Saturday, December 28, 2019

Controvery of Creation vs. Evolution in Inherit the Wind,...

In Inherit The Wind, by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, is about a big trial in a small town, and a controversial Creation versus Evolution debate. There are many characters with flamboyant and powerful personalities. Among them are: Matthew Harrison Brady, and Henry Drummond. Although all of these influential people are powerful, not all of them have the same amount of power, not only over other people, but over themselves as well. Matthew Harrison Brady is a very powerful, and revered man at the beginning of the playwright, however his power declines as the play continues. At the beginning of the novel, Brady is the most powerful person in the state. From the period he got off the train, to the trial, he was lionized. He heads up the†¦show more content†¦Although many don’t realize it until the end, he is the middle man, and has chosen to take the middle way out of his conflict. He was able to find the right balance of religion and science, which many people lack. He was the growing fish in a small pond, just waiting for his opportunity to eat up Brady, and be the biggest fish in the pond. In the movie, he seems more hated at the beginning, than in the play. In the courtroom, his power shifts for the better. Brady said â€Å"I’ve seen what you can do to a jury, twist and tangle them† page 47. This shows how Drummond has power over everyone, even without them knowing it. He just ha s that sort air about him that tells you he knows what he’s doing, even though he may not win. When he calls Brady up to the stand, the power completely changes. Drummond now has full power over the courtroom, and is making Brady look like a fool. He started bombarding not only Brady, but the townsfolk as well with a barrage of questions. All of them examining their beliefs and lifestyle choices, and others targeting their views directly on Charles Darwin, and his theory of evolution. Among these questions are: How Long Really Is A Day?, and What about his wife? He relates Brady to Golden Dancer, his rocking horse when he was a kid. He tells Cates that Brady is shiny and pretty on the outside, but is really just spit and wax on the inside. A quote that represents how he has power over himself is

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Case Study Apple Inc. - 2282 Words

n January of 1984, Apple Inc. released the first Macintosh personal computer to the public that significantly changed the personal computer world. Apple Inc. (Apple), the biggest information technology American firm in the world, was founded in California on April 1, 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne. The firm started in the garage of Steve job’s home where the trio were inclined to build their own personal computer as the available ones were out of budget. Steve jobs formularized the idea of logistics between the development, creation, and sale of his computer by tying the materials, production, and development in a streamlined chain of events; while Steve Woziak handled the research and development of the computer. Together they were unstoppable and paved their path towards a multinational corporation that would specialize in consumer electronics which would be known as an iconic brand. After 40 years, today Apple is a worldwide technology company that ha ve 478 retail stores in 17 countries and around 115,000 number of employees all over the world (as of July 2015). The following analysis will focus on the first Apple Macintosh introduced in January 1984 constituted a milestone in the history of computers; its original idea evolved from Project Lisa; Jef Raskin began the Macintosh project in 1979; the public view of the first Mac; its historical significance and the lessons to be learned from its development. The first Apple Macintosh introducedShow MoreRelatedCase Study : Apple Inc.1349 Words   |  6 Pages Case Analysis: APPLE INC.: IPODS AND ITUNES Donna Martinelli TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY September 3, 2014 Table of Contents Executive Summary..................................................................................................3 Introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..3 Defining the Challenge...............................................................................................3 Analyzing the case data....................Read MoreCase Study : Apple Inc. Essay1422 Words   |  6 PagesCase Study: Apple Apple Inc. focuses on the design, manufacture, and marketing of personal computers, mobile phones, multimedia devices, and portable music players. Apple Inc. offers consumers manufactured goods under the brand names Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, Mac, iPod, and Apple TV. Enhancing the customer experience through their proprietary software applications iOS, X, OS, and watchOS brands; and services across their Apple Pay and iCloud products (Forbes.com, 2016). Explored in detail, Apple’sRead MoreApple Inc. Case Study1494 Words   |  6 PagesApple Inc. Case Study TABLE OF CONTENTS COMPANY OVERVIEW General Description Historical Outline Industry Current Challenges Ethics and Responsibility STRATEGIC INFORMATION Mission Statement Competition SWOT Analysis HISTORICAL FINANCIAL ANALYSIS Historical Financial Information Competitive Financial Analysis Summary FUTURE PLANS Competitive Advantage Recent Performance Business Environment Recommendations Zackery Butler, Connor Daugherty, Stanashia Davis, Gabrielle Drohan, and Lauren SpearsRead MoreCase Study : Apple Inc.1971 Words   |  8 PagesCritical Essay Introduction Apple Inc. is a globally recognised pioneer in the tech industry. It is a corporation that designs, develops and sells electronic products such as tablets, computers and phones. Founded by Ronald Wayne, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in 1976, it is a multinational corporation with headquarters in Cupertino, California. Tim Cook has been CEO since Jobs’ passing in 2011. Labour conditions Despite its global recognition and status, Apple Inc. has come under scrutiny in recentRead MoreCase Study : Apple Inc.2083 Words   |  9 PagesBackground This paper presents a case study of Apple Inc. Apple Inc. is a technology based corporation with emphasis on computer software and hardware (MAC and Apps), tablets (IPad), smart phones (IPhone), and mp3 plays, (ITouch). Apple Inc. has grown tremendously over the years and ever since 2001 has expanded its brand and retail stores to over 375 stores/outlets globally. The business has seventy two thousand eight hundred employees in thirty eight countries. Apple Inc. has truly become one of theRead MoreCase Study : Apple Inc. Essay6014 Words   |  25 PagesIntroduction On a daily basis we all encounter all forms of technology. There are several technological corporations in the current industry but one stands out†¦.Apple Inc. Apple Inc. is an international corporation, situated in Cupertino, California. The company designs, manufactures and markets consumer electronics and computer software products. Apple is well known for its hardware products such as Macintosh computers, the iPod, the iPhone and its innovative software such as the Mac OS X operating systemRead MoreCase Study : Apple Inc.1943 Words   |  8 Pages Apple Inc was incorporated in 1977 by Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs. As a startup company Apple Inc went through several management changes and conflicts which caused the company to lose some of its competitive advantage against companies like Dell, Gateway and Microsoft. The company designs and manufactures various products in the computer and music industry. Apple being strictly a personal computer company decided to venture into marketing other products like the iPod, a digital music player, andRead MoreApple Inc Case Study851 Words   |  4 PagesApple inc. 1) Introduction Background and summary This article present the story of Steve Jobs and it’s Apple company through two aspects. From the company history perspective and the product industry perspective. On company history side: Apple was founded by two Steves. Apple board later fired Jobs and gradually went near bankruptcy. Till 1997, Apple brought back Jobs and became the most valuable company in the world in 2012. On the product industry side, Article dig into the fieldRead MoreCase Study : Apple Inc.1417 Words   |  6 Pageschanged the world with Apple Inc Company. Both of them was out of college, they were making so much money in the computer company Apple was started with introduction of computer I computer on April 1, 1976. Apple was incorporated January 3, 1977. The Apple II was introduced on April 16, 1977 at the first West Coast computer Faire. The Apple II was chosen to be the desktop platform for the ground breaking use call spreadsheet program. He was created a business market for the Apple II and gave home usersRead MoreCase Study : Apple Inc.1732 Words   |  7 PagesApple Inc. is a California based company that was incorporated in 1977. According to University of Oregon Investment Group, â€Å"Apple operates out of 8 different segments: Desktops, Portables, iPod, iPhone, iPad, other music related products and services, peripherals and other hardware, software, service and oth er sales† (2012). According to the company’s 2013 10-K, â€Å"Apple sells its products worldwide through its retail stores, online stores, and direct sales force, as well as through third-party cellular

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Empirical Analysis of Claimant Tactics - Free Samples to Students

Question: Discuss about the Empirical Analysis of Claimant Tactics. Answer: Introduction The South China Sea is a part of the Pacific Ocean which covers an area of 35, 00,000 square kilometer. The area ranges from Karimata and Malacca Straits on one end to Straits of Taiwan on the other. This particular sea has strategic significance as it is responsible for passing 1/3rd of the worlds shipping with more than $3 trillion trade every year. It also consists of lucrative fisheries every year that are an essential part of food security for millions of people in the South East Asian region. It is believed that there are large oil and gas reserves underneath this seabed. The exact location of this particular sea, according to International Hydrographic Organization is, south of China, west of the Phillipines, east of Vietnam and Malay peninsula and Sumatra which goes up to the Strait of Singapore in the western part and finally the north of Bangka Belitung Islands and Borneo (Saha 2015). Later, it was proposed by IHO that Natuna Sea or the southern boundary of the South China Sea will be shifted towards north from the north of Bangka Belitung islands to the north and northeastern side of Natuna islands. The South China Sea Islands can be considered as an archipelago which is almost calculated in hundreds. Most of the islands in the sea is uninhabited and are subject to competing claims of independence by a number of countries. All these claims can be portrayed by different names that are used for the islands and the sea. The states and the territories that are bordered along the sea include the Peoples Republic of China which includes Macau and Hong Kong; the Republic of China including Taiwan; Philippines, Brunei, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam. The rivers that flow into this sea include Pasig, Pahang, Pampanga, Mekong, Jiulong, Rajang, Red, Min and Pearl. The South China Sea is situated on a drowned continental shelf and in the recent ice ages the globa l sea level got lower by hundreds of meters and thus Borneo became a part of the Asian mainland (Chan and Li 2015). The South China Sea disputes include both islands and also the marine claims in the seven independent states within the region such as Brunei, the Peoples Republic of China, the Republic of China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam. Approximately US$5 trillion worth of international trade is passed through the South China Sea apart from those non- applicant states that wish the sea to remain as international waters. To campaign on this, numerous states such as the US had conducted an operation known as the freedom of navigation. The dispute regarding the South China Sea included a number of island, banks, reefs and other features such as Spratly islands, Paracel islands and other boundaries in the Gulf of Tonkin (Hong 2013). The other disputes were related to the waters of Indonesian Natuna Islands which is controversial as it might not be regarded as a part of the South China Sea. The applicant states are interested to achieve the rights of the fishing areas, the discovery and the possible utilization of the natural gas and crude oil underneath the different parts of the South China Sea and the tactical control of significant shipping lanes. The disputes regarding the South China Sea include both the marine boundaries and the islands. The several disputes and the countries involved with them are given in the picture below. The nine dash line area was claimed by the Republic of China at first and then by the Peoples Republic of China which covers an entire area of the South China Sea and the limited economic zone of the claimed areas mentioned in the picture. The marine boundary in the Vietnamese coast situated in between the Peoples Republic of China, Brunei, Taiwan, Philippines and Malaysia. Marine boundary in the northern Borneo include the similar states as Vietnamese coast and the other features in the sea include the Paracel islands, Pratas islands and more in between the states mentioned above. Nautical boundaries along the northern natuna islands and the Palawan and Luzon are included between the PRC, Indonesia, Taiwan and Philippines. Finally the marine and terrestrial boundary in the Sabah and Luzon strait include PRC, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Taiwan (Kaplan 2014). Impasse between China and other claimant states The South China Sea disputes can be traced back to 1951 which evolved as a result of the San Francisco Treaty. This agreement was unsuccessful in specifying the possession of the Spratly islands when Japan had to lose its title after they got defeated in the Second World War. An important aspect of the territorial dispute that has been long evolved regarding the South China Sea is concerned about the construction in the specific area over the past few years. This has been occurred because of Chinas involvement in the huge recuperation of land activities in the seven reefs namely Fiery Cross, Johnson South, Subi, Mischief, Hughes, Gaven and Cuartern reef in the controversial Spratly islands of the South China Sea. The projects have given rise to seven new artificial land masses in the island of Spratly such as massive island- building. China has claimed that the undeniable independence over the islands of South China Sea and the authority over the waters alongside are constant with th e maps which showed the area of South China Sea and almost the total of Spratly islands (Lee 2017). The dispute has been considered as an impasse between China and the other claimant states because China has declared power over the entire South China Sea. It has forcefully tried to strengthen its capture by transforming seven almost submersible reefs into islands with runways, radars and weapon systems. The country has claimed that the artificial islands serve the purpose of the civilian and the safety of ships but it will not intervene in the freedom of routing or over air travel. This activity is opposed by the other claimant states and also the United States. This is because these places are suspicious of the limitations on the movement of ships in the prime waterway for international trade and business (Gao and Jia 2013). The issue has taken place because the Paracels islands are claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan although it is captured by China. These three areas are also willing to take over Spratley islands which are situated towards south. Chronological Timeline The South China Sea dispute has started a long time back. Following is the chronological order how the dispute had taken shape gradually. Year Description 1947 China had differentiated the South China Sea with a territorial statement of U shaped line which is made up of 11 dashes in the map and covering a large area. The communist party which gained controls soon after, in 1949, eliminated the part of Gulf of Tonkin in the year 1953 by deleting the two dashes and made it a nine- dash line (Schofield, Sumaila and Cheung 2016). 1994 The 1982 UN convention on the Law of the Sea which let Philippines take settlement of China becomes effective after the approval of 60 countries. According to this agreement, the territorial waters are defined along with the continental shelves and the special economic zones. Although Philippines had joined the convention in 1984 and China after 12 years, but US did not sanction it. 1995 China too over the disputed Mischief reef to build huts for providing shelter to the fishermen and Philippines had complained against it. 1997 Philippines naval ship prevented the Chinese boats to enter Scarborough Shoal which further raised a protest. Moreover, the Chinese fishermen were confined by Philippines accused of illegal fishing (Holmes and Phillips 2016). 2009 China had submitted the nine- dash line map to the UN mentioning about the undeniable power over the islands and the waters alongside which again received a protest. 2011 Philippines protested against the harassment of their ship by two Chinese patrol boats. 2012 Philippines vessel stopped a Chinese boat from inspection and china took control over Scarborough Shoal. 2013 The dispute between China and Philippines is brought to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague which offended Beijing. 2014 Chinas top envoy was called to protest against what they said which was ignored and called undeniable. China further delivered a position paper contradicting that the board does not have any influence on the case (Buszynski and Roberts 2014). 2015 The board claimed that it has power over 7 of the 15 claims raised by Philippines. 12th July, 2016 The board stated that China has no authority to claim so much form the sea which was accepted by Philippines and rejected by China. ASEAN Failure The South East Asian nations failed to give their consent on the marine disputes regarding the South China Sea. This happened after Cambodia blocked any kind of statement to an international court which ruled against Beijing. The foreign ministers of the of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) came together for the first time since the Permanent Court of Arbitration offered a compassionate legal victory to the Philippines in the dispute. The court had denied the clear claims of China in the planned seaway which passes $5 trillion of international trade each year. Although China claimed most of the sea but there were protesting claims from the rival states of ASEAN (Amer 2014). Beijing protested by mentioning that the verdict was not based on the rights over the sea and the case was a sham. Both Philippines and Vietnam wished the communiqu to be issued by the foreign ministers of ASEAN to refer to the verdict and the necessity for respecting the international law. Cambodia, the closest ASEAN supporter of China went against the proposed statement and left the group in dismay. Although Indonesias foreign minister hoped that some solution will come out of the meeting but Cambodias foreign minister had kept mum on the position of his country. Even the stalwarts of the meeting were unable to find a compromise on the issue. Philippines on one hand wanted ASEAN to resist Beijings persistence that the issue should be handled on a two- way level (Beckman 2013). The officials of the ASEAN had said that the two countries wanted the joint statement to involve orientation to the territorial controversy with China. The Cambodian foreign minister Hor Namhong said that all the ASEAN members were equally responsible for being unsuccessful in delivering a statement. US had forced on the neutral lengthy naval controversy in spite of offering aid to encourage the frail military forces of Philippines. Difficulties Experienced The South China Sea is the centre of conflict between China and the claimed states of ASEAN, specially Philippines and Vietnam. The construction of huts on the man- made islands by China and the use of anti craft and anti missile systems have given rise to anxiety resulting in the militarization of rival declaration by other states. The political impasse between China and the ASEAN member countries has made the situation almost predictable. Although there is restriction on the number of claims, the dispute regarding the South China Sea has a much larger effect for the security peace and stability of the waters as well as the whole region. A considerable amount of national interests has been claimed by US in the sea with specific mention of freedom of navigation along with respect for international law although it is not a part of the UN Convention on the law of the Sea. The issue with the freedom of navigation is still controversial between US and China over the control to operate in the Exclusive Economic Zone or EEZ as claimed by China (Yahuda 2013). There were complexities in the issue because these were related to the contest for natural resources, nationalism, autonomy, geopolitics and historical legacies. It became difficult to mitigate the issue because every member is not at all ready to surrender any of its claims in front of a probable domestic repercussion. The controversy is responsible for threatening regional stability as the members especially China are increasingly aggressive. The result of this extensive controversy has made China get the name of troubled waters. It can be argued that the South China Sea has revolved as the most prominent and demanding foreign policy dilemma for Cambodia. Being a non- claimant state, Cambodia is not directly related to the issue of South China Sea, but it has very much relevant to the country as a member of the ASEAN (Thayer 2013). Division of ASEAN The division within the ASEAN member countries was displayed at large in the meeting with non- ASEAN dialogue partners in Laos. It can be simply stated as the Chinese were interested in a divided ASEAN. They had developed from the Cold War as a powerful influence in Indochina, especially on Cambodia. Even in the discussion for a final communiqu, Cambodia was least interested in making any mention of China in the South China Sea. The fact is disclosed to release such a statement and the effect of development on the reliability of the ASEAN cannot be neglected (Dolven et al. 2015). The dispute regarding South China Sea is a striking threat to the ASEAN as a regional organization. It posed to be a challenge in the ability to deal with regional militarization, economic benefits of the member states, safety of the fishermen of the ASEAN countries and protecting the coastal environment of the Southeast Asia. Not only has the disunity of ASEAN played a role in the confrontation of China but also the crisis of ASEAN as a regional organization. The dispute reveals a basic confusion in between combination and securing of national integrity. Therefore it can be considered that the Chinese efforts are not the only factor behind the failure of ASEAN by dividing them. There are different factors at the state, international and the organizational level responsible for the ASEAN division. An acceptable framework of a regional code of conduct between the ASEAN and China do not pay attention to the fact of its legal binding or any other critical issues. The framework includes the document of a set of rules to guide the members and promote naval cooperation in the controversial sea. The framework was considered as a prominent step towards the attainment of a regional code of conduct to lessen the stress in the South China Sea (Yung and McNulty 2015). ASEAN remained in the position for a long time to make the code of conduct legal but China went against it. It is not assured what implication it will have on the upcoming efforts of both the members to confer the code. This code could have prevented the contradictory defensive claims turning into a major conflict but it remained stuck on the verge of finalizing for fifteen long years. Reason for China being assertive In the recent years, China has grown as an economically stable country. The reason is the heavy Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) that has been made by the country in the recent times. The past year has seen the improvement in the Chinese economy and catapulted China as the third largest country of FDI recipient in the worlds. According to Salike (2016), China has attracted US$139 billion of FDI in the last year. This can be an influencing factor for the countries involved as ASEAN members. The fact that China had a history of declining GDP growth, the accumulation of a huge FDI can help in the economic stability of the country. It can also be said that the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) have contributed to the growth of the nation. The development of finances in the country has led China to expand in the overseas infrastructure (Emmers 2014). 57 countries all around the world, including countries from the ASEAN, have signed up in the hopes of becoming funding the members of the AIIB. This has resulted in complementing the multilateral financial institutions. The collaboration with the World Bank has made it possible for the affected people to file complaints in the case of any financial problems. Thus, the countries associated as ASEAN members are also benefited in terms of growth in the economy and creating opportunities for expansion in the global market. Apart from the AIIB, another initiative that is the One Belt One Road (OBOR) is also a contributing factor for the development of infrastructure in China as well as in the ASEAN member countries (Yalta 2013). Countries involved in the OBOR project have already gained benefits that have led to the development of the economy. The interconnectivity with countries in Europe, Middle East and Africa can result in the growth of the economy. Hence, FDI, AIIB and OBOR have played a pivotal role in the growth of China and the member countries involved with ASEAN. Projects worth $500 billion were announced in 2016 that involved several infrastructure sectors from all over the world. Criticising the illusion of centrality and unity It has been seen that most of ASEAN countries have been divided by China in terms of gaining power in the economy. This has happened due to the emergence of various initiatives that have led to the growth of the economy of the regions. The centrality of the situation is that ASEAN needs to be the primary driving force that may shape the external relation of the groups in terms of architecture that remains open and transparent. According to Henderson (2014), centrality is an outcome rather than a factor to run into. The united effort from the members of the ASEAN countries has contributed to the increase of the economy and consequently in the improvement of China. Most countries involved in ASEAN have displayed the use of the improvement in a negative manner. Countries like Vietnam have involved itself in a war like situations against superpower nations. Hence, such acts have resulted in the display of muscles from the Asian countries and have resulted in the division between the members in the countries of ASEAN. Leifer (2013) stated that the responsibilities of the ASEAN countries are to protect the economy of the nations and therefore, it is required that some of the powerful nations involved with ASEAN display their abilities. During the 30th ASEAN summit held in Manila, the importance of maintaining peace, security and freedom of navigation had been imposed upon by the chairman. This resulted in the rise of positive powers that have been the result of the increased FDI and other initiatives such as OBOR and AIIB. With the application of these initiatives and investments made in order to protect the countries, it is necessary that the ASEAN countries maintain a balance in the exercise of the powers. The foreign investments that are carried out by the countries result in the expansion and growth of the economy of the countries. This is mainly done with the expansion of business across countries in order to benefit the economy of the host country as well as the economy of the visiting country (Heydarian and Vu 2015). Conclusion The concept of ASEAN centrality and unity had been a topic of discussion for a long time in the multilateral organization. There lies a underlying theme in the ability of ASEAN to mould and motivate the decisions which can affect the organization and its members to bring out a probable solution. The dispute regarding the sea is such an issue where the ASEAN members have been unable to come to a solution. The reasons behind this can range from narrow national interests to larger foreign policy orientations. These flaws on the part of the ASEAN organizations are forced to be utilized by hegemonic and regal power such as China who continued to increase its main interests and reform the status quo. From this assignment it can be considered that by 2030 ASEAN should evolve into an authentic borderless economic community because the members understand that the totality is better than the addition of bits and parts. But they must not reshape them as a bureaucratic organization or anything similar to European Union. There is a need for the group to gear up and become strong in its institutional structure. This will help them to preserve internal consistency and operate the newly created markets. In this way, they must not lose their practicality and elasticity. Therefore, an original borderless ASEAN economic community by 2030 will practically exist between Asia Economic Community and European Union. There will be long term economic aspirations with challenges and policy options but it can be recovered. If the organization uses proper policy mix then they can penetrate a highly developing scenario with a tripling of per capita income. Thus, the quality of life of the citizens will also go up to a level similar to the members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Reference Salike, N., 2016. Role of human capital on regional distribution of FDI in China: New evidences.China Economic Review,37, pp.66-84. Yalta, A.Y., 2013. Revisiting the FDI-led growth hypothesis: the case of China.Economic Modelling,31, pp.335-343. Henderson, J., 2014.Reassessing ASEAN. Routledge. Leifer, M., 2013.ASEAN and the Security of South-East Asia (Routledge Revivals). Routledge. Saha, P., 2015. The united states and the south China sea dispute.International Journal of Research in Social Sciences,5(3), pp.629-643. Chan, I. and Li, M., 2015. New Chinese leadership, new policy in the South China Sea dispute?.Journal of Chinese Political Science,20(1), pp.35-50. Hong, Z., 2013. The South China sea dispute and China-ASEAN relations.Asian Affairs,44(1), pp.27-43. Mincai, Y., 2014. China's Responses to the Compulsory Arbitration on the South China Sea Dispute: Legal Effects and Policy Options.Ocean Development International Law,45(1), pp.1-16. Fels, E. and Vu, T., 2016.Power Politics in Asia's Contested Waters. Springer. Kaplan, R.D., 2014.Asia's Cauldron: The South China Sea and the End of a Stable Pacific. Random House. Lee, W.C., 2017. Introduction: the South China Sea Dispute and the 2016 Arbitration Decision.Journal of Chinese Political Science,22(2), pp.179-184. Gao, Z. and Jia, B.B., 2013. The nine-dash line in the South China Sea: History, status, and implications.American Journal of International Law,107(1), pp.98-123. Rose, A. and Blanchard, B., 2014. China denounces Philippine pressure over sea dispute arbitration.Reuters. Schofield, C.H., Sumaila, R. and Cheung, W., 2016. Fishing, not oil, is at the heart of the South China Sea dispute. Holmes, O. and Phillips, T., 2016. South China Sea dispute: what you need to know about The Hague court ruling.The Guardian Briefing. Buszynski, L. and Roberts, C.B. eds., 2014.The South China Sea Maritime Dispute: Political, Legal and Regional Perspectives(Vol. 28). Routledge. Amer, R., 2014. China, Vietnam, and the South China Sea: disputes and dispute management.Ocean Development International Law,45(1), pp.17-40. Beckman, R., 2013. The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the maritime disputes in the South China Sea.American Journal of International Law,107(1), pp.142-163. Dupuy, F. and Dupuy, P.M., 2013. A legal analysis of Chinas historic rights claim in the South China Sea.American Journal of International Law,107(1), pp.124-141. Yahuda, M., 2013. China's new assertiveness in the South China Sea.Journal of Contemporary China,22(81), pp.446-459. Thayer, C.A., 2013. ASEAN, China and the code of conduct in the South China Sea.SAIS Review of International Affairs,33(2), pp.75-84. Heydarian, R.J. and Vu, T.M., 2015. South China Sea: time for US-ASEAN maritime cooperation management. Emmers, R., 2014. ASEAN's search for neutrality in the South China Sea.Asian Journal of Peacebuilding,2(1), p.61. Yung, C.D. and McNulty, P., 2015, August. An Empirical Analysis of Claimant Tactics in the South China Sea. InStrategic Forum(No. 289, p. 1). National Defense University Press. Dolven, B., Elsea, J.K., Lawrence, S.V., O'Rourke, R. and Rinehart, I.E., 2015. Chinese Land reclamation in the South China Sea: Implications and policy options.Current Politics and Economics of Northern and Western Asia,24(2/3), p.319.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Company Research Acrux Limited

Question: Discuss about the Company Research for Acrux Limited. Answer: Introduction: Acrux Limited is considered one of the major producer and supplier of topical drugs and generic pharmaceuticals in the global pharmaceutical market. The company came into existence in the year 1998 in Australia under the provision of Polled Development Act 1992 (Acrux, 2016). There are two major streams of pharmaceutical products for Acrux which are popular in the global drugs market namely generic and speciality ptoducts. Axiron, Ellavie, Lenzetto, Axiron (testosterone), Evamist, topical solution CIII are the main products of Acrux. The central objective of the company is to produce drugs, which can resolve the hormonal deficiencies and imbalance, advanced contraceptive, pain, nervous system disorder, skin related problems. Acrux uses the newest advanced technology for developing the drugs, which are mainly insexternally (Acrux, 2016). Company has number of scientists, who are actively involved in the formulation and research work of new drug and therapies in the state of art in-house laboratory of the company. The company has effectively commercialized its pharmaceutical products in the USA and Europe market with the help of licensees. The company has also licensed for its products to Gedeon Richter in order to commercialize number of estradiol drugs in the states of Eurasia and Europe. In regards to commercializing pharmaceutical products in the global market, it has licensed the latest technology to Eli Lilly (Acrux, 2016). The central focus of the company in the process of product pipeline is to formulate new process technology and form low cost attractive pharmaceutical products that serve the physician and patients (Acrux, 2016). Acrux is using the advance process of developing drugs termed as Patchless Patch, which has been formulated at Monash University Australia. This technology has facilitated the company to produce the effective and flexible products (variable dosage) with high molecule breadth application along with clinical trials of the topical pharmaceutical drugs for phase two and phase three trials (Acrux, 2016). Acrux Limited is also honoured with the Government of Victoria Export Award and Victoria Export Award in the field of innovation excellence in the year 2010 (Bloomberg, 2016). Despite the slight fall in the market value of the share, Acrux Limited is considered the largest sole producer of drugs in the Australian pharmaceuticals market. With regards to the products, the company currently has four speciality products which are being commercially produced. There are Axiron, Ellavie, Evamist and Lenzetto. Axiron is a topical solution used in the treatment of adult males suffering from deficiency of testosterone. The company has executed an exclusive agreement with Eli Lilly and is available for sale in several developed nations such as USA, Australia, Canada, Germany and South Korea. Ellavie, Evamist and Lenzetto are the names of an estradiol spray which is used by women. This spray is used for treating menopause related hot flushes experienced by women. The different names of the same spray are primarily because the spray is sold in different geographies by different vendors under different brand names. Besides, the above mentioned speciality products already in market, the company also has some speciality products in development along with generic products (Products Acrux, 2016). The company is led by an experienced, talented and passionate management. The brief profile of the management team is discussed below. At the helm of affairs is Micheal Kotsanis who serves as both the CEO and MD of the firm. He has a humungous experience in the pharmaceutical industry at various positions. He has vast experience in being associated with organisations having significant footprint in the generic medicine space. Additionally, he has served in various geographies across the world which enables him to have a sound understanding of various markets. Tim Bateman is the CFO of the company which has vast experience in financial positions taken in a host of firms listed on the ASX (Australian Stock Exchange). Besides, Tim is a CA by qualification and has served organisations based in various sectors which ensure wide experience and knowledge. Nina Webster, an industry veteran is the commercial director who is majorly responsible for IP (Intellectual Property) portfolio management besides business development and RD. She has been with the company since long and previously was in the position of head of business development. Felicia Colagrande is the Technical Affair Director and responsible for product development. She had wide experience in the industry and has been closely associated with various facets of product development. Charles OSullivan is acting as the portfolio director and has wide experience in the industry on being associated with a host of companies in the past (Management Team-Acrux, 2016). The company envisions delivering sustainable value for the shareholders through development and commercialisation of pharmaceutical products. In this endeavour, the company intends to ensure that the lives of the patients should be positively influenced. Further, innovation and excellence should be embraced. Also, the employees are valued and the contribution of each employee is appreciated (Company Philosophy-Acrux, 2016). This is also apparent from the fact that some of the top management positions are being currently occupied by employees who have served the company for more than 15 years. Further, the company provides a professional and diverse work environment where the employees can discharge their professional duties. The company highly values honesty and integrity considering the industry in which the company is based in. As a result, it is imperative that no lapses should be observed in the overall process of drug development and marketing. Employee Benefits The employees at Acrux may expect a host of benefits. These include annual leaves and contribution to the superannuation funds of employees besides wages and salaries. Additionally, based on the employment contract of the respective employees, annual bonus is also provided based on their respective performance and also of the company as a whole. Also, employees especially at middle and higher management are also provided share based payments as incentives which also ensure higher loyalty towards company leading to lower attrition rate. Besides, the company also provides termination benefits to employees if the company terminates the employment contract before the retirement date or ending date of the contract (Financial Report FY2016 Acrux, 2016). Employee Attributes The company expects that the employee should have strong domain knowledge preferably along with experience in the pharmaceutical industry which would enhance an overall understanding of the business. Besides, the employees are expected to be highly ethical and professional in their work which is highly expected considering the potential implications of any fraud or unintentional lapse. Thus, considering the nature of business and the management, an employee who is highly meticulous in work, has strong domain knowledge and is inherently patient would be happy while working with the company (Financial Report FY2016 Acrux, 2016). Financial Analysis The income statement for the company for the year FY2015 and FY2016 is highlighted below (Financial Report FY2016 Acrux, 2016). It is apparent from the above that the company has witnessed an increase of around 12% in the revenues on a y-o-y basis. There has been a sizable increase of around 30% in the employee benefits expense primarily on account of jump in wages and salaries by about $ 750,000 in FY2016 over FY2015. Additionally, there has been a more than 100% jump in the external RD expenses which is reflective of a strong product portfolio in the pipeline for the company which is expected to bring incremental revenues in the future and therefore deliver sustainable returns to shareholders. Another significant item which merits discussion is the loss on foreign exchange to the extent of $ 772,000 in FY2016 which is primarily on account of currency fluctuations observed in the value of AUD against various international currencies particularly USD. This is on account of significant sales revenue being earned in the form of foreign currency. Despite, the increasing R D expenditure coupled with higher salari es and forex losses, the company has managed to post higher EPS in FY2016 as compared to FY2015 which augers well for the valuation of the firm (Financial Report FY2016 Acrux, 2016). The balance sheet for the company for the year FY2015 and FY2016 is highlighted below (Financial Report FY2016 Acrux, 2016). It is apparent from the balance sheet shown above that there has been an increase in the cash and cash equivalents in FY2016 which is leading to an increase in the current assets. The plant and equipment for the company are negligible owing to the nature of the business but intangible non-current assets are sizable which constantly undergo amortization. With regards to liabilities both of current and non-current nature, the most prominent item is liabilities related to taxes. In the current liabilities, there has been an increase of about 100% in the current tax payable primarily because of lesser tax being paid in the current year i.e. FY2016. Besides, deferred tax liabilities contribute to majority of the non-current liabilities primarily due to the nature of business. Also, it is noteworthy that the company does not have any outstanding debt either in current or in non-current liabilities. Since, typically a large expenditure has to be made in RD before commercialising a product, there are huge accumulated losses from the past which have now started trimming as the company has sales from commercial products (Financial Report FY2016 Acrux, 2016). The relevant financial ratios for the company for the last 10 years are shown below (Morningstar, 2016). It is apparent from the above that companys revenue is highly dependent on the product portfolio pipeline. The gross profit margins of the company are exceptionally high since the major cost of products is RD and raw material constitutes a very miniscule cost. The operating margins are also high and positive since FY2010 when the company started posting significant revenues. The company since FY2014 has also started paying dividends and the payout ratio is very healthy as is apparent from the above. Additionally, the operating cash flows have also turned positive since FY2010 which augers well for the company. Besides, it is also clear that the business is generating positive free cash flow which is indicative of the turnaround in business as the products are generating commercial sales. It is apparent that the company has a high receivable period which is expected considering the sale through licensee. However, the fact that payable period is significantly higher augers well for the company to reduce the cash cycle. Over the years, the asset turnover has shown improvement which implies that the company is able to generate higher revenue from the available business assets (Morningstar, 2016). References About Acrux - Acrux. (2016). Acrux. Retrieved 26 December 2016, from https://www.acrux.com.au/about/ ACR: ASE Stock Quote - Acrux Ltd. (2016). Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 26 December 2016, from https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/ACR:AU Company Philosophy Acrux Ltd. (2016), Acrux. Retrieved 26 December 2016, from https://www.acrux.com.au/about/company-philosophy/ Financial Report FY2016 Acrux (2016), Acrux. Retrieved 26 December 2016, from https://investors.acrux.com.au/FormBuilder/_Resource/_module/NjepwR2K-EWQX6Fr9BvRNg/file/Acrux-Financial-Report-for-the-year-ended-30June2016.pdf Morningstar (2016). Acrux Ltd:ACR, Retrieved 26 December 2016, from https://financials.morningstar.com/ratios/r.html?t=ACRregion=ausculture=en-US Management Team-Acrux (2016), Acrux. Retrieved 26 December 2016, from https://www.acrux.com.au/about/management-team/ Products Acrux (2016), Acrux. Retrieved 26 December 2016, from https://www.acrux.com.au/product/