Thursday, September 3, 2020

Rosemarie Zagarri, A Woman's Dilemma Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Rosemarie Zagarri, A Woman's Dilemma - Essay Example The term was first utilized in the US, and it was alluded to as measures that should have been taken to overcome separation over the state. In the Woman’s Dilemma by Zagarri, the agreed activities were polished to advance uniformity and battle the predicament, to advance their portrayal in the administration foundation. The situation of ladies in the administration establishment has been flawed in the previous hundreds of years. Be that as it may, in the 18 centuries factors, for example, edification thoughts towards ladies came up. Moreover, issue of correspondence, the women’s regular rights, ladies casting a ballot and association in legislative issues tested the presumption. We notice that the ladies capacities in the political field are being looked into in a positive manner. Ladies got lacking help to be a piece of the formal political world. For sure, this has been an issue to ladies, most countries over the globe have been focused on uniformity but ladies have b een prohibited from the administration position in the political field (165). In any case, guaranteeing that ladies are engaged in field of political will offer the network a chance to learn and make each individual to be mindful in guaranteeing majority rules system. What's more, these inquiries are brought up in the current century as well as asked during war time as nations were battling for free. Ladies were significantly expected to be engaged with household matters just as material obligation in their homes. Moreover ladies were kept from casting a ballot because of their psychological insufficiency, â€Å"deficiency in their psychological power†. This isn't the situation to have mental inadequate but since of their method of life that keeps them from being in contact with the outside world. This can't be a factor to consider that ladies can make it in the political fields (165). Ladies being allowed a chance to investigate the world they are normally gainful in the fie ld. Over the globe positions held by ladies in the political field have been gainful contrasted with their male partners. At the point when mental trademark are taken as devices to establish that an individual has political capacities instead of body includes then ladies are not to be barred from participating in the political field. For example Mrs. Catre in Zagarri (67) expressed that genders distinction are minor and they ought not be an instrument to prevent ladies from interest in government positions â€Å"mere â€Å"sex†. Considering it to be a circumstance it is physical and has a minor fundamental for it to impact the eccentricity of common situation on the level of an individual and in the authority position. Training was without a doubt to clarify that ladies will extend their mindset and have a craving of being associated with the political field. In the year 1828, politicization in ladies was viewed as an obligation, ladies were seen as powerless and they can't exhibit initiative in light of how they have been dealt with in the general public since time in dedication. Ladies were not seen as resources, and they couldn't add to the political atmosphere which was disruptive. Nonetheless, this isn't the situation, illuminating ladies has carried them to get the chance to comprehend the world of politics and how to oversee it. In the past society ladies were viewed as sub-par and could just deal with a situation, for example, taking care of household errands. As indicated by the essayist, she attempts to bring the setting where the ladies were being protected from being engaged with a brutal situation, for example, a political atmosphere

Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Paideia: A Concept Contributing to the Education of Humanity and Societal Well-Being :: Philosophy

Adding to the Education of Humanity and Societal Well-Being Unique: For the purpose of mankind, outward impulse must change into internal check. This is conceivable with the assistance of paideia. I use paideia rather than the obscure German word Bildung, which includes the implications of training, arrangement, and development. The center of my as of late created idea of paideia is that the teaching individual does what must be done in a specific circumstance. The individual in question works alone or along with the other. In accomplishing a work the informed individual attempts to maintain a strategic distance from any hindrance for the other. The completed work speaks to the acknowledgment of both, the person just as the other in a stage toward self-acknowledgment. This way of thinking of instruction incorporates into one single idea the two fundamental hints of hypotheses of training in European nations, to be specific the speculations of self-being and those of magnanimity. The idea of paideia is a potential response to genuine issues, f or example, the hole between the rich and poor people, the expansion of savagery, existing political radicalism, misuse of regular assets, etc. As per this circumstance, not all individuals are instructed quite well. I guarantee that the explained way of thinking of training can add to the instruction of humankind. The blend of self-being and magnanimity ensures the ideal acknowledgment of sense in a given circumstance. This guarantees the regular work of the individual and the other can grow well indeed, with the goal that both are interlaced in the outcome. I. From Outward Compulsion to Inward Control For a long time our current society has been portrayed by sociologists and rationalists as being controlled by three elements: first science and innovation, second broad communications including new types of correspondences like the Internet, and third independence and pluralism. These three qualities of the current circumstance point to the diminuation of human prospects. For on one side we live in a general public of supposed boundless prospects as for science, innovation, correspondence and individual uniqueness. On the opposite side, be that as it may, genuine reasoning and doing, genuine talk and genuine self-molding appear to develop poor or become incomprehensible. The prize we are obliged to pay for our current society, the prize of our potential outcomes is incidentally that of the inconceivability of our unique prospects, be they individual or social. So the take a stab at flawlessness exposes itself as an impromptu weakening in numerous domains of social and individual lif e.

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Leveraging Diversity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Utilizing Diversity - Essay Example Associations need assorted variety in thoughts and subsequently they need pioneers who can support and oversee under different circumstances (Kirton, 2007). In any case, now and again it isn't the worker yet the organization that successes. The nature of any work or any group is improved when it is different. Pioneers who comprehend that assorted organizations have various necessities from their pioneers will progress nicely. This decent variety will improve the organizations product offering (Carter, 2007). At any rate this is the hypothesis. Some are effective in executing and some are definitely not. Harley Davidson is the producer of a very good quality cruiser organization. They were in insolvency not very far in the past. Harley Davidson founded an assorted variety the executives program and apparatuses to help make the activity simpler. Their objective was to improve piece of the pie by expanding the advancement in the group. This implied their administration, including their senior administration must be prepared in decent variety and how to use that for the organization's improvement. Harley Davidson has seen consistent increments in piece of the overall industry since organizing this change (Harley Davidson, 2007). The organization's representatives have casted a ballot it as perhaps the best organization to work for so for this situation assorted variety is a success win circumstance. Nonetheless, there is likewise Wal-Mart. The Wal-Mart story s very extraordinary. As indicated by Kirton (2007), Wal-Mart has won numerous honors for their assorted variety the board. They announce that they have recruited numerous minority individuals and that their administration staff incorporates numerous minorities. Obviously Wal-Mart has benefitted from these cases. Be that as it may, there have been numerous objections from Wal-Mart workers. Ladies utilized at Wal-Mart state that they are advanced not as much as men and the organization has been blamed for exploiting undocumented outsiders. This is a case of an organization that has utilized assorted variety to benefit the organization alone Cox (2001), precisely depicts the reasons such a large number of associations are battling with a quickly evolving condition. Plainly the coming of assorted variety the executives has constrained business pioneers to profoundly take a gander at the manner in which they work together. Authoritative pioneers perceive the significance of utilizing decent variety on the main concern yet frequently they battle with how to get that going deliberately. In an automated, web-driven world organizations have needed to turn into a piece of globalization basically overnight. As per Global Lead (1998), assorted variety is a key business procedure and the desire is that it adds to an association both in business development and victories. Worldwide lead is an administration organization that has built up a key activity that consolidates the utilization of what is known as the five key drivers of business (Global Lead, 1998). The business drivers as indicated by Global Lead (1998) are center around the market, ability, development, qualities, and generosity. Initiative will decide how well or how inadequately decent variety does in some random work setting. To guarantee this is valid, administration must be very much prepared in assorted variety and the requirement for a differing workforce. They should comprehend that a differing workforce can make a work power that improves the main concern (Clark, 2007). Assorted variety is tied in with enabling individuals and advancing the human spirit.(Clark, 2007). Assorted variety is about

The positive aspects of media Essay Example for Free

The positive parts of media Essay Media is a piece of our regular day to day existence. We take the information we traverse papers, TV, the Internet and radio for conceded and regularly we will in general spotlight on the negative impact it has on the general public. In this article I will talk about parts of media which can likewise have a negative effect yet which generally advantage the world we live in. The media is effectively open one can purchase a paper in any city of the world or discover a TV or radio sign. Individuals know significantly more than they did a century prior. For instance, media assumes a significant job in instructing individuals about wellbeing and diet. There are articles in papers which give general tips about how to be progressively solid yet additionally stories which advise individuals to do standard registration for disease. The way that media is available and instructs individuals may be a piece of the motivation behind why present day individuals live more. The way that media is boundless adds to the way that it can't be constrained by a solitary power. The media carries various perspectives to people in general and any individual who approaches the Internet can compose his own sentiment about the current issue. A couple of years back in Estonia there was a contention between two distinct nationalities the Estonians and the Russians. The contention was about various recorded suppositions and since training indicated that the two gatherings can't go to an understanding by talking things through, the Internet was a decent spot to discover various contentions on the two sides and smoothly go to an understanding. Media went about as an extension or arbiter between the different sides of contention. We can depend on the information we traverse the media when we have seen or heard the individual who has prompt contact with the current issue. Our insight must be dependable on the grounds that else we would be not able to have an advocated sentiment about various issues. A huge number of individuals viewed the appointment of Americas president. The TV helped them to build up a sentiment about the universes most influential man and depend on the way that he isn't made up or and all that they think about him is sticking with what they have perused from the papers. Other than the negative parts of the media it additionally has a great deal of positive elements. For instance it is effectively open, it mirrors a wide range of perspectives of various issues and it likewise presents to us the prompt understanding of the occasions as opposed to catching wind of them from another source. The media has numerous perspectives which merit commendation and which make our general public to be progressively majority rule and instructed.

Friday, August 21, 2020

Computer Forensics and Digital Investigation †MyAssignmenthelp

Question: Talk about the Computer Forensics and Digital Investigation. Answer: Presentation This investigation offers the data about crime scene investigation apparatuses of cell phone. The acquisition, the assessment, the safeguarding and the detailing, and assessment of cell gadget advanced proof. This information is identified with requirement of law and other sort of arraignment. This contextual analysis principally focuses on the highlights of cell phones which incorporates cell phones, cell phones and tablet and so on. This examination center to address the normal field which is researched by security worker of association and law arraignment agents including electronic advanced data dwelling on mobile phone and associated electronic media. This will drew in to achieve accessible guidance and ask seriously to issue pertinent to PDAs with regarded investigation and assessment. Strategies and procedure exist in this examination are the blend of best framework alongside the order where reference got from accessible legal standard. Its primary capacity is to educate edito rial manager regarding the distinctive information related with potential approaches to get to it from parts of measurable. Examination style are practice the assessment gathering can utilize, which need no criminological apparatuses of equipment and programming. The regular overwhelming practice are as per the following: Guarantee with versatile administrator if a portable is made sure about with verification system, for example, PIN, secret key, or other validation procedures including confirmation of data, the administrator might be ask about this information during an examination procedure. Investigation caught material Secret key might be uncovered by written in a slip and put close to the portable, at a work area framework need to synchronize mind cell gadget or with the administrator and it will discovered through visual assessment (Hoog, 2011). Encased with substance of UICC and a cell gadget is joined as PUK (PIN opening Key) which assists with reseting PIN. The vulnerabilities exist in gadget may abused like smirch assaults. This kind of assaults remembers extremely cautious research of the outside stage for contact screen telephones to recognize the use of ebb and flow signal lock. In the event that a GSM mobile phones is made sure about with UICC PIN, analyzer in this manner the ICCID will get from it and need to ask the PUK from the administration launcher and reset the secret word. A portion of the specialist organization elevates ability to remove the PUK by getting to the measure of PDAs where the specific endorser information to widespread sites work for this kind of standard. In future, the information procured by moving toward gadget producer. Wireless clients do lean toward poor pin to secure their gadget as 1-1-1-1, 0-0-0-0 or 1-2-3-4. This configuration isn't completely recommended attempt to open a gadget applying those mixes for different risk determinant. This may prompts steady loss of portable memory, license propelled security methods for instance PUK or PIN and starting damaging activity. Before applying the endeavors to opening a PDAs, it is proposed to think about the hour of endeavors left finished. Example must be viewed as where an analyz er may want to face this challenge. This is the main answer for data extraction. In nature, Digital proof is sensitive and it might be changed, broken, or obliterated by off base administration or examination. Assessment is best administration of an impersonation of the first proof. The first proof must be seized by a way which secure and safeguards the proof trustworthiness. The principle point of the assessment or investigation process is to refine and look at advanced proof. The extraction characterizes to the recovery of data from its media. Examination characterizes to the impression of gathered information and putting away it into a sensible and needful arrangement. Arrangement and assessment must be recorded all through the procedure of measurable proof administration. This will end with the advancement of a composed proclamation of the suggestion. The key standard of versatile measurable apply while deciding advanced proof. Different sort of media need different assessment model. Singular handling an examination of advanced proof must be rehearsed for this degree (Peterson Shenoi, 2012). When executing proof investigation, think about the accompanying stage: Create dynamic catalogs on free media to which proof archive and data can be found and refined. There is a two-different sort of extraction, for example, physical extraction and sensible extraction. The physical extraction level finds and reestablish the data over the physical drive without worry of record framework. The legitimate extraction level finds and reestablishes assets and data which is rely upon the introduced OS (working framework), applications and document framework. During the degree of physical extraction, the asset from the drive shows up at the physical stage uninterested of record framework exist on the drive. This may think about after strategies: looking through watchword, record cutting and refinement of the parcel table and new space on physical drive. Catchphrase search execution in the physical drive is needful to allow the inspector to refine the data which doesn't expected for by the document framework or OS. Document cutting usefulness of physical drive may assist with recouping and extricating needful record and asset which doesn't accepted for by the document framework or OS. Breaking down the structure of parcel can find the record framework exist and look at if the entire physical size of hard circle is considered for. During the degree of consistent extraction from drive is relies upon the document framework exist on the drive and it summons assets from such fields as working record, erased information, slack record and unallocated memory documents. Stage may incorporate the followings. Record framework information extraction is to reveal the element, for example, structure of catalog, asset properties, name of the document, date and time of the record, area and size of the document. Information end is the way toward finding and disregarding record through the connection of assessed hash esteems to confirmed qualities. Rebuilding of erased records Partition of encoded, secret word made sure about and packed asset record the board. Partition of record slack Partition of unallocated memory. Investigation of removed information Investigation is the arrangement of read the refined data to analyze the significance for the case. The model investigation is performed by time period, application and document, information covering up and proprietorship ownership. Examination may require an assessment of the gadget demand, looking and finding lawful expert for advanced proof, research diagnostic leads. Time allotment investigation is needful for looking at the occasions put on a framework. Two kind if strategies can be used are Checking the information and time stamps exist in the metadata of document framework for instance last adjusted, current got to or made to interface the record of enthusiasm for the time periods identified with the review. Checking the exist PC framework and application logs. These comprise with disappointment logs, establishment logs, security logs, association logs, and so on. Information concealing investigation Information will be secured with a framework. The assessment of information covering up is needful in finding and recuperating information and demonstrate data, purpose. Procedures included: Consolidating the asset headers to the separate augmentation of the document to find bungles Accomplishing the association with all secret word made sure about, scrambled document and packed compress record to demonstrate the endeavor to cover the asset structure unapproved clients. Steganography Accomplishing access to HPA (have secured territory). The presence of client found data with HPA may uncover attempt to cover information. Application and document investigation Gigantic record and projects found which comprise information identified with the assessment and offer mindfulness about the framework capacity and the client data (Tahiri, 2016). Result of the investigation uncover advance advances that require to be considered in the partition and assessment forms. Some model is thought of: Checking the name of the document for examples and pertinence. Breaking down the substance of the record Finding the number and sort of OS Relating the assets to the as of now introduced application. Study connection between the assets or records for instance contrasting history in the web with reserve document and mail document for email connections. Finding obscure assets types to assess their benefit to the assessment. Dissecting the default stockpiling area of the clients for application and structure of the record drive to investigations if the asset has been gathered in their other option or default area. Dissecting client setup settings of utilization. Knowledge of Digital Forensic There is a phrasing coordinated to set a clarification of advanced insight which incorporates information having the law arraignment and different divisions of examination and this will consolidate through measurable assessment and activity of computerized stockpiling. Knowledge of Digital criminological will worn from the exercises of insight and through the ordinary assessment where the knowledge reestablish in databases. In any case, increasingly number of models related with knowledge database alongside this sort of legal area for the object of UK NDNAD (National DNA Database), IDENT1 which is known as National Fingerprint database of UK and the IAFIS called as USA Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification framework. The accompanying databases are speaks to the examination among proof and insight. It doesn't having proof yet it will share compelling answer for computerized wrongdoings that has not uncover at the specific time frame that comparable access were join with the database. Criminological Tool Capabilities Criminological instruments are utilized to deal with the ordinary examination of cases requires by dispatch a vas

Tuesday, August 4, 2020

How to Conduct a Profit Margin Analysis

How to Conduct a Profit Margin Analysis Profitability is one of the key aspects that business managers, investors and other stakeholders look into in order to assess whether a business is successful or not. A company that is profitable will be able to pay its liabilities as they fall due. Profitable companies are also capable of distributing dividends to investors.For many, if a company is not making any profit in the long-term, it would be better to halt operations altogether. Naturally, investors will also avoid that company like a plague, since there is no chance that they will get a return on their investment. Even banks and financial institutions will not even think about lending money to a business that is not making any profit, for fear that it won’t be able to meet its payments as they fall due.There are many ways to assess a company’s profitability; and there are many tools that are available to conduct profitability tests. One of them â€" and quite probably the most popular one â€" is by looking at the compan y’s profit margin, or the percentage of profit out of total sales or receipts of the company for a given period or operating cycle. © Shutterstock.com | Rawpixel.comIn this article, you will learn several things about 1) the profit margin  and 2) conducting profit margin analysis.THE PROFIT MARGINThe profit margin is one of the most commonly used and most reliable indicators of profitability of a company. Investors are particularly interested to see how the management of a company is able to generate revenue, manage its costs and expenses, and generate profits over time. It is essentially a reflection on how efficient the business is in using its resources in its operations.The main financial statement that will be used in profit margin analysis is the income statement, an example of which is shown below. The amounts are in thousands of dollars.Sales / Receipts700Less: Sales discounts, returns and allowances-35Net Sales665Less: Cost of sales-355Gross Profit345Less: Operating costs and expenses-220Operating Profit125Less: Interest and Taxes38Net Profit87Sales or Receipts refer to the gross earnings or receipts of the business from the sale of its products and services.Sales discounts are reductions in the price of a product or service, usually in exchange of early payment by the buyer or purchaser. These are presented as deductions from the gross sales.Sales allowances are reductions in the price of a product or service, mainly due to problems with the product or the service. It could be a problem in the quality of the product, or delays in the delivery or shipment. These allowances are deductions of Gross Sales.Sales returns are product items or merchandise physically returned or sent back to the seller by the buyer, due to various reasons, ranging from defects, delayed shipping, and errors in the product, as well as errors in the quantity of merchandise ordered and delivered. These are deducted from the Gross Sales.Net sales is the total sales or revenue, less the sales allowances, discounts, or returns.Cost of sales (also cost of goods sold, or cost of service) refers to the costs direct ly attributed to the products or services being sold, such as the purchase price from suppliers (in a retail or merchandising concern) and direct labor, direct or raw materials, and manufacturing overhead (in a manufacturing concern).Gross profit or gross income (also gross margin) is the measurement of the profit made from the company’s cost of sales. This income is primarily used in activities that are aimed at revenue generation in the future, such as marketing, advertising, and research and development.Operating costs and expenses (also Selling, General and Administrative costs or expenses) include all expenses of the company used in all its selling, general, and administrative activities.Selling expenses refer to the costs directly and indirectly related to the sale of a product or service, such as costs of advertising, packaging, warehousing, salaries of salespeople, communication expenses of sales staff, rental fee of sales facility, and delivery or postal costs of bringing the products to customers.General and administrative expenses refer to all other expenses that are not related to the sales activity of the business, such as the rent of administrative office, salaries of the company president and all non-sales personnel, and telephone costs used in the administrative office.Operating profit or operating income (also operating margin) refers to the earnings of the company from operations, before the deduction of interest and applicable taxes, against its gross sales or receipts.Interests and taxes or, more specifically ‘interest expense’ and ‘income tax expense’ are the regulatory and mandatory fees that are not related to operations. Interest, after all, is a finance cost, and taxes are imposed by the government, so the company is bound to pay it regardless of the results of its operations.Net profit or net income (also net margin) is said to be the “bottom line” of the company. Not only does it exclude all operating costs and expenses , it also deducts the interest and taxes that the company has to pay with regards to its sales.Most often used profit marginsThere are three key profit margin percentages that analysts focus on when evaluating a company’s profitability. For purposes of discussion of the three, let us use the sample income statement shown above.Gross Profit MarginThis is the percentage of the company’s gross profit or gross margin against its cost of sales. Its purpose is to evaluate the pricing of the products relative to the cost of sales.Gross Profit Margin     =     Gross Profit / Gross SalesChanges in gross profit can be caused by changes in sales prices, unit volume of products sold, the product mix, purchase price of inventory for sale, the amount or volume of direct materials used, the labor rates, and amount and usage of overhead.The computed Gross Profit Margin is 49.3% (= 345,000 / 700,000). This means that for every $100,000 of sales, the company has a gross profit of $49,300.Oper ating Profit MarginUnlike the gross profit margin, the Operating Profit Margin also deducts the operating costs and expenses of the company, except interest expenses, income taxes, interest income, and any gain or loss on sale of capital assets. This is why it is also referred to as “earnings before interest and taxes” or EBIT.Its purpose is to assess the impact of the selling, general, and administrative costs and expenses of the business, and how it figures in the ability of the company to earn from its operations.Operating Profit Margin     =     Operating Profit / Gross SalesThe operating profit margin equaly  17.9% (= 125,000 / 700,000).Net Profit Margin This is the ratio of earnings left after all costs and expenses have been deducted from gross Sales or gross Receipts. It answers the question: how much, out of every dollar sales, is a company actually earning?Net Profit Margin     =     Net Profit / Gross SalesIn the example above, the Net Profit Margin is 12.4% ( = 87,000 / 700,000). It basically means that, for every $1.00 sold, the company is earning a profit of $0.124.CONDUCTING PROFIT MARGIN ANALYSISSignificanceProfit margin analysis is often performed in a single company over a period of time, say for 5 to 10 consecutive years, to see how the company is growing in terms of sales, costs and profit. Similarly, profit margin may also be performed to compare two or more companies within the same industry, in order to see which company is performing better.Some also perform profit margin analysis where the profit margin of a company is compared to an industry standard, which is derived from collected industry statistics. This is to see whether the company remains competitive in the industry or not.From the point of view of investors, it is easy to see why they would rely on profit margin analysis: they want to make sure that they are putting their money on companies that are sure to earn enough profits so they can have a return on their inve stments. However, from the point of view of management, there are many reasons why profit margin analysis is important.Profit margin analysis serves as a guide in making pricing decisions.Profit margin analysis enables management to identify weak areas, such as hemorrhaging costs and ineffective revenue generation activities.Profit margin analysis between companies will help management to see where the competitor is doing things right and where it is doing things wrong.Profit margin analysis will show whether the company is able to match or beat industry standards, giving it competitive advantage.Management can also use profit margin analysis as a warning device. For example, if the profit margin is low or on a decline over a specific period, it could mean that the profitability of the company is not all that secure. This can be seen as a foretelling that it could decline even further until the company incurs a loss. Management will then have to take action before that happens.Impli cations and limitationsFor some, it would appear that the only figure that matters in profit margin analysis is the bottom line, or the final percentage or ratio that has been calculated. However, there are a lot of variables involved that must be considered, instead of focusing on just that single percentage.For example, it is possible that a company is able to maintain a high profit margin for five consecutive years. In fact, the final profit ratio is even increasing as the years went by. However, if you look beyond that final figure, you will realize that the costs have also increased exponentially over the years, while increase in sales is gradual.The profit margin has several implications, but all of them are tied to the quality of decisions that are made by management and how those decisions are implemented.Gross profit marginThis margin is an indicator of the efficiency of the management in using labor, raw materials, and overhead in the production or manufacturing process.Ex tended or continuous decline of the gross profit margin can be caused by the following:Poor pricing decisions. It is possible that the company is pricing the products too low. The company will then look into adjusting its selling prices appropriately.Mismanagement of labor costs and raw materials. The company often does not have full control of the trend of labor costs and the price of raw materials. If left unchecked, the labor costs and raw materials costs may continue to rise and eating up much of the gross income that the company is earning from its sales. This requires vigilance on the part of the company, for it to revisit its price-setting procedures every now and then to see if they can adjust the selling price accordingly.Operating profit marginThis profit margin is an indicator of management’s success in its revenue generation activities and campaigns. Usually, profit margin analysis starts with getting the gross profit margin. If it is too low, it follows that the opera ting profit margin is also very low, since there is no way that the business will gain a sizable profit, not even if the business managed to keep its operating costs low.Low operating profit margin could mean that:Operating costs and expenses have increased while sales have decreased or remained the same.Operating costs and expenses have remained the same, but sales have decreased.Operating costs and expenses have decreased, but sales have also decreased by a greater amount.If a company shows high operating margins, it could mean that:The company has effective price controls. Even if the costs increase, management is able to adjust the selling prices accordingly.The company is good at growing its sales while keeping its operating costs low or steady.Movement of the operating profit margin will urge management to review its cost management procedures: identify the causes of inefficiency and fix them, and review its pricing policies if they have to be revised.Net profit marginCompanie s usually prefer to have high net profit margin or return on sales ratio, since this presents it to be a company that can cope very well in case of unexpected downturns in the industry or economy. Unlike the gross profit margin and the operating profit margin, the net profit margin takes into account the taxes as well as finance costs.A higher net profit means a bigger “cushion” in case the business experiences a drop.High net profit margin indicates correct pricing of products and services.High net profit margin is also an indicator that management exercises good control of its costs and expenses.Meanwhile, having a low net profit margin could be because:Sales have increased but operating costs and expenses, as well as interests and taxes, have also increased much faster than revenue.Sales decreased while costs, interests and taxes remained the same or increased.Sales remained constant while costs, interests and taxes have greatly increased.There is a general consensus that, if your business has a net profit margin that is 10% or higher, you are doing very well. However, there are a lot of factors at play here, such as the industry that the business belongs to, the structure of the business, and the current state of the economy.It is also possible that the company has undergone circumstances that led to the increase of decrease of its profit margins. Some of the usual events that could bring about these movements include restructuring of debt or a redesign of the product mix or product line.Taking industry norms into account, it would not be entirely correct to assume that, if the business registers higher profit margins, it is doing better than the rest of the industry. Meanwhile, if the industry is doing well, and it is just the company that is suffering from low margins, it is time for management to sit up, pay attention and take action. If the trend of your company’s profit margin is in line with that of the industry as a whole â€" meaning, both are going down or both are going up â€" it means that it is not just your business that is affected by certain changes or events in the industry.When it comes to evaluating a company’s financial performance, profit margin analysis is certainly a very effective tool. However, be careful not to take everything at face value, drawing your conclusions just by looking at the final profit margin or profit percentage that you were able to calculate. You still have to look into the reasons for the increase or decrease in order to get a clearer, better, and more accurate picture of the business’ profitability and overall financial performance.Profit margin analysis focuses solely on a company’s profitability and financial performance; it does not tell the whole story. There are other financial ratios and tools that you may use in order to assess other aspects of the company’s growth and competitiveness.

Monday, June 22, 2020

7 Strategies for Success on the New ACT Essay

As the Director of Curriculum at Compass, I have specific advice that I would offer to students preparing to take the new ACT Essay: #1 Breathe Seriously. Just breathe. You can do this. #2 Take 10 Minutes to Pre-Write The ACT has added 10 minutes to the Writing Test. Given the complexity of this new assignment, the extended time suggests that the test writers believe you should be spending those 10 minutes pre-writing. When most students face a ticking clock, they begin writing their essays immediately. This results in what is often referred to as â€Å"throat-clearing† introductions that basically restate the prompt, sometimes in different words, but often in nearly identical phrasing. Set yourself up to wow your reader with your introduction by taking the full ten minutes to pre-write. #3 Create a System of Analysis If you ask most people what it means to analyze, they’ll tell you it means to break a thing into its parts. But how do you actually do that? Try asking the following four questions when you read each perspective: Who might hold this perspective? Why would they hold it? What if we all held this perspective? What is one weakness or strength of this perspective? Suddenly, the vague idea of â€Å"analysis† is concretized into a system of questions that you can apply to each perspective: Who? Why? What if†¦? Strength or weakness?   #4 Write Down Notes As you ask these questions about each perspective, you need to jot down your thoughts. This serves two purposes: it frees up your short-term memory (which is crucial toward the end of a 4-hour test) and it streamlines outlining. When you make notes for these questions, they will serve as the outline of your body paragraphs. #5 Use the Word I Did your high school English teacher tell you to never use â€Å"I† in your essay? He or she was probably trying to wean your class from using phrases like â€Å"I think† and â€Å"I believe,† which many believe weaken writing. College writing classes are increasingly embracing students’ usage of â€Å"I,† and in an assignment like this one, where you’re asked to describe the relationships between perspectives, clarity is often achieved through â€Å"I.† It would be nearly impossible to use your personal experience to support your ideas if you couldn’t use â€Å"I.† #6 Sell Your Examples with Details Though the essay has shifted away from pro-versus-con argumentation, it should still be persuasive. Specific details not only show the value of your position but also make your essay more interesting to read. Try to support every statement you make with a concrete example from your studies or life. Let’s use the artificial intelligence (AI) prompt cited in our complementary post about the New ACT Essay. One of the three perspectives on the proliferation of technology argues that technological advances minimize authentic human interaction. If you agree with this perspective, a general statement like â€Å"technology robs us of our humanity† is less potent than a real-life anecdote. The high-scoring student might include a story about attempting to have lunch with friends while being interrupted by chirping cell phones and text messages. #7 Power Pose If you haven’t yet watched Professor Amy Cuddy’s TED talk on power posing, do it now. I’ll wait. Finished? Excellent! Her mantra—â€Å"Fake it ‘til you ARE it†Ã¢â‚¬â€is absolutely applicable to the ACT Essay Test. Pretending to be a person who knows about the topic can help if your heart starts pounding when you read a writing assignment on a topic you don’t know much about. You’ll find that as you analyze, you will start to develop an opinion on the topic. Sometimes, the strongest rhetorical position you can take is to admit ignorance. This can be hard because the classroom has trained you to provide clear answers. Paradoxically, acknowledging the limits of your own experience can give your writing credibility. So by all means, write with authority when you analyze the given perspectives, but when it comes to your own position, it’s okay to say, â€Å"there may not be a solution† or even, â€Å"maybe we can’t bridge these divides.† If these issues were easily solvable, we wouldn’t still be talking about them. The ACT knows that, and if you recognize it in your writing, you’ll be adding the complexity that readers reward. Scoring The ACT has changed not only the assignment but also the scoring of the essay. Whereas the old essay was scored holistically on a 1–6 scale, the new essay is scored in four separate domains: Ideas and Analysis, Development and Support, Organization, and Language Use. It can be helpful to think of the first two areas as addressing content and the second two areas as addressing form. Two readers will each score each domain on a scale of 1–6; each domain score will be the sum of those two readers’ scores. For a look at the new scoring rubric, visit the ACT’s website. The Writing Test is not included in the composite score. The ACT will take the sum of the four domain scores and calculate a scaled Writing Test score in the traditional 1–36 range. The ACT will present students with three sets of scores: the domain scores, a scaled Writing Test score, and an English Language Arts score (the average of the English, Reading, and Writing Test scores). More Information For further information about the new ACT Essay, how the new assignment differs from its predecessor, and ACT’s rationale behind the change, check out our recent blog post. As always, our team of directors is ready to answer any of your questions regarding college admission testing and preparation. We are also happy to sign up students for full-length proctored practice tests with the updated ACT Essay. There is no better method of preparation than taking full-length practice tests – click here to find out why.