Finance simulation Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Finance simulation - Research Paper Example Time and resources will be used meritoriously. Tapering the agency staff reduces cost and saves on premiums paid to the workers. Option 2 was originally used to repay the loan. The interest rate of the option is low (9.0%) and will thus allow EHC to have more funds. However, it was not the preeminent alternative since interests accrued and added onto the principal amount, and everything was to be recompensed after 6 months. Later option 1 was realized to be better since it resolved the cash flow problem and its compensation period was not limited. The US machine, X-ray, and CT scanner, all needed to be replaced. The organization decided to purchase a refurbished CT scanner since its productive life is high and can be upgraded upon its expiry. The X-ray machine was purchased through a capital lease since the machines productive life is 15 years that is comparatively high. The US machine was acquired through an operating lease since the option offers low installments payment, upgrading option, and lower upfront payment. Productivity of the assets was perceived to be more important than ownership. The HUD 242 proved to be better than all the other strategies and was, therefore, chosen. It offered a greater NPV. The simulation indicates that despite the higher insurance cost of HUD 242, the uncertainties associated with the investment are minimal and suitable for the project. A cost-benefit analysis further proved that HUD 242 was indeed appropriate. Tax-exempt bonds were incongruous since the funds were to be used within three years while the planned completion period of the expansion was four years. It could have left a big chunk of WIP (work in progress) (Aiken et al., 2002). All choices were potentially fatal. Management relies on the current available information and the knowledge, exposure, and experience of the

Brain Computer Interfaces Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Brain Computer Interfaces - Term Paper Example entists have always speculated that EEG might prove helpful for a completely different kind of purpose, which is infact another way of sending messages to the brain, and instructions to the outside world. Until this discovery, the control and communication system solely depended on the muscles and nerves. But with EEG, communication with out the use of muscles and nerves is achieved with the help of brain computer interface. â€Å"Brain computer Interfaces a new communication and control option for individuals for whom convenient options are ineffective.†Ã‚   It provides a way of communication and control for those people who are disabled, for whom the normal way of communication is literally impossible. The goal of the BCI system is to listening to the brain, understand its intent, and then to materialize that intent without the involvement of muscles. This is the reason why BCI s is also termed as â€Å"mind reading technology† (Wolpaw, R & Birbaumer, Niels p.603). The BCI system reads the â€Å"Electrophysiological signals reflecting brain activity, and they are acquired from the scalp, cortical surface or from within the brain† (Wolpaw, R & Birbaumer, Niels) . They are transferred to measure certain signals which help in knowing the intent of the user. These signals are converted into commands. These commands, in turn, fulfil the user intent like operating a machine, speaking something, walking in a particular direction etc. The interfaces which are Invasive are directly implanted in the brain. These are normally used in blind or paralyzed patients. The interfaces which are semi invasive are implanted inside the brain but not within the brain of an individual. Non invasive interfaces â€Å"record the brain signals through a neuro-imaging procedure† (Brain Computer Interfaces). Brain Computer Interfaces still have a long way to go. Researches are being conducted to understand brain functioning and to map it efficiently to an electronic device. There is no doubt

Should companies be required to be more Green (environmentally Research Paper

Should companies be required to be more Green (environmentally friendly) even if it costs more - Research Paper Example In some countries such as China, the issue of environmental pollution is so serious that if not checked, it could reverse the economic gains achieved over the years. This clearly shows that environmental protection should become a priority especially for companies, which contribute significantly to environmental pollution. Accordingly, companies should be required to be environmental friendly even if it is a costly venture. One of the reasons why companies should be required to become environmental friendly is that growth which is achieved at the expense of the environment will only be short term. In degrading the environment and depleting natural resources, a company’s success can only be short term, since such resources are needed for future production. In this case, protecting the environment also protects a company’s long-term productivity. Companies should therefore ensure that their activities do not harm the environment in order to achieve sustainable development. Although environmental protection is quite costly, the cost of reversing the effects of environmental degradation may be higher for a company (EPA). Companies should also be required to become environmental friendly because it is also beneficial for them. As people’s awareness of environmental pollution rises, they look out for companies that show concern for the environment. Consequently, customers or clients will be more likely to purchase products or services from companies which are actively engaged in environmental protection. A company that is environmental friendly will therefore retain its existing customers, while acquiring new ones. In the end, this has a positive impact on a company’s productivity, which outweighs its costs in environmental protection (Scherzer). As seen from the text, environmental protection is a costly venture, thus companies maybe unwilling to become environmental friendly. In order to make this requirement a reality, policymakers

Strategic and Financial Decision-making Assignment 2 - 2010 Coursework

Strategic and Financial Decision-making Assignment 2 - 2010 - Coursework Example The ‘beta’ is the most important statistics tool to measure the volatility and the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) is a popular model to calculate the return on stock. In this report the beta values of two companies will be calculated using the share prices of the last 24 months. These two companies are British American Tobacco (BATS) and the Petrofac (PFC.L) and both of them are listed in the London Stock Exchange (LSE). British American Tobacco is one of the leading tobacco companies in UK. British American Tobacco produces cigarettes under different brands and has different price range. â€Å"Petrofac is an international provider of facilities solutions to the oil & gas production and processing industries† (Petrofac, 2010). The beta values of both the companies will be calculated using different methodologies that include covariance of the stock return with market returns and the variance of the market returns and the linear regression analysis. For calculating the betas, the monthly stock prices of both the companies were obtained and for market return the index FTSE 100 has been used. All these are the secondary source of data obtained through online sources. The historical stock prices of the both the companies are obtained through ‘Yahoo Finance’ and the historical data of FTSE 100 is also taken from the same online source (Yahoo Finance. 2010). The calculated beta values have been compared with the beta values from the published source. The published source for betas has been taken from the online source, MSN-Money (MSN-Money, U.K. 2010.). The published betas of British American Tobacco and Petrofac are 0.47 and 1.06 respectively. The two methodologies for beta calculation have been used. The first methodology will use the covariance of stock return with market return and the variance of the market return. The following model explains the beta (ÃŽ ²) under the same method. The calculation has

Business Plan Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Business Plan - Assignment Example The existing capacity of Protrich is not able to meet the demand for the products in its various markets. If the company is not able to expand the capacity for the existing demand and for the anticipated future demands, it will lose the market to other major competitors. Also, the Protrich need to expand as an international brand rather than confining itself to the south Indian and Middle East market. The potential markets for Protrich are China, Europe and USA. In order to compete in China, Europe and USA markets, Protrich will not only have to focus on the quality aspect but also on the cost aspect. For having an edge over the price, Protrich should adopt cost effective manufacturing. This is possible in India only up to a certain limit. Therefore, to have an even lower cost of production, it is better for Protrich to setup manufacturing unit in China. China, along with Netherlands accounts for more than 50% of the exports of white button mushrooms. China’s mushroom producti on has been in question for several times including certain countries imposing even anti-dumping measures on them. But this is mainly based on the fact that there wasn’t much notable technology being used for production process in the country. (Mushroombusiness, 2011) But Protrich being a company with all technological support for production, quality of production will never be in question. This report will analyze the benefits for Protrich to invest in China. Analysis Home Country The home country of the company is India. India as a mushroom market is not well flourished. There are very few established brands in the country. Even for the established brands, the market coverage will be limited. Retail customers are mainly from the upper middle class and above. Even for them, mushroom is not a frequent item on the dining table. But there is huge demand from hotels and restaurant chains. This is the customer group from which Mushroom companies have a steady demand. Dominos Pizz a and US Pizza has been the customers of Protrich for six years and four years respectively. Apart from these established brands, there are also many other mediocre restaurant chains who are frequent customers of Protrich. Protrich’s major market is the southern states of India such as Kerala (the company’s home state), Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Protrich’s products are available only in the major cities of these states. It is not distributed widely to include the smaller towns because there is very less demand in the smaller towns and cities. Even in the cities, the products will be available only in supermarkets. Protrich enjoys third position in terms of market share. The market leaders are Best Mushroom Limited and Mushroom India Limited. Protrich is almost at par with the market leaders in terms of the brand value. In the UAE market all the three brands are very popular. The advantage of current expansion move of Protrich is that it will be a ble to gain market share over the other two. Neither Best Mushroom nor Mushroom India has a market presence in Europe and USA. At this point, if Protrich is able to provide the market with quality products, it will be advantageous for the company in terms of brand value and market share. Host Country The potential host markets of Protrich are China, Europe and USA. Among these, foreign direct investment will be made by Protrich in China where it intends to setup the manufacturing units. The analysis will be based on the

Bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki - Essay Example The situation was similar to the initial years of World War II when Germany was annexing one country after another without any equitable resistance. Had not America dropped the two atomic bombs, in all likelihood, the war could have continued for weeks or months, adding to the miseries worldwide. Except for Russia, European powers had almost come to a standstill. The involvement of Russia in Japan had America not dropped the bombs, could easily have made the conflict bloodier and more widespread. It is debatable whether so many lives could have been lost had Russia invaded Japan. However, it is certain the conflict could have dragged on longer in such an eventuality. While other powers of the Axis viz, Germany and Italy had been vanquished, the battle with Japan was far from over. Japan was holding to ransom the rest of the world through its brazen show of power. Nothing seemed to hold the Japanese march. In spite of suffering reverses, Japan held on and was in no hurry to surrender. The Japanese juggernaut was so strong that it held most of Far East Asia. However, at the closing stage, Japan was losing its grip although it was not ready to admit defeat. Japan was given enough time and incentive to surrender. The Potsdam Proclamation issued on July 26, 1945, was very clear about the ramifications in the event of no surrender. The ultimatum declared, "We call upon the government of Japan to proclaim now the unconditional surrender of all Japanese armed forces, and to provide proper and adequate assurances of their good faith in such action. The alternative for Japan is prompt and utter destruction" (Bill Gordon, 2000). But Japan did not surrender. The Japanese, or those at the helm in Japan, were in no mood to listen. They may have been materially demolished, but mentally they had enough capacity to fight on. It took two atomic bombs and a week later, Japan surrendered and that too on the prompting of the emperor. I am not condoning the horrors of the atomic bombs. America had other alternatives besides the atomic bombs. But it is debatable if these alternatives could have worked and produced the same results that the atomic bombs did. The alternatives were these: "(1) use in manner most effective from a military point of view to bring about prompt Japanese surrender while minimizing the loss of American lives, (2) give military demonstration to Japan with opportunity for surrender before full use of weapon, (3) give experimental demonstration in this country with opportunity for surrender before full use of weapon, (4) do not use militarily but make public the experimental results, or (5) maintain as secret as possible and refrain from using the bombs in the war. President Truman chose alternative 1, even though only 15 percent of the scientists supported it" (Bill Gordon, 2000). President Truman's choice of alternative 1 was at best akin to mercy killing. However beastly this alternative might have appeared, it is difficult to fathom the efficacy of any other alternative. Japan needed a live demonstration. Even after the atomic bombs were dropped Japan dithered on the decision to surrender. It was only at the intervention of the Japanese

Heaney Digging or Frost The Road Not Taken Essay

Heaney Digging or Frost The Road Not Taken - Essay Example Life is a journey where every turn is a major turning point. One decision can make or break a life-long expedition. Life is influenced so much by time and like what Frost stated in the first stanza of his poem, it is such a disappointment that one cannot travel a certain path and knows exactly what would happen through its journey there. There are other factors that should be taken into consideration like the time and opportunity that is presented at a given situation. One can consider the possible pros and cons that might occur during the circumstances. Things may present to be more appealing at the first sight but may have complex hurdles along the way which the person would not know how to overcome it unless it is already right under his nose (10). Frost put into metaphor a person’s life and a traveler’s journey to an unknown place. It would be a pity not to explore ideas at the same time to know the beauty and the consequences that life or the journey may bring. There are roads or opportunities which may present itself as a totally disastrous event yet at the onset yet as one goes through this path, the more fulfilling it is becoming for the person. This is usually the road not taken especially in recent years as more and more people would choose the easier path that may bring instant gratification rather than the one which may need time before gathering any form of fulfillment. Others may decide towards the road because of status-quo, it is just like ordering the usual at a fast-food chain at the corner of the street. There is no adventure in it and simply represents a routine (10). On the third stanza of the poem, Frost gave an example as to what may one thinks if there are two ideas presented having an identical onset presentation. However, these ideas may have and will have different path struggles which may incur various outcomes. One cannot go back to the starting point and take the