Threat of migration as a core feature of the demographic landscape Essay

Threat of migration as a core feature of the demographic landscape - Essay Example This essay demonstrates that perhaps the biggest threat that migrant children face is that of child labor and trafficking. Due to lack of awareness, migrant children are known to be easy prey for child traffickers. In most cases, such children are lured with the promise of a good life elsewhere but most of them end up as being sex slaves while the boy children end up in construction and agriculture in some nations. In some Caribbean nations, some agencies came up to the children of migrants offering to reunite them with their parents. The children transit in such journeys without any adult accompaniment and this makes them vulnerable to child traffickers. Even after being united with their parents, some parents and especially mothers end up encouraging their daughters to participate in the sex trade for to help in paying the family bills.In conclusion, most families from third world nations have used migration as a means for economic survival. While parents who have migrated abroad i ncrease the remittances to their families, research has continually shown that such a move presents numerous threats to children. In most cases, the children who have been left behind are placed in a situation that increases their vulnerability something that has a negative effect on their psychological wellness. In addition to this, such children are vulnerable to abuse as well as misuse. Even the migrant children are not left out as they suffer the threat of sexual exploitation, child labor, and trafficking.

Steps in Medical Billing Process Essay Example for Free

Steps in Medical Billing Process Essay There are several steps to the medical billing process step one to ten are as follows: Preregister patients, Establish financial responsibility for visits, Check in the patients, Check out the patients, Review coding compliance, Check billing compliance, Prepare and transmit claims, Monitor payer adjudication, Generate patient statements and finally Follow up patients payments and handle collections. Preregister patients is when you schedule and update appointments and collect insurance information for the patients. When you are scheduling appointments for new patient you need to get basic information and insurance information and reason for appointment. Establishing Financial Responsibility is an important step where you must determine what services are covered under the patients insurance and what service they are responsible for this also help if a preauthorization is need and ensures that are information is done and billed correctly. Check in Patients This is when you collect all necessary information from the patient such as copies for insurance cards. This is also, where you can collect copays and make sure the patient’s information is correct and updated if need be. Check out Patients This is where you record the proper medical codes for the visit. This is also where you provide information if the patient has made a payment or how much they owe and to make sure it is coded properly so the patient will be charged correctly. If payment or copays have been made then a receipt is given. Review Coding Compliance This is where guidelines must be follow when coding the visit. This must be checked for errors and the visit and the code should be connected so the payer understands the charges. Check Billing Compliance Each charge, or fee, for a visit is related to a specific procedure code. The provider’s fees for services are listed on the medical practice’s fee schedule. Most medical practices have standard fee schedules listing their usual fees. Even through there is separate codes for each fee not all are necessarily billable Prepare and Transmit Claims This is where the claims are prepared and submit in a timely manner listing the diagnosis, procedures, and charges for the payer. Most are sent electronically and each practice, as a policy as to when claims are filed be it daily, every other day etc. Monitor Payer Adjudication is where the where the health plans decide rather to pay the whole bill, part of the bill or deny the bill altogether. It is important for them to get their money as soon as possible, this is also where any discrepancies are address, and an appeal is then file if there are any discrepancies found. Generate Patients Statements This is where payments are listed from the payer, and what is still owed and what the patient is being billed it is them mailed to the patient. The date of service and any balances , and services provided are all listed on the statement. Follow up patients payments and collections this is where patients payments are monitored and checked and if they are behind they are sent a notice and if still no response collection procedures maybe started.

Rodin Essay -- Essays Papers

Rodin Like most artists, Rodin was not an overnight success. Even though he was rejected numerous times from art schools because of his art style, he prevailed in the end. Rodin, like many artists, got their inspiration from other great and famous artists. In Rodin's case, his inspiration came from Michelangelo. In Rodin's more famous works, one can see the similarities between the two artists' artwork. Rodin's parents were not wealthy, therefore, he was not able to attend an art school of his choice. His father, however, did send him to Petite École, "a training ground for commercial draftsman and practiciens--cutters and finishers of work in stone". At the age of seventeen, Rodin won his first prize for a clay model and he came in second place for one of his drawings. His teachers at Petite École encouraged him to "try for the Grande École des Beaux-Arts". He applied, but was not accepted. Not giving up hope, Rodin applied two more times, but was rejected. Determined to make a living, he worked for a large commercial designer. It was there, that he created numerous objects with his hands; anything from masks of gods to cupids. This is where he began to see that he had a future in what he loved the most, art. Even though Rodin was an artist, his career did not take off so soon. When he was 22, his sister Maria died. He anguished so much over her death that he decided to leave his art. He quit everything and decided to enter the Order of the Fathers of the Very Holy Sacrament. While living in the monastery, Rodin confided in Father Eymard, and he was the one that told Rodin to continue sculpting and not to give up. Rodin eventually realized that religion was not his calling and once he had enough money saved up, he moved into his first studio. From that point on, he was fully committed to his artwork. Rodin said that it was so cold in his studio, (he could not afford to have heat) that he would wake up and see parts of his sculptures on the floor. "Since I didn't have the money to have them cast, each day I lost precious time covering my clay with wet cloths. Despite that, at every turn I had accidents from the effects of the cold and heat. Entire sections detached themselves–heads, arms, knees, chunks of torso fell off; I found them in pieces on the tiles that covered the floor" . In 1864, Rodin created a masterpiece, something that would change his ... ...ed, he prevailed and was able to live happily; considering what a hard life he had. Rodin died in November 1917 and his common-law wife, Rose, died in February of 1917. Rodin died with having completed over 400 sculptures and 7,000 drawings.Two of Rodin's most famous pieces of work were finally shown in the Salon in 1878, The Man with the Broken Nose and the Age of Bronze. I had a chance to see several Rodins and visit his home in paris last summer and while he may reflect Michealangelo ,it was clear ,no one could deny his talent as a sculptor. His forms hold such a strong sense of motion and strength. My favorite would have to be his sculpture the Kiss, it stands in the garden de’Tolluries in paris and just left such a strong impression on me. Bibliography 1.Cunningham, Lawrence and John Reich. Culture and Values: A Survey of the Western Humanities. Vol. 2, 4th Edition. Forth Worth: Harcourt Brace College Publishers, 1998. 2.HalWilliam Harlan and the Editors of Time-Life Books. The World of Rodin: 1840- 1917.Virginia: Time-Life Books, 1978. 3.Lampert, Catherine. Rodin: Sculpture and Drawings. Hong Kong: Kwong Fat Offset Printing Co. Ltd., 1986.

An analysis of Macbet’s struggle Essay

Violence, blood and death. The quintessential characteristics of war. Shakespeare’s Macbeth is based on a war, but not your typical one. The real war in the play and the underlining factor leading to Macbeth’s death, is not fought on a battlefield, there are no swords, and no soldiers to swing them. The real war is fought in Macbeth’s mind. Macbeth’s conscience and vaulting ambition alternate in controlling his actions throughout the play. Many critics of the play believe that from the first scene to the last, Macbeth’s character is unchanging, and that he is always governed by his greed, selfishness and evil. This is not so. Right from the outset of the story, Macbeth’s indecisiveness is evident. In act I, Macbeth struggles a great deal in deciding whether or not to murder the king and take his throne. When Macbeth is first given the prophecy that he will be king, he dreads the thought of killing a man that has been like a father to him. This shows that Macbeth has a conscience, and that deep down inside, he is a good person. When he arrives home to his kingdom though, he is greeted by Lady Macbeth who reveals her plan to make her husband King when she says: â€Å"I will pour my spirits into thine ear, And chastise with the valor of my tongue All that impedes thee from the golden round.† (Iv, 24 – 26) Macbeth’s conscience tries to fight the constant attacks by his wife who insists that he should kill the king. Finally, Macbeth decides his fate, listens to the poisoned words of his wife and kills Duncan. Immediately after the death of Duncan, Macbeth is completely overcome by guilt. For the moment, he forgets about the now empty throne, and can’t comprehend what or why he has done what he has done. When Lady Macbeth realizes that in a state of confusion he has forgotten to remove the daggers from the King’s room, she tells him to go back and get them. He replies by  saying â€Å"I’ll go no more./ I am afraid to think what I have done. / Look on’t again, I dare not† (II ii, 50 – 52). This passage outlines the fact that once again, his conscience has taken over control of his mind. Macbeth feels horribly about what he has done to his King. When Macbeth tries to wash the blood from his hands he remarks: â€Å"Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather The multitudinous seas incardine, Making the green one red† (II ii, 60 – 63) Macbeth believes that what he has done will never be washed away from his conscience. He will always have the death of King Duncan hanging over his head. Unfortunately, this is the last we see of Macbeth’s conscience. Tormented over the likelihood of being unmasked as Duncan’s murderer, Macbeth continues his evil ways in an attempt to stay on the throne. His vaulting ambition has surfaced once more to overthrow any spot of good left in him and he shows no more remorse for Duncan’s murder. Wanting to become â€Å"safely† king, Macbeth plots out the murder of one of his best friends Banquo, the only other person besides Macbeth and his wife, who is aware of the three witches and their prophecy. Again, this shows that his need to succeed in life is overshadowing his conscience. Macbeth’s last, and most evil deed is the slaying of Macduff’s family. Macbeth puts innocent women and children to death in an attempt lure Macduff back to Scotland so he can have him murdered as well. At this point in the play, it seems as though Macbeth doesn’t have a good bone in his body. The little voice of reason inside his head has been snuffed out, and he decides that the only way to be a good King is to make drastic and rash decisions. Macbeth unravels before our eyes and is finally beheaded by Macduff in revenge for the slaying of his family. The war between Macbeth’s conscience and his vaulting ambition is not fought  on a battle field but still had all the exemplary attributes of one that is. Violent acts were carried out, blood was shed, and people died. The struggle going on In Macbeth’s head was finally over, his ambition the victor, and Macbeth himself the defeated. When the hurly-burly was done, the war in Macbeth’s mind was both lost and won.

Mall Assignment Observation Writeup Essay

The store was more male-dominant, though there was females present. Every employee was wearing a blue apple employee shirt. It seems as though that is the only dress code requirement. Clear evidence of emotional work, the employees were all smiling, cheerful, and very welcoming. I observed an employee acknowledging concerns of his customer, and trying his best to change their mood into a positive one. Every employee looks different; signs of individuality apparent. The Work It looks like the employees were having fun. Some were socializing in groups, some where helping customers, and others were doing their own thing but it seemed very relax and fun. I observed their check-in system for technical appointments. Customers walk in and head towards the employee with the green iPad. After checking in with that specific employee, they head back to the genius bar and wait for their name to be called. I also observed an employee selling a mac to a customer. Another employee brought out the mac to the customer during this interaction. I saw employee cleaning the products on the tables with clothes and re-cable wires after customer use. The store was very clean, well-kept, and bright. There was no hiring signs The Store Atmosphere Music was playing, different from the music played in the mall The feel of the store is very communal and social. It felt like a social gathering. The store caters anyone wanting to play with technology, gain technical support  for apple products, or buy apple products and apple accessories The products being sold: iMacs, macbooks, iPads, iPhones, apple accessories, speakers, headphones, earphones, computer software, printers, etc. Customer’s demographics vary, all different ages, both male and female, and all different races. This place of business housed all races, ages, and both genders. Customers behaved friendly. Customers and workers interact very friendly and openly. Store: H&M Date of Observation: March 30th, 2015 Time of Observation: 1:45 PM The Workers Observed about 10 people working, 3 cashiers, and 6 employees walking around the store assisting customers. 4 male workers, 6 female workers.  Young in age ranging from 18-24, one old worker which I assumed to be the manager. One white female (older worker), and the rest of the workers were of African-American background. There was no uniform, just a name tag. All the workers were their own clothing and had their own style. Most of them where not smiling. No signs of emotional work. Signs of individuality based on no uniform requirement The Work It did not look like the workers were having fun, no emotion on the face. When I went to ring out a piece of clothing, all the worker asked for was my form of payment and said â€Å"have a nice day†. There was no eye-contact or communication. I did not observe much practice except employees walking around fixing messed up clothes and re-arranging articles of clothing on the wall Workers at the cashier communicated amongst themselves. Workers walking around did ask if anyone needed help. Nature of work was clothing retail. The store was clean and well-kept, bright and brightened. There was no hiring signs 40% off discount sign at entrance of store The Store Atmosphere H&M Store The store is divided into two parts with two entrances. One entrance for the male section with male clothing and accessories and one entrance for the female section with male clothing, accessories, and jewelry. The store feels very welcoming as it is very brightened. Hip-hop music was playing in the background Store caters to customers looking to shop for clothing and custom jewelry Sneakers, formal and informal dress attire, custom jewelry, hats, and various articles of clothing are being sold Young (teenagers) customers come into the store both male and female Races vary: Hispanic, Caucasian and African American Customers minded their own business, did not interact with other customers. There was little to no interaction with customers and workers unless a customer needed help At the cashier, workers did not communicate with customers except for asking for form of payment, ID, and wishing them to have a nice day Store: Michael Kors Date of Observation: March 30th, 2015 Time of Observation: 2:30 PM The Work The women did look like they were having fun even though the store was empty and they were just standing around. They were laughing with each other  while being attentive to customers Workers helped customers try on watches and sized purchase watches by removing links. It seemed as if the coworkers cultivated friendships by how sociable they were with each other Nature of work is customer service and retail for clothing retail and fine jewelry and accessories The store was very clean, well organized, elegant and vibrant There was no signs of any hiring signs. The Store Atmosphere Michael Kors store The store is very bright and vibrant. Lights shine on the mannequins in the window display. A lot of glass display of watches. The feel of the store is very sheik and classical. There is a feeling of wealth when walking into the store. Everything looks very pricey and exclusive The store caters to anyone who is interested in watches and female clothing. The store predominately caters to women however there is a section for mens watches that caters to strictly men. A lot of young customers came into the store however, there were some old customers too. In regards to race, a lot of customers of Caucasian background came into the store and a few of African American background. Most people who came into the store were women. The products being sold are dresses, boots, purses, totes, watches, wrist jewelry, etc†¦ Customers behaved very friendly, and customers and workers interacted well with each other.

Infrastructure Developments Essays - Hong Kong, Geography Of China

Infrastructure Developments Essays - Hong Kong, Geography Of China Infrastructure Developments The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) link roads of Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macao The HZMB is of special strategic value in further enhancing the economic development of Hong Kong, Macao and the Western Pearl River Delta region (Western PRD). It will significantly reduce the cost and time for travellers and for the flow of goods between Hong Kong and the Western PRD, accelerating the economic integration of the PRD and its neighbouring provinces, and increasing its competitiveness. Construction of the project has started in December 2009 for completion in 2017. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL) will be 26-km long, running from the terminus in West Kowloon to Shenzhen, Dongguan and Guangzhou with significantly reduced journey time. More importantly, it will become part of the 16,000 km national high-speed rail network now being developed in full steam, fostering closer economic ties between Hong Kong and the mainland. Upon completion of the railway, the travelling time from Hong Kong to Beijing and Shanghai will be shortened to about 10 and 8 hours respectively. Construction of the project has commenced for completion in 2018. Besides the cross-boundary endeavours, the government has undertaken other large-scale infrastructure projects to improve the local transportation system, promote long-term development for arts and culture, and provide quality living space to citizens. As to the extension of the mass transit railway system, the West Island Line, the Kwun Tong Line Extension and the South Island Line (East) have been opened; while the Shatin to Central Link is expected to complete in 2021. The government has also announced the Railway Development Strategy 2014, providing a framework for planning the further expansion of Hong Kong's railway network up to 2031 to cover areas inhabited by about 75% of the total population and about 85% of job opportunities. Besides, a cruise terminal has been developed at the former Kai Tak Runway, with two alongside berths, well equipped with supporting facilities to accommodate the concurrent berthing of two mega cruise vessels (with gross tonnage of up to 220,000). As the busiest cargo gateway and one of the 10 passenger airports in the world, the Hong Kong International Airport needs an expansion since the existing two-runway system will reach its full capacity soon, according to the Hong Kong Airport Authority. The construction of the Three-runway System has started in 2016 for completion in 2024, with the commissioning of the new runway expected in 2022. Turning to the port, the government has released findings of the Study on the Strategic Development Plan for Hong Kong Port 2030 and the Preliminary Feasibility Study for Container Terminal 10 at Southwest Tsing Yi. The findings reveal that container throughput in Hong Kong will continue to see growth in the coming years. In order to cope with a projected future increase in throughput up to 2030, it is necessary to enhance the handling capacity of the existing container terminals and related infrastructural facilities, which include upgrading Stonecutters Island Public Cargo Working Area to a modern container handling facility for ocean-going or river trade vessels, enabling the River Trade Terminal to become a terminal for both ocean-going and river trade vessels, providing additional barge berths at the Kwai Tsing Container Terminals to relieve congestion caused by the increase of river cargo throughput, and making better use of land and other facilities around the terminals to enh ance operational efficiency and accommodate future growth in transhipment. HKSAR Transport and Housing Bureau. (2008). Study on Transport Linkage between Hong Kong and Pearl River West. Retrieved from thb.gov.hk/eng/policy/transport/issues/cbt_3.htm HKSAR Highways Department. (2010). Project Benefits-Transportation. Retrieved from hzmb.hk/eng/benefits_transportation.html Brian, G. (1987). Built Environment , Vol. 13, No. 2, Tourism and Regional Development, pp. 68-72 HKSAR Highways Department. (2010). Project Benefits-Economic. Retrieved from hzmb.hk/eng/benefits_economic.html

How to Get a GRE Voucher and Discounts on the Test

How to Get a GRE Voucher and Discounts on the Test The GRE testing fee can be a significant barrier for applicants on a limited budget. However, financial assistance is available through several vouchers and fee reduction programs. In fact, you may be able to save as much as 100% on your GRE testing fee. GRE Vouchers The GRE Fee Reduction Program provides 50%-off vouchers for test-takers with demonstrated financial need.The GREÂ  Prepaid Voucher Service sells vouchers to organizations and institutions, which in turn offer savings to test-takers with demonstrated need. These vouchers can cover part or all of the testing fee.GRE promo codes, which can be found online through a simple Google search, can help you save money on test prep materials. There are three basic ways to save on the GRE: the GRE Fee Reduction Program, GRE Prepaid Vouchers and GRE promo codes. The first two options will reduce your testing fee, while the last option will help you save on test prep materials. GREFee Reduction Program The first place to look for savings is the GRE Fee Reduction Program. This program is offered directly through ETS, the makers of the GRE. The GRE Fee Reduction Program provides saving vouchers to test takers who will be taking the GRE in the United States, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands or Puerto Rico. The GRE Fee Reduction Program voucher can be used to cover 50% of the cost of the GRE General Test and/or the cost of one GRE Subject Test. There is a limited supply of vouchers, and they are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so vouchers are not guaranteed. The program is open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, 18 years or older, with demonstrated financial need. To apply, you must be either an unenrolled college graduate who has applied for financial aid, a college senior currently receiving financial aid, or unemployed/receiving unemployment compensation. Additional requirements are as follows: Dependent college seniors must submit an FAFSA Student Aid Report (SAR) with a parental contribution of no more than $2,500.Self-supporting college seniors must submit an FAFSA Student Aid Report (SAR) with a contribution of no more than $3,000; they must also have self-supporting status on the report.Unenrolled college graduates must submit an FAFSA Student Aid Report (SAR) with a contribution of no more than $3,000.Unemployed individuals must prove that they are unemployed by signing a declaration of unemployment and submitting an Unemployment Benefits Statement from the past 90 days.Permanent residents must submit a copy of their green card. To increase your chances of getting a voucher from the GRE Fee Reduction Program, you should fill out the program application as soon as possible. Remember, vouchers are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The longer you wait, the lower your chances are of getting a voucher. You also need to allow at least three week for application processing. When your application is approved, you can pay the other half of the fee not covered by the voucher and resister to take the test. GRE Fee Reduction Vouchers from National Programs There are some national programs within the U.S. that provide their members with GRE Fee Reduction vouchers. These programs typically work with underrepresented communities. If you are a member of a participating program, you may be able to get a voucher or a certificate without being unemployed or meeting the stringent aid-based requirements that come with the GRE Fee Reduction Program. Since voucher availability and qualification requirements can vary from program to program, youll need to talk directly to the program director or another representative to determine whether or not you are able to get a GRE Fee Reduction voucher. According to ETS, the following programs offer GRE Fee Reduction vouchers to their members: Gates Millennium Scholars ProgramNational Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science Program (GEM)Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research (U-STAR) ProgramPostbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP)Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) ProgramTRIO Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement ProgramTRIO Student Support Services (SSS) ProgramGREÂ  Prepaid Voucher Service GRE Prepaid Voucher Service ETS also offers a GREÂ  Prepaid Voucher Service. The vouchers that are available through this service can be used by GRE test takers. However, the vouchers are not sold directly to individuals who are taking the GRE test. Instead, they are sold to institutions or organizations who want to pay some or all of the cost of the GRE for the test taker. ETS offers several prepaid voucher options to institutions or organizations. Some of them cover part of the test fees, while others cover the entire test fee. All of these voucher options must be used by the test taker within one year of the purchase date. Vouchers, including those that cover 100% of the test fee, do not cover additional fees such as scoring fees, test center fees, or other associated fees. The voucher cannot be turned in by the test taker for a refund. GRE Prep Book Promo Codes ETS does not typically offer GRE promo codes that can be used to cover the cost of the GRE. However, there are many different test prep companies that offer GRE promo codes that can be used on prep books, courses, and other materials. Before purchasing a test prep book, do a general Google search for GRE promo codes. While you most likely will not be able to get a discount on the test fee, you can help to offset the cost of the test overall by saving money on test prep tools.

Glenn T. Seaborg Biography

Glenn T. Seaborg Biography Glenn Seaborg was a scientist who discovered several elements and won a Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Seaborg was one of the great pioneers of nuclear chemistry in the United States. He was responsible for the actinide concept of heavy element electronic structure. He is credited as co-discoverer of  plutonium and other elements up to element 102. One interesting bit of trivia about Glenn Seaborg is that he may have achieved what the alchemists could not: turn lead into gold! Some reports indicate the scientist transmuted lead into gold (by way of bismuth) in 1980.   Seaborg was born on  April 19,  1912  in Ishpeming, Michigan, and died on February 25,  1999  in  Layfayette, California at age 86.   Seaborgs Notable Awards 1951 Nobel Prize for Chemistry with Edwin McMillan for research with transuranic elements.Between 1946 and 1958, his team added ten new elements to the periodic table.Appointed chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (1961-1971). President of American Chemical Society in 1976.Element 106 was renamed  seaborgium  in his honor. There was controversy over the element name, as it was issued while Seaborg was still alive.Co-author of approximately 500 scientific articles and many books.Seaborg held over 40 patents, including the only patents ever granted for making chemical elements (curium and americium). Early Nuclear Chemistry and New Element Group - Actinides In February 1941, Seaborg with Edwin McMillan produced and chemically identified the existence of  plutonium. He joined the Manhattan Project later that year and started work on the investigation of transuranium elements and better ways to extract plutonium from uranium. After the end of the war, Seaborg moved back to Berkeley where he came up with the idea of the  actinide  group, to position higher numbered elements in the periodic table of the elements. Over the next twelve years, his group discovered elements 97-102. The actinide group is a set of transition metals with properties similar to each other. The modern periodic table places the lanthanides (another subset of transition metals) and actinides below the body of the periodic table, yet in line with the transition metals. Cold War Applications of Nuclear Materials Seaborg was appointed chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission in 1961 and held the position for the next ten years, serving three presidents. He used this position to champion the peaceful use of atomic materials such as for medical diagnosis and treatments, carbon dating, and nuclear power. He was also involved in the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Glenn Seaborg Quotes The Lawrence Berkeley Lab recorded several of Seaborgs most famous quotes. Here are some favorites: In a quote regarding education, which was printed in the New York Times: The education of young people in science is at least as important, maybe more so, than the research itself. In a comment about the discovery of the element plutonium (1941): I was a 28-year-old kid and I didnt stop to ruminate about it, he told the Associated Press in a 1947 interview. I didnt think, My God, weve changed the history of the world! On being a graduate student at Berkeley (1934) and competing with other students: Surrounded by dazzlingly bright students, I was uncertain I could make the grade. But taking heart in Edisons dictum that genius is 99 per cent perspiration, I discovered a pedestrian secret of success. I could work harder than most of them. Additional Biographical Data Full Name: Glenn Theodore Seaborg Field of Expertise: Nuclear Chemistry Nationality: United States High School: Jordan High School in Los Angeles Alma Mater: UCLA and University of California, Berkeley

The Arabidopsis Myb Genes MYR1 and MYR2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Arabidopsis Myb Genes MYR1 and MYR2 - Essay Example Arabidopsis is a long day plant that flowers earlier than other plants in long day conditions than in short day conditions. In LD conditions flowering is affected by an increase in expression of the flowering locus T (FT). This gene expression is controlled by CONSTANS (CO). Under low light intensity, homozygous myr1 and myr2 mutants will flower and show an increase in petiole length, apical dominance and leaf angle. Analysis on the genetics of the mutants point out that myr1 and myr 2 phenotype need GA biosynthesis. In determination of the functions of MYR1 and MYR2 roles in plant development and growth two independent T-DNA alleles for every gene. The T- DNA were evaluated and discovered that they eliminated full length expression of MYR1 and MYR2 in plants homozygous to every mutation. The homozygous myr1 and myr2 mutants happened to be identical to WT plants in relation to their leaf color, plant size and morphology. In SD conditions plants that had any of these alleles had an ea rly flowering and this generally indicates that myr1 and myr2 had suppressive effects on flowering. Additionally, flowering locust T was also needed by the Myr1 and Myr2 phenotype responsible for flowering and these mutants also demonstrated an interface with phyB-9 mutant. When Myr1 and Myr2 are over expressed, GA deficiency symptoms are shown which are then eliminated by use of gibberellic acid (GA1). When Myr1 and Myr2 were lost, there was a double boost in GA20ox2 expression and GA1 levels increased by 30%. Myr2 over expression caused a three time GA20ox2 decrease and 50% reduction in GA1 levels. Therefore, it can be concluded that Myr1 and Myr2 ability to limit flowering and elongation of organs is slightly because of their destructive consequence on the bioactive GA levels. In this case, it is possible that the increase in expression for the GA negative regulators showed the property of having a shade avoidance phenotype. The role of MYR1 and MYR2 of affecting the GA2O0x2 expr ession could be the determinant for observed phenotypes and it is in the same line with research on GA2O0x2 genes that indicate their importance in regulating growth and fertility of the Arabidopsis plant. This essay is based on a previous research done by several researchers. It will describe the result, outline the conclusion and give an insight on future work based on this research. In the result that has indicated that MYR1 and MYR2 have a role in plant growth and development, it is indicated that as light intensity became high, the phenotype became weak and double mutants of myr1 and myr2 produced fewer than WT, rosette leaves. In relation, vegetative growth and flowering time characteristic of the myr1 and myr2 mutants exhibited a similarity with phyB mutants. When MYR1 and MYR2 are paralogous and the genes are co-expressed, lengthening of the vegetative period in SD conditions showed a weakening in the phenotype responsible for early flowering. Myr1 and myr2 that were early f lowering under a LD environment was connected with more features that were not present in single mutants. They a longer petiole, lengthy hypocotyls and the leaves were more vertically oriented with a peak in apical dominance. This features show that the early flowering phenotype had been strengthened and that both myr1 and myr2 double mutants expressed the presence of MYR1 and MYR2 redundancy property which was not shown in the single mutant’s myr1 and myr2. In addition it was discovered that MYR1 and M

Case Study 1 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

1 - Case Study Example GE Company, in its effort to remain relevant in the last century, has resorted to modest management practices as a strategy to remain competitive in the business market. This article seeks to examine the management developments that GE Company has applied in the last century. According to Cole (5), the traditional management practices have been phased out by modern management practices. In his theory of management, Cole (7) regards innovation as the core value in modern management strategies. To a large extent, GE has remained innovative in modeling its strategic goals and objectives in the last century. One indicator of innovation in this company is the adoption of employee empowerment stages, which is a dominant strategy in modern management. For instance, the organization has upheld employee training as a way of keeping to at par with changes in worker environment, and apart from planning, the organization has exercised expertise in the implementation of its innovations. Another a ttribute of modern management theory that can be identified in this organization is the use of research management as a tool for overcoming business threats and taking advantage of opportunities. Cole (76) points out that business in the last century has been phased by the forces of competition, and that the only way to survive in the dynamic market research strategies should be employed to identify market opportunities and to initiate differentiation strategies. GE has embarked on corporate research to identify possible areas of business development, which has helped it to remain unique in the energy provision sector. In this regard, it is possible to regard the management development patterns adopted by GE as relevant to the pattern proposed by the management theories. Which of GE’s management innovations seems to draw on a classical management perspective? Which seem to draw on a behavioral management perspective? How does the contingency perspective explain the management changes that GE has made over the years? Explain each of your responses. Classical and Behavioral strategies of management are different schools of thought that seek to optimize productivity in an organization. In classical management, managers seek to maximize output by optimizing the productivity characteristics of employees. GE has employed classical perspective in their innovation strategies by capitalizing on marketing strategies to enhance product flow to the customers. Marketing is a push strategy that aims at rolling out business products to the target customers and is crucial in optimizing organizational productivity. In addition, the organization has capitalized on worker experience to improve their productivity. In fact, the CEO of GE points out that employee in this organization relies on ‘past experience’ to improve their efficiency within the organization. As Griffin (13) explains, the use of classical perspectives is still superior in modern strategic ma nagement strategies. Behavioral perspectives are part of organizational management strategies that pay attention to employee empowerment as a way of aligning employee goals to the organizational goals and strategies. Griffin (14) regards behavioral management as a modern approach to organizational management that is relevant in the dynamic business environment. GE has

Hardware and Software Specifications Table Assignment

Hardware and Software Specifications Table - Assignment Example But, the need and want of executives to have latest technology on their desk on a consistent basis makes middle and technological management of the company to search for the best alternative and they do not have the option and luxury to misfire because top dollars of the company are usually at the stake in these kinds of matters. Therefore, they always search the local and international market for suitable and reasonable piece of technology that has the power and ability to serve multiple needs and wants of the senior-child of the company. The world of technology is changing rapidly and due to this reason, the companies attempt to acquire latest technology in order to minimize their obsolesce costs in the long run prospective. Nevertheless, it is a common but wrongly enforced belief that the machine that has all the state of the art components is the best. The abovementioned statement is illogical because in most number of cases, we do not require a heuristic machine in all dimension s and we ought to focus on the essentials. The plan that we are going to develop is going to value the essentials and invest in them as well. But, when it comes to nonessentials and luxuries then, we should opt for least expensive items in order to sponsor both efficiency and effectiveness. The technological solution that we are going to propose will sport state of the art video conferencing infrastructure and video cards with a wide screen laptops so that our President and his team should never face a problem in screen viewing while tele communicating. The company’s administration has decided to buy an array of products that can be resold at a reasonable price so that the company can recover some percentage of the cost of items’ depreciation. Moreover, the basic and fundamental purpose of the newly acquired technological intervention is to provide the executive with swift and reliable internet connectivity and experience. The paramount importance will be given to mana ge the cost and benefit of the product so that the notion of efficiency and effectiveness will be well served. Additionally, the focal point of the buying and installing new equipment in the President’s office is a challenge to say the least because it has to conform to the requirements of President’s job while it should also be according to his liking in majority of its features. The man in question is a practicality oriented one and therefore, he always values productivity over showoffs and unproductive investments. Nonetheless, the company’s technical management will look to get a powerful device whose ability to conduct and support video conferencing must be excellent and the price dimension must also be reasonable. The idea is to strike a balance cost and benefit of the product reasonably. Table 1 Hardware Components Input Devices Attributes Associated Org. need Keyboard The standardized laptops featured soft keyed keyboards Create and edit documents in MS office Mouse The company will use external mouse because they are user friendly Create and edit documents in MS office Scanner The state of the art Laser scanners will be acquired Sending documents via emails and saving documents in pdf Digital Camera The 5.0 megapixel cameras will be purchased To take

Henry Percy Bulmers Background Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Henry Percy Bulmers Background - Case Study Example As the discussion outlines, Percy and Edward Frederick (his elder brother), had engaged in making small amounts of Perry and cider through the use of their neighbor’s stone mill. Percy used this as the foundation for spurring his trade and therefore he started manufacturing larger quantities. In 1887, Percy manufactured 40 casks and as a result, he established a minor commercial premises at Maylord Street. Due to this, his brother decided to abandon his intended teaching career in King’s College situated in Cambridge so as to pool with Percy in running the cider making business. Percy then borrowed a loan of up to  £1,760 from their father thereby using it to relocate the premises to a one acre land spot at Ryelands Street, where they built a small hut with an underground room. During this period, Thomas Kennett was the only external staff and they used the mill wheel to produce cider since the business could not ye afford any steam powered machinery. This therefore m ade work quite hard and tiresome since they were using their hands to rotate the mill wheel. During the year 1889, Percy sent Fred to attend the Royal Agricultural Show which was hosted at the Windsor Great Park. However, during the show, their cider won the second award in every single class that it entered. As a result Percy then sought to travel all-round the country in order to try to sell much of their cider thereby anticipating to gain more customers. However, he realized that the salesmen were only willing to buy products that were being ordered or requested for by the consumers.

Don Quixote's madness Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Don Quixote's madness - Research Paper Example Unsuccessful in his first major quest, he set out on a second adventure with his servant Sancho Panza whom he pleaded with to accompany him on the journey as a squire. As a measure of compensation, Don Quixote promised to make Sancho the Governor of an Isle. Sancho, a farmer and a family man was chosen as the squire who will accompany him throughout his quest into claiming lands and portions for his self-glorification. They both rode on his horse across the cities of Spain in quest of glory and fame. In addition, there was a woman whom Don Quixote fell in love with and at every point he is in distress, he recognizes her as a point of strength and fortress. On his second mission, he encountered people that influence and shape his idea and disposition about life even when such disposition negates his belief and the reason for his conquest. He met a boy in the custody of an evil man and decided to leave him because he was assured of his safety. Sancho, being a loyal servant never for on ce departed from him even though he received the brunt for Don Quixote’s ill judgment. ... He refused to heed to the words of Sancho, rebuking him not to meddle with his quest saying he is not a knight and does not have the instinct of facing giants at war (Ludlum 146). Since he never wanted to hearken to the advice of Sancho, he advanced further at the mill with the mind of attacking the giants he saw instead of the windmills, as he charged further, there was a heavy wind that caused the sail in the windmill. When he saw this, then he believed the giants were trying to use magic that multiplied their hands. On sighting the multiple hands of his perceived giants, he sought for the support of his lover Dulcinea as a way of encouraging himself to fight his giants (Cervantes 65). This was common of Don Quixote throughout the novel as he frequently have his mind set on Dulcinea (Mancing 147), making the whole story seem as if he was on the quest to impress her rather than set himself as the greatest knight. He approached the windmill and launched his sword, but his sword and l ance were crushed by the windmill and fell to the ground. Sancho saw the bad state of his master and he quickly rushed to help him, instead of Don Quixote conceding to his mistake, he was bent on an enemy enchanter turning the giants into windmill. He was still under the influence of the stories of major knights he had read about, his ambition to surpass their achievements, and coupled with his desire of experiencing the love affairs those knights had in the books he read. Because of this, his quest for love became stronger and he would sacrifice himself for beauty that seems to put him in trouble. His nature of doing things got him into trouble with two monks he perceived as enemies capturing a princess. He engaged in a combat with one of the monk and threw him over

The Branches of Government Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Branches of Government - Essay Example The power of the federal government is divided among the three branches: the executive, judicial and legislative. Therefore, the separation of the powers has been done in a strict manner. Additionally, the power exercised by any of the three branches is limited in several ways through the powers provided to the other branches of the federal government; due to this, the standard of checks and balances has been established (Accountability in Government 9). One of the results of separating and allocating powers to different branches of the government is that it subjects the government to constant scrutiny, and, therefore, is subject to continued process of accountability (Accountability in Government 10). It is important to note that the Constitution does not have a direct provision that mandates the separation of powers among the three federal government branches. However, the doctrine of separation is critical to the United States government (â€Å"Separation of Powers of Government†). The separation and allocation of powers has ensured that no branch of the government has monopoly over the principle powers of the government. This has prevented the creation of a very strong government with the ability to overpower the individual state governments. Governmental responsibilities intentionally overlap. For instance, the president possesses the power to appoint all the federal ambassadors, judges, and other high-ranking government officials; however, all the appointments must have consent and advice of the Senate. The final authority is possessed by the Supreme Court, which can strike down the acts of the executive and the legislative branches as unconstitutional (Russell). Though the system has worked to some extent, there are exceptional cases where the presidents have done things that can be regarded as unconstitutional. Based on the Constitution, the president can only

Don Quixote's madness Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Don Quixote's madness - Research Paper Example Unsuccessful in his first major quest, he set out on a second adventure with his servant Sancho Panza whom he pleaded with to accompany him on the journey as a squire. As a measure of compensation, Don Quixote promised to make Sancho the Governor of an Isle. Sancho, a farmer and a family man was chosen as the squire who will accompany him throughout his quest into claiming lands and portions for his self-glorification. They both rode on his horse across the cities of Spain in quest of glory and fame. In addition, there was a woman whom Don Quixote fell in love with and at every point he is in distress, he recognizes her as a point of strength and fortress. On his second mission, he encountered people that influence and shape his idea and disposition about life even when such disposition negates his belief and the reason for his conquest. He met a boy in the custody of an evil man and decided to leave him because he was assured of his safety. Sancho, being a loyal servant never for on ce departed from him even though he received the brunt for Don Quixote’s ill judgment. ... He refused to heed to the words of Sancho, rebuking him not to meddle with his quest saying he is not a knight and does not have the instinct of facing giants at war (Ludlum 146). Since he never wanted to hearken to the advice of Sancho, he advanced further at the mill with the mind of attacking the giants he saw instead of the windmills, as he charged further, there was a heavy wind that caused the sail in the windmill. When he saw this, then he believed the giants were trying to use magic that multiplied their hands. On sighting the multiple hands of his perceived giants, he sought for the support of his lover Dulcinea as a way of encouraging himself to fight his giants (Cervantes 65). This was common of Don Quixote throughout the novel as he frequently have his mind set on Dulcinea (Mancing 147), making the whole story seem as if he was on the quest to impress her rather than set himself as the greatest knight. He approached the windmill and launched his sword, but his sword and l ance were crushed by the windmill and fell to the ground. Sancho saw the bad state of his master and he quickly rushed to help him, instead of Don Quixote conceding to his mistake, he was bent on an enemy enchanter turning the giants into windmill. He was still under the influence of the stories of major knights he had read about, his ambition to surpass their achievements, and coupled with his desire of experiencing the love affairs those knights had in the books he read. Because of this, his quest for love became stronger and he would sacrifice himself for beauty that seems to put him in trouble. His nature of doing things got him into trouble with two monks he perceived as enemies capturing a princess. He engaged in a combat with one of the monk and threw him over

Professional communication memo assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Professional communication memo - Assignment Example The event shall be held on April 05, 2014 in Lobby A of the Westin Hotel, Ottawa. Meals shall be catered for by the Mexican Tourist Bureau, which means it shall be a cost friendly event, and a staff-only event. However, anyone wishing to attend the event must make a reservation with Juan Martez. Contacts can be done through email to martez@mexicantouristbureau.com. The deadline for reservations stands as March 20, to provide the organizers with ample time for proper arrangements. The event shall commence at 6.00 p.m. Cocktails shall be served first, followed by a four-course Mexican-style meal at 7.00 p.m. the presentation shall commence after dinner. Several benefits accrue to present members. These include asking any questions related to leisure products offered to Canadian clients. More to these, special prizes shall be won at the end of the evening, such as an all-inclusive week on the Mayan Riviera. Therefore, I urge all staff members to take advantage of this evening, as it is an excellent opportunity to all members of Come True Dream

Ttrapped teens TV Show Essay Example for Free

Ttrapped teens TV Show Essay My TV show is called trapped teens I chose this particular title because the show is about teenagers who are trapped in a house. In the first of my opening credits it shows the word previously on the screen for 1 second. The colours on this shot which is a big close-up are black orange and yellow. I choose these because they represent different moods. In the next 3 credits it will show what happened previously in case any of the viewers missed it. These obviously would not be here on the first episode. After these shots there is a logo spinning this represents the beginning of a totally new episode. The logo is the letter T connected to another letter T. It has several different colours in it I decided to do this to represent the contestants different moods. In screen shot 6 there are all the contestants walking up some steps into a door. The colours are just plain blue with the exception of the contestants clothing which are brightly coloured so they stand out. This is a long shot the reason for this is because that way you can see all of the contestants. The shot lasts for 2seconds. The music in this shot is upbeat and modern I chose this, as it will grab the audiences attention immediately. Screen shot 7 has all the contestants standing in a line as if they have just got in the door I chose this as it links in with the next shot. Again the background is plain blue and again the contestants are wearing brightly coloured clothes. I used a medium long shot. The reason for choosing this is because I want the viewers to be able to see the contestants face and body features. The shot lasts or 1 second and again the music are upbeat and modern. In screen shot 8 again all the contestants standing in a line it also has jail bars fall from the top of the screen to the bottom. The reason for me doing this is simply because this represents the teenagers being trapped. I also chose it because it shows there is no easy way for the teenagers to escape. There is one possible way and that is the way they came in but they would be unable to break through the steel door. Again the background in this shot is blue and the contestants are all dressed to stand out. The bars on the shot are black so the colour can be separated from the backdrop and the contestants clothes. This camera shot I used in this particular shot was a medium shot I chose this so the viewers can see everything that is happening. This shot lasts for 2seconds and the music again is upbeat and modern but there is a loud crash in this shot when the bars hit the floor. In screen shot 9 the contestants are still behind bars but now they are all holding cards with a letter on them. When the cards are put together they spell the name of the show trapped teens. The reason I decided to do this was because I felt that this would get across a prison like feeling meaning its not just a holiday. Again the backdrop on this shot is blue. I used a close up shot so viewers can see what the cards say. The music again is modern and upbeat and it lasts for 1second. Trapped teens voiceover is going to be Jade Goody. I chose this particular voice because a majority of viewers will recognise it. I also picked Jade because she is a bubbly, energetic and friendly person. So she will give the show some comedy if the contestants fail. The voiceover Jade will be on the show everyday. She will start at 8:00am by saying, day __ in the teen house its 8:00am and the contestants are just about to be woken up. The voiceover would then say something every time something interesting happened, or if the want to get a message across to one or more of the contestants. For example if the wanted a contestant in the talk room. This show will also have presenters. These will interview the contestants after they have being evicted. For this job I have decided to use Ant and Dec. I chose these because again everybody knows who they are and they will bring comedy to the show. Another reason for picking them is because they are award-winning presenters. Overall I personally believe my programme will be successful in targeting my audience ranged between 13 and 18 years old because there is a chance that they could star in the show, and win the star prize of à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½5000 and a reasonable dream coming true. I also believe it will be successful because shows similar to this have already been screened on TV and have being successful.

How does star bucks create brand equity?

How does star bucks create brand equity? Question 1 How does Starbucks create brand equity? According to Kotler 2009, brand equity is reflected in how customers, think, feel and act with respect to the brand, prices, market share, and profitability that the brand commands for the firm. The green and white Starbuck logo is widely recognized. Starbuck create brand equity by turning an everyday beverage into a premium product. Starbuck coffee defined not only a product, but also attitude and personality together. In addition, Starbuck also launched various flavours that reflect the different moods and taste. Starbuck create brand equity by provides a superior level of customer service collecting the suggestion or the ideas from consumer. Therefore, Starbuck build a high degree of customer loyalty successfully. Apart from this, Starbuck also sell best quality of the coffee and related products like beverage mug. Starbuck become fastest growing brands. (Business Weeks, 2002) This is because it is about the experience, the atmosphere and the place that let most people gets away f rom everyday stresses. Starbuck also created an affinity with customers. Beside this, Starbuck also do commitment to the community to increase the brand equity. Question 2 Why enter the Asian market? Why enter Singapore? Starbucks enter Asian market because its company felt that Asian offered more potential market than Europe. According to one executive of Starbuck, Asian is a region which full of emerging markets since the consumer disposable income increase as country economics growth. Apart from this, people in Asia are open to Western lifestyle. Starbuck enter Asian because of the highly â€Å"Westernized† ideas and lifestyle. Finally, coffee consumption growth rates in Southeast Asia are estimated to increase 20 % to 30 % yearly. Economic for Singapore has an annual growth rate of 11% (1998 in real terms).   Apart from this, Singapore countrys per capital income is the third highest in Asia after Japan and Brunei. Singapore has one of the best living conditions in Asia. Singaporeans are able to indulge luxury goods and they also like to indulge themselves with food. Singaporeans feel quality and price that eating has become a national obsession. Starbuck coffee is a premium beverage product and this brand product can defined as attitude of a person. Starbuck is not just a drink but personality together. Beside this, Starbuck choose to invest in Singapore because Singapore entertainment is influenced by Western culture. Singaporean highly â€Å"Westernized† ideas adopted. Starbuck identify as American icon except McDonalds. Starbuck create an American coffee culture. Starbuck should focus on Singapore because of the market has tremendous growth potential. According to Bruce Rolph, he thinks that peopl e should increasingly focus on Singapore not as a mature market with low earnings and growth potential. Finally, the Singaporean market still has no clear leader in the specialty coffee industry. Starbuck may get high demand of product in Singapore. Question 3 Who is the target market? Starbuck target people who are open to Western culture and lifestyle. In addition, Starbuck also target people who are with high disposable income. Those people are able and willing to spend money for purchasing costly gourmet coffee.   Target market for Starbuck is mainly adult-focused. The aims are for connecting with their client, communities. (Starbuck Campaign Market Analysis) Starbuck target consumer are from urban-areas because individuals who are willing to purchase costly gourmet coffee. Apart from this, college student who are undergraduate or post-graduate living in urban areas are target market for Starbuck too. (Starbuck Campaign Market Analysis) In addition, Starbuck also target consumer who are stressful. Starbuck provide a relax environment which is about the experience, the atmosphere and the place that let most people gets away from everyday stresses. Starbuck also created an affinity with customers. Question 4 Is Starbucks facing cannibalization? Yes, Starbuck is facing cannibalization. Even through, sales of Starbucks and growing rapidly but the rate of growth is slow. Rate of growth is slowing at existing stores and the annual sales growth at stores from 19% in 1993 to 7% in 1996 because of store cannibalization. Stores cannibalization has been known as open stores within one block of each other led to market saturation. Stores cannibalization cause competition among close Starbucks stores and damage the company culture within the workforce. Store cannibalization also cause decrease in employees performance. Question 5 Who are some of Starbucks joint venture partners? Starbuck joint venture partners are Capitol Records, Sazaby Inc. in Japan, Dreyers Grand Ice Cream, Pepsi-Cola, Intel Corporation and Mack Johnsons Johnson Development Corporation. In 1995, Starbuck released Blue Note Blend Coffee and CD with Capitol Records. An agreement signed at October 1995 with Sazaby Inc. to develop Starbuck retail stores in Japan. Starbuck form joint-venture with Dreyers Grand Ice Cream to form premium line of coffee ice cream market. North American Coffee Partnership formed between Pepsi-Cola and Starbucks at 1996. The partnership announced its plan to market a bottled version of Starbucks Frappuccino beverage. Apart from this, Starbucks also push it market toward cybercafes by formed joint venture with Intel Corporation. In addition, Starbucks formed joint-venture with Mack Johnsons Johnson Development Corporation to develop Starbucks locations in underserved, inner-city urban neighbourhoods. Question 6 Is Starbucks a socially responsible company? Starbucks is a socially responsible company. Starbucks sell only finest whole- bean coffee and coffee beverages. Roast coffee bean that do not meet the company requirement or the coffee bean is remaining in the bins for more than one week will be donated to charity. In addition, Starbuck also contributed in CARE which is a non-profit charity organization since 1991 for the needy in coffee-growing countries. Starbucks has helped establish health and literacy programs in Guatemala, Indonesia, Kenya, and Ethiopia as North Americas leading corporate sponsor. This long-term charity program has helped improve living conditions in the coffee-producing countries. Starbucks established a Code of Conduct policy, which is the first step in a long-term commitment to improving social conditions in the worlds coffee-growing nations in 1996. Starbucks joined an organization, TransFair, which is works for the rights of farmers. The efforts of the organization are driven towards ensuring that coffee farmers get a significant part of the amount ($1.26 a pound) paid by coffee roasters for coffee beans. Also, in 2002, the company purchased 150,000 pounds of coffee beans from a fair-trade Consortium of Coffee Cooperatives of Guanacaste and Montes de Oro in Costa Rica (COOCAFE). Starbucks also formed an alliance with eight companies to enable the gift of over 320,000 new books for children. Starbucks also doing recycle with controls waste removal (2,344 out of 3,192 stores), recycled at least one or more items, including cardboard, plastic, paper and organic wastes. Question 7 How does Starbucks market themselves? Starbucks market themselves as selling premium beverage to the consumer. Starbuck try to positioning their product as the attitude and personality of an individual but not only a product. Starbucks serves the product as a beverage that can relax consumer with the store environment and create experience and place that is refuge for individual to get away from everyday stress. Therefore, Starbuck come out with various flavours that can reflect the different moods as well as taste. Starbuck also market themselves as the American icon. This is because Starbucks target individual that are highly â€Å"Westernized† ideas and lifestyle it had adopted. Apart from this, Starbucks market themselves as a luxury beverage. This is because Starbucks stores are provide air-conditional facilities. Besides, Starbucks also use high quality coffee bean to provide the premium beverage. Starbucks coffee is a coffee that let individuals taste the greatest taste of the coffee and enjoy themselves. Question 8 What are some substitutes? Starbucks competitors are Spinelli, Suntec Dome Holdings, Coffee Club, Coffee Connection, and Burkes Coffee. Spinelli Coffee Company is a company licensed by Equinox. Equinox is a joint-venture between Golden Harvest, Singapore Technologies Industrial Corp. and Singapore Conglomerate. In addition, Spinelli also involve in setting up roasting factories to supply Asian market. Spinelli brings to Asia years of experience in sourcing, producing and selling premium coffee drinks and whole bean coffee. Dome Cafà © is on European lines. It was discovered by a Singaporean. Dome Cafà © is well-known for its distinctive sidewalk and atrium cafes. Dome Cafà © also serve light snack and full meals served all day. Suntec Dome Holding was formed in 1996. Ronald Lee and Sebastian Ong, the founders of Dome imported European-style Dome concept from Australia. There are roasting factories in Singapore and Australia. The strategy is to expand in several Asian countries in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong and China. Coffee Club established coffee trading company Hiang Kie. The bestselling product in Coffee Club is Iced Mocha Vanilla. In addition, Coffee Club serves light meals of cakes, salad, sandwiches and home-made ice cream. Coffee Connection started in the 1980s by Sarika Coffee. It is the mother ship of coffee bars, with sixty-nine different drinks ranging from cool coffee jelly to Blue Mountain Chaser. The bestselling product is Cappuccino Italia no. They also serve ice cream, pasta, pizza and focaccia sandwiches. The origin of Burkes Coffee are started from four Singaporean students who are studies in Seattle. Burkes Coffee is a Seattle-styled cafà ©. Burke has made a name as a friendly and inviting place in Singapore. The store has established a loyal customer base of young professionals who visit the store frequently. Burkes serve sandwiches, soups, and desserts. There are seven basic coffee drinks, plus twelve Italian syrups that can add on request. The best attraction of the coffeehouses is the Mocha Freeze and Hazelnut Latte. Question 9 How did they come up with the name Starbucks? Starbucks began in 1971 with three academics white collar. There are English teacher Jerry Baldwin, history teacher Zev Siegel and a writer Gordon Bowker. There three partners shared a love of fine coffees and exotics teas. The name comes from Herman Melvilles Moby Dick, a classic American novel about the 19th century whaling industry. The seafaring name seems appropriate for a store that imports the worlds finest coffees to the cold, thirsty people of Seattle. Baldwin, Siegel, and Bowker chose the name Starbucks in honour of Starbuck, the coffee-loving first mate in Herman MelvillesMoby Dick, and because they thought the name evoked the romance of the high seas and the seafaring tradition of the early coffee traders. The new companys logo, designed by an artist friend, was a two-tailed mermaid encircled by the stores name. Question 10 Why did Starbucks choose to enter a predominantly tea consuming market like China? Starbucks choose to enter a predominantly tea consuming market like China because it is probably easier to accelerate the sale of ones products in a market where demand already exists if compare with a market that has a large number of potential consumers and an emerging economy but low demand for the product. As China that fits the above description down to it being predominantly tea-consuming and one of the smallest coffee markets in the world. Apart from this, China has large geographic area with large population. Starbucks enter China because its company felt that China offered most potential market in Asia. According to one executive of Starbuck, Asian is a region which full of emerging markets since the consumer disposable income increase as country economics growth. China has the most population in Asia and China economic growth rapidly. Apart from this, people in China are open to Western lifestyle. Finally, coffee consumption growth rates in Southeast Asia are estimated to increase 20 % to 30 % yearly. Question 11 Why did Starbucks places its outlets in China in mainly commercial areas? Starbucks places its outlets in China in mainly commercial areas because individual living in urban areas are Western lifestyle adapted. Starbucks as American icon coffeehouses are highly recognize by individual living in commercial areas. Starbucks are identifying themselves a premium beverage seller with best quality of coffee bean. Thus, Starbucks couldnt sell their product with low price. The individual with higher disposable income are living in mainly in commercial areas. Individual in commercial area have higher purchase ability to do expense. Furthermore, Starbucks depend less domestic advertising but more promotion through discount coupon and visits, which draw first-time consumers.

Gangs and Violence in California Essay -- Gang Essays

Gangs and Violence in California This paper was done in response to an article that I came across in which a child was convicted as an adult for homicide. The homicide was supposedly gang-related; the young child that was only 14 years of age was painted as an entrenched gang member. This article made me think what contributed to this situation and how it can be eradicated from today’s society so this will never happen to any of our youth. The solutions provided in this document are a response to the growing need for schools, school districts, county offices of education, and state legislatures to address youth gangs. Children are our greatest asset in the world today: They give parents the greatest feeling in the world. Parents go through their children’s fears, disappointments and tears and still feel the great energy that radiates around them. Parents feel and shape every aspect of their children; however, the most influential program shaping children today is their educational system. Parents think that sending their children to get an education does nothing more than give their child a chance to succeed in life, what a powerful influence education is. When we think of power influences we want them to be the best, this tends not be the case. In fact schools are on a steady decline in the field of nurturing our children but rather they fill our children’s gaps in their lives with very harmful, manipulative themes. A prominent harmful, manipulative theme that is becoming increasingly a younger trend is gangs. Gangs, and more specifically, gang violence is a growing phenomena among children among middle school and even elementary kids. Gangs are becoming more attractive to our young ones. As a result, more childr... ...icano Fellows Program. Stanford, 1994. Gangs. 27 Feb. 2004 Online: http://ojjdp.ncjrs.org/jjbulletin/9804/gangs.html Goldstein, Arnold P., C. Ronald Huff, eds. The Gang Intervention Handbook. Champaign: Research Press, 1993. Hill, Sylvia. Interview with Assistant Principal, SCS of Charles Drew Middle School in Los Angeles, CA. Telephone Interview. 16 Feb. 2004. Kinnear, Karen L. Gangs: Contemporary World Issues. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 1996. Sanders, William B. Gangbangs and Drive-bys: Grounded Culture and Juvenile Gang Violence. New York: Gruyter, 1994. United States. Cong. House. Hearing before the Subcommittee on Youth Violence. 105th Cong., 1st sess. Washington: 1997. United States. Cong. Joint. Joint Hearing before the Subcommittee on Crime and Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Youth, and Families. 105th Cong., 1st sess. Washington: 1997.

Family Reunion Essay

Have you ever been to or prepared a family reunion? It’s a great time for fun, food fellowship, reminiscing and also a big supplier for T-shirts. Many family celebrations are celebrated different from the way they’re celebrated on television. I attended my first family reunion when I was twelve years old, it was no ordinary family reunion; it involved my immediately family and also extended family, and lasted overnight. It was an overall fun experience and it brought me closer to my family and other unknown relatives. A family reunion on television is prepared and organized, unlike a family reunion in reality where it is sometimes unorganized. For example, a family reunion on television shows organization because they make sure everything is planned and there is no confusion such as what is going on each day of the weekend and no mix-ups or changes made and every family member has an invitation. â€Å"A family that prays together stays together†, is something my grandmother Medea would always say. I will be describing about the family reunion which brought my family and I closer together. Sadly, not all people, especially teenagers appreciate their family, getting acquainted night was our first gathering I did not realize how many family members I had, and I was very overwhelmed at first. I was reluctant to be involved and stayed close to my immediate family I honestly did not want to be where I was and also felt awkward after some time. I started liking it when we got a bit more involved in the activities, we played icebreaker games and there were a few speeches giving. The night turned out pretty fun and the family picnic was probably the most fun part of the reunion. After experiencing a gist of the reunion the night before I was ready to be more involved and reached out I got to know family members who I did not know. After a day it was as if I knew them my whole life this part of the reunion was probably the most active games were held again, and it was all laughs and good times. The family banquet was a formal event my Aunt Ariel was hosting and it closed the family reunion. The whole family gathered at the formal banquet where closing remarks were made and we spoke about the good time we had during the activities. The family reunion was concluded that we should do something like this more often, after this whole time, grandmother Medea, who was one of the older members in the family reiterated the importance of the family. Due to all the games and activities I did not realize that this reunion actually served a deeper purpose for me and it was just a very fun event. However, after much thought, I knew these words my grandmother spoke ‘’a family that prays together stays together’’ really had a lot of meaning behind them. By gathering all the members of our family, and joining together in prayer, meals and in good laughs a house that is divided cannot stand†, and family is a very important part of anyone’s life. Family is worth fighting for, also worth doing whatever it takes to see them more often or on regular basis.

Bank Manager

Bank managers direct bank branches and departments, resolve customers’ problems, ensure that standards of service are maintained, and administer the institutions’ operations and investments, in addition to overseeing the following employees: * Bank tellers, the largest number of workers in banking, provide routine financial services to the public. They handle customers’ deposits and withdrawals, change money, sell money orders and traveler’s checks, and accept payment for loans and utility bills. Increasingly, tellers also are selling bank services to customers. * New accounts clerks and customer service representatives answer questions from customers, and help them open and close accounts and fill out forms to apply forbanking services. They are knowledgeable about a broad array of bank services and must be able to sell those services to potential clients. Some customer service representatives work in a call or customer contact center environment, taking phone calls and answering emails from customers. In addition to responding to inquiries, these workers also help customers over the phone with routine banking transactions and handle and resolve problems or complaints. * Loan and credit clerks assemble and prepare paperwork, process applications, and complete the documentation after a loan or line of credit has been approved. They also verify applications for completeness. * Bill and account collectors attempt to collect payments on overdue loans. Many general office clerks and bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks are employed to maintain financial records, enter data, and process the thousands of deposit slips, checks, and other documents that banks handle daily. Banks also employ many secretaries, data entry and information processing workers, receptionists, and other office and administrative support workers. Office and administrative support worker supervisors and managers oversee the activities and training of workers in the various administrative support occupations. Loan officers, who evaluate loan applications, determine an applicant’s ability to pay back a loan, and recommend approval of loans. They usually specialize in commercial, consumer, or mortgage lending. When loans become delinquent, loan officers, or loan counselors, may advise borrowers on the management of their finances or take action to collect outstanding amounts. Loan officers also play a major role in bringing in new business and spend uch of their time developing relationships with potential customers. * Trust officers manage a variety of assets that were placed in trust with the bank for other people or organizations; these assets can include pension funds, school endowments, or a company’s profit-sharing plan. Sometimes, trust officers act as executors of estates upon a person’s death. They also may work as accountants, lawyers, and investment managers.

Weapons of Mass Destruction

The term Weapons of Mass Destruction has two indications. In its broader, literal sense, it is used to refer to weapons whose destructive power far surpasses that of guns or conventional explosives. However, the term is more often used in a narrower sense, to refer specifically to nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons. Since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, which raised awareness of America’s vulnerability, the United States has greatly intensified its efforts to stop the spread of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons.When the president and other officials refer to â€Å"weapons of mass destruction,† they usually mean NBC weaponry. An organism or toxin found in nature is used in them that is meant to kill or incapacitate an enemy. Though there are different types and they are made up of different ingredients, they are all meant to kill and do significant destruction. The United States Military refers to them as â€Å"weapons that are capable of high order destruction and being used to destroy large numbers of people. † Many countries posses weapons of mass destruction for one main cause.Because they â€Å"generate a culture of fear†, they are held in reserve by countries as a scare tactic. They are set aside to be used as a threat, if another country were to use them, they would in turn be bombed with weapons of mass destruction. During the Cold War, the term â€Å"weapons of mass destruction† was primarily a reference to nuclear weapons. At the time, in the West the euphemism â€Å"strategic weapons† was used to refer to the American nuclear arsenal, which was presented as a necessary deterrent against nuclear or conventional attack from the Soviet Union.The term â€Å"weapons of mass destruction† continued to see periodic use throughout this time, usually in the context of nuclear arms control; Ronald Reagan used it during the 1986 Reykjavik Summit, when referring to the 1967 Outer Space Trea ty. Reagan's successor, George H. W. Bush, used the term in an 1989 speech to the United Nations, using it primarily in reference to chemical arms. The end of the Cold War reduced U. S. reliance on nuclear weapons as a deterrent, causing it to shift its focus to disarmament. This period coincided with an increasing threat to U. S. nterests from Islamic nations and independent Islamic groups. With the 1990 invasion of Kuwait and 1991 Gulf War, Iraq's nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons programs became a particular concern of the first Bush Administration. Following the war, Bill Clinton and other western politicians and media continued to use the term, usually in reference to ongoing attempts to dismantle Iraq's weapons programs. After the September 11, 2001 attacks and the 2001 anthrax attacks, an increased fear of non-conventional weapons and asymmetrical warfare took hold of the United States and other Western powers.This fear reached a crescendo with the 2002 Iraq disarmame nt crisis and the alleged existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq that became the primary justification for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. However, no WMD were found in Iraq. Due to the indiscriminate impact of WMDs, the fear of a WMD attack has shaped political policies and campaigns, fostered social movements, and has been the central theme of many films. Support for different levels of WMD development and control varies nationally and internationally.Yet understanding of the nature of the threats is not high, in part because of imprecise usage of the term by politicians and the media. Fear of WMD, or of threats diminished by the possession of WMD, has long been used to catalyze public support for various WMD policies. They include mobilization of pro- and anti-WMD campaigners alike, and generation of popular political support. The term WMD may be used as a powerful buzzword, or to generate a culture of fear. It is also used ambiguously, particularly by not distinguishing amo ng the different types of WMD.A television commercial called Daisy, promoting Democrat Lyndon Johnson's 1964 presidential candidacy, invoked the fear of a nuclear war and was an element in Johnson's subsequent election. More recently, the threat of potential WMD in Iraq was used by President George W. Bush to generate public support for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Broad reference to Iraqi WMD in general was seen as an element of President Bush's arguments. As Paul Wolfowitz explained: â€Å"For bureaucratic reasons, we settled on one issue, weapons of mass destruction, because it was the one reason everyone could agree on. To date, however, Coalition forces have found mainly degraded artillery shells.There was almost no dissent on the issue. Molly Ivins wrote : â€Å"the ONLY source to report skeptically on the administration's claims about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction before the war? Knight-Ridder and its terrific reporters Warren Strobel and Jonathan Landay. â€Å". On Jun e 21, 2006, United States Senator Rick Santorum claimed that â€Å"We have found weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, chemical weapons. According to the Washington Post, he was referring to 500 such shells â€Å"that had been buried near the Iranian border, and then long forgotten, by Iraqi troops during their eight-year war with Iran, which ended in 1988. † That night, â€Å"intelligence officials reaffirmed that the shells were old and were not the suspected weapons of mass destruction sought in Iraq after the 2003 invasion of Iraq. † The shells had been uncovered and reported on in 2004. In 2004 Polish troops found nineteen 1980s-era rocket warheads, thwarting an attempt by militants to buy them at $5000 each.Some of the rockets contained extremely deteriorated nerve agent. Limits on WMD by the US scare allied countries. The US nuclear umbrella is the primary contributor to the security of Europe and for Asia. Lack of confidence in the US umbrella causes European n ations to either build up their current arsenals, or embark on entirely new nuclear weapons programs. Nuclear proliferation in Europe causes massive instability there because of the threat it poses to Russia. Asian proliferation threatens conflicts with China.The odds that an asteroid that could potentially wipe out all life on earth are high. A massive asteroid may have been responsible for the extinction of the dinosaurs. The only defense earth has against these asteroids is nuclear weapons. Were we to disarm completely, we would be unable to shoot down an incoming asteroid, condemning all life to extinction. The military-industrial complex is a powerful constituency in the US. Limits on one type of WMD scare the military-industrial complex. They will feel frightened that the US will be unable to defend itself without its current array of weaponry.To compensate, they will develop new forms of WMDs that are even more destructive, like nanotechnology. Any arms control initiative req uires a substantial outlay of money to implement. Decommissioning weapons systems takes funds. Verifiable agreements demand substantial investment in inspections and monitoring. The US cannot afford to spend more money, given the precarious situation its budget is in. Busting the budget could have a terrible effect on the economy, perhaps triggering an economic collapse

Mobil and the American Automobile Association Research Paper

Mobil and the American Automobile Association - Research Paper Example Vallen and Vallen (2001) observe that ratings and audits for hotels can be a subjective business. He points out that in some countries where the rating systems are handled by the government, there is a great possibility that bribery, politics, and trade association bickering will affect the rating of an establishment. The Star Rating system RACV endorses is handled, not by the government, but by a private enterprise – the AAA Tourism group. This is much akin to the system adopted by the Americans – who use ratings from enterprises such as the American Automobile Association and Mobil. This has the effect of avoiding the political influence of a governmental rating system. The auditing for AAA Tourism’s ratings is done by local assessors. Vallen and Vallen further note that local assessors have a tendency to be subjective in their ratings. They observed that these assessors usually award full points for the mere presence of amenities and not the quality of such. I n comparison, the guidelines stipulated by the AAAT have a rigid point system that relies heavily on the quality of existing amenities. From observation, it may be said that these guidelines serve to mitigate such biases. One point in the assessment process of AAAT that raises questions is the fact that assessors are required by the system to make their visits announced (AAAT 2003). Other rating firms will conduct their assessments anonymously. This is, presumably, to capture the natural atmosphere and typical quality a hotel offers on any given day. The question with planned visits is that hotel management is given the opportunity to prepare what may be considered as a contrived sense of quality.

Pathology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Pathology - Essay Example Cirrhosis does not show any signs or symptoms in the earlier stages. The symptoms include fatigue, bleeding, itchy skin, jaundice, ascites, nausea, edema of lower limbs, weight loss and confusion. Once an individual shows such signs, it is important to have them tested or scanned to establish the problems with their liver (Healthcote, 2003). There are other diseases that have similar clinical manifestations so it is advised that one should have regular scans to avoid cases where cirrhosis could progress to lethal stages (Stephen, 2010). Cirrhosis is caused by the formation of tissues in the liver as the liver strains in its activities. In the process the liver gets injured and in its repairing mechanism there is the formation of scar fibrous material. The accumulation of the materials is what causes cirrhosis. Other factors that cause cirrhosis include hemochromatosis, Wilson’s disease, biliary atresia, galactosemia, hepatitis, alcohol abuse, primary, sclerosing cholangitis and schistosomiasis (The Mayo Clinic; Kushner and Edwards, 1993). Imaging through magnetic resonance elastography, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography are used to see the liver damage. The doctor also gets the patient’s history before administering a plan. Cirrhosis may be controlled by changing lifestyles for the alcohol takers. Hepatitis can be controlled and nutritional supplements can be used to prevent further damage (Stephen,

Australian Government Intervenes in the Economy Essay

Australian Government Intervenes in the Economy - Essay Example Aside from market failures, the government also intervenes to achieve equality through the reallocation of resources and redistribution of income (Stiglitz, 2002). This last impetus for the government to interfere in the market economy is the focus of this paper. We will take a particular look at the Australian government and its various ways of intervening in the market to improve its outcomes: with a specific focus on reallocation of resources and redistribution of income. A study of the Australian National University's Centre for Economic Policy Research highlighted the income inequality in Australia. "The study revealed that "taken overall, the 60 years from 1921 were apparently a period of major decline" in the share of income going to the wealthiest taxpayers" (Michaels, 2006). By 1980, the share of the top 1% fell from 10% of the total income to 5%, the 0.5% fell from around 9% to 2.95% and the top 0.1% was cut down from 4% to approximately 1% (Michaels, 2006). ... er the same period and the share of the top 0.1 percent, which had fallen to approximately 1 percent of the total in the 1980s, more than doubled to over 2 percent by the end of the 1990s" (Michaels, 2006). The introduction of the imputation system "in which part of corporation tax paid is treated as a pre-payment of personal income tax" has exacerbated the inequality (Michaels, 2006). Early Redistribution Activities Australia government depended on three redistribution methods: "the progressivity of the taxation system; the distribution of government cash payments; and the absolute level of government in-kind and cash payments" (Robinson, 2007). "From 1910 to 1940 per capita levels current of Australian social expenditure in 1911 prices rose 208% substantially more than Butlin's estimate for GDP growth in 1911-39 of 48%. The introduction of aged pensions, the maternity bonus and repatriation services saw the Commonwealth take a leading position in overall social expenditure, in particular cash payments to individuals, but the states remained dominant in the delivery of in-kind services, particularly education and health and NSW from 1927 introduced widows' pensions and child endowment" (Robinson, 2007) Australian government has given much in terms of pension and reparation. Excluding the NSW widow pensions, pension and reparation became the government's responsibility in which the distribution is "allocated per capita among the census category of Pensioners as identified in the census" (Robinson, 2007). There were also in-kind government services which is composed mainly of health and education and administered by the state in proportion to their population (Robinson, 2007). The government also resported to cash payments, although it covered only a small

The Importance of the class-system Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Importance of the class-system - Essay Example on class in comparison to quality of character, the novels create intelligently woven tales that are rich in story and plot, while maintaining a relevant editorial on the socioeconomic relationships within their culture. In Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, the main character, Pip, experiences the many levels of the class system in nineteenth century England. Although such a rise would be near impossible, the use of one character to experience the many levels of the system allows the reader to create a structure and relativity between the lowest place where he starts his journey, to the higher end where he ends as an English gentleman. Although Dickens allows his character to have this journey, â€Å"The atmosphere and smell Havesham’s employ, or partaking of gentlemanly delights in London.† [1]. The reader remains aware of the rise that Pip has experienced and, when read during the time period, a personal impact was undoubtedly felt by this commentary. In exploring the class system in Great Expectations, Dickens is able to establish the importance of the system to the social culture, while making clear commentary on the true equality of the classes. As he develops his characters, we see that true worth is not measured in wealth or distinction, but rather in the quality of the character of an individual. Miss Havesham, a woman of means, is a twisted character who seeks to avenge herself on a boy and influence the growth and ability to form a good relationship by twisting the mind of a girl. In the bitterness of her ruined life, she seeks revenge through those who should have hope by virtue of their youth. Dickens displays an immense fascination with the prison system in his work. The character of Magwitch is quietly central to the theme of class distinction within the work. â€Å"As a returned convict who was been forcibly expelled, Magwitch in Great Expectations occupies a more complex position than mere ‘out sidedness’ and becomes a tool for a

Microfinance Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Microfinance - Dissertation Example The foremost significance of microfinance institutions lies in their pro-poor feature Most of the developing nations are characterised by a majority of the population dwelling in poverty-stricken rural areas. Hence, microfinance institutions help to bail them out of dire situations arising out of low investment potentials and opportunities mirrored through a poor economic growth rate. Secondly, the fragile financial systems of developing economies are too poor to confront the risk of lending out to the rural poor; rather, they tend to advance their services to the more organised or formalised sector. Hence, investment lending is indeed negligible for the rural areas in developing economies. Lastly, the rural poor in developing economies often are discouraged to avail lending options in commercial banks, where they need to deposit collateral while taking credit unlike in microfinance institutions, where they are allowed to accept loans collectively that does not expose any single indi vidual to huge liability stakes. In addition to alleviating poverty, reducing inequality of income and generating employment, microfinance institutions also help to boost up economic growths through increased production and reduced dependence on externally produced items (Woller & Parsons, 2008). The situation in Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia could be distinguished exclusively as an oil-producing giant that draws almost all of its income from exporting the fuel around the world. However, the rise in economic growth rates has been recorded as 1.25 percent between 1981 and 2000 in contrast to a fall of 2.5 percent in GDP per capita, implying a rising inequality in the distribution of income (Raphaeli, 2003, p. 1). The nation is also characterised by an extremely skewed tax structures favourable mostly for the richer section, while the same cannot be said for the poorer population who derive their incomes out of primary activities such as farming or fishery. The modestly developed financia l sector of Saudi Arabia cannot is quite unfavourable for the rural poor who have to strive hard for loans. Furthermore, the national government exhibits little effort in development of infrastructure in these regions (Islamic Development Bank, 2010, p. 3). These loans could prove to be foundations for setting up of small scale industries conducive for the economic growth and employment generation in the nation. In addition, microfinance institutions could also bail

Risk management at wellfleet bank Essay Example for Free

Risk management at wellfleet bank Essay The 2007-2010 ï ¬ nancial crisis has brought credit risk and default to the forefront of the regulatory and political discussion. This case illustrates risk management in the world of corporate lending which is quite diï ¬â‚¬erent from the retail, subprime, and mortgage lending at the root of the recent banking turmoil. It is also interesting because Wellï ¬â€šeet (actually, Standard Chartered PLC; ticker symbol: STAN) is one of the few banks which successfully weathered the 2007-2009 credit crisis. Chief executive Alastair Dowes has to decide if the risk governance process is adequate to uncover mega-risks in light of the current risk-assessment process and the credit decision regarding a bn loan application. Working for the Chief Credit Oï ¬Æ'cer (CCO) as a senior loan supervisor, you have been asked to assess and review the risks in the proposal and to make a credit recommendation, i.e., whether Wellï ¬â€šeet should accept the loan application or not. At the same time, you are worried about gray-area risk decisions and, in particular, the fact that risk-adjusted performance measurement can rarely be automated. Risk governance requires executives to strike a balance between risk modeling and qualitative business judgment—a holistic (rather than silo-based) view of risks. You are preparing either an executive memo to the CCO and CEO or a presentation to WellFleet’s credit committee. The following questions are meant to guide your analysis: 1. How much credit risk should banks take? What avenues do they have to manage credit risk ex ante and ex post? 2. Research the history of WellFleet = Standard Chartered. How well has Wellï ¬â€šeet performed? Why and how has it avoided major problems in its corporate loan portfolio? Was the bank lucky or smart? 3. Analyze the risk management process at WellFleet Bank. What suggestions might you make to the CEO about improving the process? (a) What are the objectives of loan oï ¬Æ'cers and supervisors, respectively? What about the risk management unit? (b) Are the incentives of line and risk management units aligned? Why or why not? (c) How would you organize origination and risk management activities? 4. What risk factors drive the credit exposure to Gatwick? Analyze what a credit bet on Gatwick really amounts to. (a) Download stock prices for pure gold-mining companies such as Barrick (ticker: ABX) and Newmont (ticker: NEM) as well as a gold prices and the SP 500. Calculate the instantaneous return Rit = ln PPit . it−1 (b) Compute the correlation matrix for the 4 variables. How would you interpret the results? (c) Run a CAPM-type regression of the gold-miner’s return Rit on a constant, the SP 500 return Rmt the gold return Gt by OLS, i.e., estimate the following model: Rit = ÃŽ ± + ÃŽ ²Rmt + ÃŽ ³Gt + ÃŽ µt How would you interpret the results? What does it tell you about the credit exposure? 5. Calculate the Expected Loss, Economic Revenue and Economic Proï ¬ t for both proposals. What would your decision regarding the two credit proposals be? Why? (a) What steps if any could Wellï ¬â€šeet take to reduce its credit exposure to Gatwick? (b) What avenues are open to the bank to manage its credit exposure ex ante (before and in the lending process) and ex post (after the loan went onto its books)? 6. Given Wellï ¬â€šeet’s new focus on large corporate deals and its need to recruit relationship managers from investment banks, what are the challenges for the risk culture of the organization, and its style of risk management in particular?