How Culture Defines the Organization Campus Christian...

They say that first impressions are lasting impressions. Although it seems first impressions of other people are quite accurate, it can be misleading in cases such as in organizations and clubs. Many organizations are associated with stereotypes which could be the sole reason that contributes to the ‘first impression’. Church-based organizations such as Campus Christian Fellowship (CCF) have stereotypes; many of which are negative. Yet, actually participating in the organization, many will find the culture of the organization has a very pleasant aura that exposes some stereotypes that were ‘assigned’ to the organization are not true at all. CCF is an organization that is not restricted to a specific religious denomination and serving on the campuses of four colleges in North Carolina. The purpose of CCF is to â€Å"make disciples on campus who impact the world.† The culture of CFF greatly helps achieve the purpose in different ways. Because of the a larming number of stereotypes of church-based organizations, CCF refutes many misconceptions by managing the stereotypes by the aspects of their culture such as beliefs, traditions and behaviors. A part of the culture of CCF is to go to Bible studies on Mondays and going to Overflow, which is a branch of CCF, on Wednesdays. In Bible studies, male and female students on campus actively study Scripture and have reflections of the words of God. In Overflow, members of CFF and other interested students praise and worship God and discuss

Case Work and Social Work - 2978 Words

Case work is not only the basic practice in professional Social Work but rather, a common practice followed by all. The traditional definition defines case work as â€Å"a method of helping individuals through a one-on-on relationship’’. Every individual trained or untrained indulges in case work. The difference is made by theoretical understanding and professional ethics, practices involved in professional case work. Mary Richmond in 1915 explains casework as â€Å"the art of doing different things for and with different people by cooperating with them to achieve at one and the same time their own and society betterment.† Social Case Work can also be defined as â€Å"an art in which knowledge of the science of human relations and skill in relationship†¦show more content†¦He mostly remains absent at the coaching classes and the school as well. The only source of income for the family is the lemon business of his mother on which they have been depend ent. His Father was working as a rikshwa puller in Yogeshwari area and that point of time his mother was a homemaker, but after his father’s death, his mother started a lemon business in Matunga Road. Father passed away four years back. The client has no serious disease ,but he has some kind of wounds on his body. When, i asked him about the wounds, he told that he has got these wounds while he was playing cricket. Then, i had taken him to a docter and he got cured within fifteen days. His mother usually comes to meet him at the of every month. CASE WORK PROCESS- STAGES INVOLVED: Case work processes entail different steps including: †¢ Social Study. †¢ Social Assessment. †¢ Casework Help. †¢ Termination. †¢ Evaluation. SOCIAL STUDY: Social study is a systematic study of the client and gaining an understanding of his situation through interaction and frequent visits. †¢ Age: 12 years. †¢ Sex: Male. †¢ Educational qualification: pursuing standard 6th. †¢ Health condition: no serious disease. †¢ Personality features: reserved and withdrawn. †¢ Family constellation: one sister and his mother. Family Constellation- SL.NO NAME AGE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CLIENT EDUCATION OCCUPATION 1. Ganesh Kamble 12years client PursuingShow MoreRelatedThe Social Work Case Study2703 Words   |  11 PagesRunning Head: SOCIAL WORK CASE STUDY 1 SOCIAL WORK CASE STUDY 2 SOCIAL WORK CASE STUDY Name Institution Date Client System John Marcel aged 47 and his wife Alexia aged 39 have been one of my most fascinating neighbors for about fifteen years. The couple has five children, of whom two were in college, one in high-school, andRead MoreSocial Work Case Study Essay1581 Words   |  7 Pageseasily accommodated. In the event, a widow was able bodied she would be placed in a workhouse to provide for herself and risk possibly being separated from her children. According to Jansson (2009), though able bodied individuals were forced to work in workhouses as part of their contribution to the system, The Elizabeth poor law was in fact a beneficial policy, as it provided assistance for individuals in need (Jansson, 2009). However, given the fact that Ms. Apple is African American, the lawsRead MoreCase Study in Social Work Practice2105 Words   |  9 Pagesidentify a case I have been involved in and have continuously had to assess whilst on placement. It will refer to a child who will be identified as A. A is a y oung carer and has only recently returned home after being removed from his mothers care due to her having a substance abuse problem and mental health concerns. I will link the legal framework that was relevant to this case study and describe actions taken. Additionally these actions will demonstrate the application of social work methods andRead MoreHypothetical Case Study - Social Work4882 Words   |  20 PagesCase Study - Adolescent Male Geneva Giles Oakland University Dr. Scott Smith Social Work 311 June 13, 2010 Introduction Role of Person in the Environment theory in Understanding Social Problems Sexual Assault and Homeless Male Adolescent Sexual assault overview Homeless/Runaway differences Paper Intent and Overview This paper will present a hypothetical case study of a 17-year-old African American male who has been referred for social work services after being a forced recipient partner duringRead MoreEthical Dilemma In The Social Work Case Study786 Words   |  4 PagesThe social work profession is rooted in a set of core values and principles which are applied as standards in determining ethical judgements. This paper will explore an ethical dilemma and how utilizing the ethical decision making model can offer different resolutions. Joseph (1983) discussed how this ethical model â€Å"suggests a structure and a systematic process for inquiry into ethical issues that emerge in clinical practice and its organizational contexts.† Dilemma in Context Practice Setting TheRead MoreCase Study Management For Decades Throughout Social Work817 Words   |  4 Pagesin case management for decades throughout social work. Crisis intervention is just one form of interventions out of thirteen. Clinical case management involves 13 distinct activities, including engagement of the patient, assessment, planning, linkage with resources, consultation with families, collaboration with psychiatrists, patient psycheducation, and crisis intervention (Kanter, 1989). Even though Crisis management may have not been the correct invention for every situation in social work isRead MoreCase Study on Ethics and Dual Relationships in Social Work Essay1050 Words   |  5 PagesEthics Case Study: Juan S. The social worker in this case study worked at the ABC Children’s Wellness Center. An ESL teacher at a local elementary school referred Juan S. to her. Juan came to the center with his mother, Silvia. Before seeing Juan and his mother, the social worker called the ESL teacher who referred Juan to her to discuss the case. The teacher reported that Juan was showing little interest in classroom activities or his peers, and always seemed exhausted. He was irritable andRead MoreSocial Work Case Study- How I Applied Social Work Skills through Sessions with Mother and Son2562 Words   |  11 PagesIntroduction Being aware of oneself as a social worker is imperative if one plans to be an effective and competent social worker. There will be many incidents and situations social workers may chance upon in their professional work, which may present some difficulty concerning the next step to take in working with a client. Being aware is the first step. Background Information The family subset that will be explored in this paper is a mother and a son dyad that I worked with in my internshipRead MoreLaw For Social Work Practice : Adults And Carers Case Scenario2068 Words   |  9 Pages7SO004 Law for Social Work Practice: Adults and Carers Case Scenario Mrs Durant would be considered a vulnerable adult based on the guidance outlined in ‘No Secrets’ (Department of health (DH) 2000) due to her age, disability and her inability to take care of herself. Within safeguarding adults, no specific Law is currently implemented, which means each Local Authority (LA) will have their own policies that need to be adhered too. Social Work Intervention part 1: Current hospital admission PriorRead MoreTo Consider the Influence of Legislation in Relation to Social Care, the Case of Mary Who Has Been Diagnosed with Dementia Will Be Used to Explain How Legislation Is Used. Within Social Work, Law Is Very Important as It2851 Words   |  12 PagesUse the case study to illustrate your understanding of the influence of underpinning legislation in relation to how social care intervention could improve their quality of life. To consider the influence of legislation in relation to social care, the case of Mary who has been diagnosed with dementia will be used to explain how legislation is used. Within social work, law is very important as it is used to provide guidance and duties for the local authorities and professionals in how to proceed

Financial Consumer Protection free essay sample

The paper will also comprise of comprehensive information on laws and regulations relevant for consumer protection and discusses a number of challenges related to empirical analyses of financial consumer protection. 1. 1 INTRODUCTION 1. 2 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY Financial consumer protection is about ensuring a fair exchange between providers and consumers of financial services. A deliberate policy framework is necessary to counterbalance the inherent disadvantage of financial service consumers’ vis-a-vis the power, information, and resources of their providers. Consumer protection, in the broader sense, refers to the laws and regulations that ensure fair interaction between service providers and consumers. Government intervention and regulation in the area of consumer protection are justified on the basis of inherent information asymmetries and power imbalances in markets, with producers or service providers having more information about the product or service than the consumers. A consumer protection framework generally includes the introduction of greater ransparency and awareness about the goods and services, promotion of competition in the marketplace, prevention of fraud, education of customers, and elimination of unfair practices. Consumer protection frameworks in the financial service industry are evolving as products become more complex and a greater number of people rely on financial services. An effective consumer protection framework includes three complementary aspects. First, it includes laws and regulations governing relations between service providers and users and ensuring fairness, transparency and recourse rights. Second, it requires an effective enforcement mechanism including dispute resolution. Third, it includes promotion of financial literacy and capability by helping users of financial services to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to manage their finances. The recent crisis highlighted shortcomings in the existing consumer protection frameworks in high income countries and prompted a number of broad-ranging reforms. The crisis also made apparent the low levels of financial capability among users of financial services in developed countries. . 3 PROBLEM STATEMENT 1. To analyze the problems and challenges facing financial consumer protection in Kenya. 1. 4 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The objective of this study is: 1. To establish the importance of financial consumer protection especially in Kenya. 2. Provide information on financial consumer protection. 3. Suggest ways of improving and dealing with financial consumer protection. 4. Suggest ways of creating awareness of financial cons umer protection. 5. Estimate the relative use of different service providers by Kenyan financial consumers, so as to focus the analysis on the most important players and issues. 6. To establish Protection against deceptive and unfair trade practices. 1. 5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS OR HYPOTHESIS 1. What are factors affecting financial consumer protection? 2. What is the level of financial literacy in Kenya? 3. What are the ways of improving financial consumer protection? 4. What is the extent of financial consumer awareness and education? 5. What are the challenges facing financial consumer awareness? . What are trends in the financial sector? 1. 6 JUSTIFICATION It is quite evident that there are challenges facing financial consumers, the existing laws are in adequate for consumer protection and policies and laws need to be put in place to ensure: 1) Physical protection of the consumer. 2) Protection against deceptive and unfair trade practices. 3) Protection against all types of pollution. 4) Protection agains t the abuse of monopoly position and/or restrictive trade practices. 5) Protection of enjoying the financial consumer rights. . 0 LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK This literature review focuses on existing academic literature on financial consumer protection,consumer information, financial literacy and financial education. Existing academic literature on financial consumer protection spans law and economics, but is rather limited. One strand of literature derives from behavioral economics and is closely linked to financial literacy. Behavioral economics has often been used to examine consumer behavior and the reasons behind certain consumer choices. This strand of literature acknowledges that the approach of standard models in economics that is, rational consumers and competitive markets may not always hold in actuality. In the financial sector specifically, some studies have argued that consumers are subject to certain behavioral biases, including vulnerability to marketing such as being likely to take up offers that are framed in simple terms. Consumers may not be well-informed, they can get confused when they are presented with many alternatives, and can eventually make systematic mistakes, which could be exploited by providers. In this regard, even well-established and efficient disclosure requirements may not be sufficient. Hence they suggest developing financial market regulations based on behavioral models in which the underlying reasons of certain decisions by the households are investigated, rather than modeling the way in which rational households should make their decisions. Campbell (2006) suggests the use of financial literacy as an avenue of remedy, in addition to well-designed financial consumer protection regulations. Elliehausen (2010) argues that the results of behavioral research could be useful in designing effective regulations in the credit market. These research findings highlight the importance of financial literacy and disclosure requirements in mitigating information asymmetries in the market for financial products and services. The key challenge for the applied research going forward is to identify effective forms for disclosure. For credit products, evidence suggests that disclosing loan terms to customers can help reduce borrowing costs. Despite their importance, there is no universally accepted set of disclosure requirements (i. e. , which terms and conditions are to be disclosed and when, how information should be presented, etc. One approach used to address this issue is through a standardized format in which information is disclosed to consumers, which often includes plain language requirements. Other studies (Collins et al. , 2009, and FSD-Kenya, 2009) support this claim. For example, consumers prefer and better understand when they are quoted the dollar amount of payments and the number of months it will take them to pay off the loan, instead of the details of compounding. However, certain products are necessarily more complex and will require more information to be disclosed, though in the absence of financial iteracy, it is unlikely that this complex information will be understood by the consumer. Unfortunately systematic data on the levels of financial literacy and awareness of financial concepts remains limited. Policy papers focusing on the review of consumer protection and financial literacy indicate that there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to designing consumer protection and financial literacy policy. Financial literacy is low among the poor, especially in developing countries. There is evidence that individuals lack even the understanding of interest rates (Porteous, 2009; FSD-Kenya, 2009). In this respect, providing financial education to the poor to raise their financial capability and establishing better consumer financial protection regulations may turn out to be a better option. Indeed, there is evidence that disclosure requirements lowered microfinance interest rates significantly in countries with competitive microfinance markets. Financial literacy programs and disclosure requirements alone are not sufficient for ensuring good financial consumer protection regulations that correct for information asymmetries and market failures. Regardless of financial literacy levels, service providers, if left unchecked, often have incentives to take advantage of information asymmetries and adopt unfair selling practices that allow for quick and large gains in profits. Hence, fair treatment provisions are also of importance in this regard. While all of these are, in general, aimed at correcting the information asymmetries in the market for financial products and services, another aspect of financial consumer protection is the existence and accessibility of third-party recourse mechanisms. There is not much written on fair treatment practices and recourse mechanisms in the academic literature. The policy paper by Brix and McKee (2010), however, considers these two issues in the context of low-access environments. Brix and McKee (2010) caution the policymakers that fair treatment provisions should be designed in such a way so as not to deter access to financial services. They also suggest starting with a discussion of standards for internal dispute resolution mechanisms, which is more widely feasible than third-party recourse mechanisms. Two recent papers are particularly relevant for our research presented here. Rutledge (2010) provides a detailed analysis of financial consumer protection in banks and non-bank financial institutions in nine countries in Europe and Central Asia. In these transition economies, financial services have developed rapidly in recent years, presenting unique challenges. 3. 0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3. 1 INTRODUCTION In research design, there are two major methods of research. These are qualitative research and quantitative research. In quantitative research the aim is to determine the relationship between one thing (an independent variable) and another (a dependent or outcome variable) in a population. Quantitative research designs are either descriptive (subjects usually measured once) or experimental (subjects measured before and after a treatment). For an accurate estimate of the relationship between variables, a descriptive study usually needs a sample of hundreds or even thousands of subjects; an experiment, especially a survey, may need only tens of subjects. The estimate of the relationship is less likely to be biased if you have a high participation rate in a sample selected randomly from a population. In surveys, bias is also less likely if subjects are randomly assigned to treatments, and if subjects and researchers are blind to the identity of the treatments. In my esearch quantitative research method is implemented. Surveys are to be used to gather information from various sources. 3. 2 RESEARCH DESIGN The research design to be used in this study is a survey design. Direct consumer surveys and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) are to be used in the study to understand consumers’ own perceptions of their experience with different products and providers. 3. 3 SAMPLING The survey method is to be used in this study. A random sample of financial consumers and financial service providers and stakeholders are to be selected. 3. 4 DATA COLLECTION Data is to be collected using a semi-structured questionnaire served on respondents through drop and pick methods. The method was chosen because of time and cost. The exercise is to obtain core information and supplementary information is to be obtained through further probing of the respondents and by reading relevant publications of financial consumers and various markets such as capital and money markets. Face-to-face interviews with regulators, supervisory staff, financial service providers and their industry associations, consumer advocacy organizations and researchers is also to be used to collect data. Desk research on relevant laws, regulations, codes of conduct, institutions, and previous reports and research is to be used in collection of data. . 5 DATA ANALYSIS Data analysis is to be conducted using Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. Editing is to be undertaken before data analysis. It will involve Identification of relevant experiences from other countries, with a particular focus on measures to improve transparency, fair treatment, recourse, and consumer awareness and financial education. The analysis will also examine the interaction of financial sector laws and regulations with cross-cutting laws and regulations (e. g. , to promote competition or consumer protection across the entire economy) in different jurisdictions. 4. 0 FINDINGS Mass market financial services are growing at an impressive rate in Kenya, generating significant benefits for lower income consumers. Driving this expansion is a broad array of financial service providers. The financial sector regulators provide some consumer protections to the clients of regulated institutions, but such provisions vary by financial institution type and are incomplete and inconsistent across the market as a whole. There is no general or market wide consumer protection law or authority, and therefore users of informal financial service providers – 65% of the population lack legal protection entirely. As a result of the absence of an entity with market-wide jurisdiction, a comprehensive Kenyan approach to financial consumer protection and recourse has yet to find footing in policy or practice. A growing body of evidence from consumer research in Kenya suggests that the welfare of consumers is compromised by the lack of effective price disclosure and dispute resolution mechanisms, and by abusive practices. The findings of this confirm a wide range of practice around disclosure of the prices and conditions of different financial services. For example, loan prices are quoted using a bewildering array of pricing formulas. The large number and type of added fees and commissions adds to the confusion for consumers, especially those new to formal finance. The report addresses these variations in practice in detail, by financial service sector (e. g. , mobile payment service providers, banks, SACCOs, etc. ). The findings draw attention to the particular importance of improved transparency in mass market financial services. Financial services are inherently more complex than most goods or other, more tangible services. On the supply side, providers do not always provide clear information about their products through from the initial marketing and sales process to actual delivery of the service. On the demand side, many consumers that are new to formal finance and are challenged to learn a very different set of rules and structures from those used by the informal arrangements with which they are familiar. They find it difficult to comprehend the prices, key terms and conditions, and all the other details of formal contracts. This demand-side challenge is exacerbated when more than half of mass market consumers have limited numeracy skills. In these circumstances, consistent and effective disclosure is a necessary preventive measure. It can reduce up-front the types of confusion that can easily lead to problems – problems such as misunderstandings about prices, consequences of late payments, or conditions for payment of insurance claims. Standardisation of wording and formats also merits further investigation. When financial access is growing rapidly, as in Kenya, consumers should be able to learn a single set of rules of the game, rather than having to wrestle with different disclosure formats for different providers and products. 4. 0 SCHEDULE Prepare proposal by:1 Nov Complete literature review by:7 Nov Complete fieldwork by:15 Nov Complete analysis by: 1 Dec Give presentation on:3 Dec Complete final report by: 10 Jan 5. 0 CONCLUSION This analysis will present the first step in a systematic assessment of financial consumer protection across a large set of countries. Further refinements in methodology are necessary to better capture the effectiveness of the implementation of the existing financial consumer protection regulations. More importantly, a greater focus by regulators on monitoring compliance and collecting data on consumer complaints and on how they are resolved can help inform public policy. Regulatory impact assessments at the country level, including the impact on the users of financial services, as well as on the cost to financial institutions, are also an important component in determining the most effective approaches to ensuring fair and transparent retail financial markets. 6. 0 RECOMMENDATIONS The key recommendations to improve consumer protection for mass-market financial consumers in Kenya relate to the following areas: 1. Financial consumer awareness and education will be a critical component of any consumer protection regime in Kenya. 2. Regulations that clarify provider liability and responsibility for oversight of third party agents who play a role in the delivery of services. 3. Minimum requirements for provider-level recourse and dispute resolution mechanisms. 4. Putting in place a cross-market consumer protection that will yield another important benefit. It will facilitate consumers learning a single set of rules as the basis for their interaction with financial services providers. 5. The authority can enforce consumer protection regulation across the entire financial market and thereby cover the clients of otherwise unregulated providers. 7. 0 REFERENCES 1. FSD-Kenya (2009). Definition of a Standard Measure for Consumer Interest Rates in Kenya: A Scoping Study, Nairobi: Kenya. [http://www. fsdkenya. org] 2. Nelson, Candace and Angela Wambugu. (August 2008). Financial Education in Kenya. Nairobi: FSD-Kenya. 3. Capital Markets (Licensing Requirements) (General) (Amendment) Regulations, 2007 for Demutualization of the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE) that include an explicit requirement to protect investors. 4. Brix, Laura, and Katharine McKee. (2009). Consumer Protection Regulation in Low-Access Environments: Opportunities to Promote Responsible Finance. Focus Note 60. Washington, D. C. : CG

Leibnizs theory of truth

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz was one of the most celebrated thinkers and philosophers in Western thought in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. His work included studies and concepts in mathematics, ethics, theology, physics and most importantly-logic. His theories on the conceptions of truth and reason remain key pillars on theoretical studies to this day.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Leibniz’s theory of truth specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Since time immemorial, human beings have always been interested in knowing the conceptions behind human knowledge, intelligence, reality and truth. Plato himself was very concerned about the nature of these qualities in his study of logic (or analytics). However, the containment theory of truth by Leibniz remains a popular view of the nature of truth. According to Leibniz, truth is a product of two factors- a predicate and a subject. Leibniz theorize s that the truth about an individual’s quality is derived from the concept of the individual itself (Zalta 2). The simple version of the theory is that a predicate is true because of the existence of the subject. This means that any statement can be true since one only needs to relate the two individual aspects that form the predicate and subject. For example, when one makes a statement that ‘ this essay was written by a man, the subject here will be the man and the predicate is the act of writing. For this statement to be true, the writing must have been done by a man according to the speaker. Therefore once predicate and subject are linked, the statement becomes true without any attempt to rationalize it in terms of external correlatives. ‘S’ is ‘P’ is a general summary of the theory of truth; where ‘S’ is the subject and ‘P’ is the predicate. Leibniz (a) states that even for those statements that are not naturally i n the form of ‘S’ is ‘P’ could be restated to align themselves to the theory (226). Dorian gives a very good example, â€Å"Pam is writing this essay at 10:21 a.m. on November 9, 2009. This statement is true because writing this essay at this exact moment is part of the definition of Pam. That is, it is part of my essence as Pam to be writing this paper at this exact point in time. In this sense, writing this paper right now (predicate) is contained in the definition of me (subject)† (3). Leibniz goes further as to state that even for statements that show relationship or interconnection, they can be restated in a manner that shows that they refer to the subject and its inherent qualities.Advertising Looking for essay on philosophy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Therefore in a statement where Peter is older than John, the truth about Peter’s superior age continues to stand regardless of the fact that John exists or does not exist. Dorian finds this to be a ‘strange concept’ since it fails to give credence to the existence of extrinsic factors that could also influence the truth (3). From Leibniz’s theory of truth, various inferences can be drawn as to physical and metaphysical aspects. First, Leibniz (a) states that â€Å"nothing is without reason† (226). This is what is generally regarded as the Principle of Sufficient reason without which Leibniz (b) states that â€Å"the universe would not make any sense, and science and philosophy both would be impossible(66).† The Principle of Sufficient reason augments Leibniz’s theory of truth since if there existed something without a cause then there would be no link between â€Å"S† and â€Å"P† and the theory of truth would come to naught. Therefore Leibniz holds that all things whether physical or metaphysical have a sufficient reason for their existence whether kn own to man or not. Several interesting inferences can then be drawn from Leibniz’s school of thought. First, he seems to be advocating for a deterministic view of the world (Leibniz (c) 23). Since no two finite things can interact to bring cause i.e. since cause in itself is inherent in the subject, the only logical discourse that can be drawn from the theory is that God is the author of all things past, present and future. This means that there is what Dorian terms as ‘pre-established harmony’ in things (4). It thus follows that our view of the world as events happening in ‘real time’ is not a reality since they have already been scripted and are happening parallel to each other. Using the theory of truth, the only logical reason for this is that the mind and the body cannot also relate causally. Since all truths are thus a priori, vacuums and empty spaces do not exist. Additionally, the theory that atoms can exist in a free state is not true due to the indivisibility of matter. Each particle in matter has its own complex world and there is no simplicity in any being. Leibniz’s theory also dismisses the existence of space and states that it is an idea. This statement puts into doubt the existence of geometry and other ‘material-based’ studies. All kinds of materiality are also dismissed and there is infinity in matter. In short, Leibniz’s theory of truth eventually becomes extremely rationalist and shuns all kinds of empirical thought.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Leibniz’s theory of truth specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More What bears most significance in Leibniz’s theory of truth is that the truth is already existent within the subject. Since there is no relation and causality between things, then naturally, it flows that God is the only cause. It means that He not only created the world as an infinite system, he also guides the intelligence and knowledge of the truth. In Leibniz’s (b) own words; â€Å"Now it is obvious that all true predication has some foundation in the nature of things, and when a proposition is not identical, that is to say when the predicate is not expressly included in the subject, it must be virtually included in it. This being so, we can say that the nature of an individual substance or of a complete being is to have a notion so complete that it is sufficient to include, and to allow the deduction of, all the predicates of the subject to which that notion is attributed† (8). The theory of truth and that of sufficient reason represent a one sided view of the nature of the world and the existence of truth and knowledge. Many critics have dismissed Leibniz’s work as being too ‘rationalist’ or too ‘religious’. Other scholars such as Hume have even come up with extremely opposite views instead focusing on the empirical and ig noring the rational (Dorian 7). Another argument has been that the theory of sufficient reason is a result of human imagination and things are actually not connected and where they are, it is random and coincidental. However, all this criticism cannot take away the fact that Leibniz’s work laid the foundation for modern theorists such as Immanuel Kant, whose theories are more widely celebrated. Works Cited Dorian, Pam. On the Nature of Truth: A comparative essay on Leibniz’ containment theory of truth and Hume’s distinction between ‘relations of ideas’ and ‘matters of fact. 11 Aug 2009. Web. www.personal.psu.edu/ped127/blogs/†¦e†¦/PHIL%20202%20PAPER.docx Leibniz, Gofffried (a). New Essays on Human Understanding (Edited and translated by Remnant and Bennett). Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1996. Print.Advertising Looking for essay on philosophy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Leibniz, Gofffried (b). Theodicy (Edited by Farrer, translated by Huggard). London, Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1951. Print. Leibniz, Gofffried (c). The Correspondence with Clarke (Edited by Alexander). Manchester, Manchester University Press, 1956. Print. Zalta, Edward. (Leibnizian) Theory of Concepts. Logical Analysis and History of Philosophy, 3 (2000): 137-183. Print. This essay on Leibniz’s theory of truth was written and submitted by user Fiona Burris to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Hochdeutsch - How Germans Came to Speak One Language

Hochdeutsch - How Germans Came to Speak One Language Like many countries, Germany contains numerous dialects or even languages within its different states and regions. And just as many Scandinavians claim, the Danes can’t even understand their own language, many Germans have had similar experiences. When you are from Schleswig-Holstein and visit a small village in deep Bavaria, it is more than likely that you will not understand what the indigenous people are trying to tell you. The reason is that a lot of what we now call dialects actually derive from separate languages. And the circumstance that Germans have one fundamentally uniform written language is a big help in our communication. There actually is one man we have to thank for that circumstance: Martin Luther. One Bible for All Believers – One Language for Everyone As you will know, Luther kicked off the Reformation in Germany, making him one of the central figures of the movement in the whole of Europe. One of the focal points of his clerical belief as opposed to the classic Catholic view was that every participant of a church service should be able to understand what the priest read or quoted from the Bible. Up to that point, Catholic services were usually held in Latin, a language most of the people (especially people who didnt belong to the upper class) did not understand. In protest against widespread corruption within the Catholic Church, Luther drafted ninety-five theses that named many of the wrongdoings Luther had identified. They were translated into understandable German and spread all over the German territories. This is usually seen as the trigger of the Reformation movement. Luther was declared an outlaw, and only the patchwork fabric of the German territories provided an environment in which he could hide and live relatively safe ly. He then began to translate the New Testament into German. To be more specific: He translated the Latin original into a mixture of East Central German (his own language) and Upper German dialects. His goal was to keep the text as comprehensible as possible. His choice put speakers of Northern German dialects at a disadvantage, but it seems that this was, language-wise, a general tendency at the time. The â€Å"Lutherbibel† wasn’t the first German Bible. There had been others, none of which could create as much of a fuss, and all of which had been forbidden by the Catholic Church. The reach of Luther’s Bible also benefited from the rapidly expatiating printing presses. Martin Luther had to mediate between translating the â€Å"Word of God† (a highly delicate task) and translating it into a language everyone could grasp. The key to his success was that he stuck to spoken language, which he changed where he deemed it necessary in order to maintain high readability. Luther himself said  that he was trying to write â€Å"living German.† Luther’s German But the importance of the translated bible for the German language rested more in the marketing aspects of the work. The immense reach of the book made it a standardizing factor. Just as we still use some of Shakespeare’s invented words when we speak English, German speakers still use some of Luther’s creations. The fundamental secret of the success of Luther’s language was the length of the clerical controversies his arguments and translations sparked. His opponents soon felt forced to argue in the language that he composed to counter his statements. Exactly because the disputes went so deep and took so long, Luther’s German was dragged all over Germany, making it a common ground for everyone to communicate in. Luther’s German became the single model for the tradition of â€Å"Hochdeutsch† (High German).

Delphi Programming User and Application Data Storage

Delphi Programming User and Application Data Storage When you need to store some content related to your Delphi application on the users hard disk, you should take care of the support for state separation of user data, user settings, and computer settings. For example, The Application Data folder in Windows should be used to store application-specific documents such as INI files, application state, temp files or similar. You should never use hard-coded paths to specific locations, such as c:\Program Files, as this may not work on other versions of Windows because the location of folders and directories can change with different versions of Windows. The SHGetFolderPath Windows API Function The SHGetFolderPath is available in the SHFolder unit. SHGetFolderPath retrieves the full path of a known folder identified. Heres a custom wrapper function around the SHGetFolderPath API to help you get any of the standard folders for all or the currently logged Windows user. Heres an example of using the SHGetFolderPath function: Drop a TRadioButtonGroup (name: RadioGroup1) on a formDrop a TLabel (name: Label1) on a formAdd 5 items to the radio group:[Currenty User]\My DocumentsAll Users\Application Data[User Specific]\Application DataProgram FilesAll Users\DocumentsHandle the RadioGroups OnClick event as: Note: [Current User] is the name of the currently logged in Windows user. Note: The SHGetFolderPath is a superset of SHGetSpecialFolderPath. You should not store application-specific data (such as temporary files, user preferences, application configuration files, and so on) in the My Documents folder. Instead, use an application-specific file that is located in a valid Application Data folder. Always append a subfolder to the path that SHGetFolderPath returns. Use the following convention: \Application Data\Company Name\Product Name\Product Version.

Modern Chinese Culture Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Modern Chinese Culture - Term Paper Example   As seen in the work of Dafu, a young Chinese man studying in Japan is drawn with self-esteem issues, distrust, fear, frustration, hypochondria and even solitude (31-55). This man can be related to China in the then period when the country was still caught in the conservative and customary way of life prior to modernization and westernization. China can then be related to the adolescent young man studying in Japan and was awaiting the day when he would emancipate himself from the forms of â€Å"slavery† that were existent in the times.  Writers and artists in early modern era have continually lived up to the meaning of the metaphor of China being an adolescent youth reaching puberty. As seen in the work of Dafu, a young Chinese man studying in Japan is drawn with self-esteem issues, distrust, fear, frustration, hypochondria and even solitude (31-55). This man can be related to China in the then period when the country was still caught in the conservative and customary way of life prior to modernization and westernization. China can then be related to the adolescent young man studying in Japan and was awaiting the day when he would emancipate himself from the forms of â€Å"slavery† that were existent in the times.   From Dafu’s work, China can be said to be in a state of confusion just like the modern Chinese man in Japan that was experiencing several clashes in his life and was in a fix whether to be liberalized or retain his old lifestyle.

The Crusades and their effect on Europe specifically England Research Paper

The Crusades and their effect on Europe specifically England - Research Paper Example In this crusade, Christian warriors were urged to move into Palestine and free Jerusalem from Muslims Turks (Hallam 17-19; Crawford 1). The attack against the Muslim caliphates of the Near East was successful, and marked the onset of other subsequent crusades. However, for the subsequent crusades were not all victorious. Some ended up in defeats while others ended in compromises (The Christian Broadcasting Network 1) The Crusaders, who settled first in Palestine, underwent numerous challenges. They were in hostile territory i.e. surrounded by unified Islamic forces that were constantly seeking means of eliminating them. They lacked proper means of nominating or electing a widely accepted leader, and had no clear guidance on how to coexist after the victory. Thus, they lived in small factions rather than a unified entity (Butler 1). Most of the Christian crusades were as consequence of joint operation under the popes’ instruction. Even though in Europe most of the crusaders were mainly from England France and Germany, other European Christian localities also availed crusaders whenever the pope gave a directive for a crusade (World History Center 1). As consequence, the crusades’ effects were nearly uniform across ‘Christian Europe’. Crusades and visits to Palestine, Egypt and the Arab world was not just a mere expedition in which people went and fought but where people learnt various aspects of the Islamic World and incorporated them in their culture The crusaders in Palestine had adopted the locals’ way of dressing and housing architecture(Crawford 1). The dressing style and housing structures were the same as those of the Muslims. It was common to find â€Å"harems with veiled women wearing makeup† and Muslims neighbors praying in Christian chapels (Dutch 1). As consequence, there was a huge cultural gap between the crusaders in the holy land and those who lived

Electrolux Case Summary Essay Example for Free

Electrolux Case Summary Essay As the largest domestic products manufacturer in the world, Electrolux has about 70000 employees all around the world in about 150 countries, making 14 billion euros in sales in 2005. However, an acquisition case from its main competitor, Whirlpool, is challenging the ? rst place of Electrolux, at the time Electrolux has just decided to divest its outdoor division. A huge decrease in sales in the following years is expected. Starting from 1920s, Electrolux has been famous for its expertise in industrial design on products such as vacuum cleaner and refrigeration. The products quickly got popular not only in its home country in Sweden, but in other western countries such as Germany, France, USA and UK, due to the homogeneous culture of these countries. A major growth in demand after World War II contributed a lot to its growth. With a large amount of accumulated cash of the past decades, Electrolux decided to expand quickly through a number of acquisitions for more market share and diversi? cation. In late 20th century, Electrolux discovered new markets in developing countries when the market in western countries was already very mature and was even showing a sign of going down. It also went through a phase of restructuring the segmentations of products as well as abandoned some less important activities. Up until 2006, the company has addressed its new strategies mainly on functional level to correspond to the challenges. To maximize the pro? t, the production would be outsourced to developing countries with lower labor costs. More ef? ient logistics has made the globalization more feasible and cost-saving. On the product market level, due to the market polarization, a more distinguishing product segmentation would be applied. While keeping the basic low-price products, Electrolux is launching a series of products with higher prices to satisfy the high-end market. On the other hand, 2% of sales would be put in RD to keep a high rate of new products launches. The supply chain management has always been vital when it comes to consumer goods industry. When Electrolux is outsourcing more of the productions, it is also hifting the strategy of distribution channels. Instead of traditional dealers, big chains with large volume and high geographical coverage are brought up front because of lower serving cost. Above all these, the company keeps making efforts on brand-building by investing at least 2% of the sales every year. With more products are sold under Electrolux’s name, the company is also improving its brand image by stressing more on their culture through internal and external relations among employees, suppliers and retailers, etc.

John Donnes A Valediction of my Name, In the Window Essay -- Valedict

John Donne's A Valediction of my Name, In the Window      Ã‚  Ã‚   "My name engraved herein/Doth contribute its firmness to this glass" (1-2). It is a small but exquisitely considered act - a man carefully etches his name into a window, hoping to preserve his identity for future generations. Immediately, sensory details flow into my mind at the thought of such a momentous event. The precise scratch of the tool, the small flakes of glass that chip away, the beams of sunlight backlighting my own name in blinding pinpoints of sharp white light - all ignite a visceral feeling in the depths of my consciousness. By basing "A Valediction of my Name, In the Window" around the instinct for self-preservation, John Donne forces me to immediately sympathize with the struggle for remembrance. Just as my interpretation of the poem shifts outward from a simple physical act to a battle for posterity that has consumed humanity through all generations, Donne's description of this single-man struggle quickly moves from the physical to the met aphysical- he believes that he "contribute[s] his firmness" (2) to the glass by scrawling his name, hopes that his lover's eye will see a glimmer from her beloved's name more impressive and stunning than the myriad reflections of precious stones, and suggests that in the carving "you see me, and I am you" (12). Now once again I must force myself to take a leap of faith off the precipice of poetical interpretation, by accepting that one can find deeper meaning in the carefully scratched letters of a name in a window. Or, is it the instinct for preservation that Donne holds to be a pool of deeper meaning? After two stanzas, the author's well-formed conceit has already wrestled my mind into conf... ... life in the process. In only 66 lines, Donne uses his masterful command of the English language to create a superb poetical representation of his personal beliefs about love.    WORKS CITED    "Donne." Hertford College Alumni Association. 1 Jan. 1999. 9 Dec. 2001. http://www.hertford.ox.ac.uk/alumni/donne.htm    Donne, John. "A Valediction of my Name, In the Window." Poems of John Donne - Vol I. Ed. E.K. Chambers. London: Lawrence & Bullen, 1896. 25-28. The Luminarium. 4 Dec. 2001. http://www.luminarium.org/sevenlit/donne/valname.htm    "John Donne - Biography and Works." The Literature Network. 1 Jan. 2000. 9 Dec. 2001. http://www.online-literature.com/donne/    "The Life of John Donne (1572-1631)." The Luminarium. 22 Oct. 2001. 9 Dec. 2001. http://www.luminarium.org/sevenlit/donne/donnebio.htm

Differences in Broadcast and Publishing Content Regulation in the US and Japan

Every country has its own set of laws and regulations, depending on how it is applicable to its people. It is usually patterned to suit the needs of the people and the current situations that the country is in. So in comparing two different countries, it is possible to find that one is stricter than the other, or has a broader scope than that of the other country. Comparing the broadcast and publication rules in Japan and the United States of America, it is natural to see significant differences in the implementation and the content of the regulations themselves, since they are being applied to two different countries and different people.Comparatively, the United States of America have stricter rules and regulations when it comes to broadcast and publishing content. Defining these regulations, it pertains to the intervention of the state in issues regarding economic, social or cultural life according to the standards being set in the country. These issues may be induced by political figures, religious intervention, or by the movement of the people regarding a certain concern. This is usually done to regulate the circulation of certain issues which authorities deem to be â€Å"offensive† content or that it is destructive in nature.When it comes to broadcasting, the most basic form of regulation is through acquiring a license to be able to broadcast. This serves as permission, as well as a contract that the broadcaster should abide by the rules and regulations set for the country. With this, they are able to broadcast for a certain period of time they are allowed to do so, and that they are liable to follow the regulations strictly, unless they want to be penalized for not following the guidelines in the country. Japan’s Broadcast Regulations Rules are not that extensive as that of the United States.They have no clear regulation on the contents of the broadcast, rather has concentrated more on the technicalities of broadcasting itself. It doesnâ₠¬â„¢t regulate television shows on its contents as long as it doesn’t violate the rules of broadcast it has laid down. The content of their shows would then depend on the demand of its audiences rather than following a tailored broadcast format. Having the United States in the tighter end, there has been several issue concerning whether them being so strict that it hinders the people’s freedom of the press.Media practitioners said that the basis of these intense broadcast regulations is the assumption that radio and television channels are a scarce resource which needs to be managed and regulated, so that the people will receive the right amount of information that they need (McDowell, 1983). What these media practitioners stress is that we are in a world where there are unlimited sources of information available today. Information is packaged in different forms and can be accessed by anyone.This information are not radio and television-broadcast limited, since they ca n be accessed through the internet, through Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, High Definition Radio models, smart antennas and more. Broadcast is not that scarce, considering that you could access them through a number of choices. In the United States, it is also difficult to acquire a license, which is done in order to censor broadcasting. But because of the abundance of other sources of information, broadcasting through television or radio is gaining lesser and lesser attention from the audience (Bowie, 2007).This is because the broadcast format in the radio and television is so audience-specific and that what they show the people are limited in context. Because of that, people are moving to other means of acquiring information. On the other hand, Japan offers regulations which are less strict, compared to that of the United States. They are more into what the viewers’ want, since they are competing with various information sources which are abundant in Japan. Being a country rich in technolo gy, radio or television is just another option for the people to get information (BookMice.net, 2000). Everyone has a mobile device with them which can access the internet anytime, anywhere in the country. With that, imposing strict rules would mean losing market for both the television and radio broadcast media. Japan has a public broadcasting station, which is the NHK. This public broadcasting station is not influenced by the government or any private organizations that would benefit from it. It is kept alive by the Japanese people themselves, wherein it has sought independence from the government by having a Receiving Fee System.This is where people pay for the station so that it will be kept running without further influences from prominent people and well-known organizations. This is to keep the interests of the people, for the people alone, and not by an individual or group wishing to profit from it. The viewers themselves are required to pay not only to view a specific progra m in the station but for the whole station as well, so that the NHK is assured to continue its existence. Every household in Japan who owns a TV set is required to pay an equal amount in for the NHK to continue its services.But this assures of an unbiased source of information for the people, wherein they wouldn’t worry from censorship imposed by the government or anyone who would want to profit with the information being delivered by the station (Kogawa, 1988). There are also other commercial broadcasters aside from the public broadcasting network, and these commercial networks benefit from advertisements. On the other hand, NHK are not allowed to have any commercials. Publishing content in the United States is also regulated. There are several known fictional children’s stories which have been censored upon entering the shores of the United States.One good example is the Little Red Riding Hood, wherein it has been censored and edited because the original version show s Little Red Riding Hood bringing wine to give to her sick grandmother (CyberCollege. com, 1996). The latest manifestation of censorship in books and publications was in the Harry Potter series. The novel has been the subject of censorship and criticisms since it promotes witchcraft for kids. This, despite the fact that the series has invited a lot of kids to start reading books again, not just relying on television and computers as a source of recreation.On the other hand, Japan is more on the open-minded side, wherein publishers are can put in publications mainly anything they can, unless they violate the laws and regulations that have been set for them. There are several forms of publication in Japan wherein it gives people a lot of choices. They are free to publish and it depends on the people whether they would buy it or not, since it is indicated if the content is not for minor, or that it has graphic situations not for the young audience.When looking up-close at these two cou ntries, we could see that the United States of America have stricter rules and regulations when it comes to publication and broadcasting. This is because of the difference in their audiences and their cultural background. Japan is more open when it comes to informing the people, since it has abundance in technology. But this doesn’t mean that both countries don’t consider their audiences when they put these regulations and restrictions. Because of the difference in their audience, their approaches are also different, thus resulting to various rules and regulations being established.

The significance of context in information systems and organizational change Essay

Since their arrival on the mobile and web computing scene, information systems have had a profound effect on economies, organizations and societies. Individuals have also enjoyed a great deal of the extended effect of the activities that are conducted within the social aggregates provided by information systems. This report seeks to evaluate the impact and the role of information systems on the quality process on different industries in order to make the implementation and application of quality assurance easy, simple, fast accurate and time saving. The journal of strategic information systems seeks to explore the impact that information systems has had on the general process and profitability of a company. This journal has a scholarly audience for those who are in search of better understanding on how best information systems have improved their lives and the potential that they still hold for the future. Since it is documented as a scholarly article, it is expected that the article shall fulfill educational curiosities regarding how information systems have enabled simplicity and some level of perfection in the business world. It is also expected that the journal shall provide precise information with extensive research carried out to back the statements outlined in the article. According to the journal article, the gradual increase in dependence of information systems has shown a steady rise in the need for quality improvement within business enterprises. The article sites a survey carried out to show that IT improvement in t erms of quality is the top problem facing IT executives in the current job market. It is because of the multidimensional edge that IT presents that the position of Chief Information Officers (CIO) has become a recent development in the corporate sector. The journal models the relationship between information systems quality and the organizational impact it has. The article hypothesizes that there is a greater organizational impact in situations where the systems quality, service quality and information quality are high. According to the article, information system service quality is the most influential concept, followed by information quality and then system quality in the overall performance of the business. However, the article fails to mention other impacts that are attached to the success of the organization such as efficiency of the personnel and the updating of information system quality. On the other hand, the article’s mention of Ackoff (1967) is critical to the support of the information system theory. Ackoff pointed out five misconceptions regarding information systems by stating that the most critical information deficiency that managers suffer is from the high levels of irrelevant information. Furthermore the article points to Whitaker and Voas (2006) and Parnas (2003) who confirm that software is plagued with problems such as fragmented software modules that are hard to integrate and hard-to-use interfaces. However, at the time this information was presented this was a rampant p roblem that was facing the software industry and the IT world in general. However, recent researches have shown that in recent years, this has changed drastically and information systems are required to be top notch before they can be released into the market for use and even for testing. The article fails to mention that there have been increased measures and precaution taken to ensure that quality assurance is the core principle in the world of information systems. It also fails to mention that quality assurance is the only link to continued success in an organization when it comes to matters of information, technology and systems. It is only through the assurance of information systems that organizations can adapt systems that are guaranteed to produce tangible and beneficial results. The article also emphasizes on the use of information technology in the general performance of business and the overall perception of the outside world. It is lacking in the expertise to recognize t he fact that quality assurance goes hand in hand with quality control which is mostly effected by use of personnel employed to overlook the process. Therefore, although the article has been pinned as a scholarly article in the journal, it requires much revision in order to remain relevant in the world we live in today. Encyclopedia Britannica posted an article on information systems that proved to be worth reviewing. The article lays the importance of information systems in organizations. The article states that information systems enhance several capabilities of an organization which in turn provide support for business activities. For example, decision making, product development, customer and supplier relation and sometimes the general business model are the areas where information systems fit best. The article does not hold any opinion towards the importance of information system but it does point out the advantages and the potential that information systems hold in the organization. The article is right in pointing out that information systems advancements create new options in the way business is conducted which is generally true, but the article fails to mention that information systems require to be constantly updated. Besides updating, information systems require to be assured so that the results can be translated into the output of the company which shall be of the same quality. The language used in this article is informative and without any bias and it makes its credibility rise with each statement. For example, the article includes that information systems do not necessarily translate to increased profits. The success of a business depends in part the adoption of effective information systems, but it also in the skill to which the information systems are deployed and used alongside other factors such as customer relation and knowledge of the industry. The article is witty and well updated with the latest advancements in quality assurance processes. For example, the article is clear in the definition and the implication of virtual organizations whose quality assurance has to be constantly updated because of the evolving and fast paced information system world. The article does not fail to mention the importance of human personnel in the workings of the company and the incorporation of information systems. Although the article is mainly focused on the information technology literate the simplicity of definition of terms means that the audiences of the article are both the literate and the illiterate to the IT world. It is through the incorporation of information systems to the World Wide Web that quality assurance can be improved drastically. Through quality assurance, individuals can participate in global forums and national events such as elections, referendums, and opinion polls. It is therefore, through the incorporation of info rmation systems in such fronts that quality assurance becomes paramount. The article vividly describes and gives simple illustrations for the ways in which quality assurance in information systems can assist all members of the society. According to the journal of the association for information, science and technology (2014), quality assurance is an administrative and procedural activity that is implemented in the quality system to ensure that both the goals and objectives of the product are fulfilled as intended. The journal hosted an article on the significance of context in information systems and organizational change. The article mainly speaks about the implementation of information systems which is relevant to the above outlined thesis. The article indicates that there are three distinct principles that are to be followed in the implementation of information systems throughout the organization. The first principle should incorporate innovation of the information system with regard to the socio-organizational change, the second principle involves the analysis of the local organizational, the national and the global context of the information system, while the third system uses the analysis of the decisions mad e towards the innovation process of the information system. The article is based on an assumption that ICT does not face any deterministic implications on the organizational results which makes it miss its mark in terms of convincing about the implementation of information systems. The failure in assumption is largely misplaced because ICT has a large role in the performance of the business which ultimately makes it a valuable variable to consider. The article on the significance of context in information systems and organizational change also points out that the information systems research is mainly contextual because it is mostly based on an organizational setting instead of a laboratory setting. It is for this reason that information systems studies are subject to the environment in which they are applied, according to the article. The position of context of information environment used in the article is fairly placed given that different environments, markets or industries pose different challenges for the organization and the information system in use. Different fields of engagement require certain assurances in terms of the incorporation of information systems. For instance, quality assurance in information systems for the military is more precise that that which would be used in a local bookstore. One in a bookstore would be used to track borrowed books while one for the military would be used to track missiles and comm unicate code during wartime. On both counts, quality assurance would have to be stepped because it involves the use of human personnel to operate the information system. On the other hand, quality assurance should be strict so that human use of the information system can be smooth and accommodating and at the same time it should be time saving. The article is well organized starting from the introduction, all through the body and into the conclusion. The points raised in the article such as the concept that information systems are mainly concerned with IT innovations is well founded. The article sites many references for backing the information presented going as far back as 1989 when the initial concepts for the internet were taking place. The audiences intended for the article are scholars who require in-depth information about information systems, their innovations and implementations. The article is highly resourceful and rich in detail for any scholarly work. The article states that in order to maintain a competitive edge in the respective field, companies have to invest in information systems like ERPs (Enterprise Resource Planning) software that serve different functions in the organization. These systems also provide real time data that is used to aid in fast decision making. Information systems such as ERPs help co mpanies to manage their operations seamlessly across the globe. This information is particularly helpful especially in aiding the thesis statement that seeks to give credit to quality assurance for the easy integration, simplicity and quickness in the performance of business duties. Quality in any field is determined by the users, clients or customers who use the product and not by the society in general. The quality, as is often confused is not related to the actual price of the product or the service. The two are separate variables though relating to the same product. Therefore, adjectives like ‘poor’ and ‘high’ should not be used in relation to quality. Even in IT and information systems there are standards by which products must conform and they are monitored by such standards as ISO, 9000 or an alternative as the CMMI model. This is the idea projected in the journal of information systems (2009) that was designed in the interest of quality intervention in the quality assessment arena. The article on the benefits of information systems to organizations indicate that companies benefit by cutting down on human labor that previously cost them billions in wages. Since the invention and the spread of information systems companies have op ted to cut down on human labor down to the most important employees within the company. Although the article is fundamentally clear on the importance of cutting down human labor services, it fails to mention that quality assurance in the information systems that replace them are in constant need of updating for as long as the systems are in place. The article is geared to the well informed in the field of information systems and information technology as it mentions some of the most recent advancements such as cloud computing. The article merely seeks to hit the final nail on the information system concept coffin by including these latest features. Although other articles speak about virtual organizations and virtual communication systems, the journal of information systems seeks to give the latest advancements as well as options and possibilities in the industry. The drastic, yet advanced calculations in the growth of the information technology world have led to the overreliance of computerization that might eventually become the downfall of human beings. Without human intervention to the computerized world, there is an ever conscious possibility of failing to meet set objectives in terms of assurance of quality. The article seeks to inform of the impending danger of the failure to adhere to quality assurance precautions which is commendable and very informative. The article is neither biased but rather it leaves the reader with an option to think outside the box, consider gathering more information or take the information provided at face value. The tile of the article suggests that there shall be many sides to the information system story which is clearly shown and well detailed. The main purpose of the article from a scholar’s point of view is to broaden the thinking of the reader and to create a set of questions as to what lies ahe ad with information systems. Both the application and implementation of information systems has been revolutionary and has defined the 21st century in a huge way. Therefore, quality assurance on information systems has become tougher and more brutal as days go by primarily because of the competition and the innovativeness associated with information technology. The article seeks to highlight the consequences of ignorance and also the failures that companies undergo as a result of ignoring quality assurance requirements for the betterment of their stature in the industry. It is only with quality assurance that new ideas and concepts can be fostered within the organization. Quality assurance ensures that there is always room for improvement on the information system so that companies can grow according to their mission statement. The article is witty and largely educative and at the same time cautious as was the intention. The article is one to look out for in the world of information systems. The international journal of computers, communications and control had an article on management of information systems titled ‘managing the digital firm’ which was an eye opener for those interested. The article was written by rather two professionals in the information systems arena who have extensive background knowledge in information systems. From the title of the article, it is expected that the information provided shall be highly educative and without any blunder. It is also expected that because of the doctoral status of the authors, the information provided can hardly be refuted. The article kicks off by stating that knowledge of information systems is essential in the creation of successful and competitive corporations that add value to their products and services. The article further cements this statement by stating that it is inconceivable for a company to operate without the extensive incorporation of IT. This statement is rightly so because from a global p oint of view, all relationships between customers, suppliers and employees are mainly maintained digitally. The tone used in the article is educational which suggests that it is meant for scholars, educators and to a large extent, managers who are often faced with major information systems challenges. In order to do so, the authors of the article have incorporated a sociotechnical style of presentation through the combination of computer science, management science as well as operations research and blended them with behavioral elements that are drawn from sociology, psychology and sociology. The article contains in large part presentation of facts from a management of information systems (MIS) point of view. The article explains in detail the concepts of digital firms and how quality assurance should be incorporated in the information systems adopted by organizations. The article also advices on keeping information systems updated in order to ensure that the quality assurance process remains easy, simple, fast, and accurate and not time consuming. The article is a masterpiece if not the b lueprint of the future of information systems and businesses in all industries. The article explains in great detail that information systems are relevant in all industries and all markets however miniscule they might seem. The article is very resourceful and without any identifiable flaws. However, its lack of emphasis on quality assurance is a minor setback, but the essence of the article is captured in the rest of the details discussed. References Avgerou, Chrisanthi. â€Å"The significance of context in information systems and organizational change.† Information Systems Journal 11.1 (2001): 43-63. Print. Benbasat, Izak, and Ron Weber. â€Å"Research Commentary: Rethinking à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Diversityà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  in Information Systems Research.† information systems research 7.4 (1996): 389-399. Print. Haigh, Thomas. â€Å"The history of information technology.† Annual Review of Information Science and Technology 45.1 (2011): 431-487. Print. Hayman, J. L.. â€Å"Educational Management Information Systems For The Seventies.† Educational Administration Quarterly 10.1 (1974): 60-71. Print. â€Å"Information Systems Failures.† European Journal of Information Systems 2.3 (1993): 157-158. Print. â€Å"Information Systems Research: Policy on Special Issues.† information systems research 16.1 (2005): 6-8. Print. â€Å"Information systems and interorganizational networks.† European Journal of Information Systems 5.2 (1996): 73-74. Print. â€Å"Journal of Strategic Information Systems.† The Journal of Strategic Information Systems 17.4 (2008): 287. Print. â€Å"Journal of Strategic Information Systems.† The Journal of Strategic Information Systems 17.4 (2008): 287. Print. â€Å"Journal of Strategic Information Systems Best Paper 2008.† The Journal of Strategic Information Systems 18.4 (2009): I. Print. Karim, Akram Jalal. â€Å"The Significance Of Management Information Systems For Enhancing Strategic And Tactical Planning.† JISTEM Journal of Information Systems and Technology Management 8.2 (2011): 459-470. Print. Kini, Ranjan B.. â€Å"Strategic Information Systems.† Information Systems Management 10.4 (1993): 42-45. Print. â€Å"Management Information Systems (MIS).† Inc.com. N.p., 23 Apr. 2010. Web. 15 May 2014. . O’, Tiomothy J.. â€Å"Executive Information Systems.† Journal of Information Systems Management 6.2 (1989): 34-41. Print. Osinulu, L. F. Amusa. â€Å"Information Technology, Quality Assurance, and Academic Library Management.† Library Philosophy and Practice 1 Feb. 2010: 13-29. Print. Parker, Donn B.. â€Å"Ethics for Information Systems Personnel.† Journal of Information Systems Management 5.3 (1988): 44-48. Print. Ritch, Stephen, and Robert J. Munro. â€Å"Management Information Systems, Planning, And Public Community Colleges.† Community Junior College Research Quarterly of Research and Practice 6.2 (1982): 179-186. Print. Sprowls, Clay. â€Å"Strategic information systems: A European perspective.† The Journal of Strategic Information Systems 3.4 (1994): 345-346. Print. Stowell, Frank. â€Å"Do We Mean Information Systems or Systems of Information?.† International Journal of Information Technologies and Systems Approach 1.1 (2008): 25-36. Print. Teittinen, Henri, Jukka Pellinen, and Marko JÃÆ' ¤rvenpÃÆ' ¤ÃƒÆ' ¤. â€Å"ERP in action à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬  Challenges and benefits for management control in SME context.† International Journal of Accounting Information Systems 14.4 (2013): 278-296. Print. Warren, Matthew. â€Å"Ethics in Information Systems.† Australasian Journal of Information Systems 13.2 (2006): 23-29. Print. Winter, M.c., D.h. Brown, and P.b. Checkland. â€Å"A role for soft systems methodology in information systems development.† European Journal of Information Systems 4.3 (1995): 130-142. Print. Xu, Li D.. â€Å"Systems characteristics in information systems design.† Systems Research 9.1 (1992): 67-78. Print. Zwass, Vladimir. â€Å"Information systems in the economy and society.† Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Apr. 2012. Web. 23 May 2014. . Source document

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Marketing plan of a wedding reception venue business Joanne is Looking to start up a wedding reception venue, she would like to open up a small business, as a sole trader. A business plan is one of the most important aspects when starting up a business, The business plan will make sure that Joannes wedding reception will be run successfully, organised and to the best of its ability. It will help the business significantly with time management, as it will help both the business and staff manage their time and stay organised in order to keep the business running efficiently. The plan will explain all the strategies and objectives of the business, this give Joanne a huge understanding on what she will be expecting and how she will go about in order to help the business successfully achieve its goals. The Business plan will give Joanne an in depth understanding on what is going on and what will happen within her business, some of the things it will provide include a description of the services that will be provided, the personal requirements and skills needed for the staff, a clear outline on the description and ownership of the business, and much more. A business that fails to plan, Plans to Fail. SWOT analysis is a strategic method used to evaluate and state the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats involved in the business, within both the internal and external. Every business needs a SWOT analysis in order for it to be prepared for the present and the future. Joannes wedding reception has many Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats which are listed in the report. Each business aims to achieve specific objectives and strategies, an objective is a measurable statement of what has to be achieved, where a strategy is a way in which the business aims to achieve its objective. Joannes wedding reception is a business which aims to accomplish both its objectives and strategies to the best of its ability. Joannes wedding reception aims to achieve its ultimate goal of success through its five main objectives and strategies. These objectives and strategies are also listed in the report. Business Description and Ownership Joannes wedding reception is a business that will cater to all needs of couples who are looking to get married and would like to celebrate with loved ones afterwards. Jay Harbour is the name chosen for the business, it is a brand new function centre located at 150 Day Street, Darling Harbour; it is very spacious and has a spectacular water view and view of the entire harbour, it will deliver delicious food, great service and unforgettable entertainment and music. The legal structure of this business is registered as a sole trader; Joanne will be running an unincorporated business which has unlimited liability. She will take full responsibility for all debts incurred by the business, and will be personally liable for the financial obligations of the business. There will be fewer than 20 employees hired, as it is only a small business. The target market of this business is obviously people of all ages who are looking to celebrate their marriage. The prime function of the business is to make sure that all special occasion are just the way couples want it-elegant, memorable, and effortless, also that the business is a very successful business and advertised as best as possible, not only in the media, but also in words of mouth. The business hopes to achieve all its goals profitably and successfully in order to satisfy all guarantees and pledges to stakeholders. Purpose Of plan A business plan is as important for starting a business as a key is to a car. A business plan will provide the firm with a clear direction for the future, and will organise the business. It sets out goals for the business that want to be achieved in both the long term and in the short term. It will help the business organise its three main aspects, these are, marketing, production and management finance. The business plan will make sure that Joannes wedding reception will be run successfully, organised and to the best of its ability. It will help the business significantly with time management, as it will help both the business and staff manage their time and stay organised in order to keep the business running efficiently. The plan will explain all the strategies and objectives of the business, this give Joanne a huge understanding on what she will be expecting and how she will go about in order to help the business successfully achieve its goals. The Business plan will give Joanne an in depth understanding on what is going on and what will happen within her business, some of the things it will provide include a description of the services that will be provided, the personal requirements and skills needed for the staff, a clear outline on the description and ownership of the business, and much more. The business plan is very important and of great significance of any business, whether it is for future expansion of a business or the development of a new business, a business plan must be written. A business that fails to plan, plans to fail. Situational Analysis SWOT analysis SWOT analysis is a strategic method used to evaluate and state the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats involved in the business, within both the internal and external. Every business needs a SWOT analysis in order for it to be prepared for the present and the future, the SWOT analysis for Jay Harbour is listed below. Strengths Preferred location of the majority of the public New and Spacious Caters to all needs of couples Catchy name Overlooks Harbour Delicious food Great Service Good music and entertainment Spectacular Water view Target market for all ages Unique Selling points Weakness Small Business New Business Joanne hasnt opened up a business before Not familiar with the industry Unlimited Liability Sole trader business meaning Joanne is personally responsible for all financial obligations Limited Funds Limited Reputation Opportunities Increasing number of couples moving to the area Geographical Location Well established position Huge amount of couples looking to get married In the city of Sydney Social Interests Threats Other more experienced businesses in the area Large amount of competitors Stronger promotions by competitors Competitors have advertised their business and have been running for a longer period of time Market Demand Economic Conditions Business Objectives and Strategies Each business aims to achieve specific objectives and strategies, an objective is a measurable statement of what has to be achieved, where a strategy is a way in which the business aims to achieve its objective. Joannes wedding reception is a business which aims to accomplish both its objectives and strategies to the best of its ability. Joannes wedding reception aims to achieve its ultimate goal of success through its five main objectives and strategies. Good Reputation is the first main objective of Joannes business, Joanne aims to start up her business with a good reputation, and maintain and improve the reputation as the business grows. Joanne is aware that she is not able to manage her own reputation; however it is possible for her to strengthen it. Strategies that Joanne will take up in order to have good reputation include: Engaging and starting up appealing advertising campaigns Joanne will pay a few loyal people who she is on friendly terms with to write blog posts and advertise her wedding reception on facebook and myspace Joanne will pay to have her wedding reception advertised on radio stations Joanne will create a facebook page in the name of her business, and keep it updated with articles, pictures, and different ways to appeal to customers The second main objective is expansion, Joanne aims for her business to expand and hopefully one day turn into a larger business, she aims to create more function rooms in order to cater for other occasions, and also remarkable rooms in which photographs can take place. Joanne can only do this and expand her business if she is financially stable enough within the future years. Strategies that Joanne will carry out in order to expand her business in the future include: Not spending money on things that arent needed, money will be spent on what customers need not what Joanne needs, money will not be spent on things that make Joannes business look good such as a company car, or a fancy office, instead the money will be used on more important things Joanne will make sure that all customers are treated with care, and are satisfied, the happier the customers are, the bigger the business will become, as they will help promote by good words-of-mouth A good working environment is another objective, Joannes aim is not only to satisfy her customers, but also her employees. She needs to do this in order to keep them motivated and stay doing their jobs to the best of their ability Strategies that will be carried out include: Having a safe working environment Giving Suitable and fair wages and payments to employees Giving employees benefits Giving employees hours which are suitable to both Joanne as the Employer, and them Catering to a wide variety of cultures is another one of Joannes main objective. Joanne aims to cater to many different cultures in order to have a variety of different people using her wedding reception. The business will be a bigger success if it is for many cultures rather than just one or two. Strategies that will be carried out include: Hiring chefs that are able to cook spectacular multicultural food Being able to design the reception according to cultures of people Being able to design a whole wedding that includes the theme of the desired culture Being able to give customers long lasting memories is the last of the businesses objectives. Joanne aims to give customers a night they will never forget. The strategies that will be carried out include: Creating a dynamic atmosphere Offer great food Unforgettable entertainment Planning the wedding for the customers from beginning to end Leaving the customer stress free Operations Description of the product or service Joannes wedding reception is a wedding venue which aims to cater to all needs of couples who are looking to celebrate their marriage. Jay Harbour is the name given to the business; it is a brand new function centre which is located at 150 day street, Darling Harbour. Joanne is looking to cater for any type of wedding, from the traditional wedding, to the modern wedding, she is willing to accommodate for small and intimate weddings with around 50 guests, to larger celebrations including up to 300 guests. Professional and friendly staff will be hired in order to ensure that every customer receives a day that they will remember. Joanne aims to take hold of all the stress which may be felt by the customers, she will leave them all free to relax and enjoy their special day at her venue, she will have a plan of approach which will help not only the customers, but also her, to organise a wedding that will remain in the hearts of the couples and their guests forever. Joanne will offer a great service, superb food, personalised service, divine wines and alcohol, and unforgettable entertainment in order to make the weddings a magical and flawless occasion. Joannes will provide easy access both in and out of the reception including both weal chair access and elevators. The venue will overlook darling harbour, and will also include a spectacular water view. A Valet entrance and a remarkable walk for the entrance of the bride and groom will be included in order to make the wedding feel more special and exceptional. Table setting wills be offered in numerous types, themes of the wedding are also able to be chosen according what the customers want, floral arrangements will all be made, and food and decorations will be offered in a variety of choices, and in many different cultures. Joannes Business will be run as a multicultural business, anyone no matter what culture they are a part of, will be able to experience the wedding of their dreams. A bar will be provided at the reception, a wide range of alcohol including many wines and champagnes will be provided. Couples have a choice between having their guest pay for the alcohol at the bar, or having an open bar, meaning the couple must pay a certain amount of money for the unlimited drinks that will be given to guests on the night. Personnel Requirements and Skills Joannes business is a small business, meaning under 20 employees will be hired, they will all go through the steps of the human resource cycle, including acquisition, development and maintenance. This is so that the people with the top skills will be hired, and so that they can continue developing their skills and knowledge, also so that the employees stay motivated and productive within the business. Waiters/Waitresses Twelve Needed Qualifications Must be neat and tidy polite, well-mannered and able to communicate well with people A good service attitude Able to work in a team A good memory in order to remember which customer ordered which dish Must have good physical health as the waiter spends most working hours on their feet Fast with serving customers Able to clean Qualification 16 years of age and over Experience Experience with customer service needed Bartenders Three Needed Qualifications knowledge of beer, wine and other alcoholic drinks drink preparation and drink service skills familiarity and awareness of liquor licensing rules and regulations good communication skills friendly and polite mature and honest adaptable and able to work well under pressure confident and considerate when dealing with customers able to use their initiative able to follow instructions. Qualification Alcohol Beverage Licence Experience Experience of 1-2 years within the alcohol industry required Chefs Four Needed Qualifications Leadership skill. Time management. Food preparation and presentation skills Financial management Able to manage finances within the kitchen Able to cook a variety of multicultural foods Works well with others Adaptable and able to work well under pressure Good communication skills Qualification Certificate or college degree from a qualified cooking school. Experience 3-4 Years of experience within the chef industry required Marketing Market Analysis Customers The target market of this business is obviously people of all ages who are looking to celebrate their marriage. Joanne is looking to cater for any type of wedding, from the traditional wedding, to the modern wedding, she is willing to accommodate for small and intimate weddings with around 50 guests, to larger celebrations including up to 300 guests. Professional and friendly staff will be hired in order to ensure that every customer receives a day that they will remember. Joannes business is willing to cater to any customers wants and needs. The Choice of the venues was made between the areas listed in the table, in order to come to a final decision of where the business will get the most customers; population statistics of the areas was gathered. It was obvious that a larger population lives in darling harbour, also, the median age there is the youngest of all the median ages in the other areas, this another advantage as it is the younger people who usually want to get married. Market size and trends Joanne aims for her business to expand and hopefully one day turn into a larger business, she aims to create more function rooms in order to cater for other occasions, and also remarkable rooms in which photographs can take place. Joanne can only do this and expand her business if she is financially stable enough within the future years. Joanne will not spend money on things that arent needed, money will be spent on what customers need not what Joanne needs, money will not be spent on things that make Joannes business look good such as a company car, or a fancy office, instead the money will be used on more important things. Joanne will make sure that all customers are treated with care, and are satisfied, the happier the customers are, the bigger the business will become, as they will help promote by good words-of-mouth Competition There are many surrounding competitors within the market which have been running for a longer time, and some which are just beginning to start up, they offer many services, however none like Jay harbour. Joanne has come up with many strategies in which to compete with its many other competitors. Joanne offers multicultural services, from foods, to themes, music and much more, majority of the other venues offer a minimum amount of cultures. Jay Harbour, also has a view like no other, the amazing water view and view of the harbour will attract many customers. Joannes prices are also very affordable, and suitable for the amount of services one will receive if they decide to have their wedding at Jay Harbour. Easy access in and out of the venue is also an advantage, as many other competitor venues do not have these elevators and escalators. Marketing Strategies The marketing strategies include product, price, promotion and place. Price is one of the most important things when you have other competitors, by having cheaper prices customers will come to your reception rather then the competitors receptions, Low and affordable prices will be offered at Jay Harbour, packages will also be offered allowing customers to pay for many things at a smaller price. However, prices will increase and decrease according to the prices of competitors. Product refers to the service of the business and what the business has to offer, Jay harbour offers many services including entertainment, good music, open bar, great view, valet parking, and much more. Place refers to where the business is located, the area that jay Harbour is located in is Darling Harbour. With an amazing view of darling harbour and the water, and an alluring atmosphere and amazing breeze, it is very hard for Jay Harbour to NOT become the number one wedding reception in the area. Promotion refers to ways in which the business will promote itself, jay Harbour will maintain consumer awareness and interest towards Eternal Happiness. The business must keep advertising through media, suppliers, provide special offers and many more in order for it to stay competitive within the market. Finance Financial Forecasts Revenue Statement $ $ Sales revenue $460 000 COGS Opening stock 50 000 Purchases/income 250 000 300 000 Closing stock 80 000 $220 000 Gross profit $240 000 Expenses Advertising 5 000 Salaries and wages 150 000 Insurance 3000 Bank charges 400 Interest paid to banks 10 000 $168 400 net profit $71 600 This indicates that profit was made for jay Harbour, $240 000 was made, where as only $168 400 was lost, meaning a profit of $71 600 was made. Balance Sheet For Jay Harbour $ $ Current Assets Cash at Bank Accounts Receivable Stock $12 000 $14 000 $30 000 $56 000 Non-Current Assets Property Equipment 150 000 21 000 $171 000 Total Assets $227 000 Current Liabilities Bank Overdraft Accounts payable $22 000 $20 000 $42 000 Non-Current Liabilities Loan $92 000 $92 000 Total Liabilities $134 000 Owners Equity Capital Profit Retained $51 000 $42 000 $93 000 Total Liability and owners equity $227 000 The current ratio of this balance sheet is calculated by dividing the current assets by the current liabilities, this is equal to 1.3, meaning the ratio is 1:3:1 Critically review the plan and process I think that I did a great job in completing the assignment, I followed my plan of approach according to all the days up to the 26/7/10 and I had no problem to hand everything in that was due by that day. I was able to do all my research and gather all my statistics and information, and put them together before handing in my assignment, I did not stress, as everything was done according to plan until the due date. I think that the assignment being set out this way was to my advantage, as it helped me not leave everything to the last minute and procrastinate. One thing that I do regret doing is leaving my report to the last minute, I think that next time I should start my report as soon as the second part of the assignment was due, as it will make me stress much less, and I would be able to do the report to the best of my ability. I did try my hardest though, and I do believe that I deserve the best possible mark I can get. Overall I believed I achieved what I planned to and was glad that I was able to hand everything in on time, despite the fact of starting my report late, I think that doing everything else prior to the report such as objectives an strategies, SWOT analysis, and much more, was a great advantage to me as all I had to do was put them together within the report. I believe that my teacher done a great job of explaining my assignment as I was able to do it all with no problems, and I was able to fly through it as it was explained properly and in depth.