Information Systems Security Assurance Management Article

Information Systems Security Assurance Management - Article Example The disaster that occurred was a major fire that completely destroyed the company’s servers including the entire software code of the programs made for their clients. Moreover, MSS also hosted a few of the programs of their smaller clients on their own servers. The news of the fire was relayed to Brian Elkin, who was in charge of research and development. Teitelbaum was out of town at the moment, so Elkin rushed to Andrew Katula (senior software engineer). It was the practice of the company to take backups of the software regularly. Katula was in the practice of doing so every evening after business, and Elkin was revealed that he did so the previous evening also. The author's state that had this not been done, the company’s business would have come to a stop and might even result in enclosure. When Teitelbaum returned he provided a free reign to his employees to purchase new hardware immediately. MSS’s telephone company, Verizon was asked to forward all calls to a new number. He contacted a friend for temporary office space and within four days had a functioning office with all the required hardware and infrastructure. Only the small clients who had servers with MSS were affected to a certain extent. The hardware vendors went out of their way to get the equipment for MSS. Most of the other clients did not even know about the fire at the company premises. Servers and other equipment are now protected by sensors that switch on cooling fans if the temperature exceeds a certain limit. Backup is being done every day as before. It can be seen that the best disaster management practice was taking daily backups. Otherwise, the company would have suffered irreversible damage.  

Contemporary issues in american society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Contemporary issues in american society - Essay Example The PATRIOT Act is but one example of a continuing authoritarian, totalitarian and some would argue treasonous breech of power has far-reaching consequences, not only for the battle for control in Washington D.C. but also in the way it affects the liberties that people enjoy both in the U.S. and abroad. The enacting of the PATRIOT Act initiated an avalanche of legislation that eroded civil liberties. The Act, as many citizens and legal experts alike have argued, violates the fundamental rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution’s first ten amendments, the Bill of Rights. This includes the freedom of speech and assembly (First Amendment); the freedom from unreasonable search and seizure (Fourth Amendment); the right to due process of law (Fifth Amendment); the right to a speedy, public and fair trial along with the right to counsel and to confront the accuser, (Sixth Amendment), the freedom from cruel and unusual punishment (Eighth Amendment) and freedom from punishment without conviction (13th Amendment). (Sinnar, 2003) According to former President Bush, â€Å"The PATRIOT Act defends our liberty. The Act makes it able for those of us in positions of responsibility to defend the liberty of the American people. It’s essential law† (Allen, 2004). Paul Rosenzweig, a senior legal research fellow at Heritage is convinced that Ronald Reagan, the champion of modern-day conservatism, would support the PATRIOT Act. (Lakely, 2005). According to some conservatives such as Rosenzweig, the Patriot Act poses no threat to civil liberties because it â€Å"has all the checks and balances on police authority that has been around for years† (Lakely, 2005). Despite the vehement opposition to the PATRIOT Act, its critics even acknowledge that it has been effective in building a more cohesive link between all levels of law enforcement including the intelligence agencies. The Act does not give away the civil liberties that were earned by the bloodshed of our

Implementation Of New Product Service Or Process Purpose Marketing Essay

Implementation Of New Product Service Or Process Purpose Marketing Essay KELLOGG is the worlds leading producer of cereal products with total sales volume of nearly $13 billion during 2008. Kellogg products are manufactured in 19 countries and marketed in more than 180 countries around the world. Major Kelloggs products include crackers, Toaster pastries, cereal bars, fruit-flavored snacks, frozen waffles and vegetarian foods (http://www.kelloggs.co.uk/ Accessed on March 03, 2011). The company famous brands include all- bran, corn flakes, keebler, pop-tarts, eggo, cheez-it, nutri-grain, rice krispies, bearnaked, morningstar farms, famous amos, special K, and frosted mini-wheats. Mission statement: Kellogg is a global company committed to building long-term growth in volume and profit and to enhancing its worldwide leadership position by providing nutritious food products of superior value http://www.kelloggs.co.uk/ Accessed on March 03, 2011) In a rapidly changing and competitive business environment, it is not easy to predict: future trends in consumer tastes and preferences competitors actions market conditions. Creating new products or making changes to existing brands involves making investment decisions, in the hope of making a return. Weighing up future returns against an investment is crucial and involves an element of risk, because the future is never certain. Previous experience, together with market research information helps to predict future events and outcomes. However, all business activities involve some element of risk. There is often a link between risk and return. More the risk, the higher the likely returns (or profits); however, a balance needs to be struck. In making a decision to develop a new brand, it needs to decide how much investment to make and to forecast the likelihood of a successful outcome. Decision makers aim to develop a long-term strategy to meet a range of objectives such as: growing market share developing a unique market position creating consumer or brand loyalty generating a targeted level of profit. This case study describes a major investment in Kelloggs All-Bran. It illustrates business case for the new product and identifies how the companys investment in new product development serves to strengthen a global brand. Later part of the essay will reflect an outline plan which identifies resources required for the project that is materials, equipment, labour, and training and development of staff 2. LAUNCHING OF KELLOGGs ALL-BRAN 2.1) NEED IDENTIFICATION AND ANALYSIS: In an uncertain world where the organisations strategy is to focus on products and brands that are either the market leader or in a strong position the company believes that this focus upon core and successful products enables it to provide consistent and reliable returns and rewards for its stakeholders. Before proceeding with the change, Kellogg carried out some detailed market research with consumers to discover their thoughts and feelings. There are two main approaches to market research i.e.: qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative research involves working in detail with a relatively small number of consumers e.g. observing and listening to them talking in small groups in which they discuss the brand, products, packaging, advertising ideas, etc. The qualitative research helped Kellogg to develop the concept of a family of fibre brands. The advertising and promotional materials with which the consumer groups worked were very similar to the end promotions that Kellogg wished to communicate. Quantitative research involved using questionnaire and survey approaches with a much larger sample of targeted consumers to estimate the impact on sales if these changes were put into market. Kelloggs undertook market research by answering the questions as per questionaire-1 in Appendix. In September 2004, Kellogg planned to introduce a new product i.e. All-Bran to make the benefits more relevant to consumers. Promotion of feel great message was featured on 8 million packs and on the All-Bran website. It focused on the fact that high-fibre diets may help people to feel lighter and more energetic as well as aiding the digestive system. Bran which is high in fiber is needed in a humans diet. It is best to be used in moderation to gain the positive health it promotes. The high bran, high fibre cereal has been designed to aid a healthy digestive system and to help people control their morning eating habits; without compromising on taste! Research showed that consumers see cereals as a natural product. This is a strong selling point. It makes it vital to feature the ingredients on the packaging. This is because All-Bran range can be seen as part of a daily healthy diet (http://www.thetimes100.co.uk/case-studybuilding-brand-order-to-sustain-its-life-cycle Accessed on March 03, 2011). 2.2) OBJECTIVES: By setting up SMART (specific, measurable, achievable or agreed, realistic and time-related) objectives Kellogg would know whether each objective for launching All-Bran had been achieved. The objectives were clear and were communicated to all staff. This made sure that all staff agreed to follow certain actions to achieve the stated aims. By setting these objectives Kellogg set a direction that would take the business to where it wanted to be three years into the future. Major objectives include; encourage and support physical activity among all sections of the population use resources to sponsor activities and run physical activity focused community programmes for its consumers and the public in general increase the association between Kellogg and physical activity use the cereal packs to communicate the balance message to consumers introduce food labeling that would enable consumers to make decisions about the right balance of food 2.3) TARGET MARKET: It is the process of evaluating each market segment and select one or more segments to enter. Premiums and gifts are outstanding tools for call to mind initial trial, brand switching, and repeat purchase. Now and then company is able to target because they are financially strong and they can arrange a vast product line. People aged 55 and over are the target markets of Kelloggs ALL BRAN .Kelloggs ALL BRAN are easily available in urban and rural areas all over the country. It has been targeted every segment and we can say that Kellogg has a fragmented market. Market attractiveness factors for All-bran include market, size, differentiation possibilities, bargaining power of customers, seasonality, distribution, product growth and stage in product life cycle Main factors influencing marketing of a product are; a) Economic and technological factors i.e. Investment intensity, Industry capacity, Technology, Barriers to entry and exit and Access to supplies b) Competitive i.e. competitive structure, competitive groupings, substitute products, price, and Individual competitor analysis 3. PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE The product life cycle is the period over which it appeals to customers and can be illustrated in a series of stages showing how consumer interest, and hence sales, has altered over time. Kelloggs All-Bran has a long and distinguished history. Like many other famous products, however, it is important from time to time to re-energize its life cycle. To prolong the life cycle of a brand or product an organisation needs to use skilful marketing techniques to inject new life into the product. The traditional product life-cycle shows how a product goes through 4 stages during its life in the market place. At each stage in the product life-cycle, there is a close relationship between sales and profit so when a product goes into decline, profit decreases. When a product is introduced to the market, growth is slow due to limited awareness. As the product is establishing itself, sales will start to increase during the period of growth. As the product reaches maturity, the company needs to inject new life into the product; either by creating brand extensions or variants otherwise the product will reach maturity and start to decline. All-Bran is standing on the maturity stage with 65% of total market share. To stay spirited in the market it needs to introduce time to time new offers and flavors and different promotional schemes. Manufacturing capability is another key issue. If launches of new products are successful in global markets, Kelloggs must have the manufacturing capaci ty to meet consumer demand as well as the supply chain necessary to reach those consumers. When a company like Kelloggs is investigating a change in its marketing it can consider four elements (http://www.thetimes100.co.uk/case-studyusing-new-product-development-to-grow-a-brand Accessed on May 03, 2011) of marketing mix or 4Ps: 3.1) PRODUCT: This is about meeting changing needs and wants of customers through offers. The growth in healthier lifestyles creates opportunities for Kelloggs to increase the number of products for this segment. In case of ALL BRAN, the product is the cereal production by the company. Core Product is cereal, for breakfast and as a snack. Actual product is high quality level; different tastes, flavors, packaging and the symbol K. Augmented product provides tastes and energy as well as nutritional ingredients. 3.2) PRICE: Pricing decision is very important because the survival of a company in the market depends upon pricing decision. Pricing strategy depends on pricing objectives. The amount a company charges for its product is important in determining sales. Super brands like Kelloggs can charge a premium because of the strength of the brand and product quality. 3.3) PLACE: Where customers can purchase the product is also an important factor in determining sales. If a brand like All-Bran is not stocked in supermarkets where most purchases are made, sales will be lost. 3.4) PROMOTION: The marketing mix activities of a product planning, pricing, and distribution are performed mainly within the organization or between the organization and its marketing partners. However, with promotional activities, the firm communicates directly with potential customers. Kelloggs uses above the line promotion like TV advertising as well as below the line promotion like on-pack promotions and sampling. The market research revealed several matters that Kellogg needed to address when alerting the public to changes in the brand family. 1. Some consumers might find the act of placing a range of separate products under the All-Bran brand confusing. The solution was to ensure that packs clearly display both the power brand name (All-Bran) and also the product name (e.g. Bran Flakes). 2. Research showed that consumers see cereals as a natural product. This is a strong selling point. It makes it vital to feature the ingredients on the packaging. 3. To give the campaign maximum impact, Kellogg carefully co-ordinated television and radio advertising, PR and in-store promotions. These encouraged consumers to try out and reappraise the revamped products. A products life cycle may last only a few months (e.g. with a fad, or craze) or, as with Special K, for many years. Although it was a successful product, Kelloggs recognised the opportunity to stretch the brand by investments that would: revitalize it extend and further develop its growth phase and Help to delay the onset of the maturity phase. 4. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MARKET 4.1) MARKETING ENVIRONMENT: This can be divided into two broad categories; a) Micro Environment: The Micro Environment of the Kellog consists off; The Company: has to take other groups or departments of company into account. Such as finance, research and development, purchasing, operation, accounting department. Suppliers: Kelloggs obtains its raw materials of wheat, corn, cocoa, rice and sugar from primary suppliers around the world. It is a large-scale manufacturer and stores sufficient stocks to meet customer orders. Marketing Intermediaries Kelloggs does not sell its breakfast cereals directly to consumers. It uses intermediaries like wholesalers, supermarkets, high street stores and hotels. Kelloggs has major relationships in the tertiary sector. These include the major retail supermarkets such as Tesco and ASDA and some of the wholesale sector such as Makro. Customers: The Kelloggs Company mainly focuses on customer market that consists of people aged 55 and over and weight conscious people. Competitors: Nestle is the only competitor of Kellogg. b. Macro Environment: The external factors which affect a companys planning and performance, and are beyond its control: for example, socio-economic, legal and technological change (http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_macro_environment_of_Kellogg) There are many environmental issues which should be looked at to get the broader picture of Kelloggs Company. These issues can be grouped into six categories: political, economical, social-demographic, technological, legal and ethical. The acronym for this is a Pestle analysis. Political /Legal Environment: UK has a stable political environment hence, private enterprise is encouraged, which gives Kellogg an opportunity to introduce new products and improve the existing ones. Economic Environment: Economic factors are those that affect consumer buying behavior. As this is an era of great depression, there is a change in the income of the consumer so the sales of Kellogg are affected by this. Natural Environment: The natural environment of Kelloggs involves all the natural resources that are needed as inputs by the company and are affected by market activities. Theyve set themselves a number of targets to meet by 2015, and are constantly checking their progress along the way so they can see how theyre doing. By 2015 they aim to have reduced all of the following by 15-20% per metric tonne of food produced since 2005. Energy use Greenhouse gas emissions Water use Waste sent to landfill (For waste to landfill, they achieved a 41.5% reduction by 2009 and have set themselves a new target of a further 20% reduction by 2015 against a 2009 baseline.) Socio-cultural Environment: UK has a tradition of eating cereal as a breakfast so Kellogg has got high market. Technological Environment:: UK has good infrastructure and distribution channel which again is highly favorable for Kellogg to grow further. Responding to the Marketing Environment: Kelloggs has utilized integrated business units and compensation incentive systems to increase the accountability of the cash expenditure and improve the functionality of the organization. Products sales have been increasing in the UK as well as in other countries. The pricing and availability of the product determines the profitability of a product. Streamlining many of the operations in recent times has helped the Kellogg increase the profit margin. More resources could therefore be spent on the marketing and advertisement of products. In addition, Kelloggs also increased the number and frequency of promotional offers more toys and DVDs in cereal boxes, tie-ins with movies and charitable donations to local schools and charities. In 2002, a new strategy of Volume to Value was introduced throughout the company. 4.2) MARKET SEGMENTATION PROCESS The process of defining and subdividing a large homogenous market into clearly identifiable segments having similar needs, wants, or demand characteristics. Its objective is to design a marketing mix that precisely matches the expectations of customers in the targeted segment. Today Kelloggs is doing its business in United states, China, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, United Kingdom, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Vietnam. In this project we are only discussing its market segmentation in United Kingdom. They are segmenting the market in the form of geographic, demographic, psychographic, and behavioral. All-Bran Original is available in Australia, Somalia, USA, Canada, Colombia, UK, Italy, Mexico, France, Japan, Latin America, and South Africa 4.3) MARKET TARGETTING PROCESS After dividing the market into various segments, the Kellogg Company has to decide which segment it can serve better. So first they evaluated each segments. They want the sets of buyers who share common needs and characteristics to serve. Kellogg mainly used undifferentiated (mass) marketing strategy because cereal will always be mass marketed. They have to do business on large scale so Kellogg Company is using mass marketing. 4.4) PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT PROCESS New product development process of product starts with idea generation. Commercialization Product Development Marketing Strategy Development Idea Generation Test Marketing Business Analysis Concept Development Testing Idea Screening 5. USE OF INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL RESOURCES Use of internal and external resources is crucial in the launch of a new product. 5.1) INTERNAL RESOURCES: Idea of Kelloggs came from; Product development teams Formal research and development (asked consumers through questionnaires ) Brains of its executives, scientists, engineers, manufacturing staff and salespeople Companies successful entrepreneurial programs (encourages employee to think about new cereal product ) Value innovation program 5.2) EXTERNAL RESOURCES: Customers (through questionnaires) Competitors (Kelloggs get clue about their new product by watching competitors ads, analyze the sales, and then decide). Distributors Suppliers (tell company about new concepts, techniques and materials that can be used to develop new products). 6. SWOT ANALYSIS STRENGTHS: a) Kellogg All Bran is the only large, very high fibre brand in the market place. Private label provides the main competition. b) The general public remains highly aware of ALL BRAN c) The ALL BRAN brand is strong; consumers associate it with healthy activity. WEAKNESS: a) Awareness of the brand had been declining because of little promotional (e.g. advertising) activity in recent years. b) Compared with leading brands such as Kellogg corn flakes, the individual fibre products have limited scale, making it hard to make advertising investment economic. c) The preposition that a fibre cereal keeps you regular is less motivating to consumers than in the past. Consumers now more interested in products inner health OPPORTUNITIES a) People are looking to eat more healthily b) The rapid growth of non cereal products that meet inner health need (pro biotic drinks and yogurts) c) In the UK the number of people over 55(the products main consumers) continues to increase. THREATS: a) The sales of private labels fibre cereal is growing. b) There is a consumers trend towards the tastier cereal 7. CONCLUSION By creating the power brand All-Bran and providing the right sort of well researched promotional support, Kellogg has been able to inject renewed vigor into a family of related products. Through appropriate promotional activities and more relevant messages, Kellogg has re-awakened consumers interest in products that can play an important part in developing a healthy diet in a health-conscious world. Regular campaigns of promotional activity are helpful in enabling all organizations to sustain their own life cycle and those of their brands and products. It is early days in evaluating the success of the marketing activity supporting All-Bran but the signs are good. Appendix: Primary Research: Survey questionnaire-1 What changes taking place in society are likely to affect the product? How might new technologies affect our business? What are likely to be the future market trends? Where are the opportunities within the market place? What new categories would appeal to the target market? How far do consumers think the brand could stretch into the market for different product categories? Survey questionnaire-2 1. What is age bracket do you belong to? 13-16 yrs 17-30 yrs 31-39 yrs 39 yrs or above 2. Which income bracket do you belong to? GBP 50-200 GBP 200-500 GBP 500-1000 GBP 1000 above 3. What is your marital status? Single Married 4. What is the brand of the cereal that you usually purchase? Nestle Kellogg 5. Is ALL BRAN your favorite cereal? Yes No 6. How often do you purchase cereal? Everyday Once a week Once a month 7. Please rank accordingly to the characteristics of ALL BRANS: a) Taste b)Price c) Flavor d) Packaging 1=least preferred 5=most preferred 1 2 3 4 5 8. Do you like the ads of ALL BRAN? Yes No 9. What flavors of Kellogg do you like the most? Corn flakes All bran Rice kripsies Special K

Provinces of the Philippines and Spanish Influence Origin

SUBMITTED BY: Vince Carlo M. Payumo II-St. Martin Submitted To: Ms. Fatima Mallari NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION (NCR) * ARAY TYPE: Spanish Influence ORIGIN: Ermita, Manila PRONUNCIATION: (ah-RAHY) The Aray is a Filipino form of the Spanish jota accompanied by sprightly steps. The dance, itself, is flirtatious  and involves the graceful use of  tambourines by women. * PASIGIN TYPE: Rural Folks ORIGIN: Pasig Pasigin came from the word Pasig that is mentioning the name of the river. The dance was interpreting and inspiring the life of the fishermen. * PAYPAY DE MANILA TYPE: Spanish Influence ORIGIN: ManilaA dance performed by lovely young  ladies carrying scented fans and flirts with  young men with canes and straw hats. Ladies dances their way to the heart of the men they desire through the use of a fan. Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) * BANOG TYPE: Cordillera Dance ORIGIN: Ifugao This dance depicts hunters protecting their hen and  chicks in Binaylan from a hungry hawk. Th e hunters trap the hawk and kill it in the end. * BENDAYAN TYPE: Cordillera Dance ORIGIN: Benguet This is a circle dance, which is being performed to celebrate the  arrival of successfulheadhunters. It is also popularly known as  Bendian. * DINUYYATYPE: Cordillera Dance ORIGIN: Ifugao PRONUNCIATION: (dih-NOOH-yah) This is a festival dance from Lagawe. It is performed by the Ifugao men and women during a major feast. Accompanying the dance  are three gangsa or gongs: the tobtob, a brass gong about ten inches in diameter and played by beating with open palms, and the various hibat or gongs played by beating the inner surface with a stick of softwood. * LUMAGEN TYPE: Cordillera Dance ORIGIN: Kalinga PRONUNCIATION: (looh-MAH-gehn) A dance performed at Kalinga  festivals to celebrate Thanksgiving and occasions suchas the birth of a first-born child, victories in battle, and marriage. SALIP TYPE: Cordillera Dance ORIGIN: Kalinga PRONUNCIATION: (SAH-lihp) A Kalinga wedding dance th at depicts a warrior claiming his bride presenting her with a matrimonial blanket. The woman responds by balancing several clay pots upon her head. * SALISID TYPE: Cordillera Dance ORIGIN: Kalinga A courtship dance being done to symbolize a rooster trying to attract the attention of  a hen. This is performed and portrayed by both male and female which serves as the rooster and hen respectively. The dance starts when each  of them are given  a piece of cloth known as â€Å"ayob† or â€Å"allap† * TAKILING TYPE: Spanish InfluenceORIGIN: Lubuagan, Kalingga The homecoming of triumphant head hunters after a  successful kayaw of  headhunting, done to avenge the death or evil done to a family member or relative is celebrated with the playing of special gongs called gangsa. The minger or successful warriors are honoured by their female relatives with  gift of feather of lawi,beads or bongon and colorful g-string s  called ba-ag. Victory songs are sung by  the b y the villagers while the minger dance with closed fists while the bodan or the unsuccessful members of the headhunting group are demoted to  playing the gangsas. * TAREKTEKTYPE: Cordillera Dance ORIGIN: Benguet A woodpecker courtship dance which imitates the movements of the  birds, with a colorful blanket for a prop. * UYAOY / UYAUY TYPE: Cordillera Dance ORIGIN: Ifugao PRONUNCIATION: (OOH-yah-OOHY) An Ifugao wedding festival dance,  which makes use of gongs and  is usuallyperformed by the affluent wealthy  people. Those who have performed this dance areentitled to the use of gongs at their death. Ilocos Region (Region I) * LA SIMPATIKA TYPE: Spanish Influence ORIGIN: Pangasinan Simpatika means demure, charming, and lovable, which are the qualities of asenorita deeply in love.The flavor and context of La Simpatika centers on loveexploits of gentlemen suitors who are after the love of their life. In the Philippineswhere moral rules are strict and binding, society calls fo r the ladies to be impeccablydemure and gentlemen to be prim and proper. * MANMANOK TYPE: Cordillera Dance ORIGIN: Ilocos Norte PRONUNCIATION: (mahn-mah-NOHK) A dance featuring tribe roosters from the  Bago Tribe competing for the attention of  Lady Lien. They use blankets designed with colorful plumes as a means to attract her. * OASIWAS TYPE: Christian Dances ORIGIN: Pangasinan PRONUNCIATION: (wah-SEE-wahs)After a good catch, fishermen of Lingayen would celebrate by drinking wine and bydancing, swinging and circling a lighted lamp hence the name â€Å"Oasiwas,† which in the Pangasinan dialect means â€Å"swinging. † This  unique and colorful dance calls for skill in balancing an oil lamp on  the head while circling in each hand a lighted lamp wrapped in a porous cloth or fishnet. The waltz-style music is similar to that of  Pandanggo sa Ilaw. Cagayan Valley (Region II) * JOTA CAGAYANA TYPE: Spanish Influence ORIGIN: Cagayan This dance originated from Spain and found its way into many places in the islands.Although it is â€Å"Filipinized† in many ways, Jota Cagayana still displays the fire and fury of its Europe an origin. It is performed by the Ibanags situated in the Cagayan Valley. The steps are similar to that of the famous European dance steps such as the mazurka, polka, gallop and waltz. * JOTA ISABELA TYPE: Spanish Influence ORIGIN: Isabela An Ilocano dance performed by Ilocano settlers of the woodlands of old Isabela. * TURAYEN TYPE: Cordillera Dance ORIGIN: Cagayan Gaddang originated from the word ‘ga' and ‘dang' which means heat and burned respectively. The Gaddangs live in the middle of the Cagayan Valley.Their dialect is similar to that of the Ilokanos. Most of them are Christian converts and into agriculture. In this dance, the Gaddang imitates the birds attracted to tobacco trees. Central Luzon (Region III) * HABANERA JOVENCITA TYPE: Spanish Influence ORIGIN: Zambales PRONUNCIATION: (ah-bahn-NYER-rah d eh hoh-vehn-SEEH-tah) A graceful and beautiful habanera dance usually performed at a women's debut or wedding. Jovencita means â€Å"young lady† in  Spanish. CALABARZON (Region IV-A) * ABARURAY TYPE: Spanish Influence ORIGIN: Quezon PRONUNCIATION: (ah-bah-ROOH-rahy)The name of this dance came from a contraction of the words Aba and Ruray. Such dance is performed by the girls who balances the glass of wine on their head from which the young man drinks. * BALSE TYPE: Spanish Influence ORIGIN: Rizal PRONUNCIATION: (BAHL-seh) Derived from the Spanish word â€Å"valse,† that means waltz, the dance was popular in Marikina and Rizal province during the Spanish times. Balse was performed after the Lutrina – a religious  procession, and the music that accompanied the dancers was played by the musikong bungbong or  musicians using instruments made of bamboo. MAGLALATIK TYPE: Rural Folks ORIGIN: Laguna PRONUNCIATION: (mahg-lah-lah-TIHK) A native dance, which makes us e  of coconut shells as props. All the  male dancers were using harnesses of coconut shells positioned on their backs, chests, hips  and thighs. * MALAGUENA TYPE: Spanish Influence ORIGIN: Quezon A favorite dance of the people from Laguna and Quezon during the Spanish times. * POLKABAL TYPE: Christian Dances ORIGIN: Atimonan, Quezon PRONUNCIATION: (POHL-kah-bahl) A dance influenced by two  distinct European styles: polka and valse. SUBLIAN TYPE: Rural Folks ORIGIN: Batangas Subli came from two Tagalog  words, the â€Å"subsub† means stooped or in a  crouching position and â€Å"bali† means broken. The dance was first seen many years ago in the barrio of Dingin, Alitagtag, Batangas. It was done during the town and barrio fiestas in the month of  May. This is sacred and  dance as ceremonial worship performed in homage to the Holy Cross that referred to Mahal na Poong Santa Cruz. MIMAROPA (Region IV-B) * JOTA PARAGUA TYPE: Spanish Influence ORIGIN: Palawan PRONUNCIATION: (pah-RAHG-wah)A dance originating from Zamboanga  which makes use of Philippine bamboo castanets being held loosely and  displays steps with very strong Castillian influence. * KARATONG TYPE: Muslim Dance ORIGIN: Palawan The annual parade of  San Agustine includes the celebration of blossoming mangotrees that grow abundantly on the island of Cuyo, the former capital of the Palawan province. Starting at the church patio and ending at the town plaza, groups of ladies sway their colorful â€Å"bunga manga,† which are  meant to represent the flowers of  the mango tree while the  men strike lively, syncopated beats with their  karatong.Bicol Region (Region V) * PANTOMINA TYPE: Spanish Influence ORIGIN: Bicol A dance imitating the complex stages of love and courtship. This is also a popular dance at any social gathering. Western Visayas (Region VI) * GAYONG GAYONG TYPE: Muslim Dance ORIGIN: Aklan, Capiz In rural gatherings, this dance offers much fun. Gayong is a pet name for Leodegario. According to the legend and to the words of the song, Gayong and Masiong (pet name for Dalmacio) once attended a feast commemorating the death of  a townsman. While eating, Masiong choked on a piece of Adobo so he called, â€Å"Gayong! Gayong! to ask for help to dislodge a bone from the Adobo meal from his throat. In this dance, Masiong's liking  for feasts and the consequence of his  voracity are held up to playful ridicule * PASEO DE ILOILO TYPE: Spanish Influence ORIGIN: Iloilo PRONUNCIATION: (PAH-say-oh deh eeh-loh-EEH-loh) The most sophisticated courtship and flirtation dance  of the Spanish Era. This dance portrays the men competing against each other in order to win the heart of a young lady. Central Visayas (Region VII) * MAZURKA BOHOLANA TYPE: Spanish Influence ORIGIN: Bohol Mazurka Boholana  is a Spanish-inspired ballroom dance from the Bohol province of the Philippines.The country was under the rule of Spain for more than th ree hundred years, during which time local culture was markedly influenced. Although the mazurka is the Polish national dance, it was wildly popular  throughout Europe in the 19th century and even in colonized lands overseas. The Philippine dance is ordinarily performed by men and women partners. Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) * ALCAMFOR TYPE: Muslim Dance ORIGIN: Leyte PRONUNCIATION: (ahl-kahm-FOHR) This is a couple’s dance in which the girl holds a handkerchief laced with camphor oil, a substance that supposedly induces romance. * MALAKAS AT MAGANDATYPE: Tribal Dance ORIGIN: Leyte This is a legend and ancient tradition dance wherein it has been said that a  weary bird perched on a huge bamboo because it heard some strange noises inside. It pecked the bamboo, split open and there came from the inside, ‘Malakas' the first man and ‘Maganda' the first woman. Malakas (The Strong) and Maganda (The Beautiful) are the parents of all the people of the island. * TIADOT TYPE: Christian Dances ORIGIN: Samar A South American inspired dance. Gaily-dressed couples show off the  fashion of the period, long tailed skirts and American Serrada suits.Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX) * PANGALAY TYPE: Muslim Dance ORIGIN: Zamboanga del Sur PRONUNCIATION: (pahng-AH-lahy) A popular festival dance in Sulu. This is a traditional fingernail dance being performed at wedding celebrations held by the affluent families. Northern Mindanao (Region X) * DUGSO TYPE: Tribal Dance ORIGIN: Bukidnon PRONUNCIATION: (DOOHG-soh) A thanksgiving dance from the Talaindig Tribe. Davao Region (Region XI) * BAGOBO RICE CYCLE TYPE: Tribal Dance ORIGIN: Davao del Norte A tribal dance from the Bagobo Tribe which portrays the cycle of planting and harvesting of rice.SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) * KADAL TAHAW TYPE: Tribal Dance ORIGIN: South Cotabato A T'boli bird dance. This is being done to celebrate the good planting and harvesting which simulates the flights and hops of the tahaw bird. * KAPA MALONG MALONG TYPE: Muslim Dance ORIGIN: Cotabato PRONUNCIATION: (KAH-pah MAH-long MAH-long) A traditional Maranao dance performed by women wearing a malong, shawl, mantle or a head-piece whereas the  men's version uses a sash or waist-band, shorts or bahag, and a head-gear or a turban which can also be used while working in the fields. * SAGAYAN TYPE: Muslim DanceORIGIN: Cotabato A Maranao war dance performed  by fierce warriors. They carry a shield elaborately painted with curlicues, rounds, twirls and mirrors. This is also  performed before any celebration or gathering as a means to drive away the evil spirits as well as to welcome the good fortunes or omen. Caraga Region (Region XIII) * BINAYLAN TYPE: Tribal Dance ORIGIN: Agusan PRONUNCIATION: (bih-NYE-lahn) This is a ritual dance, which originated from the Bagobo tribe living in the central uplands of Mindanao, imitating the movements of a hen, her banog or baby chicks, and a hawk.The hawk is sacred and is believed that it has the  power over the wellbeing of the tribe. The hawk tries to capture one of the baby chicks and is killed bythe hunters. * ITIK-ITIK TYPE: Rural Folks ORIGIN: Surigao del Norte PRONUNCIATION: (EEH-tihk-EEH-tihk) This dance is performed at a baptismal party held in the province of Surigao del Norte. Such dance improvises the movements and steps that  is typical of how an itikor the duck acts and walks. Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) * ASIK TYPE: Muslim DanceORIGIN: Lanao del Sur PRONUNCIATION: (ah-SIHK) A Bagobo Festival dance wherein the girl wears long metal fingernails while holding an umbrella and posing in doll-like motions. * PAGAPIR TYPE: Muslim Dance ORIGIN: Lanao del Sur This dance is being performed by the ladies of the royal court in preparation for an important event. These ladies gracefully manipulate the Apir or fan while doing small steps or the so-called â€Å"kini-kini† which for them is a sign of having a good upbringing. * PANG ALAY HA PATTONGTYPE: Muslim Dance ORIGIN: Tawi-Tawi PRONUNCIATION: (pahng-AH-lahy-hah-pah-TOHNG) A dance performed by a royal couple balancing on top of bamboo poles and imitating the movements of a southern boat  with colorful sails or the so-called  Ã¢â‚¬Å"vinta†. * PANGALAY SA AGONG TYPE: Muslim Dance ORIGIN: Sulu A Tausug's traditional dance wherein two warriors compete against  each other for the attention of a  young woman. They use gongs to show th eir prowess and skill. * PANGSAK TYPE: Muslim Dance ORIGIN: Basilan

“Piano” by D.H Lawrence Poem Analysis Essay

Which aspects of relationships are presented in the three poems we studied? References to â€Å"Piano† by D.H Lawrence, â€Å"Do not go gentle into that good night† by Dylan Thomas and â€Å"Hal-past two by U.A Fanthorpe In the three poems we have studied: Sonnet 116 â€Å" Let me not to the marriage† by William Shakespeare ; â€Å"My last Duchess† by Robert Browning; â€Å"If† by Rudyard Kipling, different aspects of relationships and love are explored in different forms: power, pride, eternity, love as a guiding force and paternal care. These poets use language, images, and structure to make their messages about love more clear and evident. The first poem I am going to analyze is â€Å"My Last Duchess†. It portrays the tragic epilogue of a loveless marriage between the strict, severe Duke of Ferrara, who chose â€Å"never to stoop†; and the sweet, outgoing, naive Duchess privileged by the noble honor of being given her husband’s â€Å"nine-hundred-years-old† name. The poem investigates issues that can be involved in relationships where power and ego takes over. The Duke wields an exaggerated oppressive power, which contracts with the friendly attitud e of the Duchess towards inferior classes’ people. This became the central cause problem in the relationship: he disapproved of the Duchess â€Å"smiles† and blushes which â€Å"went everywhere†. He expected her to behave with the same tremendous dignity as himself. The Duke wants to see his wife behaving in a way befitting her noble place in society. Perhaps even an obscure and sinister jealousy triggered by the Duchess’ constant kindness, which he did not expect from a character, who should have been entirely of his possession: â€Å"since none puts by the curtain I have drawn for you, but I†. The quotation illustrates how after her death he kept her smile and blush exclusively for himself- perhaps this was what he wanted while she was alive. The fact that she talked with men and â€Å"thanked† them the same way she treated the Duke himself obsessed him. His supremacy was totally put at same level of a peasant’s: â€Å"somehow-I know not how- as if she ranked My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name With anybody’s gift†. In fact, the duke is a person who loves control, and who is perfectly conscious about the fact of his superior so cial class. He wants everything to be under his possession- this can be seen by the fact that he likes and admires a bronze sculpture of Neptune taming a sea-horse. He enjoys anything involving control and power. A point that can also be  connected to the teacher of â€Å"Half-past two† by U.A Fanthorpe trying to tower over the student. The structure of the poem is composed by a strict and elegant iambic pentameter, which help the reader realize about the terrific sense of control the Duke possesses. It is fixed in well-ordered system of riming couplets, yet the poem is full of enjambments which help the poem flow like a conversation. In fact, Robert Browning set the poem out as a dramatic monologue- it was intended to be performed to an imagined listener. This creates a very fluent tone, capable to indicate immediately any change of the speaker’s state of mind. For example, his growing irritation, even rage, with his former wife becomes clear with the caesura to slow down the tone, when in the 43rd verse he states† And I choose Never to stoop. Oh sir†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The pause takes the poem into and angry edge. In fact when the Duke â€Å"gave commands†, the threat was very potent. The diction instantly points the change of tone: a recurrent assonance of the letter â€Å"s† comes out as an angry, sinister hiss and provides a sibilant sound. This transition with angry diction yet factual words also gives an image of the Duke as if he possessed no guilt and transmitting and unemotional shock. Browning also uses a As a result of this, as predicted, loveless marriages with no connection of † true minds† like in the Sonnet 116 of William Shakespeare would have never become the typical love story with a happy ending. The Duke juxtaposed a vivid hint about her death with negotiation about marrying his next â€Å"object†. Therefore it all ended when† [he] gave commands†; and â€Å"all smiles stopped together†. The second poem I am going to analyze is â€Å"If† by Rudyard Kipling. It illustrates a solution to life’s problems into one unique inspirational piece. This poem is a beautiful, personal goal for thoughtful readers who wish to be better people. It is an attempt to give a lesson in how to live: from the point of view of a father guiding his beloved son to become a â€Å"Man†. Naturally, we can also look at it coming from the point of view of any older man to a younger man- an emotional or spiritual father-son relationship. We can also deduce that the author wrote this poem directly to his children. Kipling was born in Bombay, India, in 1856. Although more than a hundred years passed since those wise phrases in â€Å"If† were penned, they can be applied even now and from a greater audience than the one  originally intended. People, that nowadays, is less and less aware of their responsibilities and taken over by a society of greed and indifference. People that if could strive to do even half of the things mentioned in the poem, would be far better people. â€Å"If† is a didactic poem, a work meant to give instruction. It has a rigid and controlled structure. It is written in iambic pentameter: an elegant construction of 11-syllable lines, with an extra, unstressed syllable. All of this tied up in four stanzas of eight rhyming lines, according to the pattern abab, cdcd; each referring to several specific traits to possess in different circumstances. This makes it easy to read and facilities memorization. The first section is about self-integrity and developing the proper attitudes about things. Kipling tries to teach us not to look down on ourselves, just because the others do: â€Å"if you can trust yourself when all men doubt you†. One will always find people who think differently from him, underestimate him or misjudge him. If millions of men are convinced about a foolish idea, it does not cease to be stupid. Th erefore the quotation conveys one to have faith and confidence in himself and do what he think is right and just. Imagine having the serenity of being subject to criticism and stay calm and relaxed until the very end: â€Å"†¦being lied about, don’t deal in lies, or being hated, don’t give way to hating†. Imagine one having to face all the injustice that trying to overwhelm him, to lose control. Kipling, with this statement reminds not to let others provoke us in doing something we know is wrong. Do not be easily influenced. Understand our value, but do not turn into arrogant. Pause and notice what Kipling does grammatically here: from the start. He composes the poem from a single repetition of â€Å"if†. The natural pattern for English is to state a condition thus, â€Å"if A, then B†. But Kipling is stating, â€Å"if A, if B, if C†. He’s piling on the conditions while delaying the consequence in a single long sentence. He builds up tension deliberately. That may also be the reason he calls the poem â€Å"If†. The second section is about overcoming the obstacles one encounters during his way. It is about following his dreams, fight for them, and strive to reach his goal. Whether he like it or not we are the cause of himself; he needs to move on, thi ngs are not going to get done by themselves- â€Å"if you can dream- and not make dreams your master†. The quotation also implies that we have to seize our opportunities when we have the chance, do not let it escape. Distinguish and understand  the right balance between being a thinker and a â€Å"Man†. Here the author has a really vivid imagination. He utilizes personification to promote caution against â€Å"impostors† such as â€Å"Triumph and Disaster†- capitalizing both words. He associates them to people who engage in deception under an assumed identity, charlatans. Unconsciously, both of them convince one to stop trying far more often than he usually expect. Frequently defeats can discourage his hopes and victories make him conceited and he permits them to influence him. Kipling reminds us that the world is not all a bed of roses. It is in fact, a miserable and despicable place and states that† if you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken twisted†¦ or watch the things you gave your life to, broken..†. If one consent the world to influence him, it will get him on his knees and leave him with nothing forever. It can hit harder than anyone els e. Hence, it is not a matter of how hard a person hits, but is a matter of how he can withstand adversities, resist and to have the strength to rise again after being beaten into the ground. It shows a hard work ethic. Consequently Kipling introduces us to the section, that could be retained the most valuable. He starts off by writing an extended metaphor, similar in characteristics, but different in meaning to the last quotation:† If you can make one heap of all your winnings†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Substantially the counsel it brings is that life is to be enjoyed, whether money is to be spent. Take risks; make mistakes and break rules, the world is there to be experienced. Stay hungry; stay foolish as a remembrance of Steve Jobs’ wise words. Afterwards, the main advice that is conveyed by the sequent verse:† if you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone† is to never give up and strive to overcome your limits. Kipling could have just written â€Å"your body†, everybody know that it has a heart, nerves and muscles. However, by listing each one, he gives us a clear image of its member as if they were all united as a team with a common objective. However the real message that the author wants us to conceive is to be determined. Something that when our physical strengths abandon us, give us the force to â€Å"Hold on†. It can be the â€Å"Will† to reach a goal; or the Desire to win; or even the contempt of losing. Something that prevents us from stopping, ignoring the consequences. By capitalizing the word will, he conveys the reader that about its strength and power . Finally each verse of the last stanza contributes to consolidate the long-awaited conclusion. It  starts by speaking about being able to work with anyone: from â€Å"Kings† to â€Å"Crowds† and not changing who one is and what he stands for. Being able to keep some distances and qualities tha t he only possesses; without being influenced by his surroundings. And â€Å"if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you† underlines the lesson that often the people, who one loves most, are the one who can hurt him more deeply. Major qualities as independence and self-supporting are advocated by the statement:† if all men count with you, but none too much†. Kipling creates a blueprint for personal integrity. It is about what a teenager might call â€Å"maturity†- acting like a grown-up and seeing the real value of things; without being dependent to anyone. Conclusively the author uses the metaphor:†if you can fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds’ worth distance run† to instruct the reader to fulfill every moment of his life in as enthusiastic and energetic way as possible. He suggests making every seconds of one’s life memorable; having no regrets. This aspect can also be referred to â€Å"do not go gentle into that good night† of Dylan Thomas, where men strive to fulfill their remaining time with their very best. And finally, he comes to the long-awaited consequence and reveals that if all the aspects had been covered, â€Å"Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it, And-which is more- you’ll be a Man, my son!† â€Å"If† is also a poem of imagination. Kipling tries to find the perfection in the human being, where nothing can harm it. A stage where the one truly gains everything; and Kipling wishes that for his son. In sonnet 116, William Shakespeare explores the true nature of love, trying to work out both what real love is and is not. He says that this feeling is eternal, not affected by time, alterations and life’ troubles that couples need to combat. Sonnet 116 is presented with the ordinary fourteen lines made up of three quatrains and concluding with a challenging couplet. It is written in iambic pentameter with a rhyme scheme of abab cdcd efef gg. William Shakespeare frames its discussions of the passion of love within a restrained and disciplined rhetorical structure. The tone of the poem is also very fluent and smooth, filled with various enjambments. Moreover the simplicity of the language and poetic devices act as if wanting to draw the reader deeper into the theme. In the opening lines the speaker defines what the ideal love would be, by referring it as a â€Å"marriage of true minds†. It  is a relationship based on trust and understanding, which has come to a stage w here minds are entirely tied together. The writer describes it as being perfect and constant, even if it encounters changes in the loved one. He denies that love is true, when it â€Å"alters when alteration finds† or â€Å"bends with the remover to remove†. In choosing to describe love as this kind of force Shakespeare is able to convince the reader that love is indeed strong enough to fight the departure of a lover or a simple alteration. Yet, in the second quatrain he positively defines what real love is, whether the first one was based on what it was not.. The metaphor: â€Å"it is an ever fixed mark that looks on tempests and is never shaken†, represents it as an unshakeable guiding light to its â€Å"wandering barks†. The tempests portray the life’s troubles and people will experience, much the â€Å"winter† of â€Å"Piano† by D.H Lawrance. Shakespeare compares it to a seamark that navigators use to conduct their course- The North Star- whose altitude, or â€Å"height† has been measured although its value in indefinite. It is presented as an inestimable entity, whose force is tremendous and capable to give a channel to the lost ones. In the third quatrain William Shakespeare again describes what love is not: it is not subject to time although â€Å"rosy lips ad cheeks† have to face the â€Å"bending sickle† of time- which is also utilized as a synecdoche referring to death. Furthermore time is personified by referring it as â€Å"him† and compare also to Death. In fact the author wants to demonstrate that true love remains constant and does not alter â€Å"with brief hours and weeks† and survives â€Å"even to the edge of doom†- the Doomsday. To conclude the poem, with absolute conviction William Shakespeare challenges the readers to disprove his interpretation of love. He insists that this is the ideal of â€Å"true† love- and if love was mortal, changing and, temporary then â€Å"no man ever loved† or he would deny what he has written and the existence of it. By employing this paradox he strengthens the theme cleverly. What really gives Sonnet 116 its stimulating power is not its complexity; instead, it is his linguistic and emotional confidence.

Pros And Cons Of Fast Food - 720 Words

The history of fast food is not too long, but fast food has become a constant element of our lives. Most people in the world recognize the logos of places like McDonald’s or Burger King. A large percent of the population at least once in their lives had eat in a fast food bar; however, some of them do it regularly and they cannot imagine that such bars could cease to exist. Over the years, fast foods gained their supporters, but also opponents who see in such place only something evil. I think the reluctance to fast food triggers two important reasons. First, fast foods contribute to an increase in obesity rates. The food served in fast food restaurant tempts us a good smell and taste. Unfortunately, the food offered at such points†¦show more content†¦Another problem with the negative impact of fast food on our health is bacterial contamination. Kakutani writes that in Fast Food Nation, Eric Schlosser mentions an increase in foodborne illness, such as E. coli O157: H7†, whose spread has been facilitated by the growing centralization of the meat production process.† Although, Eric Schlosser addressed this issue in his book Fast Food Nation in 2001, this problem was not resolved and appeared several times in different fast food chains. For example, in 2015, in 10 notable E. coli outbreaks at U.S. fast-food restaurants, Michelle Hill writes on the beginning: † In November, Chipotle temporarily closed 43 restaurants in Washington state and Oregon after dozens of diners reported falling ill, contributing to a n outbreak that now spans nine states and hundreds of possible cases. From 1998 to 2014, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified dine-in or drive-up fast-food restaurants as the source of 365 E. coli outbreaks, including 5,624 illnesses, 533 hospitalizations, and three deaths. Heres a list of some of the largest and most publicized food-borne disease outbreaks at U.S. restaurants.† Interestingly the E. coli bacterial infections occurred not only through products containing meat but it was also found in beverages served by fast food bars. In July 2017, UK Investigators from the BBC consumer tested three of the largest fast foodShow MoreRelatedPros And Cons Of Fast Food766 Words   |  4 Pagesand it is the tasty fast food. Due to growing health problems and hectic lifestyle, it is hard for people to manage their diet and work. The easiest solution which some people tend to find is to eat fast food, whereas some people also argue about the growing health problems. It is undeniable that the greasy, fatty, unhealthy, and sugary fast food have become part of one’s daily life. Is fast food beneficial for the society or not? Pros: 1. Life is full of stress, and cooking food at home adds-on extraRead MorePros and Cons of Fast Food2286 Words   |  10 PagesThe Good and Bad of Fast Food The Good and Bad That Fast Food Brings To Our Society Shawn Guzman E.C.P.I. English 110 The Good and Bad That Fast Food Brings To Our Society In this day and age everyone has had some form of fast food. There are many options to choose from all around the world. If one was to travel down any main city block, he or she may be overwhelmed with the many options to choose from. The most popular options may be McDonalds, Burger King, Pizza Hut, andRead MorePros And Cons Of Fast Food1922 Words   |  8 PagesFast food is becoming more common as the years pass us. The convenience and time saving that come with fast food make it that much more desirable. â€Å"Research has documented that low-income urban youth are at risk for obesity and related health problems.† (Issner, J.H., Mucka, L.E. Barnett, D. J Child Fam Stud (2017) 26: 548) But with fast food comes its pros and cons, and placing it in schools can be very detrimental. There is a big debacle on if schools should sell fast food or not. With how thingsRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of Fast Food2098 Words   |  9 PagesThroughout many years, food has grown to be come a more controversial and celebrated subject in America. On the one hand Maxfield and argues we should eat whatever we want while Pollan declare that we must have control over our diet. Furthermore, there are some people such as Aaron E. Carroll that go both ways in this issue. However, these opinions become heated when it comes to food and obesity. Even though these writers share similar feelings, they take different approaches to this issue. The articlesRead MorePros and Cons of Fast Food and Home Cooked Meals Essay907 Words   |  4 Pagesdesires is food, and preferably, fast food. An athlete does not want to wait two hours after playing to get home to eat. Food gives people energy and restores an athlete of his or her lost nutrients. Although athletes generally have a higher metabolism than most others, too much fast food overtime can be harmful to anyone’s body. Avoiding fast food is not always possible, so portioning meals can be helpful when fast food is the only option. This paper will not only discuss the pros and cons of eatingRead MorePro s And Con s Of A Fast Food Diet1074 Words   |  5 PagesKeana Douglass English 5-6 16 Feb 2015 Period 4 Pro’s and Con’s of a Fast Food Diet More than one-third of the U.S adults and children are obese or overweight due to high calorie intake from unhealthy diets and fast food products. High calorie intake is the hefty amount of more calories that you should consume in a days time. Obesity is the condition of being grossly fat or overweight. 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A pro of Supersize me is that it shows how too much fast food can be bad for you because it can lead to health problems such as obesity, bad cholesterol, high blood pressure, and heart problems. Another pro of the 30 day experiment that Morgan is that it showed how a diet consisting of only fast food can be detrimental to health dueRead MoreFast Food Restaurants Are Not A Healthy Choice Essay812 Words   |  4 Pages Fast food restaurants are common trend and fashion in people’s life style. Most of the fast food chains such as McDonald’s, KFc are perfect in the business and in the fast food industry. Colorful decorations, icons, and advertising tips give people attraction the business. The new generation of the fast food restaurants are trying to provide healthier choices for customer, but most of people still believe that fast food is unhealthy. Many fast food restaurants are trying to using healthier wayRead MoreEssay on Pros and Cons of the Atkins and South Beach Diets1050 Words   |  5 PagesPros and Cons of the Atkins and South Beach Diets People consider many factors when choosing a diet: what best suites their needs, how it fits with their body type, and what the diet entails, are all aspects taken into account. The Atkins and South Beach diets are plans that take different approaches in style but end up having similar results in the end. Atkins serves to eliminate carbohydrates and focus on more protein-enriched foods; this idea sells because it offers a way

Going Public In The Stock Market Finance Essay - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 10 Words: 3046 Downloads: 9 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Finance Essay Type Narrative essay Did you like this example? Going public is a term frequently used in the business world. This term can be defined as, the transition of a privately held company to offering its first group of stocks for sale on a common market. (Web definitions). Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Going Public In The Stock Market Finance Essay" essay for you Create order It is important for companies to make decisions that would be beneficial to them. By doing so, they can acquire the necessary monies and resources to accomplish success. Business owners should consider a number of factors prior to going into operations. One of the main factors is to decide whether they should remain private or go public. Both start up and established businesses should consider going public. It will be beneficial for an established business go public because this will increase its profitability, sales and revenue. The start-up business can use this opportunity in order to demonstrate its capability to eventually accomplish future success. According to the video viewed on angel, going public, Continental Circuits can be used as an example of a company that went public. However, they faced many difficulties which included competition. Therefore, they needed enhance their successes. This was a company which suffered because of disagreement among management. This paper will aim to outline the criteria and steps required for a company to become a publically traded firm. It will also identify the pros and cons of becoming a public firm. In addition, the major and minor markets around the world will be identified and discussed in detail. Lastly, it will identify the Caribbean companies that can enter the public market and the markets which serve as the best option. There are three main alternatives presented for a company who will wish to sell stocks to the market. This paper will outline all these alternatives and steps involved. The three alternatives are, a rights offering, private offering and public offering. However, this paper will place emphasis on the public offering. An Initial Public Offering could be defined as a corporations first offer to sell stocks (Wordnetweb). Going public would involve a number of steps, however, firstly, a team is selected whenever a company decides to go public. This team will include lawyers and accountants. They would be responsible for advising companies on its Initial Public Offering. Steps required in becoming publicly traded firm The first step involved in going public is to obtain consent from the existing shareholders and who own the privately issued stocks, (Gitman, 2009, p. 38). It is imperative that businesses inform their shareholders of such decisions so as to avoid any future negative end result. The second step involves lawyers and auditors who will be responsible for certifying all documents pertaining to going public and it is important to also have underwriters. They will ensure that all the paper work is legal. The accountants will also have to ensure that all accounting documents are in agreement with the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), while on the other hand, the lawyers will need to concentrate of documents relating to litigation and loans. (Gitman, 2009, pg. 338). The third step of this process involves locating an investment bank which will be in agreement to countersign or underwrite the offering. The underwriters are considered as very important in this step because this can influence the accomplishment of the Initial Public Offer. (Gitman, 2009, p. 340). The investment banker will then be responsible for forming an underwriting syndicate who will share financial risk associated with underwriting new securities. (Gitman, 2009, p. 340). In the fourth step of going public the company will file a registration statement with the SEC. A component of the SEC is called the prospectus, which outlines important aspects of the issue, issuer and the management and its financial position. There is a waiting period involved before approval and during this period, the company can receive a preliminary prospectus or red herring (Gitman, 2009, p. 338). Fifthly, once the registration is approved the investment community will then commence analyzing the companys prospects. (Gitman, 2009, p. 338). There will be a quiet period in which the company will have restrictions. This quiet period is to ensure that all potential investors will have access to the equal information. One month after filing, The IPO is usually completed. (Gitman, 2009, p. 338). The sixth step involves the road show, in which the companys stock offering is promoted. This includes a sequence of presentations to potential investors throughout the country which can also be extended to overseas. Another purpose of the road show is to estimate the requirements for the offering and also to set prices. (Gitman, 2009, pg. 339). Lastly, once SEC and the underwriters agree to the offering, a formal endorsement is made and signed. Once decided upon, the underwriter would be given shares that would need to be sold and the company will then receive capital that is acquired from the offering. The pros and cons of becoming a public firm As with everything else, there are advantages and disadvantages of going public. What must be taken into consideration or what must be an onjective to an organisation is to have your pros outweigh your cons. With this, it will give your organisation or firm a stepping stone in becoming a success. Pros Liqiudity: selling stocks from a private company can be challenging. This is due, to stockholders having to look for a different person who will be interested in owning the shares. As a result, this will make the stock more liquid for the public company and not for a private company (Going Public Today, 2009). In addition, having a high degree of liquidity and portfolio diversity can be accomplished (Block Hirt, 2005, p.449). Capital: by going public a firm can increase its monies or capital. However, a firm can increase funds through corporations selling its securities directly to the public (Block Hirt, 2005, p. 449). Mergers: this gives firms the provison to be able to utilize marketable sercurities to conduct mergers (Block Hirt,2005, p. 449). Exit approach: In this approach, both investors and owners of the public firm have the rights to or a choice to sell out at any given time based on the demand of the market due to their stocks having a very fast liquidity approach. Usefulness: Because public firms can possess well in established prices, publicly traded stocks can be useful in estate planning (Block Hirt, 2005, pg. 449). Image/publicity: according to Block Hirt, the high visibility of a public offering may even make the firm a potential recipient of attractive offers for its own securities. However this may not be viewed as an advantage by firms that do not wish to be acquired (Block Hirt, 2005, pg. 449). Free advertisement from the media such as magazines and newpaers will gain this sort of recognition due to them being a public firm. As a result of the free advertisement, revenues and sales will eventually increase (Going public today, 2009). Employee benefits: going public can help compensate and expand their levels of staisfaction, although a firm may not be competent in payig large salaries. However, being able to go public gives the firm the opportunity to make full use its potential in order to pull and keep employess by reccomending or offering stocks to these employees. In addtion, this offer seems to be more valuable and may even include different forms of benefit plans. It is important for a firm to understand that in order to be successful it must be able to have a well qualified staff. This is advantagesous because the company must make sure that they can attract and retain their personnel that is needed to maintain the companys integrity and increase profitablility postion (Zimmerer Scarborough, 2005, pg. 394) Cons Cost: The cost of going public is high (Block Hirt, 2005, pg. 449). Even though a deal made by the firm does not go through the firm can still loose the money that was already spent on down payment. In addtion to this, there are other cost associated such as: legal and accounting fees; travel fees; printing cost and sponsor allowances and filing fees, just to name a few. Difficulity: Becoming a public firm is hard work. It can be time consuming and expensive because cpmpanies must make all information available to the public through SEC and state filings (Block Hirt, 2005, pg. 449). Pressure: A lot of pressure is being placed on firms for short term performance by security analyst and large intitutional investors (Block Hirt, 2005, pg. 449). Liability exposure: By going public, directors and executives of the firm are now exposing themsleves to liability. Once a document has been done wrongly by an employee in the firm, they will be vulnerable to the civil society (Going public today, 2009). Loss of independence: No longer will the firm be operated by its owner. Because investors have the right to vote on whatever may be an issue to the company, they have the right to make decisions that the company may face. Unfortuneltly, a loss of independence resulted in an increase in takeover. Major markets around the world The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE): On an average day, there about $45 billion trades on this exchange and 1.6 billion shares exchange hands. There are currently about 8500 companies listed on the exchange which are worth nearly $17 trillion. (www.money-zine.com). It is considered the worlds leading and most liquid equities exchange group. NYSE Euronext powers the exchanging world and is comprised of equities and derivatives exchanges across the United States and Europe which trade cash equities, futures, options, fixed-income and exchange-traded products. It is home to the worlds leading companies providing access to the global liquidity they need to collaborate, compete and grow. (Stock Exchange, 2009). NASDAQ This stock exchange is recognized as the most technologically savvy stock exchange in the world. Companies such as Microsoft trade on the NASDAQ. (Stock Exchange, 2009). The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. is the worlds largest exchange company. It delivers trading, exchange technology and public company services across six continents, with more than 3,600 listed companies. It offers multiple capital raising solutions to companies around the globe and its technology supports the operations of over 70 exchanges, clearing organizations and central securities depositories in more than 50 countries. (Stock Exchange, 2009) (https://www.nasdaqomx.com/whoweare/quickfacts/) American Stock Exchange (AMEX) This is considered as the third largest stock exchange in the works. On average day, about 50 million shares are exchanged and about 1700 companies are listed. London Stock Exchange (LSE) Although it is much smaller that the American stock markets, this market list about 3300 companies from 60 countries some of which are US companies. One of such companies is General Electric. Toronto Stock Exchange (TSE) Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) Other world markets include: North South America: Dow Jones Industrial Average United States SP 500 Index United States Brazil Bovespa Stock Index Brazil Canada SP/TSX 60 Canada Santiago Index IPSA Chile IPC Mexico Europe: FTSE 100 England Euronext 100 Europe CAC 40 France DAX Germany Swiss Market Index Switzerland Asia: Australia ASX All Ordinaries Australia Shanghai SE Composite Index China Hang Seng Hong Kong Mumbai Sensex India Nikkei 225 Japan Taiwan TSEC 50 Index Taiwan Caribbean companies entering public markets: Caribbean companies which are sometime referred to as small firms, have never been exempted from the public markets, they now have the opportunity to enter these markets in order for them to create international markets for their stocks and find opportunities for international investment, growth, advertising, increase in capital, and expansion of their customer base. How can these companies enter the public markets In the Caribbean, the companies that desire to enter the public market can do so with the aid of the Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange. The Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange commonly called ECSE is a regional securities market which is designed to facilitate the buying and selling of financial products, including corporate stocks and bonds and government securities. (ECSE vol. 2, n.d). The ECSE consists of the territories of Anguilla, Antigua Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent the Grenadines. These countries all have companies trading on the public markets. For example Grenada, there companies such as the Grenada Breweries Limited, Grenada Electricity Services and Jonas Browne Hubbards (Gda) Limited. These companies trade their stocks on the international scene. There are guidelines and requirements that companies must follow when entering public markets. They must be listed on the ESCE and meet the required registration requirements. Some of these requirements include, fees and dues and legal requirements. Companies must ensure that their products or services can meet auditing requirements, high level of competitiveness and continuous growth. It is imperative that they seek advice from a stock exchange intermediary being a broker or dealer, who will be able to assist them in meeting the requirements of the ECSE. The ECSE is connected to the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank. Their main focus is on trading of corporate stocks, government securities and bonds and other financial products. It is a very crucial period for any company when entering the public markets. Key focus must be made on involving all persons in the company mainly its shareholders, as they will be the ones who will become the key decision makers. Competency and consistency must be apparent, and must exhibit a high level of transparency and accountability as investors would need to know exactly what is taking place. Some of the listing requirements are subjected to: o Decision making in interest of all shareholders o Meeting all registration requirements (these are set by the ECSRC) o Disclosure and distribution of companys financial structure, performance and activities Another avenue for companies to enter the public market is the IPO Initial Public Offering, this is only applicable to private companies wishing to go public. IPO by a private company is the first sale of stock by the company to the public. Although issued by smaller, younger companies in their quest for expansion of capital, it is issued also by large privately owned companies seeking to be publicly traded. (Investopedia, n.d) (www.investopedia.com/terms/i/ipo.asp). This can be a very risky investment as it will be difficult to predict what the stock will do on its initial day of trading and in the near future. This inadequacy is backed by the fact that there is little historical data with whiaich to analyze the company. On the other hand, IPO creates market value on any companys stock, and while offering shares for sale to the public it is also raising capital. Once these companies go public by IPO, they will be required to service their investors and the Securities Exchange Commission. An example of one such company going public is SGL Holdings Inc. This company traded on the international market but they were found to be in violation of the Grenada Securities Act. No. 23 of 2001 where the act prohibits persons from carrying on businesses as a custodian or manger of a collective investment scheme unless licensed to do so by the ECSRC! SGL Holdings Inc was not a licensed entity under the Securities Act and they eventually suffered the fate with the receipt of a cease and desist order. (ECSRC, n.d). Caribbean companies that can enter public markets and markets that serve as best options Based on the aforementioned information, we opted to select Sagicor Group Insurance Company. This company is known to be one of the worlds oldest and most experienced insurance companies. With its history dating as far back as 1840, the company has proven to be indigenous with respect to the redefining of financial services in the Caribbean. With operations in 22 countries and a variety of products for every life stage, the Company has expanded into the international financial services marked and evolved into a world-class brand. (Sagicor Financial Corporation, 2010). Based on the aforementioned information with respect to the world markets such as NASDAQ, LSE, NYSE; Caribbean companies such as Sagicor can trade on these public markets. Research has shown that Sagicors revenue has increased from $773m in 2007 to $1,205m in 2005; assets increased from $3,650m in 2007 to $4,460m in 2009. (Sagicor Financial Corporation, 2010). Based on the aforementioned information with respect to the world markets such as NASDAQ, LSE, NYSE; Caribbean companies such as Sagicor can trade on these public markets. Research has shown that Sagicors revenue has increased from $773m in 2007 to $1,205m in 2005; assets increased from $3,650m in 2007 to $4,460m in 2009. (Sagicor Financial Corporation, 2010). In Grenada, the Grenada Electricity Services Limited (GRENLEC) has also become a publicly traded company, but the question can be asked. Could GRENLEC enter these international markets? Grenada Electricity Company is the sole provider of electricity in Grenada. The company is responsible for serving more than 40,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers and has been providing integrated services of generation, transmission and distribution of electricity since the 1960s. With the majority of its shares sold to an investor, GRENLEC has seen growth since then. Its customer base has increased from 550 in 1960 to an excess of 40,000 in 2003. The Company is now listed of the ECSE since 2008. This listing has provided shareholders to trade and establish value for their investment. Investors also can purchase shares in the Company. (Author unknown, n.d). Conclusion After carefully considering both markets, Sagicor and GRENLEC, we concluded that not all Caribbean companies wishing to go public can trade in the international public markets. For small firms, we recommend that the ECSE is the most suitable public market for these companies as it will provide the basis for development and training for these companies who endeavour to go public in the future. Going Public can enhance the performanceof a business which in turn will mean more capital for the company. We have outlined some companies which have decided to go public both locally and internationally. However, companies need to pay careful attention to the steps and requirements which they need to follow in order to public, so as to avoid any legal implications. It is important that shareholders be a part of the decision to go public. Once a firm gets to sell bonds and stocks on a local, regional and international level this can result in profits for the company.