My structural engineering class Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

My structural engineering class - Essay Example Tall structures conventionally require deep foundations. The foundations can go up to several meters below the ground level. This affects the ground conditions significantly and may disturb the load distribution of smaller structures. In addition to that, exposure of a tall structure to wind loads is significantly reduced when it is surrounded with other tall buildings. This reduces the additional cost of bracing or safety equipment that the constructors otherwise have to provide to an unprotected tall structure. Although the structures in surrounding of the Burj Khalifa Tower are also tall, yet it is the tallest among all. Its height can not be compared to other structures in its surroundings. Tall structures may also be constructed in such regions where other structures are of lesser height in order to add to the beauty and usability of the area. People take pride in tall structures and see them as a symbol of pride. Tall structures become the symbol of area in which they are

Cash Flow Management and Forecasting | Case Study

Cash Flow Management and Forecasting | Case Study Cash flow management Cash flow management is the process of monitoring, analyzing and adjusting business’ cash flows[1]. â€Å"Cash is king† is the often heard business clichà ©, yet it is borne out of reality. It is monitoring of actual cash flows against the cash flow projections for the period, analyzing the reasons for variation and then implementing the necessary actions to manage business financials. Cash flow management is based on cash flow projections which is different than profit and loss account and, in times of cash shortage, may be more important (Oxford, 1997). Importance of preparing a cash flow forecast A cash flow forecast shows the projects in flows and out flows of cash in a business. It is an important tool in cash flow management as it helps to identify the gaps in cash over the projected period. Let’s look at the importance of cash flow forecast for different stakeholders Owner / investor. Cash flow forecast shows the maximum shortfall in cash during the projected period and gives idea about maximum capital funding is required. Banks / lenders. It helps in analysing the credit worthiness of the business and matches it with lenders’ appetite for risk. It also shows whether business will generate sufficient cash over time to meet repayments. Creditors. If business is not in a strong position, creditors like to see cash flow forecast to analyse whether to give stock on credit and under what terms. Cash flow forecast Annexure I shows the cash flow forecast for the year ending 31 Dec 2004. It shows minimum cash balance of  £0 in February 2004 and is based on the following assumptions: Sprint X is a high street sport shop with no sales on debtor accounts. All sales immediately result in cash in flows. The profits generated are small and hence company pays no tax. The projected bank balance on 31st Dec 2004 is  £26,500. This is because Sprint X has yet to make the stock payments of  £12,500 for December 04 as these are due in January 2004 only. Though the minimum balance is  £0 in February 2004, in reality it might be even lower. The intra-month cash position could be even worse because of the following: The above cash flow forecast of  £0 in February 2004 is based on month end. Monthly rent of  £2,500 for March is due on 1st March 2004. So the cash balance on 1st March 2004 could be as low as - £2,500. Payment terms and dates of utility providers and suppliers. Payment dates of bank charges. Advantages of using a spreadsheet for cash flow forecasting Spreadsheet software for personal computers is a powerful tool for cash flow forecasting. Its major advantages are: Arithmetic errors are virtually nonexistent (Horngren, Sundem Stratton, 1998) It is easier to operate and understand than using professional financial packages. Small business owners don’t need to understand financial jargon for building and updating cash flow forecasts. It reduces the tedium of carrying out repetitive calculations. If actual cash flows in a month are different from the projections, it would change the following month end cash flows. Spreadsheet model makes it much easier to update cash flow forecasts. Sensitivity analysis. Spreadsheet cash flow model also makes it more convenient in analysing the impact of variation in different sales and cost elements on the cash flows. Bankruptcy due to cash flow problems Sprint X could go bankrupt if runs out of cash to make payments to its creditors. Creditors can then take force Sprint X into liquidation. Sprint X has to order supplies before it can sell them and once it orders and receives deliveries, it is liable to pay whether or not it is successful in selling them. Based on the cash flow projections in Appendix I, John and Mary expanded the business with  £2,500 additional capital for rent payment on 1St March 2004. Suppose sales in both February and March 2004 are  £5,000 less than the budgeted amount. The cost of goods is 60% of sales on average (based on ratio of annual cost of goods to annual sales). Though the cash receipts are lower in February and March, the benefit of lower cash outflows would be seen in March and April only due to one month lag in credit payments. Appendix II shows the revised cash flow forecast. Sprint X has a negative cash of  £5,000 at the end of February 2004. Even after adding an initial capital inflow of  £2,500, the company is no cash to meet full supplier payments for February and rent on 1st March 2004. Under such scenario, both suppliers and landlord can take the company to liquidators. Even though the company may end year with more cash than initial capital inflow, yet its inability to tide through emergencies may force it into liquidation. Strategies for effectively controlling cash flow problems Regular entry of receipts and payments will keep the cash flow updated and will give owners sufficient time to take care of shortfalls, if any. Analysis of trends will help in taking timely decisions of cost cutting to reduce cash outflows or to plan for higher sales. Owners shouldn’t take out cash from the business based on single month’s net cash flows. The picture may be distorted due to one month delay in higher stock payments. They should look at the year end figures and maximum cash requirements before taking out any earnings. The company should establish a line of credit with a bank which will not only take care of maximum cash requirements but also leave some headroom for any emergencies. Owners should keep business account separate from personal accounts to get clear cash position of the business. Reconcile monthly bank statements for both deposits made and cheques drawn. Use of financial recording system to manage Sprint X’s business finances Sprint X should fortnightly look at the sales trends and plan future expenditure accordingly. Regularly updation of cash flow forecast based on the latest trends will help in planning for any shortfall in funding gap. It should also use financial recording system to keep a tab on inventory to prevent excess inventory build-up. This will prevent unnecessary goods write-off and losses. Trends in fashion change very fast and a good company should keep an eye on what is selling and what is just occupying shelf space and requiring unnecessary working capital. Appendix I – Sprint X’s cash flow forecast Jan-04 Feb-04 Mar-04 Apr-04 May-04 Jun-04 Jul-04 Aug-04 Sep-04 Oct-04 Nov-04 Dec-04 Jan-05 Receipts Invoiced sales 15,000 20,500 35,000 35,000 35,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 0 15,000 20,500 35,000 35,000 35,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 0 Payments Stock (3,000) (17,500) (17,500) (17,500) (12,500) (12,500) (12,500) (12,500) (12,500) (12,500) (12,500) (12,500) (12,500) Telephone (1,000) (1,000) (1,000) (1,000) Electricity (1,500) (500) (500) (500) (500) (500) (500) (500) Rent (2,500) (2,500) (2,500) (2,500) (2,500) (2,500) (2,500) (2,500) (2,500) (2,500) (2,500) (2,500) Wages (2,000) (2,000) (2,000) (2,500) (2,000) (2,000) (2,000) (2,000) (2,000) (2,000) (2,000) (2,000) Bank loan (3,000) (3,000) (3,000) (3,000) (3,000) (3,000) (3,000) (3,000) (3,000) (3,000) (3,000) (3,000) (10,500) (26,000) (26,500) (25,500) (21,000) (20,500) (20,500) (21,500) (20,500) (20,500) (21,500) (20,500) (12,500) Net cash flow 4,500 (5,500) 8,500 9,500 14,000 (500) (500) (1,500) (500) (500) (1,500) (500) (12,500) Opening bank balance 1,000 5,500 0 8,500 18,000 32,000 31,500 31,000 29,500 29,000 28,500 27,000 26,500 Closing bank balance 5,500 0 8,500 18,000 32,000 31,500 31,000 29,500 29,000 28,500 27,000 26,500 14,000 Appendix II – Sprint X’s cash flow forecast with reduced Feb and Mar sales Jan-04 Feb-04 Mar-04 Apr-04 May-04 Jun-04 Jul-04 Aug-04 Sep-04 Oct-04 Nov-04 Dec-04 Jan-05 Receipts Invoiced sales 15,000 15,500 30,000 35,000 35,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 0 15,000 15,500 30,000 35,000 35,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 0 Payments Stock (3,000) (17,500) (14,500) (14,500) (12,500) (12,500) (12,500) (12,500) (12,500) (12,500) (12,500) (12,500) (12,500) Telephone (1,000) (1,000) (1,000) (1,000) Electricity (1,500) (500) (500) (500) (500) (500) (500) (500) Rent (2,500) (2,500) (2,500) (2,500) (2,500) (2,500) (2,500) (2,500) (2,500) (2,500) (2,500) (2,500) Wages (2,000) (2,000) (2,000) (2,500) (2,000) (2,000) (2,000) (2,000) (2,000) (2,000) (2,000) (2,000) Bank loan (3,000) (3,000) (3,000) (3,000) (3,000) (3,000) (3,000) (3,000) (3,000) (3,000) (3,000) (3,000) (10,500) (26,000) (23,500) (22,500) (21,000) (20,500) (20,500) (21,500) (20,500) (20,500) (21,500) (20,500) (12,500) Net cash flow 4,500 (10,500) 6,500 12,500 14,000 (500) (500) (1,500) (500) (500) (1,500) (500) (12,500) Opening bank balance 1,000 5,500 (5,000) 1,500 14,000 28,000 27,500 27,000 25,500 25,000 24,500 23,000 22,500 Closing bank balance 5,500 (5,000) 1,500 14,000 28,000 27,500 27,000 25,500 25,000 24,500 23,000 22,500 10,000 Bibliography Horngren, C.T., Sundem, G.L. Stratton, W.O.; â€Å"Introduction to management accounting†, Eleventh Edition, Prentice Hall International, Inc., 1998 Oxford (1997); â€Å"Dictionary of Finance and Banking†, Oxford University Press, Second Edition, 1997. [1] http://sbinfocanada.about.com/cs/management/g/cashflowmgt.htm

My Antonia Essay: Weak Structure and Powerful Drama :: My Antonia Essays

Weak Structure and Powerful Drama in My Antonia Much of the earliest criticism of My Antonia focuses on the apparent failure of the narrative. Many critics take the title of the story and its introduction at face value. When the story says it is to be about à ntonia, it must be about her! Therefore, many critics see the stunningly crafted pieces of "variation from a theme" -- the stories of Peter & Pavel (the Russians and their wolves) and the sections of the novel dealing with the hired girls Lena Lingard and others-- as divergences which weaken the overall structure of the novel. In other words, these stories distract us from the real story, that of à ntonia and her relationship with Jim. Other critics talk mostly about the landscape of Cather's stories, the way the pioneer story and the struggle with nature is a vital piece of her work. This is partly why, I think, Cather has been viewed as a minor writer of "local color" for so long. Because she sketches her landscapes with such simplicity and yet detail, many critics do n ot look past the landscape to see the characters and the true drama that they play out.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  An example of a critique which accepts the critical opinion that the novel is "defective in structure" is James E. Miller's 1958 essay "My à ntonia: A Frontier Drama of Time." I group his essay here because he spends the bulk of the essay arguing that the defect of structure is overcome when we look at the cyclical nature of time in the novel as its unifying theme. This article does seem to be one of the first ones that looks to disprove the "failure" of Cather's narration. Of course, by disproving this argument, Miller is still working within the context of failure/success which I don't think other writers (read male authors) are judged by.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Miller begins his argument by pointing out that many critics "have felt the unified emotional impact of My à ntonia and have grappled with the puzzling problem of the book's actual lack of consistent central action or unbroken character portrayal" (Miller 52). Miller argues that there seems to be no consistent character portrayal, "The action in My à ntonia is episodic, lacks focus and abounds in irrelevancies"(Miller 52). But Miller believes that there is a consistency within the novel, that of the evocation of feelings which the reader has. My Antonia Essay: Weak Structure and Powerful Drama :: My Antonia Essays Weak Structure and Powerful Drama in My Antonia Much of the earliest criticism of My Antonia focuses on the apparent failure of the narrative. Many critics take the title of the story and its introduction at face value. When the story says it is to be about à ntonia, it must be about her! Therefore, many critics see the stunningly crafted pieces of "variation from a theme" -- the stories of Peter & Pavel (the Russians and their wolves) and the sections of the novel dealing with the hired girls Lena Lingard and others-- as divergences which weaken the overall structure of the novel. In other words, these stories distract us from the real story, that of à ntonia and her relationship with Jim. Other critics talk mostly about the landscape of Cather's stories, the way the pioneer story and the struggle with nature is a vital piece of her work. This is partly why, I think, Cather has been viewed as a minor writer of "local color" for so long. Because she sketches her landscapes with such simplicity and yet detail, many critics do n ot look past the landscape to see the characters and the true drama that they play out.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  An example of a critique which accepts the critical opinion that the novel is "defective in structure" is James E. Miller's 1958 essay "My à ntonia: A Frontier Drama of Time." I group his essay here because he spends the bulk of the essay arguing that the defect of structure is overcome when we look at the cyclical nature of time in the novel as its unifying theme. This article does seem to be one of the first ones that looks to disprove the "failure" of Cather's narration. Of course, by disproving this argument, Miller is still working within the context of failure/success which I don't think other writers (read male authors) are judged by.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Miller begins his argument by pointing out that many critics "have felt the unified emotional impact of My à ntonia and have grappled with the puzzling problem of the book's actual lack of consistent central action or unbroken character portrayal" (Miller 52). Miller argues that there seems to be no consistent character portrayal, "The action in My à ntonia is episodic, lacks focus and abounds in irrelevancies"(Miller 52). But Miller believes that there is a consistency within the novel, that of the evocation of feelings which the reader has.

Fast food restaurant Essay

The fast food industry has been growing dramatically during the last few years. For this reason, we should try to find out what are the several factors why fast food consumption keeps growing among young people. Therefore, as we have seen, the popularity of fast food is spreading rapidly among many people due to the following three main reasons: good taste, convenient time, and price. â€Å"Over the last three decades, fast food has infiltrated every nook and cranny of American society,† writes Eric Schlosser in Fast Food Nation. In the beginning, the fast food restaurant started with a cafeteria-style restaurant known as the â€Å"Automat† in New York on July 7, 1912. Then, in 1921, White Castle restaurants were started in Wichita, Kansas, selling hamburgers for five cents. By 1948, McDonalds was opened by two brothers from Nashua, New Hampshire, who developed the concept of selling hamburgers, French fries, shakes, coffee, and coca cola in disposable wrappings. So from its humble beginnings, the fast food industry has become an undeniable factor in our society. Certainly, with our ever increasing and busy society, eating at fast food restaurants has become the norm. Families that have busy schedules, such as taking their kids to various activities, attending church functions, and late meetings rely heavily on fast food as a meal choice. For example, about one-quarter of adults and a third of children eat at fast food restaurants on any given day. According to the American Journal of Public Health, consumers have spent $16. 1 billion in 1975 to $153. 1 billion in 2004 on fast food. People are generally drawn to good tasting food. With fast food, it couldn’t of ever tasted any better. No matter how unhealthy it is, we cannot deny that we have a love affair with the value meals, the fast service, home delivery and of course the drive-through. We no longer feel the need to slave away in the kitchen; we can just save so much time by satisfying ourselves with a relatively cheap McDonalds meal. It is ironic that in order to achieve the ever-increasing financial goals that we set for ourselves needed to feed our individual families, we must restrict ourselves from high quality food, the very diet that defines success, in favor of food that can be seen as more cost effective, and fast food fits the part perfectly. Moreover, the fast food industry has created many job opportunities for people who in normal circumstances would find work difficult to come by. Many young college students take on the challenge of working in a Burger King or Taco Bell kitchen in interest of supporting themselves financially. There are a countless number of students who decide to apply for jobs in the fast food industry to help them pay off their tuition. Working in the fast food industry can also be viewed as a potential transitional job for certain individuals. For in the present economy, many people have now found themselves jobless, while working in a fast food chain might not be desirable to them in comparison to their former jobs, it could be seen as a perfect temporary replacement while one searches for a new equally lucrative long term job. Some individuals go for fast food as they consider it to be a treat for themselves. There are many people who like fun and one of the best places that they can always get that is at the fast food restaurants. A part from just eating, they also find the places as socializing venues where they can make many friends. The fast food restaurants also offer a lot of entertainment zones that make their clients comfortable as they enjoy their meals; this is one factor that will make many people to prefer going there as opposed to cooking food for themselves at their homes. People also love fast food because there are so many of them next to their work place, their homes, on the side of the road or in any petrol station. That’s an important point to many people, because when they feel like having a fast food meal, they don’t waste a lot of time searching for a restaurant to eat from. They just find the restaurant near the place they are in. We cannot deny the world has undergone a â€Å"fast food revolution† over the past few years, and I believe there is good reason for the immense popularity of this â€Å"fast food culture† we are presently living in. It maybe greasy and unhealthy, but it is ultimately cheaper than home cooking and its convenience to the incredibly busy urban lifestyle is too significant to ignore. Fast food should be viewed as a positive aspect of our society as a result of the advantages it presents to us in our hectic lives, but we should not abuse it. In the words of actress Mae West: â€Å"Too much of a good thing can be wonderful†, however in this case it is quite the contrary.

Financial Difficulties

Finance is a huge part of our life that everybody hope to be in good financial state. However, today, more than ever before, people are struggling with financial problems. According to a research conducted by AC Nielsen and ANZ in 2005, people often display six ways of thinking considered â€Å"unhealthy† that putting people under financial pressure including ‘living for today’, ‘financial disengagement’, ‘aspirational’, ‘emotional enhancement’, ‘ownership of credit’, and ‘credit as supplementary income†.Firstly, the prominent idea is â€Å"living for today†. It means that people just think and spend for their present lives, and do not pay much attention for their future. This way of thinking has a close connection with the â€Å" youthfulness† or the current young generation as they suppose the most important thing to fulfill the emotional life. They often to hang out for shopping or ha ving party with their friends as there are some who think they might die tomorrow. That why they have to enjoy; and live like that day is the last day of their life.While the youth strongly represent this unhealthy thinking, family is also found in this group. For example, a mother with a low income level might think her family is never to become rich; therefore, she must enjoy the moment. One more reason, some fluctuated income people are going to spend more today as they might receive more money in the near future. Unfortunately, they might never think of being in unexpected circumstances. Take illness or the death of the family member as an example. It is likely that they are unable to handle this situation.In fact, this way of thinking definitely triggers negative effects on people’s lives in the long run; hence, people must learn the way to draw out financial plan carefully to be always in safe. Secondly, ‘financial disengagement’. Who are mentioned themselv es are not kind of â€Å"financial minded† and don’t care much about their spending. They are seen as unorganized or easy going people. Similarly to â€Å" living for today† thinking, they put financial issue at the bottom of their perceived value and living for emotional and spirit fulfillment.There are some who have a good job with middle-high salary, they don’t think they need to worry as they can afford to pay their debts soon. They never thought of being in emergency such as they might lose their job or in case they get divorced. I myself experienced a hard time at my first year at my university living far away from my family. Lacking financial management skill, I just spent and bought everything I like without thinking about, managing, and tracking my expenses. As a result, I went out of money soon and cannot afford to necessary things after that. 3. aspirational’: – spending to â€Å"keep up with the Johnes’ meaning a person i s easily want to have the things that others have. He/she is likely to be influenced by others or environment. For eg: A Single Mother, Sally, lived in Rural for a long time, after that she move to the town near her daughter’s school.She start to wanting and needing more material things to fulfill her large house. Then she gradually buy more items. Consequences: they might buy the things that they do not really need. The ‘aspirational’ way of thinking is where people had a particular aspiration that strongly influenced their xpenditure. The unhealthy spectrum of this way of thinking was where this dominated, to an extent that it translated into over-spending and/or over-commitment. Common colloquialisms that people used to describe this way of thinking included ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ and ‘champagne taste on a beer budget’. 4. emotional enhancement’: described themselves as ‘impulsive’, closely related to mood s tate. there appeared to be a trend of using ‘material goods’ to manage emotions, especially negative thoughts. Eg: a single mother â€Å" I think a lot of it had to do with depression.I’m being treated for my depression with antidepressants and I feel so much better now†. Consequences: our spending might exceed our financial ability. In that case, buying are not help to feel better but put us to another worries related to finance. 5. ‘ownership of credit’: – over time an attitude of ‘it’s my money’. They fail to differentiate their money and the thing they perceive as a debt to a lender. ‘You get a false idea of your financial situation†¦ Because you are feeling like it’s your money and in actuality you are using it before you actually pay it. ’ Single Mother, 5 Children. 6. Credit as a supplement income way of thinking: