Transformational Leadership The Family, Life, And Early...

Transformational leadership Paper The Family, Life, and Early Life The person that I chose to do my transformational leadership person Lady Diana Frances. Lady Dianna was born on July first, 1961. Dianna had four siblings two brothers Charles and John Spencer, two sisters Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Jane Fellowes Baroness Fellowes. Her parents are Edward Spencer, Viscount Althorp. Her mother Frances Shand Kydd lived near Oban the Isle of Seil. Dianne mother was a prominent and well-respected figure in the Catholic community. and was noted for her charity work in her faith such as preparing meals for visiting clergies. Dianna mother, Frances Shand Kydd (68) died at home after suffering a long battle from a brain disease. The father of†¦show more content†¦She assisted Red Cross by leading a movement rid get rid of land mines. Dianna, a compassionate being traveled to Pakistan and Argentina, Angola and spoke on the terror of landmines left from wars. By lending her name to campaigning to ban landmines had a profound impact on Great Britain a nd other countries.So much so that a second bill was to stop the use of anti-personnel landmines called the Ottawa Treaty. Mr. Cook paid tribute to Princess Dianna for her contributions to the cause. Princess Dianna impacted Princes Dianna participated in various humanitarian causes such as leprosy, cancer, and AIDS. Princess Dianna devoted time to helping sick children and individuals who were homeless. Princess Dianna was a fundraiser and promoter for the organization that she supported. Princess Dianna helped families that were stigmatized by one’s family member in prisons. In addition to Palliative Care which gives One right to die that is sick from a fatal illness. Princess Dianna believed that one should have the right to die with dignity. Not only did Princess Dianna support these organization she leads by example she participated and brought her children to participated in humanitarian events such as feeding the homeless, allowing them to visit AIDS shelters. Prince ss Dianna wanted her boys to be able to relate to the emotions of other individuals. Therefore, creating a level of understanding between everyday people andShow MoreRelatedThe Theory Of Transformational Leadership Perspective And Parenting Essay1583 Words   |  7 PagesThis literature investigates leadership theories to gain a clearer image and pathway definition of the relationship between leaders and followers, and in doing so we uncover the extent of the effect this relationship has on the whole organisation. Consequently, the essay explores the theory of transformational leadership perspective and parenting. Therefore, a leader in many ways can be portrayed as a parent because transformational leadership is not just about right now but rather about rightRead MoreWhat Is A Leader?1207 Words   |  5 Pagesexecute in their settings. Very rarely do individuals tend to recall those who play a role behind the scenes away from work. The parent(s). Many forget that leadership be gins at home. The most influential time of an individual falls between birth and 5 years old. This makes the parent(s) the most influential person in every individual’s life. Early Psychologists such as Erik Erickson (1963), Jean Paiget (1967) and Abraham Maslow (1970) all stressed the extreme need an infant and toddler have for attachmentRead MoreMahatma Gandhi As A Pragmatism1136 Words   |  5 PagesMahatma Gandhi (Mohandas Karamchand Ghandi) was born on 2nd October 1869 at Porbander Gujarat. Ghandi was born into a middle-class family, he had his early education at Rajkot, he married to Kasturba. Then he went to England for higher studies. He was an average student in his early childhood. He returned to India as barrister. He went to south Africa and did practice as a lawyer. He fought for the rights of Indians living there. He left his practice and came back to India. He had worked for theRead MoreTransformational Leadership As An Exceptional Form Of Influence Essay1567 Words   |   7 PagesTransformational leadership is one of the most modern and popular advances to the ideas of leadership that has been given attention to much research since the early 1980s. Transformational leadership is part of the â€Å"New Leadership† paradigm (Northouse, 2013. p. 185). This idea gives more attention to the charismatic and affective elements of leadership (Northouse, 2013. p. 185). As the name suggests, transformational leadership is a method that changes and transforms people (Northouse, 2013. p. 185)Read MoreEffective Management Practices in Community Service Organizations1686 Words   |  7 PagesCommunity service organizations are essential for the strength and liveliness of our communities. Not only do they enrich the quality of life of several citizens, but they also exemplify the highest societal values that should be extended to all citizens. In the current ever-changing environment caused by shrinking resources, increased competition for funding and skill ed staff, and demands for accountability, organizations are being forced to look at new and creative ways to influence the workRead MoreThe Work Of Dock And Wald Raised Public Health1513 Words   |  7 Pagesissues and found leadership of both the Superintendents’ Society and the American Nurses Associations supported the formation of a fourth nursing organization† (Lewenson, 1996, p. 105). With established partnerships and constituencies, advancements of the nursing profession, better understanding of medications and disease processes, Dock and other influential nurses were able to improve health access, patient outcomes and transfer new knowledge and ideas to individuals and their families through publicRead MoreTraditional Leadership During The Industrial Era Essay1608 Words   |  7 PagesTraditional Leadership Traditional leadership began during the Industrial Era (IE) when businesses focused on producing the most product in the least amount of time by standardizing processes (Baker, 2014). Creative problem-solving was not necessary during the IE environment and therefore could support chain-of-command hierarchies where a foreman said what to do, and the workers performed the task (Baker, 2014). Traditional leadership built America. Eventually, tasks became more complex, andRead MoreTransformational Leaders : Bill Gates And Melinda1223 Words   |  5 PagesTransformational Leaders: Bill Gates and Melinda The root of William Howard Bill Gates can be traced back to early of the 1900s when the popular press and many leaders’ researchers maintained that the leaders and followers were significantly different. Bill Gate was born in 1954, in Seattle Washington. Bill had a difference from masses, which chooses to follow him (Shah Mulla, 2013). As indicated by the text, even the followers of the leaders possess similar characteristics of people they followRead MoreAndrew Carnegie s Understanding Of The Z Process And Team Development1539 Words   |  7 Pagesof Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, now known as the City of Pittsburgh. His parents traveled to the area, as many immigrants did at the time, in an attempt to make a better life for their family. The Carnegies were extremely poor and Andrew’s mother and father worked hard to provide a stable living for their son. With his family values and strong moral character instilled in him at a young age, Andrew Carnegie matured int o a visionary leader who modernized the steel industry and created his own personalRead MoreThe Effects Of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder1749 Words   |  7 PagesDisorder and extended and more frequent deployments, the supportive approach is not only utilized, but is essential. The average deployment for the Army is 12 months deployed, followed by 12 months at home station, quite an extended separation from family. Reports have also shown that 5.5% of the population has been diagnosed with PTSD, whereas 13.2% have been identified within operational military units that have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan (Crum-Cianflone, Frasco, Armenta, Phillips, Horton

Pros And Cons Of School Uniforms - 712 Words

An epidemic among many schools around the United States and around the world is one huge thing. This epidemic among schools is the fact that students have to wear uniforms for their schools. However, some parents and students may disagree with wearing these uniforms. I am one who supports the statement that students should not wear these uniforms for their schools. The next paragraphs will explain the pros and cons of not wearing and wearing school uniforms. I personally think that students shouldn’t wear school uniforms, but there are some benefits to wearing school uniforms. To begin with, School uniforms keep students focused on their education, not their clothes. A bulletin published by the National Association of Secondary School†¦show more content†¦Now for the main focus of this paper, which is why students should not wear school uniforms. To begin with, school uniforms restrict students freedom of expression. The First Amendment of the US Constitution guarantees that all individuals have the right to express themselves freely. Clothing is also a popular means of expressing support for various social causes and compulsory uniforms largely remove that option. In Oct. 2013, students at Friendly High School in Prince Georges County, MD, were not allowed to wear pink shirts to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month. As a result, 75 students received in-school suspensions for breaking the schools uniform restrictions. Another reason why students shouldn’t wear school uniforms is that students focusing on uniforms takes attention away from finding genuine solutions to problems in education. Spending time and effort implementing uniform policies may detract from more effective efforts to reduce crime in schools and boost student performance. More substantive improvements to public education could be achieved with smaller class sizes, tightened security, increased parental involvement, improved facilities, and other measures. Many students say that they are a distraction from focusing on systematic and fundamental transformation to improve their schools. A final reason why school uniforms should not be weared is that they could promote bullying to some students. InShow MoreRelatedPros and Cons School Uniform1515 Words   |  7 PagesPros and Cons of School Uniforms Trina Warren Liberty University Professor Mink GRST 500/501 June 17, 2013 Abstract The decision for school district to enforce school uniforms has been in existence since the 16th century. School uniforms were originally created for poor children; however, over time, schools saw uniforms as a way to bring students together. There has been debate whether uniforms improve academic success while reducing affiliation of violence. There is opinion and study thatRead MorePros And Cons Of School Uniforms1206 Words   |  5 Pages School uniforms have been around for a long time in k-12th grades along with even some colleges, while most private schools have uniforms, now some public schools are trending toward uniforms as well. There are two sides to this argument, with pros and cons to both. I have interviewed Dale Patnode, Kelly Patnode and Patricia Patnode, they bring a first hand experience with what uniform show and what they do for students. Dale Patnode went to catholic schools throughout his whole life, experiencingRead MorePros And Cons Of School Uniforms1158 Words   |  5 PagesSchool Uniforms: Are Boomers and Stickers Affecting the Way People See Them? People say that school uniforms are a good thing. They prevent bullying, they are easier for parents to dress younger students, and they help students focus on studying, not what they are wearing. Are school administrators or boomers of the American school systems causing students to become Wendys Berrys version of stickers? Having students wear school uniforms have several pros and cons to them, including the costRead MorePros And Cons Of School Uniforms1936 Words   |  8 PagesEnglish 10 CP 27 January 2015 Pros and Cons of School Uniforms In 1994, the school district of Long Beach California was one of the first to enforce school uniforms in the grades Kindergarten through 8th, and crime rates in the district dropped 22% soon after. School attendance also improved after the uniforms were introduced. Although this one statistic shows there are positive outcomes from school uniforms, there is one question that remains: Do school uniforms help or harm the students andRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of School Uniforms2005 Words   |  9 PagesStates is whether or not public school students should be required to wear uniforms. According to Lisa Flam, author of the article, â€Å"Are School Uniforms Helping or Hindering?† on Today.com, â€Å"Nineteen percent of public school principals reported requiring uniforms in the 2009-2010 school year, up from 12 percent a decade earlier, according to TODAY.† Many people are against the idea of allowing students to dress freely, but students not having to wear uniforms has its benefits. Parents wouldRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of Uniforms In Schools845 Words   |  4 Pages School uniforms: a debate that has been tossed back and forth for years now. The percentage of schools that necessitate uniforms and the percentage of the ones that do not are approximately equal. This conveys a dispute that is difficult to find a definite solution for, due to the ambiguous negatives and positives being drawn between both arguments. Uniforms being a part of school systems became widespread first after Long Beach, California implemented them into their elementary and middle schoolsRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of School Uniforms702 Words   |  3 PagesSchool uniforms have been around for decades within many private and parochial schools. In more recent years more and more public schools are implementing their own uniforms hoping to see a change for the good within their schools. Upon researching the effects of these uniforms, it is clear to see that school uniforms are unnecessary concepts that decrease student individuality and do not actually help school attendance or test scores. Prior to taking a strong stance on this controversial topicRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of School Uniforms791 Words   |  4 Pageshave the school uniform policy (research conducted in 2017). This means that one-fifth of the country’s students who are in school are not allowed to wear their own clothes. The statistics indicate that a majority of the United States disapprove of school uniforms since the percentage remains low. The topic about school uniforms has created two sides of the issue. Some believe that students should wear school uniforms to provide an equal learning environment. Those who oppose school uniforms believeRead MorePros, Cons, And Solutions Of The School Uniforms752 Words   |  4 PagesPros, Cons, and Solutions of The school Uniforms Individuality or uniformity, which one will you choose? The school uniforms are specific clothing students are forced to wear in an attempt to fix school related problems. They are quite controversial because they do fix some problems, but they also restrict students freedom of expression. School uniforms were first enforced in the 1980’s as an attempt to fix academic and behavioral problems. There are both positives and negatives of school uniformsRead MorePros And Cons Of School Uniforms819 Words   |  4 Pagesbe desired in schools with no school uniform. Being there is a major ethical appeal to introducing school uniforms to schools nationally. An advocate for school uniforms, Hillary Clinton, â€Å"as a way to help students focus on learning: ... Puts the focus on school, not on what youre wearing (Mike Wilson). When everyone is wearing school uniforms, equality would become more than a desired idea or way of life. It would become a reality. Visually accessible to an yone. School uniforms will reduce the

The Advance of ATO Data Matching-.com

Question: Can Robyn be taxed on any part of her salary, from Victoria University, in Australia for the 2016/17 tax year and any other years she acts as coordinator in Kolkata. Fully explain your answer. Answer: Introduction The case study throws light on a case where an employee of Victoria University is in dilemma regarding taxation of her salary. As per case Robin Rainer is an immigrant of Australia, maintains two bank accounts in two different countries. The main objective of this case study is to analyses whether Robin is a present resident of Australia during the year when she is serving her tenure at her work place. [1]Therefore income tax based upon the concerned year is to be considered. It is equally important to determine Robins both residential information for balance maintained in her different accounts. Australian tax laws follow certain rules as per directions of government, minimum satisfied for calculating residency status with the help of residency tests in s 6(1) of ITAA 36 (TR 98/17). Body Hence Ms. Robin Rainer case was subjected to the resident of Australia test where proper definition of resident is explained in s6 (1) of ITAA 1936 (TR 98/17). In this test some of the factors playing significant role are as follows: Robin is considered as an Australian resident for the tenure she is serving her work place, if she fulfills all the criteria related with the definition resident and identified by ATO in 98/17 [2]. Based on the fragmented information provided in the case study, here we have considered factors that determine Robins residential information in Australia as well as India. Robin successfully satisfies all the factors of being a resident of both the countries where the evidences speak of her relocation for only job purpose[3]. Thus, based on the evaluation of the case reference, it can be concluded that Robin has wisely adjusted his earnings. Receipt of unexpected income of $ 50,000 from college in June helped her repairing Davids golf buggy, which he earlier asked his students to pay for rather than paying fees. In addition to these, change in the course fee structure helped her more to increase his income. Moreover, Robins income from the agreement with Eastwood Golf Club to provide inst ructions regarding property rights in Australia along with those who have not yet being permanent resident so that she gets a clear idea of income tax charged on her property. Robin is serving Victoria University as a coordinator for quiet long time. Here at this crucial point opposition can easily contradict her of not being an original Australian resident therefore her income tax should go into Gross national product. Evidences have also provided information that she pays house rent in Australia and do not has own house. Her work place pays her travel allowances to travel college from her place, also she meets bonus from the university where she is sent for travelling the country at college funds cost, These information are sufficient to explain her intention to stay in Australia after her contract terminates on part time basis [4]. According to cases like IRC v Lysaght (1928) AC 234 and the case of Levene v IRC (1928) AC 217, Robin satisfys all the criteria of residence test. Therefore as per test, Robin is a resident of Australia for tax purpose, although she may not permanently going to reside there. Next we have to perform the domicile test after success of resident test. It is evident that robin is resident of Australia at present. She pays rent on flat there. She has her own family in India to look after, she transfer a part of her salary to Indian bank branch from where her family can easily withdraw. This pictures clear evidence being a resident of Australia and indian citizen every month she deposits money to both the accounts. Hence tax is payable from both the branches. Domicile and permanent place of abode says, Robin automatically has been proved to be citizen of Australia, because Robins has a place of abode in Melbourne. Next comes the effective test. 183 day test rule. Robin is working as a coordinator in victoria university for more than five years hence she has citizenship of Australia right now but her official documents revels that that she had arrived there on 18th march 2001 between this tenure she opted for a maternal leave dated 23rd May 2006 and travelled back to India [5]. she returns again back to Australia on 21st May 2007, and she continues again with her work again at university. Thus she was in leave for 1yr only. Hence again it is confirmed that Robin was present in Australia for more than 183 days for both before and after her leave [6]. She pays rent on flat there. She has her own family in India to look after, she transfer a part of her salary to Indian bank branch from where her family can easily withdraw. This picture clear evidence being a resident of Australia and Indian citizen every month she deposits money to both the accounts [7]. Robin won a noteworthy golf competition wi nning $50,000 at her college fest tournament which was held for teaching staffs. She demonstrated her thankfulness to her brother Paul who always stood for her and supported her. Robin gifted Paul for his superb showing she had given him the $10,000. According to the Australian taxation office, income under head personal services income, business income and commissions or compensation payments will be considered as assessable income for the tax purpose. If an individual earns more than 50% of the amount received for the contract work (especially from individual skills or expertise) from the business[8]. On the other hand, if the individual earns any kind of commissions or compensation on the part of any business activities will be considered as assessable income for tax purpose This is also a kind of test performed in such cases but as per case study provided, Robin case is exempted from this test. Hence it can be said that Robin is a resident of both Australia as well as India for tax purpose, and her income from both her accounts are tax chargeable[9]. Robin is considered as a citizen if she fulfills all the factors related to term resides in as defined in ATO in 98/17. We are considering all information as well as factors to understand citizenship of Robin. Robin resides in Australia for a very long time and continues to reside there thereafter. She has he, and she fall family in India where she has taken total responsibility of her family. Conclusion From the above discussed sections It can be concluded, In spite Robin not being a permanent resident she meets all her duty and legal procedures on time. She is known to pay $1000 for her house rents, and sending half of her salary to her family India. Juliet intends to return India as soon as her she pays of her new house loan in Kolkata. In addition to she receives a good amount of interest from banks and her fixed deposit. Hence it is confirmed and reconfirmed from the above discussed sections that she bears citizenship of both countries and her salary is obviously taxable. All the tests performed to study the provided case are very much effective and productive to obtain confirmed verdicts. According to the survey information of the tests final result is concluded. Also expert personals has checked all the official documents and id cards for being a responsible citizen and Rabins all documents are clearly verified. Reference List Barkoczy, S., 2016. Foundations of Taxation Law 2016.OUP Catalogue. Barkoczy, S., 2017. Core Tax Legislation and Study Guide.OUP Catalogue. Berg, C. and Davidson, S., 2016. Submission to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Tax and Revenue Inquiry into the External Scrutiny of the Australian Taxation Office. Blakelock, S. and King, P., 2017. Taxation law: The advance of ATO data matching.Proctor, The,37(6), p.18. Fry, M., 2017. Australian taxation of offshore hubs: an examination of the law on the ability of Australia to tax economic activity in offshore hubs and the position of the Australian Taxation Office.The APPEA Journal,57(1), pp.49-63. Hedges, J., Anderson, H.L., Ramsay, I. and Welsh, M.A., 2017. No'Silver Bullet': A Multifaceted Approach to Curbing Harmful Phoenix Activity. Vann, R.J., 2016. Hybrid Entities in Australia: Resource Capital Fund III LP Case. Woellner, R., Barkoczy, S., Murphy, S., Evans, C. and Pinto, D., 2016. Australian Taxation Law 2016.OUP Catalogue. Barkoczy, S., 2016. Foundations of Taxation Law 2016.OUP Catalogue. Blakelock, S. and King, P., 2017. Taxation law: The advance of ATO data matching.Proctor, The,37(6), p.18 Berg, C. and Davidson, S., 2016. Submission to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Tax and Revenue Inquiry into the External Scrutiny of the Australian Taxation Office Fry, M., 2017. Australian taxation of offshore hubs: an examination of the law on the ability of Australia to tax economic activity in offshore hubs and the position of the Australian Taxation Office.The APPEA Journal,57(1), pp.49-63. Berg, C. and Davidson, S., 2016. Submission to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Tax and Revenue Inquiry into the External Scrutiny of the Australian Taxation Office Vann, R.J., 2016. Hybrid Entities in Australia: Resource Capital Fund III LP Case. Woellner, R., Barkoczy, S., Murphy, S., Evans, C. and Pinto, D., 2016. Australian Taxation Law 2016.OUP Catalogue. Woellner, R., Barkoczy, S., Murphy, S., Evans, C. and Pinto, D., 2016. Australian Taxation Law 2016.OUP Catalogue. Hedges, J., Anderson, H.L., Ramsay, I. and Welsh, M.A., 2017. No'Silver Bullet': A Multifaceted Approach to Curbing Harmful Phoenix Activity.

Marvin’s Room free essay sample

Today I will be telling you about â€Å"Marvin’s Room† a play that was just performing in our WLC Theater this past weekend. The play was one of the best and interesting plays that I have ever seen but at the same time emotional and I will explain. â€Å"Marvin’s Room† was a story of a girl, who had cancer and needed a bone marrow transplant in order to survive. So her family came to visit her to see if they had a match and they didn’t. I learned a lot from this play and it made me look at life differently. I feel that this play can really change a lot of people’s state of mind because when it comes to life and death situations that change your whole view. You never know what can come along and change a person’s life. I really enjoyed the play all together because I saw how unique some people are in the preforming arts department at Wisconsin Lutheran College. We will write a custom essay sample on Marvin’s Room or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I also like the way they let the students be their self and let them use some words that we use in everyday life when we’re angry. On top of that I could also tell that the students really enjoyed what they’re doing when they’re out on the stage in front of a big crowd and don’t get stage fright. I’m not much of a theater guy and not much into watching plays or musical plays either but I can say that this one really caught my eye. Last but not least, when you sit and watch a play this serious and a play that is so good and so well performed, it really get your mind thinking about life in this world when you have to depend on the Lord and your family.

St Marys College of Maryland (SMCM) Admissions Data

St Marys College of Maryland (SMCM) Admissions Data With an acceptance rate of 80  percent, St. Marys College of Maryland admits most of the students who apply each year. Those with good grades and test scores within or above the ranges listed below have a good chance of being admitted. If you are interested in applying, you will need to submit an application, SAT or ACT scores, official high school transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a personal essay. For more information about these requirements, be sure to visit the schools website, or get in touch with a member of the admissions team. Admissions Data (2016) St. Marys College Acceptance Rate: 80  percentGPA, SAT and ACT graph for St. Marys College of MarylandTest Scores: 25th / 75th PercentileSAT Critical Reading: 510  / 640SAT Math: 490 / 610What these SAT numbers meanTop Maryland colleges SAT comparisonACT Composite: 23  / 29ACT English: 22  / 28ACT Math: 22  / 30What these ACT numbers meanTop Maryland colleges ACT comparison St. Marys College of Maryland Description Located on an attractive 319-acre waterfront campus, St. Marys College of Maryland stands on a historic piece of land first settled in 1634. Its a fitting location for Marylands only Public Honors College. The college boasts a 12 to 1  student/faculty ratio. Students at St. Marys College receive the benefits of a small,  liberal arts college  with the lower cost of state tuition. The schools academic strengths earned it a chapter of  Phi Beta Kappa. Student life on the water has led to some interesting student traditions such as an annual cardboard boat race and a winter swim in the river. St. Marys many strengths earned it a place on the list of  top public liberal arts colleges  and  top Maryland colleges. The most popular majors are  Biology, Economics, English, History, Political Science, and Psychology. Enrollment (2016) Total Enrollment: 1,629  (1,598 undergraduates)Gender Breakdown: 44  percent male / 56 percent female97  percent full-time Costs (2016-17) Tuition and Fees: $14,192 (in-state); $29,340 (out-of-state)Books: $1,200 (why so much?)Room and Board: $12,442Other Expenses: $1,566Total Cost: $29,400 (in-state); $44,548 (out-of-state) Financial Aid (2015 -16) Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 94  percentPercentage of New Students Receiving Types of AidGrants: 87 percentLoans: 77  percentAverage Amount of AidGrants: $8,701Loans: $6,006 Transfer, Graduation and Retention Rates: First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 87  percentTransfer-out Rate: 24 percent4-Year Graduation Rate: 65  percent6-Year Graduation Rate: 73  percent Intercollegiate Athletic Programs: Mens Sports:  Basketball, Lacrosse, Sailing, Swimming, Tennis, Soccer, BaseballWomens Sports:  Sailing, Soccer, Lacrosse, Field Hockey, Cross Country, Basketball, Volleyball If You Like St. Marys College, You May Also Like These Schools: University of Delaware: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphGettysburg College: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphHood College: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphJames Madison University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphFrostburg State University: Profile  Elon University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphJohns Hopkins University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphUniversity of Virginia: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphGeorgetown University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphCollege of William Mary: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphMount St. Marys University: Profile  Washington College: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph Data Source: National Center for Educational Statistics

Julia Donaldsons The Gruffalo Picture Book Review

Julia Donaldson's 'The Gruffalo' Picture Book Review Its not surprising that The Gruffalo, first published in 1999, continues to be a popular read aloud. The author, Julia Donaldson, has written a good story with such strong rhythm and rhyme that it just begs to be read aloud. The illustrations by Axel Scheffler are filled with bold color, detail and appealing characters. Summary The Gruffalo is the story of a clever mouse, three large animals that want to eat him and an imaginary monster, a Gruffalo, who turns out to be only too real. Whats a mouse to do when on a walk in the deep dark wood, he is confronted first by a fox, then by an owl and, finally, by a snake, all of whom seem to be intent on inviting him for a meal, with the mouse as the main dish? The mouse tells each of them that he is on his way to a feast with a Gruffalo. The mouses description of the fierce Gruffalo  who would want to eat them scares the fox, the owl, and the snake away. Each time he scares one of the animals away, the mouse says, Doesnt he know? Theres no such thing as a Gruffalo! Imagine the mouses surprise when the monster of his imagination appears right before him in the woods and says, Youll taste good on a slice of bread! The clever mouse comes up with a strategy to convince the Gruffalo that he (the mouse) is the scariest creature in this deep dark wood. How the mouse fools the Gruffalo after fooling the fox, the owl and the snake makes a very satisfying story. A Good Book to Read Aloud Besides the rhythm and the rhyme, some of the other things that make The Gruffalo a good book for reading aloud to young children are the repetitions which encourage children to chime in. Also, the story arc, with the first half of the story about the mouse fooling the fox, then the owl, then the snake with tales of the imaginary Gruffalo and the second half of the story when the mouse misleads the real Gruffalo with the unsuspecting help of the snake, the owl, and the fox. Kids also like the fact that the 1-2-3 order of the mouses meeting the fox, the owl, and the snake becomes a 3-2-1 order as the mouse walks back to the edge of the woods, followed by the Gruffalo. The Author Julia Donaldson grew up in London and attended Bristol University where she studied Drama and French. Before writing childrens books, she was a teacher, a songwriter,  and a street theater performer. In June 2011, Julia Donaldson  was named the 2011-2013 Waterstones Childrens Laureate in the UK. According to the 6/7/11 announcement, The role of the Childrens Laureate is awarded once every two years to an eminent writer or illustrator of childrens books to celebrate outstanding achievement in their field. Donaldson has written more than 120 books and plays for kids and teens. The Gruffalo, one of Julia Donaldsons first childrens books, is also one of her most popular childrens picture books. Others include  Room on the Broom, Stick Man, The Snail and the Whale and What the Ladybird Heard. The Illustrator Axel Scheffler was born in Germany and attended the University of Hamburg but left there to move to England where he studied illustration and earned a degree at the Bath Academy of Art. Axel Scheffler has illustrated some Julia Donaldsons books in addition to The Gruffalo. They include  Room on the Broom, The Snail and the Whale, Stick Man and Zog. Book and Animation Awards Among the awards the creators of The Gruffalo picture book have been honored with are the 1999 Smarties Gold Medal Award for picture books and the 2000 Blue Peter Award for The Best Book to Read Aloud. The animated version of The Gruffalo, which is available on DVD, was nominated for both an Oscar and a British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) award  and won the audience award at the Canadian Film Centres Worldwide Short Film Festival. Delight Your Child With a Story Sack If your child loves The Gruffalo, youll want to create a story sack for of crafts and related items. These can include other books by Julia Donaldson about the Gruffalo; mouse, owl, snake and fox crafts; a monster craft and more. Review and Recommendation The story of the clever mouse and the Gruffalo is one that children ages 3 to 6 love hearing again and again. The rhythm and rhyme of Julia Donaldsons story, along with the strong story arc, make The Gruffalo an excellent read aloud. Children quickly learn to help the reader tell the story, and that adds to the fun for all. The dramatic illustrations by Axel Scheffler, with their bold colors and appealing characters, from the little mouse to the colossal Gruffalo, add significantly to the books appeal. (Dial Books for Young Readers, A Division of Penguin Putnam Inc., 1999. ISBN: 9780803731097) Sources: Childrens Laureate siteJulia Donaldson siteChildrens Book Illustration: Axel Scheffler, The Hollywood Reporter

The Burden of Love, the Bonds of Sisterhood Essay

The Burden of Love, the Bonds of Sisterhood - Essay Example "When people looked at Lindsey, even my father and mother, they saw me. Lindsey was not immune. She avoided mirrors. She now took her showers in the dark." (Sebold 59). This signifies that people were not seeing Lindsey as a person, but as part of a broken sisterhood, they perceived the absent sister instead. She fears to confront that absence, to see herself without her sister and to avoid the fear and pain, she avoids the evidence of her own single existence. In Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones, events before and after Susie's death, may be seen to reflect the experiences of other children who find themselves in a similar situation. In particular, it provides insight as to how children 'left behind' may deal with the trauma of grief, horror and loss. Before Susie's murder, she and Lindsey were pretty much like any two teenage sisters, with certain resentments and jealousies, but strong in family loyalty and acceptance of each other. Susie is bright, feisty and has a good sense of humor, Lindsey is gifted and takes herself rather seriously. Susie explains their differences when she says "She locked herself in her bedroom and read big books. When I read, Are You There God It's Me, Margaret, she read Camus's Resistance, Rebellion and Death." (Sebold 32) The natural envy of the younger sister is shown when Lindsey finds herself in Susie's closet: "Lindsey had always wanted the clothes I owned first-run but had gotten them all as hand-me-downs." (Sebold 106). Every younger sister in the world would recognize that feeling, and sadly, if similar circumstances of loss pertained, some might share in the "guilt and glee" (Sebold 106), felt with the realization that everything was now hers alone. Whatever their differences, sisters love an d care for each other, and the constant reminder of loss is a sadness which never goes. For Lindsey, there is much more to cope with, she has almost a greater responsibility than that of any other family member. This forces her to continually change and adapt, to acknowledge she has not just lost Susie, but her own childhood. She thus must develop ways to handle life differently, for as long as it takes to become whole again. Her immediate response can be appreciated as a major defense mechanism many would employ. She must develop a hard, impenetrable shell, in public at any rate, and build up strength, both mental and physical. "She sat in her room....and worked on hardening herself...make yourself small and like a stone.." (Sebold 29). For Lindsey this is necessary to protect her from the pain and horror of this particular death, and the allusion to 'stone' suggests she believes in the need for a hard inner core. Other strategies included looking through people, a refusal to appear weak, avoidance of those who might breach her defenses, and those she believed to be talking about her and the murder aspects of her sister's death. These beliefs hold some truth, people's perceptions do change, and the dead define the living, robbing them of their individuality, raising expectations of

Kosovo (how does it illustrate political and cultural globalization) Essay

Kosovo (how does it illustrate political and cultural globalization) - Essay Example Kosovo’s case has been forwarded to the international court; its ease of getting accepted as a separate legal entity will be dependent on this case result. This fight began when Serbs left the control of Kosovo after the intervention of NATO, during Kosovo war and handed it over to the United Nations; which has gradually forwarded the rule to Kosovo’s institutions (Belgrade, 2009). After getting power, Kosovo started working towards attaining status of a separate recognized state. The fight is still on between two different ethnic groups, Serbian and Kosovo’s over this issue. The battle between Serbs and Kosovo’s over the issue of independence has been taken forward to the United Nation’s international court of justice. The reason behind this issue has not been resolved yet because as it has been already stated that 90% of the population of Kosovo consists of Albanians while the rest belongs to the Serbian ethnicity; there exists conflict between Se rbs and Kosovo over the issue of not allowing Serbians living in the territory of Kosovo to participate in the government and having a right to express themselves.

Psychology and Association Test Essay Example for Free

Psychology and Association Test Essay Experimental psychology is an area of psychology that utilizes scientific methods to research the mind and behavior. While students are often required to take experimental psychology courses during undergraduate and graduate school, you should really think of this subject as a methodology rather than a singular area within psychology. Many of these techniques are also used by other subfields of psychology to conduct research on everything from childhood development to social issues. Experimental psychologists work in a wide variety of settings including colleges, universities, research centers, government and private businesses. Some of these professionals may focus on teaching experimental to students, while others conduct research on cognitive processes, animal behavior, neuroscience, personality and many other subject areas. Those who work in academic settings often teach psychology courses in addition to performing research and publishing their findings in professional journals. Other experimental psychologists work with businesses to discover ways to make employees more productive or to create a safer workplace, a specialty area known as human factors psychology. Do you enjoy researching human behavior? If you have a passion for solving problems or exploring theoretical questions, you might also have a strong interest in a career as an experimental psychologist. Experimental psychologists study a huge range of topics within psychology, including both human and animal behavior. If youve ever wanted to learn more about what experimental psychologists do, this career profile can answers some of your basic questions and help you decide if you want to explore this specialty area in greater depth. An experimental psychologist is a type of psychologist who uses scientific methods to collect data and perform research. Experimental psychologists explore an immense range of psychological phenomena, ranging from learning to personality to cognitive processes. The exact type of research an experimental psychologist performs may depend on a number of factors including his or her educational background, interests and area of employment. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:â€Å"Experimental or research psychologists work in university and private research centers and in business, nonprofit, and governmental organizations. They study the behavior of both human beings and animals, such as rats, monkeys, and pigeons. Prominent areas of study in experimental research include motivation, thought, attention, learning and memory, sensory and perceptual processes, effects of substance abuse, and genetic and neurological factors affecting behavior. Experimental psychologists work in a wide variety of settings including colleges, universities, research centers, government and private businesses. Some of these professionals may focus on teaching experimental methods to students, while others conduct research on cognitive processes, animal behavior, neuroscience, personality and many other subject areas. Those who work in academic settings often teach psychology courses in addition to performing research and publishing their findings in professional journals. Other experimental psychologists may work with businesses to discover ways to make employees more productive or to create a safer workplace, a specialty area known as human factors psychology. Experimental psychology is an approach to psychology that treats it as one of the natural sciences, and therefore assumes that it is susceptible to the experimental method. Many experimental psychologists have gone further, and have assumed that all methods of investigation other than experimentation are suspect. In particular, experimental psychologists have been inclined to discount the case study and interview methods as they have been used in clinical and developmental psychology. Since it is a methodological rather than a substantive category, experimental psychology embraces a disparate collection of areas of study. It is usually taken to include the study of perception, cognitive psychology, comparative psychology, the experimental analysis of behavior, and some aspects of physiological psychology. Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920) was a German physician, psychologist, physiologist and philosopher, known today as the â€Å"Father of Experimental Psychology† Some Famous Experimental Psychologists: Wilhelm Wundt later wrote the Principles of Physiological Psychology (1874), which helped establish experimental procedures in psychological research. After taking a position at the University of Liepzig, Wundt founded the first of only two experimental psychology labs in existence at that time. (Although a third lab already existed William James established a lab at Harvard, which was focused on offering teaching demonstrations rather than experimentation. G. Stanley Hall founded the first American experimental psychology lab at John Hopkins University). Wundt was associated with the theoretical perspective known as structuralism, which involves describing the structures that compose the mind. He believed that psychology was the science of conscious experience and that trained observers could accurately describe thoughts, feelings, and emotions through a process known as introspection. Psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus was one of the first to scientifically study forgetting. In experiments where is used himself as the subject, Ebbinghaus tested his memory using three-letter nonsense syllables. He relied on such nonsense words because relying on previously known words would have made use of his existing knowledge and associations in his memory. In order to test for new information, Ebbinghaus tested his memory for periods of time ranging from 20 minutes to 31 days. He then published his findings in 1885 in Memory: A Contribution to Experimental Psychology. His results, plotted in what is known as the Ebbinghaus forgetting curve, revealed a relationship between forgetting and time. Initially, information is often lost very quickly after it is learned. Factors such as how the information was learned and how frequently it was rehearsed play a role in how quickly these memories are lost. The forgetting curve also showed that forgetting does not continue to decline until all of the information is lost. At a certain point, the amount of forgetting levels off. What exactly does this mean? It indicates that information stored in long-term memory is surprisingly stable. In the realm of mental phenomena, experiment and measurement have hitherto been chiefly limited in application to sense perception and to the time relations of mental processes. By means of the following investigations we have tried to go a step farther into the workings of the mind and to submit to an experimental and quantitative treatment the manifestations of memory. The term, memory, is to be taken here in its broadest sense, including Learning, Retention, Association and Reproduction. The principal objections which, as a matter of course, rise against the possibility of such a treatment are discussed in detail in the text and in part have been made objects of investigations. I may therefore ask those who are not already convinced a priori of the impossibility of such an attempt to postpone their decision about its practicability. Gustav Fechner did not call himself a psychologist, some important historians of psychology like Edwin G. Boring consider the experimental rising of this science in Fechner’s work (1979, p. 297). More specifically, it was Fechner’s famous intuition of October 22, 1850 that, according to Boring (quoted by Saul Rosenzweig, 1987), gave opportunity to his work as a psychophysicist (Rosenzweig also remembers that this date that serves as reference to this event, is curiously close to Boring? birthday, October 23rd). In a more concise way, if we think Fechner’s psychophysics work as the junction of a philosophical doctrine (that correlates spirit and matter as aspects of the same being), an experimental methodology (correlating the variations of stimulus and sensations perceived) and an assemblage of mathematical laws (the famous Weber-Fechner law); in addition, the last two aspects are considered especially relevant to the rising of psychology. Nevertheless, to think that the rising of a science is restricted to the establishment of experimental procedure and to a mathematical formalization, is to forget a whole field of questioning in which the instruments created by Fechner could, in the middle of the 19thcentury, overcome some obstacles and answer some questions, notably the ones made by the critic philosophy of Immanuel Kant. Ernst Weber was a German physiologist and Psychologist. He was regarded as a predecessor of experimental psychology and one of the founders of Psychophysics, the branch of psychology that studies the relations between physical stimuli and mental states. He is known chiefly for his work on investigation of subjective sensory response (sensations) to the impact of external physical stimuli: weight, temperature, and pressure. Weber experimentally determined the accuracy of tactile sensations, namely, the distance between two points on the skin, in which a person can perceive two separate touches. He discovered the two-point threshold the distance on the skin separating two pointed stimulators that is required to experience two rather than one point of stimulation.

Essay examples --

Our business will not be able to compete with the other competitors without building a website. We will need to hire personal, such as software engineer and net developer or outsource the task. To create, develop and keep up to date all the software and website. The website will of course have all our contact information, description of services we offer. In addition it will have a feature which allows our future customers to get a quote by filling in some information such as the type of services they want, type of course, country delivered, number of days, number of attendees and language needed. When the information is complete we will provide an approximate cost for the services required. In addition, the developer will take care of the software that will be used to translate, schedule our trainings, and organize all the data and training information. So having employees within the company taking care of our website is crucial. Content: All the trainings, translating and services we will provide will need content .We will purchase data about the countries and languages we are targ...

Greetings Essay

Greeting is an act of communication in which human beings (as well as other animals) intentionally make their presence known to each other, to show attention to, and to suggest a type of relationship or social status between individuals or groups of people coming in contact with each other. While greeting customs are highlyculture- and situation-specific and may change within a culture depending on social status and relationship, they exist in all known human cultures. Greetings can be expressed both audibly and physically, and often involve a combination of the two. This topic excludes military and ceremonial salutes but includes rituals other than gestures. A greeting can also be expressed in written communications, such as letters and emails. Greetings are often, but not always, used just prior to a conversation. Some epochs and cultures have had very elaborate greeting rituals, e. g. , greeting of a king. Secret societies have clandestine greeting rituals that allow members to recognize common membership. A greeting can consist of an exchange of formal expression, a simple kiss, a hand shake or a hug. The form of greeting is determined by social etiquette, as well as by the relationship of the people. Beyond the formal greeting, which may involve a verbal acknowledgment and sometimes a hand shake, facial expression, gestures, body language and eye contact can all signal what type of greeting is expected. Gestures are the most obvious signal, for instance greeting someone with open arms is generally a sign that a hug is expected. [1] However, crossing arms can be interpreted as a sign of hostility. Facial expression, body language and eye contact reflect emotions and interest level. A frown, slouching and lowered eye contact suggests disinterest, while smiling and an exuberant attitude is a sign of welcome. Throughout all cultures people greet one another as a sign of recognition, affection, friendship and reverence. While hand shakes, hugs, bows, nods and nose rubbing are all acceptable greetings, the most common greeting is a kiss, or kisses, on the cheek. Cheek kissing is most common in Europe and Latin America and has become a standard greeting in Southern Europe. [2] While cheek kissing is a common greeting in many cultures, each country has a unique way of kissing. In Russia, Slovenia, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, the Netherlands and Egypt it is customary to â€Å"kiss three times, n alternate cheeks. †[3] Italians, Hungarians and Romanians usually kiss twice in a greeting and in Mexico and Belgium only one kiss is necessary. In the Galapagos women kiss on the right cheek only[4] and in Oman it is not unusual for men to kiss one another on the nose after a handshake. [5] French culture accepts a number of ways to greet depending on the region. Two kisses are most common throughout all of France but in Provence three kisses are given and in Nantes four are exchanged. [6] However, in Finistere at the western tip of Brittany and Deux-Sevres in the Poitou-Charentes region, one kiss is preferred.

Mobile Device Software In Diabetes Health And Social Care Essay

To analyze the salient characteristics and measure grounds scientifically for the effectivity of mHealth engineering and results in diabetes patients self-management around the universe. Methods: A comprehensive electronic reappraisal was done through literature hunts related to diabetes nomadic applications, indexed in digital library, ProQuest, PubMed, Google Scholar, web of scientific discipline, published since 2007. Strategy used in seeking literature will include terms/synonyms: nomadic phone ; SmartPhone ; Apps ; Cellular phone ; and diabetes direction. We surveyed the undermentioned features:1. Behavioral alterations, 2. Management: 2.1 Blood glucose, 2.2 Weight, 2.3 Diet, 2.4 Insulin and medicine, 2.5 Blood force per unit area, 2.6 Physical activity, 3. Education. A Meta-analysis was conducted for surveies with HbA1c steps. Consequences: Around 40 articles identified and screened for retrieval from ISI publication, of which 18 met the choice standards. Sample sizes for this survey ranged from 11 to 37695 patients aged 7 to 70 old ages old. Intervention continuance ranges from 1 to 12months. Significant betterments found in HbA1c and their life style.Decision:We find spreads between the functionality used in survey intercessions and evidence-based recommendations. Monitoring, Health reminders and instruction utilizing nomadic engineering significantly better the diabetes wellness.KeywordsSmartPhone, mHealth, Diabetes Care, Mobile engineering, Blood glucose.IntroductionMobile engineering has been dramatically adopted around the world1,2. Report estimates that â€Å" planetary Mobile informations traffic will increase 18 times between 2011 and 2016 † . By the terminal of that clip period, it is projected that there will be 10billion nomadic devices in usage around the world3. Mobile engineering is t he fastest turning sector of communications industry in low income countries4,5. Electronic medical and personal wellness records grow as nomadic phone engineering continues to spread out ; for chronic disease direction nomadic phones become important1. Although several methods of patient attention have been good established to better clinical profile and complications associated with DM, effectivity of fresh intercessions remains to be evaluated6. The intent of this survey is to place the salient characteristics and measure grounds scientifically for the effectivity of mHealth engineering and results in diabetes patient ‘s self-management around the universe. Diabetess mellitus is a common, chronic upset of insulin metamorphosis, characterized by persistently elevated blood glucose degrees. The microvascular harm that consequences affects neurological map, the kidneys and bosom and via medias peripheral blood supply. Sick persons are at increased hazard of eyesight harm, nephritic failure, shot and bosom onslaught. Two major signifiers of the status are recognized. Type 1 diabetes is caused by autoimmune mediated pancreatic harm and attendant loss of insulin production. In the Type 2 status, insulin production may be unaffected but the endocrine is unable to suitably excite cells to use go arounding glucose, a phenomenon termed insulin opposition. Key intervention ends in diabetes are to normalise blood glucose degrees and cut down modifiable hazard factors for cardiovascular disease. Where insulin production continues ( Type 2 diabetes ) initial therapy may concentrate on behavioural intercessions to modulate diet and promote weight loss. Drug therapy consists of auxiliary insulin ( the pillar for Type 1 diabetes ) and agents that cut down peripheral insulin opposition.MethodsDatas Beginnings Computerized hunts were conducted to place systematic experimental and place randomized controlled clinical tests ( RCTs ) . Searched was done through literature hunts related to diabetes nomadic applications, indexed in digital library, ProQuest, PubMed, Google Scholar, web of scientific discipline, published since 2007. Strategy used in seeking literature will include terms/synonyms: nomadic phone ; SmartPhone ; Apps ; Cellular phone ; and diabetes direction. Study standards We surveyed the undermentioned features:1. Behavioral alterations, 2. Management: 2.1 Blood glucose, 2.2 Weight, 2.3 Diet, 2.4 Insulin and medicine, 2.5 Blood force per unit area, 2.6 Physical activity, 3. Education. A Meta-analysis was conducted for surveies with HbA1c steps. Data extraction To pull out findings require informations extraction in a consistent mode. It enables subsequently data synthesis and interpretation7. Created spreadsheet format to come in relevant informations which was extracted from published paper such as Writers, twelvemonth of publication, survey scene, sample size, survey design, age group, race, and continuance of intercession, outcomes, method of self-management, intercession inside informations, and reported consequences were reviewed. Meta-analysisStandards for executing a meta-analysisA subgroup/meta-analysis will be performed if three or more surveies are identified that satisfy the standards and statistical trials for homogeneousness. Homogeneity of intercession class type and result will be a necessary standard for representing a subgroup. Further division by demographic features and diabetes type will be merely considered if the grouping is of clinical/practical relevancy and if there are equal Numberss of surveies to make so. Subgroups will be constituted at a participant-level by including all relevant surveies. If farther informations is required, for illustration, to be able to divide out a peculiar patient group from informations that are reported in pooled signifier within a survey so we will reach the survey writers for elucidation. If this information can non be obtained so the survey will be excluded. The core measure of the systematic literature reappraisal is Data analysis. It involves roll uping a nd sum uping informations extracted from primary studies7.ConsequencesFeatures of included surveies In the initial reappraisal, around 40 articles were screened. After excepting surveies that did non run into the eligibility standards, 18 surveies were reviewed intensively. Of them, surveies took topographic point in several states including UK8,9,14, Italy9,14, Spain9,12,14, Australia10,14, New Zealand10, Korea11,14, multi centre ( Germany, India, Canada ) 11, US11,14, Norway13,15,17, multi centre ( Iran, Finland ) 14, Indiana16. Patients were recruited from primary clinics, third infirmaries and community scenes. Figure 1 shows the choice of surveies.Figure 1 – Documents chosen for the survey of diabetes attention and direction utilizing nomadic phone engineeringsOf the 18 surveies, 6 were excluded due non-availability of clinical informations, 12 were randomized controlled tests. The minimal continuance of intercession in these surveies was 1 month and upper limit of 12 months. Sample size ranged from 11 to 37695 patients at the terminal of the follow-up period and all su rveies included both males and females. Gender was distributed about every bit in all the surveies. Participants were aged 7-70 old ages old. Approach of nomadic phone intercession Mobile phone intercession in this survey showed assorted technological inventions. Six of the surveies developed package or an application plan for diabetes care management8,9,10,12,15,19. The others used bing nomadic phone engineering to supply support for self-monitoring blood glucose, instruction, diet, exercising, and medicine adjustment18 Among the 18 surveies, 2 used a nomadic phone Short Message Service ( SMS ) to present blood glucose trial consequences and self-management information8,10. These surveies adopted a short message service entirely, or SMS combined with other intercession schemes, which included conveying self-monitored blood glucose to mobile phone via a Bluetooth radio nexus. Apps emerged as a distinguishable package class in 2008 when Apple, Inc. launched its iPhone App Store, an on-line depository from which apps may be downloaded for free or purchased. While the class is new, customized package for consumer Mobile devices – pre-smartphone nomadic phones and personal digital helpers – already existed. However, the iPhone was the first of a new coevals of ‘convergence ‘ devices integrating characteristics of a nomadic phone with that of a personal computing machine, the apogee of a tendency of increasing edification in both traditional Mobiles and electronic personal digital helpers ( PDA ) . Since the 2007 launch of the iPhone there has been rapid development of smartphones and apps. All major nomadic device makers now offer their ain App Store-equivalents. In add-on, apps are now being made available on other portable computing machines and tablets and are likely to distribute to traditional desktop computers23. On one of degree of description, a wellness app is merely one of several possible bringing methods for the behavioural constituents of a self-care intercession and so defines ( portion of ) the context of those constituents ( Figure 1.3 ) . However, multifunction package may be capable of back uping several elements of intercession content that would usually hold defined distinct constituents. Our scoping reappraisal suggests that app-based constituents be given to be a dominant characteristic for which other constituents play back uping functions ( for illustration by supplying accomplishments to utilize the app ) . We therefore experience it besides correct to acknowledge a class of ‘app-based intercessions ‘ where an app is the chief agencies of content bringing. Why it is of import to make this reappraisal Apps may offer a possible low-priced solution for back uping self-care intercessions. For policy shapers and clinicians there is a demand to understand whether this is an intercession class that can be considered for real-world usage. No reappraisal has focussed specifically on issues of cost and efficaciousness utilizing wellness apps for cMEDs. Possible quality and safety impacts have been suggested but there has been no systematic consideration of these. Although smartphone app class is new, our recent scoping reappraisal shows that package intercessions utilizing MEDs are non. Bibliometric analysis of app-related publications ( Figure 1.4 ) identified in the scoping reappraisal suggests that there is now a ample accumulated principal of literature. Figure 1.4 Accumulative figure of health-app related commendations, 1992-2010 Based on 2186 surveies identified utilizing the hunt and inclusion standards for wellness apps and cMEDs defined in this protocol for which publications day of the month was available. Diabetes-specific and self-care standards, nevertheless, were non applied to this dataset and the graph therefore reflects publications for all conditions. Each information point represents the cumulative sum of all commendations published up to the terminal of that twelvemonth. The figure of new commendations generated in each twelvemonth is shown as an note above the informations pointDiscussionKeeping wellness life style in patients with DM is cardinal to their wellness position and public assistance. Mobile phone engineering may be indispensable in intercessions that target behavioural and lifestyle alterations, peculiarly, those associated with chronic diseases direction. Our survey reviewed 15 surveies that assessed the consequence of nomadic phone intercessions on the ego monitoring and direction of DM provides grounds that there is a important consequence on DM direction utilizing nomadic technique. This consequence is consistent with bing literature18. The chief part of the present reappraisal provides the most recent grounds of mHealth surveies, and the findings are based on surveies from different states. Among the reviewed surveies, most applied randomized controlled designs, which enhanced the comparison of the results. Besides, most surveies applied quantitative steps of cardinal results, including HbA1c, weight loss and serum glucose concentration measuring. Despite the strengths of nomadic phone engineering usage, several possible restrictions should be kept in head when construing these consequences. First, although findings from the reviewed surveies showed promise in nomadic phone usage and betterment of DM direction, some of these surveies had little sample sizes. Therefore, future surveies that utilize big sample size are needed to find whether the increased patient-providers ‘ communicating via mHealth have important impacts on clinical results and public wellness. Second, it is unknown what sort of modes of nomadic engineering ( SMS, nomadic phone calls, application, etc ) play a better function in bettering results in patients with DM. Third, since most surveies had a short period of intercession, the long-run effects of mHealth are still ill-defined. Fourthly, the current reappraisal paper is done by the writers in seeking for the relevant literatures. We may hold missed some documents during the hunt. If any, it will do possible choice prejudice. Further surveies should be continued to corroborate the findings. Last, as with all systematic reappraisals, the present survey is capable to publication bias14. It should be noted that our present survey purposes to reexamine the surveies in the last decennary and to measure the feasibleness of utilizing nomadic phone engineering to advance patients ‘ DM direction and better healthy life style. It is clear that although mHealth techniques may offer new chances in disease control, we still face several challenges. First, the application of mHealth is a new attack in existent universe pattern. Most surveies are still in the explorative phases. Therefore, it is indispensable to happen the nexus between pattern and scientific cognition, which come from surveies with vigorous survey designs and a large-scale sample size. Second, uninterrupted attachment and conformity to mobile phone engineering in DM direction is important to the results. The nomadic phone usage intercession relies to a great extent on behavioural alteration theory. In other words, the invention is based on a patient ‘s willingness to to the full take part in every f acet of the intercession. Therefore, the intercession may non be suited for all patients with DM, such as those who may hold troubles operate smart phone. Several surveies observed that some patients withdrew from an intercession survey due to the incommodiousness of utilizing the assigned nomadic phones on a regular daily footing. Therefore, findings observed in most surveies are based on participants who may be extremely motivated20. Third, nomadic phone engineering raises of import inquiries about how to protect patients with DM while at the same time advancing its development and implementation20. This includes challenges associated with privateness and confidentiality of information collected and stored by nomadic devices and/or transmitted to cyber substructure databases. For presentment and intercession intents, extra privateness and confidentiality concerns originate when directing health-related informations to mobile devices22. For illustration, intercessions can be interr upted and privateness may be breached if the nomadic phone is lost or stolen. However, similar restrictions are present with other communicating manners ( e.g. , postal mail or electronic mails may be delivered to the incorrect reference ) 21. It is of import to guarantee that information gathered and transmitted via nomadic devices remains secure20. Fourthly, although nomadic phone engineering promises unprecedented chances to make DM patients anytime and anyplace, mHealth intercessions may ensue in the marginalisation of certain populations, such as nonreaders or those without entree to a nomadic phone21. These drawbacks may greatly impact the impact of such intercessions in such population. In the United States, nomadic French telephone ownership differs among different cultural groups and entree is lower among those with lower socioeconomic position ( defined as those with less than a high school alumnus ) . Similarly, grounds points to disparity between younger and older patients20. Possible accounts for this disparity might be related to age, urban and r ural, and economic system ; although neither of these grounds has been definitively determined.DecisionThe consequences indicate important betterments in gylcaemic control and self-management with nomadic phone intercession methods for DM attention. Uses of nomadic phone engineering in mHealth significantly cut down HbA1c as most reviewed surveies demonstrated. Further research with a longer continuance and larger sample size is needed to analyze several cardinal issues including the benefits of mHealth intercessions for patients and healthcare supplier ‘s perceptual experiences, and the cost effectivity in bettering self-management in diabetic patients. mHealth engineering as a tool in diabetes direction maintaining shoulder to shoulder of new tendencies, medical device seller design better tools for disease direction. mHealth engineering offer important betterment in the diabetes attention and eventful intervention consequence.

Lord of the Flies1 essays

Lord of the Flies1 essays The classic novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding is an exciting adventure deep into the nether regions of the mind. The part of the brain that is suppressed by the mundane tasks of modern society. It is a struggle between Ralph and Jack, the boys and the Beast, good and evil. The story takes a look at what would happen if a group of British school boys were to become stranded on an island. At first the boys have good intentions, keep a fire going so that a passing ship can see the smoke and rescue them, however because of the inherent evil of the many the good intentions of the few are quickly passed over for more exciting things. The killing of a pig slowly begins to take over the boys life, and they begin to go about this in a ritualistic way, dancing around the dead animal and chanting. As this thirst for blood begins to spread the group is split into the rational (the fire-watchers) pitted against the irrational (the hunters) (Dick 121). The fear of a mythological beast is perpetuated by the younger members of the groups and they are forced to do something about it. During one of the hunters celebrations around the kill of an animal a fire-watcher stumbles in to try and disband the idea of the monster. Caught of in the rabid frenzy of the dance, thi s fire-watcher suddenly becomes the monster and is brutally slaughtered by the other members of the group. The climax of the novel is when the hunters are confronted by the fire-watchers. The hunters had stole Piggys (one of the fire-watchers) glasses so that they may have a means of making a cooking fire. One of the more vicious hunters roles a boulder off of a cliff, crushing Piggy, and causing the death of yet another rational being. The story concludes with the hunters hunting Ralph (the head and last of the fire-watchers). After lighting half of the island on fire in an attempt to smoke Ralph from his h ...

Alien Registration Records

Alien Registration Records Alien registration records are an excellent source of family history information on U.S. immigrants who were not naturalized citizens. Record Type: Immigration/Citizenship Location: United States Time Period: 1917-1918 and 1940-1944 What are Alien Registration Records?: Aliens (non-citizen residents) living in the United States were asked during two different historical periods to register with the U.S. Government. World War I Alien Registration RecordsFollowing the beginning of United States involvement in World War I, all resident aliens who had not been naturalized, were required, as a security measure, to register with the U.S. Marshal nearest their place of residence. A failure to register risked interment or possible deportation. This registration occurred between November 1917 and April 1918. WWII Alien Registration Records, 1940-1944The Alien Registration Act of 1940 (also known as the Smith Act) required the fingerprinting and registration of any alien age 14 and older living within or entering the United States. These records were completed from August 1, 1940 to March 31, 1944 and document over 5 million non-citizen residents of the United States during this period. What Can I Learn From Alien Registration Records?: 1917-1918: The following information was generally collected: Full name (including maiden name for females)Current residence and length of residencePlace of birthSpouse’s name and residenceChildren’s names, sex, and years of birthParents’ names (including maiden name for mother), birthdates, and birthplacesNames, dates of birth, and current residence of siblingsWhether any male relatives serving in the military for/against USWhether registered for selective draftPrevious military or government serviceDate of immigration, name of vessel and port of arrivalWhether naturalized in another country Whether reported/registered with a consul since 1 June 1914Whether applied for naturalization or took out first papers; if yes, when and whereWhether ever taken an oath of allegiance other than to the United StatesWhether ever arrested or detained on any chargeWhether held a permit to enter a forbidden areaSignaturePhotographDescription of registrantFull set of fingerprints 1940-1944: The two-page Alien Registration Form (AR-2) asked for the following information: NameName at time of entry to the USOther names usedAddressDate and place of birthCitizenship/NationalityGenderMarital statusRace Height WeightHair Eye ColorDate, port, vessel and class of admission of last arrival in USDate of first arrival in USNumber of years in the USUsual occupationPresent occupationName, address and business of present employerMembership in clubs, organizations or societiesDates and nature of military or naval serviceWhether citizenship papers were filed and if so the date, place, and courtNumber of relatives living in the USArrest record, including date, place and dispositionWhether or not affiliated with a foreign governmentSignatureFingerprintNot all registrants provided all information. Where Can I Get Alien Registration Records?: WWI Alien Registration files are scattered, and the majority are no longer extant. Existing files can often be found in state archives and similar repositories. Existing WWI alien registration records for Kansas; Phoenix, Arizona (partial); and St. Paul, Minnesota can be searched online. Other alien registration records are available in offline repositories, such as the 1918 Minnesota Alien Registration records at the Iron Range Research Center in Chisholm, MN. Check with your local or state genealogial society to learn what WWI alien registration records might be available for your area of interest. WWII Alien Registration (AR-2) files are available on microfilm from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and can be obtained through a Genealogy Immigration Records Request. Unless you have the actual alien registration number from an alien registration card in your familys possession, or from a passenger list or naturalization document, you will want to begin by requesting a Genealogy Index Search. Important: Alien Registration Forms AR-2 are only available for A-numbers 1 million to 5 980 116, A6 100 000 to 6 132 126, A7 000 000 to 7 043 999, and A7 500 000 to 7 759 142. If the subject of your request was born less than 100 years before the date of your request, you are generally required to provide documentary proof of death with your request. This might include a death certificate, a printed obituary, a photograph of the tombstone, or other document demonstrating that the subject of your request is deceased. Please submit copies of these documents, not originals, as they will not be returned. Cost: Alien registration records (AR-2 forms) requested from USCIS cost $20.00, including shipping and photocopies. A genealogy index search is an additional $20.00. Please check the USCIS Genealogy Program for the most current pricing information. What to Expect: No two Alien Registration Records are alike, nor are specific answers or documents guaranteed to be in each case file. Not all aliens answered every question. Turn-around time to receive these records averages about three to five months, so prepare to be patient.

Plurilingualism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Plurilingualism - Essay Example As per the council records, German Language is the most widely spoken mother tongue while English, French, and Italian follow in this order. English is the most spoken foreign language with French and German following it. About 56% of european union citizens can hold a conversation in one language apart from their mother tongue. (Eurobarometer 243) Since the setting up of EU, there has been more close relationships between member countries in all the spheres such a economic, trade, education etc. The different cultures and languages in different countries is causing problems in day-to-day routine functioning as people are unable to freely disuss issues. This has necessitated the need for people who are able to understand more than one language. Plurilingualism, therefore can also be defined as the wide range of attempts to stabilize multilingual societies by fostering high levels of individual plurilingual competence. This approach places focus on Language teaching and learning, This also encompasses all categories of linguistic rights, legislation, policies, that affect the relationships between different communities. In this context, the Council of Europe, which closely monitors the linguistic and cultural environment in the continent, is now focusing on the language teaching and learning process. It has decided to encourage the concept of plurilingualism such that people of European union are able to freely mingle with each other. This basically is not only the need to converse in more than one language but the need to understand and appreciate cultures or ideas different from one's own. It now becomes a much broader concept dealing with the understanding of different cultures and languages. The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment, drawn up by Language Policy Division of the Council of Europe is a document that sets out to popularize plurilingualism. (Council of Europe, 1996) The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment, or CEFR, was put together by the Council of Europe as the main part of the project "Language Learning for European Citizenship" between 1989 and 1996. It is aimed to provide a method of assessing and teaching which applies to all languages in Europe. Thus because of plurilingualism, an individual person's experience of language in its cultural contexts expands and he builds up a communicative skill to which all knowledge and experience of language contributes. Thus a person can easily achieve effective communication with different people understanding different languages. This language policy fosters the capacity to coexist. The pluricultural education enables th e citizens to accept differences between different cultures, establish constructive relations with others, solve conflicts by nonviolent means, take on responsibilities, participate in decision-making and use mechanisms to protect people's rights. Since language is the most important social and cultural mark of identity, the education for plurilingualism and pluriculturalism promotes tolerance of other's viewpoint and remove the obstacles that hinder people's active participation in an increasingly globalized world. The knowledge and use of other languages other than one's mother tongue can be our safeguard in the fight

Dollars and Dreams Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Dollars and Dreams - Essay Example There are still others that see it as a land of waste and consumerism where the abundance is so overflowing that there is not enough space to hold all that is produced and thrown away. The truth that it is a place of hardship where people work hard to barely survive is rarely the worldwide perception of the American Dream. The film Dollars and Dreams: West Africans in New York (2007) is a documentary that discusses the experience and phenomenon of immigration from West Africa to the United States. The documentary film makers explore the truth of life in New York for those who have migrated from West Africa into what they thought would be an easier and more successful life. Through a narrative that includes successful, surviving, and struggling immigrants from West Africa, the film creates an alternative perspective on the experience of living in New York and in the United States. The producers of the film were Jeremy Rocklin an Abdel Kader Ouedarogo with Jeremy Rocklin directing and it is distributed by Documentary Educational Resources. One of the first statements made in the film is by Chika Onyeani who is the Publisher and Editor in Chief of The African Sun Times is that there is a perception that in America money grows on trees. CEO of Cape Aloe Ferox Worldwide, Arthur Smith, states in the film that the dollar is almighty and that they think it is easy in America and Zain Abdullah of Temple University reveals that the first surprising thing that immigrants from West Africa experience is that there is poverty in America and that it is not as easy to find riches in the land of opportunity. The concept of opportunity becomes more real in the sense that while there may be opportunity, one has to search and find it (Rocklin & Ouedarogo, 2007). Zain Abdullah continues to discuss the culture of immigrants as they live a life of deception where they struggle by working two or three jobs, but then present their experiences to those back home as fulfilling the expect ations that they had when they left their home to travel to the new land. The deception is based on the perceptions that are promoted in West Africa that there is nothing but riches in the United States and to go to America and struggle would be perceived as a failure. Abdullah states that it is like going into a gold mine and coming out with nothing to show for the effort (Rocklin & Ouedarogo, 2007). Kaira-Murdock (2008) writes that the reason that Jeremy Rocklin an Abdel Kader Ouedarogo decided to create this documentary was to create a more realistic view of New York for West Africans before they made the decision to migrate from their homeland and seek their fortunes. The realities of New York and the rate of poverty, even among the working poor, is something that is not considered when making the decision to move. The film is visually unsettling as the garbage in the street and the unattended urban setting is contrasted to the affluent speakers who discuss the realities of movi ng to New York, even though the majority of the initial speakers have clearly found their own success in this country. The real problem with immigration from other nations is that the image of America is based upon Hollywood idealism that is shown in films. Racism based on blackness is rare in West Africa so the experience of being oppressed comes as a surprise for many of the people who move to New York. Kaira-Murdock (2

Analyzing the Market Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Analyzing the Market - Research Paper Example The paper concentrates more on factors that influence demand and supply, discusses the price elasticity of demand that produces a kinked demand curve in the oligopolistic airline’s service competition, and the point of equilibrium. It also describes the benefits of the intellectual property (patents and trademarks), and how it protects the owning airlines in their operations. It finally includes the input factors used in generating airline services. Keywords: Passengers, Airline, Flight, Demand Supply, Price Elasticity, Oligopoly, Product Differentiation, Trademark, Patent, Pricing Strategy, Competition, Market Introduction The success or failure of airline services depends most critically, with the established efforts to attract and retain customers to their services. Several airlines have failed before, some able to rise up again, others still struggle to cover losses while most of them end up merging with other well performing airlines. The entry into the airlines business is not only difficult in a field considered to be an oligopoly market, but maintaining and thriving while in competition with large airlines is quite a challenge. Providing airline services require a keen and clear strategy in management and operational activities, to facilitate the services required by the passengers in time. It is therefore a core factor that any airline should build good relationships with their customers as a marketing strategy, so that their future long term profitability can be safeguarded, by retaining more customers and influencing the choice of most undecided passengers in the market. The airline’s reputation, ticket prices, safety record, possible delay times, and services provided (ranging from different travel classes and the associated beneficial facilities, services by the cabin crew) among others, influence the customer preference or satisfaction with an airline, and generally its performance in the market. Airline’s Services Market Comp etition Competition in the airline industry is very high and sensitive, such that with the high fixed costs in their operation, the profit margins are usually low. However, the competition and profit margins may vary with the small changes brought about by the sizes of the airlines, the capacity of the aircrafts, the routes served by airlines, means of customer attraction (such as the in flight services) and discounted fares, which make it possible for some airlines and their services to have a competitive advantage over the others. According to Papatheodorus, the modern airline services competition arises from the differentiation or the best cost provider strategy, while considering the marketing initiatives and the economic advantage, to ensure they consistently provide the service in the market place (2006). Airlines both large and small, whether providing long haul and short haul services struggle to retain and add a market share. Large airlines may compete against others throug h its popularity, and if it has a good safety record, or high quality services, it makes it worse for its smaller rival companies. Most of the times, competing airlines have used generic strategies to achieve their fair share in the market. Differentiation has been a major factor among airlines, as

Trinidad And Tobagos Banking Industry Analysis

Trinidad And Tobagos Banking Industry Analysis The banking industry in Trinidad and Tobago has somewhat changed in the past few years. This resulted in the entry of some banks and the re-entry of others. This paper strategically analyses the current strategic position of one of the major banks, First Citizens (FC). First Citizens Bank is a member of the First Citizens Group, which consists of: First Citizens Bank Limited First Citizens Asset Management Limited First Citizens Trustee Services Limited First Citizens (St. Lucia) Limited First Citizens Securities Trading Limited Caribbean Money Market Brokers (CMMB) For the purposes of this paper, First Citizens Banks current strategies that are being utilised to achieve its goal are critically analysed along with its internal and external environment, which establish the forces that drives change and the key success factors that sustains competitive advantage. All these factors give rise to the SWOT analysis of the bank, which matches the bank resources and capabilities to the competitive environment in which it operates. 1.2 Background FC Bank is the first indigenous bank of Trinidad and Tobago and was formed in 1993 out of the amalgamation of three failed financial institutions namely: The Workers Bank of Trinidad and Tobago 1989 Ltd, Trinidad Co-operative Bank Ltd and The National Commercial Bank Ltd. It is the third largest bank in Trinidad and Tobago and the fastest growing. Over the years, FC Bank has become one of the regions leading and most dynamic financial product and service providers. This position is further strengthened by the acquisition of CMMB one year ago. The leaderships robustness at the bank has championed the industry in technology, innovative product offerings and profitability, which earned them numerous awards, with the most recent being World Finance magazine Best Bank, Trinidad and Tobago 2009. 2.0 DEFINING THE INDUSTRY The banking industry is part of the Financial Services Sector, which is highly regulated by the Financial Act of Trinidad and Tobago. The Financial Services industry comprises of credit unions, investment banks, insurance companies, mutual funds etc. All the aforementioned offers similar services as retail banking as per a regular bank, but the Commercial Banking Sector consists of all financial institutions permitted the Financial Services Act and approved by the Central Bank. There are a number of commercial banks approved by the Central Bank and registered under the act, these include: First Citizens Bank Limited Republic Bank limited (RBL) Royal Bank of Trinidad and Tobago (RBTT) Scotiabank Limited Citibank (Trinidad and Tobago) Limited First Caribbean International Bank Intercommercial Bank Bank of Baroda For the purpose of this paper, this would be defined as the industry and would be the basis on which analysis is made. 3.0 ORGANIZATIONAL FRAMEWORK 3.1 Vision, Mission and Objectives of First Citizens First Citizens vision is To become the most competitive group in Trinidad and Tobago with a well established international presence. While the mission is to build a highly profitable financial services franchise renowned for innovativeness, service excellence and sound corporate governance. To achieve the aim FC focuses on continuous improvement of systems and products, building a strong base of knowledge and skilled workers and creating strategic partnerships in key sectors that add value to the franchise. The mission is underpinned by the core values, which assist the employees in the achievement of the mission. The core values are: Commitment to excellence Commitment to customers Commitment to integrity Commitment to financial strength Commitment to employees Commitment to continuous improvement The main objective of the bank is to improve profitability with a major focus on its return on equity. The main objective is supported by secondary objectives, which are: Leveraging Technology to create confidence in the banks systems and procedure Reducing overheads costs while simultaneously increasing revenues Aggressively increasing assets, loans and fund base Widening the range of products and services primarily in the area of internet and mobile (electronic) banking Improving First Citizens risk management Improving the Groups image and service quality Deepening the human resource competence These objectives are quantified using the balance scorecard, which sets specific targets needed to be achieved in order to achieve the organisations objectives. In order to achieve the objectives, each branch manager, department and unit is required to produce a balanced score card, which eventually sums to the overall directional scorecard. 3.2 Strategy In order for the vision, mission and objectives of FC to become operational strategies must be implemented. Figure shows the alignment of First Citizens strategies with its vision. The use of the groups balance has made strategy making and organisational coordination reflect the top-down manner in which strategy is developed and communicated. The banks existing strategies is summarised using Ansoffs Directional Matrix (see figure). From the Directional Matrix, FC Banks diversification strategy exemplifies the Banks thrust into a wider and more competitive industry. This is indicates that boundaries that separate traditional banking from other type of financial services are being eliminated, this is also an indicator of the industry in its maturity stage (indicated in a later chapter). Although the strategy is that of diversification it involves a broad market scope. The strategy involves leveraging technology to provide excellent customer service especially since FC is always first to market. It is the technological advancement, that is the banks core competency and some features (mobile point of sale) gives it its distinctive capability. 4.0 THE DYNAMICS OF THE EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT All organizations are inextricably associated with its external environment, regardless of the country to which it belongs. This association influences how the organization operates and the products or services provided. The external forces may facilitate or inhibit organizational performance and may form limits with which the organization is able to function. These forces shape how the organization defines itself and how it articulates its goals, objectives and strategies. An analysis of the external environment assists in understanding the forces or factors that shape the organization. 4.1 PEST Analysis PEST analyses the external macro-environment in which an organization operates, based on political, economical, social and technological factors. These factors are beyond the control of the organization but must be considered in formulating the strategies of the organization. PEST Analysis for First Citizens The Political climate of Trinidad and Tobago has remained quite stable over the past twenty years. This has led to implementation of legislations that improved efficiency and reduced costs (banking fees) in the Banking sector, but have also reduced margins and fee income. The latest legislation implemented is the Anti-money Laundering legislation, in which most of the countries in this region is adopting. This law has sought to increase the transparency of banks and attempts to lower the credit risks of the country in which the bill is implemented. The banking industry over the years has dynamically evolved; this evolution has led to the opening of the banking industry (regionally) or relaxation of entry requirement for large foreign banks, for example, the entry of the Bank of Baroda. This has led to further diversification of the banking sector that inevitably breeds competition. However, although competition creates innovation, this threatens the profitability of the current banks in the market as larger more capitalized banks can undercut the local banks and decrease their market size. These foreign banks operate as loss leaders to steal market share and further diminution opportunity in an already saturated market. As a result, in recent years there have been re-entry of banks into the sector e.g. First Caribbean International Bank (FCIB). Furthermore, FC is owned the government which suggest that there is slow decision making in the organization however, the government can be the main borrower on the market. The worlds economy, over the past two years, has experienced a downturn, which saw many countries GDP decline that resulted in declaration of recession and the plummet of oil prices, which adversely affected the banking industry of most countries. However, all indicators point towards improvement in the economy though it may be slow. The effects of the economy has led to banks reducing interest rates and fees in order to reduce the amount of loan defaults and increase economic activity in an attempt to boost the economy. The improvement of the economy will see commodity prices improving which will increase revenues and economic activity, which will impart a greater potential for lending and borrowing by banks. However, there is a risk of returning to inflationary pressures with accompanying increasing interest rates. The mal-effects of the downturn has led to increased unemployment which increased loan defaults, however there have been some refinancing of loans in an attempt to reduc e defaults. According to the Central Bank Governor, in the business section of the Guardian Newspaper, if the economic growth is slower than in the past, banking institution will be forced to consolidate to achieve economies of scale. This reduces competition in an industry, in which competition breeds innovation and Socially, crime is considered a two edged sword since it creates an opportunity for banks to finance security companies; however, it has led to the exit of many business owners and thus capital. A high crime rate can harm the countrys foreign direct investment (FDI) opportunities and by extension tourism. As the country is developing, one would find that people are being more educated and customers are demanding better quality and quantity service; people are intolerant of poor customer service and lack of advancement in the banking industry. It is foreseen that, if the issue of crime is not addressed that there would be further flight of capital, decrease in FDIs and tourism. In addition, if banks do not progress with technology, there would a flight of customers to the substitutes in the market. The banking industry has fully embraced technology, which has revolutionised the sector. The technological advancement by banks has empowered customers so that they control their financial information with greater access. This has also led to the creation of high exit barriers. However, not all customers may embrace these technological progresses and prefer the traditional banking services. If this progression continues at the current pace, the industry will be highly serviced and product innovated. However, customer must make greater use of these technological advancement as with mobile telephony if the industry is to be further product/service diversified. 4.2 Industry Analysis for First Citizens The industry analysis aids in the determination of factors that determines the banking industry profitability. Porters Five Forces Analysis is an assessment that is used to understand the current competitive position and the future attractiveness of the industry, this is seen in figure. The threat of substitute is numerous and includes companies that offer financial services such as insurance companies, Unit Trust Corporation, Island Finance, investment banks, credit unions etc. Some non-financial institutions such as furniture stores and car dealerships are also threats since they offer credit. These substitutes offer similar service and products without the regulatory requirements of banks, which makes their process faster than banks. These substitutes have encroached on the banking industry profitability, however, with the recent downturn of the economy, customers have returned to banks since it is perceived to be more stable. In addition, to nullify the threat of substitutes and sustain the industrys profitability banks have also formed alliances with other financial institutions. The bargaining power of customers is medium but increasing as a result of a wide variety of substitutes, similarity of products and lower customer loyalty (due to logistics). However, it is counteracted by high switching costs caused by the time and inconvenience of transferring accounts to other financial institutions and a large number of customers. It is perceived, however, that the advanced technology and the increasing number of substitutes, have reduced switching costs, this is true to some extent, example retail deposits but in terms of loans, corporate deposits etc. the switching cost is high. The bargaining power of suppliers is also medium and increasing. Although there are a large number of suppliers for general resources, there are a small number of suppliers for the critical resources of banks, for example, ABMs, system applications, money counter etc. which makes switching arduous and time-consuming. From the PEST analysis, it seen that the banking industrys market is more opened and there is a relaxation of requirements. This results in the threat of new entrants being medium to high and is expected to intensify if there is further dismantling of barriers/requirement. Consequently, it is easier for a large foreign institution to enter into the market, example, the acquisition of RBTT by RBC and the entry of Bank of Baroda, these institution will with have the necessary capital investments and brand recognition to do so. However, for a local institution it is harder because of the high brand building expenditure and extremely high capital investment. This threat is somewhat counteracted by high exit barriers and high switching costs. The banking industry presently has a saturated market and one would find that is difficult to gain market share to become profitable thus, entrants are focused on a niche market segment. Furthermore, these entrants are large enough to operate as loss leaders. The above four factors that shape strategy, collapse into rivalry amongst existing competitors (as seen in figure). The fact that the banking industry exhibits oligopolistic cooperation in order to maximize profit, lower cost and maintain status quo, is another indicator of maturity. Examples of this type of cooperation are: Establishing a code of conduct in which all banks must adhere when dealing with customers Technological sharing of networks e.g. linx to facilitate ATM transactions. Offering of similar interest rates and products In addition, banks have to form strategic alliances in order to counteract substitutes to improve the value system e.g. insurance companies and mutual funds. An analysis of the existing competitive rivalry is restricted to four banks. These competitors are identified using Porters strategic group analysis (see figure). From figure, competitors in First Citizens market scope operate in the same segment and offer similar type products. These banks collaborate to protect the profitability of the industry, especially in the area of interest rates, customer service quality and non-competitive processes. The prediction of the competitor environment can be analysed using Grants Framework for competitor analysis, this can be seen in figure. 4.3 The Industry Life Cycle From figure, it is seen that the banking industry is in its maturity stage. This can be sustained over an extensive period, in which market share can only be increased by attracting the competitors customers. In addition, a strategy in the mature banking industry, is the tendency of banks to consolidate e.g. with insurance companies, security companies; acquire or merge e.g. the acquisition of RBTT by RBC and CMMB by FC. However, banks fight to maintain its market share by creating high exit barriers for its customers. Recently, customers are extremely sensitive to interest rates, therefore in an effort to retain its customers, one would find that banks in the same market segment (figure) would have similar interest rates. For example, if Central Bank decrease the reserve requirement all banks will decrease its rate to match each other. In a stage of maturity, there are areas in which it is more economical to collaborate than to compete, this brings about greater efficiency at a lower cost e.g. Linx, Transunion and Trinidad and Tobago Interbanking payment system (TTIPS). 4.4 Key Success Factors In order to be successful in the banking industry there are some key factors. These include: Financial stability Customer confidence Customer trust Effective Regulatory Systems Relevant Products and Services Affordable pricing Competition which breeds greater innovation and by extension efficiency 5.0 THE DYNAMICS OF THE INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT 5.1 Resource Analysis Financial Capital Human Capital FC Bank has approximately 1300 staff members and a well-experienced and knowledgeable senior staff. However, succession and service quality is a concern because of the high turnover of junior staff. In recent times, staff members are no longer interested in a job for life, therefore the bank is retooling its processes to incorporate transient staffing arrangement. In addition, the bank has developed a management trainee, corporate resourcing and mentoring programmes for school and university graduates. Leadership competencies, 360 degree feedback and career development programmes are also implemented for junior staff and management. Customer Capital The bank has a large customer base in excess of 400,000 accounts. Retail banking customers constitute the majority of the customer base. The consequence of this is that it involves higher operating and fixed costs, in addition, to achieve economies of scale both market share and size has to sufficient. Notwithstanding the deposit garnered from these customers, it represents low cost funds to the bank that are then used for lending. Although customer loyalty generally has improved, they are however flighty and could change base on simple interest rate difference since they are sensitive to this (as discussed in Porters five forces). Recently, the bank has embarked on work to improve its image and reputation. Social Capital FC has intensified its relationship with society in adherence to the adage of Corporate Social responsibility in a very significant way. This is also in adherence to the code of ethics established by the Bankers Association, in which First Citizens bank sponsors events: Environmental: Citizens in Action to restore the Environment (CARE), which assists in the restoration of the environment. In this regard, internal staff competition are held to widen community interaction and to increase social and environmental awareness (this improves the appearance of the bank). Youth and Education: Bursaries to Tertiary Institution. The bank engages in developing school libraries and is a major sponsor in junior achievement. Sports: First Citizens Sport Foundation, which raise awareness through clinics and sport education seminars. It is the sole sponsor of the National Sports Foundation, which deals with sports education, seminars and recognition of achievers in the Hall of Fame and Annual Sports Woman/Man of the Year which honors all the achievers in all sports. Culture: The banks sponsors programmes in all cultural/religious events such as, Divali Nagar, Eid-ul-Fitr, Tobago Heritage etc. Physical Capital The bank has twenty-five branches strategically located across the country, with three in Tobago. In addition, an excess of eighty ATM supports these branches, with a vast number of these in off branch locations. Technology Capital FC bank has the leading edge in online real time banking network and is the leader in Internet Banking technology and communication network. Its Ethernet and communication network, which incorporates both voice and data, also contributes to the bank being considered as a Technology leader. In fact FC has won the South Trinidad Chamber of Commerce Technology Leadership on three occasions in the last five years, an award that has been designed for technology companies. The banks vast network of ATM and POS machinery provide significant reach to its merchant and customers alike and is fully networked on a local and internal scale. The bank has been able to leverage its technology leadership to enhance value for merchant and customers. This can be gleamed from the merchant e-banking which allows corporate and commercial customers to transact business from their offices (paying bills, salaries, ACH etc.). The value of technology capital is also seen with the implementation of mobile POS, which is significant for distributors and the service sector. 5.2 Value Added FC Banks value chain is depicted in figure using Porters Value Chain analysis. The bank has concentrated mainly on marketing, sales and services. The use of technology has been incorporated to achieve a level of service and convenience to provide value to the customer. The cost to provide such value to the customer is important however, the risk to serving customers is just as important. The critical factors in this value system are the linkages between skills of staff, risk management, information systems, flexible and responsive policies/procedures to add such value. Information technology is FC banks core competency especially since they are the leader in this area. FC uses the technological advancement to increase its value chain and to achieve a higher level of customer service than its competitors. Owing to the highly leveraged technology at FC, the level of efficiency, high ratings by customers have been improved, although, the market share has remained stable since the industry is in the mature stage (industry life cycle). The use of technology is also the banks distinctive capability, since the bank uses its technology e.g. mobile POS and corporate internet banking, to increase the value chain of its customers. Figure below depicted how elements of FC banks outbound and marketing logistics becomes incorporated into the customers e.g. restaurants and distributors inbound logistic of their value chain. Internet banking, mobile POS etc. Telebanking Etc. First Citizens Bank Value Chain Distributors Value Chain Restaurants Value chain Figure showing the connectivity between First Citizens Value Chain and that of its Customers 5.3 McKinseys 7S 5.3.1 Structure FC bank currently has a bureaucratic (top-down) that does not aid in quick decision-making, which is crucial. Structure is the key to effective execution of strategy. Is the structure does not support strategy in terms of VMOST then the strategy implementation will be difficult. Despite its best efforts to change, the bank structure is still overly bureaucratic. The bank has to decentralise both vertically along different levels of the organisational hierarchy and horizontally amongst managers and non-managers based on expertise and experience. In doing so, authority and responsibility will remain with those in the position, who possesses the necessary skills to implement decisions, ideally front line staff. Currently, the credit-decision making process is based on limited level authority by staff and the bureaucratic staircase can hinder the effectiveness in the lending/investment process. Simiarly, as a result of Government regulation (Central Bank regulations) and the general risk adverse culture of the bank, several to-down controls exist hindering the smooth processing of intricate transaction. If centre delegating decision-making authority is given to frontline staff e.g. senior management increasing authorisation limits on loans granted by line managers, the processes in the bank will more efficient and less time consuming. 5.3.2 Systems FC bank is a performance-driven learning organisation, therefore all of its systems should be taken into consideration if further development is to occur. The three essential areas are: Human resource systems Rewards are based on SMART principle and pre-determined organisation and individual targets. However, the appraisals are based on individual and team performance and are done on a quarterly basis to identify areas foe training and development. In addition, the performance is also measured by balance scorecard with gaps identified to re-prioritise efforts. Human resource records however, are not automated via a modern HRIS system and therefore quick and effective decision-making is negatively affected. To further hasten the decision-making the top-down system needs to be changed to a bottom-up system that integrates the individual and team performance, training and development. Organisational performance systems The bank has two models to assess its performance: The strategic planning model This evolves from the vision and mission of the bank and long-term strategies are developed for three years on a rolling basis. On an annual basis strategies are reviewed analysed and adjusted as necessary. Three exercises inform the business planning process for the ensuing year and provide key inputs into budgetary allocation which support the execution of the said strategies. Information systems The banks information system is highly interactive, accurate, accessible and easily interrogable. In spite of the high use of technology customer service staff has not embrace the use of technology to deliver value added. There is high use of the banks office management system for communication e.g. email and calendaring. However, managers and staff have not grasped the opportunity to use these systems for work flow efficiency e.g. loan origination systems and electronic loan application and credit authorisation. 5.3.3 Style Style is influences in part by structure. The top-down structure of organisation has bred an elitist atmosphere with different layers of management having varying degrees of power and influence. Managers do not seem to exhibit a supportive role and communication is mostly top down to their support staff. In addition, feedback to employees on performance of organisation is done via newsletters, team briefing and staff meetings. Generally, the management style is not of a participative nature and this can have negative effects on employees involvement and satisfaction. There is an over abundance of procedures within the system which leads to an inordinate amount of time and effort spent on administrative processes thus reducing the cycle time for customer service. Staff Staff development utilises: Employee assistance programme (EAP) 360 degree for developmental purposes In addition, the tools used in developing staff are: Succession planning Individual development planning Leadership competencies model there are seven areas the bank utilise and develop staff; they are customer focus, teamwork, innovation, initiative (getting results), integrity, entrepreneurship and sales and marketing. These are to develop staff in order to develop leadership skills but FC has to create the structure, systems etc. to motivate and encourage employees to develop along these lines. Skills Multiple skilled employees are essential in a learning and performance driven organisation. The bank is becoming predominantly a sales driven organisation, with risk management and decision-making being critical to its success in the area. Training in developmental programmes in marketing, sales, negotiation and dispute resolution are provided by the bank to further develop skills in these areas. However, the structure of the bank is a barrier to the proper dissemination of skills because of compartmentalisation of information. The bank however, has been a leader in the development of individual staff and expense significant sums on both internal and external training. The education assistance plan provides bank sponsored tertiary education up to and including the masters level for qualifying staff, this facility has benefitted numerous staff members. Strategy Using Johnson and Scholes Development Strategies model the direction used by FC bank should be maintained. The bank has focus on identifying market segments and adopted a market penetration and developmental and diversification strategies. These strategies should be suitable, acceptable and feasible to all stakeholders, employees and customers and should be based the banks outstanding customer service, innovation and its core competency of technology. However, the banks strategy of leading customer satisfaction through innovation has seen it derive value from its leadership position from electronic banking including internet, POS and mobile banking. Shared Value The confluence of three failed financial institution formed FC Bank, and its phoenix-like resurrection to a pronounced position within the banking industry fraternity in the region and awards won, is a source of pride for the organisation. 6.0 S.W.O.T ANALYSIS Figure shows the SWOT analysis for FC Bank, based on this and for sustainability of competitive advantage, the following factors are crucial: Investments for further development of technology since it is ever-evolving especially at the strategic and tactical level to maintain FC as the leader Quick response time to customers request to synchronise with industry norms Strong image/brand and performance driven culture High degree of flexibility and responsiveness Improve decision-making capabilities of front line staff and succession planning