Thursday, November 28, 2019

Target Costing Is An Approach To Managing Product Costs Essay Example

Target Costing Is An Approach To Managing Product Costs Paper This paper discusses the usage and procedure of mark bing for merchandise development and cost direction and why it should be used in merchandise planning. To explicate the mark bing procedure, benefits, and jobs with its usage, the writers utilize a instance survey of a domestic fowl treating company fabrication place repast replacings for sale through supermarkets. Testing the efficiency and effectivity of ABC theoretical accounts, utilizing assorted methods, has been widely highlighted in early empirical surveies. The survey makes usage of secondary informations available from early empirical literature on execution of ABC theoretical account in banking industry. Although, the theoretical account proved to be successful when implemented in the banking industry, figure of jobs still remain acute, which prevents from monolithic debut of a new theoretical account within a sector. In response, some recommendations were drawn to plan a method of get the better ofing or deciding many of the issues around ABC. The distribution of acceptance over industries confirmed the outlook that piecing houses show a comparatively high acceptance of mark casting. The acceptance of these techniques appears to be related to an intense competitory and unpredictable environment. Similar to aim projecting surveies in Japan and Germany, the chief aim for following these techniques in the sample is to cut down costs. The merchandise development and design sections appear to be taking in the mark cost direction procedure, while the accounting section is merely reasonably involved. Finally, the most often adopted organisational signifier for mark cost direction is team constructions, in which multiple maps combine cognition and capablenesss in the merchandise development procedure. Introduction Target costing is an attack to pull offing merchandise costs and gross borders that works rearward from the monetary value a client will pay for a specific merchandise with a specific characteristic set, sets merchandise cost marks based on that merchandise s expected gross border and so manages the development procedure to accomplish the marks. This is different from how many companies approach merchandise costs, where the squads may put marks based on historical informations and anticipation, and so put the monetary value by adding a specific per centum of borders. Target bing topographic points client value at the centre of the fiscal determinations that a development squad makes about a merchandise. To make this efficaciously, a squad needs to cognize such things as how much extra a client will pay for a specific characteristic or degree of public presentation, which countries of the merchandise may be over-performing or particularly hard to fabricate, how to re-think a merchandi se design to do it easier and less expensive to bring forth, and how to spouse with providers to drive down costs. The thought is to rethink our premises about a merchandise and inquire our clients straight to give us guidance on the elements of the merchandise that create the most value for them so that we can present them more efficaciously and extinguish everything else. We will write a custom essay sample on Target Costing Is An Approach To Managing Product Costs specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Target Costing Is An Approach To Managing Product Costs specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Target Costing Is An Approach To Managing Product Costs specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The chief benefit of this attack is increased gross borders, chiefly by cut downing direct labour and stuff costs for the merchandise. One design end can be fewer parts, which leads to nest eggs in stock list direction throughout the supply concatenation. The same techniques normally lead to merchandises that are easier to transition to fabrication, more dependable and easier to keep, which besides drives down development, guarantee, service and support costs. Surprisingly, this attack can do clients happier, excessively. By simplifying the merchandises to cut down extra characteristics and complexness, we can do the merchandises easier to utilize and keep from the clients position. They besides benefit from lower service and support costs, and higher dependability. The mark bing construct grew out of a demand for makers to better merchandise cost direction and merchandise development. The traditional cost direction, cost accretion and allotment methods used for decennaries and still predominant in the fabrication and services sectors have failed as tools for merchandise development, planning, and cost direction. This is because they focus on the merchandise s cost instead than on the outlooks of clients and the merchandise design itself. Furthermore, traditional cost systems inundate directors with accounting studies that routinely overstate the cost of high-volume, standardized merchandises and understate the costs of low-volume, customized merchandises. ( Lockamy III and Smith, 2000 ) . In 1999, Cooper and Slagmulder defined three phases of mark costing: Puting the market monetary value: In this stage, Marketing sets a mark monetary value for the merchandise, and provides the development squad with a prioritized list of characteristics that will present a merchandise that the client will purchase at the mark monetary value. Pull offing the merchandise cost: The development squad sets a mark cost for the merchandise that will run into the organisation s outlooks for gross border. They set up a procedure for supervising merchandise cost through the development rhythm. Pull offing subsystem and portion degree costs: Using bing merchandises and competitory informations as ushers, the squad creates a budget for each subsystem and major constituent. The squad so develops a scheme for shuting any spreads between the expected costs and the mark cost and engineers the merchandise to accomplish the costs. Along the manner, the squad continuously proctors both subsystem and merchandise degree costs to measure advancement towards shuting the spread and turn to the issues that arise. These three stages provide a comprehensive focal point on merchandise cost throughout the merchandise lifecycle that pulls together the full development squad. In the beginning, Marketing is to a great extent involved in puting the mark monetary value and assisting the development squad understand comparative value for characteristics and public presentation parametric quantities. Manufacturing people get involved early in one instance, every bit early as the construct stage, to supply early feedback on production procedure options and their costs. Procurement and providers besides get engaged to lend thoughts for shuting the inevitable spreads between projected merchandise costs and targeted costs. The demand to better productiveness and merchandise quality resulted in many companies following new cost direction methods, including activity-based cost direction, kaizen costing, just-in-time stock list direction, entire quality direction, and mark costing. ( Lockamy and Smith, 2000 ) . Of the foregoing cost or direction methods, mark bing stands entirely as the best agencies to heighten merchandise development, pricing, and direction of production and merchandising costs. This paper argues for greater usage of mark costing. The first subdivision of this paper gives an overview of empirical literature on ABC theoretical account, and in peculiar, an execution of the theoretical account in fiscal services ( chiefly in banking ) industry. The research supports an statement for a demand to implement ABC theoretical account at service industry in order to be able to understand the behaviour and causes of costs. The undermentioned subdivision illustrates a practical facet of ABC in banking industry. The survey makes usage of secondary informations taken from academic beginnings. It inside informations the phases of ABC methods and presents the benefits. Most significantly, the documents draws attending to the obstructions that many Bankss face while seeking to implement the ABC in pattern. Finally, the last subdivision will reason the thoughts in this paper by pulling recommendations to the bank direction that make it easy to get the better of the jobs in the procedure of implementing ABC. Literature Review Target costing has been defined by the Consortium for Advanced Manufacturing International as a set of direction tools and methods designed to ( 1 ) direct design and planning activities for new merchandises, ( 2 ) supply a footing for commanding subsequent operational stages, and ( 3 ) guarantee that merchandises achieve given profitableness marks throughout their life rhythm. ( Cf. Shank, 1999 ) . Cooper and Slagmulder depict it as a procedure for guaranting that a merchandise launched with specified functionality, quality, and gross revenues monetary value can be produced at a life-cycle cost that generates a satisfactory degree of profitableness. ( Cf. Lockamy and Smith, 2000 ) . The procedure is design-centered and has a market goaded focal point, which, unlike the conventional cost direction techniques, allows houses to merchandise off quality and functionality to accomplish mark costs as a last resort. ( Castellano et al, 2003 ) It really focuses less on costs and more on client demands. The inquiry is non How much will the merchandise cost? but How much can the merchandise cost? Karo describes mark bing as a complete cost-reduction plan, non a simple cost-reduction technique, but a complete, strategic net income direction system. Horvath describes it as a portion of the cost-management map for a merchandise throughout its life rhythm. ( Cf. Shank, 1999 ) The cardinal elements of the procedure is that it is a planning tool where facets of the merchandise, cost and otherwise, are considered over the merchandise s whole life rhythm. Besides, it is a cross-functional procedure, much like good strategic planning. A topic that receives increasing attending in accounting literature is the usage of cost in formation and cost direction during merchandise design ( Anderson and Sedatole, 1998, Davila, 1999 ) . The major statement for pull offing costs during merchandise design is that after the merchandise development phase most costs have been designed into the merchandise and can non be influenced any longer. One of import technique that can be used for pull offing merchandise costs during the design phase is target casting ( Kato, 1993 ; Ewert and Ernst, 1999 ) . Target casting is basically concerned with puting a mark cost to be achieved in the merchandise development procedure, such that a sufficient net income border is realized when the merchandise is brought to the market. In the literature, mark casting is viewed as a strategic direction accounting system, as it focuses on long-run cost direction attempts ( Chenhall and Langfield-Smith, 1998 ; Ewert and Ernst, 1999 ; Guilding et al. , 200 0 ; Tani, 1995 ) . Toyota developed the construct in the sixtiess. It is used more in Japan than anyplace else in the universe. Lockamy and Smith study that in the early 1990s over 80 per centum of Nipponese assembly fabrication houses were utilizing mark costing, including all houses in the Nipponese transit equipment industry but none in the paper and mush industry ( Lockamy and Smith, 2000 ) . The remainder of the universe has non as readily adopted mark bing, although many companies adopt certain facets of it. It has been peculiarly slow to be adopted in the U.S. Banham studies that in the twelvemonth 2000 merely about 65 U.S. houses utilised mark bing. Of these, 85 per centum were discrete-parts and finished-product makers. Some of these houses include Boeing, Eastman Kodak, Caterpillar, and Daimler-Chrysler. A study of those U.S. houses reveals favourable, although non exceeding, consequences from using mark costing. ( See the study consequences in Banham, 2000. ) Peter Zampino, manager of research at Consortium for Advanced Manufacturing International ( CAM-I ) , noted that U.S. houses tend to follow mark bing when they are in crisis manner. In his sentiment, U.S. houses tend to hold the sentiment that in good economic times a company does non necessitate mark bing ( Banham, 2000 ) . U.S. houses like the construct of cost direction, and many use the techniques describ ed in this paper, but they do non follow the disciplined mark bing procedure and the cross-functional engagement in merchandise, production, and supply concatenation planning activities ( Banham, 2000 ) . In literature, mark casting and mark cost direction are frequently associated with Nipponese companies. Empirical research into the patterns of mark casting has chiefly been performed by Nipponese research workers for the Nipponese state of affairs ( Kato, 1993, Tani et Al, 1994 ) . Few attempts have been made to look into whether these patterns are besides are relevant for and make occur in non-Japanese state of affairss ( some exclusions are Chenhall and Langfield-smith, 1998 ; Guilding et al. , 2000 ; Horvath and Tani, 1997 ) . One could anticipate that as the drivers for utilizing such methods are non idiosyncratic to Japan ( i.e. , the desire to recognize a net income border on merchandises, under certain market features ) , they could besides be used in a non-Japanese state of affairs, even though the existent application of such patterns may divert from the typical Nipponese manner. Chapter 2 2.1 Research Methodology and Data Collection The ABC theoretical account follows a two phase methodological analysis, foremost, by puting the relationship between resources and activities through the usage of allotment bases and direct tracing. Then followed by an application of cost per unit of activity to the ingestion of activities by specific cost objects, normally merchandises or clients, for the intent of mensurating costs. In banking industry, the ABC provides an efficient manner of forming the aggregation, processing, and coverage of cost information for determination devising and scheme preparation in a competitory economic environment. The survey is chiefly based on empirical probe of the efficiency of implementing ABC in banking industry. Hence, the research paper will do usage of a secondary information on banking industry contained in early empirical surveies. The banking industry of Uzbekistan could non function as a research object, due to the fact that ABC has non been introduced in, yet. However, sing big benefits of holding ABC in topographic point, the paper urges policy shapers and direction to get down its execution. The secondary information is chiefly drawn from interview and questionnaire consequences. 2.2 Target Costing in Process The mark bing procedure is composed of a figure of distinct activities and determinations. It begins with a finding of the merchandise, its features and qualities, and its optimum merchandising monetary value. This is likely the most of import measure in the procedure. The merchandise itself will finally find the costs necessary to bring forth and sell that merchandise. Butscher and Laker depict this first measure as including ( 1 ) definition of the mark sections, ( 2 ) designation of the competitory advantages and disadvantages, ( 3 ) placement of the new merchandise within the mark sections, ( 4 ) fine-tuning the merchandise design and pricing, and ( 5 ) market simulations ( Butscher et al, 2000 ) . Market research is an indispensable component of this first measure. Whether done within or outside the house, market research should concentrate on the desires and concerns of the client. What does the client privation? What design features does the client like or dislike, need or does nt necessitate. The client s perceptual experiences as to quality, monetary value, and value are besides of import. The selling research is used to find the monetary value clients are willing to pay for the merchandise, given its functionality, quality, and the replacement merchandises offered by viing houses. ( Lockamy and Smith, 2000 ) The information obtained from the client will let merchandise interior decorators to concentrate on those desired qualities and characteristics. However, the merchandise must be advanced and integrated new characteristics and outstanding merchandise features to guarantee merchandise distinction and a sensible merchandise life. The mark merchandising monetary value is determined based on the market for the merchandise as designed. Obviously, when a maker sells its merchandises in more than one market or through different channels, it may sell the same merchandise at different monetary values. For illustration, pharmaceuticals manufactured in the U.S. are exported at lower monetary values to Sellerss in Canada and Mexico than they are sold for in the U.S. In such instance an mean merchandising monetary value should be used ( Cooper et Al, 1999 ) . The 2nd measure in the procedure is the finding of the coveted net income or aim net income border. Net incomes and net income border should be sensible and cover planned costs, extra required investing, and decommissioning or disposal costs over the merchandise s life rhythm. Similarly, the net income border should be sufficient to back up go oning merchandise research and development. ( Lockamy and Smith, 2000 ) Some companies, for illustration, Sony Corporation, construct in more flexibleness in set uping the coveted net income or aim net income border. There, they allow for trade-offs between different merchandises, i.e. , within the merchandise group some merchandises will hold some net income borders higher and some lower. ( Cooper et Al, 1999 ) The coveted net income border should be based on, and meet, the company s aims or policies. Calculation of the allowable merchandise cost is the 3rd measure in the procedure. The allowable merchandise cost is the difference between the mark merchandising monetary value and the mark net income border. The aim is to run into the cost restraints placed on the company, or as Cooper and Slagmulder describe it, set uping the mark cost decrease aim. The 4th measure in the mark bing procedure is finding the nature and sum of the merchandise fabrication and selling costs and really guaranting itself that it can achieve those mark costs. These costs can non transcend the allowable merchandise costs, unless palliating fortunes, such as a targeted merchandise release day of the month, order continuing with the merchandise before sufficient costs decreases are obtained. This portion of the mark bing procedure terminals when the house discovers a manner to fulfill the client demands at the mark cost or when the merchandise is abandoned ( Lockamy and Smith, 2000 ) . What has been the company s past production and selling costs? Will new cost nest eggs be required? What will be the consequence of merchandise alterations? In what countries can one moderately anticipate cost nest eggs? How shortly must the merchandise be released? Will the allowable cost require alterations in the supply concatenation? These are merely some issues that may originate in continuing through the procedure. Because from time-to-time there are unexpected cost overproductions due to design-related jobs in the production procedure, a company may construct in a shock absorber or modesty for the production director of 5-10 per centum to cover such costs. In finding what costs are necessary and placing ways to cut down costs, a company may utilize other cost direction techniques like value technology, benchmarking, design for industry and assembly, and quality map deployment. ( Cooper et Al, 1999 ) Besides, uninterrupted cost decrease may be available through kaizen costing. Integration of the assorted maps, such as accounting, buying, selling, production, logistics, and technology in planning activities will be necessary here to cut down unneeded costs and work procedures. As the mark bing attack is a cross-functional squad attack, ab initio it is clip extended but the final payment for the extra planning costs should come subsequently in nest eggs in production and the supply concatenation activities. Notwithstanding that cost decrease is normally favourable, in mark bing cost rationalisation, non cost minimisation, is the end. This is consistent with techniques like value technology, which is performed to redesign the merchandise, its fabrication procedure, and its distribution and service systems. ( Lockamy et wholly, 2000 ) Cooper and Chew argue that a merchandise s cost demands to be subjected to the examination of the market place from the beginning of the development activity. ( Cooper et Al, 1996 ) Benchmarking helps avoid the flightiness in mark bing in such state of affairss as internal subassembly and can assist to cut down costs, particularly when value technology is used early in the product/production development phase ( Clausing, 1996 ) . In add-on, benchmarking provides a tool for mensurating the effectivity of mark costing. For illustration, Eastman Kodak set a benchmark of a 10:1 return on the costs associated with implementing mark costing. If it cost the company $ 100,000 to hold an applied scientist work closely with clients in merchandise design, the return on that activity would hold to bring forth at least $ 1 million in cost decreases ( Banham, 2000 ) . Cost decreases should be sought in the maker s internal activities and external sourcing. Although a maker has important legal and ethical duties in keeping safety and wellness of its employees, clients, and users of its merchandises, and legal and regulative demands go more and more burdensome every twelvemonth, companies must cut costs wherever possible. Sometimes, nevertheless, cost nest eggs are merely non possible, and the merchandise features must be scrutinized once more to insulate cost nest eggs. The supply concatenation should be scrutinized and utilized for cost decrease chances. The supply concatenation is much more of import for companies using mark costing. Ellram notes that supply direction and the buying map is peculiarly critical at the initial phases of the mark bing procedure when developing component-level mark costs and when activities and alterations are happening to accomplish mark costs. Furthermore, provide direction can play a really of import function in pull offing, monitoring and bettering costs in the supply concatenation ( Ellram, 2002 ) . When geting constituent parts or necessary services, supply direction may happen it necessary to work more closely with providers. Additional cost nest eggs may be accomplishable by making trading spouse relationships with the providers. The maker s main applied scientist or merchandise director might seek to help or supply inducements for a provider to redesign a portion or production procedure to accomplish cost nest eggs. Furthermore, the company and the provider may join forces to develop and better merchandises and heighten the value and satisfaction provided to clients. ( Lockamy and Smith, 2000 ; Banham, 2000 ) The trading spouse relationship may make administrative cost nest eggs through EDI, B-2-B ( business-to-business ) minutess, or by supplying inducements or wagess for inventing originative cost decrease steps ( Cooper et Al, 1999 ; Lockamy and Smith, 2000 ) . In order to keep the trading spouse relationship, nevertheless, the company must let the supplier-trading spouse to have a sensible compensation doing continuance as a trading spouse worthwhile. The trading spouses, including the company using mark costing, must be assured of profitableness and survivability. ( Lockamy and Smith, 2000 ) . This portion of the mark bing procedure is iterative. Costss are estimated determined for the merchandise as designed. It may be necessary to reconsider certain of the design features given the cost factors. A finding would so hold to be made to cancel the merchandise characteristic or to revise it, which would necessitate another reappraisal of the production and supply concatenation procedures and costs. Finally, the mark bing procedure requires supervising to do certain the procedure has been effectual. Merchandises must be changed from time-to-time and new merchandises added to bing merchandise lines, and these activities will necessitate merchandise and cost planning every bit good. 2.3 Defining Target Costing Methods in Selected Industry Chapter 3 3.1 Research Analysis Mentioning to the current survey Target casting was defined as consisting of a casting method ciphering the maximal allowable cost monetary value by deducting a needed net income border from the expected merchandising monetary value. Most of the endeavors in industry, particularly the electronics, fabric and preciseness equipment industries make comparatively high usage of these techniques. This confirms to outlooks, as assembly industries are considered the most executable industries for the usage of mark costing. This diverseness of names used implies that many houses have developed a system based on similar rules as mark casting, without being familiar with the construct and its rules. Therefore, in empirical research into these types of systems it seems reasonable to concentrate on the features of the system used, and non on its theoretical name. An account for the insignificance of the figure of rivals is that this step may include small information about the in 10s of the compe titory environment, which is theoretically most of import. During the merchandise development procedure several ends have to be realized at the same time, for which purpose mark projecting systems can be supportive. Different ends to be realized are high merchandise quality, client satisfaction by developing functional merchandises that fulfill their demands, fast merchandise debut ( clip to market ) and low costs. Based on the literature we expected cost decrease to be the most of import ground for following a mark casting pattern, as its chief intent is to present merely profitable merchandises to the market by achieving equal cost degrees. The inquiries about the organisation of mark casting in the study were related more to the TCM procedure. They measured the engagement of different functional sections in the application of mark casting, and the organisational signifier used for the mark casting patterns. ( shown in table 2 ) TCM squad rank is besides a step of engagement, alth ough it is merely enlightening about the presence of the section in the squad, and non about the grade of engagement. 3.2 Decision This exploratory study survey suggests Dutch listed fabrication companies make comparatively high usage of projecting techniques similar to the construct of mark casting, although these systems come by in a diverseness of names. These techniques are adopted across industries, of which the collection industries are the major users. The findings suggest that these techniques are comparatively more frequently adopted under fortunes of intense competition and high environmental uncertainness, for which conditions, harmonizing to the literature ; the usage of mark casting is good. The consequences suggest that the chief aim for following these techniques was to cut down costs. This end seems to hold been achieved by respondents, as the major benefit derived from the mark casting patterns was cost decrease. The sections Product Development and Product Design are most to a great extent involved in the application of mark casting, while the Accounting section seems to be least involved. The house s mark casting attempts are chiefly organized in squad constructions, in which cognition and capablenesss of different organisational maps are combined to work on the mark cost. Wijewardena and De Zoysa ( 1999 ) , for case, provide an overview of some specific features of Nipponese companies under which the direction accounting systems operate, dwelling of corporate determination devising, alone company doctrines, farm outing schemes and the firm-specific instruction and preparation of direction comptrollers. It wil1 be clear that in this exploratory analysis it wil1 be hard to touch upon these issues. Qualitative research may be a preferable research methodological analysis to widen the analysis to these issues. From this research we can reason that Dutch listed fabrication houses use projecting techniques that are similar to the construct of mark casting ; the casting method identifies a mark cost by deducting a needed net income border from an expected merchandising monetary value. However, this survey provides small insight into the existent organisational procedures and actions that proceed, and are initiated by these mark costs. In add-on, the function and importance of the mark projecting system in relation to the usage of other direction accounting systems wil1 be worthwhile analyzing, as the recent study research by Chenhall and Langfield-Smith ( 1998 ) and by Guilding et Al. ( 2000 ) has shown merely modest grasp for mark projecting systems by Western houses. As banking merchandises become progressively complex, as shared services become more widespread, and as indirect costs consume more budgets, the ABC theoretical account can function as an first-class analytical tool for the fiscal services sector.

Monday, November 25, 2019

World Record for Fastest Wind Speed

World Record for Fastest Wind Speed Have you ever felt a strong gust of wind and wondered whats the fastest wind ever recorded on the surface of the earth? World Record for Fastest Wind Speed The fastest wind speed ever recorded comes from a hurricane gust. On  April 10, 1996, Tropical Cyclone Olivia (a hurricane) passed by Barrow Island, Australia. The equivalent of a  Category 4 hurricane at the time,  Ã‚  is 254 mph (408 km/h).   U.S. Highest Wind Before Tropical Cyclone Olivia came along, the highest wind speed measured anywhere in the world  was  231 mph (372 km/h) recorded at the summit of Mount Washington, New Hampshire on April 12, 1934. After Olivia broke this record (which was held for nearly 62 years) the Mount Washington wind became the second fastest wind worldwide. Today, it remains the fastest wind ever recorded in the United States and in the Northern Hemisphere;  the U.S. commemorates this wind record every April 12th on Big Wind day. With a slogan like Home of the Worlds Worst Weather, Mount Washington is a location known for having harsh weather. Standing at  6,288 feet, it is the highest peak in the Northeastern United States. But its high elevation isnt the only reason it regularly experiences heavy fogs, whiteout conditions, and gales: its position at the crossroads of storm tracks from the Atlantic to the south, from the Gulf, and from the Pacific Northwest makes it a bullseye for storminess. The mountain and its parent range (the Presidential Range) are also oriented north-south, which increases the likelihood of high winds.  Ã‚  Air is commonly forced over the mountains, making it a prime location for high wind speeds.  Hurricane-force wind gusts are observed at the mountains summit nearly a third of the year. but a perfect spot for weather monitoring which is why it is home to a  mountaintop weather station called the Mount Washington Observatory. How Fast is Fast? 200 miles per hour is fast, but to give you an idea of just how fast, lets compare it to wind speeds you may have felt during certain weather conditions:   blizzard winds blow at 35 mph or more;winds in a severe thunderstorm can gust in the 50 to 65 mph range;a weak category 5 hurricanes strongest sustained winds blow at 157 mph.   When you compare the 254 mph wind speed record to these, its easy to tell that that is some serious wind!   What about Tornadic Winds? Tornadoes are some of the weathers most violent windstorms (winds inside of an EF-5 can exceed 300 mph). Why then, arent they responsible for the fastest wind? Tornadoes usually arent included in the rankings for fastest surface winds because there is no reliable way to measure their wind speeds directly (they destroy weather instruments). Doppler radar can be used to estimate a tornados winds, but because it only gives an approximation, these measurements cannot be seen as definitive. If tornadoes were included, the worlds fastest wind would be approximately 302 mph (484 km/h) as observed by a Doppler on Wheels during a tornado occurring between Oklahoma City and Moore, Oklahoma on May 3, 1999.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Managing Music Festival Project Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Managing Music Festival Project - Term Paper Example The location, which is to be used throughout the three days, shall be an outdoor venue. Essentially, the need to make the festival run for a period of three days is in the fact that the programs and agenda are numerous and they do not have to be packed into only a day or two’s program. With three days, there can be a total exhibition of all components of the agenda without really bordering about time. This is a musical festival, aiming to campaign on the need to prevent HIV/AIDS. This method can be judged as a very justifiable avenue to achieve the aim of the project. This is especially important as the company in question has a lot of social objectives that are directed towards making the lives of ordinary people worthwhile. In light of this campaign, the company will also be in a position to make huge profits for out of the program. It is estimated that the total expenditure of the program shall cost? 200,000 with an expected turnover of? 300,000. Project Brief It is common knowledge that most people within the age group of 15 to 35 are students. This means that the promotional strategy will be focused through schools. Fundamentally, schools within the vicinity of the festival grounds shall be targeted for on-campus float and event march. There shall also be a means of advertisement such as the use of billboards, posters and electronic announcement. Even more, there shall be the fusion of technology and the use of new media to ensure that the youth who are keener to the use of the internet are reached through the internet (Guan and Subrahmanyam, 2011). Fundamentally, there shall be the creation of a website for the festival as well as the creation of a social network page to promote the festival. There shall also be the promotion of the event through the organization of a brief social responsibility in the communities that form the vicinity area for the festival. Some of these social interventions shall include tree planting activities as well as clean up exercises (Huebener, 2005). There will not have to be too much time spent on each day.  

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Nike Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Nike - Essay Example Nike’s quest to become a global sports leader has fuelled the remarkable move to the more innovative digital marketing. The digital campaigns on the social media such as Facebook have enabled Nike to popularise the FuelBand among the target consumers. The social media has enabled Nike to communicate constantly with the customers. The Nike + FuelBand Community on the Facebook send messages of motivation to the users to acquire the FuelBand (Guarda). In effect, the digital and social marketing has facilitated the collection of information regarding consumer’s preferences, as well as choices. Nike has maintained consistency in its quest to communicate constantly with the customers in the social media, and position the FuelBand in the market. The company engages with the consumers and receives important feedback about the product. In effect, Nike has created a strong relationship with the consumers through the digital and social marketing strategies for long-term engagement (Guarda). The social media is an integral part of the business cycle, and Nike has seized the opportunity as it endeavours to position itself as a global sports leader by understanding the needs of the customers. Guarda, Dinis. Nike Takes Digital Data and Social Media Marketing Seriously. Web. 22nd Nov. 2014

Monday, November 18, 2019

The primary objective of this course has been to prepare your writing Essay

The primary objective of this course has been to prepare your writing skills for academic success in the university's net-level - Essay Example One of the most difficult parts in writing an essay is how one starts. For this problem, one can save so much trouble by making a draft. This is the skeletal view of the essay which simply shows how one is to go about the essay. First, there should be an introduction which contains the hook or lead sentence. This is very important because as they say, â€Å"first impressions last† and since this is the first sentence, it should catch the attention of the reader. Informative sentences should follow which are related to the lead sentence as well as the thesis statement. The thesis statement is often the last sentence and it states what is supposed to be discussed in the following paragraphs. The next paragraphs should have definite topics and if needed, they should also contain subtopics. The importance of each topic can be arranged from the least important to the most important depending on how the writer wants to present his ideas. The most important thing to consider in makin g a draft is to write the lead sentence and thesis statement in complete sentences. The other information could be phrases or just words. This will serve as a guide for the writer, making his task a lot easier. Sentence construction is another important thing that I have learned in writing. In this area, I could say that I improved a lot and I know that I need to improve further because I can use this skill in my future writing experiences. Before this class, I had very bad sentence constructions. They were often short but others had difficulty understanding me. However, through hard work and determination, I improved on my grammar and I could say that the people I deal with are now able to understand me better. I am now very careful with my subject and verb agreement as well as with other rules that I should follow in making my sentences. I also use vary the length of my sentences, using short and long sentences alternately to make a better paper. In addition, I also improved in my vocabulary. I am have grown the number of words I know and I try to gain more by using the new words I learn in my daily dealings not only in school but also at home. Equally important that I have learned is the making of paragraphs. I understand that this is not simply a group of sentences that make up a formatted paragraph. Rather, they are sentences which are related to each other. Therefore, it is important that a writer’s ideas should be well-organized in order for the sentences to give a clear picture of what is being discussed. I have learned to organize my thoughts with the help of the draft and also through critical thinking. I also bear in mind that the sentences should give a smooth flow of ideas so that readers will be able to follow my train of thought. Moreover, I learned that transition sentences are important in making paragraphs because they help readers expect that the writer is about to change the subject matter. With the help of this class and the Interna tional Writing Community, I have improved with my writing skills and I could say I am now competent in this area. I have learned to make a draft to make my task easier. I also learned to write my sentences correctly with the use of the right words in order to effectively communicate my thoughts. My paragraphs are now substantial, containing informative sentences that have a smooth flow of transitioning from one topic to another. I believe that I am now ready

Friday, November 15, 2019

Analyzing 1920s Counterculture: Flappers

Analyzing 1920s Counterculture: Flappers Vittoria Rybak American culture has undergone great change throughout its history, specifically through challenges brought about by countercultures to the traditional values of the larger society. By definition, a counterculture is a group that rejects the major values, norms, and practices of the larger society, replacing them with a new set of cultural patterns (Thomas). During the 1920s, Americans saw the rise of one particular counterculture that would challenge the traditional values of women in a significantly modest society. Flappers, they were nicknamed, consisted of northern, urban, middle-class women who defied the traditional Victorian gender roles of the era wherein women were expected to act and behave in a modest, conservative way. The once feminine ideal of staying at home and out of the workforce would drastically change socially and politically as Flappers began a life of smoking, drinking, dancing, and voting. They defied traditionalist values by cutting their hair, wearing makeup , and taking risks (Rosenberg). In an attempt to liberate themselves and eliminate social double standards, the Flappers created a new role for women in society to play. With World War I underway, young men were being sent off to fight for the ideals and mistakes of the older generation, while young women took over their jobs and entered the workforce (Rosenberg). During the war, nearly an entire generation of young men had died, leaving nearly an entire generation of young women who became significantly independent and steered away from the conventional marriage norms of finding a sufficient suitor and starting a family (Rosenberg). The return home from the war proved that settling back into normalcy would be difficult for the young men AND women after each had already broken out of the structure of society (Rosenberg). These liberated young women had emerged from the aftermath of World War I and jumped right into the Jazz Age and an era of Prohibition. They adopted their carefree attitudes specifically in this era of alcohol, jazz music, dancing, and, of course, rebellion. The Jazz Age inspired a change in style and dress that ultimately became the scandalous Flapper look, diverging greatly from the traditional style and dress of early American women. A key contributor to the Flapper culture was Cara Bow, the single most famous Flapper of the era, starring in films and inspiring the younger generations to adopt the carefree manner and style of the new womens era. Perhaps the most significant historical event that encouraged Flappers to promote their cause of eliminating social double standards was the passing of the 19th Amendment, which ended womens suffrage and gave women the right to vote (Independence Hall Association in Philadelphia). In order to develop a better understanding of the mentality of the Flappers, it is important to view the behavior of the group in a systematic way, or through a sociological perspective (Thomas 4). Specifically through the interactionist perspective, Max Weber asserts that individuals act according to their interpretations of the meaning of their world through symbolic interaction (Thomas 17). And then, using sociological imaginations, those individuals have the ability to see the connection between the larger world and their personal lives (Thomas 5). During World War I, young women began interpreting the world slightly different from before. Flappers basically realized that life was too short to live a confined life and wait for a husband who might never come home; flappers felt rightfully entitled to make their own decisions regarding how to live their lives (Celania). Serving as a symbol of freedom, the invention of the automobile is an example of how Flappers were given the libe ration to go and do anything they pleased (Rosenberg). However, automobiles were not only used for travel and escape, and the flapper was less hesitant to experiment sexually than previous generations. Flappers began to realize that the larger world was holding them back, so they rebelled and brought attention to themselves which helped bring about major cultural change. America underwent major cultural changes because of the Flappers attitudes and completely redefined the role of women in society at large. In addition to their defiance of traditionalist values, Flappers also adopted a new sexual frankness that widened the eyes of the older generation. Many older generation traditionalists were the ones who developed ethnocentric views towards the shocking erotic and sexually alluring behavior of the Flappers (Kennedy and Cohen, Lizabeth). By definition, ethnocentrism is the tendency to view ones own culture and group as superior to all other cultures and groups (Thomas 35). The older generations considered themselves guardians of respectability and morality, thus they looked negatively on and were baffled by the dress and antics of the Flappers (Kennedy and Cohen, Lizabeth 710). In fact, traditional moralists were offended by their actions and attitudes. Their feelings of ethnocentrism came from the idea that a single kiss had once been the equivalent of a marriage proposal, and now Flappers were flaunting and exploiting their bodies like never before (Kennedy and Cohen, Lizabeth 709). Stuffy traditionalists continued to defend the modest and conventional way of life that they believed women were supposed to lead. For example, the Flappers began sporting the one piece bathing suit on beaches during the summers; however, they were disrupted in their leisure and measured from the knee up to ensure that not too much leg was showing (Kennedy and Cohen, Lizabeth 710). Out of pure rebellion against stuffy moralists, flappers adopted the short hair style, leaving the long, curly, traditional locks on the floors of barber shops everywhere (Celania). Just as women do today, women of the 1920s felt confined to act and behave a certain way. Their freedoms to express themselves had been diminished all of their lives by a traditional upbringing. Cultural relativism is the belief that cultures should be judged by their own standards, and not by the standards of others (Thomas 36). Through cultural relativism, the larger society can understand why flappers behaved in the manner in which they did. Sigmund Freud claims that the libido was one of the most natural of human needs that allowed Flappers to explore and experiment sexually (Independence Hall Association in Philadelphia). He believed that a variety of nervous and emotional ills came directly as a result of sexual repression, concluding that Flappers were not acting out of the norm for mere pleasure alone, but for health reasons as well. (Kennedy and Cohen, Lizabeth 708). By the Flappers standards, they had been denied sexual gratification and liberation all their lives. Once the y received that small taste of individualism and excitement that came with the aftermath of World War I, these women could not undo themselves and decided to completely defy gender norms, thus creating the undeniably flamboyant Flapper culture. Although I am not a hardcore feminist, I definitely agree with the Flapper philosophy of expressing individualism and putting an end to social double standards. Women deserve to express themselves, not only at home, but in the workforce as well. Flappers did not necessarily protest or actively participate in womens movements that gave rise to important milestones; however, the Flapper was a symbol of empowerment and liberation that changed the course of a womans role in America. In fact, I might not have the freedoms I do today if flappers had decided to remain silent and stick to the status quo. I greatly admire them taking the first steps to break out of the mold that women had been shaped into. As a person who buries herself in schoolwork, I especially admire the carefree and fun attitude of the Flapper and I like to think of their motto as living life to the fullest which definitely makes life more exciting if followed as the flappers had. I also agree that repression causes rebe llion, and, in this way, the Flapper had a right to experiment and find a life for herself, according to her own standards. Although women still have a long way to go, the Flapper culture most definitely inspired generations of women to come out of the wood work and express themselves as empowering individuals. References Celania, Miss. The Society Pages. 25 March 2013. The Rise of the Flapper. Web. 11 March 2017. Independence Hall Association in Philadelphia. U.S. History Precolumbian to the New Millenium. 2016. Web. 11 March 2017. Kennedy, David M. and Cohen, Lizabeth. The American Pageant. Boston: Cengage Learning, 2016. 708. Textbook. Rosenberg, Jennifer. thoughtco. 2 February 2017. Flappers in the Roaring Twenties. Web. 11 March 2017. Thomas, W. LaVerne. Sociology- The Study of Human Relationships. Austin: Holt, Rinehart, Winston, 2003. 39. Textbook.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Ancient Egyptian Religion And The Monotheistic Religion Of Moses :: Religious History Essays

Ancient Egyptian Religion And The Monotheistic Religion Of Moses In the glorious Eighteenth Dynasty, when Egypt became for the first time a world power, a young Pharaoh ascended the throne about 1375 B.C., who first called himself Amenhotep (IV) like his father, but later on changed his name to Akhenaten (1370-1358 B.C.). This king undertook to force upon his subjects a new religion, one contrary to their ancient traditions and to all their familiar habits. It was a strict monotheism, the first attempt of its kind in the history of the world, as far as we know; and religious intolerance, which was foreign to antiquity before this and for long after, was inevitably born with the belief in one god. But Amenhotep’s reign lasted only for seventeen years; very soon after his death in 1358 B.C. the new religion was swept away and the memory of the heretic king proscribed. From the ruins of his new capital, which he had built and dedicated to his god, and from the inscription in the rock tombs belonging to it, we derive the little knowledge w e possess of him.1 This spark of monotheism can be traced back to Akhenaten’s father Amenhotep III. During his reign, ideas about the uniqueness of the sun god Re were developed in some de-tail. Some Egyptian priests conceived the possibility that all gods were part of a unique god from which all life originated and based on their experiential knowledge of nature (at least as they perceived it in Egypt) the sun was a good candidate for this universal god. 1 Freud, Sigmund. Moses and Monotheism. (New York: Vintage Books; 1934), p. 21. Political conditions at that time had begun to influence Egyptian religion as well. During the prosperous reigns of Thotmes III (1490-1436 B.C.) and Amenhotep II (1436-1412 B.C.), Egypt had expanded its frontiers in all directions and the nation was becoming increasingly difficult to govern. Egypt was the richest state in the world and Pharaoh represented the supreme power behind Egyptian prosperity. Annexed territories that belonged to Nubia and Syria were fully engaged in trade with the empire and the idea of a supreme and unique ruler was in perfect agreement with the idea of a supreme and unique god. In fact, the so-called revolution of Akhenaten is now thought to have been a political rather than a religious movement, a reaction to events outside Egypt.