Good Topics to Write a Proposal Essay on

Good Topics to Write a Proposal Essay onGood topics to write a proposal essay on are good topics for real work. Before heading out to take some administrative job somewhere, consider looking at the topics on the sections of the Human Resources section of the Google search page.Sure, a woman may have the needs and wants of people wanting to join her team. But, a man with the needs and wants of people wanting to join his team have actually come up with an effective proposal and worked through the research and analysis of the purpose for taking an administrative job. Consider, if you will, if you will be doing the bulk of the administrative jobs in an organization. And, if you can do the work for yourself and prove that you can produce the right results, you can look forward to a nice pay bump in the future.An organization makes some of the best research when trying to determine the current need for the job. Then, they make sure that they are hiring a person with the right talents, expe rience and skill set. By identifying these needs, the organization can then begin by filling the needs in the best manner possible.That best means that the needs should be determined on facts and information of what the needs are and a background on the persons who can best fulfill those needs. Only then can an employer see that the person is the right person for the job.From there, the employer can go further into the specifics of the position to make sure that the job is going to be easily done. The employer will be able to work with the team to make sure that the person who does the job can do it well.Here are some other good topics to write a proposal essay on. Perhaps you will enjoy reading this list of topics for you to begin planning your next project.If you are looking for the person with the best interest of the organization, that person is going to have to be the current job. So, do your research and you may discover the topics that will work best for you.

Credit Card Debt For The First Time - 1514 Words

This year student loans will grow to $1 trillion dollars, outpacing credit card debt for the first time (Goodman). Inflation is a word that many people have heard of but some might not actually know what it means. Inflation is when the prices of products increase while the buying power of money decreases (â€Å"Inflation†). Inflation is something that has always happened and probably always will. It’s not necessarily a bad thing in itself, but it can cause a problem if inflation grows much faster than wages increase. We, as a nation, need to curb the inflation of college costs begin the process of lowering the expense of higher education. In the last 30 years the inflation of tuition and other college costs has risen at an astounding rate. If you take a look at Stanford University you will find that their tuition has grown from about $6,000 dollars in 1980 to over $40,000 in 2012. If other products followed those inflation rates common groceries, like milk, would be clo se to $15. I don’t know about you, but to me that is absolutely ridiculous. This growing problem can most easily be seen in the large universities like the before mentioned Stanford. The problem of rising college costs has been around for a while, but in recent years it has gotten to a point where it is no longer possible to ignore. It is just getting worse and worse with each passing year with the prices going nowhere but up. The problem of the cost of higher education needs to be solved as soon as possibleShow MoreRelatedPersonal Finance1129 Words   |  5 PagesFalse—A debit card will work just fine when renting cars and checking into hotels. 3. False—The debt snowball begins with your smallest debt. 4. True 5. False—If you have to loan money to a friend, give it to them as a gift. Never co-sign a loan. Matching 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. i. b d j c k e l a f Multiple Choice 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. c d a a b d a d c c b d c d a Short Answer: 31. The adult market is saturated, and credit card companiesRead More Conniving Campus Credit Essay1677 Words   |  7 PagesCampus Credit According to Eric Hoover, the lure of easy credit on college campuses causes students to be burdened with needless and unscrupulous debt. In his essay, â€Å"The Lure of Easy Credit Leaves Students Struggling with Debt,† Hoover effectively argues his position through significant references and by successfully rebutting the opposition. Hoover explains how college students are not prepared to deal with the financial responsibilities associated with managing credit cards andRead MoreImportance Of Good Financial Decisions776 Words   |  4 Pagesdecisions and find themselves with poor credit scores. They dont know when they made these bad choices but often feel that they are wrong. These poor credit scores often reflect the misunderstanding of how credit works. Good financial decisions can be made if you know how credit works. 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This one simple card would make things moreRead MoreCash Versus Credit Cards Essay examples1143 Words   |  5 PagesCash versus Credit Cards Americans should handle their credit cards responsibly and should not become a part of that number of abusers. The Scott III (1999) website â€Å"The average Americans household has eight credit cards, which are used to charge almost $2 trillion in goods and services annually.† No one wants to be a part of the group of individuals who he or she can put his or herself at risk for acquiring a negative credit score, possible job rejections, rejections when trying to rent or leaseRead MoreCredit Analysis Exercise Essay1111 Words   |  5 PagesEstimate Category Vicki Tim Assets Checking   Account Car 401K Income Gross   Annual   Salary After- ­Ã¢â‚¬ Tax   Monthly   Salary (Monthly   Take   Home   Pay) Liabilities Student   Loan Credit   Card   Balance Monthly   Expenses Rent Food Student   Loan Credit   card   payments Entertainment Wedding   Expenses Gas   /   Repairs Retirement   Savings 401k    10500 2500 25000 400 15000 8000 50000 2917 48000 2800 98000 5717 9000 10000 750 250 Read MoreCredit Card Debt Should Not Be New For American Consumers Essay1332 Words   |  6 Pagesservices with a plastic card, there has been complications. Credit cards have a few positives, but the risks heavily outweigh the good. Americans owe a combined 12 trillion dollars’ worth of credit card debt (John Oliver, 2016). The average household in the United Sates owes around $5,700 (valuepenguin.com). Debt should not be something new for American consumers since they already deal with student loan, automobile, and mortgage debt. Since credit card debt is so prevalent, debt buyers and other loanRead MoreCredit Cards And The Best Habits For Effective Credit Card777 Words   |  4 Pages Credit cards have become an integral part of our lives. We rely them for enjoying small pleasures and while making big purchases. But as helpful as credit cards can be, using them the wrong way can lead to a loss of credit score and even get you into debt. Therefore, it is important that you know how to make the most of your credit cards. Here are some of the best habits for effective credit card use. Find the Right Card Not all credit cards are alike and you should carefully consider yourRead MoreAdvantages Of Debit Card Vs Credit Card931 Words   |  4 PagesThe Advantages of Debit Card versus Credit Card The advantages of debit card versus credit cards used by young adults are debit cards will not allow you to mismanage, overspend or go into debt. The most common explanation for credit card debt for people under the age of 25. â€Å"Demographic and credit trends show that young people, and in particular students, may be the next segment of credit users that will face difficult financial times. â€Å"In the United States, there are 19.1 million students whoRead MoreAuto Debt Is Not Problematic1286 Words   |  6 PagesOn the other hand, auto lenders would argue automobile debt is not problematic. The steady climb of auto lending throughout the past four years is aiding the sales of U.S. automotive industries. David Berson, a chief economist for Nationwide Insurance, says that â€Å"because gasoline prices have come down, it makes it less expensive to run the vehicles that use more fuel.† The savings in fuel can be put toward new automobiles and higher loan payments. And , auto loans are a comfortable tendency for lenders

Covered Bonds free essay sample

With liquidly rationing, (credit crunch) does offering covered bonds hold the answer or does it just offer banks the opportunity to increase their margin?. Discuss critically. Introduction In the modern day world, with technology and global markets expanding, the need for credit is a constant issue for economies to monitor. Liquidity rationing has been most relevant since the GFC, when the credit market essentially froze, sending financial markets in turmoil. Therefore finding ways to increase liquidity at a time when markets are volatile requires instruments of low risk. Covered bonds have recently gained momentum as a popular tool for banks to increase their liquidity whilst taking on very limited risk. Theory A Credit Crunch also known commonly as liquidity rationing, is the reduction in general availability of loans or credit, or a sudden limitation of conditions required to obtain from a financial institution. A credit crunch is therefore independent of interest rate movements. This does however result in the relationship between credit and interest rates to change so that, credit becomes less available at a given interest rate, or there ceases to be a clear relationship between credit availability and interest rates. These events of a liquidity rationing are often the result of reckless lending management, which leads to bad debt for institutions. Consequently, when these loans take a turn for the worse and the investors cannot reimburse their loan payments, banks are forced to take sudden action and tighten the availability of loans or credit. The Financial Crisis is a prime example of a credit crunch that resulted in a near collapse of the global financial markets; in which case was saved by a sovereign bailout to ensure liquidity was restored. Covered bonds are debt securities backed by cash flows from mortgages or public sector loans. They are similar in many ways to asset-backed securities created in securitization, but covered bond assets remain on the issuer’s consolidated balance sheet. A covered bond is a corporate bond with one important enhancement: recourse to a pool of assets that secures or covers the bond if the originator (usually a financial institution) becomes insolvent. (Rosen, 2008) For the investor, one major advantage to a covered bond is that the debt and the underlying asset pool remain on the issuers financials, and issuers must ensure that the pool consistently backs the covered bond. In the event of default, the investor has recourse to both the pool and the issuer. In addition, because asset’s remaining on the balance sheet covers the bond, means that it was essentially risk free when investing in a covered bond. This risk free sentiment surrounding covered bonds issued by institutions, have made covered bonds one of most successful and popular investment instruments since their creation in Denmark back in 1795. (Bujalance, 2010) The issue with covered bonds is if institutions can accurately evaluate the assets within their asset pools. Past events like the GFC have shown assets being falsely rated, which contributed to the decline in global financial markets. The difference between a covered bond and an unsecured bond is that an unsecured bond is dependent on the rating by the issuer, which means the structural enhancements and overcollateralization enables covered bonds to achieve higher ratings above the issuers of unsecured bonds. Furthermore, because a pool of assets does not back unsecured bonds, this results in greater volatility for unsecured bonds especially during downturns in the credit cycle. Asset back securities are therefore different to covered bonds as they are a security backed by a loan, lease or receivables. They operate under securitization. Often a separate institution, called a special purpose vehicle, is created to handle the securitization of asset-backed securities. The special purpose vehicle is responsible for bundling the underlying assets into a specified pool that will fit the risk preferences and other needs of investors. (Schwarcz, 2011) Discussion The covered bond market is the most important privately issued bond segment in Europe’s capital markets. Prior to the intensification of the financial crisis in October 2008, covered bonds were a key source of funding for euro area banks. The market had grown to over â‚ ¬2. 4 trillion by the end of 2008, compared with about â‚ ¬1. 5 trillion in 2003 (ECBC, 2009). The lack of credit risk transfer with covered bonds is an important distinction with this asset class compared with, for example, asset-backed securities (ABS) and other securities that were subject to securitization. This may well explain the resilience of the covered bond market at the initial stage of the crisis in August 2007. Biswas, 2010) Investors’ affinity for covered bonds can be explained by their relative safety compared with any non-securitized asset class. In relation to covered bonds, a pool of collateral backs the credit risk of the issuer, which is usually of high quality. Despite this, however, the covered bond market was not totally immune to the effects of the crisis. Up to the intensification of the crisis following the collapse of Lehman Brothers in mid-September 2008, it was clear that the covered bond market had outperformed other wholesale funding instruments. The widening of spreads was much less substantial for covered bonds than other ABS and unsecured debt. (Biswas, 2010) Graph 1 backs up this argument that the widening of spreads was less significant for covered bonds as the risk and leverage involved, is much lower. Graph 1 (BIS, 2012) A smoothly functioning covered bond market is highly important in the context of financial stability. This market provides a useful funding source for mortgage lending. For example, the issuance of covered bonds enables banks to match liability duration relative to its mortgage loan portfolio. As a result, this improves a bank’s ability to manage funding and interest rate risk. â€Å"In times of financial crisis, the risk appetite of investors shifted towards less risky assets. † (Bernanke, 2009) As the crisis progressed and became more intensive at the beginning of 2009, spreads in the euro area covered bond market continued to widen, and liquidity continued to worsen. The financial crisis exacerbated the lack of confidence between banks, leading to a halt in interbank market activity. In turn, this raised concerns about the liquidity risk of a large number of banks and, to a certain extent, their solvency, thereby threatening the whole banking system. This scenario sets the context for the introduction of the European Central Bank’s decision to provide support to the covered bond market in the euro area through outright purchases of covered bonds under the Covered Bond Purchase Programme (CBPP). This is evident in graph 2 shows the increase in covered bonds as opposed to unsecured and government-guaranteed bonds. Graph 2 (RBA, 2012) The rationale for selecting covered bonds to purchase outrightly over any other asset class can be summarised as follows (ECB, 2008): â€Å"Covered bonds possess a number of attractive features from the perspective of financial stability. Covered bonds as dual recourse instruments are less risky than most other bank securities and also increase banks’ access to long-term funding, thereby mitigating liquidity risks. In the context of the ongoing financial market turmoil, it is important to stress that, on the whole, covered bonds have proven themselves relatively resilient, in particular in comparison with securitisation†. Bernanke, 2012) The United States were at the forefront of the GFC and they also have significantly increased the number of covered bond purchases since the financial crisis. Graph 3 below is evidence of this. Graph 3 (Deutsche Bank 2011) It is evident that economies around the globe, in particular in the Eurozone have turned to covered bonds as a mean s to expand liquidity across financial markets. So much so that some many question if these covered bonds are just a means to increase their underlying margin, or are the benefits being filtered through to the consumers? An argument could be made that if an issuer increases there covered bond portfolio in ratio to its asset backed and unsecured products, the lower coupon they are able to place on the covered bond should be somewhat passed on to the consumer through the variable mortgage rate. If this isn’t the case, then a margin is produced as the issuer is receiving a higher rate on the loans than the coupon rate handed out. Therefore offering a cheaper source of funding and thus creating profit for the bank issuing the covered bonds. Firstly the covered bonds rates must be analysed in order to determine the potential margin that large financial institutions may acquire. The following graph represents the unsecured and covered bond rates. Graph 4 (Norges, 2007) The differences between the unsecured and covered bond rates are relatively marginal given the current policy decisions and market conditions since the GFC. It is evident from this graph that the margin gained from offering covered bonds is not significantly impacting the profits of Norges Bank. It is safe to assume instead that the benefit from covered bonds over unsecured bonds have to do with covered bonds low risk nature and liquidity benefits in times of crisis and recessions. Australia has also followed course and as of October 2011, the RBA issued $17 billion worth of covered across Australia’s top four banks. The reasoning behind this program was â€Å"The ability to achieve longer-term funding reflects the high credit quality of covered bonds, as well as an expanded investor base. † (RBA, 2011) The table below shows the Covered Bond program being distributed by Austalia’s largest banks. Table 5 (RBA, 2012) When looking at the table we have seen 17. 3 billion dollars’ worth of covered bonds being issued out of the total bond market of $90 billion in Australia. This poses the question to whether this cheaper source of funding through the lower coupon yield has been transferred across to the consumer through lowering the variable mortgage rate. However if the difference were rather minute, then passing on the margin through to the customers would not be required. It would therefore be plausible to assume that most globalised economies would be issuing interest rates are at all-time lows. In particular throughout the US and Europe interest rates are sitting about . 5-1%. It would be fair to assume that any earnings are not being transferred through to the consumer by lowering the variable interest rate. Table 6 highlights the Variable lending rate in Australia taken from the RBA. Table 6 (RBA, 2011) As can be viewed within the table, there is a definite drop in variable interest rates since the introduction of covered bond rates. Although this difference between the unsecured bond rate on average and the covered bond coupon rate can be up to 4%, the rate change we see here is a drop of . 4%. It is evident that the amount of funding that is and will be taken from covered bonds in comparison to the average banks source of funding on the whole is insignificant. This is would be seen to be an inadequate trade off. This provides clear evidence that the amount of funding that banks throughout Australia are accumulating from covered bonds in comparison to their average lendi ng rates are so minute that profits taken from covered bonds, would not make a significant impact on the banks overall profit margin. Therefore whether the banks are passing the funds on to consumers in not making a significant impact to the banks’ balance sheets. Conclusion There are significant advantages for utilising covered bonds due to the low risk nature, and liquidity requirements that has proven to reduce the effect of credit crunches on financial markets. This is evident in the growth of covered bond volumes that has been introduced by major economies post GFC. It is therefore safe to assume that major banks would be taking some sort of margin from the low coupon rates associated with covered bonds. With this being the case however, the difference in covered bond rates, unsecured and variables rates as seen above, demonstrates that on a overall scale, the margins generate would be relatively minute, thus not passing through to customers. In conclusion, covered bonds have been successful in cushioning the blow that the GFC has had on the credit market and liquidity rationing. However the increased volumes of covered bonds being issued by financial institutions have not resulted in significant profits to warrant any margins being filtered through to consumers.

One Of The Greatest International Economic Debates Of All Time Has Bee

One of the greatest international economic debates of all time has been the issue of free trade versus protectionism. Proponents of free trade believe in opening the global market, with as few restrictions on trade as possible. Proponents of protectionism believe in concentrating on the welfare of the domestic economy by limiting the open-market policy of the United States. However, what effects does this policy have for the international market and the other respective countries in this market? The question is not as complex as it may seem. Both sides have strong viewpoints representing their respective opinions, and even the population of the United States is divided when it comes to taking a stand in the issue. After examining all factors on the two conflicting sides, it is clear that protectionism, from the side of the United States, is the only way the American industrial economy can expand for the benefit of its citizens and for its national welfare. The economy needs to get it self out of the huge deficit hole that it has created for itself, and lean towards protectionist measures. The dictionary definition of free trade states it as a policy of allowing people of one country to buy and sell from other countries without restrictions. This idea originated with the influential British economist, philosopher, and author of The Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith. He inspired the writings of great economists such as David Ricardo, Karl Marx, Thomas Malthus, and others. According to Smith, specialization and trade is the best solution to create a flourishing American economy, with its industries ruling the economic world. William H. Peterson, holder of the Lundy Chair of Business Philosophy at Campbell University, agrees with Smith's philosophy. He states that the idea of free trade allows the efficient use of economic resources and will promote international cooperation. One of the biggest examples of international cooperation is the Bretton Woods system that origi nated from a 1944 conference at Bretton Woods, New Hampshire. Those participants in this conference created three organizations to help regulate the international economy. The first is the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which was established with the idea of regulating monetary policy. One of the benchmarks of the IMF is the stabilization of exchange rates and the loaning of money to help stabilize countries with balance of payments deficits. The second organization established was the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) whose main focus was on a liberal trading order. Their mission was to reduce trade barriers on manufactured goods and to build-up the principle of most-favored nation (MFN) status. This would impose a sense of fairness between countries in that each was required to levy the same low tariffs on each others imports. The third and final organization sponsored by Bretton Woods is the World Bank. The World Bank's most ambitious aim was the fostering of econo mic development. This is accomplished through loans to struggling countries. In addition to the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation was annexed to provide loans to corporations who are seen to help aide in poor countries' development. These three organizations within the Bretton Woods agreement captured the cooperation of the global community due to the one thing they all found in common: a commitment to a free market and economic freedom. In the 17th and 18th century, the American revolution was triggered by the Sugar Act of 1764 and the Stamp Act of 1765. The Sugar Act imposed import duties on foreign molasses, sugar, wine, and other commodities. The Stamp Act provided a tax on all important documents, periodicals, almanacs, pamphlets, and playing cards. The colonists believed that these control practices were unfounded since they advocated "No taxation without Representation." These protectionist measures contributed to the conflict which led to the American revolut ion. Similarly, protectionism also led to the Civil War. During the Civil War era, the industrial North was goading the agricultural South through the highly disputed Tariff of Abominations of 1828 and 1832. This high tariff protected the northern manufactures while the South demanded a low tariff in order to trade its cotton for cheap foreign goods. Eventually, these conflicts led to issues of secession, which thus led to the Civil War. Through

Urban Legend of the Drugged Perfume

Urban Legend of the Drugged Perfume A scary story making the Internet rounds since 1999 claims that criminals in the U.S. and elsewhere are using perfume samples spiked with ether  or some kind of knockout drug to render victims unconscious before assaulting them and/or stealing their valuables. Versions of this urban legend continue to circulate via email and social media. A Twitter message from 2015 is as follows: Pls if anyone stops U and ask if youre interested in some perfume and gives u a paper to smell, pls dont! Its a new scam, the paper is laced with drugs. Youll pass out so they can kidnap, rob or do worse things to you. Pls forward to all friends and family..Save a life please. This was received from a Senior police officer this morning. Take note and alert everyone you want to protect. This is not a joke please. Pass on to family and friends. This is from the UK. The Knockout Perfume Scam The closest any of these reports has come to being confirmed was the case of Bertha Johnson of Mobile, Alabama, who told police in November 1999 that she was robbed of $800 after sniffing a cologne sample offered by a stranger and subsequently passing out in her car. Toxicological tests revealed no foreign substances in Johnsons blood, however. Although the details have morphed over time, more recent versions of the story echo early news reports about the alleged Alabama incident. Instead of cologne, the tainted sample is now said to be perfume. Instead of an unknown soporific substance, the knockout drug is now said to be ether. Interestingly, the main moral message of the story, which was originally Beware of parking lot scammers, has evolved into If I hadnt read this warning, I could have been a victim too. And so could you! Its typical for rumors, hoaxes, and urban legends to change as theyre passed from person to person (or inbox to inbox). As anyone who has ever played the childrens game of Telephone can attest, perception and memory are fallible, and people tend to misremember and/or misreport what theyve heard. Moreover, its in the nature of storytelling (and storytellers) to creatively enhance a yarn to make it more impactful. These processes can be seen at work in the tale of The Knock-Out Perfume. Two Sniffs and Youre Out! On November 8, 1999, the Mobile, Alabama police department issued this press release: On Monday, November 8, 1999, at approximately 2:30 p.m. Officers from the Third Precinct responded to the World of Wicker, at 3055 Dauphin Street. When the Officers arrived the victim, 54-year-old Bertha Johnson of the 2400 block of St. Stephens Road, advised she was rendered unconscious after smelling an unknown substance. Johnson was approached by an unknown black female, who was described as follows: slim build, 120-130 pounds, 5 feet 7 inches tall and was last seen wearing a Leopard print wrap on her head and large gold loop earrings. The victim told Investigators the incident occurred at the Amsouth Bank at 2326 Saint Stephens Road. After the victim regained consciousness she discovered her property missing from her purse and her vehicle. The MOBILE POLICE DEPARTMENT is advising the public to be on alert for this type of activity. Local media jumped on the story. A November 10 article in the Mobile Register quoted Johnson as saying that her assailant offered her a $45 bottle of cologne for the bargain price of $8 and talked her into to sniffing a sample. She did, once, and detected nothing odd about the aroma. But when she sniffed it a second time, she said, she lost consciousness. The next thing Johnson knew, she was sitting in another parking lot miles away from where shed started, dazed, confused, and missing $800 in cash. I feel like I got flimflammed out of something that I should have known better than to even look out the window at her, Johnson told the Register. Within days of the incident, the story of Bertha Johnsons parking lot misadventure was all over the internet. Anonymous Email Warning of Parking Lot Perfume Scam Bertha Johnsons firsthand report of her alleged run-in with a cologne scammer inspired an anonymously-written email cautioning all women to beware of parking lot vendors offering samples of cut-rate cologne. While it nailed some of the reported facts correctly, it omitted others completely- the name of the victim, for example, as well as the name of the city in which the incident supposedly happened. These omissions may have dampened the emails credibility somewhat. In general, narratives are more believable the more specific they are. But minus some of the particulars the story took on an air of universality  as if to say: This could happen to anyone, anywhere, even  you, in your hometown. Subject: Fwd: Cologne sniffingDate: Mon, 15 Nov 1999 08:54:37 -0600Watch out - this is for real!!!!!!!I just heard on the radio about a lady that was asked to sniff a bottle of perfume that another woman was selling for $8.00. (In a mall parking lot) She told the story that it was her last bottle of perfume that regularly sells for $49.00 but she was getting rid of it for only $8.00, sound legitimate?Thats what the victim thought, but when she awoke she found out that her car had been moved to another parking area and she was missing all her money that was in her wallet (total of $800.00). Pretty steep for a sniff of perfume!Anyway, the perfume wasnt perfume at all, it was some kind of ether or strong substance to cause anyone who breathes the fumes to black out.SO beware..... Christmas time is coming and we will be going to malls shopping and we will have cash on us.Ladies, please dont be so trusting of others and beware of your surroundings- ALWAYS! Obey your instincts!*Please pass this on to your friends, sisters, mothers and all the women in your life you care about....... we can never be too careful!!!!* I Did Two Stupid Things More variants appeared almost instantly, usually localizing the story in places where no such crimes had been reported. One version sent later that same month bore the false preamble, This happened in St. Louis. In early December a lengthier version emerged. A woman was approached in a Walmart parking lot by two young men hawking designer perfume, it said, for only $8 a bottle (as in the original version). In this variant the potential victim is said to have declined to sniff the product, and escaped unharmed. Of course, the email strongly urged that it be passed on to friends, loved ones, and co-workers. Subject: Parking lot weirdosThis was forwarded to me - you may be interested:This is quite strange to hear this story because last month I was approached in the Wal-Mart (on Beckly) parking lot by two young men who were selling designer perfume. They stated that it was the excess of a cosmetic show and it was $8.00. I noticed one young mans distinct accent. I asked him if he was from Kentucky. He replied yes. He asked me if I was sure I didnt want to smell the perfume and I once again said no then got into my car. I did two stupid things. First I spoke/conversed with a stranger at 9:00 at night in a parking lot. Second I allowed a stranger into my space without realizing he was moving closer to me. I was on my guard. The Rumor Spreads to Walmart and Target The Walmart version was still going strong when yet another variant appeared describing yet another new incident, this one having allegedly occurred in the parking lot of a Target store in Plano, Texas. In this rendering, disaster is once again averted when the would-be victim rebuffs the salesmans advances before he even tells her what hes selling. The warning is all the more frightening, however, because it gives the impression that similar crimes are being perpetrated all over the United States. In January 2000 someone completely rewrote the text emphasizing the close call scenario and crediting earlier versions of the email with preventing more such crimes from taking place: Come April 2000, another report of an incident in a Walmart parking lot is appended to the foregoing version. Note that the two males described in this variant are neither hawking perfume nor asking anyone to sniff a sample. They merely inquire as to the kind of perfume the narrator is wearing: I just wanted to pass along that I was approached yesterday afternoon at around 3:30 p.m. in the Walmart parking lot at Forest Drive by 2 males asking what kind of perfume I was wearing. I didnt stop to answer them and kept walking toward the store. At the same time I remembered this email. The men continued to stand between parked cars I guess to wait on someone else to hit on. I stopped a lady going toward them, pointed at them, and told her what they might ask and NOT to let them get near her. When that happened, the men and a lady (I dont know where she came from!) started walking the other way toward their car parked in far corner of the parking lot. I thank Jane Shirey for passing this along it might have saved me from a robbery. Im passing this along to youall so you can warn the women in your life to watch out for this... Cathy Dont Stop for a Stranger... This  wordy  variation, which also appeared in late April 2000, describes yet another close call, though this time the story is completely secondhand. Its set in Kansas City: Two weekends ago, Mom, Melody and I were shopping at The Home Place at about 95th Metcalf and while I was driving around the parking lot looking for the closest parking spot, we saw a man individually approach two single women and speak to them. They both just kept walking and wouldnt have anything to do with him.When we got into the store we saw one of the women that he spoke with and so curiosity getting the best of us we went up to her and explained that wed seen the man approach her in the parking lot and we were wondering what he wanted. She then told us she was so scared that she had to sit down so we found the section with lawn furniture and we all sat down.She explained that just a few days prior she had received and e-mail about a man approaching you in a store parking lot asking if youd like to smell a perfume, explaining that hes got all of the latest fragrances at drastically reduced prices and that hes sure youll like this one (as he hands you the bottle) you take it an d smell it and pass out because its ether, not perfume. She said that was this mans exact line and that when she saw him pull a bottle out from his jacket, she said dont open that bottle or Ill scream and call the police on my cell phone. Well, we walked her to her car when we were all done shopping so she didnt have to go back out there by herself and we talked about it for a few minutes. Three Versions in One The knockout perfume legend took the form of an omnibus version in 2000, including a new scenario that supposedly took place at a gas station in Des Moines, Iowa, followed by two of the previous versions. I received this email from a friend!I was pumping gas at the Texaco station at Merle Hay and Douglas approximately a week and a half ago and a young girl walked up to me and asked if Id like to sample some perfume scents. She said that they had all the latest fragrances. I looked over at her car which was a turquoise sub-compact and her boyfriend (?) was rooting through the trunk. I declined, saying that I had to get back to work. She said again that they had all the latest scents and it wouldnt take long. I again declined and went inside to pay for my gas. She said, Thanks anyway, and went back to her car. When I pulled out, the two were just sitting there in the car. She smiled and waved. I thought it was an odd thing at the time, but the note below really brings it home that it could have been part of this indeed frightening scenario. I dont know WHAT they had in mind, but I can verify that this happened to me here in Des Moines. Please be careful,ladies. The Storys the Thing In true folkloric fashion, not one of the anecdotes youve just read is supported by anything more than hearsay, and anonymous hearsay at that. It doesnt necessarily follow that every report is false, but skepticism is in order. The moral message people are conveying by amplifying and spreading this legend is a familiar one, amount really to little more plain old common sense: Be careful out there. Thats a good message and a wise policy, but we have to question whether repeating frightful stories with little or no  basis, in fact,  is the best way to inspire prudent behavior. Urban legends often take the form of cautionary tales, but it would be a mistake to assume that they always actually function as such. Urban legends thrive, mainly, because theyre emotionally gripping stories. To the extent that they serve any social purpose at all, its probably more catharsis than anything - providing a belly laugh when were blue or a bone-chilling scare to release pent-up tension. Plus, dont forget, theres an all-too-human pleasure to be had by provoking these reactions in others. In days gone by, people sat around for hours in the glow of a campfire scaring the pants off one another with horror stories for no other reason than that they enjoyed it. Human nature hasnt changed. We still enjoy scaring each other, only now we do it by the glow of a computer screen instead of a crackling fire. Sources and further reading: Perfume Email Smells a Little FishyRotorua Daily Post, 21 April 2007 Perfume Scam Reeks of MythNew Zealand Herald, 12 December 2000

Harley Davidson Company Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Harley Davidson Company - Essay Example A value chain analysis is the analysis of the activities that take place in this company that gives it a competitive advantage over those in the same industry. Michael Porter identified that all companies have primary and support activities that help in developing their core competencies in the industry. This analysis is a useful tool for defining a firm’s core competencies by identifying the cost advantage and differentiation. Cost advantage primary objective is comprehending costs and getting them from the value adding processes. There are several cost drivers related to the value chain processes, Harley Davidsons economies of scale, its capacity utilization, level of vertical integration, market entry timing, its geographic location and the firm’s policies regarding cost management. When these drivers of costs are properly managed, the company obtains a cost advantage over its competitors. Differentiation focuses on those related with core competencies that help the company attain an edge in performance. The uniqueness drivers for a company is made up of integration, location, interrelationships, scale and institutional factors. To achieve different degrees of differentiation, the company may amalgamate frontward, recede or implement novel technologies and use advanced delivery channels. SWOT Analysis Harley Davidson derives its strengths from the corporate culture, corporate resources and corporate structure. In their corporate culture, the company empowers their employees by building relationships for promoting stronger bonds between the top management and employees. The cooperate structure is composed of overlapping functions that embody the marketing and sales departments. The functional circle in the structure is named the Leadership and strategy council(LSC) Model. This circle facilitates decision making in the firm. The corporate resources are also a source of their strength and are represented by the marketing department, finance, resea rch and development, HRM department, operation and logistics and their information systems. Their strengths are derived from all these departments performing their roles in product offering. For example, the marketing department has created a niche in the market for those customers who have a preference for heavyweight motorcycles, their prices are affordable for customization as well as personalization of the bikes. They have opened business branches around the world, and the customer capacity is large. The human resource has empowered the workforce by motivation. Their weakness remains in the reality that it needs to upsurge its sale so that they can retain their market share in the U.S especially at this economic slump. Recently it has been losing the market share due to the failing economy. The research and development department needs to design environmental friendly motorcycles. The current society is empowered to conserve the environment and a lot of people want to buy produc ts that are friendly to their surroundings. Their information system did not use their systems properly to manufacture energy saving motorcycles. From the weaknesses lies the opportunities for the company to identify and formulate strategies that will help it achieve a competitive edge against the

Further discuss the plan identified in the case assignment Essay

Further discuss the plan identified in the case assignment - Essay Example HCPs are crucial participants in the pursuit to address medical errors. HAIs increase healthcare costs, thereby complicating the issue even more (Robinson, 2010). HCP should engage in constant communication to ensure that risk variables in relation to medical errors are adequately addressed. In so doing, it is possible to work through resolving HAIs problems and medical errors at large. Healthcare facilities should design, formulate and implement procedures that should be followed by patients, caregivers and clinicians. Protocols of observation could also be established to ensure that all risk factors are accounted for inside and outside caregiving facilities. Since HAIs emerge from the healthcare facility environment, such procedures and protocols will ensure that the occurrence of nosocomial infections is minimized or alleviated altogether (Coates, 2004). On the same note, imposing standard precautions in relation to HAIs and other medical errors would be fundamental. Healthcare teams can also design measures and policies that are designed to address HAIs and medical errors problems. Clinicians and bacteriologists can team up to design procedures and/or medical products that act as a preventative measure for HAIs. Hospital directors and employers can design internal mechanisms to address the problem, basically integrating patients in that pursuit. All these team participants should act more cautious in relation to the underlying medical