Research method Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Research method - Essay Example INTRODUCTION TO PROBLEM OUTLINE Sportswear retailing is a diverse and fairly fragmented market. Even though at a slower rate, sports retailing chains are showing a steady growth over the years. Retailers are looking for introducing new formats in business along with increasing the number of stores. Independent sports retailers like Sports Direct have established their place in the market and managed to gain major share in the markets. The research focuses on analysis of customer satisfaction in sports retailing concentrating on Sportsdirect.com in Liverpool One. Companies are in a situation where it is no longer enough to satisfy the customers, they need to delight customers. The simple way to measure customer satisfaction is by taking surveys. A successful survey begins with a good questionnaire, and a good questionnaire is built from the customer’s point of view (Horovitz, 1990). 2. AIM & OBJECTIVES The aim and objectives of this research are to: Measure the customer satisfa ction in sports retailing, focusing on Sportsdirect.com in Liverpool One. To find out about satisfied and dissatisfied customers and based on this, put forward suggestions for the improvement and to better serve customers and retain them. To make generalisations about the customer satisfaction in sports retailing sector. ... sports goods retailing industries as customer satisfaction is at the root of customer retention and in effectively raising the bar on the firm’s future profitability. 3. ORGANISATIONAL BACKGROUND Sports Direct International Plc was established in 1982. It is now UK’s number one sports retailer with annual turnover exceeding well over ?1 billion. (Sports Direct Annual Report, 2008). They acquired a lot of companies during their race to success and have around 375 stores in UK and around 60 global stores. They focus on growing UK retail business by continue to drive efficiencies and delivering outstanding value to customers (Sports Direct Website, 2011). Moreover, a significant percentage of Sportdirect.com customers are online clients and manage to get the cushion of market leadership by differentiating themselves from rival firms who manufacture and sell sports goods using the discount-based competition market strategy. 4. LITERATURE REVIEW In the current business world , customer care has a major influence on a company’s long term profitability. Cook (2000) categorises clients as the premise of business and as the element that keeps business alive. The knowledge, attitudes, educational background, and cultural and social environment of an individual have got a major role in moulding his perspectives (Antonides & Raaij, 1998). A well-educated and well-informed customer of the present era has had a clear understanding of standards he expects and this makes it more complicated. As a result, there is considerable attention being taken into account of maintaining relationship between the service providers and customers (Barnes, 1997; Reinartz & Kumar, 2002; Coulter & Coulter, 2002). The bygone twenty years has seen the growing up of relationship marketing as the

Eth 125 Week 5 Religious and Ethnic Groups Essay Example for Free

Eth 125 Week 5 Religious and Ethnic Groups Essay Jehovah’s Witnesses go door to door while other religious groups let people come to them. They do this because they consider it an honor to spread the word of god. Their religious practices are generally similar to others they worship God, pray to him, and think that all things good come from him. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe God can not lie therefore what the bible says will come true and earth will someday be cleansed of all the â€Å"wickedness†. In addition, most religions do some kind of baptizing when a child is young however, Jehovah’s Witnesses only baptise those who want to serve as a Jehovah’s Witness. * * Jehovah’s Witnesses have contributed to American Culture in many ways. For instance, they help with education, disaster relief, and parenting. They contribute in many ways and are modest about the history in the making. Jahovah’s Witnesses set out to help people become law abiding citizens that do right by God. They have also won many court battles about religious freedom issues. Other groups that do not have the same beliefs have discriminated against Jehovah’s Witnesses. Jehovah’s Witnesses have been treated poorly or even been victims of violent crimes. Jehovah’s Witnesses have been shunned in many different areas of the world. For instance; in France (2006) the government branded them as dangerous and 71 kingdom halls were burned, firebombed, shot at, and vandalized. In India (2006) door to door Jehovah’s Witnesses were attacked and beaten with fence posts. The Jehovah’s Witnesses were charged with inciting the violence. The sources of this discrimination and prejudice came from governments as well as general population. What I have learned about this religion helps me understand it just as well as I understand any religion. Jahovah’s Witnesses are fighting for what they believe in just as many of us are. They are no different accept their beliefs differ from others. Jahovah’s Witnesses deserve to believe what they want to believe in. Everyone needs to believe in something and they should not be treated differently because the way they practice is not the same as everyone else. Racial/ethnic group: Hispanic and Latino * * Hispanic and Latino culture is different in many ways. Some of these differences include skin color, language, and physical features. Many Hispanic and Latinos speak Spanish and their second language is English. Their culture is defferent in the sense that they try to avoid standing out in their own groups. In addition, Hispanic and Latino children are raised to have a deep connection with family. This group many times has a strong bond with all family including Aunts Uncles, and Grandparents, many times these family members live in the same household or near by. * * Hispanic and Latinos have been treated poorly similar to any other racial group. The efforts to increase border patrol on the Mexican American border have done nothing but increase prejudice and discrimination against Hispanic and Latino people. There have even been reports that women and children are treated poorly as well. Here in Tucson Az. for instance we hear many reports about the border patrol having to work over time to keep them out. Someday I feel it will all come crashing down and anyone who tried to keep them out will have to pay for that in some way shape or form. Hispanics and Latinos should not be told they can not come to the US. Many of them say that the US has better opportunitys and that is why they want to be here. If we can help other countrys organize then why not Mexico as well. Hispanic and Latinos have highly influenced American culture. First and foremost the food thay they showed us is popular all over the world. Tortillas, burritos, chimichangas, and many other dishes that are simply delicious. In addition, the music they have introduced us to has definitely spiced things up in many clubs all over the U. S. Also many students are now required to complete spanish as a second language in school, which at first may have been frowned upon but now is embraced by most parents and students. Some discrimination that Hispanic and Latinos deal with still today is the difficulty to get good paying jobs. Because many of them do not speak english well and have little to no education the jobs they get are in most cases low wage high labor jobs. The sources of this prejudice and discrimination is employers as well as general population. Hispanics and Latinos are looked upon as different especially if they were not born in the US. In addition, in many films Hispanics are often prtrayed as lazy, hyper-sexual, or violent which is simply untrue and not very different from any other ethnic group. What I have learned about this racial and ethnic group does help me understand it. I have never understood why so many of them live under the same roof and now I understand it is because their family is close. In addition, now I know that it is the lack of education the prevents them from getting higher paying jobs and maybe not so much that they are different. The prejedice between my selected racial and ethnic group is similar because it is all in the same category. Prejedice and discrimination is all a way of making a person or a group feel inadequate and that they do not belong. Regardless of the way Jahovah’s wittnesses were beaten and harrassed or the way the Hispanic and Latinos have been cast out and told they are not welcome in the US it is all wrong and should not be tolerated. In conclusion, discrimination comes in all shapes and sizes and can happen to anyone. Jahovah’s Witnesses References: Reference: http://www. jw. org/en/publications/magazines/g201008/what-do-jehovahs-witnesses-believe/ Reference: http://www. knocking. org/ReligiousPersecutionReport. html Reference: http://www. jw-media. org/aboutjw/article44. htm Reference: http://wiki. answers. com/Q/How_have_Jehovah%27s_Witnesses_contributed_to_American_culture Hispanic and Latino Reference: Reference: http://www. coedu. usf. edu/zalaquett/hoy/culture. html Reference:

Economic recovery program of Ghana

Economic recovery program of Ghana CHAPTER ONE 1.0 Introduction This chapter attempts to provide an overview on the problem statement of the entire research work, objectives of the study, relevance of the study, methodology applied as the research unfolds and the organization of the study. 1.1 Background Ghana is one of the fast emerging developing countries in West Africa with twice the per capita output of the poorer countries in West Africa. With well endowed natural resources, Ghana still relies heavily on international financial and technical assistance. Gold, cocoa and timber are the major sources of foreign exchange. The introduction of Ghanas Economic Recovery Program (ERP) in 1983 to recover the initially very weak private sector participation did improve consistently but although still levels were modest during 1987-91. Over the past years Ghana has witnessed dynamic changes in its private Sector. The number of banks has increased from 9 in 1989 to 21 at May 2006 (www.bog.gov.gh). These banks serve a prominent role as corporate entities that provide investment capital in the economy to support employment opportunities, human resources development and contribute towards national and community development programmes (Aryeetey, E. Gockel, F. 1990). They primarily furnish loans to individuals and companies to finance various projects which lead to economic and private sector development. Brownbridge, M., Gockel, A.F. (1997) are also of the view that these financial institutions support savings and investment in the economy, which plays a major role in the overall development in terms of increasing productivity of resources in the economy. They further highlighted that this role of banks in the Ghanaian economy is crucial, in that shortcomings in the industry directly affect the trend of economic growth. In recent times Ghana has discovered crude oil, which is expected to boost the economic growth by bigger margins. Ghana has a unique welcoming attitude towards foreign investors; the long political stability of the country has attracted a lot of business investors to establish businesses in the country. The rate of foreign investors has not reduced as better prospects in doing business in Ghana are yielded in the long-run. The political state of the country has also been very peaceful with a vibrant atmosphere to establish businesses. During the fifth banking awards ceremony in Accra, Dr. Paul Acquah (Governor of Bank of Ghana) revealed that the banking industry in Ghana has become highly competitive due to the increased sophistication of customer needs coupled with tremendous global competition. He further stated that these reasons over the years have been the driving force for banks, in particular private owned banks, to focus on increasing shareholders value, delivering superior services aimed at achieving over all customer satisfaction and value. The concept of competition has introduced an overwhelming challenge among organisations worldwide. Most organisations are forced to compete by promptly responding to changes in national and world economies, technological changes, new business environments, cultural diversity and deregulation in emerging capital markets to improve overall organisational performance. Privately owned businesses in Ghana are constantly entwined in this fierce battle of global competition and the pressing need to sustain its existence in the growing rate of change in its environment. Recent trends in the Ghanaian economy have revealed that keen competition in the business sector has been as a result of an open market which promotes private sector participation. Though most private owned organisations have managed to survived, a considerable number of them do fail due to reasons not limited to economical and financial factors. A study conducted by Dun and Bradstreet (cited by Gaughan Patrick A. 1999, pp. 432) reveals that there are three most common factors that cause business failure such as economic, financial and experience factors (refer to Table 1). In some developing countries market forces are completely eliminated as a result of controls imposed by the ruling governments. These controls create adverse effects on the economy such as large fiscal deficits coupled with weak macroeconomic management leading to high inflation in the economy. The consequences are generally felt by banks and other non-banking institutions, in that, loans borrowed by individuals or organisations are not paid back due to economic hardship (Brownbridge M., Gockel A.F., 1997). According to Pfeffer J. (1994; p. 6), People and how organisations manage them are becoming more important because many other sources of competitive success are less powerful than they once were. He emphasises the fact that in recent times most organisations rely extensively on the traditional sources of competitive success such as product and process technology, regulated markets, access to capital resources, and economies of scale which provide an insignificant competitive influence as compared to the past. He further argues that organisational culture and potential employee contributions derived from managing employees in an organisation are crucial as compared to the traditional sources of competitive success. Employees have been referred to as assets to a firm or an organisation when they possess the right skills needed to work effectively and efficiently (Odiorne G. S, 1984). However, these employees may possess diverse capabilities that lead to various potential contributions to an organisation because of previous education, experience, or individual qualities. In view of the fact that employees contribution to the organisation determines extensively competitive success, their individual skills are considered vital (Pfeffer J. 1994). 1.2 Problem Statement The gradual transformation of Ghana has had a lot of positive feedback from other nations, but will this transformation termed economic growth survive the long-term or would it collapse somewhere in the future? What are the main strengths and weaknesses of the private sector? Will the private sector support sustainable development? Has Ghanas initiative to increase private sector participation been successful? What measures has Ghana taken liberalize its economy to encourage private sector participation? Recent discovery of crude oil (black gold) in Ghana has brought higher hopes to accelerating the countries development goals into reality. This is what the recent ex-president of Ghana, President John Kufuor had to say in an African programme with the BBCs Focus Were going to really zoom, accelerate, and if everything works, which I pray will happen positively, you come back in five years, and youll see that Ghana truly is the African tiger, in economic terms for development. Will this oil discovery further attract new entrants into the financial sector and in the affirmative will this promote a competitive private sector environment? 1.3 Objectives of the Study The main objective of this thesis is to show the role of the private sector in contributing to business competitiveness and economic growth. The research limits its focus on the inflow of private non-financial and financial institutions in the Ghanaian economy as a result of the introduction of Financial Sector Adjustment Programme (FINSAP) in Ghana. The economy over the years has witnessed an increase in private sector participation, which has significantly promoted business competitiveness and contributed to a vibrant economy at large. Table 2: SMART Objective of the Study Strategic Operation Tactical Specific Evaluate the role of the private sector (Privately owned financial institution) contributing to business competitiveness and economic growth. Present a platform for private sector participation in economic development. Provide a primary evaluation for developers and investors who aspire to do business in Ghana. Measurable To fall within the framework of the private sector and factors leading to business competitiveness and economic growth. Increase real GDP. Impact of the private sector on economic growth. Note government policies that would prevent adverse effects on critical sectors of the economy. Attainable To recommend effective and sustainable business development strategy and policies that will enhance more participation in the private sector. Increase economic growth and improve effective and efficient business plans. Embark on comprehensive business competitiveness and productive performance within the various business sectors. Realistic The research will look extensively into government development goals as well as the private sectors role in development. Access to economic reports surveys from IMF. Ghana Government reports on development projects. The IMF monitors on a yearly basis the economic situation in Ghana. Time-Limited To complete the thesis within two months. This thesis expects to propose recommendation based on the information available at the time of writing. The recommendations and proposals are expected to be considered and if applicable implemented by other developing countries as well. Source: Self-prepared. Specifically, the thesis critically focuses on the following: The role of the private sector (privately owned financial institutions) contributing to economic growth in Ghana. To investigate the driving forces of Ghanas emerging markets. The role of the government promoting the private sector. The challenges and constraints facing the private sector. To evaluate the strategies being employed by Ghana in the private sector and its impact on the economy. 1.4 Significance of the Study The study will be beneficial in many respects: To help identify the success and bottlenecks of the significant economic contributions from private sector with regards to its contribution to economic growth business competiveness. It also reviews the strengths of the financial sector to support expansion of the private sector development and more importantly availability of credit facilities to promote businesses. It will help investors to get a fair idea of business establishment opportunities. To help formulate strategies to help implement better policies and promotions for the private sector development. 1.5 Methodology This study uses secondary data and literature to evaluate the topic. It also uses SWOT analysis to examine the strategic position of Ghana in improving its economic and business areas. The research will employ the use of CAMEL approach as the overall framework to evaluate the financial strength and stability of the Banking Industry in Ghana, where; C Capital adequacy, A Asset quality, M Management capability, E Quality and level of earnings, L Adequacy of liquidity 1.6 Organisation of the study The paper is divided into five chapters. Chapter one presents the introduction, problem statement, objectives of the study, significance of the study, methodology and the organisation of the study. Chapter two gives an overview of the Ghanaian financial sector as well as reasons that led to the financial sector reforms. Chapter three gives an overview of the Ghanaian private sector. Chapter four uses CAMEL approach to analyse 4 major privately owned financial institutions. The final chapter looks at the overall findings, conclusions and recommendations. CHAPTER TWO 2.0 Overview of the Ghanaian economy This chapter provides an overview of the Ghanaian economy and the Ghanaian Financial System. The chapter also looks at reasons that led to the introduction of the financial sector reforms, a SWOT analysis of financial sector adjustment program (FINSAP I II). Ghana is one of the developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa that introduced structural and economic reforms to address its extensive macroeconomic shortcomings, reduce poverty and to liberalize the financial sector. The broad money/GDP ratio fell significantly to 12.5% in 1983 as compared to 29% in 1976, whiles currency/M2 ratio also decreased from 35% in 1970 to 50% in 1983. Bank deposits decreased from 19.5% of GDP in 1977 to 7.4% of GDP in 1984 because there was lack of confidence in the banking industry (Brownbridge, M., Gockel, A. F. 1997). During the 1980s the Ghanaian economy was hit by the most devastating economic crisis (www.bog.gov.gh). This gave rise to numerous extensive economic drawbacks in the Ghanaian economy. Leechor Chad reveals in an article published by the World Bank the following economic crisis that plagued the Ghanaian economy between the years 1982 to 1983: The countrys power systems, communication, postal and railway services ceased to function properly and the whole country was in a state of chaos. Tax collection had declined to about 5% to GDP, investment dropped drastically beyond the level required to maintain capital stock. Real income per capita which was continuously diminishing for a decade was a third below the level reached in the early 70s as at 1983. Foreign exchange reserves deteriorated considerably. The Ghanaian economy was heavily controlled by the government in terms of setting unrealistic interest rates and sectoral credit ceilings; banks were forced to focus on lending to priority sectors (agriculture, export and manufacturing) regardless of the borrowers performance in terms of profitability and their capability to payback the loan. The economy was regulated to foreign investments and the strong existence of strict capital flow regulations (The Corporate Guardian, July-September 2006). Governments heavy intervention in the financial system set the stage for economic shortcomings a few such as lack of competition, high incidence of inefficiency, hardship and the escalating rate of non-performing loans (Leith, C. J., Sderling, L. 2000). Since the late 1980s, the government of Ghana continued to implement financial sector reforms as an integral part of its ongoing Economic Recovery Program (ERP) (Brownbridge, M., Gockel, A. F. 1997). Ghanas enthusiasm to initiate the ERP with close collaboration with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during the year 1983-85 was to liberalise the financial sector and establish an open market-based economy by eliminating price ceilings, reducing the influx of foreign imports, diversifying viable sectors of the economy and stabilizing fiscal deficit. Ghana in 1984 launched the Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) with the primary aim of reducing its involvement in the economy and allowing the free interaction of demand and supply (The Corporate Guardian, July-September 2006). However, during the period 1983-88 the performance of the banking industry deteriorated with high levels of non-performing assets (NPAs) and inefficient deposit mobilization which made most public banks insolve nt (Leith, C. J., Sderling, L. 2000). The government launched the first phase of the Financial Sector Adjustment Program (FINSAP) in 1988. This was to fully deregulate as well as liberalize the financial sector and improve resource allocation within the various sectors of the economy (www.oecd.org). Since 1983, Ghana has attached great importance to its divestiture initiative program. About 200 stated-owned enterprises (SOEs) were being considered for diversification under governments ongoing privatization initiative. At the end of the last two years, government still owned 35 enterprises valued at more than 60% of GDP in 2003 (IMF Survey, 2005). Governments expenditure during 1986-1991 increased and this called for policy reforms to enable government to meet its high spending. Government depended on the tax system to support its high level of spending. The Parliament of Ghana in 1993 increased tax on petroleum. However, the tax system could not supplement its GDP share to match the expenditure. Consequently this brought about deficit financing. Government resorted to other forms of financing its expenditure such as extensive borrowing from the Central Bank (issuing new notes), public and foreign borrowing, and privatization of sate-owned enterprises (Leith, C. J., Sderling, L. 2000). Over the years, Ghana has witnessed a massive transformation in its economy as a result of continuous implementation of financial sector reforms to deregulate the economy and stimulate savings, investment and growth. The Central Bank is constantly implementing policies adopted under FINSAP to ensure the entrants of privately owned financial institutions, free interest rates, stabilize the cedi against foreign currencies, encourage the flow of foreign investment and allow easier access to credits (www.bog.gov.gh). The Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) was set up in 1989 as a private company limited under the Company code. The Stock Exchange act of 1971 (Act 384) allowed it to function as an authorized Stock Exchange. The Securities Industry Law PNDCL 333 (1993) as amended bestowed regulatory rights to the Security Regulatory Commission (SRC) with its main function to register, protect, assist and supervise all stakeholders in the securities market. In April 1994 the Ghana Stock Exchanges status became a public company limited (www.gse.co.gh). At the end of 2003, listed companies equity increased to 26 as compared to 22 in 2002 (www.gipc.org.gh). The performance of the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) has improved tremendously. All-share Index increased by 91.3% in 2005 as compared to 154.7% in 2003 (ISSER 2005). Flow of foreign investment increased from $110.0 million in 2003 to $139.3 million in 2004. In 2004 the cedi depreciated by only 2.2% against the US dollar, 10.7% against the Euro and 12.1% against the pound sterling. There was quite an improvement in the value of the cedi as compared to the previous year (2003) when the cedi depreciated by 22.5% against the Euro and 13.0% against the pound sterling. Average inflation fell from 26.7% in 2003 to 12.6% as at December 2004 (ISSER 2005). Ghana is the second largest producer and exporter of cocoa; the agriculture sector accounts for about 50% of GDP and is considered the backbone of economic development (www.ghanaweb.com). Real GDP growth in 2004 was 5.8% (www.gipc.gh). The tremendous performance of the Agricultural sector has supported Ghanas remarkable rate of economic growth over the years. The Agricultural sector contributes significantly to GDP growth. In 1990 GDP increased by only 3.3%, this was due to the negative 2% growth rate in the Agricultural sector that year. The year 1991 witnessed a GDP growth rate for the Agricultural sector by 5.8% which consequently increased the whole Ghanaian economy GDP by 5.3% in that year. The sector has also contributed immensely to the countrys foreign exchange earnings; 38.5% in 1999, 35.4% in 2000, 33.9% in 2001, 35.5% in 2002. (www.fao.org/es/esa). Other main exports are gold, timber, bauxite, manganese ore and diamond (BOG Quarterly Economic Bulletin, April June 2005). The performance of the agriculture sector over the years has immensely improved with growth rate of 7.5% in 2004 as compared to 6.1% in 2003. The production of cocoa for export contributed 46.7% during the year 2004, a significant portion of over all growth (ISSER 2005). The crops and livestock contribution increased from 2.3% in 2003 to 5.4% in 2004, the largest contribution to the agricultural sectors GDP. The forestry and logging sub-sectors increased by 6.1% in 2003, but dropped with a growth rate of 5.8% in 2004. (www.gipc.org.gh).The elimination of maximum lending rates and minimum time deposit rates succeeded to some extent in the liberalization of interest rates in 1987. Direct controls in the form of credit ceilings were also abolished. During the 1990s banks were at liberty to price deposits and loans and to distribute loans accordingly; however the Bank of Ghanas high reserve requirement limited the funds available for allocation (Brownbridge M. Gockel A. F 1997). These h igh reserve requirements prevented banks from developing their loan portfolios and consequently, most banks preferred to invest in attractive and somewhat risk-free government securities (strategis.ic.gc.ca) Interest rate dropped steadily owing to the Monetary Policy Committee (set up by the Bank of Ghana in 2004) decreasing prime rate from 21.5% in 2003 to 18.5% in 2004. Consequently, the commercial banks base rate has decreased from 29% to 25.4%. Interest rate for 91-Treasury bill fell from 18.71% early part of the year to 17.08% at the end of 2004. Interest rates for the 182-Day Treasury bill dropped from 19.78% during the early part of the year to 17.85% at the end of 2004. Inter-Bank interest rate also fell from 17.12% in January to 16.23% at the close of the year 2004 (www.gipc.org.gh) The Banks spread (21.3%) is still too high as compared to the other African countries (see table 3*). The banking industry has been structured in a way that banks are able to adjust their interest rates according to policy rates. Banks maintain a high spread to ensure that their profits are not significantly influenced by their interest margins (BOG financial stability report 2004). However, according to the BOG financial stability report 2006 the emergence of new banks will lead to an efficient financial sector which is expected to reduce the pressure on lending spread due to the fact that banks will continuously try to gain market share by competing for customers. Table 3: Selected Commercial Bank Interest Rates, 2000 and 2004 Deposit Rate Lending Rate Spread 2000 2004 2000 2004 2000 2004 Gabon 5.0 5.0 22.0 18.0 17.0 13.0 Ghana 16.8 7.5 47.0 28.8 30.2 21.3* Kenya 8.1 2.4 22.3 12.5 14.2 10.1 Mauritius 9.6 8.2 20.8 21.0 11.2 12.8 Mozambique 9.7 9.9 19.0 19.2 9.3 9.3 Nigeria 11.7 13.7 21.3 19.2 9.6 5.5 Tanzania 7.4 4.2 21.6 13.9 14.2 9.7 Uganda 9.8 7.7 22.9 20.6 13.1 12.9 Zambia 20.2 11.5 38.8 30.7 18.6 19.2 Source : International Financial Statistics, IMF Fiscal and Monetary Policy The financial policies implemented by monetary authorities in Ghana before the implementation of FINSAP were direct government controls on all sectors of the economy. Government excessive control in the economy by setting price and interest ceilings coupled with weak macroeconomic problems lead to a high level of inflation (Ziorklui, S. Q. 2001). Ghanas fiscal policy primarily aims at decreasing domestic debt, ensuring economic stability, cutting down on the increasing level of interest payments to achieve the required real interest rates. Consequently, the Bank of Ghana has adopted numerous strategies to address fiscal deficit and governments borrowing (www.gipc.org). Budget deficit was 0.55% of GDP during the second quarter of the year 2005 as compared to 1.18% of GDP during the last quarter of 2004. This showed significant decrease in the overall budget balance (Bank of Ghana Quarterly economic bulletin, April-June 2005). The Bank of Ghana in 2004 set up the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to mainly focus on formulating effective monetary policies, making available statistical data and providing necessary support in terms of advise for monetary policy formulation (www.bog.gov.gh). The MPC seeks to control inflation, stabilize price and exchange market, manage external debt and develop the capital market (www.gipc.org.gh). 2.1 The Ghanaian Financial System in Brief Ghanas banking sector has evolved over the years. There are 23 major banks (refer to table 7) operating in the banking sector in Ghana as at 2006. The Ghanaian banking sector is made up of 19 universal banks, 2 Development Banks, 2 Commercial banks including Apex Bank and 121 Rural Banks (www.bog.gov.gh). The introduction of universal banking in Ghana is overwhelmingly changing the way banks function in the economy. Unfortunately, not all banks operating in Ghana are eligible to be universal banks. To be eligible for banks to operate as universal banks they are expected to have at least 70 billion as shareholders capital (www.agighana.org). According to the Bank of Ghana universal banking substitutes the famous three-pillar banking model, namely development, merchant and commercial. Table 4: List of Major Banks in Ghana 2006 INITIALS BANK DATE OF ESTABLISHMENT NATURE OF BUSINESS ABL Amalgamated Bank 2000 Universal Bank ADB Agricultural Development Bank 1965 Development Bank BBG Barclays Bank Ghana 1918 Universal Bank CAL CAL Merchant Bank 1991 Universal Bank EBG Ecobank Ghana Limited 1990 Universal Bank FAMBL First Atlantic Bank 1995 Universal Bank FBL Fidelity Bank Limited 2006 Universal Bank GCB Ghana Commercial Bank 1952 Universal Bank GTB Guaranty Trust Bank 2006 Universal Bank HFC HFC Bank Limited 2002 Universal Bank ICB International Commercial Bank 1996 Universal Bank INTER Intercontinental Bank Plc 2006 Universal Bank MAB Metropolitan Allied Bank 1995 Commercial Bank MBG Merchant Bank Ghana Limited 1972 Universal Bank NIB National Investment Bank 1963 Development Bank PBL Prudential Bank Limited 1997 Commercial Bank SBL Stabic Bank Ghana Limited 2000 Universal Bank SCB Standard Chartered Bank 1896 Universal Bank SG-SSB SG-SSB Bank Limited 1976 Universal Bank TTB The Trust Bank 1994 Universal Bank UBA United Bank for Africa 2005 Universal Bank UNI Unibank Ghana Limited 1999 Universal Bank Zenith Zenith Bank 2005 Universal Bank Source:http://www.bog.gov.gh/privatecontent/File/BankingSupervision/Licensed%20Banks%20%20Addresses%20November%202008(1).pdf Until 1957 the West African Currency Board (WACB) acted as the only board under the Colonial regime conferred with the authority to exchange sterling to Gold Coast pound. Government of the then Gold Coast declared its intention to issue its own currency after independence. Politicians and economists were of the strong opinion that with the establishment of a Central Bank, Ghanas independence will have a significant meaning in political history. In view of this, preparations started which ended up in the establishment of the Bank of Ghana on the 4th of March 1957 under the Bank of Ghana Ordinance (No.34) of 1957 passed by the British Parliament. The whole idea for the establishment of a Central Bank was to meet the financial needs of vast indigenous sectors of the economy as well as the new independent Ghana government. After the establishment of Bank of Ghana (replaced WACB) as the central bank, the 1957 ordinance empowered the bank to primarily assume the following role in Ghana when it first begun formal operations on 1st August 1957 (www.bog.gov.gh): Printing out and redeeming bank notes and coins. Lender of last resort for banks in Ghana. Using fiscal and monetary policies to regulate money supply and maintaining monetary stability. Advise the government and be the main source to finance to the government of Ghana. Supervise and regulate all banks in Ghana. The legal and regulatory frameworks in which financial intermediaries operate in Ghana are as follows (www.bog.gov.gh): Bank of Ghana Act 2002, Act 612 Banking Act, 2004 (Act 673) Financial Institutions (Non-Bank) Law 1993, PNDC Law 328 Companies Code Act 179, 1963 Bank of Ghana Notices /Directives / Circulars / Regulations Non-Banking Financial Sector Ghana has achieved significant success in the economy particularly in the non-banking sector as a result of initiating the structural adjustment program, liberalizing the economy and by passing the Banking law in 1989 and the Non-bank financial law in 1993. These initiatives embarked by the government of Ghana have paved way for new entrants in the private sector and also transformed the existing financial institutions to diversify into the financial system. Consequently, there has been a rapid growth of Non-Bank Financial Institutes (NBFIs) with the prime aim of providing financial services to potential target groups outside the banking system (Ziorklui, S. Q. 2001). According to the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre the financial system in Ghana includes the following licensed non-Bank Financial Institutions: Insurance companies Stock exchange Building Society Mortgage Finance Co. Venture Capital Funding Financing Trust Company Credit unions Discount houses Financial houses Leasing companies Savings and loans associations 2.2 Objectives of Financial Sector Adjustment Program (FINSAP) According to Ziorklui S. Q. (2001), FINSAP was introduced and implemented in two phases. He further outlines the main objectives in both phases of the implementation. The first phase was implemented in 1988 with its main objectives as follows; FINSAP I Embark on restructuring to address financially distressed banks. Mobilize savings and strive to improve efficiency in the allocation of credit. Establish an effective regulatory and supervision system to monitor and improve the banking sector. Improve and strengthen the money and capital markets. To establish a non- performing assets recovery trust. The second phase of FINSAP was implemented in 1990 with the following objectives; FINSAP II Promote foreign investment and increase private participation in the banking sector in Ghana. Continue the implementation of policies adopted under the first phase of the financial sector adjustment program (FINSAP 1) to restructure the financial sector. Better manage the collection of non-performing loans by Non-Performing Assets Recovery Trust (NPART). Promote and develop non-Bank financial Institutions (NBFIs) to be more effective and efficient in savings mobilization. 2.3 SWOT Analysis Financial Sector Adjustment Program (FINSAP) This section seeks to determine whether the main objectives under the implementation of the financial sector reforms (FINSAP) are attainab

Dell’s Strategic Management Plan Essay -- Computers, Business

Dell, Inc. got its start in 1984 when Michael Dell, a University of Texas student, began building computers for fellow students under the company name PCs Limited (Edwards, 2007). Within the next decade, Dell experienced phenomenal success by pursuing growth through catalog and corporate sales (Hunger, 2006). Dell made technology affordable and in doing so became a fierce competitor in the computer technology industry. However, the company’s disorganized structure could barely support their impressive growth. There are three specific measures of performance that I would have incorporated into Dell’s strategic management plan if I were leading Dell. Furthermore, I would include behavior and output controls in the control system to regulate organizational activities to ensure that they are consistent with company standards of performance. Dell, Inc. pursued an aggressive growth strategy which was met with equally aggressive customer demand. Dell delivered a quality product for a reasonable price and this value that Dell created for their customers was initially unmatched by rival computer companies. In fact, Dell saw this as an opportunity to expand their product line to include items such as printers and software. The company’s sales increased from $389 million in 1989 to $2.9 billion in 1993 (McGraw, 1994). However, the management structure did not grow with the company (McGraw, 1994). Financial results were not analyzed properly and the company was not being strategically managed (Hunger, 2006). Dell’s management team decided to slow their growth initiatives in part by eliminating retails sales of their products (Hunger, 2006). This decision created three distinct problems for the company. First, customers were unhappy that t... ...nagement (6th ed.). Mason, OH: South- Western Cengage Learning. Edwards, O. (2007, August). Baby Dell. Smithsonian, 38(5), 34-36. doi: 131320451 Hunger, D. J. (2006). Dell, Inc. In T. L. Wheelen & J. D. Hunger (12th ed.), Strategic management and business policy (pp. 31-1 – 31-5). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Matthews, J. R. (2011). Assessing organizational effectiveness: The role of performance measures. Library Quarterly, 81(1), 83-110. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. McGraw, D. (1994). The kid bytes back. U.S. News & World Report, 117(23), 70. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Rogers, B. (2006). High performance is more than a dream - it's a culture. T + D, 60(1), 12. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Wheelen, T. L., & Hunger, J. D. (2012). Strategic management and business policy: Toward global sustainability (13th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

A Current Event Essay

After the United States bombed Japan in World War Two, Korea was divided into two countries: North and South Korea. The economy in each country had different outcomes, which prevented and complicated these two countries coming back together. The US and five other countries, including North and South Korea, were involved in the Six Party Talks to try to combine the two conflicting countries. In 2005, North Korea was afraid it was giving away to much information about their nuclear weapons and they withdrew from the Six Party Talk.Although the United States has participated in talks with North Korea before, the US should engage in talks with them because they need to make a decision that will affect the country by preventing starvation or saving their nuclear weapons program. As stated in the New York Times, â€Å"Almost one out of two children is chronically malnourished†¦ North Korea runs a shortage of one million tons of food a year† (Sang-Hun). The United States should engage in talks with North Korea because their people are the ones suffering due to lack of nutrition.The government should understand that the future of North Korea wouldn’t look too bright with a smaller population and residents that are more angered than today. Also, since this country is under a dictatorship, the people have no input on topics, such as this one, that can help the bulk of their people. If the government were to continue to go against the people, an uprising should be expected and to other countries this wouldn’t come as a shock.With the help of the United States, the US can compromise with the North Korean government and supply aid for the deprived people. Not only is it in the best interest for the North Koreans, but for their government to negotiate to keep themselves in power. Another worry for the United States is North Korea has possession of nuclear weapons. As stated in the New York Times, â€Å"Since six-party talks ended, North Korea has d etonated a nuclear device and tested a long-range rocket that may one day be able to carry nuclear warheads â€Å" (Knowlton and Sang-Hun).With having this as a â€Å"safety† or backup, Kim Jung IL is believed to have sold nuclear parts to Iran and Syria. What’s even worse is North Korea has the choice to sell their nuclear materials to Al Qaeda. The United States is concerned that if Al Qaeda were to possess these materials, they could create nuclear weapons and use this to hurt other countries, such as the US and Israel. Al Qaeda has no guilt for hurting large masses of people, so firing these VERY dangerous weapons, and killing people, wouldn’t be on their conscious.If the United States were to engage in talks with North Korea, they could compromise on dismantling their nuclear weapons, and could prevent nuclear materials from getting into the wrong hands. In conclusion, the United States would be making the right decision to engage in talks with North Korea for the sake of their starving people and from keeping nuclear materials out of the hands of Al Qaeda.This would help secure our safety and could potentially give the United States another ally in Asia. North Koreans are starving and with out the nuclear weapons they receive aid, if North Korea were to keep their nuclear weapons the civilians continue to starve. Brian Knowlton and Choe Sang-Hun, New U. S. Envoy to Talk With North Koreans, New York Times, October 19, 2011. Choe Sang-Hun, Head of U. N. Humanitarian Aid Paints Dire Scene in North Korea, New York Times, October 24, 2011

Persuasive Essay- Beggars Essays

Persuasive Essay- Beggars Essays Persuasive Essay- Beggars Essay Persuasive Essay- Beggars Essay Essay Topic: Persuasive Persuasive essay- beggars When you walk in the street and suddenly see a beggar asking for money, then you may have a dilemma about whether you should give him money or not; if they deserve the money or not. Here I am going to discuss this dilemma. A beggar sitting on the street may have gone trough very difficult time and tough experiences. Therefor, the last resort they have is to beg for money. But why should I give away my money to someone I do not know how would use them? Even though the beggars all have the same goal; ask for money, we can separate them into three different groups. The first group is those who only want the money for alcohol and drugs and felt that begging was the easiest way. The second group is those who have been struggling to get a job but gave up because they did not get one so they decided to start begging. The third group is the little minority of beggars who really have no other options. Begging is an ideology; an ideology that says that there is no better way than the easy way. In Norway there are a lot of helping organizations created only to help people who needs money but do not have. An example of some well known organizations is probably â€Å"Frelsesarmeen† and â€Å"Kirkens Bymisjon†. They know people who really are in need; but cannot afford money to buy clothes and food. Therefore, those organizations provide it to those who are in need. Furthermore, â€Å"Fattighuset† (or the poor house) is very famous among beggars. On Mondays and Tuesdays from 12PM to 3. 30 PM they have clothing distribution, and on Fridays, they have food distribution from 12PM to 3. 30 PM to all their members. According to SSB statistics measures how many people have a persistent low income over three years. Low income is regarded as less than 60% of the overall income level. For a single person, this amount is about 170  000 NOK on average for the years 2007-2009. Statistics from 2009 show that about 360  000 people in Norway earn less than 60% of the general income level. In addition, those helping organizations are willing to receive money from helping hands to those who are in need for help. Moreover, they are also willing to receive anything you feel you do not need anymore as long as it is capable, like kitchen utensils, food, shoes, books, clothing for summer and winter, etc.. Therefore, if you want to be sure the money you give away won’t be used on alcohol or drugs; you can provide them to those organizations. In addition, to not feel guiltiness about not giving money to someone who is starving; you can buy some food for the beggar to be sure he is not hungry. On the other hand, the beggars have the opportunity to find a job with some help from those organizations. It is very hard for a beggar to try to find a job by himself, but if he gets help, it is not impossible. As a result, if you continue giving money to the beggars, their ideology will grow and they will continue begging. This sustains the practice of begging and may encourage other people to also start begging, when in fact; begging should not be an alternative in a rich country like Norway. [ 1 ]. fattighusetoslo. no/ [ 2 ]. ssb. no/emner/05/01/10/inntekt/ [ 3 ]. nrk. no/programmer/tv/migrapolis/1. 7838155 [ 4 ]. fattighusetoslo. no/du-kan-bidra/

Telecommunication Act of 1996 essays

Telecommunication Act of 1996 essays In February of 1996, the U.S. Congress enacted the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The Act was one of the most substantial changes in the regulation of any industry in recent history. The Act replaced all current laws, FCC regulations, and the consent degree and subsequent court rulings under which AT The primary goal of the Act was to promote competition for local telephone services, long distance telephone services, and cable TV services. Inter-exchange carriers (IXC) (such as AT I believe that the Act made the most impact on Local telephone service. Local telephone service had been a regul...

Discover the Lithosphere in Plate Tectonics

Discover the Lithosphere in Plate Tectonics In the field of geology, what is the lithosphere? The lithosphere is the brittle outer layer of the solid Earth. The plates of plate tectonics are segments of the lithosphere. Its top is easy to see its at the Earths surface but the base of the lithosphere is in a transition, which is an active area of research. Flexing the Lithosphere The lithosphere is not totally rigid, but slightly elastic. It flexes when loads are placed on it or removed from it. Ice-age glaciers are one type of load. In Antarctica, for example, the thick ice cap has pushed the lithosphere well below sea level today. In Canada and Scandinavia, the lithosphere is still unflexing where the glaciers melted about 10,000 years ago. Here are some other types of loading: Construction of volcanoesDeposition of sedimentRise in sea levelFormation of large lakes and reservoirs Here are other examples of unloading: Erosion of mountainsExcavation of canyons and valleysDrying up of large water bodiesLowering of sea level The flexing of the lithosphere from these causes is relatively small (usually much less than a kilometer [km]), but measurable. We can model the lithosphere using simple engineering physics, as if it were a metal beam, and get an idea of its thickness. (This was first done in the early 1900s.) We can also study the behavior of seismic waves and place the base of the lithosphere at depths where these waves begin to slow down, indicating softer rock. These models suggest that the lithosphere ranges from less than 20 kilometers  in thickness near the mid-ocean ridges to about 50 km in old oceanic regions. Under the continents, the lithosphere is thicker ... from around 100 to as much as 350 km. These same studies show that underneath the lithosphere is a hotter, softer layer of solid rock named the asthenosphere. The rock of the asthenosphere is viscous rather than rigid and deforms slowly under stress, like putty. Therefore the lithosphere can move across or through the asthenosphere under the forces of plate tectonics. This also means that earthquake faults are cracks that extend through the lithosphere, but not beyond it.   Lithosphere Structure The lithosphere includes the crust (the rocks of the continents and the ocean floor) and the uppermost part of the mantle beneath the crust. These two layers are different in mineralogy but very similar mechanically. For the most part, they act as one plate. Although many people refer to crustal plates, its more accurate to call them lithospheric plates. It appears that the lithosphere ends where the temperature reaches a certain level that causes average mantle rock (peridotite) to grow too soft. But there are many complications and assumptions involved, and we can only say that the temperature would be from about 600 C to 1,200 C. A lot depends on pressure as well as temperature, and the rocks vary in composition due to plate-tectonic mixing. Its probably best not to expect a definitive boundary. Researchers often specify a thermal, mechanical or chemical lithosphere in their papers. The oceanic lithosphere is very thin at the spreading centers where it forms, but it grows thicker with time. As it cools, more hot rock from the asthenosphere freezes onto its underside. Over the course of about 10 million years, the oceanic lithosphere becomes denser than the asthenosphere beneath it. Therefore, most of the oceanic plates are ready for subduction whenever it happens. Bending and Breaking the Lithosphere The forces that bend and break the lithosphere come mostly from plate tectonics. Where plates collide, the lithosphere on one plate sinks down into the hot mantle. In that process of subduction, the plate bends downward as much as 90 degrees. As it bends and sinks, the subducting lithosphere cracks extensively, triggering earthquakes in the descending rock slab. In some cases (such as in northern California) the subducted part can break off completely, sinking into the deep Earth as the plates above it change their orientation. Even at great depths, subducted lithosphere can be brittle for millions of years, as long as it is relatively cool. The continental lithosphere can split, with the bottom part breaking off and sinking. This process is called delamination. The crustal part of the continental lithosphere is always less dense than the mantle part, which in turn is denser than the asthenosphere beneath. Gravity or drag forces from the asthenosphere can pull the crustal and mantle layers apart. Delamination allows the hot mantle to rise and yield melt underneath parts of a continent, causing widespread uplift and volcanism. Places like Californias Sierra Nevada, eastern Turkey and parts of China are being studied with delamination in mind.

Childhood Development Health Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Childhood Development Health - Assignment Example After some time, he hears a dog barking. He abandons the toy and runs outside to see what the matter is. The boy comes back to the sitting room. He turns on the TV. He knows the specific buttons on the complicated TV remote. He changes the station to find a cartoon program. He enjoys the program so much. He even knows the actors by name. He tries to predict what is going to happen next. The mother calls the boy from upstairs. He responds â€Å"Yes, mom† and rushes up the stairs at maximum speed. Unfortunately, he trips. This time he injures himself badly. He lets out a loud cry as the mother comes to rescue him. However, seems like the boy is used to such accidents. They go upstairs and take about five minutes. They come down to the sitting room. The boy had changed attires. He admires the new top. The mother just bought it the other day. The boy goes to the mirror. He is so pleased with the new shirt. He thanks his mom for it and kisses her cheek. The boy gets back to the cartoons. After a short time, the doorbell rings. It is the daddy. This time around the boy goes for the door himself. The knob is too high for him, but he struggles until he gets it. Daddy comes in as the boy jumps to daddy’s shoulder. He is so much in love with daddy that daddy calls him â€Å"My brave boy!† He is quick to tell daddy that a visitor has come to do her homework in his study table. Daddy already knew I would be coming. He does not disturb my progress. He simply waves, and I wave back. The boy abandons the mother’s snack and curiously reaches for daddy’s basket to get the new snacks. He finds quite a number but prefers the chocolate first. At three years of age, a child exhibits certain development milestones. As far as physical development is concerned, the child’s movement is an indicator. Three-year-olds walk alone without assistance (Gomez, 2011).  Ã‚  

Toys R Us Management Audit Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Toys R Us Management Audit - Essay Example Toys "R" Us show cases some of the best toys across the world; so much so, that the Times Square store is a major tourist attraction for all visitors. The following paper presents a management audit of the chain store. The company is owned by a group of investors. There is a managing committee set up by the group which looks into the operations of the company. The company has interests in four major brands, viz., Toys "R" Us, Babies "R" Us, toysrus.com and Toys "R" Us International. Each one of them is headed by a President. Within the operations of every unit, there is a Executive Vice President heading the operation of every department. The structure below indicates the overall responsibilities in the company. There are also geographical heads for important regions in the organization, typically, North America. However, there are also heads for HR, product development, Sourcing, Finance and so on. This mixed structure helps the company in focusing on its major activity in any region or place. The same is also valid for splitting the businesses vertically in terms of baby products and toys. Isolation is also done on business plan basis. The internet business has been spun off into a separate enti ty, toysrus.com. Toys "R" Us is one of the leading toy stores. But for its baby products, it faces tough competition from the other major stores, viz., Wal-Mart, Target and others. But with the war intensifying, there is always a talk that Toys R Us might consider getting out of the toys business too. But then, with a wide network of retail stores across the United States and the major part of the world, Toys R Us is competitively positioned. However, they had to withdraw from more than one hundred stores in the year 2004. As of date, the strategic locations that are profitable to the chain stores are operated. The rest are either closed or let out for other retailers. And when it is the holiday season, they certainly cash in on it by ensuring there is something different in the store. This year it is the Big Toy book! Decision Making, Learning and Innovation Decision making in the company has been swift in coming through. Whether it is to close the stores in 2004 or open new ones this season in South Korea and Japan, the decisions have been made with clear knowledge of the market place and the future growth in mind. There has also been lessons learnt that is spread across to the decision making levels. The company itself is a learning organization and ensures that information about various products percolates down to the operating staff. Every one of the staff in the company can help a customer if there is need to in any of the toys being sold in the store. The importance for innovation in the products could be seen in a separate division that exists for the purpose. Planning & Strategy For planning and strategy, a SWOT analysis is done and the details are given in the table below: Strengths: The company is a major special retailer for toys and baby products. Knowledge of the business, strong retail chain of over 500 stores in the US and over 600 abroad ensure that the company could offer some of the best products. It also has a large asset base exceeding $2.9 bn. Weaknesses: Competition could eat into the profits of the company by underselling them. Typically, large departmental stores like Wal-mart and Target could do that. Inability to

What processes define Globalisation How do they impinge on sport Essay

What processes define Globalisation How do they impinge on sport Illustrate your answer with examples - Essay Example f of the contemporary era, many renowned economists emphatically state that, strictly going by the basic definition of the term (globalization), it is not a phenomenon that got underway only in the recent past. They state in no uncertain terms that globalization is a process that got initiated as early as many centuries ago, when commercial interactions amongst members of diverse societies of the globe commenced. Having said that, the above-mentioned economists do concede, it is an irrefutable fact that globalization has been spreading across the planet more swiftly over the past two decades, attributable primarily to the phenomenal surge in information technology. â€Å"In its most innocuous sense, globalization simply refers to the complex of forces that trend toward a single world society. Among these forces are mass communications, commerce, increased ease of travel, the internet, popular culture, and the increasingly widespread use of English as an international language† (1) (Progressiveliving.org, ND). â€Å"The more important sense of the term refers to a process, well underway, which trends toward the undermining of national sovereignty, and therefore citizens rights, in favor of the economic interests of gigantic transnational corporations (TNCs). The latter already comprise more than half of the largest "economies" of the world, and are vastly more powerful than most governments.† (1) (Progressiveliving.org, ND). The above definitions are highly relevant to contemporary times, as the hitherto challenging criteria of time and space have now ceased to be hindrances in interactions between people dwelling in different parts of the globe. That is attributable predominantly to the technological revolution that the globe has been witnessing over the past three decades. Also, the first of the aforesaid definitions has included even the element of culture while speaking about integration of mankind. In fact, the rapidly progressing process of globalization has

Global Operations Management at Nestle Case Study

Global Operations Management at Nestle - Case Study Example With its main headquarters in Vevey, Switzerland, the company has hundreds of branches all over the world. It has around 283,000 employees in 86 countries. It has 6,000 brands of a wide range of products such as coffee, chocolate products, infant foods, ice cream, confectionery, pet food, seasonings, bottled water, healthcare nutrition products as well as frozen and refrigerated foods. Nestlà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s objective is to â€Å"consolidate and strengthen its leading position at the cutting edge of innovation in the food area in order to meet the needs and desires of customers† (Vijaya, 2005). Due to the immense size of the company, in terms of market share and market presence, the issue of operations management is very important to the company. Its global success is dependent on how well operations are carried out to ensure that resources are well utilized and customers are pleased with the company’s products (Schwarz, 2002). Since Nestle deals with different suppliers in different locations, supply chain management is perhaps the most important aspect of operations management for the global company. Supply chain management is an important aspect is creating high-quality products in the most cost-effective way for the benefit of both the organization and the customer. Supply chain management is concerned with the oversight of information, materials, and finances used in the production of goods and services, right from the supplier, manufacturer, wholesaler, and retailer to the consumer. The process of supply chain management involves the coordination of and integration of this flow within and among companies. Assuming that the required products are available when needed then the ultimate goal of proper supply chain management is the reduction of inventory (Mentzer, 2001). Supply chain management can be divided into three main types of flows: product flow, information flow, and financial flow.  

What Did Robert Adam Learn From the Grand Tour Essay

What Did Robert Adam Learn From the Grand Tour - Essay Example This essay stresses that many people seemed to like and appreciate these new designs, the idea of making fittings and other movable elements in houses prompted a great demand for their house designs as well as conference structures. Robert Did not fully create the designs that he had learnt on Rome and France, instead he decided to inculcate his own creativity into the final designs, something that brought about totally new methods of building houses and different structures. One of the motivations in their deign was to create houses to the simplest element that one may want to have in his house. To this effect, it can be said that the success that Adam brothers enjoyed was arose from their decision to create architectural designs down to the smallest detail. This creativity received great demand by many people in Britain and other places because it was said to create a sense of unity in their house design. This paper makes a conclusion that the great tour that was undertaken by Robert Adams is said to have had a great impact not only to the architectural designs of that time, but also to the modern time approaches in architecture. The Adams family pioneered most of the classical architectural designs used in modern practices in this industry, the desire to establish unique designs that would be used by many generations prompted Robert to take a tour and learn from different people.

An act of kindness you did for someone Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

An act of kindness you did for someone - Essay Example I myself wanted to keep a dog but my mother would never allow. She said that animals have germs and keeping them is not very hygienic for us. However, this was one chance for me to keep a pet and see if they are really that unhygienic to keep or difficult to manage the mess they create. So I took the chance and told my friend that she could leave Nin with me while she was away. My friend became very happy to hear this and said that it was a big load off her shoulder. She thanked me a lot. She said that now she could leave peacefully and content that her cat would be taken care of in her absence. When I brought Nin home, it was a shock for my mother. My mother is very conscious about maintaining cleanliness and hygiene in everything. While that is a good habit, but it gets a little irritating for others for whom the standards of cleanliness and hygiene are a little different from hers. It was not easy for me to convince my mother that I would be extremely careful with the cat and would regularly clean up any mess that Nin created. Still, my mother was not satisfied till the time she saw that it was not that difficult to keep a pet. I used to bathe Nin in a tub of luke warm water on alternate days, and would dry her with an air-blower. I bought Nin some very fine pet-cookies from the store from my own pocket money, and made sure that she had sufficient supply of cookies and milk. I also used to leave a little meat on the bones from my own meals to share it with Nin. This was all I could do with the pocket money I had at that time. In the evening, I used to take Nin out so that she could play. When my friend returned, she was extremely happy to find that Nin was doing well. She noticed that Nin had gained a few extra pounds. She was very grateful to me to have taken care of Nin so well. To see her smile was a very precious moment of my life, and reassured me that I

Global Operations Management at Nestle Case Study

Global Operations Management at Nestle - Case Study Example With its main headquarters in Vevey, Switzerland, the company has hundreds of branches all over the world. It has around 283,000 employees in 86 countries. It has 6,000 brands of a wide range of products such as coffee, chocolate products, infant foods, ice cream, confectionery, pet food, seasonings, bottled water, healthcare nutrition products as well as frozen and refrigerated foods. Nestlà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s objective is to â€Å"consolidate and strengthen its leading position at the cutting edge of innovation in the food area in order to meet the needs and desires of customers† (Vijaya, 2005). Due to the immense size of the company, in terms of market share and market presence, the issue of operations management is very important to the company. Its global success is dependent on how well operations are carried out to ensure that resources are well utilized and customers are pleased with the company’s products (Schwarz, 2002). Since Nestle deals with different suppliers in different locations, supply chain management is perhaps the most important aspect of operations management for the global company. Supply chain management is an important aspect is creating high-quality products in the most cost-effective way for the benefit of both the organization and the customer. Supply chain management is concerned with the oversight of information, materials, and finances used in the production of goods and services, right from the supplier, manufacturer, wholesaler, and retailer to the consumer. The process of supply chain management involves the coordination of and integration of this flow within and among companies. Assuming that the required products are available when needed then the ultimate goal of proper supply chain management is the reduction of inventory (Mentzer, 2001). Supply chain management can be divided into three main types of flows: product flow, information flow, and financial flow.  

An act of kindness you did for someone Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

An act of kindness you did for someone - Essay Example I myself wanted to keep a dog but my mother would never allow. She said that animals have germs and keeping them is not very hygienic for us. However, this was one chance for me to keep a pet and see if they are really that unhygienic to keep or difficult to manage the mess they create. So I took the chance and told my friend that she could leave Nin with me while she was away. My friend became very happy to hear this and said that it was a big load off her shoulder. She thanked me a lot. She said that now she could leave peacefully and content that her cat would be taken care of in her absence. When I brought Nin home, it was a shock for my mother. My mother is very conscious about maintaining cleanliness and hygiene in everything. While that is a good habit, but it gets a little irritating for others for whom the standards of cleanliness and hygiene are a little different from hers. It was not easy for me to convince my mother that I would be extremely careful with the cat and would regularly clean up any mess that Nin created. Still, my mother was not satisfied till the time she saw that it was not that difficult to keep a pet. I used to bathe Nin in a tub of luke warm water on alternate days, and would dry her with an air-blower. I bought Nin some very fine pet-cookies from the store from my own pocket money, and made sure that she had sufficient supply of cookies and milk. I also used to leave a little meat on the bones from my own meals to share it with Nin. This was all I could do with the pocket money I had at that time. In the evening, I used to take Nin out so that she could play. When my friend returned, she was extremely happy to find that Nin was doing well. She noticed that Nin had gained a few extra pounds. She was very grateful to me to have taken care of Nin so well. To see her smile was a very precious moment of my life, and reassured me that I

Frankenstein and Macbeth Essay Example for Free

Frankenstein and Macbeth Essay The novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, both adhere to the Shakespearean view of tragedy. They contain elements of the supernatural and use literary devices like Nemesis Pathos. We see the passion ambition of characters, ultimately leading to their tragic flaw. But in both cases, not every character is deserving of his/her fate. Frankenstein and Macbeth, both contain elements of the supernatural. In Macbeth there are witches and powers of witchcraft. On the other hand, the story of Frankenstein contains a so-called devil in flesh the Monster. Both Macbeth and Frankenstein are above-average human beings with exceptional qualities. In both cases, the tragic hero is a man of tremendous potential and capability. The Monster created by Frankenstein is totally supernatural. There are also supernatural occurrences in Macbeth, like for instance when King Duncan is murdered. The two stories have a main character, Frankenstein and Macbeth. They both have a hero and a heroine in them. In the story, Macbeth and Frankenstein suffer due to their simple mistake that led to serious consequences. Both the stories arise pity and fear in the audience or readers. Towards the end, we feel a need for these characters to be punished for their crime (Nemesis). The stories end with the death of Frankenstein and Macbeth. The tragedy lies in the fact that their greatness is being wasted. We see passion and ambition tempt an essentially good man to embark on a course of action that sends him on the downward path to destruction. Macbeth and Frankenstein are driven by passion, which ultimately become their tragic flaw. Frankenstein is not a villain. He is a tragic figure who was tempted and who fell. Macbeth on the other hand, is not merely a tyrant.

Physical Activity and Academic Achievement

Physical Activity and Academic Achievement Physical Activity and Academic Achievement in College Students Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine whether those that schedule regular exercise into their lifestyles achieve greater academic success overall. To do so, scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test were compared before the participants worked out to the scores after the students worked out regularly for three weeks. Participants were 50 Psychology students randomly selected at University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). The hypothesis was that participants will answer fewer questions on the GRE if they do not work out. Students will answer more questions correctly after they work. The predicted results were that students will answer correctly 20 out of 30 questions on the verbal section and 18 out of 28 questions on the math section before they work out regularly. After the three week work out, the students answered 24 out of 30 questions on the verbal section and 26 out of 28 questions on the math section. There was no main effect on type of questions. There was a main effect on the exercise that after the students worked out they scored higher. There was an interaction that after the students worked out they answered more questions correctly on both sections, verbal and math. The predicted results caused a possible correlation between physical fitness and academic achievement. However, the results should be interrupted carefully, as more studies still need to be done in order to completely support that physical fitness causes academic achievement to improve. It is possible that physical and mental process correspond with each other and influence each other. Introduction The positive health benefits of regular exercise are widely known. Even though due to much research where it is evident that there are positive benefits of physical activity, physical education in schools is being viewed as only an extracurricular activity rather than a necessity (Grissom, 2005). When school budgets are being cut short, physical education is being cut first; this in the long run negatively affects the students. Previous researchers and advocates argue that daily physical education in schools improves students concentration and cognitive functioning (Sibley, 2003). Physical education is an essential factor in students academic achievements. To date, in the United States, Canada and Australia, there were five controlled experimental studies done that evaluated the effects on academic performance of providing students with additional time for physical education. All the studies have shown that even if there is no drastic improvement, it definitely does not need to be sacrificed (Shephard, Volle, Lavallee, LaBarre, Jequier, 1999). In 2007, 287 fourth and fifth graders from British Columbia were studied to determine if providing daily physical activity affected their academic performance (Ahamed, 2007). They participated in daily ten minute classroom activity in addition to their regular 80 minute PE class. Even though the physical activity time been increased by about fifty minutes per week, the students who received extra physical activity had similar stantarized test scores for mathematics, reading and language arts as students in the control group. The researchers concluded a positive correlation between physical activi ty and academic performance (Ahamed, 2007). Overall, it is extremely difficult to calculate a statistically significant difference between experiment and control groups because it is difficult to raise academic achievement (Shephard 1996). Also whatever research that has been done in order to find the relationship between physical fitness and academic achievement primarily focused on middle school to high school students. The purpose of this study is to determine whether college students that work out regularly perform better than those that do not work out at all. College students have a lot going on during their academic career. This study is being done in order to determine whether those that schedule regular exercise into their busy lifestyles achieve greater academic success overall. The practical implication of the proposed study is that those who work out regularly and lead a healthy lifestyle perform better on tests rather than those students who do not work out. The experiment is trying to demonstrate that it is needed for students to not forget to lead a healthy lifestyle and to take time out of the busy schedules to exercise and that will lead to higher test scores. The hypothesis was that participants will answer fewer questions on the GRE if they do not work out. Students will answer more questions correctly after they work. Also, there will an interaction between working out and number of questions answered. Refer to Table 1 and Graph 1 for predicted results. The predicted results were that students will answer correctly 20 out of 30 questions on the verbal section and 18 out of 28 questions on the math section before they work out regularly. After the three week work out, the students answered 24 out of 30 questions on the verbal section and 26 out of 28 questions on the math section. There was no main effect on type of questions. There was a main effect on the exercise that after the students worked out they scored higher. Method Participants 50 undergraduate college students at University of Illinois at Chicago were between the ages of 18-25 were tested. Both male and females sexes were approximately equally represented. The participants were assigned to participate as part of the Psychology class, which counted towards the class credit. The participants were all healthy which allowed them to participate in the physical portion of the experiment. Design The experiment was a within subjects design. The participants were asked to complete the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) before they exercised for three weeks regularly and after they exercised regularly for three weeks. The exercise consisted of cardio work out. The first independent variable was running on the treadmill for 30 minutes and using the elliptical machine for another 30 minutes and no cardio exercise at all. The second IV was the type of question. The participants were asked to complete the verbal and math sections. The dependent variable was the level of performance on the GRE. The amount of questions answered correctly will determine the level of performance. Materials The materials used were the UIC Wellness Center and the two versions of GRE sample questions from the verbal and math section. Both GRE tests were of the same difficulty. One version was used before the work out, and another version after the 3 week workout. There were 30 questions on the verbal section and 28 questions on the math section. Procedure First the participants were given the GRE both sections, verbal and math. They had 30 minutes to complete the 30 questions on the verbal section. They had 45 minutes to complete the 28 questions on the math section. After the exam, the participants were all signed up at the UIC Wellness Center for regular exercise. They worked out on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 1-2 hours. They walked/ran on the treadmill for 30 minutes, rested for 5 and then used the elliptical machine for another 30 minutes. This repeated for three weeks. After the regular work out, the participants were given a different version of the same difficulty GRE tests. Again they had 30 minutes to complete the 30 questions on the verbal section. They had 45 minutes to complete the 28 questions on the math section. In the end, both exams were scored and compared to each other. References Ahamed Y, MacDonald H, Reed K, Naylor PJ, Liu-Ambrose T, McKay H. (2007). School-based physical activity does not compromise childrens academic performance. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, Volume #39, 371-376. Grissom, JB. (2005). Physical Fitness and Academic Achievement. Journal of Exercise Physiology, Volume #8, 11-25. Shephard RJ, Volle M, Lavallee H, LaBarre R, Jequier JC, Rajic M. (1999). Required physical activity and academic grades: A controlled longitudinal study. Children and Sport. Sibley BA, Etnier JL. (2003). The relationship between physical activity and cognition in children. Pediatric Exercise Science. Tables, Figures IV A: Physical activity A1: No Exercise A2: Exercise 20 24 18 26 B1: Verbal IV B: Type of Questions B2: Math Table 1

Chaucers Canterbury Tales - Suppression and Silence in The Reeve’s Tale :: Reeves Tale Essays

Suppression and Silence in The Reeve’s Tale  Ã‚   Such comments as, â€Å"I pray to God his nekke mote to-breke† quickly reveal that the ver-bal game of â€Å"quite† involves much more than a free meal to the Reeve in â€Å"The Canterbury Tales† (I 3918). This overreaction, which grabs the attention of the audience and gives it pause, is characteristic of the Reeve’s ostensibly odd behavior, being given to morose speeches followed by violent outbursts, all the while harboring spiteful desires. Anger typifies the Reeve’s dialogue and his tale, which begs the question why. It appears to be a reaction to the Miller’s insults, but they are not extreme enough to provoke such resentment. He seem-ingly has no hesitation in articulating his bitterness, yet he and his story are as much marked by suppression as expression. Silence resounds as loudly as any noise in the Reeve’s Prologue and Tale. The reader is as puzzled by his utterances as the lack of them: his sudden sermon on death is matche d by the quietness of two couples copulating in a small room of five, none of which are able to hear what the others are doing. The reality is that the behavior of the Reeve and the characters in his tale are not random or unaccountable. The Reeve is continually si-lenced by other pilgrims and himself, which is paralleled in his tale, and in turn suppresses his emotions, which leads to even more explosive conduct.   I. Characterization   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In order to appreciate the melancholic and serious temperament of the Reeve, it is nec-essary to view him in comparison to other characters, as Chaucer intended. The identities of the pilgrims are relative. They are characterized by their description in the General Prologue, but not fully developed until they are seen in contrast to the pilgrim they are â€Å"quiting.† As the Miller’s personality is developed by his dissimilarity to the Knight, so is the Reeve by the Miller. Therefore Robin’s enjoyment of life shows just how little Oswald receives from the same. For instance, the Miller’s large frame and excessive drinking show his delight in small pleasures. The Reeve, however, is â€Å"a sclendre colerik man† who controls his beard and hair (in opposition to the unruly strands that grow on a wart on the miller’s nose) as manipula-tively as the accounts of the farm on which he works (I 587). The Miller ma stered the bag-pipes for entertainment in his spare time while the Reeve trained with more practical tools: â€Å"In youthe he had lerned a good myster: He was a wel good wrighte, a carpenter† (I 614).

The Arts That Shaped America: Arts of the 1920s :: essays research papers

Art by definition is the conscious production or arrangement of sounds, colors, forms, movements, or other elements in a manner that affects the sense of beauty, specifically the production of the beautiful in a graphic or plastic medium. Whether it was shown visually or musically, the arts of the twenties were reflective of the time period. Even in books, the extravagance that people lived in was evident. The music of the twenties was on the opposite end of the spectrum from the music that had been its predecessor. With a quicker tempo, dynamics different then anything before it, dances that were of the youth and viewed as taboo, and powered by brass and rhythm instruments , jazz had become a mainstream for the youth of the twenties (Handley). In stark contrast of the Beethoven and the â€Å"usual† waltzes that people danced to, jazz was in your face and frowned down upon. According to the older generation, and quoted in the New York American, â€Å"Moral disaster is coming to hundreds of young American girls through the pathological, nerve-irritating, sex-exciting music of jazz orchestras" (Ward, Burns). In the 1920s, Jazz and Blues became very popular. Singers and musicians like Fat Waller, "Jelly Roll' Morton, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Lucille Bogan could be heard world wide. Bing Crosby, Annette Hanshaw, Al Jolson, Maria Anderson and George Gershw in were also making in big in the music world. George Gershwin composed some of the most noticeable blues pieces of the nineteen twenties. Rhapsody in Blue, An American in Paris, and Piano Concerto in F, Rhapsody No. 2. Louis Armstrong, by far the king of the trumpet is the poster boy for pure jazz. With his revolutionary playing, he was able to break the trend of the typical â€Å"Dixieland† jazz music with his solos alone. During the nineteen twenties films were becoming more popular, creating five major studios and three minor studios (â€Å"Films History of The 1920s.†) The five major studios, some of which are still around today, were: Warner Brothers, Paramount Pictures (originally named Famous players), Mutual Film Corporation, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and Fox Film Corporation. Warner Bros. Pictures, incorporated in 1923 by the brothers (Jack, Harry, Albert, and Sam); the studio's first principal asset was Rin Tin Tin. MGM, first named Metro-Goldwyn Pictures - in 1924 formed from the merger of Metro Pictures (1915), Samuel Goldwyn Picture Corporation (1917), and the Louis B. Mayer Pictures Company (1918).

Unit COMPLETED

When professionally assessed, the young person will be assessed against a nationally recognized level and compared against these to assess their progress. Factors to be taken into account when assessing a child's development will be their health; whether they come from an economically deficient background that may have impaired their early development because of a lack of a healthy diet. If there is a history of mental or disability within the birth family that is having an effect on the child's capability to progress in education and comprehend fully the surroundings and situations they are in.Maybe they are physically disabled and cannot fulfill certain everyday functions and activities they may come normally to any other child or young person. This may have an emotional bearing and need to be taken into account when assessing them on their development. AGE Physical Intellectual Language Emotional Social 3 Months eggs not strong yet to hold weight when standing Visually alert and f ollows adults with eyes, moves head Stops crying to sound of rattle Quietest to sound of familiar voice Stares at parent or career when being fed 6 Months FM. Uses palmary grasp to pick up objects. GSM.Held standing with feet touching hard surface. Manipulates objects attentively. Forgets about toy if hidden. More alert now. Turn to where familiar voice comes from, listens to voice Laugh, show excitement and displeasure. Will reach out to be picked up. Show preference for primary career. Friendly with strangers on most occasions. 9 Months Rolls along, wiggles and may crawl Recognizes names, points at pictures and books. Splashes deliberately. Laughs before action toy works, remembers the action. Babbles, will shout for attention, wait and repeat. Copies simple sounds. Still cry for attention, but ill also use their voices.Have become aware of other people significant to them. Copies facial expressions 12 Months Controls legs and feet, can stand Throws toys on purpose. Says first rea l word Responds to own name. Can eat finger food after being weaned. 15 Months Walks unaided Understands many words, simple phrases, and directions. Repeats words Really loves books now and will pat the pages when looking at pictures. Feeds him/herself. 18 Months Walks very well without holding on to furniture, needs arms for balance. Uses objects to imitate everyday activities. Will build a 3 brick tower. Scribbles bad ND fed, can make dots.Sounds like speech but not yet understandable. Will chatter away whilst playing. Uses 6-20 words. Pretend play, dolls and domestic scenarios. Still needs familiar adults to be close by. No sense of danger. Can feed self and drink from a cup. Throws toys but doesn't look where they drop. Can undress self. 2 Years FM. Picks up objects and places down neatly. GSM. Runs on whole foot. Can negotiate obstacles and stairs. Turns pages carefully, notices finer points of picture. Identify a picture. Can name well known objects No understanding of need to defer immediate satisfaction of wishes. Enjoys ole-play.Finds sharing difficult. Can spoon feed self with no problems 3 years Can balance on one foot for a moment. Name colors, build small brick tower. Inquisitive questions. Can recite numbers, but only count 3 objects. Show affection to sibling. Will now wait for needs to be fulfilled. Will share, will play with others and alone, has best friends. Tidies up. 4 Years Walks on tip-toes, uses pedals and can steer. Good special awareness. Skilful at holding pencils. Able to have a conversation with. Can recite rhymes and songs, and has favorite stories. Begins to show understanding of past and present. Uses humor.Can be cheeky to an adult, can use a spoon and a fork to eat. Can manage personal hygiene. 5 Years FM. Showing signs of skill with construction toys. GSM. Energetic, plays ball games. Counts fingers, can match well. Can copy letters. Confuses S with HTH or F. Enjoys stories and will repeat them in their play. Reassures friend s when they are upset. Best friends, sense of humor increases. Lots of complex play, using lots of imagination. 6-12 Years Significant differences between children's physical appearances due to heredity, nutrition and normal developmental variation. Strength, hand-eye coordination & stamina progress rapidly.Puberty for some girls can start. Rapid development of mental skills. Greater ability to talk about thoughts and feelings. Learning to plan ahead. Think more logically. Developing mathematical and literacy skills. Reading and writing become more articulate, being able to relate involved accounts of events. Hold adult conversations. Learn by watching and talking to each other. Give support in times of stress. Begin to see things from other child's point of view. Still may require help to express their feelings in appropriate ways. More independence from parents and family. Stronger sense of right and wrong.Beginning awareness of the future. More attention to friendships and teamwo rk. Growing desire to be liked and accepted by friends. 12-14 Years Puberty for both sexes. Rapid musculoskeletal growth. The adolescent can put together all the possible outcomes before beginning the problem. Sizes actions more than words to express themselves. Moodiness and shyness. Feels like nothing bad can happen to them. Revisits childish behavior. Spend more time with peers. Begin to form their identity exploring clothes music and hobbies. Push limits. 14-17 years Continued physical activity important to maintain strength and fitness.Youth begins to question family and school rules and challenge parents. Believe nothing bad can happen to them, risk takers. Use language to campaign for what they believe in. Maybe reluctant to speak to adults directly preferring anonymity. Displays mixed feelings about ‘breaking away' from parents. Troubled youth may act out to express emotional pain (drug use/skip school/ fights) May select adults other than parents as role models. 17-19 Years Fully developed and completed puberty. Males growing facial hair. Either finished full-time education and seeking employment, or continuing with Geiger education.Interests are stable. Can set goals and follow through. Expresses feelings in words. Shows emotional stability. Greater concern for others. Starts listening to parents' advice again. Greater concern for the future. Concerned with serious relationships. Clear sexual identity. Self esteem is based on the adolescent's view of him/herself, rather than other people. More self reliant and independent. Peer group not as important as few ‘good' friends. Accepts social institutions and cultural traditions. Age One must also consider their cultural background and ethnicity.Does this present a language barrier that is hindering their ability to mix with their peers and develop at a normal and satisfactory rate and maybe hindering their ability to attend education or there are not the facilities available to help them with education. Are the cultural and religious beliefs of the birth family having a negative effect on the development of the child or young person creating social and moral barriers to their development. The table above shows an indication of what is expected of a child and person to achieve in an emotional and physical way in a normal environment without negative influences upon them.W. Q. 1. 2 – Assess a child or young person's development in the following areas: Physical Communication Intellectual/con dive Social, emotional and behavioral Moral There are many ways to assess the development of a child or young person's development, and a starting point is to consider what information is needed and how the information will be used to assess accurately. This should be done holistically (upholding that all aspects of people's needs including: – psychological – physical – social – spiritual should be taken into account and seen as a whole).Developing ac tivities that will involve the child or young errors so that they can be observed in the areas above and then these observations can be recorded for evidence when formulating a development plan. There are many ways and tools used to record information in the care setting:- Free description, or narrative description -? the child's behavior is recorded during a short period of time and includes what the career sees during specific tasks or activities. Checklists and tick charts – this method is used by health visitors when assessing, in the care setting this may be used by the LACK nurse on routine health visits to the care home.Time sample seed to observe a child over a longer period of time, taking snapshots within that time period, and is a way of assessing more than one area of development. Filming, photographs – a good way of recording the child or young person in ‘real time' which can be played back and re-analyses several times to observe completely differen t aspects of the child and how they interact. Information from parents and colleagues – such information gained from questionnaires or sitting down and having meetings to discuss topics relevant to the child or young person: their experiences they have had with he young person.At motivations we record information on a daily basis, this in the form of our Daily/Weekly record. As part Of the care team record my observations and then share this with the social workers involved, the Line manager and the Head of Care within our company. The information recorded will cover how the child or young person coped with activities, day to day routines, new experiences and family contact. Included in this will be there emotional state and behaviors and reactions to moral problems and situations, failing and successes and how they have benefited, learnt and progressed.Recording their educational achievements and gathering information from schools and colleges on a weekly basis all forms imp ortant data to include in the assessment of the young person towards formulating a Review report and in-depth Care Plan for the future development and progression for the young person. W. Q. 1. 3 – Explain the selection of the assessment methods used. It is important that assessment methods used are justifiable and recognize that there are limitations to these methods but that we can justify our conclusions and support them with relevant and appropriate information.Free ascription -? is an unobtrusive way of recording information, is flexible and we are able to carry this method out many times during the day/week. However, it can be hard to record everything that we see and that if several people are contributing to the narrative then people's bias may influence what is being recorded. Time sample – possible to see what is happening over a longer period Of time and the observers can see many different aspects Of the child or young person through varied activities.Filmi ng/photographs more information can be gained, but the child or young person will be aware f the recording method and those recording choose what to be recorded and so may accidental miss important actions or reactions that the child or young person may do. Information from parents/colleagues – important that parents and colleagues know that the child is involved in activities that are developing them, but again may show bias as to how well they have performed previously in the same or similar situations.W -Q. 1. 4 -? Develop a plan to meet the development needs of a child or young person in the work setting Developing a plan to meet the development needs of a child or young errors in the work setting can be completed once the assessment stage has been completed or it is agreed that enough information has been gathered to proceed further. When a new referral enters Motivations, it is standard practice that a Planning Meeting is held within five working days of the date of arr ival.This happened recently at Victoria Rd (where I am Acting Deputy Manager); the social worker involved with the young person will visit the home and discuss aims and objectives to promote the welfare of the young person. In attendance will be the House Manager, the young person for some Of the meeting and a representative Of senior management. In this Case, the person with parental responsibility was unable to attend but was invited as this was a re-scheduled meeting (24. 01. 13).Elements covered in the Planning meeting will be: Date for review Timescale Aims and purposes Targets or criteria for success Suggested activities Resources and costing Location and suitability Roles and responsibilities Of those involved 2. Be able to promote the development of children or young people BOB. 2. 1 – implement the development plan for a child or young person according to win role and responsibilities, taking into account that development is holistic and interconnected BOB. 2. â€⠀œ Evaluate and revise the development plan in the light of implementation W. Q. 2. 3 – Explain the importance of a person centered and inclusive approach and give examples of how this is implemented in own work It is very important to have a person centered and inclusive approach when developing the plans for the child and young person. They should be included in the reviews and planning meetings wherever appropriate as they should be able to voice their opinion in matters hat directly affect them long and short termed.The young person is capable then Of voicing their opinion at a time that is most relevant and when the most important decisions are made for their future, it may also be that their opinion is not understood or has not been correctly recorded in the day to day record and assessment taking. The young person may feel that it is only during Review Meetings when there is an independent reviewing officer present, that they feel they can voice their own opinion and i t is listened to in an UN-biased manner. During my work setting this is achieved on a weekly axis by having regular ‘Client Meetings' and ‘Group Meetings' held within the home.The young person is able to talk to staff on an agenda based format or ad-hoc depending on the circumstances and events. These meetings are recorded and the minutes are given to the Line Manager for review and auctioning when necessary. During a placement period, there will be regular reviews held which will assess the young person's placement and how their needs are being met. A plan will be formulated based on outstanding requirements and to fulfill the developing needs of the young person, from his their Placement Plan can be updated to inform all those involved in the care of the young person changes that have been made. Attached example is a Placement Plan I updated on young person that was in our care). Information changes and requests will then be passed on to staff through the process of ha ndovers and team meetings (which are held every month). BOB. 2. 4 – Listen to children or young people and communicate in a way that encourages them to feel valued BOB. 2. 5 – Encourage children or young people to actively participate in decisions affecting their lives and the services they chive according to their age and abilities 3. Be able to support the provision of environments and services that promote the development of children or young people W.Q. 3. 1 – Explain the features of an environment or service that promotes the development of children and young people Planning an environment that promotes the development of children and young people requires a lot of thought and experience, and is not just a case of putting in nice furniture and supplying a big TV for the residents to watch! The features of the environment relate to the entire running and ethos of the setting. Features to be considered are: Stimulating and Attractive – young people lea rn through their senses, so an environment needs to be stimulating and interesting, and also attractive.It should include opportunities for play and activities. Planned and Organized a structured system with boundaries that help the young person feel safe and secure, individuals will have their needs, interests and personality fulfilled and developed. Encouraging participation – trying to make the young person feel valued and part of the group environment and not excluded. Promoting equality, diversity and inclusion. Regularity ARQ reorients -? the setting must et the minimum standards require by Posted, and also be compliant to Health & Safety legislation and other legislation involving safeguarding, protection of their human rights.High-quality policy and procedures – as well as legislative requirements, there is an important need to have policy and procedures for staff to follow which are reviewed, updated and evaluated on a regular basis to check their effectivenes s in the workplace. Varied – up to date working practices implemented with current thinking. Providing appropriate risk and challenge – provide a care setting where the young errors is capable of making mistakes in a safe environment.Children and young people must be able to learn from their mistakes in a positive way, if they are wrapped in cotton-wool and stifled they will be ill-prepared for when they leave care and the safe environment they are in presently. Involving parents – the ultimate goal is that where and when possible we return the child or young person back to their home environment, and therefore we need to include parents and family as much as possible so that they are prepared and skilled in the care of the child to effectively manage this happening.This achieved by organizing regular contact, discussing the young person's development and having the parents involved in planning and review meetings. BOB. 3. 2 – Demonstrate how own work env ironment or service is organized to promote the development of children or young people 4. Understand how working practices can impact on the development of children and young people W. Q. 4. 1 – Explain how own working practice can affect children and young people's development I understand and realism that my own working practice can have a significant effect on the development of the children and young people in my care.Questions that ask myself about my working practice may include: Am I and my colleagues within the care home aware of the developmental needs of the young person in our care, IS relevant and important information handed over in a proper manner that is informative and of a quality standard. Are the systems that use ensuring that everyone gets the information needed; if not what can I do to effectively change this in a positive manner. Are the activities planned for the young person positive and beneficial to the young person, could alternatives be employed o r are they biased towards the needs of the care staff!Activities need to be specifically planned to meet the needs of the individual in a positive manner. Are activities balanced positively to meet the needs of the young person? Are they gaining anything from going to the cinema three times a week?! Do activities planned cover the key areas of the educational curriculum and build in a positive developmental way. Do work with the young person enough to gain a proper insight into their developmental needs and requirements, if not then why not?Is the young person engaging fully in their activities or routines to develop themselves fully and take full advantage Of the opportunities presented to them? W. Q. 4. 2 -? Explain how institutions, agencies and services affect children and young people's development Institutions, agencies and services affect children and young people in a positive way by being able to provide a varied and positive development experience that a single agency like ourselves would not be able to provide.We at Motivations are currently using an outside education agency called Inconsiderateness to support us in supplying educational support off-site to a young person in our care who is permanently excluded from main-stream Tate education. They are able to deal with challenging behavior and satisfy the Local Authority with full-time education which was planned during the initial Placement Meeting. Without this outside agency, educational needs for the young person would not have been met at a very important stage in their life aged 13.Other agencies provide support for the young person in times of crisis in their life: NSP can give support to the young person as well as Childlike. Another service that we use at Motivations is ‘Ability' in Clotheshorse; they supply a very specialized outward bounds service run y professionals experienced in emotional and behavioral challenging young people. Without such agencies, the activities available to young people to challenge and develop them would be limited. 5. Be able to support children and young people's positive behavior BOB. 5. – Demonstrate how they work with children and young people to encourage positive behavior W. Q. 5. 2 -? Evaluate different approaches to supporting positive behavior There are many different approaches that we use at Motivations to support and encourage positive behavior. Initially, we attempt to treat the child as normal as possible, creating surroundings that reward good and positive behavior, either by words of encouragement during day to day activities, or initiating positive rewards that culminate in a material goal for the young person or child – depending on their age etc.During the course of a normal day words of encouragement, a positive glance or smile, to a ‘thumbs up' or a comforting hand on a young person's shoulder is all that is needed to show support and give encouragement for the young person to put a little ex tra effort into an activity and achieve their goal. So support positive behavior and compliance in a day to day house routine, here appropriate we use a ‘Daily Points Scheme' – the child or young person is scored out of ten on a daily basis on five key factors which we want the young person to improve in.