Chinese tea art from the Tang dynasty until recent times Essay

Chinese tea art from the Tang dynasty until recent times - Essay Example The essay "Chinese tea art from the Tang dynasty until recent times" discovers The development of Chinese tea art from the Tang dynasty until recent times in China or overseas. In China, tea came to be developed in a very funny manner. It started from the initial perception that the forefathers had about tea. Their understanding about tea was very different from the way that it is understood today. This perception originated from the agricultural god who was also known as Shannon. He was the inventor of Chinese medicine. He is also the foundation upon which the five cereals were discovered as well as the variety of herbals that are able to cure a broad range of human diseases. This god was able to do this through the engagement in tasting the varied range of herbal substances in order to master the different characteristics of the herbal medicines. As a result, he was poisoned more than seventy times on every day. However, he was able to be detoxified through the accidental eating of tea leaves. The different ways with which tea was taken were closely related to the way through which it was discovered. Tea leaves were later developed into a famous beverage subsequent to the long application process. This was during the period within which it was used as a food, medicine as well as a sacrificial offering. The Tang Dynasty is a very important period in the history of China due to its function in the expansion of the feudal society in China. This provided social conditions that were excellent for making tea.

Financial market Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Financial market - Essay Example In many economic set-ups or regional corporations that have a central bank, the main task of the bank is to ensure that each member’s rate has a considerable level of stability in the pricing of basic commodities by reducing interest rates. Other tasks include the ability of the central bank to act as a central reserve for the currency of the jurisdiction or country and to produce the legal tender used by the same country. Central banks perform several functions. They provide settlement services to large-value payments, act as lenders for the last resort, play a role to oversee banks for the sake of financial stability and monetary policy implementation. These jobs and their operations mode have repeatedly been redefined in order to decide on one specific financial and monetary crisis. In fact, all main stages in central bank functions shaping have been responses to financial and monetary crises. The Composition interpretation and the analysis of these crises are necessary to understand the functions that central banks need to implement and incarnate for a monetary economy to flourish. The origin of central banks as bankers’ banks was in 19th century England. Two conflicting theoretical conceptions of money, the banking principle and the currency principle, implied totally different roles of central banks. The central banks function is to put into effect convertibility of its bills into gold and to be flexible. Such flexibility is more consistent with the principle of banking, whereby money is a debt that financial intermediaries issue as the counterpart to their credit operations. Thus, it is the way of payments of debts issued by competing banks, payment between banks call for a superior bank to settle interbank transactions. This is mainly the role of the money given out by the central bank, money that is designed as legal tender for all debts. Nevertheless, the law cannot impose the trust of the economic agents in central bank money. It is

Financial Statement Analysis Of Marks And Spencers

Financial Statement Analysis Of Marks And Spencers This report will analyze Marks and Spencers financial statements for 2008 and 2009 using ratio analysis. Findings show that Marks and Spencer have not had a very good profitable year in comparison with 2008. The purpose of this report is to analyze the figures and to point out some of the reasons for the deprived performance. Table of Contents Aim of report 1 Ratio Analysis 1 Profitability ratios 1 Liquidity ratio 2 Performance ratio 3 Evaluation on profitability 5 Evaluation of the liquidity position 6 Information provided for the user groups 7 Conclusion 11 Recommendations 12 Bibliography 13 Evaluation of the assignment 14 Aim of Report This report will analyze Marks and Spencers financial statements for 2008 and 2009 using ratio analysis, explanations will be given on why the changes have occurred in the companies profitability, liquidity and what impact the changes have caused on the company. The companies annual report will be examined from the point of view of each set of its potential users. Ratio analysis An accounting ratio as suggested by Melville (1999) is the evaluation of a relationship which exists between two figures shown in a set of financial statements. In the following report mainly the profitability, liquidity and performance ratio will be discussed. Profitability Ratios The profitability ratios are used to evaluate whether the business was able to produce an acceptable level of profit. Gross profit % ratio This ratio shows the gross profit in comparison to sales. The higher the ratio percentage the better it is for the company. Gross profit/ sales x 100 2008 ( £M) 2009 ( £M)  £1,211.3/ £9,022.0100 =13.43%  £870.7/ £9,062.1100 =9.61% The gross profit margin has decreased from 2008 to 2009 by 3.82%. Pretax profit % ratio This ratio shows the net profit before tax in comparison to sales. The higher the ratio percentage the better it is for the company. Profit before taxation/ sales x 100 2008 ( £M) 2009 ( £M)  £1,129.1/ £9,022.0100 =12.51%  £706.2/ £9,062.1100 =7.79% The net profit before tax margin has decreased from 2008 to 2009 by 4.72%. After tax profit % ratio This ratio shows the net profit after tax in comparison to sales. The higher the ratio percentage the better it is for the company. Profit after tax/ sales x 100 2008 ( £M) 2009 ( £M)  £821.0/ £9,022.0100 =9.10%  £506.8/ £9,062.1100 =5.59% The net profit after tax margin has decreased from 2008 to 2009 by 3.51%. Liquidity ratios The liquidity ratios are an assessment so as to ensure whether the business is able to pay of its debts as they fall due. Current ratio This ratio shows how well the company can meet its short-term financial obligations from its current assets. Usually the optimum result is 1:1 or more, but this will vary with each company. Current assets/current liabilities 2008 ( £M) 2009 ( £M)  £1,181.7/ £1,988.9=0.594:1  £1,389.8/ £2,306.9=0.602:1 The current ratio has increased from 2008 to 2009 by 0.008. Quick ratio This ratio shows how well the company can meet its short-term financial obligations from its current assets, removing stock from the calculation. The ratio removes stock because it is the least liquid current asset. Usually the optimum result is 1:1 or more, but this will vary with each company. Quick Ratio = (Current assets- inventory)/current liabilities 2008 ( £M) 2009 ( £M) ( £1,181.7  £488.9)/  £1,988.9=0.348:1 ( £1,389.8  £536.0)/  £2,306.9=0.370:1 The quick ratio has increased from 2008 to 2009 by 0.022. Gearing ratio This ratio shows how much of the companys long-term funds are supported by lenders. Below 50% is seen as low geared and good. Above 50% is seen as a cause of concern. Gearing ratio = Total borrowings / equity * 100 2008 ( £M) 2009 ( £M)  £2815.1/ £1964.0 * 100 =143%  £3060.7/ £2,100.6 * 100 =146% The gearing ratio has increased from 143% to 146%. Debt ratio (Ward, 2010) This ratio shows how much the company is in debt. Usually the optimum result is 1:1 or less, but this will vary with each company. Debt ratio = Total liabilities / total assets 2008 ( £M) 2009 ( £M)  £5,197.0/ £7,161.0=0.726:1  £5,157.5/ £7,258.1=0.711:1 The debt ratio has decreased from 2008 to 2009 by 0.015. Performance Ratio This ratio helps in calculating the efficiency in the operation of the business through effective utilisation of its resources. After Tax Profit as % of Noncurrent Assets This ratio helps as to analyze the percentage of profit the business has made by utilising its noncurrent assets. After Tax Profit as % of Noncurrent Assets = Profit after tax / Noncurrent Assets 2009 ( £M) 2008 ( £M)  £506.8 /  £5868.3 = 8.63%  £821.0 /  £5979.3 = 13.73% From this ratio it is clear that M and S was not able to make much profit in 2009 as compared to 2008. In 2008 M and S was able to produce a profit of 13.73% by the utilization of its fixed assets but by reaching 2009 the profit made has decreased to 8.63% thus there was a decline in the profit by 5.1%. After Tax Profit as a % of shareholders Fund This ratio helps to analyze the amount of profit which the business was able to generate from the utilization of the shareholders fund. After Tax Profit as a % of shareholders Fund = Profit after tax / Total Equity 2009 ( £M) 2008 ( £M)  £506.8 / £ 2100.6 = 24.10%  £821.0 /  £1964.0 = 41.8% From the ratio it is again clear that the utilization of the shareholders fund so as to generate profit has also decreased in 2009 by 17.7%, i.e., in 2008 M and S was able to generate a profit of 41.8% which has reduced to 24.10% in 2009. Even though the company was not able to generate adequate profit from the shareholders fund, the company was able to increase the dividend of the shareholders from 20.3p to 22.5p (Pg: 78). Earnings per Share As suggested by McLaney and Atrill (1999), earnings per share is the amount of profit that has been earned from each ordinary share. 2009 ( £M) 2008 ( £M) 32.3 (Pg: 78) 49.2 (Pg: 78) From the figures listed above it is clear that the shares for 2009 where only providing an earning of 32.3p as compared to last year which was 49.2p thereby creating a difference of 16.9p. Dividend per Share As suggested by Melville (1999), dividend per share is the amount of dividend allotted for each share for the stock held by the shareholder. 2009 ( £M) 2008 ( £M) 22.5p (Pg: 90) 20.3p (Pg: 90) Even though the earnings per share and the after tax profit as a percentage of shareholders fund where all less M and S was able to provide a decent standard of dividend 22.5p to its shareholders as compared to 2008 which was only 20.3p. This shows that M and S are taking proper steps so as to keep their shareholders happy. Return on Capital Employed As suggested by Weaver and Lunt (2003), this ratio helps those who have invested in the business to analyze the amount of profit the business is making from the utilization of this capital. Return on capital employed = Profit after Tax/ (Total Assets Current Liabilities) * 100 2009 ( £M) 2008 ( £M) [ £506.8 / ( £7258.1  £2306.9)] * 100 [ £821 / ( £7161-  £1988.9)] * 100 = 10.24% =15.87% From this ratio it is obvious that M and S was not able to utilize its capital to the maximum level. In 2008 the company was able to provide a return on capital of 15.87% which reduced to 10.24% as it reached 2009. Evaluation of the profitability of Marks and Spencers Examining the results from the ratio results show each ratio has decreased in 2009 in comparison with 2008. The reasons behind the gross profit ratio decreasing were because the gross profit had decreased by  £340.6m in 2009 (p78). The gross profit had decreased because of the increase of the cost of sales by  £155m (p87). The increase in cost of sales maybe due to the increase in purchases over the year as MS increased their buying by 10 times a year (p28). The reasons behind the pretax profit ratio decreasing were because the pretax profit had decreased by  £422.9m in 2009 (p78). The pretax profit had decreased because of the increase in finance costs by  £67.9m (p78). The increase in the finance costs is due to the increase in interest payable and the increase in the unwinding on the discount of partnership liability to the MS UK pension scheme (p89). The reasons behind the after tax profit ratio decreasing were because the after tax profit had decreased by  £314.2m in 2009 (p78). The after tax profit had decreased because of the exceptional costs being stated (p78). The exceptional costs have occurred were not regular running costs and were due to property related costs, rationalisation of IT and logistic networks and redundancy costs (p88). Income tax was not a problem has it had decreased in 2009 (p78). Internal factors which had an impact on the profitability of MS were: Despite the economic recession sales revenue figures had gone up from the previous year (p78), giving a positive impact on the profitability. The finance costs of interest payable had increased to the previous year (p89), giving a negative impact on profitability. Exceptional costs and the exceptional pension credit during 2009 gave a negative impact on the profitability, as the Group had decided to make changes to the pension scheme (p88). Selling and marketing expenses had been decreased in 2009 (p87) to keep up with a tight budget (p14), this gave a positive impact on the profitability. Income tax paid this year was less compared to last year (p78), but as this was due to a lower pretax profit (p78), it still played a positive impact on the profitability. Finance income had decreased in comparison to 2008 (p78), this was due to the exceptional costs of  £135.9m and the decrease in franchised stores (p86). Profit before property disposals and exceptional items had decreased over the year (p78) and this created a negative impact on the profitability. External factors which had an impact on the profitability of MS were: The economic recession which MS along with other high street retailers had to face (p14), impacted the profitability of MS. Customers were not spending as freely as they would normally, resulting in lower sales figures in some areas and therefore lower profit levels. The pace of growth of MS and its services was slow due to the recession (p5). Due to the recession costs had to be lowered to lure customers (p14) this in result had a negative result on the profitability. The sterling currency rate had decreased in 2009 compared to 2008 (p104). Therefore any foreign business would have been affected by this change, resulting in a negative impact on the profitability. Evaluation of the liquidity position of Marks and Spencers Liquidity ratios are used to show the ability of the company to turn its assets into cash as quickly as possible and to measure the ability of the company to pay of its short-term debts and expenses within the expected time. One of the two main liquidity ratios are Current ratio and Quick ratio. It is always good to have a high liquidity ratio as it show the ability of the business to pay of its debt within the expected time. However if these ratios are too high this means that the business is having too much of current assets which are not used nor utilized as efficiently as required in order to deal with the day to day activities. Retail sector of M and S involves purchasing goods and trading cash on credit from its suppliers and for this reason cash flow statements are included. A cash flow statement is used in order to show the cash inflows and outflows of the business thereby providing a better liquidity assessment for M and S. This in fact helps outsiders to analyze the whether M and S is able to generate adequate cash from its day to day operations. The closing net cash has increased to a great extend from  £117.9m in 2008 to  £298.3m in 2009. Even though during these recession period M and S was able to show a good closing cash figure this in fact shows their ability to manage cash. Decrease in net cash outflow from operating activities from  £966.2m in 2008 to  £596.9m in 2009. (p80) This cash generated from the operating activities enabled them to spent on financial activities. Increase in net cash inflow from operation activities from  £1069.8m in 2008 to  £1290.6m in 2009. (p80) The main reason for such a good cash flow in 2009 as compared to 2008 is because of the cost reduction where ever possible(p1). By analyzing the liquidity ratios of M and S the following findings were found out: The current ratio of M and S operating in retail sector was 0.59: 1 in 2008 and 0.60:1 in 2009. This shows that M and S had 59p in current assets so as to pay of every  £1 worth of current liabilities in 2008 and 60p of current assets so as to pay of every  £1 current liability in 2009 The quick ratio in fact showed that the company had 37p worth of current assets to pay off every  £1 worth of current liability after deducting closing stock for 2009 and 35p for 2008. This in fact shows that the firm is under liquidity due to the fact that the company has fewer assets than liabilities. As already explained above the debt ratio shows how much the company is in liability over its assets. By looking at debt ratio for M and S it has decreased from 0.73:1 in 2008 to 71:1 in 2009 which is good as it suggests that the company was able to pay of its debts within the due date. The gearing ratio in fact measures the proportion of M and Ss long term funds provided by the lenders. By comparing the gearing ratio in 2009 which was 146% to the gearing ratio in 2008 which was 143%, it shows that M and S was able to increase their credit worthiness. Thus by increasing their credit worthiness they are able to gain further loans in ease. Information provided in the report for its users (Nyarko, 2009) Employees Employees provide labor for the company; they need financial information to ensure they have a secure job and are being made correctly. The report has the following information useful for employees: Closure of 26 mostly Simply food stores (p6) Reduce roles across head office by 15% (p15) Cap level of pay increase (p6) Early retirement reductions given (p6) Legal and safety performance improved from 80% to 92% (p14) Opened 75 stores (p15) Plan to open 10-15 stores within two years in the Indian subcontinent (p39) Introduced new development programs tailor made for growing tomorrows leaders (p46) Reinforced lines of communication between management and colleagues at every level (p46) One of the lowest UK turnover rates (p46) Training given across each field (p44) Communication improved using tools like In store listening groups (p47) 44 employees celebrated 40 years working for MS (p47) 40,000 great service awards for staff who have excelled in their role (p47) Over 3,500 elected employee representatives from every part of the business in the MS business involvement groups (BIG) (p47) Decrease of 83.3% on bonuses (p48) Pay for performance to be central for decisions (p62) Employees with disabilities given a full and fair consideration for all vacancies (p75) Increase in wage and salary cost by  £48m (p91) Shareholders Shareholders provide equity for the company; they need financial information to make economic decisions. The report has the following information useful for shareholders: Dividends cut by 20.9% (p1) Adjusted profits down 40% (p2) Largest clothes market share (p2) Clothes value market share decreased by 0.3% (p2) M S direct sales up 19.0% (p19) International growth up by 25.9% (p38) Growth by 15% of the Italian range in the food sector (p7) Kids wear increased market share by 0.6%pts and putting MS fourth in the market (p8) Earnings per share 28.0p down by 35.8% (p14) UK gross margin down 1.7% pts (p14) UK market share clothing and footwear down by 0.5% (p18) Carbon emission down by 18% (p19) Reduction in dividends payout by 33.3% (p49) After tax profit down by 314.2m (p78) Increase in retained earnings by  £20.2m (p79) Management The management is the executive and non executive directors of the company, they need financial information to determine if the company is making good progress or not and to make claims for performance related bonus issues. The report has the following information useful for management: Adjusted group profit before tax down by 40% (p2) 39 out of 100 rigorous commitments as part of plan A achieved (p9) New and old members in management team (p10) Group revenue up by 0.4% (p14) Group capital expenditure down by 38.2% (p15) UK sales down by 1.7% (p14) Operating cost up by 4.9% (p14) Adjusted operating profit down by 29.4% (p14) Profit before tax down by 40.0% (p14) 80% of portfolio into modernized format (p15) UK footfall down from  £21.8m to  £21.6m (p18) UKs fourth largest coffee shop chain (p25) Womens wear value market share down by 0.6%pts (p26) Womens wear volume market share down by 0.8%pts (p26) Lingerie value market share up by 0.4%pts (p29) Lingerie volume market share up by 1.2%pts (p29) Menswear value market share down by 0.4%pts (p30) Menswear volume marker share down by 0.2%pts (p30) Kids wear value market share up by 0.6%pts (p31) Kids wear volume market share up by 0.7%pts (p31) Food value market share down by 0.4%pts (p32) UK home sales up by 1.1% (p35) Customers Customers are those who buy from the company, they need financial information to compare financial information and product quality with other companies. The report has the following information useful for customers: New products and services introduced (p1) Building international portfolio (p1) Improve value without compromising quality (p57) Enticed an additional 200,000 under 35s into store for womens wear (p3) Four menswear brands ranging from  £4 to  £499 (p4) New promotions introduced e.g. dress for less (p6) Marketing cost 8.6% lower (p15) Opened 75 stores (p15) Womens wear and menswear divided up into different brands aimed at different customers (p26-30) Style magazines best shop for lingerie 2008 (p29) Top quality food by watchdog survey (p32) Added new products and ranges to home products (p35) Best new skincare product award (p35) Food to order catering service launched (p36) Remodeled 24 stores (p40) Leeds and Liverpool stores modernized upcoming year (p40) Reduced food carrier bag use by 83% (p43) Meet over 67% of the FSAs salt targets for 2010 (p44) The board supported by different committees to help its governance accountabilities (p50) MS core focus on quality, value, service, innovation and trust (p32-34) Suppliers Suppliers are those who sell to the company, they need financial information to check for credit worthiness of the company against others. The report has the following information useful for suppliers: Net debt down to  £2.5bn from  £3.1bn (p16) Increased buying from suppliers to 10 times a year (p28) Trained 1000 suppliers on ethical standards (p34) 2008 compassion in world farming compassionate supermarket of the year award (p34) Paying farmers a fixed and industry leading price for their milk (p34) Engaged in profitable partnerships (p51) Increase in cash flow levels by  £180.4m (p80) Improved net debt by  £586.9m (p80) Increase in current liabilities of trade by  £96.9m (p79) Continue as going concern (p76) Banks and other lenders Usually banks (or other lenders) provide financial help to businesses by providing money. The main concern of these banks and lenders when deciding to provide money to a business is to make sure the business is capable to keep up interest payments during the course of the loan and eventually repay the loan at the due date. Thus the banks require this financial information so as to analyze the financial position and prospects of the business in order to provide them their loans. The bankers and other lenders require the following information from the report: M and S creditors payment policies. (p75) The profit which has decreased by  £314.2m by comparing 2008 an 2009. This might increase the pressure among the lenders to make the company to return their money. (p78) Decreased noncurrent assets by  £111m, so as to seize the assets in case of non return of the loans. (p79) Current assets and Current liability which have both increased by  £208.1m and  £318m respectively. This would enable the lenders and banks to determine liquidity position of the company. (p79) Consolidated cash flow information, repayment of syndicate banks which has reduced to  £108.1m in 2009. This shows the company was able to deal in 2009 with fewer loans. (p80) The Governments The main reason for the governments to use the financial information of the company is to ensure whether the business is keeping up with their tax payments. The other reasons are to regulate the business and to provide national economic statistics. They are also responsible for preventing the business from any fraudulent acts. The report has the following information important for the government. External auditors report (p77) this enables the government to look at the fairness in the operation of M and S. Deferred tax decreased from  £372.1m to  £225.5m.(p79) Tax Authorities The taxation authorities are responsible for calculating the taxation liability from the accounting report provided by the company. Competitors Competitors may use the accounting information provided by their rivals so as to find ways to improve their own financial position. Due to this reason, usually businesses are keen in keeping their accounting information as private as possible. The General Public The businesses which are big and powerful are of interest to the general public. They usually require the policies of the organization so as to know how these policies would impact the community. The public would also want to know whether the business is running in profit or not. The general public would use the accounting information for the following reasons: Old people would like to know about the pension schemes. (p102) Whether the business operations are affecting climate change. (42) Conclusion Concluding the report the findings show Marks and Spencer have not had very good profitable year in comparison with 2008, with a deduction of after tax profit by 3.51%. This is vastly due to the economic recession which has been an external negative factor for all the High Street shops. Another reason for the deduction in profit levels was due to exceptional costs which incurred during the year. However MS have managed to increase their sales by  £40.1M by investing in their costs. They were able to gain growth in certain market sectors and make 80% of its portfolio into a modernized format. MS achieved several awards for their products and the services they provided during the year, which improved their brand image. MS were able to achieve 39 out of 100 of its commitments made to Plan A, which is a long term project to create an eco-friendly business. Examples of these are the reduction of carbon emissions by 18% and reducing food carrier bag usage by 83%.While MS closed down 26 u nderperforming stores, they managed to open 75 new stores. MS has one of UKs lowest turnover rates, as they were able to celebrate 40 years of working for MS by 44 of its employees. The employees wage and salary costs had been raised by  £48M in comparison with 2008, this shows MS was employing more people and paying their employees fairly. Although there had been a dividends cut of 20.9%, there had been an increase of retained earnings by  £20.2M; this maybe to due to MS retaining income for a rainy day, in the present times of the economic recession, or for further future investment. Recommendations To improve Marks and Spencers overall performance and to create a sustainable going concern business, it should: Continue to treat its employees well and award them for their performance to avoid losing any trained staff and maintain its good employer record. Increase its costs on selling and marketing to make customers aware of new products and services MS has to offer. This is return should compensate for the decrease in this years market share decreases. Research past data along with any future investment plans, to try to predict any exceptional costs which may occur. These can then be prepared for so the profit levels are not damaged to vastly. Continue to create innovative products and services which help to win awards for MS, as they will improve the brand image of the company as well as generate more sales. Think of ways to compensate the losses the shareholders have incurred this say year otherwise they may decide to sell them back. Continue to achieve more of Plan A commitments to try to help the society MS operates in, this in return will also create a stronger brand image for the company. Continue to improve on their cash flow levels, so they always have enough to counter any recession associated problems and do not run into liquidation. Look for niches in each of the market sectors by carrying out market research and create products and services in tune with the market needs, to attract more customers, generate more sales and improve the companys overall profit levels.

mardi gras :: essays research papers fc

Mardi Gras, literally â€Å"Fat Tuesday,† has grown in popularity in recent years as a raucous’ sometimes hedonistic event. Buts its roots lie in the Christian calendar, as the â€Å"last hurrah† before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. That is why the enormous ends abruptly at midnight on Tuesday. There are well-known season-long Carnival celebrations in Europe and Latin America, including Nice, France; Cologne, Germany; and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The best known celebration in the United States is in New Orleans and the French-Catholic communities of the Gulf Coast. Another popular site for the celebration of Mardi Gras is Galveston, Texas. Mardi Gras has become a major influence to the people and the economy of Galveston. With its great history and deep economic impact Mardi Gras is beneficial to both the community and visitors to the Island.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first celebration took place in 1867, when a dramatic entertainment and masked ball took place in t he old Turner Hall. The dramatic entertainment was a scene from â€Å"‘King Henry IV,’ featuring Alvan Reed (a justice of the peace weighing in at 350 pounds!) as Falstaff† (Mardi Gras!). The first time Mardi Gras was celebrated to any great extent was in 1871, when there were two night parades by separate organizations, one known as the Knights of Momus and the other as the Knights of Myth, both of which devised masked ball, exquisite costumes. In the years that followed, the parades and balls grew more elaborate and attracting attention throughout the state. After the hurricane of 1900 the events were discontinued for several years. The celebrations were gradually revived, but not on an extensive scale. It was not until 1914 that a group called the â€Å"Kotton Karnival Kids† staged parades for both Mardi Gras and the Galveston Cotton Carnival. â€Å" The 1917 masked ball took on added glamour with the first official appearance of King Frivolous and his court,...†(Mardi Gras!). The king was given the key to the city. With the outbreak of World War I, Mardi Gras was confined to small single day festivities. Shortly after the war the celebration a new revival. It was not until the threat war once again placed the celebration on hold. â€Å"In 1985, native Galvestonian George P. Mitchell and his wife, Cynthia, launched the revival of a citywide Mardi Gras celebration† (Mardi Gras!). Now under the supervision of the Galveston Park Board of Trustees, Mardi Gras spans two weekends and several days in between with parades, masked balls, and many different theatrical entertainments.

Different Types of Human Communication

Different Types of Human Communication Most animals communicate with each other in some way. Dogs bark at those they perceive as a threat in order to communicate their hostility and in some cases the threat that they will attack if provoked; bees have a pouch in which they carry the scent of their hive so as to identify themselves as members of the community. However, it is only in humans that communication breaks off into different types of communication: verbal and non-verbal, and formal and informal. Verbal communication is just what one would expect from the name: communication using words, and in some cases written characters. There are subcategories for verbal communication, depending on who is at the receiving end of the communication. The main division is between interpersonal communication, in which one person speaks directly to another person, and public or group speaking, in which one person speaks to a large group. From here, the intention of the person speaking breaks it down into still further categories depending on whether they are trying to persuade the listener or listeners to think or act in a certain way, to convey information in the clearest manner possible, or even to entertain. However, in many cases, the intentions of the speaker will overlap: speakers may want to persuade, inform, and entertain their audiences all at the same time. Sometimes, they may even be unaware of what their true intentions are themselves. Non-verbal communication is the type that is more similar to what the dogs and bees mentioned above do. Non-verbal communication includes all the information we convey to others, whether consciously or subconsciously, without actually using any words. Probably the most ubiquitous example of non verbal communication is that of facial expressions. For example, when a person rolls their eyes at someone, they are expressing skepticism about what the speaker said. They are not using any words to convey this message, but using their understanding of the non-verbal cues they can send that message without having to explicitly say, â€Å"I really find what you are saying unbelievable†. Not all facial expressions are so calculated though: there are those like smiles that come naturally when someone is happy, and indicate this to others. Beyond these more explicit examples, there are more subtle instances of non-verbal communication. For example, clothing: just as the male peacock uses a vibrant display of his colorful feathers to signal to a potential mate that he is a desirable choice, people use clothing in order to send messages about themselves (whether they are true or not). In this vein, a man going to a job interview will usually wear a suit and tie in order to convey the idea that he is a very professional person. Unlike facial expressions, this kind of non-verbal communication is more like verbal communication because it is arbitrary – there is no intrinsic reason why a suit and tie should convey the idea of professionalism any more than a Japanese kimono would. It is simply that it has become a cultural norm that a suit and tie is what a professional person wears, and as such it becomes a symbol and a means of non-verbal communication. Formal communication is more strongly associated with large and small group speaking. It is more rule bound, and is more centered on the speaker getting some kind of result. For example, speaking to a board room full of business executives in order to convince them to accept a marketing strategy is an example of formal communication: what is said and how it is said is rule-bound to what is considered appropriate for the setting, and it is directed toward the specific end of getting the executives to accept the ad campaign. Furthermore, their are instances of symbolic non-verbal communication, such as the wearing of business attire in order to appear professional. Informal communication is associated with interpersonal communication. While it is still rule bound by the social norms of the those communicating, there is much more room for the speaker to be free in what he or she says. Informal communication is also much less tied to specific ends: in many cases, it takes place simply for the speaker to express what they think and feel about anything in particular, and the speaking is undertaken as an end it itself. It is a much more emotionally involved form of communication, in large part because there is less emphasis on symbolic non-verbal communication and more emphasis on saying what one really feels. Although these various types of communication are very different, they are all indispensable tools for communicating with and understanding others. In order to be able to look at others and truly appreciate what they are trying to convey and whether what they are saying has any value, one needs to have a thorough understanding of all types. Informal Communication If formal communication is viewed like dressing for a black tie affair, informal communication is like dressing casually and wearing slippers around the house. Much informal communication occurs on a person-to-person basis, in a face-to-face manner, without ceremony or fanfare. Other ways to communicate in an informal manner may include texting, post-it notes, an informal drop in visit to another person, or a quick and spontaneous meeting. Informal communication includes all the various methods of relaying information or messages between people. It often is called â€Å"the grapevine† as messages weave back and forth and around people. There are none of the trappings of formal messages, such as company letterhead, planned meetings or specific introductions of guests. Everyone is relaxed and casual, eager to chat about many things, as there is no specific agenda to follow. This type of communication frequently is oral, and works easily for small groups. The scope of the conversation may be broader than a formal presentation, and include topics that are diverse in nature, free flowing and loose rather than scripted carefully. Unfortunately, informal communication is subject to creating rumors and misinformation due to its loose nature and lack of substantiating evidence. This is the type of interaction that occurs in the workplace as banter between employees, or idle chatting. It is seen as blog entries on the Internet. At colleges, students are encouraged to drop by their professors’ offices as needed, informally. Other informal web communication is seen in diaries, personal email letters, instant messaging, emoticons, online chat rooms and cyberspace bulletin boards. Informal communication also may take a non-verbal form as facial expressions, sign language, or manner of dress. In spoken language, the informal communicative style incorporates the use of the second and first voices. This is in contrast to the use of the third person voice in formal communications. One of the visible signs of informal communication is its natural and easy style, as opposed to being formally regimented. There may be the use of colloquialisms and local slang in the course of speech. It is unconventional and without rules, which is just the opposite of formal. Informal communication is used to help put people at ease. This can be seen in an interview situation where an interviewer such as a paralegal needs to make a little small talk to help get clients to relax, feel welcome and open up verbally. The use of informal language is far more prevalent in society than the use of formal language. Formal Communication Formal communication can be considered as communication efforts that are â€Å"dressed up† to fit customary rules and ceremony For example, in a written letter, the formal communication style will demand that the layout of the piece of written communication follow a specific format that includes the date, header, salutation, body of the letter, close, signature lines and any indicators of enclosures all placed neatly upon company letterhead or personal stationery. By contrast, an informal piece of written communication can be as simple as a jotted note to a friend on a torn slip of paper Formal communications are mostly written, although they may now also include formal presentations that are on computer disk, video tape or DVDs, MP3 presentations and other similar electronic reproductions of written communications. Other forms of formal communications include newsletters, legal advisories, invitations, awards, and letters of congratulations. Non-written formal communication devices are in-person communications in the forms of departmental meetings, telephone calls, conferences and special interviews. Some publications that are devoted to a special purpose, such as a company’s annual report, are formal communications. There is a non-verbal component to formal communication as well. The style and manners of the presenter dictate the formalness of a meeting, and this can be immediately seen at the time of introduction of a speaker. Some elements of non-verbal formal communication include maintaining a certain distance from others, standing above the crowd, speaking in formal tones and using formal means of address to others, such as â€Å"Mister† or â€Å"Doctor† when calling upon others. Colloquialisms, which are freely used in informal communication, are not present in formal communications. Proper English or another language is spoken. Formal communications will follow a chain of command in the flow of the communication, either upwards to or down from managers. The use of formal communication is more prevalent in highly technical areas where a message must be exact and specific, leaving no room for misinterpretation. The written communication is carefully thought out, and planned for a certain effect or result. It often is written in a third person non-personal voice of â€Å"he, she, it, and they† rather than â€Å"I† or â€Å"you† voices. Grammar, spelling and layout are important for written communications, and for spoken communications there is an emphasis placed on the quality of the speech voice and pronunciation. Some formal communications are congratulatory, others can be advisory or informational. Legal papers follow a tightly formatted layout that is customary within the professional and widely used by others. Likewise, scientific research papers have a customary format to follow. Any written communication that is expected to adhere to particular rules can be considered to be formal communication, and the actual tone of the piece may range from friendly to threatening. It can be more demanding and imply expectations to the receiver that should create desired results. Communication through Body Language Communication is how human beings interact with the world that surrounds them. There are many forms of communication, some being more effective at conveying the intent or feelings of the individual expressing than others. Many people have a hard time with communication, and can find it difficult to tell others what they think or to give them bad news. Sometimes, they can’t find the right words to express the things they want to say. There are also those people who are not to be believed due to a history of dishonesty or embellishing the truth. One form of communication, however, is always honest and can always be counted on. Body language is a form of communication that is performed subconsciously. It occurs almost constantly, and will almost always give the correct impression that a person has of someone else, the environment, or the situation at hand. Body language makes it easy to know if someone is nervous, scared, interested, or focused, among many other feelings that could be happening. Learning to read body language can be as simple as paying attention to your own body when feeling specific emotions. For example, if you are able to notice the unconscious things that your body does when you are nervous, then it should be simple for you to be able to see when another person is nervous in a certain situation. Often, reading the body language of another person will tell you more than having an actual conversation would, especially if the conversation has the potential to be uncomfortable or is something that no one wants to acknowledge. On the lighter side of body language communication, it can be a very helpful tool in determining how interested another person is in you. When single people meet for the first time, reading the signs of body language can help you to determine if this person has any interest in you beyond friendship. If on a date, the person leans towards you when you are speaking or has their arms at their sides with the front of their body facing towards you, that is a sign that signifies a true interest in the things you are saying. If, on the other hand, they have their arms crossed, are leaning back in their chair with their back turned towards you, and are avoiding contact, they probably are not interested. These are some good physical indicators that you could be wasting your time. Nonverbal Communication Nonverbal communication is any kind of communication not involving words. When the term is used, most people think of facial expressions and gestures, but while these are important elements of nonverbal communication, they are not the only ones. Nonverbal communication can include vocal sounds that are not words such as grunts, sighs, and whimpers. Even when actual words are being used, there are nonverbal sound elements such as voice tone, pacing of speech and so forth. Nonverbal communication can be incorporated in a person’s dress. In our society, a person wearing a police uniform is already communicating an important message before they say a word. Another example is a man’s business suit, which is perceived by some as communicating an air of efficiency and professionalism. While each of these cues conveys a message, so does its absence. In some settings, failing to express a nonverbal cue also communicates meaning. A policeman out of uniform is called â€Å"plainclothes† and is seen as deliberately trying to conceal his role. To some, this may make him seem smart or efficient, while others may consider him sneaky or untrustworthy. In the same way, a businessman who does not wear a suit is conveying an air of casualness which some would consider slightly less professional. In the modern world, â€Å"dressing down† implies a relaxation of professional standards that is much more than just a change of clothes. Many cues are based on learned cultural standards, but there are some elements of nonverbal communication that are universal. Paul Eckman’s landmark research on facial expressions in the 1960? s found that the expressions for emotions such as anger, fear, sadness and surprise are the same across all cultural barriers. The setting where communication takes place also lends a meaning to words apart from their literal definition, and constitutes nonverbal communication. For instance, the word â€Å"tradition† means one thing when it is spoken in City Hall, and quite another when it is spoken in a church. The sign of a cross takes on great cultural meaning when used in a religious context, but on a road sign it just means that an intersection is coming up. Some nonverbal communication accompanies words and modifies their meanings. For instance, our speed of speaking and the pauses we place between our words form a nonverbal element to our speech. A slight pause before a word can imply uncertainty or be interpreted as a request for confirmation from the listener, whereas a lack of pauses can be taken as a sign of confidence or the encouragement of a fast reply from the listener. If someone asks you a question in a hurried manner, you will probably get the feeling that they want a similarly quick reply. The use of personal space constitutes a form of nonverbal communication. If someone leans toward their listener as they speak, it implies that they are communicating something personal or secret. Depending on the social nuances of the situation, this may be taken as a sign of friendship or an unwanted invasion of space. The use of touching as an element of communication is called haptic communication, and its meanings are very culture-dependent. In American society, a handshake, a pat on the shoulder or a â€Å"high five† have certain definite meanings understood by practically everybody. In other societies, these might be enigmatic acts or an embarrassing invasion of personal space. The use of the eyes as an element of nonverbal communication is an area of study in itself, and is called â€Å"oculesics. † Researchers have divided eye movements into separate elements such as the number and length of eye contacts, blink rate, dilation of the pupils and so forth. Here again, the interpretation of these cues is highly dependent on the culture of the participants. A prolonged stare may establish a bond of trust, or destroy it. It may elicit a reply from the person being stared at, or it may make them become uncommunicative from embarrassment. This is how most of our communication takes place. When we consider the amount of nonverbal communication that passes between us and compare it with the mere words we say, it is obvious that the nonverbal part is by far the largest.

Bases of Power in an Organization

Bases of Power in an Organization Leadership in an organization can be defined as the approach and manner in which directions are provided, plans implemented and workers motivated. The bases of power can be said to be the ways and methods which the managers of an organization use in order to influence the behavior of the employees. It is also referred to as the possession of authority on the employees and having an influence over other people. Power is extremely beneficial tool in an organization because it depends on it and the way it is used; it leads to either positive or negative change.Power is categorized into five bases according to French and Raven in 1960. Dependency, on the other part, is reliance of an organization on certain employees or even an employee relying on the organization. Overreliance of an organization on different individuals or a few workers is usually highly discouraged. This is because an organization can fail due to an individual’s failure. In the given scenario, the organization is dependent on the employee 2 because he is the only one who can prepare the company’s financial statement.The five bases of power are legitimate, reward, coercive, expert and referent (David, 1992). Legitimate power can also be referred to as positional power. This is because it is the position an individual holds in the given organization’s hierarchy. In this case, a manager’s power over the junior workers is given a priority. It gives the power to the managers to issue orders to the junior workers. In our scenario the employee 1 works in the marketing department where the marketing manager ensures and encourages employees to work even beyond the required 40 hours a week.He keeps on reminding the workers to work hard in order to receive the yearly bonus. Reward power is another base of power which arises from the person’s ability to influence the allocation of resources and incentives in any given organization. The ince ntives can be in the form of positive appraisal, promotions and salary increment. People with this kind of power in an organization tend to influence other employees’ behavior. This kind of power works best if used well, though it is also demoralizing to the employees if favoritism is used and this diminishes the output.In our scenario above the employee 3 was rewarded with the reward power by corporation A. In this case the employee has just brought a new idea to the organization which the team members were unsure of, though they tried and it worked (Dean, 2003). Due to the enthusiasm of the employees, the employee 3 was selected to lead the team. The reward power is well demonstrated in this situation. Coercive power is the power that is derived from an employee’s ability to influence other employees through sanctions, threats and punishment.This can lead to junior employees working hard even in extra hours to meet deadlines so that they can avoid punishment from the boss. This kind of power helps the boss to control behaviors of the organization and its norms. In the scenario above, the employee 1 works hard in the office. He stays in the office till late night and even on weekends to ensure the work is complete and accurate. Expert power is another type and base of power that is based on the knowledge and experience. Expertise of an employee in a specific area is particularly beneficial in an organization.Experience in a certain area of the organization is paramount. The employees’ opinions and ideas are highly regarded in the organization; hence they easily influence other workers’ behavior and working patterns. This kind of power becomes the stepping stone that connects to other bases of power. This is because experience is truly vital for proper running of business. In our scenario above the employee 2 is the only certified public accountant (CPA) in the organization who works in the accounting department.He is the only one w ith the knowledge to prepare financial statements for the company and due to this he successfully negotiated with the accounting manager for him to work a compressed work week (Murphy & Ebook Library, 2012). Referent power is the power that is derived from a person’s ability to form inter-relationship with others in the organization. This type of power is obtained when other people respect and like the worker. Through this their output is influenced by the employee through their admiration to the worker, their trust and respect.It is also obtained through the relationship with the people who matter in the organization, like the CEO. The Employee 3 can also be said to have been elevated to lead the team due to the admiration and enthusiasm he got from other employees. Reference David v. (1992). International Business Communication. New York: NY: HarperCollins. Murphy, F. , & Ebook Library (2012). Community engagement, organization, and development for public health practice. N ew York: Springer Pub. Dean, T. (2013). Network+ guide to networks. Boston: Course technology/Cengage learning.