Leadership - 707 Words

Eight Leadership Paradigms In this intriguing Wharton Leadership Digest interview, authors James Quigley and Mehrdad Baghai talk about eight archetypes of leadership from their new book, As One: Individual Action, Collective Power (Portfolio, 2011): †¢ The landlord and tenants – Tenants voluntarily decide to join landlords, but once they do, the boss has the top-down power, controlling access to scarce resources, doling out rewards and sanctions, and dictating the terms of tenants’ participation. †¢ The community organizer and volunteers – The power for setting direction comes from the bottom up, but the community organizer is the glue that holds things together. Volunteers can’t be ordered around; instead, they join on their own terms if†¦show more content†¦Soldiers follow clearly-defined tasks and are motivated to move up through the hierarchy. This is the right paradigm for situations where there is an accepted mission and culture, extensive training, and auth oritarian direction is needed for large groups of people who cannot all directly communicate with each other. †¢ The architect and builders – This model consists of â€Å"creative collaboration among groups of diverse builders that have been recruited by visionary architects to bring a seemingly impossible dream to life,† say Quigley and Baghai. â€Å"Their visions are so innovative and ambitious that they can’t be achieved simply by using conventional means, so builders often need to reinvent and rethink ways to achieve them.† This paradigm is great for continuous innovation and pushing people beyond their normal boundaries. †¢ The captain and the sports team – This model has minimal hierarchy and the team has strong camaraderie and trust, acting â€Å"like a single cohesive and dynamic organism, adapting to new strategies and challenges with great agility as they appear,† say the authors. There’s a strong shared identity, with extensive communication channels and a set of highly scripted, repeatable tasks. The captain is on the field and part of the team to motivate and encourage. This paradigm works where there is a high degree of trust in the skills and judgment of those onShow MoreRelatedThe Leadership Of Leadership And Leadership842 Words   |  4 Pagesideals of leadership, I met with two respected and admired school leaders: the Assistant Principal/Dean of Curriculum, and the Athletic Director. I chose these two school leaders because I wanted to gain an understanding of leadership from two diverse perspectives. I am thankful for the opportunity to hear from two different types of leaders, who ultimately share a lot of the same visions for my school and for leadership in general. While both subjects shared a similar definition of leadership, theirRead MoreLeadership And Leadership Of Leadership1711 Words   |  7 Pages7. Facilitative Leadership Facilitative leadership is dependent on quantities and outcomes – not a skill, though it takes much skill to master. The efficiency of a group is directly related to the effectiveness of its process. If the group is high operational, the facilitative leader uses a light hand on the procedure. 8. Laissez-faire Leadership Laissez-faire leadership gives expert to workers. According to AZ central, sections or subordinates are acceptable to work as they choose with nominal.Read MoreLeadership : Leadership And Leadership1605 Words   |  7 PagesLeadership Examined There have been many great leaders down through history. Leaders that have influenced change throughout many aspects of society. Great leaders have great influence. The effectiveness of a leader is determined by his leadership style. With so many styles to choose from, and the fact that not one style fits all situations, becoming an effective leader is a challenging task. One reflective note is that it is important to cultivate good leadership skills. One must evaluate personalRead MoreLeadership : Leadership And Leadership1225 Words   |  5 Pages with their team. Leadership is â€Å"the behavior of an individual . . . directing the activities of a group toward a shared goal† (Hemphill Coons, (1957). p. 7). †¢ Leadership is â€Å"the influential increment over and above mechanical compliance with the routine directives of the organization† (Katz Kahn, (1978). p. 528). †¢ Leadership is â€Å"the process of influencing the activities of an organized group toward goal achievement† (Rauch Behling, (1984). p. 46). †¢ â€Å"Leadership is about articulatingRead MoreLeadership : Leadership And Leadership1476 Words   |  6 PagesLeadership Effectiveness There are many different approaches to leadership, which can be dependent upon the task at hand. Some leaders are authoritative, making all the decisions for group members and allowing no space for error or input. There are those who may opt to take the President Obama approach with a more democratic leadership role, inviting the ideas of others and encouraging open communication and staff participation. Then there are the servant leaders whom are largely respected and followedRead MoreLeadership And Leadership Theory Of Leadership1341 Words   |  6 PagesLeadership Application Jesus Cabral Brandman University The author of this paper has been in various leadership positions for over 20 years. Some positions held by the author have been team leader, Operations Manager, General Manager, and Director of Operations. The author has lead teams with various degrees of education and from many cultures. The leadership theories studied during OLCU 400 will assist this leader though experienced to become much more effective and focus on thoseRead MoreLeadership, Leadership And Leadership Development915 Words   |  4 Pagestake a leadership role in any activity. They are more valued by followers and have higher performing teams. (Cherry 2014) However, leaders are the ones that use their leadership skills to make a difference in this world, such as presidents, teachers, or even college graduates. Leadership is not something you can learn from a book, but you have to gain this skill through experiences such as holding an office, organizing an event, speaking in front of people, or participating in a leadership programRead MoreLeadership Theories Of Leadership And Leadership Essay771 Words   |  4 PagesLeadership is important because it helps followers reach a common goal. There have been several studies based on effective leadership. The definition of leadership has evolved over the years adapting to the different views of the world. Leaders have influence on their followers they are looked up to. Being a leader means there will be interaction with different behaviors and personalities. Effective leaders sometimes have to adjust their style approach by the situation they are in. Every followersRead MoreTransformational Leadership : Leadership And Leadership887 Words   |  4 PagesThe idea of leadership has transformed throughout the years to encompass varying aspects of leadership approaches, leadership types and the like. According to Summerfield (2014), C. F. Rauch and O. Behling, quote leadership as: Leadership is the process of influencing the activities of an organized group toward goal achievement. Given its broad definition, leadership is understood to have different meanings when applied to diverse situations. For example, there are different types of approaches toRead MoreOrganizational Leadership : Leadership And Leadership1568 Words   |  7 PagesConceptualizing Leadership Leadership is different in the eyes of each and every individual. What one person considers great leadership may be viewed by another as too demanding. Ultimately, time, place, situation, and people involved are considered some of the view variables for which type of leadership will be most effective. Through taking the Gallup Strengths Finder survey, I have been able to cement some of my top strengths and see how they come into play in my daily life. Learning about strengths

Cognitive Impairment Screening in Senior Citizens Free Essays

I told you three times yesterday you had a doctor’s appointment and that I was going to come pick you up. † Judy shuffled back to the kitchen to double check her calendar, followed by her daughter. Both of them stopped in their tracks, taking in the ransacked kitchen. We will write a custom essay sample on Cognitive Impairment Screening in Senior Citizens or any similar topic only for you Order Now Her daughter asked what had happened in here, but Judy couldn’t answer her. She was beside herself. Who could have possibly broken into her home and torn her kitchen apart? Dementia has reared its ugly head. Phil Just wanted to pay for his Reuben. He had been out and about running errands and was very hungry. The young man behind the counter had tried to charge his debit card more than a few times, but to no avail the card was denied each time. Phil began to recant his day to himself. Then It dawned on him, he had closed his bank account only a few hours before. Phil was getting ready to move down to Texas with his son due to his recent diagnosis of Alchemist’s. Phil was a regular at the dell and the manager gave him the Reuben on the house. â€Å"One of the worse things about this rotten disease Is losing the ability of taking care of myself† (Phil Rolled, 2010). Just frustrating for me, not to remember what I need to do to Just feel like I still can live and take care of myself. † This Is a common frustration expressed by those suffering diseases like dementia and Dementia is a costly disease; for the five million people like Phil and Judy living tit the disease in the United States, for Phil and Judy family, and for the government. Earlier detection and intervention of dementia would provide Phil and Judy the time to plan for the future and get the utmost benefit from available treatments. Earlier detection and intervention of the disease would lessen the future financial burden on health care. Cognitive impairment screening would ascertain if early intervention is needed. Cognitive impairment screening in senior citizens must become practice. Dementia is used as an umbrella term; describing a wide range of symptoms that include a progressive decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. Dementia slowly robs Phil and Judy of their memories. At first, they experience problems with their short-term memory such as remembering an appointment. As time passes, the disease steals more and more of the brain. Phil and Judy eventually will not be able to respond to their environment, nor will they be able to express when they are in pain, or hungry, or thirsty, or when they have to go to the bathroom. A true diagnosis is rare, because dementia affects everyone differently. There is no ere. Dementia is considered an old person’s disease. It’s normal to forget where you left your keys when you’re 65 years old or to forget where you parked the car. Contrary to popular belief, dementia is not a normal part of aging. Alchemist’s is the most common type of dementia, but there are many other types. One of the biggest risk factors in developing dementia is a person’s age. Unless someone has stumbled onto the fountain of youth, no one can change or hide from their age. Persons age 65 and older have a greater risk of suffering from dementia. Every five years those Hansen double, so by the time Judy is 85 years old – her chance is nearly 50 percent. Today, there is an estimated five million people living with a dementia related disease in the United States. (What is Dementia, n. D. With the first wave of Baby Boomers already at age 68, the cost of dementia in 40 years is expected to exceed $1. 2 trillion (Alchemist’s Fact and Figures, n. D. ). In 2010, the worldwide costs associated with dementia equaled one percent of global GAP. One percent doesn’t seem like much on a global scale. However, if dementia care was a company; Dementia Inc. Loud be considered the worldâ €™s largest by annual revenue. (GE Healthcare, 2014) The Alchemist’s Association predicts the total number of dementia-related cases in the United States will reach 14 million in the year 2050. Our healthcare system and the Medicare program are already strained. As the Baby Boomers get older, are we going to be able to weather the suffocating financial squeeze this disease is going to create? Phial’s family is lucky to catch the disease before it has progressed too far, his son will be able to take care of him at home until the disease progresses further. The average cost for caring for someone at home is $12,500 per year. As the disease robs Phil of more brain function, more skilled care is required. Families can be billed anywhere from $42,000 to $72,000 per year. Victims and their families can easily deplete their savings on medical care and then turn to Medicare/Medicaid and tax payers to help with the remaining costs. Judy may have already passed the opportune time to either stay at home with her daughter or have in-home care and ultimately needs to go live either in an assisted living or nursing themselves for the price of skilled care. Senator Tom Harkin stated â€Å"The only way we are truly going to save Medicare from bankruptcy when the baby boomers retire is to reduce the length and incidence of expensive illnesses like Alchemist’s. Harkin, Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies recently held a hearing in February of 2014 to inspect the financial impact of Alchemist’s in America (Bethlehem, 1998). But how do we reduce the length of disease that has a difficult diagnosis and no cure in the foreseeable future? We need to be looking at interventi on opportunities. All things considered, some will argue that dementia-related diseases are only a small part of a much bigger problem, dismissing the idea that the disease could bankrupt Medicare. Projections of the frequency of a disease 30 years from now should be taken with a grain of salt,† said Gail Wiliness, chairman of the federal Physician Payment Review Commission (Bethlehem, 1998). â€Å"We don’t know how the frequency of other disease will rise or fall, and how that will affect longevity. † She went on to commend the fact that medical research has allowed people to live longer lives and improve quality of fife. However, she questioned whether the research has saved us any money. Wiliness almost sounds like she is agreeing with another rarely expressed view that concludes if we devote more money and effort into finding a cure for dementia; that will only prolong the life of the elderly by a few more years. Crudely put, if you don’t die of complications from dementia, you’ll still die of something else. Understandably, we can’t avoid death. That is an inevitable fact of life. If we as a community could act early, if we as a community could provide intervention, what kind of standard would e set for the rest of the nation? Earlier detection of dementia could provide earlier intervention, delay the impact of the disease, and prevent significant health events in the future. Does that process sound familiar? In 2013, The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends women get a mammogram every 2 years starting at age 50 to keep proactive about breast cancer (Mammograms Fact Sheet). Furthermore, the same task force recommends oscilloscopes in adults beginning at age 50 and continuing until age 75 (at different intervals depending on family history) o prevent colon cancer. Curious, I went to the U. S. Preventive Services Task Force website on Recommendations for Adults. I found preventative information on 19 different cancers and 11 different types of heart disease. I found nothing on dementia or Alchemist’s. Nothing. Alchemist’s disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States (Leading Causes of Death, 2011). The top five include heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory disease, and stroke. All five of those diseases all have preventative measures and are routinely screened for in our annual heck-ups with our doctors. What needs to be addressed though is why there is more prevalence on detecting cancers and heart disease? John Morris, professor of neurology and co-director of the Alchemist’s disease research center at Washington University’s School of Medicine, believes we should find a way to distinguish between the normal aging process and early dementia and build more interest (Bethlehem, 1998). This is where a cognitive assessment could help bridge that gap. A cognitive assessment is an examination that is used to determine someone’s level of cognitive function. A group of 2,719 elderly residents in Almagest County, Minnesota were 2014). The doctors conducting the case knew from earlier studies that elderly residents would sometimes have a cognitive assessment that indicated some impairment, but when examined again later, the impairment had lessened or completely gone away. During this trial, 40% of people with a mild cognitive impairment reverted back to a more normal state. At the end of the study, the doctors found that 65% of those â€Å"reverts† went on to develop dementia (Berliner, 2014). While this study shows that not everyone who has cognitive impairments may o on to develop dementia, the doctors were certainly more aware of any changes. Unfortunately, there isn’t one type of assessment test that is better than the others. However, the Alchemist’s Association website has recommended several cognitive assessment tools that can be performed in less that or around five minutes in a primary care or community setting. Not only are there patient assessment tools, there are informant tools for family members and close friends to use as well. Utilizing these assessments Just once isn’t going to do the trick. Then again, imagine f the U. S. Preventative Services Task Force recommended a cognitive assessment screening every two-three years starting at age 65. Cognitive impairment screening must become practice for senior citizens. The assessments may not garner conclusive data, but over time we will be able to create a clearer picture as to how dementia slowly progresses. From that picture, we will develop earlier intervention techniques to help ease not only the financial strain on Phil and Judy and their families, but ease the frustration felt by dementia’s victims. How to cite Cognitive Impairment Screening in Senior Citizens, Papers

Tourism and hospitality in Sydney-Free-Samples- Myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about the Tourism and Hospitality in Sydney. Answer: One of the largest Australian cities is Sydney which is also the capital city of New South Wales (De Vries, S., and De Vries, J. 2014). Sydney has been an attractive destination for all people across the globe, and any enthusiast tourist knows that their presence in Sydney means much to their tourism experience. Its location between land and sea adds to its seductive, attractive sites. Using a ferry, one can easily see the white sails of the Opera House shining from the rays of the sun and have a view of the Harbour Bridge. Sydney was once a colony of the British, and it was at Sydney Cove where the commander of the first fleet of Britain first established its colony in Australia in 1788 (Karskens, 2009). However, the history of Sydney is an exploration to the tourists: the historical construction of the Rocks, the narrow laneways, and the paintings on the rocks of the Gadigal Aboriginal Peoples is evident of their once possessed land. Furthermore, the harbor bridge is a good site fo r tourists to climb; the golden beaches are the best for surfing. The national parks that surround the city offer much more attractive historical sites. The visitors do not need to worry on how to explore such a magnificent structure because the Sydney Opera Walking Tour provides the guidance and more information on the background history of the scenes. The Sydney Opera House is the UNESCO World Heritage site (Braithwaite et al., 2007) and one of the greatest tourist attraction sites in Sydney. The shape of the building resembles shells or curling sails that are deposited on the beach by water. The building is not only magnificent from outside, but it also incorporates restaurants, auditoriums, show rooms, studios, and cinema. Examples of hotels in the Sydney Opera House include the Park Hyatt, the Shangri-La Hotel Sydney and The Four Seasons Hotel Sydney (Fromonot and Drew, 1998). According to Hutchings et al. (2013), the other magnificent tourist attraction in Sydney is the Sydney Harbour Bridge or locally known as Coathanger. It was ranked as the best landmark of the city before the building of the Opera House. Constructed in the year 1932 it still stands as the largest steel arch bridge in the world with its enormous double piers at both ends. Due to the millions of visitors that visit the Harbour Bridge, traffic flow is regulated effectively by the two railway lines and a total of eight road lanes whose direction of flow is dependent on traffic. Also, motorists can have a panoramic view of the blue waters from the bridge. Furthermore, in 1992 a harbor tunnel was constructed to ease the traffic further. The fascinating activity of Bridge Climb enables the tourists to view the city and port from an elevated view, but the fearful can still see the city while strolling across the walkways. A lot of history behind the construction of the bridge can be learned a t the museum in the south-eastern pier. Another remarkable event is the climbing of the 135-meter-high summit which is for the courageous ones. The Rocks is another spectacular scene in Sydney which extends by land into the Sydney Harbour. Maitland and Newman (2014) assert that this is a historic site and was once a home to the Gadigal Aboriginal Peoples but were later acquired by the British for their settlement. The name The Rocks are derived from the cost of Sydney Cove which is Rocky; a place where prisoners set-up their tents. The street of The Rock comprises of some old buildings and traditional sites built in the 1800s such as the Cadmans cottage which was used as a surviving house. The Rocks Discovery Museum is a historic site that has rich background information on the change of the old Aboriginal lands to a prison slum and a tourist site. While touring these old buildings, the market stalls along the streets with their narrow paved streets are hosts to excellent souvenir shops, eateries, and art galleries of the Aboriginal. To explore more about the heritage of the Aboriginal the guided tours that operate the gamut are always available. The Circular Quay is another tourist attraction site which is the main ferry terminal of the city. It was built by the slaves in Sydney Cove. Thalis and Cantrill,(2013)re sons that area park offers a strategic view alongside street dancers that entertain both the tourists and locals. The Circular Quay also is home to the most popular harbor cruises and serves as the launching spot for most of the Ferries to other tourist sites such as Watsons Bay and The Taronga Park Zoo. The Zoo houses a variety of Australias wildlife and many other animals alongside the Sky ride on the Sky Safari gondola. Additionally, the whale-watching cruises are available to transport the visitors to watch the spectacular migration of the whales during the winter. The Circular Quay is centrally located to most of the magnificent sites in Sydney; for instance, to the south is the Opera House and Royal Botanic Gardens through the waterfront promenade, a short stretch northwards is the Sydney Harbour Bridge and th e Rocks. The west side of the Circular Quay is the Art Deco building which houses the Museum of Contemporary Art with its divisive displays. The Darling Harbour is another attractive scene in Sydney. It is a pedestrian lane just at the banks of the sea with shops, hotels, museums, displays and entertainment spots. This site also hosts both the Wildlife Sydney Zoo and the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium which hosts a range of aquatic creatures in Australia. The Powerhouse Museum is liked for its clear and ancient displays alongside the Australian National Maritime Museum which is designed after Captain Cooks ship. The displays at the Darling Harbour are inexhaustible, the water park, play area, and the merry-go-round are fantastic sites for the children. This site also incorporates various cultures including Chines Garden of Friendship which is all green and offers even the Chinese traditional foods. Furthermore, the IMAX Theatre, the rides on the jet boat, and computer-generated flights and car racing explorations sum up this beautiful site (Daly and Malone, 1996). References Braithwaite, J., Coglianese, C., Levi?Faur, D. (2007). Can regulation and governance makea difference?.Regulation Governance,1(1), 1-7. Daly, M., Malone, P. (1996). Sydney: the economic and political roots of DarlingHarbour.City, Capital and Water, 90-108. De Vries, S., De Vries, J. (2014).Historic Sydney: the founding of Australia. Australia: Boolarong Press. Fromonot, F., Drew, P. (1998).The Sydney Opera House. Gingko Press/Electa, Milan. Retrieved from:https://resources.news.com.au/files/2010/10/21/1225941/533454-dt-classmate-opera-house.pdf Hutchings, P., Ahyong, S., Ashcroft, M., McGrouther, M., Reid, A. (2013). Sydney Harbour: its diverse biodiversity.Australian Zoologist,36(3), 255-320. Karskens, G. (2009).The colony: a history of early Sydney. Australia: Allen Unwin. Maitland, R., Newman, P. (Eds.). (2014).World tourism cities: Developing tourism off thebeaten track. London: Routledge. Thalis, P., Cantrill, P. J. (2013).Public Sydney: drawing the city. Historic Houses Trust ofNew South Wales and Faculty of the Built Environment, University of New South Wales.

Japan free essay sample

In Kawabatas Snow Country, a central theme has been focused on wasted effort. Throughout the novel, the phrase wasted effort from Shimamura has been recurring. The notion of performing a task without it having a definite purpose or end seems futile to Shimamura. Shimamura focuses on Komakos wasted efforts throughout the novel, yet does not really look to his own.The first time which wasted effort was mentioned, was when Komako was describing to Shimamura of her diary. Komako describes that in her diary she lists the character relations and minor details of each book she read, when asked about the purpose for doing such a thing Komako simply replies, None at all. To which Shimamura retorted, A waste of effort. (41). In this example, it seems that Shimamura perceives wasted effort as doing something without purpose. It appears pointless to him that Komako listed what she had previously read, yet this small activity gives Komako joy and brings her to the days in which she lived in Tokyo. We will write a custom essay sample on Japan or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The second time that wasted effort was mentioned was when he found out that Komako might be Yukios fiancà ©, where Shimamura thinks, If Komako was the mans fiancà ©e, and Yoko was his new lover, and the man was going to die—the expression wasted effort again came to Shimamuras mind. For Komako thus to guard her promise to the end, for her even to sell herself to pay doctors bill—what was it if not wasted effort? (61). In his mind Shimamura perceives the effort of both Komako and Yoko as wasted effort, Shimamura cannot fathom the excess effort both these girls are putting themselves through in order to benefit Yukio despite his falling condition. This time Shimamura takes the meaning of wasted effort as not only doing without purpose, but also exerting excess effort on things which are fleeting. Yukios condition which is wavering, is reason enough for Shimamura to question why Komako would put herself in such a satiation despite Yukios inevitable demise.The third time wasted effort was mentioned was when Shimamura learned that Komako practiced her samisen exclusively through score, To Shimamura it was a wasted effort, this way of living. He sensed in it too a longing that called out to him for sympathy. (72-73). This excerpt seemed familiar to Shimamuras view of wasted effort when Komako described her diary, he sees the longing which she felt and remembered the times in which she practiced in Toky o, yet despite this Shimamura views this as sad. The next time the phrase was mentioned was when Shimamura was climbing the mountain, Though he was an idler who might as well spend his time in the mountains as anywhere. He looked upon mountain climbing as almost a model of wasted effort. For that very reason it pulled at him with the attraction of the unreal. (112). In both Komakos practicing of the Samisen and Shimamuras experience of climbing a mountain, the phrase explains endless cycle of events. The last statement on that passage is also important. It seemed that it shows that after he viewed something which he considers as wasted effort, he diverted his attention to the unreal, perhaps to retain his vision of beauty in doing that matter. The final time which wasted effort is reiterated was during his encounter with Yoko, He was conscious of an emptiness that made him see Komakos life as beautiful but wasted, even though he himself was the object of her love; and yet the womans existence, her straining to live, came touching him like naked skin. He pitied her, and he pitied himself. (127-128). In this final reference, Shimamura finally sees that he is also experiencing wasted effort. Shimamura knows that his affair with Komako would end, and despite this has placed so much effort over her. He pitted both himself and Komako for this reason. Shimamura throughout the novel was quick to point out the wasted efforts of others, yet did not fully realize that he himself was exhibiting the same habits. Shimamura and Komako are similar in that they both exhibit wasted effort with an almost childlike quality, which is juxtaposed by an adult like nature. Komako still being a very young woman, shows traits of adulthood and responsibility, yet continuously does things which will ultimately end fruitless. Komakos decision in becoming a Geisha, was based on an adult decision to help a longtime friend, despite knowing he would ultimately parish. Her hobbies of writing down what she had previously read into her diary and practicing the Samisen without ever having an audience satisfied Komako, yet Shimamura pitied her actions and classified them as pointless. Shimamura an older gentleman was quick to point out others fruitless actions, yet did not start to question his own until the end. Shimamura suspended himself in a fantasy with Komako and even referenced the lack at attention he had given his family during those times. This to me seems like a childish act on Shimamuras part, which is ju xtaposed by Komakos adult like actions in trying to aid her dying friend. Shimamura pitied Komakos diary, yet he himself would write manuscripts about the art of Ballet, without ever actually seeing a live show. Shimamuras manuscripts were in sense Komakos diary entries, he would write about and fanaticize about something he had not seen in person, and indulged in the fact that he would leave the dance up to his imagination. Shimamura viewed life as if he was detached to the tangible essence of it because he dwelled too much on the unreal. He kept on telling of wasted effort on the things being done without any assurance of the result, to think that is one of the realities in life. A reality which Komako experienced, and understood yet Shimamura with age and knowledge could not fully understand.A bc d e f g h I j kl m n o p q r s t u Japan free essay sample A history of early twentieth century Japan with emphasis on the rise and fall of its economy. This paper discusses Japans rise to the international forefront at the beginning of the twentieth century and examines how the economic downturn in the 1920s paved the way for the rise of the militarists and ultimately to Japanese aggression in the 1930s. In 1920 Japans wartime economic boom distorted, and the country suffered a series of recessions. The great Kanto earthquake of 1923, which devastated the Tokyo-Yokohama region, aggravated bad economic conditions. Agricultural prices plunged, and the rural economy became indolent. A major bank panic in 1927 set off alarm bells, but conditions grew much poorer with the onset of the Great Depression, the global economic slump that began at the end of 1929. Japans manufacturing production fell, workers were laid off, a new wave of strikes began, and the rural economy went into a tailspin. We will write a custom essay sample on Japan or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page

African-American History and Women Timeline (1930-1939)

African-American History and Women Timeline (1930-1939) 1930 Black women called for white Southern women to oppose lynching; in response, Jessie Daniel Ames and others founded the Association for the Prevention of Lynching (1930-1942), with Ames as director. Annie Turnbo Melone (business executive and philanthropist) moved her business operations to Chicago. Lorraine Hansberry was born (playwright, wrote Raisin in the Sun). 1931 Nine African-American Scottsboro Boys (Alabama) were accused of raping two white women and convicted quickly. The trial focused national attention on the legal plight of African-Americans in the South. (February 18) Toni Morrison was born (writer; first African-American to win the Nobel Prize for Literature). (March 25) Ida B. Wells (Wells-Barnett) died (muckraking journalist, lecturer, activist, anti-lynching writer and activist). (August 16) ALelia Walker died (executive, arts patron, Harlem Renaissance figure). 1932 Augusta Savage began the largest art center in the US at the time, the Savage Studio of Arts and Crafts in New York. 1933 Caterina Jarboro performed the title role in Verdis Aida at the Chicago Civic Opera. (February 21) Nina Simone born (pianist, singer; Priestess of Soul). (-1942) Civilian Conservation Corp employed more than 250,000 African-American women and men. 1934 (February 18) Audre Lorde was born (poet, essayist, educator). (December 15) Maggie Lena Walker died (banker, executive). 1935 The National Council of Negro Women was founded. (July 17) Diahann Carroll was born (actress, first African-American woman to star in a television series). 1936 Mary McLeod Bethune was appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the National Youth Administration as Director of Negro Affairs, the first major appointment of an African-American woman to a federal position. Barbara Jordan was born (politician, first African-American woman from the South elected to Congress). 1937 Zora Neale Hurston published Their Eyes Were Watching God. (June 13) Eleanor Holmes Norton was born (though some sources give her date of birth as April 8, 1938). 1938 (November 8) Crystal Bird Fauset was elected to the Pennsylvania House, becoming the first African-American woman state legislator. 1939 (July 22) Jane Matilda Bolin was appointed justice of the Domestic Relations Court of New York, becoming the first African-American woman judge. Hattie McDaniel became the first African-American to win the Best Supporting Actress Oscar- about playing the role of a servant, she said, Its better to get $7,000 a week for playing a servant than $7 a week for being one. Marian Anderson, denied permission to sing at a Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) hall, performed outdoors for 75,000 at the Lincoln Memorial. Eleanor Roosevelt resigned from the DAR in protest of their refusal. Marian Wright Edelman was born (lawyer, educator, reformer).

Case Study Analysis Cost Of Capital At Ameritrade Finance Essay

Case Study Analysis Cost Of Capital At Ameritrade Finance Essay Capital Asset Pricing Model is a model that describes the relationship between risk and expected return  and  that is used in the pricing of risky securities. Description: Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) The general idea behind CAPM is that investors need to be compensated in two ways: time value of money  and risk. The time value of money is represented by the risk-free(rf) rate  in the formula and compensates the investors for placing money in any investment over a period of time. The other half of the formula represents risk and calculates the amount of compensation the investor needs for taking on  additional risk. This is calculated by taking a risk measure (beta)  that compares the returns of the asset to the market over a period of time and to the market premium (Rm-rf). The CAPM says that the expected return of a security or a portfolio equals the rate on a risk-free security plus a risk premium. If this expected return does not meet or beat the required retur n, then the investment should not be undertaken. The security market line plots the results of the CAPM for all different risks (betas). Using the CAPM model  and the following assumptions, we can compute the expected return of a stock in this CAPM example: â€Å"if the risk-free rate is  3%, the beta (risk measure) of the stock is 2 and the expected market return over the period is 10%, the stock is expected to return 17% (3%+2(10%-3%))†. CAPM has a lot of important consequences. For one thing it turns finding the efficient frontier into a doable task, because you only have to calculate the co-variances of every pair of classes, instead of every pair of everything. Another consequence is that CAPM implies that investing in individual stocks is pointless, because you can duplicate the reward and risk characteristics of any security just by using the right mix of cash with the appropriate asset class. This is why followers of MPT avoid stocks, and instead build portfolios out of low cost index funds. â€Å"Cap-M† looks at risk and rates of return and compares them to the overall stock market. If you use CAPM you have to assume that most investors want to avoid risk, (risk averse), and those who do take risks, expect to be rewarded. It also assumes that investors are â€Å"price takers† who can’t influence the price of assets or markets. With CAPM you assume that there are no transactional costs or taxation and assets and securities are divisible into small little packets. CAPM assumes that investors are not limited in their borrowing and lending under the risk free rate of interest. How to Calculate the Cost of Equity CAPM The cost of equity is the amount of compensation an investor requires to invest in an equity investment. The cost of equity is estimable is several ways, including the capital asset pricing model (CAPM). The formula for calculating the cost of equity using CAPM is the risk-free rate plus beta times the market r isk premium. Beta compares the risk of the asset to the market, so it is a risk that, even with diversification, will not go away. As an example, a company has a beta of 0.9, the risk-free rate is 1 percent and the expected return on the equity investment is 4 percent.

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

Selflies - Essay Example This practice lets some people to meet their need in community attention and acceptance especially if they are posted online. They gather approving likes and comments which nurture their self-confidence and confirmation of their physical beauty. If they are taken for personal use only, they can boost self-confidence as well; moreover, they can state the narcissist personality of the agent (Burns, 2014). For those who want to look even better, there are different apps which can improve one’s appearance by making the body slimmer, changing facial features or putting makeup on (Waterland, 2012). They only increase the value of physical beauty and create unrealistic beauty standards which are most painful for young people and women. Overall, this practice to post selfies everywhere is very annoying. People who regularly post their selfies online seldom think that this practice can be disliked by some people. In this way, they often react inadequately if someone asks them to stop doing that. Moreover, they tend to say that they do not care about what other people think; at the same time, it remains their primary purpose. I think that in some cases people just do not feel the limit of patience other people have concerning others self-representation. Some create Instagram profiles with a sole purpose to post photos of themselves there. The amount of photos they post is directly related to dependence on public opinion or narcissism. It can be easily defined either by hash tags people use or comments which follow their post. Some of them ask directly to comment on their makeup, clothing style, hairstyle etc. Others do not bother with such things and add hash tags me, beautiful or selfie to their posts. This practice will remain relevant even if people ban it in social media because it is the easiest way to boost self-confidence for some

Quantitative Data Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Quantitative Data Analysis - Essay Example Below the introduction, the report provides a brief overview of the data used, including a statement on the adequacy, and the implications of this factor. Using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), the study further explored specific features of the data used, including highlights on frequencies and descriptive statistics. Two extra variables (â€Å"the total number of health conditions that a doctor ever told an ELSA respondent they have or have had† and â€Å"prevalence of disabilities that limit activities†) were developed in SPSS and used for further analysis of the variations in heart conditions and correlation between income health statuses. Multivariate regression of depression scores and severity of disability was then performed as the last bit of analysis. A summary of the health statuses of the older people in England was provided just before the list of references that preceded the appendix (comprising syntax files obtained through the SPSS ). The data used to compile this report was obtained from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). ELSA is an interdisciplinary resource for data pertaining to health, economic wellbeing and quality of life as people in England age (The Institute for Fiscal Studies, 2011). The data collected usually represents persons aged 50 years and above. The Institute for Fiscal Studies explains that the sample from which the data is obtained is representative of the English population falling within the recommended age bracket. This implies that the organisation takes time to calculate a sample size that would be both financially viable to reach as well as one that is not too small to represent the qualities under investigation (Lavrakas, 2008). Additionally, the results obtained from the representative sample have the added advantage of increased ease of generalization to the entire population that it was obtained from.

Sweden and Canada Immigration Comparison Essay Example for Free

Sweden and Canada Immigration Comparison Essay This paper describes the context of Canadian immigration and immigrants` labour market outcomes, and explores trends in both over time. Fortunately, there is a wealth of research regarding the question of why earnings have declined among immigrants to Canada. Employment outcomes of immigrants to Canada have been much less studied. In this latter case we are restricted to providing basic facts, and hypotheses regarding the causes of the SwedishCanadian differences mentioned above. This paper outlines potential causes of the observed gap in outcomes, to the extent that they are known, and asks what the implications might be for the Swedish experience. Of course, Canadian outcomes are in part a function of the institutional setting. As will be seen, it is likely that much of the difference in economic outcomes between the two countries is related to differences in immigration programs and policies. The paper ends with a discussion and summary of the range of possible drivers of Sweden`s current immigration outcomes. Institutional Background Canada’s immigration system is quite complex, and is becoming increasingly so. With a federal governance structure – a federal government and provinces there is substantial heterogeneity in the opinions and goals of the various actors involved in national discussions. This implies that the nation’s aggregate set of policies and programs are not always internally consistent. Indeed, there are many stresses between the sometimes complementary, but frequently competing, humanitarian, social, cultural, and economic goals of immigration policy. And there is frequently a lack of coordination, and sometimes disagreement, across levels of government and various actors within civil society regarding such issues as settlement services. With respect to highly skilled immigrants, for example, the federal government is responsible for the admission of health professionals, but provincial governments operate the healthcare systems and are responsible for the certification of those same professionals. Potentially useful for Sweden is a comparison of the alternative routes taken by Canada and the United States. Of particular interest are the differences in immigration levels, and the associated need to manage the immigration system, along with the active measures that may be beneficial for a smaller nation seeking economic benefit from immigration. Modern immigration policies 1 and practices in North America date from the 1960s. Both Canada and the U. S. moved away from selection based mainly on source region, with most immigrants coming from Europe, to a more modern approach that resulted in large scale immigration from the developing world. But Canada took a very different path than the United States. As seen in figure 1, it consciously chose a significantly higher immigration rate, and it also developed a much more highly managed system. The U. S. receives a greater number of immigrants because it is a much larger nation, but on a per-capita basis, immigration is much higher in Canada. We believe these two features almost always go together in developed economies: the higher the rate of immigration, the greater is the need for structured government management.

Monkeys :: essays research papers

There are at least 145 living species of the suborder Anthropoidea . Over 90% of them are monkeys. The remaining species are apes and humans. The anthropoids (members of the suborder Anthropoidea) have been the most successful primates in populating the earth. They are generally larger, more intelligent, and have more highly developed eyes than the prosimians. There are two distinct infraorders of Anthropoidea that have been evolving independent of each other for at least 30,000,000 years. They are the Platyrrhini (New World monkeys) and the Catarrhini (Old World monkeys, apes, and humans). These two diverse groups of species can be distinguished from each other most easily based on the form of their noses and by the number of specific types of teeth. The platyrrhine nose (on the left below) is relatively flat with somewhat sideways projecting nostrils separated by a wide septum. In contrast, the catarrhine nose (on the right below) has more downward projecting nostrils separated by a small septum. Nose comparison of an emperor tamarin (left) and a Celebes black macaque (right) All primates have essentially the same kinds of specialized mammalian teeth adapted to eating a wide variety of foods. Beginning at the front, each quadrant of the mouth has 2 incisors, 1 canine, and varying numbers of premolars and molars. The incisors are used like scissors for nipping off pieces of food. The pointed canines are for piercing and tearing. The premolars and molars, with their cusps, are used to grind and smash food. In platyrrhine species, there are 3 premolars and 2 or 3 molars. This results in a dental formula of 2.1.3.2 or 2.1.3.3. In contrast, all of the catarrhines have 2 premolars and 3 molars, making a dental formula of 2.1.2.3. The chimpanzee shown below is an Old World anthropoid species and, therefore, has a catarrhine dental formula. Catarrhine 2.1.2.3 dental formula (common chimpanzee) All Old World monkeys, apes, and humans share this 2.1.2.3 dental formula. This not only sets us apart from New World monkeys and prosimians, but it also reflects the evolutionary closeness of the Old World anthropoid species. By comparison, the general placental mammal dental formula is 3.1.4.3. Patas monkeys in an African grassland environment In addition to these differences, New World monkeys are almost exclusively arboreal and most of them are smaller than Old World monkey species. Some Old World monkeys and apes are semi-terrestrial. If you see a group of monkeys casually walking around in a grassland environment (like those shown on the right), you can be sure that they are from the Old World.

Arguments of Peter Singer

Singer’s goal in the article â€Å"Famine, Affluence and Morality† is to get people to think differently about famine relief, charity, and morality. These are key issues that people need to be more aware of and act on them. People who are financially stable and well off should take more of an active role by giving more. They should feel obligated in helping those in need. There are many people suffering severely, those who can help are doing nothing. People should be more willing to give help rather than being obtuse & self-centered. Singer argues it is wrong for a person to suffer from homelessness, hunger, or lack of medical attention. These needs are essential in life and without them can alimentally lead to one’s death. Another argument Singer gives is if a person is wealthy, they are more than capable to help others financially. They need to feel obligated to do so. Instead of a person spending money on extras and materialistic items for themselves, they should donate that money to the poor. The money should help with necessities for the poor and uplift them. On the same point he points out, one should not sacrifice if it would put them in harm’s way. Singer’s concept of marginal utility is that one should give as much as possible to the unfortunate; it should never create a hardship to the giver. This would be doing more harm than good. When a person contributes to the poor, it should not financially affect their lifestyle by putting them in debt, homeless, or without food. People that are wealthy and well off should donate to the people that are unfortunate and suffering. It would be morally correct to help the less fortunate. An argument Singer makes is the distinction between a duty and charity. He states, â€Å"That a duty is an action that is an obligation and charity is an action of something that is good to do but not obligated† (Singer, 1972, p. 232). An example he gives is if a child were drowning, it would be a person’s duty and obligation to help to save the child from drowning. Singer questions why this is any different from charity. Charity is â€Å"generosity and helpfulness especially toward the needy or suffering; also : aid given to those in need† (Dunignan, 2013). Singer feels that people that have the means and are able to help by giving money to the poor should feel obligated and it be there duty. They should be obligated to do this because it is a person’s duty to help others from suffering. He does not understand why a person should feel they have a choice to prevent help suffering, it should be a duty that we have an obligation to do. An argument I would have with Singer is about being fair and right. I do not agree that all people need to be obligated to give away their hard-earned money to the poor. I would agree that people who are born into wealth or have received a large inheritance should be obligated to donate and not the people that have worked many years to get to that state. People born into wealth or have received a large inheritance have been given a gift. Therefore, they should be inclined to share the gift by giving some of the money to the poor. (If money is a gift to a family or they were born into it, they should donate and give to the poor. They did not work for the money it was a gift, therefore a person should feel obligated as their duty to give to the poor. ) People that are well off because of many hours or having multiple jobs should not have to give their money away to the poor. They have worked hard to receive it so they would not have to live paycheck to paycheck. I think these types of people have earned the right to live comfortably and do what they want with their money. They have put the time and work into making the money and it should be theirs to do what they want. â€Å"Famine, Affluence, and Morality† was written in response to an immediate humanitarian crisis. In November 1971, the confluence of war, poverty, and natural disaster had created nine million refugees in East Bengal, and Singer was appealing for immediate life-saving aid† (Jamiesom, 2005, p. 153). An Irish rock musician, Bob Geldof, immediately rushed into the studio with an all star line-up to record â€Å"Do they Know It’s Christmas? † The record sold nearly 4 million copies in the United Kingdom alone, and was quickly followed by â€Å"We Are the World,† produced by Quincy Jones, in the United States. Geldof went on the organized the LiveAid concert the following July, which was broadcast simultaneously from London and Philadelphia, and viewed by 1. 5 billion people around the world. The records and concert ultimately raised between $100 and $500 million for famine relief in Africa† (Jamiesom, 2005, p. 53-154). â€Å"These celebrity-driven, media-centered projects were valuable for a number of reasons. They created awareness of suffering in Africa, motivated people to act, and raised large sums of money†(Jamiesom, 2005, p. 154). Since 1972, the a lot more wealth people have stepped up into given aid to the poverty stricken. The article did raise awareness off the issue that needed to be addressed. In my opinion the wealthy have become more proactive in helping the poverty stricken. Leaving the middle class to do what they can when they can. References Duignan, B. (2013). Encyclopedia Britannica. http://dx.doi.org/http://www.britannica.com/EB checked/topic/1053194/Peter-Singer Jamiesom, D. (2005). Duties to the distance:Aid, assitance, and intervention in the developing world. The Journal of ethics, 9, 151-170. http://dx.doi.org/ProQuest doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10892-004-3324-9 Singer, P. (1972, Spring). Famine,affluence,and morality. Philosophy and public affairs, 1, 229-243. http://dx.doi.org/http://www.Jstor.org/stable/2265052

Trip to a Bowling Tournament

The bowling tournament is a place where one would expect such excitement and nervousness. This could be carried as one would enter the venue and would start to hear the bowling pins throwing their bodies against one another and the hard floor as they got pinned down starting with the heavy thud of the ball. The first thing that could be observed with the bowling tournament is the straight bowling lanes where everyone’s attention is. The wooden floor is made shiny and slippery so that the balls could easily skid to the end of the lane.The balls are weighed and designed so that they could be easily thrown and there is a ball suited for every age group. For the young ones, they have the small one which weighs less and has lively colors and for the older ones, there are different ball sizes and different colors that weigh heavier. In every lane, there is a corresponding bench where the players and visitors could rest while waiting for their games. Talks and chats about different t opics could be heard.There is politics, current events, sports, family life, and of course, bowling. This is where the expert players share their bowling techniques and strategies to those who seek to become experts, too. This is also where the players pass the time after losing a game. The players who are currently playing have their special seats near the bowling lanes. Some may be in pairs and some may play individually. Whichever it is, the tension could be smelled from all sides of the bowling lanes.Everyone wants to make consecutive strikes and hopefully, achieve a perfect game to win. Though a perfect game may be hard to win, the players still aim for it so that in case they would not make it, they would land with their highest possible score. Moreover, they would be able to tell themselves that they played a good game and gave it their best shot. With each throw that the players make, they make sure that they are physically and mentally conditioned.Some players even employ t echniques to calm the mind and prepare the both the mind and the body for the competition. This works because it reduces the tension and the nervousness that is felt. The face of the spectators matches that of the players. Each one has their own bet and they have their own predictions. They try to follow the game as if they are the ones playing. Those who wish to become good players also do some observations on how the expert players go about in their game.This is where the best strategies and tips are earned because the games serve as actual demonstrations. In cases where the player they idolize wins, they also share the same feeling of triumph that the player has. If, unfortunately, they lose, the game serves as a lesson for everyone. The bowling tournament is really a mix of feeling, emotions, and difficulties. A lot could be observed and learned with just a few minutes of sitting inside the bowling place. It is really a trip worth taking for all ages.

Motivation Without Discipline †Recipe for Failure

Motivation Without Discipline – Recipe for Failure We talk a lot about motivation. In fact, we equate with the big current buzzword passion. We have come to believe that without motivation, we cannot be productive. Actually, this really is not true. Ask anyone who has a deadline at work and who must meet that deadline. They hate the task and therefore have no motivation to complete it. But, they do complete it, because there will be bad consequences if they do not. So, what got the job done? Self-discipline, thats what. Defining the Terms Motivation is usually defined as the reason(s) for doing something. It is the why. Thus, a high school student is motivated to get really good grades, because s/he has a certain college in mind that requires them. A plumber gets up and goes to work every day, not because he loves cleaning out peoples clogged drains but because he wants the paycheck that comes with the work he does. Discipline really refers to controlling the what. It means that someone who has discipline knows what has to be done and then does it. A freelance writer, for example, may not have the motivation to complete a certain project. A self-disciplined freelance writer attacks the project and gets it done anyway. The Problem with Motivation While motivation is certainly a good thing and does push us toward our goals, it is also fleeting it comes and goes. Motivation is also quite situational if we do not feel motivated, then we tend not to act, even though we should. Someone may attend a workshop or a seminar. There is a great keynote speaker, and everyone in the room is suddenly motivated to take the advice and/or try the new things they are learning. And everyone leaves that event with continued motivation. After a week or two, 98% of those motivated individuals have done nothing. The other 2% had some self-discipline along with their motivation. The Benefits of Discipline People who have discipline have acquired that character trait over time. It is not fleeting or situational. On the contrary, discipline is habitual. The person has self-discipline in all situations. It is also consistent, because when we develop a habit, it is within us and we do it all the time. People who have the same morning routine every day have that routine because it is a habit. People who have discipline approach every task with the attitude that it will get done, because that is their habit. Discipline is not always fun, to be sure, but it gets results. When the Motivation Takes a Walk, You Need to Have Discipline There are several things you can do to improve your self-discipline. Dump the Excuses right now. We always find the time to do the things we really want to do. But when we are not motivated to do something, we find all sorts of excuses for why we cant do it right not. You have to identify when you are using excuses, and throw them out. Develop Routines You have to have a plan and a schedule to put that plan into action. If you have to write it out and post it in front of you, then that is what you do. You dont have to ask yourself why or if you feel like doing it. It is there and it must get done. Get Invested Find a reason that works for you that is not related to fleeting motivation. If its money, then keep reminding yourself that the pay is coming when you finish the task or at the end of the week when you get your paycheck. Another reason may be not to let other people down. If you dont complete these tasks before you, who else are you impacting? Your team members? Your boss? Your spouse? Or think about the negative consequences if you dont get something done. So, here is the bottom line. Motivation is a wonderful thing. Its the stuff from which ideas come; its the stuff that gets us excited. But when the ideas have to be put into action, and that initial excitement wanes, it is the discipline that kicks in to get things done.

Implementing ISO 9000 and Investor in People initiatives in working Essay

Implementing ISO 9000 and Investor in People initiatives in working place. Business Initiatiaves - Essay Example In today’s competitive world, every organisation wants to stay ahead of others, for which they strive to run more efficient businesses aimed at achieving maximum benefits using minimum resources. This has led to a formal, structured business process in which an organisation first sets a vision derived from its core values and ethics, develops a business plan based on its goals and priorities and then formulates business strategies to achieve the goals and hence put the business plan in action. A major business plan can often redefine the direction in which the organisation will proceed in the near or distant future (Bianca, 2013). There are several motivators that can cause an organisation to formulate a business plan and develop strategies to implement the plan such as, market-related motivators like, improving customer satisfaction, evolving with changing market dynamics and targeting a new market segment, competition-related motivators like, increasing market share, expandi ng product line, diversifying business, improving product quality, mergers and acquisitions, outperforming competitors and toppling market leaders, economic motivators like, job cuts and pay cuts, increasing market share and sales volume, reducing operational and manufacturing costs and improving productivity, operations-related motivators like, increasing productivity of employees, improving working environment and work culture and adopting new technology, environment-related motivators like, discontinuing using toxic chemicals, reducing pollution and carbon footprint, lowering energy consumption and adopting biomaterials as well as brand-equity motivators like, increasing brand visibility and recognition, creating brand loyalty and improving brand perception and brand image. Sometimes, multiple motivators may closely interact together. For instance, an organisation may decide to reduce its carbon footprint, improve the environment and be eligible for receiving special tax incentiv es from the government. Another organisation may want to introduce several new lines of products to target new market segments, create brand equity and generate more revenues. This means that at the core, every new move that an organisation makes is primarily tied to its commercial benefits. Almost all business plans and strategies are designed privately by organisations in consultation with internal employees. Such parties often tend to focus only on the desired outcomes and ignore the associated negative implications. This leads to achieving the desired goals at the cost of several other exploitations which not only backfire at the organisations, but also harm the entire society. The growing list of poor business plans and strategies of organisations around the world has prompted governments to undertake several measures that help organisations to take a holistic approach during chalking out initiatives, so that all the parties involved (such as, employees, customers and investors ) reap the benefits together. This has led to the creation of several business standards that draw from benchmark business practices in their respective industries and these standards are promoted to organisations for adoption. The adoption of a business standard helps an organisation to

Marks and Spencer Group PLC Performance Review Case Study

Marks and Spencer Group PLC Performance Review - Case Study Example The stock of the company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is one of the FTSE 100 Index. Over the last thirty years, Marks & Spencer Group PLC has been the leading clothing company in the United Kingdom. The company operates more than 300 stores. The range and quality of its fashionable and functional clothes combined with better customer service has been attributed to the company’s success. In the past, the position of the company was strong in the United Kingdom market that it refused to make payments using credit cards from their clients (Markets.investorschronicle.co.uk, 2014). The company also felt no reason of conducting advertisements. Weight of Debt Financing The funding Strategy of Mark and Spencer Group is to make sure that the mix of financing sources offers a cost effectiveness and flexibility to match the company’s requirements. Operating subsidiaries of the company are financed through bank borrowing, finance leases, medium term notes, and facilities of committed bank. The objective is to make sure that the company has appropriate income in managing the financial obligations and to achieve the objective of the business. Additionally, its objective is to ensure that the company has a reasonable amount of source based on the maturity and the investors. The company has a committed syndicated revolving debt of 1.325 billion pounds that is meant to mature in 2017. The company has a single financial covenant which is the ration of the depreciation, earnings before interest and tax, rent payable, and the amortization plus the payable rent.

Tort Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

Tort Law - Essay Example This additional amount is known as punitive damages. Similarly, there may be situations whereby the plaintiff may file an injunction which prevents the defendant from injuring him or her or from invading one of his or her property. Tort laws are laws instituted to offer compensation to persons who have been harmed due to the irrational actions of a second or third party. The claims in tort generally involve state law, and are based on the postulation that individuals are at all times liable for their own actions, if it either directly or indirectly results in the injury of others. Tort law constitutes a branch of private law that is also characterized by contract law, property law and restitution. A tort law has a distinctive capability of transferring the problems of a victim plaintiff, to another person, the defendant2. In the tort law, the duty of care is that legal obligation that is imposed upon a person requiring that the individual stick to the standard of reasonable care in c ourse of executing any acts that can foreseeable harm other individuals. In order to establish whether there was an act of negligence in this case or not, there is need to first consider if the Healthy Organics Ltd, Maahir, Harry, the paramedics, Fred as well as the Surgeon who used a \ new non-invasive technique who can be regarded as defendants in this case, owed the plaintiffs (the affected individuals) a duty of care. In other words, are the five reasonably responsible for the injuries sustained by Syed, Maisy, Tom, Gerry, and Robert? As it is in this case, it is certain that there was a duty of care that is imposed by law that the defendants in this case breached and as provided by law such individuals are subject to liability. Exploration The article under analysis comprises of a number of cases that lie within the context of tort. The first is a scenario whereby a tort suit is applicable is in the case against Maahir, who is in possession of work man tools that aid him in eff ectively undertaking his work. As such, he is tasked with the obligation of ensuring the tools he uses are kept away safely, lest they inflict injury on any second or third party. Regrettably this is what unerringly materialized. Via a series of events made probable by laxity on the part of Maahir, Syed, an innocent child, is hurt. Explicitly, this set-up is characterized by elements of strict liability. Strict liability entails the plaintiff ascertaining, beyond a doubt, the defendant had an obligation to guarantee something was kept safe. Subsequently, the defendant failed to perform this duty, thus, leading to injury of the plaintiff. In this case, there was foreseeability as the random and careless placing of tools in an environment characterized by children was bound to eventuate in injury. In this occasion, Maahir had a liability on the injury sustained by Syed. When this case is looked into closely, there exists negligence on the part of Maahir. However, Syed must prove that he was a primary victim of negligence. In the ruling Alcock v Chief Constable of South Yorkshire3, it was ruled that primary victims only have to prove that the injury was foreseeable. Furthermore, there is no need to establish that psychiatric injury was indeed foreseeable4. As such, under this criterion then Maahir is liable for the injury sustai

Acts of Paul and Thecla Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Acts of Paul and Thecla - Research Proposal Example   Ã¢â‚¬Å"In the Acts of Thecla for example, Paul gives a speech in which he recasts the part of the bible that we call the beatitudes. Thats the "blessed are the so and so...." Pauls version of this is all about blessed are the bodies of virgins ... blessed are the chaste. Its all about sexual chastity. That those are the people who are blessed in this new recasting of the Christian message†. (Elizabeth Clark. pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/first/roles.html) "The Acts of Paul and Thecla" tell us of how a woman was instrumental in spreading the gospel. It clearly pictures her as being a very string minded and sincere. This depiction of an independent woman was not very apt during that time period when women were subdued and always in the background. Moreover her life after she meets Paul is seemed to be filled with miracles where she miraculously survives an attempt to burn her alive, or her confrontation with wild beasts where she survives unscathed. Further she escapes from some men through a crack in the rock made by God which was then closed behind her. As for Thecla we see her as a strong willed and faithful disciple of the Lord. Her celibacy and strong character shows up where she baptizes, preaches and heals and stands up to her faith amidst all hurdles. The path she had chosen is very unlike the women of her period. In a way these story was apparently used by women who wanted to preach the gospel and looked for a legitimate status as ministers of Gods word. This story certainly reads and sounds like a myth due to the various miracles in one person’s life which we do not see or hear in any other even the prophets.

Reflective Log On Personal And Professional Development Skills Nursing Essay

Reflective Log On Personal And Professional Development Skills Nursing Essay Stress has always been a part of my life. I have experienced it during exam revision, my Duke of Edinburgh expedition, being the captain of a tennis team and performing in a play. My reason for choosing this SSC was to help me to identify and manage my stress, plan my goals and improve my time management so that excessive stress can be avoided in the future. We began the course by studying the graph of performance versus arousal, illustrating the human response to stress. Performance initially increased with stress. I have always perceived stress as a negative thing and something that should be avoided at all costs. I soon learned that some stress is good for you; some stressors keep you motivated and working at the optimum rate; without them, I would become bored and feel like I was underachieving. When stress is excessive, however, the graph starts plateauing and then going down. The body starts suffering and displaying signs of being overstressed leading to lowered productivity and finally breakdown and illness. When I am very stressed, I find myself experiencing a combination of symptoms. Anxiety, procrastination, increased heart rate, diarrhoea, sensitivity to criticism, negative self-critical thoughts and occasional emotional outbursts are not uncommon to me. Being on such a demanding course as Medicine, it is important to manage stress efficiently to keep productivity at optimum levels. Knowing about the manifestations of stress is useful both when directly administering healthcare and to inform professional conduct. The understanding of the manifesting symptoms of stress will allow me to identify it in myself and others: I can later use this either to prescribe the right course of action to the patient, or to manage underlying problems at work. The two types of stress are acute and chronic. The General Adaptation Syndrome proposed by Seyle explains the stages the body goes through when faced with stress: Alarm, Resistance and Exhaustion1. The alarm stage involves the fight or flight mechanism as well as activation of the Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal axis, leading to down-regulation of the immune system. In the resistance phase, the body tries to cope with the increased stress. In the exhaustion phase, sustained stress has depleted the body of resources and we suffer from diseases of adaptation. I experience acute stress on a frequent basis, for example when I get a minor injury or am trying to meet an essay deadline, leading to alarm and resistance. Chronic stress is more long term, such as occupational stress, commonly leading to the exhaustion phase of the General Adaptation Syndrome. This occurs when I am stressed for a longer period of time, such as when struggling to catch up with work or preparing for exams. Extended periods of high stress situations can lead to burnout, which is characterised by emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation, leading to low productivity and feelings of low achievement. I have experienced similar feelings when, after pushing myself too hard, I feel negative, run down and as though my work is barely progressing. The extreme demands of a medical career can easily drive a doctor to burnout. I was glad that this SSC gave us space to consider burnout, as it brought my attention to aspects of my own conduct when under pressure. With an awareness of my personal difficulties in mind, I often try to use action and emotionally orientated skills to manage my stress levels. I plan ahead in terms of work and other commitments, and prefer to work steadily over time and not get emotionally worked up about it. However, acceptance-orientated stress management comes into play when stressors seem more imminent. With the associated stress of an oncoming exam, for instance, I accept it and work, trying to avoid further stress by reminding myself that I am doing my best. I was surprised to learn about the extent to which personal stress effects those who surround us. Stress is infectious and in a clinical scenario it is important to seem calm to the patient to build a rapport and gain their trust. A visibly stressed doctor will result in stressed patients, or even cause stress in other members of staff leading to poor patient care, often due to non-verbal communication such as body language. With the understanding that interactions with patients, and teamwork situations will feature a lot in my career, knowing about the infectious nature of stress has reinforced my belief that I must manage my stress and be cautious of how (or what) I communicate. To improve my stress management, it is important to become aware of my stressors, and how I react physically and emotionally to them, while bearing in mind the three main variables of stress: intensity, duration and number of stressors present. This will allow me to evaluate what I can change and to moderate my physical and emotional responses. Keeping fit by going to the gym and playing sports, as well as socialising allows me to unwind and feel good about myself. I find these very effective in stress management as they allow build-up of physical and emotional reserves. However, I need to improve my prioritising mechanisms, as sometimes prioritising is my downfall: for example I often find myself persuaded to go out with friends before an important deadline. Doing work when it is important rather than urgent will also leave me room to do the things I enjoy, without the avoidable pressure of time constraints and outstanding work: thus by starting assignments sooner rather than later, and studying lectures and tutorials after having them I will reduce my exposure to the stressors, and the intensity and duration of the stress With those plans in mind, I found learning about the methods of stress manipulation halting, interrupting and coping useful and insightful. In the past I have used halting and coping as my primary methods of manipulating stress. However, I now feel that these are not best in all situations; indeed, they can result in more when work accumulates and must be completed later. I am now putting into place interruption, which involves reducing the stress rather than stopping it altogether by preventing it from building up; this works well when it incorporates the management of variables of stress. I found it a surprise that such a thing as eustress existed; once again challenging my perceptions that stress is almost always a negative thing. I then recalled when I had experienced this in the past, for example when exams are over and I have almost unlimited time to do whatever I want. Learning how to identify stressors, as well as enhancing relevant communication skills, was useful. As a doctor, using the interrogative words Who, What, When, Where and How when interviewing patients will help me to take good patient histories: they will allow me to direct the patients answers in a way which will help identify the stressors efficiently. The areas which cause stress are occupation, personal relationships, environment and non-work time. Using the aforementioned words will create open yet specific questions, prompting the patient to open up and provide a better history. However, the interrogator why should not be used as it is too vague and not productive enough when trying to determine the causes of stress. Thought awareness refers to negative thinking. I have experienced this myself, when the approach of exams causes me to doubt my knowledge and anticipate failure. However, I have addressed this by making sure I prepare in enough time and by using my time efficiently. I am now able to think more clearly, remain calmer and make informed decisions in more stressful situations. I recognise the importance of being optimistic, and believe that even when things do not go according to plan, I must see the experience as positive and an opportunity to learn. As well as that, I am quite a confident person and apply myself to most situations with a confident mind-set even if they are in uncharted territory. This allows me to push my boundaries, and this boosts my confidence when I am pleasantly surprised to discover a new skill. On my Duke of Edinburgh expedition, I was leading my team. Unfortunately due to torrential rain and wind, a part of our route was impassable; this meant I was responsible to plan a new route within a short period of time as it was getting very late and dark. I successfully managed to get the team to the camp with very little delay to our original plan. The final step in stress management is rest, relaxation and sleep. In my experience, all three have suffered during stressful times, especially rest and relaxation. I play badminton, tennis and go to the gym as forms of recreation, and enjoy music and television to distract me from the stress. I sometimes stop doing these during intense times in order to make time for work. I now realise that it is important not to halt these activities. However the biggest change I will be making is implementing the self-hypnosis techniques learnt in the classes. I think that the hypnosis allows me to be more awake and refreshed than by taking a quick nap, which often leaves me feeling worse when I wake up which I learnt was due to me interrupting a sleep cycle. To be someone who works productively, efficiently and in a professional manner, I must set realistic goals and then achieve them, borrowing some aspects of the tycoon mentality. Namely, it is necessary firstly to know what I want; the best way of going about this is to maintain focussed on it by not bothering too much about what I dont want. To remain focussed on achieving my goals, it is important that I constantly visualise them to keep myself striving towards them. This means clearing your mind of any clutter such as goals that are now unattainable and past events. I often find myself thinking of what has happened in the past and replaying them in my mind and thinking about what I could have done differently, for example I once said something rash to a friend in the heat of the moment which I later regretted; I kept thinking about all the time and got really stressed. I now realise that this is merely a waste of time and I could use this time to make more use of the present to cre ate a better future. Tycoons realise the importance of compartmentalising, that is, not carrying emotional baggage from one thing to another. As a doctor for me this will be imperative: I must not carry any sentiments about one patient to another when dealing with another case. I already compartmentalise in day to day life, and for instance when I get upset about one thing, I do not allow the associated emotions to interfere with other aspects of my life. I have also set myself some clear cut and realistic goals which I am working towards and know how to get there. In some ways I do have tycoon mentality, which is valuable as a medical student and future doctor. Although the importance of hard work is undeniable, anticipating success will help me to achieve it, as the ensuing excitement which in turn motivates me to strive towards my ambition. Anticipation also allows me to change my goal if my current goal no longer seems to be the right one for me. Past experiences have shown me that whatever seems like a huge effort will only become habitual in time, usually a period of three weeks according to Maltzs Psychocybernetics2. For example, when I promised myself to visit the gym to improve my fitness, it initially seemed a huge effort to make time for it, but after some time I stopped seeing it as an effort. It became a part of my schedule, and I am able to fit other activities around it: this is goal maintenance I have a goal in my career of becoming a liver surgeon, it is a definitive long term goal and I am determined to achieve it. I will need to achieve several goals such as passing my exams and attending surgical society meetings to achieve the long term goal. By having a time frame to achieve my goal, I will always endeavour to achieve the goals I set myself. It is not just enough to have a goal; you need to make it a reality. I am good at operating on my own initiative and try to take the necessary steps to climb up the ladder towards my goals. Desire results in sustained effort: For instance, I will not let progress made towards my ambition deter me from trying harder. I am currently searching for placements with surgeons and gaining career advice to set me apart when I apply for a job. Loss of desire can mean you can get side tracked from your goals and result in you not achieving them; I am always trying to keep a focus on my goals in order to prevent this from happening. In order to gain satisfaction from achieving my goals, I need to make sure that I keep doing my on-going activities such as gym, tennis and badminton. Otherwise, I would have lost this aspect of my life as well as it being detrimental to my fitness. I am often guilty of stopping these activities when Im busy with other work, but from now on will incorporate them into my goals. Goals are something you want to achieve; dreams go beyond goals and are on the horizon beyond the path to your goal. This made me think whether some of my goals are actually goals or whether they are dreams. I then realised that my goal of becoming a well renowned surgeon is actually a dream, I will need to hit all my goals and go beyond before I can make my dream a reality. I also realise that no one is going to create my success; only I am solely responsible for creating my success. I have set SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and within a Time frame) and I am now forming a personalised goal portfolio so that I can hit my targets; to supplement this, I am also going to make lists of tasks that I need to do. Though I have never used lists in the past, I feel that making lists facilitates organisation and aids the memory, thus increasing chances of success. I feel that this SSC has equipped me with a platform of skills which will be useful in my career as a doctor. Mainly these fall under the categories of stress management, motivation techniques, time management and relaxation. Surprisingly, though, the course has shed light on the importance of communication and body language with regards to stress management, and familiarised me with concepts I did not previously know about, such as eustress and the positive influence of stress for productivity. Nevertheless I feel that the most important things I learned were the skill of identifying that I was stressed, and the knowledge that sometimes I need to relax. Above all, though, I feel that this SSC has been one of the most influential aspects of my medical education, as it has taught me to recognise that stress is not merely a black and white issue: it resides neither in the situation or the person, it depends on a transaction between the two.3

elderly abuse :: essays research papers

? The National Elder Abuse Incidence Study ? Executive Summary ? Introduction and Background America's burgeoning elder population has affected every segment of the social, political, and economic landscape. Public debate of the issues surrounding the special needs of the approximately 44 million persons in this country age 60 years and over has heightened national awareness and concern. As a result, public policies relating to issues such as retirement security, affordable long-term care, and quality of life are changing to meet the unique needs of the aging population. Yet, as the public looks toward improving the lives of the elderly, abuse and neglect of elders living in their own homes have gone largely unidentified and unnoticed. The National Elder Abuse Incidence Study has shed new light on this significant problem with the finding that approximately 450,000 elderly persons in domestic settings were abused and/or neglected during 1996. When elderly persons who experienced self-neglect are added, the number increases to approximately 551,000 in 1996. Additionally, thro ugh this study we have learned that: Â · Female elders are abused at a higher rate than males, after accounting for their larger proportion in the aging population. Â · Our oldest elders (80 years and over) are abused and neglected at two to three times their proportion of the elderly population. Â · In almost 90 percent of the elder abuse and neglect incidents with a known perpetrator, the perpetrator is a family member, and two-thirds of the perpetrators are adult children or spouses. Â · Victims of self-neglect are usually depressed, confused, or extremely frail. The National Elder Abuse Incidence Study (NEAIS) was conducted by the National Center on Elder Abuse at the American Public Human Services Association (formally known as the American Public Welfare Association) and the Maryland-based social science and survey research firm, Westat. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and the Administration on Aging (AoA) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services jointly funded this research. The study asked the fundamental question: What is the incidence of domestic elder abuse and neglect in the United States today? In public health and social research, the term "incidence" means the number of new cases occurring over a specific time period. The NEAIS used a rigorous methodology to collect national incidence data on what has been a largely undocumented phenomenon, and it provides the basis to estimate the incidence of domestic elder abuse and neglect among those aged 60 and above in 1996.

How does haddon create sympathy for ed boone? Essay

How does Haddon create sympathy for Ed Boone? In the novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, I shall be exploring how Haddon creates sympathy for protagonist, Ed Boone. I have many aspects to protect my point of view. Firstly, our first impressions for the character of Ed Boone were that he was a caring and loving father that knew how to handle his even through his difficulties. We know he understands his son and can always sympathize with Christopher, because instead of shouting at or hugging Christopher when he got arrested, he â€Å"spread his fingers in a fan† as a â€Å"sign of love† for Christopher. We sympathize with Ed because he was currently facing the hardships of being a single parent upbringing an autistic teenager. Haddon makes us sympathize with Ed Boone from the beginning of the novel and carries on throughout exceptionally. In addition, Haddon heightens out sympathy for Ed Boone when successfully writing a pathetic fallacy for Ed. This happened when Ed had a loving son, wife, home and job, but then we began to sympathize with him because his wife left him for his next door neighbour and he was left alone. So, he started a new relationship with Mrs Shears and soon split up and Ed was left vulnerable on his own, yet again. The impact on Haddon using this technique will help the reader sympathize with Ed from the start of the novel and successfully turns him into a victim in the novel. Furthermore, we as readers can now sympathize with Ed far easier and when Ed â€Å"hides things to protect† Christopher, we can infer and deduce he knew Christopher won’t be able to take it all in and it would affect him dearly. So, Ed did what he thought was best and protected Christopher from â€Å"knowing the details† about his mother and Wellington. We can understand that it’s difficult and Ch ristopher will not be able to handle it, therefore Ed hid certain information from Christopher out of love and the understanding he has for his son. Moreover, our sympathy was given yet again to Ed when he came back from work and found his son missing. However, Ed being the responsible parent that he is phoned the police and â€Å"worried himself sick.† We can infer and deduce that Ed obviously loves Christopher and the thought of him away from his father worries him. We feel sorry for Ed because we don’t whether he will see his son again and neither does Ed. We can put ourselves in his shoes and know he must be feeling alone, guilty and full of regret and remorse, because of this, we feel sorry for the character of Ed Boone thanks to Haddon’s  incredible techniques and powerful plot that guarantees sympathy given to the written character, Ed Boone. Finally, the last point I have in which Haddon makes the reader give an endless amount of sympathy and love to Ed, is where Haddon written out the situation of a single working parent of an autistic teenager who has many special needs. In which, in able to look after teenager, Christopher, you have to understand his needs and wants. To do this you will need a lot of patience and it can be very difficult at times because Christopher can last several days without eating or communicating. Also, he won’t eat any two foods touching, in result of them being thrown away and he doesn’t eat or touch anything that is the colour brown or yellow. Christopher has many other needs and Ed has to understand Christopher’s mind frame and know what to do in able to cope with his son. To be able to live with Christopher and have such a close relationship between the two of them, takes a great amount of patience and love, and is even harder to do when on your own. Haddon enable the reader to understand that life is challenging for Ed and makes us come to a realization that we will not be able to do what Ed is doing, so we naturally give our sympathy to Ed because of what he has to cope with in his day to day life. To conclude this essay, I strongly believe that Haddon creates many circumstances where the reader can sympathize with protagonist, Ed Boone. Because of Haddon’s phenomenal writing skills, we give nothing but sympathy and understanding to Ed as he faces many challenges, and because we can’t help him, we comfort Ed and sympathize with him. Sympathy given to Ed from the reader was one of Haddon’s expectations from this novel, and I can truly say he exceeded in this and brought true emotions for protagonist, Ed Boone.

Analysis chinese banking industry systems, processes and products Essay

China’s rapidly developing economy is dependent on a banking industry which is controlled by the state. The four public banks of China and the People’s Bank of China have a strong hold over the country’s financial system. The advent of China in WTO in 2001 and globalization has led to a felt need for transformation in the Chinese economy to integrate it with the global economy. The financial sector will need to support this change. An assessment of the state of the Chinese banking industry at present and its future growth is therefore essential. Ideally this can be achieved by benchmarking a Chinese bank and a European Bank, for which purpose a case study of Bank of China and HSBC, London has been carried out. The aim of the research is therefore to undertake an analysis of the Chinese banking systems, processes and products through a case study of the above mentioned banks while the objectives of the research indicate assessment of the overall state of the Chinese banking industry, evaluate implementation of various processes and systems and highlight the areas for growth. A deductive – inductive approach with emphasis on case study has been adopted for the research. Apart from extensive secondary research through literature survey, a detailed questionnaire has been administered to 40 clients across a wide cross section of personal and corporate customers of Bank of China and HSBC, London which has formed the key primary resource for the research. A review of the research sources and questionnaires has revealed that Bank of China has been able to quickly adapt itself to the changing requirements of a globalised financial environment and is providing both personal as well as business banking services to meet its customer’s requirements. HSBC which considers itself as the World’s local bank is providing a complete package of services to the corporate as well as personal client and has been successful in implementing the same throughout the World. Its initial forays into China have also underlined the success story. The quality of service in both the banks was seen to be similar, however HSBC provided better follow up and also more services on the internet than Bank of China. The growth trajectory of both the banks indicates that, while HSBC is attempting to grow throughout the World; Bank of China is growing primarily within the Chinese banking system. There are a number of areas for improvement identified in the research which could well be undertaken by Bank of China to include greater efficiency and better customer service, improvement in technology and customer follow up and exploitation of niche areas such as credit cards. The entry of foreign banks will see greater competition in the Chinese banking sector. The need for Chinese banks to adopt global practices is also underlined and it is anticipated that the entry of more global banks as HSBC in China will provide the impetus to this growth. ANALYSIS CHINESE BANKING INDUSTRY SYSTEMS, PROCESSES AND PRODUCTS: A CASE STUDY BANK OF CHINA AND HSBC, LONDON Chapter 1 – Introduction China is a rapidly growing economy which is considered as a model for emerging countries all over the World. The dynamism of an economy lies in an efficient and effective financial system led by the banking sector. The impact of the banking sector on economic growth in China and its contribution to public life has been a matter of debate over the years. China has a banking system which is controlled by the State and thus has a very large influence on the economy. Exclusively controlled by the central government, the four state banks and People’s Bank of China have a very strong hold over the financial system both internally and externally. (China’s Economic System, 2004). However the rapid growth of China towards a socialist market economy has been affecting the banking sector in various ways and Chinese banks have undertaken measures to enhance their efficiency and contribute effectively to the economy. China’s entry into the WTO in 2001 has also necessitated adoption of liberalized norms in line with the global banking and financial industry. To what extent China has been able to adapt these new practices and how these are affecting or likely to affect the growth of the Chinese economy is an issue of great relevance. As China’s economy gets increasingly integrated with the global economy, its financial markets will have to support this union. It is therefore essential to assess the state of the Chinese banking industry at present and its trajectory of growth in the future. A case study approach to this issue is considered relevant for which Bank of China and HSBC, London are selected for review of the systems, processes and products to provide an insight of the financial needs and their fulfillment today and tomorrow. Bank of China is one of the principal banks in the country; it is one of the four banks which are owned by the State in China. (About Bank of China,. 2006). It has been a key central bank of China which has carried out international exchange as well as provided funds and been a point for foreign trade in the country over a period. It conducts a wide variety of services including commercial banking, insurance as well as investment banking. It is one of the largest banks in Asia and has been placed at the 18th position by the Banker Magazine in 2005. (About Bank of China,. 2006). It also has a large overseas presence in 27 countries. The systems, processes and practices followed by the Bank of China would be a good indicator of the state of the Chinese banking industry in both its internal and external dimensions. HSBC is an epitome of a modern bank. Based in London, the Bank had its origins in provision of finance for trading with China in the 19th Century. After China adopted a nationalist communist economy and banking system, HSBC’s presence in the country was limited. However the bank has now retuned with a vigor and strives to make inroads in the highly competitive financial sector where banks with a state monopoly are said to enjoy unprecedented advantage. The Bank is also taking benefit of its old legacy and is already earning profits to the tune of $ 161 million for the first half of 2005. (Schuman, 2006). HSBC in some ways can be seen to be a competitor to the Bank of China, though its reach within China is limited to only 20 branches. (Schuman, 2006). The investments made by HSBC in Chinese financial sector are reported to be $ 4 billion and include almost one fifth stake in China’s fifth largest bank, Bank of Communications and its second largest insurance company, Ping An Insurance with which the Bank of China too has many contracts. A comparative analysis of BOC and HSBC would thus provide us an effective understanding of the state of the banking industry in China in all its operational facets. The dynamic nature of the research will entail application of a deductive-inductive approach which in practice is adopted by a number of similar research projects keeping in view the importance of both qualitative and quantitative findings.