A Brief Note On Executive Compensation And Non Monetary...

The term compensation refers to all forms of financial returns and tangible benefits that employees receive in exchange for their time, talents, efforts, performance, and results (Bernardin, 2013). Executive compensation is defined as the financial payments and non-monetary benefits provided to high level management in exchange for their work on behalf of an organization. The types of employees that are typically paid with executive compensation packages include corporate presidents, chief executive officers, chief financial officers, vice presidents, managing directors, and other senior executives (Business Dictionary.com, 2016). Executive compensation is an aspect of business that every major corporation, company, and organization has to manage. Although every major organization or company utilizes some form of executive compensation, it may differ greatly from one company to the next. Proper management of executive compensation is vital to the success and progress of companies, c orporations and organizations because of the impact that disbursement of such high pay and benefits have on the financial status of any business and its shareholders. The structure of compensation is important because it can help to create an outline on how managers can effectively run companies and create value for shareholders. Pay packages and other benefits should give high-level executives incentives to run companies correctly and efficiently. It should also make executives think in the longShow MoreRelatedResearch and Practice in Human Resource Management8935 Words   |  36 Pagesbetween employees and their organisations. Weak employee organisational linkages are often displayed as the phenomenon of turnover. Indeed, people are likely to job hop to obtain better monetary rewards and career development opportunities. 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Law and Finance Money Launderings Laws/CDD Free Essays

string(84) " to understand their clients, put themselves at risk of significant financial loss\." Executive Summary In the recent times, new and innovative methods of funds transfer through electronic methods across the borders have increased. These have opened new opportunities for money laundering and financing of terrorism. With the recommendations made by the FAFT that the principle of Customer Due Diligence (CDD), conducted by financial institutions, be set out in law, a robust CDD system would be of paramount importance for financial institutions in the UK should FATF’s recommendations be implemented in the UK. We will write a custom essay sample on Law and Finance: Money Launderings Laws/CDD or any similar topic only for you Order Now Owing to globalization of businesses, a recommendable CDD team should comprise of human resources specialists, IT experts, law experts, financial experts, representatives in various countries along with functional area managers with a good understanding of various cultures. This would bring about effectiveness and efficiency in the application of CDD measures in the current world with the increased use of New Payment Methods. As such, a firm wishing to provide NPM as one of its services or products should ensure that it has the CDD team in place with various expertise. Introduction Recently, economics has witnessed money laundering alongside the issue of the financing of terrorism, among other issues. In correspondence to this point, the United Kingdom has played a key role in the international fight against money laundering through anti-money laundering (AML) legislation which has been made possible through the impetus of international organizations such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). As recently as February 2012, the FATF recommended that the principle of Customer Due Diligence (CDD), conducted by financial institutions, be set out in law. This was advocated in the recent FATF report â€Å"International Standards on Combating Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism Proliferation† published in February 2012. The following is a report by the head of AML at a large financial services firm, which advised the company’s board on the ‘perfect model’ for a robust system of CDD in order to ensure compliance should FATFâ €™s recommendations be implemented in the UK. Analysis of the objectives of an effective system of CDD and what it should contain The term ‘robust’, when used in this context, implies that the CDD system in question should possess an ability to effectively perform its function even when its assumptions or variables are misrepresented. The CDD model to be implemented should work effectively, without failure, in a diversity of circumstances and as such, it should not conflict with the law. As such, A perfect CDD system should contain tight and secure quality controls There should be effective policies, processes and procedures in place to ensure compliance with the regulatory requirements in the global arena Effective protective mechanisms should be put in place It should be cost effective –maximising on benefits while minimising costs. A perfect CDD system should be risk-sensitive Adoption of procedures such as ‘know-your-customer’, should be adopted within individual Jurisdictions Guidelines for the resolution of issues should be put in place should information made be inaccurate or insufficient. It should be strict and as such in compliance with the legislative laws It should be technologically competent given that the market is currently dominated by New Payment Methods which needs one to be technologically savvy Contents of a Robust CDD System A robust CDD system that can work in the current market described by high competition from the globe, Should contain human resources specialists with a strategic view of the particular organization since there is much competition from the international market. There should also be functional area managers in possession of technical expertise and the ability to think strategically (Rosenbloom 2002). Should contain experts with good knowledge of the national culture since the current market structure is globally inclined (Rosenbloom 2002). The institution in question should ensure that there is the inclusion of representatives from various parts of the world in the CDD team. These can help in the identification of data sources and as such help in the verification of the authenticity of various identities (Rosenbloom 2002). The CDD team should comprise of a group of experts in the law with a good knowledge of law in various parts of the world According to Steiner Marini (2008, p.14), the objective of CDD should enable the AML of a financial institution to predict with confidence the type of transactions that a customer is likely to hold. This cannot be achieved without tight and secure quality controls in place. Conceptually, CDD procedures begin by verifying the identity of the customer along with an assessment of the risks that may be associated with that particular customer. Enhanced CDD for high risk customers is highly recommended together with continuous due diligence of the customer base (Financial Action Task Force 2006). An effective CDD system should comprise of effective policies, processes and procedures to ensure compliance of the financial institution with the regulatory requirements that would allow the institution to report any activity deemed suspicious (Steiner Marini 2008, p.14). Furthermore, a robust system of CDD should be implemented with effective protection mechanisms equally directed to both the institution and its customers, considering, Data Protection Act provisions as well as the privacy rights of the customer. An effective CDD system should be cost effective and as such, it should deliver benefits to the institutions while respecting banking practices in the case of a banking institution (Mills 2011) It is important to bring out the point that CDD systems are meant to protect banks and other financial institutions from reputational, operational, legal and application risks among others, as these would result in large financial costs (Booth et al. 2011, p.218). They are also made to ensure that financial institutions have sufficient knowledge of their clients and as such, this is meant to ensure that banks and other financial institutions do not accept customers who are outside their normalized risk tolerance or in other words, clients engaging in any unlawful business. Knowledge of a client’s involvement in money laundering or terrorist financing is important as banks and other financial institutions, who fail to understand their clients, put themselves at risk of significant financial loss. You read "Law and Finance: Money Launderings Laws/CDD" in category "Essay examples" Therefore, effective CDD systems should make it difficult for clients to disguise ownership of accounts within banks. As such, adoption of procedures such as ‘know-your-customer’, should be adopted within individual jurisdictions, as this forms part of effective CDD programs or systems (Booth et al. 2011).. An effective CDD system seeks to ensure clear statements of the general expectations and specific responsibilities of staff. Thus, the management should allocate duties clearly with regards to who is responsible for reviewing or approving any changes to established risk ratings or to the profile of customers. As such, the AML of financial institutions should ensure sufficient customer information, since this is significant for the implementation of an effective system for monitoring suspicious activities (Schott, World Bank International Monetary Fund 2006). Insufficient customer information may make it hard for an AML to detect money laundering therefore, CDD system effectiveness can be achieved by incorporation of guidelines for the resolution of issues should the information obtained be inaccurate or insufficient (Mills 2011). In addition, current customer information maintenance is important if a CDD system is to be termed as effective. Notably, CDD should begin by identifying the customer along with the verification of their identity by use of independent source documents, information and data. At the same time, AML should ensure that the provisions of the Data Protection Act are complied with (Hopton, 2009 p.42). The due diligence process should be carried out on a risk sensitive basis (Steiner Marini, 2008). Besides, the measures taken should ensure consistency with the competent authorities along with enhanced due diligence applied to higher risk categories of customers. Simplified measures should be applied to lower risk customers. Strict compliance with the legislative laws should be observed (Booth et al. 2011). Accordingly, a high degree of transparency should be applied in the various transactions and as such, CDD should be applied in the preliminary stages of the establishment of a business relationship or in cases of excess cash transaction preparation (SchottWorld Bank International Monetary Fund 2006, p.44). Discussion of the risks, should there be gaps in the CDD processes Following the globalization of businesses, global financial systems operate with clients from all over the world. In this context, it is important to note that if CDD measures are not appropriately applied, then, this gives an opportunity for various losses. As such, failure to conduct CDD can lead to a reputational risk which translates to adverse publicity as far as the practices of the business are concerned. Inaccurate application of CDD measures may in this case lead to a loss of public confidence and as a result, may jeopardise the integrity of the institution. Subsequently, borrowers, investors, depositors and other stakeholders may cease business with that institution should scandals arise (Booth et al. 2011). Apart from the reputational risk, failure to conduct a careful CDD may lead to an operational risk. An operational risk refers to the loss incurred as a result of failed or inadequate processes, systems, external events and people involved. In addition, there is also a legal risk when one fails to carry out a full CDD measures (i.e. when one happens to leave gaps in the required processes). In particular, a legal risk has to do with the potential for law suits once involved in a money laundering case. Again, it may result in sanctions, unenforceable contracts, penalties and fines which may translate to significant financial costs (Steiner Marini 2008). Furthermore, the institution’s licences may be revoked and this may lead to the closure of the institution and as such, may be expensive for the institution since the losses involved may be costly (Fagan Munck 2009). Likewise, there is also the risk of concentration associated with the losses emerging from excess credit or loan disclosure to one borrower. Therefore, a lack of knowledge of the customer and the customer relations with the other borrowers may place a bank and any other financial institution at risk (Marks et al. 2012). This may also be a concern when there are related counter-parties, common income sources, connected buyers or assets for repayment. A robust CDD will need to apply KYC (Know Your Customer) which entails the identification of the customer through their national identification card, location, address and other related documents (Demetis 2010, p.64). This should be incorporated together with the KYCB (Know Your Customer’s Business) and as such, this is achieved by means of transaction profile, nature and type of business along with the sources of funds (Knight,International Monetary Fund Monetary and Exchange Affairs Dept 1998). Furthermore, the CDD should further apply KYT (Know Your Customer’s Transactions) which enables the management to know the customer’s transactions through a continuous and careful monitoring of transactions. In addition, a CDD system will work well through the application of KYE (Know Your Employees) which is meant to examine the institution’s employees by carrying out background checks along with a continuous monitoring of the systems for trustworthiness and loyalty to the institution (Alldridge 2003). Moreover, there should be continuous monitoring of customers in order to establish whether there are customer behaviour changes over time and in this case, transactions and other related activities should be monitored (Demetis 2010). It is imperative to note that a professionals within the financial sector can be sued for failing to perform due diligence. This is due to the fact that the institution has the obligation to conduct CDD and thus should be able to prove to any third party that every effort was made to ensure CDD (Tabb 2004) Similarly, if CDD were to fail, in such a case it would be advisable for the AML to close the account of that particular customer and as such to decline establishing a business relationship while ensuring that a suspicious transaction report is made. Money Laundering and the Law The approach of the FATF in recommending that the implementation of CDD measures should be set out in law is viable and realistic in terms of the practical application of such legislative changes. This is due to the fact that setting the CDD measures in law will ensure that legal action can be taken to deal with cases where the CDD measures have not been applied appropriately. Again, setting CDD measures out in law will improve the effectiveness of CDD measures carried out on various customers. Taking the example of the first CDD measure recommended to be set out in law, will ensure that the names of the customers are known, the location, country of origin, web data sources verified and as such customer contacts taken into consideration (Demetis 2010, p.64). In this respect, it will be mandatory for financial institutions to ensure that they only deal with customers with whom they are familiar. As a result, this will translate into effectiveness in the control of money laundering. In fact, this will ensure that all customers provide their details since it would be a requirement of the law along with the fact that this will also be incorporated in institutional policies and procedures. Therefore, before signing into any business relationship, customers and the institution in question will be governed by law, and failure to comply with this will lead both the customer and the institution in question to be held responsible. In reference to the second CDD measure to be set out in law, it is vital and realistic in the sense that the beneficial owner identity information will be disclosed, and any failure to comply would call for legal action to be taken against the customer. In this sense, it will not be difficult for banking and other financial institutions to get such information as it will be set out in law. Again, the institutions will avoid conflicting with the law as they will have to comply with the CDD measures. As far as the third CDD measure recommended by the FATF to be set in law is concerned, it is worth noting that obtaining information concerning the purpose and the intended nature of the relationship of the business will be a requirement of the law. As such, it will be required by the customer to avail such information as a requirement of the law rather than of the bank. This will make the work of the banking institutions and other related institutions much easier. Furthermore, the institutions will be forced to comply with the requirement of the law to implement the CDD measures. On the other hand, the fourth CDD measure recommended by FATF to be set out in law requires conducting a continuous monitoring of CDD on the relationship of the business while scrutinizing the transactions undertaken in the course of the relationship. Such monitoring ensures consistency in terms of the business and risk profile together with the source of funds. Once these are set out in law, it may be vital but not realistic in the practical applications in the sense that the privacy of the customers along with the institutional processes may be compromised (Evanoff, 2009). Subsequent to setting the financial principle that financial institutions should conduct, CDD should be set out in law with an aim that this will force institutions to comply; otherwise legal action would be taken. Again, such a step would translate to high levels of compliance by the institutions in question and as a consequence, effectiveness of anti-money laundering will be realized. NPMs and the Law The FATF recommendations requiring financial institutions to conduct CDD are viable and realistic, except for the fact that new payment methods (NPM) mean the law may need to more fully consider new technology. Notably, with an institution intending to make use of NPMs, money laundering may be inevitable. NPMs are well known for their vulnerability to money laundering and terrorist financing. Use of ATMs, prepaid cards, mobile and internet banking has presented a great opportunity for money launderers. However, there are some countermeasures that can prove viable. For instance, one countermeasure may be the implementation of a robust identification and verification procedures (FATF Report 2010). Such countermeasures may place limits on the transaction amounts and frequency,and include strict systems of monitoring of these aspects. In fact, not all NPMs are subject to law in all authority and as such, they take in the use of internet and mobile payment. Most NPM providers offer their products or services through both internet and mobile interfaces (i.e. virtual) and the FATF recommendations do not specify the specific risks involved and as such, NPM providers may not apply the CDD measures (FATF Report 2010). In this case, the practical application of such legislative changes as recently recommended by FAFT may not yield fruits especially with the use of NPMs. In spite of the challenges associated with the use of NPMs, it is important to note that the electronic records produced in this case can help with law enforcement (Marks et al. 2012). Importantly, a firm seeking to provide NPM as part of their service should consider the fact that there are three typologies depending on which one chooses to use. Here, the typology has to do with the third party funding whereby cards can be funded through the bank, cash and person to person transfers (FATF Report 2010, p.36). In addition, there is a second typology which includes the exploitation of a virtual nature (face-to-face) of NPM accounts (FATF Report 2010, p.40). This typology has the highest potential to facilitate criminals in money laundering. On the other hand, if the firm chooses the third typology (complicit NPM providers or their employees) there is also a high risk, as portrayed in findings made by the IPS where prepaid car providers were controlled by criminals and as such were promoting cases of laundering (FATF Report 2010, p.33). From this perspective, where the regulation of NPM service providers are prepared, law enforcement agencies, supervisors, and legislators amongst others, are faced with various challenges. Simplified due diligence, digital currency, and suspicious transaction reporting in cross border cases, and law enforcement against foreign providers with identification of secondary card holders for instance, can go some way to counteract this (Financial Action Task Force 2006),. Therefore, FAFT’s recommendation that financial institutions should conduct CDD, is viable and realistic, except in cases relating to new payment methods (NPM) where its recommendations may have more limited impact. Conclusion Following the recent recommendation by FAFT to set the CDD measures out in law, a robust CDD system that would work effectively in this context should contain a team of experts. Specifically, it should contain human resources specialists, functional area managers with cultural understanding of various parts of the world due to globalization,, representatives from various parts of the globe to ensure authenticity of data sources along with a team of information technology experts. This would facilitate the use of New Payment Methods common in the current market and as such, the team of law experts would make this happen in compliance with law in various states of the globe. References Alldridge, P 2003 Money Laundering Law: Forfeiture, Confiscation, Civil Recovery, Criminal Laundering and Taxation of the Proceeds of Crime, Hart Publishing, Portland Oregon. Booth et al. 2011, Money Laundering Law and Regulation: A Practical Guide, Oxford University Press, New York. Demetis, DS 2010, Technology and Anti-Money Laundering: A Systems Theory and Risk-Based Approach, Edward Elgar Publishing, Massachusetts. Evanoff, DD 2009, Globalization And Systemic Risk, World Scientific, New Jersey Fagan, GH Munck, R 2009, Globalization and Security: Social and cultural aspects. Introduction to volume 2, ABC-CLIO, Carlifornia FATF Report 2010, Money Laundering Using New Payment Methods, Retrieved on 20th April, 2012 from http://www.fatf-gafi.org/dataoecd/4/56/46705859.pdf. Financial Action Task Force 2006, Report on new payment methods, Retrieved on 24th April, 2012 from http://www.fatfgafi.org/media/fatf/documents/reports/Report%20on%20New%20Payment%20Methods.pdf. Hopton, D 2009, Money Laundering: A Concise Guide for All Business, Gower Publishing, Ltd. Burlington. Knight, MD International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Exchange Affairs Dept 1998, Developing Countries and the Globalization of Financial Markets, Issues 98-105, International Monetary Fund. Marks et al. 2012, Middle Market M a: Handbook for Investment Banking and Business Consulting, John Wiley Sons, New Jersey Mills, A 2011, Essential Strategies for Financial Services Compliance, John Wiley Sons, New Jersey. Rosenbloom, AH 2002, Due Diligence for Global Deal Making: The Definitive Guide to Cross-Border Mergers and Acquisitions, Joint Ventures, Financings, and Strategic Alliances, John Wiley Sons, New Jersey. Schott, PA, World Bank International Monetary Fund 2006, Reference Guide to Anti-Money Laundering And Combating the Financing of Terrorism, World Bank Publications. Steiner, H Marini, SL 2008, Independent Review for Banks – The Complete BSA/AML Audit Workbook, Lulu.com, North Carolina. Tabb, WK 2004 Economic Governance in the Age of Globalization, Columbia University Press, New York. How to cite Law and Finance: Money Launderings Laws/CDD, Essay examples

Managing And Leading Justification For Focus-Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Managing And Leading Justification For Focus? Answer: Introducation The retail industry of Singapore has continued to weigh down due to the rising local and global business cost and the alarming crunch in labors in the past few years. The industry has shown the tendency of consolidating, therefore the demand of the retail space and rents went down. Therefore, for documenting the change management, the retail industry of Singapore has been chosen. As stated by Davies (2015) the retailers in Singapore have faced difficulties for the developing competition for the other regional and e-commerce sector. The increasing cost of the business has indicated towards the poor economics condition and the labor crunch. There have also been the technical disruptions which has gained attention in the past few years as the ones without the technical facilities have faced serious issues with their market share and led to lose more shares. Considering the economic ambiguity within the country, the retailers were also seen to take a watchful stance towards expanding the business. Therefore the existing organizations have also focused on the consolidation strategies and focused on utilizing more resources in their primary outlets. According to Fernie Sparks (2014), with the fast penetration of the global technology in the country, the retail sector should also increase their reliance in the mobile and technological convenience. The retailers have also seen to struggle to reach the expectations of the customers. The consumers have outreached to the global brands, specifically the one which offer advanced technological buying and payment options (Lukic, 2013). Therefore, the retail industry of Singapore immediately requires following some change management strategies in order to improve the exiting situation. This study will consider the NTUC FairPrice for documentation. Significant trends and drivers required for change that impacts the organizational operation There are few major drivers and trends that the retail industry should adapt for changing their organizational operations. Of late the retail industry in Singapore has shown several changes in a slower pace; however the technological advancements should be taken more seriously so that it can attract more customers within the globalization era. Varley (2014) also states that the ecommerce market in the country is expected to rise to US $5.4 billion. Therefore, it should also be noted that during this period the expectations of the consumers will also tend to vary and change in a drastic way in next few years. The following changes will be required for immediate change within the retail industry which may impact the organizational operations in NTUC FairPrice. Embracing the E-commerce The penetration of e-commerce within the Singapore retail industry has started few years back. This change has impacted the entire business sector to a great extent. Therefore the local businesses such as NTUC FairPrice, will have to emphasize more on having an omni-channeled approach which will incorporate the e-commerce technology. There are several organizations within the retail industry that have started coming up with the e-commerce sites. The tendency of shopping from the e-shops is also increasing, therefore in order to meet such requirements of the customers; the e-shops should also be created in a way that can fill up the gaps in the customer requirements across all possible channels (Hughe Wearing, 2016). The global companies coming in Singapore have already started offering an omni channeled business model, therefore in order to fight with such competitions, it is very accounting required to start adapting the e-commerce in the retail business. Online business and cloud technology The market for paying through mobiles in Singapore has already shown a steady growth. As stated by Schtz, Lehnert Nssel (2014) in the past few years this market has been one of the few leading markets that have done more contactless payments. Therefore NTUC FairPrice will immediately opt for creating the place for doing online business. The usage of the mobile wallet payment has also increased the potential for loyalty programs in the country. Therefore if the organization will start an online business as a change management initiative, they can offer more favorable experiences to the customers. Identification of three areas of change required in the workplace Employee training The training and development of the employees are very much necessary within the changed environment in the business. If NTUC FairPrice is going to set up an online business by reinforcing the e-commerce system, training will be very much required for increasing the success rate of the change management procedure. Worle Mohrman (2014) has indicated that most of the chain management failures have been observed due to the negative attitude of the employees which led to idle management behavior. Therefore, all the employees within the organization should come on board with the change. The organization should also provide training for e-learning within the change management procedure. The training will increase maintaining the visibility of the working procedures of the company to the employees. If the employees know about the beliefs, perceptions and value of the organization, it will be easier for them to cope with the changed situation. Formulating of In-house IT team within organization Creating an online website and increasing the payment options for the customers will require a technological team in the organization. It is also possible that the company may hire a third party organization to develop the online site; however that may cost a lot in the long run (Hayes 2014). Therefore, NTUC FairPrice should develop an in-house IT team that will develop the software and take care of the entire technical procedure. This may cost more initially, but an in0house It team will be quite beneficial for the organization later. Establishing capable HR management team A changed environment always requires teams who can work together and aware of the organizational mission and vision. Therefore, the human resource team NTUC FairPrice should be more cautious in hiring (Cameron and Green 2015). The organization can also establish a human resource management team which is capable of ensuring that the employees are aligned with the change management procedure. Response of the leaders on the change management The change management is adopted by the organization in order to understand the environment of the organization in terms of society, government and customers (Goetsch and Davis 2014). As mentioned earlier, the significance of the change management can also be witnessed through ease in evaluation of objectives, strategy formulation and implementation, identification of the technological issues, competencies of the employees to resist the change and lastly recognition of the ability to become globalized. In order to incorporate change in the workplace, management of the organization is firstly liable to adopt the change and the managers have to represent their leadership skills during this period (Hayes 2014). Thus, it can be sad that there is a relationship between management with change-management. Cameron and Green (2015) illustrated that the change management should be considered with the subject of cross-cutting theme and some traditional management areas like finance, production and recent strategic management concepts. Hornstein (2015) highlighted that change management is required and the better the change management is applied the effective will be the project success. The correlation between the change management effectiveness and accomplishment of project objectives shows an exponential graph. The transition of poor to fair, change management process increases the likelihood of meeting objectives by three fold (Laudon and Laudon 2016). Thus, change management process significantly increases the success rate of the effort. Moreover, the major responsibility of the management is to align all the business operation so that the productivity and profitability of the organization gets unaffected. In this section models and theories for change management is discussed that is suitable for the retail organization. Change management models and concepts Lewins Change Management Model Lewins Change Management Model comprises of three steps- unfreeze, change and then refreeze that represents initiation, management, and stabilization of the changes process respectively (Shirey 2013). Unfreeze: The first step of this model represent the preparation for the change. Worley and Mohrman (2014) furthermore stated that in this step the management identifies what changes should be incorporated for the betterment of the organization and the employees should assess what change they have to face if the existing business approach gets changed. Cummings and Worley (2014) portrays that during this phase, the management of NTUC FairPrice ask their employees to unlearn their existing attitudes and behavior along with their habits, old ideas and perceptions. The importance and expected outcome of the change is also introduced in this stage. Change: Burnes and Cooke (2013). stated that this is the crucial period of the model as in this stage, real transition or change takes place. The time taken to accomplish this stage is more as people learn new strategies; new working approaches so that their competencies can be aligned with the incorporated change. Booth (2015) portrays that not only the employees ability is witnessed in this stage but the potential of the leader and ability to reassurance is also important. As planned, if NTUC implements online services, the employees should develop their skills to use the newly incorporated technology. These employees are also liable to know all details of the new technology so that they can assist others. In this case, managers are also expected to hire professional so that their employees can get proper training and take necessary business strategy that can results in more profitability like formulation on in-house IT team. Refreeze: Once the incorporated change has been adapted by the stakeholders of the organization, the organization desires to sustain the incorporated change and this phase is known as refreeze phase (Burnes and Cooke 2013). The employees again get their normal pace and routine for accomplishing their work. In accordance with the selected organization and change, the employees should work with the new technology and handle the operations according to their job roles and responsibility. McKinsey 7 S Model The McKinsey 7 S Model is used for improving the performance of the organization, proper examination of the required changes within a company, alignment of all responsibility of the departments so that the new system can be successfully implemented and operated (Singh 2013). Alshaher (2013) furthermore stated that this model also describes the appropriate ways through which the best proposed strategy can be implemented. All the elements can be furthermore categorized into two parts- Soft S and Hard S According to their nature. (Abraham 2013) explains that "Hard" elements are easier to manipulate and management can direct approach to them and influence then but in case of soft elements are less tangible and more influenced by culture. Strategy The main aim of this step is to establish effective competitive advantage. NTUC FairPrice can adopt cost leadership business strategy as they are the only supermarket chain in Singapore and offer every product that is required in daily life. Bloch, Blumberg and Laartz (2012) on the other hand suggested that thing that an organization should consider is to avoid any misleading activities and they should also develop their current business moves. This is the reason that the concerned organization opted for developing online shopping so that whether NTUC outlets are not present, people can also experience their services through online services. In addition to that the strategy of virtual shopping is also an effective change management as people can shop on the way to their office. Moreover, a focus on availability, service and immense technological knowledge emerged as a strategic priority for the new management. Structure The structure of the organization resembles to the hierarchy that represents who reports to whom. Many organization follow centralized structure where the managers are the decision makers and it is required during the change management as the subordinates intends to follow the instruction rather than making decision on their own (Singh 2013). NTUC FairPrice should also adopt the centralized structure and the boards of directors are liable to develop strategy that is best suited for the organizations advancement. Systems This phase highlights the day-to-day activities that are to be performed in order to make the change management system a success (Baldwin et al. 2012). In case of NTUC FairPrice, a wide range of systems on a daily basis have to be sustained in order to serve thousands of customers every day. The technology of online and website design along with virtual shopping needs proper understanding and skills in employees. Parker et al. (2013) highlight that reformation of steering wheel performance appraisal system is incorporated for the employees who will outperform during this transition period. Shared Values The major aim and objective that an organization adopts to maintain their profitability is known as shared values (Baldwin et al. 2012). NTUC FairPrice in this case, desires to offer all the required things that the consumers demands. The change of the offline services to online presence is thought so that the customer base can be enhanced. However, incorporation of the online services also comes with other technological changes like effective supply chain management and online payment. This strategy also helps the organization to adopt the change of virtual store. Style Laudon and Laudon (2016) stated that the manner in which the changes and leadership is adopted in the organization is referred to as style. All the leaders of the concerned organization should follow contingency leadership styles. Cameron and Green (2015) depicted that during the change management process autocratic leadership style is best as to provides the followers with accurate solutions and a direction can be provided following which better profitability can be attained. However, Hayes (2014) argued that autocratic leadership styles does not make a person learn all the skills of they might have some problem in adapting in new technology. In tat case, the employee started fear their leaders and resistance to change cannot be obtained. Thus, the leaders should follow contingency leadership and the leaders should change their styles as per as the situation. Staff The stakeholders, who work to accomplish the organizational goals and objectives, are known as staff (Goetsch and Davis 2014). In case of the change management of NTUC FairPrice, especially the lower end employees, IT management team and customer care executives are the targeted staffs. Skills The competency that staffs posses to accomplish the desired roles and responsibilities in order to survive the change management is known as skills (Shirey 2013). The problem that might be faced by the employees is the proper utilization of the new technology and assist any customers regarding using the new technology. However this problem can be overcome by proper training and involving the employees in the practical usage of these technologies. Key elements for leading the change management It is important to resist the change management so that better outcome can be attained. The leaders and staffs should possess necessary skill so that the transition period can be overcome effectively. In this section, the required skills are addresses through which the change procedure can be handled. Understanding the importance of resistance ridges and Bridges (2017) stated that a leader should suggest their employees required ways through which they can resist the change. In addition to that, these leaders are also liable to make these staffs understand why the change has occurred. Goetsch and Davis (2014) thus depict that people are uncomfortable with change. In this case, the employees of NTUC FairPrice should provide with practical training so that they can feel the advantage of the new incorporated technology. Development of two-way communication is required in this case so that employees can directly communicate with their higher authorities. Cummings and Worley (2014) portrays that adopting change and utilize it completely need some time but the organization have to perform their objectives. Thus, two-way communication can helps in making the relationship transparent. In addition to that, digital communication tools can be uses so that the employees can contact their managers and other employees whenever they feel problem. Include staffs during the planning of change management Baldwin et al. (2012) suggests one of the best ways to make the staffs knowledgeable regarding the change is to include them in the meeting when organizations leading managers decided to incorporate some change. This session can be followed with a feedback, where staffs can give suggestion and think the scenario from their perception. In this approach not only the relationship asking the high authority and employee become transparent but the managers can also assess the situation with everyones perception. Inclusion in the meeting allows the employee to send the feeling of equality and they desire to train in the organization by resisting the change in the organization. Provision of support Bridges and Bridges (2017) stated that employees should be the most valuable stakeholder of the organization; however, these group are often neglected. Managers of the organization should assess individuals capability and provide them training according to them. In this approach not only the employees get extra support but some talent can also be identified, who can be provide with more challenging job roles and responsibilities. Taken for instance,; since the major focus of change in incorporation of the technological changes in the workplace, hiring third party contactors need much financial resources. However, this adversity can be overcome if the organization formulate in-house IT team and outperformance of some employees during the change process can help the organization to retain talent for a new position. Goetsch and Davis (2014) furthermore depicted that the leaders are also liable to formulate effective Human Resources team so that they can find effective candidates, who ha ve the required capabilities to handle the new technology with their knowledge. Continuous feedback and development of leadership style Goetsch and Davis (2014) stated that the best way to assess a business decisions is to take feedback from the employees as they can provide accurate outcome of the implemented strategies. These employees are also allowed to give suggestions that what according to them can be the alternative. In this way, the leaders can adopt participative leadership styles as both the employees and leaders collaboratively work to obtain the organizational goals. Reference List Abraham, S., 2013. Will business model innovation replace strategic analysis?. Strategy Leadership, 41(2), pp.31-38. Alshaher, A.A.F., 2013. The McKinsey 7S model framework for e-learning system readiness assessment. International Journal of Advances in Engineering Technology, 6(5), p.1948. Baldwin, T., Bommer, B. and Rubin, R., 2012. Managing organizational behavior: What great managers know and do. McGraw-Hill Higher Education. Bloch, M., Blumberg, S. and Laartz, J., 2012. Delivering large-scale IT projects on time, on budget, and on value. Harvard Business Review. Booth, S.A., 2015. Crisis management strategy: Competition and change in modern enterprises. Routledge. Bridges, W. and Bridges, S., 2017. Managing transitions: marketing the most of change. Da Capo Press. Burnes, B. and Cooke, B., 2013. Kurt Lewin's Field Theory: A Review and Re?evaluation. International journal of management reviews, 15(4), pp.408-425. Cameron, E. and Green, M., 2015. Making sense of change management: A complete guide to the models, tools and techniques of organizational change. Kogan Page Publishers. Cummings, T.G. and Worley, C.G., 2014. Organization development and change. Business learning. Davies, J. (2015). Exploring issues in change management: Developing a systems perspective on the management of learning and teaching initiatives.International Journal of Higher Education Management,2(1). Fernie, J., Sparks, L. (2014).Logistics and retail management: emerging issues and new challenges in the retail supply chain. Kogan page publishers. Goetsch, D.L. and Davis, S.B., 2014. Quality management for organizational excellence. Upper Saddle River, NJ: pearson. Hayes, J., 2014. The theory and practice of change management. Palgrave Macmillan. Hornstein, H.A., 2015. The integration of project management and organizational change management is now a necessity. International Journal of Project Management, 33(2), pp.291-298. Hughes, M., Wearing, M. (2016).Organisations and management in social work: everyday action for change. Sage. Laudon, K.C. and Laudon, J.P., 2016. Management information system. Pearson Education India. Lukic, R. (2013). Sustainable cost management in retail.Revista De Management Comparat International,14(2), 268. Parker, D., Verlinden, A., Nussey, R., Ford, M. and Pathak, R.D., 2013. Critical evaluation of project-based performance management: change intervention integration. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 62(4), pp.407-419. Schtz, V., Lehnert, S., Nssel, M. (2014). 2.2 Quality management and quality assurance in supply chains to food retail.Quality and Risk Management in Agri-Food Chains,1, 29. Shirey, M.R., 2013. Lewins theory of planned change as a strategic resource. Journal of Nursing Administration, 43(2), pp.69-72. Singh, A., 2013. A study of role of McKinsey's 7S framework in achieving organizational excellence. Organization Development Journal, 31(3), p.39. Tian, X., Schwartz, S. (2015). The Use of Analytical Platform to Identify Valuable Interventions in Retail Pharmacies. Varley, R. (2014).Retail product management: buying and merchandising. Routledge. Worley, C.G. and Mohrman, S.A., 2014. Is change management obsolete?. Organizational Dynamics, 43(3), pp.214-224.

King Lear The Element Of Disguise Essays - King Lear, British Films

King Lear: The Element of Disguise The play King Lear is, first of all, a play about kingship; about a trustful old king, every inch a king, who in old age brings destruction to himself, and to certain persons in his own circle, and to his country. It is a play which tears off the outer coverings. Pious and innocent-seeming people who are villainous, are revealed in their true nature, and the similar is disclosed for what it is, as it works destruction. This is done in a world in which most men are constantly seeking their own advancement, in a court which flatterers are always lurking, and in which a king should be constantly wary and constantly careful to follow the advice of such practical honest men as Kent. Within the first two acts of King Lear, the element of disguise is established. The king's two daughters, Regan and Goneril, use flattery as a disguise. They conceal their true feelings, conspiring to take over the land once they gain control of it. Goneril says, Sir, I love you more than word can weild the matter; Dearer then eyesight, space, and liberty; . . . . Beyond all manner of so much I love you. (I,I,{56-63}) Regan speaks, I am made of the same metal as my sister, And prize me at her worth. In my true heart I find she names my very deed of love, Only she comes too short, that I profess Myself and enemy to all other joys Which the most precious square of sense possesses, And find I am alone felicitate In your dear Highness' love. (I,I,{72-80}) Clearly, these words are loaded with flattery. The third daughter, Cordelia, cannot wear the mask that the other two wear, "I love your Majesty According to my bond, no more nor less." (I,I,{97-98}) It is for this reason that Cordeila is banished from the kingdom. An obvious example of disguise is with the Earl of Kent, as he enters the play as Tom of Bedlam. Even though he was exiled from the kingdom, he has returned to protect Lear. His great loyality to the king, forces Kent to risk his life in order to decieve Lear. Lear : What art thou? Kent : A very honest-hearted fellow, and as poor as the king. (I, IV, 18-20) A disguise normally is associated with covering up, leaving a very superficial character, but in the case with Kent, it is not so. Kent is still as loyal as he ever was, and it is clear from this scene that he will fight for Lear until his death. The element of disguise, was used extensively within the first two scenes. It shows how Regan and Goneril used this factor to decieve Lear, and it showed how kent used it to help the king.

Psychology-case studies essays

Psychology-case studies essays Yes, the skills and experience that come with age dont count for much because that is not what a company is looking for anymore. A company is looking for potential and street smarts instead of experience and wisdom. Age stereotypes in this article are that a forty-eight year old worker cannot do as much as a twenty-eight year old worker. It is not the case. Just because a twenty-eight year old worker will work 70 hours a week, doesnt mean the older worker cant do the same thing in a smaller amount of time due to his experience. People do not think that Debbie Brown is capable of doing what the future requires, so she most likely will not be able to because of a lack of support. Debbie and Toms causes of layoff are seen as internal factors, a low ability to keep up with a changing work environment, and also psychological factors expectancy of future success is very small, self-esteem is sure to fall, pride suffers, and shame comes into play. No I dont agree with the rational of employers and companies. If that is the way it is going to be in the future where are these 40 year olds going to go? There is nowhere. They cant be hired, there are no decent jobs for them to get, and they have families, bills, and responsibilities. If I were to give advice to some one who was in their 20s I would say to keep going to school, find a trade, or a skill that no one can take away from you. If I were giving advice to someone in their 40s I would tell them to hold on loosely but dont let go. ...

The 3 Best College Finders and Search Tools

The 3 Best College Finders and Search Tools SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips College finders can be a useful tool in your college search. College finders allow you to search for colleges based on specific criteria like size, selectivity, and cost. You select what you’re looking for in a college and then the college finder will spit out its results. In this article, I will explain what makes a college finder good and detail the pros and cons of some of the better college finders on the internet. What Makes a College Finder Good? The best college finders possess these qualities: Offer Ample Search Criteria The bad search finders will only allow you to search colleges based on a few items. Most of the subpar finders will limit their search criteria to only very general categories like location (US region), size, and type of college ( 2-year or 4-year and public or private). If you can only search for the location and the size of your ideal college on a certain finder, that may not help you narrow down your college search effectively. You may get hundreds of results that match what you’re looking for in those categories. You’ll more easily be able to find colleges that are a good fit for you if you can search for colleges based on many factors like cost, selectivity, majors offered, diversity, and extracurricular activities. At a minimum, a college finder should allow you to search for location, size, college type (2-year or 4-year and public or private), selectivity (admission rate and average GPA and SAT score), majors offered, extracurricular activities available, cost, and average financial aid awarded or percentage of financial need met. Allow You To Pick Multiple Options in Specific Categories A good college finder will allow you to select multiple options in the same search category.For example, better college finders will allow you to search for schools that are both large and medium size, as opposed to only being able to select one option. Give You the Ability to Choose How Important an Option Is to You Good college finders will allow you to prioritize how important specific search criteria are to you and will factor that into their search results. Maybe you’d prefer to go to a selective college, but that’s not extremely important. On good college finders, you’ll be able to indicate that that’s only somewhat important to you. Provide Important Facts and Statistics About the Colleges It Finds On good college finders, when you click on one of the colleges in your results, you’re given information about the school like its average SAT/ACT score and GPA, application deadline and requirements, student size, cost, and average financial aid award. How to Use a College Finder Effectively Think about your priorities for what you want in a college before you begin using a college finder. If it’s very important to you to go to a school with a stellar reputation, then â€Å"selectivity† will be an essential factor you should search for.For most college finders, selectivity is determined by the admissions rate and the average SAT and ACT score of the college. Schools with low admissions rates and high SAT and ACT scores tend to have a higher caliber of student and the best reputations. Search for colleges using the most important factors to you to help narrow your search.I think the most important factors you should search for when using a college finder are location (rural or urban and geographic region/state), selectivity, and majors offered. Some finders allow you to select a more general area of study or select multiple majors. If you just look for big colleges and get hundreds of results, that probably won’t be very helpful. To really narrow down your search results to a reasonable number, you’ll probably also have to select search criteria like extracurriculars, cost, percent of financial need met, and diversity. I think a good number to aim for in your results is 15-40 colleges. If you get more than 40 colleges in your results, add more factors or increase the level of importance of certain factors. If you get fewer than 15, you can remove some search options or decrease the level of importance of certain options. If you feel like you need everything you searched for, then those could be the schools you should apply to. Make sure you’re applying to at least a couple of safety schools. Generally, when you go through the search results, you’ll be able to eliminate at least a few of the options because they won’t have a quality that you must have in a college. Finders will give you a list that matches most of the criteria you’re looking for, but not every school in your results will match everything you searched for. I did a hypothetical search on the college finder College Board's Big Future based on qualities I'd want in a college if I ever got a chance to do my undergraduate experience again. I guess I like to think about things that are impossible. I got 33 results, but I was able to immediately eliminate more than half of them because they were in a state or city I wouldn’t want to live in (I searched by region) or they were either religious or tech schools. I wouldn’t want my second undergraduate institution to have a specific focus. Once you get your results, after you do any immediate eliminations, click on each individual result to get more information about the college. After reading about the school and its statistics, if it still interests you, save it (this is also an option in certain finders) or write down the name of the school. After you've gone through all the results in your search, you should be left with a list of potentially good college options for you. Then, it's your job to research those schools more extensively. Look at their websites, read college guidebooks like Fiske or Princeton Review's Top 380 Colleges, and consult teachers, counselors, and alumni. Additionally, you can gather information about specific colleges and learn about their reputations from college ranking lists. Reviews of College Finders All of these finders are completely free to use. They do require registration, which is also free, to use features like saving your searches or search results. Big Future Big Future is the College Board's college finder. How Does It Work? Step #1: Select filters on the left to narrow down your college search. Enter the most important qualities to you in your dream college first. As you're entering search factors, the number of results is updated and displayed. Under each category, there are related subcategories. For example, under "Test Scores Selectivity,† you can enter your SAT/ACT score and the level of selectivity (by acceptance rate) you’d like your college to have. Step #2: Add more search filters until you're left with about 15-40 schools, and you've selected everything that's important to you. Step #3: Click on the colleges in your search results that interest you to see full profiles where you can get useful information like average standardized test scores, graduation rates, application requirements and deadlines, and the most popular majors. Profile for Abilene Christian University Step #4: From all this information, determine if each college still interests you. If it does, write down the name of the school, or you can click "Add to My College List." If you register at the site, you can save your college list when you're done. Step #5: You can click "Compare Colleges" for a side-by-side comparison of major statistics for up to 3 colleges from your list to help you rank them or eliminate schools from consideration. Step #6: After you’ve read about and compared the colleges from your search results, you should be left with a list of anywhere from 6-20 colleges to research further. If you’re in the preliminary stages of your college search, you can do multiple searches as you consider what you’re looking for in a college. For efficiency purposes, I recommend doing no more than 3 searches. If you’ve determined some basic priorities for you before you use the finder, this shouldn’t be an issue. Keep in mind that most college experts recommend that you apply to about 6-12 colleges (including at least 2 safety schools) so that you have options, but you’re not applying to so many schools that the application and selection process becomes overly burdensome and time-consuming. Each student’s situation is unique, though. I know recruited athletes who only applied to one school because they were guaranteed admission and offered full scholarships to colleges they wanted to attend. Additionally, many students only apply to one school if they apply early decision to their #1 school and are admitted. On the other end of the spectrum, I know wealthy students who applied to over 20 colleges because they were able to incur the costs and they had multiple people helping them with the application and selection process. As a note, there are application fee waivers for students who can’t afford application fees. Step #7: After you apply to schools and get your acceptance letters, you can return to the finder to do more research or get statistics on the schools that admitted you to help you select the college you’ll attend. Pros Before you even do a search on the finder, there’s an interactive guide that breaks down each of the search criteria and asks you questions to answer to help you determine what you’re looking for in a college. Check out the info from the guide about â€Å"Location.† On Big Future, you can select how far from home or any other specified zip code you want to be, from within 20-3000 miles. Another advantage of Big Future is for each search category, you can choose how important it is to you from "Don't care" to "Want" to "Must have." Additionally, there are multiple search options within each category. For example, under "Type of School," you can select 2-year or 4-year, school size, public or private, and religious affiliation. One unique search category in Big Future is "Support Services." You can choose options like services available for learning disabled, services for minority students, and services for low-income students. Support services can be extremely beneficial resources to enable your success in college. Also, you can pick multiple options in different search categories. If you're searching by US region, you can select as many regions as you like. Another great feature is that you can see how your GPA and SAT scores stack up against other applicants if you click on "How Do I Stack Up?" From this feature, you'll get a better idea of how competitive the school is and how likely you are to gain admission. I made up some SAT scores for myself and this is what I was shown on the Abilene Christian profile: Finally, Big Future offers a quality user experience and is easy to use. The search criteria and results are displayed prominently. The information for each college in the results is organized clearly, and the font and organization of information allow you to see all the info easily. Cons While all the categories are extremely objective, there aren’t really any categories related to campus life or quality of life. On other finders, you can search for things like the quality of the party scene and whether a college is located in a great college town. Under diversity,you can choose the percentage of diversity when searching, but there isn't a search filter to help search for the level of representation of specific groups. While you can look for historically black colleges, if you’re an African-American student looking to go to a school with a sizable African-American student population, you can’t search for that on Big Future. College View College View is another good finder that provides a wealth of information and unique features. How Does It Work? Step #1: Select filters on the left to narrow down your college search. Enter the most important qualities to you in your dream college. There are 24 major search categories. Select as many search filters as possible. You can determine the importance level of each factor from "kinda" to "must-have." Step #2:Once you enter your first search category, you can choose the number of results that are displayed regardless of how many factors you search for, 10, 20, 50, 100, or 250. I recommend searching for 20, but you can search for 50 colleges if you are in the very early stages of your college search. Step #3: Click on the colleges in your search results that interest you to see full profiles where you can get useful info like links to virtual tours, graduation rates, application requirements and deadlines, and average standardized test scores. Step #4:From all this information, determine if each college still interests you. If it does, write down the name of the school, or you can click â€Å"Pin It!† If you register at the site, you can save your search and pinned schools when you’re done. You can pin up to 25 colleges for any search. Step #5:Click â€Å"Compare pinned schools† for a side-by-side comparison of the major stats for all your pinned schools. However, you can only view the info for 5 colleges on the screen without having to click the right arrow at the top of the screen. Step #6: After reviewing the info from the schools in your results and comparing them, make your list of schools that you’re interested in for further research. If possible, try to give the colleges preliminary ranks or put them in tiers from â€Å"most interested† to â€Å"kinda interested.† The ideal number of schools to research at this point is about 6-20 before you finalize your list of schools to apply to. If your priorities change during the college research process, you can use the finder again to update your list. Step #7:You can use the College View finder to help you with the college selection process after you learn of admissions decisions. Pros There are 24 search categories; you're able to select numerous filters to help find colleges that possess the qualities you want. College Viewdoes have more categories that can impact quality of life like â€Å"liberal-conservative,† â€Å"party scene,† â€Å"greek life† and â€Å"great college towns.† Also, unique to this finder, you can search for schools with a strong LGBT support system. For the colleges in your search results, you’re given a ton of information. I was especially intrigued by links to virtual tours and important application advice from each college’s website. In College View, you can search for colleges that have â€Å"high,† â€Å"typical,† or â€Å"low† representation of African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans, or Caucasians. Cons Some of the results didn’t seem to match what I was looking for. I did a search and selected that it was â€Å"very important† to find a â€Å"very selective† school (admitting less than â…“ of applicants) and it was â€Å"very important† to me to find a school that matched my made up SAT score of 2130. Based on the other options I selected, one of the search results was Northern New Mexico College, which doesn't even require SAT or ACT scores for admission and isn't considered a selective school. The user experience is not as good as Big Future’s. The design and font make search options hard to locate. The information looks cluttered and it’s not as easy to identify all the listed information. While it does have â€Å"special services† and disability services† categories, you can’t search for colleges with services for minority students and services for low-income students.In my college counseling experience, I know programs like EOPcan be very beneficial for low-income and first-generation college students. Finally, for cost, you can only search for the cost of tuition and required fees. In Big Future, you can search for the percentage of financial need a school meets and for colleges that have work-study programs, financial aid for international students, and college application fee waivers. Keep in mind that the listed cost of attendance is not what you'll have to pay if you demonstrate financialneed. College Data College Data is a good finder option for those of you who are especially interested in financial information. How Does It Work? Step #1:Select search filters to narrow down your college search. Enter the most important qualities to you in your dream college. Select as many factors as possible to limit the size of your search results. Step #2: Once you’re done selecting all of the factors that matter to you, you can view your results. The colleges in your results will be listed along with their statistics. Step #3: Click on the colleges that interest you to read about them and get helpful information like freshman retention rates, application requirements, organizations, and class size. Step #4: After reviewing the info from the schools in your results and comparing them, make your list of schools that you’re interested in for further research. Step #5:Do additional searches later on if your priorities change or to assist you during the college selection process. Pros There is much more extensive financial information in College Data than in Big Future or College View.You’re given many more statistics regarding financial aid for the colleges in your search results. For example, here is the financial aid information for Boston University. Also, there's a "financial friendliness" search category. You can search for the percentage of financial need met, amount of student debt, and percentage of students that receive merit aid. Additionally, you can search for colleges by their level of representation of students from particular backgrounds, including Native American, African-American, Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic, and international. For each group, you can select â€Å"No preference† or greater than or equal to 2%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 40%, 50%, or 75%. Lastly, you can select up to 3 majors or disciplines from a very extensive list to help limit your search results and find the college you're looking for. Cons There are far fewer search categories than in Big Future and College View. College Data only has 9 major search categories. You can't look for schools based on your SAT score or religious affiliation. Also, you have to register before you can use a number of the best features to investigate the colleges in your search results. Some of these features include estimating your chances of gaining admission, calculating your net price (cost after financial aid), and saving colleges from your search results. I was reluctant to register because College Data is sponsored by 1st Financial Bank and a student credit card is advertised on the home page. I thought if I registered, I might get a bunch of spam. Big Future is run by College Board, a non-profit, so you don’t have to worry as much about Big Future trying to sell you stuff. Like College View, the user experience isn’t great on College Data. The design and display of information makes information hard to locate. Also, the font size and style make everything a little difficult to read. Finally, for most of the search categories, you can only select one option, and you can't select how important search options are to you. Examples of Bad College Finders Big Future, College View, and College Data are three of the better college finders on the internet, mainly because they offer tons of information and unique features to help you find the best college for you. Here are a couple of bad college finders. They're less beneficial to use. Niche Niche only has 9 search categories and no subcategories. There are no search categories that you can’t find on other search finders. Nothing is uniquely good about this finder and it doesn’t have many of the options of the better finders. Peterson's Peterson's only has 8 search categories. All can be found in other college finders, and you can’t choose how important a search option is to you. While the user experience is good, this finder is far too general. There is so much more information on the better finders. Final Tips Overall, I think Big Future is the best finder. It offers the best combination of features, information, and user experience.However, College View is good to use if you want to do a search focusing on campus life or quality of life criteria. College Data is good to use if you want to do a search on or get extensive information about cost and financial aid. College finders should only be one tool, albeit a valuable one, in your college search. You should use college search websites, guidebooks, ranking lists, and guidance from teachers, parents, and counselors to help you select a college. Remember that these finders aren’t perfect and can’t determine for you which school is the best fit. They can give you insight and information to guide you, but after deciding what’s important to you, doing your research, and visiting colleges (if you have the chance), it’s up to you, and possibly your parents, to decide. What's Next? Make sure you read this excellent article on how to choose a college. Also, learn more about the differences between public and private colleges. Finally, look at this post to help you decide if you should go to a big or small college. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

There is no specific topic for it, just answer the questions Essay

There is no specific topic for it, just answer the questions - Essay Example This led to the fact that in the name of society freedom individuals and certain groups in society were subjected to coercion. In contrast, the principle of negative liberty is considering any kind of restriction or regulation as a threat to individual freedom and therefore strictly upholds freedom as noninterference. Thus, negative liberty as a principle of non-interference is above the positive freedom in regard to guarantees of freedom of the individual in society. This inspired Quentin Skinner to propose a "third concept of liberty." As a historian, Skinner restores intellectual tradition of civic republicanism, but as a political philosopher - a political tradition of republican liberty, where freedom considers to be the non-domination. Skinner puts forward an alternative understanding of negative liberty. In the center he puts the wellness of the community, though personal freedom of community members is not subordinated to community members.. In the republican tradition is regarded as a citizen of a free citizen in a free-only. Thus the only problem is in preservation of that freedom state. For every citizen the easiest way may be an economic prosperity and active political involvement. In other words, a person must do something for her freedom. Such understanding of freedom imposes greater demands than the liberal concept of negative liberty. Republican ideal of freedom is not just a simple non-interference, but an active involvement, which tries to promote freedom of the individual and freedom of government in the mutual dependence of these liberties. Thus, the community - its not just a social reality, but a result of active engagement and cooperation that goes beyond pure observation of own interests. In his letter from Birmingham Jail Martin Luther King also appeals to the republican conception of freedom as non-domination involving the historical memory of the protesters: "We had no alternative except

E-commerce and globalization Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

E-commerce and globalization - Assignment Example and taking into consideration the virtual space that has been created by the internet, coupled by the globalization of trade and the lifting of trade barriers by various governments, Amazon has been able to conquer nearly all parts of the world by its online businesses (Lynch, 2003). This has led to the classification of commerce as a specialized activity and special experience with Amazon becoming the largest commerce site for the selling of books and goods online. The first advantage relates to the experience that a person gets when browsing through the wide range of books online. Second, online selling spares buyers the time of moving around stores to sample the books that they need. Instead, one only has to do a click of their computer’s mouse and they have a wide range of books to sample. A person only needs to know about the name of the book as most people are unfamiliar with the ISBN concept. Third, online sale of books at Amazon Inc. entails very secure and simple buying procedures that any computer literate customer with basic skills would easily manage (Barfield, 2003). The payment procedures are also simple to use as a person would only require a PayPal account or credit card to make purchases. Subsequently, online sale of books allows the customers the opportunity to select between old and new books assuming that the old books are recalled when still in good condition. Nearly all books are available online and if not a request can be easily made for the same. Online sale of books is also efficient in the sense that one may just order online and then have the book delivered to their houses without having to move at an extra but, lesser aggregate cost. Finally, online shopping of books accords a buyer with the opportunity to assess books from different authors and publications. First, the buying and selling of books is at an extra internet cost that most people are unaware about. In most instances, these books that have to be sold online are to be

English Essay Example for Free

English Essay Culture polity, traditions, language, food, costume, belief system, architecture, arts, craft, music, dance, and sports which will be discussed in this article to give you an indication of Fijis indigenous community but also the various communities which make up Fiji as a modern culture and living. The indigenous culture is an active and living part of everyday life for the majority of the population. However, it has evolved with the introduction of vibrant and old cultures including Indian, Chinese and European culture, and various cultures from the Pacific neighbors of Fiji; in particular the Tongan and Rotuman cultures. The culture of Fiji, including language, has created a unique communal and national identity. Tradition and hierarchy Fijian indigenous society is very communal, with great importance attached to the family unit, the village, and the vanua (land). [1] A hierarchy of chiefs presides over villages, clans, and tribes. Chiefly positions are hereditary; a deceased chief is invariably followed by a kinsman or kinswoman, though not necessarily his own son or daughter. This reflects Polynesian influence: in most other Melanesian societies, chiefs are appointed on merit. The largest social unit for Fijians is the Yavusa, defined by R. A. Derrick as the direct agnate descendants of a single kalou-vu (deified ancestor). Chiefly succession was from older brother/sister to younger brother/sister, after the death of their father/mother. When the youngest brother/sister died, the eldest son/daughter of the eldest brother/sister became chief. This tradition still influences Fijian society today, though less rigidly: there is more of a tendency nowadays towards primogeniture. [2][3] Each brother/sister in the family then formed his own branch of the yavusa, called the Mataqali. Each mataqali became the custodian of a specific task. A fully developed Yavusa has several mataqali: * Turaga: This mataqali descends from the original ancestor through primogeniture inheritance of the eldest son in each succeeding generation. The chief of a village is always chosen from the Turaga mataqali. [1][4] * Sauturaga: These are next in rank to the chiefs, support him, and enforce his commands and also have final say in the installation of a Chief[1] * Mata ni vanua: These form the official heralds of the village. They are also in charge of ceremonial functions. [5] * Bete: This was the traditional priestly class. The kalou-vu was believed to speak through the Bete. [1][6] * Bati: This mataqali forms the traditional warrior class. [6] * Dau (skill) and Matai: these are the crafts people and specialized skilled people of the tribe e. g. Dau ni vucu (Poet/choreographer/composer), Dau ni yau (treasurer), Mataisau (carpenter/or Canoe builder)[1] The mataqali are subdivided into Tokatoka, each comprising closely related families. Several mataqali comprise a village, several of which form a yavusa or district. The British colonial rulers amalgamated the districts into Yasana, or Provinces. The districts also form three Matanitu, or Confederacies. These are often said to be agglomerations of provinces, but as the latter were a colonial imposition, the boundaries do not coincide exactly, and the Provinces of Tailevu, Ra, Naitasiri, Lomaiviti and parts of Yasawa and Ba makes the Kubuna Confederacy. This Confederacy in modern Fiji is considered to be the most senior. The other two are Burebasaga (covering the rest of Viti Levu), and Tovata, covering Vanua Levu, Lau archipelago and Rotuma. Despite its isolation and relatively small size, Tovata has been politically dominant since Fiji gained its independence in 1970. Language The official language is English while the national indigenous language is Bauan which is only one of the many dialects that exist in the Fiji Group, each of the fourteen provinces more or less have their own dialect though there is a clear distinction between the dialects of the West, Central and Eastern parts of the country. Other languages spoken in the country are Fiji Hindi, Cantonese, Rotuman, Gilbertese (Rabi Island), and Tuvaluan (Kioa Island). The Fiji Islands are traditionally linked to their island neighbours Rotuma, Tonga and Samoa, and this is evident in the culture and dialects of the Northern and Eastern provinces being Cakaudrove, Bua, Macuata, and Lau. The many dialects spoken in these four provinces consistently use sounds that are heard in Tongan and Samoan, but not so with dialects from the Western and South Western parts of Fiji. The Fijian language uses a Latin alphabet. However, the Fijian alphabet is dissimilar from the English alphabet. Fiji English The existence of many dialects within the Fijian language as well as exposure to the other languages spoken have contributed to many Fiji Islanders being bilingual. For general communication in an informal environment, a very interesting cross use of the languages has developed, resulting in slang now commonly referred to as Fiji English. In formal settings, of course, correct usage is adhered to. Fiji English comprises aspects of Fijian, English and Hindi, which reflects the history and identity of the people of Fiji. Fiji English is non-rhotic. . Cultural arts and social polity In culture, its various crafts and music give it an identity along with it traditional etiquette and varying forms of clothing attire, its unique architecture also tells a story of a culture and its evolution, the following will discuss these aspects of culture in Fiji. Arts and crafts Fijis arts and crafts reflect local adaptations of their Polynesian and Melanesian heritage. By tradition, the mens and womens crafts are separate. Womens crafts The village of Na lotu on Kadavu Island is famous for its pottery, the making of which is still governed by strict rituals. Nadroga and Rewa also produce fine pottery. Each region has its own unique style in the making of pottery. Tapa from the Lau Islands in Fiji. The making of Tapa cloth, or (masi), is another craft associated with women. Tapa is made from the bark of the paper mulberry tree and decorated in charcoal with symbolic motifs and various patterns. In modern times, it has become fashionable for a masi to bear the name of the person who made it. Masi are often exchanged as gifts on formal occasions. The island of Vatuelele of the southern coast of Viti Levu is famous for its masi products. Most Fijian mats are made from the leaves of the pandanus tree. The long process of preparation includes scraping and boiling the leaves, and drying them in the sun. There are different mats used for different occasions, and some are made as gifts for formal occasions such as weddings. Most mats are bordered with highly decorative and brightly coloured wool. One well-known Fijian mat is the kuta, made by women in Vanua Levu, particularly Bua. Weaving using various materials was another craft generally mastered by the women but also aspects of weaving were mastered only by the men, various types of weaving practiced were and still are; basket weaving, coconut rope weaving, and coconut leaves weaving. Mens crafts Carving was practiced by the men; carving would be used for items of practical use and simple shapes and design were used. A lot of effort was put into well adorned weapons and items for the home and ceremony, today carving is practiced for its use in tourism and no longer plays a major role in Fijian society and life except in the case of the Tanoa used from drinking Kava. Drua, the most impressive Fijian canoe. Canoe Building was another art practiced only by the men, canoes were not only the major form of communication, but were important in all aspects of Fijian society, from the gathering of food and transporting of crops to use in presentation ceremonies and they were instrumental in wars and politics which were rife in Fiji. 9] The art of Canoe building was varied across the group and had several different types but of a similar design, the Camakau was a small twin hulled canoe for fishing or small transportation purposes, the most impressive of Canoes in Fiji were that of the Drua. In Fijis early history before European involvement, Control of the seaway was a major and decisive objective; disrup ting or cutting off the enemies supply and reinforcements gave great advantage in battle and would ensure victory. Sea battles involving hundreds of canoes were frequent. The canoe, which inspired fear and awe and so often held the balance was the mighty Drua. One of the most elaborate and beautiful artifacts of Oceania, the Drua was a product of considerable group efforts and human sacrifice. Double hulled and of gigantic proportions, the Drua was a masterpiece of design and craftsmanship, requiring total community involvement in its construction and human sacrifice in its launching. 10] Its speed out at sea would be in excess of twenty knots and still remained highly manoeuvrable, it was capable of carrying upward of 150 warriors and took some 6 to 7 years to build and would vary in length from 100 feet to 118 feet and have a mast height of 60 to 70 feet, in the mid-19th century the following accounts were recorded: Up went the huge sail, down went the great steering oars, splashing into the sea, and away we shot like a racehorse. Owing to the great rate at which we were going, the sea was like a hissing cauldron on either side of our course, and the vessel, instead of having time to mount over the smaller waves, cut its way through them. (West, 1869). It had a magnificent appearance with its immense sail of white mats; its velocity was almost inconceivable. (Wilkes, 1840). Ratu Seru Cakobau commanded an impressive fleet which had Several Drua with armed warriors ready for battle the led Canoe was named Rusi I Vanua or Cursed is the land. 11] Much of the art of Canoe building has been lost and only a small few still practice the art on a very small scale as its use in this modern era seems to have lost its place. The craft of Canoe building was traditionally reserved for the male. Performing arts Fijian Rugby Team Performing a Traditional War Dance before their Rugby encounter against Canada. The Meke An indigenous art form is the Meke, which may incorporate the seasea (womens fan dance) or a meke wesi (mens spear dance). It is usually a narrative of an important event such as a war, a chiefly installation, or even a scandal. Some mekes are generations old, and form an important part of Fijis oral history. In olden times, the meke was considered to be an oracle from the gods, and the Dau ni vucu, or composer, would often go into a trance before a performance. Others are modern, composed for a particular event, much as a poet laureate might write a poem to celebrate an event in a Western country. Each district of Fiji has its own form of meke, performed in the local dialect. Other forms of Polynesian and Melanesian dance art forms exist with most widely known being dances of Rotuma and Tonga. There are also various Indian dances and Chinese dances which are performed at relevant festivals marking important times for these communities which are now a part of Culture in Fiji. Music Music of Old Fiji consisted of various chants which often told a story or preserved information to be passed on from generation to generation, these songs used various traditional instruments. With the introduction of European and Asian cultures music in Fiji has evolved and songs sung in the Fijian vernacular are popular but so also are songs in Indian and English, some local artists mix all three languages and traditional instruments from each culture making for a very interesting musical experience. A distinct Indian sound has evolved in Fiji that some see as influencing modern Indian music and even jazz. Clothing and costume The traditional attire was loin cloths for men and grass skirts for women. Skirts were short for single women, and long for married women, with girls wearing virgin locks before marriage. Most ladies of rank had the lower parts of their bodies decorated with tattoos. Chiefs dressed more elaborately. Modern Fijis national dress is the sulu, which resembles a skirt. It is commonly worn by both men and women. One type worn by both men and women is the Sulu va Taga pronounced Sulu vah Tanga which is a wrap around piece of rectangular material which is elaborately decorated with patterns and designs of varying styles this is for more casual and informal occasions. Many men, especially in urban areas, also have Sulu va taga which is a tailored sulu and can be tailored as part of their suit. Many will wear a shirt with a western-style collar, tie, and jacket, with a matching Sulu va taga and sandals, this type of sulu can be worn to a semi formal or formal occasion. Even the military uniforms have incorporated the Sulu va taga as part of their ceremonial dress. Women usually wear a multi-layered Tapa cloth on formal occasions. A blouse made of cotton, silk, or satin, of often worn on top. On special occasions, women often wear a tapa sheath across the chest, rather than a blouse. On other occasions, women may be dressed in a chamba, also known as a sulu I ra, a sulu with a specially crafted top. There are many regional variations throughout Fiji. Residents of the village of Dama, in Bua Province and Cakaudrove i Vanua (Province), Fiji wear finely woven mats called kuta, made from a reed. While traditional and semi-traditional forms of dress are still very much in use amongst indigenous Fijian culture, there is a greater influence for Western and Indian Fashion in urban areas as in neighboring developed nations. Traditions and ceremonies Etiquette in indigenous Fijian ceremony is rather intricate depending on the function as various formalities and presentations which do several things; firstly it shows respect between two communal groups, strengthen tribal and family ties and reinforce social, tribal and family ties. Various items are used in ceremony and surrounded by ceremony, Kava, known in Fiji as yaqona, is Fijis national drink. Traditionally, it was used only in important ceremonies. Nowadays, it is a social beverage. There is a strict protocol associated with yaqona drinking. One should clap once, clasping the hands, take the cup, and drink the yaqona in a single draft before returning the cup to the bearer. Another highly prized item in ceremony is the tabua or Whales tooth, other items also the use of mats (masi) are also used traditionally in ceremony also various regions have tradition that has been passed down generation to generation for centuries one example are the firewalkers of beqa. The Sawau tribe of Beqa are noted for their ability to walk on white hot stones without being burned. 12] Strict rituals have to be observed before the firewalking ceremony. There is an ancient myth about how an ancestor of the Sawau tribe was given this power by a spirit god in exchange for his life, after the god was captured by the man who was fishing for eels. Cuisine The cuisine of Fiji in pre-colonial times consisted of root crops, vegetables, and fruits, as well as various land animals such as wild pig, human, and various birds. The coastal tribes would have had the same, but also had a large amount of local seafood. These would have been prepared with local herbs and spices on wood fire rock ovens. Most cooking areas were located in the center of house so the smoke would repel insects and strengthen the roof thatching. Another popular method of cooking, which is still used today, is the lovo which is an earth oven[13] — a fire made on in a pit in the ground lined with heat-resistant stones. It closely resembles the hangi of the New Zealand Maori. When the stones are hot, food wrapped in (banana) leaves, is placed in the pit, covered with soil and left to cook before being exhumed and eaten. Dishes cooked this way include palusami, parcels of taro leaves saturated with coconut milk, onions, and sometimes tinned meat. Modern Fijian Cuisine is rather diverse with great influence from Indian cuisine and spices. When these are applied to local traditional dishes, it makes for interesting eating. European, Indian, and Chinese variants of cuisine, along with traditional foods, are common place in most, if not all households in Fiji. Architecture A bure kalou, a sketch done in the early 1800s. In Old Fiji, the architecture of villages was simple and practical to meet the physical and social need and to provide communal safety the houses were square in shape and with pyramid like shaped roofs,[14] and the walls and roof were thatched and various plants of practical use were planted nearby, each village having a meeting house and a Spirit house. The spirit house was elevated on a pyramid like base built with large stones and earth, again a square building with an elongated pyramid like [14] roof with various scented flora planted nearby. The houses of Chiefs were of similar design and would be set higher than his subjects houses but instead of an elongated roof would have similar roof to those of his subjects homes but of course on a larger scale. With the introduction of communities from Asia aspects of their cultural architecture are now evident in urban and rural areas of Fijis two main Islands Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. A village structure shares similarities today but built with modern materials and spirit houses (Bure Kalou) have been replaced by churches of varying design. The urban landscape of early Colonial Fiji was reminiscent of most British colonies of the 19th and 20th century in tropical regions of the world, while some of this architecture remains, the urban landscape is evolving in leaps and bounds with various modern aspects of architecture and design becoming more and more evident in the business, industrial and domestic sector, the rural areas are evolving at a much slower rate. Literature The emergence of Fijis literature (as distinct from oral literature) coincides with the countrys transition to independence in 1970. Among the first published works of Fijian literature, in the late 1960s and early 1970s, were Raymond Pillais short stories (in English) and Pio Manoas poetry (in English and in Fijian). More recent notable Fiji writers include Satendra Nandan (poet and novelist), Sudesh Mishra (poet), Larry Thomas (playwright), and Joseph Veramo (novelist). Religion Religion is quite diverse with Christianity being the dominant faith in Fiji. Many Christian denominations are present in Fiji, the most prevalent of which is Methodist. Of the other Asian religions the Hindu faith is dominant, followed by Islam. There are other belief systems observed by Fijians as well. The impact of Christianity The impact of Christianity in the 19th century resulted in certain traditions being proscribed. In the pre-Christian era, human sacrifice was practiced. Men were buried alive to hold the pillars to the house of a chief. Cannibalism was practiced, too:[16] the bodies of enemies slain in battle, or in sacrifice, were piled up and cooked for festivals, such as the installation of chiefs or the launching of a great canoe. 16] Seru Epenisa Cakobau. The Bauan warlord who united the disparate tribes of Fiji and proclaimed himself King in 1871, renounced cannibalism on his conversion to Christianity in 1854. A bure kalou, a pre-Christian Fijian religious Building. Old religion Fijis old religion is no longer practiced by the majority in the indigenous community who have adopted Christianity. Old deities are still acknowledged and respected, but not worshipped. Fijian rituals still exists in private. Demographics Of the various faiths, Christianity is the dominant belief system and ncluding all the various denominations of the Christian faith they number in total 449,482. Hindus, with their various denominations, number in total 261,097. Muslims make up 54,324 of Fijis population. Followers of other belief systems make up 10,166 of Fijis population. Sports Sports culture is unique as different racial mixes and cultures come together in a common interest. Fiji is fanatical about sports and the two most dominant being rugby and soccer. Traditional sports Sports in older times had a practical place, apart from recreation, helping to train young warriors. One such practice would have the older men bring the male children a severely injured captive of war, allowing the boys to practice their archery skills against this living target. There were other sports that were practiced in older times which are not practiced now. Notable traditional sports used to be played were tiqa, ulutoa, veisaga, and veisolo. Modern sports The Fiji sevens team at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. Sports have developed greatly over the past two decades in Fiji with a wide variety of sports undertaken. Fiji is most well known for its prowess in the game of rugby union and in particular rugby sevens. Rugby union Rugby union is the most popular sport in Fiji. The highest level of competition is the Colonial Cup. The Fiji national rugby union team has competed in five Rugby World Cup competitions. The Fijian Rugby Sevens team is constantly one of the top two or three teams in the world, often the premier team. Rugby league Rugby league is a popular team sport played in Fiji. The Fiji national rugby league team is known as Fiji Bati, with the team competing in three Rugby League World Cup competitions. They made it to the semi-finals of the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. Football Football was a minor sport, but over the last decade with further international funding from FIFA and sound local management of the sport has grown in popularity amongst the Indian community initially but now also the Fijian community. Other sports Many sports exist in Fiji and in many ways has its own cultural following, sports such as golf which has been made famous by Fiji athlete Vijay Singh. Sports such as cricket and surfing which was brought to prominence by former world champion and Fiji athlete Tony Philips. Sailing in varying forms, various adventure sports, athletics, various Asian martial arts, boxing, and the list goes on.