Saturday, August 31, 2019

Diary Task Unit 4 Task 1 Essay

In order to complete the diary task, it is important that you use the format given. Within this diary task, you need to draw from your experiences within your nursery placement. You need to ensure that your supervisor signs your diary sheet before submission (on the back page 360). Your work will not be accepted without it and your work will count as a late submission. You also need to submit your grading criteria sheet (Page 363). There is no word limit. You need to write thoroughly (but sensibly). You should not be writing as much as an assignment. You need to use the headings that have been given to you below. Task 1: Choose TWO 2 ways from the list in which you have been involved in keeping children safe: †¢ Identifying possible hazards in the setting †¢ Sterilising feeding equipment †¢ Encouraging children to use resources in a safe and controlled way †¢ Comforting a child who is ill and reporting necessary information to the appropriate person †¢ Dealing with a minor accident or injury †¢ Following a procedure to avoid transmitting infection †¢ Maintaining security during arrival and departure times in the setting P4.1 Describe your involvement in EACH situation You need to identify the two points that you have chosen. You then need to describe your involvement in each situation (We suggest you answer them in two separate paragraphs) Remember to link to your practice and give examples of how you have been evolved. P4.2 Show evidence of your knowledge of procedures in EACH situation You need to link clearly to your practice We recommend that you link to polices and procedures in the setting to demonstrate evidence of your knowledge. You can have appendices if you wish but only put in relevant information that you are going to refer to. P4.3 Evaluate briefly your role in EACH situation You need to consider how valuable your role was Did something go wrong? Why? What could have been done differently? What was the impact on the children and other staff? Are you given opportunity to develop your role in these areas? If so how and if not then what actions are you going to put into place e.g. meeting with your supervisor. Remember to reference to back up your ideas and provide a bibliography REMINDER: Please spend time on your diary tasks as you need to ensure you achieve a minimum of 80 Marks overall to receive a grade E. Please refer to the CACHE Candidate Handbook for further guidance (P.395).

Friday, August 30, 2019

The Hunters: Moonsong Chapter Eight

â€Å"Ugh, I don't think there's a single thing on the hot-lunch bar I'd ever consider eating,† Elena said to Stefan. â€Å"Half the stuff I can't even identify.† Stefan watched patiently as she passed on to the salad bar. â€Å"This isn't much better,† she said, lifting a watery spoonful of cottage cheese and letting it slop back into the container for emphasis. â€Å"I thought the food at col ege would be more edible than in our high school cafeteria, but apparently I was wrong.† Stefan made a vague sound of agreement and looked around for a place for them to sit. He wasn't eating. Human food didn't have much taste for him now, and he'd used his Power to cal down a dove to his balcony that morning. That had provided enough blood to hold him until the evening, when he would need to hunt again. Once Elena final y made herself a salad, he led her to the empty table he'd spotted. She kissed him before she sat down and a shiver of delight ran through him as their minds touched. The familiar link between them slid into place, and he felt Elena's joy, her contentment at being with him and at their new, nearly normal, lives. Below this, a touch of excitement fizzed through her, and Stefan sent a questioning thought between them, wondering what had happened since they'd seen each other that morning. Elena broke the kiss and answered his unspoken question. â€Å"Professor Campbel , my history professor, knew my parents when they were in col ege,† she said. Her voice was calm, but her eyes were bright, and Stefan could sense how big this was for her. â€Å"He was a real y good friend of theirs. He can tel me stories about them, parts of their lives I never knew before.† â€Å"That's great,† Stefan said, pleased for her. â€Å"How was the class?† â€Å"It was al right,† Elena said, beginning to eat her salad. â€Å"We're talking about the colonial days for the first couple of weeks.† She looked up, her fork poised in midair. â€Å"How about you? What was your philosophy class like?† â€Å"Fine.† Stefan paused. Fine wasn't real y what he meant. It had been strange to be sitting in a col ege classroom again. He'd attended col ege a few times during his long history, seen the changing fads in education. At first, his classmates had been a select number of wealthy young men, and now there was a more diverse mix of boys and girls. But there was an essential sameness to al those experiences. The professor lecturing, the students either bored or eager. A certain shal owness of thought, a shy ducking away from exposing deeper feelings. Damon was right. Stefan didn't belong here; he was just playing a role, again. Kil ing some of his limitless time. But Elena – he looked at her, her shining blue eyes fixed on him – she did belong here. She deserved the chance at a normal life, and he knew she wouldn't have come to col ege without him. Could he say any of this to her? He didn't want to dim the excitement in those lapis lazuli eyes, but he had sworn to himself that he would always be honest with her, would treat her as an equal. He opened his mouth, hoping to explain some of what he felt. â€Å"Did you hear about Daniel Greenwater?† a girl asked nearby, her voice high with curiosity as she and her friends slid into the empty chairs on the other end of the table. Stefan closed his mouth and turned his head to listen. â€Å"Who's Daniel Greenwater?† someone else asked. â€Å"Look,† the first girl said, unfolding a newspaper she held. Glancing over, Stefan saw it was the campus paper. â€Å"He's a freshman, and he just vanished. He left the student center when it closed last night, and his roommate says he never came back to the room. It's real y creepy.† Stefan's eyes met Elena's across the table, and she raised an eyebrow thoughtful y. Could this be something they should look into? Another girl at the other end of the table shrugged. â€Å"He probably just got stressed out and went home. Or maybe his roommate kil ed him. You know you get automatic As if your roommate dies.† â€Å"That's a myth,† Stefan said absently, and the girls looked up at him in surprise. â€Å"Could I see the paper for a moment, please?† They passed it over, and Stefan studied the picture on the front. A high school yearbook photo smiled up at him, a skinny floppy-haired guy with a slight overbite and friendly eyes. A face he recognized. He had thought the name sounded familiar. â€Å"He lives in our dorm,† he said softly to Elena. â€Å"Remember him from orientation? He seemed happy to be here. I don't think he would have left, not of his own free wil .† Elena stared at him, her wide eyes apprehensive now. â€Å"Do you think something bad happened to him? There was something weird going on in the quad the first night we were here.† She swal owed. â€Å"They said a girl had gotten into some trouble, but the cops wouldn't real y tel us anything. Do you think it might be related to Daniel Greenwater's disappearance?† â€Å"I don't know,† Stefan said tightly, â€Å"but I'm worried. I don't like anything out of the ordinary.† He stood up. â€Å"Are you ready to go?† Elena nodded, although half her lunch was stil on her tray. Stefan handed the paper politely back to the girls and fol owed Elena outside. â€Å"Maybe we're paranoid because we're used to terrible things happening,† Elena said, once they were on the path heading back up the hil toward their dorm. â€Å"But people disappear al the time. Girls get harassed or attacked sometimes. It's unfortunate, but it doesn't mean there's a sinister plot behind it al .† Stefan paused, staring at a flyer stuck to a tree by the cafeteria. Missing Student, the caption said, with a picture of a girl beneath it. â€Å"Promise me you'l be careful, Elena,† he said. â€Å"Tel Meredith and Bonnie, too. And Matt. None of you should be wandering around campus by yourselves. Not at night, anyway.† Elena nodded, her face pale, staring at the picture on the flyer. Stefan felt a sharp pang of regret even through his anxiety. She had been so excited when they met for lunch, and now that enthusiasm had drained away. He wrapped his arm around her waist, wanting to hold her, to keep her safe. â€Å"Why don't we go out tonight?† he said. â€Å"I've got a study group to go to, but it shouldn't last too long. We could go off campus for dinner. Maybe you could stay over tonight? I'd feel better if I knew you were safe.† Elena looked at him, her eyes suddenly sparkling with laughter. â€Å"Oh, as long as that's the only reason you'd want me in your room,† she said, smiling. â€Å"I'd hate to think you had designs on my virtue.† Stefan thought of Elena's creamy skin and silky golden hair, of her warmth, the rich wine of her blood. The idea of her in his arms again, without her aunt Judith or his landlady, Mrs. Flowers, down the hal , was intoxicating. â€Å"Of course not,† he murmured, bowing his head toward hers. â€Å"I have no designs. I live only to serve you.† He kissed Elena again, sending al his love and longing to her. Above their heads, Stefan heard a strident cawing and the flapping of wings, and, his lips stil against Elena's, he frowned. Elena seemed to sense his sudden tension and pul ed away from him, fol owing his gaze toward the black crow wheeling above them. Damon. Watching them, watching Elena, as always. â€Å"Excel ence.† Ethan's voice rang out across the outdoor basketbal court where the pledges were gathered. Dawn was breaking, and there was no one around except for Ethan and the sleepy-faced pledges. â€Å"As you know from our first meeting, each of you here exemplifies the peak of one or more types of achievement. But that's not enough.† He paused, looking from face to face. â€Å"It's not enough for each of you to have a piece of the best. You can encompass al these attributes in yourself. Over the course of the pledge period, you wil discover worlds inside yourselves that you've never imagined.† Matt shuffled his sneakers against the asphalt and tried to keep the skeptical expression off his face. Expecting him to achieve the heights of academic or artistic success, he knew, was a long shot. He wasn't particularly modest, but he was realistic, and he could list his best qualities: athlete, good friend, honorable guy. He wasn't stupid, either, but if excel ing in intel ect and creativity were prerequisites for being part of the Vitale Society, he might as Wellgive up now. Rubbing the back of his neck, he glanced around at his fel ow pledges. It was reassuring to see that most of them were wearing expressions of barely restrained panic: apparently â€Å"encompassing al these attributes† wasn't something they'd reckoned on either. Chloe, the cute round-faced girl he'd noticed at the first gathering, caught his eye and winked, just a quick brush of her lashes, and he smiled back, feeling oddly happy. â€Å"Today,† Ethan announced, â€Å"we wil work on athleticism.† Matt sighed with relief. Athleticism he could do. Al around him, he saw faces fal . The intel ectuals, the leaders, the budding creative geniuses – they weren't looking forward to testing their athletic prowess. A low rebel ious murmur sWelled among them. â€Å"Don't sulk,† said Ethan, laughing. â€Å"I promise you, by the time you become ful members of the society, each of you wil have reached your peak of physical perfection. For the first time, you wil feel what it is to be truly alive.† His eyes glittered with possibility. Ethan went on to outline the pledges' task. They were about to embark on a fifteen-mile run, with several obstacles along the way. â€Å"Be prepared to get dirty,† he said cheerful y. â€Å"But it wil be wonderful. When you finish, you'l have achieved something new. You are welcome to assist one another. But be aware: if you do not complete the run in three hours, you wil not be invited to continue to the next step in the pledging process.† He smiled. â€Å"Only the best can become members of the Vitale Society.† Matt looked around and saw that the pledges, even those who looked like they had never left the science lab or the library, were retying their sneakers and stretching, wearing determined expressions. â€Å"Holy cow,† a voice beside him said. It was a nice voice, with a real twang to it, a voice that came from somewhere deeper in the South than Virginia, and Matt was smiling even before he looked around and saw that it was Chloe. â€Å"I figure you're about the only person here who isn't going to have a lot of trouble with this,† she said. She was so cute. Little dimples showed in her cheeks when she smiled, and her short dark hair fel in curls behind her ears. â€Å"Hey, I'm Matt,† Matt said, grinning back at her. â€Å"I knew that,† she said cheerful y. â€Å"You're our footbal star.† â€Å"And you're Chloe, the amazing artist,† he said. â€Å"Oh.† She blushed. â€Å"I don't know about that.† â€Å"I'd love to see your work sometime,† he told her, and her smile widened. â€Å"Any tips for today?† she asked. â€Å"I never run unless I'm about to miss the bus, and I think I'm about to regret that.† Her face was so appealing that Matt momentarily felt like hugging her. Instead, he frowned thoughtful y up at the sky. â€Å"Under these kinds of conditions,† he said, â€Å"the best thing to do is incline your arms at a fifty-degree angle to the ground and run with a light bounding step.† Chloe stared at him for a minute and then giggled. â€Å"You're teasing me,† she said. â€Å"That's not fair. I have no idea about this stuff.† â€Å"I'l help you,† Matt said, feeling good. â€Å"We can do it together.†

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Final Exam Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Final Exam - Essay Example The focus shall be on the relationship between the eating of French fries and weight gain. Many organizations and governments in the world are concerned with the scourge of weight gain which has increased the health risks among the youths and the population in general (Reed 67). Besides tremendously increasing the medical bills towards the caring for this group of individuals, weight gain also reduces the overall productivity of the same individuals which is another reason it is detrimental to the economy. Excessive weight also puts the individual at a higher risk of contracting other diseases that come about due to the individual’s poor health. It is thus of great concern to the various parties that such findings as the one from this experiment be availed to enable them draw the right conclusions about the disease besides formulating the required steps aimed at reducing the negative effects of the disease (Keown 12). This paper shall thus outline the procedure for the carryin g out of an experiment to determine the impact of eating French fries on the rate of gaining weight in kids aged 14 years of age. Methodology The methodology for this experiment shall first of all involve the division of the sample made of 14 year-old kids into two groups. The first group shall be made up of children who eat French fries strictly two times in a week while the second one shall contain those who strictly eat French fries three times each week (Rahman 90). The two groups shall each have separate records whereby each child’s weight shall be taken at the start and end of every week for three months. The period chosen upon is long enough to smoothen out the changes that may occur in a single week or for a few days. The days for the measurements shall be on every Monday and Friday of each week. For each child, two columns shall be drawn; one for the Monday readings while the other one shall be for the Friday readings. While the record books for the group of children who eat French fries twice a week shall be colored blue, those for the group of children who eat French fries three times a week shall be colored red to allow a distinction between the two groups (Froding 34). Other factors shall be put into consideration to allow consistency in the recordings. These factors include the harmonization of the two groups’ diets to eliminate disparities that may come about due to other factors from outside of the experiment. Weight gain may result from other types of food eaten by the children and invalidate the data collected for the two groups. Also, health factors shall be put into consideration to eliminate differences in weight that could be the result of health disorders. Independent Variable The independent variable in this experiment shall be the number of days the recordings shall be taken since they shall not be determined be anything else besides the normal counting of days. On average, there shall be 24 of these days for each child o ver the three months set aside for the experiment (Jackson 78). Dependent Variable The dependent variable in this experiment shall be the weight readings taken from the kids on the two days of the weeks. On average, there shall be twenty four recordings for each child over the three months period set aside for this experiment. Data Analysis The analysis of the data shall be carried out after the three months

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Petroleum Engineering Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Petroleum Engineering - Essay Example In simple terms, the task of engineers is to provide a link between ideas and physical reality (Lyons& Gary 12). Petroleum falls in the category of minerals used by people or humanity for many years. For a couple of decades ago, people used materials or minerals where they referred to them by different names such as oil from rocks, shining water, and sweat of devil. Some of the names have been in place for several years such as naphtha and petros (Lyons& Gary 17). In Greek, Petros stands for rock while in Roman it means oil or petroleum. For many years, surface springs and tar pits have been the only source of oil or petroleum. However, this argument has not been reliable because most people look for petrol beneath the earth’s surface. For instance, during 1859, Drake Edwin struck oil after drilling 69 feet (Lyons& Gary 22). On August 27, the year 1859, United States of America marked the origin of Petroleum and Oil industry (Lyons& Gary 24). Despite the fact that few people h ad participated in commercial sale of oil, Drake was instrumental in proving that production of oil could occur in large scale. Analysis of crude oil shows that the composition of crude oil takes has carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulphur. Carbon and hydrogen forms a big percentage in terms of composition of crude oil than nitrogen and oxygen. In terms of products, crude oil has the following products: hydrocarbon gas, petroleum ether, gasoline, kerosene, light gas, heavy gas and reside. All these products have different uses. For example, hydrocarbon gas finds its use as a natural gas while petroleum ether is a cleaner or solvent (Lyons& Gary 32). Petroleum occurs in rocks that are of three types, namely sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks. The classification is these rocks are according to origin as shown below. Igneous rocks originate from cooling and solidification process of magma in molten state. Magna results from the interior of the earth following eruption process. These rocks form almost 95% of the earth’s crust. They have a crystalline and hard structure with voids or pore spaces. This category of rocks consists of basalt, granite, serpentines, and andesite (Lyons& Gary 34). Sedimentary rocks forms the second classification of rocks used to produce petroleum. These rocks emanate from deposition of both inorganic and organic matter. Deposition of animal and plant fossils alongside igneous rock occurs in layers or strata. Sedimentary rocks fall further into three types, namely chemical, organic, and clastic sediments. Formation of clastic sediments is through deposition after a series of breakdown and transport. Clastic sediments mostly include breccias, sandstone, sands, gravels, siltstone, and marble. The second type of sedimentary rock is the chemical sediment that has mineral salts such as sulfate and chlorides. Lastly, the formation of organic sediments is through compaction process by wind, ice, snow, or rain (Lyons& Gary 39). Metamorphic rocks forms the last category of rocks that results from tectonic process in an environment that has elevated temperature and pressure. This environment changes the structure and composition of sedimentary and igneous rocks to form metamorphic rocks. These types include shales, marble, and quartzites (Lyons& Gary 40). Two groups of theories explain the actual occurrence

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Philosophy of Nursing with compassion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Philosophy of Nursing with compassion - Essay Example Nightingale’s philosophy includes the four meta-paradigm concepts of Nursing, but the primary focus is on the patient and the environment (Nightingale, 1860/1969). Health is â€Å"not only to be well, but to be able to use well every power we have to use,† (Nightingale, 1969, p. 24) Nursing has been a fascination of mine since I was a little girl. I have a lot of compassion and love for people. My career started at the age of 17; graduating from the High School of Health Professions. I worked 4 years as a Nurse Aide, 10 years as a LVN, and now 22 years as a RN. I look at the patients I care for with a heart as if they were my family members; giving excellent care. I feel God gave me a gift to share and take care of others. Philippians 2:4 states â€Å"Let each of you look not only to his own interest, but also to the interests of others. (Holy Bible King James Version).Ephesians 4:32 states â€Å"Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave us.† (Holy Bible King James Version) I recently had tragedy in my own life and was a bit heartbreaking. My husband died from a cardiac arrest on dialysis in October 2014. Being a dialysis nurse I questioned coming back to dialysis and even nursing profession. After 3 months to heal and go through my grief, I now realize this where God wants me to be and be more effective. The nurse owes the same duties to self as to others, including the responsibility to preserve integrity and safety. (ANA, 2001, p. 18) Historically from the era of Florence Nightingale‘s philosophy focused on the primarily on the patient and their environment, with the nurse controlling the environment to enhance the recovery of the patient. The ANA code of ethics for nurses was developed as a guide to responsibility care for patients in a manner that reflected quality in nursing care and the ethical obligations

Monday, August 26, 2019

Industerial operations part 2 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Industerial operations part 2 - Coursework Example Smoothness and color are important non-dimensional attributes in the ‘Paper Pro’ punch. Its body must be designed as per customers’ wants and preferences. For instance, if it is to be used in an office, it must have a corporate look that will often appeal to the consumer. The ‘Paper Pro’ punch can be customer-tailored to meet the specific needs and preferences of divergent consumers. Steel is among the world’s toughest alloys and thus used in making ‘Paper Pro’ punch. While plastic might be used in manufacturing ‘Paper Pro’ punch, the produced product might be too weak to withstand pressure that consumers are likely to exert in the process of using the object and is, therefore, incongruous. The basic process of strengthening the lever and punches part is by using harder steel in the process of making these parts. Moreover, it is also to be noted that to strengthen the steel several factors are taken into consideration. In this regard, if the heated steel cools down at a very slow rate, then the steel would be stronger. Besides, another aspect is the galvanization of the parts to reduce the corrosion of the same for greater effectiveness. In the process of galvanization, the steel is dipped into the molten zinc. This results into the formation of zinc-oxide layer in the surface of the parts. After this special zinc paint is also applied to the same to thwart oxidization. In the process of making a better hole punch tools, the steels that are received by ‘Paper Pro’ are more braced. These steels can be used to make the final parts of punches and levers. These steels are now required to be galvanized and hence, make the punches and the levers free from corrosion. The products, which are having plastic as the material for making the lever parts should be replaced by steel. The molder must mold the steel accordingly and electrify it to circumvent it from rusting. For the purpose of galvanizing the parts, an

Sunday, August 25, 2019

The concept of Open Markets and Closed Borders. HLSs311 Forum 2 Assignment

The concept of Open Markets and Closed Borders. HLSs311 Forum 2 - Assignment Example Keeping the borders closed would also cause huge inconveniences from people travelling in and out of the country. Such interventions may have far-reaching effects on the country’s economy. Even if the borders present an opportunity for terrorists and other illegal activities, such as illegal immigration, the country cannot afford to keep the borders closed. This may explain the reason the DHS has increased its presence along the border to secure legitimate travel and trade (Department of Homeland Security, 2011). Business organizations in the United States target numerous foreign markets that may require constant travels across border. If such activities are restrained, such organizations may incur huge losses. Therefore, the government should continue with its efforts aimed at securing the border without necessarily closing it. The ‘need to share’ should replace the ‘need to know’ as reflected in the 9/11 commission report. According to the report, the United States may have been attacked owing to policy issues. Before 9/11, the United States did not consider terrorism as an overriding national security issue (The 9/11 Commission, 2004). This ideology is a reflection that even if the country understood that terrorism was a threat to security, it underestimated the potential consequences. If information regarding the growth of Islamic extremism was available to security agencies. In fact, the commission asserted that the 9/11 attack was more of a shock than a surprise. The FBI also manifested its weaknesses in terms of its capability to link information collected by its agents to identify threats to the national security (The 9/11 commission, 2004). The commission also revealed that the country’s security agencies failed to manage information from the unique challenges of th e 21st century. This is an indication that, the country’s security agencies could have identified

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Practical report in molecular biology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Practical report in molecular biology - Essay Example DNAs that are prepared in this way may then be analysed by a method called gel electrophoresis. This involves the use of electric currents to facilitate the separation of linear DNA molecules through a gel support, usually consisting of the polymer agarose or polyacrylamide. These polymers form a molecular sieve that permit the DNA to pass through at a rate that is approximately inversely proportional to the log of the molecular weight as measured in kilobase pairs (Kb). The current initiates the movement of DNA from the site of application to the positively charged cathode as the negatively charged phosphate groups in the DNA molecule are drawn to the cathode by electrostatic attraction. If DNA fragments of Known molecular weight are electrophoresed simultaneously thre molecular weight of the DNA fragments generated by restriction enzyme digestion may be ascertained by comparing their rate of mobility with that of the standards of known molecular weight. This is usually calculated b y preparing a graph representing the log of the molecular weight of DNA standards versus the measured distance traveled beach band in millimeters (mm). The distances of the unknown fragments is measured and their molecular weights are determined by locating the position these measured distances are located on the graph. Restriction enzyme digestion of DNA followed by gel electrophoresis is a commonly used method for preparing DNA maps and determining the molecular weights of unknown DNA samples. The DNA used in this experimental protocol was obtained by culturing bacteria (E.coli) that contain plasmid DNA. Two types of plasmids were prepared from E.coli, designated plasmid X and Y. After the plasmid DNA was extracted from the bacterial cells, it was then digested with restriction enzymes, which are capable of making double stranded cuts in DNA molecules at specific

Conceptual or Theoretical Framework Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Conceptual or Theoretical Framework - Essay Example According to this model of criminal justice system, actors and criminal justice institutions share very little information between themselves a fact that ensures constant conflicts between these institutions (Samaha, 2005, 56). A good example of conflict within the criminal justice system is that existing between the police and the court officials. The model argues that police desire to put criminals in prisons while the courts may desire to release the criminal due to lack of enough evidence. System conflict theory when applied to the use of forensic sciences in solving crimes in the society can be useful in explaining the conflicts within the criminal justice systems and the society and in particular conflicts between the courts of justice and the police/investigators. In civil litigation and criminal prosecutions, evidence collected by forensic specialists is used to support the claim that a collected evidence specimen can be matched to a particular person, group or other source (Fridell, 2000, p. 23). Forensics encompasses different fields including DNA forensics, forensic pathology, computer forensics, forensic toxicology and forensic odontology, among others (Stuart & Nordby, 2005, p. 67). For example, forensic pathology is applied by criminologists and other actors in the criminal justice system to determine the manner and cause of death such as in the case of homicides or murder cases (Chisum, 2006, p. 98). Though contemporary criminal justice systems are increasingly making use of forensic sciences, no forensic method, save for nuclear DNA analysis, can be argued to exhibit the capacity to demonstrate a connection between an evidence specimen and a source or an individual with a high and reliable degree of certainty. In this respect, criminal courts have periodically nullified or questioned evidence

Friday, August 23, 2019

Managerial Economics Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Managerial Economics - Research Paper Example Designers split their focus in making the current designs for their clients while having time to produce designs for the upcoming promotional activities for the new packages. It was found out that the current plan of making new design packages may push the company to many opportunity costs. Alternatives may be needed, such as getting talented workers from developing countries through freelance sites to finish the project while continuing the planned release of new packages. Application of Managerial Economics Executive Summary The company named Graphic Design Works specializes in graphic design as a product for other companies like small businesses and startup companies. The management comes to a point where it needs to decide to add new packages that may increase the profits of the company. In addition, the decision-making body plans to expand the ventures of the company towards software development, networking and business process outsourcing. It means the company may hire new work ers when it expands its business operations. For the company to expand, it requires huge amount of capital; the profits from the new packages may help in this if ever the launching and sales will be successful. The expansion may commence once the target profit is hit through the campaigns and promotions to popularize the new design packages for the clients to enjoy. The packages include various custom designs for merchandise, emails, webpage, logo and stationery with corresponding number of designs. Campaigns will be implemented through postings in the official website of Graphic Design Works, massive email advertising, article postings on web magazines, free ad postings, producing television commercials and radio announcements, post mail advertising, visiting corporate offices and phoning the potential customers. The company thinks of continuing the new packages to be offered to their past and present clients and even expand their market via promotions using traditional media with some touch of online advertising. Traditional media like newspapers, radio and television have already solid set of viewers that the company may tap to produce sales for their new packages. On the other hand, the internet allows any business to save while reaching global audience but with less developed tactics and strategies as of the moment. The potential of the internet shows that more people can start their business with low capital and target a wider market. In addition, companies can hire employees from overseas entirely online which saves them from spending too much on manpower. Graphic Design Works looks at the conditions as opportunities since more startup businesses mean more potential clients to convince which may lead to more sales and profit for the company. Other than that, the company also plans to target ordinary people without businesses by offering them design packages for parties or personal messages. Traditional media also become big opportunities for the company as more people are acquainted to view them since they are already part of the culture unlike the internet which still experiences many developments to cope up with the traditional media. When it comes to production decision, Graphic Design Works does not worry about the needed materials and equipment to create the packages. Computers, software and professional graphic designers are the ones needed for the job. Since computers become cheaper

Thursday, August 22, 2019

ICT Notes Case Essay Example for Free

ICT Notes Case Essay Whenever personal details or other private information is stored about people, it is regulated by the data Protection Act and organisations storing such information must register with the data protection bureau. It gives rights to data subjects (i.e. in this case the patients who have specific data about themselves stored on the health centre system). Data is subject to 8 main regulations to protect the rights and privacy of individuals. These are: 1. Personal data shall be processed fairly and lawfully. 2. Personal data shall be obtained only for one or more specified and lawful purposes. see more:annual function speech 3. Personal data shall be adequate, relevant and not excessive in relation to the purpose for which it is used. 4. Personal data shall be accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date. 5. Personal data shall not be kept for longer than is necessary for the specified purpose. 6. Personal data shall be processed in accordance with the rights of data subjects under the act (patients have the right to view and correct information held, except in cases of crime or certain government agencies). 7. Data holders should have appropriate measures in place to protect the data against loss, theft or corruption. 8. Personal data shall not be transferred to a country outside the EEC unless that country ensures an adequate level of protection for the rights of data subjects. Computer Misuse Act 1990 This law was introduced to cope with the problems of computer hackers and viruses. The Act was introduced to recognise these three offences: 1. Unauthorised access to computer material If a member of the health centre staff uses another staff members password to log onto their user area, this is illegal. Even if they dont change, delete or damage anything, they are still guilty of accessing materials without authorisation and this is illegal. 2. Unauthorised access with intent to commit or facilitate a crime The difference between this and the first offence is that the person gaining access to someone elses system is doing so with the sole purpose of doing something illegal e.g. fraud, blackmail etc. This might mean that they had to guess or steal the password in order to get into someones user area or their bank account. 3. Unauthorised modification of computer material This offence relates to the deletion or changes made to files with the intent to cause damage to an individual or to the health centres computer system. This offence also covers planting viruses to other peoples systems. Writing a virus technically isnt a crime; but if you knowingly transmit a virus to others, you are guilty under this section of the Computer Misuse Act. Copyright, Design and Patents Act 1989 This act was passed to make it illegal to copy files, software etc without permission. The law can be broken in three ways: 1. Using software without a proper licence. The health centre must ensure it purchases a site licence which allows everyone at the centre to use the software. 2. Using text or images from the internet and using them without the copyrights owners (the authors) permission or acknowledging where the health centre got them from. 3. A member of staff copying a computer program at the health centre and then running it on their computer at home without permission from the copyright holder. 4. Health and Safety Issues Relating to Computer Use The health centre must ensure under the Health and Safety Regulations 1992 that they provide a safe working environment for anyone using computers. The health centre must :Ensure that the computer equipment is safe. 1. Ensure workstations meet the required standards for health and safety i.e. provide proper computer chairs, foot supports, lighting etc. 2. Plan work so the staff have regular breaks which allow them to do non-computer work. 3. Pay for regular eyesight tests for staff using computers regularly. 4. Provide health and safety training and information to all staff. There are various health problems associated with the regular use of computers. Here are some of the most common problems and what can be done to reduce the risks: Health Problem Cause Solution Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) * Repetitive finger, hand or arm movements. * Poor posture. * Badly designed workstations. * Ensure wrists are straight and elbows are close to your sides when typing. * Ensure posture is correct. * Take regular breaks. Eye strain * Staring at the VDU for long periods. * Poor lighting, glare from the screen, flickering screen. * Use a screen filter to reduce glare and keep your eyes at least 18 inches away from the screen. * Ensure appropriate lighting. * Have regular eyesight tests. * Take regular breaks. Back/Circulation problems * Poor posture. * Sitting all day in front of a computer. * Ensure posture is correct. * Take regular breaks and walk to improve circulation. The use of ICT when Paying Staff WagesStaff at the health centre are paid using a computerised system and their wages are paid straight into their bank account. The benefits to the health centre for having a computerised system: 1. It is quicker and more accurate than calculating wages manually. 2. The added security that wages are paid straight into bank accounts i.e. Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) money is transferred from the health centres account to the individual staff members account. Employees at the health centre are paid weekly. Payroll uses a system called batch processing, this is where all data is stored up and then all processed together. In order to calculate how much each employee should be paid the following inputs, processing and outputs must take place. Inputs Processing Outputs Employee payroll number, name, address, DOB, marital status, N I number, hourly rate/annual salary, pension details, holiday entitlement, days off sick etc * Employee record will be read by the system. * Each employee will be paid by the system. * Each employee record will be updated by the system * The payslip * Money is transferred from the health centre bank account to each employees bank account. * Report for the health centre detailing updates, payment etc Methods of Maintaining Data SecurityData is invaluable to the health centre if they lose their data it is very hard to replace. Loss of data would cripple the health centre in the short term and may even jeopardise its existence as a service. Measures must therefore be in place to ensure data security. Security can be viewed in terms of physical security, access security and data security.Physical Security Equipment can be made more secure by: 1. Keeping a record of all serial numbers on each piece of equipment and mark the health centres name and postcode on all equipment so the police can identify stolen property easily. 2. The health centre could have a security alarm system and surveillance system on the building as well as ensuring that windows and doors are locked after surgery hours to prevent access. 3. The closing of blinds on windows and switching off monitors at night will make the computers less visible. 4. The use of fireproof doors and smoke alarms will help reduce the risk of fire in the building. Access Security Vast amounts of data is lost due to carelessness by employees e.g. not saving work, deleting files by accident, not saving files with sensible file names and therefore are difficult to find etc. Limiting each employees access to the system with help to ensure against the loss of data to the health centres system. 1. Password -this is still the major line of defence. Restrictions can be imposed on length of password and restrictions on the times a user can access the system. 2. Firewall this is a piece of software which sits between the health centres network and the rest of the internet. It will monitor the system for any breaches of security and protect the health centres information and computing resources by allowing only messages conforming to certain protocols (agreed set of rules) to be sent/received. 3. Anti-Virus Programs this software is used to detect viruses and to limit the damage by removing them. Data Security To prevent the loss of patients records etc the health centre needs to ensure that regular back-ups are made of the data on the system using suitable backing storage (also known as secondary storage). Types of Backing Storage Name of Device Advantages Disadvantages Hard Disks * Large storage capacity 20 gigabytes or more. * Faster to access * Any problems with the hard drive may mean all data stored on it will be lost Floppy Disks * Small and portable * Data can be transferred easily between different computers. * Disks can be made read-only which will reduce the chances of data being accidentally overwritten. * Small storage capacity 1.44 megabytes. * Accessing data is slow * Being floppy it is easily damaged Optical Disks e.g. CDs DVDs * Direct access to the data. * Faster to access * CD-Rs only allow data to be written onto them only once The above list is not exhaustive and you should explore other alternatives.Website Design and Hosting There are many reasons why businesses or individuals have a website. In the case of the health centre it has a website to provide information and services to patients e.g. providing advice on minor ailments, surgery hours etc. Some other purposes of having a website: Type of Site Reason Personal * Sharing pictures/stories with friends and family Business * Inform customers of their products/services * Company news, events etc * Recruit staff E-Commerce * Advertising their products/services for sale * Offering home shopping facilities Educational * Offer information on training * On-line encyclopaedias News and Entertainment * Latest world news * Sports information A website is made up of one or more web pages. A web page is created by writing code in a language called HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) which was developed especially to create web pages. There are many web page designs. Most good web pages share some common elements: Web Page Element Its Purpose Banner This is the area at the top of the page and is often the same on all the other pages of the web site. It may contain a company logo, search box etc Menu System This area provides navigation around the site Content Area The main content of the web page is here. It may contain, text, images, sound etc. Footer This area will often contain copyright notices, terms and conditions etc. Navigation (method of moving around the site) is important especially if the site is made up of several web pages. There are 3 main methods to of using navigation: 1. The Hyperlink when you click your mouse on a navigation hyperlink it will take you to another page. This page could be on the same website or a different website (external link). 2. The Menu System the navigation menu gives you a choice of which page you want to view next. A menu is a set of hyperlinks grouped together. There are various menu styles such as a side menu which normally sits on the left hand side of the page. 3. Hotspot this is an area on the web page which when clicked will allow you to jump to another page. It is a way for the designer to make the hyperlink invisible or for them to allow you to click on an image in order to jump somewhere else. When you hover your mouse over a hotspot the cursor changes to a little hand There are a number of ways to create and design a web page: Design Methods Software Advantages Disadvantages Straight from a Microsoft Office application * Word * PowerPoint * Simple, just save as a web page * Can only create a basic page Text Editor * Notepad * Low cost as Notepad is free with windows * You have to know a lot about HTML code * Easy to make a mistake as all the code is written by hand Web Authoring Package * Microsoft Front Page * Macromedias Dreamweaver * It will provide ready made templates * Easy to add/remove pages without breaking the site navigation * Expensive * Takes time to learn In order for other people to see the health centres web site it must be placed on a web server. This is called hosting. A web server is made up of 2 things: * A computer * Running on the computer is a piece of software called web server software. The website is loaded on the servers hard disk, when a request is made to view a web page from the health centres site the server finds it on the hard disk and sends a copy to the computer that has made the request. The WWW is made up of millions of web servers, each connected to the internet. In order to view the health centres website, the requesting computer must be running another piece of software called the web browser. The Use of Systems Flowcharts Flow diagrams are a way to work out the best order to do something. System flowcharts show exactly how the data moves e.g. the health centre could produce a system flowchart to create a new patient record. The main symbols used to develop flowcharts are: Start/End The terminator symbol marks the starting or ending point of the process. It usually contains the word Start or End. Process A box can represent a single step (add two cups of flour), or and entire sub-process (make bread) within a larger process. Decision A decision or branching point. Lines representing different decisions emerge from different points of the diamond. Input/Output Represents material or information entering or leaving the process, such as customer order (input) or a product (output). Flow Line Lines indicate the sequence of steps and the direction of flow. Data storage Indicates a step where data gets stored. For Example Save Orders Delay Indicates a delay in the process. For example Wait 1 day There are benefits and drawbacks to using system flowcharts. Here are some of them: Advantages Disadvantages Flowcharts are good way to communicate the details of a process to all concerned e.g. programmers use them to write commands that will create the computer system. Some processes are so complex that it becomes difficult to represent them clearly in a flowchart. Flowcharts can help people analyse problems, highlight bottlenecks and is a good way to document a process. If an alteration needs to be made to the system, the flowchart usually needs to be redrawn. If it is a complicated flowchart, this can require a lot of work. Flowcharts enable an organisation to have a record of standard business processes. People need to understand what the flowchart means and what the different symbols represent. You cannot give a flowchart to a novice and expect them to understand it. The Use and Analysis of Survey Data The goal in any survey is to collect accurate and complete information. In order for a survey to be effective and provide meaningful data it should be conducted in a uniform manner i.e. all respondents must be asked the same question in the same way. Conducting a face-to-face interview and the completion of a questionnaire are 2 popular ways information is collected. Advantages/Disadvantages of Interviews Advantage Disadvantage Questions are fully completed as respondents can clarify points further with the interviewer. Interviews have to be pre-planned. A time and a place has to be convenient to both individuals. An individual may cancel. Detailed information can be gathered in a variety of formats e.g. written, voice recorded. Interviews can cause a change in behaviour and respondents may feel pressurised into giving an answer they would normally not give. The interviewer can give feedback to the respondent e.g. Thats important to know. This can be used to keep the respondent talking and therefore is likely to give more in-depth answers. Interviews are time consuming, costly and information taken by the interviewer may be too detailed, illegible etc Advantages/Disadvantages of Questionnaires Advantage Disadvantage Can reach a geographically wide spread area. Poor completion and return rate. Many people can be reached in this way quickly and cheaply Points cannot be clarified further and writing may be illegible. Easy to conduct statistical analysis on. If they are simple they have little information. If they are complex they may be difficult to understand. The health centre relies on information being up-to-date and accurate in order to plan or make decisions in the short/long term e.g. depending on the number of patients the health centre has will dictate the number of doctors it has on call. The type of information gathering techniques used will depend on the type of information required: * Quantitative information This is based on numerical facts, figures and statistics e.g. number of patients who are male, sales figures etc. * Qualitative information This provides depth and detailed information. It takes into account views, judgements and opinions etc. The type of questions asked will determine the type of responses given: * Closed ended questions These can usually be answered by a simple yes or no. They are restrictive and can be answered in a few words e.g. does this answer your question? Or can I help you? * Open-ended questions They require a more broad and lengthy answer and are used to gain more information from the respondent e.g. When you say [topic], what do you mean? Or What do you mean by [topic]? Hardware Software that could be used in a Health Centre Hardware Device Function Health Centre Applications Keyboard Input Patient detail input, database, spreadsheets. Mouse Input Most computer users prefer to use this. Scanner Input Scan hand written notes into the system (maybe from previous doctor). Digital camera Input Photo ID held on the system Temperature sensor (thermistor) Input (sensor) Environmental and safety control systems Smoke detector Input (sensor) Environmental and safety control systems Proximity detector Input (sensor) Environmental and safety control systems (doors) VDU Monitor Output Any application requiring Graphic User Interface (GUI) or information display. Receptionist: to up-date appointments Doctor: to view patients history Flat Screen VDU Output As above to save space LCD Display Output As above using laptops or in bright sunlight. Have limited viewing angle. Inkjet printer Output High quality low volume graphic publications and reports. Laser printer Output Volume printing such as welcome letters to new patients, mail shots to advise patients of changes in surgery hours etc. Dot matrix Printer Output Where multi copy output is required e.g. prescriptions. Software Programme Function Theatre Applications Database I/P Process O/P GUI Patient appointment system. Mail shot production. Spreadsheet I/P Process O/P GUI Financial analysis and reporting. Control programme I/P Process O/P GUI Environmental and safety control systems e.g. fire safety system. Word Processor I/P Process O/P GUI General office purposes. Patient letters and mail shots. Control Systems A control system is a system of hardware and software thats used to control the operation of a piece of equipment. Two types of control systems: * Dedicated: these are basic systems that carry out a pre-programmed set of instructions e.g. traffic-light system- lights change at fixed time intervals. * Computer-controlled: these use a computer to control the output device, and this computer can be connected to a sensor e.g. pressure pad sensor for automatic doors. Sensors measure physical qualities in the environment such as heat, light, pressure, sound etc. In order for a computer to control something there must be three things present: 1. A means of getting the information into the computer: An INPUT 2. Instructions for the computer to do something with the input: A PROCESS 3. It then has to be able to alter something in the outside world: An OUTPUT Most computer controlled systems use a feedback loop which is when information from a sensor is used to control the output device. The sensor sends signals back to the computer and the computer decides whether to make any changes based on this information. This happens again and again in the loop system. The flowchart below shows a loop system which represents a system for monitoring light levels outdoors and turning on a lamp when it gets dark (i.e. when the light intensity is less than 50 ona scale). Computer Controlled Systems Advantages Disadvantages Computers can respond instantly to changes. The system is expensive to purchase Systems can be running 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Special software is needed. Computers can process data quickly and machines can operate faster than humans. If something unexpected happens, the system may not be able to think for itself. In the health centre the possible control systems are: A security alarm system which may have an infra-red sensor which sends a signal when the beam is broken. A heat sensitive sensor in the corner of a room which may detect the presence of a person. Temperature sensors which could be used to control the heating in the health centre. Analogue and Digital Signals Digital and analogue are two different types of transmission systems: * An analogue signal can be represented as a series of sine waves. The term describes any fluctuating or continually changing process. An example of an analogue signal would be the data sent along a telephone landline. An analogue sensor can take a range of values e.g. a heat sensor. * A digital signal has only two values On and Off. Data transmitted or stored with digital technology is expressed as a string of 0s and 1s. Each of these digits is referred to as a bit (and a string of bits that a computer can address individually as a group is a byte). An example of a digital signal would be the data sent into a television via a digital cable. An analogue sensor can only be On or Off e.g. pressure pad sensor. Computers cannot deal with analogue signals and therefore requires an analogue to digital converter (ADC).This is used to change the analogue data into digital data to allow the computer to process the information The ADC is connected between the sensor and the computers input/output port. Once the computer has processed the data, the output often has to be converted to an analogue signal and so a DAC (Digital to Analogue Converter) is used. Database Systems used in a Health Centre A database is an organised collection of data which is organised into fields and records. The main benefit to the health centre for having a database is that it allows them to search quickly for specific patient information. Databases can be: * Flat-File All data is stored in one large table which can be viewed by opening one data file. It can be created using a database system or a spreadsheet. It is ideal for small amounts of data that needs to be human readable or edited by hand. With this type of system there is unnecessary duplicating of data which can mean that mistakes are more likely to happen during data input. * Relational Data is split up into sensible groups and then stored in separate tables. In the case of the health centre they could have a table with customer data, a table with appointment data etc. All the data is linked together by key fields and a database management system (DBMS). This means that data does not have to be duplicated. Relational databases also have built in functions which allow retrieval, editing and sorting of data to be much quicker.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Tax Compliance And Smes Economics Essay

Tax Compliance And Smes Economics Essay According to Marti (2010) tax compliance is a complex term to define. Simply put, tax compliance refers to fulfilling all tax obligations as specified by the law freely and completely. It has been found that regulatory burdens fall disproportionately on small and medium enterprises internationally (Pope Abdul-Jabbar, 2008). Their size and nature makes the issue of tax compliance one of particular importance especially since most SMEs have access to limited resources and inadequate expertise to comply with diverse and complicated regulation. He also believes that high compliance costs can result in tax avoidance, tax fraud, and inhibit investment by way of diminishing competitiveness of the country in terms of taxation attractiveness. Tax non-compliance may be in one of many forms; it could either be failure to submit a tax return within the stipulated period or non submission, understatement of income, overstatement of deductions, failure to pay assessed taxes by due date. (Kasipillai Abdul Jabbar, 2006) and in some cases non-compliance may mean an outright failure to pay levied taxes. Studies have shown that the problem of tax evasion is a widespread one (Kasipillai Abdul Jabbar, 2006). Furthermore, Fagbemi, Uadile Noah (2010) found that it is prevalent in developing countries and it hinders development thereby leading to economic stagnation and other socio-economic problems. Chipeta (2002) identified tax rates as one of the causes of tax evasion. He pointed out that a higher tax rate increases taxpayers burden and reduces their disposable income therefore, the probability of evading tax is higher. 2.5 Tax Policy and Level of Voluntary Compliance among SMEs Small taxpayers under the regular system of taxation are discriminated against, since the compliance requirements, cost of compliance and tax rate are the same for both small and large enterprises. Reducing the compliance costs and tax rate increases the small enterprises profit margin. It also increases the Governments tax revenue, since the simplified provisions for small and medium enterprises reduce the size of the informal economy and the number of non-complying registered taxpayers (Vasak, 2008). Furthermore, SMEs usually have to operate in an overbearing regulatory environment with the plethora of regulatory agencies, multiple taxes, cumbersome importation procedure and high port charges that constantly exert serious burden on their operations. An overly complex regulatory system and tax regime or one opaque in its administration and enforcement makes tax compliance unduly burdensome and often have a distortionary effect on the development of SMEs as they are tempted to morph into forms that offer a lower tax burden or no tax burden at all (Masato, 2009), and this results in a tax system that imposes high expenses on the society. A poorly executed tax system also leads to low efficiency, high collection charges, waste of time for taxpayers and the staff, and the low amounts of received taxes and the deviation of optimum allocation of resources (Farzbod, 2000). Existing empirical evidence clearly indicates that small and medium sized businesses are affected disproportionately by these costs: when scaled by sales or assets, the compliance costs of SMEs are higher than for large businesses www.ccsenet.org/ijbm International Journal of Business and Management Vol. 7, No. 12; June 2012 Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education 91 (Weichenrieder, 2007). 2.6 Tax Policy that will Encourage Voluntary Compliance by SMEs SMEs constitute untapped revenue potential and an uneven playing field in many countries (International Tax Dialogue, 2007) as such they need to be captured by the tax net. However, though legislations are necessary regulator for protection of the business environment and security of the economic agents, for establishment of the necessary social security regulations, they may also hamper compliance and the growth of business through additional expenditures and administrative obstacles. Thus Shahroodi, (2010) stated that for a tax system to be efficient, the tax policy needs to be designed such that the tax rates are appropriate and rational, the exemptions are lower in amount, the tax collection organization are more efficient, the tax burden of the indigent people should be lighter and the fight against corruption and tax evasion should be much more intense. Tax policies can be designed in such a way that they do not only directly affect SMEs but also indirectly push for voluntary compliance and their growth. Yaobin (2007), emphasized declared that special tax regimes for SMEs may be appropriate policy instruments for minimizing the cost of collection. Because awareness of the dangers of inadequate taxation of SMEs has grown because of the potential of uneven tax enforcement to cause distortions of competition, voluntary compliance by larger enterprises and by wage earners, (International Tax Dialogue, 2007), government intervention should help maintain balance while ensuring that countries exploit the social benefits from greater competition and entrepreneurship. Pro-business (and Pro-SME) Tax regimes and enforcement should be simple, consistent and predictable should to lower compliance and administrative costs, and hence reduce uncertainty faced by taxpayers as well as improve the levels of voluntary compliance (Kasipillai, 2005). 2.7 Theories of Tax Compliance Various opinions exist about the best ways to improve tax compliance. Given the chance, a lot of businesses will not pay taxes unless there is a motivation to do so. Some believe that the best way is to increase incentives (Feld Frey, 2007) others believe the best way is to increase penalties. Tax compliance theories can be broadly classified into two. They are; economics based theories and psychology based theories. 2.7.1 Economic Based Theories They are also known as deterrence theory and they place emphasis on incentives. The theory suggests that taxpayers are amoral utility maximizers- they are influenced by economic motives such as profit maximization and probability of detection. As such they analyze alternative compliance paths for instance whether or not to evade tax, the likelihood of being detected and the resulting repercussions and then select the alternative that maximises their expected after tax returns after adjusting for risk. This process is referred to as playing the audit lottery by Trivedi and Shehata (2005). Therefore according to the theory, in order to improve compliance, audits and penalties for non-compliance should be increased. 2.7.2 Psychology Theories Psychology theories on the other hand posit that taxpayers are influenced to comply with their tax obligations by psychological factors. They focus on the taxpayers morals and ethics. The theories suggest that a taxpayer may comply even when the probability of detection is low. As opposed to the economic theories that emphasize increased audits and penalties as solutions

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Gbalahi Landfill Effects on the Environment

Gbalahi Landfill Effects on the Environment Beyond Technical Description: the State of the Gbalahi Landfill and its Effects on the Environment. CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.0. Introduction One critical area of governance that has received huge investment in the developing world, especially in African countries in the last decade, is the social sector. However, in Africa, south of the Sahara, investment in the provision of social services is skewed towards health care and education with little going to environmental sanitation. This is in spite of the fact that African governments identified waste as the second most important problem after water quality (Senkoro, 2003) and also, the rapid urbanisation that the region is experiencing. Africa is said to have the highest rates of urbanisation in the world as more people live in urban centres (UN-Habitat, 2006). Although this offers economic opportunities, it also poses daunting environmental challenges in view of the fact that anthropogenic activities and rate of urbanisation are the factors that have been acknowledged to influence waste generation rates; the World Bank (2012) has observed that the higher the economic deve lopment and rate of urbanisation, the greater the amount of waste that is generated. As a consequence, waste in urban cities in Africa have not only increased, but have also resulted in waste management problem that has become intractable and threatens to undermine the efforts of city authorities as well as threatens the environment and public health (Baabereyir, 2009). Recent studies of the waste phenomenon in Africa have shown a litany of waste management issues: poor collection and disposal resulting in waste accumulation and indiscriminate dumping into valleys, streams and rivers, open gutters, et cetera leading to chocked drains, clogged streams and stinking gutters; lack of or poor management of disposal facilities or sites, as a result, they emit serious negative externalities on the physical environment and pose serious public health concerns , especially, for nearby communities; and others that municipal authorities in cities across Africa have to grapple with (Hardoy, Mitlin Satterthwaite, 2001; Kirondi, 1999; Onibokun Kumuyi, 1999; and Pacione, 2005). Against this background, it might seem today that waste management is a debilitating problem in cities in the developing world. On the contrary, studies have shown that waste management is particularly a major challenge that city authorities, the world over, face and many cities in the developed world have faced and may probably be facing still. Pacione (2005) observed that most city governments are confronted by mounting problems regarding the collection and disposal of solid waste. The problems with waste, Pacione (2005) further observed, are centred on the difficulties and high cost of disposal of the large volume generated by households and businesses in high-income countries; and collection, with between one-third and one-half of all solid waste generated remaining uncollected in lower-income countries. Girling (2005) also cited Lord Tycornnel of England in 1741 lamenting the neglect of cleanliness of which, perhaps, no part of the world affords more proof than the streets of Lo ndon, a city famous for wealth, commerce and plenty and for every other kind of civility and politeness; but which abounds with such heaps of filth as a savage would look on with amazement. In sub-Saharan Africa seen as the last global macro-region to experience urbanisation in the twenty first century (Amoah and Kosoe, 2014) the waste management situation seems worse as studies have shown and finds expression in city authorities inability to provide the entire functional elements of waste management: generation, onsite storage, collection, transfer and transport, processing and recovery and disposal of waste. As a consequence, uncontrolled (crude) dumping appears to be officially endorsed and tends to create the perception that safe disposal of waste is beyond the capacity of municipal authorities, Oteng-Ababio (2011). In Ghana, like many developing countries, uncontrolled dumping of waste had been practised until 2004 (Post, 1999) due to lack of modern waste management infrastructure as a result of low investments (Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, 2011). Consequently, the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) lack capacity and modern faci lities for proper wastes management to meet international best practice that reduce the negative impacts of waste on the environment and public health. However, in 2004 Ghana took a huge step toward modern waste management practice by moving from open dumps to engineered sanitary landfills when two of such facilities were opened in Kumasi and Tamale (Oteng-Ababio, 2011). An engineered sanitary landfill is generally considered to be a site designed, constructed and operated to minimise its effects on the environment and public health. For example, the Solid Waste Agency (2014) defined landfill as a carefully engineered and managed structure which acts as a final disposal option for waste. The World Bank (1999) elaborated further by noting that, the commonly accepted, scientific or popular, definitions of sanitary landfilling require the isolation of the wastes from the environment until rendered innocuous through biological, chemical and physical degradation processes in the landfill. Thus a sanitary landfill is different in many respects from any other landfilling method of waste disposal. Primary differences between the landfill designs used are in the completeness of isolation and methods of construction. According to the World Bank (1999) isolation from the environment can range from: no isolation (e.g., open dumping) partial isolation (some planned release to groundwater) containment (low permeability lining within the site and collection and removal of leachate) dry entombment (i.e., long-term storage in dry conditions, rather than disposal) Thus, an engineered sanitary landfill must be managed in accord with this axiom (isolation of the waste from the environment until rendered innocuous through biological, chemical and physical degradation processes in the landfill) to prevent it from posing risk to the environment and health. To achieve this, the World Bank (1999) outlined four basic conditions that should be met by site design and operation for a landfill to be regarded as a better landfill: Full or partial hydrogeological isolation. Preferably, a site should be located in or on low permeability geological strata to inhibit leachate migration off-site into an underlying aquifer. If this is not possible then additional materials should be brought to the site, to reduce the permeability at the base of the site. These will help control leachate movement from the waste into the groundwater and surrounding strata, and, if necessary, allow leachate to be collected for treatment. Formal engineering preparations. A sanitary landfill should be constructed from prepared engineering designs developed from local site geological and hydrogeological investigations. Once constructed, a sanitary landfill has to be operated according to a waste disposal plan leading to a final restoration plan. Permanent control. Sufficient numbers of trained staff should be based at the landfill to supervise and direct all preparation, site construction, and waste emplacement activities, as well as the regular operation, maintenance, and monitoring of gas and leachate control systems. Planned waste emplacement and covering. Waste should be spread in layers and, if necessary, compacted mechanically as part of the emplacement procedure, not dumped over a cliff-like working face. Where practicable the waste should be deposited in only a small working area and covered daily to render it less accessible to pests and vermin. EJnet.org (2003) posited that a secured landfill or an engineered sanitary landfill must have four critical elements to be successful: a bottom liner, a leachate collection system, a cover, and the natural hydrogeologic setting. The natural setting can be selected to minimise the possibility of wastes escaping to groundwater beneath a landfill. The three other elements must be engineered. The Tamale engineered sanitary landfill is located at Gbalahi in the newly created Sagnarigu District but serves both the Tamale Metropolitan and Sagnarigu District Assemblies. The landfill is the only scientific waste receptacle in Tamale (now made up of the Tamale Metropolitan and Sagnarigu District Assemblies). The construction of the Gbalahi landfill has brought a huge sigh of relief to local authorities who hitherto had no place of disposing off their waste in a cost effective and environmentally sound manner. Thus, officialdom basks in this achievement and the landfill is seen as the best solution to the waste management challenges in Tamale. Sadly, however, the project has received negative publicity in the local media due to its management. Management of waste disposal sites seems to be a major drawback to the overall efforts of waste management and it is as challenging as the management of waste through all the other functional elements before final disposal in cities in dev eloping countries, Ghana, and for that matter, Tamale inclusive (Coffie, 2010; Foday, Xiangbin and Quangyen, 2013; Owusu-Sekyere, Kpieta and Abdul- Kadri, 2013; Remigios, 2010; Salam Abul, 2010 Amoah and Kosoe, 2014). Against this background, it would seem reasonable to conclude that among the many problems that confront local authorities in Ghana, management of waste disposal sites is a particularly worrying issue that seems to overwhelm them. In fact, the problem appears intractable leading to waste burden in the cities. Many believe that the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 4, 5, 6 and 7 which concerns child mortality, maternal health, malaria, et cetera and environmental sustainability could not be realised by the end of 2015 in part because poor management of waste since waste disposal affects most of the issues the MDGs addressed. There is therefore an urgent call to find pragmatic measures to ensure effective management of landfill sites in Ghana. These issues invite research attention. 1.2. Statement of the problem The problem under investigation in this research is the worsening state of the Gbalahi engineered sanitary landfill site in Tamale and its effects on the environment. Compared to other waste disposal methods, landfill is the simplest, cheapest and most cost-effective method of disposing of waste (Barrett and Lawler, 1995), and easier to operate. As a result, in most low- to medium-income countries, landfill has become the ideal choice for final waste disposal with almost 100 per cent of generated waste going into landfills (World Health Organisation, 2006). Even in many rich countries, most waste is landfilled; according to the EEA (2003), over 75 per cent of generated waste within the European Union is landfilled. Although landfill seems to naturally be the preferred option for final waste disposal, especially, in low- to medium-income countries, it could be a real threat to public health and the environment if not properly managed. According to Foday, Xiangbin and Quangyen (2013) poor and ineffective management of landfills turn them to sources of environmental and health hazards to people living near it. The management practice at the Gbalahi landfill site leaves much to be desired and below best practice of engineered sanitary landfill where the object is to isolate the waste from the environment until it is rendered innocuous through biological, chemical and physical processes of nature (UNEP, 2005). As a result, the landfill site is saddled with a litany of challenges including ease of access by any and everybody, non-functional scale house (a component for determining the amount of waste that the landfill receives, et cetera), fires, haphazard placement of waste especially during the rai ning season, irregular compaction of placed waste, non-coverage of placed waste, chocked or silted inspection chambers, scavenging or waste picking even in the working face, et cetera (Figure 1.1). Figure 1.1: Aspects of the poor management of Gbalahi Landfill in Tamale Burning and Waste Picking at Gbalahi Landfill in Tamale Source: Field Work, 2015 As a consequence there increased leachate production, especially during the raining season; smoke pollution; breeding of vermin; and is it impossible to know how much waste the landfill has received so far and how much more it can receive; et cetera and many believe the landfill is gradually turning into nothing more than a dump. The effects of this poor or the lack of management of the landfill site is unsightly facility, flies, odour; et cetera. These are becoming apparent as in recent times communities living proximal to and downstream the landfill site have been agitating and threatening to forcefully close it down due to what they say pollution, thus bringing into sharp focus the concepts of NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) and LULU (location of unwanted land use). Conditions at the site are increasingly becoming inimical to the ecosystem within its immediate surroundings as well as health risks to households living proximal. This situation calls for a scientific study to ascertain the state of the facility and the effects it is having on the environment. Unfortunately, this has not been done yet which leaves people to conjecture and policy makers with no scientific information for decision making. This study is therefore focused on analysing and gaining insights into the state of the landfill and how the operations are affecting the environment. This will provide information on the blind spots of policy makers and stakeholders, what works well and what can be done in managing the facility and also contribute to the growing mass of knowledge regarding landfill sites management. 1.3. Research Questions To achieve the goal of the study, the research was designed to answer the following questions: What is the state of the Gbalahi engineered sanitary landfill? How is the Gbalahi engineered sanitary landfill affecting the environment? What factors militate against proper management of the Gbalahi engineered sanitary landfill? In what ways can the management of the Gbalahi engineered sanitary landfill be improved upon? 1.4. Purpose and objectives of the study The purpose of this study was to examine the state of the Gbalahi engineered sanitary landfill in Tamale and how it is affecting the environment, with the aim of enhancing understanding of the problem and the key issues affecting the management of the landfill, and also to identify possible solutions to the problem. Pursuant to this, the specific objectives that guided the study were: To examine the state of the Gbalahi engineered sanitary landfill To assess the effects of the Gbalahi engineered sanitary landfill on the environment To identify the factors that militate against proper management of the Gbalahi engineered sanitary landfill To identify ways to improve upon the management of the Gbalahi engineered sanitary landfill 1.5. Scope of the Research Geographically, the study took place at the Gbalahi engineered sanitary landfill site located northeast of the city of Tamale, about 5 km from the city centre. Tamale is made up of the Tamale Metropolitan and the Sagnarigu District Assemblies. Tamale has a total population of 366,262, urban population of 274,022 and 58,855 households (GSS, 2012). The Gbalahi sanitary landfill site is located within the Sagnarigu District but serves both the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TaMA) and the Sagnarigu District Assembly. Tamale is located between 0Â °45ÂÂ ¹ W and 0Â °55ÂÂ ¹ W and latitude 9Â °20ÂÂ ¹ N and 9Â °30ÂÂ ¹ N. The Gbalahi sanitary landfill site consists of a solid waste receiving facility and a liquid waste treatment facility. The solid waste dumping facility is a sanitary landfill. The landfill has a total area of ha, divided into two phases or cells: one cell is full and inactive but uncapped while the other is in operation. The facility receives approximate ly ..0 t of solid waste per day. The landfill began receiving waste in .. 2004 and it is estimated to receive a total of 0 t of solid waste by the time it is capped. The liquid waste treatment plant consists of three ponds made up of two 1216 m2 and 1216 m2 primary and secondary facultative ponds respectively and two 2432 m2 anaerobic ponds arranged in series and are connected to a common 4464 m2 aerobic pond. The system is designed to allow the units to operate in rotation. Liquid waste, including leachate from the landfill is discharged into the anaerobic pond; the connections of the ponds make it possible for the discharged liquid waste to be opened into the primary facultative pond. When the water level in the primary facultative pond is high enough, it is opened into the secondary facultative pond through a connecting valve. By the same token, the water in the secondary facultative pond is opened through a valve into the aerobic pond when the level is high. Through this natural process, as the water moves from pond to pond through the controlled valves, it becomes cleaner. The study was limited to the site because there is a growing concern about its management which many believe is below best practice of sanitary landfill thereby turning it into an environmental and health threat. Also, the proper management of the facility has a bearing on waste management in Tamale as it is the only final disposal site in the area. The context of the study is on the management practices at the landfill site and how that is affecting the environment. This is because the main differentiating element between a dump and an engineered sanitary landfill besides the engineering works in construction is the management practices. Figures 1.1-1.5 below show the map of Ghana, Tamale, the landfill site, solid waste facility, liquid waste treatment plant and sampling locations. 1.6. Relevance and Justification for the Study Since the dawn of civilisation and throughout history, humans have evolved means by which generated waste is disposed; pursuance to this, landfill has been and continuous to be the most popular option for waste disposal across the globe, Ghana and for that matter Tamale inclusive. In recent years and with the advancement in technology, landfill technology (in engineered sanitary landfill) has made it possible for waste to be isolated from the environment until it is rendered innocuous through biological, chemical and physical processes of nature before it is discharged into the environment. To this end, an engineered sanitary landfill must be managed in accord with recommended standards of sanitary practice. This is because, the consequences if overlooked are incalculable: disease outbreak and infections, reduction in the ambient quality of the environment, loss of human resources et cetera. The management operations at the Gbalahi engineered sanitary landfill in Tamale seems to fall below recommended best practice. This situation of the facility calls for scientific study to ascertain the impact of the landfill on the environment; unfortunately, the only attempt of a study of the site is a PhD thesis proposal on the topic: Overcoming the Barriers and Challenges to the Development of Domestic Sewage Fish Culture by Abdul-Rahaman submitted to the Department of Fisheries and Watershed Management, College of Renewable Natural Resources, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Apart from this, other studies such as Puopiels (2010) work: Solid Waste Management in Ghana: The Case of Tamale Metropolitan Area; Songsore and McGranahans (1996) study Women and Household Environmental Care in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area; Aryee and Crooks (2003) work: Toilet Wars: Urban Sanitation Services and the Politics of Public-Private Participation in Ghana and Devas and Korboes (2000) work on City Governance and Poverty in Kumasi have investigated issues related t o the urban waste problem in Ghana. These studies are but a few of the studies that have examined a wide range of environmental issues in Ghana; none of them has investigated the issue of engineered sanitary landfill site management to provide adequate understanding of the problem even though it remains a major component in achieving the overall goal of modern waste management. This situation creates a knowledge gap and makes it difficult to find solutions to the worsening state of the Gbalahi engineered sanitary landfill. To this end, this study will help to know the impact that the operations of the facility is having on the environment and further the understanding of the management problem of the landfill as well as provide a useful starting point for addressing the challenges. The research will also contribute to both the theory and practice of engineered sanitary landfill management. 1.7. Organisation of the Study This research has been organised into five chapters. Chapter one has provided a systematic introduction to the research study, statement of the problem, research questions, purpose and objectives of the study, scope of the research; relevance and justification for the study and organisation of the study. Chapter two reviews related literature and discussed landfill management operations and challenges in developing countries as well as examined the concepts of integrated waste management and sustainable waste management as conceptual frameworks and how they relate to waste management. Chapter three talked about the methods by which the data or information for the study was collected. Chapter four analysed and discussed the findings of the research and Chapter five concluded the study by presenting a summary of the key findings upon which lessons are drawn.

Monday, August 19, 2019

Language In My Home :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  People say that parents are teachers of good and bad English. People also judge people on how they speak, whether the language is incorrect or just simply inappropriate. I think I had the best of both worlds with my parents.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  First of all, my mother is very articulate and has a very large vocabulary. Ever since I can remember she was correcting me on how I spoke and how I wrote. I always would get so mad at her for doing that, but I realize now that my vocabulary and English skills are better than that of many people I associate with. I feel much more confident with my writing and speeches because of my mother’s influence on my grammar. I know I can speak publicly and people will take me seriously and understand what I have to say because of my background in â€Å"good† English.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Secondly, my father is from Jersey City and never graduated college so his way of speaking is different than my mother’s. He speaks more of the vernacular he grew up with and he isn’t worried about what people think when he talks. He says he is more interested in getting his point across than worrying about whether or not people think he is brilliant. My father taught me that in situations of everyday life, you do not have to be articulate all the time. He teaches me everyday that speaking in my own way makes me who I am. He is not instilling upon me to talk â€Å"bad† but different situations call for different languages.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I do feel that my parents encourage me to use correct English whenever I can. They know that with my future plans in life, correct English usage is imperative. They also understand that sometimes I am just going to speak however I want in order to get my point across. I have noticed that even when I have conversations with friends, we all seem to sound so much more intelligent because we are finally using everything we have always been taught to use when speaking. Because of everything I have learned from my parents, I do feel adequately trained in English. I know, depending on my surroundings, how I am suppose to talk and I feel that if I am just hanging outside my house with my friends or giving a presentation to the CEO of a major corporation I can do it.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Racism In America Essay -- Race Racism

Racism In America Racism (n): the prejudice that members of one race are intrinsically superior to members of other race (Wordnet search, 1), a controversial topic in today’s society, a subject that many people try to sweep under the rug, but yet a detrimental problem that has been present in America since the colonial era. Will this dilemma come to a halt? Can all Americans see each other as equals despite their skin color and nationality; and what role has it played in past generations versus today’s generations and how will it affect our future? Has this on going way of thinking gotten better or worse? These are questions raised when many think about the subject; especially members of American ethnic groups and backgrounds, because most have dealt with racial discrimination in their life time. Since the beginning of colonization, America has been controlled by religiously and ethically diverse whites. The most profound cases of racism in the â€Å"United† States of America have been felt by Native Americans, Asians, African Americans, Mexican Americans, and Muslims. Major racially structured institutions include; slavery, settlement, Indian reservations, segregation, residential schools, and internment camps (Racism in the U.S., 1). Racism has been felt and seen by many in housing, the educational system, places of employment, and the government. Discrimination was largely criminalized in the mid 20th century, and at the same time became socially unacceptable and morally repugnant (Racism in the U.S., 1). Although racism was beginning to be looked down upon, and considered immoral ways of thinking, the ine... ...ericans. 06 Apr. 2008 . Finkleman, Paul. "Segregation in the United States." MSN Encarta. 06 Apr. 2008 . Kolchin, Peter. "Slavery in the United States." MSN Encarta. 2007. Henry Clay Reed Professor of History, University of Delaware. Author of American Slavery: 1619-1877 and Unfree Labor: American Slavery and Russian Serfdom. 03 Apr. 2008 . "Racism in the United States." Wikipedia. 19 Apr. 2008. 06 Apr. 2008 . "The Civil Rights Movenent." CNN. 1997. 06 Apr. 2008 . "Wordnet Search." Wordnet. 03 Apr. 2008 .

Whose Shoes Would You Choose? A Comparison of Shakespeare and John Mayer :: Free Essays Online

Whose Shoes Would You Choose? A Comparison of Shakespeare and John Mayer â€Å"My love is strengthen'd though more weak in seeming; I love not less, though less the show appear;† 1. These first two lines of Shakespeare's sonnet #102 deal with an aspect of love he does not usually touch on: relationships, or more specifically, the idea of a serious, committed relationship. The relationship he speaks of isn't a blossoming romance, but a relationship that has reached the sometimes dreaded â€Å"comfort zone.† A very similar idea is approached in John Mayer's â€Å"Comfortable†, in which the singer longs for the comfort of a past love. In these pieces, the two respective writers discuss the advantages to a relationship in this stage, and how sometimes it's better than a newer love. Why wouldn't these writers prefer those newer stage of love, when everything is bright and perfect and new? In the newer stages, serious conflicts have not arisen and a person's flaws and quirks haven't really had a chance to surface yet, so wouldn't you tend to like the person more? Maybe not. 2. This idea could perhaps be compared to buying shoes. There's a certain level of excitement with buying new shoes. They're all shiny and clean, and it's a thrill every time you put them on. You can't wait to show them off, to wear them with everything. They become your favorites. And then, after a few months of wearing them, they get more broken in, and while you may not be so quick to show them off, and they may be a little dirtier and less shiny, they're even more special to you, because these shoes have been places with you and have withstood many miles of walking, jumping, running, whatever. They make your feet feel good, and that makes you feel good, and so months later, you're even more thrilled at your good fortune of finding this outstanding pair of shoes. The same is true for the relationships described in these two pieces. Shakespeare describes a love that has â€Å"grown ripe like the summer.† In the beginning, he and his lover were quick to show off their love f or each other, and revel in the newness of everything. This is common in new loves; the two involved spend every possible minute together, and are constantly singing the praises of each other to other people.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Corporate Strategy

MGMT611: Strategy Natalya Vinokurova Corporate Strategy Session 15 1 Corporate Scope Corporate center Division A in industry a Division B in industry b Division C in industry c Division D in industry d – The average U. S. Fortune 500 company operates in four different industries – Diversification is even more prominent in other parts of the world †¢ Grupos, chaebol, business houses, keiretsu, and so on – Poor corporate strategy is common â€Å"Excite, one of the leading Internet services companies, yesterday [received a] takeover offer from Zapata, a Texas-based group with holdings in marine protein and food packaging companies.Citing the â€Å"excellent fit with Zapata’s new strategic direction,† Avram Glazer, Zapata’s chief executive officer, said the proposed transaction â€Å"makes sense for Excite’s shareholders because of the capital resources that Zapata can bring to Excite. † Financial Times, May 22, 1998 2 What di versified corporation did this become? 3 Decomposition of Variance in Profitability: Evidence from the United States Year 2% Industry 18% Corporate parent 4% Transient 46% †¢ In the U. S. corporate strategy is typically the icing on the cake, not the cake itself – Business units must be competitive on their own merits – †¦in attractive industries †¢ But the icing can make the decisive difference between a good cake and a bad one Business segment 30% Note: Ignores covariance terms; based on 58,132 observations of 12,296 business segments in 628 industries in the United States Source: Anita M. McGahan and Michael E. Porter, â€Å"How Much Does Industry Matter Really? † Strategic Management Journal, 1997 4Decomposition of Variance in Profitability: Evidence from 14 Emerging Economies †¢ In much of the rest of the world, corporate strategy is more prominent †¢ Membership in a diversified entity has a larger effect on profitability †¢ Th e effect on profitability is more likely to be positive Source: Tarun Khanna and Jan W. Rivkin, â€Å"Estimating the Performance Effects of Business Groups in Emerging Markets,† Strategic Management Journal, 2000 Countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, India, Indonesia, Israel, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Turkey Litmus Test of Corporate Strategy †¢ Is the combination of all businesses of the firm worth more than the sum of how much each business is worth individually? – The answer could be less, e. g. J. C. Penney telemarketing division was worth 3X the market value of the entire firm †¢ When deciding whether or not to acquire another business, you need to decide BOTH – whether you have a competitive advantage running that business – AND how it will contribute to the fit among the other 6 businesses you are runningAcrobat Document 7 The Walt Disney Company: Stock Price vs. S&P 500, 1984-1994 8 The Walt Disney Company: Stock Price vs. S&P 500, 1995-2005 9 Two big problems 1. Growth at all costs: †¢ This is an example of what happens when a solid corporate strategy meets an aggressive growth goal 2. Mismatch between strategy and organizational structure: †¢ You can have a corporation with businesses that are closely connected like the classic Disney businesses and then run the businesses together in a tightly integrated way.That can work. †¢ You can have a corporation with the broader scope of later Disney and run them in a loosely coupled way. That can work. †¢ But if you have a corporation with the broader scope of later Disney and run them like the classic Disney, with heavy-handed management from the top, searching for synergy that doesn’t really exist†¦then you get into trouble. – In 2005, ABC President Robert Iger replaces Eisner 10 The Walt Disney Company: Stock Price vs. S&P 500, 2005-2012 11 The Walt Disney Company: Take-aways Co re lessons of corporate-level strategy †¢ Competition occurs at the level of the business unit †¢ Corporate strategy is a success or failure to the extent that it enhances business unit competitive advantage – Is the relative gap between WTP and cost larger than it would be otherwise? †¢ Two tests: – Better-off: Does the presence of the corporation in a given market improve the total competitive advantage of business units over and above what they could achieve on their own? (What’s the added value of the corporation? – Ownership: Does ownership of the business unit produce a greater competitive advantage than an alternative arrangement would produce? †¢ A corporation is more likely to pass the tests when it has some shared resource that (a) creates competitive advantage for the business units and (b) is difficult to trade efficiently via the market – E. g. , access to animated characters – Making business units â€Å"be tter off† sounds easy, but it typically requires sophisticated structures, systems, and processes, plus cultural supports 12 Corporate strategy entails trade-offsEither focus on†¦ or focus on†¦ Guidance on the Projects Overall Grading †¢ The project must cover all three components of the class – Human and Social Capital – Strategy – Multinational Management Components of Grade (NOT equally weighted) †¢ Use of frameworks (most important issue) †¢ Quality of research †¢ Innovativeness/Insight of analysis †¢ Integration of different components of class †¢ Quality of communication 14 †¢ ? of grade will be based on presentation; ? on final project write up †¢ We will also use a peer assessment to adjust the grade for effort put in by each team memberA Word on Plagiarism †¢ Any text (more than 2 consecutive words) taken from another source must be – In inverted commas – Clearly identified with the source †¢ It is NOT sufficient to simply note that you used a source. You must identify which text came from it. †¢ Failure to identify the source of your work is a serious breach of academic ethics and will be treated accordingly †¢ If in doubt, ask Professor or TAs for guidance †¢ (It is generally not a good idea to reproduce whole sentences or paragraphs from other sources without a very good reason anyway) 5 Next Class: Firm Scope and Strategy †¢ – – – – Case: Monitor’s Opportunities in India (A), 9708-482 What are the benefits and costs to Monitor of moving each of its back-office functions to India? In light of those benefits and costs, what would you recommend to Mark Fuller, Monitor’s CEO, about the location of each function? Should Monitor tap into the Indian pool of talent somehow, perhaps by conducting business research there? If so: Should it conduct research only for Monitor case teams or sell its re search services directly to external clients? 16