3 Cases of Repetitive Punctuation

3 Cases of Repetitive Punctuation 3 Cases of Repetitive Punctuation 3 Cases of Repetitive Punctuation By Mark Nichol In each of the sentences below, the number of commas is excessive, which can obscure comprehension because the reader is distracted from effortlessly recognizing the syntactical structure of the statement. Discussion and a revision follows each example. 1. The next step is to escalate the issue to the executive management, including the CEO, and, through appropriate channels, the board of directors. When repetition of commas or other punctuation marks within a sentence is overbearing, recast the sentence or, as shown here, change punctuation marks to reduce the number of identical occurrences: â€Å"The next step is to escalate the issue to the executive management (including the CEO) and, through appropriate channels, the board of directors.† 2. They will need to exercise their own judgment when considering whether a lower threshold is appropriate for a portion, or all, of their customers, which, again, may lead to inconsistent practices across the industry. If a word or phrase signals an abrupt or unexpected shift in a sentence, a dash is likely a more appropriate substitute when too many commas burden a sentence: â€Å"They will need to exercise their own judgment when considering whether a lower threshold is appropriate for a portion, or all, of their customers- which, again, may lead to inconsistent practices across the industry.† 3. The entrance of nontraditional competitors, such as fintech, or financial technology, companies into the financial services industry, is driving this recent evolution. The primary parenthesis in this sentence is misidentified: The phrase â€Å"or financial technology† is inserted into the parenthetical phrase â€Å"such as fintech companies,† which expands on the main clause â€Å"The entrance of nontraditional competitors into the financial services industry is driving this recent evolution.† The parenthesis should therefore end at companies, not industry: â€Å"The entrance of nontraditional competitors, such as fintech, or financial technology, companies, into the financial services industry is driving this recent evolution.† However, the proximity of punctuation here is oppressive, and punctuation isn’t always required when additional information is inserted into a sentence; the statement is equally intelligible as punctuated here: â€Å"The entrance of nontraditional competitors such as fintech, or financial technology, companies into the financial services industry is driving this recent evolution.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Punctuation category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Avoid Beginning a Sentence with â€Å"With†50 Nautical Terms in General UsePreposition Mistakes #3: Two Idioms

Great Guide to Taking Online Tests

Great Guide to Taking Online Tests Great Tips to Help You Succeed in Online Tests While sitting an online test is very similar to taking a classroom test, there are some differences. In truth, many of the same success strategies apply to both types of exams, but there are a few other rules that apply to online tests. The tips provided below are designed to help you get the best possible scores in online tests, in part by making you aware of what mistakes to avoid mistakes that have no bearing on your knowledge of your course material. What to do Prior to an Exam It is important to study beforehand. Sometimes, students think that because they are not visible in an online test, they will have chance to check notes or books while a test is in progress. However, even if you cannot be seen, the time spent checking notes and/or books limits the amount of time left for the actual exam. It does not help much in the long-run if you get a couple more correct answers but do not have time to address all the questions. Therefore, studying in advance is important in order to familiarize yourself with the material. Additionally, unless your exam is of the open book variety, checking notes and books while an exam is in progress is viewed as cheating. So, try not to do this. Even if you are taking an open book exam, it is still necessary to do some advance study in order to understand the materials. This helps to make you more efficient and it maximizes exam time, thereby allowing you to earn the best possible grade(s). Identify a quiet space with no chance of interruption for your exam. Time is limited in exam situations. If you are taking your exam at home, let your family know the exam time and ask for quietness. Look for other options if you think this will not work. A lot of college and local libraries have quiet study rooms. By contrast, the local coffee bar is not a good option. Make sure you know what the technical requirements are.Do you know if your laptop or desktop computer is set up in the required way? Does your link to the test website work properly? Double-check that you are able to access the exam site and that you understand the login procedure well in advance. Another tool that is being increasingly used in online tests is webcam monitoring. If it is the case your particular course uses this technology to detect cheating, make sure your system is set up properly and understand what is and is not permissible. A webcam monitor is often set up to see the test-takers head, hands, computer/laptop screen, and a 180-degree view of the exam space. Understand the parameters of your test. There are a number of things it is essential to know about how a test is to be conducted. You may find some answers in your course syllabus. For instance:What is the duration of the test/exam? If you leave or log out of the test, will you be able to return i.e. log back in? Will you be able to revisit earlier questions or must you submit answers in order to proceed?Understanding the exam rules will allow you to use the allocated time more effectively and efficiently. What Happens While an Exam is in Progress During an exam, only the exam application should be kept open.Other open windows and/or applications could indicate cheating. Additionally, too many open windows can affect speed of response, which means time may be lost. So, do bear this in mind. Keep an eye on time.When you begin, calculate the amount of time you want to allocate to each question or section. This helps ensure you get through everything. Resist cheating. The aim of a test is to accurately measure the participants knowledge. It is unlikely you would employ a dentist or plumber who had cheated during their exams and did not properly understand their profession or trade. The exam system is only effective when participants act with honesty and integrity. In most universities and colleges, cheating is considered a violation of a code of honor. It can lead you to fail a test or entire course, or get you expelled. If you follow this advice, you should succeed in online tests. Feel free to add any of your own tips to our list!

Exchange Rate Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Exchange Rate - Assignment Example Kerr Inc. may reduce its economic exposure to foreign exchange risk by using foreign exchange contracts. A foreign exchange contract will enable the company to make future transactions using the current exchange rate (Jacque & Jacque, 1996). Kerr Inc. can minimize its exposure to foreign exchange risk by expanding its investments to other foreign markets. For instance, the company may experience losses if the U.S dollar appreciates in value against the Japanese Yen. However, the company can recoup the losses if the U.S dollar depreciates or devalues against the currency of another country it exports to, which increases the money the company receives for the same volume of goods (Managing foreign exchange risk, 1986). Alternatively, Kerr Inc. can decide to accept payment for its exports in U.S dollars only. Using the U.S dollar as the only currency of transactions will enable the company to mitigate the exchange rate risk because the exchange rate between the U.S dollar and the Japanese Yen will no longer affect the transactions of Kerr Inc (Managing foreign exchange risk, 1986). Kerr Inc. may decide to charge more for its products in the Japanese market to carter for the foreign exchange risk. This strategy may require the company to study the Japanese Yen to determine the magnitude of the risk of exporting to the Japanese market. For instance, if the company discovers that the Yen fluctuates by about 8% annually, then it may decide to charge 8% more for its products (Jacque & Jacque, 1996). However, this strategy may fail to yield desires results if the exchange rate fluctuates more than anticipated. More so, market forces or government intervention may hinder the company’s move to raise prices for its products (Small Business - Chron.com, 2015). Small Business - Chron.com. (2015). How Do Companies Mitigate the Risk of Foreign Currency? Retrieved 2 May 2015, from

Reflection of the module assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Reflection of the module assignment - Essay Example I joined the university to gain this skills and practices so that I can advance my career positively. E-commerce module has been and is of great contribution to my career given the technological evolution and digitalization of many services into internet based services. Individually I observe e-commerce as the technological tool or platform that the world is certainly migrating into in its operation. It is then no doubt that learning such a module was being placed strategically and being equipped with the tool that can tap the available rich opportunities in e-commerce. E-commerce module uniquely presented its course content in an easy to understand manner that enabled me to remain motivated to research and learn more. In the first semester I was able to learn and understand many concepts that are important to my career. The module research material was readily available and accessible. One of the most beneficial gains I got from the module is bringing too practice the theories learn t in the lecture. Coupling the theory with practical lecture enabled me understand n how one can start an online business. The online business practice gave a perspective of the cost required to start an online business, how long it takes and how one can optimise the business for better gains (Sterne, 2001). The creating of a digital profile made me understand how various components of an e-commerce website are structures to create the whole e-commerce website. For example I learnt the importance of planning an e-commerce project and distributing activities in a given order that will realize the value of the project. I noted the connection of workflow, time and the anticipated result in practice. The planning is the very critical thing in an e-commerce project and failing to plan or planning wrongly can result into chaos in the futures. It also came to my attention that content is the stake of the website and the main thing that most user are interested in any website, but how it is presented and rendered will also determine whether the user will appreciate it or not. The digital profile also made me fully understand the role of search engine optimisation or keyword optimisation. The role and how search engines will search the website is search a critical thing in this career that I highly appreciate to have gained. The use of social media to market an online business became clear through the semester one practical as well. It is at this juncture that I learnt how important social sites are in e-commerce and how to use them to market an online business and gain successful leverage in one’s career. The most important part is that I did this work practically and gained the technical skills required to advance my career. During the digital profile project design I noticed that the rapid technological changes have less to do with one’s project as most of the systems are abstracted and changes can be easily accommodated. I learnt that

How organisational culture and safety influence on project performance Essay

How organisational culture and safety influence on project performance in organisations - Essay Example The paper tells that generally it is believed that organizational culture is one of the factors which influence the performance of the construction industry. The organizational culture is the set of shared values and belief that people of organization follow and it is reflected in their behavior, attitude, and reaction with each other and with organization’s stakeholders. However, the cultures which are being followed in the construction industry is associated with the ineffective communication and coordination among members of a project team, sexual harassment, poor mentality and lack of trust among project team members. These features results in negatively affecting the overall performance of the industry. This research study is being conducted in order to investigate the impact of organizational culture on the safety of the project with reference to the construction industry. The study also seeks to explore the impact of culture and safety on project performance. The study is based on the construction industry located in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The researcher in this study also interested in finding the current health and safety policies being adopted by the construction industry in Saudi Arabia, the accidental rates in construction sites, and the factors influence in implementing safety culture in construction companies. The research would be helpful in determining the degree to which culture influence safety and performance of the project. Choudhry, R., Fang, D., and Lingard, H. conducted research study regarding the safety climate of the construction industry and concluded that the safety is highly important for improving the overall performance of the construction organizations and thus provided a framework for measuring the safety climate of a construction company. Fang, Chen, and Wong conducted the research study on the safety climate of the construction industry in Hong Kong and presented important insights for the organizations operating in t he construction industry of Hong Kong. Larsson, Pousette, and Torner and O’Toole worked on the relationship of the safety climate with the employees’ behavior and performance.

Snapshot Of The Tourism Industry In Malta Tourism Essay

Snapshot Of The Tourism Industry In Malta Tourism Essay The Tourism Industry remains one of the key pillars of the Maltese Economy contributing 23.7% of the labour market. Over the past forty years the continuous growth of the Industry has been a contributory factor in encouraging local business men to increase the number of hotels on the island thus creating healthy competition, particularly in the Five Star segment. However, despite the structural differences, each hotel faces the same environmental forces. Therefore, the key to survival lies with the strategies implemented to gain competitive advantage. This report examines how each of the various Forces has shaped Corinthia Palace Hotel Spas business decisions. In this assignment, The Director of Finance Claire Mifsud, and The Director of Sales Karl Schranz, give their views on the macro and micro environmental forces that relate to Porters Five Forces Model. Section 2 Company History At the tender age of twenty three, Mr Alfred Pisani saw a window of opportunity to enable him to enter the hotel industry. Three years after purchasing a 1920 private residence then called Villa Refalo, the Pisani family began to operate this property as the Villa Corinthia Restaurant (IL-Haddiem, 1968). His dreams of becoming a hotelier coupled with business acumen led him to seek ways to expand the family business. When he became aware of an opportunity to receive a soft government loan, he engaged the services of architect Dom Mintoff, who drew up the plans for a 152 bedroom hotel which was to be amongst one of the first 5 star hotels having full conference facilities. Mr. Pisanis sheer determination and vision, drove him to present a business plan which convinced The British Collonial Government to award him a loan of 1.2 million US dollars. The hotel construction project commenced under the supervision of architect Dom Mintoff and Four years later, in June of 1968, Mr Pisani hel d the official opening ceremony in the presence of, prominent society figures such as the then Minister of Education, Culture and Tourism, Doctor George Borg Olivier, His Excellency Duke of Edinburgh and renowned actor Roger Moore (IL-Haddiem, 1968). This grand Boutique style hotel is located near the official residence of the Official Residence of the President of the Republic of Malta and the San Anton Botanical Gardens. This hotel has since gained an excellent reputation and has been given many prestigious awards in the Global Travel and Tourism Industry with the most recent being that of Maltas Leading Hotel  [1]  in the 2010 World Travel Awards. The current General Manager, Mr. Rota, acclaims the hotels success to its Trademark Maltese Hospitality. This hospitality is also the Unique Selling Point (USP) of the Corinthia Brand. 2.1 Company Mission Statement Our Mission is to provide our guests with the craftsmanship of care 2.2 Research Methodology The information to meet the objectives of this assignment was gathered from the following sources :- I conducted a series of interviews with Key Management members who are instrumental in formulating business strategies for the Company, namely, Ms. Claire Mifsud, Director of Finance at The Corinthia Hotel and Spa and Mr. Karl Schranz, Director of Sales at Corinthia Central Sales Office who were also given questionnaires to complete. The second means was in terms of Desk Research through various media sources. Section 3 Definition of an Industry The Oxford English Dictionary succinct description of an Industry is :- a particular form or branch of economic or commercial activity Snapshot of the Tourism Industry in Malta 3.1 World Tourism Benchmarking There is a wealth of information available to assist the Business Sector to assess the viability of the Tourism Industry. One medium used by the Corinthia Palace Hotel is the report published by The World Travel and Tourism Council. The report uses Set Indices which may be valuable to ascertain an Industrys attractiveness and future economic potential. However, as Malta is a Small Island Destination, competition must also be measured from a global perspective of tourism. 3.2 Tourisms Economic Performance on the Island According to the World Travel and Tourism Council 2010 report  [2]  , Travel and Tourism contributes towards 19.4% of the Maltese Islands GDP (EUR1,151.4 million) with a forecasted increase of a further 3.6 % by 2020. Export Earnings from International Visitors is expected to reap in the region of à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ 777 million, with a forecasted growth to à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ 1443.4 million by 2020. Currently, 23.7% of the Labour Market is employed in Industry Related Occupations and it is anticipated that this will rise to 28.9 % by 2020. These statistics substantiate the theory that Travel and Tourism will remain one of the key engines for growth in the Maltese Economy. 3.3 Tourist Performance At the time of preparing this assignment, the National Statistics Office had not yet issued the official statistics for 2010. However, in a press conference held in January 2011, the Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Mr. Mario De Marco, estimated that the total number of Tourists was estimated to be in the region of 1.3 million  [3]  . This equates to a 0.1 million increase on 2009 figures  [4]  . During the first 11 months of the 2010, Cruise Liner Traffic reached a total of 467,142 passengers  [5]  , however only 3 % of passengers (14,441) landed in Malta. Therefore despite the fact that nearly half a million cruise passengers visited the island, very few stayed in hotels overnight. According to the Domestic Market, the local preference is to reside in Four Star Hotels and statistics show that during the month of November, the 5 Star segment produced a total of 9,638 bed nights. 3.4 Collective Accommodation Establishments on the Maltese Islands : There are a total of 158 accommodation establishments on the Maltese Islands  [6]  , fifteen of which are classified with a 5 Star Rating. Renowned International Hotel Brands such as Hilton, InterContinental, Kempinski Resorts, Radisson and Starwood Hotels currently compete for the same market. The two longest established 5 Star Hotels on the island are The Phoenicia and The Corinthia Palace Hotel and Spa. During the month of October, the 5 Star Hotel accommodation tier yielded an average occupancy of 73 %. Section 4 -The use of PESTLE to scan the Broad Environment for drivers of change. There are numerous characteristics or strategic elements that may influence the life cycle of the local tourism industry. One organisation, acting independently, may have very little influence on the broad environment: however, the forces in this environment can have a tremendous impact on the organisation (Enz, C.A, 2010).p16  [7]  . Consequentially, in todays local business scenario, if one was to consider this statement it confirms the school of thought that organisations within the tourism industry, will face difficulties when trying to manipulate the broad environment. However, according to The principle of Enactment organisations do not have to submit to the existing forces in the environment. (St.John, Harrison ,2010)  [8]  . A high percentage of local hoteliers have opted for Management Agreements with Internationally Renowned Brands. Such strategy allows local operators to capitalise on the Brand Marketing and Existing Customer Base to attract business, however, Corinthia Palace Hotel has evolved its own Brand. This strategic decision was taken as a means to differentiate from other hotels by offering authentic Maltese Hospitality. This in itself is believed to create a competitive edge over the International Brand Names which currently operate on the island, namely, Hilton, Inter Continental, Marriot and Starwood Hotels. These days travellers are far more discerning and many seek new insights into the local culture, as apposed to a reproduction of International Hospitality. Through successful Backward Integration the Corinthia Brand has eliminated substantial contributions to Third Party Management Companies by forming its own unique Brand Identity. Furthermore, in contrast to most local operators, the company has been able to penetrate the International Tourism Industry by offering Management Contracts to overseas operators in the Industry. The task of measuring competitiveness is full of complexities as there are numerous forces at play. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to have a thorough understanding of both the potential threats and the opportunities available. This will then provide the basis for which a company responds to Trends and Influences by integrating its resources to achieve a strategic advantage on its competitors. Invariably, local firms competing within the Tourism Industry, have similar resources available to them and each one is challenged by similar forces. Therefore, it is safe to assume that most will pursue similar strategies. Making the company that best acclimatises itself to the broad environment more likely to be successful. Under the current scenario, the well coined phrase The survival of the fittest could not be more appropriate for hotels competing within the same industry. Despite being one of the older Five Star Hotels on the island, The Corinthia Palace Hotel still competes well with the newer properties. It appears that customers tend to opt for older properties where Customer Service is at the optimum. The Corinthia Palace Hotel has achieved worldwide acclaim for its high level of service and currently holds the World Travel Award Maltas Leading Hotel. This prestigious award is a great accolade to the Industry as it is believed to be the equivalent of the Oscars. Such recognition is an excellent marketing tool as given the choice, most potential customers would prefer to stay in a reputable hotel. 4.1 PESTLE Analysis Views of the Financial Controller An interview was conducted with the Financial Controller, Ms. Claire Mifsud who provided an insight as to how the company conducts a Situational Analysis of the Broad Environment. According to her Corinthia uses a PESTLE Analysis Template which define the following six areas that form the context of its operation :- Political Forces Economical Forces Socio-cultural Forces Technological Forces Legal Forces Environmental Forces The forces listed above significantly influence both the industry and the organisations that operate within it. She perceives that the Maltese Government recognises the fact that Tourism is a key contributor to the Maltese Economy and therefore continues to invest and work closely with stakeholders within the industry. This year the government has awarded The Malta Tourism Authority a total of 35 million Euro for 2011  [9]  . The main vision for 2015 is to promote the Maltese Islands as a Unique Mediterranean Destination  [10]  , hence the reasoning behind the substantial investment to improve the product. Through the European Social Fund, the Malta Tourism Authority is investing in a three million Euro program to improve the skills of those currently working within the Industry. The Advance Training Tourism Leaders Program  [11]  is being offered free of charge, to both employers and managers in the industry. The aim of this program is to enhance the Current Skill Set and to create a Culture of Innovation. As the Group Training Manager, I can disclose that seven managers working at the Corinthia Palace Hotel are currently taking this Diploma Course. When asked what perceived barriers had been identified by the hotel, Ms. Mifsud referred to the governments stronger stance to align with European Regulations, particularly in areas such as Health Safety and Environmental Issues. Being an older property, substantial investment is required to conform with some of the regulations. The forecasted economic recovery is more subdued than that of other small economies  [12]  . Ms Mifsud then expressed her concern on escalating operational costs and stated that the 2% increase of VAT on accommodation and the budgeted cost of living increase bear a great influence on profitability. She also remarked that nowadays, business customers require their rooms to be an extension of their offices when travelling, therefore, adequate technology has become a norm rather than an ancillary service. Hence, in order to remain competitive and meet the customers needs additional investment in this area is required. Section 5 The Broad Environment. Forces within both the Broad and Task Environment are critical determinants for Strategy Formulation for any organisation. However, the core of a Firms Task Environment is formed by its interaction between the following three key stakeholders and their impact on the market place :- Customers Suppliers Competitors All contemporary organisations, irrespective of type of Industry, face forces that can significantly affect profitability. If a firm understands these forces, then it can develop a business level strategy that allows the business to either take advantage or protect itself from these forces, which in turn allows the firm to be consistently profitable. (Ahlstrom.D, 2009)  [13]  . 5.1 Swot Analysis An internal audit provides an opportunity for a company to have a greater understanding of the capabilities and limitations of its resources. Such information will provide a platform from which Operational Strategy will be focused. The identified strengths and weaknesses of the hotel are as follows :- 5.2 Strengths Location The location of this hotel has the potential to attract the following niche markets. The close proximity to the Presidential Palace makes it the ideal location for Diplomatic Delegations. Its remote location and proximity to the National Stadium is also key selling point to attract Foreign Football Teams who come to Malta for Training Camps and Official Matches. Being close to the Malta Fairs and Convention Centre offers potential for business in accommodating delegates who are participating in large scale forums. Global Reputation for Excellent Service This property enjoys 20% Repeat Business which is amongst the highest on the island. This reputation is also achieved on a local level as there is a high percentage of locals who frequent the Food and Beverage outlets. Accommodation Hotel rooms are much more spacious than the newer five star properties on the island. In 2009 all rooms were refurbished to optimum condition. The hotel offers great value for money when one considers the level of service offered. The customers comments posted on Travel Review sites such as Trip Advisor are very positive. Spa The Athenaeum Spa by Algotherm has now established itself as one of the best Medical Spas on the island. Market Unlike many of the other hotels, the Corinthia Palace is not dependant on one Nationality or Market Segment and therefore a drastic drop in one of these areas will not cause catastrophic consequences. 5.3 Weaknesses Meeting Rooms The main meeting rooms are small in severe need of refurbishment as they are inferior to what the competition is offering. This may be a contributory factor why some Destination Management Companies direct Group Business elsewhere, which causes opportunity cost situation for the hotel when having to refuse business that exceeds the capacity required. Loyalty Program Unlike all the competitors there is not Loyalty Program in place to reward customers for their loyalty to the company. Working Environment Investment is required to totally refurbish the main kitchen as the current structure not adequate for the volume of work being produced nowadays. Executive Lounge Facilities Unlike all the five star hotels within the same Competitive Set this hotel does not have an Executive Lounge. Most corporate clients seek this facility as it provides an additional area, where they can conduct their business and entertain their clients. In order to measure the potential of an Industry most companies use the framework of Environmental Understanding as established by the Economist Michael Porter. Section 6 Porters Five Forces Model In March-April 1979, Professor Michael. E. Porter, published an article in the Harvard Business Review, titled How Competitive Forces Shape Strategy.  [14]  . In this article he wrote : Competition in an industry is rooted in its underlying economics, and competitive forces exist that go well beyond the established combatants in a particular industry. Customers, suppliers, potential entrants, and substitute products are all competitors that may be more or less prominent or active depending on the industry. The state of competition in an industry depends on five basic forces. The collective strength of these forces determines the ultimate profit potential of an industry. This article formed the basis of Porters Five Forces Model. This user friendly model is now widely employed by many organisations to formulate the firms business level strategy. Corinthia Palace Hotel is no exception. Key strategic decision makers within the company use this model during their business planning process to represent their analysis of the dynamics of the competitive structure and how the combined strength of these forces influence the Maltese Tourist Industry. Strong forces will suggest lower prices and higher costs, whereas weak forces suggest the contrary. 6.1 Bargaining Power of Customers and Suppliers Informed customers become empowered customers  [15]  (Dubrin,2008) . Trends show that a high percentage of travellers book their travel arrangements directly through the internet. Budget airline sites such as Ryan Air and Easyjet, provide a one stop shop that is accessible around the clock. Nowadays, middlemen such as travel agents are gradually being eliminated. The internet has accelerated the power of this competitive force. Customers now have an advantage over the organisations, as they are able to conduct frugal searches of the web from the comfort of their own home. This provides them with ample opportunity to compare rates and subsequently purchase the best deals. Since opening, the hotel has witnessed changes in booking channels. Customers are more likely to book directly through the internet. Price wars with competitors are prevalent, however despite this, Corinthias pricing strategy is based on past performance and forecasted demand. Much focus is placed on safeguarding Gross Operating Profit and as the company is apposed to reducing rates ,added value is offered instead. During my interview with Mr. Schranz I asked who has the strongest leverage when negotiating rates with suppliers. His reply indicated that the key to successful negotiation is to create a win win situation giving them equal leverage. 6.2 Threat of New Entrants According to Slocum et al  [16]  the phrase New Entrants refers to the relative ease with which new firms can compete with established firms. Over the past forty years the number of companies operating 5 Star Hotels has risen substantially. Empirical data issued by the National Statistics Office of Malta indicates that in 1996 there were only six Five Star Hotels operating on the Maltese Islands. Today, some fifteen years later, the amount of five star hotels has almost tripled increasing to fifteen. The high concentration of upscale hotels on the market, has made it essential to create barriers. Recent Government Regulations, Capital Requirements and Rising Operating Costs are forecasted to affect profitability. Such contributory factors may defer new entrants in the future. During my interview with Director of Sales and Marketing, Mr Karl Schranz, he revealed that he does not envisage any other Five Star Hotels entering the market this year. He further elaborated that in his opinion the industry does not require more 5 star properties. The industry has seen an explosion of Five Star Room Stock on the market in the last 5 years. There is a surplus of Hotel Rooms in low season due to the seasonality of our business. On the other hand, all five star properties run at very high occupancies from May till October. In my opinion, it all boils down to market forces. When market conditions permitted and when it was highly feasible for other hotels to join, most local and foreign business men invested heavily in the Hotel Sector. 6.3 The Threat of Substitute Products or Services Organisations that provide services that adequately substitute those offered by competitors within the same industry are considered as a threat to those competing within the same industry. In the local context, substitutes to Five Star hotels can be identified as either the Chartering of Yachts or Opting for a Cruise. However, with high level of accessibility offered by budget airlines, emerging tourist destinations poise a bigger threat to the industry. Central and Eastern European destinations are offering similar products at more competitive rates. However, if one was to consider the high concentration of natural disasters or adverse weather conditions many countries have recently experienced many travelers may be influenced by Maltas more agreeable climate. Furthermore, political instability in emerging destinations like Tunisa may also defer travellers to choose alternative destinations. 6.4 Existing Competition The level of competition is a key determinant of how other hotels in the industry are likely to behave. Hotels within the same Competitive Set strive for market share. From the fifteen 5 Star Hotels on the island, the only four categorised in the same Competitive Set as the Corinthia Palace and Spa are Phoenicia, Excelsior, Intercontinental and the Meridien. However, both the Director of Finance and the Director of Sales consider the Phoenicia as their main competitor. This is attributed to the fact that both hotels have been in competition for the past forty years and that both properties appeal to the same markets. According to the information provided by Mr. Shranz, the hotels average market share is approximately 10.5 %. Karl Schranz commented as follows : Price Wars are tremendous in all Hotel Categories in Malta. We had managed to reduce price wars significantly before 2008 when demand was in line with supply. Since more Five Star Properties opened in Malta and since the recession set in, most hotels started slashing rates in order to generate advance and last minute business As operating costs are rising, the onus must remain on targeting specific markets that can yield the highest profits. Although perceived as a business hotel, leisure travellers remain the key market. The Tour Operator and Leisure Segments approximately constitute to 64% of the hotels market share. Section 7 Conclusion 7.1 Industry Life Cycle As each industry evolves it goes through a sequence of phases. Factors used to ascertain at which stage the Industry is currently in, is by assessing both the number of firms operating and their potential for profitability. Desk research conducted for this assignment indicates that despite global economic recessions, the Maltese Tourist Industry has shown growth. Furthermore, projections for the coming years also indicate growth. All in all, it appears that Tourism remains a promising Industry for the near future. 7.2 Strategic Direction for the Hotel The way forward for the company is to maintain its high level of customer retention rate which currently averages in the region of 20%. This relatively high percentage of customer loyalty is attributed to the General Mangers high level of customer orientation in conjunction with the very high level of personalised services. The recent award should feature more prominently on the hotels website, thus using this as an extra tool to market the hotel. From a financial perspective, costs must be closely monitored and opportunities to generate income should be exploited. The hotel management should pool their resources together to create a culture that encourages innovation. Investment in alternative sources of energy should be studied and the possibility of acquiring EU Funding explored. Investment should also be made to upgrade the property seeking in order to gain a return on investments through increased room rates. Future growth should stem from the hotels Unique Selling Point, which is the ability to offer a memorable experience. The Sales Team needs to take a more aggressive approach to tap into unexploited markets and offer innovative packages based on value. Finally, with the continued commitment to fulfil the companys mission, the team must drive the Corinthia Brand Identity by offering authentic Maltese Hospitality. By focusing on the main priority which is Customer Satisfaction, the hotel will not only remain profitable but will also remain a strong competitor. For many, tourism is a source of employment and income. The tourism industry is responsible for 5.2% of the EUs employment and accounts for 5% of Europes Wealth. It is therefore a strategic sector of our economy, facing new challenges that ought to be kept in check and opportunities that need to be taken. With 380 million international arrivals annually and market share of more than 40% of global tourism Europe commands the position as the number one tourist destination European Commission Vice-president Antonio Tajani- Journal of the Institute of Tourism Studies Dec 2010 pg 30. References http://www.worldtravelawards.com/award-maltas-leading-hotel-2010 IL-Haddiem Corinthia Palace Hotel 11 June 1968 pg 5 http://www.wttc.org/bin/pdf/original_pdf_file/malta.pdf http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/tourist-arrivals-expected-to-reach-1-3-million-by-end-2010 http://www.nso.gov.mt/statdoc/document_file.aspx?id=2873 http://www.nso.gov.mt/statdoc/document_file.aspx?id=2928 http://finance.gov.mt/image.aspx?site=MFINref=2011_BudgetSpeech2011_English https://opm.gov.mt/vizjoni-2015 Free programme of advance training for tourism leaders http://hbr.org/1979/03/how-competitive-forces-shape-strategy/ar/1 Daily Telegragh Malta Centre of Excellence in the Mediterranean 16 June 2000 NSO news release 242/2010 Collective accommodation establishments :Oct 2010 Dec 22, 2010

Phaedo by Plato :: Papers

Phaedo by Plato The main theme behind the "Phaedo" is Socrates' readiness and willingness to die, because of his belief of immortality. Socrates believed that when his body ceased to exist anymore, that his soul would leave and join that of the forms, where he would be eternally. Socrates believed so strongly in this, that not only did he not fear his death, he welcomed it. He believed that only when the soul separated from the body, is a person able to be truly enlightened and gain all knowledge. This "enlightenment" has been Socrates' life long goal of discovering the truth. Even at his hour of death, Socrates showed no hesitation. However, Socrates' friends did not believe so strongly, and took some great convincing by Socrates, to allow his friends to be okay with his death. The two proofs that Socrates used to convince his friends are the "Doctrine of Opposites" and the "simple and composite theory. The first proof, the "Doctrine of Opposites," is the type of proof that uses a sequence of factual statements the lead from to another to prove that one thing is the same as another thing. The "Doctrine of Opposites" uses simple references to allow the reader to easily comprehend and follow the steps of the logical process. For example, hot comes from cold. An object could not possibly be hot if it was never heated up from the state of being cold. The same holds true for the reverse of this analogy. If cold object must have at one point been cooled down from a state of being hot. Since hot and cold are opposites, this simple statement proves that things come from there opposite. Also by using this example, Socrates is trying to imply the idea of eternal existence. He is saying that cold doesn't come from thin air. It had to have come from some previous existence in some other form, which in this case would be hot. Another example that he uses is the asleep and awake analog y. One would have to agree that a person could be only one or the other. If you are not sleeping, then you are awake and if you are not awake then you have to be asleep. This example further proves that you can only be one of something or the other, its opposite, but you must be one of them.

Chapter 2 Exercises & Case Exercises Essay

1. Consider the statement: an individual threat agent, like a hacker, can be a factor in more than one threat category. If a hacker hacks into a network, copies a few files, defaces the Web page, and steals credit card numbers, how many different threat categories does this attack fall into? a. Overall, I believe this attack falls into four major threat categories: deliberate acts of trespass, compromises to intellectual property, technical failures, and managerial failure. Furthermore, I believe this attack would be categorized as a deliberate act of theft/trespass which compromises intellectual property due to technical and managerial failures. b. It seems as this hacker was deliberately causing harm (i.e. copying files, vandalizing the web page, and theft of credit card numbers); due to their method of entry – hacking into a network – it leaves me to believe there were some technical failures, such as software vulnerabilities or a trap door. However, that is just one possibility as to what could have occurred. This could have also been a managerial failure; say the unknown hacker used social engineering to obtain the information to gain access to the network – proper planning and procedure execution could have potentially thwarted this hacker†™s attack. 2. Using the Web, research Mafiaboy’s exploits. When and how did he compromise sites? How was he caught? c. Michael Demon Calce, also known as Mafiaboy, was a high school student from West Island, Quebec, who launched a series of highly publicized DDoS (denial-of-service) attacks in February 2000 against large commercial websites including: Yahoo!, Fifa.com, Amazon.com, Dell, Inc., E*Trade, eBay, and CNN. Calce also attempted to launch a series of simultaneous attacks against nine of the thirteen root name servers. d. On February 7th, 2000, Calce targeted Yahoo! With a project he named â€Å"Rivolta† – meaning riot in Italian. This project utilized a denial of service cyber-attack in which servers become overloaded with different types of communications, to the point in which they completely shut down. Calce managed to shut down the multibillion dollar company and the web’s top search engine for almost an hour. His goal was to establish dominance for himself and TNT – his cybergroup. Over the next week, Calce also brought down eBay, CNN, Amazon and Dell via the same DDoS attack. e. Calce’s actions were under suspicion when the FBI and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police noticed posts in an IRC chatroom which bragged/claimed responsibility for the attacks. He became the chief suspect when he claimed to have brought down Dell’s website, an attack not yet publicized at the time. Information on the source of the attacks was initially discovered and reported to the press by Michael Lyle, chief technology officer of Recourse Technologies. Calce initially denied responsibility but later pled guilty to most of the charges brought against him – the Montreal Youth Court sentenced him on September 12, 2001 to eight months of â€Å"open custody,† one year of probation, restricted use of the Internet, and a small fine. It is estimated that these attacks caused $1.2 billion dollars in global economic damages. 3. Search the Web for the â€Å"The Official Phreaker’s Manual.† What information contained in this manual might help a security administrator to protect a communications system? f. A security administrator is a specialist in computer and network security, including the administration of security devices such as firewalls, as well as consulting on general security measures. g. Phreaking is a slang term coined to describe the activity of a culture of people who study, experiment with, or explore telecommunication systems, such as equipment and systems connected to public telephone networks. Since telephone networks have become computerized, phreaking has become closely linked with computer hacking. i. Example of Phreaking: Using various audio frequencies to manipulate a phone system. h. Overall, a security administrator could use this manual to gain knowledge of terms associated with phreaking and the in’s & outs of the process (i.e. how it is executed). However, the security administrator should focus on Chapter 10 – â€Å"War on Phreaking† – this section (pg 71-73) deals with concepts such as access, â€Å"doom,† tracing, and security. An administrator could reverse engineer this information to protect his/her systems from such attacks. 4. The chapter discussed many threats and vulnerabilities to information security. Using the Web, find at least two other sources of information on threat and vulnerabilities. Begin with www.securityfocus.com and use a keyword search on â€Å"threats.† i. http://www.darkreading.com/vulnerability-threats ii. Dark Reading’s Vulnerabilities and Threats Tech Center is your resource for breaking news and information on the latest potential threats and technical vulnerabilities affecting today’s IT environment. Written for security and IT professionals, the Vulnerabilities and Threats Tech Center is designed to provide in-depth information on newly-discovered network and application vulnerabilities, potential cybersecurity exploits, and security research results j. http://www.symantec.com/security_response/ iii. Our security research centers around the world provide unparalleled analysis of and protection from IT security threats that include malware, security risks, vulnerabilities, and spam. 5. Using the categories of threats mentioned in this chapter, as well as the various attacks described, review several current media sources and identify examples of each. k. Acts of human error or failure: iv. Students and staff were told in February that some 350,000 of them could have had their social security numbers and financial information exposed on the internet. v. â€Å"It happened during an upgrade of some of our IT systems. We were upgrading a server and through human error there was a misconfiguration in the setting up of that server,† said UNCC spokesman, Stephen Ward. l. Compromises to intellectual property: vi. Today we bring news of action against a site that supplied links to films, music and games hosted on file-hosters all around the world. Authorities say they have charged three individuals said to be the administrators of a very large file-sharing site. vii. To get an idea of the gravity local police are putting on the case, we can compare some recent stats. According to US authorities Megaupload, one of the world’s largest websites at the time, cost rightsholders $500m. GreekDDL (according to Alexa Greece’s 63rd largest site) allegedly cost rightsholders $85.4m. m. Deliberate acts of espionage or trespass: viii. The individual responsible for one of the most significant leaks in US political history is Edward Snowden, a 29-year-old former technical assistant for the CIA and current employee of the defense contractor Booz Allen Hamilton. Snowden has been working at the National Security Agency for the last four years as an employee of various outside contractors, including Booz Allen and Dell. ix. Snowden will go down in history as one of America’s most consequential whistleblowers, alongside Daniel Ellsberg and Bradley Manning. He is responsible for handing over material from one of the world’s most secretive organization – the NSA. x. Additional, interesting, read: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57600000/edward-snowdens-digital-maneuvers-still-stumping-u.s-government/ 1. The government’s forensic investigation is wrestling with Snowden’s apparent ability to defeat safeguards established to monitor and deter people looking at information without proper permission. n. Deliberate acts of information extortion: xi. Hackers claimed to have breached the systems of the Belgian credit provider Elantis and threatened to publish confidential customer information if the bank does not pay $197,000 before Friday, they said in a statement posted to Pastebin. Elantis confirmed the data breach Thursday, but the bank said it will not give in to extortion threats. xii. The hackers claim to have captured login credentials and tables with online loan applications which hold data such as full names, job descriptions, contact information, ID card numbers and income figures. xiii. According to the hackers the data was stored unprotected and unencrypted on the servers. To prove the hack, parts of what they claimed to be captured customer data were published. o. Deliberate acts of sabotage or vandalism: xiv. Fired Contractor Kisses Off Fannie Mae With Logic Bomb xv. Rajendrasinh Babubha Makwana, a former IT contractor at Fannie Mae who was fired for making a coding mistake, was charged this week with placing a â€Å"logic bomb† within the company’s Urbana, Md., data center in late October of last year. The malware was set to go into effect at 9 a.m. EST Saturday and would have disabled internal monitoring systems as it did its damage. Anyone logging on to Fannie Mae’s Unix server network after that would have seen the words â€Å"Server Graveyard† appear on their workstation screens. p. Deliberate acts of theft: xvi. Four Russian nationals and a Ukrainian have been charged with running a sophisticated hacking organization that penetrated computer networks of more than a dozen major American and international corporations over seven years, stealing and selling at least 160 million credit and debit card numbers, resulting in losses of hundreds of millions of dollars. q. Deliberate software attacks: xvii. China Mafia-Style Hack Attack Drives California Firm to Brink xviii. A group of hackers from China waged a relentless campaign of cyber harassment against Solid Oak Software Inc., Milburn’s family-owned, eight-person firm in Santa Barbara, California. The attack began less than two weeks after Milburn publicly accused China of appropriating his company’s parental filtering software, CYBERsitter, for a national Internet censoring project. And it ended shortly after he settled a $2.2 billion lawsuit against the Chinese government and a string of computer companies last April. xix. In between, the hackers assailed Solid Oak’s computer systems, shutting down web and e-mail servers, spying on an employee with her webcam, and gaining access to sensitive files in a battle that caused company revenues to tumble and brought it within a hair’s breadth of collapse. r. Forces of nature: xx. Websites Scramble As Hurricane Sandy Floods Data Centers xxi. The freak storm flooded data centers in New York City, taking down several major websites and services — including The Huffington Post, Buzzfeed and Gawker — that depended on them to run their businesses. xxii. Several websites stored their data at a lower Manhattan data center run by Datagram, whose basement was inundated with water during the storm, flooding generators that were intended to keep the power on. s. Deviations in quality of service from service providers: xxiii. China’s Internet hit by biggest cyberattack in its history xxiv. Internet users in China were met with sluggish response times early Sunday as the country’s domain extension came under a â€Å"denial of service† attack. xxv. The attack was the largest of its kind ever in China, according to the China Internet Network Information Center, a state agency that manages the .cn country domain. xxvi. The double-barreled attacks took place at around 2 a.m. Sunday, and then again at 4 a.m. The second attack was â€Å"long-lasting and large-scale,† according to state media, which said that service was slowly being restored. t. Technical hardware failures or errors: xxvii. A hardware failure in a Scottish RBS Group technology center caused a NatWest bank outage. xxviii. It prevented customers from using online banking services or doing debit card transactions. u. Technical software failure or errors: xxix. RBS boss blames software upgrade for account problems xxx. The boss of RBS has confirmed that a software change was responsible for the widespread computer problems affecting millions of customers’ bank accounts. v. Technological obsolescence: xxxi. SIM Cards Have Finally Been Hacked, And The Flaw Could Affect Millions Of Phones xxxii. After three years of research, German cryptographer Karsten Nohl claims to have finally found encryption and software flaws that could affect millions of SIM cards, and open up another route on mobile phones for surveillance and fraud. Case Exercises Soon after the board of directors meeting, Charlie was promoted to Chief Information Security Officer, a new position that reports to the CIO, Gladys Williams, and that was created to provide leadership for SLS’s efforts to improve its security profile. Questions: 1. How do Fred, Gladys, and Charlie perceive the scope and scale of the new information security effort? a. Charlie’s proposed information security plan aims at securing business software, data, the networks, and computers which store information. The scope of the information security effort is quite vast, aiming at securing each vulnerability – in addition to the aforementioned, the new information security plan also focuses on the company’s staff. Since extra effort will be required to implement the new managerial plan and install new security software and tools, the scale of this operation is quite large. 2. How will Fred measure success when he evaluates Gladys’ performance for this project? How will he evaluate Charlie’s performance? b. Gladys is appointed as CIO of the team, which is gathered to improve the security of the company due to virus attack that caused a loss in the company; I believe Fred will measure Gladys success by her ability t o lead, keep the plan on track (i.e. time management) and successfully sticking to the proposed budget. Charlie was promoted to chief information security officer, a new position that reports to the CIO; I believe Fred will measure Charlie’s success by his ability to implement the new plan, report his/their progress and the overall success of the new system. 3. Which of the threats discussed in this chapter should receive Charlie’s attention early in his planning process? c. Portable Media Management (Ex. USB, DVD-R/W) should receive Charlie’s attention early in his planning process

I have a dream. Speech Analysis

I have a dream. Speech Analysis Introduction â€Å"I have a dream† speech was given by Martin Luther King on 28th August 1963. There was an audience of about 250,000 people at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington where the speech was given. This speech was mainly based on the freedom for the black’s referred to as Negros.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on â€Å"I have a dream†. Speech Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More He was much concerned about the oppression and exploitation of the black Americans at that time and he wished that people would understand that they were all equal. Unfortunately, Martin Luther king was assassinated on 4th of April 1968 when he was thirty nine years old. However, Martin Luther king left a legacy and is remembered on Martin Luther King Day every year. Significance of the Speech in the world today In the course of delivering his speech, Martin Luther King said, â€Å"I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation† (King speeches 1). This statement as he said has remained in our times and this is what has been happening all over the world. People are fighting for their freedom. He viewed it as an end to all oppression that was continuously being witnessed. This is a sign of new life of freedom and equality. Since he was a theologian, Martin Luther King addressed many injustices according to the Bible. Martin Luther King was enlightened and was tired of seeing blacks being exploited. He saw that the blacks were enslaved by the whites and yet they were helping them. He said, One hundred years later, the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely Island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. (Speech 1) Today many people are being exploited because of the ir race, tribe and even their origin. Many are living in poverty in the midst of the rich. Martin Luther King had spoken about this in his speech. He regretted that even after the country got a constitution; it did not accomplish the purpose it was meant to accomplish: â€Å"This note was a promise that all men would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness† (Speech 1).Advertising Looking for essay on rhetoric? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This is a fact even in today’s society. Many countries have constitutions made up so as to bring about justice to the people. However, it is very unfortunate because many people are experiencing injustice in form of labor, race and tribe. Martin Luther King said that, â€Å"It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment† (Speech 1). This signifies that it was a matter that needed to be address ed in urgency; otherwise it would bring great destruction to the society at large. The same applies to the world today. If nations do not put away their differences it may lead to great losses to many people, for instance the mass killings which were witnessed in Rwanda, Yugoslavia and even currently the conflicts in the Middle East are consequences of injustices not being addressed urgently (United Human Rights Council 1). Martin Luther King said, that he had a dream, that every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low meaning that he hoped for a future with equality. This is believed to have become the reality of the dream when, black American Barack Obama became the president of America. Criticism of the Speech Although the speech is of great significance in our society today critics say that King was excessively rhetorical and that he did not provide a way to solve the many problems he addressed. Others say that some of his work in his doctoral disserta tion was plagiarized. This was followed by other responses that disagreed with the statement and said that it had nothing to do with his contribution in the civil rights movement (E-notes 1). Conclusion Martin Luther King’s Speech remains important in the modern society. It consists of well founded goals which if well addressed will take many countries up the ladder. However, critics will always be there to search for the wrongs. E-notes. Martin Luther King, Jr. 1929-1968. E-NOTES, 2011. Web.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on â€Å"I have a dream†. Speech Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More King speeches. Martin Luther King Jr-I have a Dream speech. Writers Reviews, 2011. Web. Speech. The I Have a Dream Speech Analysis. Speech topics Help, Advice Ideas, 2011. Web. United Human Rights Council. Genocide in Rwanda. United Human Rights Council, 2011. Web.

Kilauea Essays - Geology, Volcanology, Volcanism, Free Essays

Kilauea Essays - Geology, Volcanology, Volcanism, Free Essays Kilauea Kristin Laske Science-2 2/14/00 Kilauea Hawaii consists of a string of islands, or an archapelago. Kilauea is located on one of these islands, the central Hawaii island. Kilauea is one of the worlds most active volcanic craters. Craters are formed either by the massive collapse of material during volcanic activity, by unusually violent explosions, or later by erosion during dormancy (Comptons). It is situated on the southeastern slope of the great volcanic mountain Mauna Loa. Its elevation is 1111 m (3646 ft.) above sea level. The crater has an area of about 10 sq. km., which forms a great cavity in the side of the mountain. Volcanic activity recently has been restricted to an inner crater called Halemaumau. Halemaumau measures more than 900 m (about 3000 ft.) across and has a depth of about 400 m (about 1300 ft.). Kilauea has erupted at least once a year since 1952. The volcano spews an average of 525,000 cubic yards of lava a day and by 1995 had added about 500 acres of new land to the island (Encarta 98). By June 1989, it had destroyed the visitors center at the national park, a stretch of Kalapana Highway, and more than 65 houses by 1990. Kilauea is located on a hot spot under the island, and the magma is thought to come from a depth of at least 50 km. below the surface. A hot spot is an area of volcanic activity near the center of two lithospeheric plates. Normally, lava streams constantly into the floor of the crater from subterranean sources which either cools and hardens, or accumulates until it drains off into other subterranean passages. When greater volcanic activity occurs, the lava is subjected to sudden changes of level, where it may escape from vents on the lower slope toward the sea. Kilauea is classified as a shield volcano. Shield volcanoes have a low, broad profile created by highly fluid basalt flows that spread over wide areas. The fluid basalt usually only builds a cone around seven degrees steep. Over thousands of years though, these cones can reach massive size, which is shown in the Hawaiian Island volcanoes. The Hawaiian Islands are composed of shield volcanoes, that have been built up from the sea floor. If measured from sea floor level, some of the Hawaiian volcanoes are the worlds largest mountains in terms of both height and volume (Comptons). In the 20th century, major flows occurred in 1920 and 1921, 1950, 1955, 1959, 1965, and 1969. The current eruption cycle, the longest-running in modern Hawaiian history, began on January 3, 1983 (Encarta).

How Puerto Ricans Migrated New York Research Paper

How Puerto Ricans Migrated New York - Research Paper Example For this particular paper, I will be concentrating on the history of one of the largest immigrant cultures ever to come aboard the American shores. This paper will shed light upon how the Puerto Ricans migrated to New York City. The paper itself will divide the migration history of Puerto Ricans into the United States into 2 parts. The first part will cover the 20th century migration era and the latter part, the 21st century migration experience of Puerto Ricans to New York. However, in order to understand the reasons for the migration, we must first understand how Puerto Rico happened to become a part of unofficial U.S. territory in the first place. The relationship of the United States and Puerto Rico is one that is hard to define, little understood, and even more little known than to a select circle of historians who have documented the strange, symbiotic relationship of America and Puerto Rico. Though not listed as a part of the American territories, Puerto Rico still enjoys a sp ecial type of status privilege with America. As a protectorate state, the Puerto Ricans are neither truly Americans nor truly Puerto Rican. Rather, the people of Puerto Rico are known as â€Å"non citizen nationals†. Enjoying a unique kind of migrant status in the country in the process. Before the Spanish-American war came to an end, Puerto Rico was a part of Spanish occupied territory. One year before the war officially came to an end, Spain thought it in the best interest of Puerto Rico to grant it independence. However, before the finalities to independence could be applied, Spain had lost the war and in the process of surrender, had given Puerto Rico to the United States as part of an armistice between Spain and the United States. Puerto Rico officially became part of the United States roster of countries under its protectorate on October 18, 18981 Having enjoyed a protectorate relationship with the United States for more than a century, Puerto Ricans are technically â⠂¬Å"American citizens† with an independently functioning homeland ever since 1917. Falling under such a description, Puerto Rican nationals who go to the United States automatically carry United States citizenship the minute they step onto the U.S. mainland. As such, Puerto Ricans are not technically perceived to be immigrants to the United States but rather a migrant population 2 Due to the occupation of Spain and eventual turn over to the United States, Puerto Rico was never able to create a stable economy for itself. The country was mired in a high rate of poverty and economic depression. Puerto Ricans who understood the technicalities of their country's relationship with the United States chose to migrate rather than face the continuous hardships that beset their country. This time of migration came to be known as the Great Migration from Puerto Rico and resulted in a great number of Puerto Ricans entering the United States through Ellis Island in New York. Throughout time , there would be a steady influx of migrants from Puerto Rico into the United States using New York as their port of entry. The existence of good work opportunities in New York at the time of their arrival signaled that these migrants would be calling New York City their home for the time being. 3 The passing of the Johnson Act in 1921 was meant to help ease the burden of lack of job opportunities for Puerto Ricans in the United States due to competition from European immigrants. The passage of the act ensured a stream of available jobs for Puerto Ricans

Executive-level financial report to the chief financial officer (CFO) Research Paper

Executive-level financial report to the chief financial officer (CFO) of a mythical company - Research Paper Example In order to evaluate past financial performance, the report studied how Sprint established relationship between Revenue and Expenses, as well as Cash flow and debt. In order to evaluate past stock performance, the report studied dynamics of stock and EPS. The report paid substantial attention to Sprint’s upcoming projects. Sprint Nextel Corporation (Sprint) is a communication company that operates in two segments: Wireless and Wireline. In the United States, Sprint is the third largest wireless carrier company after Verizon and AT&T (FORM 10 – K, 2010). It serves about 55 million customers with mobile voice, data, and web service under the Sprint corporate brand, which includes retail brands of Sprint, Nextel, Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile, and Assurance Wireless on networks that utilize the third generation (3G) code division multiple access (CDMA), integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN), or Internet protocol (IP) technologies (Company Information, 2013). High Technology Corporation (HTC) is a new fully integrated wireless communication service provider for the international market. HTC after competitive technical and economical product evaluation has determined to select Sprint as a potential supplier. This report intends to evaluate Sprint’s past financial and stock performances, an alyze current and future business aspects in order to recommend if Sprint would remain financially strong to enter into a long-term contract with the HTC. On February 7, 2013, the Associated press reported that Sprint lost $1.3 billion in the preceding fourth quarter, about the same as a year ago. In the period from October to December, the company lost 44 cents a share. The loss is steady as in the previous year, but revenue went up 3.2 percent from 8.7 billion to 9.0 billion during the same period a year ago. This increase was attributed to customers changing regular phones