William Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliet - 1480 Words

In the Shakespearean England women were treated as inferior to men whereas the men were the leaders. Women were used as housewives and were mainly to bear heirs. The roles of women were very limited and they weren’t allowed to do most of the roles that men did. For women it was a great honour to get married or bear children. Sadly women were considered to need someone to look after them, as they got married their husband was expected to look after them however the woman’s father was the one to choose who she’s going to marry. In the sixteenth century if the woman was not married she would be looked after by her father therefore once he had chosen the husband the girl was expected to obey her father’s wishes. At the beginning of the play, Juliet’s behaviour and attitude was the way it would have been in Shakespearean time; however, throughout the play the character changes and becomes less obedient towards the father and more endorsed with Romeo. In this essay I am going to explain how Shakespeare’s play shows the changing character of Juliet in three important scenes (Act 1, Scene 3, Act 2, Scene 2, Act 3, Scene 2 and Act 3, Scene 5). Juliet behaviour towards her parents is obedient and respectful this is shown in Act 1, Scene 3 when Lady Capulet looks for Juliet in order to pass the news of Lord Paris asking for Juliet’s hand, as Juliet gets ready for the party Lady Capulet comes in and Juliet responds to her â€Å"Madam, I am here, what is your will?† This shows that sheShow MoreRelatedWilliam Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliet1287 Words   |  6 PagesLizzy Baginski English Composition 2 Mr. Spera March 10, 2015 Romeo and Juliet Research Paper The movie Romeo and Juliet is a modern classic film that took place in 1996. Overall this is a timeless story that everyone should go and watch. This movie has an intriguing plot line that tells the story of two feuding families, The Montagues and The Capulets, and how the children of these two different families fall in love. The two children overcome various obstacles such as hiding their chemistry fromRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliet 966 Words   |  4 Pages Beauty Over Gold â€Å"Beauty provoketh thieves sooner than gold.--William Shakespeare, 1623. In his book As You Like It, William Shakespeare pointed out the supremacy of love rather than the want of gold and wealth. Truly, beauty is more important to thieves than wealth. Many of the thieves in this world would rather have an elegant woman than to obtain precious rubies. After all, what good is a prosperous man if he doesn’t have a charming woman? Two famous men grab my attention who didn’t fear forRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliet Essay1024 Words   |  5 PagesRomeo and Juliet is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately reconcile their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare s most popular plays during his lifetime and, along with Hamlet, is one of his most frequently performed plays. Today, the title characters are regarded as archetypal young lovers. Romeo and Juliet belongs to a tradition of tragic romances stretching back to antiquity. The plot is based on an ItalianRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliet1124 Words   |  5 PagesThe play Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately reconcile their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare s most popular plays during his lifetime and, along with Hamlet, is one of his most frequently performed plays. Today, the title characters are regarded as archetypal young lovers. Romeo and Juliet belongs to a tradition of tragic romances stretching back to antiquity. Its plot is based onRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliet861 Words   |  4 Pagesgreatly shown in the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. It was love at first sight with Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet. Meeting at a party and falling in love to get married without even spending quality time with each other. Romeo and Juliet couldn t tell there parents because the Capulets and Montagues are long term rivals. Both Romeo and Juliet had to find different ways and excuses to make this marriage work. A big problem was developed. Romeo kills Juliet s cousin and is banishedRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliet1770 Words   |  8 Pagesof Romeo and Juliet. The story of two destined lovers who were killed by their own doing. But what if they weren t two destined lovers who got unlucky, but doomed partners that were never going to have a good-life to begin with.William Sha kespeare gives us a view of early signs of gang conflict in the early age of Verona, Italy. He gives us a perspective of the norms and customs of Italy during the Setting of William Shakespeare s most famous story. Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, givesRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliet1616 Words   |  7 Pageslove can also cause some of life s most controversial battles. These battles could stem from lack of patience, disagreement of moral values, and in some cases, an absence of attraction overall. In Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, the issues that drive Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet s to each of their dreadful misfortunes are inevitable. When it comes to many of Shakespeare s plays, Aristotle s theory is used to describe them as tragedies. Romeo and Juliet is known by many as a tragedyRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliet1264 Words   |  6 Pagestheater-going public the most important dramatist in English literature, Shakespeare oc cupies a well-known position in the world of talented authors. His canon contains thirty-seven plays, written in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. Additionally, throughout the years, they continue to sustain critical attention, with the majority of his works circling tragedies, one being Romeo and Juliet. William Shakespeare s Romeo and Juliet speaks to the timeless appeal of star-crossed lovers. Their loveRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliet924 Words   |  4 PagesWilliam Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy that follows the so-called love of two teenagers. The two fall in love at a masked ball and have a secret marriage. Throughout the play, their actions show how ridiculous love is, and how it is a danger to anyone who become twisted in its choking grasp. However, in the death of the youth and survival of the elders, an alternative explanation for the tragic events may be found. Although Shakespeare seems to be mocking love throughout the play, itRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliet1279 Words   |  6 Pagesour lives. The great, classic writers teach timeless, valuable life skills. Shakespeare was the greatest writer of all time. His writings mainly consisted of dramas and sonnets. Romeo and Juliet, as well as, A MIdsummer Night’s Dream were written about the same time period. He was able to inter relate everything that wrote. For example, the tale of Pyramus and Thisbe could possibly be an advertisement for Romeo and Juliet. The basic structure of the two dramas is the same; two forbidden lovers meet

Essential Elements of a Business Plan - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 9 Words: 2740 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Business Essay Type Analytical essay Did you like this example? Introduction In this competitive business environment a business plan acts as a roadmap for a successful business. To start a new business the most important document which is need at first is a business plan. It may be used for internal purpose as well as external purpose. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Essential Elements of a Business Plan" essay for you Create order Every business need a business plan before start it. Whether the business is large or small, profitable or non profitable, it require a effective business plan. Especially it is more require for a large business than a medium scale or small scale business because the function and structure of am large business is more complex than a small business. This study discuss about various field of business plan. The main part of this study consists of the definition of business plan, content of business plan, objectives of business plan, interested parties of business plan, how to write business plan, challenges behind business plan, common pitfalls of business plan, physical factor of entrepreneurship which is essential for a business plan. The success or failure of a business largly depends on an effective business plan. Definition of business plan A plan indicating the whole processes how a new business will achieve its objectives more effectively and efficiently is a known as a business plan. In other words, a formal statement of achieving goals is a business plan. Setting a business goal and achieving the goal is a business plan. Different types of information of a business including the nature of business, the function of business, available raw material, competitor of the business and target market of the business etc contains in a business plan. By seeing a business plan anyone get a clear idea of the whole business. That means it describes the whole business and achieving its goals. All operational, marketing, financial or managerial functions are detail described in a business plan. Business plan is also used for an established business when a changes occurs in it or it wants achieve its objective more effectively. Content of business plan A business plan is a written document that describes the products and services of business, required resources, the opportunity, threats, strengths and weakness of business, target financial returns, environment, and different strategy to achieve its objectives. A business plan always answers three basic questions. These are where we are now? Where we want to go? How we will go there. The goals or objectives of business plan determined the context of business plan. Since business plan is a systematic way of achieving objectives of business. The process of setting objectives of a business , analysis the reason of why objectives is so important and taking different strategy to achieve those objectives all contains in a business plan. All information of a business contains in a business plan. It also indicates the required human resources to accomplish task. Human resources are the most valuable assets for every organization to run perfectly and achieving objectives. The business o bjectives of are mainly two types. One of these objectives is maximizing profits and the other one is maximizing growth of organization. The business plan concentrated on financial returns of investment when the business is run to maximizing profit. The business plan concentrated on increasing market share, its customerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s satisfaction and other factors when the objectives are to achieve the sustainable growth of the business. Thus the context of business plan largely depends on the objectives of the business. Objectives of business plan To drive the new business in right direction and keep an established business in a right way is the main objectives of an effective business plan. The alteration of perception as well as branding by customers or taxpayers is directed by a business plan. Shape the business and run the business smoothly is the primary objectives of a business plan. Besides this there are few other types of objectives such as alteration of perception and branding. Generally the process of alteration in perception and branding is known as marketing plan which is very important for every business success or failure. Every business is surrounded by a certain environment which influences business and give business competitive advantages. So the environment of business is an important part of business plan. The managers of a business consider business plan as an important decision making tools. Since there is no fixed context of business plan it varies depending the nature and function of business. So the nature, objectives and function of the business determine the nature and format of business plan. Effective business plans contain all the information which is required to achieve the goals of the business. Importance of business plan Business plan provide a overall summery of total plan, details of business, analysis of competition, different market strategy, development and design, financial operation and management of business which accelerate the success of a business. The important of business plan is given below: A business plan clarifies the purpose and direction of a business. Business plan describe what the business is and where it want to go. Clarifying of a business consists of a simple description of a business as well as different product and services offered by the organization. A business plan contains the details description of the business so the owner of the business can understand why this business is right for him than other professions. So it is a mental satisfaction for the owner of the business. A business plan works as a motivating tool for the management. It is very important for motivating employee. Everybody is well informed about the objectives and goals of the organization. So every works properly to achieve those goals. A business plan presents whether or not the business capability to make profit. A business plan contains different statistics, figures, and facts in details to present the strength or weakness of the business. It is a clear indication of whether or not the business will be profitable. A business plan shows the capital requirement of the business. So the owner of the business takes different steps to obtain finance of his business. So the owner tries to convince the bank and other financial institution to finance for the organization. A business plan helps to understand the need for merger or acquisition of the business. In the recent year it has become a very important tool for dominating market. Different statistical alliances help to get competitive advantages and run business smoothly. A business plan helps a business in getting, maintaining, developing, and retaining human resources for the organization. Employs always make decision whether he join the organization or not by seeing organizationà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s business plan or its future. A business plan helps to get large contract of the business. Because any party gets all information regarding the future financial position of the company by its business plan. How to write business plan Since business plan is a roadmap which guideline for the success of a business. The writing of a business plan is a very crucial task. The owner of the business can prepare the business plan when he has a good knowledge about the total business, products and service, operation strategy, financial condition, marketing strategy, target market etc. The business owners can get information from outsiders or interns. At recent times there are many consultants specialized in business plan. The business owner can take help from them as his requirement. By taking help from the outside specialist business owner cannot maintain personal commitment. Interested parties of business plan A business plan has a number of audiences as well as secondary uses. The interested parties of business plan include investors, suppliers, executives and lenders. The elementary purpose is to test idea and its probable effect on the organization and evaluating performance according to the goals. In time of serving operational people, marketing people or human resources of an organization, the business plan is not only an operational document. A business plan is generally presented to outside people in most of the time. When the owner of a business needs capital, he may present the business plan to the investors or the creditors. To attract new customer or retain the existing customer, sometimes business plan is presented. A business plan is presented to banks, non-bank financial institution, investors, capital providers, government agencies, managers, business partners and others party. The audiences of business plan and their interest may vary depending on the nature of business. In preparing a business plan, the owners must keep in mind the need of interested party. Otherwise the purpose of the business plan will be in fail. So the need of stakeholders must be kept in mind in preparing a business plan. Common pitfalls of business plan Unrealistic Financial Projections-Investors and lenders expect a realistic picture of business. But business plan contains an unrealistic financial projection because there is no explanation of projections. The plan is overly optimistic and may ignore many obstacles. Not defining the goal- the goals of the business plan may vague. It is not measureable and has no clear idea. There is no time limit of achieving goal. A unrealistic evaluation of goal and lack of proper steps of goal achievement cause problem in goal achievement. The goal must be activity oriented to be successful. Lack of commitment-To get commitment from others the owners must be committed to others. But in a business plan there is no commitment which creates problem in goal attainment. The investors and the creditors expect strong commitment from the owners. Fail to anticipate problem-The business plan may fail to anticipate the problem in future. A business plan is always excessive optimistic. There is no alternative strategy for a business plan. The written document and its implementation is not same and the conflict of different parties is always ignored. It also fails in delivery date and the time of completing the project. The owner always faces some problem when he wants to implement the written plan. Too much detail-The main purpose of a business plan is focus on the basic element of the business not to increase theoretical knowledge. A business plan consists all in detail of a business. It provides much unnecessary information. Instead of clear and concise, it may to much detail. Lack of progress review- There is no progress review of a business plan. So the owners of the business do not know how he is doing well. So he is confused about his performance. If anything happening wrong he cannot know it which hampering in taking right decision. So the business may fail. Failure to learn from experiences- The business owner can learn a lot from his experience. But generally business plan made for a new business has no scope of learn from experience. Since the business is new, all function of it is new. The business plan does not work properly if the outcome of the plan is denied. A mistake by the owner is a great source of knowledge for him. Failure to revise goals-To adapt with all type of readers business plan must need to revise the goals. But there is very little change to revise goals. One of the most noticeable reasons of failure of a business plan is its inflexibility. If the environment of the business changes the business plan cannot be changed with the situation. Common challenges business plan Different type of challenges are faced by a new business so does its business plan. With the growth of business plan different situation demands the not for change which creates challenges for the business plan. The common challenges faced by a business plan described below: Small size of the firm- Limitation of financial resources creates problem in marketing and financial operations. If the size of the business is small then it has very limited resources to implement its plan. So the size of business is a big challenge for business plan. On the other hand, for a big business, the complexity of work al so creates problem for the business plan. Newness of the firm- A new firm is unknown about its market, customers and other parties. No trust on abilities and offerings of new firm has to the customers. The owner of the business is very optimistic about his business and ignored different difficulties of it. No relation with customer and supplier and for other parties is found for a new business. It has no formal structure and process of completing its function. The new firm has no experience of making product or services. No record of success or failure is found in the basket of new business. Uncertainty -Since a new business has no relation with customers, it has low prediction about market and marketing data. Limited information about market creates problem in marketing, planning and marketing decision. It is impossible for a business to need the demands of the market and become a leader in market. The relationship with the supplier, customer or distributer is uncertain for a new business. This uncertainty makes problem in decision making process which is a big challenges for business plan. Spa business and business plan This study focuses spa business in UK. A place where people participate in different activities to keep themselves healthy and fresh is known as spa. Different products and services are offered by a spa business which is used to amend customerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s health. The services and product of spa business are used for amendment of customer physical as well as mental health. A therapeutic powder with mineral water is called as spa. Health resort having water treatment plant under the supervision of spa physician is the component of spa plan. In north America, the health resorts where water re[resent a constituent in their treatment is known as spa. The product and services of spa business is for mental and physical health of customer. It focuses the individual requirement of the customer. For managing stress and getting renewal spa business develop their product and services. The main product of spa business include the fun, healthy and balance diet and exercise. The aim of spa business is to provide comfortable environment to the customer. Provide different tools to improve life and motivate customer to their work the main objective of spa business. Physical factor of entrepreneurship The reason why some people emerge as entrepreneurs than other people is given by this study. Many research conducted by different scholar has given the answer of this question which has focus as entrepreneurship as an important field of research. The personality character, creativity, innovation and other factors affect the entrepreneur. Need for achievement-The need for achievement is noticeable among different psychological variables of the entrepreneur. To be an entrepreneur a person must have high need for achievement and strong desire for success. Strong desire for achievement makes the entrepreneur different from others people. Risk taking propensity- Entrepreneurs always work under an uncertain situation. They have to take risk and face different difficulties. The future is always uncertain. So a good entrepreneur takes moderate degree of risk by calculating the objective to be achieved. Power motivation-To be an entrepreneur a person must have the need for power. T hey always try to take the control of the situation which makes them as a good leader. To achieve this power person work more effectively and efficiently. Creativity- Creativity is essential to be a successful entrepreneur. It means innovation, good analytical ability and problem solving ability which make an entrepreneur different from others people. By applying these entrepreneur becomes a successful entrepreneur. Motivation for autonomy- Another factor a man wants to be an entrepreneur is autonomy. An entrepreneur always wants to implement his power. They like to work freely. So they start their own business to enjoy freedom and implement the power which makes them as successful entrepreneur. Conclusion A business plan is a roadmap and guideline of achieving goal of a business. A good business plan has a purpose of communicating a course of action so that it works as a support for the plan to implement. It contains the details of the business including its vision, objectives, marketing strategy, financial strategy, product, market segmentation etc. All of this information is essential to start a new business or develop the existing business. A business plan present the business to outsiders including investors, creditors, suppliers, government and others parties. Thus a business plan plays a crucial role in achieving the goals of the business more effectively and efficiently.

Organic foods Free Essays

Organic foods are defined as foods without pesticides, antibiotics,or gefetically altered organisms. Organic farming began in the late 1940’s in the united states, and in recents years it has grown into a multi-billion dollaer industry. Sales for organis foods in the past decade have increased annually by 20%. We will write a custom essay sample on Organic foods or any similar topic only for you Order Now Its 20% growth is ten times as much as non-organic food’s growth. Organic food makes up only a fraction of the food market even though there are over ten million consumers. The sales of organic foods are expected to climb to over 6 billion dollars within the upcoming years. Soil is also a crucial component of the organic process. Soil is said to be organic when it has been deemed ‘clean’ for three years. Making a commitment to healthy eating is a great start towards a healthier life. Beyond eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and good fats, however, there is the question of food safety, nutrition, and sustainability. How foods are grown or raised can impact both your health and the environment. This brings up the questions: What is the difference between organic foods and conventionally grown foods? Is â€Å"organic† always best? What about locally grown foods? Organic food, natural cleaners, green businesses, even organic clothing; natural and organic products continue to be the centre of attention for those seeking a healthier lifestyle, but just what is organic food, is this organic trend long-lasting, and what organic food facts provide compelling reasons to grow, shop, cook and eat organic food. Today, organic food accounts for 2% of global food sales and is growing at an average rate of 20% each year. Today, you can have your organic food delivered, buy it online, at your local grocery store, grow it yourself and order organic food at many restaurants. This continuing rise in demand creates a need for regulations to protect both consumers and farmers. Organic food is not the same thing as natural food. Natural refers to the way a food is processed rather than the ingredients. A food that is free of additives and preservatives, but contains commercially-produced ingredients, is considered natural. Organic food contains primarily organic ingredients, while natural foods may be made with items grown with the aid of chemicals as well as genetically modified ingredient and it is not just apples and bananas. Nearly every food available also has an organic version in today’s market. Organic milk, chicken, and even pasta can be found right on the shelves of your neighbourhood supermarket. Many leading food manufacturers are creating organic food in convenience packaging to fit into modern lifestyles. Canned organic tomatoes and frozen organic peas are among many options. Organic food is not bland and tasteless. In fact, most people claim organic ingredients are fresher and more flavourful than conventionally grown foods. Chemical residues, added ingredients, and hurried, mass production detract from the natural juices within fruits and vegetables. Organic food is free of chemicals, leaving nothing but pure, fresh flavour. Regulations and procedures for organic certification are still relatively new but organic farming and cultivation are not. Farmers were using natural, chemical-free methods of growing long before pesticides and fertilizers were available. As more research continues to reveal the dangers of these chemicals to both humans and the planet, consumers continue to explore the benefits of organic food. The advantages of arganic food are that you can choose to grow and/or buy food that is healthier for you, and the environment; cooking and eating organically also often offers more flavor and better tasting foods. Use organic farming methods and organic gardening tactics such as organic garden fertilizer and compost to grow your food; the organic food advantages and organic food benefits are significant for you, your family and the planet. Organic food benefits have been a hot topic for more than a decade now but it wasn’t until relatively recently that these advantages were supported by more than just hearsay. Extensive research conducted over a number of years has proven that organic food not only tastes better than commercial foods, but it is also better for us and our children, as well as our animals, wildlife, and the environment as a whole. Care and maintenance of soil, and preventive farming methods like crop rotation create fruits and vegetables that contain up to 50% more vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients than intensively farmed foods. Encouraging natural and organic farming methods and gardening practices, will allow organic soil to rebuild and contribute healthy vitamins and minerals to feed the crops, and you. Organic foods have higher levels of many disease-fighting antioxidants and essential vitamins, including Vitamin C. Industrial pesticides and fertilizers used in intensive farming contain synthetic, toxic chemicals, residues of which remain in the food they are involved in producing. Organic farming uses natural, synthetic-chemical-free methods that produce foods much safer for the humans, as well as the animals, that consume them. And if you grow your own fruits and vegetables, using organic garden fertilizer, natural pesticide methods, and organic soil Such chemicals are responsible for a number of common allergies and have also been linked to serious diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. An organic diet significantly lowers these risks. How to cite Organic foods, Papers Organic Foods Free Essays Are Organic Foods All They Are Hyped Up To Be: An Overview Of The Organic Food Industry Today, with cancer and obesity cases increasing quickly, people are turning their attention to the foods they are consuming. Such diets as the vegan, vegetarian, lacto-vegetarian, paleo, raw, and locavore are becoming more and more popular. The one thing these diets all have in common is the belief that organic foods are better than conventional foods. We will write a custom essay sample on Organic Foods or any similar topic only for you Order Now Similar to conventional foods, organic foods contain chemicals and toxic bacteria, emit more greenhouse gases, and are not sustainable. The chemicals in organic foods cause harm to people and the environment. Furthermore, organic foods travel long distances, producing larger amounts of greenhouse gases and changing the nutritional content of the food. Organic foods also use more land and produces less food. Though there is much hype about eating organic produce, consumers may want to weigh out their options. Most people believe organic foods are better for you and the environment because they do not use chemicals. For instance, The USDA website states that organic foods are foods that are produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients; bioengineering; sewage sludge; or ionizing radiation (USDA). The truth is organic foods claim to be chemical-free except the organic pesticides they are allowed to use are so dangerous they have been â€Å"grandfathered† with current regulations and are not required to undergo strict modern safety tests. For example, organic farmers are allowed to use copper to treat fungal diseases on their farmland crops. Copper is not biodegradable and stays in the soil forever and is toxic in excessive amounts to the human body (Johnston). Another example is in India, who is a large manufacturer and exporter of organic foods to the United States. It has recently been estimated that 75% of India’s surface water is contaminated by human and agricultural wastes (Michael). Organic foods can be just as harmful to humans and our environment. There is also debate whether ingesting harmful chemicals, which are sprayed during conventional farming methods in order to kill other living organisms, are toxic to the human body. Because organic foods do not use fungicides and such, they are also frequently contaminated with bacteria and naturally occurring toxins that are harmful for human digestion (Miller). Studies have been performed to test the harmful effects to humans from organic chemicals. A recent study released by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) of 110 people and 358 matched controls showed two organic pesticides commonly used today, rotenone and paraquat, are linked to the development of Parkinson’s disease in humans. Use of either of these pesticides makes people 2. times more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease. Rotenone prevents the mitochondria from making necessary energy within cells. Similarly, paraquat produces excessive harmful oxygen by-products that are harmful to cellular structures (NIH). Furthermore, A 2007 Study of Use of Products and Exposure-Related Behavior (SUPERB) surveyed 364 children between ages two and five in order to compare toxin consumption and cancer risk factors. Research found all children examined had excessive amounts of arsenic, dieldrin, DDE and dioxins, all known to cause cancer. In addition, over 95% of preschool children had unacceptable amounts of acrylamide; a cooking byproduct found in potato and tortilla chips, also know to cause cancer (University of California). With so many pesticides and toxins, organic or not, proving to be harmful to the human race, it is difficult to understand what the best options are. Research concludes all chemicals, natural or synthetic, are damaging to the human body and the environment. So the question remains, is it better for people to ingest organic and synthetic chemicals or harmful bacteria and toxins? Organic foods travel long distances and may be more damaging to the earth. Rich Pirog, the associate director of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University, states that food travels 1,500 miles on average from farm to consumer, giving birth to the term â€Å"food miles†(DeWeerdt). Priog’s team concluded that conventional food distribution systems used four to 17 times more fuel and emitted five to 17 times more CO2 than the local and regional systems. However, Priog mentions that food miles are a good measure of how far food has traveled. But they’re not a very good measure of the food’s environmental impact (DeWeerdt). For instance, heated greenhouse tomatoes in Britain use up to 100 times more energy than those produced in fields in Africa (Johnston). Another example is our country’s largest retailer for organic foods, Whole Foods. They actually purchase most of their products from China and only mention it in small fine print on the back of the products. Upon choosing your produce, it is helpful to check the label to identify the food miles accumulated. Media and advertisements lead people to believe organic produce has a greater nutritional value than conventional foods. The USDA website makes no claims that organically produced food is safer or more nutritious than conventionally produced food (USDA/Miller). Likewise, the United Kingdom’s Food Standards Agency reported that there is no proof organic food is more nutritious than conventionally grown varieties (Taverene). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the organic food industry. Their standards have recently been scrutinized for allowing minimal amounts of approved chemicals. The EPA suggests the minimal traces of dangerous chemicals found in organic or conventional foods are not harmful to humans. However, studies report children and elderly are at the greatest risk of the damaging effects from chemicals. Charles Benbrook, previously a chief scientist for the Organic Center, states that the best benefits of organic foods are for children, pregnant women, and elderly who all tend to have weakened immune systems. Furthermore, he also reports studies that have followed pesticide levels in pregnant women’s blood and found their children to score four to seven percent lower on IQ tests compared to their classmates (Chang). Organic foods are a wise choice for certain populations. Most people choose organic products believing they are sustainable. Organic farms yield 20-50% less produce compared to conventional farms, making organic farming a less efficient use of land. For example, organic potatoes use less in terms of fertilizer production and/or energy, but require more fossil fuel for plowing. For example, a hectare of conventionally farmed land produces 2. 5 times more potatoes than an organic one. Subsequently, if only organic foods were available, half the current human population would starve to death (Taverene). Orgainc foods tend to cost more than conventional foods. Although organic food yields are less, prices are as much as triple the cost of conventional foods (Taverene). This is due to the greater amounts of labor involved with organic farming procedures. Organic farmers are also held legally responsible for cross-contamination by genetically engineered foods, which in turns raises costs of organic produce. Organic farming uses fewer chemicals, which in turn promotes greater farmland biodiversity. According to the Organic Trade Association, organic fields also require less irrigation, reduce pollutants in ground water and create richer soils that aid plant growth while reducing erosion. Organic methods also minimize pesticides that can end up in your drinking glass. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) reports various cities in the United States to have unsafe levels of tap water consistently for weeks at a time (DeWeerdt). Some studies show no benefit to people consuming organic foods. Although high doses of pesticide cause cancers and birth defects, there is no evidence proving the miniscule amounts of chemicals found in conventional foods are damaging to human health. Some studies released show cancer occurrences among farmers, who are often exposed to relatively high levels of these chemicals, are no more frequent than in other occupations. Furthermore, during the last fifty years, during a time when synthetic chemicals became the industry standard for food production, the average life expectancy has increased by over seven years (Chang). Organic foods claim to have more nutritional content than conventional foods. However, every fruit and vegetable has differing nutritional composition, which depends on a wide variety of factors including but not limited to growing conditions and season, fertilizer administration, and means of crop protection (i. e. , herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, etc. ) Food products from animal sources also differ in nutritional contents depending on such factors as age, breed and feeding routine of the animal. Furthermore, the nutritional compositions of raw foods increase during processing, transportation, storage, and cooking before consumption (DeWeerdt). Locally grown food decreases the transportation period, resulting in less carbon emissions to the environment and less oxidization to the produce, therefore providing better nutritional content (Chang). Furthermore, organic food usually tastes better, contains no synthetic fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides, which are known to cause cancer, and are more often locally grown. Furthermore, the USDA describes organic food as, food produced by farmers who promote the use of renewable resources and the conservation of water and soil to improve the quality of the environment for future generations  (USDA). Organic foods are not always better than conventional foods. It must be considered the bacteria and toxins remaining on organic produce, the environmental effects and chemical additions in order to make an adequate decision of what type of produce to purchase. After studying the USDA food pyramid logo, it is apparent that the federal government encourages consuming more fruits, vegetables, and grains without any evaluation of the current farming procedures that manufacture these foods. The food pyramid also suggests an apple is an apple and that we should be eating more apples and less processed foods, sugars and fats. (Michael) How to cite Organic Foods, Essay examples

Cost of Capital at Ameritrade free essay sample

Cost of Capital at Ameritrade What factors should Ameritrade management consider when evaluating the proposed advertising program and technology upgrades? Why? Mr. Ricketts believes that his role as CEO is to maximize shareholder value by accepting any project whose expected return on investment is greater than the cost of capital. Therefore, the main factors that Ameritrade management should consider are the expected return on investment for the project, and how this compares to the project’s cost of capital.Other factors that should also be considered include: how market swings will affect the expected return on investment, the project’s payback period (the project will require massive initial outlays, so Ameritrade could find itself in financial trouble if results are not seen relatively quickly), the unique risk that would come along with being the only major player in their price range, the risks inherent in being the â€Å"first adopter† of new technology ( unforeseen technical problems, the possibility that price cuts in the near-future could allow competitors to obtain the same technology at a drastically reduced price, etc. We will write a custom essay sample on Cost of Capital at Ameritrade or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page , the relative success of previous advertising campaigns, and the positive effects that an increase in market share could have on future projects. How can the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) be used to estimate the cost of capital for real (not financial) investment decision? The CAPM is an important measure when it comes to real investment decisions because it provides a basis of comparison for financial decisions. The return on a project must be greater than what the firm can earn by investing an equivalent amount of money in financial investments.What is the risk-free rate that should be used in calculating the cost of capital using the CAPM? Explain. The risk-free rate that should be used in calculating the cost of capital in the CAPM is 5. 24%, which is the current yield on a 3-month T-Bill. We chose this rate because it is the purest risk-free rate available. The longer-term Government bonds also merit consideration because they can more accurately match the maturity of projects. However, no information about the project’s time horizon, expected cash flows, or payback period is given.Therefore, we cannot accurately determine an appropriate maturity for this project. This partially nullifies the benefit of using any rate other than that of the 3-month T-Bill, since we can’t pick a rate that matches the project’s maturity if we do not know the project’s maturity. Although we are not provided with the project’s maturity, we are able to make certain inferences to arrive at an estimate. Since Mr. Rickett’s strategy involves such large initial capital outlays, Ameritrade could find itself in financial trouble if the project doesn’t yield significant cash flows relatively quickly. In addition, the rapidly changing nature of technology means that our â€Å"state of the art† technology might not be state of the art for very long. Based on these two facts, we believe that this will be a short-term project, and that it is therefore appropriate to use a short-term interest rate in order to match the project’s maturity. Since we cannot narrow down the maturity of the project any more than this, we believe that the best interest rate to use is the short-term rate that has the added benefit of being the most risk-free – the 5. 4% yield on a 3-month T-Bill. Another consideration is that the advent of the internet and technology based firms is relatively recent, so we want to reflect this in our cost of capital calculations. What is the estimate of risk-premium on the market that should be used in the CAPM? Explain. When choosing a risk-premium, our goal is to accurately reflect the return on the market. The market return of 14. 0% is the average annual return for large company stocks. Because Ameritrade is a large company, it will be best represented by this return.We are using the data from the years 1950-1996 because we believe this to be a more accurate predictor of equity returns than the averages from 1929-1996. This is because market conditions have become more stabilized as time has passed, so it is useful to exclude data from more volatile time periods. Specifically, we wish to exclude the effects of the Great Depression. Another option is to use data for small companies in order to match the high return and high risk nature of Ameritrade. Although Ameritrade’s investment may make it more risky than the average large company, the beta we have chosen already reflects that higher risk. Therefore, we have chosen to use the market return for large companies because it more accurately depicts an overall picture of the stock market and Ameritrade’s status as a large firm. After subtracting the chosen risk-free rate of 5. 24% from the average large company market return of 14. 0%, we estimated the market risk-premium to be 8. 76%. Ameritrade does not have a beta estimate as the firm has been publicly traded only for a short period at the time of the case. Exhibit 4 provides various choices of comparable firms. Which firms do you recommend as the appropriate benchmark for evaluating the risk of Ameritrade’s planned advertising and technology investments? Explain. Although technically Ameritrade is a discount brokerage, because their prices are so much lower than their competitors, their revenue depends on the volume of transfers more than anything else. Their system is very different from other discount brokerages who can earn a more significant margin on their trades.The idea of making money based on volume is much more comparable to internet sites like Yahoo and Netscape, who make their money through advertisers who pay them according to how much traffic their websites receive. Also, discount brokerages rarely make such large investments in technology, while internet firms must always keep technology current to maintain a competitive edge. Another similarity with the internet firms is Ameritrade’s lack of debt. For these reasons, we believe that the internet firms provide the best benchmark for determining Ameritrade’s beta.Because the risk is quite variable among the internet firms, we have decided to take an equally weighted average of all the equally weighted betas to determine an appropriate beta for Ameritrade. We decided to use the equally weighted numbers because we do not have the market caps for any of the tech companies, so we are not able to determine a value weighted beta. For consistency in our calculations, we also decided to use the equally weighted stock market indices in our regression analysis. Using regressions against the EW Indices provided to us in exhibit 6 we found the betas of the internet firms to be:Meckler- 1. 149 Netscape- 1. 402 Yahoo- 3. 162 We considered not including Yahoo in our beta calculations because it has such a high beta and only 16 months of returns, which may make it less reliable than firms for whom more information is available. We decided to include it because its high beta reflects the high-risk nature of this industry and our possible investment in this project. What is your estimate of the cost of capital for the Ameritrade’s planned investment? Provide all your assumptions.