Thursday, October 31, 2019

J curve Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

J curve - Essay Example When the short duration is considered, the J-curve theory comes into play (Schaefer, 1995). In the short-term, the export and import demand becomes rigid. Thus, the current account worsens before it improves. Nevertheless, after some time, the demand becomes less and less rigid. Hence, the price can be manipulated. The effect of this is an enhancement in the current account The current account is the variation in the net foreign position of a country. The current account can also be termed as the summation of the returns of all foreign financial assets of a country and trade balance (Pitchford, 2002). A country’s foreign assets comprises of the capital gains, the interest payments, and the dividends. By using its money, a country is able to buy from foreign countries whenever it deems appropriate. Addition of the liabilities and the foreign assets defines the financial position of a country. Is it in debt or is it in surplus. A current account keeps record of receipts received from and the payments that have been made to the foreign countries it buys from (Pitchford, 2002). A capital account is a major constituent of the balance of payments of a country. It avails the net capital income and expenditure of a country. The capital account records the financial transactions of a country by way of titles to assets. It lists the foreign transactions to those of the market (Pitchford, 2002). A capital account is made up of purchase and disposal of non-produced, assets that are non-financial, and capital transfers (OECD, 2001). The financial account is the ultimate account in the full order of accounts that lists the financial transactions between the units of the institutions within a country (IMF, 1996). The financial account list is composed of the transactions that include liabilities and financial assets occurring between foreigners and the country’s institutional units. Its primary constituents include

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Liberal Party's Split of 1886 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Liberal Party's Split of 1886 - Essay Example The 'classes', by which he meant 'the dukes ... the squires ... the Established clergy ... the officers of the army, or ... a number of other bodies of very respectable people', were against the 'masses', the remainder of the population. His point was that in all matters: where the leading and determining consideration that ought to lead to a conclusion are truth, justice, and humanity, there, gentlemen, all the world over, I will back the masses against the classes. (Matthew 1999, 348-9) But Gladstone faced an uphill task for all kinds of reasons were causing many of the previously Liberal voters to abstain or even to turn out and vote against them. Memories of Gordon and anti-Catholic prejudice erupted throughout the country, while his fiery rhetoric, as in Liverpool, might have scared off as many electors as it encouraged. The main problem for Gladstone and his friends was that there were two Liberal parties to vote for in 1886. The MPs who had opposed Gladstone in the Commons made no secret of their opposition to him in public, and these 'Liberal Unionists' actually formed an electoral pact with the Conservatives; by the time the elections were over there were seventy-eight of them in the House of Commons. The Conservative Party itself did very well, securing 314 seats, while the Gladstonian Liberals trailed well behind them, being reduced to just 181 MPs. Not even Parnell's Irish Nationalists, with eighty-five seats, could make a difference to the overall balance of power in this Parliament. 'The defeat', Gladstone ruefully recorded in his diary 'is a smash'. (Matthew 1990, 585) On 30 July he tendered his resignation to the Queen. The underlying cause of this disastrous split in the Liberal Party has been long debated. (Searle 1992, 1-5) Gladstone himself believed, and historians have long maintained, that it represented a ' revolt of the Whigs'. (Magnus 1954, 245) In general terms it is fair to say that most of the aristocratic 'Whig' elements in the party deserted Gladstone at this point over the Irish question, while the majority of the middle-class Radicals stayed loyal to him in spite of it. But it has more recently been stressed that many better-off 'Whig' members of the Liberal Party had been showing signs of disillusionment with it since the time of Gladstone's first ministry. It is also true that some 'moderate' Liberals, including some of those who might be considered 'better off', remained loyal to Gladstone even at this time, while, on the other hand, one of the leaders of the revolt was Joseph Chamberlain, the personification of middle-class radicalism. In any case, it does not seem to matter very much: enough voters had deserted Gladstone to give the Conservatives an overall majority in the Commons and put Lord Salisbury back into office, even without the Liberal Unionists' support. It was the Conservatives who were to dominate British politics until the twentieth century. (Pugh 2002, 7-8) When Gladstone resigned as prime minister in 1886 he had no intention of

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Strategic Human Resources Management Practices In Business

Strategic Human Resources Management Practices In Business Strategic human resource management is to ensure that human resource management is fully integrated into strategic planning that human resource policies cohere both across hierarchies and that HRM policies are accepted and used by line managers as a part of their every day work Integrating human resource management strategies and systems to achieve the overall mission, strategies, and success of the firm while meeting the needs of employees and other stakeholders. Source: Herman Schwind, Hari Das and Terry Wagar, Human Resource Management: A Strategic Approach. Strategic HRM has four meanings: The use of planning. A coherent approach to the design and management of personnel systems based on an employment policy and manpower strategy and often underpinned by a philosophy. Matching HRM activities and policies to some explicit business strategy. Seeing the people of the organization as a strategic resource for the achievement of competitive advantage. HUMAN RESOURCE PLANNING: According to Terry L. Leap and Michael D.crino Human resource planning is a process of determining and assuming that organization will have an adequate number of qualified persons, available at the proper times, performing jobs which meet the needs of enterprise and which provide satisfaction for the individual involved. Overall we can say HRP is a process of anticipating and making provision for the flow of people into, within, and out of an organization. STRATEGIC HUMAN RESOURCE PLANNING: Strategic HR planning is an important component of strategic HR management. It links HR management directly to the strategic plan of your organization. Based on the strategic plan, an organization can develop a strategic HR plan that will allow making HR management decisions now to support the future direction of the organization. A comprehensive HR Strategy will also support other specific strategic objectives undertaken by the marketing, financial, operational and technology departments. An HR strategy planning provides overall direction for the way in which HR activities will be developed and managed to gain competitive advantage in an organizational performance. The HR planning enables the organization to implement policies that enhance the skills and competencies of the people Strategic human resource planning consists of a number of objectives, but all the objectives must be closely aligned to overall business goals in order to be effective. Even a large human resources department is not a revenue-generating section of the organization. Therefore, human resources executives must demonstrate the employers return on investment through strategic activities. Strategic activities are forward-thinking processes that support business growth through recognition of the value of human capital . Strategic HR Planning Today In these times of great economic changes, the importance of human resource planning is more apparent than ever. A short-sighted lay-off, intended to temporarily reduce overhead, can result in much heavier long-term costs. Organizations have to spend more money and time for recruiting training new employees if they couldnt retain the old experience, skilled employees in right time. In the recent scenario of globalization and faster communication, a smart human resources plan encourages the organization to keep a longer view of things and retain talent so that, once this economic upheaval has calmed down, itll have a committed team intact. The overall purpose of strategic HR planning is to: Ensure adequate human resources to meet the strategic goals and operational plans of your organization the right people with the right skills at the right time Keep up with social, economic, legislative and technological trends that impact on human resources in your area and in the sector Remain flexible so that your organization can manage change if the future is different than anticipated STRATEGIC HUMAN RESOURCE PLANNING PROCESS: The strategic HR planning process has the following steps, Mission , Vision Value Strategic Analysis Strategic Formulation Strategic Implementation Strategic Evaluation Assessment A. Mission, Vision Value Mission The basic purpose of the organization as well as its scope of operations. Strategic Vision A statement about where the company is going and what it can become in the future; clarifies the long-term direction of the company and its strategic intent. Core Values The strong and enduring beliefs and principles that the company uses as a foundation for its decisions. B. Strategic Analysis It deals with scanning Internal and external environment as well as competencies (i.e. knowledge, skills abilities) of the organization and forecasting human resource demand accordingly. The following will define these terms broadly. External environments The major external forces influencing the organization as follows , Economic factors: general and regional conditions Competitive trends: new processes, services, and innovations Technological changes: robotics and office automation Political and legislative issues: laws and administrative rulings Social concerns: child care and educational priorities Demographic trends: age, composition, and literacy Internal environment The Internal environment consists of the followings, Core Competencies : Integral knowledge, competitive advantages through people Organisational culture: The culture and quality of work life in an organization. The human capital architecture of the firm: core knowledge workers, traditional job-based employees, contract based employees, partners etc. Human Resource Forecasting This is a critical element of planning especially in strategic human resource planning which deal with mostly long term HR strategy of the organization. We can say this can be of as following, Demand for Human capital Demand forecasting of employees has both qualitative and quantitative approach. The qualitatively we can use management forecasting or Delphi techniques where as quantitative we can use trend analysis to study the demand. Supply of Human Capital Forecasting the Supply of human capital can be done through obtaining the Staffing Charts which shows graphical representations of all organizational jobs, along with the numbers of employees currently occupying those jobs and future employment requirements, with the information from the personnel files of employees and their replacement succession planning details and their individual development plans. Gap Analysis This is a tool that helps an organization to compare its actual performance with its potential performance. I strategic human resource planning it means the study of the gasp between the demand and supply of competencies of human capital with reference to the business objectives and strategies. This can be of Performance Gap Analysis ,Training Development Gap Analysis ,Skills Gap Analysis Or Competence Gap Analysis. C. Strategic Formulation In this stage HR professionals need to develop a logical practical course of action to use the strengths of the organization to capitalize on opportunities, counteract threats, and remove internal weaknesses. These action plans has to be formulated in all levels of a business organization i.e. corporate strategy, business strategy and functional strategy. Corporate strategies deal with the policies and procedures involved in mergers or acquisition, business alliances, joint venture or any future intent for growth and diversification. Business level strategy deals with value creation for the organization as well as keeping an eye on low cost productivity and overall efficiency to make it competitive and profitable. Functional strategy plays a vital role. The HR professional has to align the business objectives and the HR initiatives, policies and practices both internally and externally. Some of the examples are Training Development Strategy, recruitment strategy, IR strategies, Retention strategy etc. D. Strategic Implementation This stage is the time to take actions on all the strategies and plans made. First , we have to balance the demand and supply of human capital by forecasting business activities or trends and also by maintaining a record of all the applicants of past, present and future. Secondly, as per above plan out the attrition /retention strategies, downsizing or lay off techniques have to be made. Then need to work on the training development of employees with other reward, incentive or welfare practices. E. Strategic Evaluation Assessment Now we need to assess the HR function, the work force with comparing the organizations processes and practices with those of other companies. Here the HR professional has to take the help of few metrics or mapping or scorecard techniques for the evaluation. In addition, the HR strategy can add value is by ensuring that, in all its other plans, the organization takes account of and plans for changes in the wider environment, which are likely to have a major impact on the organization HR PROFESSIONALS AND THE MODERN BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS In the modern context, Strategic human resource planning is a planning about the nature of the present future work demand labor supply for both short term long term that serves to achieve the strategy objective of the firm. The role of human resource management is changing is changing very fast, to help companies achieve their goals. HRM has gone through many phases from hiring firing to relationship building, from there to legislation role, now its role is shifting from protector screener to strategic partner as a change agent. Today, to create value and deliver better results, HR professionals have begin not by focusing on the work activities or work of HR but by defining the deliverables of that work. So as the planning is not to set goals but also to make sure to achieve them. According to Richard Chang, author of The Passion Plan at Work, HRM focuses mainly on HR Research and Information Systems, Union/Labor Relations, Employee Assistance, and Employee Compensation/Benefits where as Human Resource Development, according to Chang, includes Career Development (helping individuals align their career planning), Organizational Development (helping groups initiate and manage change), and Training and Development (designing / developing, and delivering training to ensure people are equipped to do their jobs). But SHRP as a part of SHRM involves both area and creates an overlap between them in todays HR functions. Mostly all of the HR leaders and professionals in large international organizations are participating in SHRP by giving strong contribution in decision making and strategic teams. But in small and medium size companies there is a lack of contribution of HR professionals due to their non-involvement in organizational or functional strategic planning and the stereotypical negative views of HR functions. Most of the Top management teams till now consider HR functions as a compliance function or more of a consultative service and HR professionals are involve d in implementing a strategy only after the strategy is decided. To gain its position in the strategic decision team, HR have to Know and understand the business strategies, processes its objectives Understand how the various organizational components interact and the process of business and what the long-term implications of HR decisions are. The impact of HR decisions must be thoroughly researched and analyzed before changes are implemented. Understand the five major non-HR components of any business: finance, marketing, sales, operations and accounting. Align HR strategy to organizations Mission Statement and objectives. Strategies can range from functional strategy and capability strategy to results strategy. HR professional face lot difficulties while applying the SHRP in reality. As various functional stages they face different challenges. So they have to overcome them as follows , Selection Staffing: If HR knows in the firsthand the clear direction and requirement of the company, it will easy to place right people at right place in right time which will save both time and money of the organization. But in many organizations only few leaders have that access. The HR officers are not aware of this. So to cope of with the pace of today globalization and expansion of business all level of professionals has to be well versed with these requirements. Training Development: Training and development are most important in view of the strategic growth process of a company. So the knowledge , skill and competence of employees has to be accessed strictly by HR professionals without any interference of the higher authority or being biased by any sort of favoritism. In reality this is not 100% successful yet because of lack of HR interest and also lack of tools to evaluate these. If HR people can be equipped with all the new tools techniques to perform these tasks they would be able to speak instantly to any issues, and possibly provide input that could help a company achieve its goals faster. Organizational Development Change Management: In long term strategy always change has a critical role in different processes of the workplace. Each department is known to these changes of their related departments. if these will be timely intimated to the HR departments , they will be able to take care of the organizational development issues with unique solution and make sure of t he positive impact of the change on overall process. this is only possible when there will be proper chart or data available with proper maintenance for which HR department has to take necessary required steps. CONCLUSION The ultimate goal of strategic planning is the identification of opportunities along with some risks by aligning objectives and activities of an organization with proper allocation of available resource to produce the desired profit for it. In these processes HR has should play an important role at every step for successful achievement of the various strategies plantings process which will also increase the value of HR professionals and HR functions globally. So we can conclude on that HR is not only for employee welfare or personnel management or any compliance issues but also deserve a strong position in t he strategy making process with the top management. If organizations take HR professionals and their suggestion during strategy planning process , it will gain more than as expected by adopting a suitable SHRP to the organizations strategies and goals. Especially , at this stage of rapid globalization where demand of specific skilled persons in and from different locations aremore required to help the organizations to gain a huge amount of profit in less time and optimum utilization of resources, SHRP and the participation of HR managers to create strategies along with the top management is most necessary step to do for further progress in business.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Why a Resistant strand of Group A Streptococcus is Causing Problems in

Why a Resistant strand of Group A Streptococcus is Causing Problems in Children and Becoming Resistant to Antibiotics Abstract: Streptococcus is a bacteria that has been evolving through the recent centuries. A new form of these bacteria from group A streptococcus is becoming resistant and creating a whole new kind of this disease. The new form of this disease is twenty seven percent resistant to the antibiotic and is causing pneumonia meningitis in children. The new cures being created to fight against these bacteria are great except for that the new vaccine has no effect on children. Researches have finally found a vaccine that is effective on children because of a protein that is attached to the vaccine. Within a period of three years a study was done that followed eight hospitals in the United States. Within these eight hospitals researchers followed cases of children who received the resistant strand of S pyogenes. From the S pyogenes the children received the disease pneumonia meningitis. As they followed these children the researchers monitored the antibiotics given to them. For millions of years bacteria have been ruling the earth and are becoming more dominant with each day. Bacteria are some of the strongest species to have inhabited the earth; they survived and lived long after the dinosaurs. Even after all species including humans are gone, these species will be present. In the late 19th century streptococcus was discovered, but with no cure for it. Scientist has developed vaccines and antibiotics, but within the past centuries a new strand of streptococcus has emerged. This new strand is S. pyogenes. S. pyogenes have become resistant to these treatments that have been discovered, the problem that occurs is the... ...ibiotics and so if people start to misuse these antibiotics this strand will continue to become more resistant. If this strain of streptococcus continues to become resistant there will be nothing left that can stop this bacteria. Within a few centuries these bacteria will become uncontrollable and a deadly bacteria. Streptococcus Group A 5 References Cedars- Sinai Medical Center (1999, January). Sightings Bacteria Becoming Increasingly Resistant to Antibiotics. July 18, 2005: www.sciencedaily.com Sharma Sat MD. (2004, November).Streptococcus Group A Infections. July 16, 2005. American Academy of Otolaryngology(AAO). Sore Throats. July 25, 2005. www.entnet.org/healthinfo/throat/sore_throat.cfm Carauana Louis B., Ph.D. (2003, July). Group A Streptococcus-Streptococcus pyogenes Flesh Eating Streptococcus. July 28, 2005. Members.tripod.com/LouCaru/index- 7.html.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Flat Cargo Berhad Essay

Air Cargo Industry is a highly competitive with low profit margin industry operated by 85 operators within Malaysia and the Asia Pacific region. Flat Cargo Berhad (FCB) was one of them with several subsidiaries related to this industry. FCB was recognized as one of the biggest air freight companies in Malaysia. With the flourishing of e-business and secured agreements with well-established companies (i.e UPS, Nationwide Expressway, Citylink, Nippon Express etc), the boom of Flat Cargo Berhad was obvious. Even it was expected, FCB would have likely remained as the nation’s leading air cargo carrier if the scandal has not appeared. Things have started to get out of shape for FCB when the external auditor Kencana & Associates came across several suspicious findings that may suggest fraud. So we as consultant/advisor have noted down the problem and came up with the possible solutions in order to handle such suspicious circumstances. Problem 1 The auditors were unable to verify the aircrafts claimed to have been purchased by FCB in 2005. The audit team found a non-functional rundown aircraft barely worth RM231 million in the hangar.  FCB claimed to have purchase aircrafts in 2005, but there were no documentation found to support the claims of FCB that the purchasing ever took place which implied that fraud might have took place. As shown on the fleet information above, (Appendix B) there were two Boeing 727 and five Mcdonnell Douglas MD-11F (which later was no longer used for freight purposes) purchased by FCB in 2005 that were in â€Å"Active† status, but when inspected by the audit team, found Mior, Asif, Stephanie, Rohanna  only a rundown non-functional aircraft in the hangar which suggested inconsistency in the claim made by FCB. Solution 1 The audit department could take some measures to verify the claim made by FCB regarding the purchase of the aircrafts by: 1) Referring to the aircraft manufacturers regarding receipts, purchasing documents, invoices , contracts 2) Checking any related internal documents about the aircraft activities like schedules and activities of aircrafts i.e. engineering department for maintenance of aircraft. 3) Verify with the staffs of the company i.e. pilots, engineers regarding the aircrafts claimed to be purchased 4) Checking on leasing companies if there were any business activities from FCB (which would suggest obvious fraud since FCB claimed to have purchase the aircrafts) 5) Verify the registration and licensing of the aircraft at the Department of Civil Aviation Malaysia (DCAM) And if this aircraft was actually purchased as claimed, the management should encourage these solutions to avoid future confusions 1) Update bookkeeping regularly (transactions on purchases, sales, receipts and payments by an individual or organisation) Problem 2 Several debtors’ confirmation letters were returned because the addressees had changed their mailing addresses Due to this issue it will have a major impact on accounts receivable thus to cash flow. However this will lead to further problem as follows 1) No exact debtor figure available for reference 2) Possibility of bad debt 3) Weak debt servicing ability by company Mior, Asif, Stephanie, Rohanna Solution 2 Some measures could be taken by auditor to solve this issue by 1) Investigate the identity of the debtor or organization from reliable sources (Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia (SSM) for organisations, Jabatan Perdaftaran Negara (JPN) for individuals) 2) Find supporting documents of debt to rule out chances of fraud The management team could take these measures to avoid this problem by 1) Create an efficient system for debt servicing 2) Create a system of verifying the  claim of debtors to make sure fraud does not take place 3) Create a database for debtors and keep an updated portfolio on them for future use and reference 4) Create a department in the organization that deals solely with debt servicing (provided that they have a lot of debtors) Problem 3 A large sum of sales transactions was found with no supporting documents. Most of these transactions involved small clients.  This problem will mostly affect the revenue. In addition, it could lead to: 1) poor book-keeping process 2) manipulation on the revenue figure (RM 550 million) 3) manipulation of the shareholders interest in terms of dividend declared 4) balancing the closing process for the year of 2005 manually 5) complication on debt collection therefore the possibility of bad debt in future Solution 3 As far as we are concerned, the auditor can request the engineering department to provide the document on clients who are using their courier services and counter-check it with the Custom Department to verify the figure. We assume every activity must be reported to the  Mior, Asif, Stephanie, Rohanna.   DCAM. Therefore, from the backward process, the auditor would be able to verify the turnover figure. Problem 4 A loan received from a Hong Kong based company was found to be incorrectly recorded in the debtors’ account This issue will have the major influence on liabilities. It has violated the matching principle. The following problems can be determined due to these mistakes. 1) The impact on liabilities of the FCB will be decreased whereas assets increase due to the error on double entry process 2) The financial cost (interest expense) will decrease resulting increase of  profit before tax Solution 4 Counter-check and verify the Loan agreement between the FCB and Hong Kong based company. After verifying, the auditors will correct the double entry according to accounting standard by MASB. Problem 5 Several abnormal transactions involving the purchase of aircrafts by FCB and offsetting the debtors’ accounts were found in FCB’s books Following abnormal transaction is strictly against the process of accounting system. It violates many principle of accounting system i.e. principle of non-compensation, principles of sincerity and principles of consistency*. Abnormal transactions could lead to multiplier faults in the financial statement like 1) Overstated/Understated assets Usage of cash or credit was not determined properly Cutting down the overall debtor amount 2) Fail to determine bad debt 3) Fail to determine the true figure of debtors Solution 5 Actions that could be taken by auditors 1) Reconciliation of book keeping related to purchases of abnormal transactions 2) Cross proof each and every documents related to purchases and debtor 3) If possible ensure debtors confirmation letter Actions that could be taken by management 1) Not to mix up purchases with debtors 2) Debtors can be offset upon receiving money or against bad debt Conclusion In conclusion, these issues above could be avoided provided that delegation and segregation of duties were made to ensure accountability in bookkeeping and minimisation to fraud. The company could also hire an internal auditor to regularly inspect the financial condition and activities of the company. Accountability and counter-checking between one another is also crucial to minimize mistakes and deceit. It is such a shame that a company with such great Mior, Asif, Stephanie, Rohanna  potential (to be the leading cargo company in Malaysia) should suffer a fate such as this due to trivial avoidable mistakes and fraud. It is best that PLCs to work towards transparency within the company so that mistakes/problems could be detected and solved before it gets out of hand. References Ready Ratios. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Available:http://www.readyratios.com/reference/accounting/generally_accepted_accounting_ principles_gaap.html. Last accessed 4th Feb 2014

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

The Last Lecture

The Last Lecture In everyone’s life, there are people. Some of these people walk in our lives for a second, only to run right out. While others walk in and leave a mark on our hearts. Sometimes this mark only lasts for a little while and then slowly fades away, but other times, this mark lasts for a lifetime. There is one man in my life who has made a distinct mark on my heart — a mark that was created the first time he picked me up and held me in his arms. This mark has lasted ever since then. This man is my dad. My dad is an amazing man.He has taught me an awful lot in my fourteen years. He was the man who taught me how to ride my bike. He would hold on to my handlebars and run by my side as I pedaled. Though I feared that I would get hurt, I trusted my dad and knew that he would never let me fall. When he thought that I was ready, he would let go and watch me ride, making sure I would not tumble over. Although, when I did, he was by my side in a second, picking me up and dusting the dirt off my arms and legs. He would then stand my bike back up and we would try it again and again.With his help, I learned how to never give up. This lesson is not only important while riding a bike, but it is also critical when it comes to life experiences. If you mess up, you have to keep trying. You should not become frustrated and quit. My dad also taught me about money. â€Å"If you don’t need it, don’t buy it† is his motto. Though most of my friends love to shop, because of my dad’s words, I have never found it that eexciting . This applies to other material goods besides clothes. It is important to realize that simply wanting something is not enough.You should not merely collect items that you do not need. There are people in this world who have nothing. Therefore, when being given the oopportunity to shop, you should not buy everything that meets the eye. When I was younger, my dad and I enjoyed playing games together. One of the games he taught me how to play was chess. In chess there is a strategy. I learned this by watching my dad play. Some times, while we would play, I would get bored and start moving my pieces to whatever spot was open. I soon realized that you should not move the pieces randomly or you will lose.With the help of my dad, I learned how to think things through and plan things out. I learned that in order to succeed, one should think situations through, but have fun. One of my dad’s hobbies is planning vacations. Every year he plans a family trip for the summer. A few years ago, we traveled to Europe. While visiting France, we came across many unique foods. I am not fond of trying new things, but my dad taught me that the worst that can happen is I will not like it. Some of the foods that I tried were not the best, and I probably will never try them again.However, there were some foods, like crepes, that were absolutely delicious and I am glad that he was there to talk me into try ing something new. Another vacation he planned was to Hawaii. While in Hawaii, we all went snorkeling. At first I was scared that I would not be able to breathe, but my dad told me that was why we used a snorkel. I learned how to rely on something else to breathe. In life, this is like depending on others. It is important to learn how to do things on your own, but it is okay to need a helping hand every once in a while. My dad has always been there for me.He is always there to lend a hand. My dad is such an inspiration to me. Tthroughout my life he has been there for me, supporting me and cheering me on. Whether it is in sports or school, he is always there for me, encouraging me to do my best. My dad and I are inseparable. I am so grateful to be able to have a dad like him to lean on when I need help. I can always count on him to make me laugh when I am feeling down, to pick me up when I am hurt, and to help me find the answer when I have a question. There will always be a place fo r him in my heart. He has made a mark that will last a lifetime.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Sample Recommendation Letter for Fellowship Applicant

Sample Recommendation Letter for Fellowship Applicant A good recommendation letter can help you stand out among other fellowship applicants. You will most likely need at least two letters of recommendation as part of the application process. The best recommendations will come from people who know you well and can offer specific information about you as a student, person, or employee. The sample recommendation letter shown below has been reprinted (with permission) from EssayEdge.com, which did not write or edit this sample recommendation letter. However, it is a good example of how a business recommendation should be formatted for a fellowship application. Sample Recommendation Letter for a Fellowship To Whom It May Concern: I am proud to recommend a beloved student, Kaya Stone, for your fellowship program. I was asked to write as one who has functioned in the capacity of an employer of Kaya, but I would first like to say a few words about him as a student. Kaya is a highly intelligent, perceptive young man. He came to our institution committed to capitalizing on the opportunity of his third year of study in Israel, and he left with the satisfaction of having accomplished that goal. Kaya grew in learning, in character, in his depth of understanding. He seeks truth in each area of his life, whether in learning, discussing philosophy, or relating to his fellow students and his teachers. Because of his positive disposition, his reflective way of operating, and all of the character traits that make him so special, Kaya’ s questions never go unanswered, and his searches always bring him to exciting discoveries. As a student, Kaya is outstanding. As an educator, I have watched him grow, seen his talents and abilities not only in the classroom but outside its walls when interacting with all types of people as well. During his time at our institution, Kaya, who as I’m sure you know is an excellent writer and publicist, also has done a good deal of work for the yeshiva. This has included the text for many public relations brochures and packets, letters to parents, potential donors, and alumni, and essentially any correspondence which I have requested that he compose. The feedback is always overwhelmingly positive, and he has done so much in that way for our yeshiva. Even today, while he studies elsewhere, he continues to do a great deal of this work for our institution, in addition to the recruiting and other services he performs for the yeshiva. Always, in his work, Kaya is consistent, dedicated and passionate, enthusiastic, cheerful, and a pleasure to work with. He has incredible creative energies and a refreshing idealism tempered only enough to accomplish what needs to be done. I highly recommend him for any position of work, leadership, education, or any other capacity in which he can spread his excitement and share his talents with others. At our institution, we are expecting big things from Kaya in the way of educational and communal leadership in the years to come. And knowing Kaya, he will not disappoint, and probably will exceed our expectations. Thank you once again for the opportunity to recommend such a special and impressive young man. Sincerely Yours, Steven RudensteinDean, Yeshiva Lorentzen Chainani

Monday, October 21, 2019

Compound Conjugations of Avoir

Compound Conjugations of Avoir The verb avoir (to have) is one of the main irregular verbs in French. Like the other irregular verbs, the conjugation of avoir  doesnt follow the same patterns as other verbs, so getting a handle the proper use of this verb requires a fair amount of memorization. There are two kinds of conjugations in French: simple and compound. Here are the compound tenses (and conjugations) of the verb avoir, which are generally used to describe something in the past tense. Pass compos Pluperfect Past subjunctive j ai eu avais eu aie eu tu as eu avais eu aies eu il a eu avait eu ait eu nous avons eu avions eu ayons eu vous avez eu aviez eu ayez eu ils ont eu avaient eu aient eu Future perfect Conditional perfect Pluperfect subjunctive j aurai eu aurais eu eusse eu tu auras eu aurais eu eusses eu il aura eu aurait eu et eu nous aurons eu aurions eu eussions eu vous aurez eu auriez eu eussiez eu ils auront eu auraient eu eussent eu Past anterior Conditional perfect, 2nd form j eus eu eusse eu tu eus eu eusses eu il eut eu et eu nous emes eu eussions eu vous etes eu eussiez eu ils eurent eu eussent eu Past imperative Past infinitive Perfect participle tu aie eu avoir eu ayant eu nous ayons eu vous ayez eu

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Benefits And Drawbacks Of Social Media Marketing Essay

Benefits And Drawbacks Of Social Media Marketing Essay This case introduces Web 2.0 social media in virtual worlds, networking sites, and video sharing sites, and entices students to explore the opportunities and risks they are confronted for brands. The case allows students to fight with the strategic and tactical decisions that accompany marketing communications strategy and to merge information on consumer behaviour with an understanding of brand objectives, in order to assess and evaluate new social media options. Foley, brand manager, is facing a more and more complex media environment in which her conventional media plan which is focused on television, print, and radio advertising, has become less popular due largely to declining audiences and a surge in advertising clutter, plus consumers tuning out. She is exploring emerging Web 2.0 social media options to determine if they can better achieve her branding and advertising objectives. Her challenge is to curtail the entire buzz surrounding Web 2.0 and to analyze the social mediaâ €™s possible for her brand by delving into the consumer dire needs and behaviours support Web 2.0 technologies Case issue: I think UnMe Jeans is a suitable brand for social media and the Web 2.0. Their target market is women between 12-24 years old, and this segment is consuming less traditional media, and increasing their consumption in the Web 2.0. With new technologies and platforms they can regulate the ads or somehow avoid them and still enjoy their favourite TV shows or any type of entertainment. I think it’s evident Web 2.0 is the right path for UnMe Jeans, the question is how to do it. The benefits social media offer to UnME Jeans are: The social media attracts more people than traditional media so they can reach more possible users as customers. They can target their audience with more accuracy and in a more efficient way. The idea is to make the costumers part of the social media community, to get them involved and get a deeper engagement with the brand. The dra wbacks social media offer to UnME Jeans are: Lack of control of the content: Foley, Brand Manager of UnME Jeans, is faced with a challenge as she reconsiders her advertising media plan due to the increase of social media options on the emerging Web 2.0. These options become even more intriguing with the steady price increases of television advertising despite the growth of several unfavourable conditions. Working with her advertising agency, Foley must effectively use her brand management skills to choose which social media channel, if any that she should incorporate into her current advertising media plan. The advertising agency suggested three viable options, Zwinktopia, Facebook, and YouTube. Zwinktopia is a virtual world targeted to girls’ ages 13 to 24 with a focus on fashion and music, Facebook is a social networking, profile page site, and YouTube is a user-generated video-sharing website. I suggest that Foley pursue the Zwinktopia social media channel as a starting po int to take advantage of the emerging Web 2.0 and also make a minor investment in the other options to develop their web 2.0 presence. Key issue of unme jeans:

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Separation of Complex Cations of Chromium(III) by Ion Exchange Essay - 1

Separation of Complex Cations of Chromium(III) by Ion Exchange Chromatography - Essay Example The relative amount of divinyl-benzene affects the physical properties and solubility of the resins. 9. After the solution is drained to the resin level, the column is washed with HCIO4 until the un-reacted [CrCl2 (H2O) 4] has been eluted to approximately 5 cm3 of the intensely colored fraction and the UV visible spectrum measured. Chromium (III) is the simplest ion that chromium forms in solution. Chromium (III) prefers to form octahedral complexes whose color is determined by the ligands attached to the chromium center. It forms different complexes under different conditions. . Regarding the ion exchange process for Chromium (III), the ion exchange resins used is SO3H group. Aqueous solutions of the complexes trans‑[CrCl2(H2O)4] Cl, [CrCl(H2O)5]Cl2 and [Cr(H2O)6]Cl3 will be isolated in a pure state based on their different affinities for a cationic exchange resin. Only a single beam of UV-VIs is used to determine 10 Dq. They have â€Å"the  ligand field  splitting energy† which helps to determine this easily and quickly. This is because there is no d-d electron transition as the d orbitals are completely filled and UV-VIs bands are not observed (Pantsar-Kallio 1997).   As a result, two bands are observed in the region 350 to 750 nm. This band energy is used to identify and characterize complex ions. The peak tells us that how much energy is absorbed at each wavelength of the UV. The longest wavelength band (distance between two adjacent peaks on graph) of the two has energy approximately equal to 10Dq for the complex ion. The relative crystal field strength of H2O is high than Cl because Cl ligand has a weak field ligand and determines a smaller value of 10 Dq while [Cr (H2O) 6]3+ has the highest 10Dq because there is no Cl ligand in it only H2O is present which is a strong field ligand and determines a higher value of 10 Dq. From the above experiment we may conclude that in the ion exchange method of

Friday, October 18, 2019

Smart grid Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Smart grid - Research Paper Example Basically the smart grid is a set of technology that people are utilizing to get efficient electricity delivery systems into the current era of technology, by making use of information technology supported remote control and automation. Additionally, collaborative communication mode is used to make possible the computer processing that has been employed for decades in a number of other sectors. At the present, these technologies are being used on electricity networks, from wind farms all the way to the consumers of electricity in homes, the power plants and businesses. In fact, they present a wide variety of advantages and opportunities for services and end users and the majority of them are observed in huge improvements in energy effectiveness on the electricity network and in the energy users’ offices and homes. In this scenario, the term â€Å"grid† refers to the electricity networks that are used to transport electricity from the power plants where it is actually pr oduced for the end-users. Additionally, the grid encompasses a number of components such as substations, wires, switches, transformers, and much more. In short, the "smart grid" refers to an up-to-the-minute electrical power system that is demonstrated by the augmented consumption of information and communications technology in the current era, distribution and utilization of electrical energy (U.S. Department of Energy, 2012; IEEE, 2012). Many researchers and scientists believe that it is an incredible and a high-wire act. However, there is need ensuring almost perfect balance between electric supply and electric demand in order to offer proper functionality. In addition, there are many people who work in these centers all around the United States and they are there 24 hours, seven days a week in an attempt to confirm that takes place, as well as their responsibility is to work on a minute-by-minute basis. In this scenario, the smart grids are very helpful in maintaining that balan ce (Koerth-Baker, 2012). (U.S. Department of Energy, 2012) define smart grids by comparing it with a â€Å"smart† phone as they are known as a phone having a computer in it, in the same way smart grid is the process of â€Å"computerizing† or automating the electric utility grid. Basically, it can be accomplished by incorporating mutual digital communication technology to devices linked with the grid. In this scenario, each device that is the part of the grid can be assigned sensors to collect data (such as voltage sensors, power meters, fault detectors, etc.), and the incorporation of mutual digital communication between the devices connected to the grid and the service center’s network operations. In addition, the most important function of the smart grid is to provide the automation technology that allows the service center regulate and manage each and every device that is the part of the network or even millions of devices from a central position (U.S. Depar tment of Energy, 2012). According to (LaMonica, 2009) to a greater extend smart grid works similar to the Internet and the throughway road system. For this reason, they are believed to be huge investments in communications. In addition, it is not only a function in fact it is an objective to provide the electricity system a digital revolution in an attempt to make it more well-organized and consistent. Moreover, many governments and utilities all the way through the globe are spending billions of dollars to put down new communication sources and lines and ensure the electricity network function similar the computer networks we normally use in our daily life. Furthermore, huge technology vendors and thousands of new organizations are struggling for distinction and reputation in the smart grid (LaMonica, 2009). Security

Creating a Manual for Better Service, Safety and Employee Relations Essay

Creating a Manual for Better Service, Safety and Employee Relations - Essay Example The need for an employee handbook became evident at the restaurant due to the high level of turnover among the wait staff and the cooks. It became apparent that many of the questions that new employees had were not being addressed during the new employee training, and there was not always opportunity to explain things to them during the busy hours in the restaurant. What the new employees needed was a manual that could be a ready reference with answers to frequently asked questions about cooking, serving, cleaning and customer service.The manual also needed to summarize policies concerning work-related issues such as paid leave, health benefits, sick days and performance reviews so employees that had acquired some longevity would always know what their rights and responsibilities were. Some skills developed in prior academic classes were utilized in this class. The writing in the manual needed to be clear and concise.This was difficult to do. The most important information in each ca tegory needed to be included, and nothing more. There was  a page and word limit that forced the language in the manual to be very direct. These constraints were placed upon the project by the print shop. The manual needed to be an asset number of pages with a specific page layout or the costs increased dramatically. The word and page restrictions forced me to use writing and summarizing skills learned in prior academic courses. A business law class was helpful in giving guidance when writing the section on employee rights.... The manual needed to be as set number of pages with a specific page layout or the costs increased dramatically. The word and page restrictions forced me to use writing and summarizing skills learned in prior academic courses. A business law class was helpful in giving guidance when writing the section on employee rights and benefits. This class assisted in writing in a manner that clearly spelled out rights and consequences for behaviors such as being late for work or not calling off when sick. Business law taught me that ambiguity in company policies could lead to legal challenges and conflict (Lewin, 2001). Management courses also informed the overall tone of the manual. Managing through positive, enthusiastic leadership was stressed in a few management related classes. As a result, attempts to interject good humor and a feeling of light into the manual were taken as often as possible. The goal was to create a document that was accessible to the employees and a bit of fun to read. The only more important goal than this one was the desire to make the manual factual and fair. These skills learned in prior academic classes were very helpful during the practicum. The majority of learning happened as the task was being completed and interaction increased with the employees of the restaurant. Especially helpful in the process was an employee that was a teacher in a middle school for many years. She became interested in the project and spent much of the time advising on various ways. She recognized the value of the project and wanted to help. Her greatest sharing of knowledge dealt with the physical content and layout of the manual. She shared that individuals that struggle to read need manuals and books that are rich in graphics, pictures and charts that

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Discuss San Antonio budget 2012 - the Redirect 17 Police Officers to Case Study

Discuss San Antonio budget 2012 - the Redirect 17 Police Officers to Neighborhood Patrol - Case Study Example Other significant city priorities include human services and neighborhood code enforcement. With rigid budgets stretching the San Antonio police force, the city has set aside money to redirect police officers to neighborhood patrol. Crime watch programs, which have been in existence for years, have been boosted by the increased number of law enforcement officers to help fight crime in communities and empower residents. The 17 newly redirected police officers will operate in partnership with the neighborhood patrol, which uses volunteers and other groups of civilians as a second set of eyes and street level resource. The 2012 budget, therefore, provides an opportunity for the residents of the city to achieve both community and individual prosperity by ensuring they are safe and free from harm. The city of San Antonio develops a balanced budget, each year, by covering only those expenditures with revenue for which the city has authority to levy. The efficiencies achieved from this fiscal budget allow the city to invest additional funds in various services meant to address the challenges facing the growing city. This way the city can allocate more funds to services like policing, come the next budgeting year. The funds allocated to city services and priorities in the 2012 budget are primarily supported by $289 million from City Public Service Energy payments, $199 million from local sales tax returns and $239 million from property tax revenue. 23% of the budget is financed by other sources. The main spending area is the police services which is allocated resources that amount to approximately $343 million. The amount includes expenditures such as contractual services, personal services, self insurance, commodities, capital outlay and transfers. Out of the 2,375 uniform positions, 67 are funded by the grant fund while 2,308 by the general fund. The grant fund also finances 12 of the civilian

Clinical Biochemistry Essay Short questions(degree)

Clinical Biochemistry Short questions(degree) - Essay Example To diagnose Cushing’s syndrome levels of free cortisol are checked in the urine. Levels of cortisol in the saliva and serum are checked at midnight to confirm the disease. Dexamethasone which is a synthetic glucocorticoid is administered which leads to decreased cortisol if the increased levels are due to a tumor in the anterior pituitary. Addisons disease is characterized by insufficiency of cortisol which is caused mostly due to production of antibodies against the adrenal gland within the body. This leads to decreased glucose metabolism in the body causing hypoglycemia and it can prove to be fatal in periods of stress and mild infections. Hyperpigmentation is also seen. Levels of free cortisol are checked in the urine and serum and saliva levels of cortisol are checked at midnight. Adrenocorticotropin hormone is then administered and levels of cortisol are measure. If they do not rise it indicates the insufficiency of the adrenal gland and rules out any problem with the ant erior pituitary. Radioimmunoassay is a technique in which a known quantity of labeled antibody and a labeled antigen is taken. This known complex is added to with unknown quantity of serum containing the antigens which needs to be measured. The unlabelled antigen displaces the labeled antigen and combines with the antibody. This unlabelled antigen and antibody is measured. Different quantities of serum are taken and added to the labeled complex and a graph is plotted and the values for the antigen in serum are measured. This method is extremely sensitive and specific because the antigen and antibody complexes formed are very specific for each other. It is also very sensitive because it can detect small amounts of antigen. The results obtained are accurate if many samples are taken. To improve accuracy it is important to purify the sample as well the reactants from foreign particles to prevent any false results. More samples

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

The Role That Customer - Brand Identification Plays In Brand Loyalty Literature review

The Role That Customer - Brand Identification Plays In Brand Loyalty and Brand Promotion - Literature review Example A brand is principally responsible for establishing a strong relationship with the customers. Therefore brands hold the accountability to build a healthy and strong relationship with the customers of the company. In that process customer brand identification plays a major role. Brand identification is defined as the process of developing a brand that offers positive consumer benefits and in turn results in repeat purchase. Also in the process of customer brand identification, identity of a brand acts as a significant factor. Identity of a brand provides the direction, meaning and purpose of the brand. Brand identity is thus considered as the central unit towards the development of a strategic vision. Brands generally have 3 aspects namely brand image, brand identity and brand position. Brand image portrays about how the brand is being perceived by the customers, brand identity is about how the strategist desires the brand to be perceived by the target audience. Brand positioning is also a part of brand identity; it is about the way by which the intended audience can be effectively targeted. However modern studies highlights that branding has 5 aspects that are, design, positioning, customer relationship, storytelling and price (Healey, 2008, p.8). Thus in order to sustain with a brand in the market and continuously communicating the messages to the target customers, Relationship Marketing is a key process. The next half of the project will offer insights about relationship marketing. The area of relationship marketing has been an area of focus for the last few years. Relationship marketing mainly puts emphasis on the retention of customers rather than acquiring new customers. It heavily stresses on the process of customer satisfaction and gives less importance to sales transactions. Relationship

Clinical Biochemistry Essay Short questions(degree)

Clinical Biochemistry Short questions(degree) - Essay Example To diagnose Cushing’s syndrome levels of free cortisol are checked in the urine. Levels of cortisol in the saliva and serum are checked at midnight to confirm the disease. Dexamethasone which is a synthetic glucocorticoid is administered which leads to decreased cortisol if the increased levels are due to a tumor in the anterior pituitary. Addisons disease is characterized by insufficiency of cortisol which is caused mostly due to production of antibodies against the adrenal gland within the body. This leads to decreased glucose metabolism in the body causing hypoglycemia and it can prove to be fatal in periods of stress and mild infections. Hyperpigmentation is also seen. Levels of free cortisol are checked in the urine and serum and saliva levels of cortisol are checked at midnight. Adrenocorticotropin hormone is then administered and levels of cortisol are measure. If they do not rise it indicates the insufficiency of the adrenal gland and rules out any problem with the ant erior pituitary. Radioimmunoassay is a technique in which a known quantity of labeled antibody and a labeled antigen is taken. This known complex is added to with unknown quantity of serum containing the antigens which needs to be measured. The unlabelled antigen displaces the labeled antigen and combines with the antibody. This unlabelled antigen and antibody is measured. Different quantities of serum are taken and added to the labeled complex and a graph is plotted and the values for the antigen in serum are measured. This method is extremely sensitive and specific because the antigen and antibody complexes formed are very specific for each other. It is also very sensitive because it can detect small amounts of antigen. The results obtained are accurate if many samples are taken. To improve accuracy it is important to purify the sample as well the reactants from foreign particles to prevent any false results. More samples

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Gulliver in Brobdingnag Essay Example for Free

Gulliver in Brobdingnag Essay The setting of the passage to be analyzed here is that of Gullivers voyage to a land of giants. The speakers context here is the basic comic devices of reversal and exaggeration. When the dimensions of things are reversed there is a comic effect. When clowns at the circus ride around in a tiny car the effect is hilarious. In a famous Gary Larsen cartoon a gigantic monster is seen peering into a mans car through the wing mirror which reads: Things reflected in this mirror may appear to be larger than they are. The comic context employed by the speaker in the following passage, then, is that of a man suddenly turned tiny by circumstances beyond his control. There are, of course, classical antecedents for this type of size reversal. Odysseus in the cave of Cyclops would provide the best example. There are, no doubt, many who would argue that this incident in the Odyssey is not meant as humor. May we not at least wonder, however, if some of Homers audiences didnt chuckle when they heard about how the subtle Odysseus outwitted the giant? It will be argued in the following that Swifts intention throughout Part II as a whole is comic irony, and that the passage to be analyzed typifies the situation in which Gulliver finds himself when surrounded by giants. Starting off, a simple exaggeration introduces the passage: The Kings palace is about seven miles round suggesting the colossal size of the castle, the rooms within are two hundred and forty Foot high. Gulliver who is, as we have learned earlier, a proud and dignified man is reduced by his comparatively tiny dimensions to the role of a doll. All of his proud bearing and gentlemanly dignity disappears in a puff of smoke when his Mistress Glumdalclitch holds Gulliver up in her hand to give him a better view of the surroundings. Swifts choice of words at the beginning of this passage also provides an ironic effect. Gulliver who is, in fact, a freak in this society reports that when Glumdalclitch is taken out to see the town, I was always of the party, carried in my Box To be of the party suggests social (and physical) equality, but when Swift follows this dignified phrase with the description in my box the effect is humorous, since Gulliver is revealed as the curiosity and freak that he is by the fact that he travels in a box like a doll. Swifts imagery in this passage allowed allows the reader to see other human-like creature from the perspective of a very tiny person. It also demonstrates to the reader once again that Swift loves to engage in the humor of the disgusting and the impolite. When a group of Brobdingnagian beggars presses up against the carriage to view the strange little creature that is our speaker, Gulliver is able to observes the cancer on the breast of a beggar woman full of holes, in two or three of which I could have easily crept and body lice and their snouts with which they rooted like Swine. There is a misogynist quality to this joke. The breast of a woman is presented as disgusting rather than as an inspiration to art and poetry. The idea of crawling into a cancerous lesion on a womans breast is an ugly parody of what men usually think about when they see the naked female breast which is to adore, kiss, or suck it. This type of humor is based on a simple reversal of the usual emotions inspired by an image. The equivalent would be, for example, to provide an image of the Queen of England sitting on a chamber pot rather than her throne. The imagery in the rest of this passage is also unforgettable, especially the wooden legs of a beggar which were each about twenty Foot high. Immediately following these alarming and disgusting images is another liars trick based on the category of emphasis. This is offered in Gullivers careful description of his Box. Before analyzing this part of the passage in detail a general comment on Swifts project in Gullivers Travels is required. The speaker mentions many times throughout the tale the phenomenon of travelers tails or books of voyages. These were supposedly factual accounts of what travelers from Europe had seen on the other side of the world. They were, of course, full of lies and Swifts project throughout much of the book is to satirize the lying authors of these books. One well known liars trick is to emphasize the details of some fictional object. This is what Gulliver does with the description of his Box. Its origin is carefully described: the Queen ordered a smaller one to be made for me Its design and dimensions are carefully recorded: This traveling Closet was an exact Square with a Window in the Middle of three of the Squares , etc. The important detail of the boxs construction which will eventually allow for Gullivers salvation by sailors is also carefully noted: On the fourth side, which had no windows, two strong staples were fixed , and so on. There is a dual purpose to what we might call the liars emphasis lavished on this passage. The first is to satirize the books of travelers tales so popular in Swifts days in which exact descriptions of fantastic creatures were given to fool the credulous. The second is to prepare the reader for Gullivers eventual escape. This happens in his traveling box which is then conveniently destroyed by the sailors who rescue him so that no substantial evidence of his adventure remains, and the gullible can easily believe the whole story of Gulliver among the Brobdingnags. The comic irony is an effective device in satirizing human folly. The absurdity in the relationship between these two elements is essentially targeted at England (Gulliver), the Wigs, specifically, whereby Swift is attacking his opposition. In the spirit of Swifts famous word play about his good Master Bates, we can rename his fable Gullibles Travels.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Financing Education in Developing Countries

Financing Education in Developing Countries How should developing countries finance university education? Explain your answer with cross reference to developed country experiences of financing University Education. Word Count: 4023 1. Introduction Education, its nature, purpose, its provision, and most importantly, its funding, are major topics of cultural and ideological debates which remain a central point of concern even today. Till the 1980s, the social democratic consensus, in England and New Zealand for example, considered education to be a public good, and therefore an indispensable service, provided by the state, to all citizens equally, without direct charge. The New Zealand Treasure writers, for example, argue that education doesnt belong to the marketplace. It should be considered a Natural Sphere and a public good which needs state intervention (The New Zealand Treasury, 1987). However, New-Right arguments of the 1980s challenged this school of thought, asserting education is a commodity which should be left to the market forces with minimum state intervention (Grace, 1994). Barr (1993), for example, asserts education is not a public good since it does not exhibit the three reflections of public goods: non-rivalnes s, non-excludability and non-rejection (Barr, 1993). This lead to the dilemma of financing higher education: How should countries finance higher education? This essay begins with a theoretical framework, looking at the human capital theory to understand why education is important followed by a brief discussion on the key issues concerning financing higher education to understand why cost sharing has become a popular phenomenon over the years. Major alternatives to state financing are discussed using examples from different countries followed by a conclusion and a brief policy recommendation. 2. Theoretical Framework 2.1 Human Capital Theory Education is considered to be, both, a consumer and capital good (Okemakinde, 2008), because not only does it offer utility to a consumer, but also acts as input towards the production of other goods and services. It is, therefore, also considered to be highly effective and even necessary, to bring about an improvement in the production capacity of a country.   (Okemakinde, 2008) With the increase in economic development and structural change the requirement for skilled workers is increasing across all economies, resulting in an increasing demand for employees with higher education ( Department of Education and Training, 2015). Authors including Okemakinde (2008 ) and Psacharopoulos (1986) consider formal education to be an investment in human capital (table 1). The human capital theory, thus, encourages investment in education both in developing and developed countries (I. Fà ¤gerlind, 2002). Figure 1 Returns to investment in education by country type and level (Psacharopoulos, 1986) Education and development policies have largely been based on the theoretical framework of the Human Capital Theory, which stresses on the high returns of education, in terms of productivity and efficiency of workers, and eventually economic development (Ozturk, 2001). 2.2 State funding and the need for alternatives Countries with socio-political ideologies consider education to be a public good and, consequently, should be free or considerably subsidised. This ideology claims the society to be the major beneficiary of higher education and asserts substantial taxes can be raised, progressive in nature, if there is political will and proper leadership. Such taxes will cover costs of education, allowing students, especially among the poor, to have equal access to education (Johnstone, 2003). Previously, higher education in most developing countries was predominantly financed and provided by the government (Psacharopoulos, 1986), such as majority of Sub-Saharan Africa (Teferra, 2013) (McGavin, 1991), India (Tilak, 1995) and China (Cheng, 1995).   However, Psacharopoulos (1986) argues such a system lacks sustainability, efficiency and quality. In fact, till the 1960s most universities in the UK were funded by the state. As seen in figure 2, the shift away from public funding has increased the participation rate in higher education in the UK (Haynes, 2003). Figure 2 Index of student numbers and public funding for higher education, 1980/1-1999/2000 (Haynes, 2003) A dominant theme of higher education throughout the world in the 1990s has been financial distress (Johnstone, 1998). The upsurge in the demand for financing higher education (Johnstone, 2003), coupled with constrained public budgets, has been a major challenge faced by governments in both, developing as well as developed countries (Woodhall 2007,   Akpochafo 2009).   However, as the number of students enrolled in higher education increased, the subsidies introduced when enrollments were low proved to be unsustainable (Woodhall, 2007). According to Woodhall (2007), with the expansion of higher education systems and the difficulty addressing the costs of higher education through public expenditure, the last twenty years have seen major changes in how higher education has been financed worldwide. These include; an introduction of tuition fees in countries where higher education was free, a substantial increase in tuition fees and a shift towards student loans (Woodhall, 2007). Therefore, parallel systems of financial assistance and cost sharing have been introduced so that students and parents arent burdened by the cost of university education and equality and accessibility isnt compromised (Johnstone, 1998). 3. Alternative Methods of Financing Higher Education 3.1 Tuition fees, selective scholarships and grants Most developed countries shifted costs of education from taxpayers to students, in the form of tuition fees, decades ago. Tuition and fees in public and private universities have established in the US for a long time (Johnstone, 1998).The tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduates at a university in the UK were paid from public funds until 1998, when tuition fee was introduced (Barr, 1998).   This trend is now being followed by developing countries as well (Johnstone 1998, Salmi 1998, Hans de Wit 2005). Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Jamaica have higher levels of student financing, similar to those seen in Ireland, the Republic of Korea, and Spain. (Hans de Wit, 2005) Figure 3   cost recovery at public universities in Latin America and the Caribbean (Hans de Wit, 2005) In countries like as Bolivia, Guatemala and Thailand, cost recovery is low, or nonexistent like Brazil and Argentina, as seen in figure 3. It is important to note the drop-out rates in these countries. According to Hans De Wit (2005), the annual number of graduates in Columbia has risen over time as opposed to Argentina, where education is publically funded and drop-out rate is higher (figure 4). Figure 4 annual number of students admitted to and graduated universities in Argentina and Columbia, 1982-2001 (Hans de Wit, 2005) Johnstone   (1998) notes higher education in Hungary faced problems like inefficiency, inequality and lack of responsiveness to the market economy. The public sector was financing higher education, spending 86% per capita GDP on higher education in 1993 alone. This, compared to 45% in OECD countries and 30% in Germany, is a considerably high amount. As a result, the need for a shift in cost burden was felt. In 1995 full-time students paid a monthly tuition fee of HUF 2000 in public universities, while part-time students paid up to HUF 8000 per month. In order to ensure equality in access, tuition fee was fully or partially waived, based on academic merit or financial need, for one-fifth of the students (Johnstone, 1998). Figure 5 Higher education in Hungary, 1990/91 versus 2006/07 (Marcucci, 2008) The state support per student was 40 % lower in 1998 than it had been in 1990. Reforms in 2005 recommend state funding for at least 35% of graduate students and 10% for doctoral students and in 2007 the Ministry of Education allotted 60% of its scholarship funds to merit based students and 35-40% to students in need of financial aid (Marcucci, 2008). This shift of the cost burden away from the government resulted in an increase in overall participation rate in Hungary (figure 5). According to Rosovsky (2001), during the 1990s, Makerere University in Uganda moved from a situation where the government covered all running costs and students did not pay for education to one where more than 70 % of the students paid, resulting in twice the amount of student enrolment and development of infrastructure. While imposing tuition fee is considered to shift the burden of financing higher education away from the government, it is argued that tuition fees or increasing it at a rapid rate might exclude potential students from disadvantaged families. (Johnstone, 2003), thus compromising on the access and equity of university education. 3.2 Loans and deferred payment schemes Financial aid such as loans, means-tested grants and selective scholarships are being introduced to preserve equity and access to university education (Psacharopoulos 1986, Johnstone 1998). Comparing grants and scholarships to loans and other types of deferred payments, the latter tends to relieve the burden of the cost of higher education on the government and raise the universitys revenue. Loans are also more likely to encourage the involvement of market forces, thus leading to efficiency and increased responsiveness of the university (Johnstone, 2003). Furthermore, the problem of exclusion associated with rising tuition fees can be met with the availability of loans and deferred payment schemes that dont consider the financial worth of students and their families (Johnstone, 2003). Student loans in Hungary, sponsored and guaranteed by the government, were introduced by a student loan company owned by the Hungarian State, Dià ¡khitel Kà ¶zpont, in 2001 (Marcucci, 2008). These loans cover tuition fees and living costs, are not means-tested and are available to all students enrolled in public and private higher education institutions in Hungary or the European Economic Area (ibid), thus ensuring equity and access. Other forms of deferred payments, where students bear a certain share of the cost burden and repay the amount gradually, once they have been employed, are also an alternative to recovering expenses. (Johnstone 1998, 2003). Examples of such payment schemes are graduate taxes, a concept never fully adopted (Barr, 1998), the income surtax implemented in Australia (Johnstone, 1998, 2003), and the drawdown pension payment system implemented to repay the student loan fund in Ghana (Johnstone, 2003). In the graduate tax system, the current cost burden incurred by the government for the support of education is not immediately relieved. However, over time, future income surtax payments, which are collectively (potentially) sizeable, albeit highly uncertain, shift the ultimate financial burden away from the government (Johnstone, 1998).   In this system, students incur low or no tuition and living costs. However, once they start earning they have to pay more income tax than they would have otherwise (ibid). The more one earns the more one pays back, thus argued to be progressive in nature and believed to prevent high debt rates among graduate students (BBC, 2010). The Australian Higher Education Contribution Scheme launched in 1998 provided income contingent loans through the Higher Education Loan Programme to help students pay their tuition fee (Johnstone, 1998). Students start repaying the debt once their income is above a certain amount ($54,126 in 2015-2016).   The amount is readjusted on a yearly basis to reflect any changes in Consumer Price Index, thus maintaining the real value of the debt. Participation levels of domestic students in higher education have increased from 3.7% of the population between the ages of 15 to 64 in 1989 to 6.6% in 2014 ( Department of Education and Training, 2015). Figure 6 and 7 show a sharp increase in participation of students after income contingent loans, or graduate taxes, were introduced. Figure 6 Domestic higher education participation and bachelor or higher attainment 1989-2014 ( Department of Education and Training, 2015) Figure 7 University participation by SES: 1988-99 persons (Chapman, 2005) However, such schemes are also critiqued to be inefficient and politically costly (Johnstone, 2003). High earners might choose to work out of the country to avoid the graduate tax. Not only will this result in tax being evaded but also may lead to a brain drain (BBC, 2010). Other than student emigration, payments are often lost due to high defaults and lack of tax records. As Johnstone (1998) notes, applicability of graduate tax to developing countries depends on the degree to which the income tax system can be trusted. Additionally high costs associated with servicing and collecting make such schemes a less attractive option (Johnstone, 2003). According to Psacharopoulos (1986), loans encourage expenditure on education. If the returns to investment in university education are high, loans will help students invest in education, or human capital, consequently increasing the demand for higher education and the flow of private resources into the sector (Psacharopoulos, 1986). However, problems associated with lending loans, such as high collection costs and substantial cases of evasion, have discouraged the development of effective schemes for financing higher education in developing countries. Private banks find the risks and costs of lending too large to incur without charging a prohibitive interest rate, resulting in the governments providing or funding loan programs for students (Psacharopoulos, 1986). Repayment, especially in developing countries, is a major cause of concern associated with lending loans. According to Tilak (1995), only 5.9% of the investments made on student loan programmes in India during 1963-64 to 1987-88 were recovered. Furthermore, according to Johnstone (2003), the willingness to borrow and lend is important since students prefer their financial aid to be non-repayable 3.3   Expansion of private universities Since most developing countries have a highly centralised education sector, stringent rules and barriers restrict the operation and contribution of community run and private institutions. Easing these controls and decentralising management will allow mobilisation of private and local resources in the education sector, reducing the fiscal burden on the government (Psacharopoulos, 1986). The lack of available places in state universities led to the establishment of private universities (Oyebade, 2008). Romania had no private universities before 1989. Laws passed in 1990 resulted in the creation of 70 private institutions, almost all of them claiming university status and enrolling one-third of total enrolments in higher education (Johnstone, 1998). In 1981 in Chile the number of private and public universities charging tuition fees increased. In 1990, 52.4% of the total enrolment was provided for by private universities with no funding from the state. The state, previously incurring all costs, financed only 27% in 1990.   The increasing number of private universities helped meet the rising demand for university education, increased access to higher education and increased diversity, with no costs incurred by the government. However, this change also resulted in an increased tuition fee, falling quality and an uncontrolled rise in the number of private institutions (Johnstone, 1998). Oyebade (2008) finds private universities in Nigeria have increased from 3 institutions in 1999 to 24 in 2006. However, Oyebade adds, the cost of private university education and the poverty level may lead to problems like lack of access and equity. With 90 million people living in absolute poverty in Nigeria, the enrolment of students in private universities is effected considerably. Only one of the seven universities operational in 2005, were fully enrolled and the remaining six, despite being functional for over six years, were not. Private institutions are widely criticized for their lack of quality, as seen in Chile in 1990, and equity, as seen in Nigeria. Additionally, Johnstone (1998) adds, their sustainability is also questionable since their major source of revenue is tuition fees alone. 4. Entrepreneurial Activities Another alternative to finance higher education is generating income through entrepreneurial activities such as selling services, contracting research and renting out facilities. Exploring new ways of generating revenue is a great way for universities to improve quality, be more innovative and increase their relevance in the society by providing services in response to the societys needs (Hans de Wit, 2005). Universities in Mexico began to realise the need for internal revenue generation since government support was not likely to grow, consequently, turning towards entrepreneurial activities, involving faculty and students to raise extra income. Different departments began to generate revenue by providing services and specialised courses (Johnstone, 1998). According to Rena (2006), the University of Zambia and Eduardo Mondlane University in Mozambique have benefited from entrepreneurial activity in the form of improved capacity, information and revenue by establishing and linking internet nodes to local electronic networks and selling their subscriptions. Rena (2006) also adds Ghana and Nsukkas initiatives of consulting activities have proven to be a successful entrepreneurial activity. Ghana claimed a profit of 9% on total revenue of US$22700 in 1991 by providing consultancies through their consultancy centre. Nsukka indicated a profit of US$35,238 through its consultancies between 1982 and 1991. With an income of US$90,398, the consultants received 50% of the profits while the university received 30% and the department received 20%. In Makerere University in Uganda, where previously the government incurred all costs of education, recent entrepreneurial activity generated more than 30% of revenue (Rosovsky, 2001). Makerere has raised revenue through evening classes, commercially running their bookshop and bakery and establishing a consultancy bureau with staff where a portion of the generated revenue goes back into the university (ibid). Universities in China generated income through university enterprises, commissioned training programs and educational services, research (Cheng, 1995) and consultancies and logistic services (World Bank, 1997). According to World Banks report (1997) revenue generated from universities contribute to around 3.7% of total higher education revenue in China. In Shanghai, 50 universities ran approximately 700 enterprises with the total revenue of Y 1 billion in 1992 alone. Fudan Universitys entrepreneurial activities raised a total revenue of Y 20 million, out of which Y 2 million was invested back into the university (World Bank, 1997). Commissioned training, an effective way to earn additional revenue due to the rising demand for skill upgrading, was the second largest source of revenue, constituting around 2.3% of total higher education revenue.   Provision of educational services added up to about 1.1% of the total revenue. For example, the Department of Law of Peking University gene rated revenue by providing short training courses on recently implemented laws to employees belonging to public and private organisations. Income from research and consultancy added up to 1.3% of the revenue in 1992. Income from research in 36 national universities added up to Y1.12 billion. Additionally, logistical services such as running dining halls and hostels, although not highly lucrative, constituted around 0.7% of the revenue (ibid). According to Johnstone (1998), most risks associated with entrepreneurship in developing countries can be overcome by ensuring the activities are legalised and are supported with clear regulations and transparency and efficiency in management and procedures. Entrepreneurial activities, such as those carried out in China, Africa and Mexico, have not only benefitted the universities by raising extra revenue, but also benefitted the economy by increasing responsiveness to consumer needs. 5. Philanthropic: Philanthropic activities and initiatives targeted towards higher education can build up funds for scholarships and grants in public and private universities. Although many cultures and societies have a strong tradition of charity, however, these contributions often ignore higher education since it is either considered a private good or the responsibility of the government (Johnstone, 2003) The Aga Khan University and the Lahore University of Management Sciences, top ranking universities in Pakistan (HEC, 2016), are good examples of successful philanthropic initiatives, established and partly operated through private philanthropy (Rosovsky, 2001). Donations made to educational institutes in china are either used as merit scholarships for students, for faculty training overseas or construction of university buildings bearing the name of the donor (World Bank, 1997). However, most initiatives cannot depend on such financial generosity in developing countries (Rosovsky, 2001). Small provincial universities in underdeveloped, far-flung areas are rarely the recipients of such donations, augmenting the problem of rising disparity between universities and inequalities (World Bank, 1997). 6. Part-time employment for students According to Johnstone (2003), many American students hold jobs that require 20 to 40 hours a week. The encouragement and financial support of the Federal Work-Study Program, which partially subsidises education, and an economy that has an abundance of summer and term-time, part-time employment opportunities, has allowed students in the US to finance their education to a great extent. However, for this to be possible, a robust economy with widespread availability to such low-paying but readily available jobs is necessary. This feature may be largely absent in many countries, especially in developing countries (ibid). 7. Distance learning The trend of distance education has quickly spread across various countries including Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Korea, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Thailand (Johnstone, 1998). China, for example, has a network of provincial universities, and a television university, for distance learning programs and education (Johnstone, 1998). After the 1986 National Policy on Education in India, open and distance universities became a means of overcoming the problem inequity and unmet demand for higher education (Tilak, 1995). Approximately 3 million part-time students and 4 million full-time students in India were enrolled in correspondence courses (Johnstone, 1998), which are considered to generate revenue much above the correspondence costs (Tilak, 1995). Distance education and open learning programs can be an effective way of increasing access to university education at moderate costs (Johnstone, 1998). 8. Policy recommendations and conclusion Psacharopoulos (1986) posits generous scholarship schemes covering tuition costs and living expenses are not suitable in the long run because over time, as lower income students start to enrol in higher education, the cost of providing grants and scholarships will become a burden on the government. An increase in the role of private actors in the provision of, and contribution to, higher education is a   popular recommendation (Psacharopoulos   1986,   Johnstone 1998). However, some oversight and regulation may be needed to ensure standards are maintained fraudulent operators are kept at bay.   As Johnstone (1998) suggests, privatisation should be used as a tool to increase access to education, however, the government should continue to provide monitoring and regulation.   Additionally, a greater role of private and community-run schools will encourage competition, eventually leading to higher efficiency and managerial accountability (Psacharopoulos, 1986). Furthermore, Oyebade (2008) stresses on the need for effective student aid programmes, like loan facilities that have a repayment system that is easily traceable, so that students are able to incur the costs of private university education. Psacharopoulos (1986) emphasises on complementing the shift towards increased private financing with the provision student loans and limited selective scholarships, thus not compromising on access of education. Loans allow students to finance their current studies so that those with limited funds arent denied selection into higher education.   Furthermore, to further avoid selection bias and ensure access, the Psacharopoulos (1986) suggests the use of selective scholarships granted on the basis of financial need and academic merit. This will not only provide students with an incentive to perform better but also ease the financial burden of students belonging to poor families, thus minimising inequalities in access to university education. Johnstone (1998) suggests the introduction of private higher education supported through tuition fees, thus shifting the cost away from the government. He further suggests the introduction of loans and means-tested grants to ensure equity and access to higher education. Psacharopoulos (1986) recommends developing a credit market for higher education, where access to education can be augmented through widely available loans and deferred payment schemes. In countries where collection of loans poses a problem,   an alternative being used is repayment in kind through national service (Psacharopoulos, 1986). Educations institutions can raise significant income by offering various products and services such as training programs, marketing the expertise of faculty, carrying out laboratory tests, renting facilities, research and consultancies and centralised programs for teacher training (Rosovsky, 2001). In recent years, it has become possible and permissible for companies to pay for manpower supplied by higher education, for example commissioned training where employers pay a fee in return for a training course for their employees. Another means is rewarded allocation where institutions ask for a fee from the employers in return for the employment of a graduate. The fees being a compensation for the training cost of the manpower provided (Cheng, 1995). Policies encouraging such activities will not only generate additional revenue but encourage innovation and allow educational institutions to provide products and services the society needs. Lastly, part-time and seasonal jobs should be encouraged through state policies and programs, such as the Federal Work-Study Program in the US. Part-time jobs should be readily available for students so that they are able to finance their studies. Additionally, this method not only shifts the cost burden of higher education away from the students families but also decreases the dependency of students on other means of financing such as state funding, loans, scholarships or grants. References Department of Education and Training, 2015. Higher Education in Australia. Barr, N., 1993. The economics of the welfare state. Barr, N. A., 1998. Economics of the Welfare State. BBC, 2010. Tuition fees and graduate tax: Whats the difference?, s.l.: s.n. Bruce Chapman, C. R., 2005. The access implications of income-contingent charges forhigher education: lessons from Australia. Cheng, K.-m., 1995. A Chinese model of higher education? Lessons from reality. In: L. B. a. K. King, ed. Learning from Experience: Policy and Practice in Aid to Higher Education. s.l.:s.n. Grace, G., 1994. Education is a Public Good: On the Need to Resist the Domination of Economic Science . In: Education and the Market Place. s.l.:Psychology Press. Hans de Wit, I. C. J. J. G.-à . a. J. K., 2005. Higher Education in Latin America: The International Dimension. Haynes, D. G. a. M., 2003. Funding Higher Education in the UK: The Role of Fees and Loans. HEC, 2016. 5 th Ranking of Pakistani Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) 2015. I. Fà ¤gerlind, L. J. S., 2002. Education and National Development: A Comparative Perspective. s.l.:s.n. Johnstone, B., 2003. Cost Sharing in Higher Education: Tuition, Financial Assistance, and Accessibility in a Comparative Perspective. Johnstone, D. B., 1998. The Financing and Management of Higher Education: A Status Report on Worldwide Reforms. Marcucci, M. S. a. P., 2008. Higher Education Finance and Cost-Sharing in Hungary. McGavin, P. A., 1991. Reform in the Financing of Higher Education in Papua New Guinea. Okemakinde, D. O. a. T., 2008. Human Capital Theory: Implications for Educational Development. Oyebade, G. I. a. S., 2008. From Public University Dominance to Private University Policy Initiatives in Nigeria: The Push and Pull Factors. Psacharopoulos, G., 1986. Financing Education in Developing Countries: An Exploration of Policy Options.. Rena, R., 2006. Higher Education in Africa A Case of Eritrea. Rosovsky, D. B. a. H., 2001. Higher education in developing countries: Peril and promise.. Salmi, J., 1998. Strategy for Higher Education Development in Latin America: Executive Summary.. Teferra, D., 2013. Funding Higher Education in Africa: State,Trends and Perspectives. The New Zealand Treasury, 1987. Government Management: Brief to the Incoming Government 1987 Volume II Education Issues. Tilak, J. B., 1995. Higher education in India at a cross-roads. In: L. B. a. K. King, ed. Learning from Experience: Policy and Practice in Aid to Higher Education. s.l.:s.n. Woodhall, M., 2007. Funding Higher Education: The Contribution of Economic Thinking to Debate and Policy Development. World Bank, 1997. China Higher education reform. A World Bank country study..

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Online Marketing :: Marketing

1- Paper Free Marketing A very effective form of direct marketing is email marketing which uses electronic mail to send a sales pitch to potential customers. Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent on electronic mail marketing each year in the United States alone. Marketers work diligently to develop a mailing list of customers they can send mail to repeatedly without incurring the cost of printed newsletters or traditional direct mail. The delivery time is often just a few seconds or minutes compared with the days it takes the post office to deliver a piece of mail. Email is paper free making it attractive to environmentalists and conservationists. 2- Professional Marketing Sometimes an email campaign sent by a novice is considered spam and deleted at once by the recipient. Professional email marketing services can provide effective campaigns that entice potential customers with quality newsletters, testimonials and other marketing materials. A good service has the most current development features available to help you through every step of the process. They will provide many templates from which to choose or they may guide you through importing your own HTML page. They will help you add images, sound, background images and attachments for a polished professional look. Another big advantage to using an online service is the ability to track the emails. 3- Social Networking Web based marketing tools may be the perfect email marketing solution to grow your business and increase sales. Even beginning marketers will benefit from user friendly email development methods. New ideas are always on the horizon such as email social sharing. Social networks are a gold mine for a business person who effectively shares his email on these sites. You are able to get the information in front of hundreds if not thousands more people on the social sites. Using the opt-in mailing list you can develop a loyal following for your newsletter or other promotional items. You can even get reports on who opened the emails or simply deleted them. 4- Increasing Online Sales There are many ways to advertise your business, and direct email marketing is very effective for increasing web traffic and online sales. Advertisements for your product are sent to a targeted list of clients through email. Attractive and compelling ads do not give the impression of being spam, so the recipient is more likely to take a look and possibly make a purchase. The sender is able to track the metrics of his campaign such as how many emails were actually opened, how many messages bounced and how many requested removal.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Communication Breakdown Essay -- Communication

Ever wonder why a message that seems clear to us is not comprehended by someone else the way we think it should be. How can something we think is stated so clearly become misunderstood that the person we are stating the message to becomes confused? Let’s examine the definition of the word communication. Defined by the freedictionary.com, communication is the exchange of thoughts, messages, or information, as by speech, signals, writing, or behavior. Merriam-Webster, defines communication as an act or instance of transmitting and, an exchange of information. Simply stated we are sending a message to the person who is receiving it. The idea we want to send should be clear to the person who is receiving the message, but that is not always the case. There are several factors that can breakdown a message in the communication process. Communication is only successful when both the sender and the receiver understand the same information as a result of the communication . A transactive model suggests we send and receive messages concurrently. If any kind of disturbance blocks any step of the communication, the message will be destroyed. There seems to be an interesting and sometimes disastrous disconnection between what is said, what is heard, and what happens next. No matter how much detail is given, there is always space for individual interpretation. Think of how many times a teacher can give instructions in a classroom only to discover not everyone did the assignment on time and correctly. The way people interpret situations or sets of facts depends on their personalities, background, experiences, values, attitudes, motives, assumptions, and expectations of each individual. Each individual brings to the situation a diff... ... 2011 www.web-authoring.com Communication Strategies, Power-Ed Solutions, Inc, Carol Dickson-Carr Glenn Standly, Selecting a Topic, Feb 12, 2011 Words Mean Different Things to People, Communication Resource Center, Bacal and Association, work911.com Denise4wm, How to Talk So People Will Listen, ehow.com Glenn Standly, Report or Business Activity, Feb 24,2011 Getting Understood Skills, Communication Resource Center, Bacal and Association, work911.com Denise4wm, How to Talk So People Will Listen, ehow.com Glenn Standly, Class Rules, Procedures and Suggestions, Jan 13,2011 Donnell King, Four Principals of Interpersonal Communication, pstcc.edu, 2009 Kendra Cherry, Top 10 Non-Verbal Communication Tips, Psychology about.com Delia Thompson, Body Language and Communication, SelfGrowth.com Glen Stanley, Selecting Your Topic, Feb 12, 2011