When Should You Take the SAT or ACT Best Test Dates

When Should You Take the SAT or ACT Best Test Dates SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The college admissions process is a long one, encompassing most of a student's high school career. One of the most important parts, the SAT or ACT standardized test, is also one of the most challenging. Butyou can really benefit from early planning and deciding ahead of time when you should take it. It's always a good idea to begin early, but to decide on specific test dates, you'll need to factor in circumstances like your personal schedule, your admissions deadlines, and the classes you're currently taking. All of these make a big difference inwhen it’s best for you to take the SAT or ACT. In this guide, we'll debunk a common myth about the best time to take the test, discuss the most important factors for determining when you should take the SAT or ACT, and go over the besttesting planfor most high school students. Myth: Some SAT/ACT Test Dates Are Always Easier Than Others A common myth about the SAT and ACTis that specific test dates tend to be easier or harder than others. The (incorrect) logic here is that each test date is curved based on the students who take that specific test.Therefore, if you take the test with many ambitious, hard-working students, the curve will be harder and your test score will be lower. On the other hand, if you take the test with a lot of younger, unprepared students, the curve will be easier and your score will be higher. This myth is factually untrue for several reasons. First, both the College Board and ACT, Inc,.do not curve their tests based on student performance. In other words, whom you take the SAT or ACT with haszero impact on your final score. Instead, both the SAT and ACT use an equating process to account for slight differences in test difficulty across test dates. For example, if the ACT you took in April was harder than the ACT given in June, your raw scores would translate into slightly higher scaled scores to account for this difference in difficulty. Both test makers want to give students test scores that can be compared with scores from any other test date, on an equal basis.As a result, a score on one test will always indicate the same level of ability as that same score on a different test date. For example, a 1200 on one SAT will mean the same thing in 2016 as it does in 2020. This is the whole point of a standardized test! Here’s another reason this myth doesn’t make sense: if test curves varied from test to test, then colleges would need to take into account the test date on your application. For instance, they'd need to treat a 30 on an April ACT differently from a 30 on a June ACT. To date, no college admissions office has given any evidence that they take specific test dates into account. It is true that tests do vary in difficulty on a personal level. For example, when I was preparing for the SAT, some reading passages were just easier for me than other passages, especially if the passage topics were in my area of interest. However, you can't predict this ahead of time. As I mentioned above, many other factors go into choosing the test date that’s best for you. 4 Important Factors for Your SAT/ACT Date Like most things in life, early planning pays off- in this case, in higher test scores. Don't wait until college applications are duein your senior year to take your first SAT or ACT- you'll perform nowhere near your best and might not get into the schools you apply to. Beyond the general tip of planning early, you'll need to decide onthe specific test date you’ll be taking the SAT or ACT. Each test now has seven test dates throughout the year, and your score can vary on each test date based on a few key factors. In order of priority, here are the four most important factors to think about when determining when you should take the SAT or ACT: #1: Deadlines for College Admissions and Scholarships The most important factor for determining when you should take the SAT or ACT is your college admissions deadlines. As we'll explain later, you should begin preparing for the SAT/ACT a year before your first important deadline;you should also take your chosen test at least twice. For most students, regular decision deadlines fall in December or January of their senior year, which means you'll need to take your last SAT or ACT by, latest, December. If you're applying early action or early decision and have a due date in November, your last possible test date will be the October SAT or ACT. As a result, you'll need to begin preparing for the SAT/ACT during your junior year. There might be also other deadlines at play for you. For example, if you're recruited for athletics, you'll want to reach your SAT/ACT target goal by the end of your junior year. As we discuss in this article about how college recruiting works, college coaches won't want to spend time recruiting you if they don't think you have a good chance of getting into that school, which means your academics need to be on par with those of non-student athletes at the schools you're applying to. You don't necessarily need to shoot for a top SAT/ACT score and GPA, but you should aim to hit 25th percentile SAT/ACT scores and around 80% of the average GPA. The specifics of what you can get away with will depend on the school, sport, and specific person. For instance, a volleyball player at Harvard will have to meet higher academic standards than a football player at FSU. Deadline considerations also apply for academic merit scholarships. Several SAT/ACT score-based scholarships have deadlines well in advance of the January regular decision admissions deadlines. As a result, you might need to adjust when you take the test(s) to make sure your scores will be ready when you apply. The bottom line? Know your deadlines as you plan out your SAT/ACT testing schedule. #2: Content Readiness and Classes in School Much of the SAT and ACT tests general concepts you'll learn in high school, and your scores will be higher once you’ve taken the classes that cover material on the tests. The best time to take the SAT or ACT is after you've taken Geometry and Algebra II classes. Both tests feature algebra and geometry (though the SAT places less emphasis on geometry these days). If you've never encountered these subjects, your knowledge foundation will cause you to do poorly on the Math section. As for the Reading and Writing/English sections, most students will have had enough exposure to English and grammar to form a baseline understanding of the concepts tested on the SAT and ACT.To excel on these sections, though, you'll need to prep specifically for the SAT and ACT. Now, this doesn’t mean that just because you took Algebra II and English classes, you'll do well on the SAT/ACT. The test questions are very different from what you've seen in school, and much of SAT/ACT prep involves learning special types of questions and becoming familiar with the test format. That said, having the underlying content foundation will make you improve much faster. Plus, if you're in a state that requires juniors to take the SAT or ACT, you might also get some extra prep targeted at the SAT/ACT during class time. #3: Personal Schedule and Stress If possible, it’s best to take the SAT or ACT when you're not stressed about five other things in life. Many high school students struggle with balancing schoolwork, extracurriculars, a social life, and test prep. Therefore,avoid taking the SAT or ACT when you have a lot of other activities going on. For example, May is especially busy for many students because of AP exams, finals, and end-of-year events. But for you, March might be a bad time because you're gearing up for state championships for your sport. In my experience with thousands of students, students who plan to take the SAT or ACT during busy times like these get very stressed, don’t have enough time to prep, and unfortunately end up getting lower-than-expected scores on test day. Try to choose a test date on either side of a busy period so you have more time in your schedule to prep and less stress and anxiety. Ultimately, this can make a big difference in your test scores! #4: Prep Time For most students, we recommend studying at least 40 hours for the SAT or ACTfor a big score improvement. If you can study more than this- e.g., 80 hours or 120 hours- you'll likely be rewarded with higher test scores. If you've already taken the test several times but don’t have time to prep for your next test, you’re unlikely to see a big score improvement. It's an unfortunate truth, but without learning more content and attacking your weaknesses, you're simply not going to improve your score. In the end, try to schedule the SAT/ACT for a time when you can dedicate focused study time to test prep. For example, many students like scheduling the test right after winter break or summer vacation so they can take advantage of their free time by putting in serious study hours. By thinking deeply about these four major factors, you'll be able to figure out which test dates are best for you. Next up, we show you the testing plan that works best for 95% of students. A Reliable SAT/ACT Testing Schedule for Most Students For most students, this SAT/ACT testing schedule will give you the best chance of getting the score you want. It makes sure you test early, gives you room to improve, and offers enough buffer time so that you can get the score you want before your college applications are due. Here are the four steps you'll need to take: Step 1: Take the PSAT as a Junior If you’re aiming for aNational Meritscholarship, you'll want to prepare for the PSAT (which is essentially a practice SAT) and take it your junior year.For most students, though, there's no need to prepare for it; rather, you shouldlook at the PSAT as an opportunity to get early exposure to the SAT. If you plan to take the ACT instead of the SAT, you could opt for the PreACT or the ACT Aspire Program. Step 2: Take the February ACT or March SAT as a Junior These are the first SAT/ACT test dates after winter break, so use your break to prepare for the test. Make sure you have a study planand take at least one or twofull-length SAT/ACT practice testssometime before the test so you can get used to the format. As this will be your first official test, look at your score as a starting score to improve on later. Step 3: Take the April/June ACT or the May/June SAT as a Junior You’ll need to prep a little harder for this test. Make sure you have a long-term study schedule during the school year and are factoring in enough time to study.When deciding between April/May and June test dates, consider your personal schedule and aim to give yourself as little stress as possible. In truth, you're likely to improve your score just by taking the test a second time!Thus, at this point, it’s very possible that yourSAT or ACT score will be good enough for the colleges you want to apply to. If you still want to improve, however, move on to step 4. Step 4: Take the August SAT or September ACT as a Senior From steps 2 and 3, you'll know how much room you need to grow to hit your SAT goal scoreor ACT goal score. During the summer, it's important to work really hard at improving your scores- even at the expense of your social life and personal fun. (It's well worth it, though, as a higher score will get you access to better colleges and scholarships!) Step 5: Still Dissatisfied With Your Score? Take the SAT/ACT in the Late Fall Late fall your senior year is typically yourlast chance to take the SAT/ACT and still get your scores to your schools in time. That said, if you've already taken the test multiple times, you're unlikely to see more than incremental change without a lot of dedicated prep. To really raise your score, you'll need to set aside plenty of time to study. This might mean spending less time with friends or even easing off some of your extracurriculars to give you more time to fully concentrate on the test. Why is this five-step plan so effective?For one, it gives you early warning signs for your starting score so you know how much you have to improve by. It also offers enough flexibility for you to schedule your prep time as needed. Finally, it gives you several chances to take the test in case you have a bad day and don't score as highly as you want to. As a final tip, remember to register well in advance of the deadline so you canpay as few fees as possible. SAT/ACT Testing Schedule for Intensive Studiers If you're a student who's hoping to aim for the highest scores on the test, you'll want to structure your test taking a little differently. The schedule below ensures that you start early and spend more time studying for each test. Step 1: Take the PSAT as a Sophomore While you can't qualify for National Merit as a sophomore, taking the PSAT in 10th grade will give you valuable insight into how you're doing and where your weaknesses lie. Since you're mainly taking the PSAT to get more information about your skill level (rather than to qualify for a scholarship competition), there's no need for any extra preparation. Step 2: Take the PSAT/NMSQT as a Junior This advice is the same as for our regular testing schedule above: if your goal is to qualify for National Merit, you'll need to spend some time prepping for the PSAT (at the very least, by taking an official PSAT practice test). Step 3: Take the September/October ACT or October/November SAT as a Junior Take advantage of your summer vacation and the beginning of fall semester to prepare for this test. Plan to spend at least a few hours prepping each week. As always, follow a study plan and take a fewfull-length SAT/ACT practice testsso you can get more accustomed to the format of the exam. Remember, this is your first official test, and your score on it will be the starting score you'll try to improve on. Take it seriously! Unfortunately, you'll also have the PSAT around this time, so try to balance your study time wisely. Since the PSAT is so similar to the SAT, you can really just study for the SAT and apply what you've learned to the PSAT as well. If you're taking the ACT, on the other hand, the only difference is that you'll probably want tobrush up on your science knowledge. Step 4: Take the March SAT or April ACT as a Junior A spring test is a solid time for a second attempt as you'll have winter vacation (and possibly spring break, too) to study for it.As you did the first time around, make studying part of your routine. This time, however, you should have a better understanding of what specific weaknesses to focus on. Since you'll have gotten back your PSAT scores and your SAT/ACT scores from your fall test, make sure to incorporate any insights you can glean from your performances on these and apply them to your prep. For instance, if your Writing/English score was a lot lower than you expected it to be, you should dedicate more time to reviewing criticalSAT/ACT grammar rules. Step 5: Take the August SAT or September ACT as a Senior If you still haven't hit your goal score, this is a good time to take a third SAT/ACT. You'll absolutely need to prep for this test.The scores you got in step 4 will tell you how much you need to improve by. By giving yourself four to five months to study, you'll have a far better chance of making big score gains (than if you were to opt for the earlier June SAT/ACT). Make full use of the summer to work really hard, even if it comes at the expense of your social life. Remind yourself that a higher score will ultimately give you access to better colleges and even scholarships. Step 6: Unhappy With Your Score? Take the December SAT/ACT as a Senior This is your absolute last chance to take the SAT/ACT and still have your scores meet your college application deadlines. As we recommend for our regular schedule above, if your score is lagging behind the target you've set, it's best to drop as many other activities as you can to improve it. In particular, reduce your extracurriculars and your social life so you can concentrate more on the test. However, you also need to be realistic. Compare your desired score increase withour recommended study time for the SAT and ACT. Can you realistically put in that much study time? More importantly, are you willing to do this? If not, consider adjusting your target score and the schools you want to apply to. What's Next? How high does your SAT/ACT score need to be? Learn more about what a goodSAT scoreand a goodACT scoreis, based on the colleges you're applying to. Want more guidance on how long to study for the SAT/ACT? Check out our expert step-by-step guides for the SAT andACT. Not sure when to take the test? Check out the full schedule of upcoming test dates for the ACT and SATso you can pick the most convenient time for you. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

CROSS CULTURAL MANAGEMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

CROSS CULTURAL MANAGEMENT - Essay Example In this paper macro level facts of France would be evaluated, the business culture in France would be analysed, the challenges that the manager might face would be identified and probable recommendation would be put forward, so that the assignment turns out to be successful for the company. Macro level facts about Paris, France France is considered as one of the most contemporary countries of the world. It has a very influential role in United Nation Organisation. It is the largest country in Western Europe and has the 9th largest economy in Europe (CIA, 2013). Paris is the capital of France, which is situated in the north of France. It has a typical oceanic climate, which is mainly because of the influence of North Atlantic current. As far as the overall climate of the city is concern, it is moderately wet and mild throughout the year. In summer, the days are usually pleasant and warm, while winters are freezing. It rains throughout the year in Paris. The city is managed by the muni cipality and the since 1834, apart from the government and other governing bodies. The population of Paris in 2010 was around 2.25 million, which obviously has increase by now (CIA, 2013). The wages are quite high in Paris and media income in the city in 2011 was approximately â‚ ¬25,000, which signifies that the standard of living of Paris is comparatively high. The higher income people are mostly found in the western part of the city. Paris is considered to be one of the economic centres and the wealthiest area of the country. The GDP of the country is $2.609 trillion in 2012. Majority of national income of the country is generated by the service sector (79.2 percent). The currency of France is Euro and CFP Franc (CIA, 2013). Majority of people are French, but other ethnic groups such as North African, Latin, Indochinese, East Indian, Chinese, Amerindian, etc are also seen in France. French is the official language and spoken throughout the country. The population of the countr y on 2013, 65,951,611, in which majority of the population, that is around 38.9 percent are between of age of 25 to 54 years (CIA, 2013). Value Description – Hofstede Model In this segment, the French culture would be discussed with the help of Hofstede model, which will provide a view of the drivers of French culture. In addition to this, the Chinese culture would be simultaneously examined, so that a comparative analysis can be portrayed. The five elements of Hofstede model are: a) power distance, b) individualism, c) uncertainty avoidance, d) long term orientation and e) masculinity/ femininity. Figure 1: Hofstede Model: Comparison between France and China Source: (The Hofstede Centre, n. d.). Power distance: Both France and China has a high power distance score, which signifies that in both societies inequality is accepted. However, in China the inequality in the society is higher as the score is 80 in comparison to France, whose score is 68. So the superiors have the pri viledge, which in many cases are inaccessible for the inferior strata of the society. Individualism: The individualism score of France is 71, which means French prefer private and individual opinion and are more interested in taking care of themselves before their family. Individual recognition at

THe importance of art education within our society and educational Essay

THe importance of art education within our society and educational systems - Essay Example In these regards, one might consider the purpose behind including mathematics in education. In great part, individuals will never directly use the mathematical skills they gain in real life situations, however the challenge and process of solving the equations can be transferred to challenges later in life; in the same regards, an art education can be implemented in future careers and life scenarios. In addition to the importance art education has for developing skills, I also believe it is important as it imbues students with a sense of cultural appreciation. When one considers that in great part the function of museums that exhibit art is to highlight the cultural significance of the specific time period or cultural milieu in which the work was created, it is clear that learning about and understanding art is important for the very fabric of society. In this respect, art appreciation allows individuals an added perspective into the historical nature of past and current cultures. Th is appreciation makes individuals more intelligent and open-minded, benefitting both themselves and the world in which they live.

Advantages of Supply chain management

Advantages of Supply chain management Explain the advantages and disadvantages of implementing a Supply Chain Management (SCM) system. The advantages and disadvantages of Nike implementing a supply chain management system include cost of buying and handling inventory, processing orders, and information systems support. Advantages of implementing a (SCM) by Nike By implementing the process of supply chain management, Nike will be able to set up networks and facilities that transforms raw material into products that will be delivered to customers. This will give Nike a huge advantage over their competitors by helping them use information more efficiently along the entire chain which can result in significant cost savings, it also helps regulate the movement of inventory coming in and going out of the organization, orders will be process much faster than formal times, and predictable delivery with updated information system. The networks in each level must handshake or interact to help connect suppliers to the Manufacturer, to the retailer then the finished product is delivery to the customer in just-in-time (JIT). Implementing supply chain management will enable Nike to be more effective and efficiency also transportation costs will be reduced, cost of inventories will be fair and inexpensive, increase number of capable suppliers, it maximizes the means of transmitting messages and information effectively within the organization and it will help Nike adapt to technology changes more quickly than before. SCM will also help Nike gain the buy-in of all key markets, increase supply chain speed and the bullwhip effect. Disadvantages Implementing Supply chains management in Nike had proven to be very difficult in the past, this is due to the problem cause by the I2 software which required significant customization to make compatible with Nikes legacy systems. Other downfalls of implementing supply chain management system is that it can become highly complex and dynamic in the short-run, switching cost are relatively high, increasing uncertainty, high competitive pressure urges, increase implementation costs. Developing a planning system that effectively coordinates information technology and people is a considerable challenge, changing market conditions, negotiating terms and conditions required huge amount of risk and forecasting. Describe the options for acquiring a SCM system with the advantages and disadvantages of each option. The first option for acquiring a SCM system is implementing an ERP Enterprise Recourse Planning System using the SAP software; ERP system can facilitate SCM Needed production planning and purchasing systems already in place. ERP integrates sales, order, inventory, manufacturer, and customer service activities. One advantage is that it allows sharing production plans along the supply chain to occur in real time and helps them determine whether to buy regionally, establish a collaborative team or appoint a global lead buyer. Other advantages of ERP include efficient business processes, inventory reduction, lead-time reduction, improved customer service, improved decision making, real-time insight into organization and higher profitability. The disadvantages are the combination of the people, procedure, hardware, software and data in the organization or problem in the operational, managerial, and strategic level of the organization. Inadequate or inconsistent data, mistakes in customer ID numbers, and bad customer service. The second option is implementing a Customer Relationship Management Systems. CRM supports the business process of attracting, selling, managing, delivering, and supporting customers. CRM addresses all activities and events related to customers in a single repository data about all customer interaction. CRM also stores all customer data in one place and make it possible to access all data about the customer. CRM will allow Nike to be more flexible, productive and efficient in handling customers private information. Flexibility ensures them to recognize manufacturing issues, to response to design changes requested by the marketplace. Nike will also be able to response to unexpected or uncertainty the company has and will provides the means to adjust to the consequences of inevitable risks, and reduce total costs. However, flexibility is costly, uncertain environments companies with highly flexible supply chains perform better than companies with less flexible supply chains while in ce rtain environments the opposite holds. The disadvantages or implementing CRM include system overload, turnover, inconsistence data, people and hardware and software. Outline the raw material inventory purchasing process from the identification of the need for an item to the supplier payment. To optimizing and regain control over control over production planning Nike must utilize the approach of raw material inventory purchasing process to help increase efficiency, increase lead times and to help increase the rate in which product is being delivered to the customer. When a customer demands for a product or item, the primary retailers sends an order for the product to the major raw material supplier which sends the raw material needed for the production of the product to the manufacturer, then the manufacturer outs all the components of the product together and sends it the distributor. The distributor in turn purchase the require items from the manufacturers, and then distributes the products to the retailer which then delivers the product to the end consumer. From the distributor point all the way back up the supply chain to the raw material suppliers there is no further injection of cash. The money you spend on the product or equipment is passed back up to the supply ch ain as payments for gods or raw material. Customer is the only source of revenue. By reducing numbers of suppliers and increasing efficiencies in the entire distribution chain, manufacturers are able to reduce raw materials inventory. Bennett,R..(2009). Trade Usage and Disclaiming Consequential Damages: The Implications for Just-in-Time Purchasing.American Business Law Journal,46(1),179. Retrieved April 21, 2010, from ABI/INFORM Global. (Document ID:1665640451). Describe the potential pitfalls that may be encountered in implementing a SCM system. Along with the great advantages that come with switching to a supply chain management system there are some potential pitfalls that can cause money loss or confusion within the system. The system will be set up with a great deal of rigidity but must also leave room for some exceptions because things do not always run as smooth as they were planned out. The supply chain may not have the same information systems so incorporating the different systems and getting them to work together without confusion may be a hard thing to set up and cause orders to be messed up. The companies within the supply chain may also have different goals which could cause the companies ideals to clash causing different tasks to be taken with more urgency then others. The delivery dates may also not match from the supplier to the retailers causing wrong delivery dates being told to the customer. Customer service expectations may be different from company to company along the chain as well, causing different go als in quality and customer support for the product. Some companies will not have a sufficient information system to receive the information and relay back, which can cause more confusion in the system. Making sure that everyone along the way in the system is trained well enough to deal with any problems that may arise is a big help. Assuming a SCM system is purchased and customized; explain the major tasks that need to be completed in order to implement this system. The tasks should be presented in chronological order. If Nike were to introduce the SCM system they would need to start out with setting up a strategy that the companies can agree with to keep the system working smooth. Getting all the companies on the same page is the crucial first step to setting up a SCM system and will help the companies work together easily. Configuring the system to work with all the companies is the next step, getting compatible information systems or a way to enter the information into each information system is a key in keeping the companies joined in the system. Making sure the constraints of the systems and requirements are right for the use each company needs them for. Figuring out the locations for all the pieces of the system is the next step making sure they will work together to benefit the company and not cause more costs to the companies. Planning the source of resources and the resource requirements to set up and make the system functional is the next step in the process of setting up. Also making sur e that sufficient man power to make the system work properly is in place is very important to having a strong SCM system. Setting up the supply chain controls is the next step, and this consists of deciding which information to keep a watch on and the measurements needed to control the system. The performance of the system needs to be maintained and watched over so these evaluations of the system are important to keeping the system beneficial. The last step would be developing the internal and external relationships, keeping them working together. Identifying the systems needed to keep the information passed to each company is very important so the information doesnt get misinterpreted and orders get messed up. The key to smooth running SCM is communication between the different sectors of the system, if they all receive the right info and can reply back easily then everyone is kept up to date on the time periods. References He,Y.,andJ.Zhang.Random yield supply chain with a yield dependent secondary market.European Journal of Operational Research 206.1(2010):221.ABI/INFORM Global,ProQuest. Web. 21 Apr. 2010. http://proquest.umi.com.libdbauth.nait.ab.ca/pqdweb?did=2004689781sid=1Fmt=2clientId=58918RQT=309VName=PQD Frisk,M.,M.GÃ ¶the-Lundgren,K.JÃ ¶rnsten,andM.RÃ ¶nnqvist.Cost allocation in collaborative forest transportation.European Journal of Operational Research 205.2(2010):448.ABI/INFORM Global,ProQuest. Web. 22 Apr. 2010 http://proquest.umi.com.libdbauth.nait.ab.ca/pqdweb?did=1973809221sid=2Fmt=2clientId=58918RQT=309VName=PQD Su,Y.,andC.Yang.Why are enterprise resource planning systems indispensable to supply chain management?European Journal of Operational Research 203.1(2010):81.ABI/INFORM Global,ProQuest. Web. 22 Apr. 2010.http://proquest.umi.com.libdbauth.nait.ab.ca/pqdweb?did=1897588531sid=7Fmt=2clientId=58918RQT=309VName=PQD Suresh Subramoniam,Mohamed Tounsi,andK V Krishnankutty.The role of BPR in the implementation of ERP systems.Business Process Management Journal 15.5(2009):653.ABI/INFORM Global,ProQuest. Web. 14 Apr. 2010. http://proquest.umi.com.libdbauth.nait.ab.ca/pqdweb?did=1964591951sid=1Fmt=2clientId=58918RQT=309VName=PQD Bennett,R..(2009). Trade Usage and Disclaiming Consequential Damages: The Implications for Just-in-Time Purchasing.American Business Law Journal,46(1),179. Retrieved April 21, 2010, from ABI/INFORM Global. (Document ID:1665640451). http://proquest.umi.com.libdbauth.nait.ab.ca/pqdweb?did=1665640451sid=12Fmt=2clientId=58918RQT=309VName=PQD

China Dolls Essay

Jeffrey Cheong picked up the folder marked â€Å"URGENT†, which his secretary had just placed on his table and looked at its content. The folder contained letters from two of his major clients, KiKi and Houida. Both KiKi and Houida, two European fashion houses, were Haute Couture Fashion Berhad (HCF)’s first customers and have been with HCF since its inception. They were writing to Jeffrey to inform him that they may be looking to China to â€Å"contract manufacture† for them as the prices there were very competitive. Jeffrey stared out of his window in contemplation. He was in a dilemma. Loss of its two major clients would be disastrous to HCF. As it stood, HCF had been experiencing falling margins and profits over the last few years as evidenced in the financial statements enclosed. Loss of Kiki and Houida would mean that HCF would then be incurring losses. As soon as his other clients heard of this new development, they too would be taking similar steps. Jeffrey realised he had to review his strategy quickly if he wanted to retain the present clientele. He knew the inevitable. During the late 1990’s and into the early 21st century, China had made inroads into the textile industry and was forecasted to grow further. Following the relaxation of trade barriers, many of the European and American fashion houses were looking at importing clothes from China at very low prices. This was mainly due to its low operating costs. This had a massive negative impact on many companies operating at higher costs and based elsewhere. The previous adverse perception of â€Å"Made in China† labels had slowly changed as China now manufactured clothes that are higher quality at substantially lower operating costs. If Jeffrey wanted to survive in this industry, he too must consider moving his operations to China. Haute Couture Fashions Bhd (HCF) Houte Couture Fashions Bhd was established in the 1974 by the Tan family. Tan Boon Kheong, the patriarch of the Tan family was a skilled master cutter,  trained by British cutters in 1950s in Penang. He ran a small but successful business tailoring men’s clothing in Argyll Road, Penang until his retirement in 1980. Peter Tan, the oldest son of Tan Boon Kheong, initially under his father as a young 17-year-old but after three years left for Europe as he was interested in creating for both men and women’s fashion, rather than merely tailoring men’s suits and pants. His sojourn in Europe saw him training at Yves St Laurent and Gucci. He had a keen eye on women’s silhouette and soon established himself as a talented designer. Many of the fashion houses were happy to employ him into their team. He returned to Malaysia with a wealth of experience, eager to put his newly acquired knowledge into use. His return to Malaysia coincided with the trend of European clothes’ manufacturers looking at Asia for outsourcing. Peter saw this as an opportunity to kick-start his business venture, especially with his contacts with the European fashion houses. HCF started out as a family owned business with all of its shares being held by the Tan family. Peter prepared to bid for contract manufacturing deals with the European fashion houses. With the help of his contacts and excellent track record with the fashion houses, he soon managed to convince three of them to sign outsourcing deals with him. These fashion houses were keen on doing business with the people known to them as they set-off their new venture. HCF’s Growth HCF started its first fully equipped factory in Penang in November1974. Under Peter’s helm, HCF very quickly established itself as a high quality manufacturer of both men’s and women’s clothes. It had no difficulty meeting the demand of the fashion houses as Peter had recruited several European-trained Malaysian designers to join his team. By late of 1970s, HCF’s turnover had reached RM10 million. Over the ensuing five years since its inception, HCF had managed to add two more European fashion houses into its customer base. HCF’s talented designers were  providing inputs toward the development of the ready-to-wear designs and were well received by the fashion houses. HCF was now faced with a problem. The factory located in Penang was no longer big enough to cope with the production capacity. Peter quickly sourced a large plot of land in mainland Penang – Butterworth and began building a new and much larger state-of-the-art factory to cater for the growing demand. In July 1980, HCF opened its new factory in Butterworth. Peter, then the Managing Director of HCF, decided not to shut down the Penang factory but operated both factories. HCF then employed between 80 to 100, mostly tailors in the Penang factory, while the Butterworth factory employed about 300 employees. HCF continued to experience growth in sales throughout the early 1980s to mid 1990s, charted annual sales of around RM100 million. Its customer base had also increased, drawing in customers from Europe as well as America. Profits were also riding high. HCF opened two more factories. In 1990, it opened its third factory in Jitra, Kedah. The factory had a capacity of producing 1 million garments a year with a strength of 300 employees. In 1995, due to even increasing demand for its clothes, HCF decided to open its fourth factory with a production capacity of 2 million garments a year. This time, it looked to Thailand, as labour was very cheap. HCF set up a wholly owned subsidiary Haute Couture (Thailand) Pte. Ltd to operate the Chieng Mai based factory. It recruited about 500 employees. In 1997, Malaysia was facing financial crisis, with foreign exchange market volatility being the main issue. Manufacturers with foreign customers were unable to honour their contract price as exchange rates fluctuated. HCF was cought unaware. HCF had to tender for a contract six months before the delivery of the consignment. Fluctuation in the exchange rates made it impossible to predict the cost of material that HCF had to purchase form the fashion houses. HCF found itself selling its garments at very low margins for the very first time. 1998 saw HCF suffering its first loss since its inception. Many of its competitors also suffered losses and some even had to cease manufacturing. In a bid to survive the financial tsunami that had hit  Malaysia, Peter Tan consolidated HCF’s position by deciding to cut operating costs. HCF’s major cost apart from the cost of imported material was labour cost. Peter Tan made the decision to shut down the Penang factory, much to the dissent of his father. HCF was still able to meet the demand while still operating the other three factories in Butterworth, Jitra and Chieng Mai. He also decided to shift as much of the production to Chieng Mai, as the labour cost was a quarter of the labour cost incurred in the Malaysian factories. Moreover, HCF was facing labour shortage problems in Malaysia, as many of the labour force were moving to the cities for better prospects. As a result of this consolidation exercise, about 300 of HCF’s employees were made redundant, many of whom had been with HCF since its inception. Over the next few years, its profitability increased gradually and HCF slowly pulled itself out of the loss making situation. HCF managed this difficult feat because of its customer base as well as its reputation for high quality clothes, which commanded premium prices with its customers. The financial crisis had not affected Europe much, and as such, demand for the clothes continued. HCF’s Contract Manufacturing Structure The contract manufacturing deals signed with the European fashion houses were such that the designs were provided by the fashion houses and HCF had to adhere to the designs when producing the respective labels. The fashion houses welcomed suggestions from HCF’s designers but were particular that the designs were not crossed between the various labels that HCF was producing. Cross producing design between labels would be disastrous for HCF as it would immediately loose the contract for the labels involved. Further, the European fashion houses would supply the material for the clothes as they wanted to maintain the quality of the output. HCF purchased the material, sourced for appropriate accessories locally and produced the clothes. The fashion houses would contract for â€Å"a specific quantity of a specific design at a specific quality† to be delivered at a specific time. Any variation outside the contract stipulation would have to be borne by HCF itself. Usually, the contracts were for delivery of clothes one season ahead. This meant that summer’s design clothes would have to be delivered by the beginning of spring. HCF would sell the manufactured clothes at a contracted price. The fashion houses allowed HCF to tender for the contract price based on the design, quantity and price of material supplied. The contract tendering process usually took place about six months before the due date for the delivery of a season’s batch. HCF’s Customers HCF manufactured ready-to-wear clothes for a number of European and American fashion houses. Its clothes were well-sought after for its modern designs and high quality finishing. HCF’s customers have remained loyal over the last three decades, although its major coup was the securing of 2 major American fashion houses as its customers within the last 5 years. All of HCF’s clothing was manufactured under the customer’s own label.

How A Network Can Be Attacked - 2312 Words

Are We Safe! How a network can be attacked Types of attacks There are numerous types of attacks, some of these are: Virus A virus is a software program that is designed to replicate between computers and affect the operation of the computer. A computer virus is similar to a human virus. A virus is a software program that is able to corrupt and delete data from the computer. The virus can be transferred from one pc to another through an email as an attachment. Trojans A Trojan horse is a program or utility that looks as though it would be useful and safe to use but actually it is carrying out tasks which give others access to your computer. Trojans are usually found built in to another program so that it is not easily discovered. The Trojan will then run when the program that it is built into is running. Trojans are not easily discovered by antivirus software because they are written in to the code of another program. Worms A worm is another way how a network can be attacked, worms are very easy to spread between computers. Worms are transferred from one computer to another without human interaction. The worms can be transferred by emails, USB drives or downloading files. This means that worms have the capability to transfer from one computer to another and to replicate so they can infect vast amounts of computers. Adware Another way that a network can be attacked is Adware. Adware is a piece of software which generate advertisements (pop-ups, banners andShow MoreRelatedEssay Outlne on Cyber Bulying on Social Networks855 Words   |  4 PagesON CYBER BULLYING ON SOCIAL NETWORKS Cyber Bullying through Social Networks ENGL107-1103B-23 2011 I. Thesis Statement: Social Networks are giving bullies an opportunity to attack individuals online by invading their privacy and creating psychological effects from attacks. These problems need to be addressed by controlling and preventing cyber bullying. II. 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The Social Functions Of Political Systems - 1001 Words

Module 5 Essay Questions 1. What kinds of political systems are there and what are the social functions of political systems? There are several types of political systems that can be categorized including bands, tribes, chiefdoms, and states. Bands and tribes are considered uncentralized political systems, whereas chiefdoms and states are described as being more centralized (Kilman Module 5). It’s important to note that these forms of political systems aren’t static, meaning constant or unchanging. Rather, these systems continually shift and boundaries between the types of systems can easily become blurred (Kilman Module 5). Bands and tribes share some similar characteristics in that they are both relatively small. Bands in particularly†¦show more content†¦4. What is structural Violence and in what ways does it manifest in Haiti? How do myths about poverty and the concept of the American dream play into this? 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