gears to spot and obstruct affected users which reduce any possibility of online fraud. This solution allows banks and organizations providing online services to ensure that customers initiating businesses on their websites are not contaminated by any malevolent code that affects the service. They can see the security status of their customers and efficiently supervise the danger involved in online business. This radically reduces the poss ibility of fraudulent actions. The benefits that this service offers organizations include: Reduction of online fraud Panda Security for Internet Transactions provides tools and information to stop fraudulent activity. Organizations are instantly notified whenever there is a new malware attack targeting their customers, and delivered the information needed to respond in time. Organizations will see how the malware operates and how they can protect themselves. They can prevent infected customers from accessing their website, reducing the effects of online fraud. Control and management of threats to online transactions This is the only service on the market offering information about the security status of clients. This can be used by an organization to create risk profiles, meaning the service can be configured to restrict the permission to carry out transactions to those clients that meet pre-determined security requirements. Expanding business thanks to improved security Users lack of confidence in online security is one of the prime reasons for their reticence to use Web services. This tool reduces online fraud and allows companies to offer clients a secure environment for online transactions For the business community, the Internet is a new limit, offering matchless prospects for development and growth. Organizations can provide their services throughout the world, with the variety of services multiplying daily. It is also obvious that the advantages of using the internet and other emerging technologies for business is by far more than the disadvantages so organizations would continue to use them and keep trying to find ways to reduce online fraud and scams. Practising online business involves some threats just like any other business deal. But if concentration is dedicated to installing secure measures, it is no more dangerous than other business practices. As a matter of fact, it is not safe for your organization not to be represented on the Web if you are related to the technology industry in any way: the Web will be the first place prospective customers will look for you, expecting to find you there. There are unique opportunities on the Web for marketing a companys services, selling products and gathering information. References BBC (1999), â€Å"Internet scam file†, BBC On-line Network, 7 April,news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/business/your_ Brewer E. (15), â€Å"Internet flaws a setback for commerce†, New York Times Personal Technology. Cafasso, R., When security isnt what it seems, Enterprise Systems Network Management, March 1996, pp. 72-84 Cyber-Smut: Regulating Obscenity on the Internet; Kaplan, Rebecca Dawn Stan. L. Pol’y Rev.; 1998 Vol. 9, p189, Edward Rizzo 2001 Emerging Technologies and the Internet Enable Todays E-Workforce http://community.19actionnews.com/_zhangyan-has-added-Advantages-of-E-Business/BLOG/2275620/2165.html http://www.abestweb.com/forums/showthread.php?goto=lastpostt=103922 http://www.buzzle.com/articles/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-e-business.html http://www.ehow.com/list_6023059_disadvantages-e_business.html http://www.marketingservicestalk.com/news/pan/pan113.html http://www.pandasecurity.com/virus_info/exports/rss/pandaes.xml Jenkins, L., Doing business in a global marketplace: secure electronic commerce, Ciphertext The RSA newsletter, Vol. 3 No. 1, Winter 1995, pp. 1, 8. Jim Drinkhill, 2001, Journal of Financial Crime, Computer Fraud, Vol. 4 No. 3 Lewis, P. (22), â€Å"Security of personal data is lost in cyberspace†, Computer Information Systems. McKenna, K. Y. A. and Bargh, J. A. (2000) Plan 9 from cyberspace: The implications of the Internet for personality and social psychology, Personality and Social Psychology Review, Vol. 4, pp. 57-75. money/newsid_313000/313051.stm. SEC (1998), Internet Fraud: How to Avoid Internet Investment Scams, US Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, DC, October, www.sec.gov/consumer/cyberfr.htm Sid, J. (2007), World Wide Web Marketing – Integrating the Internet into Your Marketing Strategy, John Wiley, New York. NY Snow, S. (2001) Is Online Counseling Ethical? Available: http://www.commcure.ethicsonline.html. Accessed Aug. 26 2003.

Andrew Marvell’s poem ‘To His Coy Mistress’ Essay

In this essay I will compare and contrast Andrew Marvell’s poem, ‘To His Coy Mistress’, with Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s sonnet, ‘How Do I Love Thee†¦?’ Andrew Marvell’s poem is about an older man trying persuade a younger women to ‘carpe diem’ (seize the day), in order to make love to her, by using compliments and flattery, ‘Vaster than empires, and should go to praise.'(Stanza 1, line 12) Additionally, Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s sonnet is about a female who is expressing her feelings towards a male. Judging by the poem, the woman is deeply in love with the man in a spiritual sense, ‘I love thee to the depth and breadth and height, my soul can reach.’ (Line 2-3) ‘To His Coy Mistress’ is a comparatively long poem of 46 lines, which is divided into three stanzas, representing different parts of the argument for which he is trying to persuade her to sleep with him. In the first stanza, the man flatters the women by using grandiose imagery and hyperbole. He says that her ‘coyness’ would be of no consequence ‘had we but world enough and time’ (Line 1) and then follows with more detail in the following stanzas. The older man also shows how interested he is by expressing the magnitude of his feelings, by explaining how he would, ‘love you ten years before the flood’ (Line 8), even if his love were to remain unrequited, ’till the conversation of the Jews.'(Line 10) In addition he then describes how long he would be prepared to appreciate all of her physical attributes, ‘two hundred to adore each breast, But thirty thousand to the rest.'(Line 15-16) On one hand, he is trying to prove to the young women how much he wants her; on the other hand she could perceive his words in the wrong way, maybe he just wants to sleep with her? You could argue that this is satirising the king’s court, because even though he is flattering her, it is inappropriate to assume that he would be allowed to look at her for this long period of time. In the second stanza, he continues to us the grandiose imagery from the first stanza, but introduces a sense of urgency. When he says, ‘but’ in the very first line, the audience realises that there is going to be a shift in focus. He now says that he hears ‘times winged chariot hurrying near.'(Line 22) From this point, his imagery becomes increasingly desperate. He tries to shock the women into sleeping with him, by talking about her ‘coyness’, and if she perseveres in life that way, she runs the risk of only ‘worms†¦trying that long preserved virginity.'(Line 27-28) He says that his attitude will turn to dust and ‘into ashes all my lust.'(Line 30) This sentence makes the audience more aware of his actual intentions by saying the word ‘lust’ rather than ‘love’, making us believe that he has betrayed his true motives, and slipped up in front of the woman, he is making out he ‘loves’. In the last stanza of ‘To His Coy Mistress’, it sees him almost demand that they make ‘sport’ (love). The imagery on this stanza becomes more erotic, and may have more than one interpretation. ‘Let us roll†¦.up into one ball, and tear our pleasures†¦through the iron gates of life.'(Line 41 and 44) Rolling up into a ball could represent two people making love together or a cannon ball which will smash down, ‘the iron gates of life.’ These gates could represent the woman’s chastity belt or society’s conventions which would frown upon an extramarital affair. The last two lines are similarly ambiguous. They both tie in with lines from the second stanza. ‘Thus, through we cannot make our sun, stand still, yet we will make him run’ (Line 45 – 46), suggests that they should make the most of their time they are spending together, and conceive a child (son). Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s poem, ‘How do I love thee†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ presents quite a contrast to Andrew Marvell’s poem. Its imagery is humble, and very personal. It is an expression of deep love and devotion from one person to another. The purpose of the poem is to quantify the dimensions of her love and at the beginning of the poem, it is very clear to the audience that this woman is deeply in love with her partner By starting with the line, ‘How do I love thee? Let me count the ways'(Line 1) she begins to compare her love to religion and emotions rather than physical attributes, ‘I love thee freely, as men strive for right.’ (Line 7) The imagery she uses to supposedly quantify this love is suggestive of infinity, and a love which has no boundaries, even after the soul is free from the physical body, ‘I shall but love thee after death.’ (Line 14) Constructive descriptions are always used in this poem, compared to Andrew Marvell’s, which also describes the negative issues. Besides Browning’s poem having a very romantic meaning, you could question why the woman needs to prove her love for her partner, because she continually mentions and repeats, ‘I love thee†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ in most of her sentences. She could be indeed counting the ways she loves her partner, however maybe her partner needs reassuring of her love for him. One could argue that, Barrett Browning chose the sonnet form for this poem, for the purposes of contrast; to take something which is supposedly infinitive (her love) and place it in a finite and restricted form (sonnet). Alternatively, people could think different because there are such strict rules governing sonnet writing, (i.e. 10 syllables per line, 14 lines etc) and people might question why she chose such a rigid format, for something which she feels most strongly about. Overall, the two poems are opposites, but they are both concerned with the concept of time, human life and love. At the end of the poem, browning says, ‘if god choose, I shall love thee better after death,'(Line 13-14) showing that even after she dies, her love for this man will continue to grow, loving him for eternity. ‘To His Coy Mistress’, and ‘How Do I Love Thee†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ have many correlations with each other. For example; Both poems are about love; but represent different kinds of love. Andrew Marvell’s poem is about lust and sexual gratification, while Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s poem is about true love and loyalty. The sonnet is written from a women’s point of view, where she expresses her true love for her husband. The other poem is written from a mature mans point of view, and represemts his lust for a younger women. This poem is an elaborate ‘chat up line’ to present a logical argument in order to persuade her to make love to him. This can show how the significance of a poem can differ because of the century it has been written in. ‘To his coy mistress’, was written in the 1600’s while ‘How do I love thee†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ was written in the 1800’s. The cultural difference between these two periods, is the writing style, as in the 1600’s people were interested in composing clever arguments, and were more interested in writing about sex, lust and passion. Whereas in the 1800’s, the poems written had more true meaning, with a deeper, more romantic feeling. ‘And into ashes all my lust’, compared to, ‘How do I love thee†¦Let me count the ways.’ Many love poems are written in a very traditional format, with very strict rules. Elizabeth Barrett Browning took the challenge to write about something which is supposed to have no limits (love) into something which is restricted (sonnet). On the other hand Andrew Marvell’s poem is all based around ‘carpe diem’, in a non-traditional format, with no strict rules or guide-lines. This can affect the imagery used as one has no limitation to the amount of syllables, lines or stanzas, while the other has a restricted format leaving a certain amount of phrases which can be used. Clearly this means that there are different types of imagery used between the two poems since, ‘How do I love thee†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ uses abstract and emotional imagery, which tends to be highly personal and humble. In some cases you cannot quite put a finger on what she is describing. ‘I love thee to the level of every day, most quite nearby sun and candlelight. (Line 5-6) ‘To His Coy Mistress’, tends to use ostentatious hyperbole and grandiose imagery. He uses big overdone, tacky images, by using phrases such as, ‘times winged chariot’, ‘instant fires’ and ‘iron gates of life.’ You can picture what the man is describing; but on the other hand, you can tell that he might be misleading the audience to make them believe that he is in love with this woman. Throughout the whole of my essay, I have come to the conclusion, that both poems have many comparisons, similarities and differences. They both describe a form of love between two people. In my opinion, the poem I prefer is, ‘To his coy mistress’, because it had more of an effect on me, because of the language used. The man comes across as very desperate, but on the other hand with very good charisma. The imagery used is effective, as I could relate and imagine what he is describing. As well as keeping the audience intrigued on what the women will do next, he leaves the ending on a cliff hanger, by not telling on the final decision the women makes! However, I do not dislike the poem, ‘How do I love thee†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ because it has appropriate language for the concept she is describing. I just think it is rather tedious describing only the optimistic qualities about a person, for the reason that everybody has faults and pessimistic attributes. Furthermore, I didn’t find it unique or distinctive from other love poems, since the language and imagery was very similar.

Case Study An Accountant Or Business Manager - 1495 Words

1- An Attorney: Although you may not necessarily need one to start a business, rest assured that somewhere along the way, you will need the services of an attorney. Helping business owners set up their structure, is a plus, but not mandatory. However, if thinking in terms of a partnership, it becomes imperative to have an attorney draw up a formal agreement.(1) 2- A CPA or Business-Savvy Bookkeeper: Working with you to help you understand your growth strategy, an account also may help you keep you out of troubled waters tax-wise. Having Quickens software just won t do in this case. Helping you organize a structure that fits your overall tax picture, an accountant is crucially important in determining the details of federal, state and†¦show more content†¦5- Have A Basic Knowledge Of The Internet: Whether it s knowing something so basic as how to send an email or having an associated business blog, being Internet savvy is a must today for any business person. There are many excellent easy-to-do web design platforms, including Wordpress and Shopify that facilitate creating one s own web site and e-commerce site if you are so inclined. 6- A Web Site Developer: Having a web developer with search engine optimizer (SEO) expertise is different than having a web site designer. Any business person wants their business posted as high up on a search engine page as possible--where the business is more likely to be seen first by web surfers. If the developer is familiar with cutting-edge mobile platforms, all the better. 7- Access To Funds: Whether it s securing funds through a credit card line-of-credit or through angel investors, you cannot grow a business without capital funding for the first five years of a business.(2) 8- Outsourced Staff or Virtual Assistants: Today, some businesses have managed to cut corners by hiring an outsourced staff from other countries such as India or other Asian nations. If not, another recourse is to hire virtual assistants who are generally self-employed, work from a home office and offer professional administrative, technical or creative assistance to clients.(3) 9- A Business Plan:

Cultural Backgrounds And Community Attitudes Prevent Girls...

Thesis statement: The diverse cultural backgrounds and community attitudes prevent girls from attending schools and thereby act as the barrier in maintaining gender equality in India. The sex ratio, which is the number of girl students per 1000 male students, in the Indian high schools is 3:1 (boy: girl). The primary reason for the decline in the birth ratio of females in India is mainly because of the intense treatments inflicted to the girls at the time of their birth. The lowest sex ratio in India is witnessed in Haryana, which reflects 877 females to that of 1000 males. However in Kerala, the number of females is more than that of males, a ratio of 1000:1084. The major cause for the decline in the Indian sex ratio is because of the†¦show more content†¦Moreover, the girls after hitting the stage of puberty are believed to be baby makers, where the only work they have is in the house, raising their child and do various household chores. The two major factors by which pube rty affects well-being are self-perception and peer association. It is also seen that the girls suffer a lot because of lack of infrastructure- like proper functioning of toilets and disposals. However, the preference to a male child is mainly because they will act as a source of support to their family in the near future. There is a patriarchal thinking that the daughters will get married one day, after which they will be someone else’s., after which there will be no one to look after her family whereas boys, even after getting married, will continue to be a support for his family in the future. Because of a girl’s less earning potential and increased expectation towards domesticity, the families consider the educational cost (monetary and psychological) to be a waste, where the economic benefit is not apparent to most of the families. Moreover the girls’ ‘safety’ is also a major concern for the Indians families. It is also observed that girl†™s education in rural households and in many lower-middle classes can lead to excessiveShow MoreRelatedHonour Killing in Pakistan19346 Words   |  78 PagesRights Track) Spring 2010 Supervisor: Erika Svedberg Assistant Professor Malmo University, Sweden Honour killings in Pakistan under Theoretical, Legal and Religious Perspectives An Analytical Study of Honour killings Abuse and Disconnecting Islam from This Ancient Brutal Tradition Author MUHAMMAD ZIA ULLAH MASTER THESIS SUBMITTED, 27-05-2010 Malmà ¶ University Malmà ¶, Sweden Abstract This research sets out to examine the main excuses, often mentioned in connection to the so-called â€Å"honour killings†Read MoreChild Labour9367 Words   |  38 Pagesorganisations (NGOs) in child labour is fairly recent but it is steadily growing in momentum. However, only a few NGOs have succeeded in achieving recognition in this field at the national level. This paper starts by reviewing a number of inter-linked background factors that circumscribe and curtail the activities of NGOs. This is followed by an analysis of the strategies that NGOs use in addressing child labour. The final section addresses the question whether NGO interventions add up to a strategy forRead MoreThesis, Term Paper, Essay, Research Paper21993 Words   |  88 Pageswomen, 17% of Coloured women, 30% of Indian women and 17% of White women gave birth before turning 20 years of age (National Population Unit, in press 2003). The differences in incidence of teenage pregnancy among racial and ethnic groups result from socio-economic factors. Teenage pregnancy is prevalent in societies characterised by poverty, low education, fewer job opportunities and families headed by mothers who gave birth to their first children in adolescence (Dryfoos, 1996; Macleod, 1999)Read MoreInflence of Parental Monitoring on Adolescent Decision Making9466 Words   |  38 Pagesto the creation of many interventions, based to varying degrees on the growing scientific literature on adolescent development. Some of these interventions have attempted to manipulate teenagers beliefs, values, and behaviors, hoping to get them to act more cautiously. Other interventions have attempted to improve their ability to make sensible decisions, hoping to get them to make wise choices on their own. Having general decision-making skills might enable teenagers to protect themselves in manyRead MoreDiscuss the Importance of Non Verbal Communicati on to Education24125 Words   |  97 PagesCopyright * Subscribe * What s new * Accessibility ------------------------------------------------- Top of Form Search Bottom of Form * Home * About * Operations * Development effectiveness * Evaluation * From the field * Partners * Topics * Newsroom * Events * Documents amp; publications * Photos * Videos * Jobs * Operations * Project cycle * Results-based country strategic opportunities programme (COSOP) Read MoreStatement of Purpose23848 Words   |  96 PagesOhio Wesleyan Writing Center Founded University Promoting1955 as a hallmark of liberal arts education writing Writing Guidelines Statements of Purpose From the OWU Writing Center in the Sagan Academic Resource Center The OWU Writing Center Corns 316 ââ€" ª (740-368-3925) ââ€" ª http://writing.owu.edu ââ€" ª open Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Ohio Wesleyan University Writing Center  © 2011 Writing Guidelines for Statements of Purpose Contents Writing Your Statement of Purpose ..........Read More65 Successful Harvard Business School Application Essays 2nd Edition 147256 Words   |  190 PagesBUSINESS SCHOOL HARVARD SUCCESSFUL 65 APPLICATION SECOND EDITION E S S AY S APPLICATION BUSINESS SCHOOL HARVARD SUCCESSFUL 65 ECSNS A IYI O N S SE O D ED T With Analysis by the Staff of The Harbus, the Harvard Business School Newspaper ST. MARTIN’S GRIFFIN NEW YORK 65 SUCCESSFUL HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL APPLICATION ESSAYS, SECOND EDITION. Copyright  © 2009 byThe Harbus News Corporation. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of AmericaRead MoreDevelopmental Psychology14082 Words   |  57 Pagesculturally valued competencies surges forward. When children enter school, they spend much time discussing language, literacy, and other academic concepts – experience that encourage them to reflect on their own thinking. As a result, they gain dramatically in reasoning and problem solving. At the same time Vygotsky argues that dialogues with more expert members of society also lead to continuous changes in cognition that vary from culture to culture. Information processing theorists again believeRead MoreDevelopmental Psychology14091 Words   |  57 Pagesculturally valued competencies surges forward. When children enter school, they spend much time discussing language, literacy, and other academic concepts – experience that encourage them to reflect on their own thinking. As a result, they gain dramatically in reasoning and problem solving. At the same time Vygotsky argues that dialogues with more expert members of society also lead to continuous changes in cognition that vary from culture to culture. Information processing theorists again believeRead MoreOrganisational Theory230255 Words   |  922 Pagesthis book timely, interesting and valuable. Peter Holdt Christensen, Associate Professor, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark McAuley et al.’s book is thought-provoking, witty and highly relevant for understanding contemporary organizational dilemmas. The book engages in an imaginative way with a wealth of organizational concepts and theories as well as provides insightful examples from the practical world of organizations. The authors’ sound scholarship and transparent style of writing set the book

The Suicide And Self Injury - 1601 Words

â€Å"Other times, I look at my scars and see something else: a girl who was trying to cope with something horrible that she should never have had to live through at all. My scars show pain and suffering, but they also show my will to survive. They’re part of my history that’ll always be there.†-Cheryl Rainfield. Although suicide and self injury appears to be similar, self harm acts actually and is used as a way to cope for emotional pain. Self injury is most often misunderstood as a person being suicidal or wanting attention. Define Self Injury: Self-injury (SI) - â€Å"is the act of deliberately harming your own body, such as cutting or burning yourself† (â€Å"Self-injury/Cutting†). This act isn’t normally meant as a suicide attempt, it is often done impulsively. Self-injury is more of a way to manage or cope with emotional pain, intense anger and or frustration. Also â€Å"the person has a hard time regulating, expressing or understanding emotions. The mix of emotions that triggers self-injury is complex (â€Å"Self-Injury/Cutting†). Self-injury can be considered as a desire or a control behavior problem.† Types of Self injury: Self-injury includes the following: cutting, banging or punching, scratching the skin, pinching skin, impact with objects, ripping in the skin (possibly to the point of bleeding) and trichotillomania (hair pulling, and sometimes consuming the hair), carving in the skin, burning, and rubbing objects into their skin. Although many people look a t self injury as aShow MoreRelatedCorrelation Between Non Suicidal Self Injury And Suicide Achievement1650 Words   |  7 PagesCorrelation Between Non-suicidal Self-injury and Suicide Achievement in Adolescents Diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder Abstract: The purpose of this research is to identify the relationship between teenagers with Borderline Personality Disorder who engage in non-suicidal self-injury, and teenagers with Borderline Personality Disorder who achieve suicide. The method this project will use is a simple questionnaire that asks patients four questions about their suicidal tendencies upon arrivalRead MorePost Traumatic Stress Disorder ( Ptsd ) Essay1472 Words   |  6 Pages  Ã‚  Ã‚   Suicide is a major leading cause of death and a widespread concern which occurs at alarming rates in the specific population of the military. One of the main risk factors in of suicide in this population is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). There is a great deal of research which analyzes this relationship. There are many elements that serve as contributing factors to the correlation between suicide and PTSD. PTSD-related suicide among soldiers is due to a number of intervening aspects includingRead MoreIn The Diagnostic And Sta tistical Manual Of Mental Disorder ( DSM-5 )?1716 Words   |  7 Pagesincluding nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) disorder (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). According to the proposed diagnostic criteria, an individual must have engaged in self-injury behavior (e.g., cutting, burning, scraping) on the surface of their body, at least five times over the last year, without suicidal intent. Additionally, the self-injury is done with the intent of gaining relief from negative emotions and the individual experiences excessive thoughts about self-injury in the period ofRead MoreSuicide And Its Impact On The United States1556 Words   |  7 PagesSuicide has historically been and continues to be a significant issue in the United States, for civilians as well as active duty military service members and veterans. While statistics surrounding suicide appear to be just numbers on a page, I personally implore the reader of the following paper to never lose sight of the fact that t hose numbers represent real people. Each one of those people, be they civilian or military, represent a loss of a father or a mother, a brother or a sister, a son orRead MoreWe Must Commit Suicide And Practice Self Harm1498 Words   |  6 Pagesother age group to commit suicide or engage in self-harm. Why is that? Being an adolescent is a tough time in one’s life. They begin experiencing puberty, experimenting in relationships, hanging out with friends more but also having problems at home and self-esteem issues. We will discuss exactly why adolescents feel the need to commit suicide and practice self-harm. As well as the different forms of self-harm, clues on determining if the adolescent is suicidal or self-harming and what can be doneRead MoreKnopf Continued Writing Concerning Suicide In Regards To1172 Words   |  5 PagesKnopf continued writing concerning suicide in regards to adolescents in an article entitled â€Å"How Self-Injury can lead to Suicidality in Teens: Under Study.† Her article focused on the relationship between self-injury and suicide. She stated, â€Å"While NSSI [nonsuicidal self-injury] and suicide are distinct behaviors, they frequently co-occur, so it’s important to look at factors that might contribute to the transition from NSSI to suicide.† The studies that she focused on were with non-ideators, thatRead MoreA Discussion On Sex Education986 Words   |  4 Pages2010). While these numbers are everlasting changing, self-harm needs to be addressed to all ages just as other addictions are spoken about. Eating disorders are taught in the early ages of elementary school. Sex-education is taught the fifth grade. Self-harm is not a discussion in sex-education (Khantzian 668). The only way this addiction is taught to children is by explaining suicidal thoughts and having those thoughts turn into forms of self-injury. Teachers and parents are not able to recognize theRead MoreNegative Effects Of Bullying Essa y1175 Words   |  5 Pageshealth. Bullying can lead to an abundance of different consequences such as, self-harm, suicide, or violence toward others. Nonsuicidal self-injury refers to the deliberate destruction of a person’s body tissue without suicidal intent. Forms of self-harm include cutting, burning, and self-hitting (Lewis, Steven P, Nonsuicidal Self Injury, Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ)). Self-harm is a form of self-bullying. Self-bullying can include criticizing yourself for not being â€Å"perfect†, blamingRead MoreSuicide And Shneidman s Theory Of Suicide782 Words   |  4 PagesThere are several theories that attempt to understand suicide, such as Durkheim’s Sociological Theory of Suicide and Shneidman’s Theory of Suicide as Psychache. However, one of the newest and most well known theories is Joiner’s Interpersonal Theory of Suicide. The goal of this theory is to understand suicide at an interpersonal level. More specifically, it evaluates why individuals engage in suicidal behavior and identifies individuals who are at risk for engaging in such behaviors. There are th reeRead MorePersonal Statement On Self Harm1319 Words   |  6 PagesSelf-harm patients are at a risk for suicide whether this is an intended outcome or a result of self-harm gone wrong. 25% of people who commit suicide will have been seen in a hospital setting for a self harm injury in the past 12 months (Emerson, 2010). As well, 72% of suicide victims under the age of 25 have had a history or self-harm behavior (as sited in Cook, Clency, Sanderson, 2004). These statists provide a strong argument for the importance of vigilance and ongoing monitoring when providing

Urbanization Free Essays

Nowadays, with the fast development of economy of the world, many cities become bigger and bigger and many modern cities are appearing. Thus, we face the complex problem: Urbanization. Urbanization has been a subject of heated discussion for a long time. We will write a custom essay sample on Urbanization or any similar topic only for you Order Now Some people are in favor, while others are opposed. In my opinion, urbanization benefits human beings rather than do harm to them. Two reasons may account for my conclusion. Firstly, urbanization enriches our life. We can imagine what will happen without convenient traffic system, without big department stores, without KTVs and many other entertainments? To some extent, it is impossible for human beings to live in this world. Urbanization make it possible for us to enjoy our life more than before, Also,urbanization quicken the pace of science, especially in the communication field, in the early time, if we want to connect with our family members or friends, the only way we can choose is writing letters. But urbanization changed this situation, we can talk with the friends in the foreign countries with our any difficulties through the Internet, we gain whatever information we need on the internet. These conveniences are brought by the urbanization. Secondly, urbanization also raise our country economy. As we all know, the policy of Reform and Opening give our country a golden opportunity to develop our economy, we have a direct feeling about the dramatic increasing of our living standard, many productions that we cannot afford in the past time can be owned in today. This phenomenon proves that urbanization benefits our life basically. With the fast step of urbanization, many job opportunities are supplied in the occupation market which make many rural migrant workers get a solid work in the urban area. They also contribute to the economic development in the urban area. These prosperities are definitely brought by the urbanization. I live in Shanghai, and it is a typical big city in China. I found that we also have many negative sides of urbanization. For instance, we can talk to the friends thousands miles away, but we don’t know our neighbours in the high-rises; many migrant workers do not enjoy the same profits and rights as the permanent unban residents and this will make their living without and insurance system. But we don’t need to be so pessimistic of the situation at hand. It is evident that the advantages of urbanization outweigh the disadvantages. What we should do is to remain the positive side , meanwhile to conquer the negative side. Our government will also introduce many effective policies to narrow this contradictory. So we have enough reasons to believe the situation will become better and better so that we can reach our aim †better city, better life † ! How to cite Urbanization, Papers Urbanization Free Essays Answer arbitration will cause greenery to be lost. Arbitration involves the process of buildings new buildings and infrastructure, and trees and grasslands will have too be chopped down and removed to make space for the new buildings. In this case, the natural environment is lost. We will write a custom essay sample on Urbanization or any similar topic only for you Order Now Sometimes, construction will cause sand and dirt to circulate in the air, creating air pollution, while pollutants from construction sites may enter water bodies and cause water pollution. Even though some cities may try o restore its former greenery, it can never be compared to the previous natural landscape. Animal Shortage of Electric Power A very serious problem facing the entire country is the acute shortage of electric power both in urban and rural areas. This can be solved only by generating much more electricity than at present. However, this solution has met with almost a wall- like obstruction. Conventional methods of generation like coal based thermal power, nuclear power and hydro electric power are being opposed by people for reasons of environmental pollution, displacement of people submergence of land and forests etc. There are some gas based power stations which are less polluting but due to lack of sufficient quantity of natural gas they are working at less than half their load capacity. Non-conventional sources of power like solar power and wind power are not that economically viable or affordable by the consumers. The power generation Is also intermittent requiring large storage capacity for energy. One does not know what new problems will arise In storing energy on such large scale. Fee will also be greatly affected due to habitat loss. How to cite Urbanization, Papers Urbanization Free Essays The Effects of Urbanization on Downtown Louisville David Taylor Environmental Science Brown Mackie College Mark Dutrow September 20, 2012 Abstract As our cities become larger, more congested, and more urbanized we are beginning to start seeing some of the long term effects we are making on our urban environment. As we are becoming more aware of our pollution and measures to improve it, we can look back on systems of the past and see where they are negatively affecting our environment. Acid rain is the most noticeable since you can see the visible deterioration, unnatural discoloration, and erosion caused by the acid rain. We will write a custom essay sample on Urbanization or any similar topic only for you Order Now Another noticeable problem is the signs of chemicals that have been used to preserve monuments and lubricate other structures. If we don’t do something to correct the mistakes our ancestors made in the development and urbanization of Louisville and the surrounding areas, the next generation will have to spend millions if not billions of dollars to correct these errors. Why is Louisville here? Jefferson County was organized in 1780 and one of the first three counties formed out of the original Kentucky County, which was still part of Virginia at the time (the other two being Fayette and Lincoln). The county is named for Thomas Jefferson, who was governor of Virginia at the time. Downtown Louisville is the oldest part of the city of Louisville, whose initial development was closely tied to the Ohio River. The largest early fort, Fort Nelson, was built in 1781 near what is today the corner of 7th and Main streets. Many early residents lived nearby after moving out of the forts by the mid-1780s, although little remains from of the earliest (mostly wood) structures. Louisville became a popular stopping point for travelers on the Ohio River. Because of the falls of the Ohio and the rapids, boats had to stop, unload their cargo, traverse the rapids and then reload to continue their journey. With Louisville being located so close to the falls it grew into a bustling town catering to the travelers by opening several hotels and saloons. (www. hellolouisville. com/, n. d. ) How has development affected the environment in Louisville? People who live in urban areas have very different consumption patterns than residents in rural areas. 10 For example; urban populations consume much more food, energy, and durable goods than rural populations. With economic development, the difference in consumption declined as the rural populations ate better diets. Urban populations not only consume more food, but they also consume more durable goods. Energy consumption for electricity, transportation, cooking, and heating is much higher in urban areas than in rural areas. For example, urban populations have many more cars than rural populations per capita. Almost all of the cars in the world in the 1930s were in the United States. Today we have a car for every two people in the United States. If that became the norm, in 2050 there would be 5. billion cars in the world, all using energy. (http://www. prb. org/, n. d. ) In the downtown Louisville area, all of the rain runoff includes all of the fluids that have leaked out of the vehicles as well as the chemicals that are washed off of all the buildings. This contamination has caused pH of the Ohio to change which in turn limits the number of species of fish that can survive in the now con taminated water. The manmade structures we have put in the Ohio River are also contributing to this pH change. Steel piers and concrete pillars being the majority of these structures. How has pollution deteriorated downtown structures? One of the biggest negative affects is the deterioration of the buildings caused by acid rain. Another observation during the fieldtrip was the visible damage caused by chemicals used in joints of buildings as well as leaking from statues that were sealed so they won’t erode. Air pollution damages materials, especially those used in buildings because of their long service life, sometimes of the order of hundreds of years. Damage to other objects tends to be less important: most cars, for instance, are replaced long before damage from air pollution has become significant. The phenomena of the degradation of buildings are complex due to the numerous factors that intervene. However it is generally recognized that man-made pollutants have greatly increased the degradation rate of buildings. Of particular importance is soiling caused by particles (especially soot) and corrosion or erosion caused by SO2. (arirabl. org, n. d. ) What would downtown look like if Louisville had not been developed? The area would look totally different. The landscape would be serene with rolling hills, thousands of trees, natural flow of the river, and natural flow of creeks feeding into the Ohio River. The power plant as well as the lock and dam wouldn’t be obstructing the Ohio. The wooded area would be teeming with wildlife and the river would be stocked with several species of fish that don’t occupy it today. Which natural disasters is the downtown area prepared for? Downtown Louisville is prepared for a couple of natural disasters. Some natural disasters are not common to the area such as, hurricane’s, mudslides, volcano’s, and tsunami’s. However, floods, tornado’s, and earthquake’s are common to the Louisville area. The downtown area has prepared for flooding by elevating most all of the buildings to a height above the 1937 flood depth. There is also a flood wall that has been put into place to keep water from destroying majority of the city. The buildings in the downtown area have also been designed or retro fitted to withstand the wind velocity associated with tornados. However, the downtown area is not prepared for a strong earthquake. Even though Louisville is on the New Madrid Fault the cost associated with making all structures reinforced enough to withstand a strong earthquake is too great. References Urbanization: An Environmental Force to Be Reckoned With – Population Reference Bureau. (n. d. ). Home – Population Reference Bureau. Retrieved September 19, 2012, from http://www. prb. org/Articles/2004/UrbanizationAnEnvironmentalForcetoBeReckonedWith. aspx Buildings-PollAtmos. pdf. (n. d. ). arirabl. org/. Retrieved September 20, 2012, from arirabl. org/Publications_files/Buildings-PollAtmos. pdf Louisville History – HelloLouisville. com. (n. d. ). Louisville, Kentucky – Louisville City Guide. Retrieved September 19, 2012, from http://www. hellolouisville. com/history. cfm 1 1 2 2 3 3 1 – Original Downtown 2 – River 3 – Falls of the Ohio Falls of the Ohio – 1824 Downtown Louisville – 1830’s How to cite Urbanization, Essay examples

Outline Financial Statement Analysis free essay sample

Transforming data into useful information for decision making. A. Purpose of Analysis To help users (both internal and external) make better business decisions. 1. Internal users (managers, officers, internal auditors, consultants, budget officers, and market researchers) make the strategic and operating decisions of a company. 2. External users (shareholders, lenders, directors, customers, suppliers, regulators, lawyers, brokers, and the press) rely on financial statement analysis to make decisions in pursuing their own goals. The common goal of all users is to evaluate: a. Past and current performance. b. Current financial position. c. Future performance and risk. B. Building Blocks of Analysis The four areas of inquiry or building blocks are: 1. Liquidity and efficiency—ability to meet short-term obligations and to efficiently generate revenues. 2. Solvency—ability to generate future revenues and meet long-term obligations. 3. Profitability—ability to provide financial rewards sufficient to attract and retain financing. 4. Market Prospects—ability to generate positive market expectations. Information for Analysis 1. We will write a custom essay sample on Outline Financial Statement Analysis or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Most users rely on general purpose financial statements that include: a. Income statement b. Balance sheet c. Statement of changes in stockholders equity (or statement of retained earnings) d. Statement of cash flows e. Notes related to the statements 2. Financial reporting—is the communication of financial information useful for making investment, credit, and other business decisions. Includes information from SCE 10-K or other filings, press releases, shareholders meetings, forecasts, management letters, auditors reports, and Webcasts. Standards for Comparisons Used to determine if analysis measures suggest good, bad, or average performance. Standards can include the following types of comparisons: 1. Intracompany—based on prior performance and relationships between its financial items. 2. Competitor—compared to one or more direct competitors (often best). 3. Industry—published industry statistics (available from services like Dun Bradstreet, Standard and Poors, and Moodys). 4. Guidelines (rules-of-thumb)—general standards developed from past experiences. E. Tools of Analysis – includes horizontal, vertical and ratio analysis. II. Horizontal Analysis Tool to evaluate changes in financial statement data across time. This analysis utilizes: A. Comparative Statements reports financial amounts for more than one period placed side by side in columns on a single statement. 1. Computation of Dollar Changes and Percentage Changes—usually shown in line items. a. Dollar change = Analysis period amount minus Base period amount. b. Percent change = Analysis period amount minus Base period amount divided by Base period amount times 100. Notes: (1) When a negative amount appears in the base period and a positive amount in the analysis period (or vice versa)— a meaningful percentage change cannot be computed. (2) When there is no value in the base period—percentage change is not computable. (3) When an item has a value in the base period and zero in the next period—the decrease is 100 percent. 2. Comparative balance sheets a. Consist of balance sheet amounts from two or more balance sheet dates arranged side by side. b. Usefulness is improved by showing each item’s  dollar change and percent change to highlight large changes. Comparative income statements a. Amounts for two or more period are placed side by side. b. Additional columns are included for dollar and percent changes. B. Trend Analysis used to reveal patterns in data across successive periods. Involves computing trend percents (or index number) as follows: 1. Select a base period and assign each item in the base period a weight of 100%. 2. Express financial numbers as a percent of their base period number. 3. Trend percent equals analysis period amount divided by base period amount times 100. III. Vertical Analysis Comparing financial condition and performance to a base amount. The analysis tools include: A. Common-Size Statements reveal changes in the relative importance of each financial statement item. All amounts are redefined in terms of common-size percents. 1. Common-size percentage equals analysis amount divided by base amounts multiplied by 100. 2. Common-size balance sheets—base amount is usually total assets. Common-size income statements—base amount is usually revenues. B. Common-Size Graphics Graphical analysis (e. g. , pie charts and bar charts) of common-size statements that visually highlight comparison information. IV. Ratio Analysis Using key relationships among financial statement items. Ratios organized into the four (items A through D below) building blocks of analysis: A. Liquidity and Efficiency 1. Liquidity refers to the availability of resources to meet short-term cash requirement. 2. Efficiency refers to how productive a company is in using its assets. Efficiency is usually measured relative to how much revenue is generated for a certain level of assets. 3. Ratios in this block: a. Working capital—the excess of current assets over current liabilities. b. Current ratio—current assets divided by current liabilities; describes a companys ability to pay its short-term obligations. c. Acid-test ratio—similar to current ratio but focuses on quick assets (i. e. , cash, short-term investments and current receivables) rather than current assets. Days’ sales in inventory—ending inventory divided by cost of goods sold multiplied by 365; measures how many days it will take to convert the inventory on hand at the end of the period into accounts receivable or cash. h. Total asset turnover—net sales divided by average total assets; describes the ability to use assets to generate sales. B. Solvency 1. Solvency refers to a companys long-run financial viability and its ability to cover long-term obligations. Capital structure is one of the most important components of solvency analysis. 2. Capital structure refers to a companys sources of financing. Ratios in this block: a. Debt ratio—total liabilities divided by total assets. b. Equity ratio—total stockholders equity divided by total assets. Note: A company is considered less risky if its capital structure (equity and long-term debt) is composed more of equity. c. Debt-to-Equity Ratio – total liabilities divided by total equity; measure of solvency. A larger debt-to-equity ratio implies greater risk. d. Times interest earned—income before interest expense and income taxes divided by interest expense; reflects the risk of loan repayments with interest to creditors. Profitability refers to a companys ability to generate an adequate return on invested capital. 2. Return is judged by assessing earnings relative to the level and sources of financing. 3. Ratios in this block: a. Profit margin—net income divided by net sales; describes the ability to earn net income from sales. b. Return on total assets—net income divided by average total assets; a summary measure of operating efficiency; comprises profit margin (net income divided by net sales) and total asset turnover (net sales divided by average total assets). Return on common stockholders equity—net income less preferred dividends divided by average common stockholders equity; measures the success of a company in earning net income for its owners. D. Market Prospects 1. Market measures are useful for analyzing corporations with publicly traded stock. 2. Market measures use stock price in their computation. 3. Ratios in this block: a. Price-earnings ratio—market price per common stock divided by earnings per share; used to evaluate the profitability of alternative common stock investments. Dividend yield—annual cash dividends paid per share of stock divided by market price per share; used to compare the dividend-paying performance of different investment alternatives. E. Summary of Ratios Exhibit 13. 16 sets forth the names of each of the common ratios by category, and includes the formula and a description of what is measured by each ratio. F. Global View 1. Horizontal and Vertical Analysis – horizontal and vertical analysis helps eliminate many differences between GAAP and IFRS when analyzing and interpreting financial statements. Ratio Analysis – ratio analysis has many of the advantages and disadvantages of horizontal and vertical analysis. The ratios applied are fine, with some possible changes in interpretation depending on what and what is not included in certain accounting measures across GAAP and IFRS. V. Decision Analysis—Analysis Reporting Goal of financial statement analysis report is to reduce uncertainty through rigorous and sound evaluation. A good analysis report usually consists of six sections: 1. Executive summary. 2. Analysis overview. 3. Evidential matter. 4. Assumptions. 5. Key factors. 6. Inferences When a companys activities involve income-related events that are not part of its normal, continuing operations, it often separates the income statement into different sections as follows: A. Continuing Operations Reports the revenues, expenses, and income generated by the company’s continuing operations. B. Discontinued Segments 1. A business segment is a part of a company’s operations that serves a particular line of business or class of customers. 2. A company’s gain or loss from selling or closing down a segment is separately reported as follows: a. Income from operating the discontinued segment for the current period prior to its disposal. b. The gain or loss from disposing of the segment’s net assets. C. Extraordinary Items 1. Extraordinary gains and losses are those that are both unusual and infrequent. a. An unusual gain or loss is abnormal or otherwise unrelated to the company’s regular activities and environment. b. An infrequent gain or loss is not expected to recur given the company’s operating environment. 2. Reporting extraordinary items in a separate category helps users predict future performance, absent the effects of the extraordinary items. Items that are either unusual or infrequent, but not both, are reported in the income statement but after the normal revenues and expenses. D. Earnings per Share (EPS) is the amount of income earned by each share of outstanding common stock and is reported in the final section of income statement. One of the most widely cited items of accounting information. E. Changes in Accounting Principles 1. The consistency principle requires a company apply the same accounting principles across periods (examples in this context: (include inventory or depreciation methods). Changes in accounting principles are acceptable if justified as improvements in financial reporting. 2. Cumulative effect of the change on prior periods incomes should be reported on the income statement (net of taxes) below extraordinary items. 3. A footnote should describe and justify the change and report what income would have been under the old method. F. Comprehensive Income is net income plus certain gains and losses that bypass the income statement. The change in equity for the period, excluding investments from and distributions to its stockholders.