Gantt chart Essay

The phenomena of calendar effects in stock markets seem to be a center of curiosity for many researchers across the world. Following many studies about the significance of calendar anomalies, testing the presence of Monday effect and January effect appears to be an area of interest. The aim of this study is to discuss about calendar anomalies and its significance. It should be noted that the study will focus mainly on Monday effect and January effect on the stock returns of companies listed on SEM-7. The research proposal will consist mainly of the literature review part and the methodology part. 2.LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1DEFINITON OF BASIC CONCEPTS Calendar anomalies are effects which include apparently different behavior of stock markets on different days of the week, month and year. Calendar effect may also be defined as a collection of theories that state that certain days or month are subject to above price changes in stock market and can therefore represent good or bad times to invest. Brooks and Persand (2001) defined calendar effects as the tendency of stock returns â€Å"to display systematic patterns at certain times of the day, week, month or year †. As mentioned above, the study will discuss mainly on Monday effect and January effect. The day of the week effect also called Monday effect indicates that the average daily return of the market is not the same for all days of the week as we would expect on basis of Efficient Market theory. Monday effect is a theory which states that return of the last trading day is the highest and return on the first trading day is the lowest across the days of the week. January effect is a phenomenon whereby stocks claim higher rates of returns during January compared to any other month. Smaller stocks tend to beat bigger stocks during this period. The January effect also known as â€Å"year-end effect† indicates rise in price during the period starting on the last day of December and ending on the fifth trading day of January . The Stock Exchange of Mauritius was incorporated in Mauritius on March 30, 1989 as a private limited company responsible for the operation and promotion of an efficient and regulated securities market in Mauritius. The SEM operates two markets namely the official market and the Development & Enterprise Market (DEM). The study will focus only on the official market. On 31 March 1998, the Stock Exchange of Mauritius launched the index SEM-7, comprising companies listed on its official market. The SEM-7 comprises the seven largest qualified companies of the official market measured in terms of market capitalization, liquidity and investibility criteria. Therefore, the study will be based on the 7 companies in the SEM-7. 2.2Theoretical Explanation on Calendar effects EFFICIENT MARKET THEORY The growing number of studies proving the significance of calendar anomalies has led to doubts on â€Å"Efficient Market Hypothesis†. According to Fama (1970), â€Å"a capital market is efficient if all the information set is fully reflected in securities prices†. Efficient market hypothesis is one of the theories which states that, in whichever form, all the information is completely integrated in the share prices and therefore no one can beat the market. There are three form of market efficiency; weak form, semi-strong form and strong form based on set of information. The weak form efficiency states that no one can outperform the market based on past information while in the semi-strong form, despite using public information, the market cannot be beaten. The strong form efficiency states that no one can beat the market despite using past, public and private information. As a result, according to the efficient market theory, the calendar anomalies have no effect on the share prices and that no one can use this anomaly to gain abnormal returns. MONDAY EFFECT As already mentioned above, Monday effect, also known as weekend effect, is a theory according to which returns on Monday is less than the other trading days. Two hypotheses that have been formulated to explain Monday effect are Calendar Time Hypothesis and Trading Time Hypothesis. According to the Calendar Time Hypothesis, Monday’s average return will be different from the other days’ average returns. A reason for this difference is that Monday’s average return will be three times higher than the average returns of the other working days. According to Trading Time Hypothesis, the returns on stock are generated during a transaction. This indicates that average returns will be the same for all weekdays including Monday. JANUARY EFFECT January effect occurs when there is a general rise in stock prices during the month of January. January effect is also known as small firm in January effect because it is most frequently observed in small cap stocks . The nature of this anomaly suggests that the market is not efficient as market efficiency would suggest that this effect would disappear. The theories which explain January effect are: †¢Tax-Loss Selling Hypothesis This hypothesis was first suggested by Branch (1997) . In order to reduce tax liabilities, investors sell their loser stocks in December and create capital losses which they offset with the capital gain. Due to excessive selling of shares in December, stock prices are decreased and then investors purchase it again in early January which forces stock prices to rise. However, it is noteworthy of the fact that since in Mauritius, capital gains is not liable for tax purposes, this hypothesis cannot be used to explain January effect. †¢Window-dressing Hypothesis Some portfolio managers also do window dressing to their portfolio by creating January effect. Since they have to report their portfolio holding as at 31 December, they just sell riskier stocks before 31 December in order to make their portfolio look less risky on Annual Report. Later on, they just purchase the risky securities again in a view to earn high profits. †¢Information Release Hypothesis According to this hypothesis, also known as differential information effect, the excess January returns are the effect of significant information releases that occur in the first few days of January. This hypothesis relies on how discrepancy in the quantity of information available for different companies may result in different returns. According to Rozeff and Kinney (1976), distribution of year-end information may have a greater effect on the prices of small firms’ securities relative to large firms because the market for small firm stock is less efficient . 2.3Empirical evidences on Calendar effects In order to investigate on the existence of calendar anomalies, there have been several studies conducted obtaining different results. In a recent paper by Haug and Hirshcey (2005) on January effect, evidence is found that the anomaly is significant for small cap stocks and continues to be consistent over time . Moreover, Fountas and Segredakis (2002) investigate about the significance of the monthly seasonality in the Amman Stock Exchange and find very significant January effects in this market.

Enrollment Process Essay

INTRODUCTION Enrollment is the process of entering and verifying data of students and faculty to register on a certain school. Different interconnected processes build up enrollment procedures called enrollment system. Enrollment system is used particularly in recording and retrieving students’ information. Tracking students’ information is also one feature of enrollment system, in which the school can trace the standing of a student. Verifying payments is also added to update or browse students’ billings. Enrollment system is a good example of a computer generated process. This can diminish the workload and provide accurate information needed of the school. Enrollment and Accounting System must be used in schools. It will provide and store the needed information faster and more convenient. Moreover, it allows the retrieval of information of student enrollees and faculties in a computer system that will lessen their time and effort of faculty staff in storing files of each student and faculty every now and then. The information here can be viewed in just a second without becoming anxious that a single file is lost. The idea behind an enrollment and accounting system is not a new concept since some schools are already using electronic enrollment system. In this study, the researchers concentrated on the developed of Enrollment and Accounting System for St. Andrew Academy to provide solution to the problem that they encounter in operating its manual enrollment and accounting system. The directress of the said school uses manual system in recording and retrieving students’ information. In fact, she does all the record keeping just by using ball pen and columnar sheet. On the other hand, the registrar also uses manual system in recording and retrieving student information. In connection to this, the researchers conclude that they are capable of creating a system to address the problem based on their background and knowledge they learned in their Database Management System 2. PROJECT CONTEXT (IPO) The system design project is Enrollment and Accounting System that will provide and store the needed information in a faster, more convenient way by  storing file of the student enrollees and payroll of the faculties in a computer system. This will also be exclusively used for the irregular students, freshmen, transferee, and professor/instructor in able to get access in course, subject, professor, and student enrollees. This will also be a big help to all the enrollment staff especially under the management information system because they are the ones who are entitled to touch and read the information. It will help the institution to have a system that will enhance the enrollment processes so as to meet the quality that the institutions are trying to meet. Input Process Output FEEDBACK Figure 1: Research Paradigm The paradigm of this research consists of three parts. First is Input wherein the researchers will identify the problems encounter of the existing of Enrollment and Accounting System of St. Andrew Academy, the Functional and Non-Functional requirements of the system, the Hardware and Software requirements, and last is the level of acceptability of the proposed system. This will enable the developers to work on the features of the system that will help alleviate, if not totally solve, the problems identified on the first phase of the study. The next phase of the study is the Process wherein the researchers will use the Unified Process (UP) in IPO is specifically from Inception to Transition. This is considered the most costly and laborious phase of the study as the developers will guarantee that the system addresses the problems determined in the first phase of the study. Last is the Output which will be the outcome of the concentrated system. The system will undergo intensive testing to evaluate the accuracy, efficiency, usefulness, responsiveness, and maintainability of the software. PURPOSE AND DESCRIPTION The main purpose of this study is to develop a software to improve the old and manual enrollment and accounting system of St. Andrew Academy. Hence, it helps allow the school to gain the optimum benefits that the user would get  once the new enrollment scheme is implemented. Moreover, it also aims to design an effective and efficient system in terms of speed, reliability and accuracy, and to ease the enrollment system for computer-based system effectively to benefit both the faculty and student community. This study is also meant to help the school manage various operations including data storage, administration, and operations. Students may inquire on matters related to admission and enrollment requirements. The faculty will also be allowed to inquire on matters related to their payrolls. This system assists the students and faculty in their educational and personal need. The enrollment and accounting system will support the student enrollment, admission, and registration process. The database includes the record of students’ personal data, academic information, and related fees. In connection to this, the information of the faculty of the school is required in this system. It focuses on storing and processing (insertion and updating) by using graphical user interface. It generates student information in formatted tables, fees invoice, subjects enrolled, student’s academic detail report, student’s personal detail report, and student’s fee deposition status report. New enrollees will be the only ones to fill up their personal information since they do not have existing records on the system yet. Returning students will only present their report card for the update of their academic record which is already stored in the system. Enrollment and Accounting System is a system in which the computer plays a major role. This is the best way of storing and retrieving data on a server or hard disk rather than using papers and file cabinets. This will help the institution to store the data they need efficiently. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM The researchers aim to design and develop an Enrollment and Accounting System for the students and the teachers of St. Andrew Academy to improve their old and manual system. In accordance with this study, the researchers aimed to provide answers to the following questions: 1. To determine the problems encountered with the existing system of St. Andrew Academy. 2. To identify functional and non-functional requirements. 3. To identify hardware and software requirements. 4. To test the level of the acceptability of the proposed system. SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS The scope of this study is to determine the management practices of the said school. It will look into features of the office and its daily tasks operation. The respondents will be limited to the registrar, cashier, administrator, faculty and employees and the student to ascertain and identify the actual problems existing within the school. It will be used to avoid duplication in encoding and tracing the student information as well as the teachers/faculty information with payrolls when it comes to enrollment processing and payments. With regard to the accounting aspect, it is concerned in getting the time record and attendance of teachers. In the same time the computation of hours work and monitoring of over time, under time, late and outdoor work are included. In addition to this, the proposed Enrollment and Accounting System of St. Andrew Academy supports the network topology implementation within the campus. DEFINITION OF TERMS Operational Terms The definitions of terms are based on observable characteristics and how it is used in the study. Users They are the individuals who use the system for its problem solving assistance. Administrator It refers to a person in charge to manage a system. Record It is a document that contains an account particularly in terms of collection. Conceptual Terms The definitions of terms are based on concepts or hypothetic ones, which are usually taken from the dictionary. Computer System It is the configuration that includes all functional components of computer and its associated hardware or software. Database It is an integrated collection of data which provides a more efficient way of storage and retrieval of data and is capable of processing large portions of data immediately. Information is the data that has been changed into a  useful form of output. Process It refers to a series of actions, changes, of functions that bring about an end result. Software It is a computer terminology used to describe the unseen programming codes and running application inside the computer system. System It is a set of related a component that produces specific results.

Providing Feedback to the Community-based Care Transitions Program Research Paper

Providing Feedback to the Community-based Care Transitions Program - Research Paper Example The CCTP is connected with the Partnership for Patients, whose focus is on improving patient experience and reducing the costs of hospital readmissions by 20 percent (Partnership, 2014). Those included in the partnership are the Hospital Engagement Networks there are 26 states, regional and national hospital system organizations that help identify solutions for protecting against hospital-acquired conditions; the Community-based Care Transition Program (CCTP) which seeks to incorporate social service providers, pharmacies, primary care practices, nursing homes and home health agencies to provide patients with care; and the Patient and Family Engagement (PFE) system which connects relationships between patients, their families and the health care system, so that outside care can continue, rather than returning to the hospital (Partnership, 2014). The New York Methodist Hospital provides a coordinator who assists each patient during the first 30 days to assist patient needs, decipher discharge paperwork and care instructions, oversees follow-up medical appointments for the patient, along with prescription fillings, and will also connect the patient with community services, such as Meals on Wheels (NYM, 2014). As this whole process is still relatively new, it is a work in progress, particularly as the ACA moves into gear in this past year. Obviously, hospitals want to reduce costs, but it should never be at the expense of the public’s health, particularly when concerning older people. As of January 2013, New York State’s Medicare Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) showed reduction rates for Medicare patients in re-admissions within the first 30 days of implementing the program (PR, 2013). Those rates were compared to those from an intervention pilot program during 2009 to 2010, as part of the CMS 9th Scope of Work (SOW) Care Transitions initiative, covering 14 communities nationwide.  Ã‚  

Managing strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Managing strategy - Essay Example The second part of the report focuses on internal analysis of Netflix with VRIN framework adopted for conducting an analysis of company resources and capabilities. Based on the identified in the external and internal analysis, part three feature issues and challenges facing Netflix as it strives to remain competitive in the industry. Part four of the report analyses strategic options that will facilitate continued growth and development of Netflix with the ANSOFF Matrix being the analytical tool for identifying the options. Part five of the report evaluates the identified strategic growth options while part six focuses on the selected growth option before lastly making a brief conclusion and recommendation. Netflix operates in video renting and streaming industry with the company offering channels foe distribution of DVD rental by mail order, internet streaming of content through home devices such as PCs and internet TV. The company uses subscription-based services to customers who pay a monthly fee for both DVD rental and streaming services. The company had initially linked the two services, but has separated them in recent years meaning subscribers will no longer have access to both unlimited DVDs and unlimited online streaming in one subscription plan (Thompson, 2013). There are a number of political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental factors with considerable impact on the operations of Netflix. Political and legal factors in the external market relates to laws and regulations regarding access and distribution of content by Netflix and and other vendors in existing in the industry. There is an increased concern about piracy with companies seeking to enhance their control regarding copyrights, patents, licensing and trademarks. While it is difficult for authorities to eradicate, piracy has a negative impact on revenues collected by vendors as it makes content

Innovation Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Innovation Management - Essay Example In the current business environment, technological innovation is the key driver of achieving competitive advantage among the companies. Firms rely on the recently developed products as the major sources of revenue and increase in the profit margin. Thus, innovation is becoming a metric measure of the current performance level of firms in different sectors. Globalization has taken, and is taking place in the business world (Aalbers et al., 2014). As such, it has contributed towards the development of innovative strategies among the firms. Such emerges from the foreign pressure that local firms receive in terms of the quality of their products and services. Therefore, companies are engaging in the production of differentiated products and services so that they can survival foreign competition. The introduction of the new products ensures that firms have the potential of protecting their margins and lowering their production costs. Such includes improving on abilities of the firms in th e competitive market. Technological advancements have also triggered firms to focus on innovation. These advancements include computer-aided manufacturing and computer-aided design, which help in the short-run production, as well as the attainment of economies of scale within the production chain. The aim is to ensure that the products and services meet the customer needs. Such is essential because different customers express unique needs in terms of the quality of the quality of services and products that they receive from the market.

The Global Recession Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

The Global Recession - Essay Example The demand for homes and mortgages continued to increase over the years as buyers became more confident in their buying decisions and the return on their investments thus creating a form of bubble that resulted in a continuing rise in home prices. To further induce the borrowing by home buyers loan terms were further relaxed as plenty of funds were available with the lenders and agencies causing a wide dispersion of credit facility without properly checks and balances (Jaffee 2008). Property agents were assigned the task of bringing potential home buyers to the agency in return for the additional benefits and incentives. At that time, the only aim of the financial institutions was to give loan to as many people as possible to earn more and benefit from the soaring prices of properties. But what they ignored in their greed was to check the repaying competency of their potential customers in order to avoid the future debacle. The financial prudence was ignored and people with low income or bad credit history were facilitated by the lenders. Favorable loan conditions were offered as a way to attract borrowers by lending companies that in fact led to solvency issues for them. Loans offered at variable low rates were expected to increase in the future and many borrowers took mortgages in their anticipation that the high prices will help them to refinance swiftly at more encouraging provisos (Jaffee 2008). However, this did not happen and conditions really worsened ov er a period of time.

Critical Thinking and Technology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Critical Thinking and Technology - Essay Example Critical thinking also enhances the communication and presentation skills of employees, students and even employers as the information presented is thoroughly thought over and researched. With critical thinking, our ability to express our ideas, opinions and beliefs to other people is enhanced and this promotes cooperation and productivity in organizations that are dependent on technology. Creativity is important in success of individuals, organizations and institutions across the globe in this technology age. According to Plato (Pinliucci, 2011), critical thinking increases the inventive ability of people and this enhances entrepreneurship and business growth. To think critically, an individual must be able to develop a strong purpose and develop a problem upon which different questions will be used to understand it. The position of critical thinking in modern day world has remained a major issue as a result of the emergence of technology and more so, the internet (Whitney, 2010). Information technology and especially the internet improve critical thinking ability of students and employees as it enhances judgment and decision making processes. With information technology, data processing is enhanced due to the massive sources that readers are subjected to and this enhances critical thinking. The development of critical thinking skills is essential in the development of students and employees as it enhances the process of gathering information and developing skills. As a result, the questioning information presented to an individual enhances their understanding of the area and improves their discussion skills. The global economy is currently reliant on technology, an aspect of development that is dynamic and influenced by the level of knowledge of an individual. As a result, the development of flexible skills is essential, a process that can only be achieved through developing strong analytics skills found among critical thinkers (Taylor, 2012). Technology

The Clearling Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Clearling - Assignment Example She dragged her basket over to the spring, then knelt and scooped up some of the clear cool water to drink. Refreshed, she lay back on the grass and closed her eyes, not caring about the further stains her clothes would suffer. She had been hunting in the forest all afternoon for berries, so that her mother could make her famous berry pie for their â€Å"special† guest, who was coming to dinner tonight. Kallan did not want to think of that â€Å"special† guest, her stomach tightened every time she did. Her parents had been looking for an eligible suitor ever since she had turned 16 last spring and Mr. Goodwyn was the result. He was rich, owned a manor house on ten acres of land and he was well connected at court. â€Å"The perfect husband!† Her mother had labelled him. â€Å"A proper gentleman.† Her father had announced happily. But, Kallan did not like him, never mind love him! And aren’t you supposed to love the person you are to wed? She thought to herself miserably. Lately, she had found herself spending more and more time in the forest, trying to avoid Mr. Goodwyn’s frequent visits. But, there was no avoiding him tonight; for, it was tonight that he was to make his formal proposal to her father, asking him for her hand in marriage. A silent tear rolled down her cheek and she made no attempt to wipe it away, instead she listened to the singing of the birds around her. Then, faintly she heard something else, sweet distant music accompanied by the tinkling of bells. As she listened, it came closer until it was all round her. Blinking she sat up and gasped in amazement. The sun had set and faint stars were beginning to shine, and in the faint light she saw that in the once empty clearing, now stood at least a dozen silvery white horses, their brightly coloured harnesses jingling with tiny gold bells. But, what was more astonishing were the people, if people they were, who were now dismounting from the beautiful horses. They were tall and slender, and moved so gracefully that they seemed to flow over the ground. One of the figures was playing a harp, the source of the sweet music she had heard. Stooping the figure set the harp on the ground and turned to Kallan. â€Å"Now, child, do not stare so. Have you never heard of The Fair Folk?† The speaker was the loveliest female Kallan had ever seen, she was tall and willowy with a fountain of coppery curls falling in waves down her back and around her angular ageless face. â€Å"W-well, yes†¦but,† Kallan stammered in a half whisper. She had heard tales of The Fair Folk, but she had thought that that is all they were, tales. The woman smiled gently down at her. â€Å"Come join us my dear, we are stopping for our evening meal.† She held out her hand and Kallan scrambled to her feet and took it â€Å"I am Taylliana, Elf Queen of Fernin.† Kallan gasped and tried to curtsy but the queen stopped her saying, â€Å"None of that child, it is not necessary. What is your name?† â€Å"Kallan My Lady.† â€Å"Well met Kallan.† the queen said â€Å"Now come join us.† She led Kallan to where a brightly coloured silk covering had been placed on the grass. Kallan sat down dazedly and politely accepted a glass of what smelt like berry juice from the queen. She could not believe what she was experiencing, it all seemed so unreal. â€Å"This is Kallan.† The queen announced to the rest of the elves as they sat down and began passing bowls of fresh

Discussion feedback Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Discussion feedback - Assignment Example They are directly responsible for meeting the development schedules according to the need and demand of the design and technical specifications. A technical leader should possess the three basic KSAs that include technical independence, technology influence and technology initiative. Many people and experts feel that there is a strong link and dependency between science and technology. It is arguable that one can exist without the other. Explain in detail and provide your perspective with practical examples of why you feel there is or is not a connection between science and technology. Ans. Science and technology are evolving rapidly. They are developing new revolutions between different inventions and technological designs. Usually, the solution to one’s technological problem is found in the invention of other. Science and technology are interdependent on one another. Discovery in one field promotes and explores new ways and techniques in another field. There are a number of factors and precautions that need to be considered when developing and introducing new technologies to the marketplace. This is especially the case when this could be a technology without a known history. One specific consideration is around ethics such as the impact on people and the environment. What are some common ethical challenges, issues and dilemmas encountered when creating and commercializing a new technology? Describe in detail and provide an example of each type (challenges, issues and dilemmas) for both the development and introduction process. Ans. Different ethical challenges arise when a new technology is created and commercialized. Some of the issues or ethical dilemmas revolve around financial development and fulfilling the short/long term goals. All around the world issue of privacy has been the greatest ethical dilemma for healthcare sector to maintain the privacy of the patient and his family in a

Influences and Characteristics of Entrepreneurial Behavior Essay Example for Free

Influences and Characteristics of Entrepreneurial Behavior Essay Management skill and strong team building abilities are often perceived as essential leadership attributes[3] for successful entrepreneurs. Robert B. Reich considers leadership, management ability, and team-building as essential qualities of an entrepreneur. This concept has its origins in the work of Richard Cantillon in his Essai sur la Nature du Commerce en (1755) and Jean-Baptiste Say[4] in his Treatise on Political Economy. Psychological studies show that the psychological propensities for male and female entrepreneurs are more similar than different. A growing body of work shows that entrepreneurial behavior is dependent on social and economic factors. For example, countries with healthy and diversified labor markets or stronger safety nets show a more favorable ratio of opportunity-driven rather than necessity-driven women entrepreneurs. Empirical studies suggest that male entrepreneurs possess strong negotiating skills and consensus-forming abilities. Research studies that explore the characteristics and personality traits of, and influences on, the entrepreneur have come to differing conclusions. Most, however, agree on certain consistent entrepreneurial traits and environmental influences. Although certain entrepreneurial traits are required, entrepreneurial behaviours are also dynamic and influenced by environmental factors. Shane and Venkataraman (2000) argue that the entrepreneur is solely concerned with opportunity recognition and exploitation, although the opportunity that is recognised depends on the type of entrepreneur; while Ucbasaran et al. (2001) argue there are many different types contingent upon environmental and personal circumstances. Jesper Sà ¸rensen has argued that some of the most significant influences on an individuals decision to become an entrepreneur are workplace peers and the social composition of the workplace. In researching the likelihood of becoming an entrepreneur based upon working with former entrepreneurs, Sà ¸rensen discovered a correlation between working with former entrepreneurs and how often these individuals become entrepreneurs themselves, compared to those who did not work with entrepreneurs.[5] The social composition of the workplace can influence entrepreneurism in workplace peers by proving a possibility for success, causing a â€Å"He can do it, why can’t I?† attitude. As Sà ¸rensen stated, â€Å"When you meet others who have gone out on their own, it doesn’t seem that crazy.† [5] Perception of entrepreneurs The ability of entrepreneurs to innovate is thought to relate to innate traits such as extroversion and a proclivity for risk-taking. According to Schumpeter, the capabilities of innovating, introducing new technologies, increasing efficiency and productivity, or generating new products or services, are characteristic qualities of entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs are catalysts for economic change, and researchers argue that entrepreneurs are highly creative individuals with a tendency to imagine new solutions by finding opportunities for profit or reward.[6] Largely due to the influence of Schumpeters heroic conceptions of entrepreneurs, it is widely maintained that entrepreneurs are unusual individuals. In line with this view, there is an emerging research tradition investigating the genetic factors that are perceived to make entrepreneurs so distinctive (Nicolaou and Shane, 2009). However, there are also critical perspectives that attribute these research attitudes to oversimplified methodological and/or philosophical assumptions (Gartner, 2001). For example, it has been argued that entrepreneurs are not that distinctive, but that it is in essence unrealistic preconceptions about non-entrepreneurs that maintain laudatory portraits of entrepreneurs (Ramoglou, 2011). Classification of entrepreneurs A. Based on functional characteristics 1. Innovative entrepreneur: Such entrepreneurs introduce new goods or new methods of production or discover new markets or reorganize the enterprise. 1. EX: new product, new ways of product, new markets and reorganise the enterprise. 2. Imitative or adoptive entrepreneur: Such entrepreneurs don’t innovate,they copy technology or technique of others. 1. EX: Chinese mobiles. 3. Fabian entrepreneur: Such entrepreneur display grates situation and scepticism in experimenting with any change in their enterprise. They change only when there is a serious threat to the very existence of the enterprise. 4. Drone entrepreneurs: Such entrepreneurs are characterised by a diehard conservatism and may even be prepared to suffer the losses. 1. EX: Acc. To MC Kinsey in 2015, 110-130 million people will be unemployed out of which 90-100 million people will be Fresher. [edit]B. Based on development angle 1. Prime mover: This entrepreneur sets in motion a powerful sequence of development expansion and diversification of business. 1. EX: Ambani 2. Manager: such an entrepreneur doesn’t initiate expansion and its content in just staying in business. 3. Minor innovator: This entrepreneur contributes to economic progress by finding better use for existing resources. 1. EX: minimum wastage maximum production. 4. Satellite: This entrepreneur assumes a suppliers role and slowly move towards a productive enterprise. 5. Local trading: such entrepreneur limits his enterprise to the local market. C. Based on entrepreneurs business 1. Manufacturing 2. Wholesaling 3. Retailing 4. Service Based on personality traits 1. The improver: They have unwavering to run these businesses with high integrity and ethics. 2. The advisor: â€Å"Customer is right and we must do everything to please him† because company is built by advisors and advisors become customer focused. 3. The superstar: All depends upon the charisma and on the high energy of the superstar CEO. 1. EX: Richard Branson (400 co’s/Virgin coin), Larry Page (Google), Lt. Steve Jobs (Apple), Ratan Tata (Tata sons). 4. The artists: Are highly creative type, very conscious about business. If feedback is constructive i.e. positive than also lets go with negative self-image. 1. EX: Aamir Khan, Michael Dell (Dell), MC Cormich (EMI). 5. The visionary: Too focused on dreams with little focused on reality. 1. EX: Jack Welch (GE), Bill Gates (Microsoft), Kishore Biyani (Future Group), Warren Buffet (Berkshire Hathaway), Sam Walton (Wall Mart). 6. The analyst: More focused on fixing problems in a systematic way. 1. EX: Gordon Hore (Intel), Rana Kapur (Yes Bank), Gautam Adani (Adani Groups) 7. The fireball: A business owned and operated by a fireball is full of life, energy and optimism. They have â€Å"A get it done attitude in a playful manner†. 1. EX: Malcolm Forbes – Forbes magazine 8. The hero: Have an incredible will and ability to lead the world and your business through challenges. 9. The healer: They provide nurturing harmony to their business, they have uncanny abilities to survive and persists inner calm. 1. EX: Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak (Sulabh International), Kumar Manglam Birla (Son of L.M Birla). 1. The Opportunistic: take advantage of opportunities as they occur. 1. EX: Mark Zuckerberg Theory-based Typologies Recent advances in entrepreneur researcher indicate that the differences in entrepreneurs and the heterogeneity in their behaviors and actions can be traced back to their the founders identity. For instance, Fauchart and Gruber (2011) have recently utilized social identity theory to illustrate that entrepreneurs can be distinguished in three main types: Darwinians, Communitarians and Missionaries. These types of founders not only diverge in fundamental ways in terms of their self-views and their social motivations in entrepreneurship, but also engage fairly differently in new firm creation.

How Does Patrick Suskind Develop Grenouille?

How Does Patrick Suskind Develop Grenouille? The novel Perfume by Patrick Sà ¼skind explores the issue of isolation and the effects it can bring on human beings. The novel is based on the main character Jean- Baptiste Grenouille who is an extraterrestrial from the time of his birth. He is forsaken by his mother, his surrogate mother and the church. Every character drawn in by Grenouille feels that something is unusual and frightening about him, mostly because he has no scent of his own. Grenouille at the outset struggles to find his own personality through scent, which turns from allure and revulsion. We can see through a close analysis of two excerpts from the book, one from near the beginning and one from the end, Sà ¼skind develops the character of Grenouille through the portrayal of scents throughout the novel as the central character matures. Sà ¼skind uses devices such as metaphors and juxtaposition to name a few, emphasize the smell or aroma which Grenouille observes and relate this to the theme of novel. In the first extract of the novel, the severity of the unpleasant smell or stench is portrayed in the region of France where Grenouille is born in Paris. Sà ¼skind gives an imagery how, People stank of sweat and unwashed clothes; from their mouths came the stench of rotting teeth, from their bellies that of onions (3). In this section of the novel where, the streets stank of manure, the courtyard of urine (3) Sà ¼skind describes the birth of Grenouille. At the time of his birth, he is unwanted by his mother and is left to die in a pile of rotting fish which literally symbolizes the smelliest place on the earth. The place of his birth in such setting sets the tone for the rest of the novel and the background which welcomes Grenouille in the world. The use of word stench portrays the miserable future which is implied to Grenouille even before his birth. The reader anticipates a tedious future of Grenouille based on the setting he is born. It displays a lack of opportunity available t o him to build up his identity in the left out world where he is unwanted by everyone due to the reason that he has no smell of his own. Sà ¼skind links the lack of odor with a lack of identity of a person or lack of his soul Grenouilles Isolation from the society is mainly due to his lack of scent. Sà ¼skind demonstrates that, with no smell of his own, Grenouille goes by the people without being noticed by anyone like a demon would fly by unexposed. At the young age, the children in the house of Gaillard felt that something is different about Grenouille and for that he was alienated from the beginning, as described They could not stand the non-smell of him, they were afraid of him (23). Sà ¼skind emphasizes the importance of sense of smell creating identity of ones personality in the novel. A persons identity has a direct relation to his smell; however this means that Grenouille has no identity of his own. Even though Grenouille lacks a scent of his own, he still has a unique ability to re-establish occasions, places, and people in his mind due to his ability of his great sense of smell. As Grenouille knows every single odour handled here and had often merged them in his innermost thoughts to create the most splendid perfume (75), he impresses Baldini by making the famous perfume for him Amor and Psyche. The strength of Grenouille is his great sense of smell and through this, he wants to create a perfect scent for himself by which people love him and he gets his own identity. He wants the humankind to be on his knees and the way they are looking at him as anti- human, he wants to be noticed by every single person because of his scent and wants to be loved by the people. In a search for creating a perfect fragrance and his own identity, Grenouille becomes besieged by the stink of mankind. He feels that the smell of human is basically venomous for the natural world. Grenouille hates mankind not only because of its foul stink and sweat, but also because of the human behavior and the world filled of debaucheries. Even though Grenouille is alienated his entire life, he didnt get any respect from Baldini. By using the skills of Grenouille, Baldini becomes a rich men and build his factories in the faubourg Saint -Antoine, succeeded in his scheme for exclusive perfumes at court, received a royal patent (111) and after succeeding in his life, Baldini turns to self imposed isolate from Grenouille. Rather than being thankful to Grenouille and accepting him in the society, he gets rejected even after he tries to help the human kind. After being rejected from the human kind, Grenouille is described by saying, He was not out to make his fortune with his art; he d idnt want to live from it if he could find another way of living. He wanted to empty himself of his innermost being, of nothing less than his innermost being, which he considered more wonderful than anything else the world had to offer (112). The aim of Grenouille is to get accepted in the society where he is looked by the people as an anti human but despite being rejected, his nature changes and his hatred for the mankind turns to a desire to rule mankind through smell. Creating an enormous fragrance by capturing the smell of virgins, Grenouille makes the finest and the most irresistible perfume and an identity of his own. The alienation which Grenouille had experienced in his entire lifetime turns around. In order to overtake the humans and to create a enormous fragrance, he commits murders of the virgins to capture their fragrance to make the best perfume and his own identity. When he is taken to the execution field, he proves to the mankind that he is something more than a normal human being. After his exposure of the fragrance he makes, no one wanted to identify Grenouille as an emotionless and an evil person to have committed those murders. As said these people were now pure liquids, their spirits and minds were melted; nothing was left but an amorphous fluid and all they could feel was that their hearts floating (245) He creates such as strong and irresistible smell that, it is well sufficient to overshadow the thinking of the people present i n the execution field. The smell he creates was so strong that, a single drop of it in the handkerchief makes people to participate in gathering sexual acts in the execution fields He Jean- Baptist Grenouille, born with no odour of his own on the most stinking spot in the world, amid garbage, dung and putrefaction, raised without love, with no warmth of a human soul, surviving solely on impudence and the power of loathing, small hunchbacked, lame, ugly, shunned, an abomination within and without- he had managed to make the world admire him. To hell with admire! Love him! Desire him! Idolize him! (248). Is the Internet the Cause for Higher Sex Trafficking? Is the Internet the Cause for Higher Sex Trafficking? Evaluation of The Internet and Sex  Industries: Partners in Global Sexual Exploitation The sex trafficking of women and children is exceptionally common however is not considered important by individuals who are incognizant in regards to the subject. Professor, Donna M. Hughes composed an article titled The Internet and Sex Industries: Partners in Global Sexual Exploitation distributed by the Technology and Society Magazine in 2000, clarifying the seriousness of sex trafficking. Hughes objective was to educate individuals about sex trafficking. She suggested claim of fact, statistics, and claim of significant value to achieve this objective. These systems made the article a solid reference apparatus to utilize because it makes solid claims that are supported by the writers skill and verifiable proof; in any case, the article contains faults on this point since it is out of dated. In the article, sexual exploitation refers to all practices by which a person achieves sexual gratification, financial gain through abuse or exploitation of a woman or child by revoking her human right to dignity, equality, autonomy, and physical and mental well-being (Hughes 562). women and children are generally subjected to sex trafficking when they are confronting destitution, a standing framework, or are experiencing a troublesome time. It is easy to compel women and children into the sex industry with violence of prior trauma and money issues. The United States is the main home for Internet pornography (Hughes 563). In the year 2000, pornography was on a lofty ascent without any goals of intrusions from the law or the people. Innovation was a noteworthy hotspot for abusing, promoting and conveying women and children to distorted men. The sex industry is one reason the internet is very popular and has become successful. The Internet was utilized as a part of numerous approaches to spread sex trafficking. Organized prostitution trips turned into a prevalent path for men from rich nations to come to surely understood sex nations to purchase women and children into prostitution. Alan J. Munn ranted about prostitution trips on the Internet in the spring of 1995, getting the word out to visitors. Alan introduced himself and his business as PIMPS R US, where he offered four days and a three-night trip containing a huge number of sexual delight from female prostitute. After coming back from these visits, men would go to the web, examine their encounters, and clarify the procedure at the end of the day utilizing the Internet to globalize sex trafficking (Hughes 564). The Internet is a cheap way to get all the information regarding your sex business out to the public, soon creating the mail-order bride businesses, which endeavors to introduce men and women of different countries for the purpose of marriage, dating or correspondence The History of Mail Order Brides. Mail-Order Brides rapidly turned into a generally benefitted business. Men would go onto the site scanning for a gave spouse whose objective in life was simply to satisfy her man. The mail-order bride website was more popular than the magazine because it was cheaper than print. With the Internet being so cheap and easily accessible, sex trafficking grew (Hughes565). Regularly, there is an expected 20 billion dollars made every year in the sex business. In the year 1996, there was an estimated 9 billion dollars spent solely on the sex industry in the United States alone (Hughes 568). David Schwartz stated that the Internet is where the big money is in an interview during that year (Hughe s 568). There was an estimation of around six hundred industrial explicit entertainment sites by the year 1996, collecting a total of 51.5 million US dollars. Rivalry in the sex business has prompted to more frightful and injurious mistreatment of women and children through suppression, torment, savagery, child pornography, live shows, and revolting pictures. These situations are corrupting to the women and children being abused openly for the world to see. (Hughes 565). For the year 2016, this data could be somewhat out of date. The reason is because there is a probability that sex trafficking may not be as high as it was in 2000. Also, there is a probability that the internet is not the largest supplier to help sex traffickers trap women and children. In 2000 the media did its best to cover up sex trafficking and the reality behind it. In the year 2016, the Internet was so effortlessly open that each time you turn there is reliably sex either on television or reality. In the year 2016, sex trafficking has turned out to be less critical to cover up the seriousness of sex trafficking and pornography that individuals feel it is satisfactory to go out and commit various acts of sex trafficking and sex exploitation. The writer Hughes utilized claim of certainty all through her article. Hughes would make a claim and backed her claims by expressing demonstrated facts that can be proven throughout the article. She examined her point and supporters for the privileges of the women and children. Hughes utilizes her platform to further her advantage to get the word out about sex trafficking and the internet. Therefore, to answer my question is the Internet the reason for higher sex trafficking? The proper answer would be yes, due to the fact that the internet porn industry is widely expanding and the Internet is mainly being used for sexual exploitation of human beings on private or public websites for either some form of currency or sexual satisfaction. Works Cited Annette T. Rottenberg and Donna Haisty Winchell. Elements of Argument: Bedford/ St. Martins. 2000. Pp 562-571. Print. Hughes, Donna M. The Internet and Sex Industries: Partners in Global Sexual Exploitation. The History of Mail Order Brides. Russian Brides, Latin Brides Asian Brides Foreign  Brides for Marriage- Mail Order Brides: July 25, 2015. Romancetours.edu. 02 Oct.  2016. Web

My Antonia Essay: Psychoanalytic Criticism -- My Antonia Essays

Psychoanalytic Criticism of My Antonia  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚   Abstract: This essay uses psychoanalysis as the strategy of interpretation to read Willa Cather's My Antonia.   Freud's well-known theory--the Oedipus complex--and Lacan's theory of the Mirror Stage are used as the modes of approaching the novel.    I use psychoanalytic criticism as a means of interpreting Willa Cather's My Antonia because I find some similarities between My Antonia and Peter Pan, between that and The Awakening when reading Keith Green's Critical Theory and Practice: A Coursebook.    In the light of Freud's Oedipus complex, like Peter Pan who sees Windy as a lover and mother, and who develops his sexual identity through this complex, Jim Burden also has a mother-like lover, Antonia, and finally comes to take his sexualized and gendered identity in this world. In the view of Lacan's Mirror Stage, like Edna Pontellier who wishes to return to her childhood memory, to return to the world of the Imaginary, in which "sometimes I feel this summer as if I were walking through the green meadow again; idly, aimlessly, unthinking and unguided" (Chopin 520), Jim Burden recollects his boyhood living in the great midland plain of North America where he feels he and Nature are one, but, unlike Edna who goes back and does not come back, Jim goes into the realm of the Imaginary and comes back to the Symbolic, experiencing the process of the Mirror Stage. These are the reasons why I try to apply psychoanalysis in the interpretation of the novel. General ideas will be given after t he summery of the novel.    Willa Cather's My Antonia begins with Jim Burden's "an interminable journey across the great prairie of North America" (Cather 5), a journey back ... ...one sometimes finds one's self behaving in bad dream" (Cather 158). After then, he feels he never want to see Antonia again; and he hates her as much as he hates Cutter. This accident pushes Jim to leave Antonia and to go to Lincoln for study.    The relationship between psychoanalysis and Willa Cather's My Antonia has not been defined. I hope that this essay is the first step towards seeing this wonderful novel from a new perspective.    Works Cited Cather, Willa. My Antonia. Boston: Hougton Mifflin, 1988. Chopin, Kate. The Awakening. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Nina Baym. 3rd ed. New York: Norton, 1989. 508-598. Green, Keith, and Jill Lebihan. Critical Theory & Practice: A Coursebook. New York: Routledge, 1996. Wright, Elizabeth. Psychoanalytic Criticism: Theory in Practice. New York: Methuen,1984.      

View From My Window :: Visual Arts Paintings Art

View From My Window by Camille Pissarro This painting is a landscape and was painted, by Pissarro, from an upstairs window overlooking his back garden. This picture is mainly about farmland as it has a lady with some hens and some cows in the distance. In the foreground of this picture there is a large shrub at the front, to the right there is a grass area with a more similar shrubs and to the left there is another grass area with a lady surrounded by hens. The middleground is all grass area with several trees and several cows you can just see. The background has all trees - the start of a forest and then a sixth of the picture includes the sky. The artist captures your attention by the bright colours and in my opinion the focal point of the picture is the roof of the building as it's red and is the brightest point. I don't think the artist has really used line as such , but he creates line by dabbing the brush to form straight lines. I think the artist has used a wide range of tones from light to dark, the lightest point being the very centre of it which is a light green/yellow colour and the brightest point being the red roof. There are a few dark points too - there is a very dark green shrub and at the left background the sky is a dark grey/blue. I like this because it adds form to the painting and i think it makes it look more realistic. I think the shapes that have been used are regular eg. the sky is a rectangle , the trees are a rounded rectangle shape and circle shaped. In my opinion most of the shapes are formed and look 3D. The main colour of this painting is green and it's used in all different tones and shades. I think the majority of the colours are in harmony although I would say the red contrasts with the green around it. I'm sure a different approach could have changed the picture eg. with warmer colours it would look more of a sunny picture but with darker colours it would look more of a dull picture. I think the texture of the picture looks rough because the artist has created texture by using dabs of paint to make a shape or an object. The building in the foreground is slose up but you can tell it gets further and further away into the distance as the trees get smaller and there's a lot more of them.

Humanitys Fate in King Lear :: English Literature Essays

Humanity's Fate in King Lear Many tragedies have been written throughout history. The purpose of these tragedies were to illustrate some type of moral lesson. The tragic situation involves man's miscalculation of reality and the fatal results of those miscalculations. Our tragic hero must endure a great deal of suffering. It ends in his ruin or destruction. We must also understand that tragedy not only destroys the guilty, but also the innocent. The tragic hero represents what could happen to humankind. He is responsible for his society. He is a representation of our own fate. The fate of humanity will be discussed in King Lear, by William Shakespeare. In this moving play, our tragic hero was King Lear. Our tragic hero must also have a tragic flaw. Lear's tragic flaw was his vanity. Lear is so full of himself that he doesn't realize the truth. First of all, Lear wants to divide his kingdom up into three parts for his three daughters. Each daughter's portion depended on how much they would proclaim their love for him. Lear says, "Give me the map there. Know that we have divided in three our kingdom, and 'tis our fast intent to shake all cares and business from our age, conferring them on younger strengths while we unburdened crawl to death."(Act I, i, l. 38-41) Lear should not have relinquished his powers in the first place. He expects to be treated like a king when he no longer will have the power of a king. Secondly, he says, " Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love, long in our court have made their amorous sojourn, and here are to be answered. Tell me, my daughters ( Since now we will divest us both of rule, Interest of te rritory, cares of state), which of you should we say doth love us most? That we our largest bounty may extend where nature doth with merit challenge."(Act I, i, l. 47-53) Within these few lines, we see Lear's first sign of vanity. For one daughter to receive more land than another, one must proclaim their love to be more than the other. He is measuring their love with land. Naturally, his first two daughters, Goneril and Regan, will lie to him, but his vanity blinds him from the truth. Lear's first miscalculation was dividing his land between the daughters. The second is allowing his vanity to get the best of him.

The Italian Unification: Mazzini, Cavour and Garibaldi

Evaluate the relative importance of Mazzini, Cavour, and Garibaldi for the Italian Unification between 1848 and 1871 In order to achieve the unification the Italians had to go through a long struggle starting from 1830 and ending in 1871. Thanks to the leading of Mazzini, Cavour and Garibaldi, the Mediterranean peninsula was able to defeat its foreign enemies, especially the Austrian Empire, and create a united nation under the King of Piedmont, Viktor Emmanuel II.Although Mazzini was the starter of nationalism movements and aroused the spirits of many Italians, Cavour and Garibaldi were the two leaders who were able, both in their own way, to create a consolidated country. Giuseppe Mazzini was an Italian journalist and idealist that at the beginning of the 1830s was able to stimulate the people of the Italian peninsula to fight for freedom from Austria and for a creation of a nation. In his first years of revolutionary movements in the 1830s he was exiled from Italy, and moved to Sw itzerland to create a new movement, the Young Italy.This movement was different from the precedent Carbonari, that were less prepared and more violent, and it was made up by the middle class and as well as the working class and the peasants. Mazzini didn’t believe that Italy could be unified under a king, and thought that the best way of government was a republic, especially after the king Charles Albert refused his proposal to be at the head of the Unified Nation. Even though Mazzini’s supporters were defeated during a revolt in Piedmont, he was able to create an organize movement that had a great influence on the Italian Unification.Later in his life, Mazzini worked cooperating with Garibaldi, and together with him they made a lot of progress in the process of achieving their goal. Count Camillo Benso di Cavour was the diplomatic and political leader of the Italian Unification. Cavour was the mind and the brain of the Italian Unification, who created the political st rategies to defeat Austria. He was a noble man but had liberals ideas, and wanted to unite the country under the Kingdom of Piedmont, working with Viktor Emmanuel II.He was elected first in the Parliament under the rule of Charles Albert, and when he abdicated in favor of his son Viktor Emmanuel II, he was made Minister of Commerce and Agriculture in 1850, Minister of the Navy and Finance in 1851 and Prime Minister in 1852. Mazzini could be compared to Bismark, Prussia’s chancellor, because not only were they both very strategic and intelligent, but even because he modernized the Kingdom of Piedmont like Bismark had done in the German territories. With his domestic polices he created new banks, that made loans to middle class men to open businesses, that gave jobs to the working classes.The banks also made loans to businesses that wanted to create railroads so that Italy was modernized like the rest of Europe. He then facilitated the trading to gain industrial goods from Engl and and strengthen the army of Piedmont, in order to prepare it for war. Cavour used once again his diplomatic skills when he decided to support France and England in the Crimean War in 1854, where his troops won many battles. He then secretly met with Napoleon III in Plombieres, and signed a compact in which the French Emperor promised to support Italy in a war against Austria in exchange of the territories of Nice and Savoy.When the war broke out in 1859 though, Napoleon III, unexpectedly resigned and withdrew his troops, signing a peace contract in Villafranca with the Austrians. With his foreign and domestic policies, Cavour had created the opportunities and the circumstances for Italy to unite. If Cavour was the mind and the brain of the Italian Unification, Garibaldi was the heart of the movement. He was an idealist who believed, like Mazzini, that Italy had to be unified under a republic and without foreign aid.He became the leader of the unification when, with his troops, th e thousand red shirts, he conquered Sicily in 1860 sending away the Bourbon family and the king of the Two Sicilies, Ferdinand II. He conquered Naples, and marched up north, until he got to Rome, where the troops of the Kingdom of Piedmont waited for him. Even though he was a republican, he decided to hand out the territories he conquered to the king Viktor Emmanuel II, who was now the king of Italy. Venetia was still part of the Austrian Empire and Rome was still part of the papal state.Garibaldi then tried to conquer the Papal State but was defeated by the French troops and was exiled from Italy. He was able to escaped but failed again sending an army from Tuscany to Rome again. The Italian Kingdom was finally united when Venetia was handed to the Italian kingdom after the Austro-Prussian war, and Rome was invaded by the Italian troops in 1871 and the Pope was given sovereignty on the Vatican City. Garibaldi was able to send away the Bourbon family and to conquer the south of Ital y, and became one of the greatest military leaders of all times in Italy.Even though Mazzini was the starter of the Italian movement the Young Italy and rose the nationalism spirits of the Italians to initiate the process of the unification, the mind and the heart of the unification, Cavour and Garibaldi, were essential to the creation of a united nation. They both were able to use their qualities, one of being a diplomatic and smart men, while the other being a brave and romantic military leader, and together were able to defeat the Austrian and hand to the Piedmont king, Viktor Emmanuel II, the Italian Peninsula.

Fantasy Books

What if you discovered a magic spring that would keep you forever as young and vital as the day you drank from it- would you partake it? Fantasy represents that which is impossible and outside the parameters of our known reality. Although some people believe that fantasy books, movies and TV shows are corrupting the minds of teens nevertheless fantasy books should be read because they teach the difference between good and bad. Fantasy books often tend to be very appealing to teenagers and help develop their personality, which is why a lot of teenagers who previously never used to read books started reading books.Reading fantasy books such as Harry Potter and twilight instills love for reading books in young teens. These adolescents can partially relate to some of these stories, as most of the characters of the novels are the same age as the readers. Hence, teenagers undergo a similar experience, though they are restricted by realities of life. These books tend to be a temporary escap e from daily life. This is evident from the fact that before Harry Potter it was usually unheard of kids queuing in front of book shops to buy books (CITATION . Teens are interested in reading books that let them explore the world beyond their immediate surroundings. It helped them think out of the box. This allowed them to dream much bigger than they could ever before. It also develops critical reading skills of the teenagers which later helps in their academics. For example reading lengthy books such as Harry Potter, not only increases the reading speed of these children but also helps them read effectively when in class, as it helps them save time.Therefore it is beneficial not detrimental for teenagers to read fantasy books as it instills in them the habit of reading from an early age which later helps them in life. Fantasy books and movies increase the imagination and creativity of teens. When a teenager reads fantasy books and watches fantasy movies, the thought provoking natu re of his/her mind is triggered. It makes the reader intrigued by what is happening in the plot, and what will happen? They will want to speculate the story and be surprised by what they read.This increases the sensible predicting capacity of an individual. According to UK’s fantasy book reviews, fantasy books such as Earthsea Saga (CITATION5) Fantasies allow readers to consider and speculate painful realistic themes sometimes in a way that is more acceptable than in reality. This enables them Therefore teenagers are interested in reading books that let them explore the world beyond their immediate surroundings. It helps them think outside the box. This allows them to dream bigger than they could ever before.These books and movies allow teenagers to see how different situations instigate different emotions in people and how can they be overcome. Although critics argue that reading fantasy corrupts young minds, however Fantasy books and television shows can often be productive . This is because fantasy books help develop the young minds, rather than corrupt them. They help individuals think outside the box, and go beyond what they see in their daily lives. They . They develop values, and desire and passion for excellence. For example, inFantasy books and movies often portray being part of the good team as a norm that is supported by society and almost always results in a good outcome, whereas evil leads one astray and leads to eventual defeat and shamefulness*. This is evident from fantasy movies such as Spiderman and Batman. For example in Batman, Firstly, it is believed by certain sections of society that reading fantasy books and seeing television shows do not develop but rather corrupt young minds. This view is often supported through examples such as Twilight and the need

Discipline and Punishment

The words discipline and punishment can often be used to mean the same thing. But they are very different from each other. To me discipline is a means of helping a child to learn how to act when they are in public as well as when the parent is not around; for example whether it be at school, their grandparents house, or when being babysat a child should always act as if their parents are there which means; being respectful, listening as well as doing what you are told. I feel like discipline should never stray away from the fact the you are trying to focus on the positive aspects and self esteem of the developing child. The reason for discipline is to help a child learn how to control their behavior as well as their emotions and the child should be reassured with firm reminders. Punishment is also another form discipline. There are several methods to physical punishment which would including spanking, push-ups, squatting against a wall, or even hitting. There are psychological punishments such as taking away privileges, extra chores, writing sentences, or sending a child to their room. The reason for punishments is to discourage unacceptable behavior. To most people discipline and punishment can be viewed as the same, but there are certain methods to discipline and punishment that are different. Punishment and discipline methods both have some similarities that attempt to correct the negative behavior at hand. Punishment removes the accountability for the misbehavior from the child. Punishment is not really teaching a child what they did is wrong and what to right the next time. Punishment is ultimately telling the child if they do something wrong then they will be punished whether it be push ups, extra chores, or TV. taken away. Children need to learn that they need to take accountability for their own actions to be able to exercise self-control so that they can be successful as well respected adults. The objective of punishment is to stop a child from misbehaving. However, punishment usually only stops the behavior for that short period of time the punishment is given. Punishment does not necessarily not teach a child how to not do the same behavior again in the future. Severe punishments can cause physical and emotional damage that could last throughout a child's life. Harsh punishments can also lead to abuse which could follow on to their children as well. Another difference between discipline and punishment is that punishment only works in the present. If a child is punished by being spanked or screamed at, they will learn not to misbehave when someone can see what they are doing but, they are not learning how to not misbehave in the future. Discipline is designed to teach a child how to exercise self-control and how to not repeat the misbehavior in the future. For example if the child is with a group of friends who decided to do drugs, that child has been taught through the discipline and guidance of their parents that drugs are bad. So as a result the child has enough self-control and discipline to know not to follow in their friends footsteps. Discipline and punishment are different in that discipline is an on going learning process that allows parents to teach their child self-control, respect, and the importance of acceptable behavior and non-acceptable behavior. In life a child is going to become an adult and be faced with obstacles and barriers; that will test their morals and values that their parents instilled in them. Parents have a responsibility to communicate their expectations to their child in a manner that the child will understand. Which also means knowing what is acceptable behavior and what is not acceptable behavior. There are many types of discipline, and punishment is one of them. Punishment can work in the moment, but as a parent it is their job to commit to a discipline process that is ongoing throughout their child's development to truly change the behaviors in a child Discipline and Punishment

BLR Savings Project P

Data Code of Conduct We, in our dealings, are self-regulated by a Code of Conduct as enshrined In the Data Code of Conduct. We request your support In helping us adhere to the Code In letter and split. We request that any violation or potential violation of the Code by any person be promptly brought to the notice of the Local Ethics Counselor or the Principal Ethics Counselor or the CEO of TTS. All communication received in this regard will be treated and kept as confidential. 2 Table of Content 4 2. Project 3. Scope of 4. Suggested Solution by TTS 6 5. Technology and Tools ? 7 6.Facts and 9 7. Highlights . 8. Benefits to the Customer ? 3 The customer is one of the leading financial services companies in the United Kingdom (I-J). They have over 7. 5 million people investing in various life assurance, pension, investment and general insurance plans. This is one of Auk's top 50 companies in the Financial Times and Stock Exchange (FETES) Index and its operations are spread across the wo rld, mainly in the United States (US), France, Netherlands, Germany and I-J. This leading financial services company makes financial security easier to achieve for millions of people.Through the range of general insurance and protection products that the company offers, it helps protect lives, health, homes and belongings of millions of people. 2. Project Background The customer, based in the I-J, has entrusted Data Consultancy Services (TTS) with the task of managing the today-day IT operations of various business units. This engagement aims to deliver administration services of high quality to the customer's Wealth Business Unit at reduced costs, increased efficiency and reduced time to deliver projects. The following systems form a part of the Wealth Delivery Unit: Future ProductFramework The Future Product Framework (OFF) system plays a central role in the customer's Pension and Investment business and in the customer's strategic Pensions and Bonds administration system. OFF was implemented in 1999. It was designed to provide flexibility in products to meet customer requirements. OFF is a rules and derivative system and has the capability to launch products to the market quickly. UNIt Linked PENsion UNIt Linked PENsion (UNEVEN) is the customer's legacy system that was developed in- house and was originally implemented in 1980.Since 2001, many of its functions eve been replicated within the newer OFF system, and as a consequence almost all new pension contracts are set up on OFF rather than on UNEVEN. Some parts of UNEVEN have been replaced by separate applications such as Individual Pension Claims (PC) and Pensions Increments (PINCH). PC The PC is an online system that enables the creation, maintenance, and printing of Personal and Corporate pension quotations based on the customer pension plans. This system handles retirement, death and transfer out. It is predominately an online system. Quotation documents are composed using SF. PC was implemented in 199 2.PINCH The PINCH system was built to replace the existing UNEVEN renewal routines and to provide dados Benefit Statements and online illustrations. It is primarily used to produce Benefits Statements and Incremental Illustrations for Individual and Occupational Pensions. It was implemented in 1994. Group Pensions The Group Pensions system handles the administration of the following pension products: POP, POP and the Group Pension schemes with respect to maintaining member records and renewal processing. It also administers the settlement of claims for deaths and retirements, including producing claim quotations. ValuationsThe Valuations system performs the valuation of policies across various applications within this account to finally arrive at a valuation of customer's business. Agency, Customer, Finance and Healthcare These systems coordinate with the business to align with the business with respect to Agency and customer details. 5 3. Scope of Work The scope of this engagement is to provide application development and maintenance services across both the legacy and strategic systems of the customer's Wealth Business Unit. TTS provides the following services to the Wealth Business Unit: Management of all the phases of the project lifestyle

Negotiation in Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Negotiation in Management - Essay Example Respecting the negotiation process: one should learn about all the aspects of the negotiation and respect the rules of the process. Lack of respect for negotiation process often lead to break down of negotiation processes. Pursue commonalities: one should look for aspects of the negotiation in which both parties have common interest. Finding common interest will keep both parties to the negotiation bonded as they seek for a win-win outcome. Know when to quit the negotiation: One should set tolerance limit upon which he or she quits the negotiations if the tolerance level is reached. If the negotiations direction seems to be going beyond the limits, one should quit the negotiation. Alternative: this is where a party to the negotiation lowers his or her expectation after establishing that it will not adversely affect negotiation objectives. For example, when a person accepts to a lower price provided the other party will incur the cost of delivering the goods to the warehouse. Ultimatum or else: this technique is used to compel the other negotiation party to make their final decision on an offer. If the other party fails to make a response, the offering party quits the negotiation. Study 2: was a study on Carnegie Mellon Master’s degree graduates’ initial salaries. Men had higher initial salaries compared to their female counterparts. More males than females negotiated their salaries. Bargaining: this involves extensive display of negotiation styles and tactics as each party seeks to establish an advantageous position. It involves focusing on interests of all parties, recognizing personal triggers, and play towards achieving a win-win

Social Networking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Social Networking - Essay Example In 2010, there were more than 400 million people on the Facebook, a social network. Though social networking is possible between all kinds of people with common interests, the usual norm is to find that in social networks people tend to remain within their own language groups, and the social networks have become extremely popular with the younger generation including young adults. Merits and Demerits of Social Networking through Friend-Based Websites Social networking through friend-based websites has both merits and demerits. Social networking sites can be classified into sites that provide space to build a special niche for individuals with common interests and passions to share a single platform. Friendster and MySpace are two such friend-based websites. Other social networking websites like Twitter or LinkedIn have a more profession based orientation about them. Friend-based websites can be viewed as virtual meeting that allows individuals to chill out and meet friends. Discussio ns can be held on topics of common interest, information on various topics can be exchanged and files or pictures exchanged between the groups of friends connected through the social networking website. The social networking websites act as platforms to meet and remain in contact with long lost friends or schoolmates irrespective of the distance between them.

Anything related to Munich or Nuremberg Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Anything related to Munich or Nuremberg - Essay Example The city is alleged to be instituted by Benedictine, a monk, in 1158. The post administrative structure of Munich has been autonomous in leadership divisions, and consultative decisions must be made. Leaders are picked through anindependent legal system for a duration implemented by the constitution, normally four years. This was after war waged by the Americans and later revealed that supremacyis intended for the locals (Stolleis 2004). Nazis movements organised and controlled the better part of Munchin and Germany as a whole for the period of the first world war. (Kopleck 2006)explains thatthemovement formed was anextremist, who were racists and anti-communists. Its presencewas to forcepopulaces to be nationalists, rather than socialists. The associationprohibited democracy as it assumed it profited the jew. Munich through the denunciation of this association fought against it escalating to its territory.It wasbombarded with bombs and heavy loss was gathered (Kopleck 2006). However, it waslater restored andsalvaged its splendour after the close of the second world confrontation, and the resignation of Hitler. Munich is a traditionalist township, (Hendriks 1999)and has remainedgoverned byonly SDP Party since the second world hostilities, conceding just once to the opposition, CSU. The present-day mayor is Christian Ude from the SDP party, who has reigned since 2008 (Munich Sister City Association of Greater Cincinnati 2009). Munchen is celebrates historic events which has led to whittling the political structure of the contemporaryregime. The administrative and statutorysystem areadopted into command by a prevalent party which rarely loses its approval. The inhabitants are known to be very conformist and their optimal choice of leaders is determined by their choice of political party3. Its political thinking was grounded in Aristotle’s viewpoint, which stressed on morals and coherent thinking.They Maintained

Section 121 gain and losses Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Section 121 gain and losses - Research Paper Example The headquarters of the agency is in Washington DC. It is the role of the agency to ensure that it administers the laws related to revenue and asses and collect taxes. The agency has different sections guiding its operations. This paper in particular will explore at section 121. In its discussion, the paper will include the rules and exceptions which are involved in this paper. It will dig further to the presentation of real world examples of the section. (Yancey 2004) Section 121 offers the provision to every taxpayer filling the existing federal tax returns an entire exclusion on any kind of capital gains tax involved in selling their primary residence. The agency on an bi-annual basis provides $250,000 for persons filling single returns and also $500,000 for those married couples filing joint returns is given when the property in question represents their principal residence and when the taxpayer has been living in the home for a duration of at least two or five years. Capital Gai ns Tax The capital gain tax is imposed when one sells the primary residence at a price higher than the original purchase price. Section 121 excludes waives and eliminates the tax when the actual gain is not more than $250,000 and $500,000 for married couples and exclusion upon realization that the property has been used by the taxpayer as his/her principle residence for a duration of two or more years. This kind of exclusion is often available after every two years. EXCEPTIONS Gross income included shall exclude gains from the exchange of property or from sales if during a period of five years ending on the date of exchange or sale, and then such kind of a property has been used by the taxpayer and owned as his principal evidence for duration of 2 or more years. (Yancey 2004) Limitations 1. In General In general terms, the amount of the gains which is excluded from the gross income under section (a) subject to any sale or exchange of any kind of property in any sale shall not be mor e than $250,000. 2. Special Rules for Joint Ventures In the scenario when the couples making the joint return for the given taxable year of a sale or an exchange then- (A) $500,000 Limitations for certain Joint Returns. The first paragraph shall be adopted though the substitution of $500,000 for $250,000 if- i. Either one of the spouses satisfies the authorities requirements as adopted in subsections a with respect to that particular property. ii. When both the spouses satisfies the use requirements of the subsection (a) in conjunction to that property iii. When none of the spouses satisfies the requirements as lay in subsection (a) with respect to that particular property by a particular reason of the third paragraph. B. Other Joint Ventures. If the requirements of sub section A is not met by the spouses, then the limitations that exist in the first paragraph shall be the summation of the entire limitations under the first paragraph where each and every spouses shall be entitled of the spouses had in the pat been married. Therefore every spouse shall be regarded as owning the property during that time when either of the spouses owns the property. (Boortz & Linder 2005) 3. Application to Only a single Sale or an Exchange after every 2 years. A. General If there was no exchange sale by the taxpayer to whom subsection (a) applies during the two year period which ends on the day of the sale or exchange then the subsection shall not apply to any

The Gender Wage Gap in America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Gender Wage Gap in America - Essay Example Your thesis gives the first premise, the second premise is appropriately missing, and the conclusion is well stated. I, however, cannot find disagreement in your thesis and I think you should have how all Americans will benefit from the bridging of the gender wage gap. I agree with your rebuttals that women are still the primary caregivers and tend to take more flexible jobs and that women tend to make occupational choices differently from men (2). I, however, must add that the issue of occupational choices is caused by socialization. Most women are socialized to believe that they cannot handle tough jobs which are a preserve for the males. Accordingly, such women choose to pursue less demanding jobs, which equally have lower pay. The essay should be more accommodative to readers that may view this issue differently. You should lay more emphasis on how gender-based discrimination in wages affects every American whether male or female. You need to let the men know that you’re n ot blaming them for the issue, but the system instead. You should not make them feel responsible for the plight of women in terms of poor wages. I appreciate that you have used various sentence structures. There are simple, compound, and complex sentences in the essay. Your ideas are flowing nicely. I, however think you should have addressed the issues that have led to gender-based wages in consecutive paragraphs without introducing the idea of racially discriminative wages. The essay should be more accommodative to readers.

How has Denmark influenced European policymaking in Environmental Research Paper

How has Denmark influenced European policymaking in Environmental Policy How has Denmark, in turn, been influenced by the Europ - Research Paper Example In 2009, Denmark hosted the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen under the 15th Conference of Parties (COP 15) to address the issues of global climatic change, and how this dire problem could be resolved (Denmark 2010). In similar manner, Denmark also gains a lot from several environmental policies and regulations designed and promoted by the European Union Commission as described below (European Commission 2010). 2 Denmark has been popularly regarded as an environmentally friendly society where people and Government pay serious attention to the principle of environmental protection. The Danish Government has many great environmental policies and practices that are effective and exported to other European countries for similar applications or implementations. Some of these environmentally friendly programs include but are not restricted to the following policies: (i) The Development of Industry-environment Policy:- Denmark shows the other European countries that it is possible to establish a commission that would oversee the relationship between governmental environmental agencies and the industry in a country with the hope to forming a cooperation between the two parties for the purpose of preserving the environment. What the Danish Government did in this case was to set up an investigation on how much pollution the industries caused in the country. After a thorough investigation, it was discovered that Danish industry was solely responsible for the hike in the rate of pollution. To combat this problem, the Danish Government established Pollution Ministry, which specifically makes recommendations for environmental laws, policies and regulations. This approach is effective in stemming the degradation of the environment in the sense that Danish industries are expected to give account 3 of their activities regularly to the agencies under this Ministry with the intention of solving the pollution problems completely (Wallace 26). This policy has b een reportedly copied in other European nations where pollution had become a serious socio-economic problem. It is also Denmark’s hope that this policy will be adopted by almost all European Union countries so as to establish a well-rounded environmental policy that would help Europe Union to control the extent of pollution in the sub-region. Pollution has many far-reaching implications: some of them include causing health hazards, the destruction of farmland produce and making air unfit for breathing. (ii) Creation of Ecocities:- Denmark is one of the countries in the European Union that initiated the policy of establishing Ecocities where governmental laws and regulations about environmental protection are strictly implemented or practiced in order to study the impact of such policies over a period of time (Denmark 2010). What the administrators of Ecocities do is to make sure that the natural resources are consumed appropriately, energy usage should be moderate and the fos sil-fuel sources of energy should be minimized. Water is the main natural resource that is expected to be used wisely in Ecocities. Also, there are programs that aim at creating avenues for people to go â€Å"green†, that is, adopting lifestyles that pay attention to the use 4 of energy-saving alternatives (Denmark 2010). Doing this, Denmark has encouraged other EU countries to take up the challenge of establishing similar Ecocities in their areas. Ecocities are projected to reduce the amount of

Lloyds TSB & HBOS Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Lloyds TSB & HBOS - Case Study Example In order to better understand the culture of both the organisations we will analyse the cultures of both the organisations according to the five attributes used by Hofstede in a study involving 160000 IBM managers across more than 60 countries. According to Hofstede five fundamental differences in national styles were found while examining the culture of the organisation. The power distance in the Lloyds TSB seems to be lower as compare to HBOS where bosses are seen as more autocratic or paternalistic as compare to Lloyds TSB. The decision making at both the organisations is of consultative style. Again the employees at the Lloyds TSB are more participative and involved in the operations and decision making of the organisation as compare to HBOS (Higgs, 1996). Individualism is prevalent in the British culture as a result both the organisations have the culture of organising the work in such a way that the self interest of employees is aligned with the management of the organisation (Huczynski & Buchanan, 2007). As described by Hofstede (1997, p. 120) described uncertainty avoiding societies are a society where there are many formal laws and informal rules controlling the rights and duties of employers and employees. At Llyods TSB the uncertainty avoidance is at low level therefore the organisation effectively implement teams with higher levels of autonomy. Whereas again at HBOS the employee empowerment is lower as compare to Lloyds TSB. Masculinity In both the organisations masculinity and Femininity traits are prevalent and can be experienced by undertaking an analysis of the behaviours of the managers. Hence the notion of learning by experience is not centric (Burden and Proctor, 2000). Confucian dynamism As mentioned by Hofstede there is higher acceptance of the legitimacy of hierarchy and the valuing of perseverance and thrift, all without undue emphasis on tradition and social obligations which could impede business initiative in the Western cultures. The organisational cultures of both the organisations verify the findings of Hofstede. 2. How would you describe the prevailing leadership styles employed by each organisation A leader has the qualities to influence others through his persuasive measures such as the communication, display of confidence, can gain information regarding the problem being addressed and persuade the masses in the desired direction (Prasad, 2006; p. 264). SOCIAL VALUES ECONOMIC CONDITIONS LEADER STRUCTURE FOLLOWERS POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS [Source: Taken from, Prasad LM, (2006) Organizational Behaviour, Fig 26.1 p 287] All these factors interact together to determine the leader's ability to influence others. In HBOS the leaders of the organization practice a distinct participative style. The strong

Timeline of Geometry Essay Example for Free

Timeline of Geometry Essay It is believed that geometry first came to being when and Egyptian Pharaoh wanted to tax farmers who raised crops near the Nile River. To do that the pharaoh’s agents had to measure the amount of land that was being used. 1. 2900 BC – The first pyramid was constructed. The knowledge of geometry was important due to the fact it consisted a square base and triangular faces. 2. 2000 BC- It was the earliest record of calculating the area of a triangle, however there is no tangible evidence. 3. 624-547 BC- The Thales of Miletus was said to be the person to bring the science of geometry from Egypt to Greece. He created the Thales’ Theorem. 4. 569-475 BC- The next great geometer was Pythagoras. He had created the Pythagorean Theorem that states in a right triangle the sum of sides A and B are equivalent to side C. 5. 400-355 BC- Eudoxus of Cnidus was the one who discovered the Theory of Proportions. Where in there are methods to find the area and volumes of figures with curves and many other things. 6. 382-283 BC- Euclid of Alexandra who is also known as â€Å"The father of Geometry† created a book called â€Å"The elements†. This book was the main textbook to teach math (mainly geometry). 7. 287-212 BC- Archimedes of Syracuse was the inventor of many mechanical devices such as the screw, the pulley and the lever. He discovered the measurement of a circle and his wrote a book â€Å"On the Sphere and the Cylinder† in which he showed the volumes and surface areas of spheres and cylinders. 8. 1596-1650 – Rene Descartes wrote the famous book â€Å"Discourse on the Method of Rightly Conducting the Reason in the Search for Truth in the Sciences. He created analytic geometry in which the geometric figure is placed into a coordinate system to show evidence and to obtain information using algebraic equations. 9. 1777-1855- Carl Friedrich Gauss with Archimedes and Newton invented non-Euclidian geometry prior to the work of Janos Bolyai and Nikolai Lobachevsky. Non-Euclidian geometry refers to any geometry that is not based in anything that predicates through Euclid. 10. 1982- The most recent development in geometry is fractal geometry. It was created by Benoit Mandelbrot in his book called â€Å"The Fractal Geometry of Nature†. Where it states that a fractal is a geometric shape that is self-similar and has fractional dimensions.

Sex difference and mathematical reasoning Essay Example for Free

Sex difference and mathematical reasoning Essay The main aim of the study was to determine whether mathematical reasoning is influence by sex of a person due to inconsiderate admission criteria that was adopted in United States for awarding scholarships to students irrespective of sex. In order to achieve this, the study selected sample population from both genders for students who were 13 years and above. The study was a result of the argument that males tend to dominate in mathematical aptitude test, which was evidenced by John Hopkins talent search in 1971 to 1979. Hence, Benbow and Stanley had to carry out this study to prove whether the argument was true and whether there was link between sex and ability to have good mathematical reasoning. Benbow and Stanley in this study investigated sex difference at the high level possible of the mathematical reasoning ability. The study was started by first identifying two groups of students who had the best mathematical reasoning from various mathematical aptitude test that they had taken. The study adopted two procedures where the first one involved identification and selection of students who took part in John Hopkins talent searches campaign from 1980 to 1982 (Benbow, Stanley, 1983). The students who were found to have the highest intellectual ability and below 13 years were given college Scholarship aptitude test, (SAT) to determine their mathematical reasoning. Consequently, the second procedure involved conducting nation-wide talent search and selecting those students who were below 13 years and were willing to take SAT. The results of this study indicated that students who were 13 years of age and below had high mathematical reasoning as evidenced by high scores in SAT, the mathematical part of the test. In addition, the results found that males scored far much high compared to females and thus support the prediction of the study that sex difference play important part in mathematical reasoning for children below 13 years. The evidence from the study indicated that those who scored 400 marks in SAT, males were more than female in the ratio of 1.51:1 and those who scored 600 marks or more the boys to girsl ration was 4.1:1, which showed that males had better mathematical reasoning compared to girls at the age of 13 (Benbow, Stanley, 1983). Consequently, nationwide talent search had the similar results with boy to girls’ ratio increasing to 12.6:1 for those that score 700 marks or more. The significance level Null distribution is the study probability distribution when null hypothesis is considered and regarded to be true. This means that null hypothesis it proved using null distributions. In this case, the alternative hypothesis is rejected. However, where the study does not support the null hypothesis, the said concludes by rejecting the null hypothesis at a given level of significance. Therefore, 0.05 significance means that the null hypothesis was rejected at 95% level of significance. The standard deviation error helps to determine the level of unbiased data and results of a given study and thus it becomes very important in any study. In this study, the standard error was important to determine the level of errors and thus improve the level of data reliability. Similarly, the confidence interval is used as the measure of reliability of the estimates obtained in the study. This helps to indentify if the data is misleading or within the significance level. References Benbow, C. P., Stanley, J. C. (1983). Sex differences in mathematical reasoning ability: More facts.  Science,  222(4627), 1029-1031. Source document

The Understanding Of Knowledge Influence Human Resource Development Education Essay

The Understanding Of Knowledge Influence Human Resource Development Education Essay The importance of interpretive sociology is renowned in this Anne Fearfulls piece of research. Clerical skill and knowledge, and the role of the clerical function within five organisations are explored using qualitative research, mainly in-depth interviews. The study also focuses on the concept of common sense in order for clerks to become efficient or effective in their work. Moreover, in her study, Fearfull concluded that the skills and knowledge of the clerks can easily play an important role with regards to the success of a particular organisation. Additionally, interpretive methodology serves to create new perceptivity in the investigation of skills and knowledge amongst the workforce. Such research aims at the discovery of more opportunities. How might the understanding of knowledge as proposed by Fearfull (2005) influence human resource development policies? Various features constitute human resource development, including training, performance management and career growth. These attributes aim at the development of the employees knowledge. Organisations should understand what knowledge is needed in order to be easily explained to their workforce. In Fearfulls research, the difference between the experienced (older) and the inexperienced (younger) clerks, is remarked. As a human resource development policy, organisations can explore the possibility of engaging more experienced employees in delivering the training programmes to the newly recruited and less experienced employees. This can take the form of job mentoring whereby new and/or less experienced employees absorb knowledge from the experienced ones in order to have greater opportunities at succeeding in their position. Research indicates that when newly employees experience mentor relationships, they are more likely to be retained and immersed more quickly into the organisations cu lture. By this type of relationship, the mentor also benefits since it provides the opportunity to re-evaluate his/her skills and knowledge and provide areas for improving them. Provide a brief example which demonstrates your understanding of the key points outlined in the article. Throughout my University life, I had been engaged in various practicum placements as part of my undergraduate course. These placements have helped me to acquire knowledge through hands-on experience, understanding theories through practice. Additionally, during my first weeks of my employment, I had been engaged in an induction programme, whereby experienced employees provided training to the new recruits, including myself. I had the opportunity to become more knowledgeable of the organisations procedures and acquire the skills needed to function effectively in my new post. Despite this, the induction programme did not aid in accelerating the process of getting to know the underlying procedures which established employees employ in the day to day running of the service. Such procedures may be viewed as becoming part of the jobs common sense reasoning, which employees acquire after a considerate amount of time in the post. This was something that I have learnt by time. But this problem had been solved by having a mentor in the first four months of my employment. I consider myself as very lucky since my mentor invested trust in my abilities and was always available when needed. This was a truly learning experience whereby knowledge and work skills have been transferred from an employee who had already lived through the same experience. Lastly, I believe that the secret of the organisations success is the total and unwavering dedication of every worker, from the lowest to the highest designations. Accomplishment is the result of a collective effort from each and every employee. Reflective statement on the use of Blackboard: This is my first time I ever used Blackboard as a means of virtual learning environment. To be honest, I have never heard of it prior commencing my studies with the University of Leicester. In fact, I even had to perform some research before writing this reflective note on the use of Blackboard. At first, I thought it was quite a complicated tool but after spending some time navigating, my views on the software have changed completely. Blackboard is a system whereby students find useful resources about different subjects (depending on the course one is reading). It offers an excellent alternative to the traditional school / University classroom-based method of learning. Students can have the opportunity of sharing their ideas on a particular subject and even posting assignments and other useful resources online. Although Blackboard might be seen from some people as a means of killing face-to-face interactions, I am quite sure that when using Blackboard, it is going to turn out as a positive experience. Lastly, by looking and analysing at what my other colleagues have posted on Blackboard, I am indirectly increasing my knowledge and level of understanding about the subject. I strongly believe that everybodys effort and input is relevant since a broad subject like Human Resources is a not a topic that entails a one-good answer. AWS Portfolio Exercise 2 Identify one key argument that Garavan makes. In no more than 500 words, summarise the main argument and critically evaluate the respective strengths and weaknesses of this argument. One of the main arguments identified by Garavan (1997) in his article Training, Development, Education and Learning: Different or the Same? is that training, development, and education should be integrated together by the concept of learning. This implies that the three components are all involved in the process of learning and complement each other to better the human potential or talent (1997: 42). Although the four concepts represent different meanings, they all can be incorporated together resulting in a more competitive and efficient organisation. From a human resource development perception, the relationship between the four may be considered as largely related, with each component facilitating the other (Garavan et al, 1995). Work and education are no longer separated as were in the previous years. A more integrated model (Garavan, 1997: 47) is needed to the process of knowledge expansion amongst employees. This process should continuously be practiced as it will enhance the effectiveness of the organisation. By training employees, both the trainees and the organisation will benefit and research has shown that trained employees have a higher retention rate in a particular organisation (Umiker, 1994). Garavan (1997) also argues that the concept of management education is an important stage in an employees career (1997: 48), entailing an opportunity to test understanding and organise knowledge in a competing environment (Association of Management of MBA/MMS Institutes, 2009). The above goes hand in hand with the concept of talent management which in my opinion is an important aspect of human resource management. It refers to the employees skills and knowledge which ultimately drive their business success. Various resources, including training opportunities, offering competitive salaries, and being able to attract and recruit qualified staff, helping employees achieve their full potential. Investing knowledge, development and education amongst employees, is a way of putting an organisation into a more competitive environment and its chances of survival are quite higher than the others organisations. This is the reason why talent management is becoming an important feature in the strategic plan of an organisation. Thus, these three integrated concepts of learning are vital in an organisation because employees are giving the chance to advance in their future and career. They all motivate employees to be more efficient and more creative so that the organisation will in return provide them with a better salary and more skills. These concepts can also provide a range of challenges to a particular organisation. Such challenges include: If training is given in a short period of time (lets say in the beginning of his/her employment), the employee can be overwhelmed with lots of information. This challenge can be overcome if organisations provide training and development opportunities throughout the employees careers and not only during the first phase of their employment. The possibility that the employee leaves the organisation to a better or more exciting workplace, after the organisation invests so hard on the development, education and training of the employee. Successful organisation depends on the level of support given at all levels and its exposure of shared knowledge and information amongst all employees (Nayab, 2010). Lastly, training, development and education increase knowledge, skills and abilities in each employee. In order to avoid having the situation of no talented employees within a particular organisation, training, education and development must work together and be more involved in the strategic plan of the organisation. The three components together act as strategic partners aiming towards the organisations success (Kustoff, 2011). Bibliography Garavan, T. N. (1997) Training, Development, Education and Learning: Different or the Same?, in CLMS (2011) MSc in Human Resource Management and Training. Reading 103. Garavan, T. N., Costine, P. and Heraty, N. (1995) Training Development in Ireland: Context, Policy and Practice. Dublin: Oak Tree Press. Kustoff, R. (n.d.) The New Learning Paradigm. Self Improvement Inc.: Morganville [Online]. Available: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/The_New_Learning_Paradigm.html [2011, February 9]. Nayab, N. (2010) An Overview of HR Talent Management. Bright Hub Inc.: New York [Online]. Available: http://www.brighthub.com/office/human-resources/articles/96352.aspx [2011, February 9]. Umiker, W. O. (1994) Does Training Increase Employee Retention? [Online]. Available: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3230/is_n4_v26/ai_15410797/ [2011, February 9]. AWS Portfolio Exercise 3 In no more than 500 words, analyse the relationship between the process of learning and the role of the trainer, making specific reference to the three readings listed above. Over the years, many people have examined the way people learn. This has resulted in the formation of various theories in which different views on the learning process have been developed. The readings pertaining to this exercise entail different approaches towards the process of learning. Lave and Wenger, as cited in Guile and Youngs (1998) remark learning in a socially manner whereby knowledge is transferred amongst a group of people working together rather individually. This type of learning, known as situated learning, constitutes a multidirectional approach (rather unidirectional) whereby the apprentice (trainer) is engaged in a web of relationships amongst the other colleagues rather than with his/her trainer only. They coined the term community of practice whereby all people share their knowledge by contributing ideas and information, and by helping each other out (Smith, 2003, 2009). This contrasts with the behaviourists theory on the process of learning. As noted in Tennants reading on Behaviourism, the trainer takes all the control during the learning process, while the trainees have little or no control over the process. Their simple notion is that if a positive reinforcement follows a desired behaviour, the latter is most likely to happen again. This type of reinforcement, or rewards, motivate the learner to continue with that kind of behaviour. This will consequently increase the process of learning within individuals. Additionally, negative reinforcement will give the same results, whereby negative situations are ceased as an effect of the behaviour. Punishment will occur because a negative situation is experienced as a result of the behaviour. Therefore, unlike in the community of practices, motivation occurs only as a result of rewards rather than for a self-wish for learning (Ford, 2009). Lave and Wengers work has been built on Vygotskys zone of proximal development in which an individual performs a task under adult supervision and through the support of his peers. Therefore, learning here is seen as a symbiotic experience for both the learner and his/her tutor whilst in behaviourism, the learner determines his/her behaviour on the reinforcements provided by his/her trainer. Therefore in the behaviourists approach, the trainer models the behaviour of the trainer rather easing the learning process. Khoon and Jewson (1995), in their research paper Changing Hearts and Minds: Training Programmes for Mid-Career Workers in Singapore suggested four stages in the development of learning process / training programmes by using the learning-centred approach. The findings of their research imply that motivation did not occur within the first stage but is built gradually within the four stages. In fact, no motivation exists amongst people during the first stage (withdrawal) whereby people in an organisation do not treat training programmes as a solution to their problems and difficulties. As a result, the main task of the trainers here is that of convincing employees by changing their ideas on their perception of training. This stage will then lead to the awareness phase in which people start to recognise training as a potential source of help (Khoon and Jewson, 1995). In the second stage motivation is built and people have been convinced to attend training. Norming is the next stage that follows. Here the trainees understand the fact that learning is the only option to enhance their problem-solving skills and therefore training is now seen as a privilege rather than a punishment. The final stage implies participation whereby people participate fully in the training process without the fear of failing. It is only at this stage where the dispositional barriers are fully conquered. Furthermore, like in the community of practice, in this stage, people feel that the learning programme is relevant to them. Lastly, in both situated learning and learning-centred approach, the role of the trainer is more that of facilitating learning by providing support. This will eventually encourage trainees to participate in training programmes and take the initiative of entering into such programmes themselves. Bibliography Dunn, L. (2000) Theories of Learning. Oxford Brookes University: Oxford [Online]. Available http://www.brookes.ac.uk/services/ocsd/2_learntch/theories.html [2011, February 12] Ford, P. (2009) Behavioural Approach [Online]. Available http://paulford.com/behavioural-approach-to-learning/ [2011, February 12] Guile, D. and Young, M. (1998) Apprenticeship as a Conceptual Basis for a Social Theory of Learning, in CLMS (2011) MSc in Human Resource Management and Training. Reading 115. Khoon, H. C. and Jewson, N. (1995) Changing Hearts and Minds: Training Programmes for Mid-Career Workers in Singapore, in CLMS (2011) Msc in Human Resource Management and Training. Reading 120. Smith, M. K. (2009) Communities of Practice. Infed: London [Online]. Available http://www.infed.org/biblio/communities_of_practice.htm [2011, February 11] Standridge, M. (2002) Behaviorism [Online]. Available http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?title=Behaviorism [2011, February 11] Tennant, M. (2006) Behaviourism, in CLMS (2011) MSc in Human Resource Management and Training. Reading 104. AWS Portfolio Exercise 4 Cognitive theory is more relevant to the trainer in the modern workplace than behaviourist theory. To what extent do you agree with this statement? A possible plan. Introduction Points: Both cognitive and behaviourist theories are feasible learning theories. Although many believe that the former has surpassed the latter in its dominancy, it can be argued that both theories are still valid nowadays. Throughout the essay, an overview of what constitute both theories will be provided, and then share any similarities between the two. Subsequently, this essay will provide the reader with another theory, cognitive-behaviourism, which in a nutshell, is a combination of both theories underlying a comprehensive interaction between thoughts and behaviours. The main thrust of the argument presented in this essay is that trainers in modern workplaces shall use the cognitive-behaviourist theories with regards to training of employees. Body Points: What does cognitive theory say about learning theory? Learning occurs within the mind; Trainee learns by listening, watching, touching, reading, or experiencing and then processing and remembering the information (ThinkQuest, n.d.); Provide meaning to knowledge; How people understand material. What does behaviourist theory say about learning theory? Learning is seen as the acquisition of new behaviours; Learning results from pleasant or unpleasant experiences in life (Bailey, 2011); Observable behaviours produced by a learners response to stimuli (positive and negative) (Michigan State University, n.d.); For example, if a positive reinforcement follows a desired behaviour, the latter is most likely to happen again; This type of reinforcement, or rewards, motivate the learner to continue with that kind of behaviour; This will consequently increase the process of learning within individuals. Learn to (Behaviourist) vs. Learn that (Cognitive). Are there any similarities between the two theories? Yes. In a nutshell, they both agree that: Experience impacts learning; Learning theories should be objective and based on empirical based research. Were the two theories relevant someday or another? What about today? What does literature tell about their relevancy? Can the trainer use both methods? Cognitive-Behaviourism Theory Blending both theories together entails having a persons faulty thinking and behaviours changed through education and reinforcements. Such techniques foster more adaptive ways for the trainee to cope (Grohol, 2004); Feeling based learning theories; Responses are based on continuous interactions between out feelings, thinking and behaviours. I believe that trainers can apply both theories in the modern workplace if they are implemented correctly and competently. How? Bibliography Bailey, L. (2010) Cognitive and Behavioral Learning Theories [Online]. Available http://ezinearticles.com/?Cognitive-and-Behavioral-Learning-Theoriesid=3633960 [2011, February 13]. Grohol, J. M. (2004) Types of Therapies: Theoretical Orientations and Practices of Therapists. Psych Central: Newburyport [Online]. Available http://psychcentral.com/therapy.htm [2011, February 13]. Purcell, L. (n.d.) Behaviorism: Learning Theory [Online]. Available https://www.msu.edu/~purcelll/behaviorism%20theory.htm [2011, February 13]. ThinkQuest Team (n.d.) Cognitive Processes [Online]. Available http://library.thinkquest.org/26618/en-5.5.3=cognitive%20learning.htm [2011, February 13]. AWS Portfolio Exercise 5 For each extract, please provide your view in response to the following: Evaluate the style and expression. Are there any problems with it? Does it have any particular strengths? Extract 1: In my belief, the author of this extract failed to provide the reader with the basic accounts of the key concepts of Skinners work. Instead s/he criticise Skinners work by only providing the reader with a number of limitations. This also suggests that the author did not provide an analytical discussion of Skinners theories in comparison with his/her own arguments. Citing other peoples views could have helped the author to back up his/her arguments. Also, the author used a numeric list while mentioning a number of limitations in his assignment. This style is normally used when presenting facts and not when suggesting the writers own ideas. The latter in my opinion could have easily been explained better using more detailed paragraphs on each limitation. Furthermore, the author failed to adopt a third person approach in the assignment, leaving a more judgmental approach on the issues being tackled. This also suggests that the writers expressed opinions are not analysed in a balanced manner. Besides this, the author failed to use precise academic language with over-lengthy sentences and incorrect construction of sentences. A positive strength about this extract is the use of questions, which when used rightly, are aimed to attract the attention of the readers. Extract 2: The author in this citation, is picturing the audience in an excellent manner. S/he is not assuming that the reader has a prior knowledge on the subject. In fact, arguments are well defined and issues are discussed clearly and logically. Unlike the first extract, evidence is provided in regards to the statements that the author made. The style of writing is very clear and concise with an excellent flow of discussion that amalgamates the various issues surrounding the topic. Moreover, the author avoided the use of the first person when writing sentences and therefore expressing ideas in a very balanced way. One problem that I encountered while reading this extract was the use of over-lengthy sentences and colloquial expressions. The last sentence is a case in point, where it could have been simplified by using shorter and simpler sentences. Extract 3: The author of this extract used a personal account as an introductory and explanatory statement in order to support the answer of the question. On the other hand, although there is nothing wrong with personal experiences, the author should pay extra attention in order not to become carried away and loses the point of the question. As a general rule, personal reminiscences are not appropriate in the construction of academic assignments as the focus of the question can easily be shifted. However, in my opinion, I do not see anything wrong with this unless it is within the remit of the subject in caption, and used only as a preamble in an assignment. Lastly, in the body of the assignment, the author should offer discussions based on the various relevant sources about the subject being discussed. AWS Portfolio Exercise 6 Please provide a summary of a reading of your choice from the readings in your first module. Name of article: Learning from others at work: Communities of practice and informal learning Authors: David Boud and Heather Middleton Summary: Informal learning is not normally attributed in most organisations although some efforts are now being made to take account of it. In fact, this research paper aims to investigate the way employees learn from each other at their place of work. The researcher engages him/herself in work-site interviews with various employees within a particular organisation. The questions asked sought to find suitable ways of learning strategies amongst the workgroups. Moreover, the results of this study have been compared with Lave and Wengers concept of communities of practice, which is highly linked with informal learning at work. Four different groups were interviewed in order to investigate their learning practices within their own units. The first group (teachers of floor and wall tiling) have been working together for the last ten years. The head teachers role in this group is quite notable in the learning process amongst the other teachers. Information is passed on orally during unofficial meetings and also by emphasising significant sections of different articles and passes them on to his colleagues. Furthermore, members of this group act as a learning source for each other. The second group (educational planners) deals with quite sensitive issues within the organisation and their method of learning involves the contribution of experiences and collective knowledge. Colleagues are nominated to act as the central sources for information amongst their faculties. Similar to the first group, the leader of this newly integrated group act as a source of feedback and assistance on the performance of his/her colleagues. The next group forms part of the Human Resources Department of the organisation. It consists of employees of different grades with a very strong teamwork spirit. Job learning occurs through the supervision of the junior staff by their senior personnel and again the team leader is a primary focus in dealing with the most complicated and unusual difficulties. Learning also takes place through informal gatherings and regular staff meetings. Informal learning also occurs when employees pertaining to this group are asked to act at a higher level whilst others are on leave. The last group (workplace training unit) is quite small in number and its members have a very close working relationship between each other. Again, employees learn from each other during informal meetings whereby experiences and new ideas are shared amongst each other. The experience of learning within this organisation is highly dependent on the nature of work amongst the different workgroups. Apart from this, there were some commonalities amongst various sections of the groups with the concept of communities of practice. No relationship between communities of practice and the workgroups themselves has been noted due to lack of common activities and differences of function amongst the employees. Lastly, learning from other colleagues (of the same level) is quite popular in the workgroups interviewed. This contributes to the concept of horizontal or sideways development and learning as developed by Engestrom (2001). Bibliography Boud, D. and Middleton, H. (2003) Learning from Others at Work: Communities of Practice and Informal Learning, Journal of Workplace Learning, 15(5): 194-202. Engestrà ¶m, Y. (2001) Expansive Learning at Work: Towards an Activity-Theoretical Conception, Journal of Education and Work, 14(1): 133-156. Lave, J. and Wenger, E. (1991) Situated Learning: Legitimate Peripheral Participation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. AWS Portfolio Exercise 7 Correct any referencing errors in the extract and bibliography. You should edit the extract, correcting the referencing errors as you go, highlighting where you have done so. Lynda Measor and Patricia Sike Measor and Sike (1992) identify the influence of gender on pupils achievement in education. They examine pupils experience of gender role stereotyping in secondary school and how the expectations placed on them contribute to their success or failure. In particular, they suggest that, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦schools prepare each sex for quite different styles of life, and that Girlsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦leave school unqualified or under-qualified for paid work in the labour market (Measor and Sike, (1992: PAGE NUMBER MISSING). They acknowledge that boys expectations of work are also affected by the roles they are expected to fulfil (Measor and Sike, 1992). Indeed, Adams (1996: PAGE NUMBER MISSING), studying the design of competencies for jobs, notes that there is also a difference in expectations of womens and mens behaviour at work, even when those men and women hold the same post (1996). Clearly then gender shapes expectations, thus affecting the outcome of education and training. However, whether gender is the dominant factor affecting learning outcomes is debatable. Research by Troyna and Hatcher (1992) and Mac an Ghaill (cited in CLMS, 2008) suggests that experience of racial and ethnic difference in schools has as strong an effect on educational outcome as gender. In one study black pupils responded to racism within education in different ways, some by rejecting the expectations placed on them and others by resisting the system but nevertheless achieving above-average results (AUTHOR/S SURNAME/S MISSING, 1988). Interestingly, both the studies on gender and those on race and ethnicity identify social class as having a fundamental effect on educational outcome. While gender and race can been seen as key barriers to achievement, the underlying mechanisms of social class create barriers to the advancement of both boys and girls of all races and ethnicities in the edu cation and training systems. For example, in Britain the remnants of a strongly divided social class system have an effect on education. CLMS summary of the work of Andy Furlong identifies factors such as, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦poverty, overcrowding, differences in values and attitudes towards education, teachers attitudesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦and the type of jobs which are available locally (1995: PAGE NUMBER MISSING), all of which influence the outcome of education. Thus, while education in Britain is supposed to offer equal opportunities to all pupils, CLMS shows that these factors are all, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦associated with social class (1995: PAGE NUMBER MISSING). These social barriers to learning in the classroom translate to less training later in life. Statistics from a government survey published in 1989, which identified social class by income, showed that members of Social Class 1 (skilled, non-manual occupations) were twice as likely as those in Social Class 3 (manual workers) to report receiving training in the previous three years (Training Agency, 1989). Aaron Pun, who is interested in the current technological capacity to deliver training to widespread communities via open and distance education, adds to this debate by concluding that a lack of sensitivity to cultural differences can also create barriers to learning (Pun, 1995). He gives an example of Chinese managers, whose expectations of Management Development training were not met. Self-directed and participative training styles were used in a programme supplied by a Western trainer a lack of cultural sensitivity meant that expectations of a more didactic approach were not taken into account, creating a barrier to successful training. This point is emphasised by other researchers who note that some problems in training are caused by cultural differences in learning style. In conclusion, all of the cases above show that both cultural and social differences have an effect on learning, and that these influences must be taken into account in the design of training programmes.