Managerial Report Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Managerial Report - Case Study Example But there is one more chance that he would counter offer another reduced amount of 600,000 (probability of 0.5) If john takes the case to court it may happen that court award him with damages of $1,500,000 (probability of 0.3) and may award $750,000 (probability of 0.5). There is also one more chance that he would not be given even a single penny (probability of 0.2). Detailed analysis of the above situation suggest that according to the given probabilities of the all the situations option of offering john $400,000 would be beneficial because there are chances that he may accept this offer actual outflow may range from $0 to $1,500,000. But chances of both are very low. Event of high chances are payment of $750,000 (which is equal in outflow of 1st option) and payment of $600,000 (which is lower than the first option). Other results may be payment of $400,000 (again lower than first option) zero payment (most favorable event in this whole situation) and payment of $1,500,000 (most disastrous situation). Except this last situation all the other options are beneficial. Although first option is safe and result in an outflow of $750,000 but there are no chances that allied would pay any other amount bigger than this. But option 2 is little risky as it can result in a payment of bigger amount of $1,500,000. But as result of all probabilities is also less than the amount of 1st option therefore it seems worthwhile

New businesses Essay Example for Free

New businesses Essay Consistent findings have imperatively indicated that the correlation between firm entry and survival is negative. Out of every one hundred new businesses introduced in the UK, 50 percent of them become obsolete before their third anniversary. Such high attrition levels are not only evident UK in alone but also in most modern economies and can be said to be a generic rule of thumb. Just why is it that so many nascent firms end up accomplishing little or nothing before they finally become extinct? Is it that their owners do not put enough efforts into the business development or are there other internal and external causes of this prevalent occurrence of business failure? Many theories have been put forth to explain the possible causes of the high rates of new business failure. It is not surprising that major diagnoses of the root causes of low survival rate in new businesses identify management inefficiency as one of the causes of the high attrition levels. Policy makers have also been blamed for recommending entrepreneurship as the solution to rejuvenating the economy yet little is done to educate people on what to expect amid globalization pressures, competition and technological changes that are likely to impact on the business survival. Other theories put forward include the supportive environment thesis, nature of activity and industry theory. Firm survival can however be properly classified in three explanatory dimensions: The firms specific characteristics; Operational factors and the business cycle. This paper explores the characteristics of business failure under these three dimensions and at the same time introduces a discussion on how entrepreneurs can enhance their businesss chances of survival by providing possible solutions to the low levels of survival witnessed in infant businesses. II. Analysis a) Definitions Birth of the firm: The introduction of a business marks the birth of a firm. This may actually start when the idea of the business is borne. Consequent activities such as registering the company, acquiring premises and capital are secondary elements in the birth of a business. Survival of the firm: Survival of the firm refers to its ability to withstand internal and external pressures to meet the objectives for which it was established. Survival determines whether a firm makes it through its lifetime or whether it fails and consequently exits the market. Death of the firm: This denotes the final stage in a business at a point where nothing can be done to revive the business and the only solution is complete closure. Termination of the firm as a legal entity: This means that the business is no longer recognized by the law. It means that a business in the context of the law is no longer operational and it is therefore not liable to debts, taxes among other liabilities to stakeholders. b) New Firms Survival Literature New businesses in the UK have in the past shown high levels of business failures witnessed within the first three years of inception. According to Caliendo and Fossen (2009: 154) at least fifty out of every one hundred new businesses introduced did not make it to their third birthday. A study by the DTI Small Business Service from 1995 to 2004 reveals that these failures are actually vary with industries which could be attributed to the various conditions that exist in these sectors (DTI, 2007: 13). On average, 82% of new businesses established survived the first year in business. Improvement has been recorded and by 2004, an average of 58% of new businesses survived the first three years over all the sectors. Detailed survey results are shown in table 1 and 2. c) Why Half of Nascent Firms Fail: The Survival Explanatory Dimensions 1) Firm Specific Characteristics i)Managerial Organization Discernible management errors and high incidents of poor management highly contribute to the low survival rates of newly established firms. The death of many firms is mostly characterized by management which has turned out to be reactionary. Inefficient decision making and inadequate or non-existent planning will have contributed to the failure of the business in at least 30 percent of nascent firms (Phillips, 2004: 68-70). Veronique and Wever (2000: 138) note that managers inability to react to various forces affecting the business operations such as competition, technological advancements, economic trends and money issues could lead to the ultimate downfall of a business. Inadequacy in management expertise is essentially attributable for the business failure to explore alternative financing options leading to bankruptcy. ii)Inadequacy of Cash Reserves Inadequate financing comes in as a close second after poor management. New owners with little or no prior experience in business may fail to effectively predict cash flow. Miscalculation of amounts required to sustain the business before it picks up and underestimation of the costs associated with borrowing money are the major causes of financial strain (Lane and Schary, 1991: 101-103). Exhaustion of cash reserves is also likely to be influenced by poor pricing, over-investment in fixed assets and uncontrolled growth. Uncontrolled growth occurs when the owners want to take up every opportunity that comes so that at the end of it all they cannot satisfy all their customers. In this case, firms end up borrowing large amounts to meet the high demand and when the loans cannot be paid effectively, what results is collapse of the firm (Audretsch and Keilbach, 2004: 423). Other causes include over dependence on a few customers, fraud and uncontrolled drawings by the owner. iii)Poor debt management and Over-borrowing This is closely associated with cash inadequacy and it results where managers are ill-equipped in financial management. Small business owners are likely to obtain the wrong type of financing and worse still take more than the business can afford to pay (Jostarndt, 2007: 139). This may lead to borrowing loans to clear existing ones which is not a good debt management strategy. Inability to pay debts on time and lack of coordination between incoming cash and outgoing cash may lead to the business finally going bankrupt and consequently causing its death. iv)Ownership Status There are two ways of looking at this perspective: the legal ownership and the reasons for starting the business. A sole proprietorship business is more likely to fail due to financial and management problems than a partnership or a limited company. The reasons for starting the business can highly influence a firms survival. Moore and Gooderl (2008: 8-10) name two types of entrepreneurs: the opportunity entrepreneur and the necessity entrepreneur. The former establishes a business to exploit available business opportunity while the latter may start up a business for the purpose of sustaining himself probably if he cannot find a job. According to Moore and Gooderl (2008: 16-17) the opportunity entrepreneur is likely to succeed while the necessity entrepreneur may not exert enough efforts towards the business. The increased number of necessity entrepreneurs in the UK has highly increased the failure levels in new businesses. v)Personal Characteristics of the owner This mostly has to do with the attitude of the owner and the manner in which he or she applies these in the business context. Owners make a mistake of taking up all responsibilities without making use of delegation to junior employees as a result of fearing that they may not do it perfectly. Jensen (1976: 335) describes this as the challenge of letting go. Owners normally find themselves exhausted from overwork and yet do not find time to address important issues facing the business. Use of business funds by the owner can also cause detrimental effects on the business. Personal attitudes such as aggressiveness and lack of concern for the employees may cause high rate of employee turnover as well as keep away customers (Daily et al, 2002: 398-343). vi)Innovation and reaction to technological changes The world is advancing at a high rate and technology is one of the areas that a business needs to keep up with. Many new businesses fail due to being left behind in technological advancements such that they are overtaken by their competitors who take with them all the customers (Agarwal, 1996: 103-106). Innovation is one of the major tools for a successful business and this is one area that new businesses have not been able to address mainly due to lack of enough capital to come up with new products and services. viii)Poor knowledge of the market Most business owners enter the market with little knowledge about what to expect. Failing to conduct market feasibility studies limit the owners knowledge on the competitors in the market and their influence; the customers characteristics and behaviour and various market fluctuations they are likely to encounter (Covin et al, 2000: 199-206). 2) Operational factors i) Competition New businesses are often overwhelmed by the efforts required to counter competition from already existing firms. This is considering that these firms have already established their customer base and winning loyal customers could prove quite a challenging task for new businesses. Usually, dominant competitors may even device ways of putting new entrants out of business such as lowering prices and offering discounts (Covin et al, 2000: 200). Their aim is to push the new competitors until they cannot keep up with the situation such that they eventually quit. ii) Location The location of a business is a major determinant for its survival. New businesses in rural areas are likely to fail due to limited local markets and isolation. On the other hand high costs, presence of large firms and regulatory barriers pose challenges to businesses located in the urban areas (Sutaria and Donald, 2004: 250-253). 3)Changes in Business Cycle i)Macroeconomic growth and economic pressures New businesses are usually unable to handle economic shocks that may result from high interest rates, fluctuations in exchange rates and general inflation. According to David and Mahmood (1995: 89-93) not many businesses survive an economic surge or a recessionary period which may lead to skyrocketing of supply prices and high costs of borrowing. ii)Entering Cohorts exit rate Cohorts refer to groups with similar characteristics. The result of exit of similar businesses can either have a positive or negative effect on a new business. Exit may mean less competition which is an advantage. New firms however rely on one another for inspiration. A person operating a business where everyone is quitting due to one reason or another is bound to get disillusioned and have the attitude that his business may fail too (Phillips, 2004: 69-71). iii)Changes in legal environment When the laws of a country change, new businesses are likely to suffer since they are not yet stable enough to cushion themselves from such changes. Amendment of tax laws and business requirements may cause a new business to go bankrupt. d) Increasing Survival Chances Strategies to increase the chances of survival for a business entail addressing the leading causes of failure. The most fundamental requirement is the improvement of the management capabilities. When there is good management in a firm, other factors will follow suit because every operation of the business is determined by the management (Sutaria and Donald, 2004: 253-255). Improvement of communication within the business and proper sharing of duties are skills that the owners of the business need to acquire. This can be done through attending management and entrepreneurial seminars and conferences so as to learn secrets of firm survival from professionals. Proper planning is the ideal solution to financial problems. Veronique and Wever, 2000: 139-141) refers adequate anticipation of cash flow as the secret to overcoming financial problems for starters. This could be done through the help of an expert if the owner is not in a position to do so. Finding alternative sources of finance apart from the usual ones is key in preventing the collapse of a business due to lack of funds. There are many available sources of finance including bank loans, credit card advances, sale of assets among others (Moore and Gooderl, 2008: 298-299). Care should then be taken to make sure the finances are properly utilized. The firm should avoid relying on a few customers because huge losses can be felt if the customers suddenly withdraw. Instead, they should aim at a large customer base. Over-borrowing can be reduced through making proper cash forecasts and using the limited resources that the business has. In essence, the firm can adopt a steady growth over time instead of rushing to expand at once (Daily et al, 2002: 399-401). Finally, the management should be keen in managing the debts of the business keenly balancing the income and expenditure so as to cover all liabilities and debts in time. A business must clearly identify its customers and establish whether they can sustain the business effectively considering the level of competition. This can be done prior to the business establishment through a market feasibility studies while answering the following questions: How many competitors are in the area you plan to establish your business? Who will be the businesss customers and what are their buying habits? What is the level of loyalty of these potential customers to the current suppliers? Are they likely to buy your product? Is the product seasonal? Is it possible to make profit out of the business? Once these questions are answered, the likelihood of failure can be minimized as specific strategies to address the issues can be formulated (Audretsch and Thurik, 2007: 113-141). Business owners must realize that they cannot do everything by themselves. Employers can delegate and allow employees to make certain decisions. Consequently, owners will have ample time to concentrate on more important business issues such as finding new customers, getting more funds for the business as well as solving the current issues facing the business (Daily et al, 2002: 403-405). The need for long-term planning is inevitable. This involves planning for growth and transition in the future. It also involves planning for uncertainties such as loss of employees, customers and suppliers. In the wake of the high global trade advancement and changes in the market, businesses should always be alert to avoid being taken unaware by advancements in technology, innovation and changes in customer preferences and culture (Zoltan, 1988: 321). Legal changes and changes in tax systems should be catered for in the long-term business plan. The state of the economy is bound to change from time to time which is why firms must anticipate for any future economic shocks through investing in stocks, futures, options among others. Insurance is also an option for more larger firms. III. Conclusion No environment can be said to specifically favour new firms in all angles hence the need for those starting new firms to be overly cautious. Firms are most definitely exposed to numerous risks that may lead to their extinction as indicated in this discussion. Management is identified as the root cause of low survival rates among nascent firms and its improvement could work to solve the predicament presently being witnessed in new firm survival. Proper balancing of the firms cash reserves; being generally alert to any changes in the business environment; making informed decisions to deal with these changes coupled with excellent management practices is exactly what is needed to save young firms from their predicament and promote their longevity.

Why These Leaders Are Role Models Business Essay

Why These Leaders Are Role Models Business Essay My Leadership style is delegative. My Leadership style is the same as the Laissez Faire Style. It is a leadership style in which the manager provides small or no direction and gives workers as much freedom as possible. All power is given to the workers and they must set goals, make decisions, and fix problems on their own. I suggest this leadership style for those leaders that have highly experienced staff under their leadership, because in this leadership style the manager is not always skilled on the certain job they are managing. Task-Oriented theory Another Leadership style of mine is Task-Focused. I have found that my leadership styles correct name is Task-Oriented Leadership. The Leaders that follow this style only focus on getting their certain jobs done and they sometimes can be autocratic. I have researched and found that, leaders who follow this style are good at delegating tasks, which I believe is strength for me. What I found the weak points are of this leadership style are: motivation and retention problems, leader doesnt think too much about teams well-being, and sometimes the leader acts too fast without full information. Transformational theory The Transformational leadership style is the style that I look forward to use. The main reason for it being my favourite is that my biggest leadership Role-Model (Bill Gates) applies it. The Transformational theory states that, the leadership is the method in which an individual engages with others and is able to produce a bond that results in increased motivation and morality. What I believe is that, the key in transformational leadership is for the leader is to be helpful to the requirements and objectives of followers in an effort to help them reach their utmost potential. In addition, transformational leadership typically explains how leaders can begin, expand, and apply important changes in an organization. Transformational Transactional High aiming moral standards and ideas Objectives of the leader reach the targets and rewards Practical supervision No particular supervision Individual therapy Exception handling The motive is to promote understanding of the interests of the group The Motive is to achieve personal interests by encouraging Change management strategies- When it comes to Change in Management, transactional and transformational leadership styles contrast largely. In Transformational Leadership, the Leader goes ahead of managing day to day processes and crafts tactics for taking his department to the next level of performance and success. He always looks for good Opportunities, for possible changes in Management. In Transactional Leadership, Leaders are more anxious with maintaining the standard flow of actions. It can also be described as keeping the ship afloat style. They are not interested in any change in management. 1.3 Leadership Role Models 1.3a leadership profiles Steve Jobs-Complex management style Steve Jobs. Steve Paul Jobs was the co-founder and CEO of Apple Inc., which is now the worlds second largest Informational Technology Company by income. Steve Jobs was born on the 24th of February, 1955. I have discovered that Jobs follows the Autocratic Leadership style. I have found that, very few leaders use this leadership style and succeed. Steve Jobs is one of them. Ive heard many people criticising his leadership style, but I disagree to those people because apple wouldnt be what it is today, if he applied a different style. Ive learnt that Steve Jobs was always deeply focused when committed, confident enough to take risky actions, and charismatic enough to enrol large numbers of employees and customers in the constant quest of his goals. Steve Jobs Famously said that customers dont know what they want until weve shown them. Without a doubt, he produced such products that, after being launched were every persons want. Under his leadership Apples income raised from US $5 billion to US $351 billion! Hardly any top leaders show as much interest to product and design detail as Jobs did. He always considered simplicity, functionality, and consumer demands before; cost effectiveness, sales amount, or even income. Even though he had immeasurable talent, he always made the employees work just as hard as himself. I observed Jobs stating in an interview that We have an environment where excellence is really expected. I have read many blogs and books, accusing Jobs for being immature, stubborn, and even cruel. But however, Jobs seemingly harsh behaviours sparked peak performance, as much as they undermined it. Steve Jobs died of pancreas cancer, a day after the launch of the latest iphone. He was missed by all of the Apple inc. Workers and Consumers. Bill Gates-http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02012/Bill-Gates_2012907b.jpg William (Bill) H. Gates III is the co-founder, chairman and CEO of Microsoft Corporation, the worlds leading provider of software for computers. Bill Gates was born on October 28, 1955. I have researched and found that he follows a Transformational leadership style, which shows in his achievements throughout his career. I believe that he has so many great achievements that even a book can be written about them. Here are a few of his achievements that I found- Bill Gates got knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2005, for his contribution to the British community. From various universities and institutes like Harvard University and The Royal Institute of Technology, Bill Gates has received Doctorates! Because of Bill Gates and his wife doing many generous works for the welfare of the society, they received the award of Order of the Aztec Eagle in Mexico. Forbes Magazine listed his name in The Worlds Richest People from the year 1995 to 2007. I believe that the main reason that Microsoft succeeded was because of this man. A computer on every desk and Microsoft software on every computer he will continue to stomp out the competition until he dies. Every business and household must have a computer and must run Microsoft software, was the basic guiding vision of Bill Gates. Ive heard that Bill Gates found the most comfortable place where the positional power for him was high as he had most authorities in the firm. That means Bill Gates is more likely a transformational leader who wants performance from his subordinates/followers to achieve the goal/objective of the company. But Im certain that he is not only one who relies on the employees, he is one when needed who can do the employees jobs much better than them. Gates always had that smart brain for technology, as he was god gifted. He had once said that if you are gifted an extraordinary talent, then you should use it in a good way. I believe that his leadership skills have set an example for the young businessmen and businesswoman, as his tactics were so efficient that both Microsoft and Bill Gates had blown their rooftops off with money. Bill was a type of autocratic leader but he never made rash threats never used cruelty to manipulate others or to gain personal benefits. Bill Gates had the ability to influence others with something of value to them. Microsoft is well known for giving huge remuneration packages to its employees. What I consider is an important part of reward power is having control over resources, such as allocating expense budget funds. Bill Gates had full control over evaluating employees performance, determining their raises, promotions other rewards. He also kept the employees confident and positive. He showed those two skills as well. One day a reporter asked him arent you worried about the competition that is starting to show? He replied Whether its Google, Apple or free software, ou r fantastic competitors just keep us on our toes! Why these leaders are my Role Models I have chosen Steve Jobs and Bill Gates as my Role Models because; they both are or have been very successful leaders. Looking up to their success I believe that I will also be able to go very high in leadership standards. The main reason for me choosing Steve Jobs was his success with such a leadership style. I like that factor because with that leadership style only one in many succeeds. I also thought that him inventing such creations, that both kids and adults find as their needs, was something that only a special person could do, thus, I chose to study him and found his past and leadership style, inspiring, which led to him becoming my leadership role model. It is quite obvious why someone will have Bill Gates as their role model. Not only his awards but also, his past, success, popularity, personality, and leadership style was all inspiring. To be honest, he is my more favourable Role model as he is a leader who is always dedicated to his tasks and always aims to complete them to the best of his and the employees abilities. He is someone who I think every young businessman should have as their role model because he is one of the many few leaders that have gained such popularity and still stay focused on what their job is. This quality is a quality that we should all remember to follow, as I have seen many leaders get carried away, when their only at the beginning of popularity and success. 1.3b Benchmarking criteria Leadership is a vast scope that has no boundaries none can actually describe its area, method, traits, or other specifications. For example a housewife can be a leader for her own home and a student can be a leader of his own group or class etc. leadership styles are different as there are democratic, charismatic, autocratic etc. (Leadership New Zealand, 2011) Here are some benchmarking qualities- Task orientated- I believe that I am very much task focused person and have the ability to finish my tasks efficiently, but to become a successful leader you have to be task oriented and task focused as well, so to my understanding this is the key Quality which I need to develop on. Confidence- All the successful leaders have a high level of confidence which, enhances their decision making power and their risk taking ability, which you have to take at some point. I believe that I have lack of confidence in myself thats why I have included this quality in my personal development benchmarking criteria. Dedication- To become a successful leader you need total dedication to your work. I have chosen this quality, as I believe that Im already a dedicated woman but, if I put a bit more dedication into my work, then I can become a very successful leader. Patience- Patience is a very important element to the success of any leader, as sometimes you dont get your desired results and then the leader goes impatient and loses concentration and in result he takes the wrong decisions. I feel that this is my weakness which I want to improve on. Socially responsible- a leader who wants to create a good image of their organisation or themselves in the community shows social responsibility. I believe that social responsibility should not only be used for that reason; it should just be considered as a normal responsibility because it keeps the community happy and the environment neat. Disciplined- Not all leaders are disciplined or keep their employees disciplined, but leaders that actually are disciplined are usually more successful, and they are the ones that tend to stay in business the longest. I believe that I am the type of leader who is disciplined herself but, not the best at forcing discipline on others, thats why I need to improve on this point. Section 2: Self-assessment 2.1 Benchmarking Scores out of 10 Avinash Reen Patience 8 Dedication 8 Confidence 6 Task Orientated 9 Socially Responsible 8 Disciplined 10 Leadership Benchmarking Score 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 REALITY CHECK Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out. 7 Never mistake activity for achievement. 4 Adversity is the state in which man mostly easily becomes acquainted with himself, being especially free of admirers then. 6 Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are. 8 Be prepared and be honest. 9 Be quick, but dont hurry. 7 You cant let praise or criticism get to you. Its a weakness to get caught up in either one. 7 You cant live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you. 2 Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be. 3 Dont measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability. 7 Its what you learn after you know it all that counts. 7 Its the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen. 7 Talent is God-given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful. 8 The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team. 5 BENCHMARK SCORE 87 TOTAL POSSIBLE SCORE 140 Score as a percentage 62.14% 2.2 Reflection My personal leadership style is the Delegative style. Although this is my style but it is not my preferred style. My preferred leadership style is transformational leadership style. The main reason behind transformational leadership being my favourite, because my biggest Role Model (Bill Gates) uses it; it shows how efficient it is by the success of my Role Model. I believe that I am quite strong at giving out authorities to my group members, working within the timeframe and delegating tasks. The weaknesses in Leadership which I have are Tendency to resist change, to listen poorly and to act too fast at times. These weaknesses are not only my thoughts but the surveys and theories all indicate them as well. My goal as a leader is to become a well known leader and contribute to the society at the same time. I follow the Sikh religion, in which it is said to contribute and serve the society and the helpless. This has inspired me deeply, so when I become successful, I will aim to donate large amounts of money to organisations that help the helpless. Also, donating and contributing to such societies goes under social responsibility, which in result gives you a good picture in the community, which will lead to success. Opportunities Rationale Strategies Timeframe Measures Resourcing Vege Oasis (my workplace) is looking forward to promote me to the supervisor of the fruit-packing area, in the organisation. As I am really skilled in the packing position, me supervising this sector is certain. First I will complete my business management course, so I know how to manage a group of employees properly and efficiently. 1-2 months to complete my current course, take some supervisor training and start my full time job as supervisor. I will know that I have achieved my goal, when I pass my Business Management course. Resources that I will need to achieve my set goals will be my personal resources (time, skill and money). Vege Oasis will give me the opportunity to work as the assistant store manager of the organisation. This position is almost certain because, the Organisation advised me that, they see lots of potential in me and can give me the position of assistant manager if I successfully handle the position of supervisor. I will need to prove that I am capable for the position by performing well, not only individually but also as a team leader. 6-12 months to prove that that I have good leadership qualities and can perform well as a leader. I will know that I have achieved my goal when the packing unit succeeds and the CEO gets impressed and promotes me to the assistant store manager. I will only need a few resources to achieve my objective, which includes: time and leadership skills. Position as the store manager of Vege Oasis. I have selected this opportunity because I will have qualifications, skills and experience. Firstly I will need to prove to the Organisation that I am capable for this role by performing efficiently as assistant manager. 1-2 years to prove myself as an efficient assistant store manager. I will know that I have achieved my set objective when I get selected for the managerial role and later on, receive positive feedback from CEO. The key Resources I will need will be personal resources (time, and skill). Section 3: Personal Development Plan

catcher in the rye :: essays research papers

In J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye, a young man named Holden Caulfield goes through many misadventures during a three day stay in New York. Holden acts like a careless teenager but the reader gets the feeling that he cared once and wishes that he could again. He has what is almost an obsession with death and is constantly dwelling on the death of his brother Allie, who died of leukemia. He carries Allie’s baseball mitt with him wherever he goes. He was obviously very disturbed by Allie’s death as he broke all the windows in his garage with his bare fist with such force that his hand is still messed up. His feelings toward people and relationships tend to lean toward the negative side. He usually expects the worst, part of that seems to be issues he has from the loss of his brother Allie. One of the words he uses often throughout the novel is phony. He values honesty and sincerity, and can’t stand people who try to make themselves look better in the eyes o f others. He flunks out of every school that his parents send him to including Pency, his current school. He seems to be fairly intelligent and the reader gets a sense that his problems in school are the result of lack of motivation. He isolates himself from those around him and seems to be afraid of change; always assuming it will be for the worst. He seems to have a great deal of love and respect for his sister Phoebe and his dead brother Allie. Holden is a very complex character and is difficult to understand.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The story begins on top of a hill overlooking the football stadium at Pency. Holden stands alone on top of the hill watching the game because he didn’t want to go down into the stadium with everybody else. This is a good beginning as it shows Holden’s tendency to isolate himself from others and his general dislike of people. He has flunked out of Pency, and is not supposed to return after Christmas vacation. Christmas vacation starts in three days but Holden gets fed up with his classmates and school in general and leaves to go to New York and get a hotel room. He doesn’t go home because he wants his parents to get the letter informing them of his expulsion before he comes home.

Ngo And International Development Essay

We live in an imperfect world where citizens are continuously plagued with problems caused by lack of opportunities or through bad leadership of states that immerses these people into problems not of their own making. These problems are many and diverse ranging form wars, human rights abuse, famine and natural calamities. Many governments are not equipped to respond adequately to those adversities and it becomes necessary for Ngo’s to intervene. However some countries have continued to frustrate the work of such institutions for different reasons and North Korea becomes a classic example of such a totalitarian government limiting the operations of such organizations. Ngo’s operations in North Korea Ngo’s are viewed with great skepticism by the government of South Korea as they go about their work. This is because the government is greatly paranoid of foreign presence in the country and aid workers are usually treated with the same disdain accorded foreign delegations from the west (Gordon, l. & Snyder, S. 2003). However the degree of freedom and responsibility given to ngo’s depends mainly on the political relation of South Korea and the nationality of the ngo in question. For instance ngo’s from America and South Korea are the worst affected while their counter parts form Europe enjoy more privileges. Therefore organizations from countries perceived with hostility are not even granted permanent stay hampering their efforts to help the needy. All ngo’s however encounter a similar problem since they are not usually allowed access to the people in their problem evaluations and expected to rely on government guidelines in pursuit of their goals. Furthermore hey have to contend with constant monitoring by state agencies hat limit their response abilities. However there are hopes that the situation is improving since 1995 when the government of North Korea asked for assistance from the international community in response to food shortage (Smith, 2002). It is perceived that the problem that ngo’s faced is due to the country’s failure to comprehend the underlying principles that from the basis for humanitarian assistance by ngo’s. However recent acts by the government to eject food assistance by the U S government and the threat to evict all organizations from the U S might erode all the steps gained in diplomacy and relation ad discourage aid organizations from the country (Radia, 2009). Conclusion It is quite clear that organizations have found it hard to work in North Korea but it is unacceptable for some organizations to quite since such help is vital for those in suffering. Furthermore the gates opened by these organizations allow for an improvement in relations with foreign country and this might in the long run improve the conditions both for these institutions and for the people of North Korea. References Gordon, l. & Snyder, S. (2003). Paved With Good Intentions: The NGO Experience in North Korea. West port: Praeger Publishers. Radia, k. (2009). Abc news: North Korea Rejects US Food Aid, Kicks Out US NGOs. Retreved March 19, 2009, from http://blogs. abcnews. com/politicalradar/2009/03/north-korea-can. html. Smith, H. (2002). Unied States Institute of Peace: Overcoming Humanitarian Dilemmas in the DPRK (North Korea). Retreved March 19, 2009, from http://www. usip. org/pubs/specialreports/sr90. html.

The effect of Vitamin D supplementation on breast cancer risk

Abstract The impact of vitamin D supplementation on breast cancer prevention and diminishment has become a matter of sustained debate. This study proposes to utilize a combination Post-Positivism approach to assess the practice. With emerging studies both upholding and decrying the efficacy of Vitamin D in relation to breast cancer, there is a need pursue this study in order to clarify the potential. Introduction Breast Cancer and vitamin D supplementation have become a substantial topic of debate as a drive to find a solution continues. This study fills a gap in existing research by assessing what impact the addition of Vitamin D has on the prevention and diminishment of Breast Cancer.1.1 BackgroundThe efficacy of Vitamin D supplementation in order to prevent or diminish Breast Cancer has become a matter of sustained debate. The Mohr, Gorham and Alcaraz (2012) study argues that there is a direct benefit to the reduction of breast cancer by adding Vitamin D both before and after a cancer diagnosis. Others cite the impact of Vitamin D on Breast Cancer as only negligible (Prentice, Prettinger and Jackson 2013). Still others cite the early stage of research as an obstacle to fully embracing the value of Vitamin D (Yin, Grandi and Raum 2010). Yet, further studies link Vitamin D and the method of ingestion as a pivotal issue (Prentice et al 2013). The goal of this study would be to further det ermine the role of Vitamin D in relation to breast cancer in women.1.2 Aims and ObjectivesIn this section, the research aims, objectives, and research questions will be outlined. Firstly, the aim of this research is as follows: The following research objectives have been determined: What is the effect of vitamin D supplementation on breast cancer risk What is the vitamin D status, determined by 25-OH vitamin D levels, among women diagnosed with breast cancer 1.3 Research QuestionsThe research question is: What are the known associations with Vitamin D supplementation and breast cancer What are the key factors that have been impacted by Vitamin D supplementation of cancer Do the means of Vitamin D ingestion have an impact on effectiveness What is the potential emerging research teaching 2 Literature Review 2.1 Factors that contribute to Breast CancerDeficiencies in all forms have long been credited with the increasing the probability for cancer of all varieties (Pearce and Cheetham 2010). Factors including the lack of Vitamin D have been linked to breast cancer diagnosis in women (Chung, Lee and Terasawa 2011). With lifestyle choices and long-term habits playing a pivotal role in a cancer diagnosis, the impact of a single element is debateable (Brasky, Lampe and Potter 2010). Diseases including Rickets and osteomalacia are directly tied to vitamin D deficiency, making a breast cancer link plausible (Pearce et al 2010). The presence of or lack of vitamins are argued to impact a breast cancer diagnosis.2.2 Vitamin D and Breast Cancer supplementation in WomenA wide array of professionals ranging across clinical applications, autoimmunity, cardiology and cancer fields agree that the Vitamin D supplementation is a benefit to the effort to increase breast prevention efforts (Souberbielle, Jeanjacques Body and Lappe 2010). Yet, Prentice et al (2013), while maintaining the moderate value of the supplementation practice, argue that the reduction in breast cancer occurrence due to this factor is only suggestive, not conclusive.2.3 Vitamin D and Breast Cancer Prevention OptionWolff and Guiliano (2011) have found that Vitamin D as a supplement is superior to a dietary intake of vitamin D. This study charts a correlation between the incidents of breast cancer prevention and the dietary method of vitamin intake. It is insufficient to rely on any single indicator in as a prevention mechanism (Thacher and Clarke 2011). Further, the benefits of vitamin D are only at the obse rvational stage and cannot be fully accredited (Ibid).2.4TrendsThe combination of Calcium/Vitamin D is providing an avenue for research towards a diminished rate of breast cancer (Bolland, Grey, Gamble and Reid 2011). Conversely, Brunner, Wactawski-Wende and Cann (2011) illustrate that there is no substantial reduction in breast cancer among their studies participants employing this combination. 3. Methodology The methodology focuses on an explanation of the approaches considered: What is the effect of vitamin D supplementation on breast cancer risk What is the vitamin D status, determined by 25-OH vitamin D levels, among women diagnosed with breast cancer3.1 ApproachPositivism, quantitative method, provides solutions resting in math, producing empirical data (Yin 2003). Interpretivism or qualitative uses the interpretive approach utilizing instruments like coding. Post-Positivism, a combination of the two is best suited to determine the impact of Vitamin D supplementation on breast cancer in women (Bryan and Bell 2007). Both inductive and deductive approaches were considered. Bryan et al (2007) view both approaches as ‘connected’ with distinct elements, but the connection are not fixed. Therefore settled the use of a mixed method or post-positivism method was chosen as the best approach.3.2 Research StrategyThis study will collect and analyse empirical data (Biggam 2012). The utilization of both primary and secondary research material will provide depth and fundamental clarity to the study (Yin 2003). The empirical research in this study deals with an in-depth review of breast cancer cases, survivors and relevant medical professionals. Primary data will be accumulated through the creation and utilization of a survey directly transmitted to breast cancer survivors and oncological professionals (Ibid). Prior and existing case studies will be evaluated utilizing secondary sources alongside the application of a primary source survey issued to the breast cancer survivors and members of t he oncologist community (Yin 2003). This research strategy is best suited to facilitate a well rounded evaluation of issues that promote various perspectives in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the link between Vitamin D supplementation and breast cancer (Lock, Silvermand and Spirduso 2010).3.4 Data Collection Methods and InstrumentsThe collection methods used in this study were: Primary data using Surveys from survivors and medical professionals (Saunders et al 2007). Secondary breast cancer data via journal and peer reviewed article The primary disadvantages rest in the limited capacity to check answers or develop further details. Further, obtaining primary data may be very high (Yin 2003). 7. References Biggam, J. (2012) Succeeding with Your Master’s Dissertation. 2nd ed.Berks. McGraw-Hill Boll, Grey, A., Gamble, G. and Reid, I. 2011. Calcium and vitamin D supplements and health outcomes: a reanalysis of the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) limited-access data set. 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