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There are 2 types of diversification: related and unrelated. Related diversification is where the company enters an associated market/ industry while unrelated diversification enters a market/industry with minimal to no experience at all. Relating these strategies to Blockbuster Inc, current portfolio, it loud seem that H. W. Huskiness's focus is on Diversification. As diversification is the option which entails the greatest risk (and potentially the greatest reward), alternatives must be presented to ensure that: a) risk would be minimized; and b) sustainability/growth must be achieved. A. Improve market penetration by concentrating resources on Video Rentals only. Financially, a low-risk option where the company will continue to earn or potentially increase their revenue by obtaining video rental customers from their competitors without having to spend on acquiring ewe and unsure businesses. O Sell previously acquired business units (e. Music retailer, TV and film shares, etc) and reinvest capital on promotions and rebinding as necessary. O Company could further specialize in current product marketing and development. O The concept of putting your eggs in one basket is somewhat of a risk in itself as the company would be fully reliant on the video rental market alone. B. Improve market penetration and venture on market development o This option has the benefits of Option A above without the risk of fully investing company resources n the local video rental market alone.As the local market is relatively saturated, new markets may be obtained internationally. O The relative risk is that investing in stores internationally will require capital and that the international markets may not be as responsive as local ones. C. Maintain/improve current performance of Video Rental sub-unit and Continue Diversification o Relatively risky option where current resources will be used not only to explore new products but explore new market s as well. O This option however, wh en executed properly can ensure the company's true not only as a video rental giant but as an entertainment company. Done in the wrong way however can lead to disastrous results and the company's downfall eventually. Current capital made through the â€Å"cash cow† of video rentals can be used to subsidize the newly purchased businesses in terms of capital investment, research and the like to improve the company's position in the market for such. O If met with a certain level of success, the company can also explore market/product development for not only video rentals but for their new products as well. V. Decision Option C: Maintain/improve current performance of Video Rental sub-unit and Continue Diversification Though risky and work/capital intensive at the start, having the foresight of venturing into other forms related business as well would be most logical.However, through careful planning and prudent investing of current resources for future endeavors (in this case p ackaging the company as an upcoming changes in market structure and customer demand. Film and TV shares can be considered as backward integration which could strengthen their hold on the home entertainment† market while putting up entertainment centers can be seen as moving out of the same niche which they have thrived in for the past years. All this, while keeping their thriving home entertainment business segment intact. The key here in essence is to milk the cow for whatever it's got, invest profits to penetrate new markets, engage in new segments and continuously redesign the company to meet the ever changing needs of the entertainment scene.Should this option fail if the related investments falter, the company should still be able to function at the present tit its strong market presence. Given however that the industry has been classified as a slow growing one, opportunities to gain more market share and/or segments should never be overlooked. Researching and adapting to new forms media for home entertainment should be focus of Blockbuster Inc (I. E. Product development) if they want to retain their claim as one of the biggest home entertainment companies. 1 Anions Growth Strategy Matrix, Business Strategy http://www. Acanthus. Com/databanks/ strategy/business_strategy. PH? Asps (Accessed on July 1 2, 2013)

High Court Ruling Only Tweaks Sarbanes-Oxley Act

ARTICLE SYNOPSISThe â€Å"High Court Ruling Only Tweaks Sarbanes-Oxley Act† article is about the Supreme Court ruling in Free Enterprise Fund vs. PCAOB indicating that Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) will remain â€Å"fully operative as a law† with the exception to remove members of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. Prior to the SOX Act, the removal of member was said to violate the appointments clause of the Constitution. In addition to discussing the ruling, the following will explain how the Sarbanes-Oxley act affects ethical decisions in today’s business and the criminal penalties that it provides. ETHICAL DECISIONThe process of making decisions consists of ethical attribute that include integrity, transparency, and accountability. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act has the effect of ensuring investor confidence through the existence of regulatory provisions effective in enhancing ethical standards. In the case of Free Enterprise Fund v. PCAOB shows the extent to which the issue of separation of powers is upheld. The main argument in the case was the excess power granted to the board as it was appointed by Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) other than the president. This means that the board had regulatory non-restricted power by the executive. According to the ruling, PCAOB has the power to continue overseeing public company audits with the intention of protecting investors interest (Jaeger, 2010).This is a major development as it relates to ensuring that proper measures supports the scope of executives ensuring that proper decisions are effective in  protecting the interests of investors. The court’s ruling indicated that PCAOB board members will be removed from office by SEC at will other than for good cause (Jaeger, 2010). However, other programs of PCAOB remain unaffected by the decision of the court.It is important to note that the enactment of the SOX Act is a major development that has ensured integrity in decision-making p rocess essential in protecting the integrity of investors. As a result of maintaining proper books of accounts and ensuring proper internal controls are in place, the SOX Act ensures ethical decisions are made enhancing the integrity and transparency. Ultimately, the impact of the SOX Act is to protect the interest of investors through prevention of accounting frauds.CRIMINAL PENALTIESThe SOX Act provides for various criminal penalties under certain sections. Section 802 of the SOX Act provides criminal penalties for influencing the United States agency investigation, which is also known as proper administration. The criminal penalty punishes any person who knowingly falsifies information or document with the intention of obstructing a particular investigation. An individual can be put in jail if found guilty of this criminal offense for a period not exceeding 20 years. Another criminal penalty under the SOX Act is retaliation against whistleblowers (Jaeger, 2010).This relates to an y person who takes harmful action against another person with the intention to retaliate. A fine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 10 years can be placed if a person is found guilty for this criminal offense. Section 906 of the SOX Act provides for criminal penalties for CEO or CFO financial statement certification. According to this section, any corporate officer who fails to certify financial reports is liable for a jail term not exceeding 20 years.Reference Jaeger, J. (2010). High Court Ruling Only Tweaks Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Accessed

Early americas history Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Early americas history - Essay Example This paper will analyze two of the articles available in the book during a period when slavery was rampant in the south (Johnson, 2012). One of the articles is ‘Plantation rules’ written by Barrow as a code of regulations that he wrote down. The article appears in one of the plantation journals written during a time when slavery of black people was the order of the day. The article presents us with clear picture of the rules that a black slave adhered to and the level of ownership that the owner felt. The document depicts what was happening in the American past at around 1852. Barrow wrote down this article with his black slaves in mind because he expected them to understand precisely his expectations for as long as they worked under him (255-256). From the article, some facts become clear about the period of 1800’s in the United States. During this time, blacks worked for white landowners as slaves. In addition, the owners of land perceived slaves as their proper ty. Therefore, they formulated rules that governed the entire life of the salve. The article highlights the restrictions that the slaves went through on the farms. They worked all day long and had to acquire permission in order to engage in any extra activity. The owner of the slaves controlled their movements. Through this, he intended to ensure that slaves did not interact with other slaves fro m other farms. He was aware of the potential reactions of black slaves. If they met too often and without control from their owners, slaves were likely to stage a rebellion. From the article, a reader realizes that black slaves did not have an opportunity to enjoy their rights as free individuals. They received minimal allowances for their work. They often worked for long hours. In addition, the owner limited the development of relationships of the slaves forbidding them from marrying from a different farm. The article highlights the plight of slaves in the southern states in ancient Americ a. It tells the facts from the owner’s point of view without altering and it presents reliable information of the fate of Negroes who ended up in white farms (258). However, the article does not reveal the story from the slave’s point of view. However, it provides the reader with an opportunity to experience the attitude and power exercised by slave owners in ancient America. The article highlights the core issue that led to racial issues between the whites and blacks. The article is the ‘confession of Nat Turner’ officially published by Ruffin Gray. Gray was the lawyer to Turner, a slave who was responsible for the organization of a slave revolution in one of the southern states, Virginia. Turner had been a slave who could not bear the conditions that surrounded slavery and called upon other slaves to raise a rebellion against the whites who were continually oppressing the slaves and overworking them. Turner’s confession targeted the entire America n public at that time. He was in jail and felt took the responsibility of narrating his reasons and contributions in organizing the revolution. He made his confessions to Gray, the lawyer who published the confession (259). From his account, it becomes evident that slavery in the southern states was very rampant. In addition, the article elaborates how the salves perceived the situation they were going through. Turner claims that he sought to organize a revolt with a divine motivation. He described

Be an Anthropologist Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Be an Anthropologist - Essay Example Physical anthropologists concentrate on anatomical and physiological structures of human beings with a major focus on their stages of growth and development. Question 2 Evolution refers to changes in inherited characteristics of biological populations from one generation to the other. The process of evolution leads to diversities in successive levels of biological organizations in species, individual organisms and life molecules such as proteins and Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Existing variations and patterns exhibited by bio diversity are believed to be shaped by gradual processes of speciation and extinction. Charles Darwin formulated a scientific argument for evolutionary theory through natural selection. Natural selection enables the genetic mutations that enhance reproduction to maintain commonality in successive generations of a population. Evolution occurs through changes in heritable characteristics of organisms (Bergstrom & Dugatkin, 2012). Evolution influences all aspects of behavior and forms of organisms such as character traits and physical adaptations through natural selection. Question 3 Physical anthropologists primarily study fossils of earlier organisms. Past species left records of their evolutionary history. Fossils constitute the morphological and anatomical records that physical anthropologists compare to discover lineages of the species. ... Question 4 The physical anthropologist selects resources, including the notebook, guides for identifying fossils and textbooks of paleontology. The second step is collecting of fossils from geologic formation from where the anthropologist can access. The anthropologist should select fossils from known or unquestionable sources since they are reliable. These fossils are considered reliable because the environmental contexts from which they originate from are known (Steckley, 2011). The anthropologist should examine the selected fossils carefully using lenses and take notes. The third step involves using field guides to investigate taxonomic identification and scientific classification of the fossils, including their kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus and species. The anthropologist then labels the sketches using the guides and textbooks. The anthropologist studies the geologic map of the area where the fossil is found in order to determine the formation and geologic period f or the geologic deposit. The anthologist then studies the paleaolecology and paleaoenvironment in which the organism of the fossil lived (Steckley, 2011). The final stage of studying the fossil involves summarizing the fossil’s analysis based on observations and research. Question 5 Source (in-texed above) Question 6 The source above deals with the study of jawbones in identifying the evolutionary processes. The book has presents the process of evolution beginning from four billion years, although only a few photographs of jawbones are available for viewing (Duranti, 2010). The introduction of the book defines physical anthropology within

Free topic (contact me by email) Research Paper

Free topic (contact me by email) - Research Paper Example Non-verbal forms of behavior are expressive while verbal behavior is indicative. In a normal communication between two people, only one-third of the meaning is transmitted on a verbal level while two-thirds on a non-verbal level (Sielski, 1979). Nonverbal communication provides an insight into why people behave as they do. Such insight and information is invaluable for professions such as counseling because body language can actually contradict verbal communication (Sielski, 1979) and non-verbal cues are processed differently in different cultures (Yammiyavar, Clemmensen & Kumar, 2008). Terms ‘body language’ and NVC are interchangeably used throughout the paper. This subject has been of interest to evaluate how an understanding of body language can actually influence counseling. I have gone through some literature on body language and counseling and since I intend to enter the counseling profession, I felt motivated to go deeper. This research paper is purely based on textual analysis. Based on the literature review, the framework for the research would be formed. The methodology would be briefly discussed and then the findings would be analyzed based on theoretical framework. Body language as a means of communication has been of immense interest to many researchers and psychologists. It is considered to be an outward reflection of a person’s emotional state, according to Yammiyavar, Clemmensen and Kumar (2008). It is a study of the mixture of all body movements that could be involuntary or deliberate; it could also apply only in one culture or across all cultures. Non-verbal communication refers to all stimuli generated for the purpose of communication. Various body movements such as facial expression, gestures, eye contact, tactile communication and paralanguage have been identified as principle non-verbal cues. Areas of study in non-verbal cues

Cloning Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Cloning - Research Paper Example This is the very reason that an identical clone is formed through this process. The future of cloning depends totally on the new researches which are being done. Cloning Cloning so far has not been successful as it was expected. A sheep dolly was cloned in the year 1996 and it was considered as one of the most successful cloning experiment on an animal. Cloning has never showed any positive results on human beings. Cloning has been approved by many scientists and groups who argue that it holds the potential for many benefits for human beings and can serve to provide results and treatments that other methods have failed to provide. On the other hand, cloning has been rejected on the basis of ethical considerations. It has faced social as well as religious criticism owing to many reasons which include the fact that cloning has not yielded any major benefits as yet and also it serves to challenge the normal working and equilibrium of the world (Human cloning 2011; Phil B). Cloning is a process which can be compared to the stem cell research. Extracting stem cells and using them for curing diseases uses the process of cloning. Currently many research therapies are being carried out to find the viability of the stem cells. A study done in New England Journal of Medicine validates the use of stem cells in the patients who are suffering from leukemias. The research undertook many patients into consideration who were suffering from leukemias and their treatment options. The research then compared the patients who were provided with stem cell transplants with those who were not and it was found that stem cell transplant from newborn babies were effective in treating these patients. Thus it was concluded that leukemias can be treated with effective treatment by adult stem cells based on the process of cloning (Leukemia Patients Survive with Stem Cell Transplant, 2004). Similarly another research done by the UC researchers showed that bone marrow stem cells can be used to effectively treat disorders which are related to the eye. These stem cells can greatly help to cure the genetic eye disorders in children. Research done by the UC researchers was carried out on animals and the tests were positive. This showed that stem cells may also effectively work on human subjects to cure eye disorders (Bone Marrow Stem Cells May Cure Eye Disease, 2007). Not only this, but it was also found that adult stem cells can be used to cure heart attacks by the British physicians. The new treatment helped the heart muscles to recover from the shock that the treatment received. In other words because of the patients own stem cells the patient could recover from a heart attack as their heart muscles could be revived (Julie Wheldon, 2006). Another research carried out on skin cells to make them act as the stem cells worked quite effectively in treating rats with diseases of the brain. Parkisons Disease is one of the examples which the rats were suffering from and showed im provement because of the stem cells. This clearly shows that embryonic stem cells which are considered to be the basic cells of an organism can provide a breakthrough in treatments of different diseases which were previously not curable. (Stem Cells from skin treat brain disease in Rats, 2008). Another research being carried out in Spain shows that stem cells can greatly help to treat genetic disorders such as the Crohn’s Disease. It was found that 20% of the patients on which the stem cell transpl

Hard rock cafe and chili's Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Hard rock cafe and chili's - Essay Example According to McCollum (2004, p.36), quality is an essential factor in achieving competitive advantage because organizations delivering good quality are capable of generating satisfied customers. The satisfied customers in return reward the organization with continuous support and positive advertising through the word-of-mouth, which provokes exemplary external performance for the organization (McCollum 2004, p.36). Quality in manufacturing operations involves the processes that combine and transform resources in the production subsystem of an organization into value added products or even services. Therefore, quality ensures the conversion of various inputs to the desired products or services at the required degree of quality. In manufacturing, quality involves conforming to set specifications (Mahadevan 2010, p.249). Therefore, manufacturing process motivates quality manager to establish mechanisms that guarantee attaining the specifications. All components of a manufactured product have specifications and provided that the provisions are met, the quality objectives are also met. Such a definition is essential in manufacturing since it enables management to establish unambiguous instructions for employees in maintain quality. Moreover, quality in manufacturing encompasses the process of attaining the specifications by collecting information from customers regarding a product and their prefere nces before the specifications are set. Also in manufacturing quality is defined in terms of â€Å"fitness to use† because it demands an organization to understand the favoured method for use by customers over a prolonged period. Therefore, to develop an understanding, organizations focus on customer relations, design, and manufacturing processes (Mahadevan 2010, p.249). The main objectives in service operations involve provision of good service to customers