6 Great Reasons To Check Your Credit Report

6 Great Reasons To Check Your Credit Report 6 Great Reasons To Check Your Credit Report 6 Great Reasons To Check Your Credit ReportCant think of a good reason to order a free (we repeat: free) copy of your credit report? No worries, weve got six.Our world is filled with unsolved mysteries. What happened to Roanoke? Who built Stonehenge? How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?But some information can be known and should be known. For example, the information in your credit report. And unlike those other mysteries, this one is pretty easy to solve.“It is important to check your credit report from all three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) at least once every 12 months,” urged Audrey Washington, founder and CEO of Fiercely Financial Coaching (@FiercelyFinance). “You can obtain a free copy of your credit history from AnnualCreditReport.com. This service was established by the federal government in response to identity theft.”There are a few other ways to get your credit report, but it’s important to be careful that yo u aren’t scammed. And if youre still not convinced, here are seven  reasons you should check your credit report!1. Because your credit score depends on it.Your credit score is a three-digit number determined by the information in your credit report. That number is very important since it will determine if you can get a loan and more.“Since everything from loan and credit card applications, interest rates, getting hired by a new employer, car and homeowner’s insurance premiums, apartment applications, utility deposits, and cell phone plan services are based to one extent or another on your credit rating, and since your credit rating is based 100 percent. on the information on your credit report, you want to make sure that the information on your credit report is both accurate and up-to-date,” advised Todd Christensen, education manager for  Money Fit by DRS, Inc. (@MoneyFitbyDRS).2. To correct errors.You know what would be really unfair? If the three major credit bureaus, who will track your credit-worthiness whether you ask them to or not, made frequent errors when compiling your credit report. Sadly, this unfair scenario we’ve just described is also our reality! That’s why it’s important to check your credit report for errors.“The last thing you want on your credit score is an error that goes unnoticed,” advised Kelan Kline of  The Savvy Couple  (@TheSavvyCouple). “Its important to check often and keep track of your credit score to prevent your score from dropping.”And what might those errors be?“Your credit report helps you identify errors and/or outdated claims that negatively affect your credit score,” explained Jory McEachern, Operations Manager at  ScoreShuttle (@scoreshuttle). “Such errors can contain minor name spelling errors or major collections that youve already paid off in previous years.”3. To spot identity theft.Some errors on your credit report are actual errors. Other errors are due to stolen identities.“The big gest concern when checking your credit report should be to ensure that no one is opening or using credit accounts in your name,” recommended Christensen. “Identity theft can cost thousands of dollars to correct and take a couple of years to work through, so the earlier you spot any such troubles, the better.”And you may not be the only one at risk.“Parents should also contact the three major credit bureaus on how they can check to see if anyone is using their childrens social security numbers for credit,” advised Washington.4. You’re applying for a job.A potential employer may perform a credit check on you, especially if the job you’re applying for is in the financial realm. You should know what’s on it before they do.“If you are in the job market and you suspect your employer will be running a credit check, prepare by taking a look,” suggested Nathalie Noisette, owner of  Credit Conversion (@credconversion).“You want to preempt any possible reason the employer will deny you the job. Some employers will keep you in the candidate pool if your credit is not stellar, but you offer an explanation as to why your credit isn’t in great shape.”5. You made or are making a big purchase.It’s always good to know your financial situation when you’re making a big purchase, but it’s particularly important if you’re going to be making a purchase that could require interest payments.“If you are considering a major purchase, you definitely want to check your credit report,” urged real estate professional Chantay Bridges. “Your score can affect your interest rate for a large number of years, especially on a purchase such as real estate or an automobile.You want to make certain everything is intact before you sign on the dotted line. In addition, you could be rejected based on something thats there, so you want to have a chance to clear it up ahead of time, especially lates, tardies, or delinquents that are not yours.”6. Because the possi bility exists, so why not take advantage of it?You get at least one free chance to check out your credit report each year. Why throw that away? And there are other services to consider as well.“Many credit card companies, credit score apps, and websites offer free credit score monitoring so taking advantage of them is a no brainer,” Kline outlined. “Keeping an eye on your credit score not only protects you but ensures you are moving in the right direction with improving your overall credit score.”Hopefully, that’s enough reasons to check your credit score. Still not convinced? Well then here’s one more: Cause we think it’d be pretty cool. To learn more about how your credit score worksâ€"and how you can improve itâ€"check out these other posts and articles from OppLoans:How to Raise Your Credit Score by 100 PointsCredit Utilization Ratio: Why It’s Important, and How to Master ItWill Closing a Credit Card Affect Your Credit Score?No Credit Card? Here Are 6 Ways You Ca n Still Fix Your Credit ScoreDo you have a   personal finance question youd like us to answer? Let us know! You can find us  on  Facebook  and  Twitter.  |  InstagramContributorsChantay Bridges is Americas leading mogul, who utilizes her gifts and abilities in outreach to her community and world around her. She is an exceptional Realtor, (translation: the one you want to hire), Author, Speaker and a keen philanthropist with a strong business acumen.Author and Accredited Financial Counselor ®, Todd R. Christensen, MIM, MA, is Education Manager at  Money Fit by DRS, Inc. (@MoneyFitbyDRS), a nationwide nonprofit financial wellness and credit counseling agency. Todd develops educational programs and produces materials that teach personal financial skills and responsibilities to all ages. Having facilitated nearly two thousand workshops since 2004 on the fundamentals of effective money management, he based his first book, Everyday Money for Everyday People (2014), on the discussions, tip s, stories and ideas shared by the tens of thousands of individuals and couples in attendance.Kelan and Brittany Kline aka The Savvy Couple  are two thriving millennials that are daring to live differently. They started their personal finance blog  in September 2016 to help others get money $avvy so they can live a frugal and free lifestyle. Brittany is a full-time 4th-grade teacher and Kelan runs The Savvy Couple full-time and works as a digital marketer. You can follow them here:  Facebook,  Twitter,  Pinterest, and  Instagram.As a credit specialist at  ScoreShuttle (@scoreshuttle), Jory McEachern helps individuals reach their ideal credit score so that they can qualify for all the important things in life. With ScoreShuttles online first-of-its-kind technology, members receive the most current updates and tips and advice on how to boost their score, fast.Nathalie Noisette is the Founder of  Credit Conversion (@credconversion), a credit counseling, and repair company located in Av on, MA. Credit Conversion uses principles of behavioral change to not only allow clients to improve their score but understand the habits that lend to poor credit.Audrey Washington, Founder/CEO of  Fiercely Financial Coaching (@FiercelyFinance) has been an entrepreneur since 2005 and is a personal finance coach, educator, and speaker. She is the author of the book Transform Your Money Mindset Simple Steps for Financial Fitness. Her signature programs are Workplace Financial Fitness,   financial education for employees;  Financial Fitness Boot Camp; and Debt Free Boot Camp. She is also an affordable housing/community development consultant.  She is a certified Financial Capability Coach, Homeownership Counselor, Homebuyer Educator, and Foreclosure/Default Counselor. Audrey teaches Personal Financial Management at Monroe College and is a Life Member of the National Council of Negro Women. She enjoys the beach, reading, baking and time with family and friends.

An Analysis Of Euripides The Suppliants - 1372 Words

In The Suppliants, Euripides wrote, â€Å"The people cannot form proper judgements and therefore cannot rightly direct a state†. Euripides is living in the midst of democracy in Athens; therefore his quote is a critique of what is happening around him. In his quote, he is taking an anti-democratic stance towards the question of who is fit to rule. Euripides believes only one or few people should rule a state, as not all are qualified or have the ‘proper judgement’ to do so. However, people do rule the state, without having to meet any arbitrary requirements to be fit to rule. The term ‘proper judgement’ is highly subjective and the notion that only a few have the ability to rule is simply paternalistic. The relative success of ancient Athenian and contemporary Swiss direct democracy show that people do have the ability to form proper judgments. It was Aristotle who once said â€Å"man is a political animal†, so it is in human nature to be polit ically involved. In opposition, Plato describes the grave consequences of placing the power into the one or the few in his ideal yet authoritarian state. There are many issues with Euripides’ quote. Firstly, the term ‘proper judgment’ is extremely abstract. For instance, Machiavelli and Kant would have very different ideas on what ‘proper judgment’ may be, but both are thought to be notable political philosophers. The decisions rulers make will always be criticized by one group of people, so it is difficult to say for certain if someone meets

Marijuana Use Should be Legal Essay - 932 Words

Marijuana Use Should be Legal The issue of the legalization of Marijuana is a never-ending battle that the country will never fully win. Marijuana should be legalized because it is a large part of the drug war, which will never come to an end. Society is in the midst of a time of anguish and skepticism of what will become of the nation. With all of the problems happening around us, the government and officials should begin to realize that the time and effort spent on battling the drug, marijuana, could be better used in other areas. One of the first issues of the legalization of marijuana is its comparison to alcohol. Since 1937, marijuana has been prohibited as a legal drug in the United States:†¦show more content†¦This is the result of an increase in drug arrests between 1980 and 1992. The increase in violent offenders incarcerated during that time was only about 50 percent; therefore the majority of felons that are incarcerated should not be looked at as a danger to society (Schlosser, 1994, p.93). If the country wants to deal with the problem of overcrowded prisons, it should look more closely at who should and shouldn’t be incarcerated. The economic benefits of legalizing marijuana would also be substantial. Not only would the government receive revenue from marijuana taxation, farmers would also be able to grow hemp, which was an important source of fiber for rope, cloth, and paper in the United States years ago. Studies have also shown that Marijuana could be used for medicinal purposes as well. According to Bill Zimmerman, executive director of the AMR, â€Å"It seems the ship of state is beginning to turn on the issue of medical use of marijuana.† Recently, chemicals found in marijuana were found to be similar to naturally occurring chemicals in the body. This chemical is related to nerve sites that control pain, memory, motor functioning, nausea and internal eye pressure. These findings have provoked more exploration into medicinal and therapeutic uses of marijuana. Through other studies, marijuana has been found to be aShow MoreRelatedMarijuana Should Be Legal For Recreational Use873 Words   |  4 PagesRevised: There will be medical benefits if marijuana was legal for recreational use. Premise: Street justice related to drug disputes would be reduced resulting in less crowding in prisons. Revised: Legalizing marijuana will result in less crowding in prisons. Premise: States gain profit from taxing marijuana Revised: States benefit financially from the legalization of marijuana. Conclusion: Marijuana should be legal for recreational use. Marijuana has been used in herbal remedies for centuriesRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legal For Recreational Use?853 Words   |  4 Pagestreat. When you are addicted for long periods of time, your dependency on it is like having to breath. Without it you will die. In America even marijuana which is debatably just as harmful as tobacco and alcohol, can put you in jail from from 1-5 years for possession and 10 to life for selling or growing. Now in some states it is legal for recreational use, so this topic has gained some attention where people in other states have already been in jail for a long time for doing what someone in anotherRead MoreMarijuana Should Be Legal For Medical Use Essay916 Words   |  4 Pagesdescribe recreational use of marijuana and the acute effects it has. I will then examine the laws of my home state of Illinois on the legalization of medicinal marijuana and the amounts allowed to be dispensed to a patient. Lastly I will provide my position on marijuana and support my stand with a solution from a scholarly source. Medicinal The debate over the legalization of marijuana is a hot topic. The first question is whether marijuana should be legal for medical use. Cannabis has a long historyRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legal For Medical Use?2818 Words   |  12 Pagesmakes you feel euphoric. Would you take it? Marijuana buds are the flower of the cannabis plant. They are harvested, and sold - unaltered - to men and women all over Canada and the world, for both medicinal and recreational purposes. The buds are taken, ground up, and either smoked, baked into food, or vapourized in order to affect the minds and bodies of those who benefit from it. In Canada, there is federal legislation allowing marijuana for medical use. However, the criteria as to who can be prescribedRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legal For Medical And Recreational Use?973 Words   |  4 Pagesless risky than both. I might want to convince you on why pot ought to be lawful. It has numerous awesome reasons for existing, it s a hurtful medicatio n, and how the economy would be a ton better if marijuana was lawful. Today we will discuss why weed needs to be legal for medical and recreational use, how weed is a harmless medication and not addicting, and how lives would be better if weed was lawful and how the economy would be better if weed was legitimate. A great many people in today s publicRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legal For Recreational Use?1150 Words   |  5 PagesMarijuana, or cannabis, is a drug that has had legalization remain a question in the United States for several years. In countries such as Bangladesh, North Korea, and Uruguay, marijuana is completely legal for recreational use. In America, the states Colorado, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska have also legalized recreational use. While there are many disadvantages of the use of cannabis, there are also some potentially useful advantages. Marijuana is a mixture of dried-out leaves, stems, flowersRead MoreWhy Marijuana Should Be Legalized1014 Words   |  5 Pagesreason that marijuana should be legal is that there is no good reason for it not to be legal. Some people ask why should marijuana be legalized? but we should ask Why should marijuana be illegal? From a philosophical point of view, individuals deserve the right to make choices for themselves. The government only has a right to limit those choices if the individuals actions endanger someone else. This does not apply to marijuana, since the individual who chooses to use marijuana does so accordingRead MoreEssay Astonishing Statistics of Marijuana Use in Minors1539 Words   |  7 Pagesmillion Americans ages 12 and over have reported to using marijuana at least once within the previous year. That number alone is an astonishing statistic on marijuana users. Although marijuana has been a drug with increasing popularity especially throughout the past couple of years due to the legalization in some states. In November of 2012 history was made when Washington and Colorado both legalized marijuana for recreational use. Although marijuana is considered to be a Schedule 1 drug, which means itRead MoreThe History and Possible Legalization of Marijuana Essay1165 Words   |  5 PagesDrug Laws There has never been a death from marijuana overdose. â€Å"A person would have to smoke 20,000 to 40,000 times the amount of THC in a joint to overdose† (Wing). Marijuana was classified as an illegal drug in 1970, because it can be abused very easily (â€Å"infoplease†). Marijuana was then grown indoors. Marijuana is illegally used by many people daily. Marijuana should be legalized because it is naturally grown and can be used to help cancer patients, relieve stress, and be used daily. CannabisRead MoreWhy Marijuana Should be Legalized Essay example1689 Words   |  7 PagesDebate on why Marijuana should be legalized Marijuana is a public name for an illegal substance (drug) produced from the Cannabis (Cannabis sativa) plant. It is also called weed, ganja, grass, kaya and pot. The drug has many chemical compounds and in particular, it has THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) which is responsible for changing mind functions leading to alternations of cognition, mood, behavior, perception and consciousness. â€Å"It is the most widely used illicit substance in the world† (World

Critique of a Commercial Air Conditioning System Sales Speech Free Essays

This essay is a critique of a recent commercial air conditioning system sales presentation. These commercial systems are manufactured by a Japanese company and are sold in the United States directly to building owners. Consulting engineering firms are also targeted by this HVAC manufacturer because these firms must specify the system to be used in their new building construction projects and because the engineers within the consulting firm usually have some sway and influence on the building owner. We will write a custom essay sample on Critique of a Commercial Air Conditioning System Sales Speech or any similar topic only for you Order Now This sales presentation was conducted by a Regional Sales Manager for the HVAC manufacturing company. His name is Dennis and he is a mechanical engineer by education who has spent his fifteen year career in outside sales. Dennis’s audience consisted of a dozen consulting engineers who have the ability to specify and help promote these expensive, high-quality HVAC systems to commercial building owners. Dennis and his company chose a very nice, spacious, well-lit conference room within a Marriott hotel to conduct this sales presentation. This two-hour presentation was a prelude to a day-long presentation that would follow later. It began at 10 a. m. nd was followed by a lunch for the attendees at noon. Dennis used two large projection screens; one was for a PowerPoint presentation and the other was for a laptop computer display that demonstrated a software design program for the company’s HVAC systems. Dennis had his room and supporting materials ready by 9:30 a. m. in case some members of his audience arrived early. Dennis was dressed in crisp slacks, dress shoes and a p olo-type golf shirt that had his company’s logo on it. His audience of consulting engineers was mostly conservatively dressed. A couple of them wore golf shirts, but the others had dress shirts with ties or dress shirts with blazers. Based on his known audience of consulting engineers, Dennis should have dressed more formally and conservatively. He began his presentation as all good presenters do, with an attention-getting device or anecdote. He told a short story about his earlier days in minor league baseball. He pitched, and could reach 90 miles per hour with his fastball. But, his fastball lacked movement and he had no other pitches that he could throw consistently for strikes. To keep their attention, Dennis said he would pitch golf balls to audience members throughout the presentation. Dennis is a middle-aged, stocky, well-groomed sales professional with good posture and good enunciation. He varies his tone, cadence and vocal volume to good effect. He regularly moves around his stage area and sometimes walks among his audience, and he uses hand gestures and varied facial expressions frequently to hold his audience’s attention. A southerner, his speech is grammatically correct and nicely formal. He has a booming voice, and uses it every once in a while when he senses a lull or when he wants to enthusiastically make a point. Apart from saying the phrase, â€Å"you know,† every once in a while, his presence and content are professional and non-distracting. Dennis’s presentation was interesting and informative for his audience of engineers because his company manufactures an expensive, state-of-the-art system that is capable of simultaneous heating and cooling. The audience’s interest was confirmed because they asked many pertinent questions. Dennis used his dual screens and handout materials to make and reinforce his product’s attributes and advantages versus their competition. The engineers even worked on their laptops to get a brief feel for the software program, but were firmly told to close their laptops after trying the design program. Open laptops throughout the presentation would have been very tempting and distracting for the engineers, and Dennis did not allow it. And, as every fine speaker does, Dennis ended his presentation with a dramatic, memorable closing summary and statement of his product’s virtues and his company’s commitment to quality. How to cite Critique of a Commercial Air Conditioning System Sales Speech, Papers

Selena Lundy Essays (684 words) - Fiction, Literature,

Selena Lundy October 17, 2016 ENG 215 Professor Alveraz Readings based on The Tempest The three readings based on The Tempest all brought forward many ideas and concepts on how and why the play was the way that it was. Each reading on their own had ideas that we had discussed in one way or another in class. I have read essays from A Norton Critical Edition for another novel and English class and they were just as hard and confusing to read this time for The Tempest as they had been before. The readings were so heavy and thick and, despite the fact that they did make many goods points, I know for a fact that there were many more points that I probably missed from the lack of my full understanding. In the essay by G. Wilson Knight, Knight focused on magic, how Prospero used it throughout the play, and what the island had to do with the magic that Prospero gained. Knight states that Prospero is able to have magic through the island and, as best as I can tell the island's magic has a way with words and poetry. This gives us the indication that Prospero is nothing more than a man draining power from the island to do his bidding. He's not as powerful as he and the others in the play think he is. On one hand, I agree where Knight is coming from, as Prospero doesn't seem to have had any power when he was in his kingdom. That leads me to question the reasoning behind Prospero's "magical" belongings like his staff and books. If the island was what really gave him magic, what use did he have for those? Where they just for show? George Lamming wrote an essay about a topic that I hadn't really thought of before too deeply. Caliban and Miranda had a bond. This bond came from both that of their friendship that most likely would have grown over the years, as the two of them were the only company the other had, and that they had the same kind of status when compared to Prospero. Neither knew their mother and both had no idea of the world outside of their island. This bond can change how we look at Miranda and Caliban and if we want to believe Prospero and Miranda when they say that Caliban intended to rape Miranda. Lamming continues to say that despite the fact that Miranda was able to fall in love with Ferdinand, her father probably didn't love his own wife in the same way. I agree with this as, like we talked about in class, Prospero only talks about his wife once to Miranda and not very much in a way that I think of as very loving and admiring. Because of this, Prospero is unable to interact with the world aro und him as anything other than a tyrant and powerful being. In Peter Hulme's essay, he focuses on the relationship between Prospero and Caliban. Prospero is seen as the playwright of the play, the man who pulls the strings and manipulates the other characters to do what he wants them to. I don't think that there is really anyone who can read The Tempest and not think the same thing. They'd have to be as naive as Miranda to not see it. Hulme's brought up an interesting concept that Prospero had casted Caliban to be the new Antonio, which I would not have thought up but can see quite well. Antonio hatched a plan to displace Prospero from his dukedom, and Caliban hatched a plan to displace Prospero from the island and as his master. There's the idea that Caliban, unlike maybe the others, was not under any magic or being pulled by Prospero's strings but acting of his won nature: a slave who wanted to overthrow his master. There were plenty of sections throughout the essay's that I thought were a little bit confusing and difficult to understand, but for the most part, I found what the authors of these essays had to say very interesting.

Decision Making Starbucks Transformational Experience

Decision Making Starbucks Transformational Experience Starbucks Historical Background Howard Schultz was among the founders of Starbucks. He transformed the entire community into an upscale cultural phenomenon by introducing a legendary product. At Seattle Pike Place, Gerald Baldwin, Gordon Bowker and Zier Siegl were among the pioneers who opened a small coffee shop by 1971. It specialized in selling Arabica beans which was a niche market by then.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Decision Making: Starbucks Transformational Experience specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More When Schultz joined the marketing team in 1982, his trip to Italy (Milan) opened an insight into a coffee culture. Schultz convinced the company to introduce an Espresso bar in the market which became a prototype of his vision. He envisaged creation of a chain of coffee houses that would become third place for Americans after home and work. It would be a place to relax, enjoy and separate work from home (Youn gme John, 2003). Schultz’s idea materialized when the founders agreed to sell him the company. He immediately opened new stores which sold beans and premium priced coffee beverages targeting the affluent, well educated and white collar patrons between all ages (25-44). By 1940, the company had raised 140 stores in North West and Chicago. It had begun to compete with other small coffee chains like Gloria’s Jean Coffee Bean and Barnies’s coffee and Tea. Schultz’s versatility surprised skeptics when Starbucks was listed on Wall Street. The public offered him $ 25 million. Starbucks grew by 40% and increased net earnings by 50%. The company now serves over 20 million unique customers in over 5000 stores around the globe. Schwaltz has been able to maintain his role at the global level as chairman and chief global strategist. He handed over as CEO in 2002 to Orin Smith, a Harvard MBA graduate who joined the company in 1990 (Jake, 2002). Starbucks brand strateg y involved control of coffee standards across all its chains, control the custom roasting process and control the distribution of products to retail stores across the globe. In addition, customer service intimacy and an atmosphere of ambience were brands that attracted people to come for coffee (Youngme John, 2003). Starbucks Company operated its own distribution channels located in busy traffic and visibility settings. Some of the common brands included brewed coffees, espresso drinks with Italian inclination, beverage blends and premium teas. In essence beverages accounted for 77% of sales, North American food service accounted for 27%, and specialty novelties stood at 15%. 18% of the sales emanated from domestic retail stores. 55% of specialty revenues came from licensed stores, grocery stores, warehouse stores, online and email order sales. The company’s central objective was to access to clients from their own settings (Dina, 2002).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Quality service delivery resonated with human resource policies. At Starbuck, strategies pursued motivated over 60000 employees for service delivery. The lowest level of entry was barista; hourly wage employees. It provided an attractive health insurance package for those aged 17-23 years. The customer satisfaction rate was 80-90%. Fortunate magazine ranked the company 47th as best place to work. Social mobility was evident as 70% of the managers had risen from baristas and 60% were ex-store managers. They underwent training, succeeded baristas before moving to other positions (Starbucks, 2002). Retail partners underwent trainings on hard and soft skills. Hard skills included learning how to use cash drinks and mixed drinks. Soft trainings focused on welcoming customers, eye contact while serving, smiling, remembering their names or orders. There were challenges where c ustomizing of dinks to customer needs created strains on quality and customer service (HSBP). This was tackled through training baristas to make quality products, through a consistent production process, hiring of more baristas, removing non-value-added tasks, and simplifying beverage production process. The company had begun to install automated expresso and verismo machines that reduced number of steps required to make an expresso beverage (service Marketing). Customers evaluated performance through metrics, monthly status reports and self reported checklists (Dina, 2002). Starbucks as a Modern Organization Starbucks forces of organization such as workforce, technology and markets have turned diverse, electronic and global as opposed to local, homogeneous and mechanic. Its values transformed from stability and efficiency to change and flexibility (Ray, 1986). Jaffe argues that bureaucratic organizations are based on three basic principles that include formalization (in form of pro cedures and policies), instrumentalism and formalization (Jaffe, 2001). Starbucks can be identified as one such organization. George Ritzers’ conception in what he calls McDonalization captures Starbucks’ operations such the fast food industry operating under efficiency, predictability, control and calculability (Ritzer, 1993). The logic of modern organizations is segmentation into smaller responsibilities or parts for accomplishing tasks (Heydebrand, 1989).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Decision Making: Starbucks Transformational Experience specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Research Design and Methodology Shuttleworth Martyn (2008) suggests that a survey research design is an indispensable tool when assessing opinions and trends. Since the proposed quota survey ascertained perceptions of Starbucks Holding company chain stores, it became the most appropriate method for the study. The quota sample to d eveloped came from a list of all employees and customers who had gone through the company for a period of three years. The researcher utilized systematic sampling technique in which a sample was chosen by selecting a random starting point and then picking every 5th household around the chain stores. The sample interval was determined from the universe of 200000 thousand people. Mehdi Nassipur (2004) argues when a sample is too small, generalizability of the findings becomes difficult. When it is too small it becomes meaningless when analyzed. Besides, when the resources and time are limited a smaller sample becomes justified. The desired sample was 1500. The sample interval was 133. That means every 133th household had a likelihood of selection. The population resided in a geographically ordered area where potential lived alongside each other. The sample was distributed according to population per region. A triangulation of sampling quota and systematic techniques were utilized as f ollows. The orderly nature of geographical distribution increased representativeness. The survey design utilized control categories to obtain a representative sample from the main list. The survey considered control categories. There were six categories which had a larger percentage for males. The decision was arrived at because women were fewer than men. The higher percentage of males increased their likelihood of selection. Age categories relied on more frequent customer data for the last three years. The larger percentage of 31-35 was necessary to share experiences of those who have been in the job market based on the old training program. Other categories included income levels based on employment or unemployment. The last category was educational levels assessed based on secondary, tertiary or college levels. Control characteristics population composition sample size Number Sex male 45 675 90000 Female 55 825 110000 1500 200000 Age 18-25 10 150 20000 26 -30 20 300 40000 31-35 15 225 30000 36-40 20 300 40000 41-45 20 300 40000 46-50 15 225 30000 1500 200000 Chain stores North American stores 30 450 60000 Chain stores outside North America 70 1050 140,000 Source: HSBPAdvertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The survey adopted qualitative and quantitative techniques. Cross sectional survey design ensured validity was achieved. Semi structured questionnaires were used for qualitative methods while strict and closed ended ones targeted quantitative methods. Survey techniques used in the study relied on focus group discussions and in depth interviews. Analysis of results utilized the SPSS software version 18 to summarize frequencies. The qualitative data utilized content analysis. Starbucks Research Findings The study endeavored to gauge customer perceptions and rating of the performance of the company indicated mixed reactions. Most of the respondents believed Starbucks had the cleanest stores (83%). 77% of them felt it was convenient for them. 75% felt it was available to customers. 73% thought that the staff were friendly to its customers. A further 72% liked their coffee flavored brand while 67% felt they had highest quality coffee and fast service. Likewise, 65% felt they had appropri ate prices. 60% liked their fresh coffee and best expresso drinks. 65% were attracted to Starbucks due to the pleasant ambience. 39% perceived the knowledge of the staff as important and contributed to better service. Besides, 37% liked the convenience it created by allowing people to meet in one place for meeting friends. Their best blended ice drinks attracted 34% of the customers to the company. 30% liked their involvement with community projects as a social responsibility. 20% rated their tea as highest quality product. 17% liked their pastry, 16% liked a selection of whole beans and their new innovative beverages (13%). The results corroborated with sales performance from 2000 to 2005. In 2000, the traditional coffee market share was represented by 75% of total sales. The specialty coffee sales formed 27% which totaled $ 21 billion. The year 2002 improved further to $21.5 billion sales with traditional coffee market dropping slightly to 69% while the coffee specialty improved t o 37% of the sales. In 2005, the company registered $ 22 billion sales with traditional coffee market improving to 59% share and coffee specialty improving to 41% market share. A study of customer retention showed that customers who first started visiting Starbucks in the past one year were 27% of those interviewed. Those who visited in 1-2 years were represented by 20%. 30% had visited for 2-5 years ago while 23% had visited for 5 or more years. In an attempt to measure attitudes towards Starbucks products, it was revealed that 51% believed in their quality products while 34% had a contrary opinion. 50% trusted their brands while 30% felt differently. 32% said the products were worth paying more for with a paltry 8% feeling contrary. 60% had noticed their specialty coffee. The rating of company products indicated trust and confidence emanating from the customers. Starbuck’s survey indicated that it was difficult to differentiate between Starbucks and smaller coffee shops. 61 % of respondents from 2001 survey revealed that Starbucks cared about money. 55% felt it cared about building new stores. Customer trends were evolving to younger ones, less educated and with low income as opposed to old and affluent ones. It had increased Hispanic customers in California. The findings of the study further revealed that customer perceptions indicated that Starbucks had valued brands (34% of females and 51% of males), trusted the brands (30% of females and 50% of males), had brands worth paying for (44% females and 60% males while 31% females and 45% males considered it as coffee experts. Atypical customer visited 5 times in a month while frequent ones visited 18 times per month. It further revealed that Starbucks was not meeting customer expectations because of a service gap (Starbucks, 2003). Alternatives Analysis and Selection Criteria Innovations contributed to new product design and launch of hot beverage brands every season. Increased investment in research han d innovation through Focused groups, in-store experiments and market tests were attributable to recent innovations as the 1995 introduction of Frappuccino and non coffee beverages (Stanley, 2002). In 2001, the Stored Value Card (SVC), a swappable card was launched which could pay transactions in any company operated store in N. America. The effect of the innovation was issuance of 6 million cards and soaring of sales to $160 million. The latest invention was the Hot Spot wireless T-mobile introduced in 2002 to offer high speed access to internet in 2000 stores (Stanley, 2002). Recommendations Christin Day’s proposal to invest $ 40 million annually in 4500 stores to allow stores to add 20 hours of labor a week was tenable. It would increase speed of service and thereby enhance customer satisfaction. New customer trends had changed and needed new products to capture their needs. Increased funding for more research and design was still viable. Action and Implementation Plan App rove $ 40 million investment proposal and recruit baristas for training as soon as possible. Source more funds for research and design. Reinvent customer retention strategies Rebrand non poorly performing products Fill the service expectation gaps Introduce an IT system or portal to link all the chain stores for ease of marketing and sales Train the staff of products and services to improve service quality. References Dina E. (2002, August 25th). Pouring It On: The Starbucks Strategy? Locations, Locations, Locations. The Washington Post, 30, 23-25. HBSP. (2003). New Online Tolls for Building new Coursepacks. www.hsbp.harvard.edu. Web. Heydebrand, W. (1989). New Organizational Forms. Work and Occupations, 16 (3). 323-357 Jaffe, D. (2001). Organization Theory: Tensions and Change. New York: McGraw-Hill. Jake Batsell. (2002, June 26th). A Grande Decade for Starbucks.  The Seattle Times, 20, 15-20. Martyn, Shuttleworth. (2008). Survey Research Design. Web. Nassipur, Mehdi. (2004). Ov erview of Sample Surveys: Applied Sampling Workshop at the Annual TRB Conference, Traffic Safety IDOT, Washington. Ray, C.H. (1986). Corporate Culture: The Last Frontier of Control? Journal of  Management Studies, 23 (3), 287-29. Ritzer, G. (1993). The McDonalization of Society. London: Pine Forge Press. Youngme, Moon John Quelch. (2003). HBS Cases, Boston: Harvard Business Services Marketing (2003). Pearson Learning Solution. Web. Starbucks. (2003) Starbucks Survey Reports February 2003. Harvard Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Starbucks, (2002). Starbucks’ Customer Perception 2002 Survey Report. Harvard Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Stanley Holmes. (202, March 18th). Starbucks’ Card Smarts.  Business Week, 30, 21-25.

Constantine at the Battle of Milvian Bridge

Constantine at the Battle of Milvian Bridge The Battle of Milvian Bridge was part of the Wars of Constantine. Date Constantine defeated Maxentius on October 28, 312. Armies Commanders Constantine Emperor Constantine Iapproximately 100,000 men Maxentius Emperor Maxentiusapproximately 75,000-120,000 men Battle Summary In the power struggle that began following the collapse of the Tetrarchy around 309, Constantine consolidated his position in Britain, Gaul, the Germanic provinces, and Spain. Believing himself to be the rightful emperor of the Western Roman Empire, he assembled his army and prepared for an invasion of Italy in 312. To the south, Maxentius, who occupied Rome, sought to advance his own claim to the title. To support his efforts, he was able to draw upon the resources of Italy, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, and the African provinces. Advancing south, Constantine conquered northern Italy after crushing Maxentian armies at Turin and Verona. Showing compassion to the citizens of the region, they soon began to support his cause and his army swelled to near 100,000 (90,000 infantry, 8,000 cavalry). As he neared Rome, it was expected that Maxentius would stay within the city walls and force him to lay siege. This strategy had worked in the past for Maxentius when he faced invasion from the forces of Severus (307) and Galerius (308). In fact, siege preparations had already been made, with large amounts of food already brought into the city. Instead, Maxentius opted to give battle and advanced his army to the Tiber River near the Milvian Bridge outside of Rome. This decision is largely believed to have been based on favorable omens and the fact that the battle would occur on the anniversary of his ascension to the throne. On October 27, the night before the battle, Constantine claimed to have had a vision which instructed him fight under the protection of the Christian God. In this vision a cross appeared in the sky and he heard in Latin, in this sign, you will conquer. The author Lactantius states that following the visions instructions, Constantine ordered his men to paint the Christians symbol (either a Latin cross or the Labarum) upon their shields. Advancing over the Milvian Bridge, Maxentius ordered it destroyed so that it could not be used by the enemy. He then ordered a pontoon bridge constructed for his own armys use. On October 28, Constantines forces arrived on the battlefield. Attacking, his troops slowly pushed back Maxentius men until their backs were at the river. Seeing that the day was lost, Maxentius decided to retreat and renew the battle closer to Rome. As his army withdrew, it clogged the pontoon bridge, its only avenue of retreat, ultimately causing it to collapse. Those trapped on the north bank were either captured or slaughtered by Constantines men. With Maxentius army split and decimated, the battle came to a close. Maxentius body was found in the river, where he had drowned in an attempt to swim across. Aftermath While casualties for the Battle of the Milvian Bridge are not known, it is believed that Maxentius army suffered badly. With his rival dead, Constantine was free to consolidate his hold over the Western Roman Empire. He expanded his reign to include the entire Roman Empire after defeating Licinius during the civil war of 324. Constantines vision prior to the battle is believed to have inspired his ultimate conversion to Christianity. Selected Sources Constantine the GreatLactantius Account of the BattleEusebius Life of Constantine