Cendant Corporation

Cendant Corporation [1] (a) Related parties make decisions based on information provided through financial statements. It is the auditor’s responsibility to plan and perform audit engagement to offer reasonable assurance that the financial statements are correct and fair. (b) The two main categories of fraud that affect financial reporting include misstatements arising from fraudulent financial reporting and misstatements arising from misappropriation of assets. c) Factors that auditor’s should consider when assessing the likelihood of material misstatements due to fraud include: whether or not the company has a reason to make something seem consistent (rationalization), whether or not the company or individuals have an incentive or pressure on them, and whether or not the company has the opportunity to commit fraud. (d) Many factors existed during the 1995 to 1997 audits of CUC that created an environment conductive for fraud. For example, CUC’s top management w as aggressive to increase their market share due to the pressure put on them to meet analyst expectations.CUC had been committing the same type of fraud for many years before 1995, so it was rational for them to maintain their consistency. One person even stated that he thought he was only doing his job. The adjustments that were made at the end of each year brought about the opportunity for CUC to also commit fraud. [3] (a) In the Cendant fraud management override occurred when the CUC management recognized deferred revenue as revenue immediately, or delaying recognition of membership cancelations. (b) To further address the risk of management override of internal controls auditors must remain skeptical that management override exists.Auditors should also become familiar with the company and it’s internal controls upon acceptance. [5] (a) A company may want to hire a member of its external audit team because the auditor is familiar with the company, or management has develop ed a strong working relationship with the auditor from working on the audit together. (b) If the client has hired former auditors it might affect the independence of the existing external auditors in fact and appearance. Current auditors may rely on the representation made by former co-workers.

Rfid at the Metro Group Essay

The market is mature and continually seeks innovative ideas to enhance competitive advantage -Highly capital intensive -Low to moderate labor intensiveness -Low margin; high volume – they take advantage of economies of scale -Characterized by high volume holding capacity controlled through Information Technology Company Facts Metro Group was Germany’s biggest retailer (250 stores, 10 warehouses, 100 suppliers) that operates globally in 6 divisions: Metro Cash & Carry (wholesale), Retail (hypermarkets), Extra (supermarkets), Media Market and Saturn (consumer electronics), Praktiker (building materials), Galeria Kaufhof (department stores) -Metro Group (hereafter, Metro) is the world’s 3rd-largest retailer -Having the capacity to carry large volumes of inventory and have it adequately controlled and managed by cost efficient Information Technology resources – Increased company international expansion overseas -Metro is seeking to improve product accessibility: Having products consumers want in locations consumers can find them easily oReducing shrink in the Supply chain oHaving little to no Out of Stock occurrences -Launched the Future Store Initiative in September 2002 to test different initiative aimed at improving all aspects of the customer experience Competitive Environment -Porter’s Five Forces o Supplier Power- Relatively low; products can be procured from many different places at low price. Products have low differentiation oSubstitutes- High threat with established companies such as Walmart, Tesco, and Carrefour in the same industry. Buyer Power- Moderate level of buyer power. Customers are sensitive to prices, brand names and are willing to investigate substitutes oBarriers to Entry- Relatively high- Metro is rather large and established as well as some of its competitors. Need lots of capital, innovative supply chain management strategy will be need to be able to compete. oRivalry- Moderate to high level of rivalry between the competition. Companies are investigating new way to improve product availability and cut costs Strategic Fit or Alignment -Metro’s supplier have not been implementing RFID as Metro would like i. e. Misplaced, low quality tags are a major issue -Metro’s IT subsidiary has aided in improving fit across the 6 independent sale divisions -There is a lack of fit between employees’ training and the mission of management to implement the RFID -Lack of alignment existent within Metro’s leadership as to whether or not RFID should be applied company-wide as the solvent for Metro’s supply chain issues -Hard Conclusions: Metro should develop an even more strategic relationship with its suppliers so that they are cognizant of how to implement RFID and that they maintain a certain level of quality; Metro should also train its employees on how to apply RFID within their tasks; Metro’s highest management should continue to utilize RFID but should also seek to improve its supply chain in the areas suggested by opponents of RFID RFID Facts -RFID contains at least two parts oIntegrated circuit- storing and processing information, modulating and demodulating a radio frequency and other specialized functions oAntenna- receiving and transmitting the signal Used in enterprise supply chain management to improve the efficiency of inventory tracking and management -Limited growth and adoption in enterprise supply chain markets due to advanced technology needed to implement it Metro’s Competitive Strategy -Metro is a leader in supply chain innovation through the use of the RFID system. Metro does not want to sacrifice quality over costs for RFID which: oReduces shrink because of great accuracy in inventory location oImproves on-shelf availability and reduces substitute purchases oReduces out-of-stocks by reducing poor store execution oImproves productivity and labor efficiencies by eliminating manual entries and barcode scanning -Strengths (Metro) oMore economies of scale oGlobal recognition and success Moving in a positive direction with innovative technologies.

Wk4 INTL304 Forum Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Wk4 INTL304 Forum - Coursework Example Precisely, these sources include communication systems, weapon, systems, and radar. In addition, SIGNET provides data for national diplomacy, scientific use, and economic planning for improving the security of the nation. SIGNET has five components that provide the essential intelligence information3. In particular, these mechanisms are communication, electronic, non-imaging infrared, laser, and radar intelligence. However, these components are categorised into three broad categories that fall under the intelligence community and aid in the collection and exploitation of the signal transmitted from the sources mentioned above4. Precisely, these three groups are Communications Intelligence (COMINT), Foreign Instrumentation Signals Intelligence (FISINT), and Electronic Intelligence (ELINT). Although there are various functions of SIGNET, data collection and signal analysis are the primary and most essential features. First, Signet collects information in different ways depending on the type of message targeted. The NSA receives the raw data and uses its translators, analysts, cryptologists, and other technical experts to convert the unprocessed data into constructive information5. After the collection, processing, and analysis of the raw data, the useful information is passed to the CIA and the Intelligence Community analyst who integrate it with information from other sources to produce a furnished intelligence6. Finally, the data is distributed to various agencies and security personnel (policymakers and the President) who require the information for diplomatic and safety reasons. Central Intelligence Agency. "Intelligence: Signals Intelligence — Central Intelligence Agency." USAgov. Last modified 2010.

Water Cycle Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Water Cycle - Assignment Example The water then return to the ground inform of liquid (rain) or solid (snow, sleet) precipitation. The water that results from the rain flows back into rivers as surface runoff and groundwater. The stages involved in the water cycle include evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff and groundwater flow. Evaporation occurs when the sun radiant energy heats up the water from the surface changing it into vapor. The vapor enters the atmosphere in a gaseous form. Transpiration is also part of the process whereby plants releases water through the leaves after intake in the roots. When both evaporation and transpiration occur, evapotranspiration emerges (Gardner, 2011). Evaporation acts as a purification process. The salty water from the sea or ocean evaporates into steam that is pure water. After the clouds form, the water drops from the atmosphere in form of rain, snow, hail or sleet in a process called precipitation. Clouds are an important part of the precipitation process because raindrops are the drops of the cloud that had condensed from vapor. As condensation adds more water to the cloud particles, gravity pulls them down which results into precipitation. When the rain hits the ground, much of the water infiltrates into the ground becoming groundwater. This will depend on the terrain where the rain drops. If the surface has more openings (cracks, joints), then more infiltration will occur. However, if the water does not infiltrate the soil, then it flows on the surface as runoff. The water flows into rivers that later empties back into the ocean and the whole water cycle begins again. UAE is a country with hyper-arid climate that is associated with high temperatures and infrequent irregular low rainfall. This means that it experiences high evaporation that lead to less rainfall and therefore low groundwater. The water cycle therefore does not favor much the country that meant that they had to

Technology for Learning Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Technology for Learning - Article Example For young students the mind map and the systems based thinking can be quite simple as discussed in the article, but for more mature students, the system can be as complex as required. This is certainly a positive aspect of this manner of thinking since it has inherent scalability depending on the situation the teacher finds him/herself in. If the recommendations given by Coulter (2006) are used in the classroom, technology would become an intrinsic part of teaching as children use software and mind mapping tools to show their understanding of the systems around them. Further, it would also develop the idea of independent thought and individual creativity since the systemic understanding of a given situation could be different for individual children from varied backgrounds. For example, a child who comes from a very religious house may create a mind map in which a divine entity causes plants to grow rather than sunlight. Thus, with regard to the content of the article, a question can be asked if such liberties and a rather independent approach to teaching and learning could be managed effectively with children who are in very junior classes? If yes, then how would the problems associated with such learning be solved and if No, how could mind mapping tools be better used in the class

LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE B PLAYERS - ARTICLE REVIEW

LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE B PLAYERS - REVIEW - Article Example This group does not outshine everyone in the company’s line of duty but packs tremendous knowledge, experience, and ability for saving a company’s future from crises and other performance-based issues. The B Players are not made and neither can they be destroyed. These Players exist in three levels: former A Players, Truth Tellers, and Go-to-Managers. As former A Players, these have the experience and toughness to outshine all the players within the company but they choose to move from the spotlight. As truth tellers, they identify the number of issues that face the company and project it to the authorities capable of strategizing factors to pull the company from financial or performance deficits. As Go-to-Manages, B Players are faced with consultation duties related to the company’s operations and norms. When a company finds itself in performance or financial turmoil, the B Players structure the entity for consultation as their knowledge and experience with comp any process makes them an asset to the company. Managers are provided with a manual-style approach on how to nurture B Players. In a company, most employees are faced with the urge to become top players but their ambitions may pay off or fail, therefore, breaking their morale. However, for B Players, management is urged to accept differences, give the gift of time, hand out the prizes, and give choices. Data Analysis and Opinion: Different players within a company have different goals and mission about their careers and purposes at the company. The business world functions on a 24/7 basis and incorporates players with varying ambitions. A Players are more concerned on how to work their way to the top – their mission is to find out what is good for ‘brand me’. B Players on the other hand, focus their potential for what is good for the company. With this variance, it has been noted that, companies do not, in most cases recognize the efforts or the role of B Players . For example, a company will always give incentives and bonuses to those employees that perform beyond the expectations of many. This is the reason some companies have the employee-of-the-year awards. This awarding system is a way of recognizing talent or skill but also a way of isolating other important players within the company. In this case, if it were the will of every employee to work towards nourishing individual talent and skills, companies would have no one concerned about their long term performances. Various people work for varying reasons; some work to be promoted, some need good pay, and others need to be managers. However, when it comes to the myth that everyone is equal or similar to the other, a line is drawn. Leaders within a company always assume that all people want the same things – money, power, and status – out of their organizations. However, evidence shows that some people are more focused on influencing others in their jobs. For those not worr ied about individual performance or excellence are considered B players – their duty is to influence change on a company-wide scope. However, while this is the fact, management in different companies tends to overlook the importance and purpose of being a B Player. B Players are not different from A Players because they possess the same or even higher level of intelligence. Achievement has been identified as a blend of personality, intelligence, and

How can inequality undermine the development of a country Essay

How can inequality undermine the development of a country - Essay Example In comparison, economic inequality is far more quantifiable and measurable. To put it in simple terms, economic inequality is a disparity in income. This disparity can exist within a village, a country or between different countries. According to Ray â€Å"it permits one individual certain material choices, while denying another individual those very same choices.† There are several methods to measure this inequality, which, I will elaborate on later. According to noted economists Sen and Foster (1973), inequality is deeply interlinked with rebellion and the fall of dynasties. It has been said, that the French and Russian Revolutions were brought about ultimately by the inequality that persisted within the respective societies and the failure to address them. The relationship between inequality and growth or development is often controversial and existing research is still inconclusive in terms of ascertaining the actual cause and effect each variable has on the other. Development in the terminology of economics refers primarily to economic growth and expansion, which usually leads to an increase in incomes. The crux of equality or inequality is how much of the population (i.e. which segments) benefits from this growth. If only one segment of the population witnesses an increase in incomes than economic, inequality exists. Different economists and researchers have come to different conclusions on the relationship between economic inequality and economic growth, these range from inequality having a positive impact on development to inequality causing economic stagnation. As mentioned before both of these conclusions are a cause for debate and neither has been accepted as definitive. What is clear, however, is the fact that both inequality and growth are affected by several factors that are independent of either. The many volumes of research and economic literature available on the subject focuses on the basic question of whether development and inequality

Miami school district negotiation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Miami school district negotiation - Essay Example This also controls incidents of school boards misappropriating the funds by engaging in expensive or unnecessary projects. The redistricting of school boundaries also plays a vital role in limiting future bond packages and maximizes utilization of education facilities in the schools (Greene, 2000). As a result, poverty gaps manifested in the education system are eliminated as well as improving the overall quality of education. Conversely, rezoning of the school boundaries implies that a great deal of students change schools and teachers are transferred. This process is also resource intensive with huge portions of public funds going into it. As a result, there is need for dedication from all stakeholders. Therefore, before school boundaries are redrawn all the concerns and recommendations voiced by stakeholders should be considered. For instance, the quality of education is vital in today’s society. This is one of the fundamental principles that parents consider especially whe n shifting, building and buying their homes in particular school districts. This is because the quality of education that is subjected to children shapes their future as well as molds their personalities, talents and character. Poor quality of education from early stages in life i.e. intermediate and secondary level of education, will adversely affect the livelihood of students (Brantlinger, 2003). Therefore, in the event of redistricting school boundaries parents are usually concerned about teachers’ competence, implemented strategies of accessing and determining quality of education facilities and the standards of education in these schools where they are supposed to transfer their children to. Another factor that parents consider in the event of redistricting school boundaries is the increase in cost and time taken to travel to and from school. Most of the students who should be transferred have to either use the school bus or walk a further distance to get to their new sc hool. Such measures usually disorient students to the extent of adversely affecting their time management and study plans. Moreover, parents also consider that their children will have to be subjected to different environmental factors that may adversely affect their social life (Douglas, Crowson & Shipps, 2006). On the same note, parents fear that their children will have lose ties with friends from the former school which may also affect their social life subsequently affecting their grades. The students too constitute major stakeholders in the education system. The process of redrawing new school boundaries may affect the quality of education they are subjected to especially if the schools they are transferred to have lower quality standards. In addition, they may have to travel long distances, face rejection due to their racial, economic, cultural and religious differences and break friendship ties with their former friends. Conversely, their social life and self esteem may chan ge to be worse. On the other hand, teachers and the other staff will also be affected by the redistricting process because they will also be transferred to a new working environment which also means that there will be a couple of layoffs. Their concern is fitting in and adjusting to the new environment as well as their future and career

Whether the UK combined code on effective board structure add value to Essay

Whether the UK combined code on effective board structure add value to financial performance in the uk banks - Essay Example This is give me good chance to pass, thanks) (THE AREAS THAT ARE COVERED THROUGH THIS QUESTION ARE DISCUSSED IN THE â€Å"THE PURPOSE OF THE DISSERTATION† and THE QUESTION IS ANSWERED IN THE CONCLUSION) On the basis of the main purposes that resulted in the banking crises in the UK, this report examines if the UK combine Code has proven to be valuable in terms of accelerating the financial performance of the UK banks. However, investors expect a lot more from the financial institutions including banks of the United States of America. This report is aimed to review two companies as criteria, in the United Kingdom corporate governance, on board structure and if the United Kingdom combined code is effective on the financial performance. The dissertation clearly identifies the weaknesses, strengths, current performances and failures of the banking industry of the UK. The collapse of the banking sector of the United Kingdom was followed by the bankruptcy of the Lehman Brothers, the largest banking institutions in the United States of America. Since then, the UK went in to deep recession, which was considered to be the worst by many economists. In the corporate governance sector, the United Kingdom is considered as the world leader (Shah, 2009). The most important factor behind the collapse of banks in the United Kingdom is the ineffective and inefficient progress of the board members. This investigation is aimed to review and analyze the major issues and factors that took part in the failure of the banking and financial institutions, more specifically, RBS and HSBC. These banks are compared and examined deeply, aiming to discover out if the entities act in accordance with the combined code generated good financial results. The rigidity of the financial sector provides no room for abidance (Berndtson, 2009).  The business and management corporate entities, at earlier, were governed in harmony only with the

Real Estate Investments Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Real Estate Investments - Thesis Example What makes any investment funds popular Investment funds invariably have the potential of yielding fast, good returns. Real estate is invariably influenced by socio-economic growth and reforms. They are more flexible in terms of liquidity and lock in periods. A vigilant, prudent investor stands good chance of seeing his money grow many times over within a very short span of time. (Shravan Gupta) Regulated and unregulated open-ended investment funds exist in wide range and encompass an incredible array of products and service giving it a clear edge over investments in other industries. Besides residence and commercial purposes, globalization has added a greater dimension to real estate business making local properties available to any prospective buyer from anywhere in the world. Also, real estate is one of the basic needs for every individual and corporation. Hospitality, retail, leased properties, warehouses, restaurants, groceries, etc. depend on real estate to reside, carry out business functions, productions and trade. The demand for land and buildings increases with the growth of socio-economical standards, better infrastructure and stable governance. Development and redevelopment of properties are always taking place and builders are quick to scoop on plum projects ever sprouting ubiquitously at unlikeliest locations with surprising regularity. Realtors have their eyes trained on the virtually inexhaustible and lucrative properties development and redevelopment needs and know for certain for every unit of development there is a buyer waiting somewhere. In the process, it is win-win situation for all concerned except the skeptical, adamant and nostalgic resident ready to battle for status quo. In the circumstances, the cash flow is not only steady and but also shows remarkable rising trend. In deserving cases the government too steps in with tax benefits making the returns all the more attractive. Managers of investment funds ensure higher returns by spreading their finance across many projects. This insulates them against loss suffered by some projects where they have invested funds. This is a healthy strategy and serves as a bulwark especially when the industry is passing through a tough phase. (Assetz Funds Management) Except for insistence on some statutory or auditory recognition by way of normal precautions with unregulated investment funds, the investor can invest his funds with well established, reputed real estate companies. The possibilities of excellent returns exist and are not far-fetched. (Vineet K Vohra) Investors park their funds in schemes where they are assured of good returns within a fairly short period of time, and where they are comfortable in the knowledge that their money is in safe hands. Investments in real estate funds are made in the expectations of quick returns. Most of these investors are well informed in the affairs of the housing and accommodation industry, and in the current situation becoming global in their involvement and perspectives. (Unregulated Funds give Jersey a vision for the future) Equities of Real Estate Companies There are reputed, well-established

Elder Abuse and Living Arrangements in Late Adulthood Essay Example for Free

Elder Abuse and Living Arrangements in Late Adulthood Essay Late adulthood is a period of various biological changes which can impact on an individual’s health and ability to function as easily in society. The stereotypical changes of this stage are paler less elastic skin resulting in wrinkles, thinning hair gradually turning from grey to white, weaker bones, muscle loss, and vision and hearing impairments e. g. cataracts and difficulty with word discrimination. There are changes to the brain also, such as the loss of dendrites which causes a reduction in brain weight and volume and slower synaptic speeds resulting in slower reaction times (Bee 1998, p. 53). Their immune system slows down as well, becoming less effective, and making them more prone to illness (Fernandez 2010, p. 794). Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia and is a change in the brain structure due to the tangling of dendritic fibres in the brain causing severe memory loss and personality changes (Bee 1998, p. 459). Overall, the elderly are more likely to have a chronic illness and disabilities which may impact upon their ability to bathe, walk, feed themselves, prepare meals, shop, dress themselves, and even live independently (Bee 1998, p. 56). This stage of life is characterised by a number of stresses and is a time of reflection. An individual’s changing work status, in particular when they retire, can be a source of stress as work is a major component of adult life and they now have to find other activities to fill their day. There is also the uncertainty of their financial future and whether they will have enough to live comfor tably off (Fernandez 2010, pp. 853-855). Their health or partner’s health may be another source of stress for them, especially if it results in a caring role being required to complete everyday tasks; and the knowledge that their life is coming to an end (Fernandez 2010, pp. 867-868). Fernandez (2010, p. 851) states that late adulthood is a â€Å" time of looking back and taking stock of where we’ve been, what we’ve accomplished, and whom we have touched. † This results in a process called ‘Life Review’ which is gradually looking back at past experiences analysing and evaluating them to develop more secure and complex self concepts (Bee 1998, p. 02). Social interaction is an important part of life, continuing on in late adulthood and is associated with good health and life satisfaction. The elderly have frequent contact with family, finding strong emotional and practical support through them, especially adult children, and tend to have lower levels of institutionalisation with couple s and relatives providing a high level of care and assistance to each other (Bee 1998, pp. 484-490). Friendships play an important role in late adulthood, with many enjoying time with friends more than with family (Fernandez 2010, p. 43). They provide companionship, intimacy, acceptance, opportunities for laughter, sharing of activities, links to a larger community, and protection from the psychological consequences of loss (Berk 1998, p. 609). In late adulthood where and with whom individuals are going to live is an issue they face. There are a number of options available to the elderly such as mobile homes, age segregated villages/communities, institutions, with family, or in their own home (Kalish 1975, pp. 97-99). Deciding which option is the most suitable for an individual can be influenced by a variety of things, such as health, disability, socio-economic status (SES) and culture. Mobile homes such as caravans suit those looking for a low cost and informal arrangement, however, those that have a mobility affecting disability or very poor health may not be suited to this option as they are usually small and on outskirts of towns (Kalish 1975, p. 98). Age segregated villages/communities include retirement homes that provide independent living arrangements or some support depending on the individual’s needs (Johnson 1960, p. 7). They tend to be in semi-isolated areas (making it hard for those with serious health issues to access medical attention), and are quite expensive (only those of high SES tend to be able to afford them) (Kalish 1975, pp. 98-99). The most common institution for the elderly is a nursing home, which cares for those who need considerable attention due to severe physic al or mental disabilities (approximately 5% of the aged population) (Kalish 1975, p. 99). Some residents are unable to feed, dress or bathe themselves, are incontinent or unaware of where or even who they are (Kalish 1975, p. 9). Medicare subsidises some of the costs, but not enough, meaning some individuals are still unable to cover the costs (Kalish 1975, p. 99). Family members provide the most long term care, whether that is a spouse, partner or adult children (Berk 1998, p. 575). It is more common for an elder of an eastern culture to live with their children and extended family, even if healthy, than for an elder from a western culture. Most individuals, even with a moderate disease or health problem, don’t live with relatives, but in their own house (Bee 1998, pp. 82-483). Living in their own home provides the greatest personal control, but those living alone are often poverty stricken and have unmet needs (Berk 1998, p. 601). This is where the Government and charity or ganisations help; they both provide small homes at low costs in suitable areas, as well as providing services such as home help (cleaning mainly), home visiting, and Meals on Wheels (Johnson 1960, p. 48). Elder abuse is a very real and serious issue that occurs during the late adulthood stage of life. There are many different types of elder abuse, including physical abuse (use of physical force resulting in injury, pain or impairment), sexual (non-consensual sexual contact), emotional/psychological (inflicting anguish, emotional pain or distress), neglect (failure to fulfil obligations or duties to an elder), financial exploitation (improper use of an elder’s funds, property or assets), and medical abuse (failing to provide adequate medical treatment or misusing medications) (Biggs 1995, pp. 6-37). It can also be intentional (conscious and deliberate attempt to inflict harm) or unintentional (inadvertent action resulting in harm, usually due to ignorance, inexperience, lack of desire or inability to provide proper car) (CSAP’s Prevention Pathways 2004). Stereotypically, it is nursing home residents that are more likely to be abused, as they are believed to be â€Å"vegetables†, and Kalish (1975, p. 9) states that health care professionals sometimes describe fe eding the resident using the expression, â€Å"watering the vegetables† which highlights this view and often leads to elder abuse as a way of degrading the elder and punishing them for needing attention and help. Unfortunately many nursing staff receive little or no in-service training and receive a very poor wage, so they feel out of their depths and do not enjoy the tasks required of them, which increases the risk of elder abuse as they feel frustrated, especially if the elder’s abilities are declining and need more care (Kalish 1975, p. 00). This leads to very few long term facilities providing intellectual or sensory stimulation. The more staff fail to stimulate the residents, the more they have to do for them, and the more the residents sink into despondency, creating more stress and frustration for the carers; becoming a viscous cycle (Kalish 1975, p. 100). The lack of stimulation itself, could be a form of unintentional neglect, as their intellectual needs are n ot being met. Despite the stereotypical view of nursing homes, it is in fact those who live in their own homes or with family who are abused the most, and it is the family that are usually the abusers, especially sons (Biggs 1995, p. 41). Victims of psychological or physical abuse tend to be physically well but have emotional problems while the abusers tend to have issues with alcohol and/or mental illness and live with the victim and are usually dependent on them (Biggs 1995, p. 43). Victims of neglect are usually very old and mentally or physically impaired with very little social support, and the abuser suffers chronic and continuing stress (Biggs 1995, p. 43). Those who are unmarried with limited support are at more risk of being financial exploited, with the abuser having financial problems or dependent on the victim for finances and accommodation (Biggs 1995, p. 43). In 1993 the Commonwealth Government established the Working Party on the Protection of Frail Older People in the Community to protect the rights of residents in nursing homes (Biggs 1995, p. 53). Interestingly, mandatory reporting legislation that America has was rejected by most states in Australia at first and it wasn’t until July 2007 that compulsory reporting of unlawful sexual contact or unreasonable use of force was brought in, but this still doesn’t cover all elder abuse and only applies to residents of an Australian Government subsidised aged care facility (Aged Rights Advocacy Service 2012). Erik Erikson was a German psychoanalyst who developed an eight stage psychosocial development theory; this essay will focus on his last stage, ego integrity versus despair (Fernandez 2010, p. 21). The basic concept of this stage is the question ‘Was my life meaningful? ’ and involves looking back on one’s life to determine this. The hope is that the individual will come to terms with and accept who they are and have been, the choices they have made, and the opportunities they have gained and lost, and their impending death and thus achieve the vi rtue of wisdom (Bee 1998, p. 501). If they don’t come to terms with their life they develop despair, where they feel dissatisfied with their life and feel it is too late to change it (Berk 1998, p. 88). For example, someone who has very poor health and is reliant on others to help care for them may feel like a burden and have a sense of hopelessness resulting in them continuing to live alone as they do not wish to put others out. While someone else may view it as they’ve lived a long healthy life up until now and they have a loving family who is willing to help them in their old age, leaving them with a sense of fulfilment and satisfaction, and will happily move in with relatives. Another example might be living in a retirement home, some elderly may come to resent the age segregation and feel like society has pushed them to the outskirts to die, while others may feel stronger social connections, higher morale and a general higher life satisfaction due to the close proximity of others of similar age. Erikson’s theory is valuable in providing a guideline by which to understand this stage, but is it as clear cut as having integrity or despairing? Maxine Walaskay classified elderly into one of four categories, integrity achieved (aware of their ageing and accept the life lived); despairing (negative evaluation of life); foreclosed (content with their current life but resist self exploration); and dissonant (just beginning to evaluate their life) (Bee 1998, p. 501). Walaskay’s classification seems to say that not all individuals in this life stage look back on their life and evaluate it, that those in the foreclosed category base it on where their life is at now, so it would seem that Erikson’s theory does not apply to everyone in this life stage. Stress as a transaction theory looks at a stimulus only becoming a stressor when it is perceived that way by the individual, and whether they believe they have the resources to cope. In terms of elder abuse it would focus on the increasing dependency of the elder and a burden of care giving as the cause of stress thus increasing the risk of abuse (CSAP’s Prevention Pathways 2004). It proposes that there are factors influencing the risk of elder abuse in terms of elder related (physical or emotional dependency, poor health, impaired mental status and a ‘difficult’ personality), structural related (emotional strain, social isolation and environmental problems) and carer related factors (life crisis and burn out or exhaustion) (Biggs 1995, p. 25). For example an institutionalised resident’s dementia worsens making them more reliant on the carer, leading to more stress as the carer may not feel they have the capabilities to handle increased roles and this may cause them to abuse the resident. Another example could be an only child suffering extreme financial distress due to gambling debts, who lives with their mentally impaired mother and feels they cannot pay their own debs so they fraudulently use their mother’s funds. This theory looks at the relationship between the dependency of the elder and the stress this creates resulting in abusive behaviour, which research has been unable to prove (Biggs 1995, p. 30). According to this theory, by reducing the level of care giving stress, the likelihood of elder abuse would decrease as well, but this doesn’t take into account other factors that may be attributing to the abuse such as power roles (being physically and mentally more powerful and degrading and abusing the elder as a way to exert and maintain that power), and even a history of violence (if the elder was abusive earlier in their life and the abused becomes their carer, such as a wife or child, then the carer may have learnt that behaviour and carry it on by abusing the elder). There are many biological, psychological and social factors that impact individuals in the late adulthood stage of life, which can contribute to issues they face such as the influence of an individual’s health, ability to function effectively in society and social networks on where and with whom to live and the occurrence of elder abuse. The two theories, Erikson’s ego integrity versus despair and the stress as a transaction theory help provide some guidelines to examine the issues of living arrangements and elder abuse faced by individuals in this stage of life. Reference List Aged Rights Advocacy Service 2012, Mandatory Reporting: Elder Abuse and the Law, Aged Rights Advocacy Service Inc. , accessed 23 September 2012, lt;http://www. sa. agedrights. asn. au/residential_care/preventing_elder_abuse/elder_abuse_and_the_law/mandatory_reportinggt; Bee, H 1998, Lifespan Development, 2nd edn, Longman, Sydney Berk, L 1998, Development through the Lifespan, Allyn amp; Bacon, Needham Heights Biggs, S, Kingston, P amp; Phillipson, C 1995, Elder Abuse in Perspective, Open University Press, Buckingham CSAP’s Prevention Pathways: Online Courses 2004, Out of the Shadows: Uncovering substance use and elder abuse, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, accessed 23 September 2012, lt;http://pathwayscourses. samhsa. gov/elab/elab_1_pg1. htmgt; Fernandez, E 2010, SOCW1003: Human Behaviour 1: Life stress and the life span, McGraw Hill, North Ryde Johnson, E 1960, ‘Social Provisions for the Aged: With special reference to accommodation, clubs and foster homes’, in A Stoller (ed), Growing Old: Problems of Old Age in the Australian Community, Halstead Press, Sydney pp. 46-53 Kalish, R 1975, Late Adulthood: Perspectives on Human Development, Brooks/Cole Publishing Company, California

Shampoo Market Analysis

Shampoo Market Analysis The shampoo market is one of the fastest moving and innovative sectors of the FMCG market. It represents 35 of the EU hair-care market and is lead by three main competitors, Procter and Gamble, Unliver and LOrà ©al who own corresponding market shares 44.9%, 17.7% and 11.4%. The attached report discusses the following points: Main market competitors Growth, decline, trends and developments in the shampoo market Strengths and weaknesses of the main competitors Segmentation of the market and differences between competitors segments Customer profiling and behaviour Shampoo purchasing process It is recommended that in order to achieve a substantial share of the market competitors must cater for as many of the different needs of customers as possible. Wella caters for a wider spectrum than the other competitors: various mens needs, various womens needs and even the elderly. It supports this theory as it has the highest market share as a company. They must also take into consideration the disposable income and current family situation of the customer. They must price products adequately in order to enable the correct targets to purchase their specific product whilst still making profit as a business. Introduction This report was commissioned to analyse the size, structure and segmentation of the UK shampoo market. Shampoo is a Fast Moving Consumer Good (FMCG) that is the cheapest and fastest moving good within the FMCG industry. Within this we focused on the three main competitors; Proctor and Gamble with a 44.9% market share, Unilever with 17.7% and LOrà ©al with 11.4%.We analysed each competitors strengths, weaknesses, methods and processes to target each segment of its market. Main competitors Globally shampoo is the leading segment of the hair care industry holding a 40% share of the market. The leading competitor of this sector is Proctor and Gamble (P G). Similarly, the same trend follows within the EU as it is again the most profitable segment of this market with a 35% share of the hair care market. The same competitor, P G, also leads the EU industry with 24% of the market value. Growth And Decline Since the recent recession, the hair care industry has not emerged unscathed. According to Mintel the recession led to a quarter of shampoo users spending less on shampoo, thus contributing to the  £15 million slide in market value between 2008 and 2009. However, revenue statistics from 2012 show that there was a 3% expansion in hair care products between late 2010 and early 2012, this is supported by the predictions of analysts that shampoo revenue will reach  £19 billion by 2015. Innovation and an ability to adapt helped the hair care market to survive the economic crisis demonstrated by the 165% increases in new product launches between 2006 and 2008. Trends And Developments There has been a number of developments to Shampoo over the years since it first became a product in 1762. In 1890, this then developed into a detergent product, and then the product became further enhanced when in 1903, Shampoo became a powdered product for the first time. The first shampoo product to appear as it does nowadays came about in the 1960s. Most recently, consumers who are looking for a quick beauty fix have helped the dry shampoo market double in size in the past two years. Sales have rocketed by 140 per cent year on year, and research by Mintel found 23% of women and 13% of men own a bottle of dry shampoo. According to Mintel it is especially popular amongst younger women, with nearly 4 in 10 of those aged 16 to 24, compared to 1 in 10 of the over-55s. They also predict that dry shampoo sales will reach up to  £17million this year. A trend that we noticed whilst researching was penetration pricing which is when a business initially sets a low price when entering a new market. When the product becomes established, the company gradually increases its price. We found that around 80-85% of companies launching a new shampoo in the market use penetration pricing as their entry mode strategy. An additional significant trend that we can see in the shampoo market sector is the constant demand for innovation; a brand must maintain its competitive advantage by continuously promoting its brand and undertaking research development. This helps to avoid losing market share and customers to its competitors. Out of all the products that are launched in the UK, a 1/4 of those are new shampoos. One example is the launch of Tescos new affordably priced, high quality range called HBM which targets those most affected by the crisis, offering them professional, salon quality formulations on a budget. Strengths and Weaknesses In order to compare the companies, we analysed their strengths and then their weaknesses. Firstly we studied the strengths of the global leaders Proctor and Gamble being that they operate on a large scale and have a strong brand portfolio which includes the well-known Wella brand. A further strength is that not only do they offer shampoos; but they also offer a wide variety of other household goods: Pampers, Ariel and Duracell. We then studied Unilevers strengths. The group contains many successful brands including shampoos such as VO5 and Tresemme and other FMCGs (Pot Noodle, Comfort, Vaseline and Lynx); if one brand were to suffer fluctuations in sales, it would be supported by the success of another. Within Unilever, each brand is successfully advertised and promoted. A further strength is that there is constant research and development suggesting that Unilever is competing to offer the best they can. Lorà ©al doesnt have the support of being a brand within a group however; it is more concentrated in one market (the cosmetics market) therefore bases its strengths in its portfolio. It is a global competitor and supports its UK market with sales in other countries (130) and employs very successful promotion and marketing techniques through celebrity endorsements. The primary weakness evident with all three main competitors is the stiff competition that they are subject to within the cosmetics market resulting in constant research and innovation. When studying the weaknesses of these organisations we found that Unilever and PG share similar weaknesses as they are groups which are not concentrated on one market. This can mean they have less expertise and experience possibly being a hindrance. (subivision) LOrà ©al has a competitive advantage to these two due to its one market focus. LOrà ©als decentralised organisational structure can be considered an internal weakness as it causes difficulties in managing their world-wide spectrum, a weakness also shared by Unilever and PG. High promotional expenses, primarily from celebrity endorsements, mean that higher investment is taking a substantial risk when launching a new product range. Segmentation This market sector can be segmented in many ways. Firstly it is segmented via demographics; the gender, age, race, religion and income of a person, within which it can be segmented further into life stages. For example an employed bachelor with a house and only himself to provide for, therefore having a higher disposable income, is able to spend money on luxury products including shampoos. However on the contrary in a Full Nest 1 situation, the disposable income is allocated to the needs of others e.g children. A further method of segmentation is through psychographics. This segment considers: the activities, interests, opinions, attitudes and values of customers. In relation to shampoo industry, the attitudes and values of customers are considered greatly importance. The psychographic segment has recently become more importance to companies as customers wanting organic and animal friendly products has become an increasing segment with sales increasing by 24% between 2011-2012. LOreals purchase of the Body Shop in 2006 also opened its doors to a wider customer market. By adopting some of The Body Shops policies such as no animal testing, the refusal to use chemical and products made with natural ingredients, Loreal has recently launched a new line of product befitting to the profile of customer whos psychographics influence their purchase choice. Thirdly there is behavioural segmentation via occasions. However we found that this is not a role taken by the company but a decision taken by the customer. It can be suggested that women in particular tend to use a specific shampoo for a specific occasion. We found that only one shampoo, Tresemme, catered for this type of segmentation, selling their range of salon quality shampoo. Competitor Differentiation Within the shampoo market, the competitors segments differ somewhat. LOrà ©al have always been known to have more of a focus on women, as do most shampoo brands including Wella, which we can see through their recent adverts. However, in recent years as men have started to place more of a focus on self-grooming, LOrà ©al has developed both shampoos and beauty products for them as have Wella. Wellas range is segmented into more specific needs of men than LOrà ©al, whose range is less extensive. Vo5 however, have equal gender segmentation within the brand but not with their shampoo range. Customer Profiling Wella segments its range into two main sections; men and women. Within its range for women it profiles its customers by further segmenting into different needs. Its main focuses are: sun damaged hair, condition improving, older age depleting hair and protection for coloured hair. Its focus is similar to those of other brands however it demonstrates some product differentiation in being the only one of the three main competitors which provides a shampoo to care for sun damaged hair. The bottles retail at  £4 each showing that although the needs of the customer may differ, the price remains constant. Wella has a rather extensive range of 10 shampoos to suit the needs of men all of which also have their corresponding conditioners. Their range includes: Hydrate, Repair, Volumise and again SP Sun like with the womens brand. They are more expensive shampoos than other brands on the market for men as they retail at around  £9 per 250 ml bottle. The 3 most famous brands in the Unilever group are Vo5, Tresemme and Sunsilk. Vo5 are the most recognised brand used by many people and focus on two main segments; gender and styling. As previously mentioned the gender segment is divided equally within the brand, however, they only offer shampoo for women but styling products for both. It can also be noted from publicity that the brand target a young audience of teens and young adults. LOrà ©al has 4 main segments for its shampoos which are directed at: women (selling through a company called LOrà ©al Paris), men (selling through a company called LOrà ©al men expert), the elderly and children (selling through companies called LOrà ©al kids and LOrà ©al Elvive Age Defying).It also has a small expert range of supposedly higher quality products at higher prices aimed at a higher class. Within these demographics its products are split into the different needs of its consumers. Expert Loreal also produce a higher quality, higher priced and ultimately higher class shampoo called hair expertise consisting of: Everpure includes a range of 9 products of which 3 are shampoos: colour cair and moisture, colour care and volume and colour care and smoothing Eversleek includes a range of 6 products of which 2 are shampoos: smoothing and moisture and smoothing and intensely nourish Everstrong includes a range of 3 products including only one shampoo : reinforcing and vitality These are separated into the various needs of the consumers; colour care, nourishment, volume, smoothing and moisture similarly to other loreal shampoos but these are aimed at a more affluent customer retailing between  £6 and  £8 a bottle 16Loreal women- Emma Loriel Elvive for women is broken down into 5 different needs within the demographic They are: coloured hair consisting of a range of 6 products of which 2 are shampoos; Colour protect and Nourish and Shimmer which both retail at  £4 a bottle Hard to manage hair consisting of a range of 7 products of which 2 are shampoos; smooth silk light and smooth silk intense which also both retail at  £4 a bottle Dry and damaged hair consiting of a range of 15 products of which 4 are shampoos; damage care ,triple resist, full restore 5 and re-nutrition which again all retail at  £4 a bottle Long or dull hair consisting of a range of 10 products of which 2 are shampoos; nutri gloss, nutri gloss light and nutri gloss crystal which like all the ranges we have seen so far for women retail at  £4 a bottle And normal hair consisting of a range of 9 products of which 3 are shampoos; multi vitamins and the nutri gloss range is also directed at this group. Again these shampoos all retail at  £4 for a 400ml bottle. So as we can see although the target market for each type of shampoo changes for the specific needs of the consumer, the price doesnt and remains consistent throughout. also: conditioners, sprays, serums, 2 in 1s, hair masks 17LOreal men- Jade Within the demographic for men Loreal Elvive Men Expert is broken down into only three different segments: Anti dandruff intensive 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner, Anti dandruff normal to greasy hair shampoo and regenium xy body building shampoo. These all retail at the same price as womens shampoos  £4 for a 400ml bottle. There are other products in these ranges for mens haircare mainly being styling products, but it is noticeable that the spectrum of products is much wider for women than it is for men. 18Loreal young and old- Yaz Loreal have a product range targeted specifically at children called Loreal Kids, each bottle retails at around  £2.20 Rather than having many products targeted at the various needs of its consumer, in this case as the consumers are children and their hair is less varied in type, they focus more on different aromas of shampoo to meet the different tastes of the children. The one need which children have with shampoo and which is catered for is that their shampoos do not sting their eyes, hence their no more tears slogan. Also to meet the needs of the customer- the parents helping with their childrens hair care routine it is also designed for no more tangles hence the second part of their slogan no tangles They do however have a specific shampoo designed to remove the smell of chlorine and salt from hair after swimming. Other products in the range include sprays and conditioners There is a very limited range available specifically designed for the elderly called age defying which is for those with depleted or thinning hair as they grow older. It retails at the same price as all other loreal shampoos but one will find it when looking, on the womens section of their UK website. This could largely be due to the assumption that men will lose their hair when they age rather than have a depleted amount or quality and therefore dont present much demand for such a product. Customer Behaviour Customer behaviour specifies the amount of involvement in a purchase decision and how frequent certain products are bought. Looking at two types of customers we can distinguish that shampoo can fall into both the variety seeking and the brand loyalty/repeat purchase categories. In the purchasing of a shampoo we have come to the conclusion that there is often low involvement in the decision making process. Sometimes people prefer to variety seek meaning that they will search for and try different shampoos, until they find the one that suits their hair the best. In this category price can be seen as an influential factor. On the other hand there are habitual buyers who may take longer in the purchase decision and prefer to repeat their purchases. This could suggest that they have found the shampoo that suits their hair and prefer to remain loyal with that one brand. Price may be a less significant factor in this process as people are willing to spend extra for a better service/product OR better quality. Purchasing Process The purchasing process that a consumer goes through first begins with the recognition of a problem, such as the need to treat hair in a specific way. The next stage is to search for information about the shampoo necessary for your hair. After this, the consumer then has to do an alternative evaluation looking at other shampoos based on factors such as recommendations and price. The fourth stage of the purchasing process is the store the consumer chooses to buy the shampoo from and whether they purchase the shampoo online or in store. The final stage of the purchasing process is the post purchase activities such as whether the consumer is happy with the results of the shampoo on their hair. Evaluation Conclusion Through our extensive research we have come to conclude that the hair care industry, especially shampoo, is fast moving and innovative. We expected this due to it being an FMCG but not to the degree that we found. Any company in this market must constantly research and aim to improve its products as competition is high. Not only does this demand come from within the industry but also from the customers. They must produce various versions of their product to fit the consumers requirements which has resulted in such broad segmentation. We have seen this through gender, age and other circumstantial means, and considering how many different types of people there are in the world it is not hard to believe that there is a corresponding shampoo for each and every one of us. Appendix Who are the main competitors in this market sector? pg 44.9 unilever 17.7 loreal 11.4 kao brands compaNT- 10.7 own lable- 5.2 jhonson- 5.2 others 2.7 pz cussons 2.2 The main competitors are firstly PG, which contain the very well known brands Pantene prov, head and shoulders and wella Secondly Unilever who own the likes of vo5 tresemme and sunsilk And then Loreal

Preparing a reflective report

Preparing a reflective report Reflective report is the report which covers different stages of the business plan that includes development, idea initiation, business plan development, generating the presentation and feedback. Also is personal role and reflection of the meaning of business plan to determine the knowledge and our involvement in preparing the report which help the student to analyse the whole process of developing business plan from ideas developing to generation of plan. 2. THE TEAM WORK Our business plan group was made up of four members including myself and Saida M. Bandawe, Edna Mtema and Grace Sikaona with the help of our tutor. After we form our group we planned to meet after classes and discuss different business ideas from each member of the team and we decide to work on the Trash Collection project after confirmation with our class lecture. The reason of choosing this project is to prevent environmental pollution in Mikocheni society as well as Dar es Salaam city in the future. The roles distribution ere based on the area of specialisation so as to be able to give contributions in the form of ideas to progress with business plan preparation. Criteria for distribution of roles were convenience, experience, comfort and awareness in terms of how things are done for the success of the company. 2.1 The role In our team we discussed all tasks together in order to give everyone a chance to suggest not only the task they agreed to work on, but also to be aware on how to prepare the parts in business plan. For example every week we had to work one task, everyone on her own and at the end of the week we meet to discuss the ideas and then conclude which is the best. The roles were as follows: Saida M Bandawe did on operational plan and management team and report writer. Edwardina N. Karugendo worked on financial plan and risk assessment. Edna Mtema ,has worked on the business opportunity and industry analysis of our business Grace Sikaona has prepare the details on marketing and also financial plan. 2.2 Specializations Every team member specialised in those roles based on the criteria put forward earlier above which she felt comfortable to deliver the best of the ideas on the field. I worked on Marketing and financial plan as Im currently working in the bank as payment officer. It was easy to me to do financial statements for our business project. 2.3 Contributions of team members All members participated actively in preparation of all the business plan from ideas to complete document, members worked together in all stages until successful submission of the business plan. There were different kinds of contributions from members such as voluntary report writing and collection of data a round different Municipal Council stationeries etc. 2.4 Team forming process The team forming in our class was done by each classmate looking mates she/he can work well and form the best group. After we form our group, the lecture ask each group to find four business ideas, then discuss with her the best based challenging, helpful to the society and not common business among four ideas. 2.5 Efficiency of team work We managed to finish our business plan as planned and submitted on time. The fact that we used to work together and discuss all as a group which has minimised complaints towards a person assigned on that task in case something went wrong or not clear. 3. PROCESS OF IDEA INITIATION 3.1 Arriving at the idea of the business plan The training we got at IIT on Small Business Development for almost six month, has made us to understand how to plan and start up a business and see the need of selecting a specific segment to focus upon. 3.2 Choice from the possible ideas Idea is a purpose or guiding principal. Our group had different ideas such as: Restaurant Tailoring Trash Collection We decided to take the idea of Trash Collection project because we were concerned with preventing environmental pollution in Mikocheni society as well as Dar es Salaam city for the future. Also by considering the World environmental crisis, so by doing this business not only we will be benefit financially but also we will play a big role in protecting our environments. 3.3 Lesson I learnt from the process of idea initiation (Theories) Through business plan preparation I learned a lot and one is time consuming and a tedious work, one need to be passion in a subject and free his or her mind so as to grasp exactly the knowledge that the subject carries. Also I get chance to practice what we learn in class from first year Diploma to my third year. For example a) Marketing theory i) selecting a target market( A niches market) We chosen Mikocheni area as a narrow group of Dar es Salaam city resident but similar interest. (Barringer, B.R. and Ireland, R.D pg 318) b) Financial Theory For any entrepreneur has to have four financial objective which are i) Profitability -Our company ability to make profit ii) Liquidity -Our company ability to meet its short term obligation iii) Efficiency- How productively a firm utilizes its asset iv) Stability -The overall healthy of the company financial structure of our business, particular as it rrelates to its debt-to- equity ratios.( Barringer, B.R. and Ireland, R.D pg 222) I also learnt that sharing ideas with others is very important as it gives a chance to students to examine the ideas deeply as a way to see if it can be implemented, possible merits and demerits, challenges and issues which need a close attention before moving into consideration 4. PRESENTATION EXPERIENCE It is important to present a business plan because it builds a confidence and ability to express she/he ideas and views to the panel 4.1 Importance of the presenting the business plan Presenting in a group might not be a good way instead in our class we had an opportunity for each one of us to present their business plan singly and each members has to present at least two slide, for me this was an excellent way as it helps us to build confidence in defending our opinions and thoughts when answering the questions raised by the panel. During presentation I learnt the following: During presentation is important to be prepared and well organized, otherwise you will end up shaking and get nervous, and hence no massage will be delivered to the audience. In presentation one must focus on what s/he is going to accomplish with the requested capital and less on high level markets statistics. Its important to hold presentation for less than one hour in order to maintain panel attention and not get tired or bored with the presentation. Also in presentations, awareness of the time available to cover important points within that period and maintain presentation flow. Ability to jump back into the presentation after having answered the questions from the panel,, where more clarification on solution of a problem was demanded. Presentation help me to builds more confidence as it was my first time to do presentation, and hope next time it will be more enjoyable and much I learned from this presentation will help me 4.2 Learning Experiences Through the course of small business development I have learned that in order to develop any kind of business someone need to understand the market opportunity either by finding the gape, observing the trend or solving the problem, then the next step will be the business planning. 5. ALTERNATIVE SCENARIOS The prediction of growth in our business plan was optimistic; thus why we put our business idea in the market, get loan from EXIM Bank for the remaining part of the capital required in order to operate business and hoping after three to five years we might manage to return the loans due to high demand of our services. As Entrepreneurs we know every business has its negative and positive outcomes, if EGES Trash Collection does not grow as predicted we will ask help from the AJM Company which has experiences in the trash collection industry to boost the growth depending on what was the reason behind the failure. For example, if the failure was operational, we may ask them to train the operation manager to be trained by their experienced operational manager. 5.1 Usefulness of the business plan By using our business plan, our company can use it as a guide and means to see how well the results of the business are. Also the business plan has put all necessary strategy down which will help the management to use it as guidelines in daily operations activities. For example, the marketing plan guides as an instrument which creates public awareness to potential customers, maintain relationship with the present and retain loyal customers, plan and schedule by taking actions. Also it helps to get feedback from customer on how we are providing the services. Also financial plan will help us to see the direction of the business in terms of income and expenses of the company as are mentioned and projected in years to come, showing where the company would be and where the company stands at present. 5.2 Limitation of the business plan Our business plan if it happens to be implemented the following could be the limitations: Government Law- according to our government law that no one can register the company for trash collection like other company providing services instead has to be sub-contracted by respective municipal or approved trash Collection Company. Bad Infrastructures- with respective to our area of trash collection of Mikocheni resident the street are not organised/viable, this results in hindering the process of collecting trash to be difficult or not possible at all to pass through the street roads especially during rain seasons Resident movement- Most of families in Dar es Salaam, particular in Mikocheni area, the residents are moving from one area to another due to yearly increase of the lease. This will results to bad debtors to our company as there are no National ID to track them to pay their bills accordingly. 6. Conclusion Business plan play all the above mentioned roles in our business development, this is an important document for the life of the company and should be confidential. Business plan needs team dedication in terms of time and idea sharing. For sure each part needs critical analysis for the business to grow and that financial plan is company backbone even if it hectic work to come up with accurate figure in preparing financial projection. All required is the that all members to be proactive on each section such as industry analysis, viability of the business and marketing plan for the business plan for the benefit of their business, Also the Government need to change the law for trash Collection Company registration to be like other companies providing different services. This will help to have best company as the city cleanness is not yet met International standards and also more companies registration will increase competition which might improve the quality of the service provided to the resident and the services cost might decrease.

Dorm Life Essay -- College University Education Student Essays

Dorm Life College can be great; living with your roommates can be a nightmare. But wait†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦before you throw in the towel, make sure you know and understand the rules of a dorm room. Dorm life is something almost every college student must experience. It’s not as easy as it seems either. Most of the time students will try to room with people they know, but normally a student can’t be that lucky to make that happen. It can actually be easier living with people who are complete strangers, than living with people that have been there through life. The first thing to accomplish is knowing the fact that in a dorm room, everyone has a job. Everyone in the room must provide certain things. For example, one should bring the refrigerator, the other, a microwave, and so forth. When things are brought, they are to be shared, that’s what living together is all about. Nothing should be secluded from each other, especially the necessities of the room. If a roommate decides not to share, then they should learn nothing will be shared with them, and should more than likely live alone, if they have a problem with sharing. This should apply to the cleaning of the room as well. Each roommate should separate the chores. It is true that it’s hard to keep the dorm room spotless, but a dirty room can make a persons living arrangement uncomfortable. Someone could be in charge of the garbage; another could be in charge of the dust, which dorm rooms do collect a lot of. Dr. Andrew Johnson, a writer of College Bound Magazine, talks about in his article about dorm issues. For example, with cleaning the room, if a roommate does not do his or her job there are tactics of solving the situation. He says, â€Å" The best way is t... ... to help you on a subject your not having the best of luck in. Roommates should be there to motivate one another and grow closer. Not to fight like five year olds, or kick each other out. It can be easy to void problems, and that’s by not starting them. Everyone needs to have in mind; College is an important time in your life. Be excited to actually be at college, and be excited of the change from home. Take a chance, have an open mind for many college graduates, best memories include their roommate. But always remember that a dorm room is just like a democracy, if a roommate can't compromise then it's going to be there loss, because they will not win. Works Cited Dr. Andrew Johnson, College Bound Magazine, April 2002, 23-26 Henry Wechlsher, Ph.D, Campus Reality, Drug and Prevention, 2001 Interview: Morehead State Student, February 18, 2003

Responses to Human Crises Revealed in The Rite by Hiroko Takenishi Essa

Responses to Human Crises Revealed in The Rite In the short story "The Rite," Hiroko Takenishi tells of some of the horrors that took place during and after the bombing of Hiroshima. This story was a creative response to the actual devastation Hiroko witnessed. She may have chosen to write this story as fiction rather than an autobiography in order to distance herself from the pain. This work may have served as a form of therapy, by allowing her to express her feelings without becoming personal. She could accomplish this by attributing her own feelings and thoughts to Aki, the narrator of this story. The crises to which this work responds was the total annihilation of Hiroshima and the aftershock experienced by those left behind. Those who witnessed this devastation were left to make sense of it, and then attempt to carry on with their lives. Aki had temporarily managed to go on with her life until she went to visit her friend Tomiko. At her friends house she saw "two small jars"that contained "fetuses that had been miscarried"( Takenishi 1895), most likely an after affect of being exposed to the bomb. The sight of these fetuses must have stirred some deeply buried feelings, because shortly afterwards, Aki started to have very disturbing flashbacks and dreams of the devastating event that took place during her childhood. Through these dreams and flashbacks it becomes apparent that Aki is unable to acquire any closure regarding this horrible event. This feeling of deficiency could be, in part, attributed to her feeling that there was a shameful lack of consideration shown for the "rites" owed to those who died. In her eyes they were never properly laid to rest; Therefore they" will not rest in peace" (Takenishi 18... ...in it brought with it ( Takenishi 1907). She felt these memories held a lot of value, and it was important to hold onto them. As she said " someone who can just casually wipe out the memory of his own history will not be fit ... to play the role of the great hero" (Takenishi 1907). I believe she wants to preserve these memories out of respect for those who died, and possibly, as a contribution to their rite. Hiroko Takenishi used the framework of a fictional story to tell of a real life tragedy. As mentioned before, this may have been done to create distance from the writer and her painful memories. This story was a creative and interesting way of allowing others to experience the devastation felt by those who lived through this crises. At the same time it makes clear the suffering and injustice that was inflicted on innocent lives, and the senseless evils of war. Responses to Human Crises Revealed in The Rite by Hiroko Takenishi Essa Responses to Human Crises Revealed in The Rite In the short story "The Rite," Hiroko Takenishi tells of some of the horrors that took place during and after the bombing of Hiroshima. This story was a creative response to the actual devastation Hiroko witnessed. She may have chosen to write this story as fiction rather than an autobiography in order to distance herself from the pain. This work may have served as a form of therapy, by allowing her to express her feelings without becoming personal. She could accomplish this by attributing her own feelings and thoughts to Aki, the narrator of this story. The crises to which this work responds was the total annihilation of Hiroshima and the aftershock experienced by those left behind. Those who witnessed this devastation were left to make sense of it, and then attempt to carry on with their lives. Aki had temporarily managed to go on with her life until she went to visit her friend Tomiko. At her friends house she saw "two small jars"that contained "fetuses that had been miscarried"( Takenishi 1895), most likely an after affect of being exposed to the bomb. The sight of these fetuses must have stirred some deeply buried feelings, because shortly afterwards, Aki started to have very disturbing flashbacks and dreams of the devastating event that took place during her childhood. Through these dreams and flashbacks it becomes apparent that Aki is unable to acquire any closure regarding this horrible event. This feeling of deficiency could be, in part, attributed to her feeling that there was a shameful lack of consideration shown for the "rites" owed to those who died. In her eyes they were never properly laid to rest; Therefore they" will not rest in peace" (Takenishi 18... ...in it brought with it ( Takenishi 1907). She felt these memories held a lot of value, and it was important to hold onto them. As she said " someone who can just casually wipe out the memory of his own history will not be fit ... to play the role of the great hero" (Takenishi 1907). I believe she wants to preserve these memories out of respect for those who died, and possibly, as a contribution to their rite. Hiroko Takenishi used the framework of a fictional story to tell of a real life tragedy. As mentioned before, this may have been done to create distance from the writer and her painful memories. This story was a creative and interesting way of allowing others to experience the devastation felt by those who lived through this crises. At the same time it makes clear the suffering and injustice that was inflicted on innocent lives, and the senseless evils of war.

Benefits of the Red Drum Fishery :: Red Drum Populations

Red Drum populations along the east coast and gulf coast of the United States, have drastically diminished over the past thirty years. The cause of the drop in numbers of this beautiful fish is primarily due to the overfishing from both recreational and commercial fishermen. Federal and State governments have implemented measures in to prevent this fish from being targeted, and to make sure that the population numbers increase. Not only is this fish important for the fisheries in which they thrive, but they also contribute to the biodiversity of a number of different ecosystems. The Red Drum (Scianops Ocellatus) gets their name from the drumming sound they make. [3] Most of these fish, depending on where they are caught, have an orange color to them and typically have at least one black spot on their tail. Depending on where you are at, red drum are also called redfish, channel bass, spottail, red bass, and reds. [3] Red drum have been caught as far north as Massachusetts, though they typically don’t migrate that far north. In fact, the Chesapeake Bay is normally the farthest north that they can be found, and they are caught as far south—in the United States—as the gulf coast of Texas. [1] Red drum spawn between late summer and fall. Females lay their eggs in estuaries and inlets during the night. A single female can produce up to two million eggs per season. The eggs will then hatch anywhere from 24-36 hours after being spawned. As the fish matures, the area in which it lives will change, as will its feeding habits. A male is considered to be mature once it reaches anywhere between 20-28 inches. By this time, the fish is between one and four years of age. Females are considered to be mature when they are between 31-36 inches. A female between these lengths is typically between three-six years old. Red drum can grow upwards of 60-inches, which equates to a 90-pound fish. [1] As a juvenile, red drum eat zooplankton and invertebrates such as crabs and shrimp. A juvenile will spend the first part of its life in estuarial waters, but when they get older they typically move towards the ocean. When red drum move to the ocean, their feeding habits change slightly, to satisfy their hunger. Not only will they eat zooplankton, but they also begin to target larger invertebrates as well as fish. [2] The red drum fishery encompasses both recreational and commercial methods.

Communication and the internet Essay

Many people would say that the internet is the most important invention ever. The internet has changed the way many people live. Decades ago, no one would know that the internet even existed whereas nowadays every home has access to it. One of the main reasons internet was introduced was for communicating. There are many different forms of communication online today that people in the past wouldn’t have thought possible. Many people will say advancement in communications is a blessing because it allows for us to connect with families and friends from afar, enables us to express ourselves in many ways, provides a medium for meeting new people with similar interests, and increases our productivity. The internet has transformed all forms of communication since the beginning of its existence.. The internet was first used by the U.S military for communications purposes. The internet, from the communication point of view, has brought on new developments and techniques to keep in touch not only for individuals, but for businesses as well. An example of how the internet has impacted communication would be an example of doctors now communicating through live video feeds via the internet with patients or other doctors to diagnose patients or to even guide and advise surgeons through complicated procedures. Email (electronic mail) was one of the biggest breakthroughs in communication when the internet was introduced. With email, it became possible to send messages and letters across the world in a matter of seconds to the recipients address. As technology improved, it became possible to ‘attach documents, photographs and even sound clips or songs to emails which made mail by post redundant.

Jollibee Foods Essay

1. On what key resources and capabilities did Jollibee build its market position in the Philippines? Jollibee’s success in its home market developed as a result of its ability to better meet the needs of the Filipino customer. Although its success was mediated by the political and economic crises of 1983, Jollibee was still able to deliver a product that both cheaper and better tasting than that of McDonald’s. †¢As one of the â€Å"5 Fs,† flexibility was an asset of Jollibee. The ability to push forward the Champ burger, competing with the Big Mac, highlights a source of competitive advantage. Market research indicated that Filipinos preferred Jollibee burgers’ spicy taste to McDonald’s plain beef patty. †¢Another source of competitive advantage was Jollibee being able to broaden its core menu of chicken, spaghetti, and a peach-mango dessert pie during the economic and political crisis. McDonald’s foreign brand appeal faded making J ollibee dominantly present in the market with 31 stores. †¢Implementing the â€Å"5 Fs† philosophy and the ability to offer all of these to customers at an affordable price was a well developed operations management capability. Jollibee was able to deliver quality food and service consistently and efficiently in a fun and friendly environment. These were key success factors that allowed Jollibee to expand quickly throughout the Philippines. 2. Which of these deliver sustained advantage? The flexibility to cater to customer needs is a sustained advantage. Not only did Jollibee create a spicy burger that appealed to native Filipinos, they also were able to customize meals for local tastes in foreign markets. Another sustained advantage was the international strategy to target expatriates and planting the flag. The targeting of expatriates allowed the company to ease its transition into an unfamiliar market. The popularity amongst expats could generate publicity and attract walk-in traffic from non-Filipino ListValuable?Rare?Difficult to Imitate?Without Substitutes?Implications for Competitiveness? Developing spicy burger preferred by FilipinosYesYesNoNoTemporary competitive advantage Opening stores where competitors had little or no presenceYesYesNoNoTemporary competitive advantage Flexibility to adapt to local customer needsYesYesYesYesSustainable competitive advantage International strategy targeting expatriates and planting the flagYesYesYesYesSustainable competitive advantage Expanding overseas into new marketsYesNoNoNoCompetitive parity

Electronic Music

Electronic Music may include tape music (existing only on tape, and played through loudspeakers), live electronic music (created on synthesizers or other electronic equipment in real time), musique concrà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½te (created from recorded and subsequently modified sounds), or music which combines live performers and taped electronic sound. Although these types of music refer primarily to the nature of the technology and techniques involved, divisions are increasingly blurred. Other terminology, such as computer music, electro-acoustic music, acousmatic music, and radiophonic music, has also come into use, more often to indicate aesthetic rather than technological preferences. In the early 1900s the Italian Futurists, led by composer Luigi Russolo, envisaged a music created with noise and electronic â€Å"music boxes†, and the first commercially available electronic music instruments appeared at this time. However, although visionary composers like Scriabin and Henry Cowell had dreamt of music created by purely electronic means, electronic music first became realistically possible when recording technology developed during World War II. Several studios came into being in the 1940s and 1950s, and were associated with key figures and specific artistic aims. In France, sound engineer and composer Pierre Schaeffer formed the French Radio studio (RTF) in Paris, built around several tape recorders, microphones, and tape editing equipment. The principal techniques for creating music were the cutting, splicing, looping, or reversal of lengths of recorded tape. These tape manipulation techniques resulted in a kind of sound montage, painstakingly created from recordings of sounds from the â€Å"real world†. Schaeffer referred to the results as musique concrà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½te, a term still in wide use today, especially in France. His first experiment in this new genre used recordings of the sounds of trains, and all his works of this time were brief sound studies with evocative titles, such as Symphonie pour un homme seul, composed in collaboration with his younger colleague, Pierre Henry. Schaeffer's practical experiments in electronic music composition were supported by his influential theoretical writings on the subject, and the studio of Henry and Schaeffer attracted several emerging composers, among them the composer Pierre Boulez. In the late 1940s in Germany, Werner Meyer-Eppler, a physicist and Director of the Institute of Phonetics at Bonn University, first demonstrated a Vocoder, an analytical device which included a synthetic human voice. His theoretical work influenced the composers associated with the West German Radio studio in Cologne (founded 1953), who were concerned with the electronic synthesis of sounds, through the use of tone generators and other sound-modifying devices. The first director of the Cologne Studio, Herbert Eimert, was highly influential in his method of using total serialism as a basis of constructing electronic works. In this method all aspects of music, including pitch, rhythm, and relative volume were controlled by numerically defined principles. Electronic sounds and devices provided a suitable precision and control for the realization of this concept. By a process known as additive synthesis (see section on sound synthesis, below) composers such as Maderna and Stockhausen lab oriously constructed short electronic pieces, derived entirely from electronic sounds. In the later 1950s many electronic music studios were established in Europe, the most significant being the RAI studio in Milan, founded by Berio and Maderna, the Institute of Sonology in Utrecht, and the EMS studio in Stockholm. The division between musique concrà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½te and pure electronic music was a largely European phenomenon. Although various studios arose at the same time in the United States, aesthetic distinctions were less important. In the 1950s in New York, composers Otto Luening and Vladimir Ussachevsky produced tape music from very basic studio equipment. Their music transformed the recorded sounds of instruments and voices through tape manipulation techniques and simple reverberation units. In the late 1950s they became associated with the Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center, at which composer Milton Babbitt used a huge RCA computer, filling an entire room, to create music composed on similar serial principles to Eimert and Stockhausen in Cologne. His work Philomel (1964) was one of the first to be written for live performer and tape. The development of computing technology in the 1950s and 1960s led to the establishment of a number of studios specifically concerned with computer music at American universities and, to a lesser extent, in Europe. During the 1960s and 1970s the Americans Paul Lansky and Barry Vercoe, among others, developed music software packages (computer programs specifically designed for the manipulation and creation of sound) which were freely available to interested composers. This tradition of software development at American universities has done much to aid the growth of computer music worldwide. The Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA) at Stanford University, in California, and the Institut de Recherche et de Coordination Acoustique/Musique (IRCAM) in Paris, founded by Pierre Boulez in 1977, both made significant use of computers and remain influential centres of electronic music composition today. The rapid development of computing technology, in the last 15 years or so, has brought about a revolution in computer music and electronic music in general. Computers are now more affordable, and computer programs which originally took hours to run can now be completed in a matter of seconds, or even in real time. Today, many universities have a computer music studio and several countries have national studios, devoted to the composition of electronic music. In addition, composers are increasingly working independently, in personal studios.

Adapting Community Interventions for Different Cultures and Communities Essay

The Mexican Americans had their own unique identity. They had their own style in each decade starting from the 1940s– including the Zoot Suit Riots, to the Chicano Movement, then to the 2000s –which is known as the LA punk looks. During the 1940’s, young Mexican Americans wanted to fight for their justice against the United States servicemen. They started a group and began to wear clothing that was out of the ordinary. They wore baggy dress pants and big drape jackets, including a hat. Because of their clothing, people called them the Zoot Suits but they referred themselves as Pachucos and Pachuca. According to the article â€Å"6 Decades of Mexican and Mexican- American Style Evolution† (Agrawal), there are 6 different decades of the Mexican- American style that include: the 1940s– the Pachuco look, the 1950s– the start of the Civil Rights Movement, where Rock music combined with fashion and included curled hair and polka-dot dresses for the women, the 1960s, the Chicano Movement and the Chicano Activists movement, the 1980s– which was shaped due to hip- hip and was known to be the Chola look, then the 1900s– which starred Selena, the Queen of Tejano music who became known due to her iconic style and became a well known music idol, and lastly, the 2000s. The 2000s allowed women to express their strength and solidarity through the LA punk style by keeping a simple makeup look. Although Mexican- Americans used their art through music, Chinese Americans believed in respecting their art through appropriation . Another significant time in US history was the Chinese Exclusion Act that included Chinese Immigrants. According to the article, â€Å"The Chinese Exclusion Acts: A Racist Chapter in U.S. Civil Rights History† (Chin), The Act that started in the year of 1882 prohibited: immigration on Chinese laborers, denying naturalization, and enforced Chinese laborers who are already legal in the United States and later want to re-enter and receive a certificate to return. The Chinese Immigrants worked as servants, fishermen, farmers, etc. They also worked on railroads and miners. Due to the Chinese Exclusion Act, it has turned the table around and changed history for Chinese immigrants and they were treated differently. They were treated differently because they were â€Å"different† from others by their looks and the way they dressed. Non- Chinese people would sometime be jealous of what Chinese Americans accomplished. Sticking to their cultures and backgrounds, the Chinese men wo uld usually have their hair long and in a ponytail, their clothing would consist of cultural robes, which is known as a Cheongsam. Cheongsam is worn as Chinese cultural appropriation for respect. Usually Chinese friends and family have to give the approval if you are allowed to wear a Cheongsam. Until today’s world, many people still stereotype not only Chinese people but Asian Americans in general due to what they wore back then because of their culture. Despite the appropriation, the Chinese Americans believed in, African Americans took a stand and did for what they believed in to achieve justice as well as the Mexican Americans. Going back into the 1900s, African Americans then segregated into urban housing. As they began to take over a community in New York City and begin with the Harlem Renaissance, which was located in northern Manhattan. During the Harlem Renaissance, several groups and organizations appealed to improvements economically and educationally. According to the article â€Å"The Harlem Renaissance a Cultural Rebirth† (Hall), after black soldiers engaged in World War I, they wished for a better America for themselves. This time period included African Americans making a great remark within their culture. Due to their remark, they also created a climatic change within their fashion statement. This fashion statement included: the Flappers, a masculine look for women, and day and night dresses. Flappers is another word for dancers because of the dresses they wore that made it easier for them to dance in. During this era, women decided to stand out and portray the masculine look. Women woul d want to wear men’s clothing and began to smoke, drink and drive, etc. Because of this movement, they created several movies until today’s world portraying â€Å"the Harlem Renaissance†. Some movies include Harlem Nights, Brother to Brother, Murder in Harlem, and the recent popular one that features similar actions of the Harlem Renaissance would be The Great Gatsby that features Leonardo DiCaprio. Although during the Harlem Renaissance was more of a fashion statement by making a remark, the Native Americans were quite different in terms of making their own fashion. During the time of the Wounded Knee Massacre, there were about 300 Native American deaths. There was a battle between the Native Americans and the United States soldiers in the Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota. During this time Native Americans took belief in their Ghost Dance. The Ghost Dance was a religious dance to bring back their original world and to protect themselves. During this time Native Americans would have to hunt for animals to use their skin to make clothing and to stay warm. Hunting and gathering was a way for them to survive. In today’s society, American Indian culture has changed. As of now we usually see depictions of the American Indian culture in social media. Such as music videos, movies, or television shows that portray the American Indian culture. It has changed compared to back then. Their culture contains making art, clothing, jewelry, dance, and fashion. To the Native American culture, they typically don’t have a certain clothing they wear for appropriation. According to the article â€Å"Native by Design† (Montgomery), they believe that appropriation does not matter and what matters is representing where they came from and showing off their beliefs as much as possible. Urban Outfitters –the popular clothing company– brings off the Navajo vibe in every store. This includes the designs in the store, several pieces of their clothing, and the setting of the store. This represents that even though Native Americans had one culture back then, it doesn’t mean it has changed drastically. Throughout time, culture, beliefs, and traditions, we soon come to realize the true beauty behind it all. We realize the true beauty of different ethnic groups, especially of our own culture and beliefs. Yes, it will all change over a certain span, but it all depends on what we want to believe in and what we want to keep believing in. Till today’s society, the beliefs we used to believe in will become more and more modern as time goes by and it will evolve quickly before we know it. Stereotypes will change, beliefs will change, etc. It is best to understand the true beauty of one’s culture. Despite all the stereotypes and the modern technology, we should take in consideration of our own culture and admire what we have. Fashion will change each and every year but we just have to make the most of it and express ourselves through art. Like these four different Ethnic groups: Mexican Americans, Chinese Immigrants, African Americans, and Native Americans; they all believed i n different cultures and beliefs but each group used their own unique way to express what is theirs.

Gender inequalities in the Middle East Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Gender inequalities in the Middle East - Essay Example On addressing the impact of poverty and microfinance on gender/power relations and women’s empowerment,this study engraves itself into broader discourses and debates on gendered inequalities in the Middle East.Introducing the context that Saudi Arabia is an undisguised,self-evident patriarchal state,this study aims at investigating the positive and negative implications on female clients. By studying the microfinance initiatives and examining the underlying principles of Bab Rizq Jameel (BRJ), the positive and negative implication on female clients are analyzed, particularly in terms of its effects on their decision-making and bargaining power in the household. This case study on microfinance in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia aspires to unfold an important and lacking dimension to the current debates surrounding gender and development in developing countries. Keywords: Microfinance, Saudi Arabia, Bab Rizq Jameel (BRJ), gender relations, women’s economic/social empowerment, bargaining power, decision-making and household. Introduction Microfinance institutions vary in terms of their goals, agenda’s and assumptions. There have been continual debates on whether microfinance can be considered as a savior to poverty-stricken women from oppression and gendered inequalities or whether having access to micro-financial resources can empower women economically. There are studies which argue that microcredit helps to empower women thus promoting gender-equality and improving household well-being while microfinance ‘does not directly challenge any official views that subjugate women’ (Aminul et al., 2011). Women are treated as second-class citizens and are chiefly oppressed by the laws and constraints imposed on them through patriarchal states such as Sharee’a law in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. There are also the traditions and customs that give rise to inequalities and gendered division of roles that are produced and reinforced from ‘relationships that are intrinsically gendered’ within the household (Khateeb, 2011). This study being the vanguard of research on gender and development through microfinance, it felt natural that the appropriate start should be from the grass root’s level, the household. Gender-related rigidity in the intra-household is the core institution where the microfinance women clients spend most of their time. This study primarily deals with investigating the impact of microfinance on gender relations in the household. Professor M. Khateeb (Khateeb, 2011) in her lecture about gender, household and domestic domain points out that there is an explicit focus on the household because ‘it is the site of the earliest socialisation processes and gender identity formation. Secondly, it is central to the analysis of the organisation of production and reproduction in different societies. The gender division of roles, responsibilities and resources within the household play an important role in shaping what men and women are able to do beyond the household. And finally a great deal of policy, both economic and social, is premised on assumptions about how gender relations are organised within households’. This study ultimately aims at assisting and enabling the policy makers of BRJ Microfinance programme to create policies that prioritise the impact of microfinance on gender relations in intra-household. On having a wider examination of BRJ’s assumptions, rationale and process coupled with gender power relations within household, policy makers would be able to arrive at a more accurate representation of the graving issue of unemployment and would also travel at a more effective outcome. Aims 1. How does microfinance impact gender relations in Saudi Arabia? 2. Effects of micro-financial resources in Saudi Arabia on women empowerment both in household and in society?1 3. How do micro-financial resources effect on the well-being of the famili es in Saudi Arabia in terms of survival, security, financial self-reliance and autonomy on various levels (Kabeer, 1994:304)? Objectives This