Functionalist Perspective Essay

My favorite perspective in sociology was learning about the functionalist perspective aka functionalism. I do know that it is one of the major concept theories and perspectives in sociology. From class we learned about Emile Durkheim’s interest in this theory on how social order is possible on how society remains relatively stable through functionalism. â€Å"Functionalism does interpret every part of society on how it all contributes to the stability and the survival of society†. I guess the reason why I liked the study of functionalism is for the same reason why I like to be a functional person, I love for there to be order and I believe that everybody plays a role in that sense, either they know they are playing that part unknowingly or they do know and they are part of the order. I cannot stand for dysfunctional people especially when it can have a negative impact on a group or society. For example some of the TV shows out there like the Simpsons, family guy, two an d a half men show our children how to grow up in such a family with the understanding that such a manner that being dysfunctional is normal but it’s not. Dysfunctional families carry it on to their kids and people they are around, this can be a direct result of their parents and may also be affected by addictions, such as substance abuse like drugs and alcohol. I have seen this all my life and it just kills me to be around it, not to mention everyone that knew who has been through it always make it out alive normal. I have never liked conflict so the conflict theory goes out the window for me, but we all know that there has to be conflict in order for functionalism to work. Ying and yang is how I see the big picture. Without order stability, cohesion, and consensus, or society would be in complete chaos, and we would live in an anarchy society instead of a functional one. Sociology is the study of society, and the social interaction at all variety of levels so where there is functionalism there has to be conflict theorists like Karl Marx who showed us social conflict theories are perspectives of sociology that emphasize the social, political, or material inequality of a social group, that critique the broad socio-political system, or that otherwise detract from structural functionalism and ideological conservatisms. I do have to agree with his work against the capitalist system and how there is a thing called social inequality. Like him I also agree that wealthy and being rich doesn’t always come from hard work through and achieved status, yet it comes from ascribed status. One thing I really  appreciated was in our sociology book always in every chapter they did a break down on all the theories from functionalist, conflict, feminist, and symbolic interactionist. They gave you examples what each perspective looks at compared to the other, and before I took sociology my eyes were totally closed to what I only seen for my perspective. Like when it comes to culture, you know that I ‘am very much into to culture, only because I had an opportunity to travel the world and see all the cultures out there. I can see how generations of culture can be passed down from father to son, or mother to daughter, from grandparents to grandchildren. I only wish that here in the U.S we could have a little more appreciation for keeping the culture real, and maintaining the building blocks of our own culture. I do know that we have a lot of multiculturalism here in the United States, and as a result of that we all can benefit from having this. I know firsthand only because most of us Air Force guys love cultural universals and that is good food. Just outside of my base within a mile strip we are so lucky to have amazing Tai food like (Paw Graw), Vietnamese food (Pho ha), Mexican food (Mexican Kitchen), American food (Toms Burgers), Chinese food (Mr. You’s), Greek food (Mad Greek), Korean Food (Flame Broiler), Japanese foo d (Akinas), I mean we are literally surrounded by multiculturalism and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I have to go back to the functionalist way and say that all the culture outside of my base somehow lives off of us, and we live off them. Those citizens and we in the military all have similar beliefs that binds us together and helps with the stability of our city, and my base. Through this food culture I know that it helps to unify us as a society and definitely promotes cultural solidarity. Thank you for having me as a student, and showing me what Sociology is all about, and perhaps I might take your advice and take another advanced class for one my electives. Thank you again Professor Ellington. Reference: EBSCOHOST: Marxist and Functionalist Theories http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=7&sid=415d996e-d006-463cb2bcb3ca827465e7%40sessionmgr113&hid=122&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=bth&AN=5281250 Sociological Theories: A List of Sociological Theories and Frameworks http://sociology.about.com/od/Sociology101/tp/Major-Sociological-Frameworks.htm

Code of Hammurabi

The Code of Hammurabi â€Å"To make justice visible in the land to destroy the wicked person and the evil-doer, that the strong might not injure the weak. † The Code of Hammurabi was a law code written by King Hammurabi. The code was carved in a black pillar and was placed in a temple. This was so the entire village had knowledge of it. It was written sometime between 1792 to 1750 B. C. E. and was partly based off of the Code of Lipit-Ishtar.People in the 1700’s were punished, although punishments weren’t meant to exceed the crime, women had less rights and lower social standing then men, and they highly valued family. â€Å"An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth,† represents a harsh sense of justice based on revenge. King Hammurabi made his laws this way to prevent crimes from happening. Once a person knew penalty of a crime the likelihood of the person committing a crime greatly decreased. Also, he wanted this all people were not viewed as equals.The punishments for the same crime committed by a free man versus a slave were incredibly harsher towards the slave. â€Å"If a man knocked out the tooth of a man that is equal his tooth shall be knocked out,† whereas if a slave had knocked out the tooth of a free man he would have to pay one third of mina of silver. King Hammurabi may have wanted quality but he did not achieve it through his laws. Woman may have played important roles in the Babylonian society, but they certainty were not treated this way.The Hammurabi Code is extremely gender bias towards women, the laws were meant to control the woman in the society. Women were viewed more as an arranged contract between the woman’s father and her suitor. â€Å"If a man has taken a wife and has not executed a marriage contract, that woman is not his wife. † If a wife is caught cheating in the act she can be strangled or become her husbands’ slave, whereas if a husband is caught cheating he has to pay said wife. Clearly, women were treated unfairly compared to men in this society.These laws were considered family laws. Family was the basic unit of daily life. Laws required deep respect towards parents. â€Å"If a son struck his father, his hands shall be cut off. † Hammurabi Code forbids incest. It states â€Å"if a man has committed incest with his daughter, that men shall be banished from the city. † Babylonian Society was very concerned about gender, class, and family. Women were viewed more as possessions then people. Women didn’t get to pick their husband; their father chose and made the arrangements with their future husband.A white male had a higher standing in society than a black man. If a white man and a black man committed the same crime, the black man would face worse consequences. You cannot disown your children legally, unless the said child committed a grave misdemeanor. The most concerned problem for Babylonian society was people lying in trial to a Judge. In most cases punishment for this was death, a serious problem that results in a serious punishment. The Code of Hammurabi showed the types of crimes they had thousands of years ago.

Hopefully Looking Into the Future: Haiti

Hopefully Looking into the Future â€Å"Hope is the thing with feathers  /That perches in the soul  /And sings the tune without the words  /And never stops at all. †Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬â€œÃ‚  Emily Dickinson In Edwidge Danticat's anthology, The Butterfly's Way: Voices from the Haitian Dyaspora in the United States, different voices of the Haitian dyasporas tell their stories on how they have hope. Whether it be a young child looking for motherly love, seeking to win a soccer game or on an even bigger scale, or getting politically active and hope that what you have done pays off.Though Haiti is often associated with negative stereotypes, whether it be associated with AIDS or â€Å"the Phrase† which was Haiti: The Poorest Nation in the Western Hemisphere (Dreyfus 57), Haitian Americans tend to look on the bright side and turn out to be very optimistic. They are not the ones to just give up, they have come too far. The hope Emily Dickinson's quote from her poem Hope is the thin g with feathers   describes, is what the hope Haitians have. It gets buried within a person, that never succumbs. Throughout many essays, this point is clearly supported.Though their country may not be at its best, throughout the essays, Haitians as well as this part of the Haitian dyaspora, look to move forward and become successful by the migration to the United States. In many instances throughout the compilation of essays and poems, Haitian Americans share their stories on how they have this sense of hope. In â€Å"Restavek† , by Jean-Robert Cadet, the boy, despite the maltreatment of Florence, hopes that deep down she loves him and cares for him. In reality all she really does is abuses and uses him for what he's supposed to be doing as a restavek child.Even til the end, when the boy knows how Florence treats him, he hopes that she had gotten him something for his ceremony. In â€Å"Bonne Annee†, Jean-Piere Benoit inserts a small anecdote that shows that,  "Haitians hope even when there is no hope† (34). Interestingly enough, Benoit cleverly includes the brief anecdote of the soccer game of Italy versus Haiti right after he mentions Bebe Doc taking over his father, but right before states that Bebe Doc had fled the country, as if to enhance the meaning of it.By putting it in this order, you see that Haiti can, even if they end up losing they do have the potential. Jean- Claude fleeing the country gives rise to new hope among many Haitians, both in the ten departments of Haiti and in the eleventh department. As Benoit describes that even † a blizzard in New York [†¦ ] does not prevent jubilant Haitians from taking to the snowy streets, waving flags, pouring champagne† (Benoit 35). Like the soccer game, they celebrated. Something good has happened, an occurrence that for Haitians does not come too often. hink this is perfectly sequenced in order to convey In â€Å"Adieu Miles and Good-bye Democracy†, Patric k Sylvain shows us that the hope he has in his country becoming a democracy is more important to him than his family. Even though he does give up his role as a father to take that of a political activist, he does question himself on whether he made the right decision and if he even made a difference in Haitian politics. All these different voices come together to express the potency of the hope of Haitian Americans.The hope Haitians have prevails over death. Although many Haitians seem to be very hopeful in life, there most certainly are those few that through death triggered hope, and ultimately resorting to suicide. In â€Å"Something in the Water†¦ Reflections of a Peoples Journey†, Nikol Payen tells us of a woman that could not bear with the suffering being on the boat with her infant and gave up on life, plunging into the ocean, never to be heard of again. Although she did not fight to continue, we have to understand the hardships dealt on a daily basis.The boy tell ing the author the story of the aunt that had jumped off the boat, gains hope from seeing this act. He resorts to trusting Payen and getting onto the ship, hoping that he would get a better ending than the aunt. In Marie Ketsia Theodore-Pharel's essay â€Å"Haiti: A Cigarette Burning at Both Ends†, the title alone gives the essay an ethos of lost hope, that no matter what Haiti will, in comparison to a cigarette, burn at both ends, choking any possibilities of having hope. In the end, Thurel died, simple as that. Mr.Thurel â€Å"had made the ultimate sacrifice†, his journey had ended, but his death triggered the author of the essay to think, and other could have been influenced too. Therefore his death had made an impact on people enough to maybe give them hope to do better, and not turn out haw he had. Theodore- Pharel is contemplating whether Mr. Thurel had died for no cause, and this makes her question her love for Haiti. Being given a hopeless title, but opening th e essay with an anecdote from her past that shows the story of a martyr that obviously impacted her, makes me think of the essay as being contradictory.Thurel's suicide, as the suicide of the woman on the boat, is because of the difficulties that they were dealing with in their lives. However, in Thurel's suicide we see more of him being somewhat of a martyr. Thurel said himself in this essay that he was to â€Å"offer myself in holocaust for the complete liberation of my country† (Pharel 83). He died for his country , as had past fighters: Dessalines and Christophe. Like they once did, he had hope for his country, and as did Sylvain, which was mentioned before.Hope does not stop at death, especially considering the fact that Haitians believe that a person does not really die, their soul lives on. And even after death, there is always hope for future generations. Many of the authors of these essays have grown up in the United States, coming from Haitian-born parents. These pa rents hoped for their children to be successful. They did not want their children to have to go through what they had been. These authors, now mostly accomplished , are the epitome of a Haitian American, or of the Haitian dyaspora.Finding â€Å"success in exile†, whether it be to learn a lesson as Sandy Alexandre did in Exiled when she was tricked by her mother to go to Haiti to teach her a lesson to respect her elders, or finding exile as a motivator to become successful (Dreyfus 58). Having been sent to to Haiti, Dreyfus realizes she has to be thankful for what she had, not just take it for granted, seeing that not everyone had the same privileges as she did back in her home in America. In â€Å"Home is†¦ Sophia Cantave, currently a professor at Tufts University, is perplexed if â€Å"perhaps my mother had given birth to me so that I could do all the things that she never did† (170). As an educated woman, she is proud of having succeeded, making her mom proud, yet she is disconnected from her mother, her native land. This hope given to future generations , of the children of Haitian migrants to the United States, is in a way disconnecting them from Haiti. Hope is an exuberant trait among Haitian Americans.Those that had grown up in a place very different from their mother country, as well as those still in Haiti and even in the journey to migrate faced many dilemmas. As Haitians, going from fighting France to win their independence and always having this background of a turbulent government, they will always turn to hope. All they can do is hope, hope for the best , as their ancestors had done in the past and as they continued to do so. And from that hope, become a proud Haitian, because despite their past, they overcame it. They are left alone in this new world, with only hope at their side to help them continue.

Classification of Office Automation Systems

Office automation system refers to using computer based methods of carrying out activities that primarily involve information related activities such as collecting information, storing and retrieving it, analysing information, taking decisions based on information, and communicating it. As the name implies, these systems are applicable in office environment, which primarily deal with information rather than physical material and activities. However, the office automation systems need to interface with other physical systems, and may cover the information related aspects of physical activities also. For example, an attendance recording system is a type of automated system collects information of employees coming to and leaving the work place, and then uses this this information to prepare their attendance records. There is no universally accepted way of classifying office automation systems. One common way of describing the type of an automated office system is by the function performed by it. For example an automated system for processing payroll of employees is called payroll system, and a system that prepares accounts is called accounting system. A very important part of office automation system in most of the companies is the e-mail system. Office automation systems can also cover application that enable managers to improve the quality of their decision. Such system could be very rudimentary like a general electronic spreadsheet software installed on PC's of individuals, or it could be a highly sophisticated integrated system for planning incorporating multiple applications like ERP, PPC, forecasting, accounting, budgeting, and other business system.

Water Pollution in Textile Industry

Reduction In the con. [amount of chemicals used thereby reducing their harmful effects. Reduction of waste concentration by recovery and reuse. Reduction of waste concentration by chemical substitution. Reduction of waste concentration by process modification. Segregation of Fenton of each process. Devising suitable treatment for ultimate disposal, to meet the requirements. To explore the economics related to reuse of treated Fenton.Reduction In waste water volume Reducing the number of washing and use of hot water in washings use of counter current washing use of standing bath in dyeing Use of low Liquor Ratio systems Good house keeping and prevention of leakages and spillages (A reduction of 20- 40 volume of wastewater generated Is possible) Reduction In con. / amount of chemicals Optimum use is necessary, which is not always possible in textile processing industry Textile processing involves heterogeneous interactions between fiber material – solid and chemicals – li quid, solutions or emulsions.Essential operations involved in Textile Processing : Maximum penetration of chemicals into fiber material to achieve desired Interactions. Thorough removal of unused/unfixed chemicals and Impurities from the textile material. Because of the heterogeneity of Interaction, only Limited absorption f various types of chemicals and coolants used for chemical processing onto the textile fiber materials is possible. Reduction of waste con. By recovery and reuse of Recovery of synthetic sizing agents from desiring bath and their reuse.Reactive dyes have very low BODY) Multifunctional reactive dyes for better fixation & less unfixed Use of non-ionic tessellate fatty alcohols and anionic polymerases in place of alkyl phenol tessellates CEO-friendly stabilizers, sequestrates Use of mineral acid in desiring Use of enzymes in various processes Substitution of sodium sulfide for sulfur dyes Disperse- hydrocarbon carriers No or less kerosene in Pigment Printing Partial or complete replacement of printing gums by suitable emulsions Formaldehyde free cationic dye fixing agent, DEEMED, low formaldehyde Low salt dyesReduction of waste con. By process modification Use of Foam technology Use of transfer paper printing Combined processes Automatic dispensing Segregation of drain Many a times it is convenient to segregate the waste water of a particular textile wet process for efficient reuse/ recovery of chemicals or dyes. This leads to economy of the process. However it is utmost necessary to have sufficient concentration of the chemical / dye in the waste water that can be economically recovered and put to reuse. If the concentration is too low or if the chemical is cheap, then this technique s ineffective.Devising suitable treatment for ultimate disposal Depends on mode of discharge of effluent. Balance between the capital cost and running cost of treatment. If disposal is into public sewers, preliminary treatment (screening, grit removal and equaliz ation) followed only by primary treatment with chemical coagulation, flocculation and sedimentation will be necessary. If disposal is directly to stream then primary and secondary treatment is necessary. If disposal is on the agriculture land, primary treatment followed by gypsum treatment for reduction of sodium will be necessary.

Preliminary Reference Procedure in Ensuring Uniformity and Consistent Essay

Preliminary Reference Procedure in Ensuring Uniformity and Consistent Development of European Union Law - Essay Example This paper stresses that the European Union preliminary ruling procedure places substantial vested interest in the national courts; it is the national courts, after-all, who are the first guarantors of Union law. One notes that the all-consuming nature of this ruling is parallel to the United States Supreme Court interpretive mechanism of law, wherein this judicial body represents the ultimate view on the subject matter. Indeed, the very name preliminary ruling procedure is slightly misleading as it seemingly indicates the origination of the interpretive process when in reality it is the endpoint of law. this essay has contained a discussion of the procedural nature of the ECJ's interaction. However, it should not be forgotten that the preliminary reference procedure is instrumental in allowing the ECJ to lay down new substantive legal principles. One need look no further for an example than the case of Van Gend. This was the first case in which the doctrine of direct effect was articulated. Today it has come to represent a seminal ruling in terms of preliminary procedure for its exploration of the limits and potential expansive nature of the process itself. At the time only Treaties were held to be directly effective, subsequently however, the principle has expanded and can now, stated generally, include virtually any form of EU legislation, so long as these are unequivocally articulated, not dependent on outside understanding, and grant a unique right to the claimant. Van Gend, as described above was a case brought to the ECJ under the preliminary reference procedure on a question of the interpretation of Article 30 TFEU. ... icle 110 TFEU occasioned the ECJs shift to primacy over national courts 5 Article 30 TFEU and the Preliminary Reference Procedure – the development of EU precedent 7 Preliminary Reference Procedure and the substantive development of the law 9 Conclusion 9 Bibliography 10 Introduction European Union preliminary reference procedure functions as the predominant interpretive mechanism in Union Law. Indeed, the preliminary reference procedure has been referred to as the ‘jewel in the Crown of the ECJ’s jurisdiction’ for this central position to the development of Union law (Barnard 2010, p109). It is a procedure that provides a vital contact point between the jurisdiction of the ECJ and the national courts, allowing legal issues relating legal issues that are correlated with the interpretation of Treaties to be mitigated throughout the European Union (Blackstone 2011). This preliminary ruling procedure is a unique element of the European Union legal structure. W hile interpretive and appellate processes are regularly aspects of most Western legal system, the European Union preliminary ruling procedure places substantial vested interest in the national courts; it is the national courts, after-all, who are the first guarantors of Union law. One notes that the all-consuming nature of this ruling is parallel to the United States Supreme Court interpretive mechanism of law, wherein this judicial body represents the ultimate view on the subject matter. Indeed, the very name preliminary ruling procedure is slightly misleading as it seemingly indicates the origination of the interpretive process when in reality it is the endpoint of law. This process emerged with the formulation of the European Union judicial system and is specifically described in the Treaty on the

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

Culture - Essay Example Culture nowadays are somewhat adopted from previous generations but it is now being diversified as globalization in this world is prevailing. Because of the diversity that exists in the world today it has been found that culture from one country is spreading to the other country. Moreover with the help of media and electronic means different forms of culture in one society are being adopted by the other society (Sklair 1995; Harris 2009) In cultural studies the concept of culture is being widely used to denote a society as a whole. A society is recognized from the language or symbols that it uses and all this is formed by the culture that is adopted. Language is a way through which people can communicate easily and can use it to express feelings which otherwise cannot be expressed. Gestures are also a part of the culture that a society possesses and these gestures vary according to different societies. An example of language variation in culture can be seen by comparing two different countries which have totally opposite cultures. An American society for example may include people speaking English, Latin and French whereas on the other hand a society from the third world country of Pakistan would normally use the languages of Urdu, Sindhi and Punjabi (Harris 2009). Here language can be used to denote the culture of these two societies which have been learned from one generation to the next. Culture is not a revelation from God but is rather learned and adopted from the previous generations. It is seen that a child born in the third world country of Afghanistan can move to United States and adopt the culture there irrespective of the fact that he was born in Afghanistan. A process through which culture is transferred from one group to the other by generation is known as enculturation. Mostly this culture is adopted after seeing elders and media which is now playing an important role in spreading culture of the society. It is seen that culture is not specified to a single group of the society but it is spread all over a single society. A society in United States would include people who know all the gestures and language which is being used widely in it. In other words the culture in these societies is shared amongst different people of different ethnicity (Hannerz 1992). Ethnicity not always forms a culture but here again it can be said that ethnicity of an individual plays an important role in the adoption of culture. An individual born in the jungles would know the symbols and language used in the jungles only whereas an individual born in the city would know the culture of the city. In cultural studies it can be helpful to analyze a culture before giving out a conclusion on the people belonging to that culture so that their way of living is clearly known to the anthropologist (Cohen 2004; Sklair 1995). Culture cannot be compared to the behaviours of the individual living in the society as behaviours of an individual depend on the indivi dual himself. An individual can learn culture but his behaviour about certain things are crafted by his own will. It has also been noted that cultural studies can never remain the same because of the changing nature of the culture. Culture can be formed or adopted by different kinds of actions. Women who previously wanted to become home workers now prefer to be workers. In other words culture can be

Twelve questions in Management Information System Assignment

Twelve questions in Management Information System - Assignment Example In the â€Å"conversations† that introduce the textbook chapters thus far, Lucas Massey, the IT Director, tends to get a lot of pressure from his colleagues at GearUP. He has suggested approaches that do not align with the company’s strategy, and several times, when he has attempted to explain his perspective, he and his co-workers get frustrated. Using the skills gained in this course it will be easy for me to manage a situation like this in my job experience. In simple terms, I will just employ quality communication and teamwork skills to ensure that we as a team speak one a language. In addition, to ensure that the targeted MIS ends up a successful project, I will involve most of the key company stakeholders (both I.T professionals and other workers or targeted users of the system) in the development and implementation of the MIS. Lastly but certainly not the least, I will work closely with all the team members to ensure that the MIS goes hand in hand with the business strategies of the company (Oz

Lean Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Lean Management - Essay Example It is evidently clear from the discussion that objective of lean management is to be an efficient, effective and customer focused organization with least cost and zero wastes. Customer satisfaction plays a vital role in developing and retaining new markets in any business and one good method to gauge it is getting feedback on different aspects from the customers. Major businesses employ customer contact center concepts since these solutions provide businesses with the flexible and strong infrastructure to interact with their customers and effectively manage ongoing projects. Based on these feedbacks, improvements in products and business strategies, development of new products, increase in customer satisfaction and loyalty, and exploration of new markets is sought to devise the swift response to global competitive markets. In the recent past, a number of companies have invested considerably in managing and maintaining contact center to get a competitive advantage by analyzing custome r experience and company performance; however, due to recent economic downturn companies are finding it difficult to manage the contact centers due to increased operating expenses. The as lean principle has effectively been applied in the manufacturing sector, in a similar way this concept is equally well applicable to a service industry. In doing so, Hines cautioned that organizations may miss a strategic aspect of value creation while focusing merely on cost reduction and lean tools while applying lean principles. To reduce the operating costs associated with contact centers, a lean management approach would help in creating a greater value demand while reducing the failure demand. IT businesses recognize that customers lean to support companies providing better services within a given price range. In this report, the company realized that its competitive position in the market is no longer secured. Therefore, a shift to lean management was attempted to reduce wastes and costs and increase revenue. This report is an attempt to study the significance of adopting and applying lean management concepts to Contact Center Industry using academic rigor while focusing on Averatec Contact Center and how it can effectively be applied to achieve zero defects with increased customer satisfaction. Averatec Contact Center 2.1 Company Description Averatec, established in 1984, is a company offering a broad range of computer products including desktop PCs, Laptops, and Servers, networking, storage and peripheral accessories. IT services including infrastructure technology, consultation, and business process development are few other services offered by the company which is engaged in a number of project in these areas. The company supports its entire operations with total 6000 employees and one design, development and manufacturing facility, and more than a hundred service centers located across the globe.

Health Care IT Systems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Health Care IT Systems - Essay Example 1. The healthcare organization should improve in their billing system by implementing IT. It will aid them to minimize the errors during a transaction between hospitals and patients. Even, the staffs of the healthcare organization can easily maintain the records of their patient. It will minimize the data redundancy. 2. The medical records should be in electronic form, so the patients and physicians can monitors the records over the internet and can consult with other physicians and medical staffs. It will aid them to track the medical records of their patient. Even, electronic medical records save the time of both parties. The patient can easily consult with their desire doctor with help of electronic medical records and the doctor can easily track down the past medical records of the patient.IT in healthcare center will save a lot of time for the physicians and staffs. This will reduce the miscommunication among the doctors and medical staffs. It will enhance the workflow of health care center and reduces the extra workforces, like a mediator between a doctor and a patient regarding billing process or medical records. Information Technology will create a better quality of work and reduce the wastages of money. It will save a lot of time to maintaining and creating medical records and billing system. The loss of medical records of any patient is very critical and unwanted situation in the health care center. A loss of medical records, the physicians, and medical staffs have to bear a lot of troubles.

Four managerial function Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Four managerial function - Term Paper Example Planning can be defined as the process of selecting the course of action for the project. There can be different ways of achieving the same goal, with some incurring more costs than others. The purpose of planning is to identify such a course of action to achieve the goals that enables a manager to minimize the cost without compromising upon the quality. The need for planning originates in the fact that the market economies in which an organization has to establish itself, survive, and thrive are highly competitive and change is a norm in such market economies (Rao, 1988). Planning is a technical skill. To facilitate the managers in the present age, several planning software are available in the market. Such planning software include but are not limited to MS 2010 and Primavera. After the suitable course of action has been identified to achieve the goal, the next step is to schedule the project. Organizing is the second function of management. â€Å"Organizing is the process of linking and arranging activities in a sequence. It includes allocating work, authority and resources† (Rao, 1988). In this stage, the different steps identified in the plan are time-phased. The plan is divided into a range of activities that are assigned durations and relationships are established between them. A manager needs very good technical and intellectual skills in order to be able to execute this function successfully. Organizing, as the name implies, is also concerned with structuring and administering the organization in such a way that adequate channels for effective communication and execution of plans are formed. In the organizing function of management, the manager decides what kind of organizational structure should prevail in the organization so that the desired organizational culture, hierarchy, and channels of communication are formed. A manager needs to have a

Questionnaire design exercise, Learning journal based on 4 lectures Essay

Questionnaire design exercise, Learning journal based on 4 lectures and a report on debate - Essay Example Disagree 3. Undecided 4. Agree 5. Strongly 4. Release of new Champion skins attracts me more to the game? 1. Strongly Disagree 2. Disagree 3. Undecided 4. Agree 5. Strongly 5. The option of buying Riot Points is great because I can play even without gaining enough Riot Points. 1. Strongly Disagree 2. Disagree 3. Undecided 4. Agree 5. Strongly Agree 6. I buy Riot Points more often than I play up the levels. 1. Yes 2. No 7. If you buy the points more often, explain why? 1. I do not like to play for long to get points. 2. I do not get the time to play very often. 3. I am a beginner, so I have bought the Riot Points for the first time. 8. I play only when Riot Points are distributed free. 1. Yes 2. No 9. Are you a fan of the Face book page of the League of Legends? 1. Yes 2. No 10. Have you watched the League of Legends 2012? 1. Yes 2. No 11. Have you watched the You tube videos of League of Legends 2012? 1. Yes 2. No 12. Do you have League of Legends costume? 1. Yes 2. No 13. If yes, ho w did you get it? 1. Bought it 2. Got as a gift 3. I do not have the costume 14. If you have the costume you like using it because 1. I like to flaunt it in front of my friends. 2. I look like an avid player of League of Legends. 3. I like the get up and appearance of the costume. 4. All of the above. 5. I have the costume but do not use it much. 6. I do not have the costume. 15. Which is the best champion you have played? †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 16. What feature of the champion do you like best? Please explain why. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Power point Presentation summary PPT 1. Week 9 Critical thinking and deve loping scholarly argument The world is changing very fast. These changes hold profound implications on our lives, particularly on our thinking and learning (Paul, Paul & Elder, 2002, p.1). The meaning of the term ‘critical thinking’ might be understood as ‘discerning judgment based on standards’. As Moon says it, â€Å"Critical thinking is ‘thoughtful’ thinking† (Moon, 2012, p. 20). It makes a person present a point of view as a structured argument from which a conclusion can be drawn. It is important to be able to make a critical thinking as it helps in reading the underlying logic in someone’s point of view. It would be of immense help in the workplace. A clear conception eases out many complex situations which are caused on the ground of false premises. Critical thinking would lead to building alternative logical explanation for a cause thereby helping in validation or rejection of an argument on solid grounds. PPT 2. Week 10 T echniques for critical reading Critical reading of any article helps us â€Å"assess the value of the work it reports† (Wallace & Wray, 2011, p. 4). Although academic writing is generally much benign, readers should look out for hidden layers in an academic text. By making a critical reading of a text one should be able to understand what a text means and how a text works by analyzing the information, interpreting the knowledge received and evaluating the inference drawn. Before reading the article one has to follow two steps, survey and questions; firstly, to look over the whole article, check the major heading and sub-headings and read the introduction and summary closely. Secondly, one should note down the main points that

Cause-Effect Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Cause-Effect Analysis - Essay Example Through the emergence of these technologies, the sources of reading have increased to include e-learning, e-mail, e-papers, chat rooms messaging and blogs (Miedema, 2009). Majority of the teacher educators, classroom teachers and researchers in the field of education have agreed that engaging in voluntary and school-related readings is essential for all the students. They include those pursuing reading for development of academic achievement purposes (Miedema, 2009). This essay focuses on establishing the effects of the emergence of internet and television as examples of current trends in technology to the reading behaviors of students. Additionally, the paper explores whether the time spent by the students on the internet and watching television interferes with the time the students uses in both academic and recreational readings. Lastly, the essay offers recommendations on how to avoid the new forms of technology from interfering with individual reading habits and skills. Several researches have been conducted in America to determine the cause of declining statistics of American youths and adults who participate in voluntary and achievement reading. The intriguing study resolved that most american youths and adults have ceased from the active participation in reading as compared to others in the previous years. Further to that, the research showed that very few American youths are engaging in reading helpful literature. The statistics are alarming since they have negative implications on the civic, social and economic status of the country. Additionally, most people are unable to recall what they read in a given period. Consequently, it results to downgrading the aspects of good reading habits (â€Å"Programme for International Student Assessment., and Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development†, 2010). Many researchers have been conducted

Family Relationships Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Family Relationships - Essay Example Willy the protagonist is discussed to depict how his self deception and disillusionment have affected his family. He represents the dysfunctional family. Miller has designed a family, which is stretched to breaking point by pressures of a speedily varying environment. The way they relate among themselves determines their identity, what they aspire to be and their inability to reconcile the two. Strangely, his fixation with the exterior traits of charm and likeability is at probability with a grittier, more gratifying considerate of the American dream which recognizes the hard work without complaint as the key to success (1.243). The Loman family is based on false values that distort the American dream and Lead to an existence of a dysfunctional family. Willy’s life is symbolic of many family relationships. Miller depicts him as a salesperson but does not specify which products Willy deals with. This is so because Willy is nobody in particular but a representative of everyone i n society. Relationship between Willy and Linda The relationship of Willy and his wife Linda is not the most ideal of relationships. Linda seems to be more sensitive than her husband in viewing life challenges. Linda is loyal and devoted to her husband, but Willy succumbs to temptations and cheats on her. She tries hard to protect her husband but ends up causing him more harm than Help. It is because of her ineffective attempt to protect Willy that she allows his death. She neglects Willy as seen when he brags about the grosshe had in Boston and providence. As Linda calculates his commission but she does not confront him (2.188). Relationship between Willy and His Children Willy enjoyed a health and exciting relationship in the past with his sons but later on, the relationship deteriorates tremendously because of his lies and neglect of family. The father and child affiliation between Willy and his son Biff is edgy.this starts from an incident that happened years ago, when Biff disc overed him in a hotel room with a woman, which made Biff lose respect for his father. Biff and his father collide when biff seeks assistance from his father. Wily appears have been in an affair in a hotel room. When Biff shows up to see if his father will help him and finds another woman in his father’s room, his world is crashed, he feels destroyed and betrayed’ Biff is hurt and disappointed in his father’s infidelity that he chooses to leave schooling without graduating from college. In the incident, Willy becomes defensive and tries to convince Biff in vain that, nothing happened but it makes nothing better. In some way, Willy’s lies destroys Biffs’ future, as from then on Biff always changes jobs, but finds no success in any. Linda and Happy are not aware, and they do not understand the rift between them. This causes a further wedge in the family relationships. Another rift that strains the affiliation amid Biff and his father occurs because bi ff blames his father for the superiority complex he instilled in them while they were young. He tells his father that because he made him full of himself, it became had for him to take orders from others. Conversely, the rapport between Happy and father is neither badly off nor much better. In Willy’s life Happy has always been second in his affection. He constantly praises Biff before Happy and this seriously Affects Happy life and his family

Corporate Communications of Marriott Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Corporate Communications of Marriott - Essay Example "Those ideas quickly find their way into the hands of members of the team at HQ who can either solve the problem or spread the word about a good concept that works." Managers need to understand the basics of the company's products and services to manage with depth. For many years their chief financial officer and other non-operations executives have been required to attend the company's "food school" to gain a bit of "hands on" experience with the products and services that form the basis of Marriott's world. Mr. Marriott recounts that his dad particularly enjoyed talking to his employees. Marriott's corporate legend is full of stories of his father perched on a hotel lobby sofa, listening to the family problems of one of their associates while senior managers "cooled their heels" waiting for him to return to the office. He confirms that the stories are true. His Dad felt very strongly that the concerns and problems of the people who worked for him were always worth listening to. In his eyes, a successful company puts its employees first. Mr. Marriott says: "I couldn't agree more. When employees know that their problems will be taken seriously, that their ideas and insights matter, they're more comfortable and confident. In turn, they're better equipped to deliver their best on the job and to the customer. Everyone wins: the company, the employee the customer." The philosophy of putting employees first is particularly important in the hospitality industry, because Marriott is in the people business, not just the service business. Customers are not just affected by the tangible parts of the business but the intangibles as well. If the people who are responsible for supplying that human touch are unhappy, tired, stressed, poorly trained, or otherwise distracted, they're probably not going to do a good job. On the flip side, if employees are content, confident, and generally happy with themselves and the job, their positive attitude will be felt in everything they do. The Marriott "Pathways to Independence" is employer-sponsored welfare reform done right. An employer needs to stay involved with new employees to help them overcome their failure points. Other areas of success: "over-managing" by design and work-life programs. He recounts many ways in which these tasks have become more daunting as the nation's hourly workforce has become more multicultural in makeup. Many of their hourly associates "must cope with complicated immigration procedures, interpersonal cultural clashes, and social discrimination, in addition to the pressures of child care, elder care, substance or domestic abuse, or housing problems." To that end, Marriott started a toll-free consultation service for their associates staffed by social workers who field questions and find solutions to just about any problem. And they can do it in more than 100 languages. They rolled out the 800 Associate Resource Line (ARL) on a national basis in 1996, after a two-year regional trial run. Although the program is based on intensive studies of their associates' needs, the thinking behind it is actually pretty simple. At heart, it's really just a higher-tech version of Mr. Marriott's Dad's

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) Assignment

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) - Assignment Example in the extraction process, oil sands production cost is relatively high and therefore investments in oil sands are quite sensitive to persistent changes in oil prices. Gas emissions into the air, water pollution, toxic tailing ponds and the chances of oil spills from pipelines in the oil producing areas are environmental concerns in tar sand processing (Miller 456).   According to Kuuskra( 3), shale is a close grained, sedimentary rock made up of mud from flakes of clay minerals and small particles of other materials, which is processed to produce natural gas and oil. Large deposits of shale are found in â€Å"United States, China, Argentina, Algeria, Canada, Mexico and Libya† (kuuskra 9). Extraction process starts with identifying economically viable well areas. Then, horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing methods are used in the extraction process.  In the hydraulic fracturing method, hydrocarbon in a shale formation is released by injecting water, chemicals and sand into a well. â€Å"Release of the hydrocarbon opens fractures in the rock allowing the natural gas to flow into the well†. (â€Å"exploration and extraction of shale† 10). Use of both methods together enables economical extraction of the shale gas. Unfortunately, mining of shale leads to pollution of the environment through emission of toxic gases in the air and also a poses a great danger to aquatic life if poisonous materials leaks in to the

What is Covenant in the Old Testament sense Research Paper

What is Covenant in the Old Testament sense - Research Paper Example These include Abraham, Noah and Adam among many others. A covenant formed an important component of the biblical history and modern day theology. The flow of the biblical covenants includes (Mason 177): First of all, God made a covenant with His Son regarding the elect before the creation of the universe and consisted of the Father promising to bring to His Son all the people the Father had given Him (John 17: 9-24 ; 6:39). Manifestation of the covenant occurred in the world through the sequence of additional covenants between God and individuals. These include Adam (Gen 2: 15-17), Abraham (Gen 17), Noah (Gen 9:12-16), Mt Sinai covenant with Israelites (Ex 34:28), David (Sam 7:12-16) and New covenant believers (Jer 31:31-37). All the additional covenants involved the ‘Covenant of Grace’ when God establishes covenants with His elect with the promise of salvation through Faith in Jesus Christ (Mason 178). According to some theologians, there is only one covenant referred as the covenant of redemption within which all other covenants originate. This involved the agreement between the Father and the Son that gave the Son as Redeemer and head of the elect. As a result, the Son took the place assigned by the Father voluntarily. This formed a twofold assurance of Son as a guarantee and surety to fulfil the requirements of God’s laws. ... Covenant in Hebrew depicted the development of God’s covenant ranging from the time of creation to the time of the new covenant. In Arabic, covenant involved the contract binding humanity and God. The concept of covenant provides a distinctive and unique fellowship with God. This fellowship depends on legal covenant, and this implies the existence of dependable and stable element in Old Testament religion (McAleese 237). Concepts of Covenant Faith inspiring Fellowship The covenant concept gave the Old Testament people a mighty anchor for their faith. This allowed them a vantage ground with their God where God remained obligated to them through the covenant. He remained to be their God, and they become His people. For instance, this covenant background enabled Jacob cling to the angel until He blessed him. This covenant required people turn away from their sins after which they could claim God’s favour (Wood 133). Exclusive Fellowship The covenant established exclusive f ellowship between Hebrews and God. Hebrews remained as His chosen people, and He remained Yahweh their God. The covenantal idea formed a background for the Jewish religion, and it demanded exclusive loyalty to preclude the possibility of multiple loyalties in other religions. The illustration of loyalty to God took place through marriages, where Hosea, Ezekiel, and Jeremiah charged Israelites against adultery. The expression of God as being their God and them being His people comprised of the legal formula taken from marriage sphere and attested through legal documents from Ancient Near east (Hosea 2:4). This explains why prophets such as Isaiah frowned on alliance made by Israelites with their neighbours (Wood 133). Douglas Stuart Guidelines on Old Testament

Body Diversity and Media Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Body Diversity and Media - Essay Example Body diversity is a crucial component that the society needs to address not only in America, but also across the globe. It ought to be so because some sections of the society have developed stereotypes about certain body formations. More often than not, such stereotypes border on unfairness, especially the ones that have discriminatory elements. For example, fatness was considered a sign of fortune and fertility in the 20th century but currently it is a sign of poor health and selfishness. It may not necessarily be so because the degree of fatness differs across individuals and the causes are widespread. For instance, a person may become fat because he/she has peace of mind while another may be so because of engaging in unhealthy lifestyles. Racism has been ailing the world, particularly the United States, for centuries now. It is simply discrimination based on skin color. Despite frantic efforts by Malcolm X and Martin Luther King jnr. to bring civil revolution in their times, racism continues to be a major challenge to national cohesion in America and many countries. The evidence of racism in the United States is depicted by the voting trends during election times. It means that a nation can be liberal and democratic yet racist. People are different in skin color, eye color, body shape, and hair texture, but they are all humans who deserve equal treatment. All sectors of the society must come into play in order to condemn the evil of discrimination based on body diversity. Perhaps a critical tool that a nation can either use to fun or shun discrimination based on body diversity is the media. Indeed, the media plays a critical media can provide a platform for dissuading citizens from all forms of bodily discrimination. Besides skin color and hair texture, most American with disability have also had to cope with high levels of discrimination. Since it is

Egyptian Style Essay Example for Free

Egyptian Style Essay â€Å"Egypt has long fascinated the west. † This couldn’t be more true. Egyptian art can be said to be one of the most significant periods in art history. Their modern advances in such a far time ago were made unknowingly and helped shape art to what it is today. By just looking at it, Egyptian art may not come off as amazing as it actually is. One must dig deeper. The artwork they were creating wasn’t always made to be art. Instead, it was mainly made for religious purposes. Anything they created was being made to be symbolic in a religious view. They decorated their temples with paintings and statues in the belief that doing this served the gods, showed devotion to the king, and maintained the order of the universe. There was much more involved in the artwork, or craftwork of the Ancient Egyptians. They created their own style that everyone followed, and it reoccured through many periods of Egyptian history. Styles can range from abstract to realism, expressionism to surrealism. But in order to understand these styles, one must need to know the true definition of style. When used in describing the history of art, style usually refers to a characteristic, or a number of characteristics that we can identify as constant, recurring, or distinct. In art, the sum of such characteristics can be associated with a particular artist, group, or culture, or with an artist’s work at a specific time. Ancient Egyptian art forms styles were just that. They are characterized by regularity or consistency and detailed depiction of human beings and the nature. Artists wanted to preserve everything of the present time as clearly and permanently as possible. Completeness took precedence over prettiness. These forms and art styles present an extraordinarily vivid representation of the time and the culture, as the ancient Egyptian life was lived thousand of years before. Egyptian art seemed to obey one law. The mode of representing man, nature and the environment remained almost the same for thousands of years at that time, and the most admired artists were those who replicated most admired styles of the past. A Shabti is a small human figure representing a person who would perform a given task for the deceased in the afterlife. Described as funerary figurines, these figures were costly items produced for the privileged people. The wealthy nobles and royalty did not plan on doing any work themselves, so they would take their symbolic servants with them. Shabties were made from various materials including; faience, wax, clay, wood, stone, metal and other minerals. The Shabties observed, were from the time of 1932-1759 BCE. Covering the period of the Middle Kingdom. They all seemed to be very similar by the way the were posed with their arms crossed and standing up. All their facial expressions seemed to have the same appearance as well. The painting or carving of the writing all looks similar but once looked at more closely to see the details, the the amount of time put into the pictures and writing can be seen. Many of patterns include lines drawn on the clothing. Also the figures were called upon to carry out the tasks in the after life. To do so the Shabti was supplied with miniature agricultural tools to fulfill these tasks. Which can be seen when looked at very closely. What makes them different from each other is the medium they were created in. The faience figures are a blueish to light green color with most of the writing carved into it. The wood Shabties are painted over to be any color, sometimes even with golden leaf. To call these figures a type of object is correct. They are all objects that can be seen and once were touched and made. They all are this same type of object because even though they were made at different times and in difference places in Egypt, they all still are seen today. If the Shabties were not grouped together, being able to recognize them separately would be just as easy. They are very distinct figures by their size, silhouette and detailed writing. Being able to be recognized Ancient Egyptian Shabties when separate and still look appropriate when together is one of the style characteristics Egyptians were able to create. The similarities in the each other figures, is the characteristic of being consistent. How each statue was placed in the glass case, they almost seemed to be grouped. Beginning with the alabaster, the two figures were both of medium size and couldn’t make out much of the writing on them. The next grouping was ones made of limestone. With these three figures grouped together, one could see how they were created by the same artist following the steps of the first. The largest of the bunch was the limestone, Coffin of Luy. This was different from most in the collection since it was an actual open figure, but still had a reoccurring pattern like he other figures. The next grouping, The Three Shabties of Setau, were made out of wood. These were the most colorful, since they were all painted. They seemed to still be like the older figures but made in a newer and more decorated way. The figures made of faience varied in size, some only a few inches. They were either carved in or has black paint writing on them. As seen, there is a large variety of Shabties, yet the sense of style kept between was able to pass along through hundreds of years. The one Shabti that stood out to me was the, Shabty of Sati. New Kingdom, Dynasty 18, Reign of Amenhotep III 1390-1352 BCE. It was made out of faience, but wasn’t the common green-blue color. It had the most different colors all painted on it. Including red, blue, yellow, and green. The whole figured wasnt painted so the faience material could be seen. What drew me to it at first was that it was in a case of its very own. It was in the same pose as the other figures but this one looked very well preserved, not smudged or chipped like many of the others, so it stood out. The combination of the paint and grey made it very unique to use both materials. The style of this figure very much goes with the rest of figures. As stated earlier, the most admired artists were those who replicated the most admired styles of the past. With this figure since it was a later on piece, it seemed to still associate with the same characteristics of the past Shabeti figures. Ancient Egyptian artwork was not meant to be artwork at first. Religious meanings and symbols were the priority. Everything was for the god’s and what would come in their life. But from these practices of art, they created a style of their own. Style in relation to art history, usually refers to a characteristic, or a number of characteristics that we can identify as constant, recurring, or distinct. In art, the sum of such characteristics can be associated with a particular artist, group, or culture, or with an artist’s work at a specific time. The culture of Egyptian art was to keep the process constant of the same kind of art. And as time passed, even if some characteristics changed, the main style recurred somehow. The Shabeti figures did that, and once studied upon more, most of Egyptian art will be styled in the same way, shape, and form.

Mip for Saint Maybe Essay Example for Free

Mip for Saint Maybe Essay â€Å"Ian had stopped rasping and ran a hand along the slat’s edge, trying to gauge the curve. All his years here, he had worked with straight lines. He had deliberately stayed away from the bow-back chairs and benches that required eye judgment, personal opinion. Now he was surprised at how these two shallow U shapes satisfied his palm. (347-348) 1. Context: This passages is found towards the end of the book in chapter 10,†Recovering from the Heart-of-Palm Flu† While making a crib for his soon to be child, Ian comes across this thought. This was around the time Ian and Rita had gotten married. It show how after Ian let and tried new things in his life that made him happier. Also this made him more open-minded as a person by seeing that there are more ways than just one to do things, and not being afraid of things that are different than what he is used to. Another interpretation is that Ian has been freed from his guilt and is now allowed to experience things, get on where his life left off so long ago. This is really the resolution of the internal conflict that Ian has been going through since the climax of the book at the start. He is now guilt free and able to enjoy life. This also really effects the kids, Thomas, Agatha, and Daphne, because they felt like they had ruined his life by having to raise him, and so they still felt like they owned him. Now they can feel content know that his life is moving forward. The Bedloe’s don’t have to carry their burdens and are all able to carry on now. 2. Significance: This connects to the essential questions and themes of Saint Maybe. Theme #2,† Redemption can only be achieved through forgiveness of oneself and others,† This shows that Ian forgave himself because he changed his life for the better. Had he not forgave himself he would still be using â€Å"straight lines†, or still be the same Ian who felt guilty about causing his brother’s death being cautious not using his â€Å"personal opinion†, and not being able to have â€Å"U shapes† or happiness with his life. So, in a sense, by being able to create what he did show that he has feels redeem, by being able to move on and try new things. This Passage also answers Essential Question #2, â€Å" Does forgiveness need to be earned or should it be given? † because it show how Ian had to work so hard to achieve the â€Å"satisfaction† of being set free from his guilt, or forgiven, for what he thought he did. Had he not tried he would have never been forgiven he would still lead a life of despair and depression and die not ever getting to enjoy his life. Another that can be answered is Essential Question #4,† Under certain circumstances do individuals deserve a second chance? †Cleary Ian need a second for what had happened. Ian blamed himself at first but since he tried so hard and changed what he is used to doing just for forgiveness he is entitled to a â€Å"second chance† a chance to live again and have a good outlook on life, to grow up. 3. Literary Devices: One literary device used in this passage is tone. The tone use here is happy and uplifting. This voice the author chose, by using worse like, â€Å"satisfied† and â€Å"surprised†, tells us he is now not the same depressed person that he once was and that he is content with where his life is now. He has stop dwelling on the past and changed for the better. Another literary device is used here is foreshadowing. It foreshadows that the rest of Ian life, and all the Bedloe’s lives, will not be plague with what had happened and will live normal lives. By being able to try new things such as the â€Å"U shapes† it shows that he has moved on and is able to try new things without the fear of making a mistake. In other words he is no longer a â€Å"saint maybe† and is a new man. This passage is really is symbolism for Ian’s forgiveness and him being able to move on. The â€Å"straight lines† symbolize Ian’s life before he forgave himself not able to put his own â€Å"†¦ judgment and personal opinion† in things because he felt guilty for what he did to his brother and was afraid to do anything like it again because he was so traumatized. After he forgave himself he was able to do the â€Å"bow-back chairs and benches† because he is able to use his opinions. He is able to do so because he is now a different person, a free (forgiven) man, able to do as he pleases, not able to doubt himself anymore. So the change in his style of wood working really displays the change in his life.

Case Study On Baggage Handling System Project Information Technology Essay

Case Study On Baggage Handling System Project Information Technology Essay This module is given us the knowledge to develop our own ability to lead a project team and also the roles as project manager to control the project task where the management within given budge ,time and resources to make a project success. Project Management Project Definition A temporary and one-time endeavor undertaken to create a unique product or service, which brings about beneficial change or added value Project Management The application of knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to project activities to meet project requirements, Organizing and managing resources so the project is completed within defined scope, quality, time and cost constraints. The very first thing of a Project Manager is always about Time, Cost and Scope as below figure PM Triangle Five Step of Project According to Robert K. Wysocki (2003) traditional Project Management can be devise to 5 phases as Defining, Planning, and Executing, controlling and Closing. The Project definition : Scope ,Business Goal Budge The Project Planning : Resources, Risk Management, Breakdown of Work ,Establishing of Schedule of Work ,Project team management, Cost management The Project Execution : Work completion, Manage Risk Organization Chart ,Communication Plan The Controlling Process :Quality Planning, Monitor of Progress The Close-Out: Release people, Lessons learned, Accounting Case study on Baggage Handing System Project BHS Project Definition Baggage handling system project mean all components, installation materials, interfaces and other components, all necessary hardware, software, installation coordination and construction supervision of computers/PLC, controls and control hardware and software, management and support services required to implement the work and supply a fully functioning system as described on the signed Contract documents by client. One million project awards by the company to built the whole Baggage Handling System including Mechanical and Control System for the airport logistic to transfer and screening the baggage during the flight arrival and departure. Deadline to finish the project is one year after contract signed.Project team will be set up for this project. Mechanical installation complete mean when the conveyor, walkway, handrail, toe plate, side guards, drip pan, gap pan, motor/drive components, reducer/gear are correctly mounted in place. Electrical installation complete mean when control stations, Estop, sensors, beacons, motors, groundings are correctly mounted in place, wired and terminated. Scope of Work Scope of Works or the statement of works means the whole of the work to be executed in accordance with the Contract, including variations provided for the Contract by client. Work under the Contract mean any work the Contractor is or may be required to execute under the Contract and includes variations, remedial work and Temporary Work. Temporary Work means any work required in the execution of the Contract but not forming part of the Works Activity involve for BHS project Marketing Contract Handover to Project Design Phase (Mechanical Electrical Control) Purchase for Electrical and Mechanical Fabrication for Mechanical Electrical preparation Delivery to Site Mechanical installation Electrical installation High Level Control Interface for System Test Commissioning Client Approval and Handover Operation Trial Period Project Completed Warranty Period (DLP) After Sale Services (OM or RM Contract, Spare Part Sale) Work Breakdown Structure(WBS) Work breakdown structure (WBS) is a process for defining the final and intermediate products of a project and their relationships (accessed 05 Jan 2013). The Work Breakdown Structure provides a hierarchical structure of decomposing project fulfillment into smaller manageable activities for detailed schedule development along with cost estimating and control. A detailed WBS shall comprise of breakdown of work activities, resource estimates, activity duration estimates and cost estimates. It is an essential tool for planning and executing the project. Use the WBS to define the work for the project and to develop the projects schedule. BSH Project Work Breakdown Structure as Figure below Project Planning Define the project objective Graphically portray the activities in the form of network diagram Estimate the cost and time for each activity. Calculate a project schedule and budget to determine whether the project can be completed within the required time, and with the available resource. Resource Management Resources are of three types, Work resources, Material resources and Cost resources Work resources complete tasks by expending time on them. They are usually people and equipment that have been assigned to work on the project Material resources are supplies and stocks that are needed to complete a project. Cost resources are strictly cost; no time, no quantities-just dollars. Expenses, such as travel or fees, increase the project price tag, but they arent associated with work or material resources. Resource costs will be multiplied by duration to calculate project costs. This is the important roles for project manager to control the project budge to close the project. Many issues are always happen to project to use the limit resource to fulfill the requirement by client, as a project manager, who must make sure the right resource was assigned to right place as right time. At the same time, project manager must use some technique tools to monitor the progress of the project. Next part we are going to discuses about the tools for project manager to control the process. Project Management Methodology and Techniques A project methodology can be thought of in the same terms as a recipe for cooking. It identifies what will be required and how these ingredients will be combined together to produce the perfect meal. In short, a methodology comprises of the following components Documentation such as project initiation and scoping documents Technique a set of standard project management techniques required to plan and control the project (Critical Path Analysis, Risk Management Procedures etc) Sequence- the order in which the stages will be performed Overview a picture of how the documentation and techniques fit together The application of structured project techniques during the development and implementation of a new information system helps to impose discipline on the process of the integration of activities within each of the stages which, in turn helps to ensure success. The purpose of this can therefore give the organisation the opportunity to: Divide the project into smaller and easier to manage stages Measure the progress in terms of time, costs and quality Take corrective action if required to bring the project back on track Allocate the resources to the project PERT and CPM Program Evaluation and Review Techniques which is PERT (Maylor, 2010) is a technique that use project network for planning and coordinating large-scale projects to handle uncertain activity times. Critical Path Management (CPM), is a network chart, is a planning and management method used for scheduling a set of project activities. They are similar; the technique involves using network models to trace the links between tasks and to identify the tasks which are critical to meeting the deadlines. Once we have identified the critical path, any delay on any part of the critical path will cause a delay in the whole project. It is where project manager must concentrate their efforts. Gantt diagram are used to show the critical path in red and PERT diagram to see Network view. Difference between the CPM and PERT is that, task duration is treated CPM assumes time estimates are deterministic, Obtain task duration from previous projects Suitable for such kind of type projects. PERT treats durations as probabilistic PERT: CPM and probabilistic task times Better for RD type projects Limited previous data to estimate time durations Captures schedule (and implicitly some cost) risk CPM is useful, despite criticism, to identify the critical path focus on a subset of the project Slack is precious apply flexibility to smooth resource/schedules, PERT treats task times as probabilistic which is an Individual task durations and sums of multiple tasks. When we Selective crashing of critical tasks can reduce total project cost, CPM and PERT do not allow task iterations. Critical Chain Project Management Current Project Management Problem As the comment issue for project management is summary below for previous baggage handling system project, which are: No Credible Schedule, Unable to Accurately Predict Milestone Dates During Execution Critical Path Constantly Changing Loss of Control, Daily Firefighting, Pulling resources from One Job to Another and Resource Allocation Nightmare Stress, Frustrated Workers Supervisors Projects Get Delayed Require Heroic Efforts to Finish Lack of Resources, People, Experience, Skills, Material, Tools Lack of Supporting Documents Too Many Scope Changes and too many meting Too Much Overtime and Budget Overruns Critical Chain Project Management Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM) is a method of planning and managing projects that puts the main emphasis on the resources required to execute project tasks. It was developed by Eliyahu M. Goldratt. This is in contrast to the more traditional Critical Path and PERT methods, which emphasize task order and rigid scheduling. A Critical Chain project network will tend to keep the resources levelly loaded, but will require them to be flexible in their start times and to quickly switch between tasks and task chains to keep the whole project on schedule. The Principles of CCPM Projects Succeed or Fail as an Integrated System, not as a Collection of Discrete Tasks Systems are Analogous to Chains,Weakest Link is the Systems Constraint Constraints Can Never Really be Eliminated,Can Move From One Part of the System to Another All Systems Have a Goal Necessary Conditions A Systems Optimum Performance IS NOT the Sum of Local Optima A System Has Only One Constraint at a Time All Systems Function According to Cause Effect The success to use the CCPM for project manager to hand a project will be Improve project delivery date reliability Shorten overall project duration Provide early warning of threats to project delivery Enable earlier, less drastic responses Reduce Costs Reduce Overtime Reduce Rework PRINCE 2 Project Technique PRINCE2 (Projects IN Controlled Environments) is an effective process-based method for project management. PRINCE2 is a process-based approach for managing projects. It helps to work out who should be involved in a project, their role and their responsibilities. PRINCE2 has a set of processes to work through and it explains what information needs to be gathered. The method is the de-facto standard for project management is practiced globally. And it is also the required method for all UK government commissioned projects. PRINCE2 is in the public domain and offers best practice guidance on how to manage a project. It can be principally divided into the following stages: Starting up the project occurs only once and creates and evaluates the business case Directing the project formal organisational structures will be required throughout the life of the project including the project board and manager, the communication between the stages and the organisation will be continuous Initiating the project this stage will identify how the project will be managed, The Project Initiation document will form contract and terms of reference for the project as a whole Planning plans relating to project deliverables are continuously produced throughout the lifecycle and of the activity which helps to ensure a consistent approach. Controlling creation of documents which help to manage the day-to-day operations and include change control and quality assurance, this will be an iterative process. Monitoring there is a need to have a feedback process and take action as necessary, authorisation from the Project Board is required. Closing the project time is finite and there will need to be a final sign off procedure by the customer that objectives have been satisfied. Below figure is the overview of PRINCE2 Risk Management Risk management, another important point of project management, is present in the framework as well. According to Prince2 description, risk can be denned as uncertainty of outcome. The goal of risk management is to manage the exposure to risk. For that, the project board has to promote risk management, build up adapted policies, and assess projects status related to their risks. A Risk (Tom, 2009) can be almost any uncertain event associated with the work. Word in short is, loss multiplied by likelihood. Risk management is a process for identifying, assessing, and prioritizing risks of different types. Since the risks are identified, the project manager will need to minimize or eliminate the impact of negative events of project risk. For this baggage handling system project, Construction site safety management plan is must to be implementing of Risk management to list of all possible risks identified by the project or organization, for each of the risk, includes information such as risk probability, impact, counter-measures and risk owner etc. Conclusion Its good chance to review and deeply think of whole project process and activates in whole company organization about project management knowledge through this module. This assignment also encourages me to think about how to implement Project Management skill to the company in future projects management. After this model, I can recognize the essential characters of Project management and also have ability to address appropriate technologies and management tools to actually organizational issues and also can be leader of project team to plan, control and execute the project as project manager.

Does Money Equal Power In American Politics Politics Essay

Does Money Equal Power In American Politics Politics Essay This essay argues that money does equal power in American politics and that campaign reform is still required in American society as this remains an ongoing problem. In order to show the impact of money in the American campaigning system I believe this essay should begin with a statement of the recent facts and figures in relation to the cost of campaigning in America. The 2012 campaign by Obama and Romney for the presidential race resulted in spending of over $6 billion reported which  includes money spent by the campaigns of both candidates, outside groups such as PACs, and independent organizations such as businesses  [1]  . In the evaluating of money and democracy in the presidential campaigns we must also look at public spending as this was supposed to be the answer in reforming the presidential campaigning. Campaign finance is not just a problem in the presidential campaigns, In 2010 $1.5 million was the average spent by house incumbents and $11.2 million was the average spent by senate incumbents, these numbers which we will compare with those of challengers to see if there is any inequality  [2]  . These figures alone show the e ye watering large amounts of money spent today by those in politics. There are many aspects that need to be looked at to determine if money affects he democracy of America. However this is not a recent problem in America, money in elections has been a problem for many decades and finally an introduction of a Act in 1971 was supposed to put this problem to bed. The Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) of 1971 was created to restore peoples confidence in the campaigning system as many people felt large contributors had the biggest voice in political campaigns. This required funding to be made public. The Watergate scandal revealed during President Nixons campaign proved the corruption that was within the political system even with reforms in place as those who contributed large amounts were given positions as ambassadors in Nixons re-election committees, money equalling power  [3]  . This resulted in amendments being made to the original FECA such as the creation of the Federal Election Committee (FEC) who would ensure laws such as declarations of contributions where adhered to and brought public funding into the picture to try to stop the influence of large contributors. However, even when efforts are made to make campaign finance transparent to the public, there are still those who challenge this. In 1976 in the case of Buckley v Valeo, the reforms legislated by the FECA were brought to the courts. This case argued that the provisions made in the Act were unconstitutional. Here it was argued that money in politics was not corruption but instead it was a form of speech, therefore was protected by the first amendment of the Constitution of America and was a right of all Americans. It was decided that monetary contributions were an expression of ones support for a candidate which was a democratic right  [4]  . This association of money equals speech has been the hindrance of any reform after that and still poses problems in reform. Justice John Paul Stevens in 2000 presented a forceful opinion that money is property and not speech, surely money couldnt equal speech when money is not evenly distributed, this would prove that those with the biggest wallet had the biggest voices. The need for further reform after an extremely large redirecting of contributions in the form of sof t money led to further reform of the campaign system in the 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA)  [5]  which targeted the booming problem of soft money during campaigns. This problem was as a result of the allowance of the FECA of organisations giving money indirectly to candidates; this money was not recorded by the FEC and had an unlimited budget. This was abolished by BCRA to further attempt to bring fairness to all candidates and to try, once again, ensure money did not equal power in America. Campaign reform in America tries to take the impact of money away from the impact of politics. But interest groups and the subsequent PACs have still left a question mark on the influence of money on the campaigns. Louise Overacker in 1932 expressed her concerns that financing of elections in a democracy is a major problem and raised the question of if democracies do not inevitably become government ruled by small groups  [6]  . This brings us into the discussion of interest groups and PACS and their impact on American Democracy. PACs are organisations created through the FECA to allow these organisations to raise and distribute money to campaigns, allowing more money to be directed at candidates. Many interest groups and large organisations create PACs  [7]  . Interest groups are known to have aims in politics in America, firstly to elect friends and defeat enemies and secondly to increase the number of people in political positions that share their views. Business interest groups on the other hand will more than likely use the friendly incumbent rule of backing the incumbent that is certain to be re elected and generally shares their views rather than a challenger who may be more supp ortive of their interests but is not guaranteed to succeed in their campaign  [8]  . Why is this? Why not support the candidate who is more supportive of your cause and stand by them? This raises the suspicion of interest groups being more concerned with gaining the access of those in power. If interest groups are raising large quantities of funding for these candidates surely they are receiving something in return, otherwise why continue to pump money into a wasted cause?  [9]  It is known that many people involved PACs are those that are well educated and part of the upper class society which raises the question of is there an unbalance in the representation of society in America? As political scientist E.E Schattschneider said the flaw in the pluralist heaven is that the heavenly chorus sings with a strong upper-class accent  [10]  . If so this puts further questions on the American branding of democracy. However those who are against this view that interest groups and individual contributions thwart democracy argue that it does the opposite. They, on the other hand, argue that interest groups are a direct result of a democratic state. They argue that interest groups and PACs increase peoples awareness and interest in politics and therefore improve democracy in expanding peoples knowledge in political matters, an aspect recognised by James Madison  [11]  . Therefore in theory this activity contributes to democracy in America. But interest groups and PACs as discussed above look after and promote their own interests, they can do this by emphasising the negatives of another candidate through negative campaigning  [12]  or issue advocacy or by promoting the positive aspects of the candidate they are supporting. Therefore are they really serving the needs of the country or the needs of themselves? I feel they are only looking after their own interests to try to increase those in s upport of the candidate that will best serve them in the event that they win their election. Interest groups and PACs are unlikely to use their funding to compare the candidates in a fair and democratic way in the aim of giving the public a fair and even view of each candidate. Their aim of promoting their interests will lead to thwarted pictures of candidates. The fact is that organisations that make contributions, especially those with significant financial resources, want to ensure they make a Return on Investment, thats what these contributions are from many PACs and interest groups, they are investments not donations. As said on Capitol Hill my vote is not for sale but is available for rent.  [13]   Public funding was created by the FECA to try to take the issue of money out of campaigns and to prevent corruption of wealthy individuals in politics. However those who took public funding had to abide by a budget given to them. The option of partial funding in presidential primaries was rejected by many as they began to use the system to benefit themselves. In 2000 George Bush decided to reject partial funding in the primaries  [14]  . This was with the aim of using this time of to raise as much money as he could so that he could easily out race the other opponents in his raising of funds; therefore he was able to create more awareness of his campaign in the primaries over the opponents who were under strict instruction to stick to their public budgets. Bush easily received the nomination he needed but then used public funding in the general election as he has the awareness of his campaign already generated. This shows that even the candidates themselves are thwarting the syste m to improve their own campaigns without regard for other candidates chances of receiving recognition or a fair campaign. The ease of which Bush succeed proved that the money he received equalled power in his race for nomination despite the public funding being in place. More worryingly this year neither Obama nor Romney accepted public funding. Why? Because more money can be gathered from independent sources. A frightening thought considering how much they raised. Is the ideology of a public funding system becoming extinct?  [15]  if so it is direct proof that money equals power. Why is public funding being abandoned by candidates for the White House? Mainly it is due to the growth of Super PACs and dark money  [16]  . Super PACs seem to be replacing the previous spurt of 527 committees who raised money to influence the outcome of elections by raising unlimited amounts of money. Once this money was not used in conjunction with the candidates campaign and did not openly call for the defeat or election of a particular candidate it was completely legal. However now Super PACs can collect money from both individuals and corporations, they also cannot give money directly to the candidate but can use the money raised independently to help ensure the election of there preferred candidate. In the 2012 election the estimated money raised from outside groups was $970 million, this increase is being linked to the increase in Super PACs. $123 million is the estimated amount spent by dark money.  [17]  Dark money was a phrase adopted by the Mother Jones Magazine  [18]  which referred to the secret donations given to candidates by individuals and organisations. These donations occur in all political campaigns but seem to be most a part of the republican party fundraising. If people or businesses are able to donate large quantities of money to candidates without them being made public we again have to ask how this affects democracy in America. Money donated to campaigns that are not made public means that we are unable to see if there is a correlation between the money those secret donors have given and the decisions of the lawmakers. However the question on money in politics applies to all elections including those in the house and senate between incumbents and challengers. As mentioned in the introduction the power difference between incumbents and challengers in the house and senate where public funding isnt in place is extremely large. This difference boils down to money. Incumbents have the benefit of being well known and established and therefore do not need to spend vast amounts on creating public awareness. They also have loyal contributors already established to their campaign. Challengers on the other hand struggle to raise the money needed to create awareness of their campaign. Often the incumbents merely raise large quantities of money to discourage competition from new challengers. Is it a democracy where people are not made aware of new challengers due to the large spending of incumbents? When new challengers do not even get a chance due to the impact on money? It is known that people vote for those they recognise and reject those they have a lack of information on. Between 1984-2004 57% of challengers spent less than $100,000 on their camp aigns and all of them lost  [19]  . Money equals power. I have discussed many things within the American campaign system that make me question the branding of America as a Democracy due to the corruption caused by money. But does money actually get those who contribute a foot in the door? Political scientist say that the contributions of PACs does not have a major impact on legislators decisions, this is because although there is a direct correlation between donations and votes, there is no proven relationship between donations and lawmakers decisions  [20]  . However this will always be hard to prove as you cannot match contributions on a quid pro quo basis. It may have been found that money doesnt buy votes in congress but it is proven that contributors do get the loyalty of those in congress. It is known that contributions do achieve access  [21]  such as meetings with the candidates they have supported. Since most organisations will support those who are already in support of their views the do not need to persuade the candida te on their interests, therefore many of the PACs interests may be try to be mobilised through congressional committees. An example of money buying access can be seen in the Bush administration. Bush rewarded those who donated money to his Pioneer bundling system, most of whom were wealthy energy company official, business executives and lobbyists, with individual meeting and receptions, later Bush appointed 19 of the members as ambassadors worldwide  [22]  Would the lack of large donations have the same impact? We also saw that in the reign of Nixon those who donated large amounts became part of his re election committees, would this have been the case without the large donations? And would the contributors continue to donate without anything in return? It is unlikely. The New York Times gave the statistics that since Obamas election in 2008 to now, those who donated $30,000 or less, about 20% of these visited the White House, were those who donated over $100,000 where about 75 % more likely to visit the President.  [23]  Statistics that dont prove anything other than money equals power and access. Although reform was again attempted again through BCRA in 2002, there still seems to be problems within the campaign finance system. There are many suggested ways in which reform can be achieved. One is the idea of imposing ceilings on the amount spent in campaigns, but this may affect the competitive aspect of the campaigns. This also wouldnt help the challengers who already struggle to make themselves known to voters, therefore the well known incumbents would benefit leading to further questions of money impacting democracy. Another possible solution is to ban PACs and stopping large donations and let candidates rely on small donations to fund their campaigns but this is unlikely to raise enough funds.  [24]  The idea of public funding seemed to be the perfect solution as it took the importance of large donators out of the picture and put limits in place by candidates. If this was put in place for all elections in the house, congress as well as the presidential elections, this would reduce the amount spent on elections. However, the budgets of these public funds need to be increased to encourage candidates to be a part of this system. It may also attract candidates who dont want to waste too much time in their campaign raising money if the budget is right  [25]  . The problem with this is that this idea has been branded welfare for politicians an idea disliked by the American society.  [26]  The judgment by the courts that money equals speech also needs to be revisited. With this opinion being circulated it is only benefitting those with money. In order to pursue interests through politics, money and access is needed, but these are things not equally distributed, this makes you wonder how is this a democracy if it is allowing the people with these abilities to use them to push their ideas?  [27]   In conclusion, the problem is that many of the ideas for reform have as many positives as negatives, there seems to be no direct way to solve the problem of corruption within the political system and to prevent money from equalling power. In the last reform there was a corset affect that what was squeezed in one place merely popped out in another  [28]  in the increasing of 527 committees and the creation of Super PACs. It is viewed that this will be the case in any reform as John McCainn stated I promise you that in 20 or 30 years from nowà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦a group of others will be standing here saying weve got to clean up the system again, because therell be smart people that figure out loopholes in the system. I doubt he foresaw the speed at which these loopholes would be found. The fact of the matter is that money will always be the fuelling of politics in America and therefore until some way is found to take money out of politics money will equal power. As this essay title say s America has the best democracy money can buy. Bibiography Book sources: Jon R Bond and Kevin B Smith, The promise and performance of American Democracy. Thomson/Wadsworth 2009 Lowi, Shepsle, Ginsberg. American Government power and purpose. 7th ed. New York:Norton 2002 Tonnahill, Neal R, American government: policy and politics, 11th ed, Pearson study edition 2012 Robert Singh, American government and politics: A concise introduction. Sage 2003. McKay, Haughton and Wroe. Controversies in American Politics and Society. Oxford UK, Malden,Mass:Blackwell 2002 Robert Singh, Governing America: The politics of a divided democracy. Oxford University Press 2003. Samuel Kernell and Gary C Jacobson. The logic of American politics. Cq Press 2006, 3rd edition Bardes, Shmidt and Shelley, American government and politics today. 2004-2005 ed, London: Wasworth 2003 Internet sources: The Atlantic Wire last accessed on 19/12/12 The New York Times: last accessed 20/12/2012 The New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/15/us/politics/white-house-doors-open-for-big-donors.html?pagewanted=all last accessed 20/12/12

The exit strategy within a business plan

The exit strategy within a business plan The Last portion of the business plan is the exit strategy. It may seem strange to develop a strategy this soon to leave the business, but potential investors will want to know the long-term plans. The exit plans need to be clear in your own mind because they will dictate how you operate the company. For example, if it is your ultimate aim to get listed on the stock market, then you have to follow certain accounting regulations from day one. Recent research study has shown that 40% of all small business owners would like to exit their business immediately but that only 25% have any sort of plan for doing so. A mere 7% of the people have a formal written exit plan in place so although the desire is at the forefront of many owners minds, there is no strategy to make it happen. The sequence of steps involved in the exit strategy are Timing and the market Estimation of business worth Improving business value Selling the business Concluding the sale Timing the market: During last decade, capital markets around the world became abundant with funds. These funds primarily got accumulated through a decade of economic growth and prosperity. Low interest rates and low yielding traditional investments have driven the fund managers to seek alternative investment strategies that would maximise their returns. Whether through expansion strategies of large corporates, consolidation strategies of private equity managers or purely direct investment, this money is finding a home in middle market privately owned businesses. No such opportunity had existed for business owners to accelerate their succession planning and considerthe future of their equity. But now, such a thing has become common. Estimation of business worth : Perhaps the single biggest factor that determines of the value of a business is its current and recent profit history. It represents the return to the business owner, and of course, the future business owner. The second major determinant of the value of a business is the future risk. It is an assessment of the probability that the profit of the business will be maintained or increase. Factors to be considered in assessing this risk include: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ the dependency of the business on the promoters à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ sustaining the competitiveadvantage à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ intellectual property of the company à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ growth and profit trends projections à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ business practices à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ culture and professionalism of the company à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ the market in which the business functions While there is something called profit and risk trade-off, the Ultimate factor that determines the value is the strategic position of a buyer.Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Factors such as economies of scale, Innovation of products and markets, market domination or even fast tracking of growth, can see particular buyers pay more for acquisitions than an accountants valuation. Improving business value: Business owners should consider similar steps when preparing to sell their business. Many businesses view their businesses as their Golden opportunity . It represents a one-off opportunity to convert a lifetime of efforts into wealth. So often, the majority of the familys wealth is tied up in the business, invariably all at risk and highly dependent on a successful exit outcomeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ that is of course, after tax, after debt repayment if any. Clearly a strategy must be set to maximise value. The Main aim is to get the business investment available. Enough Attention must be focussed on those attributes of the future risk described before. We can take an example, what must be done to reduce the perception that the business will no longer prosper without the promoter of the business ? so, what are the implications for the management structure, policies and procedures, reporting, ongoing innovation and creativity and ultimately, the drive behind the business? By taking factors such as these, the business becomes more mature and will usually be in a better position to grow and prosper without the business promoters influence. Selling the Business: The whole selling process is a procedural methodology structured to attract the right buyer who is prepared to pay a good price for a business which clearly demonstrates strategic advantage through acquisition. It must be capable of withstanding a due diligence process without any material concerns. Armed with an Information, an investment ready business owner can commence the next phase of sellingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ identification of a buyer. Not surprisingly, in around 60% of cases, business owners already know their future buyer. It may be a competitor, a supplier or even a client. A list of known suitors is easily assembled. Attracting the other 40% requires a sales program using mass marketing . The various options that are available are IPO Acquisition Merger Liquidation Concluding the sale For most of their lives, business promoters have risked most of their wealth to be in this once-in-a-lifetime position. They know how to run a business, but how can they make the transition from a risk taker to that of custodian? Sadly, too many business owners get this bit wrong! What does this pot of gold represent? It represents the future security, income and lifestyles for the business owner and their dependents for the term of their lives. It represents the opportunity to pass wealth to the next generation and beyond. How can investments be structured to provide good returns but mindful of the risk profile of the family? How can taxation be legally minimised? How can the estate planning be properly structured to incorporate uperannuation, insurance, wills and trusts? How can the owner remain mentally challenged? A comprehensive wealth management strategy should bring together all of these components. Importantly, like planning for the sale itself, it should not be left to the last minute. Impact on community: Companies. impacts on the host communities where they operate do not abruptly end when they close down operations and go home. Rather, the way in which companies depart has a significant impact that can linger long after the mine or plant has closed. Three of the most common impacts on communities are: Decrease in economic status. Often a company is one of few sources of income for a community, if not the only one. A company.s closure can represent a return to economic hardship for its host community. Decrease in company-provided services. Companies often bring services that were not previously present, such as hospitals or road maintenance. Decrease in social status. The departure of a company can lead to a decrease in a social status that corporate resources had elevated. Most companies do not give enough attention to the impact that their departure may have on surrounding communities, or how to manage that impact. Some companies do not consider an exit plan until operations draw to a close. Other companies plan an exit plan early on, but do not revise the strategy based on ongoing analysis. COMMON PITFALLS SURROUNDING DEPARTURE 1. Companies do not sufficiently prepare communities for what to expect when they depart. 2. Companies only strategy for ensuring sustainability of social programs is that the government will take over. 3. Companies decrease community relations budgets as time for closure approaches, but the need for services does not decrease. 4. Companies leave behind infrastructure that is unsuited to community needs. The Right strategy Include an exit strategy in the design of any new project. the manner in which a company wishes to leave its corporate site behind after its departure determines the manner in which it develops a project, even if the departure date lies several decades ahead.Engage communities in discussing impacts and planning closure. Talk with affectedcommunities about the present and the future. By planning together, the community will understand the process, and can have buy-in on decisions made.Solicit a range of perspectives and views in order to assist groups in appropriate ways. Companies can identify surrounding communities. views of the future by engaging community members in planning closure. Use care when choosing language and framing exit strategies. The ways in which a company.s key events are presented and discussed will influence how those events are perceived. Closure is no exception. Use tangible and visible short-term objectives that build toward goals for departure. While long-term vision is necessary, companies risk overlooking concrete, short-term actions that will be necessary to reach future goals. Impact on Customers: When a company is planning to make an exit, the society at large will get affected. The extent to which customers are affected cant be quantified. The kind of problems that the customers likely to face are Unavailability of the product or service No other alternatives available Lack of customer support (for product or service) There are various ways by which these issues can be tackled. Some of the possible ways are, The company making a tie-up with other company which offers similar product. So,that similar products are being manufactured for the old customers. Having a tie-up with companies to offer customer support services (even after companies exit. Creating a forum to address the needs of the past customers.