Service Corporation International

History, Development and Growth of the company Service Corporation International began its operations in 1962. Robert L. Waltrip formed the corporation. At first, it began its operation in Houston (USA). It was set up to offer funeral services, crematoria and cemetery facilities. Service Corporation International has expanded from Houston to North America. It offers funeral services and cemetery facilities mainly in United States and Canada.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Service Corporation International specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Company has set up over three thousand funeral service locations, over five hundred cemeteries and around two hundred crematoria. In addition, it began to offer insurance services in five continents (SCI, 2011). To improve its operations, the company conducts multiple business activities. These activities include branding of services and acquisition of other similar com panies to gain competitive advantage. For instance, Service Corporation International has brought together all its products under one brand name ‘Dignity Memorial’. This was meant to increase service delivery to customers as well as boost its recognition. Service International Corporation has managed to expand steadily due to acquisition of additional funeral homes. The original names of the acquired firms as well as the existing management are retained after the acquisition. The company only ensures that their logo is used to identify all the property it owns. This has enabled it to expand secretly without the notice of its competitors. It has achieved reputation in the market since it is one of the most successful organizations. In this regard, it is rated to be one of the highly equipped providers of funeral and cemetery services. As a result, its market position in the minds of consumer has enabled it to conquer a large proportion of the market. In addition, the lev els of returns have made it diversify in the market. This process has yielded more loyalty from consumers and led it to be listed in the New York Security Exchange. Internal Strengths And Weaknesses Strengths Having examined the company’s development history, it is evident that it has survived all challenges to get to its present position. It is also clear that this company has a good profile that can be analyzed to foretell its future (Mooradian et. Al., 2012). Service Corporation International has numerous internal strengths that include:Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The company has a good work force- The Company has a good management system. It has been able to sustain the company through difficult times. For instance in the year 2000, the economic conditions were not favorable, which affected all businesses across the globe. Therefore, the management had t o cut down costs by closing down some of its subsidiaries. During this period, they realized that more than seventy percent of the company profits were from United States and Canada. The company has invested in real and financial assets- Service Corporation International owns numerous assets, which are famous. For instance, it owns the largest cemetery in the world that measures 2500 acres. It also owns Joseph Gawler’s Sons Funeral home in Washington D.C. This funeral home is preferred by famous personalities. These facilities are renown to offer the best services that meets clients’ needs. The company has distinctive brands- The Corporation has good brands, which enable customers to identify its property, products and services. These brands are unique and attractive compared to those of its rivals. As a result, its products and services are popular worldwide. Some of the brands of Service Corporation International includes: Dignity Memorial-This brand was found in 19 99, and operates in 41 states in the United States and 7 provinces in Canada Dignity planning- This brand is utilized in North America Advantage-The brand was designed to provide basic funeral services. Weaknesses Even though this company has portrayed significant strengths, weaknesses can also be raised out of its analysis. This can be given with the help of the controversies and scandals that have been raised against the company. The following issues have challenged the competitiveness of the corporation. In the late 1990’s, it was accused of failing to observe the law. The case was ruled in their favor because its founder was a friend to George W. Bush, the governor of Texas at that moment. The state frustrated the investigations of the matter. The governor and other leaders instructed the investigation to be abandoned. However, some individuals resisted. Consequently, they lost their jobs and were not given benefits as stated in the law.Advertising We will write a c ustom case study sample on Service Corporation International specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Service Corporation International has been accused of inappropriately delivering its services. In 2010, it was accused of having failed to inform the family of a woman that they had buried their member in a wrong grave. In addition, they later exhumed and buried the body correctly without notifying the family. The company also worsened the issue by failing to obtain a legal permit from the state before performing the exercise. A fine accompanied this activity on the company as well as punishments of the staff who were involved in the process. To ensure that the public notice the action, it published the whole issue in the company’s website. This mistake could have terminated its business. As a result, it established means of adhering to the law, and being careful in discharging duties. External Environment Service Corporation Internati onal is in an environment exposed to stiff competition. In this case, multiple corporations offer similar products and services. Forces such as the number of competitors, operational size, market share, profitability, and pricing strategies influence the corporation’s competitiveness (Johri, 2010). Porter’s five forces model can be used to illustrate the external environment forces. The model addresses the forces by analyzing the influence of suppliers, negotiation power of consumers, chances of new competitors entering the industry, degree of rivalry and threats of substitutes. Risk of New Entrants in the Industry A potential entrant refers to a firm that is not currently competing in the funeral and cemetery industry, but poses a threat if given a chance. This is because the penetration of newcomers causes competition for customers in the industry. Service Corporation International has minimized the degree of new companies entering the company through its strong capi tal base. At the same time, operating on low costs restricts new entrants. The marketing team of the corporation has promoted consumers’ loyalty. This process has been achieved through effective modes of product promotion in the industry. As a result, Service Incorporation International is controlling a larger market share. Suppliers’ Bargaining Power This relates to business entities that supply inputs to the corporation. Their negotiation power poses a threat to the corporation by interfering with prices of inputs such as raw materials and other input services. Consequently, suppliers may influence the operating costs. This threat caused by suppliers will lead to propagation of expenses costs to consumers.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The cost managers of Service Corporation International take care of the welfare of its suppliers. Some of the approaches adopted include lucrative prices for consistency, rewards and bonus for supplies. Such business entities are regarded as a threat, and the corporation handles their matters appropriately. Threat of Substitutes The presence of substitutes with the ability to satisfy customers’ needs other than Service Corporation International’s products creates a threat. The corporation has learnt that reasonable prices should be charged for their services. In addition, the prices should fluctuate depending on the market conditions. When the number of companies that offer substitute services is small, the corporation benefits by charging optimum prices for its services. Furthermore, Service Corporation International differentiates its services through a variety of factors. Some of the factors used include geographical locations, demographic factors and attitudinal pr eference. In such a way, the customers have developed a positive mentality towards the corporation as the best choice. Buyers’ Powers The negotiation power of buyers refers to potential effects that consumers have on the prices of a company’s products or services. In this regard, strong consumers can affect the profitability of a company. To survive in the industry, Service Corporation International ensures that its services are of high quality standards. Through provision of reasonable priced services, it attracts consumers. At the same time, market segmentation has reduced the severe influence of consumers in their profitability. Therefore, the corporation continues to expand steadily without any challenge from consumers. Degree of Rivalry Rivalry illustrates the nature of competition for customers and inputs by firms in the same industry. Intense rivalry among well-established companies influences the profitability standards. Some of the factors that cause such a ph enomenon include demand conditions, growth rates and presence of a large customer base. In this regard, Service Corporation International negotiates with other firms in the same industry to establish a market structure for funeral and cemetery services. This initiative has reduced the fluctuations of profits in the corporations. Similarly, other corporations influence on Service Corporations International has significantly declined. The Value Chain Service Corporation International has survived in the market full of competitors. This company has a good system of service delivery. It can be well-explained using Porter’s concept of value chain. Porter has categorized value chain components into two groups: primary activities and support activities. Primary activities are activities done during provision of services by a company. This ensures that consumers are offered with the services. The corporation has carefully developed a strong value chain to gain competitiveness. It is crucial for a company’s survival in a competitive market. In this regard, the corporation has acquired multiple funeral homes that offer varied funeral services for the consumers. This is based on the social, cultural, religious and geographical differences. Some of these activities include upstream logistics, operations, downstream logistics, marketing sales and services. The realignment of these processes ensures that the corporation achieves the targeted objective of competitiveness. This will lead to a greater market share in the industry (Hersey Blanchard, 2002). Similarly, the corporation has a good system of conducting its operations. The other type of porter’s chain of activities called support activities illustrates this approach. Some vital issues that are considered include firm infrastructure, human resource management, technological development and procurement. The firm has a good organization structure with distinct chain of command. The roles of every e mployee have been clearly stated in their corporate governance guidelines. A board of directors that meet the qualifications of the company manages the company. Human resource management has carefully planned the corporation to ensure that workforce attains its set targets. The guiding core values of the department include dedication, excellence, integrity, accountability, innovation and respect. Technological development is also a crucial element of the corporation. Since technology is dynamic, the corporation incorporates new changes to ensure survival in the industry. Lastly, Service Corporation International has a sound procurement department that plans for acquisition of facilities and inputs. All these plans and approaches have enabled the corporation to remain in the peak of the industry (Heizer Render, 2004). The corporation is at the maturity stage of the business life cycle. The progress from this stage will lead to the post-maturity stage. Under this stage, the corporati on can experience three likelihoods. These likelihoods include renewal, steady or decline states. The appropriate state for the company to be is the renewal state. Through adoption of appropriate strategies, the company can renew its services and products to enhance its profitability. As a result, its influence in the market will continue to be felt. SWOT Analysis The SWOT analysis model describes strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and treats that a firm experience in the industry. Through the analysis of these factors, a company can be able to forecast future trends of the market. As a result, it can appropriately create strategies for dealing with any expected eventuality. Service Corporation International has the following strengths in marketing the funeral and cemetery industry: The services offered by the corporation are appealing and contending. These attributes have created preference and taste among consumers. Based on this fact, consumers have developed loyalty for the co rporation’s services in the industry. Since Service Corporation International has directed resources to provision of distinctive and innovative services, it has attracted a larger section of consumers. As a result, the volume of sales has steadily increased. Service Corporation International has been able to expand due to its flexibility in adopting new technology. The company has a good research and development team that handles financial and operational matters. The corporation has experience in the industry, which allows it adjust its services over other corporations in the industry. The company has seven brands that identify its services. This enhances marketing as customers easily recognize the services. Branding also differentiates the company’s products from those of other companies. Consequently, it assists in reduction of confusion among different companies’ services. Service Corporation International’s services are affordable to consumers as com pared to its rivals. Thus, the company can add any profit margin on the costs and still be a cost leader in the funeral and cemetery industry. Through this initiative, the expected profits are always high. As a result, the corporation can undertakes diversified investment projects in the same industry to attract more consumers.. Regardless of the above strengths, there are weaknesses within Service Corporation International. These weaknesses include: The previous records of the corporation affect its image among consumers. When the corporation messed up with the body of one of the families, fears began to develop. Furthermore, the favor given by the local government during the presentation of the verdict irritates most consumers. This occurs from the fear of such incidence reoccurring. Inappropriate advertising has affected the corporation market size. Based on its success history in the past, the corporation does not undertake rigorous promotions. The outcome of this incident has l ed to reduction in consumer base. Similarly, the marketing strategies do not cover substantially its various services. The management structure of the corporation does not cover effectively all the subsidiaries in the region. With the multiple subsidiaries, the corporation cannot effectively monitor their operations. In addition, the subsidiaries operate as different entities resulting in variation in service provision. Consequently, consumers are likely to go for those funeral and cemetery services from rivals with precise service specifications. The corporation’s human resource department is full of challenges. Since the department is located in each of the subsidiaries, they are operations are different. As a result, the large number of workforce cannot be easily monitored. This has led to inefficiencies in service delivery. To counter the above mention weaknesses Service Corporation International has viable opportunities in the funeral and cemetery industry. In addition, the opportunities boost the strengths of the corporation (Hamel, 2007). The following are the possible opportunities: The corporation has a substantial amount of base. In this case, it can invest in any type of investment with few limitations. In addition, their performance in the New York Security Exchange enables it to lure customers into their undertakings. This is because it is a sense of financial stability. The growing number of the population implies there is shortage of land to conduct funeral and cemetery services. In this regard, people will resort to commercial cemetery services and crematoria services. Such change of events would be in favor of Service Corporation International. If the company ventures into provision the services at affordable prices, it is likely to win over the market in the funeral and cemetery industry. Most of the services offered by the funeral and cemetery organizations are designed for the rich. If the corporation designs an initiative that favor s provision of services among the poor, the company would increase its customer base. This market would contribute small profits initially but will grow to offer the company substantial profits. In any business environment, all corporations are exposed to threats that may terminate their operations. Service Corporation International is likely to face the following threats in the funeral and cemetery industry: Provision of funeral and cemetery by giant manufacturers- Some providers of similar services as Service Corporation International may dictate the market directions through provision of products and services at relatively lower prices. Shortage of inputs and resources- During times of intense funeral and cemetery provision, Service Corporation International may not have adequate materials to inputs to provide the essential services. In addition, the corporation may experience a shortage of employees to provide similar. This will be caused by labor turnover, retirements or death in service. Consequently, it will expose the corporation to a risk of financial and customers’ loss. Low standards of services- Since Service Corporation International management are responsible for delegating their responsibilities to junior staff. The staff may not comply with the policies and procedures of the corporation. As a result, the company will taint its image in the eyes of the public. This will be a similar experience as it happened in the past. The above strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and treats reveal the nature of the corporation in the industry. Through integration of these elements, the organization will improve its competitiveness. If the corporation minimizes its weaknesses, it will play a great role in boosting its strengths. As a result, the profitability of the company would be high. This will go in line with maximization of stakeholder’s wealth (Graham Bennett, 1998). In a different dimension, the company has to exploit its opportunities at the current moment before they are obsolete. These opportunities are lucrative but seasonal. Based on these facts, the corporation can utilize its strengths to maximize on the available opportunities. The other aspects of threats should be dealt with appropriately. The corporation has to develop risk management strategies that will protect the company in case of any eventuality. Moreover, the corporation has to counter its competitors to survive in the industry. This could be through adjustment of business strategies or change of functional strategies. The Corporate Level Strategy Service Corporation International has a sound corporate management. It has developed its own corporate governance policy that governs its operations. Its corporate policy is as follows: ‘Service Corporation International (SCI) is committed to developing effective, transparent and accountable corporate governance practices’. The corporate governance philosophy adopts practices that are not o nly compliant with New York Stock Exchange (NYSC) and other legislative requirements. In addition, they have a board that constructively and actively engaged in corporate oversight. As a result, the corporation ensures that its services are genuine and effective amongst all its stakeholders. The company operates different lines of business, which includes provision of funeral services, cemetery facilities and crematoria services. The company offers these services in the name of the following brands. Dignity Memorial Brand It was the first national brand that was developed in 1999 to offer funeral, cemetery and crematoria services in North America. They assist in preparation of memorial services for consumers wishing to remember their loved ones. National Cremation Society It was formed in 1973 to offer cremation services. It is the oldest and the largest cremation service provider in North America. This facility provides the highest quality of service in the region. Advantage Servic e Corporation International aims at providing its services to all classes of people in the society. Advantage funeral homes were formed to gather for the needs of the poor. These consumers wish for simple forms of funeral services. Funeraria Del Angel Funeraria del angel is a brand that was formed to gather for the Hispanic group of people. This is because their death service requirement is different. As a result, their population is significant to demand an investment in providing such services to them. This service is also one of the projects initiated to cater for the cultural differences. Making Everlasting Memories Service Corporation International developed a brand that allows people to share memories of their loved ones. The company prepares biographies and other items that friends and relatives. These memories are shared amongst the families from one generation to the next. Memorial Plan In the process of providing services to all classes of people, the funeral services of h onorary people are addressed. A memorial plan has been formed to provide funeral services to those who wish to have prestigious funeral services. It is a new brand, which offers services in southern Florida. The Neptune Society The Neptune society is also called the ‘Trident society’ in some regions of California. It is known as the Neptune society in Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura. The Neptune society offers cremation services to its consumers. Consumers with such a wish are provided with the service. The above seven lines of business operate under Service Corporation International’s management. They are distinct from each other with unique brands having their own logo. However, all properties of the company are identified by the ‘dignity logo’. Even though these brands operate distinctly, they are under one corporate management of Service Corporation International. Thus, Service Corporation International has been able to ex pand and grow since it was founded. It has acquired and merged with other companies in the same industry. Company’s Business-level strategy Service Corporation International is a single-business company. The corporation engages in provisions of funeral services. In addition, it acquires businesses in the same industry to promote its profitability. Some of the competitive strategies adopted by the company include service differentiation, cost leadership, and strategic development. These factors are influenced by the competitive position and life-cycle stage of the corporation (Shim Siegel, 2000). Service differentiation involves the formulation of services, which are unique in the market. In this case, Service Corporation International has invested in varied types of funeral homes. These funeral services address the needs of consumers depending on their social status, cultural backgrounds, geographical locations and religious beliefs. As such, consumers can differentiate the services of the corporation from those of its rivals. This has facilitated growth in the reputation of the company. Similarly, the consumers ranked the corporation among the best in the industry. Cost leadership involves the provision of services at varied prices to consumers. Based on the social classes of consumers, the corporation offers services to meet their needs. The corporation developed different funeral facilities and programs that consumers can make their choices. In this case, the corporation taps any revenue from diverse consumers. In addition, the services of Service Corporation International are relatively cheap compared to its rivals. This has made it one of the most cost-considerate companies in the industry (Freedman, 2007). In addition, the corporation has established functional strategic development. This initiative is aimed at expanding the asset base of the company within the region. Some of the programs that have been incorporated include marketing and researc h development. Through this means, the company is able to acquire more funeral homes. Moreover, it has incorporated comprehensive services that meet the consumers’ needs. Another critical element of the business-level strategies is the customer responsive nature. The corporation has established a set of values that govern the behavior of its employees during service delivery. High level of hospitality and respect are used to attract consumers. Through this act, consumers are given the first priority concerning their demands. This trend has made the company retain and attract more consumers. As a result, the customer base of the corporation steadily grows (Terry, 1999). Structure and control systems The corporation has well-structured and controlled systems of implementing its strategies. In this case, the company utilizes a vertical differentiation. The corporation has its headquarters in Houston and other subsidiaries distributed across North America and Canada. Over time, the company continues to acquire additional funeral homes. The management of all these branches may be challenging, but the company’s vertical differentiation plays a critical role (Williamson, 2004). The top management operates from the headquarters. These individuals are involved in formulation of strategic plans of the organization. The basis of the strategies is obtained from the lower level management. Through consultation made by the middle level managers and the operations managers, the top management can reflect on the real situations at the ground (Dewhurst, 2002). In this case, strategies are formulated to enhance retention of its existing employees and consumers. The human resource management department has established a vertical control system. In this regard, issues are addressed in sequential manners from the top management to the operational management. The vice versa also is functional. This management system assists the corporation to detect strengths and wea knesses in every dimension of its investments. On the other hand, employees will be monitored efficiently to ensure satisfactory service delivery. The challenge of addressing employees’ issues is dealt within the subsidiary levels. The nature of remuneration offered to employees depends on their contributions and position in the corporation. Initially, the managers are rewarded since they are responsible for overseeing departmental activities. On the other hand, employees receive attractive remuneration based on their contribution. The remuneration system consists of monetary and non-monetary benefits. The monetary benefits include salaries, commission and bonuses on the activities done. Non-monetary benefits consist of insurance covers, training programs and other additional benefits. This system of remuneration is attractive among the employees (Wilson Gilligan, 2005). As a result, the employees have high morale for service delivery due to employment security. However, the delivery of services has weaknesses at the lower level of management. Since employees at this level are either on contractual or permanent basis, it is hard to establish their real contribution. In addition, it is difficult to design a system that measures their real efforts due to the overlapping demands of services. As a result, the company’s management delegates such responsibilities to the operational managers. This could lead to interference of the actual expectations of the employees. Another crucial component of the company is marketing. Through designing of an appropriate marketing mix, the corporation’s management is able to influence the market of funeral services. The main product strategy adopted is enhancement of standards and variety of the services. Place strategies aim at providing unique services based on the geographical locations of consumers. In this case, the proximity of consumers to funeral homes has a great impact on the demand for service. Pri cing strategies are another crucial element of marketing. In this regard, the corporation differentiates it products to meet a wide variety of consumers. In addition, the corporation has incorporated market segmentation base on the social statuses of the consumers. Lastly, the promotion strategies are essential for the organization. In this case, the corporation combines advertising and public relations to influence its consumers (Shim Siegel, 2000). Regardless of the above marketing strategies, there are challenges in sourcing finance to achieve the desired goals. At times, substantial amounts of finance are invested on the strategies, but yield no returns. The nature of competition also in the industry interferes with the performance of the corporation. Based on the weaknesses experienced by the company, it is essential to develop an action plan to counter them. The ideal action would involve reengineering of its business processes. This involves creation of diverse and unique se rvices. In addition, it involves improvement of common services offered by the company. As such, it should be distinctive and qualitative. As a result, the weakness would be addressed in a series of phases that may take a period of three years. This implies that the corporation would portray a new set of policies and services offered to consumers (Woodhall Stuttard, 2006).). Financial analysis The financial aspect of the corporation is very important in evaluating its performance and position in the market. Through ratio analysis, one can identify the corporation trend. The ratios at the end of 2011 financial year include: Gross profit margin= Sales Revenue-Cost of Goods Sold Sales Revenue = 2,316,040,000 – 1,837,504,000 2,316,040,000 = 20.66 % Net profit margin = Net income Sales Revenue =146,232 2316040 = 6.31 % Return on Total assets= Net income Available to Common stockholders Total Assets = 144,903 9,327,812 = 1.55 % Return on stockholders’ Equity= Net income ava ilable to common stockholders Stockholders’ equity =144,903 222,956 =65 % Current ratio= Current Assets Current liabilities = 328,093 385608 = 0.85 Quick Ratio= Current Assets- Inventory Current Liabilities =328,093-25,513 385608 = 0.785 Inventory Turnover= Cost of Goods Sold Inventory = 1,837,504 25,513 =72.02 DSO =Accounts Receivable Total Sales/360 = 103,892 2,316,040/360 = 16.15 Debt-to-Assets Ratio = Total Debt Total Assets = 103,892 9,327,812 =0.011 Debt-to-Equity Ratio = Total Debt Total Equity =103,892 222956 = 0.47 Times-Covered Ratio =Profit Before Interest and Tax Total Interest Charges =362,699 133,782 = 2.71 Total Shareholder Returns =Stock Price (t + 1) Stock Price (t) + Sum of Annual Dividends per Share Stock Price (t) = 1(1+1)-1(1) +1 1(1) =200% Price-Earnings Ratio =Market Price per Share Earnings per Share =9.76 0.61 = 16 Market to Book Value =Market Price per Share Dividends per Share = 9.76 0.20 =48.8 Dividend Yield = Dividend per Share Market Price per Sh are = 0.20 9.76 = 0.0205 The financial ratios above indicate the performance and position of the corporation in the market. This analysis indicates that the liquidity of the company is significantly low. On the other hand, the assets held by the company are many. For the stakeholders, they benefit from the reception of annual dividends, which are consistent (SCI, 2011). Market recommendations The challenges facing the company need to be addressed. This involves the development of strategies that counter the problems, and increase future profitability. At the current period, the corporation offers funereal services to its consumers. This involves provision of funeral services such as cemetery and crematoria. As such, the corporation has to diversify the nature of its services. The incorporation should add services such as memorial services, insurance and obituaries. Moreover, the corporation should diversify its investments in other related industries. In this case, it is appropriate for the company to venture into the real estate industry because it has a large capital base. This will improve its performance in the security exchange market (Cadle et al., 2010). The corporate strategy has to be revised to comply with the changes in the industry. In this regard, the corporation has to alter most of its policies and initiatives in the marketing department. Since dynamism in technology offers better means of accessing consumers at lower costs, it is essential for the company to invest in this form of marketing. This reduces the operation costs. Consequently, the level of sales would increase. This is because a large consumer base will be achieved. Another critical element that the organization should reevaluate is the financial management. A strategy should be incorporate to enhance efficient utilization of resources in the organization. Through improvement of accountability and transparency, most of the corporation finance will be utilized appropriately. Similarl y, the finance will be directed to viable investments that will improve its profitability. Research and development is also a vital component of the corporation. This department should be utilized to establish new ventures and investments that are feasible. Some of the areas that should be researched on include services and products. With the improvement of their services and products, the company will be able to make large volume of sales (Hersey Blanchard, 2002). In addition, the services offered within the different funeral homes will be integrated. As a result, all needs of consumers will be addressed at their closest facility. Action plan 1stPhase (Two years) 2nd Phase (Third year and onwards) Functional strategies Thorough implementation of strategies already formulated to offer the company with the desired results. In this case, all its services will appropriately be delivered to the market, while offering services at affordable costs. This involves a serious campaign to overhaul the services offered by the company. In this regard, the company will add other services such as memorial services and obituaries for the customers. In addition, the previous services will be reengineered in a qualitative and quantitative perspective. Marketing The company would organize to conduct marketing on the region through means such as media advertising and public relations Over time, marketing strategies will change. Therefore, the company has to adopt the latest technological facilities to conduct promotion of its services and products. These methods include internet marketing and mobile marketing. Human resource management The organization has to realign its human resource structure. In this case, the management should portray a three-level structure consisting of top, middle and operational management. This will ensure efficiency in services delivery The corporation has to realign its management based on its objectives. In this regard, the management shou ld be decentralized,. As such, each subsidiary will has its own departments. In addition, the financial issues will be the only subject to be consolidated. Research and development This department has a cardinal role of ensuring that the organization survives in the industry. As a result, the company should utilize it to improve the nature and manner of delivering services to the consumers. When the services and products are ideal for consumers’ taste, it is necessary to upgrade them. This involves reengineering of varied types of services that can be offered to consumers. References Cadle, J., Paul, D., Yeates, D. (2010). Business analysis. Swindon: British Informatics Society. Dewhurst, R. F. (2002). Business cost-benefit analysis. London: McGraw-Hill. Freedman, E. (2007). Financial management. Mechanicsburg, Pa.: Pennsylvania Bar Institute. Graham, H. T., Bennett, R. (1998). Human resources management (9th ed.). London: Pitman. Hamel, G. (2007). The future of manage ment. Boston, Mass.: Harvard Business School Press. Heizer, J. H., Render, B. (2004). Principles of operations management (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson/Prentice Hall. Hersey, P., Blanchard, K. H. (2002). Management of organizational behavior: utilizing human resources (6 th ed.). Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall. Johri, A. (2010). Business analysis. Mumbai [India: Himalaya Pub. House. Mooradian, T. A., Matzler, K., Ring, L. J. (2012). Strategic marketing. Boston, MA: Pearson Prentice Hall. SCI. (2011). Annual report pursuant to section 13 and 15(d). Service Corporation International, 1(1), 1-150. Web. Shim, J. K., Siegel, J. G. (2000). Financial management (2nd ed.). Hauppauge, N.Y.: Barron’s. Terry, G. R. (2009). Principles of management (10 th ed.). Homewood, Ill.: R.D. Irwin. Williamson, D. (2004). Strategic management and business analysis. Amsterdam: Butterworth-Heineman. Wilson, R. M., Gilligan, C. (2005). Strategic marketing management planning , implementation and control (3rd ed.). Amsterdam: Elsevier/Butterworth- Heinemann. Woodhall, G., Stuttard, A. (2006). Financial management. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire: Macmillan. This case study on Service Corporation International was written and submitted by user Tamia K. 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.

Scarlett Letter Essay

Scarlett Letter Essay Scarlett Letter Essay Feminist of Her Time The time period that The Scarlett Letter was based off of was the mid 17th century. During this time period in England the religion was based out of the Church of England. This religion had stemmed off of the Roman Catholic Church which had been developed some 200 years earlier. However, many of the Catholic Church practices were not followed through on in the Church of England. Some of these practices included the emphasis on works and the veneration of the saints. This story begins with a group called the Puritans which was a stem from the Church of England. The Puritans had come to the New World and based their religion off of Calvinism. These Protestant Christians believed in predestination which meant that before a person was even born God had chosen their fate. Nathaniel Hawthorne begins his story in the town of Boston, Massachusetts. A religious community of Puritans has formed where they have a peaceful place to separate sin out of their daily lives. Hest er Prynne, Hawthorne's main character, was developed as a feminist in this story. She was one of the first literary feminists that was able to gain fame in the judgemental time period of the The Scarlett Letter. Hawthorne sets Hester up as a very independent woman from the very beginning when the reader finds her taking accountability for her actions. She is described as a very vibrant character who is secure in the decisions she had made. "Those who had before known her, and had expected to behold her dimmed and obscured by a disastrous cloud, were astonished, and even startled, to perceive how her beauty shone out, and made a halo of the misfortune and ignominy in which she was enveloped" (Hawthorne, 53). This is one of the very first examples of how the townspeople view Hester when she first steps out holding her new born child. This passage shows Hester to be a strong young woman that does not stand in front of her fellow townspeople as a person filled with shame but rather a p erson who will admit to what she has done and do it in a very dignified way. A few pages later Hawthorne clearly exemplifies Hester as an independent woman when she refuses to admit to who the father of her child is. Hester not only is willing to accept her punishment but holds her strong character by accepting the punishment on her own as if it were an act done completely by herself. Hester could be compared to any modern feminist by her brave decisions and her admirable actions. She shows to be a very tempered woman when she is forced to abide the laws made by the male authority of that society. As shown in the first chapter Hester refuses to let her shame or guilt show through in a society that had developed a woman's role as a role solely for procreation. Even though she has gone through such traumatic events, she refuses to let them affect the life of her daughter. "Of an impulsive and passionate nature, she had fortified herself to encounter the stings and venomous stabs of pu blic contumely, wreaking itself in every variety of insult. She longed rather to behold all those rigid countenances contorted with scornful merriment, and herself the object" (Hawthorne, 56). Hester Prynne is not defined by the opinion of the people around her but by her opinion of herself. This is another example of how Hester may be viewed as a feminist due to her passion to follow her own rules and live her life the way she chooses to. She refuses to conform to society and simply be a pretty face to look at. Following Hester's independence at the stand, she could also easily be compared to a modern feminist by her act of rebellion. She had been forced to wear the letter "A" on her chest which stood for her sin of adultery. This sin is meant to be looked at as a dark and dreary sin which Hester should never forget. Hester decides to embroider her "A" with a scarlett red color with gold thread. "On the breast of her gown, in fine red cloth, surrounded with an elaborate

Concept of Personal Selling Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Concept of Personal Selling - Assignment Example This aspect of selling scenario is perceived to be the most difficult, but very important in healthcare marketing. This aspect becomes more important with international sales representatives developing new businesses for their clinics as well as competing for well paying patients. Therefore, new business selling is much important as it enables clinics to receive more income from more paying clienteles. Trade selling is concerned with gaining support of the intermediaries about the products of the company. Mostly, the sales force normally makes calls to the retailers or the wholesalers about the company products. This is normally to attract more business through requesting for referral physicians. This is to ensure that high quality health care services are offered by highly qualified physicians. The missionary task on this setup is to sustain the business from the existing customers. It is normally rated the least risky method to attain high return levels on investments, hence preferably by many companies. Many companies use missionary selling and regard it as their primary activity in the company (Neil, 2012). Healthcare marketing is taking a new focus through e-detailing for instance; there is the use of e-detailing in pharmaceutical products. Pharmaceutical products can be done by doctors to medical representatives and this action is believed to fetch the largest return on marketing investments by many pharmaceutical companies all over the world. However, the pharmaceutical players across the world are experiencing that the cost to product detailing by the medical representatives are do not actually payback to favorable returns in terms of the financial results involved.

Gendered Communications and Relationships Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Gendered Communications and Relationships - Essay Example We are experiencing both physical and emotional intimacy, as long as being characterized by some levels of passionate attachment. In this relationship, the gendered nature is always dominating in our daily life activities. They are specific roles that me as the man I do play, such as security during outings and spearheading in different actions we want to participate in. When clearing our bills, I have to come in fully, or I have to chip in some cash so as to protect the image of my manhood. There are other roles that my partner, particularly plays in this relationship. She does laundry, prepare our meals, cleaning and preparing some items ready for my different daily functions that I attend to. Nevertheless, the roles are not too fixed and in case anything we allow flexibility in undertaking this role. For example, when she is unwell, I step in and perform her roles, such as cooking and laundry. The same also applies when am unwell, and she is around. The gender and sex characteristics have always played a part in the communication taking place between us. When it comes to launching an event or activity that always require some level of masculinity, am the one who starts the communication. For example, when we want to install some electric equipment in our room, am the one who raises the issue first, and the dialogue picks up. There are some of the most feminine issues that she is the one who dominate in when making decisions (Guru, 2014). She is the one who always communicates more with the kitchen and another dining activity. She brings a lot of her ideas when it comes to different types of utensils and cooking materials that we should put in place. This is mainly because all the activities in the kitchen lie under her roles. In this relationship, the feminine characteristics have been enjoying some benefits. She always enjoys the benefits that I offer to her as the man. When it comes to

Scientific Arguments For and Against Contraception Essay

Scientific Arguments For and Against Contraception - Essay Example Despite so many methods being available, there are arguments for and against the use of the different methods of contraception. Abstinence is not engaging in the sexual act, which no doubt is the safest but the person does not get the pleasure of sexual intercourse. This is a biological need and helps release emotions and tensions. At the same time, abstinence is helpful for drug addicts and alcoholics when they are under the recovery program and are advised celibacy. It gives the person an opportunity to evaluate his/her sexual feelings. There are various barrier methods available, which block the flow of the sperm to the woman’s uterus and the fallopian tubes. Female condom, male condom, diaphragm, the cervical cap and the dam are the five barrier methods available. The female condom is not 100% leak proof. It can rupture and can lead to genital warts (Cat Bytes). The male condom is a thin cover usually of latex but can also be found of lambskin or polyurethane (Wills et al). Moisture, heat, and light make condoms susceptible to breakage (Sex-info). Animal skin condoms contain pores which allow HIV and other viruses to pass through but they are thinner and do not dull the sensitivity. Latex condoms remain the safest and only water based lubricants should be used before using the condom. Oil-based lubricants like Vaseline and baby oil damage the condom. Other barrier methods like the diaphragm, the cervical cap or the contraceptive sponge involve the use of spermicidal product, commonly containing nonoxynol-9 (N-9) (FHI 2005). Researches suggest that frequent use of N-9 increases the risk of HIV in women. using a male condom lubricated with N-9 is preferable. Diaphragm protects against the STD’s like gonorrhea and Chlamydia but not against all sexually transmitted diseases. It increases the risk of having a bladder infection and someone allergic to rubber cannot use this (Sex-info) A diaphragm should not be exposed to detergents and oil based

Growth and Development in Venezuela

Growth and Development in Venezuela Growth and Development are terms that are often used synonymously to indicate progress or movement in the forward direction. However, the nuances of these two terms differ. While growth is a more short-term, spurt-like movement, development encompasses a whole array of progressive moves in different aspects of life. Economic growth is indicated by an increase in a countrys  gross domestic product, or  GDP which is an economic model that reflects the value of a countrys output. In other words, a countrys GDP is the total monetary value of the goods and services produced by that country over a specific period of time. Economic development is usually indicated by an increase in citizens quality of life. Quality of life is often measured using the  Human Development Index, which is an economic model that considers intrinsic personal factors not considered in economic growth, such as literacy rates, life expectancy and poverty rates. Economic growth adopts a quantitative approach and takes place at a revolutionary speed. It is interested in quick/immediate gains, in the market period. As against this, economic development prefers to take a qualitative approach, emphasizing on the quality of the production and equitable distribution rather than its quantity. It is more evolutionary, and follows a sequential pattern of outcome. It has immediate as well as futuristic gains i.e. it is more sustainable. Economic growth is a necessary but not sufficient condition of economic development.There is no single definition that encompasses all the aspects of economic development. The most comprehensive definition perhaps of economic development is the one given by Todaro:‘Development is not purely an economic phenomenon but rather a multi – dimensional process involving reorganization and re orientation of the entire economic and social system.’Amartya Sen defines economic development in terms of personal freedom, freedom to choose from a range of options. While economic growth may lead to an increase in the purchasing power of people, if the country has a repressed economy, there is lack of choice and hence personal freedom in restricted. Hence once again growth has taken place without any development. While economic growth may result in an improvement in the standard of living of a relatively small proportion of the population whilst the majority of the population rema ins poor. It is how the economic growth is distributed amongst the population that determines the level of development. This shows us how important growth is for development to take place, but also how growth in itself is not enough; It should instead be a necessary ‘pre-condition’ to ‘takeoff’ for a country to leap forward. (Rostow’s stages of growth) In the country of Venezuela, let us see whether there is consistent growth, and if there is, then whether there is an effective turnaround from growth into development. Country Profile: Venezuela is officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and is part of the latin American countries. It lies on the northern coast of South America. It has a dense population of 29,100,000 approx, in the country area of 916,445 sq.km. It was first colonized by Spain in 1522, and later in 1811 got its independence and was one of the first Spanish-American colonies to be free. Later in 1830, it gained complete independence as a sovereign nation. The main interest in colonial Venezuela for Spain was geographic: its geographical position was a very strategic one and gave protection against enemies. Also, later in the 1620s, Venezuela became well known for its cocoa production and export. The sizable profits earned from this industry were carried away by the Spanish. Oil, as a commodity was virtually ignored until the 1900s. In Venezuela, the benchmark or watershed year can be counted as 1989. In this year, there was the launch of an ambiguous liberalization policy called â€Å"the Great Turnaround†. This entailed huge exchange rate devaluation, liberalization, privatization of trade, financial deregulation including free interest rates, no restrictions on foreign investment and new tax reforms. Post the economic boom in 1974, the economy was dragged into a downswing and GDP declined by 15%; this led to political pressure on the country by private companies. Liberalization was brought in to help the economy to revive itself. The final push to implement the liberal policy in 1989 was given by a balance of payments crisis in 1988. During 1970-2012  consumption expenditure per capita  in Venezuela increased by 8344 US dollars (in 12.3 times) to 9084.1 US dollars. The average annual growth of Consumption expenditure per capita in Venezuela was 198.7 US dollars or 26.8%. GDP per capita USD= 6401.91 PCCE/PCI= 9084.1/6401.91=1.4189 Gross Savings (% of GDP) = 26% (in 2012) The main economic driver of the Venezuelan economy is the production and export of crude oil. Venezuela is endowed with rich natural resources and has the largest oil reserves in Latin America and the Caribbean. It was also the world’s third largest exporter and ninth largest producer of oil. Its national petroleum company- Venezuelan Petroleum Corporation (PDVSA) is the third largest international conglomerate of oil. In 1990, Venezuela was also deemed to become an international leader in the export of its abundant mineral wealth namely- coal, iron, steel, aluminum. The production and export of crude oil forms the heart of the Venezuelan economy. The period of the oil industry in Venezuela can be roughly traced over four periods, namely: 1912-1943: the discovery and the initial production of oil. 1943-1974: Affirmation of Venezuela’s control over the oil industry. 1974-1998: The boom in oil production and prices, and also the nationalization of the oil industry. 1999-2003: Government’s attempt to regain control over the industry to curb its growing independence. (Refer Appendix, [1] for period from 1980-2000) In 1912, the petro-state of Venezuela was born and from then on, it took its baby steps to becoming the world’s second largest oil producer following U.S in 1929.In a short span of 15 years from 1920-1935, Venezuela’s oil share of exports exponentially shot up from 1.9% to 91.2%. This had an immediate and direct impact on the economy called as â€Å"the Dutch disease† [2] by many economists. This implied massive declines in agricultural production and also in industrialization. In 1943, Venezuela aimed at strengthening the industry and hence passed the Hydrocarbon Act. This tied the state income more closely and tightly to oil revenues. The law affirmed that foreign companies could not make more profits from oil than they paid to the Venezuelan state. This led to a growing reliance on the state. {This can be compared to the MRTP act initiated by the Indira Gandhi government in India} However, in the 1950s, the world oil industry felt the effects of the oversupply of oil (especially from the middle east) and hence oil prices drastically and chronically reduced. To confront this problem of oversupply, in 1960, the OPEC was formed as a cartel. Venezuela also created the Venezuela Oil Corporation, which formed the basis for oil nationalization. Post the formation of the OPEC, in 1973, oil prices and Venezuelan revenues from it increased four-fold, from 1972-1974. This lump sum increase made development a nearer goal to achieve. President Perez called his project â€Å"La Gran Venezuela† or â€Å"sow the oil† which encompassed fighting poverty through price controls and also the diversification through import-substitution techniques. This was also accompanied by the nationalization of the Oil company namely, PDVSA. The windfall gain from the oil boom ushered in an era of positives for Venezuela, but it also brought chronic inflation and massive indebtedness. This can be shown by the business cycle in appendix [3]. After the periods of boom, the economy got dragged into a slowdown due large scale inflation. Later in 1998 when oil prices lowered (because of oil members breaking their quotas) the economy of Venezuela took a hit and the per capita income steadily decreased. This is again shown in the business cycle in appendix [3] with the depression phase. The election of President Chavez in 1998 strengthened OPEC countries to maintain oil prices at a high rate. He persuaded all the head of states of the OPEC nations to stick to their quotas and to not oversupply oil. His efforts had immediate results and the price of oil rose for the firm time since 1985, to more than $27 per barrel. Thus, we see how oil revenue and government income in Venezuela are indivisible. President Perez indirectly wished to adopt the ‘unbalanced version’ of the ‘Big Push Model’. He claimed ‘sow the oil’ which in other words meant increasing revenues from the oil sector would fuel development in other sectors such as agriculture and industry. But this failed to happen since with a four-fold increase in oil revenues, government expenditure also increased and even surpassed the newfound revenues. When the oil prices took a hit, the government spending could not decrease as easily it was first increased. This gave rise to deeper debt. In between 1970 and 1994, public debt rose from 9% to 53% of GNP. Also, due to growing importance given to the oil industry, agriculture was neglected and contributed merely to one tenth of the economy in 1950s when it was one third of the GDP in 1920s. Presently, agriculture comprises of only 6% of the GDP. Thus, the Big Push to just one sector did not help in the case of Venezuela as other sectors did not benefit as much. Politics and Oil The oil economy of Venezuela left an imprint on its politics. The ‘clientelistic’ [4] nature of the state led to being increasingly bureaucratic. Maximum people working in the formal economy (approx 50% of the working population), about 45% of them are employed in the government, or rather in the government –run oil industry. Yet another consequence of Venezuela’ss oil wealth, is what political scientist Terry Lynn Karl calls â€Å"a pacted democracy.†This entails democracy which is held together through an agreement amongst elite groups, usually opposing, and powerful interest groups. It is a kind of truce among them which is struck to maintain their personal interests and privileges. Differently put, even when a single party won the elections, the revenues from oil had to obligatorily be shared among members of other parties, more or less among the voting results. This guaranteed the different interest groups access to jobs, contracts and ministries and even the power of the union federation, CTV was similarly divided. Thus, this level of bureaucratization in Venezuela, the clientelistic trends, and the ‘pacted’ nature of its democracy made Venezuela resemble a one-party socialist regime. In Venezuela, during the rule of President Hugo Chavez, his manifesto drew heavily on the Marxist ideology. Marx fought for the proletariat or the ‘have-nots’ of society, claiming that they were the ones who did the real labor (manual labor) as against the bourgeois or the ‘haves’ who only indulged in intellectual labor, took advantage of the labor class, usurped their profits and exploited them. Chavez, in 1992, attempted a coup because he believed that the president was corrupt. When later he was elected as president, he vouched to end poverty and exploitation and redistribute the profits earned by wealthy businessmen. Owing to a leftist and socialist ideology, he aimed at attaining and asserting control over privately owned property. Thus, eventually, he gained control over all the factors of production- land and its resources (oil), capital, labor. He did as he told he would do, and his governance was labeled as â€Å"petroleum socialism†. Oil was used as a measure of control in terms of the domestic economy as well as the international political affairs. PDVSA is the Venezuelan state-owned petrol company. In 20002, Chavez claimed that 10% of its revenues must be invested in social programs. The kind of domination control over oil that a corrupt or unstable government claims is detrimental to the country’s economic development. Chavez implemented many social programs to combat poverty and reduce inequality. These programs were supported by the PDVSA and were fabricated to meet the basic needs of the people. Some of them are: Health: Mission ‘Barrio Adentro’ or â€Å"inside the neighborhood† has set up clinics and made doctors available in areas previously lacking these facilities. Mission ‘Alimentacion’ or Mission Food, a food plan funded by the government in order to supply products through grocery stores (Mercal and PDVAL) without the aid of intermediaries. Also to set up community kitchens to provide three free meals per day. This mission has benefited about 15 million people. Mission Sonrisa or Mission Smile which addresses to the oral health of the people by the setting up of many new dentistry clinics. Mission Christ Child and the inauguration of a neonatal intensive care unit and enhance the quality and access to facilities for pregnant women. Education: Mission Robinson was created with an aim to eliminate illiteracy. This mission taught approx 1.8 million people to read and write. Mission Rivas aimed at integration of Venezuelan people into the elementary and secondary education and proved beneficial for more than a million. Mission Sucre had been set up to help improve the access to higher education. About 700,000 people profited from it and successfully completed their graduation. Housing: Mission Habitat, in 2004, helps the people secure housing through credit facilities and also helps in creating integrated communities. Employment: The Great mission Knowledge and Work hopes to integrate 1 million jobless people into the labor market, which will also help reduce unemployment. All these missions did a great deal in alleviating poverty and reducing inflation and unemployment in Venezuela. Hugo Chavez concentrated on an expansionary fiscal policy through social spending. Social expenditure from 1911-2011 accounts for more than 60% of revenues- this is nearly double of the expenditures made in previous periods. The number of households living under the poverty line in 2003 was 55% which by 2011 fell to 26%., and those families living in extreme poverty has fallen to 7% from 25%. In 2003, there was again a spike in poverty, inflation and unemployment due to a coup to overhaul Chavez’s government. There are other factors which show an impact of the missions of the overall welfare of the country. For example, infant mortality rates and malnutrition victims have fallen; while school enrolment and graduation rates have risen. The Gini coefficient of Venezuela, which measures inequality on a scale of 0-1, is 0.394. Thus, these missions were effective instruments for alleviating poverty, by tackling urgent needs of education, food, health, housing etc. They began in 2003, and 36% of state revenue went into funding them between 1986 and 1998, while 60% of revenue was spent between 1999 and 2011. Politicization of the missions: But, there are claims that Chavez’s social missions served two very different purposes: they were subject to political manipulation (i.e. to buy votes) and also allowed for a direct distribution of oil rents to the low income population. The government used these funds clientelistically and also distributed them to the very poor. It is seen that Chavez distributed these oil revenues to primarily those poor section which were sure vote banks for him. Thus, the missions helped to buy votes. Chavez’s government also laid emphasis on providing all citizens with identification cards. These cards would be required by them at the time of gaining access to cash transfers. At the time of election, this card got automatically transformed into an election card and was required by the National electoral Council for voting purposes. (Mission Identidad) These missions have been dispatched to the masses and seem to be catering at a mass scale. Therefore, they are more quantitatively-aimed than quality-oriented. The infrastructure is not well maintained, the teachers are paid a pittance and schools seem to be largely used as a site for ideological indoctrination. Wrt health-Some of Venezuelas public hospitals are closing. Others are ridden with crime. Many physicians are quitting medicine starting new careers in Venezuela or emigrating, upset at being paid a pittance or not at all. Medical supplies are in short supply. Wrt job and employment conditions- Investors are running away from here since the government is taking over many companies. There is an outward movement of the educated class of engineers, doctors and other professionals to other countries where the pay is better. There is an influx of migrants, mainly for blue-collar jobs.

Army Cadets at Newcastle Under Lyme School often use their .22 ranges :: Computer Science

Army Cadets at Newcastle Under Lyme School often use their .22 ranges and find it extremely hard to see what their shoot total is mid-way through the shoot. Problem Army Cadets at Newcastle Under Lyme School often use their .22 ranges and find it extremely hard to see what their shoot total is mid-way through the shoot. They cannot view the target through the sights on the rifles, as the sights are iron sights. A solution is required whereby this problem can be cured, and the individual shooters can view their statistics with minimal movement required. Brief I am to design a system whereby shooters will be able to view their score for that particular shoot session and also view their statistics upon the same piece of machinery. Continued... The primary output of this product is to be 2 seven-segment displays, which show you the overall score of the shooter after each shot. The secondary output of this product is to be more seven-segment displays, which display relevant pieces of information regarding the shooters statistics, in accordance with their score. The seven segment displays which are to be used will be of varied sizes as the primary seven segment displays are to be larger than the secondary seven segment displays as to let the user view his or her score with great ease. The approximate cost of the product is to be something around the region of about  £25 as to cover the cost of manufacture, components, storage and the battery. The exact cost at this time remains oblivious to me but this is a rough estimate of what the final cost may be. The ease of use is inevitable as this product is to be used primarily by cadets from the Newcastle Under Lyme School CCF; therefore complex manual operations conducted by the user are not required within the product. It is unclear at this time to determine what the customers will be prepared to pay as no primary research has been conducted into the matter. In the coarse of this coursework primary research will be conducted and questions such as "How much will the customers be prepared to pay?" will be answered. This product will be designed to be primarily used on a 30m range therefore I will incorporate 3.5mm jacks within the casing which will lead to the pressure pads which are to be approximately 30m away, but this is also dependant on where the product is placed on the range. The pressure pads will be placed behind the target in a manner by which they can still sense the impact of the .2 rounds and at the same