Gps vs. Gis

GPS vs. GIS Global Positioning System (GPS) is a system that accurately determines the precise position of something on Earth. GPS is a constellation of twenty four satellites, each of which orbits Earth once every twelve hours. The U. S. Department of Defense operates and maintains these Global Positioning System satellites. Each satellite contains a high precision atomic clock and several transmitters that constantly send radio signals back to Earth. These signals communicate the satellite’s unique identification code, health, and position in space. Global Positioning Systems and base stations units in the fields receive these satellites and use them to calculate positions. All Global Positioning Systems receivers collect the locations of real world features (represented as points, lines or areas), and some can store descriptive data, or attributes, about these features. (1) Global positioning systems have been fully operational since April 27, 1995. GPS have become widely used worldwide, and a useful tool for map making, land surviving, commerce, scientific uses, tracking and surveillance, and hobbies such as geocaching. Also, the precise time reference is used in many applications including the scientific study of earthquakes and as a required time synchronization method for cellular network protocols . (2) Geographers find GPS to be particularly useful in coding the precise location of objects. That information can later be enters as a layer in geographic information systems. (2) Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer system that can capture, store, query, analyze, and display geographic date. 3) Geographic Information Systems allows us to view, understand, question, interpret, and visualize data in many ways that reveal relationships, patterns, and trends in the form of maps, globes, reports, and charts. A Geographic Information Systems helps you answer questions and solve problems by looking at your data in a way that is quickly understood and easily shared. Geographic Information System technology can be integrated into any enterprise information system framework. GIS is most often as sociated with a map. A map, however, is only one way you can work with geographic data in a Geographic information System, and only one type of product generated by a GIS. A GIS can provide a great deal more problem-solving capabilities than using a simple mapping program or adding data to an online mapping tool. When GIS software was first created, it required powerful computers and extensive training. Now, anyone can develop a desktop map. (3) (1) www. gps. gov (2) http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/GPS (3) Rubenstein chapter 1

IFRS vs ASPE Essay

Inventory is defined as â€Å"assets held for sale in the ordinary course of business, in the process of production for such sale, or in the form of materials or supplies to be consumed in the production process or in the rendering of services†. The cost of inventory is measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. The IFRS accounting for inventory is generally converged with ASPE. The only difference between IFRES and ASPE in the accounting for inventory is with borrowing costs. Since some inventory products require significant manufacturing time (qualifying assets), a manufacturer will finance its operating costs by borrowing money. Under ASPE we can choose to capitalize borrowing costs relating to inventory that takes substantial time to get it ready for sale. In comparison with IFRS, borrowing costs associated with qualifying assets are capitalized. Financial Assets financial assets refer to any asset that is â€Å"cash, an equity instrument of another entity, a contractual right, a contract that will or may be settled in the entity’s own equity instruments†. The main differences between IFRS and ASPE exist for scope, classification, and measurement of financial assets. IFRS uses four categories of financial assets: fair value through profit or loss (FVTPL), held-to-maturity (HTM), loans and receivable, and available for sale. ASPE does not use the four categories to group the financial assets. Instead, investments are categorized by their nature: equity, debt, and derivatives. For the joint arrangements perspective, IFRS distinguishes joint operations from joint ventures and require proportionate consolidation for joint operations and the equity method for joint ventures. ASPE, on the other hand, does not distinguish between joint operations from joint ventures and uses the term joint venture to refer to both types of joint arrangements. ASPE allows the proportionate consolidaton, the equity method, and the cost method without any preference for any of them. Another difference between these two accounting standards is the accounting for available for sale investments. IFRS requires that available for sale investments be carried at fair value with unrealized gains or losses going through other comprehensive income, whereas in ASPE there is no concept of other comprehensive income. Portfolio equity investments (PEI) also need to be recorded at fair value in IFRS with the unrealized gains or losses recorded through net income if PEI is classified as held for trading and if classified available for sale unrealized gains or losses flow through other comprehensive income. In comparison with ASPE, equity investments quoted in active market are measured at fair value with gains or losses going through income. Equity investments not quoted in an active market should remain at cost, subject to impairment. Finally, investments in debt under IFRS may be classified as HFT, AFS, or HTM with an amortized cost method that uses the effective interest method. This is not the case under ASPE. ASPE uses both the effective interest method and the straight line method.

Football Head Essay

Football is an all American sport that has led to the downfall of many great athletes who have suffered from the sport in a psychological and physical manner. Football is a dangerous sport that is only played by one country, the U.S.A. Realistically, banning the sport is almost near impossible, but there should be regulations to the sport if that people would have to meet in order to insure safety and knowledgeable facts about the sport. Football is not meant for children, the players should have a full understanding of the game and of the danger that it can entails. If a child would like to play football, the child should at least be fourteen years old, and at fourteen years old, the children must watch a film that fully describes and informs the participant of the dangers of football and the effects it can have on the brain and on the body. Football can start at a very early age, children as young as five are playing the sport in a league with other children where they beat, push, and knock down other children their age. This is very problematic and dangerous to the child’s long-term memory; the brain of an average person does not fully develop until the person is at least twenty years old. When children begin to beat each other at a young age, they are starting the decaying process of their own brains. Concussions are always trying to be avoided during games, but the pre-concussive hits are just as concerning and alarming as concussions. Football players who have never had concussions are now being diagnosed of chronic traumatic encepha lopathy (CTE). CTE is a degenerative brain disease that is caused from repeated constant head trauma. If children begin playing football as early as five years old, they will begin the process of CTE. Violent games are not suitable for children, at five years old, violence and aggressiveness should not be a priority of a child, and school and education should always be their top priority. If adults choose to play this sport, the NFL needs to accept and admit that football is a violent game and that it can cause long term damages to the brain and body.  The NFL refutes the arguments about CTE and long term damaging effects football has on the brain by stating there are fully aware of the risks. Football players report that it is their choice to play football and that they are fully aware of the risks that are in play. However, concussions are the breaking points to a damaging mind, football players often confess to playing a game injured and from suffering a concussion while playing. For example, Richard Sherman explains in the article, â€Å"Why We Chose the Profession†, that due to a concussion; he was left blind for half of an entire football game. However, he goes on to state that if he had taken himself out of the game, that the legend of the boom would never have been born, this was when he had his first in game interception. Another player who once raved and bragged about the sport was Junior Seau. Junior Seau was one of the greatest football players in the NFL, he was a legend and he too â€Å"fully understood† the risks and dangers of playing in football. He once bragged in a documentary about the perfect tackle, and how he understood that due to the love he had for the sport, his life would be shorten and that he would have limited mobility. However, he did not once ever consider that the sport would cause him to have irrational mood swings, suffer from depression and eventually cause him to take his own life. Football players claim to be fully â€Å"informed† of the sport and understand the consequences it can have on their lives, but the NFL is withholding serious information that players are finding out when it is too late. If a person chooses to play the sport, then they must fully understand the fame, the consequences, and discuss with their families, families can fall apart just as easily as the players mind and body. Football is known to cause CTE, but there are other long term damaging effects that players have still not been informed of by the NFL. Football has been detected to cause early signs of Alzheimer, Dementia, and physical disabilities. According to the article, â€Å"Study: No Proof that Football Causes Alzheimer’s or CTE† was posted in the Cincinnati Bengals, the NFL had a $765 million settlement with retired football players that claimed that they were not fully informed of the risks that came into play when they ran onto the field. Once football players heard of the first few cases of CTE that were diagnosed in retired football players, the players began wondering if the NFL was aware of the causes of football and the long term effects it had on the players. The NFL had also denied all the  claims of the relation from CTE, Dementia, and Alzheimer to football. However, the NFL later revealed a study conducted by themselves that later revealed that football had caused early cases of Dementia, a brain disease that could have been avoided if the NFL had bother sharing the information with their teams and coaches. The NFL however eventually denied their own study as well. In time, the NFL attempted to share information about precautions they were taking in order to ensure the players safety. In pamphlets they distributed to players, they attempted to underplay the dangers of concussions by stating that concussions cannot cause any type of long-term damage. The NFL also conducted their own study, in which they concluded that if a football player endures a concussion in the middle of the game that the player could return to that same game even play in the game where he experienced the concussion. The NFL conducted their own research and discovered the damaging effects of football and the toll it has on the body, and now that players are taking action against the NFL, they are denying the accusations and ignoring their repercussions that have been waiting for them for much too long. Football is a sport, nothing more, and yet it can change a person’s life severely. If a person chooses to play the sport, knowing the facts, the diseases, and the immobility they can endure later in life, then they should be allowed to play. Football is a dangerous sport, people can choose to play or choose to live, but that is a choice when a player decides to walk onto that field or when they decide to walk off that field. It is an American tradition that should not be banned, but it should be limited. This is a game with a lot of fans, and yet many of them who follow the sport have no idea of the football players that are suffering because of it, which is the real shame. Play football, but know the risks. Works Cited Gladwell, . â€Å"Offensive Play.† Gladwell.com. N.p., 19 Oct. 2009. Web. 9 Mar. 2014. Sherman, Richard. â€Å"We Chose This Profession.† The MMQB. N.p., 3 Oct. 2013. Web. 10 Mar. 2014.

Home Depot Essay

Home Depot is considered to be one of the top ranking home improvement organizations. The mission statement of this organization was formulated around being â€Å"committed to maximizing long term shareholder value while supporting management in the business and operations of the company, observing the highest ethical standards and adhering to the laws of the jurisdictions within which the company operates† (Homer TLC INC, 2010). The Home Depot transformed the â€Å"home improvement industry† by providing a well round reputation for products, corporate governance and strong values within the community. The purpose of The Home Depot remains to build relationships, have social responsibility, and concrete ethics as an organization. Employees are respected, offered growth and reputable incentive plans. Public policy makers and Home Depot collaborates on ideas to assure prosperity in our society. Home Depot delivers great customer service by revealing the best techniques in home improvement for amateur clientele. There are over 2,200 retail stores in the United States and 272 internationally. Overall, these features promote essential organizational communication dynamics. Organizational communication sets the organization apart from the rest. This also promotes a clear understanding of cultural dimensions. Home Depot History Founded in 1978, The Home Depot, Inc. is the world’s largest home improvement specialty retailer and the fourth largest retailer in the United States with fiscal 2010 retail sales of $68. 0 billion and earnings from continuing operations of $3. 3 billion. The Home Depot has more than 2,200 retail stores in the United States (including Puerto Rico and the U. S. Virgin Islands and the territory of Guam), Canada, Mexico and China. The Home Depot employs over 255,000 associates, and operates 478 warehouses. The Home Depot is the fastest growing retailer in U. S. history. In 1981, the company went public on NASDAQ and moved to the New York Stock Exchange in 1984. The 1980s and 1990s spawned tremendous growth for the company, with 1989 marking the celebration of its 100th store opening. From the beginning, The Home Depot developed strategic product alliances directly with industry-leading manufacturers to deliver the most exclusive assortments to customers. Through a combination of national brands and proprietary products the company sets the standard for innovative merchandise for the do-it-yourselfer From the start, associates were able to offer the best customer service in the industry, guiding customers through projects such as laying tile, changing a fill valve or handling a power tool. Not only did store associates undergo rigorous product knowledge training, but they also began offering clinics so customers could learn how to do it themselves. The Home Depot revolutionized the home improvement industry by bringing the know-how and the tools to the consumer and by saving them money. Home Depot History Bernard March, Arthur Blank and Ronal Brill incorporated the Home Depot in 1978. They found financing from a New York venture capital firm and started Home Depot in Atlanta, Georgia. This team Recognizing that more than 60% of building supply industry sales were do-it-yourselfers and that most did not have the precise knowledge to successfully accomplish home repair or home improvement projects themselves; Home Depot opted to offer that service to the public. The management team of Home Depot devised a two part plans to insure success. 1. Ensure the Home Depot had ampule stock; their target was at least 25,000 items. 2. Train sales staff in every store to be product knowledgeable. They also wanted to make the experience of shopping at Home Depot and experience that would bring you back to the store for additional sales and expert services. The Home Depot story is one of success due to clever thinking and good ideas. Today they are involved in the upscale interior design market, and taking on some leadership roles in the communities that their stores have entered. They have also become involved in humanitarian efforts such as local welfare organizations, Habitat for Humanity to the Boys and Girls Club of Canada and the United States. Bob Nardelli is Watching Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank left their posts without any warning. There wasn’t any evidence or indication that the founders would leave Home Depot. Employee morale was high and customer service was great! Expansion of the company was going along wonderfully and there was no doubt that Home Depot was a contender in the home improvement industry. Home Depot needed a major revamping and few people knew about the financial state of the company. Marcus and Blank allowed a very disjointed culture to exist within the company. Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank, the founders of Home Depot, had paved a road to bankrupt the company. In comes Bob Nardelli to save the day. The Home Depot board of directors sought after Bob, once he was passed over for the top position at GE. Immediately upon taking over as CEO, Nardelli started to centralize processes. This proved to be extremely radical for existing personnel. Bob upgraded computers, software, and hired a Director of Human Resources, which Home Depot had never had before. Nardelli started a recruitment program, which had been very successful for him at GE. He focused on retirees, Hispanics, and military officers. Walking into a culture where there was little to no structure, Nardelli knew that he would need personnel that would â€Å"understand the mission,† (Regingold 2007) which is why there are so many employees with military experience. Nardelli brought discipline to Home Depot. Under Bob Nardelli, Home Depot doubled their sales, opened a contractor’s sales division, and boosted Home Depot’s commitment to volunteerism. Frank Blake is Home Depot’s ‘Calmer-in-Chief’ Almost immediately after assuming the role of CEO, Frank Blake used The Home Depot’s existing intra-communication system to read to the employees from a book written by the founders. This gesture set the tone for his leadership style and relayed a clear message to the employees, The Home Depot was returning to their grass roots leadership style. Blake intended to â€Å"recapture some of the culture fostered by its founders. It also syncs with his push to get the company back to its service-oriented roots. † (Tobin, 2010) Blake is described as mellow and a sharp contrast to his predecessor, Bob Nardelli, who is portrayed as emotionally high strung. Unfortunately Blake was given the daunting task of having to lay off thousands of people, close stores and spearhead and internal restructuring. Although Blake has improved employee morale and customer satisfaction, â€Å"Home Depot still lags archrival Lowe’s and smaller hardware stores for customer service, according to external surveys. And the housing market that fueled the chain’s growth remains moribund, leaving much on Blake’s plate. † (Tobin, 2010) In contrast, Home Depots claims that their internal surveys show that employee morale and customer satisfaction are up. â€Å"By most accounts, Home Depot needed cultural healing when Blake was named chief executive. (Tobin, 2010) As CEO, Blake sought the advice of consultants like Marcus and Blank and embraced their motivational techniques as demonstrated this by allowing them to speak annually with his management team. Blake has accomplished reestablishing the organizational culture that was dismantled under Bob Nardelli. Home Depot Foundation The Home Depot Foundation was created to help those who are having financial difficulties with home improvements and repairs. The Home Depot Foundation decided to contribute $30 million to our veterans who are struggling with significant financial concerns. The Home Depot Foundation has also teamed up with â€Å"Gift In Kind International† to address financially disadvantage families. A noticeable goal within this project delivers lower energy cost and consumption. A contribution of $100 million for supplies or products was noted for donation across non-profit agencies since 2008 on a national level (Homer TLC INC, 2011). The â€Å"Framing Hope Program† was also noted as assisting with home repair or improvement through Home Depot. Home Depot provides non-profit agencies or organizations material that is discontinued from stock. This business transaction offers a win-win scenario for all arties involved. The shareholders and Home Depot give resources to those in the community in need and avoid landfills being occupied. Landfills are designed to bury trash underground. The trash has a supportive barrier to prevent it from leaking into our ground water. However, eliminating the overflow of this process is an eco- friendly suggestion. This benefits the environment and business strategic management objectives. Most of the companies being used are Fortune 100 organizations in the United States. Close to $270 Million has been donated to programs that support families in need. The Home Depot Foundation and the Gifts of Kind International have assisted thousands of families in need. These organizational leaders show that their organizational values and culture are productive in nature. The reputation of Home Depot and those that are similar, demonstrate strength in its business model. Theory Research states that The Home Depot is one of the best companies to work for with a high customer focus, great product selection, high employee morale, and an entrepreneurial spirit. The key to The Home Depot’s success is treating people well. Associates are encouraged to share the company’s vision on volunteerism and participate in the many causes that The Home Depot supports in the community and in society. The Home Depot uses their values to guide the beliefs and actions of all associates on a daily basis. These values are The Home Depot’s advantage in the global marketplace. Theory: The Home Depot is a Theory Y organization because employees are encouraged to speak up and take risks, they are recognized and rewarded for good performance, and they are provided with leadership and development so that they can grow. Evaluation and Measurement of Organizational Culture Examination of an organizations ability to communicate within its culture is vital for success. The Home Depot has proven that it holds the record for being a reputable organization among competitive industry peers. The Home Depot functions as a â€Å"Theory Y† organization according to how the management responds to operational goals, employees and production. The Home Depot uses teleconferencing to immediately reach associates. This proved to be a great tool when Frank Blake took over as CEO after Bob Nardelli. Nardelli was a leader that provided structure and streamlined processes, and at the time of Bob’s arrival The Home Depot needed both. Nardelli did not include customers and associate morale in his vision for the company. Nardelli ran the company with military precision and this created a climate of fear. On his first day as CEO, Arthur Blake read from a copy of â€Å"Built from Scratch,† the company biography written by The Home Depot founders, Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank. Using this channel to communicate with the company allowed Blake to send the message that, â€Å"We are who we are, because of the way that things were done in the beginning. Choosing this channel of communication at this time gave Blake a chance to start the healing process at The Home Depot. This showed a small degree of power distance within the organization. Every employee had been through radical changes with the former CEO and everyone needed to know that things were going to be okay, and they needed to hear that from the CEO. The Home Depot uses face-to-face channels of communication to encourage sociability. Diversity is encouraged within the employment population to generate a creative perspective. The diversity ranges from different cultures, out of country suppliers and divisional council groups. The morale of the those involved are high due to the focal point being to improve one’s community and growth of your own personal endeavors through training. These two factors encourage employees to be creative in handling outside community functions while feeling at ease with their responsibilities at work. The informal communication networks are established within this organization by means of group councils, Diversity panels, employee social functions, community interaction, being a team player, and a customer centered focus. There are copies of The Home Depot’s list of Values almost everywhere you turn throughout the organization. These rules are considered to be The Home Depot’s bread and butter. Writing the rules down and ensuring that there is mass distribution shows employees of the organization that the company is committed to the success of each employee. The Values state that good performance will be rewarded and associates will be developed so that they may grow. The Values also state that associates are to embody the â€Å"orangeblooded entrepreneurial spirit† of The Home Depot and take risks and initiate creative and innovative ways to serve the customers. The Values ask the associates to build strong relationships and to have respect for all people. These two requests prove that The Home Depot is tolerant of conflict but encourages solving the problem at the lowest level. The organization recognizes that there will be disagreements, and each associate is given the communication tools to operate effectively in any situation. ?

Organization Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Organization Development - Essay Example Therefore, it is indeed beneficial to understand the organization’s performance well in order to identify its most viable opportunities. The cosmetic organization has been in operation for the past three years, and over the years, it has managed to establish a steady graph of improved performance each year. Despite this success, the managers of the organization have identified that the organization still has the potential to perform much better. The marketing department of the organization has realized that most of the customers are requesting a variety of the cosmetic products. Therefore, this is one reason as to why the organization needs to undertake the process of organizational development. One other reason for organizational development is seeking to acquire current technology and diversify its operations according to the acquired technology. The management has also noted that the company has the potential to improve the quality of its products by changing its operational procedures. Therefore, organizational development will act as a key direction of acquiring the new operational procedures. Being an organization that deals with cosmetics, the company covers a wide variety of clients, ranging from young people to the aged, both male and female. Therefore, this implies that the process of organizational development will affect a large number of people. From the data collected in the markets covered by the organization, the customers expect that the organization will develop a new variety of products after the development process. The clients also expect that the organizational development will not lead to fluctuation or hiking of prices. It is also the expectation of buyers that the development process will be able to accommodate each and every user of the cosmetic products. Users of the old products also expect that the organization will still continue supplying them even

Walmart Foreign Expansion Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Walmart Foreign Expansion Case Study - Essay Example The company adapted practices to fit the nature of Mexico market before transforming the market culture of American practices. However, the company has been criticized for bribery cases in the establishment of outlets in Mexico involving the executives. The company has fought these allegations through internal investigations as well as inviting other authorities not only for Mexico but also other markets which promote Walmart’s reputation. The company faced difficulties in penetrating the Japan market due to strong government protection for the local firms. The company has adopted some local practices that have promoted growth through acquired local firms. The same is observed in the China’s market that where company has adopted labor practices and considerations for customer tastes and preferences. The company has however failed in the Germany and Korea markets due to failure of adapting practices in accordance to the nature of markets in these countries. For instance, in Germany, the company disregarded labor practices and failed to hire locals to enhance management. The company also failed to improve the quality of the products and items offered. Walmart could not succeed in other countries by adopting its wholesome merchandising strategy. This is because the global markets present different factors that are not observed in the American market. Different countries have varied cultures, economic conditions and other factors that shape tastes and preferences of the locals. Firms that would succeed in these markets should satisfy the customer needs and therefore a flexible merchandising strategy is appropriate for use to promote success. Following this, Walmart would apply part of its marketing strategy that is valid for to a country and adopt other local practices to the company’s strategy. Failure to apply flexible marketing strategy, the company would experience

Company Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 8

Company Law - Essay Example Scholars denote that because a business organization is incorporated, then the assets of these people are protected from seizures by creditors of the company. That is, the owners of the business under consideration are not liable for the liabilities of the company2. It is also easy for the owners of the company to raise capital through the stock market; it is simple to transfer the ownership of this company to another individual, the tax charged on a company is lower as compared to a personal income, and finally, a company that is incorporated is able to achieve a lenient tax restriction, on losses that are carried forward. The Company’s Act of 2006 provides for the issuance of an article of incorporation once a company is incorporated. This article of incorporation is responsible for identifying the main purpose of the company, the location of the company, the number of shares issued by the company, etc. This article of incorporation will also contain the specific date of the company’s registration, and the fees paid for the incorporation. It is important to understand that majority of companies are created for the main purpose of doing business. This is an aspect that the British parliament wants to encourage, and this is because the existence of many companies in Britain will lead to an improvement in the economy of the country, and creation of jobs. However, it is important to understand that doing business is a risky affair, and a business organization might fail, or it may acquire some profits3. This acquisition of profits is the major incentive that makes people to engage in a business initiative. It is important to understand that the common law principle denotes that an individual who provides capital for a business operation, and is responsible for sharing the profits that the business makes, is also liable for any debts that the business under