Consumer Behaviour Campaign Honda Insight Hybrid

Consumer Behaviour Campaign Honda Insight Hybrid Introduction The purpose of this campaign was to research and analyse the key consumer behaviour issues towards an advertising campaign. The product that we chose was Honda Insight Hybrid vehicle. Following is a picture of the Honda Insight Hybrid car.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Consumer Behaviour Campaign: Honda Insight Hybrid specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Honda Insight Hybrid Honda wanted to target two categories of customers for their new vehicle launch. Firstly, the students and professionals within the age group of 20 to 29, who were interested in a stylish and safe mode of transportation. Secondly, the elderly above 55 years of age who preferred a technologically advanced and environment friendly vehicle. The most favoured method of analyzing any product is the SWOT analysis. SWOT means the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats of that particular product or company. Following is an ill ustration of the SWOT analysis of Honda Insight Hybrid car. SWOT Analysis of Honda Insight Hybrid Strengths Honda has a great brand image that will surely help in building up the sales. In today’s world, when the fuel sources are becoming limited and alternative sources of energy are being sought, the fuel efficiency of Honda Insight Hybrid is a welcome feature. Commenting on a test drive, Ben Stewart said, â€Å"If gasoline prices continue to raise much beyond today’s $4 per gallon national average, both Toyota and Honda should see sales of these two hybrids skyrocket.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More But if we could have just one of these cars to drive every day, our pick would be the slightly-more-fun Honda.† (Stewart, 2011). Honda has used the latest technology in manufacturing the car. Another positive aspect of the car is that it emi ts less pollution and is environment friendly. As a result of these features, the car is expected to be favoured by the masses. Weaknesses The inclusion of new features has raised the cost of the car. Honda Insight Hybrid might be the preferred car but due to the high price, most of the people may not be able to afford it. The car hasn’t been tested yet for its on-road performance. As such, people might resist buying it immediately. They would prefer to wait and watch. According to reports, one of the major drawbacks of Honda Insight Hybrid is its being light weight. Hence its on-road stability is uncertain. Opportunities Ours is a vast market. Proper marketing and making people aware of the new features can help in garnering good number of customers. Moreover, many of us are loyal to the brand of Honda. We know that Honda will always bring out the best. This popularity can be tapped to have good sales. Threats The major threat that Honda Insight Hybrid has is from its compet itors like Toyota. The expected launch of Toyota’s Prius C by March 2012 might reduce the sales of Honda Insight Hybrid. In this regard, Larry E. Hall opined that, â€Å"But, it will soon be overshadowed by the 2012 Prius C when it arrives in March.† (Hall, 2012) Conclusion The overall behaviour of the people towards the new Honda Insight Hybrid is encouraging and if test reports are to be believed, the car has a bright future. In my opinion, to get an edge over its main competitor, Toyota, Honda should reduce the price of its new car to some extent.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Consumer Behaviour Campaign: Honda Insight Hybrid specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More References Hall, L. E. (2012). Honda Insight. Web. Stewart, B. (2011). 2012 Honda Civic vs. 2011 Toyota Prius: Hybrid Mileage Test. Retrieved from https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/reviews/a6661/2012-honda-civic-vs-2011-toyota-prius-h ybrid-mileage-test/

Freedom of the Press and Student Newspapers

Freedom of the Press and Student Newspapers Generally, American journalists enjoy the freest press laws in the world, as guaranteed by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. But attempts to censor student newspapers- usually high school publications- by officials who dont like controversial content are all-too-common. Thats why its important for student newspaper editors at both high schools and colleges to understand press law as it applies to them. Can High School Papers Be Censored? Unfortunately, the answer sometimes seems to be yes. Under the 1988 Supreme Court decision Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier, school-sponsored publications can be censored if issues arise that are reasonably related to legitimate pedagogical concerns. So if a school can present a reasonable educational justification for its censorship, that censorship may be allowed. What Does School-Sponsored Mean? Is the publication supervised by a faculty member? Is the publication designed to impart particular knowledge or skills to student participants or audiences? Does the publication use the schools name or resources? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then the publication can be considered school-sponsored and can potentially be censored. But according to the Student Press Law Center, the Hazelwood ruling doesnt apply to publications that have been opened as public forums for student expression. What qualifies for this designation? When school officials have given student editors the authority to make their own content decisions. A school can do that either through an official policy or by simply allowing a publication to operate with editorial independence. Some states - Arkansas, California, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Oregon and Massachusetts - have passed laws beefing up press freedoms for student papers. Other states are considering similar laws. Can College Papers Be Censored? Generally, no. Student publications at public colleges and universities have the same First Amendment rights as professional newspapers. The courts have generally held that the Hazelwood decision applies only to high school papers. Even if student publications receive funding or some other form of support from the college or university where they are based, they still have First Amendment rights, as do underground and independent student papers. But even at public four-year institutions, some officials have tried to smother press freedom. For example, the Student Press Law Center reported that three editors of The Columns, the student paper at Fairmont State University, resigned in 2015 in protest after administrators tried to turn the publication into a PR mouthpiece for the school. This occurred after the paper did stories on the discovery of toxic mold in student housing. What About Student Publications at Private Colleges? The First Amendment only bars government officials from suppressing speech, so it cant prevent censorship by private school officials. As a result, student publications at private high schools and even colleges are more vulnerable to censorship. Other Kinds of Pressure Blatant censorship isnt the only way student papers can be pressured to change their content. In recent years many faculty advisers to student newspapers, at both the high school and college level, have been reassigned or even fired for refusing to go along with administrators who want to engage in censorship. For instance, Michael Kelly, faculty adviser to The Columns, was dismissed from his post after the paper published the toxic mold stories.

The Fall of the Berlin Wall Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Fall of the Berlin Wall - Essay Example Those in charge of the Eastern Bloc felt that this migration would lead to a so-called â€Å"brain drain†, particularly as many of the migrants were young and well-educated . The East also felt that the West, particularly West Germany, was still under fascist influences , and these two fears lead to the feeling that such migration should be stopped and the erection of the Inner German Border, separating the two areas of Germany but allowing traffic to flow freely between the two areas of Berlin, despite the city being occupied by separate powers .  Due to Berlin’s more open nature, there were fears that the emigration to the West would continue. Nikita Khrushchev, the First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union at the time, is implicated in making the suggestion that the Berlin Wall be erected and President John F. Kennedy is thought to have implied that no resistance would be made against the erection of such a border . Shortly following this, a deal w as made to finalize the plans, and the border was closed by military officials and barbed wire in the early days of August 1961, with the concrete elements of the wall shortly following. From this date until November 1989, it was nearly impossible to cross between the two areas of Berlin.Wall. The Cold War was a state of political tension between the West (headed by the U.S.) and the East (headed by the Soviet Union) which never showed direct military action but was symbolized by the constant threat of nuclear war.... ration should be stopped and the erection of the Inner German Border, separating the two areas of Germany but allowing traffic to flow freely between the two areas of Berlin, despite the city being occupied by separate powers5. Due to Berlin’s more open nature, there were fears that the emigration to the West would continue. Nikita Khrushchev, the First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union at the time, is implicated in making the suggestion that the Berlin Wall be erected and President John F. Kennedy is thought to have implied that no resistance would be made against the erection of such a border6. Shortly following this, a deal was made to finalize the plans, and the border was closed by military officials and barbed wire in the early days of August 1961, with the concrete elements of the wall shortly following. From this date until November 1989, it was nearly impossible to cross between the two areas of Berlin. The End of the Wall and the War The Cold War had a huge part to play in the construction and fall of the Berlin Wall. The Cold War was a state of political tension between the West (headed by the U.S.) and the East (headed by the Soviet Union) which never showed direct military action but was symbolized by the constant threat of nuclear war7. Ronald Reagan was one of the most influential figures of the Cold War and its end, signing an agreement to ban intermediate-range nuclear weapons with the then-Soviet Genera l Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev8. Reagan also challenged Gorbachev to tear down the wall, symbolizing as it did the oppressive regime of the Soviet Union and everything that the President stood against. At the same time, much of the Soviet economies were stagnant and revolutions in Poland and the Baltic States were well underway,

Reward strategy and todays business climate Essay

Reward strategy and todays business climate - Essay Example There are many types of reward strategies, which are completely different based on the unique environment in which the company operates. For instance, if the organisation has found that previous reward efforts such as the distribution of a company vehicle had found significant success in motivating senior-level executive performance, this would be something in future reward strategies which should not be amended. Another company which has found that various training and development packages have promoted better employee performance would want to consider these elements when redesigning a new reward strategy to meet modern business needs in today’s economic climate. There is a significant linkage between cutting-costs and the HR function in today’s businesses, with one part of business leadership attempting to retain talented workers by providing them with better reward compensation and the other part to ensure that long-term business strategy is achieved; especially in terms of finance (Logan, 2009). One recent survey, the Reward Management Survey, conducted by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, found that four out of 10 employers were expected to modify existing bonus and incentive policies in order to recognise business value and reduce costs (Logan).

Outline and evaluate Essay Example for Free

Outline and evaluate Essay Outline and evaluate the view that the role of youth culture is to assist in the transition from childhood to adulthood (33 marks) The view that youth culture is a transitory phase is a functionalist idea which comes under the process of social integration where individuals become integrated into different social groups so they have a sense of belonging. Parsons (1954), argued that youth culture provides a bridge from childhood to adulthood by enabling young people to become more independent and detached from their parents. This takes the view of youth culture being a ‘rite of passage’. Eisenstadt (1956) suggested youth culture bound young people together and formed a sense of community stemming from a shared way of life. There are some criticisms of the functionalist approach such as the emphasis of shared features which means they ignore the differences between youth subcultures, a Marxist would argue these differences are important and cannot be ignored. Another argument against functionalism would the focus on age specific groups which misses an opportunity to look at youth as a state of mind able to be felt by anyone regardless of age. Marxists pay more attention to subcultures than functionalists and their theories are associated with the CCCS. The CCCS is considered neo-Marxist and their view of youth subcultures is that they are a product of structural explanations such as the economy and social class rather than general explanations such as age. Hall and Jefferson (1976) believed youth subcultures are a form of resistance to the ‘crisis of capitalism’. Through adopting a subcultural style youths were able to reject the dominant culture. Clarke (1976), who studied skinhead culture, believed that through the subculture they were able to exaggerate their working class background and hold on to tradition in the face of the extinction of working class communities. Brake (1980) suggested youth subcultures provide ‘magical’ solutions by providing safety from problems and an opportunity to express freedom and new ideas. The subculture allows them to convince themselves they will be able to solve the problems of their time but the solutions aren’t able to be sustained in reality, thus the reason they are referred to as magical. Marxists are accused of ignoring the involvement of girls in subcultural groups and issues of ethnic identity. There is also an assumption in the CCCS work that most youths joined subcultures which is debateable as it is possible many were ‘ordinary youths’. The CCCS are also criticised of looking too far into the reasons why youths join subcultures, perhaps many of them joined just for fun. There have also been accusations of Marxists ignoring the role of the media in the formation of youth subcultures. The main argument feminists make is that other approaches largely ignore the role of females in subcultures. McRobbie and Garber (1976) were critical of the work the CCCS for this reason. Their research on female subcultures identified a ‘Bedroom culture’ which features included experimenting with make-up and hairstyles, discussing boys and magazines. There are few studies of all-girl subcultures but one that has been in the USA are the ‘Riot Grrrls’ who use powerful image forms of communication to display their anger and feelings of oppression. The feminist view focuses mainly on gender related issues and has been criticised for this but this approach seems to suggest the role of youth culture for girls, in the case of bedroom culture, is to share information about their personal life and gain advice to help them through the transitional phase and in the case of the Riot Grrrls to express themselves and challenge the dominant culture which is perceived to be male oriented. Postmodernists believe that youth style has become increasingly fragmented over the years. They argue that shared attachments are not the norm in the UK as youth styles are viewed as fluid changeable and eclectic. Bennett (1999) called these fluid and complex youth styles ‘Neo-tribes’. People can move in and out of these neo-tribes over time which reflects the transitory nature of youth. An example of a neo-tribe would be club culture. Polemus (1997) noted the ‘supermarket of style’ available to youths. They are able to choose from different fashions, music tastes and identities and mix them together to form their own. Postmodernist views have been criticised as there are still examples of subcultures in the present day such as goths or emos. The idea of fluidity may also be overstated as most young people don’t move in and out of neo-tribes over long periods of time. In conclusion, all of the approaches in a sense agree with youth culture being part of becoming an adult through increased independence and self-expression. It involves young people exploring their newfound responsibilities and freedoms along with ways to deal with any problems they face as a consequence.

One is Happy When He Believes That He is Happy :: Happiness Essays

Not many people are happy, but all the libraries are filled with books on happiness, and this very fact should make us curious. The Ancients gave us dozens of recipes on how to conduct a happy life, each of them contradicting the other, or at least, with very dissimilar opinions. The Modernity has its own solutions up to the negation of the very possibility of having a happy life. And recently, mister Francis H. came up with his own idea of happiness. He argues that the problem of happiness can be reduced to wealth, knowledge and a personal belief of being "in control" of one's own life. Let's at first consider these factors. Wealth is important, according to mister Francis H., because it allows the satisfaction of one's basic needs. It seems to me that if it was true, the Ancients had no chance to be happy at all and we can not be happy as well, since in the time to come people will be even more wealthy than they are now (see later on the part of my essay "On Future") and able to better satisfy their needs. Well, I guess the notion of wealth is just relative. Same as basic needs which can cause even more trouble. What are basic needs? Color TV and refrigerator or your own jet plane? Or maybe just a barrel in a harbor as Diogenes showed us? Knowledge. In my opinion the problem with knowledge may be similar to the wealth issue. Knowledge in general (meant as scientific knowledge) has increased dramatically over the last centuries, but arguing that this has contributed to general happiness is at least risky, not to mention superfluous. This problem has two main aspects, firstly, its relativity (as in the case of wealth); we can fly to Venus and kill most of the microbes but there is still much more to be done. Secondly, its validity in the pure aspect, as giving us answers about the world and life in general. On the other hand, as far as personal knowledge, or education, or one's intelligence goes, I don't really see any direct correlation between what one knows and is capable of doing to his own happiness. History can supply us with arguments to both sides. If you don't like history, go to the nearest psychiatric hospital to see the lack of correlation. Here we come to the third aspect of happiness: The personal belief of being "in control".

Black Men and Public Spaces Essay

The name of the story is Black Men and Public Spaces. It was written by Brent Staples in 1986. Brent Staples is a black man who whenever in public is met with fear from others because of his race’s stereotype. Feeling like a potential perpetrator can be just as unnerving as feeling like a potential victim. Staples has the ability to alter public space by his physical behavior, his dress and his verbal reaction. Black men have a reputation of being rapist, murders and gang members, therefore many people get worried when a young black man is around. So Staples has learned how to change his perception or level of threat to others. He accomplishes this by his physical behavior. The way he walks or acts around others can change there mood. Now Staples notices if people are frightened by him. Brent Staples attempts to introduce people to something most all are guilty of, but pay little attention to. Using accounts from his own and others’ experiences, Staples essay portrays the racist tendency of people to assume black men are potentially violent and dangerous. Stereotypes are so common in our world today and people don’t even notice how bad they portray it. I hate seeing that a man had to force himself to change the way he acts and portrays himself in public. Why should someone change their ways? It made me think of a time when I was getting gas on Green River Road near Washington Avenue. I was almost done when a car with two black men pulled up and stepped out of their car. I was nervous so I stopped and got into my car real quick. Now that I think about it those men weren’t doing anything, just grabbing some late night food. How could I be that bad of a person? I know now that was wrong of me and I’m working on it. I hope someday society will realize what they are doing and change it. Not just for their sake but for mankind. Staples was viewed as a rapist, murder, and etcetera, all because he was a black man. But in reality he was just as uncomfortable as everyone who looked at him differently. Brent Staples tries to make people aware of what they are guilty of and someday all will realize.

Definition of Mergers and Acquisition Essay

One plus one makes three: this equation is the special alchemy of a mergers or an acquisition. The key principle behind buying a company is to create shareholder value over and above that of the sum of the two companies. Two companies together are more valuable than two separate companies – at least, that’s the reasoning behind Mergers and Acquisition. This rationale is particularly alluring to companies when times are tough. Strong companies will act to buy other companies to create a more competitive, cost – efficient company. The companies will come together hoping to gain a greater market share or to achieve greater efficiency. Because of these potential benefits, target companies will often agree to be purchased when they know they cannot survive alone. Distinction between Mergers and Acquisitions Although they are often uttered in the same breath and used as though they were synonymous, the terms mergers and acquisition mean slightly different things. When one company takes over another and clearly established itself as the new owner, the purchase is called an acquisition. From a legal point of view, the target company ceases to exist; the buyer â€Å"swallows† the business and the buyer’s stock continues to be traded. In the pure sense of the term, a mergers happens when two firms, often of about the same size, agree to go forward as a single new company rather than remain separately owned and operated. This kind of action is more precisely referred to as a â€Å"mergers of equals. † Both companies’ stocks are surrendered and new company stock is issued in its place. For example, both Daimler – Benz and Chrysler ceased to exist when the two firms merged, and a new company, DaimlerChrysler, was created. In practice, however, actual mergers of equals don’t happen very often. Usually, one company will buy another and, as part of the deal’s terms, simply allow the acquired firm to proclaim that the action is a merger of equals, even if it’s technically an acquisition. Being bought out often carries negative connotations, therefore, by describing the deal as a merger, deal makers and top managers try to make the takeover more palatable. (Investopedia. com – the resource for investing and personal finance education. http://www. investopedia. com/university/mergers (Page 3 of 15). A purchase deal will also be called a merger when both Chief Executive Officers agree that joining together is in the best interest of both of their companies. But when the deal is unfriendly – that is, when the target company does not want to be purchased – it is always regarded as an acquisition. Whether a purchase is considered a mergers or an acquisition really depends on whether the purchase is friendly or hostile and how it is announced. In other words, the real difference lies in how the purchase is communicated to and received by the target company’s board of directors, employees and shareholders. Garbage (2007) in his thesis paper on International Mergers & Acquisitions, Cooperation and Networks in the e-business’ defines a mergers as â€Å"the combination of two or more companies in which the assets and liabilities of the selling firms are absorbed by the buying firm†. According to Gaughan (2002) â€Å"a mergers is a combination of two companies in which only one company survives and the merged company ceases to exist, whereby the acquiring company assumes the assets and liabilities of the merged company†. An acquisition also known as a takeover? s the buying of a company, the target? by another or the purchase of an asset such as plant or a division of a company. In the case of Vodafone acquisition of GT the acquired company Ghana Telecommunication Company limited still remains the legal name and Vodafone Ghana (VFGH) as the brand name. Rosenbaum and Pearl (2009) describe another form of acquisition known as a consolidation. According to them the terms mergers and consolidation are sometimes used interchangeably. As a general rule of thumb, a merger describes the acquisition of a smaller company by a larger one. If the union is between two corporations of more or less equal size, then the term consolidation is probably applicable. For the purpose of this study, the definition of Rosenbaum will be adopted as the working definition of a merger. Types of Mergers From the perspective of business structures, there are different kinds of mergers. According to Welch, P. and Welch, G. (2007) Economics: Theory and Practice (8th ed. ), economists generally classify mergers into three types: (1) horizontal, (2) vertical and (3) conglomerate. Horizontal mergers This type of mergers takes place when two firms in the same line of business i. . they are in direct competition or they share the same product lines and markets combine. A typical example is the 1999 Exxon Mobil mergers. The merger between Vodafone and Ghana Telecom which is the focus of our study is also a horizontal merger. Anticompetitive effects The vast majority of significant competition issues associated with mergers arises in horizontal mergers. A horizontal merger is one between parties that are competitors at the same level of production and/or distribution of a good or service, i. e. , in the same relevant market. There are two types of anticompetitive effects associated with horizontal mergers: unilateral effects and coordinated effects. Unilateral effects, also known as non-coordinated effects, arise where, as a result of the merger, competition between the products of the merging firms is eliminated, allowing the merged entity to unilaterally exercise market power, for instance by profitably raising the price of one or both merging parties’ products, thus harming consumers. In homogeneous markets, unilateral effects can be pronounced when two significant competitors merge to create a large, dominant player with only a few or no other competitors. In these markets, an important role in the assessment is played by market shares and by the capacity available in the market. In differentiated markets, unilateral effects tend to arise particularly when the two merging companies have highly substitutable goods. Such a price increase does not depend on the merged firm being the dominant player in the market. The likelihood and magnitude of such an increase will instead depend on the substitutability of the products supplied by the two firms – the closer the substitute, the greater the unilateral effects. Coordinated effects arise where, under certain market conditions (e. g. , market transparency, product homogeneity etc. ), the merger increases the probability that, post merger, merging parties and their competitors will successfully be able to coordinate their behaviour in an anti-competitive way, for example, by raising prices. As in the case of unilateral effects, the most common form of coordinated effects is in the case of horizontal mergers, i. e. mergers between firms active on the same market. The main question in analysing coordinated effects should be whether the merger materially increases the likelihood that firms in the market will successfully coordinate their behaviour or strengthen existing coordination. The task is to identify what factors are likely to lead to coordination taking place between firms post-merger. This was a controversial area with which competition authorities and courts have struggled to come to terms over the years, but experience has led to the emergence of some agreement on what conditions are most likely to give rise to coordinated effects. According to the â€Å"Airtours criteria†, coordination is more likely to emerge in markets where it is relatively simple to reach a common understanding on the terms of coordination. In addition, three conditions are necessary for coordination to be sustainable. First, the coordinating firms must be able to monitor to a sufficient degree whether the terms of coordination are being adhered to. Second, discipline requires that there is some form of credible deterrent mechanism that can be activated if deviation is detected. Third, the reactions of outsiders, such as current and future competitors not participating in the coordination, as well as customers, should not be able to jeopardise the results expected from the coordination. Vertical mergers These are mergers between firms that operate at different but complementary levels in the chain of production (e. g. , manufacturing and an upstream market for an input) and/or distribution (e. g. , manufacturing and a downstream market for re-sale to retailers) of the same final product. Another example is the acquisition of ABC television network by Walt Disney to enable Walt Disney air its recent movies to huge audiences. In purely vertical mergers there is no direct loss in competition as in horizontal mergers because the parties’ products did not compete in the same relevant market. As such, there is no change in the level of concentration in either relevant market. Vertical mergers have significant potential to create efficiencies largely because the upstream and downstream products or services complement each other. Even so, vertical integration may sometimes give rise to competition concerns. Anticompetitive effects Vertical effects can produce competitive harm in the form of foreclosure. A merger is said to result in foreclosure where actual or potential rivals’ access to supplies or markets is hampered or eliminated as a result of the merger, thereby reducing these companies’ ability and/or incentive to compete. Two forms of foreclosure can be distinguished. The first is where the merger is likely to raise the costs of downstream rivals by restricting their access to an important input (input foreclosure). The second is where the merger is likely to foreclose upstream rivals by restricting their access to a sufficient customer base (customer foreclosure). However, it should be noted that in general vertical merger concerns are likely to arise only if market power already exists in one or more markets along the supply chain. Conglomerate mergers involve firms that operate in different product markets, without a vertical relationship. They may be product extension mergers, i. e. , mergers between firms that produce different but related products or pure conglomerate mergers, i. e. , mergers between firms operating in entirely different markets. In practice, the focus is on mergers between companies that are active in related or neighbouring markets, e. g. , mergers involving suppliers of complementary products or of products belonging to a range of products that is generally sold to the same set of customers in a manner that lessens competition. This kind of mergers takes place when two firms in unrelated lines of business combine. A merger between a bank and a media house will be an example of a conglomerate merger. One example of a conglomerate merger was the merger between the Walt Disney Company and the American Broadcasting Company (http://www. sk. com/wiki/Conglomerate_merger) Anticompetitive effects Merger review in this area is controversial, as commentators and enforcement agencies disagree on the extent to which one can predict competitive harm resulting from such mergers. Proponents of conglomerate theories of harm argue that in a small number of cases, where the parties to the merger have strong market positions in their respective markets, potential harm may arise when the merging group is likely to foreclose other rivals from the market in a way similar to vertical mergers, particularly by means of tying and bundling their products. When as a result of foreclosure rival companies become less effective competitors, consumer harm may result. However, it should be stressed that in these cases there is a real risk of foregoing efficiency gains that benefits consumer welfare and thus the theory of competitive harm needs to be supported by substantial evidence. Evaluation of the effectiveness of existing regulations aimed to reduce anticompetitive practices of Mergers and Acquisitions in Ghana. Mergers and Acquisitions among companies in Ghana are regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the Securities Industry Law 1993 (PNDC Law 333) (Ghana Investment Promotion Center, 2008). The law mandates the SEC ‘to review, approve and regulate takeovers, mergers, acquisitions and all forms of business combinations in accordance with any law or code of practice requiring it to do so. Ghanaian law on mergers and acquisitions is an amalgamation of several executive and legislative instruments passed as the corporate finance industry continues to evolve. The need to generate constructive competition among enterprises has been recognized by the government, and monopolies are actively discouraged as a result. The merger in November 2003 of two prominent international mining companies – Ashanti Goldfields and AngloGold (AngloGold succeeded in outbidding Rand Gold in the highly con-tested race with an offering of $1. 4 billion) promises great value to shareholders and the operations of both companies. The Companies Code stipulates the manner in which mergers and amalgamations should be effected. It places emphasis on company resolutions that authorize mergers and amalgamations and on the preservation of affected creditors’ rights. Ghanaian courts frown upon the arbitrary treatment of members or shareholders, and ample provision is made for aggrieved persons to apply to the court for redress at different stages of the merger or acquisition process. Foreign enterprises are guaranteed unconditional transferability of profits and dividends through any bank authorized to deal in freely convertible currency, encouraging and securing foreign investment. The transfer of company shares is exempted from all stamp duties and capital gains resulting from mergers, amalgamations and reorganizations are also tax exempt. Under Ghanaian investment law, preferential treatment is given to foreign and Ghanaian joint ventures by guaranteeing lower minimum capital requirements than those required for wholly foreign-owned enterprises. On the whole, mergers and acquisitions in Ghana continue to evolve as the government secures an attractive environment through executive, legislative and judicial activism to attract direct foreign investment and thus improve the economy. Consequently, the local corporate finance market has began to see increasingly complex financial transactions taking place as more international companies elect Ghana as the regional centre for their operations and its courts for dispute resolution issues.

Free Essays on Franklin Roosevelt Biography

Curriculum-Vitae Franklin Delano Roosevelt Born: At his family's estate at Hyde Park, in Dutchess County, New York. Parents: He was the only child of James Roosevelt and Sara Delano Roosevelt. James Roosevelt was a moderately successful businessman, with a variety of investments and a special interest in coal. He was also a conservative Democrat who was interested in politics. Sara Delano, 26 years younger than her previously widowed husband, brought to the marriage a fortune considerably larger than that of James Roosevelt. Franklin was born into a pleasant and sociable home, with loving parents and congenial, rather aristocratic companions. Education: His mother supervised his education until he was 14. French-speaking and German-speaking tutors did most of the actual instruction and helped him develop early a talent for those languages. For further education, he went to Groton School in Massachusetts, which had a reputation as one of the finest of the exclusive private schools that prepared boys for the Ivy League colleges. From Groton Roosevelt went on to Harvard College. He entered in 1899, and remained until 1904. He took his bachelor's degree in 1903 but returned to Harvard in the fall to serve as editor of the student newspaper, The Crimson. He then moved to New York City, where he entered the Columbia University Law School in 1904. Although he attended classes until 1907, he failed to stay on for his law degree after passing the state examinations allowing him to practice law. Marriage: Before he finished his work at Columbia, young Franklin Roosevelt had married his distant cousin Anna Eleanor Roosevelt. They had been in love for some time and were married in spite of the opposition of Franklin's mother in New York City on March 17, 1905 The bride's uncle, President Theodore Roosevelt, was present at the ceremony. Five of their six children grew to maturity: Anna, James, Elliott, Franklin, Jr., and ... Free Essays on Franklin Roosevelt Biography Free Essays on Franklin Roosevelt Biography Curriculum-Vitae Franklin Delano Roosevelt Born: At his family's estate at Hyde Park, in Dutchess County, New York. Parents: He was the only child of James Roosevelt and Sara Delano Roosevelt. James Roosevelt was a moderately successful businessman, with a variety of investments and a special interest in coal. He was also a conservative Democrat who was interested in politics. Sara Delano, 26 years younger than her previously widowed husband, brought to the marriage a fortune considerably larger than that of James Roosevelt. Franklin was born into a pleasant and sociable home, with loving parents and congenial, rather aristocratic companions. Education: His mother supervised his education until he was 14. French-speaking and German-speaking tutors did most of the actual instruction and helped him develop early a talent for those languages. For further education, he went to Groton School in Massachusetts, which had a reputation as one of the finest of the exclusive private schools that prepared boys for the Ivy League colleges. From Groton Roosevelt went on to Harvard College. He entered in 1899, and remained until 1904. He took his bachelor's degree in 1903 but returned to Harvard in the fall to serve as editor of the student newspaper, The Crimson. He then moved to New York City, where he entered the Columbia University Law School in 1904. Although he attended classes until 1907, he failed to stay on for his law degree after passing the state examinations allowing him to practice law. Marriage: Before he finished his work at Columbia, young Franklin Roosevelt had married his distant cousin Anna Eleanor Roosevelt. They had been in love for some time and were married in spite of the opposition of Franklin's mother in New York City on March 17, 1905 The bride's uncle, President Theodore Roosevelt, was present at the ceremony. Five of their six children grew to maturity: Anna, James, Elliott, Franklin, Jr., and ...

Review of Timeline by Michael Crichton

Review of Timeline by Michael Crichton The purpose of history is to explain the presentto say why the world around us is the way it is. History tells us what is important in our world, and how it came to be. Michael Crichton, Timeline Ill admit it right up front: I dont like historical fiction much. When authors are sloppy in their research, I find the inaccuracies distracting enough to ruin what might otherwise be a good story. But even when the representation of the past is largely authentic (and to be fair, there are some extraordinary authors who really know their stuff), fictionalization makes history much less enjoyable for me. What can I say? Im a hopeless history buff. Every minute I spend reading fiction is a minute Id rather spend learning historical fact. Heres another confession: Im not a big fan of Michael Crichton. I do find good science fiction fascinating (a genre that pushes the edges of what if is as mind-expanding for me as a scholarly discipline that asks what really happened). And Crichton isnt a bad writer, but none of his works has ever made me sit up and say, Wow! While his ideas can be intriguing, they all seem to make much better movies. Whether this is because his style lacks the immediacy of film or because I have to spend less time plowing my way through the story I have yet to decide. So, as you can well imagine, I was predisposed to despise Crichtons semi-historical novel Timeline. The Up Side of  Timeline Surprise! I liked it. The premise was appealing, the action was gripping, and the ending was dramatically satisfying. Some of the cliffhangers and segues were very nicely executed. While there wasnt a single character I could identify with or even like very much, I was pleased to see some character development as a result of the adventure.  The good guys grew more likable; the bad guys were really bad. Best of all, the medieval setting was mostly accurate, and well-realized to boot. This alone makes the book a worthwhile read, especially for those who are unfamiliar or only somewhat familiar with the Middle Ages. (Unfortunately, this is a rather large percentage of the population.) Crichton effectively points up some common misconceptions about medieval life, presenting the reader with a vivid picture that is at times much more attractive, and at other times much more frightening and repellent, than that generally presented to us in popular fiction and film. Of course there were errors; I cant imagine an error-free historical novel. (Fourteenth-century people larger than modern folk? Not likely, and we know this from the skeletal remains, not surviving armor.) But for the most part, Crichton really managed to bring the Middle Ages alive. The Down Side of  Timeline I did have some problems with the book. Crichtons usual technique of expanding the cutting-edge technology of today into a believable science-fiction premise fell sadly short. He spent too much effort trying to convince the reader that time travel could be possible, then used a theory that struck me as internally inconsistent. Though there may be an explanation for this apparent flaw, it was never addressed clearly in the book. I suggest you avoid a close examination of the technology and accept it as a given in order to enjoy the story more. Furthermore, the characters who were surprised by the realities of the past were people who should have known better. The general public may think the Middle Ages were uniformly filthy and dull; but encountering examples of good hygiene, splendid interior decor or swift swordplay shouldnt surprise a medievalist. This makes the characters not very good at their jobs or, worse, it presents the erroneous impression that historians dont bother with the details of material culture. As an amateur medievalist, I find this rather annoying. Im sure professional historians would be downright insulted. Still, these are aspects of the book that are easy to overlook once the action is truly underway. So get ready for an exciting ride into history. Update Since this review was written in March of 2000, Timeline was made into a feature-length, theatrical-release movie, directed by Richard Donner and starring Paul Walker, Frances OConnor, Gerard Butler, Billy Connolly and David Thewlis. It is now available on DVD. Ive seen it, and its fun, but it hasnt broken into my list of Top 10 Fun Medieval Films. Michael Crichtons now-classic novel is available in  paperback, in  hardcover, on  audio CD  and in a  Kindle edition  from Amazon. These links are  provided as a convenience to you; neither Melissa Snell nor About is responsible for any purchases you make through these links.

Cross-cultural management & HRM Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Cross-cultural management & HRM - Research Paper Example IHRM is concerned about managing the human capital at the international level at multinational companies (MNC). It is especially requisite to manage three types of employees’ i.e. domestic employees, host country employees as well as employees of the different countries. For this reason, it is a vital challenge for the human resource manager to handle the diversity effectively along with efficiently. This is because it is effectively related to the productivity of the organization when working collectively with the people of different cultures. According to Bernard Baruch stated regarding cross-cultural communication that â€Å"We did not all come over on the same ship, but we are all in the same boat† (Hord & et. al., 2009). In accordance with today’s working culture for the effective implementation of globalization, it is rapidly becoming enormous, as the business environment has expanded to the various geographical locations. Therefore, it is a major challenge for the HR managers of the MNCs to understand the cultural aspects of the different countries and geographical locations to promote the business and expand the market share, along with interacting and collaborating across boundaries using global communication technologies (Self, n.d.). However, there are also enormous positive aspects of cross-cultural diversity in the organization because it considers creativity along with innovation as well as provides various advantages which include helping an organization to enter the international arena. ... According to Bernard Baruch stated regarding cross cultural communication that â€Å"We did not all come over on the same ship, but we are all in the same boat† (Hord & et. al., 2009). In accordance with today’s working culture for the effective implementation of globalization it is rapidly becoming enormous, as the business environment has expanded to the various geographical locations. Therefore, it is a major challenge for the HR managers of the MNCs to understand the cultural aspects of the different countries and geographical locations to promote the business and expand the market share, along with interacting and collaborating across boundaries using global communication technologies (Self, n.d.). However, there are also enormous positive aspects of cross-cultural diversity in the organisation because it considers creativity along with innovation as well as provides various advantages which include helping an organisation to enter in the international arena. Diver sity among the team also is very helpful to improve elasticity and ensure quick response to any kind of challenges. A company with a diverse workforce can better serve and compete in the assorted market exceptionally beyond their imagination. Nevertheless, managing cross cultural elements in the organisation is very challenging, for this reason there is requirement to established open communication among all, supporting ongoing training and monitoring the various programmes to achieve the organisational targets (Crowe& Hogan, 2007). Therefore, the objective of the essay is to discuss the topic of measuring process in terms of workforce diversity taking care of national as well as organisational

Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 128

Assignment Example This paper explores and discusses the sovereignty claims of the native tribes in Alaska and Akaka in Hawaii. Natives of Alaska, a land purchased by the United States from Russia have gone through a tumultuous period of political and legal up and downs before the recognition of their self-government status by the federal government. Throughout the contacts between the aboriginals of Alaska and the Europeans, the natives have hotly pursued their rights to the ownership of their lands. In history, the Tlingit, Tanaka and Haida tribes initially fought with the Russia, and vehemently object the sale of the lands to the US, claiming the rightful ownership. After the sale, they took their struggle to a different player until the recognition of their status through the Congress enacted law, the Alaska native Claims Settlement Act in 1971 (Zellen, 120). The state government of Alaska has over the years softened its stand on tribal sovereignty amongst the Alaskan tribes. In 1992, the Native Policy Statement, an instrument from the state government codified laws acknowledging the tribal authority and recognized their special status. Hawaiian sovereignty efforts are dissimilar from other Native American claims as they demand total cessation from the Union and a return to the previous monarchial rule. However, there are certain actors within the native population who are pushing for self democratic government, whilst others have acknowledged the importance of the Union and are urging fellow tribes mate to stay within the Union. In the same breath as the governments of the other Native Americans, such as those in Alaska, the native populations are pushing to be including in an arrangement referred to as a nation within a nation (Trask, 66). In fact such a bill has been brought before the senate, repeatedly the Daniel Akaka (Kauanui, 173).