Token Economy Teachers Use of Positive Reinforcement in...

A token economy is an intensive, in-class positive reinforcement program for building up and maintaining appropriate classroom performance and behavior. A token program may be needed when other positive reinforcement programs, such as selective use of teacher attention or a home-based reinforcement program. In many different education settings a material reward program can be conveniently managed through a token reinforcement program. Token programs involve the distribution of physical tokens (for example, poker chips, stickers, stars, smiley faces, etc.) or points following appropriate behavior. The tokens or points can be accumulated throughout the day and exchanged for designated rewards at a specified time. A predetermined goal is†¦show more content†¦On the basis of previous research recorded, the authors hypothesized that the classroom would be linked directly to the achievement goals that students set. They predicted that the token economy classroom structure would be related positively to student performance-goal orientation. The contingency contract classroom structure would be related positively to student learning-goal orientation and the control classroom structure would be unrelated to student goal orientation (Brown, 4). The authors assessed differences in all of the students goal orientation by comparing the number of learning versus performance goals that students set within classroom conditions. In the token economy classroom students were given a contract in which they had to explain explicitly how token could be earned, how they were distributed, and how they could be exchanged. They also received a chart in which they could write down their token economy goals and their educational goals (Brown, 5). Tokens used in this classroom were in the form of play dollars and back up reinforcers, such as candy, pens, or computer time cards. Students in the contingency contract had to be involved in a process of meeting with the resear cher to set mathematical goals for themselves. In this classroom a gold star sticker would be placed on their goal chart when a goal of theirs was met. In the controlled classroom, students were given aShow MoreRelatedThe Behavior Therapy For Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder At School1216 Words   |  5 PagesThe Behavior Therapy for Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder at school By : Sarah Alharbi Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), is one of the most well-known behavioral disorder in children (Madhuri 2015), Which estimated all year at about 3–10% between children worldwide. A.D.H.D is more commonly observed in boys five times more than girls ( Jonna 2006). There is no doubt that ADHD children exacts an enormous burden on society in terms of financial cost, stressRead More Behavior Modification Methods in School Essay2634 Words   |  11 Pagesmany forms of positive reinforcement contingencies that can be presented in the classroom. These may include social rewards, like acceptance and encouragement from peers, tangible rewards, like the token economy, or internally motivating rewards, like having a sense of self-efficacy and feeling confident and proud of a particular accomplishment. The studies included here investigate cooperative learning strategies and how behavioral methods relate to academic performance that way, the use of rewardsRead MoreThe Individuals With Disabilities Act949 Words   |  4 Pagesvisual aids. This aided learners to matine focsu and process infrmation more easily. The use of technology was an essental tool in this envronment. iPads and Kindles are used to exercise basic math and reading skills. These student s also attend general education classes with indivdual supprt from teacher assistants. These students worked on a wide variety of adaptive skills such as self-care, social skills, school, and jobs daily with multiple community based instruction activities throughout the weekRead MoreClassic Behavioristic Principles of Psychology Developed by B.F. Skinner1372 Words   |  6 Pagesscientific discoveries was â€Å"single reinforcement† which became sufficient for â€Å"operant conditioning, the role of extinction in the discovery of intermittent schedules, the development of the method of shaping by successive approximation, and Skinners break with and rejection of stimulus-response psychology† (Iversen, 1992, p. 1318). According to Skinner’s theories, â€Å"Reinforcement does not strengthen the response instance that produces the reinforcer.† Rather, reinforcement can increase the likelihood thatRead MoreThe Strategies For Successful Motivation And Engagement2367 Words   |  10 Pagesstate exams were going to test them. The students sigh and yawn, knowing that they would rather be doing anything but math. Disengaged and bored students can be seen in many classes but how the teacher reacts to those students is crucial. Teachers use different strategies to try and discover what works for their students as a whole, because they understand that alert and active minds are important for absorbing the information. Having engaged students is detrimental for their academic success, soRead MoreClassroom Management Pl Philosophy And Theory2544 Words   |  11 Pagesclassroom management plan secures that the teacher controls the class. It also helps in addressing the issue of burnout, which af fects many teachers (McDonald, 2013). The aim of this paper is to describe the philosophy and theory that the author would use to ensure that the classroom is well managed. a) The nature/needs of Young People Young people are usually restive and very active with a lot of curiosity to learn new things. They are not able to sit at the same place doing the same thing for a longRead MoreTeacher Classroom Preparation and Setup for a First Grade Group1923 Words   |  8 Pagesand cognitive nature as well. I have envisioned my own classroom with 20 first grade children. The layout of the classroom I have provided is what I feel would be the way I would have the class set up for the beginning of a fall semester. As the school year progresses I will have changes and additions to the classroom as needs to be accommodated. I am also a believer to keeps students busy and engaged. This includes changing the seating arrangements every two or three weeks, this keeps the studentsRead MoreChildren With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ( Adhd )1882 Words   |  8 Pagesneurological condition that involves problems with inattention and hyperactivity-impulsitivity that are developmentally i nconsistent with the age of the child. (U.S. Department of Education et al 1) Unfortunately, children with ADHD experience difficulty in school and struggle to build friendships because of inadequate social skills. Children with ADHD who are the Inattention type are likely to struggle listening, easily lose focus and have difficulty staying organized. This type of characteristics, childrenRead MoreThe Effects Of Praise And Disruptive Behavior Essay1918 Words   |  8 Pagestime. The three studies I have chosen to look at that use praise to decrease unwanted behaviors are a classroom teacher consultation model for increasing praise and decreasing disruptive behavior, positive attending to improve student behavior, and direct behavioral consultation. My first article looks at a classroom checkup that addresses the need for classroom-level support while minimizing treatment integrity problems which are common to school-based consultation (Reinke, Lewis-Palmer, MerrellRead MoreA Case Study for Adhd Students4596 Words   |  19 PagesDawn, 1997): * Consult the experts: parents, previous teachers, specialists, guidance counselors, and psychologist. * Have a sense of humor! * Promote high self-esteem: be friendly, respect opinions, provide immediate feedback, and give reinforcement for any improvement. * Establish control: be consistent, follow definite rules, discipline offenses immediately, offer explanations for what rule was violated and be willing to listen to their side of the story. * Maximize academic improvement:

Socrates A Man Facing An Unjust Execution - 2248 Words

A man facing an unjust execution is presented with another option: escape from prison and flee to another providence. Most men would eagerly take this chance to prolong their lives and continue their journey on earth. Most men would do anything to get revenge for the wrong that has been done to them. However, most men are not like Socrates. Socrates did not plead his case by eliciting pity from the jury for an old man and his poor family. He did not beg for a different sentence that would allow him to live. Instead, he let the jury come to its own conclusion while acting with virtue and integrity. He held fast to his principles by remaining in prison to face his execution because that is how a good and just person would behave. Socrates’ decision not to escape in Crito is consistent with his principle that the good and just person never does harm to a large extent because accepting his verdict allows him to reinforce the sanctity of law and to set a prime example for his peers . Although the jury may be harming themselves by executing an innocent man, Socrates is causing less harm by accepting this fate because escaping would cause more damage by tarnishing the voice of the court and demonstrating a lack of integrity. In order to get Crito to understand this, Socrates says: â€Å"we ought not to repay injustice with injustice or to do harm to any man no matter what we may have suffered from him† (Plato 42). Clearly Socrates believes that revenge is not an act of a good or justShow MoreRelatedSummary Of Crito By Plato846 Words   |  4 Pages In â€Å"Crito† by Plato, Socrates faces a difficult dilemma. Socrates has been wrongfully charged of impiety and corrupting the children and is approached with an offer from his close friend Crito who says he will help Socrates escape and give him a nice place to live away from Athens where he can flee from a wrongful execution. Socrates should stay in prison and face his execution in order to prove he is innocent. Socrates wants to do no wrong at all and comes to the conclusion that escaping wouldRead MoreSocrates Vs Niccolo Machiavelli Essay1606 Words   |  7 PagesSocrates and Niccolo Machiavelli are revered as some of the most influential thinkers of their respective times. Both of these thinkers developed their thoughts while Athens and Florence, their respective cities, faced political unrest. By questioning the people of Athens through their period of turmoil following a shift in government, Socrates was able to formulate opinions regarding how a government should operate and how people should rule. Centuries later during the Renaissance era, Machiavelli’sRead MoreSocrates And Boethius : Two Men That Have Left An Everlasting Footprint Essay1783 Words   |  8 PagesSocrates and Boethius – two men that have left an everlasting footprint in the world of philosophy. They seem to be simi lar in their experiences of injustice, but we learn how very different their outlooks are while they are facing imprisonment and execution. Little did they know, their experiences would forever change how philosophy would be conceived in the years ahead. As we know, Socrates chose to never write or have his ideas published. We learned of his outlook and ideas through the writingRead MoreMachiavelli And Socrates1976 Words   |  8 Pagesduring times of war and turmoil, both Socrates and Machiavelli use philosophy to evaluate people and politics. After seeing corruption, fragmentation and death, both philosophers developed different views. Machiavelli’s concept of a Prince includes strong stances on morality and religion. Socrates would be likely to agree on the general ideas that Machiavelli believes a Prince should have but he would differ mainly in how they should be executed. I believe that Socrates would agree with Machiavelli thatRead More Plato’s Influence on Western Civilization Essay3085 Words   |  13 Pagesto socialization developed an ideal image of our current day country, long before our country existed. In ancient Greece, a great philosopher named Plato founded one of the most famous schools in all of h istory. Plato was a student of an enlightened man and a teacher of many others. Plato’s contribution to our existing government is given little credit, yet thanks to him we function as one of the most sophisticated societies in the entire history and the world. Plato, whose real name was AristoclesRead MoreBroken Family3761 Words   |  16 PagesSocrates Philosopher Socrates was a classical Greek Athenian philosopher. Credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy, he is an enigmatic figure known chiefly through the accounts of later classical writers, Wikipedia â€Å"Personal background† Born: 469 BC, Athens, Greece Died:399 BC, Athens, Greece Full name: Socrates Nationality: Greek Era: Ancient philosophy Region: Western philosophy School: Classical Greek Main interests: Epistemology, ethics Notable idea: SocraticMethod,Read MorePolitical Philosophy and Plato Essay9254 Words   |  38 Pages SOCRATES Socrates 469 BC–399 BC, was a classical Greek Athenian philosopher. Credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy, he is an enigmatic figure known chiefly through the accounts of later classical writers, especially the writings of his students Plato and Xenophon, and the plays of his contemporary Aristophanes. Many would claim that Platos dialogues are the most comprehensive accounts of Socrates to survive from antiquity. Through his portrayalRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 Pagesevery morning. Group #3: William Chen, 31-year-old male of Chinese descent, married (Harriet), two young children from his first marriage. Enjoys tennis and is quite good at it. A rising star in the company, he is highly respected by his peers as a â€Å"man of action† and a good friend. Group #4: Leo Jones, 36-year-old white male, married (Janet) with an infant daughter. Recently returned from paternity leave. Has traveled extensively on projects, since he INTRODUCTION 33 speaks three languages

Amygdalas Location and Function

The amygdala is an almond-shaped mass of nuclei (mass of cells) located deep within the temporal lobes of the brain. There are two amygdalae, one situated in each brain hemisphere. The amygdala is a limbic system structure that is involved in many of our emotions and motivations, particularly those that are related to survival. It is involved in the processing of emotions such as fear, anger, and pleasure. The amygdala is also responsible for determining what memories are stored and where the memories are stored in the brain. It is thought that this determination is based on how huge an emotional response an event evokes. Amygdala and Fear The amygdala is involved in autonomic responses associated with fear and hormonal secretions. Scientific studies of the amygdala have led to the discovery of the location of neurons in the amygdala that are responsible for fear conditioning. Fear conditioning is an associative learning process by which we learn through repeated experiences to fear something. Our experiences can cause brain circuits to change and form new memories. For example, when we hear an unpleasant sound, the amygdala heightens our perception of the sound. This heightened perception is deemed distressing and memories are formed associating the sound with unpleasantness. If the noise startles us, we have an automatic flight or fight response. This response involves the activation of the sympathetic division of the peripheral nervous system. Activation of the nerves of the sympathetic division results in accelerated heart rate, dilated pupils, increase in metabolic rate, and increase in blood flow to the muscles. This activity is coordinated by the amygdala and allows us to respond appropriately to danger. Anatomy The amygdala is composed of a large cluster of around 13 nuclei. These nuclei are subdivided into smaller complexes. The basolateral complex is the largest of these subdivisions and is composed of the lateral nucleus, basolateral nucleus, and accessory basal nucleus. This nuclei complex has connections with the cerebral cortex, thalamus, and hippocampus. Information from the olfactory system is received by two separate groups of amygdaloid nuclei, the cortical nuclei, and medial nucleus. Nuclei of the amygdala also make connections with the  hypothalamus and brainstem. The hypothalamus is involved in emotional responses and helps to regulate the endocrine system. The brainstem relays information between the cerebrum and spinal cord. Connections to these areas of the brain allow amygdaloid nuclei to process information from sensory areas (cortex and thalamus) and areas associated with behavior and autonomic function (hypothalamus and brainstem). Function The amygdala is involved in several functions of the body including: ArousalAutonomic responses associated with fearEmotional responsesHormonal secretionsMemory Sensory Information The amygdala receives sensory information from the thalamus and from the cerebral cortex. The thalamus is also a limbic system structure and it connects areas of the cerebral cortex that are involved in sensory perception and movement with other parts of the brain and spinal cord that also have a role in sensation and movement. The cerebral cortex processes sensory information obtained from vision, hearing, and other senses and is involved in decision-making, problem-solving, and planning. Location Directionally, the amygdala is located deep within the temporal lobes, medial to the hypothalamus and adjacent to the hippocampus. Amygdala Disorders Hyperactivity of the amygdala or having one amygdala that is smaller than the other has been associated with fear and anxiety disorders. Fear is an emotional and physical response to danger. Anxiety is a psychological response to something that is perceived as dangerous. Anxiety can lead to panic attacks that occur when the amygdala sends signals that a person is in danger, even when there is no real threat. Anxiety disorders that are associated with the amygdala include Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), and social anxiety disorder. Sources Sah, P., Faber, E., Lopez De Armentia, L., Power, J. (2003). The Amygdaloid Complex: Anatomy and Physiology. Physiological Reviews, 83(3), 803-834. doi:10.1152/physrev.00002.2003

The Great Depression The Tragic Time Period - 1537 Words

The Great Depression is the tragic time period from 1929 to the 1930s in the United States of America. During this time, many hopeless Americans were experiencing problems such as homelessness, starvation, impoverishment, and more. All this suffering was caused by several things, like when the Stock Market crashed in 1929, also known as â€Å"Black Tuesday.† The stock market crash caused people who would buy on margin to be in debt. People who would even speculate the market caused higher stock prices, inflating the company’s actual worth. This eventually resulted in the stock market crashing, causing a lot of panic and quick sales as people would lose their profit. Another long-term cause is when the banks were starting to fail. Approximately 11,000 out of 25,000 banks failed in the U.S. during this time because businesses and farmers would ask for loans and withdraw more money than they could ever pay back. The failure of the Stock Market and banks meant that people and businesses lost money, couldn’t get more loans from the banks, and were facing serious economic problems. With the promise of ending the poverty, Herbert Hoover beat Al Smith in the presidential election of 1928. Hoover believed in three things as president- voluntary cooperation (the idea that the government can help reach a compromise for people and businesses, but can’t force anything), rugged individualism (the mindset that people should succeed through their own efforts and no government handouts), andShow MoreRelatedFinancial Events Of The Great Depression Essay914 Words   |  4 PagesPiecing together the events of the Great Depression is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. As Ben S. Bernanke expressed, The Depression was an incredibly dramatic episode-an era of stock market crashes, bread lines, bank runs, and wild currency speculation, with the storm clouds of war gathering ominously in the background all the while. Fascinating, and often tragic, characters abound during this period, from hapless policymakers trying to make sense of events for which their experienceRead MoreCinderella Man Analysis1474 Words   |  6 Pagesaren’t born, they are made. Heroes are not the people who always win and get their way in life, but rather they fight back from their substantial failures and losses. James Braddock was an inspirational hero that citizens suffering through the Great Depression looked up to for motivation and hope in the film, Cinderella Man. He inspired Americans to strive forward and not give up as they witnessed him overcome many hardships that related to their own personal struggles. The United States began transitioningRead MoreThe Great Depression And Its Effects On The World Essay1595 Words   |  7 PagesThe Great Depression happened during the late 1920’s and continued until the early 1940’s. The origin of the depression was in the United States as the stock market crashed in 1929 wiping affecting millions of investors. The US economy was connected with the global economy, this economic crisis affected the whole world with high unemployment and low production. Industrial production declined dramatically, causing distribution systems to struggle as â€Å"transportation, wholesaling, manufacturing, andRead More Documenting The Depression Essay1041 Words   |  5 Pages Documenting the Depression: The FSA photographers and Rural Poverty nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; The Great Depression fell hard in the year of 1935 bringing what seemed to some people the end of the world. But in truth, the Great Depression was nothing near the end of the world, in fact the year of 1935 was not the first year nor was it the last year that many families had suffered and went hungry due to lack of work. Families forced to leave their home. Children going in hunger while their belliesRead MoreAnalysis Of Brother Can You Spare A Dime1062 Words   |  5 PagesNone of us could completely understand or experience the hardships and miseries experienced by the people during the Great Depression. However, E.Y. (Yip) Harburg – the â€Å"Legendary Lyricist† of the 1930s – gives us a large picture of it in his song â€Å"Brother Can You Spare a Dime† (Chochran 284). Harburg is a famous lyricist of several genres ranging from escapism to comedy and romanticism. In every lyric he writes, he â€Å"consistently [views it] as a means for expressing h is opinions against war andRead MoreThe Most Important Event That Caused The Great Depression Essay987 Words   |  4 PagesThe United States (U.S) experienced its worst depression for roughly 10 years after a tragic Tuesday in 1929. The roaring 20’s was abruptly halted as millions of people across the country lost everything they owned in just a single short day. Black Tuesday, as this day is referred to in history, was the day that triggered the Great Depression and caused one of the worst economic collapses ever seen (Lecture Notes, March 30, 2016). Tuesday October 29, 1929 will be a day etched in people’s mindsRead MoreCultural And Social Aspects Of The Great Depression1073 Words   |  5 Pagesmistakes made in the past. This iconic period in American history, known as the Great Depression, truly did change the cultural and social aspects of the United States. In the Great Depression, pop culture provided an outlet for the millions of deprived unemployed Americ ans. Men commonly fled their homes and families out of shame of their inability to find work, leaving it up to their wives to find jobs and take care of the children. The Great Depression was a hard time for many Americans, but influencedRead MoreThe Challenges Of The Great Depression1738 Words   |  7 PagesGrace Wortmann Ms. Meier English II 24 February 2017 The Challenges of the Great Depression In other periods of depression, it has always been possible to see some things which were solid and upon which you could base hope, but as I look about, I now see nothing to give ground to hope-nothing of man stated Former President Calvin Coolidge during the Great Depression. The Great Depression affected almost everyone in the United States. People had to learn to live on less, and still enjoy lifeRead MoreThe Economy and Life During the 1920s635 Words   |  3 PagesThe 1920s was known for its prosperous and flamboyant lifestyle. The GDP during that time had risen by 30 percent and unemployment was as at an all-time low of 3 percent. This was not meant to last forever. In fact, it was nearly impossible for this to last any longer than it did due to an imbalance that society was unaware of including that not every citizen was experiencing this uncommon wealth. There were still 3 percent unemployed and even some of the employed members of society did not makeRead MoreGregor Samsa E ssay1280 Words   |  6 PagesFranz Kafka writes Gregor Samsa in his novel The Metamorphosis to portray specific details of his childhood life. In the early 1900’s the Great Depression occurred which changed the romantic time period into the modernism that focused on grotesque imagery. The Great Depression caused people to appreciate their beautiful world, before it turned into the dark and gloomy atmosphere it was for ten years. Kafka and Gregor’s lives share the similarity that both of their fathers were aggressive, alienating

Target Financial Analysis Free Essays

Juan A. Torres Rodriguez D01596038 Mini Case Assignment Target Corp. started in 1902 as Dayton’s Dry Goods company. We will write a custom essay sample on Target Financial Analysis or any similar topic only for you Order Now At 1911, Dayton’s Dry Goods is renames as Dayton Company, and commonly known as Dayton’s Department Store. In 1946 Dayton’s Department Stores started giving the community back 5% of their pretax profits, a practice that Target Corp still maintains. During the 1960’s Dayton’s create a new kind of store to appeal the masses called Target, opening the first Target store in the Twin Cities on May 1, 1962. The industry sector in which Target Corporation competes is in the retail sector reaching the $62. 7 Billion in sales. As mentioned above, Target competes in the retail sector, which makes the operating risks of the company mainly focused on customer’s perceptions, differentiation of brand, and anticipating consumer preferences to boost their sales, gross margin and profitability. If we take a look at Target’s 10K, the first risk factor they mention is the ability of differentiate the business from other retailers by creating attractive value propositions through a careful combination of price, merchandise assortment, convenience, guest service and marketing efforts. Another risk that all companies in this sector face is the macroeconomic condition of the country and the impact this has in their consumers. This lead us to the financial risk the company might have. One of the financial risks we have to consider in any type of company is the debt to total capitalization ratio. Based on financial information of their 2011 report, we can calculate the debt to total capitalization ratio in the following manner: Total debt: 15,726 million Total stockholder’s equity: 15,487 million, therefore: 15,726 / 31,213= . 50 or 50% Comparing their debt to total capitalization ratio with industry average, Target’s is too high. The industry debt to total capitalization ratio is 0. 36. Comparing the financial information of previous years Target went from 0. 58 in 2009 to 0. 52 in 2010, to 0. 50 in 2011. Overall, Target is improving significantly their debt to capitalization ratio, but still has some work to do. In regards of Target stock, currently they don’t have any preferred stock outstanding, just common stock. Target’s common stock is traded in the NYSE as TGT. The price of it’s common stock as of today is $62. 0, going up 0. 06 points. Target’s cash dividend yield on the Common Stock is 0. 0192 = 1. 92% = 2. 0: Cash dividends declared per share: $1. 20 Current stock price: $62. 50 Cash dividend yield= 1. 15 dividends declared/ 62. 50 stock price = 1. 92 = 2. 0 Target’s market capitalization is: 668. 4 million shares issued and outstanding x $62. 50 of stock prices = 41. 8 Billion Continuing with Target’s capital structure, if we look at Target’s liabilities section: Short portion of Long-Term Debt = $3. 3 Billion Long-term debt = $15. 2 Billion Therefore the total debt for Target would be: . 3 B + 15. 2 B = 18. 5 Billion Dollars Taking the previous calculation of Targets market capitalization of 41. 8 the total capitalization would be: 18. 5 B + 41. 8 B = 60. 3 Billion, or: 31% Debt 69% Equity As of November 18, 2012, Target’s current beta is . 48. Now if we would like to calculate what would be Target’s new beta without the long-term debt (unlevered beta) we need to use the Hamada formula for the unlevered beta bu= b/ [1 +(1-T)(D/S) bu= . 48 / [ 1 + (1-34. 3%) (18. 5/40. 6)] bu= . 37 If Target would not have any long-term debt, its beta would be of . 7. Moving to Target’s current Marginal Tax Rate, according to the Income Statement found at Target’s annual report, the rate is 34. 3%. In order to calcu late Target’s Cost of debt before and after taxes, we need to look for the bonds issued by a corporation. Since Target has not issued bonds, I took the cost of a long-term debt due in 2020 as my example. The rate of that long-term debt is 3. 875%. This would be the Cost of debt before any taxes taken. Now to calculate the Cost of Debt after tax, we need to proceed with the following calculation: 3. 875 ( 1 – 34. %) = 2. 545875 As mentioned before, Target doesn’t have any preferred stock. We can calculate the Cost of Equity using the Risk Free Rate of 3. 00% and a Risk Premium of 7. 5% points. Using the new beta of . 48 we can determine what is the Expected Total return by Common Stockholders: rRF = 3. 00 rRP = 7. 5 b= . 48 Cost of Equity = rRF + (rRP x b) =3. 00% + (7. 5% pts x 0. 48) = 0. 066 ? 6. 6% Given the dividend yield of 2. 0 we can also determine the Expected annual appreciation of Target’s Common Stock: 6. 6% Total Return – 2. 0 Dividend Yield = 4. % of E. A. A. With the previous information calculated we could proceed and calculate the Weighted Average Cost of Capital: wd = 31% ws = 69% rs = 6. 6% rd = 3. 875% Tax = 34. 3 WACC = wd ( 1 – T)rd + ws(rs) =31% ( 1 – 34. 3%) 3. 875% + (69% x 6. 6%) = 0. 053432 = 5. 3432% One of the last things used to evaluate in order to consider investing in a company is its Price Earnings Multiple. Target’s Price Earnings Multiple is calculated the following way: Stock Price= $62. 50 Earnings Per Share = $4. 50 P/E = Stock Price / EPS = 62. 50 / 4. 50 = 13. 89 If we compare Target’s P/E ratio with Wal-Mart, which is in the same industry, (14. 03 P/E), Target’s P/E is within ndustry. http://finance. yahoo. com/q/bc? s=TGT+Basic+Chartt=5y This chart was retrieved from Yahoo! Financial. In here we can see the performance of Target’s Stock (TGT) during the past five years. In 2008 Target’s started at approximately $55. 00; looking at 2009, the stock plummeted from the 60’s to the mid 20’s, which reflects the market crash. After this episode in the economy we can see that Target’s stock has recovered significantly. After performing the calculations, Target’s capital structure is optimal. However, the debt to capitalization ratio is high, at 50%. Target needs to lower its Long-Term Debt. Comparing Target’s debt to capital to the industry average, the industry average is 0. 36. However I would invest in Target. I think I would have an advantage over outsiders, because I used to work at Target Corporation. Target is a company that is constantly growing, and their sales demonstrate their market advantage over other retailers. What convinced me to invest into Target mostly was the P/E ratio. Comparing it to a corporation like Wal-Mart, which is really successful, Target’s P/E ratio is acceptable and attractive. References 1. Scovaner, Douglas A. (2011). Target 2011 Annual Report. Retrieved on November 18, 2012: https://corporate. target. com/annual-reports/2011/images/company/annual_report_2011/documents/Target_2011_Annual_Report. pdf 2. Stock Analysis on net. (2012). Retrieved on November 18, 2012. http://www. stock-analysis-on. net/NYSE/Company/Target-Corp/Ratios/Long-term-Debt-and-Solvency#Debt-to-Capital 3. Retrieved on November 18, 2012 http://ycharts. com/companies/TGT/pe_ratio 4. Yahoo! Finance. (2012). Retrieved on November 18, 2012. http://finance. yahoo. com/q/bc? s=TGT+Basic+Chartt=5y ——————————————– [ 1 ]. https://corporate. target. com/annual-reports/2011/images/company/annual_report_2011/documents/Target_2011_Annual_Report. pdf, page 5. [ 2 ]. http://www. stock-analysis-on. net/NYSE/Company/Target-Corp/Ratios/Long-term-Debt-and-Solvency#Debt-to-Capital [ 3 ]. https://corporate. target. com/annual-reports/2011/images/company/annual_report_2011/documents/Target_2011_Annual_Report. pdf, [ 4 ]. http://ycharts. com/companies/TGT/pe_ratio How to cite Target Financial Analysis, Essay examples

Emmas Parlor Case free essay sample

She put in 60-70 hours a week in the beginning. She chose everything in the parlor to help it succeed. Once the business was finally growing she had the continued need to achieve and that’s when she started to blend her own Organic Teas. She continued to grow and improve and she took the business to the web. Those are some of the characteristics of an entrepreneur that Emma possesses. Emma’s Parlor is in the success stage of business growth. The company is profitable both on the web and in the Parlor. She now employs about 20 people. Emma is in the process of deciding whether to stay involved and focusing on just the web or the tearoom. She is also considering turning the business over to an experienced restaurant manager or selling the tearoom outright. In the leading part of management at the success stage, the manager has to either learn to motivate employees or hire managers that can. We will write a custom essay sample on Emmas Parlor Case or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In the controlling part of management at the success stage the manager needs to start implementing structured control systems. The web-based organic tea business is in the success stage as well. It has grown to this stage faster then the tearoom. It is solidly based and profitable. It produces less revenue then the tearoom but has a higher profit margin! And as I have stated she is looking into focusing on either the tearoom or the web based business and turning the other over to managers. E-business is so important that you have to plan and allocate resources for internet operations from the beginning and these plans grow as the company grows. Emma is an entrepreneur and she needs to continue to be one. She has the characteristics that I listed above and if she were to get out of the business she would have to find something to fill those voids. I think she needs to keep both the web based business and tearoom and hire managers to help. I think she needs to focus on the tearoom and find a manager to help her with the web based business. She is an outgoing person so she likes the interaction but the workload of both is just too much to handle. She really is great with the tea now and has kind of become an expert in the teas. She needs to stick with the tea and get the help necessary to continue the growth of the business without taking on too much of the workload. So that is what I think Emma should do. I think she should continue with both the web business and the tearoom and hire managers to help her effectively and efficiently manage the business.

Tracing Property Finance Nexus †Free Samples to Students

Question: Discuss about the Tracing Property Finance Nexus. Answer: Introduction In this report, the Al Futtaim Group of Company is discussed, citing their innovation history since its inception up to the recent date. The innovation success is measured by the quality of products that meets the desires of the consumers and direct clients of the company. The report also, discusses the current technology that the company uses, the performance as well as the capabilities or the maximum potentials of the company. The report also, outlines the performance and the existing state of the company as at the year 2016. The company was first initiated in the early 1930s as a trading company. Since is establishment, Al-Futtaim has been expanding and progressing in terms of its fixed assets, capital investments, number of employees and liquid assets. Their main headquarters is based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The company started by linking with the industrial and commercial partners in offering their services and expanded their business into various practices. Currently, the company delivers services that includes, but not limited to automotive, engineering and technology, financial services, electronics and general services among others. The company has expanded its business operations to more than 60 branches across the United Arab Emirates. The company after its expansion, decentralized every aspect of operation that offered flexibility to the individual business so as to attain a competitive strategy. Each individual company, therefore strives to offer services (Buckley Hanieh 2014, p.158). I would like to work in this company after completion of my undergraduate studies since it offers a good environment for knowledge development and experience. The reputation of the company is far much enough to set a standard of a career future, especially for those pursuing the BBA. The key innovative products that the company offers includes the electronics and other engineering and technology products. These range of products are attract large number of customers that increases the turnover of the company. They also offer nautica lifestyle products which are innovative and diverse in terms of quality and design. This diversification makes the company to serve the needs of the varied nature of their clients in a manner that is satisfying. The company is never afraid of pushing their limits in terms of technology and innovations. This constitutes their expansion and the ever increasing turnover of the company. The company was one of the first Arab companies to establish trade links with worlds largest business corporations like the Toyota Company. The company employs their workers from various parts of the world that come from over 10 different countries. The performance of the company has been outstanding due to the diverse nature of employees that the company boasts. The total staff of the company is estimated to be more than 40,000, unlike during the early stages of its establishment where they had a few number of employees or staff members. They concentrate on satisfying their customers and clients by offering quality services within the expectations of their clients. Their mission statements centers at various values such as respect of their clients and individual members, trustworthiness, inspiration and innovations. The Al Futtaim Group of Company existing Innovation performance and capabilities When measuring the companys performance, I used the evaluative approach to the varied range of products as well as the existing business data. Also, application of the appropriate methodologies helps one to identify the drivers of the innovation within and outside the management of the Al-Futtaim Group of Company. The companys current innovation rates is at its peak, where most of the products and types of business they engage in, is nearly saturated. After their involvement in the automotive, financial and engineering and technology services among others, the company seem to be dry of new ideas. The company therefore, needs more realization of ideas in order to manage the competitive nature of the market. The total divisions, in terms of the products that they offer are more than seven. These divisions covers the real estate management services, retail services, travel and tours, electronics, automotive and insurance among other services. These are some of the innovations that has driven the company into the next level of business operation in the United Arab Emirates. In the United Arab Emirates, the Al-Futtaim Group of Company are the major automobile dealers, whereby they directly compete with first production industries such as the Bavaria motor works (BMW), Nissan, KIA, and Hyundai motor s among others. These other industries are threatening the market shares of the company, since they compete from all the angles, that is, both the quality of the products and their prices (Almezaini 2012, p. 57). Al Futtaim Group of Company in terms of hospitality sector needs to improve. They need to create conducive environments to their guests, and ensure that they meet the preferences of the individual customers. By personalizing the customer satisfaction, the company will be able to increase the loyalty of their customers. The AL-Futtaim Technologies, for example, will ensure better interaction of the customers with the hotel management and staff members. Every customer that the company serves is very crucial, and thus they should never take customer satisfaction for granted. Improving the customer experience is one of the drivers of innovation for the Al-Futtaim Technologies, where services such as the simplification of transactions should be implemented in their operation systems. Checkouts and check-ins should be simplified processes that takes their customers less time. Technology is at the heart of every competitor company, hence Al-Futtaim Group of Company or the Al-Futtaim Technologies should implement the use of efficient credit cards at designated points to enable their clients to pay for the services at their convenience. This is one of the external focus of the company, where they need concentrate in order to attract and retain most of the clients or customers. The management should utilize the engineers and the computer experts which are part of the companys staff to ensure that they are always up to date in terms of the technology that they are utilizing. This provides a competitive advantage over the rest of the competitors in the market. Effective team working of every department member of the company will ensure that the success is achieved (Sager 2007, p.10). Competition from various companies such as the Nissan Motors, Hyundai and other companies are the key innovation drivers that makes the Al-Futtaim Group of company staff to tirelessly improve on their service delivery. The stiff competition in terms of prices of the automobiles for example, has necessitated the application of more technology in the production and supply process to minimize the costs incurred in those processes. These minimized costs will ensure the output products have low prices, which will eventually provide for the competitive prices of their end products (Almezaini 2012, p. 50). Increasing globalization of the Al-Futtaim Group of company is another key driver of innovation. The company is seeking to spread its influence in terms of expansion of service delivery and that is seen in the presence of mobile branches in many of the countries (Over 10 different countries). This expansion calls for creative strategies of expansion and managing satellite branches in various parts of the world. This includes such provisions as how to run those branches concurrently according to the provisions of the set standards of the headquarters. Managing the employee attendance of the ever increasing number of staff members or employees of the company. Increasing customer expectations calls for innovation within the company. The Al-Futtaim Group of Companies has good reputation, and in that case, have had a lot of long term loyal customers. To meet their needs in terms of satisfaction in terms of their services that they provide, the company has been forced to employ highly qualified staff members. This kind of staff that ranges from engineers, managers to the general staff have to offer services that satisfies every individual customer (Spraggon and Bodolica 2014, p.10). This satisfaction of customers s due to improved innovations that meets the needs of the clients, and hence retention of the existing customers and attractions of new customers. The Al Futtaim Group of Company has also, enjoyed the continued support of the government of Dubai and Abu Dhabi in terms of provision of conducive environments that provides for smooth operations. The government of Abu Dhabi recently provided the company with a piece of land that helped the company in the expansion of business operations (Hertog 2007, p.54). The piece of land could accommodate almost 15000 vehicles that the company stocks for local sales as well as their exports. As at 2016, Al-Futtaim Group of Companies has made a lot of progress, for example, it is the pioneered the sale of the hybrid cars. The company leads in terms of sales of the Toyota Prius type of hybrid cars. This is one of the achievements that the company has made in history (by registering over 530% growth in terms of sales). The Al-Futtaims continued sensitizing of its customers to use the hybrid type of cars is one of the major boosts to the incredible turnover. These hybrid vehicles are economical in terms of fuel consumption, apart from being environmentally safe since it emits less carbon to the atmosphere. The Al Futtaim Motors as at the end of the year 2016 was covering the largest part of the shares in the United Arab Emirates stock market. As a matter of fact, almost 70% of the total shares came from the Dubai market alone. The Al Futtaim Motors still retained the largest market share in terms of the market supply of vehicles (almost 20,000 vehicles), through various dealers such as the Western Auto, Green Valley Motors, River Start and Legend Motors among many other dealers. Through its main car dealer, the Ghassan Aboud Cars, the company exports a minimum of 11000 vehicles to the external markets such as the Indian market, China, Southern America and West African among other various countries of the world (Randheer and Al-Aali 2015, p.54). The net worth of the Al Futtaim as at 2016, was more than $2 billion, making it among the top richest companies in the United Arab Emirates. Other co-companies that are part of the Al Futtaim includes the Al Futtaim Motors, Wester and Robinsons Co. among others. Conclusion Al Futtaim Group of Companies is one of the most successful companies in the world, and it is due to its success in terms of business expansions. The company expanded locally, and eventually to a global company due to innovation drivers that acted as a pull. Due to ever increasing technological advances in nearly every sector, competition is increasing forcing companies to find new methods of satisfying their existing customers while attracting new ones. Reputation of the company plays a critical role in influencing the growth and development of the company. This is the case with the Al Futtaim Group of Companies, where, for many years, they have kept their reputation by ensuring that their customers are every satisfied through delivery of quality services. References Almezaini, K., 2012. Private Sector Actors in the UAE and their Role in the Process of Economic and Political Reform. Business Politics in the Middle East. London: C. Hurst, pp.43-66. Buckley, M. and Hanieh, A., 2014. Diversification by Urbanization: Tracing the Property?Finance Nexus in Dubai and the Gulf. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 38(1), pp.155-175. Hertog, S., 2007. The GCC and Arab economic integration: a new paradigm. Middle East Policy, 14(1), pp.52-68. Randheer, K. and Al-Aali, A., 2015. What, Who, How and Where: Retailing Industry in Saudi Arabia. Journal of Competitiveness Studies, 23(3), p.54. Sager, A., 2007. The Private Sector in the Arab WorldRoad Map towards Reform. Arab Reform Initiative, 10. Spraggon, M. and Bodolica, V., 2014. Dynamic Characteristics of the UAE. In Managing Organizations in the United Arab Emirates (pp. 1-16). Palgrave Macmillan US.