A Reception Analysis High School Students

Nowadays, Korean culture and Its cultural products have been Influencing every nation, invading Asia and the rest of the world. This trend is popularly known as the Korean wave or Halley, which greatly influenced the way people live today. Korean invasion started first in television dramas which got a lot of fans globally despite of the language barrier. And these television dramas made their viewers love Korean characters and their culture as well, which signaled the birth of Korean wave.Today, Korea is still developing more products that they can introduce to the whole world ND it means more products for the fans who love to watch every single episode of their favorite Korean drama or who go crazy for their Korean Idols. In the Philippines, Just like the Mexican tealeaves that were popular back In the days, Korean television dramas or Cornflakes became a big hit to the taste of Filipino audience, especially the teenagers. Filipino youth in this generation are now changing slowly an d are catching up with what Is the new trend today.Cornflakes and other Korean products have Influenced the Filipino youth and changed their preferences in music, fashion, food, and etc. This study is about the media consumption of Filipino youth in watching Cornflakes and what keeps them watching this kind of television program. The youth have psychological or sociological needs that they want to satisfy by watching programs that are introduced by media. And most of the needs of these young people can be gratified by the Cornflakes that they watch. Their needs serve as their driving force in consuming foreign products. . RATIONALE In these modern times, the youth are creating their new world where they can express their creativity and passion through popular culture. The spread of Korean pop culture or Halley all over the world had influenced the way teenagers live, especially the Filipino youth. This phenomenon changed their taste for music, clothes, hairstyle, food, gadgets, and many more. The youth have their own needs that can be satisfied by Korean cultural products, particularly television dramas, which media has introduced to them.Korean television dramas, or popularly known in the Philippines as â€Å"Cornflakes†, have won the hearts of the Filipino audience, especially the young people. And with that simple appreciation from the viewers, Korean pop culture has been slowly entering In the ivies of many. Some people started as an avid fan of a particular Korean star from the television drama that they watch, and then eventually they imitate everything that ‘OFF media in watching Korean television dramas, the more they are influenced by this kind of media content. Understanding the needs of these young people might lead us to know the reasons of their consumption.This study can give us an opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate the views of young Cornflake fanatics. With this, the side of Cornflake enthusiasts and the side of non-Shoppers can achieve mutual understanding and respect. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE l. Korean Wave or Halley South Korea has been emerging as a source of power for the production of transnational pop culture which spread first to neighboring Asian countries, later to the Middle East and North Africa, and more recently to Europe and the Americas (Park & Change, p. 2).This phenomenon is introduced as â€Å"Korean wave† which refers to the significantly increased popularity of South Korean culture around the world; it is also referred to as Halley, in the Korean language. The term was coined in China in mid-1999 by Beijing Journalists surprised by the fast growing popularity of Korean entertainment and culture in China (Lee, 2011, p. 86). The first wave of Halley in China was the invasion of television dramas. Initially, it seemed that the boom in Korean entertainment in China was accidental rather than deliberate (Steinberg, 2010, p. 53). Later, the rave for Korean drama expanded to in clude not only music, dance, and film, but also literature, fashion, and even Korean cuisine and became the driving force in Koreans tourism. The Korean government picked up on this phenomenon fairly quickly and went on a nationalistic campaign to promote Halley in different ways (Park & Change, p. ). The Korean wave portrays an unprecedented frame of Korean popular culture by the Korean media alongside the line with commercial nationalism.As a result, the Korean wave is manifested as a regional cultural trend signifying a triumph of Korean culture (Lee, 2011, p. 85). Korean cultural products have become a catalyst for curiosity about Korean culture and Korea itself. Korean dramas in particular have served as an important bridge for the different countries to encounter Korean culture. The Korean wave has had a marked impact in various ways regarding transaction with other countries. Local sentiment towards Korea has not been respectable in the past, but the Korean wave has fundament ally changed the national image of Korea in a positive way.The Korean wave ultimately improved Koreans image in foreign countries, which in turn created a ripple effect that has extended much farther than Just the Korean economy or peninsula (Lee, 2011, p. 86). Korean Television Dramas Korean television dramas (K-dramas) have enjoyed immense popularity all over the world. It is part of the phenomenon known as Halley or Korean Wave, in which all things Korean from television dramas to popular music to fashion are consumed by audiences all over the world. K-dramas ushered the Wave, beginning in China in the late sass through hit TV shows such as â€Å"What is Love? Which aired in China Central Television (CATV) in 1997 (chorea, p. 1). Which view Asian â€Å"family-friendly' values as the main reason for the success of the shows. As many Korean television dramas have won the hearts of fans in China, Taiwan, Japan, Southeast Asia, and overseas Asian communities worldwide, prominent cu ltural scholars like Chichi Buckish and Chug Been Heat began to analyze the penetration of Korean television dramas into Asian markets and defined he process as newly â€Å"emerging intra-Asian popular cultural flows under globalization forces† Nouns, 2009, p. 9). Many fans of Korean television dramas talk about the physical attractiveness of the Korean actors and actresses and their modern and glamorous fashion, make-up and hairstyles. They also point to the lavish productions, including their skillful editing, beautiful cinematography, good acting, captivating storyline, and accessibility. Thanks to recent IT and digital-media developments, versions of these dramas are available for little or no cost with various subtitle options, includingEnglish, Japanese, Thai, Indonesian, Turkish, Spanish, and several Chinese dialects (Jung, 2009, p. 72). Viewers from various countries and backgrounds are drawn to Korean dramas of various reasons. For Americans, these dramas are â€Å" relaxing and cheerful† while for Europeans, the appeal rests on â€Å"uncomplicated and romantic† plots. Middle East an Muslim audiences, meanwhile, are drawn to the â€Å"subtle repression of emotions and intense romantic passion without overt sexuality' (Chorea, p. L).For Asians, the appeal of Korean television dramas rests on its so-called emotional power† which comes from the â€Å"interwoven themes of family, romance, friendship, martial arts, war, and business† as well as the way the characters face issues on love in a â€Å"tender, meaningful and emotional than sensual† manner. The Asian sensibilities of proportioning family and of expressing emotions in a subtle manner also appeal to Asian viewers across generations (Chorea, p. 1). II. Korean Wave in the Philippines Even before the Korean wave, Filipinos were long fans of imported dramas.Soap operas and drama series have become a staple for daytime and primetimes viewing I the Philippines. I n the sass, Mexican tealeaves became the mania, with huge hits like â€Å"Roseland† and â€Å"Marimba† attracting ratings above 50 percent. Asian dramas, including Korean, have become hits in the sass (Hiccup, 2009). In the Philippines, Korean dramas are fondly called â€Å"Cornflakes†, a term coined by Philippine television channel GAMMA 7 as a marketing buzzword for the growing popularity of K-dramas, following the past successes of the Mexican â€Å"tealeaves†, Taiwanese â€Å"chi-novella† and Japanese J-drama trends.Since Bright Girl, the first Korean drama shown in the Philippines through GAMMA 7 in 2003, K-dramas have bee deadly gaining popularity among Filipinos. But Korean drama's popularity picked u its pace when Endless Love: Autumn in My Heart was shown in the same year in the same channel (Chorea, p. 1). Rival network ABS-CB was quick to latch on to the trend and aired its own set of Korean television dramas. In fact, in 2005, the Phili ppines was counted among major importing countries of Korean dramas in Asia, with Japan leading at 60. Percent, China at 9. 9 percent, Philippines at 3. 7 percent, and Taiwan at 1. 4 percent. The dramas. Often, these dramas are dubbed in the Filipino language. Characters are also given names that are familiar sounding to Filipinos, such as Vivian for the lead female character and Carlo for the male lead character in Lovers in Paris. Soundtracks and background music are given a Filipino touch through the inclusion of local music artists, an example being Kitchen Naiad's Wag an Wag Mongo Scabbing, also in Lovers in Paris (Chorea, p. ). Filipinos love Cornflakes because they can relate to the stories. The Korean dramas are quite escapist and moving. Aside from the touching pipelines, the production is really a visual experience of places that most of the Filipinos are not accustomed to seeing. Filipino people are very easy to please and so the theme of the Korean drama has touched thei r hearts easily. They can relate with the story and at the same time looking and familiarizing on the tangible cultural manifestation of that country.This is a form of metasyntactic translation/dubbing. This method, a technical aspect of understanding a foreign drama is the tool or bridge of Korean drama that the Filipino understands. It makes them interested on a drama that offers something new and at the same time something informative which are all pleasing to their consciousness (Rexes, p. 4). Indeed, in the past several years, Filipino viewer tastes for dramas have evolved. They are no longer content with Filipino-made drama series, but welcome Essentials, including Korean drama series.As long as they appeal to the taste of TV audiences, Cornflakes will continue to warm the hearts of Filipinos (Hiccup, 2009). Ill. Korean Wave influencing youth culture According to the paper entitled â€Å"The Impact of K-pop to the Filipino Youth† by students from Polytechnic University of the Philippines, the K-pop fever or Halley can be easily spotted in the country in terms of Filipinos' clothing nowadays, music, behavior, attendances and even in television industry. Here are some examples that they stated with regards on how the Koreans are affecting the country, most especially the Filipino youth: A.Restaurants & Food Several Korean and Korean-inspired restaurants have popped up like mushrooms all over Metro Manila, from those serving traditional banana (assorted sidedness) and bulldog (grilled marinated meat) to those specializing in â€Å"double-fried† chicken. Because a lot of Korean has moved here in our country they tend to bring their own set of food like those mentioned from above. One of the most liked aspect of Halley is their Korean Dramas, when a teenager see or learn that his or her idol's favorite dish is Chime he/she will search for this food Just to learn why his/her idol love this particular dish.Another reason is that for them to connec t with their idols in simple ways in this instance they want to connect in terms of the food they eat. B. Music Korean shows a great way to introduce Filipinos to the country's mainstream music, which is collectively called K-pop. After listening to intros, ending songs and official sound tracks of their favorite series, these Cornflake Junkies begin to search about different k-pop artists and bands, with most popular of them in Junior, which has held two Jam-packed concerts in Manila.Of course, Filipinos also have a soft spot for the four-member NINE , which includes former ABS-CB talent Sandra Park. And after making the whole world do his hilarious horse dance, it is safe to say that Psych of â€Å"Kananga Style† fame is included in every Filipinos K-Pop play list. Nowadays a lot of teenage groups of boys and girls are popping up like mushrooms after the rain. The manner of their performance and even the way they Reese is obviously influenced by the Korean pop stars. A lot of teenagers play list is mostly composed of different Korean songs from their favorite series or their favorite K-Pop bands.Thus it is safe to say that the youth of today is greatly influenced by the K-Pop fever. C. Beauty and Fashion Nowadays, Korean hairstyle is very popular in the Philippines. Along with the fascination for Korean Stars is to achieve their unique hairstyles and flawless complexions, thus the sudden popularity of Korean salons and other beauty and fashion items. Every Filipinos cut their hair Just to feel them comfortable and infinite, and the Korean hairstyle is now at the top of young Filipino hairstyle choices. Sometimes they risk school by violating the school policy on proper haircut but this does not matter.Again, what matters is they look like Koreans. The youth in the Philippines tend to immortality their idols, to think that their idol is perfect thus their will to imitate them based on their clothing, hairstyles, and whatnot. Most of the youth today is using their idealization for these Korean Pop stars as a way to live, or as their coping mechanism if they have family problems or arsenal issues. By living for their idols they have a purpose and excuse to be someone else. The Filipino fans not only developed an interest in the Cornflakes or KOP music but also the likeness towards the Korean Fashion.This Korean fashion trend exploded among the students who love to be hip and chic and â€Å"In† with the new. Even sometimes they may look weird, as long as they tried to imitate the Korean hair, clothing style and shoes, to them the idea that they copied the Koreans perfectly is what matters. Indeed, the Korean fashion is now trending in the Philippines and it is big influence to the Filipinos who are very obsessed to the fashion because with the fashion, they learn how to mix and match dresses with different styles and colors.One factor that may lead to this influence is not the television but the Korean presence in the country since a big number of them are studying in the Philippines. In their presence, they have influenced their Filipino classmates and friends to dress and look like them. Because of this, some Filipinos have lost their originality for trying to imitate everything from the Korean culture (Rexes, p. 5). Apparently, Filipinos have been disgusted by their own brand of fashion. The flashy and overly stylish Korean fashion has now affected not only the look but the way of life of the Filipinos. D.Gadgets and Appliances The Philippines has been home to several Korean made gadgets even before the age of Halley in the Philippines. One of the biggest brands here and globally as well is Samsung, which sells anything from appliances to mobile phones. LEG is also a perfect example, which is endorsed by Lee Min Ho. Here in the Philippines teenagers can easily acquire these said gadgets because of their allowance. In the world of robbery the youth will buy this brand or line. Solely because it is end orsed by their idol, not considering if the said product is really functional wise or if they really need it in some case.

“A Doll’s House” by Katherine Mansfield Essay

â€Å"The Doll’s House† is one of the representative stories of Katherine Mansfield. Who is known for freshness of her approach and beautifully colored methods of presenting her ideas. The story basically gives us deep insight into the manners and behaviors of the aristocratic families. Here she ridicules the negative philosophy of social discrimination caused by uneven division of wealth. It beautifully brings out the emotional relationship between the three sisters and their friends. Moreover, it conveys an idea that parents attitude influence their children and deprive them of their natural goodness. In short in life-like manner Katherine tells us the hidden vices people belonging to higher society. From the very outset of the story we see that the girls of Burnell’s family received a beautiful doll’s house from Mrs. Hay. It was a charming house having a drawing room, a dinning-room, a kitchen and two bedrooms. All the rooms had tables, chairs, beds and carpets. The rooms were painted in different colors however Kezia liked the lamp very much, which was placed in the dinning-room. The girls were very excited and wanted to show it to their friends. So the next morning they rushed towards the school but the bell had rung and they could not disclose it to the girls. However, at the playtime, Isabel finally  disclosed the news of the house, which spread like wild fire. If was decided that two girls would see the house at one time. All the girls got an opportunity to see the doll’s house, except the Kelvey sisters, as they belonged to a poor family. So everybody teased them. Being the daughter of washerwoman and jailbird, they were  victim of the inferiority complex. However Kezia wanted then to see the house, so she asked her mother for permission but was harshly scolded. One day she saw the girls passing by the house. As the family was upstairs, she invited them to see the house. They Kelveys could not  believe but stepped into the courtyard, as they naturally wanted to see it.  Suddenly aunt Beryl’s came there and ordered them to leave the house in an insulting manner. They Kelveys ran away from there with the feeling of shame but they were happy to have seen the house. In the end, we can say that the writer has beautifully shown the attitude of the rich against the poor. It is the parents who are responsible for creating inequality in society. Children such as Kezia are scolded because they are innocent and cannot see the difference between the rich and poor.

Intertextuality: Meaning of Life and Silk Cut Essay

What is intertextuality? How does intertextuality challenge E. D. Hirsch’s idea that a text has a single meaning created by its author? Explain with reference to examples drawn from any media format. According to American literary critic, E. D. Hirsch, in order to interpret a body of text, one must ask one’s self the only question that can be answered objectively ? â€Å"what, in all probability, did the author mean to convey? † He believed that the author’s intended meaning equates the meaning of a text and it is in fact, the reader’s duty to uncover the the author’s intentions. â€Å"The meaning of a text and its author’s intentions are one and the same. † Hirsch’s concept revolves around the assumption that a body of text is original, and is purely a body of the author’s sole â€Å"intentions†. The production of text, if one were to adhere to Hirsch’s theory, is therefore exclusive to the author’s own ideas and concepts and free of external influence. However, the notions of langue and parole disputes this idea. According to Barthes in 1984, â€Å"It [la langue] is the social part of language, the individual cannot himself either create or modify it†. Furthermore, Ferdinand de Saussure’s work on structuralism and semiotics demonstrates the subjectivity of language and can be said to have sewn the seeds for modern concepts of intertextuality (such as those developed by Roland Barthes and Julia Kristeva). Intertextuality challenges the idea of a text’s ability to be truly original and therefore disagrees with Hirsch’s theory. In this essay, I will focus on how conscious intertextuality as well as the semiotics involved in unconscious intertextuality both dispute the idea that the meaning of a text belongs exclusively to its author’s intentions. Julia Kristeva, who was the first to use the term â€Å"intertextuality†, proposed the idea that a text should not be interpreted merely by its words at face value, but also studied based on other works it has adapted and was influenced by. The concept can be further expanded upon by Gunther Kress’ notion of â€Å"ceaseless semiosis† which brings to light the social aspect of a text’s creation. â€Å"From the beginning, I use materials which I have encountered before, which bear the meanings of their social contexts, to weave a new text which, because it is woven from materials of other texts, everywhere and always connects with those other texts. † -Kress, 2000 Conscious intertextuality thus enables a reader to participate in this â€Å"ceaseless semiosis† by the identification and application of their prior knowledge to a text, along with creating their own version of the text by combining their existing knowledge gleaned from other texts with the works of others a text is based on (e. g. someone watching a satirical television show such as The Simpsons). The best example of this sort of intertextuality would be the process of a reader (or surfer) browsing the world wide web. Here, an author cannot control the way in which a reader approaches his or her body of text. There is seldom a linear fashion in which a reader consumes information while surfing the internet. It is common for him or her to absorb only small chunks of texts on one page of a website before being led to an entirely different webpage via links. Through surfing and following links of their choice, readers effectively thus begin to construct their own text of sorts as they make their way through various sites on the internet. Unlike newspapers or most other forms of printed media, intertextuality on the internet is often one of a blatant and conscious nature. Here, almost more so than anywhere else, it is clear that content is not entirely original, nor is it based on an author’s sole ideas and concepts. It is common for a great many websites to host a multitude of links, and consist of short articles that link to other sources of information that the work was based on, or that provide further elaboration. Even on the internet, certain etiquettes are often observed, one of them being the courtesy of giving credit where it is due. A graphic or piece of digital art someone uses on his or her website, for example, often requires credit and a link back to the page of the artist that created it. Upon following the link to the artist’s page, one might find further credit and a link to the photographer who provided the stock photograph from which the graphic was created. One then clicks on the link that leads us to a page of stock photography, on which, perhaps, yet another link to the homepage of the model in the photograph might be provided. One visits the aforementioned homepage, and might perhaps chance upon the history of the model or a little story about his or her life. The initial graphic no longer stands on its own, and new history and meaning is produced with every link the surfer clicks, tracing a â€Å"path† that paints a story beyond the original piece of art. Hirsch’s idea of a text having one sole meaning ? that of the author’s ? no longer applies. The readers construct their own text, and therefore their own meanings as they navigate through the internet, often with no apparent logical progression. The existing knowledge they possess, along with their ability to identify the other works a text is based on, shapes their interpretation of an idea being presented. Even the authors themselves often acknowledge the lack of complete originality in their content, and through links and credit on their page, make it obvious that their text is a coalition of ideas and texts by other authors, whose texts are a coalition of ideas and texts by yet, other authors etc. There are also varying degrees of intertextuality on the internet. Some sites, such as The Onion (www. theonion. com) restricts the level of interactivity on their website by limiting links to only those of their advertisers. However, the content of their site is a testament of classic conscious intertextuality. Much like the Simpsons, â€Å"The Onion† is a satire. It parodies legitimate news websites and global current affairs. Readers’ prior knowledge of these affects the way in which they view the site and interpret these satirical â€Å"issues† of The Onion. A webpage that allows for a greater level of interactivity through its onslaught of links is â€Å"How To Dress Emo† (http://www. geocities. com/howtodressemo). A site that makes fun of a teenage trend in today’s society, the text has potential to be humorous to its reader. However, the degree of appreciation and humour a reader might find in the text depends on the level of the reader’s prior knowledge of the â€Å"Emo† trend and sub-culture. Unlike The Onion however, the white text on â€Å"How To Dress Emo† is peppered with phrases and words that are grey in colour. Existing knowledge of the internet and html might inform the reader that these grey words and phrases are in fact links, and clicking on them will lead them to further sites, games, generators and articles that provide further references and elaborate upon the original article. The internet has made it possible for authors to quote another piece of work â€Å"wholesale† by simply and conveniently placing a link on their page. The two texts become inevitably intertwined and new meaning is generated as the reader pieces together information gleaned from both works. Another form of intertextuality is one that is often based on a more subconscious level. Arguing against the idea that a text is an isolated entity, Kristeva once stated, â€Å"any text is the absorption and transformation of another†. The text in question is not limited to only that which is literary in nature, and whatever form it should take is subject to its reader’s or audience’s interpretation based on their knowledge of other existing texts, their cultural literacy and associations they individually produce. In subconscious intertextuality, interpretation is based on a highly individual level and may even produce meanings that the author had no knowledge of whatsoever, let alone intended. However, a study of subconscious intertextuality and semiotics is often useful to advertisers who then use these subtle allusions to maximum effect. The reader or audience is often unaware of the subconscious effects an advertisement has on their perception of a product. Nevertheless, through signs in commercials and print advertisements, the meanings an advertiser wishes to convey about a product are presented. Silk Cut cigarettes in England demonstrates clever advertising in their campaigns. Strict laws and restrictions are imposed on tobacco advertisements in the country, forbidding any association of sports, glamour, success, luxury, masculinity and femininity with tobacco products. Targetting a tobacco advertisement towards a certain market or denomination in society was also banned. Silk cut, however, has managed to get around such stringent laws by the use of semiotics, thus showcasing intertextuality and the ability to generate multiple meanings out of a single text. In one of their most striking advertisements in the 90’s, magazine advertorials often featured a purple silken sheet with a single oval slit in the middle. The connotations were luxurious, sexual and feminine, yet in a way that was subtle and did not violate the advertising code for tobacco. On one hand, one could explain the text as being simply representative of a ruined piece of cloth ? no more, no less. Doubtlessly, this would have been Silk Cut’s explanation had they been questioned by the law. However, on a more subconscious intertextual level, the colour purple and the expensive silken fabric could have been interpreted as an association with luxury and royalty. The texture of the cloth could also have been seen as an allusion to the smooth nature of a Silk Cut cigarette, therefore making the product appealing to women (despite the fact that targeting a specific gender or market was forbidden). The diagonal slit in the cloth could be easily interpreted as sexual in nature, and representative of a woman’s genitalia, thus giving the cigarettes a suggestive appeal. Through these clever advertisements, Silk Cut became widely known as THE woman’s cigarette of choice. They were even featured in the bestselling novel, â€Å"Bridget Jones’s Diary†. In this book by Helen Fielding, the protagonist, Bridget, smokes Silk Cut. The brand is constantly referred to throughout the novel, therefore once again making use of intertextuality. Bridget Jones spends a great deal of the book attempting to quit smoking. However, she is simply unable to curb her craving for the Silk Cut cigarettes. The qualities that have come to be associated with Silk Cut cigarettes through their advertising campaigns, can now be seen as the qualities Bridget desires by smoking Silk Cut. Once again, Hirsch’s idea of a text bearing only one singular meaning can be easily disputed. The interpretation of the Silk Cut advertisement, as well as the use of Silk Cut cigarettes in Bridget Jones’s Diary, is highly subjective and dependent on the reader’s cultural literacy and existing knowledge. Intertextuality in the media, both print and otherwise, has become too powerful to ignore, especially in this day and age. The internet, satirical texts, advertisements and books are only some examples that demonstrate the effects other works and a reader’s prior knowledge have on any given text. Intertextuality in its various states, conscious and unconscious, is certainly a valid contention against the theory of E. D. Hirsch. Bibliography, References & Notes 1) Cultural Consumption and Everyday Life†, Reading As Production, John Storey, Pg 63, Arnold, London, 1999 2) Intertextuality, Allen. G, Pg 9, Routledge, London 2000 3) http://web. uvic. ca 4) http://www. theonion. com 5) http://www. geocities. com/howtodressemo 6) http://www. aber. ac. uk 7) Reading Ads Socially. Goldman. R, Routledge, London, 1992.

The concept of patriotism and pseudo-patriotism by Goldsmith and Essay

The concept of patriotism and pseudo-patriotism by Goldsmith and George Orwell - Essay Example According to Goldsmith patriots are individuals who love the very thought of this world and not only their country. A person who denies this fact is simply a pseudo-patriot as he is developing a national prejudice based upon simple borders that have been made by man. As quoted by Goldsmith "Is it not very possible that I may love my own country, without hating the natives of other countries?" (Goldsmith et al 223). Similarly, Orwell has also indirectly pointed out the aspects of patriotism in Marrakech by highlighting the fact that races do not denote the very nature of patriotism that one may think he has. He believes that races create boundaries that are not even justified in the sense of understanding. Pointing out the fact that the Negroes form an important aspect of the army is one point where he highlights the power of the Negroes over the other race. He believes that patriotism roots from within and races should not help define the boundary between these roots. As said by Orwe ll "But there is one thought.....if he calls himself a Socialist) thinks when he sees a black army marching past. "How much longer can we go on kidding these people? How long before they tum their guns in the other direction?".This quote clearly shows that he is advocating the rights of power for the blacks and wants the Whites to understand that no race is below par when compared to the other. He uses techniques through which he explores the life of lower-class individuals and discrimination that exists all around the world.

Lifecycle of a successful nightclub Research Paper

Lifecycle of a successful nightclub - Research Paper Example Nightclub goers seek fun, refreshment, entertainment, food, and accommodation. A successful club should have the potential to attract new club goers and maintain the patronage of the occasional club goers. As such, the nightclub should situate in a secure location and possess the required club and liquor license. At the same time, the nightclub should possess a unique â€Å"club† mood that makes it stand out from the rest. Most importantly, the employees of the nightclub should be hospitable. Notably, several factors affect the nightclub life cycle and nightclubs go through different development stages to become successful. Indeed, some nightclubs are more popular than others are as seen in the Marquee’s case study where Marquee succeeded where other clubs failed. Hence, there is need to understand the basics of the nightclub business and its lifecycle for enhancing a longer profitable life of a club. Body 1 The personnel of operating a nightclub as seen in the Marqueeà ¢â‚¬â„¢s case study involves managers, security people, bar backs, waiters and waiters, door attendants, bartenders, and a DJ (Elberse et al., 2009). For a nightclub owner to establish a successful nightclub, it is necessary for them to try other forms of entertainment like restaurants to understand the entertainment business (Klebanow, 2007). Indeed, Tepperberg and Strauss were initially event promoters where they established a good customer base that later came to Marquee nightclub. Moreover, there is need for clear bar business concept for the nightclub. Additionally, we should do a market research (Earth Bar, 2013) to derive a clear understanding of the nightclub business (Klebanow, 2007) just as Tepperberg and Strauss spent their time in major hotel, restaurant, or club opening in Vegas. More so, for a successful nightclub we should not be mean in spending (Klebanow, 2007) and should strive to create attractive and appealing environments. As such, there is need for adequate spa ce, amenities, lighting, parking, and other club aspects. Indeed, we can see how Marquee stood on a space that was functional and efficiently laid out to accommodate drinking, entertainment, dancing, and special events (Elberse et al., 2009). Notably, a successful nightclub should cater for different types of people as seen in the case of Marquee, which had three separate spaces for professionals, socialites, filler crowd, and bottle service customers who were mostly celebrities. Indeed, the club has seven different kinds of bars located in the main room, the library, and the Boom box area (PartyLasVegas.us, 2013). Notably, to sufficiently carryout these operations, there is need for a well-trained staff (Earth Bar, 2013) to offer hospitable, excellent, and clean services. Indeed, we can see that Marquee had trained staff, which offered exceptional services, which made the nightclub a one-stop shop for hospitality in New York (Elberse et al, 2009). A professional DJ to provide enter tainment and play the right music is also very significant in a nightclub. Marquee had invested heavily on a top class DJ. Most assuredly, any nightclub must offer a wide variety of alcoholic drinks to its different types of customers. Notably, Marquee offered different alcoholic

Innovation and change - open innovation and strategy Essay

Innovation and change - open innovation and strategy - Essay Example Sourcing for innovative ideas at FedEx†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...7 Lead user Innovation†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...8 Open Innovation†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦9 Disruptive Innovation†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.10 Innovation strategy at FedEx†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..10 A new innovation strategy for FedEx†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.....12 Challenges and Solutions†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦....14 Monitoring the success of roadmapping†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..16 Theoretical perspective†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦17 Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦..17 References†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.19 Executive Summary The paper seeks to address the concept of innovation as a major defining aspect towards the success of FedEx. It goes on to elucidate the strategies that the organization has always put into place to ensure that its innovation processes meet the demands in the market. Recognizing the need for change and strategic repositioning, various options for innovations are suggested as ways through which FedEx can better its position in the logistics industry across the world. This boils down to the elucidation of alternative innovation strategies that can provide solutions to the challenges facing organizations in the present business environment. As such, the paper is very illuminative in giving a thorough account of all the imperative aspects of innovation in the context of organizational setting. Introduction The imperatives of innovation in modern-day organizations cannot be overemphasized. Innovation is certainly the engine that drives progress and provides the platform through which organizations can effectively compete against each other in the race against resources and the competitive market environment realized in entirely all sectors. In this regard, most organizations are becoming much more involved and focused in their areas of innovation in order to enable them to sail through these challenging times. The major challenge realized from the outset is basically the difficulty in choosing the best innovation strategy to follow in an organization. It is imperative to realize that choosing a wrong strategy might doom the organization’s chances of progress hence the need to keenly address the aspects of innovation with utmost concern and sufficient resource allocation. In any case, there is not a single innovation strategy that can effectively address all the developmental need s of any organization. It only remains a matter of choosing amongst many options to get the best alternative. Indeed, in the service provision industry like logistics, the major strategic step is always the need to cultivate a sense of innovation in the organization through the engagement of talented people who can effectively address the organizational goals of innovation. In this regard, it has been realized that FedEx is always at the forefront in hiring very talented people who are then trained on the best ways to innovate in the organization. The culture of innovation is therefore seen to be part and parcel of FedEx and this can clearly explain why the organization has become a major brand in the logistics industry and has managed to sail through th

Potter House Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Potter House - Case Study Example the right to enjoy the benefits of the property, to live and to use the property. B also has the right to share in the proceeds if the property is sold. The ownership of the property is divided into 2 components; legal title and beneficial ownership. The legal title can be ascertained by reference to the land register (assuming that the title registration has been effected) and those persons who hold the legal title are the trustees of the land. In this case, A, C and D are the trustees of the Potter House. The trustees are given wide powers i.e. to sell, to lease, or to mortgage the land. Under the law, the trustees are not allowed to benefit from the exercise of their powers in their capacity as trustees. The benefits of the home must be deflected to the beneficiaries. These rules apply even if the trustees and the beneficiaries are the same people. The House of Lords has accepted that a trust should be implied in all cases of co-ownership - Williams & Glyn's Bank v Boland [1981] AC 487, 503, per Lord Wilberforce. Under the English law, since 1925, joint tenancy has been the only form of co-ownership. Whereas there are two types of ownership for the beneficial ownership of the property i.e. 'beneficial joint tenants' or 'tenants in common'. From the facts of the case, it is clear that A, B, C and D has indicated to hold the property as beneficial joint tenants. In this case, each owner jointly own the entire property and technically the property is held by the owner in trust for himself. The owners do not have separate shares of the property each (unlike the case of property held under the title of tenants in common) and neither of the owners have a separate share in the property which they can sell or leave in a will. The consequence of having such a title to a property is that upon death of one party his interest passes automatically to the surviving owner and this means that the property cannot be transferred to another person by the deceased owner through a will or on intestacy, as it doe s not form part of the deceased's estate. When B, in 2000, aged 27, moved out from the house to a new job in Kent, he demanded from C and D immediate payment for his share in the Potter House. B later died and left all his property by will to his mother, X. As explained above, B owns the house jointly with A, C and D and each of them has no separate share to the Potter House. It is not possible for joint tenants to sever their legal ownership in the estate and convert them into tenancy in common. Severance of joint tenancy into tenancy in common can only be done with respect to the beneficial ownership. A person whose interest is severed will have his share quantified in accordance to the numbers of the joint tenants immediately prior to the severance taking place. In this case, A, B, C and D each has 25% of the interest in the Potter Hous

Article Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 11

Article - Essay Example There are greater chances of conflict arising than there are for a harmonious coexistence. The very differences that make people different and unique, seek to stretch farther the variations in various ways. This situation is manifested through situations like poverty, selfish interests, as well as ethnic differences. At such phenomena, there is an imminent need for the innocent to be protected. That is when law comes as a social control for the society in question (Fuller 1975, pp.89-95). The Law will, therefore, seek to replay the circumstances leading up to the crime and then judge strictly based on the constitution or other guiding statutes. Judgments made, therefore, not only serve as punishments to the accused perpetrators rather they are used to control the public on matters similar. Through the ruling that is served, the public will be wary of practicing such behaviors; in which case the society is tamed for the greater good. Nevertheless, it is challenging at times especially for the court to determine the exact purpose of the law at some instances. The two purposes mentioned above become so intertwined for any clear cut significance to show individually (Fuller 1975, pp.89-95). However, through deliberations, the judges ultimately develop appropriate resolutions. Fuller, L. (1975). Law as an Instrument of Social Control and Law as a facilitation of Human Interaction. Law as an Instrument of Social Control and Law as a facilitation of Human Interaction, 1(1),

Cognitive approach over Psychology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Cognitive approach over Psychology - Essay Example Man's continuous urge to understand humanity had led the development of various fundamentals in psychology. With their apparently significant contributions, these recent approaches, particularly neuroscience had somehow managed to make its impact. However their imperfections and bit immaturity have made each emerging, as well as the established approach somehow insufficient. With this, it would be best to for these approaches to collaborate to come up with a complete understanding of the human psychology. In fact, upon an extensive and meticulous observation, one would find a clear point on each of these proven approaches that would link them to each other. This could serve as an explanation, if in the future disciplines such as neuropsychology would standout having been able to convince us with its view by means of intertwining two or more of these fundamentals. 3. ... ntiers, it would be substantial to say that behaviorism, psychoanalysis and cognitive psychology clearly depicts great consideration to individual differences while evolutionary psychology derives its explanations from general facts. It could ease the subject if universal explanation would serve as a constant and the individual difference as the variable. For example, humans in general have inherited mental capacities for acquiring speech, however, the individual upbringing and education dictates his/her way of speaking. In this example, with smooth and careful transition between evolutionary and cognitive approach, a considerably convincing thought had be derived. In the end, it would be best to take both universal explanations and individual difference into consideration; nevertheless, neither of the two would suffice. 5. From the point of view of your own intellectual development, what are the three most important things you have learned in this course Explain why they are important for you. With such enlightening course, one can derive tons of thoughts to ponder. First, we, humans are so gifted with the ability to think and rationalized that we are able to come up with explanations about almost everything. Unluckily this ability had somehow created addiction to wisdom and had lead to the materialization of several conflicting disciplines. Second is that each of these approach have manage to convince a multitude as well as give rise to their critics. Despite of their great significance, due to their inevitable flaws, no single approach can stand to serve as a perfect and adequate explanation like any other fundamentals inevitable flaws have their share of critics. Lastly, the noble gift of intellect must be utilized, at that; things should be viewed in a liberal

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

Romanticism - Essay Example Romanticism influenced music and literature, as well as visual art (Tekiner 60). For instance, the Sturm und Drang movement of Germany that exited from the late 1760s to the early 1780s was mainly minor-key musical and revenge-influenced literary, which caused a handful of image artists painting horrifying scenes (Tekiner 60). For a proper case, there is the Nightmare by Henry Fuseli that was painted in 1781. Some artists were into these movements until their relevant ends, whereas others maintained elements of Romanticism as they shifted to new directions (Tekiner 60). The main themes in romanticism included democracy, revolution and republicanism, transcendence and the sublime, the influence of imagination, the source of inspiration and genius, extreme mental states and proto-psychology and finally the natural and nature (Tekiner 79). Radical Romantic-age politics were overly optimistic concerning human nature, always reasoning that human beings are vitally good and their vices are raised through poor education. Republican and democratic movements always advocated for mass education and equal wages as a way of freeing the human heart, as well as the mind from ignorance and poverty —and the ills and vices, which materialize from these evils (Tekiner

Fresh Water Pollution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Fresh Water Pollution - Essay Example Nutrient pollution is caused by excess seepage of nutrients into the water; microorganisms that live in the water cause microbiological pollution. Suspended matter is caused by pollutants whose molecules are too big to mix thus form a silt at the bottom or remain floating at the top. A number of human activities such as industries that releases their effluent to fresh water bodies bring about surface water pollution. Oxygen depletion is the result of the release of too much biodegradable waste into the water. Thus, the oxygen in the water is used up by the increased amount of organisms that break down matter. Chemical pollution refers to contamination of water by industrial and agricultural waste such as metals, detergents and pesticides. In addition, it may be caused by oil spillage. Finally, ground water pollution is caused by seepage of chemicals through the soil and into underground water sources such as wells and boreholes. This pollution is caused by human activities although some are natural as found in Bangladesh laced with arsenic. Excess fertilizer, animal manure and waste effluent, contain nutrients that stimulate excess plant and algae growth in the fresh water bodies; they cause the decomposing plants and animals to use the oxygen to depletion causing the death of the organisms and animals, as well as the plants. Agricultural and chemical waste like DDT that is persistent insecticides and pesticides accumulate in the fresh water harming fish and birds. In addition, oil from oil spills and coagulated chemicals from industries cause the birds in the water bodies to have their wings and feathers clogged up thus are unable to fly. Human and fecal waste may contain disease carrying organisms and pathogens, which causes cholera and typhoid among humans which may cause death and disease outbreaks. Chemical pollutants that find their

Increasing the hardware Essay Example for Free

Increasing the hardware Essay Abstract As any business grows, they are always looking to expand all aspects of  their business. With this expansion, the cost of increasing the hardware and software needed for the expansion is also increasing. Many companies are looking for ways to keep or even streamline the hardware they currently have yet expand. They want a way to have their customers log into their site and go to a central server but want all the necessary files for the customers to be stored elsewhere which will increase the speed of the server. To be successful in today’s market, many businesses are realizing the necessity of using technology. As more and more companies use more technology, their IT infrastructure cannot handle all the traffic due to the lack of available server/storage space needed to meet the increasing demands of the customers. Whether the business is small or a large corporation, finding the needed available server/storage space is becoming an ever increasing problem. Trying to solve this problem, many businesses have begun to look for an alternative solution to store many of their business files away from their own main computers, this is called cloud storage. Think about how you have an external hard drive that you use to store files away from the hard drive of your computer, the cloud storage works in the same way. The only exception is that you do not own the external storage, you rent the storage space from someone who takes care of all the maintenance and updating of the site. JPCexpress has been operating for many years with their own internal storage capabilities and now are in the market to expand their business. The current server space that the company owns is being bogged down by the amounts of data it needs to use daily so they need a newer solution to their storage problems so that they can continue to offer their production facilities and customers the best possible service. Next day service sets this company apart from other online businesses and I will show what needs to be done to help then continue to accomplish this with a simple server space solution. Company Background JPCexpress is an innovator in the online printing industry. They use advanced technology that allows the customer to place an order and have it printed and delivered the next day. There are many online printing organizations, but JPCexpress was one of the first that offered next day delivery if you place your order by a certain time the day before. The  company was founded in 2001 that offered printing as a service so that the customer has access to all the company printing business solutions allowing them to place their orders right on the company website. The customer does not have to invest any monies into their own printing infrastructure and the staff that would be needed to maintain it. JPCexpress offers its services to many different organizations of all sizes that do not want to hassle with having internal printing capabilities. Due to the customer being able to upload all their information to help us perform the needed services, this takes up a lot of storage space. JPCexpress operates three huge warehouses that are strategically placed across the country. Within each facility, they house all the hardware and software needed to conduct the printing business along with all the hardware and software needed for the IT side of the business. The customers are able to use our site as their own so they know they will get exactly the product they want. Our teams of engineers are always introducing new services and solutions for the customers and they have them integrate the new technologies into our platform monthly. The reason we have the fastest turnaround time for online printing companies is due to the fact that our customers are able to use our site as their own to make and order their printing needs. We have become a leader in the online printing world because of our customer service, ease and speed of our online services and the fact that we guarantee you will have your order the next day if you meet the daily cut off time. Discussion of Business Problem During times of peak use, the amount of data used is overwhelming. JPCexpress is a top of the line printing business but due to our storage capabilities, we do have issues that will slow the service to our customers. This is an issue because the timing of the slowness (can prevent customers from making the cut off time for next day service) which directly relates to customer service and customer satisfaction. The main issue is that when there are many users on the system, it slows down and prevents ease of use. I think that JPCexpress could benefit from emerging technology as cloud computing or could storage. Increasing our storage capacity would prevent the system from slowing down and loss of data. Any IT department within any business always needs new ways to increase the capabilities of their current infrastructure without investing in new hardware, new licensing requirements  or having to spend the time and monies to train and hire new personnel. Due to the increasing amounts of data needed by our existing customers and the addition of new customers, members of our IT department has to manually go into the system and get rid of old files and clear any redundant data. This happens when our system becomes slow which slows the use of our production tools and this all adds up to a loss in the amount of work that can be performed. If the organization was to use cloud computing, the problem of overwhelming the system could be avoided. Cloud computing encompasses any subscription-based or pay-per-use service that, in real time over the Internet, extends its existing capabilities (Gruman, 2012). Use of the cloud could begin at our centrally located facility for trial purposes until we see if using it would be beneficial to both the customers and to our stockholders. High Level Solution For many businesses, having enough storage space to hold all the information they have acquired from their customers and the working of internal business practices is a real challenge that becoming increasingly harder. Many organizations have turned to deleting huge amounts of data to open up room for the new data they need to stay updated and to continue to provide their customers with excellent customer service. Many businesses have turned to cloud storage to help relieve this problem. Cloud storage acts as a centrally located server whose main purpose is for storage only. Using cloud storage, each of the three facilities can store and retrieve files as they are needed without investing in more infrastructure. When deciding to move to cloud storage, a few concerns will be raised. Some people think that cloud storage is less secure than local data centers and this is not true. . When the cloud host that IT manager work together the cloud host will encrypt the data and the business w ill store the keys to that encryption on it local network (Marsh, 2013). Many cloud providers offer dashboards to the client so they can log and manage the company’s data center. They can add more storage if they need and all this is completed without adding any equipment to increase storage. I have checked two of the major providers of cloud storage for pricing and flexibility. Amazon S3 is 99.9 percent reliable and it is scalable to fit your current business needs and also can be changed to fit your future needs as well (Amazon Web  Services, 2013). All data going into this cloud storage is encrypted for data security and you can decide what region you want to have your data stored in. Another excellent benefit is that once the data is entered into the cloud, it is automatically backed up in case one system fails you will lose your data. All data uploaded is for free but they do charge for each GB of data that is transferred or downloaded from the cloud. This seems pretty reasonable since we will maintain a central server with only our servers logging into the cloud to retrieve the customer information. Google cloud storage offers secure and safe cloud storage. It has configurable security controls and the cloud is flexible so that you can get what you need now and later on if you need more storage you can always add more (Google Cloud Storage, 2013). Looking between the Amazon and Google sites, they both offer the same types of features but I could not find any data that says how reliable the Google cloud is. Also, checking the pricing from the two sites, it appears that Amazon is slightly cheaper than Google is. Moving to cloud storage is a viable option to help solve latency issues and website lag due to the enormous amounts of data being transmitted over our site. Benefits of Solving the Problem Solving this problem using cloud storage will increase the speed of the servers the customers use to conduct their business. The increased speed of the server will also take the customers’ orders quickly and get them to the desired printing facility to ensure they make the cut off time for next day delivery. Implementing the cloud storage solution at only one facility will allow the business time to see if the cloud is a viable option to investing countless monies in upgrading our current facilities. Using the cloud will save us money because of the increased speed at which the customers can use the system, the speed in processing the orders and also save us money because we will not have to hire additional personnel to maintain additional hardware or pay for licensing for additional software. In an article written by Joe McKendrick for Forbes magazine, he talks about the benefits of cloud computing for a business. Cost reduction – using cloud as storage lowers transaction costs, minimizes the investment in hardware and software and also reduces the need for a huge IT staff or for adding additional personnel to manage you IT infrastructure. Cloud as storage is scalable so  you can take as much or as little as you need and then increase as your needs increases. You only pay for what you use; most uploads are free so you pay when you download data from the cloud. Businesses of all sizes will have access to more up to date technology while using the cloud. Letting someone else manage your IT for you reduces the need for expensive licenses or buying software or hardware. Business/Technical Approach Conducting thorough research before deciding which provider of the cloud services we will go with. When a cloud provider has been chosen, our CIO and his team will work with the provider to ensure we get what storage we need and also to ensure the security of the files we will move to the cloud for storage. Only have one facility use the cloud as a test case to see if it will improve the speed of our system and also to see how reliable the cloud services are. Conducting technical inspections using our IT department will ensure that we are keeping control on what goes into the cloud storage and also to help us determine if the cloud is useful. When we move older files from our servers into the cloud, we should see an immediate improvement in the speed of our system and also improvements in order processing and order filling. The IT department must ensure what files are being put in the cloud and that they are being encrypted for increased security. Also inspecting the files in storage routinely to ensure the data is not being corrupted. To ensure we do not lose any of our major customers, we will move only the older files to cloud storage to increase space on our servers. When we have determined (Senior management/CIO approval) that the cloud is a viable option to investing in hardware/software, we will move more files to the cloud in an effort to free up more space which should increase the speed even more. Also, once the one facility has proven more efficient and profitable, we will migrate another facility to cloud storage. There is no set timeframe for this to happen, we just want to ensure the cloud is meeting our needs in the ways we want it to. Using the current IT staff at the first facility to check usage and speed of the system will help us in our decision whether to stay with the cloud or invest in our own infrastructure. Business Process changes Implementing cloud storage will allow the company to store more files  without causing the system to run slow which increase productivity. This is going to be a big move for JPCexpress in the way they do business at each of their facilities. We will use the current IT department at each facility to maintain the data stored in the cloud and to ensure that only the less used files have been migrated to the cloud until its reliability has been proven. There will be one central location for all the internal storage of customer information. When the customer logs onto the site with his credentials, they will log onto our central server who will access the cloud and pull their information off for the customer to use. When the order is placed, the server will then send that order to the printing facility closet to the customer location for fast, reliable completion of the order. When the cloud is implemented for use by all facilities, the IT departments at those facilities will be reduced . Setting up a team to continually monitor the cloud for reliability and security will also be accomplished. Senior management with the CIO will have to make a decision on implementing other facilities and how that will be accomplished. Technology or business practices used to augment the solution After thorough research I have decided that implementing cloud storage is the best solution to help fix the problems at JPCexpress. Moving the files to the cloud will free up valuable space which will increase the processing speed of our current servers. The IT department will maintain our current servers and monitor how effectively the cloud is to the company. The IT department will also routinely perform inspections on our equipment to see how well it is working and also to ensure what files are being moved to the cloud. Having someone compile quarterly reports on how well the cloud implementation has helped the speed of the system and to see if it truly has increased the speed at which orders are shipped. We will not have to hire additional personnel to accomplish any of these tasks; we will use the current staff at each facility. This alone will save the company huge amounts of money. Conclusions and overall recommendations The current system that JPCexpress has, it is not capable of handling the enormous amounts of data that goes through it during peak operating times. JPCexpress will have to upgrade their current hardware/software or find other alternatives. Cloud storage is just that alternative solution.  Moving files to cloud storage will free up much needed space that will allow the system to run faster during peak operating times. Using the cloud offers different ways that it can be beneficial to the company. Using cloud instead of investing in new hardware/software to upgrade our current system will save on ongoing support, maintenance and upgrades and having to hire additional IT staff to work the new system. When switching to the cloud we will replace all the up-front expense of investing in a new system and replace that cost with a manageable monthly subscription cost. David Linthicum discusses why companies should invest in the cloud. All the upgrades and maintenance are handled by the cloud host. The software will always be current without the company having to pay for expensive licensing. The fear of cloud storage’s security being an issue is being proven invalid. Cloud providers have been working hard to prove how secure their storage is. Cloud based companies offer the highest level of customer service because they cannot afford to lose customers because they are unsatisfied with the service and with all the blogs out there, a bad review could mean countless lost customers. Every data storage center or data processing center has some downtime at some point but many cloud providers offer higher than a 99 percent reliability rate. High level implementation plan * Conduct thorough research to ensure the right cloud provider is selected * Work with provider to ensure we get the security we need and also the plan that fits the amounts of storage needed * Schedule when to transition to the cloud storage * Determine what files will initially be moved to cloud storage * Reroute all traffic from one facility to the other two * Shut down one facility and transition to the cloud * Once all files are transferred to the cloud activate the cloud * Bring the shutdown facility back on line * Test the new configuration for speed and user ability * Monitor the cloud for potential problems * Produce monthly reports as to the speed of the facility and improvements in the processing of orders Summary of Project JPCexpress’ system runs slow because each facility has access to all the files that are stored on the server. The storage problem can be handled either by investing countless monies into a new upgraded data system or to use cloud storage to alleviate this problem. Business processes are slow due to the servers being bogged down during peak hours resulting in delays in processing and delivery of orders placed by the customers. When we transition to the cloud storage we can increase the processing speed which will increase the speed of the orders being printed and then shipped to the customer. This will save on time and money because we will not have to pay additional shipping costs when we can’t meet the next day delivery. This is not meant to be a permanent solution but will benefit the company until we can determine if this is the best solution. References Amazon Web Services. (2013, Oct 1). Retrieved from Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3): http://aws.amazon.com/s3/ Google Cloud Storage. (2013, Aug 1). Retrieved from Google Cloud Platform: https://cloud.google.com/products/cloud-storage/ Gruman, G. K. (2012, Feb 2). What cloud computing really means. Retrieved from InfoWorld: http://www.infoworld.com/d/cloud-computing/what-cloud-computing-really-means Linthicum, D. (2013, June 25). Cloud adoptions tipping has arrived. Retrieved from InfoWorld Cloud Computing: http://www.infoworld.com/d/cloud-computing/cloud-adoptions-tipping-point-has-arrived-221335 Marsh, J. (2013, Oct 3). The Top 5 Myths about Cloud Storage. Retrieved from Formstack: http://blog.formstack.com/2013/top-5-myths-cloud-storage/ McKendrick, J. (2013, July 21). 5 Benefits of Cloud Computing you arent likely to see in a sales brochure. Retrieved from Forbes.com: http://www.forbes.com/sites/joemckendrick/2013/07/21/5-benefits-of-cloud-computing-you-arent-likely-to-see-in-a -sales-brochure/

Concept of Facts and Theories

Concept of Facts and Theories 2. Facts are needed to establish theories but theories are needed to make sense of facts. Discuss this statement with reference to two areas of knowledge. Growing up in a small village that is hugely effected by supernatural beliefs, beliefs in invisible identities. Villagers believed that sickness and catastrophes are directly related to a variety of invisible person-like beings such as, demons, angels, spirits, ghosts, devils and gods. When the villagers are asked to justify their belief in such entities, they often appeal to testimony first: to reports of sightings, suspicious events that they believe are caused by such beings, and fueled by imagination as a way of knowing. Second, many villagers claim a sense of presence, they sense the presence of their beloved ones who are dead years ago. Numerous testimonies regarding invisible identities made the community in the village consider the existence of these identities a theory that they believed in. Invisible agents or identities provided a quick, convenient and comforting explanations for events. Many questions arose from my experience with this case. How do theories make sense of the testimony or a fact? Or how are facts needed to establish such theories? Can a theory supersede and replace the need for data and testing? Is it always possible for theories in various areas of knowledge to be tested and proven wrong? This essay will investigate these questions and more, using the areas of knowledge of history and natural sciences, using ways of knowing where appropriate. First it is necessary to define the terms used in the statement. Facts are the subset of truths that have been proved and verified[1]. Truth exist in unlimited numbers, when they are discovered and tested, they become facts. A theory is a detailed clarification. The aim of a theory is to provide us with clarifications of physical things, phenomenon and events. We can make sense of facts by establishing theories, theories are established by formulating hypotheses, either by observation or sometimes by intuition and analogy and deducing conclusions from these hypotheses that can be tested directly or indirectly by observation or by experiment. For example, we all know that the sun emits light, its a fact. The fact doesnt give reasons about why this phenomenon occur, thats an observation of a fact. A theory is an explanation of a set of facts[2].The aforementioned theory was created using a set of evidence and mathematic calculations that supported and explained the long process from sc ratch. Breaking up the claimed statement into two fragments. First, that facts are needed to establish theories and second, that theories are needed to make sense of facts. If we look at the two aforementioned claims through Physics, we can bring up the relationship between experimental physics and theoretical physics. Experimental physics is directly relied on observation and data collection while theoretical physics use laws and mathematical analysis to predict theories. For example, in physical cosmology and astronomy, dark energy is a form of energy which is hypothesized to permeate all of space[3]. A search team was formed to observe distance measurements in supernovas. To illustrate, Researchers would study the relationship between the distance to an object in a supernova and its radiation, which gives how fast it is receding from us. This led to the discovery that the universe is expanding at an accelerating rate. This method of formulating a theory was the same as Aristotles interpretation of science. He viewed science as a closed circle where any observer or in this case, scientist can gather facts and then, by induction, formulate a theory. The same view goes to how one of my colleagues who is an archeologist attempted to prove the existence of an ancient frankincense trade route from Oman to the rest of the Middle East it is believed that frankincense is the first substance to be traded and was a crucial part of the Middle East economy thousands of years ago. The Route was proven to exist when a treasure trove that contained hundreds of archeological sites in the Middle East was discovered. Two distinguished discoveries came to light, the team uncovered an ancient fortress virtually identical to one they previously discovered in Oman. His team also uncovered a broad variety of other artifacts, including thurbiles made of mud which is used as incense holder. Thurbiles come in different shapes and designs but the team have noticed a certain pattern in the design of the thurbiles that they found in the sites where small shapes and plants were drawn to decorate the thurbiles. Linking this case to my question, the discoveri es in the different archeological sites were considered facts and were linked together because the designs found in the archeological sites were virtually identical. A theory was established to explain the observations which is that these archeological sites share same patterns and designs therefore they were linked and connected together. Theories are also necessary for facts to be established. An example of this is that theorists had predicted the existence of the Higgs boson which is a particle in the Standard Model of particle physics for more than five decades ago[4], which then encouraged the experimental physicists to search for the Higgs. And now the existence of the Higgs has been established as a fact. Another example is that the theory of gravitation predicted the behavior of objects on the moon and other planets long before the activities of spacecraft and astronauts confirmed them. In the previous two examples, the theories helped narrow facts that are found from a wide range of experiment and researches to a narrower scope providing few simple rules that summarize hundreds of observations. These rules make scientists have a focused area of research to examine. Some theories that have been regarded and accepted for centuries had a great impact on the new compelling theories supported by facts but can a theory supersede and replace the need for data and testing? Deducing a theory in mathematics for example does not require any objective facts gathered from our surroundings in order for it to be true. In a sense, Mathematics is true without reference to reality. Purely analytic statements can be demonstrated a priori. A proof of a theorem cannot involve experiments or other observed evidence in the same way such evidence is used to support scientific theories. In the previous two examples, the variables in the theories were directly observable which led to the theories making specific, clear predictions about the future. Deducing a theory can enrich our interpretations and meaning by providing us with a different approach to look at the same facts. I believe the statement should be edited to Facts are needed to establish truthful theories about the surroundings. Interpretations are an approach to make factual propositions meaningful. Theories can help us make sense of facts. Since we have defined facts as subset of truths that have been verified and verification can make theories true or false, we can also conclude that facts without a connecting theory are just facts fluctuating in a sea of logical space, independent of one another. Bibliography: Wikipedia, , accessed January 19, 2017, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_energy#cite_note-6. , accessed January 21, 2017, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Higgs_boson#cite_note-OnyisiFAQ-8. Onyisi, P. (23 October 2012). Higgs boson FAQ. University of Texas ATLAS group. Retrieved 2013-01-08. Https://www.facebook.com/MarkCC, Good Math/Bad Math, September 08, 2015, accessed January 19, 2017, http://www.goodmath.org/blog/2015/09/08/not-a-theory-really-its-not-a-theory/. [1] http://www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/difference-between-fact-and-truth/ [2] http://evidence-based-science.blogspot.co.uk/2008/02/what-is-scientific-law-theory.html [3] Wikipedia, , accessed January 19, 2017, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_energy#cite_note-6. [4] Onyisi, P. (23 October 2012). Higgs boson FAQ. University of Texas ATLAS group. Retrieved 2013-01-08.

The extent to which research influences policy

The extent to which research influences policy Discuss the extent to which effective development policy depends on good research Introduction In development, for one to know what aids development, why a particular system works and how effective an approach taken towards improving development is, a proper research has to have been done. Development policy is a decision made or designed to improve a condition from a problematic state to a better or an improved form. Research is said to be ‘a careful study that is done to find and report new knowledge about something’ (Merriam-Webster). Some types of research done are reviewing existing research, field experiments, secondary analysis (reviewing information from existing archives), qualitative methods, survey, case studies, and cost-benefit analysis (research done to determine the cost and benefit from an action), amongst others (Dukeshire and Thurlow 2002). Research is an important part of policy making because without research, pressing policy questions will not be answered as it’s hard to make a policy without identifying a problem, the context in which the problem is based and possible solutions that a policy could enforce. In a research at the IMF in 2011, Moises Schwartz, the director of IEO states that â€Å"Research is at the heart of innovation and improving policymaking†. He goes on to say that research, at the IMF, helps develop and improve conceptual models that serve as the foundation for policy recommendations. In this paper research will be used in relation to evidence-based This paper discusses how research influences policy, the gap between researchers and policy makers and how good research is needed for effective development policy making. Research and Development policy One cannot make a policy if one doesn’t know what that policy is to address. Without research, policy makers will not be informed about the problem that requires a solution through careful planning and decision making. The way research is done and presented could influence deeply the policy making process (Dukeshire and Thurlow 2002). For the creation of effective development policy, not just a policy under huge probability that it might work, proper research has to be done. Furthermore, for the improvement of quality of life and reduction in poverty, a proper use of research and evidence in the making and practice of development policy, is required (Court et al 2004). Research promotes credibility and also plays an important role on how policymaking is thought of by country authorities and also, research improves the gathering and spread of global knowledge (IMF 2011). Effective development policy requires researches that are relevant to the particular policy question. Researches done for a specific development policy question will look at the problem from all spheres, gather knowledge about the problem from the place the problem is situated and the people it affects, carry out a thorough case study and could also ask indigenous people to suggest solutions as they know better what will work for them and then make recommendations which will influence the development policy making. This entire process will ensure that the policy is effective as the decision will be based on research that addressed the problem directly and evidence produced. People in a community, through participatory approach, a research technique, could identify problems in their society and proffer solutions to these problems (green et al 1995; Frankish et al 1997). The 1999 white paper on modernizing government adopted evidence based policy as part of its philosophy as it expressed its expectations of policy makers to bring up new ideas, take a different approach to the way things have been done in the past he use of research in the policy making process and also to create policies that will proffer effective long term solutions. Research helps policy makers be well informed about a situation a policy is to address however â€Å"†¦there is nothing a government hates more than to be well-informed for it makes the process of arriving at decisions much more complicated and difficult† ( Skidelsky 1992). In my own opinion, research restrains the government from making a â€Å"one fit all† policy. It is easier for a government or donor institutions to make a ‘one fit all’ policy than going through the process of research, gaining adequate knowledge about a particular problem and having to make policies that fit specifi c contexts or societies and not been able to make a general policy that is not based on specific contexts or a countries specificity. In basil jones paper on linking research to policy, he says to achieve effectiveness and efficiency better sector work has to be done alongside research and analysis in development process which will in turn influence policy making. Without research or proper knowledge of a development problem, it is hard to make right decisions that will enable effective solutions. There is a great link between research and policy making although, it has been said that there is a gap between policy makers and researchers. It said that researchers make their findings inaccessible, sometimes lengthy, in a different language and uneasy to decipher just in time for policy decisions (Jones, 2011). Also, researchers do not research on problems facing policy makers but answer questions based on the tools and resources they have (World Bank 2010). Development policies are made based on finding solutions to development problems and research seeks to study and find possible and optimum solutions to those problems. Thus, without proper communication between the researchers and policy makers, it will be impossible to make an effective development policy as it is impossible to make a developmental progress if these two actors are working individually or separately. Conclusion it has been noted that governments and donor institutions tend to make ‘one fit all’ policies that will cut across different countries without taking into consideration the different countries peculiarity or its institutional context and sometimes are accused of making policies based on existing data from doctored research plans and conclusions that fit an existing policy or research done before without making room for new researches (Brettenwoods project, 2011). For example, the prevalent view amongst staffs of the IMF is that research findings need to be in relation with current IMF policies and evaluations done at the IMF showed that some researches were done with the conclusion and an already present policy in mind and some researches had different conclusions and recommendations separate from the analysis done in the research (IMF 2011). Furthermore, some NGOs have distorted the policy making process which renders the policy incapable and in turn creating negative e ffect on the poor by not engaging in research based evidence (Harper 2001). Above, it was noted that there was a significant gap between policy makers and researchers which needed to be bridged. Bridging the gap between these two actors In the development process could be done by making good use of researches that have been done and researchers communicating their findings to policy makers(court and young 2006). Also these donors should not make it all about the funding but also gaining or gathering and sharing new knowledge which can only be gotten from good research (Jones 2011). Policy questions should be the basis for a research and not just research based on the resources available to the researcher or what attracts the interest of the researcher at that time. Furthermore, in considering the future of development, results that influence policy and practice and relevant to poor people’s needs could be gotten by the improving the researchers effectiveness to produce such results. This was stated in a 2008 research strategy of DFID. Finally in answering the question to which extent effective development policy depends on good research, before a policy is made, there has to be an evidence of a problem and the evidence of the problem and knowledge gathered about the problem is held in mind before a decision is made to improve the condition of a problem, so basically there cannot be a policy without a research of some kind. Therefore, a development policy depends on research but an effective development policy that will properly address a problem that is being faced will depend on a good and thorough research. This paper has discussed the link and gap between research and policy, the dependency of policy on research and also the benefits of an evidence based policy. References â€Å"Research† Merriam-webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. web 26 February 2014 http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/research Brettenwoods (2011). Evaluations suggest IMF, World Bank research ideologically driven [online] Available: http:// http://www.brettonwoodsproject.org/2011/09/art-568905/ [Accessed: 24 February 2014] Cabinet office (1999) modernizing government stationary office: London, Ch. 2, Para. 6. Cm 4320. Available at www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/mordengov/whtpaper/index.htm> Court, J. and Young, J. (2006) Bridging research and policy in international development: an analytical and practical framework. Development in Practice, Volume 16, Number 1, February 2006. Court, J., Hovland, I. and Young, J. (2004) Bridging Research and Policy in International Development: Evidence and the Change Process, ITDG. Dukeshire, S. Thurlow, J. (2002). Understanding the Link Between Research and Policy. Rural Communities Impacting Policy Project Frankish, C.J., George, A., Daniel, M., Doyle-Waters, M. Walker, M. (1997). Participatory health promotion research in Canada: A community guidebook. Ottawa, ON: Health Canada, Health Promotion Development Division. Green, L., George, M., Daniel, M., Frankish, J., Herbert, C., Bowie, W. O’Neill, M. (1995). The study of participatory research in health promotion: Review and recommendations for the development of participatory research in health promotion in Canada. Ottawa: The Royal Society of Canada. Harper, C. (2001). Do the Facts Matter? NGOs, Research and Policy Advocacy, in Edwards, M. Gaventa, J., Global Citizen Action. Lynne Reinner Publishers Jones, B. (2011), Linking Research to Policy: The African Development Bank as Knowledge Broker, Series N ° 131, African Development Bank, Tunis, Tunisia. Research at the IMF: relevance and utilization / [prepared by an IEO team led by Ruben Lamdany and Hali Edison]. – Washington, D.C.: International Monetary Fund, 2011. Skidelsky, R. (1992) John Maynard Keynes; a biography. Vol 2: the economist as saviour, 1920-1937 macilian: London p 630. World Bank (September 2010) â€Å"Research for Development – A World Bank Perspective on Future Direction for Research† Policy Research Working Paper 5437 Yaron, G. And Louise, S. (2008) Good practice in evidence informed policy: An initial review for DFID. 1

Management Information Systems :: Technology, Internet Banking, PDAs

MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS (MIS) The most common technology applied by MFIs is the management information system known as MIS. MIS is an integrated computer-based application used to access useful, timely and accurate information to allow the user to make appropriate decisions, and to manage information effectively and efficiently. MIS includes modules such as loans portfolio tracking, human resources, internal control, accounting, and financial analysis (CGAP, 2010). MIS is often one of the major factors that enable MFIs to achieve significant growth. Kashyap (2009) stressed that â€Å"It is difficult for an MFI to upscale significantly and maintain the accuracy and transparency of its loan portfolio without an MIS†.(PAGE?) PERSONAL DIGITAL ASSISTANTS (PDA) A personal digital assistant (PDA), also known as a palmtop computer, is a mobile device that functions as a personal information manager. MFIs employ PDAs to ease loan processing, improve loan officer efficiency, and increase data accuracy and access in the field. To get the maximum benefits from PDAs, MFIs should have a stable MIS, and high speed access to data from their branches (Waterfield, 2004). SMART CARDS Smart Cards are wallet-sized plastic cards have an embedded microchip that allows data storage, and works like an electronic passbook that allows MFI clients to carry all their related information on this microchip. Smart cards are used to manage savings accounts, disburse loans or make transfers (Whelan, 2004). Reliable electrical power for card readers, software integration between card readers and the central management information system, together with processes, policies, and staff resources for handling lost, stolen or damaged cards are required prior to the introduction of smart cards (Whelan, 2004). POINT OF SALE (POS) Point of sale (POS) is a device or system often linked to computers, bank card readers, or even mobile telephones, that is located at a physical location such as a retail outlet, in order to perform an electronic transfer from one account to another or from a customer to a retailer. Some MFIs have implemented this technology in order to increase the security of financial transactions, reduce transaction cost in order to serve clients, and to reach new areas without branch infrastructure (Owens, 2009) MOBILE PHONES Mobile banking is a way for clients to perform balance checks, account transactions, payments, etc. using a mobile phone. Mobile phones provide a new and rapidly developing technological alternative delivery channels to extend financial services to those excluded from formal financial systems. Mobile phones allow clients to call into an automated system to conduct business transactions, and to access and request information. Management Information Systems :: Technology, Internet Banking, PDAs MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS (MIS) The most common technology applied by MFIs is the management information system known as MIS. MIS is an integrated computer-based application used to access useful, timely and accurate information to allow the user to make appropriate decisions, and to manage information effectively and efficiently. MIS includes modules such as loans portfolio tracking, human resources, internal control, accounting, and financial analysis (CGAP, 2010). MIS is often one of the major factors that enable MFIs to achieve significant growth. Kashyap (2009) stressed that â€Å"It is difficult for an MFI to upscale significantly and maintain the accuracy and transparency of its loan portfolio without an MIS†.(PAGE?) PERSONAL DIGITAL ASSISTANTS (PDA) A personal digital assistant (PDA), also known as a palmtop computer, is a mobile device that functions as a personal information manager. MFIs employ PDAs to ease loan processing, improve loan officer efficiency, and increase data accuracy and access in the field. To get the maximum benefits from PDAs, MFIs should have a stable MIS, and high speed access to data from their branches (Waterfield, 2004). SMART CARDS Smart Cards are wallet-sized plastic cards have an embedded microchip that allows data storage, and works like an electronic passbook that allows MFI clients to carry all their related information on this microchip. Smart cards are used to manage savings accounts, disburse loans or make transfers (Whelan, 2004). Reliable electrical power for card readers, software integration between card readers and the central management information system, together with processes, policies, and staff resources for handling lost, stolen or damaged cards are required prior to the introduction of smart cards (Whelan, 2004). POINT OF SALE (POS) Point of sale (POS) is a device or system often linked to computers, bank card readers, or even mobile telephones, that is located at a physical location such as a retail outlet, in order to perform an electronic transfer from one account to another or from a customer to a retailer. Some MFIs have implemented this technology in order to increase the security of financial transactions, reduce transaction cost in order to serve clients, and to reach new areas without branch infrastructure (Owens, 2009) MOBILE PHONES Mobile banking is a way for clients to perform balance checks, account transactions, payments, etc. using a mobile phone. Mobile phones provide a new and rapidly developing technological alternative delivery channels to extend financial services to those excluded from formal financial systems. Mobile phones allow clients to call into an automated system to conduct business transactions, and to access and request information.

A Winter Never to be Forgotten - Original Writing :: Papers

A Winter Never to be Forgotten - Original Writing In the terrible winter of 2002 a young man named Mark Kyle was staying in his parents cabin on the outskirts of Detroit. Marks fiancà ©e Kortney Skelly was to follow him up a few days later. On the night Kortney was to arrive Mark decided to plan a romantic evening to surprise her. As he began to set up candles around the dining room of the cabin for Kortney's arrival he discovered that there was not enough firewood to last them throughout the night. So he put on his winter jacket, stepped out into the cold and misty night and gathered firewood from the pile which was kept at the side of the cabin. As Mark was collecting firewood he noticed Kortney's car parked about fifty yards from the cabin. As Mark approached Kortney's car he noticed footprints and what seemed to be dragging marks. Mark began to get very worried as he started to follow the prints. As Mark followed the strange tracks into the dark, misty woods even his broad, bulky physique began to fiercely tremble with the fear of what he might discover. His dog Jack ran a few meters in front of him. Mark heard the distinct barking of Jack. Mark immediately ran towards the barking to see what had disturbed him. When Mark caught up with Jack he fell to his knees at the horrific sight that lay before him. Kortneys soft complexion and fine facial features stared Mark right in the face. He instantly tried to resuscitate her but unfortunately when he put pressure on her chest blood gushed from her lips onto Marks jacket. He hysterically lifted Kortney and carried her back to the cabin. When he reached the cabin he carried her into the living room and placed her on the floor. Mark then got a blanket from one of the guest rooms and gently wrapped it around her rigid, blood covered corpse.

Human Suffering: Preventing Humans From Achieving True Happiness Essay

There is a very commonly held belief that life is difficult. More to the point, life consists of a lot of suffering. It is common to hear comments such as, life is a constant struggle, life is an uphill battle, a never-ending fight. These comments raise many questions about the nature, or even the very existence of absolute happiness. Is it possible for a human being to ever achieve complete happiness? Answering this question completely is impossible because humans are very complex and each one of us has a different definition of happiness. Sigmund Freud took a different approach to the question of human happiness. In an excerpt from his book, which is titled Civilization and Its Discontents, Freud identified what he felt were the three main sources of human suffering. He says â€Å"...the three sources from which our suffering comes: the superior power of nature, the feebleness of our bodies and the inadequacies of the regulations which adjust the mutual relationships of human being in the family, the state and society† (Zwann, Junyk, & Zielinski, 2010). That is to say that Freud identified the origins of human suffering in rejecting and controlling our natural human instincts, the limitations of our human bodies, and the conflict between being true to ourselves and being a civilized individual. Furthermore, Freud was of the opinion that though we eventually accept, though are dissatisfied with the first two components of struggling, we are constantly at war with ourselves due to the last attribute. I find that I can agree with Freud on quite a few topics in his discussion, but that a lot of questions are ultimately raised from his thoughts. I plan on discussing and addressing all of these issues in this paper. Let us take a loo... ...ence with hardly a moment's notice. Suffering also arises in the knowledge of our own mortality and our physical limitations. The human being is well aware that the body will one day fail in one way or another. Finally, there is the suffering that comes from the struggle between the individual existence trying to fit with the existence of civilization. Due to the fact that human beings require social connections for both protection and emotional support, the formation of societies and civilizations is inevitable. Human suffering is ultimately an unavoidable aspect of life. Works Cited taboo. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged. Web. 23 November 23, 2014. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/taboo Zwann, V., Junyk, I., & Zielinski, G. (Ed.). (2010). Cust 1000Y Introduction to the study of modern culture. Toronto, Ontario: Canadian Scholars' Press Inc Human Suffering: Preventing Humans From Achieving True Happiness Essay There is a very commonly held belief that life is difficult. More to the point, life consists of a lot of suffering. It is common to hear comments such as, life is a constant struggle, life is an uphill battle, a never-ending fight. These comments raise many questions about the nature, or even the very existence of absolute happiness. Is it possible for a human being to ever achieve complete happiness? Answering this question completely is impossible because humans are very complex and each one of us has a different definition of happiness. Sigmund Freud took a different approach to the question of human happiness. In an excerpt from his book, which is titled Civilization and Its Discontents, Freud identified what he felt were the three main sources of human suffering. He says â€Å"...the three sources from which our suffering comes: the superior power of nature, the feebleness of our bodies and the inadequacies of the regulations which adjust the mutual relationships of human being in the family, the state and society† (Zwann, Junyk, & Zielinski, 2010). That is to say that Freud identified the origins of human suffering in rejecting and controlling our natural human instincts, the limitations of our human bodies, and the conflict between being true to ourselves and being a civilized individual. Furthermore, Freud was of the opinion that though we eventually accept, though are dissatisfied with the first two components of struggling, we are constantly at war with ourselves due to the last attribute. I find that I can agree with Freud on quite a few topics in his discussion, but that a lot of questions are ultimately raised from his thoughts. I plan on discussing and addressing all of these issues in this paper. Let us take a loo... ...ence with hardly a moment's notice. Suffering also arises in the knowledge of our own mortality and our physical limitations. The human being is well aware that the body will one day fail in one way or another. Finally, there is the suffering that comes from the struggle between the individual existence trying to fit with the existence of civilization. Due to the fact that human beings require social connections for both protection and emotional support, the formation of societies and civilizations is inevitable. Human suffering is ultimately an unavoidable aspect of life. Works Cited taboo. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged. Web. 23 November 23, 2014. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/taboo Zwann, V., Junyk, I., & Zielinski, G. (Ed.). (2010). Cust 1000Y Introduction to the study of modern culture. Toronto, Ontario: Canadian Scholars' Press Inc