Analyzing the factors which influencing customers of choosing a soft drinks Essay

The overview of business environment is changing overtime. Due to increasing of excessive competition in business environment, customer preference and purchase intention are changing day by day. Now Bangladesh is more intense as competitive market in beverage industry with lot of foreign and local companies. People are being more health conscious day by day. They are becoming aware about their daily diet in which liquids play the vital role. Availability of soft drink in our country is numerous. Everyday new types of soft drinks are being launched. The reasons behind this popularity for this soft drink show that demand is very higher in our country. Throughout the year, consumption of the soft drinks goes on. Kids to elder people everybody like soft drink; specially kids and young generation. The competition among the soft drink companies is very high. They are fighting all-time to attract customer and satisfy them in better way than their rivals. In this regard, we searched out the scope to do a marketing research. We have selected five factors or variables: Brand image, Price, Quality, Taste and Product Availability to identify based on which factor customers used to choose a particular soft drink brand. Indeed, we tried to find out which factor among these five factors is the most influential to choose a particular soft drink brand. Brand Image: Brand image refers to images arising in a consumer’s mind from exposure to a named brand. It refers to the impression in the consumers’ mind of a brand’s total personality (real and imaginary qualities and shortcomings). Consumers buy not only a product (commodity), but also the images associated with the product such as power, wealth, sophistication, and most importantly identification and association with other users of the brand. The term â€Å"brand image† gained popularity as evidence began to grow that the feelings and images associated with a brand were powerful purchase influencers. Studies based on that also suggested that brand image can be an important information cue for consumers to evaluate a product. A brand is unlikely to have one brand image, but several, though one or two may predominate. The key in brand image research is to identify or develop the most powerful images and reinforce them through subsequent brand communications. Good brand images are instantly evoked, are positive, and are almost always unique among competitive brands. Brand image is developed over time through advertising campaigns with consistent theme, and packaging, customer service, word-of-mouth and other aspects of brand experience. Brand images are usually evoked by asking consumers the first words/images that come to their mind when a certain brand is mentioned (sometimes called â€Å"top of mind†). When responses are highly variable, non-forthcoming, or refer to non-image attributes such as cost, it is an indicator of a weak brand image. Consumers also feel pride of owning a product purchased from a branded store because they perceive the brand as an image of social status. Social status is the honor or prestige attached to one’s position in society. A society’s stratification system, which is the system of distributing rewards to the members of society, determines social status. Social status, the position or rank of a person or group within the stratification system, can be determined two ways. One can earn their social status by their own achievements, which is known as achieved status. Alternatively, one can be placed in the stratification system by their inherited position, which is called ascribed status. Some consumers believe in themselves to have high social status. Quality: Quality is the ability of a product to satisfy a consumer’s needs and requirements. Perceived quality can be defined as the perception of a consumer about the overall excellence and superiority of a brand, which is directly related to his satisfaction. Quality is the best indicator of the product’s durability, reliability, precision and other valued attributes. It provides added value and constructive perception on a brand to affect consumers’ brand evaluation. The high quality perception often depends on consumers’ distinct liking and beliefs toward the brand. Thus, a brand may contain quality attributes but it may not satisfy consumers’ preference if it does not fit with their perceptions and beliefs of high quality. Typically, consumers recognize the quality levels of different brands through categorical information as well as experience with the brand and they form positive or negative perceptions about the quality of a specific brand. When consumers are convinced with quality of a brand, they evaluate a brand positively. Consumers also feel pride of owning quality product because they perceive better quality as an image of social status. Sometimes, the perception of quality is diverse among consumers. For a brand, different consumers hold different perception vis-a-vis brand quality. One brand might be coded as â€Å"high quality† by some consumers, and â€Å"medium quality† or â€Å"low quality† by others. Again, product quality perceptions are also varied based on the product class. Taste: Taste is defined to as the consumer’s opinion of a product’s (or a brand’s) ability to fulfill his or her expectations, which is directly related to his / her satisfaction. It may have little or nothing to do with the actual excellence of the product, and is based on the firms (or brands) current public image, consumer’s experience with the firm’s other products, and the influence of the opinion leaders, consumer’s peer group, and others. Quality is the best indicator of the product’s durability, reliability, precision, and other valued attributes. It provides added value and constructive perception on a brand to affect consumers’ brand evaluation. The high quality perception on products often depends on consumers’ distinct liking and beliefs toward supplier and manufacturer of the products. From this belief, if consumers are not satisfied with the taste of juice, they will never purchase that juice. It will also create negative impact for the next product in future. So, perceived taste or quality of juice is very crucial as it is an edible item. Price: Consumers want to get highest utility from a product they purchase by sacrificing money and benefit from other brands. Price perception is the process by which consumers translate price into meaningful cognitions, and it has interested researchers for several years. The classical economic models suggest that a consumer maximizes utility by allocating a limited budget over alternative goods and services. So effects of price are more associated with quality perception of a product or brand. Consumers generally perceive high priced products to be of high quality. Price conveys information to the consumer about product quality. Thus, price information is extensively used as an extrinsic cue to evaluate a product. That is why, price can play both role as an indicator of the level of quality and an indicator of the amount of sacrifice needed to purchase a product. Product availability: Making the products available to the target customers so that they can buy it, i. e. placing or distribution is one of the basic 4Ps of marketing mix. It is essential for companies to make their products easily available to the customers. Availability is becoming an increasingly important issue for consumers seeking out convenient items. When customers find little or no difference between a firm’s product and those of competing suppliers, the customers are readily willing to take a second-choice brand when the first is not immediately available. These products are said to be highly substitutable. In our country, numerous juice manufacturers produce different types and tasted of juice. As a result competition is very high. Substitutable products are also numerous like juices, chocolate milk, water. Thus, volume of stocks available and also the level of variety of stocks, determined in terms of SKUs (Stock Keeping Units), are crucial for sellers to attract and retain consumers. A new survey from the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) found that retailers and manufacturers across Europe are losing out to store and brand switching as consumers substitute products, which are unavailable or difficult to find. Product unavailability will simply influence consumers to switch to other brand juice. Thus, product availability is a very important construct for evaluating consumers’ purchase-decision making 1. 2 Statement of the problem The overview of business environment is changing overtime. Due to increasing of excessive competition in business environment, customer preference and purchase intention are changing day by day. Now Bangladesh is more intense as competitive market in beverage industry with lot of foreign and local companies. People are being more health conscious day by day. They are becoming aware about their daily diet in which liquids play the vital role. Availability of soft drink in our country is numerous. Everyday new types of soft drinks are being launched. The reasons behind this popularity for this soft drink show that demand is very higher in our country. Throughout the year, consumption of the soft drinks goes on. Kids to elder people everybody like soft drink; specially kids and young generation. The competition among the soft drink companies is very high. They are fighting all-time to attract customer and satisfy them in better way than their rivals. In this regard, we searched out the scope to do a marketing research. We have selected five factors or variables: Brand image, Price, Quality, Taste and Product Availability to identify based on which factor customers used to choose a particular soft drink brand. Indeed, we tried to find out which factor among these five factors is the most influential to choose a particular soft drink brand. 1. 3 Purpose of the study We are interested in this topic because we see that everyday a huge amount of beverages is being consumed by the people. This research will give us a clear picture about the mindset of the consumers about which beverage they purchase and at what condition. And also while purchasing beverage what they are looking for. The main objective of this research is to conduct conclusive research to understand how consumers are taking the purchasing decision, what the factors that are influencing their decision and what are they actually looking for while purchasing any beverage. A careful review of those areas led to the identification of the following specific research objectives: 1. To identify the criteria that consumers use when selecting beverage. 2. To know that how consumers evaluate beverage industry and their choice criteria. 3. To identify the demographic and psychographic profile of the consumers. 4. To determine that can customer preference and purchase intention be explained in terms product evaluations and customer characteristics. 5. To identify the value proposition of the customer. 2. 0 Literature Review Soft drinks are most common popular fast moving consumer goods in Bangladesh. After independence the soft drinks habit of Bangladeshi people has been changed a lot. Besides our traditional soft drinks consumer of Bangladesh like to take western soft drinks also after 1980s. As a result of global marketing this was not too hard for the consumers. Different foreign food companies were established in Bangladesh. Beverage industry is one of them. But more interestingly we don’t know beverage is also our cultural food because beverage doesn’t mean only carbonated drinks. Yoghurt, soup and lacchi are also beverage of our own tradition, which consumed for the last 100 years in Bangladesh. Beverage business entered into our market in the later part of 1980. At that time there were only few companies in Bangladesh. But by the change of time and western culture influences it’s become very popular in Bangladesh. By year 2000 more than 12 Beverage Company operating business in Bangladesh and most of them are foreign companies. Most of the studies conducted on the customer preference of beverage have been reviewed in the subsequent section. A. John S. A. Edwards & Hadyn Ingram (1995), Volume 7; Issue 5; Page 25 – 28in â€Å"Food, beverage and accommodation: an integrated operations approach†mentioned that accommodation has a close relation with food & beverage. B. Mary Bellis (2005) in â€Å"Food History – Beverages and Drinks† explained thehistory of Beer, Wine, Alcoholic & Non-Alcoholic beverages and Drinks. C. Mohajon Bangladeshi Online Bazar (2006) in â€Å"Beverage product view†identified different beverages & their quality with prices. D. Transcom Beverage Limited official website (2003) in â€Å"Introduction† explained that TBL manufactures the famous Pepsi range of beverages-Pepsi, 7up,Mirinda Orange, Mirinda Lemon, Slice and Soda. As a corporate citizen Pepsico believes it has a responsibility to contribute to the quality of life in our communities. 3. 0 Research Methodology 3. 1 Research Design The research method will be applied research design. We have followed problem identification research. Our research is an exploratory research. Each respondent will be interviewed through filling up his or her questionnaire. Because of the conclusive nature of the objectives, we will primarily use quantitative questioning in the surveys. For making research questions more effective researcher will use Likert-5 Scale method for most of the questions, and also some other questioning method so that interviewers can easily express their opinions on the questionnaire, and it will facilitate the researcher to identify the actual objectives of this business research. The sample size of this study will be 40 and respondents will be selected from several universities throughout the Dhaka city. Eligible respondents will be adult over the age of 18. Information will be collected through interviewer administered questionnaire method. A simple random method will be used to select respondent to the questionnaire. 40 questionnaires will be prepared based on demographic factors of respondent (like: age, income, occupation, loyalty, media preference, leisure passing, etc) and some factors considered important for satisfaction measurement. The factors are: quality of product, price, convenience, flavor, taste, and brand image. Research questions 1. How does a brand image influence customers to choose a soft drink? 2. How does a quality influence customer to choose a soft drink? 3. How does taste influence customers to choose a soft drink? 4. How does price persuade the customers’ decision to choose a soft drink? 5. How does product availability reinforce the customers’ to choose a soft drink? Hypotheses of the study: Based on the Research Question, we have developed the following hypothesis: Influence of Brand image Brand image is a crucial extrinsic cue which provides specific information about product quality, reputation, performance, credibility, prestige, and so on about a brand. Hence, chain superstores with high image brands may have significant and dominating influence in customers for choosing to shop at a chain superstore. A well-known brand also reduces the consumers’ risk perception and increases positive preference towards a superstore. Brand image is also used as a symbol of social status sometimes and it forces the consumer to own the brand name of a chain superstore. Thus, if a chain superstore can achieve reliability and reputation as a high image brand, the consumers is highly influenced to choose that store whenever they are shopping. Therefore, our first hypothesis, H1: Brand image influences customers to choose a soft drink Influence of perceived quality Quality is the totality of features and characteristics of a brand based on its ability to satisfy stated and implied needs. When a consumer lacks sufficient knowledge about intrinsic cues, he or she may use perceived quality information to evaluate a brand. Nowadays, a consumer does not intend to buy just a brand, but he or she purchases the benefits associated with it. Consequently, high quality perceptions toward a brand achieve consumers’ preferences and satisfactions rapidly. Consumers evaluate a brand as unique, prestigious and reliable for its superior quality. If the product is associated with high perceived quality, the consumers’ trust of a brand is increased and thus a brand’s preference is also increased. Moreover, consumers use the brand’s quality to differentiate a brand from the other brands. Researchers generally have postulated that there are many different ways to differentiate products; superior quality is one of the most effective. Therefore, the perception of higher quality directly influences the consumers’ favorable evaluation of a brand. So, our second hypothesis, H2: Quality influences customers to choose a soft drink. Influence of taste Quality is the totality of a features and characteristics of a product based on its ability to satisfy stated and implied needs. When a customer lacks sufficient knowledge about intrinsic cues, he or she may use perceived quality of a product while deciding to shop at a chain superstore rather than at a departmental store. Nowadays, customers do not intend to buy just a product or its brand, but they purchases the benefits associated with it. Consequently, high quality perceptions toward a store achieve consumers’ preferences and satisfactions rapidly. Consumers evaluate a branded store as unique, prestigious and reliable for its ability to provide superior quality products. If the product is associated with high-perceived quality, the consumers’ trust of that store increases and thus that store’s preference also increases. Although there are many ways of differentiating products, researchers generally have recommended that superior quality is one of the most effective ways. So when a super chain store provides same products with higher quality, consumers will use that high quality to differentiate their products from products of other stores. Consumers will definitely buy products from that superstore rather than from departmental stores. Therefore, the perception of higher quality directly influences the consumers’ choice of chain superstores over departmental stores. Therefore, our third hypothesis: H3: Taste influence customers to buy a soft drink Influence of price Consumers are most likely to use price in deciding which store to buy from when some related information is lacking, when they are not familiar with a product, and when information about purchase context is lacking. Consumers often perceive price as an extrinsic quality cue. Several studies have searched consumer perception of price as an indicator of quality, and many of these have shown price to act on this manner. The argument behind this assumption is that: (a) Producing quality goods require sophisticated machineries that cost more and increase prices, (b) Manufacturers use high quality raw materials to produce quality products, and (c) It is unlikely that a product with low quality will be charged more in this competitive world But consumer markets of most products are highly price sensitive. Some brands of same quality are charged lower compared to other brands because of competition available in the market as marketing strategy or just because of that the supplier of that brand has some competitive advantages over distribution of its products (like wholesalers or chain supermarkets). In both ways, consumers are most likely to be influenced by perceived price, for choosing a chain superstore over a departmental store. Therefore, the following hypothesis is drawn based on the above reasoning: H4: Price persuades the customers’ decision to choose a soft drink Influence of Product availability Product availability is a very important construct for evaluating consumers’ purchase-decision making. Shoppers want to make their shopping easier and quicker, and they do not want to visit multiple stores to complete their weekly shop. Nearby department stores can store less number of SKUs (stock keeping units) while chain superstores can store in bulk amounts since they are comparatively much larger in size. And the variety of products is also much higher in superstores. They not only keep grocery items, but also products of wet markets (vegetables, meats, fishes, etc.) as well as a vast array of other household, personal care, and miscellaneous products. For example, at any point in time, there are nearly 20,000 different products available at stores of Agora while Nandan has capacity of displaying 22,000 items at a time. They also provide the latest and unique items of different products much before those could reach the retail department stores. And since these superstores have several branches at different locations, they definitely give the consumers to avail the benefits of high product availability. Therefore, when customers are looking for purchasing several types of products together, they are highly influenced by this extrinsic cue of product availability. H5: Product availability does reinforce the customers’ to choose a soft drink. 3. 2 Data Collection This was the critical part of the whole research process. The researcher had to carefully plan the whole data collection process and the success of the whole report depended on the precise execution of that detailed plan. The primary data source was the principle methodology used for this research. All the members of the group will collect the data conducting personal interviews. The questionnaire will contain several questions with close and open ends accommodation additional queries for understanding the opinion of the respondents and having an insight into the matter. 3. 3 Data Analysis After collecting data, a comprehensive screening process followed. Incomplete and biased data stored out and deleted from the data bank. Both descriptive and inferential statistics used in the analysis. We use two types software to analyze the data. The software’s are: SPSS Microsoft Excel Descriptive statistics will be used to depict the specific situation of specific aspects relating to choosing a soft drink. Factors analysis will be performed to identify the factor of choosing a soft drink. Correlation between the factors and age, gender, level of income and occupation will be identified to know the relationship. In order to explore relationship with the overall influence factors, multiple regression analysis will be preferred with the factors. Through this research and statistics analysis we had tried to find the demographic factors of the target market, their likings and decisions regarding purchasing juice. We also tried to find the reliability analysis of the data, mean of the independent and dependent variables and regression analysis to go to the findings of this research report. It gives the total picture of the target market based on demographic, socio-economic factors. Through this we will be able to measure about the age group, average monthly income, favorite programs and the important issue that influence them to purchase juice of the target customer. This is totally based on the survey that we have done. 4. 0 Limitations. For preparing this report we have several limitations for gathering appropriate information and other related issues. Our limitations are: Generally the customers are posh people. They are also busy people. So taking interview of them is really a big task. Sometimes they did not realize the questions and could not provide information. If a larger number of respondents were surveyed it would have been possible to get more accurate data about the consumer’s preference. So our analysis may not be reliable. There are may have some error in our research. Like, research error, interviewer error, data analysis error, etc. Since it was a very short period of time, we weren’t able to collect more data to acquire deep understanding. 5. 0 References Business Research Methods, 8th edition written by W. G. Zikmund â€Å"Marketing Research – an applied orientation† 5th edition written by Naresh K. Malhotra Business Research Methods written by D. R. Coopers and P. S. Schindler Appendix Questionnaire We are the students of Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) enrolled in Business Research Methodology course. As per the requirement of course, a questionnaire has developed to investigate about factors regarding the customers’ consideration in choosing soft drinks. Regarding this objective we humbly requesting you to contribute in survey by marking this script. We assure you that the provided data will be used only for academic purposes. 1. Do you drink soft drinks? Yes No 2. How frequently do you purchase soft drinks? Once in a day Once in a week Once in a month Others (Please specify)†¦ 3. What is your age? Less than 20 years 20 to 30 years 30 to 40 years 40 to 50 years Above 50 years 4. What is your occupation? Service holder (govt. / private/ multinational) Businessman (Entrepreneur/ Intrapreneur) Student (high school/undergraduate/graduate) Homemaker Others (Please specify)†¦ 5. What is the average monthly income of your family? Less than 10,000 10,000Tk. to less than 20,000Tk. 20,000Tk. to less than 30,000Tk. 30,000Tk. to less than 40,000Tk. 40,000Tk. and above 6. When do you watch TV? During 12 AM- 6 AM During 6 AM – 2 PM During 2 PM-7 PM During 7 PM-12 AM 7. What do you do during leisure? Watching TV Fishing Hang out with friends Reading books Sports activities Others (Please specify)†¦ 8. Which media do you prefer? TV channel FM radio Newspaper & magazine Bill board ad Others (Please specify)†¦. 9. Which of the following factors influence the most of my purchase of soft drinks? Purchase of soft drinks Strongly disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly agree Brand image Price Availability Taste Quality 10. Place your agreement level with the statements below: Strongly agree Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Strongly disagree I find the product (Soft Drink) of my choice always available. I consider Product Availability before going to a purchase the soft drink The Product unavailability creates negative impact on my purchase. I consider the products (soft drink) taste before purchasing any soft drink I consider the products (soft Drink) taste is the most important factor in purchasing the soft drink I think high price always ensures the high quality. Price of soft drink is important factor to me before deciding to buy any soft drink I find the price of the soft drinks available in our country affordable I consider Brand Image while purchasing soft drinks I think the Brand Image of soft drinks indicates my social status I think High Brand Image ensures high quality products.

What Is Culture

WHAT IS CULTURE? Culture is a word frequently used by people everywhere most times they use it to make a point clear to someone else in the way they see and interpret things. We all practice culture in one way or another even though most people do not notice it. One thing clear to us is that culture is attached to everything we do. Williams and Geertz both portrayed quite similar and different ideas towards culture in their essays. Williams noted that culture is a whole way of life, (pg. 1) this is in the sense that in everything we do we apply culture.The way we talk, eat, worship and so on culture is depicted inside it. For example, in a family it is possible that before they eat they wash their hands and say a prayer; right there a part of culture is shown. Also in a way it shows that culture is ordinary. Culture does not necessarily mean it has to be something of a big event, the tiniest things we do can portray culture. Geertz divided his view of culture into three parts known a s culture theory. He also mentioned that culture is an acted document and also described it to be public.For culture to exist it has to be practised. Geertz made a point by saying culture is an acted document because the name culture is not something we just have to know, we put culture into action and for it to be public means people have to notice it. If a particular group of people have a certain culture they depict it is important that others are aware about it, because that way they can share ideas and appreciate the works of others. This shows that culture is included in everything we do. Williams also included in his essay that culture is like a journey.He used the word like to distinguish the distance between culture and journey. Culture is like a journey in the sense that it continues to grow from generation to generation. Even if the people decide to stop such culture, it will still be in history that they practiced it and history cannot be erased. Again culture is include d in everything we do including the way history is being taught. According to Geertz’s essay he said that, ’Culture has different meanings and is shown in different ways’.In a world filled with over a billion people we do not expect everyone to be exactly the same. We all have our different likes and dislikes, we have different attitudes and we look differently. The same thing applies to culture our way of life does not have to be the same as the person next to us, that is what makes culture interesting and broad. Our culture and the way we see and read meaning to it might not be the same way a stranger sees and interprets it. And for culture to be shown in different ways proves the fact that culture is also a form of being creative.Again culture is attached to everything we do including creativity of the body and mind. Williams described culture in another way he used the teashop as an example of where cultivated people went to. When people use the word uncultu red the first thing that comes to their mind is when someone does something insane or disgusting. In the case of the teashop Williams said he was intimidated by the people that went to the teashop meaning he felt uncultured he did not get why they went there to just sip tea or coffee meanwhile to them it was a normal thing.If people find going to a teashop very intriguing and important as little and unimportant as it may look it shows that they follow a certain style of culture, this is just another idea that culture is attached to everything we do. Geertz said that people should read meaning to culture (pg. 13). When we meet other people with different culture, it is courtesy to understand their culture. We should not start judging them because of the things they do. Most times when they figure out that we appreciate their culture they tend to open up more easily and that is the best way to start a relationship with another.

Awareness of Censorship Moment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Awareness of Censorship Moment - Essay Example It is as if they are treating the people as horses by putting blinders so that they can only look one way. They think that by doing this they are exposing the people to just the positive views on the state or government, when in fact, they are inciting anger within the community because they are taking away the people’s freedom to decide for themselves what they want to believe in and support. This is what I think censorship means, although I was still very young when the government was still applying censorship tactics on television. I grew up with unrestricting parents and so I was able to watch whatever I wanted, provided of course, that there was no nudity or portrayals of sex. And so, I did not really experience what it was like to encounter censored materials. However, I experienced censorship firsthand just a few years back. In the summer of 2006, like any other teenager, I was always on the internet—just surfing and downloading games and songs. Nicholas Cage is one of my favorite actors and the movie he did then that was to be released in the next couple of months was â€Å"World Trade Center,† which depicted what happened during the September 11 Terrorist attacks and how the last men that were pulled out alive from the rubble of the building survived. Of course, I know about September 11 and how it caused a negative view on Islam. Nevertheless, I still tried to research further so that I will be able to better understand what happened because I was just 12 years old on that tragic day. So, I entered ‘September 11 attacks’ on Google and it gave me thousands of hits. I was able to surf and open websites until it came to a particular one about Islam and how extreme its followers’ views are. When I clicked on the link to open the page, preparing myself to be shocked at how our religion was being portrayed just because some extremists decided to go on a suicide mission and kill

Drug Dealing and Money Laundering Forensic Accountant Admissibility Essay - 8

Drug Dealing and Money Laundering Forensic Accountant Admissibility - Essay Example The case R v Ferguson; R v Sadler, R v Cox of the three police officers Cox, Sadler, and Ferguson is one such case. Being in the drug squad, have made it easy for these officers to illegally sell drugs through street dealers who they have caught on the pretext that they were carrying out strategic investigations. In reality, the squad members were benefitting from the drug dealers through cash income, and the only way to justify their benefits was to check on their accounts. This was why the expertise of a forensic accountant, Curtin was necessary. Although evidence of assumed expert opinions is not admissible in a court of law, in this case, the Court made an exception to accountant Curtins opinions based on the logic that if a person's financial statements were to be produced in court then an expert in the area must be produced to analyze it. However, the expert, the forensic accountant, should merely explain the evidence (which the jury could have interpreted themselves had they the training to do so) but should not influence the jury of its contents. This was why the accountant's evidence became admissible. The court of appeal also allowed the evidence admissible if Curtin explained the process of arriving at the conclusions. Curtin has used standard accountants methodology as set by the Statement of Forensic Accounting Standards - APS 11. This Standard provides clear guidelines to its members how to seek and utilize financial data and present it incomprehensible manner. Two of the important requirements is that the accountant can only make assumptions about the past or future events or amounts in the absence of the amount. His assumptions should be reasonable under circumstances, and they were suitably qualified and disclosed.

Corporate Compliance Plan Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Corporate Compliance Plan - Assignment Example framework and the related laws assumed significant importance as one after the other of the big companies failed because of scams and nexus in between the management of the companies and the financial institutions e.g. Enron, World Com, Adelphia and Tyco International. Riordan Manufacturing, Inc is the industry leader in the manufacturing of plastic injections. The company was previously named as Riordan Plastics, Inc and was established in the year of 1991 by Dr. Riordan, a professor of Chemistry who had many patents in his credit in the plastic related subjects. The company employs more than 500 employees and operates from various centers of United States as well as China though headquartered at San Jose. The Riordan Manufacturing is a company by nature and not sole proprietorship or partnership. The sole proprietorship is such a business that is owned by the owner individually. The owner is not separate form such businesses and the liability of the business can be bestowed upon the owner. The partnership is another form of business where two or more persons come together for a certain business operation in order to make profit. In the case of partnership also, the liabilities of the firm can be transferred to the owners if the firm is unable to meet it. The company form of business is the most widely used form. It can be private limited company or the public limited company. In case of a private limited company, the directors are responsible for liable for financial obligations but for the public limited company or the limited liability company that is not the case. Even if the company is limited as Riordan Manufacturing is assumed to be, the officer’s liability would include the following: The liabilities of the directors and the officers in any public limited company in the United States are guided by Sarbanes – Oxley Act. Sarbanes – Oxley Act was enacted in the year of 2002 in order to check financial scandals and scams in the western economies like

Is Water desalination a viable option to meet global water demands Term Paper

Is Water desalination a viable option to meet global water demands - Term Paper Example Water scarcity has forced the scientific community to look for alternative water resources and one of the most popular options is using the water of the oceans that is vastly available. Desalinating the ocean water and making it fit for human consumptions is one of the most important solutions to the water issues that man faces today. the most remarkably true phenomena is that out of the 2.5% of the fresh water that is available moat of it is trapped in the polar ice caps while only less than 1% of this freshwater is found in lakes, rivers, reservoirs and sub-surface aquifers and is thus available for direct human use. The United Nations estimated that 1.4 billion cubic kilometers of water is present on the Earth and only 200,000 cubic kilometers of this represents fresh water. At the continental level America shares world’s total freshwater resources (45%).Surface water present is highly polluted while indiscriminate withdrawal of groundwater for agriculture and contamination of the water have depleted these resources and hence there is need for some technology to help with the water scarcity issues. Owing to the decreasing groundwater resources and water scarcity problems and the subsequent effect this might have on world food production there have been dramatic changes in the world’s resource management approaches (Gleick, p127). Desalination activities are being done in the Arabian Gulf areas today but increasing number of countries are considering the pros and cons of adopting desalination technologies to meet the demands of the population. Desalination of water means using ocean or brackish water and removing salts and other minerals from the salty water to produce clean, drinking or potable water that is fit for human consumption and usage. Primarily Desalination is done by two different methods-thermal and membrane process. Desalination facilities use one of the five basic technologies to â€Å"extract potable

Comparison of Thirty Seconds over Tokyo and Pearl Harbor Essay

Comparison of Thirty Seconds over Tokyo and Pearl Harbor - Essay Example While the themes and characters are similar in both movies, the manners of expression within the movies differ in numerous ways. There are also similarities and differences in visual aspects of the movie, aspects of production, camera shots and angles, and mise en scene. Although both of these films contain thematic content that has been the subject of numerous films, the writers, directors, and editors of â€Å"Thirty Seconds over Tokyo† and â€Å"Pearl Harbor† have managed to create films that are unique and were considered great films of their time. The cinematographer interprets and intensifies the elements of mise en scene and the lighting as they see fit to create the imagery according to the instruction of the director. The mise en scà ¨ne includes numerous aspects of the cinematic experience, including the scenery, movement and positioning of the actors, props, the background, the blocking, and the intensity of the lighting. The mise en scene in â€Å"Thirty Seconds over Tokyo† accurately depicts elements of the time with costumes and numerous elements as does â€Å"Pearl Harbor†. However, the mise en scene in â€Å"Thirty Seconds over Tokyo† is a bit more authentic, undoubtedly because the film was made during the 1940s when these elements were easily available and â€Å"Pearl Harbor† was made decades later. Despite these slight differences in the various elements of mise en scene, both films were able to accurately coordinate the various elements of mise en scene to present stunning, moving fi lms. The contrasts between the visual aspects of the movie, aspects of production, camera shots and angles, and mise en scene within both the films have allowed the directors to create stunning remakes of the same material that is both distinctive and original.

ARTICLE REFLECTION Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

ARTICLE REFLECTION - Essay Example One of the biggest hindering factors to poor decision-making Mauboussin points out is overconfidence. People make poor decisions because they tend to think they are above-average; are optimistic; and have the illusion of having control over the situation. The experience and training people gain over the years influence their perceptions which inevitably lead to poor judgments and predictions. Another, major factor which influences decision-makers is the perception of the outside world. When decision-makers are confused by their internal information, they turn towards the outside world to gauge how others have dealt with similar problems. People try to find trends and events to base their own decisions on. Sometimes this is effective but at other times miscalculation can occur due to wrong interpretation of data, information bias and sometimes simply because trends do not account for ad hoc situations. Nevertheless, this outside view, according to Mauboussin is a more realistic approach because it gives a "reality check" to decision-makers. It offers decision-makers the opportunity to evaluate and contemplate which is an important in decision-making. However, I am of the view that decision-making is a combination of both internal and external knowledge. One cannot negate the fact that internal knowledge, ones professional experience and learned processes are also critical for decision-making. Mauboussin seems to have leaned on external factors more as opposed to internal factors for effective decision, a bias in my view. If all decision-makers start to rely exclusively on external information and trends, then it would be difficult to make instantaneous decisions in the field such as in the case of doctors, paramedics, firefighters and other life-saving professionals. Furthermore, I feel that Mauboussin has overly relied on his financial background in writing

Basket Exercise Essay Example for Free

Basket Exercise Essay Georgina Ryan, HR Director SUBJECT: Speaking engagement next week Ms. Williams, Mr. Armstrong has been transferred to a new location, earlier than expected. My apologies, however, if you would allow me to fill in for Mr. Armstrong, I would be honored to address the Business Club It is common for a large number of calls to come in all at once. When this happens, the customer relations–contact employee is supposed to take the customer’s phone number and get back to him or her within an hour. We’ve found in the past that this is a reasonable target since, after a big rush of calls, things usually settle down for a while. But when we check up on the contact employees, we find that they get back to the customer within an hour only about one-third of the time. Sometimes they don’t get back to the customer until the next day! I sent a memo to all contact employees about a month ago reminding them of the importance of prompt responses on their parts, but it did very little good. We need a training program from your department to improve this critical performance area. Can we get together early next week? MEMO TO: Ralph Herzberg, Manager of Customer Relations From: Georgina Ryan, HR Director. New Training Program Ralph, we will definitely have to address this situation. Let me get with my training program administrator and work out a training session/schedule for your department. I will get back with you on a date and time for next week.

Brain Development Essay Example for Free

Brain Development Essay At birth there are about 100 billion brain cells produced and they are beginning to connect with each other. At the first week of age, brain development starts with conception. It is important to reach the age of an infant and practice the ten principals. In the early years, young brains produce almost twice as many synapses as they will need. By age two, the number of synapses a toddler has is similar to that of an adult. By three the child has twice as many synapses as an adult. The infant brain develops through the interaction with the world around, especially the interaction with adults. At the first few months, an infant cannot response to praise or punishment. Emerging research on brain development indicates that the degree for responsive care giving that children receive as infants and toddlers positively affects the connections between neurons in the brain (Brain Cells), and the architecture of the brain itself. The first three years of life are the period of growth in all areas of a baby’s development. Consistent, responsive relationships enable infants and toddlers to develop secure attachments. Infants and Toddlers develop knowing and understanding by perceiving experiences directly with the senses. For infants to acquire the ability to comprehend this sensory information they must b able to distinguish between the familiar and the unknown; later they will begin to consider, to formulate, and to form mental images in this process of experiencing and clarifying the environment. Infants begin by exploring the world with their bodies. They internalize what they take in through their senses and display it in their physical movements. Infants gather vital information through such simple acts as mouthing, grasping, and reaching. The knowing process also involves language abilities. As young children use their senses to experience the world, they need labels to categorize and remember these experiences. By creating these labels, children increase their ability to communicate and begin to control their own behavior. These expanded abilities give young children additional opportunities to understand the world (Infant, Toddlers, and Caregiver Ninth Edition). Recent brain research supports the goal of building a total person instead of concentrating on cognitive development alone. Providing a rich environment with interesting things to do is desirable and stimulates cognitive development. But that does not work without working on physical, social, and emotional development at the same time. What make differences are the day-to-day living, the relationships, the experiences, the diapering, the feedings, the toilet training, and the free play and exploration that contribute to intellectual development. Early experiences matter, and shape brain architecture. Advances in brain research have provided great insight into how young children’s experiences have profound impact on genetic predispositions and thereby share the processes that determine whether their brains will have adaptations or maladaptations for later learning, memory, reasoning, executive functioning, expressing a full range of positive and negative emotions, socialization, behavior control and lifelong health. The thrust of this element is to close the gap between what we have learned and what we do with infants and toddlers. Experiences that prepare the developing brain to function optimally include having warm, nurturing, attentive social interactions and conscientiously buffering young children from the adverse impact of toxic stress. Lack of these kinds of experiences can have devastating, long-term effects on brain development including cognitive functioning and social-emotional competencies. For example, unpredictable or chaotic routines or lack of consistent caregivers may jeopardize children’s foundation for identity development or self regulation, or few language experiences, toys, and opportunities to explore impede the development of neural connections and pathways that facilitate learning (Essential elements of Quality-Infant-toddler Program). To deliver high quality care giving, adults need to understand and recognize key developmental processes that help them understand and support infants and toddlers. Since this essential element explicitly identifies knowledge about key developmental processes threats to them as a factor in quality infant-toddler program, three terms are defined as important pieces of a wider knowledge base about brain development that informs practice: serve and return, executive functioning and toxic stress. Serve and return is the interaction between young children and their parents and caregiver is a key to healthy brain development. It helps to create neural connections that build later cognitive and emotional skills. Executive functioning represents the cognitive skills that enable a child to focus on, hold, and think about information, filter distractions; and divert their attention to something new. The foundation for executive functioning is laid in infancy and is facilitated through early experiences. Acquiring the early building blocks of (executive functioning) skills is one of the most important and challenging tasks of the early childhood years. Toxic stress is defined as strong, frequent, and/or prolonged adversity without adequate adult support. Toxic stress disrupts brain development. While some experience with manageable stress is important for healthy development, prolonged, uninterrupted, overwhelming stress; toxic stress without the buffering relationships a child needs, can result in damaged, weakened systems and brain architecture that can have negative long-term effect (Essential Elements of Quality-Infant-Toddler Program). Environments make a difference in brain development. Environments that provide proper nutrition and regularly scheduled periods of sleep and physical activity consistently promote warm, nurturing, attentive social interaction; and conscientiously buffer young children from the adverse impacts of toxic stress. Lack of adequate nutrition, physical activity, appropriate sensory stimulation or social-emotional developmental experiences disrupt brain architecture and can have a decisively negative Impact on future development (Essential Elements of Quality-Infant-Toddler Program). Finding about the impact of early experiences on brain development highlight the importance of intervening early with highly stressed infants and toddlers and their families. Infants and children who are rarely spoken to, who are exposed to few toys, and who have little opportunity to explore and experiment with their environment may fail to fully develop the neural connections and path ways that facilitate later learning. Despite their normal genetic endowment, these children are at a significant intellectual disadvantage and are likely to require costly special education or other remedial services when they enter school. Fortunately, intervention programs that start working with children and their families at birth or even prenatally can help prevent this tragic loss of potential. While high-quality infant and toddler programs are not necessarily intervention programs. When caregiver and parenting practices are grounded in knowledge of early brain development, caregivers and parents are much more effective in providing experiences that facilitate optimal development including strong brain architecture (Essential element of Quality-Infant-Toddler Program).

Telecom Industry

Telecom Industry Management information system Introduction MIS (Management Information System) is a process which provides the necessary information for managing an organization in an effective manner. The information generated by MIS is considered to be the most important equipment of careful and the decisions made in business. For an organization, MIS must have the guidelines, practices, procedures, standards, and policies. All these have to be followed throughout the development, maintenance, and usage of the institution. Multiple levels by the management are used and viewed by the MIS. Owner is the user of the system who uses the present customer and the constituent requirements and has the enough budgets for funding the new projects. By building the ownership it not only promotes the institutions pride but also helps in ensuring the accountability. Not necessarily the reduction of the expenses is done by MIS. By developing the systems meaningfully, using them properly reduces the possibility of making erroneous decisions due to inaccura tely. The resources can be wasted by the decisions made erroneously. This might result adversely on the capital. TELECOM INDUSTRY- A Case Study Aircel is a JV of Gogo Communications located in Malaysia and Apollo Hospitals of India. 74% stake belongs to Maxis and the other 26% belongs to Apollo hospitals. Aircel is Indias 5th largest provider of GSM mobiles service. .Its subscribers too are many they account for about 27.7 million as on the 31st of Oct 2009. By 2010 it is thinking of expanding its services throughout India. It has also sought permission for to provide for Long distance calls for both national and international users. The telecom dept has granted permission. ABS (Aircel business solutions) is a part of Aircel and it is an ISO 9000 certified organisation. Its products include enterprise solutions like Multiprotocol Label Switching Virtual Private Networks (MPLS VPNs), Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Managed Video Services on wireless platform including WiMAX (www.aircel.com) Q1) Provide information across various departments Stability in the Payroll and financial departments For companies to be successful, it is critical to manage data efficiently. Data was made available and accesses able to everyone. This included. * Payroll * Financial information * Customer tracking systems. Implementation of MIS indeed played a very crucial role at Aircel. Absence of proper MIS system would mean lack of proper accessibility of data at the nick time, this further leads to confusion and lack of proper sustenance of available resources. In order to plan the budgets and operations and for making projections, data has to be retrieved continuously by the managers and the corporate executives. Leaders can accurately make decisions and access large data by storing the data in a single place and manage it. As the managers and the employees got accustomed to the new learning curve for the first year has to be expected. Training is needed for the executives for reading the results and learning to start with the usage of the resources they had not used in past. Implementation in the HR function and its overall benefits Aircel selected SAP ERP which is a Payroll and HR software. It helped Aircel to get rid of unwanted /duplicate information across many locations. Also it saved the HR personnel from making manual entries of data. Benefits of MIS in field of HR: By Implementing the MIS through SAP ERP, HR functions are 33% quicker than standard approach Improvement in all field such as 60% of cost reduction in development, 50% cost and time saved for spending in lower project and 70% fewer in post go-live corrections. Risk Mitigation and resolving issues on time services. Ongoing support from SAP is fully active for the user to access go-live it. Reduce Manual work and saves time. Decreased the Payroll Processing Cycle time from 15 days to 5 days. Monitoring the payroll and Generating Tax Declaration for employee is easier. 8. Simple and Easy way of handling application of employee leaves entitlement. Effective implementation of MIS should be done by analysing and considering MIS needs at tactical level and strategic levels. Tactical Level of MIS can be used in processing annual report and annual budget. In this case, the support of long term Strategic level of MIS also required to initiates the business plan. This implies that to get benefit of effective MIS, organization should consider the levels of MIS that are to be used in organization and that should be analyzed before implementing. Merger and Acquisition of company with other company, Developing Company introducing new products and services are the best common example for developing and implementing MIS. Q2) Facilitate decision making at the three tiers of management MIS deals with process of collecting the information, processing, storing the information and transmitting relevant to the support the management operation. This shows the process and success of decision-making. Administrative process of organization highly depends on the decision making. Decision making is done with the available information and functions in the organization. Proper result cannot be found because of lack of information that leads unlikely to yield the optimal or desired result. The back bone for the systems of decision making This system is growth along with the development in Management Information System. MIS also supports decision making in both structured problem environment and unstructured problem environment at every strata of organization. MIS constitutes many things such as people, computers, procedures, databases, interactive query facilities and so on. Methods of Decision Making An MIS system must be developed in such a manner that it aids in accomplishing organisational objectives listed here under. * Communication channels and mediums should be more effective amongst employees * Send across critical data more efficiently and effectively * A comprehensive and constructive system should be made available for collecting, analysing and using the data. * A process of digitization has to be implemented which minimise the cost of labour oriented activities * Be able to strategise the organisations decision making process. There are lot of MIS tools available which includes software, databases, hardware and specially designed support applications. The input given to any one of the mentioned Management Information System is transformed into useful and related information that help to give results as reports or statements, try to make future predictions based on the derived information. Knowledge Base in the MIS can also be used as answer to queries which helps to take a particular action/decision on â€Å"what if† scenario. Thus information given by Management Information Systems is accurate and unique which helps to give decision making. The primary aim of MIS is to make sure that information is appropriately channelized to the right people at workplace. That is called as Internal Decision Makers and External Decision Makers. And they are considered as good decision maker for running the organization. And this process is completed on time, reliable with good quality information to the decision makers. It is essential to understand that managers are answerable for * The outcomes of the actual reports * The effect of the reports that are direct on certain behaviour * Making a team which is long lasting and equally effective which can accomplish targets effectively and on time. * Equipping their respective teams with good managerial and leadership support. In the conventional management arrangement hirarchy for the flow of information is inthe following fashion Top Middle lower In a digitised environment the scenario is different it aids in effective communication simultaneously across the various levels. Presently managers are use and trust computerised systems. * They are Systems * Which process transactions * Which support the process of decision making * Which aid and store data regarding operations * Expert system a. Transaction Processing System Transaction Processing System is a collection of information, used to process the data at the time of transaction in database system. It is used to monitor the transaction program such as predefined program for the output. For example, Electronic Payment is made to withdraw money from one account and added the same to the other or none at all, likewise transaction made in shopping, car rental, poker, ticket reservation are also the examples of Transaction Processing System. If the transaction is failed or partially completed, it must be rolled back (undo the recent changes) by this Transaction Processing System. Other transaction monitoring functions like deadlock (two or more process competing for each other to release the resources in circular chain). b. Operation Information System Operation Information Systems is a group of system provides significant information for the day-to-day operation in the organization. The advantage of OIS is, it supports the real time delivery of information to the other application such as task allotted, start time and end time, time taken to complete the allotted tasks. This automated system will enable a manager to make a conclusive estimate on a project given or task handled. He will also be able to monitor an employees performance. Similarly an employee too will be able to highlight his performance at the time of annual appraisal or at the time of interim check. c. Decision Support System It is set of manual or computer based tools to support technological and managerial decision-making activities. Decision Support System is interactive software based helpful to make decision by formulate the alternatives, analysis the business models and impact of it, identify and solve the problem by selecting the appropriate option for implementation. This application aids many functions by collecting information like Analysis of cash flow Forecasting at various levels and other relate information Information on the performance of a product Allocation of resources Sales comparison etc Aircel has to streamline all its information such as its financial information, data regarding its assets, legacy and other kinds of data. If this is in place, the DSS will be able to assist in a sound decision making process. d. Expert System Expert System is Artificial Intelligence (AI) software which uses the knowledge base of human expertise for problem solving. Expert System is based on quality of data and rules obtained and assigned from the human expert. Most common methods used to simulate the performance of Expert System are: * Creating Knowledge Base uses information representation to acquire the (Subject Matter Expert) knowledge of the SME * Knowledge Engineering The information should be gathered via a rigorous questioning process. For Aircel, once everything is in place the Expert system will assist in addressing unresolved issues. The above mentioned systems are largely used in handling the data in an organization. MIS can be preserved and further developed either manually or via automated systems or by using both methodologies combination of both. It also performs other activities such as monitoring the information, distribution the information to the management, employees and customers. Effective implementation of MIS results in Meeting the Business Goals and Objectives, Supports the delivery of the product and services. Easy to access and use at level of organization. Significant use of the strategy used for handling risk to assist the management in performing reviews.. Q3 Serve as efficient means for managing business process Business Process A business process or a methodology of business is the gathering concerned, channelized activities to finally contour either a service or a product. Also it can be said as a group of activities clearly spread across time and people with a start and an end. Here the materials to be used and what would be the resultant outputs are clearly defined. The very start of a process of business is usual the wants of customer and it ends at a point of customer satisfaction. In order to complete such a process organisations rely on sources of information which may be external or internal. It may be noted that business processes are created to add value to a customer. The result of an excellent business process is enhanced effectiveness (to the customer and the way of doing business) with a reduction operating costs monitor Till date the various MIS systems have were not able satisfy the requirements of an individual making decision entirely. These are in terms of * Decision making under stress/pressure * Tracking competition * Taking into consideration organisational information that has a different view point. â€Å"In order to be able to react quickly to changes that take place on the market, organisations need management information systems that would make it possible to carry out different cause and effect analyses of organisations themselves and their environments† (Power, 2001). â€Å"According to (Kalakota, Robinson Business Intelligence (BI) systems provide a proposal that faces needs of contemporary organisations. Main tasks that are to be faced by the BI systems include intelligent exploration, integration, aggregation and a multidimensional analysis of data originating from various information resources. Systems of a BI standard combine data from internal information systems of an organisation and they integrate data coming from the particular environment e.g. statistics, financial and investment portals and miscellaneous databases. Such systems are meant to provide adequate and reliable up-to-date information on different aspects of enterprise activities.† (Kalakota, Robinson, 1999; Liautaud, Hammond, 2002; Moss, Alert, 2003) The primary results of the research say that the BI systems have a major role in showing and infusing both enhancements in production and transparency in cascading knowledge. Also they make sure that business * Monitor the profitability * Scrutinize expenditures * Gauge the environments and atmosphere of corporates * Investigate upon irregularities and instances of fraud. The upcoming years have had many discussions regarding problems in BI .These include the approaches of OLAP. Though problems are discussed in detail talks regarding the actual proper implementation of BI are yet to materialize. There are no proper guidelines or information regarding proper implementation of BI. Organisations are in the process of finding out efficient methods of creating and handling BI themselves. All in an environment of rampant change,growth and increase in the competitiveness amongst business. Businesses in general are treading the path of disaggregation. How its implementation is effective Implementation of Business Intelligence is effective and it is analyzed from different perspectives. Decision Makers of the organization mainly associate with Business Intelligence for implementing organizational specific methodology and philosophy. Here, BI systems are thought to be the solution, essential for recording information into data by analyzing including reporting with the consolidated data. Information is transferred into knowledge by Data Drilling and finally knowledge transferred to Decision to improve competitiveness. (Refer Fig.2) ‘It is said that the Value of BI for business is predominantly expressed in the fact that such systems cast some light on information that may serve as the basis for carrying out fundamental changes in a particular enterprise, i.e. establishing new cooperation, acquiring new customers, creating new markets, offering products to customers (Chaudhary, 2004; Olszak, Ziemba, 2004; Reinschmidt, Francoise, 2002). Source: own elaboration. The four critical facets of Risk management are: 1. Operational procedures 2. Management and Employees 3. Practices or strategies 4. Feedback mechanisms and devices Using Management Information System, information management are available for both planning and decision making with respect to the technology. Technology also enhances the scope for incorrect and inaccurate information being reported out which as a result cause wrong decision making due to lack to data, unclear/missing data. Since data is extracted from many financial system and transaction system, there should be apt control processes or functions have to be setup to make sure the data is accurate and appropriate. Control must ensure that systems on small computer like microcomputers which have well defined processing controls are as good as traditionally larger mainframe computers. It has become mandatory to set up an individual framework with effective fundamental principles like identifying risk, establishing controls and providing a review of MIS that is good and mentoring systems across the organization. OCC gives full support to putting these concepts from penning them to enhancing the usefulness communication throughout the organization. OCC recommended the organization to follow the fundamental principles such as appropriate Internal Controls, Operating Procedures and Safeguards and Audit Coverage. Aircel has chosen an MIS system that will provide the best results for its organisation. While conferring upon an MIS Aircel has done a cost analysis. According to it an MIS should bring a good return on the investment made and additional costs should not be incurred for implementation of such a system. For the success of an MIS there should be * Deft planning * Good foresting * Timely reporting and evaluation. If the entire above are adhered to then an organisation will be able to make proper decisions. If information is stacked appropriately then the flow of information will be easier and efficient which will enable an organisation to make effective value add decisions. Over all benefits of MIS implementation at Aircel According to Gary ‘BI differs from MIS (i.e. DSS, EIS, and ES) in first of all, their wider thematic range, multivariate Analysis, semi-structured data originating from different sources and multidimensional data Presentation (Gray, 2003). Olszak and Ziemba say that ‘BI may support decision make on all levels of management regardless of the level of their structuralisation (Olszak, Ziemba, 2003). On the Strategic Level, Setting the Objectives precisely and following the established objectives is easy in BI. Using BI, it is easy to perform different comparative reports such as Comprehensive results, the viability of certain offers, successfulness of the various distribution startegis and channels alongside implementation of and predicting the results for the future based on assumptions made. Conclusion Implementation MIS in organization is very essential. This can be found by the following benefits. To improve the quality of an administrative process in an organization can be identified by their proven practices. MIS is User-friendly window based system performing Time management, Resource Management by generating tickler/alert, online appointment Scheduling, Clear, better and faster record access which includes real time updation. MIS is easy to access through internet and Availability and reliability of Access and Crisis line information to service provider. Information analysis, Data Gathering, Report and Performance Monitoring. Usage of MIS application results in greater accountability such as improve the measurement at Client, program and system levels. MIS have built-in quality and compliance controls to give quality. MIS can able to replace multiple applications such as old software, billing system, having inefficient client data and software which are considers as very old, non-user friendly, inapt to the organization. Handling single application is easier than maintaining much old application. References * Maniac , Management information system: The centre of management decision making, available at http://www.helium.com/items/242575-management-information-system-the-center-of-management-decision-making, accessed on March 20th 2010. * Anon (2005), COREinternational Inc, available at http://www.coreinternational.com/threeTierManagement.htm, accessed on March 15th 2010. * Stair, Reynolds, Principles of Management Information Systems: A managerial Approach, 7th edition * P. Kishore Kumar, 2006, Information Decision Making, available at http://www.indianmba.com/Faculty_Column/FC307/fc307.html * Kotler, Philip; Keller, Kevin Lane (2006). Marketing Management (12 ed.). Pearson Education. * OBrien, J (1999). Management Information Systems Managing Information Technology in the Internetworked Enterprise. Boston: Irwin McGraw-Hill. * Comptrollers Handbook 3 Management Information Systems * James Reason (1990). Human Error. Ashgate. ISBN 1840141042. * Daniel Kahneman, Amos Tversky (2000). Choice, Values, Frames. The Cambridge University * Charles H. Kepner, Benjamin B. Tregoe (1965). The Rational Manager: A Systematic Approach to Problem Solving and Decision-Making. McGraw-Hill, June 1965 * Blackhart, G. C., Kline, J. P. (2005). Individual differences in anterior EEG asymmetry between high and low defensive individuals during a rumination/distraction task. Personality and Individual Differences, 39, 427-437. * Drake, R. A. (1993). Processing persuasive arguments: 2. Discounting of truth and relevance as a function of agreement and manipulated activation asymmetry. Journal of Research in Personality, 27, 184-196. * Chua, E. F., Rand-Giovannetti, E., Schacter, D. L., Albert, M., Sperling, R. A. (2004). Dissociating confidence and accuracy: Functional magnetic resonance imaging shows origins of the subjective memory experience. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 16, 1131-1142. * Isabel Briggs Myers|Myers, I. (1962) Introduction to Type: A description of the theory and applications of the Myers-Briggs type indicator, Consulting Psychologists Press, Palo Alto Ca., 1962.

Custom Written Term Papers: The Loves in Othello -- Othello essays

The Loves in Othello  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   In William Shakespeare’s tragic drama Othello the main love of the play is betrayed and undermined by the cunning and evil Iago. This essay seeks to find and explore the examples of love in this play.    Francis Ferguson in â€Å"Two Worldviews Echo Each Other† describes the love existing between the protagonist and his wife and how it is an easy prey for the antagonist:    When Othello sums up their innocent infatuation, we must feel that he is more accurate than he knows:    She loved me for the dangers I had passed, And I loved her that she did pity them.    Othello and Desdemona are so attractive that we tend to see them only as they see each other: the noble Moor, the pure white maiden. But Shakespeare shows their love, even here at the very beginning, as dreamy, utterly defenseless in a world that contains Iago. . . .(133)    The virtue of love is most perfectly illustrated within the character and actions of the heroine Desdemona. Angela Pitt in â€Å"Women in Shakespeare’s Tragedies† finds â€Å"love† as one of the qualities which the heroine of the drama possesses:    Handbooks of the period explain in some detail what is required of the ideal wife, and Desdemona seems to fulfill even the most conservative expectation. She is beautiful and also humble:    A maiden never bold Of spirit so still and quiet that her motion Blushed at herself. (I.iii.)    Her concern for Cassio shows her generosity, for she will intercede for him with Othello. She is wise, and also a ‘true and loving’ wife – ‘the sweetest innocent that e’er did lift up eye’. (44-45)    David Bevington in William Shakespeare: Four Tragedies describes how â€Å"love† is at... ...as deep as his love for Desdemona prior to Iago’s machinations.    WORKS CITED    Bevington, David, ed. William Shakespeare: Four Tragedies. New York: Bantam Books, 1980.    Coles, Blanche. Shakespeare’s Four Giants. Rindge, New Hampshire: Richard Smith Publisher, 1957.    Ferguson, Francis. â€Å"Two Worldviews Echo Each Other.† Readings on The Tragedies. Ed. Clarice Swisher. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1996. Reprint from Shakespeare: The Pattern in His Carpet. N.p.: n.p., 1970.    Pitt, Angela. â€Å"Women in Shakespeare’s Tragedies.† Readings on The Tragedies. Ed. Clarice Swisher. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1996. Reprint from Shakespeare’s Women. N.p.: n.p., 1981.    Shakespeare, William. Othello. In The Electric Shakespeare. Princeton University. 1996. http://www.eiu.edu/~multilit/studyabroad/othello/othello_all.html No line nos.

OVERVIEW OF LAW ENFORCEMENT INTELLIGENCE :: essays research papers

27 Jan 2002 OVERVIEW OF LAW ENFORCEMENT INTELLIGENCE Intelligence collecting and analyzing have been around since even Biblical times and is often referred to as the second oldest profession. Since the early 1900s, law enforcement officials have begun to utilize the value of the intelligence collection methods. One of the first well-known uses of intelligence by law enforcement was during the â€Å"Black Hand† investigations, which lasted from 1905 to 1909. The investigations resulted in the deportation of 500 people and arrest of thousands of others. In the 1920s and 1930s, intelligence was used to collect information on citizens thought to be anarchists and mobsters, and by the 1940s and 1950s; law enforcement agencies began to utilize intelligence methods in the fight against organized crime. By 1967, the President’s Commission on Organized Crime helped to develop the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO). In 1986, the heads of five Mafia families were convicted of violating the RICO. Other types of activities that intelligence is used against are outlaw motorcycle gangs, Russian and Asian organized crime, and street gangs. Some of the duties that fall under the intelligence process for law enforcement are collection, evaluation, integration, and dissemination. Intelligence analysts can assist in investigation or prosecution as well. One of the main problems that analysts seem to be having in the law enforcement field is first getting into the job and then, once they are working, making it up to the higher-level management positions. Many have confused information with intelligence. Information is only raw data, while intelligence is a process of changing this raw data into useable information in order to draw conclusions about unknown events in the past, present, or future.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The different types of intelligence collection and analyzing methods are termed â€Å"disciplines†. There are five different types of disciplines: Imagery Intelligence (IMINT), Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), Measures and Signals Intelligence (MASINT), Human Intelligence (HUMINT), and Open Source Intelligence (OSINT). These five disciplines are what compiles the raw information data that intelligence analysts use to draw conclusions.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  IMINT is the method of using pictures to draw information. The pictures can be taken as electro-optical, infrared, radar, or multi-spectral. The greatest advantage is that a picture can speak a thousand words. A disadvantage is that a picture is a moment frozen in time, and the information may change after the snapshot is taken.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  SIGINT is the method of taking information from transmissions. Within SIGINT there are three categories as well: Communications Intelligence (COMINT), Telemetry Intelligence (TELINT), and Electronic Intelligence (ELINT).

American Fast Food in Korea Essay

1. Base on market information for Asia Pacific, we can made conclusion that business future in Asian region has to have bright future. With 33% of the world’s GDP and 50% of its population, Asia has emerged as a rapidly growing force in the global economy. Due to the cultural diversity, regulatory controls, growing base of consumer power and its own set of business â€Å"rules,† the multinational corporations (MNCs) find it challenging to enter the Asian market successfully. Most MNCs are reassessing their existing strategies or formulating new strategies to sustain their growth (4). With regional exports exceeding $1. 3 trillion, the East Asia and Pacific region’s share of trade in GDP is the highest in the world. (Global Development. Finance Report. 2006). The economy of South Korea has grown in the last 35 years. Per capita GNP only $100 in 1963, exceeded $20,000 USD in 2005. South Korea is now one of the world’s largest economies (as of 2006, it is 14th in the world according to GDP). (2). If we will compare Korean market to East Asian countries (Exhibit 1 p. 12). From report I have strong understanding that mane fast-food market in any Asian countries is in big cities. Let’s check urban population level in all Asian countries. Based on Exhibit 1 we can clearly see that Korea has one of the best Urban Population level-total population level 47. 6 million and urban population is 82%. Check GDP and GNI level. We can see that Korean level one of the highest in the Asia. Nominal GDP (2005 est. ): $811. 1 billion. GDP growth rate: 2003, 3. 1%; 2004, 4. 6%; 2005, 4. 0%. Per capita GNI (2004): $14, 162. (5). In 1997 Korea had some serious economic crises and faced sever difficulties. After some structural reforms in Korean government, economy starts to recovery. Already In 2001 Korea was 13th largest economy in the world with GNP of $398 billion. So based on all information from above I can make conclusion that Korea has good future and it is one of the most promising market in Asian region. 2. Porter’s Five Forces have become a yardstick for assessing industry profitability. They are†¦ ?Buyers’/customers’ power ?Suppliers’ power ?Rivalry among competitors ?Threat of new entrants ?Threat of substitute products I will try to analyze each one, for Korean fast food market. Buyers ‘power. The power of buyers is the impact that customers have on fast food industry. Buyers could be powerful in different circumstances. I believe that in our case we can say that buyers are concentrated. As I could explain earlier, main per cent of population in Korea are in the big cities. Its give us good idea that for fast food industry in this region will be easier to delivery product to the customers. Buyers purchase the significant proportion of output. Suppliers power. A fast food industry require raw material for there business-labor, components. It leads to buyer-supplier relationship between the fast food industry and the firms that provide it the raw materials used to create products. Suppliers are powerful if they are concentrated- it will be really expensive to switch the supplier. From another side suppliers are week if it will be many suppliers with standard product on the market Korean agriculture sector includes forestry and fisheries. National products are rice, vegetables, fruit, root crops, barley; cattle, pigs, chickens, milk, eggs, fish. About 20% of the land used for agricultural busyness (5). From here we can understand that for fast food companies will be easy to find or switch the suppliers without problems for there businesses. Threat of new entrants. The possibility that new firms may enter the industry also affects competition. In theory any firm should be able to enter and exit market. And if free entrance and exit exists, than profit always should be nominal. There are some barriers of entry. Easy to entry if: little brand franchise; access to distribution channels; common technology. On Korean market steal not allot firms with brand franchise. And it is big requirement in new choices for customers. It let us know that it will be easy to enter to the market. Threat of substitute products. Product price elasticity is affected by substitute products-as more substitute become available, the demand becomes more elastic since customers have more alternatives. A close substitute product constrains the ability of firms in an industry to raise prices. In our case we can see example of some firms, Lotteria and McDonalds, who easy change there recipes for Korean customers which needs more healthy national ingredients for there food. Rivalry among competitors. In pursuing an advantage over its rivals, a firm can choose from several competitive moves: changing prices; improving product; creatively using channels of distribution; exploiting relationship with supplier. For firm who will try to enter Korean market, I would say more realistic and more helpful move will be to improve products. Improving quality of materials, quality of services, and probably quality of food preparation technology (healthier environment), will be most important key to success on the Korean fest food market. 3. Urban Koreans eat out frequently. Fast paced lifestyles are driving Koreans to choose western-style fast-food, but healthy eating is a concern. These factors are driving a fast growing market for sandwich store franchising (3). Another important factor is that about 75%-80% fast food customers are young people whose age less than 20 year old. It is mean that â€Å"along with westernization of Korean taste, western chain gained in popularity†. In the past, people seeking a fast meal would have been satisfied by fast-food giants like McDonald’s or Burger King, but it is changing. Consumers are seeking different choices. This new requirements has opened doors for a steadily growing market for fresh and healthy sandwich businesses. Lotteria is a local hamburger franchiser and is the fast-food market leader in Korea. From 2002 to 2003 Lotteria experienced a sharp sales drop of 40%. However, a strong contrast was seen in the South Korean sandwich market, as its $41. 20 million1 market value in the second quarter of 2003 doubled to $82. 40 million in the fourth quarter. This dramatic growth is forecast to continue, and the anticipated market value for 2004 is $117. 71 million (3) Besides Lotteria, the local franchisers include Sandday, Sandpresso and Sand & Food. In response to the aggressive foreign companies, they are also coming up with strategies to secure their position within the market, and the competition is about to heat up. Based on all this information I would say that fast food business in Korea growing and this will continue until people need more choices. 4Globalization is the key to sustained growth for Yum Company! Brands, the world’s biggest quick-service restaurant company headquartered in the United States and managing five fast food brands – KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, A&W and Long John Silver’s. â€Å"Demand for fast food is rising because lifestyles are changing,’’ said Allan, who leads overseas operations outside of the U. S.and China, in a recent interview with The Korea Times. More Koreans are being time pressured than they were historically. This trend is happening here. The number of people eating ready made food is continuing to increase. ’’(Graham Allan, president of Yum! Restaurants International. 11. 06. 2006) (6). As a socially responsible company, the 51-year-old executive said Yum will provide more optional dishes to health-conscious consumers amid a well-being spree in the nation, but will not abandon its traditional concept of â€Å"great taste. ’’ Under his leadership, Allan said he will target an annual growth of 10 percent or more in operating profits. There are about 250 Pizza Hut delivery outlets in the nation, which are set to expand to over 400. Korea makes up about 5 percent of Yum’s international division sales, which amount to some $11 billion – half of the group’s overall system sales. If I were business consultant, I would recommend starting making money on Korean fast food market. The new trend is propelling growth in the franchising market. It is anticipated that the market will experience intense competition for the next couple years. New fast food companies should be able to take advantage of the situation and enter the market without much difficulty, while it is still at an early stage of development. Reference page: 1. http://www. iff. com/Internet. nsf/0/B7A5C7E9B662B52685256D02006683DA 2. http://www. answers. com/topic/economy-of-south-korea 3. http://ats. agr. ca/asia/3879_e. htm 4. www. berkeleyabc. org/2006/ 5. http://www. state. gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2800. htm 6. http://times. hankooki. com/lpage/biz/200611/kt2006110617463411890. htm.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Traditionally, the drugs were marketed towards the doctors and there was a limit to the direct to consumer marketing. This was because of the fact that television advertising for such products was highly expensive. The expensiveness of these television commercials was due to the regulations of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Prior to 1997, all direct-to-consumer advertisements that contained a medical claim and brand name had to have a brief summary of drugs effectiveness, side effects and contraindications.But in the August of 1997, Food and Drug Administration allowed the advertising of drugs without a brief summary, though a major statement still had to be added, which had to educate the consumer about the major risk and refer him to other sources for detailed information. They were number of departures from the requirements under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938, which had prohibited the use of print and television media for advertising prescription drugs. This ch ange in the regulation brought about a change in the promotional activities of the drugs manufacturing companies.There was an increase in the advertising expenses of these pharmaceutical companies from a mere US $ 800 in 1997 to about US $29. 8 billion in 2007. The supporters of the direct-to-consumer advertising emphasis that, such promotions help the consumer in understanding the symptoms of many under-diagnosed diseases. While the opponents of the same believe that such advertising would mislead patient towards demanding heavily promoted drugs, leading to inappropriate drug usage and unnecessary purchase of comparatively expensive products.The advertising being used today has a lot of influence on the consumer, but does this advertising actually help the consumer or does it mislead them to a disaster. Mr. Brain Storm, professor and chair of biostatistics, epidemiology, and medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, has termed Direct-to-Consumer marketing as â €Å"a disaster†. He while addressing the issue said that the public should not be given such kind of information as the drugs are difficult for the patients to understand.Further he added that dosing is even a harder job and finally, the assessment of a disease is best done by a doctor. He assured that the patients were not at all qualified to make an assessment of what drug they need. And so the information leads to no benefits for the patients but a lot of harm. Over the years many drugs have only been available for the consumers on the prescription of a medical consultant only, the reason behind such a restriction was that all the drugs that have the ability to heal, could also be harmful.The doctors, nurses and other health professionals get trained and have the experience to help them decide whether drugs are suited for a particular patient or not. And so they carry all the authority to take the decision for the prescription of a drug to any patient. Advertising of such prescription drugs has increased the pressure on the doctors and other health professionals to recommend particular medications which are often more expensive and dangerous yet less effective.This is an intrusion in the relationship between a doctor and patient, and so would disturb the therapeutic process. Further the doctor now has to give the patient reasons why certain advertisement could have misled him into the use of the drug, or why could the patient use a certain prescription under the circumstances. Studies have shown that Direct-to-Consumer-Advertising information does not provide patients the complete information, rather the information provided is biased â€Å"education.†It has been observed, according to (Woloshin S, Schwartz LM, Tremmel J, et al: Direct-to-consumer advertisements for prescription drugs: What are Americans being sold? ) that 87 percent of television advertisements presented the potential benefits of medications in vague, qualitative terms that w ere not backed by scientific data. A massive campaign was launched by Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America in the summer of 2006, the campaign was targeted to the insomniacs and suggested that the drug Rozerem, could reunite them with the dreams that were waiting for them.This campaign was joined in with other campaigns, all targeted to the consumers directly. Today, a typical American television viewer has to watch around 16 hours of such directly targeted advertisements in a year (Frosch et al, 2007). The consumer groups such as US Public Interest Research Group want the Food and Drug Administration to act bit more responsibly, so that consumers cannot be harmed through misled ads. The direct-to-consumer advertisements have been a new entrance to the world of advertising.This is a major reason for the lack of trust in such commercials. The case of the drug Vioxx could be taken as one of the stories which support the argument. Merck introduced an anti-inflammatory drug by the name Vioxx, the drug became a blockbuster drug with the sales exceeding US $ 1 billion. All this occurred due to the television commercials targeted towards the consumers. Later, it was known that the drug had increased the number of patients with strokes, heart attacks and so the drug was removed from the market (Donohue et al, 2007).Although the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America have made guidelines for the DTCA (direct-to-consumer-advertising), yet it has been observed that critics such as AIDS Healthcare Foundation argue that the self regulation has not been functioning well and the companies continue to start advertising for the product with the one year of the approval from FDA (AIDS Health Foundation 2007). According to a study conducted in Baltimore, the 46% of the consumers who had watched a DTC for certain product would get disappointed if they were not provided the same drug by the practitioner.While 25% said that would try to influence their doctor to chang e the mind, while the remaining 15% thought that they would switch the doctor. All these factors suggest that the use of DTC is actually creating complexity in the minds of the consumers. DTC has clearly increased the sales of drugs, or they have actually increased the number of drugs that have been prescribed, but the question that has to get answered is whether these drugs are essential for the consumers or are they just wastage of the scarce resources in the economy.According tot eh doctors, a drug is thought to have efficiency if the positive impacts of its use out number the negative connotations. Under these situations it is of great importance that the correct drug is prescribed. Another factor that has been raised due to the use of DTC has been the increase in the prices of the DTC advertised products that cost more than the generic drugs available in the market. These ads present biased appeals to the masses to influence decisions about drugs that are designed to be approve d within the context of a relationship between a knowledgeable professional and a person who is known as an individual.The professional has a complete historical knowledge about the patient and does know about anything present in the drug that might cause a problem to the patient. On the other hand when the same patient requests the use of another product that had been advertised, it becomes difficult for the doctor to explain to his patient that the drug has a different purpose, and so wastes around 40% of the doctors precious time just to explain that the drug that was been prescribed was much better than the one being advertised.One unintentional effect of the DTC would be the worsening of inequalities in health and heath care. Research has shown reduced understanding of DTC ads for viewers with limited literacy and lower health knowledge, raising the concern that the effect of ads would increase disparities. Conclusion: The study that was done tried to explore the different pros and cons of the direct-to-consumer marketing on the consumer’s choice for the prescription of the drug.It was seen that the consumers are naà ¯ve about the use of the drugs and could be easily manipulated by the pharmaceutical companies through the misleading information in the advertisements or the incomplete information. Therefore, it is of utmost need that the authorities like PhRMA and FDA take serious steps towards consumer protection. On the other hand, it was observed that it is not the use of advertising was not being done to educate the consumer; it was rather being done to increase the profitability of the organizations.Had it been other way round, the companies would not mind using the generic names. The pharmaceutical organizations are trying to increase the market size; this increase in the market size would automatically mean an increase in the potential customers, and so higher revenues over the years for the companies. The drugs that are being advertised are being sold at even higher cost, suggesting that these drugs are of a superior quality, although that is not the case.Proper research is lacking as within a period of one year the drug are advertised leading to the sales. Proper trust in this form has to be inculcated, and that would be possible only if the pharmaceutical companies act more responsibly and instead of trying to generate only profits also work for the betterment of humanity. The long term impact of DTC need greater in depth studies and would require extensive research, but it would be worthwhile to do so, given the enormous stakes of public health and huge sums of money involved.

Employment Rights and Responsibilities Template Essay

Information about Employment Rights and Responsibilities ERR is a compulsory part of all Apprenticeship programmes to show that the Apprentice has had a full induction to the company or training programme, and are aware of those right and responsibilities that are essential in the workplace. Apprentices may be in the first job or be experienced in their role or industry, but this does not affect their ability to cover the knowledge required. How should it be delivered? The ERR knowledge has been presented in a similar format as the NOS and NVQ units so that it has the same flexibility as the NVQ. There are a number of evidence sources for ERR and these can include: †¢ Referencing evidence showing knowledge of the in-house company induction against the ERR requirements (e. g. Copies of induction handbook, with explanation from the apprentice where necessary) †¢ Collecting a portfolio of evidence, integrated with NVQ and Key Skills portfolios to prove knowledge. †¢ Some technical certificates include an externally tested ERR module, which will cover the ERR. How much evidence should I provide? We advise that the Apprentice should provide evidence showing their understanding of the company procedures and how these relate to the laws and regulations. However, the Apprentice should not be expected to provide large paper documents regarding any parts of legislation; we, therefore, suggest that evidence (e. g. company procedures, websites etc. ) should be sign-posted wherever possible and practical. What is included in this document? The document includes the required standards in the same layout as the National Occupational Standards are produced. This can then be re-formatted in to the same delivery method used by providers for the relevant NVQ. This also includes helpful resources, mainly in the form of website addresses for apprentices and employers to research any information that is not currently included in the company induction. What proof is required by e-skills UK? Once the candidate has completed the ERR, then the candidate, employer and training provider should sign the final page, and send with the Certificate Request form to e-skills UK. Please be aware that while this Unit appears in the same format as an AOC or Unit, it does not need to be assessed or verified in the same way as the NVQ part of the Apprenticeship. Anyone with the appropriate technical knowledge on the subject can be responsible for judging the evidence provided by the candidate. What is the difference between Apprenticeship and Advanced Apprenticeship ERR? While the knowledge requirements are the same for both levels, the Advanced Apprentice will be expected to have a broader knowledge of the ERR, and the employer’s responsibility in this. This should be in line with the greater depth of knowledge required for both the NVQ and Technical Certificates for Advanced Apprentices. Links to qualifications in the Apprenticeship frameworks The Employment Rights and Responsibilities links to other parts of the Apprenticeship frameworks and can be delivered alongside the other qualifications in an integrated approach. For example: †¢ The ERR includes areas that can be cross-referenced with parts of the NVQ, varying depending on qualification and units chosen †¢ Areas of the Technical Certificate will also cover parts of the ERR †¢ Key Skills can be integrated with an area of ERR or the NVQ to show knowledge of the subject (this will be particularly applicable to the Communication Key Skill) Employment Rights and Responsibilities These are the rights and responsibilities required for Apprentices, covering the relevant areas of employment law and workplace practices and procedures. There will be rights and responsibilities standard to all job roles and industries, and in addition, industry specific requirements. |The competent person can: |This will involve applying knowledge and |Evidence reference: | | |understanding of: | | |Rights |What should make up a contract of employment |During my induction into the course I was | |Show knowledge of your rights as an| |made aware of the terms and conditions of | |employee, and work in accordance | |working at Zenos and I signed a contract | |with them | |to accept and agree to the conditions. | | | |There is also a description at | |Responsibilities | |www. acas. org. uk which states | |Show knowledge of your | |†A contract of employment is an agreement | |responsibilities as an employee, | |between employer and employee and is the | |and work in accordance with them | |basis of the employment relationship. † | | | |This must conform to the The Employment | | | |Rights Act of 1996 | | |Anti-discrimination laws and the bodies that |I have written about the EO presentation | | |enforce them |and test in Induction and explained how I | | | |have discussed anti-discrimination/EO in | | | |formal progress reviews. | | |Your working hours and holiday entitlement. |Found in learners handbook (9 to 5 Monday | | | |to Friday, fixed holiday period). | | |Your company’s policy on Sick and Maternity Pay |Sickness is covered in the learner | | | |handbook. Issues discussed in progress | | | |reviews. Not entitled to maternity pay. | | |Your rights as an Apprentice |Detailed in learner handbook. Turn up on | | | |time, wear appropriate clothing, follow | | | |contract of employment. | | |Your company’s grievance and disciplinary |This was detailed in the learner handbook,| | |procedures |covered in Induction | | | The health and  safety legislation relevant to your|Received a health and safety presentation | | |role, and your role |covering the main health and safety points| | | |and concerns. | | |Your roles and requirements in maintaining health |This was detailed in a health and safety | | |and safety |presentation covering the main health and | | | |safety points and concerns. (i. e. ensure | | | |my own safety and others, report incidents| | | |to first aider). | | |Your responsibility in adhering to data |The importance of data protection was | | |protection. |covered in presentations and tasks (also | | | |covered in learner handbook). | | |Knowledge of industry laws and guidelines |The main laws and guidelines are covered | | | |in my learner handbook, available on the | | | |internet and were detailed in a | | | |presentation. | | |NOS and external sources of representation in your|The main laws and guidelines are covered | | |industry |in my learner handbook, available on the | | | |internet and were detailed in a | | | |presentation. | | |Your role in your team and effective team-working |I have taken part in a few tasks involving| | | |a team. So I am familiar with the | | | |essentials of team work. | | | | | Knowledge and understanding components |Health and safety rights and responsibilities | |What your rights are and what you must do to follow company procedures | |Rights |What employers should do in order to protect you at work | | |What responsibility a training provider for your Health and Safety (including the Safe Learner project) | |Responsibilities |Your responsibilities in maintaining health and safety in your workplace | | |The laws and company procedures that you must be aware of at work (including Health and Safety at Work | | |1974, Manual Handling, DSE and any other laws relevant to your role) | |Contract of Employment | |What a contract of employment must include and the laws relating to them. | |Rights |When you should be issued with a contract of employment | | |What the contract should include (e. g. Salary, annual leave, working hours etc. ) | | |What should be done when changes in the contract are needed (e. g. changes in salary, job role, working | | |hours) | | |The relevant areas of the Employment Law Act, particularly Statement of Particulars (Contracts) | |Responsibilities |Adhering to the Contract of Employment | | | The differences for self-employed workers | |Anti-discrimination laws | |What discrimination (e.g. gender, race, disability and age) is and the laws that protect against it. | |Rights |Your right to not be discriminated against on any grounds (e. g. gender, race, disability and age) | | |The laws that protect you from discrimination, such as: | | |Equal Pay Act 1970 | | |Race Relations Act 1976 | | |Disability Discrimination Act 1995 | | |What to do if you are being discriminated against, (including internal and external procedures) | |Responsibilities |Examples of what would constitute discrimination against others | | |The difference between direct, indirect and positive discrimination. | | |How to avoid discriminating against potential employees when recruiting. | |Working hours and holiday entitlement | |Your working hours and holiday entitlement, and the regulations and procedures that control these. | |Rights |What the Working Time Regulations 1998 are and the maximum working hours allowed, particularly for Young | | |Workers (aged 16-17) | | |Any exceptions to the Working Time Regulations 1998 (e. g. Seasonal workers in busy times, such as | | |Christmas) | | |. What your  working hours and holiday entitlement are (see also Contracts of Employment) | | |Who enforces the Working Time Regulations | |Responsibilities |Your company’s procedure for booking holiday (annual leave) and why it is important that you follow it. | | |What to do if you need to change or adjust your working hours. | |Sick and Maternity Pay | |Your rights to Sick and Maternity Pay and your responsibilities in communicating with your employer regarding these. | |Rights |What Statutory Sick Pay is and your company’s sick pay policy | | |The right to Maternity Leave, and the minimum number of weeks of entitlement under Ordinary Maternity | | |Leave (OML) | |Responsibilities |The company procedures for reporting sick days. | | |Procedures to follow regarding Maternity Leave. | |Rights and responsibilities of an Apprentice | |As an Apprentice you have some specific rights and responsibilities | |Rights |Your role as an Apprentice and the similarities or differences from other employees in your company | | |How the National Minimum Wage applies to Apprentices. | |Responsibilities |Your commitment to the training and qualifications in the Apprenticeship | |Grievance and disciplinary procedures | |The laws and internal procedures relating to grievance and disciplinary procedures | |Rights |The process that employers must follow for disciplinary procedures. | | |Your rights during the disciplinary procedures. | |Responsibilities |The procedures you must follow to report a grievance | | |The procedures to follow to appeal a disciplinary decision. | |Data Protection | |The key areas of data protection and how they affect you as an individual and an employee | |Rights |Your right to personal information held by an organisation (either your employer or another company) | | |Who has rights to your information and how it can be used. | |Responsibilities |What information you can and cannot give out, and who can have access to that information | |Team working | |Working effectively as part of a team (from Develop Personal Effectiveness Unit) | |Rights |See responsibilities | |Responsibilities |communicating effectively in a team setting | | |contributing to team activities |. |Industry laws and guidelines | |The laws and guidelines that affect your industry (IT, Telecoms or Contact Centres) | |Rights |None | |Responsibilities |What and how different industry activities are affected by laws and guidelines, such as storing names and| | |address, downloading images from the Internet or sending inappropriate e-mails. | | |The laws that are relevant to your role in ICT or Contact Centres, for example: | | |Telecoms: The Wireless Telegraphy Act; IT: The Computer Misuse Act and the Electronic Communications Act | | |2000 |. |NOS and external sources of representation | |The information relating to IT that is relevant to your job role | |Rights |The organisations that represent you and your employer (e. g. e-skills UK, trade unions, Intellect, | | |British Computer Society, Call Centre Association) | |Responsibilities |What National Occupational Standards are, how they can be used and who sets them for your industry. | Useful Resources |Organisation |Role/ Areas covered |Website | |ACAS (Advisory, |Advice on employment matters |www. acas. org. uk | |Conciliation and | | | |Arbitration Service) | | | |Citizen’s Advice Bureau |General source of advice on a range of topics |www. adviceguide. org. uk | | |covering your rights as a citizen | | |Department for Education |Overall responsibility for education in England |www. dfes. gov. uk | |and Skills | | | |Directgov |Website covering almost all areas of employment |www. direct. gov. uk | | |rights and responsibilities, contracts etc. | | |Disability Rights |Disability Rights and Disability Discrimination |. www. drc-gb.org | |Commission |Act 1995 | | |e-skills UK |Sector Skills Council for IT, Telecoms and Contact|www. e-skills. com | | |Centres | | |Equal Opportunities |Equal Pay. Sexual Equality. |www. eoc. org. uk | |Commission | | | |Federation of |Trade association for the mobile and |www. fcs. org. uk | |Communication Services |telecommunication services industry | | |Health and Safety |Regulators of Health and Safety |www. hse. gov. uk | |Executive | | | |Information | Data Protection and Freedom of Information |www. informationcommissioner.gov. uk | |Commissioner’s Office | | | |Learning and Skills |Responsible for funding 16+ training in England |www. lsc. gov. uk | |Council | | | |Safe Learner |Specific Health and Safety information for |www. safelearner. info | | |Apprentices | | |Trade Union Council |Information about trade union and search for you |www. tuc. org. uk | | |trade union | | |The Commission for Racial|Race Relations Act and racial equality |www. cre. gov. uk | |Equality | | | |Tiger |National Minimum Wage and Maternity Leave |www. tiger. gov. uk |. If you have any comments or queries regarding this workbook, please email ben. sweetman@e-skills. com. Declaration This declaration should be completed by the Apprentice, the employer and the training provider and then attached with the Apprenticeship Certificate Request Form. |Apprentice | |Name: | |Date of Birth: | | |Signature: | |Date: | | |Employer | |Name: | |Organisation: | | |Signature: | |Date: | | |Training Provider | |Name: | |Training Provider: | | |Signature: | |Date: | | Please record details of any alternative knowledge specifications below: