Saturday, December 28, 2019
St Mary Spital Analysis - 1610 Words
In moving from singular case studies to evaluating the data in a wider context, details were learned about the daily life of Medieval London and the relationship between migrating and living in an urban environment reflects on health. The consistency in the recording of data allowed for minimal variation in results over the observation of the 5387 individuals. The detailed inclusion of data will allow for future comparison between data sets and there is a possibility to evaluate grave goods in conjunction with stable isotope analysis to evaluate migration and how individuals viewed themselves. Bioarchaeological Study on Health After the introduction and the exhaustive results, the aim of the monograph turns to placing the St Mary Spitalâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦2012, 268). Today clinical studies have proven air pollution causes lower birth weight, growth retardation and malformations, particularly in soft tissue (Connell et al. 2012, 268). Many women in urban centres would have spent long times in areas of higher air pollution especially due to the low ventilation in houses and rooms, such as the kitchen. These occupation and living conditions can have substantial effects on health and by taking a wider socio-cultural, environmental and historical context (Swales 2013, 319-320) the link between these and health can be examined. Another of the important links between the environment and health, is the cause of the appearance of mass burial pits at St Mary Spital. The occurrence of mass burials in every phase of the cemetery leads to the conclusion that something was going on (Connell et al. 2012, 227) if there wasnââ¬â¢t enough burial space to burry people individually. The first three phases of the cemetery correlate with twenty one famines documented in the 12th and 13th centuries (Connell et al. 2012, 228-229). Whether there was exaggeration in these records or not, there were still regularly occurring poor harvests and resulting famines. Famines of specific years can be matched up to periods of burial, such as the first period, dating to the
Friday, December 20, 2019
Effective Management And Leadership Are The Foundation For...
Effective management and leadership are the foundation for the success of a thriving business. The goal of any company is to bring in sales (revenue) from the products or services that the company offers. It is imperative for leaders to develop effective decision-making techniques, which will successfully help to determine what their target clienteles wants, and needs are and how it is best to meet them. The student learner will discuss areas in which she feels that Whole Foods Market would benefit from improvement to increase revenue and strategize how to target potential new customers. The concept for Whole Foods Market began in 1978 where it has now grown to be the leading natural and organic foods supermarket. Whole Foods Market originally began in Austin, Texas; it has since grown in operation to the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The original founders of the company are John Mackey, Craig Weller, Mark Skiles, the current owner of Clarksville Natural Grocery and Renee Lawson Hardy, who was then the owner of Safer Way Natural. The original four local business owners came together in a consensus that concluded, the natural food industry was ready for a large-scale supermarket format. The founders of Whole Foods Market wanted to be more than a health food store selling pills, but rather as a market that featured organic wholesome foods that catered to the health conscious consumer. From that idea, Whole Foods became the nationââ¬â¢s first large-scaleShow MoreRelatedLeadership Styles : Transformational Leadership1426 Words à |à 6 Pagestran sformational leadership styles have a major influence on the employee motivation and organisational culture, hence influence the long term success of the business. A number of key leadership styles, together with the transformational leadership will be discussed and linked to real business-world examples. According to the research, there are three main leadership styles, specifically transformational, transactional, and laissez-faire. It has been found that a transformational leadership style is typicallyRead MoreHuman Resource Management : Final Project1545 Words à |à 7 Pages1 1 BA356 ââ¬â Human Resource Management: Final Project Final Project ââ¬â ABC Technology Company Isaac Rushton New Charter University BA356 ââ¬â Human Resource Management 2 2 BA356 ââ¬â Human Resource Management: Final Project Some potential key issues impacting the success of an organization include staffing challenges. Employee retention issues and high turnover can have an adverse effect on any business. There are many factors that could possibly tie into overall staffing issues. The inability to attractRead MoreTop Years Of Success As A Regional Sales Director1177 Words à |à 5 PagesTen years of success as a Regional Sales Director, leading to promotion Five years of success as company Manager, Training, Communications, Store Operations SUMMARY Positive, outgoing Regional Sales Director (District Sales Manager) with more than 15 years of proven success driving sales, developing people, and building exceptional teams at store, district, and full company levels. Passionate leader, who thrives on making a difference in the lives of customers and co-workers through service-orientedRead MoreThe Impact Of Change Management On The Organization1676 Words à |à 7 PagesIntroduction Change management is guiding teams, individuals or an organization through a series of changes to move from the current state to the desired state. During this transition, the goal is to empower the people involved to embrace the changes and the process (Bassey, Solomon, and Omono, 2014). Management of change significantly contributes to its success. Change can be influenced by both internal and external elements. It can appear in different ways including a change of management, policies, organizationalRead MoreA Formal Change Management Process1477 Words à |à 6 Pagesresearch and analysis conducted, four key recommendations are offered. Formal change management processes A formal change management process should be developed and implemented in order to allow a consistent methodology, tools and language to be applied to relevant initiatives. Although effective change management also requires the development and application of a unique set of soft skills such as conflict management and negotiation, a formal process would provide the first step in helping employeesRead MoreCase Study : Hacienda Encantada Resort Spa 71271 Words à |à 6 Pagesthese changes. On a business level, these changes perhaps would contain the transformation of the internal corporate ideologies as well as enhancements in the management of human resources in reaction to intensifying workplace diversity and the evolving necessities of the workforce. According to strategy + business, ââ¬Å"skilled change managers, conscious of organizational change management best practices, always make the most of their companyââ¬â¢s existing cultureâ⬠(Strategy + Business, 2014). Therefo reRead MoreStarbucks Vs. Executive Of Starbucks1477 Words à |à 6 PagesHoward Schlutz- CEO and Chairman of Starbucks proved that dreams do come true. Starbucks Coffee Company is the textbook example proving that passion and drive are enough to start an effective business project. Starbucks bred progressively from one little homegrown business in Seattle to an international coffee giant. From the beginning, the company had a different aura to it. It is not a traditional entrepreneurship, in the sense that Howard got the idea from the owners of the original StarbucksRead MoreThe Most Vital Period Of Time Is Now1498 Words à |à 6 Pagescompany-wide values. These values truly do encompass the values of the organization as a whole, as they were selected by not only upper management, but suggested by employees in all levels of leadership. Though a potential solution has been addressed and suggested, it is important that Seagram be held accountable to the lofty goals they have set. These values will be the foundation upon which Seagram will grow for decades to come. However, the most vital period of time is now. Successful implementationRead MoreThe On Conscious Capitalism By John Mackey And Raj Sisodia1918 Words à |à 8 Pagesââ¬Å"Those of us alive today can choose to lead the most meaningful lives humans have ever ledâ⬠is a famous quote from Lynne Twist. Today, our world and economy is thriving like never before. We live in a society that has incredible opportunities to change the world for the better. With the advancement in technology, knowledge, and resources, our economy in a place it has never seen before. According to Doug Levyââ¬â¢s presentation on Conscious Capitalism, Capitalism has been the major factor in ending povertyRead MoreThe On Conscious Capitalism By John Mackey And Raj Sisodia1918 Words à |à 8 Pagesââ¬Å"Those of us alive today can choose to lead the most meaningful lives humans have ever ledâ⬠is a famous quote from Lynne Twist. Today, our world and economy is thriving like never before. We live in a society that has incredible opportunities to change the world for the better. With the advancement in technology, knowledge, and resources, our economy in a place it has never seen before. According to Doug Levyââ¬â¢s presentation on Conscious Capitalism, Capitalism has been the major factor in ending poverty
Thursday, December 12, 2019
Hotel and Hospitality Management Protel SPE
Question: Discuss about the Hotel and Hospitality Management for Protel SPE. Answer: Monday and Friday are important days in the calendar of this organization. Based on the available data, the revenues generated from reservations are distinct. For instance, the Mondays revenue is the lowest as it stands at $3.4 while the Fridays reservations make $4.0 per reservation. This efficient business optimization of resources helps the resort to remain competitive in the market. It, however, targets the technologically well-informed customers who can seek online booking (Sistemi, n.d). The original booking was conducted manually, but with the Protel SPE, the firm has automated the booking process. In Xn BI Compare the selected day against the previous year and explain the differences providing support evidence taking the following aspects into consideration In the past years, the company experienced the worst booking processes on these days as it made it manually. With Protel SPE, the company has increased the booking rates and efficiency thus achieving optimal business. In fact, the hotel uses the software for rate code management including per room category, per special guests, and per season or weekend. The rate availability is also possible to determine based on early/late booking, occupancy levels, the length of stay, and cancellation of conditions and codes. Therefore, with the Internet reservations, the customers can use 2way link IDSs, web booking engines and BWI interface to BW CRS to justify its efficiency (Sistemi, n.d). In Synergy review, the day selected, review the decisions taken by the property in pursuit of achieving budget and forecast with supporting evidence on: The decisions made were high during the weekend days such as Fridays when the rate of reservations and booking were high. This decision involved proper hotel management through the high score in functionality, customer satisfaction, rate availability, and rate code managing. The Protel WBE provided the best functionality because it was integrated perfectly with the PMS and internet reservations on its website. This new hotel management system improved the speed of booking, RevPAR, and ADR. In fact, the decisions regarding the efficiency of Protel MPE was correct because involved the use of IDS interface with 2way communication regarding guest reservation and data, and room availability and pricing as explained by Sistemi (n.d). In my opinion, the property has achieved its objective and target because it has improved its service delivery. However, I would have incorporated mobile solutions for the hotel guests in different phases such as before reservation, on the hotel, after reserva tion, after checkout, and before check-in. By adopting this system, the hotel can improve its operating results. As a General Manager, how might you use the information from Protel and BI system to benefit the property in respect of Revenue Generation Customer Service New loyalty programme Protel MPE is a central property management system that has transformed the global hotel chain. Interestingly, the connected hotels can retrieve the guest information from a central database (MC, 2015, par. 2). Through the system, the hotel can make reservations, reporting, and marketing in a single package. It thus allows for efficient monitoring and controlling of all revenues, activities, and reports. The Protel MPE can help the firm to generate more revenues as customers can access services and offers a single database because it enhances total visibility into guest stays, revenues, and reservations. It provides an opportunity to the sales department to use a centralized plan to manage its sales activities. Besides, the company can utilize this system to undertake central customer relationship management (MC, 2015, par. 4). Therefore, the hotel can introduce new loyalty programs like offer low reservation costs to repeat clients by sharing such offers through the system. If a Loyalty Scheme was implemented by the property to increase customer retention, Offering discounts to customers is a good loyalty scheme whose effects would be inevitable in the business. Given the competitive pressure in the hotel and hospitality industry, the loyalty scheme would help in attracting new customers and retaining them. This will help the firm to realize a continuous flow of revenues. The expected effect on the cost of booking would be positive because many customers would love to enjoy the discounts offered by the hotel. References Protel MPE: Multiple Property Hotel Management System. Retrieved from https://mcsistemi.com/protel-mpe/ Sistemi. (n.d). Protel PMS, CRM Solutions for Hotel Management. Retrieved from https://mcsistemi.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/protelPMS.pdf
Wednesday, December 4, 2019
According To The Internal Revenue Service ââ¬Myassignmenrthelp.Com
Question: Discuss About The According To The Internal Revenue Service? Answer: Introducation According to the Internal Revenue Services (2017) items owned by an individual meant for personal use or for investment purposes can be thought of as capital assets. Capital assets include land, buildings, jewellery, household fixtures and furnishings, securities (bonds, equity, mutual funds, bank deposits, debentures, life insurance) trademarks, vehicles, patents, plants and machinery (Dave, 2017). Upon the sale of a capital asset, the amount realised from the sale less the adjusted basis in the asset is either a capital gain or capital loss (Internal Revenue Service, 2017). When the asset is disposed of at an amount greater than the acquisition cost, then a capital gain is realised, in circumstances where the disposal price is less than the acquisition cost, then a capital loss arises. The Australian Taxation Office (2017a) computes net capital gains and net capital losses as follows Net Capital Gain = Sum of all Capital Gains realised within the fiscal year (amounts arising from managed funds and trusts are added here) Sum of Capital Losses (net capital losses arising from prior periods is added to the current capital losses) Capital Gains arising from discounts in tax and concessions given to small businesses Net Capital Loss = Sum of Capital Losses (including losses realised in prior periods) Sum of Capital Gains When computing capital gains and capital losses some factors are taken into considerations. Capital gains or losses on collectables which include items like paintings and antiques of values equivalent to or less than $500 are disregarded. Capital losses associated with collectables can only be offset by capital gains from collectables. Capital gains or losses on personal use items such as furniture and household items of values of less than 10,001 are disregarded. Asset Purchase Price Sales Price Gain (Loss) Antique Vase $ 2,000.00 $ 3,000.00 $ 1,000.00 Antique Chair $ 3,000.00 $1,000.00 $ (2,000.00) Painting $ 9,000.00 $ 1,000.00 $ (8,000.00) Home Sound System $ 12,000.00 $11,000.00 $ (1,000.00) Shares $ 5,000.00 $ 20,000.00 $ 15,000.00 Net Loss on Collectables = $1,000 - $2,000 $ 8,000 = $ 9,000 Net Gain = $ 15,000 - $ 1000 = $ 14,000 Fringe benefits are sometimes referred to as employee benefits, perquisites or perks (Klonoski, 2016, p. 52). These benefits consist of non-salary (wage) compensation awarded to employees on top of their stipulated remuneration. Examples of fringe benefits include accommodation provided by the employer (the accommodation could be fully furnished and serviced with all utilities catered for or could simply be in form of rent), insurance coverage (these could include medical and life assurance), income guarantees in case of disability, childcare, school fees, sick leave, vacation allowances, retirement contributions, household staff, profit sharing, amongst others (Ohio University, n.d.). These benefits are often considered to be indirect expenses to the organisation (International Accounting Standards Board, 2015;United States Bureau of Labour Statistic, 2016). According to the Austrian Tax Office (2017b), the taxes on these fringe benefits are paid by the employer. As such the employer withholds tax obligations that arise from benefits conferred to the companys directors, current employees, potential employees, and past employees. An employer for purposes of taxes includes sole traders, partnerships, corporations, unincorporated organisations, governments, non-government organisations, and trustees. The fringe benefits tax is payable irrespective of whether or not the employee is liable to pay other categories of taxes. The term loan encompasses situations whereby the employee owes the employer a given amount and on the day the debt falls due the employee fails to retire the debt. The amount that remains unpaid is considered as a loan. The loan advanced to Brain can be considered as a loan fringe benefit. A loan fringe benefit is defined as a loan provided by the employer to the employee at an interest-free rate or a low-interest rate (this is a rate that is lower than the benchmark rate) [Inland Revenue, 2016]. In Australia, instead of the market rate of interest, the statutory interest rate determined by the Reserve Bank of Australia is used as the benchmark rate. In April 2016, the published rate was 5.65% (Australia Tax Office, 2017b). The value of the loan fringe benefit that is taxable on the loan given to Brain is calculated as follows: Step 1: Computation of value of the loan fringe benefits that is taxable without consideration of the deductible rule Value of Loan Fringe Benefit that is Taxable = Benchmark (Statutory) interest on the Statutory Interest on the Loan = 5.65% x $ 1,000, 000 = $ 56,500 Actual Interest Paid on Loan = 1% x $ 1,000, 000 = $ 10,000 Value of Loan Fringe Benefit that is Taxable = $ 56,500 -$ 10,000 = $ 46,500 Step 2: Computation of Value of Loan Fringe Benefit that is Taxable with consideration of the deductible rule According to taxation laws, the employee is entitled to a deduction on the interest charged on the part of the debt that is used to generate income. Thus Brian gets a deduction for the 40% used for income producing purposes. The computations are given as follows: Income Tax Deductible to Employee at Statutory Rate = (5.65% x $ 1,000, 000) 40% = $ 22,600 Income Tax Deductible to Employee at Actual Interest Rate = (1% x $ 1,000,000)40% = $ 4,000 Value of Loan Fringe Benefit that is Taxable may be reduced by = $ 22, 600 - $ 4,000 = $ 18, 600 Value of Loan Fringe Benefit that is Taxable with consideration of the deductible rule = $ 46,500 - $18,600 = $ 27,900 According to the provisions of tax regulations where an employee under the terms and conditions of the loan is allowed to make interest payments less frequently than every six months, the employee is considered at the end of every six months as having been loaned separately at a nil rate of interest any amount that remains unpaid (Australian Taxation Office, 2017b). Therefore, if Brain pays the interest at the end of three years, it will be assumed that the rate of interest was nil. Therefore, the taxable value of loan fringe benefit will increase. Taxable Value of Debt Waiver Fringe Benefits A debt waiver fringe benefit occurs in situations where the employer releases the employee from the requirement to repay or reimburse the money lent. In situations where the debt is waived for reasons of default and the amount cannot be recovered, there is no debt waiver fringe benefit (Australia Taxation Office, 2017a). In certain situations, the employer can voluntarily release the employee from the obligation to repay the loan. In such a situation, if the employer is able to demonstrate that the release was unrelated to the employment relationship, then a debt waiver fringe benefit does not arise (Australia Taxation Office, 2017b). The taxable value of the debt waiver fringe benefit is the total sum that is waived. If the bank decided not to charge Brain interest on the loan a taxable waiver of fringe benefit would arise. This is computed as follows: Taxable Value of the Debt Waiver Fringe Benefit = 1% x $ 1,000, 000 x 3years = $ 30,000 A joint tenancy occurs where two or more persons pool their resources together and use them to purchase property (Find Law Team, 2017). In a joint tenancy there are no severable shares. For example for a married couple such as Jack and Jill if one person dies, then the remaining spouse will receive all the rights of survivorship. The joint tenancy has four characteristics Joint Ownership every entity in the joint tenancy arrangement has the right to every aspect of the property. There are no individual rights not just individually Joint Interest Every individual in the joint tenancy agreement has similar interest and rights in the property of the same nature and to the same extent. Same Point in Time All the rights and interest of the tenants are vested at the same point in time Unity of Title all the rights and duties are based on the same deed. For taxation purposes in joint tenancy, all the parties in the agreement hold an equal interest in the property (Australia Taxation Office, 2017c). As such the agreement between Jack and Jill to divide the rental income and rental losses in proportions that are not equal has no effect for income tax purposes. Jack and Jill must thus include half of the net loss in their taxable incomes. For purposes of computing capital gains or capital loss tax, the joint tenants are considered to be tenants in common which means that they have an equal interest in the asset. Therefore, both Jack and Jill have an equal share in the capital loss or gain when the capital gains tax is being computed. When the property is sold the capital loss or gain is split equally between them. The case of Inland Revenue Commissioners v. Duke of Westminster [1936] commonly referred to as the Duke of Westminster case is often cited as an example of tax avoidance. During the court proceedings, it was established that the Duke of Westminster hired a gardener who was paid from the Dukes immense post-tax income. In order to reduce his tax liability, the Duke instead of paying the gardener a wage wrote a covenant stipulating that he would pay the gardener an amount equal to the wage that he had previously paid. The tax laws and regulations that prevailed at that time allowed the Duke to claim a deduction on his taxable income for the amount paid in the covenant. Overall, the actions of the Duke reduced his income tax and surtax liability. However, the Inland Revenue Commissioner maintained that the computations and acts of the Duke of Westminster were nothing more than tax evasion. The court ruled in the favour of the Duke. In the judgement, Lord Tomlin held that Every man is entitled if he can to arrange his affairs so that the tax under the appropriate Acts is less than it otherwise would be. If he succeeds ordering them so as to secure that result, then, however unappreciative Commissioners of Inland Revenue or his fellow taxpayers may be of his ingenuity, he cannot be compelled to pay an increased tax (Inland Revenue Commissioners v. Duke of Westminster [1936]) The ruling by Lord Tomlin implies that entities that have tax liabilities may take actions or make arrangement to reduce their tax burden within the perimeters established by the laws. Where an entity succeeds in reducing their tax liability and avoid the tax burden, the revenue authority and the fellow tax payer even thought they feel they are being treated unfairly cannot force the entity to pay an increased tax which might be the original amount (Steven, 2013, p. 17). This case established the principle that an individual is entitled to within the legal statute organise their accounts so as to limit their tax liability (Adams, 2011). Relevance of Tax Evasion Principle in Australia From 1915, the Federal Income Tax laws in Australia have contained a general anti-avoidance provision (Bloom, 2015). The aim of the general anti-avoidance provisions was to ensure an equitable tax regime in which the individual tax payers was unable to avoid the payment of full tax liability by use of superficial or contrived arrangements. The provisions added to the complexity of the tax laws and resulted in increased compliance costs for tax payers. However, some of the provisions were successfully challenged in court (Bloom, 2015). Following the raft of ruling against the commissioner, amendments were made to the general anti-avoidance provisions in 1936 through the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (McLaren, 2008, pp. 144-151). Part IVA was added to the act in 1981 in order to enhance the anti-avoidance provisions. Part IVA allows the Commissioner of Taxation wider discretion on items to include in the taxpayers assessable income (Xynas, 2011, pp. 5-8). The provisions prevented the erosion of the income tax base and did away with gaps that allowed for non-genuine reductions. These provisions were enhanced by the rulings in FCT v. Spotless Services Ltd [1986] commonly referred to as the Spotless Case. In that case, the High Court of Australia held that even if the tax payer is able to prove that a transaction is genuine, that in itself does not provide grounds for tax avoidance (Xynas, 2011, pp. 5-14). According to the court, a transaction has to make sense, where the transaction does not make sense without the tax benefit, then Part IVA applies. The government of Australia has continued to formulate and implement statutes to reduce tax avoidance while balancing the interests of the government and those of the taxpayers. Thus, the principles established in the IRC v the Duke of Westminster [1936] is relevant today but the scope of administration has been reducing. The issue of assessment of taxation for primary production and forestry is given by Taxation Ruling 95/6 (TR95/6). The aim of the ruling is to indicate the tax burden from the business of forest operations and the transaction relating to timber by persons in the business of forest operation and persons not engaged in the business of forest operations but having transactions involving forestry and/ or timber. The ruling expressly indicates which receipts obtained from the sale of timber constitute assessable income, whether or not the tax payers primary business is forestry or not (Australian Taxation Office, 2010). According to the ruling, the disposal of trees by the taxpayer means that the amount realised from the sale of the trees should be added in the taxpayers assessable income as provided for under the Income Tax Act 36(1). Therefore, the receipts by Bill for the timber are assessed as income and as such result in a tax burden. According to section 55 of TR 95/6 the accessible income includes: proceeds from the sale of standing trees, royalties earned in exchange for granting another party the right to fell and remove timber, and profits from isolated transactions. The lump sum amount received by Brian can be considered as a royalty and thus assessable income References Adams, J. (2011). What is the difference between tax avoidance and tax evasion? Tax Insider, Available at https://www.taxinsider.co.uk/680-What_is_The_Difference_Between_Tax_Avoidance_and_Tax_Evasion.html (Accessed 8 September 2017). Australian Tax Office (2010). Taxation ruling: TR 95/6. Available at: https://www.ato.gov.au/law/view/document?docid=txr/tr956/nat/ato/00001 (Accessed: 8 September 2017). Australian Tax Office (2017a.) Working out your net capital gain or loss. Available at: https://www.ato.gov.au/General/Capital-gains-tax/Working-out-your-capital-gain-or-loss/Working-out-your-net-capital-gain-or-loss/ (Accessed: 8 September 2017). Australian Tax Office (2017b). Fringe benefit tax a guide for employers. Available at: https://www.ato.gov.au/law/view/document?DocID=SAV%2FFBTGEMP%2F00002 (Accessed 8 September 2017). Australian Taxation Office (2017c). Co-ownership of rental properties. Available at: https://www.ato.gov.au/Forms/Rental-properties-2013-14/?page=5 (Accessed 8 September 2017). Bloom D. (2015) Tax avoidance: A view from the dark side, Annual Tax Lecture , Melbourne Law School, 15 August. Dave, R. (2017) How to calculate short-term and long-term capital gains and tax on these, Economic Times, 28 August [Online]. Available at: conomictimes.indiatimes.com/wealth/tax/how-to-calculate-short-term-and-long-term-capital-gains-and-tax-on-these/articleshow/60230745.cms (Accessed: 7 September 2017). Id Revenue Commissioner v. Duke of Westminster [1936] AC 1 (19 TC 490). Inland Revenue (2016) Low interest loan and fringe benefit tax. Available at https://www.ird.govt.nz/fringe-benefit-tax/fbt-types/fbt-low-interest-loans/low-interest-loans-fbt.html (Accessed 8 September 2017). International Accounting Standards Board (2015) IAS 19: Employee benefits. Available at: https://www.ifrs.org/issued-standards/list-of-standards/ias-19-employee-benefits/ (Accessed 8 September 2017). Internal Revenue Services (2017) Capital gains and losses. Available at: https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc409.html (Accessed: 7 September 2017). Klonoski, R. (2016) Defining Employee Benefits: A Managerial Perspective, International Journal of Human Resource Studies, 6(2), pp. 5272. Mclaren J. (2008). The distinction between tax avoidance and tax evasion has been blurred in Australia. Why has it happened?, Journal of the Australia Tax Teachers Association, 3(2), pp 141-163. Ohio University (n.d.) 10 benefits business offer employees. Available at: https://onlinemasters.ohio.edu/10-items-business-offer-infographic/?g=infographicst=mba (Accessed 8 September 2017). FCT v Spotless Services Ltd [1986] 34 ATR 183. Stevens, P. (2013) The changing limits of acceptable tax avoidance, Tax Journal, [Online]. Available at: https://www.taxjournal.com/articles/changing-limits-acceptable-tax-avoidance-11012013 (Accessed 8 September 2017). United States Bureau of Labour Statistics (2016) Glossary. Available at: https://www.bls.gov/bls/glossary.htm#B (Accessed 8 September 2017). Xynas, L. (2011) Tax planning, avoidance and evasion in Australia 1970-2010: The regulatory responses and taxpayer compliance, Revenue Law Journal, 20(1), pp. 1-37.
Thursday, November 28, 2019
International HRM A Case Study of Apple Inc.
Abstract International human resource management has become a necessary undertaking in many multinational corporations. Globalization, a major driver of international trade, is one of the factors behind this development. Success in international ventures is significantly driven by the input of expatriates or international assignees.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on International HRM: A Case Study of Apple Inc. specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In this paper, some issues relating to these assignees were highlighted. They include such issues as the various aspects of pre-departure training, recruitment, and selection criteria. Staffing strategies were also reviewed in this study. The author of this paper proposed a system of measuring return on international assignments. The topics mentioned above were analyzed in the context of Apple Inc., a top ranking multinational corporation. The success of this organization is one of the reasons why it was selected for this study. Key words: International human resource management, international assignees, multinational corporations, Apple Inc. International Human Resource Management: A Case Study of Apple Inc. In the recent past, there has been an increase in the number of multinational corporations operating in the world. Such companies are heavily investing in the global market. A number of factors have influenced the growth of these organizations. They include dynamics of international trade, amalgamation of the financial markets, and human migration. Other factors include speedy movement of capital as a result of globalization. All these factors have facilitated trade on the international arena. Human resource management entails the activities carried out by organizations to effectively utilize their human resource. Consequently, effective human resource management at the global level is a major determinant of success in international trade.Advertisi ng Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Human resource development at the international level has largely focused on the formulation of effective and highly skilled workforce. By doing this, individual employees and the organization at large can realize their ultimate goals of serving customers. Apple Inc. is a competitive global company in the communications and electronics industry. It is a leading designer, manufacturer, and marketer of communications and media devices. It is also involved in the manufacture and distribution of digital music players and portable computers. The company has operations in different parts of the world. It has an elaborate international human resource management system. The current study addresses the element of international human resource management with regards to Apple Inc. Various aspects related to management of personnel in this organization are review ed. They include, among others, training of employees, deployment across the world, and return on investment. The author of this paper holds that effective management of human resource at Apple Inc. has contributed to the success of the organization. International Human Resource Management and Apple Inc.ââ¬â¢s Experiences Components of Pre-Departure Training Overview. According to Avril and Magnini (2007), pre-departure training provides expatriates with the knowledge and skills required to survive following their immediate arrival at the destined country of work. Essentially, employees going to work in another country require information on various aspects of the host nation before they leave home. Some of the things they need to know include the culture and customs of the host country. They also need to be aware of the language and dress code appropriate to the new environment. In addition, international assignees need information on business etiquette in the new country (Avril Magnini, 2007).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on International HRM: A Case Study of Apple Inc. specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Information on verbal and non-verbal communication, taboos, rules, decision-making techniques, and business management structures should be provided to international employees during pre-departure training. Culture and customs of the new country. Training on host countryââ¬â¢s customs is essential in ensuring that the expatriates adapt to the local culture. It is noted that business operations would be negatively affected if the behavior patterns of the new employees conflict with the cultural expectations in the host country. For instance, a US citizen working for Apple Inc. may be deployed to Saudi Arabia. Such an employee should be aware of how Saudi nationals regard alcohol. In addition, female employees would be expected to conform to the societal expectations with regards to t heir dress code. Language. Language is an essential component of communication in international business. Expatriates and inpatriates require more than just basic knowledge on the host countryââ¬â¢s language for effective execution of their assignments. In addition, they should be aware of non-verbal communication techniques. Such awareness would facilitate communication in foreign countries. Business etiquette in the new environment. Business etiquette may vary between countries. In some parts of the world, governments regulate business policies. For instance, such elements as tax policies, power distance, and human resource management may differ from one country to the other (Katz Seifer, 1996). An expatriate manager at Apple Inc. would be required to understand the variation of such policies. Failure to comply with the new rules and regulations would most likely jeopardize the operations of the corporation in the host market. Business management structures and decision-making techniques. Different countries adopt different approaches in relation to business structures and decision-making techniques. For instance, decision making in high-power distance cultures differs with that in low-power distance communities.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More As such, a manager working for Appleââ¬â¢s branch in Korea should be aware of the best approach to adopt in directing employees. The same applies to a German employee working in Africa, where decisions usually come from the top management. Rationale for Utilizing the Pre-Departure Training Components Managers are expected to effectively handle employees from different cultural backgrounds. The ability of such managers as far as the employees are concerned affects the profitability of the company. People from different countries express their nationality and dress codes differently. The approach used by international assignees when dealing with certain problems may also differ. Such issues as the need to interpret actions and comments, predict behaviors, and resolve conflicts may arise. As a result, focusing on the various components of pre-departure training would harmonize Appleââ¬â¢s operations with the reality in the host country. Performance Assessment among Expatriates In troducing assessment. Assessing the performance of expatriates is a major element in international human resource management. The performance can be reviewed using a number of criteria. Such criteria include determining strategy implementation and attainment of competitive advantage. According to Caligiuri (1997), there are three criteria commonly used in evaluating expatriates. They include completion of foreign assignments, performance on the foreign assignment, and cross-cultural adjustment. The criteria apply to all employees irrespective of the operations of a particular organization. Completion of foreign assignments. It is an important behavioral measurement. It is used in reviewing the results of tasks assigned to foreign employees. Success under this criterion is determined by the ability of the employee to complete their assignment without seeking for transfer to another country (Caligiuri, 1997). Premature termination translates to failure in relation to the performance o f the expatriate. In most cases, premature termination occurs when the expatriate requests for transfer to home country before completion of the assignment. The assignee may also be requested to return home before they have completed their work. Cross-cultural adjustment. Adjustment to foreign culture also determines the success of the assignee (Caligiuri, 1997). Inability to adjust to the host country means failure in the assignment. Successful adjustment indicates that the employee is psychologically comfortable working and living in the new country. Adjusted assignees are comfortable with the local culture. On their part, maladjusted employees find it hard to survive in the new environment. The failed employees may prematurely terminate their assignments (Suutari Brewster, 2000). Performance on the foreign assignment. Multinational corporations expect their employees to adjust culturally and remain in their foreign posts. In addition, the expatriates are expected to successfully execute their assignments. According to Caligiuri (1997), a large number of maladjusted foreign employees fail to achieve the envisaged outcomes in their work. There are various measures of performance with regards to foreign assignments. They include establishing working relationships with the locals. Others include transfer of information and the language and cultural proficiency of the foreign employee (Caligiuri, 1997). The measures are in relation to the benefits of expatriates to the multinational corporation. Recruitment and Selection Strategy for Apple Inc.ââ¬â¢s International Assignments According to Suutari and Brewster (2000), international assignments entail three discrete phases. The first is the pre-assignment stage. It involves the selection and preparation of employees for deployment. The second is the ââ¬Ëactualââ¬â¢ assignment. It involves the ââ¬Ëactualââ¬â¢ stay of the expatriate in the new country. The last is the post-assignment stage. It is als o commonly known as repatriation. Recruitment and selection of expatriates is a multifaceted process. It takes into account both personal characteristics and interpersonal skills. Caligiuri (1997) postulates that most international organizations use knowledge of company systems and technical competencies in the selection process. The strategy is the most suitable recruitment and selection criteria for Apple Inc. It is noted that measuring relevant cross-cultural and interpersonal abilities is a difficult task for many organizations. In addition, most expatriate postings rely on personal recommendations. Such recommendations are derived from either line managers or specialist personnel (Suutari Brewster, 2000). As such, Apple should rely on the proposed recruitment and selection policy. The strategy would reduce chances of failure in the assigned job. Staffing Alternatives for Foreign Operations There are several approaches used in resolving the issue of human resource in relation t o international assignments. The strategies include ethnocentric and polycentric staffing approaches. Others are regiocentric and geocentric staffing strategies (Dowling, Welch Schuler, 2004). The ethnocentric approach involves filling all the key positions in the organization with local experts. The polycentric approach, on the other hand, proposes the use of host countryââ¬â¢s nationals in managing subsidiaries. However, in this approach, key positions in the corporationââ¬â¢s headquarters are held by nationals of the parent country (Dowling et al., 2004). The regiocentric approach is a mixed staffing strategy. Here, executives are transferred between regions. Operations of the company are divided according to geographical regions. Apple should adopt the geocentric policy to address its staffing needs. The approach disregards the nationality and location of the candidate. It is appropriate for Apple Inc. since the corporation has a vast international experience and a global structure that is well developed. Importance of a High Quality Mentoring System for International Assignees Mentorship refers to a form of developmental relationship. In this case, an experienced employed assists less experienced members of staff in performing their tasks. The mentors can function as guides in the exploration of career interests. They provide support to international assignees deployed by multinational organizations. Mentoring systems for expatriates can be formal or informal. The former describes established procedures and specified targets. The latter, on the other hand, is initiated whenever the assignees seek advice from their superiors or from external professionals. A high quality mentoring system is very important to any multinational organization. It determines the success or failure of foreign employees. In most cases, the programs provide the management with an opportunity to support the assignees. The support is especially important during departure or r epatriation phases of the assignment. As such, the programs are powerful means of strategically retaining valuable employees with international experience. High quality mentoring programs also help the employees to adjust to their new environment. It improves their productivity and overall performance in their new posts. In addition, the programs provide continuous communication on changes in the company and the state of affairs back at home. As a result, the expatriates can effectively cope with transfers, expatriation, and repatriation. The current global economic meltdown has led to cost constraints in most organizations. As such, it is important for organizations to have the right people at the right place. High quality mentorship programs are very essential in the management of talent and employees. To this end, Apple Inc. employees should always have a mentor irrespective of their position in the foreign country. The mentors should supervise the assignee with a view to support their development. They should assist the new employee for a given period of time. Prior to the assignment, the employee must undergo an extensive pre-departure training. The training will help them settle down in the host country. Measuring Return on Investment in International Assignments Every business undertaking requires a mechanism to determine its subsequent return on investment. The same applies to international assignments in multinational organizations. The companies should analyze the profitability or importance of international assignments to the parent organization. Studies conducted with the aim of measuring return on investment with regards to international human resource have focused on numerical results of foreign deployments. In most cases, the costs and returns associated with the investment are used to determine its profitability (Caligiuri, 1997). To determine Apple Inc.ââ¬â¢s return on investment, one should take into consideration a number of factors. The various aspects of international human resource management would help in assessing the profitability of foreign employees. The factors include identification of the assignmentââ¬â¢s purposes, cross-cultural training costs (Dowling et al., 2004), and compensation. In addition, performance management and repatriation outcomes should be factored in. Calculation of return on investment would eventually be ascertained by analyzing the financial and non-financial costs and benefits of the venture. The costs and benefits are then linked to the expenditure incurred with regards to the assignment. Conclusion International human resource management differs with domestic management of employees in several ways. Managing employees at the international level is characterized by different labor markets, varying management practices, and dynamic labor laws. Economic and other cultural barriers make international management of human resource a complex affair. Managing international employees may differ from one organization to the other. However, according to this author, the underlying principles are similar in all organizations. As a result, effective management of assignees and their related assignments is a major determinant of the success of these international ventures. References Avril, A., Magnini, V. (2007). A holistic approach to expatriate successes. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 19(1), 53-64. Caligiuri, P. (1997). Assessing expatriate success: Beyond just ââ¬Å"being thereâ⬠. New Approaches to Employee Management, 4(1), 117-140. Dowling, P., Welch, D., Schuler, R. (2004). International human resource management: Managing people in a multicultural context (4th ed.). Cincinnati, OH: Southwestern College Publishing. Katz, J., Seifer, D. (1996). It is a different world out there: Planning for expatriate success through selection, pre-departure training, and on-site socialization. Human Resource Planning, 19(2), 32-47. Suutar i, V., Brewster, C. (2000). Making their own way: International experience through self-initiated foreign assignments. Journal of World Business, 35(4), 417-436. This essay on International HRM: A Case Study of Apple Inc. was written and submitted by user Ramon A. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.
Sunday, November 24, 2019
How to Manipulate INI files from Delphi
How to Manipulate INI files from Delphi INI files are text-based files used for storing an applications configuration data. Even though Windows recommends using the Windows Registry to store application-specific configuration data, in many cases, youll find that INI files provide a quicker way for the program to access its settings. Windows itself even uses INI files;à desktop.inià and boot.inià being just two examples. One simple use of INI filesà as a status saving mechanism would be to save the size and location of a form if you want a form to reappear at its previous position. Instead of searching through a whole database of information to find the size or location, an INI file is used instead. The INI File Format Initialization or Configuration Settings file (.INI) is a text file with a 64 KB limit divided into sections, each containing zero or more keys. Each key contains zero or more values. Heres an example: [SectionName] keyname1value ;comment keyname2value Section names are enclosed in square brackets and must begin at the beginning of a line. Section and key names are case-insensitive (the case doesnt matter), and cannot contain spacing characters. The key name is followed by an equal sign (), optionally surrounded by spacing characters, which are ignored. If the same section appears more than once in the same file, or if the same key appears more than once in the same section, then the last occurrence prevails. A key can contain string, integer, or boolean value.ââ¬â¹ Delphi IDE uses the INI file format in many cases. For example, .DSK files (desktop settings) utilize the INI format. TIniFile Class Delphi provides the TIniFile class, declared in the inifiles.pas unit, with methods to store and retrieve values from INI files. Prior to working with the TIniFile methods, you need to create an instance of the class: uses inifiles; ... var à à IniFile : TIniFile; begin à à IniFile : TIniFile.Create(myapp.ini) ; The above code creates an IniFile object and assigns myapp.ini to the only property of the class - the FileName property - used to specify the name of the INI file you are to use. The code as written above looksà for the myapp.ini file in the \Windows directory. A better way to store application data is in the applications folder - just specify the full pathname of the file for the Create method: // place the INI in the application folder, // let it have the application name // and ini for extension: iniFile : TIniFile.Create(ChangeFileExt(Application.ExeName,.ini)) ; Reading From INI The TIniFile class has several read methods. The ReadString reads a string value from a key, ReadInteger. ReadFloat and similar are used to read a number from a key. All read methods have a default value that can be used if the entry does not exist. For example, the ReadString is declared as: function ReadString(const Section, Ident, Default: String): String; override; Write to INI The TIniFile has a corresponding write method for each read method. They are WriteString, WriteBool, WriteInteger, etc. For example, if we want a program to remember the name of the last person who used it, when it was, and what the main form coordinates were, we might establish a section called Users, a keyword called Last, Dateà to track the information, and a section called Placementà with keys Top,à Left,à Width, and Height. project1.ini à [User] à LastZarko Gajic à Date01/29/2009 à [Placement] à Top20 à Left35 à Width500 à Height340 Note that the key named Last holds a string value, Date holds a TDateTime value, and all keys in the Placement section hold an integer value. The OnCreate event of the main form is the perfect place to store the code needed to access the values in the applications initialization file: procedure TMainForm.FormCreate(Sender: TObject) ; var à à appINI : TIniFile; à à LastUser : string; à à LastDate : TDateTime; begin à à appINI : TIniFile.Create(ChangeFileExt(Application.ExeName,.ini)) ; à à try à à à à //if no last user return an empty string à à à à LastUser : appINI.ReadString(User,Last,) ; à à à à //if no last date return todays date à à à à LastDate : appINI.ReadDate(User, Date, Date) ; à à à à //show the message à à à à ShowMessage(This program was previously used by LastUser on DateToStr(LastDate)); à à à à Top : appINI.ReadInteger(Placement,Top, Top) ; à à à à Left : appINI.ReadInteger(Placement,Left, Left); à à à à Width : appINI.ReadInteger(Placement,Width, Width); à à à à Height : appINI.ReadInteger(Placement,Height, Height); à à finally à à à à appINI.Free; à à end; end; The main forms OnClose event is ideal for the Save INI part of the project. procedure TMainForm.FormClose(Sender: TObject; var Action: TCloseAction) ; var à à appINI : TIniFile; begin à à appINI : TIniFile.Create(ChangeFileExt(Application.ExeName,.ini)) ; try à à à à appINI.WriteString(User,Last,Zarko Gajic) ; à à à à appINI.WriteDate(User, Date, Date) ; à à à à with appINI, MainForm do à à à à begin à à à à à à WriteInteger(Placement,Top, Top) ; à à à à à à WriteInteger(Placement,Left, Left) ; à à à à à à WriteInteger(Placement,Width, Width) ; à à à à à à WriteInteger(Placement,Height, Height) ; à à à à end; à à finally à à à à appIni.Free; à à end; end; INI Sections The EraseSection erases an entire section of an INI file. ReadSection and ReadSections fillà a TStringList object with the names of all sections (and key names) in the INI file. INI Limitations Downsides The TIniFile class uses the Windows APIà which imposes a limit of 64 KB on INI files. If you need to store more than 64 KB of data, you should use the TMemIniFile. Another problem might arise if you have a section with more than 8 K value. One way to solve the problem is to write your own version of the ReadSection method.
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Impact of Shelf-Positioning On Impulse Buying of Fast Moving Consumer Research Paper - 1
Impact of Shelf-Positioning On Impulse Buying of Fast Moving Consumer Goods - Research Paper Example This paper tells that the findings of the research study of Kollat and Willett highlight that 65 percent of buying decisions in supermarkets are made in-stores, 50 percent of these decisions are unplanned and vary based on products and 50.5 percent of the products are bought in supermarkets as unplanned purchases. These unplanned decisions contribute to impulse purchasing which is considered very favorable for the sales of consumer products. Patterson argues that impulse buying is a result of various factors and one of these factors is the store location. Two important factors that influence impulse buying decisions include product packaging and positioning. Breygelmans, Campo & Gijbrechts conducted a research to study the impact of self-positioning on online grocery store choices and they have found that shelf management is an important factor even in the case of online grocery stores. By studying the in-store marketing of Norwegian retailing, it has been identified that are the pro motional techniques which are used to normalize consumers purchasing behavior. By positioning products on the top shelf or near the center, attention and evaluation of brands can be improved whereas, positioning brands on the middle shelves achieve attention but do not improve evaluation. Another important factor that leads to impulse buying is packaging. The difference in packaging directly contributed to sales appeal. Packaging is very significant for low involvement products like impulse purchase categories because, in these categories, consumers do not have the desire or need to investigate the products. Packaging is the key driver of impulse buying and it is significant to understand whether planned versus impulse shopping occurs as a result of packaging.
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