Tuesday, December 24, 2019

President Jimmy Carter and Big Government Spending Essay

Although Carter was a likable man, the role of president was not the job for him. His big government spending and policies were responsible for leading our fragile country into one of the worst economic recessions ever. However, this all changes in January of 1981 when President Ronald Reagan was sworn into office and came to our country’s rescue. Reagan stepped in ready to mend the deep scars left behind by setting forth an economic plan, Reaganomics, in hopes to bail out our sinking country. Though many may say Reagan’s conservative ways had this plan favoring the upper class, this was not the case. In 1981 President Carter handed his duty to Ronald Reagan in a vulnerable time for the country. America was in an economic recession where†¦show more content†¦Supply-side went off the idea that, â€Å"tax rates affect a person’s incentive to work, save, and invest. To put it simply: lower tax rates create more economic energy, which generates more economi c activity, which produces a greater flow of revenue to the government† (Gramm, Phil). This was known as the Laffer Curve. When Reagan first came into office he was dealing with marginal rates at about 70% of returns on savings and investments, but as he left office, 33% was the highest rate in the tax code which even dropped to 28%. These tax rates led the nation to one of the longest peacetime recoveries economically (Gramm, Phil). Before people can blame Reagan for stealing from the poor we must look at the overall effects of his plan that seemingly led America out of a deep recession. First of all, the tax cuts that he implemented were for ALL Americans. That means the rich, the poor, African Americans, and even the disabled. These tax cuts were a positive incentive for everyone, which in turn helped to stimulate the economy. In Reagan’s Radio Address to the Nation in 1983 he explains how much trouble Carter’s double-digit inflation negatively affected the c ountry. The government was faced with large deficits and record high interest rates. Of course with the devastating numbers, the poor were scrambling to keep their heads above water and consequently many plummeted into deep poverty. With the poverty level sky-rocketing, any effort Reagan made toShow MoreRelatedRonald Reag A Beloved American President869 Words   |  4 PagesReagan was a beloved American president. However, he didn’t represent the prodigious archetype all citizens should follow. Reagan declared that the â€Å"government isn’t the solution to our problem† rather, â€Å"the government is the problem†. He decried that years of new deal-style tax- and- spend programs created a federal government that reminded him of a create who was all appetite at one end with no sense of responsibility on the other. In essence, he argues the government undermined one major sectorRead MoreFrom Great Inflation To Great Moderation1257 Words   |  6 PagesFr om Great Inflation to Great Moderation At the end of President Jimmy Carters administration (1976-1980), the economic environment in the United States was heading toward the 8th recession since World War II (â€Å"The Reagan Years†). Oil prices continued to rise from $4 a barrel in 1973 to $37 a barrel (Sloan 31) creating an energy crisis, business investments slowed (Michael), Congress repealed usury laws allowing credit card companies to increase interest rates up to 20 percent or higher, (Foner1048)Read MoreThe Presidential Election Of The United States1507 Words   |  7 PagesThe 1980 presidential election of the United States featured three primary candidates, Republican Ronald Reagan, Democrat Jimmy Carter and liberal Republican John Anderson. Ronald Reagan was the governor of California before he decided to run for the presidency. John Anderson was a representative in Illinois and Carter was the incumbent. The lengthy Iran hostage crisis sharpened public opinions by the beginning of the election seas on. In the 1970s, the United States were experiencing a strainingRead MoreRonald Reagans Inaugural Address3044 Words   |  13 PagesReagan to deal with it. By the end of Jimmy Carter’s presidency the interest rate was 15.26 percent, inflation was at 12.5 percent and unemployment at 7.1 percent and these rates were still on the rise.[1] Coupled with an economy that was not growing, these rates pushed the United States into a recession. Due to the current situation President Jimmy Carter had put us in, Ronald Reagan was elected in a landslide victory and at 69 he was the oldest elected president. Reagan was faced with a task comparableRead MoreRonald Reag A Child Of Nelle And John Reagan1322 Words   |  6 PagesCollege to study economics and sociology. He was very involved in the college he went to. He played football, ran track, was the captain of the swim team, student council president, and an actor in school productions. In his adult life, Reagan was known for many thi ngs such as being an actor, governor, and a successful president. After graduating in 1932, he started working as a radio sports announcer. In 1937, he was in southern California to follow the Chicago Cubs’ spring training season andRead MoreRonald Wilson Reag The Oldest Man Ever Be Elected President Of The United States910 Words   |  4 PagesRonald Wilson Reagan, born on February 6, 1911 to Nelle Wilson and John Edward (Jack) Reagan in the town of in Tampico, Illinois, was the oldest man ever to be elected President of the United States. His family settled in Dixon, Illinois in 1920. After graduating from Dixon High School in 1928, Reagan attended Eureka (Illinois) College where he majored in economics and sociology. In 1937, Reagan was â€Å"discovered† by an agent for Warner Brothers and offered a seven-year contract as an actor. He movedRead MoreComparison of Presidents Ford and Carter1789 Words   |  8 PagesPresident Richard Nixon’s Watergate incident and resignation in August of 1974 left the nation feeling skepti c toward the national government. Gerald Ford, who was not elected by the public, took the oath of office and became the 38th president of the United States. President Ford, coined with a repugnant image in both the eyes of the public and the media, was defeated by 56 electoral votes in the election of 1976. Jimmy Carter managed to receive similar distasteful images by the end of his singleRead MoreEssay on The United States Democratic Party History1027 Words   |  5 Pagesthe party holds a National Convention where they pick one from their party to be the next candidate for the presidency. The last Convention took place in Charlotte, North Carolina in 2012 where Barack Obama was nominated for President and Joe Biden was nominated for Vice President, and as we all know that turned out well Obama won and he became the 15th Democrat to take office, the Democratic Party currently holds a minority of seats in the  House of Representatives  and a majority of seats in the  SenateR ead MorePresidential Essay : Ronald Reagan2044 Words   |  9 Pagespresident’s we have had many different types of presidents, and obviously from all areas of the political spectrums. One that I am constantly hearing about how he ran the country is Ronald Reagan. I have grown up in a house with someone who was a huge supporter of him, so I have always heard a lot about him. He was born in Tampico, Illinois on February 6th, 1911 and dies in Bell-Air, Los Angeles, CA on June 5th, 2004. Reagan was a near great president when he was in office, not only did he do wonderfulRead MoreRonald Reagan Remembered: An Interview1706 Words   |  7 PagesRonald Reagans two administrations as president of the United States. She was living in California and had been living in California since leaving Ohio in her childhood (her father got a job with a defense contractor in southern California). She was willing to be interviewed about Reagan as president and in fact she wanted to be interview ed about Reagan as governor of California because she had opinions about that, but the interview was focused on Reagan as president. Q: What do you remember about the

Monday, December 16, 2019

Li Fung Introduction Free Essays

Introduction: â€Å"Globalization†, the word everybody has heard of and which Is literally spread everywhere. Either In school, university or In the news. People are constantly discussing about this term and its consequences. We will write a custom essay sample on Li Fung Introduction or any similar topic only for you Order Now But what does globalization actually mean? There are thousands of deflations and It Is hard to find one which covers all areas of globalization. In short words Globalization considers the process of the world becoming more and more interdependent and linked concerning politics, economy, environment and technology. It is not possible anymore to see our economy as a single unit. Instead the whole world is connected and linked through cash or trading flows or commodities that are being shipped for instance from Hong Kong to the US. This process has significantly influenced multinational companies and their strategic development in order to gain more wealth and growth from an international point of view. In the following assignment I am going to analyses the internationalization strategy of Lie Fun, a Hong Kong based multinational company which targets on a unique supply- chain management system and also covers logistics. We span a range of such as toys, home furnishings, sporting goods, footwear, and health and beauty products. Our services cover all aspects of the supply chain from product design, raw material sourcing and production management to quality control, logistics, and shipping. We operate one of the world’s most extensive global networks across our trading and logistics businesses. More than 28,000 colleagues work across some 300 offices and distribution centers in more than 40 different markets. We have access to a sourcing network encompassing over 1 5,000 suppliers around the world. The Trading business provides sourcing services to retailers, brand owners and wholesalers to support their brands on both an agency (commission margin) and a principal (product margin) basis. It also offers design and products to retailers on a wholesale basis. The Logistics business is a leading player for logistics in distinct verticals across Greater China and Southeast Asia, and interacts with our trading business to provide comprehensive in-country logistics solutions and international freight forwarding services. ) How to cite Li Fung Introduction, Papers

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Supply and Demand are Market Economy

Question: Discuss about the Supply and Demand are Market Economy. Answer: Introduction Supply and demand are considered as the backbone of the market economy as well as the major primary concepts of economics. Demand describes the total amount of a commodity as well as services that are desired by purchasers. It also demotes the total amount of the commodity that all the purchasers are willing to purchase at a certain price. On the other hand, supply describes the total amount of a product that are offered by the market. It also denotes the amount of a certain commodity that certain producers are willing to supply (Bowen and Sosa 2014). According to the law of demand, if all the factors remain constant, the more the price of a good the individuals will demand the less. On the other hand, if the price of good decreases, the individuals will demand more. Similarly, the law of supply denotes the total quantity of a commodity that are sold at a certain price (Kannai and Selden 2014). Discussion According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Supermarkets in Australia struggles to meet demand for brand label milk. Dairy farmers are facing the problem related to fall in prices since Coles. During the face of decreasing global prices, the two biggest dairy processors in Australia cut the price they desired to pay to the farmers for milk. As a result, a social media platform arranged campaign that called for customers in order to support the farmers by purchasing more milk, yoghurt as well as cheese and the individuals were also requested to purchase branded products instead of home brand goods from the supermarkets. According to the president of Australian Dairy Farmers, she did not encourage boycotting certain brands however; she desired to see individuals purchasing branded products (Lawrence and Dixon 2015). There are noteworthy changes taking place in the economic growth rate as well as the domestic policies of the trading partners that is likely to affect the demand for agricultural products in Australia. The demand for agricultural products in Australia is mostly influenced by outbreaks in the food safety and more wide-ranging concerns of customers over chemicals used during the production procedure. Worldwide diets are becoming increasingly harmonized that in turn forced governments to focus on manufacturing as well as importing agricultural products that were previously consumed by only Western societies (Qureshi, Hanjra and Ward 2013). In order to reach the export target set by the government, the farmers of Australia requires to improve their productivity as well as competitiveness in the international market. The growing population in Australia is likely to get coupled with rising per capita consumption that will in turn put an increased pressure on the domestic food system. On the other hand, the aging population in Australia will increasingly have an effect on both food consumption prototypes and total demand. The increasing ethnicity in Australia is likely to drive demand for imported food commodities (Marinoni et al. 2012). The factors other than price that affects demand includes tastes and preferences of the customers, income of the people as well as the number of individuals in the market. Tastes and preferences is regarded is one of the most imperative determinant that affects demand. The demand will be more for those products, the tastes and preferences for which will be grater. As a result, the demand curve for such products lies at a higher level. The demand for several goods changes due to change in fashion. Income of the people also determines their demand because if the income of the people increases, their demand for goods will increase. The greater income indicates greater purchasing power. In other words, if the income of the people increases they will be able to afford more. If the commodity is a normal good, then the increase in income will lead to increase in demand. However, if the commodity is an inferior good, then an increase in income diminishes the demand. The market demand for a g ood is obtained by adding up the demand of the individuals at several possible prices (Bohi 2013). The factor other than price that affects supply includes technology, transport condition as well as policies of the government. Technology is considered as one of the most important determinants for supply as an enhanced and better technology leads to increase in the production of a commodity that in turn leads to increase in supply. The supply of a commodity will also get decreased if the government incurs tax. In other words, the increase in tax leads to increase in the cost of production that in turn lowers supply. Transport also acts as a constraint for supply of a commodity. If the products are not available at the specified time due to poor transport facility, it affects the supply for that product. Conclusion It can be concluded that the population in Australia is predominantly urban that is largely accountable for the augmented demand for suitable processed foods. At present, Australia upholds a trade surplus in the food processing and beverages sector. It can also be concluded that income of the people also determines their demand because if the income of the people increases, their demand for goods will increase. References Bohi, D.R., 2013.Analyzing demand behavior: a study of energy elasticities. Routledge. Bowen, W.G. and Sosa, J.A., 2014.Prospects for faculty in the arts and sciences: A study of factors affecting demand and supply, 1987 to 2012. Princeton University Press. Kannai, Y. and Selden, L., 2014. Violation of the Law of Demand.Economic Theory,55(1), pp.1-28. Lawrence, G. and Dixon, J., 2015. 11. The political economy of agri-food: Supermarkets.Handbook of the International Political Economy of Agriculture and Food, p.213. Marinoni, O., Garcia, J.N., Marvanek, S., Prestwidge, D., Clifford, D. and Laredo, L.A., 2012. Development of a system to produce maps of agricultural profit on a continental scale: an example for Australia.Agricultural Systems,105(1), pp.33-45 retrieved from https://www.smh.com.au/business/retail/supermarkets-struggle-to-meet-demand-for-brand-label-milk-20160524-gp2cwo.html Qureshi, M.E., Hanjra, M.A. and Ward, J., 2013. Impact of water scarcity in Australia on global food security in an era of climate change.Food Policy,38, pp.136-145.

Saturday, November 30, 2019

Manvi motors Essay Example

Manvi motors Essay The Minivan Motors of Malaysia produces cars under an agreement with Suzuki of Japan and trucks under an agreement with General Motors of the USA. The company was established in 1972 and now employs approximately 1000 people and can generally produce an average of 25 cars and trucks per day. Capital investment constraints have limited the nature of Anvils manufacturing facilities. Consequently, it is not able to manufacture many of the items required for the assembly of cars and trucks. These items are imported from Suzuki or GM. However, both Suzuki and GM must limit the quantities of parts shipped to Minivan cause of constraints on their own capacities. Suzuki and GM have guaranteed to provide parts sufficient for 500 cars and 200 trucks respectively per month. GM has Just announced several price increases, which have raised the direct manufacturing cost (which includes all labor and material costs) of a Minivan truck from $800 to $1000 converted to US dollars. Suzuki has not raised prices on purchased parts, so the direct manufacturing cost of a Minivan car has remained stable at $800. We will write a custom essay sample on Manvi motors specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Manvi motors specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Manvi motors specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The Ministry of Economics controls the selling price of Anvils output: cars sell at $4300 and trucks sell at $6000. Anvils vehicles have a reputation as well-made and dependable products, suitable for the Malaysian market. Demand is so great that the company can sell all the cars and trucks it can produce, and the company expects no change in this situation. Minivan presently has unfilled orders (already paid for) for 150 cars and 100 trucks. The manufacturing process for both cars and trucks consists essentially of two departments, which limits the number of vehicles that can be produced during any month. These departments are fabrication and engine assembly. An agreement with the Ministry of Labor has set the minimum labor usage combined in both apartments to be at 14,000 worker-hours. Different parts on 45 machine tools. A recent analysis has shown that this shop can plan on no more than 12,000 worker-hours of capacity in the coming month. Each car manufactured requires 20 worker-hours of fabrication; each truck requires 40 worker-hours. The assembly department is set up as a conventional assembly line. 10,000 worker- hours of capacity will be available in the assembly department in the coming month. Each car requires 25 worker-hours of assembly; each truck requires only 10 worker- hours. The fixed overhead costs are estimated at $10,000 in the fabrication department and 12,000 in the assembly department. At this mornings management meeting, Farad Hormone, the production manager expressed considerable concern over Gems price increases. The next months production schedule was to be announced tomorrow, and she asked Sunnis Ray, the managing director, whether the cost should affect the currently planned production of 200 cars and 200 trucks. Mr Ray replied l have never been sure if our current plan is the best we can have. If it is, I think we will Just have to absorb the price increase until the Ministry of Economics allows us to increase our selling price. In hat case we will go ahead with the previous plan 200 cars and 200 trucks. 1) What is the best product mix for Minivan Motors under the new cost structure? 2) Was the current policy of producing 200 cars and 200 trucks the best for Minivan Motors under the old cost structure? ) If an additional worker-hour in any of the departments will cost the same amount, in which department would you recommend making this additional worker-hour available? 4) If 200 additional worker hours were available in the fabrication department for $3000, should Farad pay this amount and get the additional hours? 5) What are 1000 additional hours in the assembly apartment worth? What about 1100 hours? 6) If the net profit from a truck is decreased by $500 will the best product mix be any different? Will the total profit change? ) An error in record keeping indicates that the number of back-ordered trucks is only 85. Will this change the best product mix? 8) Farad has received word that the Minister of Labor will relax the labor restriction by 2000 worker-hours. Will this change the decision regarding the best product mix? Minivan Motors is considering introducing a new Minivan van. The new model requires 30 hours in the fabrication department and 20 hours in the assembly department. Each Minivan van will give a net profit of $4000. 1) Should any vans be produced? ) How much would it cost in terms of profit if, for some reason, the management insisted that at least one van be made THIS, a handloom cooperative society in Tamil Nadia carries out the marketing, distribution and sales functions for the cooperative societies in the state. THIS collects goods produced by the societies and sells it through outlets all through the Southern states. It has recently opened ware houses to handle the consolidation and distribution of merchandise. The warehouses are located in Cuddlier, Erode, Cameraman, Salem and Velour. The merchandise has to be distributed monthly from these warehouses to the showrooms in the four states. Goods are packaged and delivered by bales. The monthly availability of the goods at the warehouses (in number of bales) is as given below : Warehouses: Availability: Cuddlier Erode 100 110 Cameraman Salem Velour 120 130 The monthly demand (in number of bales) in the four states is as follows: States: Demand: Tamil Nadia Karakas Kraal Andorra Pradesh 200 105 155 The costs of transporting one bale from a given warehouse to any showroom in a given state are as given in Tablet. Assume all costs are stated in hundreds of rupees. Table 1 Cuddlier Erode Cameraman Salem Velour Tamil Nadia 350 150 300 250 Karakas 1 oho 650 700 Kraal 1200 850 950 1100 Andorra Pradesh THIS would like to distribute the merchandise as per the availability and demand at the least total cost. How should it plan its distribution? 3. SCHEDULING DECISIONS AT CALL-ME Call-Me Inc. Has a major call center at Achaean that specializes in answering medical billing queries for a few health insurance companies from around the world. This company has available trained professionals that can answer questions in English, French, German and Japanese, and they operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They estimate the following minimal daily requirements for the trained professionals: Time of Day Period Trained Professionals Required Minimum Number of (24-hour clock) 20 50 6-10 10-14 14-18 18-22 22- 2 2 3 4 5 6 the same for an eight hour stint. What must be the daily schedule so that the requirements above are met? Call-Me is considering the option of scheduling overtime hours using the same pool of professionals that are working for them. The specific option they are considering is that a professional who is not working in a given time period can give overtime and be paid one and a half times the regular rate. For instance, if period 6 is not covered by a professional during his/her regular schedule, then he/she is eligible to work overtime in this period. If so, he/she will be paid 0. Xix, if x is the regular pay for an 8 hour stint. Is it worthwhile scheduling overtime hours? Why or Why not? 4. FINANCIAL PLANNING Tiles R Us is a large manufacturer of all varieties of flooring tiles. The companys cash receivables and payable for the coming 4 periods are as given in the table below. The payable need not be paid at once and may be paid out of future funds. In particular, suppose that a I-period delay in meeting payable meaner that the many must pay RSI. 1. 03 for each Re. 1 owed, and a 2-period delay requires payment of RSI. 1. 07 for each rupee owed. Periods Periods Period 3 Period 4 Cash receipts (in lacks of RSI) 70 Accounts payable (lacks of rupees) Beginning cash on hand is RSI. 0 lacks, and cash receivables feed into cash on hand. Cash carried forward from period to period may be allocated in any desired split between a bank account that pays 1% rate of interest per period and bonds that pay 3% rate of interest every two periods. However, the bonds can only be purchased in Periods 1 and 2, and cannot be cashed in until two periods after purchase. Mr Sheehan, the owner of Tiles R Us would like to maximize cash on hand at the end of the planning horizon (the am ount carried beyond Period 4 after making the payments). ) Define the variables required to help him in his decision. B) Formulate this decision problem be modeled as a linear programming problem? C) Now suppose that the penalty on payments delayed for 2 periods depends on the amount delayed. The company must pay RSI. 1. 07 for each Re. 1 owed up too maximum 10% amount delayed for 2 periods and RSI. 1. 10 thereafter. Define any new variables needed to incorporate this information in your model of part b). Give an appropriate formulation that will help Mr Sheehan in his decision under this new penalty structure. . REVENUE MANAGEMENT AT LEISURE AIR Leisure Air is a regional airline that provides service for Pittsburgh, Newark, Charlotte, Myrtle Beach, and Orlando. It has two Boeing 737-400 airplanes, one based in Pittsburgh and the other in Newark. Both airplanes have a coach section with a 132- seat capacity. Each morning the Pittsburgh-based plane flies to Orlando with a stopover in Charlotte, and the Newark-based plane flies to Myrtle Beach, also with a stopover in Charlotte. At the end of the day, both planes return to their home bases. To keep the size of the problem reasonable, we restrict our attention to the Pittsburgh-Charlotte, Charlotte-Orlando, Newark-Charlotte, and Charlotte-Myrtle Beach flight legs for the morning flights. The figure illustrates the logistics of the Leisure Air uses two fare classes: a discount-fare Q class and a full-fare Y class. Reservations using the discount-fare Q class must be made 14 days in advance and must include a Saturday night stay in the destination city. Reservations using the full-fare Y class may be made anytime, with no penalty for changing the reservation t a later date. To determine the itinerary and fare alternatives that Leisure Air can offer its customers, we must consider not only the origin and the destination of each flight, but also the fare class. For instance, possible products include Pittsburgh to Charlotte using Q class, Newark to Orlando using Q class, Charlotte to Myrtle Beach using Y class, and so on. Each product is referred to as an origin-destination- itinerary fare (DIF). For May 5, Leisure Air has established fares and developed forecasts of customer demand for each of 16 Doffs. These data are shown in Table. Suppose that on April 4 a customer calls the Leisure Air reservation office and requests a Q class seat on the May 5 flight from Pittsburgh to Myrtle Beach. Should Leisure Air accept the reservation? The difficulty in making this decision is that even though Leisure Air may have seats available, the company may not want to accept this reservation at the Q class fare of $268, especially if it is possible to sell the same reservation later at the Y class fare of $456. Thus, determining how many Q and Y class seats to make available are important decisions that Leisure Air must make in order to operate its reservation system.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Assessing the Benefits of Cloud Computing A Case Study on NVoicePay

Assessing the Benefits of Cloud Computing A Case Study on NVoicePay In recent years, the emergence of cloud computing has transformed the business arena by providing an enabling force through which business organizations are now more able to efficiently and effectively reengineer their corporate strategy and competitive advantage.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Assessing the Benefits of Cloud Computing: A Case Study on NVoicePay specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Although cloud computing is still in its development phases, a significant number of organizations have transitioned to the technology to reap from its competitive efficiencies as demonstrated in the literature (Garrison et al., 2012). The present paper uses a case study on NVoicePay to illuminate the business advantages of cloud computing and how IT leadership can be effective in achieving technology buy-in by communicating the benefits of the technology to executive stakeholders. Cloud computing has been defined as â€Å"†¦a model for enabling convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (such as networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be quickly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider protection† (Garrison et al., 2012, p. 62). Through cloud computing, therefore, organizations can have access to an IT service over a network on a needs basis and without having to invest in the technicalities of how the service is provided.  Extant literature demonstrates that NVoicePay, a leading e-payment solution provider for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), relies on the cloud as its primary architecture while operating as little of its own data center infrastructure as possible, with the view to assisting the SMEs automate invoice payment. Although the organization still maintains its in-house servers in a small data center run by NVoicePay employees specifically to safeguard t he customer identity and other sensitive information, it primarily depends â€Å"†¦on the Microsoft SQL Azure cloud platform for the rest of its computing horsepower, such as notifying parties of payments and updating their customers’ accounting systems† (Babcock, 2013 para. 35). The company is also using the Azure cloud platform to undertake accounting updates through the synchronized database services that are essentially supported by the Cloud provider’s AppFabric service bus.  NVoicePay’s business strategy resonates around providing fast and cost-effective electronic payment solutions to SMEs as they seek to compensate their vendors and suppliers for services rendered (Giegerich, 2012).Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In this perspective, the impact of cloud computing on the company’s business strategy can be s een in its capacity to use the infrastructure and programs hosted by Azure to efficiently and effectively assist the SMEs pay their suppliers and vendors electronically than with paper checks. This change, according to available statistics, have reduced the per-transaction cost from $3 to 43 cents, substantially increased business partners and clients, and also increased the amount of payments processed through the cloud computing environment from $200 million in 2011 to an estimated $ 1 billion in 2012 (Giegerich, 2012). Going by the figures above, it is clear that the business advantages of cloud computing cannot be underestimated. NVoicePay is a technology-intensive company by virtue of the fact that it employs web-based mechanisms to transact business (Babcock, 2013). Consequently, it can be argued that the adoption of cloud computing will go a long way in assisting the startup company â€Å"†¦lower [its] IT capital expenditures and operating costs by purchasing on demand technology resources (such as increased data storage, bandwidth, and processing power) while eliminating the need to maintain outdated equipment† (Garrison et al., 2012, p. 62). Its use of Azure cloud platform enables the company to have access to key technologies and software, including the AppFabric service bus, as well as skilled IT personnel who might otherwise be too costly and challenging to obtain and maintain (Goodburn Hill, 2010), hence further reducing its IT-related costs and increasing revenue streams and business agility (Von Solms Viljoen, 2012). Of fundamental importance is the fact that NVoicePay is now redirecting its critical resources and manpower towards core business activities, turning the Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform into an IT-related strategy for achieving competitive advantage (Garrison et al., 2012). Today, more than ever before, the company can boast of achieving improved flexibility, enhanced scalability, greener computing, cost saving s and other intangible benefits that have availed unlimited opportunities to improve the way this company operates (Von Solms Viljoen, 2012).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Assessing the Benefits of Cloud Computing: A Case Study on NVoicePay specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Indeed, owing to the adoption of cloud computing-based processing systems that eliminated the need for check writing, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Karla Friede estimates that the company’s revenue streams will continue to grow immensely over the coming years as it positions itself to tap into the $3 billion market (Giegerich, 2012). These business advantages demonstrate the unlimited opportunities that can be availed to organizations via cloud computing environments. NVoicePay is yet to fully adopt cloud computing, hence its opportunities may still be constrained. Consequently, it is the task of the IT department to demonst rate clearly the benefits of the technology to achieve technology buy-in (commitment to use or support the technology) from executive stakeholders. It is clear that the IT leadership at NVoicePay has succeeded in establishing trust and demonstrating integrity about the need for the organization to switch to cloud computing, set clear directions to sustain this transition, cultivated capabilities, promoted innovation and focused on key results of cloud computing to achieve the technology buy-in that has already taken place. However, since different stakeholders may demonstrate diverse interests, attitudes and priorities, the IT leadership needs to continue effectively communicating with stakeholders with the view to providing relevant information, establishing positive relationships and generating a positive understanding about the business need to adopt cloud computing at a much larger scale (Gould, 2012). Such strategies, in my view, will assist stakeholders in making informed deci sions about considering cloud for all IT planning. References Babcock, C. (2013). 4 Companies getting real results from cloud computing. InformationWeek. Web. Garrison, G., Kim, S., Wakefield, R.L. (2012). Success factors for deploying cloud computing. Communications of the ACM, 55(9), 62-68.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Giegerich, A. (2012, Jan 27). NVoicePay: The pay’s the thing. Portland Business Journal. Web. Goodburn, M.A., Hill, S. (2010). The cloud transforms business. Financial executive, 26(10), 34-39. Gould, R.W. (2012). Open Innovation and stakeholder engagement. Journal of Technology Management Innovation, 7(3), 1-11. Von Solms, R., Viljoen, M. (2012). Cloud computing service value: A message from the board. South African Journal of Business Management, 413(4), 73-81.

Friday, November 22, 2019

Biography of Lorenzo de Medici

Biography of Lorenzo de' Medici Lorenzo de’ Medici, (January 1, 1449 – April 8, 1492) was a Florentine politician and one of the most prominent patrons of arts and culture in Italy. During his reign as de facto leader of the Florentine Republic, he held together political alliances while sponsoring artists and encouraging the peak of the Italian Renaissance. Fast Facts: Lorenzo de' Medici Known For: Statesman and de facto leader of Florence whose reign coincided with a boom in the Italian Renaissance, thanks largely to his patronage of arts, culture, and philosophy.Also Known As: Lorenzo the Magnificent Born: January 1, 1449 in Florence, Republic of Florence (modern-day Italy)Died: April 8, 1492 at Villa Medici at Careggi, Republic of FlorenceSpouse: Clarice Orsini (m. 1469)Children: Lucrezia Maria Romola (b. 1470), Piero (b. 1472), Maria Maddalena Romola (b. 1473), Giovanni (b. 1475), Luisa (b. 1477), Contessina Antonia Romola (b. 1478), Giuliano (b. 1479); also adopted nephew Giulio di Giuliano de Medici (b. 1478)Quote:  Ã¢â‚¬Å"What I have dreamed in an hour is worth more than what you have done in four.†Ã‚   Medici Heir Lorenzo was a son of the Medici family, who held political power in Florence but also held power by virtue of the Medici Bank, which was the most powerful and respected bank in all of Europe for many years. His grandfather, Cosimo de’ Medici, cemented the family’s role in Florentine politics, while also spending a great deal of his vast fortune on building up the city-state’s public projects and its arts and culture. Lorenzo was one of five children born to Piero di Cosimo de’ Medici and his wife, Lucrezia (nee Tournabuoni). Piero was at the center of Florence’s politics scene and was an art collector, while Lucrezia was a poet in her own right and befriended many philosophers and fellow poets of the era. Because Lorenzo was deemed the most promising of their five children, he was brought up from a young age with the expectation that he would be the next Medici ruler. He was tutored by some of the top thinkers of the day and accomplished some notable achievements- such as winning a jousting tournament- while still a youth. His closest associate was his brother, Giuliano, who was the handsome, charming â€Å"golden boy† to Lorenzo’s plainer, more serious self. The Young Ruler In 1469, when Lorenzo was twenty years old, his father died, leaving Lorenzo to inherit the work of ruling Florence. Technically, the Medici patriarchs did not rule the city-state directly, but instead were statesmen who â€Å"ruled† via threats, financial incentives, and marriage alliances. Lorenzo’s own marriage took place the same year he took over from his father; he married Clarice Orsini, the daughter of a nobleman from another Italian state. The couple went on to have ten children and one adopted son, seven of whom survived to adulthood, including two future popes (Giovanni, the future Leo X, and Giulio, who became Clement VII). From the very beginning, Lorenzo de’ Medici was a major patron of the arts, even more so than others in the Medici dynasty, which always place a high value on the arts. Although Lorenzo himself rarely commissioned work, he often connected artists with other patrons and helped them get commissions. Lorenzo himself was also a poet. Some of his poetry- often concerned with the human condition as a combination of the bright and lovely alongside the melancholy and temporary- survives to this day. Artists who enjoyed Lorenzo’s patronage included some of the most influential names of the Renaissance: Leonardo da Vinci, Sandro Botticelli, and Michelangelo Buonarroti. In fact, Lorenzo and his family even opened their home to Michelangelo for three years while he lived and worked in Florence. Lorenzo also encouraged the development of humanism through the philosophers and scholars in his inner circle, who worked to reconcile the thought of Plato with Christian thought. The Pazzi Conspiracy Because of the Medici monopoly over Florentine life, other powerful families vacillated between alliance and enmity with the Medici. On April 26, 1478, one of those families came close to toppling the Medici reign. The Pazzi conspiracy involved other families, such as the Salviati clan, and was backed by Pope Sixtus IV in an attempt to overthrow the Medici. On that day, Lorenzo was attacked, along with his brother and co-ruler Giuliano, in the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Lorenzo was wounded but escaped with minor wounds, in part thanks to the assistance and defense of his friend, the poet Poliziano. Giuliano, however, was not as lucky: he suffered a violent death by stabbing. The response to the attack was swift and harsh, both on the part of the Medici and Florentines themselves. The conspirators were executed, and members of their families were also severely punished. Giuliano left behind an illegitimate son, Giulio, who was adopted and raised by Lorenzo and Clarice. Since the conspirators acted with the blessing of the pope, he attempted to seize Medici assets and excommunicated all of Florence. When that failed to bring Lorenzo around, he tried allying with Naples and launched an invasion. Lorenzo and the citizens of Florence defended their city, but the war took its toll, as some of Florence’s allies failed to come to their aid. Eventually, Lorenzo personally traveled to Naples to forge a diplomatic solution. He also commissioned some of Florence’s best artists to travel to the Vatican and paint new murals in the Sistine Chapel, as a gesture of reconciliation with the pope. Later Rule and Legacy Although his support for culture would ensure his legacy was a positive one, Lorenzo de’ Medici made some unpopular political decisions too. When alum, a hard-to-find but important compound for making glass, textiles, and leather, was discovered in nearby Volterra, the citizens of that city asked Florence for help mining it. However, a dispute soon arose when the citizens of Volterra realized the real value of the resource and wanted it for their own city, rather than the Florentine bankers assisting them. A violent insurrection resulted, and the mercenaries Lorenzo sent to end it sacked the city, permanently marring Lorenzo’s reputation. For the most part, though, Lorenzo attempted to rule peacefully; the cornerstone of his policy was to maintain a balance of power among the Italian city-states and to keep outside European powers out of the peninsula. He even maintained good trading ties with the Ottoman Empire. Despite his efforts, the Medici coffers were drained by their spending and by bad loans their bank supported, so Lorenzo began trying to fill the gaps through misappropriations. He also brought the charismatic friar Savonarola to Florence, who preached about the destructive nature of secular art and philosophy, among other things. The sensationalist friar would, in a few years’ time, help salvage Florence from French invasion, but would also lead to the end of Medici rule. Lorenzo de’ Medici died at the Villa Medici at Careggi, on April 8, 1492, reportedly dying peacefully after hearing the day’s Scripture readings. He was buried in the Church of San Lorenzo, alongside his brother Giuliano. Lorenzo left behind a Florence that would soon overthrow Medici rule- although his son and his nephew would eventually return the Medici to power- but he also left behind a rich and vast legacy of culture that came to define Florence’s place in history. Sources Kent, F.W. Lorenzo de’ Medici and the Art of Magnificence. Baltimore: John Hopkins University Press, 2004.â€Å"Lorenzo de’ Medici: Italian Statesman.† Encyclopaedia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lorenzo-de-Medici.Parks, Tim. Medici Money: Banking, Metaphysics, and Art in Fifteenth-Century Florence. New York: W.W. Norton Co., 2008.Unger, Miles J. Magnifico: The Brilliant Life and Violent Times of Lorenzo de’ Medici. Simon Schuster, 2009.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Fashion trend, Prints for Aged Women Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Fashion trend, Prints for Aged Women - Article Example The paper "Fashion trend, Prints for Aged Women" talks about the trend in fashion, Prints for Aged Women. Women’s contemporary attire styles are more varied and compliant to individual preferences than ever and no more does a tapered group of designers state how to wear. Though the aged women may not have a model’s svelte body, there is a wide selection of fashion fits that can suit them. Though aged women face the difficulty of finding obsequious fashion style, they have more money to spend in clothing. For this reason, they are left with few choices to make in fashion. Prints fashion trend is versatile and can easily be included into daily wardrobe. This fashion trend has been modified to be age apposite and stylish. A fashion garment possesses various attributes that can be manipulated to reflect changing fashions. These attributes include color, fabric, print, silhouette, and trim. In the recent past, a fashion garment would sell, all things equal, if it were the ap propriate color. Now it is not important to have the right shade. Prints fashion trend has a variety of clothing that comes in different colors. An aged woman has a changed complexion and the colours that seemed useless in the early years could become the colors to choose. Prints fashion trend comes with softer colors; pale pink and blue, burgundy rich fabrics such as, crimson, grape and navy. Prints fashion trend adds some much needed color in the wardrobe. In addition, prints fashion clothes comes in orange color.