Business plan (entrepreneurship) Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Business plan (entrepreneurship) - Thesis Example GetLaunched! offers the following propositions to its users: 1. Seamless and uncomplicated participation, with most of the technical aspects, such as compliance, ironed out by the company; 2. All-or-nothing scheme where collected money is returned to supporters if the proposal fails to achieve its goal within the given time; 3. No hidden or initial fees as the company implements a flat rate fee only on successful proposals; 4. By special arrangement, the company has access to the proponent’s account for 5 years for the sole of purpose of taking out and delivering the shares of profits of supporters, which are given in proportion to the latter’s investment. 5. Sharing of profits with supporters will be limited to 5 years and structured in such a way as not to unduly burden the proponent because the spirit of crowdfunding is not strict investment but more towards philanthropy. The Opportunity There are more than 2 billion internet users, which can be harnessed to realize the aims and goals of GetLaunched!. According to statistics, internet users number 2,095, 006,005 in 2011 up by about 480.4% from the 360,985,482 users in 2000. Facebook alone has more than 500,000 million users as of 2011 statistics. There is in every person a need for charity because it gives them self-actualization. Fundraising expert and author of â€Å"Grassroots Fundraising† Kim Klein states that every person has an urge to give because it makes them feel powerful and good-like and not merely an onlooker. GetLaunched! will tap into this need and use it to turn somebody’s life around. The gap between economic classes is widening and people on the lower social strata are getting more and more marginalized. The gap between social classes are growing bigger and bigger, and there is a need to try to level the playing field, and crowdfunding is one of the more acceptable means. Business Concept Online crowdfunding is getting popular in social networking sites, but at p resent there are only a handful operating. GetLaunched! is capitalizing on the growing popularity of crowdfunding, not only as a business endeavor, but as a means of helping people from both sides of the spectrum: for proponents to realize their dreams of materializing their business dreams, and; for supporters to channel their inner philanthropic urges. Industry Overview Crowdfunding had its origin in 1997, when American fans raised $60,000, through internet campaign, so that the British Rock band Marillion could do a US tour. French filmmakers Guillaume Colboc and Benjamin Pommeraud used the same strategy in 2004 to fund a film, raising a total of $50,000 within three weeks over the internet. Their counterparts in America Spanner Films raised ?900,000 the same way to finance a documentary film about climate change. Fig. 1 The Crowdfunding Mechanism Today, several crowdfunding societies offer themselves as platforms to raise funds for various ends - to support talent in the arts, t o market original inventions, to initiate charitable events and start small businesses. The present market has still room to grow dramatically because of the millions of internet users, which are ready to invest or donate money for causes that they can emotionally connect to. Figure 1 illustrates how crowdfunding can snowball from a small close circle of family and friends to a number of supporters that can donate and/or investments the right amount needed to launch a project. Target Market GetLaunched! targets two types of users: the proponents, and; the

Analyse and evaluate the overall HR strategy, especially in relation Assignment

Analyse and evaluate the overall HR strategy, especially in relation to manpower planning and talent management - Assignment Example The HR strategy of the company aims to use project management system for HR configuration. The main problems of TNNB are in talent management and manpower planning and outcomes that do not support HR strategy because its HR strategy has not been designed to support business strategy. To resolve these problems, a best fit HR theory and holistic talent management approach are used in changing HR strategy because they can leverage talent management to ensure that manpower supports business strategy and HRS. HR strategy refers to the total approach and means that an organisation takes to manage workers using formal and informal policies and practices (Wilton, 2011, p.58). HR strategy can also respond to specific emerging organisational issues that require HRM support and changes. An example is talent management issues that might require changes in performance management and talent development. Functional HR strategies correspond to the core areas of human resource management- resourcing, performance management, pay and conditions, employee relations, and development (Armstrong and Baron, 2002, p.149). Each aspect of HRM processes must be interconnected with the HR strategy. Business strategy defines organisational goals, where the organisation competes with, and how it is going to approach its attainment of goals (Lyneis, 2011, p.69). A company’s business strategy includes company goals, products and services to be offered, target markets, and competitive pricing (Lyneis, 2011, p.69). Business strategy also concerns matching internal skills, knowledge, and resources with opportunities and threats in the external environment (Grant, 2002, p.135). Strategy should not focus on market opportunities only, but address internal strengths and weaknesses and their proper management. Grant (2002) argued for the role of company resources in attaining competitiveness

The role of Government in the Information Assurance and Security Research Paper

The role of Government in the Information Assurance and Security process and their access to personal information to include soc - Research Paper Example Cyber criminals have continued to develop better and more sophisticated tools of accessing private information of highly confidential government agencies, banks, credit bureaus and research institutes. This has increased to pile more pressure on the government as steps that ensure information assurance and confidentiality rises. With the rising corporate competition, unauthorized access to the competitor’s strategic information can provide the necessary leeway for growth. This has seen company’s loss private marketing and management ideas to their rivals through unauthorized access to private information. The government has a huge responsibility in the provision of information assurance and security to both its agencies and private companies. In the process of achieving this important goal, the government accesses private and personal information of its citizens. This has created a major public outrage as they feel that their privacies have been invaded. Mobile phones, social media and emails are avenues for individuals to exchange either business or personal information. ... Introduction Background information of the study Information security is the continuous protection of information and security apparatuses from any unauthorized access, disruption, alteration, publication or even termination and disruption. Information assurance and security is about creating systems that promote a secure platform for storing information and data without the fear of unwanted intrusion. Information in today’s world is a critical asset that must be safeguarded at all costs. Unwanted access to private information can lead to loss of such important assets, which may cripple an organization. Competitive edge is the desire of every corporation in this competitive world of business. Any organization that can easily access the others information regarding their future operation plans can scheme to stifle such plans. Any step that threatens private and business information therefore threatens the existence of the business (Motorola Inc, 2010, p.4). Backstreet terrorism has been replaced with more advanced techniques that vary from cyber attacks, access to confidential security details online and attacks on bank information. Any lapse in the security system of technologically stored information translates into millions of shillings or thousands of lives lost. The main mandate of any government is to ensure that its citizens are protected at all times (Bowens and Keys, 2004). Adopting steps that ensure that no security lapse can occur within the government security details is of great importance. Attack on government dignitaries can be easier if terrorist access their private security details. It is therefore the sole role of the government to ensure that confidential information is kept safe and secure from terrorist attacks (Cybercore

The health systems of Canada and Australia Essay

The health systems of Canada and Australia - Essay Example On the other hand, private healthcare system is majorly financed through private health insurance programs or out of pocket payments by the patients. The healthcare system in Canada is provided through the public funded system. The publicly funded health system is basically free during the point of use, and provides services mostly through the private entities. The Canadian health system is controlled through the 1984 Canadian Health Act. The Canadian government applies the federal standards in determining the healthcare quality. The health information of the patients is not accessed by the government; this ensures the confidentiality between the patient and the physician. The Medicare systems that are managed provincially in Canada have proved to be cost effective, due to the simplicity in the administration process. In every province, the physician presents the insurance claim on the provincial insurer. The patient is usually not directly involved in the healthcare billing and also the processes of reclamation. The proportion of the expenditure for private health institutions is approximately 30% (Warren, 2008). The Canadian Health Act is not supposed to cater for the cost of; prescription drugs, dental care, prescription glasses, long term care and homecare. This implies that patients cater for these health expenses through cash payments or private insurance. However, the provinces cater for partial costs of the health services not covered from the health act, for the vulnerable members of the society like children and elderly citizens. Competitive practices such as advertising are controlled. This ensures the maximization of revenues that are used directly in the healthcare. The health costs are generally catered for by the income tax funding. The Canada Health Act does not allow user fees; however, some doctors charge the yearly fees for the non-essential services such as doctors’ notes and prescription

Ethics Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ethics - Coursework Example This may cause unhealthy conflict among the team members who may not be comfortable with the scrutiny and strictness that results from this kind of thinking. Understanding ones preferences as a leader are important in helping establish healthy leader-subjects relationship. It is a part of the self-awareness that is known to create a bridge between people with different personalities. Diversity being an expected aspect of teams and organization, understanding and being able to control ones thinking preferences makes one an engaging and respecting the leader (Marcic & Daft, 2013). When, for instance, a leader knows that he or she prefers imaginative thinking, they will be able to control it in such a way that it does not affect their focus on reality. In emotional intelligence, a leader can focus attention on the most important aspect of leader-subject relationship this is the emotional congruence and relationship. Any leadership process involves interacting with people at various levels. These interactions create emotions on the side of the leader as well as on the side of the subjects. According to Hughes et al. (2011), emotional intelligence does not only entail knowing or learning about the emotions of other peoples but self-awareness is an important principle. With self-awareness, the leader is able to focus on the personal emotions and feelings and hence align directly with the expectations of the subjects while still maintaining a cordial but professional relationship (Hughes et al., 2011). With self-regulation, an attribute of emotional intelligence, the leaders can successfully identify their personal values and those of their subjects. This develops within the relationship the notion of being accountable and knowing the limits of one another. The importance of this is that there is self-restraint from within the leadership structure and between the

Should the U.S. lower the drinking age to 18 Research Paper

Should the U.S. lower the drinking age to 18 - Research Paper Example In the 1970s , the drinking age was reduced to 18 , as this was followed by many of the states so that the individuals be given the right under the Twenty Sixth Amendment passage. There are some states which give the permission to the 18 year olds to be present in the places where alcohol beverages are consumed , even if they are not consuming the beverages themselves and sometimes even give them the permission to work as bar tenders , serving the beverages. Whereas there are some states which give the permission to the 21 year olds to consume the alcohol beverages on the private property with the permission or the supervision of a family member. (Williams, Elizabeth M, and Stephanie J. Carter. The A-Z Encyclopedia of Food Controversies and the Law. Santa Barbara, Calif: Greenwood/ABC-CLIO, 2011.) Despite the specific changes made by the federal law there are about thirty states within the United States which give the permission to the individuals of the 21 years age or over to consu me the alcohol under the supervision of a family member or with the consent of their parents. ... lif: Greenwood/ABC-CLIO, 2011.) There have been many arguments and the debates that the minimum age of drinking should be reduced so that so that the individuals have the responsibility and staring at an early age will broaden their horizon to the responsible drinking. Amethyst Initiative , which are one of the groups of college educators, have agreed and given the advocacy of the underage drinking. National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism College Drinking Task Force, and Mothers Against Drunk Driving , on the other hand have urged and they advocate rigorously against the reduction of the underage drinking so that the fatal consequences such as the alcohol related traffic incidents , alcohol related traffic deaths and alcohol related sexual assaults can be reduced and it can only be done with the help of the minimum drinking age laws enforcements on the campuses and the schools. For the policy makers in the United States, the underage drinking has been a well debated issue in the country and there have been various laws introduced and changed over the past many years as well. Due to the increase in the drunk driving fatalities , the United States government increased the drinking age from 18 years to 21 years so that the fatality rate could be decreased. There have been arguments put forth which question that what reasons have resulted in the underage drinking to be reduced to 18. There are some critics who criticize the current drinking age which differentiates and arbitrarily discriminates between the individuals who are 21 years old and the individuals who are 18 years old. In the country like United States, the individual who is 18 years old is regarded as the legally adult, and hence has the freedom to join military , have the capability and ability to

Organ Transplant Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Organ Transplant - Research Paper Example The determination of the process of organ transplantation is an important subject matter in organ transplantation. It increases on consciousness and awareness on the issue of organ transplantation. There are different phases in the process of organ transplant. These include the determination of organ facts, the possible diseases, the devices, organ allocation, the waiting list and the hospitalization and surgery (United Network for Organ Sharing, 2011). Determination of Organ Facts First is the determination of the organ facts. This includes the defective organs of the patients needing replacement. The common organs transplanted are liver, kidney, pancreas, heart, lung and intestine. Kidney is one of the organs susceptible to damage which can lead to the lost of function specifically the removal of waste from the body through filtration then urination. Regulations of blood pressure, blood volume and chemical or electrolyte composition of the blood, are included in the main functions of the kidney. Included in the kidney diseases that can lead to the need for organ transplant are polycystic kidneys, nephrosclerosis, chronic pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis, diabetes mellitus, kidney stones, renal cell carcinoma ad Wilm’s tumor (United Network for Organ Sharing, 2011). Liver is another organ susceptible to failure since it’s one of the largest organs with important function such as processing of carbohydrates, fats and proteins, and storage of vitamins. It is responsible for the substance in blood clotting. ... It is responsible for the substance in blood clotting, bile for fat digestion and can break down toxic substances in drugs and alcohol. Diseases such as primary sclerosing cholangitis, acute hepatic necrosis, cirrhosis, metabolic diseases, portal hypertension, hepatitis, liver tumors and biliary atresia (United Network for Organ Sharing, 2011). Pancreas is another organ with the main role of producing enzymes for digestion as well as insulin which functions as a regulator of blood sugar in the body. A need for organ transplant can be caused by diabetes mellitus type II. Heart is another organ of importance commonly transplanted. It pumps blood that distributes nutrients and oxygen and gathers wastes and carbon dioxide from different parts of the body. It can acquire diseases and malfunctions caused by coronary heart disease, cardiomyopathy, congenital or valvular heart diseases, and hypertensive heart disease. Also located near the heart is the lung which is described as a spongy org an in the chest that functions for breathing. A person needs organ transplant when the lungs are damaged through COPD, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, emphysema, primary pulmonary hypertension, cystic fibrosis, and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. Intestines are also included in the organs transplanted. It can be damaged through short gut syndrome and other malabsorptive bowel problems (United Network for Organ Sharing, 2011). Waiting List of Organs One of the most important factors in the process of organ transplantation is the waiting list. In the study of the United States waiting lists of candidates by organ released on April 1, 2011, the largest composition is composed of people who needs kidney transplant, which