Achilles Essay

Achilles set the model or heroism in the western world. Do you think Odysseus is a better model? Why or why not? The two heroes have their different characteristics and contributions to the English Literature. They were known by their every heroism acts, honored with their people and envied by their enemies. Odysseus was portrayed as a hero by the Greek because of his many virtues and, considered as a villainous falsifier by the Romans. (http/www:wikipwedia. com). He portrayed inconstant characteristics as a hero. He’s known to be cunning and deceitful, tricky and wise. One of the most influential Greek Champions of the Trojan War, a friend of Achilles whom he had convinced to join with Menelaus (King of Spartan) troops in sailing through Troy, and retrieve Helen (mistress of the King) that was abducted by Paris of Troy. Though, he tried to avoid from coming since an oracle prophesized that he’ll be delayed long in returning home if he went, but Palamedes placed his son in front of the plough which forced him to go. He became one of the most trusted advisers and counselors. He helped and brought the battle to victory. Just before the war begun, he accompanied Menelaus and Palemedes in an attempt to negotiate Helen’s peaceful return. Menelaus made unpersuasive emotional arguments, but his arguments almost persuaded the Trojan court to hand her over. He was indeed a hero of the Greek because of his strength and intelligence, his irresistible approach towards negotiations of the land’s boundaries and properties. On the other hand, Achilles was too a Greek hero of the Trojan War, the central character and the greatest warrior of Homer’s lliad, which takes for its theme the Wrath of Achilles. (http/www: google. com). He was known as the quickest and the most handsome of the heroes assembled against Troy. His great relationship with his friend Patroclus, who wore his armor the time he’s slain by Hector. On the movie â€Å"Troy†, he became more of a hero when he turned back and join the war to save the woman he first held as a captive at the first time they conquered one of the places of Troy. He showed passionate love with the Troy Princess and tried to keep her when King Menelaus invaded and murdered the King of Troy. Though, he presented a hubristic personality, however, his soft side was revealed by the time he fell in love with the Princess, being a good and trusted friend of Patroclus also. Achilles was invulnerable on all his body except for his heel, and was killed in battle by an arrow to the heel. (The movie is very visible on this part. ) Both Odysseus and Achilles were great, intelligent and peerless warriors. They were also in love when they’re forced to join the war. The first saved his son from placing in front of the plough and the later being so brave that he fear no kings, lived according to his will and desire, and went to save his Princess from danger. And though, Achilles was killed during the war and Odysseus was trying to get his armor away from Agamemnon. For me, they are just fair of becoming great models to everyone. They are heroes and great models in their own way and right. Achilles Essay Achilles possesses superhuman strength and has a close relationship with the gods; he has all the marks of a great warrior, and indeed is proved to be the mightiest man in the Achaean army. At the beginning his mind is calm and collected, he stands up justly for the men around him and shows understanding when confronting Agamemnon, however his deep-seated character flaws constantly hinder his ability to act with nobility and integrity constantly. He cannot control his arrogance or the rage that surges up when his pride is injured. This dislikable attribute of his causes him to abandoned his comrades and even pray that the Trojans will slaughter them, all because he has been insulted at the hands of his commander, Agamemnon. Like most Homeric characters, Achilles does not develop significantly over the course of the epic; his state of mind is constantly fluctuating between where his rage is being directed all through the book. Although the death of Patroclus prompts him to seek reconciliation with Agamemnon, it does not lessen his rage, but instead redirects it toward Hector. The event does not make Achilles a more deliberative or self-reflective character. Though his mind is filled with grief and despair over his friend’s death, this only helps fuel his bloodlust, wrath, and pride that continue to consume his mind throughout the epic. He mercilessly mauls his opponents, their bodies filling the river Xanthus, angering the god, which Achilles’ shamelessly takes no note to. He immorally desecrates the body of Hector, and savagely sacrifices twelve Trojan men at the funeral of Patroclus. He does not relent in this brutality until the final book of the epic, when King Priam, begging for the return of Hector’s desecrated corpse, appeals to Achilles’ memory of his father, Peleus. Yet it remains unclear whether a father’s heartbroken pleas really transformed Achilles, or whether this scene merely testifies to Achilles’ acceptance of the god’s words, as he had previously, before Priam’s arrival, been told by Zeus that his morning and defiling of Hectors body was enough. Achilles has a strong sense of social order that in the beginning, manifests itself in his concern for the disorder in the Achaian camp; a deadly plague is destroying the soldiers, and Achilles wants to know the reason why. His king, Agamemnon, will not act, so Achilles decides to act: He calls for an assembly of the entire army. In doing this, Achilles upsets the order of protocol; only Agamemnon can decide to call an assembly, but Achilles does so to try to return order to the Achaian camp. He succeeds, partially. He finds out why the plague is killing hundreds of Achaian soldiers, but in the process, he creates disorder when it is revealed that Agamemnon is responsible for the deadly plague. Thus, Achilles’ attempt to return order to the Achaian camp does little, ultimately, to establish order. Apollo lifts the plague, but after Achilles withdraws himself and his troops from the Achaian army, disorder still remains among the Achaians. Agamemnon, of course, is as guilty of creating the ensuing disorder as Achilles is, but Achilles seems petulant and argumentative. He is undermining the little harmony that does exist. In his argument that Agamemnon receives all the best war prizes and does nothing to earn them, Achilles forgets the valuable prizes that he has received. His rage even causes him to almost attempt to kill Agamemnon, but the goddess Athena saves him from this deed. It should be noted that Achilles does not leave the Achaian army without sufficient reason: Agamemnon demanded to have the maiden Briseis, Achilles’ war prize, and Achilles saw this act as a parallel to Paris’ kidnapping of Helen — he sees himself in the same position as Menelaos. Consequently, the quarrel between himself and Agamemnon is as righteous to him as is the war against the Trojans. But even after Agamemnon offers to return Briseis, along with numerous other gifts, Achilles remains angry, indicating that one of Achilles’ major character flaws is his excessive pride. The gifts that Agamemnon offers do not compensate for the public affront, the public insult Achilles believes he has suffered. A concern for gifts, the reader realizes, is far less important to Achilles than his concern for a proper, honored place in the world. After all, Agamemnon had previously given gifts and then taken them back. He could do so again, so the promise of more gifts is possibly an empty promise. This idea of social status is in keeping with the heroic code by which Achilles has lived, but in his isolation, he comes to question the idea of fighting for glory alone because â€Å"A man dies still if he has done nothing. † The idea developing in Achilles’ mind is that the concept of home (or family) and the individual are both important to society and to a heroic warrior. (Hektor is the embodiment of this view. Some critics see these ideas slowly developing through Achilles’ ability to relate to others on a personal basis, as he does with Patroklos, and as he does in his guest-host relationship with the ambassadors from Agamemnon. However, it is only after Patroklos’ death that these relationships and broader concepts of love begin to become significant for Achilles. Ironically, with the death of Pa troklos, Achilles begins to see life and relationships with other people from a mortal point of view, and at the same time, he is drawing ever closer to the divine aspects of love. He has an obligation to avenge Patroklos’ death, and he realizes his own shortcomings as Patroklos’ protector. He also sees that his sitting by his ships is â€Å"a useless weight on the good land,† something that is causing the deaths of many Achaian warriors. Unfortunately, however, Achilles is unable to see that the Achaians feel his withdrawal as keenly as he now feels the loss of Patroklos. It is Achilles’ anger, whether he is sulking or whether he is violent, this state of mind is paramount throughout most of the epic. Achilles’ violence closes with the death of Hektor and with Achilles’ mutilation of Hektor’s corpse. By now, under Zeus’ firm hand, the gods have moved from their own state of disorder to order. When the gods see Achilles act without any sense of pity for Hektor or his family, they come back into Zeus’ all-wise fold of authority. And eventually, through his mother, Thetis, even Achilles is finally persuaded to acquiesce to Zeus’ will. In the end, Achilles is exhausted. His passions are spent, and he consents to give up Hektor’s corpse.

The Effects Of Hydration Health And Social Care Essay

Blood force per unit area, or the sum of force exerted on our arterias as blood is pumped through them, is frequently measured to estimate an person ‘s general province of wellness ( James 2010 ) . Age, weight, dietetic wonts, emotional conditions, and general fittingness all contribute to arterial blood force per unit area ( Weedman and Sokoloski 2009 ) . It has been confirmed by recent surveies that environmental factors, like quicksilver exposure, can act upon an addition in blood force per unit area over clip ( Valera et al 2009 ) . About tierce of grownups worldwide suffer from high blood pressure, or high blood force per unit area ( Castaneda-Bueno and Gamba 2010 ) . Using a factor of our ain, the lab pupils conducted an experiment to prove the association between desiccation and blood force per unit area. I hypothesized that desiccation had a direct relationship with high blood force per unit area and bosom rate ; that is, the more dehydrated an person, the higher their blood force per unit area and bosom rate would be. With increased hydration, blood force per unit area and bosom rates would diminish to endorse to basal rates. The significance of this peculiar analysis is to prove whether hydration degrees in an single influences their blood force per unit area and/or bosom rates. A similar experiment has been performed with hydration and blood force per unit area, and the consequences show that desiccation in babies may take to future high blood force per unit area in grownups ( Smith et al 2006 ) .MATERIALS AND METHODSTo run our experiment, we used an instrument called a â€Å" sphygmomanometer † to mensurate our arterial blood force per unit area. The group of topics dwelling of 26 pupils conducted three basal readings, before devouring H2O, at a somewhat dehydrated province. After two hours, our desiccation degrees were higher. Using our three basal readings we antecedently collected for control variables, we instantly began imbibing room-temperature H2O. I consumed about 16 ounces before taking the first of five blood force per unit area measurings, each done three proceedingss apart, for a corporate 12 proceedingss of appraising. Blood force per unit area, in this instance, would be the dependent variable, whereas the sum of H2O consumed ( hydration degree ) would be the independent variable. After carry oning the experiment and entering each blood force per unit area and bosom rate measuring, the group ‘s information was consolidated. Using all of the collected information, I averaged the blood force per unit areas and bosom rates, computed the p-values utilizing several of the informations sets coupled with the last measurings ( after 12 proceedingss ) by running six t-tests, and found the scopes of overall blood force per unit area and bosom rate.ConsequenceThis experiment was conducted to mensurate the correlativity between hydration and blood force per unit area and bosom rate. I compared six informations sets with the 12 minute station informations set by making paired t-tests ( table 5 ) , and found that three of them had a p-value of less than 0.05. This suggests that the variable alteration between the compared information sets has a less than five percent chance of happening by opportunity. The information sets that had important p-values were the radical pulse rate ( 3 ) , radical systolic blood force per unit area ( 3 ) , and diastolic blood force per unit area at clip 0. One information set, systolic blood force per unit area at clip 0, had a p-value of 0.06974 which is really close to significance but can non be considered as solid grounds. The other two informations sets, basal diastolic blood force per unit area ( 3 ) and pulse rate at clip 0, had really high p-values ( 0.407448 and 0.799202 ) and can non be used as support. The norms for systolic blood force per unit area, diastolic blood force per unit area, and bosom rate were calculated and plotted on three different charts in comparing to clip ( 0 to 12 proceedingss ) . Each of the charts illustrates similar inclinations. Get downing at a maximal value, there is an initial lessening from clip zero to six proceedingss ( values at lower limit ) . Then there is a little addition from six to nine proceedingss, and eventually, a little lessening at the terminal of the 12 proceedingss. In the instance of secret plan 3, the bosom rate mean remains changeless after six proceedingss. Harmonizing to table 4, the scopes for all pulse rates and all blood force per unit areas were calculated as 69 and 75/65, severally. Three separate tabular arraies ( 1-3 ) represent basal pulse rate and blood force per unit area norms, post-drinking pulsation rate norms ( at 12 proceedingss ) , and post-drinking blood force per unit area norms.Time ( min )036912Mean71.69 70.12 69.44 70.56 70.56Time ( min )036912Mean120/79 114/70 110/66 117/77 114/72Data SetsOverall PROverall BPScope69 75/65Basal Pulse Rate and Blood Pressure AveragesTable 1 Table 3 Table 5Post-Drinking Pulse Rate AveragesTable 2Post-Drinking Blood Pressure AveragesT-test Consequences( All paired with 12 min post informations )Scopes for Pulse Rates and Blood PressuresData SetsBasal PR 3Basal Systolic BP 3Basal Diastolic BP 3Time 0 PRTime 0 Systolic BPTime 0 Diastolic BPp-values0.00079 0.04239 0.407448 0.799202 0.06974 0.04954 Table 4Data SetsBasal Pulse Rate 1Basal PR 2Basal PR 3Basal Blood Pressure 1Basal BP 2Basal BP3Mean77.07692 79.23077 77.7307 112/70 110/70 107/69Time ( min )036912Systolic120114110117114Time ( min )036912Diastolic7970667772Time ( min )036912Heart Rate71.6970.11569.4470.5670.56Plot 1Plot 2Plot 3DiscussionMy hypothesis for this experiment was that increased desiccation in an person would demo increased blood force per unit areas and bosom rates. I predicted to see a dramatic lessening in these measurings from our basal readings ( dehydrated province ) to the 12 proceedingss after full hydration. After carry oning the experiment and running these t-tests with the collected information, there is important grounds to back up my hypothesis and suggest that hydration is negatively correlated with blood force per unit area and bosom rate. The value of 0.00079 agencies that the consequences of radical bosom rate ( 3 ) measurings correlate with hydration, and the chance of the diminishing tendency happening by opportunity was merely.079 % . Basal systolic blood force per unit area ( 3 ) had a p-value of.04239, and diastolic blood force per unit area at zero proceedingss had a p-value of.04954. The chances that those two occurred by opportunity were both under 5 % . This suggests that those measurings exceptionally declined as a consequence of increased hydration, which provides important grounds to back up my hypothesis. The graphs that depict blood force per unit area versus clip show that, from clip 0 to clip 12, blood force per unit area decreases from a high scope back down to a normal scope. Heart rate and blood force per unit area are, by and large, straight related, therefore my hypothesis should hold been reflected through the t-test computations of all blood force per unit area and bosom rate measurings. The three high p-values that contradict the remainder of the consequences could hold been due to input mistakes on the computing machine ; besides, some informations came up clean upon having the excel spreadsheet, hence some variables were non accounted for. Using the basal measurements we gathered from two hours before get downing this experiment likely skewed the consequences, for these Numberss could non accurately reflect what our force per unit areas and rates were at our most dehydrated province of the experiment ( right before imbibing ) . Another survey has been done to prove hydration and blood force per unit area, and the consequences show that hydration is straight related to lower resting blood force per unit area ( Patterson and Spinks 2002 ) . This survey ‘s t-test values were exhaustively important plenty to reason that the relationship between blood force per unit area and hydration is strongly, negatively correlated with one another ; as hydration increased, blood force per unit area decreased. The most of the consequences of our experiment do hold with this survey, chiefly with the significance of the low p-values and overall decision that hydration and blood force per unit area are negatively correlated. One failing in the process that I found to be a beginning of inaccuracy was the usage of basal measurings that we took at a more hydrous province than when we really started the experiment. To genuinely compare blood force per unit area and bosom rates before and after imbibing, we should hold re-measured basal rates under the most dehydrated province possible, right before we began to imbibe. Another possible failing in process was maintaining the volume of H2O invariable for every pupil. We do non cognize how much every one drank, precisely, hence consequences could hold been affected by deficient fluid ingestion and eventual rehydration. This experiment has led to the decision that hydration affects blood force per unit area and bosom rate ; from a dehydrated status, blood force per unit area and bosom rate by and large decrease as hydration additions.Literature CitedCastaneda-Bueno M, and Gamba G. Feb 2010. SPAKling insight into blood force per unit area ordinance. EMBO Molecular Medicine. 2 ( 2 ) : 39-41. James, DCS. Hypertension. FAQs.org. [ Internet ] . [ updated 2010 ] . [ cited 1 February 2010 ] . Available from: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.faqs.org/nutrition/Hea-Irr/Hypertension.html. Patterson SM, Spinks DE, and the Society for Psychophysiological Research. 2002. Relationship between hydration sweetening and blood force per unit area: More is better. Psychophysiology. Washington D.C. p 39. Smith GD, Leary S, Ness S, and The ALSPAC Study Team. 2006. Could dehydration in babyhood lead to high blood force per unit area? J Epidemiol Community Health. 60:142-143. Valera B, Dewailly E , and Poirier P. Nov 2009. Environmental Mercury Exposure and Blood Pressure Among Nunavik Inuit Adults. American Heart Association, Inc. 54:981. Weedman D, and Sokoloski ES. 2009. Human Cardiopulmonary Physiology. In: Biology of Organisms: Lab Manual for LIFE103, 5e. Mason, ( OH ) : Cengage Learning. p 173-184.

Causes and Consequences of the Wall Street Crash of 1929 Essay

Causes and Consequences of the Wall Street Crash of 1929 - Essay Example Many thought that the stock market was the wisest place to make investments to secure their future. As more people invested in the stock market, the prices of stock continued to rise and with the rise of stock prices, more people were encouraged to invest because they believed that the rise in stock prices would continue indefinitely and that they would eventually get very high returns for their investments (Svaldi, 2004). By nineteen twenty eight, the rising stock prices had brought about the stock market boom and this changed the way investors viewed the stock market. The stock market was no longer a place where long term investments were made but had now become a place where people could get rich quickly by making short term investments due to the high interest rates given for their stocks (Klein, 2001, 325 - 351). The news of people having made millions from their investments in the stock market, even common people who would normally not have been a part of the stock market envir onment, encouraged many more people to invest. Many of those people who wanted to invest in the stock market did not have the money to do so and many chose to buy stock ‘on margin.’ This meant that the potential investor would put down his own money to buy the stock while the rest was borrowed from a stock broker, and this tended to be about ten to twenty percent of their own money. Buying stock ‘on margin’ was a very risky venture because if the prices of stock went down below its buying price, then the broker from whom the money to buy the stock was borrowed would issue a ‘margin call’ which meant that the investor had to come up with the money to pay back his loan almost immediately. Buying stock on margin was very popular for those people who did not have enough money to invest, and the continued rise in stock prices encouraged many more people to invest in this manner, not thinking of the risks which they were exposing themselves to throug h their ventures (Williamson, 2008). By the early nineteen twenty nine, many Americans were scrambling to make investments in the stock market because the profits from such investments seemed to be assured. This assurance of profits led many companies to invest their money in the stock market and these were not the only major investors. Banks were so confident in the stock market that they, without consulting their customers, invested their customers’ money in the stock market because with stock prices continually rising, the environment seemed perfect for investment (Mclynn, 2002). When the Wall Street crash occurred in October of the same year, many people and institutions were taken by surprise. A prelude to the crash occurred in March nineteen twenty nine when stock prices began to drop and there was an overall panic when stock brokers began making margin calls. However, confidence in the stock market was restored when banker Charles Mitchell made the announcement that hi s bank would continue lending to those who wished to invest (Burke, 2001). Mitchell and other bankers tried to again reassure the public to have confidence in the stock market but this was not enough to stop the great crash that occurred later that year. During the spring of nineteen twenty

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Harms of Illegal Immigration - Essay Example The massive numbers of illegal aliens pouring across mainly the southern border has and continues to cause substantial economic, social and physical harms to legal citizens. These harms occur predominantly to those who are among the most vulnerable segments of the population: minorities, children, and the poor. The primary reason that the politicians are not interested in grappling with the problem of illegal immigration is because it stands to be a potent political issue that can be conveniently exploited by them (Oakland Tribune, 2007). Illegal immigration facilitates the politicians of all hues and affiliations with the opportunity to appeal to their vote banks. Democrats vociferously support illegal immigrants to cash on the fast altering demographics of the nation (Oakland, 2007). Republicans on the contrary use this issue to exploit and entice the citizens who are particularly concerned with the wastage of their tax dollars on non-productive aliens (Oakland Tribune, 2007). The problem is further bolstered by the vested interests who intend to thrive on the cheap labor of illegal immigrants, be it the hotel industry, construction business or agriculture (Oakland Tribune, 2007). ... The problem is continually being exacerbated by a flexible border security, 12 million illegal immigrants striving for sustenance, and a system that is hell bent on taking advantage of those who are willing to provide cheap labor (Oakland Tribune, 2007) The fundamental reason for the flood of immigration from Latin America, specifically Mexico (see Chart 1) is the disintegration of the Mexican economy predominantly resulting from free-trade strategies employed by the North American Free Trade Agreement and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Chart 1. National Origin of Illegal Immigrants: 2004 Note. From https://classof08honors.wikispaces.com/preston. The rampant corruption within the Mexican government has also contributed significantly to the collapse of the Mexican economy. Due to IMF policies regarding Mexico, its economic output dropped 33 % in the past two decades. During this period, its foreign debt rose 359 % because of widespread looting of the national coffers. These factors caused the "collapse of all areas of productive economic activity and employment, is the primary driver of the flood of emigrants desperate to leave Mexico, to find some livelihood for themselves and their families in the United States" (Small, 2005). Throughout the history of America, people of differing ideologies have generally agreed on immigration controls. Public opinion polls have continually shown an overwhelming opposition to illegal immigration as well as for the concept of amnesty. Amnesty for illegal aliens is merely a reward for law-breaking and by whatever name, causes ever escalating future illegal immigration.

Is Work life balance an unrealistic dream or something that Essay

Is Work life balance an unrealistic dream or something that organisations should pay attention to - Essay Example A work life balance is important because work life and life systems, although very different, are intertwined together in a firm manner. It has been proven through current theories that emotional spillovers from one side can affect the other. Such that, a disappointment at the job may translate in to a disappointment at the family level, and vice versa. One of the theories that are used to explain the relationship between the balance of work and life is the Work/family border theory. Border Theory The border theory divests upon the interactions between the life and work of an individual and how he may attempt to balance them (Poelmans 2005). According to the theory, as Clark (2000) relates, the primary connection between the work and family systems is not emotional but it is human. So ‘people’ in the theory are regarded as daily border-crossers who have to make daily transitions between the two worlds- the world of work and the world of family. People are important here because they are considered responsible for shaping the worlds, for defining the borders between the two worlds and for determining their relation to each of the worlds. Although people are the primary agents at work here, to change the environments, they can themselves be affected in turn, giving rise to a work-family spillover (Hislop 2008). It is this concept that makes keeping a balance between the two worlds the most challenging thing. The border theory seeks to explain the complex interaction between the border crossers and their work and family systems and henceforth, attempts to attain a certain degree of balance between life and work. Psychological contract The psychological contract is also an important concept when it comes to the study of work/life studies and refers to the exchange occurring between the employee and the employer (Andrae 2008). Through the psychological contract, one can attempt to understand what employees and employers expect from a job and work enviro nment. According to Smithson & Lewis (2000), these expectations may not just be confined to tenures or promotions, but, may also include other things like a sense of entitlement to work/ life benefits and flexible working hours. It has been argued recently that a better integration of the worlds of ‘work’ and ‘life’ lead to a positive psychological contract. The psychological contract explains that meeting or breaking of promises has a greater influence than practices and policies (Cooper, Quick & Schabracq 2009). According to Roehling, Roehling and Moen (2001), work/life policies, such as the flexible working hours and informal support, are directly linked to employee satisfaction and loyalty which get translated in the form of a positive psychological contract. The met and unmet expectations have a significant impact on the attitudes and behaviours of the employees (Naswall, Hellgren & Sverke 2008). Recent research in UK also shows that employees tend to look for the awards that their psychological contract promises to deliver and to consider it their right to have an entitlement of flexible working hours, the lack of which is believed to be a violation of the psychological contract (Leat 2007). The psychological contract is an important tool because it considers the individual expectations of employees and employers. The approach is also important to shift the focus from policies and instead concentrate on the different settings of work and life systems for both the employees and emp

The Recent Surge in Counterfeit Bills Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The Recent Surge in Counterfeit Bills - Essay Example Motivated by these facts, there have been concerns to come up with adequate and effective measures that help in combating counterfeiting activities in a bid to protect the economy, government, and consumers. Some of the ways identified in the following report that employed majorly the aspect of reassessing previous studies include use of international policing agencies, anti-counterfeiting associations, and applications of technology. Examples of technological applications used in fighting counterfeiting as identified in the following report include use of smart cards, biotechnology, chemical technologically developed inks, and use of optical technologies such as holograms. From the research, it is obvious that such actions and strategies have been fruitful in reducing the level of counterfeiting within American and other nations that have been adversely affected by the same criminal offences. In order to create an understanding of the aforementioned, the report has been divided into introduction, background information, purpose, scope, and methodology of the report. These sections have been very useful in providing a general overview of the topic as well as the method and scope use in carrying out the research. On the other hand, the problem and solution sections form the core basis of the study identifying impacts of counterfeiting and their possible solutions. ... No one can deny that the problem of counterfeiting is an extraordinarily well defined one. Other than causing serious negative impacts on the economy of a nation, counterfeits reduce consumer confidence in respect to the products and money that they handle (August & Hwang, 2009). According to the studies conducted by Alcock, Chen, Hui, and Hodson (2003), rise in counterfeits provides Americans with adequate reasons to come up with effective measures of dealing with the problem. One such measure is the introduction of the Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act (PRO IP Act), anti-counterfeiting agencies, and employment of technologies that help in combating the same (Haie-Fayle & Wolfgang, 2007; August & Hwang, 2009). In addition, there are other technological measures and practices capable of assisting America and other global nations in combating the counterfeit crimes. Motivated by these facts, the following formal report outlines the ways through whic h existing/inexpensive technologies and practices can be employed in an effort to reduce the loss in consumer confidence that counterfeiting oftentimes induces. Even though the presented formal report will not have the effect of slowing or stopping counterfeiting, if implemented, it will have the effect of weakening the previously mentioned negative effects that counterfeiting wreaks on local businesses, individuals, and consumer confidence. In a bid to attain this objective, the following report provides background, purposes, scope, methodology, problem, solution, conclusions, and recommendations based on previous or secondary sources. Background Rise in counterfeiting

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A policy dictating mandatory marriage classes before couples get married should be introduced - Essay Example This method is expressive and therefore I found it most appropriate for my work. It gives me room to express the project using figures, diagrams, tables, different colouration and symbols. The mode of presentation has a big room for creativity which allows the presentation of the work to be lively, attractive and entertaining. Some of the pictorials added to the presentations are very expressive and helps the reader to understand well the explanation made in the presentation. This mode also makes the work appear smart and memorable to the audience. Because of this attractiveness, the audience is more likely to be attentive to the presentation when it is made. My project is directed especially to policy makers at all levels. This is because this is a presentation which is building up support for an enactment of a policy therefore I need to convince the policy makers that this is a good policy for the society. There are other bodies which may care about this policy and thus about this presentation. The church is one of such bodies. In most churches divorce is discouraged and therefore church leaders may find this policy worth adopting in their policies. It is important for the government to formulate a new policy, one which will require couples to take mandatory marriage classes before they officially get married. This move will minimize the ever-rising cases of divorce and all the negativity and pain that are associated with it. In this presentation, the need and urgency for the institution of this policy is shown. This is done by showing that the causes of divorce can be handled if proper counseling is carried out. It is noted, with a lot of concern, that in first five years of marriage many couples opt for divorce. This is especially the trend for those who marry when they are young. A number of misconceptions about marriage are associated with this trend. Different states are making

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What is political legitimacy - Essay Example John Locke’s view of political legitimacy emphasizes the necessity of respect for human rights and transfer of authority based on consent for effective public administration. Plato was philosopher and a mathematician during the Classical Greece. He was also an influential figure in the philosophy of the West. Plato, in The Republic, declared that an ideal society ought to be run by a council of philosopher-kings (Plato & Cornford 22). Plato recommended that philosophers needed to do a thorough learning of the world prior to making their way into leadership at the age of fifty. According to Plato, the best form of political legitimacy constitutes the moral reordering of the whole society. Plato, thus, implied that moral societies are dedicated to returning to the best ways of doing things in order to be the best version through which the society can be idealistic and achieve perfect governance. Locke proposes that after the establishment of a social contract, the first act of the government is creating different branches of the government. Lock suggested that the optimum number of government branches should be three as this could ensure maximum peace and protection (Rawls & Freeman 53). When people are assured of their protection, there are high chances of increased productivity because there is no fear of security threats. Peace in a country is the primary determinant of security and protection; therefore, the government should strive to use its machinery to ensure prevalence of peace and tranquility in the states. The Republic by Plato is actually an investigation at the harmonic justice that should be afforded to human beings and the balance required to establish the moral health of the soul. Plato believed that search for political legitimacy is not streamlined since it constitutes a journey within using the models of ideal state,

The life AND death of Tiberius Gracchus Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The life AND death of Tiberius Gracchus - Essay Example Tiberius began his military carrier during the Third Punic war when he was appointed in a military tribune attached to Scipio Aemilianus (his brother in law) staff. The period he served under Aemilianus as a military tribune built his status making him popular, thanks to his bravery and discipline. He is remembered as the first of his kind to scale the enemy walls. His outstanding performance earned him another significant appointment in 137 BC as the questor to consul Gaius Hostilius Mancinus. This position saw him serve in Numantia , a region found in the Hispania province. Here, he was among the army that took part in the botched Numantine that saw mancinus army suffer major defeats. During this war Mancinus made an unwise decision of withdrawing his army at night causing not only the defeat but also loss of their possession as their camp was looted. Seeing the danger that lingered, particularly on the army, Tiberius took advantage of his position as quaestor to sign a peace treat y with the Numantines against the general requirement that required a legate to complete the signing. During the negotiation, Tiberius revisited the adventures of Tiberiu Elder (the father), who equally fought in Spain but negotiated a peace accord with (Numantines, 24). This move caused him be regarded highly by the Numantines so much that when they discovered their army had taken his ledger in the process of despoiling the Roman camp, they made arrangement to have him get it back. Such is the case that they invited him in person, throwing a banquet in his honor and allowed him not only to recover his ledger but also take any other thing he wished to have from the spoils. Tiberius integrity could not permit him to do as they asked but instead he took back his ledger and only accepted some incense used for sacrificial rituals. There was so much frenzy in Rome on account of this

Australian Corporations Law Essay Example for Free

Australian Corporations Law Essay There are two company classifications, proprietary and public. Most Australian companies are proprietary limited companies because this classification and type suits the needs of most businesses. (i) Reasons to Choose a Proprietary Company A proprietary company by comparison to a public company has simpler and therefore lower cost reporting obligations, is limited to 50 non employee shareholders’, ‘and between 1 to 50 members’ , a public company can have more. A proprietary company requires a minimum of one director a public company requires a minimum of three directors. The director or directors of proprietary company must ordinarily reside in Australia and be 18 years of age or older. A public company can be listed on the stock exchange and raise funds directly from the public by offering shares or debentures for sale’ a proprietary company cannot, however a proprietary company can offer shares to existing shareholders or employees. (b) Company Types There are two types of proprietary companies, companies limited by shares and companies unlimited with share capital. (i) Reason to Choose a Company Limited by Shares In the event that a company limited by shares does not have sufficient assets to meet its debts, each member is only liable for the amount, if any, that remains unpaid on their shares , ‘[L]imited liability means that members of a company are not personally liable for the full extent of their company’s debts. ’ This limitation of personal liability is the great advantage of this type of company. (ii) Reason Not to Choose a Company Unlimited with Share Capital An ‘unlimited company means a company whose members have no limit placed on their liability’ for their company’s debts. Unlimited companies are rarely used. Company Names A company name is optional; the company’s ACN can be used instead. The name ‘Sai Kung’ has been chosen and so an application for reservation of the name, form 410, must be lodged with ASIC prior to the application to register the company. See attachment 1. ‘A limited proprietary company must have the words â€Å"Proprietary Limited† [or Pty Ltd] at the end of its name. ’ B Application for Registration 1 Application Form To register the company, ASIC form 201 must be completed and lodged with ASIC. See attachment 2. 2 Additional Information Required for Registration In addition to the classification, type and proposed name of the company the following information must be provided: †¢Ã¢â‚¬Ëœthe name and address of each person who consents to become a member’ †¢ ‘the present given and family name, all former given and family names and the date and place of birth of each person who consents in writing to become a director †¢Ã¢â‚¬Ëœthe present given and family name, all former given and family names and the date and place of birth of each person who consents in writing to become a company secretary;’ A proprietary company is not required to have a secretary †¢Ã¢â‚¬Ëœthe address of the company’s registered office;’ †¢Ã¢â‚¬Ëœthe address of the company’s proposed principal place of business (if it is not the address of the proposed registered office);’ †¢Ã¢â‚¬Ëœthe number of shares each member agrees in writing to take up;’ The price of each share, whether the share wi ll be fully paid on registration, if not fully paid, the amount that will be unpaid on each share and whether or not the shares each member agrees to take up will be beneficially owned by the member on registration of the company. 3 Consents and Agreements Consents and agreements of nominated directors, secretary and members must be obtained prior to the application for registration being accepted by ASIC. 4 Rules for Internal Management of a Company Regarding the rules for the internal management of a company, a company can either use the ‘replaceable rules’ as stated in the Corporation Act, or form a constitution, the company’s own rules, or a combination of replaceable rules and the constitution. C Registration by ASIC Registration is at ASIC’s discretion. 1 Issue of Certificate of Registration Sai Kung Pty Ltd will not exist, will not become incorporated, until ASIC registers the company and issues a certificate of registration. 2 Corporate Key ‘Within two days of registration, ASIC will also issue a corporate key to the company’s registered office address. ’ This is an eight digit number used to lodge forms with ASIC, access company records and receive annual statements online. This number should be kept confidential. D Alternative: A Shelf Company If you do not wish to go through the process of registration alternatively you could purchase a shelf company, this is a company that has already been registered and is therefore available for immediate use. A shelf company can be renamed with the name of your choosing. The Facts 5 January Toto acting as a promoter, entered into a contract on behalf of Sai Kung (‘SK’), a yet to be registered company. The contract was with Television Broadcasts Limited (‘TVB’), to pay TVB for their professional and technical assistance in producing a television seafood cooking show. 12 January SK was registered by ASIC, the company did not adopt a constitution, did choose to have a common seal and Flora and Toto were both appointed as directors. SK did not appoint a company secretary. TVB commenced providing SK with professional and technical assistance to produce the television show. 2 February The contract with TVB was ratified by SK on 2 February. 20 February As at 20 February the shows production has not commenced and TVB has not been paid for its assistance. B The Law Applied to the Facts When Toto, on behalf of SK, entered into the contract with TVB, he acted as a promoter, ‘anyone who exerts themselves on behalf of a not-existent company’ . Toto the promoter was liable to pay TVB for their services in the event that SK did not register or SK did register but did not ratify the contract. On 2 February SK, a registered company since 12 January, ratified the contract with TVB. SK is now liable and bound by the contract made on its behalf on 5 January. However, in the event that SK does not pay TVB part or all of what is owed, Toto, as the promoter, remains liable. If Toto had obtained a release from TVB he would no longer be liable or ‘[a]n alternative way in which a company [SK] can become primarily liable is where the company [SK] and the other party [TVB] substitute a new contract in place of the pre-registration contract (otherwise known as â€Å"novation†). This discharges any liability of the promoter [Toto] in relation to the pre-registration contract. An effective novation requires the consent of both the company [SK] and the third party [TVB]. ’ C The Objective of the Section 133 of the Corporations Act ‘At common law, if a pre-registration contract was not performed neither the company nor the promoter were liable. The innocent other party was left with an unenforceable contract’, an example is the case Black v Smallwood . A promoter ‘was only bound if they intended to be bound’ as in the case Kelner v Baxter where ‘[t]he court examined the written contract and imputed and intention by [the promoter] Baxter to bind himself personally. ’ Section 133 of the Corporations Act states that Part 2B. replaces any rights or liabilities anyone would otherwise have on the pre-registration contract’ , ending the ‘uncertainty arising out of the laws of agency and contract. ’ ‘The issue of where liability lay for not fulfilling obligations incurred under pre-registratio n contracts is now governed entirely by the Corporations Act and its overriding aim is to ensure that the innocent other party [in this case TVB] is not left without legal remedy.

Three Parent Families: Advantages and Disadvantages

Three Parent Families: Advantages and Disadvantages Joana Murtinheira Faustino A controversial genetic treatment was approved in Britain and now the first baby with three genetic parents can be born in 2015. The process will allow that women affected by devastating hereditary diseases to have healthy children. However this procedure will open the window of DNA modification in humans – something that was long ago decided as unethical. Is this a real breakthrough treatment or crossing a dangerous boundary? The procedure aims to prevent mitochondrial diseases, involving lack of energy, muscular dystrophy, blindness, brain disorders, heart failure and death in the most extreme cases. Defective mitochondria affect one in every 6500 babies and research suggests that the diseases can be prevented by using mitochondria from a donor egg. There are two possible methods: the embryo repair and the egg repair. In the embryo repair approach both eggs (mother’s and donor’s) are fertilised with sperm and the parents’ pronuclei, which contain genetic information, is swapped with the donor’s one and this final healthy embryo is implanted into the womb. The egg repair involves taking the nucleous of the egg with damaged mitochondria and inserting it into the cytoplasm of the donor’s egg which has had the majority of the genetic material removed, but still contains healthy mitochondria. Then the resulting egg is fertilised by sperm. As mitochondria have their own DNA, the resulting baby of this procedure would have DNA from two parents and a small amount from a third donor. This genetic modification raises major ethical concerns for a lot of people. According to consequentialism people should do what produces the greatest amount of good consequences. It is known that with this procedure, these women would be able to have genetically related healthy children. However, is this consequence strong enough to justify the beginning of human genetic modifications? Which way leads to the greatest amount of good consequences? Since it is an invasive manipulation of embryos there are risks associated. It is not possible to assure that new diseases would not come out of this treatment due to some relation between DNA of mitochondria with the nucleous DNA, for example. If the procedure is relatively new, not much information about long-term health effects are known. Therefore, no medical benefits would emerge for the child or the mother. The mother would be able to have genetically related healthy children, which represents a social benefit to her, not a medical one. As the DNA swap takes place at the â€Å"germ line† the donor’s DNA would pass on to any future generations down the female line and not only to this first child Thus, the treatment would represent a way of stopping the disease of being passed on to their future generations. Nevertheless, it would also be changing the genetic information of the family; that it will always have the donor’s DNA included. Would this have implications for future persons? Opponents to this treatment claim that are other options that may be considered for these cases such as adoption or egg donation. Is adoption really an option? People that desire to have their own children usually do not see adoption as option. It will not be a good relationship between parents and child if the adopted child is seen as a second option and not a desired one. Through egg donation parents are not genetically related to the child and this treatment would allow them to be. Another of the major concerns related to this technique is that the next step would be fully altered genetic babies since the line of performing modifications in human DNA would be already crossed with this procedure. It has been described as a â€Å"slippery slope† for society that can lead to other forms of genetic modification. There are several questions that need to be answered. Would the child have identity problems since it would have genes from three people? What would be the role of this â€Å"second mother†? Would she have the same status as other egg donors or could be considered a legal parent? Apparently there was not enough debate about this topic. Usually, people get very afraid of these pioneer changes that can be one small step away from a worst case scenario. Moreover, it is easy for people to associate genetic modifications with stories described in novels or cinema, as dystopian societies are depicted several times. A dystopia [1,2] is a place that is in some important way undesirable or frightening; it is the opposite of utopia. Dystopias are often characterized by dehumanization, totalitarian governments, environmental disaster, or other characteristics associated with a cataclysmic decline in society. Usually they appear to draw attention to real-world issues regarding society, politics, economics, environment, religion, psychology, ethics, and science and technology, which if unaddressed could potentially lead to such a dystopia-like condition. Two examples that address to genetic modifications are Brave New World and Gattaca. Brave New World [3], a novel that was also adapted to a movie, describes how developments in reproductive technology, combined with others, are responsible for profoundly changes in society. Natural reproduction is no longer done. Instead, children are produced in â€Å"hatcheries and conditioning centres† and divided into castes and designed to occupy predetermined positions in the social and economic life. There are five castes: â€Å"alpha† and â€Å"beta† are able to develop naturally but â€Å"gamma†, â€Å"delta† and â€Å"epsilon† are manufactured to have arrested development in intelligence or physical growth. In the reality described in Gattaca [4] (the title is based on the first letters of guanine, adenine, thymine, and cytosine, the four nucleobases of DNA) children are conceived through genetic manipulation to guarantee they possess the best hereditary traits of their parents. The main character was conceived outside the program and fights to overcome genetic discrimination. Characters battle with society and themselves to find what their place in the world is and who they are destined to be according to their genes. This way, the movie is able to draw attention over reproductive technologies and the possible consequences of such technological developments for society. By allowing this treatment, are we going towards a dystopian society like these ones described? On the other hand, despite all the concerns that the treatment involves should the evolution of science be stopped? If it would be fully regulated and the consequences well studied, why should this treatment be stopped? Why should not these mothers be allowed to have access to this known treatment? Most people have the desire to have their DNA related children and this treatment seems the only option for these women, also stopping the disease of being passed on to their future generations. Medical researchers defend that the debated modification does not affect fundamental DNA, the one that will determine individual’s characteristics such as facial features or eye colour. Therefore what it is under discussion are not designed babies but a treatment of several diseases. References Merriam-Webster (2014). Merriam-Webster. Retrieved January 18, 2014, from http://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/dystopia. Oxford Dictionaries (2014). Oxford University Press. Retrieved January 18, 2014, from  http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/dystopia?q=dystopia Brave New World, http://www.huxley.net/ Gattaca (1997), http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119177/

The History and Rise of Christianity Essay -- Religious Persecution, r

Intro: Christianity is the largest religion in the world with over 2.1 billion followers. That’s 33% of all the people in the world. No other religion can compare to it. Other religions like Judaism and Sikhism have less than 1% of the people in the world as followers. Christianity was started around 1 A.D. when Jesus Christ of Nazareth was born, although he didn’t start preaching until he was 10 or 11 years old. His teachings weren’t accepted as a state religion until around 313 A.D. by the Roman emperor, Constantine. Most Jews pulled out of the Roman religion to study Judean law and wait the coming of the Messiah that they were promised in the Old Testament of the bible (Christian scripture). This particular religion was accepted because there were too many cults, mysteries and philosophies about the way of life. Christianity also accepted (and still accepts) any believer, from workers, to slaves, even ex-criminals and women. Christian belief is based on the verse of John 3:16. â€Å"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that who ever believes in him sh...

Part II of Sir Gawain :: Sir Gawain Essays

Text: Part II In this passage of the story.......We find that Sir Gawain is feeling very melancholy and distraught over the events that have shaped the last year of his life. It is the Christmas season, and while most of his comrades at King Arthur's Court are enjoying the warm fires of their castles, he is trudging through the cold mud and muck of an uninviting wilderness. At the end of his journey he ultimately expects to meet certain death at the hands of the immortal Green Knight, and so alone except for his loyal horse Gringolet, Gawain in his hour of need turns to God for divine intervention:Click Here to Hear Gawain "He said his prayer with signs, Lamenting his misdeed; he crosses himself, and cries On Christ in his great need." No sooner has he made the sign of the cross to conclude his petition then before him appears the most wondrous sight. A great castle looms up where a moment before there were only stark mountains and dark mysterious woods. Gawain has never seen such a magnificent structure. In the center of a park more than two miles wide it stood, constructed of stone blocks that shimmered amid bright colored leaves that should not have been in bloom at that time of the year. There was a double moat surrounding immense battlements which had been fortified to withstand an assault from even the fiercest of invaders. Yet with all the barbicans of war there were also delicate spires rising in tiers amid elaborately ornamented gables. So perfect was the image of this estate that it reminded Gawain of "A castle cut for a king's feast". He thanks God and St. Julian the patron saint of hospitality for his redemption from solitude, and approaches the castle over a strange bridge which hangs in the air. On the far side he is met by the most polite of porters. Humbly Gawain asks permission to enter the grounds in order to seek the lord of the castle’s hospitality.

The Arts That Shaped America: Arts of the 1920s :: essays research papers

Art by definition is the conscious production or arrangement of sounds, colors, forms, movements, or other elements in a manner that affects the sense of beauty, specifically the production of the beautiful in a graphic or plastic medium. Whether it was shown visually or musically, the arts of the twenties were reflective of the time period. Even in books, the extravagance that people lived in was evident. The music of the twenties was on the opposite end of the spectrum from the music that had been its predecessor. With a quicker tempo, dynamics different then anything before it, dances that were of the youth and viewed as taboo, and powered by brass and rhythm instruments , jazz had become a mainstream for the youth of the twenties (Handley). In stark contrast of the Beethoven and the â€Å"usual† waltzes that people danced to, jazz was in your face and frowned down upon. According to the older generation, and quoted in the New York American, â€Å"Moral disaster is coming to hundreds of young American girls through the pathological, nerve-irritating, sex-exciting music of jazz orchestras" (Ward, Burns). In the 1920s, Jazz and Blues became very popular. Singers and musicians like Fat Waller, "Jelly Roll' Morton, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Lucille Bogan could be heard world wide. Bing Crosby, Annette Hanshaw, Al Jolson, Maria Anderson and George Gershw in were also making in big in the music world. George Gershwin composed some of the most noticeable blues pieces of the nineteen twenties. Rhapsody in Blue, An American in Paris, and Piano Concerto in F, Rhapsody No. 2. Louis Armstrong, by far the king of the trumpet is the poster boy for pure jazz. With his revolutionary playing, he was able to break the trend of the typical â€Å"Dixieland† jazz music with his solos alone. During the nineteen twenties films were becoming more popular, creating five major studios and three minor studios (â€Å"Films History of The 1920s.†) The five major studios, some of which are still around today, were: Warner Brothers, Paramount Pictures (originally named Famous players), Mutual Film Corporation, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and Fox Film Corporation. Warner Bros. Pictures, incorporated in 1923 by the brothers (Jack, Harry, Albert, and Sam); the studio's first principal asset was Rin Tin Tin. MGM, first named Metro-Goldwyn Pictures - in 1924 formed from the merger of Metro Pictures (1915), Samuel Goldwyn Picture Corporation (1917), and the Louis B. Mayer Pictures Company (1918).

I Eat Mentos, Do You?

How many dilemmas a day do you stumble across, that given a solution would just make life easier? The ad for Mentos featuring Albert Einstein reads, â€Å"I eat Mentos, do you? Mentos. Helping People Get Ideas†, implying Mentos can help increase intelligence to a level comparable to Albert’s. In advertisements from Mentos ordinary individuals find themselves facing various dilemmas; however, if one consumes a Mento they are inspired to solve their problems, while staying fresh and cool. In every case a loser becomes a winner.Mentos’ ad featuring Albert Einstein is an effective advertisement, despite the absence of the appeal to logic, because its appeal to both credibility and emotions are so robust. Even though Logos, the appeal to logic, is unaccounted for, the ad is still very successful. Of the three major ways writers or marketers persuade their audience to purchase their product, it isn’t necessary for Mentos to explain the logic for using a breath m int. Logically we all know what breathe mints do, stating the obvious wouldn’t contribute to the persuasion of the ad.Even considering the appeal to false logic, the notion that Albert Einstein’s brilliant mind is thanks to a breath mint is implausible; therefore, the assumption could be made that Mentos had no intentions to appeal to logic or false logic. An individual seeing this ad would not literally think they’d become as smart as Albert from consuming a breath mint. Although there is a lack of logos in this advisement, it is an effective ad that includes only two of the three appeals.Ethos, the rhetorical element that appeals to credibility is the strongest element used to persuade customers to purchase this product. Albert Einstein is known for being one of the smartest men in history, and if that isn’t obvious enough to a reader, the ad also states that he is a, â€Å"World Famous Scientist†. The reputation and expertise of Albert in conjun ction with the advertisement’s tag lines, â€Å"I eat Mentos do you† and â€Å"Mentos. Helping People Get Ideas†, insinuates that if the consumer eats Mentos, they will be just as smart.The use of Albert’s celebrity endorsement is not only an effective display of using credibility but is also used to support the claim that Mentos will give you great ideas. Mentos’ use of humor was a clever and effective way to approach the appeal to Ethos. Like Ethos, Pathos is captured exceptionally well, and focuses more on the positive emotional appeal. In this ad Mentos uses the promise of gain; the obvious promise of gain is great breath, but Mentos achieves the emotional appeal by using Albert Einstein to suggest the gain will also be great ideas or a solution.Finding a solution to a problem can be extremely gratifying, giving you an overwhelming feeling of pride and satisfaction. The promise of the gain paired with the instantaneous gratification is what mak es the emotional appeal even stronger. The illustration of Albert gives him a softer feel, bringing a sense of friendliness and kindness to the ad. The soft colors, creased lines and folded edges contribute to the authenticity of the vintage illustration. The use of Pathos along with Ethos is what made this ad effective.To conclude, Albert Einstein’s Mentos advertisement makes a customer feel like they can benefit from the product without using the appeal to logic. Anyone who is going to see this ad knows that a breath mint freshens breath; the reason the Mentos ad is successful is because of the use of humor, along with Ethos and Pathos. It relates to something everyone wants, easy solutions and great ideas, and assures that this product is the answer. This all leads us to one question, â€Å"I eat Mentos, do you†?

Citibank Credit Card in Asia Pacific

Launching the Credit Card in Asia Pacific Ankit Bhardwaj Apaar Malik Neha Sharma Shashwat Bhanti Sidharth Shah Introduction ? ? ? ? ? ? Citibank, a major international bank, is the consumer banking arm of financial services giant Citigroup. Citibank was founded in 1812 as the City Bank of New York, later First National City Bank of New York. Citibank has retail banking operations in more than 100 countries and territories around the world. Founded in 1812 as the City Bank of New York, ownership and management of the bank was taken over by Moses Taylor, a protege of John Jacob Astor and one of the giants of the business world in the 19th century. In the 1960s the bank entered into the credit card business The card, known as â€Å"The Everything Card†, was promoted as a kind of East Coast version of the Bank Americard. ?Products: ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? CitiOne Account Mortgage Power Citibank Auto Loan Citibank Ready Credit CitiGold Service Citi Phone Banking ATM Business Banking Citibank NRI Business International Personal Banking Citibank ·s presence Africa Europe Middle East Central America South America North America Asia Citibank ·s Net Income till 2008 Citibank ·s Assets/Liabilities ratio *The company is financially strong Case Introduction Credit Card Functioning Years in which Citibank entered countries. Population statistics Economic statistics Manager ¶s Opinion. ? Credit Card Functioning Card holder makes purchase at merchant Merchant submits transaction to merchant bank or acquiring company Cardholder ($100) Merchant ($100) Merchant Bank or Acquiring Company ($97) Credit issuer bills card holder for total of Transactions made in month ($100) Card holder makes full or partial payment to the card issuer (minimum to $100) Merchant bank or acquiring company reimburses merchant less merchant service charge Interchange network reimburses merchant Bank for amount of Transaction less interchange fee($98. 50) Merchant bank or acquiring company submits transactions to interchange network ($100) Credit Card Issuer $98. 50 ($100) Interchange Network ? Years of Citi Bank ¶s Entry in Asian Countries Hong Kong (1902) Taiwan (1964) Australia (1965) The Philippines (1902) Guam (1969) Singapore (1902) India (1902) Malaysia (1904) Indonesia (1918) Thailand (1967) Korea (1967) Population Statistics 797 300 800 300 250 200 167. 7 150 Population(In Millions) Urban Population(In Millions) 100 69 50 16. 514 0 5. 6 5 42 31 16. 9 6 2. 7 3 19. 8 14 11 61. 9 55 Countries Economy 12 11 9. 7 9. 8 8. 7 8 8 7. 6 7. 37. 4 6. 8 6 4. 8 4 4 3. 8 Growth Rate(In percentage) Inflation(In percentage) 8. 1 7. 3 10. 8 10 2 2 1. 5 1. 2 0 Manager ·s Opinions Bob Thornton(Country Manager- Indonesia) -> History of poor consumer payment on installment debt. -> High levels of fraud in the financial sector. > Legal infrastructure in inadequate. -> Small market for card product but a potentially large population of 180 mio. ? Dave Smith(Country Manager- Singapore) -> Small 2 mio population. -> Saturated card market with American Express. -> Late entry may result in losing money. ? Jaitirth Rao(Country Manager- India) -> Very large country with poor infrastructure. -> It ¶s a dog and delay it. ? ? Jeannine Fa rhi(Recently moved from USA to Asia) -> Poor implementation may lead to huge losses. -> Asian countries suffering from inefficient postal services. Launching the Card Market Entry Cost Card Business Operation Economics Customer Acquisition Success Probability Dollar Vs Local Currency Central Data Processing Focus on Existing Business Direct Mail Infrastructure Problem Market Entry Cost Green Field Market Development Direct Mail Take-Ones Direct Sales ¶ force Bind-Ins Market Acquisition Facilitates quick entry into market. Easily leverage existing Operations infrastructure and Human Resources in order to consolidate the market share. Choosing of right bank very critical. Very critical to manage the acquired organization ¶s workforce to match up Citi bank ¶s standards. Very difficult to divest in case of calamity. Cost implications in trainings. Card Business Operation Economics Setting a proper business Joining Fee. ? Setting a proper business Annual Fee. ? Right price to be set for Citi Bank ¶s credit card. ? Options to maintain a balance between Joining Fee and Annual Fee. ? Customer Acquisition Success Probability Prospects Reached 300000 2000000 30000 3000000 5330000 Response Number of Qualified Rate(%) RespondantsRespondants Respondants 2 1. 5 50 1 6000 30000 15000 30000 81000 4000 10000 10000 10000 34000 Card Holders 3200 8000 8000 8000 27200 Channels Direct Mail Unit Cost($) 1. 5 Take Ones 0. 25 Direct Sales 18000/Sales force person Bind Ins Total 0. 15 Only 0. 51% of success rate Dollar Vs Local Currency Advantages of Dollar as currency ? Disadvantages of Dollar Dollar would strengthen against the local currency due to its global usage. ? Extra charges for currency conversion. ? Fluctuation of exchange rate each day will hurt customers free expenditure. ? It is a global currency which is accepted everywhere. ? It is easily convertible at any bank. ? Paying in Dollars is treated by some people as a status symbol. Existing systems using Dollar as base currency and replication will not be difficult in other countries. Central data Processing Would slow down system response. ? System developers will be cut off from local markets. ? Local resources could be upgraded instead of spending on a new Centralized System. ? Focus on existing business Managers Advice in Asia pacific Focus on Existing Business Since lack of talent poo l available in the region Lack of Infrastructure to support such IT enabled product. Direct Mail Infrastructure Problem Postal Services is the backbone for Card delivery. Postal Services in Asia Pacific experience not satisfactory. ? Poor Logistics will only lead to dissatisfied customers. ? Business Problems ? Citibank wondered whether they could adopt a mass-market positioning to acquire enough credit card customers and still maintain its upmarket positioning with the current upscale branch banking customers Pricing the card too low would conflict with Citibank ¶s stated positioning however pricing it too high might mean low customer acceptance Citibank ¶s management were concerned that consumers ¶ attitudes and credit card usage patterns differed by country ? Country Profiles Australia Strengths ? Citibank considered as a Global Bank. ?Citibank making profits worldwide. ?Strong Financial backbone to launch a new product. Weakness ? Hold of Local Banks is very high. ?Austral ia is a saturated market Opportunity ? Western based developed economy ? AMEX and Diners club reputation is low ? High usage of credit card for travel and entertainment. Threat ? Hold of Local Banks is very high. ?Australia is a saturated market ? Lucrative offers already in market Hong Kong Strengths ? Citibank considered as a Global Bank. ?Citibank making profits worldwide. Strong Financial backbone to launch a new product. Weakness ? Hold of Local Banks is very high. ?Hong Kong is a saturated market Opportunity ? AMEX and Diners club reputation is low ? Rapid Industrialization. ?High annual average income. ?Active use of credit card Threat ? Hold of Local Banks is very high. ?Lucrative offers already in market. ?Hong Kong is a saturated market India Strengths ? Citibank considered as a Global Bank. ?Citibank making profits worldwide. ?Strong Financial backbone to launch a new product. Weakness ? 80% Population is in rural areas. ?Card acceptance is low. Political corruption is hi gh. ?Privatization not encouraged in 1980 ¶s. Opportunity ? Card considered as a prestigious owning. ?Higher income group will aspire. ?Credit Card penetration low. Threat ? Joining Fee and Annual fee low for local banks. ?Diners Club and AMEX already present with some market share. Indonesia Strengths ? Citibank considered as a Global Bank. ?Citibank making profits worldwide. ?Strong Financial backbone to launch a new product. Weakness ? Large National Debts. ?Political corruption. ?Banking Fraud already prevalent in country. ?Per Capita income is only $500. Opportunity ? Card considered as a prestigious owning. Threat ? 3 Banks already eating up the market chunk. Malaysia Strengths ? Citibank considered as a Global Bank. ?Citibank making profits worldwide. ?Strong Financial backbone to launch a new product. Weakness ? Politically unstable. ?Largely a rural country. ?Malaysian law very stringent towards credit card ownership. Opportunity ? Culturally acceptable to revolving credit. ?Large successful business population. ?Bank acquisition not very difficult. Threat ? AMEX with some handsome market share. ?AMEX already having a superior customer image. Foreign banks only were allowed 3 banks in Malaysia. Taiwan Strengths ? Citibank considered as a Global Bank. ?Citibank making profits worldwide. ?Strong Financial backbone to launch a new product. Weakness ? No infrastructure for new products. ?Culturally not acceptable to people to owe money. ?before 1989, laws restricted credit card business Opportunity ? Deregulation of credit allowed re cently. Threat ? 50% market share with AMEX. ?It was mostly cash oriented society. Singapore Strengths ? Citibank considered as a Global Bank. ?Citibank making profits worldwide. ?Strong Financial backbone to launch a new product. Weakness ? Minimum age requirements and income requirements. Opportunity ? Worlds largest centre for trading and services. ?High standard of living of people. ?Hold of Local banks very low. ?Card usage high in the country. Threat ? International banks having a good hold in the market. Philippines Strengths ? Citibank considered as a Global Bank. ?Citibank making profits worldwide. ?Strong Financial backbone to launch a new product. Weakness ? Political corruption. ?People awareness is very low. ?Only local currency and transactions to be adhered with. Opportunity ? Credit Card market is under development. Customer acceptance toward revolving credit. Threat ? AMEX having handsome market share. ?AMEX already having a superior customer image. ?Foreign banks only were allowed 3 banks in Philippines. Thailand Strengths ? Citibank considered as a Global Bank. ?Citibank making profits worldwide. ?Strong Financial backbone to launch a new product. Weakness ? No infrastructure for new product s. Opportunity ? High consumer affluence and spending. ?Not many Credit Card company working. Threat ? 50% market share with AMEX & Diners club. Korea Strengths ? Citibank considered as a Global Bank. ?Citibank making profits worldwide. Strong Financial backbone to launch a new product. Weakness ? No infrastructure for new products. ?Strict government regulations regarding Revolving credit. ?Only local currency card can be issued. Opportunity ? Growth in the existing Diners club market already existing in Korea. Threat ? Existing companies experiencing huge financial losses and labor problems. Positioning the Card Positioning the Citi Silver ? Positioning the Citi Gold Target market to be Upper Middle and High income population. ? Premium features with attractive offers on Air Travel and Shopping available with a high credit limit. A separate relationship manager to tackle customer issues. ? Target market to be Lower and Middle income population. ? Standard features of shopping and a lower credit limit. ? Customer care to take care of customer issues. Customer Acquisition Cost Infra, S/W Development, Cost/Card of mailing, Total Cost incurred correspondence, in acquiring 1 mio Advertising Cust Support, Merchant Cost/ Customers Costs/Country Liaison Total Cost customer direct cost customers 250000 250000 250000 250000 1600000 35000000 12000000 12000000 12000000 36600000 12000000 12000000 12000000 72600000 146. 48 48 48 72. 6 6000000 78600000 Income from Card Holders Citi Silver Card % customers 70% Citi Gold Card 30% 32 9600000 40 12000000 33000000 60100000 27100000 Joining fee 25 Total Joining fee 17500000 Annual fee 30 Total annual fee 21000000 Grand total Break Even No. of Years Total Cost —————-Total Income = No. of years for Break Even 78600000 —————-60100000 = 1. 3 years ? For reaching the break even it will take approx 1. 3 years for any country. Recommendations Countries to ENTER ? Singapore ? Malaysia ? Philippines ? Thailand ? Hong Kong ? Australia Countries NOT TO ENTER ? India ? Indonesia ? Taiwan ? Korea Recommendations Citibank should focus on Acquisition of a local Bank. ? There should be very minimal or low joining fee and a moderate Annual fee charged. ? The Bank should keep local currency as the currency of exchange. ? There should be a central as well as a local data processing system. ?

The Socio Economic Impact Of Credit Environmental Sciences Essay

Low productiveness coupled with corruptness in the executing of authorities policies and the trouble by aquaculture fish husbandmans to entree recognition which is an of import ingredient for development, increased productiveness and improved supports necessitates this survey. The survey will be conducted to measure the Socio-Economic Impact of Credit on Aquaculture Fish Farmers in Ogun State, Nigeria. This is with the position to measure the consequence of the fish husbandmans ‘ socio-economic features and institutional factors that could impact fish production from aquaculture in the survey country. Primary informations will be generated through the disposal of semi-structured questionnaires on indiscriminately selected aquaculture fish husbandmans who benefitted from recognition and those who did non ; such that they are equally spread over the 20 ( 20 ) Local Government Areas of Ogun State, Nigeria. The husbandmans will be stratified into donees of recognition ( 40 ) and non-beneficiaries of recognition ( 60 ) , sampled on the footing of three ( 3 ) aquaculture fish husbandmans who benefitted from recognition and three ( 3 ) aquaculture fish husbandmans who did non profit from recognition per Local Government Area ( LGA ) . The primary informations generated will be scored and the per centums of the parametric quantities will be calculated suitably and presented in frequence tabular arraies. The chief statistical tools that will be employed are average, per centum, whole norm and frequence counts. Descriptive statistical method and illative statistics will be employed to discourse consequences. The consequences would be used to proffer recommendations for betterment, based on findings. Introduction. The general aim of this survey is to find the consequence of the fish husbandman ‘s socio-economic features and institutional factors that could impact fish production from aquaculture in the survey country Figs. 1, 2 and 3 ) . The major purposes of the survey are as follows: I. Measure the socio-economic features of fish husbandmans who benefitted and those who did non profit from recognition. two Evaluate the impact of recognition usage on the productiveness of aquaculture in the survey country. three. Measure the degree of production of fish husbandmans who benefitted from and those who did non profit from recognition. four. Identify the jobs and/or factors that militate against the coveted impact of recognition on fish husbandmans in Ogun State, Nigeria. v. Identify the beginning ( s ) of recognition and form of expense to the fish husbandmans. six. Proffer recommendations for betterment, based on findings. In order to accomplish the above enunciated major purposes of the survey, the research inquiries for this survey are therefore formulated as follows: I. â€Å" Do aquaculture angle husbandmans with entree to recognition have a better socio-economic life? † two. â€Å" Does entree to recognition impact on the productiveness of aquaculture fish agriculture? † three. â€Å" How does the beginning and form of recognition disbursement impact on the overall socio-economic life of aquaculture fish husbandmans? † In Nigeria, agricultural funding has long been considered a tough nut to cleft. Even when available, entree to recognition is hard for husbandmans. However, there has been renewed involvement by the Federal Government in get the better ofing the obstructions that hinder entree to agricultural obstructions, as finance is an of import ingredient for development, as it allows agricultural communities to go successful in making supports and better nutrient security. Despite assorted attempts by the Nigerian authorities at doing good agricultural policies ; through strategies, programmes and establishments, with agricultural recognition strategies, which has been working for many old ages, the public presentation of the sector has non fared better than it was before independency. This has been diversely blamed on the authorities ‘s inability to supply equal budgetary allotment and funding, coupled with corruptness in the executing of the policies ( Eze, C. et Al. 2010 ) . It is hence pertinent to determine the impact of recognition strategies on the donees, and in peculiar the piscaries sector. It is against this background that this survey is designed to measure the socio-economic impact of recognition on aquaculture fish husbandmans in Ogun State, Nigeria.Relation to Previous Research.Though modern aquaculture in Nigeria is of recent pattern, artisanal fishermen and angling communities have for coevalss practiced traditional methods of fish nurturing in tidal pools and inundation fields ( Dada 2007, 1975 ) . FAO, 2003, reported that Nigeria contributed 6.4 % to agricultural production in Africa in twelvemonth 2000, with domestic fish production from aquaculture increasing from 4.5 % in 1999 to 5.5 % in 2000 ( Table 2 ) . Although there is considerable possible for aquaculture in Nigeria, the present part to domestic fish production from this sector is instead low. Out of the estimated one-year production of 467,098 dozenss in 2000, less than 10 % ca me from aquaculture ( Federal Department of Fisheries, 2003 ) . In malice of the potency of aquaculture, there are tonss of jobs militating against its development. Prominent among these are hapless choice fish seed and provender, hapless substructure, unequal proficient know-how and recognition ( Olaoye et al. , 2011 ) . Credit which is of great importance to the nutriment of fish agriculture and agricultural development in Nigeria is nevertheless missing in the strategy of things ( Onwuka, 2006 ) . Even when available, entree to recognition is hard for husbandmans in the rural countries despite the fact that it is an indispensable input in agricultural production ( Olaoye, 2010 ) . This could be attributed to miss of information and indirect securities among husbandmans and administrative bureaucratic bottle cervixs. Out of despair to transform the state ‘s agricultural sector, the Federal Government of Nigeria has since the early 1970s, embarked on significant capital investing programmes in agribusiness, based on the belief that recognition is the â€Å" all in all † productive input required by husbandmans to transform their productive capacity ( Olowa et al. , 2011 ) . In position of the failed yesteryear recognition strategies and acknowledgment of the of import function recognition dramas in agricultural development and sustainability, prompted the Federal Government of Nigeria to set up recognition strategies such as ; the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme ( ACGS ) and Agricultural Credit Support Scheme ( ACSS ) , amongst others ; to guarantee husbandman ‘s entree to recognition. The constitution of these new recognition strategies notwithstanding, entree to recognition by husbandmans has non well improved. Based on the 2006 Core Welfare Indicators Questionnaire Surve y, it is estimated that merely 18 % of farm families ( chiefly small-scale husbandmans ) have entree to fiscal services ( Akramov, 2009 ) . It is frequently really hard to quantitatively show the impact of recognition on small-scale husbandmans, because it is hard to capture and analyze all of its benefits ( Accion International, 2010 ) . However, Okojie et Al. ( 2010 ) in an interview of freelance workers in Edo State, Nigeria found that micro-credit had a positive impact on the concern and household life of rural inhabitants that had entree to NGO-MFIs. Feijo ( 2001 ) besides found that there was a positive impact on the lives of husbandmans who benefited from the recognition installations of the Program to Support Family agriculture ( PRONAF ) in Brazil, based on the measuring of productiveness growing of their chief harvests. In the same vena, Oyeyinka et Al. ( 2009 ) , analyzing the impact of donees and non-beneficiaries of the NACRDB smallholder loan strategy in Oyo State, Nigeria, found that the output, income, and entree to improved farm inputs of donees were higher compared to that of non-beneficiaries. Other impacts include betterments in easing economic minutess, pull offing daily resources, accessing services that improve quality of life, protecting against economic exposure, doing productiveness sweetenings and leveraging assets. Finally, participants in the FGD posited that timely recognition proviso facilitates the timely acquisition of farm inputs, which help husbandmans better their support. Traditional aquaculture system and gaining control piscaries have socio-economic impacts on angling communities in Nigeria. Harmonizing to Federal Department of Fisheries ( 2000 ) , traditional aquaculture systems and gaining control piscaries provide employment for over 1 million people in Nigeria. These systems account for 70 – 90 % of the one-year income of angling communities in Nigeria ( DFID-FAO, 2002 ) . The writers nevertheless pointed out that the income is instead low and can barely prolong them and their households. Gwomna ( 2006 ) submitted that angling communities in Nigeria are socially disadvantaged and lack comfortss like lodging, good imbibing H2O, healthful installations and instruction, therefore compromising their nutritionary security. He besides posited that the socio-economic state of affairss of these angling communities therefore have an impact on the quality of their support. In this survey, I am adding a new dimension of looking at the socio-economic impact of recognition on aquaculture fish husbandmans in Ogun State, Nigeria from the point of position of multi-credit lines instead a individual recognition installation. This is with the position of highlighting, if any, the interplay of multi-credit lines on the demographics of adoption and its attendant effects on the aquaculture fish husbandmans.Proposed Methods.A multi-stage and simple Random Sampling ( SRS ) technique will be used to bring forth primary informations from the field, utilizing sets of structured and pre-tested questionnaires. Aim trying technique will be used to choose three ( 3 ) aquaculture fish husbandmans in each of the 20 ( 20 ) Local Government Areas ( LGAS ) of Ogun State, Nigeria who benefitted from a recognition or loan strategy, while another three ( 3 ) aquaculture fish husbandmans who did non profit from any recognition or loan strategy would be sampled in each of the 20 ( 20 ) Local Government Areas ( LGAs ) . A sum of One hundred and 20 ( 120 ) aquaculture fish husbandmans will be sampled for the survey, with accent on husbandmans that keep reasonably good and accurate records of their operations. The husbandmans will be divided into two ( 2 ) groups, viz. ; husbandmans that had entree to recognition or loan ( whether ball or informal beginnings ) for aquaculture fish agriculture and the 2nd group, husbandmans who did non entree any signifier of recognition or loan. Sets of questionnaire would be administered on the sampled aquaculture fish husbandmans between the 1st of November 2012 and 16th December 2012. Effort will be made to guarantee equal spread and representation of each Local Government Area. The primary informations would be generated on the socio-economic features of the aquaculture fish husbandmans, such as ; age, pool size ( s ) , provenders, gender, extension services, rank of Fishermen Co-operative Societies, fish inputs, quality of fish gimmick and income, educational background, recognition beginning ( s ) and form of expense, experience and family size of the husbandman, and jobs restraining aquaculture fish agriculture in Ogun State, Nigeria, etc. , utilizing structured questionnaires. The secondary informations would be extracted from archived paperss of recognition facilitators, oversing authorities bureaus and relevant published research work and documents. The information would include, the entire one-year fish production and entire aquaculture fish production in Ogun State and Nigeria for the last five old ages ; list of aquaculture fish husbandmans in Ogun State, and list of the different types of aquaculture fish pools, their size and locations ; and relevant literature on aquaculture fish production in Ogun State in peculiar and Nigeria in general. Besides, informations on the sum of loans, figure of loan donees, loan public presentation and the demographics of adoption, etc. The administrations from whom these informations would be extracted from their archives, include ; Ogun State Agricultural Development Project, Ogun State Agricultural Management and Credit Scheme ( OSAMCA ) , Nigeria Agricultural Credit and Rural Development Bank ( NACRDB ) , Ogun Sta te Ministry of Agriculture, Federal Department of Fisheries ( FDF ) , University of Agriculture, Abeokuta and any other relevant bureaus and establishments. The primary informations generated from the questionnaire will be scored, and the per centums of the parametric quantities will be calculated suitably and presented in frequence tabular arraies. The chief statistical tools that will be employed are average, per centums, and whole norm and frequence counts. Descriptive statistical methods and illative statistics will be used to discourse the information. The descriptive analysis will be used to foreground the nature and frequence of informations and jobs encountered by the aquaculture fish husbandmans in the province. To buttress the choice of the interview method for informations coevals for the survey, Hirsjarvi et Al. ( 2009 ) and Hirsjarvi ( 2008 ) opined that the interview method is a good method of informations coevals, as it allows for the enlargement of information, clarify desired replies, and acquire exemplifying illustrations. Hirsjarvi and Hume ( 2008 ) define interview as a tool, proposing that the interviewers ‘ talk is to intercede the image of respondents ideas, sentiments, experiences, and feelings. A semi-structured interview type will be chosen for this survey as it is the most suited, sing the nature of the topic. Contemplations. This survey is of great importance and involvement to me because it forms portion of what I intend to make in the hereafter and besides its ability to add to the bing organic structure of cognition. It is anticipated that the survey would besides assist broaden my cognition on aquaculture fish agriculture. The survey has the ability to bring forth critical and utile information that could help policy preparation. Though the survey can be clip devouring, dashing and frustrating, it is every bit rewarding. In transporting out a survey of this nature, there are normally built-in jobs that would necessitate to be addressed in order to carry on a qualitative research that can adequately lend to the bing organic structure of cognition. Some of the awaited jobs and intended solution would be highlighted. The most awaited challenge is that of the moralss of the respondents, peculiarly in a underdeveloped society like Nigeria, with a reasonably low literacy degree and official corruptness ; makes people leery of each other and apathy towards the behavior of study. This ethical consideration demand to be considered as many of the respondents may be loath to take portion in the survey or may non be really willing to unwrap critical and personal information to an unknown beginning. This is attributable to the uncertainness of what the divulged information will be used for, who might come in contact with such information and how the information would be used. In position of the high prevalence of crisp corrupt patterns in the society and public establishments, entree to secondary informations from public and private establishments could be hard, and if provided, they may non be a true contemplation of what obtains on land. To work out this job therefore, I intend to guarantee all those that would necessitate to supply information for the survey of their confidentiality and namelessness, while besides acquiring a missive of debut from the University. I besides intend to acquire the consent of respondents before interview and guaranting that they are adequately educated on the intent of the survey and that the information provided will be used strictly for the exclusive intent of survey. The usage of multi-stage and simple random sample ( SRS ) technique to bring forth primary informations utilizing sets of structured and semi-structured inquiries comes with its ain attendant restrictions, such as the debut of the research workers ‘ prejudice in the class of interview. The prejudices of a research worker on a subject tend to on occasion play itself out on the manner the interview inquiries for the survey are structured. I hence would guarantee that I am as indifferent and open-minded as possible. This is besides pertinent in position of the fact that the survey could assist clarify some salient issues which could assist construct on my cognition of aquaculture fish agriculture. Finally, to accomplish a research work of high quality, I would use myself to the survey with much diligence, difficult work, committedness and unfastened head.Decision.In reasoning this survey, inferals from the analysis of the information generated will be used to proffer recommendations for the betterment of the socio-economic features of the aquaculture fish husbandmans and the ability of the husbandmans to entree recognition, its form of expense and degree of public presentation. On the whole, all issues that come up from the survey as respects the socio-economic features of the aquaculture fish husbandmans and their entree to recognition will be discussed and recommendations proffered for their betterment. The survey will be concluded by associating the subject with all the findings of the survey vis-a-vis the aims of the survey.Timetable.A. 1st November 2012 to 16th December 2012 Polish of questionnaire and disposal. Primary informations assemblage through questionnaire disposal. Expansion of Review of Relevant Literature and Secondary Data Gathering. Draft write-up of Chapter 1. B. 17th December 2012 to 13th January 2013. Extraction and bite of information ( information ) from questionnaire. Analysis of collated information ( information ) . Presentation of analyzed information ( information ) Draft write-up of chapter 2. C. 14th January 2013 to 28th March 2013. Draft write-up of thesis. Submission of bill of exchange transcript of thesis. Submission of concluding transcript of thesis. Mentions. Accion International. n.d. Measuring the impact of microfinance: Our Perspective. hypertext transfer protocol: //www.accion.org/Document.Doc? id=794. Accessed July 30, 2010. Akinbile, L.A. ( 2007 ) . Standardization of socio-economic Status ( SES ) graduated table for farm households in South West Nigeria. Journal of Social Sciences, 14 ( 3 ) : 221-227. Akramov, K.T ( 2009 ) . Decentralization, agricultural services and determiners of input usage in Nigeria. Discussion Paper 941, Washington, D.C: International Food Policy Research Institute. Dada, B.F. ( 2007 ) . Fisheries Development in Nigeria. The challenges and chances of accessing fund. The president ‘s reference delivered by Otunba Bamidele Dada ( OON ) at the public talk organised by the Fisheries Society of Nigeria ( FISON ) in Lagos, Nigeria. Dada, B.F. ( 1975 ) . Present Status and Prospects for Aquaculture in Nigeria. Symposium on Aquaculture in Africa. CIFA/T4, Rome: FAO. DFID-FAO ( 2002 ) . Contribution of Fisheries Research to the Improvement of Livelihoods in West African Fisheries Communities: Case Study of Nigeria. Rome: DFID-FAO. Available: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.sflp.org/eng/fr/003/doc/rpniga2.doc. Accessed 19th March 2005. Eze, C. , Lemchi, J.J. , Ugochukwu, A.I. , Eze, V.C. , Awulonu, C.A.O. , and Okon, A.X. ( 2010 ) . Agricultural Financing Policies and rural Development in Nigeria. The 84th Annual Conference of the Agricultural Economics Society, Edinburgh. 29th to 31st March 2010. Food and Agricultural Organisation ( FAO ) ( 2003 ) . Review of the State of World Aquaculture. FAO Fisheries Circular No. 886, Rev.2. Rome: FAO. Federal Department of Fisheries ( FDF ) ( 2003 ) . Domestic Fish production by sectors ( 1991-2000 ) . Lagos, Nigeria: Federal Department of Fisheries. Gwomna, A. ( 2006 ) . The Role of Traditional Aquaculture Systems and Fish in Food Security and Livelihoods of Fishing Communities in two States in Nigeria. Ph.D. Thesis Submitted at The Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland. October 2006. Okojie, C. ; Monye-Emina, A ; Eghofona, K ; Osaghae, G ; and Ehiakhamen, J.O ( 2010 ) . Institutional environment and entree to microfinance by freelance adult females in the rural countries of Edo State.NSSP Brief No. 14. Washington, D.C: International Food Policy Research Institute. Shimang, G.N. ( 1999 ) . Status Review of Aquaculture Development in Nigeria ( 1940-1998 ) , Abuja, Nigeria. Federal Department of Fisheries.

Uses of Hris in Recruitment Process

INFORMATION SYTEMS AND RECRUITMENT Among the many definitions of Human Resource Management (HRM), this paper will approach it from a sistemic perspective. That is to say, HRM comprises the whole range of activities from the need to fill a free post to the time when an employee leaves the firm. The first one is the recruitment process, which is divided into three stages: Application, selection and socialization. This paper will leave out the latter, focusing in the use of HRIS (Human Resources Information Systems) for the recruitment process until the final appointment decision.Specifically, the first decision to be made by the firm is whether the recruitment will be internal or external. Table 1 shows a comparative between the pros and cons of each type of recruitment. As it can be seen, the internal recruitment has, initially, more advantages than the external. This is why several academics (e. g. Deguy, 1989; Pena Baztan, 1990 and Diez de Castro et al. , 2002) recommend this option whenever it is feasible and suitable. Only in those cases that this is not valid or sufficient, the firm must resort to external recruitment. Nevertheless, it is necessary to keep in mind that this statement is to be taken cautiously.There is no perfect recruitment method; the choice will have to be made considering the particular circumstances of the firm and its objectives. European and Mediterranean Conference on Information Systems (EMCIS) 2006, July 6-7 2006, Costa Blanca, Alicante, Spain J. A. Fernandez-Sanchez et al. Use of HRIS in recruitment process. The Spanish case. 2 Internal recruitment External recruitment advantages disadvantages Advantages disadvantages Low cost Limited offer Higher number of candidates High cost Faster results Interest conflicts Slower Better knowledge of candidates Lack of authority due to excess of trustNo prior knowledge of candidates Shorter socialization period Lack of innovation and new ideas Encourage change and innovation Longer socializati on period Business culture is fortified Business culture may stagnate Encourage modifications in culture Likely cultural shock Increases motivation between employees Likely discontent among non-selected May de-motivate Increases the build up of knowledge Factor for attraction and upkeep of staff Table 1. Internal vs. external recruitment The optimal use of internal recruitment processes requires possessing an updated and accurate knowledge of the personnel of the firm (Leal Millan et al. 1999), for which a HRIS can be used. The simplest and cheapest of them all, most likely, is a human resource inventory (also known as Internal IS): a database or registrar in which the largest amount of information possible is kept. Basic data to be included in this database are the personal details, the recruitment dates, the positions held, promotions, and other observations regarding their performance and potential (Pena Baztan, 1990). Following this, it must be reminded that the internal recruit ment sources are to be employed wisely, because, on occasion, they may lead to deception instead of motivation.Likewise, in order to ensure that all internal and external (if any) applications are considered equally, the former should be complemented with the most complete information available (Besseyre des Horts, 1988). Considering this frame of work, this paper intends to test two main hypotheses on the topic of the use of these recruitment sources from an empirical point of view. On the one hand, regarding the relationship between HRIS and internal recruitment processes: Hypothesis 1: â€Å"The firms that deploy HRIS in their internal recruitment processes will perform better than those who do not do it†.On the other hand, following those authors that recommend internal over external recruitment decisions, the research inquires whether: Hypothesis 2: â€Å"The firms that prefer internal recruitment decisions over external recruitment will perform better than those who do not do it†. Nevertheless, the implications that the assertion or rejection of these statements will not be fully understood unless a descriptive analysis of the presence and usage of business HRIS is carried out. This will be done prior to the actual test of the hypotheses alleged above.European and Mediterranean Conference on Information Systems (EMCIS) 2006, July 6-7 2006, Costa Blanca, Alicante, Spain J. A. Fernandez-Sanchez et al. Use of HRIS in recruitment process. The Spanish case. 3 2 DATA ANALYSIS To study the two hypotheses, along with some descriptive data, a nation-wide empirical research was performed. It was founded on the results of a prior research limited to the province of Alicante (Spain), in which the questionnaire was tested and the model was validated. SCOPE Spain POPULATION 3000 Firms with more than 200 employees SAMPLE 334 valid answers (11,1%)STANDARD ERROR 5,2%1 Table 2. Technical data of the empirical research The T test, used to determine the infere nce of the observations, concluded that there were no significant differences between the group of firms that did answer and that who did not. Consequently, the data here shown can be considered as valid indicators of the behaviour of the Spanish firms with more than 200 employees. 2. 1 Use of HRIS in the firm: a descriptive analysis Before the two main hypotheses are tested, a complimentary analysis of the findings may lead to a better understanding of the implications of this research.This part of the study will deal with the descriptive analysis of the use of HRIS in the firm. The first dimension to be concerned about is the type of information system implemented by these firms (see Table 3). Traditional (manual) Files Computerised HRIS Management of C. V. online F % V% C% F % V% C% F % V% C% YES 259 77,5 77,5 77,5 165 49,4 49,7 49,7 207 62,0 62,3 62,3 NO 75 22,5 22,5 100,0 167 50,0 50,3 100,0 125 37,4 37,7 100,0 Total 334 100,0 100,0 332 99,4 100,0 332 99,4 100,0 F=Frequency %=P ercentage V%= Valid percentage C%= Cumulative percentage Table 3.Most common applications of HRIS A few facts stand out in table 3. For starters, over two thirds of the firms (77,5%) use manual HRIS, i. e. traditional files. This is likely due to their lower cost and easier handling. As for the most sophisticated systems, this is, the computerised HRIS, barely half of the firms employ them, although this has shown an increasing tendency when compared to the results of the previous experimental research (in early 2004, only a 38,6% of the firms gave an affirmative answer).The motivations underneath this evolution include the sheer necessity to adapt to the requirements of a more complex organization, the desire to imitate those successful firms that had implemented them, or the uprising of more knowledgeable managers in present time businesses, among others. Regarding the deployment of applications for managing C. V. s online (retrieving them and storing the information adequately), it seems easy and useful enough to be accepted by 62% of the organizations. Regarding the use of HRIS in the recruitment policy, table 4 shows that every stage may benefit from them.Even though, their degree of application is inversely related to the timing and the complexity of 1 This error has been calculated for N=3000, assuming p=q and a confidence interval of 95%. European and Mediterranean Conference on Information Systems (EMCIS) 2006, July 6-7 2006, Costa Blanca, Alicante, Spain J. A. Fernandez-Sanchez et al. Use of HRIS in recruitment process. The Spanish case. 4 the task. As it was observed before, more sophisticated HRIS (and, therefore, able to assist in more complex tasks such as decision making processes) are implemented by a smaller number of firms. Reception of pplications Data storage Data retrieval Decision making processes F % V% C% F % V% C% F % V% A% F % V% C% YES 294 88. 0 91. 0 91. 0 285 85. 3 88. 2 88. 2 216 64. 7 66. 9 66. 9 151 42. 2 46. 7 46. 7 NO 29 8. 7 9. 0 100 38 11. 4 11. 8 100 107 32. 0 33. 1 100 172 51. 5 53. 3 100 Total 323 96. 7 100 323 96. 7 100 323 96. 7 100 323 96. 7 100 F=Frequency %=Percentage V%= Valid percentage C%= Cumulative percentage Table 4. Use of HRIS in different recruitment stages In sum, table 5 shows that 36,5% of the firms do use some HRIS application for all four recruitmentrelated tasks, which indicate two conclusions: ) HRIS are not an exclusive tool, but they are seldom used in combination with other methods; and b) These applications are good enough as assistants and support devices, but they will never be able to substitute human criterion. Frequency Cumulative frequency % Valid % Cumulative % 0 14 14 4,2 4,2 4,2 1 28 42 8,4 8,4 12,6 2 80 122 24,0 24,0 36,5 3 90 212 26,9 26,9 63,5 4 122 334 36,5 36,5 100,0 Total* 334 100,0 100,0 *0= no HRIS; 1= HRIS for only one task; 2= HRIS for two tasks; and so on. Table 5. Number of tasks performed through HRISFinally, there was an interest in seeing whether seve ral structural characteristics of these firms were significantly related to the use of HRIS. It can be seen in table 6 that only two classifications are affected by the use of HRIS: parent firms over subsidiaries, and the larger firms. These results respond to the logic that both types of organizations require a more complex structure, which may influence in their decision of relying on HRIS for leaner and more efficient recruitment tasks. VARIABLES CHI-SQUARED DEGREES OF FREEDOM SIGN. Family Business 4,241 4 ,374Parent /subsidiary 19,832 6 ,003 Public/private 1,295 4 ,862 Industry 36,434 28 ,132 % Permanent staff 13,960 12 ,303 Number of employees 28,320 8 ,000 Table 6. Use of HRIS concerning other classification treats European and Mediterranean Conference on Information Systems (EMCIS) 2006, July 6-7 2006, Costa Blanca, Alicante, Spain J. A. Fernandez-Sanchez et al. Use of HRIS in recruitment process. The Spanish case. 5 2. 2 Hypothesis 1: The firms that deploy HRIS in their inte rnal recruitment processes will perform better than those who do not do itThe first hypothesis is tested with the aid of a new variable created for the purpose of measuring whether the firms use internal recruitment methods based on HRIS applications. A Chi-squared test, carried out on the actual results against the null hypothesis, assesses that the actual results are different enough to overcome a certain probability that they are due to sampling error with a statistical significance of 0,045, thus confirming the assertion of hypothesis 1.Hence, it is found that those firms that rely on internal recruitment processes based on HRIS applications have better outcomes in the performance of the appointed person than those who do not. Table 7 shows the observed frequencies and how this fact may affect the overall performance of the recruitment process. Regarding the firms’ impression on the effects of using HRIS to recruit good candidates, the majority of those that implement the m (89,3%) agree in considering this fact â€Å"quite† or â€Å"plenty† beneficial. It is outstanding as well the fact that only one of them has marked this item as â€Å"No beneficial at all†.Perceived outcomes recruitment/ selection No beneficial at all A little Quite Plenty Yes Internal recruitment and HRIS 1 (0. 3%) 31 (10. 3%) 209 (69. 4%) 60 (19. 9%) No 0 (0. 0%) 7 (21. 2%) 25 (75. 8%) 1 (3. 0%) Table 7. Concurrence of HRIS usage and internal recruitment. Effects on recruitment results. In addition, in order to find if the use of HRIS has a positive influence on the outcomes of the recruiting process, another Chi-squared test shows that a relationship is established between the independent variable (Use of HRIS) and the dependent one (Perceived outcomes of the process), with a 0,000 statistical significance.Therefore, it is statically confirmed that a greater application of HRIS contribute in a positive manner to the outcomes of the recruitment process, and , in consequence, to the overall performance of the firm. This evidence agrees, once more, with hypothesis 1. 2. 3 Hypothesis 2: The firms that prefer internal recruitment decisions over external recruitment will perform better than those who do not do itBefore carrying out this test, it seemed necessary to see whether firms prefer internal recruitment techniques over external ones. To do so, a frequency analysis was carried out, as illustrated in table 8. Frequency % Valid % Cumulative % Never 5 1,5 1,6 1,6 Very rarely 11 3,3 3,5 5,1 Rarely 19 5,7 6,1 11,2 Occasionally 62 18,6 19,8 31,0 Frequently 72 21,6 23,0 54,0 Very frequently 77 23,1 24,6 78,6 Always 67 20,1 21,4 100,0 Preference of internal recruitment over external recruitment Total 313 93,7 100,0 Table 8.Preference of internal recruitment over external recruitment The low values of the â€Å"very rarely† and â€Å"never† categories, and the fact that 69% of the firms prefer internal over external recruitment o n a â€Å"frequently† to â€Å"always† basis, demonstrate that it is internal European and Mediterranean Conference on Information Systems (EMCIS) 2006, July 6-7 2006, Costa Blanca, Alicante, Spain J. A. Fernandez-Sanchez et al. Use of HRIS in recruitment process. The Spanish case. 6 recruitment what organizations favour. The reasons under this tendency can be found in the advantages of internal recruitment methods, as seen in the literature review.As for the consequences of this choice, table 9 provides the results of the relationship between the use of internal recruitment by the firms and the perceived degree of satisfaction with the outcomes of such a decision. None Of little satisfaction Moderately satisfactory Satisfactory Very satisfactory Addition of the last two Seldom 0 (0. 0%) 0 (0. 0%) 3 (30. 0%) 6 (60. 0%) 1 (10. 0%) 7 (70. 0%) Occasionally 0 (0,0%) 0 (0,0%) 12 (15,0%) 58 (72,5%) 10 (12,5%) 68 (85,0%) Sometimes 1 (0,8%) 0 (0,0%) 11 (8,7%) 97 (76,4%) 18 (14 ,2%) 115 (90,6%) Often 0 (0,0%) 0 (0,0%) 5 (6,9%) 44 (61,1%) 23 (31,9%) 67 (93,0%) Use of nternal recruitment Always 0 (0,0%) 0 (0,0%) 1 (5,0%) 11 (55,0%) 8 (40,0%) 19 (95,0%) Table 9. Degree of satisfaction with the outcomes of the recruitment process This contingency table indicates that those firms that use primarily internal recruitment processes seem more satisfied with their decision. Moreover, another Chi-squared test carried on these two variables rejects the null hypothesis of independence with a statistical significance of 0,013.Therefore, hypothesis 2 is confirmed, as has been argued by the work of other authors (namely Pfeffer, 1994 and 1998; Huselid, 1995; Delaney and Huselid, 1996; Delery and Doty, 1996) who show a positive relationship between the internal recruitment strategy and the performance of the firm. 3 DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS The main conclusion of this paper is the realization that the use of business HRIS is in a developing and retrieval. In spite of thi s, it is recognized the positive influence that these systems have in the recruiting process, which make us think that HRIS will gain a place in many organizations in the short and medium term.Regarding the commonest applications of HRIS, our findings indicate that a fairly large percentage of firms rely on these systems for at least one the stages of the recruitment process. Nevertheless, the presence of these applications is scarcer for the most complex and delayed in time tasks, such as decision making processes, because they require, in return, more complex HRIS. This conclusion is therefore reinforced by the findings expressed above, since it is the developing stage of HRIS what leads to this decompensate situation. It was also observed that two groups of organizations lead the HRIS mplementation trend: the parent companies, with regard to their subsidiaries, and the largest firms in terms of number of employees. This seems a logical finding because their more complex structure s may benefit more of the advantages of HRIS to increase the efficiency of their recruiting processes. Besides, HRIS are found to be preferred in combination with other HRM practices, instead of on their own. This reveals that human judgement is still the main criterion for making decisions in this area, albeit assessed or supported by the information provided by the HRIS.As for the main hypotheses tested in this research, internal recruitment is the favourite method for filling in vacant positions within the firms, which confirms the theoretical assumptions that asserted that, even though both internal and recruitment strategies are to be considered, the former is less costly and provides more advantages to the firms. Indeed, the evidence supports that a better performance is expected from the people internally recruited, which in turn will improve the overall business performance.European and Mediterranean Conference on Information Systems (EMCIS) 2006, July 6-7 2006, Costa Blanca , Alicante, Spain J. A. Fernandez-Sanchez et al. Use of HRIS in recruitment process. The Spanish case. 7 The same can be stated about the synergies caused by the interaction between HRIS and internal recruitment. The business managers, overwhelming, agree in the positive effects that the advantages of the latter, and the better quality information provided by the former, have in the outcomes of the recruitment decisions. Finally, we would like to express our own impression on this topic.It is our belief that HRIS add competitive value to the firm as a whole and to the HRM department specifically. Despite this conviction, shared with many other academics of the field, we have reservations supporting that information systems may endow businesses with a sustainable competitive advantage on their own. Classic strategic information systems benefited from their being the first to arrive, but they soon became a commodity, even a compulsory asset in order to remain in the industry. Their pe rvasive condition may inhibit other firms from developing the strategic changes needed for succeeding in the foreseeable future.