The Impact of Social Class and Stratification Essay Example

The Impact of Social Class and Stratification Essay The Impact of Social Class/Stratification Stratification and the division of people into social classes is a fundamental part of American society. Stratification is a concept that is universal; it is found in every country, every nation of the world. It is a system in which large groups of people, not individuals, are divided into different layers according to their relative property, power, and prestige. Stratification applies not only to the different nations of the world as a whole, but to the different groups of people within those nations as well. Each of these groups is stratified into its own class; the group of people ranked most closely to them in property, power, and prestige. A person’s position in the stratification system affects everything about their life, from what they think and expect in life to how they see the world, as well as what opportunities they will have access to. There are three main types of stratification systems; slavery, caste, and class. In slavery systems individuals may be owned, bought, sold, or traded by other individuals. Slaves were not always treated poorly, and many were not imprisoned for life, but their circumstances were certainly gruesome. Most of us know the history of the events from our own country, in which we engaged in a civil war over the slavery stratification system that was in place at the time. In the second system, the caste system, your status is ascribed at birth. You are stratified into a certain caste and you will remain there for life no matter what accomplishments you may achieve, or mistakes that you may make. And third we have the class system, which is characterized by its social mobility. We will write a custom essay sample on The Impact of Social Class and Stratification specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Impact of Social Class and Stratification specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Impact of Social Class and Stratification specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Unlike the slavery and caste systems, in which there is little or no movement between statuses, a class system is much more open and individuals may change their social class based on achievements. Your status is still assigned at birth, but you have the chance at upward social mobility based on material possessions that you acquire, or things that you achieve. Or you may be on the other end of the spectrum and experience downward social mobility, in which you drop down in social class, based on mistakes or missed opportunities. Noted sociologist Max Weber stated that there are three components to social class; property, power, and prestige. Weber actually used the terms class, power, and status, but other sociologists updated them to provide clearer meaning. These three P’s of social class are what determine into which class each individual or group is placed. Property is another word for a person’s wealth. This includes any houses, cars, or properties you own, the money in your savings account, stocks, or investments; any material possessions of value. Property is a significant factor in determining your social class, but not the only one. Power is your ability to control others and carry out your own will, even over their objections. The final factor that influences your social class is prestige. This refers to the respect or regard in which you are held in your community and society. These three factors are closely interrelated in determining one’s class. Property can lead to both prestige and power. You can use power to gain prestige and property. And prestige alone is enough to earn you property and power in the right circumstances. So you can see how advancement or regression in one category can lead to the same in others (Henslin 177-179). Sociologists Joseph Kahl and Dennis Gilbert developed a model to portray the structure of the social class system in the United States. The model is depicted as a six rung ladder (Henslin 207 Figure 8. 5). The lowest rung is the underclass, which make up only about 4% of the United States population. These are the people for whom poverty is a persistent problem. They have little chance of moving up the ladder. Many are unemployed and rely on government assistance for their main support. The next rung up the ladder is the working poor. These are the people who work at low-wage, unskilled, temporary and seasonal jobs, and make up about 16% of the population. Most are high school drop outs and many cannot even read. The third rung up is the working class. They make up about 30% of the population and include somewhat unskilled workers in both blue and white-collar jobs. With just a high school diploma as the average education, this group has little chance of climbing the social ladder. Above the working class is the lower middle class. They are the largest group on the social ladder, making up 34% of the United Sates population. These are the people with high school or college education who are employed at technical and lower-level management positions. They can afford a mainstream lifestyle, and anticipate being able to move up the social ladder. Logically the next rung up the ladder would be the upper middle class. Making up 15% of the U. S. population, these are the people who have college or university degrees, some even with postgraduate studies. They work in professional or upper-management occupations. And finally the smallest group at the top of the social ladder, making up just 1% of the population, is the capitalists. These are the people who own one-third of all U. S. assets. They graduated from prestigious universities and most come from old family money. They work as investors or top executives in fortune 500 companies; some are simply heirs to their wealth. Although this is the smallest group in the population, they have the property, power, and prestige to control almost everything. This group of power elite uses their status to affect only laws and changes that benefit them and perpetuate the cycle that keeps them at the top. So, while social mobility is possible within a class system, it is not always easy to come by (Henslin 207-210). Each social class is like a subculture of society with distinct approaches to life. Your social class can affect your physical and mental health, family life, education, and influence your religion and politics. It can even affect your interactions with crime and the criminal justice system. The higher up the social ladder you are, the more access you have to better health care, advanced education, and other opportunities. Which social class you belong to affects your decision of whom to marry; whether you will vote democrat, republican, or not at all; and even which religious denomination you will belong to. Statistically, the upper classes tend to vote republican, the middle and working class democratic, and the lowest classes do not vote at all. Your social class can also affect your dealings with the criminal justice system. Most crimes are committed within the criminal’s home neighborhood, so lower classes are more likely to be victims of these crimes. From another aspect, the white-collar crimes of the privileged classes are generally dealt with outside the justice system, while the street crimes of the lower class are dealt with through police interaction and court cases. This means that members of lower classes are more likely to be in prison at one time or another. Based on these different factors I would classify my family as lower middle class. My father owns a small business and my mother is a homemaker. They both have high school diplomas and some college education, and the household income is around $60,000 a year. Based on my personal social class there are both many advantages and disadvantages to my position. As a member of the lower middle class I have a decent chance at building on what my parents have established and advancing myself up the social ladder. My class position has allowed me the opportunity to pursue a college education and hopefully enter a professional career which will allow me to move up the ladder. However, my social class was a major factor in which colleges I could even attend. Yale was always my life-long goal, but the realities of my social position made that impossible. Another disadvantage is that because my father owns his own business, my family does not have employer provided health care. Since individual health insurance plans are so expensive, I do not have access to medical care on a regular basis. I can only go see a doctor when something is extremely wrong, and even then I have to worry about the astronomical costs incurred. These are just a few of the many, many examples of the effects that social class can have on our lives. The unequal distribution of our stratification system is certainly a social problem for many, but not the capitalists or upper middle class. As I mentioned before, these groups create a power elite to control the justice system and social climate to protect and suit their needs. It is a perpetuating cycle passed down through generations. The problem arises when you look at the fact that the top 20% of the population receives over half of all U. S. ncome, while the bottom 20% receives only 3. 4% (Henslin 199-201 Figures 8. 1, 8. 3). The extreme difference in income between the upper and lower classes causes conflict and strain, as well as a feeling of anomie and despair among the lower classes. This system has been in place in America for centuries so it must be working somehow; however, I personally do not see the benefits. Social stratification and class reaches all over the world . It is universal and inescapable. Each society stratifies its members in different ways but the affects are the same. The group to which a person is stratified affects every single attitude, action, and perception they have towards life. Works Cited Gompf, Ronald. Stratification and Social Class. Sociology 101 Fall Semester 2010. Community College of Baltimore County Essex Campus, Essex. Oct. -Nov. 2010. Lecture. Henslin, James M. Global Stratification. Essentials of Sociology: A-Down-To-Earth Approach. Eighth ed. Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon, 2009. 170-95. Print. Henslin, James M. Social Class in the United States. Essentials of Sociology: a Down-to-earth Approach. Eighth ed. Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon, 2009. 196-223. Print.

First jobs of millionaires and billionaires

First jobs of millionaires and billionaires When we think about our futures, who among us doesn’t dream of following in the footsteps of rich and successful people? You might be shocked to discover what some of these amazingly wealthy people did for their first jobs. Let’s take a closer look. A study conducted by the sales recruitment specialist company Aaron Wallis revealed that the most common first job amongst the billionaire crowd is a salesperson. Approximately 10% of these fabulously wealthy folks started out in the world of sales, which stands to reason- this position allows individuals to build their negotiating and deal-brokering skills, learn how to be persuasive in the face of overwhelming negative odds, and discover the value of persistence, which are common traits of successful people. Financial investor George Soros, entrepreneur Mark Cuban, and Dell founder Michael Dell can be counted amongst those who got their start as salespeople.Other common first jobs of the ultra wealthy include stock traders (Carlos Slim Helu, telecom magnate), engineers (Mikhail Fridman, business magnate), accountants (Phil Knight, co-founder of Nike), and software developers (Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft), but the list is surprisingly robust- you can practically name any job and it’s likely that at least one millionaire or billionaire got his or her start doing that.Have these rich folks typically stayed within the fields that they started in and made their fortunes there? Well, sometimes they do, like Mark Zuckerberg, whose first job was starting Facebook. However, more often than not their first jobs have little to do with how they made their money. Amancio Ortega, founder of fashion mega-brand Zara, started out as a shop hand for a shirtmaker.Since education and career path are often intertwined for most folks, let’s take a look at a few other interesting statistics from the Aaron Wallis study. Among 100 of the world’s top billionaires, approximately 30% inherited or wo rked for family businesses, 53% worked for other businesses, and 17% actually started their own businesses. Around 75% obtained a college degree, with the mostly commonly pursued academic path being engineering (22%). Business and accounting degrees are also popular among this economically elite group.So, what’s the takeaway from this look at the first jobs of millionaires and billionaires? The truth is, many of us dream of becoming wealthy and wildly successful, but may have assumed that it’s a path that’s not open to us. Think again! Clearly, the road to riches for many successful millionaires and billionaires didn’t start off paved in gold. This is good news for you if you feel as if you haven’t quite found your professional niche just yet. The road to success can start from any location!

Brain-Based learning theory strategies for ADHD Research Paper

Brain-Based learning theory strategies for ADHD - Research Paper Example It has therefore been suggested that ADHD can best be understood when looked at as a â€Å"neurobehavioral disability† (Brook & Boaz, 2005, p. 187). Thus, researchers have increasingly looked to neuroscience as a means of understanding and predicting the cognitive and emotional functions of children with ADHD (Nigg & Casey, 2005). Brain-based learning theorists suggests that understanding how the brain functions can produce effective strategies for teaching children with a number of learning disabilities (Geake, 2009). These theories are carried over to children and adults with ADHD where neuroscientists argue that ADHD is characterized by a deficit in completing tasks that primarily â€Å"relied on anterior brain regions (alerting and executive control)† (Swanson, Reschly, Fine, Kotkin, Wigal, & Simpson, p. 72). Since ADHD has been described as a brain-based disorder, a number of brain-based learning theories have been suggested and prescribed to educational interventions for learners with ADHD (Curatolo, Paloscia, D’Agati, Moavero, Pasini, 2009). Given the prevalence of ADHD and its link to learning disabilities and developments in neuroscience in relation to brain-based learning theories, research on its effectiveness as an educational intervention tool is necessary for guiding further research and teaching strategies. This research study conducts a critical analysis of brain-based theory strategies for ADHD. This research study is divided into three parts. The first part of this paper provides an overview of ADHD from the perspective of neuroscience. The second part of this paper analyzes brain-based theories of learning and the final part of this research analyzes brain-based learning theory strategies for ADHD. ADHD is often associated with â€Å"age-inappropriate and maladaptive levels of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity† (Vaidya, 2013, p. 421). Thus individuals with ADHD often exhibit a propensity for making â€Å"careless mistakes†,

Production of computers of various brands Essay

Production of computers of various brands - Essay Example Relevance to lifestyle of customer –the brands to be produced by Global Ventures Plc will be relevant to the lifestyle of various customers .there will be computers specifically designed and with can only be afforded for high class groups, middle class, low class and research purposes. Therefore various demands of the customers will be made thereby ensuring customers satisfaction. Economies of scale Unprocessed raw materials required in the production of computers are cheap and readily available from within the local markets and several foreign countries. In addition, the component parts required, major equipments, accessory equipments are less expensive and are readily available. Furthermore there is available specialized labor and efficient machinery which will reduce marginal costs when the capacity of productivity will increase. Competition Although the company does not have enough to tremendously expand production within a short time, there will be less competition for th e products that the company will produce. This is because the computer we intend to develop will have unique characters and quality of which none of our potential competitor has. Therefore because of uniqueness of our product there will be less competition even though the company will not utilize the whole market as it’s expected because the capital it has cannot allow for such quick expansion. Â  Consumable Computers have a recurring sales value and therefore they will needs to be replaced when they develop functional problems or spare parts have to be bought to replace the parts that have become non-functional. This therefore will establish a long term sales and a customer base with same products. Customers would therefore come back again and again to buy more as they use up what... From this paper it is clear that South Korea has a higher Gross Domestic Product and higher purchasing power with high potential for future economic growth that is vital to the growth and development of our company. Mass market south Korea will provide market to the computers and other accessories manufactured in bulk by our company while niche market will provide market to the products and services provided by the company which target specific market needs, as well as production quality, price range, and the demographics. In addition South Korea has a high number of government contracts and big corporate orders. This will further expand our market share for our products and also improve company sales and thereby increasing the profit accrued. Because of well developed infrastructure in South Korea, there is great ease with which our company will develop mass retail outlets and this will ensure easier accessibility to our products by customers hence increase in sale recorded. Proximi ty of ports (air and sea) in South Korea will reduce transport costs and also it will ensure easier export of the product to the market through the air and sea routes. In addition, the socio-cultural practices in South Korea have a less influence on consumers. Contractual procedures are friendly to attract investors. Since our products are at the beginning of the product lifecycle, their demand in south Korea would be less sensitive to recession because there will be no substitutes with the same qualities and usability.

Communicative maturity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Communicative maturity - Essay Example Concisely, all these varied aspects of my life have curved me into a mature and ambitious individual that will be noteworthy and contributive in the life ahead. I have taken majors in Finance and Supply Chain Management, and it is my highest desire to continue my lifelong learning process that inclined me to attend your Language School, one of the most credible institutions. Since few decades, experts have indicated rapid advancement in the wave of globalization, and it has now become very imperative to be aware of other languages and cultures, essential for personal, as well as collective development and progress. Since I know that I have passion for language, I can learn French language in an effective manner. During these years, I have been managed my life through effective management of my responsibilities towards family, work, and school activities. In addition, as an immigrant, I worked very hard to learn English that was essential to be a part of American life. In this regard, English language allowed me to create relationships that I now enjoy and adore with my classmates, colleagues, and people around me. Moreover, English language enabled me to avail various opportunities in the United States that have now enhanced my quality of living. It is very important that an individual should set realistic objectives, and my desire to involve myself in a long-learning process has resulted in my application for learning French language. In other words, this language program will open new avenues.

Current phase of economic growth in singapore nitin raj

Current phase of economic growth in singapore nitin raj CURRENT PHASE OF ECONOMIC GROWTH IN SINGAPORE NITIN RAJ Introduction The international economy has experienced fundamental changes during last two or so decades. Economic activity is becoming not only more internationalised but also meaningfully, it is becoming globalised in a world of complexity, interconnectedness and mobility. Today we live in a rapidly changing and increasing competitive world of globalisation. This report is brief analysis about the economic growth of Singapore (republic of Singapore) and stumble of it while recession. Singapore, an island in southern Asia is highly acclaimed global market friendly economy, major contribution of which is manufacturing of electronics. Being one of the busiest ports it is the fourth largest economy foreign exchange centre. This report will play particular attention to: Evaluation of current phase of economic growth in Singapore. Factors contributing current phase of growth/contraction in economy. Discussion on some methods of managing the economy by the Government. Singapore has successful free market economy with strong market economy with strong service and manufacturing sectors. It has one of the highest per capita gross domestic product in the world. Singapores location on major sea lanes and its industrious population have made important hub for south-east Asia region. Singapores small population, external market dependency and suppliers have pushed it towards economic openness free trade and free markets. Effective government policies have been key reason in Singapores historically strong economic performance. Singapores economic growth To know about GDP, first we have to know that what this term actually is, GDP is gross domestic product, which means, The total value of goods and services produced within a countrys borders during a fixed period, usually one year, obtained by adding the value contributed by each sector of the economy .you can think of it as the size of the economy. EVOLUTION OF ECONOMY OVER LAST TWENTY YEARS Figure 1 (Source: International monetary fund- 2009 world economic outlook) TABLE 1 YEAR GDP PER CAPITA % CHANGE 1989 15621.62 10.86% 1990 17044.27 9.11% 1991 18277.45 7.24% 1992 19308.1 5.64% 1993 21486.89 11.28% 1994 23735.75 10.47% 1995 25421.68 7.10% 1996 26811.78 5.47% 1997 28585.21 6.61% 1998 27557.65 -3.59% 1999 29738.55 7.91% 2000 32864.45 10.51% 2001 31936.05 -2.82% 2002 33478.7 4.83% 2003 36016.97 7.58% 2004 40179.48 11.56% 2005 43754.29 8.90% 2006 47444.57 8.43% 2007 50447.62 6.33% 2008 51226.03 1.54% 2009 49433.48 -3.50% Singaporean GDP is at a good state as of late. Its per capita GDP is among highest in world. There has been a steady rate of growth in last five financial years. GDP in year2003 2.02 % 2004 1.10% 20058.10% 20066.40% 20077.90% 20087.50% The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Singapore reduced at an annual rate of 2.80% in the last quarter of December 2009. Singapore Gross Domestic Product is worth 182 billion dollars or 0.29% of the world economy, as per the reports of World Bank. Unemployment Rates The unemployment rate in Singapore was 2.10 percent in December of 2009. Country Interest Rate Growth Rate Inflation Rate Jobless Rate Current Account Exchange Rate Singapore 0.02% -2.80% 0.20% 2.10% 8324 1.4018 Year Mar Jun Sep Dec 2009 3.30 3.30 3.40 2.10 2008 1.90 2.20 2.30 2.50 2007 2.80 2.30 1.70 1.70 Singapore has enjoyed virtually full employment for long periods of time. In tandem with the global economic crisis and the economys contraction, unemployment as of end-June 2009 rose to 3.3% and resident unemployment reached 4.6%. The inflation rate in Singapore was 0.20 percent in January of 2010 Country Interest Rate Growth Rate Inflation Rate Jobless Rate Current Account Exchange Rate Singapore 0.02% -2.80% 0.20% 2.10% 8324 1.4018 Year Jan Mar Jun Sep Dec 2010 0.20 2009 4.30 2.60 0.00 -0.50 -0.50 2008 6.60 6.70 7.50 6.70 5.50 2007 -0.60 0.20 1.70 3.00 3.70 Business cycle The five stages of the business cycle are growth, peak, recession, trough and recovery. In starting year of Singapores economy, its growing with faster rate and from year 2003 up to 5 years it reaches to peak, and after some years it starts declining and now it is in trough stage, now it should try some new methods to grow up, and recover its economic level. Factors contributing current phase of economy are as follows Contraction: Recession: Singapore is the first Asian economy to enter in recession. Recession is directly phasing to unemployment, it increased 3% in year 2009. Singapores economy is heavily dependent on export activities and its going down up to 18% International trade is also going down to 3.2% Causes for economic development of Singapore: A foremost reason is increasing demand of electronic products all over the world. The construction sector is also helping the economy to grow and survive in the market. It expands its hands up to 16.4% Government strategies and tactics are also playing crucial role in economic development for this south East Asian country. We can conclude that in some sector economy gets into contraction and the main factor which helped in contraction is recession. Due to recession tourism industry effected, unemployment increased, and its export also got down. In some sector, still some growth is there, like demand for electronic products, pharmaceuticals, educational sector all helped Singapore to grow lot. But in current phase Singapore is going in contraction, in almost every sector of economy. Flow of income The terms circular flow of income refer to an economic model which explains the reciprocal circulation of income in between producers and consumers. The methods to manage the economy are: First method is to reduce the unemployment rate as in December 2009 the unemployment rate is 2.10% and due to high worldwide recession it is continuously increasing. Due to unemployment, tourism sector is being effected, and also the service sector as people are jobless. Government is trying to match the perfect level of employment, as in 2010 worlds first youth Olympic is going to be held in Singapore, so tourism sector will b get effected by this, Singapore government is opening two large base royal casinos to attract tourism, this can also help in reducing unemployment. Second method can be price cut, as 60% firms in Singapore are owned by government, so it can cut the prices, by cutting down its manufacturing cost, the cost has to be reduced in recovery stage, then it can use new techniques which can help in reducing wastage, government should reduce taxes also on some products like medicines, education, tourism sector, communication sector, all this will help to get recover from recession stage. Public sector debt : Debt is the total amount of money that a country (or company) owes. In January 2010, there was net borrowing of  £4.3 billion, which compares with net borrowing of - £5.3 billion (net lending) in January 2009. The PBR forecast for 2009/10 is net borrowing of  £178 billion. Public sector net debt, expressed as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP), was 59.9 per cent at the end of January 2010 compared with 50.0 per cent at end of January 2009. Net debt was  £848.5 billion at the end of January compared with  £708.0 billion a year earlier. Public sector deficit: Deficit is in simple words expenditure over revenue, a situation in which liabilities exceed assets, expenditures exceed income, imports exceed exports, or losses exceed profits. Singapore recorded a general government deficit of S$4054 Million in Jan/10 that is of 14% of GDP as compared to previous period S$4017 million .Due to worldwide recession Singapore also has to bear this public sector deficit. Significance of these figures: Government borrows loan and money for the sake of people only, it want to increase the production by cutting taxes , want to reduce unemployment and start new projects so that people can get jobs. By starting new projects government wants to increase the standard of living of people, and their purchasing power. Conclusion Singaporeone of the four tigers of Asia (others are Honkong, Taiwan and South Korea) has a highly developed and successful open-market economy. Few years back it had a GDP higher than that of most developed countries. Its economy recovered by 2006 from the global recession in 2001 but again the GDP of Singapore economy declined and its a prediction by various economist it will decrease at a rate of 2.8% in year 2010, but some predictions say just opposite of it as per promises done by the government it will increase at rate of 3 to 5 percent and according, as far as I studied about Singapores economy, it is now in a trough stage of business cycle, that is fourth stage, now its time for recovery, the last stage of business cycle, so it has to grow up now, by cutting prices or by reducing unemployment rate. Tourism in Singapore has also a vital role. After a big loss it has started growing smoothly. Worlds first youth Olympic game is going to be held in Singapore; hopefully it will promote the tourism sector. Employment will also groom this year. Two casinos are also going to start this year, which can help it in increasing tourism,. The global recession seems to coming at its end so the European countries and United States will soon regain their importing capabilities which will help Singapore to re establish its development back again. Singapore had suffered a lot. Till last year they worked on saving jobs. Now as the market conditions have improved job qualities are taken into consideration. Improvement in world business, rise of Singapore manufacturing, export, tourism, government commitment has shown good signs and it is believed that this small island will soon achieve its lost growth.

The Drive-By :: Personal Narrative Writing

The Drive-By Many people have experienced a drive-by shooting before. Some are the victims and others are the people who commit these crimes. Either way, these shootings are very horrifying. You feel your adrenaline rush 100 miles an hour. People who can't run will soon find themselves hopping over gates and hitting roofs tops. The sad truth is that people die as a result of these shootings. Bullets don't carry names. They fly in all directions killing innocent people. I woke up one Sunday morning tired from the night before. My neighbor Sergio called me up to ask me if I would go with him to the car wash in Whittier. I got ready and left my house at about 12 o'clock. As I walked to his house, I noticed that the sun was bright and the sky was clear. "The day is too good to be true," I thought to myself and believed nothing could possibly go wrong. We got to the car wash and washed his car. The day was going fine. Then Sergio asked me if I wanted to go to East L.A. with him. I agreed and went with him. We arrived at his cousin's house and his cousin's friends were all drinking on the sidewalk. I felt strange to be there. I didn't know anyone except Sergio and his cousin. To top it all off, I was in a strange neighborhood with some gangsters that I didn't know. After being there a while, I noticed a grey van passing down the street repeatedly. I did not think much about it since it was not my neighborhood, and Sergio's friend did not pay much attention to them either. All of a sudden, one of Sergio's friends jumped off the hood of a parked car and yelled, "Trucha! Trucha!" (Watch Out!) As he shouted that, I looked up and saw the passenger of the gray van pointing and shooting a gun at me. I felt a tremendous cold chill all over my body, and began to run as fast as I could to the back of the house. All I remember is looking for safety. When the shooting was over, I went to the front and saw Sergio's cousin laying on the ground with his pants full of blood. We quickly got him into Sergio's clean car and drove to the hospital. We were driving much faster than the speed limit and running red lights while I tried to calm Sergio's cousin. The Drive-By :: Personal Narrative Writing The Drive-By Many people have experienced a drive-by shooting before. Some are the victims and others are the people who commit these crimes. Either way, these shootings are very horrifying. You feel your adrenaline rush 100 miles an hour. People who can't run will soon find themselves hopping over gates and hitting roofs tops. The sad truth is that people die as a result of these shootings. Bullets don't carry names. They fly in all directions killing innocent people. I woke up one Sunday morning tired from the night before. My neighbor Sergio called me up to ask me if I would go with him to the car wash in Whittier. I got ready and left my house at about 12 o'clock. As I walked to his house, I noticed that the sun was bright and the sky was clear. "The day is too good to be true," I thought to myself and believed nothing could possibly go wrong. We got to the car wash and washed his car. The day was going fine. Then Sergio asked me if I wanted to go to East L.A. with him. I agreed and went with him. We arrived at his cousin's house and his cousin's friends were all drinking on the sidewalk. I felt strange to be there. I didn't know anyone except Sergio and his cousin. To top it all off, I was in a strange neighborhood with some gangsters that I didn't know. After being there a while, I noticed a grey van passing down the street repeatedly. I did not think much about it since it was not my neighborhood, and Sergio's friend did not pay much attention to them either. All of a sudden, one of Sergio's friends jumped off the hood of a parked car and yelled, "Trucha! Trucha!" (Watch Out!) As he shouted that, I looked up and saw the passenger of the gray van pointing and shooting a gun at me. I felt a tremendous cold chill all over my body, and began to run as fast as I could to the back of the house. All I remember is looking for safety. When the shooting was over, I went to the front and saw Sergio's cousin laying on the ground with his pants full of blood. We quickly got him into Sergio's clean car and drove to the hospital. We were driving much faster than the speed limit and running red lights while I tried to calm Sergio's cousin.

Analysis of Mc Donald’s Operations

Mac Dona's Case Study McDonald's Is one of the best-known brands worldwide and Its core business being basically fast-food: it specializes in burgers (Big Mac) and fries. While other restaurants stick to their conventional menu will rarely innovate, McDonald's on the other hand has been able to adapt to the local demand in a global environment by catering their menu to the local taste. This continuous product innovation & improvement based on detailed market research has helped keeping the brand ahead of Its competitors and contributed to further enhance the existing reputation f the brand.In order to have this competitive edge. McDonald's has taken some key measures to name a few along the years, namely: Aggressive market research to continuously adapt to the changing needs and tastes of its customer, for e. G. Seeking more food variety and gradually shifting towards healthier eating. Value added services to adapt to people's busy lives with great focus on convenience. More choice a nd better pricing strategy to ensure excellent value for money; for e. G. Extra value meals and combination of menus Process standardization and attention to details to ensure product quality In each and every outlets.Mac Dona's business model has been built on a specific target population (working people, teenagers), I. E. Those in need for fast and inexpensive menu. Now with consumer's becoming more health focus, Mac Dona's asset could be turned into liability as Mac Dona's would be the last based on low-calorie-low-cholesterol menu. Analysis of Mac Dona's Operations By Ayatollah-Shaffer McDonald's is one of the best-known brands worldwide and its core business being basically fast-food; it specializes in burgers (Big Mac) and fries.While other ahead of its competitors and contributed to further enhance the existing reputation of the brand. In order to have this competitive edge, McDonald's has taken some key ensure product quality in each and every outlets. A number of key decisi ons and food items to respond quickly to the fluctuating demands.

Regional Differences in Spanish

Regional Differences in Spanish Spanish varies significantly from country to country - but the differences arent so extreme that if youre learning a Mexican variety of Spanish you need to worry about communicating in, for example, Spain or Argentina. Questions about the regional varieties of Spanish come up frequently from Spanish students. Many have heard so much about how the Spanish of Spain (or Argentina or Cuba or fill-in-the-blank) is different than what they learned  that theyre worried their months of study wont do them much good. While the comparison isnt completely accurate, the differences between the Spanish of Spain and the Spanish of Latin America are something like the differences between British English and American English. With a few exceptions - some local accents can be difficult for outsiders - people in Spain watch movies and TV shows from Latin America without subtitles, and vice versa. There are regional differences, more so in the spoken language than in writing, but they arent so extreme that you cant learn the differences as you need them. Also, while its easy to think of Latin American Spanish as one entity, as textbooks and lessons often treat treat it, you should note there are differences in the Spanish of various countries in the Western Hemisphere. Guatemalan Spanish isnt Chilean Spanish - but residents of those two countries and many others communicate all the time with little difficulty. If your pronunciation is reasonably good, whether your accent is Castilian or Mexican or Bolivian, you will be understood. You might want to avoid slang or extreme colloquialisms, but standard educated Spanish is understood anywhere in the Spanish-speaking world. Here, however, are some of the differences you may notice: Pronunciation Differences in Spanish One of the pronunciation differences most often mentioned is that many Spaniards often pronounce the z and the c before i or e like the th in thin, while many Latin Americans pronounce it the same as the s. Also, speakers in some areas (Argentina in particular) often pronounce the ll and y like the s in measure (this is sometimes called the zh sound). In some areas, you will hear speakers drop s sounds, so est sounds like et. In some areas, the j sounds like the ch in the Scottish loch (difficult for many native English speakers to master), while in others it sounds like the English h. In some areas, the l and the r at the end of a word sound alike. If you listen to a variety of spoken Spanish, youll notice other differences as well, particularly in the rhythm in which it is spoken. Regional Differences in Spanish Grammar Two of the biggest differences from country to country in grammar are the leà ­smo of Spain and the use of the pronoun vos in some areas instead of tà º (meaning you). Another major difference is that vosotros is usually used as the plural of tà º in Spain, while in Latin American ustedes is usually used. There are also numerous small differences, many involving colloquial usage. Although it may sound unusual to Spaniards to hear ustedes used where they are expecting vosotros, you not need fear not being understood. The Latin American form will be familiar to the Spaniard even though it may seem a bit foreign. Regional Differences in Spanish Vocabulary Other than slang, probably the biggest class of vocabulary differences youll come across is in the use of suffixes. A lpiz is a pencil or crayon everywhere, but a lapicero is a pencil holder in some areas, a mechanical pencil in others, and a ball-point pen in still others. There are also a fair number of blatant differences, such as a computer being un ordenador in Spain but una computadora in Latin America, but they are probably no more common than the British-American differences. Names of foods can also vary, and it isnt unusual in Latin America for the indigenous names of vegetables and fruits to have been adopted. Travelers should be aware that there are at least a dozen words, some of them of local usage only, for a bus. But the formal word autobà ºs is understood everywhere. Of course, every area also has its quirky words. For example, a Chinese restaurant in Chile or Peru is a chifa, but you wont run across that word in many other places. Regional Differences in Spanish Just as the English of Great Britain or South Africa isnt the English of the United States, so too is the Spanish of Spain different than the Spanish of Argentina or Cuba. While the differences in Spanish from country to country arent so great as to block communication, knowing them will make life easier in your travels. Key Takeaways: Regional Differences in Spanish The most significant regional differences in Spanish usage are those between Spain and Latin America.Within  Latin America, the most significant differences can be found in Argentina and some areas nearby, which use  vos instead of tà º.Although the names of some everyday objects vary  with region, the strongest differences can be found in names of foods and in slang. In general, the biggest divisions in Spanish are those between Spain and Latin America. But even within Spain or within the Americas youll find differences, especially if you go to more remote areas such as the Canary Islands or the Andean highlands. Here are the most significant differences you should be aware of: Ustedes vs. Vosotros The pronoun vosotros as the plural form of you is standard in Spain but is nearly nonexistent in Latin America. In other words, while you might use ustedes to speak with strangers in Spain and vosotros with close friends, in Latin America you would use ustedes in either situation. Latin Americans also do not use the corresponding conjugated verb forms such as the hacà ©is and hicistes forms of hacer. Tà º vs.  Vos The singular formal pronoun for you is usted everywhere, but the informal you can be tà º or vos. Tà º can be considered standard and is universally used in Spain and understood throughout Latin America. Vos replaces tà º in Argentina (also Paraguay and Uruguay) and can also be heard elsewhere in South America and in Central America. Outside of Argentina, its use is sometimes restricted to certain types of relationships (such as especially close friends) or to certain social classes. Preterite vs. Present Perfect Tenses Both the preterite and present perfect tenses are used to talk about past events. In most Latin American Spanish it is usual, as in English, to use the preterite to discuss something that happened recently: Esta tarde fuimos al hospital. (This afternoon we went to the hospital.) But in Spain the present perfect is often used: Esta tarde hemos ido al hospital. Pronunciation of Z and C The most noticeable difference in pronunciation of European Spanish and that of the Americas involves that of the z and that of the c when it comes before an e or i. In most of Spain it has the sound of the th in thin, while elsewhere it has the sound of the English s. Spains sound is sometimes incorrectly called a lisp. Pronunciation of Y and LL Traditionally, the y and ll represented different sounds, the y being much like the y of yellow and the ll being the zh sound, something the s of measure. However, today, most Spanish speakers, in a phenomenon known as yeà ­smo, make no distinction between y and ll. This occurs in Mexico, Central America, parts of Spain, and most of South America outside the northern Andes. (The opposite phenomenon, where the distinction remains, is known as lleà ­smo.) Where yeà ­smo occurs, the sound varies from the English y sound to the j of jack to the zh sound. In parts of Argentina it can also take on the sh sound. Pronunciation of S In standard Spanish, the s is pronounced much like that of English. However, in some areas, especially the Caribbean, through a process known as debucalizacià ³n, it often becomes so soft that is disappears or becomes similar to the English h sound. This is especially common at the end of syllables, so that  ¿Cà ³mo ests? sounds something like  ¿Cà ³mo et? Leà ­smo The standard pronoun for him as a direct object is lo. Thus the usual way to say I know him is Lo conozco. But in Spain it is very common, even sometimes preferred, to use le instead: Le conozco. Such use of le is known as leà ­smo. Spelling Differences The spelling of Spanish is remarkably standardized compared with that of English. One of very few words with acceptable regional variations is the word for Mexico, for which Mà ©xico is usually preferred. But in Spain it is often spelled Mà ©jico. It also isnt unusual for Spaniards to spell the U.S. state of Texas as Tejas rather than the standard Texas. Names of Fruits and Vegetables Names of fruits and vegetables can vary considerably with region, in some cases because of the use of indigenous words. Among those with multiple names are strawberries (fresas, frutillas), blueberries (arndanos, moras azules), cucumbers (pepinos, cohombros), potatoes (papas, patatas), and peas (guisantes, chà ­charos, arvejas). Juice can be  jugo or zumo. Other Vocabulary Differences Among the everyday objects that go by regional names are cars (coches, autos), computers (ordenadores, computadores, computadoras), buses (buses, camionetas, pullmans, colectivos, autobuses, and others), and jeans (jeans, vaqueros, bluyines, mahones). Common verbs that vary with region include those for driving (manejar, conducir) and parking (parquear, estacionar). Slang and Colloquialisms Every region has its own collection of slang words that are seldom heard elsewhere. For example, in some areas you might greet someone with  ¿Quà © onda? (similar in meaning to Whats happening?), while in other areas that might sound foreign or old-fashioned. There are also words that can have unexpected meanings in some areas; a notorious example is coger, a verb that is used routinely to refer to grabbing or taking in some areas but that in other areas has a strongly sexualized meaning.

Truck Stop - Business Plan

Truck Stop - Business Plan 1.0 Executive SummaryInterstate Travel Center is intended to be the major travel center in Dallas, Texas. It will consist of a convenience store, gas/diesel islands, restaurant, and amenities for the trucking business. Interstate Travel Center is a corporation owned and operated by Steve and Janet Smith.The company's management philosophy is based on responsibility and mutual respect. Interstate Travel Center has an environment and structure that encourages productivity and respect for customers and fellow employees.Interstate Travel Center is organized into two main functional areas: convenience stores of this type of freight are food and consumer staples delivered locally, and manufactured goods shipped between commercial establishments or delivered to consumers or retail outlets.Truckers have the largest share of the freight market. Unlike railroads, pipelines, or water carriers, they don't face geographic limits caused by physical constraints, and can offer door-to-door service. They also pay relatively little to use the nation's highway system. Railroads, by contrast, must build, maintain, and police their rights-of-way.The trucking industry consists of two broad segments: private and for-hire. In turn, for-hire truckers fall into two broad categories: truckload (TL) and less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers.The accompanying Market Analysis chart and table reflect the total projected potential customers that Interstate Travel Center might acquire. The categories have been simplified to include all instate commercial trucks (both the TL and LTL segments) and all instate private vehicles as listed in the U.S. Department of Transportation's 1997 Vehicle Inventory for the state of Texas. The listed number of private vehicles in Texas is approximately 17 million, however, only a small percentage of private vehicle owners will be inclined to prefer truck stops over gas stations. Therefore, instead of using the larger number, a percentage of the overall private vehi cles based on the percentage of private vehicles that truck stops service is used. The third category contains all interstate and NAFTA-based commercial business that passes through Texas, and the final category reflects all out-of-state private vehicles, such as tourists. Again, the numbers in this final category reflects a percentage of out-of-state private vehicles that truck stops normally service.The growth rates used in this table are based on figures available from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The growth rate for the out-of-state and NAFTA commercial vehicles is only approximate, as it is difficult to project what affects investments in the "Port-to-Plains" trade corridor will have on traffic that passes adjacent to the travel center.Finally, it must be noted that although the Market Analysis table indicates that the largest market segment is instate private vehicles, the actual percentage will probably be significantly less. Experience has shown that the largest pe rcentage of vehicles serviced by truck stops, such as Interstate Travel, is in the commercial truck segment.Market Analysis (Pie)Click to EnlargeMarket AnalysisPotential Customers Growth 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 CAGRInstate Commercial Trucks 4% 500,102 517,606 535,722 554,472 573,879 3.50%Out-of-state Commercial Trucks 6% 285,111 302,218 320,351 339,572 359,946 6.00%Instate Private Vehicles 3% 1,286,952 1,325,561 1,365,328 1,406,288 1,448,477 3.00%Out-of-state Private Vehicles 4% 458,154 476,480 495,539 515,361 535,975 4.00%Total 3.63% 2,530,319 2,621,865 2,716,940 2,815,693 2,918,277 3.63%4.1 Market Segmentation [back to top]With some $344 billion in 1998 revenues, the trucking (or motor carrier) business claimed approximately 79% of the U.S. commercial freight transportation market. This total was divided among two sectors: private carriage and for-hire.Figure 3. Commercial Freight Distribution(In billions of dollars)Transportation Billion $ % of TotalTrucking, Total $344 63.6%Pri vate, Interstate $115 21.3%Private, Local $85 15.7%Truckload $65 12.0%Local For-Hire $40 7.4%LTL, National $9 1.7%LTL, Regional $11 2.0%Package/Express (ground) $19 3.5%Railroad $36 6.7%Pipeline (oil gas) $26 4.8%Air freight, Package Domestic $17 3.1%Air freight, Heavy Domestic $6 1.1%Water (Great Lakes/rivers) $7 1.3%Transportation Total* $436 80.6%DistributionWarehousing $70 12.9%Logistics Administration $35 6.5%Distribution Total $105 19.4%Total $541 100.0%*Excluding $5 billion in international cargo.Sources: Standard Poor's, Data Resources, Inc., and Cass Information Systems.Private CarriersAlthough private carriers comprise the largest component of the motor carrier industry, financial information isn't available for them. However, the industry is estimated to provide services valued at some $200 billion annually (or 58% of motor carrier revenues in 1998).The Private Truck Council estimates that there are more than three million trucks operated by private fleets, and these tr ansport 3.5 billion tons of freight annually.For-Hire CarriersThe For-hire category generated $144 billion in 1998, or 42% of the industry total. Of that $144 billion, some $105 billion (73% of the sector's business) came from truckload shipments, and $39 billion (27%) was from less-than-truckload and package/express delivery.Truckload (TL): The national for-hire truckload segment had total revenues of $65 billion in 1998. The TL sector is largely privately owned, with the exception of the top ten publicly owned companies. (For this reason, we focus on the LTL sector in this survey.) Schneider National Carriers is the largest TL operator, with revenues of $2.8 billion in 1998, followed by J.B. Hunt Transport Services ($1.8 billion) and the Landstar family of truckload carriers ($1.3 billion). Of the 50,000 truckload carriers, perhaps 95% have annual revenues of less than $1 million.Less-than-truckload (LTL): We estimate that the less-than-truckload market garnered $20 billion in 199 8. Of this amount, the fast growing regional segment accounted for slightly more than the national market.The largest national LTL carrier in 1998 was Roadway Express Inc., with $2.32 billion in LTL revenues in that year; the company's total revenue of $2.55 billion includes TL freight. Yellow Freight System (a unit of Yellow Corporation) was close behind, with $2.25 billion (out of $2.46 billion total). Consolidated Freightways Corporation was third, with $1.95 billion in LTL revenues.In the regional LTL market, Con-Way Transportation (a unit of CNF Transportation Inc.) was the largest player, with $1.5 billion in LTL revenue in 1998. Second place belonged to US Freightways, whose family of five carriers has generated some $1.4 billion in LTL revenue. American Freightways Corporation was third, with $928 million in LTL revenues.4.1.1 Market Trends [back to top]Industry TrendsWhile a driver shortage continues to plague the truckload sector, the LTL carriers have adapted to changing market conditions in order to capitalize on growth opportunities. Intermodal shippers also stand to benefit from market trends. Finally, the evolution of e-commerce stands to intensify competition among all carriers.E-commerce is Big BusinessThe Internet is rapidly changing how the consumer selects and purchases merchandise. Age-old relationships between vendors, distributors, retailers, and carriers are being torn apart. For many Internet users, the computer has displaced the telephone as a means of transmitting a purchase order, while catalog vendors who have put their wares on the Internet may now receive orders electronically, in addition to mail and phone orders. For the shipping industry, e-commerce is changing the way in which goods are ordered.The estimated size and growth potential for e-commerce varies widely. Forrester Research, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has estimated e-commerce at the consumer level at $7.8 billion in 1998, and projects that it will rise to $18 billion in 1999, $33 billion in 2000, and $108 billion in 2003. According to Forrester, total worldwide e-commerce, including business-to-business transactions, was estimated at $43 billion in 1998, and projected to hit $127 billion in 1999.The Direct Marketing Association has calculated that e-commerce generated just $5.9 billion in 1998 (or 0.2% of sales), and will climb to 2.5% of retail sales by 2004, representing a 50% annual compound growth rate during this period.4.1.2 Market Growth [back to top]Dallas SupportAccording to information released by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), nearly $600 million in projects are already programmed over the next four years, and more than $1 billion in additional transportation projects are recommended for the Dallas region. The projects are on top of a $175 million increase in NAFTA transportation funding through 2003 that was part of the border initiative announced in April, 1999.It is said that a Ports-To-Plains Trade Corrido r could be in the future for Dallas, making it a major port of entry to Mexico. The corridor has been named a high priority corridor by the U.S. Congress, which has placed a greater emphasis on improving transportation in these regions. The major highway would have a direct route from the northern United States to two major port entries: Dallas and Eagles Pass.4.2 Business Participants [back to top]Industry: Trucking Terminal FacilitiesFigure 4, below, indicates the Market Statistics for trucking terminals. These are defined as establishments primarily engaged in the operation of route transshipment facilities used by highway-type property-carrying vehicles, including complexes which provide maintenance and service for motor vehicles.Figure 4: Market Size Statistics-Terminal FacilitiesEstimated number of U.S. establishments 1,386Number of people employed in this industry 64,105Total annual sales in this industry $181 millionAverage employees per establishment 52Average sales per est ablishment $.8 millionIndustry: Gasoline Service StationsGasoline service stations primarily engage in selling gasoline and lubricating oils. These establishments frequently sell other merchandise, such as tires, batteries, and other automobile parts, or perform minor repair work. Gasoline stations, combined with other activities, such as grocery stores, convenience stores, or carwashes, are classified in Figure 5 below according to primary activity.Figure 5: Market Size Statistics-Gasoline Service StationsEstimated number of U.S. establishments 71,159Number of people employed in this industry 471,041Total annual sales in this industry $98,817 millionNumber of employees per establishment 7Average sales per establishment $1.8 millionMarket Analysis by SpecialtyFigure 6 provides a market analysis by specialty for the gasoline service stations segment.Figure 6: Market Analysis by SpecialtySIC Code SIC Description Number of Businesses % of Total Total Employees5541-0000 Gasoline Service Stations 50,544 71% 286,0625541-9901 Filling Stations, Gasoline 18,844 26.5% 137,8975541-9902 Marine Service Station 171 0.2% 1,1235541-9903 Truck Stops 1,600 2.2% 45,959Total/Average 71,159 100% 471,041Note: Not all establishments have a specialty.5.0 Strategy [back to top]Interstate Travel Center's strategy is to develop a major travel center in Dallas, Texas. The center will consist of a major convenience store, gas/diesel islands, restaurant, and amenities for the trucking business. Key components of the company's initial strategy are summarized as follows:Advertising. Promote the new business through extensive advertising.Location. Provide a clean, safe and appealing location for travelers.Convenient center. Provide a convenient center with a full array of products and services for those that are traveling as well as for the citizens of Dallas and the surrounding communities.One-stop shop. Be the one-stop shop for travelers to and from Dallas.NAFTA trucking trade business. Cat er to the NAFTA trucking trade business.Good return on investment. Maintain a profitable business with a good return on investment.Interstate Travel Center will be developed in four phases. Phase development will enable the owner/operator to introduce viable, profitable goods and services without over-building. Over-building at this location would be easy to do because of the slower growth of the area associated with NAFTA, it would also mean certain failure if the owner/operator cannot secure resources for several years of financial staying power to support a negative cash flow. The timeline for the implementation of the various phases is contingent upon customer response and profitability and action is initiated at the discretion of the owners. It is assumed that the implementation of Phase II will occur sometime after the first three years of operation.Phase I: Initial DevelopmentDiesel fueling lanes: four; dual-sided fueling.Gasoline MPDs: four dispensers.Travel Store: Approxima tely 3,000 square feet.Showers: Approximately four stalls.Truck Loungers.Game Room.Restaurant: Seating for 64-69 patrons.Truck Parking: room for approximately 100-150 trucks.Scales: Owner to purchase scales.Phase II: Increased Goods and Services, Third Year of OperationDiesel fueling lanes: add two for a total of six lanes.Truck parking: add 100-150 spaces.Phase III: Increased Goods and Services, Fifth Year of OperationDiesel fueling lanes: increase to eight dual-sided fueling.Gasoline MPDs: increase to six dispensers.Travel Store: Enlarge to 4,800 square feet.Showers: Add four for a total of eight stalls.Truck services: Add lease space for truck services such as tires, batteries, oil and lube.Phase IV: Increased Goods and Services, Sixth Year of OperationAdd fast food unit.Add additional restaurant seating for a total of 100 patrons.Motel: Add 48 room unit.Truck Parking: Add 100 spaces (Total 400-525).Truck Wash.5.1 Marketing and Sales [back to top]A small traveler's guide will be published to advertise the travel center and all it has to offer. Advertising will be disseminated through the use of local newspapers, and radio and television commercials. Other promotional items, such as billboards and local chamber of commerce propaganda will also be employed. Customer service will be the number one priority of this business. This will, in turn, generate repeat business.5.2 Sales Strategy [back to top]The sales figures are based on projections of vehicles using the major highways adjacent to Interstate Travel Center. The yearly growth figures are based on conservative projections of increasing customer use as marketing and customer retention builds an established customer base. The growth rate for gas/diesel is five percent per year for the first three years. The restaurant growth rate is slightly higher, at seven percent per year. It it assumed that this venture will grow a stable customer base more quickly than the other ventures due to its more unique product experience. Finally, the growth rates for the travel store is set at four percent per year. This again reflects the belief that this venture will have the most difficulty in building service awareness and retention.Sales MonthlyClick to EnlargeSales ForecastUnit Sales 2001 2002 2003Diesel (gallons) 2,550,000 2,677,500 2,811,375Gasoline (gallons) 1,050,000 1,102,500 1,157,625Travel Store 230,004 236,904 244,011Interstate Travel Restaurant 81,276 86,965 93,052Rebates, allowances, etc. 246,600 246,600 246,600Total Unit Sales 4,157,880 4,350,469 4,552,663Unit Prices 2001 2002 2003Diesel (gallons) $1.75 $1.75 $1.75Gasoline (gallons) $1.50 $1.50 $1.50Travel Store $3.75 $3.75 $3.75Interstate Travel Restaurant $13.00 $13.00 $13.00Rebates, allowances, etc. $1.00 $1.00 $1.00SalesDiesel (gallons) $4,462,500 $4,685,625 $4,919,906Gasoline (gallons) $1,575,000 $1,653,750 $1,736,438Travel Store $862,515 $888,390 $915,041Interstate Travel Restaurant $1,056,588 $1,130,545 $1,209,676Rebates, allowan ces, etc. $246,600 $246,600 $246,600Total Sales $8,203,203 $8,604,910 $9,027,661Direct Unit Costs 2001 2002 2003Diesel (gallons) $1.67 $1.67 $1.67Gasoline (gallons) $1.40 $1.40 $1.40Travel Store $0.75 $0.75 $0.75Interstate Travel Restaurant $2.00 $2.00 $2.00Rebates, allowances, etc. $0.00 $0.00 $0.00Direct Cost of Sales 2001 2002 2003Diesel (gallons) $4,258,500 $4,471,425 $4,694,996Gasoline (gallons) $1,470,000 $1,543,500 $1,620,675Travel Store $172,503 $177,678 $183,008Interstate Travel Restaurant $162,552 $173,930 $186,104Rebates, allowances, etc. $0 $0 $0Subtotal Direct Cost of Sales $6,063,555 $6,366,533 $6,684,7846.0 Management Summary [back to top]Steven and Janet Smith will be the sole owners of Interstate Travel Center for the foreseeable future. It is planned that a management staff, consisting of a full-time manager and a part-time assistant manager, will be hired to handle the day-to-day operations of both the gas/diesel service and the restaurant sections of the travel c enter. As the company continues to grow, so too will management.Personnel Plan2001 2002 2003Steve Smith $50,000 $50,000 $50,000Janet Smith $50,000 $50,000 $50,000Convenience store/Gas station Manager $31,200 $31,200 $31,200Restaurant Manager $36,000 $36,000 $36,000Assist Manager - Cook $28,800 $28,800 $28,800Cook 2 $26,880 $26,880 $26,880Cook 3 $26,880 $26,880 $26,880Cook 4 $26,880 $26,880 $26,880Cook 5 $26,880 $26,880 $26,880Cook 6 $26,880 $26,880 $26,880Waitress/Waiter $11,808 $11,808 $11,808Waitress/Waiter $11,808 $11,808 $11,808Waitress/Waiter $11,808 $11,808 $11,808Waitress/Waiter $11,808 $11,808 $11,808Waitress/Waiter $7,680 $7,680 $7,680Waitress/Waiter $7,680 $7,680 $7,680Waitress/Waiter $7,680 $7,680 $7,680Waitress/Waiter $7,680 $7,680 $7,680Waitress/Waiter $7,680 $7,680 $7,680Waitress/Waiter $7,680 $7,680 $7,680Waitress/Waiter $7,680 $7,680 $7,680Waitress/Waiter $7,680 $7,680 $7,680Assist. Manager - Cashier $9,000 $9,000 $9,000Cashier $6,000 $6,000 $6,000Cashier $6,000 $6,0 00 $6,000Cashier $6,000 $6,000 $6,000Cashier $6,000 $6,000 $6,000Maintenance $9,600 $9,600 $9,600Total People 0 0 0Total Payroll $481,672 $481,672 $481,6727.0 Finance [back to top]The following topics outline the financials for Interstate Travel Center.7.1 Assumptions [back to top]The chart indicating the projected cash account does not take into account the investment needed to initiate Phases II-IV. The General Assumptions table states some of the more important business assumptions for the company.General Assumptions2001 2002 2003Plan Month 1 2 3Current Interest Rate 10.00% 10.00% 10.00%Long-term Interest Rate 10.00% 10.00% 10.00%Tax Rate 25.42% 25.00% 25.42%Other 0 0 07.2 Break-even Analysis [back to top]The break-even chart and table below describe how much money will need to be made to be profitable each month. As can be seen in the table, 224,821 units per month, or $116,907, is necessary for Interstate Travel Center to be in the black. These numbers can also be seen with the accompanying chart.7.3 Projected Cash Flow [back to top]The following table and chart reveal the projected cash flow for Interstate Travel Center for fiscal years 2001, 2002, and 2003.CashClick to EnlargePro Forma Cash Flow2001 2002 2003Cash ReceivedCash from Operations:Cash Sales $8,203,203 $8,604,910 $9,027,661Cash from Receivables $0 $0 $0Subtotal Cash from Operations $8,203,203 $8,604,910 $9,027,661Additional Cash ReceivedSales Tax, VAT, HST/GST Received $0 $0 $0New Current Borrowing $0 $0 $0New Other Liabilities (interest-free) $0 $0 $0New Long-term Liabilities $0 $0 $0Sales of Other Current Assets $0 $0 $0Sales of Long-term Assets $0 $0 $0New Investment Received $0 $0 $0Subtotal Cash Received $8,203,203 $8,604,910 $9,027,661Expenditures 2001 2002 2003Expenditures from Operations:Cash Spending $714,316 $732,403 $772,642Payment of Accounts Payable $6,500,180 $7,133,241 $7,484,370Subtotal Spent on Operations $7,214,496 $7,865,644 $8,257,012Additional Cash SpentSales Tax, VAT, HS T/GST Paid Out $0 $0 $0Principal Repayment of Current Borrowing $0 $0 $0Other Liabilities Principal Repayment $0 $0 $0Long-term Liabilities Principal Repayment $275,000 $275,000 $275,000Purchase Other Current Assets $0 $0 $0Purchase Long-term Assets $0 $0 $0Dividends $0 $0 $0Subtotal Cash Spent $7,489,496 $8,140,644 $8,532,012Net Cash Flow $713,707 $464,266 $495,649Cash Balance $963,707 $1,427,973 $1,923,6227.4 Projected Profit and Loss [back to top]The chart and table below projects the yearly profit and loss for the company. For a monthly breakdown, please see the appendices following the plan.Pro Forma Profit and Loss2001 2002 2003Sales $8,203,203 $8,604,910 $9,027,661Direct Costs of Goods $6,063,555 $6,366,533 $6,684,784Other $0 $0 $0 Cost of Goods Sold $6,063,555 $6,366,533 $6,684,784Gross Margin $2,139,648 $2,238,377 $2,342,878Gross Margin % 26.08% 26.01% 25.95%Expenses:Payroll $481,672 $481,672 $481,672Sales and Marketing and Other Expenses $220,800 $278,800 $378,800Deprecia tion $30,000 $30,000 $30,000Leased Equipment $49,800 $49,800 $49,800Utilities $49,200 $49,200 $49,200Insurance $91,800 $91,800 $91,800Rent $24,000 $30,000 $34,000Payroll Taxes $72,251 $72,251 $72,251Other $0 $0 $0 Total Operating Expenses $1,019,523 $1,083,523 $1,187,523Profit Before Interest and Taxes $1,120,125 $1,154,854 $1,155,355Interest Expense $235,104 $208,750 $181,250Taxes Incurred $224,890 $236,526 $247,585Net Profit $660,131 $709,578 $726,520Net Profit/Sales 8.05% 8.25% 8.05%Profit MonthlyClick to Enlarge7.5 Business Ratios [back to top]The table below outlines industry profile statistics for the gas and service station industry, as determined by the Standard Industry Classification (SIC) Index code 5541, Gasoline Service Stations. These statistics show a comparison of the industry standards and key ratios for this plan.Ratio Analysis2001 2002 2003 Industry ProfileSales Growth 0.00% 4.90% 4.91% 10.80%Percent of Total AssetsAccounts Receivable 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 10.60%Inve ntory 8.91% 8.08% 7.40% 13.30%Other Current Assets 1.76% 1.52% 1.33% 25.60%Total Current Assets 44.65% 53.10% 59.86% 49.50%Long-term Assets 55.35% 46.90% 40.14% 50.50%Total Assets 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%Current Liabilities 17.14% 15.18% 13.98% 31.60%Long-term Liabilities 78.45% 59.39% 44.52% 23.10%Total Liabilities 95.59% 74.58% 58.50% 54.70%Net Worth 4.41% 25.42% 41.50% 45.30%Percent of SalesSales 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%Gross Margin 26.08% 26.01% 25.95% 16.50%Selling, General Administrative Expenses 17.99% 17.77% 17.86% 10.40%Advertising Expenses 2.34% 2.32% 2.77% 0.20%Profit Before Interest and Taxes 13.65% 13.42% 12.80% 0.50%Main RatiosCurrent 2.60 3.50 4.28 1.55Quick 2.08 2.96 3.75 0.91Total Debt to Total Assets 95.59% 74.58% 58.50% 54.70%Pre-tax Return on Net Worth 707.28% 113.35% 62.39% 2.50%Pre-tax Return on Assets 31.20% 28.82% 25.89% 5.50%Additional Ratios 2001 2002 2003Net Profit Margin 8.05% 8.25% 8.05% n.aReturn on Equity 527.55% 85.01% 46.54% n.aActivit y RatiosAccounts Receivable Turnover 0.00 0.00 0.00 n.aCollection Days 0 0 0 n.aInventory Turnover 24.00 24.58 24.59 n.aAccounts Payable Turnover 14.37 14.33 14.28 n.aPayment Days 24 25 25 n.aTotal Asset Turnover 2.89 2.62 2.40 n.aDebt RatiosDebt to Net Worth 21.67 2.93 1.41 n.aCurrent Liab. to Liab. 0.18 0.20 0.24 n.aLiquidity RatiosNet Working Capital $780,131 $1,244,709 $1,726,229 n.aInterest Coverage 4.76 5.53 6.37 n.aAdditional RatiosAssets to Sales 0.35 0.38 0.42 n.aCurrent Debt/Total Assets 17% 15% 14% n.aAcid Test 2.08 2.96 3.75 n.aSales/Net Worth 65.56 10.31 5.78 n.aDividend Payout 0.00 0.00 0.00 n.a

Davey crockett Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Davey crockett - Personal Statement Example There are several versions of Crockett and each baffles definition. When an individual is highly controversial it means that either he was very famous during his time, or was not at all! The main contention articulated by the author is to disprove the extraordinary achievements of Davy Crockett in the battlefront, the mythical hero of his times, the man who allegedly never surrendered and died a hero’s death battering the enemy with his broken rifle. While correcting this faulty version of death, the author, however has appreciation for his oratorical skills, extraordinary ability to tell stories and his contribution to American politics, even when the going was tough for him. The pages of the history related to Davy Crockett are undoubtedly daubed in bloodshed. He was born in Tennessee on August 17.1786 and for over 49 years he was an honored resident of the state. In those years he gained national status as a frontiersman. In the political front, he was West Tennessees representative in Congress but was defeated in the 1835 re-election. Crockett knew the art of eulogizing the self and he promoted himself as the undisputed hero and a great frontiersman. He built his image amongst the public with the astuteness of a seasoned politician. Every stage of his life was surrounded by controversies and the author has done a reasonably good job to construct his version of Crockett, on the basis of available evidence. His first task is to separate the man from the tales that have engulfed his life. He was a man of humble origins and drank heavily. He carried out his political responsibilities well and he was almost a Marxist by conviction as was an advocate for th e cause of the poor. He put his political career at stake by condemning the removal of Indians to west of the Mississippi. In 1825, Crockett was elected to the U.S. Congress, and he vehemently opposed many of the policies of President Andrew Jackson,

Research Method-The Problem of Online Shopping Essay

Research Method-The Problem of Online Shopping - Essay Example With online shopping, less time is spent in queues and travels, less money is used in traveling to the stores, chances for pilferage are abated and the geographical barriers between the consumer and the retailer are significantly attenuated. Nevertheless, it is a fact that any human construct is inherently flawed, its merits and many benefits notwithstanding. Online shopping having been contrived by man is not an exception. It is against this backdrop that some of the shortcomings of online shopping are to be discussed forthwith. Problem statement Serious problems accost online shopping, despite its many advantages. The need to tackle these problems is necessitated by the desire to make online shopping more efficient and more secure. The import of this is that it is only upon these problems being discussed, that online shopping can be made more secure, efficient and more user-friendly. There can never be the provision of a viable and sustainable solution without the identification an d discussion of co-occurring problems. The flipside of this is that the failure to discuss these problems is bound to leave online shoppers susceptible to security breaches and general and systems malfunctions. Background and rationale This study is sustained against the backdrop of online shopping’s popularity which continues to suffuse almost all trading blocks. At the moment, online trading or shopping is steadily growing, just as Shah (2012) points out that it has grown from 0.4% in the first quarter of 2012 to 3.9% in the third quarter of 2011. With this growing popularity, the need to strengthen online shopping against its pitfalls remains paramount. Likewise, there can be no strengthening of online shopping without the accurate identification of the loopholes that characterise online shopping. This means that the main intention of this study is not to merely discount online shopping on the account of its weakness. On the contrary, the necessity of this study is precipi tated by the need to ultimately seal the problems of online shopping by identifying the same problems first. Literature review According to a research study that Weiyin-Hong, James and Kar-Yan (2005) conducted and discussed in the Journal of Management Information Systems, the chief problem of online shopping is fraud and security concerns. Some of the problems that border on security matters include identity theft, preponderance of spyware and faulty products. Courtesy of the research study in the Journal of Management Information Systems, Weiyin-Hong, James and Kar-Yan (2005) established that the problem of insecurity is compounded by another sub-problem which is the inability to physically inspect online merchandise before the transaction. The same problem is further aggravated by the merchant’s inability to detect fraudulent purchases. Fraudulent purchases are made with stolen cards, or fraudulent circumventing systems that regulate online purchases. Conversely, clients h ave also had to contend with security shortfalls when participating in online shopping. One of the security breaches that online shoppers have to deal with is phishing. Phishing happens in an instance where online shoppers are duped into thinking that they are dealing with a genuine or reputable dealer. Thus, these online shoppers proceed to feed their private