Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Child Abuse And Its Effects On Children - 895 Words

Abuse is an issue that has been and is still currently prevalent in our society today. Abuse is defined as, â€Å"the use of force in order to try to dominate a child, to compel him/her to do dangerous things that he/she does not want to do, expose him/her to hazardous situations perceive by him/her as dangerous† (Rus Galabeaza, 2013). Child abuse in particular, is a common issue that occurs in families of all backgrounds. There are several types of abuse, which include: physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. When it comes to impact abuse can have on children, it was stated that, â€Å"abused children suffer from anxiety and depression more frequently than other children and often show a very low level of self-esteem (Rus Galabeaza, 2013). Physical abuse is considered to occur, â€Å"when a child undergoes or presents with a serious risk of being subjected to physical violence or when he or she is faced with unreasonable disciplinal methods† (Fontaine Nolin, 2012). â€Å"Since physical abuse is a violent action, it is often believed that its effects are easier to detect† (Fontaine Nolin, 2012). This particular article also compared physical abuse to neglect. The article stated that, â€Å"Neglect is defined as a lack of action or attention, and is the most common form of child maltreatment† (Fontaine Nolin, 2012). Another article defined physical abuse as, â€Å"the use of physical force against children and subjecting them to hard work that exceed their capabilities, actions that result inShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Child Abuse On Children935 Words   |  4 PagesChild abuse has been an issue in America since the beginning of time, but lately there has gradually been an increase in reporte d incidents of abuse. There are several types of child abuse that are present in today’s society. The different types of abuse include physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Of the different maltreatment types, four-fifths (78.3%) of unique victims were neglected, 17.6 percent were physically abused, 9.2 percent were sexually abused, 8.1 percent were psychologically maltreatedRead MoreChild Abuse And Its Effects On Children Essay1489 Words   |  6 Pagesindividuals corrected. However, there are cases that have not been solved or not stopped by the law. Child abuse is common. Child abuse can be caused by a variety of reasons. Scientist have been studying and they have some ideas on what prompt people to harm children (Ian Hacking). They are trying to end child abuse, but there is so much they can do. Many children abuse incidents are not reported. Child abuse may have many causes as in way the abuser does it. One specific factor is the background of theRead MoreChild Abuse A nd Its Effects On Children913 Words   |  4 Pagesseveral types of abuse, there’s physical, emotional, verbal and several others abuses. But the abuse I would like to focus on is child abuse. Domestic violence towards children is important because there is a way to prevent it from happening. Typical parents and caregivers do not intend to abuse their children. Abuse is mainly directed toward the behaviors that are given off towards one another. Author David Gil defines child abuse as an occurrence where a caretaker injures a child, not by accidentRead MoreChild Abuse Is An Effect On Children1657 Words   |  7 PagesIn 2010 according to the census bureau there were 74,100,000 U.S children between the ages of 0-17 being abused and 3.3 million referrals. This effected on average 1-10 U.S families and children, there were more than 32,200,000 U.S families with children under the age of 18 according to the 2010 census bureau. From the 3.3 million hotline calls in 2010 there we re less than 475,000 sustained cases (2010 NCANDS: 436,321 sustained +24,976 indicated = 461,297 total) resulting in about 15% of hotlineRead MoreChild Abuse And Its Effects On Children1317 Words   |  6 PagesChild abuse has long been an ongoing social problem; this abuse has been one of the repeatedly difficult accusations to prove in our criminal justice system. Child abuse causes many years of suffering for victims. Children abused suffer from chemical imbalances, behavioral issues and are at high risk for becoming abusers or being abused in adult relationships. This cycle of learned behavior and suffering will be a hopeless reoccurring problem unless the criminal justice system and protocols for abusersRead MoreChild Abuse And Its Effects On Children1488 Words   |  6 Pages â€Æ' In addressing child abuse we are confronted with a series of problems. On the one hand, there is a lack of the true extent of the phenomenon because no data are available and that the issue, often refers to the most intimate spaces of family life. Furthermore, cultural and historical traditions affect the way each society faces this problem. Finally, there are varying opinions as to its definition and classification, as well as the consequences of child abuse may have and its subsequent therapeuticRead MoreChild Abuse And Its Effects On Children1263 Words   |  6 Pages Child Abuse Child abuse is any behavior which, by action or omission, produces physical or psychological damage to a person less than 18 years, affecting the development of his personality. In homes, it is believed that the most effective way to educate children is using the abuse. This form of punishment it used as an instrument of correction and moral training strategy as it is the first and most persistent justification of damage and maltreated mothers parents inflict on their children. SocietyRead MoreChild Abuse And Its Effects On Children1160 Words   |  5 PagesMost parents and other caregivers do not intend to hurt their children, but abuse is defined by the effect on the child, not the motivation of the parents or caregiver. Tens of thousands of children each year are traumatized by physical, sexual, and emotional abusers or by caregivers who neglect them, making child abuse as common as it is shocking. Most of us can’t imagine what would make an adult use violence against a child, and the worse the behavior is, the more unimaginable it seems. ButRead MoreChild Abuse And Its Effects On Children1227 Words   |  5 Pagesreports of child abuse are made involving more than 6 million children. The United States has one of the worst records of child abuse losing 4-7 children a day to the abuse. Abuse is when any behavior or action that is used to scare, harm, threaten, control or intimidate another person. Child abuse is a behavior outside the norms of conduct and entails substantial risk of causing physical or emotional harm. There are four main types of child abuse; physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, andRead MoreChild Abuse And Its Effects On Children1132 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction Child abuse takes many different forms. Including physical, sexual, emotional, or neglect of a children by parents, guardians, or others responsible for a child s welfare. Regardless of the type of abuse, the child’s devolvement is greatly impacted. The child’s risk for emotional, behavioral, academic, social, and physical problems in life increase. According to the Child Maltreatment Report by the Children’s Bureau (1999) the most common form of child abuse in the United States is

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

The First Use Of Vehicles During The U.s. Army - 1274 Words

THE FIRST USE OF VEHICLES IN THE U.S. ARMY 1 THE FIRST USE OF VEHICLES IN THE U.S. ARMY USAACE NCOA SFC Francis C. League 15E SLC 17-003 SFC Maradol THE FIRST USE OF VEHICLES IN THE U.S. ARMY 2 Since the founding of the United States innovations and technologies have intermittently intersected providing critical direction in how we fight on the battlefield. From breech-load cannons, fully automatic machine guns, airplanes, helicopters†¦to computers, night vision goggles, and lasers; each exerted influence on the trajectory of modern warfare. However, arguably one of the greatest innovations that forever changed the battlefield landscape was the advent of the motor powered vehicle. Motor powered†¦show more content†¦ARMY 3 distance of one hundred and twenty miles on a tank of gas, (Model T Forum, 2010). This newfound speed to press an objective quickly could decisively change an outcome of a battle. In 1912, a forward thinking U.S. Army military leader, Captain Alexander E. Williams persuaded Quartermaster General James B. Aleshire, to approve an elaborate off-road military convoy operations test, (FourbyFour, 2016). The test evaluated the viability of motorized trucks as replacements for mules and wagons. Captain Williams visited several factories; Ford, Mack, Aldcn Sampson, Garford, White and the little known FWD, seeing what trucks the companies had to offer for the challenge. Of those companies only Mack, White and FWD fielded trucks that withstood the rigors of the exercise(s). A subsequent test involved supplying a provisional regiment throughout a one hundred and fifteen mile march from Dubuque, Iowa to Sparta, Wisconsin. And, although every truck that participated in the convoy broke down and needed repair at some point along the route, the exercise successfully demonstrated that trucks had a future use and purpose in the U.S. Army. In spite of this achievement, Captain Williams’s superiors were reticent in their approval to move the Quartermaster (QM) Corps into the mechanized age. Over the coming years, the events of the war in Europe laid the groundwork to the realities ofShow MoreRelatedThe Jeep Is The Father Of The 4x4 Suv And Was Made For One Reason1283 Words   |  6 Pagesonly: World War II. Army official correspondent, Ernie Pyle stated, Good Lord, I don t think we could continue the war without the jeep. It does everything. It goes everywhere. It s as faithful as a dog, strong as a mule, and as agile as a goat. It constantly carries twice what it was designed for, and keeps on going. It doesn t even ride so badly after you get used to it†(Jeep Facts). The first jeep that was ever created was really not what the army expected. The first run of the war JeepRead MoreThe Army Capabilities Integration Center1259 Words   |  6 PagesThe Need for a More Robust Armored Force in the U.S. Army in 2025 Introduction The primary issue facing the United States Army in 2025 and beyond is its ability to operate in a fiscally constrained environment. According to the Army Capabilities Integration Center’s (ARCIC) primary initiative, Force 2025 and beyond, it â€Å"Is the Army s strategy to ensure the future joint force can win in a complex world.† Furthermore, ARCIC’s initiatives will â€Å"consists of activities along three primary linesRead MoreThe Old Guard Is Responsible For The Security1608 Words   |  7 PagesWashington D.C during times of national emergency or civil disturbance. It’s also the oldest unit in the U.S. Army service since 1784. Its primary responsibilities these days were far more ceremonial than combat related, although they did rotate units in and out of Iraq and Afghanistan. It guards the tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington; it conducts memorial affairs as in participating in the burial of our fallen Soldiers. It has the Fife and Dru m Corps they are a U.S. Army marching band thatRead MoreThe World War Doctrine And Concepts1156 Words   |  5 PagesFollowing the First World War doctrine and concepts became heavily scrutinized from both sides of the war. Several advocates attempted to initiate change based off of the countless lives that were lost during the war. Many advocates’ concepts were ignored during their time as they tried to change doctrine and organization; however, their ideas still managed to set the pace for the future. This essay will discuss the influences of J.F.C. Fuller, Liddell Hart, Mikhail Nikolayevich Tukhachevsky,Read MoreThe Italian Campaign For World War II1315 Words   |  6 PagesThe Italian Campaign The Italian Campaign put Allied troops in Europe. Lesser objectives of the invasion included a chance to capitalize on the collapse of Italian resistance; to immediately use Allied forces; to engage German forces that could be sent to Russia and northern France; to take control of airfields that could be used for bombing missions; and to gain control of the Mediterranean. Casablanca Conference - Planning: Believing the North African campaign would be over quickly, American andRead MoreStrategic Leadership Of Operation Husky1543 Words   |  7 PagesThe operational level commanders, of Operation Husky, failed to provide adequate command and control and were average in their integration of the joint Allied force. The Allied Force Commander, General Eisenhower, and the 15th Army Group Commander, General Alexander, failed to apply mission command and specifically the elements of commander’s intent, mutual trust, and understanding. Furthermore, the Allied Force Headquarters, and specifically the air component commander, Air Chief Marshal TedderRead MoreThe Annual Spending On Renewable Energy1420 Words   |  6 Pagesorder to enhance the security of the American people and to address the every changing requirements of sustainability, the U.S. military is urgently trying to reduce its footprint on the world.. The military is constantly trying to produce cleaner power, reduce energy consumption, minimize waste and most importantly manage water. This covers an immense number of DoD ships, vehicles, planes, buildings, and land. The military is a large role model to the rest of the nation and the world, and most thinkRead MoreTrying out Weapons before World War II1063 Words   |  4 Pages1914 gave the U.S an opportunity to try new technology such as motorization and aircraft. However, this was strong a small conflict that did not translate to that of the First World War. The American military was not modern yet compared to other powers. The United States did not have great influence over the strategy among the allied forces. They relied on the allies for military equipment. France and Britain desperately needed more men to fight in the war. They needed U.S soldiers. TheRead MoreThe Ghost Army Of World War II1586 Words   |  7 Pages Domenico Foti Professor Richardson WOH1030 November 20th, 2015 The Ghost Army of World War II World War II was a war of many victories and losses. A battle for constant control of territories, that was ushered by greed and corruption. With this comes the persistent need to find an advantage over the enemy, and during this time Germany became the front runner in innovations and technology. This intelligence showed by the Germans had the allied forces in a scramble to help propel them on top ofRead MoreThe Evolution Of Logistics Within Warfare1164 Words   |  5 PagesWhen considering the evolution of logistics in warfare, it is important to realize that both opportunities and problems must be recognized for the former to be capitalized upon and the latter to be resolved. The first recorded war occurred in approximately 2700 BC; however, the prevailing attitude towards logistics in warfare remained largely unchanged for approximately 4,600 years, and that is a problem. Even among recognized experts in warfare, up until the 20th century, logistics was eschewed

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Accounting for Business Decision Largest Supermarket Chain

Question: Describe about the Accounting for Business Decision of Largest Supermarket Chain. Answer: Introduction Woolworths Ltd. is largest supermarket chain of Australia headquartered in Sydney being established in the year 1924. It is mainly involved in food improvement, liquor and owning of petrol stations business in Australia (Annual report 2015: Woolworth). The company has a huge workforce diversity of about 111,000 people in its retail stores and distribution centers that enables it to offer high quality products and services to the customers. The company emphasizes on providing highest range of products to the customers and has established about 961 stores in the country to serve customer needs easily and instantly. Woolworths is recognized as Fresh Food People in Australia due to its emphasis in providing fresh food products to the customers. It works in close-association with Australian farmers and growers to procure fresh food ingredients for manufacturing its food products. The suppliers are considered as strategic partner by the company so that they provide highest quality raw mate rials for manufacturing best in class products for the customers (Woolworths Supermarkets, 2012). The company owns a large market share in retail sector of Australia and is second largest in terms of revenue in the county. It is recognized as largest liquor retailer in Australia. Woolworths also has a strong market presence in New Zealand retail sector. The four strategic objectives as outlined by the company are as follows: Gaining expansion in food and liquor business segments Optimizing shareholder value Developing and maintaining its growth record in newly developed business segments such as home improvements Establishing new era of growth The company aims to provide new and innovative products to the customers for meeting their changing needs and expectations. The senior managers of the company places strong focus on meeting the changing customer needs through identifying innovative ways of growth (Annual report 2015: Woolworth). As such, the company has established its various stores for home improvement and is also promoting its online sales for achieving customer satisfaction. It is investing largely in expanding its liquor and petrol business with the aim of increasing its market share in supermarket of Australia. The companys strategy also integrates on achieving sustainability through ensuring that its operational activities do not have any adverse impact on the community and environment. It has implemented effective strategies for reducing carbon and greenhouse gas emissions for supporting the development of community and environment (Mc Arthur, 2013). The company although enjoys a profitable position in the retail market of Australia but is presently declining in its financial performance. The main reason behind the declining profitability is its huge investment in home improvement sector that is not turning out to be profitable for the company. Also, it has placed large focus on developing its business in home improvement that has resulted in its less emphasis on its core segment of food products. However, it is now placing strong focus on regaining its momentum in the retail sector of the country with placing more focus on manufacturing its core food products (Woolworths Supermarkets, 2012). The present report, in this regard, examines and analyzed the financial performance of Woolworths for identifying the areas of improvement needed for enhancing its profitability in the future context. Financial Analysis of statements to accounts of Woolworths This section explains all the important items that are presented in the financial statements of the company and changes that occur in one year time period will be noted to form an opinion on the financial performance of the company (Brigham and Ehrhardt, 2011). Woolworth published its annual report every year that contains audited financial statements and for this report, annual report of year 2015 has been selected to review on. In order find out the increase or decrease in major items of balance sheet, the financial data of year 2015 will be compared to financial data of year 2014. The increase or decrease in the items will be presented in the form of percentage so that it is useful to analyze the data. The major financial statements are: Statement of Financial Position Statement of Profit and Loss Statement of Cash Flow Statement of Change in Equity Statement of Financial Position Statement of financial position is one of the most important statements among all four statements as it shows all the values of assets and liabilities presented with the company (Mumba, 2013). This statement is also known as balance sheet because this statement is based on the well known accounting equation: Assets = Liabilities + Stockholders Equity. As the per rule to make the balance sheet, all the present values of items in balance sheet are adjusted to the values at the beginning of year so that net change can be seen. The principle used in the framing the balance sheet is similar to the accounting equation and according to this equation both side of balance sheet must be equal. As discussed earlier this statement is most important among all, so it must be prepared with proper caution and high level of integrity. It helps investors and users of financial statement to evaluate the performance of organization through use of various financial tools like accounting ratio (Buckle, Bu ckle, and Thompson, 2004). In other words it can be said that this statement present the true and fair picture of organization activities. The major items present in the balance sheet are current assets, current liabilities, shareholders equity, long term liabilities and long term assets. As per IFRS, there is specific format to present the balance and it is mandatory for all the listed companies to follow that structure. As per that structure balance sheet must be drawn vertically instead of horizontally. This section will evaluate important items presented in the balance sheet of Woolworth Limited. In order to make comment on the performance of the company in year 2015, figures of year 2015 are compared with figures of year 2014 and any increase or decrease will be noted. It must be noted that every item in the balance sheet has its own importance while evaluating the performance of the company. In order to provide all necessary information to the performance of the company, notes to financial statements will also be evaluated along with primary values in the balance sheet. The following table shows all important figures of balance sheet in year 2014 and 2015: Statement of Financial Position Woolworth Limited Items 2015 2014 Increase of Decrease % Increase or Decrease in year 2015 Total Current Assets $ 7,661.00 $ 7,175.00 $ 486.00 6.77% Total Non-Current Assets $17,676.00 $ 17,030.00 $ 646.00 3.79% Total Assets $25,337.00 $ 24,205.00 $ 1,132.00 4.68% Total Current Liabilities $ 7,558.00 $ 9,169.00 $ (1,611.00) -17.57% Total Non Current Liabilities $ 5,334.00 $ 6,395.00 $ (1,061.00) -16.59% Total Liabilities $25,337.00 $ 24,205.00 $ 1,132.00 4.68% Total Equity $10,253.00 $ 10,834.00 $ (581.00) -5.36% Above table list the figures of important items in balance sheet along with the increase or decrease in value of items. The percentage of increase or decrease is calculated using the value of year 2014 as base and difference in value of year 2015 and 2014 as numerator (Buckle, Buckle, and Thompson, 2004). Through having looked at the values of various items in balance sheet it can be said that Woolworth has performed better in year 2015 as compare to year 2014. The management at Woolworth has made efforts to increase the value of current assets and non current assets in year 2015 as compare to year 2014. The value of current assets has been increased by 6.77 % and value of current liabilities got reduced by 17.57 %. This indicates that liquidity performance has got major change in year 2015 (Annual report 2015: Woolworth). The value of non current assets has also been raised by 3.79% due to purchase of new plant and machinery and other fixed for the expansion of business. The expansi on of business has been financed through issue of share capital (Brigham and Ehrhardt, 2011). The debt equity position of the Woolworth is also good as company has least amount of long term as compared to equity share capital (Buckle, Buckle, and Thompson, 2004). This shows the presence of balanced capital structure of Woolworth in both the years under analysis. Woolworth has invested more than 400 million dollars in plant and equipments in order to make major expansion in business. Company has used some part of reserves and part of net profit to finance the purchase of assets. There was decrease in amount of borrowing from financial institutions in year 2015 as compare to year 2014. Company has repaid the debt of more than 1000 million dollars in year 2015 (Annual report 2015: Woolworth). Statement of Profit and Loss The profit and loss account statement reflects the balances of sales revenue, cost of goods sold and net income earned in the particular year. This statement is important from the point of view of investors as it shows the earning efficiency of the company. Statement of Profit and Loss Woolworth Limited Items 2015 2014 Increase of Decrease % Increase or Decrease in year 2015 Revenue $60,868.00 $ 60,952.00 $ (84.00) -0.14% Cost of Goods Sold $44,345.00 $ 44,475.00 $ (130.00) -0.29% Non operating gain or (loss) $ 3,042.00 $ 3,533.00 $ (491.00) -13.90% Earning per Share $ 1.71 $ 1.97 $ (0.26) -13.20% Income Tax $ 930.00 $ 1,057.00 $ (127.00) -12.02% Finance Cost (Interest) $ 255.00 $ 278.00 $ (23.00) -8.27% Net Income $ 2,146.00 $ 2,452.00 $ (306.00) -12.48% The above table presents the values of major items present in the profit and loss account of Woolworth in year 2015 and year 2015. Along with the values, percentage increase and decrease has also been shown in order to comment on the profitability position of company in the year 2015 when compared to year 2014. Overall performance of company was good in year 2015 but when it is compared with performance in year 2014, there has been negative shift in revenue and net profit. It indicates that performance of company is not as per budget drawn for year 2015. There was 13.20% decrease in earning per share in year 2015 that indicates that market performance of company was not up to the mark (Annual report 2015: Woolworth). The negative trend in the net profit of the company itself tells whole story of the company in year 2015. It is indication of downfall of food and retail market in Australia and as per future estimates it can be said that there will be major downfall in net revenue in ne xt upcoming year (Houston and Brigham, 2009). Statement of Change in Equity Statement of change in equity points of various items that make up the value of shareholders equity such as retained earnings, change in foreign exchange reserves, value of equity etc. This statement is useful to notice the change in various value of shareholders equity over the period of time (Buckle, Buckle, and Thompson, 2004). Statement of Change in Equity Woolworth Limited Items 2015 2014 Increase of Decrease % Increase or Decrease in year 2015 Issued Capital $ 5,064.90 $ 4,850.10 $ 214.80 4.43% Number of Shares (in million) 1256.6 1248 8.60 0.69% Foreign Currency Reserve $ (37.20) $ 67.70 $ (104.90) -154.95% Retained Earnings $ 5,830.10 $ 5,423.10 $ 407.00 7.50% Non Control Interest $ 297.80 $ 272.90 $ 24.90 9.12% The above table shows important items that makes the statement of equity of Woolworth (Brigham and Ehrhardt, 2011). The table shows that company has raised $214.80 million of equity capital in year 2015 through issue of 8.60 million equity shares in the market. Looking at the adverse condition of market, company decided to increase the value of retained earnings through adding $ 407 million to the previous balance of retained earnings. The table indicates that there was increase in value of non controlled interest by $24.90 million reflecting an increase of 9.12% in year 2015 as compare to year 2014 (Annual report 2015: Woolworth). Statement of Cash Flow Cash flow statement generally gives information on the cash spent by the company in operating, investing and financing activities (Bull, 2007). Statement of Cash flow Woolworth Limited Items 2015 2014 Increase of Decrease % Increase or Decrease in year 2015 Net cash inflow (outflow) from operating activities $ 3,345.10 $ 3,472.70 $ (127.60) -3.67% Net cash inflow (outflow) from financing activities $(1,610.80) $ (1,371.90) $ (238.90) 17.41% Net cash inflow (outflow) from investing activities $(1,333.90) $ (2,031.40) $ 697.50 -34.34% Net increase (decrease) in cash during the year $ 1,333.40 $ 922.60 $ 410.80 44.53% This table reflects increase or decrease in values of major activities shown in cash flow statement of Woolworth in year 2015 as compare to year 2014. The cash flow from operating activity has decreased in year 2015 by 127.60 million dollars showing the net fall of 3.67 %. The decrease in cash inflow from operating activity indicates poor strategies used for cash collection and creditability rating. Company has used 238.90 million more dollars in year 2015 as compare to year 2014 to finance the activities related to financing such as repayment of borrowing, payment of dividend and many others activities. It can be seen from above table that company was able to generated 410.80 more cash in year 2015 as compare to year 2014 but overall performance of company has got adverse in year 2015 due slow down in market (Annual report 2015: Woolworth). Conclusion It can be summarized from the overall discussion held in the report that Woolworths need to improve its financial performance for regaining its market leader position in the retail sector of Australia. The analysis of the financial statements of the year 2015 depicted that company has improved its financial performance somewhat in comparison to the financial year 2014. It has increased the dividend paid to shareholders for maximizing shareholder value and obtaining their trust for supporting its future growth plans. The financial statements analyzed also reveals that companys capital structure incorporates large use of debt as compared to equity. However, the proportion of debt in its capital structure has reduced to a significant extent in the year 2015 as compared to the previous year. This indicates that company is focusing presently on achieving a stable financial condition and is therefore implementing effective strategies for eliminating risk in its business model. Woolworths i s divesting its non-profitable business of home improvement for generating funds in order to improve the proportion of equity in its capital as compared to the debt. The report has presented significant information about the financial condition of the company that will help the investors to make decision regarding holding or buying its shares. The main aim of preparing the report is fulfilled by developing a proper understanding of the different items of the financial statement so that performance of the company can be measured and economic decision can be drawn. Financial statements analysis has provided all the information regarding the financial position, changes in equity, performance and cash generated by the company. All these details would prove to be largely beneficial for the investors to make the opinion on investment decision and act as proper guide to them. Recommendations On the basis of findings obtained from reviewing the financial statements of Woolworths, the company is recommended to implement new growth strategies for improving its financial performance. It has been analyzed from the financial statements of the company that it is largely incorporating the use of debt in its capital structuring rather than issuing equity shares. The increase in debt structure will raise its liability therefore hampering its sustainability. The new investment of the company in home improvement business is not proving to be profitable and therefore it is recommended to divest it for raising equity capital. It should emphasize on investing its profitable business segment of food and liquor for regaining its market leader position in the retail sector of Australia. The investment in profitable business segments would lead to increased sales and revenue generation of the company. This would further support its expansion plans in food and liquor retail sector. Also, it should emphasis more on the development of online channels for reaching to its target customers easily and instantly. This would help the company to achieve increased customer satisfaction further improving the sales and profitability (Mumba, 2013). The development of online channels would also help the company to reduce its operational cost by eliminating the need of physical distribution centers for offering its wide range of products to the customers. In addition to this, the company is also recommended to enhance its reserves and retained earnings for meeting the contingency conditions. It can be seen from the review of the financial statements that company does not hold enough reserves and retained earnings that can negatively impact its future growth strategies. Thus, Woolwor ths is recommended to increase its retained earnings and reserves for meeting the occurrence of any adverse situations. References Annual report 2015: Woolworth. [Online]. Available at: www.woolworthslimited.com.au/icms_docs/182381_Annual_Report_2015.pdf [Accessed on:22 Spetember, 2016]. Brigham, E. F. and Ehrhardt, M. C. 2011. Financial Management: Theory and Practice. Mason: Cengage Learning. Buckle, M.J., Buckle, M. and Thompson, J. 2004 . The UK Financial System. 4th ed. New York: Manchester University Press. Bull, R. 2007. Financial Ratios: How to use financial ratios to maximise value and success for your business'. UK: Elsevier. Houston, J.F. and Brigham, E.F. 2009. Fundamentals of Financial Management. Cengage Learning. Mc Arthur, T. 2013. Woolworths makes progress on its strategic priorities. [Online]. Available at: https://www.fool.com.au/2013/08/29/woolworths-makes-progress-on-its-strategic-priorities/ [Accessed on: 12 September 2016]. Mumba, C. 2013. Understanding Accounting and Finance: Theory and Practice. USA: Trafford Publishing. Woolworths Supermarkets. 2012. [Online]. Available at: https://www.woolworthslimited.com.au/page/Who_We_Are/Our_Brands/Supermarkets/Woolworths/ [Accessed on: 12 September 2016].

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Music as an Aesthetic Experience Essay Example

Music as an Aesthetic Experience Paper The introduction of Donald J. Funes book Musical Involvement addresses the topic of music as an aesthetic experience. The preface to the introduction is the realization that truly listening to music requires an active response, and this type of listening is not innate. All throughout the day we are bombarded with music and every day sounds, most of which remain in our periphery. It can be difficult to focus on a single event such as a concert, lecture or any other situation that requires a quite environment because we can attend to around seven sensory inputs at any one time, including our internal conversations. Suddenly our periphery senses can become distracting to the point where they detract from the single auditory source we are trying to focus on. Actively listening requires the listener to minimize the external an internal distractions so that the important details of the work are heard. Funes notes that this is a highly rewarding way of listening but it is not the only way interacting with music. Musical Involvement is a guide to learning how to actively listen to music to achieve an aesthetic experience. Funes argues that in order to have an aesthetic experience with music, then first it is necessary to perceive music as an aesthetic object which is only possible if an aesthetic attitude is adopted. There are several components to having an aesthetic attitude. The first is the realization that preconditioned responses limit experiences. Meaning, your attitude influences your perception. A negative attitude can prevent anyone from enjoying an experience. Learning to view a situation from other perspectives can improve control over mindset therefore expanding the possibilities of responses to experiences. We will write a custom essay sample on Music as an Aesthetic Experience specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Music as an Aesthetic Experience specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Music as an Aesthetic Experience specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Since a negative attitude is a contradiction to adopting an aesthetic attitude, all aesthetic listening is positive. To adopt an aesthetic attitude it is not necessary to develop a personal theory on aesthetics; it is only necessary to understand that it is possible to interact with music and sound aesthetically. The difficult part of listening to music as an aesthetic object is being distant from the music. To set aside any preconceived notions or associations about the work so that it may be enjoyed only for impractical reasons. Looking at something as an aesthetic object goes against any ideas of practicalities because it is highly improbably to enjoy something purely for itself if it is looked at with the potential of something else in mind. Another condition to the aesthetic attitude is adopting a sympathetic awareness, a willingness to experience all types of music because no style is superior to another. In the chapter on Perception in Lewis Rowells Thinking about Music, he discusses traditional problems of aesthetics for the listener. Although Rowell and Funes discuss similar ideas about aesthetic listening, the purpose of Rowells work is not to teach the listener how they should listen to music. Similar to an argument Funes makes, Rowell comments that even though some authors feel that there is an ideal way to listen, it is a good idea to understand that there is a range of possible listening experiences. The first problem Rowell discusses are the varying modes of perception. He sets the scene for exploring the listening experience with asking the question What am I doing. This question involves several other component questions that basically range around the listeners background in understanding music and how that might affect their experience. These questions only seem applicable to an experienced music listener who has some academic understanding of music. Later he discusses the idea of perception being a problem to discuss specifically because of the range of ways people listen to music. Rowell does discuss some modes of perception that can negatively affect the listeners experience and that just being simply conscious of these distractions can completely change the experience. Like Funes, Rowell discusses the idea of being detached from the music to achieve a more aesthetic experience. First he cites Kants definition of taste to discuss valid rules of judgment for all observers. Consequently, Kant determines it is necessary for all observers to look from an objective view. Rowell is not concerned at this point whether Kant is correct in his assessment of taste but instead he is only concerned that the listener detach themselves from the work for a more objective viewpoint. Although the idea of being distant from a work is sometimes ambiguous it can be interpreted at least three ways. The first as a literal distance, the second as a dimensional distance, and lastly the most important being a psychic distance in the form of emotional detachment. Like Funes, Rowell states the listener diminishes the possibilities of achieving an aesthetic experience when attention becomes focused on discovering the purpose of art. Finally, Rowell argues against a stance that various other authors have taking, the concept that the ideal musical experience is a total detachment from all contexts. Instead Rowell argues that although the ideal musical experience preserves a degree of distance by regarding all experiences as individual, it is necessary to have a sense of awareness about the style and performance of the work. Malcolm Budd begins The Repudiation of Emotion, the second chapter in Music and Emotion with a sizable disclaimer stating that although he is adopting the viewpoint of the listener it does not take any priority over the composer or executants viewpoint. For his purposes, Budd is only concerned with the listener who has achieve an aesthetic experience. The disclaimer continues to state that the purpose of compositions are not universally for active participation of the listener. Although, some music is intended to be incidental, the listener still has the capability of seeking an aesthetic experience with it and therefore all music is subject to the contents of the chapter. The purpose of this chapter is to discover the aesthetically significant relationship between music and emotions to explain why the listener has an aesthetic response. First Budd explains the irrelevance of the composers and the performers emotions when creating or performing a work. Although there may have been some emotional background for the creation or performance it does not mean the same emotion is audibly being transmitted to the listener. Therefore the only important instance of emotion is the emotion the listener experiences but the crucial question is whether the listener is has achieved this emotion from the quality (or intention) of the music. Budd establishes the only known negative response to this question is Eduard Hanslicks book The Beautiful in Music.