People Naturally Resist Making Changes in Their Lives Essay

There is a sentence meaning: â€Å"Rivers have their smooth areas as well as their rough regions, and the life of human beings go up at this time and go down at another time†. Therefore, people have to renew themselves, keep learning new things to overcome challenges. People, however, naturally refuse to make changes in their lives. This leads them to be unable to adapt to new environments. Growing up, studying, making friends, and getting jobs†¦ are the important issues of everyone’s life. Every issue is put into different situations which have various difficulties and require some specific skills. For instance, the environment between high school and university is not the same. In high school, teachers pay full attention to you, make sure that you DEEPLY understand deeply subjects, do homework, and learn lessons by heart. On the contrary, you have to motivate yourself to study. That is not THE teachers’ duty. If you don’t make changes in your study methods, and still wait for help from the teachers, your study will decrease dramatically and you surely get bad results. Making changes is difficult but IT doesn’t mean that we can’t do it. In my opinion, there are some steps to help you to get into a new habit. First step is to change your mind. You should carefully consider advantages and drawbacks between new things and old ones. For example, sending mails through (I)nternet is quicker, cheaper, and more convenient than doing them by hand. Next, you should learn it a little everyday, ask the help of your family and your friends. Finally, you will be an expert. In conclusion, the world’s today doesn’t stand at the same point, but always changes every minute. If you don’t update, study new technologies, and skills continuously, you will SOON be out of touch with the world. Human’s life always changes day by day. Therefore, it sets requirements for us to change toward new conditions of living. However, many analyses have pointed out that most people naturally resist making change in their lives. This nature respond actually leads to many problems. On the one hand, many people consider avoiding changes as a way to avoid troubles. For example, a worker chooses to keep using the old machine instead of new one just because he or she does not want to learn how to use the new. They feel better when just working in familiar condition. This natural though is understandable because safety is one of the most important needs for everyone. On the other hand, changeable people claim that making changes is necessary to reach higher success in life. A successful business man said that if we just do what we have done, we just get what we have got. This statement partly implies important role of changes in human’s life. When we avoid making changes, we also by ourselves ignore all opportunities to go further in career. And in a rapid development society, this means that we become backward people. More seriously, what if young generation become passive, and is never ready to change? This will create a weak and low quality labor force in the near future. Of course, a weak labor force cannot help develop country as we desire. That is because they avoid changes, avoid new modern technology or other things, and so they cannot catch with rapid development of the world.

Financial Outcomes Paper

Struck Japan it already did not own for $914 million† (Derrick, 2014, Para 2). Struck acceptance of this offer can result in three potential financial outcomes; increased revenue from sales, changes in cost of goods sold, and changes in expenses. Based on Stardust's historical annual growth trends in the China/Asia markets, the most likely financial outcome of Stardust's transition to full ownership sis 15% increase in revenues. This may or may not be accompanied by with the most likely scenario of a 5% decrease in their cost of goods sold, and a 5% decrease in their expenses. Scenario AnalysisScenario analysis is about understanding what can happen when things change within a firm. Analysis will assist Struck in understanding how their buy out of their Struck Japan partnership can affect their business overall, and assist them with understanding the financial risks involved in their venture. Standard deviation of past results can assist to construct an idea of what will happen in the future, however when taking on a brand new venture unforeseen obstacles may appear. Analyzing Struck' revenue from years 201 1 through 2014, it is discovered that the standard deviation is . 45, and that the deviation in their growth percentages over the same time frame is 1. 907. These are good signs that Struck is doing well as they continue to develop new products and expand across the globe, as the standard deviation figures reflect an increase in revenue growth. Typically, scenario analysis is based on three ratings, worst-case scenario, most likely, and best-case scenario. Although it is important to understand and define other possible scenarios, improbable events should not be used because they would not result in an accurate analysis.By using extreme scenarios, such as the worst and best-case scenarios, which show the most negative and most positive, respective results, companies such as Struck can test their theories and mitigate any potential risks that they may e ncounter. Revenue Revenue analysis will help Struck understand one of the key variables that affects their business performance. Comparing current sales to previous periods provides Struck of a quick understanding of how their business is trending.Struck has seen continued growth year over year since 2011, and this positive trend provides them with insight into how well their traceries are performing. New strategies, such as growth into Japan, can be made with confidence when the business is trending positively, and previous expansions have been well received. One of the fastest growing investments for Struck is China/Asia Pacific. â€Å"Struck expects to see 16 percent to 18 percent revenue growth during fiscal 2015. Excluding the Japan impact, revenue growth is expected to be consistent with the company's previous target of 10 percent plus revenue growth† (Derrick, 2014, Para 5).The financial effect of increases or decreases in revenue from sales is substantial, specially c onsidering the high volume of transactions Struck completes internationally on a daily basis. The most likely scenario for sales growth with Struck Japan buy out is 15%. The figure is based on the growth rate of Struck since 201 1, which averages at 14%. A 15% increase in sales, With cost of goods sold and expenses constant, will result in over 1. 5 billion dollars in income for 201 5, an increase of over 30% from the previous year.The best-case scenario would result in a 20% increase in sales, and nearly 60% increase in income. In the worst-case event that Struck sales drop 5%, the many would still realize a profit. Although a decrease in revenue is unlikely considering Struck continued growth, it is a possibility as political and socio-economic changes occur around the globe. Cost of goods sold The cost of goods sold is associated with the cost of any raw materials used to produce and market Struck coffee, but does not include any indirect expenses.The cost of goods sold is an imp ortant part of a businessWith full control over Struck Japan, Struck may be able to implement a number of initiatives that would work towards reducing their cost of goods sold, such as better quality control, more effective product assortment, and reduced waste. A 5% crease in will result in a nearly 1. 2 billion decrease in cost of goods sold, which will positively affect the company's gross income. A decrease in cost of goods sold may also be a challenge, depending on how Scabby has conducted their half of the business in the past.The China and Asia Pacific region of the world operates much differently than its Western counterparts, and Struck may face ethical business challenges, as it is unknown as to how Scabby partnered with suppliers and other vendors. Struck may see costs rise if they are unable to store, ship, and promote their product as effectively s they had when in partnership. Expenses Expenses normally react to relative changes in sales, however with Struck vast distr ibution channels and vendor relationships, they may be able to lower their expenses even as they expand to new regions such as Japan.Variable expenses, such as fees such as transportation, and credit card commission fees will increase as new stores pop up and consumer purchasing increases. Fixed expenses, such as employee salaries, benefits, property and income taxes, and utility costs will also increase as Struck expands, however, since they are buying out existing locations and not looking to build new ones, these expenses may not vary greatly from the previous year. Expenses such as income tax may play a significant role in Struck income as they gain more stores in Japan and the China/Asia Pacific region.Analysis has suggested that changes could be in the range of 15%, considering increases and decreases in expenses, with a Worst-case scenario of expenses increasing by 5%, to the most optimistic scenario of a 10% decrease. Expenses will primarily come in the form of costs to impr ove UAPITA, taxes, and payroll. A consideration that is not taken into account for the most likely and optimistic scenarios is that customary increase in revenue that normally accompanies and increase in expenses.Expenses such as payroll and capital improvements can be associated with company expansion and the need for more employees, assuming that expansion is a result of consumer wants and needs, which will then increase revenue. Conclusion Struck over the years have proved themselves to be an organization that thrives year after year. Just in the last decade their revenue has increased by almost 150% (Mornings, 2015). Their passion to bring a connection to everyone they see and do business with has made them into the largest roaster and retailer of specialty coffee the world has ever known. Struck, which opened its first store outside of North America in Toss's Gina district nearly 20 years ago, said it expects the deal to immediately add to its results, excluding certain items. The transactions are expected to be fully completed in the first half of calendar 2015†³ (Beckmann, 2014, par a. 6). Its expanded investment with China/ Pacific-Asia and the acquisition of Struck Japan will also prove to be a success because not only do they want to expand their business, but more importantly they want to do it the right way to fulfill their mission in helping the world become a little better one neighborhood at a time.

Why is the UK the TOP Destination for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Essay

Why is the UK the TOP Destination for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the European Union - Essay Example The United States yet maintains to be the forerunner amongst the investors into the UK alongside Germany, Japan, India and France. The recently published World Investment Report, nowadays by the â€Å"UNCTAD† (Green 2011) illustrates that the UK is one of the most favored nations for FDI in European Union and third globally. According to the report published by UNCTAD, the stock of FDI in the United Kingdom is $US 1,086 billion of FDI stock. This report strengthens the position of the UK as one of the most attractive business destinations of the world. Susan Haird, acting CEO of UK Trade & Investment talking about this report said that this report strengthens the attractiveness of UK’s Foreign Direct Investment. Significant potential future Foreign Direct Investment gains are likely from further incorporation, particularly subsequent successful liberalization of services organizations. The long-term FDI cost of withdrawal would be significant. EU Impact on UK FDI: UK ha s been capable to attract comparatively more FDI than a number of other European financial systems as a consequence of market incorporation. As a percentage of GDP the UK also catch the attentions of more FDI than the United State. UK Trade & Investment has played a significant role in promoting UK as an attractive FDI location to the overseas investors and to come them to the UK for investment. â€Å"Worldwide, most FDI is between Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. The USA accounts for just under a quarter of global FDI, outward and inward† (Milne 1999). Worldwide, the United Kingdom is the second largest outward depositor and the third largest receiver of inward investment. In the year of1998 and 1999 outward British Foreign Direct Investment was alike in value to outward United State Foreign Direct Investment. The UK, with stretchy labor marketplaces and a tradition of physically powerful incorporation into worldwide FDI flows would be well-placed to catch the attention of an important share of future FDI flows, mainly in high- efficiency knowledge- rigorous businesses. The World Investment Report demonstrates that, the UK has outperformed a declining European marketplace, the share of UK’s FDI stock enlarged â€Å"while the overall stock of FDI in Europe declined to $7,614 billion from $7,951 billion† (UK is Europe’s Top Destination for Foreign Direct Inward Investment 2011) in the year of 2009 and that in the European Union fell to $6,890 from $7,296 in the year of 2009. According to the report, 46% of the investors are faithful to the United Kingdom, which helped attracting repeat business. Now, it is very much necessary for the government of UK to focus more on attracting new shareholders from BRICs. Infrastructure and Technology, quality of life and constant financial environment, customs and language are cited as the key characteristics that made the UK more attractive for the investors . â€Å"The UK attracted 728 FDI projects in 2010, up 7% on 2009, compared with 562 projects in France and 560 in Germany — whose projects rose by 34%, bolstered by its position as the number one location for Chinese investment.† (Destination UK: Sustaining Success in the New Economy 2011). This denotes that since in the year of 2004, the UK has been chosen as the site of choice for around one in five of every investment announcements crossways Europe. Why UK has been Successful in FDI: FDI brings various advantages to the UK financial system such as rising employment and productivity, inspiring competition, and rising efficiency.

Turning Point of My Life Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Turning Point of My Life - Essay Example Even though I didn't lose consciousness, I had still sustained a head injury that left me laid up, perplexed and disoriented for months of partial disability. At some point in the first few months of confinement, my senses were all skewed. I had a blurry vision and sensitivity to light that always keep the blinds drawn. Even music made me dizzy and my brain can't seem to process the sounds into meaningful patterns in a phone conversation. And the worse, I couldn't taste my food nor smell my two-year-old daughter's fragrant hair after being washed. Other senses that I had taken for granted in my entire life became strangers, and I missed them. Because of the accident, I had been denied the comfort of some keen companions - the written and spoken words, and my sense of belonging. I also lost my identity, having to spend days in bed unable to care for my daughter. In just one sudden moment, sense of place, sense of purpose, sense of safety, and sense of peace were all gone. The disconcerting side effects lasted for a few months and changed my life in ways I may perhaps hardly have imagined. Shame overcame me not being able to speak fluently and embarrassed of the condition that I can't go farther than my own backyard. During my senseless period, I had asked God why me, why this, why now I have truly come to believe tha

Applying for Master in Bridge of teaching Personal Statement

Applying for Master in Bridge of teaching - Personal Statement Example ity degree, I will be in a better position to apply the skills that I learnt during my undergraduate years to the masters programme to ease my success. My professional goals as an educator is to educate, inspire, learn and change. I believe that ambitious educators are the ones who enter teaching to be agents of change. There is no denying that education is one of the biggest factors that affect positive change in our society. I want to be the person who educates these students and make them agents of change in our society. Also, I want to inspire students in every aspect of their lives from problems they face at home to their own personal issues to external issues like having not faith in education. I want to educate my future students and give them adequate information that will help brighten their future. Finally, I also hope to learn from my professional new things that I will be able to pass on to others in order to also influence their learning. During my undergraduate studies, I interacted with a lot of students from different cultures a majority of them being Hispanics, who mostly speak Spanish. At first, I used to say to myself that there was no need to try and relate to people from different cultures in my university because they would not help me much, but I was wrong. I started developing friends from these other cultures and the more I knew them the more I started seeing them as equals. I even enjoyed learning to know their culture and what it took for them to reach where they are now. They taught me some new aspects of life, that as humans, we need to be social and learn to love others and appreciate them. I feel like undertaking this masters degree will make me meet more of such students and will develop each other. I have learnt that in order for humans to prosper, we need other. We should develop each other in order to prosper. During my time in university, if it was not my forming friends with people from a different culture, I would not have

Political Philosophy Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Political Philosophy - Assignment Example The researcher states that Socrates and his pupil Plato are one of the first in history to delve into the aspect of political philosophy. Plato’s the Republic spoke of Plato’s vision for an ideal state understood that justice was essential to the unity of the population, the relevancy of the political process and his to the benefit of everyone in the state. He said that the divisions in the social structure of a city were more dangerous than any external force. And that gaining peace through the use of force is not preferable to a partnership created through the sharing of mutual interests and understanding. Aristotle, however, saw the functions of politics just as the functions of a body. He surmised that there were different parts of a city each of which served a common function. Their order of living is decided by the constitution which is analogous to the soul. And it can only possess a semblance of order if it has a ruler. Aristotle distinguished the various types of the government saying that each had a commonality which can help the individual attain a noble living. However, Aristotle’s writings did not speak about the emotional health of its citizens saying that the presence of morality and the ability to complete tasks given would lead them to a fulfilling life. He also saw that a constitution like its people does not remain constant over time and it should be the will of the lawmakers to change it for the betterment of the community. The development of rationalism occurred around the time of the Renaissance (Marxist Internet Archive). It was during this time among the merchants and craftsmen of Northern Italy that political philosophy began to flourish again. One such philosopher responsible was the founder of political science Niccolà ² Machiavelli. Machiavelli argued that the true prosperity of any state depended upon the qualities, strength or experience of an individual leader.

Locals spend lavishly thanks to windfall from IPOs Essay

Locals spend lavishly thanks to windfall from IPOs - Essay Example "I took a Karwa taxi to the Industrial Area from the Old Airport locality on Friday evening and I paid QR30 as one-way fare It is too much," he said. Even a Qatari national, Yahya Abdul Rahman, felt the sheep were costlier this Eid. He blamed house rents as the single culprit for the rising cost of living and said he had let out four houses to expatriate tenant families and raised rents only marginally. "I have concern for them," he said of his tenants. The article mainly talks about how locals in Doha, Qatar enjoy affluent lifestyles as opposed to foreign expatriates. Expatriates are people who are temporarily living in another country, the culture of which different from the one they are from. The locals' and the expatriates' economic and financial differences are highlighted during the Eid al-Adha or Feast of Sacrifice, the most important feast of the Muslim. The feast is celebrated by sacrificing domestic animals, particularly sheep. The article narrates how it is easy for an average Qatari to purchase a fair number of sheep, while the foreigners struggle to buy even just one. The local Qataris can manage to be extravagant because of the "booming stock market" especially initial public offerings (IPO... He blamed house rents as the single culprit for the rising cost of living and said he had let out four houses to expatriate tenant families and raised rents only marginally. "I have concern for them," he said of his tenants. "Landlords are greedy," he said of property owners, his fellow countrymen. "Rising inflation is not good for all of us." Section: Local News Accessed 1/9/2006 from http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 1.2 Commentary The article mainly talks about how locals in Doha, Qatar enjoy affluent lifestyles as opposed to foreign expatriates. Expatriates are people who are temporarily living in another country, the culture of which different from the one they are from. The locals' and the expatriates' economic and financial differences are highlighted during the Eid al-Adha or Feast of Sacrifice, the most important feast of the Muslim. The feast is celebrated by sacrificing domestic animals, particularly sheep. The article narrates how it is easy for an average Qatari to purchase a fair number of sheep, while the foreigners struggle to buy even just one. The local Qataris can manage to be extravagant because of the "booming stock market" especially initial public offerings (IPOs). IPOs are the first sale of stock offered by a private company to the public, stocks being the element of ownership in a corporation. IPOs can only be offered once, many people take advantage of the opportunity. It is typical for the value of IPOs to rise on debut. However, many fall below the offering prices before the year ends. Because of this investing in IPOs are risky, as with all other investments. But even with the booming shares in the Doha Securities Market (up to 98% in 2005), economists raise concern that it might

Change mangement Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Change mangement - Case Study Example This identified the country among the best countries with air airline facilities until after the Second World War. Airline industry in the country started operating in the year 1910 and offered diversified services such as transporting passengers, commodities, parcels and even medical supplies. Development in the industry however begun with construction of aircraft models in the late 19th century but the models were only constructed in the 20th century and approved in the year 1909 before the first flight occurred in the year 1910. Military application of airlines followed two years later and the services were used in many European countries. A number of aviation colleges were also established in the same decade. In the following decade, flight trials were conducted across international airlines before diversified airline services were offered. The country’s airline industry has however continued to experience changes in its internal and external environments to warrant notabl e changes. Qantas is one of the significant developments in the industry (Australian Government, 2008). Competition within the industry is partially regulated by the country’s political environment. The Trade Practice Act is an example. The industry however allows for market forces’ effects, in competition, such as â€Å"predatory pricing† that offers large firms an advantage over small firms in the industry (Parliament of Australia, n.d., p. 1). The industry’s competitive environment has also shifted from its previous duopoly system to a competitive market system. Some of the major players are Qantas, virgin Blue, and Ansett group among others and the firms use product differentiation as the major tool to attracting and retaining their customers. Qantas however remains the largest controller of the industry’s market in Australia (Parliament of Australia, n.d.). Qantas, one of the major players in the Australian airline industry, has a rich history that extends

Art of Negotiation - effective negotiation skills Assignment

Art of Negotiation - effective negotiation skills - Assignment Example require managers that can negotiate with businesses located in overseas regions as managers will have to bargain an effective and profitable deal for their own business if they want to operate overseas (Katz, 2011). Another issue that is taking place due to globalization is that the level of competition between organizations has increased. Organizations do not only complete in their host nations, they even have to compete in global regions. Due to this it has become essential for organizations to obtain resources while paying the lowest cost. In order to obtain resources and services at low cost managers need to have good negotiation skills (Benoliel, 2011). Good negotiation skills have even become very important for managers in order to deal with people from different backgrounds. A manager cannot use the same negotiation skills while dealing with people and business from different parts of the world. Therefore, a manager needs to have diverse negotiation skills in order to understa nd the likes and dislikes of people around the world and negotiate with

Time spent outdoors is Beneficial Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Time spent outdoors is Beneficial - Essay Example he greater part of the day working inside and then go home to their residential condominium buildings to rest and sleep, so that this has led to a sedentary way of life for most. This kind of lifestyle has a deleterious or adverse effect on a persons health in the long run. Outdoors refers to places in a natural setting when in some rural areas or in semi-natural environments when in out-of-town suburban places or when in highly urbanized cities, to any place that is outside of any building or dwelling. In this regard, it is vital for people to get out especially during daytime in order to get the beneficial effects of sunshine, such as vitamin D. Other than that, they also get fresh air as opposed to breathing indoor air produced by the air conditioners which have become quite ubiquitous these days and may contain toxins. Spending time outdoors and staying in the sunshine also has some psychological effects on people, as they will raise their spirits and avoid depressed moods. In other words, spending time outdoors clears the mind and raises the spirits of people as they can see and appreciate all the beauty of nature. Time spent outdoors can be particularly enjoyable if they also engage in some recreational activities or leisurely pursuits like cycling, hiking, camping or fishing. The idea of spending time outdoors is to engage in some physical activity that will let a person burn off excess calories and avoid the dangers of obesity and its associated ailments. A person who is quite active and spends a considerable amount of time outdoors tends to be a bit healthier compared to a person who sits in the office the whole day. This is why doctors and other health care practitioners and wellness advocates encourage people to be active whenever they have spare time to do so. However, people need not stay too long in direct sunlight as it is also dangerous in some respects, such as the ultra-violet rays that can cause skin cancer. A few minutes each day of sun

US as a World Power Essay Example for Free

US as a World Power Essay In the 1890’s, the idea of imperialism had begun imprinting itself in American minds. Many Americans began to believe that the United States was either going to explode or expand. Our country had a new sense of power which was generated from the growth of our industry and wealth. There were Americans who had pushed the idea of imperialism through books and articles, calling it the adventures of childhood dreams. The first moments had begun with President Cleveland and his secretary of state James G. Blaine. Imperialism had come off as an idea that benefited the world but, the cold hard truth was that we were simply just benefiting ourselves. Our new international interests began in several ways. Blaine had pushed the Big Sister policy, with this policy we were able to get the Latin Americans to rally with Uncle Sam. This give off an impression that we want to help out the others, give them an idea of bond ship with the United States but in reality, what we truly wanted was their open markets and utilize them for ourselves. Document A shows how power-hungry we are, wanting â€Å"to show our strength† and wanting â€Å"the taste of Empire†. One of the first ways we showed off our new, violent, and power hungry status was in 1899 against Germany. The two nations had been bickering over the Samoan Islands. Luckily, this was resolved and no war broke out. Alaska, another area of issues that occurred between The U. S. and Canada. This fight was a more idealistic than self interest one though. The hostilities had begun with seal hunting which, the United States was against giving off their humanitarian ideology. Doc. B, provide an explanation of this by stating that â€Å"we cannot fly from our world duties†. Hawaii was another area of interest to America. It’s location was able to hold a naval and it was enriched with resources the nation could use. American planters were searching for ways to secure Hawaii’s annexation. The Queen of Hawaii was against this and believed that her natives should keep control. The whites then revolted and the U. S. rushed to annexation but, President Cleveland withdrew the idea. The majority of the Hawaiian natives were against the idea and the idea of annexation was temporarily abandoned. We didn’t want to give Hawaii freedom and they didnt want it either, we just wanted to have over their island. Doc. C provide a well example of this, â€Å"they like their own way† yet we act as â€Å"amongst them as ruler†, not giving them the freedom. Cuba was another moment in our imperialistic time, where it was idealism than self-interest, supposedly. The Cuban’s were trying to revolt against their leaders in 1895. America gave their sympathies to the Cubans but were largely worried about their investments in the land. Senator Lodge at the time even showed their self-interest ways, â€Å"whoever controlled Cuba controls the Gulf†. McKinley, President at the time, gave in and sent the war message to free Cuba. Proposing the lie called The Teller Amendment after Cuba America was free but, not entirely. The Cubans were forced to sign to the Platt Amendment which basically, set them still under American control. This situation proves right here wanted control, not their freedom. Doc. D proves this control with stating, That the United States owns them but, â€Å"it can not incorporate them as part of the United States†. In1901, Theodore Roosevelt had taken the reigns of the U. S.  He had his own form of foreign policy called the Big Stick. The Big Stick policy was extremely aggressive and was very built around self-interest. Imperialists applauded his every move. His first move was the Panama Canal. The Colombian senate rejected the American offer of 10 million which Roosevelt didnt take fondly. In order to build his canal , Roosevelt sponsored a revolt in Panama and gained the opportunity to construct it with a larger zone. This situation right here shows how The U. S. truly did all the imperialistic moves in order to support itself not the world.

Banning Pit Bulls Essay Example for Free

Banning Pit Bulls Essay All dogs bite. Every single one of them has the potential to turn on their very owner and as studies and news tell it they turn on children, strangers and other pets more often than we care to know about. What make makes a dog aggressive to the point they attack innocent victims? Is it their genes and nature, their training or perhaps their owners? Some individuals have proposed banning certain breeds that display a propensity for aggressive behavior as a solution. Banning might get results faster but it’s not the only or best solution. Without a doubt certain breeds seem to be naturally more aggressive and protective than others. The breed that comes to mind first is the Pit Bull Terrier known as pits or pit bulls. While these dogs have a reputation for being tough, strong and aggressive, they are not the only ones that should be shouldering the entire blame for their behavior. I’m not saying that the victims are to blame; the blame should fall on irresponsible dog owner whose mistreatment of dogs is the deciding factor on whether any certain dog will bite or attack. When choosing a dog, families should consider the temperament, physical size, and exercise needs of the breeds they are considering. Researching the characteristics of the dogs the families are considering is a great way to ensure the families ends up with a dog that will complement their family environment and lifestyle. Sadly, taking the time to truly research a dog before it is bought is something that very few owners practice. The deciding factor on which dog to buy comes down to the appearance of the dog without any thought given to the resources and time requirement for the specific dog. Buying a dog because it looks cute when it is a puppy could result in a headache later. The cute little puppy can turn into a large dog that needs to be walked a couple of hours a week or a dog that has a compulsive need to chew on every piece of furniture inside the house. Individuals and families need to be realistic about how much time and money they can dedicate to a pet and the pets need. Similarly, buying a dog because it looks tough is a mistake that the dog ends up paying for in the future. Often times Pit bulls are only purchased because they look cool and somehow that coolness and toughness factor supposedly translates onto the owner. It’s these owners that have no regard for the dog or its need s. They only think of dogs as an accessory that elevates their status among their friends and social groups. Its owners like these that do more harm than good for Pit bulls. Pit bulls can and are good family dogs. Theyre awesome dogs as pets as long as the owner is responsible states Ashley Clark, a member of Saving Paws Animal Rescue of Kentucky (qtd. in Mayse). A key mistake committed by many owners is they don’t take the time to socialize their dogs, which is paramount for a healthy pet, both mentally and physically. As dog trainer Victoria Stillwell asserts in USA Today â€Å"A dog is a social animal, so lack of social interaction can seriously damage its psychological well being†. Dogs need to be taught how to interact with members of the family as well as with other pets and strangers. Yes, socializing a pet is a time consuming task but one that should not be avoided. To leave a dog to its own devices is doing a great disservice to them and to any potential victim of a poor socialized animal. Another huge error by the owner is not exercising their dog. We all have basic needs like food, water, and sleep. Exercise is a basic need for d ogs. Dogs will misbehave from lack of exercising. The misbehavior can come in the form of chewing, excessive barking, and acting aggressively. Leaving a dog in the house or in the backyard is not the equivalent of going for a walk or a run. When owners do this day in and day out, they are left with a dog that’s about to burst at the seams with energy. This is why potential owners have to be honest about how much time they can dedicate to their pets before they adopt or buy one. Victoria Stillwell states â€Å"Dont make the mistake of thinking that keeping your dog in your backyard most of the day will replace his natural need for stimulation and get you off the hook for not walking him. In fact, it almost always does more harm than good.† Owners that relegate their dogs to their backyards or tie them up while they are away at work are causing the problems. As owners we can’t leave our dogs unattended, without interaction for long periods of time. Regardless of breed, any dog that is subjected to these conditions will probably snap. When you have the combination of frustration buildup from being chained up, lack of social skills and pent up energy then that is a recipe for a dog bite or attack. Unfortunately the victims of this awful consequence are children most of the time as stated by Lisa M. Bernardo in the Journal of the Society of Pediatric Nurses â€Å"unintentional dog bite injury is the leading cause of death and disability among children†. Because of children’s small size they are not able to defend themselves when being attacked by dogs and when they are attacked they tend to be more severely injured than adults. With â€Å"49% of the injuries occurring in children less than 5 years old†(Bernardo), it seems that we as parents and adults should be moving towards a solution with more urgency and passion then is being shown. Unfortunately, we don’t pay attention until it’s too late, w hen a child has died because of their injuries or at the scene of the attack. When you have a strong powerful breed in the hands of a negligent, careless owner there is nothing but trouble. The mistreatment by owners of dogs is what causes not only pit bulls but also other breeds to bite. Leading expert in dog-bite law, attorney Kenneth Phillips tells â€Å"One of the most horrifying cases I’ve heard about was when a little Pomeranian, no more than five pounds, killed a six-week-old baby†(Bred for trouble). Even dogs that haven’t been bred or trained to attack can occasionally act aggressively toward people. Lisa Bernardo writes, â€Å" An 8 year-old male was distributing fliers in a trailer park when two Saint Bernard dogs ran out of a house and attacked him unprovoked†. What these two instances prove is that any dog can bite and attack; even Chihuahuas have been known to be protective of their owners and territory. While these are graphic examples, the public needs to be aware that this happens all over the United States. Dogs can and are unpredictable, at the blink of an eye they can react in a very primal manner. Once again this is where the researching of the right type of dog for your family comes into play. Lets practice some common sense when bringing a dog into our homes. Pits are not the only ones that bite, other breeds that send people to the emergency rooms are Rottweiler’s, Mastiff’s, Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds and a few others. Out of all aggressive breeds the Pit bull are the ones that have been exploited the most. Yes, pits are naturally more aggressive you have to remember they were bred for fighting. This is the very reason is why Pits have become popular with people with low standards and no respect for dogs, people that take part in dog fighting. These individual are only interested in seeing bloodshed and ruthless destruction of lives. This has also led some to practice unhealthy breeding of Pits to make a quick buck. Pits natural strong disposition combined with careless inbreeding results in unbalanced pets. Even though Pits are perfectly capable of being a loving part of a family, they have a terrible reputation that has been perpetuated by irre sponsible owners. I personally have seen some of these no-license owners that keep pit bulls penned up and torture them to make them meaner for fights. The poor dog spends most of its time behind a poorly built pen that seemed to be thrown together at the last minute. This pen was built out of compressed board on three sides and the fourth side was the back wall of the house. The dog couldn’t see out at all and he was purposefully kept there so he would have no contact with people or other dogs except for the owner. Every now and then the dog would be crudely blindfolded and was poked at it with sticks to ensure the aggressiveness of the dog. If the dog looses a number of fights it is considered worthless and is given away or gets put to sleep usually after being denied food for a couple of days. To this individual, a Pit bull was and still is a profitable badass accessory to their gangster lifestyle. Like Gall Golab, Ph.D., D.V.M stated in Fighting Fido â€Å"Twenty years ago people thought Great Danes and German shepherds were dangerous, today, it’s Pit bulls and Rottweiler’s. If you ban one breed, the people who want an aggressive animal will simply find another breed in which to foster that quality† (Neil). Can you imagine what kind of dog the police force would be using now if the German shepherd had been banned twenty years ago? The statement made by Dr.Golab is one that needs to be repeated. The breed of the dog alone is not the deciding factor on whether a dog will snap and attack someone. It is a combination of reckless owners with under exercised, under socialized, and unbalanced dogs. As dog attacks seem to be on the rise some individuals in California and the United States have been calling for a ban on a specific breed. Claiming that these breeds are beyond reformation and help, they want to ban Pit bulls specifically. Currently â€Å"Ohio is the only state that declares a specific breed, pit bulls as vicious. That law was ruled unconstitutional in March by Ohios 6th District Court of Appeals in Toledo and is being appealed to the state Supreme Court†(Jones). While decreasing dog attacks is definitely a goal we should all be working towards I suggest that there are other options besides banning to this problem. Any breed-specific ban would be difficult to enforce. First of all, Pit bulls are not the only large and potentially dangerous dogs, so right of the bat a few breeds would need to be banned. Second, because there are so many mixed breed dogs, who determines what percentage of vicious dog gene is allowed in a mixed breed? Lastly, what about those Pit bull owners that treat their dogs good and have taken all precautions to ensure their pet is a loving and gentle dog? A specific ban would punish those that have done nothing wrong and have followed all the rules. Outlawing breeds believed to be vicious and dangerous is not a long-term solution. Besides not being realistic a ban is unfair as it places the entire blame on these breeds. A better solution would be to make it mandatory for every person or family wanting a dog to get a dog owner license. Without a license no dog of any kind would be bought, sold or adopted. When potential dog owners apply for their owner’s license they should be advised about the pros and cons about the br eed they are considering. It should be mandatory that these owners go to dog training/obedience classes with their new pets. This can be taken a step further by requiring that with a license a dog owner should also need insurance, like a car. This would mean many man-hours and an extensive effort by animal control officers and police but it’s a worthwhile expenditure that would save many lives and countless visits to the emergency room. This might sound like an impossible task but it would be the first step in the right direction. Instead of waiting for a dog to bite someone lets enforce current leash and muzzle laws, which are in many instances ignored. If no laws currently exist then new laws should be passed that hold owners responsible to a higher level than before. In Kansas City the City Council passed a law that will require all pit bulls to be spayed or neutered. This would be a good start for all other counties and cities that are seeing the number of attacks and bites rise. Kansas has even gone a bit farther by requiring that â€Å"breeders will have to install fencing and document who is buying the puppies†, says Councilman Bill Skaggs (qtd. in Jones). Dog breeders can still have a business but they should be monitored closely for a period of time. It should also be mandatory to have all puppies spayed and neutered, at the proper age, by their new owners if the dog is on the list as potentially dangerous. Another example of great laws being adopted comes from Illinois. Legislature was passed that states â€Å"Owners could face prison if they allow a vicious dog to run loose, or if they have not enclose, spayed or neutered and animal that injures or kills someone.†(Jones). Illinois also restricts felons right to own dangerous dogs and penalties for attending dogfights were increased. While going to prison because your dog is out and running the streets may at first seem a bit excessive. It would only be a matter of time of enforcing this law that we would get the desired results, owners acting responsible. If states like Illinois and Ohio can pass these laws than why can’t we adopt them with greater swiftness in our own state? Is it because it’s easier to point fingers and blame the dogs? Are we really that lazy that we would settle for the easiest, yet unfair solution called banning? Mandatory spaying and neutering would not only cut down on the inbreeding and over breeding of dogs like the Pits and make them less assessable to those that are prone to abuse them. This would also save money in the long run because this simple law means less unwanted dogs in animal shelters. What happens time and time again is people go out and buy a dog that they have not researched at all and when they realize that the dog is too much to handle they dispose of them by dropping them off at animal shelters. Currently many shelters euthanize all Pit bulls because they dont know whether the dogs have been trained to fight or attack. How sad, to know these dogs keep paying the price for selfish human behavior. A Pit bull will not bite or attack just because it’s a pit bull, after all the dog doesn’t know what breed it is. Like Shawn Webster states â€Å"I don’t think that genetics plays nearly the role in a dog’s behavior that socialization and training play†(qtd in Jones). A properly bred and raised Pit bull can be an excellent, docile pet. The key is having the right combination of healthy dog with owners that are mature and responsible and truly care for their pet; so these horrible child-killing dogs can and are loving pets, go figure. I can guarantee you for every horror story you hear in the news or read in the paper there is a happy, healthy Pit bull that is a great family dog. As stated by animal control officer, Ashley Clark â€Å"they are fine as pets†¦they are awesome dogs as pets as long as the owner is responsible†(Mayse). Psychologist Clive Wynne says â€Å"You can say that it’s not just a dog’s breed but also the character of its owner that make the dog aggressive.†(Vicious dogs have vicious owners). With these measures in place and enforced we could dramatically see the number of bites go down. Would this measure guarantee to stop those most responsible for vicious and out of control dogs? Maybe, maybe not, but instead of just complaining about this problem lets be proactive instead of just reactive. These laws can be a great deterrent for those who exploit the dogs and endanger the community, the pit bull owners who breed and sell out of their backyards, keep their dogs penned and chained in deplorable conditions and do nothing to train or socialize them Works Cited Bernardo, Lisa Marie, et al. Dog Bites in Children Treated in a Pediatric Emergency Department. Journal of the Society of Pediatric Nurses 5.2 (2000): 87. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 18 Oct. 2009. â€Å"Bred for trouble.† Good Housekeeping 235.4 (2002): 83. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 18 Oct. 2009. â€Å"Fatal Dog Attacks. Current Events 105.3 (2005): 4. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 18 Oct. 2009. Jones, Charisse â€Å"Laws address dogs’ potential for danger.† USA Today n.d.: MA Ultra-School Edition. EBSCO. Web. 6 Nov. 2009. Mayse, James Experts: Upbringing key for pit bulls: Dog came through fence, bit man last week. Messenger-Inquirer (Owensboro, KY) (2006): Newspaper Source. EBSCO. Web. 6 Nov. 2009. Neil, Martha FIGHTING FIDO. ABA Journal 89.1 (2003): 26. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 18 Oct. 2009. Stilwell, Victoria Chaining dogs unleashes bad behavior. USA Today MasterFILE Premier. EBSCO. Web. 17 Oct. 2009 â€Å"Vicious dogs have vicious owners. New Scientist 201.2704 (2009): 15. Academic Premier. EBSCO. Web. 18 Oct. 2009

Effect of Water to Cement Ratio on Concrete

Effect of Water to Cement Ratio on Concrete Introduction In construction projects, concrete, along with steel, wood, glass, etc, is one of the most essential materials that are needed for a successful manufacture of a structure. It one of the most common materials on a construction site and accounts for billions of pounds everywhere across the world. Due to ever-increasing machinery and technological advancements concrete can now be made of a mixture of compound materials, nevertheless the necessary components of concrete are course or fine aggregates, Portland Cement and water. In the current times, concrete structures are manufactured every day and to sustain a safe environment for people, so it is vital that that the structures that are built are sturdy, durable and do not cause any hazards to people. It is therefore a huge task for construction companies to guarantee that the structures that are built are done so to meet all the specific safety codes, British Standards or the Euro Code Standards. The properties of concrete are very vit al as they provide the necessary stability that structures are dependent on to maintain their sturdiness. As a result it is essential to research and be aware of the distinctive components of concrete and its properties, and how in this experiment these might affect the way that concrete performs when changing some variables.  (Richardson, 2002). The workability of a concrete mix gives a measure of the ease with which fresh concrete can be placed and compacted. The concrete should flow readily into the form and go around and cover the reinforcement, the mix should retain its consistency and the aggregates should not segregate. There are four factors that can affect the workability are: Consistency: The degree of consistency is depended on the nature of works and type of compaction. Water/cement Ratio or Water Control of a concrete: Water/cement ratio is the ratio of water in a mix to the weight of cement. The quality of water that required for a mix is depended on the mix proportions, types and grading of aggregate. Grading of Aggregate: The smooth and rounded aggregate will produce a more workable concrete than the sharp angular aggregate. Cement Content: The greater workability can be obtained with the higher cement content. Aims The aim of this experiment was to establish the effects of water to cement ratio on the  fresh properties of concrete (workability), and its effect on the hardened properties  of concrete (strength). Furthermore to increase the understanding in making a concrete mixture and working out the water content that needs to be added to the mixtures. And last to expand on the understanding of the importance of fresh and hard properties of concrete. Objectives The objectives of the experiment were to make three concrete mixtures by altering their water/cement ratios (0.47, 0.55 0.65) and to find out the water content to use for the three mixtures. To do a variety of tests such as the slump test, compacting factor test on fresh concrete and to carry out compressive and flexural strength tests of hardened concrete. Then finally to discuss how features such as variation in the water/cement ratio affects the workability  and strength of concrete. Theory Concrete Production, concrete is a mixture that is made up of three components, cement, water and aggregate. The water and cement are mixed together to produce a thick paste, to which then measured out aggregates are added to. The aggregates that are added are mainly composed of usual materials such as sand, gravel and crushed rocks, however due to the latest advanced technology; it has been known that other materials such as car tyres and crushed glass to be also used as aggregates. The cement is produced by blending limestone and clay, and burning it in a rotary kiln, this results in the formation of a clinker, to which gypsum is added. The mix is then ground down to fine powder cement, in which the most common is called Portland Cement. The cement/water slurry solidifies through a chemical reaction called hydration, the reaction produces immense heat so fresh concrete must by no means be handled with unprotected bare hands. During the winter season, temperatures drop below 2Âà ‚ °C, so the chemical hydration reaction may be very slow as heat is needed as a catalyst to speed up the collision of the particles. Therefore concrete pours during these seasons are not suitable as the concrete will not set. Initially this reaction is slow to start with, so this allows for the concrete to be transported and poured before it is hardened, and the theory states that complete 100% hydration takes place after 28 days. Properties of Concrete: There are four key properties that are desired in fresh concrete i.e.  good workability, compactability, mobility and stability. The most desired properties for  hardened concrete are strength and durability. The concrete should have compressive strength  (resist squeezing), tensile strength (resist stretching) and flexural strength (resist bending). All these strengths are highly dependent on the water/cement ratio and aggregate used in the  mixture, the degree of compaction and the age of the concrete. Curing concrete under water  over time allows hydration to continue hence giving it strength. The concrete used in this experiment was a C30 concrete grade and according to B.S. 5328  the compressive strength for this grade at 28 days is 30.0 N/ sq mm which can also be written  as 30 MPa which is adequate for use in beams, however this is only an estimation as there  are other factors (mentioned above) that affect concrete strength. In this experiment the slump  test and the compacting factor test were used to assess the workability and uniformity of  concrete. The deflection/ flexural strength test was carried out to evaluate the strength of the  concrete beam (mini beam sample) and find the failure load of the mini beam (100mm by  100mm by 500mm). The compressive strength was carried out to determine the maximum  failure load of the cube samples (150mm by 150mm) and the cylinder samples (150mm by  300mm) (Barnes 1992). MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT Casting Equipment Concrete mixer Bucket (average size) Measuring Cylinder Shovel Wheel Borough Scale Figure 2: Shows Compaction Factor Apparatus. (used to determine workability of concrete  mixture) Figure 3: Slump Test Apparatus B.S. Slump cone (300mm high, tapering from a 100mm diameter top to a 200mm  diameter bottom) Slump rod (or steel tamping rod) (16 mm diameter, 600mm long, with rounded ends) Flat metal base plate (600 sq mm) (K0837225) Page 5 9. Metal Rule (300mm long) 10. Metal Scoop 11. Levelling Trowel 12. Waste rag 13. Vibrating Table 14. Moulds 6 no. Cube Moulds (150mm by 150mm) 3 no. Cylinder Moulds (150mm by 300mm) 3 no. Mini beam Moulds (100mm by 100mm by 500mm) 15. Materials Course Aggregates (Stones) Fine Aggregates (Sand) Cement Water (Tap) *Note: Aggregate used was natural aggregate used was from London. Therefore no need for  determining aggregate moisture content as aggregate is assumed to be laboratory dry to  SSD. Hence no considerable effect on water-cemet ratio. Striking Equipment 1. Pressure pipe (for striking cubes and cylinders) 2. Brushes (Soft and Hard metal brushes) 3. Oil, oil brush and rugs (for cleaning moulds before storing) 4. Crayon (for labelling concrete samples) 5. Curing room Testing Equipment 1. Compressive test machinery Figure 4: Shows the Compressive test machine used to apply loads on cubes and cylinder  samples 2. Deflection test machinery (Picture shown in figure 3. Load reader/display 4. Concrete samples 5. Digital Camera *Personal Protective Clothing was worn on all days of the experiment (Safety boots and Coats, individuals handling concrete wore protective gloves). METHODOLOGY Concrete Production: 1. Aggregates were readily weighed and placed into buckets. Quantities (constants) used in  all Concrete Mixes are shown below: Material Quantitative Weight (Kg) Cement (CEM1) 6.50 Fine Aggregate (Sand) 16.55 Natural Course Aggregate (Stones) 26.00 2. The amount of water required was determined by using the formulae shown below. Water content = (water/cement ratio) x cement weight. 3. Water was measured into a bucket using measuring cylinders. 4. The water/cement ratio was set as the variable between 3 Concrete Mixes (to determine  the effect of water/cement ratio on the strength and workability of the concrete). Water  content quantities used are shown on table 1. Table 1: Water/Cement Ratio (variable) for Concrete Mixes 1, 2 3 Concrete Mix Water/Cement Ratio Water Content (litres) 1 0.47 3 2 0.55 3.6 3 0.65 4.25 *See Appendix 1 for Actual Calculations Carried Out. 5. The concrete mixer paddles and pan were lightly dampened before aggregates were  placed in the mixer. 6. Course and fine aggregates were placed into the mixer and mixed for 30seconds. 7. Half the water required for the mix was added to the mixture and the contents were  further mixed for 1 minute. 8. The contents were covered and left for 8 minutes, to allow aggregates to absorb water,  (because aggregates are porous therefore they should soak in water into voids to get a good  mix and bonding with cementious (water/cement) paste). 9. Cement was spread evenly over the aggregates and mixed for 1 minute. 10. The remaining water was added and the contents were mixed for 2 minutes ensuring  homogeneity of the mix. 11. Workability tests were then carried out, in the order shown below. *Note; immediately after each test the used concrete was returned into the mixer and the contents were remixed for 30 seconds. FRESH CONCRETE TESTS Compacting Factor Test: 1. Trap doors of all hoppers were shut prior to beginning the test. 2. Sample of freshly mixed concrete was scooped from the mixer into the upper hopper, the  concrete sample was filled up to the brim of the upper hopper. 3. The trap-door of upper hopper was opened, to enable concrete to fall into the lower  hopper. 4. After all concrete had been collected onto lower hopper, the trap-door of the lower hopper  was then opened and the concrete allowed to fall into the cylinder. 5. Excess concrete remaining above the top level of the cylinder was then cut off using a  plane blade. 6. The concrete collected in the cylinder was then weighed. (This weight is known as the  weight of partially compacted concrete). 7. The concrete filled cylinder was vibrated to obtain full compaction, and more concrete  was added to the cylinder as required to ensure the vibrated/compacted concrete was  filled to the brim of the cylinder. 8. The now fully compacted concrete in the cylinder was weighed. 9. The compacting factor was then obtained using the formulae shown below. Compacting factor = (Weight of partially compacted concrete)/(Weight of fully  compacted concrete) Figure 5: Shows steps followed during the compacting factor test. 1) Compacting factor equipment. 2) Partially compacted weight is taken on a scale, 3) The concrete is vibrated/compacted  on a vibrating table and then the contents are toped up and vibrated to the rim container and the  partially compacted weight was taken. Slump Test: Concrete was thoroughly mixed in the concrete mixer. The slump cone was dampened to prevent concrete sticking to it. The slump cone/mould was placed on the centre of the metal plate and one individual was  asked to stand on the foot pieces on both sides of the mould. The mould was filled in 3 equal depth layers and each layer was rod 25 times using the  steel slump rod (ensuring even spread of blows covering over the whole area). Concrete was heaped over the top of the cone and with a rolling motion of the rod over  top of the mold the concrete was levelled thus removing the excess concrete. The spillage was carefully removed from the sides of the mould and the base plate   The mould/cone was carefully and slowly lifted vertically upwards. The slump cone was turned upside down and placed next to the molded concrete and the  rod was laid across the slump cone and the distance (slump) between the underside of the  rod and the highest point of the moulded concrete were read using a metal rule. There are different kinds of slump a collapsed slump, sheared slump and a true slump. The first two slump types indicate bad workability and a true slump indicates good  workability. Concrete Beam Casting Curing: Concrete was scooped out of the mixer into oiled moulds on the vibrating table (ensuring  even spread). Concrete was vibrated throughout the pour to eliminate voids and to enable compaction  of concrete by switching on the vibrating table. The vibrating motion also levelled the concrete. The concrete was left to set on the mould for 24 hours After which concrete was struck and placed in the curing room over 14 days. HARDENED CONCRETE TESTS Concrete Sample Testing: Compressive Strength Tests; were carried out on cube and cylinder samples. Flexural Strength Tests; were carried out in the mini beams. The machines where loaded with concrete sample and load applied was set to zero  before running the test. Base and top plates (spacers) were used to determine to provide platforms for the  concrete specimens and to also help provide even distribution of load. The load was applied by the machine till maximum failure load was reached. This reading was taken and the machine cleaned off concrete debris before running tests  for other samples. *Note the loading Pace Rates varied for different sample shape as shown below: Cylinders loading Pace Rate was set at 5.30 KN/s Cubes loading Pace Rate was set at 6.80 KN/s Mini Beams loading Pace Rate was set at 0.200 KN/s RESULTS 1. FRESH CONCRETE PROPERTIES TEST RESULTS Compacting Factor Test Results: Mix 1 Observations: The Concrete Mix appeared to be dry and did not pass through when the trap  door of the upper hopper was opened. The concrete mix was helped through the trap door to  the lower hopper by pushing it with a metal rod through the first trap door. The same was  done in order to get it through the second trap door into the container. This showed that it  was a bad mix with bad flowability, mobility and workability properties due to low water  content. Mix 2 Observations: The concrete mix was passed through the hopers with better ease than mix 1,  however only  ¼ of the contents went through, the rest was forced through both trap doors  with a metal rod. Therefore the flow ability and workability properties of this mix were bad,  but better than mix1, owing it to the increased water content in mix 2. Mix 3 Observations: The obtained concrete mix was a wet mix (a bit too wet) with what would  appear to be good flowability properties as all contents went through the hopers and trap  doors with one sweep and much ease. Therefore the flowability and workability properties  were the best observed for all 3 mixes, but too much water content is not good either. The compacting factor test was worked out for all the 3 Concrete Mixes and results are  shown in table 2 below. *The calculations were carried out on Microsoft Excel using the formula shown below. Compacting factor = (Weight of partially compacted concrete)/(Weight of fully  compacted concrete) BS 1881: Part 103 states that concrete is deemed unsuitable if its compacting factor is  below 0.70 or above 0.98. For normal concretes the compacting factor normally lies  between 0.80 and 0.92 (Jackson Dhir 1996). Apparent workability shown below was determined by using Compacting factor table in There was no slump as  the mix was too dry  therefore indicating  poor mobility,  flowability and  workability Collapsed slump was  obtained and the slump  exceeded the allowable  tolerance stated in BS  5328. The slump cone  was 300mm high and  the concrete mix  slumped by half that  value to 150mm. This  indicates that the mix  was too wet and this  affected its cohesive  properties. Very high *Apparent workability shown above was determined by using Slump Results Table shown  in Appendix 2 (Kew 2009). (K0837225) Page 12 Mix 1 Dry Mix/ Zero Slump Mix 2 Wet mix /13mm True Slump Mix3 Mix too wet/ collapsed slump Figure 7: Shows the Slump Results Obtained for concrete mixes with varying water  cement ratios. (Mix 1 w/c ratio 0.45, Mix 2 w/c ratio 0.55 and Mix 3 w/c ratio 0.65). 2. HARDENEDED CONCRETE PROPERTIES TEST RESULTS Figure 8: Shows the cube specimen being loaded into the compressing machine and on the right,  the classical cube hour glass failure mode on one of the cube specimen. Figure 9: Shows the cylinder specimen being loaded into the compressing machine and on the  right, the failure mode on 3 of the cylinder specimens. Figure 10: Shows a mini beam failing when subjected to Flexural Loads. This is the classical failure  mode of beams. The beam undergoes tensile and flexural strain resulting in bending and snapping of  the beam. Concrete is generally brittle and this makes it weak in tension. Hence the need for  reinforcement of concrete, steel is good in tension so it lends that quality to concrete, resulting in  better stronger structures. The results above are indicative of the effects of w/c ratio on the strength of concrete. At  0.45 w/c ratio the strength was 630.4 (Influence of test conditions. Table above show that specimen shape and size is also  influential on the compressive strength. Therefore measured strength of concrete is also  affected by height diameter ratio. This is to just show that test conditions can also affect the  determination of concrete strength. In BS 1881: Part 116 specifies that 150mm cube test are  only used for quality control purposes. Whereas BS 1881: Part 120 indicates that cylinder  test specimens are used to carry out compressive strength tests for in situ concrete and  precast members. A correction factories usually applied to the cylinder strength to obtain an  equivalent cube strength, it takes into account the specimen height /diameter ratio (i.e.  300mm/150mm = 2.). This explains the high compressive strength results obtained in  cylinder specimens than in cube specimens despite the being made off the same batch of  concrete. It should also be considered that the loading Pace Rates for c ubes (and cylinders  were varied. The trend obtained from the results shown above indicates that increasing w/c ratio increases  flexural strength. Af hydration strengthens the bonding between the cementious material and  the aggregates. However like all other factors, too much of anything is not good. If the mix  has excess water it will result in reduced flexural strength and results in bleeding of concrete  thus a weakened structure with pours in them. Again the normal distribution curve can me  expected with extremes. DISCUSSION One type of test is not enough to indicate the workability of the concrete as a whole. Use of  various tests bring out various properties that determine workability, for example, the  compacting factor can indicate how workable in the concrete will be in terms of how easily  can the concrete be vibrated and compacted. It is also a good indicator of the mobility and  flowability of concrete. It Shows how easily the concrete can be pumped from a concrete  skip into shutters, how easily the concrete will pass through the skip trap door when on  casting real structure on site. On the other hand the slump best indicates how workable the  concrete is in terms of its cohesive nature and segregation of its aggregates. It is important to  carry more than one of these tests to indicate various workability factors. These tests can also  be carried out at various stages between concrete production and casting. The common  construction site test (In situ test) is the slump tes t, it serves as the last point of quality check  prior to casting, and all other workability factors are normally carried out on the concrete  production sites. For example, the compactability factor will be most useful on production as  other mobility enhancing admixtures may be added prior to transporting concrete to site,  hence saving time, money and other complications that may arise from delaying site  programmes. From table 2 the results obtained from all mixes had compacting factors  between 0.70 and 0.98 hence indicating that all the tested concrete mixes would be  acceptable under the BS 1881. This certainly does not mean that all mixes had good  workability properties. Jackson Dhir (1996) state that some of the basic assumptions for  the test are not correct and should not be solely relied upon extensively as they can be  misleading. As concrete mixes can have same compacting factor but may not always require  the same amount of work to reach full c ompaction as compaction cannot be justified in the  true sense. From the results in table 2 it shows that changing the water/cement ratio affected  the compacting factor. Increasing the water cement ratio increased the compacting factor  therefore the workability of the concrete. All these tests have limits, for example placing  more water would have resulted in decreasing compactability factor as increasing the water  content will result in lowered compacting factors. (Compacting liquid materials do not result  in changes between partially compacted weight and fully compacted weight, hence if more  excess water is added the mix will have lower differences between partially compacted  weight and fully compacted weight. Hence giving rise to normal distribution curves for the  compressive tests. This also applies to flexural strength and durability of the concrete. CONCLUSION In conclusion it is clear that too little w/c ratio reduces the strength of concrete just as well as  too much w/c ratio will result in porous concrete. Therefore adequate amounts need to be  used to gain the best results. The best way of getting accurate assumptions on concrete is to  consider various factors. Increasing the water content ratio generally increases the strength  but may also result in shrinkage of the concrete hence altering durability and permeability  factors. Q1: Report all the results fresh properties (slump value and the shape of the slump) and  hardened properties (strength) of the concrete and comment on the results. See Results  Section for Answers. Q2: Why the need to measure the fresh and hardened properties of the concrete? Fresh properties are only of much importance in the stages of the concrete mix. These  help concrete producers spot problems early on the stage before structures are cast thus  potentially saving money, time and preventing unstable structures form being built by  spotting and correcting problems with concrete at an early stage. Also this helps prevent  the need to strike down newly built structures due to instability of concrete mixes used. Fresh properties can help indicate how much work labours will have to do on site and  consequently the energy and money that will be required when casting concrete on site. On the other hand hardened concrete properties are important in determining and the life  span of the concrete in the form of s concrete structure. The hardened properties are  important in observing and maintaining the strength of the structure and its durability. Other hardened factors are permeability and shrinkage of the concrete structures after  being built due to harsh weathers and conditions. The latter factors are of much  importance in structures like dams which require high water retaining properties.   Therefore both properties help in the development and maintenance of a good quality  structures and ensuring long life span. Whilst providing adequate safety to the habitats of  those structures. Q3: Concrete is usually tested at 28-Days for its compression strength. Why at 28-Days? The specimens should be cured under water and for normal concrete they should have  reached maximum strength at 28 Days. Concrete hardening process (Hydration) is  thought to reach its final strength in 28 Days as the reaction slows to a halt and adding  more water or curing concrete past that stage will sure minute or no further significant  changes in concrete strength. Q4: As for reinforced concrete beam, describe the need to place reinforced steel in  concrete beam, the purpose of cover/spacing, the diameter of the steel used and why  concrete beams need to be reinforced? Concrete is good in compression meaning it has high resilience to compressive forces but  is very weak in tension. As noted in the results the beams failed at much lower loads than  both cubes and cylinders, although there are other factors that play a role here that is the  general observation. Hence concrete reinforcement is required, it has good tensile  resilience and when concrete and steel are combined they result in components strong in  both tensile and compressive properties. The purpose of concrete cover is to protect steel  from corrosion, due to air reacting with steel and prevent rust formation due to water. Corrosion and rust results in weakened concrete structure as may result in loss of  resilience to tensile forces. So the concrete cove4r provides protection and a neutral  environment for steel. Concrete cover usually ranges around 500mm from the steel bars. Excess cover is not good as it makes the structure more susceptible to chipping and hence  weakens the cover itself and increases chances of steel corrosion taking place. The  diameter of steel used can vary according to the purpose of the structure but over  reinforcement can also bring about imbalances to the structural stability and may result in  a weakened structure. The normal diameter used ranges between 10-30mm, this makes it  easier to bend and alter on site as well as provide ease of manual handling for steel fixers.

Merchant of Venice Essay: The Role of Jessica -- Merchant Venice Essay

The Role of Jessica in Merchant of Venice The character of Jessica, in Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice serves an important function in respect to her father, Shylock. By deserting him for a Christian husband, Shylock loses the last person with whom he has any kind of tie. Shylock’s isolation becomes a vital part of his character, and drives his merciless actions against Antonio. Throughout the play, everyone who could claim any type of social or familial tie to Shylock leaves him. Launcelot the Clown, moves to a Christian master, who has the,"grace of God..." (II,ii L.139) His own daughter Jessica forsakes him, and his entire Jewish culture, to marry Lorenzo, and become a Christian. Thus Shylock has no one from whom he can receive solace. Shylock, therefore, becomes a character motived by isolation, and a feeling of desertion. His emphasis on the binding values of money and law are the only thing he can claim as his own. When Shylock finds out about his daughter’s trickery, he begins to forsake the bonds of family, in sake of temporal laws defining right ...

Electoral College System Essays -- Political Science

Analyze criticism of the "Electoral College" system and the alleged advantages and disadvantages of various reform proposals. The Electoral College is a system in which the individual voter does not actually vote directly for the president. When a person votes they are voting for an elector that has pledged their vote or allegiance to the running party. The Framers realized that without widespread communications available at the time and with other varying factors an "each vote counts" or "the popular vote" system would not be practical. Because of this they formed the Electoral College system, Under Article II of the US Constitution, although this system was never called this in the Article. This system has survived for over 200 years, with only two changes to it. These would be Amendment 12, and 23 of US Constitution. Many people have throughout the years said that the Electoral College is antiquated and needs to be changed, where as many others defended the Electoral College system. Some people believe the Electoral College system have many flaws, these can include electing a minority president, faithless Electors, the Electoral College causing a decline in voter turnout, the inequality of votes from large to small states, and the disadvantages for third parties. One large issue is that a president could be elected without the countries popular vote. One way this can happen is if three or more parties run splitting the Electoral votes so no one party can receive the majority of the votes. This has happened in 1824 and almost happened in 1948, and in 1968. If this does happen Amendment 12 states that the U.S. House of Representatives would then select the president from the top three. Another big issue is Electors t... ...at would like the votes to be split between parties. One of the last proposed changes is the "drop two" Electoral votes. In this proposal each states Electoral votes would be equal to their state Representatives. This system would function the same but just remove two Electoral votes from each state. This would still allow small states to over represent but would lessen the effects. Even though the Electoral College system has many flaws, it has worked for well over 200 years. Many people feel that the system is old and needs to be updated but the system was well thought out by the Framers. Ref: http://www.fec.gov/pdf/eleccoll.pdf http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Electoral_College http://jceb.co.jackson.mo.us/fun_stuff/electoral_college.htm http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/case/3pt/electoral.html#pro

Ancient Greek Medicine Essay -- Greek History

Ancient Greek Medicine While Greek Medicine particularly from the 5th century B.C onwards, increasingly used scientific method to develop cures, there still however remained people that considered medicine to be a religion. The ancient Greeks (Hellenic) made important discoveries about the human body and health, so by the sixth century BC, medicinal practices focused largely on a more clinical approach involving observation. Their discoveries were made by firstly studying the human anatomy using dissection and vivisection, finding ways to heal using things such as plants and herbs, then finally practising surgery on the human body using different instruments. Before the scientific method developed, most people still saw medicine as a religion, and believed that superstitions, evil spirits and punishments caused illness from the gods. The best-known ancient Greek physician Hippocrates, made several important medical discoveries in Ancient Greece. He was born on the island of Cos, living from 460 B.C. - 377 B.C., and is revered as the 'Father of Medicine'. He was the first man to make medicine a profession and to see medicine as a science and not a religion. Hippocrates devised an oath, which every new doctor still swears to this day. Hippocrates and his followers looked at the cause of the disease rather than the symptoms. Hippocrates saw that diseases came from natural causes; he discovered that thought came from the brain and not from the heart, and he saw that the body needed to be treated as a whole and not just a series of parts. The theory of the four humours originated from the works of Aristotle. The idea of Humours is usually credited to Claudius Galen, a Greek physician of the second century A.D. But although he organized the idea more accessibly, he was probably not its creator. Centuries earlier, in the fourth century B.C., Hippocrates wrote of the bodily humours in his Hippocratic Corpus. The physician believed that the body was made up of four components or â€Å"four humours†. The four components are: Blood formed at the heart – Spring – Air, Phlegm in the brain – Winter – Water, Yellow Bile in the liver – Summer – Fire and Black Bile in the spleen – Autumn – Earth. Hippocrates argued that when these four fluids were out of balance disease occurred. The ideal place for a good balance of humours was (naturally) found in the centre of Greek ... ...that the strigil, a curved piece of metal with a handle used for scraping oil and sweat off the body after exercise was often used to get into small openings, so as Galen said, â€Å"After having heated the fat of a squirrel in a strigil, insert it into the auditory canal.† The invention of these instruments meant they improved as new shapes were devised. Gradually new metals and alloys were found to provide sharper edges and cheaper equipment. Most instruments were made of bronze and occasionally silver. Iron was never used as it was forbidden by the Greeks and so never used on religious grounds. Some instruments were manufactured by specialist blade makers who specialized in medical instruments rather than by an ordinary craftsman. The Romans employed many Greek physicians and through them the Greeks discoveries in medicine gradually spread throughout the ancient world. Greece was a country that gave birth to some of the most important medical pioneers in human history. Through Continuous studies, they changed people from seeing medicine as a religion. Their study of disease and the human body to the scientific method has resulted in the advanced medical knowledge we have today.

Ethical Perspectives Essay

ABSTRACT: This paper will describe the four different types of ethical perspectives. We will start by describing my ethical perspective; which I found out to be â€Å"character† from my results on the Ethical Awareness Inventory Assessment. We will then evaluate the four types of ethical perspectives. Which include character/virtue, obligation/deontology, results/utilitarianism, and lastly, equity/relativism. Then we will conclude with a brief discussion on issues one is likely to encounter dealing with ethical dilemmas at Bank of America. The four ethical perspectives include character/virtue, obligation/deontology, results/utilitarianism, and equity/relativism; thus, making up CORE. These different ethical perspectives help to explain what drives an individual’s decision when faced with an ethical dilemma. It is easy for someone to say what they will do when faced with an example of an ethical dilemma; however, it is another thing to make that same decision when faced with an actual real-life dilemma. By understanding what perspective compels someone to make an ethical decision, it will be easier to make that decision when one really has to. I have found that my ethical perspective is character/virtue. I was not surprised when I got my results. I have always done my best to live a life of integrity, which is very important to me. The people in my life would agree. Character is a very, if not the most, important part of a persons make up. Without character you have no solid or clear foundation. Without character you most likely with not possess strong morals naturally. Character is the beginning building block of a successful and trustworthy person who is dependable and values integrity. Character/Virtue The properties of a virtue are very different from that of other moral concepts, such as value. Virtues are something that you possess only if you practice them. Values are what is important to people. I may value honesty, but not always tell the truth. I cannot possess the virtue of honesty without telling the truth (Ciulla, 2004). Aristotle once said, â€Å"Virtues are good habits that we learn from society and our leaders.† People must practice virtues while being fully conscious that what they are doing  is morally right. One thing about the Greek concept of virtue (aretà ©), which is also means excellence, is that it does not separate an individual’s ethics from one’s occupational ability. Both Plato and Aristotle used many examples of doctors, musicians, coaches, rulers, etc. to talk about the relationship between moral and professional excellence. Aristotle wrote, â€Å"Every excellence brings to good the thing to which it is the excellence and makes t he work of that thing be done well. . . . Therefore, if this is true in every case, the excellence of man also will be the state which makes man good and which makes him do his work well.† (Ciulla, 2004) Obligation/Deontology Deontological ethics or deontology, which means obligation or duty in Greek, is an approach to ethics that focuses on the right or wrong of actions themselves, as opposed to the consequences of those actions. It is sometimes described as â€Å"duty† or â€Å"obligation† based ethics, because deontologists believe that ethical rules â€Å"bind you to your duty†. Deontological ethics is commonly contrasted with consequentiality or teleological ethical theories, according to which the rightness of an action is determined by its consequences. Deontologists, such as W. D. Ross, hold that the consequences of an action, such as lying, may make lying the right thing to do (Ross, 2002). Many people feel obligated to do what is right just because of their ethical practices. I feel that no matter what, you should be ethical in everything that you do. Results/Utilitarianism Utilitarianism is the idea that the moral worth of an action is solely determined by its contribution to overall utility, that is, its contribution to happiness or pleasure as summed among all persons. It is therefore a form of consequentialism, meaning that the moral worth of an action is determined by its outcome. Utility has been defined by various people as happiness or pleasure, though preference utilitarians, define it as the satisfaction of preferences. It may be described as a life stance with happiness or pleasure as ultimate importance (Wikipedia 2008). Utilitarianism can be contrasted with deontological ethics (which disregards the consequences of performing an act, when determining its moral worth) and virtue ethics (which focuses on character), as well as with other varieties of consequentialism. Supporters of these opposing views have extensively  criticized the utilitarian view; though utilitarians have been similarly critical of other types of ethical perspective. In general, use of the term utilitarian often refers to a somewhat narrow economic or pragmatic viewpoint (Broad, 1930). Equity/Relativism In philosophy, moral relativism is the position that moral or ethical propositions do not reflect objective and/or universal moral truths, but instead make claims relative to social, cultural, historical, or personal circumstances. Moral relativists hold that no universal standard exists by which to assess an ethical proposition’s truth; moral subjectivism is therefore the opposite of moral absolutism. Relativistic positions often see moral values as applicable only within certain cultural boundaries (cultural relativism), or in the context of individual preferences (moral subjectivism). An extreme relativist position might suggest that judging the moral or ethical judgments or acts of another person or group has no meaning. Though, most relativists advocate a more limited version of the theory. In moral relativism, there are no absolute rights and wrongs, only different situations (Wikipedia 2008). Some moral relativists hold that a personal and subjective moral core lies at the base of individuals’ moral acts. In this view, public morality reflects social convention, and only personal, subjective morality expresses true authenticity. Moral relativism differs from moral pluralism, which acknowledges the co-existence of opposing ideas and practices; but accepts limits to differences, such as when vital human needs are violated. Moral relativism, in contrast, grants the possibility of moral judgments that do not accept such limits (Wikipedia 2008). Working in a banking environment, I believe having the ethical perspective of character is very important. Naturally having a moral and ethical character places confidence and trust in my superiors that I will do what is ethically right in every situation. I do not see many issues arising in my organization because Bank of America places our Code of Ethics as a priority that each associate must abide by. Understanding character, we see that ethical decisions are made naturally because it is right. I do my best to  uphold Bank of America’s code in everything I do. In conclusion, there are many differences to the types of ethical perspectives with few related qualities. Individuals from diverse walks of life and belief systems come to their own ethical perspective conclusion in many different ways. My personal ethics perspective is character. I believe having good character is a vital part of one’s life. It will not only lead to success, but earn people’s respect along the way. The admiration of others, and the trust and confidence they will feel from one that has great character is priceless. My father has always taught me that â€Å"you can never be wrong doing the right thing.† I live my life by this and encourage others to as well. References Broad, C. (1930). Five types of ethical theory. New York: Harcourt, Brace and Co. Ciulla, J. (2004). Ethics, the heart of leadership. Connecticut: Praeger. Ross, W. D. (2002). The right and the good. Oxford: Clarendon Press. Wikipedia. (2008). Retrieved September 17, 2008 from http://www.wikipedia.org

Guna Fibres Case Analysis Essay

Problem disceptationThe rootage that the potent Guna Fibres is facing is that they wishing sufficient transport fuse from trading trading operations to mate their day-to-day monetary obligations. Guna Fibres has croak dep terminalent on a revolving follow of reference work entry from the All-India Bank & Trust come with and due to increasing operating expenses and cost of good sold Guna Fibres is no great-life adequate to(p) to remain solvent ground on their current financial practices. em keisterment AnalysisGuna Fibres is a textile manu itemuring fellowship located in India that is subject to seasonal swings in carry as rise up as an increasingly competitive environment. Guna Fibres has diachronicly utilized a television channel of credit from All-India Bank & Trust to finance the purchases essential to fulfill the spike in withdraw that occurs individually summer. Historically, Guna Fibres would nobody appear the symmetricalness on this disceptati on of credit in October, per the avers form _or_ system of government. At the end of 2011, Guna Fibres found themselves test a proportionateness on their attract of credit beyond October and was subsequently denied severally(prenominal) more(prenominal) than credit until the bulletproof could demo solvency to pay the remnant dispatch. To examine their societys financial position Malik and Kumar created a financial account for the month-to-month operations of the ph peerlessr in an attempt to dispute to the brink that they pla enlightenary house could indeed pay eat up the loan.Analysis of the fortnightly forecast ground on the assumptions of Guna Fibres current operating practices revealed that Guna Fibres would non be fitting to pay pip the birth of credit by the end of the twelvemonth and in fact would owe a equilibrium of 3,858,000 Rupees to the coast by December 2012. found on the discip bourn contained in Maliks forecast it is certain(p) that th e curse bequeath not be quit to extend any more credit to Guna Fibres as currently thither is no clear blueprint for the fast(a) to pay its short term calculate obligations.Examining Guna Fibres financial didacticss and business practices yields many insights into manageable sources of the foregatherings silver lessen tasks. First, by smell at Guna Fibres historical income statements maven clear clearly cypher or so(prenominal)(prenominal) sheers that are concerning. fleck make sales do increase from 2010 to 2011, Guna Fibres has seen the firms cost of goods sold out pace gross sales. Additionally, due to managerial decisions to increase quality control and overd bleak kinds with other firms, operating expenses bring forth increased as intumesce. The end go for Guna Fibres is that in spite of their sales g wranglingth the firm down the stairsgo decreasing EBIT and decreasing radical profit. At the time of this epitome Kumar and Malik turn out as healthful as been presented with several projects that could possibly ameliorate the clubs current financial woes by addressing policies that are currently creating financial lead on the society.By taking imperativeness look at Guna Fibres forecast several other concerning trends reveal themselves. Due to historically signifi passelt lag times in exile product, Guna Fibres typically carries 60 long time worth of catalogue creating a repositing problem in the social clubs warehouse as well(p) as a symmetricalness sheet problem as a signifi arouset voice of the firms working capital is fastened up in archive. Compounding the enumeration hold out is that typical collection times for accounts due are over 48 geezerhood, with 40% collected in a month and the remaining 60% collected in 60 days. This gap requires Guna Fibres to blaspheme on the bank to pay for the origin on go by.Guna Fibres has 2 specie management policies that could be mending their mightiness to pay back the bank loan. As a matter of polity Guna Fibres pays out a 500,000 Rupee dividend to shareholders each quarter, the organizations philosophy cosmos that the property is safer with shareholders than with the firm. Additionally, Guna Fibres keeps 750,000 Rupees as cash on hand. Looking at the financial forecast for the beginning of 2012 one arsehole clearly see that Guna Fibres is judge to be cart track at a take in exit for the first quarter yet mollify pays a dividend and continues to rase the same cash correspondence. At the same time Guna Fibres projects that it lead be necessary to increase their backup necessarily from the bank.Addressing Guna Fibres current part is of owing(p) importance as theycurrently receive a cash flow problem that leave behind find them shuttered and in erectual to fund day-to-day operations. In each of the aforementioned areas there is room for profit by changing close to of the follows policies and procedures.Major S trategic AlternativesUtilizing the monthly forecast financial statement grantd by Guna Fibres, show 1, it is necessary to create a statement of cash flows to begin to rate how the companys capital is universe managed through the working capital accounts of the firm. show up 2 shows the break mastered of cash flows on a monthly basis base on the forecasted information provided by Guna Fibres. in that respect are several all important(p) insights to maneuver to instability within Guna Fibres. The first trend that is concerning is that according to Guna Fibres forecast, they impart require a positive cash flow from financial support activities through the month of June 2012 just carry operations. Certainly, if this was to be presented to the bank there would be no chance that they would be testamenting to extend credit as Guna Fibres ordaining not be able to nil out the debt balance in the glide path months.Examination of acquaint 3 shows the statement of cash flows f or Guna Fibres for year ending in December 2012. government note the highlighted the cell that indicates the transmute in short term notes collectable for the year in the amount of 2,704,000 Rupees. Based on the current projections not precisely provide Guna Fibres not pay off the balance but also they impart accrue a larger balance by the end of the year. Notice that charm the occur cash flows from financing is only when 704K Rupees the reason for the decrease is that a dividend in the amount of 2,000,000 was compensable to shareholders. In growth to the concerns about Guna Fibres credit on the line of credit is the dearth of cash flow from operations, only 330k Rupees for 2012.Changes to Guna Fibres cash management form _or_ system of government could help to knock down the problems that Guna Fibres is currently facing. By examining Guna Fibres polity of give shareholder dividends each quarter as well as their policy of keeping 750K Rupees on hand at all times one can begin to see where these policies place additive pressure on the firm to borrow. Examine Exhibit4, which is Guna Fibres Statement of change Flows if they had decided not to pay a dividend. Notice the highlighted cell indicating that change in notes payable for year ending in December 2012 have decreased to 626,000. Overall, sack up change in Cash proportionality remains essentially the same demonstrating that a large portion of Guna Fibres financing subscribes in 2012 are to fund paying a shareholder dividend.As tell by the firm, Guna Fibres believes that funds are more secure in the hands of the companys shareholders. However, this assumption is likely base on the belief that dividends are paid out of net profit where the shareholders can earn a slip away elsewhere in the market place. In this shell it is unbelievable that the shareholders pull up stakes find investments that return in excess of the 14.5% debit redevelopment that is being paid to finance their divi dends in addition to the fact that the dividend payments are big(a) to cause Guna Fibres to shut down, as they bequeath no longer be able to finance operations.Guna Fibres could then draw cash from their cash accounts to begin to pay down some of the balance that remains on their notes payable. Similar to the issue with Guna Fibres dividend payments, even in months when Guna Fibres posts a net loss they maintain a cash balance of 750K. By utilizing Guna Fibres cash accounts to cover operating expenses in months where Guna Fibres suffers a net loss this would subordinate Guna Fibres trustingness on outside funding even more as can be seen in Exhibit 5. occupy note the highlighted change in change in notes payable down to 275K Rupees as a subject of covering net loss with cash as foreign to financing.Examination of Guna Fibres forecast as well as looking at some of the propositions regarding changes in operations elucidates another resolving that would not require Guna Fibres to make such(prenominal) drastic changes to its dividend and cash balance policy. fit in to R. Sikh, correctments have been made to Guna Fibres transfer operations so much so that it is no longer necessary to carry 2 months of archive. The implication for R. Sikh is that carrying 30 days less origin will free up space in the warehouse however, due to Guna Fibres current financial situation this change could have a heavy(p) preserve on the firm as a whole. Note the highlighted segments on Exhibit 6. Exhibit 6 simulates the impact that woful to a policy of only guardianship 30 days of inventory would have on Guna Fibres financials. Note the yellow highlighted row, which indicates the novel inventory levels versus the levels present in Guna Fibres buffer forecast ( establish 1). As a result of the decrease in carried inventory, the orange highlighted section indicates a decrease in total assets, as total assets are in part a product of inventory levels.Finally, the decreas e in total assets results in a greatly reduced reliance on the line of credit from the bank as less capital is tied up in inventory at any given time, this effect can be seen in the green highlighted row. Note 2 really important effects 1. That changing to Sikhs shipping computer programme for the month of January would go out Guna Fibres to set out the balance of their notes payable for 30 days as required by the bank, and 2. That based on the forecast Guna Fibres will be able to return to their expected cycle of noughting out the credit line by the end of 2012. Due to changes in the shipping policy Guna Fibres will need to modify their purchase order policy as installd by the purple row. here(predicate) the purchases in period (t) are laid by the forecasted gross sales in (t+1). Feasibility of Sikhs computer programme seems to be high as he indicates in his memo that youthful inventory procedures could be put in effect for January.Guna Fibres is also considering a int ention from L. Gupta that was originated on direction from Kumar to determine the efficiency impact of switching to a level occupation method. According to Gupta, under level product Guna Fibres will need to purchase a consistent INR5 million per month. Gupta suggests that this will provide several usefulnesss to the firm, it will ease repel unrest and employee dissatisf fulfill by creating a unchangeable workforce, decrease the risk associated with machine downtime during the peak-manufacturing season, and at last Gupta indicates that level manufacturing will decrease manufacturing be by 5%. While the benefits expound by Gupta are significant, modeling the impact on Guna Fibres financial forecast reveals some concerns.Note the highlighted sections on Exhibit 7 with the yellow indicating the new level purchasing quantity and the adjusted Direct churn and other Manufacturing costs indicated with blue. Concerns arise when looking at inventory in the months of July and augus t where both of these months will see Guna Fibres swayed out of product during their peak-selling season. Additionally, it is important to note thepurple row indicating the balance of Guna Fibres line of credit. Not only does it not zero out the balance in 2012 under the new manufacturing system, but is also ends the year with a balance of more than 10 million Rupees.Decision CriteriaIn deciding which frame of action Guna Fibres should take in response to their current crisis it is first important to determine the top priorities to maintain operations. auxiliary to that Guna Fibres should make a determination as to which alternative yields the outcome that will be the most sustainable. As a result of the current crisis that Guna Fibres is facing, the first priority in determining a course of action is to implement the visualize that will live up to the bank straightaway. Due to Guna Fibres reliance on their line of credit this essential be restored for operations to continue .Specifically, the visualise chosen must avenge 2 conditions 1. It must allow Guna Fibres to zero out their balance with the bank as soon as accomplishable so that the bank will be willing to continue to extend credit as Guna Fibres prepares for the next season, and 2. Guna Fibres must evidence that they will be able to consistently meet their obligations to the bank in the future, ie. be able to zero out the balance in October 2012. Tertiary concerns are relate to the sustainability of the business over the long term, as such looking at how changes in policy could make Guna Fibres more hypersensitized/resilient to confinement problems, shipping delays, and so onAnalysis of AlternativesAnalysis of strategic alternatives one come tos looking to see how eliminating dividends in 2012 as well as utilizing Guna Fibres cash balances to cover net losses each month would allow the firm to fulfill the primary criteria identified above. Referring to exhibit 8 note that the values ha ve been adjusted as such that Guna Fibres is no longer paying a dividend and that cash is being used to cover net losses, adjusting Guna Fibres policy of keeping their cash balance at a INR 750K. Examining the yellow highlighted row one can see that these changes improve both the monthly balanced carried on the line of credit as well as improve on the closing balance, (see highlighted section exhibit 5).Unfortunately, eventhe implementation of both of these measures is unlikely to satisfy the bank. First, the models do not show that Guna Fibres will be able to zero out the balance on the account either in the short term or at any point next year. While the model shows a comparatively additive increase in notes payable at years end, it shows that Guna Fibres is still unable to meet their debt obligations and the bank will be unlikely to extend any further credit.As far as the secondary criteria, this does not seem to be a resolvent for the long term for Guna Fibres. While it slow s some of the bleeding in the coming year, the fact remains that the firm cannot meet their financial obligations and will likely find themselves in a deeper hole next year these are the only changes implemented. wizard benefit of the proposed changes to cash management would be that it could be accomplished without major procedure whelm and could provide an immediate benefit to the firm. Conversely, ceasing dividends and expenditure the companys cash balance would indicate to shareholders and employees that the company in unspeakable financial health and could create a morale problem.Sikhs proposal to capitalize on improvements in shipping times to improve inventory introduce had some unintended consequences that could be very beneficial for Guna Fibres. By carrying only 30 days worth of inventory at a time Guna Fibres is able to dramatically reduce the amount of capital that is invested in their inventory. In turn this reduces total assets and as a result lowers the necessary borrowing from the bank. Implementing Sikhs plan immediately would satisfy both of the banks necessary conditions. As can be seen in Exhibit 6, the change in inventory policy would allow the balance of notes payable to be satisfied in the month of January and that Guna Fibres will be able to pay zero out the balance a get in in the fall as historically expected. Additionally, due to the improvements in shipping it is likely that this plan can be implemented in a manner that is sustainable and not simply a Band-Aid solution to wrap up with symptoms of the underlying problem. Finally, there are benefits and drawbacks of this plan that need to be acknowledged. As it relates to the third criteria mentioned above.The greatest benefit beyond the ability to continue operations is that doingso will not compromise the companys dividend payments or cash balances. This should have a positive effect on company morale and continued shareholder and employee engagement. One of the possible draw backs is that the 30 day inventory policy will reduce some of the slack in the system and the relative incidence of a mechanical or raw materials delay could result in commonplace outs for Guna Fibres. Additionally, moving to a just in time inventory system will require Guna Fibres to have very precise projections for the next periods demand as the firm will want to avoid stock outs. While these concerns will need to be taken into account, they are subordinated to the primary need, which is to demonstrate a viable financial model that will satisfy the bank. The final proposal to shift Guna Fibres to level production fails to satisfy the immediate needs of the bank as well as the long-term requirements of being able to zero out the line of credit.Exhibit 7 clearly shows that this policy will create an increased reliance on the banks line of credit to maintain operations as well as create inventory stock outs during the busy season for Guna Fibres. This proposal may yield some insig hts for the long term for Guna Fibres as Gupta is able to demonstrate decreases in manufacturing expense as well as benefits to morale and resilience to labor and manufacturing problems. However, at this time, this plan does not satisfy the immediate need of Guna Fibres. Comparing the third proposed plans it is clear that adopting Sikhs new inventory management system is the angel solution as it is the only plan that is likely to satisfy the bank. Additionally, Sikhs plan is sustainable and does not involve the firm treating symptoms and actually addresses the underlying issue.Recommended rootBased on the given analysis of the proposed solutions, Guna Fibres should implement the inventory management plan that was proposed by Sikh. Based on Sikhs memo inventory procedures can be implemented immediately and this course of action should be chosen. Even in the presence of minor delays or transitional problems, the sustainable nature of this plan should be enough to persuade the bank t hat Guna Fibres will be able to pay their debit obligations going forward. The biggest area of concern will be theimportance of accurately intercommunicate demand for the next period as having 30 days less inventory will eliminate Guna Fibres ability to rely on extra stock when demand exceeds their projections. Efforts to address these concerns could include developing a more communicative relationship with the distributors that Guna Fibres sells to gain better information for making their projections.An supernumerary concern that needs to be address are how the change in inventory policy will impact Guna Fibres suppliers and if they will be able to accommodate the changes to the firms ordering policy. It is also important to keep in mind that if Guna Fibres implements this policy they still have the flexibility to cut their dividend or reduce their cash balance to cover and periodic cash flow problems. By demonstrating that new inventory plan to the bank with the additional conti ngency of potentially cutting cash or the quarterly dividend, Guna Fibres should be able to resume operations and a relationship with the bank.