Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Free Essays on Farewell To Arms

Edmund Wilson, in an internet article, â€Å"Ernest Hemingway: Bourdon Gauge of Morale,† suggests that A Farewell to Arms is a tragedy of love and war . His purpose is to link the two different sides of the novel together in order to give readers a better understanding. Wilson supports this suggestion by showing examples throughout the book. No book gives the exactness of a foreigner in a war like this book does. Hemingway wrote this book â€Å"...long enough after the events for them to present themselves...† The characters are not tormented by the â€Å"dissonance between personal satisfaction and the suffering one shares with others...†, but as soon as we see the intimate relationship between the lovers we see that it is an â€Å"...idealized realationship...† A Farewell to Arms is a Romeo and Juliet. Catherine and Henry fall in love after she gets pregnant with his child and the romance blossoms from there when they leave in the middle of the night for Switzerland because it is a neutral country and Henry will be safe from the Italian Army which was going to capture him and kill him because he fled from the war. He concludes the article by telling the readers the intimacy of the relationship in the story. I thought that the article gave several excellent points in dealing with the love and war theme. Wilson tells how no other book captures the strangeness of an American in Europe during a war. I really felt that he made a really good point when he said that the Caporetto retreat was the finest part of the book because I enjoyed that part too and loved reading about all the misfortunes that he ran into. Wilson points out that Hemingway did not show any solid sense of character during the book. I learned that Hemingway makes it so that Catherine and Henry want to be with eachother forever, but its ironic when the child dies along with Catherine because a cesarian was supposed to be the safest and easiest way to go but it en... Free Essays on Farewell To Arms Free Essays on Farewell To Arms American Lit title = Expository Essay on A Farewell to Arms In Ernest Hemmingway's A Farewell to Arms, the protagonist, Frederic Henry is both dysfunctional and tragic. Throughout the story Henry lives up to this description of shear tragedy and dysfunction. The main elements that aid in making him both tragic and dysfunctional are: the fact that the love he and Catherine shared at the end of the book was doomed, this love was only "role-playing" to him at first, and he went AWOL on the Italian army. The first detail that contributes to making Henry a dysfunctional character is that he uses role-playing as a way of escaping the realization of the human mortality which is unveiled by the war. This role-playing begins on Henry and Catherine's third encounter. After this meeting the two become increasingly comfortable with their roles. It is as if their whole relationship is a "game". Neither one of them mistakes role-playing for a truly intimate relationship, but both recognize that it can be a useful device for satisfying certain emotional needs. This role-playing is a very dysfunctional characteristic of Frederic Henry. The second point that makes Henry a dysfunctional character is that he deserted the Italian army. Not only was this illegal but it could have cost him his life. Henry, although an American, had made a commitment to the Italian army, to protect and serve Italy. This characteristic alone is enough to make one dysfunctional, as it does to Henry. In addition to being a dysfunctional character, Henry is also a tragic character. The love that Henry gains for Catherine is pure tragedy. Although the relationship that Frederic and Catherine had started out to be only role-playing it turned into something much more, it became true love. This love was more than could be explained in words. Their love during an ugly war was not to be recreated or modeled even as much as throug... Free Essays on Farewell to Arms Edmund Wilson, in an internet article, â€Å"Ernest Hemingway: Bourdon Gauge of Morale,† suggests that A Farewell to Arms is a tragedy of love and war . His purpose is to link the two different sides of the novel together in order to give readers a better understanding. Wilson supports this suggestion by showing examples throughout the book. No book gives the exactness of a foreigner in a war like this book does. Hemingway wrote this book â€Å"...long enough after the events for them to present themselves...† The characters are not tormented by the â€Å"dissonance between personal satisfaction and the suffering one shares with others...†, but as soon as we see the intimate relationship between the lovers we see that it is an â€Å"...idealized realationship...† A Farewell to Arms is a Romeo and Juliet. Catherine and Henry fall in love after she gets pregnant with his child and the romance blossoms from there when they leave in the middle of the night for Switzerland because it is a neutral country and Henry will be safe from the Italian Army which was going to capture him and kill him because he fled from the war. He concludes the article by telling the readers the intimacy of the relationship in the story. I thought that the article gave several excellent points in dealing with the love and war theme. Wilson tells how no other book captures the strangeness of an American in Europe during a war. I really felt that he made a really good point when he said that the Caporetto retreat was the finest part of the book because I enjoyed that part too and loved reading about all the misfortunes that he ran into. Wilson points out that Hemingway did not show any solid sense of character during the book. I learned that Hemingway makes it so that Catherine and Henry want to be with eachother forever, but its ironic when the child dies along with Catherine because a cesarian was supposed to be the safest and easiest way to go but it en...

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Encapsulation in Computer Programming

Encapsulation in Computer Programming Encapsulation in programming is the process of combining elements to create a new entity for the purpose of hiding or protecting information. In object-oriented programming, encapsulation is an attribute of object design. It means that all of the objects data is contained and hidden in the object and access to it is restricted to members of that class. Encapsulation in Programming Languages Programming languages arent quite so strict and allow differing levels of access to an objects data. C supports encapsulation and data hiding with user-defined types called classes. A class combines data and function into a single unit. The method of hiding details of a class is called abstraction. Classes can contain private, protected and public members. Although all the items in a class are private by default, programmers can change the access levels when needed. Three levels of access are available in both C and C# and an additional two in C#Â  only. They are: Public: All objects can access the data.Protected: Access is limited to members of the same class or descendants.Private: Access is limited to members of the same class.Internal: Access is limited to the current assembly. (C# only)Protected Internal: Access is limited to the current assembly or types derived from the containing class. (C# only) Advantages of Encapsulation The main advantage of using encapsulation is the security of the data. Benefits of encapsulation include: Encapsulation protects an object from unwanted access by clients.Encapsulation allows access to a level without revealing the complex details below that level.It reduces human errors.Simplifies the maintenance of the applicationMakes the application easier to understand. For the best encapsulation, object data should almost always be restricted to private or protected. If you choose to set the access level to public, make sure you understand the ramifications of the choice.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Israel and the Teva Company Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Israel and the Teva Company - Assignment Example Israel played a supportive role in Teva development. The government of Israel invested heavily in the education system. Therefore, over the years, I think that the country was able to equip its population with high technical skills which enabled them to work in different manufacturing companies. As a result, the company had qualified personnel at its disposal. These were people who had the necessary skills to steer growth and development of the company. In addition, the employees were well versed in different aspects that they need to consider in order for the business to penetrate the global market. Therefore, through little training by the US professors especially on the American culture, they were able to use the business models that were taught in school in order to penetrate the US market. Israel played a comforting role towards the growth of Teva Company. Although the expansion of any company in the overseas market is important in order to reduce the risks and uncertainties ass ociated with concentrating on a single market, every company must dominate a specific market before trying to capture other markets. Personally, I believe that Teva was able to gain comfort after segmenting the local market. The country gave support to the company’s products through ensuring that many of the prescribed drugs came from the company. The company received numerous contracts with government hospitals. This gave the firm confidence to explore the external market as it was assured of local support.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

CONFERENCE AND EVENT MANAGEMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

CONFERENCE AND EVENT MANAGEMENT - Essay Example These issues were however raised prior to the commencement of the 2009 annual event and were reported upon after the event, as will be highlighted within this report. Prior to the commencement of the 2009 event in Brisbane, media reports dominated the process of the refurbishment of the existing show grounds where the exhibition is housed on an annual basis, with a budget of $3 billion. This refurbishment includes inter alia the development of retail, commercial and residential infrastructure and development within the immediate grounds and vicinities, which in itself represents a significant contribution to the region in terms of both development, as well as the regional economy. Although this is not specific to the EKKA itself, it is seen as an initiative from within the EKKA camp and represents value to the region as a whole. From a historical perspective, the EKKA originally named The Brisbane Exhibition had its inaugural exhibition in 1876 with an attendance of 17,000 visitors (Mirosch, 2008). According to the media reports of the Brisbane Times and pertaining to the 2009 event, an approximate visitor turnout of 400,000 people attended the 2009 event (Brisbane Times). This turnout was however down on the preceding years figures by as much as 20%, represented by a significant turnout of over half a million people in 2008, according to media reports and resources. The show was still however deemed to be successful despite the reduced numbers in attendance, the media attributed the reduced turnout to the current financial situation as well as the impending swine flu situation. Attendance figures may well have an impact upon the sustainability of an exhibition, as well as the profitability of the event itself, dependent upon the expected income generated from admission or entrance fees, this will be addres sed further

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Globalization of North America, South America and the Caribbean Essay Example for Free

Globalization of North America, South America and the Caribbean Essay Globalization is the result of a development of an increasingly integrated global economy marked especially by free trade, free flow of capital, and the tapping of cheaper foreign labor markets (http://www. merriam-webster. com/dictionary/globalization). Not everyone is a proponent of globalization. This is especially true for North America. Although the textbook says North Americans have become a highly affluent society by means of transforming the environment and by extending their global, economic, cultural and political reach, the fact remains, that many citizens of North America are not wealth by any stretch of the imagination. The same can also be said about Latin America. The affluence has spread so unevenly, particularly in the United States, that many of the previously middle class have lost their homes and many are now living in tent cities. Recent college graduates are finding it very difficult to obtain employment in their chosen field. Many people have been unemployed long enough that their unemployment benefits have run out. These people are considered to be not actively seeking employment – this is hardly a fair opinion to form. Much of this can be accounted to work being outsourced, mainly to places like Mexico, or even as far as India. â€Å"Multinational corporations are often accused of social injustice, unfair working conditions (including slave labor wages and poor living and working conditions), as well as a lack of concern for the environment, mismanagement of natural resources, and ecological damage. † http://www. manufacturing. net/articles/2010/06/the-pros-and-cons-of-globalization. However, there are some benefits of globalization. Some people argue that money is now able to flow freely across boundaries that were once limited. An article found in Forbes Magazine explained how Sony could sell a Playstation game console or TV just as easily in the United States as Tokyo. The same goes for Apple with its iPhones and other tech toys. (http://www. forbes.com/sites/panosmourdoukoutas/2011/09/10/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-side-of-globalization/). The textbook points out how uneven development is in Latin America. Frustrated workers, whether highly skilled or low skilled look to emigration as their only hope. Migrants frequently relocate to the United States, Europe and Japan looking for work. Remittances are sent back to their native countries, which results in billions of dollars annually directed to Latin America.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

William Shakespeares Measure for Measure Essay -- Shakespeare measure

William Shakespeare's Measure for Measure The desires of the characters in Shakespeare’s Measure For Measure are not entirely clear, and are made ambivalent and ambiguous by the use of their language. Particularly in 3.1.52-153, when Isabella visits Claudio in prison, ambiguous lines and puns make it unclear whether Isabella desires Claudio’s death and whether he truly desires to be free of sin. These desires were further convoluted by viewing the current Folger Theatre production of the play. "Trade" (151) is one pun which illuminates ideas about Claudio's desires. Taken to mean an exchange, Isabella insinuates that Claudio's sin and death are like the title of the play, a measure taken for a measure, or rather a punishment that fits the crime. However, Freud's notion of the compulsion to repeat is evoked when the word is taken to mean a habit. Isabella insinuates Claudio's perpetual sinning earlier when she comments that Claudio's freedom would "offend [Angelo] still" (99) by continuing his behavior. The concept of the death drive as a desire to return to the womb also emerges when Isabella warns Claudio that accepting Angelo's offer "Would bark your honour from that trunk you bear / And leave you naked" (70-71), the image of debarking a tree becoming a form of regression. Claudio's response that he would "encounter darkness as a bride / And hug it in [his] arms" (82-3) is wholly ambivalent and ambiguous. It could be a straightforward admission to his desire for death, also showing that he readily accepts his punishment. Additionally falling under Freud's philosophy, it could instead be an admission of his compulsion to repeat: he would make love to death as his bride, just as he did to Juli... ... truly became emotional during his 15 line speech about the uncertainty of death. He was spotlighted during this passage, making it more like a soliloquy and therefore more honest. The audience was privy to his real fear of death and his desire to live, but then his pathetic supplication on his knees made my desire for him to die increase. What sin he refers to is of course unclear in the text as well as in the production, and literally holding that line above the characters’ heads made it even more uncertain who was truly the sinner: Claudio, Angelo, or Isabella? The audience was left feeling uncertain just as Claudio is about death, and Isabella is about her feelings towards whether her brother should die. Mostly this scene illuminates the universal desire for certainty, made even more apparent from the lighting change during Claudio’s soliloquy.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Globalization and Industrialized Countries Essay

As globalization ‘can be seen as being a condition resulting from a long history of international exploration, invasion and colonization, fuelled by economic, military, religious and political interests, and enabled through enormous developments in transport and communications technologies’ (Evans 1997:12). The industrialized environment has transformed drastically since the advent of globalization. Industrialized countries have undertaken extreme restructuring by modifying their means of communication and synchronization of work activities. Globalization has made it promise for companies to work on a real-time basis, whereby products and services are conveyed to the right place at the right time. Since then, globalization and information technology has propagated and has undergone significant improvements. Costs have sustained to decline as these new technologies have emerged. A business not supported by a network of computer systems (primary information technology) is more or less destined to fail, since it will be incapable to compete efficiently in today’s complex and dynamic environment (Aiki S. 1991). Companies are not the only ones who have gained from advances in modern information technology. Consumers and interest groups have created strategic alliances and now capable to coordinate their activities as well as exchange ideas and thoughts through a number of database and network systems (Collins J. C. , and J. I. Porras. 1991). For instance, owners of personal computers can subscribe to a computer network and without difficulty retrieve information on the products and corporations on line. Such information can also without problems be transmitted to other users. This huge use of technology by both consumers and companies affects, but the way business is run today. These consumer strategic alliances know no geographical limitations; oftentimes, they are global in nature, particularly among the industrialized nations. As companies can get in enormous profits from the better coordination, greater product elasticity, improved quality, leaner production, and more time-based competitiveness that information technology offers, they also facades the threat that can come from these consumers’ strategic alliances. For instance, corporations can no longer ignore consumer demands for constant product quality, reliability and respect for the environment, or timely delivery of services. As we move toward more and more advanced technologies, the labor force must be retrained. This training must not only expose workers to the technical matters adjoining the new process but also to the new focus of the organization. They have to be made responsive of the importance of advanced technology in improving work methods and in remaining competitive. Employee compulsion to the new process is imperative. Globalization by itself adds little or no value to an organization. There should be organizational as well as employee dedication to exploit the technology to the maximum (Scott, A. 1996). For instance, with ever-increasing use of computer-integrated manufacturing systems, and the stream of technical documentation that accompanies it, employees have to be skilled of recognizing the critical information at the right time. Once that information is recognized and properly interpreted, there must be an organizational dedication to use the information to make better decisions. Without this potential, the organization cannot take advantage from new technologies. Human resources’ management, therefore, will persist to be a critical factor in the survival of any organization (Schlossberg H. 1992). We sum up the influence of globalization on human resources as follows: †¢ Information technology transforms the mode of communication and work processes. †¢ Custom or standardized operations are replaced with skilled and multi-skilled workers. An extremely trained labor force is desired to manage information technology. †¢ Worker motivation and satisfaction might improve since workers are no longer restricted to routine operations, enjoy management powers, and can contribute to developments in their work processes. (Waters, M. 1995) Globalization also has an impact on the organization itself, as follows: †¢ Organizational reformation is required. This reformation makes the organization flat. Decision-making powers are decentralized. †¢ Communications are better and the organization is capable to make timely responses to its environment. †¢ Introduction of new products and services is improved and varieties of products can be efficiently introduced and marketed by the organization. †¢ The organization is competent to improve its efficiency, quality, and competitiveness. (Scott, A. 1997) Today’s advanced technology can, conversely, easily become a basic technology. A rapid increase of new technologies also brings rapid obsolescence of earlier technologies. Policies concerning technology must not be static; they must keep evolving. Stalk (1988) points out that â€Å"competitive advantage is a persistently moving target . . . The best competitors, the most thriving ones, know how to keep moving and always stay on the cutting edge. † Competitiveness A company should be able to evaluate potential new technologies quickly. The goal must be to remain competitive, and effective management of technology is a vital step in achieving this. With an increased focus on customer satisfaction, technology is a decisive means for achieving customer satisfaction. Browning (1990) notes that a learning organization â€Å"uses technology incessantly to refresh its knowledge of its customers’ wants and to work out new ways of satisfying them. † This commitment to be a learning organization needs vast resources, however. For example, Browning also points out that building a learning organization â€Å"necessitates new skills, clever people and capable machines. † Noticeably, technology and human resources should be used together for the organization to stay competitive (Cunningham, S. and Jacka, E. 1996). Barabba and Zaltman (1991) note that â€Å"hearing the accent of the market and making constructive use of it with respect to the voice of the firm is a learning progression. † Essentially, the voice of the market has to be interpreted into facts and tasks that will lead to suitable products or services to satisfy customer needs. This is related to the application of quality function deployment, whereby the organization expands its strategic plans to assure customer needs. Thus, a learning organization should also be a caring organization. As a caring organization, its major objective is to please its stock or stakeholders, its customers, and employees, and also to be collectively responsible. The traditional organization, with the focus on satisfying stockholders alone, is varying to this new form, with a sophisticated stakeholder group (Petrella, R. 1999). Thus, globalization and human resources’ management are recognized as key variables that facilitate an organization to improve its productivity, quality, and competitiveness. A critical constituent is the information technology, which offers both opportunities and challenges. The organization should show understanding to its environment via its policies, and be learning and caring organization, as time and reliability influence competitiveness. Finally, organizations should innovate and constantly move to achieve new targets, particularly in view of today’s rapidly developing new technologies (Shields, R. 1997).

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Systematic Review Paper

The purpose of this meta-synthesis research was to synthesize a qualitative study performed to better understand the underlying reasons why only a fraction of cancer patients participate in cancer research trials. The attempt is to explore factors that influence participation in this type of study. Literature in the subject indicates poorly understood process of how patients are enrolled into clinical trials.This systematic review tries to improve the patient decision-making process in participating in cancer clinical trial and to provide Oncology nurses to treat patients with solid background utilizing evidence based practice (Biedrzycki, 2010). The study was conducted in hope to eliminate misconceptions on the negative feelings of cancer clinical trials. A common misconception is participation can cause harm instead of cure. The report clearly describes how the variation in research design and methods revealed low percentages of cancer patient participation in previous studies.An i nformation specialist assisted with the selection of relevant studies. Data selection was reviewed through PubMed. Patient participation and decision making were topics reviewed. A PRISMA-type flow chart elaborates on the multiple studies reviewed (Biedrzycki, 2010). The criteria for reviewing articles included articles published since 2004. Research from other countries was reviewed and was not confined to the United States.Literature reviewed through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) roadmap for Medical Research, fortified the research by emphasizing important aspects of human research participants and transforming this into clinical research. 62 articles met criteria and 24 articles did not meet the initial criteria. Articles beyond five years provided evidence of inaccurate representation of the current views on patients’ will to participate in clinical trials (Biedrzycki, 2010). The research article indicates the sample sizes ranged from 16 to more than 115000 whic h yield a median=162.The combined sample of participants includes gender, race, and age. Most participants were Caucasian. One study included only Asian women. Ages ranged from 50 to 64 years, median 57. 6 years. Cancer diagnoses were reported in 10 studies, six studies omitted reporting cancer as a diagnosis. Four studies reported advanced cancer. Six studies reported participation in phase I clinical trials. One study reported participation in a phase III clinical study. The rest of the studies did not report the phase of trials. There is no indication whether follow up was done with the original reporter to clarify missing information (Biedrzycki, 2010).The criteria used to appraise the research consisted of decision-making process, communication, educational interventions, perceptions, benefits and burdens, quality of life, reasons for declining participation, knowledge, relative health stock, timing of consent, satisfaction, and decisional regret. Most studies focused on decisi on making, however; thirteen studies described multiple aspects of cancer clinical trial participation. Some studies focused on the psychosocial consequences of clinical trial decision making.This data was appraised by several research team members (Biedrzycki, 2010). Decision-making instruments included the Llewellyn-Thomas, an unnamed instrument and the Homes-Rovner et al. Satisfaction with Decision Scale. Other instruments included the Understanding of Clinical Trials by Joffe et al. and The Decisional Regret Scale and the Karmonos Accrual Analysis System. Most studies did not report psychometric measures and almost all studies used one question to assess willingness, interest or knowledge about cancer clinical trials (Biedrzycki, 2010).Data analysis is presented in table format. Table 1 consists of factors reflecting the rigor of the studies reviewed. Table 2 consists of measures of decision making used in the studies reviewed and Table 3 lists strengths, limitations, and key po ints of the studies reviewed. The studies were mainly descriptive, consisting of mixed-methods design. Three studies tested an educational intervention and two studies used an experimental design. 50% of the studies did not report timing of the research in relation to the decision regarding clinical trial participation (Biedrzycki, 2010).During meta-analysis, response rates varied by type of measure and study design, only 50% reported response rates (range = 21% – 95%, median=71%. 29% declined participating because they had no interest and 24% declined with no reason given. One major reason people declined to participate was because they had no access or could not use a computer. Multiple time measures were conducted in decision regret, it was noted that responses were reduced (Biedrzycki, 2010). The process used to pool the data together was clinical trial decision making.The main factors influencing this process consist of patient, provider, and treatment. Two studies speci fically explored decision making by the patient. Education requirements impacted decision making since understanding the risks and benefits of clinical trials was the most important factor taken into consideration by the patient. Educational interventions were noted to have increased patient enrollment. (Biedrzycki, 2010). If the patient found the education from the provider to be coercive, treatment was considered a burden.Time and travel also posed an inconvenience on the patient since it adversely affected quality of life and therefore deterred patients from cancer clinical trials. On a positive note, studies reported factors associated with positive decision making outcomes. Positive decision making included being more spiritual, younger, and having more advanced cancer, and having a good understanding of the education received. Several other aspects were indicated as positive decision making outcomes when providers introduced user-friendly systems (Biedrzycki, 2010).The primary focus of the study was accepting or declining clinical trial participation. The secondary focus was decision-making and the silent variable was the influence on clinical trial participation. All criteria were elegantly spelled out in form of charts and tables. Figure 1 included factors associated with the decision to participate in a cancer clinical trial. Figure 2 revealed factors associated with a positive decision making outcome (Biedrzycki, 2010). A factor that was clearly noted as missing was a review on the process by which patients decide on whether or not to participate in clinical research trial.Components of the decision making preferences have not been determined. Consenting for a research process is autonomous and the current healthcare system does did not provide sufficient learning opportunities for the patient to acquire enough information to make an adequate informed consent. When the patient lacks this knowledge and the healthcare provider lacks the understanding o f the patient’s values, it is difficult for the patient to want to participate in clinical trials (Biedrzycki, 2010).The reviewers concluded that future research is needed for continuation of exploring the reasons for lack of cancer patients’ participation in clinical research trials. The need for sound construct for decision making can prepare nurses and healthcare workers to understand the cancer patient’s values and to provide education that may enhance knowledge and strengthen interventions, and improve cancer clinical trial participation (Biedrzycki, 2010).

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Coso and Basel Essays

Coso and Basel Essays Coso and Basel Essay Coso and Basel Essay Financial Collapses and Regulations New England College of Business In an era of risky investments and failed financial institutions, additional importance is being placed on businesses implementing Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) plans. ERM is defined by the Institute of Internal Auditors (2012) as an approach designed to identify, quantify, respond to, and monitor the consequences of potential events implemented by management. Without an ERM plan, transparency to shareholders and internal accountability are nearly impossible to achieve. COSO and Basel are both reactive frameworks to increased regulatory changes that forced institutions to show more transparency to their financial reporting, in order to manage operational risks, mitigate the likelihood of a collapse, and ensure stability in volatile market conditions (Farnan 2004; Balin 2008); these measures increase confidence in investors. This comparative analysis of COSO and Basel seeks to indentify common measures that are necessary to form a functional ERM plan, the most important being the accountability of management and its communication with the Board (The New Basel Accord 2003). A Comparative Analysis of ERM Guidelines: COSO I/II and Basel I/II Introduction Due to the epidemic of failed financial systems seen over the past decade, agencies and private organizations (e. g. , Securities and Exchange Commission, NICE, etc. ) have set in place guidelines for the standardization of reporting and evaluating risk in an effort to eliminate surprise collapses in the future (NICE Systems Ltd. 2012). Alexander Campbell, Editor, Operational Risk Regulation, states that regulatory approaches are changing and requiring companies to streamline processes for monitoring internal risks at a company, such as fraud (NICE Systems Ltd. 2012). Common goals of organizing committees trying to tackle regulatory challenges are to improve communication between the board and management, increase shareholders confidence, and most importantly, for entities to thoroughly evaluate their liquidity so that in the event of a crisis, investors assets are secured (Bressac 2005; Decamps, Rochet, Roger 2003). This comparative analysis of COSO and Basel identifies the standards these documents set for institutions to maintain an Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) plan, as well as the affects these documents shortcomings and constraints have on entities which apply either COSO or Basel. Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) is defined by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) (2012) as an approach designed to identify, quantify, respond to, and monitor the consequences of potential events implemented by management. It is important for all parties affiliated with an institutions ERM plan to clearly identify and understand the events that impact a companys value in order for the entity to achieve its objectives (IIA 2012). The frameworks COSO and Basel both attempt to be reactive solutions to public events in which lack of an adequate ERM plan has contributed to a collapse of a major institution or market which had a detrimental affect on the public (Farnan 2004; Lall 2009). Both documents have been explored by many key opinion leaders in the financial industry, and while each provides a set of guidelines for developing successful ERM protocols, each also fails to be foolproof. Shaw (2006) provides the argument that while the COSO standard was groundbreaking at the time, it was not meant to be a marking guide for controls. Moreover, in regards to Pillar 3 of the Basel Accord which depicts methods of Value-At-Risk (VAR) calculations, Standard and Poors noted that although these VAR methods appear to offer mathematical precision†¦they are not a magic bullet (Lall 2009). COSO and Basel can be seen as a significant step forward for the times (Saurina and Persaud 2008). Basel In 1974, the Basel Committee of Banking Supervision (BCBS) was created (consisting of the G10 plus Luxembourg and Spain) in light of the challenges from an increasingly internationalized banking system (Lall 2009). In the 1980s, it became clear (post-Latin America Debt Crisis, 1982) that a process was needed regulate the international banking system to mitigate risk and manage losses (Lall 2009). The first Basel Accord and Basel II, referred to as Basel, is a method of risk management, specifically for financial institutions operating on a multi-national level, that sets minimum capital requirements (8% of adjusted assets (Decamps, Rochet, Roger 2003)) that these institutions must uphold to minimize the risk of a collapse in the international banking system (Lamy 2006). Basel I, the first international accord on bank capital was established in 1988, by the BCBS (Finance Development 2008), with the goal to arrive at significantly more risk-sensitive capital requirements with the primary objective in line with ensuring stability in the international banking system (Lamy 2006). In 2004, Basel II was introduced, with amendments in response to the Quantitative Impact Study, QIS 3, (published in May 2003), an increase in the amount of capital banks must set aside for high-risk exposures, and changes from feedback from banks on Basel I (Finance Development 2008; Lamy 2006). The Basel framework is focused on three pillars: a minimum capital adequacy requirement, supervisory review, and market discipline (Decamps, Rochet, Roger 2003). Basel I was highly criticized for having a one size fits all approach to formulating institutions risk-weighted assets (with insensitivity to emerging countries), in addition to unrealistic capital requirements that discouraged even reasonable risk taking (Kaufman 2003). In response to these critiques, BCSB began to draft Basel II, in which the amendments to Pillar I (310 out of ~350 pages of the document (Balin 2008)) were most notable. Balin (2008) describes the menu of various options that Basel II encompasses for Pillar I, which allow institutions to choose the most suitable options dependent on a series of factors (i. e. , size, rating, etc. ). The minimum capital requirement pillar focuses on the least amount of capital a bank must maintain to be protected from credit, operational, and market risks (Ahmed and Khalidi 2007). In Basel II, the highly critiqued credit risk requirements were modified to decrease the one size fits all stigma of Basel I (Kaufman 2003). Additionally, Basel II takes into account loopholes found in Basel I that enabled banks to maintain their desired level of risk while cosmetically assuaging to minimum capital adequacy requirements, which was done mainly through a transfer of assets to holding companies and subsidiaries (Balin 2008). Similar to COSO framework, the first pillar of Basel seeks to unite various types of risks into an overall evaluation of capital requirements to safeguard shareholders and investors. Pillar 2, the Supervisory Review, is meant to insure that banks have adequate capital to support all the risks in their business including, but not limited to, the calculations in Pillar 1 (Kaufman 2003). This Pillar clearly defines of obligations of supervisory oversight against extreme risk taking; of note in this Pillar is line 680, which states: Supervisors are expected to evaluate how well banks are assessing their capital needs relative to their risks and to intervene, where appropriate. This interaction is intended to foster an active dialogue between banks and supervisors such that when deficiencies are identified, prompt and decisive action can be taken to reduce risk or restore capital (The New Basel Capital Accord 2003). The four principles of Pillar 2 seek to hold the supervisors responsible for implicating processes, reviewing, setting expectations, and intervening when warranted in regard to management of capital risks (The New Basel Capital Accord 2003). Pillar 3 seeks to protect against changes in asset prices (market risk) (Balin 2008), which is an addition to the credit risk factors of Basel I. Using the Value-At-Risk (VAR) model, banks were able to determine the probability of a portfolios value decreasing by more than a set amount over a given time period (Lall 2009). Critics of the VAR model, such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), claim that it fails to account for extreme market events and assumes that the processes generating market events were stable (Lall 2009). COSO In July 2002, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) was passed with the goals of increasing investor and public confidence in the post-Enron era and increasing management accountability, among others (Farnan 2004). Section 404 of SOX states that effective for some large companies, beginning December 31, 2004, a separate management report on internal control effectiveness and audit by the organizations external financial statement auditor is required (Farnan 2004). COSOs framework lays out a path for developing efficient operations and regulatory compliance methods, and has been established as the framework recommended by agencies such as the SEC for public companies to base their financial reporting on (Farnan 2004). The Committee of Sponsoring Organization of the Treadway Commissions (COSO) is comprised of five private organizations in the financial industry (COSO Web site 2012). The COSO organization was established in 1995 with the mission to provide thought leadership through the development of comprehensive frameworks and guidance on enterprise risk management, internal control and fraud deterrence, and attempts to enhance success and leadership, and minimize fraud in company reporting (COSO Web site 2012). Since its establishment, COSO has published frameworks aimed at helping publicly traded companies cope with tough new monitoring requirements mandated by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (Shaw 2006), and to help businesses manage risk, by looking at business units as an entire entity, designed to improve organizational performance and governance and to reduce the extent of fraud in organization (COSO Web site 2012). The COSO framework is a cube comprised of four (three in COSO I) company objectives perpendicular to eight (five in COSO I) factors that together form a risk assessment program for which companies can reduce risks by realizing the amount of capital needed for consequences (Bressac 2005). Similar to Basel, COSO dictates that the board is responsible for overseeing managements design and operation of ERM (Bressac 2005). One factor that COSO framework includes is the measurement of a companys risk appetite, the amount of risk, on a broad level, an entity is willing to accept in pursuit of value (Rittenberg and Martens 2012). Many objectives that management sets for their company (i. e. , increase market share, win competitive tenders) include a substantial amount of risk, and COSOs strategic decision-making framework allows managers to present the objectives in relation to appetite to the Board for approval (Rittenberg and Martens 2012). Conclusions Both COSO and Basel were drawn to effectively respond to new implications (Sarbanes-Oxley Act (Shaw 2006) and new laws capital requirements for banks (Lamy 2006), respectively), and each have principles that can help institutions manage ERM more effectively. For example, The New Basel Capital Accord (2003) clearly articulates that setting a minimum amount of available capital resources is a vital element of the strategic planning process, and the three pillars devise a plan to do this. Bressec (2005) claims that COSO II framework articulates a way for managers to effectively deal with the events that create uncertainty for entities and create responses to minimize potential losses. COSO and Basel were both released in the infancy stage and flawed. Samad-Khan (2005) observed that COSOs creditability is diminished because consequences are predicted to occur much more frequently than had been historically recorded in the past. Supporters acknowledge that Basel II has arcane ideas, but defend that its still a step in the right direction because it increases financial oversight and makes sure banks wont be doomed by crises of confidence (Coy 2008). It is important to note that while COSO and Basel offer much protection against quantitative risk assessments, they must be coupled with the knowledge and insight of senior risk managements to be most efficient (Lall 2009; Samad-Khan 2005). Moreover, both COSO and Basel also provide constraints that limit the amount of risks institutions can endure, sometimes excessively. Pall (2009) discusses one failure in Basel II as the ability for developed-nation banks to skew their reports to their desired results, at the expense of their smaller and emerging market competitors and, above all, systemic financial stability. Samad-Khan (2005) emphasizes that historical data is still the most reliable way for companies to determine the probability for risk to occur. Start-ups will not have this historical data, therefore may overestimate their probability of risk using the likelihood x impact = risk calculation (Samad-Khan 2005) and miss out on potentially positive opportunities. Others against the provisions claim that both documents (e. g. , Basel in the Emerging markets) implement concessions that constrain potential growth by overcompensating for potential consequences and depleting lending capital for banks, which in the 1930s contributed to the Great Depression (Coy 2008). Historical events depict the need for more stringent regulatory guidelines in this era of financial market uncertainty. The most important common factor of Basel and COSO are that each clearly states that it is managements responsibility to have a functional ERM plan in place, and be in communication with the Board about potential risks that the company faces (Bressec 2005; The New Basel Capital Accord 2003). Holding management accountable for the risks the business takes, while making sure that the Board is in agreement with managements plan creates a necessary harmony of a checks and balances system, in turn creating a safer landscape for shareholders and the public to place faith in. When properly executed,

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

35 High Paying Jobs Without Degrees that Pay a Salary of $55,000

35 High Paying Jobs Without Degrees that Pay  a Salary of $55,000 The good news from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is that workers with associate’s degrees or high school diplomas have potential careers to consider that come with  a median salary of $55,000! Here are 35 high paying jobs without degrees you can attain. 35. BoilermakersIf your aptitude runs to mechanical and plumbing repairs, you might enjoy assembly, installation, and repair of boilers and other containers.   The median salary is $56,560, you’ll learn on the job as an apprentice. This high paying job without a degree  has a projected 8,800 job openings in the next 6 years.34. First-line supervisors of correctional officersHave you always had an interest in law enforcement but for whatever reason not pursued the police academy? A supervisory position in a correctional institution may suit you- you’ll work with other officers and jail employers. The median salary is $57,840, training is moderate and on-the-job, and there are 18,000 expected job opening s through 2022.33. Electrical and electronics engineering techniciansThis is a great field for those who like to tinker and rebuild. as an engineering technician, you’d be designing, building, repairing, and maintaining electrical components, circuitry, and machinery for your staff colleagues. The median salary is $57,850, you’ll need an associate’s degree, and the right vocational program will help you hit the ground running with a job placement.32. Real-estate brokersIf you like people (and looking at sale and rental properties in your area!) and have a detail-oriented, organized approach, brokering real-estate transactions (like buying, selling, rentals, and loan arrangements) might be for you. The median wage is $58,350, and there are 16,100 projected job openings in this field.31. Purchasing agents (except wholesale, retail, and farm products)Being responsible for the ordering and acquisition of machinery, equipment, tools, parts, supplies, or services for a business or an organization is a crucial role – the median salary is $58,760, your training on the job would be long-term, and there are 61,600 anticipated positions in the works.30. Computer network support specialistsEverybody loves a competent it person- if coding is your first or second language and you enjoy problem solving and maintenance, this could be a great match. The median salary is $59,090, and there are 39,600 projected job openings through 2022.29.  First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workersIf you have experience with construction sites, supervising them and coordinating employees could net you a median salary of $59,700. There are 187,100 anticipated openings in the next few years.28. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigatorsPut your strong reading comprehension and interest in investigative processes to work as a reviewer of settled claims to against company practices and procedures. The median salary is $59,960, and there a re an expected 80,300 jobs in this field.27. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairersAnother excellent option for those who like to tinker and work with people- as a supervisor in this field, you’ll oversee  and coordinate a team of mechanics, installers, or repairers. Anticipate earning $60,250 in one of the 152,000 projected openings.26. Gas-plant operatorsIf you enjoy maintaining mechanical systems at work, this field would place you with utility companies to control compressors that monitor and support main pipelines. The median salary is $61,140, and in the next few years there should be 4,700 prospective jobs.25.  Aerospace engineering and operations techniciansThese engineers and mechanically-minded  employees operate and maintain equipment for developing, testing, and producing new aircraft. The median salary for a candidate with an associate’s degree is $61,000. More than 2,000 jobs are projected through 2022.24. Petroleum-pump-syst em operators, refinery operators, and gaugersThese positions, which only require a high school diploma or the equivalent, require you to operate or control petroleum refining or processing units. The median salary is $61,850, and there are 15,500 projected job openings through 2022.23. Web developersSpend your life online and think you can design a top-notch site that looks and runs efficiently? If you’re willing to get an associate’s degree, consider this career, where the median salary is $62,500  and there are a whopping  50,700 (!!) projected job openings through 2022.22. Subway and street car operatorsYou’re the one who the little kids will look at and wave to all day! Oh, you’ll technically be in charge of operating subways or elevated trains to transport passengers for a median salary of $62,730. you’ll need a high school diploma.21. Postmasters and mail superintendentsYou’ll be the planner behind the grand machine of the post off ice. in this position, you coordinate operations and  admin for  a post office, or help organize scheduling and duties of post office workers. There are 5,000 projected job openings over the next 6 years, and the median salary is $63,050.20.  Electrical-power line installers and repairersThis job, with comes with long-term on-the-job training, has a median salary of $63,350. It’s in demand, too, because there are a projected 49,900 jobs opening in the next 6 years.19.  Transportation inspectorsYou’re one of the final safety checks of anything from equipment to goods to make sure all is safe for long travel. This job comes with a median salary of $63,680, and you’ll need a high school diploma.18.  Gaming managersDo you look at the chaos of a casino and wonder who makes it run? A gaming manager, that’s who. In this job, you’ll direct and coordinate the workings of a casino. The median salary is $65,220, and you’ll need a high school diploma.17.  Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologistsHere’s a great way to be a part of the healthcare industry, help people, and learn the inner workings of a complex system.MRI techs need an associate’s degree and receive a median annual  wage of $65,360. There are 11,300 jobs expected to open in the next 6 years.16.  Registered nurses (RN)Wait for it- there are a projected  1,052,600 (wow!) job openings for RNs expected through 2022! You’ll need an associate’s degree to become a nurse, which can involve anything from patient care to public education about health issues. The median salary is $65,470.15. Diagnostic medical sonographersHere’s another great way to enter the healthcare industry in a tech-forward way. In this job, you use equipment to directs sound waves to  assesses and diagnose patients. You’ll need an associate’s degree for this position, which comes with a median salary of $65,860. There are   35,30 0 jobs projected to open in the next 6 years.14. Power plant operatorsHere’s a position that comes with long-term on-the-job training. You’ll learn how to control, operate, and maintain the machines that generate electric power. Only a high school diploma is required, and this job comes with a median salary of $66,130.13. Funeral service directorsThe opportunity to run your own business (if you have the stomach for funeral services) and provide a valuable service to a grieving community could enable you to earn as much as $66,720; you’ll need an associate’s degree (and some business classes wouldn’t hurt). There may be as many 3,200 job openings available and minimal job training.12. Nuclear techniciansYou’ll need an associate’s degree for this important job, in which you’ll  assist physicists and engineers nuclear research and production. The median salary is  $69,060.11. Farmers, ranchers, other agricultural managersThe one is a job with great prospects- 150,200 are expected to open through 2022! These positions will require you to take a role in the  operation of farms, ranches, greenhouses, aquacultural operations, nurseries, timber tracts, or other agricultural establishments. The median salary is  $69,300.10. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workersThis is a complicated-sounding way of saying middle management of a corporate sales force; your workload would likely include supervision of daily and weekly workforce activity, sales goals and company revenue. The median salary is $70,060, you’ll need a high school diploma or equivalent degree, and you could have more than 50 thousand job openings to choose from, with no necessary training prerequisites.9. Nuclear medicine technologistsThis job comes with a median salary of $70,180 and requires an associate’s degree. In this position, technologists  scan patient’s bodies to create images and administer  radioac tive drugs to patients undergoing scans.8. Dental hygienistsAspiring dental hygienists are required to provide dental cleanings, examine patients for oral ailments, and provide preventative care; they can earn as much as $70k with an associate’s degree (which should include any certifications required). There are more than 113,00 anticipated job openings.7. Power distributors and dispatchersThese positions involve, as you might expect, coordinating, regulating and distributing electricity or steam, which may involve working in a technical facility or plant. The median salary breaks $71k, you’ll be able to get long-term on-the-job training with your high school diploma or equivalent, and there are more than 3,000 prospective openings.6. Commercial pilotsAir travel may not be as glamorous as it once was, but being a commercial pilot- flying and navigating aircrafts on non-scheduled (aka fancy private planes) air-carrier routes, or helicopter trips- is a lucrative and exc iting career. You’ll need a commercial pilot certificate in addition to a high-school diploma or equivalent, but you could earn as much as $73k in any of the 14k positions available in the next few years.5. Detectives and criminal investigatorsAnother job not to go for just because it looks cool on tv- detectives and criminal investigators assist law enforcement and private citizens in tracking down suspected violations of laws, to prevent or solve crimes, or find and recover private property. The median salary is $74k, there will be nearly 28k potential job openings coming, and there’s moderate on-the-job training.4. Nuclear reactor operatorsIt is impossible for me not to acknowledge this was Homer Simpson’s job- but i’m sure smart people will find it challenging and exciting, too. If you enjoy technical and mechanical work around nuclear reactors, monitoring and operating equipment and its controls, and recording meticulous data, this could be a great f it. You should also be comfortable facing and implementing emergency procedures. Median salary is nearly $80,000, and you (and the other 2,299 applicants) will receive long-term on-the-job training.3. Elevator installers and repairersIf you happen to like elevators- or any electric or hydraulic systems maintenance, you could find yourself happy in this job- the $76,650 you could earn with your high school diploma might help too! Typically new repair techs start with an apprenticeship. there are more than 8,000 jobs in the forecast.2. Radiation therapistsIf you’re interested in a career in healthcare without the nearly decade-long investment of time, money, and your sanity, consider a radiation therapy career. You’ll be responsible for checking equipment, observing patients after their treatments, and documentation of sessions. The median salary is $77,560, you’ll need an associate’s degree, and you may find more than 8,400 jobs waiting upon graduation.1. Air-traffic controllersObviously, this is so highly paid because it’s so intense and stressful- you have to be alert and on-task constantly. You’d be monitoring and directing aircraft and earning up to $122,530- the highest of any occupation in which employees don’t have to have a bachelor’s degree. The on-the-job training is long-term and rigorous (but you’ll appreciate it when you can actually save money and retire like an old-school human being).

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Caltural change of the organization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Caltural change of the organization - Essay Example The organizational or cultural guidelines or expectations prescribe appropriate kinds of behavior that its employees should implement in particular situations. The following paragraphs will explain in detail how corporate cultural values controls the behavior of each organizational members towards one another from organizational values (Hill, 2001) Generally, top management officers could try to determine whether to continue with the current corporate culture or to change it. They may want to impose corporate values and standards of behavior in order to particularly reflect the objectives of the organization. In addition, there are generally standing internal cultures within the company’s workforce (Edsforth,2005) And, the interplay of post-industrial technologies, new organizational practices and wider social influences is effecting changes in corporate production and culture. This is debated that the deliberate reconstruction of corporate culture reconstructs the culture of the 20th century workplace(Casey, 2007). Furthermore, all the work groups within a corporation have their individual behavioral idiosyncrasies and communications that that influences the entire organization. Clearly, top management can willingly be infused outside culture into its work environment. For clarity, computer technicians usually have independently gained the expertise, language and behaviors of the organization, but the attendance of these technicians may affect the culture of the organization in its entirety. In the article How to make Life Changes Using Psychologist Kurt Lewin’s Unfreeze –Change – Freeze Method. Lose weight, change careers and more using this three step process(Goss, 2007) emphasized that most people hate change. But again, there is very popular saying that goes nothing in this world is permanent except change. For change compels

Friday, November 1, 2019

The Environment and Our Difficult Relationship with Fuel Essay

The Environment and Our Difficult Relationship with Fuel - Essay Example It expresses the rationality of Man and the objectivity of his choices. In terms of food, the choices we make can significantly impact our health, whether we choose to eat a low or high calorie diet, whether we prefer to eat hygienic home-cooked food over the junk food we eat in restaurants or whether we prefer to eat fresh food as opposed to frozen food. It is high time that we challenge our unconditional trust for the health claims on the products of food manufacturing companies including genetically modified food and our ignorance of what constitutes healthy food, the perception of which has lately been tarnished. A similar perspective is shared by Micheal Pollen as elucidated in his article â€Å"Unhappy Meals.† The tone of Pollen’s article is full of sarcasm at the evolved concept of healthy food, much to my liking, the author states â€Å"A health claim on a food product is a good indication that it’s not really food, and food is what you want to eat,† (Pollen, 1). ... 40). The very introduction of such health claims on manufactured food was nothing more than a profit maximizing technique employed to increase sales. This has led to a change in the consumption patterns and is â€Å"destroying the traditional food cultures,† (Pollen, p. 65). The fact that after the introduction of the 1977 Dietary Goals in the United States of America, majority of the food manufactured was low fat (since that was recommended by the nutritionists ), one would have expected an overall decrease in the level of obesity of the population in general, but is that what happened? Unfortunately not! This simple fact speaks volumes about the low – fat claims made by the food manufacturing companies. The flaw was also in the proposed nutritional plan. The food manufactured was low on fat but high on carbohydrates which resulted in the increased obesity (Pollen, p. 43). This shows us that the nutritional value of food and the nutritious diets proposed are mere exper iments, the results of which are not guaranteed. This does not mean that I am a proponent of consuming high levels of cholesterol; rather I feel a controlled diet is the healthiest way to leading a healthy life, as opposed to consuming products that claim to be healthy. The dichotomy of the researches surrounding the utility of Omega-3 fats is a live example of the supportive and contradictory empirical evidence to support such health claims (Pollen, p. 38). Similar researches are questioning the validity of the food pyramid we have been studying for years. In his book Gary Taubes seeks to clarify many of the prevalent notions people have about methods of