Monday, December 30, 2019

Racial Profiling And The American Society - 1508 Words

The topic of racial profiling is very prominent in our American society. I witness accounts of it every day, whether it is while going through an airport, reading about crime, and it’s heavily influenced within the world of politics. Racial profiling is a way for law enforcement to target certain individuals that are suspected of committing a crime. This involves race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, etc. The act of racial profiling allows law enforcement to alienate certain communities, which, in turn creates racial divides and demonstrates a â€Å"militarization† of the police. Not only that, racial profiling is heavily influenced within American society through politics and the use of media. Having grown up in Chicago, I was surrounded by†¦show more content†¦The attacks on September eleventh were a set highly organized events carried out by the Islamic terrorist group Al-Qaeda. The ACLU (The American Civil Liberties Union) is a nonprofit organization whose m ission is to protect the rights and liberties of every person in this country. In an article titled Sanctioned Bias: Racial Profiling Since 9/11, the ACLU discusses racial profiling and how it’s changed since the attacks on September eleventh. â€Å"On June 17, 2003 President Bush publicly released a set of guidelines promulgated by the Civil Rights Division†¦he declared that racial profiling is ‘wrong and we will end it in America’† (ACLU, 2004, page 1). The guidelines explained how racial profiling was wrong and would not be tolerated. However, these rules were never formed into law, which in turn means they didn’t necessarily have to be abide by them. â€Å"Since the September eleventh terrorist attacks it has been the official policy of the United States government to stop, interrogate, and detain individuals without a criminal charge, all on the basis of their national origin, ethnicity, or religion† (ACLU, 2004, page 1). This was carried out by the Department of Justice. Today, we see numerous accounts of Muslim people being detained for no apparent reason at airports. Attorney General John Ashcroft announced a â€Å"Special Registration† requirement in June of 2002. This requirement stated â€Å"that all males from a list of Arab and Muslim countries report to theShow MoreRelatedRacial Profiling And Its Effects On American Society2621 Words   |  11 PagesEver since the late 1970 s profiling was associated with a method of interdicting drug traffickers (Data Collection Resource Center, n.d., para 3). The profiling provided not only a quick way to see evidence of concealment in the vehicle, but included age and race characteristics of possible drivers (Data Collection Resource Center, n.d., para 3). The controversy is over whether or not there are a disproportionate number of blacks and Hispanics involved with law enforcement that reflects policeRead MoreRacial Profiling Against African Americans 1614 Words   |  7 PagesIs Racial Profiling Justified Racial Profiling Against African Americans Racial profiling is simply, â€Å"the unlawful police practice of using race, color, or ethnic background, as the reason for conducting a traffic stop on an individual.† (Michigan Civil Rights Commission) This definition can be extended to any kind of discrimination mainly based on myths and stereotypes towards a certain race or ethnicity. However, the term racial profiling is commonly used when a police officer or anyRead MoreRacial Profiling Or Prejudice Based Upon Race970 Words   |  4 Pages American Heritage dictionary states that racism is â€Å"Discrimination or prejudice based upon race. That is exactly what racial profiling is. I am not however arguing that if a person is robbed says the criminal who robbed them was an adult black male that the police should look for everyone other than an adult black male for that crime, but also not try and use that information to persecute younger black males. However, that is not considered profiling in that instanc e, it is not based on demographicsRead MoreRacial Profiling Is Out Of Control979 Words   |  4 Pages Racial Profiling is racism Today in America racial profiling is out of control. People are being attacked, judge and even killed for reasons beyond just skin color. For many years people of color have been racially profiled, and now when America should be moving forward, America is going backwards. Racial profiling, which is a form of racism has gotten out of control, and the past has not improved as we have moved into the 20th century. It is time for Americans to take a closer look at racialRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of Racial Profiling1418 Words   |  6 Pagestopics is racial profiling. For centuries, America has looked down and discriminated minorities and it still continues today. It began when minorities started to immigrate to America in search of better lives. Most whites believed in white supremacy and thought minorities were aliens. The police use racial profiling mostly towards minority groups. Racial profiling is the use of race or a skin color to suspect someone of doing an offense. While som e people think that racial profiling is beneficialRead MoreNarrow Views On The United States939 Words   |  4 PagesUnited States was very devastating not just to Americans but also to the rest of the world. The world felt the consequences of this terrorist attack against America apart from condemning it because it was a horrible and inhumane event, but also by America government official’s racial profiling citizens of all nationalities that set foot into America territory. As citizens of the United States, we are concerned about criminality undermining our society; drugs, terrorist attacks and violence are increasingRead MoreRacial Profiling Is A Necessary Evil1100 Words   |  5 PagesRacial Profiling In order to understand racial profiling, it must first be correctly defined. Although different authors use different criteria for the term racial profiling, the definition for the word racial is â€Å"of, relating to, or based on a race The definition the dictionary puts forth for profiling is â€Å"the act of suspecting or targeting a person solely on the basis of observed characteristics or behavior.† Based on these definitions, racial profiling could be defined for criminal justice purposesRead MoreRacial Profiling And Its Impact On Society1209 Words   |  5 PagesCases of Racial Profiling There are tons of cases of Racial Profiling. Now a days many people are being targeted or attacked by racial profiling. Laws are being passed but not every police officer is following up with it. And because of this more and more people are becoming irritated with the government system. Just because a particular person from a particular race does something wrong, everyone from that race is being discriminated by so-called other races. Racial profiling is gettingRead MoreRacial Profiling And Violates Human Rights Essay966 Words   |  4 PagesIs Racial Profiling Justiciable Under Certain Circumstances? Racial profiling has been a longstanding argument in law enforcement practices for a number of years in American society. Often it divides and alienates communities from law enforcements while hindering police efforts to control crimes and protect civilians. Many civil right groups argue that racial profiling is ineffective and violates human rights. However after September 11th, it appears that the practice has become much more prominentRead MoreLiterature Review On Racial Profiiling1391 Words   |  6 PagesThis essay reviews the literature on racial profiling in Courtelaney Pass. Racial profiling is a policing method that has increasingly become scrutinized over the years in Courtelaney Pass. An overwhelming number of individuals in the city are subject to racial profiling. Contrary to 55% white, 38% black, and 7% Hispanic, the blacks and out of town travelers passing through receive 87% of the speeding tickets. In addition, racial profiling can occur to women and men, all age groups are used against

Sunday, December 22, 2019

When you think of the name Edgar Allan Poe, happiness is...

When you think of the name Edgar Allan Poe, happiness is the farthest emotion from the mind. You have a sense of melancholy, constantly reading about death, murders, and the thirst for revenge, and sometimes having feelings of suspense when reading about thrilling detective work. Poe is the reason that we have modern day mystery and horror stories. Without his brilliance, and obsession with such morbid occurrences, who knows when the era of suspense and horror would have begun? Despite his obvious brilliance, and certainly vivid imagination Edgar Allan Poe was not a beatific person. Throughout his entire life he was constantly dealing with inner demons, which later on served as inspiration for his work. Edgar Allan Poe’s work tends to†¦show more content†¦The Cask of Amontillado (1846) is a tale of a mind plagued by revenge and a murder that has no repercussions. Montressor the narrator in the short story immediately expresses qualities of being an unreliable narrato r. From the very beginning of the novel readers are given a sense of unreliability with the sentence The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge (Poe 82). That sentence is a blatant exaggeration, and for all the readers in the story know, this may be a complete lie. The story is relayed to the audience in first person naturally being biased to one characters interpretations of a particular event. The events in this story are from â€Å"half a century† ago and thus, memories become hazy if they even truly occurred. The narrator never once gives readers information â€Å"thousand injuries† Fortunado imposes upon him, and not to mention that revenge is something that causes the human mind to go insane. Within the work Poe uses the idea of revenge as a catalyst to reflect the dark side of human nature. Montressor is enraged due to an insult that Fortunado said and therefore he â€Å"vowed revenge† (82). Intense emotions that a narrator feels tends to lead them to madness, and this is a reoccurring event within Edgar Allan Poe’s work. Within the story, a narrator becomes mentally unstable due to an obsession with revenge.

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Kohler Terminal Value Free Essays

Both approaches (used to come up with the value of the Kohler Company) are greatly impacted by the assumptions made by both the company and the dissenting shareholders. The use of the Market approach has shown that the value of the company varies greatly depending on the comparable companies. If Masco (which is the largest comparable company) is included, the value goes to nearly $3. We will write a custom essay sample on Kohler Terminal Value or any similar topic only for you Order Now 7 B and excluding it causes the value to go down to $1.2 B. Moreover, depending of the discount for lack of liquidity and control, the value of the company could decrease considerably. Then, in the market approach there are two variables that affect the value of the company; comparable peers and the discount for lack of liquidity and control. In the Free Cash Flow (FCF) approach, the two variables that makes the value diverge is the Beta and the discount (liquidity and control) used. In this specific scenario the Beta impacts the WACC considerably due to the high weight of the cost of equity. For example, a difference of 4 points in the WACC raises the value of the company more than 150% [Table 7]. It is interesting to see that in order to arrive at Kohler’s initial valuation of $58K per share; a 65% discount is needed in both valuation approaches. Also, Masco’s exclusion is required under the Market approach while the high Beta is required under the FCC approach. The factor created by the division of standard deviations of industry peers and the deviations from different markets increases or decreases Beta considerably. (More details about this factor are discussed later in the paper.) Conversely, according to the dissenting shareholders, in order to arrive at $273K per share a 0 % discount and the inclusion of Masco and low Beta is needed. In the settlement, Kohler may use two simple methods to resolve the claim. The first would be a Weight Adjusted Value method, which consists of taking the weighted average of the proposed settlement values times the confidence level. The second method is to calculate the book value of the company using the formula (Assets- Liabilities)/ # of shares (Intangibles are not excluded). The results of these two methods indicate that The Kohler Company should be indifferent between going to trial and settling for $120K per share. Finally, the suggested settlement price should be adjusted to reflect the possibility of an increased tax liability Kohler may have with the IRS. Using a weighted average, the new settlement price is around $150K per share. Company Overview Kohler is a recognized international manufacturer of plumbing products, home furnishings, generators and engines. It also owns and operates hospitality and real estate Businesses. Kohler has been a private company, predominantly owned by the Kohler family since its founding in 1887. Market Approach Because Kohler is privately held the market value needs to be ascertained by the implied value determined by using a multiples approach based on the trading value of Kohler’s comparable industry peers. Table 1 shows the relevant multiples for Kohler’s peer group. Depending on what multiples are used to value Kohler the estimation varies considerably. Table 2 demonstrates the range of these values. If Masco, with it’s generally high multiples, is excluded from the analysis the valuation would be roughly $1.2B. On the other extreme if Kohler’s value is based on Masco’s benchmark, the value leaps to nearly $3.7B. A strict average of the peer group would yield a value of $1.6B. Our best guess of value is closer to $2B based on the peer average being averaged with Masco’s profitability multiples as we feel that the fundamentals of Kohler and Masco are closely matched. These estimates do not include any discounts for the lack of liquidity or control that the shares are characterized by. Table 3 shows the value per share given a $2B market value and various discounts applied. Â   Based on the market multiples approach it appears that Kohler takes a much more conservative approach to not only valuation but to the discounts that should be applied to the stock given his relative illiquidity and lack of controlling stake in the enterprise. From their prospective the value is the historically modest dividend and the long range growth of the business. Given their approximation of a share price of $54,000 that would suggest they excluded Masco as an outlier if they used a multiples approach and they used a discount of nearly 65% on the value of the shares to address their limitations noted previously. This would yield a value of roughly $58,000 per share. The dissenting Kohler shareholders, many of whom acquired shares for north of $100,000 each, have a vested interest in a much more generous approach to the value of Kohler’s shares. It appears they could be talking one of two approaches in arriving to their $273,000 value per share. The first is that they could also assume a market value of roughly $2B for Kohler, and not acknowledge any need to discount the shares. This would yield an estimate of $274,100 per share. The other approach could be that this estimate was derived from the multiples values using Masco as a fellow industry leader with higher margin products and strong differentiation and acknowledging the need to discount the share value for lack of liquidity and control. Based on the Masco benchmark and a 25% discount the value would be roughly $279,000 per share. Free Cash Flow Approach Kohler’s Free Cash Flow (FCF) model is developed using the Non-Cash Working Capital Approach, a correlated Beta and an EBITA that excludes both interest income and expense. The Non-Cash Working Capital is used because of the consistency each year in Kohler’s forecasted working capital. [Table 4] Secondly, in order to make the FCF model more accurate, a correlation between the company financials and its main competitors is used. Table 5 displays this correlation. The correlation is then multiplied by a factor which is defined by the division of the standard deviation of Kohler’s competitor and the standard deviation of the market (US Equity Market). Lastly, an average of each of these factors is performed and the Kohler’s Beta is found. [Table 5] The Beta in this case significantly affects the Weight Average Cost of Capital (WACC) since the weight of Kohler’s cost of equity is about 82% and the remaining 18 % tied to the cost of debt [Table 6]. The calculated WACC using this beta is 14.19%. If Beta is calculated using a different standard deviation, other than the US Equity Market, the results will vary drastically. For example, using a standard deviation of a highly correlated distribution of stocks that includes 3 kitchen bath companies and 3 engine generator companies, the Beta will decrease from 2.67 to 1.52. Then, the new WACC would be 10.40%[Table 5]. Just this difference in Beta would make the per share value of the stock go from $164K to $251K with 0 discount (due to the lack of control and liquidity), and from $ 57K to $ 88K with 65 % discount [Table 7]. Kohler is most likely using a relatively high WACC and high discount to come up with a $58K value per share. As it is shown in Table 8, using a WACC of 14.19% and a discount of 65% for liquidity and control of the stock arrives at $57K per share. On the other hand, the dissenting Kohler shareholders have probably used a much more generous approach to the value of Kohler’s shares. It appears they could be using a WACC close to 10% and not discount (liquidity and/or control) or a WACC of 8% and 30% discount to arrive at their $273,000 value per share. How to cite Kohler Terminal Value, Essay examples

Friday, December 6, 2019

Free Sample to Describe Importance of Reporting in Accounts Management

Question: Describe about the Meaning of sustainability reporting and its need,Key performance indicators and Steps to be undertaken by staff for sustainability reporting? Answer: Introduction: The company Wealth wise has recently set up an internal information system that could help in the improvement of the social and the environmental practices in the company. The company is a major contributor towards the charities and focusses mainly on the poor and homeless. It undertakes to promote the environmental management in all the operations of the company. It does a lot of things that helps in the sustaining the environment. This reports aims at answering the questions such as explaining the meaning of the sustainability reporting, what are its uses, the key indicators of sustainability reporting by the company and the alternative performance indicators that could be used to assist the company in achieving its mission, the balance score card as the key performance indicator of the sustainability reporting. Meaning of sustainability reporting and its need: As such there is no set definition of sustainability reporting but generally it is defined as the practice of measuring, disclosing and being able to be responsible for the internal and the external stakeholders for the performance by the organization towards the goal that targets towards the sustainable development of the country. Sustainability reporting is concerned with the creation of the awareness of the responsibility of the corporate in the real corporate world. Attention is given to the issues that relates with the environment and the sector of the government. The stakeholders are interested in understanding the approach and the performance of the companies that are used to manage the different aspects of the activities such as the potential of value creation. In order to illustrate this, there is a growing recognition amidst the analysts of an investment. There are a number of returns of an investment and the indicators of the long term financial performances that target towards the changing legislative and the regulatory regimes. The company has various other drivers that are used such as the profit and loss account, balance sheet and the reporting of the greenhouse gases that have been remitted. (KPMG, 2015) In accordance with Brundtland, 1987, sustainable development is concerned with fulfilling the needs of the citizens without compromising on the needs of the future generations. (ACCA, 2015) The disclosures of sustainability help in differentiating one company from another in the same industry. This also helps in building the trust and confidence and the loyalty of the employees. When an analyst expresses his opinion on a company, then he takes into account the disclosures that have been made by the company in respect of its sustainability along with the efficiency practices and quality of the management. This reporting helps the company in attracting more number of investors. The following are the benefits of sustainable reporting: 1. Better reputation: a survey was conducted during the year 2011 and it was found that when the company goes for expanding the transparency in the business operations and reporting positive deeds, then the trust of the public is gained and investors are attracted. 2. Expectation of the employees: another survey was conducted by EY and Green Biz that showed that the employees were the most important audience for the sustainability reporting with about 18% of the reports citing the employees as the major target. Around 30% of the reporters showed that the presentation of the sustainability reporting increased the loyalty of the employees. 3. Improved access to the capital: researchers have found that the firms that reported their sustainability has better index scores than the ones with the low sustainability. When a company had a lower index scores, then they had very limited number of capital constraints 4. Increased efficiencies: the companies that presented their sustainability reports were more efficient when it came to making the decisions. (EY, 2015) Key performance indicators of sustainability reporting: In the opinion of many, the key performance indicators has many dimensions. It would go on to do the following: 1. Identify the aspects of the sustainability that could impact the society in the most positive or the negative way or manner 2. Define one of the most relevant decision that could reasonable be collected and could be reported 3. Present the data in the most efficient and effective manner so that the comparison could be related to the corporate sustainability performance In the nutshell, it would be right to say that when there are a limited number of key performance indicators, then the same can go on to help the balanced reporting regime that would serve the dual demands of comprehensiveness and practicability. When this regime is followed, these could be used for an extensive work that would define and measure the corporate sustainability that exists already and could also, guide the stakeholders of the company to focus on the issues that hold the relevant importance and that could have a major impact on the performance of the sustainability of the company. The key performance indicators are specific to specific sectors in the industries. For example, the industry of electronics face the challenges of supply chain management and the use of the toxic materials in the manufacturing and the waste disposal. The retail groceries face the challenge of managing the employee relations and the sustainability of the products that they sell. The mining indus try face the challenges of the practices of the human rights, the tailings management and the availability of water and the government relations and so on and so forth. (SASB, 2015) The sustainability performance indicators are used as a toll for measuring the performance of the company and for monitoring the performance and reporting on the future progress of the company. These indicators are covered in the areas of economic, environmental and the societal aspects of sustainability. The following are the performance indicators: 1. Economic performance indicators: this will include the company turnover, profit, quantity of products sold, etc. 2. Social performance indicators: this will include the labor practices, human rights, and broader issues affecting consumers, community, and other stakeholders in society. 3. Environmental performance indicators: this will include the greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, waste output, etc. (Pre sustainability reporting, 2015) Key performance indicators for wealth wise: The company is of the view that the responsible investing could create 2 key obligations of each one of the people involved. One was the obligation to take the financial responsibility for own financial needs of the individuals and their families and the second was the obligation to invest the funds and the companies that share the same value systems. (Welath wise, 2015) The following are the key indicators: Ratings of the employee satisfactions % of the women employees in the top tiers of the management Number of indigenous employees Ethical ranking of the sales staff Number of staff that was hired that was unemployed when they were hired Tonnes of papers recycled per year % reduction in the consumption of the electricity Litres of fuel used per % of sales Steps to be undertaken by staff for sustainability reporting The following are the 10 initiatives that could be undertaken by the company: 1. Create smart, integrated public policy: it is very difficult to make the sound decision and policies when it comes to the policies of the environment. The companies need a clear and a steady direction of what the government thinks with regard to the issues such as the carbon pricing, national cap and trade systems for the emission of the greenhouse gases. When the company has the clear and a consistent integration of the policies, only then can it invest it in the new technologies and the in the new standards and the training of the staff for sustainability. 2. Engaging in the value chain members including an industry and the NGO partners: there must be an effective collaboration across the value chain and an industry. Each and every company must try to do its bets to limit the impact of their business operations onto the environment but they would be able to impact it more and make big advances when the companies come together and align with the actions of the suppliers and the distributors along with the other members of the value chains. 3. Building a national dialogue on the responsible consumption: the customer have to be brought into confidence. The sustainability of the environment is not at all possible without the involvement of the customers. The impact on the environment cannot be limited if the customers are not willing to pay more for the products of the company. 4. Communicating the goals of sustainability within the organization: it is a big and a heavy task of building sustainability. The sustainability or the corporate social responsibility is a big responsibility with the companies, or for a single department or a single employee, for that matter. 5. Embedding the sustainability in the culture of the corporate: the employees must regard the department of the corporate social responsibility with respect since many of these will try to eliminate these departments as they may seem like cost centre to them. Therefore, in order to make sure that the sustainability for the organization is duly followed, the culture must be embedded into the organization. 6. Proving clear and equitable directions for the entitlements. 7. Creating the conditions that could support the sustainability related innovations: the main aim of the smart companies is to grow and innovate. The smart companies are the ones that treat their sustainability as the innovation of the new frontier. The smaller companies have a very little organizational slack. The NBSs report of the year 2013, Innovating for sustainability, and threw light on some of the ways following which the impact of the companies could be reduced on the environment and it would create the social change that could benefit the business and re-imagine the models of the business. The report states the trends that exist in the emerging economies or in the unrelated businesses, initiate the partnerships and drive innovation. 8. Incorporation of the social license so as to operate into the business strategy: the community members must let the company operate in their region. The maintenance of the social license could help the managers in ascertaining the frame of the sustainability as the way of managing the risk and creating of the efficiencies. 9. Mitigating and adapting the changes in the climate: the first issue that was brought to the notice of the leaders was the changes in the climate. The impacts of the physical changes in the climate will go on to redefine the industries such as the agri food, tourism and insurance. The climate changes is defined as the signs of the global warming that has been caused by the human generated greenhouse gases which is not an isolated issue any more. 10. Reducing the burden of sustainability reporting: it has become apparent that the companies spend a huge amount of time and resources in organizing the sustainability programs. And also requires an investment in the human resources and this amount of resources sent could be used to reduce the impacts on the environment. The companies therefore must call its investors and the third parties and create a streamlined reporting method. (Business journal, 2015) There are seven components necessary to ensure a sustainable organization. Organizational Identity Vision; Mission; Values; Branding; Messaging; Strong Leadership Financial and Other Systems Administration Budget; Cash Flow Analysis; Audit; IRS Reporting Long-Range Strategic Plan Goals; Objectives; Benchmarks Long-Range Fund-Raising Plan Needs and Resource Assessment; Donor Cultivation; Grant Writing Annual Operational Plan Objectives, Activities Timelines; Staffing; Program Needs; Committed Resources Board Development Plan Needs Assessment; Evaluation; Recruitment; Orientation; Maintenance/Team Building Staff Development and Organizational Culture Needs Assessment; Evaluation Review; Training; Team Building (Advocates, 2015) Balance score card as the performance measure: The balanced score card is the strategic planning and the management system that is used exclusively for the business and the industry and for the non-profit organizations. These are used to align the activities of the business to the visions and the strategy of the organization. This also entails improving the internal and the external communications and monitor the performance of the organization as against the strategic gaols. (Balance score card, 2015) The balance score card could be used for predicting the future and the financial accounting metrics that was lagging and these could be used to provide an insight into the effectiveness of the previous strategies and the decisions that re yet to be limit the abilities of the managers to anticipate the events of the future. (Imanet, 2015) Conclusion: The sustainability performance indicators are used as a toll for measuring the performance of the company and for monitoring the performance and reporting on the future progress of the company. These indicators are covered in the areas of economic, environmental and the societal aspects of sustainability. The key performance indicators are the economic performance indicators, social performance indicators and the environmental performance indicators. It is very important for each and every company to contribute towards its environment so as to make its place in the society and attract more investments. References: Advocatesforyouth.org, (2015). The Seven Components of Organizational Sustainability. Retrieved 30 January 2015, from https://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/publications-a-z/612-the-seven-components-of-organizational-sustainability- Balancedscorecard.org, (2015). What is the Balanced Scorecard? Retrieved 30 January 2015, from https://balancedscorecard.org/Resources/About-the-Balanced-Scorecard Ey.com, (2015). The Value of Sustainability reporting. Retrieved 30 January 2015, from https://www.ey.com/US/en/Services/Specialty-Services/Climate-Change-and-Sustainability-Services/Value-of-sustainability-reporting Imanet.org, (2015). Sustainability and the Balanced Scorecard: Integrating Green Measures into Business Reporting. Retrieved 30 January 2015, from https://www.imanet.org/docs/default-source/maq/maq_winter_2011_butler-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=0 Iveybusinessjournal.com, (2015). Ten Steps to Sustainable Business in 2013 - Ivey Business Journal. Retrieved 30 January 2015, from https://iveybusinessjournal.com/topics/social-responsibility/ten-ways-to-help-companies-become-sustainable-in-2013#.VMfWBP6UeQE Pre-sustainability.com, (2015). Sustainability Performance Indicators |PR Sustainability. Retrieved 30 January 2015, from https://www.pre-sustainability.com/sustainability-performance-indicators www.accaglobal.com, (2015). Sustainability reporting. Retrieved 30 January 2015, from https://www.accaglobal.com/content/dam/acca/global/PDF-technical/sustainability-reporting/tech-tp-srm.pdf www.bdo.co.za, (2015). WEALTH WISE. Retrieved 30 January 2015, from https://www.bdo.co.za/documents/Wealth%20Advisory_issueno7%20 (lowres).pdf www.kpmg.com, (2015). www.kpmg.com. Retrieved 30 January 2015, from https://www.kpmg.com/CN/en/IssuesAndInsights/ArticlesPublications/Documents/sustainable-guide-0811.pdf www.sasb.org, (2015). From Transparency to Performance. Retrieved 30 January 2015, from https://www.sasb.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IRI_Transparency-to-Performanc

Thursday, November 28, 2019

5 Minute Sppech Essay Example

5 Minute Sppech Essay Does the thought of writing and delivering a speech terrify you? Most people share your fear. But why remain scared of public speaking when the solution to this age old problem is so simple? Follow these simple speaking tips and youll be ready to present a decent speech next week. First, take a deep breath and relax your mind. Your challenge is to speak to an audience about a topic that you know something about. In other words, you will be sharing your knowledge in a conversational manner with people who are interested in what you have to say. Second, break down the elements of your speech. A simple technique to use in your opening is the Attention Grabber Question. Ask the audience a question that will force them to respond either aloud or to themselves. This will get people involved with your topic and provide you with the positive feedback you need to share a quality message. Decide on three main body points that you want to cover. You may even choose three stories or anecdotes to use as the body points. That will make audience sharing even easier. The goal is to make you feel like youre telling a story to a friend. The only difference is that youre telling the story to ten, twenty, fifty or one hundred friends! We will write a custom essay sample on 5 Minute Sppech specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on 5 Minute Sppech specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on 5 Minute Sppech specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Finally, your conclusion must challenge, issue a call to action, or motivate your audience to do something positive with the information that youve just shared. The conclusion is the most frequently abused piece of a speech. The speaker typically hurries to finish and leaves out a profound bit of wisdom that the audience needs and wants. Speaker Beware Dont try to memorize your speech word for word. If you lose your place and grasp for the exact word that makes up your script, you may draw a mind blank and panic. Lets look at a simple speech topic that can quickly be developed into a complete presentation. Suppose you want to talk about container gardening. An Attention Grabber Question might be, How many of you have a green thumb? â€Å"Well neither did I until I started dropping plants into pots. † Audience members will either answer yes or no to the green thumb question. You have their involvement at this point in the beginning. Your three main body points may feature three different types of plants you have successfully grown in containers. For added impact, show pictures of your work or bring a sample of your passion for gardening. Props always add another dimension to your presentations. Let your excitement about the topic fuel your words. In the conclusion, simply tell the audience how easy it is to begin container gardening. You may even give them resources to explore for more information. This leaves the audience members with valuable advice that they can use after leaving the room. For beginning orators, consider taking a three by five note card to the lectern. The card should only feature the Attention Grabber Question, the three main body points, and the profound conclusion that sends the audience home feeling content and fulfilled. Glance at the card only to keep order. Make an effort to look at each audience member. Use a sweeping eye movement so that youre sharing the information with everyone in the room. As you gain confidence as a speaker, you can experiment with hand gestures, vocal variety and body movement. These skills will develop with practice. When you get that next speech assignment, decide to share and not recite your wisdom. Break down the elements of the presentation. Dont let the project overwhelm you. Make sure you give the audience members something to take home. You are offering some information that they can use. With a positive, sharing attitude, you can knock out a quality presentation in only 5 7 minutes!

Monday, November 25, 2019

Business Communication

Business Communication Summarry Business Communication is described as the dissemination of information that is done primarily for the benefit of an organization. Business communication is accomplished by relaying information in different ways to various people who make up the organization.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Business Communication specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The communication also includes relaying information about the business s to suppliers, consumers and other stakeholders in the organization. Effective business communication has the advantage of increasing productivity and profitability of the organization (Guffey and Almonte, 2010). To adequately illustrate the concept of business communication, it would be useful to attempt a scholarly critique of two articles from scholarly journals. The critique shall involve a brief summary of the article focused mainly on the data used and the methods employed in formulating t he research questions. Additionally, the scholarly critique shall attempt to identify the goals of the article and the key theories and concepts used and whether are not these theories and concepts achieved the goals of the article. Finally the conclusion seeks to establish whether or not the article was worth writing. The Use of Strategic Metaphors in Intercultural Business Communication The article seeks to categorically establish that strategic metaphors can be used to help achieve effective intercultural business communication that is a prerequisite for the profitability and productivity of any given organization. The article uses data from a case study of the alliance between Renault and Nissan to illustrate the fact that the use of a suitable metaphor can adequately capture an organization’s essence in terms of its activities, strategic intents and its global and national cultures. The strategic metaphor also details the ethical and business position of the company. The article highlights how the use of effective metaphor enabled the stakeholders in the Alliance to work towards a common goal by employing the ambiguity and the diversity of meaning of the metaphor to surmount the Western and Asian intercultural differences (Cacciaguidi-Fahy and Cunningham, 2007).Advertising Looking for essay on business communication? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The goal of the article is to illustrate how the use of a strategic metaphor can benefit intercultural business communication. In my view, the theory and concepts used adequately accomplished the stated goals of the article. In conclusion, the article was definitely worth writing, this is because it makes substantial and theoretical contributions to our knowledge of communication especially in the multi-cultural and global business environment. The implications of the article are fostering a sense of shared identity and goal congruence in a multi-cultural business setting. Language and Culture in International Legal Communication The article proposes that in the contemporary global business setting that is characterized by involvement of people from different cultures and nationalities, it is imperative to develop communication competence in terms of language skills. The article highlights the importance of considering intercultural differences in translation particularly with regard to the legal systems of both the target and the source. The article uses data from company law to draw the conclusion that there are certain cultural and linguistic implications of using English as the legal lingua franca in addition to its influence on learning and teaching practice (Kocbek, 2006). The goal of the article is to highlight the importance of language and culture in international legal communication. The key theory and concept successfully used the examination of company law to illustrate how cultural and linguistic differ ences affect legal undertakings. In my considered view, the article was worth writing as it makes a significant contribution to the methodological and theoretical understanding of communication in the business environment. The article has the implication of underlining the importance of considering the impact of cultural and linguistic differences in legal matters. In conclusion, a critical analysis of the two articles has enhanced my understanding of business communication particularly in the global arena.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Business Communication specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More References Cacciaguidi-Fahy, S and Cunningham, J. (2007). The Use of Strategic Metaphors in Intercultural Business Communication. Managing Global Transitions. 133-155. Retrieved from fm-kp.si/zalozba/ISSN/1581-6311/5_133-155.pdf Guffey, M. and Almonte, E. R. (2010). Essentials of Business Communication. USA: Nelson Education P ublishing Inc Kocbek, A. (2006). Language and Culture in International Legal Communication. Managing Global Transition. 231-247. Retrieved from fm-kp.si/zalozba/ISSN/1581-6311/4_231-247.pdf Business communication Introduction Communication is important in people’s lives, as it is a mean of exchanging information from one person to another (Kushal, n.d, pp 1). In business, communication is necessary, as it plays a role in negotiation between an entrepreneur and the customer, and between the distributor and the entrepreneurs, among others.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Business communication specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Therefore, business communication involves flow of information, which requires feedback. In an organization, communication may flow through various channels, hence contributing to controlling and directing employees. Communication involves feedback, thus avoiding any misunderstanding and it contributes to effective transfer of messages from one party to another. An organization has the duty of communicating its rules and regulation to the employees. Business communication has also changed with the t rends in technology. In the early years, communication was evident in terms of paper work and telephone calls; however, today, communication has expanded to video conferencing, emails, cell phones and satellite, all of which have led to effective communication. Business communication can be divided in to two oral communication (which can be formal and informal) and written communication. Normally, formal communication involves interviews, meetings, discussions, and speeches, while informal involves grapevine. Verbal communication has been evident for generations and it creates a high level of understanding, and feedback is immediate, thus contributing to quick decision-making. However, this method faces the challenge of language barrier due to the many existing nationalities. Nevertheless, verbal communication is commonly evident in interviews, telephone conversations, and video conferencing. The second type of business communication is written communication, which incorporates, re ports, and agendas among others (Management study guide, n.d). Current types of business communication range from the use of internet, video conferencing, teleconferencing to the use of emails. Effective communication is an important tool to any business and organization, as it contributes to efficiency at the place of work in terms of getting tasks accomplished within the required time.Advertising Looking for essay on business communication? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More According to Kushal (n.d, p1), â€Å"without communication, uniformity in the business activities cannot be brought about.† Therefore, business communication is a type of communication that contributes to meeting the organization’s needs. The role of business communication in daily activities at my workplace, and its current trends. Communication is very important at the workplace and it can vary from oral to written communication. G enerally, it contributes greatly to the organizations’ activities; hence, every employee is required to have effective communication skills when addressing customers and his fellow employees. In addition, good communication skills contribute to resolving issues very fast, thus avoiding delays. In my line of work as a human resource assistant, communication is very effective as my job entails communication with the staff. This takes place in form of emails, phone and video conferencing. When my manager is out of the country, video conferencing and emails have proven to be effective in ensuring that communication takes place. My boss is able to communicate quality and urgent information to me, which in return is communicated to the rest of the staff through the phone or via email. Some of my daily activities involve updating Medicare accounts for the staff, updating information about their leaves, reviewing their payroll, and renewing contracts among other tasks. All these task s require the use of internet or phone. In addition, when I need to pass an important notice throughout the department, written communication is applicable, which involves notices and memorandums. Therefore, in my workplace, it is a requirement for all employees to be at par with the advancement in technology in order to be capable of operating computer programmes such as emails. Business communication is efficient, as it assists me in sharing important information to the rest of the staff on time, especially through the internet; therefore, delay in information is not evident in my organization due to the many modes of communication available. In addition, communication contributes to the internal and external functions at the workplace. Internal functions include communication within the organization that contributes to employees’ job satisfaction and increase productivity, thus decreasing the levels of turnovers.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Bu siness communication specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This is evident, as the management ensures that information is available to employees on time, about how they are required to perform a certain task and the terms of rewards when the job is completed. Employees are thus motivated due to the information communicated. The external function of business communication occurs when our staff relates with the outside environment, such as the customers, whom our organization works hard to please through delivering quality services. The current trend at my workplace is cloud computing that involves the use of computers and internet in order to enhance communication. This trend has proven sufficient in the organization as it involves a large number of services, such as Google, yahoo, face book, twitter, and MySpace among others. Such services have led to instant messaging through chats, for instance, in yahoo and g-mail, therefore providing the staf f with urgent and instant messages in which they provide an instant feedback. The impact is contribution to effective communication of urgent information without having to post a letter. Video conferencing is also evident in the workplace, whereby, a manager is able to address his staff on an important matter, and he can actually see the staff he is addressing via the aid of a webcam. Therefore, work is becoming paperless at the place of work, as emails are replacing memorandums and minutes of workplace meetings. Monge and Desanctis (2008) describes electronic communication as a link to distance, cultures, organizations, and the departments within them, hence responding to the customers’ demands fast. Electronic communication therefore comprises of emails, and teleconferencing among others. However, information must be communicated effectively in order to enhance understanding, as is the case of face-to-face communication. With the changing technology, business communication has also changed and adopted new type of communication, such as internets, which have yielded to instant messaging like chat messages and instant feedbacks; as opposed to a letter that requires time before the sender can get a reply, as it has to go through the process of posting. Conclusion In any business, professionalism is highly regarded, as it is the key to attracting customers. in this case, customers are confident on the information on the services and products offered. Therefore, business communication aids in sharing information on every crucial matter, thus ensuring that the matter has been attended to promptly. Business communication modes include electronic communication, written communication, verbal communication, and non-verbal communication. In spite of the used type of business communication, how well the message is communicated is what makes a difference, since when a message is conveyed wrongly, it could cost the organization a lot. Therefore, organizations shoul d make sure that their employees acquire quality communication skills, to avoid errors either in typing, writing, or verbally.Advertising Looking for essay on business communication? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More References Kushal, S. (N.d). Business Communication. Web. Management study guide. (N.d). What is business communication? Web. Monge, P. and Desanctis, G. (2008). Communication Processes for Virtual Organizations. Web.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Annotated Bibliography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Annotated Bibliography - Essay Example sults from their surveys that show lower levels of diabetes in some of the candidates that have taken up some of the healthier habits of the West, such as exercising and working out at the gym. It is an interesting source as it shows opinions, based on sound research and evidence to support both the benefits as well as the losses of Western cultures and more specifically the Western health and dietary regimes, even if the research is portrayed in a basic format. Here is a slightly different source. Being a blog it will not be sound fact, evidence or academic opinion on the subject of Arabic and American food. However, it does demonstrate the effects that alternative cultures are having on Western culture. It also shows us the difference between the Arab’s attitude to food and the America’s attitude to food. The American shows ignorance and sees food as a pleasure – he’s greedy without realising it. The â€Å"born-again-Arab† sees food as the fuel for your body. It is sacred and treated with respect. It is acknowledged as being from somewhere in the planet and as such deserves the respect they give it. They are careful with their foods and in so doing careful with themselves. As said, it also demonstrates the ignorance of the Western mind who hasn’t taken the time to fully understand what connotations food has for Arabs. Though this source does not provide us with characteristics on the foods of each culture, their nutritional value or any solid facts about either culture whatsoever, it does demonstrate another side to the arguments surrounding the different cultures and their native diets. The third website offers a more logical layout and provides the basic information and understanding behind Arab and Arab-American foods. Providing a glossary of terms and a variety of recipes the site offers readers literal descriptions, methods and pictures of actual Arabic foods and in so doing showing us its physical attributes. It also explains that Arab food