Aboriginal Residential Schooling Essay Example for Free

Aboriginal Residential Schooling Essay The Aboriginal people had their culture stripped away, without any consent but by force. They were forced to adapt their lifestyle to the normal, and children put into schools to learn how to behave like the Canadians. The Aboriginal residential schools implemented by the Canadian Government were a cause attempting to destroy their culture (Ravelli Webber, 2010, p.132). The Canadian Government wanted to get rid of all aboriginal culture with no trace of their lifestyle. There was a massive social problem due to the separation of the races. It also raised a huge racist confrontation between the Aboriginal`s and the rest of society. The Aboriginal`s were not treated with any respect or dignity, which caused them to loose respect with our Canadian Government, as they were treated like animals. The Canadian Government did not want any Aboriginal`s to grow up as they were, they did not like the way their lifestyle was, they wanted to destroy their culture. They attempted to destroy their culture in many ways, one of the most obvious methods they used were to put the young children in to residential schools (Ravelli Webber, 2010, p308). These schools taught young Aboriginal children how to live like the Canadian, they were not allowed to do anything that was related to their culture not even allowed to speak their language (Geraldine Marcuse, 1993). The children were punished if they did not follow the rules, these punishments were very abusive as well, but by doing so this enforced the children to follow the rules. These residential schools were very structured and strict. Eventually by staying in these schools, due to all the strict rules, abusive punishments, and them not being allowed to associate with their culture the Aboriginal children forgot their native language (Geraldine Marcuse, 1993). The Canadian Government obviously wanted to get rid of all Aboriginal culture. The residential schools brought up a major problems, it created an immense, massive social problem with in the Aboriginal community and the Canadian society. The young Aboriginal children were stripped away from their parents, probably never even saw them again, these children were discriminated by others and were not even allowed to speak a single word  from their native language (Ravelli Webber, 2010, p132) . As displayed in the video, the young girl that had her period out publicly was put to shame by the nuns and the other children, this caused her to be bullied and discriminated because of natural cause (Geraldine Marcuse, 1993). The video also prescribes the punishment received when the rules were broken, as the elder man describes his pain and the punishments received, he explains that these children were being separated entirely from the religion and culture, causing these children to view of their own nation as an abomination (Geraldine Marcuse, 1993). This problems cause a lot of discrimination, causing many social problems with in the community, the children did not have rights, and could not speak for themselves. This massive social issue with in the Aboriginals was created by the ongoing of the residential schools. Canadian Government might not have been too smart by creating the residential schools as they did not calculate the outcome, these residential schools brought up great vengeance to the Aboriginals they wanted their culture back, in doing so it created a racist confrontation later on. This was a huge relation with the conflict theory. The Aboriginals found a method to bring back their culture by using the method the Canadian`s did, they developed their own Aboriginal schools (Geraldine Marcuse, 1993). These schools would teach the total opposite of what the residential schools taught, these schools were teaching their young children their native language, and bits of their culture, or at least what was left of it (Ravelli Webber, 2010, p309). The difference between the Aboriginal schools and the residential schools were the rules and methods of punishment. The Aboriginals taught in a normal manner, with respect, but in the residential schools it was like prison everything was eventually forced upon. The residential schools also made the Aboriginals to grow this hate for the Canadian Government causing this huge racist dilemma between the two parties. No good really came out of residential schooling, just a very bad racist confrontation in the long run. The Canadian Government stripped all the rights of the Aboriginal people, they got their culture massacred, dealt with force and abusive power, they  practically tried to destroy the Aboriginal culture. The Canadian Government put a lot of effort in this project, they tried to change the Aboriginal people in every way, they wanted those people to behave and change their lifestyle to the modern Canadian lifestyle. The Canadian Government have attempted to destroy the Aboriginal culture by bringing up residential schooling to begin the process of elimination. The Government did not want anything that was Aboriginal culture related left, they wanted to get rid of every bit of their culture. The residential schools cause major discrimination cause a massive social problem within the Aboriginal people. These residential schools also raised a huge racist confrontation to the Aboriginals, it separated them from the rest of the society. These schools really have destroyed most of their culture, and was a very cruel method in doing so. The Aboriginals deserved to be heard and have their own rights and freedom.

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System Case Study

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System Case Study   Discussion Questions What inspired Skullcraft to pursue ERP even though the company had just 26 employees? Solution An Enterprise Resource Planning system is an integrated system which helps the organization to manage its resources; inventory, procurement, supply chain, finance, human resource etc. are few of the many resources an ERP helps to manage. Although, the company had just 26 employees, an ERP system will enhance the managing of resources which is not limited to just human resources. The following facts will justify the implementation of the ERP system: The company was rivalling Sony in the U.S. headphones market with sales of up to $37 million. The company had around 200 to 300 percent annual growth rate. The business had to handle large amounts of transactions. The finance department was using Excel spreadsheets and Quickbooks to manage the books. Wide distribution of products. No product tracking through supply chain till ERP was implemented. In a nutshell, Skullcraft was a small business with transactions comparable to a big enterprise. Thus managing resources was getting more and more complicated as the company grew in sales and investing in an ERP system will help the company manage its resources in a more efficient way. Moreover, as the ERP system was fully hosted, the company did not need to manage a separate ERP infrastructure which was a bonus for them. What features caused Skullcraft to choose SAPs ByDesign? Solution SAPs ByDesign was a unique system which fulfilled Skullcrafts each and every requirement. After evaluating many systems, Beth Siron chose ByDesign for the following reasons: SAPs ByDesign was a fully system hosted system meaning that it did not required additional information system infrastructure to be implemented by Skullcraft. The organization would use the ERP system over the internet which made it easy for each and every department to use it from anywhere. It enabled big business practices for managing financials, inventory, customer relations, supply chain etc. in a format accessible to small businesses. This was perfect a was the small enterprise with annual growth rate of 200 to 300 percent. It helped Skullcraft to track the products through the supply chain. The ERP system was enabled the company to forecast future demand. Thus, the software did everything a big companys Information System would do but without the additional infrastructure and a team to manage it. These features where perfect for Skullcraft which was a small firm with transactions equal to a large firm. Critical Thinking Questions How do you think Skullcraft was able to maintain a small staff while increasing production 200 to 300 percent annually? Solution Rick Alden saw a unique business opportunity in selling high-end radically designed headphones to Skiers and Skateboaders. The company was also the first one to enable users to switch between music listening and cell phone conversations over headphones. The reason behind the tremendous growth was the target market and distribution channel. The company first targeted specialty ski and skate shops and then later large retail chains. Specialty retail shops attracted large amounts of extreme sports fanatics which put Skullcraft on the map in the headphones industry. Even with just 26 employees, the company was effectively able to manage its operations specially production and distribution. It is not unusually for a company to have a tremendous growth rate with such a small workforce. If operations are effectively managed, growth can be increased without comparable investment in additional resources. The company may have had the production outsourced which makes sense as a small workforce cannot produce and maintain such large product demand. Moreover, the company could have arranged the goods to the picked up at the manufacturers workshop and dropped at the specialty retail stores. Thus by effectively managing the flow of goods, the company must have been able to increase its production up to 200 to 300 percent with just 26 employees. Do you think Skullcraft is unusual in its size and needs? What other businesses can you think of that fit the Skullcraft model? Solution No, Skullcraft is not unusual in its needs and size. It I common for a company to have a tremendous growth rate even with a small size. Many small business offer services to a large number of customers. Skullcrafts Rick Alden realized an exceptional business opportunity which became a huge success and helped the company experience a growth rate of 200 to 300 percent annually. Also, the company was able to effectively manage and integrate operations resulting in huge sales while maintaining a small human capital. Other businesses that fit the Skullcraft model are: IT firms like GoDaddy which provide domain services to small and large enterprises enterprises can serve a large number of customer with its small size. The advancement in internet services enables such firms to stay small and serve large. Thus, investing in an ERP system will enable GoDaddy to manage operations more effectively. Freight Forwarding firms consolidate good from various customers into one big container. This helps cut down the costs of shipping small amounts of goods. They use the infrastructure of big firms and manage operations right at their desks. Also, and ERP system will help freight forwarders to track the goods through the supply chain and mange customer relations. A small logistics firms manages the operations and uses resources of other organizations to transport the goods. Their small size demands huge amounts of resources. And ERP in a logistics firm with help the employees track the goods, manage the finance, maintain customer relations etc. Medical firms, architecture firms, designing and developing firms and many other IT sector firms are small in size but their needs are huge. Thus, Skullcrafts size and needs are not unusual as it is very common for a firm to remain small but serve a large number of customers which will inevitably increase their needs. Group Members Dhruvit Shah Praveenchand Nair Abhay Khurana Brahamdeep Singh

The quantitative data analysis

The quantitative data analysis Quantitative data analysis has been an inevitable part of social science research. Like any other discipline, the theories are taught to students to give them an idea and generalisation of social facts and books, journals and other sources are used for the same. However, at times these sources are not adequate and research needs to be done in order to gain a deeper knowledge. That is when quantitative data analysis comes into picture. There have been questions raised on the need to study quantitative data analysis with the emergence of importance of qualititative data (Bryman 1988a), but the formers importance has waned little. It helps that a larger proportion of empirical research that is conducted draws upon quantitative data. The research design for any research study undertaken includes the method that needs to be applied for the purpose of collecting and analysing data. Data collection can be done two ways- primary collection and secondary analysis of data. When the researcher collects data on their own for the sole purpose of the research that they are conducting, they are making use of primary data collection. The procedures used in these collection best suits the research problem at hand. The secondary analysis of data involves collecting data for a different research purpose but that is reused for the present research question. Primary and Secondary Data As explained before, data collected for the specific problem, primary data involves addition of new data to the existing store of knowledge surrounding the research area. When this material is used by other researchers, then this becomes secondary. Hox and Boeije (2005) maintain that the primary data can be used for: Description of contemporary and historical attribute, Comparative research or replication of original research, Reanalysis for the purpose of asking new questions which were not addressed originally, Research design and methodological advancement and lastly for 5. Teaching and learning Secondary analysis utilises the existing data, collected for the purposes of a prior study, in order to pursue a research interest which is distinct from that of the original work (Heaton 2002). Secondary data analysis is usually made of quantitative data where the information is made of researched objects whose characteristics have been coded in variables that can have a range of values. In fact, secondary analysis of quantitative data is common but the practice is not the same when it comes to qualitative data (Hinds, Vogel and Clarke-Steffen 1997). Strengths and Weaknesses Social science researchers undertaking research have a choice of opting to go for primary data- information that they need to collect by themselves or for secondary- searching for data that relates to the research problem in hand. There are distinct pros and cons of going for both. In this section, we will discuss what advantages or disadvantages the researcher faces when using any of these data collection methods. One of the important advantages of going the way of primary data collection is that making use of the theoretical constructs, research design and the data collection strategy can be built with the research question in mind. This will ensure that the research study is coherent and the data collected is distinctly relevant to the problem at hand. A disadvantage lies in the fact that primary data collection can be quite time consuming and expensive affair and considering the limitations of certain research study in terms of time and budget, primary data collection might not be a viable option for many researchers. Another aspect of primary data collection is in its error inducing nature. Sampling errors made by inefficient field workers can skew up the research. Some of the prominent data collection methods in primary data are: experiments, surveys like interviews, mail and web surveys. In the case of the experiment, the researcher is able to have a control on who participates in the research and the research situation being under the researchers control means that there is strong control of design and procedure permitting causal interpretation of the results. Thus the ability to have some control may be a distinct advantage for primary data, however this can turn into a disadvantage too as one might say that the researchers control has made the research artificial. In an experimental laboratory, variables are easily manageable and there is no place for the circumstantial issues that dominate in everyday life. While conducting surveys, the researcher is able to gather both subjective as well as objective characteristics of the population. If interview questions are carefully designed, evaluated and tested, surveys are a very method to obtain first-hand valid responses from respondents. Effectively, this leads us to understanding of the advantage of secondary data analysis. Secondary data is far easier to collect and is less expensive and the access to relevant information is faster. The disadvantage lies in the fact that secondary data was collected originally for a different purpose and therefore might not be optimal for the research problem that is being considered. Heaton points out another argument favouring the use of secondary data analysis stating that it can be used to generate new knowledge, new hypotheses supporting an existing theory and it also reduces the burden that is placed on respondents (for primary data collection) by removing the need to further recruit subjects thus allowing a wider use of data from rare and inaccessible respondents. Not all social research problems can allow the usage of secondary analysis. It has been determined that it is more convenient for certain researchers, namely students and in some cases by researchers re-using their own data rather than by independent analysts. (Szabo and Strang 1997). In their own right secondary data analysis is an effective tool in teaching as it helps in introducing students to a discipline and provides a supplement to the process of teaching (Sobal 1982). But the cons behind using the same are numerous. The researcher will need to locate the source of data that is more relevant to the study and this can be time consuming as pointed out earlier. The researcher should also be able to retrieve the data, which at times can be difficult. Also, the data should be able to meet the quality requirements of the present research. Besides, the reliability of the secondary data is also a major function of the organisation that gathers, organises and publishes the data. Another crippling factor that arises in the use of secondary analysis is that it differs from systematic reviews and the meta-analyses of qualitative studies that aim towards compiling and assessing the evidence relating to a common research concern or area of practice (Popay, Rogers and Williams 1998). An issue that doesnt come in forefront when discussing secondary analysis is the principle of ethics behind using it. In using sensitive data, the researcher cannot assume informed consent. A professional judgement needs to be made about the usage of the secondary data and whether that violates any contract between the researchers and the original researcher (Hinds, Vogel and Clarke-Steffen 1997). Conclusion In conclusion, one may say that there are several advantages and disadvantages of secondary data analysis to collection of ones own primary data, and its usage is best suited to some research issues. But secondary data analysis is a valuable asset as they can act as a model for the collection of primary data. Suffice it to say that there might not be a need to choose between primary data and secondary data analysis at all, as the researcher can easily incorporate both in their research to gain a degree of balance between their strengths and weaknesses. What is most important is that both primary as well as secondary data should be accurate, reliable, appropriate, valid, precise and timely. References: Bryman, A. 1988), Quantity and Quality in Social Research, London: Routledge Heaton, L; Secondary analysis of qualitative data, 2003, in R. Miller and J. Brewer (eds.) The A-Z of Social Research, Sage, pp 285-288 Hinds, P.S., Vogel, R.J., Clarke-Steffen, L. (1997) The possibilities and pitfalls of doing a secondary analysis of a qualitative data set, Qualitative Health Research, vol. 7(3): 408-24. Hox, J.J. and Boeije, H.R. (2005). Data collection, primary versus secondary. in K. Kempf-Leonard (Ed.). Encyclopedia of Social Measurement, pp. 593-599 Popay, J., Rogers, A., Williams, G. (1998) Rationale and standards for the systematic review of qualitative literature in health services research, Qualitative Health Research, vol. 8 (3): pp. 329-40 Sobal, J. 1982, The Role of Secondary Data Analysis in Teaching the Social Sciences, Library Trends, vol. 30, n3, p479-88. Szabo, V. and Strang, V.R. (1997) Secondary analysis of qualitative data, Advances in Nursing Science, vol. 20(2): 66-74.

A Man Called Horse Character Analysis :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Dorothy Johnson in â€Å"A Man Called Horse† writes about a young man who was born and raised in Boston. He lives in a gracious home under his grandmothers and grandfather’s loving care. For some reason, he is discontent. He leaves home to try to find out the reason for his discontent. Upon leaving he undergoes a change in status and opinion of himself and others. He begins a wealthy young man arrogant and spoiled, becomes a captive of Crow Indians- docile and humble, and emerges a man equal to all.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The young man begins the story wealthy and spoiled. Johnson in the opening paragraphs suggest that the protagonist is just a wealthy and spoiled young man. He is just in search for a new life, â€Å"...he still brooded about his status in the world, longing for his equals.† So he decided to travel out West in search for these equals. Even though his â€Å"...father had raged and his grandmother had cried...†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Upon leaving Boston, the young man’s status and attitude change drastically. He becomes a captive of Crow Indians who treat him badly. He becomes property of a â€Å"...scrawny, shrieking, eternally busy old woman with ragged graying hair..† He must gain her trust to earn more freedom around the camp and such. During this time he was â€Å"...finding out what loneliness could be.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  He earns a future, and in his final stage of transformation becomes a man equal to all. This happens after he marries Pretty Calf and understands their customs and traditions. The captive was like a horse all summer, â€Å"...docile bearer of burdens, careful and patient..† Until he earned trust that is.

She Walks In Beauty by Lord Byron and Douglas Dunns Reincarnation :: English Literature

Both She Walks In Beauty by Lord Byron and Douglas Dunn's Reincarnation are about romance. "She Walks In Beauty"/ "Reincarnation" Both "She Walks In Beauty" by Lord Byron and Douglas Dunn's "Reincarnation" are about romance. Although this is true they have much to be contrasted. "She Walks In Beauty" is about a man who is truly besotted with a woman who, from my observations, he doesn't even know. I think this from the fact that he doesn't talk about anything except for her looks and he says that he doesn't know her name: Had half impair'd the nameless grace ==================================== The poet takes pleasures from the woman's beauty and, unlike "Reincarnation" by Dunn, the poem mainly focuses on the woman's sexual attraction. She is often compared to perfection: Of cloudless climes and starry skies This also shows just how infatuated he is with her. This is an immense scale to put her on as it compares her not only to a section of a country but to the enormity and perfection of the galaxy. This metaphor also refers to her mysterious nature because -the poem was written almost two hundred years ago, in the early nineteenth century- not much was known about the night skies as it is so far away nobody has ever been there. This also shows how little he knows about her. A sense of adulation also occurs throughout Lord Byron's poem and it seems as though he cannot criticise her at all. This is completely contrasted with the bond between himself and the woman in Dunn's "Reincarnation". We can say, almost certainly, that "Reincarnation" is autobiographical, as we know that Dunn's wife died in 1984 from cancer. I think the sudden and premature death of his wife has been the inspiration for this poem that is so full of naked emotion and so full of true love, unlike the lust for the woman in the poem by Lord Byron, that you can almost feel his pain. For now I know the shame of being late, Too late. This shows the sorrow he is feeling. It also hints at remorse, giving us the sense that he feels slightly guilty about the death, which was obviously not his fault. It could also be showing us that he feels he has unfinished business with her or maybe he feels that he didn't have chance to say goodbye because he was so unprepared for it. The diction chosen by Lord Byron is very sophisticated. The words he chooses to use, such as eloquent make his poem flow with a smooth and graceful rhythm. The rhymes in "She Walks In Beauty" are monosyllabic

Obsession of Perfection Essay

The relentless pursuit of human perfection has always been an intrinsic trait of human nature and science has been a mean to achieve it. This statement brings us to the main idea of Hawthorne’s short story â€Å"The Birth-mark.† It shows the story of a scientist who is obsessed with the removal of his wife’s birthmark, considering it a symbol of her human imperfection. â€Å"The Birth-mark† is possibly influenced by Hawthorne’s times where science began to gain knowledge about our world and was considerably glorified, through scientific experiment, humankind can discover, know, and do just about anything. As the narrator explains, â€Å"In those days when the comparatively recent discovery of electricity and other kindred mysteries of Nature seemed to open paths into the region of miracle, [†¦] in its depth and absorbing energy† (Hawthorne 209). The author’s story presents some critical issues about what it signifies to be human, how much science can tell us about the world, what happens when human beings attempt to subvert nature through science, and possibly more significantly, should we try to â€Å"play God† in this manner. â€Å"The Birth-mark† like other stories by Nathaniel Hawthorne provides us with moral allegories and much of the meaning is through Hawthorne’s use of symbolism that addresses the themes such as manipulation of science, humanity’s flaws, and obsession with perfection. Hawthorne uses an intriguing plot and unique characterization in order to teach lessons about the imperfectability of humans by examining at the misuse of science. Since Hawthorne is involved in the telling of a moral tale, it is appropriate to consider in this essay the ways â€Å"The Birth-mark† takes the moral to warn its readers about the dangers of science and obsession with perfection. Therefore, this essay will discuss the meaning of the more obvious lessons that Hawthorne’s short story â€Å"The Birth-mark† suggests, the imperfect nature of humankind, the limitations that science has, and the contentment that humans should have on what they already possess. The main character Aylmer, â€Å"a man of science ÃŒ ¶ an eminent proficient in every branch of natural philosophy† (Hawthorne 209), suffers from a blind obsession about a tiny red birthmark resembling the shape of a hand that his gorgeous wife Georgiana has on her cheek. As Aylmer declares: â€Å"Ah, upon another face perhaps it might,† replied her husband; â€Å"but never on yours. No, dearest Georgiana, you came so nearly perfect from the hand of Nature, that this slightest possible defect ÃŒ ¶ which we hesitate whether to term a defect or a beauty ÃŒ ¶ shocks me, as being the visible mark of earthly imperfection† (Hawthorne 209). He seeks to remove his wife’s birthmark, the symbol of necessarily flawed humanity, and make her perfect. Georgiana’s birthmark represents man’s imperfections, the very imperfections that make her human. The birthmark is deeply ingrained in her face. â€Å"It was the fatal flaw of humanity which Nature, in one shape or another, stamps ineffaceably on all her productions, either to imply that they are temporary and finite, or that their perfection must be wrought by toil and pain† (Hawthorne 211). We can assume that, symbolically, this passage implies that man’s imperfections are deeply embedded in his nature. â€Å"The Birthmark† illustrates the flaws of mankind, but its most significant declaration is that to be human is inevitably to be flawed. To struggle for perfection is to deny human’s own nature, to deny what makes us human, and to achieve such perfection is essentially impossible. It becomes clear when the narrator of the story describes Georgiana’s death â€Å"The fatal hand had grappled with the mystery of life, and was the bond by which an angelic spirit kept itself in union with a mortal frame. As the last crimson tint of the birthmark–that sole token of human imperfection–faded from her cheek, the parting breath of the now perfect woman passed into the atmosphere, and her soul, lingering a moment near her husband, took its heavenward flight† (Hawthorne 222), by eliminating Georgiana’s imperfection, Aylmer also liberates her of her humanity. Once she is perfect, once she is no longer flawed, Georgiana can no longer live. Hawthorne’s message is that being imperfect is just part of being human. If you are not flawed, you are not human anymore. It seems then; that the central lesson and underlying moral message behind this passage is that trying to put a small mistake way up out of proportion, in attempt to create something perfect, only destroys a good thing and leave us  with the fatal consequences that come with senseless obsession of pursuing perfection. Another example of a moral lesson that Hawthorne’s short story â€Å"The Birth-mark† suggests is that science really does have its limitations. There are certain things that humans are not privileged to know or capable of doing. It is not only arrogant, the story seems to implies, but absolutely dangerous to try to play God. â€Å"Much as he had accomplished, she could not but observe that his most splendid successes were almost invariably failures [†¦] His brightest diamonds were the merest pebbles, and felt to be so by himself, in comparison with the inestimable gems which lay hidden beyond his reach† (Hawthorne 217). Aylmer cannot discover everything about Nature; he has failed in his past experiments and he will fail again with Georgiana. One of the many morals of the story is that Nature carefully protects her secrets and cannot be overcome or even matched by man. As we discuss in the introduction of this essay, Hawthorne wrote â€Å"The Birthmark† at a time when the scientific method was being glorified and people were starting to think science really could take us anywhere we wanted to go. â€Å"The Birthmark† is presenting Nature as the personified creator of all things, as a god. There are implications in the story about moral ethical issues as science tests new drugs in human beings for instance, or scientists playing to be god like in the case of human cloning. Finally, it delivers the moral about what happens when human beings attempt to challenge and alter nature that can and often will end in tragic consequences. Aylmer’s gorgeous wife, Georgiana is highly desirable because of her beauty. The narrator describes her, declaring: â€Å"Georgiana’s lovers were wont to say that some fairy at her birth hour had laid her tiny hand upon the infant’s cheek, [†¦] to give her such sway over all hearts† (Hawthorne 210). She is perfect in every way, except for one tiny flaw that Aylmer can’t accept. â€Å"At all the seasons which should have been their happiest, he invariably [†¦] opened his eyes upon his wife’s face and recognized the symbol of imperfection† (Hawthorne 211). Aylmer is more and more bothered by his  wife’s birthmark. He grows to find it utterly intolerable, and even describes it â€Å"as the symbol of his wife’s liability to sin, sorrow, decay, and death† (Hawthorne 211). The obsession with perfection blinds Aylmer to the true beauty and humanity of his wife, showing the struggle between accepting her true n atural beauty and man’s inability to perceive it and appreciate what nature has bestowed upon him. As the story revels through this important quote â€Å"Do not repent [†¦] you have rejected the best the earth could offer† (Hawthorne 222). Hawthorne’s critical lesson is that Aylmer didn’t recognize how lucky he was to have Georgiana. At the end of the story Aylmer is punished for being dissatisfied with a woman who pledged her love and entrusted her life to him, a woman whose inner and outer beauty he could not see and his discontentment snatch away the most perfect thing in his life, Georgiana. Contentment on what we have is the central lesson of this passage when sometimes; it is enough to just finish a task, even if it is not perfect because striving to make it perfect could end up spoiling many things in the process. At the end of â€Å"The Birthmark,† Aylmer both succeeds and fails. He succeeds in that he finally rid his wife of her birthmark. He fails in that†¦she is dead. Finally, this story involve man’s desire to prefect what is already perfect and the use of science as a flawed tool to attain this perfection. Sure, Georgiana dies right afterwards, but the fact remains that Aylmer does indeed succeed in removing the birthmark from Georgiana’s cheek. What does this say about man’s ability to conquer nature? â€Å"The end justifies the means.† You can use bad or immoral methods as long as you accomplish something â€Å"good† by using them. It is acceptable to do something bad in order to obtain something good? Works Cited Hawthorne, Nathaniel. †The Birth-mark†. Pearson Custom Library Introduction to Literature. Eds. Cain, Kathleen Shine, Kathleen Fitzpatrick, JN, et. al. Boston: Pearson Learning Solution, 2013. 209-222. Print.

Pacific grove case study Essay

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY By 2015, Pacific Grove (hereafter referred as â€Å"PG†) will reach a 55% ratio of interest/bearing debt to total assets and their equity multiplier will be 2.77 which is consistent with Peterson’s expectation. I must be noted that over the next 4 years, PG’s interest coverage is forecasted to increase suggesting that they will gradually be building up more earnings to cover its debt payment which is a good sign for the banks. Dilution of shares seems have to have little impact on the EPS of PG shares. Therefore, it is expected that PG shareholders would accept the issuing of shares. However, this information has to be clearly communicated by PG’s management to its shareholders in order to gain support of this share issuance. It is also fairly safe to say that it is a good decision for PG to enter into the television deal. It is noted that the project would yield a positive NPV at 10%, 15% and 20% discount rates. The project also requires only a modest initial investment The loss of confidence in credit by the overall market had left PG with no choice but to obey the demands of their bank as it would be difficult to obtain credit from other institutions during the time. In addition to that PG was also in the midst of a bearish stock market. This is justified by the fact that investors were anxious about the market and only willing to offer $27.50. A number of recommendations are given to help PG reduce their debt levels. These include improving their supply chain efficiency and forecasting so that they can reduce their inventory levels, negotiating with suppliers to reduce the rate they are paying for inventory and can extending the length of their accounts payable. Overall, it is recommend that PG accepts the investment group’s offer of $27.50 and issue 400,000 common stock to raise $11M for reasons mentioned earlier in the report. The extra funds will give PG more capacity to fund the television program in addition to reducing its debt to meet their bank’s requirement, as well as purchasing an underpriced High Country. 1.0 DEBT According to the forecast in Exhibit 1, PG seems to be on course in meeting their bank’s demand of 55% Debt to Total Asset ratio and 2.7 equity multiplier. Table 1 in the appendix illustrates a number of ratios relating to PG’s debt. Just by following their expected future growth plans they will almost reach the requirements of the bank within 4 years. Using the information provided from their forecasted financials, by 2015 Pacific Grove will reach a 55% ratio of interest/bearing debt to total assets and their equity multiplier will be 2.77 which is consistent with Peterson’s expectation. Although PG’s current future is projected to meet the bank’s demands, the issue that is yet to be known is whether the banks are willing to allow PG 4 years to achieve this. If the banks are reluctant to grant PG such a lengthy time period, PG will need to make smart changes in reducing these ratios. Recommendations for PG in to solve this problem are discussed later in the report. An another note, it must be noted that over the next 4 years, PG’s interest coverage is forecasted to increase suggesting that they will gradually be building up more earnings to cover its debt payment which is a good sign for the banks. This positive factor might help influence the bank to give PG the entire 4 years to meet their requirements. 2.0 SELLING NEW COMMON STOCK The issue with selling new common stock is that it can create dilution amongst existing shareholders. Shareholder dilution will lower share price in addition to sending a negative signal to the company’s shareholders. PG’s common shares outstanding would increase from 1,165,327 by 400,000 to 1,565,327. PG’s current EPS in 2011 is 2.037. According to the earning figures from the forecast in Exhibit 1, the EPS will be 2.136 after issuing  the new shares at year 2012. Table 2 (attached in the appendix) illustrating the EPS from 2012 to 2015 shows that dilution of shares seems have to have little impact on the EPS of PG shares. Therefore, it is expected that PG shareholders would accept the issuing of shares. However, this information has to be clearly communicated by PG’s management to its shareholders in order to gain support of this share issuance. 3.0 ACQUISITION OF HIGH COUNTRY The enterprise value of High Country was estimated in order to compare whether the acquisition price asked for it is would create impairment in the future. The forecasted financials of High Country is attached in the appendix. The discounted cash flow method gave an enterprise value of $37.56M. Assumptions are given in the appendix as to how this amount was achieved. This amount is way above the asking price of $13.2M (in excess of $24.36M). The excess amount will be recorded on PG’s balance sheet as goodwill if the acquisition occurs. As this goodwill amount is very large, it is expected not to be amortized in the future. Peterson has noted that PG would not consider the acquisition if it is anticipated that there will be future impairment and write-down of goodwill created by the purchase of High Country. As the book value(37.56M) is so much higher than its current market value ($13.2M), it is very unlikely that the goodwill will be impaired in the future. With that said, there will be no write down of goodwill. It must also be noted that based on the analysis of this report, High Country is heavily undervalued. The acquisition of High Country will be come off as a smart buy for PG. Overall, PG should look into acquiring High Country not only because of the unlikely write-down, but also because it is undervalued for what it is truly worth. 4.0 TELEVISION DEAL Judging by Exhibit 3, it seems fairly safe to say that it is a good decision for PG to enter into the television deal. It is noted that the project would yield a positive NPV at 10%, 15% and 20% discount rates. The project also requires only a modest initial investment of $1,440,000. Working capital for  the following years significantly lowers after the first year of operations from $2,459,543 to $122,977. On top of that, the show’s star is a reputable name in the cooking industry. This will boost PG’s perception in the market relative to its competitors. All these factors contribute to making the television deal an attractive deal for PG to undertake. 5.0 IMPACT OF ECONOMIC CLIMATE PG is exposed to difficult credit environment as banks are facing pressure from regulators following the financial crisis of 2008. Due to the loss of confidence in credit by the overall market, PG was left with no choice but to obey the demands of their bank as it would be difficult to obtain credit from other institutions during the time. This has impacted PG in the sense that PG might have to make changes in their operations to suit the bank’s needs if the bank demands that their requirements be met before 2015. In addition to poor confidence in the credit market, PG is also in the midst of a bearish stock market. From the fact that investors were anxious about the market and only willing to offer $27.50, which is below the market price, justifies that market participants have lost confidence in the stock market. Due to this market condition, PG will receive less capital funding if they were to accept the offer from the investment group. Overall, the market conditions are not in PG’s favour. The loss of confidence in both credit and stock market has negatively impacted PG. 6.0 RECOMMENDATIONS In terms of reducing PG’s debt if the bank want the debt figures lowered to the required levels before 2015 then Pacific Grove must do something more aggressive reduce interest bearing debt levels. It is recommended that the company explore ways to reduce its need for working capital financing. They should see if there are ways of improving their supply chain efficiency and forecasting so that they can reduce their inventory levels. They should look to negotiate with suppliers to reduce the rate they are paying for inventory. PG should also see if they can extend the length of their accounts payable. Even if they have to pay a slight price premium, if the  rate (APR) is less than what the banks are charging them in interest, it could help to both save money and reduce their capital needs. They should also see if they can adjust the credit policy terms with their customers to shorten the number of days before payment. By reducing receivables and increasing payables they should be able to reduce their financing needs from the bank in notes payable and thus lower their interest-bearing debt. Another option to help PG meet the bank’s demand faster would be to accept the offer by the investment and raise funds by selling common stock. This would store up more cash for future usage and PG will be able to reduce their debt levels in the following years. 7.0 CONCLUSION Overall, it is recommend that PG accepts the investment group’s offer of $27.50 and issue 400,000 common stock to raise $11M for reasons mentioned earlier in the report. The extra funds will give PG more capacity to fund the television program in addition to reducing its debt to meet their bank’s requirement, as well as purchasing an underpriced High Country.