Recommendations Report for the Monsanto Company Analysis of Social responsibility

Recommendations Report for the Monsanto Company Analysis of Social responsibility The increases of food production in a growing globalize demand with limitations of natural resources and global climate change has become a huge problem in every part of the world. Monsanto believes they have an answer to this problem: Grow more food with fewer seeds. This provides the necessary balance to double the worlds food production by 2050, which is what the United Nations predicts, will be necessary. This could be the solution to resolving the worlds food needs in an environmentally and socially sustainable manner. Biotechnology could be used to support an agricultural system based on the principles of ecology, stability, and sustainability. It appears to offer the necessary means to diminish the environmental pressure of industrial agriculture. Monsantos involvement in Keystone Alliance Project for sustainable agriculture is a step ahead to achieve long term, permanent improvement in sustainable agriculture production. Monsanto and other companies joined together to bring a solution for improving the ability to feed future generations. Despite Monsantos advances in biotechnology, corporate social programs and alliances the company has done little to change consumer opinions of the company and the acceptance of the GMOs. Examples of this are a marketing strategy that ties Roundup to Monsantos genetically engineered products. Monsantos opposition to seed saving by farmers, followed by a heavy enforcement of intellectual property rights and an opposition to the labeling regulations of genetically engineered crops. Monsanto thinks it will stigmatize the product and possibly raise more consumer concerns. Yet Monsantos objection to food labeling raises a conflict with the very notion that GMOs would eventually be more desirable than traditional crops. As a result, not only did Monsantos actions hold back its growth potential, they also hurt present day markets by eventually undermining public confidence. Monsanto has not demonstrated a willingness to listen to these concerns. From a sustainability perspective, its biotech based strategy does not address poverty and food access issues. It fails to differentiate between the developed and developing worlds. This calls into question the sincerity of its feed the world mission. Genetically engineered western commodity crops were Monsantos first products, which were completely inappropriate for developing countries. Introduction Today consumers are very aware with what companies are selling, promoting and marketing. Whats more, in todays information rich society most consumers are aware of how corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs can  impact the bottom line.   As a result of this social awareness and a down economy, companies are starting to prove the value of their products and services to consumers. One of the main reasons of CSR awareness was the  proliferation of social media tools that result in an increased consumer activism. Consumers are now rapidly sharing online to both praise and attack companies. As a result, firms started a new trend where they are looking to effectively communicate and rally stakeholders around their shared values. Monsanto, the world leader on sustainable agriculture has been working and implementing a development on corporate social responsibility. Implementing biotechnology to aid hunger and malnutrition world problems, as well as programs like Baechell-Borlaug International Program, the Keystone Alliance for sustainable agriculture, the Mississippi River Basin, and voluntarism on the communities where business operates.  [1]   But despite all of its technological advances, programs and implementations Monsanto is under the gun on a number of different issues. The public has not responded positively to Monsantos efforts; fail to provide reliable information and proof safety for consumer acceptance to support GM food. Many activists questioned the firms use of science saying it creates foods that threaten the health of both people and the planet, and the use of intellectual property laws to squeeze every last penny out of the worlds poor. Also Monsanto has not show willingness to listen to this environmental and health concerns. To gain publics trust Monsanto has to improve their business integrity, ethics, and be more transparent and truthful about the scientific information on the biotechnological products to give the consumer confidence of GM foods. Also the company needs to change position from being opposed to labeling foods that are GMOs. Strengths Overview Biotechnology Monsantos biotechnology appears to offer the necessary means to diminish the environmental pressure of industrial agriculture. The use of herbicides, pesticides, and other agricultural inputs can be significantly decreased, and the ability to grow crops in poor-quality soils and drought areas could prevent deforestation and the alteration of sensitive lands to agriculture. Monsantos biotechnological sustainability, offers a way to improve the ecological efficiency of agriculture by reducing inputs (herbicides, pesticides) and increasing resource efficiency.  [2]  Yet, the environment is but one consideration in the transition to sustainable agriculture. And although biotechnology may indeed prove to be a necessary tool for achieving agricultural sustainability, by no means is it sufficient. Robert Shapiros (Ex-Monsantos CEO) strategy was based on the belief that biotechnology and the life sciences were the solution to resolving the worlds food needs in an environmentally and soci ally sustainable manner.  [3]   Commitment to Sustainable Yield The increase of food production in a growing globalized demand with limitations of natural resources and global climate change is the companys commitment to sustainability. The companys three strategies to meet these challenges are: 1) By the year 2050 the need for more food production will have to double to meet the demands of a growing population. The Companys commitment is to produce more yields by helping farmers to double their crops by 2030.  [4]   2) Reduction of agricultural resource by one third per unit of output by 2030.The Companys seeds products are design to require less water, land and energy resources to conserve more resources by minimizing soil loss and greenhouse emissions. 3) Improve farmers lives and income growth through modern biotechnological agricultural technology. Beachell-Bourlaug International Scholars Program The objective of this program is to educate rice and wheat plant breeders who can serve as future agricultural leaders. The yields of wheat and rice have grown at a compound rate of about 0.8 percent over the past decade and the population has grown about 1.25 during the same period. Monsanto has come up with this program to overcome these challenges and to meet the growing demand of food. The Company pledged 10 million dollars to improve yields in these crops as part of the Companys commitment to sustainability agriculture. The program provides full support to students seeking a PhD in rice or wheat plant breeding. The program includes tuition, insurance, research fees and travel.  [5]   The Mississippi River Basin This initiative is focused on reducing nutrient and sediment movement into the United States largest river system, the Mississippi River. For this project, Monsanto is partnering with The Nature Conservancy, the Iowa Soybean Association, Delta Wildlife and National Audubon Society. The company has committed more than $ 5 million to this conservation project for the Mississippi River and agricultural landscapes, in which farmers can produce higher yield crops, fiber and fuel in ways that further preserve water quality as well as support diverse and abundant wildlife populations.  [6]   In the future, crop producers are expected to have additional on farm tools that can enhance their environmental stewardship efforts. And this project is one of many contributing to this end. Field to Market: The Keystone Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture With experts saying that we have to double food production by 2050 to meet the needs of a population projected to grow to 9 billion, the world has two choices: we need to either make each acre of farmland twice as productive, or use twice as many acres. Option two inevitably requires deforestation which can lead to habitat loss and many other environmental problems. Monsanto got involved in Keystone Alliance Project for sustainable agriculture, a nonprofit organization along with 30 other organizations, including food companies and Environmental Non-government, Private and International Organizations committed to achieve long term, permanent improvement in sustainable agriculture production. Monsanto and these other companies joined together to bring a solution for improving the ability to feed future generations. This is to be done by increasing agricultural production while decreasing environmental impact.  [7]   Investing in Communities Monsanto established the Monsanto Fund in 1964 as the charitable division of the company. It states that our philanthropic goal has been to bridge the gap between peoples needs and their available resources. We want to help people realize their dreams, and hopefully inspire them to enroll others in their vision.  [8]   Monsantos commitment to give back to communities where business is operated has been done through the creation of the Monsanto Fund which has awarded $13.9 million in grants for nutrition, education, environmental and community programs. Monsanto has awarded United Way with $ 1.1 million. Monsanto has also Monsanto Fund Matching Gifts Program. This program gives permanent Monsanto employees and active members of the Monsanto Board of Directors an opportunity to join Monsanto Funds support of not-for-profit institutions.  [9]   Monsantos philanthropic activities are meant to not only improve its image, but also provide key relationships. It understands better than anyone that relationships, partnerships and network are the key for success of the company. Weaknesses Overview Consumer Acceptance Many factors point to believe that Monsantos head position in the biotechnological industry race is going to collapse along with the publics support for GMOs. Financially, Monsanto has depleted a considerable amount of resources during its acquisition phase and has accumulated significant debt. Its designation as a biotech firm and the increased dependency on Roundup is forcing the company to rapid sales growth of its biotech products, perhaps too rapid for the publics comfort. With the growing disapproval, started in part by the mad cow disease alert and the subsequent doubts of regulatory bodies, raised doubt about the possibility of continued consumer acceptance. Monsantos choice of electing to pursue biotech products first, has contributed little to consumer acceptance of the GMOs; there is no perceptible benefit for the consumer. Also its marketing strategy at best, are only tolerated by the farmers. In addition, the environmental and human health concerns seemed suitable, and M onsanto has not demonstrated a willingness to listen to these concerns. From a sustainability perspective, its biotech based strategy do not address poverty and food access issues and fails to differentiate between the developed and developing worlds, therefore calling into question the sincerity of its feed the world mission.  [10]  Genetically engineered western commodity crops were Monsantos first products, crops wholly inappropriate for developing countries. Food Labeling Monsanto fears that GMO labeling would stigmatize the product and possibly raise additional consumer concerns, consequently preventing or slowing acceptance of GMOs technologies. Yet Monsantos objection to labeling is in conflict with the very notion that GMOs would eventually be more desirable than traditional crops. Once GMOs products entered the market, farmers would attract additional value only if an infrastructure existed for segregating GMOs crops and preserving their identity throughout the supply chain. From a midterm perspective (3-5 years), it would have been advantageous for Monsanto to support labeling requirements and to facilitate creation of an identity preserving infrastructure. As a result, not only did Monsantos actions hold back its growth potential, they also injured present day markets by ultimately undermining public confidence.  [11]   One- Size-Fits-All Strategy Although Monsanto declared an intention to meet the worlds food and fiber needs, its initial GMOs technologies is directed to western markets and commodity crops. There are many inconsistencies with Monsantos planning as a one-size-fits-all strategy with respect to developed and the developing countries. For example rice, sweet potatoes, cassava, and yams were the principal crops of developing countries, not corn, cotton, and soybeans.  [12]  In addition, Monsantos patenting of life forms and intellectual property right protection policy is seen by some as indignation to the thousand year old cultural and seed saving traditions of many of the developing countries. Developing countries, a majority of whose populations participated in the agricultural sector, often at a minimal level, more and more are looking upon Monsanto and other multinational agricultural firms as profit motivated corporate entities whose products would displace the small holder farmer  [13]  . The rapid consolidation of the seed sector, the integration of the agricultural supply chain, and the patenting of genetic inventions by Monsanto reinforced the notion of corporate domination. Consequently, by failing to differentiate between the needs of the minimal level economies to those already mature. Monsanto is hurting its global sustainability campaign and is alienating many in the developing countries. In the end, Monsanto overpromised and under delivered on its global sustainability vision, a fact that is not going unnoticed by NGOs and consumers worldwide. Recommendations Consumer Strategy When people are not treated with fairness and honesty and respect for their right to make their own decisions, there is little risk communication can do to keep them (the public) from raising hell regardless of the extent of the hazard.  [14]   Talking to the public is not the problem; listening to the public is. Monsanto essentially views the opposition as arising from consumer ignorance and, consequently, the attempt to diminish it with a supposedly effective advertising campaign, is failing miserably. Monsanto is doing little to understand the concerns of consumers upset by GMOs concerns and skeptical of science-based declarations of safety. The company does not address cultural sensitivities toward food and farmland. In the end, Monsantos relentless persistence on scientific data and ignore public perceptions is provoking even further outrage. An approach that Monsanto should follow is a process called Six Sigma which begins with listening to public to determine the strongest quality issues on Monsantos products and how that can be changed to benefit the consumer and the company yielding more profit. Following this approach, everyone wins. Consumers will benefit from safe and better products while feeling that their needs are being taken seriously and their business is valued. Monsanto would be happy because their products will gain from new innovation and improved value. Also, the company will gain loyalty and credibility through this social responsibility. The object of this system is to gain a deep understanding of consumers, in order to give them what they want. All the advertising and marketing in the world wont make up for failures on these key strategic elements. This can also be applied on the human resources policies that must support this customer focus: if the company wants happy customers, first get a content staff. Transparency Replacing secrecy and protection of proprietary information, for transparency and stakeholder commitment will likely hold the keys to success in the future. Transparency basically means taking the firewall down and reveal everything about the products from research, biological and chemical technological process and tests so that consumers can be better informed and make decisions about the products they consume. It will also lead to integrity of the company. Basically sharing information openly will welcome ideas and innovations from every angle. By analytically measuring and reporting the sustainability, Monsanto will engage everyone from employees to consumers to critics in the process of building a truthfully sustainable company. But unfortunately Monsantos checkered history as a chemical manufacturer offers the public little assurance about the accuracy and validity of the company pronouncements. The company manufactured virtually all the PCBs in the United States until they were finally banned in 1976, and taxpayers are still shelling out to clean up PCB-riddled waste sites. Monsanto also manufactured Agent Orange, which is linked to cancer and reproductive problems in Vietnam War vets. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Monsanto is a potentially responsible party.  [15]   Better Strategies Model Monsanto needs to create a balance multi modal strategy to succeed in the development of sustainability. The four strategy process is: rational, symbolic, transactive, and generative. The symbolic mode involves managements creation of a convincing vision and clear corporate responsibilities mission. The rational mode relies heavily on strategic planning and reporting systems: For example corporate responsibilities and accountability based on performance. The transactive mode is based on interaction and learning; its center is communication across organizational boundaries. And the generative mode depends on organizational members is the entrepreneurial behavior. Sustainable development became a core aspect of Shapiros vision, and the strategy making process came to be dominated by the symbolic mode. Monsanto needs to build up and set up a balanced multimodal strategy-making process. The symbolic mode dominates all others. A better balance of strategic processes may help the company avoid the problems it has encountered in the past. Open connection between the rational mode and the symbolic vision of sustainability might have overcome some of Monsantos problems of inconsistency. Conclusions: Monsantos biotechnology may be the solution for the necessary means to diminish the environmental pressure of industrial agriculture. But even that biotechnology may indeed prove to be a necessary tool for achieving agricultural sustainability by no means is sufficient. Even Monsanto has taken the rights steps to be socially responsible. By increasing sustainability yield, developing ecological and educational programs, aid and tools for farmers and the participation in communities. Regardless of these efforts the company still has a lot to work on, like being more conscious about the consumers, transparency and business strategies.

Ethical Dilemma Essay

The situation at hand involves an ethical decision between two possible courses of action relating to the promotion of tobacco as a product in the market. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. is a corporation that earns huge amounts of money in selling tobacco and is concerned about keeping its profits despite the negative image now associated with tobacco. Therefore, R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. hired Acme Global Advertising to again promote the product in the market. Being recommended by the company’s Director for Global Accounts as the new head of the R.  J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. account, I am constrained to decide whether to accept the position or not. There is no doubt that this is a once in a lifetime career opportunity, as the last manager to handle the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. account had already retired after receiving a huge sum of money after his successful campaign. Indeed, a successful promotional campaign would result in huge profit for both R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and Acme Global Advertising, which would translate into big earnings for me. On the other hand, a simple refusal on my part would mean another eager person would immediately be taking my place and my big opportunity. The problem is not as simple as it looks, however. This is because the World Health Organization already declared tobacco as the second major cause of death in the world. Therefore, any effort on my side in promoting the consumption of tobacco would mean that I am personally exerting effort in favor of a product that causes death to millions of people arounf the world. It is clear, therefore, that the present situation presents an ethical dilemma that needs serious consideration. I have to make a decision between personal success and the health of innumerable people. In order to solve this dilemma, I turn to the philosophical writings of Aristotle in his work entitled Nicomachean Ethics, as well as utilitarian ethical philosophy as explained by well-known ethical philosophers John Stuart Mill and Jeremy Bentham. Based on these ethical principles, I shall explain why it would be ethical for me to accept the challenge and exert my best effort in promoting the sales of tobacco products of R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. this paper shall discuss the relevant principles characteristic of each theory, and then apply such principles to the facts of this particular scenario. In Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, he expounded on the notion called virtue, which to him is that which determines the character or nature of anything, be it a person or a specific thing (Ross). Virtue is that thing which makes a knife a good knife, and it is also that which makes a man a good person (Ross). Aristotle makes a distinction between two kinds of virtue, namely natural virtue and moral virtue (Kilcullen). For him, the former relates to characteristics that humans possess from birth, such as a particular temperament (Kilcullen). On the other hand, the latter kind of virtue refers to the act of submitting one’s acts to reason (Kilcullen). It is in the latter kind of virtue that habit, an essential part of Aristotle’s ethical philosophy, enters the scene (Kilcullen). Aristotle posits that moral virtue is developed through habituation, whereby the exercise of reason results in a specific course of action (Kilcullen). Applying Aristotle’s ethical philosophy based on virtue and habit, I conclude that accepting the challenge would determine my character as a person in general, and as a leader in an advertising firm in particular. Accepting a project such as the one in the case would help me develop habits that would hone my leadership and creative skills, which would increase my competence as a leader. The other ethical philosophy that supports my decision is utilitarianism, which is a notion that belongs to the normative ethics tradition. Since the late 18th- and 19th-century, utilitarianism had been in existence to attempt to answer the question, â€Å"What ought a man to do? (West). † Utilitarian philosophers Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill were the foremost believers in the school of thought, and their main thesis was that an action would only be considered morally right if it tends to promote happiness for the greatest number of people. This has been popularly known as the â€Å"Greatest Happiness Principle. † John Stuart Mill explained said ethical principle in 1863, when his published work entitled Utilitarianism came out. He explained, thus: The creed which accepts as the foundation of morals, Utility, or the Greatest Happiness Principle, holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. By happiness is intended pleasure, and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain, and the privation of pleasure (Mill). It appears therefore, that utilitarianism attaches moral value, not on the motive behind man’s actions, but on the effect that such action makes on people. Bentham and Mill assumed that pleasure and pain are the basic motivations of man, such that he avoids pain and seeks pleasure (West). Applying this principle to my ethical dilemma, I deduce that accepting the project would promote the happiness of many people, namely, myself and the executives of the two corporations that would derive monetary benefits from the success of the project. The people who could be consuming tobacco would likewise find happiness in the availability of a product that they enjoy having, albeit this happiness comes with the danger of disease or even death. Nevertheless, I leave such choice to the holders of the lives concerned, namely, the consumers. It is, after all, ultimately their choice whether to remain healthy or otherwise. In sum, two ethical principles, namely Aristotelian and utilitarian ethics, support the decision to accept the position as head of the project and promote tobacco products.

Who Else Is Lying to Us About Argumentative Essay Topics for 5th Grade?

Who Else Is Lying to Us About Argumentative Essay Topics for 5th Grade? Disagreeing writers can mention the many explanations for why students shouldn't be made to take part in the daily routine. Even in the event the deadline is actually tight, feel free to get hold of our managers. Before students begin to write, it is a very good idea for them to earn a list of the points they would like to make to their readers. Fifth grade students utilize every phase of the writing procedure and continue to construct their understanding of writing conventions. Why Almost Everything You've Learned About Argumentative Essay Topics for 5th Grade Is Wrong At their next meeting, you'll have the opportunity to state your case. In case the latter is true, the topic has to be chosen dependent on its depth and controversial nature. Therefore, you can take an effortless topic and surprise everyone with your wide method of thinking and your individual values. Although having the ability to write persuasively can look like a challenging thing for children to learn, remind them that everyone has valid opinions. Don't neglect to get a Kibin editor review your final paper to be sure it's on the right path. Take notes concerning all possible topics you'll be able to consider. MP3 music needs to be free. 42, 48 hours, 12 hours, if you ought to be tough to use our 180 essay that's persuasive. Our courses can be finished on nearly any gadget. Explaining how to spend less by employing open-source texts and internet textbook rental websites would result in an extremely informative essay. Cell phones should not ever be used while driving. There are a couple rules which are critical. Once you finish the very first draft of your essay, it's wise to re-visit the thesis statement in your very first paragraph. Now roughly write a couple of sentences about all the key ideas which you want to include in the response essay. When prior brainstorming is finished, you can begin drafting your essay. Keep in mind that, exactly like with any other paper, there's a particular structure of a persuasive essay that you have to follow. There are a couple of easy guidelines to follow as a way to be in a position to compose a great persuasive essay. There is a certain pattern that's simple to follow when writing a persuasive essay. Whatever the case, attempt to compose an essay all on your own with no help. School should happen in the evenings. Students lead busy lives and frequently forget about a coming deadline. Parents should speak to kids about drugs at a youthful age. School tests aren't effective. Provide some explanations for why you agree or don't agree with this. The real aim is to compose clear and concise topic sentences. Make sure that you are really interested in the matter, because otherwise you will have no confidence, which is a significant aspect when convincing somebody. The very first thing you need to realize searching for an ideal topic is that your opi nion is the thing that matters the most. Fortunately, you can learn how to craft a good essay if it's possible to adhere to the typical pattern and write in a very clear and organized way. Put simply, you're an advocate, not an adversary. The tide has shifted, however, and seemingly everybody has a tattoo now. The Foolproof Argumentative Essay Topics for 5th Grade Strategy Persuasive essays are a really good method to encourage the reader to check at a particular topic in a different light. Still, you must make your topic more specific. On the opposing side, acquiring a list of good persuasive essay topics is inadequate. Doing this, you'll certainly find your ideal essay title easily and faster. Persuade your friend to see the movie you desire. Your kid was requested to compose an essay as part of a school project, or as a sort of essay contests for children, and you might find it hard to think of persuasive essay topics. Okay, now you have the fundamentals about how to opt for an informative essay topic, let's dig into some fantastic ideas! Year round school isn't a good idea. You've got an idea to increase your school. Students ought to be permitted to pray in school. The school day needs to be shorter.

Online Buying At The Internet Stores - 1797 Words

Online purchasing is the customer’s activity to place an order and make a payment of that order. It is found to be strongly associated with the traits of personal characteristics, vendor services, product characteristics, the quality of the website, the attitude of consumers towards online shopping, their willingness to shop online, as well as the decision making (Bellman et al., 1999; Bhatnagar et al., 2000). The willingness of the buyers to do shopping at the internet stores is referred to as their intention to shop online. Often, this factor is assessed by the willingness of the consumers to buy and to come back for making more additional purchases. This then also contributes to the customer’s loyalty. The intention of the consumer to†¦show more content†¦So, convenience is regarded to be the most important factor while doing internet shopping. The reason behind this is considered to be that these buyers are time-constrained, also they do not mind to buy products without examining the quality by touching the product as in this way they can save their time. Better Prices Online buyers believe that they find better prices by doing online purchasing as they get cheap deals and offers which they do not find when they visit the store physically. Also, products are delivered to the buyers from the manufacturers directly. Online stores also provide offer discount coupons. Variety Buyers can browse their required product online on various shops. Same product then can be found in different brands and price range. Consumers can buy the one that is suitable according to them. Price comparisons Consumers can compare the prices on the online stores and look for the products and the better prices (Gillon Miler, 2012). Risks involved in online shopping When consumers have an intention of purchasing products then they have some doubt in their mind as they are not sure that their entire target of making a purchase will be accomplished (Roselius, 1971). It can be said that they observe some amount of risk in maximum decisions in making a purchase (Cox and Rich, 1967). This observed risk is known as ‘perceived risk’ and can be defined as the buyer’s viewpoint of suspicion and unfortunate result ofShow MoreRelatedConsumer Electronics Purchasing Behavior1425 Words   |  6 Pagesits population with internet access and still many companies are selling their products online.The  exploratory  study  was  conducted  to  increase  our  understanding  of  the mobile phone and computer market in general and analyze consumer decision making in particular. The study attempted to cast light on the much unexamined area of the mobile phone purchase, operator choice, and use of the mobile phone services. STATEMENT OF PROBLEM With increasing changes in the pattern of buying of consumers the needRead MoreLiterature Review On The Online Shopping At The Internet Stores901 Words   |  4 Pages2. LITERATURE REVIEW Nowadays, people use internet as a daily device to access their emails, do online tasks, to read online headline, look for certain information and many other functions (Bellman, 2001). This daily usage of the Internet by these people takes them naturally to operate it as a shoppers stop too. Additional constituents found which makes a difference to the buying behaviour of the buyers and their attitudes include their culture surroundings, particular needs, commitment of the productRead MoreOnline Shopping Conduct And Internet Shopping Essay1659 Words   |  7 PagesINTRODUCTION Online shopping is almost to synonymous to customary shopping through brick and mortar stores. As indicated by UCLA Center for Communication Policy, online shopping has been rising as a standout among the most famous web exercises, marginally behind e-mailing and internet surfing and in addition surpasses online entertainment search and online news. Online shopping conduct (additionally called web purchasing conduct and Internet shopping/purchasing conduct) implies to the procedure ofRead MoreShopping At Home Vs. Shopping1540 Words   |  7 PagesShopping at Store It is the year of two thousand and fifteen—the 45th years after Internet was first invented. Internet is developing in an incredibly speed, so does the online business. People can accomplish more without stepping out of their houses. Imagine what if we are carrying bulk of cash to pay our tuition instead of paying online. Since Internet greatly facilitates the process of paying and choosing, online shopping has become the couple top shopping preferences. Some people love online shoppingRead MoreThe Electronic Commerce And The Internet818 Words   |  4 Pagesjoined Internet in daily life. According to Internet World Stats’ statistics (2012) today more than two billion people linked to the Internet. The Internet mass use promotes the electronic commerce rapid expansion in the 20th century. The electronic commerce has been changed of the traditional way people shop. According to Turban et al (2000) defined the e-commerce is an emerging concept the process of buying, selling, exchanging product, service and information through Internet. The Internet has createdRead MoreHigh Involvement and Low Involvement in Searching for Product Information1616 Words   |  7 PagesChanging Consumers’ Search for Information The internet has made it significantly easier for consumers to conduct an information search during the consumer decision-making process. Almost every household owns a computer and has access to the internet. This makes the internet highly accessible, hence information search is fast and convenient. From the case study, Grace wanted to buy a toaster and it has became a priority for her. Buying a toaster used to be a low involvement process for GraceRead MoreHigh Involvement and Low Involvement in Searching for Product Information1603 Words   |  7 PagesLow-Involvement: Changing Consumers’ Search for Information The internet has made it significantly easier for consumers to conduct an information search during the consumer decision-making process. Almost every household owns a computer and has access to the internet. This makes the internet highly accessible, hence information search is fast and convenient. From the case study, Grace wanted to buy a toaster and it has became a priority for her. Buying a toaster used to be a low involvement process for GraceRead MoreOnline Buying and Selling1001 Words   |  5 Pagesthe internet became so popular, people would look through their local paper if they were looking for a car for sale, a house for rent or sale, or used furniture and appliances to try to get a deal; Now people just sign on to sites like EBay and Craig’s list to find people selling things that they are interested in purchasing. Although there are many benefits to using sites like those or even to be able to look into local sales online, but there are also some down sides to this type of buying andRead MoreThe Impact of Social Media on Consumer Purchasing Decision1287 Words   |  6 PagesExplain how the Internet can influence the consumer decision-making process for the following types of purchase decisions. * Buying tickets for a music show (5) * Deciding to invest money in a restaurant chain (5) * Purchasing insurance for your car (5) * Buying shoes for yourself (5) You may find it helpful to visit some websites for the afore-mentioned products. [20 marks] Introduction The advent of internet has brought more convenience to the time starvedRead MoreImpact Of Online Shopping On Businesses1439 Words   |  6 Pagesissue that applies in Australian workforces. The issue is the impact of online shopping and what effects it has on businesses. According to Australian Bureau of Statistics, 43% of Australians use the internet to buy products and services . This states that the internet is changing consumer shopping habits fast, and most likely, forever. As reported by the National Retail Association, 50,000 people will lose their jobs due to internet shopping . These statistics will significantly affect the work place

William Shakespeare s Macbeth - 910 Words

â€Å"Let our just censures / Attend the true event, and put we on Industrious soldiership.† Macduff gives this speech to his troops in the country near Birnam Wood before the battle of Dunsinane. Macduff explains why Macbeth must be defeated, and encourages the soldiers into battle. This fills the gap/silence in the play when the army arrives at Birnam Wood between when they are ordered to cover themselves with Birnam Wood, and the orders to march towards Dunsinane castle to overthrow Macbeth. I will be presenting myself as Macduff, standing before the crowd of soldiers, explaining to them exactly why we are going to war, what we are fighting for and trying to fill the soldiers with the hate and anger that I feel for Macbeth to encourage them into battle. Brothers in arms. My countrymen. Hark! Let us not be driven by ambition of power. Let us not seek a higher rank. Let us be loyal to our homeland. I am a man of not many words, but I wish to remain a nobleman. My brothers I am testing you. How loyal are you? How will your vigour ensure the publics in power are leading honourable lives of duty? I must avise you of why we are here, capitulated forces in arms. We must avenge thou country, homeland, and rightful King from the destructive power of ambition. (Macduff trails off into his own thoughts, pacing up and down) Why Macbeth? oh why? How dare you speak; â€Å"O, yet I do repent me of my fury. That I did kill them. Selfish Macbeth surely slain him.† (2.3.146-147) The evidenceShow MoreRelatedWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth 1363 Words   |  6 PagesMacbeth is without a doubt one of the most captivating plays, in my opinion written by William Shakespeare. Throughout this play there is definitely a numerous amount of things that can catch your attention, whether it is a trio of witches appearing, committing murder, or keeping secrets. However, what really catches my attention is the way Shakespeare uses language and unique style to create a distinct mood, and reveal characters’ inner thoughts. In the play Macbeth written by William ShakespeareRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth 884 Words   |  4 PagesMacbeth Summary - Act 5 Scenes 1 - 9 Written by Josh, Corey, Sinead, Phoebe and Mason Phoebe Scene 1: So the first scene begins with a physician overseeing Lady Macbeth sleepwalking and muttering to herself while rubbing her hands, trying to remove the imaginary blood. ‘Here’s the smell of the blood still: all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.’ (Act 5 Scene 1 Lines 11-12) This line is important as it represents Lady Macbeth at war with herself and shows she will never moveRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth 1289 Words   |  6 Pages 2015 Macbeth Literary Essay In this 16th century, classic play about a man hungry for power by William Shakespeare there are many intense instances of symbolism used to demonstrate and prove Macbeth’s feelings and behaviour throughout the book. Good symbolism makes you feel what the character feels when reading a story. In the story, â€Å"Macbeth†, Macbeth is shown to be a sly and deceiving person who betrayed his kingdom for his own gain. Three important symbols used to show Macbeth s greed andRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth 1652 Words   |  7 PagesMacbeth is one of William Shakespeare s most famous tragedies, it is believed to have been written and first performed in 1606. Sources indicate that the play was written to appease King James I, who had ascended to the throne after Queen Elizabeth I. The play tells a tale of a brave Scottish Thane named Macbeth, whose thirst for power brought him to murder Duncan, the King of Scotland, only to become a tyrant, and have his actions lea d to his eventual demise as the tragic hero. Throughout the playRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth 1129 Words   |  5 PagesWindsor 02/10/16 Macbeth William Shakespeare wrote one of best tragedies in english literature, which was titled Macbeth. The tragedy, as it is considered by critics of yesterday s literary world, frown upon the evil dimension of conflict, offering a dark and atmosphere of a world dominated by the powers of darkness. Macbeth, more so than any of Shakespeare s other tragic protagonists, has to face the powers and decide: should he give in or should he resist? Macbeth understands theRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth 1909 Words   |  8 PagesKing James’ court, none more so than William Shakespeare, who was writing some of his best plays in that time. The most well known of Shakespeare’s plays produced in the Jacobean Era was Macbeth. Macbeth tells the tale of Macbeth, a thane of Scotland, and his descent to madness. One of the characters of this play, Banquo, was also a prominent lord in Scotland, a lord King James believed he was descended from. It seems evident in that in t he play, Shakespeare used his portrayal of Banquo to flatterRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth Essay1406 Words   |  6 PagesMacbeth Essay Since the beginning of time people looked up to the stars asking Gods their fate. Fate is a belief, that there is a set path for an event that is both unavoidable and inevitable, that there is a fixed natural order to the cosmos. In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, viewers can observe fate or (prophecy) playing a major role. William Shakespeare was born April 1564 and died May 1616, during his life Shakespeare wrote 37 plays, and 157 sonnets, Shakespeare is also knownRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth Draft1040 Words   |  5 PagesStuart Wodzro Honours English 9, Block 2 Shakespeare Essay February 26, 2016 MacBeth Draft No. 3 The strive for power is a human impulse, perhaps even a primitive compulsion. And, in the case of human beings at least, the impulse is not restricted solely to the necessities of life. Beings are devoted to gaining raw power itself and, through it, they loses themselves. As one may know, the lust for power is a mode of selfishness, where at one attempts to gratify every passion, but alas pleonexiaRead MoreAnalysis Of William Shakespeare s Macbeth 1887 Words   |  8 Pagesdisaster. â€Å"Macbeth’’ is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare and is considered one of his darkest and most powerful works. William Shakespeare was born in Stratford -upon -avon, in Warwickshire and was baptized a few days later on 26 April 1566. William Shakespeare was educated at the local King Edward grammar school Stratford and is considered by many to be the greatest playwright of all time.(Bio.) In Macbeth, William Shakespeare used ambition to show us Lady Macbeth and Macbeth and t heirRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth Essay1827 Words   |  8 PagesEnglish IV DE/AP 24 January 2016 Macbeth Research Paper Although William Shakespeare is not historically accurate with his play Macbeth, there are many possible reasons as to why his historical interpretation differs from reality. He may have wished to flatter the king and, when taken into historical context, may have wished to warn others of the fate handed to those who would oppose the king. Although there are many differences between the play and history, Shakespeare remains truthful in some aspects

The Case for Christ Free Essays

string(23) " he was the Messiah 4\." BOOK SUMMARY The Case for Christ Lee Strobel. Pub. Zondervan Publishing House About the Author Lee Strobel, Master of Studies in Law from Yale Law School. We will write a custom essay sample on The Case for Christ or any similar topic only for you Order Now Award-winning journalist investigative reporter for 13 yrs. at the Chicago Tribune. Pg. 303. His life changes when his wife becomes a Christian. He fears he will lose the fun-loving companion and friend he has known for years, but instead he is surprised by subtle changes in her character. This not only intrigues him but prompts him to learn more about Jesus by using the same logical and factual approach he follows while working as an investigative crime reporter. He starts his learning quest as an unconvinced skeptic. His underlying question is, â€Å"Can a case for Christ be made beyond a reasonable doubt†? To answer this, he sets out on a fact-finding mission. For nearly two years, he interviews numerous subject matter experts and biblical scholars to answer his questions with facts and evidence. His skills in investigative reporting help uncover the truth regarding the reliability of the gospels. Introduction: Who is Jesus? This comes down to two answers: This man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. Part 1: Examining the Record Timeframe Skeptics: â€Å"Some scholars say the gospels were written so far after the events that legend developed and distorted what was finally written down, turning Jesus from merely a wise teacher into the mythological Son of God. † Pg. 32 Answers: â€Å"The standard scholarly dating is that Acts was written by Luke in A. D. 61-63, because Paul was still living and under house arrest in Rome. Since Acts is the 2nd of a two-part work, we know the 1st part – the gospel of Luke – must have been written earlier than that. And since Luke incorporates parts of the gospel of Mark, that means Mark is even earlier. So if you allow one year for each writing, you end up with Mark written no later than about A. D. 60, a maximum gap of 30 yrs. after Jesus’ death. Pg. 34 That’s still within the lifetimes of various eyewitnesses of the life of Jesus, including hostile eyewitnesses who would have served as a corrective if false teachings about Jesus were going around. † Pg. 33. Eyewitness testimony is the key here. The two earliest biographies of Alexander the Great were written by Arrian and Plutarch more than 400 years after Alexander’s death in 323 B. C. , yet historians consider them to be trustworthy. So whether the gospels were written 60 yrs. or 30 yrs. after the life of Jesus, the mount of time is negligible by comparison. Pg. 33. Character Test â€Å"The gospel writers had nothing to gain except criticism, ostracism, and martyrdom. The certainly had nothing to win financially. If anything this would have provided pressure to keep quiet, to deny Jesus, to downplay him, even to forget they ever met him—yet, because of their integrity, they proclaimed what they saw. Pg. 48. Eleven apostles were put to grisly deaths, which show deep conviction for what they believed and were preaching regarding Jesus. Pg. 45 Consistency â€Å"The gospels are extremely consistent with each other by ancient standards, which are the only standards by which it’s fair to judge them†. Pg. 45 â€Å"If the gospels were identical or too consistent, this would have raised awareness that the authors had conspired among themselves to coordinate their stories in advance, and that would h ave cast doubt on them†. Pg. 45 The Adverse Witness Test â€Å"Many people had reasons for wanting to discredit this movement and would have done so if they could have simply told history better. Pg. 51. Yet, look what his opponents did say. In later Jewish writings Jesus is called a sorcerer who led Israel astray—which acknowledges that he really did work marvelous wonders, although the writers dispute the source of his power. They never say he did not work the written miracles. If critics could have attacked the movement on the basis that it was full of falsehoods or distortions, they would have. But, that’s exactly what we don’t see†. Pg. 51 Corroborating evidence outside the Bible Josephus, Jewish historian, A. D. 37-100 †¢ Wrote about Jewish wars that have corroborated by other historians and archaeological excavations. Pg. 81 †¢ Writes about James, brother of Jesus, who was called the Christ. Stoned to death in A. D. 62. Pg. 78 †¢ Wrote about Jesus the tribe of his Christian followers that had still to this day not disappeared. Pg. 79 Tacitus, a senator and a historian of the Roman Empire, A. D. 56 –117 †¢ Writes about Christ suffering extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of Pontius Pilatus. Refers to an immense multitude of Christ followers willing to die for their beliefs. Pg. 82 Pliny the Younger, Roman citizen, and provincial governor, A. D. 23-79 †¢ Refers to rapid spread of Christianity among all classes of people, as well as Roman citizens that are sent to Rome for trial. â€Å"They have high ethical standards and if they repeatedly admit they honor Christ as God they are executed†. Thallus, a Greek historian, wrote in A. D. 52 a history of the Mediterranean world since the Trojan War. †¢ Referenced the total darkness at the time of the crucifixion. Pg. 84 Phlegon, a Greek author in A. D. 137 †¢ Reported about the greatest eclipse of the sun when it became night at noon in A. D. 33. Pg. 85 The Mishnah, the 1st part of the Talmud, an important Jewish work compiled in A. D. 200 regarding Judaism’s Oral Law †¢ Refers to Jesus as a false messiah who practiced magic and was justly condemned to death. Pg. 86 Key Findings So if we didn’t have any New Testament or other Christian writings, we could conclude from non-Christian historical writings that: 1. Jesus was a Jewish teacher 2. Many believed he performed healings and exorcisms 3. Some believed he was the Messiah 4. You read "The Case for Christ" in category "Papers" He was rejected by Jewish leaders 5. He was crucified under Pontius Pilate in the reign of Tiberius 6. His followers spread beyond Palestine to there were multitudes of them in Rome by A. D. 64 7. All types of people worshiped him as God. Pg. 87. The Scientific Evidence Archaeology found an inscription from the time of Tiberius, from A. D. 14-37 which names Lysanias as tetrarch in Abila near Damascus—just as Luke had written. Pg. 97 John mentions the Pool of Bethesda and details the pool had five porticoes. When archaeologists excavated in this location 40 feet below the ground, they found the pool site and 5 porticoes (walk ways) exactly as John had described. A fragment copy of John 18 was found in Egypt that papyrologists have dated to about A. D. 125. Pg. 99 Part 2: Analyzing Jesus The Identity Evidence of Gospel Writings The cross: Pontius Pilate inscribed INRI, an acronym for â€Å"Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews. Pg. 135 The Psychological Evidence Gary Collins, Dr. in clinical psychology. â€Å"People suffering form psychosis display inappropriate emotions such as anxiety, depression or even anger. Jesus did not display any such emotions nor did he exhibit the misperceptions that plague people suffering from psychosis. Jesus did not show any symptoms of mental illness. Jesus supported what he said by his actions—healing, raising people from the dead and the casting out of demons. Pg. 153 Prophesy Fulfillment Louis Lapides, Jewish convert to Christianity. Grew up thinking Jesus was more derogatory than anything else. After returning from Vietnam War, he experimented with various religions and drugs. Was challenged about his disbelief in Jesus which led him to read the Old Testament prophesies. Was amazed of all the prophesies that Jesus fulfilled: â€Å"Isaiah revealed the manner of the Messiah’s birth (of a virgin); Micah pinpointed the place of his birth (Bethlehem); Genesis and Jeremiah specified his ancestry (a descendent of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, from the tribe of Judah, the house of David); The Psalms foretold his betrayal, his accusation by false witnesses, his manner of death (pierced in the hands and feet, although crucifixion hadn’t been invented yet), and his resurrection (he would not decay but would ascent on high); and on and on† (p. 179). Lapides goes on to earn a bachelor’s degree in theology and a master of divinity of theology. Pg. 173 Part 3: Researching the Resurrection To establish that Jesus rose from the dead, one must first establish that he died on the cross. The Medical Evidence The gospels tell us that Jesus sweat blood. â€Å"And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. † Luke 22:44 Dr. Metherell, M. D. PH. D. in Engineering. Pg. 193 â€Å"In severe cases of anxiety, the body releases chemicals that break down the capillaries in the sweat glands. As a result, there’s a small amount of bleeding into these glands, and the sweat comes out tinged with a very small amount of blood†. Pg. 195 According to the Dr. , when Jesus was nailed to the cross, his arms would have immediately been stretched about 6 inches in length, and both shoulders would have become dislocated. This fulfilled the Old Testament prophesy in Psalm 22, which foretold the Crucifixion hundreds of years before it took place and says, â€Å"My bones are out of joint. † When Jesus suffocated on the cross, a Roman soldier confirmed it by thrusting a spear into his side, which likely went through his lung and into the heart. When the spear was pulled out, clear fluid and a large volume of blood would have come out. Clear fluid from the lung and large amounts of blood from the heart. This was confirmed in John 19:34 when John reported he saw blood and water come out Jesus’ side when the spear was removed. Pg. 199. The Dr. testified there would be no question that Jesus was dead at this point. Pg. 200. To speed up death, Romans would use a steel shaft to shatter the victim’s lower leg bones. This would prevent the victim from pushing up with his legs to breathe. Jesus’ legs were not broken, because the soldiers already determined that he was dead, and they just used the spear to confirm it. John 19:32-36 This fulfilled another Old Testament prophesy about the Messiah, which is that his bones would remain unbroken. Ps 34:20. Pg. 200 Roman soldiers had every incentive to ensure crucified prisoners were dead when removed from the cross, because they would be put to death if a prisoner escaped. Pg. 201. â€Å"Last of all, if Jesus did not die, and he somehow walked away from the tomb, he would have been in such poor condition and looked so pitiful that his followers would have felt sorry for him and try to nurse him back to health. They would never have been prompted to start a worldwide movement based on the hope that someday they too would have a resurrected body like his†. Pg. 202 The Evidence of the Missing Body Joseph of Arimathea takes to body of Jesus, puts it in a tomb, the tomb is visited by a small group of women followers of Jesus early on the Sunday morning following his crucifixion, and they find that the tomb is empty. They see a vision of angels saying that â€Å"Jesus has risen† (p. 215). Recorded in Acts 13:29-31 and prophesied in Ps. 16:10. Pg. 219. In the earliest Jewish writings, there was nobody claiming the tomb still contained Jesus’ body. The question always was, â€Å"What happened to the body? † The Jews proposed the guards of the tomb fell asleep, while the Christians proclaimed the guards were paid off to keep quiet. Pg. 221 â€Å"The site of Jesus’ tomb was known to Christian and Jew alike. If it were not empty, it would have been impossible for a movement founded on belief in the Resurrection to have come into existence in the same city where this man had been publicly executed and buried†. Pg. 20. The Evidence of Appearances Paul 5 B. C. – 67 A. D. †¢ Wrote in both 1 Cor. 9:1 and in1 Cor. 15:8 where he personally encountered the resurrected Christ. Pg. 228. †¢ Persecuted Christians until his conversion sometime in A. D. 33. †¢ Refers to the fact that Jesus was a descendant of David, that he was the Messiah, that he was betrayed, that he was tried, crucified for our s ins, and buried, and that he rose again on the third day and was seen by many people—including James, the brother of Jesus who hadn’t believed in him prior to his crucifixion. Pg. 8 †¢ â€Å"1 Corinthians 15:8 is part of an early church creed. In this portion of Scripture, the post-resurrection Jesus is said to have appeared to Peter, the twelve, plus more than five hundred people some of whom were still alive at the writing of this epistle†. †¢ People reading this at the time could still check with eye witnesses and question them if they wanted to confirm what it said†. Pg. 229. †¢ â€Å"This creed can be traced back to about A. D. 32 to 38 which means it lends it credence as primitive, unembellished testimony about Jesus appearing to skeptics like Paul and James† Pg. 30. Then they go on to cover the numerous sightings by other eye-witnesses mentioned in the gospels and the book of Acts†. Pg. 234. Were the appearances hallucina tions? Dr. Gary Habermas, PH. D. , considered expert on the resurrection. He refutes the theory that the appearances were hallucinations because a hallucination is an individual experience that happens to one person at a time. Pg. 238 The Circumstantial Evidence J. P. Moreland, PH. D. Professor and author. â€Å"When Jesus was crucified, his followers were discouraged and depressed. They no longer had confidence that Jesus had been sent by God, because they believed anyone crucified was accursed by God. They also had been taught that God would not let his Messiah suffer death. So they dispersed. The Jesus movement was all but stopped in its tracks. † Pg. 246 â€Å"Then, after a short period of time, we see them abandoning their occupations, regathering, and committing themselves to spreading a very specific message—that Jesus Christ was the Messiah of God who died on a cross, returned to life, and was seen alive by them. Pg. 247 â€Å"And when you’ve got eleven credible people with no ulterior motives, with nothing to gain and a lot to lose, who all agree they observed something with their own eyes–now you’ve got some difficulty explaining that away† Pg. 247. The Conversion of Skeptics â€Å"The gospels tell us Jesus’ family, including James, was embarrassed by what he was claiming to be. † â€Å"Later the historian Josephus tells us that James was stoned to death because of his belief in his brother. Why did James’s life change? Paul tells us: the resurrected Jesus appeared to him. There’s no other explanation. † Pg. 248 Saul executed Christians when he had the chance. â€Å"Suddenly, he doesn’t just ease off Christians but joins their movement. He writes that he saw the risen Christ and heard Christ appoint him to be one of his followers. † Pg. 249 Revolutionizing Jewish Life for followers of Jesus Immediately after Jesus’ death, 10,000 Jews were willing to give up five key practices that had served them sociologically and theologically for many centuries: 1. Jewish people no longer offered sacrifices they had been doing since the time of Abraham and Moses 2. You don’t become an upcoming Jewish member simply by keeping Moses’ laws. 3. Worshipped on Sunday (when Jesus rose) instead of Saturday, a 1500 year tradition. 4. Began to worship Jesus as God (trinity) 5. The Messiah was someone who suffered and died for the sins of the world, whereas Jews had been trained to believe that the Messiah was going to be a political leader who would destroy the Roman armies. † Pg. 251 Conclusion: So let’s revisit the underlying question of this book, â€Å"Who is Jesus†? Lee Strobel concluded the evidence of history and his own experiences was too strong to ignore. He made a personal decision to receive Christ. Later, his five-year-old daughter went up to his wife and said, â€Å"Mommy, I want God to do for me what he’s done for Daddy. † This book has helped strengthen my faith in Christ, by highlighting many intriguing historical facts and evidence that corroborates what is written in the Old and New Testament concerning Jesus. I will end with the book’s last paragraph which cites a quote from C. S. Lewis, an atheist and skeptical Cambridge University professor who was eventually won over by evidence for Jesus. C. S. Lewis is most notably known for his best-selling book series The Chronicles of Narnia. â€Å"I am trying to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: â€Å"I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God. † That is the one thing we must not say. A man ho was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic†¦or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patr onizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to. Pg. 271. How to cite The Case for Christ, Papers

Financial Management Principles Cash Balance

Question: Describe about the Financial Management Principles for Cash Balance. Answer: 1:- From the case study and financial statements, it can be stated that Jackson Limited has managed to generate profits for the last eight months. However, the company could not repay the loan on time. There are several issues, for which the company has requested to extend the term loan period. From the monthly income statement for the last eight months, it has been observed that the company could not maintain the net profit margin stable. It has decreased significantly over the period. Such fall in profit margin has been caused due to fall in sales for the last three month. From March2013 to May,2013, the actual sales figures were lesser than the budgeted sales (Channon and Jalland 2016). The fall in sales volume, as reported by the company, has happened due to the delay in the shipments. It could not complete the orders on time as some vital components arrived very lately. Therefore, the company could not generate the anticipated sales volume and accumulate enough cash balance. Moreover, it has also suffered from inadequate cash balance due to dividend payment on March2013 (Kaplan and Atkinson 2015). Hence, it can be concluded from the above discussions, that though the company has earned profit over the due period, it has failed to generate the budgeted sales volume due to operational hazards. It has caused a temporary shortfall in cash balance, for which the company could not repay the loan timely. The main sources and uses of funds for Jackson Limited is described in the following table:- Particulars Details Sources of Funds Sales Operation Loan from Bank Interest on cash Balance Uses of Funds Purchase of Raw Material Operating Expenses Tax Payment Interest on Loan Dividend Payment 2:- The company requires the new loan of $2.4 million to purchase new equipment for operational purpose. As the president of the company had mentioned, the company had not bought any new equipment for the last few year due to recession. Moreover, some of the components of the older equipments have worn out, which may cause interruption in production. The company has always focused on innovative designs to satisfy its customers. It has been one of the key strengths of the company, which has helped it to survive in the recession period successfully (Bryson 2012). In such scenario, if the company does not upgrade its machinery and equipments accordingly, it cannot maintain its goodwill in the market. Moreover, as mentioned earlier, due to poor conditions of the equipment, it may face disruptions in operation (Rausand 2013). In the current financial year, it has already suffered such disruption due to delay in shipments, which has caused fall in sales volumes. Now, if it again faces such problems, then it will be unable to recoup the losses. The quality of the end products may also hamper for the poor condition of the equipment and lead to customer dissatisfaction. Therefore, it can be suggested that the requirement of the additional borrowing can be considered as urgent. 3:- Cash Budget:- Partculars June'13 July'13 August'13 September'13 Cash Flow from Operating Activities Payment from Customers 3,744 12,681 7,374 4,501 Payment to Suppliers (5,969) (5,200) (5,200) (5,200) Payment for Operating Expenses (1,838) (1,838) (1,838) (1,838) Income Tax Payment (375) (375) Net Cash Inflow/(Outflow) from Operating Activities -4438 5643 336 -2912 Cash Flow from Investing Activities Purchase of New Equipment -2400 Net Cash Inflow/(Outflow) from Operating Activities 0 -2400 0 0 Cash Flow from Financing Activities Loan from bank 2400 Interest on Loan -25 -25 -37 -37 Interest Income 8 1 10 11 Repayment of Loan -7400 Dividend Paid -1200 Net Cash Inflow/(Outflow) from Operating Activities -17 2376 -27 -8626 Total Cash Inflow/(Outflow) -4455 5619 309 -11538 Add: Opening Cash Balance 4,994 539 6,158 6,468 Closing Cash Balance 539 6,158 6,468 (5,071) Income Statement:- Particulars June'13 July'13 Aug '13 Sep'13 TOTAL Net Sales 12,681 7,374 7,201 7,394 34,650 Less: COGS 9,765 5,381 5,381 5,381 25,909 Gross Profit 2,916 1,993 1,820 2,013 8,741 Operating expenses 750 750 750 750 3,000 Depreciation and amortization 120 120 130 130 500 Interest expense 25 25 37 37 124 Interest income 8 1 10 11 30 Profit (loss) before tax 2,013 1,097 892 1,085 5,086 Income taxes 684 373 303 369 1,729 Net income 1,328 724 589 716 3,357 Dividends 1200 1,200 Balance Sheet:- June'13 July'13 Aug'13 Sep'13 Cash 539 6,158 6,468 Accounts receivable 12,681 7,374 7,201 7,394 Inventory 7,317 7,728 5,541 8,822 Current assets 20,537 21,260 19,209 16,216 Gross PPE 45,500 47,900 47,900 47,900 Accumulated depreciation 30,488 30,608 30,738 30,868 Net PPE 15,012 17,292 17,162 17,032 Tax Refundable 6 Prepaid expenses 54 54 54 54 Total assets 35,603 38,606 36,425 33,308 Accounts payable 5,200 5,200 5,200 5,200 Bank Overdraft 5,071 Notes payable, bank 5,000 7,400 7,400 Accrued taxes 309 373 303 Other accrued expenses 1,142 1,142 1,142 1,142 Customer advance payments 2,700 2,700 0 0 Current liabilities 14,351 16,815 14,045 11,413 Shareholders' equity 21,251 21,791 22,380 21,896 Total liabilities and equity 35,603 38,606 36,425 33,308 4:- The projected income statement for the period from June,2013 to September,2013 exhibits quite satisfactory outcomes. The company is expected to earn high amount of profit in this period. However, from the cash budget for the same period, it can be stated that the company will not be able to repay the loan. The cash budget forecasts that though company will have adequate amount of opening cash balance on September, it cannot generate positive cash flow from operating activities due to the advance payment adjustment from customer. Hence, if the company repays the loan, the total cash balance will become negative and the company has to take short term loan again for its operational activities (Brigham and Ehrhardt 2013). The main risk, which is associated with the proposed loan, is the shortfall of cash balance. The company can reduce the risk level, if it negotiates with its suppliers to extend the credit period of 30 days to 60 days and does not pay the dividend on the month September. 5:- The forecasts, made by the president, are based on sales volume and future cash outlays in form of raw material purchase and operating expenses. It can vary with the actual figures if any of these factors differs from the assumptions (McDONALD 2016). The company expects that the sales volume will rise quite significantly due to faster economic development. It has assumed such future developments according the recent sales figures of big three companies in this sector. The factors, which has helped these three companies to improve the sales, may not be effective for small companies, like Jackson Limited. Therefore, the company may not enjoy such significant sales growth in the coming four months (McDonald 2013). The company expects to reduce the raw material cost and maintain the same amount for all the four months. It should be noted that if the productivity increases, then the raw material consumption would increase subsequently (DRURY 2013). Moreover, if the industry will face a economi development, then raw material price also rise according to its increasing demand. In both the cases, the raw material cost cannot be reduced and maintained at same level for the period of 4 months. The operating expenses are mostly variable expenses, which changes as per production and sales volume. Hence, unlike the assumption of the company, it will not remain same for the specified period, when the production and sales volume both will increase at high rate. Therefore, it can be stated that the assumptions, made for future projection, are not quite satisfactory and logical. There is high risk that the actual figures may differ greatly with the forecast and the company may not achieve its target as per the anticipation (Fleischmann et al. 2015). Moreover, the main issue of the company is the shortage of cash balance, which relies greatly on the sales figures. The sensitivity analysis, shown below, describes how the cash balance would vary according to the change in sales forecast:- Sensitivity Analysis:- Particulars Actual Option 1 Option 2 Option 3 Option 4 Rise by 10% Rise by 15% Fall by 5% Fall by 10% Actual Sales for 8 months 44,014 44,014 44,014 44,014 44,014 Projected Sales for 4 months 34,650 38115 39848 32918 31185 Total Annual Sales 78,664 82,129 83,862 76,932 75,199 Cash Balance on year ending (5,071) (2,340) (974) (6,436) (7,802) It is clear from the above table that the company will be able to pay off the term loan without any interruption in its operations, only if it would be able to increase the sales volume by 15% from the forecasted figures and avoid the dividend payment in the end of September (Hope and Fraser 2013). 6:- From the banks point of view, it can be stated that the current loan should not be extended and the additional loan should not be approved also. The financial forecast statements, given above, exhibit that the company will not be able to save enough cash fund at the end of the fiscal year for repaying both the loans. In such scenario, the bank cannot take such huge risk (Bluhm et al. 2016). As mentioned in the case study, Jackson Limited has performed at the adverse conditions quite well in past. The pro-forma income statement indicates that it will continue to earn profit in the near future also. Hence, the bank can consider it for loan (Bessis and O'Kelly 2015). In that case, it can reduce the risk factors by providing the loan against the accounts receivable balances or the finished goods inventories (Grubel 2014). If the company will not be able to pay the loan on time, then the bank can ensure the payment on encashment of accounts receivable or by selling the finished inventory balances (Brealey et al. 2012). 7:- The repurchase of common outstanding stocks can be very helpful for the companies, which are very much active in the stock markets. The company can reduce the quantity of outstanding shares and thus, it will be able to increase the earning per share (Evgeniou et al. 2016). The company may pay lesser amount for dividends as the dividend per share will rise due to lower numbers of shares. Thus due to increase in earnings per shares and dividend per shares, the stock price of the company uses to get increase quite significantly (Horngren et al. 2013). It is not sure that Jackson Limited is active in share markets or not. If it would intend to rise its stock prices in the market, then the decision of share buy-back is surely a good decision. However, nothing is mentioned in the case study about such intention. Rather, for such repurchasing the company had to take loan from bank. It has led the company to generate higher debt ratio (Andriosopoulos et al. 2013). Moreover, the companies use to repurchase its shares out of its excess cash funds. Jackson Limited did not have enough cash balance when it had re-purchased its own shares (Hofstede 2012). Therefore, the decision of share buy-back cannot be considered as fruitful or effective for the company. 8:- The company should not pay dividends at the end of September,2013, as it is quite sure that the company will face shortage of cash in that particular month. The main aim of the company should be the loan repayment only. It should save cash funds as much as possible and for that reason, it should avoid any cash outflows, which can be paid in the following year (Lorange 2013). Dividends payment is not fixed expenses. It depends on the financial situation and cash balances of the company. Jackson Limited has already paid interim dividend on March,2013. Therefore, if it will pay dividends in the next fiscal year from the total profit of the current year, there will be no problem at all (Patton et al. 2015). References:- Andriosopoulos, D., Andriosopoulos, K. and Hoque, H., 2013. Information disclosure, CEO overconfidence, and share buyback completion rates.Journal of Banking Finance,37(12), pp.5486-5499. Bessis, J. and O'Kelly, B., 2015.Risk management in banking. John Wiley Sons Bluhm, C., Overbeck, L. and Wagner, C., 2016.Introduction to credit risk modeling. Crc Press. Brealey, R.A., Myers, S.C., Allen, F. and Mohanty, P., 2012.Principles of corporate finance. Tata McGraw-Hill Education Brigham, E.F. and Ehrhardt, M.C., 2013.Financial management: Theory practice. Cengage Learning. Bryson, J.M., 2012. Strategic Planning and.The SAGE Handbook of Public Administration, p.50 Channon, D.F. and Jalland, M., 2016.Multinational strategic planning. Springer DRURY, C.M., 2013.Management and cost accounting. Springer. Evgeniou, T., Junque de Fortuny, E., Nassuphis, N. and Vermaelen, T., 2016. Share Buyback and Equity Issue Anomalies Revisited Fleischmann, B., Meyr, H. and Wagner, M., 2015. Advanced planning. InSupply chain management and advanced planning(pp. 71-95). Springer Berlin Heidelberg Grubel, H.G., 2014. A theory of multinational banking.PSL Quarterly Review,30(123). Hofstede, G.H. ed., 2012.The game of budget control. Routledge. Hope, J. and Fraser, R., 2013.Beyond budgeting: how managers can break free from the annual performance trap. Harvard Business Press. Horngren, C.T., Sundem, G.L., Schatzberg, J.O. and Burgstahler, D., 2013.Introduction to management accounting. Pearson Higher Ed. Kaplan, R.S. and Atkinson, A.A., 2015.Advanced management accounting. PHI Learning. Lorange, P., 2013. Co-operative strategies: planning and control considerations.Strategies in global competition, pp.370-389. McDONALD, M.A.L.C.O.L.M., 2016. 5 Strategic marketing planning.The marketing book, p.86 McDonald, M.H., 2013. Ten barriers to marketing planning.Journal of Product Brand Management Patton, C., Sawicki, D. and Clark, J., 2015.Basic methods of policy analysis and planning. Routledge Rausand, M., 2013.Risk assessment: theory, methods, and applications(Vol. 115). John Wiley Sons