Lifestyle Essay

Ideally, the key segments selected would have high product penetration and would contain the highest proportions of hea^y users, indicating greater volume potential, a healthy position for the brand or brands under consideration, and favorable brand attitudes. This t’pe of ideal situation would make the selection of target segments quite easy. Unfortunately, this ideal situation seldom occurs in reality. The author’s experience with life style segmentation has shown that there tend to be three basic results in relationships between life style segments and the marketing data. First, two or three life style segments account for 60% or more of the total business in that category. This means that these segments (types of people) are crucial to success or failure in the category. They are the ones who need to be appealed to, reached through the media, and concentrated on in marketing. Second, a number of segments contain important levels of hea^ users of the category, and a few segments are relatively unimportant. Here one needs to go beyond the consumption data to examine the relative positions of the brands. Where is a brand strong and where is it weak? If a brand profile matches the heavy-user profiles by segments, then the task becomes one of maintaining the current position and perhaps expanding it. It may be that the segments where a brand is weak are different people with different needs, which might suggest a second brand. If, on the other hand, a brand profile does not match the heavier-using segments very well, there is a need to determine how to capture some business from those segments where competition is doing much better. Third, there are no significant differences in 36 Journal of Markeling, January 1974 onsumption among the segments, but definite attitude, product function, and life style similarities exist between groups of segments. In addition to providing input into the â€Å"who† of a marketing plan, life style segmentation often provides insights into the amount of concentration in a market: how difficult conversion of nonusers might be, the potential role of promotion, and the potential role of new products. For example, in one product categor>’ it was quite evident that ever;’ brand except one was targeted at the same life style segment. Although important, this segment comprised less than half of the users. Here was an instance where a marketing opportunity existed to target a new brand or reposition an older one at the other, less-concentrated segments. The author is aware of one situation in which life style segmentation was particularly useful in basic media strategy, when an important segment appeared to be more print-oriented and a light daytime television viewer. Using the demographics of that life style segment, further analysis of Life style segmentation is useful because it provides a unique and important view of the market. It begins with the people—their life styles and motivations—and then determines how various marketing factors fit into their lives. This perspective often provides fresh insights into the market and gives a more three-dimensional view of the target consumers. This article has described the theory underlying life style segmentation, a two-step analytic process, and uses which have been made of the data. This unique and detailed knowledge of consumers has been a useful input to marketing and advertising planning for many of the companies that have been involved in life style segmentation studies. 9. â€Å"How Nestle Uses Psychographics,† Media Decisions.

The Role of HR Department in the Hiring of the New Employees

Before turning to the factors affecting the proper organization of a Human Resources department and its role in hiring new employees, briefly need to stress the organization of the department itself. National Hellenic Land and Property Register consist of HR Executive Manager, two HR generalists, one HR coordinator and one HR assistant.The binding function of human resource management to business strategy at the operational, administrative and strategic level, facilitating managers and line workers and the continuous monitoring of developments, both internal as well as external highlighting role of Human Resources into a modern enterprise, and demonstrate the importance of the department. Recruitment and selection of staff responsibilities are exclusively assigned to the Executive Manager of Human Resources.The manager is responsible for all actions relating to vacant or new job, promotions and personnel movements, and maintains the necessary number of employees by carrying out recru itment. The departures of employees and management mainly for reasons of retirement have resulted in the evacuation of jobs. Usually outgoing are people with enough experience in positions of responsibility. Thus the filling of these positions is usually done with internal recruitment. In particular, the HR manager is obliged to communicate in the form of circulars typically jobs that are to be met.The same procedure is followed in the event that created new jobs, but in which they can meet their employees with the knowledge and experience they possess. The various movements, promotions and retirements are leaving them uncovered jobs, responding mainly to simple tasks without supervision and accountability. To meet the specific positions, HR Department addresses recourse to external recruitment. As already mentioned, the decision to conduct large- scale recruitment is solely the responsibility of the manager.Usually in the medium term cared to cover positions internally (delay Promo tions – assignment of multiple tasks), while intakes are in the long periodic basis by conducting external competitions. The HR manager is responsible for the organization and conduct of these competitions, and for notification of job vacancies nationwide. Analyzing the recruitment process shows that there are some points that need improvement. First, the company needs to unblock the recruitment process from the logic of the periodic competitions.It is appropriate to be recruited annually, based programming needs already done the Human Resources Department. Even through â€Å"external recruitment should be extended tank pumping concerned, possibly by linking the company with the finance departments of Greek universities to attract people most concerned with the essential object of activity of the National Hellenic Land and Property Register, given that as the situation today , the attraction is rather randomâ€Å"(Petrakis, 2012) , however, and certainly without any necessa ry filters.The only case where it is applied successfully recruiting process as described scientifically by the Human Resources Administration, is recruiting qualified professional staff. The recruitment process has been upgraded to the extent that a separate sub-division within the Directorate of Human Resources. The HR generalists are primarily responsible for the execution of all actions that contribute to the proper staffing of various jobs. It operates on two levels, the original recruiting agents, and this selection of employees for staffing positions of responsibility.During the recruitment process, successful candidates go through specific stages of selection, and which lead to the final hiring decision or rejection. These stages are interviewing executive sub address selection, which mainly outlines the psychosocial profile of the candidate, a test of perception and intelligence, control and verification of references accompanying the application documents and medical exams . Noted at this point that successful candidate’s recruitment is rarely rejected at selection stages. These are more important for recording various characteristics of employees, and simply recorded and archived for future use.The selection plays a very important role in the process of promoting employees and staffing positions of responsibility. At this level, historical data have occasionally recorded, account together with the data obtained from a second selection process done at that time to candidates who meet the set criteria. The latter process involves a detailed interview with each candidate, where he is asked to describe the reasons is interested in a specific location, and design and analysis of annual performance evaluation sheetsâ€Å".  (McConnell, 2005)The final conclusions of this choice lead to the promotion decision or rejection of the official. The selection procedures used by the National Hellenic Land and Property Register judged as adequate and relati vely well designed. The tests and interviews are done by highly trained staff and have a high degree of reliability. It is useful to introduce assessment procedures of virtual projects, before taking up his new duties, in order to verify in practice if and when candidates for key positions are capable and experienced enough to cope with any difficulties.

The Language used Street Billboards in Doha Essay

The Language used Street Billboards in Doha - Essay Example The data will be collected by photographing various street billboards and by surveying people on their perception of the language used in street billboards. The findings showed that the design of billboards and Qatari dialect used in most street billboards attracts people most, Arabic and English are mostly used, adverts in Qatari addressed in Arabic uphold Islamic culture, and the target group of most adverts is adults. Objectives of the Study This study aims to show the like between the advertisements’ language and the ideology of the Qatari society. Also, it focuses in the design and the texts of the billboards persuade the customers, and examining the target group behind the language of the billboards used in Qatar society. LITERATURE REVIEW This Literature Review will analyze previous studies done by other scholars on the topic. Literature review typically includes scholarly journals, scholarly books, authoritative databases and primary source. Asmi (2013) explores the role of Islam in Arabic language ideologies. Through juxtaposing of religious and secular traditions, Asmi clearly explains the relationship between Islam and Arabic. The connection between the two greatly affects the political, social and cultural agendas of the Qatari society. Arabic language is considered to be the most powerful symbol of Arabic-Islamic culture and mode of transmission. Islam played an instrumental role in helping Arabic attain its universal status as well as to emerge as one of the world’s principal languages. This is attributed to the fact that Arabic is an important means of natural and cultural revival in most Islamic countries.

ANswer the questions Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

ANswer the questions - Assignment Example In the piece, the followers are fond of Jones due to his thoughts and ideas. Jones is also of good character. He is admired for his conduct, nature, and constructive ideas. There are several explanations that help illustrate the relationship Jones had with his followers. It is evident, however, at some point; Jones was not a charismatic leader. Charismatic leaders are supposed to integrate the opinions and ideas of his followers and not just issue commands. Jones used threatening symbols and threats to ensure loyalty from the people. Unlike Jones, charismatic leaders should give their followers to come up with a platform that they can create solutions to problems. Charismatic leaders give their followers the freedom to express themselves and allow social interaction. For the better part of his life, jones was a transformational and charismatic leader. He was charming and even the high political leaders in San Francisco wanted to be associated with him. He was able to develop ideas that integrated racial equity. Jim Jones was not concerned with race and did not practice any racial bias. He was devoted to helping the oppressed especially the African-Americans (Caulla 154). His approach of an ideal and better world made devotion to his cause possible. Most people that would have found out about Jones addiction to drug use would stop following and believing in him. Furthermore, he let his personal attributes get the best of him. His close associates did not want the public and his followers to know about the massacre. He played with the public’s emotion to ensure his relevance. At one point, jones argued that the people that committed suicide did a justified cause to a revolutionary action that disproves a brutal

Modern bsuiness in comparative perspective Essay

Modern bsuiness in comparative perspective - Essay Example These include the purchasing power parity, which considers the standards of living of the people in countries under comparison to ascertain their purchasing might and ultimately the measure of GDP. The comparison concludes that some economies are better structured and better performing than the other economies around the world. Some of these better-performing economies have come to be referred to as the major economies of the world with United States, China, the European Union, Germany, and Japan fitting this classification. Questions linger into how they came to attain such a high status in the economic circles and not their peers such as Nigeria, Mexico or Haiti. It is such questions that this essay seeks to address with the major focus on Porter’s national competitive advantage theory in explaining the characteristics and performance of the business systems of major economies. Apart from Porter’s national competitive theory, various theories have been fronted the behaviour, characteristics and performance of business systems of major economies. These theories are referred to as international trade theories. They fall into two categories; that is the historical trade theories also known as classical and mainly centre on the perspective of a country; they are country based. The second category is the modern firm based theories developed in the 20thcentury by theories as a shift from the country-based theories. Among the classical trade, theories include mercantilism theory that asserts a country’s wealth is dependent on its gold, in addition to, silver holdings. The theory holds that the big economies of the world retain their holdings of silver and gold via promotion of exports and hindrance of imports. When the countries are buying more from these big economies instead of selling more to them, they pay the variation in gold as well as silver. The aim of every state is to have a trade surplus and discourage trade

Corporations and a Sustainable World Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Corporations and a Sustainable World - Essay Example It began during the Industrial Age when the machines increased the productivity of manufacturers. Before, they were a group of people who were hired by the government to perform particular functions, like building bridges for the public. It was supposed to be a subordinate entity a gift given by the people to serve the public good. But somewhere along history, corporate lawyers cited the Fourteenth Amendment (not to deprive any person of life, liberty or property). This made the corporation protection because it can now own, buy and sell things, borrow money, sue and be sued and can carry a business. Corporation starts when the government gives a charter to a group of people who want a limited liability when it comes to business. Because of the charter, incorporations are taken by the law as individuals. The movie analyzed the character of this â€Å"individual† and made the audience realize how the corporations that the majority knows, is not what it is, but rather an ideal c onstruct of the corporation so that the public would like them, thus would let them produce more money. As said before, the corporation is made up of various people. They are formed to protect the corporation itself, which means generating money for the corporation. Doing this job causes harm to workers, like: low salaries, lay-offs, union bustings, etc. These decisions are made so that the company can cut the cost of their operations yet deliver the same quality of goods to the consumers. The film put a spotlight on the sweatshops. The products sold in the department stores that are sold for $ 31 are actually being made at factories in Third World countries for 3 cents per hour. The discrepancy is obvious. But according to Michael Walker, this is a good thing, because they give opportunity to people who have â€Å"nothing to offer but their low cost labor†. Basically, they use the people’s need for employment as a resource to outsource their need for low cost labor. H owever, these people who make decisions for the corporation, which is a legal structure, just the same as a building, are moral people with moral responsibilities. Sam Gibara, a former CEO of Goodyear, Inc. states that his personality as a person is different than that of his personality as a CEO. The priorities shift when he is on the job because of the demands of the job that requires him to make certain touchy decisions, like laying off people. Even the former chairman of the Royal Dutch Shell, Sir Mark Moody Stuart stated that they have the same concerns as with the activists, as he interviewed public demonstrators who tried to rally in their house. These ideas of inequality reflect the conflict approach in sociology, specifically the conflict of class approach. Karl Marx presented this idea, which is appropriate since he also introduced the idea of capitalism, which is basically the spirit of the corporation. The conflict approach originated from Marx’s ideas and writing s on class struggles. This theory focuses on the negative aspects of the society, making a way for improvements to happen, because of shortcomings (Schaefer, 423). This film presents the shortcomings of the corporation, along with the opinions of the people who defend it. The movie pokes the sensibilities of the audience who may or may not act on the situation that demands change for the improvement of the way the corporations are being run. This is a perfect example of the

Magnet Designation (Massachusetts General Hospita, Boston) Assignment

Magnet Designation (Massachusetts General Hospita, Boston) - Assignment Example It aims at demonstrating how the â€Å"forces of magnetism’’ required by the American Nurses Credentialing Centre are epitomized and show how the standards set for Magnet Recognition are met. Also, at the end of the paper my stance or personal opinion in regard to the organization discussed will be publicized. The notion of Magnet can be traced back to 1983 when ‘American Academy of Nursing Task Force on Nursing Practice’ personnel carried out a study to determine factors that attracted excellent nurses to continue delivering those excellent healthcare services and it is this that the organizations/hospitals that were studied, 41 were labelled ‘magnet’ hospitals because they retained excellent nurses although there was scarcity of nurses. This was the onset of Magnet Recognition Programme as the Board of Directors at the American Nurses Association permitted Magnet Programme to be managed and run by American Nursing Credentialing Centre (ANNC) in 1990. Massachusetts General Hospital is privileged to have earned Magnetic Status; a certification considered to be the upmost honour in the nursing brilliance. It swanks to have become the first hospital to have earned this (Magnet) status in the United States in 2003.Achieving this was indeed not a single event but an intensive process that involved so many stages. After the application was written and received, a meticulous evaluation was conducted by very conscientious and keen personnel from ANNC in which both written and observed proof to verify that the nursing services offered at the hospital met the standards of excellence at the ANNC. Support documents of about 2600 pages were forwarded to the ANNC; which convinced them to come to make an on-site observation (American, 2004). A team of ANNC evaluators finally came to the hospital and spent three days to examine service delivery, inter-group work relationship, adherence to standards of practice, leadership practice, and certifica tion

HW Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 18

HW - Assignment Example It relates to the growth of MNC by evaluating the stages that an international product has to go through thus revealing product decline and appreciations as a result of competition c. Low home inflation will mean high consumption and less saving. This will in turn increase imports and reduce export thus increasing deficit in a country’s current account. Foreign imports will signify a strong competition thus low inflation. The demand for South Korean won will increase with the increase in demand for imports. The supply for South Korean won will reduce due to increase in its exports. The result will be a shift in equilibrium value of the South Korean won upwards, thus increasing its value. The high interest rates in US will increase demand for US currency as a result of hot money flows. This will see appreciation in US dollar demand for Argentina pesos will decrease, while its supply will increase. The equilibrium value for the pesos will thus depreciate Rise in income levels of US will increase demand and consumption thus increasing imports. The demand for British pounds will increase, while supply for British pound for sale will decrease, the equilibrium value of the British pound will increase thus signifying an appreciation in the value of British pound b. In speculating, the speculators who anticipate for appreciation of the currency will purchase the future contracts of the currency as opposed to those who anticipate the currency’s decline who will sell currency future contracts of that currency When the US based firm wants to lock its maximum price to be paid for euros in future, then the US firm can consider purchasing a call option for euros. Similarly, when the US firm wants the price of its receivables to be lock at minimum prices for the euros, then the US firm can consider put option on euros. A speculator should purchase a call option of Australian dollar when the Australian dollar is devalued and low compared

Green Peace Essay Example for Free

Green Peace Essay Green Peace This campaign often focuses on McDonalds as an industry leader promoting business practices detrimental to the environment, destruction of tropical rainforests  INFLUENCE:  Pressure groups get the media involved which cause attention to grow on McDonalds in a negative way; this can mean that McDonalds lose customers as they dont want to be involved with an organisation that causes a bad reputation towards McDonalds. McDonalds attempts to fulfil expectations of pressure groups such as animal rights by buying meat from animals that are not slaughtered etc. but it is impossible for them to keep pressure groups happy all of the time. Pressure groups influence the business by checking at the store very often, doing customer surveys. They have the power to ruin the reputation worldwide if something is off beam. Pressure groups can take immediate direct action to get their point across. This is unhealthy for McDonalds as this draws media attention and public attention to the groups cause. This would mean that potential customers may decide that they do not want to buy McDonald goods due to a poor reputation. McDonalds have many schemes in place to please shareholders such as sticking to government rules and regulations or meeting the needs of the consumers. For example when people blamed McDonalds a cause for obesity levels and complained that there are not enough healthy choices, McDonalds came up with initiative ideas for a more healthier choices and a cut down in fat levels. This shows how they are a big influence to McDonalds; they can easily put the reputation of McDonalds down. Also competitors like Burger King tell income tax officer to check making trouble for the business. McDonalds have a constant battle with pressure groups and aim to keep them happy as they do not want the negative publicity. However as there are so many pressure groups it is impossible to keep everyone happy.  Evaluation:  After investigating the different stakeholders at McDonalds in thorough detail I can establish that the most powerful stakeholders are customers, franchisees and suppliers. This is because they have great buying power if they are dissatisfied with the level of quality at McDonalds they can easily take their custom elsewhere. Franchisees are powerful in the UK as all of McDonalds restaurant are either company owned (where the manager runs the restaurant) or franchised (turn over). McDonalds have great trust in the franchisee to operate restaurants successfully and keep their reputation high and clean. Suppliers are important stakeholders because they need McDonalds as much as McDonalds needs them. By working in a team they can meet each others needs. After recognising the most important stakeholder I can clearly declare that all stakeholders are important. Each stakeholder has different needs, McDonalds try and find a compromise with these needs and put effort to fulfil all their interests. However it is impossible to do so therefore conflicts can occur like I have discussed earlier. Bibliography: All information that I have, has been gathered through different research through the internet for example www.mcdonalds.com and also www.bized.ac.uk and a selection of books. I have gained some information through the trip made to McDonalds; I have gained knowledge about McDonalds in further detail by the interview made at the trip.

Cole Scraper Essay Example for Free

Cole Scraper Essay 1. Watch the video and read through the information on diatoms and dinoflagellates. 2. Type in the appropriate columns below the characteristics that apply to diatoms, dinoflagellates and the characteristics they share Characteristics of Diatoms Similarities Between Diatoms and Dinoflagellates Characteristics of Dinoflagellates Diatoms are single cellular eukaryotes that are super tiny in size. They are pretty much like photosynthetic micro-organisms, some live simple or branched and others are filamentous and others are in a gelatinous envelope or tube. All diatoms are enclosed by something that is called frustule, which is made up of 2 valves that are fitted together by a girdle, which is a connective zone. They are both found in salt water and sometimes fresh water they could be found also. But both are a type of phytoplankton And they both play important roles in marine food webbing They also help remove carbon dioxide from air Dinoflagellates are unicellular protists; They’re planktonic. 90% of all dinoflagellates are marine plankton. They are very small as well. many of them are microscopic, the largest of them all may be as large as 2 mm in diameter! At it’s largest size. Dinoflagellates sby 2 things, flagella and movable protein strands that propel the cell through the water. The longitudinal flagellum extends out from the sulcal groove of the hypotheca when it snaps back and forth it moves the cell forward. The flattened flagellum lies in the cingulum, the groove that expands around the equator of the cell. The motion of this provides maneuvering and forward movement. The result of this is the action of the two flagella the cell spirals as it moves. Use your chart to start making a deduction about the cause of the food poisoning. Based on the information you’ve gathered do you feel that the cause of the food poisoning is a diatom or a dinoflagellate? Why? The dinoflagellate causes illness . A diatom is a small type of hard shelled plankton. So dinoflagellate causes poisoning. Why? Because it sometimes blooms millions of cells per milliliter. Some types of these certain species can produce neurotoxins, which is something that kills fish and accumulates things filter feeders. For example a shellfish, it may pass on them and then onto people who eat shellfish, which will cause food poising.

Improvement Of The College Library Education Essay

Improvement Of The College Library Education Essay INTRODUCTION Library is one of the most important parts of the school system. In the library, students continue to undertake learning and self-instruction during their free time. They also use library facilities, books, online and offline collections to do their assignments, reports, researches and other activities. However, with the advent of Internet resources, students now tend to use the Internet rather than library resources. Hence, there is a need to improve the college library based on the needs, preferences, and convenience of the students. This paper aimed to gather opinions and suggestions of the students to improve the college library. The objectives of the study were: To identify what do the students more frequently use for searching information; To determine how often do the students visit or use the library facilities; To check if students get the information they need from the college library; To find out if students believe that the college library needs improvement; and To gather students opinions and suggestion on the improvement of the school library? The opinions and suggestions of the students were very useful for updating the contents and improving the system of the library. The results of this research also served as an appeal to the school administration to improve the college library. Specifically, this study answered the following questions: What do the students more frequently use for searching information: Internet or Library? How often do the students visit or use the library facilities? Do they get the information they need from the college library? Do they believe that the college library needs improvement? What are their opinions and suggestion on the improvement of the school library? Literature Review Libraries play important roles in the learning experience of students. It is the library where students obtain continuous learning and self-instruction. The library is expected to give extensive learning experience to the students. This section provides argument for the importance of traditional libraries. Traditional library can be defined as a confined place with a finite collection of tangible information bearing primary and resources such as books, journals, and alternative forms such as images, films, and tapes. It also contains secondary or meta-information like card catalog, various thesauri and references, and other searching tools which reference the librarys primary content (Low, 1996).There are the material resources of the library. These are the available sources of information for the students, faculty and staff. The main roles of libraries include teaching, learning, and research responsibilities. In terms of teaching, library staff has the responsibility to improve and facilitate teaching and instructions of the teaching staff. Libraries also facilitate learning and self-instruction of students. Likewise, this is also true in terms of researching needs of the students and the teaching staff as well (Stover, 2001). Libraries can fulfill teaching, learning, and research responsibilities through reference service, developing an extensive collection, and updating and maintaining this collection. Moreover, the libraries may also seek collaboration with the teaching faculty and other parts of campus community in the process of curriculum development. The library staff also has the responsibility to anticipate and be prepared with intellectual and technological developments that may affect the library in the future (Stover, 2001). Because of these important roles, libraries should be continuously improved. METHODOLOGY This study utilized a qualitative research design to determine the opinions and suggestions of the students concerning the improvement of the college library. The method was survey and suggestion box. Survey method is the appropriate method to be used when gathering opinions of the subjects when high response rate is needed at a short research time. This was necessary for the conduct of this research. The participants of this study were the college students of Bluefiled State College. They were asked to participate in the survey while they were in the library, canteen, or school grounds during their free time. On the other hand, a separate suggestion box especially designed for this study was placed in each section of the library. There was no sampling method implemented and multiple responses were not restricted because this study focused on the content of responses and not on the number of responses. In terms of data analysis and presentation, complete enumeration of responses was done. The scope of the responses covered library use, belief or non-belief of the need to improve the college library, and others based on solely on the perception of the students. The limitation of this study was that the population of the school was not appropriately represented because no sampling was done. However, the study assured voluntary participation which resulted high response rate. The instruments used in this study were suggestion box and self-administered questionnaire. The answer sheet for the suggestion box and the questionnaire were attached as appendix A and appendix B respectively. Analysis A total of 300 responses were gathered from the survey. The participants were gathered from the library, school grounds and other areas within the school where students gather during their free time. In terms of the school level, the breaks down of the respondents were the following: 1st year- 70; 2nd year- 50; 3rd year- 70; 4th year- 80; 5th year- 30. Majority of the respondents expressed more use of Internet rather than library resources in making their assignments and searching for information. Figure 1 shows the break down of responses. Hence, there is a need to improve library resources to encourage them to rely on the college library for their information needs. In spite of using the Internet more often to search for information, many of the respondents still go to the library everyday. Hence, there is still willingness on the part of the students to visit the library and search for information. Figure 2 shows the break down of the responses. However, when asked if they get the information that they need, majority of the respondents answered no. Out of 300 respondents, 170 said that they frequently do not get the information they need from the college library and only 130 said they get useful information from the library. Figure 3 shows the break down of responses. Therefore, failure the undertake the number one role of the college library- to deliver relevant information to the students means that this is a very significant reason to improve the facilities and service of the college library. In accordance to this, almost all of the respondents said that they believe that their college library needs to be improved. Only 40 expressed confidence to their college library and did not believe that rehabilitation of the college library should be done. On the other hand, 260 respondents said that the college library should be rehabilitated to improve performance of the college library. Table 1 shows the suggestions of the respondents for college library improvement from suggestion box and survey questionnaires. The suggestions of the respondents can be classified into four groups: human resources, facilities/services, books, and management. Table 1 Suggestion for College Library Improvement (From Suggestion box and Survey Questionnaire) Human Resources Facilities/Services More librarians more tables and chairs to accommodate more students Trained Librarians library tour for those who need assistance Guards/Guides subscription of online and offline journals Books Management More books better library management Updated books better borrowing and return system More on fiction section Human Resources. Many of the respondents suggested that they need more and trained librarians and guides to assist them in their library experience. They also suggested having guards within the vicinity of the library to provide security. Facilities/services. The students also suggested that they need more tables and chair for increased accommodation facilities of the libraries. They also requested for library tours for those who need it, especially for the freshmen students and subscription of online and offline journals which can be very useful for graduating students for their final research. Books. The students requested for more books of more recent editions on diverse range of topics. Moreover, they also suggested more recent collection for the fictions sections. This suggests that the students still need and are still willing to read books. Library Management. Aside from the material resources and human resources, students also suggested some improvement of the college library based on library management. This concerned book borrowing and return system, and better over all library management. This is in accordance to their request for more trained librarians. Conclusion and Recommendations From the results of the survey, it can be concluded that the students rely more frequently to Internet resources for their information and scholastic needs. The advent of technologies and the rapid development of new ones, especially the Internet have changed the learning and researching behavior of the students- from the traditional library resources to digital or Internet resources. Nevertheless, the students still visit the library on a daily basis to search for the information that they need for scholastic performance and personal knowledge gain. However, most of them do not get the information that they need. Thus, they believe that the college library should be improved. These scenarios should be a calling for the administration and the library management to improve the librarys facilities and services. The students have also stated in this research their suggestions through the survey and suggestion box. Accordingly, this research has the following suggestion for the library management, school administration, and the students. Library Administration Consider the point of view of students because they are the primary users and intended audience of the library and programs to improve it. The effectives of improvement programs will solely depend on the acceptability of the project to the students. Implement comprehensive and effective library management procedures. This will trickle down to better library service from library staff and relevant library experience for the students. School Administration Devote significant part of the school budget for improvement of the school library because library has important roles to teaching, learning, and research which are tantamount to the roles of the school as a whole. Support initiatives of the school library to improve. Students Avail and maximize the use of librarys resources. This can encourage school authorities to improve the college library facilities. Be active in giving suggestions for the improvement of scholastic performance of the school and the college library for that matter.

The Civil War Essay -- essays research papers fc

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Civil War was a time when the United States was split in two. In every battle Americans were killing Americans because of sectional conflicts. These were times when people were forgetting the concept of the United States, all the things their fathers and grandfathers had worked so hard for. Lincoln’s speech, The Gettysburg Address, defined, symbolized, and epitomized the spirit of America. Lincoln established equality, found in the Declaration of Independence but not in the Constitution nor in any Federal or State law, as a basic and fundamental concept in America. This is very true since this country was founded on equality but apparently not granted in the Constitution to all. In the time of the Civil War many Americans forgot what equality meant, freedom for all - black and white.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Gettysburg Address was written by President Abraham Lincoln on November 19, 1863. It was delivered at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania at the dedication of the Gettysburg National Cemetery, honoring those who died in the Civil War battle of Gettysburg earlier that year. â€Å"The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . (Doc. 25 line 10). The brief speech was followed by a two-hour oration by Edward Everett, one of the most famous speakers of the time. The next day the newspaper of the time regarded Everett’s speech very highly and only briefly mentioned Lincoln. Ironically, Everett sent Lincoln a note saying, â€Å"I wish that I could flatter myself that I had come as near to the central idea of the occasion in two hours as you did in two minutes.† (Encarta). Although Lincoln was not as eloquent and verbose as many, his words had a deep meaning and touched the hearts of many soldiers who fought at Gettysburg.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the Gettysburg Address Lincoln states, â€Å"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.† (Doc. 25 lines 1-3). By saying this Lincoln meant that the United States was born through the struggle of the colonists for freedom from England. When the fathers of this country made this nation, they wanted it to be one of liberty and equality.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Civil War was basically fought over the issue of slavery and keeping the United States as... ...uality, equality for all. The Address also did not have the power to do this. After the Address was written the Emancipation Proclamation was also written by Lincoln to emancipate all slaves living in Confederate territory. This was so far the only document that actually headed more in the direction of equality than any other. Both the Address and the Declaration were symbols of freedom and liberty against a foe that intended to demolish these concepts.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"The Gettysburg Address is †¦recognized †¦as the one of the most moving expressions of the democratic spirit ever uttered.†(Encarta). The Declaration of Independence is one of the most important symbols of what America stands for. Both are important in recognizing how we as Americans have come to enjoy the freedom and equality that we have today.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   WORKS CITED   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Document 25. â€Å"The Gettysburg Address†, Abraham Lincoln   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Encarta Encyclopedia. â€Å"The Gettysburg Address† 1996

The Sherpa of Nepal Essay -- Culture Economy Papers

The Sherpa of Nepal â€Å"Sherpa†, a term derived from words meaning â€Å"people† and â€Å"east†, refers to a cultural groupthat numbers about 35,000 and whose members occupy parts of India, Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan (Sherpa Friendship Asscn,1999:1), though most groups are found in Nepal (Stevens 1993: 31). It is generally understood that the Sherpa came to Nepal from eastern Tibet about 500 years ago (www.rip.physics.unk.edu/Nepal/NPE 1999:2). This research paper will focus on the Nepalese Sherpa. It will explore socio-ecological aspects of their lives, including their cultural and ecological adaptations. In addition, it will highlight changes in Sherpa culture and the relationship brought about by outside influences. Nepal is a relatively small country, 100 miles wide by 500 miles long. The southern border is tropical with rich soils, flora and fauna; making this region of Nepal densely populated by humans (Bishop 1998:10). The mountainous region, however, is more sparsely populated. It is the Sherpa who populate these mountains, specifically the middle Himalayan range (Bishop 1998:11). Most Sherpa settlements are found at altitudes of 3,000 to 6,000 meters. These high altitude environments are prone to unpredictable climatic and geomorphological conditions. Growing seasons are short, and there is often the risk of early frosts or snowstorms. The slopes are steep and farming and grazing is often difficult (Stevens 1993: 57). However, despite these challenges, the Sherpa have managed to subsist in their environment by employing a system of agro-pastoralism. This method combines stationary village agriculture with a nomadic system of herding (Bishop 1998:25). This way of life has been crucial to Sherpa survival. The Sherpa prac... ...olyandry: Kinship, Domesticity, and Population on the Tibetan Border. Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press. Ortner, Sherry B. 1989. High Religion: A Cultural and Political History of Sherpa Buddhism. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. Ortner, Sherry B. 1978. Sherpas through their rituals. London: Cambridge University Press. Savada, Andrea Matles. 1993. Nepal And Bhutan: Country Studies. Washington DC: US Government Printing Office. Sherpa Friendship Association. Sherpa Facts. . February 17, 1999. Stevens, Stanley F. 1993. Claiming the Higher Ground: Sherpas, Subsistence, and Environmental Change in the Highest Himalaya. Berkeley and Los Angeles, CA: University of California Press. Stonor, Charles. 1955. The Sherpa and the Snowman. London: Hollis & Carter. Unreached Peoples Prayer Profiles, The. . February 17, 1999.

Analysis of Asian American

The United States has become the most diverse society on the face of the earth. For more than a century, most immigrants to the United States were Europeans—Germans, English, Italians, and so forth. However, according to â€Å"Globalization and Contemporary Immigration to the United States† by Min Zhou and J. V. Gatewood, â€Å"non-European immigration to the United States began in the late 1960s and has accelerated at rapid speeds since the early 1990s after a long hiatus due to restricted immigration. More than one million people a year migrate, mostly from Asia and Latin American- is transforming America into a multicultural society. At the same time, diversity became a distinguishing characteristic of contemporary Asian American. Cultural, social, economic and geopolitical factors have contributed to the diversity and also has brought new challenges for immigrants and their children to adapt themselves to the new environment. (Min Zhou and J. V. Gatewood) There are four aspects about â€Å"the development of a coherent vision for future Asian American† as what Min Zhou and J. V. Gatewood described. Firstly, variously national origins, which make impact on both the immigrant generation and the second and third generation in language and religions. Secondly, socioeconomic diversity brings about different kinds of mobility patterns. Thirdly, diverse settlement modes influence the development of Asian American community. Finally, â€Å"immigration complicates intergenerational relations and ethnic solidarity. † As what Min Zhou and J. V. Gatewood referred, â€Å"the Philippines, China/Taiwan, Korea, India, and Vietnam have been on the list of top-ten sending countries since 1980. Even though there were different kinds of laws to restrict immigration from the â€Å"Asian-Pacific triangle†, Asian immigrants found other ways to become eligible citizen. For example, marrying white Americans. With the development of globe economy, the U. S. immigration policy had been changed. On the one hand, the United States sought cheaper labor and resources abroad to develop the globalization of its economy. â€Å"Since the 1980s, about on e-third of the engineers and medical personnel in the U. S. labor market have come from abroad-mostly from India, China, Taiwan and the Philippines. †( Min Zhou and J. V. Gatewood) Further, more and more Asian study abroad, therefore, many international students, namely, foreign students, had found permanent employment in America so that they could stay here. On the other hand, globalization had played a significant role in immigration. For one thing, developing countries’ economics and occupational structures were interposed by the U. S. investment. The U. S. imported the abroad material and then processed, finally, exported to those developing countries. For another thing, with the increase number of labor demand, rural-urban migrat ion increased rapidly.

Math Is Worth Learning

Every person on this planet earth needs to know at least simple math to live a normal life style. Learning math can be a daunting task when you do not have the right tools or the right materials, especially if you grew up believing that math is hard and that you will never understand it. All humans need to get rid of any negative thinking that teachers, friends, or even a caring relative helped you build over the years and start believing in yourself. Learning Simple math is worthwhile because every job opportunity, every household responsibly, and most every personal interest involves mathematics to some degree, also with math you can know many pattern recognition and application to basic skills. Math is about recognizing patterns, and patterns occur in everything from traffic to weather to eating and sleeping. It is obvious that these pattern-containing topics affect a person’s daily life. Patterns also occur in nature – in the ripples on the surface of a pond, in the sun’s path across the sky, and even in snowflakes, zebra stripes, and broccoli buds. Though these patterns occur in such ways that an understanding of them is not necessary for survival or success in life, it is important to consider that mathematics are essential to even the most overlooked details. Math gives order and structure to what would otherwise be random and chaotic. Who can deny the importance of mathematics when human genetics rely on them? Thus, in these examples, it can be seen that math is everywhere, even if math is not necessary for survival. Having a general understanding of mathematics yields to immeasurable benefits. Math can be put to use in the grocery store and at the mall but also while watching television or reading the newspaper. For example, without mathematics, grocery shopping becomes much more expensive than it has to be. A person without knowledge of mathematics may assume that bulk purchases save money, but this is not an intelligent assumption; according to an article in the Sunday Times, 2010, buying in bulk is often intentionally made more expensive that buying individually. Specifically, â€Å"the newspaper found that the difference can be as much as 30%! † When applying for credit cards, many customers do not take into account the interest rates they are being charged. Many do not understand where their credit scores come from! Similarly, a weak statistics background may mislead an ad reader into believing a faulty success rate. For example, the fact that â€Å"eight out of ten women prefer† a specific brand of shampoo is not a valid reason to purchase it. What if two of the women surveyed lost all of their hair or developed a skin disease as a result of using this brand? How would the statistics look if the reader knew the whole story? Even for merely common-sense purposes, a general understanding of mathematics is necessary. The vast majority of high school and college students despise mathematics; it is difficult for this majority to realize that various seemingly-unrelated areas of study include math as a foundation. Music, art/design, and even athletics are built on mathematics. A pianist can benefit from patterns and sequences when composing much the same way that a golfer can benefit from math-based physics, trigonometry, and even statistics when driving. No matter which avenue a student pursues, math will somehow be present. It is not only the responsibility of a nurse, an engineer, or a physicist to know mathematics. Rather, it is in each student’s best interest that they apply, or at least consider, mathematics in all areas of life. The universal language of the world is math, and people have been using it for thousands of years across the world. Today’s society would not be in existence without the application of mathematics. By there example we now know why does simple math apply to most of the population. Without math our lives would be very different, and difficult In closing, I think that ideally, every person should strive for proficiency in as many different academic disciplines as possible. In a perfect society, everyone would be intelligent and posses the ability to succeed in any endeavor. Realistically this is completely impossible. With this being said, I think that it is more important to focus on an individual’s strengths instead of attempting to exploit his or her weaknesses. I enjoy math, and have traditionally done well in it. However, this does not imply that others should feel the same. Everyone has different talents and abilities and should not be penalized for a lack of ability or interest in a specific area of study. All individuals must be responsible for their academic choices but should also be encouraged to challenge themselves to reach their full potential.

Narcissism and Generation Essay

My generation, also known as Generation Y, is defined as a technology based generation. We have grown up surrounded with all sorts of technologies that make our lives easier. In some ways this has been beneficial to us. It has enabled us to get information about something at the touch of a button or keep us from getting sick. In other ways it has caused us to grow up lazy and wanting to do the least amount of work as possible. Many adults believe that Generation Y feels entitled to certain privileges and that most luxuries are necessities. According to Jean Twenge, author of Generation Me: Why Today’s Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled — and More Miserable Than Ever Before, â€Å"Teens feel entitled and are coddled, disrespectful, narcissistic and impatient†. I agree with this because many people my age are very self-centered. see more:does technology make us lazy The main thing that defines Generation Y is our technology based upbringing. We have grown up with televisions , microwaves, dishwashers, and other gadgets that entertain us or make our lives easier. We are so consumed with technology that issues such as â€Å"nomophbia† or â€Å"no mobile-phone phobia,† (Vicky Kung, CNN) and other psychological problems have recently been discovered when Generation Y was separated from technology. As one of the examples of excess attachment to technology, researcher, Michael Carr-Gregg, stated that â€Å"Many of my clients go to bed with their mobile phones while sleeping just like how one will have the teddy bear in the old days.† This just goes to show how attached Generation Y is to technology. There are two main characteristics that Generation Y have: they are feelings of entitlement and the belief that luxuries are necessities. We believe that having a television, hair dryer, coffee maker and other such amenities are necessities when staying in a hotel, while our parents consider them luxuries. This is because we have never been without these utilities and have grown up in homes that use them every day. The other characteristic that Generation Y has is that we feel entitlement to certain privileges due to the fact that technology has made life easier for us and we haven’t had to work as hard for the things that we want compared to our parents. Generation Y thinks that because we know more about the current day and age (basically technology) that we should be entitled to greater or equal benefits to that of our superiors. As far as â€Å"fitting into the mold† I believe that in certain aspects I do fit into Generation Y and in others I do not. I fit into Generation Y when it comes to technology and being â€Å"tech savvy†. I understand how many computers and other such technological appliances work because I have grown up around them. I don’t â€Å"fit the mold† when it comes to the psychological issues of technology such as nomophobia. I have never been super attached to a phone or other technology based appliance. One thing that has helped me not become so attached is that I don’t have internet on my phone. This helps because I interact more with people and I don’t have the temptation to check my Facebook all the time. I don’t fit the mold with the feelings of entitlement because my parents have taught me to respect my elders and that just because I may know a little bit more about technology than they do doesn’t mean that they aren’t smart or that their advice is worthless. Other characteristics that I do fit the mold in are thinking that luxuries are necessities. Growing up, I always had a dishwasher, microwave, computer, television and other necessities that my parents consider the comfortable luxuries of life. In conclusion Generation Y is a technology based generation because that is what we have grown up with and evolved with. Generation Y has also grown up thinking that luxuries are necessities because we have never been without them. Many of us also have feelings of entitlement because technology has made life easier for us and we haven’t had to work as hard as our parents did growing up. I believe that I personally fit the mold in some areas and don’t in others because of the generation and technology age that I have grown up in and the way that I was raised. Works Cited ————————————————- Armour, Stephanie. â€Å"Generation Y: They’ve arrived at work with a new attitude.† USA Today. USA Today, 06 November 2005. Web. 17 Sep 2012. <http://www.usatoday.com/money/workplace/2005-11-06-gen-y_x.htm>. ————————————————- ————————————————- Chang, Katherine. â€Å"What Defines Our Generation?.† Inside Beat. Inside Beat, 29 September 2010. Web. 17 Sep 2012. <http://www.inside-beat.com/film/what-defines-our-generation-1.2349047>. ————————————————- ————————————————- Kung, Vicky. â€Å"Rise of ‘nomophobia’: More people fear loss of mobile contact.† CNN. CNN, 07 March 2012. Web. 17 Sep 2012. <http://edition.cnn.com/2012/03/06/tech/mobile/nomophobia-mobile-addiction/?hpt=hp_c3>. ————————————————- ————————————————- Twenge, Jean. Generation Me: Why Today’s Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled -and More Miserable Than Ever Before. New York City: Simon & Schuster, Inc., 2006. 279. Web.

Factors Influencing Working Capital Essay

The working capital needs of a firm are determined and influenced by various factors. A wide variety of considerations may affect the quantum of working capital required and these considerations may vary from time to time. The working capital needed at one point of time may not be good enough for some other situation. The determination of working capital requirement is a continuous process and must be undertaken on a regular basis in the light of the changing situations. Following are some of the factors which are relevant in determining the working capital needs of the firm: 1. Basic Nature of Business: The working capital requirement is closely related to the nature of the business of the firm. In case of a retail shop or a trading firm, the amount of working capital required is small enough. Most of the transactions are undertaken in cash and the length of the operating cycle is generally small. The trading concerns usually have smaller needs of working capital, however, in certain cases, large inventories of goods may be required and consequently the working capital may be large. In case of financial concerns (engaged in financial business) there may not be stock of goods but these firms do have to maintain sufficient liquidity all the times. In case of manufacturing concerns, different types of production processes are performed. One unit of raw material introduced in the production schedule may take a long period before it is available as finished goods for sale. Funds are blocked not only in raw materials but also in labor expenses and overheads at every stage of production. The operating cycle is usually a longer one and sales are made generally on credit terms. So, in case of manufacturing concerns, there is a requirement of substantial working capital. 2. Business Cycle Fluctuations: Different phases of business cycle i.e., boom, recession, recovery etc. also affect the working capital requirement. In case of boom conditions, inflationary pressure appears and business activities expand. As a result, the overall need for cash, inventories etc. increases resulting in more and more funds blocked in these current assets. Â  In case of recession period however, there is usually a dullness in business activities and there will be an opposite effect on the level of working capital requirement. There will be a fall in inventories and cash requirement etc. 3. Seasonal Operations: If a firm is operating in goods and services having seasonal fluctuations in demand, then the working capital requirement will also fluctuate with every change. In a cold drink factory, the demand will certainly be higher during summer season and therefore, more working capital is required to maintain higher production, in the form of larger inventories and bigger receivables. On the other hand, if the operations are smooth and even through out the year then the working capital requirement will be constant and will not be affected by the seasonal factors. 4. Market Competitiveness: The market competitiveness has an important bearing on the working capital needs of a firm. In view of the competitive conditions prevailing in the market, the firm may have to offer liberal credit terms to the customers resulting in higher debtors. Even larger inventories may be maintained to serve an order as and when received; otherwise the customer may go to some other supplier. Thus, the working capital tends to be high as a result of greater investment in inventories and receivable. On the other hand, a monopolistic firm may not require larger working capital. It may ask the customers to pay in advance or to wait for some time after placing the order. 5. Credit Policy: The credit policy means the totality of terms and conditions on which goods are sold and purchased. A firm has to interact with two types of credit policies at a time. One, the credit policy of the supplier of raw materials, goods etc., and two, the credit policy relating to credit which it extends to its customers. In both the cases, however, the firm while deciding its credit policy, has to take care of the credit policy of the market. For example, a firm might be purchasing goods and services on credit terms but selling goods only for cash. The working capital requirement of this firm will be lower than that of a firm which is purchasing cash but has to sell on credit basis. 6. Supply Conditions: The time taken by a supplier of raw materials, goods etc. after placing an order, also determines the working capital requirement. If goods are received as soon as or in a short period after placing an order, then the purchaser will not like to maintain a high level of inventory of that good. Otherwise, larger inventories should be kept e.g., in case of imported goods. It is often seen that the shopkeepers may not be keeping stock of all items, but whenever there is a demand, they procure from the wholesaler/producer and supply it to their customers. Thus, the working capital requirement of a firm is determined by a host of factors. Every consideration is to be weighted relatively to determine the working capital requirement. Further, the determination of working capital requirement is not once a while exercise, rather a continuous review must be made in order to assess the working capital requirement in the changing situation. There are various reasons which may require the review of the working capital requirement e.g., change in credit policy, change in sales volume etc.

Business analysis of General Electric

Business analysis of General Electric In the history of technology in the united scales, the history of General Electric company constitutes a significant part. The growth of General Electronics (GE) from a mere home laboratory of Thomas Edison to one of the largest companies from simple early applications to complex 21st century high tech wizardry, has been quite outstanding. the company has also merged with other companies, broading its scope , moving from technology to services, consisting of total 11 main operating gates : GE Advanced with high-performance, fused quartz and ceramics which are used by a good number of industries, silicon-based products. One of world’s leading appliance manufacturers, GE Consumer and Industrial is a preeminent global maker of lighting products for consumer, commercial, and industrial customers. Besides, these functions, GE Commercial and Industrial also supplies systems, services and integrated industrial equipment. The energy industry is served by GE Energy, a prominent suppli er among its field. P1. Background to Change Major changes in General Electric: The economic problems of GE can be deciphered through its managerial reshuffling. General Electronic experienced a far reaching change when John F. (Jacx) Welch Jr. became the chairman and CEO in 1981. Welch intended to give power to the subordinates i.e. the periphery of the company by invalidating the hierarchy of the management, assigning divisions according to the per formative skills, which he followed from predecessor Reginald Jone’s time. GE bought 338 business and product lines for $11.1 billion and sold 252 for $5.9 billion over the next few years. Jones wanted GE to be top ranked in all the fields of operation. During this period, in 1943, General Electric Credit Corporation, another of GE’s operations was formed. And as it expanded into other markets like real estate, leasing and selling of heavy industrial goods, insurance and inventories its assets doubled to $16 billion betwee n 1979 and 1984. Also, the leasing operations protected the parent company from heavy taxes. It was done by leasing of the credit corporation on the equipments developed by GE which suffered accelerated depreciation. Forces for change: Controlling bureaucracy: Welch’s signature concept was to spark productivity and save the company from eminent threats. Wales took care of both internal and external problems. He sorted out internal problems such as between functions eg-that between sales and manufacturing and external problems like GE and its suppliers and customers. Welch incited any kind of barrier was bad for the company. Information travels easily in an open, boundary less organization. There is a nothing to hinder the continuous flow of decisions, people, ideas etc. the century-old systems of resided hierarchy and bloated bureaucracy in Ge near got rid of because this Boundary less behavior. Welsh spent two decades reforming the bureaucratic procedures of GE, because he t hought anything that hindered the free flow of ideas and learning was destructive. Lack of sharing information: Because there was a communication gap between the lower and top management, the goals were not clear to them. So they needed to change and adapt so that everyone could be aware of the goals and objectives of the company.

International Legal and Ethical Issues in Business Essay - 4

International Legal and Ethical Issues in Business - Essay Example Every now and then, the Environmental Council is giving regular and proactive sessions to give information and raise awareness about environmental protection in businesses and homes. Furthermore, they also implemented environmental reporting wherein companies of different sectors are encouraged to disclose environmental information in their annual reports. Through this scheme, it would be easy for the government to recognize those companies that are not serious in doing their part in order to increase environmental awareness. Malaysia is one of the countries in East Asia that is very committed and willing to intensify their environmental regulation (Perry & Singh, 2001). Just like Singapore, Malaysia is also experiencing environmental hazards like air, water, and grease contamination brought by their economic growth particularly by manufacturing and industrialization. One of the best illustrations is the country’s Environmental Quality (Amendment) Act of 1996 that regulates th e dumping of hazardous wastes and pollution control. They are also using environmental reporting to promote and improve environmental awareness among businesses by making them more committed and voluntarily communicate their environmental activities. This scheme is highly considered by the government as part of their regulatory practices, and companies on the other hand have accepted the obligation and expanded their responsibilities to the environment. The scheme become widespread considering that the number of participating companies especially those environmentally sensitive industries are increasing (â€Å"The State,† n.d.). This only proved that Malaysia’s environmental regulation is effective and is strictly implemented. Singapore and Malaysia’s environmental measures are sufficient considering that they give some positive results, such as companies in different sectors are becoming more transparent in their compliance with environmental regulations throug h environmental reporting. Also, these companies have come to believe that being an environmentally-driven company would give them more profit considering that regulation could bring cost savings (Perry & Singh, 2001). Through this scheme companies have been more willing to pay for environmental improvements, and learned to protect and preserve the environment through â€Å"energy efficiency schemes, waste reduction strategies or the improved design and recyclability of their products† (â€Å"An Introduction,† n.d.). Singapore and Malaysia: Wage and Working-Hour Legislation According to the Employment Act of Singapore, the minimum working hours for workers is eight hours a day or a maximum of forty-four hours in one week in absence of agreement (â€Å"Employment Act,† n.d.). In addition, â€Å"Singapore has no minimum wage or unemployment benefits† (Global Investment & Business Center, 2008, p. 46). Workers are paid at least once a month subject to employ er-employee negotiation and on what has been stipulated in the employment contract. On the other hand, according to the Employment Act 1955 of Malaysia, the minimum working hours for workers is 8 hours a day and not more than 48 hours in one week with a rest of 30 minutes every after 5 consecutive hours

Feasibility study of cell-phone store in Riyadh,KSA Essay

Feasibility study of cell-phone store in Riyadh,KSA - Essay Example One such small enterprise that embraced this opportunity is KSA, a cell phone store, which operates in Saudi Arabia’s capital city, Riyadh. The cell phone store has continued to grow over the years, with rates almost equivalent to cell phones’ evolution. However, this enterprise is not exempt from external pressures, which affect virtually all business in Riyadh, among other places in Saudi Arabia. These external influences constitute the Saudi Arabian business environment, and they include aspects such as political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal considerations. In technical business terms these business environment elements make up a model referred to as PESTEL framework. With the remarkable evolution of cell phones in Saudi Arabia, KSA has to evolve in a similar trend, in order to conform to the surrounding environment and adapt to the ever changing business trends. Critically evaluating its external environment and taking proper measures t o exploit available opportunities while overcoming challenges encountered; will enable KSA to benefit extensively from the constantly growing demand for up-to-date mobile phones. Additionally, strategies made after extensively considering external business factors, will enable KSA to extend its operations beyond Riyadh, to rural townships that do not have direct access to stores where they can purchase trendy mobile phones (Latham and Watkins, 2010, p.6). Riyadh Business Overview It is important to make note of the fact that use of mobile phones, not only in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, but also in the entire world has grown tremendously. Cellular phones are currently considered to be a crucial part of people’s social, as well as, business lives. Being an integral part of a person’s life implies that people have to buy phones thus guaranteeing constant business opportunities for establishments like KSA. For specificity, however, it is noteworthy to mention that, Saudi Arabia is currently ranked number one in terms of market size and fast growth, in the Middle East region. This ranking particularly focuses on the Kingdom’s demand for electronics and since Riyadh, is the Kingdom’s Capital city; businesses here are bound to benefit from this remarkable growth. Additionally Riyadh provides diverse opportunities in virtually every chief economic sector, thus offering individuals a suitable platform to benefit from Saudi Arabia’s strong economy which gains significantly from religious tourism and oil investments. Riyadh has excellent infrastructure, and since the Kingdom’s economy is largely diversified through sale of processed foodstuffs, petroleum products, and diversified agricultural practices; the city is undoubtedly a hub for foreign investors thus creating additional development opportunities for the small businesses. Further, Riyadh hosts numerous international business expos and shows, providing the small businesses with an opportunity to showcase their products, hence increasing

Management Techniques Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Management Techniques - Research Paper Example Without increasing employee productivity, it is impossible for a company to achieve required goals and objectives in the given time frame. According to Kimball and Nink (2006), employee productivity and engagement are imperative for the success of companies. That is the reason why managers of almost all companies give extreme importance to increase employee productivity and efficiency. Managers use effective management techniques not only to improve their productivity at the workplace but also to motivate them to do their best for the benefit of the company. Let us now discuss some of the common management techniques that managers of most of the companies use to improve overall functioning of their companies in competitive environments. Some of the most common management techniques being used by the managers all over the world include building effective workforce, growth management, incentives and bonuses, and increasing the use of technology. Let us now discuss all of these management techniques to get a better understanding of how managers use these techniques for the growth of their companies. One of the main management techniques used by most of the managers is to build an effective workforce that can help the company achieve its goals and objectives successfully. According to Mabey and Ramirez (2005), managing development greatly contributes to improved firm performance. Managers usually undergo a complete human resource recruitment process for selecting talented individuals whose job competency matches with the requirements of the jobs being offered. They create job descriptions for all of the jobs that they plan to advertise and post them in famous newspapers and magazines. Upon receiving the applications, they analyze each of those and select only those applicants who possess the required set of skills, abilities, and qualification. Once the mangers are done

Human Resource Management and the Internal Environment Essay

Human Resource Management and the Internal Environment - Essay Example HRM of one form or another are a necessary part of any company as it serves many important needs. HRM management in organisations has an increasing impact on individuals, other organisations and the community. It is important, therefore, to understand how HRM function and the pervasive influences which they exercise over the behaviour of people and organisation. Ulrich and Lake in their book "Organizational Capability: Competing from the inside out" (1990) wrote: Specifically, HRM is concerned with achieving objectives in the areas summarized below. HRM is generally identified therefore as an element or support concept. In certain organisations, however, such as employment agencies, personnel is very much part of the productive process and will be a task function. In other organisations, noticeably in service industries, the role of HRM can also be closely associated with a task function. For example, in the hotel and catering industry many members of the workforce are in direct contact with the customer and are seen as being involved in achieving the objectives of the organisation. People are part of the finished product for which the customer is paying. Customer satisfaction is likely to be affected as much by the courtesy, helpfulness and personal qualities of the staff as by the standard of food and beverage, accommodation or other facilities. This places particular importance on the personnel function. So, different organisations need t o employ different concepts of HRM in order to achieve their goals. In general, Human Resource Management is concerned more with: a long-term rather than a short-term perspective; the psychological contract based on commitment rather than compliance; self-control rather than external controls; an Unitarian rather than a pluralist perspective; an organic rather than a bureaucratic structure; integration with line management rather than specialist or professional roles; and maximum utilisation rather than cost-minimisation. HRM uses different concept providing different models of employees' treatment according to the organizational interests. The hard and soft models of HRM were introduced by John Storey in 1989. He supposes that HRM can be regarded as a "set of interrelated policies with an ideological and philosophical underpinning" (Storey 1989, p.31). The four aspects he underlines are: beliefs and assumptions; a strategic thrust; involvement of line managers; a set of techniques to improve the relationship. John Storey (1989) expresses this as follows: In stereotyped form HRM appears capable of making good each of the main shortcomings of personnel management. Its performance and delivery are integrated into line management: the aim shifts from merely securing compliance to the more ambitious one of winning commitment (Storey 1989, p. 33). Hard and soft approaches are concerned with the business-oriented and human-oriented aspects within an organisational

Three chapters READING quiz (( Aboriginal Treaties ) Assignment

Three chapters READING quiz (( Aboriginal Treaties ) - Assignment Example Marriages were mostly used by non-natives to cement social, political and economic links with the natives. Strangers who were perceived beneficial to the aboriginal people were incorporated into the kinship ties via association/adoption. For example, prisoners of war were incorporated into the society rather than being executed as a way of ensuring the communities had higher numbers (Ch. 1, pg. 5). A ceremonial ritual would be carried out for traders or new comers as a welcome gesture. Together with the community leaders, the newcomers would smoke a ceremonial pipe and then enjoy meals. This ceremony would be repeated severally in the future to strengthen the already existing relationship and also to renew it. However, this ceremony was only meant for non-native traders and not for prisoners of war. The latter were given a feast of honor by the families that adopted them after which they became full members of the community. (Ch. 1, pg. 6) Due to their extensive reliance on skills, knowledge and labor and the good treatment that the Europeans enjoyed at the hands of the natives, they easily accepted the terms of their hosts. This was essential for trade as the natives would allow them to operate in their lands. They would also give them permission and access to navigation routes, market for their goods and also protection. (Ch. 1, pg. 10) Gifts were extremely important to aboriginal people since it assured them that their trading partners had not backtracked from their initial relationship. To them it was a sign that there was no enmity between them. Furthermore, gifts could be used to wipe away tears in the event of a misfortune like death of members or business loss. Aboriginals claimed that gifts could ‘clear the throat’ and ‘unstop the ears’- expressions that translate to honesty and loyalty respectively (Ch. 1, pg. 18). The act of gift giving among the natives was practiced

Business Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 7

Business Ethics - Essay Example the CEO’s statement, of giving the employees the liberty to choose whether or not they would like to wear the protective clothing are not ethical neither is it a right choice on moral grounds. There are numerous chemicals used on a daily basis and in some of the cases there is a high majority the use of the chemicals and the effects of the chemical in terms of immediate or even long term is not recognized. Being a CEO of a chemical company, it is essential and mandatory for them to consider the possible issues that will be faced by the employees in the company. a) Whether Overtime is hazardous to health and the working environment: Based on the utilitarian theory and ethical concepts, it is seen that overtime is not very beneficial for any employee especially not in a chemicals industry (Blum, 1993). The effects of the chemicals are very high in the normal eight hours job basically. So leaving it for the employees to choose on whether or not to work for higher number of hours is not ethical. It is not even a choice based on the moral grounds and it is necessary that the CEO take up the responsibility to make sure that the employees have a fixed number of hours of work every week. Being a leader for an industry the CEO is expected to be aware of the damages that the chemicals can cause the employees in the time they are exposed to the chemicals, hence it is necessary that the CEO on humanitarian grounds at least ensures that the employees are not permitted to work for higher hours. Also it is the responsibility of the top management to brin g in the rules and regulations in the company where the employees need to wear on the protective clothing during the shift hours and at all time while dealing with the chemicals. This should be the case not only for the harmful chemicals but for all chemicals irrespective of the degree of damage it could cause to the employee handling it (Blum, 1993). Although it has been clear from researches and studies that the amount of

What is the Investment case for floating of offshore wind turbines Essay

What is the Investment case for floating of offshore wind turbines - Essay Example Future climate alteration and connected effects will change from place to place all over the world, according to the IPCC report. The impacts of a growth in worldwide temperature comprise of an increase in the levels of sea and a variation in the quantity and pattern of precipitation, as well as a possible growth of subtropical deserts..One among the many proposed policy responses to global warming is the investment of offshore wind power, according to the 2013 Report of the European Wind Energy Association. Compared to the environmental effects of conventional energy sources, the environmental wind power effect is minor, a bit high than the environmental effect of hydro-water on a life-cycle basis. Different from electricity resulting from fossil fuels and nuclear power firms, wind power consumes no fuel and, emits no air pollution in operation. What is the Role of Fukushima Floating Offshore Wind Turbine Generating power? The Fukushima event played a significant role in this techno logy of floating offshore by setting up a sub-station, which was the only one of that type in operation. A development to tap the wind power about 20 kilometer off the coast of Fukushima, the region where the March 2011 nuclear disaster took place, started producing power based on operation, according to the report published on Bloomberg.com(http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2013-11-11/fukushima-floating-offshore-wind-turbine-starts-generating-power.html) The project that was funded by the government is a sign of Japans interest to develop the technology which has not yet been proved for floating the wind powers off the coast and its aim to change quake-ravaged Fukushima into an outstanding centre for energy production.†Fukushima is gaining ground in...Offshore wind ability is growing fast, from 4 GW (gigawatts) in 2011 to 175 GW by 2035, its development being underpinned by administration support," according to the International Energy Agency's 2012 World Energy Outlook rep ort (pages 226-227). This leads us to the question; what is the Investment case for floating of offshore wind turbines and for onshore wind turbines? Introduction This paper is meant to investigate the investment case for floating offshore wind turbines and for onshore wind turbines. Throughout the paper I will discuss various modes of offshore and onshore wind technology and how various nations across the globe have adapted that source of energy .Also throughout the paper I will discuss the various companies in the business of production of wind turbines and their rate of investment in the technology. What is driving the development and deployment of the technology? Global warming is the increase rise in the regular temperature of Earth's ambiance and oceans ever since the late 19th century and its predictable continuance. The Bloomberg report helps explain that a traditional floating offshore wind turbine tower that is constructed upward from the seafloor results to be too expensive to install in waters deeper than 50 meters, and this is a big issue for Japan since a continental shelf varying from 50 to 200 meters deep surrounds its coast.

The Democratic Republic of Congo Essay Example for Free

The Democratic Republic of Congo Essay The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been characterized by the behavior of her natives, especially in the eastern part, being engaged into selling some of her valuable minerals such as gemstones and gold to other countries via the black markets mostly located at the country’s borders. The stakeholders in this business include the Senegalese, Indian and Chinese clients. Though the smugglers participating in this kind of illegal business are small part-time group of actors, they earn themselves millions of dollars, part of which is hidden in the country’s distressed backwoods. This income has been used to finance the country’s armed groups (Manson, 1). As a result, it has not been so smooth and easy to get to the bottom of the conflict that has over years existed over the Congo’s minerals. Even some of the smugglers testify that because of the sufferings that they have undergone for quite a long period of time, they resolved to this dirty business since they had nothing else they could do. Arguments from lobby groups in the U. K. reported that in order to attain peace in Congo and resettle the millions of displaced citizens, mineral-related conflicts ought to be contained first. However, it has been very challenging to resolves these conflicts because certain hindrances. To begin with, the smuggling routes are untraceable. Despite these pathways being rocky, twisted and on the green hills, there are armed men who demand for cash taxes and other levies such as their imposed in-kind levies. Moreover the mining sites are all through guided majorly by the PARECO, a former militia group (Global Witness, 1). Manufacturers of mobile phones have also been accused for having helped finance these conflicts since these companies have been using metals such as tantalum and tin which are obtained from the processing of the minerals from this country. As a result, these mobile phone companies have been called upon to review their supply chains with the aim of making certain that their tin and tantalum supplies are not from militia-controlled or military units-controlled mines. Thailand based Thailand Smelting and Refining Company (Thaisarco) has been accused for being a manufacturer of the mobile phones that buys ore from a Hutu Militia group, FDLR (Katrina, 1). Thaisarco is owned by Amalgamated Metal Corporation (AMC), a British company In the resolutions by the U. N. , it was highlighted that a measure to freeze the assets and ban the travels for those involved in financing the illegal Congolese armed groups should be taken on worldwide. In order to help hold back the catastrophes associated with the corrupt and illegal exploitation of the Congo’s mineral resources, the international trade system stakeholders have been urged to mend any loopholes so as to end not only this impunity but also avoid environmental abuses, bring to a halt mineral-linked conflicts and more importantly refrain from infringing the Congolese human rights. Furthermore, guideline to enable the tracing of the sources of the minerals should be put forth. Media analysis has helped me understand clearly the causes of the conflicts that are in Congo that are closely linked with the illegal exploitation of the minerals within the country, the contributors of these conflicts and also the prescriptions, from various public views, on how resolutions may be arrived at. This is because the analysis enhances the understanding of raw data from the various view points. It has played a crucial role in helping relate the events that were occurring in DRC. However, media analysis proves to be limiting is some ways. For instance, the information provided is most a times summarized, missing some first hand information. As a result, one is made to believe on the information at hand. Works Cited Global Witness. Metals in Mobile Phones Help Finance Congo Atrocities. February 16, 2009, Viewed August 2, 2010 from http://www. globalwitness. org/media_library_detail. php/718/en/metals_in_mobile_phones_help_finance_congo_atrocities Katrina, M. Groups Says Suing UK Over Congo Conflict Minerals. Times Live, July 26, 2010. Viewd August 2, 2010 from http://www. timeslive. co. za/africa/article570920. ece/Group-says-suing-UK-over-Congo-conflict-minerals Manson, K. Uphill Task to Solve Congo’s Conflict Minerals. Reuters Jul 30, 2010, viewed August 2 2010 from http://uk. reuters. com/article/idUKTRE66T1LR20100730

Human Rights In A Democratic South Africa

Human Rights In A Democratic South Africa In the South African Constitution, citizens are given many different rights. The right to education is specifically important because it builds and largely determines the future of the next generation. Since I am in a privileged position regarding education, attending a private school, I have decided to research the right to education of all South Africans. My aim is to find whether the right to education which are guaranteed in our constitution to both children and adults are realised in the daily lives of all South Africans. My research is focused on high school education (i.e. Grade 8 to Grade 12). This is the phase which forms the foundation for Matric results. Analysing the Grade 12 results across all sectors of our population along with other primary and secondary sources will give a good indication of whether the right to Education is realised in South Africa. I predict that the rights to education are not fulfilled across all races and income groups in South Africa. Review of Literature The research done on existing information regarding the right to Education in South Africa has been studied and is discussed below. The following secondary sources include a combination of angles ranging from the Bill of Rights, the Popular Media (focusing on the recent Limpopo textbook crisis) and Education Statistics of the last few years. There are many different viewpoints regarding Education in South Africa, some highlighting the corruption and inefficiency, some focusing on the transitional phase we seem to be in, and others looking only at the successes. Education is perceived in such different ways because different audiences look at different aspects of the whole, i.e. the teachers, the pass rates or governmental management. Looking holistically at the entire situation will produce a clearer and more objective result. Source 1: The Constitution of South Africa, 4 February 1997, Chapter 2 Bill of rights, Section 29 Education When a careful study is made of the rights to education as stipulated by the South African Constitution, one finds that every child and adult has the right to basic education as well as further education. The state is primarily responsible to provide the infra-structure in which its citizens could be educated. This implies that the state should provide sufficient school buildings, enough capable teaching staff to ensure a healthy teacher-learner ratio, textbooks and other educational materials. The education system should be free from discrimination on the basis of race, gender and language. Education should be made available in all the official languages where at all practically possible. The education system should also make room for independent institutions which are registered with the state and provide standards comparable to that of public educational institutions. Source 2: Articles by Greg Nicolson from the Daily Maverick 2.1 Limpopos education crisis: The price of incompetence and corruption It is vitally important to have an education system which can be trusted. This article deals with explaining the politics behind the Limpopo textbook crisis. During a tender process advertised by the Limpopo education department there were 23 possible tenders of which 22 were immediately disqualified on the basis of technicalities. From this there was later found that the one which was accepted, EduSolutions, had been pocketing money from the government throughout the process and has left the Limpopo schools without the necessary textbooks and learning materials. 2.2 SAs education crisis: Limpopo STILL without books A recent discrepancy in the Limpopo education department has exposed the education system as corrupt and incompetent. However while the issue is being investigated and addressed a large amount of Limpopo students were left without textbooks and were unable to continue any learning. The seriousness of this situation lies not only in the fraud but the inadequacy of the manner in which students were left without any means to education until the middle of the school year. While the whole event has become a political issue there is still no answer to the problems which the students face in their battle for proper education. Source 3: Is South Africa fulfilling right to free education for all right? April 10, 2011  · by Akanyang Merementsi  · in Media, Society This article discusses education in the world and in South Africa and compares the standard of education between South Africa and the world. Not only is focus put on the importance of education as a human right but it also makes the reader aware of the large high school dropout rates and the negative effects thereof. The article discusses A4 as a model of assessment which the education department needs to adopt in order to function effectively. A4 is Availability, Accessibility, Acceptability and Adaptability. These four traits are vital in the department of education in South Africa. Source 4: The South African Department of Education Action plan 14 June 2003 and Strategic Plan 9 March 2011 In 2003 the South African education department confessed to a failing education system and set up a plan of action in order to rectify and improve the education system. It set guidelines in order to help in areas which through community debate and school statistics had been found wanting. However, it is now almost 10 years later and this Action Plan is still needed. Similarly a Strategic Plan has recently been drawn up for education in 2011 to 2014 (published on 9 March 2011). The need for both of these plans highlights the shortcomings in the South African education system; fortunately there is a plan to fix them. For this plan to be effectively deployed, the basic education system needs more than paperwork. What ultimately happens to the children in South African schools is that they are left without means to further education while administrative issues are being addressed. The plans are there, but they are simply not being carried through. Source 5: Reinvent local education now by Jon Tullett, Editor: News analysis, 11 Jul 2012 This source uses several points ranging from the Limpopo textbook crisis to our educational world rankings to discuss the importance of a reinvented education system and the current lack of basic education in South Africa. Certain issues are addressed and possible solutions mentioned in order to move South Africa forward in education using its resources and technology. Recently South Africa was ranked out of 142 countries In the World Economic Forums Global Competitiveness 2011-2012 report. South Africa is in position133 regarding the quality of the education system and in position138 for the quality of maths and science education. These are not good statistics and clearly show a fault in the education system. As we are behind countries such as Zimbabwe this quote from the article relates to many South Africans: When you think of some of the poverty-stricken, war-ravaged, desolate countries in the world, it is sobering to think they are all better than us. Source 6: Education statistics 2010 Published by the Department of Basic Education February 2012 6.1 Ratios, indicators, page 6 Statistics can be used to deduce several facts; in this case ratios are presented to show the effectiveness in numbers of the education department in South Africa. Specifically the ratios are the learner-educator ratio (LER), learner-school ratio (LSR) and educator-school ratio (ESR). The LER in 2010 was 29.3:1 and unfortunately increased to 32.2:1 in 2011. In 2010 the LSR was 474:1 which then also increased to a ratio of 484.5:1 in 2011. In 2011 the ESR had decreased to 16:1 from 2010s 16.2:1. These ratios (The LER, LSR and ESR) are that of the Public and Independent schools throughout South Africa. 6.2 National Senior Certificate (NSC) pass rates When considering whether the right to education is fulfilled in South African high schools it is vitally important to look at the level of education provided from the beginning and throughout the course of Grade 8 to Grade 12. Nonetheless, the level of education can only really be clearly seen through studying the Grade 12 National Senior Certificate pass rates and related statistics. The overall national pass rate in 2010 in the NSC examination was 67.8%. Although throughout the country more females than males wrote the NSC examination, the pass rate for males was higher than that for females. There has been an increase from 62.5% (2008) to 70.2% (2011) in Grade 12 final results in the last 4 years which is a good statistic but considering the level of education it is debatable that pass rates are higher due to a lowering in education standards as will be discussed below. Source 7: Rippling effect of the lowering of standards of basic education 18 July 2012, Varsity SA The main purpose of the South African education department should not be merely educating students but to equip learners with that which is necessary to not only pass Grade 12 but also to be educated enough for further studies. This is important because it is these students who will be responsible for carrying the country and taking over the South African economy thus students need further education and they need to be well enough equipped for further education. This article from Varsity SA raises concerns about the lowered NSC standards which have led to an increase in pass rates. It is currently required that a student only receive 30% (thus knowing only 30% of the syllabus) in order to pass the NSC. Universities have become very unhappy with the large gap in standard between Grade 12 and first year of University studies. This has a large impact on the country as a whole. According to Statistics South Africa there are 4.24 million unemployed people in South Africa. If the standard of basic education continues decreasing it will result in unemployment increasing and not decreasing as expected by government. Unless the education standards are raised the target set by government will not be achieved. Methodology When referring to the topic of Basic Education as a human right in South Africa at high school level, it is clear that research should range across all provinces and schools. Results obtained from a few questionnaires would not clearly and honestly propose a result to the hypothesis of education as a Human Right. Therefore, other means of information, specifically secondary sources, needed to be collected and analysed. The secondary sources collected provide a wide range of ideas and opinions about the education system as well as facts and statistics from a variety of sources. The secondary research conducted was from newspaper articles and internet research. South African education has been the focus of many newspapers, magazines and of the community as a whole, especially with the Limpopo textbook crisis and statistics which were released this year. Gathering research thus became a daily job of listening to news reports, social debates and community discussions. Most of the research ideas come from discussing the topic with people, be it teachers, students, parents or any other South African citizen. Education touches every single South African in one way or another thus it is vitally important to hear what South Africa has to say about education and how it impacts their lives. Articles seen online and in newspapers were recorded and every time a new issue about education was raised the topic was recorded. Then internet research was done on the list of information and the articles found. More online research was done in order to gather other sources and specifically statistics from done surveys and from Statistics South Africa. Both quantitive and qualitive data is used; quantitive data such as statistics and ratios and the qualitive data include reports, articles, opinions, interviews and other literature. Considering the large gap between high school education and university education it was important to have first hand research of the level of students entering university. A senior accounting lecturer of the University of Witwatersrand, Mrs. Belinda Breytenbach, was contacted and an interview set up. Here further insight into the shortcomings of the education system was revealed. Interview questions: Do you believe that the right to education in South Africa for high school students is being fulfilled? Why or why not? Is it true that there is a growing concern regarding the cognitive abilities of first year students who have completed the NSC? Could you describe the academic level of the first year accounting students in general? What would you say is the single biggest need among students academically? How high are the university dropout rates and do you believe that they are increased due to the education students receive in high school? Is there cause for concern about the lowered standards which increase the pass rates of learners writing the NSC? With English being the medium of instruction how would you rate the proficiency of the average first year student? What do you believe are the main areas of concern in the basic education system of South Africa? Do you encounter difficulties in your field of work which is due to the lack of proper education for high school student? Do you believe that education in South Africa is viewed more negatively due to stereotypes? Are there enough opportunities for students who do not receive university acceptance? Do you think that the large amounts of students who after receiving the NSC do not receive university acceptance directly increase the unemployment rate and affect the South African economy? If so, why? What would you suggest the South African Department of Education do to further the education system? Processing of findings The majority of research material is secondary sources. Therefore conclusions and results need to be taken from the literature, graphs and ratios used. From this graph it is clear that by far the majority of learners in South Africa attend Public Schools. For this reason it is vitally important that the South African Education System is successfully fulfilling the basic right to Education as set out in the Bill of Rights. Below all the sources from the Literature Review are analyzed and interpreted in order to determine whether this right is fulfilled throughout the country. Studying the Limpopo textbook crisis, it is quite clear that corruption and a lack of integrity caused learners to suffer great loss in terms of learning materials and eventually in terms of time wasted. There is still no clear plan of action for the successful delivery of learning materials for 2014. Ultimately both articles prove the point that government officials are more concerned about playing politics than about the actual education of learners, who in turn become the victims of dishonesty. The Education Department should have a careful look at their priorities and put the learners first. When comparing South African Education to the rest of the World, South Africa has the fifth worst education system of all the countries reviewed. This puts us behind a country such as Zimbabwe, which in itself should raise grave concern. The current education system disappoints in terms of delivery of results as well as in terms of development. It is quite clear that the academic discussion of the problem has been done and the answers are on the table, however, the implementation of the Strategic Plan calls for responsible individuals to be monitored by the system. The SA Education Department has the tights ideas but has not succeeded in bringing them into action. This in itself might be a result of inferior teacher training procedures and highlights the need for proper education on a secondary and a tertiary level. Too much time is spent on the administration and discussion of the problem, and too little on the actual implementation and monitoring of the system. When analyzing the current education situation it is important to interpret ratios and statistics. Between 2009 and 2010 the Learner Educator ratio increased which means that teachers had bigger classes and more learners had less individual attention from the teacher. The Learner School ratio also increased, highlighting the need for more school buildings. The Educator School ratio decreased, showing that although learner numbers increased, the amount of teachers decreased. These ratios are an indication of the negative development of the entire system, adding unnecessary stress and workload to teachers. The Grade 12 results of 2009 and 2010 are displayed below. At first glance the increase in pass rate looks positive. However, the actual number of students who performed better did not increase, but the requirement to pass decreased to a lower standard and therefore the pass rate increased. In an interview with a senior accounting lecturer from the University of the Witwatersrand, Mrs. Belinda Breytenbach, the following information emerged: High School education is not adequate and many learners are taught by unqualified teachers. Lecturers sit with the problem of students not having the necessary language or mathematical skills to understand the work content. This makes teaching very difficult and emphasizes the need for better education on a higher standard. One of the biggest problems is a lack of English proficiency. When looking at the university dropout rate and the level of comprehension of these students, it is certainly cause for concern. Dropout rates are high and pass rates are low among first year students. When looking at Mrs Breytenbachs answers to the questionnaire, the deduction is made that Education on a tertiary level is severely hampered by inferior teaching on a secondary level. Interview Response: Do you believe that the right to education in South Africa for high school students is being fulfilled? No. Why or why not? Several factors contribute but among them is the inadequacy of education, the need for schools and qualified educators. The textbook crisis is another example. Is it true that there is a growing concern regarding the cognitive abilities of first year students who have completed the NSC? Yes, First year accounting pass rates are low. The mathematic and english skills of the students are below the required standard. Could you describe the academic level of the first year accounting students in general? It is definitely below the expected level at University. We find that most students are on about a Grade 10 and 11 standard and this makes teaching more difficult. What would you say is the single biggest need among students academically? English reading and writing skills. Students struggle with writing and have extreme difficulty with their comprehension skills. How high are the university dropout rates and do you believe that they are increased due to the education students receive in high school? Yes I do, the dropout rate is relatively high for university (+ 30 40%). Is there cause for concern about the lowered standards which increase the pass rates of learners writing the NSC? Yes, people are less equipped to pass at University. With English being the medium of instruction how would you rate the proficiency of the average first year student? English is poor. The majority of students are not first language English speakers. What do you believe are the main areas of concern in the basic education system of South Africa? The education and qualifications of the teachers themselves along with the fact that many learners are passing to the next grade/level without actually having the required knowledge. Do you encounter difficulties in your field of work which is due to the lack of proper education for high school student? Yes, they cannot grasp the accounting concepts due to a lack of English skills along with basic mathematical and accounting knowledge which although required is not actually present. Do you believe that education in South Africa is viewed more negatively due to stereotypes? Yes, but it is not only due to stereotypes. The lack of proper education is a problem I deal with on a daily basis at the University. Are there enough opportunities for students who do not receive university acceptance? Yes, the opportunities exist but students are not equipped well enough and simply do not always use the chances they are given. Do you think that the large amounts of students who after receiving the NSC do not receive university acceptance directly increase the unemployment rate and affect the South African economy? Yes If so why? Many students have passed grade 12 and have received the NSC but the level is too low and thus students cant get university acceptance and are not well enough prepared to be able to work as part of a growing economy. What would you suggest the South African Department of Education do to further the education system? Ensure that teachers are properly qualified. Try to focus on separating politics and education in all aspects. Provide more schools and opportunities. One way of doing this is by joining in on projects similar to one we run at the University of Witwatersrand, it is called the Wits Soweto schools project and it is where university lecturers go to help tutor school children in rural or underprivileged areas. Conclusion Having studied the education system in South Africa over a period of month and with the help of primary and secondary sources, a conclusion has been reached. As predicted in the hypothesis the human right to basic education in South Africa is not fulfilled on a satisfactory level nationally. There are not enough school buildings, there are not enough qualified teachers, learning materials do not always reach the learners and ultimately the level of education is too low to prepare learners for tertiary studies. There are many different reasons for the current problems within the Education System, and one of the biggest reasons is that unqualified teachers teach, which perpetuates the problem. This national problem needs to be addressed with a long term view, creating opportunities for staff development, improved teacher training and careful administration of resources and programs. The strategic plan should be actively enforced and the priority of the South African Education Department should be the learners. The system needs to be constantly reviewed and adjusted in the light of international standards. It is imperative that weak learners should be supported and helped to achieve, rather than to lower standards in an effort to increase pass rates. The biggest limitation of the above discussion is that there is no reference to children who are not even part of any schooling system and not accounted for in any statistics. Several of the secondary sources could be biased as it is written from an individuals perspective although facts and statistics were used. Doing this research project has opened my eyes to the complexity of the South African situation with particular reference to the education system. It does not have a simple solution; neither does it have a single contributing factor. There are numerous problems interlinking causing even bigger problems and one would need great wisdom, huge resources and a lot of determination to even begin addressing these problems. Great leadership is needed in this regard. Reference List Newspaper articles: Nicolson, Greg. 2012. Limpopos education crisis: The price of incompetence and corruption. The Daily Maverick. 18 July 2012 Nicolson, Greg. 2012. SAs education crisis: Limpopo STILL without books. The Daily Maverick. 17 July 2012 Websites: Merementsi, Akanyang. 10 April 2011. Is South Africa fulfilling right to free education for all right?. Media Society. http://akanyangafrica.wordpress.com/2011/04/10/is-south-africa-fulfilling-right-to-free-education-for-all-right/. 6 July 2012. Nicolson, Greg.17 July 2012.SAs education crisis: Limpopo STILL without books. The Daily Maverick.http://dailymaverick.co.za/article/2012-07-17-sas-education-crisis-limpopo-still-without-books. 1 September 2012. Nicolson, Greg. 18 July 2012. Limpopos education crisis: The price of incompetence and corruption. The Daily Maverick. http://dailymaverick.co.za/article/2012-07-18-limpopos-education-crisis-the-price-of-incompetence-and-corruption. 1 September 2012 Right to education project © 2008. The Constitution of South Africa. Right to education project.http://www.right-to-education.org/country-node/522/country-constitutional. 22 June 2012 The South African Department of Education. 14 June 2003. Action plan. The South African Department of Education. http://www.education.gov.za/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket =IBMz%2FjGelkc%3Dtabid=390mid=1124. 4 September 2012. The South African Department of Education. 9 March 2011. Strategic Plan. The South African Department of Education.http://www.education.gov.za/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket= %2F%2BBILaBJ7ak%3Dtabid=80mid=585. 4 September 2012. The South African Department of Education. Feb 2012. Education statistics 2010. The South African Department of Education. http://www.education.gov.za/EMISSTATISTICS /StatisticalPublications/tabid/462/Default.aspx. 22 June 2012. Tullett, Jon. 11 Jul 2012. Reinvent local education now. It web. http://www.itweb.co.za/index.php?option =com_contentview =articleid=56651. 13 August 2012. 18 July 2012.Rippling effect of the lowering of standards of basic education. Varsity SA. http://varsitysa.co.za/fun-stuff/articles/rippling-effect-of-the-lowering-of-standards-of-basic-education/.7 September 2012. Interview: Senior lecturer of Accounting from the University of the Witwatersrand Belinda Breytenbach. Tel:0832934350