Wellmans Community :: essays research papers

In the article, â€Å"The Community Question Re-Evaluated†, the author Barry Wellman suggests that the change in nature of community is inevitable. Many people are stressful about changes their communities are going through such as loneliness, alienation leading to a â€Å"war of all against all.† They would often compare their modern times community to of their pre-industrial predecessors. However, inhabitants of contemporary societies should have less to worry about than their ancestors with ‘respect to the basics of human life.’ Instead comparing contemporary crime and political violence rates with the past, we should seek to gain deeper understand of how our community changes- â€Å"how the large-scale structure of social systems reciprocally affects the small-scale structure and contents of interpersonal relations within them.† The social changes in large-scale systems are suggested to be associated with the Industrial Revolution which affected the structure and operations of the community. Social commentators suggested that large-scales faced the impacts of industrialization, capitalism, imperialism, bureaucratization and technological developments which then dripped down onto the interpersonal relations. They noted that the large-scale reorganization of production has created new opportunities for community relations. For example, industrialization had reduced poverty and that working-class home ownership would heighten neighborhood communal bonds. Although the analyses are well debatable, Wellman believes that community may have changed in response to the pressure, opportunities and constraints of large-scale forces. The complexities in the discovery of past and present communities led analysts to realize that the term community, often demonstrated in a neighborhood, is not confined to neighborhoods. By 1970s, analysts had expanded the definition of community beyond the boundaries of neighborhood and kinship solidarity and argued that the ‘essence of community was its social structure and not its spatial structure. They then began to treat â€Å"community† as â€Å"personal community† and defined as a network of significant, informal community ties. The transmutation of community into social network has helped the persistence of communities even when the neighborhood traces are faint.

Chuck E Cheeses

Chuck E. Cheese’s â€Å"Where A Kid Can Be A Kid† Yvonne Bell-White The Catholic University of America This paper was prepared for Financial Decision Making, MBU 652, Summer 2011, taught by Professor Howard S. Steed, PhD Abstract In this analysis paper I choose to learn about Chuck E. Cheeses. I demonstrate my understanding of the categories of Financial Statement Analysis, which includes – profitability, liquidity, activity and debt (leverage). Our class was assigned a company for financial scrutiny and to obtain financial statements (Balance Sheet, Income Statement, and Cash Flow Statement), from the company’s most recent Annual Report. We are to prepare a written analysis of the organization with the following requirements: 1) describing the product or service marketed by the company; 2) evaluate the company in terms of the financial ratios we believe are most helpful in understanding the company’s performance; and 3) include a financial forecast for the said company for the next 2-3 years. We were asked to include an estimate of the company’s prospects for the company industry for the years ahead. Finally, the students were asked to give an oral presentation to the class using this information. I choose to do my analysis of a company called Chuck E. Cheese’s. This paper will explain what I’ve learned about the financial statement analysis categories. Chuck E. Cheese’s â€Å"Where A Kid Can Be A Kid† This class was assigned a company for financial scrutiny and to obtain financial statements (Balance Sheet, Income Statement, and Cash Flow Statement), from the company’s most recent Annual Report. We are to prepare a written analysis of the organization with the following requirements: 1) describing the product or service marketed by the company; 2) evaluate the company in terms of the financial ratios we believe are most helpful in nderstanding the company’s performance; and 3) include a financial forecast for the said company for the next 2-3 years. We were asked to include an estimate of the company’s prospects for the company industry for the years ahead. Finally, the students were asked to give an oral presentation to the class using this information. I choose to do my analysis o f a company called Chuck E. Cheese’s. In 1977, Nolan Bushnell, also known as the father of the video arcade industry, for his formation of Atari, Inc. , founded Chuck E. Cheese Pizza-Time Theaters. It’s a nationally recognized leader in family dining and entertainment. Chuck E Cheese’s is located in 48 states and seven foreign countries or territories. Each store feature musical and comic entertainment by robotic and animated characters, arcade-style and skill-oriented games, rides and many other activities to appeal to families and children between the ages of two to twelve. Chuck E. Cheese stores offers a variety dinning selection consisting of pizza, sandwiches, salad bar and desserts. There business development strategy is focused on maintaining and evolving their existing stores, by developing high sales volume company-owned stores in primarily densely populated areas and selling franchises in domestic and international markets. Chuck E Cheeses are typically opened in shopping centers or free standing buildings near shopping centers As of January 2, 2011, they employ approximate 17,300 employees – 17,000 field based and 300 located at the headquarters. Before investing into a company you should follow expert’s advice. Experts insist on the importance of research and doing your homework before you decide to invest in a company. In other words, dig deep into the company’s financial statement and examine everything from the auditor’s report to the company’s references. Begin your homework by doing a Financial Statement Analysis. The financial statement analysis is how you will identify the company’s financial strengths and weaknesses from understanding the items of the balance sheet. The categories of the financial statement analysis are: Profitability, Liquidity, Activity and Debt (Leverage). Profitability can be expressed as a group of financial metrics used to measure a company’s ability to make a profit as compared to its expenses, including costs acquired during a particular period of time. In doing my homework on my company, Chuck E. Cheese’s, I began with Profitability from the categories on the financial statement analysis, and continued to move through the other categories – Liquidity, Activity and Debt (Leverage). PROFITABILITY Profitability: return on assets (ROA); return on equity (ROE), price/earnings ration (P/E ration), dividend yield and dividend pay-out ration. Return On Assets (ROA) determines the effectiveness with which a company distributes and manages its resources. ROA is expressed as net income divided by the average total assets. The return on assets for Chuck E. Cheese’s is 7%. The amount of net income returned as a percentage of shareholders equity. Return On Equity (ROE) determines a company’ profitability by showing how much profit a company makes with the money shareholders have invested. Therefore the Return on Equity (ROE) is expressed as a percentage and calculated as the net income/average owners’ equity. The return on equity for Chuck E Cheese’s is 33% Assessing the ration of a company’s current share price compared to its per-share earnings is called the Price/Earnings Ratio (P/E Ratio) and is calculated as the market price of common stock divided by the earnings per share and he P/E Ratio for Chuck E. Cheese’s is . 15%. The Dividend Yield is a way to compare the attractiveness various dividend paying stocks. The dividend yield advises an investor the yield he/she can look forward to if he/she purchases stock from the company. To calculate the dividend yield, divide the annual dividend per share by the market price per share. Chuck E Cheese’s did not have the figures written in its annual report to perform calculations. The Dividend Pay-Out Ratio tell how well a company’s earnings supports the dividend payments. It is calculated by dividing the annual dividend per share by the earnings per share. Chuck E Cheese did not have the figures written in its annual report to perform calculations LIQUIDITY One determinant of a company’s debt capacity is the liquidity of its assets. An asset is liquid if it can be readily converted to cash, while a liability is liquid if it must be repaid in the near future. Liquidity is the company’s working capital, current ration and acid-test ration. The components of Liquidity are Working Capital, Current Ratio and Acid Test Ratio. The Working Capital measures both the company’s effectiveness and it’s immediate financial health. The working capital ration is calculated by subtracting the current assets from the current liabilities. The Working Capital for my company is $-17,210. A positive working capital means that the company will be able to pay its short-term liabilities. A negative working capital means a company can not pay its short-term liabilities. The Current Ration is used to provide an idea of the company’s ability to pay back its short-term liabilities. To calculate the current ration you would divide the current assets by the current liabilities. Chuck E. Cheese’s current ration is . 98. A high ration indicates a copy can pay its obligations. But on the other hand, if the current ration is under 1, the company would not be able to pay its obligations. The Acid-Test Ratio serves as a sign that help determine whether a company has enough short-term assets to cover the company’s immediate liabilities with out selling its inventory. The acid-test ration is calculated by cash, plus accounts receivable divided by current liabilities. The acid-test ratio for Chuck E. Cheese’s is 58%. If the ratio is less than 1 a company cannot pay their current liabilities and should be looked at with extreme caution. ACTIVITY MEASURES The Activity Measure measures the volume of activity and is used as a basis for allocating costs. To activity measure includes Accounts Receivable Turnover and Inventory Turnover. The Accounts Receivable Turnover (A/R) ratio is the number of times that accounts receivable amounts are collected within the year. If the A/R Turnover is high the company has a tight credit policy. If the A/R Turnover is low it says the company has a collection problem. To calculate the A/R Turnover – divide the sales by the average A/R. The A/R Turnover for Chuck E Cheese is 27. 57 The Inventory Turnover the Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) divided by the Average Inventory. This show how many times a company’s inventory is sold and replaced of a period of time. The Inventory Turnover for my company Chuck E. Cheese’s is 53. 44 (number of days for turnover) DEBT (Leverage) The Debt (Leverage) includes the categories of Debt Ratio and Debt/Equity Ratio. The Debt Ratio explains what part of a company’s debt has relative to its assets. It gives an idea of leverage and the potential risks the company could face. To calculate the Debt Ratio divide the total liabilities by the total liabilities plus owners’ equity. The Debt Ratio for Chuck E. Cheese’s is 79. The Debt/Equity Ratio can be calculated by dividing the total liabilities by the total owners’ equity. The Debt/Equity Ratio for Chuck E. Cheeses’ is . 39. The Debt/Equity Ratio measures a company’s financial leverage and says what proportion of equity and debt the company is using to finance its assets. Chuck E. Cheeses have an opportunity to further expand globally. They have formalized a strategic plan for international growth and are actively seeking franchise partners in key Latin American countries including Argentina, Brazil, Columbia, Costa Rica, Mexico and Panama. As with any company, doing your research and homework before investing is very important. I enjoyed learning about Chuck E Cheese finance and look forward to maybe one day owning my own franchise. After my research I have new idea for expansion and one day hope to invest.

Argumentative Speech On Inequality - 1263 Words

Tara Maynard Mrs. Parker Argumentative Speech Writing 13 January 2017 Stemmed From Inequality Despite the fact that half of the college educated workforce is made up of women, they make up only 29% of the science and engineering workforce (â€Å"Statistics†). Some believe this could be due to the fact the boys are naturally better than girls in science related subjects. However, a recent test conducted in over 65 countries compared the science scores of teen boys and girls. The study showed that in most countries the girls led the boys; In the United States, however, the girls lagged behind (Fairfield and McLean). This demonstrates that the gender gap in science scores is not natural, but cultural. The most prominent place to see gender†¦show more content†¦Male educators make up only 2.3% of preschool and kindergarten teachers and 18.3% of elementary and middle school, leaving mostly females to demonstrate patience and care for young children (Mayhew). As young girls are playing with baby dolls, they are learning skills that could be applied in a nursery or classroom; On the other hand, as boys are creating towers and bridges out of blocks, they are exposed to the thinking used in a lab or construction site. Breaking this norm should not be intimidating because there should not be a norm for â€Å"female jobs† and â€Å"male jobs† in the first place. A female engineer named Debbie Sterling shared her experiences in her TED Talk, â€Å"Inspiring the Next Generation of Female Engineers.† Prior to her interview for an elite engineering program, she carried a box covered by a napkin with a prototype inside. It is interesting to think of what the reaction would have been if a male was carrying this box. However, a man asked Debbie one thing: Did you bring us cookies? Despite her troubles, a few weeks later, her prototype became a reality as a best selling engineering toy for girls called Goldieblox. Not only do Goldieblox help break society’s gender norm, they also provide a tool to help young girls develop spatial sense. Spatial sense is the ability to interpret objects’ relations to one another, often used in interpreting complex or three dimensional drawings. University studies have recently found thatShow MoreRelatedThe Dream and the Ballot or the Bullet1038 Words   |  5 Pagesthe equality of man envisioned by the Declaration of Independence was far from a reality. Martin Luther King Jr., a Baptist minister delivered his famous speech â€Å"I Have a Dream† August 28th, 1963 in Washington DC. He is credited with mobilizing supporters of desegregation and prompted the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Malcolm X delivered his famous speech â€Å"The Ballot or the Bullet† on April 12th, 1964 in Detroit. Though many people sa y Malcolm X was violent he made many good key points. 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