Startup Hubs Around the World Rio de Janeiro

Startup Hubs Around the World Rio de Janeiro Considered by many to be the land of unrivaled soccer, Brazil is famous for its lifestyle of outdoor pursuits.   Pristine beaches, historic sites, lush rainforests and world-class cities are scattered across the landscape of this South American country.   One could travel the roads, crossing the mountainous regions and native vegetation, or one could head straight to Rio de Janeiro for a chance to witness a little bit of everything Brazil has to offer.   Beneath the surface of this tourist hot spot, however, is a vibrant, thriving and growing community of entrepreneurs who have pushed Rio de Janeiro into becoming one of the world’s leading start-up hubs. © Shutterstock.com | marchello74In this article about Rio de Janeiro, we look at  six essential elements  of a potential start-up location  that must be considered: 1)  location, 2)  tax incentives, 3)  legal incentives, 4)  availability of investors, 5)  local resources and workforce, and 6)  specialization.1. LOCATIONThe second largest city in Brazil, Rio de Janeiro sits along the western coast, nestled up to the Atlantic Ocean.   It may be hard to imagine that a city surrounded by such beauty could also be a city filled with experts and developers.   Nevertheless, the city of beauty has proven that it can be both beautiful and smart â€" as it was chosen recently to host the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC).   Bringing together some of the smartest minds in the business, the GEC was a method of raising awareness and education for entrepreneurs.   Hoping to further cultivate a sense of global community among entrepreneurs and developers, the GEC used the city of Rio as a live demonstration of the power of networking and business.One of Brazil’s major transportation hubs, Rio has a wide range of transportation options that makes travelling to and from the city easy.   Rio de Janeiro has an international airport with easy connections to most other major airports in the world. With relatively short flights, start-up developers can travel to other locations to secure funding or investigate expansion possibilities. In the same manner, investors and other interested parties can easily reach start-up headquarters. A well-developed roadway offers transportation around the city by bus, taxi or car.   For the international entrepreneur who may be just beginning to live in Brazil, there is a subway system to allow for quick and easy navigation of the city. Rio is a connected city.Several large corporations are building technology centers in the city of Rio de Janeiro, creating incubators for the city’s start-ups. Siemens, Cisco and Microsoft have pledged to bu ild large facilities (at least $100 million each) around the city. Using the city’s newly designed digital map, an interested party would notice that Rio de Janeiro has a collection of incubators, accelerators, investors and start-ups scattered throughout the city. By strategically placing the start-up facilities through-out the city, the entire city is strengthened and benefits from the creative ideas and plans.2. TAX INCENTIVESOfficials in Rio de Janeiro have put together an incentive package that will help entrepreneurs establish their business and will encourage companies to maintain a local office.   Aptly named “Start-Up Brasil”, it promises up to $78 million in government funds to back 100 start-ups. Designed to attract local and foreign developers, the goal is to create jobs within the country as well as push Rio towards the front of the highly competitive start-up race. Backed by a mixture of public/private funds, the initiative will allow selected start-ups to move t hrough one of Rio’s business accelerators and receive monthly operational money in the form of grants. Limiting the number of foreign owned start-ups is vital for a city that wants to encourage long term local growth. Foreign ownership would receive assistance in applying for visas and permits, a process that has been described as tedious and confusing.Currently, the entrepreneur who wishes to start-up a company in Rio de Janeiro would most likely consider the taxes and start-up costs expensive as compared to other locations.   As the government of Brazil begins to embrace the entrepreneurial spirit, one can speculate that other tax incentives will be instituted.   At the present time, payroll taxes hover up to 27.5% for residents and flat 25% for non-residents, which leaves the income after tax by around 70%. The government is investing millions in improving the infrastructure of the country: upgrading internet broadband, repairing roads and railways, investing in the education s ystem. These additions to the current trend of entrepreneurs in Rio are all helping to create an environment where innovation and design can flourish, but they cost money.   The high tax rates in Brazil are a definite drawback to the otherwise charming city of Rio de Janeiro’s allure.3. LEGAL INCENTIVESThe bureaucracy involved in beginning a start-up within Rio de Janeiro is daunting.   Out of 183 countries, Brazil is ranked 120th in simplicity in opening a business. Tax legislation (described as a ‘quagmire’) and legal processes require a Brazilian resident as well as a lawyer or accountant.There are rumors of corruption within the Brazilian system, and foreigners seem to struggle with the process of establishing a business.   Recent changes to the process of filing the necessary paperwork has been streamlined to allow for online payment of filing fees and registration.   It is unclear if this will be enough to encourage more entrepreneurs to wade into the start-up market.Rio de Janeiro would benefit from creating additional incentives for start-ups that make it attractive to young entrepreneurs who are looking for a career.   Offering visa extensions and assistance to foreign designers, establishing collaboration workspaces or business zones with relaxed zoning regulations would help to encourage growth. Rio has been studying the success of other start-up hubs around the world â€" they need to pay closer attention to the additional incentives that can be offered. With a healthy economy, the competition for qualified workers is strong. As the global marketplace continues to grow, there will be a shift to areas other than Rio de Janeiro if they cannot prepare an environment that will be welcoming to start-ups.With a centralized group for entrepreneurs, the government can offer legal assistance to new start-ups, provide advice and support for companies who are selling their products or offer a myriad of other support methods that would help ease the trans ition to success.4. AVAILABILITY OF INVESTORSAttracting attention from all over the world, investors are starting to flock to Rio de Janeiro â€" and they aren’t rushing to the beach.   Start-ups have access to over $400 billion through assets managers, pensions and private equity. In addition, the world’s largest venture capital funds have all established a presence in Rio: Accell Partners, Redpoint Ventures, as well as several others. SVB Capital, a California venture based capital firm, invested over $300 million in Brazil within the last few years. The money is beginning to flow into Rio â€" the question is: How easy is it to access?There is a gap between the start-up funding and the growth capital that a company needs to establish itself, but the availability of the money may be a problem. Many companies are interested in seed venture, but have not made the jump into growth money. With the larger venture capital funds moving into the city, the opportunity for a company to pu sh through to the next level may be easier and quicker. In addition, the government grants to companies that develop technologies within a specific field will help bridge the gap between investments.In a further effort to raise awareness of the Brazilian start-up market, Startup Brasil will maintain a hub in Silicon Valley. Part of Brazil’s major initiative to increase entrepreneurship, the hub will serve to attract foreign investors, generate business and increase global collaboration. Presumably the first of several hubs around the world, Brazil is not wasting any time establishing themselves as a player in this high-stakes game of business.5. LOCAL RESOURCE WORKFORCEOne of the largest resources available in any start-up market is the workforce. This is particularly true in Rio de Janeiro.   With the second largest population in Brazil, sheer numbers indicate that there is a large number of available staff. To assist in maintaining a high level of education, four of Brazil’s top nine universities are located within the city and offer highly specialized courses of study. Knowing that there are multiple opportunities for growth and entrepreneurship, the universities offer more high challenging courses in geometry, engineering, physics and more.Hubs, or collaboration zones, are created to encourage growth in a particular area. In the last five years, over 1.1 billion dollars have been invested in the hubs in Rio â€" more than any other South American city. Within Rio de Janeiro are start-up hubs for Innovation, Math, Energy Health, Media Entertainment. The 22 incubators in Rio have graduated 182 companies â€" proving that innovation and design are possible and attainable. Success breeds success in the start-up community, so the success of any company is also considered effective marketing.With a growing e-commerce market, the people of Rio are highly connected to the internet. One of the world’s largest numbers of social media users, Brazil offers resi dents a glimpse into the world that previously had only been outside the reach of the people. As the government improves the broadband capabilities, one can imagine that even more people will begin to take advantage of the chance to shop online. The demand for new technology solutions will increase, and the cycle of innovation and design will continue.The culture of the people of Rio has gradually changed, with a tendency towards entrepreneurship that has been missing up until now.   It is a slow process, with less than 10% of the population involved in entrepreneurship. Those who are becoming more active in entrepreneurship are from all walks of life and Rio has an equal number of men and women who have taken the start-up plunge.6. SPECIALIZATIONThe leadership of the entrepreneurial push in Rio is not content to sit back and let start-ups find their way on their own. There is a strong push towards markets that Rio de Janeiro (and, in turn, Brazil) is weak in, as well as markets tha t they are excelling in.Predominately, tech leaders and government officials want to develop a strategic plan to increase the number of start-ups who will cater to the Brazilian market. While they encourage international start-ups to make Rio their home, they are particularly interested in the companies that will maintain a presence within Brazil. Whether through a local office or a company headquarters, Brazil is looking for staying power in their start-up zones.In addition, Brazil is placing a high premium on developers in the area of information technology. Considered a vital part of their ability to attract new business, Rio wants to excel in the IT start-up world. They are focusing on several other areas that hold potential for future advancement: agribusiness (an area that will help Brazil’s already strong economy even more) and aeronautics, as well as transportation and healthcare.For the next several years, Brazil will be in the spotlight as the world turns their eyes towa rds this country. With essentially back-to-back global competitions all centering in Rio, there is a rich market available for the tech developer who can cater to the visitor/sports enthusiast client.Further, the e-commerce industry is beginning to boom within the nation’s capital as Brazilians embrace the power of technology and online shopping. Within Rio, the climate is ready for new and improved shopping experiences. An entrepreneur who has their finger on the pulse of the city will be ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice and capitalize on the new tech-hungry audience.Sports fans are anticipating greatness from the country of Brazil over the next few years, and the world will be watching to witness how they handle the onslaught of press, people and attention.   After the sporting events, however, the press will move on to the next story and the public will turn its attention to another topic.   Out of the public eye, Rio de Janeiro will be still working to establ ish its place on the world stage in a different arena: the entrepreneurial start-ups.   Only time will tell if Rio de Janeiro will succeed in their quest to dominate the start-up market and establish a hub that will draw the attention of investors from around the world.   There are no trophies handed out for winning, but the rewards are long-lasting for a country that prides itself on its global appeal.

Banking Insitutions and Big Businesses Regulated or...

Regulation is defined as a law, rule, or other order prescribed by authority, especially to regulate conduct. Deregulation is defined as to remove government regulatory controls from an industry, a commodity, etc. The big question is can an institution of any type able to self-regulate in an appropriate manner. Are they able to put profit to the side for the health and safety of people? Are they capable of making ethical decisions and to not adversely affect people? Does the past indicate this? And if they display good judgment should regulation be scaled back? Banking institutions and big business have done severe damage to the American economy and destroyed millions of lives, many times. Panics, depressions and recessions riddle our†¦show more content†¦Then bundling and selling off these loans that turned into toxic assets on the market. If that wasn’t enough they took out insurance on these toxic loans, which AIG backed. When banks and brokers came to collect on their hedged bets, it was almost collapse AIG. This started a chain of near bankruptcy and the act of the bail out or TRAP. Under President Franklin D Roosevelt, a man named Ferdinand Pecora, was responsible for exposing the shady dealings of big banks, tax evasion, self-dealing, and bad speculations, which resulted in the Glass-Steagall act of 1933. Pecora wrote in his book Wall Street Under Oath, â€Å"Under the surface of the governmental regulation, the same forces that produced the riotous speculative excesses of the ‘wild bull market’ of 1929 still give evidences of their existence and influence.†¦ It cannot be doubted that, given a suitable opportunity, they would spring back into pernicious activity.† I do believe he was right. Although we have had some recessions between the 1940’s and now, nothing to the magnitude of the Great Depression or the Great Recession. I personally believe it’s a little more than a coincidence that the economy crash happened just 9 years after the repeal of Glass-Steagall in 1999 under President Clinton. A handful of greedy Americans are affecting the rest of American lives and reputations. Many people including my own parents, that played by the rules,

Characteristics Of The Debt Finance Essay Example Pdf - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 4 Words: 1348 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Finance Essay Type Narrative essay Did you like this example? Debt financing is financing a company by selling the bonds, notes or mortgages held by the business. Basically it is borrowing money to keep your business running. Long term debt financing is typically associated with larger assets such as buildings, equipment, land, and large machinery. The schedule for repayment for long term debt financing expands for more than a year. Short term debt financing is mostly associated with operations of the business such as inventory purchasing, payroll, and supplies. The repayment of short term debt financing happens in less than a year. With debt financing, your business does not have give up future profits or ownership in the company like with equity financing. Debt financing is more commonly known as selling bonds or debentures. Debentures are tools used by large companies to raise capital for their projects and operations. This is known as a debt offering since the company literally goes into debt to the investors until th e price of the debenture is paid back, plus interest, or until it is converted into stock. The company must record this debt in their balance sheet. If bankruptcy occurs, the debenture holders are considered creditors and must be paid back by the companys remaining assets. Debentures are a way for companies to raise capital without having to use their assets or give up ownership in their company. This leaves their assets free to do other things to generate capital for the business. Long term Long term debt financing is done, when the repayment schedule of the loan and the approximated useful life that the purchased assets have is expected to go beyond one year. These assets can be machineries, computers, shelving, land and other such things. The long term loans are usually secured initially up to 65 percent by the purchased assets and then, the remaining 35 percent by the unburdened physical assets. If both these things fail, then the services are availed of guarantors and sha reholders. Characteristics of the Long Term Loans of Debt : ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ The principal amount is repaid over a time period that is in direct relation to the utilitarian life of assets such as buildings and land up to 30 years and computers for 3 years. ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ The long term loan of debt carries the repayment provisions of both the principal as well as the interest in a repayment schedule that is preset. The repayment that is done before time is penalty bound, on account of the non-planning of the alternative investments regarding the same by the lenders. ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ The percentage of the interest rate usually remains steady for the entire loan term. Every payment of the original amount reduces the balance in it and subsequently, the interest is computed on the reducing balance of the amount. The Evaluation and Approach of the Loans : The long term loan evaluation is a very sophisticated and rigorous process, than the evaluation of mortgage loans. The lenders of such loans are in fact evaluating the management teams ability, seeing the situations commercial viability and the collateral security attached for supporting the loan application, as mentioned in the financial submissions. The evaluation of the long term loans requires a plan that is in the format of a bound presentation and provides all the detailed information about the companys management or the project or individuals. The loans concerning the business requires the exact history of it, the production methods of its products, the operations of the business, its market position, the purpose of taking the loan with the intimate details, the securities given for the loan approval and the extensive projections and financial information regarding the business. Most of the people approach the field of money borrowing with some apprehension. In fact, the borrowing of money from financial institutions has not to be view ed as begging. Rather, it has to be viewed as giving an opportunity to the commercial loan institute for doing business. The money is borrowed from the people, who aid in soliciting the business of the individuals taking the loan. Loans are in fact a commodity on the shelves of the retailers. The aspirants of the loans are actually helping the lenders in doing business. Short Term CF Short Term Debt financing usually applies to money needed for the day-to-day operations of the business, such as purchasing inventory, supplies, or paying the wages of employees. Short term financing is referred to as an operating loan or short term loan because scheduled repayment takes place in less than one year. A line of credit is an example of short term debt financing. Commercial Banks and Non Performing Loans Role of Commercial Banks in Extending Loans Loans as Assets for the Commercial Banks Nonperforming Loans A nonperforming loan seems simple enough to understand in theory but is subject to various definitions. Generally speaking, a loan is nonperforming when it is not making income for the lender. According to the Financial Times, the point when a loan is classified as nonperforming by a lender and when it becomes a bad debt depends on local regulations. There is no global standard to define non-performing loans at the practical level. Variations exist in terms of the classification system, the scope, and contents. Such problem potentially adds to disorder and uncertainty in the NPL issues. For example, as described by Se-Hark Park (2003), during 1990s, there were three different methods of defining non-performing loans in Japan: the 1993 method based on banking laws; the Banks Self-Valuation in March 1996; and the Financial Revival Laws-Based Debt Disclosure in 1999. These measurements have gradually broadened the scope and scales of the risk-management method. Similar to the trend in Japan, more countries, regulators, and banks are movin g towards adopting and adapting better and more consensus practices. For example, in the U.S., federal regulated banks are required to use the five-tier non-performing loan classification system according to BIS: Pass, Special Mention, Substandard, Doubtful, and Loss. Presently, the five-tier system is the most popular risk classification method, or, in some cases, a dual system of reporting according to their domestic policy guidelines as well as the five-tier system. According to BIS, the standard loan classifications are defined as follows: (1) Passed: Solvent loans; (2) Special Mention: Loans to enterprises which may pose some collection difficulties, for instance, because of continuing business losses; (3) Substandard: Loans whose interest or principal payments are longer than three months in arrears of lending conditions are eased. The banks make 10% provision for the unsecured portion of the loans classified as substandard; (4) Doubtful: Full liquidation of outsta nding debts appears doubtful and the accounts suggest that there will be a loss, the exact amount of which cannot be determined as yet. Banks make 50% provision for doubtful loans; (5) Virtual Loss and Loss (Unrecoverable): Outstanding debts are regarded as not collectable, usually loans to firms which applied for legal resolution and protection under bankruptcy laws. Banks make 100% provision for loss loans. Non-performing loans comprise the loans in the latter three categories, and are further differentiated according to the degree of collection difficulties. In addition to the standardised system, efforts have been made to improve the classification of loans. For example, more countries are shortening the period when unpaid loans become past due, intending to put loans on lenders timetable sooner and require them to address these loans before losses start to escalate. The International Accounting Standard 39 revised in 2003 focuses on recognition and measurement of finan cial instruments and, most importantly, defines and establishes the measurement and evaluation of impaired loans. As lenders usually make little or no loss provision for impaired loans, they are at risk to be suddenly forced to reclassify such loans as a loss and take a full write-down if the borrowers go bankrupt. The initiation of this standard is to prevent lenders from being caught off-guard. In addition, many global economists, rating agencies, and organisations such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank have begun to evaluate the effects of NPLs on GDP growth. They reduce growth estimates to reflect the time and cost of resolving large non-performing loan issues. The Time Limit Assets (Loans) Classification Substandard Doubtful Loss Provisioning Substandard Doubtful Loss Credit Risk Management Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Characteristics Of The Debt Finance Essay Example Pdf" essay for you Create order

Aristotle Critical Lens Free Essays

â€Å"Though we love both the truth and our friends, piety requires us to honor the truth first. † Often times in life, one is caught in a sticky situation. While morals and values and normally highly regarded, complications arise when friendships are involved. We will write a custom essay sample on Aristotle Critical Lens or any similar topic only for you Order Now Relationships are an essential part of existence, the emotional connections are often the ones that shape our lives.. One if often faced with the difficult toss up between doing what is right and doing what you want. It’s a balancing out between the loyalty to your friends and maintaining your morals. I agree with this quote because piety is the quality of being religious or reverent. In order to be religious one must follow a moral code and not put worldly relationships or emotions as higher priority than the truth. An example of the struggle to find the balance is displayed in After Twenty Years by O’ Henry and Lord of the Flies by William Golding. An example of this struggle is exemplified in â€Å"After Twenty Years† by O’Henry. Two friends separated by years, miles, and jaded by their experiences since the last time they’ve met, are scheduled to reunite and rekindle the friendship they once had. The way Bob describes their friendship it was almost as if they were blood brothers, bonded together so tightly it was as if they were family. He even refers to his old pal Jimmy as the â€Å"truest and stanchest old chap in the world. † This foreshadows that he was going to remain true to his morals as opposed to honoring the friendship. His diction and use of kind words describing his friend even after twenty years of absence really exemplifies the strength of their friendship. True friends are a constant in your life and even though they may not be physically present, they will always have a special place in your heart. Another example of the foreshadowing of what’s to come is the intrigue the police officer seems to have with the man’s story. He seems much to inquisitive to just be a random stranger. You can see that he is generally interested in what has happened since his friend departed, and just the mere fact that he was present where he said he would be 20 years prior shows the true and honest man he is. And yet, when given the choice between preserving the friendship so long in the making, and doing what is right and turning his old friend in for being a criminal, he, being a police officer understands the importance of abiding by the law and chooses to turn his friend in to the authorities. While this must have been a difficult choice, this is shown because he couldn’t even break the news to him himself and needed to deflect the position onto someone else, he did what he felt was right and lived according to Aristotle’s quote. In Lord of the Flies, Ralph represents the traditional government in society. He maintains order, preserves the dignity of the union, and attempts to preserve the traditions of his forefathers. A schism occurs in this allegory within the tribe with Jack leading half and Ralph leading the others. This is symbolic of mankind and how savagery and civilization exist in unity. When savagery threatens the way of things, many fear for their own lives and safety and begin to cross over to â€Å"the dark side†. When the tribal chants and Jack’s need to kill becomes apparent, this foreshadows the savage turn in which the book will take. At the end, all the characters have either perished in the fighting or followed Jack to preserve their own lives, all except Ralph. Though he lost many followers and his high ranking â€Å"popularity† within the group, he maintains his morals and ultimately does what he believes is right regardless of the consequences. While this may a controversial issue and falls into the abstract gray area as opposed to a clear cut black and white, it cannot be denied that these two men upholded their morals and did not compromise the lessons instilled in them. What is also evident is that these men did follow a moral code which would classify as being religious, or pious. Even today the struggle between doing what you want and what you need to do is seen in court cases where one does not want to incriminate a friend, or even in your everyday life where a student might witness their fellow classmate cheating. This brings us to the question: If put into the circumstance, which will you honor first, truth or friendship? How to cite Aristotle Critical Lens, Papers

The Dynamic Business World of Today Samples for Students .

Question: 1.Discuss how Manageers can Make Effective Decisions in today world ? 2.What is Organisational Culture and how does it Influence Employee Behavier in an Organisation ? 3.Will Planning Become More or less Important to Managers in the Future ? Answer: 1. In the dynamic business world of today, there are a host of variables that need to be considered in order to make prudent decisions especially because so much data is available relatively easily. However, since decision maker has bounded rationality and can consider only limited aspects, it is worthwhile that for every decision, rather than taking all the parameters into consideration, it makes sense to limit the purview only to a limited variables which tend to have the highest impact. This helps in maintaining equilibrium between the prudence of decision and the time frame within which it needs to be made (Burton and Thakur, 2004). Also, it is vital for the managers to embrace technology in decision making as various kind of software such as decision support systems are available which tend to present data in formats which aid decision management. Further, such systems ensure that all the relevant data is automatically available in the format that the decision maker intends to have and thus decision making becomes simplified as only interpretation is left to some extent to the decision maker. Even in this case, computing tools are available which consider all the inputs and provide model decisions for the assistance of the decision maker (Folino, 2005). Besides, considering the complexity of the decision making particularly in problems that involve way too many aspects which are vital, it makes sense to take decisions with the help of a team as vital inputs can be provided by the team members in relation to the particular aspects. Further, this option also provides expert advice of the team members on certain aspects where the decision maker may have only limited knowledge and exposure. Also, team members may offer such pragmatic solution which in isolation may not be possible and thus overall decision accuracy is improved (Heller, 2008). 2. Just like people who tend to have a culture, organizations also have a culture which is known as organizational culture. This primarily refers to the set of shared values and beliefs that the organization stands for which normally are reflected through the policies of the company and the behavior of the people belonging to the organization. Organization culture is a key element which tends to define the manner in which the business activities are performed and also the conduct of the firm towards the various stakeholders including the employees (Fox, 2007). Organizational culture tends to have a significant influence on the behavior of employees. For instance, in a bureaucratic organization the focus is on processes rather than meeting the needs and expectations of the consumers. As a result, employees tend to follow order from seniors and procedures even though these may do little to provide quality service to the consumer. The case would be very different in a service based private entity where literally the consumer is the king and the employees would go out their way to assist the customers and provide them the requisite assistance. This essentially flows from the organizational culture and value system (Bratton, 2015). Similarly, the level of formality coupled with the dress code for the organization is also driven by the culture. For instance, in traditional businesses with traditional outlook, formal conduct in interactions and dressing is emphasized on (Fox, 2007). However, this is not the case in an organization where the culture is more western and casual. In such an environment, casual behavior is the norm which is reflected in every aspect and tends to facilitate creativity in work with high degree of customer focus. Besides, the relationship between supervisor and employee is impacted by the organizational culture which defines the utility of employees for the organization (Bratton, 2015). 3. Planning would certainly be more important in the future as the project complexity is on the rise and thus it required adept planning in order to execute the project within given deadlines and cost constraints. However, the nature of planning in the future would undergo a change as the underlying environment in which the businesses operate are increasingly becoming more dynamic and hence a high degree of flexibility is required. Thus, planning for contingency and having alternate plans in wake of expected and unexpected changes would assume very high importance especially in case of longer projects (Warner, 2010). Further, technology would also emerge as a key enabler in this process as inputs from various packages would need to be considered while considering the dynamic planning process. Besides, technology allows the planners to simulate the various possible scenarios going ahead and to model separate plans to deal with the situations. Thus, planning is bound to become more critical so that the project managers can take requisite measures to deal with a particular contingency (Heller, 2008). Besides, the static planning would have to be done for shorter intervals and beyond those scenario planning would be required which would provide prior information to the managers and the associated team of what the scenario could be going ahead in the future and through technology this can be analyzed and understood even before the decision has been implemented. Thus, the reliance on scenario based planning would be vital for the future success for the managers as the traditional form of planning is fa st losing relevance as decisions need to be taken keeping in mind that need to be altered along with course in line with potential changes in internal and external variables (Burton and Thakur, 2004). References Bratton, J. (2015) Introduction to work and Organisational Behaviour.3rd edn. New York:Palgrave Macmillan. Burton, G. and Thakur, M. (2004) Management Today: Principles and Practice. 6th edn. New York: Tata McGraw Hill Education. Folino, F.D. (2005) Making Effective Decision.3rd edn. New Jersey: Gemini Books. Fox, W. (2007) Managing Organisational Behaviour. 2nd edn. Claremont: Juta and Company Ltd. Heller, R. (2008) DK Essential Managers: Making Decision.7th edn. London: DK Publishing. Warner, J. (2010) Time Management Effectiveness Profile Facilitators Guide. 4thedn.Amherst: Human Resource Development

Beauty Myth and Its Influence for Women

Women have managed to overcome many barriers which made it difficult for them to succeed in different fields because of their gender. Gender equality and empowerment policies in many countries have helped them overcome barriers, which made it difficult for them to succeed.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Beauty Myth and Its Influence for Women specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The beauty and cosmetic industry have helped strengthen several attitudes and beliefs about a woman’s role in the modern world. Therefore, in the Western mainstream media, perceptions of beauty have been shaped by beauty and cosmetic companies. These companies have made many women to set for themselves unrealistic standards regarding how they should look. The media has entrenched the idea that for a woman to be successful, she needs to have an attractive appearance. Cosmetic manufacturing companies have reinforced the belief that a slim woman is desirable, sexy and more confident (Wolf, 1991, p. 89). This has strengthened the stereotype that people, especially women, need to be slim, to live a healthy lifestyle. This paper will focus on the beauty myth and how it affects the way women see themselves in modern times. Feminine beauty has been as a treated as a mysterious subject, which arouses different emotions in many societies across the world. The media, together with other companies, have entrenched certain perceptions about the role of a woman in the society, which continue to affect the way women look at themselves. This has made many women to get obsessed with physical perfection, which has made beauty, one of the most important issues to women across the world. In many societies, patriarchal systems of power still dominate the way different activities are performed. However, this has changed over the years because women are no longer considered inferior or weak. Wolf (1991) argues that feminist m ovements of the 1960’s and 1970’s, were concerned with equality for all genders in different spheres of life (p. 92). In Europe and North America, popular culture has influenced the way women perceive themselves and the role they are supposed to play in the society. Women in other continents have become more emancipated but they still do not have the same freedom, enjoyed by fellow women living in Western countries. The issues of feminism and beauty are very crucial because they enable people understand the real impact of gender equality and empowerment, in many societies.Advertising Looking for research paper on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The concepts of beauty and feminism are more intertwined because of the way they many business organizations. They are used to create sex appeal in adverts, which makes many firms to use beautiful models to market their products. Advertising firms use models to la unch products for different companies, which shows the connection between feminine beauty and marketing. This helps them appeal to the sub-conscience of both male and female consumers, to make them have more favorable attitudes towards products being marketed (Levy, 2005, p. 67). Many product launches are not considered complete without popular female celebrities gracing them. The strong association between beauty and economics has had a dramatic influence in the media, because it has encouraged the society to treat women subjectively. There are women who are more sensitive about their appearance and looks, than their skills and inner personality. They think that having flawless bodies, clear faces and beautiful hair, are necessary attributes that make them stand out of the crowd. Some of these women are well educated, earn good incomes and live comfortable lifestyles. They have adequate financial resources which make them more independent and ambitious. Ironically, even though seve ral working women have good incomes, they are still worried about how they look. These insecurities have been strengthened by stereotypes, which set unrealistic standards on how a perfect woman should look like. Levy (2005) reveals that many myths about beauty are advanced by the media and they have a major effect on the way women perceive themselves (p. 73). Some women believe that how they look determines their value in the society. Many film stars and musicians have a big influence on the way women understand the concept of beauty in their lives. The effect of Hollywood on peoples’ behavior is enormous because many people are obsessed with tabloid gossip concerning the rich and famous. Many Hollywood stars, musicians and other well known personalities, are given a lot of attention by the media in Europe and North America. Female celebrities are accompanied by their large teams of makeup artists wherever they go, which shows the importance they attach to their looks. They v alue their appearance more than their personality because this is makes them popular among their fans (Ross, 2010, p. 79). Therefore, fans who consider movie stars, musicians and athletes as role models, are likely to emulate their behavior. Young women are easily captivated by new fashion designs, hairstyles and other forms of popular culture they copy from Hollywood stars. Many young women are hurting themselves physically and emotionally, in a bid to achieve unrealistic beauty standards, popularized by the media. Cosmetic surgery has become a multi-million dollar industry because more women are willing to go under the scalpel to improve their looks. Older women are undergoing botox treatments to get rid of wrinkles on their faces and are also opting for silicone breasts, to make themselves look younger (Ross, 2010, p. 89).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Beauty Myth and Its Influence for Women specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This obsession with physical appearance is creating a society where people are not willing to accept their physical limitations and are willing to pay more to improve their looks. Modern women are under a lot of pressure to meet specific standards of beauty, which drives them to try extreme cosmetic procedures, which are not good for their health. Obesity has become a major challenge on the way women look in the US and other parts of the world. Many health experts argue that obesity and excessive weight contributes to different diseases which threaten women’s health. Therefore, popular stereotypes show slim men and women as healthy, while overweight individuals are teased for not observing healthy living. Many teenage girls in the US and Europe have eating disorders caused by failure to consume proper diets because they want to stay slim (Ross, 2010, p. 108). The fashion industry has been accused of making more teenagers become anorexic because many popular fashion models are slim and underweight. In many Western societies, slim people are given more attention than overweight people. Obese people are described as lazy, greedy, dirty and slow. These negative attributes associated with obesity make many women hard to lose weight to gain acceptance in the society. Feminists in different parts of the world have been divided by the issue of beauty and how it influences women in different settings. Some feminists argue that criticism leveled against the media and beauty industry is misdirected. They argue that women need to be in touch with their feminine instincts and they do not need to feel bad for improving their personal appearance. They argue that personal beauty helps women overcome barriers in a world dominated by patriarchal ideas and gives them an opportunity to improve their self-confidence. However other feminists argue that women need to rely more on their character and personalities to succeed in life. They argue that the focus on beauty at the expense of brains makes women who are not physically attractive to be overlooked by their employers (Valenti, 2007, p. 82). They argue that stereotypes related to beauty and appearance make women who are not physically attractive not to have the same chance at suceeding compared to those that are more attractive. Therefore, they feel that obsession with physical appearance makes women to be judged by patriarchal standards, which deny them a chance to achieve their potential. Many feminists have argued that the modern environment makes women to be treated subjectively because of their appearance. The issue of feminism is now looked at differently compared to the past, because women have become more emancipated. Valenti (2007) argues that feminism needs to accommodate different interests by women for it to remain relevant in the modern society (p. 99).Advertising Looking for research paper on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More She argues that women need to embrace their feminine instinct to improve their own self confidence, which will enable them realize their own potential. They need to focus on activities which satisfy their inner motivations to become comfortable with themselves in a world that is rapidly changing. It is necessary for women to be comfortable with who they are to ensure they do not fall prey to stereotypes and other popular ideals which treat women subjectively. References Levy, A. (2005). Female chauvinist pigs: Women and the rise of raunch culture. New York, NY: Elsevier. Ross, K. (2010). Gendered media: Women, men and identity politics. London: Rowman and Littlefield. Valenti, J. (2007). Full frontal feminism: a young woman’s guide to why feminism matters. New York, NY: Seal Press. Wolf, N. (1991). The beauty myth: How images of beauty are used against women. New York, NY: Harper. This research paper on Beauty Myth and Its Influence for Women was written and submitted by user Makenzie U. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

PENN Surname Meaning and Origin

PENN Surname Meaning and Origin The Penn surname has several possible meanings: a topographical  name for someone who lived near a fold or hill. From the Breton/Old English word penn, meaning hill and pen, fold.a habitational name from various places called Penn, such as Penn in Buckinghamshire and Staffordshire, England.an  occupational name for an impounder of stray animals, from the Old English penn, meaning (sheep) pen.as a German surname, Penn may have originated as a nickname for a short, stocky person, from  pien, meaning tree stump. Surname Origin: English, German Alternate Surname Spellings: PENNE, PEN Where in the World the Penn Surname Is Found While it originated in England, the Penn surname is now most prevalent in the United States, according to surname distribution data from Forebears, but most common in the British Virgin Islands, where it is the 3rd most popular surname. Around the turn of the 20th century, the Penn surname in Britain was most common, based on the percentage of the population with the surname, in Northamptonshire, England, followed by Hertfordshire, Worcestershire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire. WorldNames PublicProfiler, on the other hand, indicates the Penn surname is most frequent in the United Kingdom, especially in southern England, plus Cumbria in the north and Stirling in Scotland. It is also common in the Eferding district of Austria, especially in Freistadt and Urfahr-Umgebung. Famous People with the Last Name Penn William Penn - an  English Quaker is best known for founding the colony of Pennsylvania as a place for religious freedom in AmericaSean Penn - Academy-award winning American actorKal Penn - American film and television actor, who has also served several roles in the Obama administrationArthur Horace Penn  - member of the British royal householdHarry Penn - African-American civil rights activist and dentistRobert Penn -  African-American sailor, recipient of the Medal of Honor during the Spanish–American War Genealogy Resources for the Surname Penn The Family of William Penn, Founder of Pennsylvania, Ancestry and Descendants: A digitized copy of a book on the ancestors and descendants of Sir William Penn, published by Howard M. Jenkins in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in  1899. Free on Internet Archive.Penn Family Genealogy: A website tracing the descendants of  John Penne,  born in 1500 in Minety, Gloucestershire, England.Penn Family Crest - Its Not What You Think: Contrary to what you may hear, there is no such thing as a Penn  family crest or coat of arms for the Penn surname.  Coats of arms are granted to individuals, not families, and may rightfully be used only by the uninterrupted male-line descendants of the person to whom the coat of arms was originally granted.FamilySearch - PENN Genealogy: Explore over 500,000 historical records and lineage-linked family trees posted for the Penn  surname and its variations on the free FamilySearch website, hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.PENN Surna me Family Mailing Lists: RootsWeb hosts several free mailing lists for researchers of the Penn surname. DistantCousin.com - PENN  Genealogy Family History: Explore free databases and genealogy links for the last name Penn.PENN Genealogy Forum: Search the archives for posts about Penn ancestors, or post your own Penn query.The Penn  Genealogy and Family Tree Page: Browse genealogy records and links to genealogical and historical records for individuals with the popular last name Penn from the website of Genealogy Today. References Cottle, Basil.  Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967.Dorward, David.  Scottish Surnames. Collins Celtic (Pocket edition), 1998.Fucilla, Joseph.  Our Italian Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 2003.Hanks, Patrick, and Flavia Hodges.  A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989.Hanks, Patrick.  Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003.Reaney, P.H.  A Dictionary of English Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1997.Smith, Elsdon C.  American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997.