Assessment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Assessment - Assignment Example Industrial Chemicals, lastly, provide scientifically enrich and tested chemical products. All in all, the company makes use of the best talent in the sector to keep up with the innovative and unique features it provides. Synthomer also works in the chemical industry and deals mainly in production of polymers. Synthomer was established in 1952 with headquarters in Harlow, UK. Both companies keep innovation and technology at the heart of their operations and compete greatly in the global business market. Both the companies have followed International Accounting Standards (IAS) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) to prepare the financial reports. They use different accounting policies for the accounts, for instance, Synthomer calculates depreciation on straight line basis over the estimated useful life of an asset and Croda values tangible fixed assets at cost or valuation less depreciation. The accounting policies differ for each account but they remain compliant with the UK accounting standards and companies law 2006. For the purpose of this assignment, the financial statements of both the companies are extracted from their official website. The information important for the analysis is extracted and summarized in the excel sheet for clarity and ease of use. The analysis covers information from three recent years i.e. 2011, 2012 and 2013. Both the companies belong to the same industry and work in more or less the same product lines. For financial analysis, ratio analysis was used. Ratio analysis is done under 5 main heads namely Liquidity, Leverage, Coverage, Activity and Profitability. The analysis involves comprehensive assessment of the results measured. An analysis is made using personal knowledge and understanding about the issues. The report ends by concluding on the results of comparative analysis. Current

Key themes Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Key themes - Assignment Example Descriptive moral relativism provides that there are deep and widespread moral differences across different societies and these differences are weightier than the agreements that exist. Meta-ethical relativism on the other hand, provides that the falsity or the truth of moral judgments or their justifications are not universal but relative to the convictions, practices and traditions of a group. Normative moral relativism maintains that meta-ethical, moral realism suggests that we ought to tolerate the behavior of others, even where such behavior contradicts our cultural or personal standards.2 Arguments for moral relativism include the diversity argument which provides that there is a great diversity in the notions of what is moral and what is immoral and each view on morality is correct. The humility argument provides that an individual is in no position to tell others that their moral beliefs are false and everyone’s moral beliefs are true. People also accept moral relativism in order to tolerate and respect differing opinions on right and wrong. Problems of moral relativism include inconsistencies on what is right and wrong and the unacceptable consequences of the different views on what is moral and what is

Information Sources Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Information Sources Analysis - Essay Example Employees can take organization to the mountains of success and can even lead down like a desert and plain area. The main challenge in front of the organizations is to make potential employees aware of their company as a good place to work and to bring best applicants successfully through the recruitment and hiring process, retain them, commitment to them, provide the working environment and the structures to motivate them to give of their best. A Human Resources Information System is a system that lets you keep track of all your employees and information about them. It is usually done in a database or, more often, in a series of inter-related databases. An Information System (IS) is the system of persons, data records and activities that process the data and information in a given organization, including manual processes or automated processes. The computer-based information systems are the field of study for Information technologies (IT); however these should be treated as a part o f them because they are always involved in. It is the term given to the discipline focused on the integration of computer systems with the aims and objectives on an organization. Development tools and Management tools assists executives and the general workforce in performing any tasks related to the processing of information. These systems are especially useful in the collation of business data and the production of reports to be used as tools for decision-making. Hence they are used as the effective decision making tools. With computers being as ubiquitous as they are today, there's hardly any business that does not rely extensively on there IT systems. However, there are several specific fields in which it has become invaluable. The role of information technology in the various fields of human resource management and marketing are discussed below. Strategy Support Information system and human resource are the two core departments of any organization. The benefits that an organization can get from their existence and mutual cooperation are enormous. While computers cannot create business strategies by themselves they can assist human resources in understanding the effects of their strategies, and help enable effective decision-making. These systems can be used to transform data into information useful for decision-making. Computers with the help of employees can provide financial statements and performance reports to assist in the planning, monitoring and implementation of strategy. These systems provide a valuable function in that they can collate into coherent reports and unmanageable volumes of data that would otherwise be broadly useless to decision makers. By studying these reports decision-makers can identify patterns and trends currently in the market. Thus information system help in creating value based strategically policies through the appropriate placing and implemented the HR policies. The use of modern technology like biometrics in which figure prints of an employee can be stored and converted into useful biometric data which can be used as a security measure. It also ensures

Individual research and contribution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Individual research and contribution - Essay Example The first method involves survey whereby the consumers will interact directly with the researchers. They would be given questionnaires that are straightforward. They would be asked if they would prefer having the e-books than the actual book. In my opinion, other feasible research method would involve focus groups, which makes it possible for individuals to discuss the products among different groups of people. This makes it possible for the publishing company to understand the different perception of different groups. The research could as well involve personal interviews of writers and the readers. The publishers will have the creative minds of the writers who would likely be their clients in the future projects. I believe that responses from individuals might not give the clear interpretation of what the individual wants. This gives a good interpretation of the consumer behavior of individuals. Finally, the research would involve field trial where some of the books that have been published will be given to the consumers. This would make them understand some of the quality of the products from the

Leadership Styles and Motivational Theories for Small Businesses Coursework

Leadership Styles and Motivational Theories for Small Businesses - Coursework Example Motivational Theories for a Small Business Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs One of the best known motivational theories is known as Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. According to Abraham Maslow, human beings have some basic needs which occur according to the level of their importance. The lowest needs in the hierarchy of needs that must be met first include food, water, air, sleep, and sex. The next level after the first hierarchy involves needs such as safety and security, followed by other social needs such as self-esteem. The highest level in the hierarch has self-actualization needs (Hatten 2011, p. 415). Small business entrepreneurs should be aware that their workers will not always demand these needs in a similar manner and in the same order. There are instances whereby employees will be at different levels of needs in different instances. However, sometimes the needs may occur simultaneously. To cater to the varying employee needs, a variety of ways to motivate their behav ior are required. For instance, the use of money to motivate employees can pose challenges at the work place. In most small business environments, money is seen as providing basic physiological needs but not being important for the employee to achieve other needs in the hierarchy. ... ow’s theory helps entrepreneurs to learn that in the process of motivating their employees, they should recognize that people have needs that arise suddenly and continue to require attention until they are satisfied. Employees can have lower end needs that must be met before they concentrate on a higher level need. Employees must have good food, water and air before they begin to achieve social needs at the workplace. Socialization at the workplace cannot be attained when the lower end needs in the hierarchy, which are important, are not met (Miner 2007, p. 27). Herzberg’s Motivation-Hygiene Theory Another important theory of motivation in the small businesses is known as Herzberg’s Motivation-Hygiene Theory. Small business entrepreneurs can benefit from this theory since it states that the factors that produce job satisfaction are not the same as those that motivate employees to excel. Herzberg referred to the factors that cause employees to feel good about thei r job as job hygiene factors. Job hygiene factors such as safe working conditions and reasonable pay should be met at the workplace. In addition, the presence of these factors leads to contentment among employees but may not motivate them to excel. True motivation at workplace may require factors such as recognition, advancement, or job enrichment (Hatten 2011, p. 415). The most important aspect to consider in motivating employees for the small businesses is to know what is important to them. For instance, if the entrepreneur avails a motivational reward that is not appropriate to the employees, it may look like a form of punishment (Miner 2007, p. 27). Leadership Style for a Small Business Many scholars and leadership experts argue that leadership is the driving force of any organization. This is because

Assignment for MSc in Innovation Management Essay

Assignment for MSc in Innovation Management - Essay Example Transformational change requires a shift in conduct that results in an organisation significantly different in structure, processes, culture, and strategy. Transitional change seeks to achieve a known desired state different from the existing one, examples of which are the basis of much organisational change literature (Kanter, 1983; Nadler and Tushman, 1989). TQM refers to a management process directed at establishing organised continuous development activities involving everyone in the organisation in a totally integrated effort towards improving performance at every level (Almaraz, 1994). It is a management philosophy and business strategy rooted in the works of Deming (1986), Ishikawa (1985), Juran (1988), and Crosby (1989). Hackman and Wageman (1995) lists TQM's four general principles: TQM focuses on work processes, explicit identification and measurement of internal and external customer requirements, analysis of variances, use of cross-functional teams, management by facts (data), learning and continuous improvement, and the use of process management heuristics. Through data collection, analysis, hypothesis formation and testing, process changes can be devised and introduced steadily and continuously to improve quality. Whilst radical change is episodic, emergent, second order, transitional or transformational, TQM is designed for continuous, planned, first order, and developmental change. Here lies a conceptual discrepancy that may lead us to conclude that having a TQM culture does not prepare a firm to manage the radical changes affecting it. TQM focuses on incremental changes to work processes designed for a given set of assumptions defined by customer needs, a legislative climate, and technology conditions. What happens if these assumptions undergo a radical change We review the literature on the issue and inquire if other change management tools may be more appropriate. Lewin (1951) conceptualised change as a three-stage process involving unfreezing (the existing organisational equilibrium), moving (to a new position), and refreezing (in a new equilibrium position). Schein (1987) elaborated that unfreezing involves disconfirmation of expectations, creation of guilt or anxiety, and provision of psychological safety that converts anxiety into motivation to change. Moving to a new position is achieved through cognitive restructuring, often by identifying with a new role model or mentor and scanning the environment for new information. Refreezing occurs when the new point of view is integrated into the total personality and concept of self and significant

Health Care Project Essay Example for Free

Health Care Project Essay Team B has chosen prescription drugs for our health care reform project and how our current economic status is influenced. We will give ideas and solutions to show how to decrease the drug pricing. Ways that can be implemented toward a solution. Pharmaceutical company’s need to amend their business practices from a high profit, low development model to a moderate profit, moderate to high development model. Structures and regulation that will explain the competition, barriers to entry, and regulations. Taking a look at drug pricing from different perspective, like cost, research, and development, marketing, and the manufacturing of pharmaceutical drugs. The Monopoly of pricing who is involved, and the curves associated with it. Price discrimination how it changes who’s involved and what the criteria are for groups as well as pricing for individuals. How cost of co pays differ from brand names to generic and how the drug formulates come into play. How to make the system work for everyone that will amount to higher than just a 30-day supply, pharmacy assistance programs, local charity programs, and low income opportunities. Better ways to enforce existing legislation, vote in new legislation, and regulate prices across the board. The above affects the insured and non-insured American’s. For most American households, paying for health care to include prescription drugs and medical bills has been one of the hardest financial strains out there. According to a report published by (Consumer Reports, 2012), many have cut back on other household expenses or taken potentially dangerous measures with their health to afford their medications. The most affected population is the working-age Americans who do not have prescription drug insurance coverage. More than half of the people who completed the survey requested by Consumer Reports took one or more prescriptions had to reduce other household expenses or make changes in how the general population manage their finances. These reductions included how much they spend on their groceries, entertainment, activities with the family, and using their credit cards to purchase medications. The problem  was more severe with younger people than elderly people age 65 and older. â€Å"84 percent of them said they had to resort to such measures† (Consumer Reports, 2012) as previously listed. Prescription drugs or better yet the cost of prescription drugs is a discussion in the country of importance. The rise of the cost of prescription drugs is of important to many people in the United States and plays a huge role in the economics of health care. The elevated pricing of prescription drugs has become a focal point of politics and in need of some governance. Even though healthcare and prescription drugs are seen as a private sector issue, the discussion of some socialist measures put into place is a definite need for the economy. Some of those ideas include price-capping expensive drugs and even importing drugs from Canada. Healthcare and prescription drugs have been privatized; however, the government has a huge influence on them both. According to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, the government, including state, and federal, has contributed more the 2.7 trillion in 2011. This shows that we have hidden, or more politically correct, blurred the view of a socialist healthcare system. The currently health care system with health care reform has caused confusing for co nsumers. Many people are struggling to pay for the high cost of medication they are on. Some of the patients have to take a different type of medication, which is called alternative medication because their insurance denied paying for it in addition; the process to get approval from insurance takes longer time and more paperwork back and forth from doctors and insurance companies. In reality, health care consumers are the victims, they suffer from their medical illnesses, and they suffer for the high cost of prescription drugs. Health care reform in theory is helping more than forty million people to have health coverage, the demand curve shifts to the right. The important matter at the present time is the supply to cover that many people to have a quality care whereas the economy is gradually recovering. The unemployment rate is not changing much, it is still relatively high. When the prescription drug cost much of our income, seeking for other solution becomes a must do from consumers, they tend to dismiss their prescriptions or buying medication from online market, w hich may cause bad health than curing purpose.