ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction The report presents a situation analysis of Madison PLC; different sources of funding; working capital management and related management of the capital; investment appraisal methods, including NPR and IRR and their limitations; evaluation of these investment methods; other factors to consider in investment decision-making; break-even analysis as a tool for investment appraisal; and ratio analysis, their limitations and recommendations for investment. Finally, the report presents a summary of the case of Madison with regard to the NVP computation and investment decisions made. Background Information and Situation Analysis of Madison PLC Madison plc. is a company with shares quoted on the Alternative Investment Market in London. For the past ten years, the company has operated in the UK. It offers the intellectual property to firms across various industries, including oil and gas, HR consultants, marketing firms, tourist firms, and investment property companies. The company is generally profitable and now seeks to expand operations across Europe. The finance director of the company is interested in sourcing for funds for expansion. The company must choose software for its operations and expansion, as well as acquire a new company for expansion. Effective investment decisions will be based on a financial analysis of the presented data. Different Sources of Funding, their Advantages, and Drawback, and Effective Management for Expansion Madison plc. may raise funds using both internal and external sources. Owners’ investment: Madison will receive a capital loan from the parent entity. Alternatively, the company can exploit other funding opportunities. While the fund is from the parent company, it is considered as a capital loan and, therefore, Madison must repay it perhaps with no interest. However, the loan capital may be inadequate to finance the entire acquisition. Retained profits: Madison is currently a profitable company. Hence, it can plow back its profit into the business to fund expansion. It will act as a source of medium-term or long-term finance with no interest payable. Moreover, the company will not have to pay it back. However, retained earnings may not finance the entire acquisition and expansion. Sale of stock: Madison can also sell off unsold stock, but it will only be a short-term source of funds. It will allow the company to raise finance fast and reduce related costs of holding such stock. However, selling off stock will automatically lead to a decline in the price of the company’s stock. Term loan: Madison may also opt for a term loan scheduled between five and ten years of repayment. A term loan is a better alternative for the company because the repayment period will be spread for several years, which is imperative for budgeting. A term loan, however, will be expens
The history of the Canadian labor market is rich, which is due to many sights of different eras that are relevant to this sphere of social life. One of these places is the Athenaeum club, a place that was very popular in the middle of the 20th century and has survived by today. This showplace is located in Toronto, a major economic and commercial center of Canada, and this place is a well-known labor house that has lost its main role and is an architectural monument and an echo of the past today. Many events are connected with this house, and its history is proof that the change of political and market interests directly affects the amendments of labor preferences; therefore, the Athenaeum club can hardly be called a tourist attraction with a simple and unequivocal fate. Site Description As the object of the analysis of the historic landmark, the Athenaeum club is suitable since it is the house with a rich past that has not been forgotten so far. In addition to its attractive architecture and monumental appearance, it also has other significant features that relate to the history of formation and development. The sphere of labor in Canada at the end of the 19th century, like in many other countries, was much weaker than it is now, which was due to a number of reasons: the lack of efficient and high-quality equipment, financial crises, the lack of financing, etc. (Boswell, 2015). Nevertheless, the Athenaeum club received the name “Labor Temple,” which is a confirmation of its popularity among the population and the opportunities that it provided (“Mapping Our Work,” 2018). Therefore, this landmark deserves attention both from the point of view of the tourist site and the object of research analysis. Brief History Initially, the Athenaeum club was created as a sports facility where people could train (“Mapping Our Work,” 2018). However, in the early 20th century, this building was purchased by the local authorities who converted it for their own purposes (“Mapping Our Work,” 2018). Most of the shares were bought out, and the place was completely taken over by the government. For sixty-four years, the club was the center of the Toronto labor movement and represented a gathering place for urban trade unions (“Mapping Our Work,” 2018). There was a large library in the building, and many important and relevant issues related to not only labor movement but also other urgent issues were discussed here. Over time, new and more modern homes appeared. The Athenaeum club became a part of the historical heritage of the city, and today, it is a cultural site with a rich history. Historical Significance The site under consideration was not only a place for workers’ and elites’ gathering but also as an important center for discussing pressing urban problems. Decisions regarding both world wars were made here (“Mapping Our Work,” 2018). Also, as Hracs and Leslie (2014) remark, aesthetic work in Toronto gained wide popularity after the global changes that took place in the society because of the influenc
Businesses usually face the complicated process of alternating culture, leadership, values, and structure while executing strategic change. However, no matter how complex these means are, they are performed mainly to advance the company’s strategy to thrive in the future. In other words, strategic changes tend to be conducted in terms of meeting the latest trends in the industry to remain equal with rivaling businesses of a similar sphere. Thus, before implementing such alternation, it is vital to analyze the possible impacts on the other parts of the company operating. Firstly, it is significant to start changes when the business is thriving and not in a crisis. Specifically, any alternations take a considerable amount of effort and funds; hence it might be impossible to perform them with the deficiency of at least one factor. Parnell (2014) claims that every employee should be involved in the process of a proper transformation execution and not only top executives. Meanwhile, the correct analysis of a company’s success statistics includes not previous years’ performances but the research of competitors and industry (Dzwigol et al., 2019). In addition, the investigation should consist of customers’ satisfaction rates and goods’ quality along with less significant factors such as profitability, performance measures, and market share. Secondly, when the necessity of the strategic transformation is recognized, executives also should encourage employees to work hard on it. For instance, employers need to explain the possible outcomes of a strategic change and how it can possibly influence workers’ positions, incentives, and salaries (Ocasio et al., 2018). However, it is impossible to execute any strategic change if employees do not have identical expectations about the company’s future (Herrmann & Nadkarni, 2014). Therefore, transformational managers need to effectively discuss the critical steps of completing the company’s transformation and their exact timelines with the employees. Thirdly, the strategic change concept can be implemented in any business, though it should not be in a crisis to enable its successful and efficient execution. For instance, a coffee shop has perfect performance statistics but is looking to attract more customers. Therefore, top executives might propose the idea of implementing custom drinks that each consumer can create from the start. Such a strategic change might make a coffee shop different from others as they tend to share similar drinks in usual menus. Moreover, the opportunity of creating one’s own coffee should
Introduction In poetry analysis, one is required to investigate and speculate on the content, form as well as history of a written poem. This also applies to other forms of literary analysis such as short story and play analysis. In the process of analysing such a text, an individual appreciates the piece of work by highlighting what the poem is all about (Kennedy 41). Poetry can therefore be approached by different people from different perspectives including teachers as well as writers in an attempt to analyse the art. In the case of a teacher, analysis is done to capture the broad concept of the poem as well as the underlying themes. In this form of analysis, the teacher also seeks to understand the unfolding events in the poem for the benefit of the students. In other words, the teacher is trying to look at the plot in the poem. On the other hand, a writer has to learn about the various aspects of the piece of poetry so as to inform the other critics on what was used to write the poem and discern all the forms of poetry. At the end of the day, the writer will have to appreciate either negatively or positively a number of poetic elements in the piece of work analysed (Harrison 17). The author of this paper is going to analyse the poem titled “Brill Fragile Fantasy”. The poem was written by Hirsch Edward and it talks about how Brill regards himself as a successful human being in all circumstances. However, a critical analysis of the poem will reveal that this is not exactly the case. From the poem, it is clear that in an awkward position and the only thing that the reader can do is to pity him. The author of this paper will make reference to specific sections of the poem by quoting them directly. The Poem One can start analysing the poem by referring to the opening made by the author. Hirsch opens the poem using the provocative statement “Fragile Fantasy”. This statement also serves as the heading or title of the poem. In the heading the writer gives the name of the character that which is represented as one based on fantasy from the beginning. As one continues to read the poem past this provocative heading, it becomes apparent that the character is truly living in a fantasy world. It is to be noted that a character in this case is the person who takes the figurative and significant part in the poem (Roberts & Jacobs 47). In most cases the character is always a figment of the author’s imagination. For example in most of the great poems ever written, the characters are always imagined. For instance, “Annabel Lee” is an imaginary character in the poem written by the famous Edgar Poe. This is just an example of such poems in the literary world today. A Pitiful Brill In Fragile F
Introduction Opioids refer to psychoactive substances that are extracted from poppy plants and can be synthesized in laboratories. These chemicals affect the opioid receptors found in the gastrointestinal tract or peripheral and central nervous systems (Bellum 2014, par. 2). There are proscribed (like heroin) and permissible opioids that are administered to patients who suffer from excruciating pain. Studies show that individuals who are addicted to these substances are at high risk of using heroin. Mainly, there are three categories of opioids, which are natural, synthetic, and semi-synthetic. Natural opiates are mainly obtained from plants and include thebaine, codeine, and morphine (Bellum 2014, par. 3). Synthetic opioids are prepared in laboratories and comprise methadone, levorphanol, and fentanyl (Bellum 2014, par. 5). Semi-synthetic narcotics are manufactured in labs. Nevertheless, unlike synthetic opioids, these substances are extracted from natural opiates (Bellum 2014, par. 4). They include hydromorphone, heroin, and oxycodone. Despite the high rate of opioids abuse in prisons, no research has been conducted to identify the factors that contribute to this problem and how they can be resolved. The study titled “Prescription opioids abuse in prison settings: a systematic review of prevalence, practice and treatment response ” by Bi-Mohammed et al. (2017) is the first to look into this matter. The objective of this research was to understand the occurrence, trend, and mitigation of the problem associated with the diversion of administered substances in penitentiaries. In this study, I am going to focus on opioid dependence in the prison environment. I will also highlight the significance of this study to areas of addiction and health care. The report will culminate by outline the strengths and weaknesses of this study and its potential academic implications. The rationale for the Study Research shows that there exists a connection between imprisonment and opioid-related deaths. In the early 1990s, scientists discovered that there were high numbers of opioid use disorders, drug abuse, and overdose among individuals released from prisons. The rationale for this study is to understand the current state of misuse of prescribed opioids in prisons and measures taken to address the issue of diversion of these drugs. This study will be helpful to the field of addiction as it will highlight the conditions that make it hard for inmates to cease using narcotics after completing their sentences. In the area of healthcare, this research will underscore the importance of providing opioid agonist therapy to people who have left penitentiary. Structured Critical Review Anatomy and Physiology Opioids work by activating the production of dopamine (neurotransmitters) that lead to extreme pleasure in the b
Challenges and problems faced by Pilkington Company In the beginning of the 1980s the Pilkington Brothers, a glass manufacturing company was operating under loss. This was as result of numerous problems which the company was experiencing from both internal and external environment. The Pilkington glass was faced with competition challenge from other companies. This saw the company market share drop from 80% to 50%. The emergence of new companies in the market reduced the monopoly the company was enjoying in the 1970s. Other than the challenges the company also experienced numerous problems that forced the company change its way of operations. The major problem was the cost-production problem that was as a result of non competitive working practices and inefficiency in the company and the industry. The inefficiency was as a result of the model that the company operated using. The company also had technological problems brought about by the new companies. To be on the same level as the competitors the company wanted an operating cost of six million dollars that was required to boost the capital base of the company. Under the circumstances, the challenges and the problems it was going through this was too far beyond its reach. To realize the dream the company had to initiate capital investment, rationalize its plants and tighten its belt in terms of operations. It was only left with the problem of cutting the employees costs as well as restructuring the management team. The economic recession that had hit the UK economy had spread across affecting the market industry. The company found itself in this struggle where it had to survive until the recession ended. After the emergence of new companies in the market, Pilkington market share reduced. This was further reduced by the decline of the British motor industry and the loss of government financial support for home insulation programmes (Starkey & McKinlay 1990, p.354). This reduced the market demand of its products making its market share worse off. The company was also facing price wars and pressure from its competitors in the market. This forced the company to aggressively re-stimulate its price spiral with the aim of attaining more market share. Aspects of Pilkington that were changed, and why Because of the enormous losses and competition the company was facing it was decided that some aspects of the company be changed. The company decided to readjust the management practices with the aim of meeting the prevailing change in market conditions (Starkey & McKinlay 1990, p.354). The management style was changed to accommodated the changes prevailed in the market. This was done on the operations departments where the personal directors made changes through negotiation of their personal needs. This was done to increase the collective bargaining power of the company. The company decided to the working flexibility and the mobility of the employees. This geared towards the promotion of individual commitment in the company as well as ensuring th
The Latter Day Saint Movement or Mormonism is one of the most popular Christian movements followed not only in the United States where it was founded in the 19th century but also round the world. Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, is discussed as one of the most controversial figures in the history of religious movements because of his intentions to declare himself as the prophet, his vision of the Holy Scripture’s reliability, and his provocative discussion of the Americans’ religious history (Remini 2002, p. 23; Van Wagoner 1982, p. 50). In spite of the fact that the followers of the Latter Day Saint Movement discuss Joseph Smith as the prophet equal to Moses and other prophets, this statement is rather controversial because the founder of Mormonism does not respond to the basic criteria according to which the prophets are described in the Bible; Smith’s prophecies and predictions are not supported with the facts and real events; and Smith’s views on the nature and origin of God and people are not reflected in the Bible. That is why, Smith cannot be discussed as the prophet while referring to the criteria set in the Holy Scripture. Joseph Smith proclaimed himself as the prophet in the 1830s, while stating that he had visions. According to Smith’s words, the angel directed him to focus on the specific golden plates on which the history of the American civilization was inscribed. Smith’s task was to translate the texts and to present them to the public. The translation became known as the Book of Mormon in which Smith presented the history of the nation which took its origins from the Nephites who were ruled by their prophet Mormon, and who followed the holy principles declared by Moses (Vogel 2004, p. 111). Furthermore, Smith also stated that he was directed to revise the Bible and to add important facts to the scriptures in order to present the true history of the world (Eliason 2001, p. 54). Smith’s self-proclamation as the prophet after experiencing the visions responded to the words that “If there be a prophet among you,
Introduction Washington Irving was a nostalgic man in whom a touch of Rip Van Winkle persisted. Like Rip, he was away from home for many years. He was in the earlier years of a seventeen-year sojourn in England when he wrote The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. (1819-1920) with its two narrative masterpieces, this story and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” A conservative who enjoyed the old ways, Irving wrote best when he juxtaposed old and new, tradition and change. “Sir Walter Scott encouraged him to rummage in European folklore. Both of the famous stories in The Sketch Book are German tales Irving adapted them to create a uniquely American fiction”. (Myers, 228) Whereas earlier American imitators of European romances and gothic horror stories had suffered from the lack of convincing settings in a land without ancient abbeys and castles, “Irving realized the potential inherent in the Hudson River Valley, only a day’s journey from New York but teeming with romantic possibilities and local customs that, although they did not date from medieval times, but only two centuries back”. (Roth, 121) In “Rip Van Winkle,” Irving seized on the venerable theme of the henpecked husband who turns the tables on his tyrannical wife, a feat Rip achieves by simply outlasting her—with a bit of preternatural help from the crew of Hudson’s Half Moon. “Rip merely wishes a leisurely, casual, convivial life, but his wife calls him home from the congenial mood of the inn and lectures him in bed at night”. (Hedges, 164) “Irving never, however, permits Dame Van Winkle’s point of view to obtrude; she does not speak in the story, and Irving elicits no sympathy for her. She is the enemy, to a degree because she embodies a whole culture which is completely different to Rip’s values: that of the tidy, thrifty, ambitious Dutch”. (Myers, 232) Despite the story’s German source and its setting in a Dutch-American community, Irving domesticates his material very successfully. “First, he skillfully captures the beauty of a noticeably American region. For example in which the mountains become the setting for fantasy is sandwiched between two thicker slices of late eighteenth century American village reality. By the very act of passing over a indication of an
Introduction Car emissions substantially contribute to global warming and the decrease in air quality. The situation is especially clamant in an urban environment where the exhaust gas from transportation is concentrated, posing a danger to human health. Oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emitted into the air from car fuel causes lung damage that can lead to lung cancer or complications in respiratory disease. That is why the amount of NOx that can be emitted by a single vehicle is regulated by the U.S. EPA for all car producers (local or imported) to comply with. However, the pressure for time and the desire to maximize income may lead to the violation of these policies. The case study under discussion provides an example of an intentional breach of environmental regulations during the engineering process. Volkswagen scandal has become a precedent in the environmental protection practice, which made engineers reconsider their responsibility and attitude to the ecological situation. The understanding of the reason behind this case helps to see what steps should be taken to increase engineer responsibility and to avoid such incidents in the future. The Charges against Volkswagen The scandal around Volkswagen broke in September 2015 when the automobile construction company was accused of the attempt to circumvent the emission regulations stated in the CAA (Clean Air Act). According to Harris et al., “emission controls on certain diesel engines were programmed to operate only in a laboratory testing mode” (260). Thus the emissions of NOx were significantly lower in test conditions than in real driving. While the laboratory results demonstrated half of the legal NOx emission level, the actual amount of emitted nitrogen oxides in diesel versions of Volkswagen Jetta was from 10 to 40 times of the allowed maximum (Harris et al. 260). Thus, the company was accused of intentional and knowing engagement in law violations. The scandal was followed by the arrests of two top executives of VW and further investigation. The corporation pleaded guilty and agreed to an extensive fine as the result of the scandal. The case has undeniably harmed the reputation of VW around the world, but it has also aroused significant concern about the responsibility of the whole car producing industry for the environmental situation. Causes of Volkswagen Scandal The reasons behind this corporate crime are not simple, but they still suggest that this engineering decision was not an unconscious mistake. Instead, the car developers incorporated a specific technology that showed the desired results in the laboratory test mode. Still, the question remains who is responsible for the whole crime and what factors made it happen. According to Harris et al., the top executives of the company