Business help please!!?

by invest on January 27, 2012

I have to answer all these questions and I dont know if theyre right. If someone could help me out with some of them that would be awsome!

1.) A case study involves:
a) using large samples
b) following a rigid protocol to examine a wide range of instances
c) an in-depth, longitudinal examination of a single instance or event
d) gathering as much data as possible about as many different types of companies as possible and forming generalizations from that data
I think d

2.) Which of the following rank among the primary concerns for small businesses in the USA?
a) Insurance costs, rising energy costs, and taxes
b) Excessive governmental red-tape
c) Restrictions on free trade
d) Natural disasters
I think a
3.) Which of the following is NOT a factor in the regional success of In-N-Out Burger?
a) reputation for adhering to the notions that fast food should be made from scratch
b) reputation for adhering to the notions that fast food should be made from scratch and that the whims of the customer should be entertained.
c) reputation for being active in local communities
d) reputation for its extensive menu, including chicken sandwiches and fish sandwiches in addition to burgers.
I think a
4.) How did Google begin?
a) A Ph.D. research project at Stanford
b) The idea for Google was originally developed by the Microsoft Corporation, but was discarded due to its perceived “lack of profitability.”
c) It was developed by two college drop-outs.
d) It was developed in Japan and adapted for the USA due to its success in its home country.
I think a
5.) The definition of ethics:
a) The philosophical study of persuasion.
b) The philosophical study of the nature of the universe.
c) The philosophical study of moral values and rules.
d) The philosophical study of logic.
I think c
6.) Ethics officers in business came about due to:
a) corruption and abuse scandals that afflicted the U.S. defense industry in the mid 1980s.
b) a famous memo penned by the CEO of Proctor and Gamble.
c) major business schools beginning to focus on business ethics in the mid 1980s.
d) the recent Enron scandal.
I think a
7.) Creative accounting is characterized by:
a) straightforward, yet aesthetically appealing, accounting procedure.
b) excessive complication and the use of novel ways of characterizing income, assets or liabilities.
c) a procedure unanimously agreed to be ethical.
d) its limitation to large firm and corporations.
I think a
8.) Which of the following is an example of systemic obsolescence?
a) Fashion
b) Computer Software
c) water filters that display a replacement notice after a predefined time
d) Selling VHS tapes while developing DVD players
I think d
9.) Which of the following is NOT a reason that corporations give to charities?
a) It improves company morale.
b) It increases the public opinion of a company.
c) Companies that contribute to charities are exempt from taxation.
d) It is good for the community.
I think c
10.) What is the wealthiest charitable foundation in the United States?
a) The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
b) Pew Charitable Trust
c) Rockefeller Foundation
d) Ford Foundation
I think c

Angela Merkel would consider a euro-zone fiscal stimulus

by invest on January 25, 2012

A RECENT survey by the French research institute IFOP found that in the eyes of the French, Angela Merkel represents those values that are commonly associated with Germans (serious, disciplined, hard-working, sincere and so on). The study, which was commissioned by the German embassy in Paris, also reported that 62% of respondents thought that France should learn from German economic and social policies—although I am not sure about the framing of that question in French.

Ms Merkel herself disagrees with such stereotyping, as she reveals in a forthcoming interview with several European newspapers. However, she seems to agree that the rest of Europe should learn from Germany’s past economic policies. According to a preview of the interview (auf Deutsch) by the German Süddeutsche Zeitung, she argues that fiscal prudence, while a necessary prerequisite for more solidarity, is not enough. Troubled euro-zone countries also need to tackle reforms like improving labour market flexibility, and they must open up closed professions and businesses. This is a welcome shift of emphasis away from short-term austerity and towards medium-term fiscal prudence and growth-enhancing reform.

On top of that, she signalled her willingness to support fiscal stimulus in the euro zone. She proposes that unused European funds be deployed to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as entrepreneurs and R&D in the affected countries. How that is supposed to work in practice, however, is less clear. It seems at least that this would take funds away from the regional development budget that invests a large share in Eastern European member states of the EU. Details aside, this would be a useful policy, as has been argued here before: if monetary policy—the usual stabilisation method of choice—is set externally or on a supranational level, fiscal policy does have a large impact on the economy. And because the downturn in, say, Portugal is also based on temporary factors, fiscal stimulus from the EU could help to limit the damage to the economy while it is adjusting.

Going into the summit, with pressure rising on Germany (for instance by the IMF), Ms Merkel may want some additional leverage to force countries to reform. As the exchange of binding fiscal rules for more German and ECB support shows, she may well get what she wants. The new deal would be: actual reforms (not mere promises) in return for regional fiscal stimulus that targets useful endeavours rather than an inefficient bureaucracy. If agreed on, this might be one of the most promising deals of this euro-zone crisis.

The interview will be published by El Pais (Spain), the Guardian (Britain), La Stampa (Italy), Le Monde (France), Gazeta (Poland) and Süddeutsche Zeitung.

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Pass On Time Warner

by invest on January 24, 2012

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What are loyalty bonuses that are given to employees? Please give me examples?

by invest on January 23, 2012

The phrase “Loyalty Bonus” was used in the Business and Management (IB) paper 1 case study 2009, Line 108

Checking in on Europe

by invest on January 22, 2012

REGULAR readers know that my view of the likely outcome of the crisis in Europe is a gloomy one. This hasn’t changed. Given a number of positive developments in the euro zone—like fairly successful debt auctions for Spain and Italy, and corresponding drops in bond yields—it’s worth keeping a close eye on the situation to make sure that something important and positive hasn’t actually happened.

The European Central Bank’s introduction of its long-term refinancing operations late last year has had several significant effects on the dynamic in the euro zone. First, it had an immediate impact on the liquidity crunch that threatened to bring down the euro-area banking system. Banks that were having an increasingly difficult time rolling over the short-term financing they need to survive were given the opportunity to borrow huge amounts of money from the ECB at very low rates and fairly long—3 year—durations. Boy did they seize it. the first LTRO provided some €489 billion to European banks. The next round, to take place in February, may involve even more lending. For now, that seems to have removed a major, immediate threat to the euro zone.

Secondly, the ECB’s action took the air out of sovereign debt markets at a very fortuitous time. Lots of observers were very worried about the large amounts of debt Italy and Spain were scheduled to sell in the first month or two of this year. Bond yields were at or above unsustainable levels toward the end of 2011, and both Italy and Spain faced the risk of a fiscal death spiral. Intentionally or not, the ECB has helped shepherd these sovereigns through this period (so far, anyway) without adding too much to their long-run financing costs. How?

Well, the sovereigns weren’t the only ones needing to rollover a lot of debt early this year; banks, too, were facing a financing crunch. The ECB stepped in to assist in this situation, via its LTRO. And conveniently, it broadened its collateral rules so that banks could gobble up the new Spanish and Italian issuance, take it to the ECB as collateral, and take care of their financing needs. It’s a pretty neat little operation, when it comes down to it. Italian banks are estimated to have taken care of about 90% of their financing needs for 2012. Their rush to solve their own money problems helped the Italian government through a tight spot. Based on the way these activities have played out so far, the ECB’s LTRO looks like a big success.

My sense, however, is that Europe is a long way from being out of the woods. One problem is that because European banks have provided a lot of the demand for sovereign debt and European banks have already made big progress meeting their financing needs for this year, European bank demand for sovereign debt may be about to dry up. The ECB has bought time for the Italian and Spanish government, which matters, but it won’t be long before yields start rising once again. This is of particular concern given that the periphery continues to fall behind stated goals for fiscal consolidation.

A big reason that the periphery is missing those goals, of course, is the dire outlook for the euro-zone economy. So far, it’s tough to find signs that the easing of the bank funding crunch has translated into a rise in credit provision to the real economy of the euro-zone periphery. A lot of the liquidity directed to the banks has been parked back at the ECB as reserves. Many banks seem to be deleveraging by cutting loans to the private sector. While that’s the case, the euro-zone economy will continue to contract, and a long-term solution to the crisis will prove elusive. Many forecasters anticipate that euro-zone GDP will drop by around 1.2% in 2012 (with much larger declines in the hard-hit south). That could make for a nerve-wracking year.

Control over short-term interest rates is one of the ways the ECB knows that its monetary policy is being transmitted, and so the decline in short-term yields over the past couple of months has been very heartening. Spreads between short-term Spanish and Italian bonds and bunds are still elevated, however, and spreads for Ireland, Portugal, and Greece are huge (Portuguese spreads have gotten much worse in recent weeks). Financial conditions in those countries remain bleak at best.

Taking a step back, the ECB clearly did something momentous and positive late last year, and that’s the sole reason we’re now able to wonder whether a corner has been turned. The economic situation in the euro zone remains objectively bad, however. There will be a recession this year, there will be further episodes of market revulsion to peripheral debt, and Europe will have a hell of a time trying to figure out what to do with Greece and Portugal. Progress on the underlying fundamentals around the periphery, including growth, deficits, and current account balances, is occuring at a glacial pace. Muddling through isn’t out of the question, but muddling through does leave one vulnerable to unexpected shocks.

And it’s always the unexpected shocks that ruin the day. I think I’m a touch more optimistic about the euro zone now than I was in November of last year. All in all, that’s not saying much.

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Is Las Vegas Sands a Buffett Stock?

by invest on January 21, 2012

Let’s find out.

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Need to think of a business-related question (advertising/marketing)to research into? any ideas? please help!!?

by invest on January 21, 2012

Ive got to do a case study and I have to think of a business-related question (for example: what affect has technology got on a business, how has university fee’s affected students career choices, etcc…) and i have to research into it…. Does anyone have a question that I can research please, all ideas are welocome!!! Thankyou!!!! I would like a advertising or marketing one preferably but I dont mind any others just please make sure they are realistic and not to hard as it is only a small 10-20 page case study!

Austerity is a pain. So is tight money

by invest on January 19, 2012

AUSTERITY in the euro zone has been under attack ever since the first economist representing the troika (IMF, ECB, EU) set foot on Greek soil. Actually, the troika may become more of a duoika (?), according to Athens News (via Tim Duy), because the one-sided emphasis on austerity is enervating the IMF.

I think this is as good a time as any to review why austerity could harm the economy, and whether there is a difference between regional austerity, and euro-zone-wide austerity. After all, some readers may wonder: should a highly indebted country stop saving?

The main argument for why austerity hurts the economy is that in times of insufficient aggregate demand, a further cut in government spending takes away the only player willing to borrow and spend instead of hoarding cash. However, the central bank has a big say in how much cash people want to hold and how much they are willing to borrow and spend. A recent IMF study on austerity confirms that monetary policy plays a large role in whether austerity hurts the economy or not. What follows in most economic theories (see Mankiw and Weinzierl or Woodford for recent treatments) is that government spending changes have only minor effects as long as central banks are unconstrained. Are they?

The central bank of a small open economy like Britain is almost never constrained because a policy of last resort, currency devaluation, is always possible—as the Swiss Central Bank recently demonstrated. Swedish economist Lars Svensson calls this “the foolproof way”. Therefore, if David Cameron’s austerity policies are hurting the economy, then the main reason is that there is either political pressure on an otherwise unconstrained central bank or technical obstacles that prevent it from stabilising aggregate demand appropriately.

The central bank of the euro zone is unlikely to be constrained, either. It could, at least in theory, counteract euro-zone-wide austerity and compensate for the shortfall in aggregate demand that such measures are likely to entail. Should it hit the zero lower bound, or should banks face unreasonably high funding costs despite low interest rates, the issue gets a little more complicated but is not necessarily unsolvable.

What about, say, Greece? After all, it doesn’t have a central bank with independent powers to set monetary policy according to its needs. Recent research suggests that government spending has a large effect on the economy in exactly these circumstances, in which monetary policy is not set at the national level but by a supranational or external authority. Austerity will therefore hurt these countries: at current levels of prices and wages, aggregate demand in Greece is insufficient, and fiscal austerity eats further away at it in the absence of a central bank to pick up the slack.

This seems like a trap for an over-indebted country in a currency union. And to some extent it is a real dilemma. However, it reveals three important lessons for governments, the troika and the ECB.

read more

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Business processes and systems questionn? please help…?

by invest on January 19, 2012

this is the question?

the type of business and the legal structure? the implications that has for the family and the sustained future income.

case study(under assesment section)

https://elp.northumbria.ac.uk/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_183996_1%26url%3D

basically its just a medium sized ltd called herne organics ltd which grows and distributes organic food?