3D Printing Mars Mission

Question: Discuss about the3D Printingfor Mars Mission. Answer: 3D printing has rapidly evolved the aviation, safety and automotive industries and has created a revolution on cost, time and result of production to a maximum level. I am going to present you examples that will highlight the potential of 3D printing and define its market demand. As your esteemed organization uses the 3D printing for developing delicate engineering structure and complex geometric modules for mechanical and automotive industry, I would like to provide you few cases that outline the market opportunity of 3D printing. NASA uses CATIA to develop the structural components of the vehicle prototype that is targeted to go for a Mars mission. The vehicle prototype is the size of a Hummer containing a pressurized chamber. I am not asking you to build a rocket ship category vehicle but if your esteemed organization develops 3D printing technology to produce bicycle frames it would be a great success as it will reduce manpower and increased rate of production and you can target the bicycle manufacturing firms. Advanced Contrast Imaging System Technology is another manufacturing organization of injections that are used for studying human body. Their new product EmpowerCTA injection system contains around 35 3D printed modules. Thus if your organization manufactures similar complex components for other medical units, it might create a sustainable market. Rietveld Architects LLP., another renowned organization creates 3D printing models to brief their customers regarding their products. It is an excellent opportunity as engineering civil drawings can be easily drafted using AutoCAD, analyzed using STAAD.pro and finally converted to CATIA and printed easily. Thus, the organization can make profit by selling those architectural miniature-building prototypes to contractors and construction firms. Robert Seuffer GmbH and Co. KG, a producer of electronic components uses 3D printing for producing switches, appliances, vehicles and automobiles parts. Thus, I suggest to tap into the potential market and create a simplified software so that instead of CATIA, common people are able to create their design and use it when required such as fix a broken dishwasher or wheels when required. I also recommend using 3D printing to repair damaged tissues due to injury and accidents in which the delicate tissues are ruptured and can only be replaced by fiber material of the 3D printer. I also recommend using 3D printing for replacing broken tissues as the dimensions are easy to adjust and can be accurately detailed using computer software. Bone scaffolds when printed using 3D printing will also allow replicating models of ears, nose, lips or any other body parts that can be used as precise cosmetic surgery replacement using coated cells that are fully functional; to multiply and grow. Thus, the bottom line is if your esteemed organization uses the 3D printing technology into medical, engineering, automotive and healthcare sectors, you can tap into a sustainable and potential market of extreme profit. I also recommend using special encrypted software and a different materials rather than the waterproof material used by 3D printer so that the technology is not replicated. Moreover, it should also be kept in mind so that common people are not allowed to use the software for commercial purpose.

What are the most important components of an effective high performance work system

Introduction Organizational performance remains a major concern among managers and business owners around the world. As a result, there is a continuous change in the manner in which certain things are done by the management to maintain good and competitive performance. Nevertheless, it is argued that the creation of a high performance work system is undoubtedly a significant approach in augmenting organizational change.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on What are the most important components of an effective high performance work system? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Although various strategies have been adopted by different organizations around the world, it is double noting that there are effective components of high performance work system shared across companies and organizations. This research essay explores these effective components which have been applauded by scholars and business experts in defining org anization performance. To achieve this objective, a wide range of sources have been consulted including but not limited to authentic books, journals and online articles to have a wide spectrum of arguments. For better comprehension of the concept, the analysis draws some ideas and conclusions from the human resource management of Vodafone. High Performance Work System What is high performance work system? Many researchers agree that the concept of high performance work system can be viewed from a wider perspective, allowing several definitions. However, all these definitions narrow down to the involvement of employees in management and day-to-day running of the business. High performance work system can therefore be defined as a set of management approaches within an organization which give employees higher responsibilities and involvement. According to Armstrong (2011, p. 155), high performance work system usually sets out the intentions of a company on the best ways to achieving a competitive advantage through the improvement of individuals’ performance within the organization. Such a system further spells out the exact process of ensuring that the aspirations defined by the organizations are attained. Of importance however is the fact that all these efforts are geared towards augmenting employee knowledge, flexibility, commitment and skills. This understanding is important in selection of effective components which would result into the creation of an environment which promotes employee participation and good performance (Armstrong, 2008, p. 116). As discussed below, a high performance work system comprises of:Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Participation of employees in decision making Training Employee motivation and incentives Technological advancements Respect Creation of a goal-oriented environment among others Employee Participation Employees play a major role in the overall performance of any organization in the world. As a result, many companies like Vodafone which have gained pinnacle global recognition put more emphasis on excellent human resource management. Moreover, the ability of a company to involve its employees in decision making is considered a major ingredient for not only good performance but also in promoting a high performance work system (Armstrong, 2008, p. 117). According to researchers, employees who get involved in decision making by the management get motivated and develop a positive attitude towards work and remain focused on achieving set goals and objectives. It is also a source of empowerment to workers as they end up feeling part of the management (Armstrong, 2008, p. 117). Although managers understand the need for employee involvement in organization management, implementation of this component remains a major task. The manner in which employees are involved in the process significan tly determines its impact on the entire organization. As a way of ensuring that employees remain part of organizational management, their involvement in parallel suggestion is highly considered. This involvement allows managers to incorporate the views of the entire workforce in making final decisions and strategies for better performance (Armstrong, 2011, p. 157). Additionally, allowing employees to participate in job-related processes motivates them, thus closing the leadership gap which may exist between the management and the workforce. Training For employees to perform their duties effectively, relevant knowledge and skills cannot be overlooked. Although this may seem obvious since companies assume that employees get hired when they are already competent, customized training is quite significant. Besides promoting effective performance of duties within an organization, training further imparts employees with technical skills which could give them a chance to take up other highe r responsibilities within the organization. Consequently, employees get inspired to aim for higher leadership roles by being in possession of required skills and expertise (Armstrong, 2011, p. 157). Through these training programs, employees are able to have a wider range of skills which are necessary for not only performing a single task but also to engage in other duties aimed at promoting good performance. This understanding of organizational roles allows employees to deliver within the shortest time thus saving on resources like time. Lastly, training reduces the risk of employees from being involved in accidents emanating from lack of technical knowhow and skills. This is common in production firms where machines and chemical processes make the basis of production.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on What are the most important components of an effective high performance work system? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn M ore Rewards and Incentives Another approach through which organizations promote high performance work system is through recognition of employee achievements and efforts. With existing variation in the productivity of employees, it is equally important for managers to identify individual and group efforts demonstrated by employees within the government. By monitoring regular performance results, it would be easy but extremely useful to appreciate outstanding performance among employees without partiality. There is always need for organizations to associate its remuneration with performance in order to motivate their employers to focus on the realization of both organizations and individual benefits (Dubrin, 2011, p. 254). Notably, there are countless incentives which could be considered as a way of creating a high performance work system depending on the nature of the organization. They may include stock options, sharing of company profits; pay hikes, bonuses in cases where perform ance targets have been achieved and money. It has been observed that a number of organizations like Vodafone employ such approaches in motivating their employees. Equivalently, non-monetary options have been considered by other organizations as a way of promoting high performance work systems. These options include special employee benefits, time offs and flexible time (Dubrin, 2011, p. 255). It is clear that these efforts augment environmental flexibility for employees who may find time to attend to other personal issues when they are away from work. This increases motivation among workers through self satisfaction and by feeling a sense of concern from managers. Free time could also be utilized by employees to advance their careers through part time studies. Technology With the advancement in technology, many organizations have considerably changed their operations in order to meet the demands of the market and promote efficiency among employees. Besides promotion of productivity, technology is viewed as a key component of high performance work system. It is a major driving exercise which has led to summit performance among companies like Vodafone in recent years with its expansion taking the centre stage for most organizations in every part of the world. Among other ways in which technology transforms organizational performance is through facilitation of communication and sharing of information (Dubrin, 2011, p. 254).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Managers and employees are able to effectively communicate and make decisions promptly through a communication infrastructure that is necessary. A part from allowing smooth flow of information, it can further be argued that a well established communication infrastructure results into a high performance work system. How can an organization perform without good communication? Any breakdown in communication of an organization broadens the gap among employees and employee-employer relationships. Based on the fundamental role played by technology, its integration in the daily operations of a company is quite essential. For organizations which may have complicated production processes and procedures, adoption of certain technological techniques could be important in promotion of employee efficiency and flexibility (Creating High-Performance Work Systems, n.d., p. 1). As a result, managers are tasked to identify existing technological needs and address them in order to develop a competitiv e advantage within the market and motivate its employees. With the role played by technology being considered to be immense, there is no doubt that any management has to appreciate the challenges which arise. Technology comes with challenges and costs which have to be incurred by individual organizations before its integration is implemented (Creating High-Performance Work Systems,.d., p. 1). Problem Solving To achieve a high performance work system, there is every need for companies to establish mechanism to handle everyday challenges. Work problems are normal and part of the running of an organization. However, the manner in which such challenges are handled has a significant impact on the performance of the entire working environment. A high performance work system therefore advocates for preparedness by having operating procedures which have to be followed in addressing particular issues (Ramsay, Scholarios Harley, 2000, p. 505). It is further important to reiterate the incompa rable role of good communication in problem solving. By establishing these channels, suggestions among stakeholders can easily be realized and communicated to employees before a situation gets out of hand. Respect An effective working environment comprises of managers and employees who hold and value respect for each other. Although many people focus on the respect between employees and managers alone, this recognition is equally significant among managers and employees. Respect among employees allows each to see other’s responsibility as important as any other. It eliminates managers from despising junior employees of the organization by promoting mutual existence within the working system (Ramsay, Scholarios Harley, 2000, p. 504). Respect promotes the virtue of cooperation towards the realization of set goals and objectives. Many of the employees are able to embrace a sense of obligation to a given organization in enhancing a friendly working atmosphere necessary for inten ded successful results. Based on the above analysis of the components of an effective high performance work system, it is more evident that the need to implement such a plan is inevitable especially in order to realize profitable performance within an organization. Many of the major organizations like Vodafone have significantly implemented these plans, causing them to rise to globally recognized peak levels. With Vodafone as a model organization, it is important to understand how the company has worked towards promoting of a high performance work system in the telecommunication industry. Vodafone Vodafone is one of the leading telecommunication companies in not only the United Kingdom but also across the world. This is measured by its annual revenues and the total number of customers who place it at second position after China Mobile (Hill, 2011). With its operations extending in more than twenty countries around the world, Vodafone continues to thrive in the market due to several factors which favor it. The company has for long remained committed to winning customers through their sustainable strategy which promotes ethical behavior, honesty and responsibility. Additionally, reduction of environmental effect drives its operation making it outstanding among other telecommunication companies. The achievement of credibility within a competitive market has been of great significance. Although these efforts have been mainly towards its success, the company has also promoted a high performance work system for its employees. Ethical Environment Vodafone employees operate in an honest working environment which has been nurtured by the company’s top leadership since its inception in the year 1982. By operating in this honest environment, employees are motivated to be devoted towards service delivery in an ethical and disciplined manner. This eliminates cases of unethical practices like bribery and corruption (Shetty, 2011). Upholding ethical business strategie s further promotes respect among Vodafone employees and managers. Managers have nurtured the art of respecting each other and leading other employees practically. Its honest history has also played a key role in winning customers through customer satisfaction through strategies which seek to establish better connection with its customers. Through surveys and feedback analysis from customers, the company prides in a massive loyalty of customers within the telecommunications industry. Training of Vodafone Employees Another important component of an effective high performance work system employed by Vodafone is training of its employees. The company holds high value for its employees, an approach which has led to the training of most of its employees in order to meet the challenges and demands of the telecommunications market. This training further aims at ensuring that every employee achieves his or her full potential in terms of service delivery and efficient productivity (Shetty, 20 11). Through continuous training programs, Vodafone Group has created a workforce that embraces diversity in skills and cultures to operate around the world. Training of employees has highly been enhanced by the establishment of a Learning Academy which offers instant solutions for learning and advancement solutions. IT Incorporation Besides an ethical environment and training of its employees, Vodafone has identified technology to be a major requirement for its global operations. Information Technology has helped the Group to gain a competitive advantage platform in the market through effective business operations which solely targets employee efficiency and customer satisfaction. This has been considered as one of the strategies of achieving set objectives. IT capabilities within the company further allow employees to have access to learning services within the company’s intranet. With a variety of online courses for the employees, advancement within Vodafone workface is hi ghly encouraged to meet the needs of employees in order to serve in other involving capacities. To address IT needs, the company has adopted cloud computing which is vital in sharing of data globally through wireless connection of personal computers. Conclusion Based on the above effective components of a high performance work system and the manner in which Vodafone Group has fully implemented these strategies, it suffices to say that a good working environment has far reaching benefits. As a matter of fact, the above effective components support the need to motivate employees in any given organization and environment (Jeffrey, 1995, p. 29). Employees who are involved in decision making, well paid, trained for new tasks and equipped with technology to meet upcoming challenges get motivated to work productively for the success of the company. It is however important to appreciate the fact that every component can be adopted depending on the existing organizational demands. It remains the role of managers to have strategies in place which should be implemented in order to achieve intended objectives. Of significance is the importance to have a harmonious relationship between the management and employees. Through a good communication and employee motivation approaches, there need not be a communication gap that may hinder company growth. Nevertheless, recognition of employee should be emphasized through a scheme which gauges employee performance. Besides inspiring employees to have a positive attitude towards their job and perform better, employee incentives create performance competition within the company. This competition is quite important in ensuring that employees give their best in terms of their abilities and skills. In addition, an understanding of the organizational culture is essential in adopting a list of components to be incorporated in the strategic plan (Armstrong, 2011, p. 165). As such, any high performance work system has to be inclined to the culture of the company. References Armstrong, M., 2008. Strategic Human Resource Management: A Guide to Action. London, UK: Kogan Page. Armstrong, M., 2011. Armstrong’s Handbook of Strategic Human Resource Management. London, UK: Kogan Page. Creating High-Performance Work Systems., n.d. Creating High-Performance Work Systems. Web. Dubrin, A., 2011. Essentials of Management. New York, NY: Cengage Learning. Hill, S., 2011. Vodafone case study. Web. Jeffrey, K., 1995. High Performance Work Systems and Firm Performance. 118 Monthly Lab. Rev. 29. Ramsay, H, Scholarios, D Harley, B., 2000. Employees and High-Performance Work Systems: Testing inside the Black Box. British Journal of Industrial Relations. 38:4 December 2000. pp. 501-531. Shetty, N., 2011. Leadership Style at Vodafone. Web. This essay on What are the most important components of an effective high performance work system? was written and submitted by user Abbie D. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Homosexuality and Single-Sex Schools

Homosexuality and Single-Sex Schools Unfortunately, for many American students, insults and accusations are part of everyday life. All to often, students, as young as elementary school, are faced with criticism and judgment from their peers, and despite great efforts by many, there are still people in our country who are not the diverse, tolerant people wed like to surround ourselves with on a daily basis. This unfortunate truth means that some students look elsewhere to find supportive and welcoming environments for their middle and high school educations. This is where private school comes into play, as many private schools embrace the many facets of diversity that exist within students, creating vibrant communities unlike what most high school students embrace. However, there is debate among many about the role of single-sex schools when it comes to homosexuality. While some believe that schools that cater to just one gender provide a supportive place for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students, others believe that these schools  have a hidden side effect: they promote homosexuality. Scientific Studies Surprisingly, there are few scientific studies available to provide conclusive evidence, but no limit to personal opinions. The debate topics include whether or not single-sex schools promote gender stereotypes, if homosexuality is learned or genetic and, particularly, how single-sex schools may impact students if it homosexuality is, in fact, learned. Debate.com has a page dedicated to whether or not single-sex schools promote homosexuality. The outcome of those who have contributed to date shows a majority of debaters (59 percent) feel that single-sex schools do not promote homosexuality. Many single-sex school graduates claim that their experiences, be it high school or even college, were empowering and helped them grow as individuals. Others agree, but say that they discovered their gender identity in that environment because it was the first time they were allowed to experience something different than the stereotypes they grew up with of only male-female couples being acceptable. Unfortunately, for many children stereotypes are all they see in their daily lives and become what they understand simply because they are not exposed to diverse views. Most certainly, no child wants to be intimidated or ostracized simply because they are different. These difference sometimes mean that students are subject to bullying by peers who dont understand or accept them, and these actions can be especially harsh when adults look the other way or are not present. While some claim that single-sex schools promote gender stereotypes, others adamantly disagree, stating that the single-sex school breaks down the stereotypes and better educates students on a more diverse set of viewpoints. The Value of an Open and Affirming Culture What many people dont know is that boys and girls schools often  play to the strengths of students. These open and affirming cultures can provide better support, counseling, and education, empowering students to embrace who they are more than ever. When students can walk around their school community openly without fear of discrimination or bullying, they are able to grow as individuals and achieve more success. Both boys and girls have to deal with their sexuality, understanding their feelings and inclinations mean and how to handle them. If they havent thought of it themselves, the American entertainment industry will certainly put all those gender debates and discussions right under their noses. What any good private school is able to do is to provide some serious mentoring and discussion of issues like teenage sexuality. The tightly wrapped sense of community which most of these schools have makes young people feel comfortable discussing these and other issues. Teens are under enormous stress under normal conditions. Add to the mix worries about sexuality and grades and you potentially have a recipe for extreme measures of dealing with the stress. For some, this can lead to eating disorders, cutting, or even suicide. Heed the warning signs, no matter how insignificant you think they may be, and talk to someone if there are concerns about the physical, mental, or emotional health of a child. If students feel as though they cannot confront their classmates, they should alert an adult and make sure she follows through. Supporting a peer struggling with an issue often means going against their wishes to deal with issues privately in favor of getting help from a qualified individual.   Edited by Stacy Jagodowski

Free Essays on American Airlines

american airlines By: helen kninich Helen Khinich Individual Project Outline: American Airlines Introduction: American Airlines is the biggest airline in the United States since 1991. American Airlines was pioneer in many fields gaining competitive and advantage over the other airlines. American has also pioneered several policies including that affected the industry’s structure and standard practices. In the 1960’s, American introduced the first computerized reservation system, revolutionizing the marketing and distribution of the travel industry. In 1977, they introduced â€Å"the super saver† fares, which was the first program of discounts for leisure travelers and in 1981, they launched the first frequent-flier program. AMR, the parent company for American Airlines, has a number of businesses within its corporate structure including: American Airlines whose success is rooted in the airline’s greatest asset – its people, all 101,706 of them. In the rapidly changing markets where Am erican competes in the United States and abroad, American Eagle which was established in 1984 as American Airlines' regional airline affiliate. The American Eagle network is the largest regional airline system in the world, with over 1,400 flights a day to more than 101 cities throughout the United States, Canada, The Bahamas and the Caribbean. AA Cargo, a division of American Airlines, which provides more than 14 million pounds of daily lift capacity to major cities in Europe, Canada, Mexico the Caribbean, Central and South America, Asia and throughout the United States. Through cooperative interline agreements, AA Cargo can transport shipments to virtually any country in the world. Manufacturing A Severe Manufacturing Problem: Flight 587 crashed last November and investigation determined that it was due to mechanical failure, as if September 11th didn’t scare the people enough. There were other problems with this Airbus A300 prior to this ... Free Essays on American Airlines Free Essays on American Airlines Introduction The National Transportation Board has recommended to the Federal Aviation Administration that all FAR Part 121, 125, and 135 passenger-carrying aircraft be equipped with cockpit video recorders, cockpit voice recorders and digital flight data recorders (Rimmer, 2000). The use of flight data information has been very useful to the National Transportation Safety Board for solving countless aircraft accidents and mishaps. The recent surge for the upgraded equipment, especially the cockpit video recorders, stems from the crashes of ValuJet Flight 592 in the Florida Everglades, Swissair Flight 111, which crashed off the coast of Halifax, and more recently the EgyptAir 990 crash (â€Å"Safety Board Favors Cameras For Cockpits,† 2000). The current equipment used in the aircraft today is the Cockpit Voice Recorder and the Flight Data Recorder. The cockpit voice recorder records the radio transmissions between the pilots and the air traffic controllers who guide the planes to their des ignated areas in the air and on the ground. The cockpit voice recorder also records the sounds inside the cockpit between pilots, stall warning signals, engine noise, landing gear extension and retraction, weather briefs, and any other abnormal noises (Barker, 1999). The flight data recorder monitors certain parameters of the actual airplane such as the altitude, airspeed, compass heading, vertical acceleration and time (Maharry, 2000). Definition The National Transportation Safety Board wants to upgrade existing flight data recorders and implement cockpit video recorders for safety reasons and to help solve commercial airline crashes. The airline pilots are against the idea of the cockpit recorders due to the fact that they will be on camera at all times and feel that this is a breach of privacy and the film could be leaked to the media (Sher, 2000). Affected Principles The National Transportation Safety Board has cited that with the help of the cock... Free Essays on American Airlines american airlines By: helen kninich Helen Khinich Individual Project Outline: American Airlines Introduction: American Airlines is the biggest airline in the United States since 1991. American Airlines was pioneer in many fields gaining competitive and advantage over the other airlines. American has also pioneered several policies including that affected the industry’s structure and standard practices. In the 1960’s, American introduced the first computerized reservation system, revolutionizing the marketing and distribution of the travel industry. In 1977, they introduced â€Å"the super saver† fares, which was the first program of discounts for leisure travelers and in 1981, they launched the first frequent-flier program. AMR, the parent company for American Airlines, has a number of businesses within its corporate structure including: American Airlines whose success is rooted in the airline’s greatest asset – its people, all 101,706 of them. In the rapidly changing markets where Am erican competes in the United States and abroad, American Eagle which was established in 1984 as American Airlines' regional airline affiliate. The American Eagle network is the largest regional airline system in the world, with over 1,400 flights a day to more than 101 cities throughout the United States, Canada, The Bahamas and the Caribbean. AA Cargo, a division of American Airlines, which provides more than 14 million pounds of daily lift capacity to major cities in Europe, Canada, Mexico the Caribbean, Central and South America, Asia and throughout the United States. Through cooperative interline agreements, AA Cargo can transport shipments to virtually any country in the world. Manufacturing A Severe Manufacturing Problem: Flight 587 crashed last November and investigation determined that it was due to mechanical failure, as if September 11th didn’t scare the people enough. There were other problems with this Airbus A300 prior to this ... Free Essays on American Airlines American Airlines American Airlines Marketing cases AMERICAN AIRLINES 1. Issues 2. American Airlines’ objectives 3. The airline industry 4. Market 5. Consumer needs 6. Brand image 7. Distribution system 8. Pricing 9. Marketing related strategies 10. Assumptions and risks 1- Issues The main issue of this case is the lack of profits of the airline industry, an industry that should be more than profitable due to the large amount of customers, the necessity of using airlines’ services and the high prices charged by most of these airlines. What we are going to deal with is, why is this happening? And how is American airlines dealing with this problem?. To be able to discuss how American airlines wants to regain profitability, we must identify and analyse different issues such as, the company’s background, the airline industry as a whole, the demand for air travel, the marketing strategies, the distribution systems, pricing policies etc. 2- American Airlines’ objectives American Airlines’ prime objective is to bring back value to air travel, through stimulating business travel, lowering prices etc. So in other words American Airlines’ main objective is to become as profitable as possible. To understand better the company’s objectives we first have to focus on the company’s background, this way we will find out why the airline is not as profitable as it should, and what kind of a change is needed. American Airlines had been the largest airline in the United States for a long time. In 1990 and 1991 due to a recession and the Gulf War, demand for air travel dropped drastically, for this reason, fare wars started and all the airlines incurred massive losses. 3,4- The Airline industry and the market The airline industry is large, specially in the United States, mainly due to the â€Å" Deregulation† of the industry. In 1938, the Civil Aeronautics Board was created to control the growth of the air transportation industry. This b o...

Literature review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

Literature review - Essay Example The model is basically represented in a mathematical equation which is equated with the â€Å"expected rate of return on a stock to risk free rate plus a risk premium for the stock’s systematic risk† (Keown, 1998, p.242). Risk premium for a particular security is basically defined as the required return after deducting the risk free rate existing in the market. Total risk which is calculated as a standard deviation of return is generally fragmented into two parts. They are unsystematic and risk systematic risk, Beta () (Strong, 2008, p.168). The investors are rewarded bearing through this risk only and is very crucial. The equation for CAPM can be given as follows: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. (1) The above equation is a CAPM equation and it is also known as the security market line. In this equation, is the expected return, is the risk free return, is the required return for a particular market portfolio. , measure the systematic risk (Keown, 1998, p.242). 1.2 Application T he model provides a logical approach for analyzing the return that an investor should receive from an investment. More interestingly, the model is applied in a wide spectrum in the field of modern finance for the purpose of estimating the cost of equity and the performance of a company. Evaluating performance of companies in a particular industrial area is of great importance as it reflects the economic functioning of the area and further decides the strength of investor’s attraction in that particular area (Armitage, 2005, p.278). 2. Research Aims and Objectives The rationale thus created is that the CAPM model helps to calculate expected return of an investor and evaluate the performance of the companies. The concentration in this paper will be on the later trajectory i.e. performance of the companies. The aim of the paper is to find proper application of CAPM model in a real world scenario. The objective of the paper is centered on finding out the intensity of the companie s creating value for their shareholders with data on ten US companies listed in the New York Stock Exchange. 4. Research questions The research questions that will be discussed in this paper are discussed below: 1. What is the importance of CAPM model in corporate finance? 2. What are the fields where the model is applicable and what important results it yield? 3. What decision criterion the model generates that drives the financial managers to take important business decisions? 3. Research hypothesis The research hypothesis that will be tested in this paper can be represented in a tabular format as given below: H0: The companies selected are not performing strongly to create value for the shareholders H1: The companies selected are performing strongly to create value for the shareholders H0 is the null hypothesis which will be tested against the alternative hypothesis H1. The data and testing procedure will be explained in a detailed manner in the methodology section. Now, the subs equent section will focus on a brief literature review on this particular financial model i.e. CAPM. 4. Literature Review Rigorous testing has been employed with CAPM model in the last three decades. Studies of Jensen and Scholes in 1972, Blume and Friend in 1973, Reinganum in 1981, Banz in 1981 founded that there exist a positive correlation between the realized return and as well as that between risk and return is a linear function. Through the

Mkting of Services Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Mkting of Services - Assignment Example In light of this, the paper will propose appropriate measures of service quality for the face-to-face interaction between provider & potential customer, & for any interaction which is mediated by technology. A service quality is antecedent to consumer satisfaction while consumer satisfaction is antecedent to the purchasing power of the consumer (VERMA, H. 2012). Service organizations perceive quality service in terms of costs; profitability, consumer satisfaction, customer relations, behavioural intention and word of mouth. Service organizations ascertain service quality by taking either of the above. Services are mainly composed of three major characteristics such as intangibility, inseparability of production and consumption, heterogeneity and perishability. A recurring theme in the United Kingdom service companies is the difficulty manager’s experience in translating and understanding the customer’s expectations into service that employees can understand and execute. Customer expectation is the belief about service delivery that serves as standard of reference against which performance is judged. Customers evaluate service quality by comparing their perception of servic e with their expectations. Service quality and customer service expectations can be categorized into five overall dimensions: tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy. Travellers for instance may expect no frill service for short domestic flight but would be dissatisfied with the same level of service on a full airline service flying a longer distance. It is therefore a key challenge for the travel agents and operation manager to understand customer expectation of the service that they are offering to their customers. Customers have different service expectations which are classified into two. They include the desired service

A critical review of a story in the press Essay Example for Free

A critical review of a story in the press Essay The story I have chosen to review is about Derek Bond, a 72 year old pensioner from Bristol. Mr Bond was arrested by South African authorities, when he arrived for a family holiday with his wife in South Africa. Mr Bond was detained at the request of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, on suspicion of being one of Americas most wanted criminals; the alleged crime a $4. 8 million telemarketing fraud. Fortunately, for Derek Bond it was a case of mistaken identity. Eventually he was released, with the help of media intervention after a traumatic three week ordeal, locked up, in a South African prison. The story broke in a television news broadcast by the BBC six o clock evening news, on Tuesday 25th February 2003. The story was published by the newspapers the following day, 26th February 2003. The two newspapers I have chosen to compare the story are, The Guardian, and The Daily Mirror. The Guardian is a politically left-of-centre broadsheet newspaper aimed at professional middle- class Britain. The Guardian uses formal vocabulary to report on the facts of a story it is writing about. The Guardian costs 55 pence to buy, and provides, national and international news, policy and politics section, finance, sport, theatre, art reviews, and finally human interest supplements. The Guardian offers extremely good value for money, over an average of 35 pages. In contrast, The Daily Mirror is a politically left-of-centre tabloid newspaper aimed at working- class Britain. The Daily Mirror uses informal vocabulary consisting of common words that are easily understood. This would indicate that its aimed at a lower readership, than The Guardian. The Daily Mirror costs 32 pence to buy, and provides, national news, showbiz gossip, advertising, holiday offers, horoscopes, television listings, finance, and, finally sport. On average, the reader will get 60-70 pages of coverage. ANALYSIS DAY ONE THE GUARDIAN The coverage of the story began on Wednesday 26th February 2003. It was placed on page three of the newspaper on a day when front page news headlines focussed on, War rebels challenge Blair, about the up and coming war on Iraq. The article, in question was headlined, The Names Bond but is he a fraudster wanted by the FBI or a Bristol family man? The headline was printed black on white, with an approximate letter size of one inch. The effect of this is a play on the catchphrase of James Bond 007 spy films, to create mystery and intrigue, and grasp the readers attention. Two feature photographs 5 wide, and 8 long, in size are placed directly beneath the headline. The photograph on the left hand side, of the real fugitive is in black and white print. This image shows him looking very sombre, similar to an FBI, Mugshot photograph. In contrast, the photograph of Mr Bond is in colour, portraying him as a respectable family man dressed in evening attire, smiling and looking very healthy. This obviously shows the contrast in style between the two men. A further two photographs appear directly beneath Mr Bond; one of the police station, in Durban where he was held, and the other a photograph of his three children. Both photographs are in colour and approximately 3 wide and 2 long, in size. The reason behind these two photographs is so the reader is given an insight where Mr Bond was held, and too see the look of pain and disbelief, on the faces, of his children. A sub-heading occupies the top left hand corner, which summarises the whole story. Emotive words have been used, Victim, and Theft, to attract and engage the readers attention. Different styles of typography have been used across the whole page. For example, a bold print dropped capital letter, one inch in size, at the beginning of the opening paragraph, to draw the eye of the reader, to the introduction, and not browse over the story to the end. Directly beneath the photograph of fugitive, Derek Sykes, alias Derek Bond, a different style of typography has been used, to show a comparable section in which comparisons are made between, what Mr Bonds family claim, and what the FBI claim is true. This has been highlighted by the use of a sub-heading in red bold print. In addition to this, bullet points have been used to divide the statements. ANALYSIS DAY ONE THE DAILY MIRROR The coverage of the story also began on Wednesday 26th February 2003. The story was placed on page nineteen of the newspaper, in contrast to The Guardian where the story was placed on page three. This means that The Guardian, considers the story of rather more importance, than The Daily Mirror. Two totally different headlines stole front page coverage, firstly, Is Richard the No 1 VILLAIN in TV soap history? Secondly, MUTINY- 100-plus Labour rebels to defy Blair over Iraq. This is typical of a tabloid news headline; TV soap is given priority over the Iraq crisis. The story began with a bold print capitalised headline, THE NAMES BOND The letters are one inch in size. The headline is similar to The Guardian, but leads the reader on to the next part of the page. The typography of White on Black has been used to highlight two sub-heading statements, which are as follows: Is he a toupee wearing $4. 8m fraudster and one of the FBIS most wanted criminals Or a balding 72-year-old wine-tasting Rotarian who lives in Bristol? Each statement has a letter size of half an inch, and is placed in a 3 squared black box, creating maximum effect of the WOB. Directly beneath the first statement is a round photograph of fugitive Derek Sykes, in black and white, 3 in diameter. The photograph used by The Daily Mirror, is identical to The Guardian, but is scaled down in size and a different shape. In addition, a photograph of Mr Bond is placed directly beneath the second statement. Basically, this reveals who, The Daily Mirror thinks is the real, and false, fugitive. Furthermore, a photograph of Mr Bonds children appears beneath the main headline, which is black and white, and 2 squared in size. The photograph is different to the one used by The Guardian; its in a different place, and in addition is not posed. It seems to have been taken by chance, rather than with consent from the family. ANALYSIS DAY 2 THE GUARDIAN By the following day, Mr Bond had been released as the FBIs mistake was acknowledged. The story on day 2 is given front page priority. A sub- heading in red bold print is placed as a footnote; the footnote reads, Good news for Mr Bond, followed by a brief summary, and the reader is directed to page 3, where the story continues. In addition, to the footnote a cartoon caption appears next to the directional pointer, which is sarcastically laughing at the incompetence, of the FBI.