Bank of America Investment Potential

Bank of America Investment Potential Introduction In this report, the Bank of America Corporation (BAC) share price is analysed in the context of the current economic situation and the companys performance. The latter is described through the analysis of the companys financial statements and is compared to the performance of the primary BAC competitors.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Bank of America Investment Potential specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In terms of the industry, BAC is in an extremely strong position; still, the current performance of the company is worse than would be expected. The beta of BAC demonstrates that its share price is relatively stable, and significant changes are not to be expected in the near future. At the same time, given the air of uncertainty that is characteristic of the current economic situation, both the drop and the increase can occur, which is why â€Å"hold† proposition appears to be the most reasonable option. Economy: General Overview Global Economy The importance of the economic context for the investment decision development has been highlighted, for example, by Damodaran (2006), Bodie, Kane and Marcus (2011), Bloom (2014), or Lofthouse (2001) as a part of fundamental analysis. Indeed, the changes on the micro- and macroeconomic levels tend to affect the performance of most companies. Consequently, determining the specifics of current global and domestic economic situation may be helpful for an investment decision. According to the Bank of America Corporation [BAC] (2015a), throughout 2014, the economic growth of the major markets appeared to be modest and uncertain, with Japanese market contracting, Greek problem destabilising the eurozone, and Russia suffering from the sanctions and oil prices drop (BAC 2015a, p. 20). The United Nations [UN] (2015) confirms that the global economic expansion rate has been 2.6% in 2014, which is lower than the precrisis level (p. 5). The mone tary policy adjustments that are being made, for example, in Japan and China, can increase instability (UN 2015). The pre-crisis international trade rates are still not achieved, and even though they are projected to proceed with the â€Å"sluggish growth†, risks the geopolitical conflicts undermine this possibility (UN 2015, p. 6). Indeed, the situation in the market can be determined by non-economic factors as well, particularly those that can be classified as â€Å"bad news† (Bloom 2014, pp. 161). UN (2015) confirms that the political conflicts of the recent months contribute to the restriction of the global economic growth. The actions of ISIS and the recent terrorist attacks are among these conflicts. Indeed, apart from the direct damage to the property, such outbursts can significantly harm tourism and create a decline in consumption as people grow wary of visiting downtowns. Apart from that, these events almost definitely result in increased security expenses an d can potentially damage international trade if national borders become less open (Buttonwood Column 2015; Laird 2015).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More All these problems are the direct effect of terrorism on the economy and are expected to be relatively short-lived (Buttonwood Column 2015) Apart from that, the growing anxiety (if not panic) contributes to the general feeling of uncertainty and insecurity, which also tends to reduce the investment activity (Laird 2015; Bloom 2014). Therefore, the current global economic situation will be significantly affected by this sense of insecurity. Another global economic problem is the oil prices decrease. The increase in the US oil production, which has led to the decline in oil prices, might be considered a plus from the political point of view as it reduces the oil-trading possibilities of ISIS (Chafuen 2015). Apart fro m that, the reduction is obviously beneficial for the customers, but, in other respects, lower oil prices damage the global economy. This damage is primarily caused by the difficulties experienced by the oil industry that include, for example, the reduction of employment in the sector as well as the decrease in wages (Kawa 2015). The UN (2015) forecasts are uncertain: while the possibility of further economic growth is pointed out in the report on the world economic prospects, it is also highlighted that there exist â€Å"significant downside risks for the developed countries, especially European ones and Japan (p. 5). In general, it can be concluded, that the global economy is currently in a state of uncertainty, and many challenges need to be taken into account. US Economy According to BAC (2015), throughout 2014, the US economy was still recovering from the Great Recession, but the significant figures were showing some improvement. Those include the GDP growth that has reached 2 .3%, the decrease in the unemployment rate (5.6%), and the growth of consumption (BAC 2015a, p. 20). In the third quarter of 2015, the GDP of the US increased by 2.1% and the personal disposable income grew by 0.4 %; the US net investment position, however, proceeds to be characterised by liabilities exceeding assets (US Bureau of Economic Analysis 2015). The UN (2015) encourages the Federal Reserve to adjust the interest rates that are indeed expected to be increased; the outcomes of this decision are still unclear (Eavis Picker 2015; Kaletsky 2015). Other significant features of the US economy, as Chafuen (2015) points out, include the increase in the US debt and the disputes over the healthcare policy of the President. The latter has a significant impact on the economy of the country including the reduction of productivity and the increase in the full-time employment cost.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Bank of America Investment Potential specificall y for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Still, in general, the economic situation in the US appears to be more stable and positive-looking than that of the world, even though the aftermaths of the crisis are still noticeable. At the same time, it should be pointed out that the UN (2015) is cautious about making predictions before the interest rates increase. Therefore, it can be concluded that the economic situation in the US is also somewhat vague, especially in the light of the global economic uncertainty. Bank of America Corporation BAC: Overview Founded in 1874, BAC is an international company that offers products and services in the following segments: â€Å"consumer and business banking, consumer real estate services, global wealth and investment management, global banking, and global markets† (BAC 2015a, p. 16; Bloomberg Business 2015). As of 2014, BAC serves about 80% of the US population as it operates in 50 states; apart from that, the compan y is operating internationally in 35 countries; the total number of the company’s customers amounts to 48 million consumers and 4,800 baking centres (BAC 2015a, p. 20). The primary competitors of BAC are the JPMorgan Chase Co, Wells Fargo Company, and Citigroup Inc. Currently, BAC outperforms the latter in the terms of most ratios and parameters, including the market cap, quarterly revenue growth, net income, and price-to-earning ratio. Concerning the latter ratio as well as quarterly revenue growth, BAC also outperforms JPMorgan Chase Co (12.85 as compared to 11.35), but in relation to other parameters, BAC is performing less successfully than the two other organizations (Yahoo Finance 2015a). According to Forbes (2015a), BAC ranks #11 in assets and #37 in market value among the world’s biggest public companies. It is also among Forbes (2015a) Most Valuable Brands list ranked #72. To compare, Wells Fargo is ranked 10 in the list of the biggest public companies (For bes 2015b). These facts show that BAC competes with the strongest players in the market and is being successful. Still, as can be seen from the company’s financial statements, BAC has been underperforming recently. Since the crisis, the profitability ratios of the company have been decreasing, which is natural. At the same time, the data per common share and efficiency ratios have been growing: for example, the return on equity increased from 0.96 in 2011 to 7.13 in 2013 (BAC 2015, pp. 25). In 2013, all the mentioned ratios increased, but in 2014, performance worsened again.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Still, in the terms of efficiency, the 2014 ratios outperform those of the years before 2013 (for example, the return on equity in 2014 equals 2.92). At the same time, it should be mentioned that the long-term debt of BAC has decreased by 3% and total liabilities have decreased 4.5%. According to BAC (2015) this is the result of the company’s intent to decrease its long-term debts and short-term borrowings (p. 25). Investment-relevant conclusions from the data are presented in the following sections. BAC: SWOT SWOT analysis is concerned with determining the company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The first two factors describe the company’s inner state while the second part is concerned with the outer influence (Lofthouse 2001, pp. 126-127). The SWOT analysis has been extremely popular as a strategic planning tool due to its advantages: the analysis, which is easy to perform, allows one to have a look at the company’s state and define the areas that require attention along with areas that can provide the necessary options and resources. At the same time, the analysis has been criticised for its disadvantages that include excessive simplicity, vagueness, generalization, and subjectivity of the factors choice (Helms Nixon 2010, pp. 234-235). However, it should be pointed out that all these disadvantages are the innate qualities of SWOT; in other words, the tool is not meant to provide the detailed scheme of a company’s position. The SWOT overview can provide the information about the companys position and future possibilities, which is necessary for this report. The subjectivity of the analysis, however, stays a significant limitation to the analysis. The strengths of BAC are numerous: they include its size, which presupposes a sufficient amount of resources; its age and the consequent experience; its reputation and brand that attract customers. It should be separately pointed out that the brand of the com pany is very likely to attract American customers. Another advantage is the Merrill Lynch, once acquired by BAC, that is now considered to be #1 investment research team (Gasparino 2008; BAC 2015a). The efficiency ratios for the company are quite high; they also suggest that BAC management is quite competent. For the point of view of weaknesses, it should be mentioned that the performance of the company has been deteriorating. This factor is a symptom rather than the weakness itself, but it can signify the weaknesses that would be visible to an insider. Given the facts that the BAC financial report provides numerous reasons for the performance deterioration, both internal and external, this report will consider the performance itself as a weakness that needs to be eliminated. Another potential weakness is the companys reliance on the US market. Still, since BAC has already been expanding into other countries, it can be concluded that the said reliance is not too significant. At the same time, it is obvious that the Bank of America is most popular in the US, and not in other states. The most obvious opportunities of BAC include expansion, primarily, the expansion into other countries and the development of the already penetrated ones to decrease the company’s reliance on the US market. Apart from that, BAC is known for fast expansion through acquisitions and has been successfully carrying out this line of action (Gasparino 2008). The major threats to the BAC, naturally, include the consequences of the crisis and the competition. The latter has been described, and it is obvious, that BAC is performing well, even though the competition is capable of reducing its chances for improved performance. As for the crisis, while the economy of the US is recovering, the problems are still reflected in the consequences that include reduced consumption or lower investment activity (Bloom 2014). These threats need to be managed appropriately, and a giant company like B AC has all the resources to do so. BAC: Share Price Analysis BAC share price is currently $17.43, with the market cap amounting to $181.49 billion (Yahoo Finance 2015a). The share price has been growing, albeit unsteadily, since its rather significant post-crisis fall; the close price in 2014 was $17.89, which is lower than the highest price of 2010, but higher than its close price (BAC 2015a). With the help of historical share prices for the past three years and those of NYSE Composite, the beta of BAC share was estimated to range between 0.52 and 0.82 (Bank of America Corporation 2015b; Yahoo Finance 2015b). It is optimal to compare the beta of a company to a benchmark for the industry (Damodaran, 2006). According to Damodaran (2015), this figure ranges from low to normal for the banking sector in the US (that is 0.81). Lower-beta stocks are less risky; therefore, it can be concluded that BAC is relatively stable, especially when compared to the industry (Bodie, Kane Marcus 2011, p. 577; Damodaran, 2006). This factor may suggest that extreme growth of the price is not to be expected, but it could be regarded as a particularly positive one in the context of the current economic situation. Indeed, in the situation of uncertainty, caused both by economic and political upheavals, people are likely to seek stability. In this respect, BAC has all the advantages needed: it is a long-existing bank with high reputation and a brand name that is bound to attract American customers at the very least. Therefore, if the current uncertainty existing in the market is going to affect the prices of BAC shares in any way, the way is most likely to be positive. The lowering profitability of the company is a much less appealing factor. It is alleviated by the fact that the liabilities of BAC are being reduced purposefully, and that the efficiency ratios are growing in comparison to the previous years (with the exception of the year 2013). The income decrease can be explained by the aftershocks of the recession as well as the new political and economic shocks. As BAC (2015a) determines it, the numerous reasons for the deteriorating performance include increased expenses (in particular, concerning market-related premium amortization) and decreased consumer loan balances. In general, the performance of the year 2013 allows one to suggest that BAC is capable of recovering after the recession; the reputation, experience, and brand name of the company all contribute to this impression. It should be pointed out that the company is performing well in terms of the industry, competing with the world’s largest banks and outperforming some of the competitors in a number of parameters. Therefore, it can be concluded, that the shares of the company would not be expected to drop significantly as a result of deteriorating performance, and the performance is not unlikely to improve in the future. Given the strength of the company’s position, its share price is unlikely to decrease dramatically despite all the mentioned challenges. At the same time, and the next year is more likely to demonstrate how the company is coping with the new difficulties caused by the slow growth of the economy and political upheavals. In this report, it is concluded that the BAC share price has all the chances of increasing or decreasing by a relatively small amount in the next year depending on the way it will respond to the new global economic challenges; therefore, the proposition for it would be to hold. Conclusion The current economic situation is rather unfavourable than favourable, and the challenges that it poses have to be met appropriately. An old, reputed, large international company like BAC is perfectly capable of managing the upcoming threats. The performance of the company has been somewhat deficient, which, however, is the tendency of the world economy nowadays, and, in the terms of the industry, BAC is among the most successful banks. The new year, however, can be characterised by the high uncertainty and anxiety caused by economic and (mostly) politic upheavals. Therefore, as a result of the global uncertainty, the proposal suggested in the report is to hold. Reference List Bank of America Corporation 2015a, 2014 Annual Report, http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/IROL/71/71595/AR2014.pdf. Bank of America Corporation 2015b, Historical Price Lookup, http://investor.bankofamerica.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=71595p=irol-stocklookup. Bloom, N 2014, Fluctuations in Uncertainty, Journal of Economic Perspectives, vol. 28, no. 2, pp. 153-176. Bloomberg Business 2015, Bank of America Corp, bloomberg.com/research/stocks/snapshot/snapshot_article.asp?ticker=BAC. Bodie, Z, Kane, A Marcus, A 2011, Investments, 10th ed, McGraw Hill, Boston, MA. Chafuen, A 2015, The U.S. Economy in 2015: Challenges and Opportunities, Forbes, 1 January, forbes.com/sites/alejandrochafuen/2015/01/01/the-u-s-economy-in-2015-challenges-and-opportunities/. D amodaran, A 2006, Security Analysis for Investment and Cash Finance, Wiley, Hoboken, N.J. Damodaran, A 2015, Betas by Sector (US), http://pages.stern.nyu.edu/~adamodar/New_Home_Page/datafile/Betas.html. Eavis, P Picker, L 2015, As Investors Shun Debt, Banks Are Left Holding the Bag, The New York Times, 19 November, nytimes.com/2015/11/20/business/dealbook/as-investors-shun-debt-banks-are-left-holding-the-bag.html?ref=topics. Forbes 2015a, Bank of America, forbes.com/companies/bank-of-america/. Forbes 2015b, Wells Fargo, forbes.com/companies/wells-fargo/. Gasparino, C 2008, Bank of America to Buy Merrill Lynch for $50 Billion, CNBC, 14 September, cnbc.com/id/26708319. Helms, M Nixon, J 2010, Exploring SWOT analysis – where are we now?’ Journal of Strategy and Management, vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 215-251. Kaletsky, A 2015, What a US interest rate rise really means for the dollar, The Guardian, 17 November, theguardian.com/business/2015/nov/17/what-a-us-interest-rate-rise-rea lly-means-for-the-dollar. Kawa, L 2015, Four Ways the Oil Price Crash Is Hurting the Global Economy, Bloomberg Business, 8 October, bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-07/four-ways-the-oil-price-crash-is-hurting-the-global-economy. Laird, L 2015, The Paris Attacks and the Economic Impact of Terrorism, Forbes, 16 November, forbes.com/sites/laurielaird/2015/11/16/the-paris-attacks-and-the-economic-impact-of-terrorism/. Lofthouse, S 2001, Investment management, 2nd edn, Wiley, Chichester, West Sussex, UK. United Nations 2015, World Economic Situation and Prospects 2015, un.org/en/development/desa/policy/wesp/wesp_archive/2015wesp_full_en.pdf. US Bureau of Economic Analysis 2015, U.S. Economy at a Glance: Perspective from the BEA Accounts, bea.gov/newsreleases/glance.htmp. Yahoo Finance 2015a, Bank of America Corporation, http://finance.yahoo.com/q/p?s=BAC+Press+Releases. Yahoo Finance 2015b, NYSE Composite, http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=%5ENYA.

BU7204 SM Assignment April 2014 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

BU7204 SM Assignment April 2014 - Essay Example esents a comparative study of the schools of thought model formed by Henry Mintzberg, which is utilised to categorise strategic management fields for companies and the Strategic Lenses provided by Johnson, Scholes and Whittington (2008). The paper outlines each one of these models and assists understanding and applicability through industry examples. The comparative study at the end tries to assess the relevance and applicability of each thought. Henry Mintzberg’s 10 schools of thought is a framework that is used to elaborate on the concept of strategic management. The schools have been described and a critique of insights is presented under each category. The 10 schools of thought mention ways in which strategies are to be formulated (Mintzberg, Lampel and Ahlstrand, 2005). These schools of thought discuss methods that are to be deployed while framing a company strategy. As per this school of thought, formulating a strategy is a deliberate process that begins with the conception of unique and clear notions. The tools such as, SWOT and Ashridge Mission model, are used to assess the external and internal environment of business. This strategy is best suited for stable business environments, but eliminates relevance of the external business environment (Ambrosini and Collier, 2007). Under the planning thought, strategy formulation is a formal procedure where strategic execution is preceded by a rigorous analysis of the context. This strategy involves a great deal of brainstorming and promotes innovative thought. For example, Clear shampoo used a popular football icon to communicate and market its male shampoo, Clear Men. Here strategy formulations happen as a process of analysis where business is compared with industry standards and strategies are formulated to improve market position. The strategy aims towards changing or altering the present company position in market and perception in the minds of consumers. Toyota shifted its positioning to a manufacturer

Pressures on employees at work Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Pressures on employees at work - Essay Example The designed guidelines touch on the numerous and diverse demands made by staff workers and the degree of control that staff members have their duties and responsibilities. The guidelines additionally address the managerial support systems within a workplace, the degree of clarity of an individuals position and responsibilities attached to the position and staff relationships within the workplace. The guidelines provided by the Health Survey for England (HSE) are founded on broad studies. In the course of their formulation, HSE conferred with numerous stakeholders including employers, staff members, staff organizations and other interested parties. This approach was intended to improve the way organizations dealt with stress related issues at the workplace. Therefore, an individual may enquire what stress is. It is defined as an unfavourable reaction individuals have to intense demands or other forms of demands placed upon them. It is different from basic workplace pressure, which sometimes develops motivational tendencies. The unfavourable response can negatively affect the affected individuals mental health developing into extreme cases of anxiety and depression. Individual-environment fit theory states that the effects of stress may come about when intimidating workplace demands culminate into unevenness in the interrelation between a person and the environment of his or her workplace. Even though dominant, the framework is regarded by some scholars to have produced an unclear method to the analysis of work-related stress (Chemers et al. 1985) and it remains to be seen whether the confusion existing between the fit theory and its evaluation will end anytime soon. Another theory developed later known as the job strain theory has put emphasis on the interrelation between objective demands of the occupation environment and staff choice autonomy (Karasek & Theorell 1990). The focus is on the

War on Terror Facts Essay Example for Free

War on Terror Facts Essay Terrorists, by definition, fight an entirely different type of war. Acts of terrorism are not perpetrated by soldiers, they are carried out by individuals, or groups of individuals, who have no other recourse but to lash out at the nations that they perceive as their oppressors with whatever tools they have available. They strap bombs on their backs, walk into areas crowded with people, and strike a blow for the cause. Car bombs, snipers, hijacked airplanes, it makes no difference how the terrorist act is accomplished, as long as it has the desired effect. There are no rules of warfare, no governments to be held accountable, and no moral standards to be upheld. Now we find ourselves, as Americans, waging war against an army of individuals that have no common country, government, or ethical measure to which they can be held accountable. Their numbers increase exponentially as we drop smart bombs, and roll tanks over the very people that the terrorists fight to liberate from oppression, further fueling the fire of hatred that burns for us and what we stand for. Whether the U. S. s seen as a liberator, freeing the people from oppressive Fundamentalists, or the Fundamentalists are seen as Freedom Fighters liberating the people from an occupying force, the reason for the conflict is irrelevant. This article is meant only to bring about discussion as to how to end it. The fact is that we are currently fighting a war under terms in which we cannot possibly win, our enemies know it, and they are emboldened by it. Since the beginning of America’s War on Global Terrorism, the number of terrorists in has increased, as have the bombings and casualties, and not just in Iraq. The increase of terrorist activities has increased worldwide, and despite what our leaders tell us, there is no end in sight. If we continue on this course, we will lose this fight. You can win a war against an opposing country or government, but you can’t win a war against an enemy that has no boundaries, no limits, no leader to concede defeat, or an enemy army that gains 10 new recruits for every casualty inflicted. At least not by using conventional methods and abiding by any type of moral code or rules of warfare. The importance of this cliched expression cannot be underestimated. Victories on the battlefield or in the interrogation rooms are meaningless if terror networks can continue to recruit from a large wellspring of discontented youth. And that is exactly what is happening. The wave of horror and sympathy for the victims that spread across much of the Arab and Muslim world after 11 September has long ago changed to something else. America is seen as having capitalised on those attacks by trying to conquer Muslim countries Afghanistan and Iraq. The war on Saddam was seen by many as an unwarranted attack on a largely defenceless civilian population, already emaciated by 12 years of UN sanctions. Washingtons military and diplomatic support for Israel still the bete noire for most Arabs is undiminished. Unfairly, many young Arabs blame their unemployment and lack of a political voice on a US-Zionist conspiracy aimed at somehow suppressing Muslims. But there is also now a growing conviction that the Bush administration has acquired a taste for regime change and will not stop at Baghdad. Threats to Syria and Iran to change their policies only confirm that view. Against this backdrop it is hardly surprising that the US and its close ally Britain are losing the battle for Arab and Muslim hearts and minds

Plato’s Influence on Western Civilization Essay -- Greek Metaphysics,

Our country is built on a set of values derived from ancient civilizations, individuals, and city-states; both negative and positive attributes of these relics can be proven to have assisted in molding our government into a unique and prized entity. Never would one imagine that western civilization is actually inclined by theories of truth and the human beings perception of it. Few would have thought that a primitive concept could be linked to the setbacks of other societies and their forms of socialization, as well as to the success to ours. The basic concept of truth and our natural response to 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 history. 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 o ne of the most sophisticated societies in the entire history and the world. Plato, whose real name was Aristocles, was believed to have been born the year 427 BCE in Athens, Greece. He was born into a wealthy, Athenian aristocratic family, who actually came to rule Athens in 404 BCE. Because of his family’s prosperous background, Plato was treated to fine education. Plato’s upbringing ultimately influenced his viewpoints on particular subjects pertaining to philosophy and politics, a majority of his thoughts were pulled from two chief occurrences in his life; the Spartans victory over Athens in the Peloponnesian War, and the teachings, as well as the execution, of Socrates. The Peloponnesian War began before Plato’s birth, yet didn’t end until he was abo... ...Web. 25 Nov. 2013. . Patten, Joseph, and Kevin Dooley. "Ancient Political Theory." Why Politics Matters: An Introduction to Political Science. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Co, 2011. 35-47. Print. "Politics." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2013. . "Thomas R. Martin, An Overview of Classical Greek History from Mycenae to Alexander." Thomas R. Martin, An Overview of Classical Greek History from Mycenae to Alexander,New Directions in Philosophy and Education, Plato's Academy. The Annenberg CPB/Project, n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2013. . Thornton, Bruce S. Greek Ways: How the Greeks Created Western Civilization. San Francisco: Encounter, 2000. Print. Plato’s Influence on Western Civilization Essay -- Greek Metaphysics, Our country is built on a set of values derived from ancient civilizations, individuals, and city-states; both negative and positive attributes of these relics can be proven to have assisted in molding our government into a unique and prized entity. Never would one imagine that western civilization is actually inclined by theories of truth and the human beings perception of it. Few would have thought that a primitive concept could be linked to the setbacks of other societies and their forms of socialization, as well as to the success to ours. The basic concept of truth and our natural response to 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 history. 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 o ne of the most sophisticated societies in the entire history and the world. Plato, whose real name was Aristocles, was believed to have been born the year 427 BCE in Athens, Greece. He was born into a wealthy, Athenian aristocratic family, who actually came to rule Athens in 404 BCE. Because of his family’s prosperous background, Plato was treated to fine education. Plato’s upbringing ultimately influenced his viewpoints on particular subjects pertaining to philosophy and politics, a majority of his thoughts were pulled from two chief occurrences in his life; the Spartans victory over Athens in the Peloponnesian War, and the teachings, as well as the execution, of Socrates. The Peloponnesian War began before Plato’s birth, yet didn’t end until he was abo... ...Web. 25 Nov. 2013. . Patten, Joseph, and Kevin Dooley. "Ancient Political Theory." Why Politics Matters: An Introduction to Political Science. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Co, 2011. 35-47. Print. "Politics." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2013. . "Thomas R. Martin, An Overview of Classical Greek History from Mycenae to Alexander." Thomas R. Martin, An Overview of Classical Greek History from Mycenae to Alexander,New Directions in Philosophy and Education, Plato's Academy. The Annenberg CPB/Project, n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2013. . Thornton, Bruce S. Greek Ways: How the Greeks Created Western Civilization. San Francisco: Encounter, 2000. Print.

Hr Policies in Automobile Sector Essay

20 Tips To Help Prevent Medical Errors One in seven Medicare patients in hospitals experience a medical error. But medical errors can occur anywhere in the health care system: In hospitals, clinics, surgery centers, doctors’ offices, nursing homes, pharmacies, and patients’ homes. Errors can involve medicines, surgery, diagnosis, equipment, or lab reports. They can happen during even the most routine tasks, such as when a hospital patient on a salt-free diet is given a high-salt meal. Most errors result from problems created by today’s complex health care system. But errors also happen when doctors* and patients have problems communicating. These tips tell what you can do to get safer care. What You Can Do to Stay Safe The best way you can help to prevent errors is to be an active member of your health care team. That means taking part in every decision about your health care. Research shows that patients who are more involved with their care tend to get better results. Medicines 1 Make sure that all of your doctors know about every medicine you are taking. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines and dietary supplements, such as vitamins and herbs. 2 Bring all of your medicines and supplements to your doctor visits. â€Å"Brown bagging† your medicines can help you and your doctor talk about them and find out if there are any problems. It can also help your doctor keep your records up to date and help you get better quality care. 3 Make sure your doctor knows about any allergies and adverse reactions you have had to medicines. This can help you to avoid getting a medicine that could harm you. 4 When your doctor writes a prescription for you, make sure you can read it. If you cannot read your doctor’s handwriting, your pharmacist might not be able to either. PATIENT SAFETY *The term â€Å"doctor† is used in this flier to refer to the person who helps you manage your health care. 2 5 Ask for information about your medicines in terms you can understand—both when your medicines are prescribed and when you get them: What is the medicine for? How am I supposed to take it and for how long? What side effects are likely? What do I do if they occur? Is this medicine safe to take with other medicines or dietary supplements I am taking? What food, drink, or activities should I avoid while taking this medicine? 6 When you pick up your medicine from the pharmacy, ask: Is this the medicine that my doctor prescribed? 7 If you have any questions about the directions on your medicine labels, ask. Medicine labels can be hard to understand. For example, ask if â€Å"four times daily† means taking a dose every 6 hours around the clock or just during regular waking hours. 8 Ask your pharmacist for the best device to measure your liquid medicine. For example, many people use household teaspoons, which often do not hold a true teaspoon of liquid. Special devices, like marked syringes, help people measure the right dose. 9 Ask for written information about the side effects your medicine could cause. If you know what might happen, you will be better prepared if it does or if something unexpected happens. Hospital Stays 10 If you are in a hospital, consider asking all health care workers who will touch you whether they have washed their hands. Handwashing can prevent the spread of infections in hospitals. 11 When you are being discharged from the hospital, ask your doctor to explain the treatment plan you will follow at home. This includes learning about your new medicines, making sure you know when to schedule follow-up appointments, and finding out when you can get back to your regular activities. It is important to know whether or not you should keep taking the medicines you were taking before your hospital stay. Getting clear instructions may help prevent an unexpected return trip to the hospital. 3 Surgery 12 If you are having surgery, make sure that you, your doctor, and your surgeon all agree on exactly what will be done. Having surgery at the wrong site (for example, operating on the left knee instead of the right) is rare. But even once is too often. The good news is that wrong-site surgery is 100 percent preventable. Surgeons are expected to sign their initials directly on the site to be operated on before the surgery. 13 If you have a choice, choose a hospital where many patients have had the procedure or surgery you need. Research shows that patients tend to have better results when they are treated in hospitals that have a great deal of experience with their condition. Other Steps 14 Speak up if you have questions or concerns. You have a right to question anyone who is involved with your care. 15 Make sure that someone, such as your primary care doctor, coordinates your care. This is especially important if you have many health problems or are in the hospital. 16 Make sure that all your doctors have your important health information. Do not assume that everyone has all the information they need. 17 Ask a family member or friend to go to appointments with you. Even if you do not need help now, you might need it later. 18 Know that â€Å"more† is not always better. It is a good idea to find out why a test or treatment is needed and how it can help you. You could be better off without it. 19 If you have a test, do not assume that no news is good news. Ask how and when you will get the results. 20 Learn about your condition and treatments by asking your doctor and nurse and by using other reliable sources. For example, treatment options based on the latest scientific evidence are available from the Effective Health Care Web site (effectivehealthcare. ahrq. gov/options). Ask your doctor if your treatment is based on the latest evidence. AHRQ Pub. No. 11-0089 (Replaces AHRQ Pub. No. 00-P038) September 2011.

The Impacts of Boccaccios Writing Style on the Tone of...

Boccaccios Decameron is a masterpiece of early 14th century European literature; its bawdiness and its sheer wit are a wonderful, funny indicator of what life was like in 14th century Italy. However, the central framing device of the book itself - the Black Plague, which ravaged Europe around the time of the books setting and publication - plays a somber but vital role in this important work. The importance of the plague to the story is no less evident than in the introduction, which demonstrates the awesome power of the sickness. Boccaccios account of the plague during the time it hit Florence is often compared to real accounts and additional sources of information about the Black Plague, but it is often left wanting due to Boccaccios penchant for embellishment and dramatic flair. Furthermore, Boccaccios emphasis in the introduction of the Black Plague was often on the unstoppability and sheer terror of the disease, including how swiftly it spread throughout the country and peoples helplessness in treating it. Boccaccios writing style is very dramatic and humorous, with a particular emphasis on philosophy as it pertains to luck. The following analysis will weigh the introduction of the Decameron according to these criteria. Boccaccio starts the Decameron with an introduction that immediately demonstrates his artistic and dramatic flair - Every time I stop to consider your natural inclination to pity, most gracious ladies, I recognize that you will find the opening