Issues in Corporate finance group coursework Essay

Issues in Corporate finance group coursework - Essay Example This implies that managers of modern corporations are judged by the level of the financial strategies they undertake in improving the commercial interests of the investors. In measuring the effectiveness of the financial strategies undertaken by the management, financial reviews of asset utilisation, dividend payout, profitability, solvency level, and liquidity are undertaken. This range of financial measures helps in demonstrating the attractiveness of given corporations in enhancing the wealth maximization of the investors. This is because the measures help in predicting the potential of the various firms in surviving and remaining profitable in the market to increase the wealth of the investors. This paper reviews the financial strategies undertaken in four public traded companies across different markets globally. The four corporations reviewed include 21Vianet Group Incorporation from China, Microsoft Corporation from America, Pearson Corporation from United Kingdom and Abakanva gonmash from the Russian market. Furthermore, the paper has undertaken a fundamental analysis of the effectiveness of the financial strategies that have been undertaken by the management of the various corporations reviewed in the research project. In financing their asset acquisition, the various corporations employ diverse financing strategies as illustrated in the table below. The financing of the capital structure of the various corporations is made up of debt and equity. 2013 financial year results have been employed in calculating the debt and equity proportion of the four firms. The computations undertaken above implies majority of the corporations been analyzed employ equity in financing their asset acquisition. Only 21Vianet Group Incorporation employs debt financing more than equity as illustrated above. The four companies analyzed in this project research have undertaken significant

Curbing Grade Inflation Essay Example for Free

Curbing Grade Inflation Essay Grade inflation takes place when students are given a higher grade than what they actually deserved in order to address the declining expectations and diminishing educational standards. The phenomenon of grade inflation is observable in the current trends in grading, which is mostly given by private colleges and universities. Grade inflation suggests that the terminology used in grading no longer reflects the reality, especially when it comes to the performance of students. As a result, the efforts of students who actually work hard and have exceptional capabilities are being undermined. In addition, grade inflation also affects the proper assessment of students, as it does not reflect the real grades that they deserve. Being the case, Princeton University decided to implement a policy that will limit professors in giving the grade of A among students per department. However, the aforementioned policy is questioned regarding its effectiveness and also the way by which it can contribute to the greater good for the greater number of people. Grade inflation should be stopped because of the disadvantageous effects that it has among students and the educational institutions and also in the society as a whole. The utilitarian principle gives utmost emphasis for the greater good of the most number of people. Grade inflation does not merely affect one individual or student but rather its ill effects are reflected upon the whole educational institution and the society. In terms of the educational institution, since grade inflation is used in order to give students higher grade than what they deserve, the real problem of diminishing educational standards of different colleges and universities is not properly addressed. Grade inflation gives a false facade that students are doing well, which reflect that the educational standards are also efficient. Due to this, the problems within the educational institutions is not properly identified and solved. In the same manner, the society as a whole is also affected by grade inflation. The primary reason as to why education is given importance in almost any state is because of the reason that educated individuals become more productive citizens in the society. Quality education allows them to properly hone their skills and capabilities, which will enable them to find good jobs and contribute substantially to the society. Rule utilitarianism asserts that the creation and implementation of rules bring about the greater good for the most number of people. As such, grade inflation should be stopped because it adversely affects numerous people and this societal problem can be addressed through the implementation of rules. However, the policy implemented by Princeton University in order to deal with the problem of grade inflation is not the proper way in order to address the problem. Based on the rule utilitarianism, it is better to have a rule than no rule at all because its presence will bring about a greater good rather than the absence of it. In application with the policy of Princeton University, their way of solving grade inflation does not benefit the majority of the students because only a minimal number of students have the possibility to be given a grade of A. As a result, many students will have to compete with the minimum number of times that the professor can given a grade of A. Due to this, there are chances that excellent students have to settle for a lower grade because professors have to limit giving students an excellent grade. In addition to this, added pressure is given for students in order to get excellent grades, which is not necessarily advantageous for their educational learning. Moreover, since many Ivy League universities have not yet applied the same grading policy as Princeton University, there will be instances wherein students coming from Princeton University will have a lower GPA as compared from students from other schools. The low GPA of students from Princeton University can adversely affect their chances of getting competitive jobs and also lessen their chances in being accepted in graduate school. The grading policy of Princeton University is only advantageous for those students who will get an excellent grade, which is minority of the student population because giving a grade of A is only limited. Furthermore, rule utilitarianism also points out that there is no sense in keeping a rule if a better rule will bring about greater good. In the case of the grading policy of Princeton University, there are better policies that can be applied, which can address grade inflation without undermining the good of the majority of the students. One possible way is by enhancing assessment tools that measures the ability of students through objective means, which will assure or even lessen the subjectivity of professors. The grading policy of Princeton University is not a good rule based on the standard of rule utilitarianism because it does not promote greater good. Majority of the students are adversely affected by this policy. It is not wrong to give value to the hard work and excellent skills of minority students but it should not be at the expense of the majority because doing so no longer promote greater good for the greater number of people.

Design of Traffic Light System

Design of Traffic Light System Contents Task 1 Design Specification Design 1 Complete Block Diagram of the traffic light system State diagram Table Circuit simulation using Multisim software, Task 2 Timing Counter Task 3 Figure 13 (Main red and amber sub amber) Task 4 Remake design LIST IN Tab;e Table 1(State diagramme) Table 2(D type Flip Flop) Table 3(design cost) Table 4(compare table) List in Figure Figure 1: traffic lights system Figure 2(block diagrammed) Figure 3(Moore model) Figure 4 (main red and sub green for 10s) Figure 5 (Main amber and sub red and amber for 2s) Figure 6(main red and sub green for 10s) Figure 7 (Asynchronous counter for timing counter) Figure 8(The Design is 30s counter for main road in Asynchronous counter) Figure 9 (The Design is 20s counter for side road in Asynchronous counter) Figure 10 Main green and sub red Figure 11 (Main amber and sub red and amber) Figure 12 (Main red and sub green) Figure 13 (Main red and amber sub amber) Figure 14(remake design) Design Specification Design specification prepared for a single main and sub -road junction in rural area is given below The green light for the main road will be stay ON for 30s. The green light for the side road will be stay ON for 20s. The amber caution light will say ON for 5s between changes from green to red. Main road and side road timing countdown should display in a 7segment display. Sequence change of the traffic lights show in the Appendix I. The traffic light system for a single main road and sub road junction in a rural area. Complete Block Diagram of the traffic light system Figure 2(block diagrammed) The FSM description stands for Finite state machines. the Finite state machines are the most common controllers of machines. Its In the example Traffic light, the intersection of a main road with a side road is controlled by two traffic lights. FSM has three inputs (T1, T2 and T3) AND six outputs (Rm, Am, Gm, Rs, As and Gs) In here Rm is Red light for main road Am is Amber caution light for main road Gm is Green light for main road Rs is Red light for sub road As is Amber caution light for sub road Gs is green light for sub road T1 time is 30seconds T2 time is 20seconds T3 time is 5seconds Complete Moore model state diagram for traffic light system State diagram Table P.State N.State INPUT Outputs Gm Am Rm Gs As Rs 1 0 0 0 0 1 T1 0 1 0 0 1 1 T3 0 0 1 1 0 0 T2 0 1 1 0 1 0 T3 Table 1(State diagramme) State Assignment in Gray code Here using gray code for states State transection table Here using D type flip flops for design a circuit P.S Q1 Q0 N.S Q1+ Q0+ INPUT Gm Am Rm Gs As Rs 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 T1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 T3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 T2 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 T3 0 0 Table 2(D type Flip Flop) Simplified equations for the system. From Laws of Boolean Algebra ( The equations are, Circuit simulation using Multisim software, Figure 4 (main red and sub green for 10s) Figure 5 (Main amber and sub red and amber for 2s) Figure 6(main red and sub green for 10s) Timing Counter Figure 10 Main green and sub red Figure 11 (Main amber and sub red and amber) Figure 12 (Main red and sub green) Figure 13 (Main red and amber sub amber) Task 4 Item name quantity Price (Rs) 2 pin AND gate IC 5 120ÃÆ'-5=600 3 pin AND gate IC 2 120ÃÆ'-2=240 2 pin OR gate IC 1 40ÃÆ'-4=40 3 pin OR gate IC 1 40ÃÆ'-1=40 2 pin XOR gate IC 1 40ÃÆ'-1=40 Dual JK FF IC 10 100ÃÆ'-10=1000 Dual D FF IC 1 100ÃÆ'-1=100 DCD 7 Segment decoder IC 5 100ÃÆ'-5=500 7 Segment display 5 50ÃÆ'-5=250 NOT gate IC 2 40ÃÆ'-2=80 Red color LED 2 5ÃÆ'-2=10 Amber color LED 2 5ÃÆ'-2=10 Green color LED 2 5ÃÆ'-2=10 wires 20m 15ÃÆ'-20=300 Power adaptor 2 150ÃÆ'-2=300 Total 3420 Table 3(design cost) Remake design Figure 14(remake design) Compare the cost Item name Previous cost (Rs) New cost(Rs) 2 pin AND gate IC 1ÃÆ'-120 = 120 1ÃÆ'-120 = 120 3 pin AND gate IC 1ÃÆ'-120 = 120 0 XOR gate IC 1ÃÆ'- 40 = 40 0 D type FF IC 1ÃÆ'-100 = 100 1ÃÆ'-100 = 100 Decoder IC 0 1ÃÆ'-100 = 100 NOT gate IC 1ÃÆ'- 40 = 40 2ÃÆ'- 40 = 40 OR gate Ic 1ÃÆ'- 40 = 40 1ÃÆ'- 40 = 40 total 460 400 Table 4(compare table) In new design cost is less than old design Reference à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‹Å"à ¯Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Mano M.M,Michael D.C. (2008).Digital Design.New Delhi:PHI. à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‹Å"à ¯Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Floyd,L.(2011).Digital Fundamentals.10th ed.India:Pearson. p271- 287. à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‹Å"à ¯Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  http://www.topssrilanka.com/article24948-new-traffic-ligth-system-atbambalapitiya.html.Lasr à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‹Å"à ¯Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2012/06/03/imp01.asp

Gaining Control of the Gene Responsible for Apoptosis Essay -- Apoptos

Gaining Control of the Gene Responsible for Apoptosis When we gain control of the gene responsible for the phenomenon of apoptosis, we will be in control of aging. We are finding more evidence every day, indicating genetic links to all sorts of factors in the human being. We are just now beginning to scratch the surface of our own genetics. A landmark discover has just been unveiled: In February [2001], the two groups charting the human genome published their results—the entire 3 billion base pair sequence. The only definitive conclusion so far: Humans are far more complicated than we thought. †¦Eric Lander, director of the Whitehead Center for Genome Research in Cambridge, Massachusetts †¦ adds: â€Å"within a decade, we will understand a lot about the causes of diseases. Understanding, however does not translate into cures.† (Sinha 43) With this research we will uncover more factors that our genetic code regulates, many factors that were previously believed to be random events. Spontaneous cell death, as it turns out is not spontaneous at all, but genetically predetermined at conception. Cell death is an essential part of life. The cells in our bodies are constantly dividing, producing hundreds of thousands of new cells every second. To maintain balance, for every new cell, another cell must die. Our cells are programmed to kill themselves through a process called apoptosis. This in-built program of cell suicide prevents cancer by eliminating cells with damaged genes (Cotran 18). Similarly, our bodies replace cells with a new type of cell when a change is needed, such as during embryonic development (Cotran 18). To illustrate this point, we look at one of Dr. Adamchak’s â€Å"stories of physiology,† as taught from Martini... ... Schneider, Edward, L. New York: Plenum Press, 1978 Cech, T. â€Å"Life at the End of the Chromosome: Telomeres and Telomerase.† 20 Sept. 2000, National Institute on Aging, NIH Massur Auditorium, 18 March, 2001. . Cotran, Tucker, and Vinay. Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease 6th ed. Philadelphia: Saunder, 1999 Heydari, Ahmad, R. Understanding the Secrets of Aging and Cancer Through Nutritional Intervention. 3 January, 2001, Heydari Laboratory, Wayne U., 19 March, 2001, . Leeuwenburgh, C., Pollack, M. Mitochondrial control of Apoptosis in Aging and Exercise. 21, January, 1999 Aging Biochemistry Laboratory, College of Health and Human Performance, U. of Florida, 19 March, 2001, . Martini, Frederic, H. Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology. 4th ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1998 Sinha, G. â€Å"Our Genes Exposed.† Popular Science. May 2001: 43

The Problem Of Transnational Crime And Globalization Economics Essay

Over the class of human history the universe has proven to be a dynamic of all time germinating topographic point with changeless fluctuations in governmental signifier and political power. As humanity has shifted from the babyhood of civilisation to the most complex signifiers of authorities and political relations at that place has ever been a common complaint blighting their stableness, offense. With the origin of regulations there were instinctively people who sought to interrupt those regulations. The relationship between civilisation and offense is a complex and intricate issue. As civilisation raises the saloon in acceptable behaviour offense expands reciprocally to the new sum of limitations. An first-class illustration of the dynamic growing of offense is best scene in the development of multinational offense. Born from merely smuggling common points in a high duty environment, multinational offense has expanded into an luxuriant system of illicit trade, smuggling and drug dealing. Condemnable justness bureaus have struggled to maintain gait with this exponential addition in multinational offense, but they are hindered by built-in administrative and direction issues, viz. the mutualist nature of multinational offense and condemnable justness bureaus and the bureaucratic nature of condemnable justness organisations. The Situation Transnational offense has existed since the birth of autonomous states. With the separation of states there arose a possible market for goods and necessarily there arose those who would prehend a possible net income market. In its babyhood multinational offense chiefly consisted of the transit of legal goods through illegal channels to avoid high duties. There were of class other fluctuations, but for the most portion multinational offense was defined by the smuggling of common things such as salt and other basic demands. The first displacement to happen in footings of multinational offense came with the lessening in duties. To advance greater trade and more import and export, many authoritiess lowered trade limitations and duties. With the lowering of duties the market for common goods shrank vastly. There was still a demand for such things a salt, but now they could be provided lawfully for a really low monetary value, a monetary value low plenty to cut profoundly into the net income border of smuggling. With this cut into the bottom line runners were forced to spread out into new and other underrepresented fluctuations of illicit trade. One such fluctuation was the signifier most normally represented today by the multinational offense market, the smuggling of prohibited goods across international boundary lines. In truth all international offense is, in some signifier or another, a discrepancy of smuggling. Be it arms, money, people, or information, conveying a forbidden point across international boundary lines is smuggling. This fact exploded with the origin of globalisation which represented the biggest blessing to transnational offense since the creative activity of boundary lines. The conveyance of illicit goods across boundary lines became a much more complex and profitable thing with the spread of globalisation. As defined by Merriam Webster lexicon, globalisation is: the act or procedure of globalizing: the province of being globalized ; particularly: the development of an progressively incorporate planetary economic system marked particularly by free trade, free flow of capital, and the tapping of cheaper foreign labour markets. Globalization has been marked by an exponential addition of engineering and loosened trade limitations that have drastically increased the mutuality between autonomous authoritiess. This mutuality has reciprocated and furthered the spread of globalisation as more states portion more cognition, wealth and chances. The Problem The important defect with the spread of globalisation is the elitism of the system. Whereas first universe states find the spread of globalisation a blessing to their economic system and position, 2nd and 3rd universe states have small to gain from the legal side of globalisation. As a consequence many less industrialised states turn to the illicit market to vie with their more industrialised rivals. The spread of globalisation serves many positive maps, but it is inherently tied to multinational offense. The simplest manner to explicate the relationship between multinational offense and globalisation is that one facilitates the other, i.e. globalisation helps to ease the growing and enlargement of multinational offense. Taken from chapter four of Transnational Crime in the Americas, Peter Andreas sums up the construct magnificently. â€Å" Governments face an progressively awkward but ineluctable quandary: policy steps that facilitate the flow of legal trade-improved transit systems, deregulating of transportation, denationalization of ports, and so on-also accidentally facilitate illegal trade. † This is the sad truth about the nature of globalisation and the effects it has on multinational offense. While there does be another option, to decelerate the growing of globalisation thereby impeding the advancement of multinational offense, this option is a failed program about from the oncoming. Moises Naim makes a really clear point on why it would be impossible to hinder the gro wing of globalisation in chapter 11 of his book. â€Å" History and common sense say that, in the long tally, market forces tend to predominate over those of authoritiess. † What this means is that, with the market presently focused on growing and multinational mutuality, authorities interceding will be countered in malice of the fact that that this market focal point is bolstering multinational offense. Globalization has served to increase both the legal and the illicit side of trade in many ways. One of the first is the exponential addition of engineering. As engineering increases the avenues upon which trade can happen addition. As an illustration consider transportation. A millenary ago smuggling was alive and prospering, yet ocean trips by see took months and the potency for lading to be damaged or destroyed in so much clip was high. As of today though, travel by ship is both faster and much more secure. To foster the analogy, the origin of aeroplanes revolutionized trade, illicit and legal. Even the steam engine revolutionized overland travel. Another avenue through which trade has prospered is the promotion of communications. While simply another facet of the engineering roar, communications have exhaustively revolutionized international trade and multinational offense to the extent that is has created wholly new signifiers of trade and offense. With the birth of the cyberspace and e-mail the inundation Gatess have been opened for trade. With eBay it is now possible to order a Peruvian rain stick from a place in Vancouver and have it delivered to the receiver in London as a birthday gift. Inversely, it is besides now possible to put a petition for a amount of illicit goods to be delivered by manner of an anon. electronic mail history without the two felons behind the enterprise of all time holding the demand to run into. The Possibilities There exist two chief political orientations of idea refering the proliferation of modern-day multinational offense. The two trains of idea are the â€Å" asymmetrical battle theory † and the â€Å" mutuality theory † put Forth by Moises Naim and Peter Andreas, severally. The two theories differ greatly in position refering the rise of multinational offense, but both writers present relevant and convincing statements for each instance. Moises Naim presents the thought that authoritiess are neglecting in the battle against multinational illicit trade due to the asymmetrical nature of the organisations in competition. Moises rapidly lists the rivals as governmental entities versus organized offense webs and bases the Southern Cross of his statement in the very nature of a bureaucratism versus that of a web. Harmonizing to Naim, all bureaucratisms tend to exhibit the same four key traits that limit their ability to vie against a net work. The first cardinal characteristic is that bureaucratisms tend to be really structured doing communicating between units non portion of the same perpendicular line of bid really hard. In comparing, webs are a loose group of single cells and that allows for rapid decision-making and alteration. The 2nd point that Naim makes is that authorities bureaus have to work within the restraints of a budget. Not merely that, but they have to get the budget which redirects manpower and concentrate from the arguably more major issue of contending the felons. Against this, webs draw their resources from their patronage, intending that financess are virtually illimitable depending on what is supplied and to whom. Continuing on, Naim draws attending to the political and legal bounds that authorities bureaus must work within, while illicit bargainers can work within the restraints of the jurisprudence when the demand suits them, but they besides have the option to work outside of the jurisprudence, which provides more manoeuvrability. Ironically, there is a really disposed quotation mark to sum up this thought taken from Transnational Crime in the America. â€Å" aˆÂ ¦if you play by the regulations and I can rip off a small, I get the benefit of both the regulations and my cheating. † Naim ‘s concluding point is the trouble authoritiess have working outside their ain boundary lines due to the limited authorization, linguistic communication issues and all the other jobs that accompany being in a foreign state. Against this, webs tend to be as comfy abroad as they are at place and even place is get downing to hold a looser definition to webs. The opposing theory to this is the dependence theory put away by Peter Andreas. Andreas describes the self-contradictory nature of the state/smuggler relationship get downing his point on the most obvious issue, runners depend on province Torahs for their being. This thought seems simple, but is genuinely instead profound. Andreas quotes Adam Smith about this. â€Å" A runner is a individual who, although no uncertainty blamable for go againsting the Torahs of the state, is often incapable of go againsting those of natural justness, and would hold been, in every regard, an first-class citizen had non the Torahs of his state made that a offense which ne'er meant to be so. † The fact here is that the Torahs put forth by authoritiess form the footing of the full entrepreneurship of smuggling. Andreas goes on to mention the corruptness and payoffs that ease the force per unit area runners face, and how these under the tabular array payments map as a type of illicit income revenue enhancement. This thought is besides expanded upon in that there are some countries of the universe where illicit trade forms the anchor upon which full economic systems are based. Much of Latin America can be referred to as narco-states ; in that, the greatest export they produce is narcotics. Furthermore, the same can be said for some parts of Southeast Asia. Mexico ‘s 3rd highest gross is remittal from Mexicans smuggled into the U.S. In the face of this, what ground do many topographic points have to check down on illicit trade? Furthermore, is it ethically sound to destruct the fiscal base of some states for any ground? Beyond corruptness, there is besides the fact that the money controlled by runners frequently enters the control of the province through legal channels. One such method is plus forfeitures Torahs. In add-on, much of the illicit goods that enter the state are for the really citizens whose revenue enhancements support a system that is opposed to the really goods they desire. There is besides the fact that much of the information the province has on runners is, in fact, recovered from other runners. Finally, what is arguably the most affecting ground behind the mutuality theory ; it is the really continuity of smuggling ( and the perceptual experience of it as a turning menace ) that is the most important for prolonging and spread outing jurisprudence enforcement. Examined more elaborately, this is could perchance be the footing upon which the remainder of the mutuality theory remainders. The Inference In the face of these two opposing point of views it seems that the mutuality theory holds greater weight. While there is an obvious asymmetrical nature to the battle between authoritiess and organized condemnable webs, the grounds does non back up the difference being that belittling. The current construction of bureaucratisms has managed some really important victory over organized offense. The job that is frequently cited is that even if one cell of the web is shut down another is ready to take over. While this statement seems to back up the asymmetrical theory, the inquiry remains, how are these displacements of power so easy? The mutuality between the province and the illicit trade webs allows for the easy displacement in power. It is easy to state that there is ever person waiting in the wings, but where do they get down to reform the lost connexions of the old mediator? Some corrupt functionaries must willing seek out, or readily accept, new participants to go on the concern of corruptness. If there were a crackdown on corruptness, illicit bargainers would bear much of the political force per unit area they are presently protected from. In add-on, if the construction of bureaucratisms is such a booby trap in the battle against illicit trade, why is at that place merely non a reorganisation of bureaucratisms? This deficiency of alteration could besides be attributed to the mutuality between the province and illicit trade. The current system works to stem some of the flow of illicit trade, but does non, can non halt it wholly. The necessary bond between the province and illicit trade is what keeps this blemished system in charge as a type of via media between what should be done about illicit trade and what is being done. Interdependency stands as the Southern Cross of the issues with the conflict between authoritiess and multinational offense. Equally long as there is such a strong bond between the two forces at that place will ne'er be any important advancement made on the forepart of multinational offense. And yes, while the asymmetrical nature of the battle between bureaucratisms and webs is an issue, it is non the major issue and may even stand for another facet of the job with mutuality. The Decision Ultimately, this weakness in the war on multinational offense is a direct representation to the weakness in the disposal of condemnable justness Fieldss. Whether there is more acceptance to the mutuality theory or the asymmetrical battle theory, both theories posit that there is an built-in weakness in the direction of the regulating organic structures of condemnable justness. Without some kind of elaborate scrutiny and re-haul off the system there can non be any existent alteration in the struggle between condemnable justness bureaus and multinational offense. Globalization is a existent and dynamic thing that is presently reshaping the class of universe history. However, with all of the good that this entails, there is besides much negative. As globalisation forces lowered trade limitations, increased transit locales, and deregulating of transporting to foster the ends of multinational mutuality, these same actions have served to ease the growing and worth of the multinational offense market. To antagonize this there must be a alteration in the direction of the condemnable justness bureaus dedicated to forestalling this. Without such a alteration there can ne'er be a decisive triumph on the multinational offense forepart.

Competition Energy Drinks Essay

The beverage industry, like most food service industries in these economic times, faces many challenges. Not one company is excluded from the challenges of economic conditions, demographics, social and global forces, and regulatory, political, and legal factors. The global economic conditions affect the energy drink industry in many ways. This industry depends highly on the disposable income of its customers. People are very cautious with their money these days and if additional income does not exist to purchase these items, then the companies suffer. In recent projections, however, this does not seem to be the case. The global industry factors show a projected growth of $20 trillion in sales between 2009 and 2014, and demand for these alternative beverages is expected to increase globally as customer purchasing power increases. Social factors play an important part in the industry’s strategy, as well. With customers concerned with healthy lifestyles and exercise, the alternative beverage industry has increased sales in the last decade. Customers demanding low calorie, energy & vitamin-enhancing drinks turn to these types of beverages for their needs instead of carbonated soft drinks. Alternative drinks are consumed by a slim demographic. These products are generally used by young adults, college and high school students, athletes and exercise aficionados. Another branch of these drinks are the energy â€Å"shots,† which have become very popular in the last decade. With new legislation and changing regulations, it is very important for companies to stay abreast of all changes. There has been an increase in negative reports on what affects energy drinks have on people that use them, from high blood pressure to arrhythmia, which as forced some companies to include warning labels on their packaging. There is also a concern with the consumption of these drinks contributing to the obesity issue, many of these drinks contain high fructose corn syrup, and many additives that can contribute to weight gain if consumption is not limited. Competition is fierce in this industry; not only between the two biggest competitors, Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo Inc., but also Red Bull GmbH, Hansen Natural Corporation and privately owned regional brands. The two major companies, Pepsi and Coca Cola, are strong competitors within the alternative beverage market and use both the introduction of new products as well as the introduction of existing products in new markets to increase sales. Pepsi has introduced several new products – Charge, Rebuild, and Defend – three new brands available to consumers interested in vitamin-enhanced drink alternatives. Pepsi has also recently agreed to distribute the â€Å"Rockstar† brand drinks in Canada and the United States. Coca-Cola Company’s strategy is to distribute their existing brands in the new markets of Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and other Asia/Pacific countries. In order to compete with these two major companies, Red Bull relies on sponsorships and promotion as well as celebrity endorsements. By using advertising in this manner, Red Bull is able to use its slogans and logos in a variety of ways to get their name out into the public. Hansen Natural Corporation utilizes a different approach to boost sales. This company increased their package size and still maintained a competitive price compared to Red Bull. Like Red Bull, Hansen also uses celebrity promotion and sponsorship as a marketing tool. This is not to say that PepsiCo Inc. and Coca-Cola Company do not utilize this method of advertising, as they both spend billions on advertising promotions, celebrity, and sporting endorsements. The competitive edge in this case lies with PepsiCo Inc. , whose sales of energy and alternative beverages have surpassed its competitors in the past few years. New entrants are not a strong competitive pressure for this industry. The dominating companies are unsurpassed in their strong brand names and great distribution channels. The industry is fully saturated. These factors make it difficult for new companies to compete against them. Any new company wanting to get into this industry would face high capital start-up expenditures and would surely fail due to the high cost. Substitution of products is also an area where the competitive force is low. With brand loyalty, the market for substitution is very low. Consumers want the brands they are used and won’t accept substitution. Suppliers for the industry do not hold much competitive pressure either. Suppliers to this industry are bottling equipment manufactures and secondary packaging suppliers. The suppliers have little bargaining power, as the two major brands own their own bottling centers. As discussed earlier, changes in this industry’s long-term growth rate is a positive one. Growth is high in this market and is expected to continue to grow. One of the reasons for this is the increasing globalization. Coke is expanding its operations to be more global as are some of its competitors. The changing spectrum of the customer base is not really a factor here. Most of the demographic has not changed much since the introduction of these alternative beverages. Marketing and innovation has to continue to grow so that the company can grow. Regulatory influences and government policy changes are a huge factor in this industry. As the customers call for increased legislation and regulation of the ingredients, the companies have to make adjustments to their drink formulas, and this could prove costly if not monitored closely. Society is constantly changing and this industry needs to transition with these changes. By the introduction of new products and the re-tooling of existing products, all of the competitors can be successful. This industry has several success factors, product marketing, product differentiation, brand name, a strong distribution network and the ability to adapt to change. PepsiCo Inc. and Coca-Cola Company have strong aspects of all of these factors which is what has made both of them so successful. PepsiCo Inc.has branched into the food market as well as remaining in the soft drink and alternative beverage markets. Coke has had a similar strategy and relies heavily on their brand name and product recognition. All of the companies have unique and successful marketing techniques such as sponsorships, promotions, and celebrity endorsements. In order to achieve a successful strategic plan, a company needs to establish a group of people to discuss the goals and objectives of their company, sometimes called a task force. The task force should then decide what the company’s goals and objectives are. By drafting Mission and Vision statements, this task force can begin to convey their goals and objectives. Strategic planning is an on-going task for every company. When a plan is established the implementation and monitoring phases begin. To be successful a company should be constantly monitoring its goals and objectives and changing them when the need arises. With competition so high in this industry, a strong strategic plan is critical. In viewing these companies one can see that their plans are very strong. In order to continue to grow and compete in this market all companies need to look forward at the changing times, attitudes and cultures. All of the companies in this market, as with any market, need to maintain their competitive advantage and find new and different ways to achieve it. A comprehensive action plan needs to be put into place and reviewed often. By doing this all companies have a better chance at keeping their competitive advantage and enjoying better profits for their shareholders.

Shakespeare Greatest Playwright of All

William Shakespeare: Greatest Playwright of All William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was a British poet and playwright, he was well known as the greatest writer of all time, he was often called the â€Å"Bard of Avon†. Although many facts of his life remain unknown, his poems and plays are unique and have timeless theme that touch everyone’s heart, and are still widely studied and performed in today’s society. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, England enjoyed a time of prosperity and stability that led to a new era for England.Shakespeare’s works epitomize arts of the Elizabethan Epoch; through his uses of beautiful and poetic language, iambic pentameter is nearly always used in his style of poetry. Shakespeare wrote about timeless themes about the human nature surrounded themes of true love, revenge, power-lust, ambition, anger, war, etc, they are not only appealed to the people of Elizabethan England, but also provide a reference for life in his time for us to view the contemporary society. Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon Avon in Warwickshire and was baptized on April 26, 1564.His father was a wool merchant and his mother was the daughter of a landowner. The next documented event was his marriage when he was 18 years old to Anne Hathaway who was 26 years old at that time, and they had three children. There was another gap where some scholars referred to as â€Å"the lost years†, then he was working in a theatre in London in 1592. Shakespeare wrote his very first play, Henry VI, Part One in 1589-90, and in  1590-91, Shakespeare wrote Henry VI, Part Two and Henry VI, Part III. Shakespeare's poetry appeared before his plays, his narrative poems Venus and Adonis as his first ever publication in 1593.Then Shakespeare wrote plays began to be noticed by the public, and sooner became popular. During the Renaissance in Europe there was a great innovation of science; the Church had lost some of the corruptive power that once held over Europe, and people were again free to look back upon the pagan scholars and writers of Greece and Rome. Plays by playwrights such as Euripides, Plautus, and Seneca which were once banned by the Church were once again being read and performed. Likewise, the cultural stories of the people were once again being told in public, and playwrights, including Shakespeare, were widely performed.An good example would be Midsummer Night's Dream, Shakespeare used ancient Celtic and Greek mythological figures such as Puck, Oberon, Theseus and placed them in a different time and place, but with their original characteristics. Other plays, such as Romeo and Juliet make references to popular mythological figures like Queen Mab to make the story fit better into their world. Since people of all classes attended plays, playwrights needed to use stories, characters and words that would appeal to everyone.England in the time before the reign of Elizabeth I was under a state of religious turmoil . When Elizabeth I ascended to the throne, she banned the performances all religious plays and stories (except in Church) to help stop the violence over religion. Popular plays were   not longer be performed, and playwrights were now free to concentrate on secular stories. They still contained some elements of religion, as did everyday life in Elizabethan England, but it was not the primary focus, nor did it play a particularly important part of the story.Conventions from Medieval religious theatre found its way into Elizabethan Theatre, however, and Shakespeare made good use of them during their performances, such as using the trap door for the gravediggers’ scene in Hamlet. The Hellmouth and trapdoor, which had been a staple of Medieval Theatres continued to be used, and were built into the permanent theatre structures used in the performances of Elizabethan plays. Shakespeare’s histories, such as Henry V, were a tribute to the Monarch and to the country.Many playw rights and other artists paid homage to their patrons, including Shakespeare. By writing about the glories of England and her former rulers he was paying homage to Queen Elizabeth and England. Since the arts were kept alive by patrons, it was best not to anger one and lose your support. Shakespeare sometimes, such as in Hamlet, criticized the Monarchy, but in a way that would not be obvious or outwardly treasonous. He spoke his mind, but also paid lip service to keep money coming from his patron. Shakespeare was a very prolific writer, because his writings are not totally original.He had help with many of his plays from other writers and actors, such as Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593), resulted people doubting that he himself wrote his plays. King Lear is based on a Celtic myth, and Hamlet is a retelling of earlier versions of the same story. Elizabethan plays use stock-type characters like those found in Comedia Del’Arte and Roman plays, and actors would specialize in specif ic types of roles. The English Renaissance Theatre played a significant part of Elizabethan theatre and Shakespeare's playwright career. The theatre has a proscenium-arch stage, and seatings on hree tiers (stalls, circle and balcony). Shakespeare first worked for Lord Strange's Men in The Rose, it is London’s most historic Elizabethan Theatre on Bankside and a home to many of Shakespeare’s and Marlowe’s first production. When the Globe was built, He worked for the Lord Chamberlain's Men, and was also part owner of the Globe itself. People in Elizabethan England were very concerned with the humour, which was a form of medicine and psychology. Shakespeare makes references to them all over in his plays. Hamlet is portrayed as being to Melancholic, with his humours out of balance, and one was dominant over the others.This is not psychology as we know it today, and was why the people from Elizabethan Era believed people were the way they were. Shakespeare used this b elief to make his characters not only believable, but also understandable to his audience. Shakespeare’s works are the greatest representation of art from Elizabethan England politically, economically, and socially. No other art form, including painting, could provide so much information about life in Elizabethan England, we can see the ideas, thoughts, languages, customs, etc throughout his plays. Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets and 37 plays in total, including tragedy, comedy, and history.The Four Great Tragedies were his greatest achievement as a playwright, and are greatly studied in English literature, performed in theatre, and made into several films; include Romeo and Juliet (1594), the timeless tale of young lovers whose names were synonymous with star-crossed romance; Hamlet (1600), the revenge drama centering on the introspective Prince of Denmark; Othello (1604), a story of gallant soldier and loving husband was undone by jealousy ; and Macbeth (1605), known as †Å"The Scottish Play†, concerning a nobleman's overweening ambition.These plays focused on powerful central characters with outstanding personal qualities, and the antagonists were their own strengths,   their family, and the society, which would not allow then to get what they wanted. For example, Romeo and Juliet sought for true love, but they were forbidden to love each other because their families were  mortal enemies, and the story ended tragically where Romeo drugged himself and Juliet stabbed herself with a dagger.Audience of all times are   appalled at this paradox and at the inexorability of his characters' fate in which because part of our human nature and the cruelty of our society, we don't always get what we desired deeply. Other tragedies include Julius Caesar (1599), King Lear (1604), Timon of Athens (1607), etc. Comedies include  Merchant of Venice (1596),  Midsummer Night's Dream 1595),  Twelfth Night (1599),  Two Gentlemen of Verona (1594), etc.H istory includes  Henry IV, Part I (1597),  Henry IV, Part II (1597),  Henry V (1598),  Henry VI, Part I (1591),  Henry VI, Part II (1590),  Henry VI, Part III (1590),  Henry VIII (1612),  Richard II (1595),  Richard III (1592), King John, etc. Iambic pentameter is meter that Shakespeare nearly used when writing in verse. The reason why Shakespeare's works are always extraordinary is because most of his plays were written in iambic pentameter, except for lower-class characters who speak in prose.Iambic Pentameter has ten syllables in each line, five pairs of alternating unstressed and stressed syllables. Some examples of Shakespearean Iambic Pentameter is â€Å"Two households, both alike in dignity. â€Å", â€Å"In fair Verona, where we lay our scene. â€Å", â€Å"But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? â€Å", etc. Shakespeare's influence continued to impact the society today, his  plays are being performed constantly throughout the world.Ever y day, one of his plays is being performed somewhere, and probably more than one place. More than 410 feature-length film and TV versions of Shakespeare's plays or adaption, have been produced, making Shakespeare the most filmed author ever in any language, including Romeo and Juliet (1968), Romeo+Juliet (1996), West Side Story (1961), Gnomeo and Juliet (2011), Othello (1965), Othello (1995), Macbeth (1948), The Tragedy of Macbeth (1971), etc.Some films used Shakespeare as a character, such as  Shakespeare in Love (1998) is a fictional love story about Shakespeare's romance with a noblewoman, at the time of writing Romeo and Juliet. Many universities offer courses on Shakespeare, such as Shakespeare Studies MA from University of Birmingham, Shakespeare special subject courses from University of Cambridge, Shakespeare and Films from University of Notre Dame, Shakespeare Studies from Boston College, etc.