The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Research Paper

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act - Research Paper Example INTRODUCTION This paper shall discuss the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (FCPA), which is a United States federal law passed mainly to ensure accounting transparency as mandated by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. It also includes provisions meant to address the bribery of foreign officials. This paper shall discuss the act, including its pertinent details and essential provisions, as well as its reasons for passage and application. II. BODY The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act is a law which includes specific provisions on accounting and prohibitions on bribery (Cook and Connor, p. 2). The accounting provisions of the law are meant to prohibit illegal accounting practices which are often carried out to conceal corrupt practices. The provisions are also meant to guarantee that company shareholders, including the Securities and Exchange Commission are given an accurate picture of corporate status and finances (Cook and Connor, 2010). This law covers two groups of corporate per sonalities, first are â€Å"those with formal ties to the United States and those who take action in furtherance of a violation while in the United States† (Cook and Connor, 2010, P. 2). The US issuers and domestic concerns are required to heed the provisions of the FCPA, regardless of their actions being within or outside the US territories. Issuers are companies with securities in the US or those which are legally called for to regularly report with the US SEC (Cook and Connor, 2010). On the other hand, those under domestic concerns have a wider coverage, and include individuals or residents of the US. Corporations, partnerships, business trusts, sole proprietorships, and like entities are also covered under domestic concerns, for as long as their main place of business is in the US or their governing provisions are under the US laws (Cook and Connor, 2010). This act holds corporations and other entities legally liable for bribing foreign officials even if such act was carr ied out beyond American shores and throughout the years, various violators have been prosecuted under these provisions. The basic provisions of this law hold the following practices as illegal: â€Å"1) a payment, offer, authorization, or promise to pay money or anything of value; 2) to a foreign government official (including a party official of manager of a state owned concern), or to any other person knowing that the payment of promise will be passed on to a foreign official; 3) with a corrupt motive; 4) for the purpose of (a) influencing any act or decision of that person, (b) inducing such person to do or omit any action in violation of his lawful duty, (c) securing an improper advantage, or (d) inducing such person to use his influence to affect an official act or decision; 5) in order to assist in obtaining or retaining business for or with, or directing any business to, any person† (FCPA, in Cook and Connor, 2010, p. 2). Individuals and corporate entities violating th e provisions of this law can be held criminally liable and may be imprisoned and/or fined for their actions (Biegelman and Biegelman, 2010). The law also provides a generalized definition for what is to be qualified as ‘payment’ punishable under the FCPA. The FCPA defines these payments to cover any benefits (monetary or otherwise) given or gifted to a foreign official in order to curry favorable treatment in business activities with the involved foreign official (Cook and Connor,

POLC in the School System Essay Example for Free

POLC in the School System Essay Just like any other organization, a school system would not be able to function properly without an efficient administrator and an effective administration process. In the case of school systems, the administrator would be the superintendent of the school. As the administrator, the superintendent serves as both the leader and the manager of the school. In order to be a successful and efficient administrator, the superintendent should focus on four areas– planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. In the case of planning, the administrator should be able to pinpoint appropriate goals for the whole school system. The goal usually carries prospects for progress, equality, and harmony. As part of the planning process, the administrator should also be able to identify the best courses of action in fulfilling the chosen goals. Such goals should be evaluated at a regular basis so as to assess if they are ion line with the demands of time. After planning the goals and the ways towards its achievement, the administrator should be able to put those plans into action. Organizing is as important as the plan itself. As such, the new administrator should be able to formulate task and authority relations. He should be able to establish an organizational set-up that will allow the school system to efficiently and quickly make the vision, a reality, if he/she may deem the present set-up is inappropriate. As the leader of the school, the new administrator should also be able to influence people- from the students to the teachers, and even the other sectors involved in establishing an effective educational system such as the community, the parents, governmental agencies, and many more. He or she should be able to motivate and unite them, and provide them with a common goal for the educational welfare of the students and for the encouragement of harmony and efficiency of learning and teaching processes. He or she should be able to encourage everyone to work towards a common goal, which is usually the mission and vision of the school. Lastly, after ensuring the plans, the set-up and the people are all set for action; the administrator should be able to control the organization. Control should not be equated with stringent and numerous laws and regulations matched with various sanctions. Instead, it should be associated with the establishment of precise evaluation processes that will allow the administrator to measure and monitor the organization’s development at regular basis overtime, in accordance with the established goals. References: Brennen, Annick M. (n.d.) The Administration of Elementary Schools. Retrieved January 29, 2008 from http://www.soencouragement.org/admin-of-elementary-schools.htm The Management Process Today (n.d.) Retrieved January 29, 2008 from http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/dl/free/0073011223/317076/samplechapter.pdf

The Development of Action in Kate Chopins The Storm Essay -- Chopin S

The Development of Action in The Storm "The Storm" by Kate Chopin is about a storm that passes through a coastal townin the Southern United States. The story charts the different phases of the storm, and then associates the character interaction with each phase. The tension between characters increases as the physical aspects of the storm become more violent. This essay will outline the development of the storm and coincide character relationships with the outline. The passing of the storm is the central action in The Storm and this essay will analyze the affect it has on the story as a whole. The storm is noted in the first line of the story. The stillness in the air alerted even Bibi, the boy, of the incoming weather. We find that both the boy and his father are worried about Calixta, the female head of the household. Bobinot is the husband and father. The mounting conditions make him think of his wife at home, and the sanctity of a strong marriage in contrast with the turbulence of a storm; he buys her a can of the shrimp that she is so fond of, a type of security for times when conditions are adverse. (Stanford, 665) Calixta is at home; her work has left her unaware of the gathering clouds. The next mention of the physicalities of the storm comes along with a stranger on a horse. The reader learns that the animals are huddled away from the storm, leading one to believe that the sense of changing weather is instinctual and that creatures will behave instinctually. Just as the stranger is to voice an opinion that would break a dangerous chain of event ... ...ions were perfect for a storm. Chopin does show humans with power over these conditions, when Alcee must fight his instinctive desires and leave Calixta for example, even though in most respects she treats the lustful urges encountered by Calixta and Alcee as uncontrollable and unavoidable as a storm. Chopin wanted to show that human nature is still a part of nature and that humans still must cater to Mother Nature s whims. The storm in this story is not essential for Chopin to get her point across, though it is a very strong backbone to carry her idea. She could have chosen several natural occurrences. Storms are traditionally literarily friendly and that humans have a certain fascination with storms. In closing, the different phases of the storm in this story is a good guideline for matters of the heart.

Blood Station

My eyes slid open, I saw that I was completely frozen head to toe. I wasn't the only one here though, there were hundreds, thousands, even millions! The only thing I could do was move my eyes, everything else was frozen solid. That was strange because I felt water trickling down my body. My hair felt loose. Slowly I unfroze more and more, until eventually I could move more freely. I gazed around only to find that I was trapped in a rather small tube. There were tubes piercing into my arms draining blood. One of my kind, a human, was walking past so I tried to act frozen again but it wasn't working, I knew this because he started rummaging in his pocket. He pulled out a key which was bland and boxlike. He approached my tube, shivers blazed down my spine; he enclosed the key closer to my tube. By this point in time my body had been freed and I was able to move around. The door made a clicking noise as he put the key into it; I presumed that the door was unlocked, so I kicked as hard and as fast as I could. The door flew open and knocked him flat against another row of tube running parallel to mine. I hopped out to take his keys and hide him in my tube. I noticed that I was naked, so I stripped him to his underwear and dressed up in his security uniform, I tossed him in to my tube. The key for my tube was still in the keyhole of my door, so fully clothed I locked the door to conceal him in my tube. Now I was safe I looked around, it was a blood station. The guard in my tank was kicking and screaming now. I noticed a dial and a tin screen on my tube. I turned the dial; the screen now read â€Å"0 gallons of water/ice† so I kept turning until it read â€Å"100†. 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 it went higher and higher, 60, 70, 80, 90, max. So I then I pushed the green button. Water flooded into the tank and filled it top to bottom and froze suddenly. The tubes that must have slipped out of me I saw winding through the tube and slipping into his arms like syringes. I looked around again luckily it was an old factory and my tube was right next to one of the fire exits. I walked casually out of the door, there were no guards, and it must have been the one I locked in my tube. It was a desert outside, literally. Mountains of sand were getting blown around by the soft breeze. The sandy mountains were surrounded by three scruffy looking houses, apart from that there was nothing, just a big outstretch of desert. I knocked on one of the doors belong to which was attached to one of the houses. A panel slid open to reveal a pair of eyes squinting at me. â€Å"Alright officer† he grumbled â€Å"password please?† â€Å"What password?† I queried â€Å"I don't know of any password† â€Å"Last chance bub† he grunted at me. â€Å"But I haven't been told about any password† I came out with sounding like a child that had been caught misbehaving. The door swung open faster than the door I has kicked earlier. A big man came into focus, he had torn uniform and a goatee beard, and he was extremely buff. He grabbed me by the scruff of my neck and dragged me back in to the old factory. I cringed as the guard walked past my tank. He glanced at it as he walked past but he didn't stop. He walked on a bit then doubled back to get a closer look. â€Å"John?† he mumbled to himself. He hit the drain button and the tube slowly started to drain again. Once it has he unlocked the door and swung it open. John spat out â€Å"him! He put me in here, he's a donor!† The other guard turned round and gave me a funny look and ripped john's clothes clean off of me. He took john out the tank, john started to get dressed. The buff guard threw me in and I smacked my face off the backing of the tube, the door slammed shut. I felt water rushing in; it was at my neck now. I took my last breath and it all went dark.

What is the Measure of Unhappy

The Simpsons, was a dysfunctional family, with no less than a rebellious son constantly getting into trouble in school and the community in general, and a drunkard father who would not hesitate to strangle said son at the slightest provocation. It is wacky and funny, owing to its cartoonish character and its brilliant writing. The same can be said of the Bluth family in Arrested Development, where between feuding siblings, a drunkard, former socialite mother and a fugitive father, at the center are values that remain somewhat intact. Their dysfunction, and tragic circumstances are brought in a humorous light. Though with the title Little Miss Sunshine, we see nothing of the glamor we would expect a few minutes into the movie. This is no Simpsons—at least that family kept to their values, had the support of their Springfield neighborhood; this is no Arrested Development, as there is no one member left that is functional enough, strong enough to keep the ties together. For all intents and purposes, the Hoovers of Little Miss Sunshine are estranged, and ready to tear to separate directions. We are immediately introduced to people at the end of their ropes—the grandfather is a heroin addict, the uncle recently failed in his suicide attempt, the father is a failed â€Å"self-help† author, the son has all but disowned his dysfunctional family. The mother, for all her efforts to keep her family together, is ironically nothing but a foil to make clearer how much in desperate circumstance the family has gone. The movie centers around the eventual trip the family has to California, for a Little Miss Sunshine pageant for the youngest daughter, but here there is more opportunity to show how far down its members have gone. No one member is not dependent on the other—the suicidal uncle could not be left alone, or alone with his nephew; the grandfather, who has been with his granddaughter longest, is impliedly dependent on her for emotional support; this line of dependency eventually passes to the mother, and the father last. Everyone but the daughter is reluctantly pulled to the journey. There is not much to be said about the acting done in the movie, as every character was subtly played. Steve Carrell plays a person different altogether from his previous roles as family man or comic hero—he plays a manic-depressive intellectual homosexual, and he delivers perfectly the consequential line where he explains to his niece why he tried to kill himself. Greg Kinnear, in portraying the straight-laced father who tries to maintain a semblance of reason to his family, successfully balances the seriousness of his mood while becoming involved in ridiculous situations. Memorable—perhaps owing to him being at the center of the only â€Å"loud† scene in the entire movie—is Alan Arkin, the wise cracking grandfather who breaks the stereotype of the embittered old man trapped in the memories of days past or a war they might have taken past. The â€Å"shining ray of light†, perhaps, in the household is the little daughter, Olive Hoover, who spends countless days dreaming about pageants and watching the coronation of beauty queens. From what we see of her and her actions throughout the film, we wonder whether she was oblivious to the situation her family was in. There is a scene of her whooping with joy from room to room while from the kitchen the father and mother violently exchange words, eventually dragging the family in the argument in the process. In the aftermath of the scene, in comes Olive, still whooping with joy. She is also constantly sheltered by her mother and her father, in separate circumstances from what would be deemed â€Å"inappropriate† at her age. For those who would search for the comedy in the movie, there is none but dry, tired humor. There are no exaggerated misadventures that the average Bluth or Simpson might encounter, but little troubles that could normally arise. Those who watched expecting serious or contemplative thought, would be the ones pleasantly surprised. For while in themselves the picture of a family running after the bus to catch a ride would be in itself funny, it does not break the gloom, but complement it. Eventually each of them are pushed to the limits of their patience, and comes face to face with the measure of unhappiness. What measure is unhappy? The movie forces us to tackle this question head-on, in-between the humorous intakes of breath. Each of the family members sees their vision of life fall apart: the father sees the failure of his venture to promote his book; the uncle sees the vision of what he had lost come to life before him again; the son comes face to face with the prospect of a shattered dream, and there is a death in the family. Olive Hooper, protected from the harshness of their world, surprisingly becomes the one that shows them the light in it. The son, who worships Nietzsche and sees the final end to his dream, finally and completely rejects everything—his family and his life. Only the quiet gesture of his sister makes him realize that the trip is not about him, or his troubles. But her. And she was willing to sacrifice that time for him. When the mother, seeing her world start to come to pieces, finds support in the hug of her family, and her child. The father, coming to a point where he could choose to shatter his child's dream—knowing that he has, once and for all, been defeated—chooses instead to throw his worries away and join in the crazed merriment of his family. If one was to watch the movie, and look for something better that would come the main characters' way, they would find the end underachieving. The family remains subdued, dysfunctional, and a failure in each of their respective right. There is, however, something different indeed—for by the end we learn that while each of us has dreams, we do not need to place standards of happiness on attaining them—we can be happy in being with family, being ourselves. It's not the accomplishment of something, but the journey taken in its accomplishment that is important. In the end, happiness is not a state which we seek to attain—but a choice to be content with wherever we are. We could all take a cue on Olive. In the face of the troubles and misadventures of her family, the loss, and the pain each is faced with, she never loses the sunny disposition. And when she does lose it, everyone pitches in to rouse her from her gloom. It's because the inspiration for them to keep going, and to keep living.

From LO to LOL - Emphasis

From LO to LOL From LO to LOL It is 40 years ago, almost to the day, that the internet made its first connection. On 29 October 1969, a computer in the University of California connected with one several hundred miles away in the Stanford Research Institute, just long enough to receive the message LO. (It was meant to be LOGIN, but the system crashed before the G could be typed.) The rate at which the internet and related technologies have developed since that fateful day is positively dizzying: from science fiction to something tentatively toyed with by a very few, to a ubiquitous part of life for the vast majority in a few decades. Increasingly frequently this is our chosen method of communication in work and out to the point where the future of a national institution like the postal service is threatened. But could our relationship with language be threatened too? The question does keep rearing its worried head over the possibilities of the future: illiterate children? Txt spk @ work? Robot computers marking exam papers? Whats certain is that there will be an effect of some kind. After all, use of the word hello as the greeting we unthinkingly use originated when Thomas Edison declared it the clearest way of answering the telephone. Interestingly, in 2003 it was reported that traditional greetings like hello would soon become obsolete, replaced (as they often are in texts and email) with globespeak alternatives, such as hey, howdy and gday. This, if true, would effectively bring the life of hello full circle: both created for and destroyed by the rise of a new technology. Although we probably neednt sound its death knell quite yet. Then, of course, theres Microsoft: it may rule the world, but to what extent does it rule our words? We are all guilty of relying more and more heavily on Words varicoloured squiggly lines and AutoCorrect function to correct our mistakes, but we are all also probably aware that the program is far from infallible. For example, certain errors such as unnecessary initial capital letters or accidental use of homonyms may not be flagged, while words that are actually spelled accurately can be. Changes both in language and in technology are inevitable and move at a great pace, but theyre not always in step with each other. While newer words like podcast and texting have found their way into dictionaries, older versions of Word still mark them as wrong. The limitations of spellcheckers have been such that the phenomenon of them wreaking havoc with documents now has its own name: the Cupertino effect. Its so-called because Cupertino (the Californian city home to Apple Inc.) used to be the first offering to replace cooperation, back when spellcheckers only recognised the hyphenated version of the word. This meant that anyone breezily pressing accept all changes was left with such nonsensical phrases as the Cupertino with our Italian comrades proved to be very fruitful. (This is taken from an official NATO document from 2003.) Proper nouns and foreign words can also cause problems, as news service Reuters discovered when it inadvertently ended up referring to Pakistans Muttahida Quami Movement as the Muttonhead Quail Movement. Naturally, updates are being made all the time to prevent these particular blunders Microsoft Office 2010 offers a contextual speller in order to make correction suggestions more accurate. Nevertheless, other problems are quite likely to pop up and, however ingenious the algorithm behind the latest features, the ultimate responsibility is with us to check what we actually end up saying. It is also unavoidable that around periods of great change therell be those who fret over the potential consequences. The massive rise in texting has led to concern that this abbreviation-filled medium is going to destroy childrens literacy and have them including such terms as LOL (laugh out loud) and gr8 (great) in their schoolwork. Tales of such inclusions abound, but many are mere fabrication; in fact, several studies have found that the majority of children scornfully denounce the idea that theyd do such a thing. Indeed, a positive aspect could be that kids are taught the importance of writing appropriately for different contexts. We wont be able to stop the dual juggernauts of technology and language change, but we neednt necessarily fear them. The best approach is probably to stop worrying about a future filled with texted essays and automatons in charge of education, and make sure to keep a responsible eye on what we are each actually producing. After all, the future of writing if not the future of technology is largely in our hands.

Inca essays

Inca essays By what methods did the civilizations of pre-Columbian America control their peoples? Give evidence to support your arguments from the Maya and Inca civilizations between 500 BCE to 1500 CE. The civilizations of pre Columbia became highly sophisticated. The Incas and Mayan societies controlled their civilizations politically, culturally, and economically. The Incan civilization was ruled by the Inca. The Incas ruled by proxy (Incas.htm) Below the Inca himself, tribes were formed in each tribe their were tribal heads. In the tribes there were clans and in the clans their were clan heads, below that were the peasants and commoners who were split in groups of ten in this group there was a superior. The social unit then was primarily based on cooperation and community. (Inca.htm) You can use the word Inca in three ways, one the empower is given that title, second all who spoke Quechua and third everyone under the Incan empire.(Brown) The Incan empire was ruled by the royal dynasty those only with Incan blood. The emperor was called the sapa Inca. Sapa typically married his sister; his council was made up of nobles that helped rule his empire. The nobles were called Orejones they were the member of the ruling class often of royal blood. (Andrea 407) Usually the high priest and generals were also his relatives. The rulers of each province after he conquered more cities were usually allowed to still govern the cities as long as they kept their storehouses full, did not rebel and paid their taxes. This was an excellent way to keep the empire closely together. Every time the Incas conquered new cities the people go into the army or lived as they did as long as they were faithful the Incan Empire. The Mayans were warriors their civilization was always were at war. When they conquered others many became slaves. Spilling blood was very important to them. The k...

9 Mental Math Tricks and Games for Students

9 Mental Math Tricks and Games for Students Mental math deepens students understanding of fundamental math concepts. In addition, knowing that they can do mental math anywhere, without relying on pencils, paper, or manipulatives, gives students a sense of success and independence. Once students learn mental math tricks and techniques, they can often figure out the answer to a math problem in the amount of time it would take them to pull out a calculator. Did You Know? In the early stages of learning math, the use of math manipulatives (such as beans or plastic counters) helps children visualize and understand one-to-one correspondence and other mathematical concepts. Once children grasp these concepts, they are ready to start learning mental math. Mental Math Tricks Help students improve their mental math skills with these mental math tricks and strategies. With these tools in their mathematical toolkit, your students will be able to break down math problems into manageable- and solvable- pieces. Decomposition The first trick, decomposition, simply means breaking numbers down into an expanded form (e.g. tens and ones). This trick is useful when learning double-digit addition, as children can decompose the numbers and add like-numbers together. For example: 25 43 (20 5) (40 3) (20 40) (5 3). Its easy for students to see that 20 40 60 and 5 3 8, resulting in an answer of 68. Decomposing, or breaking apart, can be used for subtraction as well, except that the largest digit must always remain intact. For example: 57 – 24 (57 – 20) – 4. So, 57 – 20 37, and 37 – 4 33. Compensation Sometimes, it’s helpful for students to round one or more of the numbers to a number that’s easier to work with. For example, if a student were adding 29 53, he might find it easier to round the 29 to 30, at which point he can easily see that 30 53 83. Then, he simply has to take away the extra 1 (which he got from rounding 29 up) to arrive at a final answer of 82. Compensation can be used with subtraction, as well. For example, when subtracting 53 –  29, the student can round 29 up to 30: 53 –  30 23. Then, the student can add the 1 from rounding up to yield an answer of 24. Adding Up Another mental math strategy for subtraction is adding up. With this strategy, students add up to the next ten. They then count the tens until they  reach the number from which they are subtracting. Finally, they figure the remaining ones. Use the problem 87 – 36 as an example. The student is going to add up to 87 to mentally calculate the answer. She can add 4 to 36 to reach 40. Then, shell count by tens to reach 80. So far, the student has determined that there is a difference of 44 between 36 and 80. Now, she adds the remaining 7 ones from 87 (44 7 51) to figure out that 87 – 36 51. Doubles Once students learn doubles (22, 55, 88), they can build on that knowledge base for mental math. When they encounter a math problem that is near a known doubles fact, they can simply add the doubles and adjust. For example, 6 7 is close to 6 6, which the student knows equals 12. Then, all he has to do is add the extra 1 to calculate an answer of 13. Mental Math Games Show students that mental math  can be fun with these five active games perfect for  elementary-age students.   Find the Numbers Write five numbers on the board (e.g. 10, 2, 6, 5, 13). Then, ask students to find the numbers that match the statements you will give, such as: The sum of these numbers is 16 (10, 6)The difference between these numbers is 3 (13, 10)The sum of these numbers is 13 (2, 6, 5) Continue with new groups of numbers as needed. Groups Get the wiggles out of students in grades K-2 while practicing mental math and counting skills with this active game. Say, â€Å"Get in groups of†¦Ã¢â‚¬  followed by a math fact, such as 10  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ 7 (groups of 3),  4 2 (groups of 6), or something more challenging such as 29-17 (groups of 12). Stand Up/Sit Down Before giving students a mental math problem, instruct them to stand up if the answer is greater than a specific number or sit down if the answer is less. For example, instruct students to stand up if the answer is greater than 25 and sit down if it’s less. Then, call out, â€Å"57-31.† Repeat with more facts whose sums are greater than or less than your chosen number, or change the stand/sit number each time. Number of the Day Write a number on the board each morning. Ask students to suggest math facts that equal the number of the day. For example, if the number is 8, children might suggest 4 4, 5 3, 10  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ 2, 18  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ 10, or 6 2. For older students, encourage them to come up with suggestions for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Baseball Math Divide your students into two teams. You can draw a baseball diamond on the board or arrange the desks to form a diamond. Call out a sum to the first â€Å"batter.† The student advances one base for  each number sentence  she  gives that  equals that sum.  Switch teams every three or four batters to give everyone a chance to play.

Business Ethics and Social Responsibilities Essay

Business Ethics and Social Responsibilities - Essay Example The decision making process for incorporating ethics then becomes one of the most important values that are associated with businesses and the changes which occur in terms of defining and keeping specific ethical values. Decision Making Processes Traditionally, business ethics have been defined by the basic values that any corporation decides to reflect to the public and to implement within the organizational environment. However, the term is one which is now beginning to expand based on dimensional changes which are occurring within the corporation and in the environment. The decision making process to implement or change ethics is one which is now defined by the institution of business ethics and the changes which are required for businesses. Pressure from management and the association with the internal environment is one of the ways in which the process has changed. The influence of stakeholders, environmental concerns, social issues and political expectations have continued to i nfluence the process more with the recent trends in decision making processes. Ethical considerations not only relate to the basic foundations of a business but now also link to the internal and external pressures that are developing new standards for corporations (Ferrell, Fraedrich, 2009). The decision making process for ethics not only incorporates the various influences but also becomes based on the strategic implementation of plans, as opposed to the value and ethics which are primary for most in the business. The concept is one which leads to initiatives such as looking at the moral and value considerations and how this will affect the investments and finances. Stakeholder investments as well as the positive and negative influences are some of the areas that become primary considerations for ethical implementation. In a recent study (Hofmann, Hoelzl, Kirchler, 2007), it was noted that the moral considerations had a direct impact on the revenue which was created within the comp any. Moral behavior, such as the treatment of employees, had a direct correlation with the overall profitability as well as the expected dividends per share. Controlling profit, specifically when noted from this study, then directly correlates with the planning and implementation of moral treatment and ethical considerations and reflects with the stakeholder value and overall profits which are developed from a corporation (Hofmann, Hoelzl, Kirchler,2007). Processes for the Internal Environment The importance of strategically implementing the morals and values within a corporation lead to changes which occur with the internal and external environment. The effects which are created strategically are able to provide not only overall profit but also change the cultural effects within the organization. The process of ethical and moral considerations then becomes strategic for the overall quality and functions of an organization. More than having a foundation for the ethics of a business is the need to incorporate this in terms of the environment and how this will affect the different functions which one has. The process for the internal environment first begins with the decision making of having specific ethics that allow the managers and employees to follow specific rules. This is followed by reflections of the corporation that are associated with corporate responsibility which is continuously taken and a part of

Critically assess the main implications of globalisation for HRM, and Essay

Critically assess the main implications of globalisation for HRM, and analyse the future challenges for people management within - Essay Example Most organisational systems in today’s global markets have had a continued decrease in investment. This happens amid the increasing middle level organisations’ call for more foreign direct investment and securing market positions in the competitive market. As a result, organisations have been forced to redefine their strategies. â€Å"Therefore, it is important for organisations to adapt to the changing environments, develop a resistance to negative market forces in an effort to achieve customer satisfaction† (Amos, 2008). Within the changing environment, human resource managers owe to formulate quick and immediate human resource strategies that will help an organisation retain its personnel while helping them develop their profession through training and seminars. There are enormous challenges surrounding the future of people management in any organisation setting. This calls for sufficient and constant attention on management of resources regardless of positive trends in results that often cause excessive optimism in the future financial status of the company. In fact, there is a need for a continuous development of effective Human resource plan and implementation at all levels. In so doing, the human resource should develop its capacity operationally as well as strategically. This should be done in a manner that compliments changes in an organisation while at the same time maintaining a strategic balance. In this case, sound human resource policies need to be put in place first before attempting more complicated changes in company practices are implemented. Introduction Globalization is the integration of the entire operations, processes and strategies of an organization in an effort to generate diversity of cultures, goods, services and facts. Since, globalization strongly emphasizes on diversity, it has a deep effect on the manner in which companies manages its operations and workers. Therefore, it is vital for the executive to underst and the impact globalisation has on human resource management. â€Å"Globalisation entails efforts meant to increase the flow of goods and resources across regional and international borders† (Amos, 2008). Moreover, globalisation encompasses the surfacing of corresponding organisational structures with a view to expand international financial activities and dealings. Human resource management has never received proper attention it deserves in today’s global economy. Most human resource managers lack basic skills of organisational management more importantly due to globalisation. It is important to note that business environment is a complex one today. The market has become more competitive and complex than it used to be due to globalisation. It is because of this competition and complexity that businesses strive to survive by focusing hard on competitive strengths in an effort to develop long term strategies for them. It has now emerged that most organisations have sta rted moving away from old ways owing to their inappropriateness in today’s competitive market. Indeed the new market environment calls for a new approach in human resource management as this saves organisations in the face of the upcoming global environment. â€Å"Numerous human resource management challenges have come up due to the rapid growth in business trends in the past few

Marketing plan assignment 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Marketing plan assignment 2 - Essay Example Currently, the company is having approximately 23 stores in the region of the UK. The company is also having an online operational activity in three regions of the world that include British, German and Australia. The company with the provision of quality products and services has been effective in performing its operations in an effective manner (Hawes & Curtis, 2015). Presently, the company is identified to make an entry in Chinese market for expanding its business. The actual intention of the company is to setup a business in the core market of China. In this regard, the company need to do a market research of the Chinese clothing market for understanding the actual market structure of the country. It is apparently stated that Chinese market is one of the world vast markets in terms of largest consumers. In this respect, based on the market research, it can be apparently stated that the rate of clothing consumption in the market segments of China has increased in a rapid manner. By the overall research, it is also identified that the China clothing market is one of the most prospected markets in the world (International Trade Centre, 2011). At the initial stage, the company i.e. Hawes & Curtis has been initiated to develop its Unique Selling Proportion (USP) for attracting the target customers as well as develop a respectable position in the Chinese market. The company has an aim to focus over the young and middle aged men as well as women as its targeted customer. The USP of the company is to provide quality clothing products along within clothing accessories for both men and women. In the Chinese market, the demand for apparel has increased to a large extent over the years owing to certain factors that include increase in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), income level, consumer behaviour, support of the government and shopping trend. In this regard, the company wanted to pay more attention towards

Is Performance Related Pay a Proven Path to Improving Employee Essay

Is Performance Related Pay a Proven Path to Improving Employee Performance and Job Satisfaction - Essay Example Based on this research performance related pay pertains to such a system that relates the rewards extended to an employee to the overall performance of the organization in which that employee serves. The purpose of performance related pays is to motivate the employees. The other big objective behind the performance related pay is to synchronize and align the performance of the employees to the overall aims and objectives of the organization in which they work. Though, the performance related pay is mostly financial, but sometimes it could also happen to be non-financial. The payments made under performance related pay schemes are usually in addition to the actual pay that an employee gets. This makes the employees appreciate the fact that the rewards one gets for ones performance are not invariable and rather tend to be variable and separate. Many a times the augmentation in an employee’s annual basic salary could also happen to be related to one’s performance. Performa nce related pay helps the organizations retain the employees who have attained the top rank in relation to their pay scale and are still accruing an outstanding performance. In the present context, when the organizations are getting much flatter, the organizations are bound to abound in the employees who come under this category. Further, the opportunities for extending promotions in the flatter organizations happen to be much less as compared to the multi layered organizations of the past. Hence, the performance related pay is one viable method of improving employee performance and extending job satisfaction. Common Types of Performance Pay Over the last two decades, there has been a considerable rise in the performance related pay systems (Beardwell 1996, p. 148). Though the performance related pay system was more common in the private sector, there is no denying the fact that many public sector organizations are also evincing a gradual shift towards performance related pay system s (Beardwell 1996, p. 148). The best thing about performance related pay systems is that they link the payments made to the employees, to the group, individual or organizational performance (White & Druker 2000). The organizations resort to a wide array of performance pay systems, yet, the primary assumption behind all such systems is that the opportunity to get an enhanced pay will motivate the employees to work better and will positively impact their productivity (White & Druker 2000). Piecework is the oldest form of performance pay system which links the payment made to an employee to the units of output produced by one (Bassett 1993, p. 3). This motivates the employee to work harder and better, as the production of optimal number of high quality productivity units is bound to be reflected in one’s pay slip. A payment by results is one other major performance pay system, where the

In What Ways Are an Organisations Employment Relations Influenced by Essay

In What Ways Are an Organisations Employment Relations Influenced by External Factors - Essay Example It is important to understand in detail how this commitment comes into maturity in the business world. According to Daniels (2006), organisation and its employees should together have one common understanding of their corporate goals and such can be enhanced further by employees’ success or failures and their existing relationship. In short, a good relationship existing between employees and the organisation is a good indicator of corporate success. Thus, an organisation’s ultimate goal is to enhance relationship with its employees or workforce. PESTLE Analysis Political Holman et al. (2005) argued that political processes are highly involved in the employee and management relationship considering that the modern design of working processes involves the modern consideration of conflicting interests between the employee and management. This may complement with the idea of Byton and Turnbull (2004) that there is no common interest between the interdependence of corporate world and the employees. One important implication of this in the real world is the continuing existence of boundaries between employees and the organisation. This boundary is without question being instituted by the differences that lead to conflicting interest among employees and the organisation. The idea of Holman et al (2005) and Byton and Turnbull only suggests that in reality there is conflict of interest between the employee and management and this boils down to the politics involved inside and outside of the corporate world. This means therefore that it is not only at the inside part of the corporate realm there is specific influence when it comes to employment relations but even at the... This report stresses that the current environmental concern is an important issue in employment relations. For instance, many companies which substantially in line with protecting the environment especially on the issue of global warming have substantially equip their employees with basic understanding about the issue. Such is a certain level of employee management that leads to actual employee and management relationship. It is in line with the strengthening of this aspect that will essentially lead to effective implementation of corporate goals. Thus, based on environmental concerns, a car manufacturing company will absolutely increase the understanding of its personnel on the probable issues in line with the environment. After all, the economic activities nowadays are interrelated with the environmental concerns. A the author says there are different attachments that characterise employment relationship such as employee commitment to organisation’s values and acknowledgemen t of both instrumental and calculative motives. This paper makes a concluison that it is clear that employment relation does not originate within the context between the corporate world and employees. In reality, the business environment is an external source of the existing trend in employment relations. In particular, the political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental aspects have corresponding impacts in the business world and the concerned employment relations between the employees and management.

Is Performance Related Pay a Proven Path to Improving Employee Essay

Is Performance Related Pay a Proven Path to Improving Employee Performance and Job Satisfaction - Essay Example Based on this research performance related pay pertains to such a system that relates the rewards extended to an employee to the overall performance of the organization in which that employee serves. The purpose of performance related pays is to motivate the employees. The other big objective behind the performance related pay is to synchronize and align the performance of the employees to the overall aims and objectives of the organization in which they work. Though, the performance related pay is mostly financial, but sometimes it could also happen to be non-financial. The payments made under performance related pay schemes are usually in addition to the actual pay that an employee gets. This makes the employees appreciate the fact that the rewards one gets for ones performance are not invariable and rather tend to be variable and separate. Many a times the augmentation in an employee’s annual basic salary could also happen to be related to one’s performance. Performa nce related pay helps the organizations retain the employees who have attained the top rank in relation to their pay scale and are still accruing an outstanding performance. In the present context, when the organizations are getting much flatter, the organizations are bound to abound in the employees who come under this category. Further, the opportunities for extending promotions in the flatter organizations happen to be much less as compared to the multi layered organizations of the past. Hence, the performance related pay is one viable method of improving employee performance and extending job satisfaction. Common Types of Performance Pay Over the last two decades, there has been a considerable rise in the performance related pay systems (Beardwell 1996, p. 148). Though the performance related pay system was more common in the private sector, there is no denying the fact that many public sector organizations are also evincing a gradual shift towards performance related pay system s (Beardwell 1996, p. 148). The best thing about performance related pay systems is that they link the payments made to the employees, to the group, individual or organizational performance (White & Druker 2000). The organizations resort to a wide array of performance pay systems, yet, the primary assumption behind all such systems is that the opportunity to get an enhanced pay will motivate the employees to work better and will positively impact their productivity (White & Druker 2000). Piecework is the oldest form of performance pay system which links the payment made to an employee to the units of output produced by one (Bassett 1993, p. 3). This motivates the employee to work harder and better, as the production of optimal number of high quality productivity units is bound to be reflected in one’s pay slip. A payment by results is one other major performance pay system, where the

Financial planning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Financial planning - Essay Example Conversely, one can be renewed. There are merits associated with the term policy. First, ones coverage does not end at the 10th year but can still go on as long as you pay the premiums past the 10th year. Secondly, the term policy is convertible with no prove to ones health. In doing so, you are offered a level rate for as long as your lifetime ( Fedorowicz, 1977). A twenty year term is beneficial for squat term protection. In case of untimely death, a huge payout is given out. The premium also pays for a home mortgage ( Fedorowicz, 1977). In case of death the next of kin is given a lump sum of money. Also, this term caters for newly employed youths who are to plan their life (Kaye, 1989). The policy is flexible, and one can renew and convert it from one policy to other policies. Fedorowicz, Z. (1977). Financial planning. Warsaw: Central School of Planning and Statistics in Warsaw, Research Institute for Developing Countries. Financial

Why is the Walt Disney Company so successful Essay Example for Free

Why is the Walt Disney Company so successful Essay As the process of globalization develops continuously, multinational corporations are much more common nowadays which means intercultural communication has become an important part of daily work in thousands of millions of cross-cultural offices. This thesis will mainly concentrate on discussing and analyzing the Walt Disney Company’s experience of intercultural communication and the useful information we can learn from it so that some misunderstandings and problems can be avoided in some business activities. This thesis will discuss and answer the following questions: 1. What is the Walt Disney Company? 2. What is a cross-cultural working environment like in the Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, Florida? How do the coordinators deal with different employers from different cultures? 3. What happened when Disney first entered French market? What happened when it first entered Japan? What are the cultural reasons behind these different phenomena? 4. Comparing to other multinational corporations like Starbucks and Ikea, what is the advantage of Disney and what can we use for reference from its experience? Some researches have already been done on related subjects such as intercultural communication management, the importance of cross-cultural communication in business, and the effectiveness of intercultural communication in Human Resource area, etc. Based on these researches, however, my view point as a cast member of the Walt Disney World Resort can be creative and objective. Chapter I What is the Walt Disney Company? In this session, a brief introduction of the Walt Disney Company will be given especially the history of its process of globalization when it tried to get into France, Japan and Hongkong China. Chapter â… ¡ College Exchange Program in the Walt Disney World Resort After providing some information of College Exchange Program, I will concentrate on analyzing Disney’s methods of dealing with foreign Cast Members’ culture shock, cultural conflicts, and coordinators’ different training ways according to their different cultural backgrounds. Besides, a survey will be made to collect CPs’ opinions on how to improve the program or how will their future application affect intercultural communication. Chapter â… ¢ How to Deal with the Frustration in France? In this part, I will introduce the history of Disney first entering France and the cultural crisis it came across there. I will illustrate both the efforts and mistakes made by Disney as well. Comparing to the process it first entering Japan, I will try to engage the different cultural backgrounds with these different phenomena. Chapter â… £ Useful References of Disney’s Experience Comparison will be made in this part between Disney and other multinational corporations and some useful references we can get so as to use them to avoid misunderstandings, sometimes even serious problems in business field.

Discuss The Importance Of Service User Participation Social Work Essay

Discuss The Importance Of Service User Participation Social Work Essay Traditionally, people experiencing mental health problems were removed from society and placed in asylums across the country, indefinitely (Thornicroft and Tansella, 2002, pp. 84-90). Patients within the mental health system were expected to take a compliant role in the management of their care and leave the decision making to the professionals. In todays society that is not the case. In this assignment the writer will begin by exploring the publication Vision for Change while discussing the main theme of this publication which is the importance of service user involvement and the importance of empowering the service user in the mental health system of Ireland (Ireland, Dept of Health Children, 2006). To empower the service user requires the control of power to be transferred from the professionals to the now known Service User. The writer will discuss the effect of this change and the importance of this change within the mental health system. The Mental Health Act 2001 requested th e closure of many asylums and the move towards a community based model of care. The deinstitutionalisation of many patients and relocation back into the community required changes in the way the psychiatric nurse and service user operate. Evidence has shown the importance of service users participation in research, education and in practice through out the mental health care system. The writer in this assignment will discuss the importance of service user participation in the delivery of psychiatric nursing care, focusing on the nursing assessment using a holistic approach. Finally, the writer will discuss the importance of service user participation in the remaining stages of the nursing process; the nursing diagnosis, outcomes, planning, implementation and evaluation while exploring the need for a therapeutic relationship between service user and psychiatric nurse to complete the nursing process successfully. With people experiencing mental health difficulties, who now reside in the community, it is vital that service users become involved in the development and delivery of mental health services, such as self-help services, drop-in centres, and in providing assistance with activities of daily living. The aim of this is to sensitise society to the need of integrating people with mental health difficulties back into community life. As quoted in a Vision for Change; Service users must be at the centre of decision making at an individual level in terms of the services available to them, through to the strategic development of local services and national policy. To use a slogan of the disability rights movement: nothing about us, without us. To reduce the stigma attached to people with mental health difficulties the term patient was changed to service user, as most of the care they receive is provided in the community. The Mental Health Act, 2001 suggests the term patient is used to describe someone who is involuntarily admitted. Patient does not therefore refer to all individuals in an approved centre. In the Vision for Change it states that the correct way to describe someone with a mental health illness was to see the person before the illness, for example someone with anorexia nervosa was not to be described as an anorexic rather than as a person with anorexia nervosa. Stereotyping in mental health is as damaging as any other stereotype (Ireland, Dept of Health Children, 2006). People, who experience mental health difficulties, can be the experts through their own experience (Bee et al, 2008, pp. 442-447). Psychiatric nurses remain the largest staff group involved in the provision of mental health care, (Bee et al, 2008, pp. 442-447). Therefore, to ensure the mental health care service abides by legislation, it is vital for psychiatric nurses to re-evaluate their role to ensure priority is given to including the service user. An Bord Altranais recommend that a holistic approach is adopted and it is listed as one of the requirements in nurse registration education programmes (An Bord Altranais, 2005). It is fundamental that the service user participates in the nursing assessment especially where the holistic model of assessment is used. The biopsychosocial model uses a holistic view, addressing the biological, psychological and social factors contributing to a persons mental health problems. According to Boyd (2004, p.190) it proposes a person-centred treatment approach which addresses each of these elements through an integrated care plan agreed with service users and their carers and involves participation of the service user throughout the assessment. This assessment requires the service user to answer a series of questions, some being of intimate nature about themselves. This enables the assessor to obtain relevant information required in making a nursing diagnosis. To ensure accurate nursing diagnosis it is critical that the services user listens carefully to the questions asked and is completely honest when answering the questions. This process also requires the service user to be patient while the assessor records the data received. However, it is important to remember that an initial assessment can occur when a service user is first admitted into psychiatric care. According to Boyd (2004, p.194) the assessor must have empathy and an understanding of how difficult it is for a person to discuss intimate details of ones lifes to a complete stranger, even if it is in the persons best interest. Although the nursing assessment is the starting point of the nursing process, the writer feels that service users participation remains of equal importance throughout the nursing process. The freedom of information act 1997 requires that all services users can request access to any information stored about them. While, it is now a legal requirement for service users to be involved at all stages of the nursing process, the writer suggests that it is imperative that the service user is informed of the nursing diagnosis. This will empower the service user, by encouraging the service user to find relevant information regarding their diagnosis which can assist in them becoming experts of their own mental illness. Following the diagnosis it is required by law that the psychiatric nurses discuss all details of the outcome with the service user. The psychiatric nurse needs to ensure that the service users values and beliefs are priority when planning the outcome. If any treatment is deemed necessary for the road to recovery, then it is compulsory that the service user is capable of understanding the effects of the treatment proposed, this requirement is stated Under the Mental Health Act, 2001: the service user must be capable of understanding the nature, purpose and likely effects of the proposed treatment and the consultant psychiatrist has given the patient adequate information in a form and language that the patient can understand, on the nature, purpose and likely effects of the proposed treatments (Section 56). Factors for consideration include the capacity to comprehend and decide, risks involved, patients wishes to be informed, the nature of the procedure and the effects of information on the service user. The service user must be informed of the benefits of taking the medication prescribed, for what duration the medication is to be taken and what side affects may occur when taking the prescribed medication. Forcing an unwilling inpatient to receive medication has been considered an unnecessarily coercive, traumatic, and even punitive assault on a persons privacy. It has been stated that the patients refusal of medication is indicative of a gap between their experience and understanding of the medication and the intention of the prescribing physician. (Kaltiala-Heino et al, pp. 290-295) In todays mental health care system, many service users receive treatment in the community; therefore, it is critical that services users listen to information regarding their prescribed medication while raising any concerns they may have. Planning and the implementation stages of the nursing process are not possible without the involvement of the service user. Communication and agreement between the service user and the psychiatric nurse is necessary. Potential obstacles need to be pointed out, and methods of overcoming these obstacles, discussed. Potential risk areas for the service user needs to be discussed and a therapeutic risk assessment carried out by the psychiatric nurse to ensure the service user is not at risk or danger of harming themselves or others. Awareness of patients perceptions of their impaired quality of life gives psychiatric nurses important information for planning individually tailored interventions (Pitkà ¤nen, A. et al, 2008, pp. 1598-1606). Finally, the evaluation stage evaluates client progress and reviews plans in accordance with evaluated data in consultation with the client. Evidence shows that the evaluation of a services users experience is of vital importance in shaping the future of service users outcomes within the mental health service. It also enables the psychiatric nurse to take the necessary steps required to ensure that the individual service user is satisfied with the service received. The Department of Mental Health, UK stated that the experience of service users, including those from black and minority ethnic groups, is a recognised national marker in the performance of the UK mental health services. In 2006, the UK National Service Framework (NSF) in line with the Mental Health Unit of the Regional Office for Europe carried out a systematic review of empirical service user views and expectations of UK-registered mental health nurses. Feedback from this review was both positive and negative, with servi ce users holding mental health nurses in high regard. However; feedback also reveals that there was a strong need for nurses to be more effective in interpersonal communication and relationship building, whilst spending more time with the service user (Bee et al, 2008, pp. 442-447). Throughout the nursing process it is necessary for a therapeutic relationship to exist between the service user and the psychiatric nurse to. Relationships are central in fostering and maintaining hope (Byrne et al 1994). Psychiatric nurses are required to have a genuine interest in services users, listening in a non judgemental way to what is being said. In a user-led study evidence has shown service users identified the importance of therapeutic relationships and how they inform patient experiences. Communication was highlighted by all participants as necessary. One participant in the survey quoted; As soon as you come they can see that you are angry. Then someone will say, sit down, lets talk about it, make a cup of tea. Failure to establish a therapeutic relationship between the service user and the psychiatric nurse can result in negative patient experiences. Participants identified coercion as the main reason for failure to establish a therapeutic relationship (Gilburt, H. et a l, 2008). Conclusion: The writer in this assignment briefly exposed the treatment of patients within the mental health care prior to the introduction of the Mental Health Act 2001 and the publication of Vision for Change. Then, the writer discussed the major changes within the Mental Health Services as a result of this act and publication. The Mental Health Act 2001, focused on the closure of many asylums and a community based model of care to be adopted, however, both the Mental Health Act and the Vision for Change also focus on the importance of service user involvement and empowering the service user. The writer demonstrates how a new psychiatric and service user role was required to adapt to policy changes within the Mental Health Service and to ensure all parties were adapting to policy requirements that aims at service user involvement at all stages, thus; empowering the service user. The writer reports how the publication Vision for Change also hoped at reducing stigma by aiming to involve services users in developing and delivering mental health services. The writer mentioned the importance of service user involvement in research, education and practice, while focusing on the practice area by exploring the nursing process, starting with the assessment. Evidence is clear that it is not possible for a psychiatric nurse, even with the necessary skills required to proceed with the nursing process without the participation of the service user at all stages. The writer concluded this assignment by exploring evidence which reveals that service users regard a therapeutic relationship and good communication between the service user and the psychiatric nurse of high importance.

Servant Leadership in Romantic Relationships Essay -- servant-leadersh

When two people come together and form a relationship the question of who should wear the pants in the relationship may come to light. Should the man be the head of the relationship? But why cant the woman be the leader? My perspective on a relationship is two people going through this crazy journey we call life side by side. The servant-leadership theory supports my perspective that a leader can effectively lead by serving first his followers. The servant-leadership theory does not place the leader above the followers. It rather puts the attention of the leader on emphasizing the concerns of the followers, empathizing with them and nurturing them (Northouse, 2013). This theory focuses on the followers first. The leader must empower those he/she is serving so that the person can reach their full potential. The leader focuses on the greater good of the group. Northouse (2013) explains that Greenleaf identified 10 characteristics that are central to the development of servant-leadership. The ten characteristic include listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, commitment to the growth of people, and building community. Following these characteristics we can begin to explain the servant leadership role in a relationship. In order for a relationship to be successful each member will need to take on the role of servant-leader. The important aspect is that the two individuals are looking out for each other. They both are nurturing the relationship and doing what will be best for the greater good of the relationship. Listening is very important in order for this to occur. There is a difference between hearing and actively listening. When one actively listens, they can pick out the... ...thers life together. Each person now has a new family, a new group of friends, and will even create a family of their own. As a servant-leader one should encourage their partner to continue their old friendships and make new friends together in the process. This will help the relationship feel safe and connected with others. Meeting someone who you’d like to share every moment with is a wonderful experience. Being a leader does not mean taking charge of the other person or being bossy in order to get your way. Successful relationships are those where both individuals serve each other and know when it is appropriate to lead. Servant-leadership shows that leading side by side in order to grow together and nurture the relationship can be an effective way to lead. Reference Northouse, P.G. (2013). Leadership: Theory and Practice. Los Angeles: Sage Publications.

Harvard Business School Essay

August 8, 1995 had taken an unexpected turn for Netscape Communications Corporation’s board of directors. Earlier that morning, the day before the company’s scheduled initial public offering (IPO), Netscape’s lead underwriters proposed to the board a 100% increase in the original offering price from $14 to $28 per share. This recommendation came in response to the remarkable oversubscription for Netscape’s shares, which had already prompted the underwriters to increase the number of shares to be offered from 3.5 million to 5 million. Under the current proposal, a company with a net book value of just over $16 million that had yet to turn a profit, was suddenly valued at over $1 billion. The Board faced a pricing dilemma within the context of an extremely unpredictable industry. While its members wanted to be responsive to Wall Street’s current zeal, they also wanted to make sure that the fundamentals of Netscape justified such a dramatic increase in valuation. Netscape Communications Founded in April 1994, Netscape Communications Corporation provided a comprehensive line of client, server, and integrated applications software  for communications and commerce on the Internet and private Internet Protocol (IP) networks. These products enabled the growing network of servers on the World Wide Web to communicate through multimedia, including graphics, video and sound. Designed with enhanced security code, these software products provided the confidentiality required to execute financial transactions and to sell advertisements on the Internet and private IP networks. The company’s most popular product, Netscape Navigator, was the leading client software program that allowed individual personal computer (PC) users to exchange information and conduct commerce on the Internet. Navigator featured a click-and-point graphical user interface that enabled users to navigate the Internet by manipulating icons and windows rather than by using text commands. With the user-friendly interface as a guide, Navigator offered a variety of Internet functions including Web browsing, file transfers, news group communications, and e-mail. Initially shipped in December 1994, Netscape Navigator generated 49% and 65% of total revenues for the quarters ended March 31, 1995, and June 30, 1995, respectively. Netscape’s server software provided enterprises with the basic capabilities necessary for creating and operating Web server â€Å"sites,† or places on the Web which browsers could visit. Research Associate Kendall H. Backstrand wrote this case under the supervision of Professor W. Carl Kester as the basis for class discussion rather than to illustrate either effective or ineffective handling of an administrative situation. Copyright  © 1996 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College. To order copies or request permission to reproduce materials, call 1-800-545-7685 or write Harvard Business School Publishing, Boston, MA 02163. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, used in a spreadsheet, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the permission of Harvard Business School. Incorporating both browser and server functions, the company’s integrated applications software programs were designed to provide enterprises with the capability to manage large-scale commercial sites on the Internet. Such applications enabled these enterprises to conduct full-scale electronic commerce through a seamless system. Together, server and integrated applications software accounted for 36% of total revenues in the first quarter of 1995, and 28% of total revenues in the second. Of these revenues, the majority were generated by one of Netscape’s three server products, Netscape Commerce Server .1 Revenues from Netscape’s server and integrated applications products were expected to increase as a percentage of overall revenues in the future. In addition to product revenues, Netscape generated service revenues, which were attributable to fees from consulting, maintenance, and support services. These revenues amounted to approximately 5% and 7% of total revenues for the quarters ended March 31, 1995 and June 30, 1995, respectively. Financial Performance Netscape had incurred total losses of $4.3 million on total revenues of $16.6 million for its first two operating quarters ended June 30, 1995. The company expected to continue to operate at a loss for the foreseeable future. Exhibits 1 and 2 provide Netscape’s financial statements since its incorporation in April 1994. Operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 1995 had generated $7.3 million in cash. Cash flows from financing activities of $20.5 million were primarily attributable to the net proceeds of $17.3 million from the issuance of Series C Preferred Stock and borrowings of $2.2 million under a debt facility agreement. Cash used in investment activities of $22.1 million related to $16.6 in short-term investments and $5 million in capital expenditures. At the end of the second quarter of 1995, Netscape’s principal sources of liquidity were $8.9 million in cash and the $16.6 million in shortterm investments. The company expected total capital expenditures for 1995 of approximately $12 million. Industry Background The demand for Netscape’s products had evolved out of the development of the Internet in the late 1960s. The Internet was a global network designed to facilitate communication between some 35,000 computer networks using the enabling code termed Internet Protocol. According to International Data Corporation (IDC), in mid-1995 there were approximately 57 million Internet users. Of those 57 million users, IDC estimated that approximately 8 million were accessing information on the World Wide Web. Engineered in the early 1990s, the Web was a technology that linked one bit of information on the Internet with another so that users could share â€Å"webs† of ideas. The Web consisted of a network of Web servers that posted information in a common format described by the Hypertext Markup Language (â€Å"HTML†). Internet users were able to access information on the Web by implementing the appropriate Hypertext Transfer Protocol (â€Å"HTTP†). Because it necessitated complex coding, the Web had remained largely undiscovered by nontechnical users who simply wanted to browse, a popular pastime which came to be dubbed â€Å"surfing the Net.† 1Bundled packages of Netscape Navigator and Netscape Commerce Server accounted for about 10% of total revenues in the first quarter, while its contribution in the second quarter was immaterial. 2 Netscape’s Initial Public Offering Netscape’s Entrance Meanwhile at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a group of computer science students working at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) developed the graphical software program that gave rise to the notion of â€Å"surfing.† Named NCSA Mosaic, the software program enabled nontechnical users to access and retrieve information on the Web. The Mosaic code organized Web information into neat collections of graphical electronic menus on which users could simply click-and-point to browse their contents. In April 1993, the founders of Mosaic, under the leadership of then senior Marc Andreessen, began distributing the software for free to anyone who had the technical means to fetch it electronically. The superb results of this strategy—two million Mosaic users within one year—made for more than cocktail conversation among high-tech gurus in California’s Silicon Valley. Jim Clark, the founder of Silicon Graphics, Inc. (known for its workstations that turned data into 3-D computer images), was among those who were impressed not only by Mosaic itself but by the broader vision of its creator, Andreessen. After hearing that Andreessen had moved to Silicon Valley in early 1994, Clark sent him an email asking if they might meet to discuss the future of  Mosaic. This exchange and subsequent discussions formed the launching pad for Mosaic Communications, which was shortly renamed Netscape Communications Corporation. In addition to dropping the Mosaic name, Netscape paid Spyglass (the company that had engaged in an exclusive licensing arrangement with the University of Illinois) a one-time $2.4 million fee for the rights to certain Mosaic code. With the original code, Clark’s management experience and $3 million in seed money, and Andreessen’s vision and technical expertise, Netscape made its entrance into the highly dynamic Internet market.

Definitions of Justice in the Melian Dialogue

Amidst an interlude in the fierce struggle for power between the two dominant Greek poleis, Athens and Sparta, the Peloponnesian war, there was unrest. Despite the Peace of Nicias, belligerence between the two states did not cease, but rather took on a new face. While careful to remain within the parameters set several years before in the peace treaty, Athens moved cautiously, but aggressively in establishing alliances, albeit coerced, and strengthening its empire. It was at this juncture that it made its move toward securing the small, weak island-state of Melos, which in its neutral independence suggested danger to the Athenian empire.In a move not of fairness, but of survival, Athens offered the Melians an ultimatum: to be subjugated under Athenian rule as a colony, or be utterly destroyed. It is the Melian dialogue which follows and presents the presumed diplomatic debate between the two nations; the Melian people’s argument for their own neutrality, and the Athenian peopl e’s attempt to persuade them to submit. The issue which arises in light of the events at Melos remains to be whether it is the people of Melos’ views of justice which is correct, or if it is Athens’ definition which is truer.By examining each city-state’s contributions to the Melian dialogue, each respective interpretation becomes clear, enabling further judgement on the event’s outcome. The Athenians offer the Melians a choice in their own fate, both of which result in Athens’ domination; essentially, this boils down to the Athenian’s definition of justice lying in expediency for those in power. Not a question of fairness, for them, justice lies in survival, and that which results in the most certain preservation of both the subduer and the subdued is just, â€Å"†¦ t would involve your submitting before suffering the worst possible fate, and we would profit from not destroying you,† (Thuc, V, 91). For the Athenians, thei r own pursuit of power, and that which enables its acquisition, is paramount to survival, and as heirs to this mentality, they believe it only natural and therefore not reprehensible, â€Å"divinity†¦ and mankind†¦ are under an innate compulsion to rule wherever empowered. Without being either the ones who made this law or the first to apply it after it was laid down, we applied it as one in existence†¦ and one that will endure for all time,† (Thuc. V, 105). The Athenians see no injustice in doing simply as their nature impels them to do. In fact, the Athenians see their offer of subjugation to the Melian people as more than reasonable, â€Å"What we will demonstrate is that we are here to help our empire and that there is salvation for your city in what we are now about to say, since we hope to rule over you without trouble and let both parties benefit as you are saved,† (Thuc. , V, 91). Following their belief in doing what is necessary to strengthen th emselves, even at the expense of others, is what brings Athens to Melos.The Melians, contrarilly, see justice as grounded in fairness. They contend that action based in reason is the true definition of justice. â€Å"There is every advantage in your not destroying a universal benefit, but that at all times there be fairness and justice for those in danger,† (Thuc. ,V, 90). This belief in abstinence from aggression without cause is what defines the fundamental differences in the Athenian’s and the Melian’s philosophies. As a neutral state, Melos remained impartial up until it was confronted by Athens, and it is this confrontation which violates the Melian definition of justice.Having not been harmed by the Melians, nor threatened, they had no right, in the Melian’s eyes, to act toward them with hostility. Desiring only to be left alone, the Melians wanted Athens to accept their neutrality and depart, â€Å"You would not tolerate our staying neutral, frien ds not enemies, but allies of neither side? † (Thuc. , V, 94). According to the Melian definition of justice, Athens has no reason or right to inflict any harm upon them, nor to coerce them into the loss of their independence.Having had no desire to take part in the war between Athens and Sparta, Melos’ conception of justice was disregarded as Athens imposed their own definition of justice upon the island-state, at which point, Melos was forced to fight. The results of Athenian’s view on justice are exemplified its being an empire state holding power over many and acting with aggression when the opportunity for greatness is before it. Holding justice to be that which benefits the strong, the building of an empire serves to allow the mother nation-state to collect monetary benefits and resources from those states which it dominates.This collection enables the powerful polis to become more so and then further its sphere of influence. Additionally, this definition o f justice permits an ambitious city-state to spread, conquering not only the states which stand in direct opposition, but also any that could serve as a barrier to reaching absolute greatness. The Melian’s definition of greatness, likewise, serves to explain its position as an isolationism island city-state. In order to act justly, in accordance with Melian belief, a nation-state must act with aggression only in instances where it is necessary for the safety and welfare of its citizens and only as defensive.Justice would require the respect of a peaceable state’s existence, and the humane treatment of all wartime participants. A just state could not openly provoke another state without cause, nor upset its independence. Ultimately, it was not only a question of justice which lead to the genocide at Melos, but also one of power. It was the Athenian’s drive for power, especially control over others, which lead to its provocation of the Melians, and in fact, their definition of justice nearly demanded it.Under the belief in that which served its own benefit as justice, Athens was spurred toward the indispensable pursuit of power, specifically power over the Melians. The Melian philosophy of neutrality and fairness is in direct opposition to this bellicose ideology. At its heart, the fundamentals of Melian justice conflict with the pursuit of power, i. e. , dominance over others and therefore with Athens, resulting in an insurmountable discrepancy over which their negotiations are futile to transcend.Though the Melian dialogue is a primarily fictional account of a conversation written by a former Athenian, it is clear that the definition of justice that is favored in Thucydides’ account is that of the Melians. Logical and noble, it is the Melian’s defenses of their own interests that wins out as the stronger, while leaving the Athenians’ assertions of justice sounding brutish, pessimistic, and altogether contrary to modern conceptions of justice. It is the Melian’s definition which wins out as truly virtuous and altruistic, exactly what justice should be.

Mat Rempit

Illegal street racers, or in the well known names, Mat Rempit, is a serious issue that knock our country right now. Known for their kamikaze skills on the road, causing chaos in society, their unmannered attitude and the current is murdering people. Statistics shows that this group causes too many crime and problems. With their enormous amount, they felt like the road is belongs to them and nobody have any rights to punish them. This is why almost everyday we heard and see their actions and news on the media. Their popularity is equal to Mawi and Datuk Siti Nurhaliza until then, the film maker had decided to make film about them.So, as a Malaysian, what is our role in solving this issue? Do we need to blame themselves for all this or it is us who let this things happen? Let us see why this Mat Rempit issues happens and how we should solve it together. As we can see, almost all of Mat Rempit is in the youth group. We should realize that in this stage, their thinking, attitude and acti on were influenced by their peers. They used to follow their friends rather than their own parents and teachers advice. This peer influence is very strong and sometimes dangerous if they follow the wrong path for example the illegal racing. Related article: Causes of Snatch TheftThis is why the amount of Mat Rempit is increasing from time to time. Furthermore, the desire to try something new and challenging is one of the factors that lured them into the illegal racing. They felt that it is very admirable and outstanding if they can win the race or do suicide skills such as riding in the high speed or get away from the police road blocks. They love to break the laws since they think that it is just an amusement for them. So, how we want to solve this problem? How we want to settle down this issue that has been caused many problems to us?The government, politicians and police have done many things to settle this, but it seems like there are no stopping point for the Mat Rempit. We should give a compliment to Pemuda UMNO for their effort to convert this Mat Rempit to â€Å"Mat Cemerlang† by giving them an opportunity to change and UMNO membership. Although this step is like a politics campaign, we should bear in min d that maybe one day they will realize that there are people who concern about them and hoping they will change. Next, schools play an important role in order to solve this problem.I’m not saying parents since I know that some parents didn’t know their son’s attitude very much compared to the teachers and their friends. This is because in school, they used to be with their friends and we can determine their attitude very well by observing with whom they are making friends. Schools should collaborate with the police to identify which students involved in illegal racing and punish them by sending them to the counselor or in the serious case, dismiss them from school. This is very important in order to prevent this student to influence the other students to join him.Although this approach is too drastic and cruel, we should consider that the youth is tending to be influenced by their friends. Furthermore, in my opinion, the National Service Training Program or PLKN should include a module that thought the trainee to avoid and aware the illegal racing. They should be exposed to the danger of illegal race, the punishment that will wait them if involved and how to enjoy their life in the best ways. By implementing this approach, at least, the trainee can think wisely and preventing them to become one of the Mat Rempit candidates.As a conclusion, what I can say is, action speaks louder than words. It is useless if we just babbling around and blaming them for all this problems although some of them caused some serious case. We should cooperate with government, politicians and NGOs to track back how this thing happen and find a solution to solve it. The Mat Rempit should be thankful for the government and society for not treating them like the snatch thief and the homosexual group although they have cause many problems. The government and society still can accept them as long as they want to change.We can see many campaign and approach for them rig ht now. After all, this group is our country’s apprentice that will lead us in the future. If they are still like now and we are just blaming them, the one who are needed to blame is just our self. One of Mat Rempit's favourite ‘Aerodynamic Pose' a. k. a. ‘Superman' seen on the streets of Malaysia. A Mat Rempit is a Malaysian term for ‘an individual who participates in illegal street racing', usually involving underbone motorcycles (colloquially known as Kapcai) orscooters.Not all Mat Rempits are involved in street racing; some of them perform crazy stunts for fun, such as the wheelie, superman (lying flat on the seat), wikang, and scorpion (standing on the seat with one leg during a wheelie). Mat Rempits usually travel in groups and race in bustling city centres on weekend nights. In recent times, Mat Rempits have been linked to gangsterism, gang robbery[1][2], street fighting, assault[3], vandalism, theft and bullying. Most motorcycles used by the Mat Remp its do not meet standard specifications, or have been modified extensively for greater speed, or just to make the exhaust noisier.Additionally, some Mat Rempits do not have valid motorcycle licenses, do not pay road taxes, and ride stolen motorcycles[4][5]. A growing number of housing estates have also been turned into racing tracks[6]. It is estimated that there are about 200,000 Mat Rempits in Malaysia[7]. In some other countries, the term Mat Rempit is also u Etymology The word ‘Rempit' came from the combination of ramp it (ramp the throttle). The definition of ‘Rempit' in Kamus Dewan[2] is menyebat dengan rotan in malay or whipping with cane.An alternative source of the word, ‘Rempit', is derived from the noise made by a 2-stroke motorcycle. ‘Mat' is a malay slang term to call or to refer to a person who usually is of Malay descent but usually used derogatorily. sed, but more to refer to one as a motorcycle lover or rider (Mat Motor), as opposed to an ill egal motorcycle racer. Sometime the terms of Mat Rempit misused to refer any individual who rides an underbone motorcycle. Related to this is the Mat Konvoi, which claim to be the non-racing version of Mat Rempit.

Research on Attitude of Young People on Dieting and Weight Essay

Research on Attitude of Young People on Dieting and Weight - Essay Example Since people of different ages have different weights, the best way to assay for weight is through the use of a measurement called the Body Mass Index (BMI) which is a ratio of a person’s weight in kilograms and the height in square meters (kg/m2). The BMI classifies individuals into underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese. A person who has a BMI of below 18.5 is considered underweight; between 18.5 and 24.5 is considered of normal/health weight; between25.0 and 29.9 is considered overweight and above 30.0 is considered obese. Therefore, overweight and obese individuals have weight that is considered unhealthy since it predisposes them to conditions like diabetes,... ischaemic strokes, hypertension and many conditions of the cardiovascular system (Andersen, 2008). The prevalence of obesity is on the rise especially in industrialized nations of the world, and this trends are alarming because even children are being diagnoses with â€Å"lifestyle conditions’â₠¬â„¢ that are pathologically known to attack adults. According to figures released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), obesity cases in the US have been rising from the past, and currently, the prevalence of o

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