Drawing Funds from the European Union Essay

Drawing Funds from the European Union Introduction            European Union funds are an instrument for implementing its economic and social cohesion policies whose objective is to eliminate the disparities in development levels amongst the EU member states and the relative primitiveness of the most disadvantaged states. The EU funds provide funding for a wide range of projects covering areas such as urban and regional development, employment and social inclusion. The funds also cover agricultural and rural development, maritime developments, innovation and research ventures, and humanitarian aid. It means that municipalities, businesses, ministries, non-profit organizations, learning institutions, the transport industry, and research institutions are eligible to apply for the funds. Management of Funds            Funding, the sole purpose of the EU funds, is supervised in accordance with a set strict rules to ensure that there is total control over how to spend the funds; in a transparent and accountable manner. Twenty-Eight EU commissioners have the definitive responsibility of ensuring that beneficiaries use the funds accordingly. Nonetheless, performing checks and annual audits is a responsibility that lies with the national governments. It is because the funds are mostly managed within the beneficiary states. Management of seventy-six percent of the whole EU budget happens in collaboration with state and regional authorities via a system of shared management. Allotment of Funds The EU provides funds from five categories: The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). European Social Fund (ESF). Cohesion Fund (CF). European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF).            These major funds are referred to as Structural Funds. There are other funds that the EU manages directly. These other funds are usually in the form of grants and contracts. There is a common fallacy that ‘money from Brussels’ is available for free and for any purpose. Reality check proves it otherwise because grants from the EU are usually made available for supporting specific objectives. A big chunk of the funds is not given to beneficiaries directly, but through state and regional authorities who are responsible for transparent management of the funds (Council, 2007).            The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF): The aim of the ERDF is strengthening economic and social cohesion in the EU through adjusting imbalances amongst its regions. The ERDF usually centers its attention on some key priority areas known as ‘thematic concentration’: Low-carbon economy Research and innovation Assisting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and The digital agenda            The resource allocation to the priorities usually depends on the category of the region in question. More developed regions focus at least eighty percent of these funds on at least two of these priorities. Transition regions’ focus is for sixty percent of the funds and fifty percent for less developed regions. Additionally, some of the ERDF resources are directed specifically towards low-carbon economy projects; twenty percent for more developed regions, fifteen percent for transition regions and twelve percent for less developed regions. The ERDF also gives special attention to specific territorial attributes. Disadvantaged areas from a geographical point of view, for example, mountainous or sparsely populated areas, gain from this special treatment.            The European Social Fund (ESF): The most important focus of the ESF is improving the job market and education opportunities across member states of the European Union. Improving the social statuses of vulnerable people is also an important aim for the fund. The earmarking of more than â‚ ¬80 billion for investment in human capital in EU member states for the period 2014-2020 attests to it. Other objectives of the fund include: retraining unemployed people, starting special programmes for the disabled and other disadvantaged groups of citizens. In addition: supporting self-employed people who are just starting their businesses, developing employment service institutions and improving the quality of education in learning institutions.            Cohesion Fund (CF): The CF is mostly aimed at member states whose Gross National Income (GNI) per inhabitant is less than 90% of that of EU’s average. Its main aim is to minimize social and economic disparities and promoting sustainable development. The CF is also subject to the same regulations as the ERDF and ESF via the Common Provisions Regulation. For the programming period, 2014-2020, the CF concerns states such as the Czech Republic, Croatia, Latvia, Malta, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia. The CF allocates approximately â‚ ¬63.4 billion to various economic and social welfare projects. The Cohesion Fund is used to fund trans-European transport networks especially those identified as priorities by the EU. The funds can additionally be used to fund environment-friendly projects. These projects include those that benefit the environment in terms of renewable energy, supporting an inter-modality, and energy efficiency. If audits reveal that a member stat e has excessive public deficit and they are not taking steps to resolve the situation, the Cohesion Fund can be suspended by a Council Decision.            The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD): The EAFRD covers; bio-energy, organic farming, forest resources, food safety, animal welfare, plant health and rural development programmes (RDPs). The EU requires its member states to build their RDPs upon not less than six set EU priorities. They include: Advancing knowledge transfer and innovation in the agricultural sector, forestry and rural areas. Improving the viability of all types of agriculture, and endorsing innovative farming technologies and sustainable forest management. Encouraging food chain organization, management of risk in agriculture and animal welfare. Protecting and developing ecosystems allied to agriculture and forestry. Shifting towards a low-carbon and climate-conscious economy in the food and agriculture sectors.            Each RDP identifies focus areas to set quantified targets for funds needed. Measures to achieve these targets and their individual fund allocations are paramount. RDPs’ also gets funding from private sectors that share the same ideologies. The implementation of funds is monitored and evaluated in detail.            European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF): The EMFF, formerly European Fisheries Fund (EFF), is used to fund the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The EMFF gives funding for the fishing industry and communities in the coastal regions. The CFP endeavors to make sure that fishing and aquaculture are sustainable; environmentally, economically and socially. Healthy fish and seafood is also paramount. Though important to maximize catches for business purposes, limits must be put in place. The CFP stipulates that limits should be set such that fish stocks are sustainable in the long-term. The CFP allows EU member states access to its waters and fishing grounds.            To enhance transparency in funding, the European Transparency Initiative was set up. A central web portal was created to collect and show data from all beneficiaries of EU funding; funds received and how the funds are being used. There is also an inventory of EU funding that shows the evaluations done and released by the Evaluation Services of all Twenty-Five EU member states. Applying for Funding in Selected Areas            Enterprise: small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can obtain funding via grants, loans and guarantees. It is mostly through financial intermediaries in their member states. Grants usually account for fifty percent of project costs. Loan guarantees are given to microcredit organizations for loans of up to â‚ ¬25,000.            Non-profit organizations: they include non-governmental and civil society organizations. These organizations are eligible for funding as long as they are active in EU policy regions and a strictly non-profit basis (Council, 2007).            Young people: they are eligible for two types of funding; education and training, and youth funding. The former includes study opportunities through Erasmus+, scholarships for high school graduates, and occupational training in other countries. The latter includes co-funding youth projects that encourage civic involvement, charity work and a wider multicultural outlook.            Researchers: individuals and institutions involved in innovation and research projects are qualified to request for the funds. The European Union will provide roughly â‚ ¬80 billion in its quest to fund research. The funding typically takes the form of grants to finance partly a wide range of research and innovation projects.            Agriculture and fisheries: acquiring funds for such projects involves giving a general introduction, presenting financial reports, and giving information on the planned use of the funds. Direct funding is the most important and common type of funding in the EU member states.            Cultural and audiovisual sector: the main programme in this segment is culture: it has three main goals. They include promoting cross-border mobility of people working in the cultural sector, encouraging circulation of cultural, artistic output, and fostering intercultural dialogue (Evans & Foord, 1999).            Energy: funding is available for a number of sectors including solar and wind energies, bioenergy, renewable energy, clean coal projects and energy efficiency. Funds are also available for Trans-European Energy Networks (TEN-E), whose aim is to enhance transportation networks for electricity and gas across the European member states.            The structural funds and grants from the European Union Funds have impacted the lives of the citizens of its member states immensely. The standards of living of many citizens have risen noticeably due to the array of new employment opportunities created by the funds’ projects. Some of the projects’ success stories are noteworthy and have had a great impact to states and individuals. We will take a look at some examples of projects carried out using the funds so as to take note of their effects to their beneficiaries. ESF in the Czech Republic            The Czech Republic is among the less wealthy nations in the European Union member states. According to regulations, Czech could have drawn approximately â‚ ¬26.7 billion from the ESF in the programming period 2007-2013 in order to raise the standards of living of its people. However, the amount received from the ESF for that period is â‚ ¬3.8 billion. Together with national funding, the tally adds up to over â‚ ¬4.4 billion.            ESF funds help in three activities. The first is advancing education at all levels and enhancing its relevance to the job market. Secondly, the funds are used to enable many people to get employment, especially the disadvantaged. Lastly, they have helped build competitiveness of the Prague region.            The Czech Republic is using the funds to do away with obstacles that; for one reason or another, prevent people from getting a job. These people include; mothers with young children, older people, and the disabled and disadvantaged groups, like those with little or no professional skills. Many ESF projects across the nation are making access to training facilities easier and reducing some practical obstacles to work. Consequently, this is bringing a positive impact by lifting its citizens out of poverty (Fagan, 2005).            ESF funding is also helping improve the quality of education by scrutinizing standards, employing more competent teachers, and teaching job seekers only the needed skills by employers. Events such as science documentary film festivals and meetings with top Czech scientists are being used as platforms to encourage students to consider careers in science and technology. Just like other member states, the Czech Republic is struggling with the unemployment crisis. The ESF fund, however, has gone a long way in helping Czech citizens find jobs attributed to the various employment and educational projects initiated by the funds. Saving Lives: EU Funded Cancer Research Project            Physicians mostly wait for several months to assess whether cancer treatments that they are administering to their patients are actually working. By discovering a new technique that quickly reveals a tumor by checking consumption of glucose, an EU-funded project has reduced the delay. This discovery enables doctors to get more ‘precious’ time to switch to more effective forms of treatment if crucial; potentially saving many lives.            All cancer treatments do not work in every patient’s case. A tumor might reduce rapidly after a treatment, yet its assessment is complex. Several therapies may eliminate the cancer without reducing the size of the tumor. A delay in confirmation by a doctor may mean that by the next treatment, the patient may be a lot weaker, and the cancer advanced further (Eckhouse & Sullivan, 2006). Physicians want to assess immediately if the cancer is affected by a treatment, not just by measuring its size but through metabolic indicators. The EU-funded project, Imaging Lymphoma, has developed such an assessment. The innovation will be important in future cancer treatments as it makes it easier for doctors to treat their patients. Turning Food Waste into Animal Feed            The European Union is the source of 18% of food exports worldwide and with it comes a huge chunk of agricultural waste. This waste costs farmers and taxpayers’ money (Kraemer, Wilkinson, Klasing & Homeyer, 2002). An EU-funded research project NOSHAN wants to convert food waste into animal feed. The objective of the research is to open up new opportunities for farmers and reducing Europe’s dependence on animal feed imports. Additionally, new green jobs in agricultural waste collection and feed manufacturing will be created.            The NOSHAN project aims particularly at turning fruits, vegetables and dairy wastes into animal feed, and at low energy costs. The project is expected to conclude its research in 2016, and by that time, the research team will be able to have the best waste extraction and upgrading techniques. The NOSHAN project presents Europe’s agricultural sector with a prospect of attaining greater agricultural sustainability. The project has been awarded just under â‚ ¬3 million in the programming period 2007-2013. It brings together a University, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), research institutes and other industries. The NOSHAN project could also reduce the ever-increasing competition between food and feed sectors, both of which require water and land (Wolz, Hubbard, Mà ¶llers, Gorton & Buchenrieder, 2012). Revolutionizing the Transport Sector            EU-funded researchers have come up with groundbreaking proposals to prevent railway suicides and decrease disruption of services. If adopted, the proposals could save lives, money and time for railway companies and their passengers. Waiting for a train, and suddenly the service is called off or delayed indefinitely is something that train passengers have become accustomed to in the long run. Perhaps an accident; somebody fell onto the track, or they purposefully stepped in front of the track.            The EU-funded project, RESTRAIL, collected and analyzed the measures put in place by different EU member states to curb suicides and accidental deaths. The outcome of the research was that proposals that can save a lot of lives. Decision makers such as station managers or railway companies should have a set of the most efficient mitigation measures for every event. The tests they have conducted have created a toolbox for consultation on the best practices on each country. RESTRAIL guidelines could help reduce direct and indirect costs linked to railway suicides and accidents. ESF Fund in Slovakia            Slovakia is one of the fastest growing economies in the EU, but it faces several challenges such as high long-term unemployment levels. Nonetheless, Slovakia plans to increase the country’s employment rate to 72% by 2020. Slovakia has received â‚ ¬1.5 billion ESF funding for the period ended 2007-2013. In combination with national co-funding, they have raised a total of â‚ ¬1.76 billion. A variety of projects’ is being supported via the funding. Public employment facilities and services are being improved so as to reach as many slovaks as possible. Since 2007-2011, approximately 24,000 employment opportunities have been created and around 26,000 people have found employment via ESF supported measures.            Projects are also being implemented in the form of flood-dependence-programmes that offer up to 4,500 new jobs in 200 villages. ESF funding is helping reform the education system in Slovakia by ensuring that education is tailored to align with the evolving needs of the society. An example is a project that investigates the interests of young people and matches them to career guidance. ESF funded projects are facilitating the establishment of life-long-learning culture that natures skills of the Slovak citizens throughout their lives. For instance, a Slovak packaging company has used ESF funding to facilitate professional training of new skills, such as in quality and environmental standards, making them more adaptable and well equipped for their future careers.            The Roma people in Slovakia tend to live in segregated settlements and are more exposed to long-term unemployment compared to the average population, and also live in conditions of poverty. Thanks to ESF funding, social workers and assistants have been employed to work closely with them to help improve their circumstances (Guy & Kovats 2006). Setbacks and Doubts on the efficient use of EU Funds            One of the problems with EU funds is that in some cases, the money is allocated to projects that are neither necessary nor productive (Ã…  umpà ­kovà ¡, Pavel & Klazar, 2004). For instance, if a village wants to repair sidewalks in its region and would like to use EU funding for it, it is imperative that they formulate a supporting story. Let’s say, expansion of regional tourism. It means that, in addition to repairing the sidewalk, the money will also be spent to put up some signs with a map of village’s streets, which in the first place is not necessary. Some smart villages can even use the funds to renovate an old library and rename it to the Tourist Information Center, and stow some pamphlets there, in case some tourists do show up.            Another predicament is deformation of industrial and consumer environment. When a firm receives funding to build, say, a grocery store, its neighbors who have the similar business plans receive nothing.            A further problem is that national ministries of some states like say, Slovakia, are reluctant to delegate control of EU funds to lower governance levels. The central governments do not trust the ability of their municipalities and regional authorities to implement the funds timely and effectively. There have been cases where regional authorities have mixed implementation of policies, to say the least. Nevertheless, Slovakia has not been able to create any efficient mechanisms for decision-making and management of public funds (Guy & Kovats, 2006). Conclusion            Funds drawn from the European Union have increased employment opportunities, bolstered the education sectors of beneficiaries and led to the growth of economies. Additionally, funding the transport sector, research and innovation projects have led to groundbreaking discoveries in the agricultural, health and transport sectors among others. The number of lives saved and projected to save by some of these discoveries is amazing. Nonetheless, the funding has not been without a few controversies. Some parties have tried to take advantage of corrupt officials to leverage some money for themselves leading to misuse and undertaking of dubious projects. An honest culture should be created to ensure appropriate use of funds. The European Union funding goal is to ensure that beneficiaries spend money in a transparent, accountable manner. It is thus the duty of all beneficiaries to make it a reality. References Council, T. R. D. (2007). European Union Funding.Eckhouse, S., & Sullivan, R. (2006). A survey of public funding of cancer research in the European Union. PLoS Medicine, 3(7), e267. Evans, G., & Foord, J. (1999). European funding of culture: promoting common culture or regional growth?. Cultural Trends, 9(36), 53-87. Fagan, A. (2005). Taking stock of civil-society development in post-communist Europe: Evidence from the Czech Republic. Democratization, 12(4), 528-547. Guy, W., & Kovats, M. (2006). EU-funded Roma programmes: Lessons from Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. London: Minority Rights Group International. Kraemer, R. A., Wilkinson, D. G., Klasing, A., & von Homeyer, I. (2002). EU Environmental Governance: A Benchmark of Policy Instruments. With a focus on Agriculture, Energy and Transport. Study commissioned by the Belgian Federal Department of the Environment. No. ECOLOGIC, Berlin.Ã…  umpà ­kovà ¡, M., Pavel, J., & Klazar, S. (2004, May). EU funds: absorption capacity and effectiveness of their use, with focus on regional level in the Czech Republic. In Conference proceedings of the 12 th NISPAcee Conference. Wolz, A., Hubbard, C., Mà ¶llers, J., Gorton, M., & Buchenrieder, G. (2012). Patterns behind rural success stories in the European Union: Major lessons of former enlargements (No. 68). Studies on the agricultural and food sector in Central and Eastern Europe. Source document

Importance of Strategic Management Essay

1.Functions Of Strategic Management defines the strategies of the organization. The strategy definition is when the organization decides what its objectives are and goes a step further in achieving its goals. The top managers are the one who define the organization strategy, but the company workers put the effort to achieve the goals. 2.The other Functions Of Strategic Management is to develop or form the strategic plans of the firm. The strategic plans are attached to the departments of the organization and may be a certain thing the department may want to achieve for the benefit of the entire organization. For example a sale department may have plans to increase the sale with a certain percentage. To achieve the plan, the sales department may consider promoting the company products or developing a new product. 3.One of the major Functions Of Strategic Management is to instil change in the organization or what is called the strategic implementation. Strategic implementation in an organization is faced with many challenges such as workers refusing to have changes in the organization. At such time, it is difficult for an organization to achieve its goals. However, Functions Of Strategic Management help to come up with a strategy addressing the influential people such that they will be able to motivate other employees into accepting the change. 4.The last main Functions Of Strategic Management is to check or to monitor the success of the strategies already put. Monitoring involves checking if the strategies are performing in accordance to the expectation of the top manager. If the set strategies are not performing as expected, then the problems affecting the success can be addressed and necessary measures put to bring the strategy on track. 1.Strategic management takes into account the future and anticipates for it. 2.A strategy is made on rational and logical manner, thus its efficiency and its success are ensured. 3.Strategic management reduces frustration because it has been planned in such a way that it follows a procedure. 4.It brings growth in the organization because it seeks opportunities. 5.With strategic management organizations can avoid helter & skelter and they can work directionally. 6.Strategic management also adds to the reputation of the organization because of consistency that results from organizations success. 7.Often companies draw to a close because of lack of proper strategy to run it. With strategic management companies can foresee the events in future and that’s why they can remain stable in the market. 8.Strategic management looks at the threats present in the external environment and thus companies can either work to get rid of them or else neutralizes the threats in such a way that they become an opportunity for their success. 9.Strategic management focuses on proactive approach which enables organization to grasp every opportunity that is available in the market.

Boeing Company

The fundamental analysis consists of describing the competitive forces in the industry including the company’s relative advantages and disadvantages to its competitors and a discussion on ROE as the basis for growth. Based on the technical analysis, we find that Boeing’s stock is overpriced. Its intrinsic value is $13. 39 in 2011, which is substantially less than its current price. But, our fundamental analysis shows that Boeing Company has not only greater earnings growth but also little more ability to grow than its competitor Lockheed Marin Corporation.The Boeing Company also has strong prospect for earnings growth in coming years. Based on the technical and fundamental analysis, we recommend hold. Background Boeing is the world’s leading aerospace company and the largest manufacturer of commercial jetliners and military aircraft combined. Additionally, Boeing designs and manufactures rotorcraft, electronic and defense systems, missiles, satellites, launch vehicles and advanced information and communication systems. As a major service provider to NASA, Boeing operates the Space Shuttle and International Space Station. The company also provides numerous military and commercial airline support services. Boeing has customers in more than 90 countries around the world and is one of the largest U. S. exporters in terms of sales. Headquartered in Chicago, Boeing employs more than 158,000 people across the United States and in 70 countries (Boeing, 2011, p. 1). Early History of Boeing Commercial Aircraft Boeing started its career in the second half of 1920’s by selling training aircraft to the U. S. Navy.This conglomerate, known as United, was the essence of vertical integration, controlling almost all aspects of the aerospace business. By 1931 United Airlines had a fleet of 120 planes that flew 32,000 miles a day (Sgouridis, 2007, p. 90). A continuing expansionist drive for market domination fueled the conglomerate. United created demand for aircraft and the manufactures profits are used of designing bigger and better planes that would in turn attract more passengers generating more profit for both division (Sgouridis, 2007, p. 90).

Trends in Selection Methods Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Trends in Selection Methods - Assignment Example Also, the process of selection creates a base for practicing adequate employee motivational strategies. When the abilities and personal traits of the candidates for a job are assessed, the goal is not just to identify the individuals that can rightly do the job, but it is actually about choosing candidates that would actually accept to work when offered to and would tend to develop a long term relationship with the company, beneficial both for the employee and the organization. Thus, selection should ensure retention which means â€Å"the existence of an ongoing employee relationship† (Huang, Lin and Chuang, 2005). There is a certain cost associated with the process of selection, which goes into the training of the very personnel that are given the responsibility if recruiting employees for an organization, so that they may perform their duty adequately. However, the added cost is balanced by the increased retention that surfaces as a result of right selection of employees. â €Å"It is widely acknowledged that traditional selection interviews are unreliable predictors of which candidates are likely to be successful performers.† Rational practices: â€Å"Best practice† and â€Å"best fit† are two of the most fundamental and rational employee selection practices. The â€Å"best practice† is a perspective that emphasizes that many HR policies that also include the system of reward motivate the employees to work hard, while the â€Å"best fit† requires the managers to align the rewards with the strategic goals of the organization so that it may gain competitive advantage in the market (Morris and Maloney, n.d., p. 2). Many organizations do not make use of these practices and hence the performance of employees declines. There is dire need to take care of these matters along with making the selection procedure more reliable so that the difference between the expected and observed performance of the employees can be minimized. Analysis of interview as a selection tool: Although use of interview as a selection tool has been subjected to a lot of controversies in conventional recruitment practices, yet its efficiency as an assessment tool can not be denied. Particularly for the jobs in which assessment of an individual’s verbal and social skills are a critical factor, interview does the job efficiently. It helps the interviewer to make a sharp judgment not only of the candidate’s quickness of response, but also his/her fluency in the language demanded. In addition to estimating the candidate’s job related knowledge, the interviewer may also retrieve any supplementary information he/she may deem important in the context of a particular job. Likewise, the candidate may also ask the interviewing staff any questions that are influential upon his/her decision to join the organization. Hence, an interview is quite flexible in its structure and can be modified as required in an attempt to dra w the best conclusions both for the interviewers and the candidate. Sometimes, the interviewer is able to improve the process of interview for the rest after having conducted it with the first candidate. Because of its open nature, existing staff interviewing a candidate face-to-face may well assess if he/she can adjust in the very culture of an organization. This reduces the verisimilitude of interpersonal conflicts in the organization after the candidate is hired. In addition to that, selection through interview is a cost effective process. However,

Challenges and opportunities arising from the expansion of the Essay

Challenges and opportunities arising from the expansion of the European Union - Essay Example e significant changes in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1992 and this momentous event has had numerous ramifications for this multilateral organization. How should the EU expand? Should it continue to move eastward towards the former Yugoslavia or even expand towards Istanbul? Can a majority-Muslim country, i.e. Turkey, actually be European? Seeking to address these questions and many more with respect to European growth in the twenty-first century, the following will provide a comprehensive overview of a fascinating phenomenon. After the fall of communism and state-sponsored socialism at the end of the twenty-first century, the European Union has had to face many challenges dealing with integration and potential enlargement. This essay will explore the demand for eastern growth within the EU and look at the consequences, both intended and unintended of enlargement. The focus will be on Turkey and the ramifications of this controversial expansion. Following this, thi s essay will conclude with broad prescriptions for the future growth of what remains the most powerful multilateral political organization on the planet (Warleigh 2004). The European Union is a multilateral political body composed of a variety of different states, found throughout continental Europe and within the European region. While the composition of each member state differs from a social, political or economic perspective, the members of the EU share a common bond and common values such as pluralism, democracy and the belief is collective negotiation to achieve regional aims. Accordingly, multilateralism is an important feature of the modern EU, and numerous different interests – national as well as regional – are represented within an overarching transnational political framework. Significantly, the EU’s multilateral political framework insures that all member states subscribe to commonly-held principles such as democracy and at its base, capitalist economic

Trichomoniasis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Trichomoniasis - Essay Example This sexually transmitted disease is not reportable, so the epidemiologic data remains very difficult to obtain. However, it has been estimated that there are 5 million new cases in the United States each year, which is more than the sum of all cases of Chlamydia and gonococcal infections. The World Health Organization estimates that there is incidence of 173 million new infections of Trichomoniasis worldwide per year. This is also known as Trichomonas vaginitis. It is caused by the sexually transmitted, flagellated parasite, Trichomonas vaginalis. The transmission rate is high; 70% of men contract the disease after a single exposure to an infected woman, which suggests that the rate of male-to-female transmission is even higher. The parasite, which exists only in trophozoite form, is an anaerobe that has the ability to generate hydrogen to combine with oxygen to create an anaerobic environment. It often accompanies bacterial vaginosis, which can be diagnosed in as many as 60% of pat ients with Trichomonas vaginitis (Cates, Jr., 1999, S2-S7). Risk Factors: There are certain risk factors that are associated with Trichomoniasis. These include all the risk factors for sexually transmitted infection acquisition. ... There is generally a longer duration of infectiousness and a high level of asymptomatic infections, especially in men. Many women with annual Pap smear examination have asymptomatic infections. This is responsible for 25% of all cases of clinically diagnosed vaginitis. More than half of infected women and nearly 90% of infected men are asymptomatic, which increases the reservoir of people spreading the infection. Trichomoniasis increases the risks of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission and HIV acquisition (Horowitz, Mrdh, eds., 1999). Infection: The primary mode of transmission of T. vaginalis is through sexual contact. Transmission by fomites is possible, but is rarely the cause of a symptomatic infection. An inoculums of at least 10,000 organisms is needed to establish a clinically significant infection. Male-to-female transmission rates are higher than female-to-male rates; about 85% of exposed women will contract the infection. Female-to-male transmission rates are more variable, but may be as high as 70% within 48 hours of exposure. Incubation period varied between 4 to 28 days. T. vaginalis resembles anaerobic bacteria more than eukaryotic behavior in that it ferments large amounts of carbohydrates into carbon dioxide and hydrogen gases, causing bubbles. Its presence in the vaginal vault changes the vaginal microbiology-the lactobacilli disappear and anaerobic bacteria predominant. T. vaginalis swims freely in the vaginal discharge but can also attach to the vaginal wall. The cell membranes of the parasite a nd those of the host interdigitate. Trichomonas adhere to vaginal and cervical epithelial cells. T. vaginalis also infects the urethra, Skene's glands, and Bartholin glands. The

Why do pepol start smoking Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Why do pepol start smoking - Research Paper Example They found in smoking their way in order to say to the surrounding family "we are independent" (Wilson, 2009) Smoking has concerned governments, health organizations, as well as non-profits organizations from the earlier 1980s. This was due to the idea that smoking cigarettes is linked with huge social costs within the health care and it is often largely addictive. This health issue has been campaign against in different forms and through media but some individuals has gone against all odds to continue with the practice. This disturbing issue on health concerns on individuals is of great concern in our society and, therefore, it’s worth studied the reasons as to why individuals engage in such a health hazard habit that not only ruins their lives but also the affects the entire population both directly and indirectly (Burns, 2007). As per the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, smoking has over the years been linked to more than 400,000 yearly in the United States, $100B in health care as well as $105B in misplaced productivity amount. Therefore, researchers began seeking into approaches of curbing the issue and stop individuals from smoking. The plan on cigarette smoking alleviation has resulted to a number of studies that try to mark the predictors or hazard aspects that make individual engage in smoking. There is quite a lot of literature on the issue but we need to still investigate on actual reasons and causes on why people engage in the act despite being aware of its dangers. Furthermore, seeing that kids and the adolescence make up the most part of all fresh smokers, dozens of researches have been finished that evaluate the way and how young children start smoking (Goldberg, 2005). With all the established health hazards, which smokers’ encounters, keeping out of smoking should be the easiest thing across the universe. Nonetheless, the teens approach to such a risk is usually a â€Å"No.†

Triple bottom line (TBL) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Triple bottom line (TBL) - Essay Example The paper seeks to evaluate operational benefits hunted and realized from the evidence of the business discussed with regard to TBL. Additionally, the paper also seeks to answer whether there are activities that can be carried out to incorporate TBL. The research seeks to answer the following questions; the origin of the organization, its economic, social and environmental involvement in the business. in addition, its involvement in CSR. The research was done on Bristol organization which is a charitable organization. The work contains the profile of Bristol organization, investigation methods used, findings, literature review, the activities of the organization, importance of CSR and conclusion. Organization profile Bristol organization is a charitable organization established in the year 2000. ... For part two I used questionnaire. I got the information from the manager of Bristol. I chose questionnaire because it is an easy method of data collection. In addition, I get to gather information first hand from the manager of the organization. The method is also interactive making the interviewee feel at ease while answering the questions. I used the findings from part 1 and part 3 to complete part 3. Discussion findings From the primary research from Bristol, we learn that, the organization has maximized on the triple bottom line concepts, even though the organization does not use triple bottom line as a framework for its business reporting. Economy wise the organization has ensured enough people are employed even though they are not that educated. Therefore, by providing employment opportunities the organization gas assisted in reduction of unemployment in society. Additionally, the organization is involved in charitable activities that assist in helping the needy therefore, con tributing positively to the society. Through, sustainability initiative the organization has been able to maximize on profit. Thus, the organization has been able to improve in its service delivery. Through the green capital award, more organizations will be encouraged to embrace triple bottom line concepts in order to ensure they stay in line with organizations that are already in practice. Bristol CSR activities The operational activities practiced by Bristol include; voluntariness, this involves the company behavior to ensure all selected actions and behaviors are based on ethics, values and according to the existing laws. The company benefits from these operational activities in that it will gain respect from the community therefore maximizing on sales. Additionally, by

Symbol of American Culture - Uncle Sam Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Symbol of American Culture - Uncle Sam - Essay Example History dates the American war with England in the north to 1812. Samuel Wilson was given the tender to inspect and supply American soldiers during the war with meat. He was a renowned meat and pork packer, inspector and distributor in New York. The United States government transported the meat bearing â€Å"U.S† on the barrels since the soldiers knew that the meat was from the government but inspected by Samuel, they started to refer to the meat as Uncle Sam’s. A year later this name was adopted by the populations as the unofficial name for the United States federal government (Swosugrad09 and Miller, pg.4-6). Several other government properties that passed through Samuel for inspection were marked â€Å"U.S†, making the people in the country assume that Uncle Sam was the government. There was a need to give Uncle Sam a figure to aid in his symbolism top the American people. Designers started to create their own images of Uncle Sam for drawings, banners and news papers. Moreover, recruitment process for the American army for the First World War, created an avenue where Uncle Sam was personified. The drawing showed a man with a stern face, clad in a blue coat, white shirt and a hat with stars on it. This was a representation of the American flag which had blue, white and red with 49 stars in it. The man was drawn with a pointed finger with large captioned words beneath it, making it ‘talk’ to people. ... In the move by congress to improve the security of the country and its people, the congress sought to use cameras and computers in the resident’s houses to monitor any security threats. Newspapers columnists who were opposed to the move wrote articles and referred to the government as Uncle Sam keeping an eye on his people. This concludes all that Uncle Sam does is a symbol not to represent the people, but the government itself. Variations in government actions have led to deviation in the representation of Uncle Sam to the people. When a positive gesture is done or achieved by the government, Uncle Sam is dressed in United States symbolic colors representing his good will for citizens. When the government makes policies that the citizens feel go against their wishes, he is represented in drawings clad in plain clothes indicating it is against wishes of the American citizens. Uncle Sam also has had greater acceptance with his symbolization of patriotism. He was made famous in two periods where the American citizens were in need of a father figure. His influence during the war in 1812 and later his presence that motivated the Americans in the First World War proved his call for patriotism. Moreover, with the current changes that have undergone in the United States, Uncle Sam figure has not lacked some criticism. First, with the increase in the minority presence in the United States population, the figure is seen not to adequately represent them. Uncle Sam evolved when American was mainly made up of the white population. Additionally, with the current changes in demography and increase in minority groups in the country’s vast population, Uncle Sam may lose some of his prominence among the people. The minority population may demand the

Assignment-Progress Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Assignment-Progress Report - Essay Example This was in a blind taste that was being conducted by the French wine experts. This was a significant victory for the company, mainly because it established Stag Leap cabernet as a leading wine manufacturer. It further made countries such as Australia, American, and North America to be recognized as leading wine manufacturers. One of the famous wine products for the organization is the Cask 23, and it is a blend of the Cabernet Sauvignon fruit from the Fay and SLV vineyards. This wine is not produced yearly, but seasonally, based on the availability of grapes in the above mentioned vineyards. Other wine products include the single and estate vineyard collection, as well as the Chardonnay, a wine product from the Arcadia vineyard owned by the company. The Napa Valley collection is also a series of wines, made from the vineyards found in the Napa Valley (Phillips, 2010). These wines include Karia, Merlot, Artemis, etc. In gathering information for this project, I am going to use internet sources, journals and books. The internet is a rich source of information, and I would benefit from the company’s website, and online wine reviews, while gathering information concerning this project. Journals are also important sources of information, and they are reliable because information contained in them is pe er reviewed. The books to be used will be the most current books, and written by reputable authors in the field of

Brand Extension Essay Example for Free

Brand Extension Essay Brand extension is a marketing strategy according to which a company marketing a product or a service launches a new offering (product or service) that is related to the one of the existing brands of the company, but offers different benefits and/or targets a different segment. Organizations use this strategy to increase and leverage upon their brand equity. When a firm is introducing a new product, it has the following 3 choices on branding: 1. Developing a new brand for the new product 2. Using the existing brand for the new product 3. Combining the new brand and the existing brand The use of 2nd and 3rd strategy is referred to as brand extension. Brands may be classified as one of the following: Parent Brand: If an existing brand gives birth to a brand extension, it is referred to as parent brand. Sub Brand: When a new brand is combined with an existing brand, it is called as sub brand. Family Brand: If a parent brand has links with multiple brands through brand extensions then it is called as family brand. Brand Extension Dimensions There are a large number of ways in which brand extension can be accomplished. One of the vital differences is if the extension is in the same or different category of the product. Thus they can be classified as: vertical or horizontal extensions. Vertical extensions Vertical extensions refer to the introduction of a related brand in the same product category but having a different price and quality balance. Vertical extensions offer the firm a quickest way to leverage upon the core product’s equity. As an extension strategy, vertical extension is widely practiced in many industries. For example, within automobile industry, the various brand models attempt to offer different price-quality bundles to attract various market segments. Often a product is extended in an attempt to just gain more of the market share. Vertical extension direction New product introductions using vertical extensions can extend in 2 directions, upscale and downscale vertical extensions. The vertical brand extension is that type of new product introduction that seems to be carrying less risk and seemingly having more appeal to management. The new product which is being introduced is in the same category as the parent product; aims at a same market segment as the parent, and may or may not enjoy the same acceptance as the parent. Upscale vertical extensions Upscale extensions involve a new product introduction by the firm with higher price quality characteristics than the original product. Downscale vertical extensions It involves a new product introduction with lower price quality characteristics than the original. Downscale vertical extensions may target sampling to a new segment, and bring some gain in market share. Horizontal extensions Generally, horizontal brand extensions either use or extend an existing product’s name to a new product in the same product category or to a product category new to the organization. There are 2 types of horizontal extensions which differ in terms of their focus area. They are termed as line extensions and category extensions. Line Extensions All the customers differ in terms of their usage needs. The brand has to fill the market with variety of products as per the needs of the segments. If a parent brand is used to brand a new product that targets a new segment in the market within the same product category that was previously served by the parent brand, it is called as line extension. Line extension leads to the addition of a new and distinct flavour or ingredient to the category. It sometimes might also lead to a new application for the brand or an introduction of a different form or size. For example, Bisleri is the pioneering brand in category of mineral water. Originally, Bisleri started off with 1 ltr bottle. But recently, the brand has launched bottles of different sizes and quantities.

The Externalizing Machine Essay Example for Free

The Externalizing Machine Essay In todays mostly capitalistic world people who are consumers think that they have power to decide what products to purchase; people who are stockholders are only interested in the profit; people who run corporations make that profit regardless of the price others have to pay; and people who live in developing countries work for 3c per hour making brand name cloths which then are sold for $20, $60, $100, $200, $500, making at the same time the corporations profit skyrocketing. It is widely known that there are sweatshops in developing countries, where people are treated like slaves but practically they are not slaves because they always can walk off the job. It is known that in such countries there is exploitation of child labor, but practically what can a citizen of other country do to help if they have enough their own problems. It is also known that work conditions in such factories are horrible, but what one can do if those companies offer lower prices. Is it fair towards society as a whole that some people are exploited so others can make skyrocketing profits? Is it fair that your TV was partially made by a 6-year-old child? Is it fair that the product you bought harms or even kills you or one of your family member? Is it fair if this does not happen to you but to some other people in some other countries? Is it fair that infants are given harmful baby-formula prohibited in developed countries? There are many questions that can be asked whether it is fair or not, but what happens if we interchanged the word fair with legal and instead we ask whether all those actions are legal or not, and who makes them legal or not. The author Joel Bakan of The Corporation tries to find an answer to those questions and tries to show what impact corporations actions may have on human beings and environment. Joel Bakan in his book brings up issues of sweatshops, environment pollution, externalities, government regulations, advertisement, and many others. He uses concepts of corporation as a psychopath and doom machine. By this Bakan means that corporations, in its pursuit of maximizing the profit at any cost, they destroy people, environment, and themselves at the same time. Even thought there are many important issues throughout the book my focus will be on chapter three Externalities. As the title of the chapter says the most important issue in it is externalities, the effect that corporations have on third parties. The author explains the concept of externalities and gives some examples; this chapter also focuses on the process of how corporations make decisions regarding the products safety, how they make decisions whether to improve products safety or not, or how they make decisions regarding the possible corporate options in the light of profit. The author used some concept and theories in this chapter so lets start with identifying and explaining them. First the concept of externalities. An externality is the effect of a transaction on a third party who has not consented to or played any role in carrying out of that transaction. ; the effect can be either good (creation of new jobs, lowering unemployment) or bad (pollution, diseases, deaths, etc). They literally mean other peoples problems. Whether or not exernalitie have good or bad impact they are only the result of pursuit to make higher profits, and are only the result of self-interest; furtheremore it does not matter for corporation whether the results of corporations decisions are good or bad externalities, as long as the profit raises. (pg60,61) Bakan uses the concept of doom machine (example of paper mill) to explain why corporations are successful in destroying world they operate in. The concept means that corporations dynamic does not take into account the concerns of flesh-and-blood human and that in our search for wealth and for prosperity, we create a thing thats going to destroy us (Monk pg71) The author also uses the concept of corporation as a pschopath which means that corporations are ego-centric, irresponsible or refuse to accept responsibility, have asocial tendencies, and they will do anything to satifsy their goal which is to maximize profit at all costs regardless what harm it may cause. The author assums that many, if not all, corporations make harmfull decisions that will eventually destroy the world, and at the same time will destroy the corporatins themselves. I think that Joel Bakans assmumptions are that all corporations do not care about the environment they operate in, that they would pollute everything to maximize profit, that the only guideline corporations use in making a decision is a cost-benefit analysis, and that eventhough corporations are made of individuals who would not want to harm other people together they would kill other people if it maximizes the profit. The author takes for granted that all corporations do not care, and that if they pretend they care, it is because they want to maximize the profit, and that if they comply with the law it is beause it would cost more not to obey the law, the author takes for granted that all decisions made by corporations are based solely on cost-benefit analysis not on ethical or moral codes or guidelines. The author assumes that corporations eventhought they are made up of individuals with ethical codes they do not use them in making decisions regarding profit. Therefore the author is asking why they make such decisions, why they only consider profits that can be made in near future but do not consider their future existance. The author asks how corporations make such decisions that in long run will destroy human beings, environment and corporations themselves. Joel Bakan is asking why people as a corporation harm other people and themselves. As an example, the author gives Monks story. (Monk is one of Americas most important and influential businessmen, he worries about what is going on in modern corporations. ) Monk was staying in a motel in a small town. He was shocked when he discovered that paper mill is polluting the river in that town. Monks says that he knew everyone there, the mayor, the mill employees and owners, and he also knew that no one wanted the river to be polluted and yet it was being polluted every night. (pg71) Therefore, why if no one wanted it to be polluted they were still polluting it? The question is why corporations make such decisions that harm other human beings. If there is no person in a given corporation who would want to harm others, why as a corporation they not only harm people but even kill them. What is the difference between murdering someone by using a firearm or a knife and murdering someone by letting him drive unsafe vehicle or drink polluted water or eat poisoned food. Who assigns the difference and who lets those murders happen everyday around the world. The question is why corporations are not prevented from doing harm, and why they decide to harm others in the first place. To back up the issues raised in The corporation Joel Bakan uses a lot of data, information, and facts regarding corporations and the legal breaches that they did. Two most important informations include data used by GM in calculation of cost-benefit analysis of improving products safety; and General Electrics major legal breaches including many contaminations of the environment and the amount that they had to pay between 1990 and 2001 for those legal breaches. GM in deciding whether to improve cars safety calculated how much it would cost them. Therefore they calculated how many accidents would happen on US highways, how many fatalities it would cause, and how much it would cost the company in lawsuits and other expenditures, mainly meaning the cost of a fatality. The calculation was as follows: 500fatalities x 200,000 per fatality / 41,000,000 = $2. 4 per automobile. To make the car safer, it would cost company $8. 59 per car. Therefore, it was cheaper not to improve vehicles because GM would save $6. 19 per car in production. Armstrong and her children, that had second- and third degree burns resulting from a rear-end accident in 1993 due to the fire caused by unsafe positioning of the gas tank in GM Malibu, were awarded $1. 2 billion. (pg63) Two significant orders for GE to pay was i 2 billion for asbestos cleanup and related pollution, and $95 million in damages for contamination from dumping of industrial chemicals. (pg75-78) The total GE had to pay for contamination of the environment alone, between 1990 and 2001 was approximatelly $3 000 106 million (over $3 billion); total for violations of safety rules at nuclear fuel plant, for design flow in nuclear plants, for illegal sal of fighter jets, and for overcharging on defense contracts was $300 million. GE was also ordered 14 times to clean up contamination of drinking water (ground water, river, water supply) and soil. The assumptin is that General Electric makes huge amounts of profit, because GE is able to exist on the market even though it was ordered to pay over $3 billion puls the cost of cleaning up contamination. The broader assumption, based on GE example, is that corporations make huge amounts of profit at the cost of environment and human lives and they continue to do so even though they are ordered to pay millions or billions of dollars in fines. Given the information regarding corporations actions and the impact they have on developing countries, on societies, on environment we all live in, and on individuals, who should care the most and why should we care at all. Joel Bakan is trying to make the reader think about the reality we live in, about what is really going on in the world, about bigger picture than only ones family, job, or friends. I think that in Joel Bakans opinion everyone should care about what he says, everyone should care aout future generations, and future of this planet, therefore everyone should take an action in order to make this world a better place. If we take his line of reasoning and accept his arguments it would mean that we should stand against the big corporations and their exploitation of people and environment. We should not agree with their actions and should do something to stop those big corporations destroying the world. We as people and customers have lots of power, however we are lazy to use our collective power to stop those corporations in their harming actions, instead we prefer to pay less for products eventhough we know that those products were made by child labouer. If we agree with Bakans arguments it means that we say no to corporations and to their exloitation of people and environment not to business in itslef, we do not stand against the business but against those corporations that are overtaking the world.

A Data Flow Diagram Information Technology Essay

A Data Flow Diagram Information Technology Essay Other than data flow, system requirement specification also need to be focuses. A requirements specification is a document which is used as a communication medium between the customers and the supplier. When the software requirement specification is completed and is accepted by all parties, the end of the requirements engineering phase has been reached. In the end of the assignment, we will learn about the flow of system shown uses Data Flow Diagram and how Requirement Specification work. 2.0 Data Flow Diagram Data Flow Diagram (DFD) is a graphical uses to represent the flow of data in a system. It shows the flow of data as they moving between input and output. The purpose of using Data Flow Diagram as a representative of a system is to provide a simple method of describing how the system work without needed to focus on the detail of the computer systems. Symbol of Data Flow Diagram A Data Flow Diagram uses 4 basic symbols as representative of process, data stores, data flow and entities. There are few different versions of DFD uses but still it is also serving as the same purpose. Description Symbol Entities It uses can represent a human, subsystem or system. This where certain data comes from / goes to. People often draw external entities on the edge of a diagram. Process A process is a function or activity where the manipulation and change of data takes place. A process can be decomposed to better level of details purpose of representing how data is being processed within the process. Data Store A data store represents the storage of data required and which it produced by the process. Examples of data stores: database, membership forms, and more. Data Flow A data flow represents the flow of the system, whereby its direction represented by an arrow head that shows at the end of flow. 2.1 Level of Data Flow Diagram A Data Flow Diagram is hierarchical, divide into 3 types: Level 0 Level 1 Level 2 2.1.1 Level 0 DFD In level 0 DFD, it only focuses on the context view of the flow in 1 process which is the most simplify version of DFD. 2.1.2 Level 1 DFD In level 1 DFD, it goes deeper then level 0, which it expand the graphical model into more complex that represent the flow of data. 2.1.3 Level 2 DFD In level 2 DFD, it focuses more closely in one particular process in level 1. 2.2 Rules of Data Flow Diagram There are few rules that must be follow when creating a Data Flow Diagram (DFD): Data flow that connects YES NO A process to another process Check mark symbol A process to an external entity Check mark symbol A process to a data store Check mark symbol An external entity to another external entity Check mark symbol An external entity to a data store Check mark symbol A data store to another data store Check mark symbol 2.3 Student Registration System Below is an example of 3 different types of Data Flow Diagram uses in a simple student registration system for a college: 2.3.1 Level 0: Registration Form Student registration system Student Confirmation Letter 2.3.2 Level 1: 1.0 Verify Availability Open course D1 Accept / Reject result Registration form Course Course info Course enrollment 2.0 Enroll Student Student Student info Registration Confirmation letter D2 3.0 Confirm Registration Student Update info 2.3.3 Level 2: Course Open course D1 1.0 Verify Availability Advisor Registration form Student Course info Reject 1.1 Permission Course enrollment Accept Confirmation Letter 2.0 Enroll student Student Registration Student info D2 Update info Payment Registration fee 2.1 Account D3 2.2 Course payment method Receipt issued 2.2.2 2.2.1 Installment Financial aid Update info 3.0 Requirement Specification In a large project the analyst could also have a number of people work under them. Theses extra staff would carry out the questionnaires, observations and interviews, required to develop the overall specification. When developing a project, an agreement between the client and project team are formed. Document of requirement specification gave the information to client or customer regarding the project. 3.1 Layout of Requirement Specification The requirement specification is carefully listed and highlighted according the following: Scope of the system Objectives Timing Constraints Inputs Outputs Processing requirement Contract 3.1.1 Scope of the system This offers a context for the system within the organization. For instance, the scope will regularly define what it will not do and general explanation of what it will do. 3.1.2 Objective It laid out point by point so it is clear define that what the system needs to do. Table or bullet points could be used in this process. 3.1.3 Timing In this section, it provides a timeline of how the project will proceed and the time require for it to be done. 3.1.4 Constraints It is referring to the budget and manpower that which is available for the project. 3.1.5 Inputs In this section, it defines what inputs are needed by the system. It will provide outline details of the input screens, data capture forms, automated system feeds and more. It doesnt try to be very technical at this point instant it just an overall idea of what will be accepted into the system and how this is to be achieved. 3.1.6 Outputs A system has to produce an output in one form or another. In this section, it will describe the expected form of outputs. For example, output viewing screen, printed reports and graphs, files created and stored, and any output data feed to other system and so on. 3.1.7 Processing requirement Between the process of Input and Output, processing in the middle is required. This part of Requirement Specification defines the processing to be carried out. Processing details are include: Procedures Validation details Acceptable limits of processing times 3.1.8 Contract The requirements specification is in result of a contract between the end user and the people that responsible for delivering the project. 3.2 Important of Requirement Specification Its important to note that a requirement specification contains functional and  non-functional requirements only; it does not offer design  suggestions, possible solutions to technology or business  issues, or any other information other than what the  development team understands the customers system requirements  to be. A well-managed requirement specification could accomplish four major  goals: It provides feedback to the customer A requirement specification is the  customers assurance that the development organization  understands the problem and issue to be solved and the  software behavior necessary to locate those problems.  Therefore, it should be written in standard language, in an explicit manner that may also include  charts, data flow diagrams, table, decision tables, and so  on. It decomposes the problem into component parts The  simple act of writing down software requirements in a  well-designed format organizes information, places borders  around the problem, solidifies ideas, and helps break down  the problem into its component parts in an orderly  fashion. It serves as a input to the design specification As  mentioned previously, the requirement specification serves as the parent document  to subsequent documents, such as the software design  specification and statement of work. Therefore, the SRS  must contain enough detail in the well-designed system  requirements so that a design solution can be planned. It serves as the parent document For testing and validation  strategies that will be applied to the requirements for  verification. 4.0 Conclusion In system analysis and design, it focuses on the improvement of creating a good system of information data. By learning the proper way of analyzing and designing / developing a system, it could lead us into deeper understanding about the system. In the above assignment we have learn the usage of Data Flow Diagram which serve as a guide for developer and analyst to check the flow of the system, and we also have learn that when creating a system software, a documentation regarding the software project are also an important step to do.

National Political Influence and the Catholic Church Essay -- Politics

Democratic transitions recently became a topic of great discussion among political scholars as a domino effect of democratization began in Latin America in the 1970s and continued through Eastern Europe in the late 1980s. In many of these transitions, the Catholic Church[1] played a crucial role as the protector of civil society during periods of communist and right-wing authoritarian rule, as well as taking an active role to promote the establishment of democracy (Bruneau 1994, Levine 1980, Stepan and Linz 1996, Perà ©z-Dà ­az 1993, Ramet 1987). While the Church’s political role in transition is important, significantly fewer scholars have explored how democracy affected the Catholic Church within the national context (Eberts 1998, Ramet 1999, Vilarino and Tizon 1998). Even fewer have attempted cross-national comparisons of the Church, thus permitting generalizations to be made about the political influence of the Church since the institution of democratic governance (Casan ova 1993, Gill et al.1998). With the establishment of democracy the Church was expected to flourish, due to its organizational and political advantage within new democracies. However, initial research suggests otherwise. Using the involvement of the Church in abortion policy as an indicator of political influence, it is clear the cases of Spain, Brazil and Poland vary extensively. The Polish Church maintained the most political influence, followed by the Brazilian and Spanish Churches (Neilsen 1991, Volenski and Gryzmala-Mosczynska 1997, Gautier 1998, Casanova 1993, Linz 1991, Morris 1993). In Brazil and Poland, the Church played an instrumental role in the democratic revolution, making a political decline in the Church almost inconceivable. While initially th... ...ee is regarded as a non-member state permanent observer allowing it to occasionally participate in General Assembly discussions and decisions and participate in UN International Conferences. Holy See, however, has no voting rights. [3] Secularization refers to the number of clergy that disaffiliated from the Church (i.e. transfer from ecclesiastical to civil). [4] Vatican II theology â€Å"stressed a very different notion of the Church as the people of God, assigned a more important role to the laity, redefined the authority of the Pope over the hole Church and the bishops over the diocese† (Mainwaring 1986). Vatican II theology stressed the need for social justice and vowed to help the less fortunate, this came to be known as the option for the poor. [5] The Roman Curia is the collection of ministries for governing the International Church (Della Cava 1993).

Journalistic History :: essays research papers

11. Yellow Journalism- The cartoon â€Å"Hogan’s Alley† depicted a tenement urchin, â€Å"The Yellow Kid,† who mocked upper-class customs and wore a yellow gown. When THE JOURNAL matched THE WORLD in color print, the author of the cartoon switched newspapers. The ensuing dispute gave rise to â€Å"yellow journalism† (unprincipled journalism) and led to the recruitment of countless newsboys in a bid to increase sales. The biggest yellow journalists were Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst (â€Å"Please remain. You furnish the pictures. I’ll furnish the war.†) 17. Bohemian Thinkers- Many of these â€Å"thinkers† lived in Greenwich Village, NYC. They supported Freudian psychoanalysis, rejected traditional sexual traditions, and the Victorian life. This group included Isadore Duncan; the Ashcan artists (Henri, Sloan, and Luk); Eugene O’Neill, the playwright; Margaret Sanger, early supporter of birth control. Their influence was limited because they didn’t involve themselves in the reform movement. Their attitude was â€Å"do as I say, not as I do.† 21. Spanish-American War- The Spanish-American War was fought in 1898. The causes of this war were American concern for Cuban independence; the rise of yellow journalism; American business interests in Cuba; the DeLome letter, which was written by the Spanish Foreign Minister and criticized President McKinley; and the sinking of the USS Maine, which sank in the Havana Harbor on February 15, 1898 and was blamed on the Spanish. The war was declared on April 10, 1898 and the treaty was signed on April 17, 19—(I wrote the wrong year and have to go back and look it up, sorry!) 23. Theodore Roosevelt- Theodore Roosevelt, the first Progressive Era president and former governor of New York, was an outgoing outdoorsman who was full of life. He was also known as the â€Å"Trust-buster,† but didn’t believe that big corporations should be broken up indiscriminately. Regulation seemed the better approach to him. With Roosevelt’s â€Å"Square Deal†, TR had the government intervene in the United Mine Worker’s strike in 1902, and the sides soon settled. He continued and succeeded in reforms in railroads with the Hepburn Bill that strengthened the Interstate Commerce Commission (regulates RR). The Pure Food & Drug Act was passed also. The one area for which he is most famous is in conservation. Roosevelt was the first president to win a noble prize, and he lived at Sagamore Hill, NY. 30. William Jennings Bryan- William Jennings Bryan was the fundamentalists lawyer who was involved the Scopes Trial of the 1920’s.

House Opposite by R. K. Narayan :: Narayan House Opposite Essays

House Opposite by R. K. Narayan The short story, House Opposite by R. K. Narayan is an example of a man and his struggle with his own humanity. The basic plot of the story includes a holy man (only referred to as "the hermit") that is living along with the traditions of an Indian lifestyle. He considers himself to be a very good man, not succumbing to temptations or as it is put in the text, "He rigorously suppressed all cravings of the palate and punished his body in a number of ways." It is indicated that the hermit really did not understand why he was doing any of this however, barring his selfish interest in "spiritual liberation." The conflict in the story is internal; the hermit becomes aware of a prostitute living across the street, and cannot ignore her presence. Throughout the story, the hermit complains about the "awful monster" and regards her as the "personification of evil." This is not the root of the problem however.   The hermit's preoccupation with the prostitute served to destroy him, but unfortunately for him, the blame cannot be aimed at her. Throughout the middle of the passage, the hermit described the features of the prostitute with a particular contempt, yet he continued to look, even leer at her. He continued to think about what went on behind the closed doors, the men that waited around outside the house "smoking, chewing tobacco and spitting into the gutter - committing all the sins of the world according to the hermit." In fact, after the story unfolded, the hermit was so upset that he was "forced" to leave behind his shelter to look for a new place, thinking that he would rather not have a roof at all rather than live near the woman. He could not tend to his proper thoughts, and was not able to keep his gaze on the tip of his nose, as was proper, but only could see the woman.   The interesting thing is that he did not blame himself at all for his problem. In one line the hermit thought to himself, "Difficult to say whether it was those monstrous arms and breasts or thighs that tempted and ruined me†¦" and then proceeded to call the woman names. Why had she ruined his "tapas: all the merit he had so laboriously acquired†¦" The truth of the matter, however, is that not only was the hermit weak-willed, he had no idea why he would even be against this woman's practices, other than it was once said by someone.

Profound book Essay

In his profound book on Theism, J. L. Mackie, who is widely considered a champion of the atheistic school discusses the various bases on which the concept of God is founded, perceived and practiced the world over. In so doing, he touches upon the various approaches that have either necessitated God or have described God. In chapter 9, which Mackie has aptly named the â€Å"Problem of Evil†, he questions the basis of the description of God provided by almost all the religions of the world and all the theistic philosophies at one point of time or another. God is described according to traditional theism, as omnipotent (and omniscient) and wholly good. Mackie’s question starts with the poser â€Å".. and yet there is evil in this world. How can this be? † (Mackie, 150). The question that Mackie poses and the logic he supplies are wholly satisfactory to the intellect to understand and appreciate his question, to say the least. Mackie argues that according to the initially plausible and widely admitted premise, Good is opposed to evil that being good eliminates Evil. Proceeding with the same logic, a good and potent being eliminates Evil as far as he can and God being Omnipotent and, there being no limits to His capacity, there should be no Evil at all. Mackie goes on to point out (rather gleefully) â€Å"then we do have a contradiction. A wholly good omnipotent would eliminate evil completely; if there really are evils, then there cannot be any such being† (Mackie, 150) A very well made argument indeed. However, the proponents of Theism and Religion have addressed the problem of evil and this logical paradox on the existential basis for ages together. But sadly, those arguments have never been to counter a clever poser as Mackie’s. However, it is not entirely impossible to adopt those answers to this obvious rejection of God on a quirky basis of a logical exemption. In most Theistic concepts, read Religion, God has indeed been described as omnipotent and completely good. But all Religions have taken note of eh fact that God did not will his creation to be a static equilibrium. It has been ordained to be a Dynamic equilibrium. All dynamics as logics permit can happen only when there are at the least two opposite directions and two opposing forces. Creation has been described as the collusion of two opposing or differing forces giving birth to new . All religions envisage creation as such. Heightened awareness of the power of two different, (not necessarily opposing) and individual powers have been found in the deification of the Shiva Linga (the phallus) in the (rather primitive for some) Hindu religious symbols and the concept of Ying and Yang that pervades the ancient Chinese philosophy and medicine. More than attributing Good as a characteristic to God, most Religions have described God as an omnipotent being who is beyond definition or a being from whom Definitions originate. Therefore a creation that has good, as perceived by Human mind and the inherent logic and Evil, as held repulsive by civilization are both creations of God. God is described as a singularity that is beyond the grasp of any man made attempts to attain it including Logic. More over all religions hold central the belief that the Universe is a grand design (and some religions which provide ample space for mysticism in their practice call it a Game God created to entertain himself). Consciousness is an ability God has provided Human being to be able to entertain the thoughts of quest for truth and try to decipher the secrets behind the creation. If consciousness is provide by God, then the entire capabilities covering the gamut of good to evil are all provided by god so that man can continue his (most probably, the ordained) task of quest for truth and die trying. ( Let us imagine God gave Tiger Woods his prowess in Golf, he also gave him his handicaps so that Woods can justify his life by trying continuously to overcome them and pit himself against several other god given powers of other golfers and justify his attempts at perfection) To Him, He being the singularity beyond the grasp of logic, reasoning and justice, He, who is the source of all definitions, Good and evil are part of the equilibrium he has provided Man with, to play out his life and continue the evolution of Civilization as per the design of God. Therefore, it is entirely possible to have God who is fondly defined as omnipotent and the personification of unending Good and kindness to allow Evil to exist as a small counter force to help establish the dynamics in the world. Though there are mythological stories that abound with the stories of incarnation of God triumphing over one form of evil or another, it is entirely the manifestations of the Theological concepts which use stories of God to guide man in his quest for morality which again is an underlying concept of the happening Universe, God must have envisaged. The existence of Evil is like the directions along a road on a long journey. If there is a signal, which entrusts the person on the journey to take right, drive east or any other direction, it is understood that by taking the opposite direction, he would go away from his goal. The presence of the opposite direction is not proof enough to say that the correct direction is not the right direction. It is the supreme power which has conceived both directions and stands aback amused to see if in its grand design, its creation, the man on the undertaking the journey, uses its consciousness and the powers of reasoning (again provided by Him) in making the correct judgment or not. Therefore the argument (which is precisely that, an argument) does not stand that the presence of Evil nullifies the probability of having an Omnipotent, omniscient being, which is wholly good called God. Let us take the analogy of the Games, which we had briefly touched upon in the case of Tiger woods. Why does a man create opposing teams with opposing goals and efforts in the opposite direction to entertain himself, say as in Football? It is to provide the necessary conflict that can make the game interesting and entertaining. By the same token, God provides for opposing moralities to see if the being he created (most religions fondly believe in His likeness) exercises his god-given prowess of understanding, logic and reasoning to make the right choice and comes out victorious in his quest. Armstrong made a strong reference to Relativity when he said that his small step was a giant leap for mankind. Similarly a giant leap for mankind might just be a speck of a movement in the grand and long journey God has planned for his creation towards the ultimate Truth. Einstein had proposed in his Relativity theory that as the speed inches towards the ultimate threshold of the speed of light, the energy required to accelerate towards it gets close to infinity. If Einstein has stumbled on a profound truth of the universe, then mankind’s each step towards unraveling of the truth about God, only makes his next step that much more or infinitely difficult. It is the opposing force of Evil, also part of God’s design that makes for the interesting conflict. It is but the duty of mankind to justify his existence by making his own judgments at every step to dodge the evil, so strategically placed to further his quest for a living God would have ordained him to live, not in an easy manner but in a difficult and interesting manner. Greatest factor of God’s creation is the seeming Choice for human being at every step, always accompanies with the uncertainty of not knowing the result of his choice. For a choice to be present there need to be two opposing or at the least different factors- if one is Good, the other has got to be Evil. For the omnipotent, Evil is not as evil as it is for us. It is another factor of his creation, which he has put in place to help his chosen being, the mankind to exercise his judgment. It is with admiration for the intellectual virility of J. L. Mackie, one must reject his theory that the presence of Evil negates the presence of God, because God as felt (and not described) by the miraculous attempts of Theists and religion is not just beyond description and definition, in fact He is the basis and the fountainhead of all the definitions and in whom all dissimilarities merge, unite and find their roots. Book cited Mackie, J. L. The Miracle of Theism: Arguments for and against the Existence of God Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1982

Equality and Diversity Pttls

and Discuss issues of equality and diversity and ways to promote inclusion with your learners. Review other points of referral available to meet the potential needs of learners. To fully understand the above we really need to understand the terms. Equality means to be equal before law and without any discrimination. This is particularly important to minorities and to the poor. Through equality every one has the right to fair choices. Diversity is used to describe political entities who have identifiable differences in their background and lifestyles including ethnic minorities. Inclusion means to meet your learners needs, which some may have more than others. These needs should be appropriately met to enable full participation in the classroom. The main issue related to equality and diversity would be exclusion. If the tutor does not meet the needs for those with a different background then it can often end with the student feeling not only left out but to feel neglected and can lead to missed lessons and also feeling that they don’t belong their. The tutor should be committed to providing equal opportunities for each of his/her students. You should demonstrate your commitment to equal opportunities through everything you say and do in your work with adult students. †Ã‚   (1993:13). Promotion of equality within the classroom is not only an expectation but a requirement by law. ‘All students must feel that they are positively and equally valued and accepted, and that their efforts to learn are recognised, and judged without bias. It is not enough that they are tolerated. They must feel that they, and the groups to which they belong (e. g. ender, social-class or attainment groups) are fully and equally accepted and valued by you, and the establishment in which you work’. Petty (1998:69) To promote inclusion within your classroom you will need to respond positively to the diverse needs of your learners. How you communicate with your learners is essential ensuring learners can understand what you are saying. Ensuring body language and comments are appropriate and are no offensive. Teaching methods are also important and you will need to make sure that your methods are varied and support all learning styles. Ensuring your learners can all participate is also important, therefore not excluding any of them. Allowing your learners to establish working relationships effectively, ensuring everyone is included and that the room is accessible and safe for people with sensory disabilities or lack of mobility. Additional support may be required to enable you to support equality and diversity this could be in the form of a learning support assistant, adapted resources, peer support, varied presentation. Although inclusion is about supporting your learners needs, it may not always be possible to do this without support for yourself. You should be aware of your limits of responsibility and know when and where to access support for both you and your learners. If you have a line manager then they should be your first point of contact. Your colleagues may be another point as they may have experienced something similar. It is your responsibility to find out what support is available for you. Supporting Equality and Diversity is extremely important and is also a legal requirement. When planning your lessons you should be taking this into account and structuring your lessons appropriately. If you are unsure you should be aware of your limits and seek advice from your line manager. If you don’t have a line manager you will need to get advice on who you should be asking for help and support. Petty G (1998), Teaching Today, United Kingdom: Nelson Thornes. Daines, Daines and Graham (1993) Adult learning, adult teaching United Kingdom:Dept. of Adult Education, University of Nottingham

Toyota Organizational Development Leadership Issues

As I watched the hearings and read the Press Telegram, April 12, 2010 † AP probe reveals n Toyota cases, evasion became tactic† regarding the sudden acceleration issue with several models of Toyota vehicles I would have to say it is scary to say the least. Testimony Included stories from victims of the problem – In one case, an entire family was killed. With such disastrous consequences and huge liabilities and ruining of a once great brand know for quality, it provides a platform to look at how companies, and leaders, address ethics, leadership issues and crisis. When faced with crisis, leaders need to make important decisions quickly.That involves surveying their direct teams, and in many cases several levels below to get answers. It's not apparent If CEO Toyota did this given the criticism they received for their slow reaction time to consumer complaints. Once a leader is engaged in addressing a critical issue, what should they do to make sure they respond adequ ately? Here are a few ways leaders can cope with rapidly changing circumstances: 1 . Focus on a few key elements and build a plan. Often emotional tensions are so high that seepage of minor issues explodes upward as the most important issues.A leader has to determine critical touch points that – addressed properly – cascade down to fix other issues. It's not the lowest hanging fruit argument, but a strategic view of the top 3-5 issues that need immediate attention. For a business this is usually shareholder and customer communication of what's happening, operational analysis of essential work processes, and key legal considerations/regulatory interests. Toyota executives were late to the game in some of these areas. This could have reduced the level of exposure and amount of crisis to handle (e. Notifying people of other models that had the problem, etc). 2. Communicate constantly. Crisis management requires immediate updates as new information is available. To facilit ate this exchange, networks need to be created that can share pertinent details to different parts of the organization and to external interests. Sometimes creating internal e-information or discussion boards helps with this process and ensures that appropriate business units are talking to each other. In the hearings, CEO Toyota said he was not aware of key meetings addressing the implants 3 Roll tongue seacoast KS. Ten ten TLS Ideas aren't ten best – they are solutions meant to get certain actions in place. They require modification on-the-fly as the situation unfolds. These initial actions may prove to be failures or they do not capture the full scope of the problem resulting in negative backlash. Toyota thought the problem was solved with adjusting floor mats, then sticky brake pads, and now the problem appears to be in the software. While consumers were not pleased with these initial measures, Toyota has continued to signage the problem and issue offer different solution s.Leaders often make the mistake that after pouring so much effort into initial solutions, they have to adhere to them no matter what. Toyota did this with the floor mat issue for a long time – blaming driver error if this solution was not the fix. A confident leader will accept imperfection in initial approaches and make sure the team is ready to change quickly and respond with new approaches. The leader has to stay calm and focused when this happens to avoid worsening the crisis. 4. Recognize what is working. The bright spot at the end of the tunnel can be elusive in the early going of crisis management.Everyone is in a quagmire with moving forward so it becomes difficult to notice how solutions are taking root and reducing issues. Leaders who have created the right communication channels will be able to flag good results and use those results to strengthen ongoing efforts. This facilitates morale and shows progress against the crisis mitigation plan. Toyota made the right move to halt new car production in January which saved more potential accelerator problems from going to market. . Maintain a good pace. Leaders need to be mindful of the pressures coming from all directions to solve problems quickly and â€Å"perfectly. If a strong plan is in place, backed up by the right communication channels, and a focused team, resolution activities will eventually balance out. This has nothing to do with perception or reputation damage control – that can take much longer as Toyota is sure to experience. Pacing decisions around good solutions and re-working as needed provides a sense of ethics and crisis management. Reacting to everything all the time is chaotic and soonest endear a leader as professional and deserving of the higher position.Leadership must maintain honesty to their team and key stakeholders at all times. They must be ready to calm nerves for weeks or months depending on the issue and never waver from a methodological and reasoned respo nse to crisis situations. Only time will tell if Toyota is pacing their crisis management properly and what that will mean in order for them to regain global consumer confidence. In my opinion, perhaps the leadership of Toyota can implement organizational change by utilizing en of the DO theories, specifically Linen's basic change model of unfreezing, changing, and refreezing.This model could be used as a theoretical foundation upon which change theory with their organization could be built soundly. The key, of course, would be to see that human change, whether at the executive, individual or group level would be a profound emotional dynamic process that involved painful unlearning without loss of ego identity and difficult relearning as the company cognitively attempts to restructure its thoughts, perceptions, feelings, and attitudes.

“After twenty years” by O. Henry Essay

The short story â€Å"After twenty years† is a classical story written by O. Henry. The story is about the two characters that were actually best of friends. They grew up in New York until lost sight of each other. One of them leave the place and tried to live in West to make easy money, thus he ended up being a criminal in Chicago while the other man felt that his place in his hometown is better and he ended up as a policeman. The two friends made a promise that after twenty years both of them will meet again at the same restaurant for the purpose of knowing each achievements that they have done after those years. those years. The story began at the specific place of their appointed place and time. It is nearly 10 o’clock at night and really dark out there. A policeman making his rounds, rattling door knobs to make sure everything is secure on his beat. In the doorway of a hardware store that is closed, he comes across a man who has an unlit cigar in his mouth. Before the officer can begin to question him, the man assures him that he is not a burglar that he is merely waiting for a friend. He goes on to light his cigar and tell the officer why he and his friend are meeting at such a dark and desolate place. The man, who is Bob, told him that he was waiting for a friend he has not seen for twenty years. Years before he and his friend had agreed to meet at the very spot to discuss how their life had turned out. The man keeps on telling to the policeman how his life turned out good that he actually became rich and successful. Talking about his best friend, he told the policeman that Jimmy will never fail to appear in their agreement for he has been a constant good companion. After saying all these to the policeman, the latter dismisses himself. Twenty minutes after the policeman left, another man went to greet his friend Bob. Both of them cheered and make themselves comfortable with each other as they try to unleash the gap on their acquaintance. Shortly, as they approach the front door of the drug store, Bob realizes that this man is not his old friend Jimmy as his nose looks completely different. After the confronting scenario, it turns out that the man has just pretended to be Jimmy and that Bob has under arrest for ten minutes. The man then gives a note to Bob explaining that the first patrolman had been Jimmy and that he went because he did not have the nerve to arrest his old friend, s o he had left before he  could be recognized and found a plainclothes officer to arrest him. Friendship is at the heart of â€Å"After Twenty Years.† The character who does the most talking, Bob, seems to be indisputably fervent about seeing his old friend Jimmy. He speaks glowingly about what a great friend Jimmy was and relates that he has travelled across the country, over a thousand miles, to see him again. However, the story is indeed quite of surprise especially at the conclusion where it greatly shows how Jimmy Wells portrayed a noble act both to the law and to his friend. I find him loyal in coming to the arranged appointment with his friend and in apprehending into the law where he took an oath to serve in just and humane way. The conflict indeed is between Jimmy and his inner being where he was stocked in a very sensitive situation. Either he will let Bob go away and forget the crime he has done or arrest him and stay true to his society under his duty. It seems very impossible but the dilemma has solved well on a clever decision of Jimmy. Moreover, the scene where Jimmy sends another man to arrest Bob is my favourite part. Although, it was difficult for him I view this as an act of courtesy to Bob. It simply shows how strong their sentimental bond is. Jimmy also shows great sympathy and honour to his friend despite of the circumstances. Life is indeed unpredictable. You cannot deeply fathom how things really work on its unique way. Sometimes people turn bad and sometimes others were naturally made good. However life is once again a matter of choice. What happened to Bob’s career and future was primarily his choice and Jimmy couldn’t do about it. On the other hand, Jimmy Wells made a good catch in himself as he remained in his hometown, got a noble job and performed well in realizing his duty. Thus, he never compromises the built friendship between him and Bob. After all a choice can be good or the other way around. One may choose to follow a good path by working on the side of the law and the other may choose to follow a bad path by breaking the law. The most important thing is you did the very thing that God wants you to do and I felt it in the story. Jimmy did a right thing and he solved the dilemma well. The last part of the story which is a note for Bob really moved me. His note is terse and offers no apology for having Bob arrested, but that is the best that Jimmy can do when he and a man who was once his best friend are on opposite sides of the law.