Pia Financial Analysis 2013 Year

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Human Resources and Organizational Behavior for Health Care Leadership in Health Care Management Essay

There are people that need a strong leader in order to thrive in their job. There are also people that don’t need a strong leader because they have the drive to be successful but may need a push every now and then. When it comes to an organization and the dynamics of it, managers be charismatic because of dealing with so many different personalities in the group. Being a charismatic leader requires self-confidence and trust in his/her subordinates. Showing trust in huge as it instills confidence in that employee and tells them they don’t have to look over their shoulders. They can do their jobs freely which can lead to more production in the organization. Conflicts are a natural part of human interaction and it’s inevitable. Part of being a good leader is having effective conflict management skills. When conflicts arise, managers must know how to manage them so that bigger problems don’t grow. There are so many aspects of being a manager and leading. Employees in the organization depend on good leadership and if that need is not met, it can lead to workplace disfunction. Keywords: Charismatic, Conflict, Leadership, Dynamics, Management When the management job is talked about, leadership often comes to mind. It takes a strong minded, organized, and determined individual to do this job. Over seeing a number of different employees can at times not be the easiest job. Leaders must be willing to accept and meet challenges that come for the betterment of patient healthcare. Not everyone can lead a group of people in an organization. It takes the type of person that has people skills as well as the knowledge of his/her job to lead effectively. Leading Creatively Usually when healthcare leaders have a question they take a rational approach until the right or wrong answer has made it up the chain of command. This approach can be effective in some cases but in healthcare thing are always changing. A regular leader loves to avoid mistakes which all mistakes are not avoidable. Someone who is creative loves to learn from mistakes as it can give them more ideas to choose from. Today, the healthcare environment is even more complex as reform and market forces transform the way healthcare is delivered and managed. Belief systems, values and attitudes are shifting. Creative thinking and agile, adaptive leadership will be required to make hospitals, health systems and networks sustainable as the healthcare delivery landscape transforms (http://www. ccl. org/leadership/landing/healthcare/index. aspx). As a leader in healthcare, managers must show their employees that they are willing to be innovative and let their ego go as group collaboration becomes the norm. By modeling this, the employees will be more willing to work together for the good of the organization and the patients. The Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) has developed a model that health systems can use to adapt and thrive in uncertain times by creating direction, alignment and commitment. There are six essential organizational capabilities that are a prerequisite for success: Collaborative Patient Care Teams- The team will extend to include clinicians outside the hospital environment which will place a much greater emphasis on higher-order collaboration skills. Resource Stewardship- Requires individual ownership and accountability for the decisions that will ultimately allow the system to thrive and manage its resources judiciously. Talent Transformation- Leaders will need to hire and develop talented individuals who can see the next wave of plausible solutions and innovations and lead transformational change. Boundary Spanning- Leaders draw on networks and relationships as they work systemwide to meet the mission of healthcare. Capacity for Complexity, Innovation and Change- Effective leaders move populations from old established processes to new models of effectiveness and understand the underlying emotional impact of change and how it varies by individual. Employee Engagement and Well-being- Employees are most productive and committed to their organization when they are engaged emotionally, mentally and physically. (http://www. ccl. org/leadership/landing/healthcare/index. aspx). These organizational methods are the essential keys for managers to not only lead their workplace to the way of the future but also helping to lead other organizations. The collaboration aspect is key as it will require everyone to be cohesive and understanding. Power and Influence Power is a defined as having behavioral or fate control over the behavior of another. It exists only when there is an unequal relationship between two people and where one of the two is dependent upon the other (Borkowski, 2011). Power can be a trap for some managers which can lead to abusing it. When employees see and experience this happening they pull away and lose respect for that manager. This can be the downfall of an organization as it can cause employees to lose motivation, commitment, and creativity. There are five bases of social power: reward power, coercive power, legitimate power, referent power, and expert power. An individual is not limited to just one source of power. Reward power is the ability to give rewards, something that holds value to another individual. Coercive power is the ability to punish either by administering a punishment or by withholding something that an individual needs or wants. Legitimate power is given to an individual on the basis of a given role or position. Referent power stems from P’s affective regard for, or identification with, O. The greater the attraction, the greater the identification. Expert power exists when P awards power to O on the basis of P’s perception of O’s knowledge within a given area (Borkowski, 2011). In class discussion the general consensus was managers that had the trust and respect of their employees, had the most power. A manager is an expert of the knowledge he/she has over a subordinate. When managers use that expert power in the right way, which is to teach his/her subordinates, they will feel that the manager is wanting them to expand their knowledge for their success as well as the organization. This in turn continues to build trust and deep respect for the manager. As an educator, this is modeled for us by our administration. Our superintendent and principal have both been teachers in the classroom but have since moved into the roles that they have now so they are the experts when it comes to some of the issues that come up. They attend countless meetings of changes that may happen either with our district or state so that then they can inform us. Once we have a good grasp of what is going to take place we can then inform our students. The expert power that our administration had has been passed to the teaching staff so that then we can pass that knowledge to the students. Decision Making Decision making is an everyday part of our lives whether we realize what type of decision we make or not. Sometimes we make decisions rationally and sometimes intuitively. The fact is, we want to make the right decision but that is not always going to be the case because we can never see what the outcome of that decision will be and we have to live with that. As in any decision model we use, there are pros and cons of each. In the rational decision making model it brings logic and order to decision making. This approach also can help ensure discipline and consistency. Here are the sequence of steps used to rationally develop a solution: Identifying a problem or opportunity, gathering information, analyzing the situation, developing options, evaluating options, selecting a preferred alternative, and acting on the decision. A strength of this model is that it provides structure and discipline to the decision making process. A weakness of this model is the time that is needed to go through this process (http://www. the-happy-manager. com/articles/rational-decision-making-model/). Another decision making model that is used often is intuition. Intuition can make you a much more effective decision maker, especially when you deal with non-standard situations or in expedient decision making. However there are points that need to be considered for instance, when you need to use intuition, can it be effective, and how this decision model ranks versus rational analysis (http://www. time-management-guide. com/intuition-decision-making. html). In class discussion, classmates used a few different models most notably the two mentioned above. There were a few that used both or weighed heavily on just one. I was one that used both rational and intuitive. There are times in coaching when I use the rational approach to make a decision concerning practice. For example, if I need to set up teams that are equal in talent as opposed to starting five and bench, I have to think about who matches up better with who, or what drills are going to be the most beneficial and productive on a given day. My intuitive approach is used during game situations. For example, when to utilize timeouts, when to substitute players, what play to run, or when to switch defenses. Either way, decisions ometimes don’t work out the way you envision but you learn to live with it and move on. Conflict-Conflict Management Another aspect of being a leader in management is conflict and conflict management. Some situations are easier to handle than others but a manager that has effective conflict management skills can diffuse a bad situation before it gets worse. Interpersonal conflict is a natural outcome of human interaction that involves two or more individuals who believe that their attitudes, behaviors, or preferred goals are in opposition (Borkowski, 2011). This type of conflict is probably one the most common in the workplace simply because there are personal characteristics and issues, interactional difficulties and perspective and perceptive differences. As a result of the diversity of today’s workplace, an extensive range of differences exists between personal and cultures. When dealing with groups of people, many interpersonal conflicts involve role confusion. If a person doesn’t understand their expectations it can intensify the conflict leading to unhealthy relationships. As a result, reactions such as aggression and hostility can take place. There are many strategies we can use in conflict situations whether we use some more often than others or not. It’s important that the strategy we do use is appropriate for that particular situation even if it’s not the strategy we habitually use (Williams, n. d. ). Some strategies we can use for conflict management are; Forcing, Accommodating, Avoiding, Compromising, and Collaborating. When forcing, the manager is using formal authority or other power that he/she possesses to satisfy their concerns without regard to the concerns of the party they are in conflict with. Accommodating is allowing the other party to satisfy their concerns while neglecting your own. Avoiding is not paying attention to the conflict and not taking any action to resolve it. Compromising or attempting to resolve a conflict by identifying a solution that is partially satisfactory to both parties, but completely satisfactory to neither. Lastly, there is collaborating or cooperating with the other party to understand their concerns and expressing your own concerns in an effort to find a mutually and completely satisfactory solution (Williams, n. . ). When leading an organization, understanding how conflict arises is helpful for anticipating situations that may become conflictual. This was something that was talked about in our class discussion. Another idea that was mentioned was that seeing all sides of a situation makes a good manager because it helps the employees develop trust. A situation that stands out to me is looking up from speaking with another student and witnessi ng a student get hit with a ball by another student. We will call the student that got hit (A) and the student that threw the ball (B). Obviously student (A) was not happy about getting hit so the first thing he does is run to confront student (B). Some pushing was done by both and then I intervened. Not seeing student (B) throw the ball just the outcome, I calmed them both down and I asked student (B) why he hit student (A) with the ball. He said he was trying to throw it to someone else but that student (A) stepped in at the wrong time and got hit so it was a just an accident. After student (A) heard the story he understood and apologized for pushing student (B) and student (B) also apologized. The strategy I used was collaborating as we all came to an understanding to what happened. Conclusion Not everyone can lead a group of people in an organization. It takes the type of person that has people skills as well as the knowledge of his/her job to lead effectively. Managers are pulled in so many different directions and they must be able to adapt. Being a leader in an organization is not easy, however being a leader period is not easy. A manager must be aware of what is happening in their organization to lead effectively. Not everyone has the same expectations but part of being a charismatic leader is showing that trust and confidence in his/her employees shows them that even though you are the manager, you trust what they are bringing something positive to the organization. Managers relationship with his/her employees is important as the day to day operations depend on the behaviors of everyone. The relationship connectedness between subordinates and managers is key to productivity in the workplace.

An Inspector Calls- How Priestly Presents Arthur Birling Essay

Arthur Birling is a self-centred man intent on climbing the class ladder, even at the expense of his family and employees. He regularly uses his obsessive behaviour over status to invoke popularity or power within a particular crowd, which is evident in the very first scenes of the play when Birling says to Gerald: ‘It’s exactly the same port your father gets from him’, suggesting Mr Birling bought it in order to imitate a more prominent societal figure as well as to gain a rapport with Croft. Similarly, Birling tries this technique with the Inspector, however this time to gain leverage over him by asking if he sees much of ‘Chief Constable, Colonel Roberts’, following up his threat with a disclosure of his superiority; â€Å"He’s an old friend of mine†¦I see him fairly. We play golf together†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . This was intended to make the Inspector feel belittled and impressed by Birling’s relationship with the Chief Constable, however Priestly makes this decidedly lost on the Inspector, because as a symbol of socialism, he wouldn’t care. One thing Priestly in particular was grateful for after the World Wars was the newfound merging of classes, reflected her in An Inspector Calls by the Inspector’s indifference towards Birling’s titles and wealth. It shows that Birling, regardless of how much money he has or who he knows, is still being investigated for neglecting his social responsibilities. This ultimately shows Socialism as uncorrupted when juxtaposed against the 1912 society where the belief was that if you were rich enough, you weren’t guilty of anything, which is why Birling is outraged by the Inspector’s visit; â€Å"†¦we’re respectable citizens and not criminals!† Despite the possibility that Mr Birling perhaps had an uneasy upbringing, occasionally indicated by his faux pars, which his wife readily berates him for (‘(reproachfully) Arthur, you’re not supposed to say such things-‘), Priestly leaves no room for the audience to sympathise with Birling because in doing so, Capitalism would be accommodated for. To remedy this, Birling is presented as a fool to the modern and 1945 audience by describing the Titanic as ‘†¦unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable.’ As well as wrongly predicting that there wouldn’t be war. As a result, the audiences, likely emotionally affected by these events, would be angered at Mr Birling’s stupidity, making him instantly unlikeable. Coincidentally, J.B Priestly transforms the illusion of grand Capitalism to one of supreme naivety at  Birling’s failure to see past his own self-importance. This sides the audience with what seems to be the only other option that they won’t condemn themselves to this 1912 attitude; Socialism. In essence, Priestly shows that Birling and people like him are a negative part of society because of their refusal to hold any responsibility for anyone other than themselves; â€Å"I can’t accept responsibility†. This in turn steers the audience away from Capitalism by using Mr Birling’s selfishness as a warning to us all: If we don’t accept the responsibility we owe to other people, then no matter who we are, or which walk of life we come from, we will be as foolish as Mr Birling.

Risk Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Risk Management - Essay Example on the definition of an organization’s objectives, specification of possible risks to the business, identifying specific risks to each objective and specification of a tool to be used for risk management. One such tool that is used for managing risk in the global business environment is the risk level matrix. The risk level matrix is a matrix that identifies each possible risk to the organization’s objectives and classifies it in terms of consequences and likelihood of occurrence (Hopkin, 2010). The risk level matrix helps the organization determine the level of concern for each risk, where common levels of concern include catastrophic, major, moderate, minor and insignificant. Once the levels of concern have been identified, the organization can then implement preventive or mitigation strategies for the identified risks. This risk management tool is an effective tool in the face of uncertainty in the global economic environment. The risk level matrix helps the organization analyze all possible risk types and prepare an advance plan in case the risk comes to pass (Hopkin, 2010). Other risk management tools do not give the organization the ability to plan ahead for the risks that they might

Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Summary - Essay Example The chapter addresses the ambiguous nature of the behaviors of basking sharks. Wells points out that very few facts are known about the basking sharks, which makes it almost impossible to come up with ways to preserve it. It is among the most sought fish species to an extent that it has been declared as an endangered species yet its mating and breeding habits are mysterious. This has made it almost impossible for zoologists to protect their young ones artificially. Irrespective of its large size, the basking shark has not been able to escape from the human impacts. It is quite unclear why the basking sharks choose to stay close to the water surface where planktons are minimal. Additionally this behavior exposes them to the danger of being fished. Though there have been regulations set to regulate the fishing of basking shark, it becomes impossible to avoid trapping the off springs of basking shark since it is hard to tell their whereabouts. However, Wells criticizes the enthusiasm wi th which humans harpoon the endangered species whenever they can. The mating habits of the basking sharks and their behaviors are incomprehensible to many. Even to the marine zoologists know too little to compile a history of this organism. One of the least understood behavior is the migration of the basking sharks to the bottom of the ocean during winter. ... Unlike other types of fish where age can be predicted by observing the scales, sharks have no scales. Vital information such as the rate of reproduction amongst the basking sharks remains unknown. Irrespective of the fact that basking sharks are often harpooned or netted, it is almost impossible to capture a pregnant female. According to Wells (76) the only pregnant female that has ever been captured, in 1936, gave birth to five living young ones ascertaining that basking sharks are viviparous like other sharks. This is quite strange and makes it hard to determine the growth rate of basking sharks. The ratio of males to females is unknown in addition to the unknown mating habits. It is hard to contemplate of an organism considered the second largest fish that is often harpooned, yet so little is known about it. The attempts made to track the movements of basking sharks to see if it could help reveal a little about their life history were unsuccessful. Wells attributes this to the unw illingness of any authorities to fund the operations. This is because most people view conservative efforts as irrelevant. Since animals migrate freely across territorial and economic boundaries, it becomes nobody’s business to ensure that they are protected. The same individual who do so little to protect the endangered species end up being the beneficiaries of the over exploitative fishing behaviors exhibited towards the species. Zoologists who are concerned with the welfare of animal species have little say particularly on issues regarding fishing of sharks for economic gain. Their efforts to give advice on measures that can be taken to protect endangered species are ignored by those who fear that

Identifying the actors in the courthouse Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Identifying the actors in the courthouse - Essay Example Prosecutors. The best to describe the role of the Prosecutor in the Courthouse is through the given definition of Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct in Rule 3. (a). It states that, â€Å"The duty of a public prosecutor or other government lawyer is to seek justice, not merely to convict.† To clear from common misconception, prosecutors are not performing the tasks of lawyers. In Berger vs. United States (1935), it was implied that United States Attorney is the one that is regarded as the prosecutor. His sovereignty is to govern impartially. Their main interest is not about winning but to serve justice in the case particularly a criminal case. Defense Lawyers. Defense Lawyers’ specialization is criminal defense. They are the lawyers who are hired to defend the defendants in criminal cases. The necessity of the Defense Lawyer is one of the approaches in order to put balance in the trial system so that sides of both defendant and victim will be served in the court by legal procedure. They are often maligned particularly in prominent criminal cases for defending criminals. (Pollack, 2009) Judges. Judges during court trial interpret the law, and assess the evidence being presented. Judges also have the control on how the court trial will be executed. Most importantly, they are the decision-maker to serve justice in the case. (CSCJA, 2006) Defendants. Defendant is a party who is obliged to answer the complaint of the claimant. Defendants are the ones who are accused of the crime or civil lawsuit before the court. Defendants are the one being tried for a crime that they are accused of. Victims. Victims are the complainant in a case court trial. They are the ones whose rights had violated by certain criminal acts courtesy of the defendants or by the suspect in criminal case. They are the ones who are seeking justice in a case or lawsuit by filing charges against the

Assess the concept of emotional intelligence and its role in human Essay - 2

Assess the concept of emotional intelligence and its role in human service organisations - Essay Example In contrast, psychologists claim that emption have four major progressive stages, like feeling, motivation, evaluation, and cognition. On the other hand, philosophers are largely interested in the concepts of rationality and emotion (Walton, 2012). This essay analyses the concept of emotional intelligence and its role in human service organisations, in social work practice particularly. The actual explanation of the reasons for emotion-arousals is still unknown till now. Nevertheless, numerous scholars believe that there is a direct connection between recognising major changes in a person’s circumstances and stimulation of emotions. They argue that human beings compare their present circumstances with past ones, and when the extent of present arousal goes beyond the degree they have felt long enough to become used to it, stimulation of emotion occurs (Matthews et al., 2004). Experimental studies report that stimulation of basic and usual emotions, like hatred, love, fear, happiness, sadness, and sexual urge substantiates such reports. It could also be mentioned that the norms of comparisons that human beings use rely on a person’s own source of judgment or belief, and thus is not immune from personal prejudice (Howe, 2008). It could be emphasised that the observed changes in circumstances, which bring about stimulation of emotions, do not have to be r eal at all times. In reality, human beings at times regard imagined scenarios facilitating production of emotions. It is a widely recognised fact that individuals at times are needlessly anxious and fearful of unfamiliar situations. Emotional intelligence (EI) is regarded as a newly developed academic discipline. In a philosophical sense, it means the â€Å"competence to identify and express emotions, understand emotions, assimilate emotions in thought and regulate emotions in the self and in others† (Matthews et

Kent Cars Ltd Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Kent Cars Ltd - Essay Example At the outset, a shareholder of a private limited company may find himself helpless and locked into the company. Under this scenario, a shareholder who is unable to exert control within the company becomes vulnerable. By taking advantage of his weak position, the controllers of the company at the expense of the non-controlling shareholder, may wield enormous power and authority in administering the company. (Vries 2010:1). The Articles of Association of a private limited company will always consist of some restrictions on transfer of shares. Normally, provisions in the Articles or Table A empower the directors of a company some limited rights to turn down transfer of shares in case of partly paid-up shares. As in the case of fully paid-up shares, such a restriction will be of technical nature only. As the operation and the management of the majority of small companies is wholly reliance on the prolonged good relations between the members of the company to such a magnitude that such c ompanies are frequently no more than partnerships but disguised with a corporate form. Hence, it is significant for the directors or members of such companies to place severe restrictions upon the transfer of shares as it will be tantamount to change in ownership. These restrictions will generally assume the form of the granting of pre-emption rights in favour of the present members of the company which is similar to the statutory pre-emption rights applicable to allotment of shares. The general procedure for transfer of shares in a private limited company is that any member who wants to dispose off his shares should give a notice first to the company. Such Notice will automatically make the company as the member’s agent for the purpose of first offering of shares to the present or existing members of the company in the ratio to their present shareholding. This connotes, by the proposed transfer of shares, the equilibrium or balance between the existing members of the company is protected, presuming that the members in question will have the opportunity to source the needed capital to acquire such shares offered. The following points should be kept in mind in case of transfer of shares of private limited companies; Great care should be given to make sure that the needed procedure is carefully adhered to in case of a transfer and if transfer of shares are expected or if the directors of a company receive notice from a member of his intention to transfer of shares and in such event, immediate reference is to be made to the conditions provided in the â€Å"AOA† † (Articles of Association of the company)†. The most common source of the tussle between the member who wishes to dispose off his share and the other members or directors of the company pertains to valuation of shares. Normally, the Articles of Association will contain a provision that in such scenario, the valuation of shares shall have to be made either by an independent expert or by the statutory auditor of the company where it is provided so and in cases where parties could arrive at a fair price or valuation. If the offered

Online Network Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Online Network Marketing - Essay Example In other words, it is an online community of sellers and buyers. By the year 2006, slightly more than a billion people were able to access internet throughout the world. This is the results of a survey conducted by Internet World Stats in that year (Nichols: 2007). What this means is that there is a potential market online of a billion people. This is a large pool of people who can buy or sell a product or service. It is not surprising then why there is an increase in the number of people who are establishing online network marketing businesses. The services and goods marketed online include education, consumer goods like drugs, and vehicles amongst others. This article is going to look critically at the online technologies that are used to build online network marketing. This network marketing is geared towards building online communities and promoting goods and services online. The broad objective of this study is to critically analyze of online network marketing for community building and business promotion. To this end, the study will be guided by several specific objectives: As indicated earlier, more than a billion people around the world were already online by the year 2006 (Nichols: 2007). This number has continued to grow over the years, and it will not be far fetched right now to say that internet usage will hit the two billion mark by the end of 2010 (Foucault: 2009). This translates to a market of two billion people out there. People access the internet for several purposes; there are those who use it for communication, as a form of social media. These are the ones who use emails and social networks like Facebook and Twitter (Wilson: 2009). When selling or promoting products and services online, most people first recruits sales representatives and agents online (Bashir: 2009). The advantage of online networking is that the sales representatives can be recruited from anywhere in the world, unlike the traditional offline networking where they have to come from a certain geographical location. These agents are then encouraged to recruit others. The commission accrued by these agents reduces as one goes down the ladder, with the owner of the organization getting the lion's share. These agents are the ones who are in charge of selling the particular service or product that the company deals with. They recruit a consumer base, still online. The agents and the producer forms what is called a virtual organization (Irwin: 2007). The consumers, together with the virtual organization, forms the online community that is brought together by the particular good or service that is been sold. In order to create this community, promotion is needed. The producer creates his presence on the internet. This he can do by creating his own website domain. He then goes ahead and recruits the agents, who access his domain for details. These agents then use several means to recruit consumers. They may advertise their services and products on other sites related to their line of business. When the

Major Policy Stakeholders Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Major Policy Stakeholders - Essay Example A program which would smooth the way to integrate nutritional education and its transmission to the population. There is a national health agenda as a part of the government policies that promote a healthy lifestyle through preventive and educative approaches practices by the healthcare professionals.National Weight Control registry maintains a database which led to tools and tactics to maintain long-term weight loss. It has been shown that diet and exercise are the main steps for the success of preventive measures. Healthcare providers have important roles in motivating their patients to change lifestyle and modify dietary behaviors. Research has shown that brief interventions by physicians and healthcare providers on a regular and consistent basis may strongly reinforce positive behaviors in the patients. The environmental factors that promote obesity are taken with great seriousness by academia, government, industry, and healthcare. There is a consensus that portion sizes must be reduced with more attention to appropriate macronutrient intakes, such as low fat, high protein, low-energy foods. Obesity is alarmingly rising with implications of a public health problem of epidemic potentials. In the community, there are many stakeholders which can have a collaborative approach to prevent this problem through dealing with respective parts based on evidence. As indicated in the discussion above, various stakeholders are coming up with different propositions that may control the epidemic of obesity very successfully.

Sensor Project Essay Example for Free

Sensor Project Essay I have decided to measure the temperature of a greenhouse using a thermistor in a potential divider circuit, and then when the temperature gets too cold, the relay will activate and turn on a heater. A thermistor is a temperature sensor in which its resistance will increase or decrease with temperature change depending on what type of resistor. An alternative for this experiment could have been measuring light levels in a greenhouse using an LDR. A light sensor in a green house could tell you when and where in the greenhouse the most intense sunlight is, which you could you use to aid your growing skills. I decided to design a temperature sensor for a greenhouse using a thermistor, as temperature can be critical in growing plants especially if it gets too hot or too cold. As my thermistor is an NTC this means that as temperature decreases its resistance increases, and when temperature increases its resistance decreases. Plan: Circuit Explanation The water is boiled until it reaches a temperature of just above 90i Celsius. The thermistor is inserted into the hot water and the voltage across it is measured for a temperature of 90i. The varying voltage across the thermistor is measured as the temperature falls at 10-degree intervals. The experiment is repeated and a second set of readings obtained. An average set of readings is obtained and a voltage-temperature conversion graph is plotted. Then test the sensor by attaching the amplifier and relay. Materials/Apparatus Needed: Thermometer, Thermistor, Beaker, Electric kettle, Power supply, Multimeter, Variable resistor, Amplifier, Relay, Leads. These pictures show me testing the thermistor (left), and testing the amplifier to see at what voltage it activates (right). Variables The volume of water used for this experiment was kept at 250cmi The experiment was completed over one day, and on the day, the temperature in the physics laboratory where the experiment took place was 19i C. Results Calculation of R1: I want my amplifier to activate at 10i C, for the heater to come on. The amplifier turns on at 1. 93V, as I have tested, and because the voltage is proportional to the resistance, I will work out which resister to use using the equation below. (At 10i C the thermistors resistance is 124. 8? )

Quantitative Research Paper Essay Example for Free

Quantitative Research Paper Essay Quantitative research includes classification of certain features, calculations and construction of statistical models that can describe these features. In contrast, qualitative research is more focused on description of features excluding statistical descriptions. In quantitative research, data are summarized in the form of verbal descriptions or graphical representations. On the contrary, in qualitative research they appear in statistical tables, graphs, or charts. The researcher is more likely to use qualitative research in the earlier phases of the research project when one is looking for ideas to be later explored in depth within a quantitative framework. The processing of data in quantitative research is more likely to include a subjective component than in the other type. As a result, the results of quantitative research can often mix the context of the study but provide enough material to evaluate a certain hypothesis. A literature review should be compiled in order to answer a specific question or gather data to evaluate a hypothesis. The researcher should define the type of literature one wants to use as well as the scope of information to be used in the research. The sources used should be appropriate for the topic. Depending on the type of research, the sources should be predominantly or only peer-reviewed academic publications relevant to the explored question or field of study. The publications used in literature review should be critically evaluated by the reviewer. It is also important to organize the literature review in a coherent manner so that it is divided into understandable units. An explanation of how this or that topic fits into the research framework should be provided. The synthesis of material should provide adequate background for the topic under research. Conceptualization and operationalization form two pillars of science as these two methods allow researchers to use concepts that are the foundation of human exploration of the universe. By grouping objects into categories called concepts and developing practical ways of measuring these concepts through operationalization, researchers can explore a variety of objects, phenomena and situations. Theories need to be formulated with the help of specific concepts. Here conceptualization plays a crucial role, permitting scholars to define classes that will be described by this or that concept.   Conceptualization creates a concept that can be defined in all complexity of relationships and serve as common ground for exploration of an object or phenomenon by different researchers. Operationalization allows practical application of concepts, permitting their measurement through concrete observations. Each science seeks to define its conceptual apparatus through specific observations. As a result of this quest, â€Å"to operationally define basic concepts has now become central to all sciences† (Wikipedia, 2006). The article â€Å"Money, money, money: an exploratory study on the financial literacy of Black college students† by Angela J. Murphy that appeared in the September 2005 issue of College Student Journal investigates â€Å"the influence of race, gender, age, major and parental educational level on the financial knowledge of undergraduate students attending a predominantly Black institution†. The researcher has identified a strikingly low level of financial literacy among such students. Age and major were found to have less influence, while parental education and major had more impact. One research question can be formulated as â€Å"Does age have an influence on financial literacy of Black college students?†. Another one is â€Å"Does major have an influence on financial literacy of Black college students?†. Independent variables included race, gender, parental education, and age. The dependent variable was the financial literacy in certain areas including â€Å"the topics of income taxes, credit consigning, short term savings, investing for retirement, social security, future college costs and home ownership† (Murphy, 2005). The research used surveys. The method is justified because it permitted researchers to have structured, generalizable results that could be analysed with statistical methods. The survey also allowed people to ask a broad range of students attending various institutions. Mail survey and personal interview are similar in the first place because they test personal attitudes of people toward a subject or phenomenon. Both involve respondents with their individual differences, cultural background, demographic situation that influence the research. The difference lies first of all in the procedure: personal interview involves face-to-face contact whereas a mail survey envisages written communication. Consequently, an interview is more personal, while a mail survey presupposes less personal interaction between the researcher and the respondent. In organizational behavior investigation, a personal interview is more subjective because the participant will be influenced by personal perception of the researcher, possible positive or negative associations, etc. A mail survey, on the contrary, will be free from these limitations. The downside, however, is the frequently low rate of response that is often accountable for bias in answers. A more personal interaction can create more opportunities for the researcher to probe the topic with open-ended questions and find out the opinion of the interviewee with more detail. In addition, if the interviewee finds certain questions ambiguous, he or she can clarify details with the scientist, while this opportunity is absent in the case of a mail survey. To investigate the question of trust, a personal interview is preferable. First, it is considered â€Å"the most reliable method of data collection, especially when attitudinal behavior is of concern† (Pennsylvania Department of Health, 2001). Especially when executives are targeted, the time consumed in filling out a mail survey may become a factor that will discourage most of the targeted public from answering. The choice can be constrained by the budget, as personal interviews are traditionally considered the most expensive research method. In an experiment, the researcher is trying to answer a question performing certain actions that will test the validity of a hypothesis. In a focus group, the researcher is typically trying to explore a broad range of issues. As such, a focus group is called upon to conduct a discussion using prepared question rather than answer a specific question. Besides, the results from a focus group will be less rigidly defined and will require more scholarly interpretation whereas the experiment should deliver a more specific answer to the question. The advantage of focus groups is the open-ended nature of the research that opens possibilities for participants to air their views on many important subjects and share opinions. Besides, it is more personal and allows for greater consideration of individual differences, as â€Å"interaction also enables participants to ask questions of each other, as well as to re-evaluate and reconsider their own understandings of their specific experiences† (Gibbs, 1997). However, a focus group can be practically difficult to organize, involves participants coming from different cultures that can contribute to bias. Besides, these groups offer less predictable results as â€Å"researcher, or moderator, for example, has less control over the data produced† than in other methods (Gibbs, 1997). An experiment, on the other hand, provides for a greater degree of control, especially in controlled experiments, which makes the data more adapted to generalization. However, there is a possibility that participants will behave in controlled environments differently than they would under typically circumstances. An example of research question that can be tested through a focus group is â€Å"What qualities of â€Å"Dove† soap brand make it appealing to consumers?† A focus group would allow participants to share views on the subject with a relatively large degree of freedom so that new, unexpected answers can come up. A question to be tested with an experiment can be â€Å"Do people buy Mercedes cars for quality or prestige?† This question can be answered in an experiment since here one can identify dependent and independent variables and develop a statistical apparatus to answer the question. References Gibbs, A. (1997, Winter). Focus Groups. Social Research Update. Retrieved July 2, 2006, from http://www.soc.surrey.ac.uk/sru/SRU19.html Murphy. A.J. (2005, September). Money, money, money: an exploratory study on the financial literacy of Black college students. College Student Journal. Retrieved July 2, 2006, from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCR/is_3_39/ai_n15384395 Pennsylvania Department of Health. (2001). Health Statistics Technical Assistance Tools of the Trade. Retrieved July 2, 2006, from http://www.health.state.pa.us/hpa/stats/techassist/surveytypes.htm Wikipedia. (2006). Operationalization. Retrieved July 2, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operationalization

Review Of A Trip To The Moon Film Studies Essay

Review Of A Trip To The Moon Film Studies Essay Nowadays, cinema is significantly commercial and digitalised. However, the unique and often entertaining black and white films of the early twentieth century should not be forgotten. They should in fact be revered as films in their own right. A perfect example of early cinema at its peak is A Trip to the Moon (aka Le Voyage dans la Lune), which was directed by film pioneer George M li s in 1902. The majority of films from this period dealt with simple scenes of everyday life, such as the knocking down of a garden wall or the arrival of a train. However M li s made the transition from these early shorts to a more modern form of montage, which led A Trip to the Moon being regarded as a masterpiece of early cinema. The first scene of the film opens with a group of astronomers holding a meeting in order to discuss how to travel to the moon. The main astronomer, played by M li s, suggests that they build some type of capsule and fire themselves at the moon. After some argument, the scientists agree and build a cannon and a bullet-shaped capsule. They are launched at the moon via cannon by a group of showgirls and land comically in the eye of the moon. Once on the lunar surface, they meet the Selenites, the alien hostile inhabitants of the moon. One of M li s main inspirations for the film would be Jules Verne s novel From the Earth to the Moon, from which he got the idea of the projected capsule at the moon. The film also contains elements from H.G. Wells novel The First Men in the Moon, for example, the underground moon cave with gigantic mushrooms and the vulnerable inhabitants, the Selenites. M li s was a master of visual illusion due to him being a professional magician and a producer of theatre. He followed the lead of other nineteenth century stage magicians, such as Jean Robert-Houdin, by integrating the newest technology into his theatrical spectacles. With film, M li s embraced its theatrical possibilities and through experimentation, he made swift advances in special effects, film editing, intricate sets and costumes, and literary content. The set design of the various scenes is elaborate. The painted backdrops merge flawlessly with the constructed parts and props, creating settings with great depth. The set design, costumes, and anthropomorphic objects provide the film with a fantastical surreal appeal, which both attract and astonish audiences. M li s was one of the first filmmakers to make use of special effects, using a number of ingenious techniques to create illusions. Cinematic devices such as stop-motion photography and film splicing were used to give the illusion of objects vanishing or changing. Examples of these techniques can be seen in the Selenites disappearing into a puff of smoke when hit by the scientists and the approach of the capsule towards the moon. For the duration of the film, spectacle, burlesque, and even absurdity frequently dominate over scientific logic and realism. For instance, in the supposedly scientific scene of the launching of the capsule, the cannon is loaded by a troupe of showgirls dressed in a burlesque version of sailor suits (Gunning ). M li s openly acknowledged the dominance of special effects over the storyline in his films as he once wrote, As for the scenario, the story or tale, I considered it last I utilized it only as a pretext, a context for tricks or pleasing theatrical effects (Gunning ). A Trip to the Moon is not a forgotten gem of early cinematic history, but a film of energy, imagination, exploration, and humour that still pleasure audiences today. 2. A film review of Duck Soup (1933) The film Duck Soup, starring the Marx Brothers, is a funny satire with lively gags and some of the best physical comedy ever in cinema. Although it is nowadays regarded as a comic masterpiece, the film received poor reviews when it first came out in 1933, mainly for its satirising of politics and warmongering. Even to this day the Marx Brothers are greatly revered because of their masterful ability to treat their audience to riotous slapstick comedy, puns, deadpan one-liners, brief sight gags, and other subtler humour. All of the Marx Brothers comedy films were extensions of their vaudeville days. Duck Soup is a perfect example, where the visual gags that had previously worked so well on the stage are incorporated into the film. The 1933 film was directed by Leo McCarey. The film stars Groucho Marx, who plays Rufus Firefly, the new appointed president of the fictional nation of Freedonia. Firefly has a questioning attitude towards work ethic, which can be seen as he attempts to decrease work hours by shortening the length of lunch breaks for the workers. Rufus becomes infatuated with Mrs. Teasdale, but he is in competition for her hand with Ambassador Trentino of the neighbouring country of Sylvania. Rufus immediately insults the Sylvanian ambassador by slapping him across the face instead of shaking his hand. War is consequently declared between the two countries. However, the plot of the film is not of any real importance as it mainly serves as a chance for the brothers to make fun of dictators, government bureaucracy and the irrationality of reckless war. Duck Soup features the Marx Brothers at their very best. Both the continuous sequence of laughs and the satirical storyline are hilarious in their own right, but the film also provides the individual comedy sequences for the brothers, which are the real highlight of the film. The film contains some of their best material, providing a variety of comic settings and dialogue and some quite entertaining musical sequences. Some examples would be the mirror sequence, the telephone sequence, the peanut stall interchange, the riddles, and the final battle. The mirror sequence is by far the most entertaining scene in the film, where Harpo, and Chico, and Groucho are all dressed the same and they mimic each other s movements as if they re looking in a mirror at themselves. Another excellent example of Marx comedy is the peanut stand scene where Harpo and Chico have an altercation with a man who runs a lemonade stand next to Harpo s peanut stand. The film is a constant reel of comedy, from Groucho s entrance in the first scene to the bombing of the shelter in the final scene. Similar to other great comedies of the 1930s, Duck Soup does not require special effects or a completely logically storyline to attract an audience. Nowadays, Duck Soup is widely considered to be a stunning success of film comedy, and the Marx Brothers best film. CU4026: Introduction to Film Studies Film Review Assignment

The First Crusade and the Ideas of Crusading Essay -- essays research

Contrary to many commonly held notions about the first crusade, in his book, The First Crusade and the Idea of Crusading, Jonathan Riley-Smith sets out to explain how the idea of crusading thought evolved in the first crusade. In his book, Riley-Smith sets out five main arguments to show how these ideas of crusading evolved. Firstly, he argues that Pope Urban’s original message was conventional, secondly that a more positive reaction was drawn from the laity (due to the ideas surrounding Jerusalem), thirdly, that the original message of crusading had changed because of the horrible experiences of the first crusaders, fourth, that due to these experiences the crusaders developed their own concept of what a crusade was, and lastly, that these ideas were refined by (religious) writers and turned into an acceptable form of theology. Riley-Smith makes excellent points about the crusade; however, before one can delve directly into his argument, one must first understand the backgro und surrounding the rise of the first crusade. Throughout the ten-century, particularly in France, the world had become an extremely violent place. Feudal Knights were often quarreling over land possession, looting, and looking to lay people to provide them with sustenance . Likewise, the power of these knights and the extent of violence flourished due to the increasingly lacking power and authority of the kings . The Church, in an attempt to halt the violence and anarchy attempted to take control and issued such concepts as â€Å"the Peace of God† . Similarly, at this time other movements for peace by the Church were underway, and one of the commonly held ideas was the need to transform the world to more â€Å"monkish ideals†. From these ideals also sprouted the concept of the laity having â€Å"God-given functions to perform, functions that could include fighting to protect the Church†. Pope Leo IX (1049-1054) is an example of this idea; he often used militia to fight against his opponents. In the early ele venth century, there came a pivotal figure in the ideas of Church sanctioned war, Pope Gregory VII (1073-1085). Pope Gregory was involved in the Investiture Contest, and soon turned to scholars to seek out â€Å"justification for his conviction that violence could be used in defense of the Church and could be authorized by it†. The movements generated by Pope Gregory, as well as the results of the Inve... ...f knighthood. The idea of the crusade, and the affiliated pilgrimage came to be regarded as temporary, adopted, migratory monastic life. Although none of the ideas of Robert, Guibert, and Baldric were new, in fact they were derived from the accounts of those who survived the first crusade, they romanticized the idea of the holy war and knighthood, making it more appealing to the common person, and more morally acceptable in religious circles.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Riley-Smith adequately proves his argument that although the idea of crusading was not a new one; the outcome of the first crusade had a direct impact on the ideas surrounding a holy war. His book, The First Crusade and the Idea of Crusading, is a well developed and coherent argument that is neatly organized and concise, allowing the reader to gain a good understanding of the topic. This book was an excellent choice for first year university students, as it was an easy read, and very easy to identify the main points and arguments of each chapter. Bibliography/Works Cited Riley-Smith, Jonathan. The First Crusade and the Idea of Crusading. The United States of America: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1986.

tempcolon Essay on European Colonization in The Tempest

The Theme of European Colonization in The Tempest  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries were distinguished times, in which new thoughts and great legends were being born and Europe was changing. People were seeing their world in a new, dazzling light. Humanity's greatest writers, scientists, and composers were beginning to share their gifts. However, underneath these artistic overtones were the political changes, too. There was a New World out there, and its potential was undefined and many countries overlooked its capabilities. England, on the other hand, had placed its foot firmly into the foundation of the New World, and the footprint left behind influenced both the countries' possibilities, and the artists' works.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One classic example of this is Shakespeare's plays. Many of them had analogies relating to the future of the European colonies, but one work exposed Shakespeare's true thoughts so well that it has been the basis for many studies. This work is titled The Tempest, and it has been scrutinized and analyzed all through its enduring 387-year life. Throughout its existence, it has inspired and enlightened its readers. Contemporary insight now offers new possibilities to understand its inner workings. English colonization and other settlements in the Americas, along with critical analyses, can reveal the underlying clues within The Tempest that will help us understand Shakespeare's conceptualization of the events and characters in his play.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   English colonization in North America, what would eventually establish our beloved United States of America, has been thought to have influenced England's greatest writers, especially Shakespeare. Evidence is provided through a well-kn... ... but a necessary one. This is a sign of hope for our universal endeavor to obtain a greater, more intelligent mankind.    Works Cited and Consulted: Alan Durband. (Ed.) (1984). The Tempest. Hauppauge, New York: Barron's Educational Series Inc. Deborah Willis, 'Shakespeare's Tempest and the Discourse of Colonialism', Studies in English Literature 1500-1900, 29, no.2, (1989) Eric Cheyfitz, The Poetics of Imperialism: Translation and Colonization from The Tempest to Tarzan, (Oxford University Press, 1991) Ritchie, D. and Broussar, A. (1997). American History: The Early Years to 1877. New York: Glencoe Kanoff, Acott. (1998). Your Study Guide to William Shakespeare: The Tempest. Cleveland: The Cleveland Play House Education Department William Shakespeare, The Tempest, ed. Frank Kermode, with an introduction by Frank Kermode, (Arden, 1964) tempcolon Essay on European Colonization in The Tempest The Theme of European Colonization in The Tempest  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries were distinguished times, in which new thoughts and great legends were being born and Europe was changing. People were seeing their world in a new, dazzling light. Humanity's greatest writers, scientists, and composers were beginning to share their gifts. However, underneath these artistic overtones were the political changes, too. There was a New World out there, and its potential was undefined and many countries overlooked its capabilities. England, on the other hand, had placed its foot firmly into the foundation of the New World, and the footprint left behind influenced both the countries' possibilities, and the artists' works.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One classic example of this is Shakespeare's plays. Many of them had analogies relating to the future of the European colonies, but one work exposed Shakespeare's true thoughts so well that it has been the basis for many studies. This work is titled The Tempest, and it has been scrutinized and analyzed all through its enduring 387-year life. Throughout its existence, it has inspired and enlightened its readers. Contemporary insight now offers new possibilities to understand its inner workings. English colonization and other settlements in the Americas, along with critical analyses, can reveal the underlying clues within The Tempest that will help us understand Shakespeare's conceptualization of the events and characters in his play.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   English colonization in North America, what would eventually establish our beloved United States of America, has been thought to have influenced England's greatest writers, especially Shakespeare. Evidence is provided through a well-kn... ... but a necessary one. This is a sign of hope for our universal endeavor to obtain a greater, more intelligent mankind.    Works Cited and Consulted: Alan Durband. (Ed.) (1984). The Tempest. Hauppauge, New York: Barron's Educational Series Inc. Deborah Willis, 'Shakespeare's Tempest and the Discourse of Colonialism', Studies in English Literature 1500-1900, 29, no.2, (1989) Eric Cheyfitz, The Poetics of Imperialism: Translation and Colonization from The Tempest to Tarzan, (Oxford University Press, 1991) Ritchie, D. and Broussar, A. (1997). American History: The Early Years to 1877. New York: Glencoe Kanoff, Acott. (1998). Your Study Guide to William Shakespeare: The Tempest. Cleveland: The Cleveland Play House Education Department William Shakespeare, The Tempest, ed. Frank Kermode, with an introduction by Frank Kermode, (Arden, 1964)

Leonardo Da Vinci Essay -- Painter Artist Biographies Essays

Leonardo Da Vinci A Renaissance man in Renaissance times, Leonardo Da Vinci frequently defied a simple description. As a scientist, inventor, artist, and so much more, Leonardo Da Vinci’s works continue to impact our lives even now. Born on April 15th, 1452 in Anchiano (now a part of Italy), Leonardo came into a world on the brink of change. The Italian renaissance was sweeping through the peninsula during Da Vinci’s lifetime and he would soon come to be one of its foremost figures. While there is not a great deal known about Leonardo’s early life, it does not seem atypical from that of a normal boy born into a fairly wealthy family during that time period. Born of a notary named Ser Piero and a peasant woman named Catarina, Da Vinci was an illegitimate child. However, at age five, he moved from his birthplace to Vinci, which is in the Tuscany region of Italy, to live with his father. While there, Leonardo began his formal education. Beginning with reading, writing, and arithmetic, Da Vinci excelled at his studies and soon moved on to an apprenticeship with a man named Andrea del Verrocchio in 1466. Verrocchio, a Florentine artist, was known for his works in several different fields of art. He practiced sculpture, painting, and also worked with gold and bronze. Leonardo continued under the tutelage of Verrocchio for several years, studying these different types of art. In 1472, Leonardo had completed his apprenticeship and had his name entered into the Florentine book of painters, which signified that he had officially joined the ranks of the Painters’ Guild. Though he had completed his apprenticeship with Verrocchio and joined the Painters’ Guild, he did not yet leave his master’s house. Leonardo’s artistic talents... ...ve are told to people from all walks of life. His very unique life and his many accomplishments serve as an inspiration to painters, scientists, doctors, inventors, and anyone else who wants to push the boundaries of art and education. Being such a visionary figure in history has also made Da Vinci the focus of many stories and movies from The Da Vinci Code regarding his artworks and his backwards writing, to Mona Lisa Smile a movie about art appreciation centering on the much discussed smile in his most famous portrait. Works Cited Kausal, Martin. "Leonardo da Vinci, 1452-1519." http://www.kausal.com/leonardo/index.html. 21 Jan 2005. O'Connor, J.J., E. F. Robertson. "Leonardo." http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Leonardo.html. 21 Jan 2005. Boston Museum of Science. "Leonardo da Vinci." http://www.mos.org/leonardo/. 21 Jan 2005.

Strategic Position Review of Michael Hill Jewelers in New Zealand

Michael Hill Jewellers (MHJ) is one of the most recognizable names in the New Zealand retail jewellery industry. In 1979, Michael Hill opened his first store in Whangerei. Until then, jewellery stores had been run primarily by craftsmen jewellers. Michael Hill changed this with the philosophy â€Å"to make jewellery buying less intimidating and more accessible to the public.† In order for any company to succeed, it has to take a look at the environment in which it operates. This is why an external environmental analysis is so important. This involves a continuous process of scanning, monitoring, forecasting, and assessing the external environment. Doing so will illuminate any opportunities to be exploited or threats to minimize. The first step in the analysis is environmental scanning which is identifies any trends or changes which are occurring or have recently occurred in the environment. Once identified, the company can then strategise and react in order to exploit the phen omenon. Three useful tools in an environmental analysis are a PESTEL analysis, Porter’s Five Forces, and Strategic Grouping. Utilising these tools, an environmental scan of the jewellery industry will be performed. PESTEL AnalysisPoliticalMany of the raw materials for the jewellery industry can originate in countries that have political instability. Of the top five diamond producing countries, Canada is the most politically stable, with minimal probability of any mining disruption due to war. The other four are a different situation. Russia is still in a state of internal turmoil regarding Chechnya and other breakaway nations, while Botswana, Angola and Congo are all in a constant risk of war both from within and from neighbouring war-torn countries. A war in any of the above countries would cause a considerable loss in production and have a significant impact on the jewellery industry worldwide.EconomicThe entire jewellery industry relies on commodities such as gold, platinu m and silver in order to manufacture their product. This can create a problem as the prices of commodities can fluctuate drastically. For example, from 1982 to 2005 gold prices remained relatively stable. From 2005 to 2011 it nearly quadrupled in value. This price increase for the raw material will  be passed on to the consumer causing a price increase in the end product. Conversely, if the price of the commodity drops it would be expected that the price of the finished product would reflect this.SocialIn recent years, it has become more important to consumers to purchase products that have been produced ethically. In the jewellery industry, one of the most prominent ethical issues is the use of blood or conflict diamonds. These diamonds are mined and sold by African rebel forces in order to finance their wars in Angola and Sierra Leone. There has been a certification system instituted that lets the consumer know the origin of the diamond that they are looking at purchasing. Consu mers can now ask the jeweller to see the certificate of origin for their diamond. Jewellers must now be aware of this and ensure that they buy only ethically obtained diamonds in order to fulfil this request.TechnologicalThe internet allows consumers to select and purchase any piece of jewellery they desire online. A large number of jewellers have online stores or use websites such as amazon.com and ebay.com to reach their customers. It is important for the jewellers to recognise that their clientele are no longer limited geographically and can easily find and in some cases import items that may not be readily available in that region.EnvironmentalBusinesses are starting to become more aware of the impact that their own production processes have on the environment and are looking for ways to reduce this. The gold mined to produce jewellery is not always extracted with the most environmentally sound methods. Up to 15% of the world’s gold is produced using artisanal and small s cale gold mining, the single largest demand sector for mercury. Virtually all of this mercury is dumped directly back into the environment causing havoc on the surrounding ecosystems. The jewellery industry needs to ensure that they purchase raw materials from only environmentally sustainable mining companies.Legal Due to the size of some of the companies in the jewellery industry along with the large sums of money and power that accompanies it, there are strict  antitrust laws in place. The Responsible Jewellery Council is an international organisation set up to oversee and protect the jewellery industry from various practices. This council has set up antitrust policies in order to protect its members. Industry Environment Analysis – Porter’s Five ForcesPorter’s Five Forces model is used to evaluate the degree of rivalry between competitors in a given industry through assessing the four forces that lead to this outcome. These forces are the threat of new entr ants, the bargaining power of suppliers, the bargaining power of buyers, and the threat of substitute products.Threat of New EntrantsIs the ease in which a new company can start into the retail jewellery industry. It is not difficult to start a jewellery store as the only requirements are start up capital and a premises. There are many small sole trader jewellery shops in New Zealand to attest to this. Therefore, the threat of new entrants is: HIGH Bargaining Power of SuppliersIs the control that suppliers have over the pricing and distribution of their products across the jewellery industry. Once the wholesalers have sold their products to the retailers, the retailers can sell for any price they deem appropriate. There are many wholesalers in the industry, many based in Asia, giving the retailer alternative suppliers if the price is not right. Therefore the bargaining power of suppliers is: LOW Bargaining Power of BuyersIs the power belonging to the customer to choose to shop at a store. As there are many jewellery stores to choose from, many of which seem to have sales on every week, the customer can decide not only to shop elsewhere, but even try to haggle for a discount. Therefore the bargaining power of buyers is: HIGHThreat of SubstitutesIs the probability that a consumer will purchase something else. Since jewellery is a luxury item and not a necessity, consumers will choose to spend their income on many thing before jewellery even makes the list. Not only do necessities come first, but other luxury items may be higher on the list of things to purchase like golf clubs or bicycles. Therefore the threat of substitutes is: HIGH Degree of RivalryIs the level of competition within the industry. Even though only three out of the four forces were identified as high, the retail jewellery industry is still extremely competitive. The one anomaly was the power of suppliers and the only reason that was low is because the suppliers operate in such a competitive stat e as well, giving more bargaining power to their customers, the retailers. Therefore the degree of rivalry is: HIGH Strategic GroupingA competitor analysis compares a company against each direct competitor. It relies on four key areas for comparison. These are future objectives, current strategy, assumptions, and capabilities. By looking at these concepts a response can be formulated and the company can create a strategy. The closest competitor of Michael Hill is Pascoes. They have similar strategy with pricing and target market. Walker and Hall aims at a higher level with more designer items and craftsmen in store. Partridge Jewellers is a contrast to Michael Hill with only the best brands and handmade jewellery in their stores in only four select high end shopping districts in New Zealand.ConclusionThrough a PESTEL analysis, an industry environmental analysis and a strategic grouping map, the retail jewellery industry can be evaluated. The PESTEL analysis showed various trends tha t may have an effect on the industry while the industry environmental analysis showed that the competitive rivalry in the industry is quite high. The strategic grouping map illustrated that the company itself shares a target market with few other large companies but does not display the hundreds of other smaller independent firms that offer similar services.What has been learned in this assessment is that Michael Hill has cornered the jewellery retailing industry in New Zealand and has bucked the financial trend by being one of the companies on the NZX to make large gains during the recession. Through low prices, Friedman Group staff training, and a good understanding of their industry environment, they have  become one of the leading retailers in New Zealand.

Gender Segregation

Davis Anderson Sociology 3337 Prof. Korinek October 23, 2012 Group 7 Analysis of: Revisiting the Glass Escalator: The Case of Gender Segregation in a Female Dominated Occupation This critical examination and study, done by Karrie Ann Snyder and Adam Isaiah Green, dives into the data of a predominately women’s job, nursing, to find out if men really have a â€Å"glass escalator† when it comes to advancing up to top positions and dissects the notion of horizontal segregation.The glass escalator theory is one that assumes males in female dominated professions are pushed up the ladder to administrative and supervisory positions much easier and faster than women. Throughout the article, they explain the methods used to gather the data, both quantitative and qualitative and provide a plethora of information such as level of education, employment setting, number of years worked, personal interviews etc. They also break down the data and refute claims that although widely belie ved, may be false. It is somewhat ironic that the topic of this week’s thought-piece paper is on the sexual segregation of nursing.Just about a week ago I was sitting in the orthodontists office and I looked over at the staff photos on the wall. Dr. Pobanz was in the middle with about 10 ladies on each side of him. That made me go back and think, and I came to the realization that I have never seen a male besides the doctor working in a dentist or orthodontist office. Although it is not exactly a nursing position, it is a similar occupation and I would imagine has similar statistics concerning sex segregation. In my mind, it is just expected that most all nurses are female.It seems that back a few decades ago males were unheard of in the nursing field, but today they are becoming more common. It is interesting that this occupation is so stereotypical female that studies of this magnitude are conducted. So why is it that nursing is so dominated by females? Well, nursing is ass ociated with caring for others, being affectionate, and serving under someone of higher ranking. Males face strong societal pressure that steer them from entering occupations such as this as they do not want to be perceived as feminine or gay because of the nature of their job.Only 5. 5 percent of nurses in 2000 were men, a very small minority. Many people think that of the few men that are in the nursing field, it is easier for them to move up to higher ranking positions. The face is that in administrative and supervisor positions women are just about as likely as men to hold those spots. The problem is that many people believe the societal stereotype that it is easier for men to gravitate toward the top positions, when in reality it is just about the same for both sexes.In the article, Carol Kleinman is referenced when she says that men, relative to women, enjoy systematic advantages in the nursing industry in terms of promotion and hiring (p273). The findings from this research s uggest something very different than the assumptions of others. â€Å"As shown in Table 3, men do not receive higher returns for education, nor is there a significant interaction between years as a nurse and sex. These results suggest that, contrary to the glass escalator hypothesis, men are not promoted earlier in their career to top positions. (p281) The data suggests that rather than there being a segregation of male and females vertically among the sectors of nursing, horizontal segregation is much more likely, meaning grouping of gender in specialized areas is common. Certain areas seem to be made up of more of one gender than the other. For example, men are over represented in ICU, OR, and ER while women are over represented in outpatient, post anesthesia, labor/delivery, and general medical-surgical departments (p286).When interviewed about why they chose their specialization, men seemed aware of the gender connotations of their job, while women rarely mentioned it as a fact or. This is a direct cause of why segregation across different areas of work is much more prevalent than segregation through the administrative ranks. The name nurse often carries with it negative connotations in the eyes of males. It is inherently feminine in its perception and plays a large role in scaring men away or causing them concern about what others think and leading them into positions that are thought of as more manly.Nursing is unique in the wide range of specializations that it offers, and that may play a part as to why horizontal segregation is so widespread as opposed to vertical. Oftentimes males seek positions of prestige and in nursing those desires may be filled by working in masculine roles as opposed to higher-ranking positions that would typically validate success in other professions. From the data gathered and personal accounts reviewed, it seems that men chose positions thought of as more masculine based primarily on fulfilling the conceptions of gender iden tity.Financial interests and personal desires do have an effect, but it seems that sticking to the gender â€Å"rules† is the largest factor in determining the careers of practicing male nurses. The data in this study is vast and complex. It is hard to determine the sole contributor to the occurrence of gender segregation in the nursing practices. So many factors play into every individuals decisions, but signs point overall to an adherence to gender norms and affirmation for males that their occupation is not completely a woman’s job.

Fan Milk Limited Annual Report 2009

FAN MILK LIMITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009 FAN MILK LIMITED Year ended December 31, 2009 Contents Corporate information Pages 1 Report of the directors 2-3 Corporate governance 4-5 Report of the independent auditor 6-7 Financial statements: i. Statement of comprehensive income 8 ii. Statement of financial position 9 iii. Statement of changes in equity 10 iv. Statement of cash flows 11 v. Notes 12 – 30 0 FAN MILK LIMITED Year ended December 31, 2009 CORPORATE INFORMATION Directors Charles Mensa (Dr. ) Jesper Bjorn Jeppesen Kodjo Biamawu Aziagbe Einar Mark Christensen Jens Jorgen Kollerup George H.Okai Thompson Peace Ayisi-Okyere Lennap & Co. P. O. Box 37 Accra PricewaterhouseCoopers Chartered Accountants No. 12 Airport City Una Home, 3rd Floor PMB CT 42 Cantonments Accra No. 1 Dadeban Road North Industrial Area P. O. Box 6460 Accra-North Quist, Brown, Wontumi & Associates P. O. Box 7566 Accra National Trust Holding Company Limited Martco House P. O. Box 9563 Airport, Accra Barclays Bank of Ghana Limited Ecobank Ghana Limited SG-SSB Bank Limited Prudential Bank Limited Agricultural Development Bank Limited Ghana Commercial Bank Limited Standard Chartered Bank Ghana Limited (Chairman) (Managing Director)Secretary Auditor Registered Office Solicitor Registrar & Transfer Office Bankers 1 FAN MILK LIMITED Year ended December 31, 2009 REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS The directors submit their report together with the audited financial statements of Fan Milk Limited for the year ended December 31, 2009. Statement of directors’ responsibilities The directors are responsible for the preparation of financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and of the profit or loss and cash flows for that period.In preparing these financial statements, the directors have selected suitable accounting policies and then applied them consistently, made judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent and followed International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The directors are responsible for ensuring that the company keeps proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company. The directors are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.Principal activity The principal activity of the company is the manufacturing and distribution of dairy products and fruit drinks. Financial results The financial results of the company are set out below: 2009 GH? ‘000 Profit before tax for the year is from which is deducted tax of giving a profit after tax for the year of to which is added balance brought forward on retained earnings of from which is deducted approved dividend of giving a balance carried forward on retained earnings of 20,175 (5,019) 15,156 15,410 (1,484) 29,082 The comp any’s net worth increased from GH? 1. 4 million as at January 1, 2009 to GH? 35. 1 million at December 31, 2009. 2 FAN MILK LIMITED Year ended December 31, 2009 REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS (continued) Dividends The directors recommend a dividend of GH? 0. 10 per share (2008: GH? 0. 0750 per share) in respect of the year ended December 31, 2009. Auditor The auditor, PricewaterhouseCoopers, has expressed willingness to continue in office in accordance with Section 134 (5) of the Companies Code, 1963 (Act 179). BY ORDER OF THE BOARD: Name of Director:†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Name of Director:†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..Signature:†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Date:†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Signature:†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â ‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Date:†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 3 FAN MILK LIMITED Year ended December 31, 2009 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE Introduction Fan Milk Limited is committed to the principles and implementation of good corporate governance. The Company recognises the valuable contribution that it makes to long-term business prosperity and to ensuring accountability to its shareholders. The Company is managed in a way that maximises long term shareholder value and takes into account the interests of all of its stakeholders.Fan Milk Limited believes that full disclosure and transparency in its operations are in the interests of good governance. As indicated in the statement of responsibilities of directors and notes to the accounts, the business adopts standard accounting practices and ensures sound internal control to facilitate the reliability of the financial statements. The Board of Directors The Board is resp onsible for setting the Company's strategic direction, for leading and controlling the Company and for monitoring activities of executive management. The Board presents a balanced and understandable assessment of the Company's progress and prospects.The Board consists of the Chairman, five non-executive directors and an executive director (the managing director). The non-executive directors are independent of management and free from any constraints, which could materially interfere with the exercise of their independent judgement. They have experience and knowledge of the industry, markets, financial and/or other business information to make a valuable contribution to the Company's progress. The managing director is a separate individual from the Chairman and he implements the management strategies and policies adopted by the Board.They meet at least four times a year. The Audit Committee The Audit Committee is made up of four directors of whom three are non-executive directors and they meet twice a year. The main Board determines its terms of reference and they report back to the Board. Its duties include keeping under review the scope and results of the external audit, as well as the independence and objectivity of the auditor. The Audit Committee also keeps under review internal financial controls, compliance with laws and regulations and the safeguarding of assets.It also reviews the adequacy of the plan of the internal audit and reviews its audit reports. 4 FAN MILK LIMITED Year ended December 31, 2009 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE (continued) Systems of Internal Control Fan Milk Limited has well-established internal control systems for identifying, managing and monitoring risks. These are designed to provide reasonable assurance that the risks facing the business are being controlled. The corporate internal audit function of the Company plays a key role in providing an objective view and continuing assessment of the effectiveness of the internal control systems in the business.The systems of internal control are implemented and monitored by appropriately trained personnel and their duties and reporting lines are clearly defined. Code of Business Ethics Management has communicated the principles in the Company’s Code of Conduct to its employees in the discharge of their duties. This code sets the professionalism and integrity required for business operations which covers compliance with the law, conflicts of interest, environmental issues, reliability of financial reporting, bribery and strict adherence to the principles so as to eliminate the potential for illegal practices. REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR TO THE MEMBERS OF FAN MILK LIMITED REPORT ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS We have audited the accompanying financial statements of Fan Milk Limited set out on pages 8 to 30. These financial statements comprise the statement of financial position at December 31, 2009, and the statement of comprehensive income, statement of changes in equity and statement of cash flows for the year then ended, and a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory notes.Directors’ responsibility for the financial statements The directors are responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards and with the requirements of the Companies Code, 1963 (Act 179). This responsibility includes: designing, implementing and maintaining internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error; selecting and applying appropriate accounting policies; and making accounting estimates that are reasonable in the circumstances.Auditor’s responsibility Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statements based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing. T hose standards require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform our audit to obtain reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatement. An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgement, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the company’s internal control.An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates ma de by the directors, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.Opinion In our opinion the accompanying financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of the company’s financial affairs at December 31, 2009 and of its financial performance and cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards and the requirements of the Companies Code, 1963 (Act 179). 6 REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR TO THE MEMBERS OF FAN MILK LIMITED (continued) REPORT ON OTHER LEGAL REQUIREMENTS The Companies Code, 1963 (Act 179) requires that in carrying out our audit we consider and report to you on the following matters.We confirm that: i) ii) iii) we have obtained all the information and explanations which to the best of our knowledge and belief were necessary for the purposes of our audit; in our opinion proper books of account have been kept by the company, so far as appears from our examination of those books; and the company’s statement of financial position and statement of comprehensive income are in agreement with the books of account. Chartered Accountants †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 2010 Accra, Ghana Mark Appleby (101193) FAN MILK LIMITED Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2009 STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (All amounts are expressed in thousands of Ghana cedis) Year ended December 31 Note Revenue Cost of sales Gross profit Distribution costs Administrative expenses Operating profit Other income Finance costs Profit before tax Tax Net profit after tax Other comprehensive income Total comprehensive income Earnings per share Basic and diluted (GH? ) 11 0. 77 0. 6 9 7 8 5 6 3 4 2009 82,471 (38,460) 44,011 (18,628) (6,184) 19,199 1,177 (201) 20,175 (5,019) 15,156 15,156 2008 55,041 (28,599) 26,442 (12, 569) (4,873) 9,000 500 (113) 9,387 (2,333) 7,054 7,054 8 FAN MILK LIMITED Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2009 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION (All amounts are expressed in thousands of Ghana cedis) Assets Non-current assets Property, plant and equipment Prepaid operating lease land Note 12 13 At December 31 2008 2009 21,622 1,647 23,269 Current assets Inventories Trade and other receivables Bank and cash balances 13,383 1,701 15,084 4 15 22 9,656 2,318 15,871 27,845 6,811 2,129 8,834 17,774 32,858 Total assets Equity Capital and reserves attributable to Company’s equity holders Stated capital Retained earnings 51,114 20 6,000 29,082 35,082 6,000 15,410 21,410 Liabilities Non-current liabilities Finance lease obligation Deferred tax Current liabilities Trade and other payables Current tax Dividend payable 19 14 18 1,330 1,330 808 808 9,719 699 222 10,640 11,448 32,858 16 17 10 14,272 137 293 14,702 Total liabilities Total shareholders’ equity and l iabilities 6,032 51,114 The financial statements on pages 8 to 30 were approved by the Board of Directors on †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦2010 and signed on its behalf by: Director: Director: 9 FAN MILK LIMITED Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2009 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (All amounts are expressed in thousands of Ghana cedis) Stated capital Year ended December 31, 2009 At the beginning of the year Total comprehensive income Dividend At the end of the year 6,000 6,000 15,410 15,156 (1,484) 29,082 21,410 15,156 (1,484) 35,082 Retained earningsTotal Year ended December 31, 2008 At the beginning of the year Total comprehensive income Dividend At the end of the year 6,000 6,000 9,494 7,054 (1,138) 15,410 15,494 7,054 (1,138) 21,410 10 FAN MILK LIMITED Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2009 STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (All amounts are expressed in thousands of Ghana cedis) Year ended December 31 2008 2009 25,191 (17) 418 17 (5,059) 20,533 13,198 (113) 239 (1,310) 12,014Note Cash flows from operating activities Cash generated from operations Interest paid Interest received Tax paid Net cash generated from operating activities Cash flows from investing activities Purchase of property, plant and equipment Purchase of land Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment Net cash used in investing activities Cash flows from financing activities Dividend paid Finance lease repaid Net cash used in financing activities Increase in cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year 22 10 12 13 12 21 12,181) (1) 296 (11,886) (6,429) (216) 112 (6,533) (1,413) (197) (1,610) 7,037 8,834 15,871 (1,048) (710) (1,758) 3,723 5,111 8,834 11 FAN MILK LIMITED Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2009 NOTES (All amounts in the notes are shown in thousands of Ghana cedis unless otherwise stated) 1. General informat ion Fan Milk Limited manufactures, distributes and sells dairy products and fruit drinks through a network of independent distributors and agents. The company is a public limited company incorporated and domiciled in Ghana under the Companies Code, 1963 (Act 179) and listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange.The registered office is located at No. 1 Dadeban Road, North Industrial Area, Accra-North. 2. Summary of significant accounting policies The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated. (a) Basis of accounting The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis. They have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).The management of Fan Milk Limited considers the following to be the most important accounting policies for the company. In applying these accounting polic ies, management makes certain judgements and estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the year end date and the reported revenues and expenses during the financial year. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the company’s accounting policies described below. The Company has adopted the following new and amended IFRSs as of January 1, 2009: ?IFRS 7 â€Å"Financial instruments – Disclosures† (amendment) – effective January 1, 2009. The amendment requires enhanced disclosure about fair value measurement and liquidity risk. In particular, the amendment requires disclosure of fair value measurements by level of a fair value measurement hierarchy. As the change in accounting policy only results in additional disclosure, there is no impact on earnings per share. ? IAS 1 (revised) â€Å"Presentation of financial statements† – effective January 1, 2009. The revised standard prohibits the present ation of items of income and xpenses (that is, `non-owner changes in equity`) in the statement of changes in equity, requiring `non-owner changes in equity` to be presented separately from owner changes in equity in a statement of comprehensive income. Comparative information has been re-presented so that it also is in conformity with the revised standard. As the change in accounting policy only impacts presentation aspects, there is no impact on earnings per share. 12 FAN MILK LIMITED Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2009 NOTES (continued) (All amounts in the notes are shown in thousands of Ghana cedis unless otherwise stated) 2.Summary of significant accounting policies (continued) (b) Property, plant and equipment Property, plant and equipment held for use in the production or supply of goods, or for administrative purposes are stated in the statement of financial position at historical cost or deemed cost less depreciation. Historical cost includes the expend iture that is directly attributable to the acquisition of the items. Deemed cost includes surpluses arising on the revaluation of certain properties to their fair values prior to the date of transition to IFRS.Subsequent costs are included in the asset’s carrying amount or recognised as a separate asset, as appropriate, only when it is probable that future economic benefits associated with the item can be measured reliably. The carrying amount of the replaced part is derecognised. All other repairs and maintenance are charged to the statement of comprehensive income during the financial period in which they are incurred. Assets in the course of construction are carried at cost less any recognised impairment loss. Cost includes professional fees which are capitalised in accordance with the Company’s accounting policy.Depreciation of these assets commences when the assets are ready for their intended use. Land is not depreciated. Depreciation is calculated using the stra ight line method to write off the cost of each asset or revalued amounts over their estimated useful lives as follows: Buildings Plant and machinery Deep freezers and bicycles Distribution trucks Other motor vehicles Computer systems Furniture and fittings 10 – 20 years 10 years 5 years 8 years 5 years 3 years 5 years The assets’ residual values and useful lives are reviewed and adjusted if appropriate at each statement of financial position date.Any asset’s carrying amount is written down immediately to its recoverable amount if the asset’s carrying amount is greater than its estimated recoverable amount. Gains and losses on disposals are determined by comparing the proceeds with the carrying amount and are recognised within other gains/(losses) in the statement of comprehensive income. When revalued assets are sold, the amounts included in other reserves are transferred to retained earnings. 13 FAN MILK LIMITED Financial Statements for the year ended De cember 31, 2009NOTES (continued) (All amounts in the notes are shown in thousands of Ghana cedis unless otherwise stated) 2. Summary of significant accounting policies (continued) (c) Impairments of assets At each statement of financial position date, the company reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible and intangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).Where the asset does not generate cash flows that are independent from other assets, the Company estimates the recoverable amount of the cash generating unit (CGU) to which the asset belongs. Recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value-in-use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a post-tax discount rate that reflects the cu rrent market assessment of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset for which the estimates of future cash flows have not been adjusted.If the recoverable amount of an asset (or CGU) is estimated to be less than the carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset (CGU) is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised as an expense immediately. (d) Inventories Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. The cost of finished goods and work in progress comprises raw materials, direct labour, other direct costs and related production overheads, based on normal operating capacity.It excludes borrowing costs. Net realisable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less all estimated costs of completion and costs to be incurred in marketing, selling and distribution. Spare parts are written off in the year of purchase. (e) Inve stments and other financial assets Financial assets are classified as either financial assets at fair value through profit or loss, loans and receivables, held to maturity investments, or available for sale financial assets, as appropriate.When financial assets are recognised initially, they are measured at fair value, (plus in the case of investments not at fair value through profit or loss, directly attributable costs). The Company determines the classification of its financial assets upon initial recognition and, where allowed and appropriate, re-evaluates this designation at each financial year end. All regular purchases and sales of financial assets are recognised on the trade date – the date on which the company commits to purchase or sell the asset. 14FAN MILK LIMITED Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2009 NOTES (continued) (All amounts in the notes are shown in thousands of Ghana cedis unless otherwise stated) 2. Summary of significant accounting po licies (continued) (e) Investments and other financial assets (continued) Loans and receivables Loans and receivables are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market. Such assets are carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method.Gains and losses are recognised in income when the loans and receivables are derecognised or impaired, as well as through the amortisation process. (f) Trade receivables Trade receivables are amounts due from customers for goods sold in the ordinary course of business. If collection is expected in one year or less (or in the normal operating cycle of the business if longer), they are classified as current assets. If not, they are presented as non-current assets. Trade receivables are recognised initially at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest ethod, less allowance for impairment. An allowance for impairment of receivables is estimat ed when there is objective evidence that the company will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the original terms of the receivables. (g) Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents includes cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short term highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities on the statement of financial position. h) Trade payables Trade payables are initially recognised at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost. (i) Bank borrowings Interest bearing loans and overdrafts are recorded at the proceeds amount received net of direct issue costs. Finance charges payable on settlement or redemption and direct costs, are accounted for on an accrual basis in the statement of comprehensive income using the effective interest rate method and are added to the carrying amount of the instrument to the extent that they are not settled in the period in which they arise. 15FAN MILK LIMITED Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2009 NOTES (continued) (All amounts in the notes are shown in thousands of Ghana cedis unless otherwise stated) 2. Summary of significant accounting policies (continued) (j) Current and deferred income tax Current tax Current tax assets and liabilities for the current and prior periods are measured at the amount expected to be recovered from or paid to the taxation authorities. The tax rate and tax laws used to compute the amount are those enacted or substantively enacted by the statement of financial position date.Deferred tax Deferred income tax is provided using the liability method on temporary differences at the statement of financial position date between the tax base of assets and liabilities and their carrying amount for financial reporting purposes. Deferred tax liabilities are recognised for all taxable temporary differences, except where the deferred tax liability arises from the initial recognition of goodwill or of an asset or liability in a transaction that is not a business combination and, at the time of the transaction, affects neither the accounting profit nor taxable profit or loss.Deferred income tax assets are recognised for all deductible temporary differences, carry-forward of unused tax credits and unused tax losses, to the extent that it is probable that taxable profit will be available against which the deductible temporary differences, and the carry-forward of unused tax credits and unused tax losses can be utilised except where the deferred tax assets relating to the deductible temporary differences arise from the initial recognition of an asset or liability in a transaction that is not a business combination and, at the time of the transaction, affects neither the accounting nor taxable profit or loss. k) Leases Leases are classified as finance leases whenever the terms of the lease involve the substantial tra nsfer of all the risks and rewards of ownership to the lessee. All other leases are classified as operating leases. Assets held under finance leases are recognised as assets of the Company at their fair value or, if lower, at the present value of the minimum lease payments, each determined at the inception of the lease. The corresponding liability to the lessor is included in the statement of financial position as a finance lease obligation.Lease payments are apportioned between financing charges and a reduction of the lease obligation so as to achieve a constant rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability. Finance charges are charged directly against income, unless they are directly attributable to qualifying assets, in which case they are capitalised with the Company’s policy on borrowing costs. 16 FAN MILK LIMITED Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2009NOTES (continued) (All amounts in the notes are shown in thousands of Ghana cedis unless otherwise stated) 2. Summary of significant accounting policies (continued) (k) Leases (continued) Property, plant and equipment acquired under finance leases are depreciated over the shorter of the useful life of such assets or the lease period. Payments made under operating leases are charged to the statement of comprehensive income on a straight line basis over the period of the lease. l) Employee benefits Pension obligation The Company operates a defined contribution pension plan (provident fund). A defined contribution plan is a pension plan under which the Company pays fixed contributions into a separate entity. The Company has no legal or constructive obligations to pay further contributions if the fund does not hold sufficient assets to pay all employees the benefits relating to employee service. The contributions are recognised as employee benefit expense when they are due. m) Provisions Provisions are recognised when a present legal or constructive obligation exists as a r esult of past events, where it is more likely than not that an outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation and the amount can be reliably measured. (n) Revenue recognition Sale of goods Sales are recognised when the risks and rewards of the products have been substantially transferred to the customer. Sales are shown net of returns and value added tax. o) Foreign currencies Transactions are recorded on initial recognition in Ghana cedis, being the currency of the primary economic environment in which the company operates (the functional currency). Transactions in foreign currencies during the year are converted into Ghana cedis at prevailing rates of exchange ruling at the transaction dates. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into Ghana cedis at the rates of exchange ruling at the statement of financial position date.The resulting gains and losses are dealt with in the statement of comprehensive income. 17 FAN MILK LIM ITED Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2009 NOTES (continued) (All amounts in the notes are shown in thousands of Ghana cedis unless otherwise stated) 2. Summary of significant accounting policies (continued) (p) Dividend Dividend distributed to the company’s shareholders is recognised as a liability in the financial statements in the period in which the dividends are approved by the Company’s shareholders. q) Post statement of financial position events Events subsequent to the statement of financial position date are reflected only to the extent that they relate directly to the financial statements and the effect is material. (r) Contingent liabilities Contingent liabilities are potential liabilities that arise from past events, the existence of which will be confirmed only on the occurrence or non-occurrence of one or more uncertain future events which are not wholly within the control of the company.Provisions for liabilities are recorded when a l oss is considered probable and can be reasonably estimated. The determination of whether or not a provision should be recorded for any potential liabilities is based on management’s judgement. (s) Estimates Estimates are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Because of the inherent uncertainties in this evaluation process, actual losses may be different from the originally estimated provision.In addition, significant estimates are involved in the determination of provision related to taxes and litigation risks. These estimates are subject to change as new information becomes available and changes subsequent to these estimates may significantly affect future operating results. Accounting for property, plant and equipment, and intangible assets involves the use of estimates for determining the fair value at the acquisition date. Furthermo re, the expected useful lives of these assets must be estimated.The determination of the fair values of assets and liabilities, as well as of the useful lives of the assets is based on management’s judgement. (t) Segment reporting Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided to the chief operating decision-maker. The chief operating decision-maker is responsible for the allocation of resources and assessing the performance of the operation segments. 18 FAN MILK LIMITED Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2009NOTES (continued) (All amounts in the notes are shown in thousands of Ghana cedis unless otherwise stated) 3. Revenue Gross sales Value added tax Included in revenue are export sales of GH? 182,773 (2008: GH? Nil). 4. Cost of sales Cost of sales includes: Depreciation of factory buildings and plant and machinery Staff costs – Wages and salaries – Social security – Provident fund 5. Distri bution costs Selling and distribution costs include: Depreciation of buildings, vehicles and machinery Staff costs – Wages and salaries – Social security – Provident fund 6.Administrative expenses Administrative expenses include: Depreciation of buildings, vehicles and machinery Staff costs – Wages and salaries – Social security – Provident fund Auditor’s remuneration Directors’ remuneration Donations 346 1,457 105 41 33 529 55 244 813 75 29 26 357 4 1,902 2,249 186 69 1,646 1,695 141 54 1,534 3,187 240 85 1,094 2,292 180 65 2009 94,842 (12,371) 82,471 2008 63,297 (8,256) 55,041 Total number of staff employed by the company in year was 407 (2008: 401). 7.Other income Profit on disposal of property, plant and equipment (Note 12) Interest on current accounts Sale of empty bags and scraps Provident fund refund Rent income Bad debts recovered Exchange gain 136 418 37 12 64 8 502 1,177 19 109 239 61 13 56 22 500 FAN MILK LIMITED Fin ancial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2009 NOTES (continued) (All amounts in the notes are shown in thousands of Ghana cedis unless otherwise stated) 8. Finance costs Interest payable on bank overdraft Interest payable on finance lease Interest payable on agents savings Finance costs on staff loans (Note 15) 2009 17 134 50 201 9.Income tax expense 2009 Current tax (Note 17) Deferred tax (Note 18) 4,497 522 5,019 2008 2,009 324 2,333 2008 4 109 113 The charge for the year can be reconciled to the profit per the statement of comprehensive income as follows: 2009 2008 Profit before tax Tax charged at 25% (2008: 25%) Expenses not deductible in determining taxable profit Other differences Capital allowances brought forward used in 2008 Export income at different tax rate 20,175 5,044 14 (31) (8) 5,019 10.Dividend payable Balance at January 1 Dividend declared and approved (GH? 0. 0750 per share; 2008: GH? 0. 0575 per share) Dividend paid Balance at December 31 222 1,484 (1,41 3) 293 132 1,138 (1,048) 222 9,387 2,347 1 4 (19) 2,333 Payment of dividend is subject to the deduction of withholding taxes at the appropriate rate. Proposed dividend for approval at AGM (not recognised as a liability as at December 31, 2009) amounted to GH? 1. 978 million (GH? 0. 10 per share). 20FAN MILK LIMITED Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2009 NOTES (continued) (All amounts in the notes are shown in thousands of Ghana cedis unless otherwise stated) 11. Earnings per share Profit after tax Number of ordinary shares Basic and diluted earnings per share (GH? ) 2009 15,156 19,784,548 0. 77 2008 7,054 19,784,548 0. 36 There are no share options, potential rights issues or bonus issues, hence diluted earnings per share are the same as basic earnings per share. 12.Property, plant and equipment 2009 Buildings and roads Cost/deemed cost At January 1, 2009 Additions Transfers Disposals At December 31, 2009 Accumulated depreciation At January 1, 2009 Charge for the year Released on disposals At December 31, 2009 Net book value At December 31, 2009 2008 Buildings and roads Cost/deemed cost At January 1, 2008 Additions Transfers Disposals At December 31, 2008 Accumulated depreciation At January 1, 2008 Charge for the year Released on disposals At December 31, 2008 Net book value At December 31, 2008 2,829 125 3 (12) 2,945 1,069 154 (9) 1,214 1,731 Motor Plant and vehicles machinery 4,301 1,921 (431) 5,791 3,036 783 (431) 3,388 2,403 14,501 3,312 427 (174) 18,066 7,850 2,047 (174) 9,723 8,343 Capital WIP 265 1,071 (430) 906 906 Total 21,896 6,429 (617) 27,708 11,955 2,984 (614) 14,325 13,383 2,945 353 296 3,594 1,214 236 1,450 2,144 Motor Plant and vehicles machinery 5,791 4,602 72 (327) 10,138 3,388 1,159 (327) 4,220 5,918 18,066 5,740 78 (956) 22,928 9,723 2,387 (796) 11,314 11,614 Capital WIP 906 1,486 (446) 1,946 1,946 Total 27,708 12,181 (1,283) 38,606 14,325 3,782 (1,123) 16,984 21,622 Included in motor vehicles, plant and machinery are ass ets with a cost of GH? 2. 3 million (2008: GH? 2. 3 million) leased under a finance lease. 21 FAN MILK LIMITED Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2009 NOTES (continued) (All amounts in the notes are shown in thousands of Ghana cedis unless otherwise stated) 12.Property, plant and equipment (continued) 2009 Cost-capitalised finance lease Accumulated depreciation Net book value Profit on disposal of property, plant and equipment Cost of assets Accumulated depreciation Net book value Sale proceeds Profit on disposal 13. Prepaid operating lease-land Cost At January 1 Additions At December 31 Accumulated amortisation At January 1 Charge for the year At December 31 Net book value at December 31 14. Inventories Raw materials Finished goods Work in progress Goods in transit Other stocks 1,888 984 61 6,557 166 9,656 1,692 772 46 4,214 87 6,811 1,283 (1,123) 160 (296) (136) 617 (614) 3 (112) (109) 2,295 (2,295) 2008 2,295 (2,101) 194 1,910 1 1,911 ,694 216 1,910 209 55 264 1 ,647 154 55 209 1,701 During the year the cost of inventories charged to the statement of comprehensive income amounted to GH? 27. 7 million (2008: GH? 21. 1 million). 22 FAN MILK LIMITED Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2009 NOTES (continued) (All amounts in the notes are shown in thousands of Ghana cedis unless otherwise stated) 15. Trade and other receivables Trade receivables Other receivables Amounts due from staff Prepayments 2009 717 1,362 151 88 2,318 2008 419 1,551 127 32 2,129 The maximum amount of staff indebtedness during the year did not exceed GH? 0. 21 million (2008: GH? 0. 14 million).Amounts due from staff are recoverable as follows: Not later than 1 year Later than 1 year and no later than 5 years 2009 130 71 201 Future finance costs Present value of amounts due from staff The present value of the amounts due from staff is split as follows: Not later than 1 year Later than 1 year and no later than 5 years 105 46 151 108 19 127 (50) 151 2008 108 19 127 127 The fair value of amounts due from staff is based on cash flows discounted using a rate based on borrowing rate of 22. 53% (2008: Nil). The discount rate equals base rate minus appropriate credit rating from the company’s bankers. The directors consider that the carrying amount of trade and other receivables approximates to their fair value. 16.Trade and other payables Trade payables Other payables Finance lease obligation (Note 19) Accruals 2009 8,199 5,861 212 14,272 17. Current tax As at January 1 Charged to income Payments As at December 31 23 2008 6,375 2,934 197 213 9,719 699 4,497 (5,059) 137 2,009 (1,310) 699 FAN MILK LIMITED Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2009 NOTES (continued) (All amounts in the notes are shown in thousands of Ghana cedis unless otherwise stated) 18. Deferred tax Deferred tax is calculated in full on temporary differences under the liability method using a tax rate of 25% (2008: 25%). The charge for the year relates to accelerated tax allowances on property, plant and equipment. 008 2009 As at January 1 Charged to income As at December 31 19. Finance lease obligation The Company entered into a finance lease agreement in 2006 for the lease of certain motor vehicles, push carts, bicycles and freezers. The capital cost of these assets amounted to â‚ ¬753,070 and US$525,864. 91. The Company has an option to purchase the items after the primary lease period for a consideration of 0. 25% of the capital on the assets. The lease obligation is as follows: Minimum lease payments: Not later than 1 year Later than 1 year and no later than 5 years 2009 Future finance charges on finance lease Present value of finance lease liabilities 2008 212 212 (15) 197 808 522 1,330 484 324 808The present value of the finance lease liabilities is as follows: Not later than 1 year (Note 16) Later than 1 year and no later than 5 years 197 197 24 FAN MILK LIMITED Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2009 NOTES (continued) (All amounts in the notes are shown in thousands of Ghana cedis unless otherwise stated) 20. Stated capital No. of shares Proceeds 2009 2009 Authorised Ordinary shares of no par value Issued For cash Capitalisation of surplus 40,000,000 No. of shares 2008 40,000,000 Proceeds 2008 19,784,548 19,784,548 19 5,981 6,000 19,784,548 19,784,548 19 5,981 6,000 There is no unpaid liability on shares. There are no treasury shares. There are no calls or instalments unpaid. 21.Cash generated from operations Reconciliation of net profit before tax to cash generated from operations: 2009 Profit before tax Depreciation Amortisation Interest expense Interest income Increase in inventories Increase in trade and other receivables Increase in trade and other payables Profit on disposal of plant and equipment Cash generated from operations 20,175 3,782 55 201 (418) (2,845) (189) 4,566 (136) 25,191 2008 9,387 2,984 55 113 (239) (1,289) (536) 2,832 (109) 13,198 25 FAN MILK LIMITED Fina ncial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2009 NOTES (continued) (All amounts in the notes are shown in thousands of Ghana cedis unless otherwise stated) 22. Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash held and short term bank deposits with an original maturity of three months or less. The carrying amount of these assets approximates to their fair values.For the purpose of the statement of cash flows, the year end cash and cash equivalents comprise the following: 2008 2009 Bank and cash balances Bank overdrafts 15,871 15,871 8,834 8,834 At the statement of financial position date the Company had an approved unsecured overdraft facility with local banks not exceeding GH? 0. 5 million (2008: GH? 0. 5 million). 23. Related party disclosures The Company has a related party relationship with a major shareholder and with its directors. The major shareholder Fan Milk International A/S owns 55. 449% shares in Fan Milk Limited. Emidan A/S and Fan Milk Togo are su bsidiaries of Fan Milk International A/S and are therefore entities related through common control.In the normal course of business, the Company entered into the following transactions shown below: (i) Purchase of goods Emidan A/S Fan Milk Togo (ii) Sale of goods Fan Milk Togo Fan Milk Liberia (iii) Year end balances arising from purchase of goods Emidan A/S Fan Milk Togo 7,362 12 5,697 16 183 6 2009 23,602 28 2008 19,174 108 26 FAN MILK LIMITED Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2009 NOTES (continued) (All amounts in the notes are shown in thousands of Ghana cedis unless otherwise stated) 23. Related party disclosures (continued) (iv) Year end balances arising from sale of goods Fan Milk Liberia (v) Technical assistance fees Fan Milk International (vi) Year end balances arising from technical assistance fees Fan Milk International Transactions with key management personnel Key management personnel are considered to be the directors.Remuneration Executive director (short-term benefits) Non-executive directors (short-term benefits) Key management personnel have no post-employment benefits. 24. Contingent liabilities There were no contingent liabilities at the statement of financial position date (2008: GH? Nil). 25. Financial risk management Financial risk factors The Company’s activities expose it to a variety of financial risks, including the effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. The Company’s overall risk management programme focuses on the unpredictability of financial markets and seeks to minimise the potential adverse effects on its financial performance.Risk management is carried out by the management of the company under policies approved by the board of directors. Management identifies, evaluates and hedges financial risks. 407 180 302 129 351 267 1,237 825 2009 56 2008 – 27 FAN MILK LIMITED Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2009 NOTES (continued) (All amounts in the notes are shown in thousands of Ghana cedis unless otherwise stated) 25. Financial risk management (continued) Sensitivity analysis – currency risk The Company seeks to reduce its foreign currency exposure through a policy of matching, as far as possible, assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies.The Company imports raw materials, spare parts and equipment from overseas and therefore is exposed to foreign exchange risk arising from Euro and USD exposures. Management is responsible for minimising the effect of the currency exposure by buying foreign currencies when rates are relatively low and using them to settle bills when due. The Company hedges the currency risk using the practice stated above in order to mitigate currency risk as a result of changes in foreign exchange rates. The company’s hedging strategy is effective and movement in foreign exchange rates would have no material impact on the Company’s result. Sensitivity analysis â⠂¬â€œ interest rate risk The Company’s exposure to the risk of changes in market interest rates relates primarily o the Company’s long-term obligations with a floating interest rate. To manage this risk, the Company’s policy is to contract for best interest rate borrowings when terms offered are attractive. The sensitivity analysis for interest rate risk shows how changes in the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market rates at the reporting date. The Company had no significant exposure to interest rate risk as at December 31, 2009. Total exposure to credit risk Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to credit risk are primarily cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable. Account receivables are mainly derived from sales to customers.The Company maintains a provision for impairment of trade receivables based upon the expected collectibility of all trade receivables. Trade rec eivables consist of invoiced amounts from normal trading activities. The Company has customers throughout Ghana and Liberia. Strict credit control is exercised through monitoring of cash received from customers and, when necessary, provision is made for specific doubtful accounts. As at December 31, 2009, management was unaware of any significant unprovided credit risk. 28 FAN MILK LIMITED Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2009 NOTES (continued) (All amounts in the notes are shown in thousands of Ghana cedis unless otherwise stated) 25.Financial risk management (continued) The table below shows the maximum exposure to credit risk by class of financial instrument: 2009 Bank balances (excluding cash) Trade and other receivables (excluding prepayments) Total credit risk exposure Liquidity risk The Company has incurred indebtedness but also has significant cash balances. The Company evaluates its ability to meet its obligations on an ongoing basis. Based on these eval uations, the Company devises strategies to manage its liquidity risk. Prudent liquidity risk management implies that sufficient cash is maintained and that sufficient funding is available through an adequate amount of committed credit facilities.The Company has no limitation placed on its borrowing capability. The facilities expiring within one year are subject to renewal at various dates during the next year. The Company had the following unutilised banking facilities as at December 31, 2009: 2009 Expiring within one year 500 2008 500 15,073 2,230 17,303 2008 8,274 2,097 10,371 Cash of the Company is placed in interest bearing current accounts to provide sufficient funding to meet its debt financing plan. At the statement of financial position date cash held on the call account was GH? 5,946 (2008: GH? 3,788). This is expected to readily generate cash inflows for managing liquidity risk.Maturity analysis of financial liabilities The table below analyses the company’s financi al liabilities. All financial liabilities fall due for payment within six months. 2008 2009 Trade and other payables Finance lease liability 14, 272 14,272 9,522 197 9,719 29 FAN MILK LIMITED Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2009 + NOTES (continued) (All amounts in the notes are shown in thousands of Ghana cedis unless otherwise stated) 26. Capital commitments Capital expenditure contracted for at the statement of financial position date but not recognised in the financial statements is as follows: 2008 2009 Property, plant and equipment approved and contracted 27.Capital risk management The primary objectives of the company’s equity capital management are to ensure that the company is able to meet its debts as they fall due, to maximise shareholder value and benefits for other stakeholders and to maintain an optimal capital structure to reduce the cost of capital. No changes were made in the objectives, policies and processes from the previous years. 28. Segment information Management has determined the operating segments based on the reports reviewed by the head of department group that are used to make strategic decisions. The group considers the business from product perspective. The reportable operating segments derive their revenue from the manufacture and distribution of dairy products and fruit drink. Management considers the products to have similar economic characteristics and they have therefore been aggregated into a single operating segment. 593 2,031 30