Arch Communications Group Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Arch Communications Group - Essay Example As the research declares still consider Arch to be a sound buy. One of these analysts is John Adams, at Wessels, Arnold & Henderson, who believes that Arch’s stocks are undervalued. In his analysis, using EBITDA, Adams concludes that the company’s stocks are still a profitable investment because of its impressive historical growth. This implores investors to ask if Arch’s stocks were undervalued. In Adams’ valuation estimates, where he presents a ten-year horizon long estimate of Arch’s cash flow until the year 2005, this seems to be the case. This paper explores that EBITDA trends of the top paging companies highlights Arch as having one of the highest EBITDA margins in 1995 – a staggering 37% similar with Pagenet, the largest paging company in the country. Arch was also presented to have the highest growth rates in the industry at a 273% subscriber growth rate, 224% revenue growth rate, and 303% EBITDA growth rate, all of which are significantly higher than its competitors. Its Enterprise Value / EBITDA ratio is also the second highest at 18.9, second only to MobileComm, at 27.8 in 1995, and its Enterprise Value / Subscriber ratio is projected to be the highest in 1996 at $422, significantly higher than the average ratio, which is at $326. Based on these values, one can see a clear picture of Arch’s position vis-Ã  -vis its competitors in the industry. By using EBITDA margins to draw comparable conclusions regarding Arch’s value against competing companies in the industry, it failed to consider seve ral factors.

Sales Force Automation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Sales Force Automation - Essay Example "Sales force automation refers to automating all the actions related to sales of an organization or business. This is a coordination of applications that chiefly center on scheduling and contacts management. Sales force automation actions are usually incorporated with other systems that supply the status of orders, inventory and products and other related information and can be a part of a bigger program of customer relationship management." (Trai.org, 2005) There is a wide range of variety available in shape of software and solution for all business levels to gain and transcend their sales forecasts. All these tools eke the process of timely information provision which help the business to audit their present positions and plan their future. The tools available for the sales automation process include personalized software, which are customized according to the specific needs of business. These solutions can be arranged according to the needs of business and sales process of a company. On the management level the sales solutions for executives and management support them in making decisions regarding the sales such as setting goals, auditing the present position of company's sales, providing information about the marketing activities, undertake result assessment and predating more accurate estimation regarding sales of a company. These supporting tools provide the sales personnel with several benefits such as database supervision setting schedules and keep a note of different important documents. These tailored software can be easily indulged in the business system and can be transformed according to the specified needs of a company. The easy application of this software saves time. The implementation of this software also improves the control of management on the sales force. They can analyze the current position of sales activity in effective manner and provide all the important information regarding the current position of the company in the market. Another cutting edge feature of this software is the provision of security to information and data stored. Most of these softwares have in built tools which secure all the information and data stored from the risk of loss or theft. Another important feature is the easy to reach and timely provision of information to the related stakeholders. "SFA packages typically include a Web-ready database, an e-mail package, and customizable templates. A three-tiered architecture is typically used to separate the database, server, and application to reduce programming demands on clients. A module-based design is generally used, to allow users to customize the package to suit their needs.In August 2000, Oracle released a free CRM software package, OracleSalesOnline.com that makes information - such as contacts, schedules, and performance tracking - available online through the included database program. The package is designed for medium-to-large enterprises with mobile work forces.

Implementing Change Paper Essay Example for Free

Implementing Change Paper Essay Managers A manager is a person who is responsible for being in charge of all or a piece of a company or organization. A manager is very important and can make or break a company. According to DuBrin (2008), desirable personal characteristics make a manager somebody that the employees can look up to, and sense content following them. Some of those characteristics are motivation, integrity, optimism, dependability, and confidence. Some level of business insight is essential for a manager. Being knowledgeable about fundamental business values and practices can be helpful, such as having knowledge of the company, being organized, money management, and legal implications. It is necessary for a good manager to be able to communicate thoroughly and effectively. Managers should make sure to develop the skill to converse as part of his or her efforts. Some characteristics that should be acquired to be an affective conversationalist and execute management duties are verbal and written communication, constructive feedback, active listening, and organized presentations. Managers should also know how to build professional relationships with employees with qualities such as respect, values, collaboration, and being a team player. The contents of this paper will define the roles and responsibilities of a manager when change is implemented and how he or she should handle the change using assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation. Roles and responsibilities in implementing change Change is very popular in any company or organization. Change management deals with how changes to the company or department are managed so they dont degrade performance. Once an organization commit to planned change, the manager needs to construct a reasonable step by step approach in order to achieve the goals of change. According to Gilley (2001), a planned change entails managers to follow a seven step method for successful implementations. The first step is to recognize that change is needed. The change may be due to either internal or external forces but it needs to be addressed. The second step is to develop the goals of the change. It is required to establish the reason why the change is necessary then identify the needed changes in terms of products, technology, structure, and culture. The third step is to select a change agent, who will be the person that takes control and is responsible to execute the planned change. The change agent must be attentive to things that need revamping, open to new and good ideas, and supportive of the implementation of those ideas into actual practice. The fourth step is to diagnose the current climate, in which the change agent sets about assembling data about the climate of the company in order to assist employees in preparation for change. Preparing employees for change involves direct and influential feedback about the negatives of the current situation. The fifth step is to choose an implementation technique. Managers can make themselves more receptive to pressures for change by using networks of organizations with diverse perceptions and views, being exposed to new ideas by visiting other organizations, and using outside standards of performance, such as competitors development. The sixth step is to develop a plan that determines the when, where, and how of the change. The seventh and last step is to finally implement the plan. After all the questions have been answered, the plan should be put into operation. Once a change has started, initial excitement can scatter in the facade of everyday issues. Managers can retain the momentum for change by providing resources, developing new capabilities and skills, emphasizing new behaviors, and building a support system for those initiating the change. Handling staff resistance to change During a change, employees often act negatively towards that change. The staff is usually resistant to change for a number of different reasons such as fear of loss of job, fear of the unknown, loss of control, lack of competence, poor timing, peer pressure, lack of trust and support, and many more reasons. There are a number of ways managers can help employees overcome resistance to change. According to Sharma (2006), one proven technique is education and communication. Employees can be educated about the nature of the change and the reason behind it before it takes place using reports, memos, and presentations. Another important factor of overcoming resistance is inviting employee contribution and involvement in the plan and implementation stages of the change. Another possible approach is through facilitation and support. Managers should be sure to supply employees with the resources they need to make the change, be supportive of their efforts, listen to their problem, and understand that performance level may go down initially. Some companies deal with resistance to change through compromise and rewards by offering employees incentives to guarantee their cooperation. Other companies choose to manipulate, such as giving a resistance leader an important position in the change process. Whatever approaches that a manager uses to handle employees resistance to change, it is important that they acknowledge the resistance and do something about it.

Social problems created by gambling Essay Example for Free

Social problems created by gambling Essay As you requested on August 2012, our report outlines the findings into how to minimize social problems arising from gambling. Since casino started operations, casino-related crimes have been occurring on average once a month. The more worrying trends are the increasing number of addicts and regression of their age. It has been reported that more youths 18 – 21 are seeking help for their addictions. (Channelnewsasia. com, February 8, 2012) Firstly we delve through news sites to define crimes that are considered casino related. Secondly, we scrutinize the Casino Control Act (CCA) and identified a number acts designed to curb social problems arising from gambling. Casino related crime comprise only 1% of all crimes due to vigilance of casino operators and cooperation with the police. Casino-Related crimes are defined as crimes occurring in and around the casino. Majority of the crimes committed are thefts of chips, attempting to cheat or cheating and impersonating another person to gain entry to the casino (Crime Statistics, October 3, 2011). The Casino Regulatory Authority was established to enforce the CCA and National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) was formed subsequently to address the problem caused by gambling and educating the public on the downside of gambling. Social safeguards were catered to protect the young and prevent families from disintegrating. 1. Entry Levy An entry fee of $100 daily or $2000 yearly will be levied on locals to serve as deterrence as patrons would have already lost $100 even before gambling. Casino operators will be fined for failing to enforce the levy or reimbursing patrons. Resort World Sentosa (RWS) was fined $600,000 and three of its employees charged for circumventing the CCA by providing free theme park tickets for patrons(Channelnewasia. com, September 12, 2012). 2. Minimum Age Casinos patrons are required to be above the age of 21 to prevent minors from entering the casino. 3. No extending of credits to Singaporeans and Permanent Residents Junkets are prohibited from operating in the casino and Casinos are prohibited to extend credits unless they are premium players defined as patrons who maintain a deposits with credit balanced not less than $100,000 before commencement of play. 4. No Automated Tellers Machine(ATM) ATMs will be prohibited in the casinos. This ensures patrons gamble within their cash limits. 5. NCPG NCPG formed an international advisory panel seeking foreign expertise in developing research and services to identify and control problem gambling. One outlet of educating the public is through developing dramas highlighting the woes of gambling. 6. Exclusion Orders NCPG can make, vary and revoke casino exclusion order banning locals from entering the casino from three orders; voluntary, third-party and family exclusion. Two of these orders (Family and Third-Party exclusions) are crucial aspect of social safeguarding preventing addicts from disintegrating families and ensuring receivers of alms does not squander their money. 7. Advertisements on Casino Casino operators are forbidden from advertising the casinos and gambling to local population. RWS was slapped with a hefty fine when they painted bus with casino logos and offers free ferry services to the casino. RECOMMENDATIONS Proposals were gathered from the public (Reach, August 17, 2012). Based on the feedback, we propose amendments to the CCA that will help minimize social problems. 1. Casino Visit Limit System We propose to limit the frequency of casino visits for Financial Vulnerable (FVs). This should not be limited to low-income workers; NCPG will assess individuals based on his ability to service debts and extent of his gambling habits. This is a moderate measure in controlling FV’s gambling addiction. This might cause respondents to instead double their bet in a visit causing more damage; however the NCPG can still review individuals and place them under casino exclusion instead. 2. Amendments to Casino Exclusion. We suggest allowing issuance of Family Exclusion Order even if respondent is absent. A mandatory assessment and counseling should be conducted before allowing their orders to be revoked. By simplifying and accelerating the process of applying an order so we can prevent respondent from incurring bigger debts. We suggest allowing applicants to just have the same address as the respondent instead of obtaining their Identification Number. We propose that fingerprints scanning be used on all locals visiting the casinos to prevent impersonators trying to circumvent the exclusion order. 3. Responsible Gambling and Personal Responsibility Casino’s employees should be trained to spot at-risk gamblers and advise them to seek help. We recommend screening mandatory videos to appeal to patrons their ‘real’ responsibility and to gamble within their limit before entering the casino. 4. Increasing Entry Levy By increasing the entry levy to $200, we will discourage youth as they have less spending power from visiting the casino. This will cause uproar with current patrons; however this will cause youths and current patrons to have second thoughts before going to the casino. 5. Increase minimum age of patrons We suggest increasing the minimum age of local patrons from 21 to 25. Majority of this age group are studying or just entered the workforce as such income will be lower. By upping the barrier young adults will be more resistant to gambling addiction. SUMMARY Singapore has one of the strictest casino rules in the world reflected by the low number of casino-related crime. We should however continue to be vigilant in deterring casino related crime. Protecting the youths and families from gambling should be our utmost priority. We should proactively seeks out these problems and ensure they do not overwhelm society. While proper framework is provided, more emphasis can be placed on personal responsibility and gamblers should constantly be reminded of their responsibility. By implementing stronger measures ensuring casinos does not circumvent the act, increasing minimum age of patrons and holding discussion between NCPG and casinos to implement measures that helps in educating the public on the consequence of gambling and their personal responsibility. BibLIOGRAPHY 1. Singapore Police Force(12 September 2011), Crime Situation for 2010. Retrieved form: http://www. spf. gov. sg/stats/stats2010_intro. htm 2. Channelnewasia. com, 12 September 2012, RWS Fine $600,000 for partially reimbursing entry levy. Retrieved form: http://www. channelnewsasia. com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1225593/1/. html 3. Attorney Generals Chambers. (2012). Casino Control Act. Retrieved ,21 September 2012, Retrieved form Singapore Statutes Online website: http://statutes. agc. gov. sg/ 4. National Library Board Singapore (2009), Lim Puay Ling, National Council on Problem Gambling. Retrieved form: http://infopedia. nl. sg/articles/SIP_1579_2009-10-05. html 5. The Wall Street Journal, Chun Han Wong, Singapore Looks to Stiffen Casino Regulation. Retrieved form: http://online. wsj. com/article/SB10001424052702303684004577510601715432524. html 6. REACH, Respond to Public Feedback on Proposed Amendments to the Casino Control Act, Retrieved form: http://www. reach. gov. sg/portals/0/E-Consultation/News%20Release%20-%20Summary%20and%20Response%20to%20Consultation%20on%20CCA%20Amendment%20Bill. pdf.

Chinese Elements Embodied In Hollywood Films Cultural Studies Essay

Chinese Elements Embodied In Hollywood Films Cultural Studies Essay Abstract: Under the circumstance of the cultural globalization1; the movie ,as a way of media , has become the quick-launched bridge between the two sides in international cultural communication. The Hollywood cartoon movie-Kung Fu Panda2 ,a action comedy movie entitled with Chinese Kung Fu , shows the world the charm of Chinese culture. In the angle of cultural globalization, this essay forms a conclusion of the revelations people can get by demonstrating the details of Chinese elements and culture embodied in the film Kung Fu Panda. Key words: cultural globalization, Chinese culture and elements , Kung Fu Panda Kung Fu Panda is another cartoon film based upon the Chinese culture after the movie Mu Lan that draws people s attention to the Chinese traditional culture . Of course ,people can see the Chinese elements obviously from the name of this movie-Kung Fu Panda. Kung Fu and panda, the two words are too meaningful although they are simple enough nearly known by everybody. At first , Kung Fu is the quintessence of Chinese culture; and the panda is the national precious treasure of China . When they are combined together as Kung Fu Panda is already attractive enough to draw the peoples curiosity. During the live show of this movie in the world , it has stirred a strong trend of learning Chinese culture in the whole world. The movie tells a story of a fat lazy giant panda that transforms himself into a great a great Kung Fu master a Dragon Warrior. This dragon warrior was raised by a duck , and coached by a great Kung Fu master , WuGui ( a turtle). Although he lives a ordinary peoples life , he has achieved a great dream by saving the Peace Valley from the evil villainous snow leopard-Tai Lung. In the ancient China , a normal panda , Po, ultimately becomes a hero with his strong will and unwavering faith-A real warrior never quits. In this film , we can see lot of Chinese cultural elements everywhere. At first , what draws peoples attention tightly is that the distinctive animal panda .Although the panda , Po , in this film is a clumsy, naÃÆ' ¯ve and fat a animal .But beyond that, we can see the determined and faithful qualities as well .The film maker makes the panda , Po, a Kung Fu lover who is always dreaming to be a warrior. The idea of letting a giant panda become a Dragon Warrior allows audience to give free rein to their imagination ,which tightly hold audiences attention. As a ambassador , the panda make s people in other countries more interested in China and Chinese cultures. Like the movie which is called Kung Fu Dream , the Chinese Kung Fu in this film is also a typical symbol of Chinese culture .The Chinese Kung Fu is said to be the most great point that push so many people at home and abroad to see Kung Fu Panda in cinemas. Undoubtedly, since Li Xiaolong, the first person who introduced the Chinese Kung Fu to the people in the world on screen many years ago , more and more people have been keen on the magic Wu Shu . In the movie , we can see all kings of Kung Fu , such as Tai Chi, the five elements boxing, 12-shaped boxing, etc. Although it is a cartoon movie , the scenes in the cartoon film also show the Chinese Elements. All the props , sceneries and architectures in the film are designed carefully in Chinese style. Firstly , the scenes in the cartoon film visually look like the Chinese Monochromes. Besides, the mountains ,rivers , ancient temples and houses altogether with all the other beautiful natural sceneries somehow remind the audience of the image of ancient China. There is no doubt that the music is the Chinese element that go through the whole movie. What comes first is the opening song -Hero, and then comes the sound of gongs played by Qiang Di and wooden flute with graceful and restrained voice, all these things send out a strong feeling of Oriental charm. The lively sound of Gu qin and XianZi , connected by a small section of the solo sound of the Duduk , makes people feel like listening to the Chinese classical music. Although all these songs are sung in English , yet people can also sense the Chinese style in the music. In spite of the whole story of the panda and how he defeat the evil, the Chinese philosophical thinking is also embodied in some sentences. In this film, the directors implicate Chinese philosophical thoughts in some simple lines . For instance, the master Wu Gui in the film is a wise man. One of the most famous words given by master Wu Gui is that Yesterday is history; tomorrow is a mystery; but today is a gift. That is why we call it the present. The word present has two meanings-gift and at present. Here, the words are wisely used to tell a smart truth. In the movie , enlightened by the dragon scroll, the panda -Po also finally understand that he has to be his own hero. Once someone is empowered to achieve anything he wants, he has to set his mind on it so as to achieve his goals. Also, there are still many other Chinese cultural elements which are embodied in the film. For example, the Chinese relationships between the apprentices and masters in the Kung Fu Panda. Above all , Kung Fu Panda is embodied with the typical Chinese culture which is made up of a lot of things such as Chinese peoples diets , Chinese peoples lifestyles ,Chinese traditional medicines and so on .What people can learn from this phenomenon? And why the Kung Fu Panda isnt made in China ? Cultural globalization is happening in todays world. As the cultural globalization spreads all over the world inevitably fast, nations are confronted with the clashes. When you are walking in the streets ,you can find the KFC and the McDonalds restaurants at almost every corner of the street in most of the modern cities in China. You can also see the Starbuck located at the bottom of many office buildings in big cities like Shanghai and Beijing in China. We can find some of foreign movie actresses wearing the Chinese-style dress and actors wearing Chinese Tang suit to attend the important meetings. To some extent , the Chinese festivals, food, music and art are also affecting the world. Therefore, it is not surprised at all for us to find a Hollywood Kung Fu Panda .Through the Kung Fu Panda, the Hollywood DreamWorks successfully opened the biggest market with endless business opportunity. Today ,cultural globalization provides people a stage to present our Chinese culture to the whol e world. As we all know, there are so many Confucius Institutes in many countries where foreigners are learning Chinese culture, Chinese language and Chinese custom well. From this point of view , it can be seen that the cultural globalization is an inevitable trend. Acting rationally towards intercultural communication is the only correct attitude towards cultural globalization. In the era of the rapid spread of cultural globalization, the development of national culture more and more relies on other countries and the promotion of the other countries cultures .Thus we Chinese people should not only inherit our ancestors valuable fortune-Chinese culture, but also make it known to the people in the world. Notes: Cultural Globalization  refers to the transmission of ideas, meanings and values across national borders. Through the process of sharing the ideas and values of one culture to another ultimately leads to an interconnectedness between various populations from diverse cultures. Kung Fu Panda is a 2008 American computer-animated action comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It was directed by John Wayne Stevenson and Mark Osborne and produced by Melissa Cobb. Set in a version of ancient China populated by anthropomorphic talking animals, the plot revolves around a bumbling panda named Po who aspires to be a kung fu master. When an evil kung fu warrior is foretold to escape from prison, Po is unwittingly named the chosen one destined to bring peace to the land, much to the chagrin of the resident kung fu warriors.

James Stewart :: Entertainment Film Papers

James Stewart "In a career of extraordinary range and depth, Jimmy Stewart has come to embody on screen the very image of the typical American.... His idealism, his determination, his vulnerability, and above all, his basic decency shine through every role he plays..."-- The American Film Institute. The Nature of Film and Acting When film was young, acting was overdone. Low quality cameras could only record large movements; posing and enunciation were overstated as a result of theater acting; the development of the character was limited to a script. Starting in the 1930's film acting became more natural. Actors could interpret scripts to find emotion and motivation in their characters. Good acting relies on a kinesthetic, an intrapersonal, and an interpersonal intelligence, all of which work together to form a creative expression. There exist limitless styles of acting; there is always something to learn. The physicality of the actor is the most important part of the creation of the character. Since all experiences are interpreted through a physical means (i.e. our senses), the kinesthetic actor can evoke a response from his audience by connecting his actions to their lives, memories, or emotions. By having distinct facial features or a certain body build, the actor's mere physical presence can convey some detail of his character. However, the most important part of the kinesthetic intelligence in acting is the knowledge of one's body, where it is, what it's doing, and what message it's conveying. This is more than just muscle movement. It includes physique, timing, rhythm, voice and mannerisms. When we watch movies, we notice emotion and characterization mainly in the eyes and mouth. However, a man can not just act from the neck up. What his body tells us is just as important as what his face tells. Try It! Make your body tense. Tighten every muscle you can. Now, smile. How do you feel? How would you appear to feel? For the actor, the hands are a good place to release energy, but conveying meaningful messages through the hands is hard to do. Also, overuse of gestures can be dizzying to a viewer. Voice is another excellent means of communicating the unstated. From sincerity to sarcasm, we can tell as much from the way something is said as from the words themselves. Underneath the physical lies the actor's presence. The intrapersonal unconsciously comes through in the form of a persona that the audience can further relate to.

The Implicat of Sin in Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter :: Scarlet Letter essays

The Implicat of Sin in The Scarlet Letter Sin is the transgression of a moral code designated by either society or the transgressor. The Puritans of Boston in the novel, The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, establish a rigid moral code by which to purge their society of deviants. As this society is inherently theocratic, the beliefs and restrictions established by religion are not only incorporated into law but constitute all law. In this manner, the moral code of the Puritan society thoroughly pervades the lives of its individuals, and any presence of iniquity is felt in all aspects of their lives. In The Scarlet Letter, the characters' lives are controlled by the sin they commit. Hester Prynne's adultery causes her alienation from the Puritan society in which she lives. After the term of her confinement ends, she moves into a remote, secluded cottage on the outskirts of town, inducing a physical separation from the townspeople. Because of this seclusion from society, the Puritans regard her with much curiosity and suspicion: " Children...would creep nigh enough to behold her plying her needle at the cottage-window...and discerning the scarlet letter on her breast, would scamper off with a strange, contagious fear." In addition to the physical separation, a more intangible manner of exclusion also exists, in that Hester becomes a pariah. She is subject to derision and malice from the lowliest of vagrants to the most genteel of individuals of the community, though many are often the recipients of her care and attention: "The poor...whom she sought out to be the objects of her bounty, often reviled the hand that was stretched forth to succor them...Dames of elevated rank, likewise, were accustomed to distill drops of bitterness into her heart." Hester cannot feel any sort of kinship with the townspeople in light of the treatment she receives from them, thus alienating her even further from Puritan society. Formerly an inhabitant within the bounds of the community as well as a member of the community, she is now outcast in both respects. Just as the act of adultery is pivotal in Hester's life, this sin effects a similar manipulation of Arthur Dimmesdale's life. Dimmesdale's guilt over his sin continually torments him throughout