Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Fragile X Syndrome Essay -- Health, Diseases, Mental Retardation

Background (576 words) The most common cause of inherited mental impairment is Fragile X Syndrome. Fragile X Syndrome is a mental retardation that affects social, learning and intellectual disabilities. It is a result of a change and mutation in a single gene, which can be pasted on to future generations. Symptoms arise when the mutated gene, FMR1, cannot produce enough of the protein, FMRP, that the body’s cells need to function. The symptoms can vary from each affected individual depending on how severe the gene mutation is. Fragile X causes symptoms such as intelligence and learning difficulties. Those who are effect normally have an IQ of 75 or less however this is more variable depending on gender, physical appearance, social and emotional concern, speech and language impairment, sensory problems and many other disorders that are commonly associated with Fragile X, such as autism. Learning and intelligence difficulties affects people who suffer from Fragile X ability to think, reason and learn which can also trigger other disorders for instance attention disorders, hyperactivity and anxiety. Males with Fragile X often show physical indications, which are associated with unique facial features such as wider foreheads and elongated ears, connective tissue problems and enlarged testicles, which is called macro-orchidism, (National Institute of Health, 2006). Graph 1 and graph 2 show the comparison of the symptoms shown by males and females. Graph 1: Males with the full mutation of Fragile X Syndrome (Raspa, 2009) Graph 2: Females with full mutation of Fragile X syndrome (Raspa, 2009) The incidence of fragile X is common among people because there are two classifications of it such as the full mutation and the pre... ...ymptoms associated with Fragile X. The scientists also manufactured mice that had a 50 percent reduction in mGluR5 as well as a deficient of the FMRP protein. It was found that from that group of mice, they presented less symptoms of fragile X, less signs of abnormalities in the brain and fewer signs of abnormal body growth (Bear, 2007). That same group of mice also displayed a considerable decrease in epileptic seizures. Although these discoveries sound promising there is also the issue of ethical controversy. Ethical controversy is the negative feed back from anti science protestors who are arguing that fact that scientists should not have to right to play ‘god’ and should let the course of nature figure it out. Advances in science are normally made before society can conduct meaningful ethical and moral discussions about these advances in medicine and disease.

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

New Balance Athletic Shoes Case

Operations Management and Management Science Case Study Capacity Planning New Balance Athletic Shoes Summary James Davis is the president and general manager of New Balance Athletic Shoes. The Boston, Massachusetts based company began producing corrective shoes and arch supports in 1906. New Balance garnered a reputation for quality specialty footwear when in the 1950's it began producing running shoes for men. It is the beginning of 1978 and Mr. Davis has a number of important decisions to make regarding the future of his growing company. In recent years the demand for running shoes has experienced explosive growth.The increasing popularity of the sport of running requires James Davis to carefully evaluate the accuracy of the company's sales forecast. Mr. Davis knows that precise forecasting is the key to providing good-quality service by meeting customer demand. Another effect of increasing demand on New Balance is the necessity for expansion. Mr. Davis must evaluate a number of op tions for expanding production capacity in order to meet increased demand for his company's products. This report will attempt to offer James Davis sound advice in regards to the evaluation of sales forecasts and expansion options. We will also present Mr.Davis with an alternate sales forecast and an evaluation of New Balance's sales representative network. Analysis: Upon reviewing New Balance's 1978-1981 domestic sales forecast, it is decided that James Davis may have reason to be apprehensive. Davis needs to be sure that the forecasted sales increases, which range from 117% to 286% of 1977's sales, are truly warranted. Although Davis knows that demand for running shoes is skyrocketing, he should also know that that does not guarantee sales. The maturing preferences of the shoe consumer have been evident in the ever changing ratings of Runner's World magazine's top ten shoes.Upon reviewing the lists of top ten shoes we realized that product development is not only a key to New Bala nce's success, but is also a key to success for a majority of its competitors. While only 2 of the top 10 running shoes of 1975 were introduced within a year of being rated, the following two years of ratings were filled with a majority of newly developed products. The 1976 ratings listed 7 of 10 running shoes which had been introduced within a year of being rated, and the 1977 ratings listed 6 of 10 running shoes which had been introduced within a year of being rated as well as 1 of the 10 that had been substantially redesigned.The achievement of new products in Runner's World magazine's rankings proves that product development is going to be one of the biggest keys to New Balance's future success. While New Balance has a reputation for producing quality footwear, we must urge Mr. Davis to insure that his company remains on the leading edge of running shoe development. In the past, New Balance has been able to distinguish itself by offering its shoes in varying widths. While making varying widths available has set the company apart from its competition in the past, we predict that it will eventually become an industry standard.Much of the recent success of New Balance was due to the rave reviews of the newly developed 320. New Balance product designers, working in unison with a world-class distance runner, found that a built up heel wedge and midsole greatly improved the comfort of the shoe. The design team also reduced the sole thickness of the 320, which in turn reduced the shoe weight and thus the runner's level of fatigue associated with their footwear. These are the innovations that New Balance must continue to excel in if it wishes to meet its forecasted sales.Development of new shoe designs and the use of new materials will allow New Balance to produce the lighter and more flexible shoes the running public desires. Another product development related recommendation we would like to make to New Balance is in regards to its competition. New Balance can n o longer be content following industry leaders such as Adidas and Nike. Although the two large shoe manufacturers produce nearly 70% of the product available, smaller companies such as New Balance, Brooks, and Etonic have been able to make enormous headway into the market.Adidas and Nike, being larger more top heavy corporations, will naturally have longer time periods between research and development and product release. We suggest that New Balance take advantage of its smaller size by releasing the types of new products previously detailed at a faster pace than their larger competitors. It is in this area that we feel New Balance's demand forecast is flawed. The forecast's short term reliance on current products in the company's shoe line is an error that may cause New Balance sales. As evidenced by the average two year appearance in Runner's World ratings, the life span of a running shoe is short.We do not believe that New Balance can rely on the 320 to carry sales until their ne w trainer is available (;1yr. ) to gain market share. New Balance needs to rapidly release newly developed, state of the art running shoes prior to both industry leaders to put the company in a position to capture additional market share. In addition to believing that New Balance's product mix has been forecasted incorrectly, we also contend that it has been somewhat overestimated. The following alternate demand forecast estimates overall market demand, as well as demand estimates for specific consumer categories.Please take note of the assumptions that were made in the creation of the forecast. Next, we look at New Balance's sales representative network and its relationship to the company's production facility location. The most important aspects to note concerning New Balance's distribution, is the over representation in the northeast, and the under representation in the West. While New Balance has been able to maintain a strong market share in the northeast where a majority of it s sales representatives are located, the company's market share is low in the west where the largest portion of the running shoe market is located.Due to this under representation, the western sales region represents a great deal of untapped potential for the company. Although having its production facility located in the northeast has helped New Balance build up its market share in that particular region, the company should consider the advantage of having a more westward located facility to help strengthen its presence in the region. Finally, we are going to address New Balance's various options for capacity expansion.In addition to running a second shift, alternate sites for new facilities have been located in Lawrence, Massachusetts, the state of Texas, and the country of Ireland. The following table details the financial aspects associated with each expansion option. Beginning with the option of starting a second shift, you can see that Mr. Davis' belief that this option is not viable holds true. On the one hand, a second shift is not the best financial decision for New Balance because of both higher expenses (Labor Cost), and lower projected earnings due to lower capacity (1500).On the other hand, a second shift is not the best option from a human relations perspective. Mr. Davis has made mention of various concerns regarding company employees such as finding good stitchers and supervisors, keeping morale high, and preventing unionization. Mr. Davis has also located an available production facility in Ireland. This site does have the advantage of having a lower labor cost, a lower facility cost, lower equipment costs, and savings from both a tax holiday and available grants. While the Ireland location does have certain benefits, there are a number of critical drawbacks.The negative aspects of the Ireland facility are a slightly lower capacity potential, and very costly international freight costs. Both of these factors greatly reduce Irelands estimated a fter tax earnings, and are the reasons we are recommending Ireland as the second worst choice for New Balance. The next site to be considered is the Lawrence facility. This location has qualities that should appeal to New Balance. The Lawrence site is the largest of the company's options, has local government willing to offer relocation assistance, and is close to the Everett St. ocation and its network of material suppliers. In addition to these qualities; it has been found that there are a number of local experienced shoe workers in need of work. Although these factors make Lawrence attractive to the company, they are offset by the site's shortcomings. Lawrence has a higher labor costs, moderate rental costs, a short lease term, and a high state tax liability which makes the site the second best choice for New Balance. Texas remains as the last site evaluated, and is the recommended site for New Balance.Although there are some negative aspects in regards to Texas, such as higher m aterials and overhead costs as well as higher rental costs, they are outweighed by the sites positive points. While moderate labor costs, the absence of state taxes on corporate income and the availability of skilled workers are all good reasons to recommend Texas, it is its westward location which is the key to Texas' potential. As mentioned earlier, New Balances lack of presence in the west is costing the company potential market share in an area highly populated with runners.Having a centrally located production facility will no doubt improve its Texas and west coast market shares. Conclusion: From the above analysis, we draw the following conclusions: 1. New Balance's sales forecast is overestimated and their forecasted product mix is in error. The company should use the alternate forecast provided. Additionally, New Balance should rely less on its current shoe models by working towards more rapid product development. 2. In order to develop an accurate demand forecast, particula r attention should be paid to the expected growth of both serious and women runners. . There is an effect on regional market share based on the location of the production facility. If New Balance would like to increase market share in regions other than its own it should seriously consider a more westward production facility. 4. After taking both financial and non-financial aspects into consideration, the opening of a Texas facility is recommended. Another benefit of having an additional production facility located in Texas will be the company's ability to fulfill the previously mentioned lack of western regional market share.

Monday, January 6, 2020

Saturated Fats Causes And Effects - 1726 Words

Saturated fat is a type of fat naturally found in animal-based foods like: Fatty cuts of beef, poultry with the skin on, lard, shortening and butter, higher fat milk, cheeses and yogurts. It is also found in some vegetable oils like coconut and palm kernel oil. These oils are commonly used in fast foods and processed foods. There are different kinds of saturated fats. Some saturated fats impact our bodies more negatively than others. Because foods naturally contain a mixture of different saturated fats, it is hard to choose foods based on one particular type of saturated fat. Therefore, past researched has recommended to limit all saturated fat. The negative saturated fats have been linked to a higher risk of heart disease. This is because too much saturated fat raises LDL cholesterol, which is the â€Å"bad cholesterol.† Higher LDL cholesterol levels can lead to plaque build-up in your arteries. Research has never clearly shown that saturated fats are the cause of heart health problems. It is likely an accumulation of other dietary and physical activity choices including the over consumption of saturated fats that have led to heart issues and diseases. Russell de Souza, a nutrition epidemiologist at McMaster University in Hamilton, recently completed a study that found saturated fat is not linked to strokes, type 2 diabetes, heart disease or death. More recent researches have questioned the direct link between the two however more work needs to be done to isolate the impactShow MoreRelatedIn the 1960s the American Heart Association debuted a film named â€Å"Eat to Your Heart’s Content†.1400 Words   |  6 Pagesattention to saturated fats in the American diet. It inspired an article in the 1969 *Farm Journal* to ask the question, â€Å"Do animal fats cause heart attacks?† Up until the American Heart Association released this video, no health or medical organization had recommended an overall transition from saturated animal fats to unsaturated vegetable oils. According to the article in the *Farm Journal*, the video encouraged viewers to leave most cheeses, fatty meats, and eggs behind and instead eat low-fat or vegetableRead MoreResearch Paper Question and Aanswer1335 Words   |  6 Pagesmarriage and then family. 2. What is the function of fat in nutritional health besides serving as the body’s primary means of storage for excess calories? What is the basis of our current concern about saturated fats, cholesterol, and trans-fatty acids? In spite of the negativity that is related to fat in nutrition, there are some fats that are helpful to the body. These are the omega 3 fats and monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. These fats help in the metabolism functions. They also help inRead MoreThe Nutrition Report And It908 Words   |  4 Pagesmy health are saturated fat, sodium, and protein. Saturated Fat Saturated fat is defined by â€Å"simply fat molecules that have no double bonds between carbon molecules because they are saturated with hydrogen molecules.† Heart.org. These foods are usually in meat and dairy productions. Saturated fat helps your hair, bones, lungs, brain, immune system, and skin to get or remain healthy. â€Å"Saturated fat plays a key role in cardiovascular health. The addition of saturated fat to the diet reducesRead MoreThe Dietary Guidelines On The Consumption Of Saturated Fats1563 Words   |  7 PagesGuidelines on the consumption of saturated fats has been suggesting that consumers should be mindful of how dangerous they are to the human body and take active steps to reduce these fats in their diets (American Heart Association). This advice is usually presented as the claim that increased cholesterol levels and their adverse health effect can be attributed to these â€Å"harmful† fatty substances. However, scientific research is forcing a change of perspective on how saturated fats are viewed. Research nowRead MoreTable Of Contents:. Introductions†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.....2. Method†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦..3.1579 Words   |  7 Pagesaccrual of body fat, usually 20% or more over an individual’s ideal body weight.†1 Obesity is a commonly expressed disease that heavily impacts a great deal of Australians. Approximately 63% of Australian adults are overweight or obese.2 The number of obese adults has increased by a dramatic 10% from 1995. This has a direct correlation to dietary and exercise behaviours, and can be related to the Ottawa charter (Figure 1). This report will discuss the effects of unhealthy eating, the causes of an unhealthyRead MoreThe Health Implications Of Food Foods1296 Words   |  6 Pageshelped contribute to a society of unhealthy people addicted to processed foods. In order to create a society of healthy individuals, people need to alter their eating habits in a positive way by developing a greater understanding of the negative effects these fast food restaurants have on their health. Processed food â€Å"is any deliberate change in a food that occurs before it’ available for us to eat.† (â€Å"What are the Health Implications†) (A) According to researchers, there are three types of foodRead MoreAn Analysis of Dave Shaws Findings towards Nutritional Science1446 Words   |  6 Pagesnot met (University of North Florida, 2014). The first nutrition science related claim that is presented in Shaw’s article is of the negative aspect of the traditional low-fat diet advice enforced by health professionals. The statement includes explaining of how saturated fat can offer some health benefits and of not all dietary fat being created equally, when consumed in moderation. The second point raised is the possible negative outcomes from a high intake of carbohydrates (in the form of refinedRead More Trans-Fat: What Exactly is it, and Why is it so Dangerous? Essay1568 Words   |  7 PagesTrans-Fat: What Exactly is it, and Why is it so Dangerous? More Americans than ever before have shown concern over their cholesterol level, joined an exercise facility, or been caught in the grocery store examining the label on a food product. If all this is true, then why do we hear on the news and read in magazines that Americans are heavier than ever before? A few years ago, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began requiring that food companies label products with the percentageRead MoreEssay on D1 - Evaluate the Impact of Social Inequalities in Society.722 Words   |  3 Pagesethnicity, age and gender can benefit the society but also face difficulties in terms of health and well being. Lower class people who are unemployed and depend on the government to support themselves live a poorer quality of life. This has a huge effect on levels of health and well being. For example, overcrowding in a home can affect health of an individual. The overcapacity of people living under the same roof creates respiratory infections from bacteria and dirt. This mainly involves the lowerRead MoreThe Relationship Between Food And Mental Health862 Words   |  4 Pagesthings (2012). Some food gives the mind good energy types of food have some effects on people mental: amount of food, fats and how to avoid mental problems. The amount of food that a person eats is one of the things, which effect the mind. Getting less food than the body need, could cause major impact to the human mind. Also, if the body got more food than the need, then the human will feel indolence. Food has a significant effect on the brain: A person who eats too much and trying to study for a midterm

Sunday, December 29, 2019

African American Identity - 2425 Words

Iman Zahra What, according to these writers of the Harlem Renaissance, are the sources of African American identity? The Discovery of African American Identity In the 1900s African American have slowly started to gain their rights after the end of slavery. It was a difficult and tedious process; however, they never gave up on what they believed in, which is â€Å"racial equality†. African American stood together in organizations, marches, and unions because they had something that united them which wasn’t just skin color; it was inequality and slavery. African Americans came together to celebrate the â€Å"New Negro†. They created an identity for themselves through history and culture, and it spread nationwide with the creation of the â€Å"Harlem Renaissance†. Harlem became the center of African American culture and the grassroots of African American history, or as Alain Locke has called it:†Harlem: Mecca of the New Negro.† According to Afro-Americans in New York Life and History, The development of the Harlem Renaissance was a result of two factors: First of all, the immigration that started during the war which gave African Americans the motivation to become more confident of who they are, and more responsible for their race and rights. â€Å" They became defiant, bitter, and impatient.† They would not take silence and inequality as an answer. They expressed themselves through the Harlem Renaissance. The second reason is â€Å"the riots that followed World War I†. African Americans fightedShow MoreRelatedAfrican Americans And Identity Of African American1169 Words   |  5 PagesIn the year of 1619, the largest oppressive legal structure in American History came about, the institution of slavery. Although slavery was abolished in the year of 1865, African Americans are still enslaved by intuitional racism. There are systems in place to keep minorities at a disadvantage. This system of o ppression is carried by a number of factors such as; the segregation of black people in urban areas referred to as ghettos, mass incarceration rate for people of color, large educational gapsRead MoreThe Identity Of African Americans1758 Words   |  8 PagesRace was a primary factor used to shape the identity of African Americans which was seen through their culture. Race is portrayed through the narratives such as The life of Frederick Douglas by Frederick Douglass and the Autobiography of an Ex-colored man by James Weldon Johnson. In both the narratives, they state they are slaves due their race. First, this idea is supported in the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass when he states in the preface, â€Å"he was a slave â€Å"too (Douglass 325).Read MoreRacial Identity Of African Americans Essay1813 Words   |  8 Pagescriminals. There is a correlation between the relationship with race and crime. The stereotype that will be discussed is, African Americans as criminals. In American society, a widespread depiction of crime is that it is mostly committed by Black men. Many Americans have the image of a young Black male as violent and criminal. â€Å"In fact, perceptions about the presumed racial identity of criminals may be so ingrained in public consciousness that race does not even need to be specifically mentioned forRead MoreRacial Identity Of African American Adolescents821 Words   |  4 Pagesthat, racial identity is another big contributor to the degradation of African American’s youth mental health, as a weak racial identity results in poorly mishandled ways of coping with racism and stress. African American students as early as middle school engage in introspection of their racial identity, where they begin to discover who they are and the negative stereotypes surrounding their identity (Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy, 2007, p.256). The results of a study of 297 African American adolescents byRead MoreThe Cultural Identity Of The African Ame rican Community1653 Words   |  7 PagesThe African American community has sat at the end of a discriminatory lens from the moment they set foot in the United States. For that reason, black communities have undergone the process of community building to ensure that all members feel a sense of belonging. Race, gender, nationality, ethnicity, poverty, and sexual orientation, all play a role in developing one’s identity and more often than not, these multiple identities intersect with blackness. Being that American society has deemed coloredRead MoreIdentity Crisis Among African Americans1618 Words   |  7 PagesCelestine Professor Sandra Staton-Taiwo Identity Crisis amongst African Americans 17 November 2014 Abstract The question of self-identity has been commonly argued in field of the African American literature; with scholars such as Martin R. Delany and W.E.B Du Bois argue about the emphasis on race and racial consciousness. Together Du Bois and Delaney stress the importance of the color line, or the racial segregation in the United States, as a critical part of American history; nonetheless they both hadRead MoreI Identity As Being African American1094 Words   |  5 PagesBeing born in Columbia, SC and moving to a small town called Lancaster, I identity as being African American, although many perceive me to me biracial. Many people would ask if I were mixed or adopted because I looked distinctly different than my mother. My mother is a very chocolate lady while my father looks almost Caucasian with his very sandy brown hair. As many African Americans are stereotyped as not having a father figure in their life, my father was indeed in my life but he did not play aRead MoreIdentities : Cul tural Stereotypes Of African American Women Essay1724 Words   |  7 PagesIntersectional Identities: Cultural Stereotypes of African American Women and Citizen: An American Lyric Racism and stereotypes are explored in Claudia Rankine’s Citizen: An American Lyric, which draws the reader in through a series of vignettes, using poetry, prose and multi-media to detail both subtle and overt incidents of racism that happened to the author, her friends and celebrities. This paper will explore the ways in which modern racism is rooted in historical racism and African American women areRead MoreViewing Heritage And Identity Of An African American Family992 Words   |  4 Pagesdifferent ways of viewing heritage and identity of an African American family. During the first read, the audience sides with the narrator and Maggie against Dee/Wangero. The reader can see Dee/Wangero antagonist of the story. However, this is not the only way to interpret â€Å"Everyday Use†. Walker has created a more complex story than just right and wrong. After further analysis, the reader comes to understand that Wangero view of her cultural heritage and identity as a black woman in America is differentRead MoreAfrican American s Journey For A Self Identity1981 Words   |  8 PagesHUMA 1170: The Modern Age Research Essay African American s journey for a self-identity—the aching to achieve reluctant masculinity. Although allowed opportunity, citizenship, and suffrage by the Civil War corrections, the liberated African American individual had yet to be seen as a man by white society—and, regularly, without anyone else. By the reality of being African American, one qualified as an issue. By the certainty of being African American, one needed to keep up a double-consciousness—

Saturday, December 21, 2019

Mark Twain s The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn And The...

An icon- a person who stands as a symbolic representative, as a mortal embodiment of a widely known field or characteristic- there are icons for nearly every conceivable concept in the known universe. In American literature, Mark Twain claims the title. He is a paragon of the ideals that are ascribed to what a(n) (American) writer should be; his humor, his fluid and flexible writing, his ability to portray emotion and passion via ink on dead slices of trees is a mirror image of the- alleged- freedom that America purports. Even in death, his penname is renown- his autobiography a jumbled, yet appealing mess that was released 100 years after his expiration. Out of the numerous writers in America, Mark Twain is the enigmatic stand-out. Mark Twain- also known as Samuel Clemens- was an author known best for his fictional novels: â€Å"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn† and â€Å"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.† His field of profession, being an author, was precarious at best. Writing, especially fictional stories, was and is a talent, not a taught skill. An imaginative, creative, and original mind with the ability to properly convey those ideas is a rarity. Writing fictional stories is a fickle and uncertain industry- it is possible to teach a person the process of open heart surgery, but it is impossible to teach originality. Becoming an author is a long and arduous process that includes finding a publisher who wants to promote the story, releasing the story at the right time (forShow MoreRelatedMark Twain s The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn And The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer1226 Words   |  5 PagesMark Twain, American humorist and novelist, captured a world audience with stories of boyhood adventure and with commentary on man s shortcomings that is humorous even while it probes, often bitterly, the roots of human behavior. His writing, Shelley Fisher Fishkin who is one of the leading scholars on the work of Mark Twain in American culture and literature observes, involves an entreaty to rethink, reevaluate and reformulate the terms in which one defines both personal and national identityRead MoreMark Twain : Seeing America s Flaws1593 Words   |  7 PagesMark Twain: Seeing America’s Flaws â€Å"You don’t know about me, without you have read a book by the name of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer , but that ain’t no matter. That book was made by Mr. Mark Twain and he told the truth, mainly. There was things he stretched, but mainly he told the truth† (qtd. in Jones 237). That was the very first line in Mark Twain’s controversial book, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Samuel L. Clemens, as a young boy, grew up on the Mississippi and learned the ways of southernRead MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain1103 Words   |  5 PagesDmitri Van Duine Jr English Mr. Nelson November 27th The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Written by Mark Twain filled his stories with many examples of satire as to convey a message while also writing an interesting story. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn revolves around the adventures of a young boy called Huckleberry Finn, who is about thirteen years old. Tom Sawyer is Huck’s best friend and around the same age as Huck. He is onlyRead MoreCindy Lam. Mrs. Johnson . English Ii, Period 5 . 31 March1188 Words   |  5 PagesCindy Lam Mrs. Johnson English II, Period 5 31 March 2017 Mark Twain’s View on Education Through Huck and Tom A unique man once stated, â€Å"Don’t let schooling interfere with your education† and that was the author himself, Mark Twain through the constant mentioning of education in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. In the novel, Jim, a runaway slave, is imprisoned in a shack on the Phelps’ plantation. Just after, Huck and Tom, the two best friends meet up and both agree to help rescue Jim. TheRead MoreMark Twain s The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn2015 Words   |  9 Pagesthe latter nineteenth century, the famous author Mark Twain, less commonly known as Samuel Clemens, produced The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. A few years prior to the publishing of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain released possibly his most famous book, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, which is very much an adventure novel. In the early chapters of Twain’s sequel, it appears that ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬ The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is another adventure novel, and that it is just following a differentRead MoreThe Adventures of Tom Sawyer600 Words   |  3 PagesThe Adventures of Tom Sawyer: A novel written by Samuel Langhorne Clemens also more commonly known as Mark Twain. Samuel was born in 1835 in what he called â€Å"the almost invisible village† in Florida, Missouri. In his younger years he and his family moved to Hannibal Missouri on the Mississippi River. He later used this town as his fictional town of St. Petersburg in â€Å"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer†. While Samuel Clemens was savoring all of his fame he and his family were living in Hartford, ConnecticutRead MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn And Its Characterization951 Words   |  4 PagesBouchey Eng. Hon. 2nd 3 March 2016 The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and its Characterization In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, there is a large use of characterization to develop the characters and is influenced by the time period. Mark Twain was born in 1835, and lived to see the Civil War start. This is a big influence on his writing, because his two most famous works, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. They both take place in the time beforeRead MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain983 Words   |  4 Pageswrite. A person must be able to know when is the appropriate moment to say a certain something. This is Mark Twain is criticized about his novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a novel about a runaway orphan boy named Huckleberry Finn who is accompanied by a runaway slave named Jim. As they sail down the Mississippi Rive, together they encounter problems and life lessons. Throughout this novel Twain uses the term â€Å"nigger† because of this there has been a controversy about whether the n-word shouldRead MoreMark Twain Is The Pen Name Used By American Writer1879 Words   |  8 Pages2014 Mark Twain Mark Twain is the pen name used by American writer Samuel Langhorn Clemens. Twain is an iconic American author and humorist who used both his personal struggles and gifts as a writer, to impact society from the nineteenth century into the present. He came from a large family and was born in Florida, Missouri, and lived from 1835 to 1910. Two of Mark Twain’s works which become a staple of his career were The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and the sequel The Adventures of Huckleberry FinnRead MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain1423 Words   |  6 Pages secret slavery is still going on. In this book The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain was a prime example of how most children were raised to be and how it produced a wrong perception on slaves. Mark Twain wrote The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn because of a direct effect off of his personal experiences in his time. Any difference in another human shouldn’t determine greeting or befriending another person was the message Mark Twain was trying to send was due to the struggles he seen a

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Accounting Software Packages Australia Computer Application

Question: Describe about the Accounting Software Packages Australia for Computer Application. Answer: Introduction: Accounting software is such a type of computer application through software which has the ability of recording and processing of accounting transactions through the application of module which functions in the domain of accounting elements like accounting receivables, accounting payables, other transactions with special features of payroll and conclusive trial balance. Present set of accounting software provides the facilities in the form latest Accounting System for information. This Accounting System for information is enhancing defined scopes of work in the domain of collection, storage and process of data related to financial and accounting functions to generate MIS for the management in relation to accounting to enable them to take different strategies as per the objectives sent by the company in compliance of accounting standard followed by the respective country. This is possible through the successful implementation of process regarding accounting for the corporate which can be possible through the use of good accounting software(Romney, 2012). Before Y2K, the small and medium size businesses were accustomed to manual accounting which causes lots of unjustified uses of paper works and man hour. To avoid such occurrence, respective governments had intended to introduce computerised accounting software for the SMEs which can ensure perfect level of accuracy with minimum occurrence of inherent risks related to accounting which happens for material misstatement of accounting by the executor. In this article, the discussion will be made on the merits and demerits of computerised accounting software which the SMEs normally follow: Merits: Easy to use- The offline or online versions of accounting software are designed to match the current requirement of accounting with generation of reports which are normally mandatory for the companies presented in the conventional form of balance sheet, income statement, cash flow statement, etc. It is beneficiary for the entrepreneur to feel comfortable with the accounting software as this module of service is providing the ultimate level of deliverance so far the requirement from accounting packages are concerned. This software can be made static through desktop application or mobile through laptop use. Moreover, this package has the features of multi-level authority fixation which can ensure the secrecy of the data for access to the unintended users(Investopedia, 2015). Sophisticated mode of output- The accounting software package provides the facility of entering the respective data in the system and the package takes care of the balance job by doing the internal calculation and producing the desired level of reports as output has asked for by the accounting norms as per accounting standard. The enhanced version of accounting packages normally provides the utility of codification of different heads of accounts which are determining the destination of those inputs and finally it is finalising the reports which is based on the conventional concept of reports as specified by the accounting standard(Leech Grabski, 2015). Output efficiency in real time factor- The output generated by the accounting packages are aimed at providing the most possible real time feature enabling the users for taking most practical decisions related to the output revealed. The reports generated through accounting packages help the users to decide about the vital strategy making in terms of revenue, cost control and other related aspects to ensure more earnings from the business. Security- As the accounting software run on either offline or online module, the concern for security of data is going to be a major concern for the users. Normally for online accounting package, data is getting stored in online server of the provider which is locked through password by the user. Hence security is ensured for online packages, for offline application of accounting packages, the security is being devised in tailor-made process to enable the user fixing their security measures they wish to implement. Proximity of expanding- the accounting software packages can be used as connected to different types of online software related to business in easy manner. The same can synchronise the customers with the concept of marketing through mails by a standardised program which is contributing to the concept of e commerce business with necessary records to be kept available for the users or the customers to such extent which should be availed by them. Demerits: Costly affair- The normal concept of adopting accounting software is not one time affair so far procurement is concerned. Normally the process of procuring accounting software is with the concept of renting rather than one time purchase. This concept is costly as it incurs yearly expenses. Moreover any enhancement of accounting package as upgrading related to application also attracts extra cost as per the demand of the vendor. It also attracts more obligations on the part of user as the online packages need more involvement on the part of training to the users and maintenance of the package by the vendors. Speed- The demerit related speed of accounting package is low when it runs on online through internet. It is due to use of internet with several fascia of same accounting package accessed by different users for the same organization. This problem creates unbearable hazards in using the package. Hacking- It is commonly believed that hacking may occur for the online accounting package which is in use through internet, as the data stored of the company is more prone to the hackers. But in reality the security of the data is ensured through the software security system which enhances the use of locking system of the software for any specific user with the key accessible by the user only(Peavler, 2016). We have covered mainly three powerful accounting Software and Business Solution that are prevailing in Australia: MYOB Saasu Intuit MYOB: Christopher Lee and a team of developers at Teleware, Inc. had established Mind Your Own Business or MYOB during the early period of 1980. The have developed accounting software. The company was originally started it operation in the US and later it had started its operations outside of Australia and New Zealand since 2008. MYOB is with the status of Australianmultinational company which provides software support towards accounting, tax and different required business solutions for the target audience of SMEs with the added feature of providing consultancy about taxes and shares in an effective manner(Raik-Allen, 2015). Products: Accounting software. MYOB Essentials. MYOB AccountRight Payment and POS format of solutions. MYOB Kounta. MYOB PayDirect Mobile. MYOB Greentree. Accountants Partners Solutions for your clients, MYOB Essentials and MYOB Banklink.. MYOB AccountRight. ... For Small Business. For Accountants Partners. Shares: MYOB is maintaining its share in the market with the rise of $AU831.7 and $AU833.8 million with the price range of $3$4 a share in the offer of IPO that clearly describes the advancement of this Business Solution Organisation to the epitome of success. Important acquisitions: MYOB has acquired Solution 6 Holdings on 29 March 2004 MYOB has acquired BankLink 4 June 2013 MYOB has acquired Exonet on 5 January 2003(James, 2013). SAASU: Saasu was established by Grant Young and Marc Lehmann in the year 2000.since then, this Australia-based company has had over 80,000 users. It was matured from an allied project of a business in 2007. It was established mainly to ensure creation of an automated angle in business. The company was established on the objective of profit creation through won funding instead of raising capital from the market. It had fetched substantial following investments from Nominees of Pan Global authorityand Cooper Sydney(Saasu, 2016). Products: Products of Saasu are comprised of commercial elements like purchasing, sales, payroll, inventory, point of sale , CRM, , management of document and workflow, global tagging and search. Shares and Pricing: The company offers various packages to customers: Small: $15 Medium: $40 Large: $70 X-Large: $180(Only for Australia Users)(Saasu, 2016). Important acquisitions: The Company had strategic alliance with OZForex, the online platform for foreign exchange in Australia and other global payment gateway, PayPal. Saasu had announced in 2015 an partnership with exclusive in nature with renowned company Westpac. Intuit: Intuitwas established in the year1983 through entrepreneurs,Scott CookandTom ProulxinPalo Alto, California. It is originally Americancompany of accounting software. It has head quarter is inMountain View,California. The company is engaged in development of software related to financial andtax preparation with allied services, specially for small businesses,individuals and accountants. The company is also engaged in preparation of personal finance programsQuickenandTurboTax, along with small businessaccounting program namedQuickBooks(Intuit, 2016). Products: The company had made the development platform QuickBase which is with features of low-code and cloud-based. The company has the range of product known as SAAS which is web based version of QuickBooks known as QuickBooks Online (QBO) with multiple products of payroll, and also it provides options for processing for many small businesses. QuickBooks is holding up to 90% of the small business market with the existing user of accounting packages and posing threats to the other application software developed by competitors like MYOB. Shares: It earns revenue of US$4.20 billionin 2015 and is having a net income of US$365 millionin 2015. Important acquisitions: 1993, Intuit made acquisition of Chipsoft, a software company involved in tax preparation with its head quarter at San Diego. 1996, Intuit made acquisition of GALT Technologies, Inc from Pittsburgh, PA 1994, Intuit made acquisition of the division of tax preparation software of Best Programs from Reston, VA. 1994, Intuit made acquisition of Parsons Technology fromBob Parsonsfor $64 million. Comparative Study of these 3 Business Solution Organisations: Saasu has almost all the important features that an accounting software should possess except GST Audit Reporting GST Calculation Worksheet that enabled this software to have a crack in the Accounting Software market. It has the following advantages over MYOB: It can handle expense claims It has the feature to Purchase orders It also offers multicurrency functioning One of the most important feature of Saasu is Cash flow forecasting by an integrated tool called Forecaster the has made this software unique and the user interface also made this software to be much more user friendly than other softwares(Heber, 2015). Quickbooks online by Intuit is SAASUs main competitor in the accounting space, with the market share of up to 90% of small and medium businesses with the existing practice of using accounting sofgtware application However Intuits QuickBooks Online has seen a lot of success in the United States, but certainly doesn't have the market penetration like SAASU or MYOB in Australia. Conclusion: So Due to increased needs of the people and life being much easier for the people accounting software is spreading worldwide with its aspects and the increased demand has shown its progress in the 21st century. People try to be self-dependant so they tend to use these types of software packages especially for Small Business holders. Reference: Heber, A., 2015. The cloud accounting supremacy war in Australia. [Online] Available at: https://www.businessinsider.com.au/charts-the-battle-for-supremacy-in-australias-cloud-accounting-market-2015-4 [Accessed 04 December 2016]. Intuit, 2016. About company. [Online] Available at: https://www.intuit.com/company/ [Accessed 04 December 2016]. Investopedia, 2015. Accounting Information System - AIS. [Online] Available at: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/accounting-information-system-ais.asp [Accessed 04 December 2016]. James, D., 2013. 7 accounting packages for Australian small businesses compared: including MYOB, QuickBooks Online, Reckon, Xero. [Online] Available at: https://www.bit.com.au/Review/344651,7-accounting-packages-for-australian-small-businesses-compared-including-myob-quickbooks-online-reckon-xero.aspx [Accessed 24 September 2016]. Leech, S. Grabski, S.V., 2015. International Journal of Accounting Information Systems. [Online] Available at: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/international-journal-of-accounting-information-systems/ [Accessed 04 December 2016]. Peavler, R., 2016. The Business Owner's Guide to Accounting Information Systems. [Online] Available at: https://www.thebalance.com/accounting-information-systems-392953 [Accessed 04 December 2016]. Raik-Allen, S., 2015. MYOB Most Innovative Company in Australia. [Online] Available at: https://www.myob.com/au/blog/myob-most-innovative-company-in-australia/ [Accessed 01 September 2016]. Romney, M., 2012. Accounting Information Systems Australasian edition. [Online] Available at: https://www.pearson.com.au/products/O-R-Romney-Marshall-et-al/O-R-Romney-Marshall-Et-Al/Accounting-Information-Systems-Australasian-edition/9781442542594?R=9781442542594 [Accessed 04 December 2016]. Saasu, 2016. Liberating small business. [Online] Available at: https://www.saasu.com/about/ [Accessed 03 December 2016].

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Cost Management in Supply Chains

Questions: 1.Explain why you have chosen this method over an alternative and explain which works best for a department within this project Job Costing ,Contract Costing and Absorption Marginal Costing? 2.Within your costing analysis, measure and evaluate the financial impact of manufacturing these new product lines within the company as opposed to purchasing them externally? 3.Using your costings above, evaluate how achievable this project is against the original time scales. Support your findings with the budgeted costs compared to the actual costs? 4.Produce an operational plan for this project, it must highlight the required resources, time scales and costs? Answers: 1. The Management of a business uses the costing system for monitoring the cost that a business incurs for a particular project or product. The costing system includes process, controls and reports that are designed to report to the management about the cost incurred, revenue earned and overall profitability of the project (Kaplan and Atkinson 2015). The reporting can be of any area of the business that includes departments, facilities, sales region, product and services. Therefore, it can be said that the costing system is useful to management for variety of reasons that are listed below: It helps the management to fine tune operations so that they can increase the profitability of the business. It helps management to control cost by comparing the actual cost with the budgeted cost. In case of downturn, it helps the management to make decision regarding the areas for curtailing of cost. It helps the management develop the tactical and strategic plan for operations in the future. In this case, an appropriate costing system will help to determine the total cost of the project. The board for making decision regarding the acceptability of the project will eventually use this information provided by the costing system (Seuring and Goldbach 2013). There are different types of costing system that are used depending on the suitability of different types of business. The three most popular types of costing system that discussed below are job costing, process costing, marginal costing and absorption costing. This are discussed below: Job order costing: The cost accounting system in which the manufacturing cost for each job is accumulated separately is known as the job order costing. It is suitable for business that are engaged in the production of unique and special products (Potts and Ankrah 2014). The business in which the job order costing is more applicable are event Management Company etc. Process costing: The cost accounting system in which the cost are accumulated separately for each process is known as the process costing. This costing system is suitable for products that are produced by the involvement of different process and departments (Fawcett et al. 2014). Marginal costing: The marginal costing is a costing system in which the costs are divided in fixed and variable costs. The marginal costing is an important decision making tool for management. The marginal costing reflects the effect of contribution and net profit by increasing sales of one additional product. This system of costing helps the management to make decision regarding expansion or discontinuation of a product line (Shu et al. 2014). Absorption costing: The costing system in which all the manufacturing cost are absorbed in the units produced is known as the absorption costing. In this system all the cost are treated as the product cost irrespective of the nature of cost whether it is fixed or variable. In this costing system, the cost of a unit produced is calculated by adding material, labor and overhead costs. The absorption costing is also known as full costing. The absorption costing is compared with the marginal costing. The absorption is useful because it is used for external reporting (Phillips 2013). In this case, it can be seen that the company is planning to launch a new product that it is intending to sale. On analyzing, the outline of the project given in the case study it can be seen that the company should apply the absorption coting method. The main reason for this decision are that in the case study the main purpose is to determine whether the product should be produced or purchased. The management can make this decision by calculating the total cost per unit and comparing it to the purchasing price of the product. Therefore, it can be concluded that the absorption costing system should be applied. 2. The decision that management has to make whether to make the product internally or purchase it from external supplier is known as the buy or make decision. The make or buy is a strategic choice that a business has to make if the business is developing a product or adding capacity. This is termed as a strategic choice because it has long-term implication for the business. The variables that are considered in making the long-term decision are the current and the future environment. The issues such a government regulations, competition from the peers and trend of the market all influences the strategic decision of buy or make. The main factor that influences the buy or make decision is the cost of product. The simple decision rule is that if the production cost per unit is more than the purchasing then it should be purchased otherwise it should be produced. If the production cost is less than purchasing the product then other factors that should be considered in making the decision i n favor of in-house production are: It should be considered whether there is sufficient expertise for making the product in house. The production capacity should be compared with the volume of units needed to meet the demand in order to make the decision of buy or produce. The manufacturing capacity should be evaluated properly before making the decision. In order to analyze, the financial effect of the decision to manufacture the product. The total cost for producing per unit is calculated and it is compared with the cost for buying the product. The calculation is given below: Statement Showing calculation of Production Per annum Number of Weeks operate Per annum 48 Number of days per week of operation 5 Production hour per day 7 Number of hours p.a 1680 Total Number of Machines 6 Total Machine Hour 10080 Production per hour (units) 200 Production per hour for 6 machines 1200 Production Per annum 2016000 wastage 201600 Net Production 1814400 Table 1: Calculation of number of units per year (Source: Created by Author) Calculation of Production cost per unit Particulars Amount Production manager 45,000.00 Machinist 18,144.00 Project Manager 75,600.00 Test Engineer 22,680.00 Senior Engineer 75,600.00 Depreciation of Machinery 5,400.00 Marketing cost 30,000.00 Sales engineer 35,000.00 Total Cost 307,424.00 Less: wastage 2,016.00 Net Cost 305,408.00 Production cost per unit 0.17 Table 2: Cost per unit Produced (Source: created by Author) There are certain assumptions that have been made for the purpose of the above calculation. These assumptions are given below: The cost are absorbed using the cost per unit. In case of variable costs, the cost per hour is divided with the number of units produced per hour and then it is multiplied with the total unit per annum. The formula is given below: Cost per hour/Production per hour X production per annum It is assumed that the machineries will be depreciated using the rate of 10%. The above calculation shows that if the business makes the product then the cost per unit will be 0.17. On the other hand, if the product is purchased externally then it will cost 0.15. Therefore, based on this analysis it is clear that the decision to make the product internally has negative impact for the business. The calculation showing the financial impact of the decision to make the product is given below: Calculation of profit Particulars Amount Decision to Produce Sales Price per unit 0.25 Production cost per unit 0.17 Profit per unit 0.08 Total profit (A) 148,192.00 Decision to Purchase Sales Price per unit 0.25 Purchase price per unit 0.15 profit per unit 0.10 Total profit (B) 181,440.00 Difference (B-A) 33,248.00 Table 3: Profit calculation (Source: Created by Author) The calculation above shows that if the business decides to make the product then it will make a profit of 148,192.00. On the other hand, if the business decides to purchase the product from outside then it will make a profit of 181440.00. Therefore, it can be concluded that for the decision of making the product the company will not be able to make an additional profit of 33248.00. 3. Comparing Budgeted with the actual time scale Details of work Budgeted Actual Hire Operations Manager 1 5 Purchase 6 milling machines 1 18 Hire Process engineer 1 5 Review current manufacturing process 7 11 System proposal report 1 9 New Machine Installation 21 29 Design the manufacturing layout 21 28 Train 6 CNC setters on the new machines 21 30 Test the manufacturing process 7 12 Prepare operational manuals 14 18 Total days 95 165 Note: For all the activities where the days are not mentioned in the outlined activities for that it is taken as 1 days. It is assumed that all the activities are conducted one after another. Table 4: Comparing actual time sake with the budget (Source: Created by Author) The table above shows the comparison between the actual and the budgeted time scale. Based on the above table it can be said that the project will not be able to be completed within the time scale. This will result in increase in cost of the product, as the variable costs that are paid on hourly basis will increase. The calculation is given below: Comparison of actual and budgeted cost Particulars Rate per hour Budgeted Actual Difference Machinist 12.00 3,024.00 4,320.00 1,296.00 Project Manager 50.00 4,750.00 8,250.00 3,500.00 Test Engineer 15.00 105.00 180.00 75.00 Senior Engineer 50.00 4,200.00 5,850.00 1,650.00 Total Cost 12,079.00 18,600.00 6,521.00 Table 5: comparison of actual with the budgeted cost (Source: Created by Author) The above calculation compares the budgeted cost with the actual cost. Based on the above table it can be said that the budgeted cost is 12079 whereas the actual cost is 18600. Therefore, it can be said that the company will incur an additional cost of 6521. Based on the above discussion it can be said that the above project is not achievable with the time budgeted scale and budgeted cost. 4. The operational plan is the activities that a company plans to achieve for attaining success. There are different goals for different companies and sometime the company faces problems in achieving those goals. The first step for operational plans lists the major goals of the companies. The second step is to provide the time line for attaining those objectives or activities. In this case, the operational plan for the project along with the details of the cost at each is given below: Operational Plan along with the budget Details of work Start Date Finish Date Human Resource Cost Hire Operations Manager 08-05-2017 08:00 12-05-2017 05:00 1 50.00 Purchase 6 milling machines 15-05-2017 08:00 01-06-2017 05:00 50 Hire Process engineer 15-05-2017 08:00 19-05-2017 05:00 1 100.00 Review current manufacturing process 10-03-2017 08:00 20-03-2017 05:00 700 System proposal report 21-03-2017 08:00 29-03-2017 05:00 100 New Machine Installation 22-03-2017 08:00 19-04-2017 05:00 2100 Design the manufacturing layout 30-03-2017 08:00 27-04-2017 05:00 2100 Train 6 CNC setters on the new machines 20-04-2017 08:00 18-05-2017 05:00 6 3612 Test the manufacturing process 28-04-2017 08:00 08-05-2017 05:00 1 1309 Prepare operational manuals 09-05-2017 08:00 26-05-2017 05:00 2618 Table 6: Operation plan (Source: Created by Author) Reference Fawcett, S.E., Ellram, L.M. and Ogden, J.A., 2014.Supply chain management: from vision to implementation. London: Pearson. Kaplan, R.S. and Atkinson, A.A., 2015.Advanced management accounting. PHI Learning. Phillips, J., 2013.PMP, Project Management Professional (Certification Study Guides). McGraw-Hill Osborne Media. Potts, K. and Ankrah, N., 2014.Construction cost management: learning from case studies. Routledge. Seuring, S. and Goldbach, M. eds., 2013.Cost management in supply chains. Springer Science Business Media. Shu, F., Weidong, Z., Zhuo, L.Z., Haibin, C. and Yaohui, Z., 2014. The application of time driven activity-based costing in fine cost management of the hospital.Jiangsu Healthcare Administration,6, p.063.