Google and Microsofts Financial Management

Google and Microsofts Financial Management Business Model Core Business Google has ads, search and apps as the main core businesses, search is the main core technology of Google; ads are their essential business proposition; while apps are their umbrella over their web-based software, which can be assessed anywhere and at anytime (Google.com, 2011). Google search produces index of web pages that can be found and returns most applicable outcomes by assessing at least 200 quality aspects.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Google and Microsoft’s Financial Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The search and ads are separated in that when searching ads appear where they are applicable, the ads offer helpful information for commercial enquiry. While apps are online set of collaboration and communication tools that enable all the users’ data and applications to be stored online (Google.com, 2011). Microsoft core business on the other hand, in clude: Server and Tools, Microsoft Business Division, Windows and Windows Live Division, Entertainment and Devises Division and Online Services Division (Microsoft.com, 2011). The company’s segments offer management with complete financial outlook of the key businesses. These segments facilitate alignment of objectives and strategies across sales, development, marketing as well as services organizations, they also offer a structure for rational and timely allocation of sales, development, marketing as well as services resources in the businesses (Microsoft.com, 2011). Plant and/or services Google’s products and services include; first, search that has items like Rich Snippets, Music Search, Google Suggest, Real-Time Search, Integrated tools, video, Finance, Images, News, Book, Groups Information, and Blogs among others (Google.com, 2011). Secondly, advertising that includes Google Search, Google Display (Google-owned Sites, and DoubleClick ad Exchange), AdSense, Google Mobile, and Google Local. Finally, applications products like Google Docs, Google calendar, Gmail, Google Groups, Google Reader, Google Sites, YouTube, and Blogger among others (Google.com, 2011). On the other hand, services and products of Microsoft includes; phones, servers, intelligent devices and PC’s operating systems; server applications meant for the disseminated computing environments; solution applications for business; productivity applications; server and desktop management tools; online advertising; video games; and tools for software development (Microsoft.com, 2011).Advertising Looking for term paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Besides the firm designs and also sells hardware together with accessories for Xbox 360, hardware products for Microsoft PC, Xbox 360’s Kinect, and Xbox 360 entertainment and gaming console (Microsoft.com, 2011). The firm also offers pro duct, solution and consulting support services as well as training and certifying computer system developers and integrators. Microsoft provides cloud-based solutions, which offer clients with services, software and content via the internet through pooled computing resources situated in centralized data hubs (Microsoft.com, 2011). Management style Gates has managed Microsoft from its establishment up to now as a â€Å"software giant† through the use of rather unorthodox leadership style. The achievement of Microsoft and Google is attached to philosophy as well as practice of the servant leadership. The most popular advice is â€Å"it is all about surrounding yourself with intelligent people and getting out of the way,† as stated by Bill Gates, Microsoft’s Co-founder (Brown, 2007). It appears that Sergey Brin and Larry Page, Google founders, have also implemented this management strategy for Google, which has made it to be successful by launch new services and pr oducts as discussed above, making the Google’s stock to increase from its IPO’s price of around $85 to the most current of about $588.19 (Elmer, 2011). Microsoft is also doing well. Innovation track record Google is perceived as the biggest search engine in the world, since it offers an easy-to-use, and free services, which repeatedly returns applicable outcomes at a very high speed. But the heart of it is advertising which is highly profitable, highly successful as well as highly innovative business model for improving advertising industry. Along with an ever growing range of numerous new service and product establishments at the centre, Google’s main concentration is to utilize many of these in order to drive improved traffic to Google ever-increasing mobile, online, and soon-to-be offline, income flows from advertising. Google commands almost 32% of the market share through AdWords and AdSense in the online advertising. As a result the firm’s stock pri ces have significantly increased (Innovationleaders.net, 2010).Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Google and Microsoft’s Financial Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Given the Microsoft’s scale, size as well as its success level, it is predictable for Microsoft to draw criticism. For instance, the year 2007 was a bad year for the firm since European Commission and US Justice Department took action opposing the firm’s â€Å"monopolistic† practices as well as the media giggling about Zune, music offering, along with malfunctions in Vista whilst all together making threatening noises on the rise in unsettling rivalry from Google (Innovationleaders.net, 2010). In spite of this, Microsoft earned $51 billion as revenue and carried on with innovation, remaining among the top 10 companies investing in Research and Development internationally. Microsoft has a leading track record in th e sector in acquisition of patents, keeps continued organic growth, provides work for about 79,000 individuals in 102 nations and is currently exploiting expertise as well as transformation through acquisition (Innovationleaders.net, 2010). Financial ratio analysis The liquidity ratio as measured by current ratio shows an increase in Google’s liquidity position from the year 2008 to 2009 but in 2010 the liquidity position declined implying that the firm was using more of the current liabilities. On the other hand, Microsoft’s liquidity position improved throughout the three years (2008 to 2010) implying that the firm’s liquidity position was improving as it was using less of its current liabilities. In 2010, both firms’ liquidity positions were satisfactory since the ratio was more than one but Google was more liquid. The profitability ratio as measured by Return on Assets shows that Google’s profitability position improved in 2009 by a margin of 2 .79% to 16.10% while in 2010 the profitability declined to 14.70%. This means that in 2009, Google’s efficiency in the use of the firm’s asset to generate returns to the owners had improved but in 2010, Google was less efficient in generating returns to the providers of funds as shown by the drop in the ROA.Advertising Looking for term paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More While as measured by Return on Equity, Google’s profitability increased from 14.97% to 18.11% in 2009, thus the firm’s ability to generate returns to equity shareholders from owners’ supplied funds had increased. The increase in profitability also increased in 2010 to 18.39% thus the firm’s efficiency with which it used the shareholders’ funds to generate returns had improved. On the other hand, ROA ratio shows that Microsoft’s profitability position declined in 2009 by a margin of 5.58% to 18.71% this means that the firm’s efficiency of utilizing the owners’ assets to generate returns had declined. But in 2010, the ratio improved implying that the firm’s efficiency with which it utilized its assets to generate returns to the providers of funds had improved. Similarly, ROE indicates the same trend of decline in 2009 and an improvement in 2010. This means that there was a decline in profitability of the firm in 2009 and t he firm’s inability to generate returns to shareholders from the owners’ supplied funds and vice versa for 2010. In general, Microsoft is more profitable than Google considering that the higher the ratio the higher the profitability of the firm. The leverage ratio as measured by debt ratio indicates that Google’s gearing had increased throughout the three years. In 2008, 2009 and 2010 the firm raised 11.11%, 11.09% and 20.07% of debt from the total capital employed respectively. Google gearing level was satisfactory since the ratio in the three years was less than 50%. Its increase throughout the period was as a result of increase in liabilities. Conversely, Microsoft was highly geared in 2008 as the ratio was more than 50% but the gearing level reduced in 2009 and further in 2010. Thus, in 2009 and 2010 the firm was not highly geared and the gearing level was satisfactory in the two years since it was less than 50%. Therefore, Microsoft is more geared compared to Google, implying that Microsoft has a higher financial risk. Google’s efficiency with which it used its assets to generate sales increased in 2009 and declined in 2010 as measured by Fixed Asset Turnover ratio. This implies that in 2008, 2009 and 2010 the firm generated $1.88, $2.09 and $1.80 of sales from every dollar invested in fixed asset. Conversely, Microsoft utilization of the assets to generate sales remained constant in 2008 and 2009 at $2.04 of sales for every dollar invested in fixed asset but in 2010 it increased to $2.05, indicating an improvement in efficiency with which the firm was converting assets into sales. Thus, based on the higher the ratio the more efficient the firm is this means that Microsoft is more efficient in managing its assets than Google. The evaluation ratio as measured by Dividend Payout ratio indicates that Google does not pay dividend this may be due to the reason that it is in the growth stage in its Life Cycle and it needs more cash t o finance growth particularly in innovation. While as measured by Price/Earnings ratio, Google’s investors in 2008, 2009 and 2010 would take 22.86, 30.07 and 22.25 years to recoup their initial investment in shares from the earnings generated by that investment in Google. Conversely, Microsoft paid 23.16%, 31.90% and 24.41% of the earnings attributable to equity shareholders inform of dividends in 2008, 2009 and 2010 and retained 76.84%, 68.1% and 75.59% respectively. P/E ratio indicates that Microsoft’s investors in 2008, 2009 and 2010 will take 9.54, 17.85 and 12.77 years respectively, to recoup back their initial investment in the Microsoft’s shares from the firm’s earnings. In general, Microsoft will withstand a major recession considering that interests are reduced at this time by the government, thus the firm will benefit from the use of more debt and its profitability and efficiency of managing assets will strengthen it during recession than Google . Profitability As discussed above Microsoft is more profitable than Google, this means that Microsoft’s management is more effective in generating returns from the assets employed as well as from the owners’ supplied funds. This means that it is able to meet its short term obligations and shareholders will obtain reasonable returns on their investments in form of dividends as well as capital gains. On the other hand, Google is less profitable than Microsoft but it is able to meet its short term obligations; however, Google’s shareholders will not obtain reasonable returns on their investments in form of dividends, since Google is in its growth stage and its share price is very high with high volatility implying that the investors can benefit from the capital gains. Therefore, this information can influence investors’ decisions in that those investors seeking long-term investments in order to earn dividends will go for Microsoft while those who are specul ators and are not interested in dividends will go for Google in order to benefit from capital gains as a result of taking advantage of arbitrage pricing. Financial-based guidelines To select which of the two firms to invest in the investor should carry out a fundamental and technical analysis. Fundamental analysis considers factors like foreign and domestic economic and political events, government policies, weather and change of trade prospects as well as company’s financial statements. While technical analysis considers the share price movement and utilizes this data to forecast price movements in the future. Investor should also consider own financial objectives, these objectives describe the investor’s expected returns and investment timeline (long-term or short-term). Finally, investor should consider risk-reward tolerance by determining their risk level and whether to diversify the risk by investing in both firms (Maxinvest.com, 2010). References Brown, K. (2007) . Servant Leadership- A new model for the 21st century. Retrieved from http://leadershipgurus.net/modl_servantleadership02.html Elmer, V. (2011). What would Larry Page do? Leadership lessons from Google’s doyen. Retrieved from http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2011/04/18/what- would-larry-page-do-leadership-lessons-from-google%E2%80%99s-doyen/ Google.com. (2011). Business overview. Retrieved from google.com/about/corporate/company/business.html Innovationleaders.net. (2010). Innovation leaders. Retrieved from innovationleaders.net/google_company_profile.html Maxinvest.com. (2010). How do I choose a company to invest in? Retrieved from maxinvest.com/article_text.php?topic=choose Microsoft.com. (2011). Company information. Retrieved from microsoft.com/about/companyinformation/en/us/default.aspx Appendix Google Inc. Microsoft Corporation 2010 2009 2008 2010 2009 2008 Liquidity measurement ratio Current ratio Current assets/ current liabilities 4.16 10.62 8.77 2 .13 1.82 1.45 Profitability indicator ratios Return on Assets (ROA) Net profit after tax/ Total Assets 14.70% 16.10% 13.31% 21.79% 18.71% 24.29% Return on Equity (ROE) Net profit after tax/ Shareholders equity 18.39% 18.11% 14.97% 40.63% 36.83% 48.73% Debt ratio debt ratio Total liabilities/ total assets 20.07% 11.09% 11.11% 46.38% 49.21% 50.15% Operating performance ratio Fixed asset turnover ratio Sales/ Net fixed assets 1.80 2.09 1.88 2.05 2.04 2.04 Cash flow indicator ratio Dividend payout ratio Dividend per share/Earnings per share 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 24.41% 31.90% 23.16% Investment valuation ratio Price/Earnings ratio Market price per share of common stock/ earnings per share 22.25 30.07 22.86 12.77 17.85 9.54

The Definition of a Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (ULEV)

The Definition of a Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (ULEV) ULEV is an acronym for Ultra Low Emission Vehicle. ULEVs release emissions that are 50 percent cleaner than the current average years models. ULEVs take the LEV, Low Emission Vehicle, standard a step further but dont yet qualify for Super-Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (SULEV)  status. Although already a concept in car manufacturers wheelhouse, the rise in popularity of ULEV vehicles came after a ruling by the California courts in 2004 that all new cars sold in the state must have at least a LEV rating. Similar measures passed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on vehicle emissions regulations have also given rise to the popularity of eco-friendly vehicles.   Origins of Low Emissions As a result of the EPAs 1990 amendments to the Clean Air Act of 1970, light-duty vehicle manufacturing began to undergo a phased implementation of cleaner emissions standards. Typically restricting the output of too much carbon monoxide, non-methane organic gasses, oxides of nitrogen, formaldehyde, and particulate matter, these regulations sought to downsize the carbon footprint of the automobile industry in the United States. The phases of this plan rolled out Tier 1 classifications from 1994 through 1999 with Tier 2 implemented from 2004 to 2009.   As part of Californias 2004 low-emissions vehicle initiative, which provided much stricter regulations for qualifying as a low-emission vehicle, the tiers were further broken down into six sub-classifications: Transitional Low-Emissions Vehicles (TLEV), LEV, ULEV, SULEV, Partial-Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV) and Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV). In 2009, President Barack Obama announced a new initiative to further decrease emissions outputs for American auto consumers. This included expanding the classifications definitions as well as standardizing Californias 2004 bill as a federally mandated program, requiring manufacturers to produce a net emissions output of their vehicles (meaning the combined average of each vehicles emissions rating) that equaled  more than 35.5 miles per gallon. Common Examples The number of ULEVs on the road has exponentially increased annually since 1994, though it wasnt until the 2010s that the market for LEVs really took off. Still, decades of experience have taught car manufacturers one thing: eco sells. More and more, companies are rushing to meet requirements for their vehicles to qualify as LEVs.   Examples of these Ultra-Low Emissions Vehicles have begun cropping up more and more frequently starting with 2007s Honda Odyssey minivan, the 2007  Chevrolet  Malibu Maxx and the 2007  Hyundai Accent. Prices are typically midrange for these mid-range low-emissions autos, encouraging more consumers to be eco-conscious with their driving habits.   Fortunately, the advent of such fuel economy measuring tools as the instant fuel economy display  also helps further combat fuel waste by alerting drivers to the real-time miles per gallon fuel consumption their car requires to operate given the drivers handling of the vehicle. Most cars produced in the United States now qualify at the very least as LEVs, with emissions across the board now down to less than one percent of emissions allowed in the U.S. in the 1960s.   Soon, hopefully, we will move further away from gasoline-reliant vehicles and instead switch to electric or hydro-powered engines.

MCDONALD Last Name Meaning and Origin

MCDONALD Last Name Meaning and Origin McDonald is a common Scottish patronymic surname meaning son of Donald, a given name meaning world ruler, from the Gaelic Mac Dhamhnuill. McDonald is probably the most famous of the Scottish clan surnames. In Scotland the McDonald surname derived most often from Scottish settlers who arrived in to the Province of Ulster in the seventeenth century. It may also be an anglicization of MacDomhnall, although the McDonnell or ODonnell spelling is more often seen in that instance. Surname Origin:  Scottish Alternate Surname Spellings: MACDONALD, MCDONNELL, MACDONELL, MCDONNALD Where in the World Is the MCDONALD Surname Found? According to WorldNames public profiler, the McDonald surname is most common in Australia, followed by Ireland and New Zealand. The surname distribution maps at Forebears puts the greatest density of people with the McDonald surname in Grenada, followed by Jamaica, Scotland, the Bahamas, and Australia. In 1881 Scotland, the McDonald surname was most common in Inverness-shire. In 1901, it was the 11th most common surname in County Carlow, Ireland. Famous People with the Surname MCDONALD: Michael McDonald -  American singer and songwriterFreda Josephine McDonald - American entertainer and dancer, best known by her married name Josephine BakerRamsay MacDonald -  first Labor Party prime minister of Great BritainFlora MacDonald -  Jacobite patriot who protected Bonnie Prince Charlie after the Battle of CullodenJohn A. MacDonald - first Prime Minister of Canada ​Genealogy Resources for the Surname MCDONALD Clan Donald USAA nationwide organization of nearly 4,000 families who trace their ancestry to any of the branches of Clann Domhnaill.   McDonald Family Genealogy ForumSearch this popular genealogy forum for the McDonald surname to find others who might be researching your ancestors, or post your own McDonald surname query. McDonald Family DNA ProjectThis Y-DNA project includes nearly 2,000 MacDonalds (including variant spellings such as MacDaniel and MacDanold) interested in using DNA and genealogy research to trace their ancestry in Scotland or Ireland. FamilySearch - MCDONALD GenealogyExplore over 8.2 million results, including digitized records, database entries, and online family trees for the McDonald surname and its variations on the FREE FamilySearch website, courtesy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. MCDONALD Surname Family Mailing ListsRootsWeb hosts several free mailing lists for researchers of the McDonald surname. DistantCousin.com - MCDONALD Genealogy Family HistoryFree databases and genealogy links for the last name McDonald. The McDonald Genealogy and Family Tree PageBrowse genealogy records and links to genealogical and historical records for individuals with the McDonald surname from the website of Genealogy Today. Looking for the meaning of a given name? Check out First Name Meanings Cant find your last name listed? Suggest a surname to be added to the Glossary of Surname Meanings Origins. - References: Surname Meanings Origins Cottle, Basil. Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore: Penguin Books, 1967. Hanks, Patrick and Flavia Hodges. A Dictionary of Surnames. New York: Oxford University Press, 1989. Hanks, Patrick. Dictionary of American Family Names. New York:  Oxford University Press, 2003. MacLysaght, Edward.  Surnames of Ireland. Dublin: Irish Academic Press, 1989. Smith, Elsdon C. American Surnames. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997.

Distribution ManagementDesign A Facility Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Distribution ManagementDesign A Facility - Essay Example The four major factors of production are capital, land, entrepreneurship and men. Land includes the building and premises within which the men operate and the capital is spread out apart from the fact that this is where entrepreneurship is put to its true test. Therefore, it is important that the distribution of resources within this space should be designed in such a way that the efforts of the other factors of production are put to optimum use. With a tagline of "Made for Ideas", LaCie has come to demonstrate a range of innovative ideas that are the key to its success. LaCie's success is that we run a very competitive organization. In the coordination of our various departments, we have come up with a structure that is an epitome of results and wide ranging customer satisfaction. Our financial team and IT department keep our information accurate and updated. Our procurement team can move products much faster than anyone else. This "finance IS logistics" organizational method gives us a chance to sell hot products at the lowest cost without compromising on quality or service. Thus, our base is strong and unique in its functioning. We have showed adherence to various short term and long term commitments in our planning process whether it has to do with our facilities or profit margins. Moving to a new facility is a long-term commitment and it had just one chance to get it right. LaCie new warehouse area is 17,046 sq. ft. The warehouse layout is mainly following the one-story warehouse model for design. Apart from this feature, the basic parts of warehouse are: Dock Area, Receiving Area, Reserve Area, Replacement Area, Assembly and packaging area, Delivery Zone and Office. Besides of the layout design of the warehouse, the warehouse is adopted the selective pallet storage rack system. It consists of uprights frames and pairs of load beams for each shelf elevation. Selective pallet storage system is the most common of all storage systems for palletized goods. Also, it is the simplest system in term of equipment and lowest in cost. Another important feature is the order picking process. It is the removal of mater ial from storage to fulfill customer orders. It is a critical customer service tool, which, if well done, will enhance the company's customer service level and, if badly executed, will have the opposite effect. The accuracy and efficiency of the order picking is a warehouse responsibility, which requires careful planning and control. Also, the other consideration is the choice of the material handling system. It is mainly depending on storage volume and usage pattern. On the LaCie warehouse, the product throughput is low, so it seems difficult to justify the cost of automation. Finally, today warehouse would operate much less efficiently. Information technology EDI and radio frequency systems have created advantages in warehousing, including improved customer service, lower costs, and improved operations. These advantages come

Cyprus bank crisis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Cyprus bank crisis - Essay Example In 2002, the late mortgage payments recorded the highest value in the recent history of Europe. The first sign of a financial crisis appeared in the EU zone alarmed the policy makers and called for an urgent European crisis management framework. Nevertheless even by the end of year 2009 formulating of such an effective crisis management framework had been inadequately progressed. The currently unfolding banking crisis in Cyprus can be considered as the latest stage of EU zone banking crisis. Fragility of the Cypriot Banking System: Situation before the Bailout The following chapter presents existing literature regarding the problems of banking system in Cyprus. Gunsel, 2007, defined bank failure as â€Å"a situation in which banks were closed because of financial difficulties.† Accordingly during the period of 1999-2002 the rate of banking failure in North Cyprus had been as high as 32.4 percentage proportion of the total banks in the country. The number of total banks in North Cyprus declined from 37 in 1999 to 25 towards end of 2002. Example: the Cyprus Credit Bank Ltd., Cyprus Liberal Bank Ltd., Everest Bank Ltd., Kibris Yurtbank Ltd. and Cyprus Finance Bank Ltd., were closed due to bankruptcy in 2001. Moreover, the Cyprus Commercial Bank Ltd., Yasa Bank Ltd., Tilmo Bank Ltd., Asia Bank Ltd., and Cyprus Industrial Bank Ltd. were taken over by the Saving Deposit Insurance Fund (SDIF) of the country during the same time period. Estimated cost of banking failure in year 2000, amounted approximately 200 trillion TL, (almost 50 percen tage proportion of the national GNP of previous year) in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Banking sector comprised of 6.3 percentage proportion (568.4 million TL, in 1977 prices) of the country’s GDP in 1999. It steadily declined reaching 4.8 percentage proportion (416.1 million TL, in 1977 prices) by 2002. The global economic crisis is recognized as the leading cause of this deteriorating. In 1999 the banking sector provided employments to approximately 3.5 percentage proportion of the total working population in Northern Cyprus. Contribution of the financial for providing employments to the Cypriot economy severely dropped after closing of the banks. In 2002 only 2.6 percentage proportion of the country’s employments were provided by the financial institutions. Further, the other sectors in the economy showed slight recovery from the economic crisis towards the end of year 2002 however, financial sector remained unrecovered. The failure of the system was evid ent in the revoking of banks from operation and taking over by other banks (Safakli, 2003). Failure of the Banking System: Root Causes Gunsel, 2007, revealed that inadequate capital, poor asset quality, high interest expenses, low profitability, low liquidity and small asset size are significant variables that determine the likelihood of bank failure in North Cyprus. Black, 1995, revealed that poor risk analysis by the banks especially during the expansion phase of the business cycle can trigger banking crises. Inefficient internal credit control systems may fail to monitor the amount and quality of bank loans. Hoenig, 1999, revealed that connected lending or lending to the companies or development projects connected with the bank owners or managers despite their limited profitability as a major cause of bankruptcy in the region. Banks which lack capital assets are more susceptible to the shock of an economic downturn. According to the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) a mini mum of 8 percentage proportion capital to risk weighted assets ratio is required for all international banks. High leverage can affect

Interpersonal Conflict Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Interpersonal Conflict - Essay Example The problem was that there were misunderstandings and miscommunications because she made a conclusion on her initial observations and she did not even give us time to explain our side. I was already trying to say something but she kept on going about how wrong our actions were and we were not supposed to be listening to other people's conversation. I was quiet but inside I was bursting to tell her about how wrong she was regarding her assumption and that she, too, were listening to other people's conversation. After our talk—or rather, after my friend and I listened and she said things—I felt annoyed with her because it was useless having that talk if she was the only one talking. She was being sensitive and insensitive at the same time. Also, she was not understanding the situation because she was just letting her emotions mix up with her logic. She was not being rational. Â  I think in her perspective she was seeing that we were obviously listening to her and that we were laughing at her. Also, since she heard only bits of the conversation, maybe she started sowing what data she had and then made a conclusion that were laughing at her because she was wrong. At the same time, I think she felt that maybe she needed to have a strong personality while she was talking to us so that we will not think that she was just some person we can laugh at. I think she thinks that she was telling us the right things and that we were very sorry that was why we were quiet.... Also, since she heard only bits of the conversation, maybe she started sowing what data she had and then made a conclusion that were laughing at her because she was wrong. At the same time, I think she felt that maybe she needed to have a strong personality while she was talking to us so that we will not think that she was just some person we can laugh at. I guess for her, the problem was that we were judgmental and disrespectful. I think the misunderstanding was caused by our youth and our inability to know when to make side comments and when not to. During the time that we were trying to settle the situation, since my friend and I were quiet, I think she thinks that she was telling us the right things and that we were very sorry that was why we were quiet. Personally, by comparing the two perspectives, I noticed that the issue was very simple to control and that it was easily fixed if we were able to do some things—both on my side and the girl's. Things like, if only my frie nd and I kept our voice down it would not have happened or if we just did not mind her it would not have started. At the same time, my friend and I should have been more assertive instead of just being quiet. On the other hand, she should have been more sensitive to let us explain our side. In other words, both parties had a fault, we were just too stubborn and too blinded by our own feelings to rationalize the situation and deal with it as smartly and as calmly as we could. Now that I am fully aware of the perspectives from both sides, I think if I were to remake that situation when we were trying to resolve the conflict it would sound like this: Me: Hey, you think we should talk to her? Friend: Yeah, I think we

What are the Causes and Effects of Depression Essay

What are the Causes and Effects of Depression - Essay Example Being underdiagnosed, it can become a serious condition, which can make a person suffer greatly and even lead to suicide. There is no simple explanation to what causes depression. Health specialists define several major factors that can lead to the development of depression in a person. The first one of them is biological factors, which include genetic factors, brain chemicals, and hormones. The studies on the illness suggest that this mental disorder may be inherited with genes as far as depression often runs in families. A person can inherit an increased vulnerability to depression or the disorder itself; many people with increased vulnerability may never suffer it. Depression can be also caused by a decreased level of neurotransmitters (chemical substances in the brain), which causes improper communication between the brain cells and results in sleep disturbances, loss of appetite or sexual desire etc. The body’s balance of hormones may also play a role in the development of depression in a person (Centre for Clinical Interventions). In addition to this, there are psychological factors that can cause depression. The first one is a personality type. The recent researches have shown that some people are more vulnerable to depression than others in case they have particular character traits, such as self-criticism, low self-esteem, high interpersonal sensitivity, high levels of anxiety, perfectionism etc. Stressful life events, for instance, childhood trauma, loss or death of a relative or a loved one, financial problems, difficulties in families, physical illness, alcoholism and drug abuse etc., can also contribute to the development of depression (Black Dog Institute). Clinical depression, especially being untreated, can have a negative effect on a person’s health. Depression causes changes in sleep. In particular, people with depression report having problems with falling asleep and /or waking in the middle of the night;