Analytical Review of Fortescue Metals Group- myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theAnalytical Review of Fortescue Metals Group Limited. Answer: Introduction Financial statements provide two major things to the readers or its users. One of the major things is the statement of the profit and loss which describes the financial performance that the company has gained over the period and second is statement of the affairs which describes the financial position of the company as at the end of the period. The company that has been selected for the purpose of the conduct of the analysis is the Fortescue Metals Groups Limited. The annual report for the year ending 30th of June 2017 and 30th of June 2016 has been considered. The report has started with the introduction and follows with the start of the analytical review. Analytical review has been conducted with the ratio analysis. Ratio analysis includes the profit and loss ratios as well as the balance sheet ratios. After conducting the analytical review and detailing the results, the working capital management policies have been detailed of the company. It has been discussed with reference to the current ratio of the company and has been detailed whether it is as per the needs of the company or not. With these considerations, the report has been ended with the appropriate conclusion and recommendation. Analytical Results Net Profit has been at an increasing rate for the last three years from 3.70, 13.89 and 24.78 in the years ending 2015, 2016 and 2017 financial years. S. No. Particulars 2017 2015 2016 1 Net Profit 2,721,008,840.00 1,326,420,684.00 411,458,333.00 2 Revenue 10,999,739,989.00 9,806,086,722.00 11,264,322,916.00 3 Net Profit ratio 24.78 13.89 3.70 The sudden increase over the three years can also be treated as dangerous situations. It is because many of the companies have been collapse due to sudden increase in the business of the company. For instance Lehman Brothers, HIH Insurance Company and One Tel Company have all collapsed. The major reason of the collapse was the accounting errors and willfully manipulating with the figures of the financial statements of the company and generating the higher revenue of the company so as to provide the maximum benefits to the shareholders of the company. In the given case also, the company has generated very high profits, although no qualification has been reported in the financial statements, but there may be the chances that the company might have manipulated with the revenue and profit figures (Horngren, 2012). From the point of balance sheet, the retained earnings have the very significance in the analytical review. S. No. Particulars 2017 2015 2016 1 Retained Earning 10,910,036,401.00 9,504,443,845.00 8,052,083,333.00 The above figure shows that the retained earnings have been increasing with the increase in the profits of the company. It means that the company has been ploughing the profits back into the company and thus ensuring the shareholders that they will have returns in the future as they have expected. But there may be the chances that the company might have over reported the profits so as to gain the attention of the investors and will exit from the market once it gets filled in the same manner as other companies have done (Kaviyani, 2011; Zimmerman, 2014). Thus, from the above ratios, it is exhibited that the company is in better position for the few years to come. Working Capital Management Working capital management deals with the current assets and current liabilities of the company. The company is having the best working capital management policies. It is because the company has been receiving the cash from the customers at the high speed and accordingly is making the payment and after those payments, the company has been able to generate the positive cash flows from operating activities due to which there has been the net increase in the cash and cash equivalents (Premnath, 2012). Thus, working capital management policy of the company is better and good which in turn will help the company in maintaining the high liquidity in future. S. No. Particulars 2017 2015 2016 1 Current Assets 3,386,635,465.00 3,262,860,220.00 4,595,052,083.00 2 Current Liabilities 2,862,714,508.00 2,200,377,053.00 2,197,916,666.00 3 Current Ratio 1.18 1.48 2.09 Conclusion and Recommendation From the above report it is concluded that although the company is at good pace with the growth but there may be the chances of manipulation which should be checked with the regular reviews in order to avoid hurdles in future. It is recommended to have the framework within which the manipulation shall be avoided and sound internal control system shall be developed. References Horngren, C. T, (2012),Introduction to Management Accounting, Chapters 1-17. Prentice Hall. Kaviyani M, (2011), A Theory to Analysis of Annual Report , Research Journal of Finance and Accounting, Vol 10, No. 15, pg 192-202 Premnath S, (2012), Analysis of the Financial Statements, International Journal of Accounting and Finance, Vol20, Issue 17, pp 24-42. Zimmerman, (2015), Accounting for ManagersIssues in Accounting Education,35, 77-99.

Strategic Analysis of Agency Model †Free Samples to Students

Question: Discuss about the Strategic Analysis of Agency Model. Answer: Introduction The assignment deals with understanding the role of a business analyst. The role of a business analyst is to analyse the domain and the organisation in which work takes place. It documents the business and relates it to technology. The following assignment analyses the role of an analyst in core knowledge areas. The areas of focus include analysis planning, collaboration expectancy life cycle, strategic analysis and evaluation of solution. These areas develop the essentials of a business and allow it to maintain its competitiveness in the market. For the purpose of the assignment, a case study on Integrated Library System (ILS) is considered. It is equivalent to an enterprise resource planning system. The case study focuses on the migration of one library system to a new domain. The combination of a vendor-supported and customised system was done along with the original system of the library. Certain discrepancies were seen in the new system that led to the customization of the syste m. Every business needs to be analyzed based on certain factors that contribute to the success or failure of the business. These factors can be both external as well internal. These factors are important as based on it managers can formulate strategies that can help in the growth of business (Eva et al. 2014). The essential knowledge area for the business analysis is laying the foundations for proper planning, defining and completion of business analysis. Such an action is the responsibility of a project manager. This also includes the monitoring of the activities to ensure that every threat is taken care with the utmost significance. According to Fleisher and Bensoussan (2015), the monitoring of the analysis is done in order to understand the ways by which the work is being conducted. The monitoring is done after the planning and implementation of the strategies. The strategic approach helps in the proper analysis of the strategies and identifies any changes that are needed for the business. The monitoring of activities ensures that the plans are properly executed and the outcomes of these plans provide the desired results for the people. Hence, it can be said that in the case of ILS, the business analysis that is required is the proper identification and evaluation of the new model (Zott and Amit 2013). The acquisition module of the new ILS model needs to be either modified or replaced depending upon the ways it is adopted by the company. In order to do so, it is required that the managers monitor the technique carefully. However, replacing the acquisition module also needs proper analysis and monitoring so that a similar mistake is not repeated. Elicitation and Collaboration According to Bargiela-Chiappini and Nickerson (2014), business elicitation is the process by which managers gather requirements for the success of an organisation. The requirements can be collected from the customers, employees as well as the stakeholders. These requirements are essential in order to understand the ways by which business can be conducted by implementing required changes in the organisation. The requirements under the elicitation technique include analysing documents, conducting interviews, observation, process modelling as well as workshops. The feedback of the customers is collected via survey method in the form of a questionnaire that helps an organisation to understand the viewpoints of the target markets. In this regard, it can be said that collaboration is an important factor for any business (Gmelin and Seuring 2014). This is mainly because of the fact that the collaboration with the stakeholders helps in maintaining the strategies of the business. The ideas of the stakeholders prove effective in the success of a business. In the case of ILS, the libraries need to gather requirements to maintain the process of providing books to the customers. However, the main problem lies in the bar coding of the books. These bar coding can be done by process modelling in order to maintain stability in the identification of the number of books. The gathering of requirements needs to be done in such a way that there remains less pressure on the employees in terms of maintaining records. In this regard, the collaboration is also required in order to maintain the requirements of the stakeholders (Konat, Sahraoui and Kolfschoten 2014). This can be done by engaging stakeholders in the decision-making process that can help in the smooth functioning of the bar coding system. Requirements Life Cycle Management Holzbaur, Ross and Rothrock (2016) stated that analysing the life cycle of a product is important for success. This is done in order to predict the possible success rate of a product. A product goes through four stages that determine its level of longevity in the market. Similarly, in the case of requirements of a business organisation, the four stages exist that determine the longevity of a particular strategy. At the initial stage when the requirement is introduced in the business, employees begin to doubt its validity. However, with time the requirement reaches a growth stage that sets about in the implication of the tactics for the organisational benefit. During the maturity stage, the requirements reach its full potential and ensure that organisational success is attained every time with the application of the requirement. However, with time the requirement declines and new requirements are introduced. This is done in order to change the ways by which an organisation functions. The requirements life cycle needs to be managed to keep in mind the excessive use of a similar technique (Wolf et al. 2013). This is because rival companies can understand the techniques and formulate counter measures to gain an advantage. In the case of ILS, the requirements life cycle needs to be formulated in terms of books. Customers change the tastes of preferences depending upon the best sellers that are brought in the market. Hence, the requirement life cycle of one particular book can have a limited longevity. Due to this, the library needs to change its requirements every time keeping in mind the requirements of the customers. Hence, the life cycle can be managed effectively for the formulation of new strategies. Strategy Analysis In order to succeed in a business, every manager needs to ensure that proper strategy is maintained. The strategies depend upon certain factors that help in the development of a business. Resources are required in order to formulate a strong strategy that helps in the success of the business in a long run. Jenkins and Williamson (2015) stated that strategic analysis is referred to as the SWOT analysis. SWOT analysis is done in order to understand the internal factors that affect an organisation. With the help of SWOT analysis, an organisation can formulate relevant strategies that can define the competition it faces and focus on the environments in which the operations take place. In this regard, the strengths of an organisation can be used to formulate strategies that can convert the threats and weaknesses to opportunities. The SWOT analysis is an important and effective tool for gaining a competitive advantage over the rivals (Tan and Carrillo 2017). In the light of this statement, it can be said that ILS also need to conduct a SWOT analysis that can help it to formulate strategies based on the factors. These factors are essential in order to understand the essential factors that help in the analysis of the organisation. It can be seen that the strength of the library is the fact that it uses a vendor-supported and customised system. This is essential in order to formulate a strategy that can help in the success of the library. However, the weakness can be considered as the use of the new acquisition model. This is because time is required in order to bar code the number of books in an efficient manner (Rieu, Santorum and Movahedian 2017). Hence, strategies need to be formulated to convert this weakness into strength and create opportunities for improvement. Requirements Analysis and Design Definition The requirements analysis portrays the task that a business formulates in order to define the role of a business analyst. According to Hill Jones and Schilling (2014), the role of a business analyst is to structure and organise the requirements that are needed in order to form a competitive advantage. These requirements are identified during the elicitation process that formulates in the controlling of activities within an organisation. In the case of the use of any specific types of equipment or models, the requirements determine the design that is required for the proper usage of the equipment. Tao et al. (2016) stated that the verification is done based on the validity of information and the identification of proper solutions required for the development of an organisation. This helps in maintaining the goals of an organisation and likewise develops ways to improve the current position. As stated by Sharda, Delen and Turban (2013) the features of the requirements need to be releva nt and detailed so that problems are not faced in the future. In the case of ILS, the organisation needs to keep in mind the ineffective and the stressful nature of the acquisition model. It has already been evidenced that the new model is time-consuming and is not possible for one particular person to keep individual records of the books. Hence, it is essential for the managers to find out an easier method for the success of the business. The biggest flaw conducted by the manager is the fact that the equipment was not tested by the organisation. Hence, this led to the failure of the model and the proper application of the technology in the workplace. Solution Evaluation According to Krolzig (2013), in order to manage the operations of a business, the evaluation of solutions is an important factor. Solution evolution is considered as the assessment of existing and possible results that can be derived before a business is taken into operation. Internal, as well as external perspectives, are involved in order to understand the possibility of success of a business. In this context, it can be said that the perception varies depending upon the type of business that is being considered. Solutions of both these perspectives are referred to as business requirements. These solutions are generally derived from the feedback form of the customers as well as the employees working within an organisation. In this regard, the documentation of business requirements is needed in order to come up with a proper solution. Hence, according to Kim, Kara and Kayis (2014), it can be said that the evaluation of solutions can be faced with challenges that may hamper the growth of an organisation. A similar context can be established in the case of ILS. The organisation needs to maintain effective solution evaluation techniques in order to establish an easy business model. It is essential that the library facilities develop plans for the bar coding of books before implementing it in the organisation. This can help in gaining the required success for the formulation of strategies. Hence, in order to implement the acquisition model successfully, it is essential for ILS to make constant progress in the requirements of the organisation. Conclusion Thus, it can be concluded that in order to maintain a proper business, the role of a business analyst is important. An analyst needs to procure methods by which a business can be made successful. This can help in the proper formulation of strategies and help in the identification of opportunities for the business. The use of strategic analysis is an essential element for the identification of internal strengths and weaknesses. These strengths and weaknesses can be used to create opportunities for the business. In the case of ILS, the library facility needs to analyse the acquisition model thoroughly in order to develop a comprehensive use of the modern technology. For this, the need of resources and requirements are essential in order to meet the specific demands of the bar code. Thus, an analyst plays an important part in the management of a business and its success in the international market. Reference Bargiela-Chiappini, F. and Nickerson, C.R., 2014.Writing business: Genres, media and discourses. Routledge. Eva, M., Hindle, K., Paul, D., Rollaston, C. and Tudor, D., 2014. Business analysis. BCS. Fleisher, C.S. and Bensoussan, B.E., 2015.Business and competitive analysis: effective application of new and classic methods. FT Press. Gmelin, H. and Seuring, S., 2014. Achieving sustainable new product development by integrating product life-cycle management capabilities.International Journal of Production Economics,154, pp.166-177. Hill, C.W., Jones, G.R. and Schilling, M.A., 2014.Strategic management: theory: an integrated approach. Cengage Learning. Holzbaur, E., Ross, J. and Rothrock, T., 2016. Epro Product Life Cycle: Guidance For A Successful Management Phase.Value in Health,19(3), p.A109. Jenkins, W. and Williamson, D., 2015.Strategic management and business analysis. Routledge. Kim, S.J., Kara, S. and Kayis, B., 2014. Economic and environmental assessment of product life cycle design: volume and technology perspective.Journal of cleaner production,75, pp.75-85. Konat, J., Sahraoui, A.E.K. and Kolfschoten, G.L., 2014. Collaborative requirements elicitation: A process-centred approach.Group Decision and Negotiation,23(4), pp.847-877. Krolzig, H.M., 2013.Markov-switching vector autoregressions: Modelling, statistical inference, and application to business cycle analysis(Vol. 454). Springer Science Business Media. Rieu, D., Santorum, M. and Movahedian, F., 2017. A participative end-user method for multi-perspective business process elicitation and improvement.Software Systems Modeling,16(3), pp.691-714. Sharda, R., Delen, D. and Turban, E., 2013.Business Intelligence: A Managerial Perspective on Analytics. Prentice Hall Press. Tan, Y.R. and Carrillo, J.E., 2017. Strategic analysis of the agency model for digital goods.Production and Operations Management,26(4), pp.724-741. Tao, F., Wang, Y., Zuo, Y., Yang, H. and Zhang, M., 2016. Internet of Things in product life-cycle energy management.Journal of Industrial Information Integration,1, pp.26-39. Wolf, E.J., Harrington, K.M., Clark, S.L. and Miller, M.W., 2013. Sample size requirements for structural equation models: An evaluation of power, bias, and solution propriety.Educational and psychological measurement,73(6), pp.913-934. Zott, C. and Amit, R., 2013. The business model: A theoretically anchored robust construct for strategic analysis.Strategic Organization,11(4), pp.403-411.

This book helped me put some of the situations and Essay Example For Students

This book helped me put some of the situations and Essay He feelings that I have experienced in my life into perspective and with more meaning. I could relate to many of the subjects that this book covered and could understand where the authors ideas originated. Not only can I see his ideas appearing in my own actions, but I also see them in males in their mid-forties to fifties. This observation supports the idea of us going from innocence to doubt and back to innocence. The first idea that stuck with me is the interpretation of the salmon and how it represented Christ. Because my thoughts on religion and god are so unclear in my life, it led me to interpret the whole situation differently and with different symbolism that is more adjacent with my life. I could still comprehend what the author was trying to say, but I couldnt relate to his interpretation. I can see how a boy might be introduced to something that is too powerful for him at the moment. The experience gives him a wound that is hard to recover from. For example, the act of ma king love is a wonderful thing if it is done in a pure environment. But, if a boy develops a relationship with an older woman and is not ready to lose his virginity, and the woman is pushing for it, he might enter into something that he is not ready to deal with. When a boy is put into an uncomfortable situation like this, he could receive wounds that could last for a lifetime. He will have been scarred by this woman and carry around a wound that is hard to heal and could effect the rest of his life. We will write a custom essay on This book helped me put some of the situations and specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The next thing that stuck with me is the theory of the Red knight and how it represents aggression. This explains how we enter the stage of aggression. I havent entered this stage yet, but there are a number of people in my life that have definitely been lingering in this area for a long time. I wait for the day when they move on. One of my gymnastic coaches is still in the stage of aggression, although he seems to have harnessed it very well. He is working both as a lawyer and a coach. This combination is successful for him because he uses his aggression in court to help prove a point and in gym he really urges the kids on and pushes them just hard enough to get the most out of their workouts. I really admire him for his ability to manage his anger and never let it get the best of him, in spite of his high level of testosterone. It seems that during childhood, people develop through an intricate process of observing what their family and peers are doing and then trying it on for size to see if it works for them. Most of the characteristics that we take on, we later throw away, after discovering that they do not work for us. Many of the characteristics that we develop from this time remain with us for the rest of our lives. We continue to do things like a family member does or did. Some of the complexes that we develop when we are mere toddlers take us a lifetime to shed. It is during the whole stage of adolescence when we begin to doubt. During this stage we begin to find out who we really are. This process can only be achieved by sifting through the complexes we have developed, questioning them, and changing what we dont like. We build on what fits who we are. Although this process slows down, it still continues for the rest of our lives. .u169a0cd6590fcf4a7d0bd4607ec86fbd , .u169a0cd6590fcf4a7d0bd4607ec86fbd .postImageUrl , .u169a0cd6590fcf4a7d0bd4607ec86fbd .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u169a0cd6590fcf4a7d0bd4607ec86fbd , .u169a0cd6590fcf4a7d0bd4607ec86fbd:hover , .u169a0cd6590fcf4a7d0bd4607ec86fbd:visited , .u169a0cd6590fcf4a7d0bd4607ec86fbd:active { border:0!important; } .u169a0cd6590fcf4a7d0bd4607ec86fbd .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u169a0cd6590fcf4a7d0bd4607ec86fbd { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u169a0cd6590fcf4a7d0bd4607ec86fbd:active , .u169a0cd6590fcf4a7d0bd4607ec86fbd:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u169a0cd6590fcf4a7d0bd4607ec86fbd .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u169a0cd6590fcf4a7d0bd4607ec86fbd .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u169a0cd6590fcf4a7d0bd4607ec86fbd .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u169a0cd6590fcf4a7d0bd4607ec86fbd .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u169a0cd6590fcf4a7d0bd4607ec86fbd:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u169a0cd6590fcf4a7d0bd4607ec86fbd .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u169a0cd6590fcf4a7d0bd4607ec86fbd .u169a0cd6590fcf4a7d0bd4607ec86fbd-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u169a0cd6590fcf4a7d0bd4607ec86fbd:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Gulf Waar EssayRobert Johnson emphasizes that every human being has got to break away from their parents at some point in time, especially their mother-complex that lives inside each and every one of us. It is the mother-complex that effects us the most and that requires the greatest struggle to recover from. When a child first tries to separate themselves from their mother, it is all in vain. They are only trying to hide it from themselves and

My Home of Yesteryear - Descriptive Essay

My Home of Yesteryear - Descriptive Essay In this descriptive essay, student Mary White imaginatively recreates her childhood home in the country. My Home of Yesteryear by Mary White Situated on the bend of a horseshoe-shaped dirt road that intersects a back country highway is the place I called home as a child. Here my elderly father raised his two girls without the help or companionship of a wife. The house is set back about 200 feet from the road, and as we saunter up the narrow dirt pathway, lined with neat rows of flamboyant orange gladiolas on each side, the tidy appearance of the small, unpainted frame house entices us to enter. Up the steps and onto the porch, we cant help but notice a high-backed rocker on one side and a bench worn smooth by age on the other. Both remind us of the many vesper hours spent here in the absence of modern-day entertainment. Turning the door knob and entering the parlor is like taking a step back in time. There is no lock on the door and no curtains on the windows, only shades yellowed with age, to be pulled down at nightas if you needed privacy out here in the boondocks. Dads big over-stuffed armchair is set beside the well-stocked bookcase where he enjoys passing a hot afternoon with a good book. His bed, an old army cot, serves as a couch when company comes. One lone plaque with the words Home, Sweet Home adorns the wall over the mantelpiece. Just to the left is a doorway, minus a door, beckoning us to investigate the aroma drifting our way. As we step into the kitchen we are overtaken by the rich smell of freshly baked bread. Dad is removing the loaves from the belly of Old Bessie, our coal-burning cookstove. He leaves them to cool in neat rows on our homemade plank table. Turning toward the back door, we see an honest-to-goodness ice box, and yes, theres a genuine silver quarter for the ice man to take in exchange for 50 pounds of dripping ice. I can picture him now as he snatches the tongs tightly into the frozen block, causing tiny slivers of sparkling ice to fly everywhere. Swinging it down off the back of his chug-a-lug of a truck and instantly throwing his other arm up to keep his balance, he staggers with his load toward the back door. Hoisting the block of ice into place, he gives a long, loud sigh of relief and drops the shiny quarter into his pocket. Stepping outside the back door, we suddenly realize there is no running water in the kitchen, for here stands the only water pipe around. The galvanized tubs, set upside down by the steps, indicate that here is where most of the bathing occurs. A little footpath leads us to a hand pump, somewhat rusty but still providing a cool refreshing drinkif we can prime the pump. As Dad douses its rusty throat with water, it gurgles for a minute or two, then belches back a flood of sparkling clear spring water, free from the chemicals the law requires of modern water systems. But the pathway doesnt stop here. It winds on out behind a dilapidated shack. No imagination is needed to know where it ends. As dusk approaches we must slip around to the front porch and relax as we enjoy a country sunset. The sky is absolutely breathtaking with its soft ribbons of orange and violet. The sun, ablaze with beauty, casts our long shadows across the porch and onto the wall behind us. Everywhere nature is praising its Maker and singing its night songs. Off in the distance the whip-poor-wills are just starting their nightly lamentations. The crickets and frogs join in while bats dart overhead in search of a juicy tidbit for breakfast. Bats, you see, begin their day at sunset. The house itself joins in the chorus with its creaks and cracks of contraction as the coolness of the evening settles around us. Indeed, a visit to the old homeplace brings back many fond memories, almost making us wish we could turn back the clock to enjoy a few moments of peace and innocence. Â   For practice in re-creating the sentences in Marys essay, see Sentence Combining: My Home of Yesteryear.

Recession and Consumer Spending Habits in the Clothing Indusrty Essay

Recession and Consumer Spending Habits in the Clothing Indusrty - Essay Example They also spend in different ways due to the recession. As borrowing becomes harder, consumers are more likely to make spending sacrifices. â€Å"People are clearly starting to get a sense that things are not as easy financially as they once were,† said Peter Ayton, Chief Statistician at Mintel. Recession not only affects how much consumers have to spend, but also how they behave. This project investigates changes in womens spending habits and examines how they will change in the future. The project considers a number of essential questions. Will womens spending behavior change when the recession ends? Or will they revert back to their old spending habits? Will consumption be back to the same level as years past? Will women spend less, delay purchases or trade down to cheaper alternatives? Economic recession can be defined as a significant decline in economic activity lasting more than a few months (NBER, 2009). The United Kingdom has been in recession since July 2008. This was prompted by many problems, including: The increased levels of unemployment and high levels of personal debt, mean consumers are feeling the squeeze. During recession it’s a normal propensity of consumers to cut down on spending and save money. The decline in consumers spending is due to decline in consumer confidence levels. The decline in confidence levels may be caused by unemployment or a financial crisis. Therefore, businesses are forced to lower their prices to attract consumers. When prices decrease, consumer spending capacity increases. In terms of profit and human capital, the recession has negatively impacted many industries. Prominent among the industries hit by the recession is the clothing industry. The UK retail clothing & footwear market was worth an estimated  £48.55bn in 2007 (Clothing HYPERLINK "http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/594454"&HYPERLINK "http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/594454"

Media As Ideology, Culture, and colonialism Ch 2 Essay

Media As Ideology, Culture, and colonialism Ch 2 - Essay Example This is especially the case, when one considers the works of later Marxists such as Rosa Luxemburg who saw the media as a conduit through which the state attempts to mold the mind of the masses, in order to make the masses docile. This is especially applicable to state-owned media where ideas such as patriotism, diligence and religious ideals are always served to the public. This is always an artifice to stave off the revolutionary spirit from prevailing among the masses (Wasserman and de Beer, 385). At the same time, the definition and analysis of the media above warrants the rethinking of the true purpose or function of the media. While there are those who point out that the role of the media is to educate, entertain and inform, there are other thinkers in the 21st century who postulate that the role of the media is to inform, educate and to initiate and facilitate meaningful debate. While the former standpoint takes on a wider and less formal function, the latter takes on a more formal and stricter commitment to positive social change. As a side note, the passing of the media as channels through which culture and ideology are transmitted to shape consciousness specifically, in order to determine the behavior and attitude of the target population is also wide enough to include the presently online social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace and specific enough to limit the role of the media to the moderation of the target population’s behavior. The import of this is that not only is the public seen as part of the media, but personal responsibility is also invoked. This is because, since anyone can become part of Facebook, Twitter and/or MySpace (which are all part of the media), individual’s discretion goes a long way to determine how these avenues may be used to impact the target population positively or negatively. This also means that the media is seen as

Freud and the ideas of the Enlightenment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Freud and the ideas of the Enlightenment - Essay Example Sigmund Freud was born in the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1856 in Jewish family background. His father was a freethinker while Freud was a vowed atheist. Freud is regarded as the most famous, influential, and controversial thinker in figure in psychology (PBS, 1998). Sigmund Freud has many works and theories to his credit that has helped in shaping our childhood, personality, memory, sexuality, and therapy views.  Indeed, Sigmund Freud has made immense contribution to the understanding of irrationalism. Through Sigmund Freud and Charles Darwin, irrationalism began to explore subconscious and biological roots of experience. Though he did not invent the theory of consciousness, Sigmund Freud introduced the wider public to the notion of the unconscious mind. He noted that unconscious is the source of our motivations for food or sex, artist, or scientist (Boeree, 2009). He theorized the idea that forgetfulness/ repression or slips of the tongue are not accidental but a revelation of dyn amic unconscious. This was an articulation of the concept of unconscious. Freud claims that human behavior relies on drives or instincts, which are the neurological representations of physical needs. He also theorized the idea that sexual drive was the most powerful shaper of a persons psychology, and that sexuality manifests itself from childhood. Indeed, he claims that young boys develop attraction to their mothers and develop hate towards the fathers and vice versa for girls. This refined the concept of the infantile sexuality. Additionally, Sigmund Freud devised innovative treatment of human dreams, actions, and cultural artifacts (Liukkonen, 2008). This innovation has significantly brought relevant input in the fields of psychology, semiotics, appreciation, anthropology, and artistic creativity (Thornton, 2010). Most of these fields seek to define irrationalism. Freud also classified anxiety that is a feeling that signals ego into realistic, moral, and neurotic anxiety.