The Dragon Can free essay sample

# 8217 ; t Dance Essay, Research Paper The Dragon Can # 8217 ; T Dance The Dragon Can # 8217 ; t Dance. The writer, Earl Lovelace, allows even the non-indigenous reader to understand, to experience the physical and psychological worlds of destitute Calvary Hill # 8211 ; every # 8220 ; Sweet, writhing, aching aching # 8221 ; ( p. 133 ) # 8211 ; more intensely, more wholly, through his usage of paradox. Indeed, oxymorons pepper the pages of his novel, disputing our wonts of idea and arousing us into seeking another sense or context in which these self-contradictions may be resolved into truths, truths that are clearly cosmopolitan yet at the same clip inseparable from the combined coloring material and sordidness of post-World War II Trinidadian life. Striking contradictions are employed most often in the writer # 8217 ; s word picture of Sylvia. While she is a comparatively fringy character, in her, Lovelace limns a startlingly existent portrayal of a adult female, organic structure and psyche, and, as virtually all male characters in the novel are mesmerized by her, it is suiting that the extent of her power is most regularly conveyed in footings of paradox. We will write a custom essay sample on The Dragon Can or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Already at age 17 she possess a # 8220 ; cognizing artlessness # 8221 ; ( p.39 ) , intuitively cognizant of her sacrificial function to her overburdened female parent # 8217 ; s rent aggregator, Guy. When he would touch her, she sometimes stood still, feeling, about badly, the demand to hone the # 8220 ; exultant resignation # 8221 ; ( p.40 ) fitted for the prostitution that was her fate, if non her naming. Along with the omniscient storyteller, the supporter Aldrick Prospect is fascinated by her. When she comes with a white frock and oversized places to offer herself to him, he thinks that it is # 8220 ; as if she had come both to give herself and to defy his taking her. # 8221 ; Unable to accept the societal duty that she implies simply by her presence, Aldrick will subsequently see Sylvia in needfully contradictory footings as # 8220 ; Sylvia, that child, adult female # 8230 ; her eyes # 8230 ; inflaming a sort of active uncaring # 8221 ; ( p. 114 ) toward him. Her physical beauty, # 8220 ; the rhythmic rise-fall of her natess, the quavering up-downing of her buttocks # 8221 ; ( p.151 ) , will do him # 8220 ; injury for her, for the taming of her # 8221 ; ( p. 152 ) , for old ages to come. Graduating from the physical, nevertheless, that # 8220 ; up-downing, drop-rising # 8221 ; ( p. 152 ) of her underside, Aldrick will come to recognize that # 8220 ; her really desirableness placed her above ordinary desiring # 8221 ; ( p. 229 ) , the mere ownership which Guy intends, and it is at carnival that he foremost glimpses the hereafter that they might portion, how he might paradoxically # 8220 ; lose himself and derive himself in her, twirling off with her until together they disappeared into the ego that she was naming back, naming Forth # 8221 ; ( p. 141 ) . Repeating the Indian, Pariag, and Philo the Calypsonian, Aldrick begins to want to merely populate and love and turn, which is precisely why he has ever loved Sylvia: her beauty was non a arm, but a # 8220 ; declaration of a religion in life and a promise of life # 8221 ; ( p. 228 ) . He entirely realizes the paradox that Sylvia is both # 8220 ; illuminated and doomed by that aura # 8221 ; ( p. 229 ) of inner # 8220 ; sainted # 8221 ; beauty which Guy threatens to stamp down by efficaciously sequestering her in a new place in Diego Martin. Merely through the usage of paradox could Lovelace convey the full scope of emotion between Sylvia and Aldrick, who both realize early on the spiritualty of their love that blossomed like a Mangifera indica rose against the unmitigating background of Aldrick # 8217 ; s little room, the brainsick formation of boxboard and wood-board hovels on the Hill, against all of the physical and economic worlds of Port-of-Spain. When Sylvia notices Aldrick coming up the Hill after his five-year prison sentence, for illustration, the sight of him sends # 8220 ; a chilling runing thrilling experiencing # 8221 ; through her flesh ( P . 206 ) . The oxymoron is particularly disposed given the strength of her true feelings for Aldrick and her guilty cognition of the fact that she has affianced herself to Guy entirely for economic grounds. Lovelace continues to use paradoxes to to the full dramatise the ubiquitous economic tensenesss in Calvary Hill. For all of Diego Martin # 8217 ; s comparative asepsis # 8211 ; # 8220 ; the newness and sameness of everything # 8221 ; ( p. 227 ) # 8211 ; the streets of the Hill remain # 8220 ; the really backbones of emptiness # 8221 ; ( p. 143 ) , and Fisheye and his set of ill-affected warriors have small else to make but lounge at the Corner, keeping their organic structures # 8220 ; in that relaxed animation # 8221 ; ( p. 26 ) as they watch # 8220 ; the humdrum prosaic journeying of people ensnared in their day-to-day surviving, a ritual driven # 8230 ; set in gesture, # 8221 ; Lovelace writes, # 8220 ; by that most baronial and obscene ground: the married woman, the kids, the belly, the dorsum of the pes ; the demand to maintain maintaining on # 8221 ; ( p. 166 ) . It is easy discernible how maintaining on in such economic conditions is # 8220 ; baronial and obscen e # 8221 ; at the same clip. The oxymoron serves to increase the sense of pragmatism and, with it, the built-in poignancy for the predicament of the uprooted urban workers # 8211 ; even for Fisheye and his unemployed bullies. Frustration and choler # 8211 ; # 8220 ; an choler older than themselves # 8221 ; ( p. 164 ) # 8211 ; is the inevitable consequence, which manifest in the posturing and ultimate misdirected force of Fisheye and his set. With effortless narrative gait, Lovelace # 8217 ; s description of the set members # 8217 ; # 8220 ; tight humorless smiles # 8221 ; ( p.165 ) culminates in the # 8220 ; serious stupidity # 8230 ; the of import stupidity # 8221 ; ( p. 179 ) of their failed pseudo-revolution in Woodford Square. Finally, the racial biass which characterize the Hill are besides efficaciously dramatized in self-contradictory footings. Despite Miss Cleothilda # 8217 ; s excavate oxymoronic axiom, # 8220 ; All o # 8217 ; we is one # 8221 ; ( p. 14 ) , an foreigner like the Indian, Pariag, will neer be able to experience a human bond with the others in the Yard. Then once more, that is non entirely true ; merely paradoxes can accurately and adequately convey the urban truth. It is merely after the devastation of his bike that the Yard can see past Pariag # 8217 ; s race to his humanity ; Pariag feels this intimacy every bit good. However, with the culturally pluralistic ideal about in range, Lovelace translates the self-contradictory and practical world for the reader: Pariag # 8230 ; felt touched that they had recognized him # 8230 ; Yet, it pained him that they had recognized him merely at that minute when he was pulling off ; and this hurting brought a height to his walk, so that he was at that clip both closer to them and further from them. It would be across this distance and with this intimacy that they would see each other henceforth ( p. 155 ) . Even Fisheye will finally halt coercing # 8220 ; two shilling # 8221 ; from Pariag whenever Pariag base on ballss by him. But when a immature fellar says to him, # 8220 ; I didn # 8217 ; T know he was your friend, # 8221 ; Fisheye responds: # 8220 ; Get the degree Fahrenheit # 8211 ; out of here, who say he is my friend # 8221 ; ( p. 155 ) ? Of class Fisheye # 8217 ; s come back contradicts what he unconsciously feels inside, but it is declarative of that apparently unachievable end of non merely Trinidad and Tobago, but of all states # 8211 ; # 8220 ; Indian, Chinee, white, black, rich, hapless # 8221 ; ( p. 163 ) # 8211 ; that Pariag redefines, thought of Miss Cleothilda and her All o # 8217 ; we is one: # 8220 ; No. We didn # 8217 ; Ts have to run into one. I woulda be me for my ain ego. A get downing # 8230 ; # 8217 ; ( p. 224 ) . And Lovelace # 8217 ; s vision in The Dragon Can # 8217 ; t Dance provides merely that: a microcosmic beginning, pealing challenging, all-too-relevant truths about humanity from a universe of self-contradictions, through a limpid poesy of paradox. To borrow Lovelace # 8217 ; s ain words about Miss Cleothilda, his is arguably a novel of # 8220 ; brave and pious magnificence # 8221 ; ( p. 147 ) .

buy custom Comprehensive Mental Health Services essay

buy custom Comprehensive Mental Health Services essay Introduction The awareness of mental health needs of adolescents and children is increasing among health care specialists. Violence in schools, increased dropout rates, suicide and homicide tendencies, bullying, and high-risk behaviors are observed commonly across the United Kingdom and United States schools. The economic impact and human toll of insufficiently addressing mental health issues is extremely crucial because untreated mental abnormalities increase higher rates of children incarcerations, drug abuse, unemployment, school dropout, and family dysfunction. The proportion of school children, in which mental disorders are observed, has gone up from 8 percent to 22 percent over the past two decades.According to the United States Pediatric Report on juveniles mental health published in 2000,18 percent of school children require active mental health treatment, 12 percent show significant functional disorder, and 6 percent have severe functional disability. These data were extracted from the Institute of Mental Abnormalities in the United States school children (US Public Health Service, 2000). Current study attempts to seek how mental health services are developing as a strategy to resolve these issues by eliminating barriers to availing mental health interventions, and enhancing coordination of those treatments. The study also examines potential in the School-initiated mental health services for prevention efforts, and intervention strategies. Needless to mention that more than 70 percent of health physicians advocate the need of counseling and psychological facilities in school campus, which include interventions, referrals, and assessments.Schools play a powerful role in providing mental health treatment for many pupils.These mental health interventions range from minimal services offered by school pediatrics to a compact, integrated program of identification, prevention, and treatment within a school campus. Many schools in the United States have introduced comprehensive SBHC benefits for the benefit of children. There are now 1,200 SBHCs providing mental health servic es. Mental Health Services on School Campuses The optimal way to identify components of schools initiated mental health services is to examine a three-leveled health model of needs and services. The first level provides a set of health services for minor mental abnormalities. Activities in the first levelmodel should be ubiquitous so that all children can avail in the school campus. Preventive mental wellness programs are those, which focus on minimizing risk factors and building awareness, providing a friendly, positive, and social environment at school campus while ensuring that each pupil receives an encouragement from his or her family that associates with healthy development. A sense of pupil involvement in school activities renders positive influence on academic career and minimizes risky behaviors.For instance, schools must offer students extracurricular activities, multiple and varied curricular programs, thereby increasing the probability that each pupil will effort to be successful in some sphere of school life. The second level focuses on the targeted mental health interventions, which are created to help children, who have one or more mental health disorders, but their performance is quite satisfactory to engage in many academic, social, and other extracurricular activities. Second level services can include provision of individual therapy to students. Further, for students facing learning problems in education, as well as for those showing behavioral problems, this tier may include behavioral characteristics of these students, and specialized and individualized education programs may be designed that can eliminate these students behavioral problems. The third level of mental health services focuses on those students who are diagnosed with severe mental health disorders and symptoms. These children need treatment from a multidisciplinary professional team that usually includes an individual therapy, special education services, pharmacotherapy, and coordination of social agencies. Researches, so far, have not produced satisfactory results on the success of school-initiated mental health services models. Whereas, the Bridges Project model that uses the three-leveled model in schools has produced positive results with improved school grades and attendance, improved emotional and behavior rating scale (Brock, 2011). Preventive Strategies As school administrators design the first tier of mental health services (a compact program of mental health prevention), schools should provide active participation of pediatricians, nurses, primary social services, community agencies, and parents. The health program should offer: 1) collective opportunities for pupils to build resiliencee and resistance to different stresses; 2) discipline and behavior plans; and 3) mental health syllabus (violence and bullying prevention), which are included into health education curricula (Bruns, Walrath, Glass-Siegel, Weist, 2004). Discipline and behavior plans should be implemented in schools for acquainting consistent behavior consequences and expectations of all participants. School management should teach administrators and educators the following basic principles: 1) the vital characteristics of behavior management techniques; 2) diagnosis of mental health disorders at an early age; 3) creating a secured environment for students. Some schools prepare school nurses, teachers, and other staff to volunteer in student health improvement programs after school hours. Support staff also leads health care providers to assist children to express themselves to their parents within a comfortable, safe, and secured environment. Schools should develop multidisciplinary support teams, which will include nurses, mental health specialists, school staff, and physicians to review and design intervention strategies for children experiencing mental problems at school, as well as at home (Hussey Guo, 2003). Conclusion School-based mental care programs are increasingly gaining significance in most schools of the United States. These mental health services improve accuracy of diagnosis and treatment of children. One of the key challenges to offering mental health services to children is gaining information regarding behavior of students in different environments. Schools serve as a wealth of opportunities to obtain information on how students cope with social and physical stresses, on how well they perform in the academic context, and how they develop interpersonal relationship with teachers, and peers. Several challenges have been observed in providing mental health care at school campuses. First, mental health services should be rendered under the strict guidance of medical experts, such as a general physician, mental health specialists, and social welfare organizations. Otherwise, mental health problems may not be effectively diagnosed and students in need of health care services may be neglected . Second, mental health care must be included in school syllabus so that these medical services become an integral part of education curriculum. Finally, since parents play a vital role in mental health intervention for students, creative strategies must be designed to attract their participation in medical services, not simply parental consent. Buy custom Comprehensive Mental Health Services essay

Dells Supply Chain Management Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Dells Supply Chain Management - Case Study Example It also highlights the key issues or limitations of existing SCM process followed by Dell and recommends specific measures to prevent or overcome those limitations. Dell Inc ('Company') is a multinational technology company that offers a broad range of product categories, including computer desktop systems, servers and networking products, mobility products, software and peripherals and enhanced services. The Company has often been cited as one of the premier innovators in supply chain design and execution. Its demand-driven, outsourced operational model enabled it to achieve market domination, which then allowed it to dictate costs and standards to suppliers. This report is based on analysis of information available on the Company's website and publicly published reports. Supply chain management (SCM) is a comprehensive activity including management of the flow of materials, information, and funds across the entire supply chain, from suppliers to component producers to final assemblers to distributors, and ultimately to the consumer; including after-sales service and sales returns Johnson.(M. Eric & Pyke F. David 1999). In a global environment, firms have to deal with multiple suppliers and customers and are required to manage inventories in new and innovative ways. Various industrial researchers have stressed the importance of viewing SCM as an integrated system. With different methodologies of SCM implemented by various businesses in the same sector, it is more of a competition amongst the various methods of managing the supply chain for businesses, even those belonging to the same sector. SCM has generated much interest in recent years for a number of reasons. It has become crucial for businesses across sectors to realize that weak performance of one member of value chain could ultimately influence the profitability of the entire business. In this highly competitive business environment, cost of poor coordination between suppliers and customers can be extremely high. Especially in sectors characterized by fluctuating demand, a weak SCM can result in inefficient use of production, high transportation costs and high inventory costs. This cost increases as we move up the supply chain from consumer to distributor to producer, a phenomenon known as a 'Bullwhip Effect' (Johnson .M. Eric & Pyke F. David 1999). Similarly, an efficient SCM which is well integrated across the value chain of the business can provide a significant competitive advantage. On a broad level, supply chain management can be based on one of the two approaches; 'push approach' or 'pull approach'. The push system takes full benefit from economies of scale in production and input acquisition by producing optimal output size and then distributing to wholesalers and retailers (Papadakis 2002). On the other hand, pull approach is known for its adaptive efficiency and is applied by sectors where demand is highly volatile and technology is depreciated fast. According to the pull system, a value adding transformation takes place only after someone demands it, in a Just in Time (JIT) fashion, thereby inventory risk is minimized (Papadakis 2002). Dell has applied the pull system of supply chain mana

Causes of the Middle East Instability Since the End of the Second Essay

Causes of the Middle East Instability Since the End of the Second World War - Essay Example Firstly, the essay will discuss the fundamental concepts such as the working definition of the Middle East and the strategic importance of its geographical location. Â  The discussion shall proceed to the Israeli-Arab dispute and examine its origins and developments, and how these relate to the superpower intervention in the region, its advantages and disadvantages. Â  Thirdly, the role of oil exploration and exportation and the likely scenario in the economy shall be discussed. Â  Firstly, the essay will discuss the fundamental concepts such as the working definition of the Middle East and the strategic importance of its geographical location. Â  The discussion shall proceed to the Israeli-Arab dispute and examine its origins and developments, and how these relate to the superpower intervention in the region, its advantages and disadvantages. Â  Thirdly, the role of oil exploration and exportation and the likely scenario in the economy shall be discussed. Â   A particularly se nsitive discussion of terrorism follows, and the ties it holds to the region’s fundamentalist Islamic segment. Â  Part of the discussion shall be why terrorism should not be equated with Islam which decries the ends, means and methods taken by terrorists purportedly in the name of their faith. Â  Finally, the essay winds up with a closer look at patterns of conflict among the Middle East countries, and prospects that loom large in its future. Â  The conclusion assesses whether or not stability is likely for the Middle East. Because of the breadth of the study in the sheer number of topics to be discussed, deeper treatments of their implications will not be attempted here. The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive picture of the Middle East, and how instability resulted from the developments in the past. 2. Definitions 2.1 What is the Middle East The Middle East is aptly named, because it is situated where the great continents of Africa, Asia, and Europe converge. While the countries of the Middle East are considered part of Asia, there are many aspects of the varied cultures in this area that combine aspects of the cultures of the three continents that surround it. There are varied opinions concerning which countries comprise the modern definition of the Middle East. Armenia and Azerbaijan, for instance, have historically been counted as Middle East countries, but because of the several interim contemporary developments, they have been accorded greater recognition as European countries, since their economic and political trends are more closely aligned with the greater Europe. The same is true for the former Russian republic of Georgia, and of Cyprus. On the other hand, there is some confusion as to whether Egypt should be counted among the

Why are we so fat Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Why are we so fat - Essay Example adults (33.8%) are obese and approximately 17% (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged 2—19 years are obese† (U.S. Obesity Trends). Obesity is caused by excessive fat deposits in body. Lack of physical workouts, overeating, changing food habits, excessive fat contents in foods etc are some of the reasons for the increasing trends in obesity statistics. This paper tries to answer the question; why are we so fat? According to what’s known as the Expensive Tissue Hypothesis, early humans compensated for the energy used in their heads by cutting back on the energy used in their guts; as man’s cranium grew, his digestive tract shrank. This forced him to obtain more energy-dense foods than his fellow-primates were subsisting on, which put a premium on adding further brain power. The result of this self-reinforcing process was a strong taste for foods that are high in calories and easy to digest; just as it is natural for gorillas to love leaves, it is natural for people to love funnel cakes (Kolbert). One of the major reasons cited for the overweight related problems among Americans is the changes happening in the brain systems. It is a fact that brain is getting far more developed as time goes on. In other words, current generation has brain size much higher than that of the generations in the past. Thus brains of the current generation require more energy and for that purpose they consume more energetic foods. American medical association committed a serious blunder by asking the public to take only low fat food. â€Å"They failed to take into account that when people do that, they increase their carbohydrates. Slashing carbohydrates and sticking to protein (Why are We So Fat?). It should be noted that blocking of fatty foods not only prevented the ketosis process but also it caused increased hunger. Thus people started to eat more and more foods enriched with carbohydrates which resulted in overweight. Current Americans are c onsuming foods like pasta, potatoes, flour, cereal products, and bread more and more than the Americans in the past. These food items have low glucose contents and therefore a spike in insulin production may occur. Low blood sugar can increases hunger and appetite for food and the final outcome could be overweight. It is an accepted fact that Americans are enjoying the most lavish life styles in the world. Majority of the people in America may have their own vehicles and they use it for their traveling needs. In other words, Americans may not walk even a single kilometer if they wanted to go somewhere. Moreover, busy life styles prevented them from engaging in any physical work outs or playing some games. Majority of the leisure times are spent in front of the computers by the Americans. The increasing popularity of social networks and the availability of easy to use communication tools such as palmtop, laptop, tablet PCs, iPads, mobile phones etc are forcing the Americans to spend more time in front of the computer and internet. In short, mental or verbal exercises are increasing among Americans whereas physical exercises are decreasing. Thus, extra energy consumed through excessive foods may become deposited in the body rather than burning it out through physical exercises. The line between being in and out of energy balance is slight. Suppose you consume a mere 5 percent over a 2,000-calorie-a-day average. "That's just one hundred calories; it's a glass of apple juice," says Rudolph Leibel, head of molecular genetics at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. "But those few extra calories can mean a huge weight gain." Since one pound of body weight is roughly equivalent to 3,500 calories, that glass of juice adds up to an

Financial Analysis Tools for SMEs

Financial Analysis Tools for SMEs CHAPTER FIVE DISCUSSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS INTRODUCTION The SME sector development is seen as a key strategy for economic growth, job generation and poverty reduction (Agupusi, 2007:2). This study endeavored to explore and describe the financial performance measures currently used by manufacturing SMEs in Mauritius. It was undertaken due to the fact that many studies were conducted on obstacles faced by SMEs in obtaining finance, but it appeared that not enough were undertaken on how these SMEs manage their finances; whereas some studies found that small businesses fail because more often than not cash flow is not properly managed (Mbonyane, 2006:18). In this context the Z-score model is presented as a useful bankruptcy model for SME. This chapter concludes the research project by summarizing the previous chapters and highlighting the results of the empirical study in Chapter Four with respect to the objectives of the research. It also includes comments on the contribution and limitation of the study as well as recommendations and suggestions for future research. SUMMARY AND OVERVIEW OF THE RESEARCH Chapter One presented the background of the study, followed by problem statement, rationale and objectives of the research, a preliminary literature review, research methodology and layout of the Chapters. Chapter Two presented a literature review regarding SMEs and their role in the Mauritian Economy. It was shown that the development of a sound SME sector is a key factor in job creation and economic growth for Mauritius. Many obstacles were pointed out as causes of SME failure, including financial performance skills, which were the focus of this study. Moreover, an international comparative analysis was presented. A brief discussion of non-financial measures was given as well, followed by financial performance measures that included financial ratios and bankruptcy prediction models. Chapter Three presented the research plan including sampling, data collection, and data analysis. Chapter Four presented the results of the empirical research findings on financial performance measures currently used by manufacturing SMEs in Mauritius. Thematic content analysis was used in presenting the results, taking the themes in the literature of the topic as basis for comparison. Chapter Five is the final phase of the study and aims at using the information from the literature study and the empirical findings to provide solutions to manufacturing SMEs’ financial performance measurement according to the findings and through recommendations. DISCUSSIONS OF FINDINGS FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT The first objective of the study was to identify financial tools currently used by manufacturing SME’s in measuring their financial performance. This objective of the study was achieved during the field study with semi-structured interviews at SME premises that helped gather information on the financial performance measures used by each. The findings revealed the following ratios as the most widely used by respondents: Cash flow to total debt (used by six respondents); Current ratio (used by six respondents); Working capital to total assets (used by five respondents); Cash flow to average total current liabilities (used by five respondents); Gross profit margin ratio (used by four respondents); and Inventory turnover (used by four participants). Gross Profit Ratio The level of satisfaction was measured using a likert scale. The conversion of the 5- point Likert- type scale for the satisfaction with current financial performance scale to illustrate the total score was as follows: (not satisfied at all = 1 (1), not satisfied = 2 (2), somewhat satisfied = 3 (3), satisfied = 4 (4), very satisfied = 5 (5)). The higher the mean score indicates a higher level of satisfaction. Upon computing the mean for this scale,, it was found that the mean was 2.4000, this implies that there is a relative low level of satisfaction prevails with the owners of the SMEs concerning their current financial performance. It can be seen that all of the participants felt that measuring financial performance is important. However, despite the fact that measuring financial performance is important, none of the SMEs used a finance officer or an external consultant to evaluate their financial performance. It can be observed that financial ratios (100%) is the only used tool by the SMEs sampled as compared to tools such as Scoreboards (0%), the Bankruptcy Prediction Model (0%) and other models(0%). Based on the results of the analysis, it was found that even though the owners of the SME used financial ratios, only 39 percent of them found the ratios to be useful in helping to improve their financial performance. BANKRUPTCY PREDICTION MODEL The use of bankruptcy prediction models (another financial tool in the literature) was totally absent among the respondents. In fact, almost all the participant SMEs knew nothing or very little about bankruptcy prediction models. The limited use of ratios and non use of bankruptcy prediction models raises the issue of objective number two which is to recommend necessary improvements on financial performance measurement of SMEs which will be part of the recommendations. Also, the lack of knowledge of bankruptcy prediction models by interviewees at different SMEs may necessitate relevant training for the financial officers of SMEs; that is the issue of objective number three of the study, which will be part of the recommendations section as well. The last objective of the study was to recommend necessary improvements on financial performance measures used by manufacturing SMEs. The study found that most manufacturing SMEs used financial ratios to measure their financial performance, but to a very limited extent. Very few ratios were used by individual SMEs and most of the ratios used were not the best indicators mentioned in the literature. Though, some of the interviewees acknowledged that they need to use more ratios. This objective will be part of the recommendation section below. Another objective of the study was to recommend necessary training interventions that would be needed for manufacturing SMEs’ successful financial performance measurement. The research findings indicated that none of the respondents used any of the available bankruptcy prediction models; whereas it was proven in the literature that the models could be used successfully by SMEs as well as big businesses. SMEs could use the models not necessarily for predicting failure, but as a tool to constantly assess how they are doing financially so as to take necessary measures anytime they feel threatened. It was found that most of the respondents knew nothing or very little about the models, and it seemed quite obvious that relevant training is needed. LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY These results can only be seen as a trend and further studies need to be conducted for any attempt at generalization. For this study for example, either emails were not responded to at all, or potential participants kept postponing, suggesting that the researcher call the following week. In the end, respondents had to be approached at their business premises and requested to participate. It is costly if it is taken into account that many SMEs would decline to participate, but works better as procedure; and should be considered in future studies. Also, it was noticed that more small businesses (70%) participated in the study because most medium business that were approached declined the invitation. Therefore, for a bigger study that would seek to generalize the results, researchers should endeavor to have a more balanced number between small and medium businesses that participate. There was very limited literature on the topic of financial performance of SMEs as well. This resulted on the study having to be built on theory. RECOMMENDATIONS It is recommended that SMEs use more ratios, especially those in the literature study (Chapter Two) as improvement of their financial performance measures. SMEs should probably consider the use of the six most used ratios as summarized in section 5.3 above, since they seem to be working well not only for the majority of participants, but for businesses in general. It is also recommended that SMEs owners/ managers request and enroll their financial staff for training on bankruptcy prediction models at relevant institutions such as universities. The few models presented in this study may be used by SMEs as well, since they are simple and cheap, and should not pose problems to trained financial staff. Another recommendation would be for those SMEs that can afford it, to try the use of specialized software (e.g. PASTEL or PRO ACC5), which were indicated as effective by the few participants who use them. The SMEs would be able to use ratios that are computed from the software. The Z Score is also a critical business tool managers utilize to make informed business decisions to improve the financial health of the business. The Z Score helps managers assess the factors contributing to poor financial health. Z Score factors that contribute to under-performance; working capital, earnings retention, profitability and leverage can be isolated. This enables managers to initiate actions to improve the score of these factors contributing to financial distress. Targeting actions to specific under-performing stress factors allows managers to make capital allocation decisions that mitigate principal risk factors and produce optimal returns. Focus areas for managers to improve Z Score are transactions that effect earnings/ (losses), capital expenditures, equity and debt transactions. The Z Score provides a quantitative measurement into a company’s financial health. The Z Score highlights factors contributing to a company’s financial health and uncovers emerging trends that indicate improvements or deterioration in financial condition. The Z Score is a critical tool business managers use to assess financial health. It helps managers align business strategies with capital allocation decisions and provide transparency of financial condition to lenders and equity capital providers. Business managers use the Z Score to raise capital and secure credit. The Z Score is an effective tool to demonstrate credit worthiness to bankers and soundness of business model to investors. The Z Score is based on actual financial information derived from the operating performance of the business enterprise. It avoids biases of subjective assessments, conflicts of interest, brand and large company bias. The Z Score employs no theoretical assumptions or market inputs external to the company’s financial statements. This provides users of the Z Score with a consistent view and understanding of a company’s true financial health. SMEs should have proper financial planning. They should undertake both financing and investment program according to financial planning. SMEs should keep all records of financial transactions in a system way. This will provide accurate accounting and financial information for making both routine and non-routine managerial decisions by the management of SMEs. This will also enable lending agencies to conduct credit risk analysis; and rating agency to carry out the rating job for the SMEs. SMEs should introduce internal audit to restore effective financial control in the SMEs. SMEs need to have an effective management system as well as skilled manpower. This is expected to exert a positive influence in efficiency as well as productivity of SMEs. Good culture in the firm develops leadership in the organization who can be able to trace the financial distress early and thereby prevent SMEs from the exposition to financial and operating risk. SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH Further research could be conducted on a wider scale in an attempt to generalize the findings to manufacturing SMEs in Mauritius; and in different regions of Mauritius. Further research could also be done to determine whether the findings of the study are consistent across different sectors. Financial performance measurement of larger enterprises could be another subject of study as well. CONCLUSION It is fair to say that, contrary to what one may think, many manufacturing SMEs (with respect to the number of studied SMEs) in Mauritius, use financial ratios (one of the financial tools in the literature study) to measure their financial performance. Though, this use of ratios by the studied SMEs is limited, because only a few ratios are being used by the respondents. Yet again, out of the ratios used, few are among those in the literature that were found to be the best financial measures or good financial distress predictors. None of the respondents used any of the available bankruptcy prediction models. In fact, most of the respondents knew nothing or very little about the models. Some of the participants have opted for the use of computer software and are getting satisfying results from them. Although most of the respondents have performed fairly well so far, to improve their financial performance, SMEs should use more of the recognized ratios identified in this study. Six ratio s were identified to be widely used by the various SMEs interviewed, and because most of the respondents indicated that their financial performance has been satisfying (even though some said there is a need to improve), these ratios should be taken into consideration. SMEs need also to train their financial staff on other financial tools such bankruptcy prediction models that are quite easy to use. It was also pointed out in the literaturereview that ratio analysis and bankruptcy prediction models (since they consist of a group of ratios with variables of different weights) have their shortcomings as well. Therefore they should only be used as an indication. This study will contribute toward filling the gap in the literature of SME financial performance measurement; and if taken seriously by SMEs, will help them in effective financial performance measurement by drawing attention to the various tools that are available to them for that purpose and the necessity of training financial staff on various measures as well.

Case Study of The Prodigy :: GCSE Projects History Music Band Essays

Case Study of The Prodigy My task in this case study is to write about a band/artist that has reached public prominence in the last 10 years within the u.k and that have also had at least one top 20 single within the u.k singles chart. Their music must be completely original and they must have produced at least 1 hit album. The band I am about to write about in this case study is the Dance/Rap band whom some people call the techno terrorists, The Prodigy. Early History The Prodigy consisted of 5 original members, 2 dancers, 1 DJ and 2 M.C.s, however before these 5 met the Prodigy didn’t exist and only was a thought inside the DJ and musical genius Liam Howlett’s head. Howlett was certainly the musical force behind the Prodigy sound. He was born in 1974 in Braintree in Essex. He was educated in music as a classical piano player. As he grew older he began to listen to early ska and punk and by secondary school Liam had become very much attracted to the hip-hop scene and listened to bands like Grand master flash and Run Dmc. Only a few years later, still very much influenced by hip-hop, Liam had saved up enough cash to by two decks or turntables and became the DJ for a rap band called â€Å"Cut to Kill†. The band eventually secured a record contract with a record company named â€Å"Tam Tam records†. Yet the record deal excluded Liam, despite the fact that the band used one of his tracks to win the contract. After this betrayal Liam left the band, started to loose faith in the rap scene and started to look for brighter more promising areas in music. While Liam was DJ-ing in the hip-hop scene, a new wave of illegal music had taken to the underground scene – Acid House. This used technology to create fast and powerful head stimulating beats that could never be simulated or created by human beings. The only way to experience this sort of music was to go to large illegal warehouse parties that eventually formed the foundation for what is now known as a rave. Liam’s first experience of this was at a place called the barn in Rayne, he thought it was the best thing he had ever been to and even begin DJ-ing at some of these illegal underground events. This was then where Liam met dancer Leroy Thornhill and singer/dancer Keith Flint.