Occupational Inequality Differences In Power In the Work Setting Essay Sample free essay sample

Introduction Sexual stratification or inequality is present in every organisation. It seems that presents. gender cleavage has readily replaced racism. This proposal hence intends to look at how sexual disagreements have been practiced within the workplace. to be more specific within the technology field. Review of Related Literature Mayer steadfastly believes that gender dramas and of import function in finding and building one’s societal. political. economical and even national individualities ( 2 ) . Gender-related issues can non be readily disregarded or taken for granted. Assigned responsibilities and functions are affected by the individual’s sexual individuality. Take for illustration in work forces. most of the times they are seen as the family’s caput. Along with this societal building. male species are expected to supply the fiscal and material demands of their several households. If placed within the context of adult females. their motherly image conveys gradualness. comfort and attention. As a consequence. We will write a custom essay sample on Occupational Inequality: Differences In Power In the Work Setting Essay Sample or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page their value and worth are frequently enclosed within domestic kingdom. This brings us to the statement that the mode wherein persons performed their functions and responsibilities are besides affected by their gender. Mayer readily believes that society is comprised of â€Å"sexed objects. † Gender or gender hence becomes one of the most of import standards in measuring the function played by a peculiar person. By and large talking. sexual stratification is non merely observed within the house four portals. The workplace can be besides considered as a brooding topographic point wherein gender differences are normally felt and observed. However. it is of import to observe that in every bit far as sexual stratification is concerned. largely of the subject and discourses being used remainder on quandaries and issues that are confronted by adult females. Most of the times. a feminist attack or model is used in order to give a elaborate and comprehensive analysis. Although. one should non ignore the fact that work forces are besides prone to gender stereotypes and impressions. the focal points of this proposal will put more accent on how adult females are being objectified and to a certain extent—abused and manipulated. Mayer’s impression of â€Å"sexed objects† fundamentally generalizes the cardinal footing of gender and sexual inequality ( 2 ) . Yuval-Davis. Anthias and Campling maintained that when it comes to state edifice. the parts of adult females are frequently based on their anatomical and physiological incarnations. Because of their physical shaping characteristics. they are frequently seen as active value senders. In add-on to that. their responsibilities as biological manufacturers are besides highlighted. Given this state of affairs at manus. it seems that adult females in general are provided with undertakings that do non truly necessitate excessively much physical activity or something that readily needs physical strength. Although non overtly stated. businesss given to Eve’s posterities already have a predetermined standard on what a adult female can and can non make. However. these stereotyped impressions do non stop at that place. The minute a adult female enter the corporate universe or a profession wherein male laterality is extremely regarded. the sexual stratification further additions. One authoritative illustration of a profession wherein adult females are frequently undermined is the military. The term itself suggest machismo and to a certain extent—braggadocio at its best. Toktas described the military system as boosters of national involvements and nationalism. While it is true that other authorities establishments besides aim to lend to national growing and development. it is more intense in the armed forces ( 29 ) . This would non come as excessively much of a surprise since such system is carefully designed to safeguard the country’s freedom and sovereignty. Therefore. the function as defenders and guardians of society are frequently relegated to work forces. Work force are seen as warriors that can travel the conflict whenever the state of affairs calls for it ( Toktas 29 ) . This has led Toktas to reason that the sense of patriotism and nationalism are articulated based on the male position ( 29 ) . As warriors. one needs to possess emotional and most particularly. physical strength that would assist him get the better of the hardships of impending and baleful conflicts. Other than being warriors. work forces are besides seen as defenders. They should be aggressive plenty to support the state from any interloper ( Toktas 29 ) . On the other manus. adult females are instead seen as liabilities. They are liabilities since their ( physical ) capablenesss prohibit them from salvaging the lives of persons who are trapped in the war. Toktas further mentioned that the motherly properties of adult females tend to pigeonhole them as better health professionals than work forces ( 29 ) . In add-on to that. to see a adult female keeping unsafe arms and affect in the act of taking person else’s lives is rather inexcusable. The minute that a military adult female reach the spheres of her house. the heroic deeds that she rendered for the whole unit are all of a sudden forgotten and to a certain extent—taken for granted. As Peto suggested. the alleged â€Å"framework of care† frequently delimits the function played by adult females and grievers ( 5 ) . The same sentiment is besides expressed by Davis who analyzed the differences of occupational functions between work forces and adult females in the fish port ( 457 ) . Davis shared that in this peculiar sort of industry. it is frequently stated that the land belongs to adult females. whereas the sea is considered as the sanctuary of work forces ( 457 ) . In this type of concern. it is pretty evident that is the sea that becomes the centre of commercialism. This is the sphere wherein assorted natural stuffs are found. In relation to this. Davis explained that the state of affairs can non be simply described as a simple affair of division of labour ( 457 ) . Womans are seen to work best when they are on land since they are expected to execute the mundane family jobs while their hubbies spend most of their yearss fishing. If there is any possibility wherein adult females can be involved in the overall production. this are nonetheless really minimum. Most of the times. adult females are included by in less strict activities such as â€Å"fish processing ( Davis 457 ) . † Other than that. the heavier undertakings are readily assigned to work forces. In the interim. Rhode expounded that sexism in the corporate universe is expressed in elusive manners ( 613 ) . To be able to turn to this issue. Rhode shared certain scenarios and state of affairss that should be considered in keeping balance and equality between both genders ( 613 ) . One of this is to decrease. if non wholly eliminate excessively much accent on muliebrity. The issue of muliebrity frequently suggests that adult females possess certain qualities and characteristics such as being less rigorous or strong when it comes to doing determinations ( Rhode 613 ) . Rhode besides noted that competency quandary should be besides given focal point and action. Basically. this is due to the fact that adult females do non normally attain supervisory places since they are non given the opportunity to demo their leading accomplishments and potencies. The related literature presented in this treatment gave visible radiation to the existent preparation of this proposal Study Framework Conflict theory shall be used as the theoretical model of the survey. This will supply construction in footings of nearing the societal job that the research worker wants to discourse. Conflict theory analyzes the disagreements and inequality that is brought away by power dealingss and economic position. Brym and Lie mentioned that this theory has four specifying features ( 11 ) . Once and for all. struggle theories address certain issues such as category struggles—the evident manifestation of domination and subordination within specific groups ( Brym A ; Lie 11 ) . Another feature of this model is demoing how inequality is created and perpetuated within specific scenes ( Brym A ; Lie 11 ) . The 3rd characteristic has something to make on the agencies and ploies on how ascendant groups sustain. maintain and reenforce their high quality ( Brym A ; Lie 11 ) . The last but non the least is that struggle theories by and large suggest â€Å"lessening privileges† in order to accomplish balance and equality ( Brym A ; Lie 11 ) . If placed within this survey. struggle theory shall be utilized to measure how male assert their power and authorization in the work topographic point. It will analyze how the two genders go through a supremacy conflict. The said model will besides seek to look on how the patriarchal orientation of society has led to the cleavage of the two groups which are manifested through the interplay of several factors such as linguistic communication. power-relations and ideological struggles that are present in the workplace. But of class. this model will besides steer the survey towards a better apprehension sing the kineticss and operations of sexual stratification and inequality in the corporate universe. Research Methodology Design This undertaking shall be a instance survey in the inequality or sexual stratification in the workplace. However. to do the undertaking more focussed and significant. the instance survey will look on the battle of the two genders within the technology field. Basically. both work forces and adult females has already entered in this sort of profession. Both of them have proven their value and worth. But so once more. it can non be denied that gender differences still occur. The means and ways on how these inequalities are manifested shall be outlined by the instance survey. The research worker utilized the instance survey attack since the attack enables him or her to look into the intricate inside informations of the whole discourse ( Yin 2 ) . Although unfavorable judgments and incredulities likewise have risen since the attack merely focuses on a individual event. instance surveies are far more holistic in the sense that it can prolong â€Å"meaningful real-life events† like â€Å"individual rhythms. organisational and managerial procedures etc ( Yin 2 ) . This will besides forestall the research worker from being out of focal point due to unneeded misinterpretations brought by many mutualist variables. Sample The samples that shall be used in the survey are male and female applied scientists who possess a three-year on the job experience or more. Because of the length of clip that they have rendered in such profession. more or less. they are now to the full cognizant of the sexual stratification and inequality that is experienced in their chosen callings. However. it is of import to observe that sexual stratification can besides victimise work forces. This is something that is non sole to adult females entirely. In order to do this undertaking more comprehensive. the research worker sees the demand of puting more accent on an technology house or company. Sampling Purposive trying shall be employed in this analysis. Purposive trying readily targets a specific group ( â€Å"Purposive Sampling† ) . They are chosen based on their alone features. As for this instance. it is the working experience that shall find the type of participants that shall be involved in the survey. Their on the job experiences enable the samples to give a more elaborate history and understanding on how sexual stratification and inequality are observed in the workplace. Instrument Focus group treatments and participatory observation shall be the chief instruments of the survey. Compared to formal interviews. focal point group treatments allow the instance survey participants to be more unfastened and concerted when it comes to discoursing the whole issue. It is because the force per unit area felt is minimized if compared to the formalities of a structured interview. Since it is a group. more or less the participants have a common land. There is a sense of belongingness that will do these persons participate more actively and unwrap important informations and information ( Wiederman A ; Whitley 178 ) On the other manus. participatory observation shall be utilized since the research worker needs to measure how sexual inequalities and differences are practiced in the workplace. The mode wherein the two genders interact with each other shall supply meaningful penetrations on how divisions and atomizations based on gender are observed in the technology field. However. the research worker will guarantee that objectiveness will still be observed since participant observation. if non suitably used is prone to bias ( Miller A ; Brewer 223 ) . Datas Analysis The survey shall be qualitative in nature. It will clarify how struggles and battles due to gender differences are observed in the technology profession. Scope and Restriction Although there are many cases wherein gender inequality is observed in the workplace. the survey will merely concentrate on the technology field. This will readily lend on how this issue can be addressed. Plants Cited Brym. Robert and John Lie.Sociology Your Compass for A New World.United statess: Thomson Wadsworth. 2004 Davis. Dona. When Men Become â€Å"Women† : Gender Antagonism and the Changing Sexual Geography of Work in Newfoundland. †Sexual activity Functions: A Journal of Research. 29. 7-8 ( 1993 ) : 457 Mayer. Tamar.Gender Ironies of Nationalism: Arousing the State. New York: Routledge. 2000 Miller. Robert and John Brewer.The A-Z of Social Research: A Dictionary of Key Social Science Research Concepts. London: Sage Publications Peto. Andrea. â€Å"Women. War and Military in Eastern Europe†Minerva: Quarterly Report onWomans and the Military.( 1999 ) 5 â€Å"Purposive Sampling†Wadsworth. Retrieved 06 April 2008 from ttp: //www. wadsworth. com/psychology_d/templates/student_resources/workshops/res methd/sampling/sampling_29. hypertext markup language Rhode. Deborah. â€Å"The Subtle Side of Sexism. Contributors†Columbia Journal of Gender andLaw. 16. 3 ( 2007 ) : 613 Toktas. Sule. â€Å"Nationalism. Militarism and Gender Politics. †Minerva: Quarterly Report onWomans and the Military. 20. 2 ( 2002 ) 29 Wiederman. Michael and Bernard Whitley.Handbook for Conducting Research on HumanSex. Mahwah. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. 2001 Yin. Robert.Case Study Research: Design and Methods.London: Sage Publications. 2003 Yuval- Davis. Nira ; Floya Anthias and Jo Campling.Woman. State. State. London: Macmillan. 1989

One sentence of life

One sentence of life One’s life sentence is  miraculous  and is full of pain, sacrifice, forgetting what is staining towards what is ahead, rather than focusing on what tears ones life  down. One tries to concentrate on those things that  build  them up.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on One sentence of life specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This page is to  establish  how everyone’s life can be described in a short sentence. It also describes how they can  get  there. For example, if one wants to become a millionaire, one needs to reprogram his/her mind and believe that he/she deserve to become wealthy. Individuals who became millionaires with some of their  advice  for achieving success of their culture: â€Å"Fake it until you  make  it†. Debts  hold  people back, buy liabilities, and make those payments forever, spend less than they make, live a modest  lifestyle  and do not live up to every raise. Some people spend their wealth for the next ten years,  and  they have done it on  credit. This is a case where, being a millionaire is not encouraged by anyone. However, it is a matter of choices. It is not suggesting one to decorate his/her houses in  cosy  furniture,  fabulous  TV and macaroni and cheese every night.  Do they actually  need  to  buy  a car that is so expensive, that they extend  the payments for many  years? Many people who  choose  money over â€Å"stuff† would not  consider  spending it on the most  valuable  things because they know that their money can be of better use elsewhere.  Liability buying would cause them stress since they would rather buy an  asset  that will  appreciate  for a long  period  and help them  earn  investments.  In addition, some savers think that spending a lot of money on vacations is ridiculous. Paring it all  down, there are seven steps on how to become wealthy. The fact is, being wealthy is not being a â€Å"millionaire†. Financial  independence  is the  goal  for many people,  says Stewart Welch of the Welch  group  in Birmingham Ala. Develop a  wealth  plan. Live below your means, lay off the credit,  make  your money work,  start  your own business, and  get  professional  advice. This will boost investing money which is a leading way to become a millionaire. That is the point in time when the  money  from investments is either equal to or greater than what they  earn  from work. The statistics show that 95% of the  population  never achieves financial independence. For 65% of the retirees, social security is their largest source of retirement income. The reason why people do not achieve financial independence is that  they  do not have any plan,  so that is number one rule of becoming wealthy.Advertising Looking for essay on rhetoric? Let's see if we can h elp you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Saying one wants to become wealthy is not strong enough. One needs to come up with a written plan. It forces one to do something,  calculate  what they  need  to  earn  and  invest. The plan is not just a  goal  .It also includes ones dreams and options in life. It helps one make the right decisions and avoid misuse of money. However, it would be  agreeable  to say that,  anyone can become a millionaire,  but  the truth  is that,  anyone  who is  willing  to  effect real change in their lives and  take  serious  action  towards their goals are going to  make  it. Being a millionaire lies in the hands of the beholder.

Social Impact of Technology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Social Impact of Technology - Essay Example These very children, who were undernourished, hailed from the underprivileged and sidelined segments of the society and also happened to be pathetically illiterate, were using the internet to have some meaningful peep into the unconcerned world surrounding their dismal existence. This conclusively explains the impact that the computers have on our society. Therein lays the power of computer, the great equalizer. The overall social impact of computer is defined by one word that is 'accessibility'. While the fall of the Berlin Wall in December 1990 initiated the demise of communism, there exists no doubt pertaining to the fact that the much touted capitalistic societies had dangerously ushered in an unequal distribution of wealth (Friedman, 2006, p.50). Till the advent of computers, there existed an unjust world in which the lucrative data and information were accessible only to a privileged few and thus the underprivileged strata of the society was highly limited in its ability to take advantage of the opportunities for growth and development. Computers turned out to be great equalizers in the sense that they enhanced the universal accessibility to information like never before. Doing so they ended up empowering the hitherto sidelined sections of the society by offering the requisite information to everybody and anybody located anywhere in the world, at the click of a mouse and that to at a relatively affordable price. It was a British computer scientist, Tim Berners-Lee, who while working for CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research at Switzerland, pioneered the concept of a World Wide Web, which was primarily intended to be a system for creating, organizing and linking documents so as to make them accessible via internet (Friedman, 2006, p. 59). This concept eventually metamorphosed into the invention of easy to install and consumer friendly commercial browsers that served as a media for universal connectivity. This made possible the interaction of multiple online computers and networks. The scope of these nascent inventions was exponentially multiplied by the advent of new software. Now the computers enabled everybody with a reasonable digital literacy to create and share digitalized information. Infact the concerned computer nerds all around the world are working hard to revolutionize the sharing of data by creating more potent software and uploading them on the internet to be acce ssed and downloaded by all for free. This ushering in of the community software is drastically cutting the power of the middlemen and the vested interests in the market for digital technology and all the related commercial and humanitarian frameworks. Computers had an unforeseeable yet salubrious impact on the way economies interact and operate. Computers not only enabled the corporations to take advantage of the resources, capital and the skilled labor

Assessing and Understanding the Foreign Exchange Market Essay

Assessing and Understanding the Foreign Exchange Market - Essay Example (Investopedia) Chinese foreign exchange market plays an important role in the development of its economy. It is an important source of investment and income in China. The Chinese foreign exchange market mainly deals in Chinese RMB Renminbi Yuan. The basic function of Chinese foreign exchange market is to conversion the currencies. For example in this market the U.S. dollars can be converted into Chinese RMB. Another important function of Chinese currency market is that it facilitates international business transactions of China through the conversion of currencies. (Laura Acevedo) An important tool for stable economic growth is currency value and this market helps the central bank in controlling the value of its currency through buying and selling. It is also a productive source of investment for the investors in China because if they a currency at a lower rate and due to fluctuations in currency rate they are able to sell it at a higher rate than this sure is a profitable investment . (Maps of World) Spot rate is the price that a buyer is ready to pay for buying a currency in terms of another currency. Chinese spot exchange rates are determined by the central bank. This determination by the central bank is based on a number of factors which include the buying and selling of Yuan in different exchange markets, the value of Yuan in term of other currencies- as this value keeps on changing the spot rate of Chinese exchange market also changes simultaneously. These rates are very important in the Chinese currency market as they are the current exchange rate on the basis of which the day to day transactions of the Chinese stock market take place. And without these rates no business is possible in this market. (Investopedia) Forward exchange rate is the rate at which a currency can be traded for one currency at a particular time in future. This time ranges between two days to twelve months. China puts forward exchange rate reforms when necessary in order to maintain its social and economic stability. Forward exchange rate plays an important role in insuring foreign exchange risks because when a country enters in a transaction through forward exchange rate and in the meantime the exchange rates fall badly then the forward exchange rate act as insurance against unprofitable dealings. (Ozforex) One of the most important theories used for the determination of currency exchange rate is purchasing power parity theory (PPP). It is an economic theory that calculates the changes that are to be made in the currencies of two countries in order to make the difference between their exchange rates and their purchasing power equal. Mathematically this theory is represented as follows: S=P1/P2 Here â€Å"s† is the exchange rate between the two currencies. â€Å"P1† is the price of good x in country one and â€Å"P2† is the price of good x in country two. This theory can be elaborated by an example that if a cold drink costs 1.50 Yuan in ch ina than it should be worth 1.00 us dollars if the exchange rate between U.S.A and china is 1.50 USD/RMB. This theory helps the economists in determining the standard of living in different countries. (Investopedia) It is possible that a currency may be devalued but the standards of living may remain high due the higher purchasing power of the people. Most of the economists prefer purchasing parity concept in the calculation of GDP as countries like china intentionally understate their currency value which results in the understatement of GDP. Therefore mostly the GDP of different countries is calculated through purchasing parity approach. This theory also helps in the correction of trade

Assignment 6b Scenario Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Assignment 6b Scenario - Essay Example This approach is generally favorable to a manufacturing division but not for a retail division. The second approach is the negotiated price approach. In this approach, a manufacturing division and a retail division both negotiate a price. The price of a product is set so that all of the variable costs of the manufacturer are covered and the price is lower than the market price, but the manufacturer still makes a profit. This method is commonly used when a manufacturing division has unsold inventory, as it can still sell products by using this method. This method is also more favorable to the retailer than the market price approach. The final approach is the cost price approach. In this method, a product is sold to the retail division at its standard cost or its actual cost. This price may even not be enough to cover all of the expenses of the manufacturing division. This method is the most profitable for the retail division, and it is unlikely to be supported by anyone in charge of manufacturing unless there is low demand for the manufacturer’s product or a massive amount of excess capacity at the manufacturer’s facility. There are several reasons why market price approach is the transfer pricing approach that should be used for Pharmafin’s new modules. One of the modules will be produced internally, and to produce it, the company’s production facilities will need to add new equipment. Production staffing also needs to be increased by ten percent. These large expenditures will make it necessary to use the pricing method that causes the company to receive the highest price so that it can cover the new expenditures. The marketing department shows that there is a high level of consumer demand for the new machinery. Because of this, the new machinery should sell even if it is sold at a higher price. The other two pricing approaches could lead to a lower price, but they might also lead to revenues that are inadequate to cover

Accounting Information Systems

Accounting Information Systems 3-1. The text provides seven reasons why documenting AISs is important: (1) depicting how the system works, (2) training users, (3) designing new systems, (4) controlling systems development costs, (5) standardizing communication with others, (6) auditing, and (7) controlling end-user support costs. Additional reasons include: (1) to help evaluate the performance of system personnel, (2) to help evaluate the adequacy or efficiency of an existing system, and (3) to provide design specifications to outside vendors who might be proposing new systems. Accountants are interested in system documentation for all these reasons. For example, inadequate documentation makes it difficult to use an integrated accounting package effectively, design one for others to use, or audit a system intelligently. Flowcharts and similar systems documentation are also important to auditors. These charts can help auditors spot internal control weaknesses that are not apparent from prototypes or not obvious when observing a system in use. 3-2. Document flowcharts are a type of system flowchart. Whereas system flowcharts are process-oriented, document flowcharts focus on the flow of physical documents through the processing system. Document and system flowcharts are similar in that they use similar symbols in their construction. A few additional symbols, such as envelopes and hand trucks to depict movement of goods, are more likely to appear in document flowcharts than system flowcharts. But system flowcharts contain more detail about processing logic. Accountants can use data flow diagrams (DFDs) to depict the physical flows of data through an AIS (like document flowcharts), or the logical flow of data through an AIS (like system flowcharts). Like document or system flowcharts, their main objective is to document data flows in an orderly, graphic, and easily-understood format. But DFDs use fewer symbols than either document or system flowcharts, and do not require columns (like document flowcharts). Program flowcharts are really the lowest level of system flowcharts because they outline the logic sequence for a particular application program. Thus, they are more used by programmers and system analysts than by accountants and auditors. Still, auditors will need to understand these program flowcharts when looking at program logic and program controls. Program flowcharts use many of the same symbols found in system flowcharts, but also use some special ones such as the decision symbol. 3-3. A document flowchart is a pictorial representation of the physical data flow through the various departments of a business. A document flowchart is used in designing or evaluating an accounting information system. 1. A systems analyst uses it when evaluating a system to see if each department is receiving the necessary data and that unnecessary data are not transferred. 2. A system designer uses it when there is interest in improving or replacing an existing system. 3. A computer programmer can use a document flowchart when preparing system flowcharts. 4. An auditor uses it to help define, follow, and evaluate an audit trail. 5. An internal data security expert uses it to indicate weaknesses in internal control and data control. 3-4. Guidelines for creating document flowcharts, system flowcharts, and data flow diagrams are listed in the text. See relevant chapter sections for document flowcharts, system flowcharts, and data flow diagrams. 3-5. Data flow diagrams use a square symbol to show the source or destination of data. A circle symbol indicates a process. An open rectangle symbol indicates a store of data. Finally, arrows depict a data flow or data stream. 3-6. Data flow diagrams are created in a hierarchy called the top-down approach to systems development. In this approach, developers create these diagrams in levels, beginning with the broadest, least-detailed level, and exploding (working towards increasing refinements of) each piece of the preceding level until the system is completely specified. The rationale behind this approach is to keep major system objectives in view at first, and to worry about details later after major system components are specified. However, the process is reiterative, revisions are common, and little is considered final until the lowest diagram levels have been specified and approved. The broadest DFD is called a context diagram. The next level (a level-0 diagram) is also called a physical data flow diagram. Lower levels are numbered level-1, level-2, and so forth, and are commonly termed logical data flow diagrams. 3-7. It is usually easier to follow logic with a chart or figure than with a written narrative. For example, when reading a long narrative description of a process, it is often difficult to visualize relationships between system elements and a readers attention can wander. In contrast, graphical depictions of the same logic are usually easier to understand because most people grasp the use of arrows to show connections or data flows. 3-8. Decision tables outline the set of conditions that a given processing task might encounter and indicate the appropriate action to take for each condition. Decision tables can therefore help system designers plan data processing functions and create written records of the processing logic for later reference. The major advantage of decision tables is that they can summarize a potentially large number of conditions and actions in a compact format. Decision tables are also useful as planning tools to system analysts and related individuals who are charged with the task of helping create new AISs. Finally, the accountants who audit AISs rely heavily upon internal documentation, and decision tables can help them verify the processing logic and control procedures that were built into these AISs. 3-9. Just as word processors enable users to create, store, modify, and print word documents, CASE tools enable information technology and accounting personnel to create, store, modify, and print system documentation. The term CASE is an acronym for computer assisted software engineering. CASE tools automate the development of program and system documentation. Thus, developers use them to create data flow diagrams, entity relationship diagrams, record layouts, data entry screens, report formats, screen menus, system flowcharts, and program flowcharts. Most also include generators for developing data dictionaries. CASE tools are computer programs that typically run on microcomputers. The user selects a particular type of document to develop or modify, and then works on it in much the same way that a secretary uses a word processor to work on a word document. It is not necessary to use CASE programs to develop AIS documentation, but it is difficult to imagine why anyone would not use such capable and time-saving tools. 3-10. End user computing refers to the computer activities of non-computer employees, especially the development of large spreadsheets and databases. Although such activities are commonplace today, they also create problems. For example, when non-IT personnel develop important computer applications, a company becomes increasingly dependent upon such individuals to answer questions, or to explain how to use the software. Documentation is also important in end-user computing environments because it provides the training aids, user descriptions, tutorial manuals, and reference materials that other users need in order to run the applications effectively. Problems 3-11. Process Alternate Process Decision Data Predefined Process Internal Storage Document Multidocument Terminator Preparation Manual Input Manual Operation Connector Off-page Connector Card Punched Tape Summing Junction Or Collate Sort Extract Merge Stored Data Delay Sequential Access Magnetic Disk Direct Access Display Storage Storage 3-12. Mark Goodwin Convenience Stores Garcia-Lanoue Company 3-15. Ron Mitchell Manufacturing Company 3-16. Amanda M Company 3-17. Winston Beauchamp Company 3-18. LeVitre and Sweezy Credit Union 3-19. Jeffrey Getelman Publishing Company 3-20. The Bridget Joyce Company The decision table is shown below. Note that alternate decision rules would also be reasonable here since the case does not specify exactly what action is to be taken for each set of conditions. DECISION TABLE RULES Account Status: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Not past due X Less than 30 days past due X 31-60 days past due X X X 61-90 days past due X X X More than 90 days past due X X X Account Activity: No activity X X X X X Written communications X X X Partial payment X X X Action: Do nothing X X X X X X X Send first letter of inquiry X Send second letter of inquiry X X Collection agency referral X This exercise requires some creativity on the part of the student. One possibility is to give each customer a rating on the following: a) no prior delinquency history b) only one prior delinquency c) only two prior delinquencies d) more than two prior delinquencies Mr. Smith can now make a decision based upon this categorization of customer account history. It might also be pointed out that many companies handle delinquencies on an individual basis. Most small companies, for example, will try to work with their customers whenever possible instead of writing to them impersonally because written confrontations rarely produce desired results. 3-21. This problem requires students to draw the flowcharts in Figure 3-20. In a later part of the problem, students are also asked to recreate the flowcharts in Figures 3-3, 3-6, 3-8, 3-11, 3-12, 3-13, 3-14, and 3-15. Because these flowchart are already shown in the text, the outputs are already known. Teaching notes: Students should follow the directions provided in this case to create the two (program) flowcharts shown as well as the link that connects the two flowcharts together. Students can document their links by printing a copy of their formulas. Finally, although using Excels drawing tools is straightforward, it still takes time to create even small diagrams with them. Thus, we recommend that instructors do not assign all parts of this case (a through h), but only assign a selection of these diagrams. Case Analyses 3-22. The Berridge Company (Drawing Document Flowcharts) 1. A document flowchart for the Berridge Companys inventory control system may be found after #3 (below). 2. The company can eliminate one or more copies of the retail store requisition (RSR) form. The document flowchart (and case description) indicate that a retail store prepares three copies of the RSR form. One copy is retained in a file at the retail store, and two copies are forwarded to the warehouse. When warehouse personnel fill the order, they file one copy of the RSR form in their own files, and forward the last copy of this form to the inventory control department for use in updating its records. The end result of this effort is a lot of paperwork. One way to reduce it would be to allow the warehouse personnel to create the computer record that indicates a disbursement to an individual store, thus eliminating the need for the third copy of the RSR form currently sent to inventory control. The company could eliminate all copies of the RSR form by computerizing its warehousing operations completely. In this new system, a retail store would create a computer record for each requisition, which the system could then display onscreen or print on a report of similar requisitions for the warehouse each day. When a requisition order is filled, personnel in the warehouse could indicate this by entering the required data into the computer system. This entry would trigger an inventory update in the inventory file and eliminate the pending requisition record from the file of active requisitions. 3. The company currently creates five copies of each purchase order. These copies are sent to: (1) the vendor, (2) accounts payable, (3) inventory control, and (4) the warehouse. The purchasing department retains the fifth copy. This seems excessive. It is obvious that the company must send one copy of the purchase order to the vendor. In addition, it makes sense for control purposes to send one copy of the purchase order to the receiving department (for use in comparing against the subsequent bill of lading), and to retain one copy of the PO to document the purchase itself. It is less obvious that the company needs to create the other two copies of the purchase order. In fact, the document flowchart indicates that both the inventory control department and warehouse personnel perform the comparison function when goods arrive a duplication of effort. Similarly, the company can probably eliminate the copy it currently prepares for accounts payable. Instead, warehouse personnel can attach its copy to the receiving report, and the accounts payable department can use the warehouse copy to prepare a check to the vendor. A document flowchart for the Berridge Companys inventory control system. FreezeTime, Inc. (Drawing System Flowcharts) The systems flowchart is valuable because it shows the flow of activities and documents within the sales/collection process. The flowchart is particularly useful for identifying redundant, unnecessary, and risky activities. 3-24. The Dinteman Company (Document Analysis) 1. a) Data items which should be included on a repair/maintenance work order document are as follows: 1) Job identification à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ department (or plant) for which work is to be done, machine or work station, and general description of job. 2) Starting and completion dates à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ both estimated and actual. 3) Materials and supplies data estimated and actual quantities and costs. 4) Labor data à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ estimated hours, actual hours cost, and employee number for each job or person completing the work. 5) Applied overhead. b) At least four copies of the work order would be required with a possible fifth copy needed if a work order summary is not prepared. The work order would be prepared in the R M Department and given to the supervisor for review and scheduling. The work order would then be used by the person responsible for the work by recording the actual hours spent on the job and the actual materials and supplies required to complete the job. After the job is completed, the work order would be forwarded to accounting for costing and charging. The distribution of each copy of the work order would be as follows: Original (Copy 1) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ Once the job is completed and all data has been recorded on the work order, this copy is forwarded to the Accounting Department for costing and then filed in the Accounting Department. Copy 2 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ This copy is also fully completed and is filed in the R M Department in a completed work order file. Copy 3 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ This copy would be kept by the R M Department in a file of scheduled jobs until the work is completed. A reference file is needed for all work orders while the job is in process. Once this job is completed, Copy 3 would be attached to Copy 2 and filed with Copy 2. Copy 4 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ This copy would be sent to the Production Department where the work is being done to acknowledge the actual scheduling of the job. An evaluation of the performance of the R M Department would probably be done in three departments as explained below: The department which requests the work should compare the estimated charges indicated on the Work Order Request with the actual charges and the timeliness of the work, (e.g., the estimated and actual starting and completion times on the Work Order). If the work is not timely or if the actual charges vary considerably from the estimate, the management of the Production Department would contact the supervisor of the R M Department for an explanation. The supervisor of the R M Department would conduct a selfà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœevaluation by comparing the Work Order Request and the completed Work Order. The supervisor would want to be sure the actual times and charges were close to the original estimates. Such a comparison would be important for evaluating the staff in the department and also for preparing future estimates. The Accounting Department (or some other appropriate department) would probably conduct a review of the R M Departments work. The estimates and actual results shown on the Work Order would be compared. Types of repair and maintenance jobs which have standard times for completion would be compared with actual times required for the work in order to evaluate the departments performance. 2. See document flowchart on following page. 3-25. Lois Hale and Associates (Drawing Data Flow Diagrams)

The Worlds Fight Against Microbes Essay -- Research Papers Science Bi

The World's Fight Against Microbes   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many infectious diseases that were nearly eradicated from the industrialized world, and newly emerging diseases are now breaking out all over the world due to the misuse of medicines, such as antibiotics and antivirals, the destruction of our environment, and shortsighted political action and/or inaction.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Viral hemorrhagic fevers are a group of diseases caused by viruses from four distinct families of viruses: filoviruses, arenaviruses, flaviviruses, and bunyaviruses. The usual hosts for most of these viruses are rodents or arthropods, and in some viruses, such as the Ebola virus, the natural host is not known. All forms of viral hemorrhagic fever begin with fever and muscle aches, and depending on the particular virus, the disease can progress until the patient becomes deathly ill with respiratory problems, severe bleeding, kidney problems, and shock. The severity of these diseases can range from a mild illness to death (CDC I).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Ebola virus is a member of a family of RNA (ribonucleic acid) viruses known as filoviruses. When these viruses are magnified several thousand times by an electron microscope they have the appearance of long filaments or threads. Filoviruses can cause hemorrhagic fever in humans and animals, and because of this they are extremely hazardous. Laboratory studies of these viruses must be carried out in special maximum containment facilities, such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia and the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), at Fort Detrick in Frederick, Maryland (CDC I,II).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Ebola hemorrhagic fever in humans is a severe, systemic illness caused by infection with Ebola virus. There are four subtypes of Ebola virus (Ebola-Zaire, Ebola-Sudan, Ebola-Ivory Coast, and Ebola-Reston), which are not just variations of a single virus, but four distinct viruses. Three of these subtypes are known to cause disease in humans, and they are the Zaire, Sudan, and Ivory Coast subtypes. Out of all the different viral hemorrhagic fevers known to occur in humans , those caused by filoviruses have been associated with the highest case-fatality rates. These rates can be as high as 90 percent for epidemics of hemorrhagic fever caused by Ebola-Zaire virus. No vaccine exists to protect from... ... Yet a bacterium can kill a whale ... Such is the adaptability and versatility of microorganisms as compared with humans and other so called "higher" organisms, that they will doubtless continue to colonise and alter the face of the Earth long after we and the rest of our cohabitants have left the stage forever. Microbes, not macrobes, rule the world. - Bernard Dixon, 1994 Works Cited CDC(I).Ebola Virus Hemorrhagic Fever: General Information. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/virlfv/ebolainf.htm[1996, November 20]. CDC(II). Filoviruses in Nonhuman Primates: Overview of the Investigation in Texas.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/virlfvr/ebola528.htm[1996, November 20]. Garrett, Laurie. The Coming Plague. Farrar, Straus. and Giroux: New York, 1994. Mosby’s Medical, Mursing, and Allied Health Dictionary 4th Ed. .  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mosby-Year Book, Inc.: St.Louis,1994. Preston, Richard. The Hot Zone. Random House Inc.: New York, 1994. Roizman, Bernard. Infectious Diseases in an Age of Change. National Academy Press:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Washington,D.C., 1995. Top, Franklin H. . Communicable and Infectious Diseases. C.V. Mosby Company: St.Louis, 1964.

Business Environment in India

India Business Environment Analysis MNGT375. 102 – International Business Fall 2009 – Thursday 6:30PM Mr. Dennis L. Noah By: Brandon Barrett Andrew Murphy I. General Characteristics of the Country The country’s terrain varies by region. The renowned Himalayas lie to the North while highland plains occupy the south, home to the Deccan Plateau. The West conveys a different terrain bringing large deserts. As a result of the terrain varying from region to region the climate follows suite. In the south the climate is tropical but moving northward it becomes more temperate. ,000 km of coastline cover India’s borders making it very accessible. The Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal allow water transportation to be done easily for most of the country. The country has a somewhat established infrastructure. The infrastructure does not support its 1 billion plus people properly but despite that its infrastructure is sufficient for the short run and will only improve i n the future. Telecommunications in recent years has experienced significant expansion due to the deregulation of telecommunication laws. The cellular service industry is experiencing extremely rapid growth. However the telephone density is merely 40 out of 100 people across the nation. There are a total of 81 million internet users which is a huge untapped market available. There are 349 airports in all of India. 250 of these airports have paved runways; however the other 99 airport’s runways are unpaved. There is 63,327 km of railways throughout the country which is a very established railway system. There is 3,316,452 km of established roadways in India which is the second largest amount for any country in the world. There are 53 national highways which carry a majority portion of the traffic. In addition to roads, there is 14,500 km of waterways mainly in rivers and canals in India. India contains 11 major seaports The conditions within India are not the finest. India is a premier destination and source of human trafficking for commercial sexual abuse and forced labor. Men, women, and even children are exploited and forced to work on mills, factories, and women are forced to marry unwillingly. India is also the world’s largest producer of Opium for pharmaceutical purposes; however an undetermined but high rate is also illicitly developed. Despite obvious obstacles in India’s current economy, the potential for this untapped market is infinite and an intelligent investment for many multinational corporations. II. Political & Legal Environment The system of government in 23 states closely resembles the federal system Union (Political structure, 2009). However, seven Union territories in the country are administered by the President. The Chief Minister (CM) of a state government has the executive powers while the Governor, elected by the President, is the head of Executive (India's politics, 2009). The Council of Ministers of a state is lead by the CM and is responsible to the elected legislative assembly of the state just like the federal government (Political structure, 2009). The judiciary is independent of the executive in India. The Supreme Court (SC) is the apex court in the country. The High Court stands at the head courts of the states. Each state is divided into judicial districts presided over by a district and sessions judge, who is the highest judicial authority in a district (India's politics, 2009). â€Å"There are courts of civil jurisdiction, known in different states as munsifs, sub-judges, civil judges and the like. Similarly, criminal judiciary comprises chief judicial magistrate and judicial magistrates of first and second class† (India's politics, 2009). Corruption has gone down in India due to transparency, reformed and free judicial system (Country profile: India, 2009). The Supreme Court is supreme; it has original, appellate and advisory jurisdiction (Daniel, 2004). Its exclusive original jurisdiction extends to all disputes between the Union and one or more states or between two or more states and protects the Fundamental Rights of people (India's politics, 2009). The Supreme court has 25 justices and one Chief Justice (CJ) appointed by the President and hold the office till the age of 75 years (India's politics, 2009). It does not deal with criminal cases (Daniel, 2004). III. Economic Environment Despite economic woes that swept through the United States, and in turn the rest of the world in mid-2008; India has weathered the storm while outpacing recovery relative to many other developed and emerging nations. Year to date the Bombay Stock Exchange small cap index has outperformed the S 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average by over 100%. Appendix A) Financial markets have recovered at an unprecedented pace; however, fundamental and economic indicators suggest this rally is fueled by massive injections of liquidly, government intervention, and quantitative easing therefore deeming growth unsustainable. While evidence from monetary, fiscal, and economic policy globally suggest a double-dip recession is palpable; consumption between the Old World (US, Western Europe, Japan) & New World (Total World minus US, Western Europe, Japan) has changed. Currently emerging markets are expanding and consuming more than developed economics. Contrary to prior trends, OPEC’s largest customers now lie within emerging economies, and China is now the main consumer of Asian goods not the United States. India is poised to exponentially contribute towards New World growth driven by a free-market democracy, emerging middle class, capitalistic mindset, young English-speaking entrepreneurial population, and large inflows of foreign direct investment. (Market Commentary Report, Marc Faber) According to Citi Emerging Markets outlook nominal GDP in US$ bn was 1175. 0 in FY08 compared to 913. 5 a year before. Real GDP yoy growth was 9. 0% in FY08, and is expected to contract to 6. 7 in FY09 and steadily grow back to 8% yoyby FY12. Real imports and exports are expected to grow by 17. 9% and 12. 8% respectively in FY09. While imports and exports have experienced negative growth over the past few months the trade balance has narrowed to US $5 bn. Over the next year expected higher oil prices should impact India’s external a ccount considering they import 70% of their crude oil. Majority of GDP growth is driven internally so the nation is less depended on export growth than other countries. India’s current account is expected to be US -$43. 7 bn; exports will make up 169. bn while imports were 286. 5 bn. The current account in FY08 represented 1. 5% of GDP, and is expected to be 3. 8% in FY09. Foreign direct investment was US 15. 4 bn in FY08, and is expected to grow to 20 bn in FY09. According to Citi Investment research public debt should be reduced by US $200M this year. Before 1992 the Indian central government exercised tight control over foreign-exchange transactions and investment. From 1975-1992 Indian authorities managed a floating exchange rate system in which the rupee was pegged against a weighted basket of currencies similar to special drawing rights from the IMF. In March 1993 a free-floating exchange rate system was implemented. In comparison to other exchange rates the INR/USD has been less volatile. In Q2 2008 the exchange rate was 43 rupees for 1 U. S dollar, currently 1 U. S dollar yields 46. 44 rupees. In the past year the U. S dollar has appreciated against the rupee; however, long-term we believe the U. S dollar will depreciate against most currencies. Expansion of the United States balance sheet and monetary base suggests over the next few years the influx of dollars in circulation will devalue our currency and eventually lead to inflation. Operating a manufacturing facility in India does pose some exchange rate risk, but in the long run divesting some operations international may provide an inflation hedge. If the rupee does appreciate against the U. S dollar as expected the facility in India could use their rupee earnings and cash flow to purchase raw materials at a discount and retain earnings in a currency that will hold its value, and yield more purchasing power when converted back to U. S dollars in the future. Foreign capital investment also experienced deregulation with a â€Å"lazzi-faire† approach during the same period. Prior to July 1991 the central government of India followed the Foreign-Exchange Regulation Act. This act required all foreign capital be granted approval by India’s government; after the new foreign investment policy was announced, automatic approval was prescribed for 34 industries deemed high priority with an equity limit of 51%. In regards to ownership, after elections earlier this year India’s foreign investment policy has become even more deregulated. According to the Ministry of Finance the upper level of foreign ownership has been raised from 51% to 74% and in some cases to a 100%. â€Å"The finance minister announced the government’s commitment to a 90-day period for approving all foreign investment. Government officers will be assigned to larger foreign investment proposals and will facilitate Central and States clearances in a time-bound manner. † (Foreign Investment Policy, Ministry of Finance) Other recent policy changes have been developed to provide incentives for foreign firm participation within India. India’s most recent foreign investment policy on the Ministry of Finance website indicates the ban against using foreign brand names/ trademarks has been lifted, the corporate tax rate for foreign companies was reduced to 55% from 65% (domestic tax rate is 40%), long-term capital gains rates were lowered to 20% for foreign firms, and the Indian Income Tax Act exempts export earnings from corporate income tax for both Indian and foreign firms. India has a three-tier tax structure in which majority of taxes are indirect such as sales, value added, and goods and services tax. Intellectual property rights are also regulated; the Embassy of India posts in their policy statement that â€Å"there is a well-e stablished statutory, administrative and judicial framework to safeguard intellectual property rights in India, whether they relate to patents, trademarks, copyright or industrial designs†. Intellectual Property Rights in India, Embassy of India) India has become a developed market place; the Bombay Stock Exchange is the largest in South Asia, and the 12th largest in the world with a market capitalization of US 1. 79 trillion. With the oldest exchange in Asia and a developed regulatory framework; the nation also has a wealth of trade organizations and business associations to set standards and polices for various industries. Currently India has several hundred industry trade associations ranging from Ahmedabad Electri cal Merchants & Contractors Association to the Wood Furniture Makers Association. The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Confederation of Indian Industry can be valuable government organizations when researching various compliance regulations and associations related to your firms industry. According the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry website there is a Manufacturing Committee aimed at making the industry globally competitive while indentifying possible risks and threats faced by the sector. Firms manufacturing small household appliances would join the Indian Electrical and Electronics Manufacturers Association (IEEMA). Founded in 1948, Indian Electrical and Electronics Manufacturers’ Association (IEEMA) is the representative national organization of manufacturers of electrical, professional electronics and allied equipment having over 550 members, Whose combined annual turnover is over Rs. 1,00,000 croresi. e. US $ 22 billion. † (About Us, IEEMA. org) The Southern India Engineering Manufacturers Assoc iation (SIEMA) might also be a valuable association to join which aims at protecting the interests of engineering companies. The Focus on the Global South organization indicates India currently has nine main regional trade agreements, and has 18 more under negotiation. Operational agreements include Agreement on South Asian Free Trade Area, Asia Pacific Trade Agreement, Bangladesh – India Amended Trade Agreement, Bhutan-India Agreement on Trade, India-Maldives Trade Agreement, India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement, India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement, India-Thailand Free Trade Agreement, and the Indo-Nepal Treaty of Trade. The most recent agreement was signed in 1992, and all have a scope on the trade in goods; however agreements currently in negotiation focus on goods, services, investment, and economic cooperation. (Overview, Focus on the Global South) On par with many other emerging countries, India’s main industries are in the agriculture, service, and industrial sectors. Specifically the retail sector is the largest industry and the second largest employer after agriculture which accounts for about 60% of the population. Press Releases, Department of Commerce) India recently has been a premier outsourcing destination because of its low-cost but skilled and educated labor. The information technology and software sector has been successful in developing a global footprint with a slew of small business servicing niche areas in the IT market. Examples include firms that provide supply chain management, CRM, and turnkey solutions to specific industries. India is also on the technological frontie r with companies leading the way in smartcard and RFID development and implementation. The largest company in India is Reliance Industries which operates in the oil and gas industry; however, it has become a major conglomerate with a market value of US 91. 53 mi. (India’s 40 Largest Companies, Forbes) The company’s activities span from exploration and production of oil and gas to petroleum refining and marketing, petrochemicals (polyester, fibre intermediates, plastics and chemicals), textiles, retail and special economic zones. (About Us, Reliance Industris) Second, is Oil & Natural Gas Company with a market value of US 61. 1 mi then the State Bank of India with US 24. 09 mi and assets of US 188,565 mi. In emerging and developing countries it’s normal for oil & gas, financial, and utilities companies to be the largest, because they build the foundation for growth and stability. India’s economy can only grow as fast as the financial and banking sector expands and the infrastructure that supports power, communication, and networking firsts ne eds to be in place before a modern market place can develop. Historical and present day, India is still considered a country with high political and terror risks. Recently attacks in Mumbai and tensions with Pakistan have caused some turbulence in financial markets; however, any organization with a long-term focus should not be readily concerned about political and economic risk because India is only bound to benefit from democracy, growth, and deregulation that benefits free-markets and trade. Geopolitical threats are concerning, but from a U. S standpoint the situation is not any better considering were in two wars. Divesting some operations in India could actually serve as a political and economic hedge reducing our exposure to specific threats the United States may experience. According to the Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index of 2009, India ranked 84th out of a 180 countries with a score of 3. 4 out of 10. While India does not rank well on the CPI index it is still at the top of all South Asian countries. According to New Delhi most corruption lies in bribes and speed money to low-level public officials to â€Å"speed things up†. Following general elections on May 13, 2009, the Indian National Congress won 206 seats an additional 61 from before. The Indian National Congress represented 28. 5% of the vote following the Bharatiya Janata Party with 18. 80%. (Election Commission of India) Both major parties represent different alliances the United Progressive Alliance and the National Democratic Alliance. The United Progressive Alliance is said to lean more on the left side of the political spectrum with socialist and communist ideologies; however, the finance minister has made it clear through economic reforms that reflec t a market-based economy works best. Attention needs to be given to the apprehension between India’s governments and the finance minister’s economic objectives. Nonetheless, policies have recently continued to favor a free market approach. Last February the Indian government introduced its Union Budget for 2009-2010 which aimed at economic revival from the global slowdown. â€Å"Three fiscal stimulus packages in the form of tax relief and increased expenditure on public projects along with RBI taking a number of monetary easing and liquidity enhancing measures were introduced. † (Union Budget, New Delhi) India’s economy along with many others needs to adjust to a new economic landscape which includes Asia’s economic surge, America’s decline, and regional agreements. The stimulus packages are used to fuel growth rates in gross domestic product while creating profit maximizing incentives and protection for various industries. While India’s regulatory framework is still undergoing major development in terms of trade and economic policy; they also have made exponential progress. The nation is growing at over 1. 5% yoy with a rapidly emerging middle class which will drive consumerism in years to come. India is moving forward in the right direction by encouraging investment and ensuing political stability. We have a positive outlook and believe the current environment could be beneficial in minimizing the initial injection of capital to start operations. IV. Cultural and Socioeconomic Environment Religion and culture plays an important role in social relations and business in India. Traditional Indian society is defined by relatively strict social hierarchy. The influences of Hinduism and the tradition of the caste system have created a culture that emphasizes established hierarchical relationships (Social Hierarchy, kwintessential, 2009). Every relationship has a clear- cut hierarchy that must be observed for the social order to be maintained. About 81. 4% of the population of India practice Hinduism, 12. 4% practice Islam. Other religions include Sikhism, Christianity, Buddhism and other religions (Background note, U. S Department of State). The Indian caste system describes the social restrictions and discrimination in India, in which social classes are defined by thousands of groups, often termed as â€Å"Jatis† or castes. Discrimination based on caste is officially illegal, but remains prevalent, especially in rural areas. However, the government has made strong efforts to minimize the importance of caste through active affirmative action and social policies (Society and Culture, Times of India, 2007). India has a high context culture, many things are left unsaid. They do not like to express ‘no', be it verbally or non- verbally. Rather than disappoint you, for example, by saying something isn't available, Indians will offer you the response that they think you want to hear. If terms such as â€Å"We'll see†, â€Å"I will try† or â€Å"possibly† are employed then the chances are that they are saying ‘no'(Manners, RiddhiShah, 2005). Religion, education and social class all influence greetings in India. This is a hierarchical culture, so most senior persons or eldest are greeted first. Shaking hands is common, especially in the large cities among the more educated who are accustomed to dealing with westerners. Men may shake hands with other men and women may shake hands with other women; however there are seldom handshakes between men and women because of religious beliefs. They say â€Å"Namaste† by putting two palms together as a respectful greeting. Business cards are exchanged after the initial handshake and greeting. Using left hand to exchange business cards or gifts is considered disrespectful. It is also important to know that Hindus do not eat beef and Muslims do not eat pork (Meeting/Dining Etiquette, kwintessential, 2009). In Indian society, aggressiveness can often be interpreted as a sign of disrespect. This may lead to a complete lack of communication and motivation on the part of the Indians. Criticism about an individual's ideas or work needs to be done constructively, without damaging that person’s self-esteem (Doing Business in India, 2009). Hospitality is a key part of doing business in India; most business discussions will not even begin until tea is served and there has been some preliminary talk (Manners, Riddhi Shah, 2005). Indians prefer to do business with those they know. Relationships are built upon mutual trust and respect. In general, Indians prefer to have long-standing personal relationships prior to doing business. It may be a good idea to go through a third party introduction. Labor is abundant in India. It is currently estimated to have a total workforce of 397 million where agricultural and allied sectors accounted for about 60 percent of the total workforce. Only 28 million workers are employed in the organized sectors. Almost70 percent of the Indian workforce is under the age of 30, and 80 percent of the young people entering the workforce do not have high-school education or skills that are needed in the job market (Human Capital, 2009). With a majority of unskilled labor, many well-educated individuals within the ranks of the unemployed and under-employed, including technicians and engineers, can also be found without much difficulty. One area of focus for both Indian and foreign investors has been on information technology. This sector has been described as the engine of growth of the Indian economy. The Indian software industry is growing at a rate of more than 50 percent a year, and the country appears to be on track to achieve IT exports of $50 billion by 2010. Approximately 10,000 Internet companies were established in India in 1999, and after years of experiencing a brain-drain effect, Indians are returning home to start and work for technology companies. However, labor shortages are beginning to occur at the highest levels of some service industries especially in IT enabled services (Human Capital, 2009). The numbers of persons with managerial and other white-collar skills are increasing as newly established management institutes begin to produce graduates. There are 5,114 industrial training institutes as well, which have a total capacity of around 742,000 students, offering courses in engineering and non-engineering trades. Even for those graduates from professional disciplines, quality of education imparted is a major issue. Only 25% of engineers, 15% of finance, and accounting professionals and 10% of professionals with Indian degrees are suitable for work in multinationals companies (Globalization and education, 2008). It is important for an investor to meet local business community and start networking at Indian trade fairs to make the right connections. Local business consultants, government agencies and local US embassy also provide necessary information and assistance to start up a business there. It is also good to think of using a local agent or setting up your own office and take legal advice on regulations that may apply to the product or service. V. Industry Specific Information There are hundreds of privately owned companies that make small motors in India but there are no public companies that manufacture this product. Since private companies are not required to disclose their activities and financial information to the public, there no industry information available to us. There are at least 450 small motor manufacturers and suppliers in India (Electric Motors, India Mart). The existence of huge number of manufactures indicates that the small appliance industry is doing quite well. Some manufacturers sell their products within the country and some of them have extended their market to other countries. For instance, one of the largest manufacturers and suppliers of small motors in India, New Bharat Group, sells its products to at least 23 countries in Asia and Africa (Export, New Bharat Group). It will be one of the biggest competitors among many other competitors. Along with the economic growth and rapid urbanization, the Indian household appliances market has been growing each year. The household appliances market reflects the sale of six product sectors: refrigeration appliances, washing appliances, vacuum cleaners, dishwashers, room comfort appliances and cooking appliances. The Indian ousehold appliances market generated total revenues of $4. 8 billion in 2008. In 2013, the Indian household appliances market is forecasted to have a value of $7. 7 billion, an increase of 60. 7% since 2008 (Market Analysis, Datamonitor). It indicates that there is a possibility that the market size of electric motors in India will even get bigger. The availability of raw material suppliers is fa vorable to the small motor manufacturers because metal industry is one of the leading industries in Indian economy. Some other materials could be imported from neighboring country China as well (Electric Motors, Indiamart). VI. Benefits and liabilities of current situation Deciding where to locate productive activities for a manufacturing planet is a major business decision in which various risks need to be accessed to ensure the long-term strategic role of the firm and country align. In our case study we decided to own foreign production activities instead or outsourcing and developing a complete turnkey solution. While initial start-up cost and risk increase there is also a direct relationship between profitability. While production activities may already be organized, more focus must be placed on the logistics of the operation. How will the firm acquire materials? How is the location strategic towards business processes? Our organization must look beyond firm specific and product factors that may effect production, and focus on political risk, exchange risk, market risk, etc. If our company begins developing small motors for the appliances we already sell, then our manufacturing planet will aid in making our company more vertically integrated. Being able to supply components required to build the finished product lowers cost, protects proprietary technology, and improves overall business efficiency and practice. Considering equity ownership varies among industries, our manufacturing facility will most likely have to be in conjunction with a local firm. However, considering the engineering and operational expertise, Indian firms that can provide a strategic alliance or joint venture may benefit our organization and business process. Labor capital is one of the main reasons U. S companies have outsourced operations to India. From a human resources perspective India has a young population that’s educated and English speaking – a manufacturing facility would have no problems acquiring college grads for anagement and engineering positions while also obtaining machinist and assembly line workers. The overall labor cost used in the production of appliances would be less in comparison to the United States and quality would not be sacrificed. International human resource management will play a vital role for the firm as a strategy needs to be implemented to get amalgamated to the host c ountry through cultural, language, and practical training. A partnership or strategic alliance will help our international labor relations an ability to develop a competitive advantage while enhancing bargaining power. Compensation would be based on equalizing the base salary in terms of purchasing power between the countries; the standard of living in the home country would be on par for the host country. India with over 1. 1 billion people not only makes for a premier location to operate a manufacturing facility, but more importantly a marketplace for its appliances. Our firm has decided to implement a global standardization strategy that utilizes the local labor force. We feel this strategy is best for reaping cost reductions, economies of scale, and value added location economics. A global strategy would best serve our facility over a transnational or localization strategy because our product doesn’t have to be tailored to tastes across different geographic markets. Considering differences in consumer tastes and preferences don’t change much in what is required of appliances; our manufacturing facility should be focused on achieving economies of scale and utilizing various distribution channels locally with strategic partnerships. India also has several resource endowments that will help in reducing cost of raw materials from accessibility and ease. In addition being close to raw materials required for production reduces transportation cost while shipping cost are also reduced from have a facility in the middle of Asia, the largest potential market. India has a developed and regulated political economy with an individualistic mentality. The nation has a democratic political system in which government officials are elected through the people either directly or indirectly. While political risk does exist given the controlling political party (United Progressive Alliance) drives from socialist and communist ideologies. However, the government is a democracy and the citizens realize a free-market approach is best for their society; thus we consider the government politically stable without the risk found in totalitarian regimes. The economic system in India is evolving and moving towards a market economy, but currently has the elements of a mixed economy with some regulatory restrictions. As the finance minister continues to enact polices that discourage government intervention and open up markets for trade and investment – the economy is rapidly evolving into modern capitalistic system. Along with regulated and historically stable financial markets the legal system also has the framework necessary for protecting intellectual property and ownership. Business laws and incentives have been enacted to encourage foreign development and investment; corporate tax rates have been reduced and equity ownership caps have increased. After accessing the political, economic, and legal environment we believe the potential return and value creation offsets the risk and possible implications faced by operating a facility in India. Inherent with divesting operations internationally the host firm accepts a degree of translation, transaction, and economic exposure. However, given the fundamentals on the U. S dollar outlook in the economic environment section we believe future favorable exchange rate fluctuations will increase the value of our company’s equities, assets, cash flow, and earnings. The caste system is still present in India, but the government has outlawed caste-based discrimination, and their social stratification allows for upward mobility. Considering socioeconomic factors bring production to India not only reduces cost, but will help our firm penetrate a potentially large marketplace as Indian consumers will be more likely to purchase products developed and produced in their home country. VII. Expectations of country competitiveness related to industry The household appliances market is rapidly expanding in emerging countries such as India and China where demand is driven by an emerging middle class. In India it is expected by 2012 the middle class population will be size of our total population, around 300 million. The manufacturing industry specifically dealing with the production of small-motors is a saturated marketplace consisting of over 450 companies. Industry leaders include the New Bharat Group and Havells which supply small motors across Asia and Africa. Considering the concentration of firms in this segment it would probably be most beneficial for our company to partner with a retail distribution chain or technology firm that will be sure to add value while protecting our business processes. Our strategic lliance or joint venture would only be done if it was a government requirement due to foreign investment regulations which it probably will. Given the pace of technological innovation and capital investment the industry is bound to experience heighten competition and barriers to entry in India. Consolidation within the industry is unlikely in the near term as sheer population growth and consumerism we expect will outpace the influx in supply. VIII. Itinerary The itinerary for our cou ntry visit can be found in Appendix D.

The History of Income Tax in the U.S.

The History of Income Tax in the U.S. Every year, people in the United States frantically race to get their taxes done by mid-April. While shuffling papers, filling out forms, and calculating numbers, have you ever stopped to wonder where and how the concept of income taxes originated? The idea of a personal income tax is a modern invention, with the first, permanent U.S. income tax law in October 1913. However, the general concept of taxation is an age-old idea that has long shaped history. Ancient Times The first, known, written record of taxes dates back to ancient Egypt. At that time, taxes were not given in the form of money, but rather as items such as grain, livestock, or oils. Taxes were such an important part of ancient Egyptian life that many of the surviving hieroglyphic tablets are about taxes. Although many of these tablets are records of how much people paid, some describe people complaining about their high taxes. And no wonder people complained! The taxes were often so high, that at least on one surviving hieroglyphic tablet, tax collectors are depicted punishing peasants for not having paid their taxes on time. Egyptians were not the only ancient people to hate tax collectors. Ancient Sumerians had a proverb, You can have a lord, you can have a king, but the man to fear is the tax collector! Resistance to Taxation Nearly as old as the history of taxes - and the hatred of tax collectors - is resistance to unfair taxes. For instance, when Queen Boadicea of the British Isles decided to defy the Romans in 60 CE, it was in large part because of the brutal taxation policy placed upon her people. The Romans, in an attempt to subdue Queen Boadicea, publicly flogged the queen and raped her two daughters. To the great surprise of the Romans, Queen Boadicea was anything but subdued by this treatment. She retaliated by leading her people in an all-out, bloody revolt, eventually killing approximately 70,000 Romans. A much less gory example of resistance to taxes is the story of Lady Godiva. Although many may remember that in the legend, Lady Godiva of the 11th century rode through the town of Coventry naked, most probably do not remember that she did so to protest her husbands harsh taxes on the people. Perhaps the most famous historical incident that relates to the resistance to taxes was the Boston Tea Party in Colonial America. In 1773, a group of colonists, dressed as Native Americans, boarded three English ships moored in Boston Harbor. These colonists then spent hours smashing the ships cargo, wooden chests filled with tea and then throwing the damaged boxes over the side of the ships. American colonists had been heavily taxed for over a decade with such legislation from Great Britain as the Stamp Act of 1765 (which added taxes to newspapers, permits, playing cards, and legal documents) and the Townsend Act of 1767 (which added taxes to paper, paint, and tea). The colonists threw the tea over the side of the ships to protest what they saw as the very unfair practice of taxation without representation. Taxation, one might argue, was one of the major injustices that led directly to the American War for Independence. Thus, the leaders of the newly created United States had to be very careful as to how and exactly what they taxed. Alexander Hamilton, the new U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, needed to find a way to collect money to lower the national debt, created by the American Revolution. In 1791, Hamilton, balancing the need of the federal government to collect money and the sensitivity of the American people, decided to create a sin tax, a tax placed on an item society feels is a vice. The item chosen for the tax was distilled spirits. Unfortunately, the tax was seen as unfair by those on the frontier who distilled more alcohol, especially whiskey, than their eastern counterparts. Along the frontier, isolated protests eventually led to an armed revolt, known as the Whiskey Rebellion. Revenue for War Alexander Hamilton was not the first man in history with the dilemma of how to raise money to pay for a war. The need for a government to be able to pay for troops and supplies in wartime had been a major reason for ancient Egyptians, Romans, medieval kings, and governments around the world to increase taxes or to create new ones. Although these governments had often been creative in their new taxes, the concept of an income tax had to wait for the modern era. Income taxes (requiring individuals to pay a percentage of their income to the government, often on a graduated scale) required the ability to retain extremely detailed records. Throughout most of history, keeping track of individual records would have been a logistical impossibility. Thus, the implementation of an income tax was not found until 1799 in Great Britain. The new tax, viewed as a temporary one, was needed to help the British raise money to fight the French forces led by Napoleon. The U.S. government faced a similar dilemma during the War of 1812. Based on the British model, the U.S. government considered raising money for the war through an income tax. However, the war ended before the income tax was officially enacted. The idea of creating an income tax resurfaced during the American Civil War. Again considered a temporary tax to raise money for a war, Congress passed the Revenue Act of 1861 which instituted an income tax. However, there were so many problems with the details of the income tax law that income taxes were not collected until the law was revised the following year in the Tax Act of 1862. In addition to adding taxes on feathers, gunpowder, billiard tables, and leather, the Tax Act of 1862 specified that the income tax would require those that earned up to $10,000 to pay the government three percent of their income while those that made over $10,000 would pay five percent. Also notable was the inclusion of a $600 standard deductible. The income tax law was amended several times over the next few years and eventually fully repealed in 1872. Beginnings of a Permanent Income Tax In the 1890s, the U.S. federal government was beginning to rethink its general taxation plan. Historically, most of its revenue had been from taxing imported and exported goods as well as taxes on the sale of specific products. Realizing that these taxes were increasingly bearing on only a select portion of the population, mostly the less affluent, the U.S. federal government began looking for a more even way to distribute the tax burden. Thinking that a  graduated-scale  income tax placed upon all citizens of the United States would be a fair way to collect taxes, the federal government attempted to enact a country-wide income tax in 1894. However, because at that time all federal taxes had to be based on state population, the income tax law was found unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1895. To create a  permanent income tax, the Constitution of the United States needed to be changed. In 1913, the 16th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified. This amendment eliminated the need to base federal taxes on state population by stating: The Congress shall have  the power  to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration. In October of 1913, the same year the 16th Amendment was ratified, the federal government enacted its first permanent income tax law. Also in 1913, the  first Form 1040  was created. Today, the IRS collects more than $1.2 billion in taxes and processes more than 133 million returns annually.

How Collaborative Decision Making Transforms Schools

How Collaborative Decision Making Transforms Schools Schools should continuously be striving to improve.  Every school should have this as a central theme in their mission statement. Schools that are either stagnant or complacent are doing the students and communities that they serve a major disservice. If you are not progressing, you will ultimately fall behind and fail. Education, in general, is very progressive and trendy, sometimes to a fault, but you must always be seeking out something bigger and better. School leaders who regularly include their constituents in the decision-making process find it advantageous in many different ways. They understand that involving stakeholders in the decision-making process can ultimately transform a school. Progressive transformation is continuous and ongoing. It must become a mindset and regular way of making decisions to maximize effectiveness.  School leaders must actively invest in the opinions of others, understanding that they do not have all the answers themselves. Varying Perspectives One of the most beneficial aspects of bringing different people to the discussion is that you get several different perspectives or points of view.  Every stakeholder is going to have a distinctly different point of view based on their individual affiliation with the school. It is important that school leaders bring together a varying range of constituents with their hands in different parts of the cookie jar so that perspective is maximized. This is naturally beneficial as someone else may see a potential road block or benefit that someone else may not have thought of. Having multiple perspectives can only boost any decision-making effort and lead to healthy discussions that morph into growth and improvement.  Ã‚   Better Buy In When decisions are made through a process that is genuinely inclusive and transparent people tend to buy in and support those decisions even when they are not directly involved.  There will likely be some that still disagree with the decisions, but they typically respect them because they understand the process and know that the decision was not made lightly or by a single person. Buy in is extremely important for a school because of all the moving parts. A school operates more efficiently when all the parts on the same page. This often translates to success which benefits everyone. Less Resistance Resistance is not necessarily a bad thing and offers some benefits. However, it can also totally destroy a school if it morphs into a resistance movement.  By bringing varying perspectives to the table, you naturally negate much of the resistance. This is especially true when collaborative decision making becomes the norm and part of the expected culture of the school. People will trust a decision-making process that is inclusive, transparent, and holistic in nature. Resistance can be annoying, and it can definitely impede improvement referendum. As stated before this is not always a bad thing as some resistance minimally serves as a natural system of checks and balances. Not Top Heavy School leaders are ultimately responsible for their school’s successes and failures.  When they make critical decisions by themselves, they shoulder 100% of the blame when things run amiss. Furthermore, many people question top heavy decision making and never fully buy in. Any time a single person makes a key decision without consulting others they are setting themselves up for ridicule and eventual failure. Even if that decision is the correct and best choice, it serves school leaders well to consult with others and seek their advice before the final say. When school leaders make too many individual decisions they eventually distance themselves from other stakeholders which is unhealthy at best. Holistic, Inclusive Decisions Collaborative decisions are typically well thought out, inclusive, and holistic. When a representative from each stakeholder group is brought to the table, it gives validity to the decision. For example, parents feel they have a voice in a decision because there were other parents representing them in the decision-making group.  This is especially true when those on a collaborative decision-making committee go out into the community and seek further feedback from like stakeholders. Furthermore, these decisions are holistic in nature meaning that research has been done, and both sides have been carefully examined.   Better Decisions Collaborative decisions often lead to better decision making. When a group comes together with a common goal, they are able to explore all the options more in-depth.  They can take their time, bounce ideas off one another, research the pros and cons of each option thoroughly, and ultimately make a decision that will produce the greatest outcomes with the least resistance.  Better decisions yield better results. In a school environment, this is extremely important. A top priority for every school is to maximize student potential. You do this in part by making the correct, calculated decisions time and time again.   Shared Responsibility One of the greatest aspects of collaborative decision making is that no single person can take the credit or the blame. The final decision lies with the majority on the committee. Though a school leader will likely take the lead in the process, the decision is not solely theirs. This also ensures that they are not doing all of the work. Instead, each member of the committee plays a critical role in the process that often extends beyond simple decision making into implementation and follow through.  Shared responsibility helps reduce the pressure of making a big decision. Those on the committee provide a natural support system because they truly understand the commitment and dedication to making the correct decisions.

Consider the following scenario Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Consider the following scenario - Research Paper Example The distinctive ledgers which ledgers used within inventory recording system include Raw Materials, Work in Process and Finished goods accounts. Differences between the two costing techniques arise as costs are added up with respect to their jobs in job order costing system while in process costing system; these costs are pooled in with respect to a department’s cost incurred with respect to a specified time period. Further differences between the two costing system occur because of the nature and types of production methods employed to manufacture goods. Process costing system is used in production organizations which tend to have similar ongoing procedures to manufacture their goods while job order costing is used in companies which tend to produce special or customized goods in batches. Since our company would be producing a single version of a product, a process costing system would be best suited to analyze the costs of the product. This system would also be carried out in future as well if the production is carried out in large quantities of identical pattern in an ongoing flow. Job order costing would only be employed if the company produces tailor-made products for their customer or it manufactures standard products in batches (Lucey,

Risk management in British Airways Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Risk management in British Airways - Essay Example The overall process has been designed in a manner that it remains an iterative process wherein the changes and implementation of the existing and new risk management practices are scrutinized on continuous basis.( Goh, 2011). British Airways (BA) has a separate Corporate Risk Management Group in place which not only oversees the organization wide risk management practices of the firm but is also involved in managing internal control systems of the company. The Corporate Risk Group is overseen by a management board and senior key executives to ensure that the involvement of the key senior managers remains so that required improvements could be achieved and the process is managed strategically. The existing risk management practices of BA involve not only the identification of the key risks and their drivers but also their mitigation and management. The overall process is monitored at the Board Audit Committee level and involves senior management to provide an independent review and in sight into the risk management practices of the firm. Current Risk Management Process The current risk management process and its infrastructure within the organization are based on a combination of independence and authority. BA has put in place a separate risk management group which has the overall responsibility of managing the corporate risk affairs of the firm. The group is headed by the Head of Corporate Risk and Internal Controls and oversees different aspects of the risk management process. Further, there is a supervisory management board which comprises of the key senior managers of the firm to provide strategic insight and ownership to the strategic management process within the organization. (Rothwell, 2011). Company maintains a corporate risk register which is actually used for the purpose of identifying the risks and recording them for the purpose of review and assessment. The overall assessment process is based on quarterly reviews wherein the management board as well as the senior managers along with the Corporate Risk Managers evaluate the existing and new risks and determine the future course of action. It is also important to note that this is the highest level within the organization which actually assess and outlines the risk management processes within the organization. The work is further distributed to the individual departments and risk leaders within each department responsible for the management of risk at the departmental and individual level. It is also important to note that the risk at the individual level is measured through an internally developed matrix called Heat Map. Heat Map takes into account each individual risk based on its likely impact and the overall likely scale.1 This therefore allows BA to map its overall risk identification process according to the overall importance and impact of the risk on the organization. Once the different critical risks are identified, mitigating factors for managing the risk are identified and are each risk is individually managed. A report is finally produced which attempt to address different risk issues and responsibilities and accountabilities are than fixed at the individual level to ensure that the overall process is delegated to the lowest level of the organization. It is also critical to understand that this report usually do not contain the mapped results and critical actions required to be undertaken. This is purposefully done by BA in order to