Face-Name Recall and Associative Memory - 670 Words

Furthermore, while numerous studies have investigated the effect of either mnemonic cues and level of processing on associative memory, few have analyzed the additive/combined effect these memory strategies might have on face-name memory performance. A study by Yesavage, Rose, and Bower (1983), comparing elderly participant’s performance across memory strategies proven to enhance face-name associations both replicates and extends McCarty’s earlier research on strategies to improve face- name associations. This experiment both replicates and extends McCarty’s earlier findings of on strategies to improve face-name associations. This study evaluates the efficacy of recalling name-face associations in conditions requiring semantic judgments of the name face association and in condition not requiring affective judgment. Three groups of participants were tested. The image group was provided the prominent feature of the face, a name transformation, and an image association of the face-name pair. The image + judgment group was provided identical information, but they were asked to judge the pleasantness of the image association, and the no image group was given the prominent feature of the face, and the name transformation, but was not taught to form an image associating the prominent facial feature with the name transformation. In the no image condition participants encoded faces and names as separate units. For the image condition subjects formed visual image associationsShow MoreRelatedThe Use Of Ecstasy And Its Effects On Society1657 Words   |  7 Pagesdefinition of ecstasy, as defined by Google, is an overwhelming feeling of great happiness or joyful excitement. It is no coincidence that a drug that releases copious amounts of serotonin and dopamine is commonly referred to as ecstasy. 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For example, Aaker (1991) and Keller (1993) both argued that country of origin could affect a brand s equity by generating secondary associations for the brand. Indeed, even a foreign-sounding name is known to affect a brand s equity (Leclerc et al., 1994). Increasingly, and for a variety of reasons, brands from one country are being made available to consumers in other countries (Shocker et al., 1994). In such instances, international marketersRead MoreCustomer Based Brand Equity Model10906 Words   |  44 Pagesfunds for a global rollout), geographical balance (certain level of awareness, recognition and sales all over the world), addressing similar consumer needs worldwide, consistent positioning, country of origin, product category focus, and corporate name. From consumers’ perspective, consumers’ perception is important that the brand is marketed in multiple countries and is generally recognized as global in these countries. 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Hares and Rabbits - Leporidae - The Animal Encyclopedia

Hares and rabbits (Leporidae) together form a group of lagomorphs that includes about 50 species of hares, jackrabbits, cottontails and rabbits. Hares and rabbits have short bushy tails, long hind legs and long ears. In most of the ecosystems they occupy, hares and rabbits are the prey of numerous species of carnivores and predatory birds. Consequently, hares and rabbits are well-adapted for speed (necessary for outrunning their many predators). The long back legs of hares and rabbits enable them to launch into motion quickly and sustain the fast running speeds for considerable distances. Some species can run as fast as 48 miles per hour. The ears of hares and rabbits are generally quite large and well suited to efficiently capture and locate sounds. This enables them to take notice of potential threats at the first suspicious sound. In hot climates, large ears offers hares and rabbits an additional benefit. Due to their large surface area, the ears of hares and rabbits serve to disperse excess body heat. Indeed, hares that live in more tropical climates have larger ears than do those that live in colder climes (and thus have less need for heat dispersal). Hares and rabbits have eyes that are positioned on either side of their head such that their field of vision includes a complete 360 degree circle around their body. Their eyes are large, enabling them to take in ample light in the dim conditions present during the dawn, dark and dusk hours when they are active. The term hare is generally used to refer only to true hares (animals belonging to the genus Lepus). The term rabbit is used to refer to all remaining subgroups of the Leporidae. In broad terms, hares tend to be more specialized for rapid and sustained running while rabbits are more adapted for digging burrows and exhibit lower levels of running stamina. Hares and rabbits are  herbivores. They feed on a variety of plants including grasses, herbs, leaves, roots, bark and fruits. Since these food sources are difficult to digest, hares and rabbits must eat their feces so that food passes through their digestive tract twice and they can extract every last nutrient possible from their meals. This double digestive process is in fact so vital to hares and rabbits that if they are prevented from eating their feces, they will suffer malnutrition and die. Hares and rabbits have a nearly worldwide distribution that excludes only Antarctica, parts of South America, most islands, parts of Australia, Madagascar, and the West Indies. Humans have introduced hares and rabbits to many habitats they otherwise would not naturally inhabit. Hares and rabbits reproduce sexually. They exhibit high reproductive rates as a response to the high mortality rates they often suffer at the hands of predation, disease and harsh environmental conditions. Their gestation period averages between 30 and 40 days. Females give birth to between 1 and 9 young and in most species, they produce several litters per year. The young wean at about 1 month of age and reach sexual maturity quickly (in some species, for example, they are sexually mature at just 5 months of age). Size and Weight About 1 to 14 pounds and between 10 and 30 inches long. Classification Hares and rabbits are classified within the following taxonomic hierarchy: Animals Chordates Vertebrates Tetrapods Amniotes Mammals Lagomorphs Hares and Rabbits There are 11 groups of hares and rabbits. These include true hares, cottontail rabbits, red rock hares, and European rabbits as well as several other small groups. Evolution The earliest representative of hares and rabbits is thought to be Hsiuannania, a ground dwelling herbivore that lived during the Paleocene in China. Hsiuannania is know from just a few fragments of teeth and jaw bones but scientists are quite certain that the hares and rabbits originated somewhere in Asia.

War of 1812 Overview - Aftermath

1814: Advances in the North A Capital Burned | War of 1812: 101 Efforts for Peace As the war raged, President James Madison worked to bring it to a peaceful conclusion. Hesitant about going to war in the first place, Madison instructed his chargà © d’affaires in London, Jonathan Russell, to seek reconciliation with the British a week after war was declared in 1812. Russell was ordered to seek a peace that only required the British to repeal the Orders in Council and halt impressment. Presenting this to the British foreign minister, Lord Castlereagh, Russell was rebuffed as they were unwilling to move on the latter issue. There was little progress on the peace front until early 1813 when Czar Alexander I of Russia offered to mediate an end to hostilities. Having turned back Napoleon, he was eager benefit from trade with both Great Britain and the United States. Alexander also sought to befriend the United States as a check against British power. Upon learning of the czars offer, Madison accepted and dispatched a peace delegation consisting of John Quincy Adams, James Bayard, and Albert Gallatin. The Russian offer was declined by the British who claimed that the matters in question were internal to the belligerents and not of international concern. Progress was finally achieved later that year following the Allied victory at the Battle of Leipzig. With Napoleon defeated, Castlereagh offered to open direct negotiations with the United States. Madison accepted on January 5, 1814, and added Henry Clay and Jonathan Russell to the delegation. Traveling first to Goteborg, Sweden, they then headed south to Ghent, Belgium where the talks were to take place. Moving slowly, the British did not appoint a commission until May and their representatives did not depart for Ghent until August 2. Unrest on the Home Front As the fighting continued, those in New England and the South grew tired of the war. Never a great supporter of the conflict, New Englands coast was raided with impunity and its economy on the verge of collapse as the Royal Navy swept American shipping from the seas. South of the Chesapeake, commodity prices plummeted as farmers and plantation owners were unable to export cotton, wheat, and tobacco. Only in Pennsylvania, New York, and the West was there any degree of prosperity though this was largely related federal expenditures relating to the war effort. This spending led to resentment in New England and the South, as well as precipitated a financial crisis in Washington. Taking office in late 1814, Treasury Secretary Alexander Dallas forecasted a $12 million revenue shortfall for that year and predicted a $40 million shortfall for 1815. Efforts were made to cover the difference through loans and issuing treasury notes. For those who wished to continue the war, there was a genuine concern that there would not be funds to do so. During the course of the conflict, the national debt had ballooned from $45 million in 1812 to $127 million in 1815. While this angered Federalists who had opposed the war initially, it also worked to undermine Madisons support among his own Republicans. The Hartford Convention The unrest sweeping parts of the country came to a head in New England in late 1814. Angered over the federal governments inability to protect its coasts and its unwillingness to reimburse states for doing so themselves, the Massachusetts legislature called for a regional convention to discuss the issues and weigh whether the solution was something as radical as secession from the United States. This proposition was accepted by Connecticut which offered to host the meeting in Hartford. While Rhode Island agreed to send a delegation, New Hampshire and Vermont refused to officially sanction the meeting and sent representatives in an unofficial capacity. A largely moderate group, they convened in Hartford on December 15. Though their discussions were largely limited to a states right to nullify legislation that adversely affected its citizens and issues related to states preempting federal collection of taxes, the group badly erred by holding its meetings in secret. This led to wild speculation regarding its proceedings. When the group released its report on January 6, 1815, both Republicans and Federalists were relieved to see that it was largely a list of recommended constitutional amendments that were designed to prevent foreign conflicts in the future. This relief quickly evaporated as people came to consider the what ifs of the convention. As a result, those involved quickly became and associated with terms such as treason and disunion. As many were Federalists, the party became similarly tainted effectively ending it as a national force. Emissaries from the convention made it as far as Baltimore before learning of the wars end. The Treaty of Ghent While the American delegation contained several rising stars, the British group was less glamorous and consisted of admiralty lawyer William Adams, Admiral Lord Gambier, and Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies Henry Goulburn. Due to the proximity of Ghent to London, the three were kept on a short leash by Castlereagh and Goulburns superior, Lord Bathurst. As the negotiations moved forward, the Americans pressed for an elimination of impressment while the British desired a Native American buffer state between the Great Lakes and the Ohio River. While the British refused to even discuss impressment, the Americans flatly refused to consider ceding territory back to the Native Americans. 1814: Advances in the North A Capital Burned | War of 1812: 101 1814: Advances in the North A Capital Burned | War of 1812: 101 As the two sides sparred, the American position was weakened by the burning of Washington. With the deteriorating financial situation, war weariness at home, and concerns over future British military successes, the Americans became more willing to deal. Similarly, with fighting and negotiations at a stalemate, Castlereagh consulted the Duke of Wellington, who had turned down command in Canada, for advice. As the British held no meaningful American territory, he recommended a return to status quo ante bellum and an immediate end to the war. With talks at the Congress of Vienna breaking down as a rift opened between Britain and Russia, Castlereagh became eager to end the conflict in North America to focus on European matters. Renewing the talks, both sides ultimately agreed to a return to status quo ante bellum. Several minor territorial and border issues were set aside for future resolution and the two sides signed the Treaty of Ghent on December 24, 1814. The treaty included no mention of impressment or a Native American state. Copies of the treaty were prepared and sent to London and Washington for ratification. The Battle of New Orleans The British plan for 1814 called for three major offensives with one coming from Canada, another striking at Washington, and the third hitting New Orleans. While the thrust from Canada was defeated at the Battle of Plattsburgh, the offensive in the Chesapeake region saw some success before being halted at Fort McHenry. A veteran of the latter campaign, Vice Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane moved south that fall for the attack on New Orleans. Having embarked 8,000-9,000 men, under the command of Major General Edward Pakenham, Cochranes fleet arrived off Lake Borgne on December 12. In New Orleans, the defense of city was tasked to Major General Andrew Jackson, commanding the Seventh Military District, and Commodore Daniel Patterson who oversaw the US Navys forces in the region. Working frantically, Jackson assembled around 4,000 men which included the 7th US Infantry, a variety of militia, Jean Lafittes Baratarian pirates, as well as free black and Native American troops. Assuming a strong defensive position along the river, Jackson prepared to receive Pakenhams assault. With both sides unaware that peace had been concluded, the British general moved against the Americans on January 8, 1815. In a series of attacks, the British were repulsed and Pakenham killed. The signature American land victory of the war, the Battle of New Orleans forced the British to withdraw and re-embark. Moving east, they contemplated an attack on Mobile, but learned of the wars end before it could move forward. The Second War of Independence While the British government had speedily ratified the Treaty of Ghent on December 28, 1814, it took much longer for word to reach across the Atlantic. News of the treaty arrived in New York on February 11, a week after the city learned of Jacksons triumph. Adding to the spirit of celebration, the news that the war had ended quickly spread throughout the country. Receiving a copy of the treaty, the US Senate ratified it by a 35-0 vote on February 16 to officially bring the war to a close. Once the relief of peace had worn off, the war was viewed in the United States as a victory. This belief was propelled by victories such as New Orleans, Plattsburgh, and Lake Erie as well as by the fact that the nation had successfully resisted the power of the British Empire. Success in this second war of independence helped forge a new national consciousness and ushered in the Era of Good Feelings in American politics. Having gone to war for its national rights, the United States never again was refused proper treatment as an independent nation. Conversely, the war was also viewed as victory in Canada where the residents took pride in having successfully defended their land from American invasion attempts. In Britain, little thought was given to the conflict especially as the spectre of Napoleon rose again in March 1815. While the war is noew generally viewed as stalemate between the principal combatants, the Native Americans exited the conflict as losers. Effectively forced out of the Northwest Territory and large tracts of the Southeast, their hope for a state of their own vanished with the end of the war. 1814: Advances in the North A Capital Burned | War of 1812: 101

No Euthanisia in Our Christian Community - 810 Words

Firstly, as a Christian community, the practice of euthanasia in hospitals is an act against our morals and values since the process of someone dying is very significant in spiritual matters and should be best if it is not disturbed by human activity. As humans, we should all know that ones life and existence in this planet is one of the most valuable gift as we all posses and carry Gods image and His distinct values. Looking more into this, humans posses a capacity that no other living being can do, and that is to make them see things in another perspective, using the complexity of their minds to develop abilities. Thus, a patients life cant just end by force, no matter the circumstances that they are dying. Ending ones life isnt the only way to eradicate ones pain when dying, rather, there are other ways to comfort a patient. One must be open to other suggestive ways of care such as the showering of care and affection, supporting their loved one till their dying breath, and to be a ccepting of ones dying condition. Christians should learn to value their life more and the lives of others around them as these were all handed down by God and expected to be taken care of. Secondly, if the act were to be legalized, it could give the chronically ill and dying patients the contagious idea of self-abuse and suicide. The idea of performing suicide by euthanasia if encouraged by doctors for the patient leaves an unintended consequence on society, more especially to the

Patterns Within Systems of Linear Equations Free Essays

Jasmine Chai Grade 10 196298501 Patterns within systems of linear equations Systems of linear equations are a collection of linear equations that are related by having one solution, no solution or many solutions. A solution is the point of intersection between the two or more lines that are described by the linear equation. Consider the following equations: x + 2y = 3 and 2x – y = -4. We will write a custom essay sample on Patterns Within Systems of Linear Equations or any similar topic only for you Order Now These equations are an example of a 2Ãâ€"2 system due to the two unknown variables (x and y) it has. In one of the patterns, by multiplying the coefficient of the y variable by 2 then subtract the coefficient of x from it you will be given the constant. As a word equation it can be written like so with the coefficient of x as A and coefficient of y as B and the constant as C, 2B – Ax = C. This can be applied to the first equation (x + 2y = 3) as 2(2) – 1 = 3. To the second equation (2x – y = -4), it is -1(2) – 2 = -4. By using matrices or graphs, we can solve this system. Regarding other systems that also has such as pattern, it should also have the same solution as the two examples displayed. For instance, 3x + 4y = 5 and x -2y = -5, another system, also displays the same pattern as the first set and has a solution of (-1, 2). Essentially, this pattern is indicating an arithmetic progression sequence. Arithmetic progression is described as common difference between sequences of numbers. In a specific sequence, each number accordingly is labelled as an. the subscript n is referring to the term number, for instance the 3rd term is known as a3. The formula, an = a1 + (n – 1) d, can be used to find an, the unknown number in the sequence. The variable d represents the common difference between the numbers in the sequence. In the first equation (x + 2y = 3) given, the common differences between the constants c – B and B – A is 1. Variable A is the coefficient of x and variable b represents the coefficient of y, lastly, c represents the constant. The common difference of the second equation (2x – y = -4) is -3 because each number is decreasing by 3. In order to solve for the values x and y, you could isolate a certain variable in one of the equations and substitute it into the other equation. x + 2y = 3 2x – y = -4 x + 2y = 3 * x = 3 – 2y * 2(3 – 2y) – y = -4 * 6 – 4y – y = -4 * 6 – 5y = -4 * -5y = -10 * y = 2 Now that the value of y is found, you can substitute 2 in as y in any of the equations to solve for x. x + 2y = 3 x + 2(2) = 3 * x + 4 = 3 * x = 3 – 4 * x = -1 Solution: (-1, 2) Even though the solution has already been found, there are many different ways to solve it, such as graphically solving it. By graphing the two linear lines, you can interpolate or extrapolate if necessary to find the point where the two lines intersect. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Graph 1 Graph 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Just from the equations given, it is not in a format where it can be easily graphed. By changing it into y=mx + b form, the first equation will result as y = – (1/2) x + 3/2 or y = -0. 5x + 1. 5 and the second equation will result as y = 2x + 4. The significance of the solution is that it is equal to the point of intersection as shown on Graph 1. This can then allow the conclusion that the solution of the two linear equations is also the point of intersection when graphed. According to this arithmetic progression sequence, it could be applied to other similar systems. For instance, the examples below demonstrates how alike 2Ãâ€"2 systems to the previous one will display a similarity. Example 1: In the first equation the common difference between (3, 4 and 5) is 1. In the second equation, the common difference is -3. The common differences in these equations are exact to the previous example. 3x + 4y = 5 x – 2y = -5 x – 2y = -5 * x = 2y – 5 (Substitution) 3x + 4y = 5 * 3(2y – 5) + 4y = 5 * 6y – 15 + 4y = 5 * 10y – 15 = 5 * 10y = 20 * y = 2 (Substituting y) x – 2y = -5 * x – 2(2) = -5 * x – 4 = -5 * x = -5 +4 * x = -1 Solution: (-1, 2) Example 2: In the first equation below, it has a common difference of 18 for (2, 20 and 38). For the second equation, in (15, -5 and -25), it has a common difference of -20. In this example, the system is solved graphically. 2x + 20y = 38 15x – 5 y = -25 Solution: (-1, 2) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Graph 2 Graph 2 | | | From the examples given above that are very similar to the first system, we can conclude that there is something common between them, that is the point of intersection or the values of x and y. That would imply that the x and y values and the point of intersection will always be (-1, 2) for all systems that follow arithmetic progression sequences. Due to that similarity, an equation that can be applied to these types of equations can be made. If the first coefficient of the first equation is identified as A and the common difference is c, an equation such as, Ax + (A + c) y = A + 2c, is made. This equation is so, because it is describes an arithmetic sequence, where the coefficients and constant are increasing by one in response to the coefficient before. In the second equation of the system, another equation can be made relatively the same to the first, with exceptions of different variables used. If B is used to represent the first coefficient of the second equation and d is used as the common difference, the equation, Bx + (B + d) y = B + 2d is created. With 2 equations, we have now created a system; to solve the system we can use the elimination method. This method is used to eliminate certain variables in order to find the value of another variable. After doing so, you could substitute in the value for the found variable and solve for the other(s). Ax + (A + c) y = A + 2c Bx + (B + d) y = B + 2d In order to use the elimination method, you must make the coefficient of x or y the same depending on which one you would like to eliminate. In this case, we will start by eliminating x. To proceed to do so, we must first multiply the first equation by B and the second equation by A: ABx + (AB + Bc) y = AB + 2Bc ABx + (AB + Bd) y = AB + 2Bd After we have made the coefficient of x the same for both equations, we can now subtract the equations from one another: ABx + ABy + Bcy = AB + 2Bc ABx + ABy + Bdy = AB + 2Bd * Bcy – Bdy = 2Bc – 2Bd To find the value of y, we must isolate the variable y. Bcy – Bdy = 2Bc – 2Bd * y(Bc – Bd) = 2(Bc – Bd) * y = 2 Now that the value of y is found, to find the value of x is to substitute the value of y, which is 2, into any equation that includes that variable x and y. Bx + (B + d) y = B + 2d * Bx + (B + d) 2 = B + 2d * Bx + 2B + 2d = B + 2d * Bx + 2B – B = 2d – 2d * Bx + B = 0 * Bx = -B * x = -1 To conclude the results of the equations above, it is making thee statement that all 2Ãâ€"2 systems that display an arithmetic progression sequence, which has a common difference between the coefficients and constant, it will have a result, point of intersection, of (-1, 2). To confirm that this is correct, the example systems below will demonstrate this property: Equation 1 (common difference of 8): 2x + 10y = 18 Equation 2 (common difference of 3): x + 4y = 7 Substitution Method x + 4y = 7 * x = 7 – 4y Substitute 2x + 10y = 18 * 2 (7 – 4y) + 10y = 18 * 14 – 8y +10y = 18 * 14 + 2y = 18 2y = 18 – 14 * 2y = 4 * y = 2 Substitute x + 4y = 7 * x + 4(2) = 7 * x + 8 = 7 * x = 7 – 8 * x = -1 Solution: (-1, 2) Once again from the example above, it displays that the solution or the point of intersection is identified as (-1, 2). From previous examples, all have a common difference that is different from the other equation involved in that system. In the fol lowing example, it will experiment whether having the same common difference will make a difference in the result. Equation 1 (common difference of 3): 2x + 5y = 8 Equation 2 (common difference of 3): x + 3y = 6 Graph 3 Graph 3 As you can see on the graph, it shows that the two lines do not intersect at (-1, 2) even though it is a 2Ãâ€"2 system that has a common difference in both equations, meaning that the intersection at (-1, 2) can only be applied to systems that has 2 different common differences. To conclude, all 2Ãâ€"2 systems that follow arithmetic progression sequence with different common difference have a solution of (-1, 2). Furthermore, now that it is known that there is a certain pattern for a specific type of system, if this property is applied to a 3Ãâ€"3 system, with 3 different variables can it still work? Consider the following 3Ãâ€"3 system, (x + 2y + 3z = 4), (5x + 7y + 9z = 11) and (2x + 5y + 8z = 11). In this system, it has similar patterns to the 2Ãâ€"2 systems above due to its arithmetic progression. In the first equation, it has a common difference of 1 and the second equation has a common difference of 2 and lastly, the third equation has a common difference of 3. To solve this system, we can solve it using the method of elimination or matrices. Equation 1 (common difference: 1): x + 2y + 3z = 4 Equation 2 (common difference: 2): 5x + 7y + 9z = 11 Equation 3 (common difference: 3): 2x + 5y + 8z = 11 Elimination Method To eliminate the variable x, we must first start by making the coefficients of x in two equations the same. We can do so by finding the lowest common multiple of the two coefficients and multiplying the whole equation by it. Equation 1: x + 2y + 3z = 4 * 2(x + 2y + 3z = 4) * 2x + 4y + 6z = 8 We can eliminate the variable x now that the coefficients of x in both equations are the same. To eliminate x, we can subtract equation 3 from equation 1. Equation 1 and 3: 2x + 4y + 6z = 8 2x + 5y + 8z = 11 -y -2z = -3 After eliminating x from two equations to form another equation that does not involve x (-y -2z = -3), another equation that does not involve x must be made to further eliminate another variable such as y or z. Equation 1: x + 2y + 3z = 4 * 5(x + 2y + 3z = 4) * 5x + 10y + 15z = 20 We can eliminate the variable x now that the coefficients of x in both equations are the same. To eliminate x, we can subtract equa tion 2 from equation 1. Equation 1 and 2: 5x + 10y + 15z = 20 – 5x + 7y + 9z = 11 3y + 6z = 9 Now that two different equations that do not involve x ((-y -2z = -3) and (3y + 6z = 9)) are created, we can find the common coefficient of y and eliminate it to find the value of the variable z. Let (-y -2z = -3) to be known as equation A and (3y + 6z = 9) will be known as equation B. Equation A: -y -2z = -3 * 3(-y -2z = -3) * -3y -6z = -9 Equation A and B: -3y -6z = -9 + 3y + 6z = 9 0 = 0 As you can see from the result, 0 = 0, this is indicating that the system either has many solutions, meaning a collinear line or no solution, where all the lines do not intersect together at a specific point. Even if you attempt to isolate a different variable it will still have the same result. For instance, using the same equations above, you eliminate the variable y first as displayed below. Equation 1 (common difference: 1): x + 2y + 3z = 4 Equation 2 (common difference: 2): 5x + 7y + 9z = 11 Equation 3 (common difference: 3): 2x + 5y + 8z = 11 Elimination Method Equation 1: x + 2y + 3z = 4 * 7(x + 2y + 3z = 4) * 7x +14y + 21z = 28 Equation 2: 5x + 7y + 9z = 11 * 2(5x + 7y + 9z = 11) * 10x + 14y + 18z = 22 Equation 1 and 2: 7x +14y + 21z = 28 – 10x + 14y + 18z = 22 3x + 3z = 6 Equation 1: x + 2y + 3z = 4 * 5(x + 2y + 3z = 4) * 5x +10y + 15z = 20 Equation 3: 2x + 5y + 8z = 11 * 2(2x + 5y + 8z = 11) * 4x + 10y +16z = 22 Equation 1 and 3: 5x +10y + 15z = 20 – 4x + 10y +16z = 22 x – z = -2 Two equations have been made that has already eliminated the variable y. Let (-3x + 3z = 6) be equation A and let (x – z = -2) be equation B. Doing this, is in attempt to sol ve for variable x. Equation A: -3x + 3z = 6 Equation B: x – z = -2 * 3(x – z = -2) * 3x – 3z = -6 Equation A and B: -3x + 3z = 6 + 3x – 3z = -6 0 = 0 As you can see the result, it is the same even if you try to solve another variable, from that we can confirm that this system has either no solution or infinite solutions, meaning that they are collinear lines. Furthermore, because this is a 3Ãâ€"3 system, meaning that it has three different variables, such as x, y and z, graphing it will also be very different from a graph of a 2Ãâ€"2 system. In a 3Ãâ€"3 system, the graph would be a surface chart, where the variable z allows the graph to become 3D. From this, we can conclude 3Ãâ€"3 systems that follow an arithmetic progression will always have either no solution or infinite solutions. This is saying that all linear equations do not intersect together in one point or they do not intersect. A way to prove this is through finding the determinant. The determinant is a single number that describes the solvability of the system. To find the determinant of all 3Ãâ€"3 systems that possesses arithmetic progression, we can start by creating a formula. Allow the first coefficient of the first equation be A and the second equation’s first coefficient be B and lastly, the first coefficient of the third equation be C. The common difference of equation one will be c, the common difference of equation two will be d, and the common difference of equation e will be e. This can be described through the following equations: 1. Ax + (A + c) y + (A + 2c) z = (A + 3c) 2. Bx + (B + d) y + (B + 2d) z = (B + 3d) 3. Cx + (C + e) y + (C + 2e) z = (C + 3e) When developing a matrix to find the determinant, you must have a square matrix. In this case, we do not have a square matrix. A square matrix is where the number of rows and columns are equal, for example, it could be a 2Ãâ€"2, 3Ãâ€"3, or 4Ãâ€"4. Looking at the equations, it is a 3Ãâ€"4 matrix; as a result it must be rearranged. Below is the rearranged matrix of the equations above. x A (A + c) (A + 2c) (A + 3c) y B (B + d) (B + 2d) = (B + 3d) z C (C + e) (C + 2e) (C + 3e) To find the determinant, you must find 4 values from the 3Ãâ€"3 matrix that helps find the determinant of A, B and C. In this case, if you were to find the values for A, you would cover the values that are in the same row and column as A, like so, A (A + c) (A + 2c) B (B + d) (B + 2d) C (C + e) (C + 2e) You would be left with four separate values that can be labelled as A, B, C and D. Respectively to the model below: a b c d In order to find the determinant you must find the four values for A, (A + c) and (A +2c). To find the determinant the equation ad – cb is used. The equation in this situation would be like the one below: A[(B + d)(C + 2e) – (C + e)(B + 2d)] – (A + c)[B(C + 2e) – C(B + 2d)] + (A +2c)[B(C + 2e) – C(B + 2d)] Expand * = A(BC – BC + Cd – 2Cd + 2Be – Be + 2de – 2de) – (A + c)(BC – BC + 2Be – 2Cd) + (A + 2c)(BC – BC + 2Be – 2Cd) Simplify 2ABe – 2ABe + 2ACd – 2ACd + 2Ccd – 2Ccd + 2Bce – 2Bce * = 2ABe – 2ABe + 2ACd – 2ACd + 2Ccd – 2Ccd + 2Bce – 2Bce * = 0 As it is visible, above it shows that the determinant found in this type of matrix is zero. If it is zero, it means that there are infinite answers or no answer at all. Using technology, a graphing calculator, once entering a 3Ãâ€"3 matrix that exhibits arithmetic progression, it states that it is an error and states that it is a singular matrix. This may mean that there is no solution. To conclude, there is no solution or infinite solution to 3Ãâ€"3 systems that exhibit the pattern of arithmetic sequencing. This can be proved when the sample 3Ãâ€"3 system is graphed and results as a 3D collinear segment. As well as the results from above when a determinant is found to be zero proves that 3Ãâ€"3 systems that pertains an arithmetic sequence. Arithmetic sequences within systems of linear equations are one pattern of systems. Regarding other patterns, it is questionable if geometric sequences can be applied to systems of linear equations. Consider the following equations, x + 2y = 4 and 5x – y = 1/5. It is clear that the coefficients and constants have a certain relation through multiplication. In the first equation (x + 2y = 4), it has the relation where it has a common ratio of 2 between numbers 1, 2 and 4. For the second equation (5x – y = 1/5), it has a common ratio of -1/5 between 5, -1 and 1/5. The common ratio is determined through the multiplicative succession from the previous number in the order of the numbers. When the equations are rearranged into the form y=mx+b, as y = – ? x + 2 and y = 5x – 1/5, there is a visible pattern. Between the two equations they both possess the pattern of the constant, where constant a is the negative inverse of constant b and vice versa. This would infer that if they are multiplied together, as follows (-1/2 x 2 = -1 and 5 x -1/5 = -1), it will result as -1. With equations that are also similar to these, such as the following, y = 2x – 1/2, y = -2x + 1/2, y = 1/5x – 5 or y = -1/5x +5. Displayed below, is a linear graph that shows linear equations that are very similar to the ones above. Graph 4 Graph 4 From the graph above, you can see that the equations that are the same with exceptions of negatives and positives, they reflect over the axis and displays the same slope. For instance, the linear equations y = 2x -1/2 and y=-2x +1/2 are essentially the same but reflected as it shows in the graph below. Also, all equations have geometric sequencing, which means that they are multiplied by a common ratio. Secondly, the points of intersection between similar lines are always on the x-axis. Graph 5 Graph 5 Point of intersection: (0. 25, 0) Point of intersection: (0. 25, 0) To solve a general 2Ãâ€"2 system that incorporates this pattern, a formula must be developed. In order to do so, something that should be kept in mind is that it must contain geometric sequencing in regards to the coefficients and constants. An equation such as, Ax + (Ar) y = Ar2 with A representing the coefficients and r representing the common ratio. The second equation of the system could be as follows, Bx + (Bs) y = Bs2 with B as the coefficient and s as the common ratio. As a general formula of these systems, they can be simplified through the method of elimination to find the values of x and y. Ax + (Ar) y = Ar2 Bx + (Bs) y = Bs2 Elimination Method B (Ax + (Ar) y = Ar2) * BAx + BAry = BAr2 A (Bx + (Bs) y = Bs2) * ABx + ABsy = ABs2 Eliminate BAx + BAry = BAr2 – ABx + ABsy = ABs2 BAry – ABsy = BAr2 – ABs2 ABy (r – s) = AB (r2 – s2) * y = (r + s) Finding value of x by inputting y into an equation ABx + ABsy = ABs2 * ABx + ABs(r + s) = ABs2 * ABx = ABs2 – ABs(r +s) * x = s2 – s(r +s) * x = s2 – s2 – rs * x = rs To confirm that the formula is correct, we can apply the equation into the formula and solve for x and y and compare it to the results of graph 4. T he equations that we will be comparing will be y = 5x – 1/5 and y = -1/5x + 5. The point of intersection, (1, 4. 8) of these equations is shown graphically on graph 4 and 6. The common ratio (r) of the first equation is -0. and the common ratio, also known as s in the equation of the second equation is 5. X = – (-0. 2 x 5) = 1 Y = (-0. 2 + 5) = 4. 8 As you can see, above, the equations are correctly matching the point of intersection as shown on the graphs. Due to such as result, it is known that it can now be applied to any equations that display geometric sequencing. Graph 6 Graph 6 Resources: 1. Wolfram MathWorld. Singular Matrix. Retrieved N/A, from http://mathworld. wolfram. com/SingularMatrix. html 2. Math Words. Noninvertible Matrix. Retrieved March 24, 2011 from, http://www. mathwords. com/s/singular_matrix. htm How to cite Patterns Within Systems of Linear Equations, Essay examples

Discuss About The Managerial Attributes And Executive Compensation

Question: Discuss about the Managerial Attributes and Executive Compensation. Answer: Introduction: In the recent times, it has been observed that the company that made several changes in the corporate and annual report structure. The Australian government rules suggest the company to include more information in the financial statement of the company. AASB is not responsible for giving more importance on the interest of stakeholders as they have been observed as the real benefactor of the annual report published by a particular organization. Hence, it has to be noted that the companies not only date to provide the financial information but it also needs to include non-financial items in the annual report so that the stakeholders can obtain the required information. Furthermore, the companies need to disclose the different types of accounting standards and methods, which have been followed in order to maintain the records throughout the financial year while preparation of the statements (Mora and Walker 2015). Australia and New Zealand banking group Limited, headquartered at Melbourne whose lending activities are controlled by the government with employ strength of more than 48,000. The banking group operates with its subsidiaries in providing different types of financial products and retail services and serving institutional customers and small business units. Some of the companys retail product consists of house loans, credit cards, merchant services, transaction banking, investment products and personal loans. The bank also provides commercial services such as cash management accounts and long-term deposits. It is also responsible for offering corporate banking service to large corporate, multinational corporations and small listed companies. In addition to the aforementioned services, the bank is also known for providing liquidity solution and working capital requirements including supply chain financing, trade finance, documentary trade, clearing services and risk management assistanc e to several clients via foreign exchange. In addition to this the bank is also responsible for providing mortgage insurance products, superannuation, general insurance product and savings account services (In.finance.yahoo.com. 2016). The study shows the critical analyses of the annual report of the company and its compliance with the accounting standards in presentation of financial statements. The report describes the usage of annual report in highlighting of information related to compensation and benefits of employees who are considered as a part of stakeholder of ANZ banking group thereby explaining the effect of corporate culture on the selected components (Stone 2013). Cultural Effect on Executives Compensation and Employees Benefit: Executives Compensation Structure: According to Luo (2014), the company closes the information related to compensation of auditors by segregating auditors into two parts namely KPMG Australia and overseas related practice. The group has further declared that it has various types of the equity settled compensation plans on share basis. Through the annual report analysis it has been observed that the group has paid more than 40% as fixed cash emulation and 28% as long term incentive awards. The company has disclosed that the negative salary of the Chief Executive Officer i.e. Mr. M. Smith is highest in terms of both cash salary and nonmonetary benefits (Graham, Li and Qiu 2012). Employees Benefit Structure:- The employee benefit seen in terms of provision for liability created by the company for long service leaves which includes on costs leaves. This is calculated based on discounting market yields on a reported date and estimating the future cash outflows. The employee benefit is further seen by the groups operation in contribution to schemes such as superannuation in various countries and these contributions are recognized as a part of expense in the income statement. The group is further stated that the employee benefits scheme is in accordance with AASB 119 guidelines and the measurement is done by using projected unit credit technique. The re-measurements of the superannuation benefits of the employees has been defined with the actuarial gains and the losses including in the net interest and interest income. this has been the accurately recognized as the retained earnings which is made through the comprehensive income and the various types of contributions made by the group in term s of net defined benefit (Shareholder.anz.com. 2016). Cultural Influence on Salary Structure: The cultural influence on the strategy structure is based on the high-class lifestyle of the Australian society. This is evident from the compensation disclosure of all the high-ranking executives in the hierarchy. Despite of such high compensation structure there is uncertainty of future income. Therefore, the group has segregated the payment structure in such a manner that it includes both high cash payments and long-term rewards for the security of the executives (Fischer et al. 2013). Higher Fixed Remunerations in Cash: As previously discussed the executives are known for holding a higher class in the society and maintaining a strong financial live you the companys compensation structure supports the aforementioned lifestyle. Hence it has been observed that ANZ provided higher benefits in terms of cash payments to its executives so that they can place themselves into the higher class in the society. Incentive Schemes: The incentive scheme is based on the performance of the individual employees. For the purpose of this the incentive schemes is based on the remuneration structure which helps the employees and the executives stay motivated for delivering better performance. Long-Term Benefits: The long-term benefit of ANZ group includes provision for superannuation funds in the compensation structure. The long-term benefits are seen to be provided with a secure future with a sound financial salary structure to the employees who can contribute freely in the work (Laing and Perrin 2014). Share-Based Payments: it has been observed that most of the companies are keen to be recognized for their performance. Therefore, the group is known to provide shares to its executive as a part of its incentives or salary, include them as one of the owners of the company so that they always feel motivated, and take pride in working for the bank. This in turn creates a positive relation between the executives and the company (Jerome 2013). Prudence Concept in the Conceptual Framework and AASB Standards: As stated by Mciuc, Hlaciuc, and Ursache (2015), the concept of prudence follows conservatism principle of accounting. According to this, the expenses or the losses should be considered at the time of its occurrence. In this case the incomes or the profits shall be recorded only when it has taken place and realized accordingly. The aforementioned concept ensures that the accountants are able to reduce the risk level preparation of financial statements and delivered the same with more accuracy. Despite this, several scholars and accounting boards believed that prudence concept is conservative in nature, which ignores the expected revenues for reporting (Guiso, Sapienza and Zingales 2015). It has been observed that IASB aims to resolve the issues, which has been overstated or excluded in the financial reports, and make the annual reporting structure more neutral and biased in nature. Due to this the IASB and AASB considers prudence as a vital component in the conceptual framework of accounting (Sedki Smith and Strickland 2014). The Australia and New Zealand banking group is known to follow the conceptual framework provided as per both AASB and IASB in its financial statements preparation. The banking group is known to include the concept of prudence, which complies with the conceptual framework provided as per the AASB guidelines (PwC.2016). Compliance with Conceptual Framework and AASB Standards:- The group has clearly specified that that depression of annual report comply with the Australian accounting standards Board for the share-based payments, employee benefits and life insurance contract. The statement of compliance report further states that the financial statements of the company has been prepared on the basis of Australian accounting standards and the various types of other authoritative pronouncements made in the financial report is based as per the Australian accounting standards Boards (AASB) and Corporations Act 2001. Importance of Prudence Concept: The concept of prudence is important for authenticating and insuring that the users receive accurate data in the financial statement of ANZ banking group. The different types of stakeholders considered the information about the profitability in securing their investments. Therefore, it is important for the company to include the components states the significance of prudence concept in the following ways: This is used by several companies inflate their revenues and increase their profits in the market for the purpose of attracting more number of investors By showcasing your amount of profit several companies are known to evade the burden of huge amount of taxes In several situations is it has been observed that the concept of prudence is used for the purpose of reducing the profits so that the companies do not have to pay high incentive or make an adjustment in the salary increments of the employees The companys need to take precautionary steps to consider the harmful impact of financial manipulation while addressing the prudence in their financial statements. In several situations it had been observed that the company is increased the revenues for projecting a better image in the market and attract more investment in terms of equity financing from the market. In several cases, it has been also observed that the companies enhance the profit by only including the expected or the estimated revenues, which has not yet been realized, and there is no assurance of it to be realized in future (Zhuang 2016). In order to address this issue the accounting boards have decided to include the concept of prudence which will please allow the companys to include the expected profit or the revenues did and unless it has been realized or assured. Additionally, the inclusion of this concept can compel the companies take into account the expected expenses or the losses, which might be overlooked du ring the preparation of the financial statements for the increasing amount of profits (Gebhardt, Mora, and Wagenhofer 2014). Inclusion of Prudence Concept in the Annual Reporting: The recommendations made to the exposure of the troughs of IASB and IFRS the conceptual framework introduced by AASB on prudence has included several new amendments. Among the amendments, AASB has introduced the principle under AASB 15, which includes revenue from contracts with customers. The newer standard suggested that the revenue should be recognized in the financial report as and when it has been realized and assured between the reporting entity and customer. Hence, AASB prevents any kind of putting of entities related to revenues, which are yet to be realized so that the users can be ensured to be fetched with most accurate information during the financial entities in the statements. It also removes the scope of any sort of disparities among the contradictory revenue standards, which has been used by several companies in manipulation of the financial reports (Strouhal et al. 2012). ANZ banking group has clearly stated that it adheres to the Revenue from contracts with customers as stated in AASB 15 guideline issued on December 2014. This contains the disclosure of newer requirement for recognition of revenue. At present, it is expected that a major amount of proportion of the revenue on is outside the scope of AASB 15 although the company is in the process of assessment of impact of this guideline and estimate on the financial report. Conclusion: In the above study, it can be concluded that the financial reporting follows the conceptual framework given by IASB and AASB. It has been also observed that AASB is responsible for adopting several amendments issued by the IFRS and complying with the new standards of IASB on an immediate basis. Hence, it can be said that the group continues to follow either of the stated accounting standards then it can fulfill the various types of other requirements automatically. Thus it can be seen that ANZ banking group complies with the AAS reporting standards and the various disclosures are based as per the amendments made by the AASB. It can be further noted that the company is also prudent enough in reporting its revenues as per the latest guidelines given by the AASB norms. It can be further stated that the various types of consideration related to employee benefits and the compensation considerations have been properly fulfilled as per the Australian accounting standards Board. Hence the co mpany needs to continue in fairly reporting its financial statements for attracting more number of investors which will create more business avenues for the Australia and New Zealand banking group. Reference List: Fischer, R., Ferreira, M.C., Assmar, E.M.L., Baris, G., Berberoglu, G., Dalyan, F., Wong, C.C., Hassan, A., Hanke, K. and Boer, D., 2013. Organizational practices across cultures: An exploration in six cultural contexts. International Journal of Cross Cultural Management, p.1470595813510644 Gebhardt, G., Mora, A. and Wagenhofer, A., 2014. Revisiting the fundamental concepts of IFRS. Abacus, 50(1), pp.107-116 Graham, J.R., Li, S. and Qiu, J., 2012. Managerial attributes and executive compensation. Review of Financial Studies, 25(1), pp.144-186. Guiso, L., Sapienza, P. and Zingales, L., 2015. The value of corporate culture. Journal of Financial Economics, 117(1), pp.60-76. In.finance.yahoo.com. (2016). ANZ.AX Profile | ANZ BANK FPO Stock - Yahoo! India Finance. [online] Available at: https://in.finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=ANZ.AX [Accessed 13 Sep. 2016]. Jerome, N., 2013. Application of the Maslows hierarchy of need theory; impacts and implications on organizational culture, human resource and employees performance. International Journal of Business and Management Invention, 2(3), pp.39-45 Laing, G.K. and Perrin, R.W., 2014. Deconstructing an accounting paradigm shift: AASB 116 non-current asset measurement models. International Journal of Critical Accounting, 6(5-6), pp.509-519. Luo, Y., 2014. Executive compensation in emerging markets: Theoretical developments and empirical evidence. eds. Boubaker, S and Nguyen DK,Corporate Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility: Emerging Markets Focus, World Scientific Publishing. Mciuc, G., Hlaciuc, E. and Ursache, A., 2015. The Role of Prudence in Financial Reporting: IFRS versus Directive 34. Procedia Economics and Finance, 32, pp.738-744. Mora, A. and Walker, M., 2015. The implications of research on accounting conservatism for accounting standard setting. Accounting and Business Research, 45(5), pp.620-650 PwC. (2016). Prudence returns: new IASB exposure draft reintroduces controversial term. [online] Available at: https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/services/audit-assurance/corporate-reporting/world-watch/iasb-prudence-conceptual-framework.html [Accessed 13 Aug. 2016]. Sedki, S.S., Smith, A. and Strickland, A., 2014. Differences and Similarities Between IFRS and GAAP on Inventory, Revenue Recognition and Consolidated Financial Statements. Journal of Accounting and Finance,14(2), p.120. Shareholder.anz.com. (2016). [online] Available at: https://shareholder.anz.com/sites/default/files/2015_annual_report.pdf [Accessed 13 Sep. 2016]. Stone, R.J., 2013. Managing human resources. John Wiley and Sons Strouhal, J., Pasekov, M., Blechov, B., Bonaci, C. and Andreicovici, I., 2012. Prudence principle and students' perception on measurement in financial reporting. International Journal of Mathematical Models and Methods in Applied Sciences Zhuang, Z., 2016. Discussion of An evaluation of asset impairments by Australian firms and whether they were impacted by AASB 136. Accounting Finance, 56(1), pp.289-294.

Kmart Vs Wal-Mart free essay sample

This analysis of the two business mentioned above will describe the success and failure for the companies. I have included a SWOT analysis of Kmart and Wal-Mart, and it includes a cross-case analysis of the two companies. This two chains were very similar in many ways including, looking very similar, the prices were very low, sold the same kind of products with the same kind of quality, then, why is Kmart gone? And why Wal-Mart keeps getting stronger? Kmart Kmart was a chain of store discount department in the USA, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Guam. There is Kmart stores also in Australia and New Zealand although the stores have no relation to the stores in the USA. Mission Statement We are committed to improving the lives of our customers by providing quality services, products and solutions that earn their trust and build lifetime relationships. Kmart SWOT Analysis Strengths -Strong store name brand -Loyal customers -Great customer service -Good efficiency on it’s supply chain -Their operational margin was two times the average of supermarkets -Great food quality (perishables) -Huge variety on products -Great employee benefits and good compensation policy Weaknesses -Grocery store was too big to look for things -Expensive prepared food -Not too many locations -Being a private ownership store limits store expansion due to capital Opportunities -More locations -Develop private labels -Growth in higher margins Threats -Competitors like Wal-Mart and Target -Inability to absorb price increases due to smaller scale vs other competitors -Economic down turn affecting the customers economic status Kmart Strategy The strategy that Kmart tried to set in place was working closely with their marketing and merchandising departments, there was also a huge investment in television campaigns and glamorous representatives such as Jaclyn Smith, (former Charlie’s Angels) who has her own line of cloths for Kmart. So, in other words, Kmart strategy consisted mostly in advertising and remodeling their stores. Kmart did not adapt to changes in the marketplace, this was one of the reasons that Kmart had to go to the bankruptcy in addition to that, Kmart had a series of bad management decisions. The business community could not understand why such a great store name like Kmart company could have been completely devaluated. Wal-Mart At the beginnings of Wal-Mart, Sam never thought that he could compete with a store as big as Kmart. Kmart was way ahead of the game, it had almost the double of stores than Wal-Mart where Kmart had 2,223 discount stores Wal-Mart had 1,198. While Kmart sales were $25. 63 billion, while Wal-Mart had $15. 96 billion. Big red â€Å"K† logo had great visibility for advertising in addition to that its large urban presence. Although Wal-Mart had a more consistent record of earnings and revenue growth, in the eyes of many experts it had never played in the major leagues. Unlike Kmart, whose stores sat on expensive urban real estate and competed against other big discounters, Wal-Mart sat in pastures outside small towns and picked off the customers of aging mom-and-pop shops. To present time Wal-Mart Stores operates numerous retail store formats in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, and the UK. Mission Statement We help people save money so they can live better. Wal-Mart SWOT Analysis Strengths -A market leader like no other -It is the largest discount store in the world -Low cost retail store -International Weaknesses -Have not been able to penetrate metropolitan areas in the US -It has over 60 wage-hour class lawsuits Opportunities -Take the retail store leadership in China and India -having variety of food and organic food could bring more revenue due to the fact that people are getting healthier every day and looking for fresh organic food. -Emphasize on the internet sales to be able to grow even more and quicker Threats -Too many employees like Wal-Mart has it increases the cost in health and insurance payments -Volatility in prices, cost inflation and rapid changes -Resistance from the competitors Wal-Mart Strategy According to Wal-Mart executives there are three types of shopping. 1. Stock-up mission, which brings families to Walmarts 3,200 nationwide Supercenters. 2. Basic grocery run, when shoppers want to go someplace nearby and more navigable, such as one of Walmarts 300 neighborhood markets. 3. -Immediate access stop, when shoppers head for the traditional convenience store. Bill Simon describes this 3 types of shopping as an â€Å"ecosystem† Cross-Case Analysis Based on the information obtained by the SWOT analysis for both retail stores, Kmart and Wal-Mart we can pin-point the CSF of each. Critical Success Factors Kmart – CSFWal-Mart CSF Strong Name BrandLargest Discount Store in the World Huge Selection of Food ProductsLow Cost Retail Store Great employee benefits and good compensation policyGlobalization Similarities They both have low prices, the store look very similar, the name Kmart and Wal-Mart resemble each other, their mission statement is along the same message, and customer service they both strive for the best. Differences The biggest difference between this two stores is the adaptation to change. I believe that this was the key strategy that Kmart did not acknowledge. In addition to that, there is also a huge difference in the sales volume and the number of stores around the world. Conclusion At this point we all know that Kmart is slowly going out of business and Wal-Mart is quickly growing. Kmart never updated their inventory tracking system, whereas Wal-mart invested millions of dollars on their tracking system, this could be another breaking point for Kmart, not being able to track their inventory and replenish as the shelves went empty like Wal-Mart does was the start of the down fall, losing numerous customers to Wal-Mart where the customer could always find what they look for. There are many variables to push Kmart out of business, not only their own faults, but the competitor just surpassed Kmart in many different ways.