Home Depot Financial Analysis - 1759 Words

Overview Office Depot, Inc. (â€Å"Office Depot†), a supplier of a broad assortment of office products and business services throughout the United States and worldwide, announced on February 20, 2013 a merger agreement with OfficeMax, Inc., which will better equip them to compete in the rapidly-changing industry. In fiscal year 2012 alone, Office Depot generated $10.7 billion of revenues from its products and services, yet industry reviews of this company seem unfavorable. In this FSA Case Analysis, our team takes a careful look at Office Depot’s most recent financial statements; and, using the FSA spreadsheet, performs an internal environment analysis of its liquidity, solvency, operating efficiency and capital structure. In order to†¦show more content†¦What’s worse, the primary sources of cash flow from operations were depreciation and assets impairment instead of net income. The increase in cash flow from investing activities, also in Figure 7, indicates that although the company continued to make investments in 2012, it had cut the amount dramatically. As a result, the investments might not be able to fit its needs for sustainable development. Overall, Office Depot’s solvency condition in the past three years has not been satisfactory. Figure 7: Cash Flow by Activities (in thousands) Operating Efficiency Analysis As a measure of operating efficiency, Office Depot’s ROA was incredibly low. The ROA in 2011 was only 0.8% and went all the way down to -1.9% in 2012, as shown in Figure 8, which demonstrates that management did a poor job in generating productivity from employing the firm’s resources. Figure 8: Return on Assets Considering that the industry’s average ROA was as high as 8.3%, a negative ROA is not acceptable for most companies. Given its cost of capital was 11.78% in 2012, the ROA of -1.9% indicates that the earnings of Office Depot was not able to cover its financing cost so that its performance was far from adequate in 2012. Based on the DuPont Equation in Figure 9, ROA is the product of ROS and assets turnover, both of which have declined in 2012 for Office Depot. Its assets turnover hasShow MoreRelatedHome Depot Financial Analysis1848 Words   |  8 PagesHOME DEPOT INC. (Note: all $ amounts are stated in millions) PART 1 a) There are 3 years covered in the following primary comparative financial statements, namely fiscal years ended 1 February 2004, 2 February 2003 and 3 February 2002: †¢ Consolidated Statement of Earnings †¢ Statement of Stockholders Equity and Comprehensive Income †¢ Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows There are 2 years covered in the Consolidated Balance Sheet, namely fiscal years ended 1 February 2004 and 2Read MoreHome Depot Financial Analysis1835 Words   |  8 PagesHOME DEPOT INC. (Note: all $ amounts are stated in millions) PART 1 a) There are 3 years covered in the following primary comparative financial statements, namely fiscal years ended 1 February 2004, 2 February 2003 and 3 February 2002: †¢ Consolidated Statement of Earnings †¢ Statement of Stockholders Equity and Comprehensive Income †¢ Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows There are 2 years covered in the Consolidated Balance Sheet, namely fiscal years ended 1 February 2004 and 2 February 2003Read MoreFinancial Analysis Home Depot Essay4398 Words   |  18 PagesFinancial Analysis of Home Depot For Fiscal Year Ending February 3, 2008 Presented by: Team FAB 5 Financial Analysis of Home Depot Introduction Founded in 1978 by Arthur Banks and Bernie Marcus, who were both fired from a local hardware store after a disagreement with their supervisor (http://founderbios.com/bernie-marcus.php), Home Depot opened its first store in Atlanta, Georgia on June 22, 1979 (www.corporate.homedepot.com)Read MoreLowes vs. Home Depot Financial Comparison Analysis Essay example4332 Words   |  18 PagesHome Depot Lowe’s | Financial Comparison and Analysis | | INTRODUCTION Lowe’s (LOW) and Home Depot (HD) are competitors in the every growing market of Home Improvement. 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The Home Depot (NYSE symbol: HD) of the world giant home improvement retailer, has a complex business model that is characterized by its business philosophy, â€Å"stack it high, watch it fly† which reflected a primary focus on sales growth in consumers and construction professionals. At the same time, the company

Cross Cultural Relationship Between People And People From...

Cross Cultural Relationships Abstract This term paper focuses on different types of relationships, be it personal, professional or marital, between people from different cultural backgrounds. The objective of this paper is to list out the ways in which to have a healthy relationship between people who are so different from each other. This has a major significance in today’s world as people are beginning to accept each other on a wider basis across nations and as a result there comes a situation where you have to interact with different kinds of people. Introduction Today, in response to the pressures of globalization, there has arisen a demand for cross cultural awareness and a requirement of training for the same. In a world where countries are forming international treaties on a day to day basis and people as well are forming personal links between each other across different countries, cross cultural communication plays a vital role. As a result, a special scientific branch has been dedicated for this purpose. It is called cross cultural studies and it is the background for the following analysis on cross cultural relationships. In the following paper we will mainly be focusing on how marriages work when the bride and the groom are from different cultures, how professional relationships work between cultures and also we will be analyzing a movie which amply explains cross-cultural marriage, and lastly we will be discussing some tips which would help in maintaining aShow MoreRelatedInternational Business Communications Essay1332 Words   |  6 PagesIn the past five decades, changes and advancements in economic relationships, political systems and technological options began to break down state boundaries. Business transformed from one country activity to part of an interdependent international network. As Damen writes â€Å"One cannot live very long and remain totally monocultural in the modern world† (1990, 56). 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A large number of studies has been piloted to reveal how people from different cultural background differ in their ways, traditions and behaviors of speaking. However, while cultural diversity is oddly being embraced and highlighted by the academic community in general, a chorus of cri ticism has been directed against the theory of culture as being facing hard periods of time

Communication in Health and Social Care free essay sample

Identify nine different reasons why people communicate and give an example for each reason. 1 to express there needs, to explain to people exactly what it is that they need and why. 2. `to share ideas – people learn from each other by sharing ideas this can help resolve a problem or situation. 3. to reassure – if people do not communicate they can feel unsure, it is important to diffuse rumours by communicating effectively with people so that they are sure of a situation, this will have a positive effect on morale. It is also important to re-assure people that you are listening and understand what they are saying. 4. to express feelings – to let people know if you are, happy, sad, angry or confused. It could be that you have mixed feeling or are unsure. 5. to share experiences – a work colleague could share an experience of a similar position/case that you are in/working on. Formal interactions are very effective in one-to-ones because it is polite and medical terms are used to make it sound more professional in a serious matter. Formal communication is effective when used by staff because it is a professional way of communicating important information. Informal communications is used only in curtain circumstances not in all because it is not always polite to be informal with everyone all the time but using informal communication can lighten up the mood and make the patient feel better about the situation. Verbal and non-verbal communication is used everyday by every staff member in the hospital setting so it is vital that the staff know how to communicate correctly. Verbal communication is when you are talking to a person. You should be confident so that the person that you are speaking to is reassured that you know what you are talking about. You should also be listening to what the person says carefully because you want to make that person feel better about being in the situation they are in. Non-verbal communication covers body language, proximity, posture, hand gestures and facial expressions. You can use this effectively by using these things well in the right way. E. g. when you are talking to someone in a one-to-one you should be standing/ sitting straight and making eye contact. Jargon and slang are used in the hospital between staff and staff when communicating. Jargon is more medical terminology, so when an incident occurs then the staff can use jargon to make the staff fell more confident so they are not embarrassed. Jargon is an universal language so it can be used by everyone which is an advantage. Slang is a terminology that continues to change. It is an informal way of communicating and is used normally between staff with staff and staff with patients. Slang also covers nicknames or terms for patients they are talking about. It can be used effectively to protect the identity of the patient they are discussing over which can add humour to very stressful situations. Group Communication. Group communication can take place between staff, patients and family members. It can also take place between a group of professionals. Both formal and informal communication is used. Again, formal communication is used more often in a group conversation. Group conversations are effective because it lets more people know important information and more ideas and opinions can be shared. Informal conversation can be used to make patients feel patients feel better about the situation and can be quite humorous but if it is used in the wrong circumstance people can be offended by what is said in a jokey manner. In a group conversation verbal communication is important because it is key to make sure that each person involved knows what is being said and each person can participate. When talking in a group it is effective to speak loud and clear so that the patient and family members know what you are saying. Also, having a good posture when talking is also effective because you will then come across as positive. Non-verbal communication is just as important as verbal communication when talking in a group. Body language is effective because it lets other people know that you are positive and confident about what they do. Jargon is generally used in group communication between staff professionals because it is not a professional way to communicate to patients and family members with. It is effective when used between colleagues because it is a universal language so when staff from different countries communicate Jargon can be used to tell the other hospital what has happened. Slang is only used when staff are by their own so if staff are having a group meeting then slang is usually used. Written communication is used to communicate between staff and staff. E. g a board of notes about each patient is used to communicate in a ward without having to spent time to find each other when they could just write it down. Writing, good hand writing and reading skills are need to communicate through written communication. When written communication takes place, it needs to be clear and neat with good grammar. Signs and symbols are used everywhere in hospitals. E. g no smoking, directions etc. They are effective by communicating information to people who need it where they are. It can communicate to many people without any human communication. Also with people with different cultures and languages can all understand what the signs and symbols mean.

Working with Iraqi and Cuban Refugees as a Career Counselor

Aim of the Research The purpose of this study is to examine the impacts of the lives of Iraqi and Cuban refugees who have arrived the United States. Specifically, this paper will focus on the statistics of the refugees, their emotional standing, their living styles, problem arising due to language barriers, and the difficulties that they face in finding employment in the US.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Working with Iraqi and Cuban Refugees as a Career Counselor specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Introduction Based on Office of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, 2012 saw nearly 1948 Cuban refugees arriving in the US. Most of these individuals had escaped torture and political persecution in their mother nations. On the other hand, 12,122 Iraqi refugees managed to acquire the refugee status in the US with most of them having experienced additional stressors arising from their journey to the US coupled with the p rocedures involved in immigration (U.S. Department of Health, 2012). This increased their emotional disturbances given that they were still reeling from traumatic exposures such as war and persecution. From the studies that have been conducted, it has been identified that discrimination and intolerance are the leading obstacles that these individuals are facing as they try to adjust to the mainstream culture. Therefore, the most widespread mental symptoms for such refugees include overwhelming fears and worries, restlessness, feeling on the edge, and anger management issues (Bemak et al., 2003).  The Iraqi and Cuban refugees face various challenges while in the US. First, they have been forced to adopt a culture that is different as compared to their traditional customs and beliefs. Therefore, they strive to achieve financial success as a means of overcoming this obstacle (Robin, 2003). These refugees also strive to ensure that their children receive the best education they can af ford to ensure that they are successful in the long run, a practice that is considered as a norm within the normal American population. This makes them susceptible to depression, nervousness, and post-traumatic stress symptoms (Hardin et al., 2001). Notably, some states do not provide physical or mental health screening for these refugees. Consequently, the government and the non-governmental organizations that deal with refugee affairs do not consider their psychological problems especially in dealing with their employment issues (U.S. Department of Health, 2012). From the studies that have been conducted, the main problem that these refugees are facing is finding work especially under the current economy slowdown although they get help from resettlement centers with the assistance of the International Rescue Committee. However, as compared to the Cuban refugees, most of the Iraqi refugees are highly educated comprising doctors, architects, and translators.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Most of these individuals had been successful in life while living in Iraq. However, most of these qualifications are not recognized and even the ones that are recognized do face barriers such as deficit of local job experience in addition to lack of knowledge regarding the US work environment. Due to stereotypes arising from September 11 attacks, most employers do not want to give them jobs. To some extent, these individuals find it hard to rent apartments due to discrimination by the owners. It is only in one instance that the State Department offered a grant of $425 for every person in a single family and the refugee aid-groups do not have sufficient resources. Other difficulties they get in trying to seek employment include the inability to speak English and discrimination from employers. This discrimination does not just entail skills but type of jobs since most are given the option of seasonal or part-time jobs (Robin, 2003). Others are forced to quit due to their physical or psychological ill health. For instance, it has been reported that most refugees are forced to undertake long sessions of training to work. However, after this extensive training, only a few of them are employed and once employed, they are paid at lower rates as compared to other employees within the organization (Robin, 2003). Literature Review Numerous studies of refugees have focused on the outcome of their mounting traumas on their overall welfare, especially the children and young people. Focusing on the first group, the children, there are those who have lost one or both of their parents. Most of the Iraqi children barely escaped death in their homeland. Therefore, given that they rigorously undertake intensive English lessons as a second language (ESL) course, they continue to face serious communication issues especially in dealing with their severe depression or P TSD. Their post-migration phase is filled with numerous stressors such as acculturation, language barriers, prejudices, and thrashing of social status (Hardin et al., 2001). Secondly, the young men have identified language and lack of cultural competence and knowledge to be a key factor of their deteriorating mental health and career problems. Due to such barriers, the counselors need to apply integrative and holistic means in dealing with mental health problems faced by the children and young men, their deprived self-concept, and their advanced self-efficacy concerns.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Working with Iraqi and Cuban Refugees as a Career Counselor specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Acculturation is a factor with members of Iraqi and Cuba populations. This is evident through their own assumptions, prejudices, and preconceived notions against the western culture (Bemak, Chung, Pedersen, 2003).  Furthe rmore, their values and personal limitations make them to have a totally different understanding of cultural diversity. Therefore, it is crucial to understand their values and assumptions regarding human behavior. Both Cuban and Iraqi refugees belong to a collectivistic and group-oriented culture, particularly on their psychological orientations and focus of responsibility (Robin, 2003). Therefore, identity development models will help in understanding the target population as they assist in recognizing the most pronounced psychological stress on the refugees’ ability to choose their careers. Therefore, vocational identity theories as proposed by Robin (2003) will help in their career counseling since they entail developing assimilationist, limited assimilationist, and bicultural model applications.  The career counselors of these refugees should not desist from applying confrontational approach, since the care-frontational methods entail the counselor delicately explaining the cost of retaining their conventional attitudes and behaviors, a factor that is detrimental to their careers and work experiences. For instance, an employee can be encouraged to improve on his/her time management skills because his/her performance plays a critical role in determining his productivity as well as the performance of other employees within the organization. From a critical analysis therefore, it is evident that this model is associated with people who are coping with new cultures. Due to hostilities from the hosts, a career counselor needs to deal with the social isolation which impacts on their work performance but with the help of a culturally capable therapist (Bemak, Chung, Pedersen, 2003). Secondly, the career counselor should assist them in shaping their awareness and decision making by forming a parallel identity similar to American identity but maintaining their traditional identity outside work. The career counselors need to provide help in defining their identities particularly those relating to their work life. The first application of cultural formulations should be cultural identity. This comprises of a contemplation of the extent to which the refugees categorize with their own ethnic culture and the principal culture. Therefore as a career counselor, it is important to identify acculturation as entails helping them to change attitudes, beliefs, and norms (Bemak, Chung, Pedersen, 2003). References Bemak, F., Chung, R., Pedersen, P. B. (2003). Counseling refugees: A psychosocial approach to innovative multicultural interventions. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Hardin, E. E., Leong, F. T., Osipow, S. H. (2001). Cultural relativity in the conceptualization. Journal of Vocational Behavior , 58, 36-52. Robin, L. (2003). Building bridges to the American workforce: employment counseling with immigrants and refugees. Washington DC: U.S. Department of Education. U.S. Department of Health. (2012). Fiscal Year 2012 Refugee Arrivals. Web. This essay on Working with Iraqi and Cuban Refugees as a Career Counselor was written and submitted by user Eli Reyes to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.