Impact of Information Technology on Customer and Supplier Relationships in the Financial Services Essay

Information technology plays an important role to support the relationships between customers and suppliers in financial industry. Different industry faces different competitive and different business practice. Besides, we can use information technology to determine the opportunities and threats to the relationships between customers and suppliers. In this research, it focus on the financial service industry that is motivated by three factors which are the paucity of research in customer and supplier relationships in service industries relative to manufacturing industries, the sheer size of the financial service sector relative to other service sector and the potential for information technology to positively impact firm performance through channel expansion, cost mitigation and service level enhancement. Financial service industry includes all Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes starting with the digit six. In this research, we only focus on those services typically classified as â€Å"financial†. Financial service companies are the earliest commercial users of information technology. Economic forces and technological advances, especially Internet has driven this consolidation across international boundaries and across type financial services. The financial service companies are relatively unique in regard to their value chains. Without possessing any intermediate product can add value to the finish product. The financial services industry has been doing business electronically for many years. Some customer and regulatory statutes demand the use of paper-based transaction audit trails and reporting those transactions. However, the industry leaders will pressure them to adopt electric distribution and information management methods. This report concerns on electronic connectivity, alliances and partnerships. There is a lack of understanding of and available insight into the emerging role of e-business as a delivery channel and customer connection mechanism make a great concern of many organizations. Research Methodology The first phase of methodology is to identify the current and potential role of information technology to support relationship among customers and suppliers in financial services. It included 5 steps which are definition of scope; determination of survey methodology and identification of sample; creation of a survey instrument; administration of the survey; and analysis of survey responses. In this phase, they limited the scope to the immediate suppliers and customers of the subject companies. So the respondents no need to identify suppliers of their suppliers or customers of their customers. In this research, it conducts two interviews in several sectors. Due to the availability of contacts, three of the subjects worked in mutual fund industry, one in retail banking, two in each insurance carriers, institutional investment companies, and brokerage. Eight of them were conducted by telephone and another two were chosen to supply written responses. The typical respondents are senior managers and vice president. Interviews were recorded manually by interviewer so that it is confidentiality and security. Analysis The collected data were analyzed using qualitative techniques. It seeks to conceptualize theory from data rather than proposing theory. The method involves organizing and understanding interview transcripts, collected documents and observe social or business practice. The methodology involves extracting theory from one case study and studies to augment, refine the theory by using subsequent case. Since the sample is limited, they only drew inferences upon a convergence of ideas across industry sectors. Findings / Results Based on the results of interview, there are consistent patterns in the thought, planning, and implementation processes of various participants. They have group the result into five categories. First is how information technology supports existing customer and supplier relationships. Second and third are the opportunities and threats they foresee when they expand their business. The fourth session is the drivers of change. Finally, they examine how manager predict the future respect to the relationship among their customers and suppliers. The analysis of current activities begins with an examination of the partnerships that support inter-organizational business activities within the respondent’s respective industries. There is high degree of interdependence among various financial service industries. A non-linear relationship among the parties is clearly shown. Besides, the relationships demonstrate a high level of complexity and variability. Existing audio response and Web-based account access functions reduced the cost of delivery for many customers account services. There are many opportunities to strengthen the relationships with customers and suppliers. One of the opportunities is to improve customer service levels by providing new form of service delivery, rapidly response to customers, and improve customer confidence. Besides, information technology creates opportunity to increase switching costs for their customers. By this, they can add more value to the transaction. It includes the assimilation of information that supports the investment decision and motivates the transaction execution. Furthermore, information technology also creates the opportunity to extend the world-wide relationships of both customers and suppliers. Similarly, the opportunity exists to create a new relationship with suppliers to create, purchase and provide new products and services. Some respondents believed that the ability to demonstrate technological leadership is one of the opportunities to improve market perception. Besides opportunities, there is a variety of threats to their existing relationships. It includes security risks, network and systems instability and the difficulty of integrating different systems. An opportunity to create a new channel and relationship can create a threat of disintermediation for others. A related threat is the commoditization of product, because it is common in all industries. Many financial service companies have historically relied on existing customers to build profit margins and create loyalty. Besides, the respondents feared the risk of adopting the wrong standard. Since the technology is moving rapidly. So the standards are changing so fast. Another threat is the challenge of keeping pace with escalating technological and business change. The greatest threat is they worried that they may unable to move fast because they cannot see the upside potential and downside risk of inactivity. Evolving customer expectations also impact the e-business strategies. Nowadays, customers demand access to real-time data and expect to access at any time and any place. Besides, improvement in security technology are also driven change. Many respondents believed that internal and public network reliability is improving and will facilitate more rapid expansion of services. There are two primary areas for future investment in inter-organizational integration by respondents. First path is expanding commitment to existing forms of technology to deliver new or expanded functionality. Second area is investing in new technology forms and enhances the inter-organizational relationships. All respondents emphasis on development of technology-enabled education and advice services. Linkage of inquiry and advice functionality to available tools is a vital component of service level expansion and customization. The need to integrate new technology and service with existing system are motivating those firms to pursue more alliances both software and hardware suppliers. Conclusion In the conclusion, there is less linear in the relationships among customers and suppliers in financial services compare to manufacturing industries. And there is a high degree of interdependence exists among the sectors of financial service industry. In this research, there is many findings have been predicted. The participants believe that opportunity for cost savings and service enhancement resides in expansion of customer account maintenance via the Web. Maintenance and education in new form of functionality place more control. So the responsibility is in hand of customers. One discerning manager pointed out, â€Å"we’re now doing business on the customer’s terms, not the terms dictated by our firm or our industry.† Managers interviewed shared many concerns about how to competitive threats and the risk of expanding e-business activity. They fear the capabilities of new, competitors rapidly enter new markets without the millstone of legacy system and traditional organizational cultures will block the progress of industry incumbents. It will cause imbalanced cost structures with new services and pricing. The managers predict further opportunities to improve quality of service, reduce costs, reach customers worldwide, and provide new services. Some managers believe that demonstrating technology leadership was a important component of establishing industry leadership and promoting customer acquisition and loyalty. It has many limitations in this research first it has short term applicability. This is because the longevity of the obstacles is unclear. Another limitation is that it is descriptive rather than prescriptive. Lastly, the conclusion is drawn in this study by small size of sample. This study is very important for both researchers and practitioners. Besides, this study also help managers in financial services industry to identify and analysis the opportunities, risk of building relationships with their customers and suppliers through electronic commerce. A better understanding of the treats and opportunities to existing relationships allow them to response customers more rapidly, accurately and cheaply.

Presidential Scholars Essay Essay

The creative work the best illustrates the way I see the world and the way I see myself in the world is the Charles Dicken’s novel, Great Expectations. Basically, the novel revolves around a boy named Philip Pirip or â€Å"Pip,† and his many struggles to achieve his goals. Pip’s main goal is to become a wealthy gentleman someday in order to marry the woman of his dreams, Estella, which he accomplished in the novel. However, in order to achieve his goal, Pip had to go overcome a lot of obstacles and face a lot of adversities.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the story, it was shown that Pip was a very generous and kind-hearted young man. However, the best and possibly the worst aspect about him is his overly-ambitious attitude. Although Pip’s good-natured personality and pure innocence enabled him to accomplish his dream of becoming a wealthy gentleman, he realized that his position in society is the not the most important aspect about any person. In the end, although he lost his wealth, he was able to marry Estella, and live a happy life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In this regard, the novel shows my belief that while anything can be achieved if one works hard for it, it also important to know one’s place in the world and remain humble. In other words, like in the novel, I believe that in this world, it is more important for me to possess moral values and be happy and content with my life than simply be rich. Moreover, the story also shared my belief that it is equally important to not expect too much from anything, which is what Pip failed to do, as you may end up disappointed. More importantly, however, the novel also corresponds with my perception which is to never be too ambitious on anything in this world as it may mislead one’s life. Furthermore, the story also showed how I see myself in the world. Like Pip, I believe that I am also a good natured and kind-hearted person who can achieve anything if I work hard for it. However, I must always remember not to commit the same mistake the Pip did, which is to become overly-ambitious, in order for me to reach my dreams. Presidential Scholars essay: The teacher who has influenced me the most   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In school, the person who made the most impact on my life was my Italian teacher, Mrs. Elliott. Basically, Mrs. Elliott has not only sparked my interest in the Italian language and other languages, but she has taught me and my fellow students the value of investing in knowledge, which she believes would greatly help us in our future careers. She is also a highly competent teacher who always makes sure that we learn new things after each of our classes with her.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   She has also shared with us a lot of information about the Italian culture and lifestyle, among others. Although she is a bit demanding in her classes, I know that she only wants us to learn and grow. However, what I like best about Mrs. Elliott is her unwavering passion for teaching. She always teaches enthusiastically and eagerly, which is why all the students listen attentively and never get bored in her class.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Moreover, she is also a very approachable person outside the classroom. Students would never hesitate to go to her when they have concerns about anything. Whether it’s about school or family, Mrs. Elliott would always be there to guide us and give us advice.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Furthermore, she has also taught us valuable lessons and values in life such as patience, understanding, integrity, honesty, commitment, and dedication, which we would all be able to apply throughout the rest of our lives. She also told us to always remember the lessons we learned so we could pass them on to our future children   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In short, Mrs. Elliot has not only imparted to us the necessary knowledge that we would need as we seek higher education, but she has also taught us valuable lessons that cannot simply be learned in a classroom. No doubt, she is one of the people whom I would never forget and whom I would always honor for the rest of my life

Research Paper on JetBlue Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

On JetBlue - Research Paper Example The current paper is based upon analyzing the different costing techniques which an organization undertakes in order to acquire better financial efficiency. Accordingly, the current paper incorporates evaluation of activity based, standard and relevant costing techniques. The research incorporates analyzing such costing techniques by associating the same in context of JetBlue. The different circumstances under which JetBlue might undertake such costing techniques and their long run implications have been discussed upon. The paper begins with a brief analysis of JetBlue’s background, their span of operations and their general strategies to success. The subsequent sections of the paper include evaluating different costing processes and the manner in which JetBlue can incorporate the same to better manage their financial resources. The data for the current paper has been largely been collected from secondary sources such as web publications, journals and books. The study essentia l follows a descriptive and an interpretative approach. The research technique followed is essentially qualitative. JetBlue is a low cost airline with its head office situated in Long Island City, the U.S. It is seen to operate in 12 countries which include nations of Latin America, South America and the Caribbean. The company serves 87 destinations spread across 24 states (JetBlue, 2014). JetBlue focuses crucially upon providing excellent and timely services which are priced economically. The flight services of JetBlue can be crucially be divided into two important segments, essentially business class and economy class. JetBlue tries to create differentiation in their service offerings by incorporating the aspect of quality, which most low cost carriers are seen to emphasize less upon. Superior personal space and complimentary entertainment are considered as important aspects by the firm. Innovation and sustainable

Psychopathology Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Psychopathology - Assignment Example ce characterized by such feelings to a greater degree than seems warranted by the external circumstances, typically with lack of energy and difficulty in maintaining concentration or interest in life.† Mary’s father had an addictive personality, and was an alcoholic. He was very promiscuous and had known relationships with as many as 9 women that Mary knows of. He was given to physical and verbal abuse, which led to Mary’s mother separating from him when Mary was six years old. Mary’s mother also had an addictive personality and was abusive. After her separation, she moved to London, and the stress of providing for the children brought out her abusive side, till Mary left her house at age 17. Mary has younger siblings who she was responsible for after leaving her mother’s house. This includes brothers as well as sisters. Mary was their primary caregiver till they reached adulthood after they left their mother. Mary has felt protective and responsible towards them as she was the oldest. Mary found it difficult to have relationships as she experienced trust issues – possibly stemming from her parents dysfunctional relationship and eventual separation. She eventually met her present husband, a dentist belonging to a middle class background who convinced her that he would be loyal to her and would never leave her. They have now been married for 17 years; but their present relationship is somewhat distant. She has 2 daughters, who she has devoted all her time to. Her relationships with her daughters are not very healthy at the moment, especially since her elder daughter aged 16, found out that she was pregnant. This incidence was the triggering point that started the depressive experiences that Mary has presented with. Mary comes from a small town culture, but moved to London with her mother at an early age. The middle class notions of propriety were what forced her mother to move to London; but Mary seem to identify with them and holds her family to

Changes in Apple's Supplier Code of Conduct Essay

Changes in Apple's Supplier Code of Conduct - Essay Example At Apple, we value our workers as really, they are the reason for our success. We, therefore, require of every supplier that transacts any dealings with Apple to exhibit genuine intention to protect the rights of our workers at all times. A maximum of 60-hour work week should always be observed. We ensure that our suppliers strictly follow this. This ensures that our workers are not over-worked, and hence they remain productive. By 2014, about 92% of our suppliers complied with this. We are custodians of human rights as well. This is seen in our use of conflict-free minerals in our products. Suppliers affiliated with Apple are usually held accountable to hiring procedures that are ethical.For productivity, good health is key. That is why at Apple, we really care about the safety and health of our workers. In order to ensure that this is maintained, we have sought to train our management staff and workers. In an effort to assure that safety and good health is maintained, we launched a bout 870 projects in 2014 to improve conditions at the places of work. This was done through the Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) Academy. We have also come up with a comprehensive mapping program that aims to make steadfast our chemical management functions.We have great regard for the environment at Apple. That’s why we ensure that our products and services are environmentally conscious. We are doing all we can to ensure that the natural resources that have been bestowed upon us are well conserved.

Progressive Era Through the Great Depression Assignment

Progressive Era Through the Great Depression - Assignment Example Most of the urban towns were transformed into rural cities, and large number of people migrated to metropolitan areas to obtain higher standards of living. Many new immigrants poured in from other countries with diverse cultures and traditions (Jaycox 2005). While the progressive era was significant for the economic growth, the late 1920s marked an era of economic depression. This economic decline was the worst in the history; it spread all over the world after its origin in the United States. The prices declined drastically with considerable increase in unemployment rate. Such was the influence of this economic downfall that October 29, 1929, the day that marked the beginning of this devastating collapse, was named as Black Tuesday. Although many events took place during the period under discussion, two events can be considered as major historic turning points with a great influence on the America’s current society, economy, politics, and culture. The changes in the American foreign policy and large flow of immigrants from other nations proved to be major turning points in the progressive era through economic depression. (Jaycox 2005) American Foreign Policy and New Immigrants Prior to 1890, America followed the ideology of isolationism, and relations with the other nations were limited. The American government mostly focused on its own development and had a negligible interest in the foreign affairs. This trend, however, changed after 1890 when government policy makers adopted a more global approach and America began to influence the world affairs. This encouragement was partly due to a fact that many circumstances had changed over the years. America had evolved into an industrial juggernaut, and opening a foreign front helped the businessmen to approach the international market. Soon, the national goods were distributed around the globe, which played a major role in the economic development, global influence, and American transition into a superpower. Similarly, the flow of immigrants during this period had a great impact on the social structure of the country. This intake from diverse cultures helped formation of a multicultural environment that attracted skilled labor from around the globe. Therefore, these immigrants initially provided the unskilled labor as most of them were from poor families, but the very their presence cultivated the ground for the future intake of the more skilled immigrants who played a pivotal role in the establishment of the country. (Jaycox 2005) Women’s Right to Vote A campaign for woman suffrage in the United States is one of the highlighted events during the period under discussion. Although most of the women received their rights to vote by 1920, the western states were more liberal than the northeastern and southern states in granting women their desired rights. Few reasons can be speculated for women’s liberty in the west. First of all, women in the frontier were given more status than household articles. Many speculate that this was a result of a distinct frontier democracy or more liberal approach of the western men. But the efforts of women associations in the west were one of the important differences that can explain why women received the right to vote much earlier in the west as compared to the other states. American-Spanish War Tensions built up between Spain and the United States over the Cuban rule by the end of 19th century. America had concerns over Spanish colonization in the surrounding regions, and the incidence

Johnstown Flood Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Johnstown Flood - Research Paper Example It goes without saying that the Johnstown Flood was both a human and economic tragedy. More than 2,200 Americans were killed in this flood and it caused a huge economic damage amounting to $17 million (Foote 94). One peculiar thing about Johnstown Flood was that it turned out to be the first of its kind disaster relief operation that was handled by the American Red Cross, under the leadership of Clara Barton. Not to mention that the support for these relief operation emanated from across the United States of America and many foreign countries. International Red Cross to begin with was essentially meant to be a battlefield relief organization that was designed to provide help and relief to the victims of wars (Ritter 15). The American Red Cross in consonance with the spirit of its parent organization, also primarily intended to be a war relief organization (Ritter 15). The founder of the American Red Cross that is Clara Barton though had some experience in the battlefield relief opera tions during the American Civil War, it was her heartfelt belief that the American Red Cross could also evolve to be a major instrument of help during the peace time catastrophes and disasters (Ritter 15). In that sense the Johnstown flood came as an opportunity for the American Red Cross to extend help, aid and relief to the victims of an unprecedented peace time disaster. Thereby, the role played by Clara Barton in these relief operations does deserve a salient mention. The 67 year old founder of the American Red Cross determinedly rushed to the scene of disaster, once she came to know of it (Burton 118). She not only helped organize the requisite supplies and material donations, but also beckoned the friends, acquaintances and the citizens of America to accompany her in this relief cause (Burton 118). As it happens in most of the relief operations, the American Red Cross did not act alone to extend relief and help. Before Barton and her crew arrived on the scene, a group of dedic ated Johnstown residents had already initiated a relief operation intended at taking care of a number of local necessities like clean up and repairs, food distribution, restoring the local government, arranging the necessary supplies, etc (Douglas 336). Help and funds poured in from various sectors and voluntary organizations like citizen groups, The Children’s Aid Society, Yellow Cross, and foreign relief organizations (Douglas 336). The primary contribution of the American Red Cross was that it extended the emergency relief and help to the impacted people, before more permanent and elaborate relief distribution could be initiated and organized by the government and voluntary organizations. The role played by the American Red Cross was not merely limited to the immediate aftermath of this disaster, but rather happened to be prolonged, dealing with the provision of shelter and household supplies to the victims (Johnstown Flood Museum 1). Going by the fact that at the time of Johnstown Flood, the American Red Cross was not the exclusive local chapter of the International Red Cross, the organization did much to help and aid the survivors of this disaster (Johnstown Flood Museum 1). It helped nearly 25,000 people and distributed goods and supplies worth $211,000 (Johnstown Flood Museum 1). The American Red Cross also built the Red Cross Hotels that sheltered large

The Electoral Landscape Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Electoral Landscape - Essay Example While it is nothing new for voters to want for a change in political leadership, the 2008 presidential election represented an important change in American politics. Barack Obama broke a major racial barrier for African-Americans by becoming the first black American president. Race is likely to be a much less important issue in the future than it has been in the past because Obama has proven that race is no longer an absolute barrier to electability. Obama was able to overcome racial prejudice and the disadvantages of being a little known senator by taking advantage of the growing influence of the Internet and social media. The 2008 election was the first presidential election in which communication through the Internet played a major role (NPR). Lastly, between 2004 and 2008 the economy became the dominant election issue over issues of national security and terrorism. While the Republican Party is generally seen as stronger on economic issues, the economic collapse in 2008 was blame d on the economic policies of Bush by a wide margin (Hagerty 1), and the War on Terror fell out of favor. Works Cited Hagerty, Barbara. â€Å"Exit polls link Obama victory to economic fears.† 4 Nov. 2008.

Unearthing the Mystery of the Gifted with Learning Disabilities Essay

Unearthing the Mystery of the Gifted with Learning Disabilities - Essay Example This essay stresses that children may be given the intervention that is appropriate for his or her learning disability. Learning strategy instruction appears to hold great educational potential because strategy training emphasizes helping students learn how to learn and how to use strategies found to be effective in promoting successful performance of academic, social, or job-related tasks. Students need these skills not only to cope with immediate academic demands but also to address similar tasks in different settings under different conditions throughout life. They are resources for an individual to use, especially when faced with new learning situations. This paper makes a conclusion that the previous and ongoing research on the gifted with learning disabilities have a long way to go in terms of truly helping the students concerned. While intellectual giants are locking horns in identifying those deserving to fall under this criteria, time is running out and the students concerned are left to languish in regular school systems without the appropriate interventions to meet their specific needs. It is more important to focus on helping even those suspected to be G/LD to learn to both nurture their gifts and cope with their weaknesses to survive their condition. It is not to be forgotten that such individuals are not only made up of cognitive functions. Their emotional, psychological and physical well-being likewise needs attention.

The King, The Demigod Essay Example for Free

The King, The Demigod Essay The never-ending narrative of a young truck driver (Wadhams, Nathan Lindsay 39) turned into a world cultural icon never fails to garner praise and admiration. Years and decades have elapsed, yet the Elvis phenomenon has managed to maintain a cult following has endured the tests of time. The Elvis Presley fairy tale continues to echo the success and seemingly unsurpassed popularity of a man who shaped and transformed the rough terrains of history. Indeed, Elvis Presley is one of the most celebrated fairy tale protagonists similar to that of Cinderella. He is the fulfillment of every boy’s dream. He is the knight in shining armor of countless damsels in distress. He symbolizes the youth’s vibrant energy and even adults are swayed by his presence. He is Elvis Presley. However, his massive influence is neither caused by musical virtuosity nor pure charm. A simple musician that he was, it always bring wonder how Presley has captivated the hearts of many. Could it be that just like Faust, Elvis also sold his soul to the devil? Could it be that Elvis Presley is no less than a media-made hero? Yet if he is a product of media hype or exaggeration, his glamour could have already faded as new faces and rising stars enter the limelight. Evidently, the Elvis fever remains an epidemic in which the cure is yet to be discovered. On the other hand, as a deeper examination of Elvis Presley’s seemingly inevitable success can be attributed to the fact that he embodied a demigod image (Paytress 10) whose primary weapon is no less than music. A demigod is briefly defined as â€Å"half human† and â€Å"half god (Loewen 13). This image is greatly portrayed and manifested by the so-called King of Rock n Roll (Browne 636). Elvis Presley is a demigod in the sense that his charisma, style and presence create a divine like euphoria among his supporters. He is omnipresent and his prestige is something that even the most powerful leaders and politicians cannot easily acquire. Yet, unlike the well-revered gods of Olympus, Elvis Presley is not a product of an imaginative mind. He exists in real-life situations. He can be touched. He can be hugged. Thus, his mortal side enabled him to develop strong connections and relationships with his respective fans. The strong degree of attachment between Elvis and his supporters provided a god-like experience, without really resorting to romanticism and escapism. Elvis Presley is a walking fairy tale Relatively, Elvis Presley’s music created a sense of belongingness. Presley established a strong sense of community deeply characterized by similarities of interests and perspectives. Although marked with rebelliousness, for many Elvis believers, rebelliousness is a sign of struggle against the highly constricted nature of various social values, norms and mores. At one point of history, Elvis and his music articulated the hidden angst and concerns of the youth. The celebrity transformed into a superhero fully determined to regain and freedom and liberty via music. If music is described as the language of one’s soul, then Elvis Presley became the music of many youths. In addition to that, Elvis Presley’s sensual imageries and gestures readily challenged the existing taboos of society. Under this context, it can be argued that Elvis Presley has also preempted the rise of sexual revolution. The non-conformity, the unorthodox style, the courage and freedom that Elvis Presley manifested were more than enough to immortalize his memories. The duality of characteristics that Presley possessed contributes to his popularity and influence. He is the thesis and the anti-thesis. He is praised and criticized. He is half-human and half-god. He is loved and hated. In other words, Elvis Presley was able to provide a duality of experience that mostly of his contemporaries have failed to achieve. With a legion of supporters that he garnered, his untimely death served as an unpleasant surprise. Somehow this made his fans longed for more. The king is greatly missed by his believers. His absence basically explains why his memories remain intact. As Elvis Presley is emulated by his fans, somehow, the connection is reestablished—once again, the demigod is brought back to life. The fairy tale becomes a reality and his music continues to play. Works Cited Browne, Pat. The Guide to United States Popular Culture. Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin Press, 2001 Loewen, Nancy. Zeus. Minnesota: Capstone Press, 1999 Paytress, Mark. Bolan. London: Omnibus Press, 2002 Wadhams, Wayne; David Nathan and Susan Lindsay, eds. Inside the Hits. Massachusetts: Berklee Press, 2001

Factors Influencing Decisions to Undertake Financial Savings

Factors Influencing Decisions to Undertake Financial Savings Background Information The concept of saving does not provide itself to a concise definition leading to diverse definitions put forward by various researchers and economists in the economic literature. In the macroeconomics literature, it is considered as disposal income less consumption. Issahaku (2011) contended that saving goes beyond the proportion of disposable income that is not spent and that, spending on durable goods such as furniture, home accessories, appliances, computer, equipment and accessories, automobiles among others are ways of saving too. Andrea and Francisco (1998) also pointed out that investment in human capital such as medical products, apparatus and equipment, professional health services, health insurance and so forth are forms of saving. Nonetheless, the short coming of this view is that it conceals the clear distinction between expenditure and saving because several of the human capital components mentioned are more or less current expenditure items. This study seeks to consider saving as deposits in savings accounts which are done with banks, microfinance institutions, susu groups and other saving avenues (Schultz, 2005). This definition is in line with the definition put forth by the 2013/2014 Ghana Living Standard Survey (GLSS 6) report as the setting aside of unspent income in a bank or a non-bank financial institution or in other forms of arrangement such as pension plans and some insurance products. The reason for this definition is that, it is through these saving window that financial institutions get to increase their credit standing and promote investment. Notwithstanding the lack of a common definition for the concept saving, it is an important macroeconomic variable to be studied under the purview of the economic arena of an individual as well as household level. Saving according classical economist like Adam Smith, David Ricardo and J.S. Mill is an important determinant of economic growth. For the individual or household, savings serves as a cushion against future unforeseen and uncertain circumstances of life while for a country’s economy as a whole, it leads to higher economic growth. For Rao (1980), saving constitute the basis for capital formation and capital formation constitute a major determinant of economic growth. Unlike developed economies where income is generated at a higher rate which encourages more saving thereby translating into more capital formation, developing economies like that of Ghana where income standard is almost uncertain coupled with low rate of financial inclusion of the various sectors of the eco nomy, it will be appropriate to pay more attention to the patterns and determinants of saving in the economy. On average East Asia saves more than 30 percent of gross national disposable income (GNDI) while Sub-Saharan Africa saves less than 15 percent. Regional differences have been rising: over the past three decades, saving rates have doubled in East Asia and stagnated in Sub-Saharan Africa and in Latin America and the Caribbean (Loayza et al., 2000). By a hike in aggregate saving, the social value of saving can exceed its private value in many developing countries. National savings of every economy can be broadly categorized into three saving type namely the household sector saving, private sector saving and finally the private sector saving. Public savings is the saving done by government such as state, local and federal government while private savings is the saving done by corporate business, institutions and organisations. Household sector savings is the saving done by families and individuals. Among these three savings type, the household sector savings is said to contribute a larger share to the total domestic savings of the economy (Rehman et al., 2011). Household sector savings is of utmost importance to the capital formation of every economy in that, the sector engages in substantial financial and non-financial investment and make possible both private and public investment by transferring accumulated savings. The Ghanaian household sector savings is made up of savings from urban households and that of rural households. Rural household sector is vital to the Ghanaian economy not only because of its potential in generating employment and income, rather, because of the limit set by this sector to the growth of some other sectors. Hence the growth of the aggregate economy is enormously dependent on the amount of savings emanating from this sector and how they are transferred into the hands of the enterprising investors. Ghana’s quest to mobilizing enough domestic resource through financial savings for capital formation which will eventually manifest itself in economic growth is believed to have begun when the country embarked on a comprehensive financial sector reform. Preceding this era, the country’s financial system was shallow , fragmented and almost at the verge of collapsing as a result of excessive state control and weak institutional framework leading to lower rate of financial savings. Many were the significant strides made in the economy during the reform which was mainly driven by liberalization policies such as interest rate deregulation and credit allocation, improved regulatory and supervisory frameworks especially in the financial sector. All these were geared towards enhancing banking intermediation that would improve financial savings mobilization. Despite these significant strides made, it is worth noting that most of the expansions in the financial sector were only c oncentrated in the urban areas at the expense of the rural societies (Osei-Assibey and Baah-Boateng, 2012). In recent times, the economy has witness a considerable increase in the number of both foreign and local financial institutions with the licenced Micro Finance Institutions leading with a total of 409 as at July 2014. Rural/Community Banks follows with 137 and finally, 58 Non-Bank Financial Institutions. (Data source: Bank of Ghana Website). Despite these significant increase in the number of financial institutions, the 2005/2006 and 2013/2014 Ghana Living Standards Survey (GLSS 5 and 6) reports have revealed that rural areas have higher percentages(78% and 78.5%) of households that do not owns a bank account or undertake financial savings as compared to that of urban households( 61% and 53.6%) respectively. This leaves us with mind boggling questions such as; what factors at all are responsible for these high percentages of rural households without savings account? What are the factors that influences the decision by rural households/individuals to hold bank account or undertake fin ancial savings? Do the operations of financial intuitions actually play a role in influencing the decision by rural households to hold bank accounts or/undertake financial savings? These questions and many other more are begging for answers. It is against this backdrop that the study seeks to investigate the factors that determines the decision by Ghanaian rural households to undertake financial savings or hold bank account. The hypothesis to be tested is whether operations of financial institutions actually play a significant role in the decision-to- save by rural households in Ghana. For the purpose of this study, it must be emphasized that â€Å"saving† refers to an individual having a bank account or is financially contributing to a loan/savings scheme in any of the financial institutions (i.e. banks, microfinance institutions, susu groups and other saving avenues). Problem Statement: It is now widely understood that saving has great potential impact. This insight is grounded in evidence that the poor do save in cash and in-kind—whether as a way to build assets, manage household cash flow, or effectively cope with risk. However, much of their savings remain informal and outside of the financial system (The SEEP Network 2013). Savings makes it possible for combating or meeting any emergency accrued by the individuals or the households or any corporate agencies. Saving is more often meant for meeting contingencies but sometimes it also acts as a form of investment. People are sometimes not inclined towards saving and the very reason for this, is the lack of awareness. Given the proliferation of financial intuitions (both locally and foreign owned) in recent times, one will expect that the percentage of households (particularly rural households) that undertake financial saving or/ holds bank account will be higher or at least match the increase in the number of financial institutions. Rather, the opposite is what is being observed. According to the 2005/2006 and 2013/2014 Ghana Living Standards Survey (GLSS 5 and 6) reports, rural areas have higher percentages(78% and 78.5%) of households that do not owns a bank account or undertake financial savings as against that of urban households(61% and 53.6%). This reflects a worrying phenomenon and leaves us with mind boggling question such as; what factors are accounting for these high percentages of rural households without savings account? What are the factors that influences the decision by rural households to hold bank account or/undertake financial savings? Do the operations of financial intuitions a ctually play a role in influencing the decision by rural households to hold bank account or/undertake financial savings? This is where the study becomes relevant in providing answers to the above mentioned mind boggling questions. Aggregate saving in any economy is dependent on a number of variables. For effective economic planning, the planners should have an idea regarding the capacity of saving of different groups of people and the method by which saving can be improved. To advocate for financial saving, there is a need to know about the saving motives of the individuals. An understanding of the saving preferences also helps in calculating the saving instruments which can efficiently arouse saving. Objectives of the Study: The study seeks to investigate the factors influencing the decision to undertake financial saving in rural Ghana. 1.3.1 Specific objectives: The above objective of the study will be achieved by; Analysing rural households’ attitude towards financial savings Examining whether the operations of financial institutions such as proximity to financial institution and the extent of flexibility in opening accounts significantly play a role in influencing the decision by rural households to save. Research Questions: Some of the questions that this study is seeking to answer are; What are the factors that influence the decision by rural households to undertake financial saving or/ hold bank accounts? Among the factors, which of them significantly influence the decision-to-save? Do the operations of financial institutions such proximity to financial institution and the extent of flexibility in opening accounts have significant bearing on the decision by rural dwellers to save? Significance/Justification of the Study: Recounting the saving potential of rural households, Meyer (1985) provided some reasons in support of the saving potentials of rural households and these are; 1) rural households save automatically between harvests, and/or sell a portion of their crops to pay off debts or to expand consumption; 2) rural households are heterogeneous rich and poor; rich households can always save over long and/or short periods while poor households can save only over short periods; and 3) more modern farming methods allow farmers to increase income and, therefore, savings. It appears the intervention measures (such as interest rate deregulation and the liberalization of financial sector) which has resulted in the upspring of a number of financial institutions and establishment of Rural/Community Banks put forward by Ghana to take the maximum advantage of the saving potentials of the rural households is not yielding its intended objectives as indicated by the 2005/2006 and 2013/2014 Ghana Living Standa rd Survey (5 and 6) reports. It is just appropriate that more time and resources are spent in studying and paying more attention to the savings decisions of rural households so as to take advantage of their saving potential if the objective of mobilizing enough financial resources for capital formation is to be achieved as a country. This is what the study stands to furnish us with. Also, many are the studies that have been found in the literature to exist on saving prior to (Mills and Ricardo 1884) through Harrod and Domar’s postulation about the essence of savings on economic growth to date. These studies rather focus on the determinants of the amount or rate of savings (Issahaku, 2011; Alma and Richard, 1988), macro level analysis (Gupta, 1970; Khan et al., 1992 😉 and description of savings behaviours using descriptive statistics (Komla, 2012) leaving out the quantitative analysis as gap in the literature. In the Ghanaian context, studies done on the determinants of saving of rural households using a micro level approach have mostly been skewed toward a specific rural area, on gender basis or a group of rural areas in Ghana such as Issahaku, (2011); Munin et al. (2013); Komla, (2012), Oduro et al. (2012 ) etc. This study takes a micro level approach and a nationwide analyses of the determinants of financial saving decision of rural households i n Ghana by employing quantitative and descriptive statistics. This study again gives an insight into the correlation between the decision to save by individuals in the rural areas and the operations of financial institutions. Financial institutions such as banks and other non-bank financial institutions also stand to benefit from the findings of this research as the findings will make them aware of opportunities to provide rural communities in the Ghana with accessible savings outlets which will enable these businesses to make profit. Finally, the current study will add to the existing literatures on financial savings and shall be a reference material for future study. Methodology: The study is focused on using secondary data from the Ghana Statistical Services on the Ghana Living Standard Survey 6(GLSS 6). This is because it captures well most of the variables of interest such as age, marital status, educational status of household heads family size, income dependency rate etc. The study takes a look at two analysis i.e. descriptive analysis and quantitative analysis. The quantitative analysis takes a look at the determinants of the decision to hold bank account/undertake financial savings by rural households (being binary in nature) with the other independent variables carried out by adopting the model employed by Munin et al (2013) with some modifications. Organization of Study: The study is organized into six chapters including the present one. The second chapter of the study covers an overview of financial saving in general, the importance of rural financial savings to an economy especially the economy of Ghana etc. The third chapter includes related theories of saving, views on the savings potentials of rural households and studies conducted on the saving behaviour both rural and urban households in Ghana and other countries . The fourth chapter presents the methods used in this study and the source of the data used. The fifth chapter includes the empirical estimation and discussion of the results generated. The sixth and last chapter includes the summary, recommendations and conclusion.

Coleridge: Early Visions :: Richard Holmes Biography Essays

Coleridge: Early Visions Richard Holmes' intent in his biography on Coleridge is apparent from the opening pages. In fact, even his title implies his purpose of showing Coleridge as a visionary hero. In his preface Holmes clearly spells out his plan for achieving this purpose. He explains that much of the previous work done on Coleridge has focused on the more negative aspects of his life--his "opium addiction, his plagiarisms, his fecklessness in marriage, his political 'apostasy', his sexual fantasies, [and] his radiations of mystic humbug" (xv). Holmes sets out to write a different type of biography; his attempt examines Coleridge's "entire life in a broad and sympathetic manner" and reconciles his faults with the "extraordinary man" and the "extraordinary mind" (xv). In the process he hopes to show that Coleridge's visionary genius alone makes him "worth rediscovering" (xv). In this first volume of a planned two part biography, Holmes traces Coleridge's life up to the year 1804. Throughout his work he co nsistently emphasizes the spirit, energy, and unrelenting power of imagination that made Coleridge unique. He examines the highs and lows of his life and leaves his reader with both a vivid image of Coleridge, the man, and a number of questions and possibilities to ponder. Holmes' structure and style are essential to his success at bringing Coleridge alive for his reader. His biography follows a traditional narrative structure, and his language is direct and unpretentious. This style brings a novelistic quality to the biography; it reads quickly and enjoyably. Holmes encourages his reader to forget all that he has heard about Coleridge in the past and discover him again as a fresh character in Holmes' story. Holmes moves quickly through the early part of Coleridge's life, stopping along the way to focus on specific instances which exemplify Coleridge's early intellectual and imaginative powers or which later influence aspects of his life or literary work. Holmes discusses Coleridge's enormous appetite for reading and the early age at which it began; he focuses on a specific night Coleridge nearly froze to death along the River Otter; and he examines the emotional and practical consequences of the death of Coleridge's father. Holmes repeatedly returns t o these moments throughout the biography as they become relevant. In chapter four, with his discussion of Coleridge's friendship with Robert Southey and their plans for their utopian Pantisocratcy, Holmes makes a transition from Coleridge's youth to his adult literary life.

Silencing the Left in Modern America Essay -- Essays Papers

Silencing the Left in Modern America â€Å"Just so you know, we’re ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas.† -- Natalie Maines on tour in England The crowd erupted in cheers. Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks band had just excited two thousand fans in a small London club with her anti-Bush statement, only one week before American forces entered Iraq. The Dixie Chicks finished their concert riding the high of their audience’s support. Little did they know the trouble these fifteen words would cause. When Maines and the other Dixie Chicks, Martie Maguire and Emily Robison, returned to their hotel in London later that week, their manager received a call informing them that the Associated Press found out what they had said. Their manager consoled them, â€Å"†¦don’t worry. It’s going to blow over in three days.† But it didn’t. Unwittingly, the Dixie Chicks found themselves in a maelstrom of angry political and social debate. Their country music fan base, predominantly conservative Americans, felt alienated by their statement. Opposition came in many forms: on the Internet, on the radio waves, on television, from individuals, and from corporations. The size and nature of the hostility to the Dixie Chicks and other celebrities is unprecedented. The boycotts, censorship, and threats all point to an alarming new trend arising from the latest war in Iraq. During the 1950s, Americans held a deep-seated fear that all that they had fought for in World War II – namely, the freedom of the world from fascists – was being lost to the worldwide communist revolution. As a result, the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) was reestablished to monitor the behavior of radicals dangerous to the nation. Mostly us... ...john_lennon.html>. 15 November 2004. Kot, Greg. â€Å"Musicians’ protests of Iraq War create conflicts within industry.† Columbia Daily Tribune 30 March 2003 . Krugman, Paul. â€Å"Dixie Chicks and Clear Channel Communications†. New York Times. 26 March 2003. Lee, Zach. â€Å"Sticks and stones vs. opinions.† The Daily Cougar. Volume 68, Issue 124. 2 April 2003. Maguire, Martie, Natalie Maines, and Emily Robison. Interview with Diane Sawyer. Primetime Thursday. ABC. New York. 24 April 2003. â€Å"The Dixie Chicks Come Clean.† Entertainment. May 2003. â€Å"What Music Stars Are Saying About The War In Iraq.† Radio One Global . 26 November 2004. Wiener, John. Gimme Some Truth: The John Lennon F.B.I. Files. The University of California Press, Berkeley: 1999.

The Vulnerability of Man Essay example -- essays research papers

The Vulnerability of Man   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nature dwarfs us. The jungle absorbs us. Struggling to survive in the middle of an enticing jungle, one truly challenges his own restraints to the temptation of the jungle – of the horror of an abyss which lies so closely beneath us. All of our days and ways are a fragile structure balanced agitatedly atop the hungry jaws of nature that will effortless devour us. A happy life is a daily amnesty from this knowledge. Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness and Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now share a common theme where the feeble human cannot restrain the domination of the jungle. Those who live in a fool’s paradise will die in a fool’s paradise, and those who discover the horrors of life will die in the jungle. Colonel Kurtz in Apocalypse Now and Captain Kurtz in Heart of Darkness have both been lured into a â€Å"God-like† life in the jungle. Willard and Marlow both travel a long way down a river to attempt to rescue Kurtz, or kill him. The Kurtz in both stories have lost restraint to the wilderness, while Willard and Marlow fight hard to keep theirs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The opening scene in the movie captures a distraught Willard having just returned from the Vietnam War. Willard is pouncing around in his hotel room as though a savage. Only later it is revealed that he is resisting the temptation of returning to the jungle. â€Å"When I was here, I wanted to be there; when I was there all I could think about was getting back in the jungle† (Captain Willard). This scene suggests Willard’s strength to resist temptation. Having already escaped from Vietnam once, he will do it again. The matter is however, the difficulty of withstanding the jungle is like pulling two burly magnets in opposite directions. Willard himself deals with a desire to escape into the jungle. He is uncertain of his reasons, but his physicality and mentality demands it. In Apocalypse Now, the Vietnam War only plays a surface role, a parallel for the jungle, in which both display the effects of corruption and destruction on man. The true significan ce of the story lays beneath the surface, as the horror of existence, the horror of strength, and the horror of an ability to kill without feeling.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the beginning of the novel, Marlow and four other Englishmen are stranded close to the mouth of the Thames Riv... ...ad put his restraint to test eventually swallowed him whole. As does in Apocalypse Now, both Kurtz’ die saying â€Å"The horror. The horror.† While the definition of this â€Å"horror† is clearly defined in Apocalypse Now, it is left unclear in The Heart of Darkness. These words might have no larger meaning at all. Though there is a constituent of madness to Kurtz, he's remained coherent enough for the audience to wonder whether in casting off all restraints in the jungle, he has discovered some dark truth about the world, a truth that horrifies him. His words might be a pronouncement on the universe we all inhabit, as in Apocalypse Now, Colonel Kurtz’s discovery of how fragile men live their lives is easily tempted by the wilderness, and most will fall into this trap.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the Heart of Darkness and Apocalypse Now, the stories contain symbolic imagery of the all-too-powerful nature against the defenseless man. Both stories contain a horror of which one has been given a definition, and the other left for the audience to define. The stories examine a man’s capacity for evil and madness, and the level of self-control necessary to survive the manipulation of nature.

Report on importance of Personal Development Plans

â€Å" A structured and supported procedure undertaken by an single to reflect upon their ain acquisition, public presentation and/or accomplishment and to be after for their personal, educational and calling development Planning is the span between where we are and where we would be. Kountz and OdonnelMeaning: –Personal development program intending refers to the action that improves the self-knowledge and puting up the ends and aims in instruction, calling and personal development. Through be aftering you can put short term average term and long term aims to make the end of life. Planning is the contemplation of yesteryear for illustration: – If you were good in yesteryear you have to better than that in future. It is bridging the spread to make the finish.Importance of Personal Development PlanIMPORTANCE OF HAVING A PLAN-If we want to accomplish any set of mark we need program. Developing a program helps me to measure the work, the program will besides give me or demo me the strength and failing which I have to supervise for farther development, due to which I can besides mensurate my work procedure. The failing and strength will steer me from where I have to acquire the strength. Well it is non merely required at starting of the work but need to alter from clip to clip. A well organised program will steer me what type of action to be taken and besides about the obstructions. Learning accomplishments and there development How program will back up to accomplish your end Resources needed to accomplish end Check point Time management-looking towards the program I need to be perfect on clip. Bettering my larning performance- acquisition is better but can be more better if I will better it. Problem work outing skill-problem should be solved on clip and on demand. Better usage of engineering Time direction will assist me to accomplish the argentine and besides I can judge that what I am making is on clip or non. It will assist me to larn the things which I need to develop for my program. Problems work outing accomplishment assist me to screen out the jobs coming in the program. It will assist in happening the things which are needed for program like the usage of cyberspace. Time Books, Money etc. Resources like computing machines, mention book, newspapers etc. 20th luciferOverviewMaking a personal development program is therefore non plenty as in order to do certain that all your marks are meet to the best of its abilities it is ever best to reexamine your ends. My personal development program gives an overview of what I am making and where I want to venture into the close hereafter. As a concern orientated individual myself I feel that the class that I am presently making will assist me derive a bridgehead within the direction sector of a well-established organisation. However even be aftering in front can ever hold its reverses, as they can be many hurdlings along the manner for me in order to carry through my set ends. Therefore in this portion of the assignment I will be analyzing my ends and detecting possible solutions which in clip will take me to my end calling aspirations of endeavoring into having and transporting out my ain concern in the close hereafter.Short Term AimsAs from the tabular array above it clearly illustrates that I have meet my short-run aims, which were non that easy as to do a determination upon. At first I had registered with the college supplier to transport out a ABE class, nevertheless I was non cognizant of what the class entailed me to make. This is due to the fact that the college booklets did n't give a full illustration towards the chief facets that need to be covered in the class, and therefore I felt that it would non be of good to my calling aspirations. Therefore when I came to UK I made an assignment with the installation staff member and discussed my programs, ends and what I am good at and what accomplishments I obtain. I went through the college classs with the staff member who so guided me into the BTEC class of Management surveies. Finding a right class for me was the extreme necessary measure for me, as I have to be comfy within my country of surveies. Therefore by choosing this class it gave me a degree of expertness within the country of concern that I want to restitute into in the close hereafter. Equally good as discoursing the class modules with the installation staff member I besides carried out my ain research by utilizing the cyberspace and researching the class and what and how it will be of good to me. Once I had decided I so had the obstructions of paying the fees although I had plenty I still had to pay a little sum more, for this I meet with the fiscal support staff within the college and decided upon a payment strategy which has proven to be constructive for me. As an abroad pupil at first it was difficult to accommodate to the milieus of a different civilized life environment. However by interacting with my fellow class members and by populating within the Halls of occupants I have a much greater acquaintance and have adapted rather good with the people and with the ambiance in UK. The co-workers help is much beneficial to me as they can assist me in doing friends and besides happening occupation by which I can acquire good money for transporting out my surveies. The local people populating here can steer me in a better manner and besides can assist me as in am new in this state here one can state the accomplishment like communicating assist me much for transporting out the aim.Average Term AimsThese aims are indispensable for me, presently I am seeking to run into all of my assessment deadlines and researching the appraisal standard ‘s to the best of my abilities. In order to do certain that I am transporting out my appraisals I use the cyberspace, newspaper articles and concern studies. All of which have been extremely utile to me when composing up my appraisals. Looking towards the undertaking of personal development program which I had made there is needed to get the better of certain obstructions, without which the program can non be in a proper sequence. Time direction skill-need to look into the undertaking and to rectify it when the program is traveling out of agenda. Questioning skill-need to inquiry in the group & A ; to discourse the subject, inquiry to our ego and to lecturer. By taking this class I have improved upon my organisational and clip maintaining accomplishments. Another obstruction that I have overcome is that as appraisals are set it is non ever easy to understand the chief range of what is required. Therefore I have made it my responsibility to inquire my lector when I am unsure of the undertakings that are set to me. This manner I gain a better apprehension and I am able to derive in-depth cognition from my lector upon the countries of the faculty that are hard for me. This shows that it is really of import and necessary to derive support within the academic field i.e. From your lectors when a trouble arises. Self-Developing skills-need to do to better by self-reviewing, by larning from the environment, rectifying the errors. Fiscal planning-this can be sorted out by looking toward the disbursals where I am disbursement and by better fiscal planning. Use of proper resources-this can be done by utilizing the resources in the mode how they are needed and in the proper manner this can be achieved by holding the proper cognition of the resources and besides of the program & A ; Keeping off the professional life from studies-not working more than required and in the holiday period merely. deadline. I can match this into my working life every bit good. As working in Primark, I have come across minor jobs such as covering with clients face to face who have minor jobs of get oning etc. To get the better of this I have learnt from my senior co-workers what other option we can give to the clients that can experience them comfort. I can state from above reappraisal that this obstructions are to be sorted out for a good PDP, to get the better of them the basic thing Is have to be is in a comfort zone ( our life manner, work and our societal environment in which we are customise ) .thus doing my program in a uninterrupted flow. The pupils with whom i am analyzing and the lector can assist me in finishing my surveies. They can be good in supplying me a proper usher line and besides in the understanding the subjects which are needed to finish my bathe supports from my co-workers and lector can assist me in finishing my program on clip. Sometime the deficiency of resources can be made taken from the co-workers like the usage of pressman or mention notes.Long Term AimsWhere do I see myself after this class is completed. Well my chief concern as of now is to finish my class with good consequences. My long-run aims are inter-linked with my consequences. As I plan to transport on with my educational development by transporting out my MBA in Management Studies. I am really interested within the concern field ; hence I feel that by transporting out an Master in business I will be able to derive good calling and occupation chances in UK. With such chances I can utilize my accomplishments that I gain from my academic and working background in UK to thrive within my ain state. As a practical individual I am ever interested in the field of running my ain concern, hence I plan to open my ain concern and run it harmonizing to my ain demands. The chief obstruction for this will be costs and the clip graduated table, which I will hold to prioritize with my ain personal life. Therefore I feel that one time I have settled down in life with a good occupation within the direction sector, so I can subsequently on in life develop my involvement in researching the running of my ain concern. In order to carry through my set ends and aspirations in the current and near future I plan to reexamine my action program every 6 months. This will give me a clear prospective of what I am carry throughing and what I need to accomplish within the continuance of clip. Therefore self-review is ever of import as it enables one to maintain in path of their ends and amend or adjust into extra fortunes that may originate. Bing a good director I have to be in communicating with the people for the selling and besides for other development in the concern. The support from market people for finance and the market had a good impact on the development of the concern. They can assist me from their experience and from the accomplishments they have. Bing a man of affairs on the footing of net income hey can besides back up me to acquire the better trades and chance in the market so I can stand in the market.

Constrctivism Learning and Teaching Model Essay

The constructivism model in the classroom is a theory created to explain how and what we know. Building knowledge and problem solving are the main focuses for this model. From the analysis of our own experiences, both past and present, we â€Å"construct† our understanding of content. From doing things and reflecting upon them, we acquire information that can be useful in future applications. (Lamon, M. 2003). The model was conceived by Jean Piaget (1896-1980), who believed that human beings developed intelligence through adaptation and organization. One example is that of transformative learning, whereby children develop an understanding of something using whatever details they have at the time, and then adjust that understanding as they go along, rather than putting the details together piecemeal to come to a conclusion. Piaget is considered the originator of constructivism. However there are a number of different theories that have been applied to modify his original model. For instance, Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky (1896-1934), developed a relevant contribution to constructivism with his ideas about language, thought, and how they work within the societal picture. For example, he believed that children learn better in environments where there is guided interaction versus those where they work independently. (Lamon, M. 2003). The 5E model: engagement, exploration, explanation, elaboration, and evaluation, was a model developed from the ideas of Piaget, John Dewey, and Johann Herbart. This model was designed to encourage knowledge construction and begins with prompting the current understanding of a subject matter. Engagement is used to recall prior knowledge. Students who are learning new subjects and content have their interest piqued through engaging in brief activities. Some of these activities include asking specific questions, brainstorming, and providing a scenario to see what the students know already. Exploration uses activities with a common base to identify current concepts and then help change those concepts. To achieve this, the teacher should start a discussion or demonstrate an activity that poses a challenge to the student’s understanding, and then delve into any misconceptions behind the challenges. Explanation is used to provide opportunities for students to develop skills, knowledge, or behavior, by presenting them with information that they would be unlikely to discover on their own. This helps the students develop their own expertise, with assistance. Elaboration is used for the students to apply new experiences and to broaden the understanding and application of the skill set being taught. Evaluation is used by students to identify where they are at in understanding of a new knowledge set. Teachers also use evaluation to measure if the progress is being made toward the general instruction goal. This gives the teacher a chance to modify a unit or lesson for future applications. Jorback, B. (n. d. ) A modified version of the 5E model was developed for science curriculum in the 1980s by Rodger Bybee. Bybee used constructivism as his base when he developed this version. He only changed the last two aspects of the original 5E model. He switched evaluation’s order and used it as the fourth E. Evaluation is used for the assessment, both formative and summative. With formative assessments, the teacher can measure if the students are learning by providing quizzes, observations, or question and answer discussions after a lesson or while it is being taught. A summative assessment can be delivered at the end of the unit. This provides the teacher with an idea of what the students have retained throughout the unit and then they can adjust for successive lessons. Extension is similar to the elaboration phase, in that it utilizes the premise that learning will occur when instruction is orderly and increases with intricacy as the unit moves forward. Connections made with the new knowledge can be used for new experiences, by extending the knowledge even further into applications that could not have been achieved before the lesson or unit was taught. Take Chemistry for example. One could not do chemical equation balancing without the prior knowledge of atomic structures and understanding the key components of what they mean. Jorback, B. (n. . ) Some potential challenges that can arise from the constructivism model if the teacher is not well versed in the knowledge of the subject and its content. This model would also be challenging for those who possess problem solving skills, yet lack in basic knowledge of real world knowledge. Constructivism is a knowledge based model where we learn new concepts through prior experience. The instructor must be able to predict preconceptions the students may have and decide on appropriate activities, in addition to effectively modifying and assessing the content being taught. Jorback, B. (n. d. ) In conclusion, many current theories have been applied to constructivism to adapt it to the modern day classroom. However, the theories all share the belief that a prior knowledge base is required. That prior knowledge does not have to be on the subject that is being taught. One must be able to apply prior knowledge in order to make connections for new knowledge. Applying this and evaluating it gives both the students and teachers a measurement of what has been learned and still needs to be learned.

Batangas Authentic Food Essay

Introduction Food plays a significant role in people’s lives. These may encompass food as a tool for comfort, reward, as a hobby and also for travel. It has become a defining obsession among the young and urbane, viewing it as a legitimate option for a hobby, a topic of continual discussion and a playground for competition. Food’s transformation from a fetid hobby to a youth-culture phenomenon happens remarkably fast. In these events, food becomes one of the primary reasons in motivating a person to travel (Idov, 2012). Culinary tourism covers beyond the dining experience. It includes a variety of culinary, agri-tourism and agri-food activities, developed specifically for tourists that showcase food and beverages. This also provides opportunity for visitors to discover dishes indigenous to each region while learning about its unique talents and creativity. The International Culinary Tourism Association also defines Culinary Tourism as, â€Å"the pursuit of unique and memorable eating and drinking experiences.† Cuisine is among the most flexible and dynamic elements of culture. It involves the blending of ingredients and preparations for different cultures. Agricultural diversification, food preservation technology, efficient transportation, awareness of new food preparation techniques, prestige foods and migrations into and out of communities have been ushering supplementary culinary traditions in the Philippines. Culinary traditions are important elements of a people’s history. As local tourism and heritage conservation become significant to community pride and income, histories about food are needed as reference for contemporary projects and planning. There are many reasons for valuing culinary history (Sta. Maria, 2006). The Philippines’ 7,107 islands, divided into 77 provinces, show an enormous diversity in both their people and landscape. From the rugged cliffs and Ivatans of Batanes Islands through the sophisticated urbanites of Manila to the coral islands and Moslems of Tawi – Tawi, this is a land of extraordinary contrast and variety (Hicks, 2005). Philippine cuisine begin with a simple fare, a variety of vegetables readily gathered from the environment – yams such as taro, an assortment of leaves, coconut milk, fish, and chicken and pig, both of which are native to Southeast Asia. The Malay-Polynesian kitchen contributions such as coconut milk, varieties of rice, garlic, ginger, salted dried fish, shrimps, fish sauce, leaf-wrapped cuisine and roast pig are the staple. The use of peanuts and spices is more passive than in neighboring countries like Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. From the Chinese cuisine evolved the lumpia and pancit which have taken the form of pancit luglug, pancit guisado, pancit marilao, pancit palabok and pancit molo. Spanish cooking introduced meat boiled as in puchero, cooked in vinegar as in adobo, stewed in tomato sauce as in mechado and scopped out and restuffed as relleno; along with desserts like leche flan and pastry such as ensaimada (Roces, 2006). Heading on the southwestern part of Luzon in the CALABARZON region lays the province of Batangas which offers acclaimed taste sensations. The name Batangas come from the word â€Å"batangan† meaning a raft that the people use for fishing in Taal Lake. Two of the world’s rarest freshwater fishes namely maliputo and tawilis are found in Taal Lake. Batangas cow is widely sought throughout the country. It is said to be one of the best species of cattle in the Philippines. Batangas culture is greatly influenced by the Spaniards because of their long period of settlement. Food is an integral part of the Batangas culture. Most Batangueà ±os are farmers and fishermen who sell their own products in the market. People can find a very hospitable culture in the Batangueà ±os, sharing more than the usual of the food they eat. Tourists keep coming back to Batangas not only for its attractions but also for the authentic food it offers. Batangas cuisine is attractive not because of the presentation of the dish, but because of its essence. The philosophy of cooking in Batangas is that cooking should highlight rather than coat. This study entitled â€Å"Culinary Tourism: Assessment of Batangas Cuisine† aims to evaluate the prominence of culinary attractions in Batangas, and the perception of the tourists in the native cuisines. Statement Of The Problem The researchers sought the answers to the following questions: 1. What is the profile of the tourists in terms of: a. Age; b. Gender; c. Place of Origin; and d. Frequency of visit 2. What is the profile of the local dishes in terms of: a. Ingredients; b. Presentation; c. Techniques; d. History; e. Geography; and f. Prevailing Flavors 3. What is the perception of the tourists on the local dishes in terms of: a. Authenticity; b. Related programs and activities; and c. Feedback of tourist on the local dishes 4. Is there a significant relationship between the profile of the tourists and their perception on the local dishes? Research Objectives The researchers fulfilled the following objectives: 1. Identify the profile of the tourists in terms of: a. Age; b. Gender; c. Place of Origin; and d. Frequency of visit. 2. Distinguish the profile of the local dishes in terms of: a. Ingredients; b. Presentation; c. Techniques; d. History; e. Geography; and f. Prevailing Flavors. 3. Determine the perception of the tourist on the local dishes in terms of: a. Authenticity; b. Related programs and activities; and c. Feedback of tourists on the local dishes. 4. Determine the significant relationship between the profile of the tourists and their perception on the local dishes. Significance Of The Study This study would be beneficial not only for the researchers but also for the other sectors of the society. The research would be significant for the endeavors of the following people: For hospitality students and professors The research will serve as a reference for the students and professors in their Hospitality Management courses. This study will also help students and professors to gain a deeper understanding in relation to the study. For the local community The study will strengthen the awareness of the local community in authentic cuisines of the different municipalities in Batangas. Through this study, they will be more familiar with their own traditional cuisines. For producers of the cuisines The study will serve as an opportunity to preserve and sustain the cuisines to the future generation. It will be beneficial for the producers of these cuisines to enhance their reputation and prestige. This will also be the source of their revenue if the cuisines will be recognized more by the people. For the local government The research will help the local government of Batangas in establishing a framework for the development of Food tourism. It will also help in promoting Batangueà ±o cuisines and the province itself. For the tourists The research will help the tourists to be more knowledgeable of the authentic cuisines the Batangueà ±os has to offer. It will also guide them in experiencing and familiarizing with the different cuisines in Batangas. For travel entities. The study will serve as a guide for the travel entities in promoting the Culinary Tourism of Batangas to their clients. It will also serve as a basis for formulating tour packages that will suit the preferences of the clients. For the researchers The study will be significant for the researchers in enhancing their knowledge about the native cuisines in the province of Batangas. It will serve as a tool in boosting the awareness of the researchers in the field of Food Tourism. For future researchers. The study will be helpful for the future researchers as their basis for their potential study. Scope and Limitation The study only covered Food Tourism of selected areas in Batangas. It also determined the main dishes the Batangueà ±os have to offer. These main dishes included Maliputo, Tawilis, Adobo sa Dilaw, Taghilaw, Tinindag, Bulalo and Sinaing na Tulingan that can be found in Lipa City, Taal, and Sto. Tomas. The dishes selected are most frequently encountered by the researchers in books, magazines, newspapers and government brochures. The study evaluated the perception of the tourists on the local dishes but not those of the local residents. It did not cover the eating habits of the tourists and the ethnic diversity of the dishes. Moreover, the study did not include the native delicacies and beverages.

Ministering to Mormons

Reflecting on I Love Mormons: A New Way to Share Christ with Latter-day Saints Most people associate the Mormon faith with the church that is based in Salt Lake City, Utah. However, Mormonism has its roots in New York State, where Joseph Smith founded the Church of Latter-Day Saints during the nineteenth century, when he was allegedly visited by an angel that he called â€Å"Moroni.† The principles upon which he based this church underwent many changes as the founders of the faith traveled westward, so many that people might question whether it is the same faith or not.   It is not unusual, however, for a young faith to undergo many changes: it can be argued that Christianity experienced many of the same dynamics in it beginnings as it moved from its country and culture of origin and spread across the world.   David Rowe’s text suggest that individuals who would preach Christianity to Mormons should approach Mormonism as less of a cult and more of a culture and will less zeal than love, Section 1: Overview of Mormon Theology According to its founders, the Mormon faith is based on the teachings of the descendents of ancient holy men and the faithful who came to this continent even before the birth of Christ.   The original teachings of the church were supposed to have been translated from golden plates that the angel Moroni, which were given to Joseph Smith. Some of those early teachings have fallen into disuse or have changed completely. For example, while Smith might have included polygamy and believed in a priesthood open to only a chosen few, polygamy is now discouraged, if not openly condemned by the church and the priesthood has been open to men of all races (Rowe 2005).   Other tenets have been added or subtracted from the faith or have altered in some way as the Mormon faith seeks to solidify itself. While the Mormons consider themselves to be a Christian faith, a number of beliefs and practices set them apart from other Christian denominations.   Some of these beliefs and practices include: Baptism of the dead Eternal marriage, known as a â€Å"celestial marriage† performed in the temple The belief in four sacred texts: the Holy Bible, the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, and The Book of Mormon, and Teaching that God, the Father and Jesus Christ, the son, are of separate earthly bodies (Rowe, 2005). The Mormon Church also places a lot of emphasis on the family and on gender roles.   The church emphasizes the woman’s role in staying home and caring for the children, while men typically take on leadership roles–although these things are not absolute.   In addition, church members are intended to follow the law of chastity and to abstain from certain food, drinks, and substances. Church members are expected to proselytize.   All male members of the church are expected to perform a mission, which begins at 19 years of age and lasts two years.   Although women are not forbidden from going on missions, the requirements for women are different in terms of serving during a mission.   Finally, the LDS Church tends to believe that the individual can receive revelations from God, particularly in personal matters.   There are many precepts of this complex faith that are not covered by this paper; however, the ones that are listed represent some of their more important beliefs. The Mormon faith does not have a single, monolithic form.   Rather, it is comprised of splinter groups.   Given the statement   in Rowe (2005) that Mormonism â€Å"may stand as an indictment to Protestants because they arose to compensate for some perceived failure in the Christian movement† that encouraged him to start â€Å"a single ‘true Church’ that he believed would unify all members and spell an end to denominational schism,† this fact is interesting and interesting one (pp. 18-19). In general, the term â€Å"Mormon† is most accurately applied to the individuals who followed Smith’s teachings and settled in Utah; however, the church elders prefer that it be known by the more accurate name of â€Å"Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints† (Rowe, 2005). Section 2: â€Å"Wisely and Gently† Kraft (1998) reminds the reader that God apparently wants people to be respectful of other cultures and that He gave such directions through the Holy Bible.   In 1 Corinthians 9:19-22, Kraft states, God’s purpose is indicated through Paul’s words about living like a Jew when among the Jews and living like a Gentile when among the Gentiles, and so being â€Å"all things to all men, that [he might] save some of them by whatever means are possible† (p. 384). Kraft discusses the various levels of culture, which is the manner in which people live their lives.   People are products of their culture, which determines the manner in which they view the world and the pressure for the individual to conform within that worldview is strong (Kraft, 1998).   In addition, Kraft reminds the reader that Jesus worked not by attacking people or their cultures, but by working with people within their cultures to effect change. Overall, Mormonism has a number of good principles behind it and yet its worshipers have been widely persecuted for their faith.  Ã‚   Today’s Mormons tend to be â€Å"thin-skinned, hypersensitive, and virtually expecting to be attacked† for their beliefs (Rowe, 2005, p. 49).   Whether or not the individual talking with a Mormon agrees with the positions of that person’s faith, Rowe states that they are deserving of respect. This position is particularly important, since Mormons typically have a certainty in the truth as preached by their prophet and the awareness of their nature as what Rowe (2005) calls â€Å"an exodus community† (pp. 48-49), both of which cause them to close the doors to communication more readily than individuals in other faiths.   Despite the apparent wisdom behind this statement of affairs, however, it appears to contradict the author’s assertion that Utah’s admittance to the Union ended the â€Å"us against them† mentality that existed between Mormons and the United States government at the time (p. 47). Section 3: Proselytizing Rowe (2005) constantly reminds the reader that the Mormons have their own culture.   For this reason, Christians are to treat them as they might adherents to Islamic, Hindu, or Buddhist cultures, as well as any other non-Christian cultures.   Rowe (2005) describes the Mormon Church as being â€Å"Christianesque† in that it is â€Å"linked to statements and images from the Bible† (p. 42).   However, some of the teachings are not Christian in nature, such as Joseph Smith’s vision of separate beings for God the Father and Jesus Christ. Because this teaching is so different from that held by other Christians, it is important to be prepared with gentle teachings about its error, as well as other errors held by the Mormon Church.   It is doubly important because the worldview of Mormonism is compulsive in its teachings, just as is the case in many Muslim cultures (Duin, 2006, p. 2).   Because it is not possible for Mormons to examine their faith for themselves, other Christians should be able to help them do so. According to Coleman (1993) Jesus was able to start with a small group of disciples because â€Å"it did not matter how small the group was to start with so long as they reproduced and taught their disciples to reproduce (p. 102).   It was a strategy that, as stated earlier, depended on assimilation to achieve results.   One thing to share, then, would be that Christ died for everyone on the Cross, not just for a significant few.   He accepted and cared for all faiths and races (Coleman, 1993). Rowe (2005) suggests trying to bring the two value systems into perspectives by working with the person being instructed to put the message of the Gospel into words according to each faith and then using that as a basis for discussion (p. 65).   Final, it would seem important to understand the Mormon teaching of two Beings known as God in the Mormon Church, and how it relates to or differs from the traditional Christian teaching of monotheism.   By understanding these differences and by being able to speak in a learned and intelligent manner to another individual from a Mormon perspective. References Coleman, R. E. (1993).   The master’s plan.   Perspectives on the World Christian Movement (3rd ed.), Ralph D. Winter and Stephen C. Hawthorne (eds.).   Pasadena, CA: William Carey. Duin, J. (2003).   The Washington Times.   New World Communications, Inc. Kraft, C. H. (1998). Culture, worldview, and contextualization. Rowe, D. (2005). I Love Mormons: A New Way to Share Christ with Latter-day Saints. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

St. Augustines Role in the Development of Christianity Essay

St. Augustines Role in the Development of Christianity - Essay Example St. Augustine’s Role in the Development of Christianity The name of St. Augustine is also among such courageous and dauntless personalities, who devoted their life for the uplift of Christianity in his surroundings without displaying any irresoluteness in the face of hardships. St. Augustine of Hippo enjoys very respectable status in the list of the Christian saints, who had rendered exceptional services for the growth and development of the contemporary world’s largest religion i.e. Christianity. He not only dedicated his entire life for the development of Christianity, but also introduced, interpreted and elaborated the fundamental concepts of the belief in order to convey the Christ’s true message to the masses during the era when adopting and supporting Christian teachings served as taboo and forbidden act in the eyes of law and society at large. The Christians were persecuted, tortured and even killed at the hands of pagans and Jews in Africa and Rome respectively. â€Å"Christians posed a problem for Roman rulers beca use Christians refused to worship Roman gods. This refusal was seen as opposition to Roman rule. Some Roman rulers also used Christians as scapegoats for political and economic troubles.† (mmoloneyiths.com) Augustine was born in Numidia, North Africa in 354 A.D. It was the time when Christian faith was in its budding in the entire region. The paganism prevailed all over Africa, and the people, converted to this new faith, were looked upon with extreme suspicion and abhorrence. Being the son of a pagan father, Patricia, and devout Christian mother, Monica, the young Augustine had least interest in Christianity in his early youth. Being an energetic and carefree youth, he spent most of his time in dissipation and revelry making. Hence, he was neither interested in paganism, nor did he display any inclination towards her mother’s conversion. However, he had developed great taste for philosophy and maintained aptitude for reading. â€Å"After a rather unremarkable childhoo d, Augustine drifted through several philosophical systems before converting to Christianity at the age of thirty-one. At the age of nineteen, Augustine read Cicero's Hortensius, an experience that led him into the fascination with philosophical questions and methods that would remain with him throughout his life.† (ccel.org) Since St. Monica, his mother, had dedicated her life for the cause of her religion, she vehemently lamented over Augustine’s sticking to the pagan faith. Somehow, the circumstances observed astounding change, and Augustine started abhorring dissipation; eventually his social life was confined to reading and brooding. The remarkable mysterious call, inviting him to adopt the path of virtue and glory was too powerful to resist. Consequently, he embraced Manichaean faith viewing it as the right path to be followed. Somehow, his discussions with his friend Simplicianus and his mother’s insisting forced him to study the new religious doctrine. St . Ambrose of Milan played decisive role in his conversion, and he adopted Christianity not just to imitate others; rather, he entered the faith on the concrete foundations of his deep study, meditative examination and thorough analysis of the Christian teachings. Augustine has recorded the account of his conversion in his wonderful â€Å"The Confessions.† After conversion, Augustine dedicated himself for the cause of Christianity. He declared his conversion to Christianity as the outcome of countless bounties of his Lord upon him. He studied, taught and spread the basic philosophy of religion, and

Journal opinion article Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Journal opinion article - Essay Example The article of Scism and Tergesen Getting Smart about Annuities attempts to address the economic issue in the U.S economy. The authors attempt to reveal the changes in the stock market because of the shift from defined benefits to pension plans contribution in the U.S economy. Annuity markets have started expanding but the slow economic growth in the global market has become a major problem. Annuity refers to the payment made for life insurance or it is simply referred as the U.S financial products; thus the article attempts to address the way consumers can become elegant about annuities. Annuity issue has become among the most aspects for the recent decades because of the need to improve the quality of life (Scism and Tergesen para. 1). Although financial advisers have not been popular with annuities, it has become one of the hot products in the U.S market. The products do not offer the potential for outsized gains but there is a guarantee for some benefits (Scism and Tergesen para. 3). Consumers need to be smart when dealing with these products because there are some associated risks that may arise including investment losses but it appears that annuities have irrefutable appeal. At first, annuity offers a way for restoring some financial security for golden years but there is no clear evidence that retirees with standard paychecks will be happier than those relying on exclusively social security supplement. It appears that annuities will not offer contentment to consumers; hence one needs to be smarter before making a decision about life annuity. Moreover, annuities in the contemporary global financial markets have an undeniable appeal for those grappling with investment losses (Scism and Tergesen para. 4). The problem with this is because investors may have a common idea about the importance of annuity but a few of them may recognize the strategies available for making these financial products a part of their assets. Therefore, it is crucial for one to figu re out the total amount of products one needs to purchase maybe whether he or she wants to put money to work immediately or slowly and what to invest with the remaining balance. Scism and Tergesen offer significant and best ways that one should do in order to achieve success or avoid any financial losses (Scism and Tergesen para. 3). One of them is the immediate gratification because immediate annuity can enable one to convert payment for a month, quarterly or yearly income for life. Although most immediate annuities are fixed, immediate annuities can offer considerable higher sustainable revenue than the ones being generated from the venture portfolio. For example, an older a man who purchases an immediate annuity is likely to receive about 8.4 percent of the total amount which he instead (Scism and Tergesen para. 5). This is significant because the payment has interest rates and they are guaranteed to continue increasing for the rest of one’s life. Another way is longevity rider and this is one way of preserving more for purchasing a differed-income annuity (Scism and Tergesen para. 7). This generates an income for life and one may benefit; however, the economists have attempted to argue as to whether it is significant for one to purchase for a longevity rider or conventional immediate annuity. This is in case the financial benefits outweigh the annuity pool; thus one may likely to undergo losses. However,