Concert Report Jacqueline Pretorius - 976 Words

Concert Report – Jacqueline Pretorius I did attend the â€Å"Tosco Music Party† on January 30, 2016 at the Knight Theater in Charlotte, NC. The Tosco Music Party originated from informal gatherings and is now a regular sight and popular attraction featuring several artists. The first group to perform was the Moore Brothers Band. They are an Americana trio which consists of a mandolin, a guitar and a bass instrument. The mandolin had a smooth, classical sound. The sound of the guitar can be described as harmonious and warm. A low pitched tone was produced by the bass instrument. I think that that these three instruments complimented each other and as a result the end product was sounds that flowed together very nicely. Next to perform was†¦show more content†¦This was followed by a performance of Amy Speace – she is a Folk/Americana singer-songwriter. She is using a guitar in order to provide music for her songs. She has an interesting voice that is complimented by the sound of the guitar. Next to perform was the very impressive Tuvan throat singing group, Alash. They have used amongst other instruments an igil and a doshpuluur. The igil produced a very rich sound while the doshpuluur produced a soft, smooth like sound that blended very well with the noise produced by the throat singers. Singer-songwriter Pierce Pettis performed next. He effectively used the warm sounds produced by a guitar as guidance for his performance. This was followed by a performance by vocalist K. Omari Wilkerson. He has a very distinctive voice that is pleasant on the ear. Myers Park High School s 12-member, all-female a cappella group, the Sallies performed next. They have managed to deliver an excellent performance and the combination of their voices resulted in a very pleasant musical experience. This was followed by the bluegrass band Charlotte-towne Collective. They have effectively used the deep, distinct sounds of an upright bass and the lively sounds produced by a five-string banjo to give a pleasant performance. Next up was the John Shaughnessy Trio. They have managed to find a very pleasant balance between a fretless piccolo bass, synthesizers and drums. The combination of the sound produced by these different instruments is lively and

Management in Leadership - 7434 Words

Final Exam Case Analysis MGMT 7135: Seminar in Leadership and Team Building Table of Contents Performance Management Model..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦3 Communications.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..12 Leadership...†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..13 Conflict.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..16 Perception†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..17 Team Performance†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..18 As Regional Director for Happy Face Frozen Foods (HFFF), I hold a great responsibility to meet sales projection levels at each of my sales districts. Hitting goal is not just a numbers game- it’s a task of managing people within the culture of the organization. My ultimate goal for District IV and district manager Tony’s performance†¦show more content†¦Because Tony is involved in some of the unethical action, a quick response is needed at the management and subordinate level. Nielson’s guidelines for changing unethical organizational behaviors are not easy, but start with an intervention strategy implemented by corporate guidelines and myself. Caution should be used as I could be misled on details, and do not want to damage relationships and hurt the organization unnecessarily. The advantage of leading an ethical change increases incremental performance, but must include Tony in the process of establishing ethical rules and procedures in order to imple ment long-term. Rallying others to agree for the good of the organization takes consensus building through patience and relationship building, and can happen with ability and courage. Tony perceives his abilities for his own â€Å"book of business† as a successful sales person to be a major part of his job requirement. As a superior, my perception of his skills and traits lack the ability to manage his people, and his personal success makes me doubt his capabilities even more as he ignores his job requirements to train and coach his sales team, especially the two brand new employees. Tony needs to understand the importance of socialization practices, and appreciate the problem of transitioning a new employee. To prepare Tony in the training of his team, helpful mechanisms to utilize change are found in the elements of Schein’s organizationShow MoreRelatedLeadership And Management And Leadership1569 Words   |  7 PagesLeadership is about seeking constructive change a nd management is about establishing order (Northouse, 2015). Warren Bennis (1997) wrote in  Learning to Lead: A Workbook on Becoming a Leader  that â€Å"There is a profound difference between management and leadership, and both are important. To manage means to bring about, to accomplish, to have charge of or responsibility for, to conduct. Leading is influencing, guiding in a direction, course, action, opinion. 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Management : Leadership And Management1550 Words   |  7 Pagesauthor of On Becoming a Leader: The Leadership Classic, is best known for, that addresses why there is a difference between Leadership versus Management (Murray, What is the Difference Between Management and Leadership?, 2009). Just like most people, I use â€Å"leadership† and â€Å"management† interchangeably because one feels that they are probably the same thing or embody the same characteristics. Further di scussion will provide details on what leadership is, what management entails, and why they are differentRead MoreLeadership, Management And Management1081 Words   |  5 PagesLeadership and Management Businesses require some sort of hierarchy of power to be successful. They cannot operate on the basis that everyone has the same job level if they plan to make a profit. However, the individuals that are placed in the higher power positions fall into two categories, leaders and managers. Many would say these are the same thing, when in reality they are not. They are two different styles that are used when operating a business and using the right one at the right time isRead MoreLeadership, Management, And Management876 Words   |  4 PagesLeadership and Management Name Institutional Affiliation Leadership and Management The achievements of organizations depend on their management and the manner in which their leaders conduct several operations within the organization. It is worth mentioning that successful organizations attribute their positive impacts in the market and general employee-employer relation to the influence spearheaded by the management team (Hiriyappa, 2013). This paper narrows down to evaluateRead MoreLeadership And Management And Leadership1173 Words   |  5 PagesLeadership is a term that is often misunderstood and misinterpreted in the business world. In the world of CEOs, CFOs, vice-presidents and managers, it is important to distinguish the difference between what is considered management and what is considered leadership. While these two terms are not mutually exclusive, but it is imperative that they are not comprehended as mutually inclusive either. In this context, I will be comparing leadership and management as presented in the college textbookRead MoreLeadership And Management : Leadership1126 Words   |  5 PagesAs we know that, leadership is nothing. But the influencing flowers. Leadership includes three fundamental clusters of skills creating vision, garnering commitment to that vision, an managing progress toward the realization of that vision. powerful and effective leaders plays very vital role to reach the maximum production for any organization. This is why, Organizational renowned scholars have been studying of this very significant topic of leadership for literally hundreds of years. Because.Read MoreManagement Vs. Leadership : Management And Leadership1061 Words   |  5 PagesManagement vs. Leadership Introduction Presently many of us have learned that managers are primarily administrators who have learned to write business plans, utilize their resources and keep track of progress. We must learn that we are not limited by job title, and that means we can utilize our management skills in any position that we are in. We must also know that we can use our leadership skills in the same situations. On the other hand we have also learned that leaders are people who have

American Family and Traditions - 6646 Words

COLEGIUL NATIONAL â€Å"RADU GRECEANU† [pic] STUDENT: TEACHER: TÄ‚RÄ‚ÅžILÄ‚ ANCA FLORENTINA POPA LIANA SLATINA 2012 Table of Contents 1. INTRODUCTION 3 2. CHAPTER 1: The American Family 4 2.1 A Definition of the Family 4 2.2 What is it Like to be a Young Person in the United States? 4 2.3 Education 5 2.4 The Effects of Divorce in the United States 6 2.5 Interview with an American Teenager 6 3. CHAPTER 2: American Traditions 8 3.1 Christmas Traditions 8 3.2 The Yellow Ribbon 10 3.3 The Window†¦show more content†¦Children in the US start preschool or nursery school at age four or under, kindergarten at five years of age. Schools provide American children with much more than academic education. More than 80 percent of all students participate in extracurricular activities, such as sports, student newspapers, drama clubs, choral groups and bands. During their leisure time, American kids spend much time watching television, listening to music or playing computer games, but many also have after school jobs. One recent study indicated that nine out of 10 teenagers said they either had a job or would like one. Child labor laws set restrictions on the types of work that youths under 16 years can do. Many youths work part-time on weekends or after school at fast-food restaurants, baby-sit for neighbors, hold delivery jobs or work in stores. Many youths are also involved in community service organizations or are active in church and religious-group activities. Other belong to youth groups such as Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts, were they learn about citizenship, arts, camping and other outdoor activities. Thousands of young Americans volunteer to help take care of the elderly, the handicapped and hospital patients, or help clean up the environment. Even though for most American children and teenagers life today is nearly free of serious conflict, young people are still under many types of stress. Peer pressure, changing family conditions, mobility of families, unemploymentShow MoreRelatedMy Grandfather And My Grandmother Essay1359 Words   |  6 PagesMy American roots are made up of my families traditions and history. I interviewed two family members, my grandfather and my grandmother. Each one brings a different background which made them the best option. American roots are a built by families. Each family has its own traditions and ideals. For my gr andparents, their American roots were built completely different from each other. Family has a major impact on an individual s life, it is the starting point of ones American roots. My American rootsRead MoreThe Namesake, A Winner Of The Pulitzer Prize, By Jhumpa Lahiri1026 Words   |  5 Pagesof culture clash between American and Indian tradition. As the story transitions, the theme is exhibit by the struggles the Ganguli family went through in America such as Gogol’s name, influence Indian traditions into the Gangulis lives of the children, and the failures in the love affairs Gogol faced. The novel and film The Namesake both do one excellent job portraying the growth in culture of two traditions expanding within society in the American and Indian traditions. To be more exact, throughoutRead MoreHeritage Assessment1611 Words   |  7 PagesThe Influence of Heritage on Current Culture Evaluation of how family subscribes to these traditions and practices is offered in detail, while offering insight and/or reflection.It is essential for nurses to provide culturally sensitive care to each and every patient in order to establish repor and maintain a safe working relationship with each individual. To provide culturally sensitive care to a nurses patient’s he or she must first assess their own beliefs, values, and culture at large. TheRead MoreHeritage Assessment Essay1391 Words   |  6 PagesOne’s heritage includes information about their cultural beliefs and practices of the family and ethno religious community (Jarvis, C., 2012). Through a heritage assessment the nurse can obtain a vast amount of information about the patient/ family, including but not limited to, where ancestors were born, how many siblings they have, if the family originated in another country, how often time is spent with family, religion, if the patient prefers the company of peo ple with the same values and religionRead MoreThe Destruction Of A Culture1277 Words   |  6 Pagesevery day. Therefore, American culture is a diverse mix of customs and traditions from almost every region of the world. However, any culture with the value of the traditions and beliefs can be greatly weakened when introduced to a new and overpowering culture. It happens quite frequently to families that move to a new city or country with different lifestyles. As a result, the children of these families grow up to not care as much about their original culture s traditions as the older generationsRead MoreHeritage Assessment1503 Words   |  7 PagesAssessment of Hispanic, Asian and African American Families B.Cohran Grand Canyon University The Heritage Assessment of Hispanic, Asian and African American Families The Heritage Assessment Tool (HST) is used to â€Å"investigate a given patient’s or your own ethnic, cultural, and religious heritage†¦it can help determine how deeply a given person identifies with a particular tradition†. (prenhall.com). This assessment of 29 questions based on family, social, cultural, religious and immigrationRead MoreThe Is My Heart And My Soul, America, My Mind And Spirit, By Leah Lee Essay1301 Words   |  6 Pagescultures. Each culture has different values and traditions that conflict a person’s decision in life. However, having different cultures make one interesting to learn about and explore the cultures. Cultures define my life with romance, traditions, language, and friendship. The autobiography I chose is â€Å"Korea is My Heart and My Soul, America is My Mind and Spirit† by Leah Lee. It is about a woman whose conflict is with herself, her Korean and American cultures, and her values. The article I choseRead MoreA Culture Event I Attended Was A Christmas Holiday Parade894 Words   |  4 PagesA culture event I attended was a Christmas Holiday Parade. I choose this event because this holiday can be interpreted in multiple different ways throughout the world. Differing cultures, societies, family traditions, and religion, are all factors on how each person celebrates this particular cultural holiday. Christmas Day is a huge occasion that is acknowledged and honored by many every year. Although it may be interpreted differently, the celebrations and festivities are seen all around the worldRead MoreMy American Culture And The Mexican Culture982 Words   |  4 Pagessurrounded by a nationally diverse family. Nevertheless, one thing we all have in c ommon is our Mexican culture passed on to us by our wonderful ancestors. Even though some of my family members reside in different states, some even in different countries, we are all able to connect with each other when practicing our traditions and customs. We all share a common language that we utilize to communicate with one another, and that is Spanish. Everyone in my family learned to speak Spanish as the firstRead MoreWho Will Light The Incense When Mother s Gone850 Words   |  4 Pagesabout his immigrant family from in Vietnamese to America. In the family, there is a struggle of becoming Americans at the same time keeping up with the traditional ways of Vietnamese. Andrew tells us that before he came from Vietnamese he used to conduct the rituals in his family but after coming to America, he changed and became rebellious. On the other hand, Andrew ‘s mother is still tight with the traditions of Vietnamese, she is even afraid that Andrew has become too American. His mother refers

Racial Discrimination Effect on Labor Market - 2767 Words

The earliest form of racial discrimination against Asian Americans was encountered during the California Gold Rush. The Gold Rush attracted Chinese immigrants who came to California to fill the high demand for laborers. However, as more and more Chinese immigrated to California and the lower-paying labor jobs were filled, the Chinese began filling higher-paying positions typically held by Whites. As a result, an anti-Chinese Movement was formed followed by the enactment of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 which prevented any additional Chinese immigration into the United States. Essentially, Chinese were discriminated against by the Whites due to fear of the Chinese taking over their jobs. After World War II, the federal government ended†¦show more content†¦In most cases, the relationship between education and wages is widely accepted since lower education level equates to lower knowledge and skills, qualifying workers for only low-paying jobs. Also, the inability to spea k fluent English may have hindered Hispanic wages and employment. The inability to communicate in English affects individuals’ performance especially in jobs that require close interaction with English-speaking customers (16). Latinos working on a full-time basis earned approximately $549 per week in 2011 which represented only 71% of what was earned by Whites. This wage gap has been steady even during recession periods. However, unlike other ethnic minority groups, the wage disparities between Whites and Latinos are also clearly attributable to differences in education, work experience, and other demographic characteristics (Charles and Guryan 510). According to the statistics from researchers, the effect of poor English on wages varies, with some reports indicating 30% of the wage disparity between Hispanics and Whites is attributable to the language barrier. Hispanics who do not speak English are relegated to positions which require little to no customer interaction, pr imarily in the agricultural industry. The challenge of speaking fluent English is common among the Hispanics. As noted in 1976, only 18% of the Hispanic workers in the United States spoke fluent or even partially-fluent English. In 1979, the overall annual earnings forShow MoreRelatedRacial Discrimination Effect on Labor Market Essay2419 Words   |  10 Pagesto be, considered in hiring and wage determination processes yet which continue to have tremendous effect on employment in this country. In an effort to better understand how these attributes contribute to the job climate, our term paper will examine the effects of ethnicity on wages and employment rates in the United States. The U.S. population is extremely diverse, including people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds such as Native Americans (mainly Whites), African Americans, Asian AmericansRead MoreRelationship Between Players’ Salary and Racial Discrimination in Major League Baseball1335 Words   |  6 Pages Racial discrimination in professional sports has always been an issue and committees in professional sports are trying their best to eliminate racial discrimination from both inside and outside of the field. Major League Baseball is one of the professional sports leagues that has a long history about racial discrimination. Relating with this, it is questionable that if racial discrimination affects on players’ salary in MLB. If so, how does racial discrimination affects on the salary and what areRead MoreAs One Ventures Out Into The World To Seek Employment There1083 Words   |  5 Pagesimplications of discrimination pertaining to the low-wage labor market based on the research findings within the article, Discrimination in a Low-Wage Labor Market: A Field Experiment. Thesis The liberalization of racial equality within the workplace came into fruition with the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Conversely, there are major disparities that persist today within the labor market. To understand this matter the article, Discrimination in a Low-Wage Labor Market: A Field ExperimentRead MoreThe Evolution Of Workplace Diversity1115 Words   |  5 PagesAccording to (â€Å"The evolution of workplace diversity† 5) in 1987, Secretary of Labor, William Brock commissioned a study of economic and demographic trends by the Hudson Institute. This study became the landmark book Workforce 2000 – Work and Workers in the Twenty First Century (â€Å"Workforce 2000†). Workforce 2000 highlighted five demographic factors that would impact the U.S. labor market, and with it, the motivation for diversity initiatives in the workplace: 1. The population and the workforceRead MoreRacial Discrimination And Its Effect On Society1080 Words   |  5 P agesThroughout history and even today, racial discrimination continues to be persuasive in the world, especially in employment. Unfortunately, one’s race and background can affect their ability of getting a job. There may be many different reasons and causes as to why there is such an effect with one’s employment opportunity. Yet, racial norms have been embedded in labor markets and have shaped many different preferences ever since the start of it. Therein lies the problem of race in its ability to changeRead MoreConfucian Beliefs And Its Impact On Society939 Words   |  4 Pagesto the Oxford English Dictionary, the term â€Å"Human Capital† refers to â€Å"the skills the labor force possesses and is regarded as a resource or asset.† Essentially, it identifies that there are investments made in people and these investments can positively affect an individual’s production. Generally, higher education is linked with higher wages, however the returns to education are different across various racial groups. Although, Confucian beliefs strongly influences Asians to have a greater desireRead MoreThe Canadian Labor Market Of Canada1274 Words   |  6 PagesThere is a very strong emphasis on human rights systems and laws to address discrimination in Canada. Unfortunately simultaneously, Canadians also have a heritage of racism. It is not targeted only at Aboriginal persons, contrary to a common belief; it is also targeted towards other groups also, consisting of Chinese, African, South Asian, Japanese, Muslim and Jewish Canadians. Even today the Canadian structures and systems are affected by this legacy distressing the lives of everyone and especiallyRead MoreGlobalization and Its Affect on Racism1528 Words   |  7 PagesGlobalization and its Effect on Racism Racism, in the Oxford English Dictionary, is defined as Prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior, and, The belief that all members of each race possess characteristics, abilities, or qualities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races. The essence of both definitions seems to be that specificRead MoreDiscrimination Within Private Physical Therapy Practices1354 Words   |  6 PagesDiscrimination refers to the unequal treatment of persons based on characteristics that are illegitimate for or irrelevant to the outcome in question. I believe that discrimination within privately owned physical therapy practices occurs often. The goal on gender equality and impact of gender discrimination varies from country to country, depending on the social, cultural and economic context. Anti-discrimination laws have performed a crit ical role in expanding work place opportunities for womenRead MoreAnalysis Of Kaffir Boy : The True Story Of A Black Youth Essay1534 Words   |  7 Pagesarticle is just one example of a society submerged in white authority. Historically, the apartheid of South Africa is a poignant example of racial division and discrimination. Evidence of racial division is still visible throughout the fairly new democratic nation. European settlements during the 20th century were a direct result of white supremacy and deep racial division, in an attempt to build up a capitalist economy that benefited the white South African elite and lowered the social status of many

Ininternet Addiction and How It Affects Educational Success free essay sample

Many people carry out most of their daily activities using the internet, for example, banking, paying bills and trading which has led to a marked dependence on the internet. According to the Center for On-Line Addiction (1998), there are several types of internet addiction: The first is Cyber-sexual Addiction where people get addicted to pornography on the internet. The second is Cyber-relationship Addiction where people make on-line friends in chatrooms and soon the online friends replace life friends and family. The third is Net- Compulsions where people engage in different compulsive behaviors such as gambling, auctions and excessive online trading. People develop an internet addiction for different reasons. Some people become addicted to the Internet because of the social connections they make online. This is because they develop emotional attachments to the online friends they ‘meet ’on social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace. The internet offers anonymity where people can talk about issues that they would not feel free to talk to close friends or family about. We will write a custom essay sample on Ininternet Addiction and How It Affects Educational Success or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The internet also provides a wide array of activities which keeps people online in search of new and exciting forms of entertainment The internet has both positive and negative affects on education. Internet addiction negatively affects the social life of students; it leads to an inability to communicate in the ‘real world’. Lack of communication skills it makes it hard for students to form healthy relationships with their peers at school. The internet can also be very distracting. There are a lot of fun activities on the internet like games and social networks which distracts students from doing their school work. Internet addicts spend a lot of time on the internet which leads to exhaustion due to lack of sleep which in turn leads to a lack of concentration at school. Internet addiction continues to be a major problem in today’s society and measures should be taken to ensure that students who are addicted to the internet receive help in order to continue with their studies. Students should be made aware of the reality of internet addiction and its negative effects on their academic performance. Teachers and parents should also limit the time spent by students on the internet to enable them to achieve better academic excellence. References Centre for Internet Addiction (2011). A Growing Epidemic. Retrieved 5, 2013 from http://www. netaddiction. com Young K. S. (1998). Caught in the net: how to recognize the signs of Internet addiction-and a winning strategy for recovery. New York: J. Wiley.

The Toys “R” Us Lbo Case free essay sample

They want to determine the risks and merits of an investment in Toys R Us, evaluate the spectrum of returns using multiple operating model scenarios, and identify strategic actions that might be undertaken to improve the risk/return profile of the investment. Leverage Buyout (LBO) A leveraged buyout is the purchase of a company by an outside individual, another firm, or the incumbent management using large amounts of debt to finance the purchase. Most often, LBOs are undertaken by private equity firms that specialize in these transactions. The purpose of leveraged buyouts is to allow companies to make large acquisitions without having to commit a lot of capital. An LBO analysis determines the maximum purchase price for a business that can be paid based on certain leverage (debt) and equity return parameter, develops a view of the leverage and equity characteristics of a leveraged transaction at a given price, and calculates the minimum valuation for a company. The returns in an LBO are driven by three factors, which we demonstrate in our topic on creating value in LBOs, including the deleveraging (paying down debt), operational improvement (e. . , margin expansion, revenue growth), and multiple expansion (buying low and selling high). Both equity holder and debt holder bear a high risk. For equity holders, in addition to the operational risk assumed risk arises due to significant financial leverage. Interest costs resulting from substantial amounts of debt are fixed costs that can be defaulted if not paid. Furthermore, small changes in the enterprise value of a company can have a magnified effect on the equity value when the company is highly levered and the value of the debt remains constant. Other than these risks, the equity holder hopes to exit an investment within a five year time frame by either issuing IPO to sell to a strategic buyer or another PE fund, or recapitalization. If the equity holder is unable to exit or is delayed in exiting the investment, it has a negative effect on investor returns. The debt holders bear the risk of default equated with higher leverage as well. Since they have the most senior claims on the assets of the company, they are likely to realize a partial, if not full, return on their investment, even in bankruptcy. Industry dynamics The U. S. Retail Toy Industry is in the mature stage of its life cycle. The growth will likely remain stagnant. Sales were suffering from painful revenue losses during the recession. The Industry demand is heavily dependent on economic factors, dwindling consumer sentiment and disposable income pushed consumers to cut back on discretionary spending. The industry has come under increasing pressure from discount department stores and mass Merchandisers. Retailers have also experienced change due to the influx of imported goods into the market, which has stimulated competition within the industry. In addition, as children are getting older younger, age compression is changing the dynamics of toys and games. There is a clear shift from traditional toys and games to video games. Consumers are willing to pay more for toys that they view as being beneficial to children’s play or learning experiences. Toy industry categories with the largest revenue gains were building sets, arts amp; crafts, infant/preschool and Learning and Exploration. Plush, games/puzzles, vehicles and outdoor amp; sports toys experienced the most significant declines. There are several potential options for the company to improve performance. Having exclusive rights to sell certain toys can be an advantage, as large discount department stores generally carry the most popular products at low prices. Retailing the right product at the right season, like outdoor games in the spring, is important to maximize sales. The continual display and presentation of new toys, games and crafts will attract customers and generate higher sales. Looking into expanding operations and product lines towards video games and other growth segments (e. g. Building sets and action figures). Building up a well-designed online marketing channel can promote efficiency and cost savings. Expanding the international market to avoid the intense competition in the U. S. Retail Toy Industry. Closing underperforming stores to improve liquidity through the expertise of Vornado Realty Trust and reinvest the money back into the operation. Approach In the base case, we assumed 11. 0% compounded annual growth rate. This is based on modest growth in domestic sales, and optimistic expectations for the international, Babies R Us, and online sales. Online sales can save relevant costs of physical display of products and associated costs of running a store. EBITDA margin is assumed higher and will be higher in the near future as the sales grow. Capital expenditure and depreciation amortization expenses are assumed fairly constant over the years . Overall operation will generate enough cash to support debt and interest payments. If Toys R Us would be able to specialize some of baby products, video games and pertain exclusive right to offer popular products, it will help boost sales. International, and online sales will turn out good as well. We assumed 16. 5% of compounded annual growth for the upside case. For the downside case, with a compounded annual growth rate of -4. %, the company will not be able to make interest payments later years. This case suggests that the company will highly likely default on its debt obligation. Conclusion Referring to the adjusted balance sheet close after acquisition for the fiscal year ended as of January, 2005, the total debt of the company was 6,712 million dollars. The total debt-to-EBITDA multiples reached 8. 61x high. We dont think the high total debt-to-EBITDA multiple will be a big problem since the multiples will decrease year by year based on our assumptions. In the base case, if exit multiple is 8. 00, the sponsor return including initial fees will be 4,820. million dollars. The return on investment will be 37. 7%. (Exhibit B) In the upside case, the sponsor return including initial fees will be 7,320. 4 million dollars with a higher ROI of 47. 6%, assume that exit multiple remains the same. (Exhibit C) In the downside case, the LBO sponsors probably wont exit after a 5-year period ending 2010 because they cannot pay all debt and add more value to the firm. Even if they sell the company at 10. 00 x, they will still lose money. (Exhibit D) Even though the base case and the upside case could provide nice returns, we don’t want to join the consortium. The risks are too high in the downside scenario. Exhibit A Prioritized Due Diligence List Items Requested| Reasons| Financial auditAnnual income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statement (last five years)Year to date income statement amp;Current balance sheetCompany’s Properties List ProjectionsDetailed revenue/expenses amp; cash flow/use of funds (12 months)Future capital expendituresFive year summary projections| Access current and historical info to determine overall financial â€Å"health†. Confirmation that the business is what it appears to be. Determine candidates for favorable real estate transaction to boost cash flow. See future sales growth, cost management, and cash flow issues with Toys R Us business. Access future cash needs for growth. | Marketing auditCustomer lists –brief description of target customers in key markets. Interviews with store managers about sales processes and roadmaps. | Ensure future profitability. | Production auditMonthly Toys’ Inventory audit (last three years)Store Visits| To understand the overall stability of toys and how seasonality impact profitability. Verify existing operation and look for inefficiencies. Macro-environment auditIndustry growth trendsInterview with industry expertsOther successful LBOs in the industry| Impact of outside threats and competitions from rivals. Possible exit multiple projection. | Legal/environmental auditBylawsArticles of IncorporationMinutes of all Board of Directors, committee and shareholders meetings and all consents to actions without mee ting. All employment agreements and consultant agreementsAny pending legal actions on Toys R Us and/or felony convictions of its employeesList necessary regulatory approvals and requirements/timeline to achieve. Interview with state / federal government officials| Gain information that will be useful for valuing assets, defining representations and warranties, and/or negotiating price concessionsIdentify potential deal killer defects in the target and avoid a bad business transaction. Understand industry trends and potential governmental involvement down the road. | Management auditFull resumes for key personnelInterviews with Management Team amp; Board MembersInterviews with Company advisors| To understand strengths and backgrounds of each manager. Decide who to keep / who to fire. Dig into company culture. Seek outsiders’ point of view on the company. | Information systems auditList of Legacy systems used| | Compatibility auditIntegration PlanList existing investors and their contact information | Details on execution and different phases of the LBO. Verification that the transaction complies with investment or acquisition criteria. | Reconciliation auditFinal Plan Evaluation| A formal valuation to test whether LP values will be added and where synergies could be generated. | Exhibit B Return Summary (Base Case) Exhibit C Return Summary (Upside Case) Exhibit D Return Summary (Downside Case)