Risk And Security Security Risks And Protection - 726 Words

Security risks and protection Security Risks Hacking: Hacking is where unauthorised user’s try to exploit the weaknesses that your computer may have and in the internet software. A hacker can either alter and then break down the links on the website or add additional files and viruses to the webpages. By altering and breaking down the links on the website, the users won’t be able to access certain parts of the website. Also by adding additional files and viruses, this means that it will take longer for users to download the files that are on the webpages. Viruses: A virus is a piece of malicious code that copies itself into another program, computer boot sector or document which changes the way the computer works. A virus can be spread†¦show more content†¦Distributed denial of service (DDOS): A DDOS attack is when computer systems attack thing like the server, website or other network resource. The incoming messages/connection requested/ malformed packets then flood the systems making it slow down, crash or shutdown. Security protection Firewalls: A firewall is a security network that can be either hardware or software or a combination of both. A firewall protects your personal information and computer by acting as a barrier so that viruses or unauthorized internet users from accessing your information. In relation to the website performance, a firewall is used to protect the website and your computer from users that are not authorised to access it and to stop hacker from manipulating the websites code. It also will prevent your website from being infected with viruses or bugs which will make the website take longer to load. Secure socket layers (SSL): Secure socket layers is a network protocol that is used to securely connect network application clients to the server using an insecure network over the internet or internal network. An example of this is connecting a web browser to a web server. This makes the web address HTTP to HTTPS which is more secure. In relation to the website performance, SSL can slow down the time it take to load the webpage. The reason for this is before the website is loaded the client need toShow MoreRelatedHuffman Trucking Benefits Election System Risks1200 Words   |  5 PagesHuffman Trucking: Benefits Election System Security Lisa M. Gardner CMGT442: Information Systems Risk Management March 19, 2012 Craig McCormick Huffman Trucking: Benefits Election System Huffman Trucking Company has requested a new Benefits Election System to be implemented within the organization. The current benefit packages include medical, dental, and vision plans for employees. For the BenefitRead MoreIs20071634 Words   |  7 PagesISO27001security.com Version 1 28th November 2007 0 INTRODUCTION 0.1 WHAT IS INFORMATION SECURITY? 0.2 WHY INFORMATION SECURITY IS NEEDED? 0.3 HOW TO ESTABLISH SECURITY REQUIREMENTS 0.4 ASSESSING SECURITY RISKS 0.5 SELECTING CONTROLS 0.6 INFORMATION SECURITY STARTING POINT Information security is defined as the preservation of confidentiality, integrity and availability of information †¦ Information security is defined as the preservation of confidentiality, integrity and availability of informationRead MoreSystem Security Controls : Table 1 System Compliance Essay1045 Words   |  5 PagesSystem Security Controls Table 1 System Compliance NIST 800-53 Control Family Number Met / % Number Partially Met / % Number Not Met / % Number N/A / % Control of system and Information Access (AC) Training Awareness (AT) Audit Accountability (AU) Assessments of Security, Certification Accreditation (CA) Management of System Configurations (CM) Contingency Planning (CP) User Identification and Authentication (IA) Incident ResponseRead MoreSecurity Standards And Security Safety Standards812 Words   |  4 PagesGovernment Security Standards The government and organizations are to comply with security laws and regulations in order to fully operate and maintain protection of information systems. 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Consider security aspects means a) know the danger, b) classify and c) protected from impacts or damage in the best way possible. This means that only when we are aware of potential threats, aggressors and their harmful intentions (direct or indirect) against us, we can take appropriate protective measures so that it is not lost or damaged

Assumptions About Proper Behavior - 989 Words

The Iliad is a heroic epic poem, which depicts the events of the Trojan war. As discussed in class it was written by Homer, a significant ancient Greek poet sometime in the 8th century BC. The story appears to take place in the 13th century BC, yet mirrors the standard of living of the Dark Age (Early Iron Age).1 There are assumptions made in Book 9 of The Essential Iliad about proper human behavior, specifically about proper behavior during time of war; pertaining to warriors. It was assumed that warriors would conduct themselves in a particular manner, according to what was proper. Assumptions about proper behavior were made about the following: glory, honor, gifts, friends, the gods, women, and the public. Obtaining glory during war†¦show more content†¦After deciding to set sail he declares he we â€Å"will sacrifice to Zeus and all the gods.† 14 Though Achilles does not always conform and do as expected, when it comes to the gods he too does as is proper. The role of a women was different, from a warrior; they had their own place during war. As explained on page 61 line 350, a women was to be loved and cared for. A warrior was expected to love their women regardless of how he obtained her, and Achilles does so. The problem was that the women Achilles references is the women Agamemnon stole from him, in doing so he afflicted Achilles glory and honor which is why he offers the gifts. Agamemnon realizes the importance of Briseis and was willing to return her, swearing he never laid with her; he even offered several other women one of which was his daughter.15 Women were the reason men went to war, what the men fought to protect. A warrior was not to discount the public, their opinion mattered. To add insult to injury Agamemnon did not just take possession of Briseis, he â€Å"treated [him] like dirt in public.16 The opinion of the public should matter, how the see a warrior makes a difference; since they are the ones who are to honor them. 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Essentially, the model explainsRead MoreLack Of Employee Motivation Due Improper Leadership1137 Words   |  5 Pageshis textbook titled â€Å"Managing Behavior in Organizations† states that Theory X managers, assumed that people were basically lazy and irresponsible, and they treated workers with disrespect (Greenberg, 2013 p. 8). Many of the managers at the Dorado Beach resort, do treat the employees in this form and it is by assumption not by seeing whether they employees are lazy and irresponsible. However, even if the employees were to be indolent and irresponsible it is not proper to treat any employee nor anyRead MoreEssay On Katherine Kolcabas Theory Of Comfort1191 Words   |  5 Pagesthe 20th century. This implies that comfort was considered a priority by nurses. Literature sources in the early 1900s stressed on the role of a caregiver in making sure that a patient is provided with physical and emotional comfort in addition to proper adjustment to physical environment. A modern inquiry of comfort commenced in the 1980s with the key objective of establishing the meanings of comfort. It was conceptualized that the term â€Å"comfort† is multidimensional, in that, it relates to the spiritualRead MoreAssumption of Douglas Mc Gregor Theory X and Theory Y1204 Words   |  5 Pagespresident of Antioch College from 1948-1954, criticized both the classical and human relations schools as inadequate for the realities of the workplace. He believed that the assumptions underlying both schools represented a negative view of human nature and that another approach to management based on an entirely different set of assumptions was needed. McGregor laid out his ideas in his classic 1957 article The Human Side of Enterprise and the 1960 book of the same name, in which he intr oduced what came

Arranged vs Love Marriages in India Free Essays

Arrange Marriages vs. Love Marriages Survey by NDTV NDTV commissioned Ipsos, a leading market research agency, to conduct fieldwork for this opinion poll from a sample size of almost 30,000, covering as many as 125 out of the 543 Lok Sabha seats in the 18 big states. The poll was carried out in 125 constituencies spread over 18 states (these account for over 20% of the 543 Lok Sabha seats). We will write a custom essay sample on Arranged vs Love Marriages in India or any similar topic only for you Order Now Each Lok Sabha constituency was selected using a statistical formula based on voting patterns of 2009 Lok Sabha Elections. In each Lok Sabha constituency, two to three assembly segments were selected at random where approximately 100 interviews were conducted in homes. For the voting intention question, the respondents were given a mock ballot paper on which the symbols of the parties were set out. They were asked to mark their preference on the ballot paper and then place the ballot paper in a mock ballot box. Source: http://www. ndtv. com/article/india/ndtv-mid-term-poll-does-india-still-want-arranged-marriages-260295 Survey by Shaadi. com In May, 2011, India’s largest Matrimonial website, â€Å"Shaadi. om†, published the results of a huge marriage based survey that they conducted with research agency IMRB. The Indian marriage survey was based on the opinions of around 150,000 users of the site in 300 Indian cities and towns. Site users, especially NRIs, from UK, US, Australia and Canada were also surveyed. 62% of the respondents were male, of these, over 50% were in the 26-35 age group. In the words of the website, the objective of this large survey was to â€Å"try and understand the psyche of an average marriage hopeful and the way matchmaking trends are changing and evolving†. Listed below are some of the key findings of the Indian marriage survey (â€Å"Shaadi Aaj Kal†). Note that since this is a survey of internet users, the respondents tend to be more tech savvy, better educated, and more urban centric than the average Indian. 1. A large number of women (54%) prefer to stay in a â€Å"joint family† after marriage as against only â€Å"21%† who prefer to stay in a nuclear family. A joint family provides a support system for the married couple. Surprisingly, in a similar survey in 2004, only 40% of the women wanted to stay in a â€Å"joint family†. 2. Almost 50% of the respondents said that they would marry their partner even if they did not get along with their future in-laws. 3. 85% of the male respondents wanted their future wives to work after marriage. Since the respondents are mainly urban centric, this is not surprising; although a high figure of 85% is refreshing. 4. 69% of the women want their partner to be better educated than them, whereas only 10% of the men wanted their potential wives to be better educated than them. This does not mean the Indian male is entirely chauvinistic; 62% of the men would prefer their future wives to be as educated as them. 3% of women and 40% of men would prefer their future partner to be a postgraduate. 5. 34% of the women respondent did not mind marrying a partner who made less than them. The percentage for men was 94%. 6. 72% men prefer to marry a girl who is younger than them. 89% of women prefer to marry a man who is older than her. 7. Men (62%) prefer larger families as compared to wo men (38%). 70% of the women felt that raising a child is time consuming and 58% also thought that raising a child is a serious commitment. 8. Which celebrity would make the ideal father? Surprisingly, almost 40% of the respondents felt that Salman Khan, the die-hard bachelor, would make the ideal father. At second place is the other bachelor icon, Rahul Gandhi. 9. 47% married couples in India discussed their past relationship before marriage. This trend was more prevalent in East India. Bulk of these couples (66%) wanted to reveal their past relationships because they did not want it to affect their future 10. 49% of the men wanted a â€Å"fair complexioned† bride. This is up from 41% in the 2004 survey. Women, on the other hand, are more accepting of dark skinned men, with 65% saying that the color of their husband’s skin is not important. 11. For young urban Indians caste is not as important as it used to be. 54% men and 46% of the women said caste was not an important parameter in their selection criteria. for them, finding a compatible partner is more important than finding a partner from the same caste. 12. 69% of women would prefer it if their partner worked for a private sector organization. 13. A large majority of women (90%) were willing to relocate to another country if their husband’s job required them o relocate. 14. Couples are become pragmatic about marriage. 70% of the women and 62% of the men were comfortable with the idea of pre-nuptial agreements. Census data for Indian Marriages: http://censusindia. gov. in/Census_Data_2001/Census_data_finder/C_Series/Age_at_marriage. htm Survey by ZEE NEWS The survey of women in the age group of 20-30 carried out in various cities, including the four metros, by leading matrimony portal Bharatmatrimony, also revealed that 59% of the respondents consider parent’s decision the most important priority in finalising marriage. Only 20% of the respondents felt that profession was the most important aspect in finalising their life partner while ten% said caste was the most important priority and 11% said family nuclear or joint family – was the most preferred. About 49% preferred arranged marriage while 33 per cent ‘arranged love marriage’ and a meagre 18% of the respondents favoured ‘love’ marriage. The survey titled â€Å"Woman and Marriage† was conducted by ahead of the Women’s Day and 1,058 respondents were covered in Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Pune, Madurai, Mysore, Tiruchirappalli, Coimbatore and Jaipur, a release said here today. On the right age for a woman to get married, about 71 per cent said 21-24 was the ideal age for marriage. Interestingly, the survey said that about 93% of women were interested to study or work after marriage. The survey also said that about 55% women prefer to search life partners through contacts via friends and relatives. Source: http://mm. bharatmatrimony. com/featured-story/527-bharatmatrimony-exclusive-parents-day-survey Survey by Bharat Matrinomy Young Indians believe their parents wouldn’t mind taking a backseat when it comes to their marriage decisions! 66% of Indian parents believe that their children will not tie the knot with a partner not ‘blessed’ by them.  ·83% believe that online matrimony gives them more choices and selection in partner search.  ·Amitabh Bachchan Jaya Bachchan were the most famous Bollywood couple in India, followed by Kajol Ajay Devgan. The winds of change are indeed sweeping the institution of matrimony in India. Parents a s well as unmarried men and women are being influenced by these changes, a comprehensive Parents Day online survey involving more than 15400 members of BharatMatrimony has revealed. The findings of the survey conducted by BharatMatrimony to commemorate Parents Day on July 24th this year and released to the media today offered interesting insights, trends and rare nuggets of information about how the youth regard marriages and the role of parents with respect to important marital decisions. When asked whether the views of Indian parents are changing today, 67% of the unmarried respondents said yes and only 13% disagreed while the remaining said neither yes nor no. Yet another change in attitudes was the growing trust in online matrimony. Nearly 83% believed that online matrimony gave them more choices and selection when it came to partner search. Nearly 67% also believed that online matrimony empowered women to make their own choices in marriages. In fact, 47% also felt that marriages arranged through matrimony websites had the same success rate as traditional arranged marriages. Mr Murugavel Janakiraman, Founder-CEO, BharatMatrimony, commented: â€Å"While the surveys have revealed useful nuggets of information and insights into marriages and its changing facets, people in India continue to see marriage as a sacred bonding where parents have a very special role to play. It is best performed with the blessings of parents, an overwhelming majority feel. However, the survey also proved that more and more unmarried people along with their parents believed in the convenience and wide selection of partners provided by Online matrimony. The new ways of thinking have not diluted the traditional respect and sanctity accorded to marriages in general. † Confirming the special bonding Indians have with their parents, an overwhelming 90% of the unmarried who took part in the survey believed in getting married with the blessings of their parents. About 57% also said that they would not go ahead and marry a person of their choice against the wishes of their parents. 20% however said that they would go ahead despite parental opposition. Nearly 35% said that their parents would be ok with any choice they made; 40% said that their parents would be ok if it was within their religion; only 17 % said that their parents would insist on finding a match for them. Interestingly, 59% thought that a marriage arranged by the parents was better because of their experience. Nearly 76% of the parents who took part in the survey believed that their children would get married only with their blessings. 66% of the parents felt that marriages arranged by them would prove more successful as they had more experience! Again, a similar percentage of parents believed that their children would not disregard their advice and tie the knot with someone they didn’t approve of. About 16% of the parents believed that they wouldn’t be able to influence marriage decisions! When asked, ‘what do you think are your views on marriage? 20% of the parents said that they would be ok with any choice made by their children; 23 per cent were also ok with the idea if the partner belonged to the same religion. However 23% insisted that important decisions like this were better left to them. 33% preferred to play a supporting role only, whatever be the decision. At the same time, 76% of the parents who took part in the survey believed that in general the views of I ndian parents on marriages of their children were changing. Source: http://mm. bharatmatrimony. com/featured-story/527-bharatmatrimony-exclusive-parents-day-survey How to cite Arranged vs Love Marriages in India, Essay examples

Outsourcing Strategies for Small Businesses MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Outsourcing Strategies for Small Businesses. Answer: Introduction: Business outsourcing is whereby a business enterprise decides to use a third party to carry out its business operations which would be carried out in the business environment. Usually, many businesses outsource because they want to reduce their costs of production by reducing the costs incurred when conducting operations that do not play a great role in keeping it market or maintaining its market position. Additionally, the outsourcing decision is made according to the size of the business as well as the resources available for the business to use in its production (Sonfield, 2014). Therefore, the business has to decide what benefits it is likely going to receive from the outsourcing. Apart from saving costs or money, some businesses also have the objective of saving time and resources that are available for use. Generally, outsourcing is an activity that is carried out by most of the information technology businesses or the other industries that often use information technology to c onduct their business operations. Despite the fact that it is very beneficial for businesses to outsource, the activity still carries some challenges and disadvantages that come in handy. Therefore, this research is definitely going to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of business outsourcing. There are different types of outsourcing processes which are: the back office outsourcing and the front office outsourcing. The back office outsourcing gives the business an opportunity to control and manage tasks like information or data entering, processing of the customer payments, conducting surveys, accounting support to name a few of them (Awino et al, 2014). Therefore, it generally involves carrying out of activities such as billing, purchasing and business operations management. The front office activities include carrying out customer responses e.g. through the phone, emailing, text messaging, fax, social media responses among other types of communication methods. Therefore, it basically deals with the services that regard customers interactions and customer relations; e.g. marketing and technical support aspects. Reasons for Business Outsourcing Just as mentioned earlier, different businesses decide to outsource because of certain various reasons. Some of the most common reasons for outsourcing include the following: Desire to save production costs through any means possible, especially in regard with overhead and labor costs Desire to save time especially the external business operations To achieve the objective of efficiency improvement To be able to increase and improve its production rates and levels To be able to get a chance to focus and concentrate on its main products or services as well as its main functions as a business in that industry. Just as mentioned earlier, business outsourcing is a major activity or practice for some businesses. It is a business strategy that is capable of helping a businesss functions, processes, operations and decision to be used by other businesses. This means that they two parties have to create an agreement with conditions and rules to adhere to. However, outsourcing is a great idea for some businesses, it has its advantages and disadvantages as well just like any other business strategy (Mugurusi et al, 2013). Most of these advantages and disadvantages relate to four of the main business operations which are: the accounting operations, Sales, marketing and the human resource operations. Therefore, the following are some of the advantages and disadvantages. Some businesses outsource to reduce the cost of carrying out some operations. Therefore, when a business outsources, there is a high of it reducing the cost of product or service production. This is simply because there will be less labor costs for employee compensation, saves office space and office expenses, saves a large amount of money that would be used to cater for the employees and any other equipment or material needed for their support (Whitley et al, 2011). With this in mind, businesses are able to use the saved money to develop and expand its operations in many other areas that are more important. Focus On Core Business Operations A business is able to exist in its market for long only when it is capable of attaining a competitive advantage over its competitors in the market. This is easily achieved when a business specializes on a certain product or service for specific customer or market share. Therefore, to be able to achieve this, some businesses prefer to outsource so that they can have more time to focus on their expertise and core business operations. When business does not outsource, the chances of its concentration and focus being directed towards another business or function is very high. Therefore, through outsourcing, they are able to specialize on their core operation which leads to more success and better objective achievement. Many large business are divided into many different departments or division that are responsible for specific duties and responsibilities. However, other organizational departments require expertise, skill and experience to be successful. Some of these departments or aspects include: marketing department, accounting department, sales department and the human resource departments. These are some of the most vital and sensitive departments of any business organization (Lacity et al, 2013). Therefore their need to be managed and control by professional personnel so that they can give the required results or they can be effective. Therefore, a business that outsources for the sake of these or any of these departments will certainly increase the quality of its product or service. For instance, some businesses may lack the funds to hire a personal HR management team. Therefore, it becomes easier for the business to work closely with a recruiting agency who are capable of helping the busine ss in hiring of the employees. The business should therefore ensure that the agency is qualified and has the experience of hiring for the positions that it needs. However, in this case the business must clearly identify and state its requirements, interests and needs from the candidates. In this kind of process, the agency or recruiting organization gets paid only when they have completed the hiring process. This is in relation to the fact that the business will not be dealing directly with the service providers. By considering customer satisfaction, it relates to the fact that the business will be able to get trained and experienced personnel to work for it. Basically, this is in regard with the employees who will be dealing with customers directly. Therefore, during outsourcing process, the business only hires a vendor who in turn gives the responsibility of dealing with customers to its employees. Therefore, in case one of the employees does not show up for work, the vendor take up the responsibility of replacing the employees by themselves. This basically means that the vendor is bound to certain service levels and quality. Therefore, they should ensure that the services are above the specified rates or rather do not go below those levels. Therefore, with this, the businesss customer relations are likely to improve and their satisfaction will increase as well. This is certainly becau se of the high service standards, high qualifications, skilled, experienced and high expertise service standards being used in the production process. Lead To Improved Efficiency Levels Through outsourcing, businesses get an opportunity to be involved with many other businesses. Therefore, they are able to be engaged with many different specialized systems that are capable of improving its efficiency in production. When businesses use modern technology and improved internal systems to run their operations, then their effectiveness and their efficiency levels will definitely increase (Potkany et al, 2016). Therefore, with outsourcing, businesses are able to learn new ideas and know new technological systems that can increase their production and therefore improve its productivity. With the use of such systems, the business operations become easy and can be carried out at a faster rate. When business engage in outsourcing process, they are able to get a large number of business vendors who can offer them the service they need. This means that the business is the one that has to choose whether to hire the vendor or not. However, the business should also consider the fact that the choice should be based on the vendors experience, knowledge, skill and expertise and service relevance to the business operations. In that case, the business would be sure and clear about whatever service it needs and whatever objective they are aiming to achieve (Dekker et al, 2016). When businesses outsource, they get the chance to choose and be flexible about what which vendor they need according to its relevance to the businesss operations. There are other advantages that accrue to business outsourcing process, like: increase in production speed and service offering, easy access to modern and advanced technology and technical support, leads to effective, efficient, quick and accurate business reporting especially when it comes to financial reports and market analysis reports, helps business to save resources that are related to staffing, employee training and employee maintenance. When a business outsources a certain service from a different business, there may be language barrier especially between the customer and the employee. In addition to that, the language barrier can also affect the communication between other employees with the outsourced employee. This is likely going to hinder effective and efficient communication in the organization which may later lead to business failure. For instance, in a customer call center, if an employee is outsourced from a different country that speaks a different language from the businesss home country, then there will be challenges in communication. Lack of Organizational Knowledge Apparently, for an employee to be able to work and be productive in a business, they must have a clear understanding of the business background data, product and also have a passion for the work. However, this is not always the case for most employees who are outsourced. Often are the times that they just a job to get money or pass time (Albors-Garrigos et al, 2014). Therefore, if a business outsources and gets employees who have no idea about the business then the probability of it not achieving its objectives increases which later end with business failure. Just as mentioned earlier, the outsourcing practices and process is done mostly by information technology business or other businesses and industries that use information systems to conduct their business operations. This basically means that most of these business store their information and data in the systems. However, these systems can easily be breached and data stolen or accessed by unauthorized personnel. This is challenge that has been faced by many outsourcing companies whereby the outsourced technicians or employees break the rules and steal the business data that they should not get (Malakoti-Negad, 2016). However, it becomes difficult to even note when the information has been stolen until when they complete their service contract. This becomes a major risks for business and has caused a lot of effects to some of them. Even though outsourcing is a great strategy to reduce employee payments costs and many other benefits that come in handy, overdependence on outsourced service providers is not a good way to go. Some businesses have always preferred outsourcing rather than hiring their own permanent employees. This is likely going to lead to overdependence to service providers which can cause more damage than permanent employment. Basically, it is clear that outsourcing decreases the costs of production by saving funds in different business fields. However, some businesses are used to estimating the costs that they are going to incur to the extent of lowering them to completely low estimates. When businesses underestimate costs, they will later face challenges of looking for other funds to be able to fund the business operations. Therefore, this is likely going to lead to finance crisis and pressures which delay business operation completion. Other disadvantages include the following: risk of product quality exposure, risk of service quality exposure, negative employee public opinion, unfavorable labor policies and laws especially in different countries, constant and inflexible legal compliance and security documentations especially in different countries and various services. Method to be used in Research The topic that I have chosen to use during my research is this topic (advantages and disadvantages of business outsourcing). It is a very important topic for businesses and will play a vital role in helping a large number of them to grow and develop themselves. Also, by doing a research on this topic, businesses will be able to understand the benefits that they are likely going to receive by participating in outsourcing business processes. The research will not only benefit the businesses that are already using outsourcing process but also those that would love to outsource as well. Therefore, with the above literature review, it is clear that this topic is completely worthy of being researched on. References Potkany, M., Stasiak-Betlejewska, R., Kovac, R. and Gejdos, M., 2016. Outsourcing in conditions of SMEs: the potential for cost savings.Polish Journal of Management Studies,13(1). Malakoti-Negad, M., 2016. Strategies for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises to Engage Third-Party Logistics Providers. Schott, K., Beck, R. and Gregory, R.W., 2010, March. Management of Globally Distributed Software Development Projects in Multiple-Vendor Constellations. InInternational Workshop on Global Sourcing of Information Technology and Business Processes(pp. 69-81). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. Albors-Garrigos, J., de Miguel Molina, B. and de Miguel Molina, M., 2014. Positioning in the Global Value Chain as a Sustainable Strategy: A Case Study in a Mature Industry.Administrative Sciences,4(2), pp.155-172. Dekker, F. and Koster, F., 2016. Outsourcing in 18 European countries: The role of worker power.Economic and Industrial Democracy, p.0143831X16633760. Martin, B.A. and McDermott, E.I., 2001. Outsourcing: A Growing Trend in EHS Management.Environmental Quality Management,11(2), pp.45-50. Barczyk, C.C., Husain, J.H. and Green, S., 2007. Expertise of owners, investment of time, and human resource outsourcing in very small businesses.Journal of Business Inquiry,6(1), pp.39-50. Lacity, M. and Willcocks, L., 2014. Business process outsourcing and dynamic innovation.Strategic Outsourcing: An International Journal,7(1), pp.66-92. Oshri, I., Kotlarsky, J. and Gerbasi, A., 2015. Strategic innovation through outsourcing: the role of relational and contractual governance.The Journal of Strategic Information Systems,24(3), pp.203-216. Mugurusi, G. and de Boer, L., 2013. What follows after the decision to offshore production? A systematic review of the literature.Strategic Outsourcing: An International Journal,6(3), pp.213-257. Lacity, M.C. and Willcocks, L.P., 2013. Outsourcing business processes for innovation.MIT Sloan management review,54(3), p.63. Whitley, E.A. and Willcocks, L., 2011. Achieving Step-Change in Outsourcing Maturity: Toward Collaborative Innovation.MIS Quarterly Executive,10(3). Awino, Z.B. and Mutua, J.M., 2014. Business process outsourcing strategy and performance of Kenyan state corporations.Journal of emerging trends in economics and management sciences,5(7), pp.37-43. Sonfield, M.C., 2014. Outsourcing Strategies for Small Businesses: Issues, Theoretical Bases, and Guidelines.Small Business Institute Journal,10(2), p.35. Dragomir, C., Panzaru, S., Brenci, L.M., Petrescu, M.G. and Dobrita, A., 2014. The managerial performance.Review of General Management,19(1), pp.43-54. Merk, C., Silver, J. and Torrisi, F.D., 2014. Rebalancing your sourcing strategy.McKinsey Company.

Secrets Essays - Secrets, , Term Papers, Research Papers

Secrets Title: Secrets Author: Danielle Steele Number of pages: 442 Date of publication: 1985 Summary Everyone has secrets no matter who they are. The book I read is called Secrets and,of course, there are many secrets that people have in this book. A man named Melvin Wechsler is a fabulous director that everyone loves. He has a series called Manhattan that he is going to direct, and it is the best T.V. series of all time. He gets the best actors and actresses for his series and he knows it will be a hit. When he decided on all of the people he had chosen for the series, he didn't know that all of them had dark secrets. The main actress, Sabina Quarles, started to have a love affair with Melvin, and he suspected that she was cheating on him. What she was really doing was going to see her very ill son in San Francisco that no one knew about. Jane, another actress, had an abusive husband that didn't care about her. he turned her own children away from her, and raped her whenever he got a chance. She split up with him and started to fall in love with one of the actors on the series, Zac k.Zack, Jane's lover, had a secret too. When he was young he was molested by his father. He was a homosexual for a long time before he met Jane. Jane completely changed his life and they got married.Gabrielle came from a rich family and she didn't want anyone to know about it. She thought that other actors or actresses would just think that she got acting jobs because of her money. She fell in love with Bill, another actor in the series, and she felt truly happy, and she didn't need money to make her happy.Bill had so many secrets. He was married to an actress before the series, but they had to keep their marriage a secret because of their careers. His wife became a drug addict and he finally left her. He always worried about her and wished that she would straighten up. One night he came home to find her dead on the floor. He was arrested and charged with her murder. He was acquitted of all the charges after several months, because of the lack of evidence. Him and Gabrielle fell in love and he finally had something happen to him that didn't have to be kept a secret. I really enjoyed this novel, because it had a lot of reality in it. It told me that these things really do happen and it takes strong people like these to handle all their secrets. Evaluation This novel was one of the best that I have ever read. It was full of love, mystery, sadness, deception, and of course, secrets. The things that I will be evaluating are the author's word choices, the development of suspense, and the book's title. The author's word choices were very good. She made it so I could understand everything that was going on without having to go and look in a dictionary. Danielle Steele writes with smoothness and every word fits together just right with the next. The development of suspense was so good it made me practically sit on the edge of my seat while I was reading this book. She made it so I wanted to keep reading it and never stop until the end. There was one surprise after another and it made the book a lot more interesting. The title of the book was exactly the title it should have. There were so many secrets in this book that the title fit perfectly. When I thought that all of the secrets were out they just kept revealing more and more secrets. I thought this was the perfect title for this book. In conclusion, I really liked this book and the way Danielle Steele wrote it. Her novels that I have read have always been good and never boring. Remember, everyone has secrets, and it takes the strong and willing to reveal them. Book Reports

Ceriodaphnia essays

Ceriodaphnia essays Ceriodaphnia Ceriodaphnia has six pairs of lobed legs which bear numerous hairs. Their head is bent downwards and is set from the body by a cervical sinus. The head also has two large secondary antennas that are positioned laterally near the posterior margin. (Pennak, 1989) The Ceriodaphnias mouth is located near the junction of the head and body. The Ceriodaphnias body is covered by a carapace which allows protrusion of only the head and abdomen. One of the Ceriodaphnias most noticeable features is its large compound eye. Reproduction: The Ceriodaphnia reproduces parthenogenetically, which means the Ceriodaphnia can reproduce without fertilization of the egg. The egg undergoes a single maturation division in the ovary and a number are released at a time by the oviducts. (Pennak, 1989) Usually 10-20 eggs Ecological Niche: Ceriodaphnia are very diverse as they can live in either oxygen rich or oxygen poor environments due to their ability to synthesize hemoglobin. Ceriodaphnia live in all regions of lakes and ponds whether it is on the surface or near the bottom soil. Ceriodaphnia serves as the main food source for the Hydra in an ecosystem. Notes of Interest: Ceriodaphnia feed on green algae. They also have thoracic appendages that are modified phyllopodia that has bristles for food collecting and respiratory functions. (Prescott, ...

Week 3 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Week 3 - Research Paper Example Managers can distinguish motivational problem from other factors by measuring the level of employee motivation and commitment. Managers can measure employee motivation and commitment only by analyzing employees’ productivity. If the current graph of employees’ productivity is low as compared to earlier graphs, it means that employees are less motivated than before. In such situations, managers need to investigate the reasons that affected the graph of employee motivation. Upon knowing the reasons, managers can work towards resolving such issues that caused a downturn in the employee motivation graph. Some of the main reasons that affect employee motivation include poor service structure, no incentive program, ineffective leadership, less influence of managers, and less chances of job promotion. All of the above-mentioned reasons have a close association with employee motivation. Neglecting any of those factors adversely affects overall employee performance. For example, if a company does not offer an attractive incentive plan to its employees, employees of that company become less enthusiastic with the passage of time and eventually drop their level of performance. Similarly, in such companies where managers have less influence on employees or where leaders are not able to inject passion and enthusiasm in employees, managers often observe poor job performances because there is no one there to motivate and encourage employees for the achievement of goals. Summing it up, we can say that managers can distinguish motivational problems from other factors that affect an individual’s performance by measuring the level of employee motivation and commitment. Managers need to investigate all such issues that have a direct association with employee motivation in order to improve employee motivation and employees’ performances. Role of managers and clinical leaders is critical in improving

International Business & Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

International Business & Strategy - Essay Example This has been made possible through employing an effective international business strategy, which helps the company to direct their business in the global market effectively with an aim of maximising profits. Carrefour is one of the businesses that employ international business strategy to enable them to achieve a competitive advantage and increase profits in the global market. The company was established in 1958 and it grew into a vast chain after the first sales. Carrefour operates currently over 9,994 stores in thirty-three countries; therefore, expanding the business into the new markets in Botswana will enable the company to increase their profits because the political stability of this country has catapulted the economy into emerging and one of the fastest growing economies. The Potential Target Market for Carrefour’s Future International Expansion Strategy Botswana will be one of the prospective target markets for expanding the business in the future using international growth strategy. Many companies have made significant attempts to expand their business across the globe. This is through employing internalisation or global strategies that will enable them to expand their business and also reach their targeted customers effectively. Mun (2010, p. 42) argues that employing an effective strategy in the global business environment is vital because it will enable an organisation to increase profits. The globalisation is set to continue and this will contribute to new opportunities and challenges for the future generations of entrepreneurs who are seeking to prosper in an increasingly interdependent world. Therefore, Carrefour can use this strategy to expand their business in the future to untapped developing countries such as Botswana. Global retailers have continued to expand their business into untapped markets due to increased technology advancement and increased consumption across the globe. Many international companies such as Carrefour have rea lised the significance of expanding their business into the new market, especially the emerging market; thus, there is a need to also target in the future many developing countries. This is because many global companies operating in developing countries have increased and tapped revenues 2.5 times faster than in their home markets (Doh, Lawton & Rajwani, 2012, p. 23). The research study reveals a wider range of possibilities for vendors seeking to capture an instant impact and a growth advantage in third world countries (Brown & Gutterman, 2003, p. 27). Possibilities do not only flourish in the largest markets in the industrialised nations but also in smaller markets in third world nations; however, third world developing nations have been ranked among the leading nations for retail investment; thus, Carrefour Group should expand their international strategy by expanding their markets to a potential target market in Botswana. Macro-Environmental Characteristics of the Market Organis ations are constantly scanning not only their internal environment but also the external environmental factors that may impact their business performance in the global market. Macro-environment characteristics take into consideration the external factors that may be favourable or unfavourable to business performance. The macro-environment is external forces that result from a

Wind Power Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Wind Power - Essay Example History of Wind Power The term windmill came from the invention of early machines used by farmers for milling grain. Wind was the main source of power for the machines hence the name windmill. These machines were first used in Persia and China around 500 AD according to Ollholf (6). Windmills were also used in Netherlands for pumping water from the ground. The United States in 1870’s had its farmers using the power of the wind through windmills in pumping water. In the 1980’s electricity could be generated through the use of windmills. The first individual to use wind turbine in the generation of electricity was Charles Brush according to Sharman (10). However the invention of the power grid which used fossil fuels overcame the use of windmills in generating electricity. In 1931, the first commercial power plant using the wind turbines in generation of electricity was established in Russia. In the 1970’s with the rise in the price of oil, wind turbines which were stronger and lighter were invented as a source of power. The largest wind power farm established in the United States was built at Altamont pass, California. The Use of Wind Power Today With the many challenges facing the use of fossil fuels such as increased globalization, wind power is regaining its importance as source of energy. Wind power today is regarded as the most rapidly growing source of renewable energy. The wind power produces about one percent of the United States energy with Europe producing and using more than this. Wind power in Denmark produces around twenty percent of the countries electricity. More developed windmills have been established which are made up of three parts; the tower, blades and the box. These windmills have equipment used for converting wind motion into electricity according to Ollholf (8). The modern wind power through wind pumps is used in different ways. For instance it is used in pumping underground water which used for various purposes such as drinking, watering crops, and cooking. The windmills are still used today in grinding grains into flour. The use of wind power today has improved the lives of people living in dry and hot areas as it ensures water is pumped from underground to the surface or places of need. Small wind turbines which are capable of running generators help create electricity for powering televisions, lights and radios in areas where there in rural areas. The wind turbines sometimes form part of a hybrid system for generating power together with solar energy which is reliable and affordable for villagers not connected to the national grid. Floating wind turbines have been established today which are more economical in shipping and installation activities. Wind power turbines which possess contra-rotating rotors have been used today in aircrafts, marines for improving propulsion. The contra-rotating rotor is also used in offsetting of system reactive torques. How Wind Power can be used To Impact the Society As the use of wind power as source of energy continues to grow, more developed and newer applications are appearing in the society. Wind turbines which are able to ride offshore have been envisioned. The use of wind powered electric cars has also been envisioned to apply in the future as suggested by Gipe (390). With the increased global warming due to the use of fossil fuels, a future where communities are powered by the use of wind turbines has been envisioned. Another development that could improve the use of wind power in future is integration of the current windmill with installation. This will involve selling and installing of windmills in the homes like any other appliance used in the house. The enhancements of wind power machines will make

Environment Of The Events And Exhibitions Industry

Environment Of The Events And Exhibitions Industry This report will focus on the environment in which GL events is currently operating. GL events started as a small company based in Lyon in 1978 providing furniture and stands for exhibitors. Through mergers and acquisitions, they have progressively evolved to become an important player in todays exhibiting and event world with 34 venues around the world, an event and exhibition full-organising service and a portfolio of 250 trade-shows in various industries (food beverage, sport leisure, health, etc.). Influencing all trends and being influenced by all trends, the exhibition and events industry is in the centre of it all. No company can succeed without being aware of the environment it is evolving in. In the exhibition and events industry, companies need to pay particular attention to details impacting not only its industry directly but also every other sector of activity as it would soon have repercussions on future events, exhibitions, product launches, etc. For this reason, a good PESTEL analysis for the industry needs to cover a broad range of issues and analyse many trends which may not influence events yet but could soon be a threat if companies do not react and stay in the times. This report will focus on a PESTEL analysis (Political, Economic, Social, Technology, Environment, Legal) of the exhibition and events industry conclude by establishing which factors GL events should most take into account going forward as they could be potential threats or areas of opportunities in the years to come. Political: There are two main political factors influencing the industry today. One is the increasing political pressures to make regulations and policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We will see in the environmental section that this trend started with consumer awareness but it is no longer just something the clients want to know more about, it has become an obligation. This has greatly impacted the transport industry, in particular airlines which found their image hit as people all around the world pointed to airplanes being a major source of pollution. This impacts the event and exhibition industry, especially at a time when various green technologies are evolving to permit meetings, conferences and even exhibitions to take place online (Long, 2009). This will be developed further in Environmental and Technology sections. The second is the increased globalisation and liberalisation of trade and deregulation (Dwyer, L and Edwards, D 2009). This is very important in terms of number of potential competitors and number of potential clients. Companies need to learn to evolve in a globalised economy, taking advantage of it by going to find new markets, possibly entering into partnerships with similar companies to widen market share and visibility. With this liberalisation of trade comes political pressure to have global higher standards of living. If you do not see your neighbours yard, you do not know that it is greener, when you break the fence, you find that it is. It is this situation that developing countries are finding themselves in today. Citizens all around the world can use internet to gain knowledge about how others are living and become envious. Because of this, countries want to attract foreign investment to boost local economies and gain wealth and higher standards of living. This creates oppo rtunities for countries not only to establish new and cheaper production lines but also to display their products in emerging markets. Last week for example, Apple launched the Iphone4 in China (AFP, 2010). Economy This last point brings us to analysing the economic trends and pressures impacting on the exhibition and events industry. Although the UNWTO 2002 forecasted world tourism to grow at a rate of 4.1% annually until 2020 (Dwyer L, Edwards D., 2009) due to rising wealth internationally, the exhibition and event industry has seen a slow in growth since 2005 but a rise in exhibition and event attendance (Biba E, 2008). This puts the industry in a rather awkward position. There are people coming to exhibitions but exhibitors have switched their approach towards events and exhibition. Indeed, especially with the recent crisis, the first expenses cut by organisations worldwide were advertising and travel. Exhibitions and events being in the centre of this, the industry was hit and forced to react. The expectations from exhibitors will be looked into more fully when we look at the social aspects of the trend but the main ideas are that companies are looking to maximise their ROI (return on investment) (Kovaleski D, 2009) and minimise the perception of frivolous spending (trips, events, etc.) (Events Managers, 2010). In order to do this, companies are squeezing suppliers to get more value for money and investigating the return on investment of their events much more closely and looking at alternatives more then they did before. Companies are not so much cutting their exhibition and event spending so much as allocating it more carefully and with conditions of an assured return (Biba E, 2007). This has changed to job of the event organiser who needs to think of more in novative ways that the company can use to introduce their product. A leaflet handout at the exhibition is no longer sufficient, people want to be amused, entertained, really involved in the product (Furness V., 2007). Because of this, the industry is moving away from major events in favour of smaller, more intimate events where companies can really interact with potential clients (Biba E, 2007). Another aspect companies are putting under the microscope is how to measure ROI generated from social networking and e-marketing. Indeed, if an event is posted on Facebook, LinkedIn, various industry blogs and online magazines this all takes resources in terms of man-hours put into promoting the event on these new channels but how can a company measure that this was efficient? How can the event planner know that the Facebook invitation attracted the client and not some Email they receive every year which pushed them to look for a Facebook event? (Terrero R, 2009). Today, there is little way of knowing exactly what path a client took and what really convinced them to attend your particular event. Social Indeed, the main goals of events and exhibitions are brand awareness, brand preference and networking. Although brand awareness can be achieved through various communication mediums (advertising online, billboards, TV, etc.), it is not the way to create brand preference. Brand preference is achieved through interaction, experience of the brand with the client (Kovaleski D, 2009) and leads to better ROI for the company. This means that exhibition halls and event organisers are not expected to provide a massive attendance so much as a good promotional space and real, targeted potential buyers (Biba E, 2007). From the buyers perspective, they want to experience and know the brand as a whole. With globalisation came increased competition and consumers now have the possibility to buy from anyone anywhere around the world. The quality and price are no longer the only issues, people and therefore companies look at the triple bottom line. Its no longer just about economics but also the socia l and environmental benefits of a product or company. Clients dont want a coupon or a price comparison when they come to a product launch, they want to feel and experience the product for themselves (Dwyer L, Edwards D., 2009 and Furness V., 2007). There needs to be a real interaction between companies and clients. Companies want to build a rapport with their clients, want to become part of their lives. This has forced exhibition halls and event managers to re-think space use and create sections that are dedicated to sitting down in a relaxing atmosphere with a drink to discuss business more casually. The bottom line is still to get the client but the approach is much friendlier then boxed up in a meeting room (Kovaleski D, 2009). This also has an impact on stand design. Exhibitors are encouraged to pay more attention to details such as carpet colour as it has been shown that if the carpet colour of the stand is different from that of the exhibition hall, it may create a barrier and deter clients from approaching (Kovaleski D, 2009). Technology With the development of various technologies, companies have the opportunity to have a virtual event run along-side of the live event. This allows them more time to prepare the client for the interaction and pursue the relationship after the event (Furness V., 2007 and Kovaleski D, 2009). This phenomenon of virtual event is not only to accompany live events, there are now events using only virtual platforms, simulating a physical event on the online world. Platforms such as Second Life are being used by companies to reach potential clients without having to create an event in one physical place. This has the advantage, if not necessarily of price reduction, but to be able to reach clients who may not be prepared to travel to meet you. You can meet them where they are all at once (Biba E, 2008). Using 3D technologies, your virtual exhibition can be as simple as visitors being able to look around at the different stands and as complex as re-creating the event in a completely online wor ld (web chatter, 2010). This is not to say that virtual events will completely replace live events because, as we have seen, people still want to interact and know who they are dealing with but it certainly does replace certain live events already (Biba E, 2007). Another important aspect of the new technologies that the exhibition and event industry should be aware of is the democratization of the internet. This means two things. First, even small firms can bring competition to the large, well-established event organizers if they have good SEO (search engine optimization) and general web-marketing skills as they have equal visibility (Dwyer L, Edwards D., 2009). Second, through UGC (user generated content) anyone can post their feedback about their experience with a certain organizer and make it available to the world (Papathanassis A, Buhalis D, 2007). This is good news for companies who have good relations with their clients and suppliers but will be difficult for companies who were focusing on one-shot clients and therefore not paying much attention to details. The final aspect of technology refers to the traditional definition of technology, ie: the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry (Oxford Compact dictionary). Here we are referring to how to build ecologically friendly stands? What technologies can we use to handle the new products that now need to be used in order to create a green stand? Environmental We are now obviously diverging to the environmental issues around the exhibition and event industry. Indeed, it is becoming increasingly important for companies to be perceived as environmentally aware (Biba E, 2008). This presents a good opportunity in term of cost reductions as decisions such as travelling less can be explained as an environmentally gesture rather then cost-cutting in a bad economy (Events Managers, 2010). However, it presents a challenge for events and exhibition companies who now need to develop green stands made with ecologically friendly materials and production techniques and purchased from local suppliers to avoid pollution from transport (Biba E, 2008). Another aspect the exhibition and event industry will need to look at closely is the impact that global warming will have on their choice of venue and the viability of these choices with respect to client attendance and attractiveness (Dwyer L, Edwards D., 2009). Indeed, sunny destinations which are very pleasant to hold events at may be changed for the worse in the next 30-50 years while new destinations will establish themselves as more favourable climate-wise. Legal The final point we will view is the legal aspects that the industry needs to pay attention to. The policies regarding the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the liberalisation of trade have lead way to many legal documents and laws by countries around the world which need to be followed by event and exhibition organisers and by venues to make sure they are acting within the limits and scope of the law. However, an important legal issue is the terms and conditions put forward by events and exhibition planners and venues. First, with regards to particular cancellation fees, they need to protect themselves without being outrageously unfair to the potential client which is looking at cancellation fees and possibilities more closely since the crisis. Second, with respect to the inflexibility of minimum numbers, if venues hope to attract client, they need to consider the advantage of having one definite client with a contract who may not bring exactly 1000 participants versus one potential client who is still shopping around and may never sign (Event Manager, 2010). From this PESTEL analysis, we can draw several conclusions for GL events next step. First, it is clear that the new technologies, though they will not fully replace live events, are certainly complementing them and they are here to stay. GL events could take advantage of this by creating a network with all its venues. When one event is organised in Nice for example, they could offer the possibility of extending it via 3D conferencing tools to other of their venues around the world. This would increase the potential number of attendees who would not have to sit in front of a computer to enjoy the virtual event but would benefit also from meeting with others who are also in their geographical areas and enjoying the event virtually. People in China could enjoy the conference of the event taking place in Nice and have the opportunity to network with other people afterwards via video-conferencing and face-to-face with people who were also unable to attend the meeting. A second opportunity GL events could take advantage of is the growing importance of the perception of being environmentally friendly which pushes companies to invest in Green stands. Through their event organising service, GL events should try to develop the competencies to offer this possibility to their clients, if possible at a similar cost, to make sure they are in keeping (and even a little ahead) of their times. In these fast changing times, the opportunities are still up for grabs but will soon become threats if venues and organisers do not react quickly.

The History of the American Bottom :: American History

Two of the nations largest rivers meet in the American Bottom. The Mississippi and Missouri Rivers served as channels of change to the area, bringing outside influences of many different peoples to an Indian-inhabited land. Like the constant flow of the rivers, there was a constant change in the American Bottom. The progress eventually developed the area into a center of economic activity and gateway to the west, but also excluded native and long-time residents. The Illinois Indians long dominated the American Bottom. They were a unique and special tribe, who were complex politically, religiously, and socially. They were also an independent people until French colonizers came to settle in the area. The French Creoles became the dominant population in the region, effecting trade and implementing French Creole culture in the region. The French would not be the last group trying to develop and profit from the American Bottom. When the United States gained control of the territory, it ch anged even further and eventually Americanized into an U.S. State. The importance of the region increased as the U.S. continued to grow westward. The American Bottoms location between the two great rivers made it the ideal location for a center of economic growth. Prior to the contact period, or the time when the Illinois first came into contact with Europeans, the Illinois were a great and influential tribe. They were a very interesting tribe who had a culture all their own. They were also a very autonomous bunch never having to rely on anyone but themselves for survival. This was all to change with the introduction of European missionaries and traders. The Illinois were dwelling in territory that was in heavy demand by those who wished to exploit these Indians and their land in order to turn over a dollar. The frontier was moving farther west and the Illinois eventually fell into the chaos that followed. War, disease, alcohol, and new ways of life eventually exterminated the Illinois. Although the Illinois were not to make it through the development of the American Bottom, they played a crucial and fascinating role in its history. The land the Illinois lived was not only beautiful but also abundant with resources. The resources in the area amazed the French missionaries and explorers. Father Claude Allois, a Jesuit missionary, describes an interesting spectacle on a journey south. â€Å"The next day, we saw a rock seven or eight feet out of the water and two or three brasses in circumference, named ‘the pitch rock.

Assertiveness is the ability to express your feelings, opinions, beliefs and needs directly

â€Å"Assertiveness is the ability to express your feelings, opinions, beliefs and needs directly, openly and honestly, while not violating the personal rights of others.†(Holland and Ward 1990) Corollary to which, being assertive entails knowing its limit because the right of a person ends where the right of another person begins.   Being assertive is an expression and protection of one’s right up to such an extent where one protects and respects the rights of others.â€Å"There's a kind of integrity that goes along with assertiveness — meaning what you say, when you say it, in the way that you say it.† (Davidson, J. 1997).   Thus, it is ultimately aimed at generation a resolution to problems that is amenable and beneficial to all, essential to maintain fairness and mutuality, which are the basic tenets of any form of human relationships.RightsIn legal parlance, a right is the legal entitlement to do or avoid doing something which is sanctioned by law or the provisions of a contract. However, everyone has rights that are inherently conferred to us by virtue of being humans, which is called human rights. (Gewirth, 1998) Human rights are universal, every person is entitled to it; equal, every person has the same rights; and entail a correlative duty, the bearer of which under international law is the state or the government to which a person had pledged allegiance to.(Clapham, 1993) Perhaps the most basic of these human rights which Immanuel Kant himself declared is freedom –nobody owns one’s life except oneself.   From which the following rights can be derived: the right to decide for oneself in terms of behavior, idea and emotion; the right to change the same, the right to be independent in the conduct of one’s life, to join and not to join, to act or not to act or the right to have a choice.However, in the exercise of these rights, people are prone to commit mistakes.     The right to commit mistakes therefore is in essence part of a person’s right to make decisions and to have choices.   In as much as a person has the right to commit mistakes, he/ she also has the responsibility for the consequences of his/ her choices and decisions.Assertiveness is the balance between two extreme behaviors: passiveness and aggressiveness.   Passiveness or being non assertive is the renunciation of one’s rights which involves turning down one’s opinions, allowing others to decide for one’s own fate, or not exercising one’s right because of guilt or anger.Aggressiveness or being too assertive is the abusive exercise of one’s rights which involves intimidating other people, coercing or manipulating others (lying) thereby not allowing them to decide for themselves or, exercising one’s right to an extent of exploiting other people’s rights.   (Lloyd, 2001)In other words, â€Å"people have a fundamental right as human beings to express t hemselves so long as doing so will not trample on the rights of others.† (Davidson, J. 1997) Such assertion becomes am aggressionBarriers to AssertivenessA big barrier to assertiveness is the over watchfulness or worrisome of people to be misinterpreted as being aggressive and offensive.   It may anger others or hurt their feelings and consequently engender a feeling of hatred, a perception of arrogance or selfishness or even stupidity against the assertive person.These misled conclusions are basically drawn from misconceptions about assertiveness which involved legitimate rights, a sense of concern towards others and a sense of responsibility for the consequences of one’ s decisions. (Paterson and Paterson, 2000)

Vergil essays

Vergil essays The subject matter presented in Eclogue 1 tells much about the time in which it was written. Eclogue 1, in essence, is about the land confiscations after the battle of Philippi. Modern historians have their own ideas about why the poem was written, which it turn would explain the time in which Eclogue 1 was written. Some of these ideas include Tityrus' being Vergil, protest against land confiscations, or a eulogy to Octavian. It may be possible that all three of these themes were apart of Eclogue 1. Exploring all three themes would certainly give a more in depth peer into the time of Vergil. The question of whether or not Vergil wrote to tell a story or wrote to give information on the age in which he lived is raised. Perhaps Vergil has made an attempt at both. In reading Eclogue 1, we know that Meliboeus and Tityrus are fictional characters; however, the reader knows that the land confiscations is factual information about the time. Eclogue 1 is a poem dedicated to providin g entertainment without sacrificing historical information. This poem gives much insight on the time it was written. Analysis of these ideas would explain to a reader what happened during the events that were taking place during the time Eclogue 1 was written. The characters, Tityrus and Meliboeus, provide different elements in the poem. Tityrus provides humor with is light-heartedness and naive nature. Meliboeus brings the reader back to reality and makes him grievous (Verg., Ecl. 1 intro; pg.29, Lee, tr.). History explains that after the Battle of Philippi in 42 B.C., the veterans were given land in Italy, confiscated from the supporters of the losing side, once Antony and Octavian defeated Brutus and Cassius. Vergil supposedly began writing The Eclogues after 44 B.C. Historians agree that Vergil had lived in the area where the land confiscations were happening. This would help to prove that Eclogue 1 may have been somewhat autobiographical inf...

Allowances Available to Members of US Congress

Allowances Available to Members of US Congress If they choose to accept them, all members of the United States Congress are given various allowances intended to cover personal expenses related carrying out their duties. The allowances are provided in addition to the members’ salaries, benefits and allowed outside income. The salary for most senators, representatives, delegates, and the resident commissioner from Puerto Rico is $174,000. The Speaker of the House receives a salary of $223,500. The president pro tempore of the Senate and the majority and minority leaders in the House and Senate receive $193,400. The pay of members of Congress has long been a subject of debate, confusion, and misinformation. Members are paid a salary only during the terms for which they are elected. They do not, as has been widely claimed in social media, receive â€Å"their full salaries for life.† In addition, members do not get additional pay for service on committees, and they are not eligible for housing or per diem allowances for expenses incurred in Washington, DC. Lastly, neither the members of Congress nor their families are exempt from having to pay off their student loans. The salaries of members of Congress have not changed since 2009. Article I, Section 6, of the U.S. Constitution, authorizes compensation for members of Congress â€Å"ascertained by law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States.† Adjustments are governed by the Ethics Reform Act of 1989 and the 27th Amendment to the Constitution. According to the Congressional Research Service (CRS) report,  Congressional Salaries and Allowances, the allowances are provided to cover official office expenses, including staff, mail, travel between a Members district or state and Washington, D.C., and other goods and services. Outside Earned Income Representatives and senators are allowed to accept up to 15% of their base salary in permitted â€Å"outside earned income.† Since 2016, the limit on outside income has been $27,495. Since 1991, representatives and senators have been prohibited from accepting honoraria- payment for professional services that are usually rendered free of charge. In the House of Representatives The Members Representational Allowance (MRA) In the  House of Representatives, the Members Representational Allowance (MRA) is made available to help members defray expenses resulting from three specific components of their representational duties: the personal expenses component, the office expenses component, and the mailing expenses component. Use of the MRA allowance is subject to a number of restrictions. For example, members may not use MRA funds to pay or help pay any personal or campaign-related expenses. Members are also prohibited (unless authorized by the House Ethics Committee) from using campaign funds or committee funds to pay for expenses related to official congressional duties; maintaining an unofficial office account; accepting funds or assistance from a private source for an official activity; or using personal funds to pay for franked mail. In addition, each member is responsible for paying any expenses that are in excess of the authorized MRA level or that are not reimbursable under regulations of the Committee on House Administration. Each member receives the same amount of MRA funds for personal expenses. Allowances for office expenses vary from member to member based on the distance between the members home district and Washington, D.C., and the average rent for office space in the members home district. Allowances for mailing vary based on the number of residential mailing addresses in the members home district as reported by the  U.S. Census Bureau. The House sets the funding levels for the MRA annually as part of the  federal budget process. According to the CRS report, the House-passed fiscal year 2017 legislative branch appropriations bill set this funding at $562.6 million. In 2016, each member’s MRA increased by 1% from the 2015 level, and the  MRAs range from $1,207,510 to $1,383,709, with an average of $1,268,520. Most of each members annual MRA allowance is used to pay their office personnel. In 2016, for example, the office personnel allowance for each member was $944,671. Each member is allowed to use their MRA to employ up to  18 full-time, permanent employees. Some primary responsibilities of the congressional staffs in both the House and Senate include analysis and preparation of proposed legislation, legal research, government policy analysis, scheduling, constituent correspondence, and  speech writing. All members are required to provide a quarterly report detailing exactly how they spent their MRA allowances. All House MRA expenditures are reported in the quarterly  Statement of Disbursements of the House. In the Senate The Senators Official Personnel and Office Expense Account In the  U.S. Senate, the Senators Official Personnel and Office Expense Account (SOPOEA) is made up three separate allowances: the administrative and clerical assistance allowance, the legislative assistance allowance, and the official office expense allowance. All senators receive the same amount for the legislative assistance allowance. The size of the administrative and clerical assistance allowance and the office expense allowance vary based on the population of the state the senators represent, the distance between their Washington, D.C.  office  and their home states, and limits authorized by the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. The combined total of the three SOPOEA allowances can be used at the discretion of each Senator to pay for any type of official expenses they incur,  including travel, office personnel or office supplies. However, expenses for mailing are currently limited to $50,000 per fiscal year. The size of the SOPOEA allowances is adjusted and authorized within the Contingent Expenses of the Senate account in the annual legislative branch  appropriations bills  enacted as part of the annual federal budget process. The allowance is provided for the fiscal year. The preliminary list of SOPOEA levels contained in the Senate report accompanying the fiscal year 2017 legislative branch appropriations bill shows a range of $3,043,454 to $4,815,203. The average allowance is $3,306,570. Senators are prohibited from using any portion of their SOPOEA allowance for any personal or political purposes, including campaigning. Payment of any amount spent in excess of a senators SOPOEA allowance must be paid by the senator. Unlike in the House, the size of senators administrative and clerical assistance staff is not specified. Instead, senators are free to structure their staffs as they choose, as long as they do not spend more than provided to them in the administrative and clerical assistance component of their SOPOEA allowance. By law, all SOPOEA expenditures of each senator are published in the  Semiannual Report of the Secretary of the Senate,

Professional & legal issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Professional & legal issues - Essay Example But in the given condition, it is only me who is available to sort out these problems. Since the problem is very critical, it may cause loss of life if not sorted early. Now since I am well qualified and is aware of the technique involving the creation of the problem, it is my moral as well legal responsibility to make an attempt to solve it. Currently there are two parties involved. First one is the hospital and the next one is me. Any death caused due to the above mentioned problem will be regarded as a matter of negligence with responsibility being shared by the hospital and the person responsible for maintenance. The hospital has failed in obtaining an emergency kit which can be used in case of any technical problem. No electronic device can be considered for life time and must not be expected to perform throughout without any problem related to hardware as well as software (Ackers, 2005). Despite knowing the utility and need of the IT officers, the hospital has also failed in maintaining the proper number of the same so that whole functioning of the equipments can be achieved without a glitch. So the hospital can charged for going for cost cutt ing through less hiring of the people required for maintaining necessary elements so that proper functioning of the emergency services like the ICU can be maintained. ... charged on the ground of lapses which may finally risk the patient's life and any casualty will be considered as a consequence of negligence on the side of hospital. And since currently only I am available, so it's going to be me who will finally be penalized by the hospital and there is a possibility of getting accused in the case. Being an IT professional, I will try my best to sort out the problem in the quickest possible time. But at the same time, I will suggest the authorities to hire more professionals so that any situation like the one mentioned here can be averted. Since most of the programs are meant for live saving equipments so there should be at a group of developers for developing, maintaining and handling of the system and at least one of them must be available at any given time (Bott, 2005). In the given case study there is just one person who was involved in the development process and he was not present when the problem raised its ugly head. The development of software is generally done in different phases with proper documentation each of the phases must be done and properly stored. The development of each of the phase should be followed with a very precise software testing techniques. The same process should again be repeated once the whole software has been developed. But still none of us c an say the software developed is error free. There is a possibility of it not performing according to expected outcomes because of hardware delay or any other complexity. So the complete set of hardware with the software must be tested live with output being properly monitored. The hospital must have at least a pair of each of the device with one being maintained for emergent conditions. Moving on to software development processes, the software must be developed

Australian Latest Mining Boom Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Australian Latest Mining Boom - Essay Example Both quantitative and secondary research is done to reach at a conclusion. Contents Topic Page Number 1) Introduction 3-4 2) Main Body a) Fiscal policy challenges emerging out 4-5 of the recent mining boom in Australia b) Resource Rent Taxation and Negative externality 5 c) Economic Framework of Non-Renewable 6 Resource Taxation d) Economic Costs and Benefits of Mining Super 6-8 Profit Tax e) Conclusion 9 f) Recommendations 9 g) Appendix 11 Introduction Mining boom in Australia is an outcome of huge demands for these resources in the global market, mainly Asia because of its growing need for these minerals. In all parts of Australia, mining companies are increasing their present operations, shuttered mines are being re-opened and all this is taking place at a never before pace. Moreover, this latest boom in this mining sector can also be attributed to the expansion in demand for Australian commodities by the foreign nations. This, coupled with decreasing import prices has resulted in an amazing enhancement in their terms of trade. (Banks, 2011, p. 1) At first it was perceived by most of the Australians that the boom in their mining sector had bought unequivocal benefits to their nation’s economy by creating more jobs, generating higher revenues from exports, taxation and higher incomes for most of the people. But studies have revealed that some of these increased profits from the mining companies are at the cost of profits from the non mining institutes (Richardson, 2009, p. 2). Australia is known to be an inherently resource rich nation and one of the leading countries in the world from the point of view of production of minerals. Australia, as already said, is a major exporter of mineral resources, exporting huge amounts to Asia and the Pacific regions. The Australian economy, during 2007 had grown at a rate of 3.9% owing to the increasing global demand for mineral commodities. Since, higher prices in world market for mineral commodities were expected in future as well, the Australian economy kept on expanding. As a result of an increase in the domestic demand for more workers and thinning labor market, in 2007, the consumer price index (CPI) rose by 4.2% (Australia Mineral and Mining Sector Investment and Business Guide, 2006, p. 45). With this boom came the need to review the ongoing tax system in the country. Under the Henry tax reviews the mining super profit tax was introduced which was instantly subjected to a lot of opposition from the mining community as well as the media. Here, in this report, the economic costs and benefits arising out of the mining super profit tax are analyzed and the discussion also includes some reasons as to why this tax is a good/bad policy measure. In this paper, both quantitative and qualitative research has been done. In order to analyze the costs and benefits of the super profit tax, vast literature in the form of journals, articles, books etc. have been reviewed. The proposals made by the gov ernment regarding the use of the revenues that would be generating out of this tax led to the cost-benefit analysis part. Quantitative analysis has been performed to see the amount of revenue that would have generated out of this tax, had it been implemented. Fiscal policy challenges emerging out of the recent mining boom in Australia In the upcoming years, with the increase in value of Australia’

The impact of automation Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The impact of automation - Term Paper Example on on the society is an increase in the mechanical power available to an individual owing to the presence of new opportunities and the decreased demand for labour. The opportunities that arise from automation, especially with fabricators are participation in the development, use, repair, and distribution of fabricators, software, and related hardware. The other impact of automation on the society is the increased productivity 100 or 1000 times per machine operator reducing the demand for skilled labour at workplaces (Johnsen, 1976). The effect is an increase in the level of pervert since the extra workers have to be dismissed to pave the way for the machines and affecting the standards of living negatively. The level of unemployment in the society in the economy increases owing to the increased use of machines in completion of tasks previously undertaken by humans. Automation results in better product quality through reduction in human errors in the production process. Automated of inspection and assembly methods result in the improvement of the durability of manufactured products as exemplified with the production of cars, refrigerators, and televisions that have been shown to last longer than previous models owing to automation (Burns, 1993). Quality products from automation result in the value for money for the consumers and less money are spent on replacement and repairs. The standards of living in the society improve with the increased automation of production processes and methods. The other impact of automation has been the increased possibility of recycling of older products for new product models aiding in the reduction of wastes in the society (Burns, 1993). Examples are the introduction of recycling of used Apple products under the reign of Steve Jobs and the recycling of brake shoes and engine blocks in the automotive industry. Structural unemployment emerges and increases as a result of automation resulting in the reduction in consumer and disposal

An Evaluation of Academic Performance of Grade Essay Example for Free

An Evaluation of Academic Performance of Grade Essay Introduction â€Å"Bright minds make bright future! † Preparatory children nowadays are far  Ã‚  better than before they are more advanced in teaching and more capable of absorbing the methods of learning that used with them. Modern teaching accompanied with modules and analytical measures develop the  preschooler’s memory retention that serves as the foundation of their education. Kids today  are more willing and not afraid to  try to discover new ways and methods of learning. The value of preschool is a  hot topic these days. A small but growing number of  studies link enrolment in preschool or child care  centers (which typically include a  preschool curriculum) to higher cognitive and language scores on kindergarten-entry tests The early childhood stage is a  permanent learning stage. Whatever they learn now, they will take home. This preschool education is the provision of education for  children  before the commencement of statutory education, usually between the ages of three and five, dependent on the jurisdiction. The institutional arrangements for preschool education vary widely around the world, as do the names  applied to the institutions. Effective preschool education can help make all children ready to learn the day they start school and, more importantly, help close the  enormous gap facing children in  poverty. Preschool gives our kids the strong  foundation they need to be  successful in school and in life. Children who attend pre-kindergarten programs have bigger  vocabularies and increased math  skills, know more letters and more letter-sound associations, and are more familiar with words and book concepts, according to a number  of studies (Patson P. Opido 2010). The child is the ultimate concern in all educational processes. He is the beginning at the end of all educational efforts. The goal of education is to help every child grow up well-rounded; physically well-developed, mentally healthy, intelligently alert, emotionally secure and socially well adjusted. These can be truly achieved by giving attention to the child’s foundation. The first day of the children in school is a unique experience. It may be their first contact with big group of children. The difference among first grade pupils in their level of preparedness to grade one work may vary. The grade I teacher should be aware of the differences in the children’s readiness; some readiness is the springboard to do actions. Knowing pupil’s differences will guide the teacher on what to do to develop them to the fullest ( Lindberg and Swedo, 1995). A child born of a healthy, responsible and emotionally mature parents has a good foundation. His parents, especially the mother, guide him through the proper habits of eating, sleeping and cleanliness. An individual’s attitude toward himself and others, his behaviour either at work or at play, and his emotional roots in his early childhood experiences. What he learns at home constitutes the basis for future learning and adjustment. As the child develops social awareness, he needs to experience association with a larger group outside his home. Parents send their children to school simply because they want them to develop basic health habits and self sufficiency. Furthermore, this also includes the ability to use language patterns for simple and correct social attitudes in relation to the company of people around him, whether adults or other children and the appreciation of the aesthetic attributes of his immediate surroundings. Modern teaching accompanied with modules and analytical measures develop the preschooler’s memory retention serving as the foundation of their education. Kids today are more willing and not afraid to try to discover new ways and methods of learning. The value of preschool is a hot topic these days. A small but growing number of studies link enrolment in preschool or child care centers (which typically include a preschool curriculum) to higher cognitive and language scores on kindergarten-entry tests. The early childhood stage is a permanent learning stage. Whatever they learn now, they will take home. This preschool education is the provision of education for children before the commencement of statutory education, usually between the ages of three and five, dependent on the jurisdiction. Parents on the other hand, play a vital role in educating their children because they are their first teachers, which is the greatest contribution before a child ever begins his formal education in school. When a child enters the formal school, he carries out with him the acquired values from his parents. Just like the teacher’s task, if parents fail to perform their responsibilities, it may bring misbehaviour on their children which may directly or indirectly affect the child’s academic performance. In the Philippine public elementary schools today, inner tensions have been continuously affecting the learners going to grade one level, especially those who had never gone to any kind of schooling before. These learners entering grade one have many apprehensions. Most of them have no experiences in going to school. Parents are not capable of sending them to school especially those in remote and slum areas. Instead of giving their children a chance to study in Day Care Centers and Kindergarten in some public elementary schools, they ended up waiting for their to be accepted in Grade One. With these scenarios the pupils encounter difficulties in catching up with different skills like numeracy and literacy which are now the basic skills necessary in the first grade level of formal schooling. These children also suffer in relating themselves to their new environment, the school. In order to have a smooth transition from home to school and to prepare them socially and psychologically, the curriculum on the Early Childhood Experiences was recommended for adoption in all public elementary schools as included in Every Child A Reader Program ( ECARP). It aims to developing the reading readiness and developmental reading in Grade one as launched by the Department of Education. One of the major goals of the 2015 Education for All (EFA) is the expansion of the coverage and improvement of the quality of the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) programs in the country. The present government administration in its Ten-Point Agenda has declared a policy calling for the standardization of preschool and day care centers. The Department of Education (DepEd) in support of this thrust will administer School Readiness Assessment Test to All Grade One Entrants, effective SY 2005-2006. The School Readiness Assessment (SRA) is a tool to determine the readiness of Grade One entrants in tackling formal Grade One work. The School Readiness Assessment Tool will be administered by Grade One teachers assisted by the Grade Two and Three teachers one week before opening of classes. The assessment shall not be treated as an entrance test or examination. No child shall be refused entry to Grade 1 based on the results neither of this assessment nor without preschool experience. To continuously determine the school readiness of all Grade One Entrants, the School Readiness Assessment (SReA) was administered. One of the objectives of SReA is to assess pupils’ readiness across the different developmental domains – gross and fine motor, receptive/ expressive language, cognitive domain and socio- economic domain. The result obtained was the basis for grouping the Grade One entrants. It was also used to guide Grade One teachers in providing appropriate instruction and assistance to address specific needs of the pupils. The result of the School Readiness Test in May 2011 identified that there were at least forty two point ninety eight percent of the school population of Grade One entrants were not ready. Children with No Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) has low average in pupils’ readiness across the different developmental domains – gross and fine motor, receptive/ expressive language, cognitive domain and socio- economic domain. Background of the Study The researcher is motivated by the above mentioned situation and this led to the conceptualization of this study. As an educator, the researcher is faced with the fact that there is an imperative need to strengthen and streamline the internal management of educational arrangements in order to achieve efficiency and responsiveness to trends and challenges of the next millennium. It is therefore the aim of this study to empower parents and positively influence them on affirmative effects of pre-school education in the holistic development of their children particularly on the advancement of their academic performance. The value of preschool is a  hot topic these days. A small but growing number of  studies link enrolment in preschool or child care  centers (which typically include a  preschool curriculum) to higher cognitive and language scores on kindergarten-entry tests. The early childhood stage is a  permanent learning stage. Whatever they learn now, they will take home. This preschool education is the provision of education for  children  before the commencement of statutory education, usually between the ages of three and five, dependent on the jurisdiction. The institutional arrangements for preschool education vary widely around the world, as do the names  applied to the institutions ( Bustos Alicia and Espiritu 1985). The Early Childhood Experiences Curriculum, hence all Grade One teachers are expected to implement it. Teachers are also encouraged to make use of local songs, games, dances and indigenous materials to enrich the curriculum. It is hoped that the Early Childhood Experience for Grade One will greatly benefit the children and strengthen efforts to make the schools child-friendly. Theoretical Framework This study is anchored on Edward Thorndike’s, Jerome Bruner’s, and B. F. Skinner’s Theories of Learning. These theories enabled the researcher in the conceptualization of this work. The Law of Readiness as advocated by Thorndike is associated with mind set. It states that when an organism is prepared to respond to a stimulus, allowing doing so would be satisfying while preventing him would be annoying. This law works well in this study because the children is mentally ready to learn. The Law of Exercise states that the constant repetition of response strengthens its connection with the stimulus, while disuse of response weakens it. The exercises given to the children using a modifiable connection like instructional materials enables them to acquire the learning easier and faster because the responses will be utilized, the stronger the connection to be developed. Thus, when a modifiable between a stimulus and a response has been made, it is strengthened if its results in satisfaction as the Law of effect proves. Jerome Bruner’s (1915) theory of Instrumental conceptualization is also applied as it involves (3) three simultaneous processes as: Acquisition, Transformation and Evaluation. This theory of learning believes that the acquisition of whatever form of knowledge acquisition, who selects structures, retains and transforms information. Teaching without the use of proper strategic plans will result to failure. Through School Readiness Assessment Test (SReA), pupils will acquire knowledge through different techniques used by the researchers. Hence, learning to read is facilitated by Skinner’s Theory. Conceptual Framework This study focused on the evaluation of academic performance of Grade One pupils with and without Early Childhood Experience of Sto. Nino Elementary School. The independent variable consist of School Readiness Assessment Test (SReA) for children with and without Early Childhood Experience while the dependent variable is the academic performance of the respondents in terms of the following: Sensory Discrimination, Concept Formation, Numeracy, Reading Readiness and Construction and Visual Motor Integration. Research Paradigm Independent Variable Dependent Variable Figure 1 The above figure shows the relationship of independent variables to dependent variables of the study. Statement of the Problem This study intended to evaluate the academic performance of Grade One pupils with and without Early Childhood Experience (ECE) at Sto. Nino Elementary School, Division of San Pablo City. Specifically, this study sought to answer the following questions: 1. What are the mean pre-test scores of the two groups of pupils in terms of the following: a) Sensory, b) Concept Formation, c) Numeracy, d) Reading Readiness and e) Construction and Visual- Motor Integration? 2. What are the mean post-test scores of the two groups of pupils in terms of the following: a) Sensory Discrimination, b) Concept Formation, c) Numeracy, d) Reading Readiness and e) Construction and Visual Motor- Integration? 3. Is there a significant difference in the mean scores between the pupils with and without Early Childhood Experience (ECE) and their performance? Hypothesis The hypothesis stated below was tested in this study. There is no significant difference in the mean scores between the pupils with Early Childhood Experience (ECE) and those without Early Childhood Experience (ECE) and their performance in terms of the following: i. Sensory Discrimination, ii. Concept Formation, iii. Numeracy, iv. Reading Readiness and a. Construction and Visual- Motor Integration? Significance of the Study This study is of importance to the pupils, teachers, principals, parents and other researcher for the following reasons: Pupils are primary group which the study would benefit. They are the central point to be given much consideration because they are the recipients of this study. They will be assessed and it would be a big help for them to improve their academic performance. Teachers are the facilitators of learning. They may be able to undertake possible teaching alternatives that may be facilitate, enhance and improve their teaching skills to cater the needs of the pupils with and without Early Childhood Experience in order to improve their academic performance. They will specifically take cognizance of their status at present in terms of the problem arising in their own classroom. Likewise, they could assess definitely where the problem lie and thus, make remediation to solve them. Therefore the learners’ needs would be taken into considerations. The results of this investigation will also help other teacher in the field since the problems raised here may have also help them to improve the academic performance of their pupils. Principals are the ones who initiate support for every change that happens in the school. Good management and supervision of the school and the teachers, respectively, are the responsibility of the principals. Results which this study reveal may enable the school heads to plan out better and more effective ways to evaluate the academic performance of Grade One pupils with and without Early Childhood Experience. It is very important to take in consideration the needs of Grade One pupils because it is the foundation year for them. In that case the principal ought to have a plan to cater the individual needs of the learner to improve their academic performance to elevate the quality of education in the country. Parents are stakeholders of the school. The findings of this study are important to parents because they need to be informed about the performance of their school children in school. Through this, they will know the importance of Early Childhood Experience (ECE) for their children. For this reason, they will send them in preschool. So that their children will not be shocked with their new environment. The parents will work hand and hand with the teacher in facilitating strategies to evaluate the academic performance of the learners. They may also help influencing their children to have a good study habits. Their support to their children and school is important so that the goals will be attained. Other researchers who would be interested with this problem may gain further insights in developing their own research work. The data that will be revealed by this study may be used by other researcher to enhance their own studies. They may also use it as related study or augment data that they have to come up with a more comprehensive knowledge about the problem presented here into. Scope and Limitation of the Study The focus of the study to be conducted is An Evaluation of Academic Performance of Sto. Nino Elementary School, Dapdapan, District, Division of San Pablo City. It limits its coverage on the result of School Readiness Assessment (SReA) which includes the following areas – Sensory Discrimination, Concept Formation, Numeracy, Reading Readiness, and Construction and Visual Integration; the Pre test and Post test of School Readiness Assessment (SReA) and the instructional module being devised to answer the needs of Grade One pupils. The respondents of the study will be eighty (80) pupils of Sto. Nino Elementary School, forty (40) pupils with Early Childhood Experience (ECE) and forty (40) pupils without Early Childhood Experience (ECE). Definition of Terms For the interpretation of the study, the terms used are defined in order to avoid vagueness or ambiguousness meaning. Therefore, provide the reader a common point of reference. Public Elementary SchoolsThese are school managed, operated and maintained by the national government. It offers curricular programs for Grade One to Six children. Sensory Discrimination These refer to exercises in discriminating simplest form of mental operation that was clearly intellective. It includes exercises on identifying same and different shapes. Concept FormationThese refer to exercises that requires the learner to construct the properties of the object from the definition. It includes exercises on completing statements showing simple analogy. Numeracy The term refers the ability to learn the specific tasks in Mathematics like counting, arranging, sequencing sets of objects. The numeracy skills are designed to help with the more advanced levels of mathematics that pupils will encounter during the school lives and also into their adulthood. It includes exercises pointing out which has more or less sets. In this study, it pertains to the level of achievement of the Grade One pupils in different learning skills in Mathematics as perceived by their Grade One teachers. Construction and Visual-Motor Integration These skills refer to the smooth coordination of the eyes and hands working together. Sto. Nino Elementary School Public Elementary school situated in Brgy. Sto. Nino, San Pablo City where the present study is being conducted. Grade One Pupils. Refer to children entering the formal school in the primary grades as prescribed by the Department of Education, whose ages ranges from six (6) years old and above. Chapter II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES This chapter presents literature and studies which are related to the problem. The materials found in local and foreign books, educational journals and magazines, documents, guidelines and reports by Department of Education provided references. Related Literature Philosophy and Goals of Elementary Education. Philosophy of pre-school education as stated in DECS Memo no. 107 s. 1989 considers the child, the school and the teacher with the support of the family in the maximizing the child’s potential. Pre-school education is based on the knowledge that each child is unique individual with his own biological make up, interest, capacities, and ways of viewing the world. He has a tremendous capacity for learning. He is active and understands the world differently from adult. His language has developed with acquisition of wide vocabulary making him capable of communicating his ideas and feelings. A pre-school child is always on the process of becoming, and therefore if properly developed can become a critical thinker and a socially sensitive, directed, creative, responsible and caring individual. Pre-school education must aim to develop children in all aspects physical, social, emotional and cognitive so that they will be better prepared to adjust and cope with life situations and the demands of formal schooling. By doing so, learning gaps and dropouts may be reduced or avoided to the maximum. Objectives of Pre-School education is founded on the following objectives; (Inc.DECS Memo No. 45 1995). They are as follows: To develop the child in all aspects ( physical, social, emotional and cognitive) so that they may be better prepared to adjust and cope with the life situations within the context of his experience. To maximize the child’s potential through a variety of carefully selected and meaningful experiences considering his interests and capabilities, and; To develop the child in all aspects so that he becomes a self- propelling, thinking and contributing individual able to make decisions which all prepare him more complex demands for future life. DepEd Order No. 10, s. 2004 is the legal basis in the implementation of the Enhanced Eight-Week Early Experiences for Grade One. Its main thrust is development of academic skills among learners. It is because most Grade One entrants have not gone through pre-school experiences. Hence, the Early Childhood Experience has been enriched and aligned with the BEC making it’s integral part of the Grade 1 Curriculum. In 1995, Early Childhood Experiences for Grade One was institutionalized at the same time as the official age for entry into the primary school was dropped to six years of age. All Grade One teachers were requested to implement the Eight-Week Curriculum and gradually move to the regular Grade One curriculum. Pursuant to DepEd Order No. 15, s. 2005, which calls for the administration of School Readiness Assessment for All Grade One Entrants, all incoming Grade 1 shall undergo a school readiness assessment using the revised tool. The School Readiness Assessment (SRA) will be administered by Grade 1 teachers to be assisted by Grade II, III and master teachers of their respective schools. This assessment shall be administered twice. The first assessment given on May. The second shall be administered after the children have undergone 8-week curriculum, focusing on the competencies not manifested by the child during the first assessment. The SRA will determine the level of progress of Grade 1 entrants across different developmental domains that are critical in tracking Grade 1 learning competencies. The result shall be the basis for grouping the Grade 1 entrants. It will be also used to guide Grade 1 teachers in providing appropriate instruction and assistance to address specific needs of the pupils through the utilization of the 8-week curriculum. The assessment shall not be treated as an entrance test or examination as children may be anxious about passing or failing. No child shall be refused entry to Grade 1 based on the results of this assessment. â€Å" Educating our children at an early stage will give more chance for young Filipinos in the future to compete for jobs and opportunities in the new world order in which better educated and highly skilled persons have become the most valued resources. † Giving access to free quality early childhood education will bridge the gap between the rich and the poor that will give our less privileged countrymen a strong foundation for the challenges in the next millennium. (Eduardo J. Angara, 1997) The Early Childhood Care and Development ( ECCD ) Law, enacted in 2000, recognizes the importance of early childhood and its special needs, affirms parents as primary caregivers and the child’s first teachers, and establishes parent effectiveness, seminars and nutrition counselling for pregnant and lactating mothers. The law requires the establishment of a National Coordinating Council for the Welfare of Children which: (a) establishes guidelines, standards, and culturally relevant practices for ECCD programs; (b) develops a national system for the recruitment, training, and accrediting of caregivers; (c) monitors the delivery of ECCD services and the impact of beneficiaries; (d) provides additional resources to poor and disadvantaged communities in order to increase the supply of ECCD programs; (e) encourages the development of private sector initiatives the Republic Act 6972 known as â€Å" Barangay (village) Level Total Protection of Childen Act† has a provision that requires all local government units to establish a day-care centre in every village ; the law institutionalized the features of day-care programme that provide for young children’s learning needs aside from their health and psychosocial needs. The universalization of early childhood education and standardization of preschool and day care centers was established though the Executive Order No. 658 of 2008 (Expanding the Pre-School Coverage to Include Children Enrolled in Day Care Centers). (PTFE 2008). According to Clark (2002), in her article First Grade Readiness, there are signs one can look for, to know if a child is a ready for first grade. In the physical realm, the first grade child’s limbs are now proportion with the body and head . There is a loss of baby far and greater definition in the face. In the emotional realm, the young child who once expressed strong emotions through sudden outburst now has a feelings that begin to deepen. A child will talk of â€Å"hurt feelings† and being sad. Socially, the first grade ready child begins to form friendships which go deeper than before. The child feels loyalty for friends and often expresses the desire to be with them. In the mental realm, there is the birth of free memory. This is different than the memory of a four year old. The younger child’s memory must be triggered by a sight, smell, or rhythmic verse when the memory and recall it will. Kagan (2000) stated that the concept of school readiness has been defined and redefined over the years resulting in differing viewpoints. Several theories of child development and learning have been used to explain the term. In fact, there appears to be two types of readiness: readiness to learn, which involves a level of development at which the child has the capacity to learn specific materials, and readiness for school and readiness for school which involve specific set of cognitive, linguistic, social and motor skills that enable a child to assimilate the school’s curriculum. According to Quinto (2001) the lowering of entrance to six years old for grade one pupils in the Philippines public elementary schools have created inner tensions, especially to those who had never gone to any kind of school before. So, in order to have a smooth transition from home to school and to prepare them socially, psychologically, the curriculum on the Early Childhood Experiences was recommended for adoption in all public elementary schools. Studies show that child’s mind is almost full developed before he reaches the age of five. This presents a need for an organized early childhood education. Pre-elementary or preschool education is one of the latest trends in childhood education which gives equal opportunities to all children at the lowest step of educational ladder. Preschool education holds a prominent place, being that level in the school system wherein children are trained to be better prepared for grade one. For the development of the child, the curriculum focuses on these areas of development: physical ( gross and fine motor coordination through play and manipulated activities like games, simple work); cognitive ( communication skills, sensory-perceptual concepts, numeracy skills); personal social (health habits and independence in dressing, eating, sleeping, toileting; relating with teachers, peers and other people through group play and interaction; follow rules and routine. Groark (2006) stresses that the school and district administrators, as well as policymakers are increasingly recognizing that early education and intervention services for young children have a direct and positive impact on later school performance and quality. Soliven (1999) stated that an authority on child development, underscores the significance of pre-primary education to the mental development of children citing the results of research which showed that pre-primary education is important to the child, she pointed out the intellectual capacity of the child is most susceptible to reaches a substantially higher rate of intellectual development of Early Childhood especially in a favourable environment. It is apparent that intelligence is best developed in the first six years of life, if the child is exposed to a favourable environment for development during this formative period. Vittetow (1994) former Education Expert of International Cooperation Administration (ICA) in his Educational Series Bulletin for the Bureau of Public Schools gave growth characteristics of Pre-school Filipino children, which are true to all children at this level of growth and development. Said development and growth includes: 1) Physical Characteristics, 2) Mental Characteristics, 3) Social Characteristics, 4) Emotional Characteristics, 5) Spiritual and Moral Characteristics and 6) Aesthetic Characteristics. According to Kats (2001) what the children learn, how they learn, and how much they learn depend on many factors. Among the most important factor’s are the child’s physical well-being, and his emotional and cognitive relationships with those who care for him. The school readiness goal reflects two concerns about the education of young children. The first is that the increasing numbers of young children in poverty, in single-parent households have limited proficiency in English are affected by the drug abuse of their parents have poor nutrition, and receive inadequate health care. The second area of concern involves such matters as the high rates of retention in kindergarten and primary grades, delayed school entry in some districts, segregated transition in classes in others and the increasing use of standardized tests to determine children’s readiness to enter school. Standardized tests used to deny children entrance to school or place them in special classes are inappropriate for children younger than six. These trends are due largely to the fact that an academic curriculum and direct instruction teaching practices that are appropriate for the upper grades have gradually been moved down to the kindergarten and first grade. These two areas of concern suggest that reaching the school readiness goal will require a twofold strategy: one part focused on supporting families in their efforts to help their children get ready for school, and the second on helping the schools to be responsive to the wide range of development levels, backgrounds, experiences, and needs of children to bring them in school. Watson (1985) pointed out that groups of children of higher economic status have higher level of intelligence than those favored economic status, the higher their average IQ’s on Standford Binet or similar verbal test. The mismatch between the schools and children from low income working class families had led to concerted attempts to involve parents from these families in the schools. When the school can involve low-income parents, their children’s school attendance increases, the children are less disruptive in class and less aggressive on the playground, their classwork improves, and they are more likely to complete their homework. If they are raised in emotionally secured homes they tend to be emotionally secured children. If they are raised in homes which lack happiness and have little emotionally security they may in time tend to be unhappy and insecure. However, these differences between higher and lower socio-economic groups may be due to non-intellectual factors. Some of these factors serving to depress intelligence test scores among the lower socio-economic groups could be greater resistance to taking test, the effect of nutritional deficiencies, different attitudes towards education, suspicion, lack of support and the like. Although any or all of these factors seem reasonable, there are no definite research to establish the answer conclusively. It has been observed that most elementary teachers do not have the necessary educational background to teach visual arts. University of Hawaii’s Professor, Dr. Stephanie Feeny (1986); stresses the importance of the arts in the development of the thinking process in children.