How Much Alcohol Can Visitors Bring Into Canada

If you are a visitor to Canada, you are allowed to bring a small quantity of alcohol (wine, liquor, beer, or coolers) into the country without having to pay duty or taxes on it as long as: the alcohol accompanies youyou meet the minimum legal drinking age for the province or territory at which you enter Canada.  The legal age for purchase and consumption is 19 years  of age in British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, and Yukon;  and  18 years  of age in Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec. Please note that rules change, so confirm this information before you travel.   Alcohol Quantities Permitted You may bring in only  one of the following: 1.5 liters (50.7 U.S. ounces) of wine, including wine coolers over 0.5 percent alcohol. This is equivalent to (up to) 53 fluid ounces or two 750 ml bottles of wine.  1.14 liters (38.5 U.S. ounces) of liquor. This is equivalent to  (up to)  40 fluid ounces  or one large standard bottle of liquor.Up to 8.5 liters of beer or ale, including beer with more than 0.5 percent alcohol. This is equivalent to 287.4 U.S. fluid ounces or about 24 cans or bottles (355 ml or 12.004 U.S. fluid ounces each). According to the Canadian Border Services Agency, the quantities of alcoholic beverages you can import must be within the limit set by provincial and territorial liquor control authorities that apply where you will  enter  Canada. If the amount of alcohol you want to import exceeds your personal exemption, you will have to pay the duty and taxes as well as any provincial or territorial levies that apply. Contact the appropriate provincial or territorial liquor control authority for more information  before  you go to Canada. Assessments typically start at 7 percent. You must be staying for more than 24 hours to bring alcohol into the country. For Canadians  returning after a stay in the United States, the amount of personal exemption is dependent on how long the individual was out of the country; the highest exemptions accrue after stays of more than a 48 hours. In 2012, Canada changed exemption limits to more closely match those of the United States. More on the Taxes Visitors are allowed to bring into Canada $60 in gifts duty-free per recipient.  But alcohol and tobacco do not qualify for this exemption. Canada defines alcoholic beverages as products that exceed 0.5 percent alcohol by volume. Certain alcoholic and wine products, such as some coolers, do not exceed 0.5 percent by volume and, thus, are not considered alcoholic beverages. If you go over your personal exemption, you will have to pay duty on the full amount, not just the excess. Note that each personal exemption is per person, not per vehicle.  You are not allowed to combine your personal exemptions with someone else or transfer them to another person. Goods brought in for commercial use or for another person do not qualify under the personal exemption and are subject to full duties. Customs officials calculate the duties  in the currency of the country you are entering. So if you are a U.S. citizen crossing into Canada, you will need to convert the amount you paid for your alcohol in the United States into Canadian currency at the applicable rate of exchange. If You Exceed the Duty-Free Allowance   Except in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, if you are a visitor to Canada and you bring in more than the personal allowances of liquor listed above, you will pay customs and provincial/territory assessments. The amounts you are allowed to bring into Canada are also limited by the province or territory in which you enter Canada. For details on specific amounts and rates, contact the liquor control authority for the appropriate province or territory before you travel to Canada. In the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, its illegal to bring in more than your exempted amount. A Growing Problem of Alcohol Overconsumption in Canada   Although there have long been restrictions on the number of alcohol visitors can bring into Canada, a growing problem of rising and overconsumption of alcohol has raised alarms in Canada. Anyone trying to bring in large quantities of cheaper American alcohol, wine, and beer might be unpopular  at the border. Staying within personal exemption quantities is the safest path. Since about 2000 and the release of the Canada Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines in 2011, the first such national guidelines, many Canadians have  been on a mission to reduce alcohol consumption across the board. Much research has been done on how harmful even moderate alcohol consumption can be and the  serious long-term effects on  young adults ages 18–24, when risky alcohol consumption peaks. In addition, risky drinking is on the rise in other segments of the population. High Canadian Prices Tempt Importers There has been a movement to encourage lower consumption by  increasing or maintaining the overall price  of alcohol through interventions such as excise taxes and indexing prices to inflation. Such pricing, according to the Canadian Center on Substance Abuse, would encourage production and consumption of lower-strength alcoholic beverages. Establishing minimum prices, the CCSA said, could remove inexpensive sources of alcohol often favored by young adults and other high-risk drinkers. Visitors may be tempted to bring in large quantities of alcoholic beverages bought in the United States, which can sell for about half the price of such drinks in Canada. But if this is done, well-trained officers of the  Canada  Border  Services Agency will find such goods, and the offender will be assessed duties for the entire amount, not the just excess. Customs Contact Information If you have questions or need more information about bringing alcohol into Canada, contact the Canada Border Services Agency.

Outliers, By Malcolm Gladwell - 1739 Words

How Does Success Happen There are many perplexities associated with the reasons why particular notable events occur and why certain people achieve success while many others fail. In Malcolm Gladwell’s book, Outliers, the reasons for these unusual happenings are explained as he argues that many of the factors ignored by most people actually matter. Throughout the book, Malcolm Gladwell insisted that overlooked factors such as heritage, birthdate, culture, and time period are important in understanding the outliers in society. He used the word â€Å"outliers† to describe the people and events that stand out and throughout the book he uses different examples of â€Å"outliers† to examine and explain the why the person was able to become an outlier or†¦show more content†¦To begin this section of his explanation he often says things such as, â€Å"I hope by now that you are skeptical of this kind of story† (Gladwell 119). By speaking directly to readers he is able to make th em rethink the story they just read and look for anomalies. During this second part of discussing a particular event or person Malcolm Gladwell begins to argue his point. These stories seem like a typical story of success or disaster on the surface, but he picks them apart and identifies how factors such as background, birthdate, culture, time period, and hard work influenced the outcome. For example, in his story about Jewish immigrant lawyers he begins to discuss the importance of a person’s background after telling Joe Flom’s success story. After drawing readers into the topic, he describes a second time the story and points where Joe Flom’s Jewish immigrant background impacts his success. He argues that the main reason Jewish lawyers were able to become successful was because the large law firms wouldn t hire them and this caused them to create their own business where they would take on the cases that the larger law firms weren t willing to deal with such as takeover disputes. When the times changes and these types of issues gained popularity, the Jewish law firms had a head start and this allowed them to become extremely successful. Jewish lawyers who lived in the perfect time period were given the opportunity to succeed because of their immigrantShow MoreRelatedOutliers, By Malcolm Gladwell1431 Words   |  6 PagesOutliers, written by Malcolm Gladwell, examines the wonder of high achievement, and success frequently attributed to the hard work, determination, and specific talent in individuals. Gladwell succeeds at analyzing judgments and cultural epidemics, while putting his thesis into view, and explaining his proof through a series of short, exemplifying accounts. Stressing the fact that hard work is a crucial factor in becoming successful, Gladwell does not deduct the need for discrete skills. Factors suchRead MoreThe Outliers By Malcolm Gladwell2400 Words   |  10 Pagesideas are serious, entertaining or illogical. In The O utliers by Malcolm Gladwell, the author uses the book to portray a message about the characteristics needed to become a successful outlier. Are outliers just people who do not fit into mainstream society because they are above average? How does one become an outlier? The author not only answers lingering questions that the readers have about the title, but he also shows a way to become an outlier through various circumstances and situations. In factRead MoreOutliers, By Malcolm Gladwell1245 Words   |  5 Pagesspan of 3 years? Malcolm Gladwell, the author of Outliers, suspects that there is something more behind this occurrence than just a simple coincidence. He asserts that there is no such thing as a self-made man and success does not come from natural talent, rather it comes from extraordinary opportunities and hidden advantages. In Outliers, Gladwell attempts to debunk the myth that people are successful because of themselves, and not because of other factors. Even Malcolm Gla dwell acknowledges thatRead MoreThe Outliers By Malcolm Gladwell866 Words   |  4 Pagesis a person who is very knowledgeable about or skillful in a particular area. But with this simple description of an ‘expert’, what does it truly mean? Malcolm Gladwell, a famous writer and speaker, with 10, 000 hours one could succeed to become an expert in a certain area. Gladwell explains his theory of 10, 000 hours in his book, â€Å"The Outliers,† with various examples of not only talented but also respected figures such as an European Violinist, Bill Gates, and even the Beatles. In the book, theseRead MoreOutliers by Malcolm Gladwell 1451 Words   |  6 PagesHowever, Malcolm Gladwell sees success in contrast to the common people. Gladwell believes that success is mainly caused by having the right opportunity and circumstances rather than by working hard. David Karp, founder of the international social networking site Tumblr, is an individual who embodies Gladwellâ₠¬â„¢s phenomenon by having extended advantages that were rare among his peers and having a supportive, relatable lineage that not only lead him to success, but also makes him an Outlier. In OutliersRead MoreThe, Outliers, By Malcolm Gladwell1080 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines, practiced every day.† (Jim Rohn) Malcolm Gladwell’s, Outliers, published in 2008, makes arguments about what it means to be successful, and how one can become successful. Gladwell specifically mentions the â€Å"10,000 Hour Rule† which states that anyone who wants to reach a definite level of mastery must perform 10,000 hours of practice until that level is reached. Some believe this rule to be invalid as those who are successful are born talentedRead MoreOutliers, By Malcolm Gladwell2123 Words   |  9 PagesOutliers, a statistical observation that is markedly different in value from the others of the sample. This basically states that anything that lies outside of the norm is an outlier. In the book Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell he focuses on the different set of skills, timing, background, and effort a successful perso n needs to have in order to become successful. Unlike most books or biographies that write about the intelligence and ambition of an individual, this book looks around the individualsRead MoreOutliers : By Malcolm Gladwell1917 Words   |  8 Pages Malcolm Gladwell wrote the book titled Outliers to show the world how unique people got their start and all of the factors and obstacles it takes to succeed in life. Every chapter of this book contains a different success story. At the beginning of each new section, Malcolm describes where each story is taking place and who will be involved. An example of this unique imagery includes the start of the chapter titled, â€Å"The Ethnic Theory of Plane Crashes,† when Malcolm Gladwell described the settingRead MoreOutliers, By Malcolm Gladwell3671 Words   |  15 Pagesthat success can be achieved. With many theories out there on success, it is hard to figure out what is needed to be done to gain success. In everyone’s lives th ere are many different beliefs out there that can lead to it. In the book â€Å"Outliers† by Malcolm Gladwell, there are numerous theories that are covered with examples of successful people. They clearly show how success can be done in not just one way but in many others. The most known people that are considered to be successful are billionairesRead MoreOutliers, By Malcolm Gladwell1541 Words   |  7 PagesEarning large quantities of money seems achievable, it acts as clear-cut goal that people can point to and shout, â€Å"Hey, that’s success!†. Furthermore, personal success does not offer this luxury, and thus evades people to its true meaning. Malcolm Gladwell’s novel, Outliers, demonstrates this principle perfectly. This novel tells the story of â€Å"successful† people; however, according to the definition being explored here, it only examines one aspect of success: societal. This book never mentions the man who

How Language Has Changed From Its Original Form Essay

Picking on a Sunday Afternoon Language is the use of complex symbols, whether spoken, shown through movement, or behavior, to communicate with others. Language may be used to share an idea, experience, thought or feeling that a person has with others that are familiar with the symbols and patterns used. Those who use a specific language must follow the rules of the language, such as grammar and syntax, to communicate with others effectively and meaningfully. Language is important in the field of cultural anthropology because it varies from culture to culture as well as within the same culture. Dialects of a culture can allow an anthropologist to identify where an individual or group came from and the reasons why their dialect has formed the way it has. Language gives anthropological researchers the opportunity to study a culture through the variations of sounds and movements the citizens of that culture make. The purpose of this study is to observe the different forms of language use d in an everyday setting and to study how the language has changed from its original form. As novice anthropologists, we must begin to recognize phonemes and morphemes through studying these sound patterns and word formations in syntax we may recognize or think is ordinary. Through this process we are able to think more deeply about the language we hear on an everyday basis while also learning how to identify social dialects as well as being able to code switch, to a limited degree. ToShow MoreRelatedChanges Due to English Evolution Affect Integrity of the Bible1705 Words   |  7 Pagesquestion whether or not the Bible had been accurately translated from its original Hebrew and Greek manuscripts. Several new English Bibles emerged in the first one hundred years after the Protestant Reformation until Christian authorities accepted the King James Version as the principal Bible in 1611 (Halkin 55). No one seriously challenged The King James Version for the next 300 years, but evolvin g changes in the English language during the past few decades have caused Biblical scholars to considerRead MoreThe Causes Of Sound Change Essay911 Words   |  4 Pagescaused by reinterpreting the features important for contrast in a language. This essay sets out to examine the position that sound changes are caused by changes in phonetic abilities of the speakers of a particular language, for reasons such as migration and a lack of exposure to similar to certain phonemes, but not due to miscommunication. I will use examples from the English language to defend this position. First, migration has been one of the major factors of sound change throughout history.Read MoreThe Main Source Of Rosenzweig s Thoughts About Translation Essay1682 Words   |  7 PagesThe main source of Rosenzweig’s thoughts about translation stems from the Bible. This can be clearly seen in the Star of Redemption, especially when he states: It is the first effect of the spirit to translate, to erect a bridge between man and man, between tongue and tongue . . . God speaks everywhere with the words of men . . . the translator, the one who hears and transmits, knows himself equal to the One who first spoke and received the word. (Rosenzweig 66) This suggests that the essenceRead MoreTranslation As A Science Or Art?1272 Words   |  6 Pagesequivalent meaning from source language into target language. Through the history, some people think translation is a science, someone define it as an art. Whether one consider translation as a science or art, or anything else, it is an activity that help people communication (Mahmoud, 2008). When it comes to translation theory, skopos theory (ST) shouldn’t been ignored. Hans J. Vemeer who proposed ST and developed it during the 1970s in Germany (Du, 2012). The word ‘skopos’ is form Greek, means aimsRead MoreExplore how and why the English Language has changed.1232 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Explore how and why the English Language has changed. The English Language has changed over a long period of time due to a number of different factors which have had different effects on how the Language has progressed. Language is seen to have progressed through different stages, from Old English (beginning in the 3rd century and including the invasions of the Anglo-Saxons, which led to the creation of Englisc) through to Middle English (which may have begun in the 11th century with the ruleRead MoreWriting Self-Reflection Essay759 Words   |  4 Pageswas always haunting me from childhood,little knowing that later in my life the writer in me is taking its shape.At times I thought why I could not solve problems academic as well as personal by using the same kind of thinking which we used when we created them ,as my greatest problem was what to do about all the things I couldnt do anything about. Time passed and I set sails for SJSU.On arriving here ,I realised that I had grown wings and my perception of life had changed,so had ,my line-of-thoughtRead MoreHuckleberry Finn Persuasive Essay1571 Words   |  7 Pages the author of an extraordinary yet controversial novel; The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn had a great way of capturing moments in time and bringing them to life through the use of meaningful and direct diction. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has been a vexed novel for it s a use of the â€Å"N-word†. However, many scholars and associations have devised a â€Å"solution† for this problem such as, completely banning the book, creating sanitized versions, or even replacing the book for another AmericanRead More The Vietnamese Language Essay751 Words   |  4 PagesThe Vietnamese Language The Vietnamese Language is comprised of a few separate languages as well as its own original dialects. Like Many languages today, some words get added to the vocabulary of another group. The region of a place can also determine how the language is spoken, and looked at. When people move from one place to another, they bring with them their own language from their region, and it gets mixed in with the current language, increasing the vocabulary. This applies toRead MoreTips on Paraphrasing1520 Words   |  7 Pagesparaphrase what an author has said as opposed to using lengthy direct quotations. But what does it mean ‘to paraphrase’? According to the MacMillan English Dictionary (MacMillan, 2012:online), to paraphrase is â€Å"to express what someone else has said or written using different words, especially in order to make it shorter or clearer.† When you paraphrase another authors writing you rewrite their argument using your own words, phrasing and inte rpreting it in your own way. How to paraphrase Read MoreWhat Is Language Devoid Of The Social Context Of Its Creation And Use1499 Words   |  6 PagesTo make language devoid of the social context of its creation and use is to dislocate it from which it derives its meanings. Thus ridding it of its use with the only benefit of understanding what it is made up of. However, understanding what language is made of and understanding how to use it are two different things, neither of which will give you a complete understanding of language on its own. Using Gardner’s analogy of language being like a fish you dissect as well as observe within its habitat

Being A Cia Agent Or Something - 960 Words

â€Å"The Scavengers?† I asked laughing, â€Å"If you re going to come in here all geared up and acting like you re a CIA agent or something then you should really come up with a better name than that.† â€Å"Leo, you should really listen to them,† Derek told me, â€Å" you ll want to hear what they have to say.† â€Å"So who are you really, huh?† I questioned, â€Å"some guys trying to be someone they re not?† â€Å"I suggest that you listen to your brother, go sit down in that chair over there, and listen to what Ajax and I have to say kid,† said the third guy that came in with Derek and Ajax. â€Å"And who are you mister?† I asked the third man. â€Å"Chris,† he replied in a cold voice, â€Å"and you should really go sit down in that chair like I told you.† â€Å"Or what?† I†¦show more content†¦He isn t from our planet. From the information that I ve acquired from the government, he s basically come from a whole other planet from a whole other universe. My team and a group of scientist have been working together for the past year trying to figure out exactly how he was going to get here and when. So you knew he was coming? I said, anger bubbling up inside of me, You know I watched him blow up our house with my parents in it. He literally wiped them off of the face of the Earth. Calm down now Leo, Ajax said calmly, Yes the Scavengers and I knew that Icor would be coming to our planet. I m sorry to hear about the death of your parents, but I really need to tell you what is going on. So please, just cool off and listen. After a moment, I agreed and started to calm down so that I could listen. Go ahead, I said, say what you have to say. Ajax went on to tell me more information about Icor and why he came into our dimension and happened to choose our planet to destroy. He said that Icor was indeed searching for something, but it wasn t for the good of his people. It was actually for his own well being. He came to Earth to basically wipe out whatever species lived here and take any kind of technology, resources, and information on our species. So far he s only succeeded in destroying half of a major city, Ajax went on saying, but we can t let him take the entire city as well. That s why my team and I have come here toShow MoreRelatedCentral Intelligence Agency : An Undergraduate Student Will Get Asked Essay1614 Words   |  7 Pagesgraduating college would be to become a CIA agent or work in the white house, something along those lines. Ever since I was in high school I’ve always wanted to work in that kind of field whether it was for the FBI, CIA, or homeland security. I have been doing everything I can to create a great resume such as attempting to become fluent in Arabic since the competition is fierce when applying for these types of jobs. â€Å"In 1947, The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was created along with Director ofRead MoreThe Assas sination of J.F.K. Essay1712 Words   |  7 Pagestheory is that the federal government was involved in the assassination of the President. The federal government involvement in the Kennedy assassination can be seen through the quick findings that Oswald acted alone in the assassination, through CIA and FBI actions after the assassination, and through the actions of President Johnson following the assassination of President Kennedy. There are many other theories about the assassination of President Kennedy. One of these is the Lone Gunman theoryRead MoreInformation Gathered And Activities During World War II1646 Words   |  7 Pages2008) Throughout counterintelligence, altering situations and scenarios are viewed as a success. When change begins to occur, it’s essentially stating that CI is working and people and organizations are starting to stir since they understand they are being watched. CI has continued to adapt throughout the years and will continue to be effective. One of the main ambassadors of CI Stephen Cambone had this to say while he served under the Secretary of Defense for Intelligence. â€Å"The third group is focusedRead MoreThe Assassination Of President John F. Kennedy1242 Words   |  5 PagesDo I Have to Say?†- Billy Joel, â€Å"We Didn’t Start the Fire† How the CIA Killed JFK November 22nd, 1963: The assassination of President John F. Kennedy is an event in American history that will forever as one of the nation’s darkest days. The brutal murder of the President is seemingly terrible enough, but suspicious decisions of the federal government in regards to investigating the assassination alienated American youths from being able to trust the government, and is partially responsible for theRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book Uncompromisingly Hard Line By Tim Weiner1083 Words   |  5 Pagesstated defections of Fuchs and, in particular the personal betrayal of Philby. While this was always a part of his underlying paranoia, it was kicked into full gear by his affiliation with Golitsyn. Golitsyn, according to Tim Weiner, was â€Å"certified by CIA psychiatrists as clinically paranoid†¦ [and he] confirmed and strengthened Angleton’s deepest fears.† Golitsyn’s â€Å"uncompromisingly hard-line views about the dark intentions amd ruthless efficiency of the Russian intelligence services squared with Angleton’sRead MoreSee No Evil Review Essay1503 Words   |  7 Pagesthe Homefront, being that despite all the warnings our intelligence officers have supplied to our government agencies, there seems to be little or no action taken to stop terrorist attacks that could have been prevented. Our well-paid politicians stay fairly busy attending fundraisers and creating policies that hinder responses to vital information gathered by case officers and law-enforcement personnel about terrorist activities. Robert Baers book describes his years in the CIA from recruitmentRead MoreArgument1501 Words   |  7 Pagesprotect the country’s safety and the well being of each individual daily. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has grown to be an immune system that is needed, to protect the country, the individual’s and the environment that is lived in every single day, by protecting us from terrorism, cyber fraud, technology crime, etc. The Federal Bureau’s history is actually exceptionally complex and interesting. It happens to â€Å"originat[e] from a force of Special Agents created in 1908 by Attorney General CharlesRead MoreFederal Bureau Of Investigations And The Central Intelligence Agency1633 Words   |  7 Pagesconjunction to these mistakes, the restriction of shared information between intelligence and law enforcement was one of the reasons the United States of America failed to prevent such a disaster. 9/11: the Miscommunication between the FBI and CIA The attacks of September 11th, 2001, exemplifies al Qaeda’s strategy to enter the United States and cause an uproar within our nation. During the time terrorist attacks were never a main concern as the United States focused on what was happening insteadRead MoreThe Assassination of John F. Kennedy Essay916 Words   |  4 PagesOn November 22 1963 former President John F Kennedy was shot by Lee Harvey Oswald. He became the second out of the two most remembered presidents to be killed, the first being Lincoln. However, most people believe that John Wilkes Booth killed Lincoln, but most people don’t think Oswald killed JFK. Ranging from his future-self killing his past self to other crazy theories like aliens, but 55% of our nation still think that JFK was involved by some government conspiracy at the time of his death.Read Morepsychpaper1240 Words   |  5 Pagesthrough if his memory has faded away and he is unable to remember anything about his life. Retrograde amnes ia [1] causes disruption in the consolidation which prevents long term memory from forming. Something that makes this amnesia different from other psychological disorders is that the human being acts perfectly normal. An amnesiac’s general knowledge and level of intelligence is not affected. In the case of retrograde amnesia the person retains his fine motor skills and is able to perform tasks

The Cost of Independence Free Essays

string(190) " the Scottish Parliament and Government would be responsible for all areas of legislation, including foreign affairs, defence and taxation, but the Queen would remain the head of the state\." â€Å"The Cost of Independence – concerns and fears of Scottish Businessmen† Martina Macakova â€Å"What business leaders in Scotland really seek to hear is a positive discussion on the future for Scotland and what part they can play in shaping it, not a re-run of old arguments about potential damage to the economy of constitutional change. † introduction Ewan Hunter, Director of HunterSearch This essay deals with a discussion about Scottish independence through the perspective of local business leaders. Its aim is to analyze their opinion on Scottish tendencies towards independence, if and to what extent could they influence the results of upcoming referendum and whether Scotland’s business companies could play a role of an ally of the UK government. We will write a custom essay sample on The Cost of Independence or any similar topic only for you Order Now It provides the analysis of the current situation, especially in the light of recent events, as the First Minister Alex Salmond, leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), in the beginning of January announced that the referendum on Scottish Independence should be held in autumn 2014. In this essay I will attempt to come with a prediction of the possible future development of the opinion of Scottish leading business companies. For that purpose I have examined mostly newspaper articles, opinion polls, governmental documents and public speeches given by the local business representatives. As a secondary source and the introduction to the topic of Scottish Independence I found very valuable a publication written by Jo Eric Murkens, Peter Jones and Michael Keating Scottish Independence: A Practical Guide. A division of state into two sovereign parts would be very complicated and long-term process. It is a process fraught with problems and controversy. Whether it is a break up of marriage or of nations, the major bone of contemption is always the same – who gets what. The division of Czechoslovakia in late 1992 and 1993 could serve as a precedent for similar action, anyhow the situation of the Union and former Czechoslovakia differs. In Scotland’s case, controversial may be especially the separation of state debt and North Sea oil reserves; the future of military bases on the island of Clyde, home of British nuclear missiles; question of the membership in the European Union and currency issue. Despite the fact that the independence is primarily a question of national identity and political change, we cannot forget that economic prosperity is prerequisite for well-functioning state. It’s Scotland’s oil If there was an independent Scotland would it be economic failure or success? It might sound a paradoxical thing to say but the core issue related to the economics cannot be really answered correctly. According to Peter Jones, the starting point for dealing with the economics of independence needs to be existing Scotland. And current Scotland is a Scotland that operates within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is obvious that public spending would demand greater income as two new types of costs would affect the public sector. First of all, there are costs incurred by the need to add on functions (such as defense) and those incurred by the need to disentangle the Scottish element of such UK-wide bodies (for example Inland Revenue). Undoubtedly, Scottish government can count on the benefits from obtaining control of offshore oil and gas resources. The representatives of SNP repeatedly assert the Scotland would be among the world’s richest countries. Additional GDP acquired from the profit made by oil companies offshore is something what we can more or less rely on. Before his re-election campaign Alex Salmond grasped the opportunity to dust off SNP’s old slogan â€Å"It’s Scotland’s Oil†. It was a smart move. As the election results showed the resurrecting claim that all North Sea oil – as well as its revenues – belongs solely to Scotland, was what Scottish voters wanted to hear. Oil and gas resources themselves don’t guarantee long lasting wealth. Douglas Fraser, Scotland Business and Economy Editor at BBC, expressed his concerns that there is an elephant in the room that needs to be discussed. The price of oil is volatile and volatile price of oil means volatile income. Moreover, the trend is clearly for the volume of oil and gas production to fall, though that is partly offset by higher average prices, higher tax rates, and so buoyant revenues. Yet, an economy of an independent Scotland would be dependent on number of variable factors whose precise effects cannot be forecast. Among those unpredictable factors is a haracter of the negotiations that can either minimaze or enlarge the degree of uncertainty. The level of uncertainty affects business confidence and investment and it is something that has been often mentioned by the Scottish business representatives while comenting on the question of independence. As Peter Jones points out, another parameter which stands completely out of political control is whether the general e conomic environment is good or bad. In adverse times, business would be extremely nervous about independence as would the international markets. In this situation the price of independence could be quite high. The aim of idependence is to change the monetary, fiscal and regulatory regime which is currently the same as the in rest of the UK. The Scottish voters are likely to approve a different kind of a devolution model, which would provide more powers for the Scottish Parliament, particularly in terms of tax-varying powers and fiscal policy in general. The conclusions of a poll conducted by Ipsos MORI in November 2009 are that 66 per cent of the respondents are in favour of the Scottish Parliament having increased its powers, whether in terms of further devolution or fully independence. The attempts to get the public involved and the referendum itself should be appreciated. That is the major difference in comparison with the zero involvement of Czechoslovak citizens when the dissolution of Czechoslovakia was decided about. More explanation about the proposed concept of independence provides the â€Å"Scotland’s Future: Draft Referendum (Scotland) Bill Consultation Paper†. Independence in terms of the proposal would mean that the Scottish Parliament and Government would be responsible for all areas of legislation, including foreign affairs, defence and taxation, but the Queen would remain the head of the state. You read "The Cost of Independence" in category "Essay examples" The current political and monetary union would be replaced by a social and monarchical union. Although the monetary union would no longer exist, Scotland would keep operating within the Sterling system until it would be decided in a referendum that Euro would be accepted. Although, SNP leaders would most likely to follow the peacefull process of velvet divorce of Czechs and Slovaks, it doesn’t seem that monetary question would be the case as the issue of currency remains unclear. While the Czechs and Slovaks immediately began to create their own currency, the Scots first considered adopting the euro. In connection with lasting Eurozone crisis First Minister Alex Salmond changed his rhetorics and now claims that they would keep the pound. The SNP proposes sticking with sterling until Scots choose, by referendum, to join the euro. According to Douglas Fraser from BBC, his problem, in explaining this policy, is that remaining with sterling leaves the Treasury and Bank of England in London to set Scotland’s monetary policy, while having no influence over it. THE business of (un)certainty Until recent time, there has been almost deafening silence on whether Scotland should become an independent country from local business companies. We could argue whether the reason for the lies in potencional risk of going out on a limb, as Douglas Fraser suggest in one of his articles, or if it more simple than that and the business leaders are just too occupied with the current financial crisis. Fraser writes in his article titled Holyrood’s challenge to business: â€Å"Iain McMillan seeks to balance support of some policy with pungent criticism. On balance, he says members say the potential advantages of devolved business taxation are outweighed by the likely costs. But it is the criticism that gets McMillan noticed, and nationalist voices can increasingly be heard questioning the legitimacy of the CBI as a voice for business in Scotland. The Federation of Small Businesses, the Scottish Council Development and Industry and Scottish Chambers of Commerce are careful to sit on the fence, probably because their memberships are split on constitutional questions. It is also because the implications of the Scotland Bill, or of increased devolution of taxation powers, are so unclear. [†¦] Representing the banks, insurers and asset managers, Scottish Financial Enterprise wants to know if the tax base could be changed as well as the rate. Would there be additional complexity, and at what costs to business? How volatile would tax receipts be, and can a value be placed on the value of being part of a larger, more diverse tax base, as at present? Even asking questions, which might be seen as hostile or at least awkward, is risky territory for business. † SFE Chairman, Mark Tennant, expressed his concernes regarding independence at the end of his speech at the annual dinner in December last year: â€Å"Our approach, however, should be empirical and focused on facts and the removal of uncertainties. [†¦] Our role is to identify the questions that need to be answered and ensure that the electorate receives an answer before they vote. † Also Danny Alexander who is MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, and Chief Secretary to he Treasury shares opinion that uncertainty hurts economy and remarks that „if the Eurozone has taught us anything, it is that monetary union between fiscally independent states is an extremely difficult challenge. â€Å" He argues that Scottish Government says it would continue to operate within the sterling currency area, but doesn’t say how. His message to the Sco ttish leader „think carefully before sacrificing stability through independence. â€Å" Regarding to the timing of the referendum, David Lonsdale, assistant director of Glasgow-based CBI Scotland, said in an interview. We want it sooner rather than later. † From the comments above is obvious that umbrella organizations associating Scottish business companies such as CBI and SFE are taking the side of UK government claiming that referendum should be held as soon as possible and at the same time expressing serious concers about the benefits of country’s independence. For a long time it seemed that the individual business leaders adopted an ostrich strategy because few Scottish business leaders have spoken publicly about constitutional change. However, year 2012 brought a turnover as some one of managers decided to stir up the still waters a bit. Martin Gilbert, chief executive officer of Aberdeen Asset Management Plc, Scotland’s largest fund manager, spoke out: â€Å"Whether it is independence or not is a matter for the voters to decide. I would like to see all the figures so you can make an informed judgment. At the moment you don’t know what the true figures are. † Boyd Tunnock, representative of the Scottish maker of Caramel Wafers and Snowballs, commented in e-mail statement: â€Å"Scotland and Scottish business needs certainty and clarity. We need the independence referendum to be held as soon as is reasonable so that investors know where they stand. † To some extent the uncertainty was diminished by the Salmond’s clear statement about the referendum date. One of country’s leading businessmen Jim McColl welcomed the Scottish Government’s upcoming consultation on Scotland’s constitutional future by saying: â€Å"Many of us in business are convinced a prosperous future for this country depends on more powers for the parliament. Article Business leaders join in referendum debate published on Tuesday this week shows slighty more positive attitudes towards the constitutional change and vice versa express criticism towards the representatives of CBI, SFE and Westminster politicians: â€Å"Members of Scotland’s business community have refuted questions over the timing of an independence referendum and called for an end to scaremongering and a proper discussion on the merits of taking all decisions about Scotland within Scotland. [†¦] There is little hard evidence that the referendum or the prospect of Scottish independence is damaging the Scottish economy. Business leaders have in the main expressed either a neutral or a positive attitude towards constitutional change in Scotland. † The author of the article supports his argument by quoting some of the local business leaders: â€Å"Recently David Watt, Executive Director of the Institute of Directors in Scotland was asked by the BBC’s Huw Edwards whether he was concerned by the prospect of a Scottish referendum in autumn 2014, as opposed to the Westminster government’s preference for a vote as soon as possible. Mr Watt said that he thought that the date of the referendum made no difference. Having a timetable leading up to the second half of 2014 allowed businesses to plan. † Similar opinion has Dan Macdonald of Macdonald Estates: â€Å"The fact is the biggest decision in three centuries lies before us and we owe it to our children, and those who succeeded us to take whatever time is required to discuss the form and detail of what will be our New Scotland. In order to do that London politicians need to stop peddling scare stories and focus on a meaningful debate about Scotland’s future. On the same is also owner of The Residence Glasgow, Sarah Jane Walls who feels that there should be â€Å"less negative scaremongering and more positive debate about Scotland’s future,† continuing that she is â€Å"excited about the possibilities for Scotland as independent country. † According to the survey processed for the Business Insider that covered opinions of busine ss on Scotland’s independence, the majority of businesses (67 per cent) think independence for Scotland would not have a positive effect on their business with only five per cent saying it would be positive and 17 per cent unsure. Questionnaires were sent to companies listed in Insider’s TOP500, SME300 and SPRINT100 lists. One of the CEO with this opinion poll further commented: â€Å"Achieving Scottish independence will not, in itself, prove to be the panacea for the challenges being faced. After all, there is little or no evidence to show any change will be positive. Therefore, to help improve our economy appoint independent Scottish and international business experts to properly advise our inexperienced politicians to tackle the real, everyday issues of business rather than spend unnecessary time debating the future of Scotland without ny clear evidence to support how, and indeed why, the status quo should be changed. † The contrary opinion expressed David Watt, executive director in Scotland of the Institute of Directors, by saying that none of the institute’s 1600 members have expressed any concern as to a delay in a referendum vote. A spokesperson for UK Oil Gas said although the bo dy has no member consensus on the issue of independence, none of its members has raised the issue as a specific concern. Conclusion The aim of this essay was to deal with the issue of Scotland’s independence from the perspective of local business leaders. By analyzing especially newspapers articles that are dealing with the topic I learned that there are three possible attitudes towards Scotland becoming independent. One side represented mostly by CBI and SFE publicly claims that independence vote could harm Scottish economy. The opposite camp, which is primarily constituted of blue-chip companies, suggests the contrary. These positively thinking business leaders are denying comments that a delay on independence and the independence in general will destabilise the Scottish economy. The third group is classified by being neutral or by refusing to comment on the independence question. It is logical that CBI and SFE are speaking less in favour of independence and the later date of referendum as they have closer relations with the government in London than the individual organization do. In my opinion, even the business leaders that proclamated their support for independence cause and Salmon’s referendum timing feel at least some doubts. Also I think that a lot of the is actually tired of the independence talk and they would rather here from both UK’s and Scottish Government some warranties in the time of economic crisis and that the politicians will support their efforts to kick-start the ailing economy. From the side of the local business leaders there is understandable demand for answers on number of important question. That brings us back to the introduction of the essay where I comment that most of the issues regarding the economic situation of independent Scotland cannot be precisely predicted. However it sounds disappointing. Many options might take place and the situation depends on various factors that Scottish Government cannot influence. We don’t even know the answer to the fundamental question – whether there will be an independent Scotland. UK’s government is strictly against the eparation of the Union, neither the Scots itself are united on the matter and as stands out from the lines above, nor the Scottish businessmen. Still, the independence is surely more realistic than it was couple months ago. I believe that CBI and SFE could be potencial partner of the central government during the future negotiations over independence. They associate number of important companies and they could have certain influence on their members. On the other hand, there is a quite large number of companies, which are managed by people who decided to prove that the idiom â€Å"You can’t fight City Hall† is a false statement. My belief also is that business could influence the negotiations, however I wouldn’t say that companies could be determine the public opinion in general. Which side in end the majority of the business leaders joins will depend on numerous factors, especially on how skilfull in answering difficult questions will Scottish political representatives be. SNP with Alex Salmond in lead is trying something that no-one has ever tried before. To conclude I would say that I propably wouldn’t bet on my own prediction because predicting something in terms of the economic situation of independend Scotland is like predicting the unpredictable. References Murkens, Jo E. ; Jones, Peter; Keating, Michael. Scottish Independence: A Practical Guide. Edingburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 2002. Tom Clark. If one day it really is Scotland’s oil †¦ what will we do with it? The Herald Scotland, 29 October 2011. Available online: http://www. heraldscotland. com/news/home-news/if-one-day-it-really-is-scotlands-oil-what-will-we-do-with-it. 15567484 (accessed on 16 January 2012). Douglas Fraser. What would happen to Scotland’s economy after independence? BBC. 15 January 2012. Available online: http://www. bbc. co. uk/news/business-16548644 (accessed on 16 January 2012). Douglas Fraser. Holyrood’s challenge to business. BBC. 30 September 2011. Available online: http://www. bbc. co. uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-15122749 (accessed on 10 January 2012). Scotland’s Future: Draft Referendum (Scotland) Bill Consultation Paper. 15 February 2010. Available online: http://www. scotland. gov. uk/Publications/2010/02/22120157/0 (accessed on 10 January 2012). Danny Alexander. Uncertainty hurts economy. Scotland on How to cite The Cost of Independence, Essay examples

Operations Management for Productivity and Growth - MyAssignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theOperations Management for Productivity and Growth. Answer: Introduction Researchers refer to operations management as the art of managing the workforce, processes, and systems in a way that will lead to delivery of quality goods and services to potential customers[1].Operation management has become the modern trend for many organizations today. This has been mainly due to the success story that has been witnessed from many organizations that are practicing it. A good example is found in Asia where Japanese manufacturers have successfully incorporated the art of operation management, and this has had a positive effect on their profit margins and productivity. As a result, many organizations have come to the realization that managing operations have a direct impact on the productivity and growth of their organization. Objectives of Operations Management The objectives of operations management in any organization can be categorized into to broad categories. These are the customer service objective and resource utilization objective. An organization can utilize its operation systems to channel resources towards the satisfaction of customers needs. As results, this makes customer service a vital objective for the organization. This, in turn, will guide the organization in providing the customer with the much-needed service promptly thus achieving the primary objective[2] On the other hand, an organization can utilize its operating systems in satisfying customers demand while at the same time effectively saving on the resources at its disposal. This means the business will always operate with the aim of minimizing any loss while at the same maximizing the profit. Operations management will, therefore, focus on the utilization of the resources available[3]. Frame Work of Managing Operations in Organizations Operation managers are usually concerned with the operational functions of controlling, organizing, and planning activities which will have a direct effect on the human behavior within that organization. Planning- This is an activity that involves the establishment of a course of action and a path for future decision making within an organization. Operation managers, therefore, will be required to define objective as set by the organization top team and cascade this to the other business functions. This may include policies and procedures that will help in achieving organizations objectives. The planning stage usually entails clarifying where the business and operation will be focusing on and the input that will be required to achieve this.[4] Organizing- This refers to the activities that will establish a model of tasks that will be undertaken by the business and the authority under which they will be implemented. During this stage operations, managers come up with a defined model of roles and the flow of plans and information within the operation communication structure. Organizing simply entails determining the activities that will lead to the achievement of set goals. It also involves delegating authority and responsibility to personnel who will undertake the roles that have been assigned by the operation manager (Bradley,2008.). Controlling- This refers to the activities that monitor the performance of the undersigned roles by laid down procedures. To ensure that the plans that had been laid down by the operations manager are accomplished, control measures have to be exercised at various levels. This is done through measuring actual results and comparing them with what had been planned earlier. Some of the tenets that are usually controlled at this stage include, costs, schedules, and quality.[5] The Importance of Operations Management Firms have come to the realization that having an operation strategy will go a long way in helping them compete effectively in the ever-changing global market. A lot of responsibility lies with the operations managers as they have the sole responsibility of transforming inputs into outputs. This means they have to bring together all the core functions of the business to work together in order to achieve a common goal. While doing all this, they must exercise control over issues such as quality, costs, and inventory at all times. This means the operation manager will need to handle all issues revolving in a business entity.[6] Below are some of the reasons why operation management has become a vital function in many organizations. Business Efficiency and Effectiveness Managing operations of any business are all about making things work right and smoothly. This means managers will be required to integrate all organizational processes and resources to ensure that the products are in the right place and at the right time to achieve the set objectives. Also an organization may decide to adapt the use of innovation to achieve these many scholars have noted that innovation will only give a company a competitive advantage for a while. As a result, the success of having an efficient and productive organization lies in the strategy of managing processes within that organization. These processes include the processes of adopting and using new technology; the processes of using resources efficiently and to generate new ones and most importantly the processes of creating value from the inputs.[7] This can only be achieved through operation management. Managing operations in an organization create an opportunity for the concept of differentiation from manufacturing to distribution. For instance, Toyota Motor Corporation, a renowned global company is an example of an n organization which has adopted the concept of operation management to improve efficiency and effectiveness in its organization. The growth of Toyota Company is characterized by continuous improvement in the quality of its manufactured products. Right from its domicile company, Kiichiro there has been a lot of emphasis on operations management it all of its manufacturing plants across the globe. A pillar for Other Organizations Activities Operation management is also seen as an interconnector to all the other activities carried out by an organization. For instance, the product development team will focus on developing a product that will match the demand of the market and also has the potential to meet the needs of potential customers. The finance team will focus on the cost of development of the new product and make financial projections, forecast, and variable costs. The human resource team will be concerned with the task of hiring the right people who will have the required skills, knowledge and abilities to undertake the project that will lead to the creation of value thus achieving the set organizational objectives.[8] However for these teams to work together harmoniously, it is the operations department that is going to synchronize all these functions to work together as one. In this way, the organization will be able to make a product according to a proposed specification and timeline while at the same time operating under a fixed budget utilizing the best workforce and machinery to produce a product that has a value attached to it. Once the product is ready, the marketing team can now take the product to the intended market and thus meet the consumer need in that market segment. All these departments work towards achieving one particular goal through the help of operations team.[9] Reduces Cost ofDoing Business Researchers have noted that if a company focuses on reducing the cost of operation rather than increasing sales chances are very high that such the company will have a higher profit margin than as compared to the latter. This is true because operations cover a wide area within an organization. For instance, in any given business operation will cover marketing, finance, and human resource department. This means an organization cannot work without operations department Research has further shown that nearly half of the workers in various organizations all over the world have their jobs in the operations department. A report released by Forbes Magazine in 2011 indicated that nearly 75% of all CEOs of global companies came from an operations background. This, therefore, means that if an n organization manages the cost of operation, then it will always record a higher profit margin since operations cuts across the entire organization.[10] When a business is unable to manage its operational cost, this can be disastrous to the company, since this function is responsible for handling a big portion of the assets found in most organizations. Another major role played by the operation function is that it affects the companys ability to compete. A business with an operation that is well managed will always have a positive growth in its profit margin and thus giving the company a competitive edge against its competitors. A company with poor operational strategy will end up making losses due to a weak mechanism to retain customers thus being edged out from the market in which it operates in.[11] The techniques and concepts used in operation management can also be used in improving and managing other business functions. For instance, marketing and finance are vital departments in any business entity. Having a poor strategy in marketing will eventually affect the functions of business including operations. However, if a business decides to adopt the same operational management strategy into other business functions such as marketing and finance, chances are high that the techniques used to improve the operations will have similar effects on this other functions and hence improve operations in this area of business.[12] Conclusion Operational management is changing how businesses are being operated and managed. Irrespective of their sizes all organizations will always strive to add value to their products and deliver them in an efficient and effective way to prospective customers. In many cases, decision making usually becomes difficult for managers especially when individual roles seem to overlap. For instance, an organization may find itself in a situation whereby both the finance and operation department end up performing the same function thus having different budgets and estimates for different projects within the business. However, with the adoption of operational management, these problems can be avoided since the concept and techniques behind this process cater for such eventualities. Also, a lot of responsibility lies with the operations managers as they have the sole responsibility of transforming inputs into outputs. This means they have to bring together all the core functions of the business to work holistically to achieve a common goal. While doing all this, they must exercise control over issues such as quality, costs, and inventory at all times. References Asish Bhattacharyya, Financial Accounting for Business Managers, (Prentice Hall of India Private Limited, Connaught Circus, New Delhi.( 2007).63). Bartol Martin. Management, (McGraw Hill,(2010),54) Bradley, Thomas. Essential Mathematics for Economics and Business, (3rd Ed, John Wiley Sons, England.( .2008.),106) Bell, Holly.A Contemporary Framework for Emotions in Consumer Decision-Making: Moving Beyond Traditional Models. International Journal of Business and Social Science,( 2011) 2(17), 12-16 Brennan, Linda.The McGraw-Hill 36-Hour Course: Operations Management.(Wiley,(2010),108 Chai,Lee A Review of Marketing Mix: 4Ps or More? International Journal of Marketing Studies, Vol.(2009) 1. No. 1, pp. 2-15. Chandra, Prassana. Financial Management Theory and Practice, (Tata McGraw Hill Publishing Company Limited, New Delhi,(2007),56 ) Hayes Gary Pisanno. Operations, Strategy, and Technology:Pursuing the Competitive Edge. Wiley,(2007),45. Geoffrey, Parker Anderson, Mayes. Operations Management for Dummies Wiley.(2013),69 .Monks,Joseph .Theory and Problems of Operations Management, (Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Limited,(2004) 2nd Edition,22) Parker, Geoffrey Mayes,Anderson,. Operations Management for Dummies Wiley.(2013),69 Pannerselvam,Reig. Production and Operations Management, (Prentice-Hall of India Private Limited,(2004) 9th print. Sara, Parkin .Learning and skills for sustainable development: developing a sustainability literate society. Forum for the Future.(2004),78 Kamalian, Aris.. Moloudi, Jeiyd Survey of Relationship between Organizational Justice and Empowerment (A Case Study).European Journal of Economics, Finance and Administrative Sciences,(2010) 24, 165-1719