Ptlls Written Rationale

Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (PTLLS) Written Rationale My micro-teach is about Accessibility Options, an IT related topic. I choose this subject because I am interested in IT. We are all aware that IT covers a wide range of topics. I have deliberately concentrated on the topic, Accessibility Options in the Control Panel in Windows XP, simply because I want to make my learners aware of the feature available for disabled users and how those types of users could apply it to their daily lives.I also intend to explain the methods in which a normal user can support disabled users. The Accessibility Options will cover 4 categories, which are Sticky Keys, Filter Keys, Toggle Keys and Magnifier. I have re-looked at my previous comments related to the one to one micro-teach, such as practicing before hand and being better prepared, which I currently doing so. I have designed individual handout booklets for the learners to use during the session and refer to after the less on.I want the learners to demonstrate what they have learned. The ideal way would be to get the learners to practice on their own individual computers, to do this I will need a few extra computers which unfortunately do not have. I shall therefore ask my learners to answer a few questions related to the session instead. My teaching delivery is based on lecturing whilst demonstrating my topic by using the computer and smart board to help my learners understand.

Anatomy Unit 6 Study Guide

Unit 6 Study Guide 1. The types of muscles are smooth, cardiac, and skeletal. 2. The muscle is made up of myofibrils that allow for muscle contraction. 3. The parts of the myofibrils that allow for it to extend out are called the sacomere. 4. The nerve cell that connects to several muscle fibers called a motor neuron. 5. The thick ones are protein myosin. The thin ones are protein actin. 6. The chemicals that stimulate the muscle to contract are called neurotransmitters 7. Acetylcholine contracts the muscles. 8. Acetylcholines are stored at the end of each motor neuron. . The combination of the motor neuron and the muscles it controls are called a motor unit. 10. The energy storing molecule found in the mitochondrion is ATP (adenosine triphoshate). 11. If there is a lack of ATP then there will be muscle cramps. 12. The chemical that builds in the muscle caused by strenuous exercise is lactic acid. 13. The pigment that causes blood to be red is hemoglobin. 14. The pigment that causes the muscles to be brown is myoglobin. 15. The discoloration and swelling in a muscle strain is caused by ruptured blood vessels. 16.After death where ATP decreased and muscles cannot relax the body then rigor mortis will take place. 17. A contraction then sudden relaxation of a muscle caused by a single stimulus is called a twitch. 18. The delay between the time the stimulus is applied and the time the muscle responds is called latent period. 19. Partially inflamed and swollen tendons are called tendonitis. 20. The immovable end of the joint is called the origin. 21. The movable end of the joint is called the insertion. 22. Muscular dystrophies is inherited disorder which causes the collapse of muscles. Anatomy Unit 6 Study Guide Unit 6 Study Guide 1. The types of muscles are smooth, cardiac, and skeletal. 2. The muscle is made up of myofibrils that allow for muscle contraction. 3. The parts of the myofibrils that allow for it to extend out are called the sacomere. 4. The nerve cell that connects to several muscle fibers called a motor neuron. 5. The thick ones are protein myosin. The thin ones are protein actin. 6. The chemicals that stimulate the muscle to contract are called neurotransmitters 7. Acetylcholine contracts the muscles. 8. Acetylcholines are stored at the end of each motor neuron. . The combination of the motor neuron and the muscles it controls are called a motor unit. 10. The energy storing molecule found in the mitochondrion is ATP (adenosine triphoshate). 11. If there is a lack of ATP then there will be muscle cramps. 12. The chemical that builds in the muscle caused by strenuous exercise is lactic acid. 13. The pigment that causes blood to be red is hemoglobin. 14. The pigment that causes the muscles to be brown is myoglobin. 15. The discoloration and swelling in a muscle strain is caused by ruptured blood vessels. 16.After death where ATP decreased and muscles cannot relax the body then rigor mortis will take place. 17. A contraction then sudden relaxation of a muscle caused by a single stimulus is called a twitch. 18. The delay between the time the stimulus is applied and the time the muscle responds is called latent period. 19. Partially inflamed and swollen tendons are called tendonitis. 20. The immovable end of the joint is called the origin. 21. The movable end of the joint is called the insertion. 22. Muscular dystrophies is inherited disorder which causes the collapse of muscles.

Army to College

From the military to the university, when I entered military education where the bus was strictly protected, I stared at the slogan: Do what you can do. As the bus stopped, several angry drill coaches began to introduce us a very colorful vocabulary. They instructed us to gather our belongings, got off the bus and gathered them in the circle. When I was looking for the strength to stand up, I found myself moving, and a few drilling instructors shouted at us. US Army War College will develop leaders at a strategic level while enhancing knowledge of Landpower's global applications. The purpose of the US Army War College is to train graduates with skill-oriented philosophers and complex problem solvers. At the same time, the US military is also responsible for serving as a factory for commanders and civilian leaders at the global strategic level and often discusses and discusses the role of the army in achieving national security objectives doing. The Army ROTC is a course offered at hu ndreds of universities throughout the country, training university students to become aggressive soldiers, army reserve forces and army guards. This is a four-year course that can be divided into two parts: basic and advanced. The basic course is usually done between the freshman year and the second grade. Advanced courses usually take place during the last two years of the university, including a five-year leadership assessment development program. Usually done in the summer between your junior and senior. LDAC provides you with practical training and confidence that you can not learn in class. Army ROTC's mission is to trust to lead the US Army's future officers. Army ROTC is a college elective subject you can take the necessary university course. Provide tools, training, and experience to succeed in a competitive environment. In addition to good leadership training, the Army ROTC can also pay tuition fees at your university. You will have ordinary college student experience on ca mpus just like any other person, but when you graduate you will become an army officer. Being a US Army officer means that you are a leader, consultant, strategist and motivated. It is similar to being an important administrator of the company. As a military officer, you lead other soldiers in all situations and adapt to changing circumstances. You will succeed with your team in every task Army to College From the military to the university, when I entered military education where the bus was strictly protected, I stared at the slogan: Do what you can do. As the bus stopped, several angry drill coaches began to introduce us a very colorful vocabulary. They instructed us to gather our belongings, got off the bus and gathered them in the circle. When I was looking for the strength to stand up, I found myself moving, and a few drilling instructors shouted at us. US Army War College will develop leaders at a strategic level while enhancing knowledge of Landpower's global applications. The purpose of the US Army War College is to train graduates with skill-oriented philosophers and complex problem solvers. At the same time, the US military is also responsible for serving as a factory for commanders and civilian leaders at the global strategic level and often discusses and discusses the role of the army in achieving national security objectives doing. The Army ROTC is a course offered at hu ndreds of universities throughout the country, training university students to become aggressive soldiers, army reserve forces and army guards. This is a four-year course that can be divided into two parts: basic and advanced. The basic course is usually done between the freshman year and the second grade. Advanced courses usually take place during the last two years of the university, including a five-year leadership assessment development program. Usually done in the summer between your junior and senior. LDAC provides you with practical training and confidence that you can not learn in class. Army ROTC's mission is to trust to lead the US Army's future officers. Army ROTC is a college elective subject you can take the necessary university course. Provide tools, training, and experience to succeed in a competitive environment. In addition to good leadership training, the Army ROTC can also pay tuition fees at your university. You will have ordinary college student experience on ca mpus just like any other person, but when you graduate you will become an army officer. Being a US Army officer means that you are a leader, consultant, strategist and motivated. It is similar to being an important administrator of the company. As a military officer, you lead other soldiers in all situations and adapt to changing circumstances. You will succeed with your team in every task

Political and Economical Polices of the Soviet Union Assignment

Political and Economical Polices of the Soviet Union - Assignment Example The term Glasnost is related to the Soviet Union’s open policy on different branches of the government. On the other side, the Perestroika is generally the reformatory political movement in the Soviet Union aiming to bring forth economic and political restructuring. Before trying to evaluate the relevance of these policies at present, one must try to understand the problems which forced the government to implement the same. These policies are still relevant at present in Russian context because the same can help this nation to ensure smooth functioning of the government machinery. Besides, the transformation of Russian Communism from humane concern to Stalinism resulted in the degradation of the system as a whole. One can see that implementation of innovative economic and political policies can help a nation to be at the forefront of development. Within this scenario, change in economic and political policies, apart from Communist ideology, helped Russia to enjoy the benefits of modernization. So, these policies proved to be successful by limiting the influence of Stalinism and prove to be relevant at present. One can see that the US-Russian relations at present are based upon mutual understanding and co-operation. During the Cold War, the relationship was not smooth but based upon suspicion. Besides, both the nations tried their level best to divide the world nations into different blocs based upon ideological differences. In addition, the change in Russian political and economic policies was helpful to move rapidly towards development. Now, the US government does not consider Russia as a potential enemy in the international arena.  

Response Paper #3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Response Paper #3 - Essay Example The short story ‘Recitatif’ by Toni Morrison brings out the racial relations in America even after the country became free and slavery was system was destroyed. The story essentially focuses on the friendship between two girls of opposite races meeting as children. They meet at St. Bonny’s and are roommates. They are similar in many ways. The most ambiguous part is the identification of their race, which is not clearly mentioned for any of them. Initially it seems that Twyla is white and Roberta is black but later in the middle of the story it seems the opposite and then again the vision somewhat changes towards the end of the story. However after careful examination of the details one would say that Roberta is black. The most important part here is the racial difference. The difference is so severe that it is carried over to the children in schools. Towards the end of the story one finds the mothers (racially opposite groups) fighting for their rights. The story outlines the typical life style of an Afro-American girl who drops in and out of school and could not read. She (Roberta) is taken to drugs and wears large earrings, curls and has an appointment to meet Jimi Hendrix, a black singer. However when she meets Twyla after several years, she behaves coldly towards her. Later she explains it was because of the racial social structure –â€Å"Twyla, you know how it was in those days: black-white. You know how everything was† (Morrison, 255). The inner bonding between the two girls is quite strong and prominent but the social structure prevents them from free expression of the affection they share. They make it up in the end and Roberta, who accused Twyla of kicking a black woman Maggie (who perhaps was not black at all), clarifies her mistake to Twyla and explains that she need not carry the guilt anymore. The friendship

Human Rights and the Ethiopian Government Essay

Human Rights and the Ethiopian Government - Essay Example The current government stands accused of acts that go against basic human rights and certainly in no way represent the will of the Ethiopian people for freedom and democracy. The Human Rights Watch website (www.hrw.org) has said that "the aftermath of Ethiopia's landmark May 2005 parliamentary elections has laid bare the deeply entrenched patterns of political repression, human rights abuse and impunity that characterize the day-to-day reality of governance in much of the country". Although the Ethiopian elections were of great interest to a world audience who felt that the democratic process was truly at work, the truth was that political groups were literally fighting it out for a place in debates and on the ballot boxes. The EPRF was busy coercing voters into a repeat result from the 2000 election with abusive tactics that the HRW researchers explain as "government officials and security forces in much of Ethiopia mak[ing] routine use of various forms of human rights abuse to deter and punish dissent" (Ibid.). These authority figures are retaining such abusive control over the Ethiopian population by citing terrorist plots and other security threats that will legitimately let officials detain 'suspects' and interrogate them for purposes that actually bear no relation to actual national security. The EPRF has effectively decided that any dissenting movement from that of their own party is therefore a national threat and as such they have treated members of the CUD and the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces as enemies of the state. The 2005 Amnesty International Report mentions that aside from citizen unrest within the country due to fear of torture and detainment, the government has also proposed new legislation that would put members of the press at risk of arrest for probing into what are deemed private parliamentary matters (Amnesty International Report 2005). Although international observers and internal watchdogs of the Ethiopian 2005 election reported that the results were in general in consensus with actual voting percentages, CUD and other opposition members maintained that there were a high number of uncounted ballots that might have made a significant difference to government. After refusing to accept the results of what they stated was a fixed election, CUD members decided that the official course of action would be civil disobedience. Thousands participated in the plan and this led to massive force on the part of the police, something that did no favors to the poor reputation of the EPRG in terms of human rights violations. After abusing these dissenters, the government maintained its official position and yet did little to change its image for the better both nationally and internationally. In the U.S. Department of State's "Country Reports on Human Rights Practices", fifteen different violations of human rights were reported in cluding unlawful killings, detentions of thousands without charge, government interference in union activities, self-censorship by journalists, government infringement on citizens' privacy rights and government

What are the Key Success Factors for the industry Essay

What are the Key Success Factors for the industry - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that wide market that is available. Many people nowadays prefer bottled to other water. Some of the reasons why they frequently choose to take bottled water are because it is safe, that is, free from contamination, it is flavored and readily available. More significantly, most of the people consider bottled water as a product of prestige. Due to the fact that, we are in the generation that value showing than any other thing they opt for bottled water. It is estimated that in the year 1990 more than two billion of gallons of this water was consumed in the United States of America only, exclusive of other countries. By the year 2005, there was an increase of consumption per capita of 25 gallons. This is a proof that this product has a wide and ready market. The bottled water popularity that was ever on the rise was ascribed to the questionable sanitation issues of the drinking water that was provided by the municipality. Also, the lifestyle o f American that is ever working and busy found bottled water to be more convenient due to its portability. Due to health consideration, many people opted to take the bottled drinking water instead of the soft drinks. Soft drinks had a lot of sugar and other additives that were not healthy for the consumption of the people. The method of parking water too pleased many people. The water was parked in containers that could be returned back to the company after the whole amount of purchased water was used. (Dege 421). There was also very stiff competition from rivalry companies, something that made the administration of the company to innovate new production and marketing strategies to ensure that the company is known by many customers. This greatly improved the quality of the products. Due to the quality it attracted many clients who were interested with quality products. Promotions of the company were intensified, and at the same time products were sold at lower prices compared to the rivalry companies. The company was complying with all the legal requirements. Therefore, there was a minimal hindrance from the legal framework. This feature made all the activities of the company to be undertaken openly with no resistance from the enforcers of the laws for instance, the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act was given much priority. The constructions and the design of the company had followed the legal framework to the latter (Dege 420). Good administration is a factor that led to the success of the company. The management team focused on research to improve the production and marketing processes. It was also proactive in prevention of instances that could jeopardize the progress of the company. 2. How is the industry changing? The industry has been growing tremendously and expanding its market since the year 2000.this is because many people shifted and some are in the process of stopping using Municipal drinking water to bottled drinking water. More especially in the United States of America the market has immensely grown leading to high consumption of bottled water and other products which are produced by the company. The production of the industry is also changing to fit the demands of customers in regard to their health and nutrition, whereby they are producing products which are healthy and boost the body systems. Due to this, the industry is making a lot of profit and it is utilizing the same profit in opening up of new branches in areas of the target. Up to now, the industry is found all over the world. 3. Describe and evaluate the strategies of the "Big 3" companies in the U.S. market. Appropriate Promotion strategies The companies invested adequately in the marketing of their products using attractive methods and knowing the gap that was left especially by the Municipal that was in charge of supplying people with drinking water. The strategies took the attention of many people who later on decided to purchase for the products of the companies. They went beyond the market

Gender, ethnicity and social class issues in higher education Essay

Gender, ethnicity and social class issues in higher education - Essay Example Most governments emphasize on equal opportunity for all in education attainment and stern actions are taken against those found discriminating students. The question that begs answers is therefore, if there is equal education opportunity, why do issues of gender, ethnicity and social class matter or why do they continue to bog down the education system? According to Ball (2006) such education policies just contribute to a meritocratic education system. This view is supported by the Virginia university teaching resource center (2004) which believes that such classifications influence â€Å"what we teach, how we teach and how students learn’ and that â€Å"gender equality is taken for granted but it is not yet a reality.† In view of this, this paper will discuss how socio-economic, national identity, gender and English proficiency affect student behavior or faculty behavior towards students. To start with, the socio-economic factors will be discussed. These include the c hallenges faced by students from low socio-economic background such as emotional and social challenges, acute and chronic stressors, cognitive lags and health and safety issues that affect participation rates and educational achievement. It will then look at gender issues such as gender stereotyping and their effects on education after which it will look at issues of national identity and language proficiency faced by international students and their effects on students as well as faculty behavior. Lastly, a short summary will be made. Society is divided into various classes of citizens; the upper, middle and lower class. These represent the hierarchical ordering of society especially due to the emergence of the capitalistic mode of production. Karl Marx often criticized this mode of production for many societal problems and for bringing about exploitation of some people by others, that is, exploitation of working class by the dominant ruling class or capitalists (Morrison, 2006). Emile Durkheim on the other hand, blamed this system for eroding family values and morals but he believed the division of labor in society was the key to enhance social solidarity which had been dismantled by the system. It helps to move from mechanical to organic solidarity but at the same time division of labor may also result in classification of people into high class and low classes depending on their occupations (Morrison, 2006). For examples, professionals such as accountants or lawyers are considered as from high classes while cl erks are in the low social class. Individual identity in modern system is defined by what one does rather than what one is. Paid employment is thus very crucial in defining identity and determining the future of individuals especially where work ethic is emphasized. Education being the key to employment is thus very vital in society and determines what people become in future and can also affect social mobility. This is the reason why issues of equality and equity in education provision are the center of education policies. According to Weis and Dolby (2012) social class determines most aspects of our lives such as which schools to attend and even influences participation in education, academic achievement and student interactions. This view is supported by Jensen (2009) who asserts that students from different socio-economic status bring into the education system their experiences which

Financial analysis and management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Financial analysis and management - Assignment Example It has been observed that profitability ratios have been fluctuating for the airlines in recent years with major setback in the fiscal year 2011-12. However, both the airlines have experienced increase in their liquidity ratios in the fiscal year 2012-13 with Emirates showing higher rate of increase indicating that the companies are in a good financial position to pay off their short term and long term loans and obligations. From investment ratios it has been observed that British Airlines is in a better equity position than the Emirates. This means British Airlines is more efficient in utilizing shareholders’ equity for garnering profit making it more lucrative company for prospective shareholders. Aviation industry is concerned with manufacturing and flying of commercial aircrafts. This industry provides the most rapid transportation network connecting every country in this world. The contribution of aviation industry on international business and tourism is immense. Aviation industry provides employment opportunities on the line of many activities including aircraft maintenance and ground-based infrastructure. The industry plays a very prominent role in a country’s economic structure. As economic development has increased air transport demand across the world, the industry itself is considered as a catalyst of economic growth. Providing a network of transport between all countries, the aviation industry allows easy access to the global market thus enhancing productivity leading to growth of economy. Increased air travel between two countries can have a great positive impact on the GDP of both countries. For instance, growth in air service between Poland and UK since 2 003 has paved the way for long term GDP growth in Poland by US$634 million every year while UK has been benefited with annual GDP growth by US$45 million. Also, since increased connectivity

Evaluate The Circumstances In Which Pluralism Will Develop Essay Example for Free

Evaluate The Circumstances In Which Pluralism Will Develop Essay Pluralism is a system of government that allows and encourages public participation so the state can satisfy the needs of the people. This is achieved through a multitude of organisations, such as pressure groups, trade unions, environmentalists and civil rights activists, seeking to influence the making of laws and policies. It ensures that power is dispersed rather than concentrated within a select few and enables minority groups to voice their opinion. If Pluralism is to develop, it cant be possible for a single group to dominate. Political force exerted by one group will be counteracted by equal and opposite political force exerted by other groups. For that reason, there are multiple centres of power and authority, as opposed to one where the state controls peoples actions. This encourages political participation as everyone can exercise influence over decision makers. An example of this would be Medieval Europe where the Monarchy and Church were co-equal rulers in their different spheres. In democracies, people vote for representatives and in the UK, MPs have this role. If the majority dont like what their representatives are doing, they can vote them out of office at elections. This means representatives have to act in a way which satisfies the majority. But our electoral system often produces representatives who are unrepresentative because only those voters who voted for the winner are represented by their member of parliament. Another problem is that this system doesn’t allow voters to influence specific issues. Therefore people then join interest groups such as pressure groups. These are a vital for the growth of a pluralist political system. Robert Dahl saw that pluralism responded to a high degree of industrialization. Therefore it’s highly unlikely that a pluralistic democracy would be seen in developing nations, where people are undernourished, uneducated and illiterate and as a result unable to participate. The aim of pluralism is to set limits on the power of the rulers over the community. This is achieved by agreeing certain rights and liberties which the rulers can’t infringe. Therefore there is a requirement for checks and balances to occur on the relationship between the state and the individual to allow pluralism to develop. Freedom of association is a necessary condition of political pluralism so that opposition is able to occur within the public domain of the media. This is usually prohibited in totalitarian states, as seen under Hitlers regime when he banned trade unions and suspended the right to assemble. When individuals are given that freedom though, they tend to form into groups. These are needed to assert individual interests and in turn acquire political power. This could be used to change a governmental policy in a way that advances the interests of the groups members. Therefore, while a single individual is basically powerless when it comes to changing state policy, the coming together of several individuals presents a more challenging contender. The pluralistic political model is one in which groups are used as a means to vindicate the interests of its members rather than dominate other groups as the latter encourages tyranny. Citizens are therefore organised into a variety of interest groups that must bargain with each other for the influence over government. This competition between groups is precisely what ensures that the key characteristic is maintained no group dominates as power is openly competed for. In order for Pluralism to grow, the state must act as a mediator in the political process when responding to the demands of all segments of society and distributing policies in such a way that all of the groups have some influence on government strategy. Ideally the government should intervene to help the weaker groups and that they consider alternatives in order to meet national interests. This means that the people within society need to be open-minded and show tolerance towards the ideas of others. In conclusion, there are many basic conditions necessary for pluralism to develop, including fundamental freedoms such as free speech, a free media and fair elections. Yet the key requirements appear to be a genuine toleration of other people’s beliefs and interests, as well as the ability to form into groups such as trade unions and pressure groups which stand for all the different interests of the population. The collective power of these associations representing different interests provides a counter to the tyranny of the state and that of the majority.

International Accounting Developments in Egypt

International Accounting Developments in Egypt Identify the nature of the accounting system used in the country and give supporting evidence to justify the reasons for your decision. As a country, Egypt has experienced a dramatic change towards democracy and transparency. This has further been exposed within the financial statements produced in the country. Through the development of the Egyptian Accounting Standards, the country has transformed from a centralised economy, branded by secrecy to an economy based around the global market, providing full disclosure for its stakeholders (Dahawy, Merino and Conover, 2002. pp. 203,204). The setting of accounting standards in Egypt since January 2016 has been a combined effort of a committee of experts from The Egyptian Society of Accountants Auditors, the Central Auditing Agency, the General Authority for Investment and the Egyptian Institute of Accountants. The Egyptian Accounting Standards follow a principle based accounting policy, like that of the IFRS. External factors have a direct influence on the financial reports of a firm, based on where it is operating. Whilst Egypt develops into a more democratic nation, t he social, economic and political factors will develop the accounting standard. As (Adela, D. 2011) states, many specialists believe this is not possible using a rules-based accounting policy, and instead these rules should reinforce a principle, rather than rending it meaningless. Explain any differences between the accounting standards/system used in the country under review and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). From 2006, the Egyptian Accounting Standards have released an entire set of Standards, with 35 of those based on the IASs. Only EAS 1, 10, 19 and 20 are the exceptions. EAS 1 focuses on the presentation of the financial statements, like that of IAS 1. The Egyptian Accounting Standard requires the distribution of profits to employees and board of the directors to decrease the retained earnings directly, without effecting the income figure in the income statement. This has an immediate effect on the Earnings per Share calculation. EAS 10, fixed assets and depreciation, shows a distinct difference to IAS 16. EAS 10 prevents the re-evaluation of a fixed asset, unless the situation is one approved by the Egyptian law. Under IAS 16, the asset is carried at a revalued amount, being the fair value at that date less depreciation and impairment, thus providing a fair value that can be measured reliably (Iasplus.com, n.d.). EAS 19 emphases the disclosure in the financial statements. It necessit ates that the accumulation of general provisions for loans, is fashioned through a decrease of income in the income statement, rather that the IFRS 7 requirement of decreasing the sum from owners equity. Although EAS 10 does not directly affect the owners equity, as net income is included in calculating the owners equity, a reduction in income would in effect reduce the owners equity. One substantial change that does occur for the business through the difference is that of the profit margin. EAS 20 surrounds a companys use of leasing. The requirement of the Egyptian Accounting Standard is that while the asset is leased, the lessor must keep the asset in their accounting books, and will depreciate it whilst the lessee reports the rental payments as expenses, contradicting the requirements of IAS 17 where leased assets are treated in the balance sheet as a receivable, at an amount equal to the total investment in the lease (Iasplus.com, n.d.). Critically discuss whether you believe these differences cause major issues from the viewpoint of global stakeholders. Global stakeholders, such as World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have had a major influence on the Egyptian economy since 1991, when an economic reform was launched by the government (Khlif and Samaha, 2013). Since taking an interest in Egypt, major stakeholders such as WB and IMF have pressured Egypt towards adopting the International Accounting Standards, assuring that the application and implementations of the accounting standards are necessary to the confidence of external investors supplying the economy with funding (reference). To an extent, with the exception of four standards, the EAS has been built on this influence, developing on the International standards and applying the standards suitable to the Egyptian environment. The difference in EAS 1 to that of IAS 1 directly effects the earnings per share of the company. This could cause confusion for foreign investors, expecting that the company is in a significantly healthier position, as the earnings per share is o ften used as a tool to evaluate a companys profitability. Revaluation of fixed assets allows investors and the business to accurately view the true market value of a fixed asset. The difference between EAS 10 and IAS 16 could cause a difficulty to foreign investors in evaluating the true value of a companys assets. Without re-evaluating these assets, a companys financial reports will show their fixed assets as a much higher amount than their assets are currently worth in the market. This is especially true for technology based fixed assets which have a rapid decrease in value over time. A higher fixed asset amount causes difficulty in calculating a companys true net assets as well as the companys fixed asset turnover ratio. The main concern for stakeholders through the differences of EAS 19 and IFRS 7 would be the effect on the profit margins of the company. The profit margin of a company is calculated as net income divided by sales. With EAS 19 reducing income from the accumulation of general provisions for loans the numerator of the equation will reduce, causing the business to appear less profitable, discouraging foreign investors. EAS 20, unlike EAS 1,10 and 19, can give confidence in the financial reports to stakeholders. Unlike IAS 17, under EAS 20, a leased asset remains in the financial reports of the lessor, allowing a clearer understanding to stakeholders the value of the assets and liabilities of the company. As a developing country, Egypt had a lack of alternative information sources for investors, such as earnings forecasts, since the introduction of the standards in Egypt, this information has become easier to obtain (Ragab and Omran, 2006). These differences in standards hasnt been the only difficulty for the view of foreign investors, (Salem. 2001. p.112) has also described the difficulty caused through the existence of multiple descriptions of the accounting standards, provided by the ECM, CAA and Egyptian accounting profession, forcing invest ors rely on their intuitiveness, rather than the information provided in the financial reports of Egyptian organisations. Evaluate whether the current position, and any near future changes are likely to lead to issues regarding the country achieving full convergence with IFRS as issued by the IASB Throughout the development of the EAS, there has always been a connection to the standards of the International Accounting Standard. In 1997, the EAS was characterised of 19 standards, primarily based on that of the International Accounting Standard (Dahawy, Merino and Conover, 2002). The main concern on the standard, although stated by the EIAA that the EAS was essentially an Arabic Version of the International Accounting Standard, (Hassan. 2008) acknowledged that two interviewees stated that the translations of the standards included some mistakes, in addition (Hassan. 2008) continues to pronounce the descriptions as similar, yet do not mirror that of the IASs. An official translation of the standards arrived in 2002, with the introduction of three new standards, by the Arab Society of Certified Accountants, based in Jordan. (Carruthers, 1995) has debated that building the standards through a combined effort, these organisations have contributed further in avoiding the adoption of the IAS in Egypt. This is due to each organisation providing similar, yet slightly different descriptions for the standard allowing business managers the discretion to choose a suitable description for their desires, and not conforming to the framework provided by the IAS. As (Hassan. 2008) presented in a case study on financial reporting in Egypt, harmonisation between the EAS and IFRS would not entirely meet the needs of stakeholders, as the country has developed standards to better suit the environment in which the firms providing the reports are operating in. Although a previously centralised economy, since 1997 the Egyptian Capital Market set laws to ensure to legally enforce that joint stock companies and partnerships limited by shares that their financial statements must be in harmony with the standards set by the IAS. While there is some harmony between the two accounting standards, (Hassan. 2008) clarifies in his findings that the Egyptian Accounting Standards were designed solely to overcome the pre-existing socialist accounting practises, whilst also increasing the adherence to the process of privatisation. Full convergence is a very difficult task due to political, economic, social and cultural factors that differ between each country. One possible route for the country to obtain this convergence would be to follow the FASB in the creation of the Memorandum of Understanding (Fasb.org,2014) and work together with the IASB to rather than trying to eliminate the differences between the standard develop a new common standard, to improve the quality of the financial reporting. References Adela, D 2011, Principles- and rules-based accounting debate. implications for an emergent country, Annals Of The University Of Oradea, Economic Science Series, 20, 1, pp. 602-608, Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost. Alexander, D. and Jermakowicz, E. (2006). A true and fair view of the principles/rules debate. Abacus, 42(2), pp.132-164. Carruthers, B. (1995). Accounting, ambiguity, and the new institutionalism. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 20(4), pp.313-328. Dahawy, K., Merino, B. and Conover, T. (2002). The conflict between IAS disclosure requirements and the secretive culture in Egypt. Advances in International Accounting, 15, pp.203-228. Dahawy, K., Shehata, N. and Ransopher, T. (2011). The State of Accounting in Egypt: A Case. pp.2-8. Iasplus.com. (n.d.). IAS 16 Property, Plant and Equipment. [online] Available at: https://www.iasplus.com/en/standards/ias/ias16 [Accessed 2 Jan. 2017]. Iasplus.com. (n.d.). IAS 16 Property, Plant and Equipment. [online] Available at: https://www.iasplus.com/en/standards/ias/ias16 [Accessed 2 Jan. 2017]. Kamal Hassan, M. (2008). The development of accounting regulations in Egypt. Managerial Auditing Journal, 23(5), pp.467-484. Khlif, H. and Samaha, K. (2013). Internal Control Quality, Egyptian Standards on Auditing and External Audit Delays: Evidence from the Egyptian Stock Exchange. International Journal of Auditing, 18(2), pp.139-154. Mostafa Kamal Hassan, (2008) Financial accounting regulations and organizational change: a Habermasian perspective, Journal of Accounting Organizational Change, Vol. 4 Iss: 3, pp.289 317 Ragab, A. and Omran, M. (2006). Accounting information, value relevance, and investors behavior in the Egyptian equity market. Review of Accounting and Finance, 5(3), pp.279-297. Salem, A.K. (2001). The role of financial disclosure in serving the needs of investors decision-making processes under the economic liberalisation policy in Egypt. Unpublished Ph.D dissertation. Alexandria University.

Things Fall Apart Essay examples -- English Literature Essays

Things Fall Apart An African man, Chinua Achebe, wrote the novel, Things Fall Apart, at the age of 26. The story portrays his theme of life, when one thing stands another stands beside it. The main character, Okonkwo, lead a somewhat complicated life. As it began, it was ruled by courage and strength, but he chose to end it with a weak escape from every challenge he had ever been given, suicide. As his life began he was given nothing. His father, Unoka, was a disgrace to Umuofia. He was extremely lazy, and more in debt than anyone could even remember. Okonkwo worked extremely hard for everything he had ever had in his possession. He began his fame at a very young age, as a wrestler. His victory with Amalinze, the cat, was the beginning of his successful life. He harvested all of his crops alone, with no help. He was a strong and courageous warrior, as well as leader. When the Priestess of Agbala took his daughter, Ezinma, he followed behind, showing that he cared. This also counteracts the fact that, â€Å"He had a slight stammer and whenever he was angry and could not get his words out quickly enough, he would use his fists.† (Achebe 4) He was known for his fiery temper, which on occasion acted out unnecessarily. On one instance he beat his wife, Ojiugo, merely because she didn’t have his food ready. In the outcome of an ultimatum with Mbaino, Umuofia was give n a young boy, Ikemefuna. Okonkwo took care of Ikemefuna for three years, but when Ezeudu said, â€Å"That boy calls you...

Affirmative Action - The Battles Against Race-based Educational Plans E

Affirmative Action - The Battles Against Race-Based Educational Plans California's decision in 1996 to outlaw the use of race in public college admissions was widely viewed as the beginning of the end for affirmative action at public universities all over the United States. But in the four years since Californians passed Proposition 209, most states have agreed that killing affirmative action outright would deepen social inequality by denying minority citizens access to higher education. The half-dozen states that are actually thinking about abandoning race-sensitive admissions policies are themselves finding that the only way to enlarge the minority presence in college without such policies is to improve dramatically the public schools that most black and Latino students attend. As a result, these states are keeping a close eye on California, Texas and Florida, where "percentage systems" have sprung up to replace affirmative action. Under these systems, students who achieve a specified ranking in their high school graduating classes are guaranteed admission to state colleges. In California, for example, the so-called 4 percent plan guarantees college admission to everyone in the top 4 percent of high school graduating classes statewide. Minority enrollment, which crashed after Proposition 209 passed, has rebounded at the second-tier colleges. But the decline has continued at the flagship colleges, U.C.L.A. and Berkeley -- largely because the high schools in black and Latino neighborhoods routinely fail to offer the advanced placement courses that are readily available in white neighborhoods and that are taken into account when the elite colleges make admissions decisions. The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California has challenged this arrangement in a class-action lawsuit. Having eliminated the race-sensitive policies that once compensated for these inequalities, California is now being forced to deal with the inferior public schools that made those policies necessary. The University of Texas has learned a similar lesson since a federal court ruling forced it to abandon race-based admissions policies in 1996. Black and Latino enrollment dipped precipitously in the first year, but rose again after the legislature passed a law guaranteeing college admission to all students who graduate in the ... ...no children to fall behind. Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida is currently embroiled in a fight over an executive order that outlaws race-based admissions at the state universities -- while guaranteeing admissions to the top 20 percent of high school classes. Mr. Bush's order was meant to render moot a ballot initiative on affirmative action that Republicans feared would heighten black turnout in this year's presidential election. The 20 percent rule seemed non-controversial and even generous -- until Governor Bush found that roughly two-thirds of additional black students who might benefit from the rule had been so neglected in high school that they had failed to graduate with the necessary credits for admission to the state university system. The state is now pushing public schools that serve black students to provide better course offerings. What all these states have learned is that the only real way to make race-sensitive policies unnecessary is to guarantee black and Latino children from poor communities a realistic chance at a decent education that prepares them for college. To kill the policies before those guarantees are in place is to court civic disaster.

Positive Change In World Through Manipulation of Behavior in B.F Skinne

Positive Change In World Through Manipulation of Behavior in B.F Skinner's Waldo Two   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  B.F. Skinner, in his novel Walden Two, presents many arguments about how he foresees a positive change in the world through manipulation of behavior on the personal level. Sigmund Freud, in his works, specifically Civilization and Its Discontents, presents his view of human nature and what is innately problematic about it. Both Freud and Skinner agree that human behavior is the result of outside factors that severely hinder the concept of free will. Skinner believes that humans, in the correct environment, can live happily, while Freud understands that humans are destined to live in "some degree of anguish or discontent."   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Skinner uses the ideal setting of Walden Two to illustrate his ideas of how human behavior should be "formed." Much of Skinner's argument on how to eliminate what he knows as problematic rests on his prescription of dismissing the notion of individual freedom. Skinner does not only say that the concept of individual freedom is a farce. He takes it a step further and states that the search for it is where society has gone wrong. He wants no part in the quest for individual freedom. If we give up this illusion, says Skinner, we can condition everyone to act in acceptable ways.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Skinner has a specific prescription for creating this utopian society. He declares that all that is necessary is to change the conditions which surround man. "G...

Definition of Terms Essay

A pre-Socratic Greek materialist philosopher. Democritus was a student of Leucippus and co-originator of the belief that all matter is made up of various imperishable, indivisible elements which he called atoma or â€Å"indivisible units†, from which we get the English word atom. Mesopotamia A cradle of civilization geographically located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, largely corresponding to modern-day Iraq. Sumer in southern Mesopotamia is commonly regarded as the world’s earliest civilization. Cities in Mesopotamia later served as capitals of the Akkadian, Babylonian, Assyrian, Mitanni, Neo-Assyrian, Neo-Babylonian, Parthian, Sassanid and Abbasid empires. Idea A concept or abstraction formed and existing in the mind. Human capability to contemplate ideas is associated with the ability of reasoning, self-reflection, and the ability to acquire and apply intellect. Further, ideas give rise to actual concepts, or mind generalizations, which are the basis for any kind of knowledge whether science or philosophy. Humbaba A monstrous giant of immemorial age raised by Utu, the Sun. Humbaba orHuwawa was also the guardian of the Cedar Forest where the gods lived. Anubis The Greek name for the ancient jackal-headed god of the dead in Egyptian mythology whose hieroglyphic version is more accurately spelled Anpu. He is also known as Sekhem Em Pet. Prayers to Anubis have been found carved on the most ancient tombs in Egypt; indeed, the Unas text (line 70) associates him with the Eye of Horus. He serves as both a guide of the recently departed and a guardian of the dead. Kumarbi Kumarbi bit off the genitals of Anu and spat out three new gods. This is related in the Hittite myth Kingship in Heaven: Alalu was overthrown by Anu who was in turn overthrown by Kumarbi. When Anu tried to escape Kumarbi bites off his genitals. Anu tells his son that he is now pregnant with the Teshub, Tigris and Tasmisu. Upon hearing this Kumarbi spit the semen upon the ground and it became impregnated with two children. Kumarbi becomes pregnant and is cut open to deliver Tesub. Together, Anu and Teshub depose Kumarbi Tammuz Tammuz was established in honor of the eponymous god Tammuz, who originated as a Sumerian shepherd-god, Dumuzid or Dumuzi, the consort of Inanna and, in his Akkadian form, the parallel consort of Ishtar. The Syrian Adonis (â€Å"lord†), who was drawn into the Greek pantheon, is another counterpart of Tammuz,son and consort. The Aramaic name â€Å"Tammuz† seems to have been derived from the Akkadian form Tammuzi, based on early Sumerian Damu-zid. Oligarchy A form of government where political power effectively rests with a small elite segment of society (whether distinguished by wealth, family or military powers). The word oligarchy is from the Greek words for â€Å"few†. Aton Aton was the focus of Akhenaten’s religion, but viewing Aton as Akhenaten’s god is a simplification. Aton is the name given to represent the solar disc. The term Aton was used to designate a disc, and since the sun was a disc, gradually became associated with solar deities. Aton expresses indirectly the life-giving force of light. Babylon A city of ancient Mesopotamia, the ruins of which can be found in present-day Al Hillah, Babil Province, Iraq, about 85 kilometers (55 mi) south of Baghdad. It was the â€Å"holy city† of Babylonia from around 2300 BC, and the seat of the Neo-Babylonian Empire from 612 BC. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Iliad The poem concerns events during the tenth and final year in the siege of the city of Ilion, or Troy, by the Greeks (See Trojan War). The word Iliad means â€Å"pertaining to Ilion† (in Latin, Ilium), the city proper, as opposed to Troy (in Greek, , Troia; in Latin, Troia), the state centered around Ilium, over which Priam reigned. The names Ilium and Troy are often used interchangeably. Hyksos An Asiatic people who invaded the eastern Nile Delta, initiating the Second Intermediate Period of Ancient Egypt. They rose to power in the 17th century BC, (according to the traditional chronology) and ruled Lower and Middle Egypt for 108 years, forming the Fifteenth and possibly the Sixteenth Dynasties of Egypt, (c. 1648–1540 BC). [1] This 108-year period follows the Turin Canon, which gives the six kings of the Hyksos 15th Dynasty a total reign length of 108 years. [2] Epimetheus Epimetheus (â€Å"hindsight†, literally â€Å"hind-thought†) was the brother of Prometheus (â€Å"foresight†, literally â€Å"fore-thought†), a pair of Titans who â€Å"acted as representatives of mankind† (Kerenyi 1951, p 207). They were the inseparable sons of Iapetus, who in other contexts was the father of Atlas. While Prometheus is characterized as ingenious and clever, Epimetheus is depicted as foolish. Attica A periphery (subdivision) in Greece, containing Athens, the capital of Greece. Attica is subdivided into the prefectures of Athens, Piraeus, East Attica and West Attica. Enki A deity in Sumerian mythology, later known as Ea in Babylonian mythology, originally chief god of the city of Eridu. He was the deity of crafts . The exact meaning of his name is uncertain: the common translation is â€Å"Lord of the Earth†: the Sumerian en is translated as a title equivalent to â€Å"lord† Nebuchadnezzar II A ruler of Babylon in the Chaldean Dynasty, who reigned c. 605 BC-562 BC. He is famous for his monumental building within his capital of Babylon, his role in the Book of Daniel, and his construction of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and known among Christians and Jews for his conquests of Judah and Jerusalem. Ionians One of the four main ancient Greek phyla or tribes, linked by their use of the Ionic dialect of the Greek language whose settlements were located principally on the Islands between Greece and Anatolia—but whose peoples settled on both coasts as well (giving rise to the eponymously named region of Ionia), which migrations includes only the southern areas of the Greek mainland including Athens. Akhenaten Meaning Effective spirit of Aten, first known as Amenhotep IV (sometimes read as Amenophis IV and meaning Amun is Satisfied) before his first year, was a Pharaoh of the Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt. He is especially noted for attempting to compel the Egyptian population in the monotheistic worship of Aten, although there are doubts as to how successful he was at this. Inanna The goddess of love and war, if Inanna wasn’t strapping on her battle sandals,she was seen swaggering around the streets of her home town, dragging young men out of the taverns to have sex with her. Despite her association with mating and fertility of humans and animals, Inanna was not a mother goddess, and is rarely associated with childbirth. Inanna was also associated with rain and storms and with the planet Venus.. Boundless It is symbolized by the infinity sign which is like an inverted number 8. Ii manifests the eternal powers of a god-king which is limitless. Annunaki A group of Sumerian and Akkadian deities related to, and in some cases overlapping with, the Annuna (the ‘Fifty Great Gods’) and the Igigi (minor gods). The name is variously written â€Å"da-nuna†, â€Å"da-nuna-ke4-ne†, or â€Å"da-nun-na†, meaning something to the effect of ‘those of royal blood’ or ‘princely offspring or â€Å"heaven and earth† (Anu-na-ki) The Annunaki appear in the Babylonian creation myth, Enuma Elish. Shamash Means â€Å"sun†. Both in early and in late inscriptions Sha-mash is designated as the â€Å"offspring of Nannar,† i. e. of the moon-god, and since, in an enumeration of the pantheon, Sin generally takes precedence of Shamash, it is in relationship, presumably, to the moon-god that the sun-god appears as the dependent power. Academy An institution of higher learning, research, or honorary membership. The name traces back to Plato’s school of philosophy, founded approximately 385 BC at Akademia, a sanctuary of Athena, the goddess of wisdom, north of Athens. Sparta A Dorian Greek military city-state, originally centered in Laconia. Sparta emphasized military training, and after achieving notable victories over the Athenian and Persian Empires, regarded itself as the natural protector of Greece. The Kings of Sparta were believed to be the direct descendants of Hercules. [ Hephaestus The Greek god whose Roman equivalent was Vulcan; he was the god of technology, blacksmiths, craftsmen, artisans, sculptors, metals and metallurgy, and fire. He was worshipped in all the manufacturing and industrial centers of Greece, especially Athens identified by Greek colonists in southern Italy with the volcano gods Adranus of Mount Etna and Vulcanus of the Lipara islands, and his forge moved here by the poets. Uruk An ancient city of Sumer and later Babylonia, situated east of the present bed of the Euphrates, on the line of the ancient Nil canal, in a region of marshes, some 30 km east of As-Samawah, Al-Muthanna, Iraq. Octavian The name Gaius Octavius. His father, of the same name, came from a respectable but undistinguished family of the equestrian order and had been governor of Macedonia. After Octavius’ birth, his father gave him the cognomen of Thurinus, possibly to commemorate his victory at Thurii over a rebellious band of slaves. [ Dialectics A controversy, that is, the exchange of arguments and counter-arguments respectively advocating propositions (theses) and counter-propositions (antitheses). The outcome of the exercise might not simply be the refutation of one of the relevant points of view, but a synthesis or combination of the opposing assertions. Gaea The Greek goddess personifying the Earth. Her Roman equivalent was Terra . derives from the Greek words Ge ( ) = Earth (Pelasgian), and *aia = grandmother (PIE The Republic A Socratic dialogue by Plato, written approximately 360 BC. It is an influential work of philosophy and political theory, and perhaps Plato’s best known work. Minotaur A creature that was part man and part bull. â€Å"Minotaur† is Greek for â€Å"Bull of Minos†. It dwelt at the center of the Labyrinth, which was an elaborate maze-like construction built for King Minos of Crete and designed by the architect Daedalus and his son Icarus who were ordered to build it to hold the Minotaur. The Minotaur was eventually killed by Theseus Utnapishtim In the eleventh tablet of the Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh, Utnapishtim â€Å"the faraway† is the wise king of the Sumerian city state of Shuruppak who, along with his unnamed wife, survived a great flood sent by Enlil to drown every living thing on Earth. Kadesh An ancient city of the Levant, located on the Orontes River, probably identical to the remains at Tell Nebi Mend,about 24 km southwest of Hims ,in what is now western Syria . Kadesh is first noted as one of two Canaanite cities (the other being Megiddo) that led a coalition of city-states opposing the conquest of the Levant by Thutmose III Neanderthals A species of the Homo genus (Homo neanderthalensis or Homo sapiens neanderthalensis) that inhabited Europe and parts of western Asia. The first proto-Neanderthal traits appeared in Europe as early as 350,000 years ago. Stela A stone or wooden slab, generally taller than it is wide, erected for funerary or commemorative purposes, most usually decorated with the names and titles of the deceased or living—inscribed, carved in relief (bas-relief, sunken-relief, high-relief, etc), or painted onto the slab. Pandora The first woman, Each god helped create by giving her unique gifts. Zeus ordered her creation as a punishment for mankind, in retaliation for Prometheus’ having stolen fire and then giving it to humans for their use. She is most famous for carrying a jar (pithos) (or box) containing all the world’s evils. She releases these evils, but closes the lid before Hope can escape. Knossos The largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete, probably the ceremonial and political center of the Minoan civilization and culture. The city of Knossos remained important through the Classical and Roman periods Pax Romana The latin term for â€Å"the Roman peace† (sometimes Pax Augusta), was the long period of relative peace and minimal expansion by military force experienced by the Roman Empire between 27 BC and 180 AD. Augustus Caesar led Rome into the moderation of Pax Romana, and his successors for the most part imitated his policy. This period ended with the death of Marcus Aurelius, which is considered the start of the decline of the Roman Empire. Xerxes A king of Persia (reigned 485–465 BC) of the Achaemenid dynasty. Xerxes ( ) is the Greek form of the Old Persian throne name Xsayarsa, meaning â€Å"Ruler of heroes†. Xerxes was victorious during the initial battles. At the Battle of Thermopylae, a small force of warriors, led by King Leonidas of Sparta, resisted the much larger Persian forces, but were ultimately defeated, after a Greek man called Ephialtes betrayed his country by telling the Persians of another pass around the Hot Gates Mountains to corner them. Thebes A city in Greece, situated to the north of the Cithaeron range, which divides Boeotia from Attica, and on the southern edge of the Boeotian plain. Thebes played an important role in the fabric of Greek myth, being the site of the stories of Cadmus, Oedipus, Dionysus.

A Terrible Dream

A terrible dream I was relaxing at home watching television when I suddenly heard someone calling my name â€Å"Seik Yee, help me! Help me please! † I turn my face to the person who calling me, I was so astonishment! I saw my friend Jack. â€Å"Jack! Are you okay? What happened to you? † I asked. He stared at me blankly and started speaking in Mandarin! His Mandarin was very good as my Malay, which was zilch. I spoke some Mandarin. â€Å"Wo hen xin ku, jiu wo† he kept on repeating. â€Å"Fang wo zou, Fang wo zou† he said.This translated to â€Å"I’m suffering, please help me. Let me go. Let me go. † We usually conversed in English and his behaviour was strange and I was confused and worried. Jack’s face was drenched in perspiration and he was getting increasingly agitated. I was sure that he wasn’t having a heart attack though. I had seen the movie ‘The Exorcist’ before and his demeanour reminded me of one possessed , just like the movie. Suddenly, someone rushed to my side and a crowd had gathered.Jack’s eyes were expressionless and he didn’t recognise me although it was impossible for him not to notice me. He continued talking aloud but now I couldn’t understand what he was saying at all. It seemed to be heavily-accented Mandarin and Chinese dialect of some sort I couldn’t identify. The person who rushed to my side just now suggested he had suffered a heart stroke and a few people helped move him into shaded area. He was almost delirious by then. Suddenly, a group of monks nearby came over to see what the commotion was about.The most senior-looking monk took one look at Jack and shook his head. He immediately clasped Jack’s hand to his and started reciting mantras. It was only then that Jack calmed down and stopped talking to himself. Eventually, after few minutes, he slept soundly, much to my relief. The monk reassured me that he was okay. After about 10 mi nutes, he gently woke Jack. A bit dazed, Jack was otherwise â€Å"normal†. After Jack absolutely okay, â€Å"Where was us now? † I asked. I’m absolutely doesn’t known where am I at the beginning.Jack then answer my question and gave me an insight into the history of Great Wall which I had not known. â€Å"Here is the Great Wall of China. Millions of workers had been involved in its construction over hundreds of years spanning many dynasties. The work on the wall was so difficult that most workers died within the first year. Their bodies were thrown into the wall to help fill it. Most of the workers were slaves, criminals, political prisoners or extremely low-wage workers. † â€Å"What?That is so†¦Ã¢â‚¬  when I want to complained about that, suddenly heard a women voice who calling me â€Å"Seik Yee, why you slept on sofa and the television is on? † I opened my eyes, my mother’s face was the first thing I saw. Now, only I realiz ed that is a terrible dream! In that because of the dream, I swear I won’t visit or travel to the Great Wall of China. (521 words) ENL 1100: ENGLISH 1 PROGRAM: DBADI SESSION: JAN 2012 SECTION: GROUP D2 INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT: 2/2 BY: NAME: LOH SEIK YEE MATRIC NO: J11009464 LECTURER: MS DEEPA DATE OF SUBMISSION: 16/2/2012

El salvador

This case was written by Susan Bartholomew based on personal interviews. Names, dates, and details of situations have been modified for illustrative purposes. The various economic, political, and cultural conditions described are presented as perceptions of the individuals in the case; they do not necessarily reflect the actual conditions in the region. The events described are presented as a basis for classroom discussion rather than to illustrate effective or ineffective handling of a cross- cultural situation.December 10, 1998: The Job Offer John and Joanna Lafferty had Just opened a bottle of wine to share with friends who had come to see their new apartment in Toronto when the telephone rang. John, a lanky, easygoing development economist, excused himself to answer the phone in the kitchen. Recently married, John and Joanna were excited to be building a life together in the same city at last. As a development economist specializing in Latin America, John Laffertys work had taken him to Peru, Bolivia, and Guatemala on a series of three- to four-month assignments over the previous three years.While he loved the challenge and adventure of this fieldwork and had come to love the people and culture, he also wanted a home base and steady presence in Toronto, where Joanna worked as a human resource management consultant. Just before their wedding six months earlier, John accepted a position with a Toronto-based NGO (non-government organization) focused on research, fund-raising, and government lobbying on issues related to Central American political refugees.Throughout the 1980s, tens of thousands of refugees had fled political persecution and human rights abuse in war- orn Central America to seek political asylum in Canada; John's field experience in Guatemala and his natural diplomacy were invaluable to the Canadian organization. He was passionate about his work and quickly gained a reputation for being a sa'. n. y and politically astute advocate of refugees' c ases. As Joanna went to get some wineglasses from the kitchen, she could overhear her husband speaking in Spanish on the phone.Joanna had studied Spanish in college but had difficulty following the rapid, one-sided conversation. However, one phrase, â€Å"Me allegre mucho,† and John's broad grin as he said it, was impossible to isinterpret. Joanna returned to her guests in the living room: â€Å"It sounds like good news. † John's work with refugees in the Canadian NGO had caught the attention of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, headquartered in Geneva, and he had recently returned from a one-week visit and series of interviews. While John had not been searching for a new Job opportunity, the Geneva invitation had been too exciting to resist.John walked back into the living room with a huge smile: â€Å"Forget the wine, I think we should open some champagne. The U. N. has Just offered me the most incredible Job. † â€Å"In Geneva? Joanna asked ex citedly. Decision The El Salvador assignment would be for two years, as a Program Officer responsible for organizing the repatriation of Salvadoran refugees from various refugee camps back to El Salvador and developing programs to ensure the protection and well-being of such refugees in their return to Salvadoran communities. The position would report to the Charge de Mission of the El Salvador office.While this office was based in the capital city, San Salvador, the Job would also require frequent travel to various field offices and refugee camps throughout El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Honduras. The challenge of the assignment excited John tremendously; he also believed that this was an exceptional opportunity for him to make a real difference in the lives of the refugees of Central America. He certainly wanted to accept the Job; however, he would only go if Joanna would be willing and happy to go with him.Two questions would weigh heavily on Joanna's mind: 1 . â€Å"Wha t about the political instability of the area? † The politics of El Salvador were complicated and difficult to understand, and the story seemed to vary depending on the source. As Joanna gathered, the civil war in El Salvador had come to an end in 1992 with a U. N. -brokered peace treaty between the conservative government of the Republican Nationalist Alliance (Arena) and the Marxist-led Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN). Throughout the war, the U. S. ad apparently spent more than $4 billion to support the government and military, while the Soviet Bloc supported the FMLN. Human-rights groups alleged that right-wing death squads had murdered 40,000 of the 70,000 people killed during the 12-year war. However, the peace agreement had significantly reduced the size of the rmy, disbanded corrupt police forces, purged the country of the most notorious human-rights abusers, and disarmed the FMLN, allowing it to become a legal political party. The country appeared to h ave made substantial progress toward peace and democracy.The information and briefings they received from Salvadorans and other expatriates who had recently returned from the country suggested that life in the capital, San Salvador, was quite safe. Economically, the country was becoming more internationally open, with establishment of large export factories, increasing rivatization, and reforms aimed at stimulating foreign investment. While certain precautions were required, and the area was still heavily patrolled by armed forces, Joanna was told she could expect a relatively normal lifestyle. They would live in a highly secure part of the city, in the area populated by all the foreign embassies.They would also be living and traveling on a U. N. diplomatic passport (â€Å"Laissez- passer†), which would afford them excellent protection. 2. â€Å"What about my career? † Moving to El Salvador was the last thing Joanna had imagined when she married John Lafferty six month s earlier. Joanna had worked in Toronto for three years as a human resource consultant after graduating with an MBA. She was bright and ambitious, and her career was advancing well. While she was very happy to be married, she also enjoyed her professional and financial independence.Besides, Toronto was not only professionally rewarding, it was also home, friends, and family. However, Joanna was also ready for a change; secretly, she had always envied John the sense of adventure that accompanied his work. Maybe this was an opportunity for her to develop her After much discussion, they decided that John would accept the assignment. January-March 1999: Predeparture Arrangements When John confirmed with the Geneva office that he would take the assignment, it was arranged for him to move to San Salvador at the end of March and for Joanna to follow one month later.It was often recommended in assignments of this kind to send married staff ahead of time to get settled into the Job before th eir spouse and/ or family arrived. This option made sense to the Laffertys and had several advantages. First, it would give Joanna more time to finish off her current consulting rojects in Toronto and make a graceful exist from her present firm. She had a strong professional reputation and wanted to ensure she was remembered favorably by her corporate clients when she returned to Toronto two years later. Second, John would be able to get the housing arrangements settled before Joanna's arrival.John's employer would provide ample financial and logistical supports to staff in finding housing; however, John also knew from past experience that dealing with local real estate agents and utility companies in Central America could be highly frustrating. Tasks that were quite simple in Toronto, such as having a lease drawn up and getting a telephone installed, Just didn't seem to follow any system or set of procedures. â€Å"Tomorrow' could mean next week or even next month. Patience, flexi bility, and a good deal of charm were usually required; getting angry rarely helped.While John was used to the inconvenience and unpredictability of local services in Central America, he was uncertain how Joanna would react initially. John held a deep affection for the Central American people and felt hopeful that Joanna would develop an affinity for the culture as well. However, he hoped to at least have the majority of the living arrangements worked out before she arrived to make her transition to El Salvador as smooth as possible. Finally, the extra time gave Joanna more opportunity to prepare herself for the transition.Joanna had taken a course on international human resource management as an MBA and was familiar with the phenomenon of culture shock in international assignments. She recalled from her course that predeparture preparation and cultural orientation made a significant difference in helping employees and their families adapt to the foreign environment. Joanna was dete rmined to read and learn as much about Salvadoran history and politics as she could. She was also keen to improve her Spanish before she arrived and as soon as the decision was made that they would be going to El Salvador, she enrolled in night courses for six hours a week.As Joanna walked home from her Spanish class one evening, pleased with her results on her comprehension test, she recalled with amusement a conversation she had had with Joan Taylor. Joan was the wife of a senior executive with Altron, a Canadian firm with offices throughout Latin America. The Taylors had Just returned rom a two-year assignment in Guatemala City, and Joanna had contacted Joan to get some insight on the practicalities of living in the region. â€Å"My dear Joanna,† Joan began, â€Å"you will have a very fine life in Central America, or in most developing countries your husband will be sent to, for that matter.You will â€Å"Just watch out for the ‘gilded cage syndrome. †  "The what? † Joanna had asked. â€Å"As corporate executives or diplomats in third-world postings, we live a pretty high life, certainly a standard of living far beyond what we could have in our own countries. Everything is there for you and everything is done for you. It's like living in a gilded cage. Some people love it, and get pretty spoiled; after a while you cant imagine even making a sandwich for yourself†¦ .† Humph, Joanna thought to herself at the time. That would certainly never happen to me.I am a professional. This is an incredible learning opportunity and I am going to make the most of it! May 1999: Joanna's Arrival Joanna arrived on a balmy afternoon, grateful for the warm breeze after a cold Toronto winter. She was excited to see John and only slightly disappointed that their first drive into San Salvador would not be alone, but accompanied by a young Salvadoran named Julio Cesar, who had been assigned as their driver. On the drive from the airport, Joanna tried hard to follow his rapid banter as he pointed out the sights to her.She had felt confident in her Spanish in the classroom in Toronto, but now she could barely understand a word Julio Cesar said. John, sensing her frustration, began to translate, and by the time they reached the house, Joanna was exhausted and discouraged. John was proud of the house he had found, next door to the Mexican embassy and only a block from a tennis club where most of the members were expatriates. He hought this might provide a good social base for Joanna if she got homesick for North American lifestyle. The large 12-room house was certainly impressive, with its shining terrazzo floors and two large gardens.Joanna wondered what to do with all the space. It was also quite secure, with metal bars on all the windows, and surrounded by 12-foot walls. â€Å"This isn't a house, John, it's a fortress,† Joanna said in amazement. mieah . I know it's a bit much,† said John. â€Å"But thi s is the one area of the city we are strongly advised to live in, for security reasons. Smaller homes or apartments Just on't exist. Most of the families living here are either expats or very wealthy Salvadorans. Most have live-in help and need the space. † â€Å"But I don't want anyone else living with us †¦ † . I want you to meet Maria. † Joanna followed John out to the back of the â€Å"Come .. house, and was introduced to a small, brown woman, vigorously scrubbing clothes. â€Å"Maria worked for the family who lived here before; it only seemed right that she should stay. She only lives a few blocks away, though, so she will go home each evening. † After a week, Joanna soon learned Maria's work patterns. Maria would hand wash all their clothes in the cement tub and hang them to dry outside, a chore that would take all day long, as Maria would often wash things three times.The following day she would return to do the ironing, which would take anothe r full day. As Joanna sat in her study upstairs, reading her books and newspapers, she felt an overwhelming sense of guilt thinking of Maria, hand washing every last item of their clothing in the own clothes in a washing machine. Then, when Joanna found out that John paid Maria $6. 00 per day, she was furious. John explained to Joanna that this was the ustomary wage for the women from the â€Å"barrios marginales† who worked as domestic help for wealthy Salvadorans and expatriates.These â€Å"marginal communities† were small groupings of tin shacks located in the ravines that surrounded the city. A few had electricity, but many of the communities, including Maria's, still cooked their meals over fires and lit their homes with candles. Joanna began to slip more money into Maria's pay envelope. Joanna hoped to make a friend of Maria and looked forward to having lunch each day with her and learning more of the local way of speaking. Joanna realized now hat the formal Span ish she had learned in school was vastly different from the language she heard each day on the streets of San Salvador.However, Maria refused to eat at the same table as Joanna and insisted on serving Joanna first in the dining room, and then eating her own lunch on the stone steps in the back room. Joanna was deeply uncomfortable with this and began to eat lunch at the restaurant in her nearby tennis club instead. Other things began to irritate Joanna as well. For example, one day, she started to wash the car in the driveway. Suddenly, Maria's son appeared and insisted that he do he Job for her, horrified that â€Å"la Senora† would undertake such a task herself.Another time, Joanna began to dig up some of the plants in the garden for replanting; the following morning, a gardener appeared at the door, saying that he was a cousin of Maria's and would be pleased to take on additional gardening work. Joanna resented this intrusion into her daily life. If she was going to be spe nding so much time at home, she wanted privacy to read and study. It was going to be a while, she realized, before she found a Job. Joanna was disappointed with the Job prospects among local and even international companies. Most available positions were clerical, for which she was vastly overqualified. l didn't get an MBA to work as a file clerk! † she would think to herself angrily. Then, she would think sadly, â€Å"My Spanish probably isn't even good enough to get a Job as a file clerk. † One day, in frustration, Joanna called her two closest friends in Toronto, colleagues from her old firm. â€Å"l can't win! † Joanna complained. â€Å"l feel guilty all the time. I feel guilty because I don't do anything myself. And I feel guilty if I don't hire local people to the housework. They need the money so much. Then I feel guilty that we pay them six dollars a day. We can afford so much more.I feel guilty that I have a maid and she lives in a tin shack in a ravine two blocks from my house. But John says we can't pay her more than the going rate because it would upset the whole balance of her community. He says they have their own economic structure and norms and we have to respect that. My Salvadoran neighbors tell me that if I pay Maria or the gardener more they won't respect me. But I do anyway, and then I feel guilty because I don't tell John. And then our driver, Julio Cesar . The sarcastic response was the same from both. Gee, Joanna, sounds tough.Beautiful house, a maid, gardener, and driver, afternoons at the tennis club †¦ n wonder you're so miserable. † been a big mistake? She knew how much this Job meant to John, and it was a great step forward for his career. But what about her career and her own happiness? This had been a mutual decision. Something was going to have to change or they would be on a plane back to Toronto very soon. The question was †¦ what? Questions For discussion 1 . Is Joanna suffering from cultu re shock? What elements of the Salvadoran culture seem most difficult for her to adapt to? 2.Should Joanna have done anything differently in terms of her preparation for moving to El Salvador? What do you think she should do now? 3. How could Joanna further her career as a human resource consultant while living in El Salvador? What skills could she develop? Would these skills be transferable if she moved back to Toronto? To another country? 4. If you were John, would you have taken the Job in El Salvador? If you were Joanna, would you have agreed to go? 5. Do you think international careers are feasible for dual-career couples? What issues are important to consider for the individuals involved? What can companies do to make foreign assignments more successful for couples and families? Is the happiness of the employee's spouse the responsibility of the company? 7. What recommendations would you make to international organizations and companies sending employees to politically unstabl e regions? Do companies have a responsibility for the physical safety of expatriate employees? Does this responsibility extend to locally hired staff as well? 8. Do you think Joanna should pay her cleaning lady and gardener more than the standard $6. 00 per day? Why or why not?

Describe How the Uses of Plant Fibres and Starch May Contribute

Describe how the uses of plant fibres and starch may contribute to sustainability How can plant fibres be used? First of all the plant fibres have to be extracted from the plant itself. The process of extraction often used is called retting. Retting involves using water or micro-organisms to dissolve or rot away the cellular tissues surrounding the bast-fibre bundles. Afterwards the fibres are obtained; usually they extract very long sclerenchyma cells and xylem tissue because of their good tensile strength. From this many materials can be made, here are a couple of examples: ? Wood fibres – can be used to make paper from trees Sisal fibres – are obtained from Agave Sisalana and these fibres are used in the construction of cars, furniture, plastics and even paper. Uses of starch and plant based products to replace oil-based products Canvas Bags – Canvas bags is a product sweeping the nation to help us rid the use of plastic oil-based plastic bags. Canvas bags are made from linen, which are fibres extracted for the flax plant, canvas bags also contain cotton, which is extracted from the cotton bag. The canvas bag is an ingenious product because not only can it replace the oil-based (petroleum) plastic bags but they are also reusable and also sustainable. Related reading: Disadvantages of Plants Living on LandStarch Bags – Starch bags are a relatively unknown product, not as popular as a replacement as a canvas bag. However the starch bag is obtained from the starch within many plants. If the bag is no longer needed and discarded, they will soon decompose into carbon dioxide, water and biomass within 10-12 weeks, thus leaving no harmful residue behind. If you compare these to the oil-based products, they are a lot greener; this is because oil-based petroleum plastic bags give off a lot of air pollution and energy consumption to produce them.In addition to this if the plastic bags are discarded like many of them are (100 billion per year in USA), then they would not biodegrade (takes 1000 years) and could generate visual pollution and bring discomfort, and a lot of the time, death to many animals. Advantages and Disadvantages: Advantages – †¢Both the starch bags and the canvas bags (made of cotton and linen) are made from a sustainable source. †¢Canvas bags do not wear and tear. In addition to this they are stronger than oil-based plastic bags and won’t split under heavy pressure. Starch bags are biodegradable – If the starch bags are discarded they will decompose into non-harmful residue within 10-12 weeks of production. Disadvantages – †¢The land used to grow the cotton plants, flax plants and plants used to extract starch would be wasteful and take up plenty of ground. Because cotton is predominately grown in Africa and India (places where food is at a shortage and hunger is on the uprising), the land used for the cotton would take up much area that could be used for farming, farming that could lead to food for the local people.The introduction of canvas bags and starch bags has the potential to change the way we think about greener alternatives. Canvas bags already have become widespread popular, with millions of households across England owning at least one, however oil-based plastic bags are still the leading supermarket bag. I believe the production of starch bags and canvas bags are extremely important and should be developed further and advertised more, this will hopefully ensure that the production and use of oil-based plastic bags are eradicated completely.This in turn would: decrease the production of harmful gases into the atmosphere and cause less air pollution; it would decrease the visual pollution of discarded plastic bags, would save animals lives that could get caught in them or even choke on them. On the other hand, as previously mentioned, land taken up to grow plants for the bags would precious land that could be used for farming and could feed a lot of the local people.

The Mali Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Mali - Essay Example In fact, some of the same the Muslim historians and scholars that have written about Ghana have also provided a written record of Mali (Jackson, 1970). For example, Ibn Khaldun, a Muslim scholar working out of Islamic Spain in the 15th century, wrote about both Ghana and Mali. Islamic scholars must have paid a great of attention to Mali because its rulers converted to Islam, and subsequently spread it throughout Africa. The richness of the historical record of Mali allows a history of this great civilization to be reconstituted (Jackson, 1970). The geographical borders of Mali where similar to the former boarders of Ghana. The similarities exist because Mali was once a feudal territory that rose to fill a void after Ghana had fallen at the hands of the Susu. In his Kitab al-'Ibar Ibn Khaldun indicates that Mali occupied Ghana's former boarders (Davidson, 1991). He writes, "Much later the population of Mali grew to such an extent that it became dominate over all over this region (i.e. the area formerly ruled by Ghana)" (Khaldun, 1969 p.1). In the early history of Mali, during the reign of Al-Malik al-Nasir, Mali extended its borders west to the Atlantic Ocean. To the north, Mali occupied the upper portions of the Sahara. To the south, Mali extended down the Niger River past the city of Djenne, which is located on marshy land in the middle of the Niger River, it is referred to as an island. To the East, the kingdom stretched to a city called Takrur; this included much of the Sahara. Originally the kingdom of Mali started expanding from the top of the Niger River (Davidson, 1991). Starting from the city of Timbuktu, Mali steadily conquered the lands that lay down stream. These areas included the towns of Djenne, located on series of mashes and lakes that lies close to the Niger River, and Kawkaw, thought to be the modern-day city of Gao. Controlling the Niger River and the cities that lie on its banks were important for trade and travel (Jackson, 1970). The Niger was a central artery of commerce for both West and North African trade routs. The importance of the Niger can also be seen in the fact that Mali's capital city, which changed many times, was often located on that river. Mali's control of the Niger River, and these important cities, helped it to grow and prosper (Davidson, 1991). By the 18th century, Mali was in a semi anarchic state. Two empires emerged that opposed French invasion, the Tukolor Empire of al- Hajj Umar (1794-1864) and the Somori Toure (1870-98). During this time the region saw a resurgence of Islam. But in later years Mali was conquered and became the French Sudan, part of the Federation of French West Africa (Jackson, 1970). Mali Today Thanks to its rich and ancient past, Mali has become a country of great ethnic diversity with nearly two dozen different ethnic groups living within its borders. The main groups are the Mande (including the Bambara, Malinke, Soninke, Mandinka, Mende, Susu, Dialonke, and Dyula), Peul (or Fulani), Voltaic, Songhay, Tuareg, and Moor. Some other groups include the Dogon, Bozo, and Bobo. The single largest ethnic group is the Bambara also known as Bamana. This name recalls the era when the influence of Islam was spreading through Africa, yet this group of rural farmers refused to convert to a new religion and kept alive their traditional way of life. Bambara means "infidel" or

Comparison between the retail revolutions in the UK and US Essay

Comparison between the retail revolutions in the UK and US - Essay Example Lao (2008) pointed that the transformation of economic sphere thru retail system generated both social acceptance and disdain because the development of chain stores have also marginalized the small retailers that lacked the capacity to offer first class convenience, a feature preferred by most consumers for comfort while shopping. Its adverse impact leads to the closure of small bookstores, eyewear, footwear and the like as branded goods enter the chain stores (Lao, 2008). This reality is true for United States of America (USA) and United Kingdom (UK). In the last four decades, the countries’ retail revolution boom with the influx of chain â€Å"stores, supermarkets and self-service stores† (Lao, 2008). The UK and the Retail Industry It’s just lately when UK retail trade is dominated by small shops run by the whole family which offers services to the market for long hours and sometimes round the clock. This system also engenders personal relations with customers as owners sometimes allow credit. Others employ salesmen for home delivery services or for mobile selling. Lao (2008) however pointed that retailer and consumer relations in the UK was affected when large chains like Fine Fare, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and other food stores started to operate with express leverage in bargaining power and in offering cheaper prices of pre-packed fresh goods in the markets compared to that of â€Å"old small proprietary stores.† As a consequence, old corner shop closed in favor of thriving convenient well-stocked stores.; employment shifted from proprietary to supermarket chains; and relationships were formalized by using checkout counter and digitized sales and accounting. Stores restructured and employed educated salespersons and managers. And as competition heightened, proprietary retailers and wholesalers organized themselves into association to devise their own promotions, pricing of products, and mechanism to retain customers. With these turn of events, it is likely that dominant chain will rise and proprietary stores die in the absence clear state policies that protect small retailers. This affirmed fears that with retail owners allying themselves to protect their corporate interests, the retail grocery will maintain its oligopolistic character (Burt &

Out, Out. by Robert Frost Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Out, Out. by Robert Frost - Essay Example The title of the poem, â€Å"Out, Out,† is derived from a line in William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth: â€Å"Out, out, brief candle!† (Shakespeare, 1993, 5.5.23), spoken by Macbeth upon hearing the news of his wife’s death. Frost’s use of the phrase as his title seems to be ironic. In the play, Macbeth laments his wife’s passing and reflects that life is ultimately meaningless: â€Å"it is a tale/Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,/Signifying nothing† (Shakespeare, 1993, 5.5.26-28). But Frost does not agree that life has no meaning. He uses the poem as a way to record the boy’s existence, to show that even though his candle has been snuffed way too soon, his life was still significant. The poem begins just before the tragedy occurs, and sets the tone from the first line. Frost uses personification to describe the chainsaw as it â€Å"snarled and rattled in the yard† (1). This line foreshadows the upcoming accident, b ut it is important to note that Frost does not depict the tragedy as an accident—he instead frames it as a deliberate act of malice on the part of the saw.

Development professionals - The BCG Way Case Study

Development professionals - The BCG Way - Case Study Example The process of career development and mentorship processes that are followed in the organisational structure of BCG are innovative and modern.In this part of the case study analysis,the evaluation of the career development and mentorship program will be taken up with due consideration to the processes’ strengths and weaknesses. Strengths of the Career Development and Mentorship Process The promotion system at the BCG’s career development process is not based on a specific tenure but on the basis of a â€Å"time window†. It represents that the employees at BCG gets promoted only when they achieve sufficient amount of knowledge and skill in a particular area of operation. The employees pass through a continuous feedback and consulting session with their respective assigned Career Development Committee (CDC) advisors. The advisors become the mentors of the employees and the employees derive sufficient amount of help from them. As the ratings are done on the basis of various working areas of the employees, there exists an opportunity of improvement in all the operating areas. This is because the employees will continuously try to improve all the working areas for better appreciation. The employees get a chance of excelling in the areas of their choice as they are provided with the option to approach their mentors to get them know their areas of interests. This allows the employees to create interesting mode in their jobs. This is known as the staffing pattern where the scope of becoming a generalist or specialist lies for the employees. Moreover, continuous training process for the newly recruited employees is followed in the BCG that provides a basis for the employees to develop in their skills and socializing nature, create network and expand the sense of BCG as an organization. Besides the assignment of CDC advisors to the employees, mentors are also assigned. The interaction sessions with the mentors are more formal than that with the CDC advisors. Weaknesses of the Career Development and Mentorship Process The promotional process that BCG follows may at times create certain feelings of frustrations among the employees. The frustration can come up due to the pressure of performing the best with no room for failures, as failures might lead to their termination. The BCG employers somewhat try to evaluate their employees’ performance strictly, to ensure that the performance is constantly improving. This is most likely to head a chance of non-believing in the performance feedback system of the company. In the case of staffing, the employees have to be proactive in building their skills as they have to show evidence that they are good at the particular area where they are urged to move. For being proactive, the actual levels of performance might get hampered. Provision of formal training might not always produce fruitful results as the BCG itself believes that â€Å"experience is the best teacher†. At times, it might appear that the time allotted for the formal training has resulted in wastage of time, resources and energy with limited facts. Informal mentorship process might not provide appropriate results as too much of advises around the employees can make him/her confused. Moreover, the

Nike Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Nike - Essay Example I will further elaborate on the financial performance with the help of the following ratio analysis. For the ratio analysis, the figures have been taken from the 2008 and 2009 financial statements. The current Ratio evaluates the liquidity of the company. It represents a safety net for the creditors. Nike has improved its liquidity over the last year. It now holds $3 for every $1 of its short term debts as compared to $2.7 of last year. In comparison to the relevant industry, it is one of the most liquid companies’ (Bloomberg, 2010). The analysis further shows that Nike holds an excess of the working capital in current assets which should be invested in the marketable securities for generation of further income. The Quick Ratio is another measure of solvency and measures the liquidity of the company. This ratio removes the inventory and prepaid from the current assets as they are not as liquid as others. Nike has improved its liquidity position in the market with a ratio of 2.4 as compared to 2.1 in 2008. It now holds $2.4 for every dollar of short term obligations to the creditors. The analysis further shows that more than 50% of the assets are help up in the receivables and hence, the company depends on the collections for meeting of the obligations. Compared to the industry, Bloomberg again reflects on the liquidity position of the company as one of the better company’s income (Bloomberg, 2010). The Debt to Equity ratio indicates the strength of the balance sheet rather than the growth and earnings prospects. Nike has reduced its debt ratio from 6% to 5% in 2009. Even though, the company increased the lending but at the same time, it also increases its equity in the market. Nike has always maintained its strength in the balance sheet because of the less leverage. Nike generated $0.05 in addition to a dollar in equity. Industry comparison shows that the company is least risky but it must add on its debt more so that it can generate