Groupe Ariel S.A. Essay

Abstract Groupe Ariel is a company that manufactures and sells printers, copiers and other document production equipment. The case focuses on an investment project in the company’s Mexican subsidiary that would expand operations into a new market, something it been slow to do in the past. Groupe Ariel believes its products have better durability for a lower after-sales service costs and markets it as a competitive advantage. The company is now considering replacing the manual equipment used for recycling in Mexico by new equipment that requires less material and labor costs. 1. Compute the incremental peso cash flows for the life of the project. The incremental cash flows of the next 10 years should be calculated. The initial cash outflow is the cost of investment in the new equipment (3,500,000 Pesos). Also, selling the manual equipment for cash value of 175,000 Pesos is subtracted from the cost of the new equipment to arrive at the initial net cash outlay of 3,325,000 Pesos. For the cash flows in the next 10 years, it is calculated by taking the difference of the cost of the manual method and the new automatic equipment. Next, to arrive at after-tax incremental cash flows we add back depreciation cost, which is non-cash expense (if total cost does include depreciation) and deduct tax. The new equipment would have a useful life of 10 years and would be depreciated under the straight-line method for both tax and financial reporting purposes. The corporate tax rate is 35%. 2. Compute the net present value of Ariel-Mexico’s recycling equipment in pesos by discounting the incremental peso cash flows at a peso discount rate. The present value of all these cash inflows and outflows can be calculated by discounting them at 8.5%, which was calculated by using real peso long-term borrowing rate of 2.2% and a real euro rate of 1.8%. The NPV can be calculated by taking the sum of present values of all the cash flows. This NPV comes out to be 3,754,474 Pesos. 3. Compute the NPV in Euros by translating the project’s future peso cash flows into Euros at the expected future spot rates. We translate the project’s future peso cash flows into Euros using the expected future spot rates estimated by the international business publication in the article—rise to 20.00 by 2011 from current 15.99 exchange rate and upwards of 25.00 in 2013-2018. We then discount the cash flows in Euros at 8% (the discount rate for similar projects in France) and get the NPV in Euros as 118,903 Euros. 4. Translate the NPV in pesos calculated in 2. To Euros and compare to the answer in 3. Comment on your findings. We translate the NPV in pesos calculated in 2 to Euros using the spot exchange rate on June 23 at MXN15.99/EUR. It gives an NPV of 234,801 in Euros, which is much higher than our number in question 3 as 118,903 Euros. The difference is driven by prediction of Pesos against Euros, and a slight different discount rate. From our analysis, we see that expectation of steep depreciation in pesos and a slightly higher discount rate in Mexico result in a much higher NPV value if we translate the pesos into Euros now.

Nursing-Sensitive Indicators Essay

According to the American Nurses Association, nursing-sensitive indicators â€Å"reflect the structure, process and outcomes of nursing care.† (â€Å"Nursing Sensitive Indicators,† 2015) Understanding the indicators is an important piece of nursing, not only to assist the patient, but the patients loved ones as well, to ensure quality patient care. In this particular case, had the nurse understood the reasoning and data behind the Pressure Ulcer Rate and Restraint indicators, and communicated the necessity to report any pertinent findings the CNA may discover in the nurse’s absence, the CNA would not have dismissed the reddened area over the patient’s lower spine and would have immediately informed the nurse of the finding. Upon returning the patient to bed, the CNA would have also known not to place the patient back in bed on his back and re-apply the restraints. Instead, would have had the patient lay to one side and stressed the importance, to the patie nt and family member, of frequent turning, to reduce the chance of pressure ulcers. Quality patient care can only be achieved with teamwork and open communication. The discussion of pressure ulcers in hospitalized patients has become an increasing issue with more attention to the prevention of such since the early to mid-1990’s. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) state that stage III and stage IV pressure ulcers occurring during admission are considered preventable (Zaratkiewicz et al., 2010). While the gentleman in our case scenario represented what would be considered a stage 1 pressure ulcer, with proper quality care and training, even this stage 1 ulcer could have been prevented or at the very least, the progression halted. If the nurse had a better understanding of nursing-sensitive indicators, or the theory behind them, then maybe he or she would take more ownership in the prevention of pressure ulcers. Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington, conducted their own study regarding pressure ulcers and ways to prevent them. Their study was  intended to track, prevent and improve skin-related outcomes (Zaratkiewicz et al., 2010). While the results of the study showed a large increase in minor pressure ulcers, it showed a huge decrease in stage III and IV ulcers, the most costly and reportable types. Education and staff reinforcement lead to early detection and improvement in practice, ultimately faring better for the patient. Maybe if the hospital in the scenario had communicated such important figures or conducted their own study, the nursing staff and even the CNA’s would have a better understanding and ultimately provide better care. As far as ethical issues such as the request for a kosher meal that ended up not being kosher, we as nurses accept and agree to abide by a code of ethics. If I were the nursing shift supervisor and this case scenario occurred, there are a few different things I would use to discuss with my staff. First of all, I would remind all nursing staff of the code of ethics we all accepted the day we graduated nursing school and offer copies to each of them to serve as a reminder. Specifically, for this scenario, I would point out; â€Å"Human Dignity is respect for the inherent worth and uniqueness of individuals and populations. In professional practice, concern for human dignity is reflected when the nurse values and respects all patients and colleagues† (â€Å"The Essentials,† 2008). While I am not Jewish and not receiving a kosher meal does not seem to be a big deal to me, I know that it is important to my patient and an acceptable request, so it should be a priority for me. Secondly, I would start a monthly ethical education series, choosing a different topic to better educate my staff. In the world we live in today, there are so many cultures and a necessity to be more aware of ethical treatment, that the staff should not be expected to â€Å"just know it.† This knowledge comes from on-going education and it is up to the hospital and staff to make sure they are kept as up to date as possible regarding ethical treatment of patients. I would also involve my Board of Ethics or ethical expert from the hospital to intervene and sincerely apologize to the family. While we won’t be able to fix the meal that was already eaten, we can ensure the patient and family that steps have been taken to support special requests of patients from now on. References Nursing-Sensitive Indicators. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ThePracticeofProfessionalNursi

Differences Between Pr and Advertising Essay

Differences Between Advertising and Public Relations Advertising vs. public relations, these two industries are very different even though they’re commonly confused as being one and the same. The following ten properties just scratch the surface of the many differences between advertising and public relations. 1. Paid Vs Free Coverage * Advertising: The company pays for ad space. You know exactly when that ad will air or be published. For Example: Infosys gives an ad in The Hindu on Wednesdays in the Opportunities column. So it has the liberty and control to opt whether they want to give the ad on a particular Wednesday or not depending on their requirement. * Public Relations: Your job is to get free publicity for the company. From news conferences to press releases, you’re focused on getting free media exposure for the company and its products/services. For Example: Tata Nano is the best example of this. Till now Nano was not advertised and all its publicity is through PR. 2. Creative Control Vs. No Control * Advertising: Since you’re paying for the space, you have creative control on what goes into that ad. Any feature of the ad can be designed according to the way you want to portray the image of your company. For Example: Close-up portrays a youthful image through its advertisements, whereas Cadbury (which earlier had largely targeted the youth) has shifted its focus and now projects its chocolate as something for the whole family to enjoy during times of rejoicing. * Public Relations: You have no control over how the media presents (or misrepresents) information about your organization. For Example: Reliance did not have a control over the news which was published regarding the conflict between Mukesh Ambani and Anil Ambani and had to pay for it in form of loss in the share price (initially). 3. Shelf Life * Advertising: Since you pay for the space, you can run your ads over and over for as long as your budget allows. An ad generally has a longer shelf life than one press release. * Public Relations: You generally submit a press release about a new product once. You only submit a press release about a news conference once. The PR exposure you receive is only circulated once. An editor won’t publish your same press release three or four times in their magazine. 4. Wise Consumers * Advertising: Consumers know when they’re reading an advertisement they’re trying to be sold a product or service. The consumer understands that we have paid to present our selling message to him or her, and unfortunately, the consumer often views the selling message very guardedly. * Public Relations: When someone reads a third-party article written about your product or views coverage of your event on TV, they’re seeing something you didn’t pay for and view it differently than they do paid advertising. Where we can generate some sort of third-party ‘endorsement’ by independent media sources, we can create great credibility for our clients’ products or services. 5. Creativity * Advertising: In advertising, you get to exercise your creativity in creating new ad campaigns and materials. Some jingles in the ad have a long bonding with the product. Few Examples: Surf comes with a series of new ads from time to time. Britannia’s jingle is well remembered and is branded even in its website. * Public Relations: In public relations, you have to have a nose for news and be able to generate buzz through that news. You exercise your creativity, to an extent, in the way you search for new news to release to the media. For Example: Apple iPhone is an example of this. Apple created a huge buzz in the market exercising creativity to and extend and the result was a huge demand for the Iphone much before its release date. 6. Target Audience or Hooked Editor * Advertising: You’re looking for your target audience and advertising accordingly. You wouldn’t advertise a women’s TV network in a male-oriented sports magazine. * Public Relations: You must have an angle and hook editors to get them to use info for an article, to run a press release or to cover your event. . 7. Special Events * Advertising: If your company sponsors an event, you wouldn’t want to take out an ad giving yourself a pat on the back for being such a great company. This is where your PR department steps in. Public Relations: If you’re sponsoring an event, you can send out a press release and the media might pick it up. They may publish the information or cover the event. 8. Writing Style * Advertising: Buy this product! Act now! Call today! These are all things you can say in an advertisement. You want to use those buzz words to motivate people to buy your product. * Public Relations: You’re stric tly writing in a no-nonsense news format. Any blatant commercial messages in your communications are disregarded by the media.

Response to Ethan Watters article in the New York Times The Essay

Response to Ethan Watters article in the New York Times The Americanization of Mental Illness why does America make mental il - Essay Example Why America makes mental illness socially unacceptable or not is a long heated debate and is explained in detail. If we are able to globalize Big Mac burgers and Nike shoes, then it doesn’t seem very difficult to have same kind of illness influence around the world in other cultures. I do believe that if we can globalize clothing, restaurants, and products, then it’s not too far of a stretch that with the meshing of cultures we could also globalize our illnesses. This article explains anorexia and depression are forms of Western Illnesses and they are spreading around in various parts of the world where they were initially not described as common part of illness. The article explains us that it is because we see these medical disorders in other cultures, that is why we decide to treat them in the same way that they would b treated in Western world. However the article doesn’t seem to be concerned about the illnesses that were found in United States. This article further explains that helping those who are mentally disable is completely misleading as one shoe cannot fit everyone. According to United States, people who are suffering from mental disorders are being imposed with economic stress. This in turn acts as a negative impact on the most fruitful years of work. This not only affects the individual but its family and mainly the society bringing great economic loss. This is also one of the reasons why United States make mental illness socially unacceptable. Stigmatizers usually assume that an individual who is stigmatized will eventually engage in immoral behavior towards others. It further describes that patients with mental disorders place great pressure on the society and are a source of potential danger towards citizens living around and the society on a whole. This dangerousness of the mentally ill people usually occurs due to poor habits that were previously inculcated in them. Mentally ill people are not only a threat for themselve s but they also lack certain human qualities that a normal human being has. It is because, mental illness is not related to ones will or within one’s control but it is a biological foundation that will remain out of control of an individual. However, Professor Bennett Leventhal of the University of Illinois Medical Center argued that this perspective is at odds with the campaign’s intent, which was to â€Å" ‘†¦speak to the point that these are real diseases and if you don’t do something they can consume your child’ † (as cited in Kaufman, 2007). This mental illness aids in social exclusion and also impedes recovery. Mental illness is an experience that is extremely isolating. This isolation can further be worsened if it gets combined with other experiences of isolation and social stigma. People get socially isolated and enter its vicious cycle after they are diagnosed with their mental disorder. This diagnosis is also disturbing as it n ot heals an individual back to normal but it further deteriorates the situation and leads to greater isolation from society. This mental illness damages the society as whole because it proves difficulties in maintaining relationships, maintaining daily tasks and informal and formal networks. As we move further, there are laws that also highlights the low significance of mentally ill people in the society and the laws that are specially derived for such

Financial Aspects of Recreation and Sport Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Financial Aspects of Recreation and Sport - Essay Example One of such key issues in the address was on trade policy. In his address to Americans President, Obama showed the need to protect business and citizens to have a fair share in foreign trade. In order to do that the president requested the need for parties to provide him trade promotion authority. This would help Americans be sure of the world economic market that Obama projected to have 25% customer base. He added that this would be with new trade agreements or deals from Europe to Asia that are free and fair. Basing on the context of recreational Industry, the address provides for many potential gains as individual firms can expand abroad and in turn come and invest even more within the borders of United States. The proposal by the president is essential and will impact the industry in the long run as it aims to open even larger markets in regions that United States previously ignored. There are a lot of advantage in recreation industry that accrue from improved trade links between United and other regions of the world. The industry is dynamic and requires a lot of within and out of border investors. Investment in recreation and sports industry has been a challenge and through more open links there is a possibility of a boost in investment. Growth is also expected through innovations and research. The second issue was the president intention to protect a free and open Internet, and extend its accessibility to every classroom, and far to every community and assist folks build the quickest networks so that the future will be of digital innovators and successful entrepreneurs have the platform to continue reshaping the world. The address used example of China that has been making great strides in making global treaties at the expense of United States. Critically analyzing the potential gains from this agenda, it can be deduced that the initiative will help grow recreational industry. Accessibility of free and open internet provides an opportunity for

Business system Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Business system - Assignment Example The system combined information system with indicators in the identification of parking areas. The project is affected by time and resource limitations. The financial resources required to plan for and implement the parking system, should be effectively budgeted for. The system should be implemented by a competent computer programmer in consultation with the building architect. It is thus assumed that MUN has adequate finances that will be used in implementing the project. The project also requires 2 months to be a success. It is thus expected that MUN has adequately created a schedule for the implementation of the parking system project. It is also assumed that the project will be environmentally friendly. This is through minimizing fuel use, because drivers quickly notice available parking slots. The Car Park Guidance System (CPGS) gives drivers dynamic data concerning parking in a controlled environment, like in the parking area of MUN. CPGS is alternatively referred to as the Parking Guidance and Information systems (PGI). CPGS integrates traffic monitoring, variable message sign, GPS, communication and processing technologies, to give the service. The modern parking spaces apply several technologies that assist motorists in; getting parking lots that are unoccupied, locating their vehicles, and also enhancing their parking experience. The technologies involve adaptive lighting, indoor positioning system (IPS), sensors, and also space led indicators. The red indicator illustrates an occupied space, the green indicator illustrates available space, and the blue indicator illustrating reservation for the elderly. The PGI is a key component of the intelligence transport system, which is mainly applicable in urban area environments and institutions like the MUN. The PGI assists in the implementation of an effective, efficient, environmentally friendly, and safe parking space. The PGI system operates

Factors in Asian Urban Growth Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Factors in Asian Urban Growth - Essay Example In relation to population and size, Asia is the world’s largest and most populous continent. Its gross domestic product is the third highest in the world. With the rise of globalization, world economies had structural adjustments which influenced production, resource utilization and wealth creation (Clark, 2003). Asian economies experienced high development in the manufacturing industry supplemented by the availability of cheap labor. According to Keiner, Schretzenmayr and Schmid (2005), urbanization in Asia has occurred at some of the fastest rates in history with a rise in large urban agglomerates. The urban growth is expected to increase more as time goes by, especially within the least developed, low income economies in Asia. This fast rate of urban growth in Asia has been linked with the population dynamics, economic markets and socio-political conditions of the region. Population growth has always been a factor in economic development. The Malthusian theory on population is that a high population can lead to a crash in the economy by leading it to acute poverty while trying to sustain the population’s needs. There are better views to population in that a large population means the availability of a large labour force and domestic market. An increase in population also encourages technological advancement and innovation in a bid to meet the rising need for certain goods and services according to Clark (2003). Asian population levels have been high over time even before this burst of urbanization. The population has a big role in the urbanization and development since they occupy the urban cities and engage in economic activities that sustain the rise of urban centers. Likewise the socio -political environment is also important to the urban growth. Success in economic development depends greatly on the political and administrative officials. These government officials also influence infrastructural development in the urban centers and rural ar eas of a country. Asia is a politically, economically socially and culturally diverse region. With globalization, countries in the region have been able to integrate especially to facilitate trade and economic activities. The rate of infrastructure growth in many Asian cities has been inevitable given the rising population. Roads, hospitals, schools and housing facilities in the urban centers had to be expanded in order to accommodate this population. The other factor related to urbanization is the economic markets. Compared to the other two factors the effects of the economy in the development of cities are more pronounced. Most Asian economic markets are characterized by free trade, booming capital markets, reduced regulations economic freedom, and security of property rights. In addition to this, economic integration in the region and with other economies of the world has led to a further increase in economic activity in the region (Landau, 2001). Economic integration led to conn ectivity among cities in the Asian region in order to facilitate the flow of goods and services, people, investments and communication between them. Free trade in the area has been encouraged by the formation of trade blocs. They include Asian pacific cooperation (APEC), whose aim is to promote free trade and economic cooperation the Asia pacific region. The Asia- Europe meeting (ASEM) works towards security of economy by deepening relations between Asia and Europe at all levels. The major trade bloc in the are which is the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) has its main objectives to have a free trade area , with common external preferential tariff