Critically Assess the Uses and Limitations of Financial Statements Essay

Critically assess the uses and limitations of financial statements The definition for a financial statement is a written report which quantitatively describes the financial health of a company. (www. investorwords. com) It consists of a balance sheet, income statements and a cash flow statement. This essay will critically asses the uses and limitations of each of these types of financial statements for a business. A balance sheet shows the financial condition of a business at a specific date (Langemeier & Klinefelter 2008). It shows what is owned by the business, what is owed and the owner’s share (net worth) of the business. The balance sheet has three main uses. Firstly, it is used for reporting purposes as part of a limited company’s annual accounts. These must be shown to Companies House, HM Revenue and Customs and any shareholders unless agreed otherwise. It is also used to let potential investor’s or lenders asses the worth of a business at any given time. This way they can judge whether they think they should be investing money into the business according to how solvent the business is, how liquid its assets are, how the business is financed and how much capital is being used. Finally they can be used by the business itself to analyse how to improve its management. There are a few limitations of a balance sheet as some values of current assets are estimated (www. businesslink. gov. uk); therefore the balance sheet does not reflect a 100% accurate financial position of a business. Also, the fixed assets in the balance sheet have taken the depreciation of the asset into consideration and so the true value is not shown. Finally, intangible assets such as goodwill cannot be measured and are therefore estimated figures too and may be very inaccurate thus causing the whole balance sheet to be incorrect. Therefore a balance sheet is useful in many ways as long as whoever is interpreting the figures takes into consideration that a few of the figures are not accurate. An income statement, also known as a profit and loss account, measures the profits or losses a business has made over a certain period of time (money-zine. com). If a business wishes to expand and needs a bank loan they will need to produce their profit and loss accounts for the previous three years so the bank can see whether they will be able to repay the loan. These must be accurate records or it will be taken into account as fraud. There are many advantages of keeping accurate and up to date records. Firstly, it gives a business the information it needs to be managed and help it grow. If a business can see where its strong or weak points are then it can find ways to improve for example by cutting down on expenses. It also enables a business to produce their income statement quickly if required and filling in their tax return easier and quicker which in turn reduces the risk of interest for late tax payments. These financial statements are usually available to the public which means competitors can see how each other are doing, however very few people understand them when all transactions are recorded in larger companies. There are also some limitations of income statements one being that its data does not tell the user anything about what may happen in the future or factors that may affect future growth of the company. It is simply limited to accounting data. The second limitation is that not all businesses use an acceptable accounting method. An example from www. money-zine. com states that â€Å"if a business decides to accelerate depreciation then they hurt short-term net income and earnings (depreciation expense is larger). If they use straight line depreciation, net income in earlier years will be higher – but it will be lower in the future (all things being equal)†. The final type of financial statement is a cash flow statement. It records the inflow and outflow of cash over a period of time. The cash flow statement allows investors to understand how a company’s operations are running, where its money is coming from, and how it is being spent. According Hertenstein Article 26 there are three main people that want to see a business’s cash flow statements. Firstly stockholders want to know if the business is generating enough cash to pay dividends. Secondly suppliers want to know if their customers will be able to pay if offered credit. Thirdly investors want to evaluate future growth potential. These types of financial accounts are cheap to maintain because you do not have to be a trained accountant to produce them as they are not a complicated as the other types of financial accounts. Though the cash flow statement is a very useful tool of financial analysis, it has its own limitations which must be kept in mind at the time of its use. The main limitation is that the cash flow statement only records cash transactions and so ignores the basic accounting concept of accruals and tems bought on credit and therefore are not suitable for judging the profitability of a business. Also cash flow statements are prepared using historical information which is in the past. Therefore it does not asses what may happen in the future to a business’s accounts. In conclusion, there are many uses for financial statements as they provide a solid picture of a business’s performance when compared to each other, and the users can easily spot flaws in the entity’s financial position and manage these accordingly. However their limitations must be considered when analysing the data as they only supply the reader with past and present quantitative data and do not address any of the qualitative economic variables such as the morale of the employees or the quality of the management team. There is currently no way of measuring these intangible assets, even though a business’s human resources are some of its most valuable assets.

The EU Trade policy aims to develop both multilateral liberalization..

Introduction It is frequently said that the European Union ( E.U. ) is â€Å" an economic giant but a political midget † . If the 2nd statement seems controversial, the first 1 is verified. Indeed, the E.U. is a major trading power as it is the universe ‘s largest exporter ( 16.2 % of planetary exports[ 1 ]) and importer of goods and services, accounting for a fifth of universe trade[ 2 ]. The European Union has been developing its internal market since 1993 and the â€Å" Individual Market Program † . Following the rules of the GATT/WTO[ 3 ], which is â€Å" an organisation for liberalising trade †[ 4 ]as it is written on the web site, the E.U. has borrowed a broad rhetoric based on the aim of liberalisation. Associated with the neoclassical economic theory, the European liberalisation could be defined as an â€Å" unfastened market with free competition † ( art. 119 Lisbon Treaty ) , without obstructions or barriers to merchandise. Article 206 of the Lisbon Treaty underlines the importance of the part of the EU to the â€Å" development of universe trade † and to â€Å" the progressive abolishment of limitations on international trade † . The EU Trade policy, as a tool of entree to the liberalisation, is pursued by the Common Commercial Policy ( CCP ) , which has been a portion of the community competencies since the Treaty of Rome. The implicit in thought is that liberalisation of trade has brought and will convey economic benefits and growing[ 5 ], which is the first measure to a public assistance system and a peaceable society. The EU Trade policy aims to develop both many-sided liberalisation and regional integrating. The OECD defines the EU trade policy as: â€Å" Partially by necessity, partially by design, the EU ‘s trade policy has been ‘walking on two legs ‘ since its early yearss: many-sided liberalization and regional integrating. †[ 6 ]The Lisbon Treaty considered that the CCP â€Å" shall be conducted in the context of the rules and aims of the Union ‘s external action † . Therefore, the external dimension of the EU trade has effects on the SM as the internal policy interplays with advancement in the SM. Presents, the E.U has become an attractive economic pole of about 500 million consumers, developing intra-EU and extra-EU exchanges. However, this attraction, this â€Å" magnet † consequence ( S. McGuire ) , has provoked a defensive reaction from the Member States ( MS ) , fueling the demand to protect the SM from external competition.[ 7 ]The analogue of openness seems to be the containment of external menaces which can destabilise the SM and the whole European economic system. Many physical or administrative barriers still remain and the EU has even created new barriers as proficient 1s, linked to the alleged European values. If the EU is non a complete â€Å" fortress † , these obstructions are harmful and lead to circumvent universe trade understandings. In such a instance, the dealingss between Trade Policy and the liberalisation of the SM are neither systematic nor drone. Sensitive goods: Would all sectors be wholly liberalized? Duties and non-tariffs barriers to merchandise. The EU remains stigmatized for utilizing protectionist mechanisms for sectors such as agricultural merchandises and fabric and vesture. The EU is a chief user of subsidies, anti-dumping steps and voluntary export restraints ( VER ) in order to protect the alleged â€Å" sensitive sectors † which still remain a beginning of tenseness between WTO members. Indeed, the external dimension of the EU Trade policy convergences with the internal Common Agricultural Policy ( CAP ) . The CAP has been created in order to protect the internal European agricultural market, curtailing the market entree to EU trade spouses and lessening exports[ 8 ]. This policy was applied in the model defined by the Uruguay Round which created specific regulations for agricultural-food merchandises and textiles-clothing, leting high duties on some merchandises. Even if these regulations have been weakened by farther WTO statute law, the EU still applies a assortment of techniques. Price support and export subsidies Export subsidies have became the chief instrument of domestic monetary value support in Europe. The sugar sector is one of the most conclusive illustration, being a major receiver of subsidies. To call a few, Tereos Group ( France ) , Azucarera Ebro ( Spain ) , Krajowa Spolka Cukrowa ( Poland ) received severally about a‚ ¬178 million, a‚ ¬119.4 and a‚ ¬135 million in aid in 2009[ 9 ]. 1.5 billion per twelvemonth is spent on subsidizing sugar sector, as a monetary value of 632 euros per metric ton can be guaranteed to manufacturers[ 10 ]. It makes two times the universe monetary value. The EU is one of the important universe ‘s exporter of sugar Beta vulgaris ( EU was the first exporter before CAP reform[ 11 ]) even though its production cost is higher than in Brazil or Thailand. Besides, tariff barriers are still imposed on cane-sugar exporters. Harmonizing to this trade policy, 3rd states have a really restrictive entree to the EU market entree. Brazil , Thailand and Australia succeeded in conveying the instance to the WTO difference colony. WTO assessed that EU sugar exports were â€Å" up to four times more subsidies each twelvemonth than allowed under WTO understandings †[ 12 ], conflicting with the WTO agreemement on subsidies and offseting step ( SCM ) . To this extent, EU trade policy was regarded as protectionist, safeguarding the internal market from third-countries exportations. From the external dimension of the individual market, the chief end of liberalisation was non reached. On the other manus, internal integrating suffered trade recreation. These types of ordinances have created biaised competition and have merely permitted to large manufacturers who are capable of run intoing high criterions to come in the market, ensuing in a really restricted liberalisation[ 13 ]. Voluntary export limitations ( VER ) Export subsidies can be associated with voluntary export limitations. VER have been outlawed harmonizing to WTO regulations. However, it remains a tool of EU trade policy, utilizing as a barrier against the flow of Chinese fabric imports for illustration. VER are quantitative limitation as the celebrated illustration is the understanding for restriction of Chinese fabrics measure authorised on the EU market. China â€Å" voluntary † accepted to curtail its imports assisting EU industries to confront competition. Even if import quotas ended in December 2008 with the Multiple Fibre Arrangement ( MFA ) taking to farther liberalisation, VER are still used protectionist tools. Anti-dumping steps Harmonizing to the WTO web site, dumping â€Å" occurs when goods are exported at a monetary value less than their normal value, by and large intending they are exported for less than they are sold in the domestic market or third-country markets, or at less than production cost †[ 14 ]. Article 6 of GATT/WTO allows state to develop anti-dumping responsibilities ( ADD ) if unjust competition consequences from. But the EU circumvents the WTO model, utilizing arbitraly just trade regulations. The European Union uses the â€Å" Community involvement † to warrant the infliction of ADD which can last up to five old ages[ 15 ]. However, voices have risen against a protection maltreatment of these policies. The EU initiated 287 anti-dumping instances in ten old ages, between 1998 and 2008[ 16 ]. Harmonizing to L. Davis, â€Å" 59 % of instances have involved Asiatic exports, 22 % from China entirely † , particularly because of the higher competition in chemical and metal sector increasing with the development of Asiatic economic systems[ 17 ]. China is now the biggest manufacturer of washers and bolts and this led to enforce anti-dumping on its imports: for case, duties for steel and Fe fasteners are risen from 26.5 % to 85 % , as we can see on the pie chart below[ 18 ]. The developpment of anti-dumping instances underlines the â€Å" subsitution consequence † from duties to non-tarrifs barriers[ 19 ]. The rhetoric of liberalisation fells an implicit in protectionism. Beginning: L.Davis, â€Å" Ten old ages of anti-dumping in the EU: economic and political targeting † , Ecipe working paper, No. 02/2009. The policies applied to these sensitive sectors exemplifie what Professor M. Monti called â€Å" the ambivalent feeling ( of the EU ) about the external dimension of its individual market †[ 20 ]. Surely, harmonizing to B.-T. Hanson, it can be possible to liberalise the internal market associated with external protectionism. However, the chief end of EU trade policy is defined as liberalisation of the universe ‘s market. This contradiction between theory and facts is underlined by the indispensable controversial nature of the nexus between liberalising external trade policy and making a individual market for 27 states[ 21 ]. If what is frequently called â€Å" the Fortress Europe † does non be, inclinations to protectionism are still important in specifying EU trade policy. The statement of Pearce, Sutton and Batchelor in 1985 remains relevant: â€Å" Even if the European economic systems revive, and there is no rush in protectionism elsewhere in the universe, de ficiency of international fight will go on to bring forth force per unit area to protect some sectors in some or all member provinces. The disposition if authoritiess to give to these force per unit areas will likely non alter much †[ 22 ]. Then, if a weak nexus between EU trade policy and individual market liberalisation can be found, the part of EU trade policy to the liberalisation of the SM is non obvious and even seems an obstruction to farther external liberalisation. Discriminatory Trade Agreement The Union supports trade liberalisation through many-sided dialogues within the GATT/WTO, which are based on rule of non-discrimination. Beyond WTO model, the EU has signed legion bilateral understandings with states and regional organisations based on article 24 GATT. For illustration, the EU is presently negociating a Free Trade Area ( FTA ) understanding with ASEAN. EU creates its ain pyramid of penchants that divide its â€Å" trading spouses into friends, lesser friends and enemies †[ 23 ]. These understandings create different degrees of trade liberalisation. It can be deep integrating as it is established in Europe ( EEC ) or free trade understandings as with Mediterranean states. The EU has besides signed partnership understandings with many African, Caribbean and Pacific ( ACP ) states or has established Generalized System of duty Preferences for the poorest countries. â€Å"[ 24 ] In general they are called Preferential Trade Agreements ( PTA ) and can be defined as â€Å" a assortment of agreements that favour member parties over non-members by widening duty and other non-tariff penchants † .[ 25 ]Being of such discriminatory intervention can menace the liberalisation of planetary trade by doing trade recreation. Trade recreation exists because states within trading axis will instead merchandise between them even if the states outside the axis would hold a natural comparative advantage.[ 26 ]The most known instance of favoring the regional penchants was the Banana instance when the ACP states have enjoyed discriminatory entree to the EU market even if the manufacturers from Latin America were the cheapest. This caused a excess loss in economic footings. The SM undergoes external factors that limited complete liberalisation. However, the complex system of discriminatory trade policy does non ever have the lone position of trade liberalisation. As for illustration, under economic grounds are frequently concealed political 1s: protections of human rights or labor criterions travel beyond the pure trade issues[ 27 ]. These understandings are frequently asymmetric, between powerful EU and the development states, which is in a weaker economic and political place and can non truly enforce its demands. Trade policy can be seen as a tool of advancing development and assistance to hapless states as in the instance of ACP-EU Partnership understanding: â€Å" Everything but Arms † plan. The last 1 is a good illustration of understanding which in the name of â€Å" trade penchants is allowing zero-tariff entree to EU ‘s market for all merchandises from these states, except weaponries and weaponries, but in world the most competitory goods from these states as bananas or sugar are excluded from the trad e. †[ 28 ]The understandings of this type do non advance the benefits of farther liberalization to developing states, but are protecting their ain involvements.[ 29 ] The last controversial points about application of common commercial policy are non-trade values used by EU to protect internal market. EU values such as wellness, labor criterions, environment, rural development or cultural diverseness are grounds of curtailing the imports from other states.[ 30 ]We can mention to the prohibition on importing of meat from USA that is known to be treated with endocrines. EU argues that there are possible wellness hazards linked to immune system harm in kids.[ 31 ]Refering this issue we need to emphasize the importance of precautional rule which is defined by the Commission as â€Å" the precautional rule applies where scientific grounds is deficient, inconclusive or unsure and preliminary scientific rating indicates that there are sensible evidences for concern that the potentially unsafe effects on the environment, homo, animate being or works wellness may be inconsistent with the high degree of protection chosen by the EU † .[ 32 ]By utilizi ng this rule EU can curtail the importing of goods from its trading spouses on the footing of protection of consumers. Labour criterions and environmental protection are frequently used to condition the decision of bilateral or regional understandings. A «A The EU is steadfastly committed to advancing core labour criterions and nice work for all in its trade policy, and routinely includes cooperation enterprises and inducements to better working conditions in the trade understandings it negotiates.[ 33 ]A A » Servicess Servicess became a topic of international dialogues merely on the Uruguay Round ( 1986-1994 ) and resulted in the sign language of General Agreement on Trade in Services ( GATS ) . Members committed themselves to avoid any favoritism in the application of its criterions or standards for the mandate, licensing or enfranchisement of services providers and to non curtail trade in services[ 34 ]. Despite this declaration, â€Å" the liberalisation of services is still in its babyhood †[ 35 ]. Covering more than 70 % of EU ‘s GDP[ 36 ], services are instead secondary in its trade forms. Merely 20 % of services, produced in 27 Member States, are provided abroad ( including intra-trade )[ 37 ]. Szymon Bielecki, Sylvie Gori. EU27 international trade in services declined in 2009 following the oncoming of the planetary fiscal crisis. Eurostat Statistics in focal point. 37/2010, p. 4. Service liberalisation is non achieved even on the internal degree of the EU. Monopolies still exist in European states. For illustration, each national railroad company tends to continue dominant place on domestic market. It leads to tensenesss and competitory disadvantages for other possible providers, e.g. such a instance has late occurred between SNCF and DB for the entree to the Gallic web[ 38 ]. Regardless the acceptance of â€Å" Service Directive †[ 39 ], which aimed to advance the freedom to set up a concern in another MS and the freedom to supply services in other MS, the state of affairs with liberalisation of EU Trade in services did non alter significantly. This directive does non merely have considerable spreads in ordinance of legion services, but besides does non concern 3rd states[ 40 ]. The EU for good feels the deficiency of the cohesive trade policy in services. A divided service market is damaging for an economic system largely knowledge-based and service oriented. We should besides take into history the mutuality of services and thenceforth the negative knock-on consequence of barriers[ 41 ]. Technical barriers EU Trade Policy is closely related with other policies, which besides contribute to farther limitations. For case, the protection of the Intellectual Property Rights implies that both trading parties respect and protect rational rights. It resulted in the toughening of EU Customs ordinances[ 42 ]and in a creative activity of a list of precedence states in which state of affairs with IPR protection seems â€Å" the most damaging to EU fight †[ 43 ]. Other barriers are tax-related. The EU has a extremely disconnected revenue enhancement landscape that creates the loopholes for the dual revenue enhancement or revenue enhancement favoritism of consumers and companies. Another instance is the cross-border e-commerce, limited due to the differences in consumer protection regulations, regulations on VAT, recycling fees and levies[ 44 ]. The most dearly-won and hard to get the better of are administrative limitations. Harmonizing to EU jurisprudence a service â€Å" supplier † should hold its registered office, cardinal disposal or chief topographic point of concern within the Community[ 45 ], which about automatically extinguish any foreign provider from the domestic market. It prevents states or companies from â€Å" spread outing their end products in sectors where they have a comparative advantage †[ 46 ]. SMEs ( â€Å" the anchor of the European economic system †[ 47 ]) find themselves in even worse state of affairs than the large companies. The proportion between the antecedently mentioned costs and their size is so immense, that they can non every bit compete with domestic providers and will likely decline to supply cross-border services. â€Å" Now merely 8 % of SMEs are engaged in cross-border trade and merely 5 % have set up subordinates or joint ventures abroad †[ 48 ]. Harmoniz ing to the study, the most of import barriers for SMEs met in exporting are, to call a few, the establishing of a commercial presence abroad ( 16 % of all respondents ) , the deficiency of international criterions for services ( 14 % ) , revenue enhancement issues ( 10 % )[ 49 ]. These limitations have multiple negative effects. They cut down competition between domestic and foreign providers that cause higher monetary values and lower pick for consumers. There are still â€Å" losing links † or â€Å" constrictions † in the Single Market, which exists in theory, but, in world, it is constrained by multiple barriers and regulative obstructions[ 50 ]. Decision Despite the declared EU Single Market ends for the hereafter, such as â€Å" openness to planetary trade and investing † , â€Å" rejection of protectionism † , â€Å" the remotion of behind-the-border obstructions † and â€Å" greater attending to the international dimension †[ 51 ]in fixing the new ordinances, in pattern EU states resemble the half-open doors. By and large they have a free entryway, but the breadth of the transition varies well depending on the EU ‘s â€Å" pyramid of penchants † . the EU is frequently accused of holding an ambivalent attitude towards the GATT/WTO. Simultaneously it actively supports trade liberalisation via Rounds and the edifice up of a universe trade jurisprudence, but refuse to thoroughly implement it. Homes bias + province ‘s different policies.

Happiness and the Good Life Essay

What is the relation between living a good life and being happy? To many, the good life is a financially prosperous life, and happiness lies in the possession of wealth. Worldly success is what counts, and anyone who is not ‘successful’ in the usual sense is counted a ‘failure.’ Others strive for a life based on honor and public recognition. A good life is made up of hobnobbing with the right people in the right settings, and happiness is a matter of gaining respect. Along with these, there are lives that show by their living a desire for glory or power that inspires great efforts. Others, who are not drawn to wealth, power or glory because of the difficulties involved in attaining them, may choose the pursuit of pleasure. A good and happy life is one in which pleasures outweigh the pains overall. Many questions have been asked about the good life and happiness. People constantly answer those questions with their lives, and we see many different ideas of the good life and happiness playing out in the strivings of human beings to live well and be happy. The ancient Greeks wished their friends to ‘do well’ and ‘fare well’ in this life. These two, they thought, held the keys to human felicity. Doing well concerns ourselves, our own actions and feelings. We have some control over these aspects of our lives. So when we wish someone to ‘do well’ in life, we express the hope that the person will be moral and fair in his or her dealings with others. Beyond securing basic physical survival, someone who does well in life can sleep with a clear conscience, whether blessed with material success or not. From many a philosophical point of view, the good life has an intrinsically moral core that involves compassion for the suffering of others and acting justly in the world. ‘Faring well’ concerns events and occurrences over which we do not have so much control. â€Å"Faring well† means succeeding in life, coming into a prosperous condition, with all the benefits that come with money and social acceptance. Someone who is faring well in life has had a bit of good luck. It is possible to do everything right in order to succeed, but still fail to do so. For example, you can study hard for your degree, get your professional qualifications, work diligently, become competent, but still not succeed. The cards may not fall your way. As Sartre says, â€Å"You are free to try, but not to succeed.† This seems right to me, and so I will come down with Aristotle against Plato on this point, that doing well is not all that is involved in attaining happiness in life. Plato’s Socrates famously says that the good person cannot be harmed, that virtue is knowledge, and that happiness consists entirely of doing well and being just. Aristotle argues that a degree of luck plays into our happiness. He insists that most of our happiness is in our own hands, but that it can be affected by outside circumstances. So while being happy is mostly a matter of ‘doing well’ (and ‘thinking well’), great misfortunes can damage our happiness. It may be that such a person, by ‘doing well,’ will attain a degree of dignity in suffering, but he will not be happy; or, as Aristotle has it, ‘blessed.’ In light of this result, I hazard an intuitive philosophical account of the relation between the good life and happiness. Living a good life is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for happiness. In other words, it is possible to live a good life without being happy, but not happy without living a good life. This a ‘philosophical’ account of the relation because many philosophers have a particular idea of happiness and the good life that is not shared by everyone, with their emphasis on clarity of thought and sound reasoning. In addition, though philosophers recommend the philosophical life as both the happiest and the best, they are not in a position to legislate for everyone what happiness must be. Nevertheless, the traditional philosophical view is not without support. All we have to do is look at the results of many lives that strive for wealth, power, fame, glory or pleasure. So many disasters befall those who pursue a good life with no moral core, or reflective turn of mind, that it makes some sense, as philosophers argue, to pursue the wisdom to recognize the good life, and, within that life, such happiness human beings can attain.

Health Care Reform Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

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CAPM Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 3

CAPM - Assignment Example An investment of risky investment calls for compensation of the respective investor for the time and money devoted to the investment. Typically, the time value of money is symbolized by risk free (rf) in the formula. This is meant to reimburse an investor for investing money for some period of time. On the other hand, the risk measures the amount of reparation that is needed by an investor for taking an additional risk. It is computed by taking the beta that measures the return of the asset in the market over a period and market premium. Other assumptions of the model are: there is perfect competition in the market and, therefore, an individual cannot affect any price of an asset by selling or buying. All the investors have the same information regarding the availability of the securities prices and their respective risks involved. All investors in the market have an idea of making decisions based on variances and expected returns of the portfolios they desire to invest. It should be noted that beta indeed measures the amount of risk that is involved in investing in a particular stock in relation to the market risk. For example, if the market beta is 1 and an investor’s security has a beta of 2, it would be riskier than an investor’s security of 0.25. The theory postulate that expected return of a portfolio is equal to risk free security plus a risk premium then multiplied by systematic risk of the asset. Ra = rf + Beta (rm –rf). For example in the market, the risk free rate =4%, the beta of the stock = 2 and market return is 12% over time, the expected return of the stock will be 4%+2(12%-4%) =20%. The beta, therefore, provides an answer to the risk return relationship. CAPM model provides a vital account for pricing the debt and equity. This is because it takes into consideration factors like risk free rate that is

Looking for Richard Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

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Ebay e business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Ebay e business - Essay Example usiness technology plays an imperative part by which organisation can customise its broad assortment of products or services, enhance productivity, raise customer satisfaction and attain superior competitive position among others. With the emergence of internet and different forms of web-based technologies, huge differences can be observed between traditional and international electronic marketplace. Through this technique i.e. e-business, majority of the companies are capable to determine their potential opportunities and comprehend the necessary skills and human capital that are required to grab those opportunities in an efficient manner (Thomson Reuters, 2013). The primary purpose of this research study is to reveal the role of technological advancements in the modern e-business environment. Moreover, the rationale of this study is also to identify the scope of e-business for the modern organisations. With regard to the present business context, the modern organisations tend to conduct their business operations with the help of internet or executing e-business technologies. It has been apparently observed that majority of the organisations perform their respective business or operational functions under dynamic, rapid changing and highly competitive environment. With the help of e-business technology, these organisations are capable to understand their overall marketing scenario and indentify opportunities towards attaining long-term sustainable growth. Therefore, it is quite essential to understand how e-business technology supports today’s business organisations in efficiently conducting their respective operational activities (SAGE Publications, n. d.). Through this study, it would be quite easy to understand about which way companies utilize e-business techniques while developing business models, implementing strategies and making effective delivery of products or serv ices. This study also shows how international companies operate its overall business

Fight Club Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Fight Club - Essay Example The story is a distortion of core US obsession culture of consumerism, therapy and violence because the movie initially offers fighting as remedy and male bonding exercise in hope to re-masculine men castrated by consumerism. The understanding in the movie never seeks to resolve personal dissatisfaction within the public sphere; but rather suggests that organization is feasible via private and violent expressions. However, the brilliant representation of violent acts in the disruptive way offers a way of inciting discourse regarding gender identity and violence, which leaves space for public discussion. The movie tends to open this space, regardless of its critique because violence offers a way of analyzing culture dictated by consumerism and commercialization and showing the challenges associated with normal gender relations. Hence, fight club seems to be a necessary way of discussing the gender identity and the generation of white masculinity. The fight club presents the discipline of violence as a therapy for masculine powerlessness and such a discipline prepares a man for pain essential to contest social power in job, relationship and conceivably in the large socio-political arena. The cleverness in the movie leaves one with the feeling of powerless and insensitive as the movies plays with serious problems within the society; even though, it does not offer any resolution. The movie tweaks the discourse because qualities of discarded objects are significantly brought to life in the film as they are animated in the relation between use of value and exchange of value. However, the movie illustrates capitalism by the struggle within domains of use and exchange and defends the use of value and exchange of value in a manner consistent with moderate defense of capitalism. At its best the boxing movie offers suffering as a way of attaining insight instead of endorsing pain as an avenue of power and appropriates conflict within the movie. The value of the movie lies in its power to stir people and force them to contemplate their own lives in a crucial way and then decide if the individuals have chosen reasonable option to undergo change. Although, the movie does not offer answers, which remains the single reason the movie is disdained, the movie aims at evoking the right concerns and motivating the people to act. Fight club offers a contemporary emotional wasteland and ridicules people fledging attempts to cope exemplified when Jack wakes while on business flight and meets Tyler, who offers a different solution that involved blowing out apartment, learning to strike and taking a hard punch and relishing the pain. In the movie, boxing translates to pain, which is essential in liberation because the movie advocates that through willingness to embrace suffering, one can overcome fear and exercise power that would culminate in resurrection of one’s masculinity. Members of the club engage in knock down aimed at making individuals feel good t hrough fist fights and the club soon attracts disciples who consider Tyler to be their leader. Tyler take the mission of urging followers to reclaim masculinity through renouncing possessions, stale routines and comforts by expressing their rage through bloody, bare-knuckle fistfights. The movie’s triumph is paradoxical because one overcomes powerlessness through channeling anger in bare-knuckle fights that regenerate the psyche while battering the body. Hence, power in the movie arises from self-immolation because at night the desire to hit and be hit

Workplace Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Workplace Communication - Essay Example They have communicated their reservation about the O-ring’s potential for failure but as the disaster would tell, they were not able to send their message across effectively. The launch still commenced leading to the explosion of the Shuttle just seconds after the launch. It became clear that the Challenger Disaster was a communication issue as reported by the findings of Roger Commission, the body that was formed by President Ronald Reagan to investigate the explosion. The result of the investigation showed that the people in the telephone conference from Marshal Space Flight Center had different understanding of the message that the engineers were trying to convey which is why the Shuttle was still launched despite of the engineer’s reservation. The Columbia Shuttle flight 107 disaster may have a different circumstance from the Shuttle Challenger but it still ended up in disaster just like its predecessor. The common culprit is again miscommunication. Again, the engineers had expressed their reservation about the foam prior to the Columbia launch. But they were not able to communicate its message to the proper authorities effectively so the launch was still commenced ending in the same tragedy. Both the tragic stories of Space Shuttle Challenger and Columbia taught me the importance of not only communicating my message clearly and completely, but I should also consider if my messages are reaching the intended audience at a right time and opportunity. This story may be funny but sometimes working with senior citizens in the office can have humorous implications. I took a summer job before and this is where my experience happened. Our boss can already be considered as a senior citizen but he is still brisk at work. One time, I was asked to write a report for a monthly meeting which I happily obliged. I gathered all my data at the office and told my boss that I will have it done by the weekend and will send

Debate over the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 Essay Example for Free

Debate over the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 Essay Once they arrived a French spokesman demanded 32 million florins and 250,000 for talking to Talleyrand. This did not include any promise of a resolution. Furious, the American delegates left. Once they got back to America, the rest of the nation was ready for war. That undeclared war was mainly fought on the seas for two and a half years. President Adams Alien and Sedition Acts were proposed to punish the French but also to ruin the Republican Party. Adams knew that immigrants made up the Republican Party in large part from France, England and Ireland. By halting the immigration of those people, Adams could slowing get rid of Jeffersons Party. The debates for these acts were between the Federalists and the Republicans. Along with needing these immigrants to support their party, Republicans found these acts wrong. As Thomas Jefferson once said, l am not a Federalist, because I never submitted the whole system of my opinions to the creed of any party of men whatever in religion, in philosophy, in politics, or in anything else where I was capable of thinking for myself. Such an addiction is the last degradation of a free and moral agent. On the other said, the Federalists felt that they should not feel bad for France even if it is morally wrong. Alexander Hamilton said, The man who shall be the apologist of France, and [who attacks] his own government, is not an American. The choice for him lies between being deemed a fool, a madman, or a traitor. The new American position on immigration violated its policy of friendly adaptation to immigrants. Due to the Alien Act and the Alien Enemies Act immigrants were afraid to live in America fearing deportation or imprisonment. The Alien Act gave the President power to deport all such aliens as he shall Judge dangerous to the peace and safety of the Untied States. The Alien Enemies Act allowed the restraint and removal in time of war or resident adult aliens of the hostile nation. The Sedition Act caused the most uproar among Americans. It infringed upon two freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. The freedoms, both included in the first amendment, were freedom of speech and freedom of press. The law said that anyone who spoke out against any government officials, including the president, would be imprisoned and fined. The act Jailed a number of Democratic Republican editors, publishers and politicians. Politicians looked to use the Acts to rid themselves nd the country ot political threats and those who expressed contrary views. Ultimately this was seen as a threat to freedom that Americans had fought so hard to win. Thomas Jefferson was afraid that if they were able to remove freedom of speech and freedom of press, they would eventually take away other constitutional promises. Jefferson could not openly protest these acts because he feared prosecution. He secretly created resolutions, which Kentucky approved in 1789 and 1799. History viewed these Acts to be the biggest blunder of Adams presidency and could have overshadowed what was considered a highly effective tenure.

Leadership Development In The Malaysian Army Management Essay

Leadership Development In The Malaysian Army Management Essay Before formulating the right strategy on leadership development in the Malaysian Army, there is a need do external analysis on environmental of Malaysia and comparative analysis on US and Singapore Army Leadership Development and the current Leadership Development in the Malaysian Army. Then the internal analysis on Malaysian Army Leadership Development on its organizational structure, vision, mission, roles and tasks and its Leadership Development efficiency has been conducted. From the finding on the external analysis of Malaysian environment there are some factors that affects Leadership Development Program in the Malaysian Army either political, economy, security, technology and government budget. These factors will shape the strategic direction of the Malaysian Army on its Leadership Development and to ensure that its leaders could adapt the challenging and demanding changes of the Malaysian environment to fulfill its roles and tasks especially on its expanding tasks and to keep its still relevant from the public perception. In term of the political factors, there are certain programs and initiatives that should be considered for the Leadership Development in the Malaysian Army such as Defense Policy formulated by the government, expanding roles on managing National Service Training Program, participation in NBOS, involvement in UN missions and involvement in promotion of LIMA and DSA. Therefore, Leadership Development Programs should include these additional tasks to ensure the leaders understand the requirement to fulfill these tasks. Leadership Development also could be developed through National Defense University by providing the serving officers the opportunity for self-education. Technical capabilities of the officers could be enhanced by active participation in defense industries to keep pace with the changing technology. The government also recognized the need for talented Army officers to develop the country and to achieve the Vision 2020 by appo intment as minister in the cabinet, chairman or president in Government Link Company (GLC) and also as High Commissioner or Ambassador which was happening before. In term of economy, it will affected the Malaysian Army in attracting talented people, retention and also its defense budget, salary and compensation. 106. For the external analysis, in order to benchmark for the best practice on the Leadership Development for the Army, the finding on comparative study on Leadership Development in US Army as a well developed Army and Singapore Army as neighbouring country of Malaysia has been conducted. The finding on the comparative analysis has shown that their macro environment in term of political, economy, security, technology and government budget has shaped their army and their macro environment are quite different from Malaysian Army. The US and Singapore Army Leadership Development Model and Process are based on their defence policy where their policy is well defined and make it easy for their army to develop the right strategy, commitment of the Government to build-up capable army which fully supported by their government, Army vision, mission and objectives that will generate the right strategy for their Leadership Development Model and Process, Army roles and tasks that are based on the ir vision, mission and objectives, allocation of defence budget where very high and will support their Army development programs, They also could attract talented people to join the army because of their good image and professionalism, public perception on the Army is very good and their Leadership Development Process will be tailored to their Leadership Development Model. 107. Based on the external analysis on the benchmark of Leadership Development in US and Singapore Army, there are some unique capabilities that could make a Leadership Development successful such as commitment by the Government to enhance Leadership Development, high budget allocation, the existence of defence universities, inter-agency/department co-operation with the Army, well defined public perception towards the Army, the need for Army officers to be well rounded and knowledgeable officers that could cope up any security situation challenges that arise, expanding roles of the Army especially in secondary roles on developing the nation to be addressed by the Army through their Leadership Development Programs to enhance the officers ability and capability to do these expanding roles, utilizing the technology better that could have significant advantages against its adversary, the Army of multiple skills and capability, the existence of Centre of Leadership Development, the need o f systematic and continuous training and education of the officer, commitment by all domains in Leadership Development, joint services integration of the Armed Forces, intellectual Army officers, multiple skills of Army officers, enhance the value of Army officers, efficiency and aggressive marketing and talented people attracted to join the Army. All of these unique capabilities should be considered by the Malaysian Army to come up with the right strategy for its Leadership Development Programs. 108. Compared to Malaysian Army internal analysis, its Leadership Development model is also based on Malaysian Defence Policy but the policy is not well defined and therefore the Army could not develop the right strategy for its leadership development. However, the Malaysian government is also committed to build-up capable Army that could perform its roles and tasks in defending the country from external threats though its General Defence Policy. The Malaysian Army also has vision, mission, objectives, roles and tasks that will generate the right strategy for their Leadership Development Model and Process. Allocation of Defence Budget is lower compared to US and Singapore Army and could hinder Malaysian Army modernization and development programs. Malaysian Army as profession could not attract talented people to join the Army because sceptical public perception on the Army even it has good image and professionalism since the public think that the military is just wasting the Governme nt money without any real external threats. 109. In term of comparison on Leadership Development Mission, Goal, Model and Programs in the US, Singapore and Malaysian Army as mentioned before, there are a set of criteria that have been analysed; Defence Policy, commitment of the government to build-up capable army, Army vision, mission and objectives, Army roles and tasks, allocation of defence budget, attraction to talented people to join the army, public perception on the Army, Leadership Development Model and Leadership Development Process. After analysing the comparison, The US and Singapore Army Leadership Development Model are based their defence policy same as Malaysian Army. Their governments are committed to build-up capable army especially on modernizing and developing their Army through high defence budget compared to Malaysian Defence Budget which is lower. US, Singapore and Malaysian Army have their own vision, mission and objectives that will generate the right strategy for their Leadership Development Model and P rocess based on the defence policy. All the Army has roles and tasks that are based on their vision, mission and objectives. All Army has their own Leadership Development Model and Process is quite similar. 110. The summary of comparison between US, Singapore and Malaysian Army is shown in Table 5. Criteria US Army Singapore Army Malaysian Army Defense policy Well defined Well defined No Defense White Paper Government Commitment Fully Committed Fully Committed Partially Committed Army VMO Defense of the country sovereignty and interest from external threats Defense of the country sovereignty and interest from external threats Defense of the country sovereignty and interest from external threats Army Roles and Tasks Based on VMO Based on VMO Based on VMO Defense Budget High (4.7% GDP) High (6.0% GDP) Lower (6.0% GDP) Talented People Likely to join the Army National Service Last Resort Public Perception Very Good Very Good Good Leadership Development Model Operational, Institutional and Self Development Institutional Training and Education, Duty Assignment and Self Development Institutional Training and Education, Duty Assignment and Self Development Leadership Development Process Based on the Model Based on the Model Based on the Model Table 5: Comparison of Leadership Development between US, Singapore and Malaysian Army Source: Author 111. From the comparison on Leadership Development in US and Singapore Army, there are some unique capabilities that could make a Leadership Development successful. There are few weaknesses form the comparison such as there is no Defence White Paper to provide Strategic direction and guidance on the defence of Malaysia, lower budget allocation that make the Leadership Development in the Malaysian Army lacking of funding on acquiring the latest military equipment and to enhanced its training institutions facilities and establishment of Centre of Leadership Development and the sceptical public perception on the Malaysian Army that make it difficult to attract talented people to join the Army. The Malaysian Government need to be more committed to the defence matters especially on defence budget allocation, coordinating inter-agency/department cooperation, educate the public the need to security and defence for the stability of the country for well defined public perception towards the A rmy, establishing of Centre of Leadership Development through budget allocation and additional non-military tasks given is based on the Armys capabilities. In term of Leadership Development Model, US, Singapore and the Malaysian Army are about the same. However, on Leadership Development Process there are some qualities that need to be considered by the Malaysian Army as mentioned earlier. SWOT ANALYSIS 113. Based on the external analysis on macro environment of Malaysia and comparative analysis on US and Singapore Army and then the internal analysis of the Malaysian Army, there are certain opportunities, threats, strength and weaknesses based on a SWOT- Matrix Analysis that effects Leadership Development in the Army as shown at Exhibit 11. STRENGTH/CAPABILITIES OF THE MALAYSIAN ARMY 114. Army is Professional, honorable profession and providing a secure job. Therefore, the Army has to do a proper marketing with focus on the Army as professional, honorable, secure job and clear career progression based on military courses requirement. At the same time the Army also is providing opportunity to officers for further education especially courses not related to military offered by the Defense University. 115. The Government provides the opportunity for officers to serve in the government as Minister or Ambassador as recognition of the capability of the Army officers that has been develop through Leadership Development but not all officers has the opportunity. Therefore, The Army has to continuously reviewing its Leadership Development Concept, Model and Program to ensure to develop its officers knowledge, skills and experience. Since the Government has established Defense University, it is a good opportunity to officers for further education especially courses not related to military offered by the University. However, it is depend on budget allocation and the capability of the university to offer more courses not related to military. 116. The Army has well structured organization, with clear vision, mission, objectives, clear purpose, roles and functions, even there is no Defense White Paper. However, the Army through Malaysian Armed Forces and Ministry of Defense should insist on the government to come up with Defense White Paper, additional defense budget for establishment of Leadership Development Centre and more further education opportunity, more inter-agency/department co-operation coordinated by the Government most probably by the Home Affairs Ministry that involve the Police Force, Immigration Department, Fire Engine Department, Custom Department, Civil Defense Department and other relevant department that normally will be working together on non-military tasks with the Army. 117. The Army also has to accept the expanding non-military tasks mandated by the government as secondary roles such as to curb smuggling activities, illegal logging, drug and human trafficking, illegal immigrants, environmental damage, trans-borders activities and search and rescue (SAR) of the civilians, etc, but it should be based on its capabilities. Therefore, a successful Leadership Development Concepts, Model and Process will be based on the requirement of military and non-military tasks. However, currently, the Army is well developed on establishing Leadership Development training on military tasks but still lacking on the training and education on non-military tasks. Therefore, Leadership Development in the Army has to be continuously kept pace the changing security environment and the expanding roles and tasks. At the same time, the Army also has to work together with The Malaysian Armed Forces for joint service training so that it will enhance the operational experience of the Army officers as what required in the Leadership Development and more inter-agency/department co-operation to perform its non-military tasks. WEAKNESSES/LACKING IN THE MALAYSIAN ARMY 118. Insufficient defense budget allocation for modernization, education and improvement on training facilities has effected Leadership Development in the Army. Therefore as mentioned earlier, the Army through Malaysian Armed Forces and Ministry of Defense should insist on the government to come up with additional defense budget for the modernization, establishment of Leadership Development Centre and more further education opportunity. If the Government recognizes the need for additional budget for further education to the officers it will provide better education and experience so that could enhance the value of Army officers. 119. In order to attract talented and intellectual people to join the Army and to avoid skeptical and not well defined public perception, as mentioned earlier, proper marketing has to be conducted. In term of Leadership Development, the Army has to improve its Leadership Development Process and Support Systems, ensure commitment by all domains, provide opportunity for the officers for duty assignment and operational experience especially on non-military tasks,, enforced self-development to the officers and accept the fact that additional tasks as part of the secondary roles in the Army to counter the identity crisis as warrior of war against doing non-military tasks. These Non-military tasks also should be covered in training institutions and further education. 120. Since the technical advancement provide the challenges to keep pace with old technologies and lack of defense industry participation, the Army should keep pace with technology advancement and provide opportunity for the officers to participate in defense industry activities. Since there is uncertainty of future security situation that needs to address continuously but at the same time additional tasks keep on expanding, the Army should be focusing on the immediate threat to the Malaysian sovereignty and how to face the uncertainty through Leadership Development Programs that will develop the officers on critical and analytical thinking capabilities based on the situation. 121. The Army also should develop the inexperience officers in duty assignment and operational experience with more frequency in Army operations, training, exercises and involve in more inter-agency/department cooperation coordinated by the Government that involve the Police Force, Immigration Department, Fire Engine Department, Custom Department, Civil Defense Department and other relevant department that normally will be working together on non-military tasks with the Army. Therefore, as mentioned earlier the trainings should be focus on this inter-agency cooperation and should be included in Leadership Development in the Army. CHAPTER VI STRATEGY FORMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY FORMULATION 122. Malaysian Army as part of The Malaysian Armed Forces has the vision, mission, roles, tasks and functions based on the Armed Forces strategic guidance and eventually Malaysian Defense Policy as the main roles is to defense the country from external threats and secondary roles to perform additional tasks. In order to fulfill these tasks, the responsibility is on the officers of the Malaysian Army and a proper Leadership Development Program has to be developed for the officers to keep pace with the current and future security environment, military and additional tasks non- military tasks on supporting the country in nation building and development. Leadership Development in the Malaysian Army should be tailored with the external environment of Malaysia in term of political, economic, social, security and budget allocation. At the same time, the formulation of the Strategy also should be based on the internal analysis of benchmarking of other armies for the best Leadership Developme nt Concept, Model and Process. 123. The Malaysian Army has to develop a comprehensive Leadership Development Strategy to prepare officers to lead soldiers in the future. The current Leadership Development that consist: Leadership Development Concepts, Model (Institutional Training and Education, Duty and Operational Assignments and Self-Development), and Process (Responsibility, Integration, Sequences, Assessment, Feedback and Evaluation) are on the right track but need to be review and add some more details. This strategic direction for the training and education, operational experience and self development could create conditions for the development of its leader to perform their tasks in full range of primary and secondary tasks. The future operational environment would likely to be highly dynamic, complex and competitive that could be a challenge to the Malaysian Army. The focus of Leadership Development should be to enable officers to lead the soldiers, develop their subordinates and achieve the operational g oal. In order to develop the officers in Leadership Development, focus should be on training institutions and education, duty and operational assignment and self development and they need to be integrated successfully. 124. These domains has to be elaborate further down on how best the Army could fully develop its leaders within the limited resources and time to implement the strategy. The Strategy for Leadership Development in the Malaysian Army involve the commitment of training institutions, leaders and the officers themselves for a life long learning and development, balancing commitment to the training, education and experiences as component of Leadership Development, prepare officers for multiple threats and a full range of military missions through outcomes-based training and education, achieve balance and predictability in personnel policies and professional military education, manage the armys military talent to benefit both the institution and individual, prepare leaders by replicating the complexity of the operational environment in courses and units, produce leaders who are mentors and committed to developing their subordinates, prepare select leaders for responsibility at the national level and enhance their values, strengthen army leaders demonstrated understanding of their profession or arms and inspire commitment to the professional ethics. 125. The Army now needs Leadership Development that both meets immediate (short-term) requirements and long-term needs. An uncertain and complex future security environment continues to demand that Army Leadership Development Programs has to be review continuously and also prepare leaders to perform their tasks in future military or non-military tasks. The officers should be given the opportunity for their development through Leadership Development Programs to enable them to be confidence, competent, knowledgeable and skillful and experienced to lead their soldiers to the future. The Strategy for Leadership Development in the Malaysian Army will provide the characteristics for the Army leaders as they progress through their careers on how best to perform their tasks. The strategy should focus on aspects for the integration of policies, programs and initiatives to produce Army leaders. The strategy also could be guidance for career-long development of Army leaders through education, t raining and experience. The Leadership Development is not one time basis but also should be deliberate, continuous, sequential and progressive. The Army should create a learning organization that keep track of the changing security environment, future technologies, expanding roles in operation other than war and non-military tasks of supporting the government on nation building and development. 126. The Leadership Development strategy will consist of how best the Army institutions will adapt the way in which to develop leaders. There are challenges on external and internal environment that will affect the strategy on Leadership Development. What the Army must do in Leadership Development is to educate, train and provide necessary experiences either operational or non operational in order to perform their roles and tasks successfully. Therefore, there is a need for full commitment of three important domains in Leadership Development which is Training Institutions and Education, Duty and Operational Assignment and Self Learning. 127. However, there is a conflict between these domains such as to allow the officers development through education and training and at the same time to give enough operational experiences to the officers. At the same time self-development also will be difficult if they dont have the time. In order to be successful, there are certain aspects that need to be considered such as what leader qualities that the Army wants the leaders characteristics, leaders attributes and leaders core competencies. The Army has to increase the effort to develop each of the officers and ensure that it could manage most talented leaders to lead the Army in the future. There is also a need to establish The Centre for Army Leadership Development for the Malaysian Army which is currently The Malaysian Army does not have where this establishment could develop, review and refine the Leadership Development in the Malaysian Army continuously. 128. With all the discussion on the External Analysis and how they effected the Leadership Development in the Malaysian Army and comparative analysis on Leadership Development of US and Singapore Army and their unique capabilities, and also on Internal Analysis of the Malaysian Army organization, vision, mission, roles, function, ethos and current Leadership Development Concepts, Model and Process, therefore the Strategy for Leadership Development in the Malaysian Army should be formulated based on the followings: a. Commitment by the Government to the Army. (1) The government has provided general Defense Policy but there is no Defense White Paper. Therefore, the government should come up with Defense White Paper to provide proper direction and guideline on the main roles and tasks of the Army as shown in the US and Singapore Army. What is happening now is the government keeps adding additional tasks on supporting and assisting the government for nation building and development. (2) In term of budget allocation, the government should give sufficient budget allocation to the Army so that the training establishment could upgrade the facilities to implement Leadership Development Programs better especially for tertiary education with various fields of study to pursue the best development strategy and plan to be implemented in the Army. (3) The Government has established National Defense University to train officers and commissioned them to the Armed forces as officers. It also provides the opportunities for the Army officers to further their studies in other fields rather than war strategy and broadened their knowledge as shown by the US Army. It will also provide the Army officers the chance for higher level of education but it needs sufficient budget allocation. However, the university has to offer more courses because currently the courses offered are quite limited. (4) In term of security and stability of the country, there is a need of cooperation between the Army and other agencies such as public services, NGO and private sectors especially when dealing with internal threat to the security Therefore, the Government should coordinate these cooperation. b. Commitment by the Army. (1) Attract talented youth to joint the Army as Officers. The current situation in Malaysia now is military profession is the last resort for job seekers. Compared to US and Singapore Army, talented people would like to joint the Army because the good image and challenges provide by the organizations. (2) Well Defined Public Perception Towards Malaysian Army. The Army has to build up a good image and professional in performing their roles and tasks that will enhance a good reputation and perception from the public. The Army roles and tasks are not only protecting the country from any external aggression but also helping the nation in developing the country. (3) Uncertainty of Security Situation in the Future. The uncertainty of security situation in the future will demand the Malaysian Army officers to be well rounded and knowledgeable officers that could cope up any security situation challenges that arise. . (4) Military Institution and Officers Facing New Challenges. Expanding Roles of the Army especially in secondary roles on non-military tasks of assisting the Government on nation building and development make the Army to do several tasks at the same time. These non-military tasks need to be addressed by the Army through its Leadership Development Programs to enhance the officers ability and capability to do these expanding roles. (5) Technical Advancement. The Future warfare will involve modern, sophisticated and advance technology that needs the Army officers keeping pace with the changes. However the technology acquired by the Army is based on the defense allocation. The Malaysian Army should include in its Leadership Development focusing on officers to enhance their knowledge and expertise in technology in keeping abreast with the latest technology to face the future wars and challenges. (6) The Trend towards Small Army with Multiple Skills and Capabilities. The Malaysian Army has reducing the strength to become small army with multiple skills and capability as what most of the armies do. These trends will need leaders that very capable to lead the Army that could fulfill the vision, mission, roles and tasks with limited personnel. (7) Intellectual Army Officers. The Army has to develop intellectual officers in its Leadership Development Program that have the ability of critical, analytical and creative thinking to cope with unpredictable situations that they are facing so that they could make quick and right decision to address the situations. (8) Multiple Skills of Army Officers. The Leadership Development should consider the requirement to enhance the knowledge, skills and experiences of the Army officers not only in military tasks but also in non-military tasks in the future that will demand different knowledge, skills and experiences to address the situations. (9) Enhance the Value of Army Officers. A successful Leadership Development Programs will create a true professional officer with knowledge, skills and experiences where they will be respected by the public and will enhance their value especially when they retired and they can work with prestige private sector companies. (10) Training and Education. Training is very crucial in Leadership Development in the Army especially at the beginning of officer career and should continuously developed throughout the career. These training will be imparted through courses in army training institution (career and functional courses), unit training, exercises and involvement of different types of operations. However, most of the courses conducted in the training institutions are on the military subjects. Non-military tasks have to be included also as part of the subjects in the courses offered to the officers so that they could enhance their knowledge not only on military but also on non-military tasks. The Leadership Development in education is imparted through tertiary education in various field offers the officers that will broaden their knowledge and skills and not just related to their respective arms and services and about warfighting. (11) Commitment by All Domains in Leadership Development. The Malaysian Army Leadership Development Domains which include training institution and education, assignments and operational experience and self-development should focus on the Leadership Development start from the basic level at their cadet school to instill the right leadership qualities and traits and throughout the officers career. (12) Joint Services integration of the Armed Forces. The leadership development in the Malaysian Army should focus on joint service integration between the Navy and the Air Force. (13) Leadership Development Model and Process. The Army should review its Leadership Development Model and Process by benchmarking of the best practices by other armies in order to keep pace with the changes in the security environment and its roles and tasks. STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION 129. The strategy implementation will consist of Short and Long Term Plan that will be based on the findings on External Analysis of the Malaysia Army that comprises macro environment in geo-strategic security situation and political, economy, technology and government budget of Malaysia and the benchmarking of Leadership Development of the Army in other countries. The strategy also will be based on the Malaysian Army Internal Analysis in term of its organization, vision, mission, roles, function, ethos and current Leadership Development Concepts, Model and Process. The strategy needs to consider the primary roles on military tasks of the Malaysian Army and its secondary roles in non-military tasks that keep expanding which is the expectation of the public for the Army to be more involved since there is no perceive threats to the country. The plan also should include the need of the Armys efficiency in Leadership Development continuous improvement by reviewing and updating its Leader ship Development to keep pace on the future security challenges on its doctrine, tactics, techniques, procedures and warfighting philosophy for its military tasks. In performing on its expanding non-military tasks (such as to curb smuggling activities, illegal logging, drug and human trafficking, illegal immigrants, environmental damage, trans-borders activities and search and rescue (SAR) of the civilians, etc.), there is a need for the Army for not working in silos and has to cooperate with other public services (such as the Police, the Immigrations, the Customs, the Fire Brigade, Forestry Department, National Drugs Agency,

Theories for Causes of Aggressive Behaviour

Theories for Causes of Aggressive Behaviour Compare and contrast social and biological accounts of the causes of aggressive behaviour. Aggression is defined as: (a) ‘a quality of anger and determination that makes you ready to attack other people’; (b) ‘violent and attacking behaviour’ (Collins, 2003). Whereas love, friendship and affiliation are positive, adaptive and constructive social influences, aggression is associated with violence, antisocial behaviour and destruction. Examples of aggressive behaviour range from arguments, to road rage, terrorism and war. Aggression then is physical or verbal behaviour that is intended to harm another person. This work examines aggressive behaviour in terms of biological and social-learning processes providing theoretical and research evidence. Ethologists like Konrad Lorenz (2002) have identified several human behaviours, including aggression, that allow animals to gather and keep the fundamental resources for survival, mating, reproducing and caring for children. Discovering, taking and holding a territory provides the background on which the life cycle occurs. Many animals engage in territorial signalling to defend their territory mostly for mating and feeding purposes. Territorial signalling is adaptive because it prevents potentially destructive aggressive behaviours. The majority of animal aggression is due to mating, therefore, natural selection predisposes animals towards aggressive behaviour. Male and female animals compete for mates and patterns of sexual behaviour help us understand various form of aggressive behaviour. Nevertheless, psychologists disagree about which of these biological inferences of other animals are relevant to humans. Evolutionary psychologists claim that they do apply to humans and postulate that territorial behaviour exists both in humans and in animals for the same reasons (Barkow, Cosmides Tooby, 1992). Most adults attempt to restrict their mate’s sexual activities, using territorial signalling and emotional displays. For example, jealousy and aggression during courtship and mating are seen in arguments (territorial signalling) and physical fighting (when signalling fails). This is obvious in that men in many cultures and subcultures continue to think of their wives as property – part of the territory they defend. Furthermore, comparison studies of identical twins that were brought up together and apart reveal a genetic effect on aggression. Twin studies (Miles Carey, 1997; Rowe, Almeida Jacobson, 1999) and the existence of gender differences (Buss Perry, 1992; Loeber Hay, 1997) support the idea that genes predispose a person towards being aggressive. The presence of the male hormone testosterone is also related to aggression. Laboratory experiments with mice and monkeys have shown that castration both lowers the levels of testosterone and aggressive behaviour. Contrary, the administration of testosterone to castrated animals and normal animals increase aggressive behaviour. Moreover, males who have been imprisoned for violent crimes and who are more violent than others while imprisoned, have higher testosterone levels than less violent prisoners (Dabbs, Carr, Frady Riad, 1995). In order to be able to decide effectively whether children learn aggressive behaviour, the theories of aggression which claim that it is an innate capacity will be considered. The view that aggression is innate comes from the fact that few parents actually teach their children to be aggressive. However, Bandura’s (1971) early work indicated that children who have seen another person behaving aggressively will be increasingly likely to demonstrate aggressive behaviour. Later he proposed that aggression is actually something we learn to demonstrate because it seems to be useful to us. The likelihood of children imitating the behaviour will increase if they see the person being rewarded (reinforced) for their aggression by getting what they want. For example, a child who has become a very aggressive bully at school because he has learned that he will get what he wants. Where has he learned to be aggressive? Bandura (1971) argues that children learn by seeing others behaving aggre ssively during their childhood, or adolescence, through their own experience of being bullied or through observation of the media. Knowing that we learn by observation is relevant to what we see on television. A number of studies have been conducted to discover whether television and cinema violence really does result in violent behaviour. Bandura (1971) reported that children who watched a video of other children punching an inflated stand-up toy (a ‘Bobo doll’) were more likely than others to behave in the same way when given the opportunity. In a follow-up to Bandura’s studies, children who watched ‘Mighty Morphin Power Rangers’ later imitated these character’s Karate kicks and mimicked their violent acts during play sessions with peers (Boyatzis, Matillo Nesbitt, 1995). Considering boys play which tends to include wrestling and fighting, Geary (1999) has claimed that play patterns represent an evolved adaptation that prepares boys for hunting and primitive warfare. Several researchers have reported short-term effects of television violence: young children (Singer Singer, 1986) and adolescents (Wood et al., 1991) behaved more aggressively immediately after watching a violent TV program. The causes of their immediate changes in behaviour were probably a result of heightened arousal and desensitisation from repeated viewings (Gunter McAleer, 1990). Overall, however, research results have been equivocal, suggesting to some psychologists that TV violence may cause less harm than first suspected (McGuire, 1986). Furthermore, environmental influences have been viewed as determinants of aggression. According to the frustration-aggression hypothesis, a person is more likely to become aggressive when frustrated; therefore, aggression is a predictable response to frustration (Dollard, Doob, Miller, Mower Sears, 1939). This theory, though, by itself does not predict aggressive behaviour but, for example, hot weather makes people uncomfortable and this result into some people behaving aggressively. Triandis (1994) claimed that the relationship between heat and violence is confounded by the gap between rich and poor and by single parent families. On the whole, research evidence supports that both biological and social learning approaches explain aggressive behaviour as internal and external influences respectively. Twin studies and differences in the way boys and girls play indicate a strong biological foundation for aggressive behaviour. People with higher levels of testosterone are more aggressive than those with lower levels. In addition, heat, poor economic conditions and TV violence are all associated with increases in violent behaviour. Nevertheless, it has been argued that some cultures are more aggressive than others. A person is 80 percent less likely to be murdered in Canada than in the United States (United Nations, 1997). The socio-biological approach postulates that genes interact with culture to produce unique examples of aggressive behaviour. References Bandura, A. (1971). Social learning theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. Boyatzis, C. J., Matillo G.M. Nesbitt, K. M. (1995). Effects of the ‘Mighty Morphin Power Rangers’ on childrens aggression with peers. Child Study Journal, 25, 45-55. Buss, A. H. Perry, M. (1992). The aggression questionnaire. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 63, 42-459. Collins, Cobuild (2003). Advanced learners English dictionary. Glasgow: HarperCollins Publishers. Cosmides, L. Tooby, J. (1992). Cognitive adaptations for social exchange. In J. Barkow, L. Cosmides, J. Tooby (Eds.), The adapted mind: Evolutionary psychology and the generation of culture. New York: Oxford University Press. Dabbs, J. M., Carr, T. S., Frady R. L . Riad, J. K. (1995). Testosterone, crime and misbehaviour among 692 male prison inmates. Personality and Individual Differences, 18, 627-633. Dollard, J., Doob, L.W., Miller, N. E., Mower O.H. Sears, R. R. (1939). Frustration and aggression. New Haven: Yale University Press. Geary, D. C. (1999). Evolution and developmental sex differences. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 8, 115-120. Gunter, B. McAleer, J. (1990). Children and television: the one-eyed monster. London: Routledge. Konrad, L. (2002). Man Meets Dog. London: Routledge. Loeber, R. Hay, D. (1997). Key issues in the development of aggression and violence from childhood to early adulthood. Annual Review of Psychology, 48, 371-410. Miles, D. R. Carey, G. (1997). Genetics and environmental architecture of human aggression. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 72, 207-217. Rowe, D. C., Almeida D. M. Jacobson, K. C. (1999). School context and genetic influences on aggression in adolescence. Psychological Science, 10, 277-280. Singer, J. L. Singer, D. G. (1986). Family experiences and television viewing as predictors of children’s imagination, restlessness and aggression. Journal of Social Issues, 42, 7-28. Triandis, H. C. (1994). Culture and social behaviour. New York: McGraw-Hill. United Nations (1997). Information. United Nations Statistics Division. Available: http://unstats.un.org/unsd/default.htm Wood, W., Wong, F. Chachere J. G. (1991). Effects of media violence on viewer’s aggression in unconstrained social interaction. Psychological Bulletin, 109, 371-383.

Change in Massachusetts Politics Essay -- Massachusetts Politics Gover

Change in Massachusetts Politics   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Massachusetts has always been known for its politics. From the days of John Hancock and John Adams to the Kennedy Compound and failed Dukakis presidential campaign, the Bay State is, has been, and always will be a hotbed of political activism. But that does not mean that Massachusetts has a vibrant two party system.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  If anything can be said about Massachusetts, it is that the state and its voters are certainly lop-sided towards one party. Massachusetts currently has Democrats filling all of their US House and US Senate Seats, as well as a 138 of 160 State House seats, and 33 of 40 State Senate seats. The only state-wide office held not held by the Democrats is the Governor’s seat, which is set to be widely contested next year with 7 candidates lining up to face â€Å"incumbent† acting Gov. Jane Swift.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the old days however, the story wasn’t exactly the same. For practically every year before 1928, Massachusetts overwhelming voted Republican. In fact, the first Republican floor leader in the US Senate was Henry Cabot Lodge, Sr., from Massachusetts. Many of the famous Massachusetts politicians that rose to power before world war two were Republicans, including President Calvin Coolidge, who before moving on to Vice President and President, was the Governor of Massachusetts.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Somewhat like today’s climate in the state, Massachusetts at that time was also dominated by one party. It just happened to be the Republicans rather than the Democrats. Before Franklin Roosevelt, the Democrats were largely the party of the Southern whites farmers who were ideologically different than the Northern white businessmen that dominated politics and voted largely Republican.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is the party switch that is the most interesting and the most available to analyzing. There most certainly was a switch somewhere between the roaring twenties and the great depression, but it not necessarily had everything to do with the money in people’s pockets. The reasons for it are to be further explained. The Industrial Revolution in Massachusetts   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In Massachusetts during the 1880’s and 1890’s, as in almost every other part of the country, immigrants were arriving at unprecedented levels. Especially in Boston, but in other communities like Lowell, Brockton, Worcester, and Springfield, the demographic of people was slowly ... ...once in 1984 during a campaign in which he lost only one state. Especially evident was in 1972, when Massachusetts was the only state in the nation that did not vote for Nixon in his re-election bid. That vote prompted the â€Å"Don’t Blame Me, I’m from Massachusetts† bumper sticker that still puts a grin on Bay Staters faces today. Conclusion: Massachusetts, A need to be unique   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Since the Great Depression, the entire nation has been much more supportive of Democrats than they previously were. Most of that support can be attributed to Roosevelt’s New Deal, and the ineffectiveness of Hoover’s Republican strategies.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In Massachusetts, however, there has always been a different reason for doing things. This was no different. While the economy may have played a major role, Massachusetts’ change was evident before the â€Å"true† start of the depression.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Similar changes happened in New York, Rhode Island, and other industrial states. However, Massachusetts has always prided themselves on being a leader and an innovator, and as proved by the analysis into the elections of the 20’s and 30’s, it is evident that this major swing in political beliefs was no different.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

Drivers Essay -- essays research papers

Drivers   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Trying to sort out what type of driver a person might be is an extremely challenging task. In a person’s own mind, they think they are the aggressive type of driver, or the cautious type, but no one will ever admit that they are the “I got my license in a cracker jacks box driver';. The only fact that is certain about a person is they are never always aggressive or cautious while they drive. A person’s driving type varies from time, place, and, the most important reason, their attitudes affect one’s driving style.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The roads today are filled with all types of drivers, but one of the worst drivers is the hot shot or aggressive drivers. All the time, day after day, people encounter these maniacs, who drive like they think they are invincible. The short period of time that I have been driving, I have encountered some crazy drivers. The first hotshot driver I saw, was actually two teens who were drag racing down the streets going ninety mph or faster. While they were racing, one of the two cars was actually driving on the opposite lane. Other experiences I have encountered were a high performance bike that was weaving in and out of cars just because he didn’t want to stop. This biker was going real fast for what he was doing he reminded me of a cop chasing a robber movie of just how fast the bike was ...

Volcanic and Seismic Events Are Major Pieces of Evidence Towards

â€Å"Volcanic and seismic events are major pieces of evidence towards proving that the plate tectonic theory is valid† Discuss the extent to which you agree with this statement (40). The theory of plate tectonics explains the structure and motion of the Earth’s lithosphere. The theory states that the Earth’s crust is split into large sections called tectonic plates, and these move relative to one another creating boundaries at which the plates converge, diverge or move past each other.These plates are either continental or oceanic and are powered by convection currents, which is the circular movement of magma that comes from within the mantle. These currents are powered by the core, which heats the magma, causing it to rise, cool and fall back down. This circular motion causes the plates, which float on the mantle, to move. In 1912, Alfred Wegener, a German meteorologist, was the first man to state that the continents were once joined in a super continent called Pangaea, conversely he couldn’t explain why and what happened to cause the plates to move apart.He based his theory on the extraordinary fit of the South American and African continent coastlines. Notably the eastern edge of South America and the western edge of Africa showed very similar geological features suggesting that at some point in the Earth’s history the landmasses were joined together. Another indicator that the continents were once distributed differently was geological evidence of glaciations in India – it is unlikely that glaciers could ever reach such low latitudes, but this problem can easily be explained by the theory of continental drift.Fossil distribution also provided some of the earliest evidence for plate tectonics. Interestingly, plant and animal fossils were found on the matching coastlines of South America and Africa. These are now widely separated by the Atlantic Ocean, therefore he reasoned that is physically impossible for most of t hese organisms to have swum or have been transported across the wide oceans. From this he suggested that the plates were once connected. Unfortunately, at the time of Wegner’s work many of the geophysical tools that are used today did not exist making the theory much more difficult to support.Since the original theory in 1912, newer evidence has appeared which supports the theory. In 1962 Hess studied the age of rocks around the mid-Atlantic ridge. He discovered that the newest rocks were closest to the ridge and the oldest were towards the USA and Caribbean. He therefore reasoned that the earth’s crust was expanding along the oceanic ridges, so it must be shrinking elsewhere. According to Hess, the Atlantic Ocean was expanding while the Pacific Ocean was shrinking. The old oceanic crust was consumed in the trenches causing new magma to rise and erupt along the spreading ridges to form a new crust.He explained why the earth doesn’t get bigger with sea floor spre ading and why there is so little sediment accumulation on the ocean floor, and why oceanic rocks are so much younger than continental ones. Paleomagnetism is one of the strongest pieces of evidence for plate tectonic theory and was developed to convince scientists of the theories validity. Basalt lava forms volcanoes when it rises to the surface, cools and then forms land. When new crust is formed certain minerals align themselves with the Earth’s magnetic field.Fascinatingly, new technology has shown that the magnetic field of the Earth is known to reverse every few hundred thousand years. So this implies new material is constantly being produced and the sea floor is spreading. However, as the Earth is not changing in size, material is being destroyed in other areas which are called subduction zones, and the position of the Earth’s crust must be constantly changing. Seismic activity can also tell us a great deal about plate tectonics. Plotting the locations of large e arthquakes allows us to see where they most frequently occur.Earthquakes are caused by the movement of tectonic plates. The plates move past each other which causes friction causing pressure to build up resulting in sudden jolts. This only happens on plate boundaries meaning areas that lie on them experience the most intense earthquakes. The fact that earthquakes appear in connected lines as opposed to clusters is good evidence for the theory of global plate tectonics. Volcanic events are also useful as they provide good evidence for the theory of plate tectonics.Similarly to earthquakes, plotting the locations of active volcanoes on a map of the world will also be useful as it will show a similar pattern. The three main places where volcanoes are created are at subduction zones, constructive plate boundaries and in hotspots, with around 75% of the world’s volcanoes being located on the ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’. The area where two plates converge is called a subduc tion zone, here one plate is pushed underneath the other due to differing in density. This results in magma rising up to form volcanoes or volcanic island arcs.At constructive plate boundaries, new material is created by magma rising through the crack. The fact that volcanoes in certain areas have different types of eruption provides good evidence for plate tectonic theory. All the above reasons suggest that the theory is valid. However, there are some anomalies which go against the theory. Not all volcanoes occur on plate boundaries, some occur on hotspots which are areas where the mantle is particularly hot, causing it to rise and create volcanoes on the crust above.This suggests that plate tectonics theory may not be valid as volcanoes can exist without the theory being correct. Hawaii is a notable example of an active hotspot – the islands are volcanic yet lie in the middle of the Pacific plate. It is part of a chain of extinct volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean which decrease in both age and size as you move north-west. Since the hotspot is created by the underlying mantle this suggests that the crust is moving over this hotspot meaning the volcanoes eventually become extinct and eroded away.Since Wegener’s first theory, there is now a great deal of evidence to support the theory of plate tectonics. Seismic and volcanic events can provide lots of evidence to support the theory, although much of it requires tools which were not available when the theory was first developed such as accurate methods of mapping earthquakes. This made it difficult to prove the theory of plate tectonics as there were no hard facts. Although others may disagree, there are large amounts of evidence to prove the theory and so in my opinion the theory is a valid method.