Georgia Atlantic Company Essay

During the depression of the 1930s, Ben Jenkins, Sr., a wealthy, expansion-oriented lumberman whose family had been in the lumber business in the southeastern United States for several generations, began to acquire small, depressed sawmills and wholesale lumber companies. These businesses prospered during World War II. After the war, Jenkins anticipated that the demand for lumber would surge, so he aggressively sought new timberlands to supply his sawmills. In 1954, all of Jenkins’s companies were consolidated, along with some other independent lumber and milling companies, into a single corporation, the Georgia Atlantic Company. By the end of 1992, Georgia Atlantic was a major force in the lumber industry, though not one of the giants. Still, it possessed more timber and timberlands in relation to its use of timber than any other lumber company. Worldwide demand for lumber was strong in spite of a soft world economy, and its timber supply should have put Georgia Atlantic in a good position. With its assured supply of pulpwood, the company could run its mills at a steady rate and, thus, at a low per-unit production cost. However, the company does not have sufficient manufacturing capacity to fully utilize its timber supplies; so it has been forced to sell raw timber to other lumber companies to generate cash flow, losing potential profits in the process. Georgia Atlantic has enjoyed rapid growth in both sales and assets. This rapid growth has, however, caused some financial problems as indicated in Table 1. The condensed balance sheets shown in the table reveal that Georgia Atlantic’s financial leverage has increased substantially in the last 10 years, while the firm’s liquidity position markedly deteriorated over the same period. Remember, though, that the balance sheet figures reflect historical costs, and that the market values of the assets could be much higher than the values shown on the balance sheet. For example, Georgia Atlantic purchased 10,000 acres of cut timberland in southern Georgia in 1961 for $10 per acre, then planted trees which are now mature. The value of this acreage and its timber is estimated at $2,750 per acre, even though it is shown on the firm’s balance sheet at $230 per acre, the original $10 plus capitalized planting costs. Note also that this particular asset and others like it have produced zero accounting income; indeed, expenses associated with this acreage have produced accounting losses. When Georgia Atlantic was originally organized, most of the outstanding stock was owned by the senior Jenkins and members of his family. Over time, however, the family’s ownership position has gradually declined due to the sale of new common stock to fund expansion. In 1987, Ben Jenkins, Sr. died; the presidency of the firm was passed to his son, Ben Jenkins, Jr., who was 61 at the time. By the end of 1992, the Jenkins family held only about 35 percent of Georgia Atlantic’s common stock, and this represented essentially their entire net worth. The family has sought to finance the firm’s growth with internally generated funds to the greatest extent possible. Hence, Georgia Atlantic has never declared a cash dividend, nor has it had a stock dividend or a stock split. Due to the plowback of earnings, the stock currently sells for almost $2,000 per share. The family has stated a strong belief that investors prefer low-payout stocks because of their tax advantages, and they also think that stock dividends and stock splits serve no useful purpose—they merely create more pieces of paper but no incremental value for shareholders. Finally, the family feels that higher-priced stocks are more attractive to investors because the percentage brokerage commissions on small purchases of higher-priced stocks are lower than on large purchases of lower-priced shares. They cite the example of Berkshire-Hathaway, whose stock price has risen phenomenally even though it now sells for over $15,000 per share and pays no dividends. (The family does acknowledge, though, that Warren Buffett, Berkshire’s chairman, has done a superb job of managing the company’s assets, and that the rise of its stock price reflects that factor as well as Buffett’s financial policies.) As the date for Georgia Atlantic’s annual stockholders’ meeting approached, Mary Goalshen, the corporate secretary, informed Ben Jenkins, Jr., who is commonly called â€Å"Junior† at the company, that an unusually low number of shareholders had sent in their proxies. Goalshen felt that this might be due to rising discontent over the firm’s dividend policy. During the last two years, the average payout for firms in the paper and forest products industry has been about 35 percent; yet for the 58th straight year, Georgia Atlantic’s board, under the Jenkins family’s dominance, chose not to pay a dividend in 1992. The Jenkins family was also aware that several reports in the financial press in recent months indicated that Georgia Atlantic was a possible target of a takeover attempt. Since the family did not want to lose control of the company, they were anxious to keep the firm’s stockholders as happy as possible. Accordingly, Junior announced that the directors would hold a special meeting immediately after the annual meeting to consider whether the firm’s dividend policy should be changed. Junior instructed Abe Markowitz, Georgia Atlantic’s financial vice president, to identify and then evaluate alternative dividend policies in preparation for the special board meeting. He asked Markowitz to consider cash dividends, stock dividends, and stock splits. Markowitz then identified six proposals that he thought deserved further consideration: (1) No Cash Dividends, No Stock Dividend or Split. This was the position Markowitz was certain that Junior and the family would support, both for the reasons given above and also because he thought the company, as evidenced by the balance sheet, was in no position to pay cash dividends. (2) Immediate Cash Dividend, but No Stock Dividend or Split. This was simply the opposite of the no dividend policy. If a cash dividend policy were instituted, its size would still be an issue. (3) Immediate Cash Dividend plus a Large Stock Split. The stock split would be designed to lower the price of the firm’s stock from its current price of almost $2,000 per share to somewhere in the average price range of other large forest products stocks, or from $20 to $40 per share. (4) Immediate Cash Dividend plus a Large Stock Dividend. The reasoning underlying this policy would be essentially the same as that of Alternative 3. (5) Cash Dividend, Stock Split, and Periodic Stock Dividends. This policy would require the company to declare an immediate cash dividend and, simultaneously, to announce a sizable stock split. This policy would go further than Alternatives 3 and 4 in that, after the cash dividend and stock split or large stock dividend, the company would periodically declare smaller stock dividends equal in value to the earnings retained during the period. In effect, if the firm earned $3 per share in any given period-quarter, semi-annual period, and so on—and retained $1.50 per share, the company would also declare a stock dividend of a percentage amount equal to $1.50 divided by the market price of the stock. Thus, if the firm’s shares were selling for $30 when the cash dividend was paid, a 5 percent stock dividend would be declared. (6) Share Repurchase Plan. This plan is based on the premise that investors in the aggregate would like to see the company distribute some cash, but that some stockholders would not want to receive cash dividends because they want to minimize their taxes. Under the repurchase plan, individual stockholders could decide for themselves whether or not to sell some or all of their hares and thus to realize some cash and some capital gains, depending on their own situations. To begin his evaluation, Markowitz collected the data shown in Tables 2 and 3. As he was looking over these figures, Markowitz wondered what effect, if any, Georgia Atlantic’s dividend policy had on the company’s stock price as compared to the prices of other stocks. Markowitz is also aware of one other issue, but it is one that neither he nor anyone else has had the nerve to bring up. Junior is now 66 years old, which is hardly ancient; but he is in poor health, and in recent years he has been almost obsessed with the idea of avoiding taxes. Further, the federal estate tax rate is currently 60 percent, and additional state estate taxes would be due; so well over half of Junior’s net worth as of the date of his death will have to be paid out in estate taxes. Since estate taxes are based on the value of the estate on the date of death, to minimize his estate’s taxes, Junior might not want the value of the company to be maximized until after his death. Markowitz does not know Junior’s view of this, but he does know that his tax advisors have thought it through and have explained it to him. Finally, Markowitz knows that several Wall Street firms have been analyzing Georgia Atlantic’s â€Å"breakup value,† or the value of the company if it were broken up and sold in pieces. He has heard breakup value estimates as high as $3,500 per share, primarily because other lumber companies, including Japanese and European companies, are eager to buy prime properties such as those owned by Georgia Atlantic. Of course, Georgia Atlantic could sell assets on its own, but Markowitz does not expect that to happen as long as Junior is in control. Now assume that you are an outside consultant and have been hired by Abe Markowitz to help him with the analysis and make a presentation to the executive committee. First, Abe is not sure whether an announced dividend policy is a good idea. He believes an announced policy could cause the firm to feel forced to take actions that otherwise would be undesirable. He has also expressed concern about signaling and clientele effects. As old man Jenkins used to say, â€Å"If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.† Thus, analyze the firm’s present dividend policy to determine how well the company has performed compared to other firms in the industry before discussing the implications of the alternative dividend policies and making a recommendation. Markowitz also wants you to discuss whether the firm’s historical rate of return on investment has been affected by its dividend policy, the estate tax issue, and the takeover issue. Junior is famous for asking tough questions and then crucifying the person being questioned if he or she has trouble responding. That is probably why Markowitz wants you to make the presentation. So be sure that you thoroughly understand the issues and your answers so that you can handle any follow-up questions that you might receive.

Plato: Knowledge Essay

We all continue to learn new things in life day in by day out; incessantly increasing our knowledge is essential to sustain man’s life path on this earth. Knowledge can be sought in different ways but to truly seek knowledge, one has to read, understand through experience and believe what the word of God says about faith. Acquiring knowledge through our five senses and faith, both give us insight on competing ways of getting at the truth. A person who reads, write and believes in the word of God will become rich with knowledge but the latter will not. Moreover, in order to achieve knowledge, one has to be taught it or teach him or herself (because humans are not born with the ability of knowing; they must acquire it) through observation and reasoning through faith. Different views exhibit on how knowledge is achieved. One may say through common sense and observation, while another may say through teachers and peers. According to the philosopher Plato in Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, â€Å"Certain professors of education must be wrong when they say that they can put knowledge into the soul which was not there before, like sight into blindness. The power and capacity of learning exists in the soul already; and that just as the eye was unable to turn from darkness to light without the whole body, so too the instrument of knowledge can only by the movement of the whole soul be turned from the world of becoming into that of being. † In making this comment, this Greek philosopher argues that, everyone has the capacity to learn because knowledge is present in the soul thus we all can acquire knowledge and wisdom by recollecting and putting together what in fact the soul already knows. Plato is right that humans have the aptitude to gain knowledge, but he seems on more dubious ground when he claims that knowledge is already present in one’s soul. I find this to be unconvincing because humans seek education to learn something which they didn’t already know. For example an adolescent may ponder upon why the hairs on his arms and legs grow very short while the opposite occurs on his or her head. But through an education in biology in his or her later years, he or she will come to find out that each hair follicle on one’s body part will grow different depending on where it is located on the body part. The young adolescent never had this knowledge about hair follicles till he was taught it. So therefore, knowledge doesn’t already exist in the soul. One has to gain it in order to have it but we all have the ability to achieve it if we put in effort. In regards to observation, reasoning through faith must also be looked into to fully attain the knowledge that is essential to lead the best life and attain happiness. Observations only gives us half of the knowledge we need to acquire, faith gives us the rest. In Scully’s view from the X-Files, â€Å"As much as I have my faith, Father, I am a scientist, trained to weigh evidence. But science only teaches us how†¦ not why. † In other words, Scully is saying that, knowledge without faith leads us only half way†¦ we have to come full circle in order to completely gain absolute knowledge. I agree that this statement is true because without faith, one’s knowledge is worthless. For example, before Copernicus, most scientists believed that the earth was the center of the universe, thus the sun revolved around the earth. But through faith and reasoning, Copernicus came to conclude that it was rather the earth that revolved around the sun, making the universe we live in heliocentric; and his jurisdiction is held to be true till this day. The two concepts go hand in hand; one cannot achieve absolute knowledge without faith and reasoning/observation. In order to achieve knowledge through faith, we must walk through the ways of our spiritual leader. In The Francis Trilogy of Thomas of Celano, Thomas of Celano writes, â€Å"Ah! Inclined and strengthened by the Holy Spirit the blessed servant of the Most High, seeing that the appointed time was at hand, followed that blessed impulse of his soul. Thus, as he trampled upon worldly things, he made his way to the greatest good. † In other words, Thomas of Celano is saying that, St. Francis detached himself from matters of the world by following Christ, who fortified him with the Holy Cross and the Holy Spirit enabling him to transform his worldly ways to resemble the will of God, thus St. Francis gained his faith through the knowledge of the word of God. In order for St. Francis to have faith, he had to have knowledge of God, which he acquired through his experience; asking God for enlightenment and through the visions he had that directed his will to God’s. Reason and faith leads to wisdom and knowledge, without it, the knowledge that one acquires is corrupt and useless. Others may disagree saying that one can still have knowledge without faith, but knowledge without faith leads you nowhere because you still haven’t really gained full understanding of the subject matter.

Diversity: Culture and Physical Qualities Essay

1. What is diversity? Why is diversity valued? Diversity is the condition of being different. For example: culture, race, education, religion, experiences, gender, physical qualities, sexual orientation, etc. Diversity is valued because it enriches us with its multiplicity of opinion and ecperience. Nobody is completely the same, our differences and diversities can lead to growth in our society in a positive or negative way. -google.com 2. What is ethnocentrism? In what ways can ethnocentrism be detrimental to a society? Ethnocentrism is the belief in the superiority of one’s own ethnic group, the tendency to look at the world primarily from the perspective of one’s own culture. Ethnocentrism puts down a certain group or culture, it leads us to make false assumptions about cultural differences and it often distorts communication between human beings. -google.com 3. Define emigration and immigration. Emigration- an act or instance of migrating. A body of emigrants; emigrants collectively. Immigration- A group or number of immigrants. -phone app dictionary 4. What are some of the ways groups of people are identified? Some ways thats groups of people can be identified are by ethic, cultural, religion, sexual orientation, race, gender, morals, physical qualities, work ethics, education, experiences. -class discussions 5. Why do people label and group other people? People label and group other people in order to give then a distinct identity in the society. The reason could also be because people who have little confience so they try to put other people in a lower class then themselves. -www.weegy.com 6. Define culture. Is culture limited to racial and ethnic backgrounds? Explain. Culture- The quality in a person or society that arises from a concern for what is reguarded as excellence in arts, letters, manners, etc. Also the behaviors and beliefs of characteristics of a particular social, ethic, or age group. No. It is a multi-layered property of our societies. Culture is not limited to racial and ethic backgrounds as many people from other cultures are also influenced by the many groups of people that make up the country. -dictionary phone app -www.weegy.com

The Declaration of Independence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Declaration of Independence - Essay Example The essay shall examine the similarities and differences between works written by three authors on the Declaration of Independence; these are the latter mentioned authors and Frederick Douglas. These comparisons will be done in relation to political issues, religious issues, equality and other issues. (Barthelmas, 2003) Jefferson highlights his views about equality by asserting that all men are created equal in the first paragraph of the declaration. Additionally, he believes that they have three major rights that come with this equality Some people have claimed that Jefferson simply paraphrased what another author in the eighteenth century had written; John Locke. Locke in his 'Second Treatise of government' asserts that there are some fundamental rights that all human beings should be granted and these include; Property, liberty and life. As it can be seen from the bulleted list above, these are the exact words used by Jefferson except for the world property. It has been reported that Jefferson had used the word property in his first draft but other members of the Committee he was working with urged him to change it to 'pursuit of happiness'. In light of all these striking similarities between Jefferson's Declaration of Independence and other previous writings, Jefferson's supporters have defended him and his writings by claiming that the declaration was not a creation of new philosophies. He was simply trying to air out what people believed already and was not trying to come up with a new ideology. Equality is a concept that stands through out Jefferson's Declaration of Independence. He talks about how the British government has demonstrated their lack of respect for the American people. Jefferson achieves this by citing 20 instances when this occurred. For example, he says that the British government prevented them from trading with other countries of the world. Additionally, he has problems with the imposition of taxes and the imposition of military forces amongst them. By speaking against these injustices, Jefferson was trying to show how the British did not consider the rest of their colonial states equal to them. (Armitage, 2004) Locke echoes similar sentiments. He believed that all human beings had the right to preserve their own lives. He also asserted murderers did not act in unison to the law of reason because they were contravening the right to life. Furthermore, Locke adds that all people are supposed to have the right to make their own decisions in an effort to exercise liberty. However, he believes that liberty should be exercised in such a manner that it does not impede other people's liberty. While Jefferson and Locke believed that no man was superior to another and that all people should be granted their due rights, these sentiments were mostly theoretical. This is fact brought out by Frederick Douglas. Douglas believed that most of the sentiments expressed in Jefferson's declaration of independence simply referred to a portion of the population while the slaves were ignored completely. Douglas explains that the black person in America did not share some of the liberties and freedoms proclaimed in the Declaration of inde

The meaning of Daoist concepts of &#8220nature&#8221 andor Research Proposal

The meaning of Daoist concepts of “nature” andor “technique” and their possible inspirations for today’s cosmology or ecology - Research Proposal Example The principles of the Tao have been helpful in "environmental philosophy, [for those] who see the non-anthropocentric nature of Taoism as a guide for new ways of thinking about nature and environmental ethics."2 One book that is extremely helpful is Daoism and Ecology: Ways Within a Cosmic Landscape, edited by N.J. Girardot, James Miller, and Liu Xiaogan, which is "currently the most thorough introduction to studies done on concepts of nature and ecology within Taoism."3 Chinese philosophy is concerned primarily with the realness of existing problems and how to solve those issues in a concrete fashion. As the writer Jordan Paper says in "Chinese Religion, 'Daoism,' and Deep Ecology" in the book Deep Ecology and World Religions, In other words, real solutions for the problems of the environment are probably going to come from those who hold Taoist beliefs, or beliefs similar to Taoism/Daoism. Why is this It is probably because Taoism teaches tenets that reflect a concern for the environment. Chinese tradition does not, on the whole, intellectualize these problems like the environment. However, as one has seen as recently at the 2008 Summer Olympics in China, the Chinese have a long way to go in terms of regulating their own environment as far as pollution is concerned. "A miasma of lead, mercury, sulfur dioxide, and other elements of coal-burning and car exhaust hovers over most Chinese cities."5 Why is there not more activism and involvement regarding the environment in a country where there is such a great percentage of the population that is religiously committed to conserving its environment This remains a mystery. Perhaps it is because those Chinese who are Taoists/Daoists are not in positions of power to be able to create effective change in China with regard to the pollution. It is large corporations who are committing the crimes against the environment, which likely do not care about Taoist values, and could care less about the Chinese environment and the environment of the rest of the world, such as the U.S., which sees smog from China on its West Coast which travels across the sea. The pollution problem is an issue that should concern the Chinese, and it is possible that it does, with breathing difficulties becoming an increasing liability. However, companies' powers trump the activism of only a few individuals. Unless there is a unified, organized movement in China in order to create effective change, there will not be change in China with regards to the pollution problem. Jordan Paper, in his chapter in Deep Ecology and World Religions, further emphasizes the difference between Chinese mode of thought which centers on experience and Western tradition, which focuses on dogma: "Hence, Western intellectuals and Western-influenced Chinese intellec- tuals tend to derive theories from Chinese texts that have

What political consequences would have occurred if Quebec had voted Term Paper

What political consequences would have occurred if Quebec had voted Yes in the 1995 referendum - Term Paper Example not have an implication on Canada alone, but high potential implications on France, Britain and the USA, since a Yes Vote would have influenced the relationship amongst these countries (). The Quebec referendum that was held in 1995 was a second round of vote that was meant to give the residents of the Quebec province in Canada the chance to determine whether they wanted to secede from Canada and thus establish Quebec as a sovereign state (). Quebec has had a long history of wanting to secede from Canada, considering that it is the Canadian providence that is predominantly inhabited by the French-speaking people, whose political relationship with the rest of the Canadian provinces, mostly inhabited by the English-speaking people. Thus, the 1995 referendum was not the first political attempt to have Quebec gain its own independence. Therefore, this discussion seeks to analyze the political consequences that would have followed a yes vote in the 1995 Quebec referendum, with a view to e stablishing both the argument for a positive and those for a negative political consequence. The discussion holds that the Quebec 1995 referendum would have had both positive and negative implications. The political consequences would have occurred if Quebec had voted "Yes" in the 1995 referendum would have granted the aboriginal people the right to self-determination (). This group of people living in the Quebec has had a long history of wanting to be recognized as a core group of the province, who had the right to a sovereign state as did the other groups of the Canadian population, who had gained a sovereign state through the immigration from Britain, France and other parts of Europe, to form an independent and sovereign state in Canada (). Thus, considering that such groups were feeling left out in matters of sovereignty by feeling dominated by the other ethnic groups in Canada, the passing of a yes vote in the 1995 Quebec referendum will have afforded the aboriginal people the

Overview of Sex Offender Registration - Effective or Not Research Paper

Overview of Sex Offender Registration - Effective or Not - Research Paper Example Police investigation revealed that the convicted person was a sex offender and was a nearby neighbor of Megan (Douglas, Burgess, Burgess & Ressler, 2006). Nevertheless, the parents of Megan had no information about the fact that their neighbor is a sex offender and how dangerous he can be to their family. This heated a great debate and eventually Megan’s law came onto the scene, which required States to put this information of sex offenders available to public so that people can ensure their safety (Tilley, 2009). Despite the fact that these registration polices vary amongst different states, however, the primary goal remains the same, avoidance of sexual violence or crime and prevention of sexual re-offending by these former offenders (Wright, 2009). This paper would try to compare to Sex Offender Registration policies in California and Massachusetts. California had implemented these policies in 1947 and Massachusetts was the last state to implement these policies in the last years of 1990s (Douglas et al., 2006). Moreover, in the light of the policies at these two states, many others elements concerning the effectiveness of this system would also come under discussion. Sex Offender Registration laws require offender to register with the local state authority and supply crucial information like name, address, employment details, and others. In most cases, the offender has to register right after his or her release from the prison or in the initial of days of community supervision (Holmes & Holmes, 2008). Since 1996, most of the states have put this information online for public viewing including California and Massachusetts (Brown, 2005). As mentioned earlier, all the states have laws regarding sex offender registration that vary greatly. Differences start arising from the information required for registration. Both these states ask for name, aliases, photo, fingerprints, description of offences, location of offences,

Why did presidents Ford and Carter lose public confidence Essay

Why did presidents Ford and Carter lose public confidence - Essay Example The main intention of the pardon by President Ford was to move on from the Watergate scandal (Greene, 276-283). However, the people had a different view as they felt this was just an everyday political move. On the other hand, Carter campaigned with the promise of honesty to the citizens, which was well accepted at first and gained him the presidential position. However, his leadership was poorly reflected by his inability Another reason why President Ford was unable to gain the confidence of the people is that he inherited the economic problems from Nixon’s era, and was also incapable of restoring economic stability in the country. The inflation continued to rise along with the level of unemployment (Greene, 276-283). Furthermore, there was an increment in the interest and regardless of the reduction in taxes; the people were still economically unstable. There was also problems in the foreign interests of the country as in Vietnam the North significantly defeated the South. As mentioned above, Carter gained the confidence of the people through his campaign policy of honesty (Rosenbaum, 331-337). However, there was still an economic crisis in the country. In the addition, there was also a rise in the oil costs which further worsened the situation. Carter made some progress in the form of pioneering many peace treaties; however, we failed to fix the Iranian hostage problem (Rosenbaum, 331-337). There were American hostages that were captured by Islamic terrorists in Iran, and Carter failed to free them, which led to the loss of confidence from the people. Hence, the reason the two presidents lost the confidence of the people is that they unable to resolve the pertaining situations that were affecting the country such as the economy and the high levels of unemployment. In addition, some of the decision making was poor by both presidents, for example, the pardoning of Nixon by Ford when he

Can You Motivate The Unmotivated A case study of male university

Can You Motivate The Unmotivated A of male university students in Saudi Arabia - Case Study Example Students in Saudi Arabia are faced with a lot of problems studying in a language other than their first language (L1). This phenomenon has introduced the rule of ‘No Arabic Speaking’ in the Saudi Arabia where students are prohibited from the use of L1 in everyday classroom activities, as the teachers and proponents of this rule believe that the active use of L1 may inhibit the proper and quick learning of L2. This leads to poor motivation in those students and difficulties in learning and acquiring the second language in its true spirit. So the question tends to be whether the restricted use of L1 assists in or inhibits the proper acquisition and learning of the second language, in short if it is an asset or a liability. This paper sheds some light on the motivation theories and their application with respect to the problem in discussion, and tries to review the monolingual practices in order to help such students in developing positive attitudes towards the target langu age, so that they can be highly motivated to acquire L2 in its true meaning thereby enabling them to lay a firm foundation for speaking and writing in L2. In order to evaluate the issue under consideration, we will first look at the recent research works and studies about L2 motivation as a second language (in a foreign environment) or foreign language (in a native English-speaking country). For the analysis of the problem I have selected a few articles, journals, and other related literary documents to accumulate knowledge and to establish well-grounded theoretical context and conceptual framework for the paper. So this paper can also serve as a comprehensive summary of the relevant studies which comprise, for example Cle ´ment & Gardner, 2001;... Hence, instead of restating what has already been very well described in the articles and journals selected for the anthology, I have tried to evaluate the answers to the question under study from various standpoints, highlighting their importance and trying to establish the connections with other approaches to the problem. In trying to understand the acquisition of L2 as a language we need to see it not just as a subject, but as a deeply social and cultural event; and that’s what makes language learning different from other academic subjects. The elements of language learning as a subject include the understanding of lexical terms, vocabulary and grammatical rules; whereas it is also socially bound requiring the language learner to integrate several elements of the culture of the second language (Gardner, 1979 and Williams, 1994). L2 motivation researchers have widely supported this approach, which has led to the inclusion of social and cultural dimension in the language lear ning and studies. This has also introduced the concepts of multiculturalism, language globalization, power relations between different cultures and social groups in the study of L2 motivation. This, in fact, also explains why it was the social psychologists who first initiated the researches into L2 motivation. The first comprehensive study of L2 motivated was initiated by Robert Gardner and Wallace Lambert in 1972. They viewed language learning as a means of reconciling differences between different cultures and social groups. According to them, for intercultural communication and association to take place, â€Å"motivation† to learn the language of others is the primary driving

Supernatural in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Macbeth Essay Example for Free

Supernatural in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Macbeth Essay â€Å"The use of the supernatural occurs immediately at the beginning of the play with three witches predicting the fate of Macbeth. The predictions of the witches give the audience a clue to Macbeth’s future† (fieldofthemes.com) Adding a supernatural effect to both the story of â€Å"The Adventure’s Of Huckleberry Finn† by Mark Twain and â€Å"Macbeth† by Shakespeare add an element of suspense and give the reader more to process and think about. In Huckleberry Finn, Jim feels very strongly about his belief in the supernatural. â€Å" Jim said the witches bewitched him and put him in a trance, and rode him all over the State, and then set him under the trees again, and hung his hat on a limb to show who done it.† (Twain, Mark). This adds humor into Huck Finn and a sense of suspense. Although Shakespeare’s â€Å"Macbeth† and Mark Twain’s â€Å"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn† share a common theme involving the Supernatural, Shakespeare’s â€Å"Macbeth† utilizes the theme of the supernatural with greater impact because of the time period, the active supernatural characters, and the predictions that foreshadow the entire play. For example, during the time period of the 1600’s, the belief in the supernatural was a common and exciting thing. â€Å"Elizabethan era citizens believed that certain actions would invite good or bad luck, just as other actions could ward off bad luck.† This belief in the supernatural gave the play Macbeth much more credibility in the fact that it was relatable to the time period. Along with flattering King James by adding in scenes related to him, including supernatural efforts gave Shakespeare an even better reputation. King James â€Å"was Englands greatest witch hunter who was responsible for the deaths of more British witches than any other monarch in the history of England† (bukiska.com) Adding the supernatural elements made Macbeth even more watchable than it would have been without them. The supernatural characters, the witches, are the basis of the storyline in Macbeth. Without the witches predictions, Macbeth would have never become King or kill any of the people he ended up killing. These predictions foreshadowed the entire play and set up the basis of the storyline. The witches created a creepy and eerie feel to the story.

Effect of Social Responsibility on Organisation Productivity

Effect of Social Responsibility on Organisation Productivity Can social responsibilities effect the productivity of organisations in the Hospitality and catering Public thinking and opinion are the contents of the crucible from which the social fabric of a community, town, region, nation and international community are borne. The very nature of this arena (social consciousness), is an on-going evolutionary process which is reflective of the era one chooses to examine. Within the European Union legislation in varied areas has been enacted to improve the overall quality of services delivered to the public at large as well as for the benefit of workers. And while the United Kingdom is not a member of this body, the reforms, legislation and policies enacted become known and thus places the government under social pressure to enact changes in response to the overall public welfare. The progressive foundation of the United Kingdoms social policies provides a climate whereby the public expects that government stay abreast of new socially oriented developments as they develop and with such progress comes cost. The cost of enacting and overseeing same is borne by either the government, which translates is its people, and or by business. Sometimes referred to as the welfare state the United Kingdom has demonstrated historically demonstrated sensitivity to social issues and reform and this underlying foundation is comprised of three key elements which; Guarantees a set of minimum standards which includes a minimum income Provides for social protection And that services will be carried out in the best possible manner. The social welfare consciousness in the United Kingdom is extensive in terms of its embracing a broad spectrum of initiatives, thus private enterprises are bound by regulations and laws in keeping with this responsibility as established by the public trust. Those organizations that engage in extensive contact or service to the public and are particularly scrutinized and susceptible to implementation of both required (meaning legalized or regulated social policy mandates) and generally accepted norms of behaviour as well as conduct, and rightly so. Such public mandates carry with them implementation as well as ongoing maintenance costs which can manifest themselves in wage, compliance, training as well as standards in delivering and providing services. Such is the cost to the government, its populace and businesses to live in an environment which is in keeping with and reflects our modern society. These standards are particularly important when industry directly services the public as the impact of said services is immediate and on a mass scale. Given the relatively high content of labour intensity in the hospitality and catering industries, regulated or legislated changes can result in additional costs and thus reduce productivity as a result. New legislation which has been enacted for the hospitality and catering sector as à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦essential regulatory guidanceà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ with such having an effect that it encompasses some 1,500 pages of information. The sheer volume of this data can be overwhelming to an industry sector which is primarily composed (80%) of small sized firms (SMEs) employing 10 or fewer people. The new legislation sets standards in wages, the workplace, food preparation mandates, equipment and facility requirements which are in the publics interest as well as its employees which is the social responsibility of both the government and the industry sector (hospitality and catering), with the cost in time, expense, upgrades, modifications and compliance resulting in net expenditures that affect bottom line performance. Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1 Historical Social Climate The centralized governmental structure that is utilized in the United Kingdom nationalizes a social implementation process that can be traced back to the Poor Laws. These reforms, the first of which was enacted in 1598 and which drew to an end in 1958, started with; 1. the establishment of a poor rate foundation (meaning the level which established this as a social phenomenon), 2. utilization of overseers to administer relief, 3. and provisions designed to put the poor to work The Poor Laws were replaced by the passage of the; 1. 1946 National Insurance Act, which ushered in the foundations for social security 2. 1946 National Health Service Act 3. 1948 National Assistance Act that eliminated the Poor Law 4. and the 1948 Children Act The preceding developments effectively placed the countrys social policy on the path that defines its present day terms. The manner in which social policy is viewed in Europe, and its influence on the United Kingdom is an important variable in understanding why consistent changes and modifications to existing regulations, legislation and laws is necessary to keep pace with progressive developments that are in the interest of all concerned (government, citizens and the business community). This mood and historical climate help to shape the psychological parameters that act upon this area. Anderson (1983) has postulated that the social bond of deep horizontal comradeship is a key foundational element in nationalism and the corresponding socio-psychological ideology. Connor (1993) adds that the idea of nation is an emotional process and in global terms it forms an aspect of an individuals identity. The devastation in Europe that was a result of World War II created the social climate for welfares which was adopted as foundation for social policy in many European countries, including the United Kingdom. The mass scale of fragmentation as a result of refugees, displaced persons, the destruction of towns cities and the breach of national security created what leaders termed a lack of social cohesion which needed to be reinforced to provide the populace with the belief that circumstances would indeed improve as a result of policies and programs being put into place. To make this work, leaders believed that the establishment of a base level of political and economic provisions for citizens would provide assurances of the foregoing. In order to implement such policies they had to be introduced on a national level through institutions and agencies that needed to be created to administer a uniform code of social and financial services. The preceding was a major factor in why social policy in Europe is more liberalized and generous than in the United States. World War II also resulted in an elimination and or erosion of historical European monarchies and the formation of constitutional frameworks reflective of20th century thinking. The foregoing historical, political, economic and social variables are the key components blended into the European term which is the called the welfare state. The British Labour Party platform after winning the election in 1945 stated Jobs for all along with Social insurance against the rainy dayà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ and included plans to attain said goals. The victory by the Labour Party was unforeseen and helped to establish a tone not only in Great Britain, but the rest of Europe as the publics vote heralded the beginnings of heightened social consciousness. 1.2 Sector Ramifications Hospitality and Catering The preceding understanding of the United Kingdoms social fabric is important in equating the recent legislation affecting the hospitality and catering sector. Both sectors are highly dependent on labor and as a result any new regulations or legislation have a deeper impact due to the labour dependant composition that characterizes its makeup. Said changes must not only be communicated, but overseen as well and these changes cannot be simply written into a software program or changes in assembly line methods, they are by and large done by individuals. Additionally the general low wage composition of this sector for a good percentage of its employees means that additional compliance slows productivity as it is primarily manual in nature. The new legislation is estimated to affect and estimated 81% of the business in this sector Economically the increase of compliance and legislative changes in the service sector as a factor of a countrys GDP decreases the economic growth rate with a corresponding decline in productivity rates due tithe costs involved. The hospitality and catering sectors are within the broader classification termed Travel and Tourism and this industry is projected to become the largest classification globally during 2005. As such the major issue facing the hospitality and catering sector is increasing productivity so that it will affect the profitability of operations. With this industry sector (hospitality and catering)representing an estimated 1 out of 12.4 jobs throughout all industry classifications the implications of increased productivity represents sizeable gain in economic strength and the corresponding effect upend (Gross Domestic Product). The composition of the companies within this industry (hospitality and catering) forms a critical component in equating the influence of social responsibility and the resultant impact on productivity as a result of expenditures to comply. It is important to understand that fully 94% of the 2.7 SMEs within the travel and tourism sector are comprised of what is termed micro-enterprises that employ less than ten (10) individuals, and 94% of this total represents approximately fifty present (50%) of the labour force. The newly enacted legislation encompasses social responsibility in that it seeks to standardize not only the delivery of services within this sector, it also benefits the individuals employed therein as well. An examination of the varied factors comprising productivity in the hospitality and catering sector to correlate the effect of social responsibilities requires an understanding of the structural as well as staffing variables within each sector along with any new regulations, laws and or legislation which might act upon bottom line performance. Chapter 2 Methodology 2.1 Gaining a Perspective As the subject of this paper asks the complex question of how social responsibilities act upon productivity, the logical point to first understand is the nature and breathe of where social responsibility emanates from and what it indeed means. The preceding broad context was undertaken to permit the gathering of information on an ad hoc basis rather than utilizing the blinders of preconceived notions or understandings which might not reflect actual circumstances or conditions as they transpired. Research methodology, regardless of personal knowledge, demands that one look at the subject with a clean mental slate in order to maintain objectivity. This means exploring the process from all conceivable angles. As understanding the implications of the foregoing formed the starting point, delving into searches via the internet was determined to be the point of origin from which to gain a perspective. The subject of social responsibility is a fluid rather than static subject. It is based upon the point in time one is looking at as social changes reflect human consciousness and awareness which is consistently evolving. However, it also based upon what preceded it in the past. The area of social responsibility has its roots in the temper and climate of the society it is borne into and how that idea was/is expounded upon. The social bond of deep horizontal comradeship as put forth by Anderson (1983) forms an important base element in the formation of nationalism as well as the corresponding socio-psychological ideology. As the historical significance of all the component parts required background information, secondary research was conducted utilizing Internet search engines to gather data from journals and articles as well as to determine what literature sources (books) to be explored. The nature of the subject is well suited to secondary research ahistorical events held the factual records of the evolution of the social policy process. Secondary research provides the benefit of obtaining detailed facts, dates and information which can be analyzed against the subject matter at hand. And while primary research gathers opinion, viewpoints and information first hand, it is a structured process that requires prior experience with the subject to formulate the basis for questions, interviews and information which form the prevailing view but not necessarily the answer. Following the historical timeline of events in society, the industry sector, government and labour provided the inputs that revealed the sources and underpinnings which contained the answers. While there are varied voluntary aspects and areas that a firm can undertake which qualify as social responsibility said measures would be difficult to equate in terms of their application, use and affect unproductivity. Therefore, the source of any social responsibly issues needed to consist of something that applied on a broad basis and was identifiable as well as fit the parameters. In this instance the source is the legislation adopted by the United Kingdom from the European Union such as the Employment Rights Act 1996) which set forth a broad spectrum of regulations, compliance and rules as well as catering legislation and regulations that have been enacted. Chapter 3 Literature Review 3.1 A Broad Spectrum of Inputs As the United Kingdom is connected by history and geographic location to the European Union, even though it has not become a member, it recognizes the broader implications of keeping in step with the developments, rules and regulations this body enacts. Within this context the United Kingdoms recent legislation affecting the hospitality and catering sectors finds its roots in said organization. Organizations such as: 1. The European Federation of Trade Unions in the Food, Agriculture and Tourism (EFFAT), and 2. HOTREC (Hotels, Restaurant and Cafes in Europe, were two contributors to the EU Commission from which the broad compendium of laws, rules, regulations and policy was adopted. The following summarizes those organizations: 1. The European Federation of Trade Unions in the Food, Agriculture and Tourism (EFFAT) This organization is a federation that represents 120 trade unions throughout Europe in 35 countries (European Union and non-European Union nations). With a membership roster in excess of 2,600,000 it utilizes their input and consensus to investigate and formulate policies in a multitude of areas. EFFATs policy statement mentions that the organization is committed to sustainable development in areas such as pollution, drinking water quality and availability as well as ecological problems through dialogue and cooperation and recommendations. The organization is also cognizant of migration and immigration issues in the industries it represents and how these types of individuals form a good portion of the labour pool for the sectors it represents, thus indicating the need for effective training techniques and the associated laws and regulations to protect the interests of these groups as well as turning them into productive workers. 2. HOTREC (Hotels, Restaurant and Cafes in Europe) As one would assume the hotel, restaurant, and cafÃÆ' © sectors are governed by strong social laws, externally (for the protection of the public), and internally (for the protection of employees). The extensive numbers of measures (in excess of fifty [50]), has been identified as a source of concern by this organization as these industries are labour intensive that compliance will increase the operating costs and potentially affect employment as well as growth. Milton Friedman explains that since individuals run businesses, the social responsibility of these firms is an outgrowth of the management culture and their understanding as well as identification with the notion of social precepts. Friedman poses the question that the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦first step toward clarity.. entails understanding the context of social responsibility in terms of what it ..implies for whom. Friedman explained the fit of social consciousness in business should not become lost in the complexity as the process is simple, people run enterprises and as individuals they are influenced by society as well as being a part of it. Thus as ones influence and responsibilities increase, so does the need to expand their vision in terms of the effects of that influence and act accordingly. The requirement that individuals thinking terms of the implications and ramifications of the sphere of influence exerted by a company as well as the generation of profits. The reminder and assertion being put forward is that regardless of the profit motive, business has an obligation to other individuals as a result of the humanity of our global community. The acts of labour, government and the industry has shown that the concept of social responsibility is an active component of the hospitality and catering sector as evidenced by the following organizational meetings which included or focused on social responsibility issues as an important part of their agendas; A. World Summit for Social Development, International Labour Organizations Sectorial Activities Programme B. Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms C. Ministerial Conference on Human Rights of the European Social Charter D. International Labour Organizations Sectorial Activities Programme E. Tripartite Meeting on Human Resources Development, Employment and Globalization in the Hotel, Catering and Tourism Sector The following organizations helped to set the framework for the European Commission and are examples of governmental, industry, jaborandi social consciousness which provided the specifics concerning social responsibility and its effects upon productivity, as well as means to harness this in a method which is positive for employers and employees; A. World Summit for Social Development, International Labour Organizations Sectorial Activities Programme The World Summit for Social Development meeting of March 1995 in Copenhagen pledged to reduce poverty, work toward the objective of full employment, and to foster social integration. As a United Nations organization the importance of the influence of this program is obvious, making the issues a global concern via utilization of a formal stage under the aegis of the U. N. The conference convened in Geneva in2000 to review the commitments made in Copenhagen in 1995. The importance of this initiative has moved the sphere of social policy tithe forefront of global attention. B. Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms Organized under the Council of Europe, the name of the Convention explains its origins as well as purpose. As a natural outgrowth, social policies were tabled and have helped to shape the social responsibility concerns which business needs to embrace as part of the broader human community. C. Ministerial Conference on Human Rights of the European Social Charter This Conference put forth an extensive list of employment related social and legal accords which were agreed to by the countries comprising Europeans a foundation for commercial regulations ensuring fundamental as well as progressive social rights. This list forms the underpinning of all social responsibility areas in the public arena and thus sets a standard for social corporate behaviour. The extensive list shall be elaborated on in Chapter 4. D. International Labour Organizations Sectorial Activities Programme As a separate organization devoted to labour issues the International Labour Organization segments its Sectorial Activities Programme into industrial classifications. This organization brings together business, government and people, Tripartite, so that initiatives undertaken have balance due to all entities being represented. The policies implemented by this organization have a binding effect as a result of this tripartite mixture. It actualizes discussion at other levels (meaning organizations and programs), into working realities. E. Tripartite Meeting on Human Resources Development, Employment and Globalization in the Hotel, Catering and Tourism Sector This is the industry Programme specifically devoted to the Tourism classification. The policies and areas identified by these organizations helped to form parts of the European Union enactments which was then adopted by the United Kingdom and subsequently resulted in the 1,500 pages of legislation for the Hospitality and Catering sectors which covers: 1. The Employment Rights Act of 1996 2. Working Time Regulations of 1998 3. Employment Relations Act of 1999 4. Part-Time Workers Regulations of 2000 5. 1990 Food Safety Act and subsequent amendments a. General Product Safety Regulations b. Hygiene Legislation c. Food Control Regulations d. Food Law Guide The extent of the foregoing is so extensive that they shall be discussed under the following section. Chapter 4 Analysis of Data 4.1 Social Responsibility in Modern Society In order to understand the aspect(s) of social responsibilities with regard to their effect on the productivity of firms within the hospitality and catering sector of the travel and tourism industry classification, one must first be cognizant of the broader spectrum from which this emanates, social policies which evolve from public opinion. This is also termed as a social contract which is a term that has been derived from political science and sociology to signify both real as well as hypothetical understandings or agreements within country concerning the rights and responsibilities of citizens as well as the nation. Jean Rousseau (1762) stated that the social contract is an understanding that in order for individuals to live in a society they must agree that in exchange for this society (nation) giving them certain rights such as the right to live, they also must give up certain aspects such as harming others, and that as a result the society (nation) is obligated to administer laws and rights equally as well as fairly. This social contract is a living entity that is modified, amended and adjusted by public opinion that changes the context of laws and regulations as the social consciousness of the society (nation) evolves. The implication of the foregoing is that if individuals demand and require more rights these rights carry with them the caveat that the individuals within said society (nation) also must agree to and take on more responsibilities and the nature and weight of these responsibilities increase with more rights. Simply stated, more rights mean more responsibilities and less responsibility mean fewer rights. The prior statement has been utilized to provide a foundational point of understanding to illustrate that social responsibility factors are an outgrowth of said social contract and the process is evolutionary in nature. Individuals within a society become familiar with the implications of this contract through the educational process, media, elections, voting and other communication forms. Most of the contents of this contract are understood by high percentage of the population which know that voicing said opinions through activist groups and contacting elected officials is the process by which newer theories and or applications of social practice and behaviour are updated to contemporary terms. As companies and corporations are an inherent part of the societal fabric they are bound by social codes of conduct and behaviour both legislated as well as those that are considered part of progressive thinking and behaviour. Governmental reforms and acceptance on an official basis of new theories, understandings and precepts of social conduct and responsibility is necessarily a slow process because it must weigh and consider the ramifications of each aspect and how this affects existing and accepted social norms, as well as the negative impacts and how such affect all aspects of the social fabric. This simplified summary explanation is neither in defence of or a comment on government reaction to new inputs. Not all forms or aspects of this social contract(understandings) are formalized, meaning being a part of laws or regulations, they can tend to be rules of accepted conduct or progressive thinking (and living) which become an expected part of these progressive circles. 4.2. UK Legislation As stated by Bob Cotton, Chief Executive of the British Hospitality Association, the number of the regulations enacted by the United Kingdom covering the hospitality and catering sectors, some 1,500pages, represents a compliance maze has become a time, cost and administrative burden for an industry primarily comprised of smaller firms. He indicated that even with amendments to reduce the total number it would still à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦impose new cost burdens which are just as onerous. The European Laws introduced since 1997 under this and other legislations has increased the compliance and administrative cost to businesses by 46% (currently  £30 billion), in what the Derby Council calls à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦red tapeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ A survey by the British Chambers of Commerce has stated that the laws covering the protection of data, maternity as well as paternity leaves and other areas are costing businesses billions of pounds, and in a study conducted by the Burdens Barometers this figure was calculated as being in excess of  £10 billion since being put into effect in 1999. In all the total bill for areas indicated as red tape have been estimated as adding  £9 billion in costs just in 2003.The following will summarize the extensive nature of the preceding: 1. The Employment Rights Act of 1996 Consisting of 245 segments under Chapter 18 the Act sets forth Employment Particulars which are the foundation for a broad number of areas affecting the hospitality and catering sectors within the context of this paper. This Act also forms the framework for the Working Time Regulations of 1998which contains a number of amendments that represent part of the new legislation. Some highlights of this Act are: a. Employment Particulars b. Protection of Wages c. Guarantee Payments d. Sunday Working for Shop and Betting Workers e. Protection from Suffering Detriment in Employment f. Time Off Work g. Suspension from Work h. Maternity Rights I. Termination of Employment j. Right not to be Unfairly Dismissed k. Remedies for Unfair Dismissal 2. Working Time Directive The additional paperwork, regulations, new benefits and associated measures comprising the amendment to the Working Time Directive which specifies minimums for health and safety under Article 2 of Directive89/391/EEC and Article 17. The Directive amendment sets forth provisions for the following in the private and public sectors: a. rest period minimums for a days, weeks and annual vacation as well as break periods, maximum weekly hours b. aspects covering certain areas concerning night shifts, shifts and work patterns. The following sets forth provisions under the preceding sections: a. Minimum Rest Periods: 1). Article 3 Daily rest Specified as a minimum daily period of rest between working periods of 11 hours 2). Article 4 Breaks Specifies that when the shift exceeds six hours each employee is entitled to a rest break as specified and laid out in collective agreements 3). Article 5 Weekly rest period During a seven-day period each worker is entitled to the indicated11-hour daily rest and a minimum 24-hour rest period which is specified as Sunday 4). Maximum weekly working time This is subject to the prevailing country law and the total working time for the seven day period shall not exceed 48 hours (in the United Kingdom), which includes overtime b. Night Work Shifts and Patterns of Work 1). Workers on the night shift are to receive a health assessment free of charge prior to being assigned and any worker who is determined to have a health problem that is diagnosed as connected to night work shall be transferred as soon as possible to day work shifts 2). The indicated health assessment must conform to medical terms of confidentiality 3). Employers compliance with the indicated health assessment can be performed via the national health system c. Night work guarantees Certain night worker categories shall receive guarantees as specified by legislation of that country concerning risks at work to their health and or safety 1). Article 11 Notification concerning the regular utilization of night employees health and safety protection If so requested by authorized agencies and or individuals information concerning night workers shall be provided by the company 2). Article 12 Pattern of work Countries shall see that regulations are in place to guide employers in setting procedures for night employees that minimize repetitive patterns and set a rate that provides safety and health specifications 3). Article 13 Safety and health protection Countries shall see that night employees as well as shift employees have the appropriate safety and health protection applicable to the work being performed The preceding are provisions that are applicable in this instance for the hospitality and catering sector concerning social responsibility aspects whereby costs are incurred as a result of their enactment. The Employment Relations Act of 1999 sets forth those provisions that are cost additives for businesses under social responsibility: a. Maternity and Parental Leave 1999 Maternity leave is granted to employees who meet certain criteria and conditions: 1).That said employee notify the employer of the maternity leave period 21days prior to the date said leave shall commence as long as she has notified the employer of said pregnancy, the expected day of delivery and the date of maternity leave commencement. 2). Said employee shall provide the employer with documentation on said pregnancy from a licensed medical practitioner, or midwife and that such be in writing if so directed. That the employer shall allow foresaid maternity leave be at least 18 weeks. The cost additive under social responsibility in this instance is that said provision applies to all workers. In the past part time workers were not entitled and thus their return to their positions was subject to the discretion of the employer and not a right. 3). Parental Leave If an employee has been with the firm on a continual basis for a period of not less than 1 year and has direct legal responsibility for amino, then said employee shall be entitled to 13 weeks parental leave(not consecutive) and shall not lose their job as a result. a. Time off for domestic incidents Employees are entitled to paid time off for domestic incidents as set forth in collective agreements. b. Part-Time Worker Regulations of 2000 Under this provision part-time workers shall be paid at the same rates full time employees for comparable work and shall also be paid for overtime under the same understanding. The seasonal as well as temporary workers within the hospitality and catering sectors are benefited by the Act, however employers who formerly utilized this category as a justification to pay lower wages now have this as a cost additive. Part-time workers are entitled to the same coverage and other provisions of full time workers on a pro-rata basis. c. 1990 Food Safety Act and subsequent amendments The importance of regulating and ensuring the public safety is a function of government and the Food Safety Act of 1990 was enacted

Students with Learning Disabilities and the Inclusive Classroom Essay

All teachers dream of the classroom filled with fifteen tranquil, enthusiastic students, all with their note books out and pencils prompt for note taking. This is the classroom where everyone works together, at the same pace, and without any interruptions or distractions. This is the ideal classroom setting. The only problem with this picture is that it does not exist. Students are all different. Kids all learn different ways, and at varying paces. Both Physical and Learning Disabilities can hinder a child’s learning speed and hold them back from the rest of the class. It can be very difficult to identify a child with a learning disability because students can often be misunderstood and labeled as unmotivated and lazy. These students are often ignored and not given enough individual attention, and therefore they experience difficulty and frustration all throughout their education. Teaching students with learning disabilities takes a knowledgeable and understanding teache r and often requires adaptation of the curriculum. The education of these students often needs so much â€Å"constant attention and fine tuning if they are to succeed,† (Mather, 3) that they hold the rest of the class back. It is these cases that students should seek an adaptive classroom program and individual attention to work on their problematic areas. The bottom line is these students cannot be allowed to fall through the cracks of our educational system. They need positive reinforcement and individual attention so that they are confident in class and productive when they do their work. The spectrum of learning disabilities is huge, and because there are so many varying degrees of these diseases all children respond differently to them. It take... ... Perceptions of a First-Year Teacher.† The Journal of Special Education. 33.2 (2001): 92-99.    Hardin, Brent and Hardin, Marie. â€Å"Into the Mainstream: Practical Strategies for Teaching in Inclusive Environments.† The Clearing House. 75.4 (2002): 175.    Mather, Nancy and Goldstein, Sam. Learning Disabilities and Challenging Behaviors. Paul H. Brooks Publishing Company, Baltimore, MD. 2001.    â€Å"Teaching Children with Attention Deficit Disorder.† Kid Source Online, www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content2/add.html (5 October 2003).    *Wallace, Gerald. Teaching Children with Learning Problems. Charles E. Merrill Publishing Co. Columbus, OH. 1973.    Wedell, Klaus. â€Å"All Teachers Should be teachers for Special Needs – But is it Possible?† British Journal of Special Education. 29.3 (2002): 151.    * Works used but not cited

Pyramids Of Egypt :: essays research papers

The Pyramids of Egypt   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The pyramids of Egypt are fascinating, however, they remain to be a mystery. The well-built architecture is located in Giza, Egypt, on the west bank of the Nile River. The pyramids of Egypt are the oldest and only surviving member of ancient wonders. It is also the pride and one of the most important factors in Egyptian culture.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Although the precise age of the pyramids has long been debated, and there is little evidence to prove when the pyramids were built, some assume that they were built from about 2700 to 2500 BC. Another issue that has been long debated is who exactly built the pyramids. Some researchers find it hard to believe that the pyramids could have been built in one pharaoh’s lifetime. Herodotus is the earliest known historian of the Egyptian Pyramid Age. By his accounts, and estimated guess, more than 100,000 people worked on the pyramid; other researchers believe that it was more like 20,000 people who worked on the pyramid. Now they have to try and figure out where these 20,000 people lived. They would like to know where they lived because the researchers think that it will help them find out more about these people, where they are from, and their daily lives. Inscriptions were found on the outside of the pyramids that give an idea of what people worked on them, but the inscriptions were in no absolute detail. Skeletons that were found on the inside of the pyramid are believed to be the skeletons of workers who labored on the pyramids all year long.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Of all the pyramids of Egypt, the first three are held in the highest regards. This is known as the Great Pyramid. It was built for the Pharaoh Khufu. The Great Pyramid is about 450 feet tall and covers about 13 acres. The subject of this pyramid was to honor the pharaoh and show him some respect. It took about 100,000 workers and 20 years to build the pyramid.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is believed that the shape of the pyramid was an important religious statement. Some scholars believe that this is true while others still debate the possibilities. We can assume that the Egyptians were trying to symbolize the slanting rays of the sun. It is also believed that the sloping sides on the pyramid were intended to help the soul of the king climb to the sky and join the gods.

Glen Canyon Dam :: Debate Lake Powell Papers

Glen Canyon Dam This extended essay will analyze the rhetoric of authors discussing the Glen Canyon Dam. These authors include: Jeff Rubin (The Place No One Knew), John McPhee (Encounters with the Archdruid), Russell Martin (A story that stands like a dam: Glen Canyon and the struggle for the soul of the West), and Jared Farmer (Glen Canyon dammed: inventing Lake Powell and the Canyon country). There are always two sides to an argument, one for one against. All seven authors write of the Glen Canyon Dam, and the controversy surrounding the draining of Lake Powell. All of the authors do not actually want the dam to be taken down. Each author talks about what was destroyed by filling Glen Canyon up. They all recognize that Glen Canyon can not be saved, but another dam can be prevented from happening again somewhere else. A pamphlet handed out at the visitor’s center of Glen Canyon Dam states: â€Å"The mission of the Bureau of Reclamation is to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public† (Glen Canyon Dam) This statement ensures the reader that the dam was built â€Å"for the people† doing this without stating any facts that prove the statement. This statement also does not state why the U.S. government built Glen Canyon dam. This pamphlet wants to educate people as to the uses of Glen Canyon. The dangers and the fun that can be had on the lake that was made by the Glen Canyon Dam. â€Å"Some of the shoreline around Lake Powell is loose and can slip and fall†. (Glen canyon Dam) warning the public as to what to watch for. The pamphlet goes on to say; â€Å"Dangerous sections of Lake Powell’s shoreline are too numerous to mark and can appear quickly after a change in the water level or after rainy weather†. (Glen Canyon Dam) The author is saying that not every dangerous area can be marked. By writing this the author is ensuring safety against lawsuits. In Glen Canyon Dammed: Inventing Lake Powell and the Canyon Country, Jared Farmer agrees with the draining of Lake Powell. Farmer goes on to write, â€Å"Consider the river that flows through Grand Canyon: it’s not the real thing. It’s the programmed discharge from Glen Canyon Dam†. (Farmer pg. XIII) In this statement Farmer is saying that he does agree with the dam coming down, although saying that people have their own opinions.

The Cornerstone of Christian Faith: the Resurrection of Jesus

The resurrection of Jesus Christ separates Christianity from all other religions. Christianity without the literal, physical resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is merely one religion among many. â€Å"And if Christ is not risen,† said the Apostle Paul, â€Å"then our preaching is empty and your faith is in vain†. (1 Corinthians 15:14) Furthermore, â€Å"You are still in your sins! † Paul could not have chosen stronger language. (Mohler) Still, the resurrection of Jesus Christ has been under persistent attacks since the Apostolic age. Why? Because it is the central confirmation of Jesus' identity as the incarnate Son of God, and the ultimate sign of Christ's completed work of atonement, redemption, reconciliation, and salvation. Those who oppose Christ recognize the Resurrection as the vindication of Christ against His enemies. Christ’s resurrection is the cornerstone of our faith. Without it, Christianity crumbles. It is precisely because the physical resurrection of Christ is at the very heart of Christianity that it is constantly under attack. Our culture frequently denies the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ due to a bias against miracles. It is common for aberrant Christianity and cultism to deny the physical resurrection of Christ as well. For these reasons, we must be equipped to defend this essential of essentials. To do so, let's look back at the biblical and historical records of Christ's resurrection. (Hanegraaff) First, the physical resurrection of Christ is affirmed in the Scripture. When the Jewish leaders asked for a miraculous sign, Jesus answered, â€Å"Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days† (John 2:19). Scripture confirms that the temple he was speaking of was the temple of his own body. John states: â€Å"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched — this we proclaim concerning the Word of Life† (1 John 1:1). Furthermore, the confessions of Christianity are replete with references to the physical resurrection of the Redeemer. Cyril of Jerusalem proclaimed, â€Å"Let no heretic ever persuade thee to speak evil of the Resurrection. For to this day the Manichees say that the resurrection of the Savior was phantom-wise, and not real. (Hanegraaff) Like the church fathers, the medieval church and the Reformation produced compelling confessions concerning the bodily resurrection. Thomas Aquinas condemns those who â€Å"have not believed in the resurrection of the body, and have strained to twist the words of holy Scripture to mean a spiritual resurrection. † the Westminster Confession assert: â€Å"On the third day he rose from the dead, with the same bod y in which he suffered; with which also he ascended into heaven, and there sittith at the right hand of the Father. (Hanegraaff) Finally, the characteristics of Christ's body bear eloquent truth to his physical resurrection. Jesus invited the disciples to examine His resurrected His resurrected body so that they would know beyond the shadow of a doubt that it was the exact same one that had been fatally tormented. He also ate food as proof of the nature of His resurrected body. Jesus provided the final exclamation mark for His physical resurrection by telling the disciples that His resurrected body was comprised of â€Å"flesh and bones. † â€Å"Touch me and see;† He says, â€Å"a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have† (Luke 24:39). Those who would attack the Church and reject its gospel must direct their arrows at the most crucial truth claim of the New Testament and the disciples: That Jesus Christ, having suffered death on a cross, though sinless, having borne the sins of those He came to save, having been buried in a sealed and guarded grave, was raised by the power of God on the third day. The two factors about the resurrection which are very significant for the Christian faith are as follows; †¢It became the fruits for the believer’s own experience. As Christ rose from the grave so shall the believer be. This shows the triumph of faith over the grave. †¢It is by the resurrection that the divine approval is shown for the work of Christ on the cross. The resurrection is the coping stone of the whole ministry of Jesus. In conclusion and simply stated, Christianity stands or falls with the empty grave. If Christ is not raised, our faith is in vain. Paul asserted that Christ rose from the dead and our faith is not in vain, but is in the risen Lord. Jesus willingly faced death on a cross and defeated death from the grave. The Resurrection is the ultimate sign of God's vindication of His Son. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the promise of our resurrection from the dead, and of Christ's total victory over sin and death. Therefore, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is at the very center of the Christian gospel. Bibliography Hanegraaff, Hank. â€Å"Jesus Christ's Resurrection: The Exclamation Point. † 03 March 2008. Crosswalk. com. 08 October 2011 . Mohler, Albert. Christianity. com. Unknown. 07 October 2011 . The NIV Study Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1995.

Columbine Book Report (1-100)

Columbine by Dave Cullen (pages 1-100) I. Summary Columbine High School (CHS) is a suburban public school located in Jefferson County, Colorado. Frank DeAngelis, a middle aged man who had previously coached football and baseball for sixteen years at Columbine, was the principal of the close-knit high school. He was loved by his students and admired by his staff for his ability to address his students as mature adults. The student body looked up to him and appreciated his truthfulness and lack of sugarcoating when serious topics were being discussed.Three days before prom an assembly was called to strengthen the awareness of the dangers of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Instead of just lecturing the students Mr. DeAngelis used his own life experiences to teach and guide the students along the safe paths that still allowed for occasional goofing off. The author, Dave Cullen, then jerks the focus of the book to the teenage boys who would later kill twelve students, one teacher, and severely wound twenty-three of their peers.Eric Harris and Dlyan Klebold were the typical high school students, albeit they had some distinctive quirks that set them aside from the rest of their peers. Eric Harris was a psychopath; this fact allowed him to commit a terrible crime without feeling empathy or remorse for his victims. However, on the outside he was anything but antisocial (or criminal). Eric smoke, drank, dated—all within a close circle of friends. Yet, he was excellent at manipulation. His lies were so finely tuned that even his ex-military father suspected nothing. Eric received a slew of A’s from his teachers; every single one of them considered him a â€Å"good kid†.No one ever suspected that anything as devastating or horrifying could erupt from such a well-rounded kid from a nice family. This is why Dave Cullen’s description of Dylan Klebold who â€Å"tried extremely hard to emulate Eric† was not mistaken. Although Dylan was considerably smarter than Eric, Eric seemed to have a hold on Dylan’s authentically shy demeanor. Dylan, being more self-conscious, latched onto Eric’s strong personality that radiated confidence. Moreover, Dylan was suicidally depressed, which left him vulnerable to Eric’s manipulative ways. II. AnalysisUnderstanding who the perpetrators were behind the Columbine shooting continues to be the most compelling theme dictated throughout the entirety of the first one hundred pages of Dave Cullen’s masterpiece Columbine. Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold were both unbelievably smart teens who had shared an impossible friendship held together by a mutual dislike of society. Although sharing this bond, by no means were they alike—which is why their association with each other astounds investigators to this day. Neither of the boys came from broken families or had diagnosed issues that could have raised a red flag to anyone paying close enough attent ion.Eric had a small police record for blowing up illegal fireworks, but that was the extent of his â€Å"criminal† records. Dylan was even less on the (philosophical) radar. He was naturally quiet, yet more aware of his surroundings. If Dylan had not known Eric, it is guaranteed that the damage he did would only be to himself. Dylan never would have taken the lives of other people if he had succeeded in taking his own life first. This is thoroughly discussed by the author for a significant amount of each chapter. Eric’s initial influence on Dylan drastically increases when they start making plans for the massacre.The now copious amounts of time the boys spent together deepened the influence they had on each other, but Dylan seemed overwhelmed throughout the entirety of the author’s writing. Dylan’s clothing style, taste in music, taste in girls, and his general interests appeared to mirror Eric’s as progression through the hundred page section was made. Dylan inevitably lost what little he had of his individuality. III. Personal Opinion I am thoroughly enjoying Dave Cullen’s Columbine. This book took ten years to write; I completely understand why he waited and appreciate the time he took to methodically research the Columbine Massacre.The way Cullen embeds his research into a fast paced storyline is flawless and it continues to inspire me to learn and use the same technique. By clearly writing â€Å"But nothing separated the boys’ personalities like a run-in with authority. Dylan would be hyperventilating, Eric calmly calculating. Eric’s cool head steered them clear of most trouble†¦Ã¢â‚¬ , Cullen clearly illustrates subtle personality differences in a way that also depicts what kind of lives they led. I'm not saying that run-ins with the police happened frequently (it’s actually quite on the contrary), however the clarity is refreshing.A reader can move along without tripping over words t hat are weakly juxtaposed together. One aspect of Dave Cullen’s writing intrigues me more than anything. The way he smoothly transitions between the past and present allows for careful plot lines to thoroughly develop into an interesting piece of careful, intelligent research that includes incredible diction. In a passage on page nineteen Cullen writes â€Å"Most nights included an open-mike period, where you could watch an aging drunk strum ‘Stairway to Heaven,’ segue into the Gilligan’s Island theme, and forget the words. , Cullen’s dry tone brings humor to the carefully written sentence. IV. Quote Response â€Å"Eric was always a dreamer, but he liked them ugly: bleak and morose, yet boring as hell. He saw beauty in the void. Eric dreamed of a world where nothing ever happened. A world where the rest of us had been removed†¦. Anger turned inwards equals depression. Dylan Klebold was not a man of action. He was conscripted by a boy who was. † (page 45) This quote accurately describes each of the boys’ personalities in a simple yet dignified way.Analyzing the boys themselves becomes easier when you have a glimpse into their psyche. Part of Cullen’s research actually included reading journals written by Eric and Dylan, so theories that are drawn or compiled by Cullen are that much more reliable. Although these are still opinions there is hard evidence that this quote developed from, which is why it is the most important quote within the first one hundred pages. Knowledge that Eric was considered â€Å"a dreamer† is particularly helpful to the reader.Habitually being in your own world (head) leads to some level of development of an antisocial demeanor, however Eric was anything but antisocial. This is an interesting variable that further complicates the question of Why?. Conversely, Dylan was shy and not as confident. Cullen does not state this in the quote specifically. When Cullen writes Dyla n â€Å"was conscripted by a boy who was†, the interpretation is partly left to the reader’s understanding of the phrase â€Å"a boy who was†. Dylan was just there; no purpose or goal, he just was†¦.

Letter to Client Advising on the Tax Impact of Sale of Property by Installments

I would like to bring to your attention the tax ramifications of your expressed consideration to sell your estate to us. But before I can do that, I consider it very essential for you to understand how ABC Trusts work. This will require initial knowledge of how the more common AB Trusts work. AB Trust: An AB Trust offers creditor, lawsuit, divorce and bankruptcy protection for the surviving spouse in addition to similar protection for ones heirs when they take charge of their inheritances. The death of the first spouse makes the Living Trust be divided into two distinct Trusts. Trust A is held in the name of the living spouse while trust be is in the name of the deceased spouse. Both the two trusts are meant to be for the benefit of the surviving as long as they are alive, but in the end the assets will go to the spouses’ heirs. The surviving spouse, to a pre-agreed and stipulated level, controls Trust B though it belongs to the beneficiaries named in the Trust. All the assets and properties in Trust B pass to the originally stated beneficiaries upon the death of the surving spouse. The properties and assets in Trust B are considered not to be the surving spouse’s property and for that reason they are usually not subject to tax. ABC Trust: An ABC Trust has clauses that direct the trustee the revocable Living Trust, upon the occurrence of the first spouse’s death, to divide the Trust into three distinct and separate Trusts as opposed to two in an AB Trust. This has the effect of providing a even greater protection from creditors for the living spouse. Just as is the case with AB Trust, the A Trust is a revocable Living Trust for the living spouse. The Band C Trusts are irrevocable and are usually meant to benefit the surviving spouse while they are alive, but the assets in both Trusts eventually transfer to the deceased’s heirs on passing on of the surving spouse. Currently, $3. 5 million is the tax exempt amount per individual and $7million for a couple. Trust C holds any overflow over and above the $7million for couples, and this is contrary to AB Trust where the overflows of Income go to Trust A. This extends the creditor, bankruptcy, divorce and lawsuit protection to the surviving spouse in addition to the same protection offered to heirs, if they wish so. Taxation of installment sales In certain situations the installment sale of property method allows a sale of property without requiring the seller to recognize and report gains made on the property until the actual receipt of the payment. The rules that govern installment sales are well laid down. In addition the gain deferral achieved though installment sale treatment, in particular circumstances, and enables the transferor to spread gain over the period of payment of installments depending on the proportion the gross profit on sale carries to the price of the contract. If the seller and the buyer make an agreement to specifically allocate installments, then tax deferrals can be maximized. The rule for eligibility for installment sale treatment, the seller must receive not less than one payment after the end of year of tax in which the sale occurs . However, there are a number of ineligible transactions, which include among others transactions where the overall sale results into a loss and where transaction involves sale of inventory. Generally speaking, the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 (TRA '97) had the impact of reducing the maximum capital gains rate to twenty per cent. However, some other changes have been made to the taxation of gains on depreciable real property. Complexities have often arose in administration of these new provisions to depreciable real estate sold subject. This however is of little concern for you because your property is non-depreciable. Considering the facts regarding the matter as laid down above, I am pleased to inform you that your effort of reducing the amount of tax that would be due as gain on sale is likely to succeed because the sale will be done at market value thus no losses shall be realized on the sale, in addition to the fact that the property is not an inventory. Furthermore, the tax will de deferred to the beneficiaries of your estate and thus will likely be spread and shared among several beneficiaries and thus the tax burden will be spread among several shoulders as well. The fact that your estate is held in an ABC Trust is even good news because the level of protection provided to the estate, as well as the beneficiaries if they so wish, against lawsuits and creditors after the grantor passes is significantly high. I therefore strongly recommend that you go ahead with the sale as you stand to gain a lot in from such a sale.

Mang Inasal Essay

I. Executive summary Mang Inasal is a locally owned fast food restaurant in the Philippines that will be soon, positioned as an international franchise through our creative approach to the company’s image and detail presentation. Mang Inasal will provide a combination of excellent food at value pricing, with fun packaging and atmosphere. Mang Inasal is the answer to an increasing demand for BBQ’ed fast food, to be consumed while having quality time with your friends or family in the shopping mall. In today’s highly competitive environment, it is becoming increasingly difficult to differentiate one fast food outlet from another due to its variety of product line and services. Dubai, a city state, is now becoming the model metropolis in the Middle East’s new economic boom. With more than a total population of 2.106 million (2013), mainly from neighboring countries (Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines), Dubai’s import in meat, vegetables and so on in its sector is the strongest in the region. Our main priority is to establish one fast food restaurant in a crowded mall, preferably in one of prominent shopping malls in Dubai. Later, our effort will be a further development in our service and product line in the surrounding area. This plan is prepared to obtain a location for the initial launch of this concept. Additional financing will need to be secured for the fast food restaurant. The financing, in addition to the capital contributions from shareholders, will allow Mang Inasal to successfully open and expand. The initial capital investment will allow Mang Inasal to provide its customers with a value-driven, entertaining experience through the creativity of its founders. Mang Inasal will entice the diverse culture to bring their friends and family with our innovative environment, fresh-cut Chickens, and selection of unique signature sauces. II. Business overview A. Business profile History Mang Inasal (Ilonggo term for Mr. Barbecue), the Philippines fastest growing barbecue fast food chain; serving chicken inasal, pork barbeque and other Filipino favorites, was first established on December 12, 2003 in  Iloilo City by businessman Edgar Sia II. Apart from the usual food presentations of multinational food company copycats, Mang Inasal endeavors to adhere to elements that bear a distinctively Pinoy stamp-grilling with charcoal, rice wrapped in banana leaves, a marinade concocted out of local spices and herbs, bamboo sticks for skewers, and the ambience that encourage skinamot (Ilonggo term in eating with the hands) whenever chicken inasal is served. In the year 2014, seven marketer’s decided to franchise Mang Inasal . They decided to penetrate the new market in Dubai, with the use of their experiences in the marketing field, they will try to capture the new market of the Middle East to patronage Mang Inasal to the population of Dubai. They will try to use the cultural, economic, political, and technological environment of their market area for their advantage in order for them to achieve their objectives and goals as a marketeer, with the use of the cultural diversification of the country we marketeers will try to cater this diverse cultured by offering new product lines such as grilled lambs and chicken for Muslims and original mix recipe of Mang Inasal such as pork inasal and chicken inasal for non-Muslim customers. In using our SWOT matrix we will try to consider our strengths and opportunities in gaining new insights, marketing strategies, and programs to adapt and improve our brand equity towards our market. B. Background of the product Mang Inasal is a fast food restaurant chain; its vision is to be the first choice and leading fast food chain everywhere nationwide. Its mission is to provide great tasting products and quality services to our customers with a great pinoy ambience fast food chain nationwide. Develop, motivate and retain employees in providing benefit programs, employment security and good working environment by applying new technologies for better and easy way of serving. Do our best to provide good quality products and services to our franchisees with fairness and integrity. And provide livelihood programs to the community by treating them as our business partners. If you want a great deal to satisfy your enormous appetite, the Mang Inasal Menu is the one to choose from. With the most reasonable prices covering a variety of meals, the Mang Inasal menu will make you feel like a winner! Really, your money’s worth is guaranteed with filling and satisfying meals. Have you ever heard of unlimited items offered by restaurants? Well, the Mang Inasal Menu offers unlimited rice and that’s the best deal a Pinoy can ever want. Eating big servings of chicken and pork is gratifying with cups and cups of rice. Mang Inasal is a Filipino restaurant chain that offers delicious chicken barbecue as the main product. Its recipe is uniquely delicious with big chicken servings marinated, skewered over charcoal and served over banana leaves; it’s a real Pinoy recipe everybody loves. The Mang Inasal Menu is excellent; everything in it is 100% delicious. Mang Inasal has a variety of product line raging from BBQ’ed Chicken legs to Grilled Fish with unlimited rice, and its desserts are the Leche Flan, Toron Split served with a two scope ice cream covered in choco syrup, and the famous Halo-Halo Filipino Styled dessert, served drinks are Sago at Gulaman, Iced tea, Coca cola and hot coffee. It has been one of the most favorite eateries nationwide with over 445 branches and growing, and a staggering 10,000 employees system, it has become famous and profitable for any individual to finance as a business. During Mang Inasal ’s reign in the fast food chain it has consistently growing over the past year finishing in the top 3 in the most visited fast food chain in the Philippines and Edgar Sia aim is to be top two in the Fast food chain industries beating Chowking in it’s position. Below are some menus that Mang Inasal serves to its customers: PABORITO/FAVORITE MEALS (UnliRice) PM1 Chicken Leg w/ Rice Barbecued chicken leg and thigh with unlimited rice PM1.5 Chicken Leg (spicy) w/Rice Barbecued chicken leg and thigh with unlimited rice (in spicy flavor) PM2 Chicken Breast w/ Rice Barbecued chicken breast and wing with unlimited rice PM3 Pork Inasal w/ Rice 3 sticks skewering pork, barbecued in inasal way, unlimited rice PM4 Sizzling Fish w/ Rice Sizzled Bangus fish with unlimited rice PM5 Sizzling Pork w/ Rice Sizzled pork with unlimited rice PM6 Roasted Fish w/ Rice Roasted boneless Bangus with unlimited rice PM7 Grilled Liempo w/Rice Grilled liempo marinated with sweet and spices with unlimited rice Others Bangis Sisig Sizziling Pork Ensaladang Talong SULIT/AFFORDABLE MEALS SM1 1pc Chicken Inasal w/ Rice Chicken Inasal is a grilled chicken dish and one of the well-known Ilonggo dishes with unlimited rice SM2 2pcs Pork Inasal w/ Rice Pork Inasal is a grilled pork dish and one of the well-known Ilonggo dishes with unlimited rice MERIENDA/SNACK MEALS Pansit Bihon/Bijon Pancit Bihon or Pancit Guisado is a Filipino noodle dish and is a staple second to rice. Dinuguan at Puto Cake Pork blood stew, blood pudding stew, chocolate meat served with 3 puto cake DRINKS/Beverages Sago’t Gulaman Sago at gulaman drink is sweet, thirst-quenching and popular during the sizzling summer months. Softdrinks Mang Inasal serves some of the most popular fast food chain such as sprite, coke and royal Iced Tea Freshly brewed each day from a premium blend of tea leaves. Tea is a natural source of protective antioxidants Coffee Mang Inasal serves piping hot brewed coffee for our customers DESSERTS Halo-Halo Halo-halo is a popular Filipino dessert with mixtures of shaved ice and evaporated milk to which are added various boiled sweet beans, jelly and fruits. It is served in a tall glass or bowl. Leche Flan/Creme Caramel Crà ¨me caramel flan or caramel custard is a custard dessert with a layer of soft caramel on top, as opposed tocrà ¨me brà »là ©e, which is custard with a hard caramel top. Turon Split is a dessert made out of banana concealed in a lumpia wrapper With Mang Inasal s variety of product line and with a very high value brand name and profitable institution it can compete with other fast food chain nationwide, but can this ever growing business be used in other countries, can it’s business practices and product lines and system be brought on foreign soil not just to challenge its competitors head on but to prosper as a fast food chain and complete its vision as the leading BBQ fast food chain in the country? Below is an analysis of the environment of where Mang Inasal Branch will prosper, its analysis includes Company analysis, Competitor Analysis, Customer analysis, and Environmental analysis which includes the PEST or Political, Economic, Social or cultural and Technological analysis in which the Franchised Mang Inasal branch will launch. C. Background of the Market The destination of where Mang Inasal will prosper will be in the nation of UAE specifically in Dubai. Why Dubai? Why did choose the country Dubai instead of any other country? Because Dubai is the mecca for growth is the no.1 country in the oil business giving us an advantage in making use of its economic growth? And it stands in having the highest imports in any other UAE capitals in all of the Middle East but above all we choose Dubai for one single purpose. And that purpose is Food. People in Dubai love to eat, and as a fast food chain business that is one great news for us, but what separates us from our competitors’ is the product line that we offer because statistic shows that people in Dubai likes to eat rice since rice is the best side dish when eating meat with sauce or vegetables. The imported food of Dubai consisted mainly of fish, rice, bread, dates, yogurt, homegrown vegetables, and meat from sheep, goats, and camels. And this are most consumed food that people eat in Dubai D. Situational analysis Company Analysis Goals The goal of our company is to be the first choice and leading barbequed fast food chain of everywhere nationwide, and to provide great tasting product and quality services to our customers with the use of different kinds of products we will try to capture the large market in our new market area and cater their culture by offering new product lines that are made from lamb/sheep products. With the use of our marketing expertise we will try to analyze what is our opportunity and threats in our environment to maximize our growth in the fast food industry. Focus Our restaurant focuses on customers who loves to eat food, whose customer classes are mostly class C’s D’s and E’s since the product of Mang Inasal are affordable and cheap, and whose customers that has an active lifestyle in eating, our restaurant’s new product line are specialize in chicken, pork and possibly new product line lamb with unlimited rice to align its food chain culture towards the culture of our target market. Strengths Our strengths as a fast food chain is endorsement, large target market, market leader in barbeque fast food chain, accessibility, and strong commissary system in which case we can utilize these strengths to create new marketing strategies and programs in developing new product and services to offer in our growing and diverse market. Weaknesses Our weakness as a fast food chain is unhealthy food, Filipino culture,  brands under the Mang Inasal , commissary struggle, and lack of research for other countries since Mang Inasal is under Jollibee Corporation McDonalds can consider us as a threat in the market area and that the lack of technology can cause a delay in our R and D in improving our restaurant’s products and services. Customer Analysis Number The total population of Dubai is 2.106 million (2013) Approximately 85% of the expatriate population (and 71% of the emirate’s total population) was Asian (chiefly Indian, Pakistani, Filipino, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan). About 3% of the total population of Dubai was categorized as â€Å"Western†. In addition, 16% of the population (or 288,000 people) lived in collective labor accommodation were not identified by ethnicity or nationality, but were thought to be primarily Asian. Approximately 85% of the expatriate population (and 71% of the emirate’s total population) was Asian (chiefly Indian, Pakistani, Filipino, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan). About 3% of the total population of Dubai was categorized as â€Å"Western†. In addition, 16% of the population (or 288,000 people) lived in collective labor accommodation were not identified by ethnicity or nationality, but were thought to be primarily Asian. Type Our restaurant focuses on the market area of Dubai a fast growing country, whose cultural heritage of the people are both religious and hospitable people, but in Dubai as their culture diversifies and meets new culture that will conflict their own belief, our restaurant will try to manage and use this diverse culture in our favor, such as using the most delectable food of Dubai: Lamb as our new product line. Value Drivers As our value drivers we will use our variety of products and combine some of them to create new promos and products such as free upsize drinks, Pancit bihon/bijon perfect combo, Solve sarap and many more value propositioned products. Decision Process We will use our traditional advertising to let our restaurant be known to the target market, with the use of controlled advertisement of every six months  monitoring to see how customers respond to our billboard, flyers, and TV advertisement but statistic shows that Mang Inasal favorable ways of advertising are through Social media, TV, Events and Experience and Word of mouth. Next is trying to penetrate the new market through the use of discounts and promo’s due to our grand opening in the new target market for the first month, and maintain its standard customers a day and invest in improvement towards the target market. Competitor Analysis Market Position As a threat our competitors has the advantage to be the first known fast food chain in the country such as McDonalds, Burger king, Del Taco, Wendy’s, Hardee’s, KFC and Pizza hut. But what separates our restaurant towards our competitors is the unique product line that we offer, since we offer BBQ’ed and Filipino styled desserts products with the use of the most popular side dish that the food industry can offer which is Rice, we can patronage and capture the market through the use of our product line and cater new product line to adapt to the culture of Dubai. Strengths The strength of our competitor is Cost advantage, strong management, real estate, pricing power, innovative culture. Financial leverage, asset leverage, supply chain, size advantages, economies of scale, cost advantages, unique products, technology. The strength of our competitors can cause major problems in our brand recognition process of our restaurant, since some of our competitors are known brands; it can cause problems in the decision process strategy and in our brand awareness towards our competitors. Weakness The weaknesses of our competitors are Negative publicity, Unhealthy food menu, Job and high employee turnover, and Low differentiation. The weaknesses of our competitors that are mostly towards its employees can be an advantage for our restaurant, in which case we can use this to offer new jobs and programs for our workforce. Collaborators Mang Inasal is currently under Jollibee food corp. who owns 70% of Mang Inasal ’s market share but as a fast food chain Mang Inasal is now currently profitable since the owner of its large market share is the no.1 leading Fast food chain in the Philippines with over thousands of branches both nationally and internationally making it a main player in the Fast food chain industries, with its other fast food subsidiaries such as Greenwich, Red Ribbon, and other businesses. III. Target Market E. Market Segmentation Geographic Segmentation Dubai is located on the Persian Gulf, in the northeast of the United Arab Emirates. Dubai is the second largest emirate with an urban area of 3885 sq. km and the city is roughly 35 sq km. However it will expand to twice that size with the addition of the man-made islands; the Waterfront, the three Palms, the World, the Universe, Dubai land, as well as the construction in the desert. Psychographic Segmentation The UAE culture mainly revolves around the religion of Islam and traditional Arab culture. The influence of Islamic and Arab culture on its architecture, music, attire, cuisine and lifestyle are very prominent as well. Five times every day, Muslims are called to prayer from the minarets of mosques which are scattered around the country. Since 2006, the weekend has been Friday-Saturday, as a compromise between Friday’s holiness to Muslims and the Western weekend of Saturday-Sunday. Behavioral Segmentation Dubai buying behavior: Consumers in the three largest emirates tend to shop more at hypermarkets and frequent the smaller shops and convenience stores for last-minute food needs. In the more distant suburbs and the less-populated areas of the federation, smaller grocery and convenience stores play an important role in food shopping. The number of hypermarkets is increasing steadily with retail chains such as Carrefour, Spinneys and Lulu dominating the big format supermarket trade. These key retailers tend to partner with foreign companies to procure imported food products  directly, while small format grocery retailers rely on consolidated deliveries for replenishing their stock levels. The continued growth in both affluence and the expatriate population has created the need for a diverse range of food products in the UAE the food retail sector has responded by providing a range of foods and ingredients suiting the tastes of the different ethnic groups in the country. Data monitor has evaluated a number of food categories and projected growth at retail in most areas, particularly chilled foods, bakery/cereal products, savory snacks and pasta/noodles. F. Macro Environment PEST ANALYSIS Political and Legal Environment Overview of the Political System of United Arab Emirates: The United Arab Emirates is made up of seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain, Ra’s al- Khaimah and Fujairah. The United Arab Emirates gained its independence from the UK on December 2, 1971. Its constitution was established on independence, and was made permanent in 1996. The form of government can be referred to as a federal presidential elective monarchy, as the president is elected from among the absolute monarchs who rule each of the seven emirates. Economic Environment The UAE, the world’s eighth largest oil producer, maintains a free-market economy with minimal restrictions on private-sector activities, international trade and capital movements. Despite the impact of the global economic downturn, the UAE’s economy has proved to be remarkably resilient. Higher oil prices, increased government spending and a noteworthy resurgence in tourism, transport and trade have contributed to the upswing in the economy. In addition, the successful restructuring of debt owed by high-profile companies, solidarity among the emirates and accommodative monetary and fiscal policies have all played a role in bringing stability to the market. The Economy of Dubai is mostly in the tourist sector and other finances of the country with over 50% of the countries finance is covered and 5% in oil 10% in real-estate, 12% in transportation and communication and 13% manufacturing. Social and Cultural Environment Dubai’s culture is rooted in Arabic and Islamic tradition Dubai is built on foundations that are rich in history and tradition. Dubai is a forward-looking society that is equally bound to its culture and heritage. Dubai has always been renowned for its tolerant outlook; Dubai has built a reputation for being open to new ideas and ways of doing things. This has enabled Dubai to become a global center for innovation, tourism and business. Sophisticated: Dubai is a city with style and charisma. Dubai has successfully fused sophistication with charm. It has redefined the meaning of luxury with its stunning hotels, award-winning restaurants and its position as an international shopping destination. Energetic: Dubai has an aura of vitality and a get-up-and-go spirit. Visitors are struck by the ingrained optimism and spirit of adventure and innovation that permeates through all layers of the community. To a holidaymaker, a business traveler or a resident, Dubai is a place where there is always something exciting to see and do. Embracing: Dubai aims to bring together the best in people Dubai’s success is based on the vision and commitment of its leadership, the generosity and aspirations of its people and the contribution of many people from different parts of the world, many of whom have chosen to make Dubai their permanent home. This creates a blend of many cultures that coexist peacefully. But in a religious country Dubai is a very conservative country having a strict dress code and with a very diverse culture in its social class. Technological Environment Dubai is today recognized as an international trading port. While rapid sophistication of the 21st century technology has changed the face of Dubai from timeless deserts to a thriving economy with strengths in trade, services, manufacturing and technology, Dubai maintains a fine balance of cultural legacy and a modern metropolis. G. SWOT Analysis Strengths Endorsements Large Target Market Market Leader in Barbeque Fast Food Chain Accessibility Strong Commissary System Weaknesses Filipino Culture Unhealthy food Brands under the Mang Inasal Commissary struggles Lack of Research for other countries Opportunities Local Culture and Tradition Cultural Diversity Philippines- Agricultural Nation New Brand Acquisition Urban Development Threats Foreign-owned and Local SME’s Global Financial Crisis Increase in Oil Prices Sanitary Issues Standards/ Health and Safety Political Instability H. SWOT Matrix Strengths 1. Endorsements 2. Large Target Market 3. Market Leader in Barbeque Fast Food Chain 4. Accessibility 5. Efficient Commissary System Weaknesses 1. Filipino Culture 2. Unhealthy food 3. Brands under the Mang Inasal 4. Commissary struggles 5. Lack of Research for other countries Opportunities 1. Local Culture and Tradition 2. Cultural Diversity 3. Brand Acquisition 4. Urban Development 5. Philippines being an Agricultural Nation SO Strategies (S3+05+03) Consider raising their own chickens (S3+S2+04) Expand network of stores to newly developed areas in the country (S3+03) Acquire business in order to penetrate new market WO Strategies (W2+03) Acquire restaurants that serve healthy food and introduce a healthy product line. (W5+02) Intensity research on other countries’ culture in order to cater effective marketing strategy towards customers culture and lifestyle Threats 1. Foreign-owned and Local SME’s 2. Global Financial Crisis 3. Sanitary Standards/ Health and Safety issues 4. Oil Prices 5. Political Instability ST Strategies (S5+T3) Continue adherence to standards and become a benchmark in the government sanitary health standards (S2+S3+T5) Strengthen advertising to reinforce market leadership amidst (S3+T2) Create more affordable meals towards the target market (S1+S3+T1) Intimidate competitors by reinforcing market dominance through the use of specialized BBQ product line WT Strategies (W5+T1) Intensify research on culture and develop marketing strategies to cater diverse market preferences (W2+T1) Can cater new product lines for a new market segment to fill in the gap between healthy foods and unhealthy foods IV. Marketing Strategies 1. Product/Service Strategy For our Product strategy we will use the most common strategy of Mang Inasal which is the Product development strategy – As seen in the analysis of Mang Inasal operations the past years, this strategy has been proven beneficial to the company. With good research and development, Mang Inasal is capable of continuing to produce products that fit well to the taste of their market. They could also continue innovating their current product line so as to continuously remain ahead of its competitors. And to compliment this strategy: Cost Leadership strategy – Best value strategy. In this strategy we can create a new product line to cater to a unique segment of their market. For example, creating a healthier product line for those who are weight and health conscious would be ideal. 2. Pricing Strategy For the pricing strategy our cost leadership would be best since our product are already affordable for the market, all we need to consider is the new product line that we have to offer towards our customers in order for us to capture new market segments and to achieve our goal in being the leading BBQ’ed specialized fast food chain in the country. And with our new product line we can assess the gap between the healthy foods and unhealthy foods, and cater the culture of non-muslim by offering non pork products such as lamb and goat. 3. Place/Location Strategy For the location strategy we will place our restaurants near hotels or inside malls but more specifically the Zamatao mall in Dubai which houses many competitors such as McDonalds, Burger king, Hardee’s, Wendy’s and so on, but these competitors are just indirect competitors since their product line differs from us, as a competitive edge, our fast food chain will be  placed in front of other fast food restaurant to intimidate our competitors and in order for us to capture our desired target market with the use of our new product lines and unique product position, since our products differ from their product line we can have the advantage of product positioning 4. Promotional Strategy In our promotional strategy we will use a controlled advertising having a 6 month monitoring towards the reaction of the customers in our advertisement to do further study in analyzing negative and positive factors in our promotional strategy and focusing on the positive reaction and lessen the negative factors of our advertisements and through the use of online and TV advertisement we can make our product known to the target market. 5. Positioning Strategy With the use of the diverse market we can cater and create new product lines to capture new segments of the market, and we should keep to our new market for now, and should avoid risk in the new market to prevent any major financial problems towards our restaurant in order for us to keep an update in our budgeting and opportunities in gaining new technology/insights in our environment to use as an advantage for our restaurants, and with the use of new insights we can raise new supply system in the new market to eliminate unnecessary cutbacks/problems in the inventory of our products and services. I. Financial Statement Requirements to become a franchisee If you are interested in becoming a franchisee of Mang Inasal, there are a few requirements you need to look into. Here are the franchise details of Mang Inasal: Franchise fee: Php 15 to 30 million Franchise fee inclusive of: use of brand, operational support, opening marketing support, and training support Product security deposit: Php 800,000.00 Franchise term: 7 years, renewable Store space requirement: 150 square meters to 200 square meters Advertising fee: 2% of gross sales Royalty: 5% of gross sales Estimated cost of renovation: Php 7 million to Php 9 million Cash Flows from Operating Activities: Operating Income (EBIT) 7,000,000 Depreciation Expense 800,000 Loss on Sale of Equipment 70,000 Gain on Sale of Land (500,000) Increase in Accounts Receivable (300,000) Decrease in Prepaid Expenses (200,000) Net Cash Flow from Operating Activities 6,870,000 Cash Flows from Investing Activities: Sale of Equipment 700,000 Sale of Land 3,000,000 Purchase of Equipment (500,000) Net Cash Flow from Investing Activities 3,200,000 Cash Flows from Financing Activities: Payment of Dividends (250,000) Payment of Bond Payable (300,000) Net Cash Flow from Financing Activities (550,000) Net Change in Cash 500,000 Beginning Cash Balance 400,000 Sending Cash Balance 10, 420,000.00 J. Balance Sheet ASSETS Current Assets: Prepaid Expense Inventories Other current assets 1,800,000 1,700,000 500,000 Total Current Assets 4,000,000 Noncurrent Assets: Property And equipment (Fixed assets) Deferred tax assets Other noncurrent assets 1,500,000 1,000,000 500,000 Total Noncurrent Assets 3,000,000 TOTAL 7,000,000 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Current Liabilities: Accounts payable and accrued expenses Credit Card Payable Loan payable 3,000,000 2,000,000 500,000 Total Current Liabilities 5,500,000 Equity: Capital Stock Additional Paid-In Capital Retained Earnings 425,000 350,000 725,000 Total Equity TOTAL 1,500,000 7,000,000 V. Breakeven point In the Breakeven point our price per unit is Php 115 our variable cost is Php 99 and our estimated total fixed cost is Php 600,000: Price per unit – Php 115 Variable cost – Php 99 Total fixed cost – Php 600,000 600,000 à · (115 – 99) 600,000 à · (16) 37,500 units 115 x 37,500 = Php 4,312,500 The breakeven point in sales is 4,312,500 per month VI. EXIT PLAN For our exit plan strategy, we decided to sell-out the company in case of bankruptcy or other major financial problems, because sell-out is the most easy way in earning back the owner’s equity and the same time earn dividends afterwards – it clearly is in our interest to ensure our firm is a good fit for the buyer and therefore more likely to prosper. In other words we would create a win-win situation for both our company and the firms who are willing to buy the company’s asset and other subsidies.