HR data collection Essay

HR data collection makes company able to measure against it supporting workforce planning, monitoring progress and development, developing initiatives for generic cases. It identifies and analyses information to aid the organization in making ultimate decisions both beneficial to the organization and its employees. Two reasons considered closely. Through HR data collection an organisation can: 1) comply with legislative and regulatory requirements regarding equal opportunities, equal pay audits, recruitment, assessing skills balance, absence recording. 2) monitor training and performance for employees, assessing each individual employee for productivity and identifying training needs. That means assessing the productivity within the business. Being well informed about the workforce is the key to aim the ultimate goal of the organization. Data collection enables management team to make informed decisions about future activity. Two types of data collected and their support: 1) Attendances is useful to monitor and gauge daily working hours and monitor absences. That enables HR to manage regular absentees successful and deal with any issues the employee might have. 2) Organisational records which includes: staff turnover, absenteeism, recruitment documentation, learning and development. HR department can monitor staff level making decision about a further recruitment process. It is also essential collecting and updating employee records such as home addresses and people to contact in time of emergency. These information are helpful where the employee not to come to work without notice. Records can be stored: 1) Electronically through computerised system. In this way organization can keep information up to date easily and any information can be sent and received rapidly. It also reduce company costs and the amount of data can be stored with no taking up much office space and they can be sorted, found, moved and protected easily. 2) Manually in paper format. In this case the risk of corrupted data is less and information are accessible in any time considering occurrences of power cuts or electronic system crashes. Moreover problems with duplicates of the same record are usually avoided. Two items of UK legislation relating to recording and storing HR data: 1) Data Protection Act, 1998. It concerns all personal records whether held in paper or electronic format. The act contains eight protection principles specifying personal data must be: – Processed fairly and lawfully. – Obtained for specified and lawful purposes. – Adequate, relevant and not excessive. – Accurate and up to date. – Not kept any longer than necessary. – Processed in accordance with the â€Å"data subject’s† (the individual’s) rights. – Securely kept. – Not transferred to any other country outside the EU without adequate protection in situ. 2) Freedom of Information Act, 2000. It allows people to ask any public body for information on both any subject an organization has and themselves too. So that the act encourages organization to be transparent and, unless a valid reason, the organization must provide requested information within 20 working days. Through this act people can access to informations needed and ensure they are not exploited or used inappropriately.

Mood Disorder, an Umbrella Term to a Host of Disorders

Mood disorder: this is a group of diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV TR) which classifies mental health, this particular one is when a person's mood is seen to be the underlying cause of mental health issues. This umbrellas a host of disorders, such as; Bipolar Disease (SD), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), and also less severe depressions such as dysthymic or cyclothymic.Some mood disorders can be substance induced, (due to someone's drug use) or alcohol induced, and other mood disorders could be Just one episode or recurrent. Personality disorders: social disorders, characterised by an individual's pattern of behaviour, cognition, and inner experience, these patterns of behaviour are developed early on and are seen to be inflexible and cause distress and/or disability.For the pattern of behaviour to be classed as a disorder it means that the patterns displayed by the individual deviates from the social norms of the majority of society. Pe rsonality disorders: this is a term that covers several forms of mental disorders, which are characterised by excessive worrying, uneasiness, fearfulness and pprehension about future uncertainties, which could be based upon real or imagined events. These can then affect an individual's physical and psychological health.Some people can experience continuous episodes of these symptoms whilst others are less frequent, so are classified as either generalised anxiety disorders or phobias. 1. 2) the strengths of the classification system are that it is structured and allows medical professionals to recognise the disorders and make an informed diagnosis. However there are limitations: it is very black and white and doesn't give ccount for other reasons as to why a disorder could occur, such as someone being in severe pain, or having social difficulties such as bullying.It also doesn't consider that there could be an overlapping of disorders, and therefore can have a detrimental effect on d iagnosis and delay the diagnosis and treatment in some circumstances. 1. 3) there are alternative frameworks for the diagnosis of mental distress. The first is the biological and medical frame work which considers factors such as brain defects, results of accidents and hereditary diseases when diagnosing any mental distress.There is also a behavioural framework which considers how learned habits can effect an individual and how external stressors combined with the individuals personality can cause result in mental disorder. 1. 4) If an individual is suffering from a mental distress or disorder the symptoms of this can be shown in varies ways and medical practitioners will be vigilant to these when diagnosing the individual.The symptoms shown can include: The individual feeling sad or down for periods of time The individual withdrawing themselves from social situations Dramatic changes in he individuals eating habits The individual's refusal to take care of them self, (personal hygie ne, changing clothes, looking after their property) Low energy, extreme tiredness Paranoia Hallucinations Excessive worrying or feeling of guilt over real or imagined events Confusion Extreme highs and extreme lows in the individuals mood Anger towards others, particular those close to them and without due reason Hostility and violence towards others or themselves Changes in the individuals sex drive Suicidal thoughts Inability to cope with daily tasks and stressors Abuse of alcohol or drugs Sometimes the symptoms can come in the form of a physical pain in the individua'ls chest, abdomen, back, head, and other unexplained aches and pains. It is often a close friend, family member or care giver that notices these changes in a person that must be reported and recorded.If I was to notice these changes in an individual in my care it would be my duty to approach the subject with the individual if they have the capacity, I would discuss with my manager the best course of action to take an d ollow this through, it could be that I need to contact the individuals next of kin, GP, or social worker. 2. 1) An individual could experience a lot of forms of discrimination due to misinformation, misinterpretation and common stereotypes society has. Potential or current employers could deter from a person's potential or ability due to not understanding how a mental disorder could affect someone, and in this case it could prove to make the individuals condition worse. Friends and family members can begin to fear the behaviour of the individual and thus withdraw from them. the individual has carers attending to them, the carers could become fearful or put up personal barriers. They could be treated with caution by all people known to them. 2. 2) Mental ill health can impact an individual in numerous ways. Psychologically and emotionally: the individual may become withdrawn further from social groups and or family members who could add to their ill health. Mental health issues can impact a person's self-esteem and self-worth, which would cause them to feel more down and possibly have suicidal thoughts or tendencies. An individual's family and friends could become concerned about the individual, and therefore try to be there for them more, visit more regularly, and this would put a strain on them personally.Practically and financially: an individual's mental ill health could affect their ability to work, therefore can have a detrimental effect on their ability to pay their bills and/or live day to day. It can affect the person's ability to fill out forms when looking for a Job, or paperwork for their current role. They may also be unable to cope with everyday iving such as looking after themselves, family members or their property. If a person is suffering from mental ill health and is experiencing symptoms such as violence, paranoia and inability their fellow work force would be impacted as they may not want to work this person, it could leave them in danger or with an extra work load, or themselves not wanting to go to work as their work environment is disrupted.Using services: the individual may withdraw from services they are already using; such as day centres. They could feel unable to talk to people and therefore not enlist the aid f services such as social services, day centres, GPs, other medical services. on the individuals close family and friends. It could add extra pressure onto them to be there for the individual, and to take on further responsibility where they are concerned Positive impacts: when a mental disorder is untreated or undiagnosed the individual can become stuck, and not see a way forward, therefore viewing everything negatively and in turn this can cause the mental distress to spiral out of control.This can also affect the individuals family and friends who are trying to help, and trying to ive them positive thoughts and suggestions, they may end up feeling like they should no longer bother to help, this would then result in them possibly giving up leaving the individual feeling more alone than ever. 2. 4) There are benefits to the individual, their family and social network and society with early intervention of an individual's mental health. The earlier a disorder is detected means that It can be treated early and recent studies have shown that early intervention means relapses are less likely, as is hospitalisation, and symptoms can be less severe.

China Economy Essay

The rapid rise of China as a major economic power within a time span of about three decades is often described by analysts as one of the greatest economic success stories in modern times. From 1979 (when economic reforms began) to 2011, China’s real gross domestic product (GDP) grew at an average annual rate of nearly 10%. From 1980 to 2011, real GDP grew 19-fold in real terms, real per capita GDP increased 14-fold, and an estimated 500 million people were raised out of extreme poverty. China is now the world’s second-largest economy and some analysts predict it could become the largest within a few years. Yet, on a per capita basis, China remains a relatively poor country. China’s economic rise has led to a substantial increase in U. S. -China economic ties. According to U. S. trade data, total trade between the two countries surged from $5 billion in 1980 to $503 billion in 2011. China is currently the United States’ second-largest trading partner, its third largest export market, and its largest source of imports. Many U. S. ompanies have extensive operations in China in order to sell their products in the booming Chinese market and to take advantage of lower-cost labor for export-oriented manufacturing. These operations have helped some U. S. firms to remain internationally competitive and have supplied U. S. consumers with a variety of low-cost goods. China’s large-scale purchases of U. S. Treasury securities (which totaled nearly $1. 2 trillion at the end of 2011) have enabled the federal government to fund its budget deficits, which help keep U. S. interest rates relatively low. However, the emergence of China as a major economic superpower has raised concern among many U. S. policymakers. Some claim that China uses unfair trade practices (such as an undervalued currency and subsidies given to domestic producers) to flood U. S. markets with low cost goods, and that such practices threaten American jobs, wages, and living standards. Others contend that China’s growing use of industrial policies to promote and protect certain domestic Chinese industries firms favored by the government, and its failure to take effective action against widespread infringement of U.  S. intellectual property rights (IPR) in China, threaten to undermine the competitiveness of U. S. IP-intensive industries. In addition, while China has become a large and growing market for U. S. exports, critics contend that numerous trade and investment barriers limit opportunities for U. S. firms to sell in China, or force them to set up production facilities in China as the price of doing business there. Other concerns relating to China’s economic growth include its growing demand for energy and raw materials and its emergence as the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gasses. The Chinese government views a growing economy as vital to maintaining social stability. However, China faces a number of major economic challenges which could undermine future growth, including distortive economic policies that have resulted in over-reliance on fixed investment and exports for economic growth (rather than on consumer demand), government support for state-owned firms, a weak banking system, widening income gaps, growing pollution, and the relative lack of the rule of law in China. Many economists warn that such problems could undermine China’s future economic growth. The Chinese government has acknowledged these problems and has pledged to address them by implementing policies to boost consumer spending, expand social safety net coverage, and encourage the development of less-polluting industries. China’s Economy Prior to Reforms Prior to 1979, China, under the leadership of Chairman Mao Zedong, maintained a centrally planned, or command, economy. A large share of the country’s economic output was directed and controlled by the state, which set production goals, controlled prices, and allocated resources throughout most of the economy. During the 1950s, all of China’s individual household farms were collectivized into large communes. To support rapid industrialization, the central government undertook large-scale investments in physical and human capital during the 1960s and 1970s. As a result, by 1978 nearly three-fourths of industrial production was produced by centrally controlled, state-owned enterprises (SOEs), according to centrally planned output targets. Private enterprises and foreign-invested firms were generally barred. A central goal of the Chinese government was to make China’s economy relatively self-sufficient. Foreign trade was generally limited to obtaining only those goods that could not be made or obtained in China. Government policies kept the Chinese economy relatively stagnant and inefficient, mainly because most aspects of the economy were managed and run by the central government (and thus there were few profit incentives for firms, workers, and farmers), competition was virtually nonexistent, foreign trade and investment flows were mainly limited to Soviet bloc countries, and price and production controls caused widespread distortions in the economy. Chinese living standards were substantially lower than those of many other developing countries. The Chinese government in 1978 (shortly after the death of Chairman Mao in 1976) decided to break with its Soviet-style economic policies by gradually reforming the economy according to free market principles and opening up trade and investment with the West, in the hope that this would significantly increase economic growth and raise living standards. As Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, the architect of China’s economic reforms, put it: â€Å"Black cat, white cat, what does it matter what color the cat is as long as it catches mice? The Introduction of Economic Reforms Beginning in 1979, China launched several economic reforms. The central government initiated price and ownership incentives for farmers, which enabled them to sell a portion of their crops on the free market. In addition, the government established four special economic zones along the coast for the purpose of attract ing foreign investment, boosting exports, and importing high technology products into China. Additional reforms, which followed in stages, sought to decentralize economic policymaking in several sectors, especially trade. Economic control of various enterprises was given to provincial and local governments, which were generally allowed to operate and compete on free market principles, rather than under the direction and guidance of state planning. In addition, citizens were encouraged to start their own businesses. Additional coastal regions and cities were designated as open cities and development zones, which allowed them to experiment with free market reforms and to offer tax and trade incentives to attract foreign investment. In addition, state price controls on a wide range of products were gradually eliminated. Trade liberalization was also a major key to China’s economic success. Removing trade barriers encouraged greater competition and attracted foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows. China’s gradual implementation of economic reforms sought to identify which policies produced favorable economic outcomes (and which did not) so that they could be implemented in other parts of the country, a process Deng Xiaoping reportedly referred to as â€Å"crossing the river by touching the stones. † China’s Economic Growth Since Reforms: 1979-2012 Since the introduction of economic reforms, China’s economy has grown substantially faster than during the pre-reform period (see Table 1). According to the Chinese government, from 1953 to 1978, real annual GDP growth was estimated at 6. 7%, although many analysts claim that Chinese economic data during this period are highly questionable because government officials often exaggerated production levels for a variety of political reasons. Agnus Maddison estimates China’s average annual real GDP during this period at 4. %. China’s economy suffered economic downturns during the leadership of Chairman Mao Zedong, including during the Great Leap Forward from 1958 to 1960 (which led to a massive famine and reportedly the deaths of tens of millions of people) and the Cultural Revolution from 1966 to 1976 (which caused political chaos and greatly disrupted the economy). During the reform period (1979-2011), Chinaâ €™s average annual real GDP grew by 9. 9%. This essentially has meant that, on average China has been able to double the size of its economy in real terms every eight years. The global economic slowdown, which began in 2008, impacted the Chinese economy (especially the export sector). China’s real GDP growth fell from 14. 2% in 2007 to 9. 6% in 2008 to 9. 2% in 2009. In response, the Chinese government implemented a large economic stimulus package and an expansive monetary policy. These measures boosted domestic investment and consumption and helped prevent a sharp economic slowdown in China. In 2010, China’s real GDP grew by 10. 4%, and in 2011 it rose by 9. 2%. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects that China’s real GDP will grow by 7. 8% in 2012. From 2013 to 2017, the IMP projects that China’s real GDP growth will average 8. 5%. Table 1- China’s average annual real GDP growth. Causes of China’s Economic Growth Economists generally attribute much of China’s rapid economic growth to two main factors: large-scale capital investment (financed by large domestic savings and foreign investment) and rapid productivity growth. These two factors appear to have gone together hand in hand. Economic reforms led to higher efficiency in the economy, which boosted output and increased resources for additional investment in the economy. China has historically maintained a high rate of savings. When reforms were initiated in 1979, domestic savings as a percentage of GDP stood at 32%. However, most Chinese savings during this period were generated by the profits of SOEs, which were used by the central government for domestic investment. Economic reforms, which included the decentralization of economic production, led to substantial growth in Chinese household savings as well as corporate savings. As a result, China’s gross savings as a percentage of GDP has steadily risen, reaching 53. 9% in 2010 (compared to a U. S. rate of 9. 3%), and is among the highest savings rates in the world. The large level of savings has enabled China to boost domestic investment. In fact, its gross domestic savings levels far exceed its domestic investment levels, meaning that China is a large net global lender. Several economists have concluded that productivity gains (i. e. , increases in efficiency) have been another major factor in China’s rapid economic growth. The improvements to productivity were caused largely by a reallocation of resources to more productive uses, especially in sectors that were formerly heavily controlled by the central government, such as agriculture, trade, and services. For example, agricultural reforms boosted production, freeing workers to pursue employment in the more productive manufacturing sector. China’s decentralization of the economy led to the rise of non-state enterprises (such as private firms), which tended to pursue more productive activities than the centrally controlled SOEs and were more market-oriented, and hence, more efficient. Additionally, a greater share of the economy (mainly the export sector) was exposed to competitive forces. Local and provincial governments were allowed to establish and operate various enterprises on market principles, without interference from the central government. In addition, FDI in China brought with it new technology and processes that boosted efficiency. As indicated in Figure 2, China has achieved high rates of total factor productivity (TFP) growth relative to the United States. TFP represents an estimate of the part of economic output growth not accounted for by the growth in inputs (such as labor and capital), and is often attributed to the effects of technological change and efficiency gains. China experiences faster TFP growth than most developed countries such as the United States because of its ability to access and utilize existing foreign technology and know-how. High TFP growth rates have been a major factor behind China’s rapid economic growth rate. However, as China’s technological development begins to approach that of major developed countries, its level of productivity gains, and thus, real GDP growth, could slow significantly from its historic 10% average, unless China becomes a major center for new technology and innovation and/or implements new comprehensive economic reforms. As indicated in Figure 3, the EIU currently projects that China’s real GDP growth will slow considerably in the years ahead, averaging 7. 0% from 2012 to 2020, and falling to 3. 7% from 2021 to 2030. The Chinese government has indicated its desire to move away from its current economic model of fast growth at any cost to more â€Å"smart† economic growth, which seeks to reduce reliance on energy-intensive and high-polluting industries and rely more on high technology, green energy, and services. China also has indicated it wants to obtain more balanced economic growth. Measuring the Size of China’s Economy The rapid growth of the Chinese economy has led many analysts to speculate if and when China will overtake the United States as the â€Å"world’s largest economic power. † The â€Å"actual† size of China’s economy has been a subject of extensive debate among economists. Measured in U. S. dollars using nominal exchange rates, China’s GDP in 2011 was $7. 2 trillion, less than half the size of the U. S. economy. The per capita GDP (a common measurement of a country’s living standards) of China was $5,460, which was 12% the size of Japan’s level and 11% that of the United States (see Table 2). Many economists contend that using nominal exchange rates to convert Chinese data (or that of other countries) into U. S. dollars fails to reflect the true size of China’s economy and living standards relative to the United States. Nominal exchange rates simply reflect the prices of foreign currencies vis-a-vis the U. S. dollar and such measurements exclude differences in the prices for goods and services across countries. To illustrate, one U. S. dollar exchanged for local currency in China would buy more goods and services there than it would in the United States. This is because prices for goods and services in China are generally lower than they are in the United States. Conversely, prices for goods and services in Japan are generally higher than they are in the United States (and China). Thus, one dollar exchanged for local Japanese currency would buy fewer goods and services there than it would in the United States. Economists attempt to develop estimates of exchange rates based on their actual purchasing power relative to the dollar in order to make more accurate comparisons of economic data across countries, usually referred to as a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis. The PPP exchange rate increases the (estimated) measurement of China’s economy and its per capita GDP. According to the Economist Intelligence Unit, (EIU), which utilizes World Bank data, prices for goods and services in China are 41. 5% the level they are in the United States. Adjusting for this price differential raises the value of China’s 2011 GDP from $7. 2 trillion (nominal dollars) to $11. 4 trillion (on a PPP basis). This would indicate that China’s economy is 76. 0% the size of the U. S. economy. China’s share of global GDP on a PPP basis rose from 3. 7% in 1990 to 14. % in 2011 (the U. S. share of global GDP peaked at 24. 3% in 1999 and declined to 18. 9% in 2011); see Figure 4. Many economic analysts predict that on a PPP basis China will soon overtake the United States as the world’s largest economy. EIU, for example, projects this will occur by 2016, and that by 2030, China’s economy could be 30% larger than that of the United St ates. This would not be the first time in history that China was the world’s largest economy (see text box). The PPP measurement also raises China’s 2011 per capita GDP (from $5,460) to $8,650, which was 17. 9% of the U. S. evel. The EIU projects this level will rise to 34. 3% by 2030. Thus, although China will likely become the world’s largest economy in a few years on a PPP basis, it will likely take many years for its living standards to approach U. S. levels. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in China China’s trade and investment reforms and incentives led to a surge in FDI beginning in the early 1990s. Such flows have been a major source of China’s productivity gains and rapid economic and trade growth. There were reportedly 445,244 foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) registered in China in 2010, employing 55. million workers or 15. 9% of the urban workforce. As indicated in Figure 5, FIEs account for a significant share of China’s industrial output. That level rose from 2. 3% in 1990 to a high of 35. 9% in 2003, but fell to 27. 1% by 2010. In addition, FIE’s are responsible for a significant level of China’s foreign trade. In 2011, FIEs in China accounted for 52. 4% of China’s exports and 49. 6% of its imports, although this level was down from its peak in 2006 when FIEs’ share of Chinese exports and imports was 58. 2% and 59. 7%, respectively, as indicated in Figure 6. FIEs in China dominate China’s high technology exports. From 2002 to 2010, the share of China’s high tech exports by FIEs rose from 79% to 82%. During the same period, the share of China’s high tech exports by wholly owned foreign firms (which excludes foreign joint ventures with Chinese firms) rose from 55% to 67%. According to the Chinese government, annual FDI inflows into China grew from $2 billion in 1985 to $108 billion in 2008. Due to the effects of the global economic slowdown, FDI flows to China fell by 12. 2% to $90 billion in 2009. They totaled $106 billion in 2010 and $116 billion in 2011 (see Figure 7). Chinese data for January-October 2012 indicate that FDI fell by 3. 5% on a year-on-year basis; FDI into China will likely total around $112. 1 billion for the full year. Hong Kong was reported as the largest source of FDI flows to China in 2011 (63. 9% of total), followed by Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, and the United States. The cumulative level (or stock) of FDI in China at the end of 2011 is estimated at $1. 2 trillion, making it one of the world’s largest destinations of FDI. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, China was the world’s second-largest destination for FDI flows in 2011, after the United States (see Figure 8). The largest sources of cumulative FDI in China for 1979-2011 were Hong Kong (43. 5% of total), the British Virgin Islands, Japan, the United States, and Taiwan (see Table 3). According to Chinese data, annual U. S. FDI flows to China peaked at $5. 4 billion in 2002 (10. 2% of total FDI in China). In 2011, they were $3. 0 billion or 2. 6% of total FDI (see Figure 9). From January to October 2012, U. S. FDI in China rose by 3. 8% (year-on-year).

Algorithm Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Algorithm - Assignment Example The time taken for reversing the array would be linear to the length of the subsequence at each round. The time taken for palindromic check would also be linear to half of the length of the subsequence returned at each round. Hence, the total time for the algorithm would be O (n2). For the subsequence x [i†¦j] to be palindromic, the element x[i] should be equal to x[j], the element x [i+1] should be equal to x [j-1] and so on. Hence, to compute L (i, j), the elements x [i] and the element x [j] are first checked for equality. If equal, then we can say that L (i, j) holds at least a minimum value of 2 and the equality check is repeated for the next element x [i+1] and x [j-1]. If not equal, it is concluded that at least one of the element is not included in the palindrome. In that case, we are interested in repeating the check for elements x[i] and x [j-1] as well as x [i+1] and x [j] as we are not sure which element is not included in the palindrome. In the worst case, if none of the elements match, then L (i, j) is equal to 1 as every element is a palindrome of itself. Complexity analysis: As the computation involves two for loops, one running n-1 times which is O (n) and the other running n-s times which is also O (n), the total running time for the algorithm would be O (n2). Let be the median of x1, x2, x3.... As median occurs at i= (n+1)/2, we can say that there are (n+1)/2 -1 element smaller the median and there are n-(n+1)/2 elements larger than Sum of the weights of the elements lesser than the median can be written as: From the above analysis in (a), we found that the sum of the weights of all elements smaller than the weighted median is less than  ½. Similarly the weight of all elements larger than the median is also less than 1/2. We can compute xk by recursively calling the deterministic SELECT to compute the regular median. In each round, the array is divided into two halves around the calculated median xm and the actual median xk

Thermodynamics and Information Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Thermodynamics and Information Theory - Essay Example Despite the similarities between the two concepts there is a very important difference between the two. The information entropy which is denoted as H can be calculated for almost any probability distribution and if the message is taken to be that the event which is represented by n had probability pi takes place, out of the space of the list of events which are possible. But the thermodynamic entropy S refers to thermodynamic probabilities pi in particular. (Skyttner, 2005) In addition to this the thermodynamic entropy is dominated by different kinds, space and arrangements of the system, and particularly its energy, which are possible and especially on a molecular scale. When we compare we see that, information entropy of any macroscopic event is so small as to be completely useless and irrelevant. (Skyttner, 2005) We can also make a connection between the two and if the probabilities related to any question are the thermodynamic probabilities. Gibbs entropy represented by can then be seen as simply the amount of Shannon information needed to analyze and define the microscopic state of the system in great details, or we can say its been given its macroscopic description.

Reaction paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 6

Reaction - Research Paper Example In the case of Hose, media had an active role, knocking down individual voices of concern, and spreading words contradictory to the reality, igniting hatred in the public minds. I was taken aback by the fact that though the wife of the killed revealed in investigation that Hose committed the murder in self-protection and that there was no rape, no one including the media or government gave attention to the same. I feel that the main reason for this extreme aggression and shameless activities is the self-interest of the media to offer the Whites with the kind of news they loved to hear about the Blacks. As the chapter reveals, so many Blacks met their end almost in the same way. To sum up, I would like to say that government, media, and religion are the only forces powerful enough to make mass movements. Once they are prejudiced, the whole society remains prejudiced. Once this happens, moral values and rational thinking disappear from the minds of even the so-called educated and civilized

LEGAL REPORTING AND PATIENT RIGHTS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

LEGAL REPORTING AND PATIENT RIGHTS - Essay Example Pozgar, 2011) and with the fact that they did not hold recordings of surgery accidental cuts pleaded on the information act {(35PS 7608(a)2)} (Pozgar, 2011)thus no need to expose the information about the plaintiff to the patients. On the other hand the court picked out some of the information to release which included relinquishing the surgeon’s medical condition to his fellow practitioners, sending detailed letters to the patients at risk and interdicting physicians from exposing the details of their fellow practitioner to third parties. With these facts in mind, it arose that was it called for by the court to release elaborated facts about the medical condition of the surgeon considering his willingness to come out openly about his medical condition and ending his medical practice.Further afield the principle or the rationale that came up was that there was some risk if it was not exposed which was backed up by the medical experts who were witnesses. The argument to this wa s that revealing this information could have prevented further spreading of the disease if some of the patients had been infected unwillingly. Patients had the right to know about the infected practitioner. This was done by the court since they were given portions of information concerning the infected physician. Consequently fellow surgeons who worked in the same department and in the medical center were informed. This saved lots of lives taking into account that some of them might have had relations with the practitioner. On the other hand the release of information was substantial since the information was limited only to the patients and the medical practitioners in the center. All in all its in my opinion that the legal obligation to the people was met. This is in the view that patients that were in jeopardy were informed and considering the year in question, those who had sexual relations with the plaintiff should have practiced safe sex. This is in the opinion that HIV/AIDS in 1990s

Race and Ethnicity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Race and Ethnicity - Essay Example The programs shown should have societal standards that discourage race and ethnicity. The older television had distortions, erasures, and omissions in their reflection of race and ethnicity. There were persistent patterns of racism and prejudice in the television shows. The television channel presented a viewer with prejudice view in relation to the ethnic and racial minorities. There were absolute volumes of prejudiced rhetoric, racist images, and stereotypes in the shows and episodes. This was not an isolated case, but rather, it took place in a series of episodes in the television show. For example in the Goldberg’s TV Show that is a comedy on Jewish family, show the obstacles that are faced by the minority. The television shows violated the basic responsibilities and freedoms that the society entrusted to the television channels. This showed that there can never be freedom without responsibility. The episodes failed to replicate the multicultural and multiracial environmen t of the people and customers who were viewing the programs. However, advocacy initiatives have been done to make a difference. The televisions shows have gone under transformations and changed have been witnessed. These have changed due to the perception and enlighten on the dangers and effects of racism and ethnicity. The advocacy initiative that was developed, to change this included; participating in committees of the media, groups worked with senior managements on ways of programming and hiring. This helped to identify the discrimination and bias that was reflected in the television shows and episodes. Methods of dealing with racism in the television episodes were developed. Initiatives and efforts were done to establish television shows and episodes that were not deviant of the societal standards. Things did no change much from the earlier decade television shows to the current episodes being shown. However, there were limited changes in the television shows and episodes. The television shows started to use all people of all colors in the episodes. The actors in the shows were from all races and ethnic groups. In addition, issues that were relating to racism were covered more and shown in the television episodes. The color of people that showed special features was discouraged. The episodes showed people of a particular color to depict race and ethnicity. However, despite, all these efforts, the progress has been illusory and sporadic. The current and latest television shows continue to manifest some aspects of racism and ethnicity. Despite, the supposed changes, the television shows in the episodes still do not represent all the people of color. This unequal status in the society of the racial minorities is manifested and reflected in the episodes. Their absence in the on-air roles in television shows depicts racism and ethnicity. Moreover, they are underrepresented in the television shows and episodes. This limited participation shows cultural racism, biasness, and structural barriers. The behavior is woven in the system that has norms, values, and beliefs of the culture that is dominant. The hiring practices are what are causing the invisibility of people of color. The television episodes show the people of color as just entertainers, or athletes. In addition, they are given roles that are related to crime activities. The television programs show people of color only on limited times. These

Japanese Economics Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Japanese Economics - Research Paper Example Most of the workers on the short-term basis worked hard to get long-term employment. This helped in post war Japan takeoff in terms of economics (Ohno, 2006). The transition from 1970 to 1980 saw Japan catch up with the other industrial economies of the world. However, this trend was not to remain due to unchanging policies. There was a lack of modern investment opportunities and poor management (Sakisaka & Gaimusho, 2007). This led to business firms, real estate and financial institutions falling prey to speculation. This finally led to the ‘bubble’ economy (Ohno, 2006). The effects were to be felt in the 1990s. Japan continues to struggle to get out of these effects until now. This will only be possible through sweeping reforms. This paper seeks to focus on the Japanese economy. Japanese Geography, Language, Population Japan is one of the countries of East Asia. It is made up of thousand of islands. However, there are crucial islands. They include Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyu shu and Shiloku. These are the largest of those islands that make up Japan. Japans neighbors are Korea, Russia, and China. It has a size equal that of Germany or California (Japan Guide, 2013). The language of most of the population is Japanese. However, there has been infiltration of foreign languages. The population is estimated to be 125 million (Japan Guide, 2013). In this estimate, two million are foreign residents. Most of the foreigners are the Korean. This place is also vulnerable to earthquakes and volcanoes. This is because this country is mostly mountainous. There is also variation in climate due to different islands that make up the country. Economy Japan economy ranks high in the world. In fact, Japan rank second among the most... Japan has been struggling with inflation for a long time. However, inflation is expected to slow down. For example, the central bank has introduced an inflation target of 2 percent (Einhorn, 2013). Various initiatives have been taken to curb inflation are already in place. The current one has been buying Yen to issue bonds. This will help by weakening the Yen and hence reviving inflation rate. However, Japan trade deficits have declined significantly. It stands at 362.4 billion yen that is half of what was reported at the beginning of the year (Einhorn, 2013). Moreover, in Japan there has been an increased in the number of unemployed individuals. For example, in March the unemployment rate was 4.10 percent as compared to the onset of the year when it stood at 4.3 (Trading Economics, 2012). For the last six decades, unemployment rate in Japan has averaged 2.68 percent. However, it was at its highest level in July of 2009 at 5.60 percent (Trading Economics, 2012).Japanese Openness, Cur rency, Current Exchange Rate, Primary Exports, Imports, Current Account Balance, Major Trading Partners, AgreementsThe rate of openness of a country influences its economy in myriad ways. There is a role and importance of this trend to economic growth. This openness is reflected in terms of international knowledge streams and international movement of people, resources and technology (Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry, 2011). Openness can also lead to failure of some key sector of the economy.

Human resource management simulation game of Green leafs hotels Essay

Human resource management simulation game of Green leafs hotels - Essay Example Absenteeism was also not more than the national average of 498 but equal to it. For the second quarter, the cost of hiring and layoffs dropped to $185,000. This comprised a sum of 60 new hiring, 5 new promotion additions and 5 promotion losses. This move helped in recording no overage or shortages. Different rates of wages increases were carried out across various levels given as $20, $15, $10, $7, and $5. This was in relation to a total training cost of $33,800. Indeed, the department did not pay as much attention to issues of training as it did in the previous quarter. The reason was that there were not as many new vacancies that needed to be filled. But the absence of training slightly increased accident rates and absenteeism (Chen and So, 2002). The total cost of hiring and layoff for the third quarter came up to $158,000. This entailed 59 new hiring, nine new promotions nine promotion losses. Consequently, there was no vacancy, anytime there was a loss of promotion position. Except for level 5, there was planned wage increase across all levels with levels 4, 3, 2 and 1 recording increases of $60, $55, $50 and $45. This was in relation to overall training cost of $33,800 just as in the second quarter. This means that we learnt from our mistakes in the second quarter were wages increases were not used as a means of morale boaster to ensure that there was sufficient wage increases this time round. The motivation helped in improving punctuality but because cost of training was not increased, minor accidents were still recorded (Hissam and Daniel, 1999). The fourth quarter saw one of the least total costs of hiring and layoffs, which came up of $100,000. Much of these went into promotions as compared to hiring as there were 50 new hiring; less than previous quarters but 19 promotions; far more than had been for any previous quarter. This quarter saw the highest increase in

A religious or moral issue Essay Example for Free

A religious or moral issue Essay Analyse and explain the way in which a religious or moral issue of concern to Christians has been dealt with in a television soap opera The moral issue that I have chosen to follow is adultery, which is when a married person has voluntary sexual intercourse with other married or not married people, rather than his or her spouse. The reason I have chosen this moral issue is because it is part of everyday life, many people are doing it and are not taking notice of the hurt and pain they are causing. I have chosen Eastenders for my soap opera, because it is a popular soap and the moral issue adultery is shown, through Natalie and Rickys affair. Christians have a strong view on adultery, they believe that you should keep sexual intercourse for marriage because it makes it part of a religious or spiritual contact and it makes it dependant on a commitment to spend the rest of your life with someone, also Do not commit adultery is one of the ten commandments, so Christians are totally against adultery. The main characters involved were Ricky, Natalie, Pat and Barry. The storyline begins with, Ricky and his son Liam coming back to the square after a few years away. After a few weeks Ricky is starting to settle down and he is renting a flat with Sam Mitchell his ex-wife, Natalie and Ricky are friends at this point. After a while Natalie realizes she still loves Ricky, her first love, and starts meeting up with him secretly and has sexual intercourse with him. Natalie makes up excuses saying that shes working overtime and during her lunch breaks when shes really meeting up with Ricky. One night Pat sees Ricky picking up Natalie from round the corner from their house. The next morning Pat confronts Natalie about what she saw and tells her to end it but Natalie starts crying and says that she still loves Ricky, but Pat tells Natalie about her own love life and that she would be making a big mistake by seeing Ricky. Natalie is still confused and not sure whom she wants to be with. On Rickys birthday Natalie stays home and looks after Jack and Liam, Rickys son. So Barry, Pat and Roy can go to Rickys party soon after they arrive Barry persuades Roy and Pat to go home and baby-sit so Natalie can come to the party. When Natalie arrives she gives Ricky his card and on the back of the envelope Natalie wrote meet me outside the back where she tells him that she is going to leave Barry. Pat and Natalie talk again and Pat shows Natalie the secret tape, which Barry has recorded for Natalies birthday it is a really special tape because Barry says how much he loves her, how important she is to him and how happy she makes him feel, after seeing the video Natalie realises that she is doing wrong and tells Ricky its over. Natalie realises she cant forget Ricky and soon their affair is back on and they plan to move away from the square and start afresh. They plan to leave on Natalies birthday, Natalie doesnt even care about the preparations that Barry made for her birthday party in the Vic. They are ready to head off but Rickys car has broken down so they have to take the car that Barry bought for Natalie. Barry is still in the Vic waiting for the guest of honour to arrive but Janine knows about Ricky and Natalie and tells Barry. Barry runs outside and sees Natalie driving off but he stops them. Natalie then tells Barry shes leaving him, Barry takes her into the Vic and shows her what he has organised for her, Natalie runs off to the toilets Barry runs after her and tries o make her change her mind but her minds already made up. Natalie is ready to leave but then Janine tells Natalie that Ricky slept with Sam, Natalie leaves the square only taking her son with her. Barry is left heartbroken, he then finds out that Pat knew about Ricky and Natalie, Pat and Roy end up having an argument about it, Roy has a heart attack and dies. The issue seen was dealt sensitively because the different characters feelings were expressed, although it was Natalie who was having the affair, you could see that not only was it the innocent partner that was confused but the partner which was committing adultery was even more confused, Natalie wasnt sure who she wanted to be with at some points and was getting very upset over it. Pat tried to help her make the right decision but Natalie didnt care. This soap opera made the moral issue less appealing, I think that it made people think more about what they are doing is totally wrong. The reason it did not make it more appealing is because it showed all the different circumstances people were left in, Natalie ended it with Ricky because he slept with Sam, Barry was left with no son and no wife, the baby was left with no father, Pat was left as the enemy and homeless because Roy dies and leaves the house to Barry, so the issue was shown well balanced because all the main characters feelings and circumstances were shown, many of the characters were feeling hurt. Overall I think this soap opera has shown adultery to be unpleasant because it shows just how many peoples lives are ruined not just the adultery committers, but people who try to help them understand what they are doing is wrong, but are then given the evil for not telling the truthful partner. So this teaches most viewers that adultery is not a good thing. I dont think that soap operas might affect peoples behaviour because mostly they deal with issues to express the circumstances of good and bad. This issue would not cause offence because although it is an issue, which is happening in everyday life it is not based on particular people.

I will Design and Carry Out my PEP on the Basis of me Being a Football Player Essay Example for Free

I will Design and Carry Out my PEP on the Basis of me Being a Football Player Essay I will design and carry out my PEP on the basis of me being a football player. I am 14 years and 6 months old and have been playing football since about the age of 5. I enjoy the game and I am quite good at it. Although I am quite good I would like to train to become better at the sport and increase my overall fitness level. I am generally fit but there is definitely room for improvement and I will look to do so. When I leave school I plan to join the British Army so I would like to become fit so that I can fulfil my plans. Over the 6 weeks that I carry out the training regime I will give it 100% and really try to improve my fitness and footballing skills. I want to make the best of my ability at football so I can enjoy what I do and hopefully it will benefit the Sunday league club that I play for. I play for Aspull Juniors. I have done so for 5 years now and enjoy playing for the team. I play in the centre of midfield and play in more of a defensive role. This position allows me to put a lot of effort in and influence the game. I am a good tackler of the ball and can pass good as well. For the job that I do on the football pitch I need to have a good stamina (so I can cope with the demands of the football math), good flexibility (so I dont stretch my muscles when making tackles), good balance (to pass the ball and make vital tackles), strength (to out muscle opponents and kick the ball far), speed (to get to the ball quicker than the opponent), and good reaction time (this is so I can react to the ball quicker than an opponent.) My PEP should help me to improve all of these skills and as a result I will become a better football player. I have never suffered any long-term injuries of any kind and have no recurring injuries. Other sports that I enjoy to do are fishing, golf, tennis and table tennis. Although I do none of these sports competitively I am interested in them and have done for fun. PEP For my PEP I will use a pyramid session to gradually increase my fitness during the 6 weeks. I will use a badminton court as my guide and say that double the length of the court is equal to one length. I will increase the lengths as the program progresses to create an overload required to increase my fitness. I chose a pyramid session because I feel it is the most reliable way of increasing my fitness. Also I know that it will be easier to create an overload in either the amount of lengths or exercises that I do if I use a pyramid session. From when I have used this session in the past I have found that it always gives me a good workout and can be used to good effect. I will start and progress my PEP over the weeks using the FITT principal. I will increase the frequency by doing more exercises and by doing more running more often. I will increase the intensity by increasing the amount of exercise that will be done. I will do this by adding more lengths onto my pyramid session and more exercise in between. I will increase the time by putting more time into the exercises in between runs. The type will also be changed. I will change the fitness test that I will do after the pyramid sessions each week. The PEP that I have designed is one that I think will improve my overall fitness the most and also improve the skills that I need as a football player. It will start with a 5 minute jog. This jog will warm up my muscles so that they are not too stiff to stretch otherwise I will increase the chances of a ripped or torn muscle. After the jog I will move on to my stretches. They will be thoroughly carried out so not to allow any muscle injury whatsoever can occur. The stretches are one of the most important parts of the PEP and must be done with care and thought. If these are not done correctly than I will run the chance of pulling or tearing a muscle. The Pyramid Session starts by running the maximum amount of lengths you are wishing to do and then gradually working your way down until there are no more lengths to complete. In between lengths you are required to do exercises. For example, if I was planning to do 16 lengths I would do 16 lengths then a chosen exercise. After the exercise you then do 15 lengths then the exercise, then 14 lengths then a exercise and so on until there are no more lengths to complete. This Pyramid Session will progress throughout the 6 weeks of the PEP. Week 1 I will be doing 10 lengths, Week 2 and 3 I will be doing 12 lengths, Week 4 and 5 I will do 14 lengths and for the final week I will do 16 lengths. As the weeks progress an overload is created which will help me improve my fitness. The Warm Up For my warm up I will be doing a 5 minute jog around the All Weather pitch. The warm up is to warm the muscles up before stretching so I do not pull a muscle. I will time myself and be sure not to strain myself as this too could result in a pulled muscle if not careful. The Leg Exercises Squats, Burpees, Switch Overs, Star Jumps These exercises will build up my leg muscles and allow me to put more power into a shot or long pass. These exercises will build up the strength and power in my legs and will allow me to hit a ball further and this will improve my skill as a football player. I have done more leg exercises than arm and body exercises because I feel that my legs are needed more on a football pitch. The Body Exercises Sit Ups, Crunches The body exercises that I will do will allow me to build up my middle body muscles and will help me to become stronger and flexible in that area. This will help me when I play football because I will be able to adjust the middle part of my body easier and this will help me when I am playing. The Arm Exercises Bench Press, Press Ups By doing these arm exercises it will improve my upper body strength and this will make it easier to shrug off opponents when challenging for a ball in a game. The exercises will build up the muscles in my arms and this can help when taking a throw-in. The Cool Down For the cool down I will do a light jog and then stretch. The cool down is to prevent lactic acid from settling in the muscles and producing cramps. This is just as important as the warm up and is needed to prevent injury after the PEP. Stretches Hamstring- I would sit on the ground then bend over front wards and touch the top of my shin, I would hold this for 10 seconds. Then I would sit up rest and then bend over front wards again only this time touching the toes rather than the shin. Quads- I would stand and balance myself against a wall with one arm then I would grab the left leg bend it backwards so the foot is touching my bum and hold for 10 seconds. Then I would stop rest and change legs. Groin Stretch- I would sit on the ground and put the soles of each foot together in a yoga sort of position. Then slowly put pressure on the inside of each leg to stretch the groin. Upper Arm- Place one arm in front of me and place the other arm underneath the arm that is held out and grab the shoulder. After this swap arms and do exactly the same. Hold each stretch for 10 seconds. Week 1 The warm up and the stretches went well and I then began my Pyramid Session. I had planned to do 10 lengths this week. I found that the Pyramid Session worked well. I completed the 10 lengths with ease but the exercises were quite challenging. At the end of all the lengths and exercises I found myself out of breath but I was pleased with the work I had done. I then went out onto the all weather pitch to do a 50 metre sprint. I did the sprint in 8.12 seconds which was a personal best. After the sprint I did a 5 minute jog and then stretched for 5 minutes. Evaluation I was very pleased with what I did this week but thought that I could handle more lengths than what I had done. The exercises that I did were quite demanding but I thought they would be easier to handle next week and was looking forward to the challenge. I was extremely pleased with the speed that I achieved in the 50 metre sprint and although it wasnt a huge amount of time I did beat my personal best. Week 2 This week I had set myself 12 lengths to do but I wasnt particularly worried about the task ahead. I started off with the 5 minute jog and a thorough stretch and then I began my Pyramid Session. The session went well again this week. Similar to last week I found that the exercises were again quite tough and challenging but the lengths were completed without much difficulty. After the Pyramid Session this week, I had set my self the throw/catch ball test. This was not physically challenging but I had to concentrate to get the 35 score that I got. This was not the best score I had ever had but I was pleased with the result. Evaluation I was again pleased with this week. The increase in lengths never really affected my performance this week. They were more challenging than the previous week but never caused a major problem throughout the session. The throw/catch ball test that I did was more about finding a rhythm and concentrating rather than a physical test. Week 3 After the initial warm up and stretch I moved onto another week of the 12 length Pyramid Session. This week it again never caused a huge problem but I was still tired towards the end of the session. The exercises still caused similar problems as they did in the first week and were tiring. It was this week when I began to feel an improvement in my fitness. After I completed the Pyramid Session I then went and did the muscular endurance test in the hotel foyer. My previous best at this test was 100 seconds but this week I nearly doubled that score with 190 seconds. I was extremely pleased with this result. At the end of the session I did a 10 minute cool down. Evaluation I found that the 12 lengths didnt pose too much of a problem for me this week and I was looking forward to the challenge of 14 lengths next week. I think that the exercises again provided a challenge for me and I began to feel the improvement in my fitness. I was extremely pleased with the score I achieved in the muscular endurance test. I think that I did well this week and was looking forward to the next few weeks ahead. Week 4 Due to a Dentist appointment I was unable to complete the regime at school. As a result I set up a training course on a football field behind my house and carried out my session to the best of my ability taking the environment and lack of equipment into condition. I worked hard for 1 hour and was pleased with the workout I had. Week 5 This week was my first attempt in school of attempting the 14 lengths I had set. Firstly, I did the warm up and stretches then got started with the Pyramid Session. It began like the others had but towards the end I found that this session was a lot more tiring than the previous weeks. At the end my legs were aching and I was really tired. I had created the overload and felt the affect. Although I was tired I was pleased with the task I had done and was looking to the week ahead. The test this week was a standing broad jump. I managed to get a score of 1 metre 52 centimetres. I was quite pleased with the score although it was not a personal best. After the test I went outside where I did a 5 minute jog and stretched off to avoid cramped muscles. Evaluation I was pleased with the effort that I put in today and could feel a definite improvement in my fitness. I thought that 14 lengths were very challenging and along with the leg, arm and middle body exercises produced a Pyramid Session which would challenge me. The standing broad jump that I did was not spectacular but I was pleased with the result. Week 6 For this week I was supposed to do 16 lengths, but because I missed week 4 I decided that I would carry on with 14 lengths. I went outside and did the warm up followed by the stretches then went inside to carry out the Pyramid Session. The 14 lengths were challenging but I felt an improvement in my fitness and they were easier to complete than the lengths last week. The test for my final week was a repeat of the throw/catch ball test. I carried it out in the Sports Hall and beat the score I had gotten previously. I got a score of 33, beating the score of week 2 and equalling my personal best. Evaluation I was pleased with the work that I had done in my final week. I found that the 14 lengths in the Pyramid Session were easier to complete than the previous week. I was pleased with the level of my fitness and was pleased with the score I achieved in the throw/catch ball test. Final Evaluation Throughout my PEP I have seen my overall fitness gradually increase from week to week. I would definitely say the regime has been a success and recommend it to people wishing to improve their fitness. The Pyramid Session provides a challenge from week to week and the exercises between the lengths make it a very demanding regime. I was pleased with the work that the exercises did and at the end of the 6 week program saw an improvement in my leg muscles, middle and upper body strength. I am extremely pleased with the improvement and success that the PEP has had.

Special Needs Children in the UK

Special Needs Children in the UK Special Needs Children Introduction The essay will examine a number of polices and initiatives that have received attention from the UK government. There have been changes in the policies surrounding the country’s curriculum. Issues surrounding this policy reform will be examined in detail. Current trends in education policy have promoted inclusion. This means that children with special needs have been incorporated into mainstream classes. Post compulsory schooling is also top on the education agenda. Besides this, recent education policy has been surrounding issues of school’s marketability. All these issues will be examined and the subsequent impact of those policies given. (Besley and Ghatak, 2003) Inclusion of special needs children Before the introduction of polices around this area, there was an eight year old girl; Victoria Climbie who died under mysterious circumstances. There was therefore a need to make sure that interests of all children were safeguarded regardless of their nature. (Gipps and Stobart, 1997) The main Act passed surrounding the issue of inclusion was the ‘Every Child Matters Policy’ in the year 2004. The purpose of this Act was to ensure that all the children in the UK were adequately encompassed in the education regardless of the fact that they had special needs. It was passed with five aims; Protecting the social and economic well being of the child Ensuring that all children contribute positively to society Ensuring that children received enjoyed good health Ensuring that children were safe Find out how our expert essay writers can help you with your work The spirit of the Act is that most children should have the opportunity to learn together whether or not they have disabilities. Most of them had been placed in special schools where they were rather isolated. Most of them lacked the ability to socialize and fit into the rest of the world. But through inclusion into mainstream schools, children with special needs have been able to improve their social skills. Psychologists also claim that a mixed environment is more conducive for children’s learning rather than when they are isolated. Their self esteem also receives a boost because thy feel that they are good enough to learn with other children.(Blanden Gregg and Machin, 2005) Benefits of inclusive education are not only felt by those children with special needs alone, they are also beneficial to normal children. This is because they learn that children with special needs are not so different from them. It eliminates the fears and stereotypes that come are associated with special needs children. (Gipps and Stobart, 1997) However, there is a need for teachers to prepare well for these special needs children. Failure to do so will result in poor adjustments by the child and surrounding classmates. It is also the responsibility of all stakeholders in the field of education to readjust their systems such that children with special needs can fit in well. It has been emphasised time and time again that mainstream schools should not expect children with special needs to adjust to their programme. Instead, the opposite should occur.(Machin and Vignoles, 2004) This policy has increased the availability of resources towards the education of children with special needs. It has also exposed children with special needs to better teaching facilities and skills. Consequently, it has improved their performance and contributed to the attainment of their potential. (Besley and Ghatak, 2003) Marketability in schools In the early nineties, it had been found that most children above the age of sixteen had low retention rates. This normally applied to those who came from low income households. Most of them would drop out and join the market without ample knowledge to make it out there. Even those who were encouraged to stay ended up performing very poorly because they seemed not to have an interest in schooling. There results were clear evidence that something needed to be done to increase their numbers. It was found that in the late eighties, close to sixty seven percent of the students who sat for the GCSE exam got marks that fell below the A to C grade. It was therefore necessary to introduce a system that would encourage students to tackle the whole journey and complete it. (Kingdon and Stobart, 1998) You can get expert help with your essays right now. Find out more The government introduced the Education Reform Act of 1988; it was designed to encourage schools to admit more students. The government started funding schools directly rather than through the use of local government. Schools that admitted more students were liable to greater funds than those with lesser numbers. Parents were also given the choice of deciding which schools they would like to take their children. This was one of the most evolutionary policies because it allowed them to make the choice for themselves. (Gibbons, 2005) Alongside choice, parents were also given the choice of deciding who would be representing them in school boards. Schools were expected to be more accountable to parents by giving them more information about themselves. In light of those changes, the government introduced league tables. These were publications of students’ results in the newspapers highlighting the performance of those at the age of sixteen. It provided information about the best schools so that other non performing schools would be encouraged to improve. (Le Grand, 1993) Overly, the reform was aimed at making schools market themselves. They were not allowed to fall out or fail in the creation of a good market standing. As the years went by schools have a sort of quasi market in which their fate lies in their own hands (Gibbons, 2005) The main impact of this reform is that overall retention rates in the education system have increased. There have been more students completing their education and many of them are pursuing higher education. However, when one examines this issue critically, they realise the highest number of students getting retained in good schools come from privileged backgrounds. When schools market themselves, parents with higher income sources are able to afford the best schools because it is very likely that those very schools have the resources and personnel to achieve good performance. Consequently, this policy has brought about some elements of inequality in the UK education system. Most people from low income backgrounds lack the ability to afford good schools as seen from statistics. This has brought about social-economic disadvantages among members of the education community.(Le Grand, 1993) Despite these social problems, one must not ignore the facts on the ground; the number of students passing the final exams has increased. Whether some of them are coming from certain backgrounds does not undermine the increase in numbers. Centralisation During the early nineties, the UK realised that there was inadequate literacy levels among members of the adult population. Research conducted in this area revealed that this field needed some improvements. Surveys were done among young adults and older ones. The older ones were found to have average rates of literacy. However, the younger adults were found to fall below average levels compared to other countries who participated in the surveys. (Machin and McNally, 2004) These were the reasons why the UK government decided to change its curriculum. It created a national curriculum that was common to all schools. This was necessary in order to ascertain the same standards were maintained throughout all schools within the country. It was also done to ensure that those standards were high such that students could attain the high levels of literacy. The UK decided not to leave the duties and responsibilities of making a curriculum to specific schools but has introduced a national curriculum. These changes applied to students between the ages of seven to sixteen years.(Vignoles and Machin, 2004) Centralisation in the UK education sector has also taken the form of National Numeracy and Literacy classes. These are classes that are supposed to be taught on a daily basis to students in primary schools. They are meant to reinforce good literacy skills. Rigorous methods of assessment for these methods are also available from the government. Its main aim was to ensure that children leaving primary school had basic literacy skills. Tests were also conducted to ensure that students can adhere to requirements. Students are expected to sit for tests at the ages of 16, 14, 11, and 7 corresponding to key stages 4, 3, 2 and one. (Besley and Ghatak, 2003) The impact of this reform was that parents became more aware about what their children are learning. On top of this, nationalisation of the curriculum has the ability to standardise teaching processes. In the past, the education sector in the UK has had serious problems in recruiting competent and intelligent teachers. This was as a result of the negative mentality associated with the teaching profession (most bright students think it is below them); most teachers may not be very efficient in the teaching process. They therefore require some sort of guide to help them in determining what the right and wrong materials for teaching are. This was the reason why some of them were not choosing the right areas to address. A national curriculum is therefore an aid to teachers who may otherwise not know exactly what to teach.(Machin and McNally, 2004) Find out how our expert essay writers can help you with your work A survey done during 2004 in four hundred schools implementing the national curriculum shed some light on the impact of this policy. It has shown that attainment of literacy has greatly improved and children have better knowledge. However, these schools that showed the highest levels were the ones that observed strict adherence to stipulated requirements. (Hoxby, 2003) Admission into fields of higher education During the nineties, the UK government realised that there are few people who pursue higher education. This could be attributed to the fact that most of them had not done so well in their GCSE exam and therefore felt no need to continue. Some of the people who made the choice not to pursue higher education ended up joining vocational schools. This is not such a bad thing when results emerging from it are capable of earning those students respectable jobs in the market. But this was not the case, most students attending vocational training were not able to get good jobs and this left a lot to be desired in the field of education. (Bradley, 2001) One policy that was passed in response to this need was the improvement of Vocational training. Since UK realised that there were substantial members from student bodies who preferred this system, then they decided to improve it. The government has focused on making vocational training more professional and lucrative in the job market. This has been achieved through introduction of the National Vocational Qualification which was designed to make this field more streamlined. The policy introduced the issue of apprenticeship where students could attend regular classes but at the same time practice their skills at a work place for a period of three years. This would go a long way in ensuring that students who complete vocational training are highly qualified and have adequate capability to meet the demand of the highly competitive labour market.(Dearden, 2002) Another aspect of policy within the UK that deals with encouragement of students to join higher education is the issue of Education Maintenance Allowance. This policy was introduced in order to encourage students coming from low income households to continue with higher education. This was a fee given to students between the ages of sixteen and nineteen who came from families that received low incomes. Homes that qualified had to be below a certain criteria designed by the government. The government realized that even if the quality of vocational schools had been improved, this was not enough to increase the numbers of students coming from poor homes. The allowance is continuously increased when students improve their performance thus encouraging them to keep up with attendance and to perform well.(Hoxby, 2003) You can get expert help with your essays right now. Find out more These reforms have had several effects on the education system in the UK. First of all, maintenance allowance has been very successful. A survey done on the year 2004 showed that there are 4.5 percent more students who continue onto higher education as a result of the introduction of an allowance. Besides this, it was found that retention rates increased to seven percent among males in their second nature. The research shows that most of these students were hindered from participating in higher education because students had insecurities about sources of funding. (Hansen and Vignoles, 2005) However, the vocational policies passed have not been very effective in bridging the gap between the academically qualified students and students who have passed through vocational training. The problem with this policy is that is has undergone too many reforms, consequently, employers are not aware of the exact curriculum that students follow within those vocational schools. Employers shun students who come from vocational schools because they believe that these students are the weak ones who could not qualify for other formal education systems. Some employers even prefer workers without any qualifications at all. The government should therefore focus on other more productive policies.(Chubb and Moe, 1990) Conclusion Education policy in the UK is constantly evolving. The most promising of these policies is that of inclusion of special needs children into mainstream schools. Vocational training policies have not been effective in encouraging students to pursue higher education. However, introduction of a centralised curriculum has improved performance. Similarly, introduction of quasi markets in education have also been highly successful.(Dixit, 2002) Reference: Besley, T. and M. Ghatak (2003): Incentives, Choice, and Accountability in the Provision of Public Services; Oxford Review of Economic Policy, Vol. 19, pp. 235-249 Blanden, J., P. Gregg and S. Machin (2005): Educational Inequality and Intergenerational, Mobility, in Machin, S. and A. Vignoles (eds.) What’s the Good of Education?; The Economics of Education in the United Kingdom, Princeton University Press Bradley, S. et al (2001): School Choice, Competition and the Efficiency of Secondary Schools in England; European Journal of Operational Research, No. 135, pp 527-544 Chubb, J and T. Moe (1990): Politics, Markets and UK’s Schools; The Brookings Institution Dearden, L. et al (2002): The Returns to Academic and Vocational Qualifications in Britain; Bulletin of Economic Research, No. 54, pp 249-274 Dixit, A. (2002): Incentives and Organizations in the Public Sector; Journal of Human Resources, No. 37, pp.696-727 Gibbons, S. et al (2005): Choice, Competition and Pupil Achievement; forthcoming Centre for Economics of Education Discussion Paper, No. 20, pp. 27 Gipps, C. and G. Stobart (1997): Assessment: A Teachers Guide to the Issues; Hodder and Stoughton Publishers Hansen, K. and A. Vignoles (2005): The United Kingdom Education System in an International Context, in Machin, S. and A. Vignoles (eds.) what’s the Good of Education?; The Economics of Education in the United Kingdom, Princeton University Press Hoxby, C. (2003): The Economics of School Choice, Chicago University Press Kingdon, M. and G. Stobart (1998): GCSE Examined; Falmer Press Le Grand, J. (1993): Quasi-markets and social policy; Macmillan Machin, S. and S. McNally (2004): The Literacy Hour; Centre for the Economics of Education Discussion, Paper 43 Machin, S. and A. Vignoles (2004): Educational Inequality: The Widening Socio-Economic Gap; Fiscal Studies, No.25, pp 107-28

The Positouch System :: essays research papers

The POSitouch System   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Convention and Group Sales   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sunday, April 06, 1997 POSitouch The POSitouch system was conceived in 1982, by the Ted and Bill Fuller, owners of the Gregg's Restaurant chain. They were looking to increase the efficiency of there restaurants through the use of computer technology. During there search they found systems but none meeting there total needs. That is why the Fullers created the company, (R.D.C) Restaurant Data Concepts. RDC keeps developing better and more efficient equipment to be used in the food service industry.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ADVANTAGES  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  DISADVANTAGES 1.) Timely information, and speeds operations. 1.) People will become dependent   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   on technology. So when it fails they will   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2.) Tighter labor controls.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   probably not be trained or prepared to be   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   with out it. 3.) No need to hire or pay a bookkeeper.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2.) Takes time to train people to work   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   efficiently on POSitouch. 4.) Calculates food costs and menu mix.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  3.) POSitouch is expensive to the small   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  5.) Tighter controls over orders taken. business owner. The smallest system   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Cuts down on free meals waiters give out. that they have installed cost under   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   $10,000. 6.) Can order (via modem) and keep track of inventory. 7.) Built-in modem allows technical support via modem, and on line access to reports available at anytime, even historical reports..  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   8.) Sales trend analysis. 9.) Credit Card authorization with draft capture.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  10.) Easy to customize, to meet the needs of many different types of operations. 11.) Increased speed means, increased turnover. Overall, I feel that POSitouch is well worth the initial expense. It should be looked at as an investment, saving time, and money in all areas needing tight controls. This management tool has been shown to cut labor, and food costs in many food service establishments, not to mention the speed of the system, which could easily increase turnover.

George Meade :: History

George Meade Do you know who was the general for the Second Battle of Bull Run? Everyone knows what the Second Battle of Bull Run is but who was the general? Some people even know that the North won that battle. Most people do not know that General George Meade defeated General Lee at that battle. General George Mead accomplished much during wartime. General George Meade had many accomplishments during wartime. First of all, he defeated General Lee at the Second Battle of Bull Run. Why would not General Meade crush General Lee at this battle and end the war there? Facts say that heavy fog and rain forced Meade to stop. Likewise, on June 1, !863 a surprise encounter forced his troops into the Battle of Gettysburg, the greatest battle on American soil. This battle came about when General Lee's army needed shoes. The two forces met here on accident and fought to a victory for the North. Lee acknowledged his defeat and retreated to Virginia. Not only did Meade serve in the Civil War, but also served in the Mexican War. He served in the battles of Palo Alto, Monterey, and Veracruz. During these he served under General Zachory Taylor. To sum up, General George Meade accomplished many things during his time at war. Each of General George Meade's accomplishments had one major effect on how life is today. To start, if Meade had not defeated Lee at the Second Battle of Bull Run the war would not have started off positively for the North. This was important because the soldiers gained their confidence when they won this battle. If the North would have lost the entire war the U.S. would be two different countries. Secondly, Meade's defeat of Lee at the accidental Gettysburg. This was a battle that turned the war around and gave the North the advantage. This was the North's first victory in a long time. Finally, if the U.S. had not have won the Mexican War, Where Meade served as a soldier, the U.S. would not have gained the southwest portion of the country. This ,as you remember, was where the gold rush took place that caused the country to spread out over the land. As has been shown, Meade's accomplishments had many effects on how life is lived today. There are many things that would be different if George Meade had never lived.

Aims, Methods and Success of the use of Propaganda in Two Single Party

Compare and contrast the aims, methods and success of the use of propaganda in two single party states. Essentially, both Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler had the same fanatic desire to make their nations â€Å"Great† and gain considerable respect worldwide which would be determined by their economic might. Both leaders used various means of propaganda to achieve their ultimate aims. To what extent they were successful, however, is a debatable issue. Hitler could not achieve the solid control over the masses which he had, if he did not have the help of the so called powerful propaganda machine. Propaganda had been vital in winning the Nazis support that helped them come into power. As Goebbels stated in 1934 â€Å"Propaganda was [their] sharpest weapon in conquering the state, and remains [their] sharpest weapon in maintaining and building up the state†. The reason why Nazis relied on propaganda was first to keep the population contented and second win support for particular policies. Another rather ambitious aim of theirs was to indoctrinate the people with their Weltanschauung or in other words they were aiming to turn the population into committed members of their Volksgemeinschaft (a community whose members would be Aryan, genetically healthy, socially useful and politically committed to the regime). Nazi propaganda’s purpose was to influence people and to literally brainwash them without them even realizing it . Another aim was to ensure that the message delivered is so simple that even those without any education are able to understand it. It was carefully thought out to control and impose Nazi ideology. Hitler’s aim was to influence the nations spiritually on the behalf of the State and gain devoted followers on his side. He ... ...ngthen if not necessarily to convert millions to Fascism. It is a fact that Mussolini’s dictatorship was more conservative that that of Hitler’s reign of hostility and terror. Nevertheless, both leaders used propaganda extensively to promote their ideologies and policies. Hitler on one hand relied mostly on the media and other means of communication to propagate wherever and whenever it is possible, whereas Mussolini focused mainly on propagating in schools. Hitler’s propaganda was much more aggressive as it involved violence and thus differentiating his means from that of Mussolini’s. Last but not least, both leaders did achieve success to certain level trough propaganda in the sense that it increased popularity for the two regimes, Nazism and Fascism. Yet, there were many who opposed them secretly or not and thus arguing the extend to which they were successful.

Smartphones Are an Essential Part of Society

Smartphones are an Essential Part of Society Smartphones are helping people to be more efficient, but with some side effects. â€Å"Many colleges and universities are further pushing the boundaries of services that can be delivered on smartphones† (Gordon 2007). Even though smartphones are making the human race complacent and dependent, these mobile devices are useful tools because they make life easy and keep one organized in a fast-paced world. â€Å"Wake Forest has a MobileU (mobileu. wfu. du) pilot program focusing on mobile messaging, mobile access to information such as calendars, campus announcements, and real-time location of the campus shuttle bus† (Gordon 2007). If one were to only read, the Korean Herald, one would believe that everybody who has a smartphone; does not like to get out of their pajamas or leave the house. â€Å"The smart device boom may be a blessing for many who now have instant access to everything from emails to the nearest restaurant servi ng their favorite foods, but smart products also are making electronics companies increasingly lazy† (Herald 2011).Another example that shows that smartphones are making people lazy and too dependent is stated in, †The trend is partly blamed on technology making it easier for lazy staff to email a colleague rather than walk over to see them† (Express 2012). Smartphones are making people lazy and too dependent; they are useful tools because phones make a person’s life easier.For example, sending an Army SPOT Report message, a concise narrative report of essential information covering tactical events or conditions, requires a soldier to first enter a 12-digit date-time group and a six-digit grid coordinate, a task that takes up time in a critical situation. Smartphones, which have their own built-in clocks and Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers, automatically populate those fields in the SPOT Reports and other Army messages that require a time stamp and precise location information (Brewin 2011).Another example that shows that smartphones make a person’s life easier is â€Å"Connecting Soldiers application will help soldiers communicate in languages other than English, McCarthy said, outputting translation audibly through the smartphone speaker and by text on its screen. The project already has an Arabic language application, and he would like to find an affordable application that can translate Pashto and Dari, the main languages of Afghanistan† (Brewin 2011). Smartphones are a useful tool because these handheld devices help people to stay organized. An individual can do almost anything with a smartphone.Today with all the applications to download, it is easy to stay on track. Individuals can you use the calendar function to keep their appointments and send reminders about up and coming events. Smartphones also allow for checking emails and surfing the web. Smartphones also let people play games. The days of the old paper organizer are gone forever! Users of smartphones and even those that do not have these handheld devices can appreciate them. Although smartphones are making people lazy and too dependent, smartphones are useful tools for two main reasons.First, smartphones make a one’s life easier. Nevertheless, most importantly, smartphones help people to stay organized.References Brewin, Bob (2011). Army confirms battlefield smartphones tests began in December. Computers–Information Science And Information Theory Gordon, Rachel Singer (2007). Information Tomorrow: Reflections on Technology and the Future of Public and Academic Libraries. Medford, NJ, USA: Information Today, Inc. , doi: 10492819. P. 31 The Express. (2012) â€Å"Office work ‘makes you fat and lazy† THE KOREA HERALD, (2011): â€Å"IT industry too dependent on smart devices†

How Technology Has Change Our Lives Essay

Throughout the years technology is in constantly changing. It’s almost impossible just to think how different the technology was. I noticed how rapidly the technology change in our classrooms. For example, a video recorder or a side projector is almost obsolete now in days. We can now rely on most efficient technology. There are some good sides to this, for example we are no longer held captive by the prime-time schedules of a handful of networks. Now, with cable, internet and DVRs, we don’t have to wait for our favorite shows. Now we can go back and watch an entire seasons that we may have missed the first time around Social media has been for me the most important change; because, we depend on them as a way of communicate nowadays. Websites like twitter and Facebook have given birth to the new concept of social media marketing. From chat rooms, Messenger, Myspace and social dating has changed the way we are communicating, Instead of sending letters to respective destinations, it is very easy to send an email which will be received instantly. Along with these social sites, the way that people put themselves in the internet has now more impact in others than it did ten years ago. I think we underestimate the power of social media. Now days whatever you put on any social site is for the entire world, and is likely to be for a long time in the future. Family, friends, new bosses and co-workers, potential clients and business partners, prospective love interests they’re all checking you out. How you present yourself in the province of social media can change your life in ways you never thought possible for better and for worse. Read more:Â  Technology Changed Our Lives

Cis 500 Case Study 1

Case Study 1: The Big Data Challenges Richard Lall Dr. Kim Anthony CIS500010VA016-1128-001 Info Syst Decision-Making October 28, 2012 Judge how Volvo Car Corporation integrated the cloud infrastructure into its networks. Volvo split from Ford in in 2010. In doing so they needed to create their own standalone IT environment and at the same time improve its business intelligence capabilities and operational efficiency (Microsoft, 2012).In a world where many consumers value smart technology in coexistence with automotive engineering, Volvo has created vehicles with hundreds of sensors and CPU’s embedded throughout the car (I-CIO, 2011). â€Å"Besides vehicle data gathered by sensors in and on the vehicle, we also collect visual information from four cameras. This gives us a good view of what happened in the cab and on the road at any given point in time† (Volvo Group, 2011).From the central locking system to the on board camera’s, data is being captured for use with in the vehicle and then transmitted via the cloud back to Volvo (I-CIO, 2011). Once data is received at Volvo it is streamed to a centralized analysis hub (the Volvo Data Warehouse), alongside data from customer relationship management systems (CRM), dealership systems, and product development and design systems (I-CIO, 2011). Once data is retrieved at the Volvo Data Warehouse it is archived where it can be retrieved and analyze or manipulated by Volvo employees.Through the cloud Volvo is massing large amount of rich data and this is providing them with the opportunity to â€Å"turn that resource into something that no only helps build better cars, but also helps the customer have a better experience [through their interaction and above all safety]† (I-CIO, 2011). Explain how Volvo Car Corporation transforms data into knowledge. Utilizing the Volvo data Warehouse to splice data together Volvo is able to perform analysis on various vehicle aspects. Having this abundance of dat a quicker allows Volvo to be pre-warned about potential issues pertaining to mechanical problems (I-CIO, 2011).Becoming educated on vehicle issues early in the car’s lifecycle allows Volvo to spot flaws in vehicle parts allowing them modify the manufacturing process to correct the issue (I-CIO, 2011). By applying â€Å"well-honed lean processes†, Volvo is able limit the number of part defects that reach the consumer (I-CIO, 2011). Instead of 500,000 units being impacted the issue can be stopped at the first 1000, leaving a majority of customer experience positive and brand name intact (I-CIO, 2011). â€Å"Another area where large-scale data capture and analysis is driving improvements is in safety† (I-CIO, 2011).At the safety center in in Sweden the company is performing detailed forensic examinations on Volvo’s that have been in various accidents (I-CIO, 2011). Using these examinations, Volvo can detect and analyze the timing of airbags, timing of brakin g system and weather conditions. Post analysis results allow Volvo to create software and system updates that can be loaded onto consumer vehicles ensuring that vehicles will perform better in accidents (I-CIO, 2011). Identify the real-time information systems implemented and evaluate the impact of these implementations.Post the Ford break-up in 2010, Volvo had a unique opportunity to implement a new standalone IT infrastructure. Pre implementation Volvo sought to improve data management. The company relied on IT personnel to design and generate data reports, which was slow and in-efficient (Microsoft, 2012). â€Å"Also, there [was] no central location for storing reports, so information often is distributed by sending a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet or other attachment in an email message. This means distribution is limited, and the information can be hard to find† (Microsoft, 2012).To address the various issues of quality and efficiency Volvo deployed a â€Å"solution based on Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Business Intelligence data management software and related BI technologies, including Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 and Microsoft Office 2010. One of the big reasons for choosing Microsoft is that Microsoft products are designed to work well together† (Microsoft, 2012). The impact of this implementation led to reduce costs and enhanced collaboration across various Volvo business units and departments. Argue how the Big Data strategy gives Volvo Car Corporation a competitive advantage.Being able to see into future is still impossible but using the knowledge we gain to today to make better decisions so tomorrow is better is exactly the advantage that Volvo has attained. Their Big Data strategy has allowed them analyze a variety of aspects of vehicle and consumer coexistence. From specific parts to safety Volvo is now empowered to create better overall vehicles not just initially but throughout the life of the vehicle. Big Data gives Volvo a height ened sense of collaboration from design to manufacturing to the dealership, thus giving them an edge over their competition. Works Cited I-CIO. 2011, January). Converting data into business value at volvo. Retrieved from http://www. i-cio. com/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/8833/i-cio_Case_Study_Volvo. pdf Microsoft. (2012). Bi solution boosts operational efficiency and reduces costs at volvo car corporation . Retrieved from http://www. microsoft. com/casestudies/Case_Study_Detail. aspx? CaseStudyID=710000000271 Volvo Group. (2011). Collecting driving data to improve safety. Retrieved from http://www. volvogroup. com/group/global/en-gb/researchandtechnology/transport_society/enhancing_safety/collecting_data_for_safety/Pages/collecting_data_for_safety. aspx