Essay about Memory Strategies for Students - 2194 Words

Memory Strategies 2 Abstract The research is demonstrating the use of memory strategy in an educational setting; this study examines the use of chunking on telephone numbers by students on campus. There were a total of 40 students that participated, and they were split into two groups consisting of 20 students per group. The control group used chunking as their memory strategy for memorizing a list of 10 telephone numbers. In contrast, the experimental group has used no specific strategy to memorize the list of numbers that was given to them. Each group was given 15 minutes to memorize their list of 10 telephone numbers and they had 5 minutes to write it down on paper. People that used memory strategies has shown to have memorized†¦show more content†¦The mean age for the male is 31.63 years (SD=13.72), and the mean age for the female is 30.56 (SD=12.97). Out of 40 participants, 47% were Hispanic/Spanish Descent, 32% is Black/African-American, Memory Strategies 5 while 18% are Asian/Pacific Islander and this leaves 3% to other ethnicities. Majority of the study participants has used some sort of memory strategy in their life time to memorize something more effectively. Part of using a specific memory strategy in memorizing a list of numbers is necessary to retain all the information by smaller chunks. Chunking is used to break larger things into smaller units, so people have an easier way of remembering things. The students had worked in a controlled environment, such as their classroom and each had their own individual desk. Each student had a list of 10 telephone numbers that are identical, and they were given the same amount of time to memorize the list and write down the numbers they recalled. Everything was distributed the same way, and they were equally given the same amount of time. Apparatus I timed both control and experimental groups for 15 minutes while they tried to memorize a list of 10 telephone numbers. After 15 minutes, I gave each group 5 minutes to write down as many numbers as they can remember. Procedure I asked my father for permission to use his students as my subjects for my experiment. He allowed me to use his students at two different times during the week,Show MoreRelatedHow Language Learning Techniques Are Used For Vocabulary?1709 Words   |  7 Pages(1990) classified vocabulary strategies into direct and indirect strategies with six categories. These categories contain 19 strategies and 62 sub-strategies. Direct strategies consist of memory , cognitive and compensation strategies. Indirect strategies support and manage language learning without directly involving the target language hence, they strengthen the role of language learning and include metacognitive , affective and social strategies. With the development of theRead MoreEssay on Reading Comprehension1328 Words   |  6 Pagesdifferent strategies are needed to comprehend these texts. There are also many reading strategies that can be used for all of these types of text. In order to describe strategies to help develop activities that facilitate comprehension of narrative, expository, and poetic texts one must first have an understanding of what comprehension means, they then need a better understanding of how the human brain works. â€Å"Comprehension is a creative, multifaceted thinking process in which students engage withRead MoreHelpful Strategies For Helping With Math Anxiety1162 Words   |  5 PagesHelpful Strategies to Assist with Math Anxiety In the Information Capsule from Miami-Dade county different researchers have developed strategies that a teacher can use to reduce the effects of math anxiety in a student who may be suffering from the phobia. 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It may have been that school for me was easy and I had no reason to study. Or I was not challenged academically to have to study. Nonetheless, soon I would find out the difficulties of navigating college courses without effective study skills and habits. I fell behind in college early because of my inability of how to study and what to study for. Just like me, there are many more students that have never been taught effective study skillsRead MoreTeaching Strategies When Dealing With The Adolescent Brain.1175 Words   |  5 PagesTeaching Strategies when dealing with the adolescent brain The adolescent brain is still in the development process and will therefore require compatible strategies for learning. Research has shown that the brain undergoes a period of increased production of gray-matter during early adolescence. Nerve impulses are generated by the gray matter which handles processing of the brain’s information, while white matter transfers brain information from one lobe to another and then out to the spinal cordRead MoreThe Importance Of Reading Comprehension1010 Words   |  5 Pagesfailure is a societal problem with greater consequences downstream. Students who are struggling readers will need targeted instruction in comprehension strategies. Once students have learned to read, the focus of instruction needs to shift to comprehension. Comprehension skills must be expertly taught so that students explicitly taught so that students can understand information presented in the written form. Strategies help students stay engaged and think about what they are reading (Lynch, 2012).Read MoreTeaching And Learning Styles And Teaching Essay1610 Words   |  7 Pagesand science of educating children, the strategies for using teacher professional knowledge, skills and abilities in order to foster good learning outcomes’ (p.3). Teaching and learning is a two-way process. Teachers choose the effective instruction modes to disseminate knowledge. Students adapt to different learning styles and use different learning strategies to help them process the information. When teachers receive evaluations and feedbacks from students, they revise, reconstruct and re-enactRead MoreMemory Loss In Memory853 Words   |  4 Pages One study measured memory capacity through different number of words recalled as well as memory efficiency (through selectivity based on value assigned to different words) in different age groups (Castel et al., 2011). This differs from tests looking at episodic memory (free recall) by examining control of attention can result in encoding high-value information. Age-related differences were found in memory capacity (through number of words recalled). This study used a selectivity task where participantsRead MoreIf Only They Knew: Which Techniques are more Effective in Order to Receive Higher Test Scores870 Words   |  4 Pagesit is proven that techniques such as practice testing and distributed learning help improve the scores of students as opposed to the most popular forms of studying like rereading and highlighting. Overall, researchers have come to the conclusion that practice testing and distributed learning received the highest effectiveness rating (Which study strategies make the grade? Popular strategies found ineffective). Practice testing is useful in the sense that it prepares you for possible questions

The Root Of Afric African Culture - 881 Words

Some have speculated that the root of Africa s inability to be as successful as the western countries is African culture. Culture is defined as the shared set of assumptions, values, and beliefs of a group of people by which they organize their common life. Culture is both a process and an intuition. Roots of a culture lie within families, schools, music, art, and sociopolitical institutions. Each culture is difficult to describe in detail because there are so many aspects to it. There is an iceberg concept of culture, the majority of it cannot be seen. Surface culture includes languages, accents, behavior, food, dance, arts, physical appearances, rules, and regulations. Deep culture includes much more: such as value systems, emotions, attitude towards elders, class distinction, and socials norms. African cultures are changing to accommodate to western ways. Oral traditions are transitioning to written. Globalization encourages the homogenization of society and civilization, the worl d is becoming a global village. As English is becoming the dominant language in the world, many countries are teaching their children English in schools instead of their native languages. As a result, the native languages are dying out and the children begin to disassociate with their home cultures in favor for western culture. Africans are raised differently than westerners, instead of being independent individuals they are taught to be interdependent members of a community made by

Toxic Effect Of Paraquat On The Lungs †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Toxic Effect Of Paraquat On The Lungs. Answer: Introduction Paraquat, which is generally known as its systematic name 1'-dimethyl-4, 4-bipyridinium Dichloride is a quaternary nitrogen compound. It is generally present as the salt, which is odorless and colorless. It is used as herbicide, and is one of the most toxic herbicide used over the last 50 years. This herbicide is banned or disallowed in more than 32 countries due to its adverse effects on humans as well as animals. This herbicide possesses redox activity that produces superoxide anions, which is harmful for the health of humans (Blanco-Ayala, Andrica-Romero Pedraza-Chaverri, 2014). Paraquat is an oxidant that creates superoxide molecules in the presence of oxygen. These superoxide molecules are harmful for mammals, as these molecules scavenges the immune cells present in the blood stream. Further, the metabolic and skin related disorders resulting from ingestion of paraquat also leads to several health complications. These complications results in the death of the victim. This assignment is will focus on the toxic ability of Paraquat and will explain the way Paraquat can enhance toxicity with the help of reactive oxygen and metabolism. Further, the clinical signs and symptoms paraquat poisoning are going to be explained. Finally, the mechanism, by which lungs become infected of paraquat are going to be discussed. Mechanism of paraquat toxicity After ingestion, paraquat becomes highly toxic to humans and animals and causes Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). It is the toxicant where inhalation for lung infection is not mandatory and consumption of this substance leads acute lung infection. This Toxicant has been listed in the toxicity category one, which is highest among the four toxic categories. The salt form of paraquat, which is used for the agriculture purpose are greater than inhaled capacity of human. However, the oral and dermal route can also cause acute respiratory complications such as Irritation in respiratory airway, Fibrosis, silicosis and allergic responses (Stine Brown, 2015). The prime mechanism of Paraquat poisoning is the generation of Reactive oxygen species or superoxide. It is an oxidant and generally interferes with the electron transfer. In this pathway, it creates reactive oxygen that is harmful fir humans as well as animals. This generation of superoxide occurs in cycle and the shunt of electrons from the electron transport cycle provides the oxygen to modify. This redox cycle of paraquat utilizes electron donor NADPH, become oxidized by an electron receptor Dioxygen and creates superoxide. As the alveolar epithelial cells constantly accumulates paraquat, it leads to the death due to development of fibrous tissue in the lungs (He et al., 2012). Oral ingestion paraquat is also harmful for the human health. Moderate dose of paraquat can lead to renal and hepatic dysfunctions. Mucosal damage occurs and within 10 days radiological signs of lung damage developed. However, high dose causes death within 24 to 48 hours due to multiple organ failure. Signs and symptoms of paraquat poisoning After the accidental ingestion of a large amount of paraquat through oral or nasal route, immediate pain and swelling occurs in the mouth and throat occurs. The next symptoms occur in the gastrointestinal tract as symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain occurs. Bloody diarrhea is one of the major symptoms of this situation. Further, electrolyte depletion from the body occurs that leads to dehydration and eventually low blood pressure occurs. Medium amount of paraquat results in the development of lung scarring, kidney failure, heart failure and liver complications. If the Person survives, the toxic effect of this toxic, long-term effect may include lung scarring, esophageal scarring (scarring of the tube that harms the swallowing capacity of the person). Ingestion of large amount of Paraquat leads to respiratory failure, pulmonary edema, coma, Parkinsons disease, muscle weakness and acute kidney failure. The prime target of Paraquat infection is the lung, as small amount of paraquat inhaled can lead to lung scarring immediately. Other than accumulation in the lungs, the paraquat has higher tendency to be accumulated in the cornea of the eyes, liver, heart, kidney, digestive tract and adrenal glands that leads to health complications. Effect of paraquat on skin is also harmful and direct contact with it can cause damage to fingernails, dermatitis, burns and irritation (Chen et al., 2016). Reason for lung being the prime target It is evident that the despite there are different route for paraquat ingestion, such as inhalation, oral and skin, the lung is the prime target for this toxicant. Alveolar cells are the target of paraquat because they are able to take up the paraquat present in the blood stream and hence develops edema. This edema can be because of the increased vascular permeability. Further, it causes increase in the surface tension of the alveolar capillaries and produce edema (Toygar et al., 2015). Further, in the presence of paraquat in the lung, the lining of the walls start being damaged and hence, scarring of the lung occurs. The reason behind it can be the presence of oxygen. Paraquat is an oxidant and in the presence of oxygen, creates the superoxide molecule, which scavenges the immune cells present in the blood stream. Hence, lung is the ideal place for such oxidant to accumulate and create superoxide molecules to harm the host. Therefore, despite of several route for the ingestion, lung is the prime target for this toxicant (Xu, Xu Wang, 2014). Conclusion In spite of the harmful effects of this herbicide, there are several countries where usage of paraquat is still available and therefore, farmers are facing different problems related to it. Heart problems, Parkinsons disease, liver, lung disorders are affecting their lives. This molecule has redox activity. This redox nature, in the presence of superoxide degrades the immune system of the victim and leads to respiratory failure, heart and lung problems. This document provided all the signs and symptoms of paraquat related disorders and identifies the reason for the lungs being primary target of this toxin. References Blanco-Ayala, T., Andrica-Romero, A. C., Pedraza-Chaverri, J. (2014). New insights into antioxidant strategies against paraquat toxicity.Free radical research,48(6), 623-640. Chen, T., Wang, R., Jiang, W., Wang, H., Xu, A., Lu, G., ... Ji, H. (2016). Protective effect of astragaloside IV against paraquat-induced lung injury in mice by suppressing Rho signaling.Inflammation,39(1), 483-492. He, X., Wang, L., Szklarz, G., Bi, Y., Ma, Q. (2012). Resveratrol inhibits paraquat-induced oxidative stress and fibrogenic response by activating the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 pathway.Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics,342(1), 81-90. Stine, K. E., Brown, T. M. (2015).Principles of toxicology. Crc Press. https://books.google.co.in/books?hl=enlr=id=lHB3CAAAQBAJoi=fndpg=PP1dq=principles+of+toxicologyots=317LcQbmQHsig=XPO2-N5gh-FPCk3o2Hfu2jTNcok#v=onepageq=principles%20of%20toxicologyf=false Toygar, M., Aydin, I., Agilli, M., Aydin, F. N., Oztosun, M., Gul, H., ... Honca, M. (2015). The relation between oxidative stress, inflammation, and neopterin in the paraquat-induced lung toxicity.Human experimental toxicology,34(2), 198-204. Xu, L., Xu, J., Wang, Z. (2014). Molecular mechanisms of paraquat-induced acute lung injury: a current review.Drug and chemical toxicology,37(2), 130-134.

The Walt Disney Company a Financial and Organizational Analysis Essay Example For Students

The Walt Disney Company: a Financial and Organizational Analysis Essay The Walt Disney Company: A Financial and Organizational Analysis Authors: Cliff Anderson, John Morris, Jacob Lawrentz, And Donna Munsey Financial Environments of Organizations, MOL 503, MMOL 1-11 Professor: Kari Day Warner Pacific College September 10th, 2009 The Walt Disney Company: A Financial and Organizational Analysis The Organizational History of Disney Before WWII In 1939, the Valley Progress newspaper (History, p. 3) announced that San Fernando Valley in southern California would become the home of a million dollar, 51-acre lot called Walt Disney Studios. The then-current residence of Disney was established in 1925 in Los Angeles, and consisted of a single large room of 25 artists. Walt Disney (and his brother-manager Roy) had expanded Disney studios to 150 employees and 20,000 square feet of space by 1929; then, when â€Å"Snow White† came out in theatres in 1936, the studio employment had doubled to 300 employees. Operations continued to increase in the years 1937 and 1938, increasing from 300 to 600 to 900 respectively, and finally to 1,000 employees at the time of the above newspaper’s announcement. We will write a custom essay on The Walt Disney Company: a Financial and Organizational Analysis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now During this burgeoning period for Disney studios, artists were not the only operational development for what would become Buena Vista Studios. Walt built a coffee shop, restaurant, gas station, sports playfields, and an 800-seat theatre†¦all for the employees. Four sound stages were produced (among other things, one was exclusive for monitoring dialogue, another for orchestration; two stalwarts when creating Disney cartoons) and, in 1940, just a year after the San Fernando studio cut its ribbon, â€Å"Fantasia† would be born and Walter Elias Disney would create a new standard in the industry of animation. It wasn’t that many years prior that Mickey Mouse learned to talk (around 1932, when â€Å"talkies† were coming of age in film); a few years before that, Walt and his brother Roy had $290. 00 between them. Apparently, Walt had his health but Roy did not, according the Valley Progress (History, p. 5). It was 1923, World War I was past and the Great Depression was the near future. Post WWII A shock to the Disney system occurred on July 17, 1955, a day referred to as â€Å"Black Sunday† (Helmore, para. ) by Disney itself. Disneyland (â€Å"Fantasyland† as it was originally called) opened its gates and faced its worst logistical nightmare. Over 30,000 people arrived for Disneyland’s Day One, broadcasting the event live to ‘50s black-and-white television-watchers. The gates of the park were literally crushed as the throng entered; the walkways had not yet set so women’s heels would penetrate and stick into the asphalt as they walked. Not eno ugh restrooms and a gas leak forced the operation to close early. In spite of these difficulties, Disneyland serviced over a million patrons in the first 7 weeks. The world outside Disney had carnival ride operations that seldom exceeded $50,000. 00 per ride with staff picked – literally – right off the street. Disney, on the other hand, went well beyond the norm to create more expensive rides like Frontierland and the Dumbo ride; staffing was handled by seeking recruitment through local colleges to accommodate the â€Å"squeaky-clean† look of Disney’s youth group demographic. Disney’s Modern Affairs Back in 1929, people went to the theatre to watch â€Å"Snow White† for the first time; by the late 1990s, over 350 million folks will have danced with Snow White on the walkways of Disneyland itself (Helmore, para. 5). Admission to Disneyland for one day cost $33. 00 with an annual ticket for $199. 00. But, in the middle and late 2000s, Disney is in the media for all the wrong reasons, apparently. Walter Disney’s personality and vision is a distant echo relegated to the past. Michael Eisner, its most recent CEO, sought to engage Disney enterprises in lucrative deals. He was intent to reclaim Disney as an industry leader in business (and not necessarily animation) by promoting ventures via a variety of directions. From new avenues of production (Miramax and Dimension Films) to broadband solutions (Comcast), television (ABC) and cable (the Disney channel, among others), Disney’s modern financial discussions are relegated to hundreds of millions of dollars if not billions (McCarthy, para. 19). Since 2005, the CEO baton was passed along for the 6th time to the company’s COO since 2000, Robert Iger. Iger has a long history within the larger framework of Disney’s enterprises, namely through ABC studio and cable network channels (Management 2009). Iger – as CEO of Disney – has focused on reconciling problematic dissension among the board of directors, especially the current Roy Disney, who, at one time, campaigned against Disney itself. Since then, the company has restructured certain key areas in management to regain investor confidence and internal affairs. Most recently, Disney announced its fiscal year and fourth quarter financial results via webcast (Corporate 2009). Segments and Subsidiaries The Walt Disney Company and its subsidiaries is a diversified worldwide entertainment company with operations in four business segments: Media Networks, Studio Entertainment, Parks and Resorts, and Consumer Products. Media Networks The Walt Disney Company is the second largest media conglomerate in the world, behind Time Warner. Its cable, satellite and international broadcast operations are principally involved in the distribution of television programming, the licensing of programming to domestic and international markets, and investing in foreign television broadcasting, production, and distribution entities. Disneys subsidiary ESPN, Inc. owns or has equity interests in or distribution agreements with twenty nine international networks reaching households in more than 190 countries and territories. Marketing magazine writes that the Disney name and logo ranks seventh among the world’s most valuable brands. The Media Networks segment includes the ABC television network in addition to ten broadcast television stations and more than seventy radio stations. The Company has various other international investments in broadcast and cable properties such as ESPN, The History Channel, Lifetime Television, International Disney Channels, and Toon Disney. The company also develops and produces television programming for distribution to global broadcasters and cable and satellite operators, including the major television networks, Disney Channel and other cable and satellite networks, under the Buena Vista Television, Buena Vista Productions, Touchstone Television and Walt Disney Television labels. Walt Disney Internet Group oversees the Web entities ABC. com, Disney Online, and ESPN. com. This segment has consistently been the most profitable segment for the Walt Disney Co. the past three years. .u33badc3c8a8d4be82216256effbf40bd , .u33badc3c8a8d4be82216256effbf40bd .postImageUrl , .u33badc3c8a8d4be82216256effbf40bd .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u33badc3c8a8d4be82216256effbf40bd , .u33badc3c8a8d4be82216256effbf40bd:hover , .u33badc3c8a8d4be82216256effbf40bd:visited , .u33badc3c8a8d4be82216256effbf40bd:active { border:0!important; } .u33badc3c8a8d4be82216256effbf40bd .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u33badc3c8a8d4be82216256effbf40bd { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u33badc3c8a8d4be82216256effbf40bd:active , .u33badc3c8a8d4be82216256effbf40bd:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u33badc3c8a8d4be82216256effbf40bd .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u33badc3c8a8d4be82216256effbf40bd .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u33badc3c8a8d4be82216256effbf40bd .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u33badc3c8a8d4be82216256effbf40bd .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u33badc3c8a8d4be82216256effbf40bd:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u33badc3c8a8d4be82216256effbf40bd .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u33badc3c8a8d4be82216256effbf40bd .u33badc3c8a8d4be82216256effbf40bd-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u33badc3c8a8d4be82216256effbf40bd:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Halloween: A Groundbreaking Film EssayIt generated more than half of the company’s total operating income in 2008. Its operating income increased 11% that year over 2007. Studio Entertainment The Studio Entertainment segment produces live-action and animated motion pictures, television animation programs, musical recordings and live-stage plays. Walt Disney Pictures and Television, a subsidiary of the Company, produces and acquires live-action motion pictures that are distributed primarily under the Walt Disney Pictures and Touchstone Pictures banners. Another subsidiary, Miramax Film Corp. acquires and produces motion pictures that are distributed under the Miramax banner. The Company distributes produced and acquired films to the theatrical, home entertainment, pay-per-view, video-on-demand, pay television and free-to-air television markets. This segment appeared to be the weakest financially in 2008. It produced 13% of the Company’s operating income in 2008, but its operating income declined 9% after an increase of 64% the previous year. Parks and Resorts Walt Disney Parks Resorts owns some of the most popular resorts in North America. The company owns and operates the Walt Disney World Resort and Disney Cruise Line in Florida, the Disneyland Resort in California and ESPN Zone facilities in several states. The company licenses the operations of the Tokyo Disney Resort in Japan. The companys Walt Disney Imagineering unit designs and develops new theme park concepts and attractions as well as resort properties. The businesses in the Parks and Resorts segment generate revenues from the sale of admissions to the theme parks, room nights at the hotels and rentals at the resort properties. Costs consist primarily of the fixed cost base for physical properties and base level staffing necessary to operate the theme park and resort properties. This segment generated 22% of the Company’s operating income in 2008, and gained a healthy 11% for that category over the previous year. Consumer Products The Consumer Products segment partners with licensees, manufacturers, publishers and retailers throughout the world to design, promote and sell a variety of products based on new and existing Disney characters and other intellectual property. In addition to leveraging the Companys film and television properties, Consumer Products develops new intellectual property within its publishing and interactive gaming divisions with the potential of being leveraged across the company. The Company also engages in retail, direct mail and online distribution of products based on the Companys characters and films through The Disney Store, the Disney Catalog and DisneyDirect. com, respectively. The Disney Store is owned and operated internationally and is franchised in North America. The Consumer Products segment contributes the least amount of revenue and income of the four segments: less than 10%. But its operating income is growing at a rate of 14%, more than the other segments. It also grew 26% in the revenue category in 2008. Below is a chart of each segment’s operating income for the past three years: Ratio Analysis When considering the financial stability of the Walt Disney Corporation we wanted to look at one ratio from each of the different categories of ratios: liquidity, leverage, market, activity, and profitability. First we considered liquidity by means of Walt Disney’s current ratio. Liquidity 20082007 1. Current Ratio 1. 01x. 99x (Current assets/current liabilities) The current ratio is the most popular of the ratios, or at least it is the most commonly used. The current ratio measures a firm’s short-term liquidity and its ability to meet needs for cash as they arise. Disney saw an increase from 2007 to 2008 in realizing their ability to meet short term debts. Although it wasn’t a significant increase, taking in to consideration that Disney is an established, profitable company, it was a good sign for Disney in a slumping economy. Leverage 20082007 2. Debt to equity 1. 141. 23x (Total liabilities/stockholders equity) The debt to equity ratio is one of leverage. It measures a firms overall debt relative to its equity base. This ratio saw a decline from 2007 for Disney. This indicates that total liabilities have gone up relative to stockholders equity. When we look at the balance sheet we see that liabilities went down and so did equity from the previous year. This may be a bad sign for Disney, as owners lost value. Market 200820072006 3. Dividend payout 9. 4%13. 2%16. 1% (Dividends per share/earnings per share) The dividend payout is a market ratio and it shows percentages of earnings paid to shareholders. This ratio has shown a significant decline for the past two years from 16. 1% in 2006 down to 9. 4% in 2008. This shows that Disney is paying a lower portion to its shareholders in the form of dividends relative to earnings per share. We think that this shows a decline in cash over the last couple years but it isn’t that bad. It looks as though 2006 was a really good year, and 2007 and 2008 are leveling off. Activity 2008 2007 4. Total asset turnover. 61x. 58x (Net sales/total assets) Total asset turnover is considered an activity ratio and it measures the efficiency of a firm in managing all assets. Disney saw an increase in sales relative to total assets. This is a good thing. Basically Disney had more sales relative to its total assets showing an efficient increase in this ratio for 2007 to 2008. Profitability 20082007 5. Return on total assets 7%7. 7% (Net earnings/total assets) Finally we looked at the return on total assets. This being a profitability ratio it takes the total net earnings of a company and divides it by their total assets. This ratio shows a firm’s overall efficiency of managing its assets and generating profits. Many analysts, especially investors, may want to consider this as one of the most important ratios to look at when choosing whether to invest in a company like Disney. This ratio basically just shows whether a company can continue to produce a positive bottom line. Disney showed a decline of seven tenths of a percent from 2007 to 2008, but this is still a good number. We can definitely see that there is a decline in Disney’s profitability from 2007, but there is still a positive number showing on the financial statements for this ratio. .ub3819b6e4f9190261177ddfe5e03722b , .ub3819b6e4f9190261177ddfe5e03722b .postImageUrl , .ub3819b6e4f9190261177ddfe5e03722b .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ub3819b6e4f9190261177ddfe5e03722b , .ub3819b6e4f9190261177ddfe5e03722b:hover , .ub3819b6e4f9190261177ddfe5e03722b:visited , .ub3819b6e4f9190261177ddfe5e03722b:active { border:0!important; } .ub3819b6e4f9190261177ddfe5e03722b .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ub3819b6e4f9190261177ddfe5e03722b { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ub3819b6e4f9190261177ddfe5e03722b:active , .ub3819b6e4f9190261177ddfe5e03722b:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ub3819b6e4f9190261177ddfe5e03722b .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ub3819b6e4f9190261177ddfe5e03722b .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ub3819b6e4f9190261177ddfe5e03722b .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ub3819b6e4f9190261177ddfe5e03722b .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ub3819b6e4f9190261177ddfe5e03722b:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ub3819b6e4f9190261177ddfe5e03722b .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ub3819b6e4f9190261177ddfe5e03722b .ub3819b6e4f9190261177ddfe5e03722b-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ub3819b6e4f9190261177ddfe5e03722b:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: MENTAL ILLNESS EssayThere would be a huge alarm if this number dropped below 3 percent. Large companies like General Electric or Microsoft as well as Disney can afford a couple of years of poor profitability. Usually because of the size of the company they can absorb softer years. Smaller companies need to maintain a high level of profitability to stay competitive. We had a hard time as a team trying to find comparative market ratios for Disney. Because of the way Disney is structured, and the fact that it is a large conglomerate, it was difficult to find an industry average. We considered comparing them to a Fortune 500 standard, or other media giants, but were unable to come up with any comparative data. We have to look at Disney as an entity by itself to determine its success. Risk Analysis As we look at the Walt Disney Company we must look at its capital structure and what the associated risks are with a company of this nature. If we start with the numbers and look at the debt to equity ratio we get a . 21/1 ratio or 21%. Generally anything under 30% is considered good. So in this case the Disney Company looks in good shape; however there are other factors involved. Because The Disney Company is a large and complex organization that is primarily involved in the entertainment sector of business in the United States and around the world, this makes the company susceptible to a number of factors which could affect future operations. These include: * Changes in economic conditions that could have an adverse affect on business * Unpredictable changes in consumer tastes and preferences * Unauthorized use of intellectual property rights * General environment for tourism and travel Turmoil in financial markets causing accessibility issues with financing * Changes in applicable regulations that may impair profitability Any one of these could produce negative results for the company, but we will look at each individually to see what the effects could be. Within the last year there have been recessionary conditions in the economies of the United States and other countries around the world. This has affected demand for some of Disneys products and services and a continued downturn could further affect demand for any of their business and reduce revenue and earnings. If this downturn continues, that could mean a reduction in attendance at Disneys theme parks, a decline in purchases of or prices for advertising on their broadcast or cables networks, and a reduction of spending on company-branded consumer products. Disney’s business model creates entertainment and consumer products whose success depends on the tastes and preferences of consumers who are often unpredictable. The success of Disney depends on the companys ability to create and distribute new and exciting programming and theme park attractions that meet the changing preferences of the consumer market. Disney must invest substantial amounts of money into these productions and attractions before they can know the full extent of acceptance to the consumer. A wrong move in any of these directions could affect the profitability of the business. Pirating or the unauthorized use of intellectual property rights by copying Disneys entertainment products is another area of risk for the company. With the advent of new technologies, this practice has become widely available and is growing steadily. These developments have caused the company to devote more resources to this problem and the trend looks to continue. The risk in this area is that it could reduce revenues because of lost sales and the cost of protecting these rights may need to increase. The general environment for travel and tourism could highly impact the demand for products and services provided by the Disney Company. Health concerns with pandemics, international political developments, and terrorist attacks could directly affect the ability of the company to attract visitors to its theme parks and reduce revenues. Adverse weather patterns or natural disasters such as excessive heat or rain, hurricanes, or earthquakes could also potentially cause substantial losses for the company. With the recent turmoil in the financial sector has come the disruption and increased difficulty in obtaining financing on acceptable terms. This could cause the increase in costs of borrowing and potentially affect the bottom line. This disruption also affects the company by making it difficult for third party companies to access funds to make purchases from the Disney Company. The possible change in regulations both in the United States and around the world could impact the company and its profitability. The company’s broadcast and cable networks are highly regulated and additional regulations may impair these portions of the business. Regulation of the safety of consumer products and theme park attractions may require that the company spend additional amounts to comply with the regulations or restrict the ability to offer these choices to consumers. Other areas that could also affect operations would be environmental protection regulations, U. S. or foreign privacy and data protection laws and regulations, and domestic and international laws or currency controls. In conclusion, The Walt Disney Company was enjoyable to research. It is a financially healthy and strong organization. We were impressed by how far-reaching its influence is on our society. Walt Disney was a man who had an incredible impact on our world. References Disney Corporate, 2009 News Releases (2009). Retrieved August 27, 2009 from http://corporate. disney. go. com/news/corporate/2009/2009_0814_q4_fy09_announcement. html. Helmore, Edward (1995, July 15). A Mickey Mouse kind of operation. The Independent. Retrieved August 27, 2009, from http://www. independent. co. uk/travel/a-mickey-mouse-kind-of-operation-1591540.