Assignment and presentation A1 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

And presentation A1 - Assignment Example Coca-Cola possesses the best known brand globally whilst PepsiCo possess massive brand-name reorganization but is more diversified than corresponding Coca-Cola. From the year 2009 to the year 2013, PepsiCo accomplished slightly better growth rate in terms of sales and net profit whilst Coca-Cola have maintained better profit margin with relatively lower cost of sales. Moreover, PepsiCo’s posed relatively lower short-term solvency risk to its underlying investors compared to the Coca-Cola. Both the companies exhibited low long-term solvency risk with PepsiCo’s risk being slightly upper than Coca-Cola’s. Both the companies experienced an identical level of investors’ confidence and stock pricing. The companies’ stocks are mainly dividend generating stocks. Nevertheless, Coca-Cola had relatively dividend yield and corresponding dividend payout rate. Coca-Cola’s bigger profit margin and dividends are probably very attractive to a potential investor bur PepsiCo’s development potentials, business diversification, low short-term liquidity risk, low long-term solvency risk, better return on investment and effective asset utilization definitely make the company’s stock a better venture

Theoretical perspectives in the sociology of sport

Theoretical perspectives in the sociology of sport Social and cultural theories are often used when studying and applying knowledge to sports. The theories in society often provide a framework for asking research questions, interpreting information and being able to uncover the deeper meanings and stories that are associated with sports, they also enable citizens in the society to become more informed so that we can apply what we have learned from the research and being able to apply it in the world that we live in. Theories also enable people to see things in new angles and perspectives and give us the ability to make informed decisions about sports and how sports participation can be used in our lives, communities, families and societies. The six main theories used in sport have many points and can overlap with each other but only two are going to be discussed in this study. The two theories chosen to compare are functionalist theory and conflict theory. Functionalist theory is a macro sociological theory that is based on the characteristics of social patterns, structures, social systems and institutions such as family, education, religion, leisure, the economy, media, politics and sport. If all these social institutions are organized and co-operate with one another around a set of core values functionalist theorists assume that the entire social system will function properly and efficiently. Society in functionalism has a view that it is an organized system of interrelated parts that are held together by shared values and established social arrangements that help maintain the system in being in a state of equilibrium and balance. When sociologists use functionalist theory they split it into two parts, the first concept of interdependent parts is all of the social institutions (media, religion, sports, politics and economics) and how they are linked together. In the tradition of Talcott Parsons and his conception of functional imperatives (goal attainment, adaptation, latency and integration) functionalists argue that there are four basic system needs for any society in sports (team, clubs etc) to run smoothly and that everyone will benefit. The four principles are Adaptation In order to survive in a society it is essential that members learn to adapt to changes in the social structure and culture. Another important element to survival is the emphasis on being physically fit as it is required for most sports. Goal Attainment This is the motivation of individuals to achieve societys goals through socially accepted means. Sport is preoccupied with tracking the success and failures of its participants however it also teaches participants that if they work hard enough it will lead to victory meaning success. Integration Sport promotes social connections between people and gives them the opportunity to co-operate with each other in a group and a community. It also provides a feeling of social identification as well as a source of personal identity. The society must keep itself together. Latency (pattern maintenance and tension management) Each system must maintain itself in a possible state of equilibrium for as long as it can without any outside disruptive influences. Many forms of pattern maintenance are provided by sport primarily through participation where the participants are taught to accept an authority structure that is well defined for example athletes knowing that referees have the authority over them to make sure they stick to the rules of the sport. Functionalist theory in sport generally leads to the conclusion that it is popular in society because it can maintain the values of character that help to preserve stability and order in social life. Functionalist theory also supports sporting policies that help and recommend the growth of competitive sport programmes, developing coaching education programmes, in the case of youth sport there is an establishment on criminal bureau checks and qualification checks on coaches before working with younger children. The theory also supports the establishment of training centres for elite athletes so they can maintain their top-level performance and making sure to have increased surveillance and drug testing so they are able to supervise and control the actions of athletes by preventing those taking drugs so they cant cheat their way to attaining a better sporting performance. People in society who have positions of power tend to favour functionalist theory as it is based on the assumption that society is organised for benefiting the people in that society of equality and that in any dramatic way it should not be changed. While functionalist theory is a popular approach it does have some weaknesses. The weaknesses of functionalist theory is that it tends to lead to exaggerated accounts of positive consequences of sports and sports participation however it mistakenly assumes that there are no conflicts of interests between the different citizen groups in society such as women, people with disabilities, racial groups and people who are economically poor in society yet it doesnt recognise that sport can privilege or disadvantage people more than others. The theory also ignores the powerful historical and economic factors that have influenced social events and social relationships. Functionalist theory is centered on the idea that there is a consensus in the values and norms of society and that social institutions found within a society are integrated and function together. In contrast conflict theory looks at the role of power and the inequality found throughout society and how sport is shaped by these economic forces and used by people with economical power to increase their influence and wealth. Conflict theory is based on the ideas of Karl Marx (1818 1883) which rose to importance during the 1970s because of the growing disenchantment with functionalist theory. This theory of Karl Marx views sports as being built on the foundations of economic power. In societys that are capitalistic you see that relationships and social arrangements are organised around wealth, money and economic power for example in the United States its easy to point out the owners of the sport teams as they are benefiting financially from the expense of elite athletes, the coaches that work alongside the athletes and the spectators who watch the sport. Like functionalist theory conflict theory is based on the assumption that society is like a social system however conflict theory focuses on the needs of capital rather than the general system needs. Theorists of conflict theory explain that a society which is capitalist will not be able to survive and grow without exploiting any workers for the sake of boosting financial profits; they also suggest that if radical changes are to be concluded in sport and society by prevailing justice and fairness they need to identify the negative consequences that sport has. Once these changes are made sport will become a source of creative energy, expression and physical well-being. People who live in capitalist economies are generally not comfortable with the assumptions and conclusions of conflict theory because they say it has a negative effect and does not fit into their ideas about society and sport as they feel uneasy with the conclusions of calling for radical change in the current organisat ion and structure that they already have. Much of conflict theory is directed at sports which are dominated by spectators. Conflict theorists if they had the choice they would increase the control that athletes and other sporting participants have to promote sport at local community level so that it benefits all classes of people rather than just all elite athletes. Meaning the working class would have more influence of sport than the rich class giving them more motivation for participation and eliminating profits. Many conflict theorists favour players unions that confront pro-team owners and are supporting organisations that help to guard against public tax money being used to benefit wealthy people. Ideally any public resources would be used to help aid sponsoring sports that are designed to improve physical fitness, political awareness and include placing the element of fun into activities. Conflict theorists (Leonard 1980; Rigauer2004) would also campaign for athletes at all levels to have representation with making dec isions about sport in organisations so Olympians would be able to vote on policy questions that concerned the staging of the Olympic Games. Conflict theory also has three major weaknesses. The first weakness is that the theory tends to ignore the possibility that sport in capitalist societies can and may involve experiences that give individuals and groups power. Conflict theorists talk about how sport is organised to maximise the control that wealthy people have over other members in a capitalist society. The conflict theory approach doesnt acknowledge that sport can take many forms of serving interests in the have-not society and denies that any participation in sport can be a personal creative and liberating experience that will inspire members of society to make economic changes that will help to promote equality in exiting capitalist societies. Secondly conflict theory ignores the importance of race, ethnicity, gender, disability, age and many other factors when it comes to explaining how people want to identify themselves, how they relate to other members in the society and how they organise the social world in whi ch they live. Often its leading people to overlook the possibility that inequalities and power in any society are based on factors other than economic and social class differences. Thirdly the theory assumes that all aspects of social life are determined economically and is shaped by the needs of having capital in society and profit motive. Theorists of conflict theory focus on the assumptions that of economic factors when studying sport however they tend to overlook participation and recreational port for healthy living. Functionalist theory and conflict theory both focus on the needs of society and how sport can relate to the satisfaction of the system needs. The theories dont inform us about sport in everyday life and the ways in which people are active agents who are participating in the processes of sports and societies that are organised and changed. They both also ignore that sport and social constructions emerge in peoples everyday life when they struggle to decide what is important and how they are going to collect organisation in their lives.

The Importance of Stories in Borders by Thomas King Essay example --

In Thomas King's short story "Borders," a Blackfoot mother struggles with maintaining her cultural heritage under the pressure of two dominating nations. Storytelling is important, both for the mother and for the dominant White society. Stories are used to maintain and pass on cultural information and customs from one generation to another. Furthermore, stories can be used both positively and negatively. They can trap individuals into certain ways of thinking, but they can also act as catalysts that drive social change within society. Stories are a means of passing on information, acting as a medium to transport cultural heritage and customs forward into the future. In his essay titled "You'll Never Believe What Happened," King says that, "The truth about stories is that that's all we are† (King Essay 2). Contained within this statement is a powerful truth: without stories, a society transcending the limitations of time could not exist. Cultures might appear, but they would inevitably die away without a means of preservation. Subsequent generations would be tasked with creating language, customs, and moral laws, all from scratch. In a way, stories form the core of society's existence. Humans are the containers for stories, responsible for ensuring that many centuries worth of accumulated knowledge does not dissapear. However, the very fact that stories live on in humans can be problematic. If, for example, there are only five people in the world that knew English, and these people died without having taught anyone else the language, then English would dissapear with them; this is the dilemma the Blackfoot mother faces. Right before Laetitia leaves for Salt Lake City, she is talking with the mother. Although the mother is speak... ... perceptions their ancestors held centuries earlier. Stories are not set in stone, and this means that all stories - even the most powerful - can be altered. The Blackfoot mother refuses to accept the prevailing stories pushed onto her by society and, as a result, her access through the border is restricted. But in persisting for a third, viable alternative, the mother is able to shape the dominating assumptions of society. She tells her own counter-narratives, introducing an "alternative to the narratives of the nations [she] refuses to acknowledge" (Andrews and Walton 609). She presents a story that is capable of altering the metanarrative that governs that governs Canada and America; the mother succeeds in changing the fundamental beliefs held by both societies, and she is able to free the Canadians and Americans from the restrictive, dichotomous way of thinking.

What Are Sheet-Molding Compounds (Smc)? Bulk-Molding Compounds (Bmc)?

(5). a) What are sheet-molding compounds (SMC)? Bulk-molding compounds (BMC)? Sheet-molding compound (SMC) is a fiber glass reinforced thermosetting compound in sheet form, usually rolled into coils interleaved with plastic film to prevent auto adhesion. Made by dispensing mixed resin, fillers, maturation agent, catalyst and mold release agent onto two moving sheets of polyethylene film. The lower one also contains chopped glass roving or glass mat. SMC can be molded into complex shapes with little scrap.Sheet molding compound (SMC) is fiberglass reinforced composite material, produced in a â€Å"sheet† format Bulk-molding compound (BMC) is a combination of chopped glass strands and  Resin  in the form of a bulk  pre-preg. BMC is suitable for either compression or injection molding. Injection molding of BMC is used to produce complex components such as electrical equipment, car components, housings for electrical appliances and tools, in large industrial volumes. Unlike SMC, it is not necessary to include a maturation stage.Consequently, BMC pre-preg formulations contain higher filler contents. The chopped glass strands vary in length depending on the level of performance required. Reinforcement content generally ranges between 15 and 20 percent; however, it may reach 25 percent for the highest performance. BMC uses lower reinforcement content than SMC and permits higher filler loadings with lower costs. b) List FOUR (4) types of the forms in which reinforcement fibers appear in composite materials?Based on the form of reinforcement, common composite materials can be classified as follows: 1. Fibers as the reinforcement (Fibrous Composites) a. Random fiber (short fiber) reinforced composites b. Continuous fiber (long fiber) reinforced composites 2. Particles as the reinforcement (Particulate composites) 3. Flat flakes as the reinforcement (Flake composites) 4. Fillers as the reinforcement (Filler composites) c) Describe the problems involved in rec ycling products made from reinforced plastics.The main problems are that recycling usually requires the use of a single type of material, and that some plastics (mainly hard and brittle polymers) are more difficult to chop into small pieces for further processing than others. With reinforced plastics, this requires that the reinforcement be separated from the matrix, a very difficult task and uneconomical task. Note that matrices are often thermosets, so it is not practical to melt the matrix and separate the fibers from a molten phase.

French Culture and Its Influence on Multinational Enterprises

Abstract When conducting business in France there are many challenges to overcome, including the ethnocentrism of their cultural heritage and the long line of historical principles that play out in French society. Through research it was found that the French approach business in a style of-their-own with true class and flare. They set the stage with an extravagant business lunch, in order to get acquainted and then proceed into intellectual negotiations to iron out the details. In each area, it was found that the French are proud and hold true to protocols by exchanging formal greetings. Lunch plays an important part of their society and business, along with stimulating conversation in negotiations. One must plan ahead and enjoy the French experience! French Culture and its Influence on Multinational Enterprises The Business Lunch Negotiations Conclusion The French are very aware of their presence, and are extremely proud of their heritage. They boast of their long history and their important roles in world affairs, as well as being known as a world center for culture. There are a few significant principles by which the French approach a business lunch and negotiations, along with a myriad nuances that can be difficult to understand without having experienced them first hand. The most basic rules are to speak French or apologize for not speaking it well, be prepared to indulge in good food and good wine. After coffee is served, be prepared for a sophisticated, rhetorical and intellectual exchange during the negotiation process. Remember, before conducting business in France, it is highly advisable to do your homework and learn about French culture before one commits the famous â€Å"Faux Pau†! References Business in America (1991). Tradition plays an important role in the business culture of France. Retrieved July 10, 2009, from http://findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_m1052/is_n9_v112/ai_10737696/? tag=content;col1 Frank, Sergey (2000, September 12). Enjoy a battle of wits – and lunch: When doing business in France, take a polite and intellectual approach – preferably in French, says Sergey Frank: [London edition].