Business report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Business report - Essay Example As for printing, the companys range of activities range from printing of flyers and insert; catalogues, books, financials; its printing plant in North America, as well as key accounts such as SFC, the New York Times, G&M, Metro and others (Transcontinental, Inc 2008). Transcontinental, Inc. offers marketing products and services that range from direct marketing, website development, database analytics, and fulfillment mailing (Transcontinental, Inc 2008). II. Describe its domestic and global operations, including sales or revenue generated in each geographic area and the corresponding percentage generated in each geographic area (e.g., by country, region, economic community, etc.) In 2008, Transcontinental, Inc. has a reported revenues amounting to $2,429.3 million (Transcontinental, Inc 2008). Of this, $2051.8 million or 84.86% represents the companys operations in Canada. 75.61% of this sales, or $1,836.8 million are sales within Canada, while 8.85% represents exports. The remaining 15.54% represents sales in the United States and Mexico (Transcontinental, Inc 2008). Transcontinental, Inc. has three strategic business units—marketing services, publishing and printing. According to the companys annual report, in 2008, the companys marketing services has reaped an amount of $1,252.2 million in sales; the publishing has $647.5 million ; and $624 million for printing (Transcontinental, Inc 2008). In 2007, the companys sales from its marketing services strategic business unit amounts to $1150.1 million, with $634.7 million in printing and $633.5 million in publishing (Transcontinental, Inc 2008). Transcontinental, Inc. has posted $2,282.3 million in its revenues in 2006; where its marketing services amount to $1082.2 million, its printing has earned $714.7 million, and its publishing business unit has reaped $579.8 million. In 2006, the company has earned a net

Organization Improvement Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Organization Improvement Project - Essay Example essful organization leading in the business of water, gas and electricity, Enron was transformed into a credit laden and failed company due to unaccountability, corruption and failure to apply ethical principles (Gutman, 2002). Unethical and corrupt leadership was the greatest recipe for Enron’s collapse, which for years, the company tried to hide from the public domain. Coupled with dubious retirement plans and stocks, this culminated in disastrous consequences for the company, downgrading what it had achieved in 15 years, whereby it had established itself as a giant in the business world in the US (Gutman, 2002). Measures that the company would have instituted to ensure that the company did not collapse include; inculcation of organizational ethical cultures in company operations and the management; institution of trade-offs between individual actions and positive actions; Encouraging leaders to have ethical consciousness and to ensure leaders are accountable in their actions. Most important, there should be a complete overhaul of corporate and fiscal systems so that transparency and ethics are injected into corporate business practices at Enron. A potent and noteworthy plan needs to be put in place so that improvement can be achieved in the organization. This plan, the Ethical Leadership Decision Making Model, must always expect leaders to exhibit moral awareness before undertaking tasks. In so doing, leaders would be able to gauge the extent of their actions. It is important for every leader to weigh the end results of issues before undertaking them In conclusion, The Enron Scandal illustrates what unethical business practices can do to a successful; company. Once a successful organization, Enron collapsed as a result of unethical decisions, dubious business practices and lack of accountability by its leaders (Gutman, 2002). Had the company instituted business ethics in its practices, it would still be the successful company that ruled America for 15

Critical paper for the film Lars and the real girl Essay

Critical paper for the film Lars and the real girl - Essay Example The other important thing in the film is the relationship between Lars and his family members who are also supportive of Bianca. Everyone within the family and in the workplace is supportive of Lars and Bianca to an extent of recognizing their relationship. The interesting thing in the film is that Lars’ co-worker Margo, who was admired him felt jealous of the doll. This is evident when Margo indicates that her boyfriend has broken up with her. This is interesting because Lars had ignored her and opted to stay with Bianca, instead of a real woman. The other interesting thing in the film is the doctor’s direction that everyone should support with Lars’ rehabilitation by treating Bianca as if she were a real female. The doctor discovered that Lars was undergoing an underlying problem that required the support of the family members to help overcome it. It is also exciting that Bianca was taken to the hospital after being â€Å"unresponsive.† The news moved across the town and the townspeople sent flowers to console Lars. The people’s behavior towards Bianca and Lars is strange and sounds interesting since this was a unique thing to them. Margo was among the people who had sent the flowers, though she fel t the urge of dating Lars after the misfortune of losing Bianca. The provocative aspect in the film is the way Lars idolization of Bianca at the expense of other women like Margo. This shows that the real women do not deserve the respect and support that Bianca received in the town. It would be appropriate if Lars gave the attention to real women instead of a life-size doll. The lowered the dignity of Margo and other women within the town to play second fiddle to a doll. Another provocative thing in the film is the way Lars lives in the garage, yet Gus had invited him to join them in the main house. Lars lives in solitude and do not appreciate social interactions with other family members or co-workers. This is provocative

Climate change and Emission Trading Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Climate change and Emission Trading - Essay Example In October 2006, Nicholas Stern, head of the United Kingdom's government economics services presented his report on the economics of climate change to the British Government [Stern, 2007]. The stern Report estimates that "if we don't act, the overall costs and risks of climate change will be equivalent to loosing at least 5% of global gross domestic product (GDP) each year, now and forever. If a wider range of risks and impacts is taken into account, the estimates of damage could rise to 20% of GDP or more. "In contrast, the cost of action-reducing GHG emissions to avoid the worst impacts of climate change-can be limited to around 1% of global GDP each year". These conclusions are in sharp contrast to the implicit assumptions in public statements on climate change. The stern report finds that climate change is not just a nuisance, but can significantly reduce economic growth. And that mitigating climate change is not all that expensive. The stern report concludes, "The benefits of st rong, early action considerably outweigh the costs". The impacts of climate change are, not evenly distributed. The poorest countries and people will, suffer earlier and most. And if when the damages it will be too late to reverse the process. Thus we have to look ahead. This is because the countries which have less resources to counter their impact of climate change and also because developing countries are often heavily dependent on agriculture-the most climate sensitive of economic sectors. The stern report finds that while "emission have been, and continue to be driven by economic growth; yet stabilization of GHG concentration in the atmosphere is feasible and consistent with continued growth". The report recognizes that achieving large emission reductions will have a cost. The estimated annual cost of stabilization at 500-550 PPM CO2 will be around 1% of GDP by 2050- a level that is significant but manageable. Climate change mitigation normally involves reducing GHG emissions. Mitigation can also involve removing CO2 from the atmosphere, usually through a forestation and reforestation; such activities are called CO2 sinks. Improved efficiency in the use of fossil fuels and increased use of renewable energy sources are among the most promising option for reducing CO2 emissions. The lowest cost mitigation options generally involve energy efficiency improvement. Energy saving opportunities is often higher in developing countries and is especially large for buildings and in transport (Enqvist, Naucler & Rosander, 2007). Climate change first gained significance in 1988. Not long afterwards, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was adopted by various governments in May 1992, and came into force, in 1994, (UNFCCC, 1994). Today the UNFCCC is one of the widely supported international environmental agreements ratified by 188 states and the European community. The ultimate aim of the UNFCCC is to achieve stabilization of GHG concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate

Diabetic Retinopathy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Diabetic Retinopathy - Essay Example Results from numerous clinical trials of laser photocoagulation and various other treatments and a good understanding of the pathogenesis would have a huge impact on blindness in the diabetic population. [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] The prevalence of retinopathy is strongly linked to the duration of diabetes. A stringent control of blood sugar levels delays the onset of diabetes. Vision loss with diabetic retinopathy may occur from several different mechanisms such as Macular oedema or ischemia which may impair central vision. Extensive studies have reported the cost effectiveness of screening for diabetic retinopathy as it saves vision at reduced costs. The cost of screening modalities depends largely on various factors such as trained professionals and accessibility of screening equipment. Current management of diabetic retinopathy includes systematic control of blood pressure and glucose levels, surgery including laser photocoagulation or pars plana vitrectomy; and currently developed pharmacologic interventions. Vitrectomy is capable of restoring useful vision to patients suffering from severe diabetic retinopathy and vitreous hemorrhage either with or without an accompanying traction retinal detachment. [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Systemic Control: Development and progression of diabetic retinopathyis delayed by glycemic control. Laser photocoagulation, which represents the only treatment modality in large, controlled, prospective randomized, clinical trials, shows limited efficacy. Currently, new pharmacologic modalities now being evaluated show promise, but should undergo rigorous prospective randomized clinical trial in order to gain widespread acceptance. Intensive therapy brought down the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy by 76% and reduced the risk of progression of already existing retinopathy by 54%. Maintaining a strict and systematic control of blood pressure and glucose has proven to be difficult for many patients with diabetes. A good number of them will still develop progressive retinopathy and would require either vitrectomy or laser photocoagulation [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Surgery: The latest in surgical techniques is the use of the "Pulse Electron Avalanche Knife" (PEAK-fc, Carl Zeiss Meditec, Jena, Germany) (British Journal of Ophthalmology 2007;91:949-954) which is a new pulsed electrosurgical device that helps in the precise "cold" traction- free tissue dissection. It is very useful in all complicated eye surgeries. For late stages of retinopathy, current laser or surgical treatments are applicable. It also includes proliferative diabetic retinopathy or sight-threatening ME. The study that was conducted proved that photocoagulation can reduce the risk of severe visual loss by about 50%. [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]In this process, laser photocoagulation leads to decreased oxygen levels by the retina due to the destruction of the photoreceptor. Anakinra, which is a drug used in arthritis has tested favorably for reducing blood sugar levels. Benfotiamine is a fat-soluble form of vitamin B1 has proved effective by reversing the damage done to the retina due to high blood sugar in the cells. Another surgical research is the

Theists and atheists often debate whether the existence of God is Essay

Theists and atheists often debate whether the existence of God is relevant to ethics. Does morality require a theological foundation Take the position that mor - Essay Example Godless ethics and morality have left the hearts and minds of Russian people empty and void. People, who believe that God is unnecessary, argue that morality is the basically the humanitarian issue that has to be resolved at the level of humanity. And that god should not come in between. Whereas, as a matter of fact, belief in God is the essence of ethics. These ethics are universal and bind the people in one rope of morality. God is one, whether this is Christianity (trinity), Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism or Judaism. All the divine and non-divine religions believe in the concept of one God, who commands the humanity for peace, tranquility, love and cordiality unto each other. All the principles of morality are derived from the belief in God, the day of resurrection, reward and punishment. In this world, no person can get enough rewards for his good moral deeds or punishment for his bad moral deeds. For instance, a man who kills 100 people can only be hanged once and the punishment ends. But in the day hereafter, the murderer will be punished for death, forever. A man, who inv ented aspirin medicine, has to be rewarded by God in haven, forever, and a worldly a cash prize cannot be enough reward. Therefore, mundane rewards and punishments are not enough for the good and bad people in this world and all these things have to be left to God, the Day of Judgment, haven and hell. Friedrich Nietzsche theory, that God is dead and man is free from the metaphysical demands of God is itself dead. Because value of morality on the base of love for oneself could no more hold the ground. The later sages have already countered the arguments of Greek philosophers against God as giver of ethics and morality. "The truth is we have no reference point about morality except as God reveals it. For us to argue with the source of morality is for the clay to argue with the potter" (Timothy J. Madigan.1997). God is the creator and sustainer of all things. He has all the potency and ability to guide us in matters of morality. Human is bound to err and sin and he seldom knows what is good and what is bad. He has always a limited scope of reason (Rom. 7:18-21). God is the only universal and absolute ori gin of morality.According to naturalists, the human being is born with ethical framework in his mind and heart. And they believe there is no further need to groom the human beings in morality on the basis of religion or any other theology. This point is not valid and historically, not proven. Morality on the foundations of religion has evolved over the centuries since unknown time. Man has been brutal, savage and untamed like any other beast in the forests. Religion has always been a source of guidance to him. This is the divine revelation that has always tamed him and removed cruelty, and incivility from his personality. Therefore, scientific naturalistic discourses cannot be an alternate source of morality for the human being. As the God cannot be proved through scientific discussion, therefore reliance on naturalists claim is counterproductive for source of guidance in morality and ethics.Holy Bible has proved that man is born as a bare creature with human instincts of

Walden by Thoreau, a Satirical criticism Essay Example for Free

Walden by Thoreau, a Satirical criticism Essay Walter Harding is most accurate when he said you could read Walden as a satirical criticism of modern life and living. Another way of saying this would be that Thoreau writes in a way that he is criticizing the way modern people are living. In fact, he believes, that we could be living in a different way, which would ideally be a more nature-oriented and simplistic form of living. In other words, Thoreau thinks the best way to live is to abandon all materialistic things and live in nature. His reasoning leads to the conclusion that you can be closer to the universal soul and fulfill more of a spiritual life. So, in this sense, we can look at the book in a way that Thoreau seems to criticize the civilization. One thing we can be sure about is that whenever Thoreau speaks of the positive points of living in nature, he is in some way criticizing nature because he claims he his nature has a better method of functioning. Although he does not insist that people remove to nature, he encourages people to do so because he believes thats the best way for them to learn about themselves and the world. One of the lessons he learns involves some criticism on modern society and possessions. An example that Thoreau brings up involves how farmers are chained to their farms as much as a person would be to jail. This can be explained by saying if you work to own things, you will restrict your freedom because you need to work to be able to own things. If you work to gain materialistic things, then you will not be able to gain personal freedom because you consume so much time with it. Thoreaus solution is that you have to realize what you need and what you want. Once you do this, then you are able to work less and work for only the necessary things. Since he is making this suggestion, he is also putting down the way society works. Secondly, Thoreau thinks the modern society has too much excess and should be simpler. A good quote to support this statement would be that he says, Most of the luxuries and many of the so called comforts of life are not only dispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind. Basically he is saying that the more comfortable we get, the lazier we become,  therefore slowing down the growth and development of society. This is easily stated in the first chapter of Walden. Another example of Thoreaus criticism of the society is about how we do not simplify, like we should, because our life (society), Is frittered away with detail. Things we can simplify even include the four basic necessities. For instance, clothing isnt important, it is the man behind the clothing. Shelter is important for withstanding the weather, but good shelter doesnt take more than a few days or weeks to create. Thoreau is saying that society lives materialistic lives of excess and in the end it is better off that you arent that way. Lastly, Thoreau believes that we do not spend enough time in solitude. Solitude, to Thoreau is a person that accompanies him. In his opinion, solitude does him more good than any other company. When with solitude, he can think more clearly and deeper to learn more about himself. He believes living in nature is preferable to living in a town. Thoreau is criticizing modern living because he says we have too much work and things to think about and flood our minds with. We arent spending enough time in solitude, and we should be. We are given these four basic needs (food, fuel, clothing, and shelter) but we do not pay enough attention to simplifying our lives down to these necessities. Moreover, Thoreau feels strongly on the importance of time for solitude, so if we arent following that plan, then we arent experiencing what Thoreau thinks is essential to being complete. In conclusion, I believe that Thoreau is criticizing the modern society in many ways, which have been proven to you. Thoreau always has the words must and need in his lectures, and this must obviously mean that he is implying we are lacking something (which to him is contact with nature and spirit). If he says we as modern society are lacking something, then it is a criticism. I must also let you know that the examples I provided were chosen out of many possible ones, so there is always more evidence to prove that Thoreaus purpose was to criticize. Also Thoreau is very justified in his points, and it is easy to understand these ideas that he gives. Society is getting lazier and considering this literature lets us take a step back and look at where we are headed in this world.