Saturday, November 30, 2019
Sonny With A Chance soundtrack by various artists free essay sample
ââ¬Å"For the first time ever Sonny Sings!â⬠Who remembers this announcement for the promotion of the special, ââ¬Å"Sonny with a Songâ⬠? It was the first time, excluding the theme song, ââ¬Å"So Far, So Greatâ⬠, that Demi Lovatoââ¬â¢s character, Sonny Munroe, sings. It was also the time that Walt Disney Records announced that they would be releasing the first ever Sonny with a Chance soundtrack. Well, here it is! Featuring songs by three of the series stars and a song by the band Allstar Weekend, this soundtrack showcases a myriad of sounds and flavors: from the pop style of ââ¬Å"Come Down with Loveâ⬠(Allstar Weekend), the acoustic soul of ââ¬Å"What to Doâ⬠(Demi Lovato) and the classic Disney feel of ââ¬Å"Kiss Meâ⬠and ââ¬Å"Feels Like Loveâ⬠(Tiffany Thorton) to the almost boy-band, Joe-Jonas-meets-ââ¬ËNSync style of Sterling Knightââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"Hangingâ⬠and ââ¬Å"How We Do Thisâ⬠, this soundtrack is sure to be a fan favorite for a long while (even though I fear itââ¬â¢s lacking having only nine tracks). We will write a custom essay sample on Sonny With A Chance soundtrack by various artists or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I find the soundtrack lacking in another aspect also. While Demi Lovato, Sterling Knight (Chad Dylan Cooper) and Tiffany Thorton (Tawny Hart) contribute their voices to eight out of the nine tracks, Iââ¬â¢m left wanting seeing as how rapper Brandon Michael Smith didnââ¬â¢t contribute any songs (oppose to contributing two tracks on the Starstruck soundtrack) and songs such as ââ¬Å"High School Miserableâ⬠, ââ¬Å"Make Babies Cryâ⬠and Sonny It Up didnââ¬â¢t find their way onto the track listing. Only two songs (excluding the theme) to date have been featured in the series (ââ¬Å"Me, Myself and Timeâ⬠-ââ¬Å"Sonny with a Songâ⬠, ââ¬Å"Work of Artâ⬠-ââ¬Å"A So Random Halloween Specialâ⬠). Iââ¬â¢m hoping for a second soundtrack to be released featuring songs from the So Random sketches and possibly more contributed from other cast members. But dont get me wrong, anytime you buy an album or soundtrack with less than eleven tracks, you can find something wrong with it. This soundtrack is still fun and entertaining and while the songs are not ââ¬Å"so randomâ⬠or as silly as the show itself, itââ¬â¢s still a great buy.
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Case Study SG Cowen
Case Study SG Cowen SG Cowen: Recruitment process The hiring process in any company should be marched with the objectives to be attained by the new employees (Taylor 6). In fact, the set goals should inform the required skills and competencies during the hiring process (Turban and Daniel 733). In essence, for the firm to attain its goals and remain competitive, it must maintain a stream of skilled and competent employees (Barber 136).Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Case Study: SG Cowen specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The key decision factors Cowen considers in making hiring decisions The hiring process in the company is based on the strategy of choosing the best candidate in the MBA class from the top business colleges. The candidates chosen are incorporated into the companyââ¬â¢s associate programs. Even though the company is looking for the best talent, the criteria used in selecting the recruits do not secure talented candi date. The recruitment and the hiring process are even challenging. The considerations to the key positions include the high academic performances and considerable job accomplishments. Besides, the candidates must have attributes that are oriented towards the organization goals. An important area the company was considering includes exceptional academic achievement particularly in business. In addition, the candidate must show the right attitude and enthusiasm on the job to be provided. Other attributes the company was considering includes the interpersonal skills, social development skills, culture and communication skills. About the criteria The criteria used by the company to hire the best candidate are challenging and do not secure the talented candidates required. The hiring process begins by visiting business schools providing the information regarding the company intentions and the hiring process to the potential candidates. The visiting and the information provision process i s followed by the interview session, which is long and involve complex processes. As the case indicates, the hiring criteria in the company have many problems. First, the banking professionals undertake the hiring processes instead of the human resources managers. Human resources professionals are presumed to be having hiring skills and competency in the hiring process (Avery 672). Therefore, employing the banking professionals was a great mistake. Due to lack of formal training in the recruitment process, the SG Cowen employees ended up with recruitment criteria that stereotyped their candidates. The recruitment team considered factors such as the marital status, the type of English the candidate use, physical appearance as well as other personal attributes that does not add value to the firm (Agnvall 3).Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In fact, the candidate s are chosen according to the interviewer individual belief. The process leads to biases through which the candidates are chosen. As indicated in the case, the prejudice of individual towards a particular candidate can sway the whole team not to select the best candidate. The hiring criteria based on subjective measures compromises the attainment of the company objectives (Allen 77). The hiring process should not be based on long procedures. The hiring procedure should be specific to the competencies the company needs (Kiger 39). Since the hiring process in SG Cowen is long and based on subjectivity, the process can be described as being unfair. The two Candidates to Choose Selecting the best two candidates among the remaining pool of four candidates proved to be challenging task. In fact, this was the most important decision to be made by the recruiting bankers. Serious considerations have to be made regarding the candidates as all have the required qualifications. For the right ca ndidate to be selected, the bankers should look for the distinct attributes that differentiate the applicants (Billsberry 23). The attributes should add value to the firm (Ployhart et al 47). The bankers are to make decisions that have two important consequences to the organization. The decision on the type of recruit will affect the success of the company. In other words, the recruits the bankers are going to select will either make the company succeed or fail. Therefore, the candidates must have the right attitude towards the success of the organization goals (Overman 3). Generally, the success of the firm depends on the quality of its workforce. The quality of new hires must also imitate the quality needed in the workforce (Breaugh 103). The decision also influences the quality of the workforce. The bankers must identify the person having the cultural fit for the organization. Therefore, giving an approval for the right candidate who fit culturally within the organization is crit ical for the maintenance of the company reputation and credibility (Jattuso and Evans 139). In addition, making the right hiring decisions will increase the personal credentials as well as benefits that come with it.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Case Study: SG Cowen specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Based on the above criteria, the first candidate that could have been chosen among the four is Natalya Godlewska. The candidate possesses strong academic credentials compared to other candidates. The candidate holds good grades in both her MBA and undergraduate studies. In addition, the candidate has perfect referrals from her former employees. Among the distinct attributes the candidate possess include hardwork, determination, ambitious, and the right attitude towards work (Hansen 59). In addition, leaving its former jobs to join the firm indicates the enthusiasm and the right energy the candidate has towards the job. Even though some of the members expressed reservations on her cultural fit in terms of language barriers, the candidate still outfit the others based on her competence and experience. The candidateââ¬â¢s background explains her poor English but that will not have greater impact of her job delivery. Moreover, the candidate has successfully worked in other firms, which is a proof of success in her social skills. Further, the candidate has mastered her graduate courses in US graduate schools where English is used. Language does not determine the candidate social and cultural adaptability within the workplace (Backhaus 117) The second candidate that could have been chosen is Ken Goldstein. According to the criteria set by the company, all members of the team commended the candidate. In addition, the former employer has put the candidate in high evaluation points. Moreover, the former employer has recommended the candidate for high performance that the firm requires. Besides aca demic credentials and the company criteria, the candidate is a team player an attribute that is highly regarded by the firm. The reservations being expressed by some members that the candidate cannot fit among the recruits due to family commitments are based on subjective recruitment critter. In essence, such an attribute is not important as being competent and able to deliver the results.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The most important attribute the new hire should express is the commitment towards the organization success (Pulley 89). The success of the candidate in Price Waterhouse Coopers expresses his commitment despite additional domestic responsibilities. Such commitment will be simulated in the firm. Agnvall, Elizabeth. ââ¬Å"Hiring at-home workers.â⬠Staffing Management, 4.4 (2008): 2-5. Print. Allen, David.Retaining talent: A guide to analyzing and managing employee turnover. Alexandria: VA SHRM Foundation, 2008. Print. Avery, Dereck. ââ¬Å"Reactions to diversity in recruitment advertising: Are differences black and white?â⬠Journal of Applied Psychology, 88.4 (2003): 672-679. Backhaus, Kristine. ââ¬Å"An exploration of corporate recruitment descriptions on Monster.com.â⬠Journal of Business Communication, 41.2 (2004): 115-136. Print. Barber, Alison. The hiring challenge: Recruitment in small firms. Greenwich, CT: Information Age Publishing, 2005. Print. Billsberry, J ames. Experiencing recruitment and selection. Chichester, UK: John Wiley Sons, 2007. Print. Breaugh, James. ââ¬Å"Employee recruitment: Current knowledge and important areas for future research.â⬠Human Resource Management Review, 18.3 (2008): 103-118. Print. Hansen, Frank. ââ¬Å"Employee referral programs, selective campus recruitment could touch off bias charges.â⬠Workforce Management, 18.6 (2006): 58-59. Print. Jattuso, Mia and Evans Sinar. ââ¬Å"Source effects in Internet-based screening procedures.â⬠International Journal of Selection and Assessment, 11.7 (2003): 137-140. Print. Kiger, Patrick. ââ¬Å"Burnishing your employment brand.â⬠Workforce Management, 86.18 (2007): 39-45. Print. Overman, Stephenie. ââ¬Å"Show off your brand.â⬠Staffing Management 2.1 (2006): 2-6. Print. Ployhart, Robert, Benjamin Schneider and Neal Schmitt. Staffing organizations: Contemporary practice and theory. New York: Routledge, 2006. Print. Pulley, John. ââ¬Å"When the grass wasnââ¬â¢t greener.â⬠Staffing Management, 32.3. (2006): 89-91. Print. Taylor, William. ââ¬Å"To hire sharp employees, recruit in sharp ways.â⬠Staffing Management, 3.2 (2006): 6-7. Print. Turban, Daniel and Daniel Cable. ââ¬Å"Firm reputation and applicant pool characteristics.â⬠Journal of Organizational Behavior, 24.6 (2003): 733-751. Print.
Friday, November 22, 2019
Brief History Of HBL Commerce Essay
Brief History Of HBL Commerce Essay Stragtegic Human Resource Management helps an organization achieve productivity and effectiveness, by sharing the overall vision of the organization, sharing goals and objectives, and making sure that Human Resource is not just a department, but the whole organization speaks of HR as the core division, which means that organization is employee centered. Strategic HR changed a number of things in HBL. It updated the way plans were made, shifting to strategic plans, from a one-man show to bringing everybody on board, encouraging idea generation and sharing proposals, different departments sharing their plans of what to look for in the coming year and democratic decision making by appointing a Strategic Planning Division and appointing member from the Board of Directors that goes through each plan and then the CEO communicating the approved plan to the departmental heads. By this, the plan became not just an objective, but more of a bible. At HBL, after the privatization, a number of i nitiatives were taken, from right sizing and getting rid of lethargic employees, to introducing golden handshake schemes, from moving to performance management system to inducting young blood that brings in creative ideas. Concepts like employee engagement and job rotation became part of the policy, organization-wide rewards programs were introduced. An inevitable change in culture was also accomplished, it from the seniority based to performance based culture. Overall structure of the organization was also made flatter, removing additional levels and bureaucracy. INTRODUCTION TO HBL It is the prime Bank in country established in 1941 having a registered head office in Karachi. It was nationalized in 1974, but recently on 26th February 2004 it has been privatized by Government of Pakistan and is taken over by Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED). They acquired 51 percent of shares of HBL. It is one of the largest Banks of Pakistan with 1439 branches, having total assets o f Rs. 1,139,554,000, 5 million total number of customers helping in generating Rs 13 million profit currently. Brief History of HBL HBL established operations in Pakistan in 1947 and moved its head office to Karachi. Our first international branch was established in Colombo, Sri Lanka in 1951 and Habib Bank Plaza was built in 1972 to commemorate the bankââ¬â¢s 25th Anniversary. With a domestic market share of over 40%, HBL was nationalized in 1974 and it continued to dominate the commercial banking sector with a major market share in inward foreign remittances (55%) and loans to small industries, traders and farmers. International operations were expanded to include the USA, Singapore, Oman, Belgium, Seychelles and Maldives and the Netherlands. On December 29, 2003 Pakistanââ¬â¢s Privatization Commission announced that the Government of Pakistan had formally granted the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) rights to 51% of the shareholding in HBL, against an investme nt of PKR 22.409 billion (USD 389 million). On February 26, 2004, management control was handed over to AKFED. The Board of Directors was reconstituted to have four AKFED nominees, including the Chairman and the President/CEO and three Government of Pakistan nominees. BUSINESS DIVISIONS AT HBL HBL has a wide array of customers, belonging to a wide range of business divisions, from individuals to corporate, from Islamic banking to commercial banking. They are divided into three main categories, as follows:
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Sculpturing the Earth's Surface. The Florida Everglades Essay
Sculpturing the Earth's Surface. The Florida Everglades - Essay Example Everglades or, a ââ¬Ëriver of grassââ¬â¢, as it was dubbed by Marjory Stoneman Douglas, is a vast expanse of freshwater marshes which extends from Lake Okeechobee South to the tip of Florida. However, continuous exploitation over the decades by the populace has polluted the everglades water and devastated the marshland. Since the 1950ââ¬â¢s the urban development and agricultural production in the region flourished but at the cost of the everglades. Big scale attempts are being made to restore the region; the step being an example of the progress from exploitation of the natural resources, to a period of preservation, where the value of these extinguishing reserves were realized and most currently to efforts aimed at revival of the ecosystem (Dugger, n.d). Historically, the Everglades covered 4000 sq. miles in Florida but today it has been reduced to half its size. The marshlands form a section of a huge drainage basin, Lake Okeechobee which covers an area of 11,000 sq miles approximately. There are various forms of habitat that exist on the marshland- open water sloughs, cypress swamps, hard wood hammocks, mangrove swamps and pinelands. Moreover, the plants and animals species found in this region are unique and specialized to the region. However, the scenario started changing in the late 1980ââ¬â¢s with the beginning of developments like creation of agricultural farms for growing sugarcane and vegetables, building up of new canals and levees for protecting the farms and the cities from floods, and increase in the infrastructure in the east of the everglades. ... One of the biggest groups of sugarcane growers, the big sugar, is highly responsible for destroying the Everglades. Farmers of these agricultural farms use high content phosphorus fertilizers in excessive quantities, to improve the quality of their soil. The runoff water from these sugarcane farms carrying the killer phosphorus gets drained into the Everglades through canal-water discharge from Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades agricultural area. It was revealed that this overdose of nutrient resulted in the overgrowth of unwanted plant and algae species or eutrophication, which in turn caused great harm to the original vegetation of Everglades. Not only fertilizers but sewage and human wastes from these fields are being dumped into the marshlands thus polluting the water, making it unhygienic to drink, and the survival of flora and fauna impossible. The entire ecosystem of Florida is in peril because of the pollution (Orem, 2009). Moreover, U.S. factory farms too have contributed t o the contamination of the Everglades. During rainy season or snow melting season, the runoff water from these farms, which grow animal feed crops, carry the top soil particles into the marshland. The 1.4 billion tones of animal manures generated on these farms are also let off through the canals into the marshlands, thus polluting the water. New regulations meant to improve the situation through proper treatment of the manure produced, cannot take effect before another 10 years. According to Environment Protection Agency (EPA), these chemicals are making the water unhygienic to drink which once used to serve as a fresh water source for the Miami Metropolitan area. People living in the surrounding areas
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Discussion on intangible assets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
Discussion on intangible assets - Essay Example The assets have propelled various companies such as Coca-Cola to greater heights of performance and competitiveness globally. However, a number of concerns arise with respect to their value as estimated, amortization, and representation. The first concern is that, intangible assets present immense challenges when financial statements of a company are prepared. The challenges emanate since the assets lack definite value compared to tangible assets. The issue leads to the realization of numerous gaps within the process that result to misrepresentation of the actual performance level of a company (Abdallah, 2004). Concerns also arise on whether the value of the intangible assets should be reported at their carrying amounts or fair value amounts. This is a major issue as evident various financial reports given that some assets such as goodwill carries some cost of impairment that affects the value. Likewise, most companies have failed to separate the value of acquired intangible assets in their books as required under GAAP regulations as established in various financial statements. They include the value of the acquired intangible assets in the value of goodwill (Abdallah, 2004). This poses a challenge of establishing t he actual value of a companyââ¬â¢s goodwill that determines investment decisions. Overstatement of values of intangible assets that is becoming common in most institutions also forms a significant cause of concern. This occurs due to inaccurate estimation of the useful life of an asset and the amortized value over the useful life period. Subsequently, the validity of the goodwill impairment tests has been raising systematic concerns especially at times of the financial crisis (Abdallah, 2004). The concern arises since the tests causesââ¬â¢ acute increase or decreases in value of the carrying amount of the intangible asset hence affect the overall reliability of the value obtained.
Saturday, November 16, 2019
A Rose for Emily - Poem Interpretation Essay Example for Free
A Rose for Emily Poem Interpretation Essay The novel of William Faulkner ââ¬ËA Rose for Emilyââ¬â¢ recounts a part of the past in the life of Miss Emily Grierson and the society in a town of Jefferson after the Civil War. We can watch the intriguing story of a young woman when she is changing from nice and likable young lady to a hermit-like individual, a burden and nuisance for the people and authority of the town. She lived in a gorgeous but rundown house without any major ââ¬Ëtroublesââ¬â¢, like paying taxes for example, which was settled (established?) in 1894 with the Mayor, when she couldnââ¬â¢t afford it. When the change in the office came the tax collectors started asking her to pay the debt to no avail. There was a ââ¬Ësilent warââ¬â¢ going on for years between Emily and the town people until she fully retreated to her house after the death of her father. There is a short time of romance when Emily met a man and the fear of being abandoned made her crazy to a point where she tried to ââ¬Ëkeepââ¬â¢ him for herself ââ¬Ëwith the little helpââ¬â¢ of arsenic. This was the last time he was seen alive. People suspected something bad happened but with no evidence there was nothing they could do about it. Only after her death they entered one of the rooms on the second floor and discovered what took place 40 years earlier. Her lover was ââ¬Ëasleepââ¬â¢ in a bed, still in nightclothes. Next to him, on the pillow, Emilyââ¬â¢s strand of hair. The author tries to go deeper into dark, psychological side of American Goth, going away from its basic ideas like haunted houses, castles, deaths, ailments (diseases), madness, curse, etc. The end of the novel is startling, giving a reader quite a criminal case sample, where the guilty got away with the crime. The question ââ¬Å"Is it possible to commit a crime with no consequences?â⬠lingers in the air. According to the author apparently yes. In his times. It is doubtful that an incident like that could happen in present times, however we still have shocking stories in the news that occur every day and still cannot believe how human mind can lead a person to do heinous crimes.
Thursday, November 14, 2019
What is Style? Essay -- Style Personality Individuality Papers
What is Style? What is style, and how do we know when we have a style that is all our own? This is one thought that I ponder on cloudy dreary days, and when I have nothing better to do than think. In all actuality, do we even have a style we can call our own, or are we a conglomeration of what we like in the people around us? I would like to think I have my own style, but then reality sets in, and I start to realize I'm a clone of all the people I admire, and desire to be like. I has taken me a long time to realize that no matter how hard I tried to be my own person, I was still following in other peoples footsteps. When I was in high school, I did all I could to remain in the "in" crowd. But if you were to ask me if I had my own style, I would have said yes. Even though I wore the same clothes, talk the same language, and played the same sports, I still thought I had my own style. I was so convinced that I was different. But now when I look back, I can see that I was exactly the way I didn't want to be. The only comforting thing about style is that no matter how hard we try to be individuals, we all copy one another. It's nice to know I'm not the only person this happens to, although I think this is rather evident in many people. There are still many groups that dress alike, talk alike, and listen to the same music. No matter where we live, or our social status, we can all become victims of style. One of the best places to see different styles is while visiting a mall, grocery store, or a music shop. These stores can also be a cheap form of entertainment. I can remember one time when a friends of mine, and I had some time to waste before we went to a movie. We went to the mall to engage in our favorite pass time of p... ...to another person, I feel that in some way I have violated this person. But I think that if we don our best make the style look as good as we can, than there shouldn't be any need to worry. I guess the only way I can have a person think about the other is to use your better judgment. If it was your style that was being used wouldn't you feel terrible if someone else ruined the whole idea that you had. It would be like if someone were to read a paper for you, and then this person turned it all around to make it sound nothing like you had wanted, or intended. But then again, there is no way to stop people from ruining what you had created. I guess this is a part of living. We can't control the people around us, so we should be who we want to be, and do what we want to do. And if someone has a problem with that, then that is something that they will have to deal with.
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