Stanley Black and Decker Essay Example

Stanley Black and Decker Essay Madison Avenue New York, New York April 24, 2010 John F. Lundgren President amp; Chief Executive Officer Stanley Black amp; Decker 1000 Stanley Drive New Britain, CT 06053 Dear Mr. Lundgren, In response to your request, an evaluation of your firm, Stanley Black amp; Decker, was conducted to determine the strategic issues and problems within and surrounding your firm. This consisted of a review of the external environment, a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis incorporating identification of factors which drive the business, a determination of the company’s financial condition and performance, and consideration of ethics and social responsibility. Please find attached for your consideration a copy of my Business Report containing discussion of the preceding, as well as numerous conclusions and recommendations with justification. The principal recommendations for your firm are as follows: Short term recommendation 1. Shut down the power tool business 2. Expansion in security segment, especially health care product line 3. Decrease dividend-payout-ratio Long term recommendation 1. Create a marketing team with CRM members which will interact and develop relationship with Home Depot and Lowes, so that better and more shelve space can be acquired in the stores. 2. The merged company can ask for higher discounts for procuring raw materials 3. Improve after sales customer support service In the event you have any questions in this regard, please do not hesitate to contact me. Very truly yours, Rana Nayak We will write a custom essay sample on Stanley Black and Decker specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Stanley Black and Decker specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Stanley Black and Decker specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Senior Business Analyst Statement of Recommendations Short-term 1. Create a marketing team with CRM members which will interact and develop relationship with Home Depot and Lowes, so that better and more shelve space can be acquired in the stores. 2. To attract female customers, manufacture the consumer tools with appealing colors like green or pink. Also make these products lighter and ergonomic. 3. Form a division in the company to handle lawsuits filed against the company. The expenses have to be reduced as litigation expenses are substantial. 4. Employ Asian managers to carry out operations in Asia. . The merged company can ask for higher discounts for procuring raw materials 6. Design better packaging for attracting customers at retail stores like Home Depot and Lowes. 7. Advertise on TV Shows. 8. Improve customer service for after sales. 9. Do not shut down any plant in China. 10. Create a market research team to research about the tool industry in Asian Markets. 11. The compan y should design products for international market 12. Use the Black amp; Decker distribution system in the U. S markets to expand Stanleys product line in the retail segment. 13. Start Point-of Sale data collection 4. Set up a showcase office in New Delhi, India. Long-term Recommendations 1. For the segments of Convergent Security Solutions, Health care Solutions and Mechanical Access Solutions the company should maximize their investment and also try to seek market dominance since the market is growing. 2. Shut down the power tool business. 3. Cost containment and the Security segment continue to be bright spots. 4. Moodys has downgraded of StanleyBlackamp;Decker ratings to Baa1. Pay off some debt by reducing dividend payout ratio. 5. Decrease the underfunded debt obligation of $412. million for Stanley Works 6. The cost of production can be decreased by adopting economies of scale. 7. Procurement units can be moved closer to manufacturing plants 8. Invest in Ramp;D 9. Joint venture with â€Å"Future Group† in India to attain shelf places in the biggest retail chain stores. 10. The markets in India and China will be only targeted in the Industrial amp; Automotive and Security business s egments. 11. Open new service centers where products can be repaired and refurbished products should be sold at the same centers instead of Home Depot or Lowes. 2. The material facilities not being used by the company can be sold or leased to other companies. 13. Invest in Training 14. Implement SAP throughout the company. Remote/External Environment a) Economic Factors CDIY amp; INDUSTRIAL The hand tool industry is dependent upon the residential and commercial construction and home repair and renovation industries. The economic recession in the early 2000’s declined the demand in commercial and industrial sectors. However, growth in housing sectors has helped in sustaining the industry. In 2005, the hand tool industry sold $1. 4 billion but in 2006 it dropped down by $100million. Despite a sluggish economy in the early years of the first decade of the 2000s, the climate for hand tools remained positive. Extremely low interest rates caused a surge in new housing starts from 1. 2 million in 2000 to an estimated 1. 6 million in 2003. While residential construction boosted sales among professionals, consumer uncertainty about the economy, as well as the war against terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan, caused a trend toward nesting. Home improvement and DIY projects rose as people postponed travel and other major undertakings, thus driving the consumer hand tool market. The power tool or pneumatic tools and fasteners include nail guns, staplers, nails and staples that are used for construction, remodeling, furniture making, pallet manufacturing and other applications involving the attachment of wooden materials. Industry growth depends upon increased expenditures in the ho me improvement, home repair and maintenance, and residential and commercial construction sectors. By 2005, increased purchases by women, who were tackling more DIY projects, also drove sales and demand for lightweight, easy-to-use designs. On the other hand, the global recession of 2008-09 had a huge impact on the housing industry. New housing starts reached an unprecedented low of just 494,000 as of May, 2009, which was down nearly 13% from just the previous month. This in turn severely impacted the financials of the major industry players, such as Black amp; Decker, who saw sales of their power hand tools drop by more than $800 million or 23% compared to the previous year. The industry shipped products valued at $1. 3 billion in 2006, which represented a drop from the $1. 4 billion shipped in 2005. However, according to The Freedonia Group, industry growth in the mid to late years of the first decade of the 2000s was projected to be driven by powerful, high-end tools and the continuing proliferation of cordless products. Professional buyers were anticipated to continue to generate more revenues than consumers, but in the DIY market overall growth was expected to outpace professional sales. SECURITY The company provides extensive suite of mechanical and electronic security product system and a variety of security services such as security integration system , software related installation, maintenance, monitoring services, automatic doors, door closers, exit devices, healthcare storage and supply chain solutions, patient protection products, hardware and locking mechanisms. A substantial portion of company’s products are sold to home centers and mass merchants in U. S and Europe. Security products are sold on a direct sales basis and in certain instances through party distributors. Despite the trend towards customer consolidation, the company has been able to make diversified customer base and has decreased customer concentration risk over the past several years. The sales from continuing operations in markets outside the home centers and mass merchant distribution channels have grown at a greater rate through combination of acquisitions and other efforts to broaden the customer base primarily in Security and Industrial segments. Porters Five Forces The threat of substitute products or services: Construction amp; DIY Low The hand tools industry is saturated with numerous small and large companies producing hand tools which include measuring and leveling tools, planes, hammers, demolition tools, knives and blades, screwdrivers, saws, chisels and consumer tackers. The tools are considered as commodities. Consumers are looking for products at better pricing. Local companies are producing these non-powered tools which are less priced as consumers are not concerned for quality. This is true for US, European and Asian markets. Pneumatic tools and fasteners include nail guns, staplers, nails and staples that are used for construction, remodeling, furniture making, pallet manufacturing and other applications involving the attachment of wooden materials. Industrial – Low There are no substitute products for industrial segment as tool will always be required in this segment. Only innovations can be done which can be counted as a competition. Security – Low Threat of substitutes in this industry is low as there are fewer chances of customers going for something that is second best as far as security services are concerned. The threat of the entry of new competitors Construction amp; DIY The growth in the commercial construction has made up the decline in residential construction last year but now that it is also slowing down the outlook for professional power tools is looking gloomy in the U. S. The threat of new competitors is low as the industry has already multiple established companies providing a wide range of hand tools and power tools to consumers. Industrial The Stanley works industrial segment faces an intense competition because there are many manufacturers of industrial products. Each company wants to achieve competitive advantage over other in terms of quality, technology, price, distribution and brand/image reputation. They would face competition not only in terms of similar products but also products that can be used as a substitute for its products. The primary competitors include SK Tools, Multi-power Tools, Bosch etc. Security The security industry is a commodity industry. Growth in this industry is related to the growth of the housing and construction industries. The North American and European markets are already mature, while the emerging markets of Asia and Latin America have strong growth potential. Companies compete aggressively on price, quality, after-sales service, manufacturing efficiency, and supply chain management. Companies tend to spend their advertising dollars on trade shows, trade publications, magazines and newspaper advertisements, and in-store displays. Threat of Entry LOW The barriers to entry within this industry are moderate to low due to brand preferences and customer loyalty towards the larger and more established rival companies. Other obstacles to new entrants include strong brand loyalty to establish firms and economic factors, such as requirement for large sources of capital, specialized facilities, and the technology and manufacturing plants. In addition, the accessibility of distribution channels can be difficult for an unknown firm with little or no brand recognition. Since there are several competitive forces in this industry, it is a difficult industry to penetrate in and be competitive. The entry barriers are high in this industry. There are already a lot of competitors in this industry and they can it difficult for a new entrant by using price cuts, increased advertising, product improvement, and promotions. Supply side economies of scale: Since companies produce large volumes then can capitalize economies of scale this can deter companies from entering the market because either they have to enter in large scale or assume a cost disadvantage. Unequal access to distribution channels: New comers will not have the same kind of access to distribution channels which is their main source of customers. The intensity of competitive rivalry In hand tools, with 50,300 employees and sales of approximately $12. 7 billion in 2008, Danaher Corp. of Washington, D. C. was the industry leader. Danaher expanded by merging with Chicago Pneumatic Tool Company, Acme-Cleveland Corporation, Pacific Scientific Co. , and Joslyn Corp. According to the International Directory of Company Histories, in 1994 Danaher Corporation was recognized as the worlds largest producer of drill chucks, the countrys largest producer and marketer of Swiss screw machine components, and the leading automotive tools supplier to the National Automotive Parts Association (NAPA) and Sears. In the power tools segment, the major industry players are Milwaukee, Makita, Stanley and Black amp; Decker. The bargaining power of customers (buyers) Construction amp; DIY High The bargaining power of buyers is high because as availability of professional segment tools, the products under Do It Yourself segment have become commodities. Hence consumers prefer better quality along with better pricing. Buyers switching cost have become low also as the tools from different companies are available in outlets like Sear, Kmart, Wal-Mart. Hence the bargaining power of buyers is high as all the power tools have more or less same design and serve same purpose. Industrial High The power of buyers is relatively high because for Industrial segment they have two types of customers. i. e. Direct Sales Customers and Retailers/Distributors. The consumers to whom the products are sold directly purchase the products based on their requirements, and price. In case of retailers/distributors they purchase the products in large quantities, which gives buyers substantial leverage over price. There are many manufacturers available in this industry that also provide the same products at very competitive prices. And the customers who buy these products have no switching costs, hence their bargaining is high. For e. g. during economic instability customers are reluctant to spends their money on very expensive or branded products instead they will choose to buy the products which gives them the work at a lower price. Security High Although the company has an established brand in the field of security tools it’s customers have a wide variety of options to choose from. With increased completion from private label brands the customers have high bargaining power. The bargaining power of suppliers Construction amp; DIY Low The bargaining power of suppliers is LOW because, multiple vendors are available for raw material procurement. Industrial Low The suppliers to the Stanley Works are producers/ distributors of ferrous and non-ferrous metals including, but not limited to steel, aluminum, zinc, brass, copper and nickel, as well as resin. the Company uses other commodity based materials for components and packaging including, but not limited to, plastics, wood, and other corrugated products. The raw materials required are procured globally and available from multiple sources at competitive prices. The Stanley Works can obtain these products at a very cheaper rate as there are many sources available. Hence in this case the bargaining power of suppliers is less. Bargaining power of suppliers – low The raw materials required are produced globally and are available from multiple sources at competitive prices. The company does not anticipate difficulties in obtaining any raw materials or energy used in production process. Hence the bargaining power of suppliers is very low. Social Factors CDIY amp; Industrial Professional power tool users include construction workers, electricians, plumbers, repair and maintenance workers, auto mechanics, and manufacturing workers. They are very conscious of quality and features and tend to buy only those tools that are durable, functional, dependable, and capable of precision. They purchase tools through jobbers, contractor supply firms, industrial supply house, building supply centers, and some home improvement centers. The industry is growing as the world population grows rapidly. In U. S. A. , real GDP grew at an average annual rate of 4. 1 percent from 1995 to 2000 compared with 2. 7 percent from 1987 to 1995. Private wage and salary disbursements increased as GDP grew. Key product trends, such as ergonomic designs, added features, and improved battery performance, influences current product development. Fastening and assembly is one of the few areas in manufacturing where things are continually moving fast. No longer can the design and cost of fasteners be viewed outside of the manufacturing process. The design of the fastener and its impact on production costs and product development process must be taken into consideration, rather than treated as piecemeal. Security Security is a multibillion-dollar industry, consisting of a diverse group of corporations that supply personnel and products designed to protect public and private property and individuals from a variety of problems such as theft, arson, and personal attacks. Services include security guards, private investigators, and consultants. Products range from armored cars to X-ray scanning devices to bank vaults. In addition, an area of significant growth and importance for the security industry in the early years of the first decade of the twenty-first century was securing intangibles, in particular intellectual property, computer-stored information or data, and computer networks. Throughout the world, it was an especially important industry in view of real and assumed threats to national security, petroleum pipelines, nuclear power plants, and the global economy, among others. Political Factors Power tools are subject to various safety and environmental laws and regulations. There are several accidents that can involved power tool. Power tools can pose electrical hazards, fire and explosion hazards, projectile hazards, cuts, abrasions, and amputation hazards, ergonomic hazards and noise hazard. Power tools are regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Agency, Underwriters Laboratories Inc. , and CSA International. For both retail and professional power tools, they can both be dangerous if they are not used properly but for more so for professional because they are used on a daily basis. A major risk faced by professionals that use power tools is the Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome which is a collection of disorders caused by overexposure to vibration of portable power tools. Regulations have been put in place by OSHA that makes employers responsible for the safe condition of tools and equipment used by employees. A risk that is faced by both retail consumers and professionals is loss of hearing; power tools can generate noise levels that can exceed 85 dBA when that occurs users should wear hearing protection. In recent news, the Government Accountability Office has been asked to investigate OSHA’s reporting on work-related injuries and illnesses. This would affect the power tools because stricter regulations can be put in place that would affect the design and production of power tools. Industrial Fastening System Increased sales of Japanese automobiles affected the operation of both OE and aftermarket parts manufacturers. Because most Japanese aftermarket parts were furnished by Japanese OE suppliers, the volumes of replacement parts for domestic parts suppliers dropped as Japanese vehicles increased their market share in the United States. Foreign vehicles manufactured in the U. S. had significantly fewer domestic suppliers than Big Three’s cars. At the request of U. S. suppliers, the FTC began an investigation of alleged antitrust violations by Japanese auto producers in the U. S. As a result, the U. S government forced Japanese automakers to increase their purchasing volume from domestic suppliers. Congress instituted the Fastener Quality Act in 1990 due to the scandal of unqualified fasteners. The strict standards spurred the fastener industry to upgrade its competitive ability more over than foreign competitors. In June 1999, the U. S. fastener industry got its wish when President Clinton signed a series of amendments on the FQA, in an effort to make legislation less burdensome. Supporters of the amending legislation claimed that it shifted the policing focus from government mandated regulations to more â€Å"preventive measures. † The new legislation also recognized decade long industry improvements in quality control and eliminated test performances at government-approved facilities. Plumbing Workers safety measures were gaining fast popularity. Even government and individual chapters were getting involved into it. In response to the same, Black amp; Decker Hardware and Home Improvement group’s Kwikset facility in Denison, Texas became an OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) Voluntary Protection Program star facility in 2006. There were specific rules for designing and manufacturing plumbing products laid down by the government as well as other chapters. Price Pfister products in plumbing industry are designed and manufactured in compliance with the standards and codes of Federal specification, American National Standard, Uniform Plumbing Code, Federal Energy Policy Act, California Energy Commission and the Canadian Standard Association. Technological Factors Construction amp; DIY Ergonomics, which is the engineering of tools for maximum comfort and minimal hazard to the human body, was an increasingly popular consideration for this industry. In 1999, Stanley Works redesigned the handles of many of its tools to better fit the human hand and to reduce the likelihood of injury from vibration and other stresses. For instance, the company incorporated a carbon-steel shank into its AntiVibe framing hammer to absorb the shock that traditional hammers transmitted to the human arm. Stanley Works also offered an ergonomic screwdriver with a diamond-textured handle made of soft elastomer and a layer of hard polypropylene, so that consumers could grasp the tool firmly without needing to squeeze hard enough to hurt their hands. Security For several years, demand lagged behind the technologys maturity. Prohibitive implementation costs, lingering technical problems, fears of privacy invasion, and concerns over system accuracy stalled mass implementation. By the middle of the first decade of the twenty-first century, security systems were well entrenched in some sectors, particularly government and health care, but penetration was meager for other industries that were long on promise, such as financial services and the travel industry. In 2006, governmental applications remained the predominant market for security tools, while certain types of security systems enjoyed overwhelming dominance. But the heightened security consciousness in the mid-years of the first decade of the 2000s was making a noticeable impression on the industrys prospects. Decreasing costs and increasing technical sophistication of products meant that security tools were gradually penetrating many kinds of transactions. Security tools technology in the early and middle years of the twenty-first centurys first decade thus enjoyed a period of modest but promising growth, moving out of the realm of science fiction and into everyday life. Environmental Factors Future laws and regulations are expected to be increasingly stringent and will likely increase the industry participants expenditures related to environmental matters. Many companies have been named as potentially responsible party (â€Å"PRP†) in a number of administrative proceedings for the remediation of various waste sites. Current laws potentially impose joint and several liabilities upon each PRP. Business operations of companies are subject to foreign, federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations. These laws and regulations define the acceptable methods for the discharge of pollutants and the disposal of products and components that contain certain substances. These laws and regulations also require that products be designed in a manner to permit easy recycling or proper disposal of environmentally-sensitive components such as nickel cadmium batteries. Batteries used in professional power tools should be designed to meet environmental requirements. IV. SWOT Analysis for Stanley Works Strengths The Company’s operations are classified into three business segments: Security, Industrial, and Construction amp; Do-It-Yourself. All segments have significant international operations in developed countries, but do not have large investments that would be subject to expropriation risk in developing countries. Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates affect the U. S. dollar translation of international operations in each segment. Core Competencies Stanley works core competency lies in the security segment of the business especially in the Mechanical Access System. Stanley has been making hardware like hinges, hooks safe locks and keys science 1843. Its major brands being Best, Kwikset, Baldwin, or Weiser and many more. Distinctive Competencies The company has a distinctive competency of hedging its Business Segments based on the demand in the market. The company can take profits from on of its segments to cover of the losses for its other based on the current market condition Company has a distinctive competency in its Health care sector. Stanley entered the Health Care sector in 2007 and has grown enormously in this sector with major revenues coming from the health care department. Competitive Strategy The competitive strategy of Stanley Works is acquisitions of  companies for obtaining employees, processes, technologies and solutions. Multiple and diversified revenue streams of Stanley Works: Stanley has a balanced revenue generation from its three business segments. For the year 2008, CDIY (construction and do-it-yourself), security, and industrial accounted for 37. 4%, 33. 8%, and 28. 8% of the companys total revenues, respectively. This diversification of business portfolio is protecting the company’s earning by providing opportunity to follow the demand variability of different product lines. The company has the flexibility to focus on growing industry and tune its production levels accordingly. Strong brand equity The company has established strong brand equity in construction and industrial segments. The key brands of the company include Stanley, Bostitch, FatMax, MaxGrip, DynaGrip, PowerLock, Proto, Husky, Vidmar, ZAG, MAC, Jensen, Contact East, Bostitch, Atro, Cobotics, LaBounty, and Innerspace. The strong brand equity in the construction and industrial segment makes the company the world leader in the design, development and delivery of tools. In addition, the company has numerous trademarks that are used in its businesses worldwide. For instance, the company’s tagline ‘Make Something Great’ acts as a center piece of the brand strategy for all three segments. The company’s list of trademarks include BEST, HSM, National, Sonitrol, GdP , Xmark, LaBounty, MAC, Mac Tools, Proto, Vidmar, Facom, Virax, USAG, the Bostitch, Powerlock, Tape Rule Case Design (Powerlock), and FatMax. These well-known trademarks enjoy the reputation for quality and value and are among the world’s most trusted brand names. Strong brand equity not only ensures employee and customer retention, but also enables the company to launch more products under its own labels. Power tools, lawn and garden products, portable power products, home products, and accessories are marketed around the world under the BLACK amp; DECKER name as well as other trademarks, and trade names, including, without limitation, ORANGE AND BLACK COLOR SCHEME; POWERFUL SOLUTIONS; FIRESTORM; GELMAX COMFORT GRIP; MOUSE; BULLSEYE; PIVOT DRIVER; STORMSTATION; WORKMATE; BLACK amp; DECKER XT; Stanley fulfillment system (SFS) SFS was created to improve Stanley’s long tradition of its business excellence. It helps in improving the company’s business operations such as procurement, quality in manufacturing, maximizing customer fill rates, integrating acquisitions and other key business processes. It operates as a continuous improvement program focused on the needs of the company’s customers. Moreover, SFS acts as a blueprint for company’s success and roadmap for continued growth. In addition, SFS is focused on continuously improving the key areas where Stanley interacts with its customers. The company measures and implements control improvements to its areas of business to ensure customers have a positive experience. The SFS system helps in improving service, increase quality and reduce cost which gives a competitive edge to the company over its rivals. Diversified business operations globally: Material facilities owned by the Stanley Works and its subsidiaries follow: CDIY Miramar, Florida; Fishers, Indiana; Kannapolis, North Carolina; Epping, Australia; Mechelen, Belgium; Oakville, Canada; Leeds, England; Karmiel and Migdal, Israel; Biassono and Figino Serenza, Italy and Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Industrial Phoenix, Arizona; Two Harbors, Minnesota; Columbus, Georgetown, and Sabina, Ohio; Allentown, Pennsylvania; Dallas, Texas; Pecky, Czech Republic; Epernay, Ezy Sur Eure, Feuquieres en Vimeu, Morangis and Villeneuve Le Roi, France; and Fano, Gemonio and Monvalle, Italy. Security Farmington, Connecticut; Sterling and Rock Falls, Illinois; Indianapolis, Indiana; Nicholasville, Kentucky; Richmond, Virginia; Cobourg, Canada; Nueva Leon, Mexico; and Xiaolan, Peoples Republic of China. Industrial a. Professional amp; Automotive mechanics tools amp; storage system 1. Broad Array of End Markets . Unique Range Of Government Solutions 3. Light-weighted compared to other available products. b. Hydraulic tools amp; accessories Reduce Initial Costs 1. Air Compressors required to power pneumatic tools are expensive and comparatively the dual hydraulic tool circuit are very cheap. 2. Reduce Operating Costs 1. Less system maintenance: A hydraulic system has few moving parts and is self- lubr icated; therefore requires far less maintenance than an air system. 2. Less tool maintenance:   Hydraulic tools are full of oil at all times, and are thus preserved and lubricated. 3. More efficient. Most hydraulic systems operate at two or three times the efficiency of air systems because the oil is not compressible. 4. No pilferage: While there is a ready market for gasoline or air powered tools, the general public does not have a hydraulic source of power. Hydraulic tools are seldom pilfered. Advantages for the Operator 1. Safer. Hydraulic oil is a poor conductor of electricity. A hydraulic tool with nonconductive hoses is much safer dielectrically than an air tool which may have moisture condensed in the hose. 2. Lower noise levels. Noise of air tools comes from both the compressor and the tool exhaust. Hydraulic tools have neither of these sources, and operate at noticeably lower noise levels. 3. Higher power-weight ratio. Air tools operating at 90-100 psi must be larger and heavier to achieve force

Haikouichthys - Facts and Figures

Haikouichthys - Facts and Figures Name: Haikouichthys (Greek for fish from Haikou); pronounced HIGH-koo-ICK-thiss Habitat: Shallow seas of Asia Historical Period: Early Cambrian (530 million years ago) Size and Weight: About one inch long and less than an ounce Diet: Small marine organisms Distinguishing Characteristics: Tiny size; fin along length of back About Haikouichthys The Cambrian period is famous for its explosion of bizarre invertebrate life forms, but this span of time also saw the evolution of the earliest almost-vertebratesmarine organisms like Haikouichthys, Pikaia and Myllokunmingia that bore the faintest outlines of backbones and had a noticeably fish-like shape. As with these other genera, whether or not Haikouichthys was technically a prehistoric fish is still a subject of debate. This was certainly one of the earliest craniates (i.e., organisms with skulls), but lacking any definitive fossil evidence, it may have had a primitive notochord running down its back rather than a true backbone. Haikouichthys and its companions did, however, introduce some features that are so commonplace now as to be completely unremarkable. For example, this creatures head was distinct from its tail, it was bilaterally symmetric (that is, its right side matched up with its left side), and it had two eyes and a mouth on its head end. By Cambrian standards, it may have been the most advanced life form of its day!

Capital Punishment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Capital Punishment - Essay Example Sadly, the most developed country of the world, United States has not given any stance on the abolishment of the death sentence, and the government still continues to sentence a certain percentage of the criminals to death. The question is do the governments have the right to give the capital punishment or not? The capital punishment announcement involves high costs to the post and the pre trial arrangements and therefore, in terms of the economic value, it is not a very unsound way of punishing an individual. Therefore it leads us to one statement that is , the capital punishment should only be practiced for the rare cases, and especially it becomes more justified where the costs of rehabilitation and reform are very high. Throughout the history of the world, capital punishment has become a staple from of punishing the individuals and many societies have bowed down in front of this form of punishment. But the question that the modern age has helped to raise is that of the justificat ion of the punishment and does state have the right to reserve this punishment for the criminals who have committed heinous crimes. â€Å"In ancient times the method of execution was particularly bloody. In addition to crucification, the bible mentions punishments such as stoning which meant being put to death by a crowd of people throwing stones.† (Marzilli, A. (2003). Capital punishment. ... hould only be awarded in the rare cases, and not in any other case, since as mentioned above the costs of the rehabilitation and reform are increasing with every day. Taking a look at the history of the capital punishment which started off with the execution as being the death penalty. Since the word capital punishment has been derived from capitalis which means related to head, therefore in the historical times, the death penalty was announced through decapitation. However with the modernization of the world, new methods were introduced where new ways of capital punishment such as boiling to death, hanging to death, stoning, shooting, disembowelment and a few others were introduced. However now in those first world countries where the capital punishment is practiced still, they have introduced more humane methods , where they make use of the lethal injections as a method of death penalty not only it is quick but also due to its efficiency and pain free nature. The costs involved wit h the death penalty are immense and they are incurred during, pre and post trial proceedings. "Using conservative rough projections, the Commission estimates the annual costs of the present system ($137 million per year), the present system after implementation of the reforms ... ($232.7 million per year) ... and a system which imposes a maximum penalty of lifetime incarceration instead of the death penalty ($11.5 million)." --California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice. (Death Penalty Cost | Amnesty International USA) According to the legislative audit in Kansas, in the year 2003, it was discovered that the costs incurred in a non death penalty case are 70% less in comparison to the death penalty case. The median costs estimated that the execution costs about $1.26 million

The mechanism of ethanol induced hepatotoxicity in man Essay

The mechanism of ethanol induced hepatotoxicity in man - Essay Example Alcohol damages liver as a dose-dependent hepatotoxin (Maddrey 2004). The damage is mainly due to the by-products of metabolism. After absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, alcohol undergoes oxidation in the liver. The first step in the oxidation is conversion of ethanol to acetaldehyde and this is catalyzed by alcohol dehydrogenase. During this process, NADH (NAD, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is released. The acetaldehyde is further oxidized to acetic acid which then enters the citric acid cycle and metabolized to carbondioxide and water. NADH is used up in the conversion of pyruvic acid to lactic acid, in the synthesis of lipids and in the electron transport chain (Paton 2005). Most of the damage to cells caused by ethanol is due to acetaldehyde and NADH. Acetaldehyde causes damage due to immune response and increased NADH causes altered NADH/NAD ratio leading to increased oxygen consumption and hypermetabolic state (Tome 2004). During the initial stages of excessive alcohol consumption, fat deposition occurs in the liver. When fat deposition occurs without any evidence of cell inflammation, it is usually reversible and benign (Maddrey 2004). However, gradually cell inflammation occurs resulting in liver necrosis and fibrosis. Acute fatty liver is caused by increased uptake of plasma-free fattyacids which are released secondary to enhanced blood flow in the liver, activation of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase and hypermobilization of adipose-tissue fat (Badawy 1980). The increase in hepatic blood flow is secondary to the direct stimulatory effect of alcohol on the adrenal and pituitary axis (Ismail 2006). Chronic fatty liver occurs due to chronic ingestion of alcohol which inhibits fatty acid oxidation in the liver. There is also release of very low-density lipoprotein into the blood. As consumption of alcohol continues and increases, hypoxia ensues and there is shift in lipid metabolism leading to decreased energy stores.

Windows server 2008R Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Windows server 2008R - Assignment Example The hardware recommendations and specifications for windows server 2008 include, the processor must be a minimum of 1 GHz for processors with the rating of x86 and 1.4GHz for processors with the rating of x64. The recommended clock speed for the processor is 2 GHz which is the most ideal processor for optimum performance of the Windows Server 2008. For Itanium based systems, for Windows Server 2008 to be installed properly, an intel Itanium 2 processor is required. Another hardware requirement for the installation of Windows Server 2008 is a minimum memory of 512 Megabytes Random Access Memory (RAM). However the recommended memory value for installation is 2 Gigabytes RAM or greater. The maximum memory for a 32 bit system for a standard system is 4Gigabytes while for a Datacenter or an enterprise 64 Gigabytes would work perfectly. For a 64 bit system, the maximum memory for a standard system is 32 Gigabytes while for a Datacenter or an Enterprise, 1 terabyte and 2 terabyte for an Itanium based system. (Mathews, 2008) Available disk space is another hardware specification requirement for the installation of a Windows Server 2008 operating system. The minimum available disk space for installation should be 10 gigabytes while the recommended available disk space is 40 gigabytes. However, for computers with more than 16 gigabytes of Random Access Memory (RAM), they will require more disk space for the installation of a Windows Server 2008 operating system. This is for the purposes of paging, hibernation and dump files. The final hardware requirement for the installation of Windows Server 2008 operating system is the display and the peripherals. These include a super VGA (800 x 600) or higher resolution monitor, a keyboard and a Microsoft mouse (or any other) or compatible pointing devices. Windows Server 2008 operating system also requires a drive, i.e.

Innovation and Change Management: Banqer

Innovation and Change Management: Banqer This study will focus on an online financial education software which is based in New Zealand. The study will highlight its mission, vision, objectives and its external environment. It will also outline impact of the internal environment and will lastly recommend certain new types of innovation that can be used by the company. History Banqer evolved out of the extensive rise of the financially illiterate children of the society which has ramifications with it. Banqer is a simulated online banking for classroom that provides helps on ecology for the kids in order to make them creative, curious and confident with money. It pays the students for providing positive behavior and completing the tasks that are assigned in the classroom (Banqer, 2017). With the students, they explore budgeting as they educate themselves with the valuable skills of their life by the management of their desks receiving payment for the privileges of the class. Students aging from 2 to 8 explore various topics that range from savings, interest, and tax to the insurance. Products and services Banqer allows the students to gain knowledge about the financial literacy responsibility in an extremely engaging and an immersive manner. As far as the product is concerned it is an online software which is concerned with education which the teachers and the students prefer (Banqer, 2017). Mission, Vision, objectives The mission lies in improving the financial capabilities of the entire world. Thus making the students well aware of the financial aspects. The vision statement is associating the teachers in order to make Banqer the best. The objective is to improve Banqers space within the domain of where they are positioned now and collaborating with certain movers and shakers in order to understand the worth and the potential of Banqer. Their goal lies in gaining direct experience in terms of education, technology, finance and design (Banqer, 2017). In the year 2016, the main focus of Banqer was in building partnerships both in the financial services as well as in the allied industries. The students in this industry were capable of buying and investing in the virtual properties as they might need to mortgage and earn rental income in order to pay off the amount they have borrowed. Political factors New Zealand has a stable government. Chances of success are huge. Special Education policy. Inclusive education system. Economic factors Resources are available abundantly due to the population of the country. The rate of unemployment is high against 99% literacy. Banqer promotes educational software by hiring skilled staffs. Social factors It is dependent on other countries for business. Spends a minimal amount on research and development. The banking system is strong. Technological factors Educational system is effective. Enrollment for Education Solutions (EES) to provide licensed software IT technology and the usage of Internet. Legal factors The government changes after every three years. Education Legislation Amendment Act 2016 to support digitalization in education sector Education Act 1989 beneficial universally Environmental factors The country has a unique ecological system. Latest technology has been adopted to keep the surrounding clean. Steps created to pollution free country Political factors When a certain company begins its business in this country, it takes into consideration political system, the economic stability along with the law and order of the country so that it can provide the economic strength to the trade and business. As New Zealand has a stable government so there is a huge chance of success due to the impactful rules and the regulations. Hence, the chances of Banqers success is immense. The New Zealand government had conducted changes in the education administration and introduced special education policy along with other policies (Ministry of Education, 2017). The policies and political stability of New Zealand would promote Banqer as the country aims to achieve inclusive education system (Banqer, 2017). Economic factors The economic condition of New Zealand is excellent with 3.5% GDP growth as in 2014 (Tradingeconomics, 2017). Due to the huge population of the country the resources are abundantly available. The products are economical in nature and are easily afforded by everyone. The unemployment is quite high at 3.5% in spite of literacy rate of 99% in the country. Banqer can easily appoint skilled staffs who are willing to work. The company would be able to promote the educational tool in the country to further literate children and decrease unemployment. Social factors The social system of New Zealand is such which is dependent on business with the other countries.As it depends on other countries for technology so it makes them spend quite an amount on the work of research and development. As the banking system is extremely strong so allows foreign direct investment in the country (Banqer, 2017).   Banquer would be impacted by the social status of New Zealand as education imparted using technology would ensure welfare of the country. Technological factors The country has an effective educational system. With the help of the technological advancements it has introduced IT and the use of Internet which has helped Banqer in the provision of its service in this country (Richard, 2012). Due to the various online education facilities it has increased the rate if literacy to almost 99% which is more than most of the countries. Ministry of New Zealand had also launched a program named Enrollment for Education Solutions (EES) to provide licensed program for software which is beneficial for Banqer (Dashper, 2017). Legal factors As the government changes after every three years so there is an establishment of new laws and regulations (Moskovitz, 2016). The Education Legislation Amendment Act 2016 and Education Act 1989 positively impacted Banqer as educational institutes abide by the laws and plan and digitalized their educational status using software (Martin, 2016). Environmental factors People of New Zealand are well aware of the unique ecological system. People have adopted the latest technology in order to cope up with the garbage and helps to not pollute the atmosphere (Crossley, et al., 2015). Certain initiatives are taken in order to make the country free from pollution and dust which is also abided by Banqer. The SWOT analysis is an effective framework to understand how a company in sector compare its internal and external conditions within an industry. Banqer as a startup has been effective in simulating financial exercises and helping students to gain literacy in the topic and subject. The following contains a brief discussion about its various strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Strengths The major strength of the start-up has been to understand the key to develop STEM (Science and Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) among school kids. In this regard, the company has tried to the bridge the gap that was noted in the endeavours to focus on these subjects in Australian and New Zealand school systems. Another major strength of the company has been word-of-mouth marketing that helped built its credibility, mostly because the teachers who had tried the system understood its ingenuity and efficiency (startupdaily, 2015). The company has also grown on the basis of its partnerships with renowned firms like those in real estate to develop modules for students and attract more kids who would be more interested in such subjects. What has also worked for Banqer is their simple pay model which starts at free of cost for the initial trial period after which 3.5 dollars are charged per student per semester, which can reduce down to 2 dollars if the student signs up for multiple semesters (stuff.co.nz, 2015). It has also partnered with Kiwibank in order to provide better flexibility to students who cannot support their subscription fees. Weaknesses One of the major weaknesses can be noted is the lack of diversification in the kinds of services that are offered. At present, the company is only focussed in the financing subject which could pose problems for the company. Another problem that can be noted is to rope in the appropriate investor for the project. The company is looking to reach a high saturation point before entering into other markets. In this regard, it is looking for investors who can form part of the team but also who need to understand the basic concept of the start-up and not meddle with the inherent strategy of the company. Another initial challenge that had proved to be a weakness in the past was to change the attitude of the schools and parents. While expanding, such a challenge can also be felt in other countries as well. Opportunities: The opportunities for the company have already been identified by one of the co-founders, Kendall Flutey. She has noted that the opportunities lie in expanding the services on a global scale starting with Australia and moving on to the United States. She has also noted that since United States place emphasis on financial based learning, it would be profitable for the business to consider expanding there (Robson, 2016). While finding investors can be an issue while expanding, crowd-funding might also be looked into as a possible source of investment and finding the right of investors who are as motivated on making education convenient rather than making profits. Threats The biggest threat is possibly the over-dependence on the online medium as with the various technological advances, there are several ways, nowadays, in which hackers might interrupt and pose problems for the company and the novelty which had made it successful in the first place. The novelty that has worked for Banqer can also change quickly as more companies see the profit generating capabilities and develop their own versions and certainly with technological advances, there might be better options as well. Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats Focus on bridging the gap. Valuable partnerships Earning credibility through word-of mouth Lack of diversification in the product range. Getting like-minded investors. Different approach to education can prove to be problematic Expansion Crowd-funding. Over-dependence on the online medium Technological advances Replication by other companies. With the considerable advances in the technological aspects and the ways in which communication is being impacted all over the world, it would be particularly relevant for the company to administer certain changes and develop modules that are more student specific. One of the recent developments that have been made is the CV writing and application process that the company is providing within simulated environments (McNicol, 2016). What is really interesting to note in this regard is the emphasis on student-teacher interaction which is the value of this innovation to the organization. However, the modules and the courses can be noted to be developed on a comprehensive level, and probably it would be hugely beneficial if specific modules are created keeping in mind the specific abilities and needs of the students. Another important aspect has been the developments in the curriculum innovation that is changing the education on global levels. What had been considered to be the most important subjects in school are now being regarded as auxiliary to the main subjects. So, it would be a naturally evolutionary process to incorporate the various developments that are being made all around the world in order to stay updated with the recent developments. The most effective strategy to motivate the innovation would be to develop a basic plan that is flexible in order to incorporate the changes that are being made on a daily basis. In this context, it can be recommended that the company regularly set up meetings with the schools and the educational experts in order to gain a more comprehensive knowledge about the developments that are being made on a global scale. Also, in order to incorporate the changes that are required to be made in terms of providing personal assistance, it would probably be recommended to set up one-to-one sessions with the students in order to understand their personal lacks and how those can be overcome through effective sessions. The task might be tedious at first, but the whole process can be streamlined if teachers are integrated within the system and involved. Banqer has been one of the most efficient online programs in the recent past that has sought to redefine financial literacy for the students. It has been successful in the New Zealand market and hopes to expand. However, the threats of replication can be major problem. In this regard, the company can start innovating and customize their modules to suit the needs of the students.

Essay --

The fundamental theme in Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest involves society's destruction of individuality. People who refuse to conform to the social standards face ridicule and judgment. Kesey develops this theme through his use of mechanical imagery, metaphors, and symbolism. The novel takes place in a mental hospital, the narrator, Chief is a patient in the ward who suffers from vivid hallucinates. When McMurphy, a spirited character arrives at the ward he begins to question the humility of the hospital, his criticisms of the hospital spark a rebellion amongst the other patients. McMurphy teaches the others to think and speak as individuals and to be themselves despite others judgements. As Nurse Ratched sees the usually powerless patients find power in numbers she decides their leader, McMurphy must be eliminated if she wants to maintain control. She eventually has McMurphy lobotomized leaving him in a vegetable state. In the end Chief runs away fro m the hospital deciding to no longer live his life under the oppressive rule of doctors and nurses. After being inspired by McMurphy’s free thinking ways Chief decides that living a life dictated by society is not a quality life. Throughout the novel Chief continually describes the people and things around him being machines, these machines however are not real. Chief gives a disclaimer very early on â€Å"But it’s the truth even if it didn’t happen†(Kesey 8) acknowledging that the machines he describes could be results of his hallucinations. However these hallucinations are extremely relevant and should not be discounted. â€Å"Hallucinations provide metaphorical insight into the hidden realities of the hospital and should not be overlooked simply because they did n... ...to do your thing, not unless it happens to be their thing, too. It's a laugh, Goober, a fake. Don't disturb the universe, Goober, no matter what the posters say† (Cormier). Jerry is stating that it is better to fit in and conform than to rebel. Don’t disturb the flow of society. Interrupt its progress and get destroyed by its mechanical properties. Jerry and McMurphy were both different, they never fit in with others around them. In the end Jerry and McMurphy paid ultimate the price. If you disturb the way society works you must face the consequences. The combine wants everyone to fit in and play a specific part. Power figures like Nurse Ratched are there to enforce the rules. Society could stop this destruction but taking a stand against the machine is difficult when done alone. In conclusion the destructive tendencies of society is a tragic part of everyday life.