A Report to Determine the Benefits of a Good Staff Welfare System

A REPORT TO DETERMINE THE BENEFITS OF A GOOD STAFF WELFARE SYSTEM BY MARK ROSS 21ST October 2012 CONTENTS Introduction1 Executive Summary1 Staff welfare and organisational objectives1 Process for assessing staff welfare2 Actions to be taken2 Communicating responsibilities for staff welfare3 Recording and maintaining staff welfare systems4 Conclusion4 Bibliography4 i 1. INTRODUCTION 1. 1 This report has been asked for by my manager to determine the benefits to the company of good and well integrated staff welfare system.Recent statistics produced by the companies Human Resources department show that the levels of sickness and absenteeism are unacceptably high. 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2. 1 This Report considers 5 main objectives: Discuss the relationship between staff welfare and organisational objectives. Explain the process for assessing staff welfare. Identify the actions to be taken by the manager in dealing with a staff welfare Issue. Describe how to communicate responsibilities for staff welfare to then team. Discuss records that may be maintained to demonstrate that staff welfare is supported. . Discuss the relationship between staff welfare and organisational objectives. The relationship between staff welfare and organisational objectives can be can be a bit of a balancing act but there are many basic requirements we all expect when we go to work: Safe working conditions / work environment (risk assessments carried out) Safety from any kind of harassment e. g. bullying, sexual, racial. Good employee relations with people being treated with dignity and respect. Equal opportunities. Adequate induction into the company and ongoing training.Some of these process's come at a cost and given the current economic downturn many companies may want try and make cutbacks in certain areas namely ongoing training which can be expensive. If we are able to show our staff that we really care about there interests and personnel development it has been shown in studies to incr ease the overall feeling of well-being in the work place, this is proven to increase productivity and reduce rates of sickness and absenteeism which in-turn leads to a positive effect on bottom line profits. A study by Dr Kerstin Alfes of Kingston University Business School found that:Keeping staff happy might not be a high priority for employers in the economic downturn. But a report from Kingston University argues that a contented workforce can help an organisation to succeed and can even make the difference between whether or not a struggling company survives the recession. 1 4. Explain the process for assessing staff welfare. The process for assessing staff welfare can be achieved in several ways, all are based on an open and honest flow of communication from front-line staff up the chain of command using well defined process's.Making the chain of command clear is also very important so staff know the correct approach to take and who to contact with any given issue/grievance. He re are some of the methods we currently have in place to assess staff welfare: Surveys / Questionnaires. Suggestion Box's (Anonymous). Regular performance reviews / appraisals. Near-miss and accident reporting. Back to work interviews. All these process's are based on getting an understanding of how the workforce feel at work and improvements that may be needed to make things run smoother. One process our company hasn't yet developed fully is a workplace counselling scheme.This concept originated in the USA and looks at staff welfare not only in the work place but outside it too, it recognises that many problems affecting productivity and welfare are not only work related. This counselling must be confidential and empathetic to the personal needs on the individual employee. 5. Identify the actions to be taken by the manager in dealing with a staff welfare issue. A manager may deal with staff welfare issues in the following ways, closely assessing the information gathered during the processing of a staff welfare issue and also looking into other relevant information is one of the most important step.We need to get to the bottom of the issue and take a balanced view on all the concerns raised. Actions to be taken: Following of policies and procedures that are in place. Meetings with those concerned with the specific staff welfare issue. Close assessment of information gathered. These actions should lead to a good overall picture of the staff welfare issue and allow use to take the correct approach in rectifying or putting controlling measures in place to minimize the issue. Often policies and procedures may need to be updated to incorporate things we have learnt from individual issues.This can be seen to be good management tool also as it shows our employees that as a company we are always open to continual improvement. 2 6. Describe how to communicate responsibilities for staff welfare to the team. Staff welfare responsibilities can be communicated to staff via newsletters regular meeting appraisals Notice boards eg last accident/near miss currently our company collects data on accident reports/nears misses but it only used as a tool to pass onto higher management and isn't made freely available to staff, In previous jobs this information has been made public knowledge and published on notice board.I feel this can be used as a good tool to show that we're striving to reduce these figures, the same approach could also be taken with sickness and absenteeism. Publishing information such as days lost due to sickness and cost to the company in having to pay for overtime to cover time could show how important we take this issue. 7. Discuss records that may be maintained to demonstrate that staff welfare is supported. There are several ways in which records can be maintained to support staff welfare such as 8. Conclusion 9. Bibliography http://www. kingston. ac. uk/pressoffice/news/59/26-01-2010-a-happy-workforce-is-good-for-business. html

Impact of Religion on Contemporary Politics Essay

Amongst countless issues of the decade, an appealing dispute, that is persistent, is the significant impact of religion on contemporary politics and its perpetual distinction between the positive and negative influences that is associated with the effect. Religion has consistently been a resilient drive of change, development and settlement. Religion has been the core of several systems of human affairs that co-exist today including economics, welfare, law, philosophy, art and most importantly, politics.[1] However, according to historian Farhang Mehr, â€Å"†¦ a realistic appraisal of the current impact of religion on the official policy and governmental structure of each country can only be made in its historical context: the record of the colonial rule in that country, indigenous conditions, cultural background, and people’s real and perceived grievances.†[2] Relevant examples consisting of the attitude of religion in the political affairs of Israel[3], the infl uence of the Roman Catholic Church in shaping the entirety of politics in Quebec[4] and the emergence of Islam as a political force in many countries like Iran[5], reveal that these events and many others throughout history are substantial catalysts in determining the intensity of the religious impact on modern-day politics.[6] The impact of religion on politics cannot be seen with all its fierceness and intensity anywhere else in the world but in the Middle East as it highlights the Arab-Jewish wars in the region that have been going on and off for almost the past 60 years.[7] Religion is of utmost importance in the Holy Land (Israel) and hence, religious disputes are a commonality to the Israeli crowd which is a combination of religious (observant) and non-religious (secular) Jews.[8] The arrangement creates an environment where either party has harsh demands and even though, neither group ends up winning; it always leads to frustration on either side.[9] The role of state-supported religion is usually studied as the issue that is responsible for the problem in the relationship between religion and politics.[10] Despite the fact that the major monotheistic religions namely Judaism, Christianity and Islam take pride in originating in the Holy Land of Israel, the population of Israel comprises of 80% Jews; of which approximately one-fifth consider themselves to be â€Å"religious† or in other words, wholly or partially observant of Jewish law.[11] The vast remainder of the Jews still pursue the path of their ancestors by practicing the traditions and sacraments of Judaism but persevere to maintain a ‘Jewish state’ by standing on secular ground.[12] All be it, whilst the virtually divided Jews were found surviving the disputes between the two groups, the aspiration of a Jewish state led to the encouragement that public policies of the nation should replicate its Jewish nature and be a stronghold for Jews all around the world.[13] From religious texts and proven findings, it is well recognized that the land that is called ‘Israel’, currently, is considered the ‘Promised Land’ – the land that they have always been promised by God. Due to various historical incidents that included invasions, battles and conquests, the Jews were spread across different parts of the Middle East and some parts of Europe. The followers of the Zionist movement (support of establishment of independent, separ ate Jewish State in Palestine)[14] pressed for a Jewish State and after plenty of bruises and broken bones, Israel was recognized and formed in 1948.[15] The very purpose of the formation of a Jewish state alone shows that it has more to do with the religion than with simply a group of people wanting a country and therefore, it is clearly evident that religion has played a major role in the shaping of the politics of Israel. The only essential conclusion is that decisions in modern-day politics in Israel usually comes down to two religious groups than two political groups due to diverse interpretations of the religious teachings and traditions, and the excessive popularity of secularism in most parts of the world. The fundamental religious values ‘affect the complex of power and search for national goals that shape the contemporary Israeli political horizon.'[16] Similarly, the dominant presence of the role of the ‘Church’ in aligning communities to live in peace and harmony and to be subject to law and order through the aspect of politics is extremely evident as is seen in the case of the Roman Catholic church in Quebec, Canada. The province of Quebec is fashioned upon religious intentions and till date, these ideals uphold grand authority in organizational decision making of the government’s law and regulations. Two major factors indicate the impact of the Church in the making of Quebec, of which includes primarily, the assistance offered by the government (comprised of passionate Roman Catholic, French officials) in the settlement of French Roman Catholic immigrants that arrived in Canada post-1639.[17] During this period, a member of the royal council of Louis XIII of France, Cardinal Richlieu,[18] vigorously promoted the emigration of Roman Catholics to France’s colony, ‘New France’ (Quebec) becaus e he believed that Quebec, like France, was destined to be a purely homogeneous group of people – the idea of ‘one religion, one language, and loyalty to one monarch.'[19] Quebec is spectacularly distinctive in the ‘North American continent’ as it stands as the only ‘political unit’ that comprises of, simultaneously, a predominant French and Roman Catholic combination of people.[20] Unlike other French Catholic countries like France or Italy, the Catholic approach of Quebeckers is more intense in that that a French Canadian’s entire thought process, his/her value system, lifestyle and government, is massively influenced by the ‘doctrines and social philosophy of Roman Catholicism.'[21] This religious standpoint in administration is a result of the occurrences in history that Quebec underwent during the times of the French dominion in North America. The early settlers in New France (Quebec) were dependant for leadership upon two distinct authorities – the Governor and the Bishop of Quebec. When the British subdued the French, the French settlers in Quebec paid minimal regard to the legitimate English civil authority as a colonial administration but instead, subjected themselves to the effective guidance and leadership of the Catholic church which was the only, other viable option available to them.[22] The circumstance not only led to the Church’s impact on politics but highlights the Church’s responsibility in replicating its values and philosophy in not alone moral and religious affairs, but also, ‘economic, social, educational, and largely political matters.'[23] Secondly, the endorsement of measures by the authority composed of clergy of the Church of Quebec in regards to encouraging the natural increase in populace, particularly referred to as ‘revenge of the cradle’, highlights the influence of the Church in long-standing Quebec while working towards building a state that is able to maintain its identity and not be pacified by other dominant parties.[24] With the British conquest of Quebec from the French, it was generally perceived that the British administration would eradicate the identity of the French-speaking, Roman Catholic community by imposing rules like mandatory speaking of English at all levels of the state, by excessively populating the colony with English Protestants that are loyal to the British crown or through other fiercer means. In order to protect the identity of the French people of Quebec, the Church’s leaders initiated steps to increase the population. For instance, fathers (considered heads of families) were offered compensation that included a ‘family allowance bonus’ if they had at least ten children while on the other hand, they would be fined if they did not arrange for their sons and daughters to be married off at an early age. To persuade young men to get married, they were forbidden from the right to hunt, fish or trade with the indigenous people in the land or even go into the woods, as the experience was considered a form of pleasure.[25] These occurrences aid in vividly understanding the concept of the ‘revenge of the cradle’ which in its broadest sense refers to the state at which the birthrate of a minority group (French-speaking population, Quebec in Canada) is higher than that of the majority, principal group (English-speaking population, remainder of Canada) from fear of oppression or dominion.[26] Even though the Church’s role had a major effect in the politics of Quebec, the influence of the Church gradually declined long after due to the developing ideas of secularism. However, that does not prove fatal to the case in that the foundation of the politics of Quebec will always have been founded upon the philosophies of the Church. As perfectly laid out by a scholar, â€Å"Although the leading role of the clergy in political affairs was to be challenged by the slow growth of a new lay leadership after 1800, the Church has been able to retain its pre-eminent position in most of the other fiel ds up to the present time.†[27] Likewise, the impact of religion on politics is well portrayed as in the case of the Islamic drive in the development of Iran. Historian, Fahrang Mehr wrote about the connection between religion and politics in the shaping of Iran, â€Å"In the last three decades, Islam has emerged as a political force in many countries, including Iran. It has been a driving power behind revolution, assassinations, seizure of holy places and terrorism.†[28] It is apparent that modern-day surroundings allow for the identification of drivers of change like Islam to allot power towards political and social agendas. Mehr further adds, † Iran requires careful evaluation of the extent to which post-revolutionary Islamic regime has infused religiosity in the Iranian polity. The study should also take into account the credibility of clergies and the religious laymen who rule the country, bearing in mind that change is an organic process.†[29] Rich historical data supports the fact that religion, liberalism, nationalism and monarchism were intertwined to Iranian politics which led to the shaping of the Islamic dominion in Iran.[30] In 651 CE, the Arab invasion of Iran led to the elimination of nationalism due to the influence of Islamic principles but eventually (in around 1502 CE) studies recognized that nationalism and religion particularly Shiaism, again intermingled and safeguarded Iran’s independence from the invasion of the Ottoman Empire (which demanded loyalty of all Muslims).[31] Above all, the Iranian Revolution in 1978-79 proved to be an important manipulator of law and governance in Iran including the state’s internal policy which in turn mainly affected educational systems and the kind of learning imparted to the students based on Islamic fundamentalism.[32] That being told, Islamic fundamentalism is often misjudged. The term is usually represented on a level of faith and while giving it meaning it could turn out to be profusely ‘negative rather than positive.'[33] One analysis reveals that, ‘In relation to Islam, it is important to recognize that the term fundamentalism (usiliyyah) is not self-descriptive but has been applied by others in their attempts to describe and understand contemporary Islamic history and politics.'[34] In correspondence to Iran, fundamentalism has a profound stance unlike in other Islamic nations. The Iranian government has steadily been involved in competition with Saudi Arabia (the epicenter of the Muslim world) to stay up to par in procuring the attention of the Islamic world and gaining significance; thus, offering home and harbor to the world’s Islamic fundamentalists which include leaders, activists, thinkers and others. This is done on the watch of the Iranian Foreign Ministry by hosting events, seminars, conferences and so on for increasing awareness.[35] The Iranian government is motivated by Islamic principles and continues to be a mark of strength in the Muslim sphere and thus, it is evident how effectively a religion can influence the politics of a nation. There exists several other countries that have undergone certain historical incidents generated by the influence of one or even more religions leading to transformations in contemporary political models and structures that are quite similar to the impact of the Zionist Movement (Jewish group) that led to the whole new formation of a nation – Israel, the significant role of the Catholic Church in the polity of Quebec and also, the foundation of the Iranian polity on the concept of Islamic fundamentalism. As much as this research justifies the argument that the historical background of a religion’s doing has a part to play in figuring out the style of modern-day argument, it is also manifest that contemporary politics might not be entirely continuing in the path set by past occurrences. For instance, present-day Israel, has a law that is influenced by the Jewish traditions and customs which would include that ‘all glory belongs to God for He protects His people as in the days of Moses’ but then comes a trend tending towards ‘self consciousness’ where the people of the nation are exhorted by their leaders to prepare for their enemies by training in self defense and learning to protect one’s self.[36] Similarly, in Quebec, the public realize that there is a need for secularization and so, have advocated the limitation on the rights of the Church in the involvement in politics. However, there are some nations like Iran and Saudi Arabia that are unable to divulge from the law given to them and thus, maintain the relationship between religion and politics quite effectively; the results there of be positive or negative. The relevance of the impact of religions on politics is very significant in understanding why countries, nations and their leaders interact with each other the way they do and how the pathway of politics can be predicted based on past occurrences; thus, the issue of this research appeals to historians, politicians, religious leaders and educationalists all alike. Works Cited Blumberg, Arnold. The History of Israel. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1998. http://www.questia.com/read/98623170. Knowles, Valerie. Strangers at our Gates. Toronto, ON: Dundurn Press, 2007. Liebman, Charles S., and Asher Cohen. â€Å"Synagogue and State: Religion and Politics in Modern Israel.† Harvard International Review 20, no. 2 (1998): 70. http://www.questia.com/read/1G1-30308720. Merriam-Webster, â€Å"Zionism.† Last modified 2012. Accessed November 15, 2012. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zionism. Milton-Edwards, Beverly. Islamic Fundamentalism since 1945. New York: Routledge, 2004. http://www.questia.com/read/108858736. Quinn, Herbert F. The Union Nationale: A Study in Quebec Nationalism. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1963. http://www.questia.com/read/2983146. Rubenstein, Richard L., ed. Spirit Matters: The Worldwide Impact of Religion on Contemporary Politics. New York: Paragon House Publishers, 1987. http://www.questia.com/read/94614328. Sharkansky, Ira. Politics and Policymaking: In Search of Simplicity. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner, 2002. http://www.questia.com/read/105768998. Suyama, Nobuaki. â€Å"Quebec: Populate or Perish.† New Zealand International Review 22, no. 3 (1997): 15+. http://www.questia.com/read/1G1-20059576.

My task is to create a music video that hasn’t been released on the general market

My task is to create a music video that hasn't been released on the general market. This will be done in a group of four consisting of Courtney, Lisa, Tamica and myself. We need to all decide on what song we are going to produce which is no longer than five minutes long. We need to write a narrative synopsis, this will show how the song relates to the images. Also we will need a detailed storyboard because it will help us out on how to shoot the scenes. We all need to decide on locations, props, costumes, castings and soundtracks that we are going to use in our music video. We must do all arrangements in good time management. The song is called ‘separated' and is singed by an artist called Usher Raymond. It's a song sang by usher to his girl. The academic bit, this is done by analyzing our video and see if the genre and conventions plus how media language fits the music video. In this video I will need to contribute in my role as a lead singer Usher, and also help out in planning plus research with the group, give ideas on locations and to be on time on deadlines. In our group everyone needs to know what they're doing and help out on props, costumes and be on time and know their part. My group and I have chosen the solo artist Usher Raymond because we like the lyrics he uses in the song; it's very different from other songs. Also his lyrics can be formed in to images for our music video â€Å"separated†. Usher Raymond was born on the 14th October 1978 in Chattanooga. He is a young R&B singer. Usher is one of the few who can boast of real star quality. He performed at the American Music Awards as part of the all-star recording collaboration Black Men United. The first single to be taken from the album, â€Å"You Make Me Wanna†, was typical of the smooth ballads on offer. Usher was more successful in the UK, where the single debuted at number 2 in February 2001. He returned to the top of the US charts in July with â€Å"U Remind Me†, which premiered the transatlantic hit album 8701. The single â€Å"U Got It Bad† also reached the number 1 position in 2002. We will be using varies of techniques to make this video so that it fits it conventions and also genre. Using similar filming techniques like camera angles will do this and lighting effects also the location of shots need to be accurate would help a lot. In order to make this music video a success we must use certain skills of marketing techniques. The music video needs to be marketed well. This means we need know what customers to target. We need to brand our music video so it could become popular and known form it. There are many genres of music and for us to do well we need to know our genre of music inside out. We need to know what's going to be in and what props we need also how we could do stuff so that our video fits its genre. To match audience's expectation we would need the video to have conventions that follows other pop music videos. These could be fancy cars, big mansions, the high life, boy meets girl, relationship breaking up or clips of them having fun back in the days. Some of pop artists examples are puff daddy, Nelly, Sean Paul. Our music video is going to be targeted at young teenagers. We believe they are our audience for these kinds of songs, also they would find them as pop idols. We would advertise the new single on TV, radio, newspapers and Internet. The TV is because many teenagers plus adults watch it. The radio is a main advertiser for songs because many people have radios in their cars, personal stereos, work place, homes and phones. People will here the single on the radio and if they liked it they would purchase it. Also playing music on the radio would give us a wider range of audiences and may boost our sales up. My group and I have chosen the solo artist Usher Raymond because we like the lyrics he uses in the song; also his lyrics can be formed in to images for our music video â€Å"separated†. Usher Raymond was born on the 14th October 1978 in Chattanooga. He is a young R&B singer. Usher is one of the few who can boast of real star quality. He performed at the American Music Awards as part of the all-star recording collaboration Black Men United. The first single to be taken from the album, â€Å"You Make Me Wanna†, was typical of the smooth ballads on offer. Usher was more successful in the UK, where the single debuted at number 2 in February 2001. He returned to the top of the US charts in July with â€Å"U Remind Me†, which premiered the transatlantic hit album 8701. The single â€Å"U Got It Bad† also reached the number 1 position in 2002. We have previous marketing techniques that we have discussed and analysed so we can use these techniques to make the video a success. Some of our previous marketing techniques discussed were on how where and how to advertise our music videos and also how to target our main audiences. The channels that we have chosen to broadcast the video on We have chosen to broadcast our video on certain channels like: THE BOX – we chose this channel is because this channel is a national wide all music video channel reaching over 20 million homes in the United States giving us a wide audience. It is also available in the United Kingdom. Specializing in rock, pop, R&B, hip-hop, Latin, and country. Over 170 individual boxes are located throughout the country, which allows each area to have its own custom local play list of videos to choose from. This will be mainly targeted at the seven years old to thirty year old age groups. Also we chose the MTV main channel. The reason we chose this channels is because it is a music channel, which is on a 24-hour video music network. MTV is an advertiser-supported, basic cable service of MTV networks. We would use this channel for promoting our music. By linking the video to a wider audience we would have more sales in records. A good example is to feature another famous artist in to the song from a different genre. ‘U R L' (Usher Record Label) is going to the record label. The label is going to have a picture of usher on it this will make the video sexually attractive to female customers. This will increase the sales. In the video the artist is showing he wants to break up with his girlfriend. Tamica plays the girl featured in the video. Usher sings he wants to be separate from her. Initial ideas that we have come up with are on how to structure each scene of the video, we are going to film each sentence in the song and for the chorus we are going to play the same scene each time. In the video each scene would go along with the music. This should look good and professional. In the video every scene is going to illustrate song lyrics. This is going to be done by having each sentence of the song being represented by an object, scenery, person/s and facial expressions. Our storyboards are going to help us a lot in making the video look realistic. This is because the storyboard will help us by illustrating to us how to achieve the right look and feel of the music videos, also what camera angles we want and lighting. When editing the video we must make sure the words of the song are in the right time of the videoing. If not done correctly then the video wouldn't look very effective. In our group we have decided that I am going to be the solo artist Usher, Courtney is going to the camera woman, Lisa is going to be casting in our video and Tamica is going to be the women in the video (Usher's Girl). My role is going to be difficult but I can achieve it by rehearsing the scenes and working together as a team. I need to make my music video look as real as possible so I can feel I have achieved making my video successfully.

MGMT499 1 DB Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

MGMT499 1 DB - Research Paper Example Jeff Bezos is also another aspiring leader. The leader is the chief executive officer of Amazon. The CEO is achieving significant transaction deals. The director bought The Washington Post, and Amazon is yielding billions of returns. The leader also stated that Apple is testing drones that will be useful in making delivering products to the customers within thirty minutes. The chief executive of Apple, Tim Cook, is an uninspiring person according to the Business Insider and the Benzinga journals. The CEO is the reason the Apple Company is experiencing too many employee departures. The other leader, who is uninspiring, is the Cuban president Raul Castro. The reason is underlying the statements that the leader is said to be reluctant and appears to be ruling in an incompetent way. The reference also leads to many people questioning his ability to govern. The person who appointed the leader, Mr. Fidel, is the one who pointed out that Raul is poor in delivering any speech. The president also is incapable of delivering real messages to reporters especially those who are from foreign countries (Latell, January 21,

Why do some people commit arson Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Why do some people commit arson - Essay Example In the United Kingdom too, many cases of arson has recently been reported. Arson is not only legal crime but also hindrance for good governance. Arson occurs in both organised and individual forms. Some cases of collective arson are spontaneous and committed by loosely attached groups. On the other hand, there are cases of arson which involved well organised and strongly co-ordinated groups. Arson could also be either purposeful or purposeless. In other words, arson is essentially heterogeneous, i.e. there are many types of arson. And, different types of people involve in the crime of arson for different reasons. Arson has been identified as a threat to businesses in Britain, especially the insurance sector. Commercial buildings, school property and community assets in the United Kingdom are easily being prey to arsonists. It is also detrimental for the free growth of schools and communities. Also, the high human cost of deliberate firesetting is arming. Annually, there are nearly 10 0 deaths and 2,500 injuries caused by arson (Arson Control Forum, 2006). Moreover, it adds an extra burden on the emergency services and thereby putting an extra weight on the taxpayers. Who is Affected? Businesses Schools Communities Innocent Individuals Emergency Services Nature Defining Arson Arson is a difficult term to define. It is noted that â€Å"the confusion about the true extent of arson has been compounded by the different terminologies used to describe arson, terms that are not commonly understood by all stakeholders. The Fire Data Report (FDR1) form used to record primary fires attended by UK Fire and Rescue Services, had three categories which, when combined, made up the arson measure – deliberate, doubtful and malicious. The lack of a commonly understood terminology meant that local agencies with which the Fire and Rescue Service could potentially work in partnership did not always fully appreciate the extent of illegal firesetting and thus did not dedicate s ufficient resources to address the problem† (Arson Control Forum, 2006, p.12). Arson is even different for various agencies which are in place to deal with issues related deliberate firelighting. The practices of recording, measurement and terminology used with relations to arson might vary from agency to agency. The general lack of common measure of arson has led widespread disparities between multiple agencies. From 2000 onwards, legally, the terms such as ‘malicious’ and ‘doubtful’ have paved way for the more accurate term ‘deliberate’ regarding arson. Types of Arson Vandalism Fraudulent arson Arson as Cover-up of Crime Revenge Mental Illness Youth Disorder Arson as Attack on People and Property Arson is one of the alarming problems the contemporary British society faces on. It is the predominant cause behind the fire in the business premises. Most of the major fires that occurred in the last fifty years are a result of arson, the rate would be around 45%. Rarely, a business thrives after an attack of arson as it results huge losses. Opportunist vandalism is the main form of arson prevalent in the United Kingdom. Increasingly, the number of arson attacks on schools too has become so common in the United Kingdom. According to Arson Prevention Bureau, there are on the average twenty arson attacks on schools. Arson Control Forum has observed that â€Å"those living in socially deprived areas are the most likely to be the victims of fire, whether accidental fires or deliberately set† (2003, p.9). The Extent of Arson as a Societal Problem About one in two fires from Arson Common cause of fire in business premises Loss of school records and

CONTEMPORARY ISSUES FACING THE HINDUISM RELIGIOUS TRADITION Essay

CONTEMPORARY ISSUES FACING THE HINDUISM RELIGIOUS TRADITION - Essay Example It consists of traditions that have been passed down the Vedic age, adjusted by people to make things simpler. The so called flexibility of the religion is so possible because methodology of practicing has not been put down anywhere. The religion is simply dealt with philosophy and has been an answer to man’s transcendence questions of life existence. However, a single definition of this religion and its countless traditions is not humanly possible. Lord Krishna (a Hindu avatar of God) says: â€Å"Karmanyeva Adhikaraste Ma Phaleshu Kadachana† which is a very important line taken from the sacred Bhagvad Gita and sums up the Hindu traditions. It simply means that work alone and nothing else should be aim of life. Thus, Hinduism with vast range of beliefs and traditions aims towards â€Å"Karma† alone, even after being twisted and adjusted to synchronize with present lifestyle which is one of the key reasons for its strong existence even

The Effects of The American Civil War Research Paper

The Effects of The American Civil War - Research Paper Example For four consecutive years, the confederate soldiers fought and battled with the union soldiers. The war that is regarded as the bloodiest war in the history of America cannot be swept under the carpet. The depth of loss was felt by both these two sides. The loss of lives and the destroyed infrastructure took the United States several steps back. The immense and sheer number of deaths and tragedy that was brought by the civil war remains as a constant reminder to the American people as a profound insight of the past that they have seen. The economic, psychological and social impacts of the war went on to redefine what the future of the American people.Proclaiming the freedom of slaves and creating national unity was the hardest role that the American government had to play after the recovery from war. A more detailed analysis of the American civil war points to the start of the war being at the 1860 presidential election. The republicans who were led by Abraham Lincoln were not for t he idea of expansion of slavery into the United States territories. After the republicans won and their anti-slavery campaign looked as though it would be successful, seven slave states that were being run of cotton based economies came together right before the inauguration of the president and formed a confederacy that would fight against the anti- slavery campaign. The confederacy was mainly against the idea of the fact that their source of labor for their cotton plantations would have to be paid for (Parish, p. 103).

Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 46

Essay Example Thesis statement: Frankenstein, the novel by Mary Shelley represents the emotional problems faced by the monster and these problems originate from isolation or alienation and a sense of not belonging faced by it in the mainstream society. The problem of isolation/alienation faced by the monster in the mainstream society is interconnected with Victor Frankenstein’s (say, the creator of the monster) deep interest in outdated theories and experimentation. To be specific, Frankenstein developed the technique of filling life to dead bodies and it eventually led to the creation of the monster. Besides, he collected bones to create the monster. But Frankenstein failed to create a beautiful human being. Instead, his creation was a monster with yellowish skin and ghost like appearance. This failed experimentation is the grass root level reason behind the isolation/alienation faced by the monster in the mainstream society. From a different angle of view, Frankenstein expected a beautiful human being. But his failure to create a human being horrified him and he totally ignored the monster. Besides, he tried to escape from his responsibility to help the monster to lead a normal life like others. So, one can easily identify that Frankenstein’s attempt to save himself from his responsibility and duty to help his creation eventually led to his untimely death in the end. In the novel Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein made clear that â€Å"A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me† (89). Moreover, Frankenstein tries to destroy his creation but his attempt did not help him to save his family from it. The monster tries its level best to communicate with its creator, but for vain. So, one can see that Frankenstein’s irresponsible attitude eventually led the monster to be the victim of isolation/ alienation in the soc iety. When the monster faced the sense of not

Cyber Bullying in Schools Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Cyber Bullying in Schools - Term Paper Example The paper also seeks to critically analyze the legal framework and policies that are in place to combat the problem of cyber bullying. To this end, the paper has relied on information from various pieces of legislation. The paper will concentrate on implementation of legislation and school programs to prevent and stop cyber bullying in schools. The research will therefore not explore in detail the other ways of combating cyber bullying; like reporting cyber bullying to parents, not responding to emails that are meant for bullying, among others. The paper recognizes that cyber bullying is not only a vice found among children but also adults. The study however does not look into the issue of cyber bullying among adults. Outline The paper is divided into three major parts. The first part is an introduction of the paper. This part outlines the concept of cyber bullying giving the various definitions that have been given by various authors. The introduction gives the various methods used in cyber bullying including use of the internet as well as mobile phones. This part also introduces the concepts of implementation of legislation and school programs to combat cyber bullying. These are the major action plans identified by the paper as solutions to the problem of cyber bullying. The introduction also identifies the various stakeholders who are the key players in the proposed solutions. These are also the audience of the paper, and these are identified as lawmakers, school heads, parents and students. The second part of the paper provides a background and a historical perspective of cyber bullying. In this part, cyber bullying is identified as a form of bullying that emerged as a result of the... This research will begin with the definition of bullying as an act of frightening or harassing a person who is supposedly weaker or smaller. This behavior is triggered by various aspects. For instance a person can be bullied because of their race, their gender, their sexual orientation, religion, weight, disability or even talent. Bullying can take many forms including physical bullying where a person can be kicked, hit or pushed. Bullying can also be verbal or through technology, which is referred to as cyber bullying. Bullying mostly occurs in schools and is mostly physical and verbal but cyber bullying is fast emerging as the preferred way of bullying. Bullying has two players involved, namely the bully and the victim. The victims of bullying vary depending on the form of bullying. For instance bullying can take place as early as kindergarten; this is especially for physical and mostly verbal bullying. At this stage however it is very rare to have cyber bullying for example. Cyber bullying is mostly common among teenagers, who are the frequent users of technology and more so the cyberspace. Canadian teacher Bill Belsey is recognized for having coined the word cyber bullying. Belsey described cyber bullying as the use of technology for repeatedly communicating harmful and hostile messages to others. In understanding cyber bullying, one must realize that there are various forms of cyber bullying and there are tools that are used to commit cyber bullying.

Torts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Torts - Essay Example The battery occurred when he (Wilkes) decided to hit Miss Oaks in the face with his fist, which resulted into Oaks being unconscious, her jaws broken in two places, and her sinus cavity having collapsed. Apart from the assault and battery, Wilkes also caused Miss Oaks to experience emotional distress, thus the plaintiff should also sue the defendant for intentional infliction of emotional distress. This is because the defendant managed to intentionally cause severe emotional distress via an act that was extremely outrageous. That is, the outrageousness of the act is attributed to the fact that the defendant carried out the assault on the plaintiff in front of many other students, which is something demoralizing to the plaintiff. Given the plaintiff is a still a young girl, such an incidence taking place in front of several other students tends to have a serious emotional impact on the plaintiff, especially once she reports back to school. More to that, Thomas Wilkes is also to be sued for invasion of privacy, given that he approached Oak’s table during lunch break, where verbal abuse ensued despite being warned by the assistant vice principle to stop his abuses towards the plaintiff. On the other hand, the other defendant is Rusty Converse, who is the assistant vice principle, and is responsible for student disciplinary matters at Westview High School. The second defendant, Mr. Converse, ought to be sued for Negligence. This is because he failed to act as a reasonable vice principle and teacher, especially one who has obligated with the role of ensuring that all students in his school, Westview High, are disciplined. Given his duties of making sure that no student ever feels threatened by a fellow student, Mr. Converse neglected his duties and intentionally caused the harm towards the plaintiff. In other words, he (Mr. Converse) breached and violated his duties, which was to

Can a Coffee Shop Brand Developed in Kuwait Become Significant in the Dissertation

Can a Coffee Shop Brand Developed in Kuwait Become Significant in the Global Market - Dissertation Example The food and beverage industry is a major contributor towards growth in all the economies and has witnessed a high and consistent growth rate. The industry is expected to generate CAGR of 3.5% to about $7trillion USD by the year end 2014. With respect to structure of the industry it is highly fragmented and the top market players such as Nestle, Unilever, Kraft and others accounts for only 5% of the total value. The economic downturn also had an adverse impact on industries including the food and beverage industry (IMAP, 2010, p. 4). ... Although the coffee shops have been suffering a setback, but the growth in speciality coffee has resulted mainly from three areas which includes home consumption derived from coffee machines which available to the consumers, new product targeting the young generation and through Quick service cafes or restaurants which serves coffee beverages like lattes and cappuccino attracting the young customers. This trend is being accelerated in the current global coffee market giving rise to high number of coffee outlets selling coffee beverages (Guyer, 2009). For the dissertation â€Å"Kings Coffee Co† is chosen which plans to expand its coffee business in the UK market. Kings Coffee Co is a private organisation and can be categorised under coffee both roasted and green and is located in Safat in Kuwait. The coffee shop has been doing well in Kuwait and plans to expand its business and adopt the internationalisation mode of strategy. Before a brand expand itself into foreign countries it is necessary to evaluate the opportunities in the desired target market and the future opportunities. Thus in order to analyse the future opportunity, the UK coffee market has been analysed to determine growth rate of coffee business and establishment of Kuwait coffee brands in the UK coffee market. Kuwait Coffee Market In Asia, particularly Kuwait, which is predominantly inhabited by Arabs, many are fond of coffee and as a result it is possible that a coffee shop built and developed in Kuwait can flourish with ease. In addition, the growing technological market can help in the growth of the coffee shops globally as many can view its profile online and eventually visit the place and feel part of the achievement. This project proposal tries

Balanced score cards Essay Example for Free

Balanced score cards Essay Scorecards are more like performance graphs utilized to monitor progress toward attaining goals. Scorecards typically show monthly snaps of summarized information for business managers who monitor long-term and strategic objectives or weekly and daily snapshots of information for executives who need to graph the progress of their team of project toward attaining goals. In Orange Ltd, the data is fairly summarized so consumers can observe their performance standing at a glimpse. Scorecards make use of visual graphs and charts to show performance condition, variance against goals, and trends. However, most scorecards in Orange Ltd contain a great deal of textual commentary that deduces performance outcomes, describes action taken, and projects future outcomes (Ishikawa, 1976). 1. 1. 1 Dash Boards Dashboards are just like automobile dashboards. They enable operational experts and their managers monitor activities generated by core business procedures. But unlike automobiles, most company dashboards display no real times for activities, as they happen; they display them in right time, as customers need to see them. Dashboards mostly show performance visually, by use of simple graphs or charts, such as meters and gauges. However, dashboard charts are mostly updated in place making the chart to change dynamically (Genichi, 1998). 2. 0 Conclusions Many news headlines concerning the poor quality of IT projects illustrate that quality is a big issue. Some mission-vital IT systems have resulted to deaths, and quality complications in many company systems have lead to major financial crisis. Clients are at the end responsible for defining quality. Significant quality approaches include conforming to requirements, delivering products that are fit for use, and satisfying implied or stated stakeholder requirements. Project quality management involves performing quality assurance, planning quality, and performing quality control. Quality planning singles out quality standards relevant to the project and how to satisfy them. Quality control involves tracking specific project outcomes to ensure that they conform to quality standards and also identifying methods to enhance general quality. There are many techniques and tools linked to project quality management. The seven common tools of measuring quality are: control charts, scatter diagrams, run charts, cause-and-effect diagrams, histograms, flow charts, and Pareto charts. Many people contributed to the creation of current quality management. Juran, Ishikawa, Taguchi, and Crosby all made vital contributions to the sector. Many firms today utilize their ideas, which also influenced balanced scorecards, spider charts, and dashboards. There is much room for enhancing IT project quality. Well founded leadership aids emphasize the significance of quality. References Crosby, K. (1979). Leadership for Quality: An Executive Handbook, NY: Free Press. Foster, S. (2004). Managing Quality: An Integrative Approach, 2nd ED. NJ: Prentice Hall. Genichi, J. (1998). Planning for Quality in IT firms, NY: Free Press. Ishikawa, K. (1976). Guide to Quality Control, Asian Productivity Organization, Tokyo 1976. Juran, J. Frank, M. (2002). Juran’s Quality Control Handbook, 4th Ed. San Francisco: McGraw-Hill Book Co. Juran, J. (1992). Juran on Quality by Design: The New Steps for Planning Quality into Goods Services, NY: Free Press. Kathy, S. (2008). Information Technology Project Management, NY: Free Press. Taguchi, M. (2004). Quality Control Handbook, 4th Ed. San Francisco: McGraw-Hill Co.

Research On The Importance Of Financial Planning Finance Essay

Research On The Importance Of Financial Planning Finance Essay The financial plan is an important part of both the business plan and of the entrepreneurs day-to-day management of operations. The financial planning puts the entrepreneur in touch with the realities of a financing request. This understanding will help clearly identify the amount of financing needed, the purpose for the funds, the length of time the funds are needed, and how the financing will be repaid. These issues are of key concern to the prospective financier Financial Plan The various operating plans prepared by the entrepreneur indicate where the firm is expected to go and how it will get there. The financial plan estimates and plans for the financial needed to implement these intentions. It, along with the market analysis and marketing plan, is the most critical component of the business plan. (Arthur and Stephanie, 1995) Some entrepreneurs might think of the financial plan as being strictly about the numbers, it is much more than that by providing a basis for making many decisions about the business. Decision such as how many employees to hire, what suppliers will be used, and what equipment will be purchased will be largely made while completing the financial plan. As is true with marketing and operations, one plan has to be streamlined with the other. The financial plan needs to reflect the marketing activities and the level of production that were outlined previously in the plan. (Arthur and Stephanie, 1995) Good financial planning helps a company maximize cash flow with pinpointed resource allocation and investment strategies. On the other hand, that means money can become tied up in long-term investments and investment strategies And if a companys strategic plan or financial plan ends up being woefully wrong, it may not have the money it needs to immediately rectify a problem. (Brian Boone, 2004) Its much harder to convince shareholders and stakeholders of a company how to properly execute the companys finances; its easier to get everyone behind a strategy, because its goal-oriented, not cash-oriented. But the two can be integrated. (Arthur and Stephanie, 1995) Financial plan calculation statements (shown in Appendixes) Business Plan A business plan is a document that is used to guide the new entity created by an acquisition or joint venture project. Business plans vary by project and are shaped by many considerations, but the basis of business plan is the development of the mission, goals, and objectives of the new entity consistent with the strategy, goals, and objectives of the acquiring or the parent company. The business plan includes a fairly detailed financial plan describing the timing and quantities of key financial variables with respect to revenues, expenses, capital outlays, and cash flows. However, providing performance targets and monitoring operational performance, linking management objectives and performance with operational performance, and describing a feedback and control mechanism to assess the new entity performance versus expectations and targets are value-added characteristics. The business plan is an important communication tool for delivering a consistent message concerning acquiring or parent firm expectations, goals and objectives, priorities, and operational targets of the new entity. Another useful function the business plan performs is to lay out requirements and issues that need to be addressed, coordinated, or resolved. Finally, as the environment and operating conditions change, the business plan provides the structure to evaluate the impact of changes on strengths and weaknesses of new entity. (John, 1999) A good business plan for a sound business concept can helps to achieve in business goals. It can saves the companys money and time by focusing on the business activities, and giving more control over the finances, marketing, and daily operating and helps to raise the capital of the company. (Rhonda, 2003) Bank loan Borrowed money is often the key to building and growing a successful small business. For independent business owners, however, courting lenders isnt always easy. Heres how to make a strong case and win over even the choosiest banks. By Matt Alderton. Small business owners can choose bank loan when they need to borrow money. But, if the owner having a bad credit record can be a big hindrance in terms of asking financial assistance in the future and this is a fact everyone should remember in making future loans. Messing up with the financial liabilities can land in with a bad credit record. It would be difficult to borrow money with bad record. Financial institutions like banks and even small lending organizations are strict with customers wanting to borrow money with bad record since it might be a bad investment for them. People in dire need of financial assistance with a bad credit record can just put them in the brink of bankruptcy. 5.0 Question 3.1 The companys projected sales are exceed the company objectives and the company accountant decides to advise the Board of Director later, therefore the companys financial plan may be ineffective because of the delaying release the information to the Board of Director. As there the demand is higher as the companys objective, the delaying to inform the Board of Director about the exceed sales, the director will unable to borrow loan from the bank because of the qualification may be failed. Mostly, bank wouldnt borrow loan to high-risk borrower due to the poor credit profile of the borrower, the bank would worried that the borrower might not affordable to payback for the loan if the company is almost facing a huge run out of funds. The financial plan will be ineffective and confused all the operating system of the production. Therefore, the company would face the problems like insufficient production resource and raw materials to produce goods to the customers, and the lack of fund to make payments like insufficiency to pay salary to workers or any other operating expenses. It will also cause the lack of confidential from the customer because of the lack of production material in the company. The poor financial planning might caused the company get into debts as well and it will lead to bankruptcy that failed of business. (1078 words)

Information Management and Systems

Information Management and Systems It is defined as the discipline that covers several applications including people,procedures and technologies.these a ppliocations aree collectively reffered to as information systems. Information Systems Management (ISM) are distinct from the normal information systems in the sense that they are capable of analyzing other information sytems that are apllied in operational activities of an organization.It is a planned system of perfoming collection,storingand dissemination of data in the form of the required information for carrying out necessary management functions. In the academic world the term is used to refer to,a group of information management methods twined to the automation of human decision making.Such systems include;Expert Systems,excecutive information Systems and Decicion Support Systems. ISM includes the application of Information Technology in support of major functions and activities in an organization or institution.ISM supports processes of:Storage,collection,manipulation,utilization and distribution of information resources of an organization.Manual processes are also included in an information system.This term is used as a synonym for information that are computer-based. Information systems will often deal with dockets such as use,development and management of an organizations information technology infrastructure. It includes systems that are not intended for decision making Currently the focus of companies has shifted from product oriented to information oriented.this means that there is more competition in process and innovation,by market operators, rather than product.There is much emphasis on the production process and services that accompanies the process of production. One of the most valued asset of a company is its information. This calls for a very strong information infrastructure.Therefore the study of information systems is keen on why and how technology can be put into excellent use in service to information flow within an organization. A great majority of information systems are developed for people. This peole employ the same in various areas including functional areas such as;human resource,marketing,finance,accounting etc.ISM professionals require a strong mixture of both technical and business knowledge for them to develop an information system that meets the needs of an organization. They must understand organizations objectives,its structures,operations and financial implications that are relative to these factors.Good understanding of these factors will give the ISM professionals a good base for effective communication with users before designing systems that will support their needs.It is also a good attribute of an ISM manager or professional to be updated with the evolving information technologies.They should posses a strong foundation of technical skills so as to select appropriate technologies and implementation of computer based information system. OVERVIEW In the current workplace,it is definite that technology works both effectively and reliably. ISM professionals have a key role in implementing technology within organizations. Infomation Systems Managers plan,network,and direct research and facilitate all computer related duties of firms.They are functional in determining both business and technical goals during consultation with the top management.They make detailed plans in accomplishing these goals.They give directions to other computer related workers e.g computer programmers, system analysts etc.They also aid in planning and coordinating activities like installation and upgrading of hardware and software,developing computer networks,implementation of internet and intranet sites and systems designing.They are involved with upkeep,security and mantainance of networks.They have a role in analyzing the computer and information needs of the organizations they work with from a strategic and operational persp[ective.Hence determining the longrange personnel and equipment requirements.Their duties also include assigning and reviewing their surbodinates work.They are also supposed to ensure that their organiza tions do not lag behind competitors. INFORMATION NEEDS End users of a system have different information needs depending on what he/she is trying to find,why she/he is trying to find and when she/he is trying to find the information.An example is the design of a staff directory,where there is an assumption that most users will be able to perfoam known item searching.Thet the user knows exactly what he is looking for,e.g Kerrys phone number.He has necessary terms to articulate the need,e.g he knows Kerrys second name is Brown and thats what he will search under.And finally he knows that that staff directory exists and that its the right place to look. Identification of information needs is important in designing an information system and to the provision of relative information services.For effective identification of information needs one has to identify the different methods for gathering information on various factors influencing those needs.A selection depending on the needs of the user is necessary.A step by step procedure is necessary in identifying information needs of most users.a careful analysis is to be made to distinguish the actual needs from the data gathered. The information needs identifierwill be able to discover, as a bye product, several ideas, tools, methods and techniques of satisfying the users in meeting their needs.At present,insufficient self sufficiency constitutes information needs. These information needs represent vacuums in the current knowledge of the enduser. Besides the expressed or articulated needs, there exists unexpressed needs which the user is aware of but will not like to express. The other category of need is the dormant need which the user is not aware of. But the information services provider might be able to bring to light these needs . A need is specific.It is generally time bound,either immediate or deferred.Information provided for a need will be used.Information provided may also be used or may not be used. Information needs depend on: Area of interest Hierarchical position of individuals work activity need to take a decision Availability of facilities. Need to seek new ideas Motivation factors for information needs Need to establish priority for recovery etc Information needs are also affected by a variety of factors including: The consequences of information Range of information sources available Background,professional,motivational orientation Uses of which information will be used. The social, political, economic, legal and regulatory systems surrounding the user Information needs identification is also somewhat a complex process. Some of the factors rendering it complex include: Original documents needed by researchers Individual preferences and behavioural aspects add a further dimension. Same information is perceived differently by users Information is put to different uses Need is satisfied by having access to the identified information in a particular package and form, and at a suitable time The flow of information and channels of communication are complex and add to the complexity The main steps in the process of identifying information needs is shown below: Studying the subject(s) of interest to the organization and or User(s Studying the organisation and its environs Studying the immediate environment of the User(s) Studying the User(s) Performing a formal interview Identifying and recording of the information needs Analysing and refining the identified information needs. Preparation for identifying information needs A very undefined situation is faced maybe only by the information professionals. They are unable to prescribe the required information to their clientele in the way the other professionals like physicians prescribe.Such prescriptions have a final say and authority, and which are embraced by the clients.Prescription is authoritative mainly because the clients of physicians and other professionals are seeking advice in a field which they themselves are ignorant of. But the clients of information professionals are more often specialists in the areas they seek information and professional advice. The main reason why there are difficulties experienced by the information professionals in distinguishing the wishes or the desires from the actual needs of the users . Therefore the information professional has to prepare himself/ herself in such a way as to create confidence in the users about his/ her professional capabilities. It will also be important if the investigation of information nee ds is to be successful, it is above all good to bear in mind that the person chosen to be the information needs identifier will need to be acceptable at all levels of users and have credibility. most guidelines in the form of a step by step procedure to identify information needs is presented incorporating the steps to be taken by the information system adentifier to equip himself/ herself for this investigative work. Study of subjects An information needs identifier must study the subjects of interest to the organization,users, and identify the central, peripheral and supporting areas.The result of such a study would produce a handbook on the subject to guide further work of identifying the information needs. This handbook is not a technical manual for technical personnel but a handy tool for the information professional. Such a handbook would present a birds eye view of the subject giving the following : Definitions of the subject concerned, collected from different authoritative sources bringing out the similarities and differences; scope of the subject giving definitions and scope of divisions and subdivisions; scope of the subjects that are tool subjects applicable to the subject concerned for its development; and scope of the subject in terms of the areas/subjects where the subject concerned is applied for their development. The different types of classification of the subject concerned including special subject classifications, taxonomic classifications, general document classifications, and vocabulary control tools such as thesaurus. The historical development of the subject giving the landmarks (significant contributions) under the broad divisions and subdivisions; the trend of research in the subject concerned as revealed in review documents marking out the broad areas in which current researches are in progress; and the trend of education and training in the subject concerne d. The important sources of information such as documentary sources , institutional sources and human sources; and the information transfer process among the users of information on the subject. After carrying out such a study of subject the Information Needs Identifier becomes confident enough to continue the work of identifying the information needs as he is exposed to the technical terminology and structure of the subject. Study the organization and its environment This is the second step in studying the organisation and its environment and preparing a profile for the organisation. Here, it is helpful for the information need identifier to know the type of the organisation for example, whether it is a corporate office, business or industrial enterprise and also differentiate whether it is public sector or private sector government or non government organisation, profit making or not for profit organisation, so as to identify the different types and styles of management and decision making processes which have a bearing on the information needs. As for this purpose, the information need identifier has to study the overall objectives, functions and the factors that affect the functions of the organisation concerned. Hence the organizations chart, the functions/ activities chart, annual reports, project reports, internal reports and other publications of the organisation would have to be studied. It will be of benefit to the information need ident ifier to attend special training courses/ orientation programmes usually organised for the benefit of new employees/ entrants/ management trainees by the organisation. The training courses are usually in the form of a series of lectures by senior personnel in the organisation spread over a period of three to six months. It would cover all subjects relating to the work of the organisation the basic scientific and technical background and detailed aspects of the engineering and technology of production. Further the participants would be taken to the different divisions of the organisation for observation and practical knowledge of the different items of work. Further, the environment in which the organisation works and its impact would have to be analysed. An information need identifier may have to study the super ordinate organisation, its objectives, functions etc., forming the environment and the factors that may affect the particular organisation concerned. Incase of a national organisation, then the countrys political, social, economical and technological environment having a bearing on the organisation as well as government regulatory environment would have to be taken note of. Study of the users specific environment At this point, it may be necessary to define in an ordely manner, the category of users whose information needs are to be identified. The Information need identifier must get himself well acquainted with the department of the individual user before conducting any actual interview with the user for the identification of his/her information needs. Most of the aspects to be covered in this study are: History of the concerned department, its objectives and functions. Organisational structure. Details of products and/ or processes of manufacture and/ or research. Details of plant, machinery, equipment, testing and other facilities. Scope of each discernible activity of the department. Information flow in the functioning of the department. Present sources of information and the channels and media used in the departments. Types of information services being used in the departments. Specific subjects on which information is being sought including type of information and kind of presentation required. Recent significant events and problems solved and the way they are solved including specific information used in solving the problems. Any other items of interest such as on going projects, training programmes etc., in the unit. Some of the sources that are to be studied for this purpose include the monthly/ quarterly/ annual reports by and on the department/ unit and its functions, minutes of meetings on and by the department/ unit, progress reports, project reports, all investigation/ review reports, performance reports, correspondence, proposals by and on the department, records of equipment, machinery and other facilities etc. It may be necessary for the INI to spend sufficient time in the users department to understand and acquaint himself with the working of the department, its organisational set up, the various activities etc., and thereby understand the situation in which the user is operating. This understanding will help the INI to easily correlate the users information needs in relation to his environment/ situation and enable the INI to grasp what the user is intending to communicate during any future interview with the user. Study of the user Users often tend to classify their wants/ interests into fragmented shopping lists, whereas their true needs may only be identified from a greater understanding of the user as a person . Therefore,emphasis should be placed on the basic needs of the individual as person . As such, it is essential that information need identifier should attempt to perceive the users problems as holistically as possible. If this is acceptable, then the expression of the information need ceases to be scientifically impersonal objective entity and becomes an expression which cannot be fully communicated apart from the user. Therefore, the next step, after the study of the users environment, is to study each of the individual users. Users are individuals. Nevertheless, in designing information systems, it is useful to classify groups of users. In relation to a specific existing or planned information facility, at least four different types of users can be distinguished .. Potential user; the one who needs information which might be provided by specific services of the information facility. Expected user; the one who is known to have the intent of using certain information services (subscriber to a specific information service such as an abstracting service). Actual User; the one who has actually used an information service regardless of whether any advantage was derived from it or not. Beneficiary; the one who derives measurable advantage from information services. Turning a potential user into an actual user and into a beneficiary should of course be the aim of planners, designers and operators of information systems. Users may be further classified into the following broad functional groups : Top Management which is responsible for policy making, strategic/ long range planning regarding mergers, acquisitions, capitals, new product lines. Scientists responsible for research, innovation, technical know how generation etc. Middle Management responsible for solving problems and making decisions required to fulfill the goals and implement policies set up by the top management. Supervisors responsible for ensuring that the products and services are produced on time, within the cost and quality level set. Operating Personnel / Technicians responsible for routine operations. Moreover, in an organisation setting, a user may play different specific work roles in performing his duties and in carrying out his functions and responsibilities. Some of the specific roles managers play, for instance include : Team Leader Liaison Monitor/ Controller Disseminator Spokesman Trouble shooter Resource allocator Resource Seeker Negotiator Decision Maker. Some of the communication activities of a manager and the percentage of events for each of the activities are given below: Receiving information, facts 27.8 % Receiving request for information, facts 8.0 % Receiving request for action 5.1 % Receiving request for approval 1.1 % Receiving opinion 0.7 % Receiving request for opinion 0.4 % Receiving applications for positions 0.4 % Receiving invitation 0.4 % Giving information, facts 12.1 % Giving opinions 0.7 % Giving instructions 0.7 % Seeking information, facts 9.2 % Requesting action 3.3 % Seeking opinion 0.4 % Checking and signing documents 6.6 % Circulating and moving documents 2.6 % Making notes and writing 1.5 % Interviewing 1.1 % Discussing interviewees 0.7 % Introducing speaker 0.4 % Participating in decision making 0.4 % Delaying response 0.4 % General discussion, meetings 12.8 % Complex events 1.8 % Others 1.5 % Further an individual may form a node in the following three directions of information flow in the organisation: Communicating down the line which is basically of five types : Giving job instructions and specific task directives. Job rationale information that is designed to produce understanding of the task and its relation to other organisational tasks. Information about organizational procedures and practices. Feedback to the subordinate about their performance. Indoctrination of goals information of an ideological character to inculcate a sense of mission. Communicating upward which may be reduced to what people say: about themselves, their performance and their problems; about others and their problems; about organisational policies and practices; and about what needs to be done and how. Horizontally communicating with colleagues in the same hierarchical level. A user, in his professional capacity, is in continuous interaction with: his culture that sets values and policies, and other influences and attitude. formal organisations such as his employing organization. invisible colleges, gate keepers as a type of reference group sufficiently distinguished by its membership criteria and communication patterns to warrant separate identification. the political system that can promote or inhibit activity and information flow. the legal and economic systems that impose legal and financial restraints on access to information. his work team, a sub system of the organisation that is distinguished because of interpersonal characteristics. himself, that is his cognitive system, motivations, attitudes etc formal information systems such as libraries and information centres. membership groups like professional societies that control information channels reference group made up of individuals having similar specialisation or interests but who are not necessarily in the same membership groups. Users who find themselves in such complex situations may have to be studied using a combination of various direct and indirect methods. Direct methods of user study are: Personal informal contacts with the user. Observing the user while at discussion with his colleagues; Survey using questionnaire Dialogue with the user while rendering information services to him/her Observing the user at his work spot (office, laboratory, factory, group meeting etc.) Interviewing the user, his supervisors, his subordinates, his personal secretary/assistant or his colleagues of co ordinate status. Observing the user while using information sources and services. Observing the user while giving a lecture/demonstration etc. Indirect methods include: Study of diary record of activities/ functions/ events maintained by the user. Study of citations received by the users publications Study of citations/ references given in the users publications Study of papers, books etc., published by the user Study of job description of the user Analysis of users response/ feedback to information services Analysis of reference queries received from the user Study of documents used by the user Analysis of the patents, designs etc., held by the user Scanning correspondence and reports prepared and received by the user Advantages of direct observation are that the information need identifier comes in direct and personal contact with the user in a dialogue, interview or discussion and that it provides an opportunity for observing the users in their normal environment. Therefore direct observation provides information on the personality and behaviour pattern of the user in different action situations. A disadvantage of the direct observation is that it so much depends on the observers own capability and adequacy in carrying out such observational studies. Inadequacies may come up in professional attainments, ability in communicating, maturity, tact and knowledge of and skill in carrying out an observational studies. It is also necessary to note that the inferences drawn from the observations may have incidence of subjective element of the observer. The analysis and inferences from indirect studies are based on the work done by the users which is based on serious thought on their part and is not merely some kind of off hand ad hoc statements.Therefore the records of users is adequate in providence of a more reliable indication of his/her subject interests, level of understanding, orientation, up to date in the subject and the skill to express ideas in writing for communication with peers. These studies also provide adequate time for analysis.The data collected is about a situation at a point in time and in a particular context which is to be extrapolated to a dynamic changing situation.Users are a living, developing beings, working in a system which itself is subjected to constant change.Few methods of study of users are discussed below: Preliminary survey of users. To begin with it is very useful to start with a survey of users.key attributes of a user may be grouped as follows: Subject interest Normal field of specialisation Specific topics of interest within the field of specialisation Subjects closely related to the above Academic background and orientation Educational background Professional background Background of research, developmental activity, management activity etc. Psychological attributes, particularly Temperament Reception and communication of ideas Attitudes towards professional team mates, colleagues, etc., in the organisation Ability to express ideas precisely Attitude to using and acquiring ability to use the tools and techniques of information services Specifically the information need identifier would need information about the user relating to the following : Foreign language competence. Types of reports both internal and external received and sent by the user Types of reports both internal and external which the user is not receiving but would like to receive Functions, activities, tasks (job description) and responsibilities (specific work roles) in the organisation; Authors and Corporate Bodies, whose works are of interest Education, training and special expertise. Membership in professional bodies Channels of communication between the user and other departments/ personnel of the organisation Outside organisations with which the user has academic or professional contacts Membership in committees, task groups Periodicals and other information services received through membership Subject and associated interests specific subjects, allied subjects Annual Reviews and other Series publications in which interested. Periodicals often containing articles of interest which are to be specifically notified Kinds of information media preferred by the user; Time most convenient to the user to receive information services Position of the user in the organization. Types of information notices/ services preferred by the user Approximate time available to the user in a day or week for reading Also information about the user may be obtained by a study of his/ her resume.Information need identifier should also carryout surveys using questionnaires for collecting such preliminary information about the users. He should fill up the questionnaire himself after following the steps of studying the subject, the organization, the specific department and the resume of the user. This would show some gaps in the resume and would help concentrate on information not available from it. A shortcoming with the questionnaire method is the low return rate. Study of Work Diary Maintained by the User Users may maintain a diary about their work for their own use. It records; important activities like filing of license applications, critical events and incidents comments on how improvement could be achieved in the organization discussions/ meetings with experts and / or with colleagues, for specific problems and their solution the consultants/ consultancy organisations preferred method of solution or probable reasons for non solution route of search for specific information, kinds of documents/ sources/ services/ channels/ media consulted and used and their usefulness procedures, techniques s/he has used and/ or has planned to use details of projects s/he is engaged in working details observations cases of problems faced results arrived at Some organisations it is mandatory that such a diary or record is maintained by each member of staff above a certain level as a part of the project routine, in a general prescribed form. Users to be studied should be asked to maintain a diary of all important events, cases of problems faced, method of solution, the specific information sources/ services/ channels/ media used and their usefulness. Also, they may be asked to record each and every event in the order of occurrence. Such a diary record, properly designed and carefully maintained can be a source of useful information on the specific topics of interest to the user.The methods and techniques s/he has used or planned to use in his work; the kinds of documents, information sources and services s/he uses extensively; the extent of time he normally spends in reading books, articles, reports etc., in discussion with colleagues, experts; and the kind of personal information services s/he prefers. Occassionally it may give some inf ormation on the persons in the organisation and outside it, with whom he usually associates himself with. Survey of information sources used The next step is to make a study of the different sources of information/ information services being used by the users. This aim of this study is to bring out the relevance of different types of sources/ services, the frequency of use, the availability/ accessibility of the s

Book report lord of the rings :: essays research papers

Vol. III - THE RETURN OF THE KINGS: Everyone except Frodo and Sam arrives at the kingdom of Gondor, and though the people of Gondor are amazed and frightened at first by the huge army of walking trees that accompany them, everyone smiles and accepts them when Gandalf and Aragorn reveal themselves. The brothers Denethor and Boromir, however, see that Aragorn brings knowledge from the North which will give their kingship over to Faramir, the true King, and so they secretly conspire against him. And so later on, when the forces of Mordor arrive to attack Gondor, they successfully plot to have Aragorn positioned so he must face the Witch-King in single combat. The battle is too much for Aragorn, and just as he is about to die he is saved by Eowyn, a woman of Rohan who loves him, and Merry, who slays the Witch-king in single combat by using ancient hobbit-magic and so reveals himself to be the lost Thain of the Shire. Even as the forces of Mordor retreat, they are swept into the Sea by great ships brought by Faramir, the tr ue Prince of Dol Amroth, from the hidden city of Osgiliath further up the Great River. Meanwhile Sam chases the tarantula back to the lair of Ungoliant, the Queen of Spiders, and after a tense argument about the nature of good and evil she finally reveals to Sam the cure for the spider's-venom which holds Frodo in thrall. Sam thanks Ungoliant for her mercy and wisdom and revives Frodo, and they set off into Mordor to find Gollum. "Oft help will come from the weak when the Wise are foolish," Gandalf once said, and sure enough all the spiders of Mordor are willing to help Frodo and Sam in their quest. Their course leads them to Mount Doom, where just as they arrive they find Gollum claiming the Ring for himself. The Dark Lord Sauron then becomes aware of them, and leaves the Dark Tower to come forth and destroy them; but just them Frodo and Sam rush Gollum and force him backwards into the Cracks of Doom. The Ring is destroyed, and without it Sauron is destroyed by the sunlight. Frodo and Sam leave the Mountain just in time to see the great armies of Aragorn and Faramir coming across the plains of Mordor to greet them. Boromir and Denethor are driven away from Gondor forever, but mercifully spared by King Faramir, and Aragorn is revealed to be the long-lost King of Arnor, the North-Kingdom of old.

Essay --

Energy is what makes the world go around. All of our technologies are designed and developed based on readily available resources, most common of which are fossil fuels. What happens when we run out? The technologies we so heavily rely on for generating food, shelter, and transportation will cease to function. Throughout this article, I will elucidate the importance of developing and implementing alternative energy sources, specifically those that are renewable, into everyday technologies, and the resulting positive and negative consequences that could follow . According to Professor Chris Rhodes and the latest B.P (British Petroleum) statistical review, the â€Å"majority of energy used by humans on Earth is crude oil, accounting for 33% of our total, closely followed by coal at 30%. Natural gas follows at a close third place at 24%; nuclear and hydroelectric at 5-6% each; and the tiny fraction of our overall energy that comes from â€Å"renewables†, is just 1.6%.† Based on his research, it can be concluded that we are reliant on fossil fuels for 87% of our total energy. A frightening percentage! Since we are currently reliant on fossil fuels for 87% of our energy supply, it is important that more money is invested into research and development of new renewable resources. Fossil fuels are nonrenewable. They WILL run out! Failure to implement renewable and sustainable sources of energy could lead to a national crisis. To give an idea of how fast we are using our oil, we have already passed peak oil production. A â€Å"detailed assessment of more than 800 oil fields in the world, covering three-quarters of global reserves, has found that most of the biggest fields have already peaked and that the rate of decline in oil pro... ...ources is that they are â€Å"too expensive†. Their EROEI (energy returned on energy invested) is poor, resulting in loss of profits. Wind turbines, solar panels, and most other forms of alternate energy are very expensive and inefficient. Although this is true in some cases, there is a reason and solution for the problem. More funds must be dedicated to researching and improving these technologies. Nothing happens for free, and research is no exception. Without sufficient funds, these sources of clean energy will neither become more efficient or cost effective. Since every important aspect of society runs on fossil fuels, and fossil fuels will eventually run out, it is extremely important that we further develop and implement renewable energy into everyday processes. As our population increases, so will our energy demands. We must make changes before it is too late.

Why Africa Is the Poorest Continent

Africa: The Poorest Continent in the World By Haile Hamlett You have just been kidnapped and the war lord has gotten you so addicted to drugs you’ll do anything for him to get them. Or you can’t go to school because you have to stay home and take care of your siblings because you parents died of AIDS. This is just some of the things the citizens of the poorest continent in the world go through every day. Thirty six percentof people in Africa are living on less than a dollar a day.Sixty nine percent of the population in Africa is living with HIV. Another very overlooked reason is that there isn’t enough clean wate r. Those are just a few of the reasons that Africa has become the poorest continent in the world. The education in Africa is very poor, which leads to many of the problems in Africa. Only 52% of kids are enrolled in primary education and the percent goes down as they get older. The largest reason for poor education in Africa is because there isn’t many places fit to be a school or people to employ as teachers.Most people who do receive an education are in big cities or go overseas to get their education; people who live in rural areas find it harder to get a proper education. The poor education leads to issues finding jobs that could provide more money. If there was a better educational system there would be more job opportunities and more money being offered. Out of the estimated 31. 6 people who have AIDS/HIV worldwide, 21. 6 million of them live in Sub-Saharan Africa. One main reason it’s so high in Africa is because it’s transmitted more often.This is because people don’t have enough money to get the medication they need, and have kids or pass it on, therefore infecting yet another person. Of course, AIDS isn’t caused by poverty itself, but caused by HIV. But poverty can be the reason that could make somebody more eligible to get it. Poverty can make it hard for people to get information on AI DS/HIV or how to properly prevent it. Also when you don’t have the money you can’t get tested so you could be living with HIV and not even know it. ______ has reported that about one billion people in Africa don’t have access to clean, safe drinking water. Without water you cannot grow crops which could help you feed your family or you could sell them for money to get other necessities. Without water you cannot stay hydrated while working tedious hours in the fields or out hunting. Often the nearest water source is miles away and you have to bring a jug and fill it with, often dirty, water, and carry it back to where you live. The water can create a healthier place and help slow down the spread of diseases.Although Africa is the poorest continent it could be considered â€Å"rich† with all the natural resources that can be found throughout Africa. Africa has a lot of natural resources including oil, diamonds, gold, coal, petroleum, and tropical fruits, an d because its population is so spread out many of them have not even been touched. Africa is also rich with culture, even though many of the people are below poverty line they still find a way to have fun and live life. Africa may be poor in some ways but is rich in ways that can’t be taken from them.

Airbus Strategy of Assembling an Aircraft Essay

Airbus is a multinational company, with its headquarters in Toulouse, which coordinates all activities and controls the progress in all corporate functions. Its main actions are focused on four EU members: France, Germany, UK, Spain (Airbus online: 2012) France includes four manufacturing sites and three assembly lines. As one of the founder members France has the biggest number of employees. Germany has an important role in the development and engineering of all aircrafts. Hamburg is the Centre of Excellence for cabin and cargo customisation. (Airbusonline:2012) The main contribution of the United Kingdom is the expertise in the design and manufacturing of wings. The assembling of wings for all Airbus aircrafts takes place in the UK. Spain contributes the expertise in weight-saving, composite materials and in innovative manufacturing technologies. However, non EU members like China, Japan, USA or Russia have become more and more attractive in terms of working conditions and tax policy. (Airbusonline:2012) These international collaborations emphasize the multinational thinking of Airbus and indicate the EU as an important partner in terms of creating attractive general conditions. It has to be noticed that Airbus’s operations are one before and one after the implementation of the Sup@irWorld Program. In the next, are listed some of the advantages and disadvantages of the its implementation. Pros: * Improved productivity of its operations to effectively cater to the changing requirements of its customers. * Cycle time reduction of manufacturing aircrafts from 7.5 to 6 years * Smart buying- Reduced its supply cost base: The aim of this program was sharing risk with their suppliers and thus make them more responsible for the overall performance of Airbus. * Improvements in Supply Chain * Improved efficiency through new implemented technology in the supply chain * Quality standards * Economies of scales * Better scope for interoperability between its several entities * Fewer but dedicated suppliers and service providers * Introduction of the Supply Chain Quality Improvement Program (SQIP) to achieve the best performance in the industry such as supply chain efficiency, quality and on time delivery. Cons: * Job cuts -10,000 employees out of 87,000 across its plants were fired when implementing the power8 program * Lack of standardization before the introduction of sup@irWorld. This was leading to inefficiency in its operations with its different manufacturers, ordering the same spare fro different suppliers and using several logistic providers. Airbus recently introduced a ‘maintenance, repair and overhaul’ (MRO) strategy supporting RFID adoption for â€Å"value chain visibility,† by tracing both flyable and non-flyable components over their total lifecycle. According to Carlo K. Nizam, Airbus’s head of value chain visibility, the increasingly competitive global market, and the need to reduce costs and streamline business processes in order to remain competitive has driven the firm to adopt RFID. Airbus introduced the RFID-technology to increase their overall supply chain transparency and visibility to improve their general reactivity. Its goal is to â€Å"error-proof and automate† its supply chain and manufacturing operations to reduce aircraft production and maintenance costs. †¢ Minimize unplanned maintenance and detect malfunction early †¢ Manage and reduce airline parts inventories †¢ Establish audit trails for each uniquely identified object †¢ Ensure that the correct part is being used in the right place †¢ Mechanics can access document, task, and parts data, and locate and track approved spare parts in real time †¢ Identify and track tool location, usage history, and repair requirements †¢ Improve safety and security by authenticating components Benefits of utilizing RFID to Airbus: * Visibility: getting automatic updates of events in the value chain and an unprecedented high level of information * Process Benefits: the cycle times are shorter and less inventory is needed * Business Benefits: reduction in inventory, capital assets and stock reconciliations, and an increased labour productivity and supplier monitoring Drawbacks of utilizing RFID to Airbus: * High Costs * Standardization Issues: It can be very challenging to manage multiple readers and hardware, especially across many facilities * Potential Data Interference and Overload Issues: whether multiple passive RFID devices can cause interference to aircraft systems, whether a strong and undesired signal can activate all devices simultaneously, and the corresponding effects on aircraft systems * Environmental factors: emperature, presence of liquids or metals, such as foil packaging and liquid detergents, can affect the ability of readers to work reliably * Resistance to Change from Barcode System

Social Responsibility of Business

However, in the 21st century it is a firms' responsibility to create a broader range of value along what is called the Triple Bottom Line, which consists of people, planet, and profits. Although financial profit is vital for a firm to exist, the intangible benefits that come from operating with society and the environment in mind go way beyond pure financial gain. As a manager, hiring hard-working and competent individuals to work for your firm is obviously important, but it is often not enough.Your employees are takeovers Just like you, your customers, your suppliers, and even the firm's shareholders. Taking their concerns into consideration, and allowing them to express themselves openly and honestly can make them much happier employees. Happy employees provide better quality customer service, which leads to happier customers. Happier customers lead to more business, which leads to happy investors. In other words, making your employees happy can have prosperous results.Although con ducting â€Å"green† business is expensive and may require costly investments depending on what industry a firm is in, we are obligated as a planet to move in that direction. Practices like pollution and deforestation, along with byproducts like CA emissions are very rough on the environment, and unless we engage in cleaner, more sustainable practices, we may cause irreversible damage to the planet. A quote comes to mind, although I don't remember where I heard it from: â€Å"If you think economics is more important than the environment, try counting your money while holding your breath. Yes, it's a bit extreme, but it effectively puts the importance of the environment into perspective, and reminds us that there are future generations relying on our consideration and treatment of the environment. I hope that businesses in the 21st century will take more accommodative and proactive strategies toward CARS practices than their historical counterparts. Due to the costly nature o f CARS related activities, I doubt that all organizations will truly support CARS activities, and will continue to take reactive and defensive stances regarding CARS.Being realistic, however, we can see that CARS is becoming a hot topic mongo firms around the world, which means Coos and other shareholders are likely to begin to push their company's in that direction. It may be because the shareholders are genuinely concerned with ongoing social issues and the sustainability of our environment, or it may be because the CEO simply wants to promote their company in a positive way to the public. Either way, it seems that CARS will become much more accepted and practiced as the 21st century progresses. Both the benefits of implementing CARS activities and the inevitable costs of ignoring them cannot be denied.