Thursday, July 9, 2020

The Seven Pitfalls That Can Happen to Women Leaders

Gender parity is still an issue at â€Å"the top†Ã¢â‚¬â€the corporate top. It’s a subject close to my heart because I am an MBA student about to graduate, and I am a woman. I have my limitations, just like any other human being on the planet, and  I’d always thought of them as the only obstacle to reaching a top position in a company. The reality is that the business world works a different way. A study published in the  American Sociological Review states that while women are equally capable as men of building and leading a business (hopefully none of you needed that confirmed), women are less likely to take a company’s rein (become CEO) more often than not, even when they are well-positioned to do so. Therefore, there aren’t a whole of women leading boardroom meetings. According to a January report from Catalyst, a nonprofit dedicated to creating diverse work environments, women  hold  4.6 percent of Fortune 500 CEO positions, and the exact same percent of Fortune 1000 CEO positions. So how should business schools respond to these low statistics? At Hult International Business School, female students have had opportunities to develop their leadership skills and make their voices heard. One example is the â€Å"Women Leaders Around The World Club†, which has made tremendous efforts to engage female students, and bring in female business leaders to speak about their experiences and inspire students to reach for the top. Female professors have also stepped up as mentors and coaches. The school also offers the elective course â€Å"Women In Leadership’’. It is designed to take students out of their comfort zones and engage them in new approaches and frameworks for understanding and appreciating women in leadership (the class is open to all students). The course teaches students how to identify and develop their own personal leadership styles, as well as inspire them to aim high as leaders. As a student in the class, it was quite encouraging to hear male students voice their concerns and show their support for female business leaders, even if it meant some uncomfortable conversations. How many times do we get the chance to speak candidly and see the world from another’s perspective? It’s my hope that a class like this can bring more awareness and support to a topic that needs much greater attention. One of the most important lessons I have learned during my MBA program is about the seven pitfalls that affect women in business and leadership. The pitfalls made me think about what I need to do differently as I kick start the next phase of my career. Bold requests: Women tend not to make requests, while men often do. Women scrutinize, examine, and reassess their positions; they are excellent at negotiating for others, not so for themselves. Self-promotion: Women expect achievements to speak for themselves. This is totally wrong. Your accomplishments only speak for you if you make sure people hear about them. Self-Scrutiny, and being hard on yourself: The only way around this is to focus on intention; place self-examination and worry in the back seat, and put your purpose and goals behind the wheel. Hard Work Gets You Noticed: This is called a â€Å"loyalty trap†. Two things happen when you get noticed for how hard you work: (1) you become indispensable, and when you’re indispensable, no one will ever want to move you away into a new, bigger opportunity, so (2) you become invisible. Be known instead for the authenticity of your work and for an intuition that has proven its worth Grunt Work: There’s no escaping grunt work, but don’t get lost in it (that won’t do much for your career). What you can do is create leadership moments for yourself by proactively identifying and going after opportunities to lead, whether they be large or small ones. Strategic Networking: Relational vs. Transactional—men network to obtain something; women network for relationships and connections. Staying the Course: Don’t back down when you should push forward; no matter how long it may take you, stay on course! When you are aware of the pitfalls, its much easier to maneuver around them in order to stay on course—despite the ups and downs we’ll inevitably face in our careers. And here’s to Hult for offering a class that has armed us with ways to deal with the thorny issues women often encounter in the workplace. Because ultimately this is what we should want: when we finally get close to that boardroom door, it’s up to us, and us alone, if we want to go through it or not. Suzy Wanja is a  passionate Hult Global Ambassador. She is from Kenya (home of safaris!), and was an Audit Manager in a Big 4 firm prior to starting her MBA @HultSF. She loves traveling and has visited Canada and over 13 states in U.S.A – and still counting! Make the most of what your career has to offer with a Masters in International Business from Hult. To learn more, take a look at our blog Being an influential woman: focus areas for female leaders, or give your employability a huge boost with an MBA in international business. Download a brochure or get in touch today to find out how Hult can help you to explore everything about the business world, the future, and yourself. Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021 Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021"> During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . Happy New Year, Hultians! . Happy New Year, Hultians! .

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Social Context and Tobacco use - 1239 Words

A person’s social context affects many aspects of their lives, including the usage and non-usage of tobacco (Poland et al, 2006). An individual’s social context includes the following: race, gender, resources, education, income, neighborhood, employment, occupation and many more aspects of their environment (Hints). Tobacco use and social context go hand and hand as one affects the other since there is high relevance between the two (Poland et al, 2006). In order to see the broader dilemma of tobacco use, society must incorporate and examine the larger picture of how an individual’s environment plays a major role in tobacco use (Poland et al, 2006). Uneven social and geographic distribution of resources in society contributes to tobacco†¦show more content†¦Another scale that can be used is a tobacco use questionnaire that will look at the history of tobacco use for each individual. The study of the variables social context and tobacco use can result in providing insights to many more health issues that United States is being faced with and improve the social resources that individuals have. Nominal Tables: Statistics --TU-02. How often do you now smoke cigarettes? --DM-05. Which one or more of the following would you say is your race? N Valid 2615 5397 Missing 2971 189 --TU-02. How often do you now smoke cigarettes? Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent Valid Every Day 786 14.1 30.1 30.1 Some Days 229 4.1 8.8 38.8 Not At All 1599 28.6 61.1 100.0 Dont Know 1 .0 .0 100.0 Total 2615 46.8 100.0 Missing System 2971 53.2 Total 5586 100.0 --DM-05. Which one or more of the following would you say is your race? Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent Valid White 4430 79.3 82.1 82.1 Black 481 8.6 8.9 91.0 Asian 110 2.0 2.0 93.0 American Indian Or Alaska Native 141 2.5 2.6 95.6 Native Hawaiian Or Other Pacific Islander 17 .3 .3 96.0 Refused 42 .8 .8 96.7 Dont Know 176 3.2 3.3 100.0 Total 5397 96.6 100.0 Missing System 189 3.4 Total 5586 100.0 Interval Tables: Descriptive Statistics N Minimum Maximum Mean Std. Deviation --TU-02. How often do you now smoke cigarettes? 2615 1 9 2.31 .913Show MoreRelatedEssay Cash Crop: The Silent Killer847 Words   |  4 Pagesin humanity. Tobacco Companies’ love of money causes them to continue to promote and sell tobacco products even though these products are excessively harmful to their customers. During advertising campaigns, tobacco advertisers research people most likely to use their product and target that audience by mentioning the positives of using tobacco. Tobacco companies attempt to sell their products through carefully crafted messages accompanying every tobacco advertisement. In tobacco ads, advertisersRead MoreTobacco Control Policy910 Words   |  4 Pagesconsequence, prison populations experience far worse health outcomes than in the general population (Biswanger et al., 2014) and subsequently tobacco control policy in prisons is seen as a major opportunity to address this (PHE, 2015). Currently, such policies have largely consisted of interventions utilised for the general population including campaigns, the use of smoking cessation interventions (including nicotine replacement therapy) and more recently regulation around smoke-free environments. AtRead MoreHealth Issue : Adolescent Tobacco Cessation1319 Words   |  6 PagesHealth Issue: Adolescent Tobacco Cessation Consider how you would evaluate your program relative to each of the components. Linnan and Steckler (2002) describe the following key process evaluation components: Context-aspects of the larger social environment that may affect implementation; Reach-the proportion of the intended audience to whom the program is actually delivered; Dose-delivered-The amount of intended units of each program component that is delivered; Dose-received-the extent to whichRead MoreEvaluation Of A Program Evaluation1262 Words   |  6 PagesConsider how you would evaluate your program relative to each of the components. Linnan and Steckler (2002) describe the following key process evaluation components: Context-aspects of the larger social environment that may affect implementation; Reach-the proportion of the intended audience to whom the program is actually delivered; Dose-delivered-The amount of intended units of each program component that is delivered; Dose-received-the extent to which participants engage with the program; Fidelity-theRead MoreResearch Paper990 Words   |  4 Pagespolicy arena (2013). I attended the Tobacco 21 Idaho Coalition meeting (T21IC). I will examine the issue of moving the Tobacco age limit to 21 in Idaho using Karmark’s questions. This discussion will first focus on the meeting and the coalition to provide context and then will explore and answer some of Karmark’s questions. First, â€Å"Tobacco 21 Idaho Coalition seeks to raise the legal sale age for tobacco products and e-cigarettes from 18 to 21 years of age† (Tobacco 21, 2017). T21IC reasons thatRead MoreEvaluation Of A Program Evaluation1300 Words   |  6 PagesConsider how you would evaluate your Program relative to each of the components Linnan and Steckler (2002) describe the following key process evaluation components: Context-aspects of the larger social environment that may affect implementation; Reach-the proportion of the intended audience to whom the program is actually delivered; Dose-delivered-The amount of intended units of each program component that is delivered; Dose-received-the extent to which participants engage with the program; Fidelity-theRead MoreThe Health Effects Of Water Pipe Smoking1528 Words   |  7 Pageswater-pipe tobacco, those in the United States are left without any information concerning what they are inhaling into their lungs. The lack of information provided by producers of the product, leaves hookah to be the latest trend instead of potentially addictive, hazardous to user’s health, widely misunderstood, and something to do during down time. Negative affects of water-pipe smoking come in different forms. For instance, In Mary Martinasek’s article Waterpipe (Hookah) Tobacco Smoking AmongRead MoreMarijuana Research Paper1281 Words   |  6 Pagescontinuously. Policies in United States government takes against illegal drugs are coming into question. Marijuana laws have been enacted since 1937, that’s over 75 years of prohibition. But in 1996, California passed Proposition 215, legalizing the use of prescription medical marijuana. Just like the failed attempt of alcohol prohibition, marijuana is now rising as the most popular drug in America. Marijuana is the most commonly used drug in the United States. However, it is an illegal substance.Read MoreWhat Is A Community Strategic Plan1307 Words   |  6 Pagesmanagement, high cost of healthcare and inadequate knowledge of the disease. One factor that could cause these chronic diseases is the Tobacco usage among adults. According to Centers for Diseases Contro l and Prevention (CDC) (2017), Smoking may cause cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung disease, diabetes and COPD which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Tobacco usage which includes cigarettes remains the leading cause of preventable death and disability in the United States. Over 16 millionRead MoreThe Need For Priority Direction . The Australian Research1175 Words   |  5 Pagesadolescents transiting into healthy young adults (Patton Viner 2007). Physical health is also inter-related with one’s mental health and social outcomes, as the increase in the brain size and growth in neuronal connections, allows a growing person to begin to develop abstract thinking, which increases a young person’s autonomy and forms new patterns of social behaviours (Patton Viner 2007). Thus, this unique period is critical to optimize young people’s physical health, which can set the stage

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

My Family Celebrates The Cultural Tradition Of Dia De Reyes

Every year on January 6, my family celebrates the cultural tradition of Dia de Reyes, which recognizes the coming of the three Wise Men. Children in Hispanic regions in the United States received presents from their parents just like how the three Wise Men presented gifts to baby Jesus. Another way to celebrate this holiday is to eat; the Rosca de Reyes is a accustomed Mexican bread in the shape of a ring, symbolizing the Wise Men’s quest for the Ruler of the Jews. It is said that Balthazar, Melchior, and Gaspar, the Three Wise Men journey through Jerusalem following a star. When the Wise Men met with King Herod, they questioned him where the newborn King had been born. Terrified by these words, King Herod, questioned the Wise men to look for the infant and to come at once when they find him, so that he too can also praise the new ruler. Since Herod was scared the newborn might endanger his sovereign power, he commanded the murdering of every child under the age of three years old. Soon, when the Wise Men located the newborn named Jesus it became a holiday known as Epiphany, which the bread, Rosca de Reyes, symbolizes. The dried and sweet fruit that decorate the bread represents the crowns of the Three Wise Men, while the accustomed figures are positioned in the inner part of the bread that symbolizes Joseph and Mary running away to Egypt to get away from Herod’s efforts to murder their child. In fact, the tradition Rosca de Reyes began in France during the fourteenthShow MoreRelatedThe Culture Of The Mexican Culture2401 Words   |  10 PagesIn our society today, culture is not what it used to be hundreds of years ago. There is no more â€Å"pure† culture. Our culture today is enriched with many different traditions and customs that are being shared and adopted. Due to emigration and immigration, a variety of diverse customs, beliefs, and knowledge moved with every exiting and entering human being. Thus, changing and shaping the culture o f many. Throughout the world, the beliefs and religious views of culture are dissimilar around the worldRead More1.) â€Å"Multiculturalism† Is The Co-Existence Of Diverse Cultures,2012 Words   |  9 Pages1.) â€Å"Multiculturalism† is the co-existence of diverse cultures, where culture includes racial, religious, religious, or cultural groups and its manifested in customary behaviors, cultural assumptions and values, patterns of thinking, and communication styles. Assimilation occurs when members of one cultural group adopt the language, practices, beliefs. Assimilation requires minorities to adopt the traits of the dominant culture (49). Through this process we simply add new information to our existingRead MoreCulturally Relevant Services. In This Paper, I Will Be3361 Words   |  14 PagesServices In this paper, I will be exploring and explaining about the culture that I am studying in order to present it to my classmates for Miss Dennette Derezotes Social Work 345 class. I will try to give my classmates a better understanding about the way this culture lives, in what is to them a new land. Undocumented immigrants is the culture that I chose to write about in my paper. When I use the term undocumented immigrants, I am referring to all those that are living in the United States

Corporate Finance Budgeting and Planning

Questions: 1. How their decision making could be related to capital budgeting techniques such as, Internal Rate of Return, Net Present Value etc. Explain the following concepts in relation to Capital Budgeting Techniques? 2. Explain and identify similarities and differences between Capital Asset Pricing Model and Capital Market Line? Answers: Introduction Capital Budgeting indicates towards the process that can be used for making business decisions regarding investments in different assets of long term of the corporation. The general conception is that the capital or the funds raised by a corporation can be utilized in the future for investment in different assets that can enable the corporation to generate revenues in the upcoming period. Every so often, these funds are not substantially available and the management of the firms need to make budgets and decide the way these funds can be invested. The current paper throws light on evaluation of decision making process using different techniques of capital budgeting such as the net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return (IRR) among many others. The current study also explicates in detail different concepts related to capital budgeting tactics such as the sensitivity analysis as well as scenario analysis. Moving further, the present segment also elucidates illustratively the Capital Asset Pricing Model and Capital Market Line along with the similarities and variances between the two. 1. Evaluation of the decision making process related to capital budgeting methods The capital budgeting methods can be regarded as an important factor in the process of business decision making (Fama 2016). Vital decisions on investment are essentially based on the returns from the investments generated unless the decisions of investments are for social reasons. These techniques of capital budgeting is essential as huge amount of money can be wasted in case if the investment turns out to be wrong or in other words uneconomical (Shapiro 2015). Thus, for the purpose of decision making in business it is vital to understand the significance of the capital budgeting techniques that businesses use for determination of the merits as well as demerits of investment projects of a business concern (Ryan and Ryan 2013). The techniques of capital budgeting follows an organized and well thought out step by step procedure that can assist a firm to cultivate as well as formulate strategic objectives for long term, pursue for new investments projects, approximate and estimate flows of cash in the upcoming period (Clark et al. 2014). In addition to this, this process also helps in facilitating the overall transfer of information, tracking and control of expenditures along with creation of business decisions. The process of business decision making can be associated to the procedure of evaluation of different proposals of capital investment. This essentially refers to techniques, namely, the net present value (NPV) along with internal rate of return among many others. The capital budgeting technique of NPV refers to the inflow (arrival) of cash that is anticipated to be generated at different periods of time is necessarily discounted at a specific rate (Fama 2016). Thereafter, the present values (PV) of th e influx of cash are associated to the original investment. The PV of the influx of cash can be compared to the original venture and in case if the variance between the two is positive, then the firm can arrive at the decision to accept the specific project otherwise discard the same. This mechanism regards the overall time value of money that is again stable with the intention of intensification of owners profit (Schall et al. 2015). As such, the equation for the NPV based on the supposition of cash outflow in the initial year can be represented in the following manner: In this case, the Ai (i=1(n)) stands for the cash inflows and K represents the capital cost of a particular corporation and C is the proposal cost of investment and n is the anticipated life of the specific investment proposal. Another capital budgeting technique is the internal rate of return (IRR) indicates towards rate at which the net present value of a specific investment project is equal to zero (Myers 2014). In this procedure, the discounted inflow of cash equals the discounted outflow of cash. This mechanism of capital budgeting considers the time value of money and it tries to arrive at a rate of interest at which invested funds in the investment projects can be repaid out of the inflows of cash (Ryan and Ryan 2013). Nevertheless, the process of IRR is known as an internal rate as it depends primarily on the outlay as well as proceeds related to the investment projects and not a rate determined outside the investment. IRR can be determined by means of solving the equations presented below: The business decision makers can arrive at decisions using this capital budgeting technique and if the IRR exceeds the WACC then the project is profitable (Myers 2014). If IRR is exceeding the K (capital cost), then decisions of accepting the project can be undertaken. Again, in case if the IRR is below the k (capital cost), then the judgments regarding rejection of the investment proposal can be undertaken by the decision makers (Myers and Turnbull 2015). Explanation of the concepts related to Capital Budgeting Mechanisms Sensitivity Analysis Sensitivity analysis refers to a specific technique that can be utilized for determination of the way different values of a particular independent variable influences a specific dependent variable under a specified set of suppositions (Mao 2013). However, this mechanism can be utilized within particular limitations that count on the one or additional input variables, for example the consequences that alters rate of interests on prices of bonds. Sensitivity analysis is also regarded as what if simulation analysis that refers to the way of prediction of the consequences of a particular business decision given a specific range of variables (Klammer 2014). It is also considered as one of the most important tools for analysing the project risks that intends to recognize different numerical values of diverse risk events as well as their consequences and undertake quantitative appraisal of certain risks. This quantitative analysis of the overall likelihood of particular risks as well as the ir consequences permits in finding out the most plausible value losses as per the occurrence along with magnitude. Graham and Harvey (2013) opines that the sensitivity analysis aid the managers in assessment of the degree of sensitivity as well as responsiveness of NPV to diverse alterations in the variables that are used to enumerate the same. However, the NPV essentially depends on particular number of independent variables such as volume of sales, price of selling, variable costs, outlay, cost of investment, interest on different loans and rate of discounts among many others. Froot and Stein (2016) mentions that the sensitivity evaluation requires calculation of NPV under diverse suppositions for determination of the way NPV is responsive to different changing state of affairs. Thus, sensitivity analysis helps in discovering whether a specific project might fail and whether there is likelihood of a specific events within a project can lead to negative NPV. Figure 1: NPV and IRR (graphical presentation) (Source: Froot and Stein 2016) Scenario Analysis Scenario analysis refers to the procedure of analysing diverse business decisions by taking into account different substitute possible consequences. Dean (2014) states that scenario analysis is essentially designed to observe the outcomes of a particular activity under diverse set of facets. Again, scenarios need to be plausible enough for delivering an appropriate image of the consequences. Scenario analysis necessarily uses 3 different situations, namely, base incident, worst case as well as best case (Durnev et al. 2014). Nevertheless, the number as well as conditions of different scenarios in each and every analysis can differ. Particularly, it is an analytic mechanism for management of uncertainty and not a predictive mechanism. However, the primary intention of sensitivity analysis is not only to compute or else enumerate risk, but also to establish the responsiveness of (NPV) to different variables that can be utilized to compute it (Bierman Jr and Smidt 2013). Again, the noti on of evaluating a particular venture before binding reserves to it is to provide the executives of organizations the opportunity of having larger image of the worth of the venture that in turn can add to the entire success of the organization (Antle and Eppen 2015). Thus, it can be said that the sensitivity analysis helps in the process of directing the efforts of the management, finding the sources of planning information, automation as well as quality evaluation. 2. Explanation and identification of the similarities as well as variances Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) v/s Capital Market Line (CML) Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) is one of the models that describe the nature of association between systematic risk as well as anticipated return for specific assets especially in case of stocks (Schall, Sundem and Geijsbeek 2015). This model is extensively used in business for valuing of different chancy securities as well as generates expected return for assets whereby risk of those assets will be calculated from cost of capital. Formula of Capital Assets Pricing Model: The idea behind use of CAPM is that investors require compensating in two major ways involving worth of money as well as risk (Ryan and Ryan 2013). However, the time value of the invested money is indicated by risk-free rate in the given formula as well as compensating the financiers for assigning the money in a particular investment for specified period. Assumptions All investors focus on a single holding period as well as find ways in minimizing the expected utility of terminal wealth by selecting from the alternative portfolios based on each portfolio expected return as well as standard deviation (Myers 2014) All investors can easily borrow or in case lend an unlimited amount at a given risk-free rate of interest as well as there are no restrictions or short sales of an asset (Myers and Turnbull 2015) Investors posses homogeneous expectations. This means investors have identical estimates from the expected returns as well as variances and covariances from the assets whereby participants have equal and costless way in accessing the useful information (Mao 2013) All assets are infinitely divisible No transaction costs No Taxes All involved investors are price takers whereby they own buying and selling activity that will not affect stock prices (Klammer 2014) The quantities of all assets are given as well as fixed Capital Market Line Capital Market Line (CML) essentially appears within the CAPM for depicting the return rate for efficient portfolios that is depending on risk level termed as standard deviation (SD) for portfolio of the market as well as risk-free return rate (Graham and Harvey 2013). In other words, the CML is basically shaped by outlining a digression line from predominantly the point of interruption on the competent boundary to the point whereby standard return from a particular asset equals the risk-free return rate. Capital Market Line Equation Figure: Capital Market Line (Source: Froot and Stein 2016) Capital Market Line (CML) indicates that anticipated return rate on certain efficient portfolio equals with risk-free rate as well as risk premium. In other words, the optimal portfolio considering investors where point of tangency between Capital Market Line as well as indifference curve of the investors (Durnev, Morck and Yeung 2014). Similarity between CAPM and CML Capital Market Pricing Model comprises of attributes such as Efficient Frontier, CML, and SML in addition to Calculation of Beta (Dean 2014). CAPM is a broader theory as well as set of some unrealistic assumptions that produces the SML but involves ideas at the same time. CAPM has systematic risk (beta) on the x axis. It has been further viewed that Capital Market Line is an efficient frontier after taking into consideration risk-free asset that are added to the minimum variance portfolios such as the curvy line from where it includes all risk assets termed as Market Portfolio. Therefore, Capital Market Line has total risk volatility on x-axis (Bierman and Smidt 2013). The formula for CAPM is risk-free rate is represented by adding beta of the security or else portfolio and multiplied with the anticipated return from market after deducting risk-free rate return rate (Antle and Eppen 2015). In other words, the yield involves anticipated return earned from the specific security. This means beta of a particular security help in enumerating the systematic risk in addition to sensitivity based on market variations. This takes into consideration when the market upsurges or else drops whereby security rises or else reduces within time. Security with a specific beta can be exceeding 1 as it bears more systematic risk as well as fluctuations than the market whereby security with a beta below 1 bears less risk that is systematic and market fluctuations. As such, the formula used in CAPM will help in determining when security can be considered for proper outlay by offering rational anticipated return for particularly the amount of risk assumed (Shapiro 2015). Capital Asset Pricing Model formula will be representing risk as well as calculate the compensation amount as per the investment requirements for assuming an added risk (Clark, Hindelang and Pritchard 2014). In other words, it is calculated by using risk measure in form of beta for comparing the returns of the assets to the market for specified time as well as market premium. This means market return is additional by assuming risk-free rate. This reveals the fact that beta reflects upon the manner a particular risky asset can be compared from the whole market risk from the fluctuations of a particular asset (Weingartner 2016). Difference between Capital Asset Pricing Model and Capital Market Line Capital Asset Pricing Model Capital Market Line CAPM is essentially an equilibrium model that shows the association between risk as well as required return rate for particular assets that is mentioned in the properly diversified portfolios (Fama 2016) Capital Market Line involves all linear combinations of risk-free assets as well as Portfolio CAPM is based on the premises that has only one factor Portfolio that is below Capital Market Line are inferior in nature that involves: The Capital Market Line defines the new efficient set (Durnev, Morck and Yeung 2014) All potential investors will select a portfolio on the Capital Market Line CAPM is one of the notions that will show association between risk as well as required rate of return on assets whereby the model embodies two elementary relationships such as Capital Market Line and Security Market Line (Durnev, Morck and Yeung 2014) The risk that is discussed in the model comes under two major components such as systematic risk as well as unsystematic risk CML indicates the connection that subsists between the proceeds whereby it should be projected on the effective portfolios of securities as well as risk of particular portfolio. In other words, efficient portfolios are effectual portfolios that will render maximum anticipated return for any magnitude of risk or lowermost magnitude of risk for any particular estimated return (Ryan and Ryan 2013). Conclusion The above study helps in gaining deep insight regarding capital budgeting techniques and the way the business decision making can be associated to particular techniques of capital budgeting. The present segment also provides an overview of the concepts of the NPV, IRR, sensitivity analysis as well as scenario analysis that helps in estimating the feasibility of projects. In addition to this, the current report also gives comprehensive understanding of the concepts of CAPM along with the capital market line that helps in understanding risk as well as anticipated return for specific assets. References Antle, R. and Eppen, G.D., 2015. Capital rationing and organizational slack in capital budgeting. Management science, 31(2), pp.163-174. Bierman Jr, H. and Smidt, S., 2013. The capital budgeting decision: economic analysis of investment projects. Routledge. Clark, J.J., Hindelang, T.J. and Pritchard, R.E., 2014. Capital budgeting: planning and control of capital expenditures. Prentice Hall. Dean, J., 2014. Capital budgeting: top-management policy on plant, equipment, and product development. Columbia University Press. Durnev, A., Morck, R. and Yeung, B., 2014. Value?enhancing capital budgeting and firm?specific stock return variation. The Journal of Finance, 59(1), pp.65-105. Fama, E.F., 2016. Risk-adjusted discount rates and capital budgeting under uncertainty. Journal of Financial Economics, 5(1), pp.3-24. Froot, K.A. and Stein, J.C., 2016. Risk management, capital budgeting, and capital structure policy for financial institutions: an integrated approach. Journal of Financial Economics, 47(1), pp.55-82. Graham, J. and Harvey, C., 2013. How do CFOs make capital budgeting and capital structure decisions?. Journal of applied corporate finance, 15(1), pp.8-23. Klammer, T., 2014. Empirical evidence of the adoption of sophisticated capital budgeting techniques. The Journal of Business, 45(3), pp.387-397. Mao, J.C., 2013. Survey of capital budgeting: Theory and practice. The Journal of Finance, 25(2), pp.349-360. Myers, S.C. and Turnbull, S.M., 2015. Capital budgeting and the capital asset pricing model: Good news and bad news. The Journal of Finance, 32(2), pp.321-333. Myers, S.C., 2014. Interactions of corporate financing and investment decisionsimplications for capital budgeting. The Journal of finance, 29(1), pp.1-25. Ryan, P.A. and Ryan, G.P., 2013. Capital budgeting practices of the Fortune 1000: how have things changed?. Journal of business and Management, 8(4), p.355. Schall, L.D., Sundem, G.L. and Geijsbeek, W.R., 2015. Survey and analysis of capital budgeting methods. The journal of finance, 33(1), pp.281-287. Shapiro, A.C., 2015. Capital budgeting and investment analysis. Prentice Hall. Weingartner, H.M., 2016. Capital budgeting of interrelated projects: survey and synthesis. Management Science, 12(7), pp.485-516.

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Slowdown in U.S housing market

Slowdown in U.S housing market During the period between 1998 and 2008, the prices of housing in the United States rose dramatically. In some part of the country, the prices increased by more than fifty percent (Roberts 25). This process can be explained by different factors such as deregulation, tax policies, low interest rates, and the firm conviction of many people that real estate will never depreciate (Roberts 25).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Slowdown in U.S housing market specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Nevertheless, in 2006 U.S. housing market began to slow down. The prices on housing declined in different regions of the United States. Despite the efforts of the government, the situation has not changed much, and the real estate market of the country remains stagnant even at the beginning of 2013. This problem will be discussed can be attributed the fact that modern economy has become extremely interc onnected, and the failure of one sector can adversely influence other areas of economy. It is particularly important to speak about the context of this issue because in this way one can better understand its impacts. First of all, before 2006 the value of housing was important for the purchasing power of many people in the country. Furthermore, the sustainability of many banks depended on the price of housing since these institutions used real estate as a form of mortgage or collateral (Roberts 12). Additionally, the financial performance of stock could be affected by the housing market. Thus, one can argue that different elements of the economy were extremely interdependent. This is the reason why the collapse and subsequent stagnation of the housing market produced far-reaching consequences. There are several implications of this crisis. In particular, one can speak about the diminishing availability of credit for the population since many banks expect to receive some collateral f rom the borrowers. The problem is that real estate has long been the most conventional form of collateral, and currently it has become less valuable. Furthermore, in the U.S housing market, the supply significantly exceeds the demand for real estate. Moreover, a great number of financial institutions and governmental agencies face a significant challenge. In particular, they should avoid numerous foreclosures since this trend increases the supply of the housing. These are the main challenges that should be overcome.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More One can identify several consequences that are very important. For instance, the revenues of many real estate companies dropped dramatically. These organizations have to lay off many of their workers. At this point, the sustainability of these firms is under threat. Furthermore, one should remember about the difficulties faced by h omeowners. At this point, these people do not know whether their real estate can retain its value in the future. This issue is very urgent when the rate of foreclosures increases. Furthermore, one should remember that many communities have been affected by this slowdown. Many of them have become almost abandoned because of many people had to leave their houses. This is another issue that should not be overlooked. These examples suggest that the recession of the U.S housing market has affected various stakeholders such as homeowners, financial organizations, real estate companies and sometimes even entire communities. The most important challenge is the lack of stimulus that can revitalize this industry. This is the main problem that policy-makers and business leaders should address in order to boost the development of the American economy. The government’s rent control and rental regulations Another issue that should be discussed is the rent control that is aimed at making ho using more affordable (Rowley and Schneider 188). In many cases, governmental regulations are supposed to act as price ceilings that prevent the price of rent from increasing. Furthermore, they are designed to protect the rights of clients who often fall victims of information asymmetry (Rowley and Schneider 188). Apart from that, these laws are designed to benefit many families since it may be difficult for them to find a new apartment. This is the main rationale for adopting this strategy. It is important to determine the implications of this policy, especially its impact on the market. One can say that this intrusion into the market can create difficulties for tenants and renters. However, these regulations are vital for people with low levels of income. First, it should be noted that these regulations have become extremely important at the time, when the price on housing was gradually rising. Some people could not afford to purchase a real estate, and rent was probably the only option available to them. This situation was very widespread among low-income people who could not receive a mortgage from a bank.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Slowdown in U.S housing market specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Nevertheless, one should also remember about people who choose to rent their houses. These individuals and organizations can be affected by inflation, while price-ceilings do not always reflect the changes in the inflation rate. Moreover, it should be kept in mind that these stakeholders can invest capital in the redevelopment of the housing that they possess (Euchner and McGovern 168). Nevertheless, they may be unable to recover these costs by increasing rent prices. These are some of some of the main circumstances that should be considered. These factors can explain some effects of governmental intervention in the housing market. There are several consequences and implications of this is sue. First of all, researchers believe that this policy decreases the mobility of people. In other words, they are willing to stay in those cities, where they can find more affordable housing. This means that they can be deprived of many economic opportunities, for instance, when they have to find a new job (Rittenberg 100). Additionally, economists warn policy-makers about the existence of the so-called shadow market that are hardly regulated by the government (Euchner and McGovern 168). The problem is that in state-controlled markets the demand for housing will eventually exceed supply. The property owners, who have to work in such an environment, can rely on the backdoor payments while dealing with customers (Rittenberg 100). For example, one can mention the use of large security deposits (Rittenberg 100). This is the main danger that legislator should be aware of while designing their policies. Yet, one should remember about another effect of price controls. They create more sec urity for many occupants are dependent on the availability housing and the stability of prices. These people cannot be easily evicted from houses. As it has been noted before, for many families it is extremely challenging to find a new accommodation. The rent control is supposed to uphold the rights of these people. Thus, one should not forget about the possible benefit of this strategy. Economists believe that government can give some tax relief to the property owners who have to operate in state-controlled market (Rittenberg 100). In this way, they can reconcile the interests of different stakeholders.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Therefore, one can argue that the governmental regulations can create many difficulties for people who need to rent an apartment or a house. In particular, this strategy can eventually decrease the supply of accommodation. Nevertheless, it can increase the security of many tenants. Thus, it has both advantages and disadvantages that should be taken into account by policy-makers in the United States. The minimum wage laws The economic development of a country is also influenced by the existence of the minimum wage laws. According to these regulations, private companies and governmental organizations are obliged to pay a certain minimum amount of money for their hourly work (Mathis 371). Overall, it is possible to argue that these laws are important for protecting the rights of employees in the workplace. Moreover, they are important for increasing the purchasing power of the population. This is why they can be regarded as a positive force. This is the main argument that should be exa mined in more detail. It should be noted that minimum wage law has a long history in the United States. For example, they can be traced to 1933. In turn, the most recent piece of legislation is Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 (Mathis 372). Overall, these protective measures are particularly important for young and often unskilled people who often lack experience and expertise. These workers are most likely to become the victims of unscrupulous employers. This danger is the most important rationale for enacting minimum wage laws in the United States. Nevertheless, one should not forget about the interests of companies that are now driven by the need to reduce their operational costs and labor expenses. This conflict of interest is one of the reasons why these regulations are so often debated. The task of policy makers is to find some form of compromise. It is vital to look at the possible consequences of this strategy and its long-term implications. Overall, one can say that nowadays t he existence of minimum wage laws influences various kinds of businesses. These organizations can be engaged in different economic activities such as construction, hospitality, fishing, retailing, and so forth. The workers, who benefit from the legislation, often lack professional education, and their labor is not very expensive (Mathis 373). The most important benefit of this policy is that the purchasing power of low-wage employees remains relatively stable. Some critics of this policy believe that minimum wage laws can decrease the demand for the labor of young workers. However, this hypothesis has been fully confirmed (Mathis 373). Therefore, there are no adverse consequences of this regulation; at they have not demonstrated in an empirical way. This is one of the main points that can be made. Thus, it is possible to argue that minimum wage laws have already become an inseparable part of the modern economic life. These regulations are important for a great number of workers in t he United States. Although some companies can be reluctant to accept these laws, they remain vital for ensuring the compensation of workers and the purchasing power of American people. This is the main reason why this initiative can be supported by the government. Works Cited Euchner, Charles and S. McGovern. Urban Policy Reconsidered: Dialogues on the  Problems and Prospects of American Cities. Philadelphia: Routledge, 2003. Print. Mathis, Robert. Human Resource Management, New York: Cengage Learning, 2010. Print. Rittenberg, Libbie. Principles of Microeconomics, Boston: Flat World Knowledge, 2008. Print. Roberts, Lawrence. The Great Housing Bubble, New York: Monterey Cypress LLC, 2008. Print. Rowley, Charles, and F. Schneider. The Encyclopedia of Public Choice, New York: Springer, 2004. Print. This essay on Slowdown in U.S housing market was written and submitted by user Zackery Acosta to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Plant Biotechnology essays

Plant Biotechnology essays The earth can be seen as an ecological system which includes the birth/death rates, water/air management, minerals/energy, and plant/animal life. When there is an imbalance in one of these systems, problems can arise. The plant/animal subsystem has four components: Food and population, minerals and energy, excretory, and biotechnology. The food and population system is the ratio between the calories of the living and human behavior. Currently, 1 trillion calories of food are needed per day. The energy and mineral system is comprised of the use of fuels, metal and resources that humans need to survive. The excretory system is the waste and pollution produced from the other subsystems. For example, the agriculture industry impacts the soil and climate of the environments. Pesticides seep into the ground water and linger in foods causing precious resources to be lost. In order to sustain the ecological system, water, soil and sunlight are needed to produce food. The ways to increase the production of food are to increase the acres under cultivation or to increase the yield of current crops. To do this, the fourth system of biotechnology is necessary to ease the strain on the other three systems because it conserves resources and produces higher crop yields. Although there may be draw back and potential dangers of biotechnology, countries that have problems with population and food such as China, need to use this and other technology to increase their food supply. The problem of overpopulation with not having enough food has always existed worldwide, but primarily in China. In 46 years, the worlds population has increased from two billion to six billion people. China has tried family planning in order to combat its population problems. Each family is allowed to have only one child and special permission is needed to have that one child. Failure to follow the one child rule results in economic hardships for the family. These reper...

Saturday, February 29, 2020

Assessment test Essay Example for Free

Assessment test Essay Assessment is a vast topic that is a continuing process that educators use to observe, gather, and evaluate evidence to determine what students have learned, as well as, making informed, and dependable decisions to enhance student learning. It encompasses a broad range of testing from nationwide accountability tests to everyday classroom observation and quizzes. In order to take control of what appears to be an excess use of testing, assessment should be looked upon as a tool for information. The more information we have about students, the more closely we can look at  instructional strategies that are effective and which ones need to be modified. There are two main types of assessments that I will be discussing, formal and informal. Informal assessments or in other words â€Å"assessment of learning†, are used to evaluate students during the learning process. Formal assessments are conducted as a tool to evaluate student’s completion of work or the final product. There are many advantages and disadvantages to these types of assessments techniques that I will be discussing for measuring student progress. I will begin by discussing two formal assessment types along with its  advantages and disadvantages. The first type of assessment that I would like to address would be the statewide-standardized test under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). The statewide standardized test is considered a high-stakes test because of the important consequences it has on passing or failing the test. It mandates yearly testing for grades 3 through 8 and once in high school for reading and math. Science was recently added in the mix to test students at least once in elementary, middle and high school. The underlying principle for this type of testing was intended to reach great  academic achievement for all students, especially those from lower socioeconomic classes. Advantage #1 It ensures that no child—regardless of race, ethnicity, gender or status is trapped in a consistently low-performing school. If a school does not make adequate progress towards set standards, parents have the option of sending their children to a better performing school or are provided free tutoring. This assessment helps determine if the student is receiving high-quality education at different grade levels. Advantage #2 Teachers are held accountable. If a student is not advancing with one  method of teaching, the teacher must use a different technique for a more favorable outcome. They must use research-based methods of teaching. This high-stakes test determines how to use assessment results to plan effective instruction. Disadvantage #1 This statewide-standardized test does not recognize student growth. It does not offer a realistic picture of how a student or school is performing as a whole. The extent of what a student actually learned is not known. Students that start out at a disadvantage are not given recognition for progress in achievement. Disadvantage #2 Teaching to the test. The growing concern with this high-stakes test is that it has become the curriculum and instruction has been narrowed to focus on results. Disadvantage #3 States set their own standards and can make tests unusually easy to compensate for inadequate student performance. The second type of formal assessment I would like to discuss is the aptitude test. It is a norm-reference test and is administered under timed testing conditions. It measures a student’s overall performance across a wide range of intellectual capabilities. These test are useful to determine the current level students are at and to adjust classroom curriculum  accordingly. Advantage #1 Aptitude tests are excellent predictors of future learning or performance. Advantage #2 Aptitude tests help students understand their own strengths and weaknesses. Advantage #3 Aptitude tests are useful tools for working with students with special needs because it can help teachers form realistic expectations of the student. Disadvantage #1 Since this is a multiple-choice type test, it does not allow for creativity or an alternative way of thinking. Disadvantage #2 Since this is a norm-reference test, students do not know how well they individually mastered the material. They only know how well they did compared to other students. Informal assessments is an important tool for teachers to use to monitor students’ progress throughout the learning process. The first type of informal assessment I feel is crucial in monitoring student performance is observation. I feel this method would be valuable to use in my classroom because I can observe students immediate reaction to my instruction especially during a pair-share or group setting. As I walk around the classroom, I would document my assessment of students’ performance and then provide feedback. As I observe and listen, it will allow me to know how many students remembered and processed the information given, as well as using it to solve problems. Advantage #2 As I observe and listen, it can help me to immediately clarify any confusion and address the problem. Disadvantage #1 Not all students may be verbally participating at the time of observation. Disadvantage #2 Some students become nervous when being observed, and their performance may suffer. A second type of informal assessment that I would use in the classroom would be student portfolios. Through the portfolio process,  students develop goal-setting and self-directed learning techniques. It helps students value themselves as learners. It also allows students to compete with themselves rather than with other students. Advantage #1 Students can plan and manage their own time to complete their work. This can benefit the students by teaching them responsibility for their own learning goals. Advantage #2 Students know their own strengths and weaknesses as they assess and analyze their progress. Disadvantage #1 Portfolios take a lot of planning and organization. Gathering all the information can make it difficult to manage. Disadvantage #2 Evaluating and scoring a student’s portfolio evolves a wide range of subjective evaluation procedures, which can limit reliability. A third method of informal assessment is through student oral presentation. This technique provides the student an opportunity to present information through verbal means in lieu of a written form. It allows the student to show their knowledge on a particular subject. To assess this type of method I would use a rating scale to grade student performance. It is very important to use a detailed rating scale for students to know the  aspects of the presentation that are to be considered in the assessment. Advantage #1 This method of assessment is instant and immediate in the transmission of information. Feedback can be given instantly. Advantage #2 Oral presentations provide maximum preparation. This can allow the students to practice to achieve perfection. Disadvantage #1 Some students are timid and more introverted than others. Oral presentations can be very intimidating and nerve-racking. Disadvantage #2 English language learners or those students who have a disability might affect their ability to speak fluently. Disadvantage #3  Students might find it easier to organize information through written communication. The final informal assessment method I would use would be pop quizzes. This type of assessment is usually quick, given without prior warning and can be completed in 15 minutes or less. Teachers can use this method to determine if students have grasped recent information. Advantage #1 Allow students to build on previous information and strengthens concepts which may have been unclear to them. Advantage #2 It is a great way to reinforce material that may be covered on a standardized type assessment test. It does not allow for accommodation for those students who need extended time on examinations, tests and quizzes. It can cause undo stress for those students. Disadvantage #2 It doesn’t really tell the true picture of a student’s level of knowledge. Some students may be lucky enough to guess the majority of the questions correctly. Having a mixture of written and oral types of informal assessments services a wide range of students. It allows the teacher to evaluate and recognize student’s learning needs and determine the appropriate level and pace of workflow. It offers the students the best chance to excel in one or more formats. Assessment test. (2016, Sep 25).