ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction The issue of student attrition is causing concern since high rates of attrition have negative impacts on the higher education institution and the student body. By dropping out of school before achieving their educational goals, the students are unable to attain gainful employment in their educational field since they lack proper qualifications. A student who drops out of higher education foregoes many benefits associated with a college degree. The higher education institute suffers from student attrition since it is unable to supply a skilled work force. Reduction in student numbers also means that the institute may not be able to survive economically in the longer term. The increased rate of attrition has led to investigations being made into why students leave college before achieving their educational goals. Four identified causes of student attrition are: low income, lack of goals by students, parents’ education level, and working over 20hours per week while taking 4 classes while the effects are financial strain, lack of motivation, lack of guidance, and burnout. Causes and Effects of Attrition Low income by the student makes it difficult for them to pay for their education and such students therefore drop out as a result of the financial pressure. Chen and Stephen state that financial resources play a part in student attrition since research indicates that lower-income students have insufficient resources to finance their education and are therefore more likely to make a decision to dropout (2). Low-income students are reliant on grants and loans offered by the government to finance their education. While educational loans by the government have increased over the last decades, the level of grants has decreased. This means that low-income students are negatively impacted by grant inadequacy. Leonhardt asserts that the tuition fee required by higher education institutes has a major impact on low-income students who are unlikely to make it throughout the four years of school (1). This group of students therefore suffers from financial strain as they struggle to afford the tuition fee and upkeep fee for their education. The costs of higher education are not only limited to tuition fees but also living expenses, time, and foregone earnings by the student. The low-income students therefore resort to dropping out of school since they cannot cope with the financial burden of higher education on their own. In my opinion, finance plays a very key role in attaining an education. Low income earners are not able to prioritize on education as they seek to satisfy other needs such as rent, food and health care. The lack of adequate external financial support will therefore increase the risk of low income students dropping out of school. Lack of goals by the student may cause them to view their education as irrelevant and unrelated to their lives and this will result in low levels of motivation and disillusionment hence increase the chances
The current report is about making business recommendations regarding different courses of action that could be implemented and that would assist The Lovely Scent Perfume Company to recover from its recurring losses. The report is presented to Fredrick Fragrance, the CEO, of the company who has asked his top executives to come up with the best strategy for putting back the company on its profitable track. Proposition #1 Wally Workshard, the EVP His recommendation to decrease the price by 20% or $7.00 to $28 per unit will result in an increased sale by 85,000 units. However, the net increase in revenue is only $980,000. The costs remaining the same, the contribution margin reduces to just $8.00 implying the additional sales making a contribution of $680,000 which could be considered as a good sign. The fixed cost remains the same. The net loss that will incur is $1.72million which is not acceptable to the company (See Appendix I). Proposition #2 Lester Ledger, the CFO His recommendation to redesign packing would increase variable production cost to $20.75 by an additional $4.75 and fixed cost will increase by $40,000 to $2.79million. The sales would rise by 32% to 264,000 units per year. The contribution margin is $10 therefore the additional sales will make a contribution of $640,000 ignoring the fixed costs. This is lower than the previous proposition however the net loss resulting from this proposition is expected to be $1.334million which is not acceptable to the company (See Appendix II) Proposition #3 Buster Bumble, the Production Manager His recommendation to reduce the standard size of the bottle is expected to save $2.65 on variable production costs reducing it to $13.35. This would result in a decline in sales by 4,500 units making sales of 195,500 units. The contribution margin is $18 and a reduction in sales will result in a loss of contribution of $81,000 however the total contribution ignoring the fixed cost will be $3,450,575. The net loss is $549,425 which may not be acceptable to the company as it is lower than the current loss (See Appendix III). Proposition #4 Gaylord Goodspeak, the Marketing Manager His recommendation to increase the marketing budget would add $527,000 to the fixed operating costs making a total of $1.777million. Also, the sale price is suggested to be increased by $4.90 per unit which will result in sales revenue of $9.336million. However, the contribution margin is $20 and an increase in sale units by 34,000 will contribute $676,600 ignoring the fixed costs. The resulting net income is $129,600 for the year (See Appendix IV). Recommendation From the above analysis, it is that the proposition given by the Marketing Manager seems favorable for the company. The above analysis is based on the contribution analysis which is the benefit that will be gained from each proposition (Wengler, 2006). It is very clear that proposition #4 does not result in a positive contribution of $676,600 in respect of the increased sales expected which may not be higher than proposition #1. But com
The general climate of investment in Indonesia is attractive for both international and local investment. Fiscal incentives have contributed to increased number of foreign investors. The country has simplified the process of approving those who want to invest in the country and there are no limitations to the investment value. Investors can wholly own their investment in Indonesia and this is among the advantages that they enjoy as they invest in this country. Indonesia is also a member of ASEAN since it is strategically located between Australia and Asia where most foreign investors like investing in. Indonesia has its natural appeal to foreign and domestic investment because of increasing middle class, and natural resources that act as attractions to investors. However, investment was negatively affected between 1997 and 1998 by the Asian crises, which arose during this. However, the country has managed to overcome that challenge (Delfeld 67). Indonesia Investment Policy Just like other developing countries in Asia, its early investment and industrial policies meant to develop import substitutes. It caused liberalization and inefficient based on export policies. Crises, which occurred in Asia affected the economy of this country and led to fall
Introduction The 21 st century has seen tremendous advancements in the technological sphere. Wu (2009, p. 259) suggests that technology and fashion are closely related. Wu (2009) notes that the two (fashion and technology) have evolved together over the years. For example, people share opinions and information related to new trends via the internet. The current report is developed against this background of the link between fashion and technology. The author of this paper illustrates the fact that contemporary fashion exists in the era of the digital consumer whose preferences and desires are informed by prevailing technological advancements. The report revolves around Medea’s Couldron , a popular perfume brand. The label relies on eco-friendly production to sustain its niche market among consumers who are concerned over environmental degradations. The brand is seeking to sustain this market on its expansion plans. The report analyses key aspects of the brand in a bid to develop a promotional campaign for the 2015 autumn-winter season. The effect of technology on the marketing campaign is analysed in this report. Recommendations are made to ensure that the oncoming season is a success for the brand. Current Brand Positioning In the marketing field, brand presence is regarded as the determinant of how well the consumer prefers a given commodity over others that provide similar levels of satisfaction. Stuart (2013, p. 793) observes a trend where consumers require only a word or a phrase to establish relationships with a given brand. Such a situation implies that a consumer identifies with a given good or service depending on the various strength parameters and level of perceived importance. In light of this, Medea’s Couldron has adopted a perception map as illustrated in figure 1 below: Figure 1: Perception chart for Medea’s Couldron Adapted from Stuart (2013) As illustrated in figure 1 above, the first aspect of the brand that resonates with the customer is safety. According to Stuart (2013, p. 795), clients are concerned with the direct effects that a product has on them. Medea’s Couldron is a perfume produced through an eco-friendly manufacturing process. Wu (2009, p. 261) observes that the future digital consumer is increasingly becoming aware of the need to protect the environment. To this end, it appears that environmental groups have succeeded in convincing today’s consumer that it is important to protect the surroundings. The development has seen a rise in eco-fashion brands. Medea’s Couldron has curved itself a niche in the larger cosmetics market. Consumers identify with a given brand in terms of its reliability. Stuart (2013, p. 795) supports this assertion by insisting that a given brand is expected to deliver the promises made through marketing campaigns. For instance, many perfumes guarantee the consumer a lasting and refreshing experience. However, many fail to deliver this level of satisfaction. Medea’s Couldron pledges a 24 hour refreshing experience for the user. Such a ‘pro
Introduction Riordan Manufacturing, a plastics producer with great developmental potential and ambitions, has launched the management restructuring initiative and its IT department has supported it by designing four Web sites. The major issue of uncertainty for the company is thus the probability of each of the four sites to become the most popular among the customers. This issue can be solved using one of the best statistical methods that allow retrieving objective findings from subjective data, i. e. Baye’s Theorem. The calculations this theorem implies reveal that Web sites 1 and 3 have the highest probability for becoming popular, while site 2 has the lowest probability of the kind. These findings allow recommending that Riordan Manufacturing should pay more attention to the development of the sites with the lowest probability of success. Process Description Riordan Manufacturing, one of the leaders of the global plastics production industry, has recently developed the strategic idea of a management restructuring. One of the pillars of this idea is the so-called Web-based knowledge management system, for which the IT department of the company has designed four prototypes of Web sites. Every plant of Riordan Manufacturing was provided the access to all the four Web sites, and now the company must identify the most effective Web site design, i. e. the site attended by visitors most often (Riordan Manufacturing, 2010). Problem and Uncertainty Thus, the major problem that the current assessment is designed to solve is the uncertainty of Riordan Manufacturing regarding two major factors. First of all, the company needs more specific information about the success of its management restructuring initiative. Second, Riordan Manufacturing requires specific data regarding the performance of its IT department. Both these factors can be partly examined through the analysis of the attendance of the new Web sites that the IT department of the company has launched in pursuit of the above-mentioned management restructuring initiative. The four Web site prototypes are designed to serve various aspects of Riordan Manufacturing’s performance including sales, production process, advertising, and customer relations. Therefore, the uncertainty that Riordan Manufacturing faces is all about the aspects of its work that require improvements. Accordingly, the identification of the most popular Web site will allow finding out the most properly developed aspect of the company’s performance, as well as the three problematic aspects of its work (Gilboa, 2009, p. 76). Research To operate with the specific data while making any recommendations to Riordan Manufacturing, it is first of all necessary to research the attendance statistics for all the four Web sites in question. For the better convenience of this process, the sites are labeled as follows:   * Site 1 (sales) = S1;   * Site 2 (production) = S2;   * Site 3 (advertising) = S3;   * Site 4 (customer relations) = S4. The research proves that the probability of proper attendance of P(S1 and S3) =.93, whi
Review of the Research Problems According to the introduction and literature review chapters, the aspects that need to be analysed in this research are the perceptions that consumers have on the service quality of the airline industry with particular focus on the airline industry in Cyprus. The aspect of prioritising service quality factors based on customer perceptions will also be analysed in the research as well as the inconsistency that exists between customer perception of quality and the actual performance of service quality in the airline industry. The literature review has dealt with the aspects that are related to service quality perceptions as well as the satisfaction of customers. It has provided a foundation to the study by focusing on past research and studies that have been conducted on customer perception on service quality in the service industry. The research seeks to answer the question of how customers that use Cyprus airlines perceive the service quality of these airlines. According to the literature review, service quality is measured by the tangibility of the consumer’s surroundings which is represented by objects or subjects, the reliability of the service provider, the involvement and interaction of the service provider, the assurance that the customer will get a wide range of services and the readiness of the company to provide the customer with individualised services (Nadiri and Hussain 2005). The measurement of the various aspects of service quality in the Cypr
Civic engagement is whereby people work to make a difference in the local life of their communities and society, and developing combination of skills, knowledge, motivation and values in order to make that difference. Civic engagement can also mean “promoting the life value of the people in a community through both nonpolitical and political processes.” [1] There are different forms of engagement. First is political engagement. Here, the community is engaged in political activities, like voting, which involves partisan advocacy. The second form is civic engagement. This is whereby the community takes place in organizing and development activities which involves social justice. The community also engages in civic reflection that is, they are able to get into debates and discussion in the public sphere. In this case, it involves journalism and environmentalism. The third form is religious engagement. Religious engagement is faith-based, where initiatives are acted upon based on faith and religion of the community or society. In this case, there’s involvement of inter-faith dialogues and action. Factors Influencing Civic Engagement There are several factors that affect and / or influence civic engagement within the communities in the United States of America. These may influence civic engagement positively or negatively. First are strong traditions and beliefs, attaching them with philanthropy or humanity towards the community or “individuals (public and private).” [2] Second, strong and robust civil society organizations and nonprofit organizations in the country influence civic engagement. Third, different viewpoints of communities in the public sphere may influence civil engagement. Consecutively, government also influences civic engagement by having its policies and support of service. For instance, there are Peace Corps and AmeriCorps in America. Lastly, there exists many pressing social concerns and needs in the society which influence civil engagement in America. History of Civic Engagement Civic engagement originated between 1880 and 1900. This was due to the emergence of social work in response to the needs of immigrants in urban centers, in America. Civic engagement was also developed in civic engagement centers in university campuses due to settlement house movement. Jane Addams was the first woman in history to receive a Nobel Peace Prize in the year 1931, after coming up with the Jane Addams Hull House foundation, which seeks to improve communities’ social conditions in Chicago and Illinois area. The Civil Rights Movement (CRM) was between 1950s and 1960s whereby there was the Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus boycott. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Everybody can be distinguished… because anybody can serve, one does not need a college degree to serve. [3] American Democratic Protest (ADP) was introduced for civic
Businesses should engage in corporate social responsibility since it contributes to the sustainability and growth of the world. It supports social causes in the society with the aim of satisfying basic human needs like hunger and lack of shelter; furthermore, it addresses various environmental issues including global warming. There are a variety of ways in which a corporate body can offer its support, including setting up foundations which can benefit the needy, cash donations to under listed activities or providing their technical expertise (Kotler & Lee 4). Although there are several organizations, notably the agencies grouped under the umbrella of the UN, whose main responsibility is to tackle the various issues affecting the populace like poverty, other business organizations should invest more in social responsibility. This is because some of the organizations like Exxon Mobil make larger profits than the amount allocated for, say, UN aid. An argument by other organizations that there are no direct or tangible profits brought forth by corporate social responsibility may arise due to factors like the one stated above. Businesses which are corporate social responsible should have policies which ensure they stick to law, ethical and environmental standards s
Storytelling Most leaders and those who want to become one have heard about the importance of leadership qualities. Often, these abilities include various skills related to communication, emotional intelligence, professionalism, confidence, and ethics. However, not all leaders consider the powerful tool of storytelling. People view the world from their point of view for most of their lives. One point of view will never give a complete picture of what is happening. When a person hears the story of the interlocutor, he feels this different point of view, built on other beliefs, on a different life experience (Snyder et al., 2017). In this case, if a person is imbued with history, he is imbued with a new point of view and is already transforming his beliefs. In the hands of leaders, such a tool can change the mindset of their mentees for better results. In order to break the status quo of prejudice and stereotypes, a leader must do more than just tell a story from his life. Any leader’s narrative contains a conflict, structure that is understandable to the interlocutor, and often hidden morality that prompts people to take the necessary action. Today we will talk about how storytelling from the mouth of a leader can become one of the main tools of leadership processes and why everyone benefits from it. Advantages Stories are memorable, inspiring, and naturally transform often dry information. It often turns out that storytelling is the only possible way to convey thoughts to people. Graphics, printed materials, messages are devoid of the emotional and natural component that a person always puts into his stories. First, the leader demonstrates his humanity by telling stories that, for many employees, the boss’s fear is a step forward towards a relationship of trust. Second, storytelling is creativity, and to some extent, even art. The same story told by two people can sound completely different. In addition, this tool promotes inclusiveness and diversification within the team since storytelling is a fundamental phenomenon for all nations, societies, and cultures and has taken place since time immemorial (Denning, 2017). Third, this tool demonstrates the experience to avoid mistakes in the future. Any story itself comes from the outside, and only through the mouth of a person, its meanin
This book highlights the issues that were present in the world towards the end of the 20 th century as people in the world braced themselves for the 21 st century and the new millennium that was beckoning. The century had witnessed significant events, milestones and conflicts that were to shape the destiny of various regions for along time to come. The author brings into focus various issues, events and the impacts they had on shaping the new world order in the last decade of the 20 th century. The author begins by highlighting one of the most significant political and ideological milestones that took place in the early 1990s that is, the collapse of the Soviet Union. For a long time, the USSR had dominated the world scene with its political ideologies that placed it on a collision course with the USA. This had made the two superpowers to have a strained relationship, with many nations in the world taking either side of the political and ideological divide. The collapse and subsequent independence of the countries that constituted the Soviet Republic meant that the Cold War was no longer going to be the source of conflict between the two superpowers. The author examines political, economic and social the effects of the decade. The release of Nelson Mandela from prison and the character he was able to manifest in uniting South Africa after years of apartheid into a modern multi-racial and multi-cultural nation cannot be underestimated. This ushered in a promise because the apartheid regime was one of the totalitarian regimes in the world whose policies had caused a lot of suffering to the black population that was living within the country. The suppositions by many western leaders that the fall of the Soviet Union had created perfect conditions for the emergence of a new world order were not valid. Many nations in the world still viewed each other with suspicion and some were engaged in bloody conflicts, which caused human suffering on a scale that had never been witnessed before internationally. The civil strife and mass murders that occurred in the former Yugoslavian republics that were based on ethnic and religious differences, the genocide in Rwanda and conflicts in the Middle East and other parts of the world were an issue that caused a lot of concern. The presence of civil conflicts and wars in some parts of the world was a clear indication that the new world order characterized by liberal principles was still far from becoming a reality. The ideologies of capitalism and communism, which had been in conflict for the better part of the 20 th century, showed no level of success in improving humanity’s living conditions. There was a wider scrutiny on the aspect of human rights, a development that was acceptable. As a result, more countries in the world experienced expanded political space that allowed freedom of the media and expression. The initiative by variou