Alcoa Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Alcoa - Assignment Example The calculated ROE is consequently higher though the assets utilization ratios are worse in 2007 than 2006. e) In the third quarter of 2007, the sales figures are lower than in the previous two quarters. This is due to lower third party sales of all product segments. This has impacted the ROE. Sales in the fourth quarter are at about the same level as the third quarter. The reported net profit for the quarter is higher due to the restructuring adjustment from the agreement to sell the packaging and consumer business of the company. f) The Balance Sheet data shows that the increase in assets is due to major additions in Properties, Plant and Equipment which suggest a major increase in production capacity. Current assets and in particular receivables and inventories are lower in 2007 compared to 2006. Data on capacity utilization would therefore be relevant. Question 2 – Net income of 3 Q- 07 compared to 3Q – 06 Alcoa’s sales in the 3Q – 2007 were significantly lower at $ 7,379 million compared to the previous two quarters which were both around $ 8,000 million. Since Net Profit Margin from sale of products is the main driver for the company’s ROE, the stock market would take the reduced sales figure as the signal of lower ROE for the year. In the previous quarters Alcoa’s stock prices must have gone up on the higher sales numbers from the corresponding quarters of the previous year. a) Primary metals with 21.4% of third party sales in 2007 and flat rolled products with 29.9% of sales make up the bulk of Alcoa’s business. Primary metals contributed 45.5% of Alcoa’s after-tax operating income (ATOI) in 2007. This segment is therefore the most important for Alcoa. Flat-rolled products had an ATOI of only 6.3% in

In group we shrink Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

In group we shrink - Essay Example I am proud to be part of that minority. I have been through plentiful experiences in my own life in which I have experienced the phenomenon of â€Å"diffusion of responsibility† in the people’s behavior. I have myself displayed this kind of behavior over a few occasions early in my life. However, it was a very bad feeling that I carried with myself later on when I reflected back on those experiences. I felt like guilty for not having done something about those incidents while I could. Probably, it was the very realization that changed my behavior towards such incidents for the better, so that now, when I am part of a group, and something odd happens in front of me, my response to the situation is hardly any different from what it would have been had I been alone. During my childhood, I saw a little puppy with a broken and bleeding leg limping an moaning aside the road. It had probably been caught in some accident and was bleeding badly. Just from the look of it, I felt so pity for the little puppy. I wish somebody could take care of that, and I actually waited for that to happen. At that time, I was holding my mother’s hand, waiting to cross the road to reach the school. I was in a hurry anyway, though I have not been able to convince myself ever since that I could not spare a minute or two for the puppy. I saw people seeing that puppy, pointing their fingers at it, and passing by as they watched it. The image of that bleeding puppy was carved in my memory, and I felt bad about not doing anything about that. Probably, only if I had washed its leg with the water in my bottle and wrapped my handkerchief around its leg, I would have felt satisfied. While I always regretted not doing anything in this particular incident, this reflection and realization did change my behavior positively. Few days ago, I noticed two people fighting with each other. One of them had bumped his car into the other’s and the other person’s car was severe ly damaged. He had got out of his senses, and had immediately got into a violent verbal fight with him, that was at the verge of transforming into the physical fight, but I intervened. At the location, about fifty people had gathered in no time to observe the matter and had been standing there watching the heated verbal argument like a circus game. As soon as I caught glimpse of the sight, I instantly knew what feeling was holding them back and what I needed to do about it. I stepped ahead and came in between the two of them. One of them was holding a brick and was just about to throw it over the other person. I instantly took the brick from him, and tried to calm him down. Meanwhile, other people also started to approach and intervene. Probably, they were waiting for someone to take the initiative. I do not doubt their feelings of sympathy and humbleness, but it was certainly the â€Å"diffusion of responsibility† that was holding them back, as Tavris says in the article; â €Å"Most people do not behave badly because they are inherently bad. They behave badly because they aren't paying attention, or they leave it to Harry, or they don't want to rock the boat, or they don't want to embarrass themselves or others if they're wrong† (Tavris). However, â€Å"diffusion of responsibility† is not the only factor that holds people back in such situations. A

Crowdsourcing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5250 words

Crowdsourcing - Research Paper Example This paper analyzes the term â€Å"crowdsourcing† and its various aspects. This paper will discuss the pros and cons of crowdsourcng, features of crowdsourcing, components of crowdsourcing, crowdsourcing process elements, economic benefits of crowdsourcing and the ways where crowdsourcing is being implemented within various disciplines. CrowdSourcing: An overview The word crowdsourcing is basically concerned with the performance of a business or organization completing a task which is formerly carried out by its own employees and subcontracting or outsourcing it to an indeterminate (as well as usually big) system of community as an open call. This is able to acquire the type of peer creation (as the task is carried out jointly), although is as well frequently assumed by exclusive persons. However, the decisive condition is the utilization of the open invitation system and the huge system of prospective employees. To some extent crowdsourcing is perceived as a word which is eas y to interpret, but identifying the significance of the 2 words those usually form the term i.e. crowd and sourcing and it does not actually clarify its implication. In simple words, ‘crowdsourcing refers to the sourcing or extracting somewhat from a crowd or community, or somewhat that it manages outsourcing, that is eventually a right meaning. Moreover, crowdsourcing is an attractive trend that most of the businesses can apply to increase the efficiency of their functions or operations those would usually be managed through internal sources. Some of these functions comprise design/devising, software programs and product solutions, to study the progress policies of the companies... This essay stresses that the word crowdsourcing is basically concerned with the performance of a business or organization completing a task which is formerly carried out by its own employees and subcontracting or outsourcing it to an indeterminate system of community as an open call. This is able to acquire the type of peer creation, although is as well frequently assumed by exclusive persons. However, the decisive condition is the utilization of the open invitation system and the huge system of prospective employees. As the report declaress to some extent crowdsourcing is perceived as a word which is easy to interpret, but identifying the significance of the 2 words those usually form the term i.e. crowd and sourcing and it does not actually clarify its implication. In simple words, ‘crowdsourcing refers to the sourcing or extracting somewhat from a crowd or community, or somewhat that it manages outsourcing, that is eventually a right meaning. Moreover, crowdsourcing is an attractive trend that most of the businesses can apply to increase the efficiency of their functions or operations those would usually be managed through internal sources. Some of these functions comprise design/devising, software programs and product solutions, to study the progress policies of the companies. Crowdsourcing formulates the easy listening of ideas or inspirations. Placing an idea is rapid and easy task to do. Excluding electing, we are able to as well add to a plan by stating it more precisely.

Business Ethics Case Study, Accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Business Ethics Case Study, Accounting - Essay Example The general manager identified the current hazardous waste disposal produce as an area in which the company could save money. Mr. Hendricks identified equipment that would give the company the capacity to recycle the solvents. He consulted two industry experts to estimate the cost savings the company would obtain by acquiring the equipment. The experts disagreed on the amount of savings to the company. The lower estimate of cost savings would increase the net income of the company, but the decrease its return on investment due to the high acquisition cost. The greater cost saving estimate increased both the net income and return on investment of Tie Chemicals. Mr. Hendricks is responsible for presenting the proposal to the general manager for approval. He must follow the generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) concerning this area of accounting. A key GAAP concerning estimates is the principle of conservatism. This principles states that accountants are required in their work to make estimates and evaluation, deliver opinions, and selecting appropriate procedures. When they are realizing this type of work they must do without neither overstating nor understating the affairs of the business or the results of operation. â€Å"If a situation arises in which there are two acceptable alternatives for reporting an item, conservatism directs an accountant to choose the alternative that will result in less net income or less asset amount† (AccountingCoach). The cost accountant is concerned with all the stakeholders involved. He wants to do what is right for the environment, thus approval of the project would help the environment. The stockholders and the board of directors want to receive the maximum profits and return on investment. There is a direct relationship between the manager’s year end bonuses and the net income of the company. There is decision to be made

Major Changes in Kuwaiti Culture and Economy during the Past 20 Years Research Paper

Major Changes in Kuwaiti Culture and Economy during the Past 20 Years - Research Paper Example A marketing technique that works in, say, North America, may not work on another continent, like Asia. Using the same marketing method may actually backfire and even cause harm to a product or service when used in a country with a different culture (TradePals). The following factors need to be considered in international marketing: International marketing research plays an important role in the identification and development of a company’s strategies for internationalization. It enables a business to identify, evaluate and compare potential foreign market opportunities and develop a marketing plan. Research also provides a company with foreign market intelligence to help it anticipate events, take appropriate action, and prepare for global changes. Kuwait is located between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, and a short trip across the Persian Gulf from Iran. Kuwait was nominally part of the Ottoman Empire until 1899 when it fell under British protection. It remained a British protectorate until 1961, although Britain granted independence to Kuwait in 1914. Oil was discovered in 1938, and Kuwait is believed to have about 10 per cent of the worlds known oil reserves. With little arable land or natural fresh water with which to grow crops, petroleum dominates the Kuwaiti economy. Presently, Kuwait is a constitutional monarchy headed since 1977 by Amir Jabir al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah. Political parties are illegal in its 50-seat, popularly elected legislature, but several informal political groups — including Muslim groups — have put up candidates. Eighty-five per cent of Kuwaiti residents are Muslim, and only 45 per cent of the nation's residents are ethnic Kuwaitis. Others are mostly from elsewhere in the region. In August 1990, Iraq attacked and invaded Kuwait. Following several weeks of aerial bombardment, a UN-mandated coalition led by the United States began a ground assault in February 1991 that liberated  Kuwait.  

Personality Types Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Personality Types - Essay Example They are abstract thinkers who love to understand events and objects as much as possible, and are frustrated by any hindrance in this quest. They prefer to focus on the larger picture and think in the long term, making them ideal candidates for development work. They trust facts and believe that they are capable of holding all facts in objective thought. Most INTJ individuals have complex inner processes, but find it difficult to interpret these to another person. The INTJ are perfectionists, and believe that everything and everyone has a capacity for improvement. They often focus on achieving this improvement in their own functioning and in the tasks they take up. They also expect improvement from the people in their lives – a characteristic that can lead to strife. The INTJ also trust their own instincts and decisions completely, and can be put off by non-constructive criticism and non-responsiveness of others. But while this may be perceived as rigidity, they can in fact be very open to any input that would help improve an end result. Methods of study for an INTJ Since the INTJ are introverted and find social situations difficult, they study better when alone or with very few similar minded peers. They should try and find a location with the least interference if studying in a common study room.

The life and crimes of an individual currently on death row or Research Paper

The life and crimes of an individual currently on death row or priviously executed in North Carolina - Research Paper Example Prior to the murders that she committed, Blanche had no record of previous crimes. She was an ideal human being, â€Å"a wife and mother, deeply religious by most accounts, [and] a pillar of the community (Hiles, 2005).† She had no past convictions and was the last person anyone would suspect of committing such horrific crimes, which is perhaps why she was able to get away with it for so many years. When she hurried and married the first man to ask her, Jim Taylor, no second thought was given. People assumed, and Blanche confirmed, that the marriage might have been rushed, but it was her quickest escape from her dysfunctional, bordering on abusive, family. Blanche and Jim were happily married for quite some time, and two children were the result of their love. After ten years, though, Jim turned more and more to alcohol and less to his wife, revealing shades of a past that Blanche had thought she had left behind her when she moved out of her father’s home. To make up for her husband’s gradual abandonment, Blanche turned to the company of many other men, involving herself in numerous affairs. Unfortunately, the affairs only satiated Blanche’s lust for a couple of years. It came down to the fact that her husband was still an alcoholic, and this brought back too many wanted memories for her to escape from by using other men. Instead of continuing to rely on affairs, Blanche decided to take a different route and rid her life of the people that were making her miserable. Blanche’s first murder was her father, the person who brought nothing but pain to his daughter’s life. When she visited him, she put arsenic into his beer, killing him. Despite doing this, though, Blanche did not feel any better about her life or her situation. She went back to the person she was currently having an affair with, Raymond Reid, a stockman at